Chapter Eight

A/N I got this one up as fast as I could guys...so you don't go nuts. As always thanks to my beta. :)

not mine don't sue

Anakin didn't know how long he'd been sitting on that filthy bed cradling his Master's unmoving body. He heard the storm raging outside, the rain had resumed with a passion. It was beating on the fragile house with a strength Anakin envied. The planet seemed to be as angry and hurt as he was, weeping right along with him.

Time didn't matter anymore. Nothing did. The tears refused to dry up and he couldn't make himself let go of Obi-Wan. Anakin couldn't leave him here. He would bring him back to Coruscant where he could be honored as the hero he was. Obi-Wan deserved so much more, but it was all Anakin had the power to give him now. He would make sure everyone knew what a unique, caring, brave, loyal man had been lost here today.

He would make sure no one ever forgot.

Anakin knew he never would.

He knew he'd never forgive himself for failing yet again.

Anakin hugged Obi-Wan's still warm body closer to him. Letting go was still a challenge he couldn't face. All his instincts told him to hold on tighter, as if his very will could bring his Master back to him.

"Ani." The familiar voice floated into his ears.

Anakin's head shot up and he studied the room through blurred, water-obscured vision.

Nothing.

Anakin shook his head weakly. I must be loosing my mind for real this time.

Then he heard it again.

"Qui-Gon?" Anakin asked the empty space in front of him. At first he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him as the air seemed to shimmer with a faint blue light . Then the light formed a shape, one he had never expected to see again, but even seeing this man brought no joy to Anakin. Joy was something he wasn't sure he would ever feel again.

"Yes Ani. I'm here. I know this is a surprise but you must listen quickly. There isn't much time left."

"Time for what?" he snapped, his voice still full of raw agony. "Obi-Wan is dead. There's nothing left to do."

Qui-Gon's arms crossed across his chest as he regarded Anakin with sympathetic, yet impatient eyes. "I know you are hurting Ani, but you must listen. As I was trying to say, there isn't much time left to save Obi-Wan."

"What?" Anakin's heart skipped a beat. He looked down at his Master's pale, lifeless face hoping for a miracle, but there was no change.

"He's dead. I let him die. I can't save him Master. It's already too late. Can't you see that?" Anakin allowed his despair to leak through his voice, as his eyes began to water again.

"No Anakin." Qui-Gon had moved to stand directly beside him. He bent down so his blurry face was inches from Obi-Wan. "You're the one who doesn't see."

"Master Qui-Gon I don't-"

"Stop looking with your eyes Padawan. Use the Force."

Understanding finally penetrated the haze that had surrounded his grief stricken mind. Anakin stopped looking at Obi-Wan and instead looked into him.

"Life energy." Anakin's voice was merely a whisper. He could just barely make out the white light hovering around his Master's body. It was almost gone, but not completely. Obi-Wan hadn't surrendered to the Force yet; his soul was clinging to this world by a thread.

"Stubborn isn't he? You can still bring him back Anakin" Anakin jumped; he had forgotten about the dead man standing next to him.

"How...I don't know how to-"

"Yes you do. You have the knowledge and the power to heal him. There is just one lesson you must learn right now. It is the one that you have struggled with all you life." Qui-Gon paused to make sure he had the Padawan's undivided attention. "Submission, young one."

"I don't understand." Panic tainted his voice. If there was a chance he could still save his Master he needed to understand now.

"The reason you have never been able to fully utilize your full strength in the Force is because you do not trust it. You try to control the Force, when in truth you would be much more powerful if you yielded to its will."

"I don't know how Master."

"Yes you do. Submit to the will of the Force Anakin. There is still time to save him, but you must act now."

His fingers tightened around Obi-Wan's arms. "What if the will of the Force is that Obi-Wan is to die?"

"Then he will." Qui-Gon's voice was neither angry nor worried. It held only acceptance, an acceptance Anakin knew he had to learn immediately. He had to let go, surrender, stop trying to always bend the world to his will. It was a lesson Master Obi-Wan had tried to teach him that long ago.

xx

"You have to allow the Force to bend you Anakin."

Obi-Wan and Anakin had been meditating in the Room of a Thousand Fountains for the better part of the afternoon. His master was trying to explain why the meditation continued to fail, but the ten year old was more interested in sulking than listening at the moment.

"Allow yourself to be a leaf in the winds of the Force for once...instead of a sturdy Oak tree all the time. You might be surprised what you learn from the experience."

xx

For the first time that lesson made sense. Qui-Gon was right, he did know how.

It was time to prove it.

Anakin nodded at Qui-Gon, then bent his head down until his forehead touched Obi-Wan's. Eyes closed he reached out to the Force and when it touched him, he allowed it to embrace him. He could vaguely hear himself talking to his fading Master.

"Feel the force flow through you. Feel it heal you, help me to save you Master."

The Force was flowing through him, molding him. He was tempted to reach out for it...but he didn't. Anakin allowed it to have it's way with him...and he felt a power he'd never thought possible. White light flowed and rippled in the air all around him, it engulfed him with its power.

His eyes were closed yet he saw everything more clearly. The darkness that he had thought gave him so much power could not compare to this. Out of the corner of his vision Anakin saw a tiny white speck of energy moving across the floor, it was a beetle, but he saw and felt it as easily as he would another Jedi. Obi-Wan's light was very dim, but now Anakin could see that he was not lost to him. The Force was giving him a very special gift today. Obi-Wan would be saved; Anakin just knew it.

Every bit of poison was there for him to destroy, it seemed so easy now. Anakin focused on his Master's polluted bloodstream and began his cleansing. He traveled along through Obi-Wan's veins and arteries, following every twist and turn, wiping out every trace of the vile substance. With the Force as his guide he knew to save the heart for last, so he focused next on the lungs. They took quite a bit of work, but in minutes they were clear.

Once last stop. Anakin focused on the still heart and began the most delicate final task. As he destroyed the last traces of the greenish, liquid he felt himself tiring. One more thing. He pushed gently with the Force against Obi-Wan's silent heart willing it to beat again.

Obi-Wan come back to me. I know you can do it Master, you are the strongest and most stubborn man I've ever met.

He pushed again.

Nothing.

Anakin was about to give another nudge when Obi-Wan gasped and clutched Anakin's shaking arms. Anakin felt more tears trickle down his cheeks, but these were tears of joy.

Obi-Wan took another long, deep breath and his eyes flew open. Anakin was still connected to his Master at a level he didn't even understand. He could feel each erratic beat of Obi-Wan's heart as it struggled to life again, feel the relief Obi-Wan felt at being able to breath normally again. He could feel the love his Master felt for him...and the pride.

Anakin knew Obi-Wan could feel that same love coming from him.

They sat there, Obi-Wan holding Anakin's arms as if he was afraid to let go or he might drift away again, Anakin's non-mechanical arm supporting Obi-Wan's back, feeling each breath Obi-Wan took, just staring at each other. Neither sure exactly what had happened, but both were too grateful to care.

Good job Ani. Anakin heard Qui-Gon's proud voice tickle the back of his mind. Anakin knew he had gone, he didn't have to turn, he had felt him leave.

Thank you Qui-Gon. For giving me my life back. I won't screw up this second chance.

I swear it.

"It's good to have you back Master," Anakin whispered.

"It is good to be back...Ani." A single tear ran down his pale cheek, intersecting with his now smiling lips.

Anakin had never felt so close to anyone before and didn't think he ever would again.

As Obi-Wan continued to smile up at him, Anakin couldn't help but realize that the darkness that had always seemed to follow him had never seemed so far away.

end chapter 8

Well, what did you think guys? Feedback is love. :)

oh and I thougth i'd let everyone know ( if they are interesteed)I am planning on writing a sequel to this fic. It's basically going to be RO'TS but quite different because of the events of this fic. Knowing that may make what has happened in this story so far have more meaning. :)