Title: "Protection"

Summary: Life in the small mountain town of Protection has brought Officer Kenobi and teaching candidate Ami Berrie close, although at times it seems as if powerful unseen forces are doing their best to keep them apart. Will they finally find the peace and happiness they so desperately long for?

Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi as Officer Ben Kenobi. Padme Amidala as Ami Berrie. Sabe as Sabrina. Adi Gallia as Dr. Galina. Qui-Gon Jinn a Sheriff Quinn. Ki-Adi Mundi as Principal Moody. Yoda as Mr. Yodel. Shmi Skywalker as Sharon Walker. Jocasta Nu as Mrs. Delaney. And Sola Naberrie as Sloan.

Recap: In Book Two, Ben was kidnapped and tortured by his brother, Owen, who blamed him for his parent's divorce and his mother's death. Following Owen's own death, Ben and Ami discover that their friend, Sabrina, is now pregnant with Owen's child following a one-night stand. In the meantime, Ami is being sued by her sister for her share of her inheritance, only to find out the FBI is investigating Sloan's husband for embezzlement. Sloan ends up destitute and comes to Ami for help. Shortly after that, Ami discovers she is pregnant. Unlike Sabrina, Ben and Ami are thrilled with the news and Ben decides to propose. Ami accepts with the understanding she will return to live in Protection and marry Ben following her graduation ceremony. However, a devastating earthquake disrupts not only the town but all their future plans.

A/N: I think I got all that straight! A LOT has happened in this story so far and there is still more to come! We will continue with Book Three of this adventure….

Book Three/Chapter Forty-One: "A Flickering Light"

Miracles most certainly do happen from time to time. Tonight, I was witnessing one. Ami had finally agreed to join our Thursday night counseling session. I'd been trying to convince her for several weeks to accompany me. I'd promised her nobody was going to make her speak. All she had to do was listen and enjoy the company of those who had suffered or were currently suffering in some form or fashion.

Attending the meeting was the highlight of my week. When comparing my issues with others, somehow mine didn't seem so overwhelming. That didn't mean I'd always enjoyed it. I remembered the first night I came. Quinn was the one who had convinced me to go and much like Ami – I'd been hesitant and harbored a good deal of doubt. I just couldn't see how sharing my problems with other people was going to help me. Wouldn't it just make them feel worse? Who wanted to listen to a grown man whine and complain?

Instead, I found the understanding and support I needed from people who had experienced their own forms of tragedy and knew what it felt like to carry it around every day.

Following the war, I'd suffered from night terrors for months on end where I would relive the horrors of death and dismemberment of my fellow soldiers night after night. They lessened as time went on. After I met Ami, they were practically nonexistent. That is until my own brother trapped me and nearly killed me.

Those were difficult days and I found comfort not only in Ami's arms but in the comradery I felt with the therapy group.

"No one's going to force you to do anything," I told her right before we stepped into the church. "There are refreshments as well. It's all very casual. You'll see."

She'd decided to trust me and I was glad. Dr. Galina had suggested something like this for her after the loss of the baby. For days, Ami had blamed herself, although I couldn't understand how she felt responsible for a massive earthquake. But like me, she felt the need to point a finger at someone, and that someone ended up being herself. If she hadn't been at the school, if she hadn't climbed that chair, if she hadn't hung those drawings so high on the wall. On and on her self-accusations flowed and there was nothing I could do to convince her otherwise.

While drowning in her own sorrow, she couldn't see that I was equally as devastated. We'd lost our first child. Come to find out, it had been a boy and although he was tiny, he was perfect. She wasn't the only one who was heartbroken. But unlike Ami, I guess I was more used to dealing with death. Through experience, I'd learned time was the best counselor. Sometimes, its passage seemed like the only thing you could count on.

All I could tell her right now was that I was here for her if she needed me. When she needed me. At some point, it would come. Presently, she was numb; not necessarily in denial, just not wanting to face the awful truth.

Until she was ready, she had retreated from life and was hoping to find solace in the cabin and the wilderness surrounding it. She was hiding, and I would allow it for the time being. Sooner or later, however, I would insist she finish her schooling and get on with her life; one that included a wedding. Just because we had lost a child did not lessen my love for her. In fact, it had done the opposite. I saw how truly fragile Ami could be and I was determined to provide the strength she was lacking. It was my new purpose. I would be there even when she didn't want me to be.

After I'd returned from the war and discovered Sara had left me, I'd spent a lot of time alone out in the woods. I thought it would help, but it ended up not being a very good idea. Quinn had forced me to return to the living and had convinced me there was still a life out there for me.

As I caressed Ami's hand, I began to realize what he'd meant. She was the one out there waiting for me. At the time, I hadn't been able to see it. I wouldn't go so far as to say she was my reward for all my suffering, but I would venture to say she made it all seem worthwhile; as if my grief and difficulties had taught me and made me the man she needed me to be.

As I suspected earlier, the meeting went on without any participation from Ami. About an hour in, with everyone sharing their experiences with the quake, I decided I was pleased that she'd just stayed. The members of the group were wise enough to leave her alone and give her the space she needed. She appeared to listen, though at times seemed distant as if she were reliving a painful memory.

We left after refreshments were served; a simple fare of cookies and punch, and headed back to the cabin. As I drove, Ami's eyes scanned the streets. Following the disaster, the National Guard arrived and helped return Protection back to its former glory. There were a few buildings missing downtown that had to be removed, as well as some houses being wiped off the map, but overall, the town was beginning to look familiar.

"I'm hoping we can fix the roof on the station soon and remove that blue tarp," I noted as we drove by my place of employment. "With winter setting in, it's going to be miserably cold in there."

Ami didn't reply. She kept looking out the window just as my prophecy proved true. Snow began to fall from the sky and littered the squad car with large white feathery flakes.

"It's snowing," she noted, her voice low and melancholy.

"Yeah," I agreed, avoiding the obvious response. "The forecast is calling for a few inches. Good thing I brought in all that wood last night."

I was doing my best to keep our conversation going, although I realized it was a lost cause. Ami didn't have much to say these days. And that was okay. I'd give her all the time she needed.

We arrived home with a sweet greeting from Obi, who somehow realized things had changed. While I added wood to the stove and Ami wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket before settling on the couch, the dog simply lay his head in her lap and stared up at her lovingly.

Dogs are remarkable animals. I wasn't sure how, but I was convinced he sensed Ami's heartbreak. He was doing everything he could think of to make her feel better. Unlike before when he pestered her with his toys until she gave in and played with him, these days, he whined sadly and stay faithfully by her side.

Once I was sure the blaze would continue, I replaced the screen and got comfortable myself, with my furry companion placed between us.

We silently watched the flames snip at the metal grate keeping them at bay, mesmerized by the flickering dance. I missed Ami's voice and intelligent conversation. I missed her playfulness and humor, as well as her touch. Time wasn't only Ami's ally, but it was mine. I was relying on it as well to return us back to the place we once were, to the relationship I longed to return to.

"You about ready to go to bed?" I asked. "It's been a long day."

Her focus remained on the fire, but I could tell she was about to speak. She probably would have were it not for a knock upon the door.

"Who could that be?" she asked while glancing up at the clock.

The seasons had changed and the nights were now long and dark. The sun dipped low much earlier than before and it always took some getting used to.

The problem was, I couldn't answer Ami's question. The woman standing on our front porch was a complete stranger. I had never seen her before. She seemed pleasant, however, and had the appearance of a woman who was fairly tired herself. My guess was that she was in her fifties and had worked hard all her life. She had that weary, ready-to-retire look to her.

"May I help you?" I asked. Not even Obi seemed concerned about the woman. He hadn't barked or even got up off the couch.

"Yes," she said in a voice that was gentle and carried the weight of a long defeat. "I'm looking for a young woman by the name of Ami Berrie. I was told she might be here."

Before the visitor had gotten everything out she had wanted to say, Ami had silently stolen up behind me. Her hand had planted itself on my shoulder and I glanced back to make certain she was okay. On her face was an expression of curiosity, nervousness, and possibly even a trace of anger.

"Mrs. Walker? What are you doing here?"