Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CH. 6

"RETURN TO CORUSCANT"

Padme Amidala ran as fast as her legs would carry her. The former Queen of Naboo had immediately dropped what she had been doing when she heard news of Obi-Wan's successful rescue. She had tried to bury herself in her work while she impatiently anticipated the return of the team sent to retrieve him, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. Her mind refused to stop racing.

Adrenaline coursed through her body as she dashed into the hangar and began searching the crowd. If Obi-Wan was back, Anakin had to be back as well…her hands slightly trembled at the thought of the unavoidable confrontation she would soon have to face. She longed to see him again – the man she loved unconditionally and had vowed to spend the rest of her life with – but she also dreaded their reunion. She had no idea what to expect from him…

Will he still be angry with me? she asked herself. Surely if he has realized the error of his ways he will not hold it against me that I tried to convince him to stop…but what if he thinks I turned on him and refuses to talk to me? He may not trust me if he still thinks I betrayed him.

She did her best to clear her head as she resumed her search, but another question burned in her mind. What if I don't even recognize him when I see him? The last time I looked into his eyes it was as if I was staring at a stranger.

Numerous starfighters and clone soldiers filled the massive hangar. She continued to scan the area for her husband or Obi-Wan, but found another Jedi Master standing amidst the troopers instead.

Yoda.

Pushing her way through the crowd, she hurriedly made her way over to him. "Master Yoda!"

The small Jedi glanced over in her direction and calmly watched her approach. Once she reached him he respectfully inclined his head and greeted her with a somber expression. "Senator Amidala."

"Master Yoda, what happened?" she asked, the urgency in her voice revealing her obvious concern. "Where are Anakin and Obi-Wan?"

Yoda sadly looked up into her worried face. "Safe, they are. Injured during their escape, Master Kenobi and young Skywalker were. Taken to the Healers for medical attention, they have been."

"What?" Padme felt her chest tighten and a restricting lump form in her throat. Injured? Unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she struggled to ask her next question.

"How…how bad?"

"Aah!"

Obi-Wan slapped the Healers hand away from his midsection and shot her an annoyed look before proceeding to pull his tunic back on. "I do not take kindly to being poked and prodded like some kind of blasted specimen meant to be studied."

"You have always been a difficult patient, Master Kenobi," the Healer replied. "You have several cracked ribs that must be taken care of."

"This is not the first time I have been wounded in the line of duty," Obi-Wan retorted, getting up from his place on the diagnostic table he sat atop. "I assure you I will be fine. Now if you don't mind, I would very much like to check on Jedi Skywalker."

After a short hesitation, the Healer sighed in defeat and gestured towards the doors adjoined with the next room over. "Right this way."

"Thank you."

Padme held her hand up to her mouth and gasped when she saw the sight before her. Nothing could have prepared her for what she found when she stepped into the infirmary. Floating in a large bacta tank was an unconscious Anakin, stripped down to nearly nothing while he recovered from the injuries he had sustained during Obi-Wan's rescue.

Her heart pounded as she slowly and shakily approached him. His chest and abdomen were slightly singed – burn marks and various abrasions running across his exposed torso – but thankfully they didn't appear to be too serious. As she neared his motionless body she could also make out two deep gashes between his shoulder blades, his flesh severely scorched around them. This, she knew, was why he had been confined to the tank.

"Oh, Ani…"

Taking a step closer, she pressed her hand against the warm glass in front of her and peered up at him through the liquid that surrounding his tall frame. She prayed he would wake up and she would be able to look into his loving blue eyes again, but they remained closed.

"Padme?"

Padme started at the sudden sound of the voice that came from behind her. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't even realized Obi-Wan had entered the room.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you," he quickly apologized. He had walked in without the Senator even noticing his presence and silently chided himself for not alerting her of his arrival sooner. "I'll give you a moment to yourself."

He turned to leave, but stopped when she called out after him.

"That's not necessary, Obi-Wan, you are not disturbing me. I'm glad to see you are well."

He returned his gaze to her and offered a weak smile. "Thank you, Senator."

"What happened?" she asked, turning back to the tank.

Obi-Wan didn't answer right away. What am I going to tell her? That it is my fault he is in the state he is? He wouldn't be in this condition if he never came after me…I did this.

"He…it happened very fast," he finally replied. "We were attacked by destroyer droids when we were getting ready to leave. Both of our ships were damaged, but Anakin's was hit far worse than mine."

"Is he really back?" Padme tried to suppress her tears as she questioned him further. "Anakin, I mean. Is it really him?"

"I'm not sure," Obi-Wan said with sorrow evident in his features. "Anakin has denounced his place as a Sith, but…"

The word hurt Padme deeply.

Sith.

Darth Vader, dark lord of the Sith…the fact that Anakin had taken the title made her heart ache.

"But what?"

"Back on the space station…" Obi-Wan trailed off, clearly not wanting to continue with his explanation.

"Tell me, Obi-Wan, I have to know."

The Jedi Knight uncomfortably shifted where he stood, but reluctantly complied. "If Anakin is indeed back, he will need to completely rid himself of the dark side. I don't believe he has."

If it was possible, Padme's spirits sank even more. "You mean he could still be Vader?"

"I'm not saying that," Obi-Wan corrected her. "I'm only saying he could possibly revert to his…former self…if he doesn't gain control over his emotions and extinguish the darkness that still lives within him."

Obi-Wan put it as delicately as he could, but he could see the pain the statement had caused Padme and felt a great deal of sympathy for her. More tears freely streamed down her face as she gently rested her hand on the bacta tank once again. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Obi-Wan."

"There is nothing you can do, Padme. Only time will tell which path he will choose," Obi-Wan replied in a soothing tone. "It is something he must do on his own. The decision is his and his alone – nobody else can help him."

"You're wrong," was Padme's instant response, grim determination lacing her words. "I can help him. I know him better than anyone, Obi-Wan, and I know he can be saved."

The room fell silent as Senator and Jedi focused on the floating form of Anakin Skywalker…