Title: "You look Tense"

Summary: A collection of AU moments between Luke & Mara and how their friendship progressed over the years and how they have helped each other relieve 'tension'

Rating: M

She dragged him over the airlock, R2D2 already inside and she slammed the door release button.

"R2, get us out of here!" Mara Jade's voice cut through the air and the droid quickly moved to obey her command. She dropped to the ground beside him, her wired emerald eyes quickly scanning his injuries. The norvsak had attacked them from the west and he stupidly pushed her out of the way taking the brunt of the attack. She moved to his hip where she saw blood and pulled away the remnants of his tunic then cursed.

"It's fine," Luke's voice was tight and full of pain but she felt him trying to sooth her through the force. She ignored him, her hands working fast, her brain taking over and not allowing her time to panic so she could stop the bleeding.

"Stop moving," she ordered and he lay still, wincing painfully as she continued to work on his hip. He soaked through another bacta patch and she huffed. She glanced up and saw that his face was tight with pain, his skin pale and almost translucent. He was mentally and physically exhausted. She felt him try and use the force to put himself in a healing trance to help the wound yet he didn't have the strength. She gulped and ran a hand across his cheek, intently looking into his face. "Luke," she breathed and his eyes popped open. "Do you trust me?" She asked quickly and he nodded without hesitation. "Don't move," she ordered strongly and he gulped. She eased his head back down and stood. He heard the snap hiss of a light saber and he squinted his eyes together tightly knowing exactly what she was about to do. She anchored her feet, one around his other hip, the other foot at his lower thigh so he wouldn't jump out of the way. Luke held his breath then let out a piercing scream. It echoed around the empty ship as it lurched into space but she knew that was the only thing that could cauterize the wound. She quickly turned off the saber and tossed it to her left, dropping down. Her eyes peered the charred flesh and let out a breath, her adrenaline quickly fleeing out of her as she noticed the bleeding had stopped. She glanced at his face and closed her eyes, he had passed out. Clumsily she fell beside him, leaning against his chest as she tried to take an inventory of her own injuries. She was bleeding in a few places but nothing that would kill her. "R2…" she tried to call but finally the mission and stress took its toll and she rolled into unconsciousness next to the Jedi Master.

Consciousness trickled to him and he reached out to the force that had so long engulfed him. Immediately he was soothed by it, calm coming over him as he tried to grasp onto what he remembered last. Running. Beast. Mara.

His eyes snapped open and he attempted to move yet something heavy was on his left arm. He glanced that way and was suddenly assaulted by her force presence sleeping peacefully beside him. He heard a tuttle and glanced over her to see R2D2's domed head looking at him.

"What happened R2? Is she ok?" Luke asked quickly, his arm tightening around the sleeping trader. Both were curled into her bed, he was wearing clean clothes and so was she as he tried to take an inventory. She looked ok. A few scrapes and bruises. Her ankle was wrapped. R2 was talking at him and Luke blinked. "She did? How long have we been out? Oh… just me…" he whispered and laid his head back down, pulling Mara closer to him. Her arm was wrapped around his chest, her head nestled in his shoulder. Slowly he lifted his sleep shirt to check out his side but a hand suddenly stopped him and he stilled.

"Don't look," her groggy voice breathed across his chin. "It's still healing," she whispered and he let out a breath.

"You used a light saber on me," he muttered and she hummed an affirmation. "Genius," he breathed and she smirked, her eyes still closed. "Really impressed with your self control now," he muttered kissing her head and she hummed at him again.

"Don't worry, chicks dig scars," she soothed putting her hand over the bandage and he closed his eyes, not worrying about that in the least.

"Are you ok?" He questioned and she nodded once into his shoulder. "R2 said we are on our way to Coruscant. Be another day or so," he breathed against her forehead and she hummed lazily again.

"Now would be a good time to teach me about healing trances Skywalker," she muttered and his arms suddenly wrapped around her tightly. She stiffened. "Don't move!" She whined and he shook his head, his grip on her fierce.

"I'm right here," he soothed suddenly and she felt him reach out to her in the force and she let her barriers fall. They collided and she winced painfully quickly pulling some of herself back. Yet, the emotion was already flowing over her like a waterfall. "I'm so sorry," he whispered kissing her forehead and his shirt was wet. Why was his shirt wet? She moved to touch it when she realized it was her tears. She gasped in horror but he just continued to hold her tighter. She was crying. She had been worried about him. Afraid she had lost her best friend… "Talk about a surprise twist," he whispered and she slowly got a hold of herself. She had wrapped around him tightly, her sobs being buried in his chest yet at his words she slowly got a hold of herself. "Actually was afraid I'd die?" Luke questioned pulling back to gently cradle her face.

"Afraid I'd get blamed for it," Mara deadpanned and he wiped at her tears.

"He was coming at you, I had to," he quickly defended and she winced painfully.

"I can take care of myself. I was ready," she spat angrily and he could only shrug a shoulder. Sadly the move made him cry out in pain and she quickly moved, pushing him back into the bed as her frame hovered over him.

"I had to," Luke repeated pressing his forehead against her own and she sighed miserably.

"I'm the only one allowed to kill you Skywalker," she hissed heatedly, her eyes closed tight as she clung to him. He nodded quickly. "I'm going to have to tell your sister," she muttered and Luke's head fell back, a dramatic sigh leaving his lips. Mara smiled at it.

"I'm going to totally be healed by then," he whined and she sucked in a steadying breath, ready to jump into their easy verbal spar. She sent him comfort through their bond, his sense mingling with hers sweetly.

"I bet she doesn't know about the time you risked your neck against that turvak on Malastare," Mara began and Luke's eyes widened. "Or the time," she began but he gently grabbed her chin. Her words stopped as their eyes met. She was angry at him now. Anger mixed with fear and worry and he felt it through their bond. It was easy for him to feel her emotions… which was helpful since she was really good at hiding them. "Don't do stupid things farmboy," she hissed, her anger starting to sift out of her and he comforted her once more through the force.

"I will never stop protecting you," he swore and she gulped.

"Well, just do it smarter," she whined and he grinned brightly at her.

"Don't ever stop being my friend Jade," he breathed and she hugged onto him tightly, burying her head in his chest and he could have sworn he heard in his mind her say never. Gently he pulled up his shields around a piece of him and tried to figure that out. Could they talk to each other through the force? A smirk played on his lips and he held her tightly, sleep calling to him once more.