Hello everyone!

Excellent Bad Batch episode last night if I do say so myself.

OneLittleSpark18: Thank you very much!

4thwallbreak: Yes, interesting indeed...

Venomizer: Thank you very much!

CHRF: I really appreciate your interest in the fic! For your questions, I believe some of them are answered by further readings and unfortunately the others are simply things I have not considered.

55457: Uh, I'm sorry for whatever I did to be kriffed. I believe I make it a little more clear how they found Echo in later chapters.

SWNerd4Life: Yes, all these mysteries surrounding Bo Katan...Definitely think of her more as a pawn in this situation. I won't say more. I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

I like this chapter. I think it's well balanced with angst, plot, and character development.

TW: Mentions of suicide, intrusive thoughts

Mando'a translations at the end!

Ahsoka woke up with a sore neck. She groaned as she lifted her head from where it pinched her lekku to her shoulder. She was still on the couch with Rex's head in her lap. He must have still been asleep.

When she opened her eyes, she found Rex staring up at her. His amber eyes immediately shifted away once she focused on him.

"Good morning." Ahsoka said with a smile.

He didn't say anything at first. And then-

"I missed you."

His voice was quiet. Even though his lexicon had expanded beyond quotes, he still used the greeting he'd adopted from Corellian Nights.

Ahsoka remembered what Kix had told her.

Thank you for responding to me. She whispered to his mind. It's good that you're talking more.

For good measure Ahsoka sent a pulse of love and encouragement.

Rex's brow furrowed and a question formed in his mind.

"Kix suggested it." Ahsoka said. "To help you."

A faint smile twitched at Rex's lips. Then he closed his eyes again. He was getting better at letting Ahsoka show him affection. Unfortunately Ahsoka couldn't provide that affection for much longer.

"Hey." She said. "I have to get ready to go."

The peaceful expression on Rex's face vanished. He did, however, sit up and allowed Ahsoka to stand.

By the time Ahsoka had taken a quick shower, the apartment was buzzing with activity. Omega and Echo were discussing some vote that was happening today while the other members of the Bad Batch went over their security plans. Fives was at the table, half heartedly picking at a plate of nuna eggs. He had a stormy expression as he stabbed at the eggs.

"What's the plan for today?" Ahsoka asked the room at large.

"Ah, Commander, I need to speak to you." Tech said. "I am aware that you wished me to stay for Captain Rex's first day back, but I will be unable to do so. Today's vote, regarding humanitarian aid, is likely to draw protesters."

Ahsoka's stomach dropped. She had counted on Tech to help with Rex while he adjusted.

Tech drew closer, speaking in a hushed tone.

"I do not wish to leave Fives alone." He said. "It is extremely detrimental to his mental state."

"Kix has classes today." Ahsoka said. "And Cody is still busy getting the reserve army organized again. Maybe they could go wait at Jesse and Rhys'?"

"I'm not a child." Fives spoke up.

Ahsoka looked over at him. He was glaring at the two of them.

"Stop making decisions for me." He said. "I can stay with Rex and keep an eye on him."

"Are you sure?" Ahsoka asked.

She glanced at Rex, who was still staring at his knees on the couch.

"We'll be fine." Fives said with more of his old confidence than Ahsoka had seen in a while.

Ahsoka glanced at Tech.

"It is a possible solution." He said. "I will require you to check in with us at regular intervals. If the situation becomes more than you can handle, we will send Jesse to intervene."

"Won't be necessary." Fives said firmly.

"Let me check with Rex." Ahsoka said.

She crossed the room to where he sat and leaned close to speak quietly to him.

"Rex," She said. "Would you be okay with Fives staying with you today?"

Rex's eyes flicked up to her for a brief second.

"Yes."

"Good. I'll see you later. I love you." Ahsoka said.

Rex, as usual, didn't say anything. Then, he stretched his neck and pressed his forehead against hers for a brief moment.

Ahsoka caught her breath as he drew back. She lived for moments like these, where he would show his progress so clearly.

"Be safe." Rex said.

"I will." Ahsoka managed.

She tilted his head up and kissed his forehead. His eyes were closed a little too tightly.

"Rex?" She asked. "Were you okay last night, while I was gone?"

She'd been so distressed by the death of the clone. She hadn't considered how difficult it had been for him.

"Yes." Rex said. "No."

"Let me see." Ahsoka said.

He showed her his anxiety without her, how uncomfortable it was to be with brothers he felt like he didn't quite know anymore.

"Tell me if you need me to stay." Ahsoka said.

"'We're all fine here.'" Rex said.

Ahsoka frowned. He had been relying on quotes less and less since the fire. She hoped he wasn't regressing.

"Commander, we need to get going." Hunter said.

Ahsoka kissed Rex on the forehead again and gave Fives a few instructions. She hated the sight of Rex sitting alone, staring at his knees, as she left.

The silence after the others had left was thick enough that Fives was pretty sure he could shoot it.

Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.

He quickly shed the thought and focused on his first task.

"So, Captain." Fives said. "What do you want to eat?"

Rex stared at his knees.

"Caf." He finally said.

"That's not eating." Fives said with a frown. "The war's over. I'm not gonna let you pretend you've had breakfast because you've had caf."

Rex scrunched his eyebrows.

"You choose." He said.

"Nope." Fives said. Ahsoka had made it clear that Rex needed to make his own choices. "Go on."

"Please."

Fives paused at the pleading in Rex's voice.

"Tell you what." Fives said. "I'll either make you nuna eggs, or get you some cereal."

Rex looked relieved at Fives' compromise.

"Cereal." Rex said.

Fives grinned and stepped to the cupboard.

"There." He said as he pulled the cereal box from the shelf. "Wasn't so hard, was it?"

He immediately regretted the words as they left his mouth. Rex seemed to withdraw before his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Fives said. "I didn't mean- kriff."

What the hell is wrong with you? Ahsoka should have never trusted you with him. He's worth so much more than you.

Fives forced himself to prepare the bowl of cereal.

"It's ready." Fives said in a falsely cheerful voice.

Rex didn't move.

"Come eat." Fives tried again.

This time Rex got up and mechanically came to the table.

Fives realized he'd just ordered Rex to come.

Kriff!

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Fives muttered out loud as he sat down across from Rex.

Rex glanced up at him and Fives was surprised to see a fierce determination in his eyes. He wanted this to work.

They ate their meal in silence, Fives forcing down the remainder of his nuna eggs. Rex stared at his empty bowl when the blue milk and cereal was gone.

"There was-" Rex said, surprising Fives. His words were slow as he spoke. "A death last night."

Fives went cold.

"Yeah." He said.

"How many?" Rex asked. "Since we came back?"

"I don't know." Fives said.

He felt guilty even before Rex could give him a reproachful look. They had taken such care to make sure those brothers weren't forgotten before.

You should know how they feel and you still do nothing.

The thought made Fives' heart ache.

"Have you checked with the 501st?" Rex asked, though Fives wanted him to shut up.

"No." Fives said through gritted teeth.

You should have. Maybe if you had, more brothers wouldn't have killed themselves.

"Fives-"

"Get off my back!" Fives snapped. "Maybe I was too busy trying to kill myself!"

Oh, how he hated himself at his Captain's shattered expression.

"Fives?" Rex asked quietly.

Fives stared at the table. He shook his head.

"Not the one you knew." He said.

Something came into Rex's eyes and before Fives could react, Rex had jerked his hands up to claw at his own neck.

"Rex!" Fives shouted and launched himself across the table, scattering the dishes still there.

He wrenched Rex's hands away from his neck. There were already a few red marks there. Rex struggled for a moment, but Fives held him still. Rex went limp, breathing heavily. Fives carefully released his wrists.

He would never get used to the empty look in his once steadfast Captain's eyes.

"I'm sorry." Rex muttered.

"No, it's okay." Fives said. "It's my fault. Kriff, I should have never told you."

"I should have been there." Rex went on, disregarding Fives' protest. "I could have helped, if I hadn't been so weak."

Fives felt like he had just been blasted through the stomach.

"No." He hissed. "Rex, this happened before the clones were freed. You couldn't have been here. And even if it happened after, it's not your fault. It's not."

Rex had his eyes squeezed shut now, doubtless reliving some horror the Kaminoans had forced him through.

"It's okay." Fives said. "I'm getting better. It's not so bad anymore."

"Don't go." Rex muttered. "I couldn't save Dogma- please, don't go."

"Dogma?" Fives asked, confused. So many brothers had died in between when they had last seen Dogma and now. "Why-"

"He was there." Rex said. "He'd been- been-"

He shuddered, his hands lurching up for a moment.

"I understand." Fives said quickly. Dogma must have been reconditioned. "You don't have to say it."

Rex took a shaky breath before plowing on.

"I helped him remember. It was too much." He said. "They took him away."

"I'm sorry." Fives said, placing his hand on Rex's shoulder.

Rex seemed exhausted by his confession. Fives patted him solidly before moving to pick the dishes he had sent flying. He kept his eye on Rex, but the Captain made no move to scratch at his neck again. It was relieving in a way to have Rex know. It had drained Fives to think that Rex didn't know that the Fives he had known was gone. Once Fives was done, the med reminder timer Tech had set on Fives' datapad went off. He quickly took his medication before returning to Rex.

"So, what do you want to do?" Fives asked.

"I want to see the men." Rex rasped.

Fives hesitated. It was probably good that Rex wanted to do something, but on the other hand Tech and Ahsoka weren't likely to approve of them wandering the city.

"Not today." Fives finally said. "Ahsoka and Tech probably only thought this would work if we stayed here. If we got into trouble, I really don't think we could handle it on our own."

"They come to us." Rex said.

Fives blinked.

"Okay, decent plan." He said. "Though I don't know who's free to come."

"Any of them." Rex said. "I need- I need to see them."

Fives nodded.

"You can't just sit there and watch me as I call people." He told Rex. "Go- read a book or something."

"The Commander's not here." Rex said.

"By yourself, di'kut." Fives said.

Rex blinked, as if it hadn't occurred to him. He got up and moved in his new strange, mechanical way to his old bedroom. He paused at the door.

"Are they-" He asked.

"They're still there." Fives said.

Rex opened the door and walked in as if in a dream. Fives moved to the apartment holo and pulled up the list of 501st members and their contact information on his pad. He glanced behind him. Rex was leaving his room, clutching a book to his chest. He sat down on the couch and slowly opened it.

"Of course I can come over!" Ridge said with excitement.

"You sure?" Fives asked. He could hear the sound of men working in the background. "Listen, if you're at work-"

"Nah, it's fine!" Ridge said brightly. "Hey, boss! I've got to go for a few hours!"

Fives raised an eyebrow as he barely heard a rough voice cursing at Ridge.

"See you in a bit!" Ridge said.

The comm clicked off. Fives put it down. More clones than Fives had expected were free to come and visit. Maybe 'free' wasn't the right word, Fives thought as he thought of Ridge's boss cursing him out. In any case, he decided that a group of five would be good to start with.

Appo was the first to show up, dressed in the Coruscant Guard red that Fives wasn't so fond of.

"Where is he?" He demanded as Fives opened the door. "How long has he been back? No one told me."

"Calm down." Fives said. "He's not completely better yet. He doesn't need you throwing a fit over him."

"I got it, I got it." Appo said impatiently, looking past Fives.

"How'd you even get time off?" Fives asked as he let Appo in. "You're a Commander of the Corrie Guard."

"Which means I can get some other sod to take my place while I see my Captain." Appo said. "Captain!"

Rex looked up from his book as Appo took a few nervous steps towards him.

"Appo." He said. "Are you all right?"

"What?" Appo asked, confused. "Yeah, I'm fine! But who cares about that? Are you okay, Captain?"

Rex slowly shut his book.

"I am-" He said. "I am better than I was."

"I can see that." Appo said. "Last time I saw you, you could barely talk."

"Hey." Fives said quietly. "We don't need to talk about that."

Rex's expression had tightened at Appo's words.

"Appo." Rex said again. "I need your help."

"Say the word, Captain." Appo said.

"The suicides." Rex said. Fives flinched internally at the plain way he said it. "Have you been keeping track of them?"

Appo was silent for a moment.

"Yes." He said.

"How many?" Rex asked.

"Since we came back, a little over a hundred." Appo said. "Five were from the 501st."

Rex closed his eyes and Fives watched him take a deep breath.

"Have you been watching the men?" Rex went on. "Has anyone been watching the men?"

"We do our best, sir." Appo said. "But- Kamino was-"

Appo trailed off. Fives knew what he was about to say, that Kamino had been hard, but Appo had clearly thought better of it. Fives nearly laughed aloud at the idea. Rex knew that more than anyone.

Rex's fists tightened on his book.

"Maybe we shouldn't be talking-" Fives started.

"I need to help." Rex said.

"You don't have to worry about that." Appo said, sounding incredulous that Rex would even think it. "You need to get well. We can handle ourselves."

"No." Rex said. Fives tensed at his strained tone. "I abandoned you. I need to help."

"Abandoned us?" Fives asked."No! No."

He needed Ahsoka to be here. He needed her to convince Rex that being tortured to near insanity did not mean he had abandoned them. Fives didn't have the words to help Rex.

Next to Fives, Appo looked like he was going to cry. Rex continued to sit quietly, determined to atone for his imagined sins.

Ahsoka had believed that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on her work. She thought that her thoughts would be constantly on Rex, her senses stretching out to her beloved to see if she could detect if he was okay.

This was not the case.

While Rex never truly left her mind, Ahsoka had forgotten what it was like at the battlefield of the Senate.

And she had never truly experienced that battlefield with Senators Echo and Omega leading the charge.

"With all due respect, Representative, that's patently false." Echo said. He struck a bold figure in his white dress uniform, standing tall in the pod with Omega, Hunter, and Wrecker. "If you will refer to paragraph eight in section J of the Republic Trade Sanction VIII-"

Ahsoka delighted in Ask Aak's scowl as Echo systematically proved that his claim was invalid.

"When did he get so good at this?" She whispered to Padme.

Padme gave a radiant smile, her pride evident.

"Since he started treating the laws like regulation manuals." She replied. "At least that's what he told me."

"I did not realize that this involved the members of the Tal'solus in any way." Yuran Plitch, the Umbaran representative, spoke up.

"Any proposition that interferes with the wellbeing of any people is everyone's business!" Omega said angrily. Ahsoka had seen glimpses of the clones' fire in her before, but now it was evident. "Something you seem to disagree with, since you voted against the act that would have provided relief to your own people!"

A murmur surged through the Senate Chamber. It was obvious that Omega was still furious over the results of the humanitarian vote, which had been a majority for revision.

"They aren't subtle enough to be politicians." Ahsoka said with a smile.

"Says who?" Padme said. "I much rather have them speaking their mind than the constant games the others play. But I better shut this down before everything falls apart."

She straightened and spoke loudly.

"Thank you, Representatives." She said. "Senator Echo is correct. Your proposition is not in line with the Republic trade regulations. Now, onto our next order of business!"

Ahsoka half listened as Padme introduced the next subject to discuss: new taxation laws. She checked up on her bond with Rex as she scanned the crowd. He was anxious and feeling guilty for whatever reason, but nothing to cause alarm.

Soon enough the session was over, and the pod began its descent back into its dock. Ahsoka stretched. This wasn't as bad as she remembered.

Then the lights shut off. Ahsoka sighed as Senators began to scream. Nothing had even happened yet.

"The security system's been activated." Crosshair said from Ahsoka's comm. The other pod would be hearing him too. "The building's in lockdown."

"Tech-" Hunter started.

"I am already working on it." Tech said. "Standby. "

Ahsoka threw her senses out, searching for the malice that would be behind this attack. Unfortunately half the senators were corrupt enough to give her a distracting twinge.

The cacophony around Ahsoka grew as no explanation became apparent. Above it all came Hunter's sharp shout.

"Omega, get down!"

Then the chamber was bathed in the red light of a blaster bolt. Ahsoka tensed as she heard a choked sound of pain and Omega's heart rending cry of "Hunter!"

"Padme, down!" Ahsoka ordered.

More voices crackled through the comm as Padme ducked down and Ahsoka ignited her lightsabers.

"What is Hunter's status?" Tech was demanding.

"He's breathin'." Wrecker said gruffly.

"Tech, get the power back, but keep the building shut down!" Ahsoka said into her comm as more red bolts bled through the darkness.

"Acknowledged." Tech said, though his voice was strained.

Ahsoka dodged the blaster bolts coming her way, rather than deflect them, for fear that she would hit another pod.

"Get those lights on, Tech." Crosshair's voice was whetted with anger. "I want a clear shot on these bastards."

"I want them alive!" Ahsoka ordered. "Do you hear me, Crosshair?"

Crosshair didn't respond. Ahsoka would have to trust him.

"The Senate Guard are closing in on one of their locations." Tech said. "I have almost restored power."

Ahsoka clicked her comm frequency to the Senate Guard's channel.

"This is Ahsoka Tano!" She said. "Men, switch blasters to stun!"

She got a quick 'yes sir!' in response. There was another cry somewhere, echoing across the Senate chamber.

Ahsoka couldn't tell how many assailants there were, as many bodyguards were now also firing. Ahsoka cursed as she heard more screams of pain.

"Hold your fire!" She yelled into the darkness, though she wasn't sure if anyone was listening.

"Sir! We've got one!" A Senator Guard announced over the channel.

Ahsoka couldn't respond; she was now focusing on nudging blasts away from the other pods.

Then the lights burst back on. Combined with the lights and the Force guiding her eyes, Ahsoka sighted one of the attackers. They were in one of the empty lower pods.

"Stay down!" Ahsoka shot at Padme.

Then she jumped.

"My apologies, Senator!" She called as she alighted momentarily on another filled pod.

She leapt again and the assailant finally noticed her with wide eyes. Then a blinding light exploded from the figure's position. Ahsoka cursed and crashed into the side of a pod. She scrambled on top of it, blinking to rid herself of the flashbang's after image. She barely caught sight of the attacker's cloak whipping out of sight into the corridor beyond the chamber.

Ahsoka jumped again, this time landing in the pod the assassin had been shooting from. She darted out into the hallway. She quickly found the cloaked figure sprinting away.

Ahsoka dashed forward. Tech had hopefully kept the building on lockdown, so this one wouldn't be able to get away. Ahsoka still would rather catch them before they did any more damage. She reached out her hand as she drew near, ready to yank with the Force.

A blue stun bolt sprayed out from behind a corner, hitting Ahsoka's prey in the head. Ahsoka skidded to a halt over their collapsed form and looked to the side. Crosshair stalked from the shadows. He had his helmet on, but Ahsoka could feel his fury in the Force.

"Nice shot." Ahsoka told him.

He shrugged and stared down at the unconscious assassin. Ahsoka could feel the intent to kill in him, surging stronger with every moment.

"We need them, Crosshair." Ahsoka said. "We need to know who they are."

Crosshair scoffed, but lowered his rifle. His murderous urge was fading.

Ahsoka lifted her comm.

"We've got one." She said. "Bring all prisoners to the interrogation room. I want answers."

Mando'a:

di'kut: idiot

Tal'solus: one blood, the official name of the clones as a people

From the top, as always! Okay, but I just really love Rex saying "I missed you" to greet Ahsoka. Because he does miss her when she's not there. Fives and Rex alone may not be able to function, but together? They are slightly more functional! Fives especially is getting frustrated with being treated like he's fragile. Rex is a little more cool with it. Rex also making some progress! Forehead touches are life. And forehead kisses.

I added cereal to this scene the moment I found out that it was canon. Thank you Cyril Karn. Fives' intrusive thoughts were pretty triggered by the clone's suicide from last chapter. That's why they're a little worse than normal this chapter.

Poor Rex. Not only does he find out Fives is doing terribly, he also is starting to blame himself for not being there for the struggling clones! And yes, I specifically had Rex plead with Fives to not go. Because I am a monster.

AND WE STAN HEALTHY MEDICATION TAKING IN THIS HOUSE.

Rex may or may not be worried that the Kaminoans somehow came and destroyed his book collection.

Rex may blame himself right now, but it's also a propulsion to him changing, progressing, being able to be his own agent again.

Meanwhile, Echo and Omega are absolute terrors to the rest of the Senate. Their strong sense of justice (and lack of knowledge of Senate propriety) is very annoying to the corrupt politicians. Padme is obviously delighted. And oooh more assassination attempts! Sorry Hunter, but you are a very convenient target and I am more willing to shoot you than anyone else in the Batch...

Crosshair, when not chipped and heavily manipulated/abused by the Empire, will kill anyone who touches his siblings. You cannot convince me otherwise.

Anyway, stay safe, remember to review, enjoy the Bad Batch if you're watching, and see you next week!