And here I am once again updating instead of doing my homework. Oh well.

LizzyLuna75: I was torn between mechanic and street fighter, and street fighter won out because it would cause some conflict.

I know I've said in the past that I hate misunderstanding/lack of communication conflict. Well...I'm sorry?

Mando'a translations at the end!

Ahsoka had not been having a pleasant day. For one, she had woken up late; she and Rex had spent too much time reading the night before. She didn't regret it. That time they spent together was precious to her.

That meant Anakin was in a testy mood when Ahsoka arrived twenty minutes later than normal. Incidentally, Padme had seemed as calm as ever.

"Ahsoka, today is extremely important!" Anakin had scolded. "Today the Trandoshans-"

Anakin had stopped short.

"Come to think of it, do you want to stay with the twins today?"

"Master, it'll be okay." Ahsoka had told him, though her insides had been twisting with anxiety.

She had been mostly right. She was definitely more on edge that day, especially when the Trandoshan delegation had arrived. Did they have to dress in their hunter's outfits? She hadn't been able to stop herself from flinching hard when they first came into the room. At one point Padme had given them an answer they didn't want, and the leader had stepped forward threateningly. Ahsoka had struggled to force herself to stand in front of Padme with her hand on her lightsabers instead of cowering away and hiding.

The day had been a huge success for Padme. The Trandoshan's bid for membership in the Republic had been rejected as long as they continued the hunting and murdering of sentients. The Trandoshans had taken the news in stride. Padme told Ahsoka that they hoped to join the CIS, but the new leaders of the CIS were just as against the hunts.

"If only the Senate were as quick to defend the lives of clones." Padme had lamented as they left.

Ahsoka hadn't realized how shaken she was until she got home. A disgruntled Jesse had informed her that Rex had gone on 'personal business.' Ahsoka was at first annoyed. She had been very much looking forward to reading with him. Then the hours passed with no word from Rex. Ahsoka's mind started making dark conclusions. The Trandoshans were on the planet, and they had confessed today to have hunted clones in the past. Rex, as a Captain, would make a tempting target.

Fives and Jesse nearly had to physically restrain her from running off in search of Rex.

"He's probably in some musty bookshop." Fives had said. "Don't worry Commander."

Ahsoka had worried. She felt like she could be sick. She had resolved that at midnight she would go searching for him. Luckily it was ten minutes til when Anakin called them.

"He's on his way home." Anakin promised. "He's okay."

"Where has he been?" Ahsoka had demanded.

"I'd better let him tell you."

What did that mean? Ahsoka was ready to fully interrogate Rex when he returned. She managed to get her first accusation out when she caught sight of his face and shoulder. The tears in his flesh there matched the ones she found on bodies on Wasskah. A loud ringing filled her head. Then Rex said the word Trandoshan.

Ahsoka's blood froze. The Trandoshans had tried to take Rex. He had gotten away, but what if they came for him? What if they came for her?

The room melted away and she was surrounded by trees and bushes. She was back on Wasskah.

Even after Rex had calmed her, Ahsoka had a fitful night. Her own nightmares combined with Rex's left her feeling distinctly unrested. It was so frustrating. Didn't he see how it would help them both if he let her in? She lay awake in the early hours of the morning, stewing.

Finally voices in the kitchen drew her out. Rex was sitting on a kitchen chair, being fussed over by Kix. Rex's chest and ribs were spattered with dark bruises. Ahsoka realized that she still didn't quite know what happened to him. Ahsoka shook herself. She was not staring. She wasn't. She was just assessing his injuries. Jesse loomed over Kix and Rex with his arms folded.

"You can't just leave injuries like this untreated, Rex!" Kix was scolding as he sprayed bacta on Rex's cheek.

Rex ignored the comment. His eyes flicked up to Ahsoka. A slight blush colored his cheeks and he immediately fixated his eyes forward on nothing.

Kix and Jesse noticed the movement and glanced in Ahsoka's direction. Kix's face split into a grin.

"Give me a minute to patch this di'kut up, Commander." He said.

Ahsoka smiled back at him and nodded. She moved into the kitchen, but kept her eyes on the three. Jesse was taking his turn at lecturing.

"I told you to not do one thing last night and it was to not get arrested." Jesse said. "And you go and get arrested."

Arrested? What did that have to do with a Trandoshan? Ahsoka kept a montral perked as she rummaged through the fridger.

"I'm just surprised you attacked someone." Kix muttered. "After all that lecturing of yours about being careful, you go and pull a stunt like this."

"You didn't hear him." Rex said quietly. "I admit that I shouldn't have."

Rex had attacked a Trandoshan?

"You're just saying that because you got caught." Jesse said. "And the cops beat you up."

"What?" Ahsoka burst out.

Jesse and Kix looked at her. Rex kept his gaze lowered after meeting her eyes for a moment.

"That's right, you weren't there when Rex told us what happened." Jesse said. "Yeah, most of this is from the police."

Ahsoka stared at Rex's battered body. The claw marks were obviously Trandoshan, but what about the rest?

"Don't worry, Commander." Rex muttered. "Chancellor Amidala will sort them out."

Ahsoka glared at him. Padme wouldn't throw the kriffing scum off a building like they deserved.

Kix finished applying bacta to Rex's ribs and leaned back.

"You're not to lead any physical drills for the men." Kix said. "Or run, or do anything strenuous. If it's not paperwork, check with me first."

Ahsoka could nearly feel Rex's frustration.

"Fine." He muttered and started to pull his top back on.

"Now that that's taken care of-" Kix said, turning around. "How're you, Commander?"

Ahsoka squeezed him into a hug, which he returned with only a little hesitation. Most clones were at least a little uncomfortable with physical contact from anyone other than a vod. Fives was one of the exceptions.

"Jesse says you've been out on relief missions." Ahsoka said after she let go.

Kix nodded.

"It's the first time I've been back since the war was over." He said.

Ahsoka blinked.

"Sounds like you've been busy."

Kix laughed.

"Yes, sir. Only reason they sent me back is because they want me trained as a real doctor."

"He's one of six clone medics out of all of the GAR they decided to train as doctors." Jesse interjected.

His chest was puffed out proudly and looked more pleased than when he'd told Ahsoka he'd made ARC trooper. Of course, this was Jesse's vod'ika they were talking about.

Most clones had a specific brother they were extremely close with. The pairs were usually the ori'vod and vod'ika, regardless if one was actually older. The connection could be formed at any time in a clone's life. Echo and Fives were ones that were practically born as vod'ika and ori'vod. Ahsoka knew that Cody and Rex had bonded during training, and Jesse and Kix had found each other early out in the field. Fives had even adopted Tup as his vod'ika after Echo's presumed death. Ahsoka had been touched when Boost once told her that Wolffe considered her his vod'ika.

Kix looked down, abashed at his ori'vod's praise.

"I think it was mostly because I was part of the 501st." He said.

"Don't see Coric being trained." Jesse said smugly.

"That's because Coric has the bedside manner of a Rancor." Kix replied, though he was smiling.

"Face it, Kix." Ahsoka told him. "You're one of the best medics the GAR has ever seen."

"Thanks, Commander." Kix said.

Fives opened the door dramatically at that point.

"Someone owes us credits." He declared.

They all looked at Rex.

"All right." Rex said. "Fair's fair."

"You owe us 20 credits each." Fives said.

"What?" Rex asked with a frown. "That's not-"

"With Jesse, we always know where he is." Fives interrupted. "With you, you ran off to who knows where. And I think we can agree that it's far worse that way."

Ahsoka and Jesse nodded in agreement. When Jesse went past curfew, it was almost good for a laugh. Watch Jesse sneak in and get lectured by Rex, and collect her credits. Last night she had been terrified.

"You scared us, Rex." Ahsoka said.

His eyes softened somewhat as he looked at her.

"Tell you what, I'll drop it to fifteen if you tell us where you were." Fives said.

Rex reached into his pocket and dropped a handful of credits into Fives' hand. He did the same to Jesse and Ahsoka. Ahsoka looked down at the handful. She quickly counted them. Twenty credits. Rex was retreating back into his room. Jesse, Fives, and Kix stared at his back. Ahsoka followed him.

"Rex-" She said, catching his arm. "Where were you?"

He looked down at her. His brow creased before looking away.

"I was searching for your employer in the undercity." He said.

Ahsoka's eyes widened with shock.

"That's why you were down there? You were looking for Grif?" She asked. Her voice rose.

Rex nodded.

"It was all I had to go off of." He said.

"Rex, how many times do I have to tell you?" Ahsoka said testily. "It doesn't matter!"

"It does matter!" Rex's voice was almost a shout.

Ahsoka was speechless. Rex had never, outside a battle situation, raised his voice at her.

"Stop telling me it doesn't kriffing matter!" He said.

"It doesn't!" Ahsoka snapped. "Leave it alone, Rex! If I wanted you to know, I'd tell you!"

Rex recoiled and a sharp stab of something like betrayal spiked the Force around him. Ahsoka suddenly realized how much not knowing hurt him. Shame tinged her anger and she whirled around.

"I'm going to work." She threw the words over her shoulder.

She burst back into the living room to see Jesse, Fives, and Kix frozen and staring at her. Kriff, she had forgotten they were here.

The silence from the room echoed in her ears as she stalked paat them. Part of her whispered that Rex was upset because he cared. Another, louder part argued that if he cared, he would accept her decision to not talk about it.

It was amazing how such a short argument, if it even could be called that, could upset her this much. There was a pit in her stomach for the rest of the day and she was short tempered with Padme. Padme had given her an annoyingly knowing look at the end of the day and had asked if everything was all right. Ahsoka had opted to lie through her teeth.

Rex was almost lost in a cloud of awkwardness and frustration when she returned home. He barely greeted her and quickly retreated to his room. Fives and Jesse were awkward, but both made an effort of normalcy. Jesse did excuse himself very early for a date. That left Fives and Ahsoka for a silent dinner. Ahsoka's offering was worse than usual, but Fives didn't say anything.

Ahsoka knew what she had to do, but part of her still seethed with anger and frustration. She wasn't going to apologize if she was still angry.

The next day was much of the same, except the prospect of apologizing seemed harder than before. The comfortable warmth between Rex and Ahsoka had cooled.

It was the same the next day, and the next. Rex refused to look her in the eyes. At least she thought he wouldn't. She was usually working on not looking him in the eyes. The long evenings of reading together were replaced with sitting stone like at the dinner table and retreating to their rooms as quickly as they could.

Ahsoka was unbelievably unhappy. She sensed Rex felt the same.

And yet Ahsoka was unyielding. Something rock hard inside her balked at admitting any mistake on her part. It felt better to pretend that it was all Rex's fault. He shouldn't have pried, should have let things go.

The apartment was no longer a pleasant place to be. Jesse was gone even more, using Kix and Rhys as excuses. Fives mostly moped around the living room, shooting them both dirty looks.

Finally, one evening about a week after the initial argument, Fives cornered her.

"This has to stop." He said.

Ahsoka feigned ignorance.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Cut the osik, Commander." Fives said tersely. "I'm sick of you two pretending the other doesn't exist!"

"We're not ignoring you; why should you care?" Ahsoka responded.

"Because it's kriffing annoying!" Fives snapped. "I have to deal with a pair of dramatic cadets having their first fight with a batchmate instead of my Captain and Commander."

Ahsoka flushed with anger.

"If I thought he'd listen-"

"That's not it." Fives interrupted. "Rex worships the ground you walk on; he's not going to give up a chance to make up."

Ahsoka blinked at Fives' description of Rex, but plowed on.

"Then why hasn't he apologized?"

Fives rolled his eyes.

"Because you both have more pride than water in your bodies. And you're as stubborn as General Skywalker."

Fives suddenly sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Look, I understand why you don't want to talk about where you were. I do. But this is making you both miserable, which makes me and Jesse miserable." He said. "One of you is going to have to suck it up and apologize, or move out."

Ahsoka didn't say anything, considering what Fives said.

"Don't you give me the silent treatment too." Fives warned.

"I'm not." Ahsoka said. "I'm just thinking."

Fives grinned.

"A step in the right direction. Maybe I should yell at Rex too."

Ahsoka was still mulling over Fives' words the next day at the Senate building. After a few hours, when Padme called a break, Master Plo sidled up to Ahsoka.

"'Soka." He greeted her. "Are you perhaps ready to speak about what has been troubling you?"

Ahsoka blinked, though it shouldn't have been surprising that Plo would know she was upset and the exact moment she was ready to talk.

"I've had a-" Ahsoka paused. "Fight of sorts with Rex."

Plo nodded.

"I suspected something like that." He said. "May I ask the reason?"

"He's obsessed with what I was doing when I was away." Ahsoka said, the words coming more easily than she expected. "He got arrested last week because he was snooping around in the undercity."

"Yes, Wolffe told me of that incident." Plo said. "Tell me 'Soka, why is it you are so adamant that he knows nothing of that time? That none of us know anything?"

Ahsoka looked down. She wasn't a great liar and Master Plo was harder to deceive than most. For a moment she searched for the right words for her feelings.

"I'm ashamed, Master." She finally said. "I did some things that weren't the Jedi way in the undercity."

Ahsoka took a deep breath and quietly explained her role in Grif's fighting ring. The bouts, the injuries she'd inflicted and had suffered, the almost enjoyment she derived from the fighting.

"I see." Plo said.

Ahsoka winced at the emotions heavy on his shoulders. He too carried shame, along with guilt, sadness, and even some disappointment.

"It is no surprise you took this path, 'Soka." Plo said. "You have experienced little in this galaxy beyond conflict and violence."

Plo placed his arm around Ahsoka's shoulders.

"I do not condemn you; you had few resources." He rumbled. "Neither would Captain Rex."

Ahsoka looked down.

"You act like I'm planning on telling him."

"You told me." Plo said.

"That's different."

"You wish to preserve your relationship with him?"

"Of course." Ahsoka replied.

"The best apology would be the truth."

"I-" Ahsoka swallowed. "It's hard, Master. Rex has such a-a pure view of me- of most of the Jedi."

"I believe Captain Rex's idealized view of the Jedi was shattered long before this." Plo's voice had taken a bitter tone.

Right. Krell.

"Then of me, and you, and Master Obi Wan." Ahsoka said. She didn't include Anakin; she was sure Rex was very aware of his General's faults. "Master, I know you see my flaws. So does Master Skywalker, and Master Obi Wan."

Ahsoka nervously ran a thumb over her lightsaber.

"Rex- most of the men, really- it feels like they see the best me. Maybe not so much at the start of the war, but right now, all they can see is the ideal."

Plo shook his head.

"'Soka, your Masters and I are your teachers. It is our purpose to help you see your weaknesses and overcome them. I doubt your men are unaware of your failings." He said softly. "They simply choose to look past them."

He looked carefully at Ahsoka and she once again wondered how he could have such a piercing gaze with the goggles on.

"What has happened has happened." He went on. "You cannot change the past. Look to the present, and act. You are in danger of losing something very precious."

Ahsoka slowly nodded.

"Thank you, Master."

Ahsoka both dreaded and looked forward to the moment she got home. She was glad to see the boys' speeder as she landed her own speeder bike at the apartment building.

Jesse and Fives lounged within. They both looked up at her with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

"Where's Rex?" Ahsoka asked.

"His room." Jesse said. "Does this mean you're finally going to work this out?"

"Hopefully." Ahsoka said as she passed him.

Fives caught her eye and nodded with an encouraging grin and thumbs up.

Ahsoka approached the room Rex shared with Fives and knocked. When there wasn't an answer, she called out.

"Rex, it's Ahsoka. Can we talk?"

There was the familiar thuds of his footsteps and the door slid open. Rex looked down at her, still in his armor. His face was both surprised and a little nervous. He nodded.

"Can I come in?" Ahsoka ventured after Rex made no sign of moving.

"Er, yes, Commander." Rex said, moving aside.

Rex's side of the room was an interesting sight to say the least. On one hand there was his perfectly made bed. On the other was the albeit neat stacks of books piled on the desk and its chair.

Ahsoka settled on the immaculate bed. Rex stood before her, hands clasped behind his back and facing the door.

Ahsoka took a deep breath.

"I met Grif my first night on level 1313." She said.

Rex's eyes widened and they found hers.

"Why-" He started but quickly stopped himself.

Ahsoka gave a small nod. He could ask questions.

"Why did you go down there?" He asked. "Of all places?"

Ahsoka remembered that night of anger and disgust.

"I was angry." She said. "I wanted to get as far away from the Jedi's influence as possible."

Rex nodded and waited for her to continue.

"I was pretty out of it." Ahsoka went on. "Didn't have my head on straight. I was lucky that it was Grif who found me. Not that I couldn't handle myself." She added at Rex's concerned expression.

"He gave me a place to stay and told me he'd help me get on my feet." Ahsoka said.

"Why?" Rex interrupted.

"I asked him the same thing. Apparently he knew someone like me a long time ago. He wished someone had helped her like he was helping me."

Rex frowned and Ahsoka could still see some skepticism in his face.

"Grif is a good man." She asserted. "One of the best in the undercity."

Rex still looked unconvinced.

"You said he tried to stop you when you left."

Ahsoka nodded.

"Grif didn't know who I was. For all he knew I was going back into a bad situation."

Ahsoka decided to just plow on.

"Grif runs a fighting ring." Ahsoka said.

"I know." Rex said. "Found out while I was looking for him."

Ahsoka winced internally. Then he knew what she'd done.

"Grif didn't want me to fight at first." Ahsoka said. "He didn't know I could, and I don't exactly look the part either."

A small smile flitted across Rex's face at that.

"I insisted." Ahsoka said. "You know I don't like being told what I can do."

Another smile.

"So I started fighting, and obviously I was good at it."

"Why did it look like you were barely getting by, then? Fighting rings make good money." Rex interjected.

"Grif doesn't cut the corners a lot of other fighting bosses do." Ahsoka explained. "He kept it safe for us. He also doesn't allow death matches. Less people come if people aren't dying. We were one of the smallest rings."

Rex nodded again.

"Commander," He said slowly. "I still don't quite understand why you wouldn't tell us."

Ahsoka looked down. Each day the Force had splintered a little more for her with every bruise, every broken bone, every pain she had dealt.

"I hurt people, Rex. A lot of them pretty badly. I started to wonder where the Jedi I'd been had gone. When Anakin sent his message, I saw it as an opportunity to start doing something worthwhile again." She said. "It was only for a while, but I wanted to put that behind me."

Rex at this point quietly eased himself down to sit next to her on the bed.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." Ahsoka said. "And I'm sorry for ignoring you for a week."

"I'm sorry too." Rex said.

Ahsoka could see there were several apologies wrapped in that singular 'I'm sorry.' He was apologizing for ignoring her, for pushing her, and for the fact she had been in the situation in the first place.

Ahsoka looked up into his face.

"Friends again?" She asked him.

She was not prepared for the wave of warmth that crashed over her at his expression. His smile was only the upturning of one corner of his mouth, and yet it expressed all the affection in the world. And kriff, his eyes. They held a tenderness that she had only seen him give to the twins.

"Always, Commander." He said.

She grinned at him, but then her gaze was drawn to his lips. She'd never thought she'd consider kissing a pleasant experience after the debacle with Lux. Right now, however, nothing seemed better.

He noticed her change of attention. His brows furrowed ever so slightly and his smile wilted somewhat. Ahsoka nearly kissed him right then, just to see his reaction.

Instead she gently probed his mind to see what he thought of the idea. She was met with confusion, but also curiosity. Those were just the surface, probably masking his deeper emotions. She pressed past those.

Ahsoka had to stifle a gasp as Rex's emotions flooded her mind. Not just the usual impressions, but the actual emotions. She, for a moment, felt what he felt. Like-

Like they had a forming Force bond.

She ignored that startling thought as she examined what Rex was feeling. The curiosity had deepened to a hesitant longing. There was something else, warm and inviting, that mirrored something in Ahsoka's own heart. He was also terrified.

So Ahsoka looked away.

"Commander?" Rex asked.

"I'm okay. Just Force stuff." She said with a wave of her hand.

He nodded slowly. Ahsoka cast her eyes around the room until they caught on a familiar book. She stretched out her hands and Corellian Nights flew to her. She offered it to Rex, who accepted it without hesitation.

Ahsoka could feel him relax as he flicked through the pages of the book, trying to find their place. Ahsoka hesitated, then slowly leaned her head against his shoulder. If a kiss was too much, perhaps this would be all right.

The page turning stopped as Rex stiffened. Ahsoka held her breath. A beat, then two. The pages started to turn again.

Ahsoka closed her eyes as he began to read.

Mando'a:

vod'ika: little sibling

ori'vod: big or special sibling

osik: crap

Okay it only lasted a chapter. I guess I can't stand that sort of conflict if it goes on for too long. Thank goodness for Fives and Plo. Sorry for the vod'ika and ori'vod tangent. I just wanted to get my ideas on the concept out there. And HAH you thought they were gonna kiss, even after I told you it was slow burn! Rex is just a tender little emotional mess and cannot handle his emotions. Ahsoka luckily has mind reading powers and can make him more comfortable. And I apologize but not really about the Force bond. I like them and those two are too close to not have one.

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great few weeks!