Please be aware that some content of this chapter may be deemed M rated

Thirty Five

Vail walked quickly through the corridors of the medical centre.

He knew Jesse was still on the ward, his status listed as 'pending.'

He turned the headed into the room lined with brothers in various states of recovery. Walking and reading the Basic numbers on top of each bunk he stopped abruptly at the correct one.

He was asleep.

Curled onto his side, he had the blanket drawn up to his chin.

Vail moved to look at his face and Jesse's eyes flicked open.

It was instinctual.

There were no words to say.

Vail moved forward quickly and touched his forehead to Jesse's, closing his eyes as he did.

Other brother's turned to allow Jesse his privacy, knowing that this visitor was more than just that.

Becoming conscious of the display to the men in the room, Vail went to move back when Jesse raised his arms and held his head, briefly, letting him know the importance of his visit.

#

It had only been thirteen days.

Reed lowered the cruiser into the Diplomatic Hanger Bay in the Senate Building. He systematically pushed the yoke forward and reached up to switch off the various controls in the cockpit. Angling himself out of his seat, he turned to see Gem collecting her small bag. They had all come back. Dr Boll had made a comprehensive list of equipment she needed to have delivered to the facility on Oriis.

Reed hadn't asked any questions, he had seen the two in deep discussion during their time on her home world, and knew better than to ask.

He would find out, eventually.

They were escorted by Coruscant Guard back into the Senate Building, one heading straight to her own laboratory the other turning towards her apartment.

"How was your trip Ma'am?" Vail asked as they walked together into the building.

He promptly informed Gem of the injury tally of the five oh fist. No fatalities. The mission was considered a success from that part, but the Separatist's had destroyed the bulk of the information the two units had been sent in to retrieve.

#

Cody and Rex stood in the showers watching the soap disappear down the drain hole.

Out of the tanks, both had requested a stim, and being senior officers, the medics obliged.

The water continued to hit against their naked bodies, each lost in their own private thoughts.

They would dress, shake hands, and head back to their offices to write reports and not see one another again until the next battle.

It was inevitable.

It was the Commander who spoke first, clearing his throat beforehand.

"Rex?"

"Commander," he replied, grabbing a towel and beginning to dry himself.

"That thing I said about Niki," it was awkward. He shook his head as he too grabbed a towel.

"I don't know why I said it."

This is the reason he didn't do the personal stuff.

Rex stopped and placed the towel around his shoulders, sniffing and wiping an end across his face. He could sense this was difficult for his Commanding officer.

"It's OK ner vod."

Cody looked down momentarily and nodded.

That's what he liked about Rex.

He was smart and good at interpersonal skills. It showed in the relationships he had with his men. They respected his judgement.

It's what made him a good Captain, and friend.

They dressed and headed out of the Infirmary. Standing at the elevator waiting, they both heard the voice call out his name and turned.

"Cody!"

Rex was startled to see a small child run towards them and stood aside as his Commander lifted him effortlessly up into his arms. In front of them stood two woman. One Rex immediately knew as Padawan Offee, the other he quickly assumed was the mysterious Niki his friend had talked about.

The elevator door opened and Rex stepped inside, mesmerised by the reunion. He saw Cody salute the Jedi and then lean forward and kiss the other woman on the cheek, the child still entangled around his neck, laughing.

#

Rex walked back to his office on level three of the GAR facility. He smiled uncontrollably when he thought of Cody and the young family, and stopped outside the opaque glass door of his office. He punched in the sequence, the door beeped loudly in protest. He scowled, and with a furrowed brow, he retried the sequence and blew out a breath as it finally slid open. He walked in and placed his data pad and comm link down onto the desk piled high with flimsies.

He sighed and sat heavily into his seat.

Logged on to his computer he delved into the mindless report writing, stock control, and duty rosters until he heard the gently humming of the comm. He ignored it, pushing through a detailed battle report from their last mission.

It hummed again.

Annoyed he flipped through the messages.

'My apartment. Now'

He smiled and stood, leaning forward to save the bulk of his work before he logged off.

He was an exemplary soldier, and always followed orders.

He walked with purpose, wishing he was wearing his armour to hide his smile and the pressure building in the front of his fatigues.

#

The lighting was subdued but not dark enough to prevent him from seeing her run from the bedroom towards him. Resplendent in a black sheer kimono, he stopped to watch the voluminous material billow around her pale body.

She looked ethereal, her hair as wild as the silk in movement.

Neither talked, the stimulant he received pulsed hard through his veins.

Rex grabbed her face between his hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks as he molded his mouth onto hers. Gem relished the sensation, warm and soft, as he continued to passionately kiss her.

Moving one arm down to encircle her waist he held her firm as he gently pushed her back into the wall behind them, the relentless onslaught of his mouth continued. He took her bottom lip between his teeth and she let out a soft moan of pleasure as he began another campaign on her neck.

"I'm so glad you decided to come back," he muttered, somewhere between her throat and ear.

"I've missed you," she managed to reply as he barraged her mouth again.

Rex stopped and looked into her dark brown eyes. He scanned her entirely and she noticed the small pupils.

"Rex?"

He ignored her and continued to hold her up against the wall.

"Let's see how much," he mused as he moved a hand down her body. He searched for the one spot he knew would always tell the truth.

"You weren't wrong," he growled as he curled a finger between her legs.

"Ah," Gem's head pushed back hard against the wall. They were now mere millimetres apart, both breathing hard into each other's face. A wicked smile crossed his lips.

"Ah Rex, wait," she pleaded.

The Captain was belligerent in his behaviour.

Gem closed her eyes, widening her stance a little as the onslaught of his fingers continued.

"Rex, please, not like this," she whispered into his neck.

He quickly dropped his crimson trousers, the belt tinkling lightly as it hit the ground, his shorts quickly followed suit.

He grabbed a slender thigh and held it firm against his hip, she could feel his fingers dig deep into her skin.

He knew she was ready and his own rejuvenated body was more than willing to oblige.

He quickly immersed himself inside and struggled to maintain control. A growl escaped him, and his eyes closed shut as he willed his brain to control his over eager body.

The men talked about the first orgasm after Bacta. If they were able, they would head to the refreshers straight after, knowing it would be the most intense. For some reason, the rejuvenating cellular process did something to that part of their anatomy and they knew it would be raw and acute.

"Rex," she winced at the ferocity of his onslaught.

It had never been like this before.

He groaned loud, and continued to sway his hips into her as his rush died. Sweat soaked through his tunic, clinging uncomfortably to his torso.

"Force," was all he could mutter out, the high from the release of endorphins coupled with the synthetic adrenaline resulting in immediate gratification of unparalleled magnitude.

He was breathing hard, harder than he normally would given the circumstances.

He struggled to break his hold and she supported his full weight momentarily, a worried look crossed her face as he looked up into hers.

"I'm so sorry," obviously distressed at his lack of control and unforgivable hedonist behaviour.

His head thumped, the blood pulsing loudly in his ears.

Gem was completely out of words.

Then the awkward removal of entwined bodies followed by the even more awkward replacing of clothes.

Rex headed over to the couch and sat down quickly, placing his head into his hands. Gem gave him a moment before she walked up behind him and kissed it gently.

"I'll make some caf."

It wasn't the homecoming she was expecting, but he was there, with her, and that was all that mattered.

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