Echo's Day Out part 7

'Echo…I can hear you. Just don't leave me, please. And no matter what anyone tells you, this isn't your fault.'

She knew he couldn't hear her, but it made her feel better to talk with him in her dreams. He always said something like, "Don't worry. We'll always be here for you." And yet she knew he couldn't hear her. 'They' couldn't hear her. 'Why did I have to be so stupid? If had just gone leave like I supposed to, this wouldn't have happened. Not to mention that I wouldn't have been late.' </P>

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Echo watched silently as Ahsoka stirred in her sleep. Little did he know that someone was watching every move he was making, waiting for him to slip.

'This is taking to long. Why doesn't he tell her? It's so obvious to everyone, even someone who doesn't like it that much. I should've figured that neither of them would tell her.'

Anakin thought as he watched the two of them. Then he heard footsteps running toward him. He turned around to see a quite out of breathe captain and a clone he didn't remember well.</P>

"Tsk Tsk, Captain, I think you're a little late." Anakin said shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, General. We had…technical difficulties." Rex said glaring at the other clone.

"Not my fault. I tried to fix the problem, but the ship still kinda…" the clone trailed off as if trying to figure out what to say next.

"Kinda what?" Anakin pushed.

"Uh… It blew up. Hehe."

"Fives, you idiot! You weren't supposed to tell him right away." Rex was a bit on edge today and everything was getting on his nerves.

"You weren't planning on telling me?" Anakin couldn't say he was surprised, but it was always funny to watch 'em sweat.

"I was going to tell you after we knew everything was all right and they," He said gesturing over to the clone and the padawan, "were alive."

Anakin knew this wasn't time to stress over what his Captain was or wasn't going to do.

He didn't know how to explain to them that the girl might not wake up or why Echo couldn't speak to anyone. It barely made sense to him, and to try to explain it to them would be impossible. Now they just stared at him waiting for a response.

"Sir? What's going on?" His faithful captain asked.   

"Ahsoka is…umm…well…" He couldn't piece together the words. He had always been blunt and frank with his men yet this…this was different. "Ahsoka is ok…for now."

Echo could hear a bit of arguing outside the door, but it was in low whispers.

He didn't pay much attention to the voices. It didn't take to many brain cells to figure who the voices belonged to. It surprised him that they had gotten to the hospital so quickly, but he didn't let it bother him. He focused on Ahsoka. Every breath she took, every single little movement she might make he was there. He decided to make sure he didn't leave her side.

The voices outside stop, but he heard footsteps coming closer.

</SPAN>