The next two hours are hell.
The coughing fits of the young Togruta increase minute by minute and after a while Ahsoka is barely able to speak.
Rex tries to pull himself together and just keep talking to her, but it's not exactly easy for him either.
After telling a few stories from the past, he is silent for a few minutes. Every now and then he talks to her with soothing words when the coughing fit is particularly bad and Ahsoka is more than grateful for that, even if she already has to concentrate quite hard to understand him at all.

"...Always been...a good....friend...Rexter," Ahsoka says in a weak voice after a while.
"No stop it!"
"With...what?"
"With pretending you're going to die. Because you're not. The generals are on their way here."
It doesn't sound very convincing.

Ahsoka gives a short laugh, her eyes still closed. "Know...both...that I..can't..." another raspy cough.
"I...can't...make it."
"Don't say that Ahsoka. You're going to make it. You're the strongest person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing."
Surprised, Ahsoka opens her blue eyes.
"I am?"
"Of course. No one I know is as strong as you." Ahsoka's eyes begin to blacken and her breathing becomes more and more difficult.
"thanks..... Rex...ter...."
The captain closes his eyes.
"No thing, little one."

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A sound makes Rex open his eyes again. And not just any noise, but the sound of a hatch opening.
Immediately the captain stands up and bangs on the door. "Ahsoka! Wake up right now! They're here, it's going to be okay!"
No response.

"Rex?! Ahsoka?!?"
General Skywalker.

"We're here General!" shouts Rex, continuing to pound on the door.
Footsteps approach.
Finally!
Please don't let them be too late....

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

It didn't take long to evacuate the bunker. After only half an hour all the clones could be taken out of the contaminated laboratory and Ahsoka could also be saved.

At this moment, the young Togruta is lying on a stretcher. The antidote was administered to her as soon as they got her out of the bunker and it's already taking effect.
And even though she still looks very pale, Ahsoka is at least responsive again.

Anakin is immediately at her side when she opens her eyes.
"Hey Snips. How are you feeling?" he asks, concerned.
"Better," Ahsoka replies, still very weak.
"The doctors say you'll make a full recovery soon. Soon you'll be able to fool around with the men again." Anakin smiles encouragingly. Ahsoka just rolls her eyes in amusement and is now taken to the ship, where Rex is also already waiting. Rex smiles tiredly at Ahsoka.

"I thought we had lost you."
"You won't ...get rid of me... that easily."
The two are silent for a while.

"Thank you," Ahsoka finally says.
A little confused, Rex looks at his commander.
"For what?"
"For being there for me."
"I will always be there for you, Commander."
"And I for you, Captain."

END