Meanwhile, Layla was just starting to wake up again. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment she thought maybe the entire day had been nothing more than a horrible dream. But after a minute she realized she was still at the Healer's and still very much in pain. She groaned, sitting up slightly, when she noticed Qui-Gon sitting next to her, clasping her hand in his.

"Qui?" she asked softly.

He nodded. "How are you feeling, love?"

"Ugh, do the words 'death warmed over' mean anything to you? My side is still killing me, it kind of hurts to breath still, and I'm really worried about Tiriana," she answered.

Qui-Gon gave her a confused look. "What's wrong with Tiriana?" he asked, fear and concern shimmering in his deep blue eyes.

Layla took a deep breath, hissing in pain as she did so, and shut her eyes for a moment. "She was kidnapped when the explosion went off in the gardens earlier. It was Xanatos. He set off the bomb and took Tiriana, saying something about having his revenge on us. Then he kicked me in the side, and that was the last I saw of either of them," she replied.

"No. God, no," Qui-Gon whispered, shaking his head in denial.

Layla nodded miserably, tears streaming down her face as she looked back up at him. "I wish this was all nothing more than a bad dream, but it isn't. God, Qui, I'm so scared right now. I don't want to lose her. What are we going to do?"

Qui-Gon reached over and, being careful of her bandaged side, took her into his arms and held her close to him protectively. She buried her face in the front of his tunic and cried, Qui-Gon whispering quietly to her, trying to comfort her.

"Shh. It's all right. It's all right. Everything's going to be fine, I promise you. We'll get her back," he whispered just loudly enough for her to hear him, massaging her back gently as he did so, an expression of grim determination on his face.

Neither of them took any notice of J'Torn standing there in the doorway, watching the whole scene unfolding in front of him in silence. Tears shimmered in his brown eyes as he watched them there like that. His heart broke for the young woman who had become like a daughter to him since she and her friend Casey had arrived there so long ago. He turned and left the room after a long minute, not wanting to intrude on the couple, instead leaving them to their privacy. He could always come in a little while and check on Layla. A single tear slid down his cheek as he walked away.

Finally Layla pulled back from Qui-Gon just ever so slightly and looked up at him almost apologetically. Her light brown eyes were red and puffed from crying. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to lose it like that," she said quietly.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he assured her.