Jyn glanced through the Rebel base information updates on her data pad losing focus as her mind wandered back to the conversation between her and Mothma from the day before. She had left feeling relieved yet tired, it had been ages since she had spoken of Jeresk to anyone, and so thoroughly. Mothma was sensitive to the fact that Jyn had also been betrayed by Jeresk but made it clear that in order to uphold stringent security measures she needed to know every piece of information about him that Jyn could scrap together. Mothma explained that seemingly innocuous bits of information could reveal an important connection to his previous work with the Alliance. It bewildered Jyn to learn that he had been deceiving the Alliance while pretending to be a navigator when she knew him. A memory of her father pierced through her thoughts and she felt stricken with longing for his presence...she imagined that if he had met Jeresk it would of taken one sweep of his calm, unmoving gaze to determine Jeresk was not worthy of his daughters time or attention. Thoughts of paternal protection brought a lump to her throat. She was a survivor and had the fortitude to make it through many hard times, however the security of the Rebel base was allowing her relax. With that ease came a steady stream of thoughts and emotions that been held at bay for far too long. She tried to push away the building dark cloud of dismal thoughts and re-focus on reading her data pad when she heard a masculine voice. In the moment she could not deny that its familiarity brought her comfort and she lifted her head quickly. Cassian smiled softly and sat next to her, he hunched over bringing his hands together in a loose clasp. Jyn found a fleeting comparison of Cassian and Jeresk flash through her mind as she looked at him. There was something much more tangible to Cassian's strength of character that she liked. Cassian radiated an inner fortitude, she believed in a weak moment she could lean into him and he would not let her fall. Cassian turned to look at Jyn,

"I spoke with Mothma, we reviewed your account together...she wanted me to relay to you that due to this newfound information we must watch you closely."

Jyn nodded slowly as she processed his words,

"I understand. I did not expect any less. It's hard to know who to trust until you've seen all their cards laid out..."

Her words trailed off tinged with bitterness as she looked into the distance, her gaze unfocused.

Cassian put his hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the moment.

"I did not want this situation to make us seem so cold, though sometimes it is unavoidable. That is why I asked Mothma if I could deliver this information personally."

Jyn's eyebrows rose in surprise and she met his gaze fully.

"We are in a hard line of work, and feelings like hurt and caring too much can interfere...but they cannot be fully ignored or pushed away. I do not want you to have to feel so isolated with this pain in the midst of this background investigation. I know too well what it's like to feel as if there is a huge chasm inside of you, and yet you have nobody you think you should show. Things should not be like that for you here Jyn. I won't let them." A muscle twitched in Cassian's jawline as he looked towards the ground. It seemed to Jyn as if he were weighed down and instinctively she reached to touch his shoulder in comfort. He turned to meet her gaze again and Jyn looked into his eyes. Their golden-brown depths seemed to carry an ancient sadness and Jyn suddenly forgot her own pain as she saw into the well of his own.

Cassian smiled softly "I want you to remember this, do not spend so much time looking around you to uncover your enemies that you look past those who would be your friends. This advice will take you just as far as being vigilant and cunning."

Jyn smiled softly in return her gray eyes filling with affection and appreciation.

Cassian chuckled to himself, shaking his head.

"What is it?" said Jyn

"Something K2-SO said, he told me that the statistic likelihood of resolving my own unending hang ups by helping you was not likely to occur, but would probably make me feel better regardless."

Jyn laughed in response; suddenly the comm channels activated the alert for a meeting. Cassian stood up and reached down to take Jyn's hand, helping her up they walked to the meeting together, warmed by the camaraderie they offered to each other.