To find a home (A Modern Setting Rogue One Story)

The storm

It was around 8 that evening when Cassian looked up from his laptop when he heard his phone ring. He picked up the phone from next to him and was quite surprised to see Jyn's name pop up. For a moment he contemplated not answering. He had meant it when he broke up with her this morning, and no matter how much it hurt him, she needed to know it was serious. But he also was still worried about her, and didn't want to risk that she needed his help and he refused. With a deep breath he answered the call and put the phone to his ear.

'Hey, Jyn.' He did his best to sound casual, not wanting her to know how much it had hurt him to end it, not wanting her to find out how worried he actually was.

'Cass, I need your help.' Cassian could hear Jyn was panting, and a hint of fear was present in her voice.

He sat up straighter on his bed, putting his laptop down. 'What's wrong?' His tone had turned more serious, no longer caring one bit if Jyn could hear the worry in his voice.

Cassian could hear Jyn softly crying on the other end of the line. 'You were right, Cassian.' She admits. 'You were right about him. And I'm terrified.'

'Jyn, what's going on?!' Cassian urged. There was no need for him to say "I told you so" all he needed was to know what was wrong.

'He's drunk, and he's mad at me. He tried to get into my room, but I locked the door so he couldn't' She took a deep shaky breath. 'I think he's gone to get something to open the door. Cass, please help me.'

Cassian took a deep breath. 'Try to hide, I'm on my way.' He quickly said before ending the call. He jumped of his bed, grabbed his car keys and ran downstairs. He was pulling on his jacket and opening the door when Maria chimed in.

'Where do you think you're going, Cassian?' she asked casually.

'To rescue Jyn from her drunk, abusive foster father.' He quickly answered, and judging by the noise of chairs scraping on the floor he was about to meet some disapproving opinions. He quickly ran outside, not waiting for Maria and Alejandro to reach him. As he got into his car heard Alejandro yell out to him. 'Get back inside Cassian, it's too dangerous!'

But Cassian had made up his mind. He feared he knew how this was going to end, and would do everything he could to avoid it. He started the car and drove towards Jyn's home.

'I'm going after him.' Alejandro stated, worry thick in his voice as he shrugging on his jacket.

'It's dangerous, darling.' Maria sputtered.

'That's exactly why I'm going after him!' he sighed. 'I'm not going to let some crazy drunk hurt our son.' He grabbed the car keys and turned to Maria. Taking her hand in his. 'Call the cops and send them to Westville drive 305. Tell them we got a call from a girl fearing that her drunken foster father will hurt her. And that Cassian has gone over to help her, they need to know not to hurt him.'

Maria nodded before kissing Alejandro. 'Bring back our son, and both come back safely.'

'I promise.'

By the time Cassian pulled up to Jyn's house it was pouring down. He parked the car a bit away, not wanting to give Draven the advantage of knowing he was coming. He locked his car, and walked towards the house, trying to look un-suspicious. Making use of the tree at the side of the house he climbed up the balcony outside of Jyn's room. He peaked inside and watched in horror as he saw Jyn pressed up against a wall as Draven was hitting her. Jyn caught Cassian's eyes, and ducked as Draven threw the next punch, landing it through the wall. She ducked away from him and started running.

Cassian jumped into action, taking a leap from the balcony he managed to jump into the master bedroom through an open window. He ran out into the hallway, Catching Jyn in his arms.

'We have to go!' she took Cassian's hand in hers and together they ran down the stairs towards the front door. Just as they were about to reach the doorknob, it opened from the outside. In the doorway stood Draven, rain dropping from his clothes, a large kitchen knife in his bloody right hand. Cassian pushed Jyn behind him, as she froze in fear. He grabbed the first thing he could find, a hockey stick, and held it in front of him trying to keep the distance between him and Jyn.

'¡Jyn, corres!' Cassian yelled, knowing Jyn would understand to run, and hoping Draven wouldn't.

As Draven grabbed the other end of the hockey stick, pulling it out of Cassian's hands, Jyn ran for the backdoor. As she made it outside into the background she could hear a punch landing, and almost turned back to help Cassian. But she kept on running, knowing that it would help more to get a grown up involved than going back inside.

In the hallway, Draven had cornered Cassian after landing a few good punches, bruising most of his face. He now had his hand wrapped around Cassian's neck, squeezing the air out of his lungs.

'You shouldn't have gotten involved, boy!' Draven spat. 'This was none of your business.'

Even when he was barely breathing, Cassian still had some fight in him. 'If you hurt someone I love, it is my business.' He spat as he kicked the grown man's shin.

The glare, and growl of a response made Cassian wished he hadn't run his mouth.

Outside, Jyn was running out onto the street hoping to find someone who could help when she saw a car pull up to the house, and recognized Alejandro stepping out of the car.

'Alejandro!' She ran over to him, still shaking in fear.

'Jyn. Where's Cassian?!' The fear and worry were obvious in the man's voice and Jyn shared his concern.

'He told me to run, he tried to fight of Draven.'

Alejandro's heart sank to his feet and he was running towards the front door as behind him the sound of sirens became louder.

'Mr. Cruz!' A police officer yelled, and Alejandro turned around. 'Sir, you can't go inside! We were called here because of a threat of assault...'

'Yes, I know, my wife called.' He pointed towards Jyn. 'She was being attacked by her foster father, but right now my son is in there, because he tried to help her! I have to go help him!'

'Sir, I understand your concern for your son but you can't...'

The officer's sentence was cut off by a scream of agony, coming from the house, which shook the people outside to the bone. Alejandro turned back to the house, an expression of horror on his face. 'Cassian!' he yelled and started running towards the house, half of the officers following quickly behind him. As they opened the door they found Cassian lying on the ground, a knife in his stomach, lying in his own blood. Alejandro fell to his knees and took Cassian's hand in his own.

'Cass... Cassian, say something.'

Cassian was gasping for air, having trouble breathing. 'Backdoor.' He managed to say, quickly gasping for air again.

'Officers to the back door, suspect on the run!' an officer yelled into his walkey talkey. 'Call an ambulance immediately, teenage stab victim in immediate need of medical care!'

Alejandro squeezed Cassian's hand as tears rolled down his cheeks. 'Hold on, Cass, help is on the way.'

From behind the house the sound of gunshots filled the air. All grownups looked up to the source of the sound. 1 of the officers got up, and ran outside. Alejandro quickly turned his attention back to his son, not caring for the noise outside. When he looked back down, Cassian's eyes were closed, his head lulled to the side.

'No!' Alejandro yelled out, his scream a mix of disbelief, terror, anger and pure grief. He slumped down and started crying.