CHAPTER 2

Anakin had not waken up yet.

Obi-wan couldn't stop thinking how it happened, how he passed out. If only he could have predicted it, if only he had seen the signs!

It started out as a very normal day.

Obi-wan entered the code to their apartment and dropped everything that had to do with papers and grades and essays on the couch. He had never thought that helping master Nu with her classes would be so difficult. All he ever wanted right now was to have a refreshing shower, but as he was going to open the door, he bumped into Anakin, his hair wet, wearing his bathrobe.

"Oops, sorry, master! I didn't see you" the little boy said.

"How come you are here? I thought you would be in the Dining Halls", Obi-wan asked surprised.

Not only did he not expect him in their apartment, but he could never imagine him taking a shower without being made to. Obi-wan would have to pressure him and yell at him to get him to wash his hands, let alone his whole body and hair! It was pleasant that he finally had begun to take a shower out of his free will, without fights or bargaining or threat for punishment.

"I was, but I... I finished early" Anakin responded, not with the greatest of energy.

"All the better. We can go earlier for lightsaber training then".

"Well, actually... I don't know, I feel a little bit tired today for combat. Can we just meditate?"

Anakin choosing meditation over lightsaber training. Okay, something definitely was off. Normally, Obi-wan should be happy to hear him wanting to meditate, but right now it felt so weird coming out of his mouth.

"Anakin, you were feeling tired yesterday too and we skipped lightsaber training. We can't do this every day. It's been quite a while since we practiced your fight skills, you must not get rusty".

"Fine, I'll go dress up and I'm coming" he said notably reluctant.

Training remotes suddenly seemed too dangerous when Anakin was trying to deflect their shots.

It seemed his thoughts were dwelling on something terribly far from their surroundings. His hits were inaccurate, the way he held his lightsaber ever so unstable and his reflects way too slow. Sure, Anakin was still a beginner, but he had done so much better than that.

"Is there a problem?" the Jedi inquired, only to receive a lifeless "no" for an answer. "I thought we were doing quite a progress, what happened?"

"I don't know. I try, I really do! I'll try to be better now" he promised and ignited his lightsaber again.

The results however were not that different from the previous time. A shot hit his shoulder and for some moments he was just moving his lightsaber nervously in all possible directions.

"Anakin!" his master interrupted him. "Look at me for a moment".

The boy took of his helmet, but his eyes, afraid perhaps, were not raised to face his master's.

"I can't understand what has gotten into you, we have done this dozens of times! I have specifically pointed out that the lightsaber must be steady in your hands. It's not a toy! You can't just swing it around, hoping it might luckily reflect a shot!" his tone was raise. "Now, where have I told you to place your fingers?"

The boy did not respond, an awful expression all over his face, his gaze still fixed at the floor.

Obi-wan took a huge breath. That was not the proper way to get Anakin to listen to him. Oh, what did he know about children and padawans! If only master Jinn was here… He would be more patient. Obi-wan continued talking, now far more calmly and softly:

"My boy, I'm not scolding you. It's all right if you want to take your time, I just want you to concentrate and remember-"

And then all of a sudden Anakin collapsed to the floor, leaving the Jedi frozen and in a state of complete shock.

"Anakin? Anakin?" he kneeled next to his unconscious small body, grabbing him from his shoulders and shaking him.

He opened his eyes, but just for one second and then he passed out again, his master yelling his name in agony and his face turning red.

"Get up! Can you hear me? Anakin?" he kept trying to wake him up, brimmed with worry, until he realized his efforts were in vain. He needed help. He carried the boy and swiftly headed for the Healing Halls.

It seemed to him like the Halls of Healing were galaxies away! He kept running, panting, his heart beating like crazy…

When he arrived, the Jedi Master Healer was already there expecting him, as if he had sensed he was coming.

He immediately placed Anakin in a bed and acted quickly.

It wasn't long before the Healer came to Obi-wan and informed of his padawan's state.

"Young Skywalker is fine for the time being. Still unconscious, but in a stable condition".

"Thank you, master, but what is wrong with him?" he inquired, trying not to seem as worried as he was.

"It appears the boy hasn't eaten for days. That's why he passed out".

"What? Are you sure?" the surprised Jedi asked.

"That's what the exams showed. For now he is fed through his veins, but once he wakes up he has to start eating normally".

"Of course, I'll see to that" Obi-wan replied and thanked him, before entering Anakin's room utterly troubled.

All that mattered now was that he was okay. As for the fact that he hadn't eaten, they would discuss it once he was conscious again. Soon, he hoped.

Waiting in the Healing Halls for his padawan to wake up was certainly not what Obi-wan had planned for the day.