It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 37

A/N: Per usual, sorry for the delay. I got married and graduated college, so it's been a busy time. Happy Holidays and may the New Year treat you well.

In one hour, the fate of an empire was altered.

In one hour, former Chancellor Sheev Palpatine was shot twice upon his exposure as the orchestrator of what many have called "The Clone Wars," and perpetrator of an insidious conspiracy to murder the Jedi Order.

In one hour, Bail Organa of Alderaan was named Chancellor Pro Tempore of the Galactic Senate with Senator Mon Mothma as his Vice Chair with all emergency powers sworn to be returned to the Senate upon the results of the emergency election.

In one hour, Senator Amidala was sent as ambassador and diplomat to arrange an immediate, official cease-fire with the CIS and all on-going battles were ordered to cease immediately.

In one hour, General Anakin Skywalker was reported to have begun having violent visions upon his return to Anaxes, shouting and weeping simultaneously, calling for Padme Amidala, the Chancellor, his mother, and Ahsoka Tano amongst others. After receiving news of the immediate cease-fire, he was shipped, with the company of General Windu and General Kenobi, back to Coruscant.

In one hour, an immediate and open investigation was called to evaluate the actions of the Jedi Council and, more specifically, former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano and 501st Captain CT-7567, who were placed in limited custody at the Jedi's healing facilities.

At the beginning of the new hour, Ahsoka watched as the lights of speeders flew below their Sentinel-guarded hospital room, as if the lives of those in the lower levels weren't irrevocably altered by the Force-shattering death of the Chancellor.

Which, if she were being honest, maybe they weren't.

Rex lay in the bed across from her, sleeping a hard-earned rest with his neck in a brace to support his laryngeal fracture and the massive bruising he had sustained.

For her part, a white salved-soaked bandaged wrapped the left side of her head, doing little to numb the constant, radiating pain which permeated her every cell. She had various bacta patches placed across her body, but everything felt raw and tender.

After killing Palpatine, Rex had dropped his DC's and staggered over to her, as she extinguished her sabers and stumbled down the stairs toward him. They stood before one another, hands shaking and neither speaking.

She needed to see his face, to feel the stubble of his face scratch her hand through her black-suit and feel the warmth of his skin against hers.

Precariously, her hands fought against gravity and adrenaline to curl around the edges of his helmet, slowly so he could stop her if he needed the protection.

He let her.

Unsealing it from his suit, she cradled his helmet against her side as wide, brown eyes met hers, silent tears streaming down.

His own tears brought a watery smile to her lips, her hand reaching up to embrace his jaw. "It's over, Rex. He's gone. Your brothers will be safe because of you," she whispered hoarsely.

His laugh was wet and weak but alive. So beautifully alive.

He took the side of her face that wasn't burnt in his palm, stroked her cheek, and dropped his lips to her forehead then to her own chapped lips.

Neither said a word as they lowered themselves to the steps, both leaning against one another. Ahsoka hadn't noticed the pounding on the door stop until she saw that a lightsaber began to melt its way through the durasteel door.