A/N: Well I took longer then I wanted to but at least this one didn't take as long as the last one. I'm sorry that I don't have ttime right now to do individual shoutouts but thank you to all those who commented! Your reviews are greatly appriciated.

"Anakin? Anakin can you hear me?"

The first thing Anakin heard was Obi-Wan's voice, strained with concern. The first thing he saw, once he forced his eyes open, was Obi-Wan, his eyes wide and almost frantic.

"Master?"

Obi-Wan seemed to relax once he saw that his former padawan was responsive. Anakin sat up slowly, feeling sore. The last thing he remembered was talking to Cassidy and then Obi-Wan shouting for him to get down. "What WAS that?" he demanded, rubbing his temples.

"A thermal detonator. Some of those damn assassins. We couldn't get to them in time and they escaped in a swoop,"

Anakin allowed himself a curse in Hutties and then climbed to his feet, his eyes alert now. "How long have I been out? Is the camp secured?"

"Yes. We've secured the perimeter. You weren't out for too long. It took me a few minutes to get to you but you came around right away." They started walking back to the camp center, side by side. "Next time, Anakin, do us all a favor and keep your attention span spread outwards."

Anakin scowled at Obi-Wan's lecturing tendency and pushed himself ahead of his friend. He hadn't gotten far though before he felt Obi-Wan hand on his shoulder and turned around so they were facing each other. "At least for my sanity."

Anakin's gaze softened. "I know, Master. Just stop treating me like a child…Sith!"

"Where?"

Anakin reached out, grabbing Obi-Wan's hand before he got to his lightsaber. "No, no, Master. I mean I have to get back to Cassidy. She's probably worried."

'You're going to give me a heart attack, Anakin. For the moment do choose a different cuss word. As for Cassidy, she's not a little child. You can contact her tomorrow. We have more urgent issues to attend to."

"Obi-Wan, you don't understand-"

"I do, Anakin. If something had happened to you she would have felt it through the bond. The girl is smart enough to figure that out,"

Anakin sighed in resignation. "Lead the way, Master."

Cassidy stared at the communit dumbly, absolutely stunned. Fear gripped her heart as she tried to reach Anakin on his commlink once again but there was no response . Almost frantic now she sank into the Force and pulled herself along the bond she had with Anakin, looking for the any kind of disturbance. But the bond pulsed with its usual steady hum.

Master? Cassidy sent along the bond, afraid of not getting a reply.

At first there was none but then she could feel a reassuring tendril of the Force reach toward her through the bond and she relaxed into the warmth that came from Anakin's mind wrapping briefly around hers. But then Anakin's presents receded into it's customary hum and Cassidy felt a sense of loss that hadn't been there since she had watched Anakin board the battle cruiser that would take him away from her and to an uncertain fate.

She sat back on the bed and stared out at the bright lights of Night Coruscant. They melted together in the wetness of her eyes as she fought with her tears. It was forbidden and she didn't understand it but she needed to be close to Anakin. She needed to feel his body against hers and his lips upon hers like in her dream. She couldn't loose him to the war because that would mean loosing too much of herself.

Unable to sleep the young padawan picked up her lightsaber and made her way to the training rooms.