Title: Always

Author: XVIII

Rating: PG13

Setting: A/U

Pairing: Obi/Ami

Summary: Obi-Wan goes on a dangerous mission…

Archive: Ask me first!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Mr. Lucas.

Authors Note: Sorry I took so long in getting this out, but here it is… enjoy! BTW- the new Star Wars movie is SOOO GOOD!!!! Go see it! And if you have already, go see it again!

Oh, and thoughts are indicated by asterisks ( * * ) now instead of italics.

Chapter 3: Rescue and Capture

Obi-Wan slowly turned to face their attacker. Obi-Wan could tell that the man was Broar by his dimwit-like voice. He was a large man with brown eyes, no hair, and half a brain. *One-fourth of a brain*, Obi-Wan changed his mind as the man suddenly tripped on air. He looked at the princess, her expression seemed to border between amusement and pity.

Obi-Wan sheathed his lightsaber but kept it firmly in his grasp because he felt that they weren't out of trouble yet. He took the princess by the hand and, after kicking Broar once in the stomach, stepped over him on his way out.

He stopped when he heard the princess scream in surprise and break from their grasp. Her hand went flailing when Broar grabbed her ankle and pulled to make her fall down. Obi-Wan, acting on pure Jedi reflex, stuck his arms out and caught the princess before she hit the ground. He lifted her upright, and, after she muttered a thanks (and blushed furiously), he turned to hit Broar again. He was far too slow.

By the time he turned around, the princess had already thrown several punches and quite a few kicks and Broar was out like a light. Obi-Wan could only gape in shock. The princess smirked at him before getting impatient and telling him,

"Let's go already!"

The Jedi padawan smacked himself upside the head mentally. I can be SO idiotic sometimes!

"I'm sorry, milady." He apologized and escorted her outside.

~ - ~ - ~

Princess Amidala hated feeling helpless, which she seemed to be feeling a lot in the last few days. Unable to fight back, unable to resist when she was kidnapped, unable to free herself from captivity, unable to lead the way, unable to do anything!

She was getting exhausted. They had been wandering for hours in the desert. Neither the Jedi or she knew where they were and her strength was quickly ebbing. She hadn't eaten in roughly a week, and she was dead tired. She looked at the Jedi next to her. If he was as tired as she was, he sure didn't show it.

She looked into his eyes, pleading silently for him to stop.

The Jedi frowned, as if reading her thoughts.

"Milady, we mustn't stop. Not until we find safe haven."

A few steps later, she knew her strength was gone. She couldn't help it, she was so tired, but after her next step, she felt her legs go out from under her and she saw her world turn black as she fell.

~ - ~ - ~

Obi-Wan gave a mild cry of surprise when the princess collapsed, but he still managed to catch her before she hit the ground. He knew she was exhausted; he was on the verge of collapse himself, but he knew he had to keep going for both of them.

Even in her unconscious state, she was still tossing and trying to get loose from Obi-Wans grasp. He tried to get her to calm down by probing her thoughts, but what he saw inside almost made him recoil in shock. The sadness, frustration, and anger welled inside her and her fears raged around her mind. She was having a nightmare.

Obi-Wan immediately sent out calming thoughts to her. His wordless thoughts soothed her and her stirring eventually stopped. Her breathing steadied. She unconsciously snuggled in closer to Obi-Wan, but he took no notice and continued on toward anywhere.

~ - ~ - ~

Amidala's consciousness returned before she opened her eyes, but she wanted to keep them closed anyway. She felt refreshed after her slumber, which normally didn't happen. She knew the Jedi probably had something to do with it and wanted to thank him.

The princess got up and looked around. They were in a nice comfortable room, no doubt in an inn. So the Jedi had found a safe haven. She smiled as she observed her surroundings. The sun shone through a window, plants and flowers covered the wall, and her big, comfortable bed was in the middle of it all. A small cistern was in the corner, and she bent over, took the water, and drank it thirstily.

She took another cupful of water and splashed it on her face to awaken her more, then walked outside to the lobby, where she was greeted by the innkeeper.

"Ugh… where am I?"

The innkeeper looked her up and down and then smiled hungrily, causing Amidala to feel uneasiness.

"You're in Mos Eisely, Tatooine. The Traveler's Inn. Best Tabarian Beer in the galaxy!"

Amidala took a step back. The place was beginning to creep her out.

"Where did the Jedi go?"

"Ah, you're with the Jedi boy. He was concerned about you. He'll be glad to see you up!"

He still looked like he wanted to eat Amidala when he smiled at her again.

Amidala pasted a polite smile on her face and then glanced around for the Jedi boy.

*Where IS he, anyway?*

"I'm right here," The Jedi boy walked in, startling her. She didn't even know he was behind her!

*What? I didn't say anything out loud! Did he just read my thoughts? But how…?*

~ - ~ - ~

*What? I didn't say anything out loud! Did he just read my thoughts? But how…?*

He could've sworn that she had just said that out loud. But if she hadn't…? Had he just read her mind?

*But… how?*

"How what?" The princess turned her eyes on Obi-Wan. Her eyes shot up when she realized what she just did.

"Did I- did I just… read your mind?! How'd I do that?! Was it some… Jedi mind thing or something?!" From the look of it, she was beginning to panic.

*Jedi mind thing…*

Obi-Wan gasped. He realized what was going on. He grabbed the surprised princess's hand and led her out the door.

"Come with me. We need a more private place to talk."

~ - ~ - ~

The two decided on a cave about a half a mile away from the inn. It wasn't especially large; it was the perfect place to hide out in: Enough room for one or two people, high enough so nobody would hit his or her head, and it was completely dark.

"Well, Jedi, what did you want to talk to me about?" The princess inquired. She wasn't very happy at the moment, being dragged out into the desert and not knowing why.

"You remember what happened before, right?"

"Of course!" She wasn't stupid, and she was getting indignant. How long was this Jedi going to hold out on her? She was scared; she had just read someone's thoughts accidentally and wanted to know why.

"Well, I'm not sure about this, but we may be experiencing a 'Force-bond'. I don't know when this happens, but it's between two people who share an experience together, like a Master and his Padawan, or… um… two friends, or… or… two lovers or something!" He paused as another thought struck him.

"Both of them also have to have a high medichlorian count… high enough to be a Jedi…"

The Jedi stared at the princess intently, making her uncomfortable. He took out a gadget from that large cloak of his and showed it to her.

"This will determine your count… standard issue, given to every Jedi Master. It'll just take a little of your blood, and, don't worry, it won't hurt that much." He gave her a reassuring smile, but she still had doubts.

"Wait… if only Jedi Masters have them, and you're not a Jedi Master yet, how'd you get one?"

The Jedi gave her his most charming grin.

"I swiped it from Qui-Gon… And, yes, I know how it works," he said, again seemingly reading her thoughts, "just stick your hand straight out."

She complied, and he placed the device on her forearm. She felt a small pinch when her blood was drawn, but that was all.

After a few seconds, he removed the device and put it back somewhere in his cloak.

"The results will be ready in a few minutes," the Jedi told her. "Don't be so nervous, it's not a test or anything!" He smiled gently, teasing her, and his face suddenly became grim and his senses became alert.

"What's the matter?" Amadala asked him. She was getting worried because she had never seen anybody as apprehensive as the Jedi was at the moment. She turned to him for reassurance, but he couldn't offer any.

"I… I think we may have stumbled into a Hutt lair…" He took her hand and began backing toward the exit when he heard the laugh.

The Hutt laugh.

Amidala grabbed onto the Jedi's left arm and clung to it tightly, while the Jedi took out his weapon from his belt and ignited the light-sword.

Light suddenly flooded the room when two stones mysteriously disappeared, allowing the two to see what was inside. A grotesque greenish-yellow creature was in the middle of the room, surrounded by other ugly alien creatures. The greenish-yellow creature laughed again, causing a chilly feeling to consume Amidala's stomach.

"Wh-What IS that thing?!"

The Jedi scowled at the creature while still backing away.

"That's a Hutt. One of the most vile, despicable creatures in the universe. They're gangsters and practically own Tatooine."

"What do we do?"

"Stay together, don't panic, and…" The Jedi glanced at the two guards now blocking the entrance, back to the ensemble of creatures in front of him, and put both hands on his weapon, releasing his grip on Amidala. She gave him a panicked look.

"And what?!"

He pulled her close to him as the aliens pounced.

"… and prepare for the worst."