It was the first time Ahsoka was staying with the Ghost Crew for more than a few hours. She'd been on a mission that went awry, her ship was blown to smithereens, and theGhosthad been the swiftest rescue. The Ghost Crew wasn't due back from their own adventures for over a week and Ahsoka had agreed to hang out with them until they were scheduled to return.
Day One
"Seriously?" Sabine groaned for the umpteenth time, watching Hera dig through the supply closet for an extra set of sheets. "Wehaveto do this?"
"Sabine Wren, if I hear you complainone more time—"
"How do you know she's not an imposter?!"
Hera sighed and dragged her hand down her face. She didnothave time for this. "Sabine—"
"She could be, you never know. She could be avery dedicatedimposter determined to take us down from the inside. She could've had that goal from the very beginning, when she first joined the Rebellion, and could slowly be corrupting us from the inside out."
"I swear to— what?" Hera blinked at the girl. "You're kidding, right? That's ridiculous, even for you."
"What do youmean,even for me?!" Sabine snapped. "I amnot—"
"Not continuing this conversation. Admit it, it's far-fetched— impossible even. And don't you dare suggest we leave Ahsoka to be on that planet with no rations or escape. That's low, and I know you don't mean it. No life is worth this stubbornness."
Sabine opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again. "She's not sharing a room with me."
Hera rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Do you think Kanan and I are moving his things into my room for kicks and giggles."
"Um... yeah?"
At least this earned Sabine a sharp (but unserious) elbow in the ribs. Hera turned back to the supply closet and spotted the sheets she'd been digging for, dragging them out in a wad. "Ah! Finally! Now, Sabine, you can either check the med-bay to make sure it's ready in case Ahsoka needs it, clean up the mess you left in the galley kitchen, or help me with prepping Kanan's cabin. Which do you—"
There was no need for Sabine to reply, apparently, because she was already up and away, down the hall to the med-bay. Hera sighed and shook her head. She bundled up the wad of sheets and made for Kanan's quarters.
/
"Get ready, everyone, thirty seconds!" Hera shouted, theGhostdiving under her fingertips just as she commanded it to. Boots clanked the metal floor, Kanan shouted orders to the kids, and Hera pulled up. She spotted Ahsoka, emerging from the brush of the forested planet floor and whipped the Ghost around to get the ramp as close as possible. Ahsoka, at least, seemed to be moving okay.
Hera swooped theGhostlow, the ramp lowered, voices shouted and boots stomped, and then Kanan was yelling that they were clear, and Hera pelted upwards. She evaded the few weak attacks thrown at her and launched into hyperspace.
As soon as the galaxy smeared outside the windows, Hera was on her feet and into the cargo hold, where Ahsoka was standing surrounded by the others. Hera breathed in silent relief.
"Hera," Ahsoka greeted warmly. "I owe you many thanks for the rescue."
"Nonsense, it was on the way!" Hera waved her hand in a way she hoped looked casual. How could Ahsoka be socalmafter this?! How was she always solevel, and how did her presence make Hera feel like a babbling rookie. "Do you need anything? A med-kit? Some rations?"
"No, no," Ahsoka smiled. "Thank you, but rest and meditation is all I need."
Something about that panged Hera with doubt,the woman had just been in a life-or-death situation,but the doubt was shrouded in her eagerness to be a good hostess. "Well, we have a cabin ready for you and the galley kitchen is always open whenever you're hungry."
Ahsoka nodded her thanks, and when Ezra eagerly offered to show her around with glittering eyes, allowed him to drag her away. Hera pounced on the oportunity to check over Ahsoka's cabin one last time and make sure the kids hadn't left any embarassing messes anywhere. She'd just satisfied the last once-over when Ezra came round with Ahsoka in tow.
"... and this is your cabin! Well, technically it's Kanan's, but he and Hera are sharing because they're– oh, hi Hera!" Ezra chirped. Hera narrowed her eyes at him and he smirked at her.
"I hope Ezra didn't say anything he should regret," Hera said, pointedly looking at Ezra, then turned her attention to Ahsoka. "If you need anything at all, let me know. We don't have much but we'll do our best."
"This is more than enough, thank you," Ahsoka said, and there came that smile of hers. "I owe you." And with that, Ahsoka disappeared into the dimness of her (temporary) cabin.
/
Day Two
Ezra wanted,very badly, to spend time with Ahsoka. He wanted to pick her brain, learn her moves, let her critique his form, ...
"Don't bug her, Ezra," Hera said for the millionth time that morning. Ezra was at the galley table, Hera wiping the dishes that Zeb had just claimed to wash. Ezra had said nothing, but he was bouncing his legs, staring distractedly at his datapad, and Hera could just read minds, he supposed.
"Iknow," Ezra sighed. "Iwon't." But he wanted to. He wanted to so,sobadly. Terribly.
"She needs rest. She's still recovering, that mission wasn't easy."
"Iknow," Ezra bit out again. "Ugh, this is so boring. I don't want to read this stupid thing anymore."
"I bet Ahsoka would think you should—"
Ezra raised is eyebrows indignantly at Hera. "Oh, yeah,sure." He pushed himself up from the table. "She'd probably also want me to mop the floor and clean the 'fresher like a good little boy, wouldn't she? I'm going to practice with my lightsaber."
"Don't bother—"
"I know, I know!" Ezra shouted over his shoulder as he blew through the door. Chopper nearly tripped him and while he was stumbling and cursing the cackling astromech, the kriffing thing snagged his lightsaber and zipped off. Ezra plunged after Chopper, skidding about until he cornered the droid in the cockpit and rescued the saber. Ezra spit at Chopper and stormed off.
He was parading down the hall when he stopped short at Kanan's cabin door and stared. Oh howbadlyhe wanted to knock on it, even if there was no answer. He stared, cast out with the Force, just to feel her. Ahsoka's presense had always been so vibrant and powerful, than life, even. His mind seeped beneith the door cracks and trickled up the walls, but what he felt was only—
"Ezra."
He jerkd back to himself at Kanan's voice and shrunk away. "Kanan, I wasn't going to—-"
"Seriously, give her space," Kanan said. There was no space between the words to argue. "She's our guest here, not something to gawp at."
"Right, I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Ezra turned on his heel to flee, but thought better and turned back. "Wait, Kanan, why can't I feel her?"
"What?"
"I was just... um... meditating." Ezra ignored Kanan's raised eyebrows and cast out his consiousnesness over theGhost. "I can feel everyone. You, Hera, Zeb, Sabine... but not Ahsoka."
Kanan shrugged. "That means she's masking herself. Probably meditating or something..." he shrugged again, maybe this time to himself. "Leave her be, Ezra."
"Yeah, yeah, I will." Ezra sighed and turned to venture to the cargo hold. Maybe he could drown himself and his consuming urge to burst into Ahsoka's cabin in his practice.
/
Day Three
Zeb had woken himself with his own snores and now was kept awake by the sound of Ezra talking in his sleep. Oh well— he'd certainly make it an excuse to strangle Ezra later, but for now, it was late enough that Hera was likely already up, and therefore not an overly-unholy hour to get something done.
Zeb rolled out of bed and stumbled down to the galley kitchen, coughing, scratching and yawning. He crossed into the lit room midway through scratching his behind and midway through yawning andfroze. There at the table sat Ahsoka, looking up at him from a datapad. For a moment that streatched into eternity, both of them just stared. Zeb hadn't thought she'd be here, he'd already very well forgotten that she was here in the first place.
"Good morning, Zeb," Ahsoka broke the silence. "I've made caf if you'd like some."
"Er, thanks," Zeb forced out, lunging for the pot of caf, pouring himself a generous cup, and making to flee the kitchen.
"I'm sorry if I alarmed you. If you'd like the kitchen to yourself, I'm more than willing to go," Ahsoka offered last minute, and there Zeb went feeling suddenly guilty.
"No, I just— uh, usually no one's in the galley this hour," Zeb blabbed, and it was only a partial lie. "Just surprised. No trouble."
"Then what brings you here?" Ahsoka nodded to his mug. "Just caf?"
"Uh, yeah."
Ahsoka nodded and Zeb had never wanted to be sucked into an airlock so badly. But Ahsoka seemed ot have that effect on everyone. Hera fangirled over her, Ezra looked at her as if she was the key to all his issues, Kanan turned oddly reserved, and Sabine exploded with loathing. Still she seemed so at ease, and for a moment Zeb considered that Ahsoka didn't know how to be awkward.
"So... what are you reading?"
"A bit of light research on my next potential mission," Ahsoka replied.
"Next mission? We're basically on vacation right now with the one we're on, why would you do that?"
The look she gave him whispered of concealed bitterness. "I like to stay on top of things."
Zeb nodded, slowly, painfully, and they lapsed into silence once more. Zeb grappled for something more to say.
"So... lightsabers."
Ahsoka chuckled. "You're under no perogative to speak to me if you don't intend to. You have important things to do, I'm sure, and I won't be offended if you leave to get those started."
"No, my only plan was to maybe get in some practice with my bo-rifle," Zeb admitted, then kicked himself because Ahsoka had just given him an out and he'd just killed it.
"Ah, yes, that bo-rifle of yours." Ahsoka slid her datapad aside. "Tell me, Zeb, a bit about that."
And the next thing he knew, Zeb was having the deepest conversation about weapons he'd ever had with a living being. They digussed his weapon, what it meant, and moved on to mechanics of the weapon, then to other weapons and what they meant to other cultures and on and on and on. When the conversation lapsed away, Ahsoka excused herself, and Zeb didn't see her for the rest of the day.
His caf had gone cold, he realized as he watched her slip from the galley, but he didn't care.
/
Day Four
Kanan hadn't seen Ezra that morning, which was suspicious. But he'dheardEzra, and though that wasn't technically suspicious, it wasn't Ezra bickering with Chopper or Zeb. It was him bainging and clanging and his lightsaber whizzing through the air. Kanan caught on a little too late.
He burst into the cargo hold to find Ahsoka watching Ezra perform a flourescent new spinning move, her hands tucked behind her back and her eyes attentive as if she was a lightsaber instructor back at the Temple.
"Ezra! What are you doing?" Kanan snapped, sliding down the ladder and marching over. "Ahsoka, I'm am so,sosorry—"
"Nonsense," Ahsoka said, holding up a hand. "I offered. Zeb told me how eager Ezra is to learn, and I find that a very good trait to have, and aver importantone to act on. Now, Ezra, try it again, and remember to use your core."
Ezra nodded, beaming and went back to practicing. Kanan stood by Ahsoka and watched for a long moment.
"I hope I'm not intruding," Ahsoka said abruptly. "I realize now I should've asked before offering to teach him."
"No, not at all, this is fine. It's good to have multiple techers."
"More than just one crusty old man," Ezra supplied when he'd paused from stumbling.
"Hey! She's older than me!"
"Doesn't matter,youact older. I could call you grandpa."
They launched into an argument, and kanan only rembered Ahsoka was in the room when he glanced over and saw her, watching them with a distant cloud to her eyes, her fond smile from moments ago melted away.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt—"
"You're perfectly fine, Cal— Kanan," Ahsoka said swiftly, and her returned smile had an edge. "Ezra, you've been at this long enough, time for a bit of meditation practice. Kanan, you're welcome to join us."
They sat without quarel and Ahsoka walked them through a meditation that Kanan vividly remembered Obi-Wan teaching. Her voice mimicked his in inflectionand rhythm, a near-perfect impression. For a while Kanan was a youngling in the Temple again, unscarred by war, simply in a sun-lit room surrounded by his friends and mentors. Ahsoka's voice had dwindled away, and it was just Kanan, as Caleb, peaceful as could be.
He was almost surprised to be in the cargo hold of theGhostwhen he opened his eyes, and even more surprised to see that Ahsoka's eyes also slit open, staring at her knees. She must've sensed him, because her eyes met his and she smiled a bitter-sweet smile that made Kanan consider they were sharing a memory. Just as Kanan was about to school himself and sink back into the Force—
A snore interrupted. He and Ahsoka turned to Ezra, slumped, and fast asleep. Kanan felt himself flush. Seriously, Ezra just had to act like this in front ofAhsoka...
She chuckled lowly. "Perhaps we should get him to bed. It's been a long day..."
"I'll wake him up." Kanan cleared his throat. "He needs to learn to focus during meditation, not—"
"War is tiring." Ahsoka was already scooping up Ezra, who— now that Kanan thought about it— wasn't that much smaller than her. "And don't pretend like you never accidentally slept while meditating as a padawan."
Kanan's face grew impossibly hotter. Any more heat and it would detonate. "Fair." He followed haplessly after Ahsoka as she practically floated off, cat-light and silent. He palmed open the door for her and watched her lay him on his bunk. She paused, he paused to. She stared at the wall.
Kanan cleared his throat and tried a gentle, "Ahsoka—"
"The paintings around here are impressive," Ahsoka told him abruptly. "I'll have to compliment Sabine when I see her, she's very creative and talented."
"Yeah, she is."
"I think Ezra is on to something. We should both rest as well."
And with that, Ahsoka slipped away.
/
Day Five
Sabine stabbed a button on the Djarik board. She didn't look at which, and she didn't care which one it was. She just had to stab something. Zeb was going to win no matter what, because he cared, and Sabine didn't.
Ezra was sitting on the floor by the base of the sofa in the lounge, moaning about how he'd embarrassed himself by falling asleep in front of Ahsoka, Kanan was telling him that Ahsoka really didn't mind, and Hera was rambling in between Kanan's words about something along the lines of Ahsoka.
"Can you guys talk aboutanythingelse?!" Sabine snapped, shooting up from the cusions. "The galaxy doesn't revolve aroundAhsoka."
"Sabine, we don't—"
"Whatever, fine, keep worshiping her."
Sabine stormed out of the room and down to ther cabin. She didn't stop storing until the doors latched shut behind her and she could grip a graffiti brush in her hand to begin an angry painting. Sabine didn't know what it was, she didn't care... at least not until she looked at it and saw that it wasAhsoka.
For five entire days, Sabine had been patient. She had been tolerent. She'd kept her mouth shut. Ahsoka had kept away from them, which suited Sabine just fine, but everyone else just kept talking and talking andtalkingabout her. Sabine was sick of it.
Before she could stop herself, Sabine was on her feet and across the hall, palming at Ahsoka's door controls. When they didn't open she picked the lock. No regrets, and no solid plan. Her only inkling of what she would do was berate Ahsoka, make an excuse about her making Ezra feel bad or purposefully avoiding Sabie. The doors slid open and—
"What the kriff?!"
Ahsoka whipped around, for the first timeeverlooking alarmed, and made a shushing gesture. Sabine, panicking, leapt inside and let the door slide shut. In a harsh whisper, she repeated, "What the kriff?"
There was blood dotted on the floor and the bed. Ahsoka had been turned with her back to the door, and she was wearing a sort of robe with one shoulder pulled down and off a portion of her back. From Sabine's brief glance, she could make out deep, ugly lines like gnarld viens snaking from her shoulder down. And boy, they wereugly:green and purple and clogged and everything they weren't supposed to be.
"I promise to replace everything as soon as we're back at Rebel Home," Ahsoka said, the edges of her irritatingly-calm voice shaky for once. "I promise I'm not stealing."
Sabine cast her eyes aside to see a flicked-open med kit, and in Ahsoka's hand, a few bandages and bacta cream.
"That's not what I meant," Sabine said, blinking rapidly. "I meant your back."
"Just a cut."
"No, it'snot," Sabine pressed, and she really didn't know why she cared. Maybe it was the initial shock. "And the bloood..."
"Ah, that's just from a nose bleed. Nothing to worry about. It'sallreally nothing—"
"Ugh, stop it!" Sabine burst. "Stop with the 'it's fine, i'm fine, bla bla bla bla bla' because it's obviouslynot!You could literally die from that. What the kriff did you even do? Was it on the mission we picked you up from?"
"Yes," Ahsoka admitted. "It shouldn't have been infected, but it's difficult for me to reach my back."
"Why didn't you ask for help?"
"Difficult, Sabine, not impossible."
Sabine stared at her. Ahsoka stared back.
"Turn around."
"Sorry?"
"Give me the kriffing med things and turn around!"
Ahsoka handed over her handful of bandages and cream and pivoted on her heel. For a moment she didn't seem so much likeAhsoka, rather just a wounded girl following orders. Sabine told herself the only reason she was helping Ahsoka was because it gave her an excuse to order Ahsoka around. Or maybe it was because, as Hera liked to say, her heart was too big to refuse. Either way, Sabine skillfully smeared the wounds in salve and bandaged them, then dug through the med-kit.
"Here." She tossed a bottle of pills to Ahsoka. "These are supposed to help an infection clear out... not sure how well they work though."
"Thank you, Sabine," Ahsoka said lowly, almost to herself, and she sounded so genuinely grateful that Sabine couldn't decide if it made her angry or warm inside. Angry, she decided, because anger was easier. "I owe you for this."
Sabine rolled her eyes "What is it with you and owing people? Can no one just do something nice? Does it always have to be paid back?"
"It's merely a habit," Ahsoka said. Her smile had edges. "By the way, Sabine, your artwork is simply amazing. You're very talented and I can see you've worked hard at it. Perhaps you can show me more of it sometime."
"Oh– um, sure. Maybe." Sabine made clumsily for the door. "I have to go, everyone is probably looking for me."
"Thank you again, Sabine."
Sabine paused in the doorway, her hand hovering over the controls. "Ahsoka?"
"Yes?"
"I... won't tell Hera."
Ahsoka seemed to wilt where she stood, her eyes lighting up like detonations. "I would appreciate that."
Sabine slipped away, and she heard the lock click behind her.
/
Day Six
Zeb had once again forgotten that Ahsoka was staying with them, though it wasn't usually something one would remember at three in the morning during an idle 'fresher visit. He'd made it to the 'fresher door and reached for the controls just in time for it to swish open on its own. Zeb leapt back with a grunt of surprise, and looked down to see a pleasantly vague-faced Ahsoka. She must've heard him.
"Uh— er— morning."
"Morning," she whispered back, and sidestepped out of his way. But she didn't turn back to her cabin. Rather, she stalked off towards the galley.
Zeb made his 'fresher visit fast and took a detour to the galley on the way back to his cabin. Sure enough, dim light spilled from the doorway and inside sat Ahsoka, legs tucked tightly under and against her, staring intently upon a datapad.
Zeb said nothing, feeling his voice would be a violation of the silent night. He returned to his cabin and flopped back onto his bunk, already snoring, and already forgetting about Ahsoka yet again.
/
Ezra, clambering to the top of the ladder, froze as he reached the top. He hadn't expected to see Ahsoka perched in the gunner's mount, but then again, he hadn't expected to find her in any of the other odd places he'd found her meditating lately. Or perhaps meditating wasn't the right word. It wasn't really meditating, it was more of... being zoned out. Just staring. Perhaps it was a different kind of meditation Ezra hadn't yet mastered.
He'd found her in about ten different corners and cranneys in only today. This had to be the most spacious of her choice locations. Likely the most comfortable one too.
"um, hi, Ahsoka," Ezra muttered. "Sorry to interrupt..."
If he didn't know any better, he could've sworn she jerked ever so slightly, but then she turned with her perfectly-schooled features and a warm smile. "No need, Ezra. What can I do for you?"
Odd how she asked that even though technically she was the guest.
"Hera sent me just to check up on some things, uh, but I can come back later."
"Ah, I'll get out of your way," Ahsoka said, already standing. "Unless you'd like some help?"
"It's okay, I got it." It came out too quickly, and Ezra kicked himself. He'd been very sheepish around Ahsoka after embarrassingly falling asleep during meditation. But, if Ahsoka noticed his haste, she said nothing. She offered him a shiny smile, wished him luck and bade him get her should he want help, and slid down the ladder.
/
Day Seven
Sabine was attracted like a magnet to arguments, and she'd just heard one. So what else was she going to do than sneak up behind the argument and have a listen?
Upon approaching, Sabine was delighted to discover thatAhsokawas part of this argument.
"Seriously, don't let Ezra nag you too much. If he asks too many questions, just tell him to go away," Kanan was saying.
"There's no need for that," came Ahsoka's ever-calm voice. So much for an argument. "Besides, a very specific padawan back at the Temple got meveryused to answering endless questions."
"Wha— I— hey, that's not fair."
"You can't deny it, though, don't even try."
Kanan muttered something Sabine didn't quite catch, and Ahsoka chuckled. Sabine smirked. This was just too good.
She slunk off to find Ezra. To his protest, she grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the cabins. Kanan and Ahsoka's conversation had ended several minutes ago, and Sabine would be surprised if Ahsokahadn'tretreated to her cabin. She picked the lock inside, not bothering to knock, and found Ahsoka sitting in the dark, legs crossed in her favored meditation position.
"Ahsoka," Sabine said, plopping down on the floor in front of her bed, dragging wild-eyed Ezra down next to her. "You knew Kanan at the Temple."
Ahsoka raised her eye markings. It wasn't a question. "I suppose you could say that."
"Tell."
For a long moment, Sabine feared Ahsoka wouldn't comply. But Ezra had stopped his silent protests, his eyes shone eagerly up at Ahsoka. Ahsoka studied both of them, and then began to tell them the tales of her and Kanan's adventures during the Clone Wars. She told the stories distantly. Her eyes were clouded as if seeing back through time itself.
When Sabine and Ezra left hours later, Ahsoka could hardly shake herself from that distance, trapped in her memories.
/
Day Eight
Since they'd all be returning to Rebel Home for a restock in a few days,Hera had Chopper take inventory of their supplies. She'd just finished some tweaks beneath the control panel when Chopper came rolling into the cockpit, griping grandly about having to do the job. He presented his datapad to Hera and made for the door.
"Uh-uh, no you don't," Hera scolded, beating chopper over and shutting the door. "Not until I approve. We both know you love cutting corners."
Chopper let out a mechanical groan while Hera examined the list. Surprisingly, everything looked just fine up until...
"You didn't count the rations." Hera sighed. "You just jotted down a number around our average. Well guess what, we have another crew member with us, so that's not going to work. Go back and count them."
Chopper started babbling, swearing on his mechanical life that hedidtake inventory of rations, that itwasaccurate, and he left screaming his little droid head off about how life was so unfair. Why did he even try anymore, Chopper wailed.
Hera rolled her eyes at his antics.
When Chopper returned for the second time, the number was exactly the same. Hera gave up and Chopper chased her down the hallway to the galley, insisting he'd done it. For real. Hera told him to shush and began counting. She finished, glared, and counted again. Then again.
"I told you so," Chopper bleeped, turning triumphant circles around himself. "Told you, told you, told you."
"It can't be right," Hera muttered. She dug her hands through for yet another count. "Who isn't eating, Chop?"
Chopper glared at her as well as droids could glare, with a "how should I know?"
Hera cursed herself for not paying enough attention to her crew. "Everyone's been eating normally, haven't they? There's no reason anyone should forget. Sabine— has Sabine eaten? Have you seen her eat?"
Chopper beeped an affirmative.
Hera thought hard. The boys never had any trouble remembering to eat, Hera had kept herself fed, which left only... Ahsoka.
"Have you seen Ahsoka eat, Chop?"
Chopper beeped a negative.
A horrible pit opened in Hera's stomach as a thought occurred. What if nothing on the ship was Togruta-safe? Kanan had mentioned something about Togrutas being unable to eat certain things, and what if everything on the ship was unsafe?
"They're safe," a voice said when Hera suggested the idea to Chopper, making Hera jump. She whirled to see Sabine staring in at her. "I saw her eat one at some point."
"Some point?"
"Yeah, a few months ago I think? Pretty sure she hasn't come out of her deep dark room long enough for anything like that."
For once, Hera wasn't angry that Sabine had been stalking someone, tracking their every move. "Sabine, if you know something, you need to tell me."
And for once, Sabine looked resigned about tattling whatever she knew. "I..."
"Sabine," Hera said, voice firm but coaxing.
"I promised I wouldn't tell you. She didn't ask me, I just did, and I don't know why—"
"You won't be in trouble. I'll say I found out by myself."
Sabine snorted. "Why, because YOU walked in on her with half her shirt off?"
Hera froze. "Sorry, what?"
"I kinda just busted into her room, and... well... she was trying to treat her back. She's hurt."
Hera's heart dropped, and she beckoned Sabine to tell her more.
/
"Ahsoka, would I be interrupting if I asked to speak to you?" Hera asked, keeping her voice gentle to not startle Ahsoka out of her mediation. Not that anyone reallycouldstartle a Jedi.
They were in the cargo hold, where Ahsoka had elected to meditate seated in the corner on the floor. Hera sat next to her when Ahsoka gestured for her to assured her that she'd be fine to speak now.
There was no point in dancing around the topic. "Are you alright?"
Ahsoka looked as close to startled as a Jedi could be. "Of course, why—"
"You're injured. It's infected, isn't it?"
"Not anymore," Ahsoka said. Hera appreciated that she, too, wasn't one to dance around a topic. "Sabine helped me out, I'm okay now, I promise. And I'll bring the supplies myself to replace what I used."
"I'm not worried about that." Hera said it firmly, leaving no room for argument, and Ahsoka nodded her thanks. "And rations. I took inventory today. We have plenty of rations, Ahsoka, and you need to eat."
"I have been," promised Ahsoka, and Hera eyed her skeptically. "I reallyhave. I was able to salvage some from my ship before you grabbed me. It wasn't much but it was enough."
"You're sure?" Hera said. "We have plenty, Ahsoka."
"I'll... keep that in mind."
Hera swallowed hard, and with a sudden flare of heartache, seized Ahsoka's hand. "Ahsoka, Fulcrum, you've doneso muchfor us. You've saved us more times than I can count, and you've helped us all. Let us helpyounow, please. It's the least we can do."
Ahsoka's eyes were bitter as she studied Hera's face. "Thank you, Hera. It means a lot." It was genuine, Hera knew, but something in her also knew that Ahsoka only agreed to let Hera dote on her out of politeness. Out of appeasing Hera.
Oh well, baby steps.
And suddenly, as Hera lead Ahsoka down to the galley for a (somewhat) proper meal, Ahsoka was no longer Fulcrum, a stoic, steady, logical leader. Ahsoka was a woman, a person, broken and bruised by the harshness of war, doing all she could to mend the galaxy.
Well then, Hera was just going to have to mendher. And she would, she decided, she'd put Ahsoka back together again.