Author comments: SLASH WARNING. Sorry for the long wait, this story is kicking my ass at the moment. Chapter 5 is refusing to co-operate and my original chapter two was way to short so I had to restructure. Critique welcome … but be kind, first piece and all

Disclaimer: These characters belong to George Lucas. No infringement is intended and I make no profit from this….whatsoever.

"Against All Odds"

Chapter Two: Hurting Inside

Obi-Wan couldn't breathe.

He could inhale and exhale, but the pain in his chest hurt so much that drawing air in then out again, burned. His legs were bound and his hands tied. Tears were forming in his eyes, tears that were betraying his imposed calm demeanour.

His muscles ached as he tried not to tense them when the beatings came. His throat clenched as he tried not to scream every time the needle pierced his skin, and his eyes stung as he tried not to cry when the cruel words rammed their way through his ears and into his mind.

"Jedi scum!"

Smack!

"Cry Kenobi, scream for me!"

Whack!

There was no hope, no escape; he was alone, he was cold and afraid.

"Anakin," he called out. "Please."

Nothing.

Anakin had left him.

He had abandoned him, to the whims of this creature.

That hurt more than everything else.

The lips of Ventress curled into a smile, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Still calling out to your Padawan. How pathetic."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, this was it, and he could take no more. After all the beatings, after all the cruel sadistic things Ventress had done to him, the thought of Anakin leaving him was more than an insult to his mind; it was a knife driven deep into his heart.

"Anakin," he whimpered softly, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Ventress laughed loudly. He was breaking and he could not stop it. This was the end; she knew it as he did.

Obi-Wan bit his lip. He didn't want to cry, he didn't want to give Ventress the satisfaction. If this really was the end he would look her in the eyes, he would die with a shred of dignity.

So he tried to open his eyes, but to no avail. He clawed at his face to physically open them, and to his horror found that they were already open. He struggled to focus his sight, to look for something within the darkness.

"ANAKIN."

And then there was a light, racing towards him with impossible speed.

"Anakin," he cried out again.

The light came closer, a gleaming white rope. It curled around him and pulled him, pulled him hard.

Obi-Wan woke with a start, drawing in a deep breath; the room around him was blurred and he struggled to focus his eyes. Blinking furiously to clear the fog from his mind, he was shocked at the sight before him. The hazy form of his Padawan lay slumped across his chest.

He tried to move his arm, to reach out and touch Anakin, but his body would not react to his mental command. He tried to speak, but the air raked through his dry throat.

His intended scream only came out as a whisper.

Anakin snapped open his eyes, his body trembling and his head throbbing. It took him a moment to work out where he was, to get his bearings. Still shaking, he lifted himself up off the bed, hands grabbing at his hair. Closing his eyes and breathing in deeply, he tried to push out the images in his mind.

Obi-Wan, beaten and crying.

Obi-Wan, screaming out his name.

"Anakin."

"Anakin."

He pulled at his braid. "No," he cried as he fought to clear his mind.

Anakin couldn't repress the yelp that tore through his throat, when he felt a hand grasp his own. Startled he opened his eyes.

Obi-Wan was staring back at him, his expression one of sheer confusion and worry.

"Anakin." Obi-Wan said again, his voice gritty and raspy.

"Master?" Anakin climbed on to the bed, and scooped up the elder Jedi into his arms. "Obi-Wan, you're awake!" He murmured, tears falling down his face. He shuddered as he felt Obi-Wan's arms embrace him, and he pulled the elder Jedi closer. 'Thank you, thank you,' he whispered to himself as he cradled His Master in his arms.

"Anakin, let go. I can't breathe."

Hearing his Master's hoarse cry, Anakin abruptly let go. Laying one hand on his shoulder with the other cupping his Master's face, he brushed his thumb across Obi-Wan's cheekbone. "I'm sorry."

"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked bewildered.

"A lot…but later…how…how do you feel…? Do you hurt…? Is there any pain…?" Anakin pulled back slightly, suddenly aware that he was crushing Obi-Wan's body with his own.

Obi-Wan smiled thinly. "I feel….thirsty," he whispered, his voice caught up in his throat.

Anakin grabbed the jug of water nearby and liberally topped up a glass. Wrapping his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulder to support him, he brought the glass slowly up to his Master's lips. Obi-Wan drank eagerly, so much so that he began to choke.

"Steady on there," Anakin chided as he pulled the glass away slightly, "Drink it slowly." He raised the glass again and smiled as Obi-Wan finished every last drop.

"Better?"

Obi-Wan nodded, and Anakin lowered his Master's head back down onto the pillow. Climbing off the bed and back onto the stool, he nervously began to straighten out the bed sheets.

"Calm down, Anakin, I'm alright."

Anakin sighed heavily, resting his head in his hands. "I was so worried; I thought you were going to die…" he sighed deeply, forcing himself to remain in control of his emotions. He would be of no help to his Master if he were a quivering mess. Anakin flinched slightly as he felt Obi-Wan take his hand, and then relaxed allowing his Master to pull it away from his head.

"It's okay," Obi-Wan said, squeezing the younger Jedi's hand tightly for emphasis.

"You've been gone for months. I've felt so lost without you, Master." Happiness, worry, relief and guilt. Anakin's head throbbed as the contradicting feelings fluttered around his mind.

Anakin took in a deep breath and gazed up at Obi-Wan. His Master's expression was calm but his eyes betrayed him. The panic and confusion therein was obvious. Anakin tightened his grip around Obi-Wan's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Are you alright?"

"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked, looking slightly nervous.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Jibiim…" Obi-Wan paused when he saw Anakin tense at the word, "that bad, then?" he said with arched eyebrows.

"It's probably just as well that you can't remember at the moment."

Both men jumped when the door slid open behind them. Obi-Wan yelped, and tightened his grip on Anakin's hand involuntary as the shock pulled at his various wounds.

"Master Kenobi," Healer Zee said as she entered the room, "you are awake." Behind her walked in a very worried looking Mace Windu. Quite a strange look for the usually stern Jedi, Anakin thought. As they walked further into the room Obi-Wan abruptly let go of Anakin's hand, causing the younger Jedi to whimper slightly at the loss of contact.

Healer Zee began to check Obi-Wan over as Mace called Anakin to one side. Reluctant at first, the younger Jedi followed after he received a nod from his Master.

"Anakin, what did you do?" Mace asked, glaring at Anakin with unforgiving eyes.

Anakin tensed his back, adjusting his stance in a defensive manner. "Nothing Master Windu. I've just been sitting here," Anakin said. "For two days straight," he mumbled under his breath.

"You did something, Anakin. A massive ripple just pulsed through the Force. And you were in the center of it."

"Well…I did meditate. I reached into the Force and… er… pulled," Anakin said nervously.

"What?" Mace replied, his expression one of sheer shock.

"I found Master Obi-Wan's Force signature and I pulled it towards me. I just wanted to re-connect with him. I had no idea this would happen."

"Interesting…" Mace paused for a minute, looking at Anakin with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

Anakin blinked twice when he saw a smile form on the elder Jedi's face. 'Mace smiling at me', he thought. The temple had never seen the like.

"Master Windu," Anakin encouraged, trying to nudge the other Jedi out of his silence.

Mace shook his head a little, raising his hand to Anakin's shoulder. "You never cease to amaze me Skywalker. But what ever it was that you did, it worked."

"Thank… you, Master Windu." Anakin nodded, a little unsure how to take the comment.

"This floor doesn't feel very stable." Obi-Wan joked as Anakin led him across the floor of their quarters.

"That would be your legs, Master," Anakin countered, "and you sound like C-3PO. It's very unnerving."

"Still insolent I see, young one." Obi-Wan said with a sigh, as he was dropped onto the bed. He cried out as the pain from his various injuries jolted through his body.

Anakin offered him an apologetic look as he called over a small blanket. He wrapped it tightly around Obi-Wan's shoulders, "anything else you need, Master?"

"Yes Anakin, please stop fussing so much. I'm fine. Go on to your class, I could do with some peace and quiet." Obi-Wan flinched as a flash of pain flickered in Anakin's eyes. He bit his lip regretting his abruptness.

"Fine, whatever you wish Master. Just remember it took all of my negotiating skills to get you at of the healer's wing," Anakin sighed. "They only released you because I promised I would look after you."

"Anakin, I'll be fine. All I intend to do is sleep. And I do not want you to miss anymore of your lessons." Obi-Wan smiled, giving Anakin what he hoped was a reassuring look.

Anakin took his leave with a bow and went rather reluctantly to his class.

Now, left alone with his thoughts Obi-Wan curled up on his side, hugging his knees close to his chest. His mind was clouded with images and voices. His body was sore, and he was tired. Over the past few days he had got his memory back. Every time he closed his eyes he could see Ventress. Even in sleep he couldn't escape, her torture plagued his dreams mixed in with other painful memories from his past. His Master's demise. His Failure on Melida/Dann.

Anakin had hardly left his side and while he was grateful for the attention he was receiving from his Padawan, it was becoming increasingly difficult to think straight. He was supposed to be the Master, not the other way around. Besides, it was beginning to re-awake some of the more inappropriate feelings he used to have about Anakin.

"No, not that again," Obi-Wan whispered to himself.

Obi-Wan shook his head; trying to dispel the images his depraved mind was taunting him with.

"I'm such a mess," Obi-wan sighed. "…not very befitting for a Jedi."

Pulling the blanket tightly around him, Obi-Wan closed his eyes; resigning himself to the fact that he would have to sleep, even if he did not want to. Sighing deeply, he prayed to the Force to keep his nightmares at bay.

The Force however, was not on his side.

"Anakin, what are you doing?" Obi-wan asked, as he watched his Padawan shove his clothes into a bag.

"I'm leaving." Anakin said, a smile curving his lips.

"Why?"

Anakin stalked towards him, with an expression of disgust. Stopping mere inches from Obi-Wan's face. He looked straight into the stunned Jedi's eyes. "Why, do you think?"

Obi-Wan took a step back, trembling.

Anakin began to speak again, but his voice sounded different. It was pitched higher, "you are a dirty man, Kenobi."

It was Anakin's body, but it was Ventress' voice saying the words.

"No!" Obi-Wan cried, closing his eyes. When he opened them, he was not in Anakin's room, not in the temple, not even on Coruscant. Standing before him was the sinister form of Ventress, needle in hand. Obi-Wan tried to move his body, to pull away, but a searing pain coursed through his veins, immobilising him.

He reached out across his Force bond, pleaded for help as Ventress and the needle moved closer.

'ANAKIN!'

Ventress' lips curled into a smile, her eyes bore into him with a cold, dead stare. "Now Kenobi, the more you struggle, the more it hurts. And you know how much I love to hear you scream."

Obi-Wan screamed as the needle penetrated the muscle in his arm, as pain seared through his body. He had just enough time to register that smirk on his captor's face before once again his mind shifted.

"Obi-Wan…promise me you will train the boy."

Obi-Wan felt his heart break as he cradled his Master, his beloved, in his arms. The precious Force signature fading from his heart, the bond splintering in his mind. "Yes, Master."

"…he is the chosen one… he will bring balance… train him."

Gui-Gon's hand fell from Obi-wan face, he was gone. Obi-Wan tried to force the tears back, as he buried his head into his fallen Master's body.

'No'

"Now, now, Kenobi. What are all those tears for?"

Obi-wan opened his eyes with a start to find Ventress' face inches from his own. The acrid smell of her breath filled his nose and he fought the urge to vomit. She pulled back slightly, a cruel smile curving her lips before she plunged the six-inch blade into his stomach.

'NO!'

Obi-wan woke bolt upright, soaking wet with sweat and shaking. The room was dark and quiet, and despite his foolish pride he couldn't help wishing Anakin was there. Rubbing his eyes he tried to shake out the vision of Ventress in his mind. Relief was short though, as he recalled the earlier moments in his dream.

He had held his Master dying in his arms.

He had seen the disgust on Anakin's face.

"Please stop." Obi-Wan whispered, as he began to cry.

TBC