-Hides behind door; then throws out a post to readers, hoping not to be hurt.-
Qui-Gon, Rae and Anakin stood in the hall of the Med. Wing staring through a observation window of a room.
"How is he here?" Anakin burst out, snapping around to look at Rae and Qui-Gon with confusion, pain and hope.
Qui-Gon and Rae turn to him with similar looks on their faces.
"Ani, try to calm down." Qui-Gon, as always managed to keep his voice controlled; it was calm a soothing, though Rae could sense her Master's turmoil.
"He died! He died in my arms!" Anakin continued as if he hadn't heard Qui- Gon.
Qui-Gon and Rae looked at each other helplessly.
Anakin's gaze turned solely to Rae, who met his gaze.
Rae took a deep breath and shook her head. "I don't know."
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Rae and Anakin sat around a table, disguised, in a cantina.
"I think that there is more to this than meets the eye." Obi-Wan kept his voice down. "I don't believe that simple spice smugglers could set up such an elaborate plan."
"Never underestimate people, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon kept his voice down as well. "However I am inclined to agree with you. We must tread carefully."
Anakin glanced at his wrist chrono. "It's almost three in the morning, Masters."
Obi-Wan glanced at his Padawan. "We have a long few days; we should get some sleep."
Qui-Gon nodded his agreement.
The group finished their drinks, left money on the table and exited the establishment.
The two Master-Padawan teams, and old friends said there goodnights and went off in two different directions for their hotels.
Qui-Gon and Rae hadn't gone far when shots rang out. . .
"Padawan Hennel. Padawan Skywalker. Master Jinn."
Rae and Anakin exchanged looks of complete dread before turning, along with Qui-Gon, to face the Head Jedi Healer, Yeg A'Ta. The tall, humanoid Healer was kindly and patient, but the Jedi standing before him were three of the four Jedi, the fourth was lying in the room on the other side of the observation window, who tried that patience the most.
Anakin smiled weakly. "Uh. . .Good afternoon, Healer A'Ta. How-"
"Don't even try it, Padawan Anakin Skywalker!" The Healer snapped. "Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is fine. Now it is you three's turn for a check-up."
Anakin quickly pointed a finger at Rae. "Rae's injured!"
Rae scowled at him and hissed, "Traitor!" while Qui-Gon struggled to keep a straight face.
Yeg A'Ta sent a piercing look at him. "I wouldn't be acting too confident Qui-Gon Jinn. You haven't had a check-up recently so I am going to go through the whole shebang with you." Qui-Gon winced and put up his hands in surrender. Yeg A'Ta nodded. "Now follow me." He turned and started down the hall. The Padawans and Master reluctantly followed him. "I swear there are days when I think we should rename the 'Kenobi Ward' the 'Jinn, Kenobi, Hennel and Skywalker Ward' if only it weren't such a mouthful!" he muttered.
Rae glanced up at her Master and they shared an amused look.
Anakin gazed through the observation window at the figure on the bed once more before complying with the Healer's command.
The street appeared normal, but Anakin had a bad feeling that was non-Force related.
"What is wrong, Anakin?" Obi-Wan could sense his Padawan's unease.
Anakin wrapped his cloak tighter about him. "I don't know, Master." His eyes traveled all around them. "I just have a bad feeling."
Obi-Wan frowned; he had learned to trust Anakin's non-Force instincts as well as his Force ones. He opened his mouth to suggest that they turn around and call Qui-Gon and Rae. Suddenly he felt as if someone had shut off part of his sight.
The Force was gone.
His suggestion transformed in his throat to a shout of warning.
A shot rang out; Obi-Wan knocked Anakin to the ground, shielding him with his body.
Anakin's heart was racing in his chest while his Master's pounded in his ear. He vaguely heard the screams of the civilians.
Finally the shots silenced with the approaching sirens of the law enforcement.
"Master, I think it's safe now," Anakin whispered.
The answer he received was a groan.
"Master?!" Anakin's voice rose. He swiftly, but carefully, slid out from under his Master; then rolled Obi-Wan onto his back. Anakin held him in his lap. He felt something wet and sticky on the back of his Master's robes; he pulled his hand away and found blood.
Anakin choked back a sob and attempted to reach out to the Force, but found that it was still gone. He applied pressure to the wound.
"It's no use - Anakin -" Obi-Wan finally managed to gasp.
Anakin let out a sob, holding Obi-Wan closer. "No...No, Master, please!"
Obi-Wan sucked in a breath. "I am proud of you, Anakin." He gasped. "I couldn't - have asked for a better Padawan - friend - brother...or son."
Anakin sobbed again. "I still need my Master, friend, big brother and father."
Obi-Wan managed a slight smile. "I will - always - be with you - Anakin," he weakly raised a hand and tapped it over Anakin's heart, "here -" he took a breath, "and in the Force. I love you - Anakin."
Anakin barely felt the tears slipping down his cheeks. "I love you too, Master."
"Give everyone - my love...especially Sabé...tell her -to find happiness."
Anakin shook his head, trying to deny that this was happening.
"Be - ware the - Dark Side - Anakin." Obi-Wan sucked in a deep breath, even though it obviously hurt him a lot. "Be - happy - An...i..."
Obi-Wan went limp in Anakin's arms.
Anakin clutched Obi-Wan's body close to him and wept.
That was how Rae and Qui-Gon found him when they arrived in the area a moment later.
Anakin blinked back the tears that came with that memory, clenching his hands into fists.
One of his hands felt dry, stiff and gritty; he looked down at it. Obi- Wan's blood was still crusted on his hand. His hand was stained with his Master's blood.
The world went black; Anakin didn't remember hitting the floor, losing the contents of his stomach or being carried away in to an examining room.
Sad, I know, but I hope that you liked it!