A/N: I've been so caught up with changing jobs lately that I haven't had much time to write, unfortunately. :( I tried to update my other Star Wars fic, Raiders of Tatooine, earlier this week. If you're new to this story, try giving my other fic a read, too!

This chapter sort of sums up why Han was so insistent that Leia felt something for him in the beginning of the Empire Strikes Back on Hoth. It's obviously just my own guess, but I hope you all enjoy anyhow!

Please leave a review if you read so I know how to better my story for you! :)

XIV

Chewbacca had finally steered the Corellian ship into a path straight for the planet of Naboo. Leia hadn't wanted him to get the ship too far out of the Corellian system's orbit in case Luke found his way back quickly, but despite her personal feelings for her friends, she knew it was best for the Rebellion if the group met back with them as soon as possible, and they were surely nearing Naboo by now.

While she let Chewie do his thing, the Princess ducked into the hull of the small ship and attempted to bring up the universal broadcast system. Unfortunately, the pieces weren't all installed by the time they took the hunk of metal from Renn, which was part of the bargaining Han had been doing with the old man after he discussed the shield generators. Thankfully, she could send message to anyone within a close range of them, but her hopes of video to prove her identity quickly faded when the playback screen refused to surface from its storage place in the wall.

"This is Leia Organa of the Rebel Alliance," she recorded, trying her best to speak slowly for the broadcast. "The Empire tracked Captain Solo into the Corellian system. Our current location will remain secure." She thought for a moment, then added, "Anyone who hears from Commander Skywalker is encouraged to contact me immediately. Until then, proceed to base."

Leia hoped her message would reach someone from the Alliance, but she didn't expect much. Now, their best shot was trying to reach Naboo before they ran out of resources.

Then, the doors slide open to the hull and revealed a very gold droid. His arms waved about as he spoke, obviously showing off that he was excited. "Ah, Princess, there you are!"

"Threepio," she greeted, closing the broadcaster. "How is Han?" Leia had left the droid with Han in the bunk, just in case he were to wake up while she stepped out.

"Well, I'm not sure," he told her, suddenly sounding depressed. Then, his mood heightened again, forgetting about the pilot in the bunk. "Chewbacca sent me to inform you that Master Luke has been located!"

"Luke? Where?"

"Artoo sent us an encoded message, and my components easily made out the translation. Master Luke is home on Tatooine!"

Leia was silent for a moment, remembering where the desert planet stood in reference to their current position. It wasn't close, but it wasn't across the galaxy, either. She thanked the droid, who looked sullen when she wasn't as ecstatic as he was, and then made her way to the cockpit to seek comfort from the Wookie pilot.

When she entered, she found Chewie silently reading the navigation maps. Only two small blips were present, but lacked color to their dots, so she wasn't concerned. Red would mean the Empire had figured out Luke's decoy to get the others away from Vader safely. Blue would mean the Rebels were in range. The small gray spots, however, told her that the ships were piloted by droids for transporting goods back and forth between planetary systems: nothing to be afraid of.

The Wookie growled a greeting to the Princess as she sat down in what would be Han's seat next to him. This time, he wasn't upset with her. She had risked her time and almost her life in order to rescue his friend, so she could sit in his seat for a little while.

"Have you heard from Luke?" she asked Chewie, observing all of the buttons and switches on the dash in front of her. How Han knew what he was doing on anything that flew was beyond her.

Chewie answered her question.

"He must not have heard my message," she decided. "Threepio told me Artoo had reached us, but I hadn't heard anything from the Rebellion yet."

The Wookie gargled again. Leia was slightly frustrated that by now, she still didn't understand Wookie talk well enough to make out what he was saying. She assumed he had confirmed that statement, as well. Then, his growls turned into something that reminded her of a Squib's purr.

"I haven't checked on him in a while," she answered. "I'm sure he'll be fine." It was a lie, but she wouldn't tell her new friend anything else.

Before she could say any more, she heard a bang and footsteps from the hall behind the cockpit. Then, the clank of metal footsteps followed. Before she could react, she heard the voice of the golden droid from the corridor, echoing through the ship, and the doors to the cockpit swooshed open.

"Captain Solo, you must sit back down!" Threepio cried, his arms once again flailing around in the air in a frenzy. "You have not been given an antidote yet!" When Han stumbled into the cockpit, ignoring the droid, he paused for what would be a sigh, and then muttered, "Humans… I just don't understand their wiring!"

"Han!" Leia swiveled around in her chair, Chewie following suit. She barely believed the pilot managed to make his way into the cockpit, let alone get out of bed. Then, she jumped out of her chair and went to his side, giving him aid by grabbing onto the arm that wasn't clutching onto the wall for support. "You shouldn't be out of bed!"

Han stumbled and tumbled onto a knee, trying to keep himself from falling. Though he was awake, he still felt the effects of the poison running through his veins. When Leia grabbed his arm to stabilize him, he smiled his half crooked smile and looked up at her.

"I got it, your worship," he told her. His words stung, but his smile let her know he was actually trying to be friendly.

"I'm taking you back to the bunk," she informed him, and stood.

Han got back onto his feet as she rose, using her as help, even though he told her it was unnecessary. One thing the smuggler hadn't yet learned was humility or graciousness, Leia noted.

"Easy, Princess," Han warned, shaking her off. "Someone's gotta pilot this ship. Chewie can't do it all on his own."

The Wookie yowled from his seat, angry that his friend was attempting something so foolish.

"See, Chewie's got this," Leia told Han softly. She attempted to turn him around to walk him back to his bed. "Luke will be back with an antidote soon." It was a lie, but it was no use explaining what had happened to Han since he was rescued.

"Antidote?" Han mocked, not commenting on Luke being off of the ship. "I've been hit with a lot of bad stuff on that ship," he informed Leia. "I'm immune to almost all of it."

Leia frowned. She knew Han was making excuses, but he did seem better than expected, given Threepio had told her his conditions would be very serious without a remedy. "Let me take you back to bed," she begged him. "Please."

Solo knew when Leia added 'please', she meant business. Usually, as a former Senator, she was able to persuade someone into giving her what she wanted. With her friends, she was short and sincere. And judging by her reaction when he came to the last time they were in the bunk, Han figured she had more reason to be sincere with him.

Giving in, he rolled his eyes and turned back towards the door. "Chewie, you come and get me when it's time to land this thing!" he called over his shoulder as Leia pushed him back out of the cockpit. Chewbacca growled a sarcastic response, but Han was quick with his banter back. "Don't you even try to put her down by yourself! You hear me, fuzz ball? Remember what happened on that run to Tatoo II?!"

Leia pushed Han through the door and into the hallway back towards his bunk, allowing the doors to finally shut close behind them. He frustrated her more than words could say, but she didn't dare speak anything negative to him right now. He was still recovering, and she was just glad to have most of her friends accounted for. Even if not for her, the Rebellion would need their best pilots if they wanted to rid the galaxy of the Empire once and for all.

"Where'd the kid go, anyway?" Han asked Leia, still struggling to walk properly.

"To divert the Empire," she told him blankly. "They followed us after your stunt on Corellia."

Solo snorted incredulously. "Stunt? What are you calling a stunt?"

"You should have let them take me," she told him bitterly. Leia was upset with his games; had he not stepped in, he and Luke could have been on Naboo already.

"Why would I do that?" Han asked, stopping their progress back to the bunk. He looked Leia straight in the eye, much like he did every time he got serious with her. Well, every time he was serious and when he teased her.

"You all know I'm not fighter," she told him. "The Rebellion needs you more than it needs me."

"Hey, that's not true. " For a moment, Leia though Han could have manners. Then, "Who else would order us around all the time?"

Instead of arguing, she simply shot back, "I thought you only take orders from you."

For once, Leia left Han momentarily speechless. He could have sworn it was Shrike's poison making him think more slowly, but he knew she had him beat this time. He would play her game, just to prove he wasn't giving in to her.

"I'm taking orders from you right now, aren't I, your worship?"

"Only because you can't stand up straight," Leia said, ending her sentence with a slight sigh. She caught Han as he tried to take another step, holding him up by his arm.

"Why, Princess!" he exclaimed, trying to get a rise out of her. "At least take me to dinner first!"

Leia rolled her eyes but didn't let go. She was still afraid he would fall back onto his knees. "Watch it, hot shot."

Han grinned. "I guess I should've expected this."

Stunned by his atrocious behavior, Leia squinted her eyes in a glare and shot daggers at Solo. "You must still be sick," she hissed.

"Oh come on!" he retorted. "You know what I'm talking about."

For a moment, Han swore he saw embarrassment pass over Leia's face, but she wouldn't falter. She was too much a Senator to show him how she really felt, and she wasn't going to admit she had kissed him. As far as she knew, he was unconscious for it, anyway. If he told her he was awake, she wouldn't trust him. Granted, she barely trusted him as it was.

Sighing, Han glanced at the floor and quickly changed the subject before she could react. "Listen, if you don't wake me when Chewie goes to land this ship, we're all done for. Got it?"

Thankfully, Leia nodded. "Let's go, nerf herder," she ordered, tugging on his arm. "I want to get back to the monitor in case Luke calls."

Finally, he allowed her to escort him down the corridor and to his bed.