Laymoscra- Evanesence

"What the hell happened Asajj? You were… you were somewhere else and I couldn't help you!" Shuri all but yelled. "There was nothing I could have said or done to help you thr-through, through whatever the hell you were going through!"

"Shuri… please… I don't… I didn't-"

The fairer haired woman looked up towards the ceiling before taking a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. The panic that had gripped her hadn't quite subsided yet. Finding her friend in the position she had, had been horrible. There were only two things she could do: wait for her 'spell' to pass or sedate her with the suppressants Obi Wan had given her for situations like these.

Asajj lay in her bed feeling a bit slow as the medicine Shuri had stabbed her with was in full effect.

"Just… Please… please don't mention it to Obi Wan. I don't… Just don't."

"What do you mean don't tell him?" Shuri's voice was both incredulous and irritated. "I have to! Don't you understand? This is beyond what I'm used to dealing with! You were ELECTTROCUTING yourself!" Ripping a hand through her hair, the fairer-haired woman began pacing nervously. "Look… this has something to do with your force abilities, and I don't know anything about that kinda stuff. It'd be stupid for me not to call him."

The woman in bed struggled to sit up, "Just… wait… Wait until we talk about it. I swear, this has never happened before! It- It was a surprise! I'd read one of the datapads and I couldn't believe… And suddenly I knew- It was an accident, Shuri! An accident."

"Why don't you want him here? If this has to do with your-"

"No! If he finds out about this, he is going to flip and do something annoyingly jedi-like! He can't be here all the time, Shuri. If someone got suspicious and decided to follow him what do you think they'll find?"

"Are you serious?"

"Very. Think of your family! Do you really want to risk your life for something that's only happened once and may never happen again?"

"That's not-"

"Do you?" She insisted fiercely. Slipping into a more empathetic tone, Ventress softened her countenance.

"Just think about it, okay… let's not make any rash decisions at the moment. Maybe after we've talked about it you can figure out if it's worth the risk. Besides, he'll back early because of the peace summit, right?"

Shuri was momentarily shocked.

"How did you know about that?"

The Republic's representatives and allies were gathering on Naboo for a week long summit to discuss strategy and aid dispersion for the planets and governments that were in need of assistance.

Asajj had remembered hearing about it when she had ventured into town that one time and told Shuri as much. Of course her 'overseers' didn't allow her use of the net or anything else that she could use to gather information. She continued in a calmer tone.

"Your girls deserve a mama and Obi Wan deserves to not have his Order turn on him… So let's give it a minute." The former acolyte may have been sedated, but she still knew how to steer people into seeing things her way.

Green eyes were narrowed in obvious disdain for the situation and the words that had been spoken, but Shuri nodded anyway realizing she was too worked up to make an objective decision.

"Laurna… Adella! Come say 'hi.'" She called out to her children needing a minute to think and compose herself.

Though her words had the desired effect, she was serious about what she had said. She was no masochist as what happened earlier had truly left her in a good amount of turmoil she was still trying to shake off. But despite all of that, she knew that whatever had happened had been a breakthrough.

Her jedi was simply too protective of her.

She pretended the blush that stained her cheeks was from the sudden attention cast upon her by Shuri's daughters and not by that last thought.

Meanwhile, the former military doctor debated whether or not send a holo-transmission.

Pain.

All he could register was pain as he laid there on steel floors drowning in his own blood. He could feel his vitality leaving him as whispers of darker things cradled his fragmented psyche.

Failure is fear is to be breeds leads to is unacceptable.Curling into himself, he clenched in silent agony as dark energy pulsed through his veins burning and searing all it came into contact with.

Eyes the color of cerulean faded into black. Laughter as free as the wind melted into screams. Whispers of 'I love you' gurgled into silence.I'll give you something to fight about.

A squirmish on the ground that ended with the eyes of another bearing down with malicious intent. Large hands were clamped around his wind pipe cutting off oxygen as smaller hands grasped wildly, fighting desperately for relief.

The emperor no longer requires your services.

His snapped back as the heat of a lightsaber pushed through his chest setting muscle ablaze. An agonizing fire ripped at his innards making him cry and scream. Clawing wildly at his chest, his eyes squeezed shut as his head snapped back, dizzy from all the pain.

Help me.

His fighting had been in vain as the younger girl lay dying in his arms gurgling her last breaths away. Tiny hands covered in red clung weakly to his own. Anguished eyes locked on the amused expression of the warlord whose eyes reflected the massacre around him.

You are no sith.

Sith feared nothing, and he was afraid of everything.

He desperately tried to shut out the voices but the pain was too had failed and failure would always result in pain.

Jerking awake, Obi Wan found himself gasping for breath as he sat up in bed. A light sheen of sweat rested on his skin as his muscles tingled from his imagined purgatory.

Blinking, he realized his panicked eyes were locked on the figure of Anakin Skywalker who was standing at the foot of his bed with obvious concern.

"Obi Wan," Anakin voiced, "Are you alright?"

This was the second time he'd been roused from sleep by Obi Wan since his return three days ago. Glancing around the Jedi Master's medium sized room, he noted duffle bags that looked to be halfway packed and other things strung about the usually tidy room.

The Jedi Master nodded as he swiped a hand across his face. "Yes… I'm fine," he assured breathlessly. "I hope I didn't wake you," he added.

Anakin stared at the man he thought of as a brother. Lately, he felt as if their duties and interests had pulled them in opposite directions. Despite their lack of bonding with each other, he had noticed that his old teacher had become more and more distracted.

Obi Wan was more pensive, and his fighting style suffered from a lack of concentration. He still got things done in that efficient way of his but anyone who really knew him could see the difference.

Furrowing his brow in deep thought, Anakin thought of the last conversation he had with Padme.

"There was something odd about the whole situation, Ani. The woman he was with was so familiar and yet she was a total stranger. She hinted at knowing things, but she didn't interrogate me or anything of the sort."

"What did she look like?"

Padme described the woman and the behaviors the two exhibited in regards to each other.

"They were very comfortable with each other. Almost like…. They were together. I don't believe for a second they were strangers."

"Seriously? Obi Wan? I think you're mistaken. Obi Wan is not-"

"Like you?" She cut in teasingly to which Anakin frowned.

"I wish you'd tell him. I know how much his opinion of you means to you." Padme huffed, "It's an outdated rule. How can you expect to make the difference when you're too afraid to take a stand?"

"It's not that simple, Padme."

"But what if it is? Imagine what it would mean if that were the case? He's your best friend."

"Still…"

"Love can be a wonderful thing and I think it's horrible that the main group of people who spread teachings about appreciation, respect and order are forbidden to experience it. You all care for each other, don't you? And it's cause of those 'attachments' that you're able to be so strong and invested in what you do. You have something to protect and be strong for. Attachments are not weaknesses... at least they don't have to be-"

She found her words cut off as the Chosen One kissed her effectively ending her speech. He laughed as she pouted.

"I know. Preaching to the choir, remember? But I don't feel now is the right time. There's so much going on Padme, and it'd seem irrelevant given our current situation."

Deflating, the Naboo-ian Queen nodded. "You're right… It's just I hate lying to our friends and family. I love you and I'd like to be able to express it."

"I love you too, but we can't do what you're proposing in the middle of a war."

Silence.

"Oh Ani, what if he's in trouble?"

"I think you're worrying too much, but I'll talk to him if it'll make you feel better."

"Please do," She had sighed before pressing a chaste kiss to is mouth.

"Is that the going price," he teased before trying returning her efforts with a much more passionate kiss.

She giggled as she ducked his mouth. "Promise, Anakin."

"Of course," he smirked as she surrendered herself to his kiss and embrace.

Biting his lip, 'The Chosen One' mulled over what he should say as the older man gathered his composure.

"You know if something's bothering you… you can tell me." Mentally wincing, he hated how he couldn't be more honest with Obi Wan about his own life. How many times had he wanted to confide in Obi Wan about Padme?

Giving his former padawan a strained smile, Obi Wan responded. "Of course, I just haven't been sleeping well as of late."

Anakin nodded slowly as he moved away from the lighter haired man's bed. He didn't know what was going on, but he had noticed the effect it had on said Jedi and it bothered him that his friend would chose not to open up to him.

Obi Wan must have sensed this as his quiet voice drifted over to the younger man who was on his way to the door. Guilt was an amazing motivator.

"I guess I'm tired of the fighting… If it's not one thing, it's another. I feel as if we're losing even though things are going as about as well as can be expected. The price we pay isn't worth our keep." A sigh. "I mean how many good people have we lost because of all the bloodshed? I'm tired Anakin... So bloody tired, and now even my dreams offer me no rest. I… I'm sorry if I've been keeping you up."

He couldn't be completely honest and because of this annoyance shone clearly in his eyes, which unintentionally helped to sell his statement.

Momentarily shocked at the passion in his 'brother's' voice, Anakin brightened as an opening presented itself to ask about his appearances to Naboo.

"Is that why you went to Naboo?"

If Obi Wan was shocked by such a question his countenance gave nothing away.

"How did-"

"Padme told me."

"Ah… I had no idea you and Senator Amidala were so friendly with each other." His eyes narrowed as he thought back to the run-in he'd had a little while ago with the brown-eyed representative.

"She was concerned…" Anakin coughed.

"You've been so distant lately. I worry about you. You've never liked conflicts much, but you've dealt with them…. I respect your privacy, but I can't help but feel that there might be more than what you're letting on."

"It's just…. Nevermind."

"What?"

He couldn't help that his thoughts slowly drifted to the reason he traveled to Naboo so often as well as the night terror he'd just woken from. He wondered if her dreams were like this.

"Do you ever wonder about who you would've been if you'd been left to live your life on Tatooine? Sometimes I wonder just how much does a person's circumstance define them. Are people really born evil, or is it just how things play out?"

Furrowing his brow, Anakin frowned as he made the connection.

"Is this…. about Ventress?"

Hating that Anakin could read him so well, Obi Wan neither confirmed nor denied his question, which was an answer in itself.

"You have to let that go, Obi Wan. You can't save everyone, and not everyone deserves to be saved."

"You've never once thought about who any of use could've been? What if someone had found her before Dooku?"

Anakin groaned in frustration. "She's gone, Obi Wan, and I'm tired of this obsession you've had with her. She was a horrible person who got what she deserved!" His gaze was hard as his scar burned at the mention of the deceased. How could Obi Wan be so stuck on that witch?

"Anakin!" The Jedi Master sounded both offended and shocked at the anger in his former pupil's voice as well as the harshness of his words. "That's quite enough," he scolded.

Anakin shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "She's tortured you, and murdered countless amounts of people…. I honestly don't get you." Turning around he presented his 'brother' with his back as he continued his tirade.

"It's as if you're in-love with her," he spat bitterly.

A thick silence blanketed the room as both men tensed for different reasons.

Grunting, Anakin turned to face his friend.

"Look… I'm sorry her death upsets you, but I'm not sorry that she died. She was a threat. But if that's what plaguing your sleep like this, maybe you should talk to Barriss… As a healer she would know what to do."

The hostility that bubbled in the air began to subside as the Chosen One calmed himself with the hope that Obi Wan would talk to him.

"It's just… Padme was worried. That's why she contacted me."

A part of Obi Wan was angry with the things Anakin said, while another part of him sadly accepted he and his friend would never see eye-to-eye on this matter.

"Well, there's nothing to be worried over. I was on Naboo to see a friend who specialized in these kinds of things."

"Oh… is she who you were with?"

"No… the woman Padme met was another client of hers… But speaking to Barriss would be much less time consuming and much more appropriate," he covered somewhat truthfully. Shuri had mentioned something about needing an inside source and with the Summit coming up he'd have a legit reason to linger…

"It's just… I worry, ya know."

"I really do appreciate your concern, but it's a private matter that I have to deal with alone."

Anakin frowned when he realized his friend would not be forthcoming.

"Well if you're not going to talk about it, can you at least stop waking me up." Not bothering to hide his aggravation, Anakin left the room with a huff.

The Republic General fell back onto his pillow, eyes locked on the ceiling. Feeling frustrated by his conversation with Anakin, he took a breath as he began to process all that was said.

He was not 'in-love' with Ventress…

He couldn't be… Could he?

The next day was an ordinary day in the temple. He sat through council meetings and mission briefs with the same stoic air expected. He'd decided not to dwell on last night's events as he had work to do. But his plans were disrupted when he saw the dark robes of an olive toned Mirialan trailing around the corner.

"Master Offee," he greeted cordially.

"Master Kenobi," she nodded pausing her motion to regard him. "Is there something you'd wish to speak with me about?"

Unfazed by such expectant behavior, he chewed his bottom lip before locking eyes.

"Actually, the Peace Summit on Naboo is coming up and I was hoping you could accompany me. I have business that may require your skill."

She gave him a curious glance before giving her undivided attention.

"Go on."

Obi Wan smiled as the two continued their conversation down the hall.

A/N: We're just making progress aren't we? I actually have another Star Wars fic I'm working on and was thinking of posting the prologue to see if it'd be worthwhile in expediting for the site instead of just my own enjoyment. But with my track record, I should just finish this first. Lol.

Comments, questions, concerns? Submit it in a review, please. Guilt works wonders with me, I can assure you. Lol. As always, thanx sooooo much for sticking around!

Omg! This space thing SERIOUSLY blows!