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Eli had been in bed in the intensive care ward for weeks, surrounded by the gentle beeping of machines. The lights are low; he spends much of his time asleep, the strongest medications they have coursing through his veins keeping both his pain and his awareness low. Doctors and technicians and nurses cycle in and out of his room; sometimes he speaks to them, sometimes he does not. They give him the best care they can - he is a hero, his sacrifice responsible for the lives of countless Chiss saved. Their best efforts have not been able to stop his system from shutting down as his organs fail, one by one. The damage to his body is too great for any other measures but keeping him comfortable at this point.
The door opens and closes with a soft click. Eli’s eyes open, slowly; he recognizes the tread of the footsteps of his visitor before his eyes focus on the figure.
“You came.” He croaks out, voice rough from sleep.
“Of course I did.” Thrawn’s voice is soft, barely audible over the machinery. Eli smiles as Thrawn sits on the edge of his bed and reaches out to smooth Eli’s hair away from his forehead, his hand cool against Eli’s skin. “As soon as I was able. Did you think I would not?”
“I had hoped.” Eli’s eyes close briefly, then open again. “Will you stay? Or do you have to go..?”
He knows Thrawn’s presence will have stirred up a stingfly nest for the powers that be. He half suspects the man snuck away from whomever is supposed to be keeping an eye on him, and knows that will only make the problems he faces worse. All the same, he is glad to see him, and reaches out a trembling hand. Thrawn encloses it in his own and lifts it up to press his lips to Eli’s knuckles, his breath puffing softly on Eli’s skin as he speaks.
“I’m not going anywhere. They will have to drag me out, and I will not be easy on them. I promise.”
There is a glint in Thrawn’s eye that Eli has missed desperately. Tears leak from the corners of his eyes even as he laughs and presses his hand to Thrawn’s cheek.
“I’ve missed you so much.”
“And I, you.” Thrawn thumbs the tears off of Eli’s cheeks, then leans down and presses his lips to the man’s forehead in a gentle, lingering kiss.
They fall into easy conversation, as if the time since they have last been together has been mere minutes and not long, difficult years. Eli is happier than he’s been since the day he left for the Ascendency, vocal despite the exhaustion that clings to him. Thrawn continues to hold his hand, rubbing his thumb over Eli’s knuckles soothingly as they talk.
A nurse glances in the window to check on Eli. He does not disturb the man, but he does find the Doctor on shift and brings her to witness what he has seen: Eli, animated and talking with an empty room.
They know it won’t be long now.