He didn't have to wait for long. He heard steps and low voices talking in hurried whispers, and knew that Bix had come back. He also distinguished Brasso's timbre. The feeling of relief that spread through him was almost crushing.
"It's Cassian here. I'm behind the counter," he said calmly and in hushed tones as well, so as not to startle the newcomers.
"Cassian!," Bix's anxious response followed. "This is cleared of enemies for now. I hoped you would come but feared that it wouldn't be safe with the patrols all over there."
Cassian stood from his hiding place, and immediately he felt Bix's desperate embrace enveloping him. Her body was trembling violently and he noticed that she was crying against his shoulder. "Thank the Force that you're okay. They've killed Timm. He was just trying to protect me. I sent to hell a few of those bastards myself. We've already removed and hidden their corpses, before other motherfuckers come and see their dead comrades, but we have to get out of here now," she explained in a rush, trying to wipe away her tears with the palms of her hands.
The others accompanying Bix were already lifting Timm from the floor. Apart from Brasso, Salman and his son Wilmon were there too. Cassian was momentarily in awe and relieved that all of them had managed to avoid arrest for the time being, but there was no more time to lose and they'd better take advantage of the reprieve. He promptly joined the others in their task, and Bix placed herself beside him to help as well, shaking off her shock and apparently being driven by sheer adrenaline and hatred. Cassian knew the feeling.
They carried Timm's heavy body towards Salman's speeder and placed it carefully onto the bodywork of the vehicle. "I'll take him to his parents' home and explain to them what's happened. Where can we meet later?"
"At my place," Cassian offered. "I restocked the pantry with enough supplies recently, we should eat and draw up a plan of action." He instinctively knew that Bix surely abhorred the idea of returning to her own apartment so soon, because it must hold many memories from her relationship with Timm.
"Okay," Salman agreed. "Take a look at Wilmon, will you? And you, son, be careful and stay with them, understood?" The youngster nodded in acquiescence and his father departed swiftly with his sad load.
"I'll be there shortly," Brasso assured with a pat on Cassian's shoulder. "I'll go to my place, to fetch my savings. We'll probably need all the credits we can gather, and I won't risk those bastards stealing the fruit of my work."
Cassian returned the pat and nodded. Brasso rushed off.
"Let's go," Cassian prompted. "Willie, walk between Bix and me. I'll go ahead. Bix, you take the rear. We'll line up in a single file, as close to the walls as possible, okay?," he instructed.
"Okay," Wilmon and Bix confirmed. The boy was armed too, but Cassian wouldn't take any chances with Salman's only child's safety.
The three of them moved forward silently and Cassian scanned attentively every street before they ventured through. Once they were in the verge of being spotted by a patrol, but Cassian's quick reflexes prevented them from being discovered and captured.
Fortunately, Cassian's apartment wasn't very far from Caleen Salyard and after a relatively short trip (though for Cassian it had lasted an eternity, feeling responsible for the safety of his companions), they reached their destination. Cassian introduced the code and the door slid open. "Mom, Bee, it's me with friends," he announced in a voice just loud enough to be audible for the occupants of the house, while he and his small group entered the apartment. Cassian quickly closed the door behind them.
He hadn't used his commlink since the ordeal had started, for fear of being tracked and followed now that the Imperial security measures had been brutally increased on Ferrix. Besides, he didn't want to lead the Imps to his family or friends. He thought of Jyn again, with whom he hadn't been able to contact since the previous day. He would have to squeeze the moment to go find her and talk to her in person. It was very risky, but there was no other thing he could do. He ruled out sending Bee. Even an old and apparently harmless droid might be apprehended, shot or blown up if he was spotted on the streets.
Bee was in the small foyer, near the entrance door. He looked like he'd been waiting for him with his characteristic patience. "I'm glad you're well, Cassian. Welcome to the Andor home, Bix and Wilmon. I'm glad that you're well too," he addressed the others with his unwavering politeness.
"Thanks, Bee," Bix replied, and Cassian noticed the hint of a real smile on her lips, despite the terrible strain and losses of that day. She'd always loved the Andors' sweet droid, Cassian knew, and Bee virtually considered her family after so many years.
"Thanks," Wilmon repeated.
They all walked into the living room, where Maarva was sitting on her armchair. She set her eyes on the newcomers, and there was a crude hardness in her pupils that Cassian hadn't seen, well, since they'd lost Clem.
"Mom, I've told you many times to turn on the heating. I've had it fixed and improved for a reason. Why have you turn it off?," Cassian scolded tiredly.
"I'm not cold," she stated, categorical. "The events of the day have heated me up enough."
"Even so, it's cold and I don't want you to fall ill." He went to the wall where the heating controls were, and pushed the power button. Immediately, the temperature of the room raised to much more pleasant levels. "There. It's not so bad, is it?"
Maarva snorted and shrugged. "Things are quite bad out there, aren't they? Is the lot of you okay? And Brasso?," she asked calmly, addressing Bix and Wilmon.
"Timm was shot to death," Bix announced with trembling lips. "But the rest is okay. Brasso and Salman will come here soon." They'd better, Cassian almost could hear her adding, though she evidently left that wishful thinking unsaid. The situation was dire enough already without expressing aloud one's fears.
Maarva's lips turned down. "I'm sorry for Timm," she said simply.
Bix nodded in acknowledgement, seemingly too moved to say anything.
After a few moments of silence, Wilmon spoke. "Well, what are we going to do now?"