A/N: Hey All! I'm getting loads of new reveiwers and I an so physced cause of that and the fact that its nearly christmas! I've got all chapters up to 22 written up and one of them is an Intermission where we learn a little bit about Obi-Wan. I want to know if you think this is a good idea or if you think that I should stick with the whole Anakin Angst for the remiander of the story. Let me know! I will update quicker this week, there will probably be another update on Friday so that I can get as many done before Christmas to keep you entertained.

Let me know in the reveiw guys and may the force be with you all. xx

"Hi there Anakin! My name is Bant, I'm a friend of Obi-Wan's. How are you feeling?"

I eye the strange person standing in the doorway of my room. She is beautiful, not so much as Padme but still attractive. She has a kind of twinkle in her eye and her tone is soft and comforting. Yet there is something odd about her that makes my force sense tingle with fear and mistrust. I vaguely murmur a short greeting and tense slightly as she moves into the room. I look around quickly for Obi-Wan, and am relieved when I find him still standing, amused in the doorway.

Bant has settled herself on the edge of my bed, looking me over quizzically, but searching for what I still can't tell.

"Well for someone who seems to be on the mend at a considerably quick rate you are awfully grumpy."

Hang on, how does she know that I am on the mend, she doesn't even know me and I'll be damned if the news that I am recovering has spread around the temple this quickly. I frown, trying to think where she could have heard it….but in the end I only assume that Obi-Wan has told her.

"I was fine until you showed up."

I can feel Obi-Wan's scolding before my name has even passed his lips, but I really don't care. There is something about Bant that irritates me, scares me, I just don't know what it is! I inwardly kick myself for being stupid, telling myself that its only because I'm not used to visitors yet seeing as our last ones were….well there are no words. I hear Bant's soft laugh sound again.

"No Obi-wan it's alright. I understand. He's just trying to get better and the last thing he needs is some random person to come pocking her nose in. Isn't that right Anakin! However I do wish to ask you one thing….what is it like having a robo-arm?"

I look back to her startled and a bit shocked at her audacity.

"Excuse me!"

"I'm sorry, it's just…well… I've seen people with them…even attached a few myself but I've never actually got to speak to anyone about their experience with them."

That's when the last piece of the puzzle falls into place, that's when I realize exactly who she is.

"Y...You…You're...You've…"

I shrink away from her as she moves closer, reaching out to touch me. I look over to Obi-wan who has now decided that the floor is far more interesting than me or my visitor. Fear creeps through my muscles again, making them twitch, making my already shallow breathing rasp harder, making my chest hurt with every breath.

"Get away…from me….leave me alone….leave me!"

"Why?"

I glare at her, knowing what her motives are for being here.

"You're a healer."

"And your point being?"

"You won't…take me….no never…you won't."

I can see Obi-Wan shuddering in the doorway, trying desperately to fight the urge to rush over and protect me. But why doesn't he. There is something about him that is telling me to fight the fear that resides in my heart and listen to what Bant is saying. She looks exceptionally calm, despite the growing threatening look on my face and the tone of voice that I rapidly adopt. In fact, she edges that little bit closer to me and gently lays her finger tips over my chest, taking away the pain that crashes over it. My breaths aren't as raspy now, and I can breathe that tiny bit easier. Then she speaks to me in that soothing tone that reminds me so much of my mother.

"Anakin…did I say at any point that I wish to take you back to the healer's wing?"

"Well…no….but…"

"And have I forced you to do something you don't want to do?"

"No"

"And I'll have you know I don't intend to either. The only reason I am here is because Obi-Wan asked me to come and see you, to help you get better quickly so that you can be off flying and doing all the things you love in no time. Now I know that you have had a traumatic experience, but you of all people should understand not to judge others because of their job. Most of us are kind hearted people who wouldn't even dream of doing the things those healers did to you last night. They are being dealt with and you should have an explanation as to why they did what they did soon enough."

As her logic invades my cluttered, misguided thoughts, I feel the pressure start to clear in my head, rearranging my own logic and brushing aside the small traces of fear that keep a strangle hold on my soul.

Smiling she runs gentle hands over my bandages and bruises from yesterday's attack, over the lightning burns on my chest and abdomen, all the time speaking calmly, telling me what is happening and how I have improved. Eventually she comes to the end of my stump and I frown as she stops and leans back, not going any further.

"What's the matter? I thought you see these all the time."

"Oh I do. I just wanted you to be the one who shows me. And as you show me, I want you to tell me how you feel."

I hear Obi-Wan smother a chuckle at my stubborn frown that passes over my face, but soon the roles are reversed and I'm stifling back chuckles of laughter as Bant turns on him.

"I don't know what you find so funny Kenobi. I'll be dealing with you next. You don't exactly look the picture of health either. So I suggest, unless you want a particularly extensive check up, you go and get some rest and let me deal with my patient."

He looks completely taken aback and it feels wonderful to finally have someone else lecturing Obi-Wan, instead of him lecturing me. After a while a small smile spreads across his face and his reassuring words, aimed at Bant but directed at me, wrap comforting tendrils of light round my soul.

"I'm staying right here. I had enough sleep last night, and besides, I enjoy seeing Anakin answer to someone other than me for a change."

She laughs and turns her focus back on me.

"So it's you whose been giving Obi-Wan grey hairs! And here I was thinking it was old age."

I grin as I hear Obi-Wan splutter, but quickly jump in before Bant gets a rendition of the 'I'm not that old' lecture.

"Yeah it is mainly me, my flying skills and my daring impulsiveness that's aged him. Well…actually….its more like me and my….stupidity and recklessness."

I glance down at the sheet that covers my arm and gently pull it back to look upon the fragile mechanics wired to my nerves as though seeing it for the first time. I see the whole scene of my loss, my failure replayed in its shining gold, and my heart thuds as I hear the words come flooding back.

We'll take him together….you go in slowly on the left…I'll..

I'm taking him now!

No! Anakin No!

I wince as the force lightning burns sting my ribs and the impact of the wall arches my back. My body is jolted into a sitting position as the pain shoots through my body, and I lash out as I feel a soft hand on my shoulder gently push me back down into the soft sheets of the bed. But the person quickly grabs my wrists and holds them down, me unconsciously struggling against their grip. It takes some time before I can look up again, and I start to shake as I find Bant gazing steadily at me from her position on the bed, and Obi-Wan now knelt beside me, gripping my wrists tightly, aided with the force, to stop me hurting either myself or them.

"I...I'm sorry I don't know what…what happened…it just…."

But I see Bant shaking her head smiling, understanding. I break off my sentence and gaze steadily at her, feeling her hand slip away from my human one to run slender fingers down my mechanical one. I still don't trust her, especially after my last episode. I still question her motives for being here, but I trust Obi-Wan more than anyone, and as long as he or Padme is here with her and me, I feel safe. But leave me alone with her….I couldn't handle it. Both Obi-Wan and I watch her expression intently, as it flickers every so often from confusion to understanding. Eventually she breaks away.

"Well Anakin, I must say this should be pretty easy for you to get used to. What the team did was fuse the wires to your severed nerve endings as well as to your skin. Once its activated, with your determination and strength, I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in no time."

I nod slowly, glancing back down to my mechanical hand. I force myself to look at it, to take in its repulsiveness and accept it. This is what I have to live with for the rest of my life, I have no choice. But why must it be as repulsive as I make it out to be. Why cant I just look and accept it for what Padme sees it as….our symbol of love, tragedy and heartache.

"How long is it until we…you know…work on it?"

"Whenever you're ready Anakin. Like I said before I am not here to force you into anything, but I must say that sooner is better than later. The less the nerves are used the deader they become and it will be more painful to get them back again."

"How's…right now for you?"

I see Bant and Obi-Wan share a nervous glance and I sigh in frustration and anger. Why in my life must there always be an obstacle that I have to tackle before I can do anything. Sure everyone has them but why are mine so big, so much more….frustrating?

"Anakin….I was thinking more….tomorrow or even the day after that."

"But I want to do it now. And if you won't help me then I'll do it myself!"

"Oh no you wont Skywalker! Even if I have to be here 24/7 there is no way I am going to allow you to do this alone."

She is glaring at me now but I glare steadily back at her, just daring her to tell me otherwise again, until a new gentle voice sounds from the doorway.

"Oh for force sake Anakin! Why must you always make things so difficult for yourself?"

I could sense who the new voice belonged to long before the words left her lips, and I look longingly to the doorway as she enters, my anger in Bant and Obi-Wan evaporates as her soft gaze meets mine.

"Padme…"

I want to cry as she fly's into my arm, holding me close to her. I breathe in her silky scent and grasp her tighter, refusing to let her go. Then I hear her voice again and I listen to it, not the words as such, just her general voice.

"Just go get yourself checked out Obi-Wan….I'll be fine, he's awake."

I hear him sigh and I grin as he is dragged out the room by Bant, grumbling and complaining all the way. The door closes and my lips instantly find hers, and we lock again in a passionate kiss, one that is all too brief. She pulls away, a frown crossing her beautiful features.

"Oh Anakin…I swear if you ever scare me like that again….I don't know what I'll do."

I reach up and place my hand on the back of her neck, stroking it softly, leaning her back into me slowly.

"I'm sorry Padme. I just wasn't thinking straight. But I am now…my head is clearer than I ever thought it could be."

I run my hand down her back, and feel the bandages wrapped round her chest from the Nexu wounds. I move my hand over them gently as we lock lips once more, and run it down slowly to her side. But she pulls away again, hissing ever so slightly in pain.

"Padme…what's wrong?"

"It's nothing Anakin, just a few bruises from Genosis that's all."

I frown and pull up the top half of her senatorial regalia to find one huge bruise glaring back out at me. I reach through the force and can feel her insecurity and fear before I've even properly searched for it. I can tell she's lying to me and it would have hurt if I wasn't already wracked with pain.

"Padme….what really happened?"