"The Council will assign you a new Master today, Padawan."

Anakin looked furiously down at him. "I don't want a new Master. You can still train me."

Seeing as Obi-Wan was lying on the sterile bed of the Healers Ward, a thin sheet covering his still torn and mutilated legs, the answer was more than apparent. Obi-Wan would be lucky if he could walk again. His legs had been clearly brutalized. Obi-Wan might never walk again, not in the condition his legs were in. The Healers has been whispering about shattered bones and twisted muscles, beyond the repair of bacta. Either they would heal enough to allow for mental prosthetics to be inserted in his legs, or they would not, and he would never walk again. Even in the most optimistic outlook, he was facing months of physical therapy. Training Anakin would be out of the question. "Anakin, you know I will be unable to finish your training like this."

"They'll heal, won't they?"

Obi-Wan smiled sadly. He sometimes forgot how young Anakin was. Some days he acted well beyond his twelve years, but other times, his childlike naivety showed through.

"We will see. In any case, I may be here for awhile longer and you must continue your training."

"But – "

"That is an order, Padawan. You are to meet the Council and they will decide who is to continue your training."

"Yes, Master."

"I did not ask for this," Obi-Wan said quietly. "But this is what will be best for you."

"No one asked me for my opinion," Anakin said sullenly. "I know what's best for me."

"You are too young to know that."

"I am not! You just don't want me, do you? You want to get rid of me!"

"That isn't true."

"You could keep me as your Padawan."

"You know I cannot do that."

"Are you going to take another Padawan? You won't be stuck with me anymore, you can pick someone you want."

"Anakin, I – I might take another Padawan in the future. That does not mean I never wanted you."

"You didn't want me. Only Qui-Gon wanted me. He wouldn't give me away! You hate me! You've always hated me! Maybe my new Master will like me better!"

Before Obi-Wan could say anything, Anakin had already stormed out. Obi-Wan stayed trapped in his bed. Even if his legs had been healed, he wasn't sure he would have chased after Anakin. While he hated to see Anakin upset like this, at least he might be more open to the idea of having a new Master. Besides, there was nothing else he could say. He could apologize, but both he and Anakin would have recognized it as a lie. It was the right decision to give up his training. When Master Yoda had come to discuss it with him, Obi-Wan had not hesitated to agree. Anakin deserved more than a crippled, incompetent Master.

To his surprise, Anakin came marching back into the Healer's Ward. His anger had not diminished any.

"You broke our bond."

"Bonds are only for Master and Padawan teams." It has been a horrible feeling. His bond with Qui-Gon had been ripped away from him at his Master's death. His bond with Anakin had replaced an empty gap. It had become a part of him, having Anakin in his mind, being able to sense where he was, or listen to the constant humming of his overactive emotions. It was strange, having his mind be so empty, void of anyone but himself.

"I don't like it."

"You will form a new one."

"I don't want to."

"Shouldn't you be with your new Master?"

"No."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, I expect you will show them respect."

"They haven't earned it," Anakin said reproachfully.

"That isn't true. I am sure you were assigned to one of the best Masters."

Anakin's eyes lit up. "He is the best."

Obi-Wan hated himself for wanting to so desperately know who was going to be training Anakin. Any Master would be better than him at this point, but it still hurt to know he was going to lose Anakin because he was no longer up to it. It shouldn't hurt him like this, but it did. Qui-Gon had only wanted him to train Anakin and he would not be fulfilling that simple request. Three years and he had failed already. Would he be able to take another Padawan? Would any Padawan want him for a Master?

"I am happy for you, Padawan."

"I thought you said I wasn't your Padawan."

"You are still a Padawan, even if you aren't mine."

"So I can still call you Master?"

"If you want."

"Okay." Anakin settled himself cautiously down on Obi-Wan's bed, being careful not to bump into his legs. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

Obi-Wan waved away the apology. "I understand. We both have changes to adjust to. It will not be easy, but the Force will guide us."

"Do you think this is the will of the Force?" He gestured to Obi-Wan's legs.

"Maybe. No one knows the ways of the Force. Not even Master Yoda."

"Master Yoda said it was the will of the Force that brought us together."

"Perhaps."

"He let me pick my new Master," Anakin added suddenly.

"That…that is a great honor. Very few Padawans are allowed to do so."

"You won't be mad?"

"Why would I be mad? I spoke to Master Yoda. He and I both agreed that I would no longer train you."

"I chose you."

"I – Anakin – we…you can't…"

"I asked. The Council said I could. They said it would be a learning experience."

Obi-Wan went silent. Anakin requested him. He had a chance for a new Master, possibly even a member of the Council, and he had turned that down.

"Do – do you not want to train me?"

"I am honored you wanted to remain my Padawan. But with my current condition…I think the Council was wrong in their decision. I may not be able to train you properly, not like this."

Anakin shrugged. "So it will take longer. I trust you. I like being your Padawan."

Obi-Wan felt Anakin's mind gently prodding at his own, the Force swirling around them, desperately trying to reform their broken bond. He reached out and the bond flared back to life. Anakin grinned and curled up by Obi-Wan side, his head resting on his stomach. Obi-Wan placed a hand on his back.

"I would never want to train anyone else."