Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its magnificent characters. It all belongs to George Lucas, aka my idol.
A/N: This chapter is also a little bit shorter than usual, but don't worry, the next one will be long and involve a much anticipated childbirth! So, on to chapter 10…
Chapter 10: I Don't Care If They Know
Two hours later….
Obi-Wan watched Anakin fidgeting in the chair across from him. They were both waiting outside of the medical room where Padmé was being cared for. It seemed like they had been waiting forever, and Anakin was having trouble remaining calm.
"He can defeat a Sith Master and save the galaxy, but he has no patience whatsoever," Obi-Wan thought amusedly.
Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair, trying to get more comfortable. After Anakin had left he had answered all of Senator Organa's questions, and he had had the bodies of the five Jedi brought down and delivered to the Temple. Obi-Wan and Anakin had not told anyone what had happened; the Healers just thought that they had suffered a great battle. No one asked them anything, and no suspected that they were treating injuries caused by a Sith Master. Palpatine had been pronounced dead (in body and spirit) along with Jedi Masters Saesee Tiin and Agen Kolar. Masters Kit Fitso and Mace Windu were in critical condition, but they were holding on. The fact that they had lost two Jedi Masters today was unthinkable, but the fact that the Chosen One had fulfilled his destiny was even more amazing. Obi-Wan thought about all that had happened today; about how he had been deceived by his worst enemy and his best friend, and how in the end his former Padawan – and his brother – had saved the galaxy. It certainly had been one extraordinarily strange day.
Anakin sat in the stiff chairs of the waiting room, wishing more than anything that he could see if Padmé was alright. Instead, he, Obi-Wan, Senator Organa, Padmé's handmaidens, and a few of Organa's officers were all sitting outside and waiting for any news. The healers had tried to get Anakin to come in to have his injuries tended to, but he wouldn't have it; he insisted that Padmé, Mace Windu, and Kit Fitso be given complete medical attention. In the end, the healer had cleaned and bandaged his injury in the waiting room, while Anakin had pestered her with questions about how Padmé was doing.
Suddenly, the entrance to the Medical Ward opened, and Master Yoda hobbled through, accompanied by Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.
"Master Yoda!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. "You weren't expected to return for another week."
"Know this, I do, Master Kenobi," Yoda interrupted. "Returned, I did, to see how young Skywalker was doing".
"I – I'm fine Master," Anakin replied, a little confused as to why Yoda had come back just to see if he was ok.
Then, Jedi Healer Barriss Offee came out of the Medical Ward.
"How is she?" Anakin asked, jumping out of his chair and completely forgetting about Master Yoda.
"I'm afraid that some complications have arisen," Barriss replied. "She is still in labor, but whatever ordeal the Senator has been through has left her in a much weakened condition. If she progresses through labor and delivers the babies naturally, there is a high chance that she will not be strong enough to survive childbirth."
Anakin sat back down with a stunned expression on his face. Surely, that couldn't happen, Padmé would not die, she couldn't…
"You knew that she was going to die in childbirth, you dreamt it," he reminded himself. "You were wrong to think that defeating Palpatine would have saved her, she's still going to die…"
"No!" Anakin exclaimed. "There must be another way, isn't there anything you can do?"
"Well, there are a number of methods we could try, an emergency c-section being one of them," Barriss replied. "But without knowing what type of injury has put the Senator into such a weakened condition, I'm not sure if any of these methods would be safe to use. If we knew the cause of her injuries, and the causes of the other two Jedi Masters' injuries, we may be able to help them."
"I'm afraid we can not give you that information Healer Offee," Obi-Wan replied. "Not until we have met with the Council."
Barriss gave him a look of pure exasperation, and then turned to look at Anakin. "Then I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for the senator," she said.
"I'm sure one of your methods would be able to help Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan interjected, seeing the state of distress and panic that Anakin was in. "Perhaps the emergency c-section-"
"Master Kenobi I will not operate on a patient without knowing the extent of her injuries!" Barriss exclaimed. "If her body cannot handle the stress of childbirth then a surgery like a c-section could put her life at risk as well! Without any further information I can only assist the Senator in the child birthing process and do the best that I can to help her survive it."
Anakin immediately jumped up and began pacing. "You've got to do something! You can't tell me that you are just going to sit back and let her die!"
"Knight Skywalker, I have already explained this!" she exclaimed. "There-"
"Perform the c-section, you will Healer Offee."
Anakin, Barriss, and Obi-Wan all turned to look at Master Yoda, who was surveying them with a watchful eye.
"But, Master Yoda-"
"Know the extent of her injuries, I do," Yoda interrupted, ignoring the perplexed looks on Anakin and Obi-Wan's faces. "Safe for the Senator, the c-section will be."
Barriss took a deep breath and nodded curtly towards Master Yoda.
"Very well, I will perform the c-section."
"I'm going back there with you."
It had taken Anakin all of two seconds to decide that he needed to go to Padmé. What Barriss had said struck him to the core. His angel was… dying. She wasn't strong enough to properly deliver the babies without a surgery…Padmé needed him there with her.
"Where is she now?" Anakin asked.
"She's in the main operating room," Barriss answered, "but, Knight Skywalker, there is no need for you to go back there. The Senator is in good hands, I assure you."
Anakin ignored Healer Offee's comment and quickly turned to leave, but was stopped by a hand on his arm. It was Obi-Wan.
"I'm not sure that Healer Offee wants you back there Anakin," Obi-Wan said with a warning tone.
"Master she needs me; I have to go to her!" Anakin insisted.
"Think about what you're doing Anakin," Obi-Wan told him through their bond. If the Council found out about the two of them, Anakin would be in immense trouble.
"Dammit Master, I don't care if they know!" Anakin yelled. With that he stormed off and left the waiting room, heading straight for Padmé.
Barriss turned to look at Obi-Wan. "What is he talking about?" she asked.
"Perhaps you should prepare for the c-section, Healer Offee," Obi-Wan suggested.
"But what about-" Barriss stopped herself. Anakin didn't care if 'they knew'. Senator Amidala was pregnant…. No, it couldn't be.
"Master Kenobi," Barriss began, "How well does Anakin know the Senator?"
Obi-Wan said nothing and turned to follow Anakin into the Medical Ward.
