I've actually had more time than I thought! I'm sure you don't mind! I'm pretty new to this website, so I'm a little unsure as to how to respond to reviews personally. Is there a way to do that? I appreciate your reviews and would like to thank you personally! - Amber

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Sidious headed back to check on Obi-Wan. On the way, he retrieved Laicee from her room and brought her with him. He wanted to make sure that Obi-Wan got his strength back as quickly as possible.

The first thing Laicee noticed was Padme locked to the wall. The poor thing looked like she'd been run through the emotional ringer. She gasped, though, when her eyes fell on Obi-Wan. She rushed over to him. He was so pale! His back was against the wall. His full weight was now laying on the arm with the IV needle in it. She gently moved him onto his back. There was a huge, purple bruise around the IV needle. The saline bag was again empty. She decided to give the bruised area of his inner arm a break. She inserted a fresh IV needle into a vein at his wrist. She got the IV going and got out her scanner.

Laicee's expression grew more concerned as she scanned him. "All of his systems are barely functioning. His body seems to have barely enough strength to keep going. What happened to him?"

Sidious was standing very near. "That is not your concern. Your concern is getting him better."

Laicee felt herself getting angry. She wouldn't treat a dog this way! The things this poor man was having to endure…

Sidious took a step closer to her. "I suggest you focus on the task at hand. I will not put up with another hot-headed woman! I will check on your progress in a few hours."

Laicee sighed with relief when the Emperor left. She injected Obi-Wan with a potent solution of essential vitamins and minerals. "Are you okay, Padme?"

"No! Obi-Wan needs me and I can't get to him! Sidious is punishing me by keeping me away from him." She was crying again. "He forced himself into Obi-Wan's mind! Obi-Wan was screaming in pain!"

Laicee grabbed her hypo and inserted a new canister into it. She rushed over to Padme and injected her with it.

"What is that?" Padme suddenly stopped crying.

"Something to calm you down." Laicee looked at her with sorrow. "I'm so sorry you two have to go through this!" She ran a cloth over Padme's face, drying the tears.

Padme did feel better. "Did you get the message sent?"

"Yes. I sure hope someone is able to come, for his sake, as well as yours." She went back over to the cot. She checked Obi-Wan's chest. It hadn't healed as much as she'd hoped. But even bacta needed the body's help in order to heal. Obi-Wan's body just didn't have the capacity to do much in the way of healing. It was doing all it could just to survive. She sighed as she replaced the bacta cloth and covered him fully with the blanket.

Laicee put the back of her hand to Obi-Wan's forehead. It was cold. She checked his temperature. "Oh, my goodness! His body temperature is very low! His body can't even make enough energy to keep his temp regulated!" She got up and looked around the room. She spotted his clothes in a pile near the door. She grabbed his pants, socks and cloak. She put on his pants and re-covered him with the blanket and then covered him with the cloak.

She ran into the fresher and wet a cloth down with very warm water. She squeezed out the excess water and rushed back out to place it on his forehead. She sat on the cot by his bare feet. She rubbed his ice-cold right foot in between both hands, trying to get the circulation back. She then put on his sock and started on the next foot. She went back into the fresher and got a towel. She then wrapped his feet in the towel, covered that with the blanket and that with the cloak.

Padme's voice was subdued. "Is he going to be okay, Laicee?"

"Yes, I think so. He just needs time to rest and regain his strength. I will need to keep a close watch on him for a while, though."

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Obi-Wan felt very secure. He was wrapped in the Force. Well, I guess I'm dead this time. He then felt the Force answer his thought by assuring him that he wasn't dead. I must not be in a coma again, either. He was very grateful to not be back in that dark place. He was also grateful that the Force was still with him.

Remembrance hit Obi-Wan. Sidious was in my mind! Panic struck him. Did he now know about Luke and Leia? Again, he felt the Force reassure him. The Force itself had sequestered all thoughts and memories of Luke and Leia away from the Emperor. Obi-Wan felt relief flood through him. He wouldn't have been able to face Padme if he'd endangered her children!

Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder at the continued presence of the Force, even in unconsciousness. He also wondered at the active role the Force seemed to be taking in helping him. The Force didn't answer his questions directly, but it did give him a very distinct overall impression. I still have an important role to play. I will not die here.

Obi-Wan also knew that he would not become Sidious' apprentice. The Force didn't tell him this, he just knew that he would never give in to the dark side. He would much rather die. No matter what Sidious does to me, I will not turn!

Obi-Wan couldn't help but dread just what Sidious would do to try and get him to turn. He didn't think his body could take much more abuse. He was in bad shape and he knew it. The Force concurred. But the Force did not want to heal him.

Obi-Wan wondered why. The Force let him know that the sooner he healed, the sooner Sidious would be back in his head. It also let him know that if he put up another mental shield like the last one, the Emperor would block his use of the Force to bypass it.

Obi-Wan's heart sunk at that. Either way, he's going to get back into my mind. But Obi-Wan realized that it would be better to allow the Force to help him deal with Sidious' intrusion, rather than lose complete access to the Force. If that happened, the memories and thoughts about Luke and Leia would be fair game.

His thoughts turned to Padme. He was worried about her. Having to watch the latest session had to have been extremely hard on Padme. He hated what all of this was doing to her. He suddenly wanted very much to talk with her.

Obi-Wan hated to leave this comfortable place, but his desire to talk with Padme overrode everything else. He asked the Force to help him regain consciousness. The Force basically told him 'absolutely not.' It warned him that the act of regaining consciousness and trying to talk would take way too much energy. His body barely had enough energy to survive and he shouldn't push it.

Obi-Wan reluctantly acquiesced. Staying here wrapped in the Force was not exactly a bad thing. He thanked the Force for everything it was doing and bided his time until he could talk with Padme.