Chapter Twelve

                                    

                                          
(a/n: To my jellybeans: I am so, so sorry if you thought I had ended the book there. I would never do that to you guys. I think I'd emotionally traumatize myself if I left it there. So, take a deep breath, find that little spark of hope in you, and give it some love, because this trainwreck isn't over yet!)
                          
 It was so dark. And cold. Cassian couldn't let go of her. Each of the other rebels were alive, none of their shots fatal. Now, they sat in a cage meant for animals, huddled together for warmth and comfort. The moonlight danced cruelly across Jyn's pale, still face. Their captors had done a crude job of bandaging Jyn's wound, saying they needed her for later. Not as much as I need you, Cassian thought. 
                          
Then her eyes flew open. Jyn started screaming. "Make it stop! Make it stop! Please, make the pain stop!" Cassian couldn't breathe. His gut clenched. Jyn gripped his jacket with her feeble hand. "Cassian, please! Please! Make it stop!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. Luke looked away. Han's head hung low, and Leia's eyes filled with tears. Chewie whimpered. Jyn's screams died down, till it was only whispered pleas. She sobbed into Cassian's shoulder. Cassian let tears of his own slip down his cheeks as he held her in his arms. He couldn't do anything, and that was the worst part. Jyn continued to cry, begging for the agony to go away. 
                          
Before long, the little strength Jyn had faded and she slipped once more into unconsciousness. Cassian was thankful, for he knew it was the only way she could escape the pain of such a wound at that moment. He felt as if he didn't know how to think anymore. His emotions swirled and mixed like paint in water, till all that was left was a muddy, murky mess that he couldn't see through. His fingers tangled in her hair as he stroked it. 
                          
"Psst!" A small voice barely made it through pitch black of midnight. Cassian's head whipped around and the rebels tried to pinpoint the location of the sound. "Here! It's for the pain!" A tiny hand reached through the bars of the cage, holding a small vial. The liquid inside was illuminated by the weak starlight above; it sparkled, as if knowing it held relief. Leia snatched the bottle and grabbed the hand. 
                          
"Thank you," She breathed, nearly as silent as the night. The giver of the liquid was briefly visible; it was a small boy, hands and face dirty and smudged, his eyes filled with a knowing sadness, an emotion such a young being should never have to experience. Cassian nodded his thanks, not daring to acknowledge the boy for sake of the boy's safety. Morning came far too quickly, but Jyn didn't wake. Cassian begged those beautiful green eyes to open before it was too late. Finally, her eyelids shuddered, then slowly opened. Without hesitation, Cassian dribbled the liquid into her mouth. Jyn gasped and swallowed it, coughing at its bitter taste. Everyone watched Jyn's face tensely. Her eyes glazed over, then cleared. She smiled weakly. 
                          
"It's bearable." Cassian choked out a sigh of relief. Bodhi grinned. Luke suddenly stood up. 
                          
"It's time." He spat. Jyn's brow furrowed. 
                          
"For what?" She turned her head painfully. Armed guards, dressed in tattered clothes and mismatched pieces of armor, marched towards the cage. Jyn's well-trained eye caught the slight motion of Han tucking his shirt over a blaster. Oh... With a click, the cage door swung open. Chaos erupted. Han shot the guard first, before anyone could make a move. Jyn marveled at the man's drawing speed. Chewie barged out of the cage, bowling the guards over. The rebels charged out into the camp and fought harder than they had ever fought before. Jyn watched helplessly as each of her comrades struggled to fight back the overwhelming amount of smugglers and slave traders who owned the slave camp. The battle seemed to last far too long. Luke pulled his lightsaber out and fought with elementary skills, his childhood of being nothing more than a farmer showing. 
                          
Cassian could feel the adrenaline rushing through him like electricity. Anger infused him, sharpened his vision, improved his aim, and coated the scene around him in a dark shade of red. 
                          
A shot fired. A shot returned. Another body on the ground. More blood spilled. Another explosion, more cries of pain. A shout of fear silenced by another blast. He couldn't stop now, it was almost over. He could see her eyes; so full of pain. So full of suffering. Never before had he been affected by such a gaze. He couldn't let her go, because if he did that hole that he hadn't known had been filled would be empty once again. 
                          
And then, silence. 
                          
Complete and utter silence.
                          
Cassian sank to his knees. The once-captives burst into cheers. Frightened slaves that had once been terrorized were free. There were joyful tears, and a few heartbroken ones as well. Cassian heard a grunt behind him and a dull thud as if something had fallen. His head swung around. Jyn was lying partially outside the cage, propped up on one elbow. He hurried over, gently easing her to a sitting position. 
                          
"Just what are you trying to do?" He asked playfully, the worried lines creased around his eyes softening when he saw her grin. 
                          
"Trying to come congratulate my captain." 
                          
"Oh your captain, huh?" A nervous butterfly fluttered in Cassian's stomach. 
                          
"Yeah, my captain." Jyn placed a hand behind Cassian's neck, drawing his face to hers, but he needed no urging. His eyes drifted to her lips, and his hand rose to cup her cheek. Their lips met and fireworks exploded in Jyn's heart. Cassian closed his eyes, savoring the sweet taste of her lips. They finally broke apart, but neither of them opened their eyes for a moment. Cassian rested his forehead on Jyn's. She smiled. "I didn't realize how much I wanted that." She breathed, her strangled voice audible only to Cassian. 
                          
"I didn't realize how much I needed that." He whispered back. 
                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
(a/n: AHHHHHHHHHHHH SEEEEEE there's no way I'd let ANYBODY die without a kiss happening! Not to say I'm not gonna let anybody die PERIOD... whoops, did I say that out loud? BUT. I struggled over the kiss passage for awhile. There are so many fan fictions where the kiss is just not everything you want it to be. There are too many cliched ways of writing the first kiss and I tried SO hard to avoid it but I may have slipped into that stereotypical first kiss moment ANYWAYS. *sigh* I really, REALLY would love to hear what you guys think! And it's still not over yet, stick around!) 
                          
(a/n: ALSO, isn't this fan art amazing?!?! I'd like to give major props to the artist, cause this is truly a masterpiece. Also, NONE of the fan art that I've had in here is mine, so no one sue me please!!)
                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
(a/n: ANOTHER SHOT WITH JYN HOLDING THE DEATH STAR PLANS AND RUNNING SOMEWHERE AND ALIVE. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE MOVIE. WHAT IS THIS?!??!?!?!)