Chapter 9

Coruscant 21 BBY

(Evening)

"Artier!" Lubov shouted. "Where are you?"

Lubov felt her anxiety rose high as her stomach rose to the heights of her throat. She felt like she was going to be sick. It was a horrible feeling of both heartburn and panic. She had no idea where Artier had gone and now she could not find her way out of the apartment. She was completely lost and having a panic attack in the middle of it.

As she made her way around the fifth or so hallway she had visited she was beginning to think, and really rather hope, that she had fallen asleep and that this was not really his apartment she was lost in. Her panic was just made worse when she was able to hear Artier call back to her and could not locate his voice. She felt herself becoming small compared to the walls around her, just waiting for them to close around her and be consumed.

Lubov made her way up a stair case silently hoping that this was the way to the kitchen where she knew how to get back from there. If not wherever she would end up would just be another sad location on her trek in Artier's apartment.

When the door was cracked open she found a dark room, this was not the kitchen, and whatever room this was she was not going to go exploring. Her emotions were mixed up enough and now here was a room that could lead her to herself going into shock.

"Artier!" She shouted once more.

All she had done was getting up from editing the footage they had taken earlier to head to the fresher and now here she was in hell knows where? The last time she had been here all she had done was angrily stomp out of the house, and now here she was completely lost and anything but angry.

Her emotions ranged from sadness to just straight out anxiety, praying, waiting to find the way out of this place. She had no idea this place was so big… was this even the same apartment? The one she had been in before had been so much smaller. Perhaps she was dreaming? Otherwise none of this would make sense in the first place.

All she had to do was keep going and eventually she would wake up. Maybe it was just her guilt for letting herself film the innocent senator and her Jedi lover together? No, a true journalist does not hold guilt; they get the story and get out as soon as possible. Besides that she was going to be famous, why did she have to feel guilt for her own success?

Lubov managed to find herself at an intersection. "Artier?"

"Lubov!" He called back from what appeared to be coming from the left.

She did not bother to think through, she just ran as fast as she could following his voice and praying silently that she would get herself out of this kriffing apartment complex. Where the hell had he gotten this place in the first place? No, this is a dream. She told herself over and over again. There was no way in the galaxy that Coruscant had luxury apartments the size of mansions.

As soon as she spotted a male figure up ahead she practically flew across the floor and into the arms of the stranger.

She felt herself loosen her hold on reality for a split second as she looked around the apartment to find herself on the floor of Artier's apartment. Artier running towards her as she collapsed to the ground. She was back where she was supposed to be, in Artier's rather small apartment quarters, laying there just staring at the ceiling with a small on her face.

"Lubov can you hear me?" Artier asked as he managed to get her back into her chair.

Lubov just smiled and laughed slightly. Why did he care? Was he after something? Was he after sex again because she was not going to give it to him this time? No matter if he had just saved her from wherever she was. He was not going to get anything out of her… no way in hell.

"Lubov?" Artier asked in general concern. "I leave for ten seconds and come to find you passed out on the floor. What is wrong?"

"You know what's wrong." She giggled slightly. "You were the one who got me lost in your apartment and had me shouting until I finally managed to find you. Why did you leave me there?"

Artier said nothing and just took her hand and led her out of the apartment. He had to get her to medical care for whatever was wrong with her. Hopefully it was nothing more than not eating for several hours, or perhaps she was going through the guilt of letting out the footage in the morning? It did not matter for now; he needed to get her to a hospital before she passed out again.

By the time Artier had managed to get Lubov to the hospital she was already back to her dream world where she got herself lost in the maze that was, or what she believed to be was, Artier's apartment. She could see nothing other than the doors and the lights of the hospital emergency room as Artier and a team of nurses and doctors attended to her, bringing her into a room where she was studied further.

(Early morning)

"She passed out when we were in my apartment." Artier explained to the human nurse. "I am quite fearful for her, she had been acting strange since yesterday morning."

The nurse sighed and looked at her documents. The young woman was going to be fine, she could see that by all of the test results that she had gotten back. This woman was just under stress and would need to take anxiety medication for the next few months before they reviewed her further. They had gone through all the necessary procedures to determine that she was just under stress and that this medication would be the best thing for her.

"She will be fine," The nurse said to the girl's boyfriend? "She just needs to be looked after for a little while. And please make sure you have her take her medication."

"I will." He stated with little hesitation.

The nurse led Artier into Lubov's hospital room where they found her sleeping, relaxed by the many anti-anxiety drugs going through her system. She was going to be fine, at least he could say that to himself.

"How long do you think she will be asleep?" Artier asked as he sat down beside of her bed.

"Within the next hour or two." The nurse said leaving the two alone for sometime.

She had more important things to deal with rather than a worried boyfriend fretting over his girlfriend's anxiety. It was completely normal for a woman to go through periods of anxiety. Passing out maybe not, but it was still normal for a woman of her condition to be anxious, no matter how early along she is. This boy just needed to learn how to deal with her for the time being.

Lubov awoke an hour later with the dim lights above her slowly becoming brighter. She was in the hospital; that was all she could recall from the previous night. The most she could remember was passing out and Artier taking her to the hospital more than likely afterwards.

"Oh thank goodness, you are awake." Artier muttered.

He felt her forehead and then wrapped his arms awkwardly around her. Lubov felt herself tense, why was he still here? She could understand him staying for a little while longer just to be sure she was okay, but why was he here? He knew she was fine and he could leave. He did not have to make it anymore awkward than it already was.

Where was her family? Had they not been notified that she was in the hospital? Where was Tala? Why was it that Artier the only person who was here?

"I was beginning to think you were going to be asleep forever." Artier said kissing her cheek shortly after.

"Why are you touching me?" Lubov asked with a disgusted look on her face.

"Because you've scared the shit out of me and I deserve to know you are all right." Artier said in a more serious tone than she would have expected out of him. "Never do that to me again please."

"I won't." She stated looking over the room for a clock. "What time is it?"

"It doesn't matter," Artier said. "What does matter is that you are all right and that everything goes okay."

Lubov did not reply to this, simply obeyed and put her head back down onto the pillow. Feeling the soft comfort of an inanimate object that could do nothing for her to fear.

"I love you Lubov," Artier stated with a smile, while putting his hand over hers. "I promise to protect you with my life."

Lubov looked down at her hand, the thought of him loving her disgusted her to say the least. She had nearly vomited when they made love nearly two weeks ago and she had found out. She did not want to do anything with Artier other than be his friend. The thought of them doing anything besides just talking and laughing together brought these horrible feelings into her stomach; as if she were going to throw up everywhere if this feeling did not go away from her.

She turned to Artier and just faked a smile. She was not going to tell him anything until she well again. She did not want to waste energy on telling him the truth when lying saved them both time and energy.

"I take that as 'I love you, too'." Artier said placing a kiss to her forehead.

She felt herself desire to slap him and never have him touch her again but she wanted to him to be around. He was her friend. She did not want to lose him just because she did not love him in a romantic sort of way. She loved Artier, but she was unwilling to explain to him her love for him. Her love was different, and if he was going to understand it was going to be a long couple of weeks.

(Morning)

"Now here are your medications." The doctor said to Lubov as she was prepped to leave the hospital. "I have here an anti-anxiety drug that is perfectly safe to take under your conditions. And here are some vitamins that I suggest you begin taking."

The doctor gave her the list of medications. Lubov took the list from his hands and put it into her pocket without bothering to look at it, she was going to take the medication anyway, it did not matter the name of the drug did it?

"Thank you," Lubov said at last as the doctor got up to leave her alone with Artier once more.

"Your welcome my dear," He said with a smile. "I will get the droids on your discharge papers."

Lubov smiled back as he left the room. He was a nice old, human, man. He was not going to bother her with any unnecessary questions and above all she did not have to hear him tell her that she was doing too much. She already knew what her faults were, why should anyone tell her?

"I am glad we are able to get you home so early." Artier said at last sitting beside of Lubov on the examination table. "At first I thought you would have to stay in here for the next two or so weeks."

"Thank goodness," She agreed. "We need to get back to work as soon as possible."

Artier frowned suddenly.

"Lubov we do not have to go back to work," Artier stated reaching out for her hand only for her to pull it away. "I think it is for the best that you rest for a few days then go back to work. We have plenty of time before we can release the article. Besides that, I assure you I can afford to give you the money you need while you are recovering."

"You are not my father Artier!" Lubov stated sharply. "I do not want, nor do I need you money. Please understand that though you may love me, truly love me. I do not share those feelings."

Artier seemed heartbroken at her words. He did not say anything, the only thoughts on his mind were of Lubov. Lubov had been one of the few friends he had had in so long and now here he was having to leave her after only such a short time all because he let his feelings get in the way. She never going to love him the way he loved her, their relationship started weeks ago and now here it ended with himself retreating back to his grandfather's restaurant like a little kid.

Lubov was left alone in her hospital room putting on her shoes when the doctor came back in. He gave her the discharge papers in which she had to sign. The paper just said that she was here because of stress and that now she was fine and healthy. And now here she was ready to go back to her apartment and get her work done... She left her things at Artier's apartment. How was she supposed to go back and get those things when here she was trying to avoid the very person she had just so blandly hurt.

How was she supposed to go to his apartment without causing more heartbreak?

The doctor turned to Lubov somehow sensing her discomfort and anxiety. He put his hand on her left shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry things will get better I promise you."

"Thank you," Lubov stated with a shy smile. "I just wish that it were true."

"It will come true," The doctor said with a wide smile. "He will come back for you I assure you. What father abandons the mother of their child so easily?"

No, that can't be true! Please oh God do not let that be true! Lubov thought panicked and feeling her stomach contents begin to rise.

"What?" Lubov asked looking suddenly at the ceiling.

The light of the ceiling meshed into beautiful colors of white and gray as her world once again faded to black.

May the Fourth be with you. :D

Review and stuff. Hopefully will get another chapter up before final exams. My teachers think it is a good job to load you down with research projects towards the end of the year so you stay sleep deprived. I swear... anyway, bye! :)