And here we are folks, the final chapter *cue the final countdown music* But seriously, I would like to thank all of you who have stuck by me throughout journey, everyone of you who took the time to leave a review, I mean just so many lovely reviews of how much you enjoyed this story about our two favorite characters in Rebels. I couldn't have finished this without all you're support and confidence. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I hope you all enjoy this final chapter! :)

The voices, by the Force they were relentless. They continued to torment him, they plagued his every thought, mercilessly tore down every wall Kanan tried to build around his mind, destroyed his emotions and left him feeling like a hollow shell of his former self, he fought against this assault as well, refusing to let them take it all away, take away what made Kanan, Kanan. Then abruptly, then door to the UEC opened with a swoosh! sound, announcing someone's revival. He jerked upward, towards the door as he sensed fear, concern, as well as sadness and guilt coming from the only person standing inside the room besides himself. Ezra, it was Ezra— it was his Padawan, his student, his son and Kanan wanted to cry as the silence took over, he felt such immediate relief when he felt their bond almost throbbing with life, he clung to it and he sensed Ezra do the same.

"Ezra." He murmured, his voice thick with emotions.

"Kanan." Ezra spoke out, tone filled with worry and a slight protectiveness to it. But Kanan took no interest in it, because Force it was good to hear the boy's voice again. He missed him dearly, as if they haven't seen the seventeen year old in decades. Without any hesitation, Kanan opened his arms, a clear invitation, an offer for the boy to run into his arms, as he have done before. But when nothing happened Kanan felt that something was— off because usually it wouldn't take Ezra this long to return his embrace.

"Ezra?" He inquired, softly.

He heard Ezra intake a deep breathe, "Hang on, this thing has been locking up the past two days." Kanan heard the distinct sound of clanking metal, which only furthered his confusion as to what exactly was going on. "Chopper thought it would be funny to mess with my hoverchair while I was resting to "lift my spirits" or so he says." The clanking metallic sound finally smoothed out and the Jedi Knight felt someone approaching closer, all the while Kanan's mind was a storm roaring with emotions. Hoverchair...? His heart ceased, it pounded in his chest rapidly. What... What exactly had Maul done to his boy? He bit his lip, he knew what Maul did, but was it really— were his injuries truly that bad... to the point where Ezra couldn't—

Kanan gagged and when he sensed that Ezra was close enough to him, he reached out with his arms and yanked the teen towards him. The hover chair banged against the bed rather loudly, but right now Kanan couldn't care less.

Ezra chuckled, which the Jedi immediately thought was odd. "Kanan..." Ezra sighed, softly patting his arm and pulled away. And Kanan felt his throat tighten, his arms twitched, utterly confused as to what has gotten into his Padawan.

"Ezra? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, this chair is just annoying me."

Kanan gave the kid a skeptical look. "C'mon, Ezra. You know I know you better then that." He paused for a few seconds before continuing. "We have to talk about this—"

"There's nothing to talk about."

The Jedi Knight pressed his lips into a think line, because he knew exactly what Ezra was doing, he was denying everything, he was refusing to discuss it. "What we went through— I know it... it hurts but we have to talk about it. We have too."

Fear and anger rippled off of Ezra in waves. He could sense the fear, the hesitation on wanting to talk about their ordeal, and the anger and annoyance directed solely towards Kanan about bringing it all up made him visibly flinch. "What do you want me from me, Kanan!?" The teen demanded, angrily.

"I want you to not bottle all this up." Kanan explained, his voice calm and gentle even though that the exact opposite of how he is really feeling. "I want you to stop denying what went on while we were with Maul. What he did, whether we like it or not, it happened. It hurts, I understand that but neither of us can just pretend like it didn't happen. It'll only cause more problems, we have to get everything out in the open so that we can move on."

"You want me to be open!?" His Padawan declared, venomously. "Fine!" The fear was fully replaced by the anger inside Ezra's heart, but Kanan didn't flinch away this time, he knew that if he could just get Ezra to grieve, honestly grieve for everything they went through and let everything out then that anger would disappear. "I'm broken, okay!? Everything that happened was my fault! I couldn't stop Maul from torturing us, what he did to you, I failed in keeping us safe. I watched you die, Kanan! And you almost stay gone and I couldn't handle that... and then when I tried to free us it blew up in my face too. And... then— Maul hurt me in a way I can't even— describe..." Ezra paused and Kana could hear him take a shallow breathe.

"I feel so disgusted with myself. I look in the mirror and see my face, the cuts everywhere and it makes me want to vomit. When my leg hurts or my rear burns I'm reminded about what he did to me, every single time and it won't go away! And I hate myself that much more... Do you have any idea what that's like!?" The anger was slowly fading away and now was replaced by sadness, by a brokenness Kanan was all too familiar with. And even though the Jedi Knight was getting exactly what he asked for, his heart still ached for his Padawan, it hurt to see him so shattered.

"...How I see myself now, how am I suppose to come back from that, Kanan!? How am I suppose to move on from what that kriffing Sith did to me when all I can think about is ending it all whenever I see my reflection!?" Ezra's fist slammed into the railing of the bed, his emotions finally reaching their peak but then it happened again, harder this time. "I hate him! I HATE him! He broke me— turned me into something so vial, ugly and repulsive! I hate him! I hate him so much!" Ezra banged his fist on the metal bar, relentlessly. "Is— Is that what you wanted to hear!?" The constant noise of flesh hitting metal happened so many times until Kanan smelt the scent of blood in the air and he couldn't take it anymore. He reached out and pulled the distraught boy close to his chest and held on tightly.

He sought the Force out, desperately asking for it's help... to keep his boy from breaking beyond repair. Gently, he lifted Ezra out of the hoverchair just enough to pull him up onto the bed where he wrapped his arms around his Padawan's head and back, encasing him in a protective hug, where this time he refused to let go. Running his fingers through the boy's hair, he sent him wave after wave of love and comfort, and shh shh... it's okay, I'm here, I've got you, I love you just as he had done to get Ezra back from this pit of grief the first time. "Shh, Padawan. I'm here, Ezra." Kanan hushed him, soothingly. His heart felt like it was shattering, but he needed to stay strong for Ezra's sake.

"I'm worthless because of him!"

Kanan big his lip and tightened his hold, "No! You're not worthless, you're not ugly— you're not disgusting. You are Ezra Bridger. You are my Padawan, you are my kid and nothing will ever change that!" Kanan found himself crying out, quietly. Tears cascading down his face. "If anything I'm the one who's worthless, being alone all that time Maul had you made me slowly lose my mind. I saw things, things that weren't real and then at some point I lost the ability to tell what was real and was a hallucination from my mind. And after I killed Maul that feeling— that pit in my stomach only seems to have gotten worse and it hasn't stopped."

Suddenly, he felt Ezra move and then he sensed the kid's eyes on him. "You— You killed Maul?"

Kanan nodded, simply. "Yes."

"You killed Maul?" Ezra's voice sounded concerned and disbelieving.

"Yes." He repeated again.

And now it seemed that his student was more upset then he was before. "Why?" The seventeen year old suddenly asked. "I thought you said that if we killEdsomeone with that much darkness and hate inside of them then that person would never be the same."

"And I was right, I'm never going to be the same. But I don't regret it."

"Why?"

"Because he hurt you, son." Kanan cupped Ezra's head and pulled him back towards his chest. "He hurt you in the worst way possible, he shattered your soul so carelessly and regretted none of it. I couldn't stand that, I snapped after that. In a rage I killed Maul for what he did, but I still don't regret my decision. Even if my mind won't be the same—" He paused a moment to press his cheek against the teen's temple. "I did it for you."

Then the wall that was holding back Ezra's main emotion's, the sadness and the grief crumbled into pieces. Abruptly, he felt Ezra circled his arms around him and started to let out these gut wrenching sobs that broke Kanan's heart. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! For all of this, it's my fault! I'm so sorry, Kanan..."

The Jedi Knight swallowed the lump in his throat, he shifted to his side squeezed the kid closer to his chest and felt fresh tears gathering in his eyes once again. "I know, I know you're sorry. But what we went through—" He swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's not you're fault, okay? It's not, just like it's not my fault either. The one to blame is Maul, no one else." He whispered, softly, placing a chaste kiss on top of Ezra's short hair and rubbed circles on his Padawan's back.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they grieved and let out the emotions that shattered their minds, bodies and souls from the unfortunate events that befall them because of a certain Sith Lord. And when their tears dried and the sobbing stopped, they laid there still and simply clung to each other, content with one another's presence.

"Look at us, we're a mess." His boy muttered as he pressed his face into Kanan chest and gripped the back of his clothing.

Kanan let out a small, watery chuckle, "I can't help but agree." He stated, calmly. "But you know, there's nothing wrong with that." His voice reassuring.

"But... we're both broken. And it hurts so much..."

"That's okay too. You and I need to take this one step at a time. We need to feel this pain and let it out whenever it gets to be too much to handle. Otherwise we won't get any better." He felt Ezra bury his face into his chest a little more and sniffled, quietly.

He squeezed Kanan, refusing to let go. "I don't know if I can, sometimes it's all too much for me to take."

The Jedi Knight placed another kiss on top of the teen's head and sent him more waves of love and comfort. "I know, I understand. But will you at least try, Ezra? Try for yourself, for me, and everyone else. Because we all love you, I love you. Even if you don't right now, that will never change. Just try? Please, kid."

A long pause was met with his words and for a moment Kanan thought that this silence was his only answer. "Okay, I'll— I'll try." Ezra's voice was above a whisper but he heard it regardless. "Only if your right there with me?"

A smile broke Kanan's facial features, it was wide, it was genuine and finally after all this time, it was happy. "Of course, Ezra. I'll be here. For as long as you need me." Kanan vowed, he promised with every fiber in his being that he will now and forever be here for Ezra, and for his loved ones.

As they lay there, holding each other, Kanan felt that same stone cold feeling wash over him, it started in his stomach then traveled to his heart and then to his mind. He wasn't able to recognize it before but now for some reason he could. Darkness, it was a thick, heavy darkness. And it wasn't the constant one he was use to seeing on a daily basis, this one he felt— this one he shivered against as it encased him. It made him feel cold and he huddled closer to his Padawan, he was scared but he tried not to show it.

What Maul had done, he had done himself in a fit of rage. It was taking over, the madness the darkness. Kanan fully realized that his words were true.

He really wasn't ever going to be the same, after all.

Kanan was discharged from the EUC after having several tests done that confirmed the chemical that was injected into his bloodstream wasn't going to harm the rest of their allies on Atollon. As he left the EUC the Droid, MD-09, the one that treated him all this time, held him up for a moment. "Mr. Jarrus, I must inform you that while you are not a danger to the rest of our allies here at the base. I still highly recommend you take the necessary time to heal and be cautious of your limitations. As you're organs are still healing from their ordeal. I also suggest young Mr. Bridger should as well."

Kanan let out a soft sigh, slightly irritated having heard all this before but knowing that the Droid was right as his insides still pained him, he nodded his head. With Hera and Sabine hovering behind him while Zeb and Rex hovered in front —so if he were to fall on either side they could catch him, prevent him from hitting the ground— Kanan finally left the EUC after six weeks of intensive care.

The five of them slowly walked down the hallway, the Jedi Knight could feel their eyes on him, watching him. He felt their concern and their sympathy. But Kanan stayed silent, too focused on the destination he had set in his mind. As he felt for the bond he shared with his Padawan, latching onto it and thoughtlessly let it guide him forward.

"So... Where are we going?" Sabine asked, hesitantly.

Kanan kept walking, his right hand placed on the wall while his left one raised outward. "Today's the day where Ezra's discharged too and from his hoverchair, I want to be there."

Slim fingers brushed against his shoulder blade, "Of course, Kanan." Hera stated, her voice as calm and gentle as it always is.

Kanan kept walking. He walked until he was in front of the door, where he immediately felt Ezra's apprehension from within the room. He walked inside without a moment of hesitation.

"Kanan." The sound of Ezra's voice completely relieved to see him.

"Ezra, how are you?" He asked the teenager, calmly. Kanan moved forward, keeping his hand out in front of him as he felt everyone else behind him step inside the room. Kanan could almost see in his mind's eye the little shrug of Ezra's shoulders that he always did when the boy was nervous or trying to make a situation less of a big deal then it actually was. But considering the events that lead up to this situation, what was happening was, in fact, a very big deal.

"I'm okay, Master."

Kanan smiled, he nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Zeb let out his signature loud laugh and pat Ezra on the back.

"Hey, kid."

Ezra chuckled, "Hey, Zeb." He sensed the kid's joy and it swelled within his heart and brought out another smile in him. "Hey, everyone." Air brushed past the Jedi Knight and Hera spoke next. "You feeling better today, sweetie?"

"I'm ready to get out of this chair." And Kanan couldn't help but scoff lightly in understanding at his Padawan's eagerness. As he also was rushing to get out of the EUC, out of the room he was constantly in for weeks.

"Only if the MD-23 says so, lad." Rex stated, firmly. Kanan noticed that the former Clone Veteran's tone was that of a wise grandfather, just as Hera's was of a mother.

That knowledge made his heart swell with pride and happiness.

"Mr. Bridger?" The monotone voice of MD-23 announced it's presence in the room. "Are you ready to proceed?" For the second time, Kanan felt the kid's nervousness. Wordlessly, he walked over to Ezra and placed his hand on his arm, giving him the support and courage the seventeen year old needed at this moment. A wave of gratitude was sent his way and Kanan moved his hand to Ezra's shoulder and gave it soft squeeze.

"As I'll ever be."

They moved slow, MD-23 powered down the hoverchair and tested Ezra's legs to see if they were working properly, if he was feeling pressure or any pain, all the while checking over the boy's other injuries, then the Droid ordered the rest of them for privacy and to please close the white curtain. Kanan bit the inside of his cheek and turned around without a word to anyone, for he knew actually where MD-23 was going to check next, and he could hardly handle the thought. He dug his nails into his palms and clinched his teeth together.

The curtain was drawn back a few minutes later and Kanan resumed his position by his Padawan's side once again as they all waited on baited breathe for the results, "Everything seems to be healing at the proper rate, even so I have run the necessary numbers and I suggest you take caution and know your limitations, Mr. Bridger."

"He will." Kanan answered, truthfully. "We both will, you have my word." Jedi training would have to be put on hold for a while. Mentally or physically. Neither of them were ready just yet.

"Very well, you may practice walking now."

When the room became silent once more, Kanan closed his eyes and listened, waited. He felt Ezra's fear and even heard his Padawan's heart beating for a few seconds before he sensed the vibrations in the floor as Ezra took a step forward.

Warning bells seemed to go off in Kanan's mind, as he heard Ezra let out a grunt of discomfort and the older Jedi immediately reached out blindly in the darkness and grasped the teens elbow to prevent him from collapsing to the ground. Kanan flinched as he felt everyone's panicked emotions slam against his mind all at once, but among the chaos he noticed the tremors that racked Ezra's frame, the boy was panting and his hands clung to Kanan's upper arms for dead life. As if the kid was afraid he was going to fall into an endless abyss and never get back out.

Kanan took a breathe, and sent calming waves to his student. "Shh, it's okay, you're okay. Take a breathe and try again, there's no need to rush. Go at your own pace." He said through their bond, soothingly as he moved his other hand and patted Ezra's back, making sure to keep it there.

Even though his breathing was still shallow and his body was still shaking, Ezra seemed to draw strength from this. "Kanan... I need help."

Kanan shifted, he curled his fingers around Ezra's wrists. "You have my help, Ezra. That's my job." He confirmed as he helped the kid straighten. Together, they walked. With Kanan's assistance helped his student move a crossed the room. They did this several times, just the pair of them before Ezra felt confident in himself enough to try on his own. Reluctantly, the Jedi Knight let go but stood at a distance that if something did happen he would be right there to catch Ezra should he fall again.

By the third time Ezra made it to one side to the room and back again, MD-23 announced that he was fit to leave, but not before the droid reminded him to be cautious.

Annoyance flashed within Kanan's mind, he couldn't help but smiled, emphasizing with his Padawan, knowing what it's like to have these droid constantly execute safety, how frustrating it can be, but Kanan also knew that they were right. They both needed time to heal, and they needed to heal outside of the Chopper Base Medical bay. He placed his hand upon Ezra's shoulder and gave it a reassuring pat, "We will, MD-23." He promised honestly, only to pause in his shorts steps toward the door, a thought popped into his mind and he turned to the Droid, "Thank you for taking care and looking after my Padawan, I truly am grateful for it."

"I was created to serve our Rebel allies and nothing else. But you are welcome nonetheless, Mr. Jarrus." Kanan smiled somewhat sadly as the Droids words sunk in, he nodded his head and walked out of the Medbay, his family in tow behind him.

Hera and the rest of his family all chatted as the moves down the hallway, saying how happy everyone was that Ezra and himself have healed well enough to be discharged. They said that missions and strategies plans haven't been the same without them. The Jedi Knight exhaled a low breathe, letting his freedom wash over him. Gently, he felt something brush up against his side, he sensed Ezra's signature, sensed their connection, felt Ezra's own contentment at being free and found the double meaning to it as well. A grin spread a crossed his lips, his arm wrapping around his student's shoulder instantly— happily, giving the boy a loving squeeze.

Ezra let out a chuckle, and returned the one-armed embrace, pressing his cheek against the fabric of Kanan's clothing as they both walked towards the doors, leading to their freedom.

*throws confetti into the air*

FINISHED! YESSsss!

Okay, I know this ending is cheesy as all get out but meh, I'm tired and my butt hurts from sitting down for so long writing this. I may add little one-shots dedicated to this story, going on into more detail about how mentally broken they both are. One with Ezra and one with Kanan. But that depends on how I'm feeling and if you guys are up to seeing more Kanan and Ezra anguish.

Once again, I would like to thank you all for sticking by me through this journey.

Anyway, a penny for your thoughts? Please, leave them in a review, they are eternally appreciated and as always I will see you all soon.