Author's Note: Thank you everyone again for all the nice feedback. I've been working on this chapter for three days now, and I can't seem to get it right. Probably not something I should tell my readers, that I am unhappy with my chapter, but I can't look at it anymore, so I will post it and move on with the story. If I feel inspiration I may come back and make some alterations, and if I do, I will be sure to note it in subsequent chapters.
Like Brothers
Anakin returned that night to the Jedi Temple. Since he and Obi-Wan were on assignment, he figured it'd be safer for him to be easily accessible.
Anakin sat in his sparse chamber at the Jedi Temple, in meditation. He had much to meditate on; Padmé, the new mission, the secrets that seemed to piling up on him…
Anakin paused in his meditations, sensing Obi-Wan standing outside his door. He waited a moment to see if his former master would knock. After several minutes, he did. Anakin stood from his meditation pillow and using The Force he opened the door.
Obi-Wan, who had been standing in front of the door with his head down and hands folded in front of him, looked up when the door opened. He gave Anakin a quick stern look, and Anakin had to suppress a laugh. Obi-Wan usually became greatly annoyed when Anakin used his Force abilities outside of Jedi business.
Obi-Wan, ignoring Anakin's flashy show of The Force, entered the bare room which consisted of nothing but a simple mattress and a pillow for meditation.
"Anakin, I wanted to talk to you. You left so quickly after the Council meeting," Obi-Wan spoke, moving towards the one small square window in Anakin's chamber. No vaulted ceilings and high arched windows down in the bottom levels of the temple.
Anakin kept his mind free of thoughts of Padmé, as he took several steps to stand beside Obi-Wan at the window.
Anakin's room had one of the better views in the residential area of the Jedi Temple. Looking out the window, Anakin could see the apartment building where his wife, his love, was getting ready to retire. Anakin broke his gaze, and stepping back he removed the apartment building from his view.
"What is it, master?" Anakin's reference to Obi-Wan one of respect, though he had been a Jedi Knight for many months already.
"You must be mindful of your feelings, Anakin; I sensed a moment of fear from you in the council chambers, and I am certain the others felt it as well. And now, I feel you are trying to hide something," Obi-Wan turned to look at Anakin.
The younger Jedi looked back at him with blank eyes. It made Obi-Wan nervous when Anakin closed himself off like he did. He'd never met another Jedi with such a talent for hiding their feelings. Obi-Wan sighed silently, and chose his next words carefully.
"I know you are close to Senator Amidala, are you afraid these rumors might involve her?"
Anakin laughed in response. "No, master. I know Senator Amidala is not involved in this. Actually, I spoke with her earlier, before you arrived, and she had some information to share about a lead on tracking the spy."
Anakin was glad he had been able to turn the conversation away from Padmé, and himself. But the demons in his heart, the ones that screamed at him that eventually he was going to lose all he was secretly protecting, grew stronger with Obi-Wan's questioning. There was a knowing look in the Jedi Master's eyes. Whether Anakin was imagining it or not he wasn't sure, but it made him nervous nonetheless.
Before Obi-Wan could ask more questions, Anakin explained the story surrounding Senator Yennaj Monvé, from Corellia. Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully-ignoring the burning questions at the back of his mind about the nature of how the information was obtained. Why was Anakin confiding in Padmé about confidential Jedi missions? And why was Padmé telling Anakin about meetings she has with other Senators? Obi-Wan put the questions in the back of his mind to focus on the mission. First find the spy, then he'd worry about Anakin and Padmé.
"Corellia, I remember that mission. I think Modeef Rekki, Screeb Debb, Davad Hoiy, and Fox Rewaois were the Jedi Knights to lead the offensive on that particular Separatist attack," Obi-Wan mused, his fingers twisting the graying, but still tawny, hair of his beard.
"We should go to the archives, I think there might have been one or two more Jedi on Corellia that I can't recall," Obi-Wan spoke slowly, walking towards the doorway.
Obi-Wan and Anakin sat before the terminal in the Jedi archives. They had in front of them the list of Jedi who had been on Corellia when the Separatists tried to take over. Among those that Obi-Wan had named were also Jak Jahk, and Rum Telli.
"Of these Jedi, all are alien except two; Davad Hoiy and Fox Rewaois. I should think we begin our search with these two, I assume this senator isn't involved with an alien. Tomorrow we will track these Jedi, determine their movements and contacts. We should speak with Master Yoda, maybe we can put out some false information in hopes of trapping them with the evidence in hand. I will track the movements of Fox Rewaois, and you Davad Hoiy," Obi-Wan took the lead, working out their game plan.
Walking back to the small residential chambers in the Temple, Anakin sensed thoughts troubling his former master.
"Master, I sense you are uneasy. Is it the mission?" Anakin asked, knowing full well it could be many things, one of which being his concern with his relationship with Padmé. He knew he could be bringing down the delicate house of cards surrounding their secret life together.
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin, his eyebrows raised slightly. "Do you?" He smiled. "I wasn't aware I was exhibiting feelings of anything. But since you brought it up; I am concerned for you. I wonder if your friendship with Senator Amidala is interfering with your responsibilities to the Jedi Order? I know when we first reunited with her and you were assigned to protect her, you probably grew close. I just hope you realize that as a Jedi, friends are all you can be to each other," Obi-Wan said this last bit as if forced. If not for the seriousness-and the reality-of the conversation, Anakin would have laughed at the uncomfortable nature in which the great Jedi Master spoke.
"Obi-Wan," Anakin started as he tried to reassure his partner, "your concerns are unfounded. Of course my devotion is to the Jedi Order. Padmé and I are as you said, just close friends." Anakin hated lying to his friend, but he knew he could never tell Obi-Wan the truth.
Obi-Wan made note of Anakin's use of his name. Anakin tended to only use his name when he felt he was being punished, or that he had to apologize for something. Obi-Wan didn't want to doubt his former Padawan, but the Jedi restrictions on attachment and love existed for very valid reasons, one of which Obi-Wan would rather not be reminded of. Obi-Wan focused his thoughts to the present, and issued one more statement before letting the subject drop.
"Anakin, you are on your way to becoming one of the most powerful Jedi the Order has ever seen, and I am just concerned that you don't stray from what is clearly your chosen path," Obi-Wan stopped at his own small chamber. "We will meet again tomorrow."
Anakin bowed slightly to his former master, and made to walk to his own small room, but paused after a few steps and turned back towards Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan," the elder Jedi looked towards the younger, "I respect your opinion too much to ruin my good favor in it. I do know where my responsibilities lie."
The two men smiled understanding at each other, and parted ways for the night. Obi-Wan entered his own sparsely furnished room, while Anakin continued to his own room, conflicting thoughts of loyalty to the Jedi Order, and to Padmé, playing an endless tug-of-war with his heart.
