Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

prologue.

Well, fuck.

Commander Fox stared through his viewfinder, watching the red lightsaber deflect blaster bolts - his men's blaster bolts - for a half second longer before his brain kicked back into gear.

"Get us over there," he ordered, gesturing to the pilot as he pulled out his comm and set it to broadcast. "All units! Cease fire on target at the temple! He's one of ours!"

Or at least, Fox thought bitterly, he was one of the Emperor's. The wrinkly old bastard had taken the time to introduce his latest underling to Fox personally, emphasizing the importance of this mission. He had gone on about respecting Vader's authority and all that, giving the asthmatic cyborg free reign of Fox's troops.

Troops that had then turned around and shot at Vader under Fox's orders.

Fox permitted himself a brief sigh as their shuttle touched down - he wasn't going to survive this mistake, not this time. He could already see the fury in the cyborg's posture, ready to brush off whatever half-assed explanation Fox could come up with in the next five seconds… and somehow, Fox thought he might be okay with that.

At least, he thought, barely registering the explanation that tumbled from his lips, Vader would make it quick. At least it would be over.

He felt the bones snap in his neck, catching a brief glimpse of all the warnings on his HUD before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

From his hiding place in the shadows, Bail Organa could see everything.

He hadn't intended to involve himself in the conflict - not when Breha and Leia were waiting for his regular evening call back at the apartment - but the blaster fire and the sight of the distinct armour of the Coruscant Guard at the Jedi Temple was hard to ignore.

That, he thought grimly as he had spotted a familiar red helmet up on one of the gunships, and maybe he would finally be able to get some answers.

Despite their intimate relationship (and numerous messages on Bail's part), Commander Fox had not spoken to either of the Organas in weeks. Bail was fairly certain it had to do with whatever orders had caused the Clones to turn on their Jedi, but whether the silence was borne of guilt, orders, or something else altogether, Bail wasn't sure.

A black figure leapt out of the Temple onto Fox's ship, and Bail watched in horror as his lover's neck snapped sideways at what had to be a dangerously unnatural angle. Fox's body went limp, toppling over the side of the ship and down to the rooftop below.

Bail ducked back into the alleyway behind him, pulling up a map of this part of Coruscant to find the fastest way up to where Fox was. It was probably wishful thinking on Bail's part, but if Fox had survived, Bail would never forgive himself for not stepping in.

Bail had seen a lot over the past few years, but none of it had prepared him for the scene he found on the rooftop. Even from this distance, he could see the situation was dire.

Fox was lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by three of his men kneeling at his side. A fourth was at his head, gloved hands holding Fox's head in place as he issued orders to the others. Bail thought it might be Commander Thire, although it was hard to judge at this distance.

Bail sucked in a breath, steeling himself before he approached the group. He still had no idea where he stood with the Guard - with Fox - or what their orders were. All four were heavily armed, but Bail had been in dangerous situations before. If there was even a chance to help Fox, he had to take it, risks be damned.

"Good evening," Bail said as he stepped out of the shadows, every bit the unflappable Senator as two of the Guards reached for their weapons. "Might I be able to assist you?"

For a heartbeat, no one moved.

"Stand down," Thire said after a moment, his voice tinged with exhaustion and just a hint of fear. "Senator."

"Is he…" Bail trailed off as he glanced down at Fox, his heart pounding in his chest. The open medkit and the mask over his face should have provided some relief - he hadn't been killed instantly, at least - but all Bail felt was a growing sense of dread. The Guard was not well-equipped at the best of times, and even to Bail's untrained eye, Fox did not look good.

"Hangman's fracture," one of the others - a medic, based on the patch on his shoulder, but not one Bail recognized - answered in a grim voice, "among other things. We've got him on full spinal precautions, and we'll want to intubate before we move him. Beyond that…"

"We can treat him on Alderaan," Bail said immediately. "He will have the best of care."

"Sir, ready for collar," another trooper announced.

Thire sat back on his heels, letting the medics take over. "I don't suppose you have an idea of how to get him there?"

"Hm?"

"To Alderaan," Thire said, glancing over as the medic slipped a tube down Fox's throat, the neck brace already in place. "He's not exactly in traveling shape."

"I'm sure I can arrange for him to be on one of the MediTrans Shuttles," Bail replied, sounding more confident than he felt. "I have some-"

Thire cut him off with an abrupt shake of the head. "Even if they'd take a clone, it's too dangerous."

"Commander," Bail said coldly, "while I appreciate your concern for my well-being, I am perfectly capable of looking after myself."

"Not dangerous to you," Thire snapped back, "to Fox. To us. If he's spotted on security footage or if anyone runs his chip, they'll know he's alive. And if Vader finds out I helped defy him like this…"

"He won't," Bail said firmly. "My contacts and I will make sure of it."

Thire let out a long sigh. "How long-"

They both froze as Fox flinched violently beside them, a bolt of fear shooting down Bail's spine.

"It's fine! You're all right, sir," the medic said, patting Fox's bare leg affectionately. They had removed Fox's boots and greaves, slicing up his blacks to the knee in order to insert a needle into his shin. "This will help you sleep better, sir."

Bail swallowed. "Is he…?"

"It's all right, Senator. IOs are pretty painful, but we've got him on the good stuff now," the medic assured him. "Actually, it's quite promising that he reacted so strongly to the pain, all things considered."

Bail let out a long breath, pushing the urge to rush to Fox's side away for the moment. "Right. Okay. Where were we?"

"We're plotting how to smuggle the critically injured Marshall Commander of the Coruscant Guard off world without getting caught, I believe," Thire said drily. "Do you have a plan, Senator?"

"Can you get Fox to the North Senate Landing Platform? I'll meet you there in an hour."

Thire nodded. "You know we don't have supplies to spare to send you with a full medkit and ELSM, right?"

Bail nodded, kneeling down at Fox's side. "You get Fox to that landing platform, and I'll worry about the medical supplies for the trip."

"We'll do everything in our power to get him there, Senator," Thire said solemnly. "Thank you."

With that settled, Bail finally gave in. He dropped to his knees beside his partner, brushing the greying curls off of Fox's face. "Be strong, my love. We will get you home."

Chapter Text

Fifty eight minutes, nine comm calls, two harried explanations to Senate Colleagues in their dressing gowns, and one rather large bribe later, Bail arrived at the northern landing platform of the Senate building with a well-stocked medical transport shuttle, recently removed from service for a routine preventative maintenance.

Bail spotted the Guard quite easily, carefully positioned to keep prying eyes away from the hovergurney in their midst. Thire was there along with a handful of others, but Bail was somewhat surprised to see that they had picked up Artery - the Coruscant Guard CMO - as well, their crutches clicking softly across the duracrete as they approached.

"You're taking Artery too," Thire said before Bail could say anything.

"Are you quite sure?" Bail asked, catching the medic's grimace at Thire's proclamation. "I won't be back on Coruscant for quite some time, so it will be difficult for them to get back."

"I'm not coming back," Artery said, shooting a glare in Thire's direction. Evidently, there had been a rather heated discussion before coming to this conclusion, but Bail knew better than to press on it.

"You are of course welcome to stay with us as long as you like," Bail replied with a small smile, "and I would imagine your experience would be very helpful to our physicians as well."

Artery blinked, their expression growing even more bitter. "No natborn doctor will let me anywhere near him once we arrive, Senator. You don't have to pretend otherwise."

"I assure you-"

"Maybe," Thire interrupted, "you can have this argument once you're sure Fox will actually make it to said Natborn doctors?"

Artery opened their mouth, closed it again, and spun on their heels as fast as they could manage on crutches to head towards the landing ramp, muttering something Bail couldn't quite catch under their breath.

"I wish we were parting on better terms," Thire said into the silence, "but it can't be helped, I suppose."

Bail nodded, only half paying attention as he watched the Guards load Fox into the shuttle. Despite the machine breathing for him and the tubes stuck in his arms, he looked almost peaceful, and Bail found himself wondering when the last time Fox had slept well.

"If he wakes up again," Thire said quietly, "tell him… tell him I have the watch."

"When he wakes up," Bail corrected, "I will let him know."

"I can't talk for long," Bail began, smiling tiredly at the hologram of his wife and daughter, "and I'm sorry to be calling so late-"

"You need not apologize, my love," Breha assured him, returning a tired smile of her own. "Riyo told me everything."

Bail nodded, checking over their hyperspace course plot as he waited. "I'll have to thank her for that as well when I next see her."

"How is Fox?" Breha asked, her smile fading. "I assume you'll be going straight to the hospital?"

"He's…" Bail hesitated, the memory of Fox's limp body toppling backwards out of the shuttle flashing through his mind. "Artery is keeping him under for the trip so nothing gets worse."

Breha looked like she wanted to ask more, but thought better of it. "Will Artery be staying with us for the foreseeable future, then?"

Bail nodded. "I assume so, but I'll ask. It was… not their idea to come on this trip."

"That sounds like a story."

"Probably, but it's not mine to tell." The indicator on his flight console flashed, letting him know they were ready to jump. "Give Leia a kiss for me?"

Breha smiled, gently kissing the top of their daughter's head. "Fly safe, Hotshot. I'll meet you at the hospital when you arrive."

Bail nodded, wishing that he had time to say everything he wanted to - about Fox, about how he knew how hard this would be for Breha as well - but they had to jump.

"I love you," Bail whispered instead, hoping it conveyed enough as he switched off the comm again. "Both of you."

Chapter Text

Satisfied that the ship's autopilot was doing its job, Bail made his way back to the patient compartment of the shuttle.

"How is he?" Bail asked, settling down beside Fox. "Any change?"

Artery shook their head, glancing up at Bail from Fox's opposite side. "He's doing well for someone in a medically induced coma with a C2 injury, but that's not really saying much."

Bail nodded, taking one of Fox's hands in his own. "And you?"

"What about me?" Artery replied, crossing their arms. "I haven't fallen out of any ships lately, and all my aches and pains are of the expected variety, if that's what you're asking."

Bail glanced over at where they had set their crutches. "Maybe a better question would be 'is there anything I can do to help you?' With Fox, or with anything else. It's a quite a long time to pass in silence."

"I'm fine, thank you, Senator," Artery said tightly. "Don't bother on my account."

"As you wish," Bail said, running his fingers over Fox's knuckles. "I can watch over him for now if you want some time to yourself."

"That's not-" Artery let out a frustrated huff, setting down their datapad with an abrupt huff. "I'd rather stay here in case something happens."

Bail nodded, fighting the urge to say anything more. He had only crossed paths with the Guard's CMO a handful of times, and it wasn't his place to pry into their business, even if it was clear they were upset.

Instead, he turned his attention entirely to Fox - unnaturally still in his sleep, yet somehow looking more relaxed than he should have been with that plastoid collar around his neck. He looked thinner than Bail remembered, with fresh scars added to old familiar ones, and Bail couldn't help but wonder if he should have done something earlier.

"No use fretting over things that cannot be changed," Bail said aloud, settling himself back in a chair. "We can only go forward."

"Are you talking to me?" Artery asked, raising an eyebrow, "or to Fox?"

"To myself, mostly," Bail said with a self-deprecating smile. "It has been a long month."

"You can say that again," Artery said bitterly. "Not that this wasn't where we were always going to end up, but…"

"How do you mean?"

"You really think the Republic was going to do anything other than throw us out like broken toys the second we weren't needed?" Artery asked, balling their hands into fists. "I would have thought you of all people would understand that."

Bail took a careful breath, letting it out slowly. The comment stung, but Artery was likely more upset with the situation than Bail in particular, especially considering what transpired on the landing platform. "Is that why you and Commander Thire were fighting on the platform?"

Artery narrowed their eyes in suspicion. "Does Fox let you pick him apart like this?"

Bail shrugged. "I think that's Fox's business, not yours."

Artery glanced down at Fox, sucking in a deep breath through their teeth. "Fucking politicians."

"We don't have to speak on it if you don't want to," Bail said quickly, raising his free hand in a gesture of surrender. "I was merely curious."

"No, it's-" Artery sucked in another breath, slowly and deliberately uncurling their fists. "Thire thought I would be safer on Alderaan. I thought he was full of shit - it's only a matter of time before I get decommed no matter where I am, and it's incredibly stupid to send your most experienced medic away at a time like this - but then he pulled rank on me and now here I am."

"Ah," Bail said, making a mental note to talk to Riyo about extra support for the Guard once they arrived on Alderaan. "I see."

"It wasn't even his rank to pull!" Artery went on, their voice growing increasingly agitated. "Sure, he's acting Marshall Commander, but Fox is- he's not-"

Artery let out an abrupt sob, burying their face in their hands.

"How about," Bail said, rising to his feet, "I go grab some caf for us both, and then we can discuss what will happen when we reach Alderaan."

"I… yeah," Artery mumbled through their fingers. "All right."

By the time Bail returned with two cups of instant caf, Artery had managed to compose themselves again.

"I'm sorry for my outburst, Senator," they murmured, gratefully accepting the caf from Bail's hand. "None of this is your fault, I'm just…"

Artery glanced down at Fox for a long moment before continuing. "A lot has happened."

"There's no need to apologize," Bail assured them, sitting back down at Fox's side again, "but I think it's best we clear some things up now."

Artery nodded, taking a slow sip of caf. "Okay."

"I realize that we can't control anything beyond our system - including the prejudices of others," Bail began, sipping at his own drink as he collected his thoughts, "but on Alderaan, you will be treated as the sentient being you are. I would appreciate if you worked with Fox's team on his treatment plan-"

"Do you really think they'll listen to me?" Artery interrupted, growing agitated again. "Even if I was a person, I have no degrees and no training to speak of-"

"As a medic," Bail said calmly, "would you not want to consult with someone who knows your patient and their history well, regardless of any credentials? Would you not want to work with someone who has experience with your patient's unique genetic modifications?"

Artery fidgeted with their cup, still looking upset. "But what if they… what if Fox can't pass his field clearance certs anymore? They won't listen to me if he's to be decommissioned - they'll probably just send me along right beside him and-"

"Artery," Bail interrupted, "no one is getting decommissioned - not you, not Fox - no one."

Artery swallowed. "Can you swear to that?"

"I swear to you on my honour," Bail said gravely, "that I will do everything in my power to keep you both safe. No harm will come to you on Alderaan."

Artery let out a long sigh, glancing down at Fox again. "And I'll do what I can for Commander Fox."

Bail nodded, wrapping his hand around Fox's again. "If anyone gives you trouble, please don't hesitate to let us know."