I'm sure Obi-Wan could read the shock and confusion in my eyes and my mind through the Force, for even injured as he was, he obviously still had a kinship with the Force that I could have never understood. His mouth moved slightly, but the pain was too great for him to stretch his lips, or I think he would have smiled. "Anakin, I have failed you in the past, leaving you open to the Dark forces of Sidious was my mistake and cost us both dearly, but I will not allow it to happen again. I won't allow you to have the repercussions of the past events put on your shoulders. I, of course, will not be able to convince the Jedi to take you back into the academy, but I can convince them to afford you leniancy...but you will have to go into exile..the planet Dagoba is remote, you will not be recognized.I will discuss the matter with Master Yoda as soon as I'm able to."

His tone, even in thought, left little room for argument, added to the fact that at the very least, I owed him my obediance now. I simply nodded. I was numb, their was nothing left for me here anyway, Padme was gone, my chances of becoming Jedi, vanished, the trust afforded me by the counvcil...I had made sure that was destroyed as well. The only reason I had left was right in front of me, and obviously he wanted me to go. So there it was.

"I'm not getting rid of you, my former Padawan, I simply want to keep you alive, if the republic get hold of you after the things you've...well, you know, I'm afraid you would not last long. And the same can be said of the Empire, now that you've defected. I wouldn't doubt if Sidious has someone looking for you, he can feel the balance has shifted in the Force and he may sense it concerns you. Which would send him into a panic, making him stop at nothing to uncover your whereabouts. The further away you are at the moment the better, my young friend." Just as I was about to argue, the nurse droid came up behind me and signaled it was time to let him rest.

I turned to say goodbye, and he lifted his hand to me as a gesture of love. He was asking for my compliance with his wishes, as well as making an effort to say goodbye, in the only way he could.

Deep down I knew he was right, as he always was. I wanted to stay with him, to help him recover, perhaps partly to ease the burdon of my guilt, but it was unwise. I didn't want to take that hand, because I knew it was the same as giving in. It meant I would run away with my tail between my legs like some kind of wounded pet. I would appear even more weak and cowardly to anyone who knew me. But it was what he wanted. It was the one thing he was asking of me. He was only thinking of my safety, when just hours ago, I had no regard for his. I would not deny him a second time. I would wrap the memories I had of when we had been a team, along with my memories of Padme, around me like a blanket. And I would take them with me for the rest of my life, wherever I went. I He was still my Master, if by nobody elses definition but my own. I would fulfill the request of my Master.

And accept the hand he was offering me.