Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. If you haven't figured this out already, you will!

A/N : OH, MY GOD, I FORGOT TO UPLOAD THIS CHAPTER!!!

I can't believe I DID that . . . I'm soooo SORRY! This must have been so confusing . . . Me never explaining what happened . . . AHH! Okay, THIS is chapter XVIII (18), Stay, and it's now in its rightful place.

Oh, man . . .

Ah, well. Mistakes happen, please don't kill me, I haven't finished writing the story yet!

Chapter XVIII: Stay

Anakin sat up in his bed on the Rock Drgaon, pouring sweat and choking. "Tahiri!" he whispered fiercely. Then he dove recklessly into the mental bond they still shared, without even the physical restraints his old body had given him. His clone body was tired, but his mind was frantic and alert. Was he close enough to do any good, or would Tahiri be ripped from him just before they had their chance at life?

*NO!* a voice incoherent with fear forced itself into Tahiri's mind. *Tahiri, don't! Get out of there! Tionne and Kam are on the other side of that door, trying to get in and help you. Let them! Please, please, Tahiri, don't you dare give up on me now!*

A vision of Anakin formed slowly in Tahiri's gas-fogged mind, and she strained to reach him. "Anakin," she murmured. "I'm coming, I promise . . ."

*NO! Stay right where you are, I'm coming to you! Let them help you, Tahiri, please. Wait for me. Stay . . !* and then his mind-voice faded, but not what he'd told her to do.

She reached out one hand toward the door and with the last strength left in her, lifted the lock.

*

Anakin collapsed into unconsciousness as soon as his message reached Tahiri; the twins leaped out of their beds when they sensed something was wrong.

Jacen and Jaina appeared outside his door at a run. "Anakin?" Jacen yelled, pounding on the durosteel. There was no response. "Anakin, what's wrong? Jaina and I sensed something. Anakin?"

The twins shared a worried look as a sleepy Tenel Ka walked patiently from the same direction Jacen had come from. This, of course, caused Jaina to think and her mind derailed for a moment from the train of thought labeled "Anakin" as she turned a look that demanded an explanation on her twin and her friend.

"No, Jaina, my friend, we did not do what your sordid mind is considering. Why are we awake, exactly?" Tenel Ka inquired.

"It's Anakin," Jacen explained. "Jaina and I sensed . . . something . . . and now we he's not answering. You don't think – something went wrong with the cloning?"

"No, he's in there, he's just unconscious," Jaina concentrated. The lock clicked and the door opened with a mechanical hiss. The twins spilled into the room simultaneously, ignoring the fact that the doorway was too small for both of them to get in at the same time.

Anakin was lying in his bed, sheet drawn over his legs and rumpled about his waist as if he'd sat up and hadn't bothered pulling it back up when he lay down. His hair was curled beneath him, crumpled in a way that couldn't be comfortable. Lips were thinned and eyes shut tightly as if he'd been concentrating with all his effort when he just keeled over.

"Anakin!" Jaina cried and ran over, grabbing Jacen's hand and dragging him with her. They knelt as one, and Tenel Ka almost felt like laughing – because of their varied reactions to their brother's death, they looked almost exactly the same from the back. Then they dipped into their sibling-link, and Anakin woke with a gasp. His face became, if it was possible, even paler.

"Tahiri!"

"Whoa, Anakin – what happened?" Jacen asked. "Jaina and I got – well, it almost felt like you vanished for a second!"

The younger Jedi took a few deep breaths as color returned to his face. Tenel Ka leaned back against the wall, listening and watching. "I – I'm not sure. One moment I'm asleep, and then next I'm jarred out of it by – it must have been the link I have with Tahiri. She – " His eyes widened as it finally penetrated him exactly what had happened. He drew his knees up to his chest, shocked. Jacen and Jaina exchanged a worried glance. "She tried to kill herself . . ."

The three listeners started at that. Tenel Ka recovered first. "Is she alright? What happened?"

"I – I called her. Asked her to stay . . . I think Kam and Tionne got to her in time. Ugh, but I'm exhausted." He fell back onto the bed, one arms over his eyes. "We have to get back there," he croaked, his newly-woken voice still rough. "Fast."

Jacen nodded, and the three made to leave. "Wait! Jaina!" Anakin opened his eyes and looked at his sister. "When you wake up, you'd better call Mom, Dad, Aunt Mara and Uncle Luke to tell them we're coming home. Oh, and only tell Aunt Mara that I've come back. I kinda want to go find Tahiri before I get attacked by family, and I'll get kidnapped before I even find out where she is if Mom finds out I'm back."

Jaina nodded, and she, Jacen and Tenel Ka left, shutting the door behind them.