Chapter 2 - Obi-Wan's Advice

"You didn't sleep last night, Anakin." Obi-Wan told Anakin the following morning. "It was the nightmare again, wasn't it?"

Anakin sighed. "You know that?"

"I always know, Anakin. I have caused this by bringing Zak here, I am sorry. Maybe if Zak and I go, the nightmares will stop." Obi-Wan replied.

"I told you yesterday that I did not want you to leave and I still don't. It may not even help. I just need to work through this." Anakin said.

"Should you talk to Zak? It helped when you spoke with Master Windu." Obi-Wan offered.

"I don't know, maybe. But I just can't, not yet." Anakin answered.

Obi-Wan sighed. He couldn't make Anakin face Zak about it. Anakin was not his Padawan any longer, nor was he a Jedi. Anakin was stubborn not stupid, eventually he would come to see the wisdom of it. Obi-Wan only hoped it wouldn't take too long. Anakin was suffering from his dreams and it pained Obi-Wan to see it, "Just don't wait too long, Anakin." He said.

"You worry too much, Master." Anakin told him lightly.

"Well, someone…" Obi-Wan started.

"…Has to. I know." Anakin finished.

"I'm serious, Anakin. It hurts me to see you like this." Obi-Wan said.

"I know, Obi-Wan. I can get through this; I just need some time." Anakin replied.

Obi-Wan and Zak stayed several days, but for Anakin the nightmares only continued to get worse. By the end of their visit, he was not sleeping at all.

"You look terrible, Anakin." Obi-Wan said just before they boarded their shuttle. "You should come back to Coruscant with us and speak with Master Yoda."

"I will, but not yet. I need more time." Anakin replied.

"You aren't sleeping at all, Anakin, and you can't go on like this. Come to Coruscant with us now." Obi-Wan told him, not for the first time.

"No, Obi-Wan. I will come, I promise, but not now." Anakin promised.

Obi-Wan sighed in frustration. Anakin had grown up, but he had not lost his stubbornness. There would be no persuading him, he would have to decide to seek help on his own, "Alright, but think of Padme and the twins. They need you in your right mind. Just think about that." He answered.

"I will, and I will come to Coruscant, soon. Very soon, I promise." Anakin promised again.

"May the Force be with you, Anakin?" Obi-Wan said as he shook Anakin's hand and clasped on the shoulder.

"And with you, Obi-Wan." Anakin answered as he gave him a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be alright, you'll see."

"Good bye, my friend. I will see you soon." Obi-Wan replied.

With that, Obi-Wan followed Zak into the shuttle. Anakin waited on the landing platform until the shuttle was out of sight. He knew that Obi-Wan was right, he did need to talk with Master Yoda. But he also wanted to resolve his problem on his own.

Obi-Wan and Zak settled into their seats. Obi-Wan sitting by a view port, watched Anakin as the shuttle lifted off. Anakin looked so young and vulnerable; Obi-Wan were worried for him.

"What's wrong with Master Skywalker?" Zak asked.

"That is between Master Skywalker and me. It is not your concern, Padawan." Obi-Wan answered sternly.

"I'm sorry, Master; I did not mean to pry. I only ask because Master Skywalker did not seem to like me at all. Have I done something to offend him?" Zak replied apologetically.

Obi-Wan sighed again. He had been too impatient with his apprentice. At times, he had been so with Anakin; he should have learned from that, "You have not, Zak; and Anakin does like you; very much so. But he is….troubled right now. When it is time, he will speak to you of this. But for now, you must be patient with him." He explained.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered.

Once Obi-Wan's shuttle was gone, Anakin took his speeder back home. He was tired and did not feel like going to the flight-training center. He could not focus and feared that his lack of concentration would prove dangerous.

Padme was waiting for him when he arrived, "Now that they are gone, and you will be able to sleep again." She told him.

"Stop it, Padme; this was not Obi-Wan's fault, or Zak's. This is my fault; I have let that nightmare get the best of me. My fears of turning have appeared again; maybe they were never really gone. This might be the will of the Force making me face those fears and finally conquering them instead of burying them." Anakin replied.

"I'm sorry, Anakin. I did not mean to imply that it was Zak or Obi-Wan's fault. But their presence here did cause the nightmares to return; maybe now that they're gone, the nightmares will stop." Padme answered.

"No, they won't. They did not stop when I was gone from the Temple and away from Master Windu; and they will not this time either. I must make myself talk to Zak, but I can't do that yet." Anakin explained.

"Obi-Wan said you should see Master Yoda. Perhaps you should." Padme suggested.

"Stop pushing me, Padme. Why is everyone always pushing me? I am not a youngling any longer; I can make up my own mind." Anakin said, raising his voice.

Padme took a step back. She had not seen Anakin like this in a long time.

"I love you, Anakin. If I seem to be pushing you, it is because I am worried for you." She countered.

"Well, don't. I do not need your help or anyone else's. Just leave me alone." He answered angrily and stalked into the house.

Padme stood there, stunned. This was Obi-Wan's fault, he should never have come; and should not have brought that boy with him. Anakin was more troubled now than he ever was all because of that stupid boy.

When Padme went into the house, Anakin was sitting in the corner of the great room meditating. His eyes were closed, but he sensed her as she entered the room, "I'm sorry I lost my temper with you, Padme. But you must not blame Zak or Obi-Wan for this; and you must let me decide when it is best to go to Coruscant. I know you love me, but please respect my judgment on this." He said quietly.

"I do respect your judgment, my love. But if Obi-Wan had not brought Zak here, you would not be in such pain." Padme replied.

"He didn't know, Padme; and in any case, I couldn't stop seeing him. I told you, he is like my brother; did you expect me to alienate him? That would not be fair, to him or to our babies." Anakin answered.

"He could have come without Zak. He didn't need to bring him." Padme pointed out.

"Yes, he did. He is Obi-Wan's apprentice, as I once was. I wanted to meet him; he's like my brother too; can't you see that?" Anakin told her, clearly frustrated.

"No, I can't. All I can see is that you're not sleeping any more. You were fine before they came; Zak caused this; I blame him and I blame Obi-Wan for bringing him." Padme argued.

"We have no more to talk about, Padme. Leave me alone for a while. I'm tired and I am afraid I may do or say something I will regret later." Anakin said wearily.

He felt his temper rising and he did not want to lose it again in front of Padme. She failed to understand that the reoccurrence of his nightmares may have been triggered by Zak's appearance, but it could have been anything. It would have happened eventually. Better that he happened now; he could deal with his fears now and be done with it. Padme left the room without another word. She too, was angry and not with Anakin; she was angry at Obi-Wan. She decided to send a communication to the Temple. Master Yoda should know what Obi-Wan had done.