Work Text:
Medical Station near Ord Cestus
Ahsoka Tano lay on the bed in a recovery room of the medical station. The little togruta wrapped herself in a blanket and began to shiver. She just couldn't seem to get warm again. Granted she had nearly frozen herself to death only hours ago.
Anakin had come to check up on her as soon as the Resolute docked with the station. He'd left the room a few minutes before. In the presence of her master, Ahsoka tried to hide just how cold she felt. She didn't want him to worry about her – at least, not any more than he always did.
Now alone -- aside from the unconscious Barriss Offee in the room's other bed -- Ahsoka allowed herself to surrender to the spasms of a chill that seemed embedded in her bones.
The young togruta sat up and pulled the blanket snuggly around her montrals and lekku like a hood. Ahsoka screwed her eyes shut and tried to concentrate. She hoped jedi meditation techniques might help relieve her discomfort.
It wasn't working.
When she closed her eyes, all she saw were horrid images from her ordeal on the medical frigate.
Barriss and the men of Tango Company, with those Geonosian parasites writhing from their mouths.
The fight with Barriss on the bridge.
Barriss begging Ahsoka to kill her.
Trap with Barriss' lightsaber protruding from his back.
Ahsoka could still smell the acrid stench of burnt flesh as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
I'm sorry, Trap. I'm sorry I couldn't save you.
Tears slipped down her sienna colored nose.
The door slid open, startling the girl. Wiping the evidence of her unjedi-like display of emotion from her eyes, she looked up to see the familiar and welcome form of Captain Rex.
"Hi, Little 'un. How are you feeling?" Blue painted Jaig Eyes and a T-shaped faceplate inclined towards Ahsoka. "Mind if I come in and sit for a while?"
"H-hi, R-rexter!"Ahsoka replied through chattering teeth. "P-please c-come in and st-stay as long as y-you l-l-like. I'm b-board out of m-my m-mont-tralss."
Rex slipped his bucket off his head and placed the helmet on the side table at the head of Ahsoka's bed. "And a bit cold, I take it?" He tried to play his query off as joking and light, but couldn't keep his concern for her from creeping into his voice.
"H-how c-c-could you t-tell?" Ahsoka shot Rex a rueful grin and rolled her eyes.
"I could ask them to bring you a heated blanket?"
"No p-point." Ahsoka shook her head. Montrals scraped against fabric, causing a burst of static to spark around their hollow tips. “Unit of Gal-lactic Marines f-f-fresh out of Mygeeto arrived j-j-just before we d-d-id. They need the b-blankets more than our group does – especially the hee-heated ones. Lots of cases of f-frostb-bite and hypo-pothermia.” Ahsoka’s right lek had escaped her cocoon of attempted warmth. She adjusted the blanket to recapture it.
The captain stood with arms crossed over his chest plate. His face was set in a deep frown. It was the same look he always got when he puzzled over a stratagem of attack.
“I’ll be alright, Rex.” Ahsoka concentrated hard to keep her teeth from chattering. “It’s just the price I pay for my togruta physiology,” She flashed the captain a weak smile. “We’re designed for much warmer climates.” Ahsoka continued shaking, but her words came out more clearly.
The clone’s stance relaxed and he gazed at her fondly. “I still wish we could find a better way to get you warm again, Little ‘un.”
The togruta looked up into the golden light of amber eyes. The depth of affection Ahsoka saw there left her breathless. Keep looking at me like that and it might just do the trick, Rexter.
The intensity of his feelings might have alarmed her if not for the purity and innocence which permeated the essence of it. She reached out with the force and brushed against his aura.
She sensed his concern and a fierce desire to protect, but also his respect and loyalty towards her. He knew she was strong and capable on her own, but he would always have his commander’s back.
The knowledge of his dedication warmed Ahsoka in a way that no heated blanket ever could.
She blinked and looked away. Glad that her montrals were covered. Ahsoka was sure her stripes had turned a deep shade of self-conscious indigo.
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she turned back with a mischievous grin. “Hand Hardcase some incendiaries. I’m sure he’ll find a way to make everyone warmer.”
Rex chuckled, “That’s just what we don’t need. Thank you very much.”
Ahsoka laughed along with him – revealing her predator’s fangs. He pulled a chair closer to Ahsoka’s bed and sat down.
After a few moments of thoughtful silence, Ahsoka asked the question that had been on her mind since waking up on the station, “How are the others, Rex? Anakin told me they were OK, but how are they really?”
“Most of Tango Company are still unconscious – like Commander Offee,” he nodded toward Barriss’ sleeping form. “But they should make a full recovery in a day or so. The pilots are dead, though.”
Ahsoka’s heart clenched. She hadn’t been sure if they had been taken by parasites or killed when the infected Tango Company commandeered the bridge.
“Scythe woke up for a few minutes.” Rex looked down. Balled fist pressed against his knees and his face was grim. “Scythe is –” Rex sighed. “He’s pretty torn up about everything that happened. Blames himself.”
"It wasn't his fault!” Ahsoka protested. “He couldn't control his own actions."
"I know that and you know that. Eventually he'll need to learn to accept that, too. These things – take time.” Rex sighed again. “It’s going to be harder for Scythe than the rest of them, though.” Rex looked up at Ahsoka. “Scythe was the first infected. He’s the one who brought all the eggs onto the ship.”
Rex and Ahsoka shared a sad, knowing look. It was going to be a hard road for Scythe.
"Does he – does he know – about Trap?" Ahsoka asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"He knows. Blames himself for that, too."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save him. Rex." Ahsoka swallowed a sudden lump in her throat and hugged her knees.
Rex leaned forward and laid one gloved hand on Ahsoka’s shoulder. His touch radiated warmth like a drop of sunlight. Her heat-starved body drank it in like an early spring bloom pushing its way through winter’s final snow.
“I’ve seen the footage. You did everything you could, Little ‘un.” He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, bringing another welcome burst of sunlight. “Your actions onboard that frigate saved a lot of lives – very nearly at the cost of your own.” It was the captain’s turn to swallow a lump in his throat. Rex’ voice was thick as he added, “Don’t you go blaming yourself now for those you couldn’t save.”
Ahsoka reached up and laid her hand atop the captain’s and squeezed back. “I’ll try to reme-e-E-CHOO!”
The little togruta was seized by a sneezing fit. Rex stood and pulled a fresh all-purpose cleaning cloth from a pouch on his belt. This he offered to Ahsoka to use as a handkerchief. She gratefully accepted it. Moments later she was assailed by another attack of the shivers.
“Well that settles it!” announced Rex – still standing by Ahsoka’s bed.
A series of snappings and clippings caused Ahsoka to look over at Rex. He was carefully removing his upper plastoid armor. Pauldron and vambraces were already lying in the chair. Rex kept his lower armor on, but soon from the waist up he was dressed only in his blacks.
“Rex? W-what are you doing?” asked a wide-eyed Ahsoka.
“After she’s survived being buried alive beneath the droid foundry, fending off an invasion of brain parasites and nearly freezing herself to death in order to defeat said parasites – I am not about to let my commander catch her death of cold because the GAR can’t supply enough kriffing blankets!”
Rex stepped up to Ahsoka’s bedside, and suddenly the intimacy of what he was proposing seemed to fully dawn upon him. He rubbed the back of his neck and a distinct blush bloomed across his golden tan face. “That is, if it is acceptable to you, Commander.”
“If you’re offering to share some of your body heat with me until my own temperature can manage to regulate itself again, I gladly and graciously accept. Get over here, Rexter.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ahsoka scooted over to allow the captain purchase on the narrow medical cot. They would have to get extremely cozy together just so they could both fit. Several attempts were made. Often either one or the other very nearly fell off one side. Once the captain most certainly did slide right off the side and landed squarely on his rear plastoid. Finally, it was decided that Rex would have to lay down first and then Ahsoka would follow – effectively sitting on his lap.
Once they were settled in, Ahsoka’s relief was almost instant. Nestled against Rex’ chest and held secure within his arms – waves of glorious heat washed over her. He gently massaged her arms to help the process along.
Never had she been this close to Rex without his armor in place. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her montrals – lulling her into a trance of contentment. Before she knew what was happening – the young togruta began to purr. His cheek rested against the tip of one montral and she felt him smile as Ahsoka sank deeper into the comfort of her captain's golden warmth.