I do in fact have to see the sun again, and it is much earlier than I planned. A shrill beeping echoes around the room. I'm heavy and sweaty, weighed down by Rey's nearly naked bod. She's catching up on the years of restless sleep; she sure does take advantage of knowing I'll protect her.
I can't help but smile as I remember what happened last night. The images scatter and the obnoxious ringing starts again. What is it? I don't know what to do, I can't move. I don't know where the sound is coming from; I don't know what it is or if it's important.
Then as if a switch was flicked on inside my mind I realise it is the pager Starla gave me to notify me if there was any news to do with Poe...

I slowly twist my shoulder out from under Rey's head in hopes she will roll off, but she groans and her arms wrap deeper under me, squeezing my torso tighter. She moves her head back and snuggles into my neck again, grumbling to herself about something I can't understand. The alarm rings again and she immediately becomes alert, letting me go and slipping out of the bed to stand next to me; all in a matter of seconds.
"Whoa, Rey, it's okay, you can stay in bed," I swing my stiff legs out of the sheet and sit on the edge of the bed. I stretch and twist, and my neck aches as I look up at Rey, she still looks tired. Her hair has fallen out of its buns and she shifts her weight to adjust to her instantaneous flow of adrenaline and to help her stay focused.

"What's going on?" I push myself up and pull my shirt over my head, grabbing my jacket from the floor too.

"Something is happening with Poe, so I better go find out if he's okay."

"Do you want me to come with you?" When I look back at Rey she has fixed her hair neatly into three buns. How did she do that so quickly?

I shake my head. "You can go back to sleep. I'll be back later," I step forward and grab hold of her waist briefly while I gently kiss her forehead. I rummage through my bag to turn off the pager; I look back to watch Rey sit on the bed.
I walk out of our bedroom, down the hall, through our little living space and to the metal door, I key in the code it opens. It feels as if I'm locking Rey away when the large metal door closes behind me, but I know she can easily open it from the other side.

I begin the long journey through the barracks, limping past a few more housing units, past some of my old rooms and towards the infirmary. I try to calm my racing heart, I have no idea what I am going to find when I walk into the room.
When I open the door I see that he is alone, besides Leia who stands at the end of his bed. I look at Poe, he is still unconscious

"General," I address her so she knows of my presence.

"He's waking up; I thought you may want to be here. We don't know the full extent of his injuries, we don't know what to expect," I sigh and hobble up to her.

"Thank you, he'll be okay," she inhales a shaky breath. She nods and blinks a few times. I don't know if I am out of line but I step up to her and rub comforting and small circles between her shoulder blades. She turns to look at me, she is weighed down with responsibilities I wouldn't even be able to list and to top it off her confidant and right-hand man can't breathe on his own. She doesn't hide the admiration she has for Poe, but everyone seems to be okay with that.

I take the chair that still faces Rey's old bed and place it closer to Poe. I gesture for the General to take a seat, which she kindly rejects with a shake of her head. "No, I can't stay for much longer. You take it, rest your leg," I reluctantly oblige and slowly sit down. Just as I do a few of the monitors start to beep louder and a couple nurses rush in.
They remove the thick tube that is down his throat and adjust a few of the gauges on some monitors. Poe grumbles as the nurses work around us. I hear his heartbeat monitor accelerate and his wheezy breathing deepens. I know this feeling – I had it too when I woke up – not knowing where you are, if you're safe. He seems too scared to open his eyes and find out.

I rest my hand on his shoulder, "Hey, Poe, it's Finn. I've got you," this seems to calm him enough to open his eyes.

"Finn, what are you doing here? What happened?" His voice is thick and his eyes are heavy, his entire body is weighed down with medication. He attempts to turn his head, but struggles because of the neck brace.

"Mr Dameron, please do not move your neck until we have an understanding of your injuries." The young nurse who was so wary and upset when she interrupted Rey and I that afternoon quietly avoids eye contact and does not sound assertive.

Poe is kind to her, watching her every move, "Gotcha," he keeps his head straight but moves his eyes to make contact with me.

"I couldn't let you have all the fun," I answer his question, he smiles weakly. "You crashed," I add simply and he seems mortified at the prospect someone could bring him down.

He is silent.
His face changes, his lip shakes, he takes a breath and looks away from me. As he does he notices the other person in the room.

"General?" Poe's voice is quiet as he asks for his superior to come closer. I take my hand from his shoulder and sit back against the chair; she then sits on the edge of his bed.

"The doctor will see you shortly," The nurse says quietly, wheeling a few monitors to the side of the room.

"Thank you," Poe says and the nurse nods, blushes a little but tries to hide it by keeping her head down as she leaves the room.
"How many did we lose?"

"Thirteen," Poe sighs and I see some of the weight burdening General Organa transfer onto Poe's shoulders. The nurses are still working around us.
The General starts to then rub his leg to comfort him. He looks at her hand, and sighs before he clears his throat discretely.

His voice still breaks when he asks: "What happened to you?"

"Just got burnt, that's all?"

"I hope you got your revenge," I laugh and shake my head.

"It was an accident, she didn't mean to," Poe looks at me with confusion, I've said too much... I don't mind telling him, it's Rey I don't want to find out.

"Did one of ours do that to you?" Poe looks at the General and then back at me. I shake my head.

"One of mine," my lips twitch but I try to supress my smile.

"Rey?" He raises his brows, and ironically my chest puffs with an arrogant pride. I nod and the General looks at me with a quizzical expression.

"I just don't have the best luck when it comes to lightsabers." Poe and General Organa exchange looks of surprise, Poe laughs.

"You can say that again," Poe jokes and I grin.

"I best be off, lots to do," the General squeezes Poe's leg softly before she stands and heads for the door.

"Thank you for being here, both of you," Poe calls as the General opens the door she turns and smiles quickly before leaving.

"You did the same for me," Poe looks back at me, smiling a small smile.

"I guess I did," he replies and we both chuckle.