Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eventually, she lowered the windows in the rental car, letting the much-needed air blow through the vehicle. Loose stray strands of her hair that had escaped her bun whipped her face, catching and lightly battering her sunglasses.

Sunflower County was deep in Delta country, and home to the Mississippi State Penitentiary, formerly known as Parchman Farm, and it loomed large just up ahead. From a distance, Rey could just barely make out the sprawling campus, composed of several old, decaying buildings. They were all as gray as the landscape.

Parchman Farm had such a rich history; Rey had been intrigued by her little bit of research. Dating back to the days of chain gangs and work farms, now it was home to almost five thousand inmates, and was the only prison in the entire state that housed a Death Row.

Rey was astounded that Holdo had actually given her the ‘go ahead’ to come down to help out Finn. Amilyn, her mentor and colleague, seemed surprisingly supportive. She told Rey that the experience would offer her a tremendous opportunity for growth. She often encouraged Rey to get out of her comfortable box - the box that allowed her to be selective and pick and choose her cases.

After thirteen long hours of being on the highway, it was entirely too late to further entertain any of her misgivings. The drive from D.C. to Mississippi had been so boring and tedious. Rey had exhausted all seven of her playlists, not wanting to have to endure the local radio. She suffered through a few dismal roadside food stops and a litany of monotonous billboards along the way.

Miles and miles of rice paddies along the road started to become almost hypnotic. It seemed endless - marshy damp furrows of wet green and brown striping the terrain against the grayest sky. She found it to be very dark, and the repetition unnerving.

Rey had always been quite the urbanite. Unlike some, she never had a yearning to experience rural America - especially not the Deep South. Admittedly, Rey hated the Deep South. Although hated was a harsh word, it definitely applied. That disdain was never based on any of her own actual experiences, she, however, always believed that great pain can stain a place… it could stain an entire population. She would never admit to it publicly or even speak of it out loud for that matter. Accustomed to being called inappropriate and constantly accused of being brutally honest, Rey was used to being misunderstood, but she would never risk offending almost half the nation of her newly adopted home.

She thought to herself, Why did I even commit to this? No turning back now.

Rey pulled over on the side of the road and parked along the shoulder. Dragging her shades up over her forehead, pushing her hair back with them, she let her eyes travel slowly down the road leading to the prison’s main gate.

She wanted to see the place first - Rey needed to see it. It sat off in the near distance, heavy, dark and almost woeful. And with it, there seemed to be a silent omen.

Foreboding. Sinister. Like some huge specter -- A harbinger, or perhaps even a herald of death.

Pressing her lips hard together, forcing them into a thin line, she squinted. “Because it is.”

Giving way, she gave voice to her relent.

*****

“Hey, Rey!” Finn ran over to her car the second Rey pulled into the motel parking lot. Before she knew it, he was at her car door. “Look at you… a sight for sore eyes! Ya look great, Rey!”

He hugged her tightly, squeezing and nearly lifting her off her feet.

“Did you read it, Rey? Seriously --- Did you finally read it all?” Finn sounded pressed, anxious.

She paused for just a second. “Yes, Finn, I read all of it.” Frankly, she couldn’t help her monotone response.

“So, you can see, then? Not just for another appeal or a stay, this really looks like we’ve got grounds for a dismissal and possibly a re-trial. Right… right?”

Rey leaned against her rental. Squinting terribly from the low sun, she promptly pulled her sunglasses back on.

“It is very compelling… it is.” She nodded as she spoke. Then, Rey turned and reached into the car to nab her keys. “It does seem as though there was a great injustice done to your client. That’s why I decided to take this on.” She began to shake her legs out one at a time. They needed it after being cramped for such a long drive.

Finn nodded excitedly. “You agree then? Great! Really need your help with this one, Rey.” He fell into a sneezing fit, one right after another. He quickly drew a pack of Kleenex from his inside jacket pocket. “Sorry about that… but there isn’t a soul down here I would trust with this one.” Sniffling, Finn rustled tissue roughly over his nose while Rey watched him, amused.

“You know I wouldn’t have asked unless I was all out of options or if I could do this without you.” He let loose another series of rapid-fire sneezes.

“Gesundheit.” Rey quickly shot back in response. She tried not to laugh at him.

Rey loved Finn, and she definitely owed him one. He had been supportive of her career in more ways than one. But most importantly, he was her dearest and oldest friend. This favor, though, sounded like an awful lot, but really should have been a no-brainer.

This time, Finn blew his nose directly facing her. “Sorry again… This place has kicked up my allergies something fierce.” He blew again harder then returned his focus to her, with a wheeze. “So glad that I can count on you, Rey. It means a lot.”

Rey pressed the trunk release on her key fob, then circled around him to the rear of her car.

She broke the silence with a sigh. “Oh, I’ll need the rest of the case files, and you forgot to send me the transcripts from the trial.” Being proactive, Rey didn’t want to afford herself an opportunity to relax. She wanted to dig right in. Grabbing her pen and small pad from her inside jacket pocket, she scratched through the few items on a short list.

“Awesome! You got it - Oh, and by the time you and Ezra get back, I’ll have everything else you think you may need.”

“Good - Okay, well-- I certainly hope he’s got plenty of time set aside. I’m definitely gonna need three more things just to get started.” She pressed her pen to her chin and thought about whether to make the requests now or later. Rey decided to keep him guessing. “Tell Ezra it may involve a little bit of a tour.”

It occurred to her now that she was definitely all in. There was absolutely no turning back now; Rey was truly… committed.

“Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to help me with these?” She pointed to her modest set of luggage. It was only a wheeled carry-on and a hanging suit bag.

He sniffled once more and brushed his shoulder against hers as he grabbed her bags and headed to her room.

Rey literally ran to the motel’s front desk. After checking in and nabbing her room key, Rey found her way to her room. She unlocked her door and entered, kicking her luggage through the threshold.

*****

Sight unseen, there was absolutely nothing to go on - well, very little. And from listening to Finn the man sounded like quite the contradiction, but Rey knew she would have to see for herself. See him -- The Subject.

Anxious to dig in, her mind began to race. This was not necessarily going to be about a black and white diagnosis. Right off the bat, Rey knew she had to rule out several personality disorders to start. She decided it would be best to take a very systematic approach using several criteria, variants and indicators.

Well, enough of that for now, she thought. You’re getting ahead of yourself.

Ezra was waiting for her in the parking lot of her motel the moment she returned from the store. He waved anxiously, and gauging his level of enthusiasm, Rey realized just how excited she was after all to get started.

“Hey, Rey!” Ezra leapt out of his car and hurried over to her driver side door. “Wanna get going? Or do you need to grab a bite first? Need to shower and change?”

“No, thanks, Ezra. I just got a few snacks to keep in the room. Just give me a second to run this in. And then let’s just get going…” Rey rolled up her window, quickly grabbed up her jacket, her handbag and fished a legal pad out from her briefcase as she jumped out of her car.

“I really am anxious to get this started.” After hurrying to her room, she unlocked the door and nonchalantly chucked the bag just inside the door. Rey dashed back over to him.

He stood there looking stymied, then loomed awkwardly. “Oh, so you wanted me to drive?”

“Why sure, Ezra. You know where we’re going. I don’t. You know Meridian. I don’t.” Rey spoke matter of factly, as she stretched out her legs a little and stuck a pen through the back of her bun.

The simplicity of her logic was not wasted on him. “Oh - right, right! Sure! Sorry!” He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed back toward his vehicle. She watched him take even steps backwards toward his car. She followed close behind, and when he hit the power lock button to his door, she hopped in.

“Don’t know what I was thinking.” He smashed his palm to his forehead. “That makes sense -- Plus, I’m sure you’re tired of being behind the wheel anyway.”

They drove through town, heading toward Solo’s childhood home. Rey essentially ignored all Ezra’s efforts at making small talk. Ezra was only a few years younger than she and Finn were. But at a glance, he was often mistaken for a teenager. Finn always spoke highly of him. His skills as a PI were reputable. Finn bragged that he had great instincts, and that Ezra had been born with a nose for it.

The ride went by rather quickly. Once they pulled up to a simple, understated stone and brick house, Ezra made quick work of parking, turning in his seat, placing his arm behind her passenger’s headrest. “Here we are! Our first stop. This is where he grew up. From birth to nineteen.”

They sat there staring up at the house. Rey began to examine the house floor by floor, taking in every single little detail.

It was a brick and dark shingle, cottage-style house, possibly a three bedroom. It was surprisingly well kept, given the age and how long it had gone abandoned after the trial. It had a lovely flagstone walkway. There was a young black family on the porch; two smaller children and one teen. There was also an adult man who seemed to be fixing something, possibly a bird feeder, at the base of the steps. An adult woman watered a small garden from a manicured path alongside the house.

Ezra squinted at her. “Did you want to see it up close?” He swiveled in his seat and faced her directly. “Speak to the new owners, maybe…?”

Rey took out the legal pad and began scribbling away. “No, actually I’m fine right here, thank you.” She made a point to jot down any and all relevant firsthand observations. She stared up at the smaller of the bedroom windows briefly. Seconds later, she said, “Okay, next stop.”

Rather surprised at how quickly she gathered whatever information she needed, Ezra put it in drive and pulled off without protest.

Meridian High School looked a little run down but still open and operational. She peered through the iron link fence. There was peeling paint and weeds growing up through the pavement. The school wasn’t exactly dilapidated, but it did, however, suffer from neglect. It seemed to have a ninety percent black student population. Rey knew she would research it further, but assumed that probably wasn't the case twenty years ago.

This may have some significance, she thought. She began rapidly writing down notes once again. Then Rey pursed her lips, staring straight ahead out the windshield, deep in thought.

Ezra shook her concentration. “This is where he transferred after being kicked out of Lamar.”

Tucking her pad between her seat and the console, she nodded. “Well, then -- That has to be our next stop,” Rey stated plainly with conviction.

****

Very methodically, Rey googled the Lamar School, immediately realizing that she had stumbled onto something. The Lamar School was an independent school founded in 1964 as what was once known as a segregation academy. Its creation was spurred by the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Clearly a knee-jerk response to integration laws, Lamar admitted whites only. The school was later forced to integrate in the late seventies. It boasted high academic standards and yet, even up until today, minorities were severely underrepresented. She quickly closed the window on her phone.

Rey sighed and scooched down in her seat. The ride was much longer this time. She hadn’t asked nor anticipated that, but it stood to reason. After she leisurely gazed out the window, watching the terrain transform, Rey turned to Ezra. “Thanks for helping me and Finn.”

Keeping his eyes on the road, Ezra merely tilted his head toward her and scoffed. “Hah-hah, he pays me.” Ezra chuckled at his own joke. “... and he offers me other little perks like ‘bird dogs’.”

She cocked her head slightly, trying to figure out the unfamiliar expression via context. “So … What do you mean? Like referrals ...?”

Ever chipper, Ezra nodded and grinned. “Yes, indeedy.”

This time, as they pulled up into the well-maintained and sculpted driveway and viewed the expansive campus, Rey felt she just had an epiphany. She mulled over the notion. He was bright enough to go to this school and yet, he transferred out after only one year.

No sooner had Ezra put his car in park then Rey remarked, “We can keep going, Ezra. I believe I’ve seen enough. Let’s go on and head back.”

Ezra pulled away from the curb to head back. They were more than halfway to her motel when Rey pulled out her pad once more and scribbled what appeared to be only a few words.

It read, Privileged vs. Disenfranchised.

*****

Once Ezra dropped her back after visiting his childhood home and old high schools, she asked him for Solo’s last known address before his arrest. Confident she could navigate on her own after entering it in her GPS, Rey wanted to take that trip by her self.

“Thanks so much for everything, Ezra.” Reaching across her body, offering him her hand, she firmly shook his, her lips forming a thin line. “And I really do appreciate your helping Finn and me. It means a lot.” She shared an awkward nod and left his vehicle.

What a dive, she thought, Finn, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Slipping out of her shoes, Rey scanned the room quickly and took inventory. She wasted no time pulling out her work and set about unpacking.

She immediately nuked some mint tea. Plagued by all the recent conflicting information, she pulled out his file once more. She just had to.

Rey began reviewing all the most pertinent data. She had already read it several times, but knew this time would be one of many, many more. Mindlessly tapping her pen furiously on her legal pad, Rey dug into all the documents once more – hoping for something, anything -- even a flicker, or any new insight.

“Solo, Benjamin - six foot three, two hundred and twenty-eight pounds, Brown/light brown eyes, dark brown/black hair, no distinguishing marks/tattoos (other than several clusters of freckles/moles), originally from Meridian, Mississippi, Born and raised, thirty-six years old, Only Child, High School Education, Average to Above Average Student, Father: Han Solo, Naval Officer, Mother: Leia Solo, Homemaker (originally from Memphis), Lower/Middle Class family, Single, Never married, No children of his own, Minimum Wage Job, Cashier at a local Superstore.”

Rey made a quick additional notation to pursue that high school issue during one of their later sessions. There had to be some type of stressor between high school and his turning twenty-one.

“Uh-huh...” She issued out loud and then read on. After a while, she found herself getting quite flustered.

“Ugh…no, no, no.” Clearly nothing new had emerged, nor would it, and yet the very idea frustrated her all the same. Rey continued to take more notes as she read on. “The subject doesn’t have any early indicators at all.” She jotted down a few more notes in the margins while sipping the last of her tea.

“No priors/no past record. No past therapy or treatment. No history of alcohol or drug abuse. No learning disabilities… none screened anyway. No documented family history of mental illness. No strict religious upbringing or history of any to speak of - No signs of abuse - No childhood trauma - No stressors.”

Nearing the end of the file, Rey slammed the folder shut hard, pushed it across the desk with disdain, then stretched her arms up to the ceiling. She let her eyes wind around the meager motel room. After staring at the dismal floral print wallpaper, Rey yawned and admitted to herself that this assessment would be a terribly complicated one.

She collapsed back into her chair, pushing out of her lungs every last bit of her breath. Knowing she was in dire need of a hot shower, but dreading having to actually get up to take one, she sat there silent and completely still. Reconciled, she admittedly now knew that the real truth would only be found in their sessions.

*****

“So, listen, I won’t be able to meet with you, there have been some minor complications with one of my other cases that’s pending in Alabama. Jannah offered to handle it, but she’s already done too much already. She’s gone above and beyond for me.”

“Not a problem. I’ll miss having you there, but it’s not a problem.” She shrugged. “I’ll be fine, Finn.”

“Your contact will be a Deputy Warden Peavey.” She grabbed a pen in case there was more information involved as Finn continued. “A bit of an eccentric, but I’ll let you form your own opinion. I know you, Rey. You’re gonna do that anyway.” Finn chuckled low.

“You’re right. And I will.” She smirked playfully, acknowledging her friend did know her all too well.

“Let me go, Finn. About to walk in right now.” She lied.

He started in on all the things he thought would be helpful in her first session. Rey debated whether or not to stop him. She hated whenever Finn was an overbearing, control freak and total worry wart all rolled up into one. But Rey gave him just enough rope before he started to hang himself.

“Rey, I mean it, though. I think it’s something kinda like ‘Split’ or a ‘Primal Fear’ multiple personality thing going on here. Only I don’t think Solo is faking it.”

He pushed the unforgivable button of crossing over into her territory - diagnosing her client. She couldn’t stand for that.

“Please, Finn, just stop it. Leave me to do my work.” She felt the smallest prick of anger slightly clench her jaw.

"Rey..."

“Finnnnnn …” She did not need this clouding her mind before the very first session.”I don’t need—“

“Seriously, Rey, you’ll see it for yourself. Even Ezra agrees with me.” He grew more insistent.

“Oh, does he now? Does Ezra agree? Said the one therapist to the other.” Had she not used sarcasm, Rey most likely would have shrieked and ground her teeth instead. “That’s simply ludicrous!”

“It's my grounds for the appeal, Rey.” It was easy for her to envision him when she heard Finn pointedly sucked his teeth. “I really, really … Need for this dude to be crazy.”

“Do you want to insult me right now, Finn? Honestly --- Do you want to insult my intelligence, my professionalism and my integrity all at once?”

“Rey…”

“Look -- You asked me down here, Finn!” Her voice raised in irritation. “You clearly need my help. Now, please, let me do that. Let me do my job. But I will not have my objectivity questioned nor in doubt. I plan to treat this case just like any other, Finn. Do you understand me?”

Releasing a low soft sigh in defeat, Finn let out a loud whoosh of air into the phone. “Understood...” He whispered. “Sorry, Rey.”

“I’ll catch ya later, sis. And Rey…” He paused for a reason. “Thanks again for doing this.”

“Sure thing, Finn.” Rey need not have been assured he was grateful, she already knew.

After a very lengthy pause, Rey acquiesced. “No problem at all. Talk to you afterwards.” She hung up, fretting a little bit, but hardly regretting having to rail Finn like that. Rey truly respected his work ethic, his skill and competency. And yet, she never thought she would have to remind him of hers.

Finn was an incredible attorney. He was both brilliant and extremely dedicated. She had always admired his passion. It was something they shared. Rey assured herself their friendship could easily withstand their little blow up. They went back entirely too far, went through far worse together, and had always remained close.

He truly was her best friend. She loved Finn and never doubted his love and admiration for her.

Finn often gave into fits of overwrought emotional displays and drama. Her role had always been the level-headed one. Even before college, Rey was his Mr. Spock, and he was her Captain Kirk. But Finn was no doubt under the gun with this case. Rey knew it was simply the stress talking. She didn’t need him to tell her that there was immense pressure to deliver on it. She already knew.

Rey had done her research. Meridian had suffered miserably under the weight of the media frenzy surrounding the number of victims alone. The smaller city had never experienced anything remotely as heinous in quite some time. It ripped the community apart, and there were still vestiges of the angry villagers with torches mentality. It was still a highly sensitive and delicate situation.

Capital punishment was something she and Finn had always shared an opinion on. They both agreed that it was indeed a modern form of barbarism. Over the last few years, it had become a bit of a crusade for him.

This case, like many others, was far more than some notch in his proverbial bedpost.

Rey was keenly aware that there was a lot riding on it. She just hoped he knew just how committed she was to help him succeed. Rey truly wanted to help Finn win this one.

*****

On the drive back to Parchment, Rey took an alternate route Ezra recommended. It was a much smaller two lane back road. She hadn’t seen a speed limit posted for quite awhile. Then, the atmosphere seemed to instantly change. It was heavily tree lined, with what appeared to be white oak rising up, up, arching over the roadway and creating an eerie canopy all covered in Spanish moss.

Rey always thought it reminded her of cobwebs blowing in the forgotten corners of a haunted house.

Up ahead, she saw two old pick-ups along the side of the road with their tailgates down. Fresh produce, fruits and vegetables and wooden for sale signs were posted either in the dry earth, or perched atop the truck’s hoods and rooftops. For a moment -- only one moment, she had very vivid images flash through her mind of inmates lining that very same stretch of road chained together dating back almost sixty to seventy years ago.

She was accustomed to often having history literally smack her right in the face. And the not so recent past was never quite the specter for her. These occurrences had become so frequent that she welcomed them like old friends. Rey would simply dust them off and make them useful in some strange way. Great pain stains a place.

As she neared the prison, she felt a small, subtle prick along her consciousness. Rey let it run through her raw and unfiltered, then she discarded her empath and readied herself to become the clinician.

She put on her turn signal and pulled into the prison parking lot. She put the car in park and grabbed her handbag and valise to head inside the gate.

*****

“Dammit, Finn!” Flustered, she tried to clear her mind after the dust up with him. She could not afford carrying it in with her on this first day. Rey became determined when she walked through the main gate.

Rey never argued with laymen about the existence of documented cases of dissociative identity disorder - or what was once deemed multiple personalities. She recognized that everyone nowadays thought themselves armchair shrinks, solving true crime shows on cable television. Rey never waded into the murky waters of practicing law, and wished he would leave the psychology to her. Deep down she knew Finn meant well, but he was wrong… Dead wrong. He just had to be.

Although she had always been taught to remain open minded, Rey never ascribed to the notion that many true Dissociative Identity Disorders cases existed. There were very few - and very rare - cases documented, and were very difficult to diagnose and substantiate. To her, it always just seemed like fodder for suspense films.

She patiently stood at the metal grated window, waiting anxiously. The guard politely handed her ID back to her, and she followed closely behind the guard assigned to take her to Deputy Warden Peavey’s office.

Rey always dreaded visiting prisons. She thought at some point she would grow a little more accustomed to them, considering how often she found herself in them. Living the life of a criminal forensic psychologist would most likely demand that she’d have to, eventually. Amilyn had assured her of it. But Rey made it no secret that she preferred courtrooms to prisons.

Rey had never been claustrophobic, but the endless corridors and hallways with their loud metal locking mechanisms always made both her heart and head pound. She attributed it to the doors steadily locking behind her before the ones ahead of her were unlocked. She detested that constant feeling of being trapped.

Well -- Here we go, she thought to herself.

The balding middle-aged gentleman stood waiting by the door. “Dr. Kenobi, come right in. Please have a seat.” He smiled cheerfully and gestured toward his desk.

“A pleasure meeting you, sir.” Rey leaned in and shook his hand. They both took their seats directly across from each other at his large desk.

“Well, you’ll be pleased to know we have all of your equipment and other things you’ve requested set up in the lounge. You’re pretty much all set to go. Mr. Bowen arranged it.” He pushed back in his chair and crossed his legs. “That Finn Bowen sure is a firecracker. That boy is fired up about getting Solo a retrial.” His eyes cautiously sought out her response as he cleared his throat. Rey offered none.

“Well, he saw to everything -- that all the arrangements were made for your little interviews ahead of schedule. So - er, um, you’re all ready to go, Miss… I mean doctor.”

“Why, thank you. It’s much appreciated.”

“Yeah, that Ben Solo. I’ve come to believe that boy’s name suits him. Hah - Well, especially since he’s been on the Row.” He reached across his desk to lift the lid of a cut glass candy dish. “Care for some?”

She was inclined to push past all his efforts at small talk and get on with it. After Rey glanced over at the foil wrapped chocolate mints, she declined. “Thank you, no.” He grabbed one, beaming.

“But ya know, even when he was in Gen Pop --- A huge loner, that one. Definitely not a talker. And the entire time he’s been serving.” Peavey carefully unwrapped the sweet and popped it in his mouth.

“Oh…?” Rey doubted he could offer any real insights, and yet, she needed to remain approachable - although she didn’t really care to hear his opinion.

“Yeah, I don’t envy you. Rather an odd fellow. But he’s a stellar inmate. Haven’t had any problems with him on the Row and, matter of fact, we never have. Ya know, come to think of it, not even during his trial. And he had only one visitor the entire time.” Peavey considered his comment and sealed it with a solid nod.

Distracted and overly focused on this first interview, Rey mindlessly tagged on her response… polite but mechanical. “Oh, really.”

He raised an eyebrow, astutely aware of her wandering mind, Peavey continued. “I sure don’t know what you hope to find, but I wish ya luck. And if there’s anything else I can do to help ya -- Why, lil’ lady, just you let me know.”

“Thank you, Deputy Warden. I will certainly do that.”

There fell a quiet in the room that was almost uncomfortable, each waiting for the other to move first. Then the deputy warden rose to his feet. “Suppose you’re anxious to get started then. Let’s be on our way.” He made his way around his desk, then headed out his office door with Rey close behind him.

She was very grateful to Deputy Warden Peavey for personally escorting her, and for taking the special precautions to ensure the space and all that she required. Once they crossed the threshold, Peavey barely took two steps inside the lounge. “Hope everything’s to your liking. And just let me know if you happen to need anything else.” He offered Rey a wink and a weak smile. “Aight, now.”

Rey scanned the lounge the moment he left her standing there alone. All her video camera equipment was set up behind the one large, metal table positioned in the very center of the room. Rey had requested two cameras in order to capture different angles and perspectives. She carefully set down both her bags and began arranging everything on the table.

Long chalky tubes of fluorescent bulbs in the ceiling droned with an irritating buzzing. As the lights sputtered and flickered on endlessly, Rey concentrated only on her release forms, legal pad, her one pen, and the heavy table which she now only noticed was clearly bolted to the floor. She knew she needed to be calm and relaxed.

She became painfully aware that she was completely alone in an empty room in an all-male prison. The faintest hint of fear flew through her brain, and she expelled it as fast as it emerged. She knew this exercise too well, and with a jutting of her chin, she strengthened her resolve.

The pale mint green walls, highly waxed floor, and even the air in the room held quite the chill. Rey was grateful to have worn her sweater under her blazer. The atmosphere seemed highly charged - like right before a storm.

Then the heavy metal door was pulled open, and a gust of seemingly warmer air rushed in against her ankles. Just outside the doorway in the hall, there were clanking sounds of dragging shackles which preceded their arrival and entry. The sound was grating -- almost disturbingly so. Rey was very careful not to raise her eyes from her paperwork until both the inmate and the guard drew much closer.

She cautiously stood up from her seat. “Good Afternoon. I’m Dr. Kenobi.” Her gaze rose up sharply to meet his eyes. He was a very large man - every bit of that six foot three and thick, muscular. She tried not to stare, but it was difficult not to. He wore a short sleeved pale gray jumpsuit, which was obviously standard MSP issue. Although it fit him loosely, it hugged in places, emphasizing his stature and imposing physique. Drawn to his odd handsomeness, contrasting both folksy and rakish, Rey swallowed while quickly averting his eyes.

He politely nodded. “Why, hello, Doctor. I’m Ben… but ya already knew that.” He then lowered his head, shoulders and chest bending at the waist in what appeared at first to be a bow. Ben extended his wrists outward, assuming the position. Typho, the CO escorting him, reached for his cuffs, fastening them to the interviewing table directly in front of her. The officer pulled the chains taut with one final, loud jangle. Keenly observant, the officer posted up flush against the wall to her right.

Once taking his seat, he stretched out in his metal chair as if he were a man glad to have the space. The lounge, for want of a better word, that Deputy Warden Peavey had secured for them to meet was rather large, but this man seemed to swallow up the room entirely, completely dwarfing Rey.

She shuffled nervously, although meticulously, through the forms she had for him to sign, and was grateful not to have her hands visibly shaking. “I’ll need you to complete these, please, before we begin.” She pushed them across the table to him, laying the pen on top.

Rey caught his deep caramel-colored eyes as they swept the room cautiously, for a brief moment -- and only a moment, and then he locked onto the video camera equipment. The inmate brought his constricted, clasped hands up to his face and scratched his chin, raking his nails through the dark manicured goatee. It matched his hair, dark and full of seemingly soft waves. It was in direct conflict with the angular, severe features of his face -- Chiseled, almost.

His movements spurred the sounds from his chains, dragging metal on metal, their clanking echoing once more. Rey ceased to linger, all too aware that she could not afford to. But she sensed his gaze had finally fallen back to her. Ben grasped the pen and barely skimmed the forms and then signed.

After he finished signing the releases to videotape and record their sessions, Rey scooted her chair up closer to the table as he slid the papers back to her. "I also have several intake forms for you to fill out as well.”

Repeating the same exercise, Ben barely read the forms and signed them without hesitation. He tilted his head slightly while his eyes squinted then widened, fully considering her.

“Why, you’re awful pritty...” His full lips mildly curled up in the corners, yet his eyes revealed little.

She cleared her throat, attempting to ignore the random - not so random - statement. “We also need to set some boundaries here. We’ll be having five sessions in all, possibly six, and the focus will be you.” Rey rushed through her statements, attempting to avoid his remark and yet, made a point to emphasize the ‘you’. “Now, I realize that’s not a lot of time, but if you’re willing to work with me, Mr. Solo….”

He interrupted. “Ben …” Again, his eyes were drawn to the cameras on either side of her. They drifted from one to the other then back again.

Rey nodded politely. “Ben.” Rey removed her glasses and set them on the legal pad gingerly. “If you’re willing to work with me, I’m certain it will be beneficial.”

Nodding slowly, he laced his fingers, bringing his hands up to rub at his chin again, but this time with his thumbs. “Okay.” The accompanying sounds of his chains shifting accentuated his subtle movement.

“Are you aware of what our purpose will be here? I need to make certain you understand our goals.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded slowly, still riveted to the camera equipment behind her.

“We’re hoping there’s a chance to get your conviction overturned, or a new trial at the very least.” She looked at him directly and weakly smiled. “Legally, you should have been provided through your first counsel, psychological evaluation or screening at best. Are you following me so far?”

“Yeah, ya mean the ol’, ‘for reasons of insanity defense’.” Just under his left eye there appeared to be a slight twitch. She likened it to a muscle spasm, but Rey was certain she’d seen him do it earlier. He continued. “So, you’re here, basically to prove that I’m crazy, huh?” He leaned in over the table, cuffed hands clasped between his wide-spread legs.

She shook her head. “No, Ben. That is not why I’m here.” She went on.

“First, let me explain.” Pushing aside her notes, Rey laced her fingers and rested her wrists on the edge of the table’s cold metal surface in front of her.

“The legal definition for Not Sound of Mind is someone who can be manipulated or swayed by others and sign documents or make major life altering decisions that they may not understand.”

Retrieving her pen, Rey waved it pointedly in the air, gesturing naturally and yet, punctuating her statement.

“Now, the legal definition for Insanity/Mental Illness is an impairment of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable, impulsive behavior.” Rey stopped herself, realizing this may all be overwhelming.

“Understand?” She watched him nod slowly in response, and his eyes clearly indicated he grasped every bit of the information. “But we will further explore those distinctions much later with Mr. Bowen.”

“Finn.” He seemed to rock with the affirmation.

“Yes, with Finn.” Rey smiled fully, glad to know that their attorney/client relationship was obviously one he had become comfortable with. Her smile seemed to have lit his. It was almost as if he had been waiting for it. His kind smile was genuine, exposing his crooked teeth that were now freed finally, simple, honest and unpretentious.

“Well, I only have a few more questions for you today.” Rey thought to herself, first things first.

“During the trial, were you ever, at any point, seen by any therapists, psychologists or psychiatrists?”

Ben answered simply and plainly. “No, ma’am, n-never.”

Rey made the decision to address the next topic head on. She focused on him with a fixed stare. “I understand that you’ve always maintained that these crimes were the work of a brother. A twin brother. Is that true?”

Immediately the atmosphere in the room changed as well as the tone… his tone. The sudden shift was clearly felt and heard.

“Yup.” His voice deepened, his eyes fell to the floor tiles, staring at something rather non-specific. Staring off at something far away, distant - perhaps his past.

Solo swallowed. “He killt all of ‘em, ya know.” Bringing his hands up again, this time he twisted his mustache at the corner of his lip between his thumb and forefinger. The clanking sound followed once again.

Rey blinked, steadily taking more notes. “And so --- you had NO role in any of the murders at all?” She brought her eyes up to sharpen her focus on him while he answered, but was momentarily distracted by the slow bob of his Adam’s apple when he swallowed once more before he finally spoke.

“No, ma’am. I did not.” He tore his eyes away from the camera finally and dragged them slowly to meet hers. They appeared to widen with some strange form of recognition. “Understand, I was always the good one. And he found me… ya see? And now, I’m payin’ for all his crimes -- payin’ for all his sins.”

Her breath caught deep in her ribcage and lodged there. She gulped, desperately hoping to free the knot that was forming. Totally incapable of speaking then, Rey was relieved that he continued.

“Naw… I ain’t never done nuthin’.” Subtly shaking his head, his eyes were so penetrating now, never leaving hers -- direct and dead on. “I never hurt any of them women.” He sat up on the edge of his seat with intensity.

His voice lowered. “Ya have to b'lieve me, Dr. Kenobi.” His eyes seemed to soften as he gradually brought his hands into his lap, clasping them tightly together. “It’s really important that ya b'lieve me.”

His pleading had left her stomach in even more knots. He was personalizing. She forced herself to ignore it and still offered no response. Rey chose to deflect. “Well, we can certainly address more of these issues in our next session, but I believe we can wrap up right here for the day. Thank you.” Attempting to diffuse the situation, Rey began busying herself. She hurriedly rifled through all his release forms, tapping their ends neatly on the table into a stack before sticking her pen through her bun.

In her meager attempt to reassure him, Rey added, “All of this is going to be most helpful.”

She felt his fixed stare heat her entire body. Rey, however, sought safety in following Typho’s movements as he readied him to leave. She stiffened as she shut out the sounds of his unhooking Solo from the table and re-securing his restraints once more. Her eyes blinked rapidly while they tracked them both closely as they headed out into the hallway.

It wasn’t until well after the door shut hard behind them that she finally released her held breath.

*****

Chapter Text

The second she entered the motel room, she made a beeline straight to the A/C unit and quickly turned up the fan and turned down the thermostat. The fan groaned before it finally cranked up to a full roar and began cooling the small room.

Feeling mildly sticky, Rey stood up and yanked off her short sleeve silk blouse. She entered the bathroom, then splashed cold water on her face, dabbing her neck and under her arms. Rey quickly replaced the blouse with a cropped tank top and laid back across the bed on her stomach as she returned to reviewing her notes and going over her game plan for her second session.

Her cell phone rang. She had completely forgotten that Holdo had left her a ton of messages earlier, asking her to call back.

Amilyn was her mentor, and they were very, very close. A profound mutual respect was undoubtedly the foundation of their close relationship, which had been built upon not only a shared passion for their chosen field, but also the perseverance needed as women in a male dominated profession.

“Hello. Hey Amilyn.”

“Hi, Rey. I’m so glad to hear your voice. I do believe you were supposed to let me know that you got down there safely… yesterday.”

“So sorry. But to be honest, yesterday was so full. I wasn’t certain if I would hit the ground running, but…”

“Aah…” Amilyn interrupted. “But you did!”

“Yes,” Rey rolled the last letter in a light hiss before remarking, “You know me all too well, my friend.” A stifled giggle escaped her lips as she moved to the foot of her bed, letting her legs dangle over the edge. “Well, it seems Finn already had a full day planned for me. His P.I., Ezra Bridger, helped me gather quite a bit of much needed background information. It was all very useful.”

As Rey offered her first impressions, she recalled each and every indicator, implication -- every nuance. She left out nothing from their first session. And as she spoke, Ben Solo’s last words, his unsolicited comment resurfaced so vividly in her mind.

“It’s important that you believe me, Dr. Kenobi.”  His plea echoed loudly in her brain. How many times had Rey heard that before? It happened far too many times to even count. Rey knew the deal -- she knew the landscape very well. She was a professional, after all. She quieted the echoes and became committed to unearth why this time they were affecting her differently. Perhaps it was his rawness. He seemed very open, vulnerable and sincere. Rey felt him, and it moved through her.

And yet, his words had already begun to haunt her. They had wormed their way inside of her mind. They seeped in and began to slowly take root. She would never share that with Amilyn. So, Rey made the decision not to ever share it with anyone.

She shoved his pleadings down deep inside; where they were best kept buried. “There are quite a few obstacles that have presented themselves; however.” She continued to share.

“You and I both know that there always are, Rey.” Holdo concurred with her light, easy manner.

“You know it’s just way too early to tell.” Rey took a moment to gather her thoughts. “The subject is really brimming with contradictions. My gut feelings - my first impressions, ah well…”

“Yes…?”

“Well ---He’s certainly no narcissist, that’s for sure. You know me, I’m not ruling it out, however. Having psychosis does not make one violent. I’ve already deduced several discrepancies, small variants that …” She stopped short suddenly. “Sorry, Am. Listen to me. There I go again, as you often say -- putting the cart before the horse. Especially considering I’ve only had one session thus far.”

“Yes, I can tell, Rey.” She sighed into the phone followed by a soft, warm chuckle. “But it’s quite alright. You’re eager - and that is always a good thing.”

“Just exhausted, I guess. I am aware that this case won’t be an easy one, Amilyn. It will require a keen focus and a lot of patience. I definitely need to bring a great deal of both.” She nodded while briefly catching her own reflection in the mirror facing her. “...and this subject appears to be a bit of a patchwork quilt, if you know what I mean?”

“You know I do, Rey. Sounds like you’re off to a good start, though. Know you can use me, so call me anytime. Be sure to take care of yourself, too. Remember my remedy ... Lotsa hot tea and baths instead of showers -- Relax and bring your best self to the table every day. Do what you do better than anyone. I’m confident in you.”

“You will definitely be hearing from me. Thanks.” She knew she needed Amilyn in her arsenal. “I’m sure I’ll be needing your guidance.” Rey smiled weakly.

“Good night, Rey.” Am suddenly felt a need to offer Rey a little more encouragement.

“Oh - and Rey...” She hesitated for merely a second.

“Yes…?”

“I’m so very proud of you.” There was the softest lilt in Amilyn’s voice. It soothed and comforted her.

“Thanks, again, Am.”

She hung up and stared down at her phone. Even before Quantico, Holdo had always urged Rey to make use of her most powerful asset... That was being a bit of an empath.

Always the stickler for detail, and thorough to a fault, Rey was tailor-made for her profession.

As a child, she was a collector. A youth spent with shoe boxes full of little things that were thrown away, discarded, but that quickly became treasures to her. Marbles, keys, buttons, watch parts, ribbons, broken pieces of jewelry and string had all found their way hidden under her bed and box spring. She had assigned meaning to each and every little thing. They spoke to her. Each item told stories of their origins, their many travels as well as their previous owners.

Keys were her favorite. Rey fancied them the most. She would weave fascinating tales about them, stitched and sewn from the bits and pieces they provided her. She imagined what secrets they unlocked.

As an empath, Rey was highly sensitive to the feelings of others, and always cared deeply and passionately. It was a gift, really. Extremely intuitive, she possessed the ability to see things most missed. As far back as she could remember, she found hidden meanings in the simplest things.

Although many labeled her odd, quirky - bordering on eccentric - Rey learned early in life to embrace her uniqueness. Even the overwhelming loneliness, isolation, and the difficulty she experienced fitting in had all been worth it. All these things allowed her to excel in her field… to understand human nature.

She was proud of her unique view of the world and her special place in it. Rey often contemplated the notion that she now was a key.

This case was not unlike many other puzzles she had been charged to solve. She would have to put all the broken pieces of this Ben Solo together. He was, indeed, broken – Rey knew broken. It would require painstaking work, finely tuned focus and hours upon hours of observation and discernment.

Rey glanced briefly over at the 8 ½ X 11 color photo of him atop her case files. She didn’t linger. This case did represent quite the challenge. But Rey was not new to this rodeo. She was up for the task and, in fact, welcomed it.

*****

Rey shook as she woke up in bed with a start. She sat up suddenly, realizing she was soaked to the bone in a cold sweat. It was a dream.

Her mind quickly wrapped around the stark reality. It was indeed a dream. It was entirely too intense. She looked down to find her hands clutching tightly to her sheets, her nails dug deep through to the polyester spread and mattress. Slowly relaxing her grip, she swiped at her eyes stiffly.

Rey had never dreamt of one of her subjects before.

Still trembling, she stared straight ahead at the green wall, which began to slowly take shape as it came sharper into focus. Her hands slowly rose to her heart, clutching her chest, Rey tried to press away all the anxiety and discomfort.

The dream felt entirely too real -- it was overwhelming. Her hair was sopping as it clung in large ringlets to her forehead and neck. Rey rubbed an uncertain palm flat over her forehead as she released a deeply held breath. She forced herself to retain all of the images, recalling the accompanying sensations and the feelings associated with them.

He was hidden deep inside a large hole - Buried, almost.

Curious, she peered into the hole as far as she could.

Rey bent down, reached for his hands, grasped and lifted them up to help him out.

She tensed slightly but was unafraid when he reached up out of the hole and placed his big hands not in hers, but on her face,

his palms cupping and cradling her jaw.

His eyes, like dark pools she wanted to dive in, virtually drew her to him.

The entire time she feared falling in with him. For one brief moment she thought she had… she felt like she had... Fallen.

It was quiet - so harrowing, hauntingly silent.

She tried to speak, and yet was rendered mute.

Then, oddly enough, she couldn’t tell whether he was in the hole or if she was. They seemed to have switched places.

And then the hole began to slowly fill -- walls of earth suddenly collapsed, caving in,

tumbling down and completely covering them both - burying them entirely.

The damp, dark thickness of the soil felt so real -- porous, gritty. It seemed to crumble, cover and cling to her skin.

Almost paralyzing, it was all consuming, sensorial and very surreal. Her hand rose up to smooth along the hollow of her throat. Even now, wide awake, Rey swore she could still feel it… itching skin, a clammy sensation clogging her pores as if dirt clumps were still smeared and spread all over her body.

Frantically, she shook out her hair, rifling her fingers all the way through to her scalp. Rey then grabbed for the hem of her tee, yanking it off over her head and jumped up - hurriedly running to her shower, stepping right in before ever allowing the water to heat.

*****

The tinkling of brass bells on the door hinge signaled her entering the small out-of-the-way establishment. Rey stepped inside hurriedly; her eyes scanning the place. There were only a few diners seated, and no sign of Finn.

They had decided to meet at a little greasy spoon diner. It was only a little way up the road from Rey’s motel. Still a little unsettled, and smarting a bit from her dream and all its aftereffects, Rey read the sign informing patrons to seat themselves. Passing by the counter, she kept her head down while she nabbed a booth directly across from it. Rey sat facing the door so she could catch Finn the minute he entered.

She looked up to find Finn sprinting in the door and he practically slid into their booth. “Well, you certainly aren’t acting like a man who was invited to breakfast.” Rey smirked as he gave her the biggest squeeze.

“Sorry, you know me, Rey. If you’re treatin’, I’m eatin’! But – Man, I overslept, I’ve been taking all sorts of antihistamines from A to Z.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shook his head.

Barely paying him any attention, she stuttered. “Oh -- I’m so sorry, what…?”

“Allegra to Zyrtec! C’mon, Rey.” Shaking his head, he shrugged, raising his hands up above the table as if she showed a lack of commonly shared knowledge of allergy medications. “So…. Wassup with Solo? What’s your take-away so far?”

The portly waitress popped up out of thin air, her eyes darting rapidly back and forth between them. “What can I get y’all?”

“It’s entirely too soon to tell, Finn.” Rey slammed her menu shut after deciding upon something very simple. “Coffee, black, please. Scrambled eggs with cheese -- Cheddar, extra sharp, if you have any. And some hash browns. Thanks.”

“And I’ll have the BLT with lotsa mayo. Some apple sauce on the side. Coffee, too, only can you make mine -- a cream and sugar?” He handed the waitress both their menus. “Oooooo, and can I get some cranberry juice with that, too?”

Rey leaned in swiftly and added, “Oh - - Make that two cranberries, please.”

“Either of ya want grits with dat? They’re really good.” They both shook their heads. “Okay, y’all. Be back in a jiff.” She winked at them both, smiled and hustled off toward the kitchen.

“Geez -- You really look great, Rey.” Finn drank her in from head to toe, delighted to be in the company of his old friend. He was also happy to have her on board. His broad smile sparkled with the warm welcome.

“Thanks…” Modestly smoothing her hair back into her bun, she grinned, reveling in his praise and living for the compliment.

“And I’m so glad you’re finally here, Rey. Now we can really get crackin’. I’ve already started the new filings on his behalf.”

“You know I will need you to give me your thoughts on YOUR client. After the other day, I realized I just might benefit from your insights about the man. And, not your opinion of his psychosis.” She played her fingers along the edges of the flimsy place mat. “Finn, I really could use some of your perspectives, you know.” She sat poised and simply waited for his response.

Deflecting, he raised an expectant eyebrow. “And here I was asking you what d’ya think about him so far.”

“Finn…” Rey leaned into the table, not falling for it.

“Okay, okay, Rey. What d’ya really wanna know?” He sat up much closer to the table, yanking his arms out of the sleeves of his windbreaker, plunking it on the seat next to him. “I mean he’s not a huge talker. Quiet, but I can tell he’s very observant. Like he doesn’t miss a trick… you know?”

“Hmmm…” Rey listened intently, happy that Finn was finally sharing his observations.

“Well, when he’s engaged, he’s engaged, though. And I get the sense he’s smarter than he likes to let on.” Finn pressed two fingers to his lips, staring at the wall as if more of his answers could be found there. “Have you addressed the twin brother situation yet?”

She simply shook her head. Glued to his every word, Rey now moved in closer, pressing her forearms flat onto the table’s surface in front of her, fully attentive.

“Cause that’s when I get to see -- to see um… What do you guys call it? Some real ‘affect’?” Finn’s expression grew stern as he leaned across their table even nearer to her. “Talking about his brother gets him acting a little strange. Well, stranger than usual. Weird, really -- More intense-like.”

They were interrupted by a fresh, hot pot of coffee, complete with mugs, and spoons, provided by their waitress with a smile. “Cream and sugars already on y’all table, baby. And foods’ comin’ up soon.”

After staring at him intensely, picking right up where they left off, Rey frowned and shook her head in disbelief. “Intense-like??”

“Hell, I don’t know, Rey. I’m not the clinician here.” Frustrated now, Finn searched even harder for what could be helpful and continued. “Well, he gets all intense, his body language changes, his voice changes, his eyes darken, and he becomes almost … almost brittle. Yeah, brittle, like he’ll break.”

He reached out to her, extending both his arms along the outside of hers as he lightly cupped his hands at her elbows. “Not sure if that made any sense, Rey. Or if it even helps you at all…”

“It did, actually, and it truly does help. Really.” Rey slightly tilted her head, eyes warmed with her smile which rose quickly. “Thanks a lot, Finn.”

“Well -- Here’s your breakfast, folks.” Startling them, the waitress laid their plates and juice directly in front of them. “Jus’ holler if ya need anythin’ else.” She cheerfully trotted off to another booth.

While neatly folding her napkin into her lap, Rey allowed herself to simply relax. Once again in the knowledge that the two were well in step and on the same team, she was reassured that the project that lay before her was one she felt confident both she and Finn could easily tackle.

She indulged Finn’s need to say a blessing before he began to eat, apparently a new development. She imagined it was definitely a result of Jannah’s influence since moving down South. Her thoughts then drifted back to Solo.

Rey remembered their first session and how it abruptly concluded. While staring into her steaming, hot breakfast plate, she already began compiling a new strategy for their next one.

*****

The minute she entered the room, Rey was, once more, hit with the muggy thickness in the air. She made her way over to the A/C unit and gave it a healthy kick. The aging appliance sputtered, then slowly came to life. It was fast becoming more and more obvious that it was terribly temperamental and the greatest source of her frustration. But Rey did not want to call the front office and complain. She dreaded it and refused to be that guest.

Slowly, she crossed over to the bed.

Opening up an office supply store bag, Rey turned it completely upside down, dumping all the new items out onto her mattress. Laying spread out on her comforter were several boxes of colored push pins, scotch tape, post-its, and a package of colored sharpies.

She stripped off her blouse and threw on a tank top. After nabbing up all her folders filled with the case file documents, she began meticulously selecting each item one at a time to spread out onto her desk, before adding them to her new crime board.

Gradually, she stepped back, admiring her handiwork and decided to nuke her tea for the third time. After heating it in the tiny microwave, Rey sat back down at the desk and pulled out her notes on the victimology.

All the victims were professional women with no proven connection to him… Well, nothing substantiated prior to the trial. Their ages ranged from twenty-three to thirty-one. One Naval officer, a tax preparer, a hair salon owner, a hotel front desk clerk, a bank manager, and a teacher.

They were all different ethnicities, one Cuban, two African American and three white. There was little physically linking the victims aside from their hair color being either auburn or brunette.

While sipping her tea, she continued to flip through their photos once again, and had to acknowledge that they all did seem to be rather petite women. “Ah- hmm, all petite women … was exerting his dominance.”

Each of them had been found raped and killed - asphyxiated in abandoned buildings. The trace evidence, the DNA was the proverbial nail in his coffin. But no prints. Forensics had substantiated they had been held for several days. All bound, gagged and blindfolded - with ligature marks and furrows found on both their wrists and ankles. The police had withheld the information regarding the plastic bags, but they were later entered into evidence.

“Hemorrhaging around their throats…” She whispered up into the warm, stuffy air. “Lividity suggested they were all moved - posed. Ugh..” Rey clasped her hand to her mouth, shaking her head slightly, not entirely rejecting nor shocked by the notion but imagining the sheer horror. The routine of it, the ritual - he was fetishizing. Clearly. “But the plastic bags, though.” She cringed. “Sadistic.”

According to each of the victims’ families, they were also found wearing clothes that were not their own. Which was something else withheld by the department.

Toxicology reports for all six women indicated some trace opiate derivatives. Rey shook her head, recognizing the planning, the precision of process and premeditation.

All six victims were murdered within the span of two and half years. She efficiently circled the timeframe on her newly revised calendar with a bright neon pink highlighter.

Rey shook her head, gently biting into her lower lip. “Hmmm ...He apparently quit shortly after the second victim was found.” She took another slow sip of her tea, savoring it while swirling the honeyed warmth of the mint in her mouth before swallowing.

This recent revelation promptly spurred her into action. She raised one eyebrow and quickly jotted down some additional notes. Rey gave voice to each of them as they were being committed to ink.

“Let’s see — I need to ascertain the following:

*Was there any childhood trauma -- documented or undocumented?

*Were there any stressors? Must have been! But what were they? And when?

*When did his ‘twin brother’ claim first surface? Upon his arrest? In lock-up? During the trial?

*How did he choose the victims? Was it from the Superstore? Why did he stop?”

Curious, she thought. Rey tapped her pen repeatedly into the desk, and the flat hollow sound kept a steady rhythm like a metronome. “Why did he stop?”

“All evidence pointed to him manufacturing this twin brother. It would be so simple to merely say this man was delusional, but… “ She stared at the last sentence, realizing she needed to highly emphasize this. “Did he manufacture this twin brother?” According to Finn, it was going to become the linchpin, the very root of, and possibly the focal point of the whole case. So, it also had to be in her sessions.

Feeling her eyes growing heavy as she downed the last of her tea, Rey knew her exhaustion had ultimately caught up with her. She dragged her glasses off and placed them neatly on the desk.

Can’t very well over-saturate myself, Rey considered. She yawned as she finally stood stretching before clicking off the desk lamp, then heading over to her bed.

She plopped down onto the comforter and curled up into a little ball, never intending to fall fast asleep still in her clothes.

*****

Just like the first time, Rey heard the two of them way before they even entered the room. Those accursed leg irons, shackles and cuffs. Officer Typho swung the door wide open and this time, the guard offered her an easy smile and light nod. His one hand was planted firmly in the small of Ben Solo’s back as he guided him easily toward the table - directly in front of her.

Officer Typho was a relatively large man, he was thick, but healthy, perhaps just a tad paunchy with middle-age. And somehow, he seemed to pale in comparison to Solo’s taller, taut, rippling musculature and imposing physique. The contrast also spoke to a man with a military gait against one who lumbered a bit like a bear.

Solo’s strides were smooth and easy but particular. There was an energy behind them. With each step, Rey took note of how he purposely placed his large, slightly pigeon-toed feet.

Rey felt somewhat comforted knowing now what to expect. She was beginning to suspect the first session seemed far more intense because Finn had riled her up beforehand and not due to any lack of preparation on her part. This time she knew what her biggest concern would be. She had to rid herself of the last vestiges of her indelible dream. She quickly shook her head and shed what little remained.

The overhead fluorescent lights seemed to susurrate even louder than they had before.

She studied Solo. There appeared to be something different about him. It was subtle. He scuffed into the room wearing shower slippers as opposed to the laceless deck shoes he had worn before. Aside from the obvious, this time he was chewing gum exhaustively, and it was very noticeable. Each time he chewed, his jaw tightened, and his full lips pulled slowly to one side.

“Hello, Doctor.” He leaned down for Typho to secure his cuffs and shackles to the table once more. The ritual had no doubt become routine – automatic and nearly mechanical.

She cleared her throat softly. “Good afternoon, Mr. Solo.” Rey watched him take his seat, dipping her chin as she quickly snatched up her pen.

A hard crease instantly formed in the center of his brows. “Ben, ma’am, please.”

Given their first interaction, Rey admittedly was surprised, and yet still never expected his mild manner. “Okay, okay. I promise I’ll try to get better.” She grinned. “Ben.”

He matched her grin with his own. “Noticed yer not wearin’ a ring - ya not married?” He chuckled softly. “Well, now - Find dat hard ta believe.”

“I cautioned you in our first intake that you would be the focus of these sessions - Not me.” She shook her head, feigning a stern face. “But I’ll answer just this once. No, I am not married.”

“Why, thank ya. And I promise I’ll try ta git betta, too.” He winked at her, and the subtle gesture stunned her.

“Okay, okay. So, Ben, tell me, what kind of things do you read? Since being here, I’m sure you’ve been reading…” She glanced up from her notepad briefly and caught his eye.

“Not much really, ma’am. A little mail ev’ry now and then, some newspapers and a few magazines, I s’pose.” His eyes were drawn to the cameras and this time, only rested there for a moment before they came right back to her.

She began taking notes. “Hmmm… so, you never take advantage of the library here? No books at all?”

“Naw... I mean, no, ma’am.” Suddenly she discovered what else had changed about him. He had trimmed his mustache and goatee, smooth and neat, seemingly softening his features. “Somebody gimme a - a bible when I was on trial. Still in my cell. But I don’t never read it.” He shrugged.

“Hmmm…” Rey wanted to press on with her line of questioning. “Your education and transcripts suggest that you’re highly intelligent. Your grade point average, all your test scores, and SATs were most impressive. Why didn’t you go to college, Ben?” She peered curiously just slightly above her eyeglass frames.

His lips curled up at the corners. “ … Never really wanted to go.” He sat further back in his chair, lazily pushing his legs out from under him to stretch. Not entirely sure if he did it on purpose, but Ben inadvertently popped his gum.

“Alright.” Rey segued with ease. “Ben - Can you tell me why you were transferred in your sophomore year?” At that point, Rey stopped writing and looked up to engage him directly. “...from the Lamar School to Meridian High?”

Metal on metal, his shackles clanked again. He made a show of rolling the gum, pushing it to the edge of his lips with his tongue, puckering his lips. Reaching up to his mouth with both hands still cuffed, he pulled the wad of gum from his mouth and pushed it quite deliberately onto the edge of the metal table.

“It - it just wasn’t a good fit fa me.”

“How do you mean… a good fit?” Rey probed further. Noticing the never before shown signs of agitation, she watched him nervously shake his right leg, albeit a subtle bounce. Rey also observed the reappearance of that muscle spasm she likened to a nervous tick just under his left eye. The chains jangled along with him like loose change in a pants pocket.

“Well…” He sat up straight and tall in his seat. His leg ceased to shake. “My daddy decided it might be good fa’ me, and he went and convinced my mama to send me there.” His brow wrinkled as he narrowed his eyes, then seeming to drift off -- somewhere far away.

Then his attention was sharply pulled right back to her. “Turned out he was wrong, dat’s all. Kids there didn’t like me, and I didn’t like them much eitha.” For the first time, his tone became comparatively flat. It was a little jarring and off putting.

Rey, nodding, slid closer into the table as she laid her pen atop her legal pad. “Were you picked on -- at Lamar, were you bullied, Ben?”

Ben winced a bit and then rolled his shoulders. “A little, I s’pose -- my ears, my nose, my clothes -- they called me ‘trash’ and I hated it, but I hated dat school even more.”

“Hated the school…?” Hearing him make the distinction further intrigued her. Propping her elbow up on the metal table’s surface, Rey rested her chin on the raised heel of her palm. “Really? And why is that?”

“I guess cuz of what … what it represented. What it was really built on.” He shook his head defiantly and leaned back in the chair again, rather comfortable with his response. He was - in effect - proud of it.

Rey noted the slightest hint of derision in his remark, and it all began to make more sense given the google search findings she pulled up days ago with Ezra.

“Alright… Well, tell me more about your parents?” She pulled the page back on the legal pad, preparing to begin jotting notes anew.

“Your mother was a homemaker, correct?”

“My mama was a saint.” Leading with his chin, Solo tilted his head up to view the ceiling. Perhaps it was another memory obviously taking hold -- a very pleasant one. “She loved me with her whole, entire heart. Always...”

Then, Rey watched as his expression completely transformed. It faded. His face grew paler and went completely blank; It was barely readable, and for a moment, Rey was afraid that she had pushed too far and had ultimately lost him. He was totally and utterly still. His stare had fallen to his lap, evidently drawn in and fixated by his own hands seemingly trapped there.

The room quieted and stilled, suddenly stilted by the thick, crippling humidity. But Rey hung on to him -- hung on to the moment. She fought the desire to move. She forced herself to remain still and not reach up to tug at the collar of her silk shell, which now felt stifling.

His head hung low, heavy, despite those sad, amber eyes of his which rose up so slowly, crossing the table’s surface to eventually reach up to hers. They pinned her - which caught Rey quite unprepared.

“I - I miss her so much…” His deep baritone cracked beneath the apparent grief as his face dropped back into his lap once more.

“I’m sorry…” He mumbled it toward the tile floor.

Instantly, Rey felt flushed. She felt him… his grief, all his pain. She shook her head sharply, hoping to restore her competency and tamp down the emotional flood threatening to drown her.

She searched desperately for an acceptable response. Reaching for one, she grabbed it and made it useful.

“Expressing your sadness and grief is always healthy, Ben.” Awkwardly, she pushed out the words in order to bridge the gap of silence, grateful he wasn’t watching her. “We certainly can pursue it further…”

Her mind shifted. Rey returned to her dream and its subtle message. The power of the subconscious mind signaled to her. She thought for a moment that perhaps her role here was to help him dig out of the morass known as his mind. Rey found it to be an encouraging and promising notion.

So consumed with her thoughts, Rey barely even noticed Typho in the corner of the room, faltering a bit as he moved hesitantly to raise his wrist, deliberately pointing to his watch.

She took a deep labored breath, then whispered. “Unfortunately, Ben, our time is up.”

Just as Typho approached the two of them at the table to re-secure his shackles, Ben looked back up at Rey. With quite the hang dog expression, he muttered, “It’s okay, Doc. Heh, I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

Then he provided her with a weak, crooked grin.

*****

Overall, Rey was pleased with the outcome of their second session. They already seemed to have established a healthy level of trust and he was more open -- more forthcoming.

Although all and all things went well, she found the leisurely pace that Typho was escorting her was painfully irritating. Rey had waited for him quite a while to return to the lounge after walking Solo back to Death Row. It was nearly twenty-five minutes. She made good use of the time by revising and re-organizing her notes while they were still fresh in her mind.

But the wait was unnerving; she honestly didn’t like being alone in the lounge for too long.

She couldn’t get out of there soon enough. Rey began to purposely quicken their pace. Finally, they had reached the last gate before the exit, when she heard more shackles nearing them in the corridor. The familiar sound forced her eyes up from her feet to seek out the source.

There just up ahead, she saw another correctional officer escorting an inmate heading directly toward them. Her eyes were drawn to the prisoner.

The inmate was a swarthy, dark, curly haired man covered in several vibrant, colorful tattoos. He had two full sleeves and his entire neck done. Brightly colored parrots, palm trees and dancing girls all adorned his bronze skin. They were far too elaborate to have been done behind bars. Rey dragged her eyes away but knew she had stared far longer than she should. As they passed, he stared, and almost gawked at her. His large brown, almond eyes were penetrating.

He howled suggestively, then wolf whistled. His lips curled up at the edges, issuing her a leering taunt. “Hey, hey, hey there, pretty lady! You’re that shrink, right?” Then, the inmate licked his lips slowly and seductively.

Not quite certain why, Rey stopped suddenly. “Yes…” Turning to look at him squarely in the eye, Rey swallowed down every bit of her apprehensions. “Yes, I am.”

“Yo - C’mon, c’mon.” The guard nudged a baton square into the center of the inmates back. “Hey, now - - Move along, Dameron.”

The prisoner tossed his head back abruptly, jutting his strong chin in defiance. “Got your hands full with that one, don'tcha, doc? Crazy as a damn bedbug, dat boy, Solo. I hear ‘im in there -- I hear ‘im in his cell all night long talking to hisself.” A bright white toothy smile emerged and it positively shone. He was enjoying every second of her attention.

Not entirely sure why she chose to indulge him, Rey inquired. “Do you now…?”

Her response was clipped, yet curious. Rey’s ears pricked as one brow raised slightly, highly intrigued with the idea. As the other officer raised his baton, she threw up her right hand to gesture to him to desist, and the CO complied.

“Yeah, I get an earful of it almost every night, don’tcha know.” He offered a chilling mixture of a smirk and sneer. “Can give you an earful, too, dat is – if you're interested.” He started getting hurriedly pulled and dragged along by the correctional officer. Stiffening, he craned his neck, looking over his shoulder obstinately, though he steadily shuffled down the darkened corridor. “Lemme know - ya know where ta find me,” he hollered back as they turned the corner.

She and Typho continued in the opposite direction. “Yeah, that’s Dameron. Poe Dameron -- he’s on the row with Solo.” She picked up her pace, still heading toward the last gate while she played with the notion. Perhaps he could provide some useful information.

“Yeah, their cells are right next to each other.” Typho observed her closely. “Please pay him no mind, Dr. Kenobi. Poe’s been extra talkative lately -- he just got another stay last week.”

“Hmmm...” Rey reached into her bag to fish for her sunglasses as they crossed through the gate out into the much-welcomed light of day.

*****

Chapter Text

Rey drove through Meridian to find Ben’s last known address. She pulled up and found a space right in front of his old apartment. The tall, brick building on 6th Street was simple and unassuming. Something deep inside whispered to her, and Rey was convinced that she should listen to it. She believed there may be some sort of new insight gained by the visit.

Curious by nature, Rey was also hypersensitive to human nature, as well as people’s ability to imprint. These qualities combined had always made her very good at what she did. And yet, this case was steadily becoming more and more difficult for her.

Cutting off her engine, Rey promptly stepped out of her rental car while opting to tie the sleeves of her hoodie snug around her waist.

Easily recognizable, the building superintendent, Mr. Azadi met her out front of the building to let her inside. He greeted her with a rather placid smile and gestured for her to join him. Dashing up onto the front steps, Rey stopped to look up once more at the rust-colored facade wall. She stared up at it for only a beat before she followed him inside.

Rey had contacted him the day she’d rode around town with Ezra. He seemed more than willing to oblige her. Azadi was a middle-aged man, large, thick and barrel chested. He was clearly in great shape for his age with strong, broad shoulders, defined arms and the rugged hands of labor. His hair was shockingly stark white and very wavy. The blue coveralls he wore fit snug, and were all covered in dirt and dust. He smelled of wood putty, spackle and kerosene.

“Well, I’ll give ya the keys and ya can go on and take a peek on yer own.” He said, barely looking her way, simple yet polite. “Cuz I got lots ta’ do today, if dat’s alright with ya…” He turned to look down at her, wanting some confirmation.

Rey was happy with that arrangement. “That will be just fine with me.” She nodded in affirmation. “I really do appreciate you taking the time out to accommodate me, Mr. Azadi.”

He provided her with a little friendly wink. “Ryder, everybody calls me Ryder, ma’am.” He held up the keys, waiting for her to offer an open hand.

She complied, then he plopped them in her palm as he pointed up the stairwell. “It’s 2D, on the left.”

“Thank you, uh - Ryder.” She watched as he shrugged and headed down the basement steps.

The place was now vacant once again, but had been rented out several times since the trial… since he had lived there. Rey knew, although there were many new stories piled on top, Ben’s story was still lying there just beneath.

She climbed the stairs carefully. The creaking floorboards were muffled by the ratty, threadbare carpeting. Rey reached the landing, found the apartment easily and unlocked the door.

Upon entering, Rey walked leisurely from room to room, hoping to unearth something useful. A furnished apartment, it was quite modest. Grateful for having been alone, Rey opened all the cabinets and closet doors. She took a moment to peer out both his tiny kitchen and his living room windows. She imagined him doing the very same over six years ago… wanting to capture his perspective of the world.

Once she drew the blinds, fine dust particles glimmered and sparkled like glitter confetti as they danced in the warm light of the sun.

Rey ran her hands lightly along all of the surfaces of the living room. She rarely had a plan and yet, heavily relied on her method. Repeating the same exercise with the bathroom sink and kitchen counter as she continued to circle through, Rey felt little from the place. It was a relatively mediocre apartment in a very mediocre building. Her first impression was - How could such a large man live in such a small place? She wondered.

But actually, she wasn’t sensing anything. Aside from her utter revulsion toward the odd, plum-colored paint and the abhorrent pink floral wallpaper in the bathroom, nothing was notable at all.

She finally wandered into the bedroom. Rey purposely stood in the center of the room and simply closed her eyes, while opening herself up to receive and allowing her consciousness to expand. She immediately discerned an overwhelming and profound loneliness. There was a very old, ancient feeling, and it was icy cold and chilling. It clearly had dated back to the six years he inhabited the space. The loneliness was accompanied by an even deeper despair. Unaware that she had even moved, Rey found her hands pressed soundly to her chest. With a slight shudder, Rey’s eyes shot open.

She was well acquainted with that level of sadness. Making the decision to file away the all too familiar feeling, she ambled over to the closet. Rey reached out to touch the door frame. Tracing her fingers slowly along the wood grain, she persisted by pushing her palm flush to the frame’s surface.

Ben lived here. She could certainly feel him. It was faint, but very present. There was such an eerie sense of knowing this, too, was also where he had finally been arrested.

Determined, she left the bedroom and headed to the front door. Ryder had also given her his key to the basement storage space Ben had at the time. Rey was very drawn to it. She walked the three flights down to explore further. She was thoroughly convinced that there had to be something else - something very telling.

The minute Rey’s feet hit the cement flooring, she began searching all the cage-like enclosures for the one with the same apartment number on it. She finally spied the storage space marked 2D.

“He never seemed ta keep much down here.” Rey jumped -- Ryder startled her as he approached, stopping right behind her, just over her left shoulder. “Photo albums, wall posters, comic books, some action figures, old cds, papers, and stuff like gat.” He reached up, placing a muscular arm high above her head, gripping the chain-link of the storage unit. “But whatever was in there back then, police went-n-took it all.”

Finally, her nerves settled, she swallowed and nodded. “Oh -- Oh, okay. Thank you.”

“But I do recall there was some kinda note dat had ‘em all riled up back then. And it turned out they couldn’t use it as evidence, though. Well, dat’s if I remember right.” He continued on his way, heading toward the fuse boxes, leaving Rey frozen in thought.

As she made her way back to the rental car, Rey made a quick mental note to ask Finn and Ezra for the arresting officers' contact information. She hopped in and started the engine. She took another glance up at the apartment building while snapping her seat belt closed and secure.

This trip was not a total loss. She thought. Perhaps this note may pan out something beyond useful.

On her drive back to the motel, Rey decided to save her new request of Finn and Ezra for their meeting at his office the next day.

*****

After grabbing up all the documents stacked on the edge of his desk, Finn shoved them in his binder, walked over toward the chair with his briefcase on it, then stopped and turned to her. “Anything else…?”

“Oh, yeah. The inmate Dameron, I need to get an interview with him. He’s on the Row with Solo. They’re right next to each other. He told me he hears Ben late at night talking to himself and - I don’t know - it may be worth pursuing.” Rey scratched a thin line through the last item on her list. “I don’t know, maybe I should shake that tree just to see what falls out.” She finally pulled her gaze from the pad to look at him.

Finn’s lips parted slowly and he stared blankly at her.

“Can you get approval from Deputy Warden Peavey for me to meet with him?” She tried to hide her excitement and failed. The possibility of gaining a very different perspective, and more valuable information from another source was not only useful, but Rey secretly found it to be intriguing.

Puzzled, Finn stared at her strangely, wrinkling an eyebrow, surprised she was unaware. “Didn’t you know? Thought you may have already heard. Dameron…? Well, guess maybe you didn’t. He was found dead in his cell this morning. They think it was a seizure of some kind… an autopsy is pending.”

“What??” Like being doused with ice cold water, a sizable tremor jolted straight up the base of Rey’s neck. Although she couldn’t believe it, she attempted to make sense of it, to put the pieces together as if it were some sort of riddle. Her highly suspicious mind tumbled and turned with the idea that this belied something much deeper.

She started in on Finn with an intensity, as well as volume she never anticipated nor meant. “Finn, don’t you find that very odd? Have you already spoken with Deputy Warden Peavey about it?”

“No, Rey. Why? Should I…?” Finn chewed on his bottom lip, worrying it mindlessly. “There was nothing suspicious about it. After all, he was found dead alone in his cell.”

Rey made no excuses for her total perplexity. “Hmmm… Well, had he ever suffered from seizures before? I mean, was he prone? Past brain trauma? Epileptic...?”

“I don’t know, Rey. I don’t know. Where are you going with all this?” Slightly irritated, Finn rubbed the back of his neck, his tell-tale defense mechanism.

“I don’t know.” Rey finally conceded. “I don’t know, Finn. I’m sorry.”

She opted to move on and chose to pursue her other pressing matter. “So, what’s the deal with the police finding a note at his arrest, and why wasn’t it admissible?” Rey folded her arms and began patting an impatient foot on the floor.

“Not much there with that, Rey. Kind of a dead end. Well -- aside from the handwriting samples ruled him out, Solo wasn’t a match. Prosecutor never pursued it, and the defense dropped the ball.”

“Will you at least get me the arresting officers and anyone else left at the department who worked the case? Canady and - and, ah - I forgot the other one.”

“It was Detective Kanan Jarrus. Sure. I’m on it.”

*****

Unsure if it was the sweltering heat that fueled her agitation, Rey was unbelievably restless.

She paced the floor of her motel room, consciously avoiding the crime scene photos and images of the victims. Nervously padding about in her bare feet on the hideously ugly green carpet, she ruthlessly gnawed and tore at the cuticle of her thumb with her teeth. Frustrated at the recurrence of the embarrassing habit, she quickly buried her hands in the hem of her oversized tee, twining her fingers through the fabric.

Rey stopped and stood absolutely still. Something wasn’t quite right; it was not making much sense to her. None of it was making any sense. She desperately needed answers -- Rey always did.

A small, steady stream of perspiration ran down her temples and fell just past the line of her jaw.

She fought to find his words in her head once again. The ones that seemed to prick not only her curiosity, but that had set her mind reeling. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping to block out all the noise -- the constant chatter and static drumming out all her reason and logic in her brain.

Then it struck her like a bolt of lightning. Rey sprang over to her desk and retrieved the discs from their first two sessions. She scrambled over to the equipment case, fumbling as she slid her legal pads full of notes off the desks surface right onto her chair. After she hurriedly placed the disc inside the drive in her laptop, she sucked in a sharp breath loaded with anticipation.

She bit hard into her lip while she mashed the fast forward button. Her eyes widened once she pressed pause and then pushed play. After brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, Rey hunched over her laptop’s monitor.

“He found me.” His voice rumbled through her and seemed to rub into her skin like lotion. Rey rewound it, adjusted the volume and played it over. “He found me.”

She felt a sudden chill as it swept the room. Her stomach flipped, and Rey forced herself to delve into it even further.

She pressed fast forward again, and this time let it run for a few seconds. Rey moved her chair much closer to the desk and plopped into it right on top of the files. She pushed play. “I never hurt any of them women.” Rey swallowed hard, watching him carefully, recalling the moment with such clarity she felt as if she was right there once again in the room with him.

“Ya have to believe me, Dr. Kenobi.” She pressed pause hard, this time narrowing her eyes, focusing intently on his.

His eyes were so dark, and yet, very vivid, sharp and clear. They belied a haunting quality she could not even begin to fathom. Grateful he stared straight at her and not into the camera, Rey sighed. She realized for the first time that there was something else lying there… in those eyes. Something else that only now revealed itself. It lay almost hidden and now was so painfully obvious. There, in his eyes lay an undeniable sincerity -- honesty.

She gasped and abruptly reached up to shut her laptop closed. Her heart pounded. Stunned by the discovery, Rey pushed away from the desk. Once she stood up, she let her eyes roam the small room.

The revelation offered no real answers for her. It merely presented more questions. What if it’s no figment -- no delusion? What if the brother is real? She remained optimistic; it was always in her nature to be optimistic.

Rey rested her hands firmly on her hips with resolve. “I’ve gotta call Finn -- He and Ezra must find and substantiate his birth records.”

*****

She retrieved a small travel pack of Kleenex from her bag, pinching the corners of the plastic to open it, and rushing to pull out two pieces.

“So, Ben – When we last met, we stopped before we had a chance to further discuss your father.”

Then, Rey fluffed the tissues with a flick of her wrist, then removed her glasses. “Tell me more about him, Ben.” Bringing her frames close to her lips, she blew out a puff of warm air out onto her lenses prior to wiping and rubbing them clean.

Ben watched her demonstration with great interest. Leaning to the left, his long hair bounced, shifted, and fell loosely just above his shoulder. Captivated, he allowed his eyes to travel down to her lips and let them stay there. He slowly licked his own and seemed riveted by hers. She missed absolutely nothing. Once he began to speak, Rey replaced her glasses, pushing them fully to the bridge of her nose.

“Well -- Him and me, we neva got along, honestly.” Clearing his throat, Ben eventually met her gaze. “We fought a lot – it started when I was a teenager.” The recollection found him while he nodded.

She tapped her pen lightly upon her pad. “Hmm…” Her head softly tilted to the side. “... was never physically abusive?”

He shook his head.

“You fought about what exactly? Anything in particular?”

“Everythin', basically. Mmm-hmm.” He said it flatly while watching Rey jot down her notes.

“Can you be a little more specific?” Pointedly, Rey never once looked up from her notes.

Ben glanced over his shoulder to find Typho, who was stationed in the corner, unaware and unfazed. Turning back to her, he spoke slowly and deliberately. “He never cared much for any of my friends. He wanted me to stay at Lamar – I didn’t. He always wanted me to go to college -- I didn’t. Then, he wanted me to join the Navy -- and I didn’t.”

Finally, looking up from her legal pad, Rey dropped her pen. “How was it for you growing up being an only child?”

He bristled a bit while biting his lower lip. “Lonely, I s’pose…” He seemed puzzled by her line of questioning and more puzzled by her manner. “Guess dat’s just the nature of it.”

Upon further scrutiny, Rey noticed him wringing his hands in his lap. The sheer size of them was hard to ignore. She blinked slowly, attempting not to focus entirely, but the span of his long, thick fingers and wide palms was simply staggering. Rey went somewhere very sexual instantly, and the accompanying visual was startling and most unnerving. Then her mind took her to a dark place. Those very same hands could have quite easily abducted and wrapped plastic bags over the heads of his alleged victims without any difficulty whatsoever.

The last image was a shocking one - and rather than be haunted by it, Rey shook off the disturbing notion. Her gaze shot back up to his eyes. Strangely, the warmth she found there was so contradicting, dispelling some of her doubts and was quickly accompanied by another feeling. It was wildly erotic, and it forced Rey to blink hard once more.

She swallowed thickly and pressed on. “Have many childhood friends? Many pets?” She crossed her legs as she interlaced her fingers, resting them just on top of her knee.

“A few kids in my neighborhood - wouldn’t rightly say ‘many’, though. We all grew up together. And I did have a dawg once… practically begged my mama for him.” He grinned. “Butchie, heh - I named him Butchie.”

Not wanting to ruin the ease with which he had begun to share, Rey sat silently, hoping he’d offer more but not wanting to prod.

“He wuz a good dawg.” She jotted more notes.

“Growing up, did your parents frequent church? Would you consider your household a religious one?” She flipped the page of her pad to a new fresh one as his pet remembrance slowly faded.

Ben sighed and raked his fingers through his dark hair, spurring the loud sound of clatter from his handcuffs. “I dunno - My mama was a God-fearing woman. My daddy …not so much. We all used ta go church some when I was small. Sunday school and all dat. But then we stopped when I got older.”

“Oh, and my uncle, Luke, was a pastor. My mama’s twin brother. Wasn’t always, but he became one afta a while. Ya know… much lata in life.”

“Ah.” After letting the pen run wild with her observations, Rey was aware she needed to switch gears and hoped for a smooth transition. “During our first session, you made mention that you were ‘paying for his sins’. I was wondering what the significance was? Sins?”

He blinked so slowly, time literally dragged and it appeared to be trance-like. “Hmmm – Ya can’t keep throwin’ stones and hidin’ yer hands.” Ben leaned into the table slowly. “Sooner or lata we all have ta be held accountable.” He glanced over at one of the cameras. “That’s a fact, and dat ain’t even in the bible.”

His eyes darkened. She was seeing that for the first time… Something sinister. It was only for an instant and then it was gone. Rey was also puzzled by his use of what she deemed a folksy, backwater proverb. Uncertain of its meaning, she jotted down a note to pursue it further and examine and research each of them another time.

“So, Ben — Did you ever have any imaginary friends as a child?” She tilted her head slightly to one side, watching him carefully. “Ever hear voices, Ben?”

Solo grasped his right wrist tightly, forcing his cuffs to rattle metal again. He watched as he twisted it, then flexed a fist, and then sharply shook his head. “No, Ma’am.”

“Do you know if any of your family members suffered from mental illness?”

He considered her question. “Wasn’t neva round him much, but I heard tell my Grandpa Ani did.” He relaxed again and eased his shoulders back into his seat. “Mama used ta call ‘im eccentric, but daddy always said his roof wasn’t nailed too tight. Heh-heh.”

The smile his memory elicited displayed the deepest dimples. Rey realized that she had never seen them before either. Something fluttered lightly deep inside her chest.

Her vibrating cell phone hummed, breaking the moment, skittering beneath her blazer in the seat beside her. Gazing down, Rey recognized the Meridian Police Department phone number immediately. “Excuse me. So sorry for the interruption but I absolutely must take this.” She leapt from her seat, heading straight for the door and exiting out into the hallway.

“Yes. This is Dr. Rey Kenobi.”

*****

Rey stiffly walked back inside the lounge and gave Officer Typho a nod. She turned toward Ben as she took her seat once more. “So sorry for the interruption, but that was, well -- well, that was unavoidable. I simply had to take it.”

Her gaze shifted to find him fidgeting in his chair. Rey slid her legs beneath the table, not quite remembering where they left off. “You’re such a big man, Ben -- did you ever play any sports?” She rattled off quickly.

Strangely, his eyes roamed around the room as if suddenly bored with her. “Little league baseball, but wuz only for a lil’ while.” Something had definitely changed, she thought. It was his demeanor. Perhaps this is some form of rebellion, in response to the phone call interruption.

“Okay -- okay.” She rifled through her notes, a little unnerved. Rey suspected she had lost not only her momentum, her rhythm, but also her place. “Never married? And no girlfriends…?”

“Naw, ma’am.” He shook his head and lowered his eyes. Then, Ben sat up suddenly, pulling his chains taut, as if having some epiphany. As if there were an afterthought he needed to tag on. “I mean, I’m a normal healthy, red-blooded, American man. Like I dated off and on, but no one… real serious.”

She began to regret taking this route. For a split second, Rey supposed he may have felt slighted in some way. Afterall, she had never interrupted their sessions before. But she dismissed the thought altogether.

He chuckled coolly and casually. “And lotsa women write ta me, Doc.” In what may have been considered boastful, he offered a devilish grin and gestured behind him with a hanging thumb pointed toward the door. “I got tons o’ letters in my cell right now.” He licked his lips in a way which seemed like taunting to her. “From women all over, too… not jus’ from around here.”

Well, this was rather new, she thought. Rey was happy to hear him offer something unsolicited, but she started to find it irritating… not demeaning in any way, she just found it very irritating. And she wasn’t entirely sure why.

“Uh, it sounds as though having women writing to you in here is something that you’re very proud of? Am I mistaken?” She was starting to believe he was baiting her.

“No, Ma’am, I wouldn’t exactly say I’m ‘proud’ of it, but it always feels good ta know someone is thinkin’ about ya. Wouldn’t ya say…?” His eyes were pinning her now as if he were playing chicken and Ben was waiting for her to flinch.

He leaned back in his chair, licking his lips again slowly and intentionally. “I mean some of ‘em have lotsa weird ideas ‘bout who I am, and some are just plain misguided is all. Writing to and fantasizing about some man dat they read was a rapist and a murderer. Sendin’ me pictures. Askin’ me to send them some o’ me. Tellin’ me about the things they wanna do ta me. The things they want me ta do ta them.” He huffed.

Ben shook his head. “I mean, who does that?” His face scrunched up, almost grimacing from disgust at the very thought. “And I don’t even answer hardly any of ‘em. But -- but it still feels kinda good. Feelin’ like someone might care about ya. Dontcha think, Doc?” He grinned again, playfully this time. Rey was beginning to get very annoyed. If he was trying to bait her, he had succeeded.

“I suppose I could agree.” Feeling the lump newly formed in her throat, she swallowed. Rey simply had to nip this in the bud. It had completely gotten away from her. “I think we’re going to have to wrap things up here today… That call earlier was a confirmation for an important meeting for later this afternoon.”

“Sure thang, Doc.” Slouching, Ben slid back comfortably flush in his seat, hands cupped low in his crotch. He grinned at her again, wide and toothy. “Like I told ya before -- I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

After waiting for Typho to escort him, Rey let out a huge exhale while she quickly pressed redial. “Hello, is this Detective Jarrus? Hi, this is Dr. Kenobi again. Thank you, for squeezing me in. I’ll be there in less than forty minutes.”

*****

Finn was on top of the follow up, and Rey was grateful he had secured the meeting. She was surprised he was able to put it together as soon as he did, and that they were available. Apparently, only one of the arresting officers was still on the force, and he had since made senior detective. She was terribly anxious to meet with him.

For the last two days, the words of Ryder Azadi echoed in her mind constantly. That note may offer some more insight. Rey had a sense that it would be far more critical to the case than she originally thought, and would also provide another deeper layer inside the man.

She was pleased to find out the Meridian Police Department wasn’t that far from Solo’s apartment building. Rey drove straight there from the prison. It took her less than the forty minutes she thought she’d need.

Once inside, she spoke with two uniformed officers at the desk, one placing a quick call, then promptly escorting her to the homicide division offices. After she was led into Detective Kanan Jarrus’ office, the tall, handsome bearded gentleman stood to greet her warmly, shaking her hand and offering her a seat.

“Dr. Kenobi, this is my partner, Detective Tico.” He smiled, taking his seat and attempted to clear his messy desk a bit. Jarrus had an easy manner and appeared to be rather open and approachable. What struck Rey most was his piercing aquamarine eyes.

His counterpart pulled out another chair and joined them around his desk. The younger detective was strikingly beautiful, very toned - the epitome of fitness. Her crisp, white button down, navy slacks and blazer - All spit polished and shining with a great deal of attention paid to image in every detail. She was very put together, and Rey literally could smell the ambition.

Rey politely nodded to his partner and shook her hand. “Detective Tico.”

“Dr. Kenobi.”

“Just so you know, Paige, here, is not all that familiar with the case, but I wanted her to join us, nonetheless.”

Tico smirked. “Oh, I did my homework.”

“Sure, sure. I have no problem with that at all.” Rey perched her handbag on her lap and fished out her glasses. “I only had a few questions in addition to my request to see the note.”

“Ah, the infamous note.” Easily reaching atop one of his file cabinets, Detective Jarrus drew an old tagged and marked, clear plastic evidence bag from his inbox, dropping it squarely in the center of his desk. “Boy, do I remember this.” He rubbed the scruff of his neck while he shook his head, obviously recounting much more about the particular experience than the note.

“I can imagine. So, I was informed that you and your former partner, Canady, found it in the storage locker in the basement of Solo’s building. And it was during the arrest, am I correct?” Rey’s eyes were drawn to it. The paper had yellowed already with age inside the plastic, which also showed its age as well. She found it hard to believe it had only been six years ago.

“Yes - we found mostly junk down there and at the time… well, we thought that this would have yielded far more. Thought it might have turned the investigation. But -- nope, it didn’t.”

Her fingers itched. She wanted to hold it in her hands; Rey eagerly wanted to read it. “Why, exactly...?”

Kanan picked up the piece of evidence between two of his long, slender fingers and held it up eye-level. “Just so happened - it turned out that the handwriting analysis expert we used back then had cleared him. Solo wasn’t a match. But of course, that was before the DNA came back.”

“Prints?” Rey almost whispered.

Kanan nodded effortlessly. “None - was clean.”

Rey’s eyes followed the note in his hands. She was drawn to it – like the moth to the flame. She leaned in over his desk slightly and let her arm drift up and over toward the note. With her hand hovering, she reached up, spread her fingers apart to capture it. “Ahem…. May I?”

Easily, Kanan released it from his grasp. “Sure.”

Intrigued, they both watched as Rey carefully pulled the plastic casing closer to view it. She pushed her glasses further up onto her nose. She inhaled deeply before she turned the page right side up, opened it and pulled it free.

The moment her hands made actual contact with the paper, she sensed great pain, but mostly anger. She glanced up at the two of them. Suddenly very self-conscious, Rey swallowed as she began to read it.

Have you ever wanted someone to be totally dependent upon you?

Do you know what it feels like to fully own someone?

Have their very life and death be completely and totally up to you and you alone?

Have their fate in the palm of your hands?

Ever wanted to have total and utter control?

To have them absolutely worship you?

Want to just truly dominate them?

Own them and break them down?

To be able to strip them entirely of who they are?

Well, now that kind of power --- It feels real good

It was terribly chilling. Holding it alone seemed to singe her fingertips. As the paper fluttered, Rey pushed it down hard onto the desk, desperately trying to conceal her shaking hands.

Shivers literally ran up her spine while she read it. Her brows knit hard halfway through the text, and they never quite seemed to relax. As the words bore into her mind, she swore she felt the author’s icy fingers clawing at her very consciousness. Reminded of the great pain imprinted in the note, she quickly returned it to the evidence bag, shoving it back toward Jarrus, relieved to be rid of it.

Realizing the two detectives were awaiting her response, Rey cleared her throat, and spoke very slowly, decisively.

“This was the work of, not only a misogynist and narcissist, but clearly that of a psychopath and sadist.” Being the dispassionate clinician came back so easily to her. What Rey, the woman, not the criminologist -- not the forensic psychologist, not even the empath, what she really wanted to say was that the handwriting analysis was correct.

Ben could not have possibly written this.

Rey quickly switched gears. “I am a little curious, Detective Jarrus, what were your first impressions of the suspect?” Rey asked him, hoping for an honest assessment. His take on Solo would mean a great deal - if in fact it was a genuine one.

Kanan inched up much closer to his desk, leaned on his elbows, steepling his fingers. “The accused and the convicted, ya mean…?” His face grew stern and he, too, cleared his throat pointedly to emphasize his statement.

“My apologies -- but during your very first encounter, was he not a suspect then?” Rey slightly tilted her head to the side while she awaited his answer.

Detective Tico attempted to hide a slight grin while she turned deliberately to Jarrus, very interested in her partner’s response.

“Honestly, Solo seemed rather withdrawn, reserved, almost… timid. Had to stop Canady from roughing him up, though. And if I didn’t know better I’d even say he was contrite, but distant. Very distant. That was then, though.”

Rey realized it was the first time his former partner was mentioned.“Back then… yes, of course. Well, what were your thoughts during the trial then, if I may ask?” She dug a little deeper, not entirely sure what she was searching for.

“Guess they didn’t really change a whole lot. Not until his testimony anyway.” Jarrus stiffened as he smoothed his fingers slowly through his beard. “This isn’t for your report, is it, Dr. Kenobi?”

“No, it’s not. My report is nearly complete, and its findings are based solely on my impressions and observations of Solo, I can assure you. Not those of others.” Rey nodded, knowing she must tread lightly. She already knew this path was most inappropriate.

Kanan stood finally and turned away to stare out of his small office window. “Well, all of his assertions about his brother committing the rapes and murders … was, um, well it was, if it wasn’t ridiculous it might’ve been compelling. But the trace, the semen put him there. It definitely put him there. Put him there for all six of them.”

Glued to his every word, Paige Tico suddenly shifted in her seat. She crossed her legs, perched one elbow on her knee and her chin in her cupped palm.

“...And should he be granted this appellant hearing, what would be your testimony?” Rey went one small step further.

“Hmmm…” Shaken from his mild preoccupation, he turned back to Rey, stroking his beard once more. “Hell, I’m just gonna say that we got the right man... Simple.”

*****

Again, Rey couldn’t sleep. It was nearly one-thirty in the morning. Between finding the fated note and his last session - which completely got away from her - she was tormenting herself. Rey reminded herself that she was to be unraveling the man’s psyche, not proving his innocence.

She lay awake across the bed, continuously poring over the original trial transcripts for the hundredth time. Unable to identify the source of her anxiety, Rey was flushed with the stuffy, steamy condition of her room. Although it was terribly muggy outside, Rey had eventually given in to opening her windows.

Not quite certain what it was she was searching for, she tore through all of the motions, and decided to focus on the exhibits. In lieu of the note, she thought perhaps there were other missed opportunities on which the defense failed to capitalize.

Attached to the defense team’s exhibits, oddly enough, there were more photos of Solo throughout all his years of growing up -- from childhood straight through to what appeared to be a staff picnic for the SuperStore where he was last employed. She leafed through each of them. Rey’s fingers landed on his old high school yearbook photo. She stared deeply at it as she brought it up closer, pressing her frames back to her face.

Rey immediately noticed that very same grin from their session earlier. It was unmistakable. His dark mop of much shorter hair seemed to accentuate his large ears and nose. There was that sprinkling of moles and beauty marks all along his almost cherubin face. In it, she saw the gangly awkwardness of the teenager. His eyes, however, contained several layers - all the many contradictions. Rey was drawn in totally. His eyes were much brighter than they were now. An innocence, a modesty, and a naivete about him spoke to her. There was also a whisper of his adolescent discontent. And yet, she saw a void, a hidden depth … a darkness.

It intrigued her. Rey literally tore herself away. She had to be careful not to peer too deeply into the abyss. More importantly, like her dream, she had to be careful not to fall in.

*****

Ben sat in his cell with elbows dug firmly into his knees. He rolled his chin across his fists, fingers tightly entwined, deep in thought. “Man - you really messed up. Ya know dat…?”

He huffed. “I shuldn’t a been messin’ wit her like dat. Dat was just plain ol’ mean.”

“All this time --- all this time in here I neva wanted to git comfortable.” He shook his head. “But now with these sessions with her …” He tisked. Lifting his long legs up onto his cot, Ben turned over onto his side. “These sessions have reminded me dat I have… I have gotten mighty comfortable in here.”

With his face pressed into his pillow and the wall, he sighed deeply, wondering what this would all mean for him now. Suddenly restless and feeling uncomfortable, he rolled over onto his back and simply stared up at the many cracks in the walls. One hand reached up to run across his beard, smoothing over it gently as he rolled his jaw.

Ben sighed deeply and stared up at nothing. As if his eyes followed the invisible breaths reaching up to the ceiling.

“But she and Finn keep tryin’ to gimme hope fa somethin’ I have no right ta hope fer.” He snorted at the thought as he drew his large hands up, lacing his fingers, tucking them behind his head. “Lawd knows, I don’t rightly deserve it.”

He slammed his eyes shut. “Cuz I - I don’t!”

With the quickness of a cold shiver, Ben’s whole body stiffened and then gradually, muscle by muscle, he easily relaxed. He lifted his knees up, digging his heels into the thin mattress pad of his cot. “But then here she comes, all bright-eyed and beautiful… so beautiful.” He barely chuckled as he blew out a long, held breath.

“Givin’ me a chance to maybe what? Have another trial? Git off da Row …? Hell, git outa here fa good? Pfft …” He rolled back over onto his side, wrapping his arms around his chest. Ben planted his jaw firmly into his pillow, facing the wall.

“Dayum -- And they think I’m the crazy one.”

*****

Chapter Text

This time they all met in Finn’s office. As Rey walked in, she took her favorite place, casually posted up against his large window facing both he and Ezra, who were already huddled over tons of paperwork, steadily leafing through the most recent filings.

“Afternoon, gentlemen.” She flung her bag in the chair beside her, garnering their attention. Watching her best friend having a horrendous sneezing fit almost had Rey break out in laughter. He wildly rummaged through his desk, drawer after drawer, looking for another box of tissue.

Upon finding one, he quickly dragged out a handful and blew his nose with such a force, then mumbled a few congested apologies.

“Hey, Rey, good news! We just pulled Judge Bail Organa! He’s already reviewing the case. And, man -- we could not be any luckier.” Finn stood up from his desk, panning between both her and Ezra.

“Plus, he’s known for being one of the few down here in Mississippi, for supporting anti-capital cases and ruling in favor of dismissals and re-trials.”

“Sweet, huh?” Grinning, Ezra chimed in, nodding.

Leaning into the windowsill, Rey let her hands fall at her side.

“Sounds very promising. Good, that’s good. Well, I also unearthed something of use to you as well.” She issued a smug grin, purposely leaving them in a moment of suspense.

Both men turned to her, attentively offering their ears.

“Looks as though there was an important piece of evidence that the prosecution blatantly refused to share with Solo’s defense team at the original trial.” She raised an eyebrow. “Never followed the rule of discovery.”

The two men stared at each other in shock. Surprised and encouraged, Finn pushed two fingers to his temple. “Aah - The note?”

“Yes, Detective Jarrus shared the findings of the State’s handwriting expert with me. Both that and scanned copies of the note were just emailed to you both by his partner, Detective Tico.” She folded her arms across her chest triumphantly.

“Great news, thanks, Rey.” Finn waltzed right over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “We will positively rock Pava with this.”

“Awesome. It’ll be sweet taking down Pava, The Destroyer!” Ezra added, “That is great, Rey!”

“Oh, and just so you know, I have three more sessions with Solo, then I’ll be getting right on his diagnosis and final report for my testimony.”

“Ooooo, Rey - So glad you said that. Thanks.” Ezra bent down to scoop up his backpack and began digging inside it. “Wanted you both to know that I started the process of tracking down those birth records for you. And you might be onto something, Rey. Apparently, Ben wasn’t even born in Meridian.”

Rey felt her heart begin to race, and hoped it wasn’t visible. She swallowed and subtly tamped down her sudden nervous energy.

Finally, Ezra produced his cell and started scrolling. “So, I’m still chipping away at it, and gonna start tracking down some more leads in Memphis, ya know ---where his mother’s from originally.”

Finn and Rey quickly turned to one another. “Right - that’s right.” They responded simultaneously.

Ezra, nodding enthusiastically, opened up a text to scan it. “Yeah -- Turned out her sister-in-law, Mara Jade, who was Solo’s only aunt, just recently died. But I finally put my fingers on her daughter.”

It was clear Ezra anticipated the new lead would pan out some more valuable information. His enthusiasm and eagerness were infectious. Rey and Finn were hopeful and excited to have the update.

Ezra shot a lopsided grin their way, turning his palms up. “Well, we are gonna find out sure enough.”

Finn pounded a fist to his palm. “Good. Guys, looks like we’re right on target.”

*****

A different CO escorted her this afternoon. Rey arrived at the lounge relatively early this time. The officer stayed with her while she double checked her camera equipment and made quick work of setting up the table. Rey sat down and had a few moments to focus and compose herself.

She played the last session over and over in her mind, determined to avoid any more of his little traps. Rey had no intentions of stepping in one again this time. She stared mindlessly up at the fluorescent lights buzzing in the ceiling. Then she heard them approaching. The escort CO, who obviously heard them as well, promptly turned to leave.

Solo and Typho entered the room. Ben began speaking the very second Typho had secured his shackles to the table.

“Hey, I’m awful sorry ‘bout da way I acted the last time.” He hung his head as he placed his clasped, shackled hands firmly between his legs. “Dr. Kenobi, I really do owe ya an apology fa my bad behavior durin’ our session.”

She crossed her legs, propping up the pad and pen in her lap that she normally kept on the table. “That’s quite alright, Ben. I understand.” She wanted to dismiss it and quickly move on.

“No, no seriously -- goin’ on like I did. About those women’s letters... It just - it just wasn’t right.” Ben sat up, lifting his chin slowly to face her. He carried a glint in his eyes that read both hopeful and even a little childlike.

His sincerity was rather touching, and Rey acknowledged it with a nod and warm smile. “I appreciate your willingness to apologize, Ben. And I thank you for your honesty and your sentiment.” Realizing his eyes never left hers, Rey noticed his intense stare, as well as his manner, which grew sterner, beleaguered.

“Had lotsa time to think on it, and I realized something, Dr. Kenobi. When ya asked about me havin’ imaginary friends growin’ up and all... I finally realized that ya didn’t believe me.” He swallowed. “I asked you to believe me the first time we met. I never knew all this time dat - dat ya really didn’t.” Once more his chin fell to his chest, seemingly studying his hands in his lap.

Rey felt crushed. What he had perceived to be betrayal, Rey felt vindicated by her own unfailing sense of professional objectivity and impartiality. A part of her wanted to explain that to him. She really wanted to apologize. But she did neither.

Ben blinked almost in slow motion, turned to look at Officer Typho just over his shoulder, then back to Rey. “Guess I was just a lil’ hurt by it and a lil’ angry, is all.” He shrugged his shoulders and bit into the corner of his lower lip.

“I understand, Ben. I do.” Rey tucked her pen to the back of her bun, securing it there. Offering her assurance in hopes he would be more at ease and forthcoming. “Shall we press on?”

He barely nodded.

“So, throughout our past sessions, Ben, you’ve given me the impression that you had a very strained relationship with your father. Were you ever able to resolve things before his death?”

“Naw, I mean - no ma’am, not really.” He scoffed. “Never got along even up until the day he died.”

“Hmmm …” Barely nodding, she silently encouraged him to continue.

“While he was away… well, deployed when I was lil’, I used ta sit on the porch waitin' for him ta come home.” He smirked. “Officers Candidate School changed things -- Mama kept sayin’ everything would be different when he started teaching. She told me he’d be home more.”

He winced and instantly, a frown appeared like a wave as it rushed across his brow and forehead. “Things changed, aight. He was home even less than when he was assigned or shipped out.”

Rey clung to his every word, keenly attuned to the hurt abandonment could bring, she was convinced this would be a critical issue.

He ground his teeth, working his jaw. “That’s when things got worse.” Ben lowered his head deep into the center of his chest, while his hair fell loosely into his face, his voice lowered to a mumbled whisper.

Leaning in, Rey had to strain to hear him from across the table.

“Nothing I did was eva good enough. When I told him dat I wouldn’t go ta college, he yelled and screamed fer days. When he wasn’t fussin’ and arguin’ with me, he was fussin’ and arguin’ with her. And afta I told him I didn’t wanna join the Navy, he wouldn’t even speak ta me fa nearly a month.”

She watched as his right leg began to shake, subtly at first, and then it bounced with more speed and greater intensity. She took note of the rise in his level of anxiety.

Rey probed. “Well, what do you believe was the root of your difficulty?”

“Mama always said it. Shucks - she said it all the time. She was right in da end. And it was pritty plain ta see.” His leg stopped, as his head rose up slowly, face tilted slightly, with clear, caramel eyes peering through a parted curtain of dark waves. “... I was neva like him. He didn’t understand me and neva really wanted ta even try.”

Although she appeared stoic and unmoved, Rey felt her heart sink a little.

“Would you like to take a break now? I mean, we - we can… Take a break.”

He bit hard into his lower lip and shook his hair back from his face. “Naw. I - I, uh - sorry. No, Ma’am.”

“Okay, then, I suppose we can move on.” She managed a tight-lipped semblance of a polite, yet timid smile.

Rey nabbed her pen from her hair while turning to a fresh page of her legal pad and tucking it under mindfully. “I understand your mother was the only one who supported you at trial. How did that make you feel?”

“Well --My daddy was already dead by then. I like ta think, well, hoped dat he woulda been there if he wasn’t. But I thank God everyday he didn’t live to see me git arrested and accused of all those murders.” He swallowed hard and slow, before he dragged a cuffed hand over his forehead. “And -- well, my momma told me from the very beginning dat she would always be there fer me… Always.”

“And she was… she was.” His eyes fell hard into his lap. Rey sat motionless and most observant, forcing herself not to probe further or interrupt him. She watched as he seemed to struggle with something which only he knew the gravity of.

“Well, dat’s all. I - I just, I just wish she might’ve been spared all dat… it kinda crushed her, ya know…?” He sighed, then finally looked up to find Rey still captive, poised and being supportive.

Rey dispensed with her legal pad and pen while carefully crossing her legs. She nodded in affirmation, then moved closer to the table separating them.

“Now, Ben, I have to ask you about your twin brother again. You don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable. But, in our very first session, you mentioned that he found you. What exactly did you mean by it?”

Ben stared straight at her for a moment. “He - uh, he sorta … Well, he wrote ta’ me.”

Then Rey saw something she hadn’t seen since their second session. There it was, just under his left eye. What she once dismissed as a muscle spasm -- she saw his eye, once again, jump like it was a nervous tick.

He frowned then firmly set his jaw, suggesting a hardened resolve. “When I was working at the SuperStore, he wrote me dat… dat he was my real brutha. That he’d been lookin’ fa me and dat he finally found me.” A fine sheen of perspiration surfaced and spread clear across his upper lip.

A part of Rey wanted to leap to her feet and shut off the video cameras. She was shocked by the thought the second it entered her mind. But resisting that inclination, she fought hard to sit stock still and not move a muscle.

Battling within himself, a pained look came over his face. Ben struggled to continue, knowing there might just be freedom from the things that plagued him once he simply let go -- once he took a risk and shared them with her.

“He told me dat my momma and daddy had always lied ta me.” Ben slammed his eyes shut tight. “That they’d been lyin’ ta me -- My whole damn life!”

She began to tremble. “Did you write him back, Ben? Ben - - did you ever write him back?” Rey raked her eyes from his face and back down at the table. Not even remembering picking up her pen, she watched as it dug deeply into the page of her legal pad, boring a small blue hole. Nervously, she gripped it tightly as it ripped and tore the unsuspecting yellow paper before forcing herself to stop.

Oblivious to her unease, he tucked his chin into his left shoulder, glanced briefly in Officer Typho’s direction, then steadily turned back toward her, sucking in a deep breath through his teeth. “No ma’am. I did not.”

Rey needed to pursue it. “Ben, please, you must tell me… Who is he? What’s his name, Ben?”

“I cain’t…” Both resigned and agitated, his tone was deceptively even, steady. “I cain’t.”

“Why not, Ben?”

“I - I - I just, just cain’t.” He began shaking his head back and forth, stammering with all the anguish flooding him. His lips pressed firmly in his denial.

Rey watched him carefully as he finally slumped back into his chair, pressing his large hands into the cold metal of the table.

“Alright, Ben -- it’s alright.” Certain of the part she played in escalating him, now she needed to dial it back. Calmly, Rey continued, “We’ll revisit this another time then. But I had to push you just now because I needed to see it. I needed you to see it.”

Unsure, his gaze slowly rose up and met hers, questioning.

“Have you ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?” She blinked away her uncertainty and all her apprehensions.

Slowly, Ben shook his head, his eyes glossed over, watery as they searched hers.

Rey dug deeply into her valise and quickly retrieved a pamphlet. “I cannot be an effective advocate for you if you’re not honest with me, Ben.” She pushed it tentatively across the table to him. Rey wanted to offer him some assurance… something tangible. She leaned further into the table and rested her hand lightly atop his.

The acknowledgement rolled across his face. It was the first time she had actually touched him. She felt her breath catch, then stutter in her chest. Rey pressed her fingers gently to the back of his hand. His warmth surprised and overwhelmed her. “I’ll need you to read this.”

As if he were about to speak, Ben’s full lips formed an “o”, and they instantly grabbed her attention. Rey wanted to stop staring, but they seamlessly drew her in. He parted them slightly and his bottom one quivered, barely imperceptible. With the dark hair of his mustache, and soft whiskers of his goatee framing their plush, pink smoothness, they almost appeared to pull her in. Unknowingly, he slid his tongue out to lick them and the simple motion broke the spell.

“We’ll stop here for today. Okay…?” Lifting a light eyebrow, Rey promptly returned her hand to the edge of her legal pad.

Ben swallowed hard and had to practically push out his words. “Sure - sure, sure.” His shoulders slumped in what seemed like slow motion. “Welp, like I said before … I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

*****

After she shut down all the video equipment, and swiped out the discs, Rey waited patiently for her officer escort.

A new, fresh face popped into the doorway. Her handbag was already slung over her shoulder, and she quickly snatched up her valise and bolted out into the hall to accompany him.

Once they rounded the bend, she easily made out Solo and Typho down the hall, waiting to gain access through their gate leading to the D section of Death Row. His hulking mass was quite obvious, and rather impressive even at that distance.

At a glance, she saw the two men standing there patiently waiting for a guard at the gate to trigger the locking mechanisms to allow them access.

Rey was certain she was unseen as she and her new escort headed down the hall in the opposite direction. She rushed to gulp down the lump forged in her throat.

The new young CO was clearly not talkative, and Rey was actually grateful for it. She began to imagine the last few yards of Ben and Typho’s walk before they finally reached his cell. She envisioned Typho finally removing his shackles and cuffs for the day.

Rey took a deep, even breath through her nose.

Her eyes fluttered closed on their own for but a second. Then, she felt the immense freedom his wrists and ankles must have experienced, all too happy to be unburdened by the cold, unforgiving iron and steel.

Continuing down the gray, winding corridor, she heard the steady even patter of her own footsteps begin to echo and blend with the metal on metal drag from his cell door slowly grinding open before him. It all became so clear to her… so real.

With the last gate before the prison entrance coming into view, and her eyes now fully open, Rey could even visualize each wall of his cell. Every personal item was now clearly revealed to her.

She supposed that there was a photo of his mother and that Bible he’d spoken of resting on the shelf right next to his fan mail.

As the very last gate clanked open to allow in the natural sunlight that awaited her, Rey imagined Ben seated comfortably on his tiny bunk, and walking outside made her breathe in deeply once more.

Snapped back into reality, she pulled on her sunglasses and headed toward her car with that last image permanently embedded.

*****

She had ordered a fried chicken wing basket with lots of fries from a nearby carry-out. On her first day there, Ezra had circled it for her on the list of nearby local eating establishments.

It was really very good. And the salt, seasonings and very light, crispy crunch made it truly addictive… bite after every delicious bite. Rey was totally surprised she ate all eight wings and was still licking her fingers long after it was all gone. She made a mental note to try ordering something else from there another night very soon.

She sat on the floor going over all her notes again. Normally, Rey would devise a system and address each and every scenario for trial. She lowered her head in aggravation, feeling a bit off kilter.

She spied a few greasy smudges on the margins of her paperwork, and despite needing to wash her hands, she decided to give her fingers another good licking. While she dragged her last digit, her pinky, across her lips and tongue, she saw herself in the large mirror on the hotel bathroom door.

When Rey caught a glimpse of the image, she smoothed her fingers slowly over her lips, and all that came to mind were the plush, plump lips of her client and how they would feel against hers.

Startled by her phone ringing, Rey was relieved to slough off the fantasy. It was Finn.

“Hello.”

“Evening, Rey.” He sounded chipper. “Things progressing well with our favorite inmate?”

Rey took a beat. “Yes. Matter of fact, we’ve made quite a bit of headway in the last session.” Still shaking off the image of Ben, specifically his full lips, and quelling them from her brain, Rey blinked. “How about you…?” Not sure what, if any, new information she was willing to share.

Finn chuckled. “You know me – Filing, filing and more filing. Chipping away at it, though. The wheels down here turn slowly, Rey. But I’m enthusiastic.”

“Cool, cool.” She listened carefully to every inhale and exhale of her friend on the other line. The pause awkwardly grew.

He sighed slowly as she heard his television turn on. “Well - - I just wanted to check in. I didn’t want us to schedule something as formal as daily updates, but - but, I hope ya know you can touch base as often as ya like.”

“No doubt, Finn. As things materialize, I’m certain I will. You got it. I will keep you in the loop. I always like bouncing things off you.”

The sound of incessant clicking from channel surfing in the background seemed much louder. “Well, have a good night, Rey.”

“You, too, Finn.” She smiled. “Night.”

*****

After she made a meager effort to tidy up her room, Rey finally took Amilyn’s suggestion to take a bath for the first time since her arrival. All the quick showers had failed to fill her prescribed self-care.

Soaking in lavender turned out to be the best thing to soothe almost all of her tension. She lazed in the tiny motel tub until the water grew tepid and her skin became all pruney.

The relief was merely temporary. Only two hours later, lying awake in her bed, restless and unable to sleep, her agitation returned. Rey’s head was a veritable whirlpool filled with all the newly obtained information, insights, and the heavy responsibility heaped on her for penning this final report. She couldn’t write it now even if she tried. Rey wasn’t able to focus… and a rare thing that was.

She stretched out over her bed wearing only boxers and a torn, sleeveless Alanis Morrisette tee shirt.

Aware of the pressure, anxiety and tension weighing heavily on her, she was convinced that she seriously needed to take the edge off.

After purposely leaving her little toys back home, thinking there’d be no need, she found herself regretting it now. Despondent, but not entirely dispirited, she fell back onto her pillows, all comfy and just listened to her steady breathing. She pulled her right knee up slowly and planted the sole of her foot firmly into the forgiving mattress. Her body cried out to her.

Rey knew she just had to soothe the aching need. She wanted to relieve the sexual tension -- Like a trickle, an unwelcomed and welcomed name barely whispered in her brain, Ben.

She ignored it, slamming her eyes shut tightly and burrowing both hands in her boxers. A sigh escaped when she smoothed her palms along the insides of thighs, parting them slowly. She dived down deeper and found her familiar, welcoming warmth and wetness. Her fingers skimmed up then down her slit. Rey’s fantasy life had always been a rich one. She let herself go with pure improvisation, and imagined that her hands were much larger as she plied her lips apart. Applying the delicious pressure that she knew, loved and craved.

Urgently, Rey raised a lone finger to her lips, licking and sucking it damp, drenched and dripping. Swept away by the urgency and intense need, her desire began to completely consume her.

Wedging her hand back down inside, she felt the slight tug of her elastic waistband inch slowly down her hips. The smooth pad of her moist index finger found its target. Letting it strum her clit playfully at first, she relaxed into her own hand, gradually sliding down further along her bedspread. Light swipes grew in intensity, causing her to moan softly in the privacy of her shabby little Mississippi motel room.

Stroking herself now, Rey began to whine out louder into the humid air that hung heavy, cloaking the atmosphere. She quickened, then slowed her rhythm, not wanting to cum too soon… prolonging the inevitable bliss and teasing herself in anticipation.

Rey’s skin was alight with a current, coursing with tiny bursts like electrical surges. Her high-pitched whines began to give way to whimpers, and those whimpers soon became low moans.

She began to pick up the pace, leaving wet swirls on the very tip of her glistening pearl while dipping a slick coated fingertip just inside her entrance. Her lips parted ever so slightly. Chasing her release, returning to the tiny circles she drew lightly over her sensitive clit, Rey increased the pressure and her insistent rhythm - wanting and needing release. Bringing her left hand up to cup her breast, she massaged it, then squeezed the nipple tight, pulling it taught.

Rey whined when she felt the pressure coiling and coiling inside her tummy, completely lost to it. Bracing herself, baring down and digging both feet hard onto the mattress, she tried to resist the urge to bury two, maybe, three fingers deep inside.

In her mind, and in that very moment, her hands were no longer hers -- they were much larger, hotter, heavy and demanding. They were strong, wide hands with thicker, rugged fingers. Rey clenched around them in her mind. Pressing up inside her -- deeper and deeper.

The new invasion caused her hips to cant, and she reveled in her rich fantasy as well as the mind numbing sensations. Panting out harsh broken breaths, her moaning grew even louder, not caring about others’ hearing, about the motel - nothing but her one goal. Rey desperately needed to cum.

Her heart drummed in her chest as her fingers became a blur, focused… Driven.

In an attempt to heighten her fantasy, her waking wet dream, Rey imagined the biggest, hardest dick. Replacing her fingers, initially pushing through her entrance slowly inch by inch. He then plunged in and out of her mercilessly, pummeling and pounding her repeatedly, with long, hard searing strokes. Her hips instantly rose up to meet his every thrust. Raging, reckless, and rough... Stretching her, filling her fully, endlessly.

His!

With the tell-tale tingling in all her limbs and a sudden snap - her orgasm caught her completely off-guard. Intensely ravaging throughout every nerve in her entire body, it rocked her. Her breath caught, as her whole chest and abdomen rippled with the waves of tiny spasms.

Trembling, Rey shot straight up in her bed as her stomach contracted, forcing her eyes to open wide. There, taped on the wall, next to her mirror, amid her crime board, her stare shot to the large color photo of Ben Solo.

Shocked into submission, she could only blink, confronted with the all too frightening truth. She had just fantasized about Ben. Guilty or not, he was a convicted felon, rapist and murderer. Her client... and the subject of her latest profile.

She had never done that before. Never. Instantly, she was riddled with guilt, shame and yet, the pure pleasure seemed to supersede everything, coupled with a very strangely satisfying exhilaration. And it alone had instantly wiped away all the guilt.

A quieting calm fell over her as she watched her heaving chest finally settle. Then, Rey rolled over, shut her eyes again and buried her face into her waiting pillows.

*****

Chapter Text

Finn practically tumbled into the door, immediately tearing away his tie and coming out of his jacket.

“Good news… Jannah is gonna be able to cover my Alabama case for now, so I can concentrate fully on Solo.” He looked down at her shorts and then right back to her face. “She can handle it. Only a few more motions and I can apply for the stay of execution.” He flung his jacket over her chair.

Rey was feeling a little self-conscious and began to tug at their hem. His eyes followed her hands.

“Bottom line, I’m hoping she’ll be able to get back up here if Ben’s granted a hearing date before the appellate court.”

Rey smirked as she leaned effortlessly against the dresser. “If...? You mean, when he's granted the hearing date…” She nodded in effort to bolster his confidence.

“When.” Finn issued a solid nod in return. He caved after checking out her shorts once again. “Rey, are those men's boxers?” Raising one hard brow, he leaned back to size her up fully.

“Yes…” Rey sat on the edge of the bed, playfully kicking her feet out.

“I’m really concerned about you - What’s wrong, Rey? Seriously --- Wassup?”

She deadpanned. “Sooo… My boxers have you worried about me?”

Obviously flustered, Finn rattled on. “No, Rey! It’s just that you haven’t wanted to hang out at all, you’ve been holed up in this joint, as much as you complain about it, been sort of tight-lipped and not your usual, bubbly, effervescent self! Really – Are you alright? It’s not this case, is it?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” She grew tired of his prodding. Suddenly, it felt intrusive. “And no, it is not the case.”

He bent down from the waist to meet her face to face on the edge of the bed. “Is it Solo?” Finn squinted. “Cause you kinda tripped out about Dameron last week – and the M.E. came back with the autopsy, by the way, and it was legit - a brain seizure. Ezra heard rumors that he caught a 'bad cook'. A batch of that homemade prison dope.”

She rushed to turn away then stood up in a blatant attempt to avoid him. “No, Finn, I’m alright, really.” Rey smiled, reached up and smashed her palm flat to his nose. “Really.”

“Well, do you wanna go grab a drink?” He switched gears in an attempt to shake her loose.

“No, thanks. I’ve got plenty more work to do; it’s time to start putting the report together. I’ll pass.”

“Awww… Gonna make a brother drink all alone, huh?” Finn swiped his suit jacket from off the chair and slowly started for her door.

Inching his way out of her room, “Talk to you tomorrow, then. Wait --- Is it session six already?” With one foot already outside, he stopped short.

Rey rolled her eyes in mock disgust. “No, Finn, this is five coming up.”

He grinned wide. “Oh, okay, okay -- well, talk to ya tomorrow then.”

She followed him out onto the motel lot barefoot and watched as he headed over to his car.

“Hey, Finn!” She yelled after him. Seeing him turn to face her, Rey couldn’t resist a final rib. “Dude, next time, you know I’m gonna need a much better hotel. Right?”

He chuckled, “Yeah, right!” Finn held up his right fist, clutching the collar of his suit jacket. “On a very tight budget, babe.” He chuckled some more as he disarmed his alarm and jumped in his car.

With her hand pressed softly to her door frame, and her cheek pushed to the back of her hand, Rey watched as Finn pulled off into the hot, muggy Mississippi night.

*****

“I just keep digging and digging and digging, Am… And I really don’t know what’s the obstacle here .”

“Oh…?” Amilyn interjected for the first time.

“So, I have already eliminated Narcissistic and Histrionic from my list of personality disorders. I will just have to press on and keep plugging. I don’t know, Amilyn, Ben is such a contradiction. And I keep thinking there’s something else - there’s just got to be something that I’m missing here.“

Rey’s thoughts drifted off along with her last few words. Then, a prolonged silence followed, and Rey heard the rustling sounds of Amilyn repositioning herself through the phone.

“Go on, Rey… you were saying?”

“But - but I do believe we’re making some headway. It appears there has been some real progress made. Ben is starting to truly open up to me. There’s apparently lots of abandonment. He clearly has begun to trust me, though. And that’s just shy of miraculous, Am.”

Calmly, as was always her way, she spoke with clarity and purpose. “May I make an observation, Rey?” Amilyn took a beat. “All throughout this conversation, you’ve referred to the inmate as Ben. All of our nightly talks these past few weeks, he was the ‘subject’. Has something changed? Did anything happen that you’re not telling me?”

There was another lengthy pause, and the only thing that could be heard were the sounds of their light breaths in each other's ears.

“No! No, nothing has actually...” She suddenly stopped dead, mid-sentence, realizing there was no hiding from her very wise and most perceptive mentor. Amilyn knew her too well, she was keenly observant, and highly skilled in their shared profession. She sighed with a level of acceptance. “Honestly, Amilyn, I am not entirely sure… But I may have lost my objectivity here. And I think I’m losing my footing on this case.”

Rey sighed again, feeling a slight twinge, it was vulnerability and the stirrings of fear of an imminent, crushing defeat.

“Tread lightly, my dear, and remember what your role is here. Your defined role. Remind yourself that you have a job to do. And if you feel your professionalism has been compromised in any way, tell Finn, please -- you know you can always pull out.” Amilyn sipped her wine slowly and thoughtfully.

Listening intently, Rey shut her eyes.

“Yes, I know. You’re right.” As she closed his case file, Rey looked out onto the Mississippi Delta night sky through partially drawn drapes, and pushed away from the desk in her tiny motel room. Then, Rey decided instead to search the ceiling for the answers that she knew could only be found in her heart.

Amilyn wrapped the call simply, “Rey, I want to hear from you tomorrow. Promise me. Sleep well, sweetheart.”

Rey lightly whispered as she ended the call. “Promise…”

*****

Ben hadn’t even realized that he’d fallen asleep. He sat up erect on his bunk, noticing he still wore his clothes. It was a dream… he had awakened from an intense dream. He tried to recall every detail.

He stood in an open field , eyes lifted upward studying the darkened sky. Storm clouds twisted and pulled in every direction into a formed funnel.

Long legs pumping furiously, pounding the mud beneath him, he ran and ran. He dashed through the ragged screen door, half off its hinges, entering an old vacant cottage.

There she was, standing in the very center of the room waiting for him. Rey. Beautifully brazen, bare, naked and exposed… for him.

He ran to her and threw his arms around her fully. They held onto one another. The house rattled, creaking as the wind roared all around them. First the shingles, then the windows and doors were all suddenly ripped away.

He couldn’t remember stripping, but was now naked as well and pressed hard against her beautiful, flawless svelte body. Desirously aching for her and her for him, they each trembled, though brave and undaunted as the roof was finally torn from the very structure.

Clinging to each other, they both looked up to stare into the darkness of the eye, the vortex.

And then he woke up. Ben was completely shaken. His body electric, every nerve alight.

He stood quickly, walking off his erection. Ben hunched over his tiny stainless-steel sink, carefully cupping his hands under the cool, rushing water before splashing some smack full to his face. He sighed low in his chest while patting his towel from his brow to his hairline. He slowly dragged it down to his chin, rubbing gently before folding and draping it over the back of the basin. Determined to avoid the lonely eyes looking back at him in the mirror, he slammed them shut and hurriedly turned away. After he headed over to his cot, Ben scuffed off his MDC issued slippers, and plopped down hard with a huff.

It was increasingly warm, uncomfortably warm and very muggy. The humidity had climbed unbelievably high all day and he still felt the vestiges. Sadly, it was one of the curses of having solid concrete walls. Comfort was never an option in prison, but this was the type of night that clearly called for boxers and being shirtless. Ben nodded to himself with the acknowledgement.

Tugging his shirt off took no time and little effort. He tossed it on the foot of his bunk.

Haphazardly, he attempted to fluff up his one pillow despite all its futility. It was pitifully worn flat, and it always had been. He then reclined back onto his cot, first lacing his fingers behind his head for some added support.

Ben stared up at the unforgiving ceiling of his cell just as he had for many, many nights. Things were so much quieter now on the Row without Dameron. Admittedly, Ben preferred it that way. His eyes shifted aimlessly around the tiny cell and finally fell onto his pile of letters he’d been collecting on his small shelf. His fan mail.

He chuckled to himself.

Instantly, his thoughts drifted to his last encounter with his lovely young psychologist. With Her. Ben had begun to truly look forward to his sessions with Dr. Kenobi. The very notion, the thought, gradually pushed a deeper smile to form on his full lips.

He had not been that close to a woman in a very long time. Not a real woman. Parchment had no female guards. There were a few women working in the infirmary. Occasionally, he might see one in the commissary. But they were always either lesbians, quite crude or frankly forgettable. And they were always behind a damn metal grate.

But to have the sheer treat... the luxury of sitting directly across from a real woman – literally face to face – close enough to smell her and even touch her. Let alone such a smart, beautiful woman like her.

The way she crossed her lovely long legs, the way her hazel eyes invaded, the cute little habit she had of tucking her pen in her bun. The way she truly listened to him with interest was so comforting.

He knew he was lonesome, but by merely being in her presence made him realize that his days might just have meaning once more. For the first time since his trial, Ben tried hard to hold onto some semblance of hope.

“She really does care ‘bout me – I know it, but then why does she go and gimme dat ta read.” His eyes shot to the pamphlet clear across his cell on the floor. It still lay there crumpled where he had tossed it earlier. He scoffed.

She thinks he’s a… what’d they call it? An ‘alter’? Pffftt. Wish I could tell ‘er how wrong she is and jus’ how much I hate ‘im.”

“She still don’t believe me. That’s why she give dat ta me.” His quiet, soft whispers surrounded him almost like a cloud of steam from a hot shower. “Hell, I don’t even care anymore.”

“Lights Out!!”

His eyes desperately searched into the darkness, a vast nothingness. Lying there wide awake in the near pitch black, with only the softest, faint green distant glow emanating from the guards’ station, Ben shifted his massive frame onto his side. He pulled his knees and feet up, drawing them further onto the flimsy mattress of his too small cot and cradled his head over clasped hands.

“For the past six years, I told myself I deserved ta be here. That I deserve ta die.” Ben blinked. “But now -- with e'vry one of her questions, I gits more and more angry, hateful… more resentful. Wishin’ I neva met 'im. Wishin’ I neva listened ta 'im. Hatin’ dat I’m so scared of ‘im. And what did it all git me? Only landed me in here.”

He wished he hated him more than he feared him.

His grimace steadily, slowly transformed into an effortless smile.

“And then … outa nowheres, here comes the lovely Dr. Kenobi.” He sighed deeply, his rib cage expanding and contracting gradually. “Rey… her first name -- her given name is Rey.” Ben rocked gently with the notion. He let the imaginings, the memory of her soft touch and scent waft through his cell and soothe him.

“She’s such a darn cutie pie…” With a sly grin, he watched as his invisible words climbed up to the darkened ceiling.

He imagined her there in his cell seated in front of him. Her arms were neatly folded on the table, with a pen pressed to her pad while she pushed her glasses further up onto her nose.

Seeking more comfort and some semblance of solace, Ben brought his arms across his bare chest, wrapping his palms snug about his shoulders. “Now, she’s gone and changed everythin’… Everythin’.”

He blinked heavily. The vision of her quickly evaporated like mist.

“But why -- why won’t she b'lieve me?” He finally rolled over and nestled his face firmly into his useless pillow. “Really do wish she b'lieved me.”

He mumbled softly, slamming his heavy eyelids shut, wanting a sound sleep to find him and wishing for the new day to come quickly.

*****

After making a final, tiny adjustment to the video camera lenses, Rey comfortably took her seat. She started to drum her fingers lightly over her legal pad after placing it directly in front of her. Not entirely sure why she was feeling so anxious, she breathed in and out evenly to settle her nerves.

As Rey sat in the quiet lounge waiting, she felt something was missing. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Her attention was then immediately drawn to the fluorescent lights in the ceiling. The annoying sound was what was missing. There were new bulbs. She acknowledged with a slight nod that the prison maintenance staff had plainly replaced them. No more incessant buzzing, thank goodness, she thought to herself. Just then, Rey heard their approach.

She stared intently as Typho secured his cuffs and shackles per usual. Rey felt her pulse race the moment Solo pushed his large hands up onto the polished metal table. His thick fingers spread wide, spanning quite the space across the shiny, silvery surface. Rey momentarily froze, totally captivated. A vermillion heat swept her cheeks as if she was certain that he was aware of her pleasurable, stress-relieving activities the night before. Her vivid sexual fantasy.

Her eyes shot right back to his, nervously. But Ben was completely oblivious and seemingly elsewhere.

“Ben... Ben.” Rey attempted to grab his attention, to get him to focus, to bring him back from his daydreaming.

Snatched away from his reverie, Ben responded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Did you read the information I shared last session?”

“Yes, ma’am, I did.”

“Any thoughts…?”

“No, ma’am.”

Finding him hard to read and unsure of his current mood, she pressed on. “Do you remember the two police officers that arrested you?” Rey did, however, notice Ben was distant this time and she seemed to be abundantly aware of his attempt to contain his nervous energy. It literally poured off of him. In an attempt to hide it, he sat there forcing himself to be immobile with his elbows dug in, weighing down hard into his knees.

Proceeding, Rey pushed. “Detectives Jarrus and ...?” She wanted to attribute all his worry to the recently obtained good news about his pending hearing. She was certain Finn shared it with him.

First, he side-eyed her, then peered just over her left shoulder at the cameras. “Yeah, I remember dem’.” His gaze found the floor once more. “Especially the older cop. Pushed up and leaned on me pritty hard.”

“... Detective Canady.” Rey nodded. Her quirked eyebrow grabbed his attention.

Ben appeared unnerved by the very sound of his name. His voice deepened. “Yeah -- Him.” His lip curled up into a sneer. “Back then, I thought he was gonna take me for a long ride to a drainage ditch somewheres ‘stead of goin’ to the station.”

The added information tested her resolve. “According to their reports and later testimony, they were both under the impression that you made up your twin brother. They said you never even mentioned him at your arrest or even your first interrogation for that matter.” She scanned every inch of him for any type of response. But Ben simply sat there stone faced.

“You had to have known this. How does hearing it again now make you feel, Ben?”

He shook his head repeatedly causing his hair to shift lightly around his large ears, dusting his shoulders. “Dunno what to tell ya. Dunno what ya wanna hear, Doc.” He tisked, disinterested at first, then furrowed his brow. Ben spoke with more heightened intensity and volume. “Aaah -- But I did tell ‘em, though! I don’t much rememba’ when… or which time!” He shouted as his bottom lip began to tremble. He started to choke up, then quickly turned to look over his shoulder to gauge Officer Typho.

Shocked by the display, Rey had never before heard him so much as raise his voice.

“It was crazy. It was jus' all crazy! I couldn’t, I - I just couldn’t take it. Accusin' me… ova and ova! Tellin' me how much I must hate women. Yellin’ and screamin' at me! Showin’ me all those horrible – awful pictures! Callin' me insane! Callin' me a monster!! Was the worst day in my whole fuckin’ entire life!!” He hung his head low, furiously worrying his bottom lip, still terribly tense.

With flared nostrils, Ben gritted his teeth. “S-sorry - pardon my French.” He huffed.

“Okay, Ben, okay. I do understand that. And I’m so sorry. I can’t begin to imagine how traumatic it all must’ve been for you.” Slowly removing her glasses by the hinge and holding them up while placing her elbow squarely on the table in front of her, she leaned in closer to him. “I really need you to work with me though, Ben. It’s very important that you remember the best you can. Okay?”

Seemingly still surly, he slowly nodded. Rey pressed further. “There was a note found in your basement storage unit… Do you remember that?”

“Yessss…” Ben hissed, while slowly rearing his head and once again becoming fully engaged.

Realizing she had regained his attention, Rey continued. “When did you receive it?”

“Can’t remember when exactly…”

“Who sent it, Ben?”

Ben spat out quickly, “It was from Him.”

“Why? Why would anyone send something like that to you? What else had the two of you discussed?”

Ben stifled a cough while bringing his cupped hands up to his mouth. The movement summoned the old familiar sound of his clattering chains that Rey had recognized she had almost forgotten. “He tried to convince me ta join 'im. Wanted me ta do dat sick twisted shit, too. But I - I wouldn’t.” He sneered, tossing the words from his mouth like he wanted to be rid of them.

Rey knew she had to pursue this to the very end. “Ben, you had to have known how disturbing that note was. The writer was clearly responsible for the rapes and murders of those women?”

“I - I know. I know.” Ben grimaced as he panted heavily. “But ya see, he - he wusn’t what I… he wusn’t who I thought he wuz. He wuz mean spirited and hateful. Rawboned ta the core. Jus’ evil!”

”Who, Ben?” Rey tried interrupting but he pressed on, talking over her. “Who?”

“I hated what he was doing.” He cocked his head, face flushed pink and pinched with pain. “And I couldn’t. I couldn’t stop ‘im. And I really tried, but I couldn’t.”

Rey saw in his eyes that they were threatening to tear. Sniffling, he held them at bay, teetering at the edge of his dark, lower lashes. He fought them back tirelessly, although the pain and anguish pushed hard against his chest, rattling inside his rib cage.

She chose to coax him gently.

“Whoever wrote this is truly disturbed. You must know that, Ben. And they desperately need professional help, and we must find them… We have to find them.” Imploring, Rey’s eyes flooded with the supplication of the ever dutiful psychologist.

“I know, Dr. Kenobi, I know. He’s jus’ plain no good.” He issued, barely over a whisper. “But I - but I promised…”

“Promised what? What did you promise him?” She held her breath, hoping.

Ben mumbled, barely audible. “It was da only way…”

She wondered why she continued playing this game with him -- this charade. “Promised what? To help him? To write him back? Did you ever keep any of his other correspondence?”

Squinting, he recoiled, then tilted his head slightly to the side as he studied her earnestly. It was almost as if he found the question ridiculous. “Keep ‘em? Write ‘im back? No way, Doc, I ain't crazy.” Then he turned toward Typho, gesturing to him with two fingers to his lips.

The guard dutifully pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket as he walked over to the two of them. Tapping one out, he placed one in Ben's hand. As he brought it to his lips, Typho leaned down after retrieving his lighter, cupping his hands to light it for him. Then he returned to his assigned spot up against the wall.

A sudden stillness fell in the lounge. Rey was certain she hadn’t experienced it before. While she watched the rising curls of smoke waft up toward the ceiling, Ben sat back comfortably in his chair and simply stared at her. Rey sensed a breakthrough.

“I didn’t know you smoked, Ben.” Rey found it interesting that he would indulge now. “Never saw you do it until now.” He’s a stress smoker, she thought.

He squinted at her with a rather perplexed expression. “Oh, I’m sorry. Guess I shuda asked ya first. Does it offend ya, Doc…?”

“No, no – not at all, Ben. Please, be my guest.” Issuing a silent surrender, Rey watched as more columns of smoke flowed free from his flared nostrils.

Yes, she thought, yes, a breakthrough, indeed.

*****

Rey sat in the surprisingly comfortable and very polished and shiny office awaiting the meeting. Finn had warned her although he regretted not being able to have it with them. Confidently, Rey had assured him and reminded him that she was tough and could handle whatever Pava might throw her way.

The hard-boiled State Prosecutor, Jessika Pava, the “Destroyer”, had earned her well-deserved nickname given to her by many local defense attorneys. And Finn was no exception. She had apparently nailed several defendants to the virtual wall and was known for taking no prisoners. Pava had earned the reputation of being ruthless. It seemed capital cases had become her specialty and Finn indicated to Rey that the woman seemed to truly love her work.

Rey had waited in her office long enough to observe, assess and put the young prosecutor in a perfect, little, designer bag. Her desk was littered with several photos from exotic vacations. Every award she had ever been given in life was framed and displayed above her low bookcase. The dark wood paneling, plastered with garish, yet uninspired artwork told her plenty. Indeed, she was an approval seeking, overachiever, clearly. A big fish in a small pond.

She entered her office door at breakneck, barreling in and right away started talking. “Hi, Dr. Kenobi, my apologies for the wait. Thought this time was more doable than it turned out to be.” She crossed over to the sideboard and snagged a bottle of water, turned around to Rey.

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.” Rey wrapped the strap of her handbag over the back of her chair. Crossing her legs at the ankles, she smoothed the hem of her skirt.

“Sure, sure. Not a problem. Say, can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? There’s some herbal tea next door, I can get for ya.” Pava stood poised with outstretched arms and upturned palms, awaiting any request from Rey.

“No thank you. Much appreciate it, but we should get right down to discussing the matters at hand.”

“Granted. You know, I like that. And I like you, Kenobi. You’re a woman after my own heart.” She winked and sauntered behind her desk to finally take her seat. “Right down to it. Shall we? That’s the way I prefer it, too.” Pava unscrewed the cap of her Dasani and took a breath and a hefty swig.

She leaned across her desk, offering Rey her hand. They both shook. “Call me, Jessika, please.”

“Certainly.”

“Anxious to know your findings and of course, once the videotapes of your sessions with Solo are entered into evidence, my office will review them as well. You understand -- Discovery and all.” Pava pushed away from her desk, crossing her long legs. “I’m certain Finn Bowen made that clear.”

Rey grinned while adjusting her glasses. “Yes, but of course. And he needn’t. I was already aware. Not exactly my first time.”

“Of course, of course.”

“I will have both the tapes and my final report to you as soon as it’s completed.” Finding her a bit much, Rey complied, because she knew the routine all too well. Intimidation was definitely the goal.

“Look, I’m gonna take a risk here.” Pava leaned in over her desk, planting her elbows and tightly lacing her fingers. “You know and I know this isn’t about Ben Solo being criminally insane, it’s all about Finn Bowen keeping a needle out of his damn arm.” She nodded trying to not glance down at her cell. “And Finn sure loves to do that - but as his friend, I’m certain you already were aware of that fact.”

Clearing her throat, Rey figured out a way to maneuver through this well laid minefield. “My comments on that matter are not necessary.” Her blood began to burn in her veins, yet Rey remained calm and reserved. “Nor will I engage in a debate about it.”

“Solo is as good as dead and buried! You do understand that, don’t you?” Jessika smirked. “All of my reviews of the transcripts have only confirmed my belief that the first verdict was a damn good one. The issue surrounding the psych eval is an empty one, and I intend to prove it.” Pava stared at Rey, eyes laser sharp.

“The State’s case is airtight, Dr.Kenobi.”

“I’m positive that you believe that it is.” Rey’s take on this fire-breathing, ball-buster was not left open to interpretation. It was rather obvious Pava was no daisy and she made it abundantly clear that she cared little if the first trial was solid or not, or if Ben was guilty or not. Rey thought had they been on the same side of the table, perhaps she would enjoy working with her. Especially considering that more often than not, Rey usually was on Jessika’s side of the table. As a criminologist and forensic psychologist, Rey spent most of her professional life testifying on behalf of the prosecution. She knew that realm well.

Rey understood that Jessika Pava’s only tool was strong-arm tactics and intimidation. She sat firm, knowing she would never allow that to work on her.

Jessika reached inside her desk for something. It was something quite small, and Rey couldn't make it out before Pava cupped it tightly in her palm. “We even polled the original jury members. So, let your boy, Finn, know if he’s interested. I planned to get a copy for him ASAP.” She threw back the Dasani after placing a small pill on the center of her tongue.

But this time, they weren’t on the same side. Far from it. It was already quite clear Pava was going to be a formidable opponent. Rey thought long and hard about whether to introduce what she felt was their new ace in the hole -- The note. But she chose not to. Besides, it wasn’t her call; it was Finn’s.

“The original jury’s poll won’t be necessary, nor will it be effective or even relevant. You and I both know that it’s a rather common stunt devised to incense and sway a new jury. It will serve no purpose here. Primarily, because this hearing’s outcome will solely be up to Judge Organa. There won’t be a jury. But I’m sure you are fully aware of that fact.” Rey provided her a subtle but smug smile.

“Touche’.” Pava’s right eyebrow rose high and arched with great precision. Her eyes shifted then blackened like a shark smelling blood in the water.

“Oh, come to think of it… I nearly forgot. I just emailed Finn that I’m scheduling another independent psychiatrist with Solo, too. We’re awaiting confirmation from ol’ Peavey.” She swiveled in her chair, briefly cutting her eyes to her monitor. “It’s always so important to have a second opinion. Wouldn’t you agree, doctor? Hope you don’t mind somebody else taking a look at your boy.”

“No, not at all.”

“Oh, good, I’ll have two other motions over to Finn by the end of the day.” Jessika took another sip of her water.

Retrieving her bag from the chair, Rey stood rather unceremoniously. “Thank you again for your time.” She moved toward the office door and turned back to Pava. “My report will be in your hands the second it’s complete.”

Rey nodded politely as she shut the door carefully behind her.

*****

She decided the minute she left the State’s Attorney’s Office to take the long way back to the motel. After that intense last session atop the annoying meeting with Pava, Rey felt a nice drive would help with some desperately needed decompression. She yearned to brave new territory and a change of scenery.

Taking her hair out of the bun, she rolled down all the windows to the rental and repurposed her sunglasses as a headband.

Rey tore up the back roads, singing loudly and off-key to one of her favorite Fiona Apple songs. A good quarter of a mile in unfamiliar territory assured her she had missed a turn. Rey quickly pulled over and initiated a three-point turn.

Once she whipped the car around, popping up tons of gravel and dust in her wake, she saw something just up ahead through a grove of trees. She hadn’t spied it while barreling down the road in the opposite direction. But now it beckoned her, tempting her to draw nearer.

Rey parked and shut the engine off although she left her windows down. She began to trudge along the roadside driven by her curiosity.

A tall, overgrown blend of Indian and Switch grass lashed at her ankles and calves. When she neared, both the allure and her fascination with it intensified. Not knowing why, she was so drawn to the place, she became wholly absorbed. The ghostly specter lay before her, crooked and creaking.

There was a raised farmhouse, with a huge pit filled with remnants of rotted wood and rubble. Next to it, several yards away, was a structure too small to be a barn and too big to be considered a shed. It was virtually transparent, the slats stretched and ached with wide spaces between them. Each plank bleached dry white, a ghostly pale in the fleeting daylight like bones, ashen terribly baked in the hot sun. It was like an apparition, a shade.

The shed defied gravity, leaning awkwardly at an angle, pulled taut from corner to corner.

Once built upon some dream, this place, this space marked the lives of someone, and was now a depiction of dashed hopes, great loss and despair.

Rey faced the shed and was gripped in sadness. She reached out a trembling hand, her unsteady fingers yearned to make contact. Afraid, she rapidly withdrew them.

She stood there silent and frozen, suspended in time much like the shed. Turning away slowly, Rey decided to leave, uncertain if the story it could tell was one she could stand to hear.

As she took her time strolling, heading back to her car, she felt the slightest whisper of an inkling, a premonition. It sent a shiver running through her with the approaching dusk.

*****

Chapter Text

After returning to the motel, Rey immediately watched the tape of the last session. Hanging onto his every inflection, tell, and nuance, she sought indicators. She sought answers. Rey studied the curve of his strong jaw, how it often hardened with great intensity when he spoke. She watched how his cheeks heated and how the color bled to his large ears. The unpretentious way he spoke and how he moved his lips… His lips.

Rey had gotten lost inside the man. She was engrossed and enthralled by the cadence of his speech, the accentuation and the very rhythm of it. Rey took note of every change in his timbre. She was certain there had to be a message in it for her, lying under the surface and in between the lines. Rey nearly worried herself to distraction, and all to no avail.

Still, there it was gnawing at her. The burning question. That question plaguing her - infecting her mind.

What was his Promise? He said that ‘it was the only way’.

Once again, she had a difficult time getting to sleep. Rey couldn’t understand for the life of her how it was possible for it to get warmer after the sun went down. Heat spread throughout the cheap motel room and seemed to fuel her restlessness. She felt trickles of perspiration run down her back.

While Rey lay in bed, she listened to the many sounds outside her motel. Admittedly an urbanite, she had tried to adjust to her temporary rural setting. She was even growing to appreciate it on some level.

For the past few days, she became used to its more agrarian elements. There was a virtual cacophony of nature surrounding her. All manner of insects, birds, and woodland creatures called, chirped and sang out to her, she imagined.

She had recognized the many more common and recurring ones, like the break-of-day sounds of the mourning doves, which was a low, sweet but sad cooing. Rey was very familiar with them; they were also found all along the Beltway of DC and Northern Virginia.

But tonight, there was a different bird song - an exceedingly unique song. Shifting in pitch, it was a low, intense, slow and steady vibrating warble. It was emotive and haunting, and it sounded so incredibly close. Almost tempted to run to look out her window, Rey was certain she’d find it there right outside.

She resisted, however, and yet imagined there was an interesting story or some significance associated with it. Unfamiliar with the calls of other indigenous species of the Delta - such as the whippoorwill or mockingbird, she made a note to ask the desk clerk the following day.

Rey was drawn to step outside. She couldn’t explain the pull, but she left her room, stepping out barefoot onto the wooden planked porte cochere.

The thick night air was less stifling than it was earlier in the day. There was a ghostly mist hanging just past the tree line. The whir of the neon vacancy sign hummed endlessly, along with the mosquitoes and mayflies that orbited it.

Her attention was immediately drawn to several small children. She hadn’t noticed them before. They all ranged in age between eight and ten years old, she would guess. The age of Innocence.

She was quite surprised to find them out at that hour.

Rey could tell they clearly were not guests at the motel, and they appeared almost out of thin air. Without any adults supervising nearby, it was obvious that they were out alone collecting fireflies, running all through the grass and hedges with glass jars in hand. She overheard them call out to the “lightning bugs,” giggling and teasing one another as they compared the insects they had already ensnared.

Rey watched them curiously, leaning against the wooden post marking the handicapped parking spot, as they all disappeared while scampering back off into the deep woods behind the motel lot.

Lost in thought, she found herself hugging the post, cheek pressed hard into the rough-hewn grain of its wood. Feeling the scratchy surface brush against her skin, Rey began to wonder what thoughts were running through Ben’s mind this very moment as he lay there in his cell. She closed her eyes and imagined.

A little girl’s playful squeal far off in the distance shook her from her reverie.

Above the remaining cheerful sounds of the children running through the woods, Rey heard the bird’s soul-stirring call once more as she made her way back to her motel room.

Hours later, while lying in bed sweating profusely, Rey still found the heat simply insufferable. She was drenched, and couldn’t stand another minute of it. Calling the front office to complain once again about the busted AC unit in her room had obviously bore little fruit. She was, however, informed once she asked, that the songbird she heard was most likely a Chuck Wills-Widow.

Rey thought the name of the species was apropos. Apparently, it was a distant relative of the whippoorwill. The call was clearly one of grief.

After she hung up the phone, oddly enough, she heard its mournful, haunting call once again.

*****

With this being their last session, Rey was hyper-focused. Seriously intent on pinning him down this time, Rey removed her glasses, inadvertently pulling them down to the tabletop and cupping them in both hands.

“Who wrote that note, Ben?” Although her tone was conversational, Rey pushed out each word through pursed lips.

His eyes went wide, and his shoulders tensed up. “He did.” He was quite insistent.

She steadied her nerves and inhaled deeply, not wanting him to feel attacked. “Now, I have to ask you this, Ben. And I hope it doesn’t make you uncomfortable, but it’s very important. It’s been over six years now since the rapes and murders --- Why do you think your brother hasn’t killed anyone else since your arrest, in the entire time you’ve been incarcerated?” Rey stared at her legal pad to keep from looking at him.

At first, he grimaced. “... Cain’t rightly say.” Then, Rey noticed him begin to knit his brow while working his jaw. It was subtle, covert, as if he were barely grinding his teeth. “Had a lotta time to think on it, long and hard, and - and, honestly, Doc, I - I just don’t know.” He blinked, eyes battling back both traces of regret and inner conflict. She saw his left leg begin to bounce.

The room fell silent. Much like her motel room, it grew warm. It was also thick, heavy with the small Southern town humidity and with so many more things still left unspoken. Rey knew there was much more - she was certain, but she felt the silence go on for far too long. So, she forced herself to ask her next question.

Rey retrieved her glasses and slid them down in the collar of her shirt, tucking them neatly into her cleavage. “If he, in fact, is the one who committed these crimes, why won’t you tell the police where he is, Ben? Do you actually know his whereabouts?”

Pulling his cuffed hands up to his face, prefaced by the incessant clanking, Ben pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. His shoulders hunched up as his frown deepened. His breath caught in his chest, which visibly tightened with what she imagined was tension, and his corded forearm muscles rippled as he gripped the edge of the metal table.

Ben raised his voice, almost shouting. “I. Don’t. Know. Where. He. Is!” He chewed out the words through clenched teeth.

She watched Typho abruptly pull away from his customary position posted against the wall, obviously misconstruing Ben’s tone for aggression. Sharply, Rey waved a harsh but steadying hand in the guard’s direction to signal him to desist.

“Okay, okay.” She attempted to ease the rising tension and squash any unnecessary conflict. Folding his arms tightly across his chest, Typho nodded and pressed his back flush to the wall once more.

Rey’s voice became softer, calmer and even. “You realize everyone, and I mean everyone -- believes he is a figment of your imagination, Ben. That this is all a ploy.” She leaned into the table further, pressing her palms hard to the table’s edge for the first time. “They don’t believe your twin brother is real.“

“I don’t much care…” He began to simmer down, and she watched as the strain eased from his brow. “They can b’lieve whateva they want.”

She nodded very slowly, yet purposefully, and she further softened her tone. “Now, I do believe you, Ben. I believe he’s real to you…”

He rapidly interrupted her. “ … ta me?” His upper lip curled with an element of puzzlement.

“I believe he is real. But then you must tell the authorities. You must tell them his name at the very least.” Rey gently encouraged.

His eyes slammed shut as he hung his head, shaking it emphatically. Then barely audible, he whimpered very faintly. “I - I- I cain’t.”

Rey’s forearms scrubbed the surface of the metal separating them. She leaned in close to him, nearly nose to nose. “Then, tell me…” She whispered back softly, and then held her breath.

Ben opened his eyes gradually, his lids and lashes dragging apart. She saw the weight of it, all of the agony hidden inside. It was as if he was being torn apart. “I just cain’t… I promised I wouldn’t. I swore.” His voice cracked as he pounded his clenched fist into his knees, punctuated with metal on metal. Finally, he murmured, “Please stop…” His soft, whispered plea barely reached her ears.

A heavy curtain of silence draped the room and surrounded them both. She practically had to force herself to respond.

“It’s alright.” Rey settled back in her seat. Silently, she methodically reached for her valise, legal pad and began to stack all her belongings directly in front of her. She made sure to poke her pen through her bun, tucking it in neatly at the nape of her neck. She finally pulled the remote across the table and paused both of the video cameras, then folded her hands, placing them atop the large stack of materials.

She felt him staring, and it was hard to ignore. Rey returned his curious gaze and tilted her head to one side. “You okay…?”

“Yeah -- I mean, yes, ma’am.” Ben swallowed. “Sorry.”

A small but genuine smile rippled calmly across her face. “We can move on...” Her brows lifted deliberately in invitation. “That is, if you like.”

He sat up tall as he shook his hair from off his forehead and only nodded.

“Okay, now – This is important. I need you to know that the prosecution will have another psychologist – sorry, I meant a psychiatrist - visit with you.”

He exhaled through his long, narrow nose and his whole body relaxed. “Mmm-hmm, yup. Peavey already told me.” Ben’s brow ridge creased softly with mild apprehension. His eyes narrowed and he squinted at her, a tad suspicious.

“Ben, I know you’ll be fine. I’m certain of it.” Rey observed his expression soften with her words of inspiration.

“Will you be here, Doc?”

She shook her head sadly. “Sorry, no. That would be inappropriate and ill advised. I cannot.”

“Aight, den.” His disappointment was obvious. Rey had seen the dejected, hang-dog expression of his before. She changed up her approach.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious about your diagnosis, my report and testimony?”

He watched her nervously clear her throat. “S’ppose so, yes ma’am.”

“Oh, good - because I don’t want you to hear it for the first time in court when I testify.” She issued a weak smile. “Let’s see… to make things simple. I plan to inform the court that due to a psychotic episode you suffered then, and still suffer from now, it caused delusions bordering on schizophrenia. I am unwilling to rule out dissociative identity disorder, primarily due to the fact that I haven’t had adequate time to test you nor screen for it.” She took in a steadying and sobering deep breath.

“However, I would recommend you receive the testing in a more controlled, conducive therapeutic environment, as well as further treatment and possibly medication.” She exhaled fully. “Furthermore, I will assert that with extensive therapy and possibly medication, you may no longer represent or pose a threat to yourself or others.”

Timidly, she glanced back up at him quickly, almost seeking approval. “That last part may be kind of risky; I might scrub that depending on the judge.”

“Woah, now – dat’sa awful lot, Doc.” Ben measured her quietly. “Know I ain’t s’pose to ask ya anything but…” He hesitated.

“No. Go on…”

“Do ya … do ya really b’lieve all dat?”

“I believe it's the best that I can offer at this time. I do … yes, I believe it.”

“Hmmm…” Ben nodded slowly, pushing one large foot along the tile floor, stretching out his leg under the table. He muttered, “Okay den.”

“Ben…” She wasn’t quite sure where she was going with the new line of questioning, but Rey felt a deep need. She felt compelled.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“What do you really want out of life, Ben?” Rey watched as his amber eyes softened and saddened.

“Honestly, Doc, really – I just want off da’ Row.” Shaking his head, he dipped his chin into his chest. “Well, I’d be lyin’ to ya if I didn’t say most of all I don’t wanna die. I mean -- I do wanna live. I do…” At the end of his sentence, his volume dipped low as his eyes swept the floor again, finding his shoes.

“Well, what are your hopes for the trial’s outcome… if you’re committed? Or even if you’re exonerated, possibly freed?” Rey studied him carefully.

“Woa -- Guess I’d have ta really think long and hard about dat one…” He mused. A faraway look came over him as he glanced out into the hallway, nodding, considering and appreciating the query. “But - um - I dunno, to git around the country some, see different places, work hard agin for a livin’, hell ... who knows, one day down the road maybe…” He sighed deeply. “Maybe settle down and have me a fam’ly.” He shrugged, then brought her back sharply into his line of sight.

She was very touched. Although his sincerity overwhelmed her, Rey also needed to know that he understood their expectations of him. “Do you understand the part you will have to play for this new hearing?” Rey allowed her gaze to rise up from her notes, to eventually meet his once again. “If the judge orders you to testify, I mean…”

Ben moved gradually up to the edge of his chair, while he shook his hair from his face. “Yes, ma’am.” There was something about his manner instantly that spoke excitement. “You and Mr. Bowen -- well, Finn, have been so good ta me and I do appreciate all ya done. I do know my part. And I owe it ta ya both to be honest, sit up tall, upright, and look ‘em in the face. And - um, be sure to show interest in the - in the proceedings and if I’m asked… Let the judge know how sorry I am. And … ‘Be Remorseful’, I got it.”

Rey merely nodded. “That’s great, Ben. You got it. And you got this.”

*****

As she walked the corridor with Officer Typho, they rounded the bend past Peavey’s office. Rey’s steps stuttered, then stopped when she turned to Typho, placing a tentative hand just at his elbow.

“Do you mind if I take a moment? I’d like to speak with the Deputy Warden.” She turned on her heels, hoping he’d comply.

“Sure thing Dr. Kenobi. I believe he’s in.” The corrections officer doubled back and skirted by her to rap lightly on the door. They each glanced at one another, awaiting a response.

Peavey uttered, “C’mon in.” Upon hearing his invitation, Typho flung open the door.

Rey squeezed in the office doorway, peeking inside. “Deputy Warden Peavey, might I have a word?”

He smiled, stood, and gestured for her to take a seat. Rey nodded in acknowledgement, yet she opted to stand.

“Firstly, I wanted to thank you for all your assistance. My sessions with Solo are finally complete.”

After offering her one, the older man grabbed a mint from his candy dish and returned to his chair. Rey politely declined. “Glad to hear that. I hope you were able to find what you were looking for. Understand there is a new hearing scheduled. That damn Finn Bowen must be real good at his job.” He smiled again nervously, while unwrapping the mint.

“Yes, yes he is.” She folded her arms after placing her bag in the chair in front of her. “But you had said something when we first met…” Rey’s eyes never left him, she was intent on putting one more piece together.

Graciously, he offered her his attention. Peavey settled back in his seat, popping the candy in and leisurely rolling it from side to side in his mouth with his tongue.

“That first morning we met, you had mentioned that Solo had only one visitor while he was in general population during the trial. It struck me as... Well, it struck me.” Rey leaned in just over his desk. “And this was the second thing I wanted to ask. I was wondering -- was it his mother, by any chance?”

“Oh - No, no, it wasn’t Mrs. Solo. Actually, it was someone she arranged to meet with him. I believe it was her old pastor… a man of the cloth.” In recollection, he reached his hand up to place his thumb just under his chin, pulling his forefinger up to his temple. “Can’t remember his name, but I can sure get that for you, lil’ lady… that is if ya need it?”

“Yes, I could definitely use it. That would be most helpful, Deputy Warden. Thank you.” Nodding curtly, Rey pivoted to head out of the office. “Thank you, again.” As she headed into the hall to join Typho once more, she offered, “Thank you again for everything.”

Typho shut the door behind her. Rey smirked slyly; her curiosity was beyond piqued.

*****

Once reaching the main gate, Rey turned to Typho once more. “Thank you, Officer Typho.” She retrieved her sunglasses from her bag and scooped up the rental car keys from the outside pocket.

“You’re most welcome, Dr. Kenobi.” He attempted an about face before she stopped him.

“I can imagine you’ll be relieved to be rid of me.” Her nervous laugh came out more like a giggle.

He moved nearer, closing the gap between them and shrugged. “No, not at all. You were never a problem at all. Was my pleasure.”

“Well, I have appreciated all that you’ve done.” Providing him a warm smile, Rey tilted her head as she slid her sunglasses on. “I’m sure you’ll be needing to head back, so have a good rest of your evening.”

Slowly, he headed back toward the gate and tacked on over his shoulder, “Hah - I’m done for the day, and about to clock out now.”

“Oh --- well, mind if I wait a sec, like to walk with me to my car?” She watched as he took a beat, quickly mulling it over in his mind. Typho shifted his weight on one side while he patted his hand on the holster of his sidearm at his hip and then nodded. “Sure, just give me four or five minutes.”

After Rey watched him jog back through the prison gate, her eyes roved the parking lot, witnessing the sun dip down with the obvious shift change. As officers seemed to come and go, more men began pulling into the large lot as more exited the main gate.

She could hardly overlook the small crowd of protestors gathering outside the prison gates. Their numbers had been steadily increasing daily over the past week. Members on both sides of the capital punishment debate formed two hard lines along the prison fence, peppered with only a few members of the press who had been sniffing about Solo’s new hearing.

Rey knew it was only a matter of time, but she dreaded it becoming a huge fiasco in the media.

Typho came out walking toward her, still in his uniform, but now sporting an Atlanta Braves baseball cap. He quickly joined Rey, and they began to walk in tandem, side by side. Under the cover of her shades, she side-eyed him, finally lifting her gaze from her own footsteps.

“I was just wondering -- in these several weeks, I’ve spoken to many others about Ben Solo. But never thought to inquire as to whether you had any thoughts about the inmate -- the man.” Turning to him fully, her lips parted slightly. “You do spend a great deal of time with him.”

“Aaagh -- and here I thought you just wanted some company walking to your car.” He chuckled, waving to a few other officers passing by, yet maintaining his steady gait.

“I realize this may seem disingenuous, but I have watched you. Although my sole focus has been his evaluation and assessment, I have to admit that your presence in our sessions has been invaluable. And not only to ensure my safety, but it‘s very obvious he trusts you -- he likes you, Typho.” They reached her vehicle, and Rey slung her bag up on top of the roof, moving over to the hood and leaning against her fender.

Just a hint of the lightest warm breeze fluttered through her skirt. Folding her arms, Rey pulled them tightly across her chest. “I mean ...Surely, you have some insights?”

Typho scanned the entire lot. His eyes softened as they drifted further off into the distance, searching while he pulled his hands to hips. Studying her for only a second, he turned away once more to the field just past the facility’s access road. “We’re taught not to get too close to the inmates, but --- You know, it’s unavoidable.” He shook his head as he settled down next to her, leaning against her car. “I’ve worked the row these six years he’s been on it.”

“And it’s been difficult not listening in those sessions. But I tried to respect his privacy.” He drew in a slow breath. “As much as I’ve come to really like Solo on some level… Hell, I even feel for him most times… But I gotta keep telling myself that twelve good people couldn’t have gotten it wrong.” He nodded solemnly, staring straight ahead. “Ya know…?”

She truly appreciated his candor. Rey knew Typho was a kind, honest man… A good man.

“Yes, yes…” Rey lowered her arms. They hung down simply, loosely by her hips. Bringing her eyes up directly to his, she effortlessly cupped one hand in the other, cradling her keys. “I understand, I clearly understand.”

As she sat in her car, she watched Typho hop into his pick-up.

*****

She hadn’t had a cigarette in almost over eight years and yet, Rey had the bright idea to buy a pack when she stopped at the liquor store after leaving the Parchment. Ben had planted the first seed, and Finn had planted the second. The bourbon, however, was the better idea of the two, but she couldn’t think of any reasons why that combination wasn't the perfect purchase.

It had just started pouring down outside, and Rey realized that it was the first rain she’d experienced since being in Meridian. The intermittent sparks of lightning flashed forks that ripped across the darkening sky. They were each followed by booming thunder, which literally rattled her windows. But feeling determined and highly impulsive, she snatched up and threw a blanket over her head and shoulders then ran out barefoot to the motel vending machines and ice maker.

She dashed down the open air hallway. The harsh wind blew wild, whipping through the tiny alcove, soaking her as she filled the bucket, snatching up the ice as fast as she could. What motel still has these outside anyway?, she thought. Next time, I mean it - Finn’s going to have to promise me an upgrade for sure. Rey scurried back to her room.

Once back inside, fluffing her damp hair with a towel and briskly wiping her face, she plopped back down to the desk. Only now with a sense of exhilaration, heart pounding and adrenaline pumping, she felt her treat was well earned. Rey casually scooped up some ice cubes into her glass.

Watching the blinking cursor, Rey sat motionless, staring blankly at the monitor of her laptop.

Rey knew it was time to start digging down deep and writing her report for Finn. She shook her head, knowing full well she honestly lacked the motivation. She could psyche herself up as much as she wanted, but it was all for naught. This was indeed a first. Rey felt so conflicted.

Tapping out a cigarette, she lit it as she gripped it tightly between her teeth, with a mild clench of her jaw. Rey broke the seal, uncapped the bottle of Jack Daniels and poured herself a glass. Taking a sip, she felt the warming liquid slowly soothe its way down and instantly calm her. The old familiar taste was both sharp and sweet.

Her mind drifted back to her earlier conversation with Deputy Warden Peavey, wondering if at this stage of the game answering the question about Ben’s mysterious visitor would really be of any consequence. It may or may not be critical or pertinent. It surely wouldn’t affect her report or her testimony, but she had to admit she was extremely curious.

Hmmmm … It was a man of the cloth, he said. She considered how Peavey had been pretty good thus far with his timely responses. Convinced he would give her the information, Rey’s impatience was of a mind to just simply ask Ben.

She took another slow sip of her Jack and took another drag in succession. Wait - His Uncle Luke! He had mentioned him before. Ben told her that he was a pastor. Now, it’s starting to all make sense. It probably explains the Bible in his cell, too. She jotted it down with certainty.

Then she considered Officer Typho’s comments. How many times had she heard that statement before? Twelve good people couldn’t have gotten it wrong. Rey knew without a shadow of a doubt that twelve good people had historically gotten it wrong several times - over and over again. She wasn’t able to count the many times she sat in and listened to verdicts and knew that they had… beyond question.

She blew the puff of smoke straight out, watching it billow. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that his jury six years ago definitely got it wrong. Rey slumped in her seat.

Writing this report was going to be a challenge for sure.

Aware that her difficulty was multifaceted, Rey was accustomed to being a witness and writing evaluations on behalf of both State or Federal Prosecutors. There had been many times she knew her testimony put several hardened criminals behind bars for life, or even in Death Watch cells like the one Ben sat in this very moment.

This was so very different.

Between two tight fingers, she drew up on the cigarette once more. Before she could even start her outline, Rey knew she needed to stick to only proven observations versus her gut feelings - which she now knew were clearly becoming compromised by this emotional entanglement she had with him.

Which was what, really? Some harmless flirtation, a little double entendre, a few wanton looks, and a moment of acting out on a torrid fantasy lurking deep within her own twisted mind?

Admittedly, Rey was the one who took it somewhere that was beyond reckless. She was the one who was inappropriate. The aberrant behavior was all her own. But she also knew she could ill-afford to have any feelings whatsoever for this man. Ben Solo was her subject. He was merely the focus of this assessment. She had to be objective, unbiased. He was her job.

That Simple.

She needed reminding… desperately.

“Rey, you had better get your priorities in order, young lady!” She mindlessly patted her ashes in the little motel ashtray. Rey then deeply inhaled the cigarette, and blew it out slowly, letting a thick, white plume of smoke encircle her. It left her a little light-headed, and she welcomed the familiar feeling of the old vice.

After reviewing her notes, she began typing the outline. Rey talked herself through it bullet by bullet. The mind was such a fragile thing, powerful yet fragile.

Well, he certainly was no megalomaniac, nor was he a narcissist. No symptoms present. None. He was decidedly not borderline, antisocial or avoidant. Displayed no signs of any of the three major disorders.

She thoroughly examined his non-existent psychopathy. There is an absence of detachment. He definitely possesses the connective emotional glue often lacking in most psychopaths.

Rey drew in on the cig again, and blew out small rings that she watched spread out and cling to the air in the motel room.

Ben Solo clearly feels and expresses guilt and shame, and a genuine concern for others. It’s indisputable. All these things would have been obvious and recognizable to the most novice psychologists. Had he been given an assessment of even the most rudimentary framing during the first trial, this would have been easily determined.

The many layers of Ben Solo. What if this was all a ruse? Any man is capable of wearing a mask, a facade, and this could be some grand illusion, an elaborate deception. Had someone finally been able to slip through her powers of discernment. No, no - I’m neither gullible or naive.

“And yet….” Rey reached for her glass and took another slow sip. “Mmmm.”

He was no doubt delusional, which is heavily implied by his fixation with the non-existent twin brother. That might even suggest Schizophrenia - and although not proven nor tested, his hearing voices could have only been substantiated by Poe Dameron, the one inmate who could have testified, and now cannot due to his very sudden and untimely death. He could’ve attested to the break from reality and some of the other markers for schizophrenia.

Ben clearly did not present with Borderline Personality Disorder. Which, much like the Aileen Wuornos case in Florida, would’ve made it a slam dunk for Rey. But not having documentation of any substantiated childhood trauma or abuse, left her with an uphill climb.

Rey had to stick with what she knew, from only the data she collected, and what she could prove. And without thorough diagnostic testing, she knew her hands were virtually tied.

Then there was the ever present issue of dissociative identity disorder. Aside from her personal feelings about it, combined with the deep-seated belief that his twin brother might just possibly exist, Rey reviled even entertaining the notion. He never experienced blackouts or loss of time. No one close to him ever reported displays of profound mood changes or varying, contradictory personality traits.

The disorder is historically more prevalent in women, and the symptoms normally present at a much earlier age. Should he be diagnosed, he may receive additional care like hypnotherapy and be treated with mood stabilizers, antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds.

She needed to further explore her Psychotic Break Theory. Aside from Ben’s past nurturance deprivation as a child, there weren’t many other indicators supporting the theory. Not to mention, Ben had no cognitive deficiencies. She wanted to avoid totally manufacturing something. In doing so, she’d fall into quite an ethical trap. But it would be so easy… so easy.

In that moment, she heard Amilyn’s wise words rolling over and over again in her mind. “Tread lightly, Rey.”

Just then, a new email popped up. It was from Jessika Pava. She forwarded her the State’s psychiatric expert witness report.

Rey groaned, put out the butt, pushing the ashes around the little glass ashtray. She watched the last few fine wisps of smoke stretch up and dissipate. And then continued furiously typing.

*****

It was nearly 3:00am in the morning. She sat at her desk, glued to the monitor of her laptop. With the report finally finished, she only watched the tapes over and over again for what she wasn’t entirely certain. Even the reason -- the why of it was unclear. But Rey obsessively and compulsively studied every line, every expression, gesture, intonation, and tell. Unaware of what was driving her, she was incapable of stopping. She was exhausted.

She pushed away from the desk and stood and stretched. She snatched up her pack of cigs and lit another one.

The session earlier in the afternoon really shook her, and Rey knew she couldn’t tell Finn. It was the sheer finality of it all. Much like her friend’s late-night calls, visits and all his interrogations, she knew she didn’t have the words. She could never explain it to him. And he would never understand even if she could. Rey was pulled in too deeply. She was experiencing so many conflicting and complex feelings about Ben Solo.

Ever since their very first session, she had already surrendered to his boyish charm, that Southern gentility, and his folksy manner. She allowed herself to get seduced by a client for the very first time in her career. There was something wounded, and yet hardly violent or volatile about him. They shared an intense level of intimacy, and Rey responded to it. She responded to him… in a most inappropriate way.

She inhaled deeply, pulling up on the cigarette, watching the burning red-orange glow light up the dimly lit motel room.

Her role should have been crystal clear. It always had been in the past. The lines had always been clear. But these lines had blurred. Hell, they weren’t just blurred; she crossed them. Hard. Rey knew it was never supposed to be about his guilt or innocence. However, his innocence was all she had become consumed with proving.

She alone had complicated this.

Certain now that she would have to grieve the loss of their interactions regardless of the hearing’s outcome, this man had moved inside her and completely taken root. What had begun to sprout and grow inside her was want -- pure need, desire. Her stomach churned.

That last session was also impossibly difficult for her, because it was so hard to get through it and maintain any semblance of decorum or professionalism. All she wanted to do was touch him. She truly wanted to touch him -- to hold him. Rey desperately wanted to ease all Ben’s pain and simply assure him that there was still hope.

More than anything, Rey wanted to let Ben know that there is no damage that is irreparable.

*****

Chapter Text

Finn plopped the pizza box on top of the file cabinet. After he tossed a few paper plates and napkins on his desk, he then handed Ezra his can of Mountain Dew and placed two Canada Dry ginger ales for himself and Rey right in front of her.

“So — You guys, I’m feeling really, really good about the case right now. We’ve been assigned a great judge, and I think Pava is a little rattled, for once I’ve got her on the defensive.” Finn licked his lips fighting back a huge grin.

Both he and Ezra scooped up their slices and tore right into them.

Ezra lazily kicked his legs up, planting his feet on Finn’s table. “What?? Wow, dat’s a first…” He popped the zip-top off his can of Dew and took a long swig.

“Yeah, I know, right?” Chewing, Finn nodded in agreement and turned his attention to Rey. “I have no idea what you said to her when you two met, but she’s begun to back-pedal.”

Rey shrugged. “I wouldn’t let her intimidate me. That was all. And - Oh, I never tipped my hand about Solo’s diagnosis or his report.” She leaned over to take a plate and a thick slice.

“Plus, Rey, your report is turning out to be our secret weapon number one. The withheld letter and the old handwriting expert report and testimony will be our secret weapon number two.”

Both Rey and Ezra agreed and said simultaneously, “Good.”

Finn stood up from his desk and gazed out of his window, taking a few swallows of his ginger ale. “What I really need is to get another expert to attest to the admissibility and authenticity of the first handwriting expert’s findings. Already have a lead. Jannah recommended someone, so I hope to hear back from him soon.”

“Smart Finn.” Ezra reached over Rey and piled two more slices onto his paper plate.

“We may need additional samples from Solo. Here lately you’ve been back and forth to Parchment far more than we have, Rey. Mind getting Ben’s handwriting samples for us?”

“Sure, sure. I’ve already got some…” She wiped her napkin across her lips. “I have several intake and release forms he filled out in his first session.”

“Great!”

Rey’s internal struggle had been held close and tightly under wraps. She was miserably struggling to hide it. Finn knew her all too well, and she knew he would recognize her level of discomfort. The truth was she was happy to be wrapping up the case but a part of her was sorry it would all be ending soon. Torn, Rey had to reconcile with her procrastination and indecision with her report. She figured it all came right back to Ben.

“Rey...” Finn pulled her back from her distraction. “I also need to let you know that Ezra got a scoop on Pava’s psychiatrist.” Finn turned to Ezra while they both watched as he smashed the last bite of his slice.

“Oh, I received the report from Pava last night.” Rey smirked. “She cc’d all of us in the email.”

Ezra beamed. “Oh, right … yeah. No need to worry on that front. It’s the State’s go-to shrink, Dr. Enric Eustis Pryde.” He downed the last of his Mountain Dew, crushed the can, took aim, and placed a jump shot in Finn’s waste can. “He’s a total quack.”

Finn assured her. “Not the best expert witness, Ezra’s right. I’ve had him on cross before. Lightweight.” He tisked.

Ezra piped in again, grabbing both their attention. “Oooh, you guys — I also need to bring you up to speed on my leads in Memphis for Solo’s birth records.”

“Yes, please do…” Rey was anxious, not entirely certain what the new update held for them. Her heart began to hammer and she felt a tightening in her ribcage.

“Well, looks like the reason Mississippi has no record of his birth is because it turns out Leia Solo actually had little ‘Benny’ while visiting family up in Memphis.” Curious, he pointed to the last slice of pizza. Both Finn and Rey shook their heads as he swiped it and took a huge bite. Ezra continued with a full mouth. “Apparently, she was staying with her brother, Luke and her sister-in-law, Mara Jade at the time.”

Riveted, Rey’s eyes were glued to Ezra and her heart was literally in her mouth at that point. Breathless, she blinked, waiting patiently while he had another huge bite, stuffing it in his mouth and took what seemed like forever to chew it. Finn moved to sit on the edge of his desk, engrossed as well.

“But Mara Jade died before his sentencing and old Uncle Luke has completely vanished -- like off the radar, living somewhere off the grid. But I gotta lead on their only kid, Ben’s cousin. So, I’m heading up to Memphis tomorrow to follow-up with her.”

Mouth agape, Rey could only stare. Finn folded his arms across his chest. “Sounds really promising, Ezra. Just be sure to get your little butt back before the hearing.” He winked.

Her mind was racing. Rey tried to calm herself. Clutching the ice cold, green can tightly in both hands, Rey wondered what Ezra’s leads would pan out. As she felt the room suddenly heat, Rey pressed the ginger ale close to her chest. She thought about her report. She thought about her diagnosis. Rey also thought about her testimony. A part of her desperately hoped for some kind of vindication. Then, she thought of Ben.

“Go Team!” Finn grinned.

*****

“You okay, Solo?” Typho turned to Ben, just as they stopped in front of Hask at the watch officer’s station.

He stared straight ahead as they entered the Row. Ben never responded.

“Seriously, Solo. Are you alright…?” The genuine concern in his light brown eyes spoke only of a consideration and sensitivity that was rare in most correctional officers. Once the gate cleared, Gregor Typho gently placed his right hand squarely in the middle of Ben’s broad back. He lightly nudged him and the two turned to continue their walk down through the corridor.

Ben cleared his throat. “I’m jus’ fine, Typho. I’m fine.” He mumbled just under his breath.

Typho shook his head as his hand gradually made its way to Ben’s elbow. “No, you’re not. Can tell.“ Both men were now side by side as they began their trek toward Block D and his cell. “Sometimes, I think you forget I know ya. I know ya.”

“Got no need to lie ‘bout it.” Shuffling like the weight of the shackles had finally worn him down for the day, his gait had significantly slowed.

“Exactly my point, Solo.” Typho stared at him hoping to get a response. “Was it that other psychiatrist?”

Ben growled, dismissive. “Naw.”

“Now, I know those sessions get rough. And you know I’m not all about that psychobabble, but believe in it or not, it’s gotten you this far. You’re looking at a new hearing, for land sakes. That’s the point. You really should be honest with her… tell Dr. Kenobi, the truth.” Typho shrugged. “Like they say, it’ll set you free.”

Ben chuckled. “And... who exactly sez dat now?” They finally arrived at his cell.

Typho stood directly behind Ben as he faced the badly rusted bars. “Now, I dunno much, but maybe your lawyer, Bowen, and Dr. Kenobi were right. Maybe somebody - some shrink should’ve seen you before the first trial. But since they didn’t, someone is now. And they’re willin’ to help you. You really need to cooperate with her, Solo... For your own good.”

“Besides… what makes ya think I haven’t been?”

Typho only burned a hard stare into him.

“I dunno…” Ben sighed deeply. “Guess ya might be right. It’s jus’ wit dis new shrink, and all dis ‘bout them grantin’ me a new hearing and all, has kinda messed me up in da head a lil’ bit. Don’t rightly know what ta make of it all.”

“I understand, Ben. Believe me, I do. But it’s never too late.” Typho nodded. Gripping his keys clipped at his hip, he waited for Ben to assume the position.

As he leaned closer into the bars, bending at the waist, Ben craned his neck and asked, “Hey, can ya do me a solid, Typho?”

“I’m listenin’...” He then bent down, more like squatting and started with Ben’s leg irons and carefully removed his shackles. As soon as he rose to stand, Ben turned to face him with his hands extended out in front of him. Typho uncuffed him, then hollered out. “Open on D-4!”

“Um…” The grinding gears grated loudly as the cell door gradually slid open. “Can you ask Gideon if he can turn up his music fer me a lil’ bit tonight?” Offering some release of tension and soreness in his wrists, Ben rubbed at them out of habit. He stepped inside and over his shoulder glanced back at Typho.

Not one to break protocol too often, Typho considered his request. “Sure thing, ya got it, Solo. I’ll be sure to tell Hask.”

“Close on D-4!”

*****

Standing in front of her rental, feet planted in the asphalt, Rey looked up at the early morning dawning. She raised her arms overhead, stretching with palms skyward, arching her back and basked in the sun’s warmth as it spread over her forehead, freckled nose and cheeks.

Quickly, Rey flung her left leg up onto the post outside her motel room and began to stretch. She gripped the heel and sole of her Avias, bending down, curving her spine to pull a clean line over her knee. The taut muscles flexed and pulled. Lifting her right leg, repeating the same effort, she readied herself for a run.

After warming up, she figured she’d just do a quick ‘out-n-back’. Rey had truly missed the ritual. More importantly, she believed clearing her head, the pure exertion and taking in the fresh air would chase away her nerves before the hearing.

The terrain may have been a little different from Stafford and there was no salty Potomac air nearby, but a nice run is a nice run. Rey was sorry she waited this long to take one.

She took off with a light jog toward the woods, down the path which she had seen the children hunting fireflies. Her high-side ponytail bobbed and swished effortlessly in tempo. No sooner had she gotten a good clip going, Rey felt her entire body start to come alive. Each synapse firing, muscle memory – Right away she couldn’t explain why she hadn’t gone for a run until now.

Sparks of energy lit in every muscle and tendon, her body responded to the stimulation, recognizable once again. Like magic, the heels of her feet, the slight bend of her toes, and the balls and pads all moved in sync.

Steadily, the rising fiery orange glow of the sun warmed all of her skin. She instantly felt the all too familiar rush as she quickly carved a path once she veered off the crush and run trail.

A light easy breeze swept her up while she picked up her pace and fell into her normal rhythm.

Heart pumping hard through every stride, she breezed through a cluster of trees when she spotted the meadow just up ahead. Rey skipped over fallen branches and small felled trees while her tennis pounded the undergrowth and light brush.

Immediately, she felt the endorphins exploding all throughout her body. Pushing herself, Rey wanted to increase her cadence. Although it had been a minute, she fell right back into step despite running an unfamiliar route.

She broke a sweat and relished the feeling. As she rounded what looked like the moss-covered ruins of an old root cellar, Rey circled the old building and never missed a step. Eyeing it with moderate interest, she searched for an entrance. It was very old, decaying and moss covered. Ancient. The masonry and brickwork was undoubtedly antebellum era… clearly a relic.

A blinding white light then seized her vision. It came out of nowhere, a sharp, stinging shock to her brain.

Rey tripped over her feet, stumbling while a sudden montage of images of the six murder victims clicked through her consciousness like an old slide projector. They each visited her… as if flipping pages in a book, Rey saw each of them, and in her mind, their twisted faces were frozen with the abject horror attached to their final moments. It was crippling. The intensity of it totally staggered her and she came to a full stop.

Immediately, she slammed her eyes shut. But they seemed to even infiltrate her crinkled eyelids. Hunched over pushing her palms to her knees, Rey dragged in several deep breaths to keep from gagging. She held on until they all vanished.

She settled, opened her eyes and slowly turned her head back toward the motel.

Rey presumed that perhaps this spontaneous hallucination was designed to put her into position, to remind her what was at stake here, and to focus on what and who was really important. And that was the truth and it was those women.

Once again, she was given affirmation of her long held belief that… Great Pain Stains a Place.

When she stood fully, pinning her hands to hips, she released a loud ‘whoosh’ of air, exhaling through her nose, and clearing her lungs as well as her mind. Rey shook her head as she started to jog back, leaving the images fast behind.

*****

Wearing a hole in the ugly carpet, Rey paced furiously back and forth in her room. It took her nearly a full hour to decide on the green crepe dress instead of her usual black or navy linen suits she normally preferred for trials.

She showered, got dressed, curled and styled her hair, only to brush it back into a bun once more. After she applied a touch of make-up to her face, she now was experiencing nervousness. It was overwhelming. Her level of anxiety shocked even her.

Knowing Ezra wouldn’t be picking her up for another fifteen minutes, she tried to calm herself with a walking meditation she had used once before. Rey hoped it would be effective. The last thing she wanted was to ride all the way to Jackson biting her nails or constantly fidgeting with painfully sweaty palms.

Walking with purpose, she slowed her inhaling and exhaling to even steady breaths. Rey gradually made her way to the door, pivoted slowly then retraced her steps, returning to her original spot. After circling the room, she stopped, rolled her shoulders backward then forward, and toggled her head in place relieving the little remaining tension in her neck.

Rey then looked in the mirror and shook out her hands and feet. As she drew closer to her own image staring back at her, Rey wondered if she would truly be convincing on the stand. For the first time in her entire career, Rey was going to have to feign and pretend to be unbiased, impartial. In the past she simply was… Impartial.

But not now -- Now, Rey knew she would have to bring all her efforts to bear. Ultimately, when she sat down in that witness box she would be running the risk of jeopardizing all that Finn worked tirelessly for.

It was just a matter of simply sticking to her findings. The question of any misdiagnosis, being deserving of very little scrutiny - her work was beyond reproach. She only needed to jump into the fray, do her job and hope for the best.

Ezra’s horn blared outside. Rey was happy he made it back in time albeit empty handed. She grabbed her larger bag and bolted for the door. When she reached the car, Rey climbed in and asked right away, “Any word from Memphis? Did Mary J. get back to you?”

“Not yet….” Ezra mentioned as he pulled out the lot. He chuckled. “And it was Mara Jade.”

*****

The Appellate and Supreme Court in Jackson was easily thirty miles away. They all rode in silence the entire time.

Much like Parchment, a hefty crowd of protestors on both sides of the issue had gathered with hand-made signs waving. A flock of reporters and their camera crews had assembled outside. Added to the foray were a few members of some of the victims’ families. A barrage of questions and flurries of video camera lenses met them at the steps leading up to the main doors. The three trudged right past and made their way inside without incident.

Finn flashed his ID as he, Rey and Ezra walked through the main entrance of the Courthouse. After passing the Sheriff’s station and through the metal detector, the three walked down the long hallway toward the courtroom. Rey could sense just how much Finn’s confidence had risen the past two weeks. It was infectious.

Shoulder to shoulder, Rey strode beside him feeling both anxious and exhilarated. Her eyes cautiously scanned the old faded, walnut paneled walls and cracked, worn marble tiled floors that showed the age of the ancient architectural relic of a hall of justice. She’d been in many of them before, but she knew this one spoke of ages upon ages of corruption and legal duplicity.

Her pulse quickened as her heart rate rose, Rey smoothed her hair back into her tight bun when they reached the doors. Finn turned to them and handed Ezra his briefcase so he could straighten his tie.

As they were about to enter, she stopped the two of them right outside the courtroom doors. “One second, you two.” Rey turned to Finn. “This is for you.” Pulling out a tiny gift bag, she handed it to him. “You always need to be prepared so… Just in case.”

He tore through the tissue paper to finally unearth the monogrammed, white linen handkerchief. “Aww… Thanks, Rey.”

She stepped in closer and retrieved the handkerchief, folded it neatly then tucked it into his suit jacket’s breast pocket. “There. Now, we’re ready.”

Finn beamed. “Oh, and don’t forget if all this goes well, folks… We’ll be celebrating at the Harvest Grill afterwards.”

Ezra eagerly offered him a thumbs up while Finn winked at each of them before confidently pushing through the double doors.

Rey saw Jessica Pava immediately standing at the prosecutor’s table. Glancing over her shoulder in the direction of the sound of the swinging doors, she spotted them making their way down the aisle. And then Rey saw Ben.

He rose slowly, angling his body slightly to face them. He stood tall, dwarfing the wooden railing separating them. The officer beside him stepped aside.

Rey’s heart pounded at the mere sight of him. Her vision began to blur. Finn had purchased him a brand new dark blue suit and he wore it well. It was modestly tailored and yet the fit was rather flattering. He also appeared to have shaved.

Ben adjusted his head scarcely just over his shoulder but did not completely turn around. It was quite subtle, almost as if he wanted Rey to know he was aware of her presence.

As she sat down in the first row directly behind the defense table, she swallowed. All Rey could muster was a nod and a weak smile. It suddenly occurred to her that this was the very first time she had ever seen him without handcuffs and shackles. The first time he had ever been in anything other than his MDC standard issue jumpsuit.

Seeing him again, had Rey experiencing feelings she wasn’t certain how to or even if she wanted to contain. She could easily read the calm, assured eyes she had looked into for the past seven weeks.

After Judge Organa entered the courtroom, the room quieted while he sat on the bench and announced the purpose and process of the hearing.

Once their opening arguments were delivered, Pava fiercely argued with an intensity that had always been her strategy and her trademark. Her only witnesses called were two of the former prosecutors, Detective Jarrus, the former medical examiner and Dr. Pryde. Rey was relieved that Judge Organa nipped the medical examiner’s testimony in the bud. It truly served no purpose at this juncture, and she knew Pava was merely posturing.

Judge Organa did, however, ask very probing questions of both the former prosecutors and Dr. Pryde. Focusing primarily on the lack of psychiatric evaluation during the first trial, he grilled the witnesses. Pryde especially was a target. Organa questioned him exhaustively about his thoroughness with only a two hour interview, and how the length of time allotted for any examination was insufficient. The judge took exception with such an interview offering an adequate view into the inmate’s psyche. Pryde fumbled miserably, much like Ezra predicted.

Finn chose not to cross examine.

He then delivered his arguments with an eloquence and determination that Rey was quite accustomed to witnessing. She was pleased that he opted not to let Ben take the stand. There was truly no need and Rey appreciated Finn’s desire to lessen and alleviate his client’s stress.

Finn called the handwriting experts up for their testimony and took great pains to drive the discovery issue home. Ultimately, the note did in fact play the critical role in the case that they had anticipated.

Once the submission of her report was addressed, Rey was pleased to hear that Judge Organa was not only very familiar with it but seemed to have read it thoroughly from stem to stern. Rey’s experience proved most judges rarely did. She was encouraged.

After her report was entered into evidence, Rey was called to the stand. She walked the short distance to the witness stand leisurely. Her head felt light at first and her legs barely cooperated. It seemed to defy the span of time and space. The closer she came to climbing the final two steps up into her seat, the further away it became… teetering on surreal.

She gulped, then eventually turned, took her seat, nestled in comfortably and was sworn in.

Both Finn and Pava asked her several questions regarding the report, their sessions, the videos and her overall impressions of Solo. She fielded each one with confidence and alacrity. She remained professional in every respect despite the anxiety welling inside.

Everything she had worked tirelessly on for over seven weeks took only seventeen or eighteen minutes. For the most part, she was grateful given the rushing sound of her own blood coursing through her ears growing louder and louder.

But for the very first time in all of her career, she had to force herself not to look directly at the defendant. Although Rey tried desperately to avoid his gaze. She could feel Ben’s eyes on her as they searched every inch of her. His eyes held something different now. Rey was quite sure she had missed it if he ever allowed her to see it before. It was barely perceivable.

If she had to label it, the word she would have chosen was vulnerability. It wasn’t that of an emotionally compromised man mourning his mother nor was it the fragility of a man whose spirit became worn away, eroded by incarceration. It was a subtle, soft kind of exposure, a susceptibility balanced with hope and perhaps the fleeting dream of freedom.

She dropped her chin and squeezed her left wrist tightly with her right hand, pulling them both into her lap. She believed she had helped him. Rey hoped she had done the right thing.

“If there are no more questions for Dr. Kenobi…” Judge Organa’s voice brought her back to the moment, back to her seat at the witness stand. Apparently, both Finn and Pava conceded. Judge Organa’s warm, bronzed features broke into a slight smile. “Thank you, Dr. Kenobi. You’re excused and may step down.”

With a wrinkled brow heavy with the weight of his decision, Judge Bale Organa spoke clearly. “Nothing else from the State?” His eyes ping-ponged from one side to the other. “Nothing else from the Defense?”

Pava shook her head. “No, Your Honor. The State rests.”

Finn echoed the sentiments. “No, Your Honor. The defense rests as well.”

Organa issued another gentle smile. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen and Officers of the Court - Please be advised that, in the matter of The State of Mississippi versus Benjamin O. Solo, I will be rendering my decision shortly.”

“And now -- We’ll have a brief recess.” Judge Organa’s weary eyes scanned the room and everyone in it purposefully.

As she returned to her seat, Rey watched while Finn rose to stand. He smiled as he leaned in and whispered in Ben’s ear.

*****

They sat there together quietly side by side. The bull pen was much larger than his cell back at Parchman she imagined. More concrete and tile and less stainless steel. At first, Ben seemed calm and quite relaxed, which was in direct contrast with the enormity of the moment. The judge would be announcing his decision shortly.

As they waited for Finn, Rey found herself recounting her testimony in her mind. Although her findings were comprehensive, and she succinctly conveyed her conclusions, she was experiencing just an inkling of doubt. Deep down she believed her work on the report did little to measure up to her usual flawless assessments that she’d produced in the past. But Rey was confident her actual testimony went well.

The awkward silence grew and seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Her eyes were drawn to his large hands, which he, all at once, began rubbing slowly along his thick thighs. Seeing his wrists unfettered conjured such unusual feelings deep within her. There were such strange stirrings that bubbled low in her stomach. She tried unsuccessfully to swallow them down.

Instead, Rey opted to break the silence. “Finn should be along soon. I am certain.” She offered, wanting to be encouraging.

Ben drew one hand up to his collar, loosening his tie right at the knot at the base of his neck.

Rey watched him as his anxiety ultimately rose and spiked.

Then he pressed both hands deeper, spreading his long fingers wider apart upon the fabric. Ben began rubbing them harder along his legs nervously while looking straight ahead and not at her directly. “Dr. Kenobi?”

“Yes, Ben…” He turned to face her at the sound of his own name.

“Thank you – for everythin’.”

“You’re most welcomed, Ben.”

“Will ya write ta me?” Both moved and shocked by the request, Rey took a second to adjust her demeanor to issue an appropriate response.

“Why sure … um - If you’d like me to, I will.” Her lashes fluttered, barely noticeable, as her eyes fell a little downcast. She contemplated all the inner conflict not to mention the dilemma that this might present. But Rey knew it was more important to be reassuring than relaying all the ethical questions it raised.

“Cuz I would really like dat -- I’d like dat very much.” Chewing the inside of his jaw, his eyes widened awaiting more of a response.

She offered him a weak smile, chuckling barely under her breath. “Now, I don’t want to have my letters piled on top of all those from your many fans.” Hoping he’d recognize, appreciate the humor, she looked at him sitting there all freshly shaved and in the suit that Finn had purchased for the hearing and she tried very hard not to stare. Rey couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away.

He widely grinned and exposed his deep dimples. The sight allowed her to indulge the memory of the very first time she noticed them. “Well, Finn sez there’s a chance the Judge might send me ta dat State Mental Hospital up in Tupelo. If so, I cain’t really see Ol’ Man Peavey forwardin’ all my mail.” Ben then laughed heartily and it pleasantly surprised her to hear it. His laughter was so refreshing. It was deep, full and robust. Rey felt it reverberate through her whole body.

And as quickly as it erupted, it ceased. “Pay me no mind - I was only jus’ foolin’.”

Rey giggled. His smile slowly faded as his honeyed eyes homed in on hers, all warm and intense.

“But da real funny thing is — I know…” Tilting his head to the side and craning his neck to survey her, he paused, biting the corner of his lip. “I know I’d read yours.”

Now was the perfect time for that hug she wanted to give him, she thought.

Against her better judgment, she busied herself by digging through her handbag instead. After capturing a piece of paper quickly, she searched deeper in her bag for an ink pen. Before Rey became frustrated, she realized he had lifted a slow, steady hand up toward the back of her neck and loosened the one that was wedged through her bun.

He gently retrieved it. Time stilled.

A shiver raced up her neck and shoulders straight to her temples. Ben placed it in her open palm. “Here ya go, Doc.”

“T-thank you.” The brightest blush bloomed against her will as she let a chuckle slip. She rapidly scribbled her Quantico office address, email and number then handed it to him. Rey honestly saw no harm in it.

Instantly, they both grew quiet and listened, as they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Hard soled shoes beating upon the tile floor drew closer. Both Ben and Rey turned to find Finn standing there out in the hallway.

He poked his head into the bullpen and simply stated, “Hey! The judge is back! We have a ruling, guys.”

*****

Upon returning to hear the judge’s decision, Ezra quickly tucked himself into the same row, taking the seat right next to Rey. First, rubbing her thigh then offering a reassuring pat, he squeezed Rey’s hand with an impish grin. “Well, this is it.” He barely whispered.

Judge Bail Organa marched back into the courtroom and ascended the bench. A hush fell from the high domed ceilings to the parquet floor. His expression was completely devoid of emotion, immovable and unreadable.

Finn turned to them both, issuing a subtle wink while his right hand found its way to rest on Solo’s broad shoulder.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” Organa removed his glasses, carefully setting them down before him on his blotter.

He cleared his throat while allowing his eyes to roam the courtroom once again, purposefully making contact with people in the gallery and members of both sides.

“This has been a very difficult decision. I did not want to enter into this hearing nor make this ruling lightly. Given the political pressure, it was necessary to purge myself of any preconceived notions … and just ‘hear’ the case on its own merits.” The judge grabbed the pile of papers strewn in front of him, tapped the notes, case files and collected evidentiary samples evenly into a big stack and laid them neatly to the side.

“After reviewing all of the new compelling evidence: The missteps of the original defense team, the prosecutorial misconduct especially related to the discovery of the note found during the original search and seizure of Solo’s apartment upon arrest. Not to mention, in light of the recent handwriting analysis expert’s testimony, Dr. Kenobi’s report, the videos, and her impressive testimony.”

Judge Organa, at that point, spoke directly to Ben Solo. “I will, in all good conscience, have to vacate the prior verdict, overturn, and declare a mis-trial. And for the interim, I now do hereby remand you, Benjamin O. Solo, to the Mississippi State Hospital in Tupelo for further evaluation and treatment.”

A barely audible, collective breath which seemed to have been held forever, bubbled up from all four of them, signaling their relief.

Finn, never one to gloat or showboat in the courtroom, emitted a bright burst of a whispered, “Yesssss.”

Now seething, Jessika Pava, appeared to be clearly apoplectic. Rey watched her as she stood, digging her long nails into the leather-bound tri-folder atop her desk. Her law clerk leaned in to reassure her in hushed tones.

After Jessica Pava leapt to her feet, with much irritation, she leaned into the state’s table, hands gripping the edges, and blurted out. “Your Honor -- Let the record show the State’s intentions to appeal this ruling and to retry this case.”

Folding his hands in resignation, Organa dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “So noted. But, unless there is anything else -- We’re done here, ladies and gentlemen.” His eyes shot to Finn as he produced his new handkerchief, and briskly patted it across his brow.

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Finn nodded while Ben mimicked him in a much lower tone. “Thank you, Your Honor.”

“Adjourned.” The gavel slammed down heavy and hard.

As Rey looked on, still a little stunned, she felt Ezra’s arm snake around the back of their bench pulling her in for a warm congratulatory hug. She instantly became flushed, then knew why when she felt his eyes on her.

Turning back toward Finn, there was Ben Solo. His expression was one of acceptance, relief, but polite and pleased with the outcome, and yet, there was also an added warmth about him. A shy smile pressed at the corners of his full lips and she knew it meant, ‘thank you’. And that it was meant only for her.

*****

Rey was very anxious to say good-bye and good luck. Amilyn had been quite right. This was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity for her to grow. She was truly grateful to Finn for the learning experience.

She did want to stay in touch and keep tabs on Ben’s progress and hope filled future. The State Mental Hospital in Tupelo would clearly offer a welcomed change. No longer worrying about him having to chuck her letters on top of the fan mail pile had briefly crossed her mind again, not entirely sure where that ridiculous notion even came from. Rey shook her head and dismissed the thought as soon as it entered her mind while she continued down the narrow corridor for the second time that day.

She really was sincerely happy that he was finally off The Row and felt a swell of both pride and a sense of accomplishment. Her biggest hope was for Ben to get the help he truly needed. With therapy and treatment and medication, he could finally mend the broken pieces of his life and ultimately move on. And even if the State pursued trying him once more, she knew there would be a far better outcome.

At a brisk pace, she trotted down the last few remaining stairs as she neared the bull pen, and then took a second to smooth her hair back from her forehead and remove her glasses. Rey hurriedly ran the tip of her tongue across her top teeth to remove any stray runaway lipstick.

She hurriedly swiped Finn’s pass key card through the reader on the door’s sensor lock, when the tiny light lit green, she pushed it open routinely, hoping to see the guard. Only instead upon entering, she seemed to have kicked and stepped into a small pile of crumpled clothes lying in a heap on the tile floor. Within a split second, she glanced down to further inspect them.

They were a combination of a custodians' coveralls and a MDOC guard’s uniform strewn on the tile. She stood there frozen in horror at the very thought. An inordinate amount of uneasiness consumed her while her pulse began to race.

For Gods Sakes, Woman - Yell out for help, Rey - the idea screamed through her brain, when at that very second, two thick strong arms came from behind her, reached across her shoulders, and wrapped tightly around her neck and throat.

With a sudden tug and solid jerk of her body, she was snatched right up off the floor, forcing her back to arch severely. Rey dug her nails in and scratched hard at the elbows pointed beneath her chin to no avail as her feet were veritably dangling. Gasping and choking as terror wrenched through her stomach, she fought hard and kicked at nothing more than air.

Panic stricken, Rey felt all the blood in her body rush to her brain as the pressure built and swelled behind her temples. Unable to breathe, her eyes frantically searched out the ceiling when her heels clattered to the floor. The sound echoed eerily as it ricocheted against the walls.

As if in slow motion, her vision blurred, then faded from gray to black. Her flailing slowed, and her head seemed to swim, hazy as if in dark, murky water. Before Rey’s eyes gradually fell shut to the darkness of unconsciousness, she could only barely make out two men in underwear motionless on the floor just inside the bars of the empty holding cell that had been His.

*****

Chapter Text

Worried beyond measure at the news, and without further thought or delay, she chose to fly down immediately. Amilyn could only imagine how terrified Rey must have been.

Holdo had felt Finn’s crippling fear, aggravation and concern pulsing through the phone like a heavy heartbeat.

She offered him all of her flight information while she made the reservations online. Multi-tasking by packing simultaneously, she walked deliberately through her condo, and constantly reassured him that none of this was his fault. Amilyn convinced him that Rey was quite capable of handling herself. She especially acknowledged her abilities to reason her way out of danger.

“Rey’s highly skilled, very clever and sharp-witted, Finn. You know her as well as I do, if not better. She’ll get through this. She will. Have faith in her.”

Taking a deep breath, Finn paused before responding. “I know, Amilyn. And I will, thanks.” He sighed deeply, feeling better knowing he could count on her.

She felt certain she was successful in calming him. “I’ll see you soon then.”

“Oh, it may be Ezra picking you up instead of me. Hope that’s okay…?”

“Sure, Finn.”

“Good night.”

"Night."

By the time Amilyn hung up, her packing was nearly halfway finished. Scanning her bedroom, Amilyn let her eyes fall onto the framed photo of her and Rey. They took it outside the Smithsonian three years ago. Despite putting on a brave face, a strong show of support and encouragement, deep down, she was equally as worried as he was.

*****

Gripping his pen with such pressure, forcing his liver spotted hand to whiten, he sat holding the phone with his other, seething.

“Dat’s right. Everybody means everybody!” The middle-aged man leaned back fully in his oversized desk chair, rocking it as he dragged his nails deeply into his scalp. He roughly made furrows through the crown of his crew cut. “Yeah, we’re on it and we’re all finally talking. Good, good.”

He then listened intently without any remark.

“Uh-huh. Uh-huh… I got it.” He quickly jotted down the information with a furied frenzy. “So, what exactly was the response time?”

“Ah, Hell… “ He scrubbed at his forehead with three fingers and loudly groaned. “Okay, then, guess I’ll see ya there.”

Gathering up the hefty files already randomly piled high on top of his desk, he pressed the button on his desk phone for his secretary’s extension and put her on speaker. “Sally, Sally – please call Irma for me and let her know I jus’ caught a hot one.”

Marshall Orson Krennec slowly stood up from his desk, sliding the weathered pads of his fingers and palms to the small of his back, arching it until he heard the telltale popping sound of muscles stretched and pulled. He threw his head back and stiffened, before shoveling all the files angrily into a large, battered, brown leather briefcase.

An unintelligible squeal rich with static peeled through the speaker in response. Circling his desk, he caught a glimpse of himself in the huge mirror mounted on the wall directly across from him. His sweaty thin upper lip was a clear indication that he was already under grave pressure.

“No, I’m not going to text her, Sally. Awww... for Christ’s sake. Just tell her I’ll call her the minute we get settled in Meridian.”

A very high pitched, “Aight den, Marshall”, shrieked through the speaker again. Krennec rose to his feet, swiping his jacket off the coat hook. Feeling somewhat incomplete his chin dipped to his chest, evaluating. The Marshall hauled back over to his desk and began rifling through the top drawer until he located his badge.

He ambled back across the room, taking in his image in the mirror once more. He pinned his badge to the lapel of his jacket, then grabbed his side arm, dropping it unceremoniously into his shoulder holster.

Then the Marshall wrestled up his Stetson from atop the coat rack and routinely used its’ brim to flick off the light switch as he closed the door shut behind him when he exited.

*****

With a blur of typing fingers, he rapidly replied to his last email from the Jackson field office, afterward, he checked his Longines Spirit. Then he quickly confirmed his departure time.

Once forwarding a series of photos of the escaped convict, the special agent exited out of his email. Closing his laptop, he meticulously unplugged it, wrapped the cord, then secured and placed it inside its calfskin case next to his desk.

While simultaneously checking his timepiece again, he swiped his cell. He sighed deeply when he ran a hand up to smooth his hair all the way back to the nape of his neck.

“Yes, understood.” retrieving his go bag from just outside his office closet door. “Is the team ready?” He nodded, glancing down at his watch once more. “Wheels up…?” Upon receiving a response, he cooed, “Ideal.”

Special Agent Thrawn surveyed his office thoroughly. In all likelihood, he knew it would be the last time for an indeterminate amount of time. He turned off his desk lamp.

Shutting off the wall light switch, he exited his office and headed down the hallway toward her unit.

After entering the BAU, he made a right and walked right down the long hallway passing by Dr. Holdo’s office. It was dark – she never left this early. He knew this. He knew her all too well.

Dr. Kenobi had been one of her star pupils. He was aware that Amilyn most likely was already on her way to Mississippi. She’d probably arrive in Meridian before him. He turned on his heels with a military flare and polish, hastily heading back down the corridor toward the elevators.

Thrawn knew Amilyn had to be devastated and terribly distraught.

Refocused and highly driven now, he briefly thought about all the added internal and external ramifications of the case. Up until now, his assignments had simply been about work. They were always just cases for him. If it had ever come close to being personal, this would be the time.

He reached the elevators and pressed the down button hard. Instantly, one pinged and the polished, stainless steel doors whooshed open right away. His gaze was drawn to his watch once more.

Thrawn shook his head as he entered the elevator. His piercing dark eyes swept over the mirrored panels the moment the doors closed. With a steely scrutiny, he assessed himself, straightening his tie with precision. After smoothing it down flat, centered between the lapels, he brushed the hem of his tapered, single buttoned, no pleats, no vents suit jacket, he finally approved. Then, the Special Agent texted his team that he was approaching the lobby.

*****

The interrogation disguised as an interview went horribly. It took all that he had to remain calm and composed. All his thoughts revolved around his best friend and her safety.

He slammed his office door. The energy he exuded as he stomped into the room was beyond frenetic. Finn was consumed by both fear and guilt, biting into the corner of his lower lip, shredding it almost until it tore bloody.

Finn was positively inconsolable. Relentlessly pacing in his office, he gripped his cell tightly to his ear as he sobbed into the phone, much of what he said, unintelligible.

“Oh, baby -- I’m so, so sorry. Look, I’ll be up there as soon as I can. Okay?” Jannah tried to ease Finn’s worry for only just a moment. “Poor Rey. Damn!!!” Jannah paused briefly, gauging his mood, wanting to be sure of his response and how to proceed. “Do they have any leads yet? Any leads at all?”

Finn stuttered and choked as he attempted to stifle his tears. “No-no, Jannah, not yet.” Pausing to weigh his next statement, Finn went ahead and simply volunteered. “But both the guard and the janitor are dead, Jannah.”

Her gasp was loud and gut wrenching. “What??”

“This is all my fault, Jannah – I know it, I know it is. I’m to blame for all of this. I am. And if something happens to her – If anything happens to Rey, I swear...” He hung his head after the rant. His chest shuddered, wracked with an endless hollow ache.

“No, Finn. No, you’re not responsible. You’re NOT!” She sighed heavily. “She’ll be alright. I believe it and you need to believe it, too. For Rey’s sake. Just hold on, baby. I’ll see ya in less than two hours.”

His constant pacing ceased as Finn switched ears with his cellphone. “From Mobile to Meridian?” He huffed, then snorted. “Jannah, please don’t speed.”

“Finn!!” Her voice easily lowered three octaves.

"Well ---- Please, at least don’t get pulled over.” Finn conceded knowing his fiance all too well. He finally keeled over into his chair, exhausted.

“I won’t, I won’t.” A mere moment passed between them.

“See ya soon, babe.” She blew a gentle kiss to him through the phone. “Love you, Shorty.”

Finn sighed. “I love you, too.” She had already hung up by the time he squeezed out, “Please, be careful, Jannah.”

*****

The large conference room was unbearably stuffy, thick with tension. It was filled to capacity, and each stark white wall was covered in maps marking strategic sites for grid searches.

Paige stood up and leaned over Kanan’s lap to reach for and gather up the remaining surveillance tapes. “The M.E. has confirmed both deaths by asphyxiation. And apparently the custodian suffered a broken neck. His spinal column was completely severed at the neck… snapped clean.” She turned to make direct eye contact directly with US Marshall Krennic.

“Wait jus’ a second now. Hold on… ya mean with his bare hands?” The head marshal pushed into the table, pressing his wrists hard to the surface.

Both Paige and Kanan responded simultaneously. “Yes, sir.”

“Here’s what we have so far, provided by Jackson’s PD.” She pointed with her pen. “And as you all can see, the cameras in the stairwell offer very little. Suspect is mostly out of frame.” Paige pressed pause on the remote. “But when we pause here, stop-frame in the hall outside the emergency exit,even though it’s blurry but … here, you can spot a figure, a large man, clad in a maintenance uniform pushing a large trash bin.” She used the laser pointer to encircle the lone suspect on the screen.

Pressing his shoulders squarely back in his chair, Krennic nodded, his index finger laid heavily on his pursed lips. Turning away from the monitor, he swiveled in his chair to face them both. “Well, then let’s see the footage again from outside the courthouse.”

“Sure thing.” Kanan eyed his partner as Paige quickly ejected one tape, replacing it with another.

The video whirred as it ran. Paige offered more commentary. “Here is what we believe to be the truck that was used in their escape. It was the only one in the lot unaccounted for, sir. Motor Vehicles has confirmed that the temp paper tag on it was clearly a forgery. No such tag is registered or even exists.”

Kanan added. “We’re currently running the make and model against any recent auto thefts.”

A few low grumblings were heard throughout the room.

“Aigh, aight now, ladies and gentlemen. Settle down, ev’rybody.” Krennec wanted to calm everyone, alleviate the brewing tension, have them focus and move forward. “Has somebody gotten back with my request for camera footage from major access roads leading outa town yet?”

An officer chimed in. “No, sir. Still waiting on it.”

“Notify me when they do. Once things are nailed down shut, I wanna initiate teams for grid searches.”

"Sir, yes, sir."

After a very loud, hard knock at the door, one of Krennic’s marshals entered hurriedly. “Marshal Krennic, the FBI are finally here.” After his announcement, the marshal nervously backed out as quickly as he entered, leaving the door wide open.

A very tall slender man in black sunglasses, and impeccably dressed in a royal blue silk suit, strode into the briefing room. “Marshall Krennic, Detectives Jarrus and Tico, I am Special Agent Thrawn.” Bending directly over the conference table, he offered handshakes to each of the three. His cool manner and commanding presence were undeniable, while he scanned the room, providing a curt nod to all the other officers present.

“My team’s just outside and we’ve all been thoroughly prepped by the Mississippi Bureau.” He spoke slowly and deliberately... clipped yet, smooth. It seemed to match his steamed, pressed and starched persona much like his custom-made tailored suit.

Relieved, Krennic rose to stand. “Good to know, now we can hit the ground running. This Task Force needs to get cracking. It’s been over three hours, Thrawn. Now, we need to git about what we do best… And that’s the catchin’ escaped convicts biz-ness”

“Yes.” Intense and rather dispassionate, Thrawn merely nodded curtly. “Indeed.”

Paige eyed the agent carefully and let her gaze gradually drift to Kanan. She found Thrawn to be quite measured, nonchalant, bordering on aloof, but very impressive.

The FBI agent coolly cruised the large conference room. After he viewed the crime board and maps of the surrounding areas, his attention was immediately drawn to the images of Ben Solo and Dr. Rey Kenobi.

“And – Still only the one hostage, Kenobi …?”

Both Krennec and Jarrus nodded.

“Well, it just so happens I know the good doctor.” Cool and rather unruffled, Thrawn admitted while removing his sunglasses, pressing them routinely into his suit jacket breast pocket. “I always found her to be most capable, highly proficient and very insightful. Most competent, indeed. Hmmm… I can assure you. If anyone can add grains of sand to their hourglass, it would undoubtedly be her.”

He circled the table slowly. “And this is … our fugitive, Benjamin Solo, the one suspect” He smoothed a hand through his cropped wavy, black hair. Thrawn stared hard into the eyes of Ben’s picture.

Detective Jarrus pointedly cleared his throat. “A new development, sir…” Kanan stood up slowly, turned to face the monitor once more for only a second before confronting and offering Thrawn a whispered, aside. “It looks like there’s a possibility – well, only a slight chance that we may have two.”

Krennec butted in. “Right now, however, that’s only conjecture, Detective. But keep that under yer hat til we have more, Jarrus.”

*****

Paige hurried through the lobby, making her way back toward the Task Force conference room.

“Pardon me, pardon me. Coming through. Coming through …” Hurriedly, Paige squeezed through the tight throng of officers, marshals and federal agents in the hallway until she was right up on the coattails of Special Agent Thrawn. “Excuse me, Agent Thrawn.”

His lip barely curled at the corner of his mouth just as he spun around to engage her. “Yes?”

“It's Detective Tico, sir.”

“I’m aware.”

“Well, I heard you mention back there that you know Dr. Kenobi.” She shoved her hands deeply into her leather jacket pockets. “Mind if I ask…? Did the two of you ever work together on any cases?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, we did.” Thrawn arched an eyebrow and focused intently on the ambitious young detective.

“We worked on quite a few cases together. About four years ago, we paired up on a landmark case – she was my lead profiler, highly skilled, and chiefly responsible for us securing the major leads to locate and ultimately apprehend the suspect.” He hummed with ease and an air of indifference.

“So… uh,” Paige leaned against the doorway, intrigued. “A landmark case… you say?”

“Well, yes. Are you familiar with the Darth Maul case?” He casually retrieved his cell from his pocket and merely glanced at it, then rapidly replaced it.

“What...? Really? Darth Maul? You mean the I-95 Sniper, Darth Maul?” Paige was in awe but tried to hide her burgeoning enthusiasm. “Oh, yes, are you kidding? I’m very familiar. Yes, I followed just about every aspect of that case.”

He breathed. “Yes, unfortunately a moniker given to him by the media. But Dr. Kenobi was most impressive, she was singularly focused and conducted herself in an exemplary fashion. We could not have solved it without her.”

“Oh – Wow… that is just incredible.”

Pulling his cuffs neatly down to his wrists, Thrawn watched the young detective carefully, closely, almost hawk-like as she closed her mouth slowly. He extended his right hand to shake hers.

“Well, as you know we are all working tirelessly to apprehend Solo as quickly as possible. So, if you don’t mind, I’m needed elsewhere at the moment.” Thrawn glanced down at his watch. “But I am looking forward to working closely with you.” He turned sharply to head back toward the conference room. “So, if you’ll excuse me, Detective Tico, I have an important meeting.”

*****

Ezra had showed up at the airport to pick her up instead of Finn. He drove straight to the Meridian Police Department.

He brought Amilyn up to speed on their way to meet with Finn while they joined the others at the Task Force Headquarters. Finn was already standing outside in the hallway when he met Ezra and Dr. Holdo. “Dr. Holdo, Special Agent Thrawn wishes to speak with you.” Finn said as he took her hand and escorted her to the conference room, allowing her to enter without him.

She gently closed the door behind her. Seeing her fellow fed alone in the room, she circled the conference table.

“Dr. Holdo…” Thrawn rose to his feet and held out his hand warmly to shake hers. “I was very encouraged to hear you were coming down. But I knew that you would. And hoped I could count on you for some support.” He pulled out a chair and she accepted it politely, making herself comfortable.

“It is so good to see you, Agent Thrawn. It has been quite a while.” She remembered his previous assignment in Minnesota which had his team entangled since the holidays.

“Yes.” Thrawn nodded, adding, “That last case in Milwaukee with Sipho Dyas. It’s been nearly seven months or so I imagine.”

“Yes, yes. Good work, by the way.” She tilted her head slightly and lowered her chin, offering him all the sincerity her crystal blue eyes could offer. “I just wish the circumstances now were different.”

He grabbed his chair by the back and quickly dragged it much closer to hers, taking his seat directly in front of hers. “I know, Amilyn, I know – and I am so sorry.”

She wanted to dispense with sentiment but could not. “And do know that you’ve got me for as long and as much as you need me.” Holdo’s voice choked with raw emotion.

“My men and I have already poured over Kenobi’s session tapes, testimony as well as her full report with a fine-tooth comb, but – Amilyn, we could really benefit from your insights. Especially if she shared any of hers with you during her time with Solo.”

She scanned the conference room, her eyes found the shut door. Amilyn then nodded knowingly, leaning back in her seat comfortably and quickly shedding the formalities. “Mitt, Mitt, as always, you know I appreciate you. This will indeed be a challenge, but I’m so glad to be working alongside you and your team.” She rubbed two fingers deliberately to her forehead.

“I, too, have been through them as well. I already made arrangements to stay at Rey’s motel -- in her room for now, actually. The clues, if there are any, will most likely be found in her notes. She’s a prolific note taker, and I’m certain something may surface when studying them in their raw form.””

“Aah, yes - her notes.” He allowed himself to finally relax in both his chair and his demeanor. “Good, good, my friend.”

Amilyn drew her hand down slowly, pinning her fist to her chin, and supporting her elbow on the conference table. “That’s where any ‘real’ answers may lie.”

“I’m very confident you will figure it out, Amilyn.” Thrawn gently placed his assuring palm flat upon her knee, patting. “And rest assured - - We will find her, Am. We Will Find Her.”

*****

Rey woke with a start, frightened and frantic. Startled into a clouded consciousness, her whole body shook violently, but her movements were hampered, restricted. She began to tremble. The tightness around her hands and feet was sharp and unforgiving. Her sore, aching wrists and ankles wrenched to free themselves from their confines. Chafing left them raw and it was unbearable.

She felt so weak, light-headed, woozy… almost as if she were drugged. What the Hell happened?

Her memory fractured, her mind gone, her whole head, fuzzy, filled with cobwebs. She desperately tried to remember, recall the events that led her here. There were only tiny flashes, pixelated images that whizzed by, unclear but still frightening. Large, thick arms wrapped tightly around her neck. Faceless men in skivvies on his cell floor. Being tossed and thrown this way and that inside some vehicle - maybe a truck or van.

The one constant was ... the darkness.

And that same darkness --- an endless black cloaked her and it seemed relentless. After opening her eyes, she realized she was blindfolded, feeling the fabric as it dragged rough against her lids and lashes.

She was bound, gagged and blindfolded… just like his victims. The bonds on her wrists and ankles felt like plastic and her blindfold and gag were cloth… cotton, perhaps.

Sheer dread filled her.

Immediately, the fear seized her utterly and completely. It curdled low in her belly and as it began to spread, it ratcheted up, searing and scorching, burning through her veins.

“Help! Help Me! SOMEONE, PLEASE —-HELP ME!!!” But only the sounds of garbled groans were strained and muffled fitfully through the gag.

Clenching her fists, Rey repeatedly rocked all her weight forward. Frenzied, gasping for breaths -- Rey began hyperventilating. The chords in her neck, stiffened tense and rigid. She forced herself to hang her head and slow her breathing. Inhaling through her nose and exhaling ragged puffs from her mouth. She made herself repeat it over and over … In and out, in and out.

Rey listened to her own breathing, and began monitoring her pulse.

Then, like a wall it hit her, thick and pungent. The odor was sour, heavy, and very crude like soil and clay combined. She also smelled the heavy scent of mold and mildew. She immediately surmised she was in a basement or a cellar. The dampness -- it explained all the chilly, clammy feeling. The pieces all fell ultimately into place -- the Where.

Rey could even taste it on her tongue, acidic and cool metal, like copper.

Her mouth was so very dry and her head -- still throbbed. Rey’s clothes were soiled. She sat uncomfortably still, cold, wet as her dress clung to her sticky, soaked in her own puddle.

The chair was cold metal but with a padded seat and back. Her pantyhose had obviously been removed. No -- ripped off of her, she remembered. Frayed edges of her crepe hem along her thighs proved the dress was ruined as well. She was barefoot now, and the balls and pads of her feet scraped the impossibly rough cement floor.

BEN!! Rey whimpered.

How could he have done this? How? He was so close. Why? Why?

Standing on the verge of something that could change his life entirely … completely. And he was willing to throw it all away. Makes no sense… no sense at all. Unless of course he is the monster they all believed him to be. The monster I didn’t see.

Heavy tears welled up clouding her weak eyes.

How could I have been so wrong? How could I have not seen it?

Instantly, whirling images of his victims began to run rampant through her mind. Just like during the run before his hearing. She was haunted by their silent pleas for help. Now, Rey knew that powerlessness. It sank into every fiber of her, marrow deep. Slowly but surely, she had been added to his victim list.

Soon, there’ll be a plastic bag over my head.

Her chest heaved while every muscle in her body tensed and went rigid. Then the sight of Ben’s large hands pressed firm into the metal table in the lounge flew into her brain. Those hands were capable of this. Those hands were capable of all the things he was tried and convicted for!

Rey began to sob uncontrollably. Her body was under siege. She was racked with convulsions, shuddering inside her chest. She feared they would turn it inside out. She shivered with feverish chills, running both hot and cold. Bile rose up and erupted geyser-like in her throat. The uncontrollable reflex forcing her to retch was cut short – the gag prevented it. She swallowed over and over again in hopes of soothing her nausea.

Fuck this maniac! He lied… He lied to me the whole time. And I had fallen prey to his subterfuge. Fallen prey to this madman everyone had portrayed him to be… So manipulative, loathsome and hateful.

He Betrayed Me! Stupid, trusting, naive little Rey.

He betrayed me. This time, the words were silently spoken and yet painfully etched in her heart, wounding her with the realization of the deepest hurt.

If only she had turned that high powered magnifying glass that she used on Solo on herself. A laser-like focus cast on her own motives, causes and conditions may have revealed more. At the very least, she may have seen this coming.

Whoever sees something like this coming? I should have. I get paid to see things like this coming.

All of her guilt and shame had her, once again, feeling useless and unlovable.

No, no, Noooo! Her mind screamed at her. I will not indulge this self-defeating bullshit!

Twisting and flexing her wrists once more in defiance, Rey rocked back and forth in the chair. The clattering and grinding metal on cement screeched and nearly squealed. She struggled to free herself in vain.

Rey scrambled to pull on her professional hat, because she needed to – Discern, discover, detect, deduce, ascertain… If only she could speak with him, clearly, he was not completely beyond reason.

Aaaaaah - Fuck It!! Her mind just wasn’t working. And it wasn’t helping her at all.

The psychologist may not get her out of this, but there is a small chance that the empath might. The scrappy little scavenger, the sensitive little foster child just might. Especially considering it was the psychologist that got her into this in the first place.

Aside from admitting that she was foolish and embarrassed by that fact, Rey could no longer afford to wallow in it. She sensed a raging indignation bubbling up inside the pit of her stomach. Fully familiar with the notion that anger would serve her far better than any pity ever would.

As opposed to further indulging the fear, the shock and hurt she was experiencing, Rey decided to cast out all weakness and crippling self-doubt.

Vengeance and anger coursed through Rey, and she embraced it rather than drowning in her self-pity. Despite the imminent danger, the crippling fear and horror, Rey refused to fall to hopelessness.

The thought took on a physical manifestation as she sat up tall and straight in the chair. Rey gritted her teeth, forcing out a harsh breath between them. What began to surge through her -- every single inch of her, was now sheer rage.

*****

Chapter Text

Finn and Ezra were anxious to know how they could be of help. As they all piled into Kanan’s office and gathered around his desk, Paige crossed over to shut the door quickly behind them.

“With this newly formed Task Force, there’ll be marshals and feds crawling all over the place now. And we must take great care with the chain of command and the dissemination of information especially regarding any new leads.”

"So, listen up." Kanan went on. “Here’s what we do know. The clues and the only evidence we have thus far.” Kanan pointed to the Jackson's courthouse staff documentation provided by the sheriff’s office. It was laid out all over his blotter and desk.

Paige added. “Seems that there was a guard’s uniform and a custodian’s uniform missing.” She looked to Jarrus for additional support.

“We’re not entirely sure but some are beginning to think he may have had help -- A common theory is Solo didn’t break himself out of holding; it would’ve been virtually impossible.” A silent recognition passed between them, all nodding intently. “Don’t get me wrong - he could’ve, but it would’ve been quite the feat.”

“He had to overpower both men in only a matter of minutes.” Kanan attempted to work out the half-baked theory as he talked it through. “Subdue the doctor… Then of course, there’s the truck. And all the CCTV footage shows that it had been parked there since early that morning, way before the hearing began. Probably a slight chance it had been abandoned, but its availability is awfully suspect.”

“Oh, and we also gotta call from Parchman. Apparently, Warden Peavey had his cell tossed and they found nothing useful. Solo had no visitors, other than Dr. Kenobi, no recent mail and no calls.” Paige offered the added information.

“Without any evidence there was a coordination of effort and no signs of communication or collaboration, it makes an accomplice unlikely. Understandably, none of it has been substantiated. So, neither Krennec nor Thrawn want to hang their hats on that theory.”

“Help or no help… Do we know if he’s still got Rey? I- I mean how do we even know she’s still alive…?” Afraid of his own inference, Finn gulped down the words, fretting. Ezra turned to face him, both sorry and frightened by the implication. “I mean how can we know if she’s - if she’s safe?”

The small office fell into an uncomfortable silence.

“Well, we don’t. Not really…” Paige opted to break it. “But according to his M.O, though, Solo used to keep his victims for almost over two weeks if not more…”

Not meaning to sound dispassionate, her brutally honest observation had landed with all its unintended sharpness and it truly stung.

Finn flinched, pushing his fingers and palms hard into the desk. "You - you don't believe Rey was helping him... that she was involved, do you...?

"Naw, not at all. Her shoes were found outside the holding cell. And the scuff marks indicated a struggle." Kanan pressed his lips to narrow and compress into a straight line. He sighed.

Finn stilled his hands and tried to relax, acknowledging the severity of the situation. His chin dipped low to his chest for only a moment before he spoke again. “Well, are there any other leads at least?” Finn forced himself to sound hopeful despite how he was truly feeling.

“No tips - no sightings. There’s a BOLO out for both him and that truck. Marshall Krennec and his men have nailed down several checkpoints for all of the major interstates and highways.”

Both Ezra and Finn nodded silently.

Kanan stood up, hiking his baggy jeans further up onto his waist and narrow hips. Then, he leaned down, placing his hands squarely on his desk. “Okay -- Here’s how you guys may be of assistance - We need you to provide us with any additional insights you may have into both Solo and Dr. Kenobi. As well as any strategies you feel Dr. Kenobi may employ to help her survive.” He made direct eye contact with Paige, Ezra and then turned back to fully face Finn.

Ezra leapt at the chance to add, "She's sharp and if she can, Rey will definitely drop us some breadcrumbs." His eyebrows rose high as he eyed each of them.

“Yeah, and ya know — I keep thinking about what Thrawn said earlier. ‘If anyone can add sand to their hourglass, it's her.’ So, let’s all stay positive and prepare to move quickly.”

Finn chimed in eagerly. “Well, Dr. Amilyn Holdo from up at Quantico, she's Rey’s superior and has just arrived. The two of them are very, very close - in some ways she knows Rey far more intimately than I do… well, in a professional sense.” Finn shrugged, then leaned down over the desk, pinching the bridge of his nose, deep in thought. “She was also Rey’s mentor and advisor. She’s agreed to help out in whatever way she can.”

“I just picked her up from the airport a little over an hour ago and she’s meeting with Special Agent Thrawn as we speak.” His lips pulled to the side to form his crooked little smile.

Kanan drew three fingers to his chin and raked them through his beard. “Okay , okay. This sounds like a beginning at least. We’ll keep you guys informed. Just let us know whatever you may believe to be helpful… significant. Contact me or Paige with anything you might unearth.”

Finn reached out for Kanan’s hand and shook it briskly. “Gotcha. We’ll definitely do whatever we can. Thanks.” Finn looked to Ezra and he echoed his sentiment.

“Yeah, you can count on us. Sure, we’ll do whatever we can.”

*****

How could I have been so wrong? Her gut wrenched with the guilt of her own ineptitude. How did I not see this? Why was my reasoning so skewed -- so clouded?

More than anything, Rey hoped he would come wash her up and change her into another clean tee shirt. This one is starting to look and smell like my old dress. There was something very sick and twisted about that - she knew - the fact that she’d come to look forward to something like that. Something so small, so simple, and yet, so demeaning – It was pathetic really.

From upstairs she heard music playing. The loud blaring of some country western tune she wouldn't possibly recognize seeped through the carpeting and floorboards.

Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps descending the stairs. The weight of them forced the creaking wood. One step crunched as though it almost splintered and cracked under his immense frame. They grew louder and more constant - it was so unnerving hearing them near. Rey’s stomach churned.

Once more, her heart ached -- The very idea that it had been Ben, both shattered and saddened her. The reality that he had actually tied her up, blindfolded her, bound and gagged her made her shudder.

Again, a pall of betrayal fell over her like a shroud. Her lungs expanded and contracted. Rey felt the gurgling in her gut start to match the rhythm of her pounding heartbeat.

He approached her very slowly, breathing heavily, then stopped suddenly and stood still directly in front of her. Looming. She could smell him… tar and nicotine, non-menthol, and a common deodorant soap mixed with a hint of some cheap drugstore aftershave. Raking over her, Rey could feel his hard stare... eyes surveying her whole body making her exposed skin heated -- bristled.

All at once, a very slow-moving gloved hand - seemingly leather - silently ran two fingers down along the edge of her jaw. The sewn seams of the glove made fine ripples as they dragged against her skin. She swallowed and fought not to react, but the sensation became entirely too overwhelming. Rey stiffened, but then experienced an appalling sensation. It was that of a dull clawing along the base of her skull... Revulsion.

And it pained her, it was not the tender touch that she imagined several days ago and the idea hurt her even more deeply. She merely whimpered.

Attempting to pull away when she felt a new intrusion - more leather clad fingers gradually rose up her cheeks. Her face, now fully swallowed up in his one large hand, was squeezed together taught, pushing her cheeks together till they nearly rose up into the cloth of her blindfold. She sobbed as more tears pooled in the corners of her eyes.

He hovered so near, that she felt his hot breath on her face. It blew in warm waves over her nose and forehead. Intimidating, as he surveyed her, turning her face slowly from side to side, she was tempted to wriggle her wrists against her bonds, but instead, made herself relax in a feigned surrender.

Her need to flinch was so all-consuming, but Rey reasoned that any resistance now would be too risky. Fearing antagonizing him any further, she stuffed down all of her anger, hate and disgust. She sat there terribly still. Her stifled screams then melted into the tears that fell silent and unseen into the folds of fabric pulled across the bridge of her nose and tied tightly at the back of head.

He gradually released his grip and then issued a gruff, “Uh-huh.”

It was very low in his throat and purportedly a resignation of some kind. She listened to him turn slowly and walk away. A vile energy oozed from him, something cold -- dangerously cold. It was so reminiscent of the note. The Note. The baser instincts that drove one to write it were anger, cruelty and contempt.The impression she experienced from reading it was this very same feeling Rey got from this man - this stranger – this monster, perhaps there really was an alter.

The thought made her blood run icy.

As Rey heard him climb the stairs, she blinked away all of her hatred and loathing. She was never more determined to survive.

*****

Paige poked her head in the break room and found Detective Jarrus. He was hunched over the taller lunch counter by the fridge, stirring liquid creamer into his third cup of coffee for the day.

“Oh, there ya go. I was looking everywhere for you. Kanan, do you gotta sec…?” She nabbed a stool and dragged it across the floor over toward him.

“Sure, actually, I was just about to text you, Tico.” He angled his body and leaned a hip up against the counter to face her.

“Well, I just had the opportunity to talk with Agent Thrawn. Very interesting conversation.” Her eyes lit like a starstruck teenager. “He has solved some of the most major cases, and he’s got a lot of big collars. The man is practically famous. Thrawn’s pretty impressive, don’tcha think...”

“Yeah, I’d say he appears to be a seasoned professional and definitely knows his job.” Crossing his long legs at the ankle, he blew lightly across the top of his mug before taking a slow sip. “But I really gotta caution you, Paige. Please, don’t get all caught up in the glitz and glamor aspects of this investigation.”

She wrinkled her brow. “Woa - woah, wait a minute, Kanan. How do you mean ‘caught up’? That’s not even what’s happening here.” She swung her legs around the stool and sat up tall and at full attention. "I'm far from being caught up."

Kanan took another long sip of his java. His expression grew stern as he cocked his head slightly. “Everyone on this task force has a specific job to do, Paige. It's a team. We will all work better together if we simply stick to our assigned tasks. Is that clear, Tico?” His tone became harsher as he spoke. “I need you to understand.”

Paige sulked, not expecting him to rail her or use this as an opportunity for another lecture. “Of course, boss man. You got it.” Her chest caved and her shoulders sunk a little after feeling somewhat chastised.

“There’s no room for hot shots here.” Kanan gestured with both hands patting the counter as if tamping out a fire. “We just let the Feds do what they do. And let the Marshals do what they do. You get me..?”

Paige nodded sheepishly.

“You have to understand. I know you were just out of the academy back then, but this case shook all of Meridian six years ago.” Attentive, Paige skimmed her palms along her thighs and finally cupped them on the knees of her jeans as she affixed her wide eyes to her partner. "Shook it to its core."

Kanan scrubbed his free hand across the back of his neck, then took another sip. “Moden and I tried, but we dropped the ball. We may have gotten it wrong, Paige. But now, you and I have a chance to make things right.”

Detective Jarrus placed a reassuring hand on top of her shoulder, patted and softly squeezed.

“Good ol’ fashion police work. We’ll do what we do.” He nodded as he headed toward the break room door.

Kanan craned his neck in the doorway. “You comin’, detective?”

Paige leapt to her feet. “Ten four.” She smirked as she followed him out the door.

*****

In his room at the farmhouse, he lay there on the ratty mattress. As restless as he was, it felt more like pins and needles. Sleep was impossible.

Cracks in the ceiling and cobwebs in the corners, he stared up at all of them. Although his eyes were fixed, his mind wandered. It wandered down into the cellar.

He winced. It’s the exact same nightmare all over again.

Inside, Ben struggled incessantly with simply going to Rey and helping her escape and turning himself in.

I could do it. I could be her hero. He thought. I could.

More than anything, he wanted to do the right thing. He knew what he had to do but didn’t think he had the strength to do it.

But I’ve always been da biggest coward. “The Mouse” - jus’ like Kylo always called me.

A trapped little mouse. And he did feel trapped. Ben’s stomach churned, it twisted and turned till it left him with thousands of knots inside.

He rolled over onto the lumpy, battered mattress, burying his face and wrapping his thick arms around his midsection. Drawing his knees up into a tight ball, he rocked. It always worked at Parchment. He could easily rock away all the kinks, the chaos and confusion in order to settle his nerves.

But it wasn’t working. A rolling wave of nausea hit him hard, forcing him to clutch at his belly even harder.

Ben forced himself back over onto his back. He thought he heard her faint cries coming up from the bowels of the aged structure. Soft, quiet sobs, so soft and distant that he felt as though he imagined them. How could this woman be so strong and yet so fragile, he thought.

I’m da reason she’s here - I’m as much her captor as any. She doesn’t deserve dis. No one does.

She definitely doesn’t deserve it. Rey deserves ta be happy. She deserves ta be loved. I thought I could’ve... loved her. But I’m such a dayum fool.

Ben sensed a steady tightening, a tension inching up and growing in his thighs. The sensation was a warm one and he became awash with it.

He wanted her. He really wanted her, always has but not like this. But not like this.

I’m not him. I’m not like him. Nuffin’ like him!!

He grunted and then groaned as he rolled over again smothering his hard-on.

*****

The endless waiting allowed her mind to fill with constant thoughts, retracing her steps -- her missteps. Rey’s brain raced incessantly. She fought to keep focus not on her dire situation, anything was better than this hellhole she was in. Time continually slipped and she was certain the constant isolation was having adverse effects on her mind. Only the tragic endings to this scenario swam in her head. She had to fight hard to dwell on the possibility of a positive outcome -- ideally that was being rescued.

Different scenarios tumbled through her mind over and over. Rey had to force herself to hold onto hope. She had to hold onto something. Much like the theory she fed him once in their sessions - That no damage was irreparable.

Out of nowhere, an old childhood experience visited her completely uninvited. Now the memory for the first time in a very long time came back with a rushing wave and it seemed to taunt her. When she first went to live with Maz, when she experienced the cruelty of children for the first time.

It was the summer between her sixth and seventh birthday. It was painfully hot that day. Rey was grateful to be able to play outside and the hope of making new friends … any friends was so tempting.

“Let’s all play a new game”, they said. “It’ll be lotsa fun,” they told her. “It’s really easy and you'll love it.”

Rey was convinced.

“You just spin around and spin around until you get dizzy. See? And then one of us will come up behind you and squeeze you around your chest so tight that you’ll actually see stars.”

That afternoon in that community park, her tiny, little feet dangled merely a few inches off the ground while another older kid pressed the life’s breath from her body until her brain fogged over and she fell face first into the scorching pavement.

Minutes later two of the older children found her bleeding; they hadn’t even played the stupid game. They carried her all the way home. Maz was loving and supportive as always. She nursed the wound and made her feel less gullible and naive.

The deep gash on her forehead took entirely too long to heal. It was dreadful.

The lesson she thought she learned back then was ‘never be a follower’ and ‘always be a leader’. But every now and then, Rey supposed the actual lesson might’ve been ‘Not to trust’.

When those large, strong arms flew up to squeeze the breath out of her that day in the holding cell in Jackson, the experience all came right back to her. It totally flooded her memory.

Why had he done this? Why had Ben done this to her?

Rey cursed herself for trusting… Again.

*****

Finn lay silent across his sofa, with his head in Jannah’s lap. Her one hand lightly traced his chest while his eyes restlessly searched the ceiling.

“Hey…” She whispered. “Are you here with me?” She could tell he was also completely ignoring the game he insisted they turn on tv.

Slowly clasping her hand in his, he turned to peep up at her. “I’m here, babe. I’m here.”

“You sure? Haven’t spoken a single word since dinner. Not to mention the fact that you barely ate any of it.” Fully aware that Rey was his concern and source of worry, she gently brushed her other hand up to smooth it across his wrinkled brow.

“I’m sure.”

“Hmmpf. Well, you can’t fool me, Finn Frederick Bowen the Third, Esquire. You forget I know you all too well.” Jannah pressed further. “Please --- Talk to me.” She softened as she pleaded with him.

“I dunno, Jannah. I keep going over and over everything in my mind. It just doesn’t make any sense…” Raising up to support himself onto his elbows, Finn faced her squarely. “Why? The bigger question here, Jannah, is why...”

She lovingly gazed at him. Her heart ached as she witnessed him plummeting into this new low of self-inflicted torture and guilt. It hurt her to see him hurting himself in this way. Jannah inhaled softly and decided to gently probe him.“Do you mean why did... Solo do this?

An intensity ran through his expression like a sudden frightening revelation or recognition occurred. “Yeah, yeah, exactly. Cuz' you think after spending so much time with someone -- ya think you have a handle on ‘em. Ya know?”

He huffed. “But this - this was such a complete shock. Ben seemed genuinely happy for the outcome of the hearing. And - and he even told me how much he wanted to do something for Rey. Something special to thank her for helping him, ya know. And he was so sincere… he seemed so sincere.”

Jannah leaned in closer to him, taking his hands once more. “Right, right.” She nodded.

“Just doesn’t make any sense at all.” Finn bit hard into his lip while running his thumbs lightly over the back of her hands, barely bridging her knuckles. “They need to find them, Jannah. They need to find her.”

“I know, baby, they will.” Jannah pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “They will, Finn.”

*****

Once she turned her key to unlock the door, Amilyn pushed it open gradually. The room smelled like Rey. But she also couldn’t ignore the stagnate smell of stale smoke, the loaded ashtray sat on her desk. A single bottle of Jack Daniels sat upon her nightstand.

The motel room was filled with remnants of Rey. Amilyn observed her half-packed luggage, and the many carry-out bags of uneaten dinners in the fridge.

That bottle of Jack Daniels had a little less than three fingers left in it. Styrofoam containers from restaurants and juice and water bottles filled both the trash cans to the brim. Most of Rey’s clothes still hung in the closet and there were a few items folded neatly in the chair by her bags.

She wandered over to the small fridge and opened the door to find smaller containers of assorted snacks. A few cans of soda lined the door. Small plastic packets of condiments were strewn about the shelves.

Amilyn pulled out Rey’s old laptop, several legal pads, her hand-written notes and all the photographs related to the case and dumped it all onto the bed.

She shoved her luggage and overnight bag right next to Rey’s partially packed bags, lining them up beside each other flush against the wall. Amilyn then stood in the very center of Rey’s motel room.

Carefully, her eyes scoured the entire room, as she leaned against the chair tucked neatly under the desk. “Talk to me, Rey.” She shut her eyes tightly and took in a stuttered breath. “Tell me…”

She threw her head back and stood stone still. Clearing her mind, steadying herself, she attempted to connect with her colleague, her mentee, her pupil and friend.

“Please -- Tell me something, Rey.” Her body slumped with her last exhale. “Please.”

Ever since she was appointed team leader of the BAU at Quantico, Amilyn took her under her wing. She was extremely protective of Rey and had such high hopes for her both professionally and personally. Amilyn always saw a little of herself in the young psychologist. She loved her.

And now her heart was truly breaking.

Amilyn forced her eyes open and sat down on the bed, pressing her knees tightly together. Noticing Solo's 8 ½ X 11 glossy at the very center of the crime board, she froze. From the bed it was hard to miss. She followed Rey's line of sight.

"You became fixated, didn't you Rey? You were obsessing, weren't you, my dear?"

Summoning an incredibly sharp focus and concentration, she was now ready to get right down to it and find some answers. And … to find Rey.

*****

Chapter Text

Curled up into himself, Ben lay alone in the dark. He caught a shiver just as shadows spread beneath the bedroom door. The sound in the hallway of wooden floorboards creaking followed them.

The knob half turned, clicking to a stop. “Open da door.”

“Go away!”

“Said open da dayum door.”

“No! Go away.” He began to seethe.

“Gittin’ scared, ain’t ya? Gonna have ta talk ta me soona or lata, Lil’ Mousey.” He scowled.

There was only a dead silence. Ben’s blood boiled and burned.

“Heard her down there jus’ a wimperin’ and cryin’. Such a tasty lil’ thang. Not so strong now, is she? She ain’t no diff’rent from da rest. Ya know dat, right? Don’t be gittin all soft on me now.”

“Please.” He whispered softly in the darkness. “S-s-stop.”

“Not afta all I done fer ya.”

Ben choked. “Afta all you done? All you DONE??? I almost died fa ya, you sick fuckin’ twist!” His fists tightly balled up at his side, his knuckles turning white as his nails dug in deep. “Leave me be… Jus’ lemme alone! Dammit!!!”

Tempting and teasing him now with a voice smooth and syrupy, “This cud be yer turn, ya know. It’ll be easy. Sweet as pie. You’ll see.”

Only the faintest rustling of leaves outside the windows could be heard.

The soft, low rumbling seemed to penetrate through the many slight cracks in the door frame. “Don’cha wan it? I know ya do – Course ya do. Aaahh - ya do. Deep down ya always did.”

Ben shut his eyes so tightly, tears scalded the sunken wells beneath his eyes. His whole body went taut and rigid.

Turning over, he twisted his large frame into a knot, shifting his head toward the dust and dirt smeared window. His eyes were weary, yet fixed on the tiny sliver of moon while he listened to the sounds of heavy boots shuffling back down the hall.

Ben winced, his face distorted with the painful thought. He knew there was no way in Hell he could ever harm Rey.

No way.

He whispered softly in the dark. “I don’t wanna kill her… but it's lookin' like I might need ta kill you.”

*****

She was alerted to movement upstairs by the shutting of the screen door right above her, from most likely in the kitchen. The high-pitched squeal made by its rusty hinges was terribly loud. It grated, but the ease with which it opened confirmed her suspicion that, much like the cellar door, there were no locks. Rey had been trying for days to visualize the layout upstairs in order to plot her escape.

He had made a grave mistake - he trusted her too much. Rey tried to gather her thoughts.

Any and all sense of time was distorted… simply unfathomable. Each day just bled into the next. She attempted to keep track of the comings and goings, but it was all such a blur.

Rey had no idea how long she’d been there. Everything was skewed, and she feared she’d fallen into a constant dream state.

A light breeze drifted through the room to her, and with it came the unmistakable scent of magnolias. She welcomed the fragrance… sweet and floral. It was so soothing, and comforting in a way she hadn’t anticipated. Rey breathed it in deeply. It reminded her of how much she loved the outdoors, and it also spoke to the promise of freedom… of hope.

Her wrists and ankles were now raw, sore and terribly numb. The prickling sensation of hundreds of tiny pins and needles plagued her. Despite the fact that he provided her with plenty of water, her legs constantly cramped, and it had become chronic. Rey strained against her bonds, wriggling her fingers and toes, attempting to increase circulation in her deadened hands and feet.

It was a practice she tried to employ daily. Given the chance, whenever the moment arose, Rey wanted to be ready and not have to worry about atrophied muscles.

She then clearly smelled food. He obviously had begun cooking, frying something in a pan. She could hear the sounds of hot sizzling and popping. It was undoubtedly bacon. The aroma had woven its way down the stairs to her. Salivating not by choice, Rey swallowed, tasting the scent on the back of her tongue -- happy for it. She’d been so hungry and parched.

Overhearing the slight stirrings of conversation, Rey stiffened – it was muffled at first. Angling her head, she slanted one ear in the direction of the cellar stairs and door. It was the same voice. It was Ben’s voice. She strained harder to listen, tilting her head slightly. Rey only managed to grasp at a few bits and pieces.

The floorboards creaked with the weight of him. It was apparent that he paced back and forth in the kitchen as he grew much louder. More unintelligible grumblings sank through the basement ceiling at first. And then…

“Sssshhh -- stop. Jus’ stop. Stop it, stop it or she’ll hear ya.” His voice was hushed, but specific.

Another voice sharply rushed in, direct, angry and almost resentful. It, too, was Ben. “Since when do ya even care? Neva been a problem fer ya before now. Grow da fuck up. Dayum!”

What was in store for her? Rey feared, worried what would come next. He was upstairs obviously holding these lengthy conversations with himself. Even more frightening was that there were often drastic changes in tone and manner of speaking. One minute it was gruff, gravelly, sometimes even flat and or even dead, and then the next minute it would be honeyed, smoky, seemingly dulcet.

Ben was having another psychotic break – he’d completely lost touch - Rey thought. He truly had broken from reality. She grieved the loss. It made her heart ache.

But Rey could always smell him coming… always. Despite the gag, his scent seemed to coat her tongue. But this time, it was different. He smelled milder, softer, understated. Still a hint of cigarettes lingered, mentholated this time, but at least there was no ungodly cologne.

For what seemed like days, the only restraint that was ever removed was her gag. Whenever Rey ate, she would be fed either cereal or soup. Day after day, a cold spoon would be ladled past her lips, clacking against her teeth into her mouth. Then the gag would be rapidly replaced. The same thing happened over and over again -- routine, rut-like repetition.

Whenever she attempted to resist, to speak, ask questions, reason with or beg - food would be shoved in her mouth. Sometimes it would be by a strong, harsh hand -- Rough and unrelenting. Other times it would be gentle and considerate - or what seemingly felt as almost kind.

This time he seemed to just hover there. Moments ago, it felt as though there was some semblance of care in his feeding her. He smoothed the spoon to her mouth, in an attempt to catch whatever she had missed. He was extra careful of dribbling spills and had placed a napkin gently under her chin. He dabbed it lightly to her bottom lip and chin once she was done. He replaced her gag, and now… and now, he lingered.

The only sound was that of their soft collective breaths. They pushed out soft puffs of air, penetrating through the deafening silence. Rey focused on the rushing sound of her own blood coursing through her ears.

The very moment after he replaced the gag, in desperation with her teeth clamped down firmly on it, she struggled to speak. The fabric cut deeply into the corners of her mouth, while she blurted out in desperation, “Ban - Pweez, pweez. Gon’t doo giss - Gon’t gaw diss way…Pweez!”

Feeling even more foolish for her failed attempt at communicating, all she could do was hope she had broken through in some small way. She listened patiently.

Then she heard his breathing become shallow. He finally spoke. Coming from low in his throat, it was so faint with the lowest breath of barely a whisper.

“S-s-sorry… “ She then heard him swallow, gulping loudly. “It’ll be aight. It’ll all be okay.”

*****

He hustled down the hallway and out onto the police headquarters' rear parking lot. Passing a crowd of officers, Thrawn dashed by the garage and swiped his phone. “Special Agent Thrawn.”

“Mitt, it’s me.” Amilyn sounded rattled.

“I know, I know. Amilyn. Are you alright… is everything okay?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. But, Mitt, I’m afraid we may have a really big problem on our hands.” Rushing to offer the information, she choked out a deeply held breath.

“Oh…?” He swiped a heavy hand across his forehead, surprised to find it riddled with beads of perspiration. Thrawn hurried to unbutton his jacket. Then he loosened his tie at the collar once he realized the temperature had risen substantially since arriving earlier that morning. It was sweltering outside. “Slow down, Amilyn, please. What have you found?”

“Rey had mentioned something to me a few weeks ago. She had expressed concerns. Rey was afraid she was losing her footing in the case.” Holdo stepped outside the motel room and strolled out into the parking lot. “I read her handwritten notes and a few of her personal scribblings in the margins, post-its, and on random pieces of scrap paper.”

Amilyn heard him groan while she started fanning herself with the cardboard back of a spent legal pad. “Mitt – She was falling for this man… for Solo. Nothing happened, I’m pretty sure of it, but I’m afraid she became enamored with him.”

“Hmmm… how uncustomary, and how very unlike her.” He smoothed a hand through his hair and started to let the information sink in. “This is most unusual.”

“She’s not an accomplice, if that’s what you’re thinking, Mitt.”

“Oh, no, no, dear. Quite the contrary. However, he most likely used this to his advantage.”

“I’m certain you’re right. But frankly, I’m more worried - as if that were even possible.” She swallowed and wondered if she should risk her next statement. “I’m hoping we can keep this under our hats for now… Don’t you agree? For her sake…?”

She heard the distant chatter of other policemen who were in the parking lot. There was a long pause for a moment on the other end, until he finally responded.

“Not a problem, Amilyn. I’ll let you know beforehand, should that have to change.” He pinched his nose before pushing open the door leading back into the building. “We’ll talk further, perhaps later this evening. Good-bye.”

*****

Listening to all the radio chatter was starting to bore her. Detective Tico was never one to miss a single thing, so she chose to simply turn it down a smidge.

Paige took the turn-off onto the exit ramp. As she passed the post office, in a split second decision, she pulled over and coasted slowly to a stop. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it or even why, but immediately noticed that there was a truck and it caught her attention.

It was a Ford pick-up, light brown, almost tan and very nondescript. She scoped out the license plates, and scribbled them down while keeping a steely eye glued to the post office entrance and the whooshing sound made by the automatic sliding doors.

“It sure fits…” She grinned. ”He may have easily swapped them out for new stolen ones.”

Paige hesitated to call it in or run the tags. A part of her knew she should, but she wanted to see how this would play out. Hearing Kanan’s wise words from days ago in one ear, then she listened to and also thought of the fiery ambition that Special Agent Thrawn’s words seemed to fan and stoke. What Paige wanted most was a ticket to the big leagues. She always dreamed of joining the FBI, and finally leaving Meridian in her rear view mirror for good.

She figured she might just be able to pull this off alone. She was determined.

Paige sat in her unmarked squad car and waited patiently. Keeping a fixed stare in her passenger side mirror, she carefully unsnapped her holster and released the safety on her sidearm. Paige kept her breathing steady. She thought to herself, Just in case.

Just when she was reconsidering her not opting to call it in, the post office doors swung open. An elderly woman sidled out with a package under her arm. A dutiful son, she supposed, met her by the curb and walked her to his vehicle, extending a loving arm to escort her.

And then, there it was — Providence. What she thought to be divine intervention was a very large man who seemed to simply materialize. He had followed them out through the double doors, right behind the older woman.

The man wore a gray cowboy hat and a long sleeve tee and jeans. He was very pale, tall and the tell-tale longish, dark hair signaled to her she had her suspect in her sights. He appeared to be laden with a few large packages and he cradled a fistful of mail close to his broad chest. Oddly enough, he wore black leather gloves, which was totally ludicrous in this heat.

The young detective quickly blew out an intensely held breath.

She stared at him while he lumbered over to the truck. Paige’s eyes never left him for one second. They stayed peeled. Scrupulously, she sized him up and looked for any signs that he may have been carrying a weapon. His clothes fit him well, and yet there were no indications of him being armed. She decided unless he had a weapon in his truck, she was certain there was not one on his person.

Carefully, Paige leaned over ever so slightly to press the lock release on her driver side door and readied herself to engage him. She took two deep steadying breaths as she stepped out of her unmarked cruiser, tugging down the hem of her jacket past her hips. Then she walked confidently across the parking lot to intercept him.

*****

Jannah moved across the room to pull his drapes closed as their conversation quickly came to halt when the sound of Ezra’s ringtone flooded Latin Salsa throughout Finn’s office.

Eagerly, Ezra jumped up from his seat like a shot. The moment he scanned his cell and the number of the incoming call, his eyes went wide. Swiping it quickly, he held up his left hand to signal Finn and Jannah to keep quiet, and with his right hand he brought the phone smack to his ear.

“Hello. Ezra Bridger here...” He brought his hand down to push a hushing index finger flat to his lips.

“Uh-huh. Oh, yeah. Hi, Mara. Thanks so much for returning my call. I appreciate your getting back to me.”

The two stared at him, anxious to know what exactly was going on. Finn ran a quick glance at Jannah and then back to Ezra again.

Sliding carefully behind his desk, Jannah gradually made her way over to Finn. She stood behind him and lightly cupped her hands to his shoulders.

Ezra flew over to Finn’s desk, grabbing up a sharpie while he nodded and continued to issue an assortment of “yesses”, “sures” and occasional “uh-huhs.” He then scrawled on a large manila folder, turned it around flat on the surface of the desk for them all to read clearly.

It’s Ben’s cousin Mara in Memphis... she’s finally calling back.

*****

When Rey came to, the sound of a door slamming hard upstairs rocked the whole farmhouse. It came from what she imagined was the second floor.

An escape had to be her only goal. Prepared to risk it, Rey amassed every ounce of courage and the energy to put her plan into motion.

She took a long, deep breath then shook her hips wildly from side to side. Rocking and rattling the metal chair furiously in a last-ditch effort to foil him, Rey forced herself to tip the chair over completely. Gravity hurtling her hard and fast, she fell to the cement floor with a loud crash.

Her right knee stung with the impact, and both her shoulder and elbow ached the moment she knew she had broken the skin. She froze. Her attention and her ears schooled for any movement from above - - Worried that her little stunt would bring him running.

*****

Ezra then began pacing back and forth, totally engrossed in the conversation, when suddenly he reached for and retrieved the sharpie and folder once again and began scribbling. Finn and Jannah exchanged glances between them and were now beyond attentive.

She says that Leia had actually “lost” the baby when she visited them up in Memphis over thirty-five years ago.

Obviously stunned, Ezra’s eyes belied an astonishment that was evident to each of them. Both Finn and Jannah stared at him, awestruck and transfixed. Finn quickly sat straight up to his desk, at this point leaning onto his elbows after loosening his tie. Jannah plopped down on the corner of Finn’s desk with her eyes glued to Ezra’s every expression… his every move.

Ezra stopped pacing in the very center of the office. He brought a wary hand to his forehead, his face displaying a shock leaving him frozen. He shook his head repeatedly. “No, no - I certainly understand, and it’s okay really.” He ran back over to the desk. Jannah and Finn were transfixed. “That’s all in the past, Mara, but this can definitely help him now.”

Leaning over the desk with hunched shoulders, Ezra frantically wrote.

*****

The second Rey flexed her wrists in a futile effort to finally wrench them free, she heard him coming back down. But this time he was much faster, though burdensome, heavy ...almost leaden. The footsteps weighed hard, forcing the creaks from the wooden stairwell to groan under him even louder than ever before.

He stopped cold at the very foot of the stairs. Rey barely heard his breathing over her own racing pulse.

She felt disoriented... Perhaps, it was because she laid curled up on the floor. His footsteps were more muffled, clunky on the cellar floor. His breathing sounded much louder, ragged and out of rhythm. Rey just couldn’t quite gauge him. Normally, she could easily track and follow his movements in the small room.

The sudden sound of loud scraping and grinding metal accompanied the weightless feeling of her chair first sliding and then lifting off the cement floor. Set upright, her seat quickly lurched and then settled to the ground.

*****

Finally, Ezra stopped scribbling.

Mara’s mother, Mara Jade, had found out she was pregnant shortly after Ben’s Uncle Luke had recently left her. Unsure who the real father was, she was terribly distraught. And Leia had stayed with her in Memphis until she had them.

After scanning it, Jannah gasped. “Them??”

Nervously, Finn then stood up as he read the last addition to the folder and his mouth hung open as Jannah, attempting to ease his worry, reached over to palm her hand atop his.

Ezra continued to write another entry.

She said Mara Jade gave one infant to a neighbor and the other to her bereft sister-in-law… Leia.

Twins.

*****

All at once, both her gag and blindfold were roughly torn away, and Rey’s eyes slammed shut in response to the intrusion of the blinding shock of bright overhead light. For a split second, she believed she was concussed. Perhaps it was all just a hallucination, a mirage or some other symptom causing her vision to blur. Then, the one dark, ghastly shape rapidly bled into two very distinctly different forms.

Rey blinked back the very painful reality. Was her brain betraying her? Did her eyes deceive? They each stood there before her - imposing, hulking, and looming. One clad in blue jeans, and one in gray coveralls. Like a pair of American Gothic bookmarks were two large men -- Two men who were identical twins.

He truly had a brother! God, Ben had told her the truth!

Her stomach gurgled as breath completely left her body. Her heart hammered while Rey’s mind whirled. Her eyes were clouded by the hot tears forming and pooling -- threatened to douse her nose and cheeks. All logic had abandoned her. The stifled sobs wrenched through her chest, pushed their way up through her constricted throat, completely robbing her of the ability to speak. Rey’s voice was atrophied from lack of use. Her mouth only fell open, her jaw slack.

*****

“Thank you so much, Mara. I’m sure rehashing all this has been difficult for you. But it’s been most helpful. Appreciate you offering this information. And you may wanna make your way down here if you can. We feel your cousin could really use your help.” Ezra ended the call. “Good-bye.” He turned very slowly to face Finn and Jannah as he dropped the sharpie back onto the desk.

His brow knit as he ran his trembling hand up to scratch the back of his head. “Han never knew until much, much later. Leia never wanted to tell him until she was finally forced to admit it. And ...and neither one ever told Ben.”

A chilling silence fell from the ceiling to the floor of Finn’s law office. The three just stood staring at one another painfully still… frozen.

Finally, Finn startled each of them into action. “I’m calling Jarrus and Tico!”

*****

Tear filled hazel eyes ran from one to the other, uncertain if it even mattered anymore. She squinted hard, face wracked with utter disbelief, and then allowed her stare to fix on them, choking with the recognition. First, there was just the one in coveralls. The other one with the jeans had a much fuller beard and darker, hardened eyes… cold and cruel. Deadly.

But the one in coveralls had the lightest, caramel eyes that were filled with sadness and the hope she immediately recognized from session after session. Ben.

He had formed a connection with her. They did have a connection. They truly had formed a bond.

Rey fully turned all her attention toward him and him alone. He’ll have to help me, her mind cried out. The room began to spin. She gulped down nothing more than air while she fought to control the involuntary quivering of her bottom lip.

When Ben took two wavering steps toward her, Kylo stuck out his left arm, pressed it squarely, firm into his chest, halting him with a threatening snarl. Ben’s face was riddled with fear and panic as he stilled.

Her tongue felt as if it grew in her mouth and was now swollen and dry as cotton. Rey sniffled. Eyes entreating and imploring, all she could utter softly was, “P-p-please...”

*****

Chapter Text

It had become a full on manhunt, and it was steadily intensifying by the minute – by the second, really. Both Krennec and Thrawn had successfully solicited extra manpower from different jurisdictions all over the state.

The police had already issued APBs and BOLOs out for Benjamin Solo. The Task Force steadily grew and had to accommodate the added manpower. Two more offices were made available, and added to expand the set up of their makeshift headquarters in the Meridian Police Department’s Main Precinct. It was a virtual hive - with all manner of law enforcement officers swarming in and out of offices and the conference room like wasps.

At this point, there had only been a few tips called in with possible sightings - that unfortunately panned out little.

Detective Jarrus was hard on the case. He was especially feeling the pressure, given that he, Tico and their lieutenant were the only members assigned to the Task Force who represented the local jurisdiction.

Deep in thought, Thrawn tore himself away from the window and studied the wall-sized map of the entire state of Mississippi. He turned back to the conference table, pulling his hands briskly behind his back and clasping them tightly together. “Gentlemen… and ‘ladies’, my deepest apologies. The real question here is… Will your boy come back home? And if so, why??”

The room stilled. Several officers made eye contact with one another, unsure but wanting to follow his line of reasoning.

“What exactly is it that would keep him here… and why?” Thrawn posed the question, hoping to inspire some type of collective participation in the use of deductive reasoning.

They all began nodding to one another. All the US Marshals and FBI team members who remained standing gathered around the conference table to give him their full attention.

“We know that the first six victims were found in industrial areas in downtown Meridian.”

“Sure, sure – I gotcha. It makes damn good sense.” Orson chimed in. “Then, let’s focus more of our resources in the heart of the city.”

Both Krennic and Thrawn made plans to initiate intermittent sweeps of the downtown areas, and began assigning teams to details.

“We’ve already got plenty of support through Jackson’s force.” Krennec attempted to assure Thrawn and the local PD. “We finally got Madison, DeSoto, Harrison, Rankin and Tallahatchie counties on board.”

He continued to order directives to his staff. “All the airports, buses, the trains -- Nail ‘em all down, dammit!” He pushed three fingers into the hard surface of the boardroom table.

Turning directly to two of his men, he went on. “And let Biloxi know we’re still waiting on those last canine units. Get the last of those roadblocks set up…” They each jumped up to leave in response. “Let nothing get in or out!”

While standing up and pushing his chair neatly back under the large conference table, Thrawn cleared his throat and pointedly adjusted the Windsor knot of his tie.

“Are we clear?” Krennec bellowed. Thrawn studied Krennec carefully as the marshall wrapped up his orders and updates.

Thrawn interjected, his tone even, effortless, although biting and rather caustic. “I’m afraid we will need far more than your usual bloodhounds, backwater approach this time, Krennec. Our boy is very, very clever.” Thrawn smoothed his dark, heavily gelled hair back from his severe hairline. “Very clever, indeed.”

Loud grumbles emanated throughout the room from a few of Krennec’s marshals - who had obviously taken offense to Thrawn’s statement.

“Hey, now -- You don’t have ta cast aspersions on my men or my methods, Thrawn!” Insulted, Marshal Krennec leaned in fully over the table, hackles up and ready to confront the FBI agent.

The room instantly swelled with a tightness felt by everyone, the atmosphere which had already been strained became more edgy and tense.

Thrawn deliberately circled the table to fully face Krennec. His voice softened - if that were possible. “Marshal, Marshal, Marshal, I meant no offense.” Krennec openly huffed his disdain. “Forgive me if I did. We should bring all our efforts to bear… Jointly. But I believe our opponent is far more skillful than we had originally anticipated.” Thrawn successfully diffused and deflected the situation with his icy cool manner. He turned and gradually stepped to the front of the room.

“He will not be hopping aboard any freight trains, Ladies and Gentlemen. Nor will he sneak out under tarps in the flatbed of a pick-up.” His stride was measured as he paced before the pinned maps on the board. “Oh, nooo… He’s much smarter than that.” He slowed to a stop, paused and shot a glance Krennec’s way in time to catch the marshal sliding slowly back into his seat.

Quietly commanding the full attention of the entire room, Thrawn went on.

“Given the nature of this predator, I believe he wants to send us all a message. And unfortunately, for Dr. Kenobi, I believe she will most likely be his delivery method. Knowing his history and his victimology, we would do well to employ intermittent sweeps of all the industrial areas in the metro section - Focusing on those specifically with abandoned buildings.”

A few officers began frantically jotting down notes once again.

“Wouldn’t you be inclined to agree, Marshal?”

Almost everyone present, including Krennec, joined their voices in unison. “Yes, sir.”

Everyone with the exception of Detective Jarrus. He had been totally disengaged, his eyes riveted to the doors the entire time.

*****

A tiny sliver of light coming from a small, low ground level window was her only indicator of time passing. The days seemed to be getting shorter and shorter.

Since the disturbing realization - the confrontation - Rey feared she was losing her mind. It reeled constantly, and Rey couldn’t keep a hold on her thoughts. She’d sunken right back into that pity party, and was afraid that it would utterly consume her.

Ben’s betrayal had risen beyond forgiveness. The greatest harm he had done was simply to have done nothing. To have held hope in her hand, albeit brief, only to have it yanked viciously away from her, pained in a place she never knew. As she contemplated the motives for Ben’s disappointing behavior, Rey began to relive that horrid night all over again.

Rey wanted to forgive him – she wanted to, but she couldn’t. She was torn. The man who had committed those horrid crimes was indeed his twin brother. The weight of the newly revealed secret was crushing. It was apparent that that evil human being had held Ben in the same frightening, vice-like grip. It was all too obvious.

But much to her horror, both men simply ogled her, immovable, expressionless, they merely stood there with feet rooted to the cellar floor. Neither spoke, only turned to one another then silently climbed the stairs… together.

The stark reality - They had left her alone again in the dark.

On some level she recognized it to be betrayal trauma, and yet Rey couldn’t help the endless whir of thoughts. All her prior harms, imagined hurts, the low self-worth that accompanies abandonment flooded her brain.

They had also left her alone in the dark.

Suddenly, the childhood memory slammed into her brain - much like her last one. She was barely five years old. Way before being placed with Maz, it was the last night she saw her parents.

Listening to them argue, fuss and fight had truly scared her. Words which held no meaning to a very small child were flung about wildly. After being shoved in, she heard things worsen, escalate with shouting, stomping, loud banging, and crashing with the sounds of overturned furniture.

It was rather late at night when everything finally stilled, and it was awfully cold.

Frightened and trembling, she pressed her back to the closet wall, picking at the scruffy, frayed hem of her second hand dress where it fell loosely to her little, knobby knees.

Tired of twisting, turning and rattling the knob of the locked door, her chubby fingers ached. She stood there tirelessly for hours before deciding to sit on the dirty, dust-covered floor. Her tear-stained face seemed invisible there in the darkness. No one knew where she was or what had happened to her, she was certain.

They had left her. They had just left her there. Despite all the fairy tales she had told herself, it was sadly true.

She cried inconsolable sobs. Rey hugged her knees tightly to her chest and buried her tear-streaked face in the skirt of her dress. When the hours became days and the days soon became a week, despondency and hopelessness consumed her tiny little spirit. Hunger and fatigue wracked her wiry frame. But even at five, her iron will was simply unassailable.

She would hum or sing or recite the nursery rhymes she knew by heart to pass the time. Her lonely eyes sought the only light emanating from the foot of the door or the meager spaces between the hinges.

The apartment grew colder and the closet began to get smaller. The smell of cedar and moth balls seemed to soak into her skin.

It was frightening. Her little mind tried to make sense of it all. She tried not to imagine her condition might be a permanent one. Rey didn’t want to die there.

Her tiny ears perked up when she heard two police officers and a social worker searching throughout the empty apartment. A good samaritan, a neighbor in their building, had become suspicious and called. Once the door miraculously opened and they freed her, Rey’s hands firmly grasped theirs with such fierceness and strength. The overwhelming sadness in their eyes matched her own.

Almost five months later, after several doctors, therapists and social workers’ endless poking and prodding, Rey finally chose to speak again.

Traumatized, she knew the whole ordeal had completely scarred her. As an intellectual, as a clinician and as a human being there was no denying it. The little girl always remembered the dark. The woman – Rey - remembered the darkness now and remembered where she was.

She knew she simply had to escape. Rey knew she could no longer expect help from Ben. So, even if it meant risking death, she had to try again.

*****

Kanan followed him through the station. He clung to Finn’s heels in an attempt to stop the lawyer before he made a grave mistake.

Finn was a man on a mission. His only thoughts were of Rey. He bounded down the hallway, determined to reach Krennec and Thrawn.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. But I have information that would be of great use to you.” He huffed, pressing his palms to the conference table and taking the moment to catch his breath. “I realize this is most inappropriate, however, it’s just come to light.”

Kanan squeezed his tall frame stealthily inside the doorway, finally relieved to have caught up to the attorney before major damage was done.

“My PI, Ezra Bridger, just recently substantiated the proof that Ben Solo does in fact have a twin brother.” Kanan placed a steadying hand on Finn’s arm. “They were born in Memphis!”

All eyes that were otherwise occupied turned to him sharply in shock. Finn now commanded the attention of everyone in the Task Force. Special Agent Thrawn gradually rose to his feet with an ease.

At the mere mention of his name, Ezra came tumbling into the room right behind Kanan.

“And, er… We believe that’s who’s truly responsible for planning and executing the escape… the break. I’m pretty sure he’s who committed the original rapes and murders!”

“This is inappropriate, fa sure, counselor!” Highly frustrated, Krennec rose to stand as well. “This conference room is reserved for Task Force members, and Task Force members only!!” He then rushed to point to two of his men. “Marshals, please escort these two outside.”

The entire time Krennec spoke, Kanan’s eyes were fixed on Thrawn, surprised that he stood silently and provided little to the exchange.

“No, no, sir – You, you don’t understand. We now have proof!” Finn’s head spun to first Ezra, then Kanan. Flustered, he continued. “Ben didn’t do this! He really didn’t! Don’t you see what this means? Cuz – And, and, we have to find him and Rey! And we must find his brother!” Both Kanan and Ezra quickly corralled Finn, nudging him back toward the doorway.

“He’s the rapist – he’s the murderer!” He angrily shrugged the many hands off his shoulders. “Don’t you see?”

Some marshals, with the help of Jarrus, moved to guide Finn out of the room peaceably and without incident. Finn acquiesced, moving begrudgingly out into the hallway.

He whispered somewhat in defeat, “We gotta find Rey.”

“And gentlemen, be sure to take their statements so we can follow up quickly.” Krennec grabbed his pants by the belt loops, hiking them up. “Well, Hell.”

“Ain’t that somethin… well, now, if it’s all true.” He routinely lifted the brim of his Stetson, scratching his head. “Wonder what all this’ll change…”

Cool and calculating, Thrawn walked directly over to the door and made a point to secure it carefully.

“It will most likely change everything.”

*****

As soon as they got outside the police station, all three stood in the parking lot. Kanan pressed a finger hard into Finn’s shoulder, pinning him to the door of the car.

“Look, you need to listen to me, Finn. This is very serious.” He glanced down at his cell briefly.

Ezra leaned in, wanting to be supportive, but firm. As much as he empathized with Finn, he also wanted to urge him to listen to reason.

Jarrus threw a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the building. “Those guys in there are running this investigation, not you. What you did came real close to jeopardizing all that you wanted to accomplish here. I know you want to find Rey more than anything in the world. But you can’t go around half cocked and let your emotions rule your logic.” He planted both fists to the roof of the car and leaned in nearly nose to nose with Finn. “You got me…?”

Interjecting with a frown, Ezra jumped in, “Well, now wait a minute …”

“Hey…” Kanan nipped Ezra’s comments in the bud. “Stay outta this, junior.” His attention snapped back to Finn. “Now, whether you believe it or not, I want to find Rey just as much as you do. So does Krennec, and so does Thrawn. Same thing goes for every single one of those officers in that conference room. Understood?”

Finn hung his head. Sheepishly, he peeked up at Kanan. “I know, I know – you’re right. And I’m really sorry.”

A collective sigh of relief passed between them.

“Go home, Finn. Sit back, try to do something to take your mind offa Rey. Just stay calm and I’ll keep you in the loop. Trust me. You’ve done good. Real good. Your lead may forge a new major break in the case.” Kanan hiked up his jeans and turned to Ezra. “Sorry about that earlier, kid. Didn’t mean to come off so strong. You’ve done amazing work and should be proud.”

“It’s okay.” Ezra shrugged while he put his arm around Finn. “Thanks, Detective.”

“Plus, I’ve been just a little on edge this morning – I haven’t been able to raise Paige, and it’s not like her. It’s just not like her at all.”

“Oh…?” Both Finn and Ezra turned to one another, then quickly back to Jarrus.

Jarrus shot a glance back toward the building. After scanning the police district headquarters briefly, he continued. “Yeah, usually I can set my watch by her. But no responses from home, cell or radio.”

“Hey - Maybe she’s got a - a new dude, a love interest?” Ezra squeaked.

Finn frowned, swatting his hand to the back of Ezra’s head. “Yo, dat is so sexist.”

“Ouch!! What? I’da said the same thing even if she was a guy.” He rubbed at his scalp, although it was his ego that was injured. “Dag, Finn.”

Unfazed and totally oblivious, Kanan’s mind drifted, obviously distracted with all of the many thoughts and concerns for his partner. “Well, I guess I should go try the range. I know she sometimes goes there for target practice on Tuesday mornings. Although it’s later than normal, it’s still worth a try.” He shrugged, turned and headed back, taking the steps leading up to the front entrance. He looked back over his shoulder while pushing through the glass doors of the station. “Fellas - Keep in touch.”

Both Finn and Ezra waved and nodded as they hopped in the car to leave.

*****

He sat in his room, wanting out of this nightmare. Indulging in self-flagellation, guilt and remorse, Ben had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He hated himself. Wondering how this situation had escalated, he had never felt more responsible. Even more than before – All those other women’s blood he already had splattered on his hands, but now with Rey, with this ...his stomach positively ached. It was cramped up, all knotted and twisted inside.

He was haunted by her face… by her expression. Filled with regret, Ben knew he let Rey down.

He couldn’t help it, he was nauseous. Ben dove back into the bed, covering his head with the tattered quilt and burying his face into his pillow. His stomach flipped and churned. He sat straight up like a shot. The bed groaned under his weight.

Ben nervously lit a Newport. The habit was one he developed on the inside. They were much easier to get hands on in Parchment.

I had a chance and - and I blew it. Ben lulled heavily in his own commiseration.

His cowardice had jeopardized her very survival -- her life – and now, Ben was dreading the outcome. He rued the day he made that promise to his brother - the twin brother he had always felt was missing. Kylo, the brother Ben always thought he wanted, he always dreamed of having, was in all actuality a curse.

Ben drew the heated smoke deeper into his lungs, hoping it would ease his tension. It did little. It only burned. Burned the back of his throat, burned his nostrils. He blew out the smoke and watched it swirl around the dismal room, plucking ashes on the floor.

That stupid fuckin’ promise that seemed to make so much sense at the time.

He had promised him he would never tell if Kylo promised him he would stop!

Ben thought it would’ve saved lives. He was wrong. His chest rattled with his stifled sobs. Ben regretted all of this - All of it. Most of all he was worried and concerned for her… for Rey.

Ben knew he froze – froze in fear. That was perhaps his one opportunity. And he couldn’t bring himself to even move. He blew it. Her hazel eyes burned into him. He was truly haunted by them.

But in that cellar, and in that moment, standing there in Kylo’s shadow, he paled and felt as if he grew smaller. He hated himself for it. And now, he suspected she did, too.

She don’t deserve any of this - no one does - no more than those six women did eitha.

Irritated, he dragged on the half-smoked cigarette hard one last time and plucked it up against the wall with disdain. Angry sparks of glowing embers flew up and out in a nova upon impact then flitted and fluttered in slow motion like gray-black snowflakes to the hardwood floor.

While watching it, Ben took a long, deep breath.

Dr. Kenobi was genuinely a good person - he really wanted to help her, but was resigned to being held immobile, caged, locked in his own crippling fear.

Kylo truly was a monster. Rey had called him that once, and she had been right all along and Ben knew it. Ben admittedly was frightened of Him, and also had to admit he always had been from the very moment they first met.

But he refused to let him harm one more hair on her head. And it wasn’t too late.

I really do have ta stop him. I have ta! B’fore it is too late. And I have ta free her even if it costs my own life.

*****

After carefully pulling into the shed behind the farmhouse, it was such a tight squeeze maneuvering the truck, he could only leave inches on either side. Pushing his wide palms flat to the roof of the cab, Kylo inched out of the tiny confined space, and replaced all the dried bramble and branches in front of the rotted, wooden double doors.

He sprinted up onto the porch, taking two steps at a time, then mindlessly pushed through the screen door, letting it slam.

Dropping the packages and kicking off his boots at the foot of the stairs before he called out, “Hey, now – Lil Mousey, lil’ Mousey…” Kylo pulled the toothpick from the corner of his mouth and chucked his cowboy hat. His dark suspicious eyes darted around each of the empty rooms on the first floor.

He grumbled. “Why ya think I got yer sorry ass out in da first place.” He ambled over to the entrance to the kitchen, searching for his brother. With no sign of Ben, he turned to make his way back into the living room.

“S’ppose ta git ‘im in on this one. He needs ta pull his own dayum weight… finally git his feet wet.” He chuckled. “Baptized by Fire!! Hah!” His voice grew louder, then raised in pitch with the excitement of a fire and brimstone Baptist preacher.

Kylo stood there in the center of the living room. He began scratching his ass through the back pocket of his jeans, all pig-ignorant and crass.

After bending over, grabbing up the packages and his boots from the foot of the steps, he propped a large meaty hand on the banister. Then, he began his trek up the uneven stairwell. “Betta not make dis harder fer me den it has ta be, ya lil’ shit.”

Instantly, he began mocking his brother, Ben, in an overly dramatic whiny, little voice. “Ooh, nooo. Please, don’t. Don’t go an’ hurt her. Ooh, my poor lil’ Rey. Oh, noooo!” Full on guffaws escaped his curled lips as he reached the landing. “Hah - Scared ass, Lil’ Mouse.”

“Aaaah – Thank da good lawd - I got me a back up…”

As he crested the second floor, he began humming.

*****

Chapter Text

The two sat stretched out on his sofa, with their stocking feet propped up lazily on the coffee table. While they were waiting for Jannah to come back with some Chinese carry-out, Finn and Ezra flipped through channels until they fell on the latest news coverage. It was another update on the manhunt.

The local affiliate was interviewing Marshal Krennec. The minute the Marshal recounted the past victims and added the two men from the Jackson courthouse, Finn rubbed at his brow, then buried his head in his hands.

When two large images of issued press photos of both Rey and Ben were shown on the widescreen, his chest started to tighten.

Finn tossed the remote dismissively. “Why doesn’t he release the new information to the public. It’s two of them – two of them for goodness sakes!! This man is a complete buffoon!”

“Finn!” Ezra sucked his teeth. “Lighten up, man.”

Irritated, Finn kicked his feet off the coffee table and sat up straight as a board. “I dunno, Ezra – I think this guy is going about it all wrong. He still hasn’t released the information to the press that Ben’s brother broke him out of jail and is responsible for Rey’s abduction!!” He pushed his hand to Ezra’s shoulder for emphasis. “I mean – C’mon, what the hell??”

Ezra shrugged him off, leaning over onto the arm of the sofa. Sizing him up, he wanted to give Finn the hard truth, unsolicited. “You need to remember what Kanan said. You are an attorney, Finn. Gotta leave the police work to the police.”

Finn grumbled.

Ezra frowned while snatching up the remote and muting the sound. “You do have respect for Special Agent Thrawn, right…?”

Turning back to Finn, Ezra found his friend’s worried brown eyes blinking as he nodded.

“They have a reason for how they’re handling it. Finn, you need to trust in the process. Plus, you’re entirely too close to this thing… to Rey, to Ben. It’s not like you can be objective, ya know..?”

Finn reconciled, knowing Ezra spoke the truth. “Guess not, but… Why won’t they publicize it? It just doesn’t make any sense.” Finn scratched his head, and the mere gesture seemed to have a calming effect as he began to simmer down. He sighed, “I - I just really want them to find her, Ezra.”

*****

Ben hadn’t come back… Only Kylo.

Kylo. What a crude, vicious and vulgar man. Rey now knew he was the one who had forced food in her mouth, who had hosed her down with ice cold water, and had been shoving her bare ass onto an old rusted bucket to relieve herself all these many days.

He was savage and cruel. It reeked from him.

And now, He would undoubtedly be the man who will rape and kill me.

That man is evil and hateful. How could a human being be so hateful? What horrors had he seen?

He truly hated himself. He hated Ben. But most of all, he must have hated Leia and Han for not choosing him, too. Theirs was a life admired and coveted, and a life that was never his.

What had made him this way? She contemplated.

Rey realized there was little point in analyzing him now. It was much too late, clearly.

Then there was the conundrum that was Ben. Ever present and in the forefront of her mind, Rey cared deeply for him, but he proved himself a coward. It hurt her - hurt her deeply. It also saddened her. She had underestimated the vice-like grip his brother held on him.

Uncertain as to whether she still had hope for him, it was much easier to discard him. Rey hoped that she could. All the work they had done together, however, was difficult for her to let go. The work.

The Work.

Should I survive this, professionally, I’m through. I let myself get too emotionally invested, let myself become compromised, and let everyone down… especially Finn and Amilyn. All of her insecurities and inadequacies swam freely through her mind, unencumbered. Wrestling with her own ineptitude was futile.

There was no point in struggling with the sole weight of this responsibility, with the role she played in her own demise. She and she alone had brought her to this. She was to blame. Rey had crossed that ethical line and it was simply unforgivable. It all had made her entirely too vulnerable. She’d been susceptible and frail… weak.

Now those words never described who she was. Frail and Weak. Rey had never been. At the core, Rey had always exuded great strength and determination all her life. But this time, this experience had allowed her to see, stripped and laid bare, and had shown her how easily loneliness and isolation could still dictate and control her choices, her decisions and behavior.

This stark reality made her breath stutter and formed a tight compression in her chest. Her desire for a close human connection made her blind to the man and his true self. Not the mask he wore. She struggled with the weight of it. Taking full responsibility, she weighed the true dilemma - discerning her own delusions versus his.

*****

His hulking frame filled the doorway when Kylo poked his head in Ben’s room. “Well -- Dem’ new clothes I ordered online jus’ got delivered ta dat post office box today.” Leaning against the door jamb, he yanked the toothpick from his mouth while awaiting his brother’s response. He didn’t have to wait too long.

Ben bristled as he sat straight up on the bed, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his hardest, most hateful stare on Kylo.

“Now, ya already know what comes next.” Chuckling, he pushed and nudged him even further, wanting to get a rise out of Ben.

“Kylo -- Please, don’t do dis.” Ben shut his eyes tightly and spoke deliberately through his gritted teeth. His words were precise and measured. He rubbed his palms over the worn knees of his overalls.

“Aw-- C’mon now, lil brutha…” He menacingly grinned while returning the toothpick between his teeth. “Dis is finally your big chance. Ya know it’s true. It’s whatcha been wantin’ all this time, Ben.”

“Not what I been wantin’ - it’s what you’ve been wantin’, you sick fuckin’ psycho!!”

“Aight, aight, Ben.” Kylo chuckled. “Yeah, you keep tellin’ yasself that, lil’ Mouse.”

Ben roared. “Get out!!” As he threw his long legs over the side of the bed, his chest heaved with the strength of an old but steadily building resentment and hatred… bitterness.

“Awww… shit! And here I thought you’d be dyin’ ta watch me hose her down s’more.” Kylo smirked, flexing his muscles as he cupped his hands and curled his fingers around the doorframe. He winked while chewing and shifting the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other.

“Cuz yer pretty lil’ darlin’ doctor, heh-heh … she’s startin’ ta stank again.” He abruptly turned and walked back out into the hallway.

Ben was inflamed. He waited a little over a beat before he finally leapt from the bed, barreling down the rickety steps to follow his twin brother.

*****

As Kylo reached the very last step, Rey stiffened in the confines of her chair and began to tremble uncontrollably. Her narrowed eyes flitted around the cellar before they tracked him closely as he ambled over toward the stationary tubs next to where a washer and dryer once were. His work boots scuffed loudly against the cellar floor. He lifted the old long, green hose up from the floor and reconnected it to the faucet, twisting it tightly. He pulled the hose taut in both his hands while he dragged it slowly over to her.

“Hey now, sweet thang. We got us a - a - really big day today.” Kylo grinned wide, the smile that appeared almost forced set against his dark soulless eyes.

Glaring at him, she snorted as she fiercely bit into her gag.

“C’mon now, Doc.” He bent down low at the waist to face her fully eye to eye. “Feel like askin’ me any of yer lil’ questions, Doc? Dont’cha wanna dig all up in my evil, twisted mind? Find out what really makes me tick?”

That close, Rey realized just how much he resembled his brother, and it made her break out into a cold sweat. It also repulsed and sickened her. They were indeed identical. Aside from the fearsome scar and a previously broken nose, they were mirror images.

Recklessly rocking back and forth in her chair in rebellion, Rey hissed defiantly in reaction to him.

He stood up to his full height, taking two small steps, steadily backing away from her. “Heh-heh-hah… I ain’t think so.” He stuck out his long, thick, pink tongue at her, taunting.

The loud thudding of heavy footfalls signaled his approach.

“Kylo, stop!” Ben came running, almost stumbling down the last few basement stairs as he tried to catch up to his brother. “Ya heard me, damn ya — I said, Stop it!” Ben stepped to Kylo confronting him threateningly, his nostrils flaring fiercely.

Casually, in response, Kylo’s chest puffed. “Heh-heh-heh. Well, now look atchu … What? Grow a pair while ya wuz locked up?” Far from intimidated, he closely eyed his sibling.

“Don’t!” Ben stiffened, his shoulders tensed while he continued to stare Kylo down, taking notice of him letting the hose slip free from his fingers.

Once his eyes steeled, unflinching, Kylo jutted his chin out and sneered at him. “Or what? Or what, lil’ brutha?” He kicked at the rung of Rey’s chair, it rocked her. Both Rey and Ben watched as his upper lip began to slowly curl.

”Hell - ya think she wants you? Pfftt, yer wrong agin, silly lil’ Mouse. Dis here is what she really wants.” Grabbing at his crotch lewdly, Kylo turned his attention back to Rey. “Ain’t dat right, sweet cheeks?” His full lips forced into a pucker, which he smacked then blew her an exaggerated kiss.

The sound of the loud, wet smack disgusted her.

Kylo only smirked. “Soon… soon. Gotta git ya all fixed up first. And den - den maybe…” He let his black eyes sweep slowly back to Ben. “Ya can have what eva’s left.”

Revolted, Rey’s stomach gurgled, and she swallowed hard, trying to stave off the nausea.

Ben’s chest heaved. He, however, was unmoved by all his brother’s posturing and refused to be intimidated. He’d seen it all before. He stepped in even closer. “Leave her be, leave her alone … just stop it! I. Said. Stop!” Ben rolled his large fingers into tight, white fists, with his nails dug deep into his palms.

The stagnant basement air crackled with tension.

Kylo roared with an insistent stomp. “You swore -- You swore ta me, Ben!!”

“NO!” In a split second of flaming defiance, Ben lunged toward his brother. His right fist flung wildly, hitting him. Wincing in pain at the sudden contact, Kylo felt the jarring blow land smack to his mouth. Momentarily overcome by the shock and ultimate realization that he was struck by his own brother, wide-eyed, he rocked the hinge of his jaw back and forth.

Rey looked on in horror, awaiting the inevitable reaction - which she knew would be a feral and ferocious one.

His evil eyes glistened when Kylo dipped his chin, growling, then in a flash threw his dropped shoulder like a linebacker fully into Ben’s chest with the force and weight of his entire body. With a loud thud, a whoosh of air escaped Ben when he was tackled, knocked completely off his feet as both tumbled to the unforgiving cement.

Grabbing Kylo around the waist with a jerk, Ben pushed up onto his knees and slammed him hard into the wall. Kylo’s shoulders slumped as he slid down the sheet rock, shaking loose stray pieces of plaster, mortar and clouds of dust.

Rey winced at the sound when they both collided.

As they grappled, each tried to find purchase, arms flailing then seizing onto each other’s shoulders. Their nails scraped against clothes which were being ripped and torn in the struggle. Off balance, the two scrambled and turned over the workbench, sending several tools crashing to the floor with a deafening metallic clatter.

As they rolled across the floor wrestling for dominance, they both kicked the legs out from under Rey’s chair, knocking it out from under her. She squealed out from under her gag while tumbling to the floor. The impact rattled her ribcage, and Rey tasted her own blood. She’d bitten the side of her tongue during the fall, causing her to grimace when her mouth filled with the thick flavor of salt and iron.

Pushing down hard with her toes, Rey pressed her knees tightly together as she gradually inched herself across the floor. The grating from the chair screeched, sending vibrations up her spine. She wormed away from the fighting, putting a safe distance between herself and the melee.

It quickly devolved into a barroom brawl. The brothers began slugging each other. Evenly matched with similar - if not equal strength -they both snarled and scratched each other. The two were a massive tangle of limbs in an endless tussle. They rolled along the floor, tumbling end over end, toppling over cans of paint and shelving units until they crashed into the furnace block mount.

Ben had landed on top, astride Kylo’s chest, pinning his brother’s shoulders mercilessly with his forearms. Flailing under the weight of his brother, Kylo stretched one arm out, desperately trying to reach to grab a ball peen hammer that was knocked free to the floor just out of his grasp. He inched his thick fingers along the cement while trying his best to grab it.

“Won’t let cha… hurt her.” Ben choked out as he forced all his weight atop him, pawing at his arm to prevent him from getting the hammer and ripping Kylo’s shirt sleeve in the process.

Kylo groaned under his weight while he quickly shot an elbow straight to Ben’s throat and held it there, pinning him, attempting to crush his windpipe.

“Quit, boy -- now quit!” Kylo spat out, urging him to surrender. Red-faced now, with the veins and cords in his neck pulsing out from the surface of his skin, Ben hissed, wincing in pain. Locked in this struggle and gasping for breath, Ben wedged his wrists between Kylo’s forearm and elbow, risking breaking them to wrench himself free.

With a howl, he finally broke his brother’s grip on his neck. Barreling into Kylo now, Ben fought ruthlessly. “Grrrrrahh…” He began pummeling his brother with his fists, some glancing blows, but most landing ruthlessly to bloody his nose and mouth. At first, Kylo strained to reach up, his fingers scraping at Ben’s cheek and jawline in an attempt to gouge at his eyes. His nails dug in and broke the skin at Ben’s brow. Revealing a face twisted and distorted with sheer rage, although he wore the smile of a deranged madman.

Rey flinched, horrified by his intensity.

Suddenly, in a last ditch attempt, Kylo wrapped his thighs around Ben with a snarl, flipping the two completely over and body slamming Ben, forcing him to hit his head hard on the bottom basement step. The resounding crack rang out before his teeth clacked hard in his jaw. Stunned and shaken, Ben recoiled after the wood splintered.

More confident now, Kylo, sensing that he decisively had the advantage, reared back and head butted his twin. Ben yelped and recoiled as blood gushed from his cracked skull down his brow and nose.

Rey was not sure if what she glimpsed in Kylo’s eyes was a sick thrill from causing – and witnessing - his sibling’s agony. They were such empty black pits, emotionless, devoid of any humanness. And there it was… the psychopathic murderer, the sadistic rapist, and it chilled her through to her very bones. He was vicious and wicked.

Slowly, Kylo rose onto his knees with a singular fury and fiery rage that smoldered, heating his face. Realizing that he had maintained the upper hand, Kylo snarled as he began to return Ben’s earlier blows, raining them down on him with a flurry ten times over… each blow, every strike harder and heavier than the last.

Ben issued a few weak gut punches in retaliation - which were barely effective in his weakened state, if at all.

Sweat poured from Kylo. He pounded and pounded Ben about his face, head and chest. Then, he snatched up his twin by his shoulders, banging him into the floor over and over again. Kylo brutally bashed his head until Ben finally succumbed, collapsing with a sickening thud and going completely motionless.

Trembling, Rey could only whimper in horror, fighting back her tears. Her heart seized in her chest. Her teeth gnashed, shredding the sopping wet gag. Rey’s eyes flew to Ben. Every single muscle in her body tightened while she silently willed him to rise.

She cried out his name as if to rouse him - as if he could even hear her. She refused to give up on him.

Kylo seemed dazed and wobbly, but he eventually pulled himself up unto his feet, standing upright slowly with minor difficulty. Swaying and staggering a bit before making his way over toward her slowly, with only one hand, he bent down, snatched her and the chair up all in one fell swoop.

After setting her and the chair upright, back in place, his bloodied, bruised, and swollen hands landed right onto her thighs, pinning them, squeezing them painfully with a groan. He frowned, then turned away from her to spit a mouthful of blood out onto the floor. Turning back towards her and facing her squarely, he dragged the back of one wrist hard between his lips and chin.

Rey angrily turned away, avoiding his face entirely. She slammed her eyes shut, attempting to wish away the nightmare and dreading whatever came next. Panting, harsh and winded, his penetrating stare blazed right through her, and she swore she felt the fine hairs on her arms all but singe.

He smiled a red, crooked toothy smile. The rapist, the murderer, was measuring her.

Refusing to shrink in her seat, she drilled down to her very marrow, summoning every ounce of her resistance. With a heaving chest, Rey glared right back at him through glassy, tearful hazel eyes, fueled with all the insolence that she possessed.

She followed his steely gaze as it raked over her like hot coals, then it stopped, instantly drawn to the visible pulse throbbing along her pale neck and throat.

He poured over her even closer still, hovering just at her temple, and simply whispered all gruff and gravelly. “Well… C’mon, puddin’.”

Although he groaned and grunted with the weight, he scooped her up easily over his hip, still tethered to the chair and plodding up the stairs, burning a path straight to the kitchen.

*****

When he eventually came to, harsh white sparks lit behind his eyes. There was no place on his body that did not hurt… that didn’t ache. His head pounded. Ben reached a very shaky hand up to pat gently at the large gash on his forehead. The drying blood was becoming tacky and stuck fast to his scalp. As his swollen, scarred fingers found it, it was still warm and sticky. He rolled his tongue carefully along the inside of his sore jaw. Tasting the tang of blood, the salt, copper and aluminum sloshing over his teeth and gums, Ben spit.

He then swayed, his head reeling, dizzy from the spin of the room.

Totally disoriented, he pulled gingerly at the strands of thick hair covering his right eye that were caught in the wound. His head, his ribs and limbs were throbbing. Kylo had worked him over pretty badly and done a real job on him… damn near killed him.

His only thought was her. Rey! -- I know where he’s takin’ ya!

Crawling over to the corner, favoring his left leg and hip, Ben dragged his fatigued, beaten body over toward the basement’s far wall. Propping himself against the cinder blocks, he pressed fast and snug into them.

He set to furiously rifling through all the many oily rags hidden in the small wooden box behind the hot water heater. His bloodied hands fell on what they had been frantically seeking. He released a sigh so soft after he finally discovered it. Ben had stashed it the very day Kylo brought them to the farmhouse.

After pulling his body up to bracket himself upright against the stone wall, he hurriedly powered up and used her cell phone to text Finn Rey’s location. Grateful that after these many days in the farmhouse her battery hadn’t died, he fitfully clutched it tightly with trembling fingers, gasping through pained, labored breaths.

Pressing send, he pushed the phone firmly into his chest, and let his eyes shut slowly as he rested his head back against the wall. Ben wheezed while blindly probing and prodding his ribs, of which he was certain were all cracked, broken.

Ben wasn’t sure how long he’d been out. He hoped Finn got the text in time. The last image of her face gripped in paralyzing fear embedded in his memory made his heart clench.

Rey…

His bloodied lip trembled and burned as he whimpered, doubled over in pain, then collapsed to the floor in an unconscious heap once more.

*****

Mid-sentence, Finn quickly raked a glance down at his cellphone, his mouth falling open and his eyes going wide with shock. Having just received a text from Rey, a sharp twinge of dread crawled up his back and spread clear across his shoulders. It began to grow as it wound around his chest and seemed to seize there. He nearly dropped his phone. Clutching it tightly, after he fumbled with it, he swiped it to view the text and read it through confused brows heavy with the strain.

It was written very unlike a typical Rey text. There was what seemed to be a partial address, written in all caps and with abbreviations. Utterly swept up and shocked in the knowledge that she had not sent it, he ultimately dropped his phone, numb and gripped in the terror that accompanied the realization.

“What??” Ezra slammed his hands hard flat on his desk as he watched his friend and employer grapple with the implications. “What, Finn…!??”

“Th-the text! It’s - it’s from Rey’s phone. This is her number!!” His jaw dropped while his face flooded with worry. “It’s from her phone -- but, but it’s not her.”

“Well, what does it say?” Kanan slid up to the edge of his seat.

“It’s just an address…” Finn mumbled, almost in a trance.

Kanan leapt to his feet, swiping up Finn’s cell. Towering over them both, he boomed excitedly. “Let’s see if we can get a new ping on it and quick, this has gotta be the first activity on her cell.”

Without grabbing so much as a jacket, at full speed, the three ran out of the office together.

*****

She was literally shaken awake, bounced hard against the floor of the truck’s cab. Cramped and squeezed into the small space, Rey’s body curled around itself. Coated in perspiration, she felt overheated and nauseous. She began to convulse with dry heaves, and swallowed hard to fight back the retching sensation.

He drugged me.

Pins of light pierced through the lightweight fabric covering her face in regular intervals - possibly streetlights. They whizzed by as they painted fine lines along the frayed vinyl of the passenger side door and ratty seat directly above her.

The blindfold was back, she thought - but it hurt to think. The gag was back as well.

Still, Rey tried to open her heavily lidded eyes. They burned and were bone dry. Her vision blurred. In a hazy and fogged brain, her head was aching, an intense pain that throbbed, rocking and pounding both teeth and bone on the left side of her jaw. It hurt so badly.

Did he actually hit me? Rey couldn’t remember… it hurt to think.

Sluggish and groggy, just holding her head up was a formidable challenge. It bobbed and lolled heavily on the weak stalk of her neck.

He definitely drugged me.

She went in and out, jarred occasionally by the constant rocking and swaying. Her head was so heavy it banged against the base of the console along the floorboards. Hitting every pothole with its obvious poor suspension, the raggedy pick-up sped along the country road in terrible need of shocks and struts.

She heard him softly humming.

Rey’s mouth felt as if it was filled with the nasty grit of sand. Dry, coated and swollen as if her tongue was wearing a wool sock.

The feeling of polyester prickling her skin where the too-tight, high-lace collar scratched and dug into her neck.

And he changed my clothes. She sobbed.

Rey’s stomach curdled as panic and desperation seized her once more. As the shock and terror slowly faded and wore off, she resigned herself to accept her inevitable doom. Now that she was totally in his clutches, her fate seemed clear.

The weight of the realization overtook her as she fell captive to the lead-like drowsiness, the ‘high’ from the fentanyl as it burned through her veins like liquid lava. It took control of her body and her brain as it coursed through her bloodstream.

Right before her lids and lashes melted together, she struggled to peer up onto the passenger seat and wondered if it was covered in his blood or her own.

Hovering high above her, hunched over the steering wheel, his eyes sharply met hers and she could barely hear him grumble, “Da plan’s changed, baby…”

*****

Chapter Text

Ezra pressed down hard on the accelerator as they peeled off, pulling away from the curb. Finn put Kanan on speaker as they raced through four traffic lights, knowing time now was their other enemy.

“Hey! Finally — we just got through!” Detective Jarrus’ deep voice crackled throughout the car. “Looks like they locked it down and it seems the ping came from near an abandoned farmhouse over offa Cypress and MS-39. Krennic and Thrawn have eight units already on their way out there now. But, dammit —” He gulped loudly into the cell phone. “I dunno, I’m still having no luck raising Paige. So, I’ll meet you guys there, over on 6th St.”

With their hearts clamoring in their chests, Finn and Ezra sped through downtown, armed now with the one and only clue. The only clue that could offer any hope of finding Rey in time. Armed with the knowledge that the Meridian Police Department would already be on site and ready to search the place, Finn’s thoughts were only of her and her safety. They rushed through the historic neighborhood on the east side of town to find the old, condemned foundry building located on 6th Street. Finn could only hope that they got there in time.

Squealing his brakes the second they entered the large, gravel parking lot and kicking up tons of dust, Ezra skidded to a hard stop.

Both he and Finn sat in the car frozen in awe as they took in the startling scene. The lot was filled with marked, unmarked, SWAT, TAC and emergency vehicles surrounding the dilapidated building.

Garbled sounds from his car speakers shocked them and brought them both back into the moment… back to their current reality.

“Finn, I just got eyes on you.” Kanan issued another commanding order. ”You and Ezra stay put. Hear me? Ya hear me? We got this — so stay put!!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Finn muttered, turning to Ezra, licking his lips wet in an attempt to stave off the cotton dryness in his mouth. He gulped hard. “Alright, Kanan.”

“Now, promise me you guys won’t interfere -- Let us get in and get her.” Jarrus made his point again loud and clear.

Finn thought back to Ezra’s earlier observation and agreed that if Ben was truly complicit, he certainly would not have sent the text. This new turn of events was pretty significant, and the idea was a very hopeful one that would clearly change the outcome. All the two of them could do at this point is wish he was right and hope for the best.

*****

Krennic issued orders to several of the teams. He radioed to the state police, “Initiate the grid search of all the surrounding buildings and follow up, and re-establish all of the roadblocks. We’ll be needing them on Highway 39, Interstates 20 and 59. And don’t forget MS-30 and MS-41, as well as US 11 and 80. Now – Get on it!”

Over a dozen U.S. Marshals, plain clothes and uniformed officers busted through the rear doors of the condemned duplex across the street from the foundry, while S.W.A.T. team members and snipers and sharpshooters took to the rooftops of three of the other adjacent buildings. All were on high alert and awaiting their final signals from Krennic and Thrawn.

Kanan listened anxiously to each of the garbled communiques on his squad car radio.

The atmosphere was highly charged as each of the teams assembled and began to mobilize.

“Established the perimeter, sir.” Lines of officers in single file jogged to their various access points at all of the building’s entrances.

“Alpha Unit Check.” Several S.W.A.T. members took up their positions and hunkered down. “No sign of targets, sir.”

“Delta Unit Check, sir.”

“Gamma Unit check, sir.”

“All units in place and checked, sir.” Various team members checked in and gave the signal for a go ahead.

A captain gestured sharply, pointing with three fingers then two toward the fire escapes. “That’s a go!”

“Aight then. Let’s take it.”

“Go, go, go, go — GO!!”

“Move, move, move!”

The SWAT team engaged. The sound of the footfalls of heavy military-style boots pounding the pavement, down the stairwells and through all the entryways into the building seemed thunderous.

A small flight of pigeons tore up into the gray sky, alerting anyone who may have wandered into that desolate, deserted part of town to the otherwise stealthy, invisible police presence.

*****

One team entered through the foundry’s roof, repelling into what once was the largest machinist room. Another two teams breached the loading docks. Two more teams stood at the ready in front of the main entrance.

The sound of loud snapping echoed as the rotted wood in the ancient door frames gave way under the pounding pressure of a battering ram as over a dozen officers stormed through the rolled steel door to the ground level floor of the abandoned building. They descended onto the scene, running through office doors, supply rooms, closets, and hallways. Guns drawn and all carrying flashlights, several men converged on the building, signaling each other via radio.

A lone deep, bass voice pierced through the surreal scene. “We have movement, we have movement!”

Beneath some broken support beams, cobwebs, and dust covered cardboard boxes strewn all about the floor, there in the dark, a figure lay under an old quilt.

The officer that had called out reached her first. He threw off the quilt, removed his gloves, tore into the plastic, and freed her face from the bag surrounding it. Her head lolled to the side as he held her, weightless and cold to the touch.

Barely conscious, Rey’s body lay motionless, clinging to life, curled up beside a pile of broken office furniture and rubble. EMTs rushed right past them while SWAT team members continued searching and securing the area.

They each scrambled to the floor and immediately started to administer care. The second they hit their knees, they kicked into action, clearing her airway. One paramedic shared with the other. “Gotta pulse -- but it’s low.”

Rey coughed, frantically gasping for breath. “She’s responsive!”

Instantly, Rey flailed and clawed about with a frenzied flurry of flying fists and elbows. The EMT team calmly restrained her, administered her oxygen, and continued to check her vitals.

Rey suddenly coughed and wheezed, her breathing labored. Color began to return to her face as she strained with cheeks reddening as if there were a tearing in her throat.

“Quick!” Newly arriving on the scene, Agent Thrawn directed them. “Get her out of here! Let the CSI team in - then turn this place inside out!” As Marshal Krennec arrived at the scene, their men initiated the sweep of the foundry.

“Sirs - No sign of the perps.” An FBI agent reported sharply. “Neither suspect, sirs.”

“After securing the perimeter, cut off all access points for two miles. They’re close, they’ve gotta be very close… because she was still breathing.”

The EMTs hustled, administering the immediate care needed to stabilize her before using a scoop stretcher to transport Rey out of the foundry and into the ambulance.

Right at the curb, just inside the stretched, yellow ribbons of crime tape, were Finn, Ezra and Kanan. They gathered there waiting, anxious to finally see their friend and colleague. Once they set eyes on her and finally knew she was safe, they each released a collective sigh of relief.

Finn hurriedly jumped inside the rig and offered them a giant thumbs up out the rear window as it pulled away with lights and siren blaring.

*****

They all waited for hours on end inside the stark white lounge complete with multi-colored, hard plastic seating pressed against each wall.

It was nearly four in the morning. Outside the huge plate glass window, lavender and lilac traversed the indigo streaks which were evading the pending dawn. Wearing a pattern on the floor, Finn paced back and forth as Ezra, Jannah and Amilyn sat watching him.

A subtle click of a latch and the soft scrub of linoleum drew everyone’s attention to the opening door. When two doctors finally emerged, they walked through the waiting area and greeted the four of them. There was a tension taut like a string. They each knew that some word, any word, had to be better than their tireless waiting.

Nearly shoulder to shoulder, both Dr. Mina Bonteri and Dr. Riyo Chuchi stood closely to one another like bookends in the very center of the room. They faced Finn squarely as the others took turns rising quickly to their feet to join him and huddled together in an arc.

Dr. Bonteri began speaking softly and calmly. “We were informed that Dr. Kenobi has no family present.”

Amilyn determinedly spoke up first. “We are her family.” Her lips pressed together as her right hand drew up to midway her left arm, rubbing away the numbness.

Nodding anxiously, Finn echoed her sentiments. “Yes, yes, we all are.”

The young doctor continued. “Dr. Kenobi suffered mild cerebral hypoxia, but there was no resulting brain damage. Simply put, hypoxia occurs when there is not enough oxygen getting to the brain.”

Moving closer to stand behind her fiance, Jannah nestled her chin to Finn’s shoulder and gently wrapped her arms around his waist.

The doctor continued. “Her prognosis is very good. We’ve upgraded her status to fair. She’s definitely out of the woods, but we will be running a few more tests, primarily CTs and MRIs, as well as keeping her under very close observation.”

Then, Dr. Chuchi, clearly the younger of the two added, “She is very fortunate -- a very lucky little lady. She was rescued just in time.” She offered them encouragement with warm smiles as she made eye contact with each of them. “There were also other minor injuries that she suffered, consisting of ligature wounds to her ankles and wrists… mostly mild bruises and abrasions, though.” She assured them, continuing.

“Dr. Kenobi was malnourished and severely dehydrated. She will need lots of fluids and a good deal of rest,” Dr. Bonteri mentioned while tugging off her glasses and allowing them to fall freely to her chest from the beaded chain around her neck.

“Take heart, everyone - Overall, again, I’ll have to say her prognosis is very good. And she already knows that you guys are out here and anxious to see her. We will let you go in and visit for a short while once the officers finish taking her statement.”

Chuchi chimed in. “Should you have further questions, feel free to ask.” She returned to the doorway and held it open for Dr. Bonteri as they both exited.

*****

Not far down the hall, fully conscious, but still a little disoriented and terribly groggy after the various medications administered, and fielding a barrage of questions from members of the Task Force, Rey was just happy to get some rest.

Despite the queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, she was shaken - but so grateful to be alive.

Burning in the very depths of her, festering in her belly – was the largest gnawing question of all… Where was Ben?

His eyes were the last thing she saw as the sedation took hold and she nodded off to sleep.

*****

After her MRI, the last of her series of tests, the orderly wheeled her back to her room. The moment they had entered, Rey found Ezra, Jannah, Finn and Amilyn. The latter hadn’t left her side since the ambulance ride.

She weakly chuckled and asked, “Where’s the party?” Rey’s voice was hoarse, and her throat was still painfully sore.

As the orderly assisted her into bed, her four friends gathered around her wearing broad, comforting smiles.

“Party’s ova here - party’s ova here!” Ezra whooped, lifting his hands high overhead with a ‘wave em like you just don’t care’ dance move.

“Yeah, Rey, one thing’s for sure, your room sure beats the hell outa that awful waiting area.”

“Well, that’s great to hear, I guess.” Rey winced, and then her smile spread effortlessly across her face. Despite her discomfort, she beamed with an ease and comfort she hadn’t experienced in quite a while. She was pleased to be surrounded by all the love and support.

Although her exhaustion fought to ruin the celebration, Rey held on. Still a little light-headed and woozy, she struggled to participate in all the conversations. Finn offered an exciting and rather animated account of her rescue while he garnered everyone’s attention.

They were all riveted and quite amused. Everyone except Kanan, who was attempting to be polite. But the pall that hung over him was too obvious. The darkness circling his eyes spoke to the endless hours of worry and sleep loss. The bags underneath them told the story of a man who feared for the fate of his partner.

Rey wasn’t quite certain when, but she lost the battle and eventually dozed off. When she awoke, the only one remaining was Amilyn, who sat comfortably in the corner of the room quietly reading.

Stiffly, Rey sat up slowly and smiled weakly at her friend. “I’m sorry, I was such the party pooper.” She shrugged.

“No apologies necessary. It’s quite alright, I explained to everyone that it was a lot for you right now.” She tucked a bookmark between the pages, then routinely shoved the book in her handbag. Then, Amilyn rose to her feet and moved closer to her bedside.

Rey scooted over, making room and patting her mattress in invitation. As Amilyn lightly perched upon Rey’s bed, she brushed a soft hand across her brow. “You’ve done remarkably well, Rey, and I’m very, very proud of you.” Leaning in further, Amilyn brushed Rey’s hair back from her forehead with her fingers.

Instantaneously, they each took the other’s hand. “Thank you. Thank you. Although, I am not entirely sure what it is I have done.”

Wrapping both her hands around hers, Amilyn smiled, her voice soft, gentle and soothing. “You survived it, my friend.” She brought Rey into her arms and hugged her tightly. “You survived it all.”

“Yes, yes I did.” Clinging to her, Rey barely whispered over her mentor’s shoulder. Then, she broke down, trembling as she began to cry soft, almost silent sobs filled with hot tears into Amilyn’s blouse. “I did…”

*****

Finn and Jannah took turns re-arranging all of her flowers, potted plants, balloons and cards that arrived from her co-workers at Quantico. They littered her shelves and spilled over onto the windowsill of her room.

“Rey!” Finn chuckled, finally parking it on the arm of Jannah’s chair. “It’s starting to look like a rain forest up in here.” Everyone laughed. Everyone except Rey. She was elsewhere.

Rey was glued to the news coverage on the continued manhunt, and Amilyn spied her trusty legal pad in her lap just through the railing alongside her and enmeshed in the blanket. She stepped right up to her bedside, rapidly seizing it. “Rey, this time is meant for convalescing - not working, believe it or not.” Returning to her chair, she tisked as she placed the pad between her sweater and handbag in her seat.

“I know, I know, Am.” Rey surrendered as she flicked the power off button on her remote. “Has there been any more word from Thrawn or Krennec??”

“No.” Ezra cited. Then Finn added, “Not yet.”

The entire group seemed to shake their heads in sync. “No, but the press conference is scheduled for tomorrow at noon.” Finn responded. “And Detective Jarrus mentioned he’d be stopping back by a little later.”

At that very moment, Kanan entered, sliding in through the door carrying a get-well card and a huge, stuffed red fox plushy under his arm. “You gave us quite a scare.”

“Good afternoon, Detective Jarrus.” Rey raised her eyes to the tall detective. “And I owe you a great debt and heartfelt thanks.” Her smile warmed as he handed her the plushy, and she hugged it tightly to her chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, lil’ lady.”

“Detective Jarrus – Any more news on Paige?”

Kanan’s shoulders slightly slumped. “No, none…”

Ezra added, “Special Agent Thrawn is like a pitbull – He’ll find her.”

“They have her.” The detective muttered wearily, almost in defeat.

Both Finn and Rey easily corrected him. “He has her.”

Finn clapped a hand to Jarrus’ back in greeting and encouragement while he announced he made new reservations for Harvest Grill once she was discharged. Everyone seemed excited for the opportunity to finally celebrate… to celebrate many things, but mostly Rey’s rescue and recovery.

Mara stepped inside the doorway slowly. She hugged a huge box of dark chocolates. “Hello, Doctor Kenobi…” The young lady bore little resemblance to Ben, and was dressed plainly in a cotton blouse and skirt. She appeared very timid and hesitant.

“Everyone, this is Mara. She's Ben’s cousin from Memphis.” Ezra rushed to her side, shaking her hand and ushering her further into the room.

“I’m really glad to finally meet you.” Rey lit up. “Finn and Ezra told me how helpful you’d been.”

Mara inched closer, placing the candy in front of her. Rey finally shared her gratitude with her. The others talked among themselves, allowing the two to have their moment.

Mara quietly cleared her throat. She disclosed that the ‘mysterious man of the cloth’ visitor was “... my daddy.”

After her eyes darted nervously around the room, she confided that when he left my momma, he became a preacher. “My daddy visited Ben in jail. He wanted ta pray wit him before da trial ended. And I think maybe to - to- oh, I dunno, I’m not sure.”

Aah - The Bible - His lone visitor - It was his Uncle Luke.

Reaffirming what she already knew, Rey desperately wanted to know more. “Can we have the room, please?”

Everyone quickly left the two of them alone. The door shushed close, leaving them both in a veiled silence.

Mara gulped, stuffing down her unease as her chest started to heave. “I’m so sorry, sorry fer what I done. And sorry fer what I hadn’t...” Her eyes welled up with regret.

“It’s okay, Mara. You shouldn’t blame yourself. None of this is your fault. That was a heavy burden for someone so young to bear, and it should not have been placed on you. It’s okay – it’s okay.” Rey lightly patted her palm over Mara’s hand. “It’s all going to be alright now.”

“But Dr. Kenobi, ya gotta understand, we grew up always hearin’ ‘what goes on in dis house, stays in dis house’.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Thing is – my Daddy always knew dat Kylo gave the Snokes - dem what took ‘im in, a real hard time. Always gittin’ in trouble, tantrums, fights, threatenin’ ta kill his mama.” Mara froze up and her whole body tensed.

“Well, when he got older he started settin’ fires, and torturin’ and killin’ lil’ animals. His fam’ly was through wit’ him. Daddy thought he had the devil in ‘im. Daddy was deep into the Pentecostal Holiness movement, ya see. He convinced them – da Snokes - ta let him take Kylo up to his cabin in the mountains ta go huntin’ once. Think he was around thirteen… fourteen. Daddy got da Holy Spirit, tried prayin’ ova him and took ta speakin’ in tongues and sermoned ta him with serpents, da snakes… ya see were a test of his faith. He wanted ta drive out da evil.” Mara sniffled.

Rey took her hand in her own to bolster the young woman’s courage.

“They fought… Daddy said it wuz terrible. Awful bad. Kylo almost killt ‘im.”

“And…” Rey sat up straight in bed, captivated and more curious, she had to know. “And then what…?”

“Kylo – well, he run off. And no one eva heard hide nor hair. Dat is until we heard of da trail of missing women from Memphis to Meridian.” She meekly lowered her gaze to the railing at Rey’s bedside. Contrite, Mara bowed her head.

Rey’s heart raced. There may have been others. The realization hit her with the weight of an anvil. It all made sense. She now knew the many missing pieces.

His Uncle Luke came to pray with Ben. His true motive for the visit was to convince him to give up Kylo.

There was a loud, startling knock at the door. Finn poked his head in. “We’ll all see you tomorrow, Rey. Good night. Night, Mara.”

“I won’t be going to the press conference. And I can’t - I won’t make the dinner. Gotta head back up. I’m sorry.”

“I understand, Mara.” She squeezed Mara’s hand once more as she stood to leave. Once Mara reached the doorway, Rey said, “Thank you again, Mara, for being so brave.”

*****

The Mayor, Chief of Police, Marshall Orson Krennec, Special Agent Mitt Thrawn, and Detective Jarrus all stood together at the podium. Several members of all the agencies represented huddled behind them, lined against the wall. The rotunda in City Hall was packed full to capacity. Members of the press, from both local and national media outlets were represented. Camera crews and reporters covering the press conference were inside and outside of City Hall.

All the officials filed in line up the steps to the dais as Krennec and Thrawn took center stage behind the podium.

“Good Morning, I am US Marshall Orson Krennec. We’ll get right to it. As you all may know, both suspects are still at large.” A very tense and steely-eyed Krennec wrapped his hands and wrists around the edge of the podium, leaning closer into the microphone. “They may or may not have left the State. We have since secured additional cooperation from Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, both the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.”

Angling his body and looking over his shoulder, Krennec clicked a remote and instantly, two huge, life-size images of Ben and Kylo appeared behind them on the screen.

He provided full descriptions of both men and included that of the missing truck, their last known vehicle. Printed hard copies were also distributed to the members of the press.

Although there were almost a hundred in attendance, Rey felt as though it were a thousand.

“We will not be taking any questions this morning. Now I would like to turn it over to Special Agent Thrawn of the FBI.” He gestured to the taller law officer.

While the two men switched places on the dais, a squeal of the hot mic briefly echoed, then ricocheted throughout the large rotunda and atrium.

“Pardon me. I am Special Agent Thrawn.” He adjusted the microphone as he stepped in closer to the podium. “Dr. Rey Kenobi is the only surviving victim and witness. I would like to acknowledge her this afternoon, and let her know that we appreciate her attending. She will not be making a statement this morning, but we would like to thank her for her courage. Her assistance has been most valuable to our investigation.” Gesturing, he calmly extended a warm hand out to her.

Cameras whirred. The clicking sounds they made forced Rey to blink.

“Now, in regards to the suspect… There is a slight chance these two are still together, but it is highly unlikely, and we have reason to believe, that they have split up.” He drawled on with a clenched jaw..

“With that said, know that despite what some sources may have reported, both these men are still considered suspects and are both fugitives from the law. We will employ all our collaborative efforts to apprehend them. We strongly urge everyone to be cautious.” He glanced over at Rey and nodded softly in quiet support.

She was standing just at the foot of the stage, surrounded by Amilyn, Finn, Jannah and Ezra. Until Thrawn had acknowledged her, she had been fixated on the large screen behind them. Rey was entranced… eyes locked, frozen.

Rey’s stare pierced through the massive photos of Ben and Kylo projected on the wall behind the two law enforcement officials.

Everyone was listening and appeared to be attentive. But to Rey, the words all suddenly became garbled and seemed to all flow together, like a dull droning. All she could see and focus on were the larger-than-life images projected onto the granite wall. Rey chose to avoid Kylo’s photo. Her mouth became dry, and although she tried, she could not swallow enough to change that. She felt Amilyn’s arm gradually snake around her waist and pull her in close.

Holdo had been totally against her coming. She thought it was all too much too soon, but even though Rey understood, she was unbelievably stubborn and insisted. She now had to face the consequences. Rey wanted to believe it might mark the first step for her healing process, ideally cathartic.

But she did face the consequences - all the feelings, the stares and endless gawking, imagined judgements, the pitiful eyes and hushed whispers. Amilyn was right -- it was, in fact, too soon.

Her palms grew sweaty, her hands started to shake, and it was subtle at first, not entirely visible. Rey’s pulse raced as her anxiety spiked. Her mind muddled and her vision clouded. She chose to focus on Ben’s face. She found it soothed her agitation, whereas the sight of Kylo began to make her skin literally crawl. But Ben’s soulful eyes calmed her. Most of her nervousness and fretful feelings started to ebb and dissipate.

When Finn moved nearer and laced the fingers of his left hand in between those of her right, she actually returned to the moment and was fully present. Flanked by the two she knew she could always count on for love and support made Rey’s nerves simmer, temper and wane. She stilled and felt relief… something likened to tranquility.

Thrawn cleared his throat and turned briefly to look at Krennec before he continued. “There have been rumors and innuendo that my staff and I will be returning to Washington. They are untrue. We will be staying on to assist Marshal Krennec, local Meridian PD, and both the Mississippi State Police and Bureau until these two are found.”

“We will be needing the assistance from all members of the community and the public.” Krennec stepped forward once more and clicked the remote to change the screen, providing the Anonymous Tip Line Information and Website - With a sincere plea for help from anyone offering any sightings or information to assist in the capture of both Benjamin Solo and Kylo Ren.

An additional cautionary warning went out to everyone listening and watching. “If you see them or encounter either of the suspects, please do not engage, know they are possibly armed and very dangerous.”

Finn, Amilyn, Ezra and Jannah walked Rey out of the rotunda to the elevator, and they all rode down to the underground garage in complete and total silence.

*****

Rey watched as Amilyn lugged her bags into the room. She had cleaned out everything from the motel and packed for her. Rey grinned, anxious to sink into a pair of her own comfy jeans and wear one of her fav tees again.

The door cracked ajar. “Here you are, Dr. Kenobi.” The nurse placed a large ziploc bag filled with her few belongings on the dining tray.

Rey’s eyes raked over the hideous dress encased in plastic and hissed, “Get it away from me.”

“What would ya have me do with it?” The nurse backed up with two stilted steps and lingered.

She spat, “Burn it.” Rey turned away sharply and faced the window.

“Rey!” Amilyn snapped. Her gaze met the nurse’s, and she then nodded to her knowingly while she swept up the bag. “It’s alright, Rey. She was only doing her job, dear.”

“I know.” She fell back into her pillows, folding her arms across her chest. “And I’m so sorry. That wasn’t like me at all. Forgive me…please.”

The nurse nodded and issued a raised brow. As she headed for the door, she handed something to Amilyn. She had left a much smaller bag in Amilyn’s hands. With her long slender fingers, she tested the weight of it, pulling it into her lap.

Stepping over toward the bed, she hesitated, then handed it to Rey. “I do believe…” she paused once more, considering her response. “You may just want to keep this.”

Rey’s gaze fell to her cellphone. She took only a second to study it.

“Get changed dear.” Amilyn dumped the pair of jeans and a t-shirt Rey selected out onto the table before zipping Rey’s bag. “I’ll take these all back into the car.”

Unconsciously running the pads of her fingers along the phone’s surface, Rey watched her mentor struggle to squeeze the bags out the door.

Rey glanced back down at the phone. Her breath skittered as a lone tear pushed past her lower lashes as it braved a soft path down her cheek.

Rey’s thoughts flew through her brain, overwhelming her – The police questioning her, more news of Paige’s abduction, Mara’s revelations, being spared and escaping Kylo raping her, and Ben saving her. BEN… saving her.

Intense feelings harkened back to the memory of the holding cell, his long fingers retrieving the pen from her hair, the flutter in her center, the heat rising up her chest, the slight twinge and tingle between her legs and the shivers that ran down her spine.

*****

Cautious and with his eyes peeled, he pulled open the door and moseyed in the place, scanning and checking it out... Gauging the atmosphere. The juke in the corner played an old Orbison tune. The lonely haunting sounds of Roy’s voice crooning seemed to fit the bar and his mood.

His steps were stiff, still favoring his tender wounds from the fight. Disappointed with himself and still irritated with his choice of a swamp doctor who did a piss-poor job of mending and taping up his ribs, he hid his wince while approaching the bar.

His movements were furtive while he sat on the stool and pushed his work boots up onto the rung. Mumbling to the bartender, he ordered a draft, keeping his head down with his long hair tucked beneath the trucker’s hat. Carefully, he took note of the restrooms and exits.

The bartender grumbled back something in response as he flipped a cocktail napkin up in front of him and stood a tall, ice cold, sweaty glass on top of it.

The seedy, podunk bar was practically empty, and the few patrons there were all glued to a game of pool.

His shades were way out of place in the darkened, smokey bar, but he hesitated to take them off, especially the second he saw the press conference playing on the large, flat screen tv just to the left of the mirror behind the bar. He wrapped his massive hand nervously around the tiny ashtray facing him and began to spin it along the worn wooden surface.

He watched the coverage with held breath and remained ever conscious of the door to his back.

When a camera close-up shot to Rey, his heart skipped a beat. Ben smiled. He slid a fiver across the bar slowly and turned up the glass, quickly downing the brew. Grateful she was alive, he was encouraged she was well and looked safe.

Standing, then scuffing back across the floor, he secured his hat down lower to his brow until it met his shades.

Once outside, he watched the pink orange sunset spill over the horizon just down the dirt road. Smiling broadly, he dragged the hard pack from the cuff of his rolled sleeve and tapped out a cigarette.

*****

Chapter Text

Rey unfortunately, had to bow out of the dinner party. She made her apologies to Finn, Jannah and Ezra, certain they’d understand. Her whole focus now was heading back home and dedicating herself to a full recovery.

She and Amilyn were set to fly back together. Their departure time was scheduled for 10:22 am.

The Meridian Regional Airport was quite small, but far more sophisticated than she might have imagined. In hindsight, Rey wondered why she drove down to Mississippi in the first place. Mostly, she felt immense guilt for her own ignorance and judgmental shortsightedness.

Agent Thrawn strode up just outside the steel stanchions leading to their final gate. He had come to see them off.

After spotting him, Amilyn smiled and waved excitedly. “Good Morning, Agent Thrawn.” She then instantly returned to their usual formalities.

He nodded. “Dr. Holdo.” He pivoted, then carefully took an attentive step toward Rey. “Dr. Kenobi.” His voice became softer and gentler when he took her hand, cupping it in both of his.

Thrawn leaned into her, whispering lightly just above the crown of her head. “I am determined to wrap this whole matter up quickly, Rey. And I am going to do just that - I’m going to do it for you . We are all very much looking forward to having you back on the job again.”

She hugged him, which Rey knew was a huge departure from usual behavior, decorum and protocol for both of them. She was glad she did. Thrawn eagerly returned her tight squeeze. His normally rigid and controlled manner crumbled, falling to the polished tile of the check-in floor. The moment they broke their awkward embrace, Rey smiled timidly up at him. “Thank you, Agent Thrawn. Thank you.” 

He winked. “Take care of her, Amilyn. And you two be safe.” He turned away sharply and headed back through the meager crowd milling around the terminal.

Rey couldn’t quite explain her shaky legs when they finally descended the ramp to board. Amilyn tucked her arm in hers as they approached the cabin.

After they got comfortable,and settled into their seats, Amilyn started listening to an audio book by one of her contemporaries. Rey looked out the window, observing the other planes taxi down the runway.

Shortly after take-off, Rey watched the town of Meridian fall away, a small brown and green blotch shrinking through the clouds as Amilyn dozed off.

For a moment, it grew difficult to stave off the immense feelings that overwhelmed her once again. All that had happened, everything she had gone through, the abject horror of the realization that Kylo was still out there on the loose, compounded with the strange stirrings she had whenever she thought about Ben… Ben .

Although it was difficult, she tried not to dwell on the experience. Rey believed she needed to focus on where her life would take her next. 

*****

Upon her return, Rey made it her business to keep tabs on the ongoing investigation. She maintained a steady volley of emails with Thrawn. Though the dust began to settle slowly after the FBI placed the twin brothers on the Bureau’s most wanted list, the southern divisions ramped up their efforts.

All of the trace evidence was collected and processed from the truck and the farmhouse. Both sets of fingerprints were lifted from inside. It all substantiated the commonly held theories about the brothers. The markers had finally proven it. Twins share identical DNA but have distinctly different prints. 

Records showed that the Cypress Lane property had been rented sight unseen by a mysterious Mr. Ren, who had used a non-existent Memphis address and bank account. Additionally, he had installed internet access, and the only laptop found had been completely wiped clean. The hard drive was a burnt, charred, mangled mess in the microwave. The few vestiges found by the federal computer forensic examiners from the ip address were only a handful of online purchases for groceries and some clothing. 

Once the authorities completed the full search of the empty farmhouse, aside from Dr. Kenobi’s clothes from that fateful day in court, they turned up absolutely nothing. Search teams scoured the surrounding wooded area. The only things they found in the one hundred and eighteen-acres of forestation were Paige Tico’s unmarked squad car, her sidearm, and cellphone with her keys still in the ignition.

The Feds, US Marshals and joint law enforcement teams scoured the entire area. Several abandoned structures, garages, sheds, barns, silos, and a few shallow ponds that lay within the tracts of land belonging to the property were searched thoroughly. They all turned up empty.

The hotline had revealed several sightings and a smattering of leads that went absolutely nowhere. In three weeks, the tips were all beginning to dry up. Even the media and press’ interest gradually dwindled from the national scene.

Against her better judgment, Rey secretly kept updated clippings, created a video file of media coverage, compiled bureau reports and all of Thrawns’ team’s movements.

She had been warned by some to disengage, to separate herself from the case. But Rey persisted, something inside her just would not allow her to fully let go.

Not entirely.

*****

It had only been four months, and yet, she felt as if it all seemed like a lifetime ago.

Rey sat out on her front porch and tucked the bookmark neatly between the pages of a recently acquired novel. About to head back into the house, she glanced down and grinned the moment she saw Finn’s name and number flash across her cellphone’s display screen.

“Hi there, handsome.” She grinned and kicked her feet out from under her and sank right back into the large oversized pillows of her South Hampton chair.

“Hello there, Beautiful!” Finn chuckled. “It’s all set then. Jannah and I will be coming up now for sure. Been waiting on her leave approval. Now that she’s got it, we’re both so anxious to see you, Rey. Been missing you like crazy.”

“I miss you, too, Finn. So – How is Jannah?” She stood, tucked her book under her arm and opened the door to head inside.

“She’s great. But she’s becoming impossible to live with given all these constantly changing, crazy wedding plans. She’s driving me completely nuts.” She heard his hearty laughter and it rippled through the phone and made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

Rey beamed, and she felt grateful to have such good friends who continued to hold onto her and never let her go. “I’m so excited for you both and can’t wait to get my invitation. You know I’d never miss it.” She noticed the fast approaching sunset and wandered from room to room, turning on lamps.

“Ya know – It may just beat us up there. You’ll be getting it in the mail soon, cuz we finally decided to stick with the June twenty-third date after all.”

“Yaaay! I’m sure it’ll be absolutely beautiful, Finn!” She walked into the kitchen and subconsciously started taking inventory for her expected house guests. “And I’m looking forward to dancing all night long at your reception.” 

“Yes! Oh – And my latest case is in Georgia and I’m quite sure it’ll have me really hoppin’ soon. So -- it’s a good thing that we’re actually coming up this weekend. Thanks again for having us, Rey. It’s going to be fun for us to finally catch up.” 

“Yes, good, good. It’ll be great.” Rey heard Jannah talking in the background. “Hey, Jannah! Can’t wait.” She anxiously paced back down the hall.

“Oh, and Jannah wanted to remind me that Ezra said to tell ya ‘Hi’!” 

“Give each of them a great big hug for me, please. Travel safe and I’ll see you both soon.” Rey hunched her shoulders. “Bye-bye, Finn.”

After she hung up the phone, Rey stood anchored in the middle of her living room and took note of all the things she needed to do to make ready for her weekend company. She had to plan and prepare. As she pushed her glasses up over the bridge of her nose, she folded her arms across her chest, realizing that this would be the first time she’d entertained guests, that no one else had visited her since she’d returned from Mississippi.

*****

After Finn and Jannah’s stay, things settled back down. But in those seventy-two hours, she did more socially than she had in over five months. Between the movies, their dinners out, shopping with Jannah, and riding up to Washington, D.C. to listen to live jazz and some spoken word, the two kept her very busy. It was fun filled, and she loved experiencing that true sense of family again. 

The last night before they left, Jannah turned in early, leaving Rey and Finn to spend some alone time on her front porch. He had shared with her mano a mano that Kanan had just taken an extended leave of absence. Apparently, he had hired Ezra to help him find Paige. This new undertaking was obviously separate from the actual investigation. The news was stinging. It had been the first time during their visit that she started to relive moments of the grisly experience in that cellar.

Rey attempted to keep a straight face, a stiff upper lip and offer an encouraging response despite all her rekindled fears - knowing all too well the horrors that surely awaited Paige at the hands of Kylo.

She silently wished both the detective and the investigator all the success in the world - for Paige’s sake and their own.

Rey’s life got right back to normal relatively quickly. Whatever normal was… she invariably dismissed the fact that her life had never really been normal to begin with. In no time, however, she had comfortably nestled back into her regular routine she had practiced prior to Meridian.

Being back at her office at Quantico allowed her the richly familiar diversions. Lazily, she walked from one window to the other, watering and misting each of the plants in her office. There were so many now - and all growing and thriving. Her newest acquisitions were mostly ‘welcome home’ gifts from coworkers. There were also the arrowhead from Finn and Jannah, and the large ficus tree from Amilyn.  

Although she was entirely too happy to be back to work and on light duty, Rey felt terribly disconnected. Not so much from her case-loads, co-workers and peers, but she felt disconnected from her own life. Her duties had consisted of some light consulting to start, and simple profiling work with younger agents on a few active investigations. The new assignments were all local. A serial pyrotechnic in Richmond, and then there was that unsolved spree of linked hate crimes in the District that had both kept her quite busy.

Rey did, however, begin to worry that she had lost her truest gift. She had reason to believe that she left her empathic abilities back in Mississippi. Try as she might, the connection was broken, and she felt as if she was fumbling about like a novice to read, assess the simplest perps, crime scenes, situations and settings. It pained and frustrated her. She wanted to believe that, much like an atrophied limb or muscle, she could stretch it, flex it, hoping the use would return to her again. The edge she once possessed had dulled, and there was no denying it.

None of her colleagues were aware. They were tremendously patient, tolerant and set quite the low bar for her performance level, as well as their expectations. Still, Rey remained hopeful.

All and all, her work life was just fine; she was, indeed, adjusting. It was whenever Rey set foot in her house that she would experience the disconnected, highly isolatory urges. She was, in fact, missing the mutuality within herself and with the world around her. 

Rey tried harder than she ever had before to force herself to engage. Fighting her desires and inclinations to separate herself proved to be a lot more difficult than she imagined. So, she took some of Amilyn’s suggestions and re-enrolled in her old Bikram yoga class. She listened to her favorite music, made herself watch television, sampled the podcasts of other colleagues, and tried calling her friends more often. She even got better with answering the calls from her friends, rather than letting them go directly to voicemail. 

Returning to her running, however, had been another matter entirely. For nearly a month, she would suit up, and yet couldn’t quite get past her own front porch. A few times Rey even tried driving to the river walk, but still found herself stuck and unable to leave the safety of her car. One day, a little over a week ago, she pushed past all the uncomfortable feelings of vulnerability, fear and paranoia. She threw her legs out of the vehicle and pressed the toes of her brand new Puma trainers to the asphalt.

Breathing deeply, Rey stood tall and began bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. She blew out forceful puffs of air while rolling her shoulders. Rey jumped in place, and much like a mantra, whispered over and over, “I can do this, I can do this…” Before she knew it, her heels had kicked into high gear as she made her way from the lot to the path. And Rey had been running ever since… Small victories.

Nonetheless, she continuously found herself adrift in her own thoughts… still finding it difficult to fight her way back.

Amilyn had recommended Dr. Kalonia, a mutual friend and colleague, and Rey had been seeing her twice a week. Their mutually agreed upon treatment plan covered far more than her diagnosed PTSD. They had broached her older issues with childhood trauma, and for the first time, Rey was open to explore her social anxiety and avoidance. She was encouraged and happy with their progress.

She seemed to still tire easily, and hated whenever others attributed it to her abduction… those days in the cellar tied to a chair. Deep inside, Rey knew that there was far more to it. Something else had happened to her down in Mississippi. Something rather unexplainable… incomprehensible, something that appeared to transcend all reason and logic.  

Whenever she let herself and her thoughts return to the time before the abduction, her memories poked millions of tiny little holes, like pin-pricks in the theory that this earth-shattering, life-changing, radical ‘something’ must’ve happened to her in that basement and that basement alone. 

Rey knew otherwise. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that it had happened in that little, spartan lounge at Parchman Prison. And that it had definitely happened during those sessions with Him.

Ben Solo revealed something within himself that ultimately revealed something within her. They shared a need for a strong connection, the shared loneliness, the wanting and longing, the profound paralyzing fear of being alone. Not discounting nor minimizing their desire to be touched, to be loved and cared for and, more importantly, to Belong . 

After all this time, Rey  considered that she might have been wrong all those many months ago. Her own myopic, misguided arrogance had led her to believe that she was the key to his salvation. 

And with her new, recent revelation, this new epiphany -- Perhaps he had been Her key.

*****

She entered her office carrying a huge stack of case files. Rey sighed while crossing the floor and stood, settling behind her desk’s chair after plopping them all down in the very center of it.

Just then, the phone on her desk rang loudly and shook her from her own preoccupation. She pushed into her chair, leaning over it to grab up the receiver.  

“Behavioral Analysis Unit, Dr. Kenobi’s Office.” There was such a long delay on the other line that Rey believed for a moment that the call might have dropped. The pause was filled with a hollow emptiness, an almost vacuous sound, and it seemed endless. “Hello…hellooo?” She felt a prickling sensation and then a slight chill. They both raced along her skin.

“Well – Hi ya, Doc.” It was his voice. 

His voice . 

Her eyes nervously shot around the office, then briefly traveled out into the hall, fearful that her feelings were visible, that she was naked, exposed. Rey stood there frozen… petrified. Every ounce of air was sucked from out of the room, as well as her lungs. She swayed on her feet while her head spun.

“...B-B-Ben?” 

She felt her cheeks heat uncontrollably as her nails dug deeply into the leather, tightly gripping the back of her chair like a vise with one hand while clutching the receiver in the other. 

“Ben, is it really you? Really? Where - Where are you? Are you okay?” Rey covered her palm to her mouth to prevent herself from babbling and prattling on. Her heart pounded so heavily she could hardly catch her breath. Rey reached for the edge of her desk, holding on to it to steady herself before she fell faint. “How did you get this office line? Really… Where are you?”

“Why - why, ya gave it to me… dontcha rememba, Doc? It was the day of da hearing.” He chuckled. “Well, I been pretty well hid, jus’ like a swallow in a hollow. I’m fine, though, really. But I was right happy ta see you were okay. Considerin’ all dat ya went through -- I mean, seeing ya in the papers and on tv and all.”

“Wait, Ben -- huh? How did you... Wh- what? Seriously, where are you? You aren’t in any danger, are you? You must tell me where you are, please. Please!” Her hand flew to her forehead as she leaned over her desk. She pulled out her chair and rushed to collapse into the seat.

“Nowhere really, and kinda ev’rywhere all at once, I guess. Keepin’ my head down, is all.”

“Ben…” Despite all his vagaries, his voice alone was warm, and it comforted her. Rey felt her eyes welling with the unshed tears that she knew were inevitable. “Oh, Ben.”

“Ah - C’mon. Please, stop yer worrying’, now. I’m jus’ fine, honest, Doc. Plus, ya don’t really need ta know where I am. And I wouldn’t even wanna put dat on ya. Not now. You don’t really wanna know. Cuz you’ve been through way too much, already.” He sighed. 

Rey grew somber, lowering her voice. “Where is Kylo? Do you have any idea where your brother is?” Her eyes shot to the doorway once more, ever watchful and wary.

“No ma’am, I do not. Truly. Ain’t seen him since the farmhouse. And part o’ me – part o’ me isn’t even sure I wanna know…” His voice mildly drifted. “Kinda been goin’ a lil’ back-n-forth wit it…”

“You know you just can’t live like this. It’s impossible… always on the run. You just can’t. Sooner or later they’ll find you and you know it. Too risky. Admit it Ben, you’re - you’re hard to lose in a crowd.” She chuckled, then swallowed her weak attempt at humor and scrunched up her nose, giving a quick, stilted shake of her head, thinking how ridiculous she must have sounded.

“Well, I neva liked crowds much, Doc.” He chuckled softly, then grew silent suddenly. “But I been makin’ out jus’ fine. I really have… honest.”

“Ben!” Realizing her volume rose, Rey tried to soften and hush her tone. “Will you, at least, think about this…”

In a blatant attempt to deflect, Ben changed the subject quickly, with words tumbling off his tongue like an excited teen.

“And it sure is really great ta hear yer voice, Doc. Ya know I’d swear I - I can, I can almost see yer face right now. Dat pretty lil’ freckled face o’ yours.”

Her heart swelled. Weakened knees forced her to  crumble into her chair.

She allowed his little diversion, fighting back the tears as she grabbed the phone tightly in both hands. It felt good, and she felt the same. His voice sounded like a comforting hug. “Oh, Ben…”

“Not gonna keep ya long, Doc, I just wantcha ta know dat I truly do appreciate all dat ya done fa me. Mostly ... just believing in me. Cuz besides all them things ya said… in court and ta ev’rybody else. I know ya did.” One hand flew back to her mouth again, crushing her lips with the weight of her palm. She tried to stifle all the sobs that bubbled up.

Rey gulped, swallowing her few heaving hiccups before she responded. “And I really appreciate what you did for me, Ben. I owe you my life and will forever be grateful.” Tears trickled down her cheeks as she choked out the last few words. 

“Ah Hell -- now, what kinda man wud I be if I didn’t at least try to look out fer ya? Even if it wuz almos’ da last thing I done.” She heard him chuckle softly once more, low and just barely under his breath. “And Rey -- if it’s in my power, I’d neva let anyone hurt ya eva agin.” 

The stillness conspired to hold her, keep her in that moment.

“And there is somethin’ else I wanted ya ta’ know....”

She held her breath, trembling at the sound of her name, and grateful she didn’t order a trace on the call. “Yessss…?” Rey swiped the back of her hand across her eyes while she stood straight up, awaiting his response.

“Um – Well, honey, I ain’t goin’ nowhere…”

*****

Later that afternoon, before too much time lapsed, and after much debate, Rey ultimately decided to put the order in for a trace on her phone call. She risked the raised eyebrows, strange looks and the curious stares from a few fellow team members. 

Rey paced her office floor, anxiously waiting after making the request. She simply had to know. 

Once they finally nailed the results, an agent hustled into her office door and handed them to her. She informed her that the phone call originated from a rare pay phone at a Rest Stop just outside Rocky Mountain, North Carolina.

She was very familiar with the location. Rey remembered it clearly from working a case in that area four years ago. There was a Cracker Barrel located at the same exit.

He had been close. The idea stayed with her all day and seemed to linger in her mind long into the night.

*****

The crisp air was dry, sharp as the sun beating down on the faded blue paint of his truck’s hood. Dug in at this point nearly two states over, he felt safe enough to stick his head up.

He leapt out of the pickup, fanning at the huge cloud of dust it kicked up with a wary hand. He coughed. Raising the same hand up to his brow, filtering out the sun while he surveyed the meager property past the chain-link fence and slightly beyond.

Assured and now content with the newly acquired level of privacy, and lack of prying eyes, he leaned over into the truck cab. Tugging up the paper bags off the passenger seat , his long strides gradually took him up to the door. His boots fell heavily on the gravel. Tiny white stones and pebbles popped up, skittering against the metal stairs of the trailer.

After entering, the sour smell of rotting garbage peppered with mold forced his long nose to crinkle. His   shoulders sagged and then shrugged, ignoring the stench. Plopping three bags of groceries onto the counter, he started humming quietly.

After stuffing the groceries, bags and all, into the modest mini fridge, he scooped the trash bag out of the can, swiftly tying it up to take out and toss in the dumpster outside. Cursing at the cloud of swarming gnats and the browned banana peels on top, which he no doubt held responsible, he jogged out the door, across the yard then chucked the bag. Following the quick in-and-out, he slammed the door behind him. 

Confident now - his eyes then blackened like a Mako, considering what he had waiting for him in the back room.

He slowly began to hum again… only this time a little louder.

*****

Dr. Kalonia was helping her immensely, and Rey was truly grateful to Amilyn for the referral. A level of trust had developed organically between the two of them over their first few sessions. Rey established a connection that was comfortable and she truly respected her as a clinician. They got along very well and over time, Rey found it quite easy to confide. The good doctor’s encouragement made Rey really want to get better, and she did … want to get better. Overall, Rey was very pleased.

She shared in her session all about the most recent Finn and Jannah visit. She talked at length about how she didn’t suffer any episodes, and experienced decidedly less anxiety. She conveniently, however, omitted the recent contact with Ben the day before.

But Rey was rather excited to offer her latest work update. She had recently played what others may have deemed a wild hunch that landed a tremendous lead for a current case. Her precious powers of perception once again heightened. Seemingly the ‘mojo’ she thought she had lost had returned.

The road ahead appeared much brighter.

Rey was clear about all the things to avoid, given her slow recuperation. In her estimation, it was indeed a frightfully slow recuperation. Mostly, she was frank with her new therapists and shared openly and honestly. 

She wanted to benefit from it and improve the quality of her life.  She was getting better. The signs were there. All her anxiety, symptomatic of the ongoing bout with the PTSD, had gotten better. But the bond with Ben was something Rey still harbored, held hidden as she carried it closely and buried all too deeply.

She knew it was true - the theory that doctors made the worst patients.

In this session, Dr. Kalonia offered the topic of Mara. She asked her if having more insight into Kylo may have allowed her to have any empathy or sympathy for her captor. Rey kept her responses simple, clipped and rather stilted.

Debunking Stockholm Syndrome was something Rey always took great pleasure from whenever she was on the other side of the couch. Her own personal experience had changed that opinion. She could no longer deny that she displayed symptoms of the coping mechanism. In her past sessions with Kalonia, whenever the subject of Ben versus Kylo was broached, Rey fought offering her involuntary responses. 

For her it was simple. One was her hero, and one was her villain. It was good versus evil. It was black and white. There were no gray areas.

Kylo’s name still burned in her throat. The mere mention of Ben, however, elicited feelings of great raw emotion, a hunger and deep longing. Much like the phone call, he always conjured up such a teenage giddiness within her that made her blush and her toes tingle. No doubt one of them was her true torturer, and the other her savior. 

Separating the attachments of a survivor of an abduction was rather difficult work. Rey knew it to be true.

Freedom almost always brings a sense of elation and relief. However, adjusting back into the real world after being held hostage could be just as difficult as abruptly leaving it. Upon her release, Rey, like many hostage survivors, was faced with transitioning from conditions of isolation and helplessness to the intense sensory overload of freedom. She knew this transition often resulted in significant adjustment difficulties.

Rey still avoided her own basement at all cost. The expense of frequenting dry cleaners and laundromats  was one well spent in her estimation. She couldn't remember what her laundry room even looked like anymore. Small baby steps, she reminded herself. Wisely, Rey had already begun to price contractors estimates to install a new laundry room upstairs off the pantry. Small baby steps, she once again reminded herself. 

For the most part, she was happy to be free of the nightmares. It had been  over two months since she had one. They had been horrible. Many nights, they left her wide awake, drenched, totally soaked to the bone and trembling. Rey was relieved and very grateful to be rid of them.

But overall, Kalonia was happy with the work they had done together thus far. Rey was hopeful. Although she originally embarked on therapy to satisfy her unit chief’s requests and to ease Amilyn’s concerns, Rey was happy she surrendered to seeking the much-needed help in healing. 

They discussed at length revisiting and revamping her original treatment plan. Kalonia briefly mentioned hypnotherapy. Rey felt confident she’d made progress, and that there were only brighter days ahead. She was also anxious to get off light duty and get back to work fully. She wanted to start taking on more challenging cases and having a vital role in her team once more.

They stared at one another wordlessly for a moment. Then, Dr. Kalonia calmly mentioned that they were out of time.

As Rey slowly rose to leave the office, she sighed. They shook hands at the doorway of her inner office. 

“Thank you so much for everything, Doctor Kalonia.” She let a slight smile creep up, genuine but simple. “I’ll be seeing you again next week.”

Once leaving the elevator on her floor of the underground garage, Rey found herself in a clouded haze as she searched for her car. It came on suddenly.  She frantically pressed the key fob, alerting her to its location while disarming her alarm. For some odd reason she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of being watched.

Rey wasn’t exactly fearful… the feeling was more like anxious, jittery.  She hopped in and dismissed what she believed to be some vestiges of her paranoia. Possibly she was just skittish after the unexpected call from Ben. A part of her imagined there may have been a touch of wish fulfillment, too. The idea of finding Ben materializing just around the next corner was such a delightful fantasy. The corners of her lips rose into a devilish grin. After securing her seat belt, starting the engine, cranking up her music, she pulled out of her space without incident, anxious to get home.

****

Chapter Text

The wind whipped her mercilessly as she wrangled the door open to make her way out of her car. Insistent, Rey pushed against the fierce gusts and hurriedly ran up the front walkway to her house. Blown this way and that, she actually had to fight to scale the four steps up to her door.

Her poor porch plants and cherished wind chimes were weather-beaten into submission. The unforgiving windstorm had pounded them relentlessly into a tangled mess. Loose strands of vines, clumps of soil, broken and lost leaves littered the floor.

Huddled at the door, she carefully slipped her key into the lock and entered her foyer. The mud room offered a warm welcome, and Rey sighed, simply happy to be home. After disarming her alarm, she quickly chucked the umbrella she had toted around needlessly all day into her stand on the tiled floor.

The moment she routinely dropped her trench coat and bags onto the faux suede armchair by the archway, Rey sensed a disquieting calmness, and there was an unidentifiable energy in the room. She knew every last inch of her home. The quiet was instantly broken with the sound of an almost inaudible, slow and easy exhale. It sounded like the gentle expelling of a long held breath. It was not hers.

She heard her own heart pounding beneath the light breath he just pushed effortlessly out into the cool air in the darkened living room.

Quickly, Rey’s eyes adjusted to the dimly lit house as she scanned the entire first floor. The blustery, gray day had not yielded, nor left little light through the front windows.

Her eyes fell to a broad silhouette, a dark gray in contrast with the carpet. And there he was, the outline of his shoulders half hidden low in the shadows of her living room. He was seated quietly on the ottoman just in front of her fireplace.

“Hey, Doc.” His deep, warm voice seeped into her, evoking feelings too many and too strong to discern them all. Disbelief was threading into her mind, and seemed much easier to identify.

Rey was conflicted. She wanted to simply run to him, fling her arms around his waist, pull him tightly to her and never let him go. But she hesitated -- riddled with doubt and apprehension. Her legs and feet betrayed her. They were heavy, leaden and hopelessly glued to the hardwood floor of the vestibule.

She took one step back, quickly followed by another. Rey almost staggered with the shock.

Rey squinted to force his form to take shape.

She fought the urge to take the two paces forward only to flick on the light switch, and then decided against it. Instead, she took very slow, measured, stilted steps toward him as she watched his body gradually rise off the ottoman to stand fully in front of her.

“Ben…?” Slipped off her tongue, which unlike the rest of her body seemed to have a mind all its own.

As if he were reading her mind, Ben carefully leaned over the end table beside the sofa, extending a long arm and gently tugged at the chain, turning on the small reading lamp there.

“You - you shouldn’t be here.” Wafted from her lips with the softest of whispers.

The warm ambient glow from the lamp bathed his all too familiar features, the face that she thought -- the face that she was almost certain she would never ever see again.

Ben gulped, and she followed the slow bob of his Adam's apple. He deliberately dragged the mesh Peterbilt trucker’s hat from his head. Much longer jet hair tumbled out from beneath it, falling loosely about his shoulders and down his back. He was clean shaven. Ben seemed leaner somehow, but his face was filled with the same youthful curiosity, an openness and that quiet understanding that was uniquely his. His eyes relayed such an urgency in contrast as he stood there wordless, motionless.

Time simply stopped while all the sound and air was sucked from the room.

Rey swallowed. “You shouldn’t…”

Thousands of tiny little pins and needles pricked at her fingertips as her hands hung limp, lifeless by her side. Frozen, Rey could only repeat herself, knowing full well the words made no sense at all, and the meaning now was truly lost on them both. “You - you really shouldn’t be here.” Her voice cracked with the effort.

“I - I know…” Ben gradually closed the gap between them, his eyes never leaving hers. He fell to his knees at her feet. With his hands curled behind the backs of her thighs, his large, thick fingers pressed tenderly into her soft skin. The sudden contact, all-consuming.

Her lips quivered and it started her trembling all over. “You really shouldn’t be here, Ben.” Saying it was futile and she knew it. “You really shouldn’t…”

Gently, he buried his face into her, rolling the crown of his head against her stomach. Ben nestled into her body completely, murmuring warm wisps into the fabric of her suit pants. The feeling of him pressed against her had Rey reeling.

“I know. But, I, I jus’ - jus’ cudn’t, I cudn’t stay away, Rey.”

She listened to her name tumble from his lips, punctuating his confession. Her heart was pounding so powerfully, it threatened to burst through her rib cage. The feeling was overwhelming, and Rey’s only response was to dare combing her fingers through his thick hair, pulling him in closer to her, clutching him tighter than she ever thought humanly possible.

Her eyes teared up. Inundated, she was flooded with the feeling of him, lost in the incredible warmth that radiated from his body and all the many sensations intensified -- concentrated where they touched. Rey was riveted, keenly focused, and hyper-aware of their physical connection.

His Touch. It both soothed and excited her. Something sparked deep inside her. Rey’s brain swirled and her mind raced with all that had happened within the past eight months. All that had brought them to this very moment in time.

This simple, humble man had turned her whole life completely upside down. She thought about everything that he had risked for her sake. The fateful promise he made and had kept all that time to his brother. And the untold number of possible victims he’d saved as a result. Kylo could have easily killed him callously without thought, without hesitation, any conscience or remorse, and just as cruelly as he’d raped and murdered those women.

Rey owed him -- She owed Ben her very life.

Her shoulders folded, then she slouched down, collapsing into his massive frame. Ben was caging her with his strong arms, and Rey felt his muted sobs soaking into her belly.

Her skin absorbed all his shaky, desperate pleadings. What Rey could merely make out was, “Sorry ...I’m jus’ so, so sorry.”

With an ease, so compassionate and nurturing, she slipped through his hold, slid down onto the floor with him and cupped both her slender hands about his strong jaw.

Teary brown, amber-flecked eyes peered down and met hers as he tightened his arms around her shoulders.

Snug in his embrace, Rey carefully settled onto her knees in front of him, tucking her feet in close beneath her.

The moment felt as if it were encased in glass. Both barely breathing, they each stared at one another while the howling winds outside loudly shook the windows. They rattled inside their frames and sills of her old Tudor-style stucco house.

Reaching up, she lightly traced an unsteady finger along his creased brow. The soft pad of her fingertip laid on the familiar beauty mark just over his left eye and moved delicately toward his temple. Ben sighed at her touch. Not wanting to blink, she savored the moment, finally letting a lone tear trickle through her lower lashes and slide down her cheek.

As she caressed his face, Ben moved into her, reaching up, he gathered her shoulders, and wrapped Rey into an even tighter embrace. He squeezed her tightly to his chest as he snuggled his cheek in her tousled, windblown hair.

It was something so natural, so pure. Being in his arms, under his protection, Rey felt safer and more secure than she had in a very long time.

She breathed softly. “You…” She swallowed. “You saved my life, Ben.”

“And ya saved mine, Rey.” He nodded slightly, dipping his chin. A smile began to crease and crinkle at the corners of his mouth. “Ya believed in me when nobody -- nobody else would.”

Cautiously, Ben tilted his face to move in closer, barely a breath away, he pressed his plush lips smooth against hers. His tongue brushed along the seam of her lips, then pushed tentatively, unsure into her mouth. As they kissed, Rey breathed him in through her nose. Completely relaxed, she indulged the very scent and taste of him. The combination, intoxicating.

Angling his jaw for better access, he became much more assertive as he wrapped one arm around her shoulders, sliding the other hand to the nape of her neck while he lapped and licked more passionately along her tongue.

It was the sweetest kiss. Rey could only hum with pure longing. As Ben broke their kiss with a soft smack, he left a tiny peck against her bottom lip and Rey felt him shudder.

Pressing his forehead flush to hers, he breathed her in, steadying himself. “Why, thank you.” Ben panted softly with the lightest breath. “Know how long I been wantin’ ta do dat?”

“Almost as long as I have, I’m sure.” She could feel his smile spreading, all glowing, warm just at her chin.

Ben rose slowly up onto one knee, taking her hand with him. Once he stood fully, he helped her up. Then, he bent down to pick her up effortlessly, sliding an arm behind the backs of her knees, and slipping the other up to cradle her back.

As Ben carried her to her bedroom, her memory of their very last session lit inside her. She stayed up many late nights wondering if he was apprehended, upon his arrest would she have attempted to see him again. She asked herself that question over and over again, would she actually go visit him. Here was her answer. She knew, just like Ben, that she couldn’t stay away.

Almost floating, Rey knew nothing else could feel more natural, feel more perfect than being enveloped in his arms.

After crossing her room’s threshold, he laid her down gently onto the bed, then gingerly crawled up beside her. Ben drew her into his arms and kissed her again. His body was so warm. This time he pressed into her, claiming her lips once more only hungrier, more fierce.

He seemed hurried, rushed and anxious. She immediately sensed his sudden restlessness, and Rey pulled her lips away, ending their kiss. She studied him, aware of the imbalance, his heightened tension, over eagerness, compounded with whatever inner struggle plagued him.

In that moment, he registered mild surprise at the loss of contact, but emitted far more calmness. For the first time, his eyes avoided hers. Fearful and a little unsettled, Ben stuttered. “Rey…” He hung his head. “It’s been a long time since I been …been wit a woman.”

Rey placed a reassuring hand atop his in an attempt to comfort him. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been with anyone, too.” While sitting up, pulling her arms out of her blazer and carefully unbuttoning her blouse, she encouraged him with a weak smile. “We’ll go slow.”

Nodding with a grin that mildly suggested relief. “Yup - slow.” Tossing his long legs over the side of the bed, he took his time unlacing and removing his work boots.

Watching him as he struggled to peel off his t-shirt and chuck his jeans to the floor set tremors racing all throughout her. He exuded a quiet animal magnetism. Admittedly, she knew she was just as anxious and nervous as he was.

Seeing him that very moment in her room felt surreal. As he shed each piece of clothing, she bit into her lip, admiring his impressive body, his striking build, his flawless form. It made her already throbbing core clench with need.

She, too, took off her clothes, first her shoes, then slacks. When Rey finally removed her blouse, she found his sultry gaze wash over her, appreciating the delicate lace cups of her bra. Her nipples hardened instantly from the attention alone.

Fully naked, exposed, and vulnerable, they each drank in each other’s bodies. The desire and mutual anticipation seemed to swirl between them.

They both laid back down next to each other. Ben shifted up onto one elbow and let his right-hand skim languidly along her shoulder. His large fingers then tripped lightly along the soft, smooth skin on the curve of her neck, making her tingle.

Rey sighed when she returned his attention, playing her hands softly along the rippled muscles of his abdomen.

The sudden intrusion of a passing car’s headlights illuminated the walls of her room. Their eyes never left each other while white lines of halogen were flickering along their faces.

Tenderly, he turned the back of his hand to smooth over her neck, traveling up to her jaw. Each knuckle rippled along her chin. Rey nuzzled her cheek against his hand as she took it in hers, bringing it lovingly up to her lips… Pressing tiny, little kisses to the back of his hand.

Taking his time, Rey found Ben’s touch surprisingly gentle and so delicate. He was caressing her in a way that made her feel -- not at all fragile, but like she was priceless, worshiped and irreplaceable.

He murmured. “All I thought 'bout all dis time - all I dreamed 'bout was this… was you, Rey.“ Ben lifted on top of her, bracing himself on his strong arms. “Bein’ close to ya jus’ like this. Touchin’ ya. Holding ya close.” He pulled her into his chest, carrying his weight, careful not to crush her, and cradling her gently.

Filled with the hope he offered and needing to free herself, matching his honesty, she shared. “I felt the same way from the very beginning, Ben. Only -- only I fought it.”

The shock barely registered in his eyes. Encouraged, Ben rolled over onto his side and snuggled up closer to her. He slid his one hand around her waist, wrapping her in his warmth and tucked his cheek to her breast.

Content, they both laid there in the stillness of her room. Aware of the wind wildly whistling outside, he shut it all out, only listening to the steady beating of her heart and tracing a large finger in perfect circles along her tummy and up to the swell of her breast. He playfully plucked at a nipple, both thrilled and pleased by watching her pert breast bounce.

“From da beginnin’, huh…?” Slightly tilting his chin up to face her with an expression laced with hope. “And now…?” His roving hand stilled.

Glancing down at him, honey-amber eyes so filled with wonder and adoration, Rey swept slender fingers through his soft hair for the first time. She could only sigh. “And now…? And now, I want more than anything to be with you, Ben.”

The words had left her easily, and Rey suddenly felt so freed. The weight of professional ethics, codes of conduct, and morality all fell away. She was much lighter, unencumbered. No longer burdened by the psychologist, the criminologist, the clinician -- the doctor. And Ben was no longer the patient, the subject -- an inmate. He was a man, and she was a woman.

The light bristle from his stubble scuffed her skin, tickling inside her chest. It also seemed to ground her and brought her right back to that very moment… that place. She listened to his heartbeat -- much like he listened to hers.

Turning carefully to face her, he whispered. “Thank you, Rey.” He leaned closer and planted the softest kiss to her lips. It gradually led to more tiny kisses that he peppered to her chin, cheeks, and back to her lips once more.

Almost instinctively, her arms floated up to wrap around his broad shoulders, pulling him down to her. Rey captured his lips, sighing breathless in his mouth.

Ben’s tongue plunged hungrily between her lips, and he rolled it gently along hers with the softest, warmest swipes until their tongues were dancing wet together. It was deliciously all consuming.

Once more, Rey carded her fingers through his long, dark waves, bringing him in closer. She cupped her hands smoothly to his scalp, cradling his head and deepening their kiss. She lost herself to the feeling. It was overwhelming… dizzying.

His thigh easily pushed through hers, causing a small pulse to run up her spine, making her shudder. Ben broke their kiss. With a twist and roll of his hips, he flipped them completely over, lifting Rey above him. She settled atop him, forcing him to emit a low moan.

He cast his eyes up at hers--- Rocking into her slowly, lifting her with his hips. Ben watched as she sat up, raised both hands up to the nape of her neck, loosening the elastic tie and freeing her hair from the bun. Her auburn curls fell effortlessly, cascading about her neck and shoulders.

Ben reached up with his other hand, threading his finger gently through her hair. When he met the ends, he palmed the large locks as if testing their weight. Marveling at how soft her curls were.

He sighed at the sight of her bare before him. He was in awe of her. Trembling, face flushed, lips pink and parted slightly, she was absolutely beautiful, and in that very moment, she was all his.

Ben truly saw her - saw the woman that he had always seen, that he always knew was behind those glasses, beneath the Fed, the psychiatrist. She was the woman he knew, with a certainty, had set him free in more ways than one.

Rey -- the woman he loved, and now his heart knew that she was finally free to be with him.

“Rey…” Again, he whispered her name.

A heat spread through her, and all she could think of was how his body felt so good against hers. His erection pressed firmly into her thigh. It was just like she knew it would be -- the planes of his rippling muscles beneath her were so strong, hard and warm.

Rey leaned over him, hovering barely an inch above his face, drawn in by his all-consuming heat. Trembling, she placed a feather-light kiss above the bridge of his nose, bisecting his brow. Rey held it there for merely a moment, then scarcely nuzzled her cheek just above his left eye.

His heart raced, almost giddy with the feeling of actually having her finally in his arms and totally enjoying that tiny gesture of love.

Enamored and moved by the way her body responded, the very intimacy of her expression, he knew he’d treasure the simplicity of it always. Ben sighed as he wrapped his arms fully around her and brought her tightly to his chest. He covered her with warm, wet kisses all about her neck and shoulders, tickling her with his tongue.

He breathed low over her skin. “I love you, Rey Kenobi.” The warm words tickling the hollow of her throat.

“Sssshhh…” She wanted to quickly dismiss it.

"Really..." Ben heard her doubt and plainly voiced his protest. “Rey… I do.”

Her mind dizzied as he lingered just over her pulse, then he generously mouthed soft unspoken words along the base of her neck, allowing his lips to pull gently at her sensitive skin. Rey delighted in the sensation, humming with it as she surrendered to the steady ache that traveled down through her very center.

Quickly, Ben flipped and rolled them both over on the bed, he hovered above her body, tingling in anticipation. If his eyes filled with adoration didn’t end her, his touch, coursing with such a reverence that flowed through him against her flushed skin certainly did.

He held his breath, sinking into her totally. His body covered hers completely and Rey gasped with the sheer weight of him. Careful not to crush her, his grip on her shoulders was firm but aware when he took her lips with his once more. Ben’s strong hands cradled her while his tongue teased at her lips. He began tracing the seam where they met, and she opened up for him, letting his tongue enter and touch just the very tip of hers.

He groaned and skimmed his hands slowly across the blades of her back, pulling her in even closer, until she was flat against him. His wet tongue plunged deeper, until they were circling each others’, seeking and finding an easy rhythm together. Ben pressed hard into her lower back with one hand then brought the other up to firmly grasp the back of her neck and weave his fingers through the soft curls of her auburn hair.

He broke their kiss, licking and lapping along her bottom lip, savoring her taste. His hot breath tickled beneath her nose.

“Mmm-hmm.” He moaned as he easily pressed his chin to her cheek. “This is jus’ unreal… it’s kinda like a - a dream.”

Slight stubble whisked delicately upon her cheek. Ben let a groan slip when his hand slid up from her waist, and his palm cupped her breast with such tenderness. The heel of his hand caressed the swell underneath with such a reverence as his large fingers played delicate and smooth circles. His gaze reached hers. “I really do wanna make ya happy.”

“You already have, Ben.” She let her eyes flutter close, panting breathlessly.

He swallowed hard. His chest heaved and his brow knit with an undeniable sincerity. “Naw, really – I wanna make ya happy, Rey. Ya truly deserve ta be… happy.”

He leaned over onto his side, still wrapping her up in his arms, facing her.

“I only hope I can… well, dat is, if ya let me.” Ben’s lower lip quivered.

Side by side, they continued to explore each other’s bodies, slowly, generously sharing in the new experience.

His hands traveled wavering, yet warm and soothing along her bare skin. Ben turned his palms up and retraced his path with the backs of his bare knuckles following the curve of her waist. He skimmed his fingers down lower, lightly massaging her thighs.

One hand skirted down past her hip, pressing fast to her entrance, cupping her. Ben ran the pads of his fingertips lightly above her mound, smoothing her curls flat against his palm. Rey’s breath quickened as she rocked gently beneath his fingers.

Trembling, Rey arched her back, tilting her hips up to eagerly spread open for more of his touch… welcoming it, needing it. When Ben applied the slightest pressure, he squeezed and massaged tiny circles with his thumbs before prying her lips delicately apart. Pulling a delicious pleasure from her, his eyes never left hers as he dipped a lone finger inside her wet folds, then skimmed it over her sensitive clit. He brought the same finger to his lips and laid them lightly on his tongue.

Rey whimpered and arched her back, gripping his shoulders. He watched her lidded eyes slam shut as her hair tumbled in loose waves as it fell around her face.

Rey clasped him in hand as she strummed her thin fingers around him, fervently stroking the length of him. Their bodies were moving together in the darkness — all moist and warm.

As the wind continued to howl outside, they literally could hear what seemed like shingles lifting off the roof while the old house shook, then settled. The whistling permeated the already damp air, and it was comforting - yet somewhat haunting.

Ben whispered, “I really need ta see you.” She, too, craved it... yearned to see him. Rey’s lithe arm sprung up and reached out to her nightstand, slamming the remote, not willing to leave him, or the comfort and safety of their connectedness. Her flat screen sparked to life, muted, but sending light and color throughout the room. Ribbons of bluish purple hues swam around the walls.

Ben’s stare pinned her. “Yes…” He lingered, taking in every delicate detail, pressing them like petals to the pages of his memory. His gaze deepened, eyes filled with an endless longing and an appreciation which only rivaled his touch.

Applying lazy circles around her clit with fascination, he ran a slow finger along her slit and eased it into her entrance again. Watching her intently, seeking a response.

Drawing his hand to his lips, he slid three fingers through his plump lips, coating them in his saliva.

She purred, watching him as a fuchsia light danced in his molten eyes. A fire banked down from within her and the feeling was overwhelming, truly moving her. Rey felt it smoldering under the surface of her skin.

He loved the little noises she made. This brilliant, powerful woman emitted the softest sounds… so gentle. They seemed to urge him on and bolster him… Ignited and fully bared, body and soul.

Kneeling before her, matching her breath for breath and panting, offering himself to her … a simple man. Her simple, gentle man.

Rey’s mind swirled with the weight of it as well as the implication. Their one night together. She eyed the ceiling, completely lost to their passion.

He stared silently, admiring the pink of her shiny lips before him… He tenderly kissed her there, pressing his mouth into her soft suppleness. Dipping his chin, he brought his full plush lips to her moist folds, nuzzling there. Ben began to moan into her moistness while his broad fingers spanned and played, petting her damp mat of curls.

Ragged breaths, depleted inhales rippled and raced down her chest and stomach as Rey stuttered, “B-Ben…” She already missed the feel of his length in her hands, wanting him inside her desperately. “Please…”

Drunk, dizzy with the taste of her, the flavor of her lay between her swollen lips. His tongue pressed deftly at the slick skin of her folds, the way it traced her, laved and suckled, the way his lips moved, again and again – Like a wish, a prayer, a demonstration of some sort of doting devotion.

With concentration and focus, his eyes watered while he targeted her clit, his sharp nose nudging as his tongue probed her entrance.

The intensity of Rey’s pleasure, coiling her body tight, was overwhelming. The feel of his mouth on her, unrelenting. Over and over, her hips attempted to mimic his rhythm, to follow his delicious pressure.

Lustful and wanton, he pushed her knees back, high up against her body, and Rey shuddered and blushed at her exposed openness. As Ben’s thumb flicked at her, and kept his tongue swirling deeper inside. With increased speed, he targeted intermittent swipes to her clit. Her breath hitched in a prelude to her falling over the edge. Rey gasped out his name once again, her eyes shutting at the sensation. Ben only rocked with her.

Building her climax as her orgasm was imminent - spasming uncontrollably. Rey’s skin was on fire…set alight completely. Her whole body burned.

Her pleasure churned, then crested. Rey threw her head back, experiencing a sudden chill running through her limbs and then centering in her core. Her orgasm fully consumed her, like waves crashing and spilling over her entirely. Her whole body seized as she gripped his ears, cradling her fingers root-deep in his scalp.

His large hands anchored her thighs as Ben rocked with her convulsing hips when he guided her, coaxing her through her release. Attentive, he watched her lovingly as both her body and breath settled, climbing atop her with a sedulous care.

“Ben.” She whispered, her voice blending with the whistling wind and barely heard. He stared down into her eyes while he stroked himself, nudging at her entrance.

“Ya liked dat, huh…?” Eyes gleaming and lips drenched in her, he smiled softly, far more encouraged.

“Yesssss.” She murmured. "Oh -- yesssss."

Slowly, he shifted his weight above her. All the caution melted away from the expression on his face as he entered her slowly.

They both held their breath. Then, Ben slid into her carefully, yet driven. Savoring the fullness of him, Rey gasped with the gradual slide, the incredible pleasure, and pressure with him filling her completely.

“Aaaahh…” She uttered with a sharp intake of breath.

The line of their bodies pressed hard together - Slow, smooth and thick as he started to move. She could tell he attempted to restrain himself, but Rey urged him by bringing her palms to his hips, firmly gripping him. The feeling was heavenly as they flowed together seamlessly, naturally - as if they were made for each other.

“Feels so good, so good.” Whispering to her as his long hair shadowed half his face and brushed along her collarbone, Ben’s strokes became firm, insistent - dedicated to setting their pace. She writhed and whined beneath him, panting out little puffs - choking the sounds down, burying them soundly into his chest. “Too good.”

Grinding into her heat, his teeth nipped lightly at her shoulder. Together they were rounding out a pace that was innate… so pure, so passionate. They began to move as one.

A vibrating surge of energy coursed between them both as pleasure pooled and swirled in her center. Driven now, Ben pulled her thighs high up onto his hips and Rey wrapped her legs around him, whimpering and warmed with his invitation. She followed his lead.

The sounds she made – Ben reveled in them and was grateful to hear her honest desires expressed. He lived for every one of the soft whimpers he drew from her when she finally let them go and fly free.

Their bodies entwined were a symphony of muscles, a mass slippery and sleek. They fell into a quiet, wordless rhythm – it was so natural.

Heavy breathing echoed upon the walls, while the very air in the room grew heavy, moist and heady with the scent of them.

Hitting inside Rey so deep, Ben rode her, relentlessly driving in and out, gasping out whispered endearments. “Y-you’re my - my angel, Rey. My sweet angel.”

His hidden desperation up until then finally broke free. Ben suddenly unleashed an urgency, a neediness, and Rey was swept away with it. Arching her back, she gripped his waist when he rolled his hips and slammed her with much longer, delicious strokes.

“R-R-Rey…” He breathed warm against the column of her throat. “Rey.” The change in rhythm had her clinging to his back, where her most desperate fingers flew along his willing, damp skin.

Ben thrust in and out, and each time he withdrew, Rey found herself pulling him back in deeper - like some transigent dance of compliance. She chased him, pursuing her own release while her walls fluttered wildly around him.

Pressure coiled and coiled in her belly until her whole body was seizing. Much like a tingling, a cold numbness skittered up from her toes, like a wave through her thighs to her core. Gasping, she shuddered and spasmed. Attentive to her, Ben curled his entire body around hers, cradling and rocking gently through her orgasm.

Consumed by her ecstasy and the very knowledge that he gifted it, that he brought it, seemed to spur his own. Ben ground his hips, sawing longer strokes into her heat, and she fluttered and pulsed around him. With a low growl, he grimaced, panting out her name. Ben’s every muscle flexed as he poured every ounce of himself, his heart, soul and his very essence into her.

“Rey.” He squeezed her tighter when he cried out her name as he came. Collapsing into a heap, his heart pounded and his broken breaths simmered. Ben reached his arms around Rey, bringing her in much closer.

Rey floated as she relaxed into him as they swayed together – oblivious to everything except where their bodies connected.

With one long exhale, her breathing settled, cozy and safe in his strong arms tucked alongside the heaving planes of his chest. Rey glowed.

She wiped away the long, errant strands of damp hair licking along his forehead. “Ben…” Rey marveled at how much more handsome he was, all sweaty and glistening.

They snuggled together under the covers, safe, content. Neither cared about anything else other than each other in that very moment.

*****

Watching him sleep gave her such a pleasant cozy feeling. A contentment bloomed warm inside her.

She couldn’t help notice how he kept close to the edge of the bed. It was a result of his institutionalization, and he obviously spent the last six years making himself smaller. Clearly, he slept on a bunk for a much smaller man. Needing roomier spaces to spread out in comfort like the large man he is, Ben deserved to stretch out.

Offering him the sweetest smile, Rey patted her hand firmly on the center of the bed in invitation. Squinting sleepy brown eyes up at her, Ben grinned, rolling over -- He sprawled out more comfortably on her mattress and chuckled lightly to himself.

Rey draped an arm lazily over his chest as he snuggled closer to her. “I really do like yer house. It’s very nice - comfy-like and, and it suits ya.”

“Thank you,” She then quirked a suspicious eyebrow. “Hey, wait a second – exactly how did you find me, Ben?”

“Well, um ‘bout a month ago – when I read dat article they did on ya in dat there Vanity Fair magazine. I saw yer street sign from the photo of ya on yer porch. Googled your street. And the very minute I walked up and saw those moon and stars painted on yer mailbox. And then the same moon and stars on yer porch, your wind chimes -- Well, I - I jus’ knew ya had ta live here.” He licked his lips, looking sheepish and hoping she wasn’t angry or cross.

She leaned back into her pillows and smirked, both pleased and somewhat impressed with his resourcefulness. She was also rather flattered by how determined and persistent he had to have been.

“Yeah, I could jus’ feel it, ya know?” He licked his lip and lowered his chin, attempting to hide his furious blush suddenly spreading.

They simply stared at one another.

“Now hold on, how exactly did you disarm my alarm?” She continued to study him while she wrapped her arms tightly to her chest and raised another suspicious eyebrow.

Ben shrugged. “Well, let’s jus say, ya learn all sorts o’ thangs in prison, some pritty useful thangs, but some ya might not be too proud of…” His most disarmingly adorable boyish grin flashed on display.

Even though it tugged at her heart, Rey knew she had to burst his bubble. “You do know you’re in grave danger, Ben.” His smile faded as she grew stern, worry gripped her brow and came to weigh heavily in her hazel eyes. “You cannot stay here, as much as I would love to have you. It - it’s just not safe.”

She feared that her lips had begun moving without any permission from her head nor heart.

“I know - I know. I’m headin’ back down… prob’ly before sun up.” Ben bit into his lip while a heavy hand drifted over to her, his fingers steadily tracing a thick line from her hip to her thigh. “Got me some bizness ta take care of.”

“Listen to me, Ben. Please, listen.” She sat up in bed, propping herself up on her pile of mussed pillows. “You really need to turn yourself in.”

Although he did in fact listen, Ben simply shook his head, slowly at first, and then more emphatically.

“I know, I know…” She sighed deeply, relieving the ache in her chest. “But I’m serious. You cannot keep living this way.”

Resolute, his face wore the armor of a man locked in certainty. His decision was made. Ben was wholly convicted. “I’m makin’ it my bizness to find ‘im, Rey. Gonna find ‘im and I aim ta stop ‘im.”

“He nearly killed you before, Ben…” Rey dug in with the retort.

“And he nearly killt you, too!” He interrupted, impressing upon her, his brows creased with worry and with the frightening memory. He took her hands in his, studying each digit, as if memorizing them.

“But it’s really not your job, you know. Let us… let the authorities capture him.” She huffed. “Please, Ben. Leave it to the Bureau - to the experts.” As she slowly rose up onto her knees, he saw the pleading in her eyes as well as heard it in her quaking voice. And it made him ache.

The last thing Ben wanted was for her to have more cause for worry. He hated the fact that he had been responsible for so much of Rey’s pain already. He raised up to sit straddling her, letting his legs bookend hers.

The silence between them seemed to hang heavy in the air and stretch on much longer than it should.

Ben decisively broke it. He drew in a slow inhale through his nose, and placed both hands to the thickest part of her thighs, mildly patting. “It jus’ has ta be me, Rey. Has ta be…” He shook his head to punctuate the statement. “There’s no otha way round it.”

As Ben watched her deflate, while all the air left her body, she unwillingly surrendered to his sheer determination and all its inevitably.

“At least promise me you’ll be careful.” She sniffled a sob. “Don’t get killed, Ben…”

“Well, I ain’t aimin’ ta do dat, now. And like I always said…”

Ben leaned in even closer and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “I ain’t goin’ nowhere, Doc.” Winking as he forced a weak smile, tilting his head to the side, he whispered softly. “I promise ya.” He moved in lower to mash his lips to hers, kissing her passionately as if sealing his pledge.

Rey covered his large hands with her much smaller ones, uncertain why his assurance felt as though it was enough. She imagined it had to be – at least for now.

“Rey…”

Her hazel eyes rose up to meet his. Ben pushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, then lovingly caressed her cheek.

“Ya know, all my life… I-I thought I wuz missin’ somethin’. And I used ta think it wuz him. But I wuz wrong. Cuz now I know it wuz You!”

She traced the line of his jaw with a lone finger, then kissed his lips tenderly.

They curled back up together, content into each other's arms and were gradually lulled to sleep by the dying, yet constant winds that now seemed to whisper to them like a hypnosis.

*****

Ben rose early. He dragged the heel of his palms across his eyes, removing whatever morning crust there was from the corners. He watched Rey sleeping while he slid carefully off the bed. It was still dark out, and he moved quietly through her room so as not to wake her. Quickly snatching up his clothes piece by piece, he then walked back to the living room before he dared get dressed.

Making his way down the hallway, instantly his arm floated out to his sides as he allowed his fingertips to brush lightly against the walls, the paintings, the many book shelves, photographs and objets d’art. Rey’s home had so much character. He felt her presence in every room, in everything.

He found her home to be inviting, easy and intimate. For a mere moment, Ben imagined them making a life together there. It was but a fleeting fantasy - a very nice fantasy all the same. Ben smiled wide, happy he indulged it.

He was shocked from that waking dream when the drafty house licked icy chills all about his shins, calves and huge feet as he moved quietly toward the sofa.

Once he was fully dressed, he threw on his truckers’ cap and happened across an untouched pile of mail lying on top of magazines stacked on her coffee table. He knew he needed to leave her something, so he headed for the kitchen to find a pen. While there, Ben also decided to set up Rey’s coffee maker. He searched the drawers and finally found a pen as it brewed.

While scribbling the simplest words that flowed from his heart, his eyes watered and swelled with the unshed tears that threatened to fall.

He brought the note to his full lips, kissed it, wiped his eyes and then turned to head out her front door.

*****

When Rey woke with the dawn, already missing his comforting warmth, instantly she knew that Ben was gone. She fought the impinging sadness, but refused to allow it to consume her.

Torn, both mournful yet relieved, happy she was spared an uncomfortable and dreaded farewell, Rey rolled over, sat on the edge of her bed and tucked her feet snugly into her slippers. She hurriedly snatched up her nightshirt and robe and shuffled toward her kitchen.

Filling the air, the aroma of coffee brewing made her smile. She was surprised to find the full pot and glad for his thoughtfulness.

Rey grabbed a mug from her cabinet and a spoon from the drawer filled with flatware. After she poured her cup, stirring in some creamer, and only adding a sprinkling of raw sugar, she spied it. There was a note across the counter. He had propped it up against the juicer.

Frightened by the notion at first, she took a long sip from the steaming mug, and hoped the brew provided her with much needed courage.

He had obviously written it on the back of an envelope. With trembling fingers, she dragged it from the countertop and held it up to her nose and lips. Rey’s eyes flooded with tears before she even began to read it.

Rey, My Dearest, Darling Doc -

I just wanted you to know that I really do love you, Rey Kenobi, with all of my heart.

If all goes the way it should… and I’m hoping it does, I sure would love to start having more regular sessions again with my favorite shrink.

And please - do know this - I will come back to you, Rey. I promise.

Yours Always and Forever,

Ben

With eyes wet and welling softly, Rey’s chest heaved, then stuttered lightly as she pressed the note fast to her heart. Choking back the emotional maelstrom, she sent a silent wish for his safety out into the universe.

Rey was already missing Ben. Missing his honesty, vulnerability, devoted affection… and all his innocence, and intense passion.

More than anything, she wanted to hold him to that promise.

She tugged her terry cloth belt tighter, ambled down the hall, and headed out her front door. Met with the intense chill in the early morning air, she bent down to retrieve her NY Times and Washington Post. 

While Rey took in the mild devastation on her porch, she decided to start by re-hanging her wind chimes. After resting the papers on her South Hampton chair, she gently lifted them in her hand and raised up onto her toes to pluck them back onto the hook. 

Then, Rey heard the faint drops on the pavement, walkway and steps. March winds had finally given way to the mild spatter of rain.

*****

Chapter Text

A graffiti covered freight train trundled down the tracks beneath the overpass. Intricately colored tags painted along the car’s panels, as large as he was, rumbled past. It seemed to go on forever. From it, a thick plume of smoke billowed skyward from the engine. Its whistle’s wails were indelible… emotive like the soft, dulcet moans of a harmonica.

Ben watched as it slowly clacked along, curious as to both its origin and its destination. Since his six years of incarceration, he constantly wondered how much of this vast country he had yet to explore.

He chewed and swallowed the last little bite. Crumpling the wax paper and napkins from his two breakfast burritos, he chucked them all into the large trash can beside him.

After a long day of warehouse work, lifting and toting, he was satisfied. It was all he needed. Ben was surprised how much harder it was to find someone to pay him cash under the table, but it was enough to keep him fed and afford a hole to hide in.

He scanned the large parking lot surrounding the bustling truck stop. Lifting his right hand to his face, smoothing it over the span of his freshly shaved cheeks and chin, he checked for any missed stubble. Ben hadn’t exactly taken his time shaving in the men’s restroom and wanted to be sure. Folks never seemed to willingly take risks with men who looked rough.

After seeing the several PSA’s for both he and his FBI most wanted brother, Ben felt much safer with the shaven face. They all showed them both with beards or goatees at the very least.

Leaning on the large can, he gently pulled back the cuff of the right sleeve of his denim jacket. Ben’s thick fingers delicately patted, then skimmed over the clear plastic wrap stretched taut over his fresh tattoo with reverence. His eyes sparkled as they danced over it once more. In a flowing script, it clearly read, ‘Doc’. The simple word was nestled in the deepest, darkest blue field filled with tiny moons and stars surrounded by a blood red heart.

He cracked a slow, easy smile. Really do Love you, Rey Kenobi.

Hunched over with his broad back braced against the wind, he cupped his large hands about his lighter. Ben lit a Newport, dragging on it fully, wincing up into the bright sunlight as he blew out the smoke through his nose.

His hair had grown fully down his back. Weed-like and wavy, it whipped effortlessly in the breeze, lashing him about his jaw and chin. He raked it all back from his forehead, getting it under control before replacing his trucker hat. He threw his duffle bag over one shoulder, then began to hike up the hill toward the edge of the off-ramp leading to the interstate.

Again, Ben squinted from the stark light of the early morning sun when he slid on his shades, then pulled a small torn piece of paper from his inside jacket pocket. Furrowing his brow, Ben stared at it for a moment with great intent… committing it to memory.

He took another slow drag off his cig and casually threw out a large, willing thumb, carefully scanning each of the oncoming cars and trucks.

Ben now sought vengeance, vindication… a reckoning.

*****

She looked out onto the sweeping complex at Quantico. With a frenetic blur of blue and black suits, badges of agents both old and new bustling about the courtyard, dashing from one building to the next, she witnessed the mundane, rut-like existence with an air of indifference, and got lost in her thoughts. The atrium and plaza were alive and already showing signs of winter giving way to spring, burgeoning with new growth. Tiny green buds and fresh new blossoms were sprinkled all throughout the trees, hedges and annual shrubbery.

Clutching her mug close to her chest, Rey sipped on her coffee and let her mind drift, traveling miles away. She let the slip of a warm smile comfort her with the memory. The memory of her Ben.

She blushed at the thought of his sheer warmth, the feel of her hands in his hair, the image of their bodies pressed and entwined together.

She fantasized about a world, a universe, perhaps even another galaxy where that very dream might just be a permanent reality. Her eyes fluttered closed with a soft hum.

Feeling flushed and suddenly warmed by it, she wanted to believe it was brought on by the coffee. Rey put the mug down. Her raised palms pressed fully into the glass pane. The slight touch made a mild chill run through her.

She sighed, then whispered, “I love you, Ben Solo.” Rey began to shiver again, the endless onslaught of emotional turmoil and contradictions swelling within her.

The empath churned deep inside her belly.

In her most recent sessions with Kalonia, Rey had unraveled and revealed everything. Rey had confessed and admitted to being with Ben. Harter had been surprisingly supportive. Never once did Rey ever feel judged. They explored all her feelings of inner conflict. But although she felt no shame nor guilt about her choices and decisions, Rey did experience occasional doubts. Her mind would often flood with the same feelings of being left in that cellar – feelings of hurt and abandonment. Although she was certain her heart belonged to Ben, Rey teetered constantly between acknowledging the man who ultimately saved her life, and the man who had inexplicably put her in harm’s way.

It vexed her. Her many restless nights were haunted by fitful, frightening dreams again. She woke every morning to the strange sensation of being stitched, sewn and patched back together after being ripped apart during sleep. Rey wanted to believe she was merely heart broken… lovesick.

Dr. Kalonia reminded her that Ben, too, was a victim, and that gave her much to consider. Harter made several suggestions, including addressing thoughts in her journal and addressing her visualization exercises.

Rey was willing to try, and hoped more than anything that time would surely heal. In the meantime, she made a commitment to focus on the light and not the darkness. She needed to embrace the notion of not who Ben had been, but the man he was ... The man he was becoming.

Despite her stirrings of intense comforting feelings a moment ago, the disturbing sense that more lay underneath, that more inescapable darkness lay up ahead, Rey held firmly to the tiny inkling of hope. She wholeheartedly believed Ben would remain safe, but more importantly, that he would keep his promise and come back to her.

*****

Ferociously, her stomach growled louder than it ever had for the past four days. Not quite certain, she assumed it had been four days give or take at the very least according to her best estimation.

He had walked out and simply left her there. Without so much as an explanation or a word.

Her hair was matted to her scalp, soaking, sopping wet. It clung to her, curls pressed damp about her neck and shoulders. A stream of perspiration steadily trickled down her forehead and temples, collecting then settling inside her blindfold. She had been biting into her gag over and over again, and trying to shred the sopping wet cotton muslin fabric. Each day, little by little, she had eventually reduced it to tatters in her mouth.

Paige frantically kicked her legs out hard away from the chair. Wriggling her arms through the sleeves of his extra large, ratty, torn Lynyrd Skynyrd tee shirt. It was wet and clinging to her like a second skin.

Once she had freed her ankles from her bonds, she felt just a small sense of triumph. It was just another little victory. She was driven. Angrily, she shook back and forth in a frenzy, attempting to tip over her chair.

Her frustration flared.

It was the same routine. A sordid, sick and twisted game of his. Every week or so she would make some headway, take great pains to further her plans of escape, and he would dash them all to Hell, and leave her wanting. And every time, Paige would be furious but would never lose hope. She was determined, undaunted.

Suddenly, her ears pricked when she heard the loud rumbling of a truck’s engine as it pulled up hard upon gravel. Paige froze and within minutes, she listened to the storm door to the meager mobile home creak open, then slam shut with a bang. After a few heavy footsteps creaked toward her, there was the familiar sound of the accordion-style door being pulled to the side, and stilled. She tried to quiet her pounding heart. Pulling her ankles tightly together, she wanted to hide her recent handiwork in an attempt to fool her captor.

Entering the room, he seemed to swallow up all the air when he neared. His breath was hot and heavy. The sound of it raked up her spine. She felt it slowly travel down her body to the floor.

“Sorry ‘bout dat, lil’ lady. I had some otha’ bizness needin’ my attention…”

Hot, rough hands grabbed and squeezed her arches and instep, pulling them tautly in one large hand while the other lashed her ankles together, nearly cutting off her circulation this time. He made quick work of securing her once more.

Once again, grieving the loss of her mobility, she felt the warmth of him rise up above her head. Towering over her, she could feel him leering, staring at her… studying her. Quietly taunting.

Next there was a mild thud of something rustling when hitting the floor. It sounded like plastic. He rifled through it - a bag perhaps, a shopping bag most likely. Then there was a confounding ripping and tearing that echoed throughout the tiny room.

He must have been tearing more fabric for a new gag. The ripping sound tore into the stale air, and Paige violently cursed him in her mind.

He stood much closer, and she smelled him hovering. The very same hot hands ran through her hair at the nape of her neck. And for the first time in over a month by her calculations, he removed what remained of her gag.

Grabbing a fistful, then tightening his grasp on her hair and pulling it taut, he growled. She sucked in as much oxygen into her lungs as possible. Her heated cheeks were blazing now.

He yanked her head harder in his meaty hand, forcing her to still.

“Quit yer worryin’, I ain’t gonna kill ya - - well, not yet.”

Fearlessly, she threatened, “You damn well better do it soon, asshole, or else I’ll kill you first.”

He laughed, almost maniacal. Refusing to show any fear, Paige stared up at him, studying his face.

“Are you finally gonna tell me – are you gonna tell me today?” Lifting her chin defiantly, she asked, “Well – Are you, you crazy Muthafucka!!?” She spat with every ounce of hatred and venom.

He released his hold and took one step back away from her as he chuckled darkly, low in his throat, barely registering.

“DAMMIT, MAN!” Completely unnerved, she yelled out in frustration. “Why are you keeping me?”

*****

There was a loud banging on the double wide's storm door. Shaking the aluminum frame practically off its hinges, it rocked the whole structure.

He was hunched over her. Annoyed, Kylo gradually lifted his head as his mouth dropped open.

He sneered. “Be right back, my lil’ lotus blossom.” Pulling his jeans up higher on his waist, he pounded through the flimsy, accordion door heading toward the front room.

“Aw - - Fa fuck sakes!”

He bent over and peered out the dirty, front windows, scouring the lot for any vehicles. After reaching the door, and finding no one in sight, Kylo dragged his hands roughly over his denim thighs, cursing before he wrapped his fist around the spindly knob.

“Who da hell is it? …and what ina hell d’ya wont?” He growled as he yanked and flung the door wide open.

A mixture of shock and horror seized him and the look on his stunned, weathered face was worth every ounce of the effort and planning.

“It’s Ben…” Ben’s lips thinned as he forced the words.

Kylo’s eyes immediately shot to the .38 clasped firmly in Ben’s right hand. “And, and I wanna fin’ly be rid o’ ya.”

Kylo grinned and slowly raised his arms high above his head an inch at a time. “Lil’ Mouse. Whatcha do? Follow all my bread crumbs agin…?” He attempted to act unnerved, but the fast beading sweat on his forehead sent a different message entirely. “Ya gonna kill me now, lil’ brutha?” His gaze darted around the fenced in yard before asking, “Is zat it…?? Is zat how dis goes? Well — Git on in here, why don’t ya?”

Ben pushed into the rickety door, clenching the pistol, keeping his hand steady with a bead on his brother. “Need ta turn yerself in, Kylo.” He breathed evenly, steadily calming himself. “Back up.”

He gestured, painstakingly pointing the barrel, while worming his way further inside.

Kylo backed up two or three paces. He attempted to gauge Ben’s resolve, trying to find chinks in his armor… slyly looking for a way out of the situation. He laughed and rocked a bit, barely noticeable. “Hah – No way I’m turnin’ myself in. No way!”

“Where’s da cop? Where’s Tico? She - she still alive?” Ben pressed his back to the door as he shut it behind him. He combed the room, his eyes darted about the small cluttered space until they found the narrow hallway leading to the back. “Now listen ta me, I cum ta git her, so ya gotta turn yerself in.”

Kylo’s shoulders sagged, his arms lowering about an inch as he spoke plainly. “Dat ain’t happ’nin…” He shifted his weight, and inched toward him, slowly guarded and yet threatening. He stared at Ben. The tension in the atmosphere was filled with added agitation and an air of edginess.

Ben stiffened with the eerie feeling and cautiously raised the pistol, slightly tightening his grip.

“Ya know dat ain’t happ’nin, and ya know ya don’t wanna do dis.” Kylo laughed nervously. “C’mon lil’ brutha.” He swayed on his feet, bringing both hands down, level to his large ears.

“Don’t…” Lifting his jaw sharply, signaling for his twin to keep his hands raised. “Tico… now, let’s go.”

Kylo feigned sheepish. “Naw. I don’t think so.” Wiggling only two fingers on each hand, he drew Ben’s attention. Growling, Kylo suddenly bum rushed him. He lunged at him, grappling for his wrist and wrestling Ben’s hold on the gun. The two slammed into the wall with a force, and Kylo pushed into his twin, pinning the pistol hard between them.

Fused with adrenaline, they both struggled for dominance within the cramped, confined space. Flashes of his memory of the farmhouse fight whirled through Ben’s brain. All fear drained from him as Ben felt the barrel and muzzle buried against his abdomen.

The two were locked together, nose to nose and eye to eye. Ben watched Kylo gnash his teeth as his brother's angry fingers were clawing and wrenching, attempting to free the gun from him. With both of their hands stuck fast to the grip, Ben struggled to stand fully, wide-legged, as he began to apply pressure to Kylo’s shoulder with his own, feeling the gun wedge down even deeper between them. Both of their thick fingers prodded the trigger.

Kylo stiffened, then stood there in shock while three loud pap-pap-paps resounded through the trailer park with an eerie, tin echo as Ben fired shots into him point blank… center mass.

A wispy cloud of smoke rose up between them, dotting the air with an ash-like, carbon residue. Ben felt the intense heat as the muzzle burned into his chest. The sting woke him from his stunned state.

“Aaauck,” Kylo doubled over and fell hard onto his side, one arm sliding down Ben’s leg, the other arm flailing, unable to grasp at the empty shelves along the wall as he faltered then slumped over and fell. Once he stilled, he wheezed raspily with his eyes glazing over, ultimately rolling back.

Nearly in slow motion, Ben let the .38 drop through his fingers onto the worn carpet with a dull thud. His mouth gaped open and eyes went wide as he rubbed his powder burned hands across the thighs of his jeans.

Ben stepped over his brother’s body, huffed and then nudged the back of Kylo’s head with the toe of his boot. He swiftly made his way to the room in the rear.

He nearly ripped the accordion door off its track getting to Paige. He recognized her from all the missing persons ads and news coverage. Ben instantly hit his knees and began to free her. Cutting the bonds from her feet and hands swiftly with his pocket knife, he then removed the gag and blindfold as quickly as his fumbling fingers would allow.

Upon hearing the gunfire, at first she recoiled. But then, with wide eyes, she shook with excitement and partially from relief.

“Don’t worry.” Gently calming her, he whispered. “I gotcha, I gotcha…”

She whined simultaneously, “Thank you, thank you so much.” Paige wept, overcome by all the weighted, jumbled emotions rippling and running through her.

Ben tried lifting her up on her feet after freeing her and yet, Paige attempted to stand on her own. With mutual nods, the two stumbled through the trailer with his arm around her waist and hers around his neck. As soon as she saw Kylo’s bloodied body laying at the door, Paige flew into a rage, kicking and stomping him uncontrollably all about his head and back. Spitting and hurling curses at his corpse the entire time.

At first, Ben attempted to restrain her, and then simply let her have at him. He knew that in some small way it might have helped.

“We need ta go.” He grasped one of her hands tightly in his. “C’mon, officer.”

“It’s Detective…” Paige mumbled.

“Aight, aight… But we really do need ta go.”

They moved through the door carefully, and Ben turned to pull the latch closed. Paige still clung to his arm as she slowly crept down the few stairs.

Without any warning, Kanan Jarrus dropped to one knee and loudly yelled out with his gun already drawn. “Freeze! Put your hands up and step away from Tico!”

“No, no…nooo!” Paige yelped as Ezra leapt from the passenger side of the brown sedan.

Ben whirled around to face Kanan while shoving Paige to the ground.

With no further hesitation, Kanan opened fire and took the shot.

He and Ezra realized entirely too late what Paige had also yelled to them. “It’s Not Himmmmmm!”

Ben fell to the dirt, and rolled, both hands clutching his neck while he began to bleed out.

Ezra ran toward them both while calling over his shoulder for Kanan to call in an ambo.

His words fell on deaf ears as Kanan was frozen, dumbfounded. The stark realization left him immobile. Crippled with the fear, shock piled upon rapidly rising guilt, he was still crouched low at the fender of his car. Ezra pressed 911 into his cell, quickly requesting assistance as he ran.

Scrambling up onto her knees, Paige crawled over to Ben. She wailed loud uncontrollable sobs while gathering his shoulders in her weak arms. “Ben… Ben, please hold on.”

He swallowed painfully.

“We need a bus…” Shouting into his cell, Ezra ran to them, sliding feet first into the gravel and dry dirt. Helping to support his head in Paige’s hold, he whispered, “It’s alright, Ben. Hold on, buddy.”

“Put more pressure on it, Paige.”

Finally, Kanan dropped his weapon into his holster and forced his long legs into action. Dazed, he stood up and slowly made his way over to the three on the trailer’s front steps.

Ben grew weak, attempting to speak while spouting gurgling sounds when his tongue sloshed inside his mouth.

“Hey, hey, hey…” Paige whispered, “Look at me, look at me.” She removed his hand, replacing it with her own, desperately trying to stem the blood flow.. His eyes were glassy and tear filled… begging a silent plea when his breathing grew more ragged. Paige cried, “Keep looking at me!”

Approaching sirens squealed off in the distance as they drew nearer. Ben clutched his right hand in his left, then strained to bring his bloodied wrist to his face. Before losing consciousness, he laid his lips to his tattoo.

*****

He heard voices in the hallway, low, muffled and yet incensed. As if off in the distance, it sounded a lot like Finn and Ezra arguing with some local authorities. He could only make out bits and pieces. They were regarding a heroic act, self-defense, assisting in the apprehension of, extenuating circumstances, a lighter sentence, altering or reducing charges was what little he could make out.

Ben lay perfectly still. He barely breathed. His eyes had yet to open, but he gripped the bar on the railing of his bed.

“Nurse. Nurse…” His eyes shot open at the sound of a voice. Her voice.

A nurse passing just outside his door squeezed by the men in the hallway. “Lie still… You lost a great deal of blood.” She softly sighed.

Ben turned his head toward her voice, anxious to see her face.

His bandages, gauze, surgical tape, sutures and tubing made his range of motion nearly impossible. Ben struggled to speak. His voice croaked with soreness from the injury, the severe scarring, and lack of use.

“Hey there, Doc.” The pain in his throat was excruciating, and his tongue felt coated and swollen.

Her smile spread slowly, coaxing those hazel eyes to sparkle. Although her pretty freckled face wore the signs of worry and fatigue, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

“Welcome back.” Rey reached over the bed railing, tenderly caressing his hand. For the very first time, he realized his wrist was cuffed to the bed.

While the nurse checked his vitals and adjusted his bed, three Oklahoma State Troopers barrelled into the room. Ben could see Kanan, Finn and Ezra now crowding his doorway.

He blinked up at Rey, watching her lip, “I love you, Ben.” Completely ignoring the barrage of questions the troopers were already rapidly firing his way, he simply cracked a smile and lipped right back in response, “I love you, too, Rey.”

*****

Finally, the crisp autumn air gave way to the temperate Memphis morning. The moment Rey pulled up and parked, she decided to sit in the car for a moment to gather herself – her thoughts and her emotions.

Taking the time off to fly down to Tennessee may have been a mistake, she supposed. But it was much too late to think about that now.

She saw a blue and white mobility van just at the foot of the hill. An elderly man approached the vehicle and was assisted by what seemed to be an orderly or staffer from a nursing home. Wordlessly, the two slowly navigated their way toward the access ramp. The old man appeared fragile and wooden as he folded in from the waist. Gnarly, shaky hands, roped with veins. The man was withered and bent with age and the weight of some unspoken disappointment – a heavy guilt.

Struggling with his walker through the doorway, the balding, wrinkled gentlemen stopped briefly, looked up into the sky, searching for any form of acquiescence, familiarity or some appeasement. Finding none, he grimaced. He grumbled something unintelligible as he swung his stiff frame, then waved a thank you to the younger man who aided him.

Done with her brief distraction, Rey stepped out of her vehicle and trudged up the hill. Anxious to see him again, she was eager, determined.

Somewhere off in the distance she heard the sounds of a woman sobbing. Attempting to seek her out with her eyes, Rey wondered for whom she wept. She squinted through the thinly veiled mist to find her.

A grove of trees a few yards past the clearing in which she stood appeared to be where the woman was crying. Clearly, the woman was mourning at a gravesite of a loved one. But for whom, Rey still wondered.

Ordinarily, Rey would never have dared risk being in a cemetery, but she had made a promise. Over the last two months, her empathic abilities were back and in full force. They seemed to have grown, sharpened even. And in this place, she already began to feel the dark heaviness of grief, the pall of death pulling and tugging at her limbs.

A light breeze rose and blew leaves from the trees, scattering a few at her feet.

Deep down, Rey hoped this trip would be freeing, and in some way, the final chapter to the saga. More than anything, she wanted to see Ben.

His parole officer eventually approved the trip, after much cajoling, and of course with Rey’s intervention. His PO caved, especially after having the commitment from Finn to agree to have Ben in his custody. He was doing really well. Rey was exceedingly happy. Outpatient treatment and living in the men’s halfway house had done wonders for him. Ben had decided to get his CDL license. He’d also started taking some college courses.

Her cell phone hummed in her coat pocket. She took it out and swiped the screen. “I’m about to pull up. Are you already here?” Finn’s voice made her cradle her cell phone with both hands.

Rey sighed, fixing her cell hard to her chin. “Yes, I’m here.” She looked up into the gray sky, and turned up the collar of her tweed jacket.

“Jannah refused to come along, ya know - she thinks it’s ludicrous. Found the very idea of me showing up … abhorrent. You should have seen the face she gave me.” Finn sneezed.

“... I understand.” She whispered. “Gesundheit.”

“Ok, here! Oh, I see you…” The call ended the same time she heard his slammed car door.

Finn marched halfway up the hill toward her with his hands shoved deep down in his corduroy pockets. He then turned back toward his brand new Outback. Rey followed his line of sight just in time to see Ben emerge from the SUV. His tall frame unfolded slowly from the front passenger seat.

Finn turned slowly to face her, their eyes locked, and even at that distance, instantly, within the smallest of exchanges, Rey knew through an unspoken acknowledgement that he would not be joining them.

Mildly amused, but mostly grateful, her heart began to pound.

Rey tried again to find the woman from earlier… if only in her mind. The wind shifted. All that could be heard were the chirping of birds and the subtle rustling of leaves.

Rey lowered her eyes to the ground. When she glanced down at the grave, she immediately saw them. One red and one black rose. They were placed atop the simple, gray granite headstone.

Her mind raced back to the elderly man. Rey knew without having to be told. It had to have been Orville Snoke, Kylo’s adopted father. She suddenly remembered Kalonia’s inquiry. Could you feel any empathy, any sympathy at all now knowing Kylo’s history? Inside, Rey knew coming here was the true manifestation of both, it was her honest answer.

Watching him grow closer made her stomach flip. It was then she realized just how much she missed him and how much she craved his touch. Her heightened awareness had her whole body shivering. Rey’s shoulders tightened in anticipation.

As Ben approached her, he came around behind Rey, wrapping his arms about her waist. He pulled her tightly to him, clasping his large hands together low at her waist.

“... touched by that dark miracle of chance which makes new magic in a dusty world.” He whispered softly into the nape of her neck.

She recognized the quote. Rey had heard the words before, and was sure who had written them.

Quickly, she whirled around. “Tom Wolfe, eh? Wow! Really?” It was all she could muster.

“Yeah. It’s from Look Homeward, Angel.” He grinned. “I loved dat classic. And it kinda suits da moment, tho. Dont’cha think, Rey?” He brought her into his arms again, hugging her tightly to his chest.

“Yes, yes…” Consumed by the heat of him and his pea coat swaddling her, Rey clung to him. She felt it immediately. “Yes, I suppose it does.” When she finally looked up into his face, gauging him, she saw all the forgiveness and reconciliation bubbling under the surface. She now knew the beginnings of a foundation for closure were steadily being built. And she dreamt of the day that would somehow happen for her.

“Been reading a lot more lately…” Ben grinned, faintly recalling the session she had asked him about that.

“Yes, you told me. I think I’ll have to get used to having a scholar and trucker on my hands.” Rey laughed and he chuckled right along with her. She also noticed that the bandages on his neck were gone. The scar was partially hidden by his collar and yet, it was obvious he would live out his life forever marked by it.

Ben finally looked down at his brother’s grave. He drew in a long, deep breath while reaching for and finding Rey’s willing hand. He clasped it gently.

The two simply stood there silently. Several minutes passed. In the stillness, they each processed their feelings quietly as best they could. She knew he grieved. Uncertain of any closure he may have sought or found, Rey knew there would be many more Dr. Kalonia sessions in her future dedicated to addressing her own.

Her hand broke free from his and found its way around his waist. She rested her head against his chest. Nuzzling there, Rey hoped he had finally found some peace with it... Some peace within himself.

“Ben.” Trembling fingers gently reached for his jaw and offered him a soft caress. “I realize we don’t have much time, but…”

Tenderly, his lips pressed to her forehead, planting tiny kisses to her hairline. “Fa da first time we’ll have plenty of it. Time… wit no hurries, no worries.” His warm breath diffused her cheeks.

“Yes, Ben, you’re right. We will.”

“Here’s ta making more of our New Magic!”

Once more she felt whole as she pushed up onto her toes and fully kissed his lips.

*****