SHATTERED REMEMBRANCE

Chapter Nine

Mara wasn't sure what she was trying to gain, lurking around the medcenter every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Luke. The only thing she was accomplishing was catching several holoreporters who were using the same covert paths as she to sneak onto Luke's floor. Realistically, she understood the doctor's reasoning in gradually introducing new people to Luke. But how long would it be before the Solos reached her name on the check-off list? Or would they see this as an opportunity to keep her out of Luke's life permanently?

It had taken her ten years to finally admit that she wanted to be with the man. No one in the galaxy was going to dictate—

Whump!

Blast it! Mara had been so focused on her own frustration that she hadn't been watching as she rounded a corner, allowing some clumsy fool to walk right into her.

"Excuse me," a low voice said. "I didn't mean to bump into you."

Mara froze, her shocked gaze drawn to the familiar blue eyes staring at her. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

"Are you all right?"

"Uh, yes," Mara stammered. He was here, standing right in front of her, his right hand clutching the safety rail that traversed the corridors. She wanted to hug him so bad it hurt. "I should be asking you the same question," she said, slowing taking in his entire appearance. He was dressed in the standard baggy medical pants and shirt that were routinely issued to patients. Faint scars still crisscrossed his arms and neck, new from the ones she'd memorized on the trip back from Nirauan.

"I was in an accident," Luke said quietly, shifting his weight onto his left leg.

"Oh." Mara berated herself for embarrassing him with her staring.

"I'm sorry if I'm using the wrong side of the hall, but it's a little easier walking if I can hold the rail with this hand."

"Don't apologize," Mara hurried to assure him. "I should've been watching where I was going."

"I'm Luke, by the way," he said, letting go of the rail and awkwardly holding out one hand. "Luke Skywalker."

"Mara Jade," she returned, hiding a wince at his firm handshake. He apparently hadn't gotten the hang of his new prosthetic yet.

"Yes, I know." At Mara's surprised look, he continued, "I happened to notice you out here in the corridor one day, and Han ― my brother-in-law ― he told me who you were." Luke's brow crinkled in thought. "So I guess you already know my name, and that I'm having trouble with my memory."

"I understand." Mara smiled warmly, thanking the Force for this unexpected opportunity to talk to Luke alone. "But I am surprised to find you out strolling the halls already."

"I'm on my way to physical therapy," Luke explained. "Usually the med-droid escorts me, but I wanted to try getting there on my own, so I left early."

Still impatient, still wanting to do everything himself. Still the man she loved. "Mind if I walk with you then?" she offered, moving to Luke's side.

"I'd like that," Luke said, resuming his slow gait. "I haven't been able to meet anyone but my sister and Han and their children. I get the feeling they're trying to protect me."

"I'm sure they have their reasons," Mara said, relishing the feel of his grip on her arm. "Perhaps they're afraid the wrong person may try to take advantage of you."

"I guess." Luke glanced sideways at his walking companion. "Luckily for me, Han vouched for you as a safe person."

Mara laughed lightly. "Really? And here I thought I still intimidated him."

"I got the impression he doesn't intimidate easily."

"I know." She grinned slyly. "You're one of the few people I've never been able to intimidate, despite my best efforts."

Luke frowned. "If you say so," he said slowly. "Uh, what brings you to the medcenter today?"

"Well, I …" Out of the corner of her eye, Mara spotted a Duros dressed in medical togs. He was watching them from a data station alcove, and in his hand—

Letting go of Luke's arm, Mara sprang into action. In the blink of an eye she had the man in a headlock, dropping him to his knees.

"Hey!" the man choked out. "What's the big—?"

"You leave him alone," Mara ordered, plucking a holorecorder out of the man's grasp. "He was in a speeder crash. There are crashes every minute of every day. He's recovering nicely, and he doesn't need the likes of you harassing him." She ground her knee into the imposter's back. "So you and your scumbag cohorts had better leave him alone, or you'll be reporting the evening news from the far side of Hoth. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," the Duros growled.

Mara tightened her hold fractionally, then pushed the man away from her. "Now get out of here."

Turning back around, Mara halted at Luke's astonished expression.

"Uh, you might have to revise your statement about never intimidating me," he said carefully. "Who was that?"

Oh, great. Now I'm gonna scare him off. "He was just a reporter," Mara said, forcing herself to shrug nonchalantly as she steered Luke toward the turbolift. "I caught him trying to sneak in here last week. No big deal. Let's get you down to the therapy room."

But Luke was not to be distracted that easily. "I don't understand. Why was he here?"

"Who knows with those sleezebags?" she replied flippantly. "They're always looking for a story that doesn't exist."

As they entered the lift, Mara could feel Luke's suspicious gaze boring into her.

"You're hiding something from me," he said, his eyes narrowed. "That man was spying on me specifically. It was obvious from what you said to him. I want to know why."

Mara exhaled wearily. Way to go, Jade. She wished she knew how much Han and Leia had already told him. "Holorag reporters delight in sensationalizing accounts of well-known people getting injured. They feed on misery and misfortune." She leveled Luke with a steady gaze. "You're well-known, Luke. Very well-known."

"But I'm just … " Luke paused. "Han told me I was a peacekeeper. And that I taught the trade to others. He didn't indicate that it was anything out of the ordinary."

"Peacekeeper?" Mara supposed that was as good a description as any.

"Yes. 'Jedi' was the title, I believe." He pierced Mara with an almost accusatory stare. "Are you saying Han lied?"

"No." Mara shook her head. She hated having to guess what she could say and what she couldn't. "You have dedicated your life to keeping the peace, and you're very good at it. Your accomplishments have made you very prominent in the field." She reached over and lightly touched his arm, cringing inwardly when he stiffened in response. "Luke, we're not trying to hide anything from you. We just … we don't want to … overwhelm you with every detail of your life."

"Of course," Luke grated out. "Wouldn't want to overwhelm me." He started forward abruptly as the lift door opened. "Don't you think I'm past the point of being merely overwhelmed?"

Mara hurried to follow his halting steps out into the corridor, but he stopped her with a cold glare. "I can find my own way from here. My mind isn't that far gone. Good day, Miss Jade." With a jerk, Luke maneuvered toward the nearest safety rail and continued away. He didn't look back.

Stifling a cry of dismay, Mara slumped against the drab wall. As she swiped at a speck of moisture in her eye, Doctor Panio's description of Luke echoed back to her … remember, he's no longer the same person. Drawing herself up and throwing her shoulders back, she walked briskly to the exit. She didn't allow the tears to fall unimpeded until she was alone in her tiny apartment. Up until this moment she had held out hope that Luke would recover, that he would bounce back as he always had, and they would live happily ever after. Now all confidence abandoned her, all faith in the Force forsook her as she collapsed onto the floor. Optimism was Luke's specialty, not hers.

Hours later, still curled on her side, some small part of Mara's mind reflected that she'd only cried one other time in her life, at the loss of her beloved ship. Now she cried for the loss of her beloved. Luke had been there for her when the Jade's Fire crashed, holding her, comforting her.

Who was there to comfort her now?