Luke was trying to sleep. He had been placed in a small windowless med room. He knew outside his door a Jedi was always standing guard. At least they gave him some privacy, but every now and then a healer would come in and check on him. He was also glad they hadn't bugged him too much with questioning. So far all the questions had been about his health and how he was feeling. Though the dark skinned Jedi and Master Yoda did stop by. They asked if Luke knew anything about who shot him. If he was in his own time, that would have been an easy question to answer. But he had no clue who wanted him dead in this time.

For now he just wanted to sleep. His neck and shoulder still hurt where the bolt had grazed him. Luke closed his eyes and tried to let his mind go quiet, but his mind was a hive of activity. There was a pressure growing inside of him. He tried to ignore it, but it seemed to be pressing harder and harder. A cold wave seemed to hit him, and he shivered. He wanted an extra blanket, but didn't want to move or call someone in.

He curled up and pulled his blanket tighter. The pressure seemed to also be cold as well, but it was also familiar. Briefly Luke thought of Hoth and the never ending cold that came with that place. But no, this cold didn't completely match up to Hoth. (No cold matched up to Hoth.) It also wasn't the cold of space, which was nothing but a void that sucked all heat away. No, this cold pressing against him was gentle. It reminded him a bit of when the suns finally set on Tatooine, and finally the heat of the desert died down. Slowly the coolness of the night would creep in.

His mind wandered back to that time and place. Of the sound of the generator being shut off for the night. The sand gently blowing down into the courtyard. The distant baying of banthas echoing across the flats. His aunt shouting goodnight to him from the courtyard.

Thinking of Tatooine was apparently relaxing. He could feel his mind drifting away . . .

Luke.

His eyes snapped open with a sharp breath. The cold was still there, but this time much stronger. Now he realized where he recognized it from. Vader. It was the same when he had talked to him through the Force as Luke fled Bespin on the Falcon.

Luke, Vader repeated.

Luke only groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.

Luke, are you . . . are you well? Vader's voice was hesitant. It was unlike him.

"Yes," Luke moaned. He wasn't sure how he could speak back in the Force. But saying it loud seemed to do the trick.

Good, Vader said a bit awkwardly. Was this his attempt at comfort? Luke, it is not safe for you to stay at the Temple any longer. You need to leave.

"I think it's pretty safe," Luke whispered into his pillow.

You were shot! Vader's anger brought a fresh wave of sharp coldness. Luke shivered.

"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

It was a bounty hunter hired by Sidious.

"Sidious? You mean . . . wait . . . the Emperor?"

Yes.

"But . . . how? Why? He shouldn't know anything about me!"

It has little to do with you, Vader said. His tone seemed to have softened some. I angered him when I stole from him. He was trying to get back at me.

"You should have thought about that before you stole from him," Luke mumbled.

Regardless, you can not stay in the Temple. You must leave, Luke.

"Of course you would say that. And where should I go?"

You will come with me, Vader said matter-of-factly.

"And then what?" Luke asked.

We find a way back to our time.

"Do . . . do you think that's even possible?" Luke whispered.

Vader was silent for a long time. I do not know, he responded truthfully. But it was through the Force we came to be here. It is through the Force we will go home.

"Haven't you ever thought we came here for a reason? That the Force wanted us to change things?"

Luke, Vader said annoyed. We can have these discussions later. For now you need to leave. Sidious may not be the Emperor yet, but he still has a lot of power both as the Chancellor and as a Sith lord. He has say over the Jedi Order. He will not shy away from using it. I fear he may ask you be transferred away from the Temple. You cannot allow yourself to fall into his clutches.

Luke shivered, but this time it was not from the cold.

You need to leave soon. The longer you wait, the more time Sidious has to pull together a legal reason to get you out of the Temple.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Luke asked. "There is a Jedi always guarding my door now."

There was a slight pause before Vader spoke again. After how many times you avoided and escaped from Imperial capture, I would think you would be well versed in getting out of places you do not wish to be in.

Luke let out a small laugh. Vader did have a point there. But then Luke let out a long sigh. What Vader said made sense, but should Luke go to Vader? Was there anywhere else to go? There had to be someone. Possibly Mon Mothma or Bail Organa would help. But what would he even say to them?

Luke, Vader said clearly growing impatient. Luke . . . Come with me. I . . . You can meet your mother.

"My mother?" Luke shouted.

Yes.

"But-"

If you wish to meet her, you will leave the Temple and come to me.

And the coldness and the pressure was gone.

"Vader?" Luke asked. "Father?" Nothing. "Father!" Nothing again. Luke threw his head back into his pillow.

He wasn't sure how long he laid in bed going over what Vader had said. There were no windows in the room, and he had yet to locate the chrono. But he knew some time had passed when the door to his room quietly slid open. Luke was expecting another check-up by a healer. Instead Anakin Skywalker walked in with his dark leather Jedi robes. Luke bit back a groan. Honestly he did not want to see him.

"Hi," Anakin said awkwardly as he walked in. He had half a smile on his face. As if he had started to smile, but stopped before it was a proper smile. "How are you . . . How are you feeling?" Anakin came to a stop right next to Luke's bed.

Luke pushed himself up. There was still pain in his left shoulder and neck, but it was dull compared to the intensity it had been at before.

"Fine," Luke said.

Anakin just stood there. He shifted his weight and fidgeted with his glove on his right hand nervously. Nervously? What was his nervous about?

"Listen," he said. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. And I . . . I wanted to apologize."

Luke could only stare up at him. He didn't know Anakin. He had two conversations with him. So he didn't know if this was normal for him.

Anakin continued, "I uh . . . Perhaps we should try again?" Silence. "I'm Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker." This time his smile was full and genuine.

A smile tugged on Luke's lips, but he didn't let it grow. He was wary. Part of him wanted desperately to get to know Anakin. But after seeing his mood swings and those hints of darkness lurking below the surface, did he want to? Luke sighed and opened his mouth, but his words died on his lips as the door opened again. Young Ben Kenobi walked in. He smiled and nodded at Luke, but then turned his full attention to Anakin.

"I figured I'd find you in here," Ben said. "The Council meeting is starting."

Anakin cursed under his breath. "I was just on my way," Anakin said straightening up. Ben shot Anakin a disbelieving look. "I was just going over a few last minute details with Luke," Anakin continued.

"Luke, I hope you are feeling better. We must be on our way," Ben said. Anakin let out a disappointed sigh. "Come on, Anakin," Ben said as he made his way to the door. "The Chancellor will be attending the meeting via holo. He requested your presence this morning stating he had new information regarding the Sith. Instead the Council decided it was best he attend the meeting."

The Chancellor was attending the meeting? A shiver ran down Luke's spine as he recalled Vader's warning. The Chancellor might try to get Luke transferred out of the Temple. Anakin glanced at Luke and nodded. The look he gave Luke seemed to be trying to say something, but what Luke didn't know. He moved to the door.

"Ana-Anakin," Luke said. The Jedi stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Good bye and may the Force be with you."

Anakin smiled. It was warm and gentle and completely reached his eyes. Then he walked through the door, which slid shut behind him. Luke only hesitated a minute before he was throwing off his covers, ignoring the pain in his shoulder, and searching for clothes to wear.