Guarded (#2 Post-Order 66 Series)

Guarded - Part 37

A/N: Well, this is it, 310 pages and 164k words later. The last chapter. I want to say thank you for all the love this fic has received. It was a LOT of fun to write, and I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed it. I want to give a particular shoutout to TJ, who started beta-reading for me during this fic, and it honestly wouldn't have been what it was without her help. Anyway, I hope you all have enjoyed this as much as I have!

The trip to the Yavin base had taken a few rotations, but aside from the handful of pilots lost in the assault on the star destroyers, everyone made it safe and sound. They were grateful for that, although it did little to alleviate the immense feeling of loss that hung over the team.

As soon as the shuttle touched down, Hunter and Iden were there to meet them. The three of them emerged, Senna and Crosshair carefully supporting Tech between them. Hunter's heart broke at the distance in his brother's gaze. He's grieving. This will take time. Senna nodded at Crosshair before slipping her arm around Tech's waist and walking him towards the base entrance, Hunter following quietly behind.

Crosshair wrapped his arms around Iden, and she held him tightly, her fingers carding through his hair as they embraced silently. After a few moments, she pulled back, running her thumbs over his cheeks. He knew he must look exhausted. He and Senna had spent the few rotations of travelling sitting with Tech. He'd barely slept, thinking of Kestia's final words to him that he'd heard in his mind.

"You look like shit," Iden whispered, her voice hoarse.

"Sounds about right," he huffed before he leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips and resting his forehead against hers. "I'm glad you're safe."

"You too," she replied, closing her eyes as her hands slipped around his waist. "Is he going to be alright?"

Crosshair sighed. "It's going to take some time. I don't think even he realized how much she meant to him until it was too late."

Iden nodded, her voice cracking a bit. "Never enough time."

Crosshair cupped her cheek. "No. Which is why I plan on not wasting a second with you."

She smiled, a tear finally breaking free from the corner of her eye. Iden held him tighter, burying her face in the fabric of his blacks as he cradled the back of her head, inhaling into her hair.

"Good."

---

Hunter followed Senna and Tech through the base until they reached the dormitories. Senna eased Tech down onto one of the bunks, and he turned away from them, quietly curling in on himself. The Jedi turned to Hunter.

"I'll stay with him. How's Echo?"

"All things considered, he's had worse days," Hunter joked dryly. "Needs a day or so in the medbay, but then he should be right as rain."

Senna nodded. "He's lucky, and I was perhaps foolish in hoping to turn Gadge. I could have gotten him killed."

Hunter slid his hand around the back of her head, bringing their foreheads together. "I'm sure he'll tell you this himself, but he would want you to try and save that young woman. You did what you could, Senna."

The Jedi Master nodded, but her teeth were digging into her bottom lip. "There was still some doubt there, still some good. Maybe in her last moments, she realized that."

"Maybe."

He slipped his hands into hers, giving them a light squeeze. "Are you going to be alright?"

"I didn't lose the person I loved today."

"Not what I asked, Senna."

She sighed, her eyes falling to their interlocked hands before she raised her eyes back to Hunter's, her voice barely above a whisper so that it wouldn't carry to Tech. "I...I think it's time I maybe go find Rex. I've already lost so much time, and it feels wasteful to have him be alive and out there and me just...not being with him. Especially when I see what Tech's going through." She sniffled. "I'm still so scared, Hunter. I'm so scared for him."