It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 39

A/N: One more chapter folks. 

When she returned to their medbay, Rex was asleep, and Ahsoka had no desire to wake him up. Although he would be able to feel what she was feeling, she didn't have the energy to tell him what happened during her visit.

She was sure Obi-Wan was saying something to her as she climbed into bed, but she didn't hear him. It took all of her energy to simply roll into bed, in complete disregard for her armor or wounds. Even before her head hit the pillows, everything was fading to black.

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When Ahsoka faded back into consciousness, lazy and sluggish, it was to the sounds of Rex and Obi-Wan's voice.

"– short notice, but the Senate and Council are requesting the presence of ARC Trooper Fives. Contingent on if his testimony corroborates his holorecording and the rest of Ahsoka's and your testimony, he has a full pardon awaiting him. Do you have any idea where Ahsoka sent him?"

"No, sir, I don't. We felt that it was safer, both for myself and Fives, if I didn't know."

As they spoke, Ahsoka rolled over onto her side and pushed herself up, fighting against the initial vertigo of waking up.

"Ahsoka," Rex said, swinging his legs off the bed.

She waved him off, still not fully sitting up. "I'm fine," she said, her voice rough with sleep. "Just – give me a second."

Breathing in through her nose, she finished making the journey upward and closed her eyes as blood rushed through her montrals.

"Perhaps you should lay back down, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan suggested, disapproval tinting his tone.

Ahsoka shook her head and instantly regretted it. "I said I'm fine."

"Right," he replied, not remotely trying to hide his disbelief.

With her eyes still closed she asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"About sixteen hours, give or take," Obi-Wan replied.

Not that she'd admit it, but she felt like she'd been unknowingly hit by a speeder and only been asleep for less than half that time.

"Wonderful," she muttered. "What do you need to know about Fives?"

Not that she saw it, but Rex and Obi-Wan glanced concernedly at each other. After a pause, Obi-Wan answered.

"The Senate and Council need him to testify to corroborate both of your testimony and to answer clarifying questions. Please don't mention this, but there is also a lawsuit being drafted against the Kaminoans' roles in crimes against humanity and conspiring against the Republic. ARC Trooper Fives would play a fundamental role in the success of that case."

Good. That was good.

"Very well. Rex and I will go retrieve him," she said.

It was their silence that made her open her eyes. It was evident they were each thinking of the wisest way to tell her no without agitating her.

She arched both her brow lines even though the light hurt. "Look, Obi-Wan, if you want Fives, the only way you'll be getting him is if I'm leading the squad. Otherwise, you can tell the Council and Senate to shove off."

When he didn't say anything and Rex didn't back her up, she tried again. "I didn't just send him to any backwater planet and tell him to get lost. This is personal for me, and I can't afford for there to be any mistakes. Please. We can be leaving at 0700 tomorrow and will return quickly."