I mistakenly posted a rough draft of Chapter 22. I made some changes and moved what was originally intended for Chapter 23 into Chapter 23. Please forgive this mistake.

CHAPTER 23:

Han sat up and grinned.

"Chewie! Luke!"

Chewbacca and Luke rushed over to Han and Leia. Han looked at the princess. She wore the biggest smile he had ever seen. Her sparkling eyes shifted from Luke and Chewie to him.

Chewbacca roared.

"Yeah, pal. What are you doin' here?"

Chewie put his hand on his hip.

"We figured you two would find some trouble," Luke said. He wore a smile that resembled Leia's.

"Us?" Han feigned innocence.

Chewbacca helped Han to his feet as he rugargued.

"I got grazed by a stun bolt. The feelin's comin' back."

Luke crouched next to Leia. Her face contorted in pain as she pushed herself into a seated position.

"Leia, you're hurt."

Luke picked up her arm and examined the deep scratches left by Vilogo. Han frowned at the sight. How much more damage did that bounty hunter do to her?

"I'll be okay," she grunted.

Chewie garruared.

"Right."

Han moved behind Leia, slipped his hands beneath her armpits, and lifted her to her feet.

Luke looked around at the dead bounty hunter, Stormtroopers, and Hemit. "The Imps aren't going to be too happy about this."

"That's an understatement," Han said. "Where's the Falcon?"

The Wookie pointed as he reerrred.

Han let go of Leia and followed Luke and Chewbacca. However, Leia had other ideas. She started toward the ship they just loaded with the cargo of weapons. Han grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

"Where do you think you're goin'?"

She pulled herself from his hold and narrowed her large brown eyes on him. "Where do you think?"

"Nuh-uh. We're all leavin' together."

"We still have to get that shipment of weapons to Eros."

"Leia," Luke sighed. "I think getting' outa here is more important."

"Eros is counting on that shipment."

"And I'm countin' on getting' you back to Home One in one piece."

"The shipment is more important."

"Not to me."

Leia's mouth opened, but she seemed to have lost her words. Chewie growled as he looked around.

"We don't have time for this, Your Worshipfulness."

"I'm not— "

"We're leavin' now even if I have to throw you over my shoulder."

"Just you try," Leia growled.

"I'll take the shipment to Eros," Luke interjected before things escalated further.

"I don't like it," Han said.

Chewbacca whoowued.

"Fine."

"Be careful, Luke." Leia hugged the aspiring Jedi and winced as he hugged her back.

"If you're not back in three days, Kid, I'm comin' after you."

"You won't have to," Luke said. "Bye, Chewie."

The Wookie lifted his head and roared his good-bye. Luke smiled and rushed up the ramp. Han turned away when Luke disappeared into the ship. He gritted his teeth together as Leia walked past him holding her abdomen. They didn't have time to tend to her injuries; getting off Ord Mantell was their priority. Like it or not, Han had to put her second for now. Chewbacca led the way towards the Falcon. Fortunately, Han's beloved ship was docked close to the rebel ship. Han activated the ramp and ran to the cockpit. Chewie wasn't far behind. Leia followed them and sat down in the passenger seat behind Han's.

Solo began warming up the Falcon. Chewie flipped several levers and grumbled.

"How's this?"

The Wookie grarfed.

"We'll just have to make do."

"What's wrong?"

Han rubbed his chin. "Nothin' that can't be fixed."

The Falcon roared to life, and the smuggler guided the ship out of the hangar. As they reached space, Han's hope of an easy trip back to Home One died when he saw the Star Destroyer hanging in the sky. TIE fighters swarmed nearby.

"Damn!"

Solo veered the Falcon away from the TIE fighters and Star Destroyer.

Leia leaned forward. "They're not after us. They're after the rebel shipment. We have to run interference so Luke can escape."

Chewie roraffed.

"I was afraid you were gonna say that." He pulled up on the throttle. He pressed a couple of buttons and steered towards the Star Destroyer.

"Unknown YT 1300, ID yourself."

Han exchanged a glance with Leia before he pushed the comm button. "This is Star Grazer."

"Transmit identification code."

"Transmitting ID."

Chewbacca scanned the screen in front of him, looking for the code for the Star Grazer. When he found it, he sent it to the Star Destroyer.

"State cargo," the Imperial said.

Han looked at Chewie. The Wookie shrugged.

Han rolled his eyes. "You're a lot of help." He pressed the comm. "Uh…serand and xice to the Baute system."

Leia's eyes widened and retracted. "Baute?"

"I didn't hear you come up with anything better."

"Well, you— "

"Star Grazer, prepare for boarding," the Imperial speaking through the comm said.

"Just great," Leia mumbled under her breath. Han shot her a dirty look.

"Uh…we're kinda in a hurry. Lots of hungry people out there," Han winced.

Chewie put a hand on his face, and Leia shook her head. "Brilliant."

"Star Grazer, stand down. Prepare for boarding."

"Yes, sir," Han said into the comm and shut it off. He looked at Chewie. "Looks like the fun's about to begin."

Leia unstrapped herself and rose from her seat. She was halfway out the cockpit when she said, "I'll man the gun turrets."

"Good idea. Make sure you strap yourself in. It's gonna be a rough ride."

"When is it not?" she quipped as she exited the cockpit.

Han smiled as he watched the door slid shut.

Chewbacca activated the thrusters, and the Millennium Falcon turned around before zipping away.

The inner comm crackled to life. "I'm in," Leia said.

Han grabbed the yoke and forced the Falcon into a spinning dive to avoid the lasers firing from the TIE fighters that pursued them. Two TIE fighters followed, but Han's move was too abrupt and the TIE fighters collided with each other. From the turret guns, Leia fired on a third and fourth, blowing them to pieces.

"Nice job, Sweetheart!"

A shot from another TIE fighter coming from underneath them hit the aft of the Falcon. Chewbacca reached to his right and flipped several levers as Han leaned forward and pressed a blue button. The ship dipped and rose, zipping between several TIE fighters.

Chewie garbbued.

"I see it. Leia?"

The TIE fighter exploded in front of them and the Falcon blew through the debris.

"Flip," Leia crackled through the comm.

Han followed her command and flipped the ship upside down. He broke out into a lop-sided grin as Leia shot down four more TIE fighters.

"Way to go!"

"I think we've given Luke enough time to—" she shot another TIE fighter, "—get out of here."

Chewie howled in agreement.

"Prepare to jump to light speed," Han yelled into the inner comm.

He programmed the coordinates of Home One into the hyperspace computer and then pushed the lever forward. The stars stretched into blue streaks. Han jumped out of his seat and ran out of the cockpit. He turned down the corridor and rushed towards the gun turrets. Leia was just climbing down the ladder. Before her feet touched the ground, Han scooped her up and spun her around. She grunted as he put her down. Han wrapped his hand around the back of her head, tipped her chin up, and kissed her.

Leia's lips were soft and warm against his. Something like the concussion of fireworks exploded in his stomach and whirled up into his chest. He pulled her body closer to him, and lost himself in the kiss.

However, something wet and warm on his hand tore Han out of his ecstasy. He pulled back, leaving Leia standing with her eyes closed. Her pleasure lingered on her face. Had Leia's blood on his hand not distracted him, he would've kissed her again.

"You're bleeding."

Leia opened her eyes; disappointment colored her face. She touched the back of her head and pulled away her hand.

"I am."

"Come'n. Let's fix you up."

He took her hand and led her to the medical bay.

Chewbacca was waiting there with his hands behind his head. He warbled.

Han's eyes widened and retracted. "I'm not the one hurt this time."

Chewie dropped his hands and tilted his head as he haagurrued.

"The effects of the stun laser's worn away. Mostly. Help me with her."

Han lifted Leia up and sat her on the bed as Chewbacca collected the supplies they would need to tend to her wounds. Chewie placed the items next to Leia and cooed. Leia tipped her head forward. The Wookie probed the cut on the back of her head and grurugued.

"It doesn't hurt," Leia said, but Han knew she was downplaying her pain.

Chewbacca used a cloth to wipe away the blood and clean the wound. She gritted her teeth together.

"These are pretty deep," Han said as he examined the scratches on Leia's arm. He gently rubbed a wet cloth over the rips in her skin, wiping the blood away. "Surgi-glue should repair these cuts."

Chewie raroofed.

"Are you sure?"

The Wookie gruawed.

Leia cringed. "I hate stitches."

Chewie began preparing the supplies needed to suture Leia's wound while Han spread surgi-glue over each cut on Leia's arm. After he gave the gel a moment to dry, he covered the injuries with bacta bandages before wrapping her arm with a protective bandage.

Chewbacca grooled directions. Han helped Leia lay on her side with her back to him and Chewie. She turned her face towards the pillow.

"You can hold my hand," Han said as he held it out to her.

To his surprise, Leia took his hand and squeezed it as Chewbacca numbed the area to be sutured. She didn't release the tension until the Wookie finished the job. He softly growled and stroked the top of her head.

"Sit up."

The flash of pain that crossed Leia's face as she shifted around was not loss on Han. Han felt around her wound, and she sucked in air.

"Tender. Swollen. You have a headache?"

Leia raised her right eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"No change in behavior," Han said, and Chewbacca laughed.

The princess shot the Wookie a sharp look, and he stopped laughing. He mumbled something under his breath and left the medical bay.

"You feelin' dizzy?"

"Not really."

"I'll take that as a yes."

Han picked up a penlight and shined it into her eyes. She pulled back and pushed it away.

"Eyes dilated. Looks like you have a concussion."

Solo went to the cabinet and removed an ice pack from the shelf. He cracked it in half before he shook it and pressed it against the back of Leia's head.

"Hold this."

She did as she was told. Han lifted her shirt and cringed. Leia tried to pull her shirt back down, and Han caught her hand. He examined the reddish-purple boot marks on her side and abdomen. Han lightly touched her lower ribs and she pulled back.

"I think your rib is fractured. Does it hurt to take deep breaths?"

"Not really."

"Then let's see you take a deep breath."

"Okay, it hurts."

Han picked up the scanner and waved it over the bruises. "It doesn't look like any of your organs are seriously damaged," he said as he studied the readout. "There's no clear reading, but your rib may be fractured."

He reached into a cupboard that was above Leia and took out a smile vial of pills. He removed the cap, shook two into his hand, and gave them to Leia.

"These should take away some of the pain."

Han retrieved a glass of water and handed it to her. She put the pills into her mouth, took a sip of water, and swallowed them.

"Come'n." He helped her off the bed. "You can rest in my cabin."

"I'll be okay, Han," Leia said as she took his hand.

Han kissed the top of her head. "I know."