Anakin wished that Sidious would just kill him. He didn't want any part of the old man's plans. He didn't want to be the Chosen One or Darth Vader. He wasn't even entirely certain that he wanted to be Anakin Skywalker any longer because Anakin Skywalker was a weak fool. He'd allowed Sidious to use his own fears against him and had once again fallen prey to the man's deceits. He felt sick at the thought that Sidious had actually convinced him that Obi-Wan had abandoned him. Obi-Wan would never do that. He'd promised that he would never leave him and so far he never had. As soon as they had left Tatooine's atmosphere it felt as though a light had been switched on in his mind and he could sense Obi-Wan's presence clearly. His lover had been there the whole time.

I'm sorry.

That was all he had been able to send before he'd been locked inside the mask and he could no longer feel his connection to the Force. He'd lost track of how many days had passed since then as there was no schedule to keep him oriented. His constant fluttering in and out of consciousness only made to further disorient him.

When he was conscious, though, Sidious was always there, his voice a poison in Anakin's ear.

"It is a shame that we must go through this tedious excuse of an exercise, my boy," Sidious lamented as he paced about the table the younger man was strapped to. "You showed such great potential when you helped to destroy all those meddlesome Jedi. I had truly not thought that you would go so far as to kill the younglings. That was a most welcome surprise. I had such high hopes for your abilities. Now, though…."

His back arched off the table as blue Sith lightning jumped between Sidious' fingertips and his body. He bit down hard on his bottom lip to keep from screaming. He refused to give the Sith lord the pleasure of hearing him cry out. Nor would he give Sidious the pleasure of his anger.

"Where is the hatred? That anger that runs through your veins like fire?" Sidious mused as he stared down at the twitching body below. "Your anger is what makes you powerful. The Jedi knew this and tried to erase it from you. I know better. Embrace it. Strike me down with your anger. Only when you do that will you fulfill your destiny."

He stayed silent, gasping as he struggled to pull air back into his lungs. Even if he had the energy he wouldn't answer Sidious. It was a pathetic rebellion, but the only one he had available to him. His reward for it was another jolt of lightning. This one leaving him teetering on the edge of consciousness.

She'd killed him. She'd killed Obi-Wan.

That wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to be able to put her lightsaber through the force field. Obi-Wan was supposed to be safe.

Anakin hadn't thought to protect his lover because he hadn't thought Obi-Wan needed protecting. But she'd killed him. She'd killed Obi-Wan and all that Anakin had been able to do was watch helplessly as the other man's breathing had slowed to nothing. Anakin had tried throwing himself at the force field, thinking that it could be penetrated from their side, only to be tossed clear across the room on impact.

What happened after that was a blur. He didn't know where he was or how much time had passed. All that he kept seeing was Ventress killing Obi-Wan time and again. It was an endless loop that he couldn't shut out. He couldn't even close his eyes and block it out because he couldn't tell if they were already open or closed. Everything was completely dark around the image of Obi-Wan dying.

He'd been too slow. Every other time he'd managed to save Obi-Wan, but this time he'd been too slow. If he'd just put himself between Ventress and the red wall Obi-Wan was much better at dealing with loss. Obi-Wan had survived Qui Gon dying so his would be no problem.

"A... kin..."

He'd replayed the battle so many times that he knew the exact moment Obi-Wan's death was set. Anakin had twisted to the right after deflecting an overhead jab when he should have twisted left. He'd thought he was drawing Ventress away to the right, but all it had done was leave Obi-Wan open and vulnerable.

"Anakin, look... me... your eyes."

All that he would have had to do was turn left. If he would have just pivoted in the opposite direction Obi-Wan would still be alive. It wouldn't have changed whether or not he defeated Ventress… but it would have kept his lover alive.

"Anakin!"

He awoke with a start. He lay panting on the cold table, straining his hindered senses outwards. It was somewhat of a surprise when he realized that he was alone. He couldn't remember being alone since he'd been in the desert. Relieved as he was to be free of Sidious, he didn't want to be alone. He wanted to be with Obi-Wan. He doubted, though, that Obi-Wan wanted to be anywhere near him. After everything Obi-Wan had done for him, he had still been so quick to believe the worst.

To his right, a door whooshed open. He was no longer alone.

Spending so much time in hyperspace wasn't good for a ship's fuel reserves. It drained them in about twice the time it would normally take. The extra stops were worth it, though, because they would get to Coruscant quicker than without it. Or with only jumping into hyperspace half the time as Cody suggested.

Had Anakin not been involved, Obi-Wan likely would have heeded Cody's suggestion. It was better to take more time and have a place than to rush in. That was what Anakin would do. It wouldn't matter how much danger he put himself in so long as those he cared about were kept safe. It was just one of the countless things he loved about the younger man.

"I'm going to go for supplies," Cody announced, rising from his seat once the droids began refueling the ship. "I'll be back in under an hour."

Obi-Wan knew what supplies Cody was referring to and silently nodded his head. Neither of them were fool enough to attempt this rescue with only a pair of blasters and a lightsaber between them. Loathe as Obi-Wan was to admit it, they would need other weapons. That this would be a purely offensive venture as opposed to a defensive one went against all of Obi-Wan's training. A lightsaber was designed to be a defensive weapon. Some of the katas may have been meant for attacks, but those attacks still came after fighting proved unavoidable. For Anakin, though, Obi-Wan would forego his training. Anakin as already struggling to banish the darkness from him and Obi-Wan was determined not to let him fall.

Not entirely aware of how much time had passed, Obi-Wan was genuinely surprised when Cody came bursting into the cockpit. Obi-Wan didn't even have a chance to ask him what was going on when Cody had already accessed the HoloNet.

"You'll want to see this," was all Cody said before slumping into the pilot's seat.

Obi-Wan stared at the other man dubiously for a moment before turning his attention to the holovid being projected above the ship's main console. What he saw stole the breath from his lungs.

"Anakin."

In that instant Obi-Wan cursed all of the time he had insisted they spend searching Mos Eisley and the surrounding deserts for Anakin. It had been completely useless and had only given Sidious more time with Anakin.

"That we should live in such a time," Sidious, in his guise as Emperor Palpatine, lamented, glancing sadly at the unconscious form projected behind him. "That the Jedi should be allowed to carry out such atrocities on one of their own. Anakin Skywalker was a hero among the Jedi Order, selfless and brave, and because they feared his power the Jedi attempted to destroy him. They would not even offer him a clean death, but instead tortured him viciously."

Whatever restraint had existed in Obi-Wan Kenobi until that point was extinguished in the instant he saw the vidclip of Anakin strapped to a table, writhing under the onslaught of painful Sith lightning. A black mask that Obi-Wan knew all too well covered his face. What pained him as much as a physical blow, though, was Anakin screaming his name. Obi-Wan could see how hard Anakin had been trying to remain silent, but in the end he called for him. And Obi-Wan wasn't there to answer.

"Yet Master Kenobi was not there to answer his partner's call," the Emperor continued. "Kenobi was killed because the Jedi were fool enough to separate him and Skywalker. They destroyed their greatest team systematically and so we've destroyed them. The Jedi no longer served the Republic and so they were removed to make room for our new Empire. With luck, young Skywalker will recover and will be able to take his place at the head of a new Order. One not blinded by dogma, but one to serve the people."

Obi-Wan reached over and turned it off. He couldn't stomach any more of Sidious' propaganda. Not when he knew the truth. Sidious was the one torturing Anakin, not the Jedi. It had nearly destroyed Anakin once before and Obi-Wan didn't know if his lover could withstand it a second time.

As soon as Obi-Wan saw his face he knew what had happened. Leaving Mace standing in the doorway, he rushed across the cell and into the corner where Anakin was restrained. He dropped to his knees before the younger man, his hands immediately moving to frame his face. He held Anakin's head tenderly, mindful of the burns that rimmed the edges of his face. Burns that Obi-Wan himself had bore less than a year before.

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan moaned, leaning his forehead against his lover's. Two weeks. Mace said that it had been two weeks between when Anakin had fought Ventress and when they had been found. The other Jedi had been incredibly vague about the rescue which only worried Obi-Wan more.

Anakin continued to mumble things incoherently, his entire body twitching. Obi-Wan tried to use their bond to coax Anakin back to him, but the younger man's mind was too unfocused. Every time Obi-Wan would think that he had latched onto Anakin's end of their bond, it would splinter off into hundreds of directions leaving Obi-Wan floundering.

"Anakin, look at me. Open your eyes," he pleaded, steadfastly ignoring Mace's glare that he could feel against his back. He pushed that aside completely when the blonde began to convulse, his head slamming back against the wall. "Anakin!"

Less than a heartbeat later he had Anakin in his arms, holding the struggling body against his chest. Obi-Wan did what he could to calm his lover, murmuring nonsense words that usually calmed Anakin when he woke screaming from nightmares. Whatever terrors were haunting Anakin then, however, would not be appeased by mere words. Anakin continued to whimper and tremble against him, fidgeting about restlessly in the straight jacket that kept his arms bound against his body.

"Untie him, Mace," Obi-Wan ordered, the tone of his voice not changing as he didn't want to upset Anakin further. He made certain, though, that the High Council member knew full well the import of his words by his expression.

"I'm not entirely certain that's wise," Mace protested just the same.

"I'll take it under advisory, but for now untie him," Obi-Wan insisted, his glare intensifying. "Being confined is only making it worse."

Though the elder Jedi still didn't look convinced, he nonetheless moved behind Anakin and began unfastening the straps and buckles that kept the young knight restrained. As soon as the last of the straps fell away, Obi-Wan unwound on arm from about Anakin and frantically began to pull the wretched jacket from him. Still caught up in the elongated sleeve, Anakin threw his left arm, the prosthetic not having been replaced, around the older man, clutching at him desperately.

"Hush now, Anakin. I've got you," Obi-Wan murmured against Anakin's temple. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

Shifting his hold on the noticeably taller body, Obi-Wan rose to his feet with Anakin in his arms. Anakin was still clutching at his robes desperately as Obi-Wan left the detention cell. As he passed by Mace, Obi-Wan didn't even acknowledge the other man. Mace wouldn't understand. He had never been Asajj Ventress' prisoner. He had never been force into that Sith-begotten mask. And he had never been tortured by pains and poison while being told that the most important person in his life was dead. Mace Windu had no right to judge.

"We need to get back to Coruscant immediately," Obi-Wan said, his voice hard as the fingers of his right hand drifted to a nearly invisible scar at the corner of his jaw. It was a scar that both he and Anakin shared; reminders of their time as Ventress' prisoners. "As soon as the ship is ready I want to be out of here. I don't care about weapons or anything else. We need to get Sidious away from Anakin now."

"Sir, as much as I'd like to—"

"I don't want arguments, Cody. Just get it done or I'll go alone. I'm not leaving Anakin in that monster's grasp any longer."

The droids continued outside, busily refueling the ship without any care to what was happening inside the cockpit. For his part, Anakin could think of another time that he had been so determined to thrust himself into danger. That was Anakin's role in their partnership. He would rush in and Obi-Wan would be left trying to figure a way out of it. That was how the team of Kenobi and Skywalker worked. It was how they had become so unstoppable. Until they were separated. Now Obi-Wan was forced to make up new rules until he and Anakin were reunited.

And they would be. Obi-Wan would not be separated from his beloved indefinitely.

He would save Anakin.

From Sidious and from himself.

The rest of the galaxy be damned.

"NO!" Anakin screamed, watching in horror as Obi-Wan crumpled to the ground in a boneless heap.

While he was distracted, Ventress disarmed him, removing him not only of his lightsaber, but of his durasteel arm as well. She severed the prosthetic just below the elbow joint and while he felt a slight twinge as circuits were shorted out, all that Anakin was aware of was that Obi-Wan could be dead.

Probably was dead.

And it was all his fault.

"I can make it stop," a slithering voice said from the very edges of his consciousness. "I can make this nightmare of yours end. All that you have to do is submit to me. Renounce your allegiance to Kenobi and you'll be free from all this pain."

He merely grunted as the vision started again.

Obi-Wan was reluctant to set Anakin down. They were back within the safety of their rooms, but still Obi-Wan couldn't completely set aside his fear. Anakin had just endured the one thing that Obi-Wan had always wanted to protect him from. The Force was a part of Anakin's very being, possibly even birthed by the midichlorians themselves. For Anakin to be cut off from it for even a little while, let alone two full weeks, would have consequences that obi-Wan didn't even want to consider.

Sure enough, when he tried to set Anakin down on their bed, terror-stricken blue eyes shot open, a wordless cry erupting from Anakin's throat. Obi-Wan grabbed him up once again, pressing his cheek against the top of Anakin's head.

"Dead. Dead... all my fault... I did it..." Anakin moaned into Obi-Wan's throat. "I killed you..."

Nudging his head down, Obi-Wan brushed his lips against the corner of Anakin's. "You didn't kill me, love. That monster didn't, either. She struck as though I had your height, forgetting that I'm several inches shorter. She missed my heart."

"No, I saw it," Anakin insisted, shaking his head in denial. "I saw you die."

"No, love, you didn't."

Anakin shook his head once again, trying to squirm away from him. Obi-Wan held him tightly. Whatever Ventress had done to him, or tried to convince him, Obi-wan needed to convince him that it wasn't true. Remembering just how healing it had been to feel his bond with Anakin resurface after his time in that torturous mask, Obi-Wan opened himself up completely to Anakin. He lowered all of his walls, knowing that Anakin would believe that over whatever words Obi-Wan tried to offer.

Obi-Wan could feel it when Anakin began to realize the truth of the situation. The tension began to seep from his muscles and Obi-Wan felt a warmth starting to infuse him from the inside. A comforting warmth that he knew to be Anakin.

Obi-Wan hadn't meant to fall asleep. He wasn't even aware that he had fallen asleep. He'd been meditating, trying to center himself for what he knew was going to come, when he'd suddenly found himself waking with a start.

"We're coming into Coruscant's atmosphere, General," Cody's voice echoed over the ship's internal speakers.

Rising from his seat, Obi-Wan grabbed up his lightsaber and made his way back towards the cockpit. There was an odd buzz in the back of his mind. It was a slight tingling sensation, proof to him that Anakin was still alive. Their bond was muted, nearly to the point of non-existence, but now that they were on Coruscant, the strength of that bond was shining through.

"I'm coming, love."