Sabine, Zeb and Choper ran through the the last hallway to the ship. Kanan ran out of the elevator. His eyes spotted Ezra's limp body hanging from Zeb's shoulder and he felt his face loose it's color.

"Is he?..." He didn't dare to say it.

Thankfully Sabine shook her head negatively.

"Just unconscious, but he needs medical attention, fast" Kanan nodded, shooting an on coming stormtrooper running down the hallway.

The entrance of the Phantom filled them all with hope and relief. They slipped into the small ship's safety and as the door closed, it felt like that piece of mental had just separated them from anything bad in the world.

As quickly as it came, the feeling of safety evacuated as the star destroyer opened fire. Thankfully their skilled pilot jumped into action.

"Put you seat belt on!" She yelled.

"I'm busy at the moment!" Kanan yelled back while opening a first aid kit.

"Okay love. You two. Seat belt. Now!"

Zeb and Sabine sighed sitting down and fastening their seat belts.

"How comes Choper doesn't have to put one on?" Zeb complained giving the droid a hard look only for the droid to pull his zapper out.

"He doesn't need one" Hera said dodging the shots. One opening, all she needed was one opening and-

The TIE shooting ahead of them hesitated for a moment. Hera blasted it and jumped into hyperspace. She sank back on her seat for a second before turning around and rushing forward to where Kanan was sitting beside Ezra's unconscious body.

Bone knitters were placed in several parts of Ezra's body that seemed too bad, a blue shade was covering most of Ezra's extremely white skin. Blood drops stained his white, ragged, hospital pajamas. Scars and bruises seemed to cover the boy. Famine and torture were clear on him. Everyone seemed to be out of words. They couldn't believe what had happened. How could a bad thing just cause a horrible line of events that led up to this moment.

As the bone knitters did their job Ezra started to wince and arch back. Hera cupped his face and brushed a thumb against his cheeks. Kanan took his hand and rubbed it.

"We can't go back to Capital City. Not right now. They'll be looking for us" Sabine said.

"We are not going back to Capital City" Hera answered. "We'll keep a low profile for a little while. Until things calm down a bit"

"We have to get Ezra to a Medical Center first" Kanan turned to look at them. Make sure they heard him. He wasn't sure if the words had actually left his mouth and truthfully the only thing he could actually hear was his own heartbeat and a deafening ringing in his ears.

As he took in the pained expression on Ezra's face he struggled to keep his feelings at check. He hated doctor Lee, he hated the empire and he wanted to do something, anything to make them hurt the same way they hurt his boy. But he let his hate dissolve into love as he bend down to touch his forehead with Ezra's.

Through the bond he emitted all the love and affection he could muster and let the warm feeling wrap around Ezra's fear and pain like a safety blanket and shield him from them. He watched fondly as the boy's face relaxed. He felt him clawing the bond like a lifeline. He probably didn't realize he was doing it. Kanan felt guilt overwhelm him.

If only he hadn't sent Ezra away...

"Kanan?" He heard Hera call but her voice sounded so distant.

"Hmmm?" He didn't take his eyes away from Ezra.

"Are you sure about the med center? If we get recognized-"

"We have to risk it!" he said determined "He needs a bacta tank. We don't have enough supplies to treat his injuries quickly. It will be painful for him. I don't want it to be painful. I don't want him to hurt anymore. Besides we should have him checked for..." his voice broke and he had to stop talking. What the devil doctor did to him...

Kanan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He felt the force flowing inside him and calming the ongoing turmoil in his mind.He felt Hera run circles in his back. He let her touch comfort him. He squeezed Ezra's hand to keep himself grounded.

He was here and he would never let anyone hurt him again. He knew that wasn't really something he could promise. He knew that the galaxy and the force itself worked in mysterious ways. He had no idea what was about to come or what the future held. But this family, this boy, he would do anything in his power to protect them. Even give up his own life.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ezra was pulled in and out of memories. Memories of his parents. Memories of doctor Lee and memories with the crew. The bad and painful memories always seemed to outweigh the good ones. But they were still there.

Memories with his parents, memories with his friends. Moments that he wanted to last forever. Moments he wished he could hang on the wall. Memories when he was truly happy even though he couldn't see it back then.

He felt a warmth, calmness and affection overwhelm him. Keeping him warm. Keeping the good memories close and the bad away. Holding him safely under waves of love.

Kanan

He smiled as he felt himself drift away.

"It's okay, I've got you. Just go to sleep and when you wake up everything will seem like a bad dream"  Kanan seemed to say through the bond.

Ezra felt exhaustion carry him away. He slipped into a dreamless sleep. Feeling safe for the first time in months. He was with his friends. His family. Everything would be okay.