DIN'S POV

The next day passed rather quickly than the previous days that he's spent here in the clinic. The morning was routine, it begins with a hot breakfast and a cup of nysillin tea, followed by another treatment from her crystal. Although his leg still hurts, yet she promised him that he will be able to walk today with support. He doesn't believe he will be able to even stand up, but she feels very confident that he could walk, as long as he uses the crutches she has provided him. Her words of praise and comfort makes him forget all about the bounty he's supposed to be looking for.

He hasn't asked anyone about Arica, not yet anyway. A part of him doesn't want to find out the truth. His intuition tells him that this healer is hiding information from him. Nonetheless, how could this woman, who has saved his life and has cared for his wounds, be the dangerous quarry he has been looking for? There must be something he's missing. It simply doesn't make any sense.

NIA'S POV

This morning the clinic was super busy. Flu season has officially started and there are several children in the clinic with runny noses and coughs. Maya has been a huge help providing medicine and cough syrup to the children, while she and Caid help the Mandalorian with his morning routine.

Yet something has changed in the bounty hunter's attitude. He's quieter more than he usually is, responding with only one-word replies, and sometimes she receives only a head nod, a grunt or a scoff, and other times it's a noncommittal gesture. It feels like he already knows who she is. If he found out the truth, would he really turn her in after she saved his life?

———————

Once the Mandalorian has been cleaned up with new bandages, he insisted on wearing his thick flight suit, blaster pistol and vambraces. Nia agrees as long as he leaves behind the rest of his armor, stating it is too early in his recovery to be carrying around too much weight. Din reluctantly agrees after several minutes of arguing and debating.

"Alright, Mando. Let's stand up. Come on. Put your arms around my shoulders, and as I lift you up...try to put some weight on that leg," she instructs him. He doesn't respond or make a sound, but he follows her directions. As his strong arms are wrapped around her shoulders, she slides her arms up underneath his armpits and interlock her fingers behind his back. "Ok, are you ready?"

He makes a 'mhm' sound in response. Taking that as a yes, she uses all of her strength to lift him onto his feet. He makes a faint grunting noise as he is finally standing up for the first time in days. Once he's on his feet, he is a bit surprised that he's able to put some weight onto his injured leg.

She doesn't let go of him right away. Her ear is pressed firmly against his clavicle as she hears his breathing and heartbeat, his chin resting on the top of her head. With his arms are firmly secured around her shoulders, this is slowly beginning to feel more like a hug than a healer merely assisting her patient. It's a simple gesture that most people take advantage of. Yet in this moment it was exactly what they both needed so desperately.

At first it felt odd and foolhardy. Him, an injured patient, her the healer, both in a warm embrace as they tightly grasp onto each other for dear life. Then, to her surprise, he gradually lowers his helmet down onto her shoulder as she hears him he take a deep breath. The longer they stay like this, the better it felt as they slowly melt into each other. Both experience the same lonely feeling of spending years of living a secretive life of isolation. In this moment, it's like a force beyond their understanding is controlling them.

Time stood still in this moment. Din closes his eyes under his helmet, this reminds him of the last time he's ever experienced a hug like this. It was from his mother right before she is shot by a battle droid. For Nia, she is reminded of a hug she received from a man about 13 years ago. He was a father who's family she had saved from a devastating virus that almost wiped out their entire village. As Nia and Din hold onto each other, they suddenly have forgotten where they were. A gentle knock on the door startled them both.

——————

"Come in," Nia cries out.

"Asra, I was just informed that the parts for the Mandalorian's ship has arrived. Viv wanted to let him know that he has started working on it, but it'll take about a week to complete," the older man says as he pants heavily.

"Thank you Caid. I'm going to help him walk. Hand me those crutches over there," she asked, still holding onto the Mandalorian's torso. As Caid grabs the items in the corner, then hands them to her as Nia places each one underneath Din's armpits. "I got it from here, Caid," she says as the old man nods and exits the room, leaving them alone.

"Ok Mando, I'm going to let go of you now. Are you ready?"

"Uh huh," he breathes out shortly.

She begins to unwrap her arms as she gradually gives him more control over his balance and weight on his leg. Finally, he is standing up without anyone's help!

"Look at you! How do you feel?" Nia asked with a huge smile on her face, obviously satisfied with her work.

"My leg still fucking hurts," he grits, not wanting to move or step forward.

"You'll be alright. Just allow the nysillin to take it's time. Come on, step forward...you can do it," she calmly encourages him with her arms out. He takes his first steps using the crutches, astonished with himself and the progress he's made. Although he has a limp, yet he's able to move around using the two crutches.

"Good job! By tomorrow I'm hoping you won't even need these crutches. It normally takes several weeks for bones to heal, especially fractures as severe as yours. Whereas with the Force, I can speed up that time in just a few days. You're free to explore the town on your own. If you need anything, Caid and Maya are here to help," she says as she leads him out of the room.

"What about you?" He asked as they exit the clinic.

"There's something I need to do. I'm sure Viv has been working on your ship all morning, perhaps you can pay him a visit at the crash site," she says as she walks away to enter her home a couple of doors down.

———————

DIN'S POV

He was a little confused why she was in such a hurry, but he didn't question it as he made his way towards his ship. The pain in his leg eventually subsided, as she had said it would. The nysillin plant is a powerful tool that has helped in his recovery. As he made his way through the dirt roads, past the numerous farms and beyond the fungal forest he eventually makes it to his destination. His ship hasn't moved, but several mushroom stalks have been cut down to make space for the mechanic to do his repairs.

Scattered throughout the ground he finds various tools, a few chairs and tables, an assortment of electrical wiring, engine parts, mechanical equipment and materials to repair the damaged central computer. On top of the ship he finds Viv and his Twi'lek employee working on the engine.

"Good morning, Mando. This is Relsabi, we've been working on the engine this morning. It's quite damaged but it shouldn't take us more than a week to get this up and running again," Viv called out from on top of the ship.

"Do you need any help?" Din asked.

"We could always use an extra hand, if you're up for it," Viv replied.

"I don't know how to thank you. I don't have anything to offer you."

"Not to worry, Mando. Asra took care for everything. She's very generous. Always looking out for others."

This made Din stop in his tracks. Why would she do this for him? How is she able to pay for all of this? And just like that, like a punch to the face, he figured it out. Years of hunting has taught him that most illegal businesses tend to pay the highest rate for specific services. Is she the woman he's been looking for? It can't be!

As he begins working on putting together parts of his landing gear, he hears Viv cry out as he sees Nia running into the jungle, "Hey that's Asra. Where is she going? She shouldn't be out by herself!"

Din spun around to see her entering the forest armed with a spear, a blaster pistol on her hip, and a couple of vambraces, weapons that look awfully familiar to him. They spot each other and in a blink of an eye....she is gone!

"I'll find out," Din says as he decided to follow her at a distance through the woods.

NIA'S POV

Something has been bugging her ever since she interacted with those two bandits. They must have a camp nearby. Today was the first day that they did not show up for their usual collections of nysillin, which could mean two things. One, they left the area and are looking for an easier village to harass. Or two, they are preparing for an attack. She needs to make sure. She needs to see what she's up against.

She enters her home and arms herself with everything she has, including her lightsaber, which she has tucked deep inside a pocket of her pants. Her gift of psychometry will help her track down these marauders. Upon exiting her home, she quickly runs towards the direction those two men were seen heading to. Through the mushroom trees she spots Mando, Viv and Relsabi working on the ship. She doesn't want to alert anyone, so she quickly finds the energy and strength to dash away from them.

Once she believes she is out of sight, she places her hands on the dirt and dead vegetation. Upon contact with the ground she has a vision. She sees the same two men running north, one of them was gripping his wrist as the other man is yelling for him to hurry up. She stands up and heads north, following the tracks on the forest floor.

More footprints are seen up ahead as she feels a disturbance in the Force. Anger. Fear. It surrounds this area. These men could be rallying their comrades for an assault. She had angered them. She has threatened this peaceful village and it'll be her fault if anything happened to these people.

She shakes off the distressing emotions and focuses on the task at hand. A Jedi must not show fear. A Jedi is strong and protects the helpless and defends the weak. She is remind of her training and the promise she's made to her master. It is her duty as a healer and a Force User to keep this town safe.

As she is on her knees observing footprints, she sensed that she is being followed. It's a presence she recognizes. It's the Mandalorian.

"So, first day on your feet and you decide to spy on me?" She says softly as she stands up but doesn't turn around.

"Have to keep an eye on you," Din replied.

"So is following me around your new hobby?"

"Do you mind?"

"No, but I'm afraid I'm gunna have to ask you to leave. You are in no shape for a fight."

"Is that what you are doing out here? Looking for a fight?"

"Those men are close by. I need to know if they will be returning or if there are more of them out here."

"I can help you."

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't need your help. Besides, your leg is still recovering. I wouldn't want you to reinjure yourself."

"I should warn you then, my helmet is indicating that there are multiple life forms up ahead. Roughly twenty yards away."

"Then I suggest we get down out of sight," she instructs as she gets to her knees. The Mandalorian struggles to get down to the floor, but with great effort he manages to hide behind a giant mushroom tree a few feet behind her.

"I noticed you're carrying a beskar spear and vambraces," Din whispers.

"You are correct."

"How did you get them?"

"From a Mandalorian of course."

"I don't know any who would willingly give their beskar weapons to an outsider."

She reaches down to reveal a mythosaur pendant around her neck, then says, "Exactly. However, now is not the time for storytelling. There's movement up ahead."

Din turned his attention back to towards the camp in front of them. He punches a few buttons on the side of his helmet and says, "I see about two dozen of them. It looks like it's a gathering of some sort."

"We should get closer, can you move?"

"I can try."

"Then please stay here. I'll go. Cover me," she says but doesn't give him time to argue as she crawls closer towards the makeshift campsite. About ten feet away, she does indeed see about two dozen raiders moving around rather quickly. Some are sparing, others are practicing target shooting and cleaning missile launchers, while a group of them are working on a large military vessel. She focused her attention on the massive machinery in the distance, but this is no ordinary combat vehicle. It's All Terrain Armored Transport used by the Galactic Empire during the Civil War. The vessel looks old and beat up, probably why it was left here for so many years. Just then, the headlights turned on and the crowd of raiders all cheered and clapped. This caused Nia to flinch in her hiding place as she ducked down behind the stalk of a mushroom tree. The moment she was about the leave, the large beams of light from the AT-AT powered off and the men all curse in frustration. It seems they are trying to get this thing working, probably to be used on the town. This is a terrifying sight to see and a horrific discovery!

Din sees her scampering back towards him in a hurry as he goes to stand up but falls and curses, "Dank ferrik!"

"Here, I'll help you. I got bad news," she says as she lifts him. "They are working on repairing an AT-AT!"

"I hope you're joking," Din said nonchalantly.

"Nope. We need to plan for something big," she says as they make their way back to town.

"You shouldn't have threatened them."

"What would you have done then? Shoot them?"

"Probably."

"Not every problem can be solved with guns."

"It's worked for me so far."

"Violence is the reason Mandalorians are few in numbers."

"So you're telling me the Jedi never fought?"

"Absolutely not. The Jedi failed because they paid too much attention on battling the Separatists. The Mandalorians destroyed their home planet because they were too focused on fighting with each other. Violence should only be used as a last resort. Don't lecture me about war!" She blurts out.

"You know nothing about my culture," Din snarled and gritted his teeth.

"I know that Mandalore is desolate because of war."

"Mandalore is cursed!" He growled.

"That was a lie."

"What do you know?"

"Because I've been to Mandalore. The poisonous air makes it quite dangerous and it's practically abandoned."

"You've been there?" He asked, and he sounded like he misunderstood.

"Yes. It was once a thriving planet, turned to dust by violence and war. Death Watch is a terrorists group who fought against the pacifist government. They believed in conquering the weak in the name of Mandalore. So I'll ask you this, is it worth destroying everything?"

"They are not terrorists!" This time he sounded like he was about to throw a punch.

"Well if you truly believe that is true, then instead of collecting bounties, maybe you should reunite the clans and show the galaxy that Mandalorians are warriors and not bullies, King of Mandalore."

To her surprise, he didn't respond. Not with words anyway. His whole tensed up as they walk through the woods. She can feel a mixture of emotions emanating from him. She can sense conflict in him, as well as rage and uncertainty. He wants to lash out at her, that part is obvious, but he's also hesitant and apprehensive to do anything. Like he's lost and confused. It's an unusual moment for a man who has been so irate ever since he's been crashes here.

"Sounds like you are unsure of yourself, Manda'lore," she finally says after a few very uncomfortable moments.

"Don't call me that," he blurts out abruptly.

"You can't hide who you are for long."

"Neither can you, Asra. Or should I call you Arica?"

Nia stopped instantly at that name. Oh maker! He's too way smart. She should have known he would find out eventually. Yet she still won't admit to anything and will continue to provide her services to him for as long as he needs her.

"We should get back and inform the others," she says, completely ignoring his last statement as they resume walking in silence.