Chapter 5 The Healing Touch

By the time Declan arrived later in the morning, Obi-Wan was sleeping comfortably and Anakin was dozing in the chair.

"Anakin?" Declan whispered softy.

Immediately Anakin jerked awake, "Declan, I'm sorry, I must have dozed off." He said anxiously.

"I see Master Kenobi's fever is down." Declan observed.

"Yes, it happened very early this morning, just as you said it would." Anakin answered.

"Well, I am glad to see it. Now, if we can just keep him quiet for at least a couple of days, he should be fine." Declan replied.

"I don't think that will be a problem. The Council was very firm about it last night. No one wants this to go on any longer." Anakin said confidently. "And I don't want it to either."

"I'll just clean his shoulder again before I go to breakfast." Declan said. "Anakin, what did you do?"

"I cleaned it, twice; just like you showed me." Anakin informed him, "Why; what's wrong?"

"It's…well, nothing's wrong; it's…I don't know how to explain this, but…there is no infection." Declan replied haltingly.

"But that's good isn't it?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, it is; but it's not normal. There should be something there; I saw this wound last night and the infection was massive. It's just not possible for the whole thing to have cleared up so quickly." Declan answered.

"Well, Obi-Wan has a strong connection to the Force, I have felt it. He must have been able to heal himself." Anakin reasoned.

"But, Anakin, not this quickly. Jedi or not, it's impossible. Unless…" Declan trailed off.

"Unless what, Declan?" Anakin asked.

"No, it can't be; but then again, maybe." Declan said, mostly to himself.

"Maybe what, Declan?" Anakin asked again, somewhat impatiently.

"I don't know how to say this, Anakin…." Declan struggled with the answer.

"Say what, Declan? Just tell me." Anakin demanded.

"You, Anakin. It must have been you." Declan told him.

"What?" Anakin thought he had heard wrong. "Declan, what are you talking about?"

"Personally, I have never seen it, but…in the archives, there are cases where certain Jedi…have…I'm not sure how to explain this…. 'The touch'" Declan explained.

"The touch? What does that mean?" Anakin asked.

"You combined your Force strength with his to bring the infection under control." Declan attempted to further explain.

"I don't understand, Declan; how could I do that?" Anakin questioned.

"That, I don't know, Anakin. I've never seen it done, ever. I only know that it's in the archives."

"Well, I'm sorry, Declan, I don't believe it. It must have just been Obi-Wan, I hardly even touched him; it couldn't have been me." Anakin decided.

"From what I have read, it doesn't take much. You must remember how strong you are in the Force, Anakin. I'm sure you haven't even begun to realize what you could do." Declan said. "I think this might be something we should bring before the Council."

"Bring what before the Council?" Obi-Wan asked.

"You should still be sleeping, Obi-Wan." Anakin said in reply.

"Well, it's a little hard to do that with all the talking going on in here." Obi-Wan answered. "Bring what before the Council?"

"Declan has this crazy notion that I cleared your infection up during the night." Anakin said flippantly.

"Oh, that's interesting." Obi-Wan replied.

"Interesting? It's crazy, Obi-Wan." Anakin countered.

"Well, no it's not. It is documented in the archives." Obi-Wan stated.

"Oh, no; not you too! Obi-Wan, it's nonsense." Anakin insisted.

"You're very Force sensitive, Anakin, anything is possible." Obi-Wan maintained.

"Look, Anakin; I am not saying that you did this by yourself; only that you lent your Force strength to Obi-Wan so that he could heal himself." Declan interjected.

"I still think it's a bunch of bantha poodu. But if you want to tell the Council, fine, go right ahead." Anakin said.

"I, for one, am glad this is all over with. Now I can return to my duties." Obi-Wan declared.

"Oh no you don't. Just because the infection is cleared up, doesn't mean it can't come back again. Let that wound heal first, and then you can get back to normal, not before. Two days, Obi-Wan." Declan told him firmly.

Obi-Wan sighed in frustration, "Alright, Declan; it seems I have no choice; two days." Obi-Wan answered.

"Good; now, I am going to get something to eat; I will have something sent to both of you here." Declan said before leaving.

A few minutes after Declan left, Zak appeared, peaking in tentatively to see if he was welcome.

"Come on in, Zak; it's alright." Obi-Wan told him.

"You're better then, Master?" He said as he approached the bed.

"Yes, Zak; much better." Obi-Wan assured him.

"You see, Zak. I told you last night he would be alright." Anakin added.

"I know; you showed me. I should have believed you." Zak admitted.

"Showed you? Like he did when you saw his nightmares?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, like that; he showed me how strong you were." Zak explained.

"He was afraid you were dying, Obi-Wan; it was the only way I could convince him that you weren't." Anakin said.

"Well, I am sure that Zak is very grateful. Aren't you Zak?" Obi-Wan answered.

"Yes, Master. Master Gallia said that he should show everyone how do to it." Zak replied.

"But everyone can do that, Zak. Why would she say that?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"She said that it's because I can do it so easily. She told me that it takes immense concentration, and I did it without even thinking about it." Anakin told him.

"Ah, yes, that is unique; maybe the Council should know about this." Obi-Wan said.

"She said that too. She was going to speak with Master Yoda." Anakin said.

"Good. You continue to amaze me, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied.

"Well, I just wanted to see if you were better, Master. But I think I want to eat; I will be back." Zak said.

"Yes, go eat, Zak. I'm not going anywhere; at least not for a few days." Obi-Wan answered as he looked at Anakin.

However, Zak did not come back. He was met in the Dining Hall by Master Windu.

"Zak, when you are finished here, there is something you should see. Please come to the Council Chamber." He told him.

"Yes, Master Windu. What is it?" Zak asked.

"Not here, Zak. Eat first, and then come to us." Mace told him.

Anxious to see what Master Windu had to show him, Zak bolted his breakfast. Twenty minutes later, he found himself waiting to be admitted to the Council Chamber.

"Ah, Zak; there you are. Come in." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi said when the door opened.

"We have someone we would like to see. Let us know if you recognize him." Master Windu told him.

The shades were lowered and as the room darkened, a holo-image appeared.

Zak blanched and sat down. He did know the figure in the image, "That's him; he's the one; he shot Master Obi-Wan." He said with certainty.

"Sure about this, you are, Zak?" Yoda asked.

"Oh, yes; that is one face I could never forget. He's definitely the one." He repeated firmly. "Where did this come from?"

"He was detained off world for other crimes, but he bragged about shooting a Jedi to the wrong person." Master Gallia explained. "We were hopeful that you would recognize him."

"Well, that's him alright. He looked right at me after he did it. I think he wanted to shoot me too." Zak said.

"Good, Zak. This will prove that Master Obi-Wan was not arrested. This man is a criminal so he could not have been arresting him. It is going to be very difficult for anyone to believe Amedda's claim now." Ki-Adi told him.

"You will need to say this at the hearing, Zak. Can you do that?" Mace asked.

"Oh, yes; I know I can." Zak answered confidently.

"You understand that they are going to try to confuse you, Zak. It is not going to be easy." Ki-Adi said.

"I can do this, Master Ki-Adi. I won't let them confuse me; I promise. I know what I saw." Zak assured him.

"Know this, I do, young Zak. But easy it will not be as Master Windu has said. Sure about this you must be." Yoda said.

"I am sure, Master Yoda. Amedda must not get away; I will not let that happen." Zak insisted.

"I think he will be fine, Master Yoda. He is pretty sure of himself." Windu said.

"Don't worry, Master; I will not fail." Zak stated.

"We know you will not, Zak." Adi replied. "This is a brave thing you are doing. They will be very hard on you. So you must be very sure that you can do it."

"I am, Master Gallia. I can handle anything they try to do to me. I told you, I will not fail." Zak said confidently.

"You may go now, Zak. We will speak with you later." Mace said. "And Zak, we are all very proud of you."

"Thank you, Master Windu. I won't disappoint you, I promise." Zak vowed.