Obi-Wan had always thought something was going on with Anakin and Padmè. He just hadn't realized how easy it was to fall in love, even as a Jedi until he ran into his old "friend" Satine Kryze again.
He had accepted the mission knowingly at the time, trying to prepare his mind to make her acquaintance again. Luckily, he had kept his cool.
But now, months later—and mere hours after the siege of Mandalore—he was just barely keeping his cool as he sat next to her in the med bay of the ship, with his Padawan, Anakin, just a few feet away.
"I'll go check on Snips," Anakin said, getting up and leaving the med bay. Obi-Wan let out a breath once he and Satine were alone. He watched Satine's face, thanking the Force that she was still with them. Heavily wounded, of course, but alive. That was the main thing. Alive.
"O- Obi…" he heard Satine croak a minute later. His eyes immediately snapped to hers.
"Satine…" he said in a breath. "…I'm not sure how to tell you this b-"
"I know my… dear Obi-wa- Obi-Wan, I know…" Satine whispered, smiling sadly up at him.
He was thankful she already knew. He didn't know how he would explain what had happened to her planet without crying.
"Maul took Mandalore… i- I know…" Satine said tears welling in her eyes. After a second, she shifted a bit so she could grab his hand.
"Oh, Satine… My dear, I'm so sorry." Obi-Wan said quietly, bowing his head toward her.
"Obi… don't blame yourself. I- I don't need jetii mind tricks to know what you're… thinking," she said switching to Mando'a for a second.
Obi-Wan knew what she had meant since it was similar to the original word (Jedi). He had studied Mando'a while he was on Jedi business in an effort to learn more about her culture.
"Cyar'ika…" he whispered in Mando'a. A moment after he said it, he saw her face ever so slightly light up when she realized what he had said. ("Darling…")
"You didn't have to do tha-" Satine suddenly started violently coughing. Obi-Wan grabbed the water cantina from a nearby table and gave it to her. "Th- thank you. Y- you didn't have to… Do that. Learn Mando'a I mean…" She lied back down. He kissed her on the forehead lightly.
Obi-Wan sat next to her, as they alternated between short whispered conversations and Satine's much-needed but brief rests, during which he silently watched. After a few hours, their shared isolation was interrupted by boots walking down the hallway. He could tell it was Anakin from his force signature. He quickly stood up giving Satine an apologetic look.
"Master, we're almost to Coruscant," Anakin said from the doorway.
"I'll be there soon, Anakin." Obi-Wan said while giving his padawan a pointed look that said "get out."
"Okay, Master. If you need anything, message Ahsoka with your Comlink," Anakin added before walking down the hallway.
"Will do- …Padawan," Obi-Wan said as the door slid shut. He felt a light tug on his armor.
"Obi," Satine whispered since she was still recovering her voice.
"Yes?" Obi-Wan asked as he turned toward her.
"Will you he… help me- up?" Satine asked starting to sit up but Obi-Wan pushed her back down lightly.
"No… Satine, I know you want to be back in the political space and everything but cyar'ika, you're not healed," Obi-Wan could tell his words had hurt her when her Force signature emanated pain and sadness. ("No… Satine, I know you want to be back in the political space and everything but darling, you're not healed")
"Obi… I know you want what's best for me so I'll- I'll go along with your wishes… but I'm not happy," Satine said surprisingly evenly. "Now help me up…" She looked into his eyes. "Please?" Satine whispered.
He had to acquiesce to her request. His conscience wouldn't let him deny her when she pleaded like that.
"Thank you, My Knight," Satine said, referring to him with a pet name. She grabbed onto his shoulders for support.
"Always Duchess," Obi-Wan said since he knew Anakin would probably start spying any minute now.
"What… Did I break?" Satine asked while she leaned her head on Obi-Wan's shoulder as they walked out of the med bay.
"We can't be sure yet, but from what I can tell you fractured your ribs, broke a few fingers, and have a sprained ankle. We've done what we can—Bacta and the like—but we'll have to get you to a hospital. I'm sure you'll be allowed in the Halls of Healing…" Obi-Wan noticed he had started rambling and let his words trail off.
"Is- isn't that in the… Jetii… temple?" Satine asked.
"Yes. But, I'm sure they'll allow you," Obi-Wan said, noticing they were almost to the Dejarik table where he knew Anakin and Ahsoka would be.
"Obi-Wan… Duchess," Anakin said as he and Ahsoka got up from the table.
"Master, if you want, I'll help the Duchess to a stretcher outside," Ashoka offered.
"Thank you, Ahsoka, but I will be seeing to the Duchess." Obi-Wan hadn't meant to sound as cold as he did. He just wanted to protect Satine, but he did trust Ashoka. He trusted her a lot. He was just so protective of Satine. "I'm sorry Ahsoka, that was rude. I do appreciate the offer though…"
"It's okay Master," Ashoka said kindly. "I understand"
Obi-wan saw Anakin's mouth open and close a few times. No words came out though. "Have fun Obi-Wan, Duchess," Anakin answered snarkily a moment later.
"Y- you two are… so alike. You…you just can't see it…" Satine said quietly as they walked down the boarding ramp.
"Oh?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes… I can tell you- that you two think of… Each other as brothers. Being- being trained together… Going th… through traumatic exp- experiences together…" Satine said as Obi-wan helped her onto a stretcher. "Thank you"
"You're welcome, Duchess," Obi-Wan said formally since they were in a more crowded place. Pedestrians roamed the streets and he and Satine were in full view.
"Master! Wait up!" Anakin said as they jogged over to where Satine and Obi-Wan were.
"Where are you taking the Duchess? Master Windu said, for her safety, he wants to know. He offered the Halls of Healing for her recovery." Anakin informed Obi-Wan. He felt Ahsoka coming closer. He had a saying about them two:
'Wherever one Padawan is the other will follow'
"I've actually already decided to take her to the Jetii temple" Obi-Wan hoped Anakin didn't notice his slip of the tongue into Mando'a… But alas, he did.
"Jetii? Master, isn't that Mando'a?" Anakin asked astutely.
"Yes my Padawan," Obi-Wan said, internally chastising himself for being so foolish as to say that when his padawan was around.
"Don't worry, master. I won't tell…" Anakin said laughing as he helped Obi-Wan move Satine's stretcher. "Let me ask, why though?"
"Just being around the Duchess so often, I guess." Obi-Wan tried to sound casual. He failed.
"Let's save that conversation for… another time…" Obi-Wan said as they were almost to the sky taxis that would take them to the Jedi Temple.
"If you say so, Obi-Wan." Anakin helped Obi-Wan move Satine's stretcher into the taxi.
"How long will it be until we are at the temple?" Satine asked. She didn't indicate who she was talking to, although Obi-Wan could tell she was asking him.
"Only a few minutes, Duchess." Obi-Wan was having a hard time tearing his eyes from hers so that Anakin wouldn't get suspicious. He probably already was though.
Satine nodded in acceptance.
"We really should've just landed at the temple," Anakin grumbled as the sky taxi took off from the landing port.
"Anakin…" Obi-wan warned.
"Sorry, Obi-Wan," Anakin apologized.
Obi-Wan truly didn't know why he still let his Padawan call him by his name instead of "master." It probably had something to do with what Satine had said. They were brothers to each other. They had practically grown up together. Most of the time they were each other's only support and they had strong trust after saving each other in countless battles.
He took a moment to thank his lucky stars that Anakin was still here supporting him. He knew countless other Padawans would refuse to be this open and close. But Anakin? No. He didn't shut down when Obi-Wan asked him a question about his personal life. Or, if he asked what happened on a mission, Anakin might tell a white lie at first, but eventually, he would tell the truth.
"Thank you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, putting his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"What for, Master?" Anakin asked, unaware of Obi-Wan's train of thought. Obi-Wan realized he should show more appreciation to Anakin for his unconditional support for countless things
"No reason… no reason," Obi-Wan said as the taxi pulled into the Jedi Counsel port.
"You sure, Master?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Just thank you for being with me through everything." Obi-Wan said quietly as they both moved Satine onto the pavement.
"Thank you?" Obi-Wan nodded.
"Let's get the Duchess to the Med Bay," Obi-Wan said. "Anakin… where is Ahsoka?" he questioned a moment later.
"Oh, Snips? She told me before we landed that she wanted to stay back on the ship. She'll catch up soon," Anakin reassured him.
"Oh, I hope I didn't do any harm," Obi-Wan said, ashamed of himself if he had offended her by his insistence on personally seeing to Satine's care. "...by being rude I mean."
"I'm sure you didn't, Master!" Obi-Wan could tell his Padawan was just trying to cheer him up so he tried to think about it the way Anakin would: carefree and with no boundaries (for the most part…).
After a few seconds of wheeling Satine toward the temple, he could tell she was in more pain than earlier.
"Satine?"
Hm?" Satine said as she looked toward him.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, why?"
"I can just feel it in your Force signature," Obi-Wan said as they got to the temple steps and he started puzzling out how he would get her up there. He had an idea.
"Satine, is it okay if Anakin and I use the Force to lift you up the steps?" Obi-Wan asked quietly.
"Yes… only if…if you do it tho- though…" Satine said, putting her hand on her abdomen. His eyes, filled with concern, followed her hand.
"I don't mean to pry, but why only me?" Obi-Wan asked, wanting to clarify what she meant.
"I- not that I don't… trust Anakin, but I know you'll be gentle and won't tease… me for being cautious…" Satine said, still keeping her hand on her stomach.
"Okay, Ner cyar'ika," Obi-Wan replied. Then he told Anakin to step back so he could use the Force. ("Okay, My darling")
Obi-Wan channeled the Force to carefully lift the stretcher and opened his eyes when he heard it land.
He heard Satine let out a breath when he came into view. He smiled at the reaction.
"Kenobi, Skywalker, Duchess," Mace Windu greeted formally as he walked out from the temple.
"Hello, Master," Anakin said as Obi-Wan silently berated himself for not noticing Mace's approach through the Force since he was so focused on Satine.
"Kenobi, is there something wrong?"
"No Master," Obi-Wan said as Windu nodded at his reply.
"Greetings Duchess," Mace said formally. "My condolences for the loss of Mandalore."
"Thank you," Satine said. Obi-Wan saw numerous emotions in her eyes: sadness, hopefulness, anxiety, anger. And, finally: peace.
"Now let's get you to the Halls of Healing, shall we?" Windu motioned a group of clone troopers to surround them for Satine's protection. It lessened his anxiety but something worse filled its place: distrust.
Not for Windu. He trusted Windu quite a bit. They had known each other for years. But for the clones… he knew the clones only wanted to be of service to the Republic and the Jedi. But he was very cautious with Satine.
He knew that attachment was forbidden. That much had been thoroughly drilled into him by Qui-Gon. But he had never realized how difficult it was to abide by the Jedi code.
He knew that he was going against the Jedi code by caring about Anakin and Ahsoka. And now, with Satine as well. He had never given much thought to his and Satine's relationship. He had just taken it for granted. Now that her life was in the balance, he realized how easy it would be to lose her. It saddened him deeply. He put up his mental shields so the others couldn't read his emotions. Just as he did so he noticed they were already nearing the Halls of Healing.
"Obi-Wan what… is it?" Satine asked quietly, hand still firmly on her stomach.
"I'll tell you later," Obi-Wan whispered, bending down to make sure Anakin and Mace didn't hear him.
"O- …okay," Satine said as they entered a private medical room.
"Is there anything you need, Duchess?" Windu asked Satine as Obi-Wan helped her onto the bed.
"Thank you," Satine told Obi-Wan before she addressed Windu. "No. I appreciate it… though, Master."
"I'll be going then." Windu bowed slightly. "Kenobi, Skywalker, Duchess."
"Satine, please…" Satine said.
"Satine," Windu said with a slight smile and left.
"Would you like me and Ahsoka to report to the Council without you?" Anakin offered, smirking.
"No, we can go together. Let Ahsoka get her sleep. And besides, I trust Satine to look after herself," Obi-Wan said gazing at Satine
"Thank you, Obi," Satine said, adjusting her position in the bed and then groaning when she accidentally poked her abdomen.
"Satine, what's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, feeling additional concern since he knew it was her nature to hide her injuries at all costs.
"Nothing… my stomach… just a part of my stomach hurts. I'm sure it's nothing," Satine said, clearly attempting to cover up her injury.
"On second thought, Anakin, can you go start with the Council? I just want to make sure Satine's alright."
"Satine, please tell me what's wrong?" Obi-Wan looked at her in a way that was gentle but also pleading.
"On it Master…" Anakin said leaving the room.
"I truly… don't know what- what it is Obi," Satine said, hissing slightly at the pain.
"Okay… I trust you, Satine. But please let me get a medical droid in h-," Obi-Wan started to assure her.
"Shh. Obi, there's already a Med droid coming, isn't there?" Satine said, cutting him off and also reminding him.
"Oh right. I'm sorry… I'm just worried." Obi-Wan said.
"What did… I tell you?!" Satine said as a med droid came in the room and started to do an x-ray on her.
"Obi-Wan," Satine said a minute later as the medical droid applied bacta strips.
"Yes?" Obi-Wan asked.
"You're fidgeting…" Satine said in a knowing voice.
"Oh… I'm sorry,"
"It's okay, Obi. I just… didn't want you to realize and- and then be embarrassed." He could tell she thought she was being dumb. He didn't have to read her mind to realize that.
"You're not, Satine. Don't ever think that," Obi-Wan said, answering the words she had felt, but not said aloud.
"Thank you… but shouldn't you be with Anakin? With the Council?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Yes, I should…"
"Then go… I'll be fine." Then she added, "Obi-Wan, look at me." His eyes immediately found her's.
"I promise," Satine said, smiling at him. "Now go do your Jetii business ner cyar'ika." She nodded toward the door. ("Now go do your Jedi business my darling")
"Okay, I'll see you soon."
He saw the medical droid printing out her injury notice and it flew to his hand with the Force. "You wouldn't tell?"
"Never!" Satine said before he walked out the door to go face the council…