Beyond - Legends Lean On Me [MMM - Luke and Ben]

Title: Lean On Me
Author: Briannakin
Timeframe: Post-FoTJ
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Ben Skywalker
Genre: Mush! Also, hurt/comfort
Notes: This was written for MMM; the topic was “Recovery”. I COMPLETELY forgot about this until Sunday but I decided that I was going to do it even though I haven’t updated my other stories in awhile (they will both be updated this week, I promise). So I more or less wrote the first thing that came to mind. It’s kinda a mess, but I did it! I didn't know were to end it, so I just kinda ended it when I got tired.



Luke Skywalker nervously paced the waiting room. A few weeks ago his only son had gone on a mission with a few other Jedi Knights his age. They had been fighting a forest fire that had grown out of control on the forest moon of Endor. There had been an accident and 5 of the knights had gotten badly burned, Ben was one of them. None of them had been over the age of 20. One of the knights, Sehsan Moonflight, a friend of Ben’s had died en-route from Endor. Luke had been with the boy’s family when they had gotten the news. He had spent the past few days masking his worry by being the Grand Master for the other parents, but right now he was quickly transforming into Ben’s dad.

Luke took a glance around the waiting room. There was Litiana’s mother and father; Ozcar’s mother, father, and step-parents; and Wisdal’s fathers. Everyone had someone to hold and comfort, except for Luke, so he paced.

Cilghal then showed up with a stack of yellow gowns. “The medial transport has broke atmo, and is about to land. Wisdal and Litiana will need to be rushed immediately into surgery. They were both put into medical induced comas and you will be able to see them once they are put back into bacta tanks. Ben and Ozcar’s injuries were able to be taken care of in the medical ship and will be able to be put right into recovery rooms. Ozcar is heavily sedated so we are going to make sure he is comfortable before letting two of you in at a time.” Cilghal handed them all but one of the gowns, then turned the Luke. She gave him the last gown, a cap, mask and gloves. “The medics had nothing strong enough to sedate Ben.”

Luke sighed. Sedation resistance was a trait Ben had inherited from him.

Cilghal continued. “He has apparently been asking for you, a lot. So we want to get you in the transport as soon as it lands, so you can be at his side as soon as possible.”

Luke nodded, put on the gear, then followed Cilghal up to the landing platform where the medical ship was landing. “I need to help stabilize Litiana so we can get her into surgery. Ben is in cabin C. Just keep him calm. Someone will come with painkillers strong enough for him, then they will bring him to his recovery room.”

He nodded and headed up the boarding ramp once it was completely lowered.

Luke quickly made his was past the frenzy of medics and to the cabin labelled C. He mentally prepared himself for what he would see. He had been sent the medic’s original reports. Ben had 2nd degree burns over 50 percent of his body and areas of his right leg had 3rd degree burns. A tree had fallen on him while he had been trying to evacuate a village of Ewoks. He had amputated his right leg, just below the knee to escape. Luke squeezed his own cybernetic hand. It pained him to know that Ben would now know the agony of phantom pains and the annoyance of having to try to rely on cybernetics.

“Dad?” came a voice from inside the cabin. “I know that’s you out there. It doesn’t smell that much like burnt spice loaf in here.”

Luke was caught between crying and laughing.

“It’s more of a burnt dewbak scent.”

Now Luke was laughing. Still he could not enter.

“Seriously Dad, I’m not looking like Vader. Bacta has taken care of most of the burns, they don’t even think I’ll need skin graphs.”

Luke, with a deep breath, opened the door and entered the small room. Ben was on the bunk, propped up on pillows, hooked up to drips. Other than being pale and obviously sleep deprived, he did not look too bad. Luke then glanced towards the foot of the bunk. There was clearly only one foot under the blankets.

“Hey,” Ben said, getting his father’s attention. “I’m going to be fine. Now get rid of that ridiculous gown and mask. You aren’t going to infect me.”

Luke took off the mask and kissed his teenager’s forehead. “I’m supposed to be the one assuring you.” He took off the other protective gear. “How are you feeling right now?”

“I’ll be better when they get some pain meds that’ll work on me.”

“Ok,” Luke said, taking his son’s hand. “They should be here in a few moments. Anything else?”

“Yeah…” Ben hesitated for a moment. “I know I like just moved out of your apartment, but can I move back in with you? And I don’t just mean for while I recover. I miss living at home.”

“Yeah, of course. I left your bedroom the way it was. I missed having you at home.”

A healer then came into the room, gave Ben an injection and he was swiftly transported to his recovery room.

There, Luke spent hours reading to his drugged up son, holding his hand and watching him sleep.

“I’ve missed you so much, my baby boy,” Luke whispered into the darkness. “You are my everything.”

* * *

Two weeks later

“Ben, I really think you should use the hover-chair. Or at least the walker. You are not used to your new foot yet,” Luke pleaded with his son. Ben was on the edge of his father’s bed, pulling on his dress shoes. He was struggling with the right one.

“Do you want help?” Luke asked. He was all ready for Litiana Katin’s funeral.

“No,” Ben snapped. He then took a deep breath. “Sorry, Dad. No. I got it.”

“I’m sorry, Ben. I just want to help.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I just want to do what I know I can do.”

“Okay. I really think that you use the walker though. We might be standing for awhile and I don’t want you in pain.”

“Dad, I hated how people stared at me during Sehsan’s funeral, like I was a victim too. Sehsan is dead, Litiana is dead, Wisdal may never wake up, and Ozcar is going to need a dozen surgeries not to look like a monster. People look at me like I should be pitied, or blamed because I survived. I just want to hide.”

“Would you be willing to use the cane? Because I’ll be honest, it’s either that, or I’m not going to take you.”

“Dad, please. I know Litiana wasn’t the closest friend of mine, but I need to go I need to say good bye to her.”

Luke then grabbed the standard grey cane that was leaning against the door. “Then take it and let me help you.”

Ben begrudgingly took the cane and, with the help of his father, stood up.

* * *

By the end of the funeral, Luke knew his son was in both emotional and physical pain. Ben subtly wrapped his arm around his father’s back. “Can you help me back to the speeder?”

“Yeah, of course. Lean all your weight on me.”

They eventually made it back to the speeder where Ben broke down in tears. Luke put Ben in the back and put his leg up on the seat. He handed his son a few tissues.

“That should have been me,” Ben blurted.

“No. No it shouldn’t have been,” Luke said, climbing into the back to hold his son. “Call me greedy, but I am so damn glad you survived. You are all I have and I never want to even think about losing you. The pain, both emotional and physical, will subside eventually, but I never want you to think that for a second that you should have died. You are my son and you are all I have.”

Ben nodded. “I love you Dad.”

“I love you too, Ben.”

 

Oh, that was great in all the realism and poignancy Ben's emotions were spot-on and Luke's too naturally. Ben's 'survivor's guilt' was completely understandable. And where you ended it ... awwww! Big

 

Poor Ben. he has gone through a lot in this very realistic story. Great characterisation

 

YOU MADE ME CRY!

Love the connection between Luke and Ben that you've written.

Well done!

 

Aaah, father/son bonding, quite mushy. Injury seems to be what it takes to get these guys to go for the mush.

 

Beautiful snippet of father and son bonding. I love that Luke and Ben are so close. And Ben's telling Luke that he wasn't looking like Vader broke my heart. Excellent vig, gal!!

 

Aww, that was beautiful and sad.

“I’ve missed you so much, my baby boy,” Luke whispered into the darkness. “You are my everything.”

 

I laughed, I smiled, I cried. Any story that can draw those reactions is a good one. Well done.

 

Nicely done. I like how you brought up the real danger and emotional pain tat they must experience, which often tends to get glossed over.

 

This was very good. You almost had me crying -- but I managed to hold back. I was touched when Ben asked to move back in. Very Good one!!