Finally this week is over! Sorry for taking so long to update y'all, but this week was super busy. I should be able to start updating more often now though.

This chapter was a struggle to write. If I messed up anywhere plz let me know.

The rebels hurried down the hallway. Sabine scouted ahead while the others followed at a slower pace. Zeb cradled Ezra in his arms, while Kanan limped along behind. Zeb glanced at him.

"What happen'd to you?"

"Just a graze." The Jedi tried to blow it off. "I'm fine."

Zeb had just opened his mouth to retort just as Sabine returned. "All clear except for a couple of troopers. Already dispatched them." She held up her blasters.

"Let's go then

…

They almost didn't make it back to the Ghost in time. Alarms had alerted the troopers that they were there and they were soon intercepted. Sabine covered them as they ran onto the ship, keeping the troopers back.

They had barely went into hyperspace when the pilot was upon the Jedi, hugging him tightly. "Thank goodness you're safe." She murmured, her breath tickling his ear. She then released him, turning to the others standing behind him. She noticed the youth dangling from Zeb's arms. Her bright eyes widened and she hurried forward.

"What happened? Is he alright?" She scanned him over for injuries.

Kanan hesitated. "Not really."

Hera whirled around to meet his gaze. "What do you mean, not really?" She demanded.

Kanan didn't answer immediantly, instead motioning to the lasat.

"Zeb, can you go put the kid in bed? Sabine, bring me a med kit, please?" It was then Hera noticed his leg.

She forced him to sit on the couch, feeling around the injury with experienced fingers.

"You're lucky. The blast didn't hit anything major." She accepted the kit that Sabine offered her, opening a bottle of anticeptic and pouring a small amount on the wound. Kanan hissed in pain.

"Sorry." Still Hera didn't pause as she finished cleaning the wound. She ripped open a bacta patch and placed it over the wound.

Once she finished she leaned forward, propping her chin on her fists and meeting the Jedi's eyes.

"Now, care to tell me what happened in there?"

She listened intently as Kanan explained about their capture and how during the attempted escape Ezra had been exposed to chemicals, and the teen's violent reaction to it. Her face betrayed her concern.

"What are we going to do?"

Kanan sighed as he met her eyes.

"Wait, I guess. There's nothing else we can do."

…

Kanan sat crossed legged on his bed, meditating when he felt it. Through the force came confusion, then terror. He instantly knew where these emotions were coming from.

"Ezra!" He jumped up and raced out of the room. He didn't have to go far; the room that the young padawan shared with Zeb was just down the hall.

He quickly palmed open the door and was shocked at the sight before his eyes.

Ezra was standing, albeit wobbly, with his back pressed against the far wall. In his shaking hands he held his lightsaber, pointing it at Zeb.

The lasat was holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. His head shot up when the Jedi entered.

"What happen…" Kanan was cut off by the teen.

"Stay back!" Ezra turned the weapon so it was facing the Jedi instead.

"You can't fool me, I know you're not him!" Kanan stared at the teen, noticing the sweat pouring off his face and his glazed eyes. The youth was still under the control of the chemicals.

He gave a mental sigh. 'Will this stuff ever wear off?' He thought.

"What are you talking about, kid?" Kanan kept his voice soft, taking a step in the boy's direction. Ezra flinched at his approach and whimpered. Yet his grip on his weapon didn't lessen.

"This is a trick. You're not real. None of this is real."

"I'm real, kid. This isn't a trick."

Ezra let out a broken laugh that was cut off by a soft sob.

"Yeah right. What do you want? Information on my crew, 'cause you ain't getting it." He coughed, a large hacking sound that shook his entire body. His grip on the lightsaber lessened.

Kanan took advantage of the distraction. He held out his hand and used the force to pull Ezra's lightsaber out of the teen's hand and into his own. He threw the weapon to the side and rushed forward, pulling Ezra tightly against him.

Ezra squirmed in his grip, trying to escape the tight hold his master had on him. Kanan only held him closer and tried to whisper soothingly to him in an attempt to calm him. He only struggled harder.

"Let me go, please!" The man's heart broke when he saw the tears dripping down Ezra's face. He wanted deperatly to wipe them away, but to do so would have meant to loosen his embrace on the boy.

Ezra whimpered in fear, his struggles dying down as he realized that Kanan wouldn't be letting go anytime soon. His legs trembled,the man's grip the only keeping him upright.

Kanan slowly eased himself onto the ground, guiding the boy down onto the ground with him. He gently brushed down Ezra's thick hair. He rocked the teen, shushing him softly to sooth him.

He heard the door swish open behind him, heard Hera ask what happened. Ezra jumped at the sound of her voice, startled. Kanan pushed his head down onto his shoulder, sending comforting waves through their bond. Ezra soon relaxed. Within a few minutes he was out, sleeping peacefully against his mentors shoulder.

Hera knelt beside Kanan, reaching out to rest a hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?"

"The chemicals are still in his system. He thought that I wasn't real and…" He sighed.

"I'm worried about him." He admitted. "What if he doesn't recover from this? What'll we do?"

The pilot bit her lip. "I don't know."

Zeb, who had been silent this whole time, stepped forward. He knelt and held out his arm. Kanan was reluctant, but transferred the sleeping child over the the lasat's arms. Ezra stirred, but didn't wake at the movement.

Zeb cradled him gently. His face was unusually concerned.

"Poor kid." He stood carefully and walked over to the bunk. He laid Ezra down on his bunk, arranging his limbs into a more comfortable position. Hera came over, taking the discarded blanket and tucking the boy in. She cupped his cheek.

"Come on, sweetie." She murmured.

"Come back to us."

…..

It was the next day when Hera's comm went off. She switched it on.

"Spector two here."

Kanan's voice crackled over the small device.

"He's awake." He didn't have to say anything else; the happiness in his voice told her all she needed to know.

She raced to Ezra's room to find the others already there surrounding the youth. Ezra was sitting up in bed, leaning against Kanan as he protested over Sabine scolding him for being so reckless.

"It wasn't my fault! The panel fell and….." Just then he noticed the twi'lek in the doorway. His eyes lit up.

"Hera!" He stretched his arms out. Hera smiled, stepping forward and embracing the boy. Relief flowed through her. He was safe. Her crew was safe.

And at that moment, that was all that mattered