Their Hope

Chapter Five

Waking up in the morning, it takes Allie a second to remember where she is, and register that it's the knocking at her door that has awoken her. Slowly getting out of bed, Allie walks over to the door opening it, ignoring that she is dressed in just a pair of shorts and a tank top.

'Huh?' Allie looks confused as Rex is stood in front of her, blushing, wishing he had his helmet on rather than clipped to his belt.

'Good morning Allie,' Rex coughs slightly.

'Morning,' Allie says with a yawn, not realising her lack of clothes are making Rex uncomfortable as to her she is still covered and he can't see anything he shouldn't, she walks back into her room, leaving the door open as an invitation for Rex to come inside, and collects her robes. Rex hesitantly steps inside.

'I came to see if you wanted to get some breakfast, I've already sent Domino down to get theirs, and said I would come and see if you wanted any,' Rex explains his reason for waking the Jedi.

'Oh, thank you. That would be great. Give me a few minutes to get ready and I'll be all set,' Allie smiles at him walking into the fresher. Rex waits patiently as Allie gets ready. 'All set Rex, lead the way.'

Rex nods and they exit her room together. Allie puts her hand in the crook of Rex's arm as they walk. Rex pointing out any room he thinks she should know about as they pass them.

'Hope the boys weren't too much trouble last night,' Rex laughs at her comment.

'Once their heads hit their pillows they were out cold,' Allie giggles at that, as they enter the mess hall.

'So what's safe to eat?' Allie enquires with a smirk.

'ALLIE!' Hevy shouts and waves at her from the table Domino are sat at. 'Come sit with us!'

'Go on, I'll grab you something and bring it over,' Rex nudges her in Domino's direction, smiling encouragingly at her.

'Are you sure? I don't want to be a bother, I can get it myself,' Allie says quickly, worrying as she hates being a burden to anyone, or having people do things she is perfectly capable of doing.

'You're no bother Allie, go,' Rex tells her softly, causing her to smile before running off towards Domino squad.

'Don't go there Rex,' Cody says coming to stand beside him.

'I don't know what you mean vod,' Rex denies turning to get a tray for Allie and himself.

'Yes you do, she is a Jedi,' Cody calmly points out.

'I know, I know,' Rex sighs. 'There's just something about her.'

'Please be careful vod,' Cody cautions getting his own breakfast, Rex nods at him in reply.

'Vaar'tur boys,' Allie greets as she sits down between Fives and Echo.

'Vod'ika,' Fives smiles and gives her a one armed hug, which she happily returns.

'Oh hi,' Allie smiles turning her attention to the other troopers sat at the table. 'I'm Allie,' smiling at who she knows are the Teth survivors, Torrent.

'Good morning Ma'…' Del starts only for Allie to interrupt him.

'Oh please, please, there's no need for the Ma'am, it makes me feel old. Allie is just fine,' Allie insists.

'Good morning Allie. I'm Del, these are Coric, Zeer, Tipper, Nax and Attie.'

'Jate at urcir gar an,' Allie greets, surprising the troopers with her knowledge of Mando'a.

'Where…' Attie starts.

'A friend,' Cutup says before Attie can finish his question.

'Can we send out a memo or something saying not to call me Ma'am or General and that I can speak Mando'a, seems it would be easier than constantly repeating myself all the time,' Allie laughs as Rex places a tray down in front of her. 'Thank you,' Allie smiles blindingly up at him.

'And I can send that message out for you,' Rex tells her.

'That would be amazing, thank you… again,' Allie laughs before turning around to start eating, as Rex and Cody sit down to join them. Allie sits quietly listening to the chatter of the vode around her as she eats, smiling to herself.

'What has you smiling vod'ika?' Droidbait asks seeing Allie's expression.

'All of you,' Allie answers but doesn't elaborate just smiles more before returning to her food. Torrent look at each other confused, Rex and Cody just shrug at them.

Anakin enters the mess hall with Ahsoka at his side. 'Allie I would like to introduce you to my padawan Ahsoka Tano,' Anakin says once they reach the group, causing the men at the table to sit up straighter in the presence of their General. 'At ease men,' Anakin nods at them.

Allie gets up and smiles at Ahsoka kindly.

'It's very nice to meet you, um, Allie,' Allie laughs softly at Ahsoka for not knowing how to greet her, as she doesn't quite know herself. The Force whispers 'Master,' to her.

'Master, young one but just Allie is fine,' Allie smiles kindly. Anakin is shocked at hearing she is a master with her being so young, as are the troopers behind her, some feeling uncomfortable with calling her by only her name now, instead of her title.

'Do you think we could spar sometime? It gets boring just sparring against my master all the time,' Ahsoka asks, both woman laugh as Anakin huffs.

'Of course, we can go now if you like,' Allie offers.

'You can finish your breakfast first,' Coric says from the table with a disapproving scowl, seeing how little she has eaten. Allie looks down at her tray and feels her stomach churn at the thought of eating more.

'I'm full, really, I'm more a grazer than someone who eats big meals,' Allie explains kindly. 'Lead the way Ahsoka. Boys, you can split what I have left on my plate,' Allie tells Domino before walking out of the mess with Ahsoka.

'She needs to eat more than that, right?' Echo asks worriedly.

'Yes,' Coric grumbles. 'I swear Jedi have no concept of self-care.'

'Right men, who's up for some drills after breakfast,' Rex grins at hearing the groans from his brothers around the table.

'Have fun with that. I'm heading back to the Negotiator with General Kenobi,' Cody in forms Rex.

'I will see you off vod,' Rex says standing from the table with Cody and heading for the hanger bay where Obi-Wan is already waiting for Cody.

'General,' Rex and Cody says saluting.

'Commander Cody, Captain Rex,' Obi-Wan replies back with a small smile.

Cody and Rex turn to face each other and grasp forearms, pulling one another into a hug.

'Please be careful vod,' Cody whispers to him, not just in concerns with his safety in battle.

'I will be. You be careful too,' Rex replies, holding Cody a little tighter before letting go.

Rex moves to stand next to Anakin, who is saying his own goodbyes to his master, watching together as the shuttle leaves the hanger.

'Training?' Anakin asks Rex.

'Sir yes sir.'

'Need help? As my padawan has decided sparring with me is not exciting enough for her,' Anakin laughs, as Rex chuckles.

'Of course sir, you're help is always appreciated,' Rex replies as both walk off towards the training rooms.

The next few days are spent training. Allie working closely with Domino and Torrent, to learn how they fight and how best she can help protect them. Rex agreeing and placing Domino and Torrent together when training with the rest of the 501st.

'I swear if that girl doesn't start to eat more…' Coric mutters to himself as he walks into the rec room.

'She does eat,' Rex tries to defend her in her absence.

'Your opinion doesn't count when it comes to anything to do with Allie,' Del says, smirking.

'I don't know what you mean,' Rex replies blandly, not looking at Del, because he knows he isn't fooling any of his vods.

'You're not fooling anyone captain,' Fives says from his seat at the table where Domino are sat playing sabacc.

'Oh can we do the whole big brother threatening don't hurt our sister or we'll kill you, speech,' Cutup asks, receiving laughs from the other vode inside the room.

'I… no you cannot, because there is nothing to threaten me about,' Rex tells them with a half-hearted glare.

'You want there to be,' Echo nearly sings, smiling widely at their captain.

'It doesn't matter what I want,' Rex replies with a sigh.

Hevy opens his mouth to reply when the door to the rec room opens and Allie near enough storms in, looking very mad, which is really unusual for her.

'You called Yoda?!' Allie snaps coming to a stop in front of Coric and poking his chest, one poke for each word.

'You have to eat more and don't say the Force can sustain you, it doesn't need to when we are not in active combat,' Coric replies.

'I eat plenty, just not in big meals,' Allie denies. 'You didn't need to comm Yoda, you could have come and talked to me about it first,' Allie takes a step back, away from Coric, so she is stood next to Rex. 'I can't eat more.'

'Yes you can,' Coric says, but stops himself from saying more when he notices Allie look down and almost curl in protectively on herself, wrapping her arms around her waist.

'Allie,' Rex asks softly placing his hand on her shoulder but she leans into him completely, seeing her reaction Domino quickly stand and place themselves between Allie and Coric. The Force may have brought her here, may have gotten rid of her cancer but she still feels nauseous whenever she eats.

'I… I was sick, really sick, dying sick. The medication I was on made me throw up pretty much everything I would eat, so I still feel sick when I eat and sometimes have to fight to just keep it down. So no I can't really eat more, at least not at the moment,' Allie swipes at her eyes trying to catch the tears that are trying to fall, as she suddenly remembers everyone and everything she has had to leave behind, it all becoming just a little too much for her.

'Come here vod'ika,' Echo opens his arm, which Allie gladly steps into, trying to hold in her sobs. Rex motions for everyone else to leave the room, grabbing a hold of Coric's arm and pulling him from the room, knowing now isn't the time for him to apologise.

'Leave her with them, they'll take care of her,' Rex assures his brother, knowing he feels terrible about what just happened.

'You go back in with them, I'm sure she'd want you there too,' Coric tells Rex as he pulls his arm free from Rex's grip.

Rex nods and re-enters the rec room to see that Domino have ditched their armour and are just in their blacks, in a puppy pile around Allie.

'Do you need anything?' Rex quietly asks Fives, not wishing to disturb the calm in the room.

'No sir, we've got her,' Fives replies, dismissing Rex with a flick of his head, knowing they can take care of their vod'ika.

'Comm me if you do,' Rex says before standing, only for Allie to reach up and catch his hand.

'Tell Coric it's okay, I'm… I'm not mad or anything, not really. I know he was just concerned,' Allie says very quietly. Rex smiles and nods, squeezing her hand gently before letting go and leaving the room.

Mando'a translation

Vod- brother/sister

Vaar'tur- morning

Vod'ika- little sister/brother

Jate at urcir gar an- Good to meet you all