Author's Note: Once again, thank you for the reviews - you're keeping me inspired! Please keep the comments coming!

MEDICAL WING

The stretcher carrying Padme flew through the halls as droids scrambled about, running scans and tests on her still body. Anakin ran behind them, refusing to let his wife out of his sight. As they finally came to a stop in the emergency center, Anakin forced himself to hang back, not wanting to interfere with the chief medical droid's inspection of Padme's condition.

"Sir-" a metallic voice said, interrupting Anakin's relentless pacing. "Please tell me - what was going on at the time of Miss Liri's collapse?"

"We had just finished our routine," Anakin explained, letting his head droop forward under the weight of the memory. "We were walking backstage to await the results and she collapsed."

"Did she say anything or indicate any discomfort?" the droid continued.

"When we first walked on stage, she looked like she was about to cry," Anakin remembered. "But once we got going, she seemed to be just fine. In fact, she was better than fine - she was perfect. Full of energy and joy..." and life, his mind thought, despairing at the sight of her silent form. "Right before she collapsed, she cried out. Hir-something..."

"Hirtii?" At that, the droid straightened up, his metallic eyes going sharp. After Anakin's nod, the droid moved hurriedly, rushing over to a silver cabinet and extracting a long needle-like instrument. Another droid handed him a packet of liquid, which he drew into the needle. "She must be allergic."

Anakin winced at the sight of that long needle sinking into Padme's skin. He watched as the droid finished the injection and then carefully placed healing cloths over her arms and legs. "These will take care of the skin damage," the droid's thin voice intoned. "The injection will stop the flow of the Hirtii through her veins. You were lucky she wasn't exposed to a large specimen. If she had been, our conversation would be much different."

The thought was almost enough to send Anakin to his knees. Instead, he stumbled over to a chair and sank into it, putting his head in his hands.

"She will heal quickly," the droid murmured, noting the course of treatment on his chart. "In fact, she will most likely be able to be released tomorrow. Yes, indeed. Miss Liri was very fortunate." Turning on his single wheel, the droid left to retrieve more healing cloths.

Forcing his weak legs to stand, Anakin walked over to Padme's bedside, absently adjusting a healing cloth so it covered her arm better. Already, he could see the color start to return to her face although it was difficult to see with all the make-up they had applied for the show. Removing a thin segment of gauze from the tray next to him, he gently wiped her face, revealing the beautiful skin underneath. Oh, Padme... Suddenly grasping how close he had come to losing her, he dropped the gauze on the floor, his shaking hands no longer able to hold the soft material.

He had been right there. He had been less than two feet from her and his Jedi training had been useless. He hadn't been able to do anything. The realization left him reeling.

MEDICAL WING - AFTER MIDNIGHT

Anakin dozed on the cot next to Padme's bed, not allowing himself to fall into a deep sleep. He wanted to make sure he was there when Padme awakened, and had only left her side to retrieve his lightsaber from their dormitory.

Drifting in a state of semi-wakefulness, he gradually became aware of his Master's presence. Taking comfort in his strength, he opened his eyes and saw Obi-wan standing in the corner of the darkened room.

Sitting up, Anakin greeted the Jedi quietly.

"How is she?" Obi-wan whispered.

"She'll be okay," Anakin replied. "Apparently, she had an allergic reaction to a substance called "Hirtii." The amount she came in contact with was minimal, but it was enough to cause this," he gestured helplessly to her bed. " She should be able to go back to the dormitory tomorrow."

Relieved, Obi-wan nodded but still looked concerned, "Do you believe this was intentional?"

"I'm not sure," Anakin sighed. "The medical droid told me that Hirtii is fairly rare, but it is found on some of the other contestants' home planets where it's considered a delicacy. She may have simply had contact with something contaminated with Hirtii that belonged to another contestant. It's impossible to say for sure."

"Then be extra careful, my young friend," Obi-wan warned. "We're close to tracking down the remaining droids but it's proving difficult. They are programmed to destruct immediately upon capture so we haven't been able to gain the information we hoped."

"Yes, Master," Anakin vowed. "Thank you for coming to see us."

Inclining his head and smiling, Obi-wan nodded. "That was a fascinating routine tonight. You two are becoming quite the pair." The remark hit closer to home than Obi-wan could know, so Anakin just gave him a faint nod. Moving smoothly, the Jedi Master started to leave the room. Turning back he said, "Oh yes - congratulations."

Confused, Anakin frowned.

"On your finish. First place!" With a swish of his cloak, Obi-wan disappeared from view.

Taking Padme's hand in his, Anakin allowed himself a small, tired smile.

NEXT MORNING - MEDICAL WING

Anakin was worried - she could sense it almost as clear as she could feel her own emotions. How odd, she thought. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw his handsome face gazing at her. After another moment, she could feel the tension melt out of his body as he realized she was finally fully awake.

"Ani-" she whispered. "What happened?"

"You had an allergic reaction," he explained, brushing the hair off her forehead. "Somehow, you touched something that had a trace of Hirtii in it."

She closed her eyes briefly as it all came flooding back - her burning hands, the stabbing pain in her legs, the blackness. Stifling a flash of fear, she looked back up at her husband.

"How is that possible?" she asked, confused. "I know to stay away from that stuff."

"Did you touch anything out of the ordinary?" he wondered. "Something that was in your preparation area that wasn't yours?"

She bit her lip as she thought back to the night before. She remembered getting her hair fixed, her make-up applied...

"The costume!" she blurted. "I originally picked up a dark green costume that I thought was mine. But a costume droid stopped me and gave me the correct one - the one I ended up wearing. I only had the green one for a moment."

Nodding grimly, his thoughts started to spin as he thought over the possible implications.

"Do you think someone did this to me on purpose?" she asked, struggling to sit up. Gently, he eased her back to the bed.

"I don't know," he replied. "But I intend to find out."

Hearing the mechanical sound of a droid's gait, he turned his head and put his hand on the hilt of his lightsaber. Sighing softly, he was relieved to see the form of C-3PO come around the corner.

"Mistress Liri!" the droid called. "I heard you had been injured. Oh my circuits!"

"Hi, Threepio," Padme replied. "I'll be okay. Just have to relax a bit."

Noticing her eyes getting heavy, Anakin kissed her cheek and asked her to get some rest. As she finally drifted off, he pulled Threepio aside.

"I need you to look after her for a few minutes," Anakin instructed. "If anyone other than a medical droid tries to enter this room, sound the alarm."

"Yes, sir" the golden droid responded.

Moving quickly, he spun on his heel and strode out of the room. Getting on his hidden comlink, he quietly instructed Artoo to meet him in Padme's dressing room. Perhaps he would finally get some answers.