Chapter Twenty-Four:
Leia and Anakin kept a studious, silent vigil over their beloved Luke, who had already slipped dangerously close to the edge of oblivion more than once. They now held him tightly in the Force, willing him to live; to go on and be strong.
His presence in turn clung to them like someone who couldn't swim clung to any life-saving device out in open waters.
"Dad?" Leia finally croaked out, her eyes bloodshot from the lack of sleep and energy. Anakin knew he didn't look any better.
"Yes?"
"D...
"Guy's we're almost there, it'll be an hour till reversion, and then I'll need an emergency route to take." Han's voice came to them over the comm. system, interrupting her.
Anakin and Leia looked to each other and Leia sighed, gesturing him to the cockpit. "I'll stay with Luke. Besides, you haven't called Mom yet."
Anakin grimaced. "I haven't had a chance to."
He was dreading that encounter to tell the truth. Hi Padmé, we found your son only to bring him home because he's near death...
But it would be utterly unfair and wrong to not bring Luke's mother into this.
"Alright." Anakin rose, looking to Leia. "Let me know if anything changes."
"I will."
00000
Padmé Naberrie Skywalker sat in her living room, trying to read a holo-novel. She'd finished work early today and had decided to relax with a good book. However, she was unable to shake the sense that something was about to happen... and she was decidedly restless, so much so that she couldn't focus on her chosen book any longer.
With a weary sigh, Padmé set the device aside and retreated to the kitchen, where she grabbed a piece of fruit to munch on.
Pausing with the food in her grasp, Padmé's eyes fell upon the wall calendar she insisted on having. The winter holidays were fast arriving, and Padmé was saddened yet again to realize that she would have to plan her eighth Winter Fete in a row without her beloved son. Anakin and Leia had always made it a point to be there for her, taking a break from their long search to be together as a family as much as they were able... but they were always deeply sorry to not have their complete family gathered.
Padmé usually invited a few of their closest friends to join them and help keep the spirit of the evening lively, not sullen. But she didn't know if she could maintain stiff upper lip one more time.
Oh how she missed Luke! She missed his adorable smile, his loving blue eyes... his sweet, kind spirit. Padmé missed how he would kiss her cheek when he got home from school, or when he hugged her just because he loved her.
She missed the spirit and life he brought to their family.
Her heart ached constantly without him, and she prayed every single night to all of the galaxy's know deity for his return.
Padmé sighed and shook herself from her reverie. Maybe they should just skip the whole affair this year. She didn't feel like planning another family-centered holiday when their family was incomplete.
So she simply went back to eating her snack.
However, just as she placed the fruit to her lips, the communications console rang out for attention.
Padmé let out a low growl of frustration, but answered it anyway. She lifted a shocked eyebrow to find Anakin on the other end, looking worn, exhausted and disheveled.
"Ani?" Padmé sat down, worried for him. "Are you alright? Where are you?"
"Actually, Leia and I are about... forty five minutes away from Coruscant," Anakin replied, glancing off-screen as if to confirm. "Padmé, I need you to secure us an emergency route to Coruscant Medical Facility, and we need the best doctor you can find... and we will need it as soon as we revert."
Padmé frowned, but her mind was already drawing up a list of possibilities. "Why, what's wrong?" Padmé gasped, her hands flying to her lips. "Is Leia hurt?"
"No." Anakin gave her his most serious face. "Angel, please just trust me. And... I need you to meet us at the hospital."
Padmé knew when not to ask questions, but she didn't like the way he was acting. "Alright, but I expect some real answers when you get here."
Anakin grimaced. "Trust me, you'll figure it out very soon. I love you."
He signed off and Padmé was left to wonder. But the politician in Padmé kicked herself into gear and began making the appropriate calls.
00000
As soon as the Falcon landed, Anakin was lifting Luke from the medical bunk, trying and failing to ignore how limp and pale he was.
"Luke... you hold on there!" Anakin growled lowly, fearing the worst. "Don't you dare die on me!"
Leia was right beside him, and Anakin had enough presence of mind to turn to Mirat. "You stay here; I'll be back when I can. Behave or I will take you back."
Mirat bowed her head submissively, and then Anakin was descending the ramp that Han had already lowered. A medical team awaited them, and the head physician jogged forward instantly, indicating that Anakin should put Luke on the stretcher.
"What happened to him?" the medic asked, getting right down to business.
"Stab wound in the back, heavy blood loss: his hand had to be amputated and cauterized to stop the flow of blood," Anakin answered, keeping pace.
"Alright," the doctor waved him back from the stretcher. "We will take it from here, you may watch from the viewing room."
Leia appeared at his side then, and she gave him a worried look. "I'm still holding him in the Force."
"Good." Anakin nodded, taking her hand and leading her to follow the team of doctors. "Let's go."
"Where's..." Leia began to inquire when they heard a familiar voice from the other end of the corridor.
"Anakin! Leia!" Padmé rushed forward, her eyes both worried and deeply confused. She drew them into a tight hug, but Anakin didn't let it last long. He grabbed her hand too and swiftly led the two female Skywalkers along so they didn't lose sight of the stretcher.
"Ani, what's the matter?" Padmé demanded. "You wanted an emergency team and you got it, but you two are fine!"
"It wasn't for us, Mom," Leia whispered.
Padmé frowned deeply as they finally arrived in the correct room, watching as the small assortment of medics begin to zip and shuffle about the room, their focus on the young man now lying on an operating table.
The sight tugged at both Anakin and Leia's heartstrings, and Leia turned into her father, tears falling at a rapid rate. Padmé took this in, and then looked more closely out the viewport to try getting a glimpse of the young man's identity. But between the medics and the equipment, his face was not clearly visible.
"Anakin..." Padmé said slowly, uncertainly. "Who is that young man? And why are you two so torn... up... about..." Her words trailed slowly off and Padmé felt her breathing shallow out as the one possibility hit her like deadweight.
There were very few things that could send Anakin into such a state as he was in now: his wife, Obi Wan, Leia, and...
Padmé's heart stopped, and she felt her knees go weak, but just as she was about to crumple to the floor a pair of strong, supportive arms caught her.
"Ani..." Padmé breathed, hardly daring to believe. She both wanted and dreaded the answer, given the current situation.
She caught a glimpse of Leia, leaning toward the viewing pane, one hand pressed to it as though it would make a difference. Anakin carefully led Padmé to a nearby chair and sat down with her.
"Padmé," Anakin took a deep breath. "...we... we found Luke."
She heard... but Padmé simply stared, unable to think or formulate words. Her gaze resolutely carried to the window, to Leia's tortured body language. Padmé looked back to Anakin, his anguish barely concealed.
"The young man in that operating room is Luke," Anakin whispered. "H-he was grievously wounded and... we had to rush him here from the Outer Rim."
Padmé continued to stare, and she saw Anakin become more and more concerned. "Padmé?"
When she didn't answer, but instead stood, walked to the window and stared, he followed, ready to catch her if she feinted.
It was all just too much: the unbelievable return of her son, a joyous moment... tainted by the fact that her child might very well die right before her eyes. Padmé held herself together for a few seconds more before she bowed her head, buried her face in her hand and began sobbing.
Her knees trembled and she had to be held again by her husband, who gathered her close even as Leia finally returned and joined the embrace. Together, the Skywalkers wept and willed their long-lost son and brother to stay alive.