Roaring winds rushed against the window, causing Jade to wake from her sleep. It was still late, the darkness covering the trees outside. She had fallen under the spell of exhaustion, her tears had dried onto her cheeks. With a small groan, she stood from her favorite spot and walked to the bathroom. The light was too bright for her sleep-filled eyes, so she decided she'd light a few candles. A hot bath would do her body and mind some good.

The steaming water captured her, finally feeling relaxed from the mentally difficult day. She didn't want to think about any of it, she didn't want to feel. However, all that kept coming back to her mind was Kylo. What was the pull to him? She felt it through the force and he said he felt it too. It confused her more than anything. In no way did she want to feel anything for the man who ordered her whole life to be destroyed. But there was kindness in him, in those beautiful brown eyes. She saw it, she felt it. If he felt any remorse for what he did, he would say so. Why couldn't he just apologize?

Her mind fiddled with these thoughts for a while, tossing them back and forth, before submerging herself under the water. After a moment of pure silence, hearing only the water slosh around her ears, she heard something. Someone's voice.

I'm trying...

With a flash of alarm, Jade resurfaced, eyeing the whole bathroom as quickly as she could. "Who's in here?" Jade called out, sinking low into the steaming liquid. She didn't hear anything anymore. It was just as quiet as before. Her head peered over the side of the tub to look into her room but to her surprise, no one was there.

The voice sounded so clear, as if the person was right there with her. Even if there was someone in the room with her, their voice wouldn't sound so clear when her head was fully engulfed by the water she sat in. It struck her then. No one was in the room with her. He was in her head. Kylo was speaking to her through... the force? She knew it was possible but she didn't know she could do it yet. With this new found knowledge, she attempted it.

Her hands wrapped around the edges of the bath as she tipped her head back. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing, then her surroundings, then Kylo.

Kylo?

A soft breath escaped her nose as she slowly opened her eyes. She must have done it, it felt right. Her voice rang in her own ears, just like she had heard his. What he had said, however, rang louder. It was enough for her to understand. He was trying. Trying to apologize. She sighed softly before reaching back out, one last time for the night.

I understand.

The next morning, Kylo had picked her up from her quarters just like all the times before. They were quiet with each other, except for the initial 'good morning' Jade had given to him. Of course, no response. When they arrived in the room, Jade began to stretch while Kylo removed his helmet, gloves, and robes. He was left in his long training pants and a long sleeve shirt. Jade tried to keep her eyes away, but she couldn't. It was always rare to see him without all of his extra armor. Kylo finally broke the silence, tossing her a staff through the air.

"We will try sparring today," he simply said, getting into fighting stance. This was the first time she had tried to actually fight anyone, especially Kylo. When the smugglers back at home showed her how to use the staff, it was basic chopping movements. Nothing like what Kylo had taught her. She was confident enough to say she felt advanced in the craft.

Copying his stance, they stood eye to eye. "Taking it easy at first," Kylo spoke before slowly chopping down over her head as she blocked it, knocking him off of her before going to swing at him. He dodged her attack and then went for her legs. She hopped over his staff and continued to another move. This went on for a few minutes before Jade felt winded.

"Good. You've caught on well. Now, up for a challenge?" he asked, before squaring up with her again. Jade smiled a bit, feeling ready to face him for what she's been training to do.

Kylo was quick with his motions, not letting up as he crashed his staff down on her time and time again. Although he was fast and vicious, Jade never missed a beat. Dodging swipes, blocking hits. She was really starting to feel proud of herself. That was, until she got smacked on her right side. She felt her ribcage rattle at the thud as she flew down to the ground. A quick shriek of pain barked out of her throat as she gripped onto her side, rolling over.

Jade felt Kylo's body heat as he knelt down next to her. "Where did I hit?" he asked, searching her face as she still writhed in pain. Her hand softly traced over her ribs, eyes completely screwed shut. She had never felt intense pain such as this before. "They're broken. They have to be," Jade pushed out, still trying to recover from the blow. Kylo felt like he needed to do something, he needed to see it.

With hesitating hands, he reached for the bottom of her shirt, her eyes now watching him as he gripped it. His eyes never tore away from hers. "If you don't mind... I'm just going to look at it." Jade, laying against the floor, now felt her mouth go dry. His hand on her shirt about to lift it to assess the damage. All she could do was nod, allowing him access.

Slowly, his fingers pulled up her shirt inch by inch revealing her stomach and then her ribs. He scanned her bare torso under his hands. Her frame was so beautiful. He was panting quite audibly as he admired her figure. Kylo finally focused on the task at hand, moving his gaze to her ribs. A large, red slash marked her body but not enough to break the skin. It was definitely going to leave a bruise, but he couldn't tell if he had broken a rib. All he could tell from her was that she was breathing. Hard.

Her rapid breaths met Kylo's pants as well as they both sat in careful silence. "I'm taking you to the hospital. I don't know if they're broken," he said as he lowered her shirt back over her stomach.

"Kylo, I can't get up. It hurts too much. Maybe they can just come here."

"No. We're going there." Kylo bent forward and scooped her up into his arms with ease. She winced a little, letting a small whine escape her lips, as she settled into him. He swiftly started to move towards the hospital, her eyes never breaking their stare up at him the whole time. It was a stare of curiosity, forgiveness, but most importantly, affection.

"Well, you seem to have simply bruised two ribs on your right side," the doctor had said, pointing them out to her on the X-Ray. "If you had broken them, it could have been fatal. You're very lucky." She huffed out a breath as she heard the news. "So, what does this mean? What does treatment look like?" Jade asked, wringing her hands together nervously. Kylo sat beside her, unmasked and unrobed. She didn't even realize he was wearing such casual clothing still.

The doctor turned to his chart, writing something down, as he walked closer to her. "You'll be out of commission for three weeks. In that time you must rest, do nothing strenuous, ice your side, and take this medication for the pain." He handed her a prescription. "You will stay in here over night and be released tomorrow."

Three weeks was too long. She was just getting good with her skills and understanding the force more. Three weeks away may make her forget. Training was also the only real time she got to see Kylo. What was she going to do for three weeks in bed? The doctor made his way out of the room, the door closing before Kylo stood above her, looking down at her sad eyes.

"You will not train until you are healed," he said as he grabbed the note from her hands. She groaned and whacked her hands on the sides of the bed. "This isn't fair, I was doing so well." Kylo smirked a bit at her reaction, nodding his head. "It's how this goes, unfortunately. You're lucky it wasn't worse."

Jade's head lulled over to the side as she whined. A soft touch from his rough palm was now brushing against her hand that lay at her side. Her eyes quickly shifted over to Kylo's hand on top of hers. The complex feelings for him all came crashing back down around her. "I'm just glad you're going to be okay," he spoke softly, causing her to lose her breath.

His gentle touch only became more persistent, now holding onto her hand tightly. "I wouldn't want to lose you."