Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.

AN: Here's part 11! Thanks for all the great reviews, as usual. Enjoy this next installment and let me know what you think!

Witches: A Forever Destined Vignette

Part 11/?

Rush slipped into the backroom behind the nurse's station and spotted the patient trays, lined up and ready to go out to the patients. He read the tags and found Veronica's. He pocketed the syringe containing her medication and replaced it with the poisonous one, which looked identical. He smirked evilly. Now, no one would know that he had been the one to push her down the stairs and his secrets would remain safe.

The nurse made her rounds and came to Veronica's room. It was a sad tragedy, since she knew it was likely that the young woman in this room would never come out of her coma. The two Jedi guarding her stepped aside and let the nurse into her room. Whie, being one of her guards, accompanied the nurse into the room. And that's when he spotted the movement of her hand.

"She moved!" Whie exclaimed. The nurse looked startled, but quickly saw that he was right.

"Hold off on giving her any of her medication," Whie ordered, as he turned to the door and poked his head out.

"Scout, get in touch with Master Skywalker immediately and tell him she might be starting to wake up," Whie said. Scout nodded and proceeded to perform the task her husband asked of her.

"Master Jedi, I've been ordered by the doctor to make sure she receives her medication at the same time every evening," the nurse protested.

"Not until Master Skywalker gets here," Whie ordered, as he stood guard.

"My attorney will have me out by morning, Jedi," Kel Taneel boasted, as Anakin and Jayden escorted him to a cell in the Temple.

"It doesn't matter, because I'll make sure Judge Annae issues a restraining order against you first thing in the morning. You may walk free until your trial, but you'll be convicted and sent to prison where you belong," Anakin said.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Terr will wimp out and drop the charges, just wait and see," Kel replied.

"I don't think so this time. Men who have to use their fists on women make me sick and I'll see that the charges stick this time, sleamo," Anakin said, as he shoved him the cell and activated the plasma bars.

"Get used to prison," Anakin said, as he and Jayden walked away.

"You don't think Senator Taneel will drop the charges, do you?" Jayden asked.

"Not if your mother can convince her that she has to see the charges through this time," Anakin replied.

"If anyone can give her the strength and confidence, it's Mom," Jayden agreed, as they saw Yan approach.

"Hello Grandfather, what are you doing here so late?" Anakin asked.

"Whie called me when he couldn't reach you. He said that he saw Veronica's hand move. He thinks she may be waking up," Yan said.

"Great, we'll go there right away," Anakin replied.

"I have the speeder waiting," Yan said, as the three of them hurried to it.

Rush paced in the darkened waiting room and as he saw the nurse emerge, he approached her.

"Excuse me, but I'm a friend of Veronica's family. Can you tell me what all the commotion is?" Rush asked.

"I'm sorry Sir, but I cannot discuss her condition with you," the nurse replied.

"Please…I'm not her father, but I can get in touch with him and if there's something that he should be informed about, I can get the message to him. I know the Jedi told you to say nothing, but don't you think her father should know of any changes?" Rush asked. She sighed.

"Her hand moved and the Jedi guarding her ordered me not to give her medication to her until Master Skywalker could see her. As I understand, he's on his way," the nurse said. Rush froze, as the worst was about to inevitably happen.

"T…thank you. I'll call her father," Rush lied, as the nurse left to continue her rounds.

It was over. Skywalker would get the information out of her. Even if she couldn't speak, he would use the Force to see her thoughts and her mind would tell him the story if she regained any consciousness at all. It would be best if he went to get Jake and they left the planet now. But suddenly, he held his head in extreme pain, as the parasite inside him took over. He wasn't going to make it easy for Skywalker. It was time to use his pawn to the full extent and take his plan to the next level.

"It's time Padme," he said, smirking evilly, as he left the hospital. It was time to capture Padme once and for all. Once he had her, Skywalker would do whatever he wanted.

Terr sipped at her tea and had managed to calm down a bit, as Padme dabbed a damp cloth to the cut on her forehead.

"Thank you Padme. I don't know what I would do without a friend like you," Terr said.

"I'll always be here for you, but you have to promise me that you'll see the charges through. You can't back down and let him get away with this. Because next time, he might kill you," Padme told her. Terr nodded.

"I'm not backing down this time, I promise. Are you sure I won't be a burden if I stay with you and Anakin for a while?" she asked uncertainly.

"Of course not. We have plenty of room and we're going to love having you," Padme insisted. Jenna had gone back to the rec room to talk to Marcus on the comm since she was grounded from seeing him. As Padme rose to take the tea tray to the kitchen, the door indicator chimed. It was after ten and she was very curious as to who would be visiting this late. Her family would simply use the veranda entrance. Cautiously, she peered at the holoscreen beside the door panel and saw that it was Clovis.

"Senator Clovis, what brings you here so late?" Padme asked, as she opened the door.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late Padme, but there is something urgent I need to discuss with you that concerns matters of the Senate," Clovis said.

"It can't wait until morning?" Padme asked.

"No…I don't believe it can," Rush said, as he spotted Terr on the sofa.

"Damn it…what is she doing here?" Rush cursed silently.

"What is so urgent?" Padme asked. Rush glanced back at her.

"This…this horrid piece of legislation that they're trying to bring to the floor," Rush said, as he thrust his datapad toward her. Padme looked at it and read the bill.

"Senator Jarvis is trying to get the Republic to purchase these buildings in the Starlight district and turn them into offices for all his money making schemes that he claims will be profitable to Republic," Rush said.

"But these are shelters. These battered women and children will have no where to go," Padme replied.

"That's why I felt you needed to see this tonight. I figured that we could prepare a rebuttal together," he suggested.

"Yes…but it's late and I doubt this bill will come to the floor for a couple days. Could we meet tomorrow in my office, perhaps?" Padme asked.

"Oh…I'm afraid that I'm tied up in meetings all day tomorrow. That's why I came, I know it's late, but I didn't think it was something that could wait," he replied.

"I suppose not, it's just that it's been a very trying night for Terr," Padme said.

"Oh don't worry about me Padme, I'll be fine. I would help with the rebuttal, but I'm simply drained. I think I will retire," Terr said.

"Of course. Everything will be fine," Padme assured her. She nodded.

"Thank you Padme…for everything," Terr replied, as she went to one of the guest rooms. Rush's eyes darted around the apartment, which was eerily empty.

"It certainly is quiet around here. That's unusual," Rush mentioned. Padme smiled.

"Anakin had some Jedi business to attend to and took Jayden with him. And other than Jenna, my other kids are out, though you already know Leia is with Jake," Padme said. Rush smiled and nodded.

"Perfect. Now, I just need to tap into the Force through this fool and lock the guest room that Terr is in and most importantly, the rec room so that girl can't stop me," Sifo-Dyas said silently, having now completely taken control of his malleable pawn. He visualized the two doors and with an easy maneuver, he locked them both unknowingly.

"So, where should we start?" Rush asked.

"How about pointing out how heartless it would be to throw hundreds of women and children out of the only safe place they have," Padme replied.

Sifo-Dyas wasn't sure how much time he had, but he knew he had to move quickly if he was going to subdue her and leave Coruscant before Anakin could get to her.

"I shouldn't have worried so much, because with you speaking on this, no one would dare to vote for this bill. You're an amazing legislator," Rush said, trying to flatter her.

"That's nice of you to say," Padme said, feeling very uncomfortable under his stare.

"Well, let's get started on that rebuttal," Rush said. Padme couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of dread that had suddenly come over her. Something wasn't right. Something about Rush was off. His gaze on her was different too. Normally, it was annoyingly adoring and longing, but tonight it was predatory.

"You know, I can always have a word with Bel in the morning and I'm sure he'll agree to postpone this bill until we have ample time to prepare a sufficient rebuttal. It's getting very late and Anakin should be home any minute, so maybe you should go," Padme suggested politely, as she walked past him toward the door. But he reached out and grabbed her arm. She turned to him in alarm, as she found his grip to be like a vice.

"I'm not going anywhere…and neither are you," he hissed.

Anakin and Jayden hurried into Veronica's hospital room and to her bedside. She was waking up.

"Veronica…can you hear me?" Anakin asked, as he saw her eyes flutter open and look straight at him.

"My name is Anakin Skywalker and I know it's hard, but I need you to tell me who did this to you." Anakin requested.

"Why…do you care? Most people that know…me would say that I deserve this," Veronica rasped.

"No one deserves what happened to you and I want to bring the person that tried to kill you to justice. But I can't do that without your help," Anakin told her. Veronica looked at him and wondered why her father wasn't like him. She knew Leia's father was always there for her and her siblings. She knew he never neglected any of his kids either, which was why she had always been so jealous of Leia. She was so lucky to have the parents and family that she did.

"I'll tell you everything," Veronica said, as she took a deep breath.

"Who pushed you down the stairs?" Anakin asked. She looked up at him again, unshed tears in her eyes.

"Rush Clovis," Veronica answered. Anakin didn't hide his surprise. Clovis had always been irritating, but he never expected that he would really be that dangerous.

"Senator Clovis did this to you?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yes," she replied.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I had dirt on his nephew and I was going to spew the truth to Leia," Veronica replied.

"What do Leia and Jake have to do with this?" Anakin asked.

"A few months ago, while you and your family were on Alderaan, Jake and I slept together one night after a school social. He begged me not to tell Leia, but I decided she had a right to know her boyfriend was a cheating little bastard. Clovis came to my apartment that night and when I refused to keep Jake's dirty little secret, he changed instantly and got really angry," Veronica said.

"Changed? What do you mean?" Anakin questioned.

"It sounds crazy, but he went from calm to enraged in an instant and his eyes bled yellow," Veronica said.

"Yellow?" Anakin asked in a low tone.

"Yes…does that mean something?" she asked, as Jayden looked to his father.

"It can't be," Jayden said.

"He warned me that he could use people as pawns," Anakin replied.

"But why Clovis…" Jayden asked, as he suddenly realized the answer.

"Because he works with your mother and has been infatuated with her for years," Anakin answered.

"Still…why would Jake's secret make Clovis feel that he had to silence Veronica? What does that have to do with Sifo-Dyas' agenda," Jayden wondered. It was a good question. Anakin thought for a moment.

"If Leia dumped Jake for cheating on her, Clovis would have less reason to see your Mother so often. Now that Sifo-Dyas realizes that we're onto him, he probably tried to eliminate Veronica, but when he realized he couldn't get in here, he knew he couldn't keep up the farce any longer," Anakin said.

"Mom…he's gone after Mom," Jayden said, as Anakin headed for the exit.

"Master Jedi…I must give my patient her medication," the nurse insisted. Anakin looked down at the syringes and it struck him, as he remembered that Clovis had been hanging around here the other day.

"I'm sorry Nurse, but I have a feeling that her medication has been tampered with," Anakin said, as he gathered the syringes and put them in the case.

"Take these the Temple and have Bant identify them. One is probably a poison of some kind. I'm going after your Mother," Anakin told his son. They headed out of the hospital and Anakin raised his comlink to his lips, as he opened the channel to the rec room. Jenna was the closest one to Padme at the moment.

"I did…I swear,"Marcus insisted, as he and Jenna talked on the comm

"You did not. Devin Roark is twice your size and you expect me to believe that you beat him in a spar?" Jenna asked.

"My Dad was there and he saw it. Devin looked like he was going to cry. Besides, why is it so hard to believe that I beat him? I've got mad saber skills," Marcus boasted. Jenna scoffed.

"In your dreams, but I have to say I am impressed if you really did beat him," Jenna replied.

"Well, you know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Are you impressed?" he asked.

"I don't know, is that what you're going for?" Jenna teased.

"Maybe. You know, you can be a little intimidating sometimes. I'll take your praises where I can get them," Marcus replied.

"You know I love you. I'd love to show you…but every time we start to get physical, you put the brakes on," Jenna said.

"It's not because I don't want you…you know that," Marcus replied.

"Then why?" she asked.

"You know why, Jen. Your Dad would hunt me down, probably castrate me with his light saber, and then feed my remains to a Nexu," Marcus cried.

"You're such a drama queen. My Dad isn't that bad," Jenna argued.

"Besides, my Mom would never let him do anything that drastic. He would have cut Jake's junk off long ago if not for my Mom," Jenna joked.

"That's not funny," Marcus grumbled.

"Fine. If you don't want to take the risk of going all the way with me, then I guess I could show you what you're missing," Jenna said, as she fingered the top button her tunic.

"Jen…what are you doing? You can't…my parents are in the next room!" Marcus hissed, as Jenna burst out laughing.

"You really thought I was going to take it off, didn't you?" Jenna laughed, as Marcus turned beat red.

"I'm glad I could amuse you," Marcus grumbled.

"Like I said, you know I love you," Jenna replied, as the comm beeped.

"I have to go…my dad is calling," Jenna said.

"On the rec room comm?" Marcus asked, thinking that was strange.

"Something must be wrong, I'll call you later," Jenna said, as she cut the transmission with Marcus and her father appeared on the screen.

"Jenna…I need you to get out to your Mother right now," Anakin said urgently.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Clovis…he's been possessed by Sifo-Dyas and your Mother is in danger. I'm on my way now," Anakin told her. Jenna nodded and went to the door panel. As she pressed the open control, the door wouldn't open. She pressed it again and pounded on it, but nothing happened.

"It…it won't open," she cried.

"He's there and he's trying to keep you in. I'm on my way. Try to get out if you can," Anakin told her, as he cut the transmission. At that moment, Jenna felt her Mother's sudden fear through the Force. She grit her teeth in determination, as she backed up and with a scream of determination, she threw all her strength into the door.

"Rush…what are you doing, let go!" Padme demanded.

"Come now Padme, I think we both know that I'm not the Rush Clovis you're familiar with," he said, as Padme recognized the evil glint in his now Sith yellow eyes.

"No…no, this isn't possible…" Padme cried.

"I think you know that it's very possible. I've been using this stupid fool for the last two years to stay as close to you as possible. But I'm afraid your husband is on to me, so we must be going before he gets here," Sifo-Dyas said, as he yanked her toward the speeder on the veranda. Padme dug her heels into the carpet and punched him in the face. He growled in pain at first, before chuckling.

"I deserved that for forgetting how feisty you can be. I didn't want to hurt you, but I'm sure you're going to leave me no choice," he hissed and Padme screamed, as he backhanded her. That's when they heard a loud banging. It was Jenna trying to get out.

"Jenna!" Padme screamed.

"Mom…hang on!" Jenna called, as she pounded on the door. And Rush knew it wouldn't take the abnormally strong young girl to break through the door.

"Let's go," Rush growled, as he grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the speeder again.

"NO!" Padme screamed, as she kneed him in the groin. Rush doubled over in pain, as Padme ran up the stairs. If only she could get to one of the bedrooms and lock herself in. That would give Anakin and Jenna enough time to get to her. But Rush caught her at the top of the stairs.

"Sorry Padme…but you're not getting away this time. You're mine…" he growled and Padme screamed…