Sorry for the slow updating. But this is my longest chapter yet(over 2600 words) so please forgive me. Hopefully next chap will be sooner, but I can't promise. And I just want to thank you all. You guys have been so supportive and I can't thank you enough! There are so many fantastic authors on here- far better than I- and the fact that you will actually take time to read my stories just makes my day!
And I also want to thank those who have given me constructive critism. I am grateful that you all have taken the time to point out my flaws so I can improve my writing for the future.
Well, here's part 12. Let me know what you guys think!
...
Sabine had always hated hospitals.
It wasn't just the sick and injured patients, their coughs and moans heard from the rooms they passed. It wasn't just the doctors and nurses, going about in a cool and professional air.
No, what Sabine hated most about hospitals was the void of color. Everything was white, the halls, the scrubs of the doctors walking past. There was no splashes of cheerfulness to brighten the place and Sabine just couldn't understand that. Wouldn't it be more soothing and relaxing to the patients if they had something to lighten their day?
Trailing behind Zeb and Hera, the girl's steps slowed as her mother pointed down the hall, following the room numbers to reach the one they were looking for.
Sabine was conflicted. One side of her wanted to run ahead, find the boy that had become the kid brother she never had, and hug him tightly, demanding to know why he had run off. The other part of her wanted to leave the hospital and never come back. How could she face him, knowing what she had done?
Finally they stopped in front of a room. Peeking in, Sabine saw Kanan sitting on a bedside chair, watching over the small boy laying in the bed.
Kanan glanced up at them as they paused in the doorway. He smiled thinly, nodding at them to enter.
Zeb did so immediately, speaking to the man in a low voice. Hera was about to follow, but paused when she realized that Sabine wasn't following. She turned around.
The girl stood awkwardly in the doorframe, shuffling her feet as she stared down at the tile floor. She jumped when Hera touched her shoulder
The woman nodded toward the trio, eyes warm with sympathy. Sabine got the message.
She hesitantly stepped inside, following Hera to the bed.
Kanan stood at their approach. He hugged Hera tightly, then pulled Sabine into the embrace. The girl closed her eyes, savoring the comforting warmth of his hold.
After several moments Hera pulled away from the hug. She stared down sadly at Ezra's sleeping form. He looked so small and fragile, buried under the covers of the bed, face red and forehead covered in sweat.
"How is he?"
Kanan wrapped an arm around her, following her gaze.
"Better than he was. His fever had spiked, but managed to get it down slightly." He sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking back the damp bangs off the flushed face.
"They also gave him some pain medication for his chest, and he's been hacking a lot." He sighed. "Poor kid's bad off."
On the other side of the bed Zeb groaned, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Blast it, why'd the kid have to run?"
Before Kanan could reply, a sort moan filled the air. Ezra shifted slightly under the sheets. His bleary eyes opened to look up at the crowd surrounding his bed.
"Ezra." Hera breathed out in relief. She bent over and laid an hand on his clammy forehead.
"How're you feeling?"
He pressed into the touch. He blinked to clear his vision, meeting her soft and gentle gaze.
"Hera?"
She froze, wondering if she imagined it. Her free hand found the bedrail, grapping it tightly. Sabine gaped in surprise, while Zeb stared. Kanan smiled knowingly.
Hera licked her now dry lips, mind trying to form a coherent thought. Ezra didn't…surely he….
The boy blinked up at her again. Worry crossed his face when she didn't react. Thinking she was angry, he started rambling in his raspy voice.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run off. And I'm also sorry for everything I've done. I…"
He was cut off by her arms encircling him, lifting him slightly off the mattress as he was pressed against her. He felt her press her cheek against the side of his head.
"Oh, Ezra." Her voice was cracked, as if she was on the verge of tears. She held him tighter. She finally released him after a long moment. He almost instantly missed the warmth of her arms, but soon forgot when Zeb approached.
The man laughed, patting the youth's back.
"Hey there kid. Have you seen Ezra? He looks just like you, except, you know, he can't talk." He teased.
Sabine was still frozen in place, hand clasped over mouth in shock.
Ezra turned his head to look at her, a small smile on his face.
"'Bine!" He said happily, reaching out a hand toward her. His grin slowly faded when she made no move in his direction.
Finally the girl's brain started functioning enough to notice Hera's look. She stepped forward, taking the small hand he offered her. His palm felt hot in her own.
"Hey kid." She murmured.
"I…." Her throat closed and she couldn't finish. She simply squeezed his hand in answer.
Ezra soon let go of her and let his head flop back down into the pillow, looking around at all the faces surrounding him. He allowed another genuine smile to pull at the corners of his mouth.
For the first time in years, Ezra Bridger wasn't alone.
…
Ezra remained in the hospital for three days before the doctors decided he was well enough to go home. During that time Kanan and Hera took turns staying with him, ensuring that he was never alone at any time. It was comforting, knowing that were there for him.
Finally the day came for Ezra to go home. While they waited for the doctor for Ezra's final examination before he could be released, Ezra squirmed eagerly in his bed, talking animatedly.
"Finally, I can sleep in my own bed." He looked over sat his food tray from breakfast, which had yet still to be collected. He wrinkled his nose.
"And I can have good food again. Ugh, why's this taking so long?" He draped his legs over the edge of the bed, swinging them.
Kanan and Hera exchanged a secret grin between them.
After Ezra had started speaking again, it hadn't taken them long to discover the curious, vibrant personality behind those bright blue eyes.
He still had moments where he would draw back in a shy or awkward way, but with each passing day those times were becoming fewer and farther in between.
But along with the snippy comebacks and talkative moments, came more of the youth's dark past.
It was during their second night in the hospital when Kanan had been awakened by a soft moan. He had bolted upright in the large chair he had been sleeping in. Trying to work out the crick in his neck, he looked over at Ezra.
The teen had been muttering frantically under his breath. Even in his sleep, his hands hadkept grasping the sheets tightly.
"Please, hurts." He murmured desperately.
"Stop." Even in the dim lighting, Kanan could make out his face, scrunched up in fear.
He leaned forward and gripped the child's arm, shaking it lightly.
"Come on kid," He said gently. "You're safe, wake up."
The youth didn't even react to his touch or voice. Instead he gasped, body going ridged. A soft cry of pain left his lips.
Kanan couldn't take it anymore. He sat on the bed and shook the boy, trying to wake him from what was obviously a nightmare.
"Ezra, wake up!"
Ezra had woken almost instantly, eyes shooting open. Seeing the man above him, he surprised his guardian by shooting upright. He wrapped his arms around Kanan's waist, gasping pitifully. Kanan recovered enough from his shock to rest one hand on the slim back, the other holding him close.
"It's alright. I'm here, you're safe. Now deep breaths, in, and out. Good boy."
Kanan had continued doing as he was, speaking softly and stroking his back, until Ezra's breathing had slowed and his trembling died down.
Once he was calm, Ezra then had pulled back and scrubbed at his face furiously. He looked down at his lap. Kanan rested a hand on his leg.
"You alright?" He asked. The teen nodded, but kept his eyes glued to his sheets.
"Sorry for bothering you." He muttered. Kanan had simply gave his knee a gentle squeeze.
"Kid, you weren't bothering me. It's fine." He tilted the small face up.
"I'd like to know what your dream was about though."
Ezra moved out of his grip, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around him.
"Trevor." He whispered, looking away again.
Kanan felt his blood start to boil at the mention of the man who had caused this child so much pain. He fought to keep his voice low and soothing.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Ezra shook his head, dark hair swaying at the movement. His bright eyes looked sad and scared in the moonlight shining through the window.
"Not really." He admitted with a small shrug. He pulled his knees closer.
"Alright." Kanan shifted so he sat beside the teen, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him closer.
"You know I won't force you to talk about anything, but you do know that if you ever need to, you can come to me or Hera at anytime, about anything, right?"
Ezra met his gaze as he curled hesitantly into the man's side.
"Right."
Now, watching Ezra wriggle eagerly, it was hard for Kanan to believe that a teen so seemingly happy and energetic could have such a cruel and heartbreaking past. Why? What could one human being do to deserve such a life?
Kanan's thoughts were interrupted as the doctor, a older man with graying hair and a friendly face walked in.
"Hey there. How is our young friend doing today?" He asked as he removed the stethoscope from around his neck.
"And tell the truth." Hera warned, though her tone still remained light and gentle.
"Better than I was." Ezra said, watching the doctor as he pressed his stethoscope against his chest.
"Still a little bit tired though. And my head hurts."
"That's normal." The doctor, Joe, said as he moved his equipment to the left.
"You're still ill and your body's still working on fighting it off. It'll take a few days to feel normal again. Now take a deep breath. Good."
After listening for a bit longer and asking questions pertaining to the teen's health, he placed his equipment around his neck again.
"Lungs are clear. I'll prescribe some antibiotics, but I believe he's well enough to finish recovering at home. Just make sure he gets plenty of rest and drinks as much liquid as he wants. If his condition worsens, please don't hesitate to bring him back."
Both guardians sighed with relief at that.
"Thank you sir." Kanan stood to shake Dr. Joe's hand. Hera, ruffling Ezra's hair, also extended her gratitude. The doctor nodded with a small smile.
"I'm happy to be of help. If one of you would like to come with me, we'll go ahead and get him sighed out. After that, you're free to go."
"I'll go." Kanan turned to his wife and the teen.
"Get ready to leave. I'll be right back."
Once both men had left, Hera handed his Ezra his shoes. She couldn't help the laugh that escaped as he fumbled eagerly, putting them on.
"What's wrong? Got your fingers tied?" She said teasingly.
Ezra grinned sheepishly as he finally managed to get one on, moving on to tie the laces of his other shoe.
"I can't help it. I just can't wait to get home."
Home. Such a strange word on his tongue. After almost eight years on his own, he had never thought it would apply to him ever again, let alone saying it with such warmth and affection. It left a tingling feeling in his chest that felt weird, but in a good way.
"Me too kid." The woman returned his smile.
"Place's felt empty without you. Not even Chopper has helped."
"You mean that cat you found?" He giggled. "How'd you convince Kanan on that one?"
"It wasn't easy, let me tell you." She said with another laugh. "If he had his way, the poor thing wouldn't have stepped within ten feet within the house."
Ezra was about to say something when Kanan returned, followed by a young nurse, who was pushing a wheelchair. Ezra raised an eyebrow when he saw it.
"What's that for?"
"It's your ride." Was Kanan's only answer.
"But I can walk!" Ezra protested. In truth, he was not lying when he told the doctor that he was feeling better, but his legs still felt weak and he really didn't want to put any weight on them. But the hospital staff had already done so much for him, it didn't seem right to impose upon them again.
"Too bad." Kanan crossed his arms. "You don't get a choice. They have to do this with every patient."
The nurse decided to add to it.
"Come on now, I won't bite." She patted the chair with an encouraging smile. Ezra hesitated only moment longer before sliding off the bed and sinking down into the chair.
Soon they were out at the car. Hera had set up the backseat with a pillow and blanket so Ezra could ly down and rest on the almost hour long drive home if he wished.
They hadn't been on the road for five minutes when Kanan turned to look in the back and found the teen asleep. He was curled up on the seat, one arm tucked underneath his pillow and blanket draped over his small frame.
Hera, at the wheel, stole a glance through the rearview mirror and smiled affectionately.
"He's a good kid, isn't he?" She said softly so as not to disturb their young charge.
"Yeah." Kanan replied in a voice just as quiet, watching the boy's chest rise and fall with every breath. It was rare that he saw Ezra this peaceful. The sight of his normally hidden innocence raised a familiar feeling that he knew all too well from caring for Zeb and raising Sabine. It was a feeling of protectiveness, that he would take on the entire world if it meant keeping the youth this content, protected.
Finally, after one more drawn out look, Kanan turned back around. He noticed Hera's frown as she stared down the street ahead.
"What is it?"
It was almost a entire minute before she acknowledge the question. She let loose a soft sigh before whispering.
"It's just…When we get home. What do you think will happen? I mean, with Sabine and…you know." She didn't need to elaborate any more. She had filled Kanan in on both teens' connection to each other, and on Sabine's guilt. The girl had hardly even visited the hospital, saying she was taking care of the house while they were gone.
Kanan and Hera knew otherwise.
The man's face also became concerned. He took another glance to make sure Ezra was still asleep before whispering back.
"I don't know. Maybe we should talk to Sabine when we get back. Ultimately she should decide when to tell him-or whether she even will."
"I know." Hera took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"Don't you just wish you could go back in time and keep it from occurring? Save them both from the pain?"
Kanan squeezed her knee in reply. He knew all too well what she meant. He would give anything to fix the past-and spare them from the pain. Yet there wasn't anything her could do.
He could only give his support to both teens when they needed it most and pray that things would work out.