Once more thanks to @eyeloch, @aceofstars16, @what-a-strange-little-star for reviewing and editing and ideas,
A cookie or some other fun reward to the first person to get the title reference.
Chapter Four: Everything Will Change
The surgery had lasted nearly a day, and while they had made Kanan eat something around dinner, they could not make him budge from his seat in the waiting room. Eventually Zeb gave up and went back to his bunk. Ezra stayed longer, but he too realized that it wasn’t going to make a difference. Instead, he went to the Ghost, returning to Kanan a few minutes later with a pillow and a blanket.
“Just don’t overdo it ok?”
That had been several hours ago. Kanan remained in his chair, unable to sleep. At least he was far more comfortable with the things Ezra brought. He sighed into his hands, unable to find peace currently. After Ezra’s initial speech he had calmed considerably, but Hera had been in there far too long. He tried to quell the panic that begin to rise within him, threatening to bubble over and cause him to do something terribly stupid. It didn’t help that no one had come out since the surgery began, but he figured it meant she was still fighting. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to listen to his apprentice.
Trust the Force. Trust Hera.
As if to answer his prayers a medical droid wheeled out of the doorway, scanning the waiting room. He turned to its sole occupant.
“You are here for patient Syndulla, Hera?”
Kanan snapped to attention, rising out his seat without hesitation.
“Yes! Is she alright? What happened?”
“Patient Syndulla’s surgery has been completed. Success percentage equals eight-five percent.”
Kanan froze in place.
“Wait, what do you mean ‘eighty-five percent’?”
The droid made a sound that was almost like a throat clearing.
“Her vitals have been stabilized, and the surgery to remove any foreign entities was ninety-three percent successful. However, a number of foreign materials were embedded into her Lekku. These cannot be safely removed without high risk of patient death.”
Kanan’s spirit was both relieved and crushed at the news. He knew the importance of the Twi’lek Lekku after an accident involving grabbing the wrong thing during a private time. He remember the look of pain that she had as she rubbed it, explaining how it housed many important organs and nerves.
“So… What does this mean exactly?”
“Patient Syndulla’s physiology is documented, but our medical facility was not designed to perform such drastic surgeries on a Twi’lek. Currently, her body needs time to heal. She will not be able to move from the neck down, at least until the Bacta treatment is finished. We are unsure if her condition will improve, but there is a seventy-six percent chance of near-perfect recovery, an eighty-eight percent chance of a good recovery, and a thirteen percent chance of a failed recovery. She was very lucky that the damage was not more severe. We found it odd she had little to no foreign materials in her torso area, as if something had blocked it. If she had not had that happen, there would be a much lower chance for patient survival.”
Kanan breathed a sigh of relief, the numbers given to him relaxing.
“Can I see her?”
The droid tilted it’s ‘head’, examining Kanan.
“I’m sorry sir. Patient Syndulla’s files do not list any immediate kin at the base. Patient Syndulla needs time to rest, please return in two weeks for an update.”
Kanan’s heart dropped at the statement. After all this, he had to see her, he wanted to ensure she was ok.
“Please, let me in to see her.”
“I’m sorry sir, but as I said, immediate family and ki-“
“She’s my wife!”
The room became silent, Kanan only realizing what he had just said. The medical droid gave him a curious look. He exhaled slowly, focusing.
“I’m her husband. Please let me see my wife.”
The droid regarded him for a second.
“Patient Syndulla’s records make no mention of a husband.”
“We… we didn’t want anyone to know, both for safety and because she didn’t want people to view her differently.”
Much to Kanan’s surprise, the medical droid made a noise similar to a ‘tsk’ and a sigh, but motioned for him to follow.
“Please be aware that the patient’s vitals are being monitored, but she will not be able to hear you. Please do not tap on the glass and do not attempt to tamper with the Bacta tank in any way. If a medical emergency were to occur, a doctor will be notified immediately, and you will be asked to vacate the room. Have a pleasant morning.”
Kanan stopped where the droid was, reaching forward to feel his surroundings. He attempted to find the handle when the sound of mechanical limbs moved beside him, opening it for him. He turned and gave the droid a quick nod of gratitude before stepping in. He wasn’t sure what he expected, having never actually seen what Yavin’s base looked like, let alone what the intensive care looked like. He only ever got descriptions from the crew, and even then they were sometimes conflicting. But he did know, and could feel, was Hera’s life. It was better now, much better than before, but it wasn’t radiate like it usually was. It was dull, like an eerie stillness engulfed her. He walked forward, raising his hand and gently pressing against the Bacta tank glass. His head lowered, his voice a whispering tremble.
“Please, don’t leave me. I can’t lose you, not now, not ever.”
He felt the inside of his mask become slightly wet, but he did nothing to remove the tears, not attempting to stifle them.
