A/N: Hey all! I seem to be losing reveiwers by the chapter! What's going on everybody, why stop reveiwing. well except Hopeless4life who remains a loyal reveiwer - thanks xx. Anyway, back to the story. I updated early for those of you who hate to wait and i got 2 more chapters on standby raring to get posted. The more reveiws I get telling me to update quicker, the quicker I will post, and no, reveiwing more than once per chapter doesn't count. lol. Anyway, hope you all enjoy and May the Force be with you Always. xx

WoketteUK - Well here's a new chapter posted earlier just for you as the very first person to say they wanted one earlier. More on the way, keep you eyes peeled, and thnaks for reveiwing. xx

Hopeless4life- Glad you liked the previous chapters, wait until you read the next ones! he he he. Here's an early update and I am considering updating earlier for my next two chappies also. Keep reveiwing. xx

Cranberrie Naberrie - Hi new and strange reveiwer. lol. Do you want to go over what your reveiw meant cause i have no idea what your on about! lol. Hope you are enjoying the story and that you will reveiw again. xx

My whole body shudders as he enters the small medical room. I notice the confusion flick across Anakin's face and, in a way, I feel just as confused as he does. I can't truly register why the presence of this man, who was once one of my most trusted advisors and friends, makes me feel so uneasy and…angry.

He crosses over to Anakin now and places a friendly hand on his shoulder, and I can hear them talking, but I don't hear what they are saying nor do I take an interest. All I notice is the tone in which the Supreme Chancellor speaks. The soft caring tone I knew is there, but it has changed. Now it is laced with a coldness, a coldness that only one who was so accustomed to him would realise was there at all, and it worried me, although my 'Politician Look' as Anakin likes to call it, reveals nothing of such feelings.

I look over to Anakin, wondering if it is at all possible that he to has noticed such a subtle change in Palpatine's demeanour, but what I see there instead of puzzlement, is pain. Anakin has become as skilled at masking his true emotions when he wants to as I have when in a Senate meeting, but the unmistakable clenching of his jaw-line and the new pain that flashed beneath his eyes was all too evident.

I entwine my fingers with Anakin's new mechanical ones, and give them a squeeze, despite the fact that I know he cannot feel me doing so and also the fact that it was like holding bone in between my fingers. Cold, metallic bone. I fight off the wave of nausea that flooded through me and I focus back on Anakin, who has fallen deeper into his world of pain and suffering. I can't continue like this any longer and I open my mouth to halt Palpatine in his ramblings, but I become aware then, that his attention has been turned to me, and now he is addressing me with the same cold, manipulating tone, hidden behind a mask of care and wisdom.

"Senator Amidala. Milady, it is good to see you safe and unharmed. I was just discussing with Anakin how good a job he has done protecting you. It's a shame that Obi-Wan doesn't see his potential."

Inside, I rapidly fume as he continues to speak. Everyone had been warned about Anakin's emotional and mental state, and had been warned of certain topics to steer clear of for the time being. And the main focus point to steer clear of was exactly what Palpatine had just been talking about. My face remains totally calm, but no-one can doubt the ferocious glare that lights up behind my eyes. I speak now to him, tensely and equally as coldly.

"Yes Chancellor. Anakin is one of the best jedi in his generation. I expected a lot less than what he gave and I am always going to be in his debt for that. But, Anakin needs his rest, he has had a hard time and is still recovering."

"Yes, yes I quite understand Milady. After all, a hero needs his rest to continue his wonderful work for the people he so boldly serves, and I am myself a very busy man. I hope you recover soon Anakin, after all, you still need to escort the lovely senator back to Naboo."

I continue staring daggers into his back as he leaves, and continue to watch the door angrily as if daring him to come back in. I sigh and shake my head, thinking to myself, wondering when it was that the Chancellor became so cold, so manipulating. But, a faint stutter quickly brings me out of my thoughts.

"P...P...Padme...I..."

I glance up to Anakin and all my anger ebbs away as his broken, forlorn body meets my eyes andmy rageis instantly replaced by fear and adrenaline as I come to realise that something is very, very wrong.

Anakin's face is devoid of colour, his whole body is shaking despite a raging fever that makes his brow and chest glisten with sweat against the light of the room and his breathing is rapidly becoming shallow. I jump to my feet and hit a panic button on the wall beside his bed, then run my hand through his short cropped hair. He still calls out to me, still desperately trying to find me despite the fact that I am standing right next to him.

"Ani… calm down. It' alright I'm here. What's going on?"

"My head…it's pounding… It's dark… I can't move…I can't breathe...the dark is killing me…it's coming for me…"

"Anakin you're not making any sense! The dark can't hurt you…"

"Don't let them sedate me…please Padme promise me!" It'll get me…it'll kill me…please Padme...please…"

"Hold on Anakin, the healer's are coming. They'll…"

"NO! I don't need them…I need…"

But his sentence his cut short as he screams in pain and his breathing becomes even worse. The healer's rush in, and instantly get to work. Speaking to Anakin, asking me what happened, strapping a breathing mask firmly to Anakin's pale face. But I can't concentrate. I know in my panic that there is someone that Anakin needs more than me…someone who understands….someone who can help him.

Then I remember and reaching in the pocket of my robes I hurriedly pull out my com link and key in a private code. I slink into a quiet corner, away from all the noise and activity surrounding Anakin and wait with bated breath as nothing but a blue blur exists on the small screen. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes as I hear snippets of conversation, snatching words like 'critical condition' and 'won't stabilize'.

"Senator Amidala?"

I look quickly back to the com link in my hands and breathe a sigh of relief as a blue scan image of Obi-Wan meets my gaze.

"Oh Obi-Wan thank goodness! You have to get over here right away. Something has gone horribly wrong. Anakin's shaking, got a high temperature, says his head is exploding and that the dark's going to…to kill him or something. The healer's can't do anything and…"

"Senator...calm down. Listen. This is what you must do at all costs. I don't care how you do it, just keep Anakin awake and talking to you. Do not let the healers sedate him and allow no one but me to visit him until I get there. I'll be there as soon as I can, I promise."

"Please hurry...please…"

But that is all I manage to sob as the connection is cut and I am jerked back to reality by someone calling my name.

"Senator...Milady…we must sedate him. We have no other option. He is struggling too much for us to do anything for him."

Fiercely I shake my head, tears streaming down my cheeks as I see Anakin arch in pain again. I cross over to the bed and grasp his human hand firmly, letting him practically crush my hand in an effort to halt his harrowing, muffled screams through the oxygen mask.

"No. There is nothing you can do. Just….leave him."

The team of 3 healers all look at me now, ludicrously, as if I myself have lost my mind. But I don't care. As long as Anakin's blue eyes still shone out at me then there was no way I was going to give in without a fight.

"But Milady...this is inhumane…we can't just..."

"YES YOU CAN AND YOU WILL! NOW LEAVE US!"

I realise I am yelling now, so worked up and so frustrated that I don't care if hey discover my true feelings for Anakin any longer. Right now my main concern is getting them to understand that Anakin must continue to go through this pain, to keep him awake…to keep him alive. I calm myself, using all my senatorial training to bring my own opinions under control, forcing myself to think logically.

"I have my orders from Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin is his Padawan and I think he is more suited to deal with this kind of situation don't you."

Nodding, they all check Anakin's vital's and IV levels before they leave, wincing along with me as Anakin's screams continue to fill the small room. Eventually, there is no one left except me and Anakin. I can't do anything except stroke his hair as his pain filled eyes bore a gaze so pleadingly and despairingly into mine, speaking words that he can't physically speak, making me break down, sobbing apologies to him.

I don't know what to say, I don't know what to do for him. My first act as Anakin Skywalker's girlfriend and already I'm failing. I feel helpless, alone, scared and venerable, and I suddenly become aware of the kind of emotions Anakin himself has been battling with. Except for a Jedi, battling with these kind of emotions never leads to some happy outcome. These kind of emotions lead to something far worse.

"Oh Obi-Wan….please…hurry!"