Chapter 4
Rey wandered through the halls of the base, going to and fro between the infirmary and the room where her newly found friend was being kept. She couldn't bring herself to look at either Phasma or Finn, but eventually the she felt that the latter would be better company; that and she bitterly felt as if she owed him a long visit after the events of the day.
She spun on her heels and tried to remember how long she had been pacing the halls like a lunatic. As she slipped into Finn’s room she was surprised to find him not asleep like she had expected but instead sitting up in bed. He beamed a large, but weak, smile at her as she neared the bed.
Rey couldn't resist the urge to throw her arms around Finn's neck. She squeezed until a small groan escaped the man beneath her.
Finn cringed as she let go, “Watch the shoulder.”
She stroked a thumb gently across the thick bandages that covered his chest and arm. “I'm so sorry Finn, it's all my fault. I should never have…”
Finn cut her off, “It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault.” He smiled warmly at her and grasped her hand in his. After a moment he added with a small laugh, “Except maybe Lord Ren. I'm pretty sure it's all his fault.”
Rey felt herself let out a small giggle and smiled again.
Her brief moment of happiness was soon clouded by a sudden tap at the door. The two glanced at the door just in time to witness Poe teeter in with two large plates of food from the cafeteria.
“Oh!” Poe smiled as he laid eyes on his friend. “I was really hoping you would be awake by the time I got back!” He set the trays down and eagerly leaned into to hug Finn. Before either could stop him, Poe had Finn engulfed in his arms. This time it was more than a small groan that escaped the man.
The shout sent Poe reeling back in shock.
“Shoulder…” Finn moaned, after a brief moment of cringing, he looked up and smiled warmly at Poe, quickly melting away the terrified look on the man's face.
Poe returned the smile and reached back for the dinner trays. He set one down on a small table by himself and the other on the tray attached to Finn's bed.
He sent an embarrassed smile at Rey, “If I woulda known you were joining us, I would have grabbed you something.” He apologized.
Rey smiled and commented on how she had just returned from the cafeteria herself. A fact that wouldn't stop her from taking small bites from Finn’s tray a few minutes later.
As the three ate in a comfortable silence, a nurse sauntered in to check on Finn. She looked at the posse and smiled.
“I'm glad to see that you're awake young man.” She set a small cup by his bed. “How are you feeling?”
“To be honest, it hurt like hell sitting up and my shoulder stings something fierce.” He stopped to gently rub the bandaged area.
“Well if that's it for now, I'd say you're doing pretty well. I didn't think you were going to be awake for another day or so.”
He smiled at her and she continued, “I can tell you that you'll probably be more sore tomorrow, and it might get even worse when you're back up and running but,” she gestured to the cup, “if you take two of those every day, it'll make the pain easier to manage.”
Finn grabbed the small cup and tipped it back. The nurse smiled again and walked towards the door.
“Such a good patient.” She chipped to no one in particular. As she walked out of the room she called over her shoulder, “I'll be back in half an hour to check on you!”
Poe smiled at Finn and glanced at Rey. “Speaking of good patients…” He started.
Rey cringed but kept quiet.
Finn glanced between his two friends, a sudden tenseness had come between them. “What are you talking about? Rey did you get hurt?” He asked, suddenly concerned.
Rey sighed. “No, I'm fine but…”
“But…?” Finn urged.
“She brought back that chrome clad bitch.” Poe blurted.
“Phasma?” Finn questioned.
Rey nodded and Finn sighed deeply. “Thank you.”
Poe gawked at his friends. “You two are crazy.” He sputtered.
Finn turned to look at Poe, “I told her to get Phasma out of the trash chute...at least I think I did. All I remember is thinking that she didn't deserve to die that way….that I'm a better person than that. I'm better than her.”
Poe’s gaze softened. “I know you are.” He replied, reaching out to grasp Finn's hand.
“I'm just having a hard time with it. She's a stormtrooper!”
Rey cocked an eyebrow and Poe sighed. “You know what I mean.” He added softly, stroking the back of Finn’s hand.
Finn squeezed his hand and smiled softly. “I know.” He turned to look at Rey. “But I'm glad you got her. Is she doing alright?”
Rey huffed a small laugh. “She's alive and kicking.”
“Literally kicking.” Poe added. “And screaming and yelling and jabbing and punching.”
Finn smiled. “She is one tough woman. When I was younger I hated her. She would make us do drill after drill after drill until we were lying on the floor, dying to catch our breath. But, as I got older, I realized it was pretty hard to hate someone you've lived with for your whole life. I didn't hate her so much anymore, after everything she did to me during training...I wanted her to get a taste of her own medicine. But I don't think I ever wanted to kill her. I think...I think maybe I even respect her a little.”
“Well, mostly respect.” He shrugged.
Rey smiled at him and let him continue, “When the members of my garrison and I were younger we used to joke about her armor. We all thought she must have been some sort of terrifying lizard lady with beady red eyes, or have green skin and horns and fangs.” He pulled a face and the trio let out a series of small giggles.
“No.” Rey smiled, “She's actually quite beautiful.”
Poe and Finn exchanged glances before sending bewildered stares at their friend.
She glanced between them, “What?” She asked.
“What does she look like?” Poe finally asked.
“I...what?”
“I'm actually curious too.” Finn piped up.
“Uh…” Rey started. “She's blonde.”
“Blonde?”
Rey twiddle a small corner of the bed sheet. “But, not like blonde blonde. Like a silvery, almost golden. She's got these fierce blue eyes and high cheek bones. And her hair, it's short and frames her face. It's…” She stopped and glanced up, Finn looked like he was trying to imagine the picture she way painting. Poe on the other hand was smirking.
“Her hair is short.” She cleared her throat, “Which is perfect for combat.” She ended. She could feel a hot blush creep up her neck and prick at her cheeks.
Poe was still smirking when Finn piped up. “She does sound..uh..not awful.” He still looked as if he was trying to mentally replace years of reptilian images with those of a pretty blonde woman. By the way his face scrunched, it wasn't working.
Rey quickly changed the subject and was all too relieved when the trio happily started chatting about starship repairs and the state of Poe's black x-wing.
After a while of chatting a nurse hurried back into the small room and shooed Poe and Rey out, insisting that Finn rest.
The two lingered around the door for a few moments more before walking silently down the hall.
“I…” Poe started. “I want to apologize for the way I acted earlier.”
Rey glanced up at the man. He rubbed the back of his neck and continued. “I just...you gotta understand. I saw what she did to all those people...she just gave the order and they were dead. It's a hard thing to look past you know?”
Rey stopped and leaned against the corridor wall. “ I understand.” She replied a moment later.
Poe nodded and continued down the hall. Rey followed silently and they fell back into step with each other.
“I still don't trust her.” Poe commented.
“Neither does General Organa.”
“I'm not surprised. She generally has a pretty good hold stuff like that.”
“She…” Rey started, but stopped herself.
“She?” Poe pressed, gently reaching out he grabbed her shoulders.
“General organa wants me to watch over her.”’
“Watch over Phasma?”
Rey chewed her lip nervously and nodded. “It's the only way she'll be able to stay! I have to! I can't just let her be abandoned somewhere. For all I know the Order will hunt her down and kill her!”
“So what!?” Poe shouted, raking his hands through his hair.
Rey stepped back, startled by the man's outburst. “Poe…” She started.
“I know...I know. I'm sorry. I just...you know how I feel about this. She needs an armed guard not…”
“Me?” Rey shot back. “I can defend myself you know.”
“I know! But I also know how the Order works. Whether they want her back or not she will try to return to them and she will go through anything in her way. If you got hurt...”
Rey shifted her glance downward. Poe sighed. “I can't have two people I care about in the infirmary at the same time.”
Rey smiled at the man. “I can take care of myself.” She repeated.
Poe returned the smile and pulled Rey into a tight embrace.
“Does this mean you'll help me watch her?” She mumbled into his shoulder. He huffed a laugh and moved to hold her at arm's length.
“Don't push it.” He mockingly threatened as he released her and began walking down the hall.
“At least help me tell her!” Rey called after him. But he didn't seem to hear, or at least pretended not to. She didn't mind. In her heart she knew that she would have to deal with this on her own. Telling Phasma wasn't going to be easy but at least she had the full, albeit begrudging, support of her friends. With a slight weight off her shoulders she continued down the hall towards Phasma’s new quarters.