Saga of the Bridgers-Year 2

Epilogue: Loss and Hope

As the initial shock for the disappearance of Ahsoka and Kanan's injury waned, Ezra and Jaral immediately accompanied the Jedi to the infirmary of the base. Mira was extremely relieved to see her kids and gave them both a quick hug before taking a look at Kanan.

The doctor ran various examinations, but the verdict was grim: the only way Kanan could reacquire his sight was through a transplant of corneas, but that would require instruments and a valid donor, neither of which was available at the base and, in any case, they lacked a specialist that could actually make the surgery.

The news was devastating for everyone, but mostly for Hera and Ezra. The boy felt responsible because he trusted Maul, thus giving him the chance to attack Kanan. It was in fact a stroke of luck that Kanan wasn't dead, considering that Maul attacked by surprise.

Ezra went back to the Ghost, but didn't head to his and Sabine's cabin. No, he wasn't worthy of being with her, not after his carelessness had just caused Kanan to be mutilated.

He sat in the couch of the common room and leaned his arms against the dejarik table, which he used to hold his head as his thoughts spiraled down into the abyss of self-loathing.

"Ezra." the unmistakable voice of Sabine whispered from the door of the room.

The girl was peeking in, unsure as if to step in.

"Hey." he barely mumbled.

Sabine cautiously walked to the table and slipped in the seat next to him. She knew that words were useless, so she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and leaned her head on his right.

"Please, don't." Ezra said with a lump.

"Don't what?" Sabine asked surprised.

"Don't try to comfort me. I screwed up everything. I have no right to get attention."

"Ezra..." Sabine said with a sad voice, but Ezra snapped.

"No! I'm just an arrogant, stupid, incompetent fool! Because of me, Kanan was wounded and Ahsoka...Ahsoka..." he couldn't finish the sentence. He honestly wanted to cry again, but he felt like he had already dropped every tear he had on the Phantom. So he simply hid his face in his palms.

Instead, it was Sabine who shed a tear as she almost slammed Ezra into a tight hug, desperately holding onto him. Wishing that she could absorb his pain and share the burden with him.

"Please..." he begged, his sense of guilt telling him harshly that he didn't deserve her affection. "leave me alone."

"Never." she said resolutely. "You've always been there for me when I needed help. So I'm going to be here for you."

She made sure to bring Ezra's head onto her chest and hug him with all the affection and the desire to help him anyway she could.

The boy just didn't have the strength, nor the actual will, to chase her away. His idea of not deserving affection evaporated as the girl he loved kept him with such devotion and kissed him through his buzz cut, despite she herself feeling terrible for what just happened.

Ezra caved in and let himself fall on Sabine's shoulder, trying to find any ounce of comfort that may distract him from the pain and remorse gnawing at his heart.

"Tell me what happened." Sabine tried to ask.

Ezra exhaled. "I...there's no need..."

"Ezra, please..." she replied immediately. "Don't shut me off. Let me be here for you."

The boy took a few deeper breaths and finally started to reacquire a bit of lucidity. After sitting backup, though still holding to Sabine's warm embrace, he started to talk. He gave a small recap of when they arrived, how they met the first Inquisitor...