Mace followed Padmé down the narrow hallway leading to the durasteel door that separated Kenobi from them. Without hesitation, Padmé placed her palm upon the opening mechanism, but Mace stopped her from activating it with his own much larger hand.
"One word and I'll be there in an instant."
"I'm not afraid."
Mace grinned slightly and nodded, amazed at her strength. "May the Force be with you." He then withdrew his hand.
Padmé opened the door and waited for Mace to de-activate the force field. She moved inside the room and immediately heard the hum of the containment field re-activated behind her.
She glanced across the room. Its single piece of furniture, the cot, had been destroyed -- pieces of it scattered all over the floor. Something caught her eye to the right, and she turned to see Obi-Wan lifting a metal leg from the cot above his head. The horror of the color of his eyes and the fact that he was about to attack her stunned her. But she did not move. She was not afraid. She would not scream, or else Mace would enter the room and ruin any chance she had.
Obi-Wan hesitated and Padmé noticed beads of sweat quickly appearing on his forehead, and his face grimace in pain, obviously from the inner turmoil he was battling.
The eyes that were nearly glowing with an eerie golden hue were now transforming into their familiar blue and green - right before her very eyes. It was amazing and horrible to watch.
The bar he had been holding dropped with a clang when it hit the floor and soon, Obi-Wan did the same, dropping to his knees, a gasp exploding from his lungs.
"Padmé...I can't."
She was immediately in his arms, supporting him, comforting him with rocking movements and soothing caresses along his back and hair.
"Shhhh. I'm here. I love you. Please let me help you."
The weight of his body in her arms suddenly increased and he completely stilled. He had passed out.
She moved slightly to position his head onto her lap and urged his legs to a more comfortable position.
How could she help him? All she had to give him was her love. She just hoped it would be enough to save him.
She gazed down at his face. There were new marks there that she did not know. Two small scars on his chin and the long scar that she had traced with her finger on Mustafar. She traced it once more. The dark circles under his eyes she lovingly soothed with her thumb. His hair was slightly longer but still the rich coppery color she loved. She smoothed the fallen tresses away from his eyes just as they began to flutter open.
Trembling with emotion, Padmé bent to offer him the gift of her kiss. Her heart leapt with joy as he met her and accepted it greedily.
His hand moved to cup the back of her head and gently pull her closer to deepen the kiss. Padmé was lost to the sensation, the heartbreak momentarily forgotten, along with the months of loneliness and despair as strong arms reached up and embraced her, pulling her down and to his side. A muscular body pressing her to the floor.
He murmured her name between kisses, his lips searing her skin every place they touched.
Suddenly, his movements halted, and his head fell heavily to her chest. She felt his torso heave in a deep draw of breath that was soon released in shuddering gasps. He was sobbing now, uncontrollably and she held him tightly.
His shuddering eventually ceased but his head was still buried against her chest. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her arm as he spoke.
"I don't remember what happened. I ran from the palace. I ran into the woods. There was someone waiting there for me. I don't remember who it was. I don't remember anything. What happened to me?"
"It's going to be all right Obi-Wan. It's going to be all right."
She didn't know what else to say. Informing him of the truth may send him over the edge. She couldn't risk that. All she could do was love him. And she loved him...so much.
Her arms tightened about him.
He returned the embrace desperately, forcefully and Padmé urged his face up to look at her. She had to see his eyes. They opened to indeed reveal the beautiful blue and green that she so loved, but she shuddered at the passion they revealed.
His mouth sought hers out once more, stronger than before, demanding, seeking, his hands moving confidently, removing the layers of clothing that separated them.
As their bodies joined for the first time, Padmé bit her lip to stifle the scream that threatened to burst forth. She did not want to unnecessarily alert the Jedi Master who stood vigil just outside the door.
Mace Windu paced the narrow hallway, his senses heightened, listening for any sound of struggle, any sign of protest, any attempt at all to call for his help. There had been none. It was quiet. Very quiet. It made him nervous.
He finally slumped down against the wall, his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. He waited. He wasn't prepared when he heard it, but in an instant he was on his feet, his hand slamming against the door control and his other on his lightsaber. The senator had screamed out his name.
She was sitting on the floor, her clothing held tightly to her chest. Her backside was bare. But that was not what caught his attention.
Huddled in the corner of the room sat Kenobi, looking very much like a caged and abused animal. His eyes were wild with fear, he was shaking uncontrollably, though not from his lack of clothing, but from something happening that Mace could not see.
At least not with his eyes.
There was a presence in the room. A powerful Dark presence. The Master had come for his apprentice.