All this belongs to George...

Luke was tired and dirty. Happy though to get through the latest quirmish unharmed. There were several wounded and eleven rebels lost, last Luke heard, but things could have gone much worse considering the surprise of the attack and until recently, they had. Times had been hard for the rebellion in the last year. The destruction of the Death Star three years ago had been only a setback, not an end, to the vast army of the Empire. Luke reflected on all of this as hurriedly helped to pack up and bug out of the newly established base after only being here just short of a couple of standard months. He was somewhat relieved that Leia hadn't been here for the latest attack. She had a way of getting right in the middle of them, always standing her ground until she got dangerously close to missing her own chance to get to safety. In fact, Luke and Han had each taken a few turns to drag her to safety. She'd missed more than a transport or two in the past, having to find another or ride on the Falcon. Knowing that she hadn't been doing so well lately, it was for the best that she was gone. It was one less thing to cause worry and distraction for him. General Rieekan had assured Luke that Leia already knew the coordinates of the next rendezvous point.

What wasn't clear, was how Leia would get the information that the rebels had left Navarrea without putting her and Han in danger. They wouldn't know the base had been evacuated unless they showed up here to discover that everyone else had left. At this time, it was too dangerous to send any transmissions at all. Short of sending someone to Pantolomin to find her, Luke wasn't sure what could be done. Of course, he had volunteered to do just this, but the General insisted that Luke was needed to lead his squad. Duty calls, he told himself. Leia would insist as well. He just knew it. She always put the needs of the rebellion before her own. Hell, she acted as though she had no needs, other than her determination to see the Empire fall. But, those that knew her best, knew that wasn't, couldn't be the truth. Han especially knew this and, Luke observed, was the one to challenge the most for the façade she put can carried like a shield.

As well as Luke did, and try, to know Leia, he was aware that Han knew her best. Luke was okay with that now, coming to terms with the obvious feelings Han and Leia held for each other. He also knew that Han envied Luke's close friendship with Leia. What Han didn't realize, Luke had come to understand, was that Han was closer to Leia in so many ways. Sure, Luke thought, I get along with her better. But I don't really know anything about her at all. Leia held back on the details of her life, yet somehow, Han knew things no one else did. Han knew what she liked, what scared her, how to make her feel better. He did everything he could to protect her. He could make her angry and calm her down in a moment, provided he wanted to. And when Luke thought about it, Leia could do the same for Han.

Luke took a deep breath and tried to let the worry for his friends subside for the time being. They would be okay. At least they were together now. Safe.

Right now, Luke had to refocus and assist to get the transports loaded and out of harm's way.

Han and Chewie stood on opposite sides, weapons drawn, of the portal Han cut through the hull of Another Chance. Both pulled down their respirators and on Han's signal, Chewie pushed the cut piece through the hull and into the ship. Han tossed the gas detonators inside and charged head first into the ship.

The sight of an angry wookie was all Travarin needed to start firing into the smoke. The adrenaline coursed through his heart, the feeling of such hard, tremendous pumping was painful, and he felt like he would drop the heavy laser-rifle at any second. Fortunately for Chewie, Has was a calmer and faster draw and he had a nearly perfect aim despite the heavy smoke. Han aimed for the man's leg and fired.

Trevarin looked down at his burned flesh before he could even feel the pain. He was lightheaded and started to feel sick. The gas he was inhaling felt heavy in his lungs. He feel back and his rifle tumbled out of his grip and onto the deckplate of the ship.

Han stood still for a moment and just watched as the man lost consciousness. This was too damn easy, Han thought.

"Chewie, get 'em, will ya?" He glanced around the hold. "I'm gonna check this out. Anyone else on board should be knocked out by now. Tie him up in the cargo bay."

Then he saw her, passed out underneath a large console. Han walked over and knelt down on his haunches and took a good look at what appeared to be a middle aged woman. "Who the hell are you?" Han wondered forgetting the woman couldn't hear him.

Leia woke up screaming, it was just too real. It was always too real.

Winter got up and raced across the room of their shared bedroom. She wrapped her arms around her tightly. "Princess, it's okay."

Leia pulled away and turned her back on Winter. Her head hung low and she whispered, "I'm not sure it will be."

Her chest was heaving and Leia fought to steady herself. She hated for anyone to see her like this. One person really knew what her nightmares were like and he wasn't there to take care of her. You could tell a therapist everything about your dreams, but without being there, without seeing it, how could they know anything? Han knew. Calling on her earlier resolve, she had to remind herself again that she could not let Han be there for her anymore. It wasn't healthy for her if she was to move on, nor fair to him as he'd very clearly implied his intentions. She had become too dependent on him; she knew this. Of all the people in her life, she become dependent on the one person who frequently reminded everyone of his independence and refusal to commit to anything other than his own agenda. She thought her fear of letting him go was perhaps the reason here dreams were torturing her with a renewed vengeance. Han was a weakness and it was affecting her deeply. So much so, she was sure, that her feelings for him were just another way to punish herself in her dreams. She needed distance from him, it was the only way she felt her recent nightmares about losing him would stop. She just couldn't take much more.

Leia felt the gentle rub of Winter's hand on her arm. Softly, she heard Winter ask, "Is there anything I can get you?"

"No. I'll be fine." Leia turned back toward Winter, but didn't look into the eyes of her dear old friend. "Thanks. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

Winter pulled up Leia's quilt around her and quietly left the room. She wanted to give Leia a little privacy before she went back to sleep.

Kyle was staring out the large viewport in the living room when Winter entered. He looked over to her and asked, "She was screaming for Solo, wasn't she?"

"Yes, I don't even think she was aware of it."

Hours later, Leia felt the sunlight on her face as she slowly woke up. She lay quietly for a few minutes before moving. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't shake the image in her head. She saw someone, someone she had never met, wearing silver and blue amour; his face hidden by the helmet he wore. He had a short cape and carried a small jetpack on his back. Something told her his man was dangerous.