Hela's

Zur watched him Mayday as he completed his bench presses; the third day and the clone had improved continuously over the last few days, gaining strength. Zur glanced at Hela, she knew this time was up soon and she would have to let him go. He had watched her over the last few days and he had seen how she looked at him, watched him. This was different to anyone else she had been with, even that kriffing Jedi, Baylan.

He turned his thoughts back to the clone who was finishing this set; Zur had been counting automatically.

"Ten…just two more, eleven, twelve. Rest." He continued, then he timed the rest period.

"This is a higher weight than recommended by your medic. Do you really want to risk it?"

"No risk. I know what I'm capable of."

"Okay. Ready?" Zur watched as he got into position.

"Fifteen then— one, two…." Zur counted in time, on time, while Hela watched him again checking for any hesitation and any sign of pain.

Mayday pushed down harder, the pain had reduced to almost nothing, the occasional twinge. He had recovered and the urge to be back with his brothers, fighting, came back with a vengeance.

"Is there a punchbag here?" Mayday asked, wiping the sweat off his face and neck.

"Yes, its not often used but I can get it." Zur replied.

"Just point me in the right direction."

Zur nodded towards the door, amazed at the recuperation of the clone.

They attached the punchbag.

Zur stood back and watched as the clone went through some basic boxing exercises, then he started the kicking, stopping when the bag pushed back.

"Can you hold the bag?" Mayday asked.

"Sure."

He started again, kicking high with such force the first one pushed Zur back a few steps.

"So why this particular exercise?" Zur was intrigued, "Surely you use blasters for the droids."

"Some of my squad is Spec Ops trained, including me." He kicked again, "And the Seppies don't always send droids to fight."

"I've never seen you fighting organics."

"They're there. In more numbers than you think."

"So Spec Ops means you could go on special missions."

"Yeah," Mayday kicked again, he was getting a rhythm now and it felt good. "Plus sometimes blasters overheat and it's always good to have some back up plan."

Zur looked around the bag at Mayday, "You kick the droids?" He asked incredulously.

"It's easier than punching them." Replied Mayday, "Does Hela still practise her self defence?"

"Not enough."

"She needs to do more." Mayday kicked again, Zur held steady again.

"I keep telling her but you know Hela."

Mayday wasn't sure he did; she was different to when he had been staying before, quieter and more serious than he had originally imagined her to be. Less of the craziness there was before.

Hela came back into the room, carrying a tray of bottles, he stopped and grinned at her. She smiled back, he was happy; she turned away, the smile fading, knowing he would be leaving soon and she didn't know how she was going to cope with that or with what she did with Baylan eating at her. But Zur was right, that was her guilt to carry .

There was always her music.

.

Zur leaned on the counter and watched Hela prepare some sandwiches for Mayday and himself, while he was having a shower. He was healed and had exceeded his rehab targets. The last measurements they had taken showed the crush injury was healed well.

He still couldn't believe he was helping a clone rehabilitate from injury.

"Has all this," he waved his arm around, "assuaged your guilt then?"

Hela stopped what she was doing and turned, "That's a big word for you."

He saw from her expression, he had hit the spot.

"What? Guilt?" He retorted.

She turned away, ignoring him.

"You know what I mean, you haven't told him have you?"

Zur knew it would simply cause more problems for both of them.

"Told me what? What do you have to feel guilty about?" Mayday asked, his face clouded by a frown, as he leaned against the door frame, a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

Zur watched as Hela looked at the clone and swallowed.

"I…."

"She thought you were dead," he quickly interrupted, "She couldn't get hold of anyone to find out what had happened to you. All the information we had was that the clones guarding the beast were all dead. I had to get someone to hack the GAR network to be able to get hold of Marshall Commander Cody."

Hela's head whipped around to Zur.

"It'd take more than that to kill me, Cyar'ika." He moved forward, "I thought you'd have more trust in me than that."

"I….I just couldn't find out anything. Nothing from Cody or Ben. All the GAR channels were down."

"Official coms only Cody said." Zur explained, "The Chancellor had ordered a coms and information silence to try and stop panic. The official line was to repair the infrastructure but they didn't say exactly how much was damaged." He could feel Hela's eyes on him until he finished, "Not good for morale or confidence in the Chancellor."

Zur released a tiny sigh; he knew what it was like to be cheated on and he would not wish that feeling on anyone. She had better not tell him, if she wanted to keep him. It was better not to know. It just depended if she could live with the guilt. That was hard. She was looking up at Mayday now.

"What does that word mean? The one at the end. What you called me. What language is it?"

"Mandoa. It means sweetheart." He winked at her, "I'll sort it out so it doesn't happen again." He was standing right next to her and pulled a non existent hair from her face.

Zur watched them, now it was as if he wasn't here and he felt he was intruding; they weren't kissing, they were barely touching but he still felt superfluous. This was too private.

He backed slowly out of the kitchen.

.

There was a flash of red in Mayday's peripheral vision, on the bedside table; he leaned over to check what it was. It was easier to move now he didn't have to pull the boneknitter with him, he couldn't move it before. He couldn't remember seeing anything there before, although he had never had the time or inclination to look. He picked up the small item and turned it over in his fingers; it was some kind of device he had never seen before, tiny metal, engraved and threaded onto a gold metal chain to imitate a piece of jewellery, a locket. It had a small red stone in the middle.

There was a piece of folded flimzi lying underneath. He carefully opened it up; it was a handwritten note —'If you ever need me, activate this. B.'

He put it back, pushed it into the shadows and sat waiting for Hela to come out of the fresher. She was here with him now, that's all that mattered. He thought about the locket, it looked like something a Jedi would have, the intricate engraving on it. He had seen that on lightsaber hilts. That was it. It was from General Kenobi, she called him Ben.

He leaned back satisfied and happy that there was someone else, other than Zur around to protect her, help her, if she needed it. She was in the spotlight and not just for her singing but also for her relationship with the Chancellor. He was coming to terms with the quieter Hela he had come to know over the past few days but he was going back in tomorrow, for a check up. He would speak to Cody, there were a few things he had to organise, if he could. He'd checked the regs, there was nothing in there that should prevent it.

The bed sank slightly as she got in next to him. He pulled her to him and smiled as she snuggled close to him. He was tired today, following all the exercise, after his enforced immobility; he was still out of condition and his eyes were slowly closing as he felt Hela's arm stretch across his chest and her lips on his jaw.

"Goodnight." She whispered.

"Jate'udesiir!" He replied, without thinking.

It all felt too good to be true.

.

ArmyMed

Day Four of Cara

Plug heard the doors to ArmyMed push open slowly, that squeaking door had still not been repaired; it put his teeth on edge.

"Plug? There you are." The woman's voice pushed through all the other medical centre noises; it was a voice he recognised now and relished hearing it after only a few days.

He had been so busy with the new intake he had not been able to spare a minute, or ten and Cara had noticed. She brought him a large caf and some kind of cake with bits of fruit in it, wrapped in a napkin.

"Here. This was left over but it's still good." he didn't care, it was just nice that someone thought of him occasionally, or several times a day it seemed with Cara. She had started checking on him.

The last time had been the Commander's friend, then Cara had started talking to him. They had shared a number of breaks in her room since then, it was something he looked forward to, she was not as aloof as he first thought, when he first met her.

She handed him the caf, which he accepted gratefully, his fingers lingering on hers longer than was necessary, as he held the cup but she did not flinch or move away but instead she smiled.

"Hope it's not too hot. If it goes cold. Let me know. I'll get you another."

He watched and smiled, as she backed away and walked back down the corridor, her red hair tail swinging from side to side as she walked.

A message came through, Mayday's figures. He'd reached the required level and more than that required to be discharged. He might have known he would have exceeded it. It would not have mattered what number he put there, the Commander would have attempted to exceed it. The natborn had done exactly what she said; he had been sceptical but she had surprised him.

He booked him in for a final examination and discharge, initially he put it in this afternoon, then changed it and messaged Mayday and Commander Cody to expect him back on duty tomorrow.

Twenty four hours would not make much difference.

.

The next time he heard the doors open, it was Cara again. He looked up to see her walking towards him with a mug in her hand, smiling. He had not realised so much time had elapsed as he had been busy with his brothers.

"You missed our caf break."

"Sorry. I was busy. We had a big intake and then some discharges. There was a lot of flimzi work to do."

"I know. I saw. I've brought you one."

She held out the metal coloured mug, "it's insulated, so your caf doesn't go cold so quickly but be careful you could burn yourself."

He looked at it and turned it around, it had his name in blue on it. He wasn't sure what to say, he had thought it was nice having someone to talk to even for just a few minutes but this was something more.

"Thank you. I don't know what else to say. No one had ever given me anything before."

Cara smiled, but privately thought how sad that was.

.

Hela's

Hela turned onto her side, now used to the warm body lying next to her; that familiarity had happened so quickly and it felt so right. She didn't want to let him go back, ever, but she knew that was a dream that may never materialise and she was prepared to take every moment she was with him as it came.

She pushed the thought of what happened with Baylan away.

Her arm automatically slid over Mayday, coming to rest on his chest, on the smattering of chest hair there, as she pulled herself flat to his back.

"Hmm." He let out an involuntary sigh, as she rubbed her hand along his chest.

He put his hand over hers, "Let me wake up first."

He felt her giggle in his back, "Can I help it, if we have to squeeze four days of loving into just a few hours."

"Not my fault I was more than willing when I came back from ArmyMed."

"More than willing to risk your health." She tutted, then kissed his neck.

"You're worth it. I would risk everything for you." Mayday wasn't sure where that had come from, but he had said it now and realised it was true.

Hela pulled away from him and stared, her eyes shiny.

"So— we have four days of loving to make up?" he asked.

"Elek!"

"You've been studying."

"A little."

"How do you propose we rectify the missed days?" he couldn't resist smiling, as she extracted her hand from his and pushed downwards.

"What do you think?" she asked, as she pulled the sheet over her head and shuffled down the bed.

His breath hitched, as she reached him, "A poor unsuspecting clone being ravaged to within an inch of his life." He muttered, gritting his teeth.

She snorted, "You weren't complaining last night."

"That was last night." He retorted as he lay back, his hand reaching down to her head, his fingers tangling in her short silky hair as he held her there. He bit his lip as she worked on him before he gave in and pulled the sheet from her. She moved back up and he couldn't work out which was best or worst. Her lips against him, opening her mouth to take him in deeper with the wet swirl of her tongue or the feel of her silky skin and wet heat between her legs as she slithered up his thigh.

He squeezed his eyes shut as she straddled him, and tried to think about disassembling a deece but that made it worse, when he imagining jamming the cartridge back in, before pulling her down into a kiss.

"And now?"

"I'm yours—to do with as you wish!"

"Ooh, are you sure?"

"Yes." He smiled, as he squeezed her buttocks.

He watched her, as she leaned towards him, feeling her breath on his neck and her fingers pushing through his hair.

"This is the longest I have ever seen your hair. I like it."

He groaned, "It will be uncomfortable under my bucket."

"Perhaps just the sides then." She pushed her fingers through his hair at the side of his head.

"I'll just get the barber droid to do the 'usual'."

"Which is?"

"Regulation."

"You're not regulation, you know that don't you?"

"I suppose not." He pulled her into him, feeling her hard nipples press into his chest.

"I can do the sides." She said, "I have a barber's razor."

"You have a barber's razor?"

"Yes."

"I'm not going to ask." He shook his head.

"Good. It's a long story and we don't have time." She lined him up and sank down on him, letting out a soft moan as they joined.

"Kriff! I love that sound." He whispered.

He couldn't say anymore as her mouth occupied his, while his hands slid down to her hips, holding her steady, until she pushed herself upright on her knees before dropping back down.

He reached out for a breast, kneading it hard, pulling at the nipple. Her head dropped back as she rose again on her knees and dropped back down with a moan as their bodies met.

"Are you trying to kriffing kill me?" He growled, before reaching between them, where they joined. He found the spot and started rubbing in gentle circles.

Hela didn't answer, she was grinding down on him, eyes closed, intent on what he and she was doing.

She leaned back, bracing herself on his thighs with her hands, moaning between panting breaths, hips rolling against him. Mayday couldn't help himself as she contracted around him. His hips moving of their own accord, pushing up into her rapid and hard, and pain free. He watched her eyes shut, breasts bouncing as she rode him.

She stuttered, groaned and arched back before collapsing across his chest, shivering. He held her as his last thrust brought him his release. They lay together, panting hard; he reached and brushed the sweat matted hair away from her face, before wrapping his arms around her. She sighed, leaning her head on his chest, as their breathing slowed back toward normal.

.

ArmyMed.

"Commander!" Veetch shouted, as he walked out of ArmyMed. The Receptionist had called Hela back but she had not seemed angry. He glanced back and they appeared to be having a civilised conversation, their heads bent close together, in fact the Receptionist was smiling. Zur had told him what Hela had to do to get in to see him but Plug had said Cara was okay. Mayday left them to talk.

Mayday looked around to see Veetch waiting for him on the corner, datapad in hand.

"Good to see you Sir."

"Good to be here. How is everyone? Been busy?"

"We've been helping with the reconstruction, so the boys are itching to get back to the fighting."

"As am I."

"Are you sir?"

Mayday cocked his head on one side and watched his second.

"What has Plug been saying?"

"Not a word sir. I just thought— with you staying with Hela for your rehab."

"It was a welcome distraction."

"Yes sir." Veetch restrained himself from grinning too widely but his Commanding officer's face gave nothing away

"So what do we know about Plug?"

Veetch brought up the medics file.

"He was at Geonosis and distinguished himself there.

"Didn't everyone?"

"Then because of his medical expertise there, he was moved here."

"So he showed how good he was on the battlefield and they took him from that role where he could save brother's lives on the battlefield, preventing deaths, to this one."

"He helped you."

"But he could probably do much more."

"We could always use another medic."

"My thoughts exactly. He doesn't take prisoners—"

"So Tank said." Veetch suppressed a smile at the thought.

"But he is also adaptable to using other means."

"Yes sir."

"Make the overtures."

"Yes sir! Ms Nim's almost ready now."

"Thanks Veetch." He turned towards Hela. She was still in conversation with the Receptionist but they seem to be agreeing on something. Finally she stepped away and headed back towards Mayday who waited patiently for her.

"I have to report back." He said, his hand reaching out to her cheek.

"I know."

They kissed quickly, Hela holding him tight. He hesitated, conscious of the people around him then wrapped his arms around her and they buried their faces in each other's necks.

Veetch stood, back to them, giving them privacy, ready to fend off any intruders, who got too close.

.