CHAPTER 12:

"We've gotta get back to the base," Luke insisted.

"I'm not sure she can travel," Han said quietly. He stroked her cheek only to find that her skin was cool to the touch. Then he placed a hand on her heart.

Chewbacca grumbled. Han looked up and nodded, "Yeah."

"Yeah, what?"

"Her heart is beating rapidly," Han frowned. "That's not good."

"Then we gotta hurry!" Luke's head swiveled between Han and Chewbacca, hoping one of them would listen.

Chewie mumbled and grunted. Luke was right; they had to do something and do it fast. He gave orders to Han and knelt down next to the princess.

"No," Han ignored his own pain from the beating the Grendolies gave him. He pushed the Wookie away and gently lifted the girl into his arms. "I got her."

Chewbacca led Luke and Han back through the way they went in. They passed the lifeless bodies of the Grendolies that they killed or were killed by their own kind for failing. Luke's heart weighed heavy. He never knew of a species that killed their own like that, so vicious. He glanced at Leia in Han's arms. If the Grendolies were more thorough in killing their wounded, Leia wouldn't have been attacked. Luke immediately felt guilty the moment that thought crossed his mind.

Luke had never experienced such a gruesome fight. Shooting storm troopers wasn't the same as killing the Grendolies. Storm troopers didn't bleed. Their expressions remained hidden behind faceless masks. Killing storm troopers felt heroic, just. Luke reminded himself that he, Han, Chewie, and Leia killed the Grendolies out of survival. Wasn't that the same as killing storm troopers? Wasn't it always an us-against-them situation?

Luke stopped and stared at the horrid expressions of the dead Grendolies and thought about their families. Storm troopers remained faceless in death, but they probably had families. His stomach churned. Maybe he wasn't cut out for this?

"Luke, hurry up, will 'ya?"

The sun burnt the young farm boy's eyes, pulling him out of his musings. He glanced at Leia in Han's arms. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed paler than before. Han was right; she was in no condition to travel. But what could they do?

Han stopped and laid Leia on the sand. The bandages around her abdomen were soaked with blood. "Hey, Your Worship," Han stroked her cheek hoping to get a rise from her.

Her eyes opened halfway, but remained unfocused, "What, Captain Solo?"

He flashed a smile at Chewie and then smiled down at her, "Thought you said you'd never come after me if I were in danger."

She closed her eyes but then smiled weakly, "I…only rescued…your ass…so I can…shoot you with…a stun gun."

"You're still angry about that?" Han stroked her cheek again to coax her eyes open, but it didn't work. "Leia?"

Luke knelt down next to Han, "Leia."

Chewie garuffed, and Han gave her a tiny shake, "Leia!"

"It's…cold," she whispered as she tried to nuzzle closer to Han.

"How could she be cold?" Luke sounded as if he was on the verge of tears.

"She's going into shock," Han said. His shoulders slumped as he pulled the princess close to him. They had no blankets or jackets to keep her warm.

Solo looked up at his best friend, his mouth stretched into a grim line. He had no answers left. Perhaps Chewbacca did. Chewie whined and gazed down at the girl.

"How far do you think the base is from here?" Luke looked out toward the ocean.

Chewbacca grumbled, and Han translated, "Do you still have the thermal sensor?"

"Oh, yeah!" Luke fidgeted with his utility belt before producing the sensor. He handed it to Chewbacca.

"It's about a kilometer straight through the rainforest," Han answered. "We could follow the coast."

"That sounds safer," Luke said hopefully.

"But it's longer," Han looked down at the princess.

Chewbacca reached down and handed Han a water pouch. He lifted her head, "Come on, Your Worship. Drink some of this."

Leia did as she was told with the assistance of Han. When she finished that water pouch, Han made her drink another one.

Chewie growled and grunted. Han nodded, "At least on the coast we'll be able to see what's comin' at us." He wiped at her clammy brow with his thumb, "We'll get outa this. Here," he leaned over her, "put your arms around my neck." Leia did as she was told, and he scooped her up in his arms. He could tell she was masking the pain that she felt when he lifted her off the ground.

Chewbacca placed a hairy paw on Han's shoulder. He brushed him off, "I look worse than I feel." Chewie persisted, "No, I'll take care of her."

Chewie and Luke exchanged glances and then hurried to catch up with Solo. Chewbacca shook his head and studied the thermal sensor. Time was running out. The large Wookie watched Han stumble and recover. The sand wasn't making their travel any easier. Chewie then looked over his shoulder at Luke. The boy was visibly pale and his eyes glistened with fear as he walked with his head down. Chewbacca waited for Luke to catch up with him and then put an arm around his shoulders and softly cooed.

Then Chewbacca stopped and called out to Han. Han turned around and furrowed his brow, "Where?"

"What?" Luke tilted his head. Then he stopped, "Something's coming."

"You speak Wookie now?" Han asked.

"No," Luke stared up at the sky. "I just got this feeling."

"You and your feelings!" Han rolled his eyes. He turned his attention to Chewie, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"I was talkin' to Chewie who has the thermal sensor and isn't relyin' on some feeling!" Han snapped.

Chewbacca roared angrily in Luke's defense, and that only angered Han even more, "It's their damn feelings that got us into all this!"

"But our feelings turned out to be right," Luke said quietly.

"I don't care!" Han yelled. "Did your feelings stop Leia from being hurt? No! Your feelings led you right into trouble, and now she'll probably die!"

The boy blinked a few times in an attempt to clear the tears from his eyes. The last thing he wanted was Han to see him cry. Chewbacca resumed his tongue thrashing aimed at Han. To Luke's surprise, Han didn't say anything. He just dropped to his knees with Leia in his arms. He held her close to him while stroking her hair. Then he placed a kiss on her forehead.

Luke's heart caught in his throat. He rushed over to Han and Leia and dropped to his knees beside them. He peered into the pale face of the princess and then into Han's eyes. Luke was both surprised and scared to see that Han, too, was on the verge of crying. Chewbacca kept his steely blue eyes focused on the horizon ahead of them.

Then the sand began to swirl around them. Han silently cursed. That was the last thing they needed now. Chewbacca howled, but Han ignored him. He was more worried that the sand would get into Leia's mouth or wounds.

"Han!" Luke yelled over the wind. "It's Wedge!"

Han finally tore his attention from the girl. He exhaled, placed a kiss on Leia's head, and whispered something in her ear. He wasn't sure if she heard him, if she was even aware of what was going on around her, but he just had to say it…

Wedge jumped out of the speeder, and Luke ran up to greet him, "How'd you find us?"

"We've been tracking you with the thermal sensor."

"Then why didn't you come sooner!" Han yelled.

"We couldn't get to you in the forest," Wedge explained with no malice. "It was too dense."

"Leia's hurt bad," Luke interjected. "She needs immediate medical attention."

Wedge hunched down next to Han and Leia and then pulled out his commlink, "General, I found them. The princess is wounded, and in need of serious medical attention stat."

Han didn't hear the general's response. He was too busy helping Chewie put Leia into the speeder. They climbed in, and Luke and Wedge followed right behind.

"Maybe I should pilot this thing," Han suggested as he moved to sit in the pilot's seat.

"Han, you're in no condition," Wedge pointed out as he slid in the pilot's seat.

"Whaddya know about my condition?"

Luke placed a hand on Solo's shoulder. "Leia needs your care. Remember she's cold?"

Han gazed upon the girl. Chewbacca had already begun tucking a blanket around her. Han settled in next to her without another word, and Luke wondered if Han was suffering from shock as well. Luke frowned and then climbed into the front seat of the speeder, and they were off.

"The base is mostly evacuated," Wedge informed them. "You were right, Chewbacca. Those Grendolies were vicious. We lost a few good men."

Chewie offered his condolences as he stroked the princess' hair.

"There's not much left at the base," Wedge continued. "Reeiken has a medical droid and a small bacta tank on hand, but everything else…well, it's already in transport."

Chewbacca sighed in relief.

"So there's a transport waiting for us?" Luke asked.

"No," Wedge glanced at his friend. "It's just my X-Wing and the Falcon. Your X-Wing and droids were on the last transport." Wedge looked back over his shoulder at Han, "General Reeiken is hoping to catch a lift with you guys."

"Reeiken didn't evacuate with the last transport?" Han asked incredulously.

"He didn't want to leave without…" Wedge's dark eyes fell on the pale girl.

"Great," Han muttered. "He's gonna be thrilled to see her like this."

"I just think he'll be happy to see her," Luke shrugged.

"Not if she dies," Han stared grimly at Luke.

The boy bit his lip and faced forward. "She can't die," he whispered, his shaky voice barely audible.

"Everybody dies," Han blurted out as he looked out the window of the speeder.

"Shut up, Han!" Luke yelled.

Han glared at the back of the boy's head. He shouldn't have said that. He didn't want anyone to die, especially not Leia. Her fragile state just chewed at him, ignited his anger. He and Chewie should have just dropped her and the kid off on Yavin IV, taken the reward money, and went on with their smuggling lives.

But they didn't, and now…now what? Leia wasn't looking that well. Her breath was ragged, her skin cool to the touch, and she stopped responding to his prodding. And all this was tearing him apart inside. The princess was bound to die sooner or later. After all, she was part of an insurgency against an all powerful Empire. The odds were stacked against her. But if he and Chewie had just left like they were supposed to, he'd never be here watching the life seep out of her.

"I'm sorry," Han whispered. Everyone thought he was addressing Luke, but his futile words were meant for the girl resting in his lap.

Wedge skillfully landed the speeder in the empty hangar. Luke had jumped out before the engines were shut down. Chewbacca was quick to follow. He held out his arms for the princess. Han grunted as he carefully lifted her and placed her in Chewie's care. Wedge then helped Han disembark the speeder.

"Commander Skywalker!" General Reeiken grabbed Luke's hand and shook it. "Where's--?"

Reeiken's face fell when he saw Leia's bloodied form in the giant Wookie's arms. He rushed over and placed a hand on the princess' pallid face, "I knew she was wounded, but—"

"We don't have a lot of time, General," Han started toward the Falcon.

"You're right, Captain," Reeikan followed Han. "The medical droid is waiting near the Falcon. We couldn't spare a full bacta tank, but I managed to procure a small amount."

"Hopefully it's enough," Han's pace didn't slow. The hangar looked as if it was scavenged for every scrap. It was obvious they evacuated as fast as they could. There were scratches carved into the metal walls and sporadic puddles of dry blood. Han drew the blaster he had taken from earlier and cautiously made his way toward the Falcon.

"Looks like this place took quite a hit," he mumbled.

"If it wasn't for Chewbacca's warning," Reeiken's voice was somber and low, "we would've been hit even harder."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Han mumbled. "Who's left?"

"Just me," Reeiken answered.

Han took a moment to take the older man in, "What if we didn't make it back?"

The general glanced back at the girl in the Wookie's arms, "I never considered that."

Han's eyebrows rose, but then he nodded. He activated the ramp of the Falcon and they all hurried inside. Chewie carried the princess to the make-shift medical bay. He laid the princess down and made room for the medical droid to make its assessment of her condition. Chewbacca was then off to the cockpit followed by Han.

Chewie shook his head at his friend. Han rolled his eyes, "Where do you think I'm goin'?"

Luke stepped between the two. He knew it wasn't the best place to be, but he hoped he'd get Han's attention, "Han, you're hurt. You need medical attention as well. Let me be Chewie's co-pilot."

"Uh-uh!" Han shook his head and waved his arms around. "This is my ship, and I'm gonna be the pilot."

Chewie lunged at Solo causing Luke to jump out of the way faster than a wolerbie. Han stood his ground, and the two stood there staring at each other. Finally, Chewbacca mumbled quietly.

Han's face softened, "Fine." He stabbed a finger into Luke's chest, "You better not mess my ship up."

"Of course not," Luke answered, but Han was already gone. Luke looked at the giant Wookie, "Whaddya say to him?"

Chewie smiled and repeated his words. Luke just shrugged. He didn't understand Wookie so he'd never know.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once the Falcon reached clear skies, Han hurried back to the make-shift medical bay as fast as his bruised body allowed him. There he found the medical droid, Two-One-Bee, moving around the princess and the general watching over it with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Captain," Reeiken nodded in Han's direction. "You look like you have had better days."

"How is she?" Han grimaced as he leaned against the bulkhead.

"She's still touch and go," Reeiken whispered. "Since we couldn't emerge her into a bacta tank, Two-One-Bee thought it would be best to soak some bandages in the bacta and place them on her wounds."

"That's not good enough."

"It's the best we can do," Reeiken placed a hand on Solo's shoulder. "When we get to the new base, she'll get the best care possible."

Han stepped next to Leia's bed and brushed the hair off of her forehead, "She's warm."

"I'm afraid she's acquired an infection from her wounds."

"We weren't fast enough," Han muttered under his breath.

"You did the best you could under the circumstances," Reeiken reassured him.

"It wasn't good enough."

"If it weren't for you and Chewie, both Luke and Leia would probably be dead," the general reminded him, but he knew his words offered no comfort to Han. "Why don't you let Two-One-Bee look you over? Then maybe you can keep a watch on her. Let me know when she wakes up."

Solo nodded and Reeiken quietly left. Han grabbed a chair and moved it close to Leia's bedside. Two-One-Bee replaced the empty sythplasma bag with a full one, and Han assumed the clear bag were fluids.

Once the droid finished tending to the princess it turned to Han, "General Reeiken ordered me to scan your wounds."

"You'll do no such thing," Han snapped. He picked up Leia's limp hand and gently massaged her fingers between his.

"But the general—"

"I'll shut you down if you try to touch me."

"Who will care for the princess if you shut me down?"

Han swore he heard attitude in the droids question, but he decided to let it go. He was too tired to argue with a hunk of metal and wires, "Just you worry about her then and leave me be."

The droid, who had heard stories from other droids who crossed Captain Solo's path, knew better than to respond.

Han returned his attention to the girl. "Why didn't you just go back to the base?" He asked her as he leaned his forehead against her hand.

"Someone had to save your skin," she whispered.

Han's head popped up and he unceremoniously dropped her hand, "I didn't need your help!"

Leia sighed, "Whatever."

Han bit his lip. He shouldn't have yelled at her, "I'm sorry."

Leia's eyes fluttered open but quickly closed against the light, "I must be in really bad shape."

"What?"

She twisted her head toward him but kept her eyes closed, "You apologized to me. I must be dying."

Han picked up her hand, "No, you're gonna be okay."

The girl sucked in a ragged breath, "What about you, Captain?"

"Don't worry about me."

"Chewie and Luke?"

"They're fine," Han studied her tiny, pale fingers in his hand. "They're piloting the Falcon."

Leia's eyes opened to slits, "You're not okay."

"Sure I am," he lied. "I'm just lettin' Luke get some piloting practice him."

The girl managed to open her eyes wide enough to get a good look at her companion. She winced at the sight of the purple bruises around his right eye and the scrapes on his forehead and cheeks. He looked so…fragile. It scared her. She forced a smile, "Still trying to convince Luke to run off with you and become a smuggler?"

"Every chance I get, Sweetheart."

She took a deep breath, but the smile never left her face, "You'll join the rebellion before Luke will ever run off to be a smuggler."

"Don't count on it." Han quickly kissed her hand and slowly stood up, "Want me to get Reeiken for you?"

"Hhmm…" Leia closed her eyes. "I don't mind your company, if you're so inclined to stay."

Han smiled and returned to his seat, "I'm so inclined."