Hello all! I imagine some, or most of us are now getting over season 5 episode 16 of The Clone Wars, but I NEEDED to write this cos I was devastated at the episodes events midway through. There's already been an AU but I wanted to try my hand at one. I hope you enjoy. :)

The Lawless AU.

A promise Kept.

'No. Dear Force not again!'

Storm blue eyes widened in horror, a sick feeling knotting up his stomach and making his head light with nausea. Satine gasped for breath, fingers clawing viciously in a natural attempt to free her source for oxygen from the invisible hand that was choking the life slowly out of her as her face turned dark shades of blue and purple.

"I never planned on killing you but I will make you share my pain, Kenobi!" Maul growled vehemently. Obi-Wan felt sick feeling the immense loathing rolling off of the zabrak in waves. Loathing of him.

The silence was deafening. All he could hear was the erratic beating of his heart, thundering inside his ribcage as if it was about to explode forth from his chest. Time slowed as Maul began to pull out the darksaber he took as a trophy after his execution of Pre Vizsla and, with a feral snarl, ferociously tugged Satine towards him.

Storm blue-grey eyes clouded in instinct. 'NOT AGAIN!' He had made a promise to himself to protect her ever since he was reunited with her earlier on in this dreadful war. He intended to keep that promise. Before he could be stalled Obi-Wan's left arm was extended and the Force swirled around him as he sent a devastating push towards the Sith Lord and his brother, sending them hurling into the wall, a sickening crack reverberating through the wide throne room. Satine fell to the floor in a gasping heap, her hand clutching at her throat and massaging the fresh wound softly. But at least she was still alive.

For now.

Obi-Wan rose quickly, only to receive a sharp blow to the back of the head. Black spots hastily invaded his vision as he fell to one knee, however he shook his head and hurriedly cleared the foggy haze that began clouding his mind before swirling around on his feet and throwing his fist into the side of the Mandalorians helmet, knocking him off balance before sweeping at his legs, successfully avoiding the punch the second guard threw at him and tripping the first guard over where he landed hard on his back and smacked his head off of the ground, leaving him lay there unconscious.

Obi-Wan jabbed an armoured elbow at the second guards helmet, square in the face, stunning the man in shock before the Jedi hammered his other fist into his stomach, effectively winding him and causing him to double over in pain and lack of air. Obi-Wan finished the final blow by swiftly kneeing him again in the helmet before the face, denting the armoured garment and knocking the man back where he lay unmoving.

Without thinking, just acting on primal instinct, the Jedi Master dashed over next to Satine's shaken form and scooped her up in his strong arms, right arm hooked beneath her legs and left supporting her back as her head lolled onto his chest. Obi-Wan was filled with relief as he vanished from the throne room a second later, though intense fear clawed away at his insides, fear that the two brothers would be right behind them. He thundered through the halls towards the cell room, which he would have to pass to exit the palace, where he quickly skidded to a halt in front of Bo-Katan and her men.

"How is she?" the free-lance Death Watch member asked, nothing but authority lacing her tone.

"She's having difficulty breathing after Maul tortured her in front of me by choking her. I need to get her to a ship and supply her with oxygen or she won't last." The urgency and panic inside of him was braking through his already broken tone of voice.

Bo-Katan nodded curtly before leading the front of her group of renegade Death Watch and the Jedi with the Duchess as they entered the fray of Maul's thugs fighting amongst whatever was left of Bo's forces.

"Protect the Jedi and Duchess!" Bo yelled as her forces swarmed around Obi-Wan and the unconscious Satine, covering them from the blasterfire being forced upon them like a rain storm.

Obi-Wan's blood boiled to reach for his lightsaber and help Bo's forces fight, but he was unprepared to let Satine leave his side for a second time during this dark day. Bo's men circled around the two like a hungry predator stalking its prey, never leaving their side for one moment, as Bo-Katan led them to a remaining shuttle. She hastily turned her back to the Jedi and Duchess as Obi-Wan climbed the ramp of the ship and began to return fire with a phenomenal resilience.

"Tell your Republic what has happened here!" She yelled over the fire fight.

Obi-Wan's face contorted with confusion. "But that will likely lead to a Republic invasion of Mandalore."

"Yes," Bo replied sharply, not tearing her eyes away from battle as she quickly leant away and dodged a stray blaster bolt to her head. "And Maul will die; but Mandalore will survive. We always survive! Now go!"

Obi-Wan gazed at the young woman for a few seconds. Her fighting spirit was remarkable. As remarkable as the woman he held in his arms. They shared the same fighting spirit for what they believed in, despite that being two separate things.

"You're Satine's sister, aren't you?" Obi-Wan stated in realisation.

Bo's face softened for a moment, though she remained with her back to him. The Jedi was not going to see her resolve crack, even for one tiny moment. So she sealed her lips shut and drew them into a thin line.

"Thank you," Obi-Wan continued sincerely before jogging into the ship and swiftly depositing Satine upon the bed in the medical bay and connecting her to an oxygen tank, placing the mask over her mouth and nose. His chest deflated from the tight coil of worry that was wrapped around it in joy and relief as he blinked away tears of happiness. He subconsciously drew his hand across the side of her face, brushing a few dusty blonde locks away from her eyes before running to the cockpit and strapping himself into the pilot's seat, closing the ramp and taking off.

Once reaching the vacuum of space, Obi-Wan punched in the coordinates to Coruscant before leaning back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest and allowing his mind to wander over the recent events that had transpired as his storm gaze focused sternly on the blue vortex swirling around before him.

'What if I hadn't of responded to the moment when I did? Satine would be dead now.' The Jedi shook his head solemnly. 'It was a trap. And Satine was the bait. I never should have come.' He subconsciously clenched his fist tightly, knuckles turning bone white under the glove he wore as he was haunted by the aggreived look in her eyes back in the throne room.

Little did Kenobi know that just as he had sent the ship into hyperspace, Darth Sidious had sensed a disturbance in the Force, the signature of his former apprentice, and had just arrived on Mandalore to deal with his monstrous and mindless brother, Savage, and make use of Maul.

After what felt like hours but must have only been half an hour in hyperspace Obi-Wan finally unbuckled himself from the pilot's seat and quietly made his way to the med bay, his heart in his throat. Turning the corner Obi-Wan set his stormy eyes on Satine's prone form, his body weight resting on his right leg as his arm leant against the door frame.

He watched as her eyes flickered, her mind attempting to resurface from the fogginess of being unconscious.

He decided to talk to her; it would be easier to address her when she was in this state, though it didn't untie the knots of nervousness in his stomach.

With a sigh, he began softly, "Satine. I'm sorry for putting you in such a dangerous situation. I know that this similar chain of events has happened to us before… but never have you come so close to death… Never have I come so close to losing you."

Now he was perched on the edge of the bed gazing down at her in adoration. Even though her eyes were sad for him at what they both assumed was her fate when Maul began choking the life out of her he still marvelled at her silent, peaceful strength. How she survived the choke for so long was not only Maul's doing in emotionally torturing Obi-Wan, but also her stubbornness; so much like his.

"I should have realised that it was a trap. Maul wanted events to transpire this way, just not to me escaping with you. If I hadn't of come you wouldn't have been so close to death at his hands." He couldn't help but spit any reference to Maul out of his mouth like poison.

Shuffling his calloused and larger hand under her petite and smooth one he gently lifted the limp hand from the bed and squeezed gently, and slid his eyes shut, missing the beautiful and gratifying image of her own moon-like cerulean eyes sliding open themselves. However, he registered the slight gentle pressure of her hand squeezing his own back gently and his eyes snapped open instantly, instinct to check on the woman he cared for most in his life was okay, his free hand grasping her shoulder in a soft, comforting grip.

His heart beat erratically increased, pounding violently against his ribcage as she took off her oxygen mask, much to his dismay for he wished that she had kept i ton for both of their sakes, and listened to her words.

"How do you know things wouldn't have occurred similarly had you not come to my aid, General Kenobi?"

Eyes sparkling he could only stare at her in stunned silence, unable to retrieve his voice. She was right; how would things have been different. Had he not come Maul would have tortured her slowly with the Death Watch until she finally perished. But even through his rescue she had come close.

So close.

Satine moved to sit up, but it was Obi-Wan who was the resisting force that pushed gently back on her shoulder, urging her to lay down. In protest and a creased brow she retaliated and wriggled her way out of his firm yet gentle grasp before sitting up. It slowly shattered his heart seeing the strain on her face of the excursion from the simple act of sitting up was placing on her.

But he knew that any other attempts he made to stop her would be futile.

Tearing his eyes away from her he stared hard at her hand lying on the mattress, mulling over how warm the flesh of her hand was against his own. That thought was comforting; much more than the alternative of feeling nothing but an icy chill. Her shook his head, clearing his mind of such a painful thought and swiftly removed himself from the bed, standing, gazing around at anything but her to banish the terrible thought of what could have been had he failed, and let himself collapse to the floor, his back resting firmly against the wall.

Satine looked down at the man she had loved through all these years. After the recent events he looked so haggard; more haggard than he had ever looked since the Clone Wars ravaged the galaxy. She sensed the vulnerability coming from him in waves, not that she was Force-sensitive. She could just visually see that he looked vulnerable. His legs propped in front of him, elbows resting on his knees as his forearms hung limply before him, and his head bowed, stray auburn locks falling over his eyes like a curtain.

His voice was a mere broken whisper. "Still, I shouldn't have come. I was being reckless. And look at how my behaviour effected my actions."

Grunting in both excursion and aggravation, Satine slipped off of the bed and knelt down in front of him. Her now cold eyes and voice forced him to look at her intensely. "I thought you Jedi did not reflect on the 'what if' and 'how', but accepted that the way events transpired was through none other but the Force's will. Much to our dismay have you considered that perhaps the Force's will was to be rid of me?"

Obi-Wan winced at her sharp tone, not bearing to think that the Force would do such a cruel thing to him; though it had done it to him many times before. He had lost loved ones – a father, a once lover and best friend, and a young girl whom he had developed feelings for when he fought for the Young on Melida/Daan.

"I wouldn't dare consider it!" Obi-Wan growled through clenched teeth, not bothering to cloak his agitation and vulnerability as much as his Jedi training demanded that he release these feelings into the Force. He had released his hate of Maul at the prospect of nearly taking another one he loved before him. He just couldn't seem to banish his agitation and worry.

He brought his eyes up to meet hers and find that the icy coldness that had steeled over her cerulean orbs had now melted away, revealing her ever peaceful, warm and lovingly tender gaze towards him, and his throat closed at the sight. He drew his own eyes to her creamy throat where he eyed the purple and black bruises that had formed there.

Raising a near trembling hand he pointed. "He – I did this to you."

Satine shook her head in denial.

"He did this to you because of me."

Satine inwardly sighed. No matter how much she would try to tell him otherwise, Obi-Wan wold be ever convinced that this was specifically his fault. She knew that she had herself to blame as much. Why hadn't she sent her message to the Senate rather than to him? Things may not have happened as they did otherwise.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, you stubborn Gundark, that thing did this to me! Your hand was not the one in the air choking the life out of me!"

Her breath hitched when she felt his rough, calloused fingers on her neck, gingerly tracing each splotch on her throat and adding pressure to them slightly. She couldn't help but wince and hiss in discomfort at the small volts of pain that ran through her from his tender actions.

He seemed to notice this and he pulled away slowly, his eyes flashing briefly, as if he wanted to touch her again. Feel that she was actually here, and not just see and hear her.

"Satine, if you'll let me, I can try to heal that for you."

As if she would say no. It hurt to swallow and it hurt to talk! She nodded mutely, giving him the go ahead.

Slowly, he once again placed his fingers on each splotch before closing his eyes.

"You may feel a tingling sensation in a few moments," his voice caressed her weary emotions as she settled herself down.

Sure enough a tingling did overcome her and she instinctively went to move away only to feel Obi-Wan's hand slide slowly from her neck and gently grip her bicep. "Don't worry," he whispered softly.

After a few long and silent moments which were only seconds he reopened his eyes and stared at the duchess before him. Satine felt the tingling sensation vanish as she opened her own eyes to stare back in his. She saw his worry dissipate into relief and she herself felt a great weight lifted off of her chest.

"Better?" Obi-Wan cocked his head to the side.

"Much better," she croaked, finding her throat new and no longer raw as she began adjusting to the revitalising feeling and no more pain or discomfort.

A smile touched the Jedi's lips as he nodded in satisfaction. He did not move to drop his hands from her neck, just under her jawline. "I'm glad."

They continued to gaze at each other endlessly. Time had stopped around them. There was nothing. No war, death, destruction or time. It was just them.

Soon Satine felt her face gently being drawn towards his own, hesitantly. This was it. He was about to do something that he had never considered ever doing before, not even when he had protected her as a padawan learner. She allowed her eyes to slide shut as she felt his breath on hers.

However the expected pressure of his warm and soft tender lips on hers never arrived, much to her dismay. She only felt his breath caressing her face. She slowly opened her eyes, careful not to expose her disappointment, as she searched his own troubled eyes.

It took all of her will not to express her disappointment to him as he gave her a conflicted look.

Running his thumb over her jawline, causing her to shiver involuntarily from the intimate move, Obi-Wan spoke softly.

"I need you to come to Coruscant with me where you'll be safe."

Satine's brow furrowed. "I can't just leave my people to suffer alone! They need me!"

"I was afraid you'd say that," the Jedi sighed, touching his forehead to hers. "Your sister, Bo-Katan, is handling things. She told me to tell our Republic what has happened there."

The clogs in Satine's mind rotated until the answer pieced its self together. "But that would mean-"

"A Republic invasion of Mandalore."

Satine pulled back sharply, out of his warm and comforting embrace, and suddenly she felt cold. "I wanted nothing to do with all of this!"

"Like I once told you; perhaps the best defence can be a swift and decisive offence."

"Don't lecture me, Kenobi!" Satine snapped fervently, eyes blazing.

Obi-Wan's eyes flashed, not with anger, but pain. "That's not my intent, Satine." The man wasn't even angry with her. Her near death experience really had shaken him to his core that he didn't even have the emotional energy to argue with her. "But to help your sister and your people a Republic invasion is necessary."

He knew she had a sister?

"How did you-"she began quietly.

"It wasn't difficult to piece together," Obi-Wan smirked. "You both share the same remarkable strength, though hers is much more violent and outspoken whilst yours is peaceful and reserved."

The silence hung between the two of them awkwardly as he awaited her response.

"You want me to leave my people and stay on Coruscant?"

"Until the Jedi Council can find a way to persuade the Senate to help your people. You'll be safe in the capital until we manage to win the case. The Jedi Council cannot ignore Mandalore now after what has transpired. Despite there no longer being Separatist influence, the Jedi will not pass up the opportunity to rid Maul's dark mark and destructive wake from the galaxy."

Satine looked down at the floor away from him, her right hand subconsciously raising to her opposite arm and gently rubbing her forearm.

"Please trust me," Obi-Wan pleaded. If she had looked at him sooner she would have seen the desperation in his blue-grey eyes.

As she looked back towards him, loose strands of her dusty golden locks brushing across her face, she told him that she would comply and stay on Coruscant under his protection until she could return to her people and rebuild Mandalore.

The relief on Obi-Wan's weary face lit up the entire med bay they were both in as he took her shoulders in his firm hands. "I promise you that the Jedi will help you rebuild Mandalore to the best of our ability while we continue to fight for peace in the galaxy."

She didn't reply. Instead the duchess crawled to the wall to sit beside Kenobi as she took his hand in hers and laid her head on his shoulder. She felt his body relax under her comforting touch before they both closed their eyes and allowed their breathing to deepen as oblivion claimed them.

Obi-Wan's last thoughts before he fell into his sub consciousness about facing the rest of the council and then pleading a case to the Senate could wait. He would deal with these problems when he faced them head on. For now he just needed sleep, finding it much easier to claim knowing that the woman he loved and had saved was here with him, living and breathing softly beside him.

Any good? Wanna see it continued? :)