This is my first FanFic ever, so please be nice, though I will appreciate reviews.

Takes place right after episode 18 of Season 3 in the Clone Wars (The Citadel). I don't think I have any spoilers in here. Also, episode 19 has yet to come out, so I am assuming Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-wan, and the rest get to go back home after completing the mission. Anakin lectures Ahsoka on her disobedience of direct orders, and warns her not to do it again.

Also, I am VERY new to the whole Star Wars and Clone Wars universe. All mistakes in the canon are mine. And of course, I don't own anything that has already been copyrighted by George Lucas.

WARNING: There is non-consensual spanking in this story. If you don't like it, don't read it. Rated T, just in case.

"I see Anakin's new teaching method is 'Do as I say, not as I do.' Welcome aboard."

Ahsoka smiled gratefully up at Master Kenobi. He had interrupted what was surely going to become another heated argument between her and Anakin, and had let her know that he had approved of her being there. Even if she wasn't originally part of the mission.

A quick glance at Anakin, however, let her know he didn't share the older Jedi's opinion.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself, Ahsoka. This conversation is a long way from over, but Master Piell doesn't have time on his side, and neither do we. We're going to have a talk about this later. Is that clear?" intoned Anakin darkly.

"Yes, master," she whispered.

Ahsoka stifled a shudder as she watched her master walk over and discuss plans with Captain Rex. Rarely did he use that particular tone on her, and even more rarely did he let his displeasure at her choices go beyond a stern but brief one-sentence reprimand.

More puzzling was his reaction to her implications on the mission to begin with. It's not like this was the first time she had disregarded an order for a greater purpose. And she couldn't believe he was a big enough hypocrite to get angry at her now, in this stage of the game, when as she had pointed out earlier, he was the one to teach her that principle.

Ahsoka began calming herself, searching for her center. The Force could provide some insight.

Thankfully, it did.

He wasn't angry at her blatant disobedience so much as he was masking a fear. Why? They had both been in enough danger and action to get over initial nerves. She continued searching and delving. Fear of failure? Yes, but it was not to tied to the mission. And besides, how could he possibly fail, with Master Kenobi and Captain Rex's team at their side? Failure of what, then?

"There'll be plenty of time to meditate when we get back to Coruscant, Snips. Look sharp," quipped Anakin, startling the Padawan back to the present.

Ahsoka let out the breath she hadn't known she was holding, and smirked. He didn't exactly smile back, but at least he wasn't scowling anymore. And he had called her by her nickname. That had to count for something. Perhaps the ride back home wasn't going to be as bad as she thought.

Well, Ahsoka was right on one count. The flight back to Coruscant was not as bad as she initially thought it was going to be. It was worse.

The escape from The Citadel had been more perilous than any of them – even Master Kenobi – had suspected. And that was saying something, as everyone knew going into it that this wouldn't be a regular cake-walk rescue. Nerves were wound tight and the crew was testy, to put it mildly.

Insufficient sleep and battling for life tends to do that.

Even Ahsoka, normally optimistic and easily capable of bouncing back wanted nothing more than the peace and comfort of her own quarters – at home. The cargo shuttle's small sleeping bay to which she had been sequestered per Anakin's orders – like a wayward child! - was just depressing.

She had been pacing the small quarters for three hours, her mood deteriorating from aggravated to angry. She was also embarrassed, knowing that Rex, Cody and the others knew about the coming earful she could expect from her master. She really wasn't in any mood to be talking with anyone, let alone taking a lecture from the man who wrote the book on dismissing orders.

"You'd think he'd at least let a girl have some dinner before railing on her," she muttered out loud. "But nooooo. That would be too thoughtful, too considerate, too noble of such a high-handed, stubborn, over-inflated ego of a jacka-"

"I don't think Obi- wan would be happy with your description of him."

The young Torgrutan whirled around to face her master.

"I-I-I didn't hear you enter, Master," she stuttered. Quickly recovering from her surprise, added, "And I wasn't talking about Master Kenobi, either."

Anakin narrowed his eyes at her sass and said, "No. I'm sure you weren't."

They stared at each other in tense silence for what seemed an eternity. Padawan mimicking Master in both stance – each with legs shoulder-width apart and arms crossed – and in a contest of will. Ahsoka wasn't about to be intimidated out what she thought was the right course of action. Actually, without her, they never would have even made it into The Citadel. No one else would have been able to fit through the vents. If it wasn't for her -

"If it wasn't for you, things would have been a lot more difficult, I agree," interrupted Anakin on Ahsoka's thoughts.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" Ahsoka asked, momentarily forgetting her resolve not to budge.

Anakin smirked. "I could say the Force clued me in, but even a battle droid would be able to tell why you're in a mood. You don't mask your emotions all that well, little one."

Ahsoka sniffed indignantly. Anakin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and sat her back down on the bunk. He sat beside her, and for an instant, her mind flashed back to that conversation following the battle for Christophsis.

"That," he continued, "and I know what it feels like to be in your shoes...the pressure to prove yourself and earn everyone's respect. "

She tentatively looked into her master's eyes. "Then if you know what it feels like, why did you order me to stay on Coruscant? Why were you so upset when we came out of carbon freezing? Why have you sent me to these quarters, even after proving value to this rescue? I'm not some disobedient youngling," she pouted.

Anakin concentrated in schooling his face into a stern demeanor. He knew Ahsoka hated being seen and treated as a youngling, yet she gave into youngling behaviour. To her credit, the questions were fair, and ones with which he had grappled since boarding the shuttle. That was part of the reason why he had her wait so long in the sleeping bay. He didn't want to lecture her without first coming to an honest understanding of his actions.

"Maybe I've learned more from Obi-wan than I thought," he mused to himself. Then turning to his Padawan said, "Look, Snips, I know none of this seems fair, but I had my reasons for not including you."

"Oh yeah? And what would those be?"

"You know, most Padawans wouldn't be so demanding of their master, especially after disobeying his specific order," Anakin chided. Ahsoka let out an exaggerated sigh, but did muster the grace to appear sheepish.

"As I was saying," he continued, "I had my reasons for not wanting to include you. Ever since our experience at Mortis I just..."

Anakin trailed off, staring into space and Ahsoka couldn't help but feel the tension, sadness, and fear that he was emanating.

"Just what, Master?" she prompted, genuinely concerned.

Her master refocused, clearing his throat as if to clear his mind. "You think that I'm treating you like a youngling; if you aren't involved in every mission and scene of action, there is no way you can progress. But that's not the way I see it, Ahsoka. Sometimes, it's better for you to stay at the Temple to live and fight another day. Like it or not, you are still a Padawan, and because I know how talented and dedicated you are – something which I'm proud to say you've proven time and time again – I've forgotten that there are still forces and powers you can't handle yet."

Ahsoka bristled, mouth open and ready to argue. Anakin raised his hand, motioning her to keep quiet. "I realized that at Mortis, when you were captured by the Son and...and..."

She felt it again: the intense sadness mingled with fear and failure. But instead of prompting him, Ahsoka waited, knowing he would finish this thought out.

"When you almost died," he explained in a barely audible whisper, "completely sinking into the Dark Side, I knew it was all my fault. I should have done a better job of protecting you, of teaching you that some treachery is more deceptive than others. I failed you as a master and promised myself that if you got out alive, I would never risk putting you at that level of danger again. Not until the Council and I feel you are ready."

The Torgrutan sat stunned. She had no idea he carried that level of guilt and responsibility for her well-being. She knew the bond between Master and Padawan was strong, but this was a whole new level.

"But Master! You can't protect me from everything – that's not your job. Your job is to teach me the ways of the Jedi. To become as good as you! How can I do that by staying behind at the Temple?"

Anakin smiled at her attempts to both defend her actions, and comfort him. "You're right, Ahsoka. I can't protect you from everything. And you're also right in pointing out my duty to train you. But I can't do that if you end up dead because I placed you in a situation that I knew would be too much for you to handle, now can I?"

Ahsoka winced. When he put it that way, she could see a certain logic. Still, she had to try. "But you thought The Citadel would be too hard for me, and it wasn't. We all made it out just fine!"

"Furthermore," he continued, ignoring her protest, "as your Master, to a certain extent, it is my duty to protect you. And as my Padawan, it is your duty to accept my decisions for your well-being without question."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. Anakin didn't miss a beat. "Or sass."

She folded her arms in consternation. "I mean really, Snips, if I was just being a bit over-protective, don't you think Obi-Wan would have spoken up in your defense earlier? It's not like he hasn't overruled my decisions before, especially where you're concerned. Clearly he felt I was making a good choice."

Ahsoka shurgged. "He seemed happy enough to see me."

Now it was her master's turn to roll his eyes. "Obi-wan is good at adapting to whatever circumstances might dictate. That, and he loves that I'm getting a taste of my own medicine. But he does agree with me that the sudden change in Master Plo Koon's plans to assign you to the mission could have been detrimental to its success."

Anakin began stroking his chin, as he was prone to do when working out a dilemma. Ahsoka had to push him along. "Detrimental, Master?"

"Before coming to speak with you, Obi-wan coached me in how to, er, um -"

"Chastise me, Master?"

"Yeah," he breathed out, relieved. "Well, he's had more experience than I have in this area of the Master-Padawan relationship. Anyway, we were both a little puzzled as to why the sudden tactical team plans. That's not like Master Plo, especially when precision in these types of missions can mean the difference between life or death. Success or failure."

"But I'm fine!"

Anakin narrowed his eyes at her. "We weren't just concerned for you, Ahsoka. What about Rex, Cody, and the rest of the team? They weren't expecting you either, and in these sorts of things, any sudden change in even the smallest of details can seriously derail a mission. By looking out for you, one of the men could have been distracted and possibly killed. Any hesitance, anything at all, could have been enough for the enemy to not only re-capture Master Piell, but all of us."

"I don't need looking after,"she retorted, uncomfortable at the truth the consequences of her actions could have caused.

"Oh, no? Because even I like knowing that someone has my back if I need it. I didn't realize how advanced you were in your skills."

Ahsoka slumped her shoulders, finally admitting defeat. Well, no. Defeat wasn't the word, but she could see Anakin's reasons for his anger at her disobedience more clearly now.

"I'm sorry, Master. I didn't see it that way."

"Obviously not, otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation. But I forgive you. And don't go feeling too bad. Part of this is Master Plo's fault. He did change the orders, though highly unlike him. Anyway, he must have had his reasons. We'll have to discuss this with him when we get back."

Ahsoka's heart began to pound. Getting Master Plo involved was definitely something she wanted to avoid. Saying he ordered her onto the mission might be a bit of a stretch. But Masters Obi-wan and Anakin didn't need to know that. Not now, mission successfully completed and on their way back home.

"No Master!" she shouted. Realizing how desperate she sounded, Ahsoka felt she should explain. "You don't need to do that. I've learned my lesson. The next time you tell me to do something, I'll do it. No questions asked."

Anakin had no idea where that outburst came from. Apologizing was one thing, but this acquiescence was a little too much at the ready. "You feeling alright, Snips?"

"What? Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm tired and a little hungry that's all. Just promise me you won't talk about this with Master Plo. He's, uh, been under a lot of stress lately and pointing out this small slip in protocol would just unnerve him."

"Okay, Ahsoka, if that's what you want. I won't say anything if you promise to never disobey a direct order – especially one that I give for your safety and that of others – ever again. Deal? Otherwise, the next time we have a talk, you won't be so happy about it."

Her smile couldn't grow any wider. She didn't know what he meant by that last part, but she was too relieved to hear that he wouldn't bring up her part in the mission with Master Plo to care. "Deal!"

"Alright, get out of here and get some food. I had R2 save you some."

Right before leaving the room, Anakin gripped her by the upper arm and delivered a stinging swat to her rear-end.

"Ow! Master, what -"

"That's what I meant by that last part. Just be lucky Obi-wan wasn't your master. He would have begun this conversation with that attention-grabbing method, and believe me, he would have had more than one thing to say to you. Trust me, I know." Anakin winked as he nodded for her to leave.

Rubbing her backside, she made the quick mental note to avoid such conversations in the had made it more than clear he was willing to do what it takes to protect her. To fulfill his duty as her trainer, teacher, and mentor. And that particular sort of corrective guidance he had just implied was not the type of lesson she was anxious to have.

Despite the sting, she still smiled. Master Anakin did understand her, and for that she was grateful.