Even the Dark Side Can't Take Our Memories

Chapter 4 - You're Not Getting Rid of Me That Easily

Ahsoka's hot tears blurred everything around her into colorful smudges. She dragged the backs of her hands across her eyes in a foolhardy attempt to hide the tears streaming down her face as Anakin and Luminara looked on in concern. Ahsoka could hear them whispering about her, but she didn't care about what they were saying. There was only one thing on her mind.

Barriss lay on a stretcher on the floor of the gunship, her eyes closed. Blood was seeping through the bandage wrapped around her arm, but the one around her head was still clean. Once Barriss had taken the first shot to her shoulder, she was in so much pain that she hadn't even noticed the shot that breezed over her head, almost missing her, but still brushing into her enough to cause damage.

"D-do you think she'll be okay?" Ahsoka sobbed, her voice quivering.

"I don't know," Master Luminara sighed. Anakin walked over to Ahsoka and leaned down until he was at eye level with her.

"Don't worry, Snips. The medics on the cruiser will be able to make her good as new."

"Are-are you sure?" Anakin nodded, his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. Anakin was worried about Ahsoka; he'd never before seen her cry, let alone ask him for assurance.

Ahsoka looked away from Anakin and down at Barriss, her heart pounding with overwhelming love for the Mirialan below her and desperate fear for the girl's life.

Finally, the gunship reached the Republic cruiser above. Barriss was hurried to the medical wing, and no one objected when Ahsoka insisted on staying with her. It was obvious that there would be no swaying the stubborn Togruta.

When Barriss was placed on a hospital bed, medical droids immediately swarmed her, shoving Ahsoka out of the way.

"Hey!" she shouted, her sadness having turned into protective anger. "Let me see her."

"I am sorry, but we must operate on the Mirialan immediately," a medical droid said robotically.

"I don't care! Good for you! But I'm staying here."

"I-"

"Let her stay," a voice said. Ahsoka whirled around to find Master Luminara standing in the doorway of the room.

"Yes, ma'am." The medical droids made room for Ahsoka to stand next to Barriss. Ahsoka smiled at Luminara gratefully and then turned her attention back to Barriss, whose cold hand Ahsoka held in hers.

"Please wake up, Bair. Please. Wake up," Ahsoka whispered, tears rushing back into her eyes. Barriss's dark eyelashes rested peacefully against her cheeks, and her chest rose and fell ever so slightly with her ragged breaths.

***

In the dim light of the hospital room, you could barely see Ahsoka curled up on the gray bed with her head resting on Barriss's uninjured shoulder. She was still dressed, and her breathing was considerably more significant than Barriss's, though Barriss's was definitely getting closer to a normal pace.

Suddenly, Barriss's eyes popped open. "Ahsoka!" she cried. Barriss tried to sit up, but immediately fell back against the bed in pain.

"Barriss!" Without wasting a beat, Ahsoka threw her arms around Barriss's shoulders.

"O-ow-"

"Right, sorry," Ahsoka said, pulling away. There were tears in her eyes; tears of relief. "You're alright." Barriss smiled.

"You didn't think you were getting rid of me that easily, did you?" she said softly.

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