Chapter Six
Obi-Wan's POV
Dooku would soon become problem. He was recovering his ability to use his hands and we couldn't keep him here forever. He would eventually have to go on trial, but the new Chancellor would have to be chosen first.
It was becoming a problem to assign guards to him. Many Jedi felt he should be kept in a detention cell, with force-inhibitors and binders and all other sorts of security measures.
He was brought up one day at the council meeting, and I began to worry as the conversation shifted towards locking Dooku up. Dangerous as he was, my link with him clearly told me that he was no threat. He could have escaped many times over the last four days, but he had chosen not to, and even to put up with the rudeness of Jedi who should know better.
"I'll watch him," I offered, earning the surprised looks of every Jedi in the room. There still weren't many, and although we hadn't confirmed any deaths yet, I had begun to fear the worst for many of them.
"All day and every night?" Mace asked, sounding a little dubious.
"And when in meetings, you are?" Yoda asked.
"He can wait outside," I said firmly, "Masters, I told you about the memories he transmitted to me to verify the story. It's opened up a link between us. I can tell exactly what he's thinking, and he's never shielded himself from me."
Looks were exchanged with their usual mixture of agreement and doubt. I knew before I had spoken who would agree with my reasoning and who would doubt the sanity of my offer. I didn't care. For a moment, I felt like I truly understood why my former mentor would sometimes take great risks to voice his opinions in the Council. Sometimes, they needed some shaking.
"And if he shields himself for a single moment, or thinks something questionable, I'll get help and agree to move him to a cell." I added, trying to win at least Yoda and Mace over. Their voices had the biggest weight, and I knew at least Yoda seemed to be willing to try it.
"Why would you make this offer, Master Kenobi?" Kit Fisto asked, seeming genuinely curious.
"Dooku will spend enough time in a cell when the senate starts his trial, he may as well have an opportunity to have some freedom now," I explained.
"That may be true, but he may be dangerous," Saesee Tinn pointed out.
"I thought that was already apparent," Agen Kolar said.
"He was once a Jedi," I said, my voice commanding attention as I rallied for my last effort of winning the council over on this matter, "And he was taught the same principles of mercy and forgiveness that we all learned in our Padawan days. How can we tell younglings to reconcile their differences and show goodwill towards one another when we will not do the same? He has done nothing during his stay here to warrant our mistrust, and I don't think he will."
My former Master would be pleased, I thought, that I had actually given a speech that left the council speechless for several seconds.
But waiting for their response was torturous.
Dooku's POV
I was trying to catch the stone.
Twelve catches out of forty-odd tosses wasn't bad, and I always had the Force ready to catch it when I dropped it.
I was sitting on the edge of my bed, trying to ignore my guards. I tried one hand and then the other in order to test both. Just when I thought I might be getting it, it slipped through my fingers, which were too slow to grasp it as it descended towards the floor.
Before I grabbed it with the Force, it moved. I stared at it in confusion, and then looked up at the two Jedi, wondering if they were playing some cruel trick.
Obi-Wan was standing there, a smile on his lips. He put it where I could reach it and I grabbed it. It wasn't cruel coming from him.
"You two can go, I'm taking over," Obi-Wan told the two Jedi.
"Alone sir?" One of them asked
"Council's orders," Obi-Wan said, "Why don't you go for a swim? It's a hot day outside," He suggested.
I've never seen two Jedi happier to be released from their duties.
"Well, I have some good news," Obi-Wan said.
"Oh, please, I could use some," I said.
"The Council has agreed to release you from the Healers, but you have to stay with me," Mentally Obi-Wan added that I couldn't raise my shields to block my thoughts.
"I'll gladly cooperate," I said, nodding to him. "I'm very grateful."
"It's not a problem. I'm used looking after Anakin, so I could use someone to keep an eye on," he teased.
I could take it from him. He reminded me so much of Qui-Gon that it almost hurt. I realized that I actually was looking forward to being in Obi-Wan's company. I would enjoy it while I could, since I was sure to face a trial once the senate had recovered from Palpatine's betrayal.
"Well, we might as well go to my quarters and get you settled in there. Then maybe we could take a walk," Obi-Wan said.
"Lead on Kenobi," I said. I followed behind him, but after we left the healers wing, we fell into step side-by-side. I could ignore the looks from the Jedi we passed as Obi-Wan drew me into a conversation. Somehow it led to him telling a story about Anakin.
Which led to the topic of Padawan's.
Which inevitably led to the topic of Qui-Gon.
"Of course, Qui-Gon always thought that I would never learn how to stay organized, but after I had mentored Anakin for about a month, I began to be just as picky as my mentor," Obi-Wan said.
"So no clothes in the sink and datapads at the bottom of your drawers?" I asked.
"He didn't!" Obi-Wan exclaimed with shock.
"Oh you'd be surprised," I said, smiling as I told about the state Qui-Gon's room when he was my Padawan.
Anakin's POV
Padme had eventually drifted to sleep, but I didn't mind. She woke up about thirty minutes after falling asleep and smiled up at me.
"Sorry Anakin," She murmured as she stirred back awake, looking at me as I held a hand to her cheek.
"It's alright. You have no idea how many times I've wished to have you close while I was away," Anakin said.
"I missed you too," Padme whispered.
She got up and went into her bedroom. I followed, but stayed in the doorway. She changed into her nightgown and put her hair down. I came up behind her and put my arm around her.
"Ani I think I should have the baby back on Naboo – in the lake country," Padme said.
"I want to be there," I said, laying my head on her shoulder.
"Anakin you have your Jedi duties," Padme said with a small laugh.
"I don't care. I want to be with you, I want to be with the baby."
Padme was silent for a moment, and then she turned to face me, looking up at me with eyes that spoke her conflicting emotions.
"Anakin, I…" Padme sighed, "I just want you to be happy."
"I am happy. Right here, in your arms," I said, holding her cheeks and pressing my lips to her forehead.
She reached up and covered my hand, looking at me kindly.
"It's your decision Anakin, but I want you to think about it, once you leave the Jedi, you can't go back," She said.
"And once I miss my child's first word, first steps, first birthday, I'll never get those back," I point out.
"You really are taking this seriously," Padme said, smiling at me.
"I didn't have a father. I always wondered why. Was I not good enough? I don't want to cause my child to go through that hurt," I said, my memories returning to my mother. I remembered the night I found her, and she had died in my arms. And how afterwards I had killed all the sand people.
I gently clasped Padme's wrist and turned away, my guilt and shame returning.
"Anakin?" She called my name inquiringly, "Are you alright?"
"I just wish my mother…" I choked on the tears I'd been withholding and Padme touched my shoulder gently.
"Oh Ani, I'm so sorry," She whispered. She grabbed my hand, and pulled me towards the bed. I sat down with a sigh and she climbed in behind me, her hands massaging my neck and shoulders. I moaned as she kneading my right shoulder, where it was still sore from being tossed against a wall when I was fighting Count Dooku.
"Relax…" Padme whispered, and I found myself unable to argue, as her caresses grew more and more soothing.
Soon, not even a pack of malia could have made us separate.
