Thirty Seven

It had been a long twenty eight hours.

Back on Coruscant, into and out of Bacta and then, well, Rex would rather forget the home coming with Gem.

'What were you thinking?'

He headed towards his office, the work would continue to pile with or without him. It was the one constant.

He was at odds with his behaviour with the young politician and wanted, no needed, some time alone to work through the ramifications of a relationship within the confines of the Grand Army of the Republic.

He had managed, successfully, up until now, to have both the convenience and freedom of a sexual relationship, but he knew only too well that Gem would be wanting it to move to a more personal level, and that was something he was uncomfortable with.

He sighed as he turned the corner and opened the door. He stood, and took in the perfunctory desk and data pad.

It could have been any Officer's room.

'Is this really what you want CT-7567?'

Rex couldn't move, an overwhelming sense of nothingness crept into his chest, making it momentarily hard to breathe.

He didn't go in, swiveling around on his heel he headed nowhere in particular.

It was twenty forty five, and the men were starting to settle down for the evening.

"Captain," Jesse nodded as he walked past, back from the Mess.

"Trooper," he said almost absently.

Jesse stopped, it was rare for the Captain not to call him by his name back on Coruscant and he immediately stood to attention.

"Sir," he replied briskly.

"At ease Jesse, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like a word."

#

Jesse sat on the stool and tapped his foot impatiently against the floor. He waited, reluctantly, wanting to know what was going on behind the curtain. He heard muffled voices followed quickly by the buzzing of the needle.

His Captain had said, "I want some ink," and hadn't elaborated further.

Jesse originally thought it was a test, the last time he was asked that question saw him in more osik than a nerf herder on Alderaan.

#

As the ink was being embedded into his skin, Rex thought over the situation he had found himself in.

Things weren't supposed to be this hard.

He had gone over all the reg's. There was nothing mentioning that a clone soldier in the GAR couldn't have a relationship.

The Kaminoans merely hadn't thought of the concept and therefore, there was no contingency, no regulation, no admission that they had created something other than the perfect killing machine. They weren't men after all, they were a commodity ordered and paid for by the Republic.

Fek, he knew Fives had pushed the envelope on more than one occasion and Echo, he shook his head again at the thought of the young analyst, alone and pregnant. Now, even Cody had admitted to seeing someone 'special.' A slight smile flicked across his lips when he thought again of the young lad in his CO's arms.

He had even covered his own General's shebs in relation to a woman.

Kriffing Jedi.

His thoughts then drifted back to Ahsoka.

That had been the relationship that changed his life.

The friendship and admiration for the brilliant young Jedi had led to more. As brief as it was, it had opened the floodgates, leaving him wanting.

He then thought of the woman who was now challenging him in different ways, the woman who was offering him a snippet of normal life.

Unlike the relationship with Ahsoka, this was real, tangible, potentially lasting.

There were no rules, reg's or religion that prevented her from being with him, and she had chosen him.

It should be enough.

He had made his decision.

It was done.

"All finished," the tattoo artist sat back and looked admiringly at his work, handing Rex a mirror to do the same.

He nodded his head and tentatively pulled his tunic back on.

#

Jesse watched as the curtains parted and his Captain walked through.

"Everything – alright Sir?" Jesse felt uncomfortable and wished that Kix was down here with the Captain instead of him.

He knew the two were close and the unit medic always knew exactly what to say.

Seeing the look on the Captains face, he decided not to pursue a conversation further.

"Thank you Jesse," was all he said as they silently headed back to the barracks.

Rex stopped outside his office, turned to Jesse and said.

"I'd appreciate your discretion regarding this evening."

He knew that look.

"Sir," he nodded and headed towards his own quarters.

#

"You took a while. What did the Cap want?" Hardcase was slipping between the sheets on his bunk.

"Some problem in Ordinance."

"Any hint when we're heading out?"

"He has a meeting with the General's tomorrow at eleven hundred."

Hardcase fluffed his pillow a couple of times and turned over and drifted off to immediate sleep.

Jesse put his arms behind his head and just stared at the ceiling.

#

The Captain did his final bed check and went back to his office to write a quick report. He hit save and stretched his back, and instantly felt the heat from the new tattoo, wincing slightly from it's sting. He opened a drawer and grabbed a Bacta patch, and placing it in his pocket, headed out of his ubiquitous office for the last time that night

#

Rex stopped in front of the data pad and his fingers hovered over the familiar numbers.

He dropped his hand and blew out a long breath.

Steeling himself, he depressed the sequence and waited for the door to glide effortlessly open.

He stepped through, and was immediately drawn to the figure standing alone in front of the large window. He saw her head flinch slightly and move back to the distant stare of anonymous Coruscanti in anonymous speeders.

She seemed preoccupied.

Rex didn't say anything, he just walked up behind her and ran his hand down her back, resting it lightly on her right hip. Gem moved into him and he held her against his chest, nuzzling her hair, closing his eyes at the scent.

He began nibbling her ear, and she moved her head into him more.

"Hungry Captain?"

"Hmmm, always."

"Do you have your orders yet?"

"No," he mused, busy with her neck, "tomorrow."

"Well, we'd best make the most of tonight."

"Can I use the 'fresher first?"

Gem laughed out loud, "yes, and I'll get you something to eat."

He grabbed her hard around the waist and kissed her loudly on the cheek.

She smiled, he was happy.

#

Rex walked out of the refresher wearing nothing bar a towel when she saw it.

She immediately flew into a rage.

"WHAT! It's not enough they micro chip you and call you by numbers than they have to tattoo you as well? That's it! Something has to be done!" She pointed to the line of numbers tattooed on his left pectoral.

"No, Gem, it's not what you think," he stammered as she continued a tirade of abuse against the Republic.

Rex walked quickly over to Gem and grabbed both her arms.

"Stop, Gem, stop."

She calmed down, looking at the red area surrounding the new ink.

Gem looked to Rex for an explanation.

"It's the coordinates to the moon we found you on."

"Rex," she looked confused, "why?"

He looked into her large dark eyes and took a deep breath before answering.

This was it.

"So I never forget where I lost my heart."

Neither moved, the significance of the tiny digits on his chest coupled with his words hung heavy in the room.

Rex could normally control almost every situation. This time he was vulnerable, stripped emotionally bare before her.

He had nothing else to offer.

Slowly she reached up and ran her finger across them, the skin red and slightly raised.

It was as close to 'I love you' as he could manage.

For now.

#