Disclaimer: It's not my sandbox. Just playing here.

AN: Here's chapter 22! Thanks for all the great reviews and sorry for the cliffhanger:)

Never Gone

Chapter 22: Caught

"Crying for you master won't help you. Goodbye Skywalker!" Aurra yelled, as she drew the dagger back, eager to shove it into his heart. Padme's piercing scream filled the air around them. Anakin struggled against her Force hold. He managed to move to the side, as the dagger came crashing toward him. Instead of piercing his heart, because of his movement, she plunged the dagger into his left shoulder. Another cry of excruciating pain was heard from Anakin. His breath came in ragged gasps. Anakin growled in pain, as he lifted his leg and shoved his boot into her abdomen, breaking her Force hold on him. Aurra fell back, hitting the ground. She was truly surprised that he had managed to break her hold on him, for it had been a strong hold. Anakin stumbled, unconsciousness threatening to sweep through him. He sunk to his hands and knees, gasping for air and trying to push back the intense pain searing in his shoulder and side. Blood pooled around him, as it trickled from his wounds. Aurra stood up and kicked him in the stomach, causing him to tumbled onto his back. Then, she proceeded to kick him in the chest and gut several more times, ignoring Padme's cries for her to cease. She stepped on his shoulder, beside the blade that still protruded from it. With a rough jerk, she pulled it out and examined the blood stained tool with satisfaction. Anakin cried out in pain, as she removed it. Blood pooled in the open wound, rushing out now that the blade was no longer there. Anakin fought unconsciousness and the nausea that was overwhelming. He knew that if gave into it, Padme would die. Tears welled in his eyes, as he realized that he might not be able to protect her much longer.

"You're as good as dead Skywalker," Aurra said, as she kicked him one last time. Then, slowly, she walked toward Padme with a cruel smile on her face.

"N...no, Pad...me!" Anakin rasped, as he tried to get up.

"Anakin, you must get up," Qui-Gon's voice spoke to him.

"I'm...so...rry angel," Anakin rasped, as blackness began to invade his vision.

Aurra Sing snarled evilly, as she stood before the sobbing woman. Aurra yanked Padme's long hair and put the dagger to her throat.

"Don't worry Senator, you'll be joining your husband now," Aurra said. Padme's scream caused his eyes to shoot open.

"She needs you," Qui-Gon's voice urged him. Anakin looked to his side and saw his saber lying there. He held his hand out to it, commanding it to him. It shook and finally obeyed it's master, sliding into his hand.

"You're about to make me a very rich woman, Senator," Aurra said, as she drew the blade up, ready to slit Padme's throat. She was enjoying herself so much, that she never sensed Anakin and that he had managed to get up. She felt a searing pain in her arm, as the severed limb, along with the dagger, fell to the ground. She gaped in horror, as she whirled around, only to see Anakin standing there, a mixture on intense pain and contempt on his face.

"I would...have thought that...you would have known...never to turn your back on your...enemy," Anakin said, his shoulders heaving,as he lunged at her, plunging his saber through her heart, before she had time to react. He pulled it out and Aurra Sing slumped the floor, dead. Anakin stumbled, but tried to balance himself, as he pointed his blade at Nute Gunray.

"Call...off your droidekas now!" Anakin ordered fiercely. Nute Gunray and Rune Haako cowered before him.

"NOW!" Anakin screamed, half in pain, half in rage. The viceroy waved his hand at the droids and they rolled away.

"Now...get away from her, before...I kill you!" Anakin screamed, as Padme came to his side, helping to hold him up. Nute Gunray and Rune Haako backed away in fear.

"Commander...see that...these two are arrested," Anakin rasped. Finally, his legs gave out and he crumped to the ground.

"Anakin!" Padme cried, as she knelt beside him and pulled his head into her lap. She sobbed, as she looked at her hands, which were covered in blood. There was so much blood. With Aurra Sing dead, the doors were no longer being held shut and Clone Troopers swarmed in. Commander Lien began issuing orders.

"Take these two to a holding cell and put them on 24-hour watch," he told two of his troopers. He then pointed to four of his other troopers.

"You four, get Skywalker to sick bay. See what the healers can do for him until we get to Naboo," the commander said.

"Milady, please, we must get your husband to sick bay. I'll escort you there, so you can be near him," Commander Lien said. Padme nodded and allowed him to help her up. Two of the Clones carefully picked Anakin up, while the other two led the way.

Lea ran through the palace and out toward the garden, where she knew she would likely find Obi-Wan. He was probably still beating himself up for letting them go.

"Obi-Wan!" Lea called. He turned to meet her eyes.

"Have you heard anything?" he asked.

"There sending Anakin and Padme down in a shuttle. They'll be landing in the docking bay in a few minutes," Lea said. Obi-Wan nodded and followed her into the palace and to the docking bay. Lea wanted so much to reach out to him and hug him, but she knew she couldn't in public.

The shuttle docked and four Clone troopers carried Anakin out on a stretcher. Padme followed them out. Her eyes were red and puffy and tear tracks stained her cheeks. Her dress and hands were covered in dried blood that everyone assumed was Anakin's.

Obi-Wan and Lea rushed up to them and Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's pale forehead.

"We stopped the bleeding in his wounds, but he has lost a lot blood," one of the troopers reported.

"Get him to sickbay immediately," Obi-Wan ordered.

"Yes sir," the Clone replied, as he and his men carried him off. Lea held Padme, as she sobbed.

"There was...so much blood Lea. I...I can't lose him," Padme sobbed. Lea hugged her tightly.

"You're not going to lose him Padme. He's too strong for that. Let's go get you cleaned up, okay?" Lea asked gently.

"No, I want to go to sickbay. I'm not leaving him!" Padme yelled.

"Padme, they're going to have to take him into surgery and you can't go in when they're doing that. Let's get you cleaned up and then I'll take you there," Lea said, as she looked back at Obi-Wan.

"Is it okay if I let Dorme and Sabe take you? I'll catch up to you in a few minutes," Lea said. Padme nodded and allowed her handmaidens to lead her away. Lea walked up and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"How in blazes could I allow this to happen?" Obi-Wan said, almost angrily.

"Obi-Wan, none of this is your fault! None of us could have known that Aurra Sing would go to the lengths that she did," Lea replied.

"He wasn't ready to face someone like her," Obi-Wan said.

"But he did and it's over. And he won. He's going to be fine, he's a strong one," Lea assured him.

"When the council finds out, I'll be reprimanded for sure," Obi-Wan replied quietly.

"You don't know that. I'm sure Anakin will have something to say about that. None of us blame you Obi-Wan and surely Anakin doesn't," Lea replied. Obi-Wan just lowered his head.

"No more pity parties, my love. Let's go to sick bay and see how he is," Lea said, as they walked there side by side.

Padme, Lea, and Obi-Wan sat in the waiting room for what seemed like hours. One of the healers finally came up and all three of them jumped up.

"Please tell me, is he okay?" Padme asked, shakily.

"Your husband lost a lot of blood Senator, but he is a fighter for sure. We have replenished him with a blood transfusion and we have cleaned the stab wounds that he suffered. We just took him out of the bacta tank and it has successfully repaired the flesh wounds. We are ready to start the bone regenerator to fix his three broken ribs. Then, he will just need plenty of rest. He has asked to see all of you, but for now, I can only admit one of you until we are done repairing his broken ribs. I assume that you will be the one to see him Senator?"

"Yes, thank you," Padme said, as she shook his hand and quickly rushed passed him. She burst into the medical bay and saw her Anakin laying there on a table. She rushed over to him, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Oh Ani," she cried, as she tousled her fingers through his shaggy blonde hair, which was still damp from the bacta tank.

"Don't cry angel, I'm fine," he assured her, as he reached up wiped one of her tears away with his thumb. The healer allowed them a few moments together, before Padme was ushered out so they could begin repairing his ribs.

Lea entered her quarters at the palace and flopped down on her bed. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Flipping over on her stomach, she turned on the holocom. She knew that the attempt on Padme's life aboard the Republic cruiser was probably all over. But what she saw, left her speechless. It seemed from what she was gathering that there had been a holonet reporter embedded on the Republic cruiser who happened to be in docking bay when everything had happened. She watched, as they showed the entire battle between Aurra and Anakin, however gruesome it was. She knew that it would not be long before the Council would be calling to speak with Obi-Wan...

After the healers had finished, Padme had ordered that Anakin be moved to her suite in the palace. The healers really had no objections, as Anakin's open wounds had been closed and repaired. His broken ribs had finished mending, thanks to the bone regenerators and all he required now was lots of rest. Despite his condition a few hours ago, Anakin was awake and mostly just very sore. Padme sat beside him, as he and Obi-Wan talked.

"I want you to know that I'm very proud of you Anakin," Obi-Wan said. Anakin smiled.

"Thanks Obi-Wan, but I just used the skills you taught me and I'm still not sure how I found the strength to defeat her. She was a lot stronger," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan smiled and glanced over at Padme who was resting her head against his good shoulder.

"I think I know," Obi-Wan replied. Anakin followed his gaze and smiled at his beautiful wife, while placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But you can do something for me, you know," Anakin replied.

"Anything," Obi-Wan replied.

"Stop blaming yourself, cause none of this is your fault," Anakin replied.

"Am I that transparent?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, but Lea also told Padme that you're blaming yourself," Anakin replied, with a smirk. Suddenly Lea burst into Padme quarters and hurried over to them.

"Lea, what's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, taking her arm.

"We have a problem," Lea said.

"What is it?" Padme asked.

"There must have been a holonet reporter aboard that ship. They recorded the entire fight with Aurra," Lea said.

"You mean the light saber battle in particular, don't you," Anakin replied. She nodded.

"It's all over the holonet. They're questioning the Jedi Council about how a non-Jedi could fight with a light saber so well and actually defeat a former Jedi. The Council has not responded yet," Lea said, her eyes mirroring the pain in her heart. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Padme called. It was Captain Typho who entered.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion milady, but Master Kenobi has a call from Coruscant. I believe it is from the Temple," Typho spoke. Obi-Wan nodded.

"Thank you captain, Obi-Wan can take it in my office," Padme replied. Obi-Wan nodded and left to face them.

"Stupid...this is my fault," Anakin said.

"Anakin, you can't blame yourself, just like Obi-Wan can't blame himself. You did what you had to do to protect Padme and yourself," Lea said quietly, as she started to leave.

"Tell Obi-Wan that I've gone to my room," Lea said. Padme nodded and watched her leave.

"I've probably cost Obi-Wan his career," Anakin said.

"Ani, this is not your fault. We would be dead right now if not for the skills Obi-Wan taught you. I don't regret it and if you ask him, he'll tell you that he doesn't either," Padme replied.

"You think so?" he asked. Padme kissed him gently.

"I know so, my love. Now, you need your rest," Padme said, as she helped him lay back down.

"Now sleep Ani. If the healers find out that you're not resting, they'll make you come back and spend the night in the infirmary," Padme told him. Anakin shuddered at the thought.

"Good night angel," he said, as he yawned.

"Good night Ani," she replied, as she brushed her fingers through his bangs. The feeling of her fingers running through his hair lulled him into a deep sleep.

Obi-Wan faced the stern faces of Master Windu and Master Yoda, as their images came up on the holoscreen.

"Masters," Obi-Wan bowed respectfully.

"Much it seems, we have to discuss, master Kenobi," Yoda said.

"Yes master," Obi-Wan replied.

"We wish to discuss this in person. Yoda and I are leaving for Naboo in the morning. We will arrive tomorrow evening," Mace said simply.

"I understand masters, I shall see you then," Obi-Wan said, as the transmission blinked out. Obi-Wan sighed and sensed that Anakin and Padme were asleep. He sensed that Lea had left and he quietly slipped out to find her.

Obi-Wan quietly entered her quarters and found her sitting at her dressing table. She was in her nightgown already and brushing her hair out. Upon seeing him, she set the brush down and went to him.

"What did they say?" she asked.

"They are leaving for Naboo in the morning. They want to discuss everything in person," Obi-Wan replied. Lea hugged him and laid her head against his chest.

"Oh Obi-Wan," she cried.

"I will have to tell them everything," he told her. She looked up at him.

"Everything?" she asked, in barely a whisper.

"Yes my love. I will have to defend myself and so I will have to come clean with everything," Obi-Wan replied sadly.

"What's...what's going to happen to us?" Lea asked hesitantly, not being able to meet his eyes. Obi-Wan lifted her chin.

"They will accept that you are the love of my life and they will except that I wish to continue training Anakin, or I will resign my position as a Jedi," Obi-Wan told her honestly.

"But...being a Jedi has been your life! I...I can't ask you to give that up for me...I can't!" Lea cried.

"You're not asking me Lea, I'm doing what my heart tells me is right. I love you Lea," Obi-Wan said, as he leaned down and kissed her gently.

"I love you too Obi-Wan," she replied, as his lips met hers again in a searing kiss...