Heya! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thank you all for your continued support! :)
Less action in this chapter, but its still important (and leads up to lots of action in the next!)

I also have no idea what happened to the formatting, so I am so sorry if its weird. I tried to fix it, but it seems like nothing has changed.


The echoing footsteps thudded through the humble abode, the door was firmly shut and Anakin couldn't keep still as the frantic bubbling, panic consumed him and so, he paced.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Minutes bled into what seemed like hours and the gripping, failing helplessness sunk its teeth into him; the sorrow deepening in his stormy blue eyes as they remained transfixed towards the door.

Finally. Finally the door creaked open with a start and the doctor stepped out, shuffling to the distressed Padawan, his eyes filling with unshed tears-begging wordlessly for a fraction of hope.

"Your mother will make a full recovery."

The promised hush reverterbrated through Anakin and he barely could muster enough energy to grip onto the wall as he sagged, the relief unmeasurable hanging within his mind, encircling him akin to a blanket.

"Thank you." Anakin managed to answer, the scratchy edge wavering as the overflowing tears were roughly scrubbed away.

"Thank you so much."

"Of course." She nodded, her face twinging in sympathy as her attention drifted to Shmi's chart.

"She's lost a lot of blood and is considerably weakened, but with time she will regain her strength."

"We'll make sure to look after her." Owen announced instantly, a guilty, twisting sensation tangling him.

They had given up, and had instantly thought of Shmi as dead. Giving up on her as she suffered.

Not again.

Never again, they wouldn't abandon her a second time.

Anakin's attention drifted, the sudden icey sensation tore at him as it ripped him away from the conversation. Tensing, the howling screech of panic flooded through his senses, the dread hanging thick within the air and it was noticeably harder to breathe.

Abandoning the strayed fragments of the conversation, Anakin instantly reached out to the swirlings of the Force, yearning to discover the source of its screeching panic.

The realisation slammed into him, crushing his every thought with an abysmal, unbridled terror.

Cal's life form was fading.

NONONO

Taking a shaky breath, Anakin spun from the home and sprinted; heart pounding frantically in his chest, he headed towards the speeder.

Please please please..

Cal couldn't die. Force, he should've been the one to stay behind.

This was all his fault.

Swirling emotions thickened around him, desperate to submerge him into the myriad of his own thoughts and it took everything Anakin had to steel himself to the present and loosen his tightened grip of the brimming rage.

The anger was a welcoming change from the peaceful light and yet, Cal was right.

It wouldn't lead to anywhere good and instead would destroy him from the inside out.

Let it go. He willed himself and instead clutched tightly to the frantic spiralling of the lightside, which pulled him tightly towards the depths of the desert-guiding him to the Jedi.

Hang on Cal, please hang on. Anakin thought, clinging to the hope that Cal's life form was albeit faint, he was still alive for now .

Roaring to life, the speeder shot forwards as the sands blurred around him. Anakin's thoughts snapped from Cal as his comm beeped. Sharp and insistent.

Kriff, Obi-wan.

Reluctantly, he fumbled for the device and cursing to himself he juggled the communicator as it chimed once again.

"Anakin, where are you?!" The exasperated tone huffed out and the Padawan could just imagine the cross look, irritation edging within the Jedi Master's tone.

Anakin didn't allow his eyes to leave the desert, unwilling to take the chance that he misses Cal's faint form.

"Oh you know master, always getting into trouble. I can't talk now, I'll explain everything soon."

The urgency in Anakin's voice was not lost upon Obi-Wan and the concern replaced the anger.

"Are you alright? What's happening?"

"It's Cal." Anakin answered, lurching the speeder faster as Cal's Force signature flickered, dying out for a brief second.

"Master please, when we return could you have a medical staff or a droid waiting?"

"Anakin, what in blazes is going on? Is Cal alright?" Obi-Wan couldn't help the confusion, the worry as he was provided no answers; he could hear the trembling tears in his apprentice's voice and yet, he could do little to help.

"Master, please…"

The questions could wait. Obi-Wan resigned, whatever was happening, whatever danger they were in was more important than answers.

"Alright, I will. Please take care, both of you."

And before Anakin could utter another word, the rumbling engine became his only companion as he pressed on, further into the tumbling sands.

.

.

"Cal?" The seemingly familiar voice tumbled him from his sleep.

"Cal!" It grew louder, grating as the sleep was stolen from him and he could do little but groggily heave himself up, trying to keep the weariness at bay,

The concerned, upturned stare had him faltering unexpectedly.

"Merrin?" The feeble mask slipped as he realised where exactly he was; the familiar humble home of the Mantis.

It felt wrong, fabricated.

"Are you ok?" The Nightsister asked, tilting her head as she studied her distressed friend.

"H..how is this possible?" He fumbled, stumbling over the words.

Cal didn't want to accept the answer to the question. The question that continued to nag at him. Cal knew the answer and yet, he wanted nothing more than to shove the truth away.

"Do you not remember what happened?"

Cal winced as the memories assaulted him, trying to force the throbbing pain rushing in his head back in the hopes that he could just think.

"I remember the raiders and Anakin…"

Blast, his head…

"Kid! You're finally awake."

He stared at Greez, unable to hide the way he curled closer into himself, the hot tears tracing down his cheeks.

Cal's heart clenched in pain, almost seemingly mocking him. Driving the feeling of loneliness further into his achilles heel.

The ginger turned to Cere, who up until now, remained still; sitting gingerly upon the couch.

And Cal finally understood, it clicked in his mind.

"This isn't real is it?"

"Unfortunately, you are correct." Cere nodded, rising from her position to crouch in front of the younger, lost Jedi.

"I'm dying?"

"That is correct Cal Kestis." Merrin's sorrowful glance only caused more emotional turmoil within Cal, soft sobs reverberating through the confines of the ship.

"You have a choice."

"No." Cal shook his head vehemently, unwilling to hear the ultimatum. The ginger hair doing little to hide the twisted pain on his face.

No, please don't make him choose. He couldn't, because he knew his answer.

It made him feel worse.

"You can Cal." Cere knew. Somehow, she understood the twisted emotions that he barely understood himself. The former Jedi's tone didn't allow for any room for arguments.

"Stop trying to shoulder everything alone, rely on others and you will succeed."

"I miss you all." Cal simply relayed, his smile twisting upwards as the soft nudging of his droid companion.

"You have a choice, kid." Greez shuffled closer to Cal, a twinge of anguish at the kid's heartbroken expression, the Jedi's forest green eyes conflicted at the choice he had already decided.

"If you really want you can give up and stay with us. Nobody would blame you, the task is too great to even consider."

Cal bit his lip, despite his torn conflictions that he fought desperately against, he knew what he had to do.

He had too…

That didn't make this any easier.

A proud smile widened upon Cere's face and placed her comforting hand upon his shoulder.

"You can do this Cal. Just make sure you ask for help. The Force will be with you always."

.

.

Cal wasn't breathing.

Nononono.

Anakin could do little as his quivering arms encircled the too cold, lifeless figure of Cal.

The Padawan struggled, stumbling from the ship, head bowed as the tears streaked down, relentlessly.

This was all his fault.

Obi-Wan rushed to the two, guiding Anakin to the crowd of medical droids and doctors, gently laying the Jedi onto the stretcher, the Master guiding the apprentice as he slumped to the ground, hands pressed tightly into his eyes as his heart-wrenching sobs bubbled over.

The tears were relentless, choking him.

He was too late…too late.

Obi-Wan's arms clung tightly to his apprentice and Anakin could do little but clench desperately at the Jedi robes as the grief descended upon him.

"I failed, Master." His hoarse voice cracked with the sheer and overwhelming emotion. "It's all my fault ."

"No, Anakin." Obi-Wan's arms encircled Anakin tighter to provide him the comfort he needed. A sadness hung, thick within the air.

"This is not your fault."

The mechanical voice barely connected with the frayed swirlings of Anakin's mind.

"Heartbeat and other processes have returned."

When the words finally registered, the Padawan's head shot up and with a renewed strength he didn't know he possessed; he scrambled up and towards the trailing group.

"What did you say?" He barked insistently, barely able to keep the painful, blooming hope at bay. " Tell me !"

There was no need to explain to the Jedi Padawan as the weakened glow of Cal's life signature had somehow sparked, flickering back to life.

"We must hurry." The doctor rushed out, pausing as the frail thrum of the Jedi's pulse fluttered underneath his fingertips. "He could crash at any time."

And with that final warning they breezed past Anakin, leaving him reeling from the emotional tsunami, his fingers ghosting to Cal's lightsaber, safely clipped onto his belt.

"Come, Anakin." Obi-Wan's voice soothed and Anakin allowed himself to be lead away, numbly as the Force spread a warmth around him, calming his exhausted mind.

Despite the miracle, Anakin didn't allow himself to retract his outreached mind, lingering his grasp upon Cal's Force signature.

.

.

The door burst open and Cal blinked the fatigue back blearily, wincing at the sudden thud as the doors collided with the wall.

"Master?" He whispered out, wincing as his teeth continued to chatter, unable to halt the frozen grips of hypothermia.

The Jedi had been informed that the effects of the hypothermia would continue to remain, until his core temperature would finally adjust to the mounds of blankets piled him.

"Cal." The stern voice of his master was equally disappointed and worried.

Kriff he had forgotten for a brief second.

"I'm sorry. You remind me of my master." He managed in between shivering stumbles, the icy frozen sensation twisting deep into his heart and he struggled to keep the memories of the darkest times at bay.

The reply he was expecting never came, Cal braced himself and glanced up at his former master; the scrutinising gaze seemed to bore into his soul.

"Do you know something? Both you and my apprentice love to run around recklessly."

Cal chuckled, shifting uncomfortably as the lies tightened around him, to the point where he could feel the tears blurring his vision.

"Must be the ginger hair." He retorted wryly, lips quirking humorlessly.

A beat passed and Cal averted his emerald eyes, unable to meet Jaro Tapal's gaze.

He had already lost his family once, he couldn't lose them again.

The swirling guilt ebbed his strength, entraping further in his flailing emotions.

"Cal. Please be careful. You must understand that your life is important."

Biting his lip, Cal nodded ashamed. He didn't mean to hurt this many people with his choices and yet, it seemed that he had.

"I don't pretend to know what you've been through, or what you're currently going through, but take care of yourself. Your friends care about you."

"...Friends?" The Jedi couldn't understand the concept, the sheer thought that perhaps he had created friendships within the short period of time confused him.

"Anakin hasn't left your side since you were stabilised. Obi-Wan is having to drag him away to remind him to take care of himself. The two of them are incredibly worried, as am I."

"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful."

The sincerity within rang clearly from the Force, his former Padawan's regret laced into his expression.

Cal would be more careful, but it wouldn't change the fact that Cal would sacrifice everything to stop the war. He would willingly sacrifice himself if it would stop Anakin's descent into the dark side, if it would stop the Clones' betrayal, which continued to blister and burn the flickering agony stinging him.

"Have you heard, we're getting new orders soon."

No, don't…don't think about it. Blinking back the hanging deathly promise, the gripped lightsaber placed within his hands as the escape pod tumbled to the gaping unknown.

.

.

"Hmm, troubling news that is." Yoda pondered, rubbing his chin as a troubled expression remained.

The gathered Jedi Council mumbled among themself, humming in choruses of agreements at the news Obi-Wan provided.

"There are no records of a Jedi Cal Kestis in the archives." Mace Windu leaned forwards within his chair, a hint of suspicion, hardening.

Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up; shocked.

"But he claimed that the Jedi council sent him to guide us."

"We did not." Yoda replied grimly, shaking his head.

"But, who is he then? He is indeed strong in the light side of the Force." Obi-Wan asked the question, the majority of the council was wondering.

Was Cal Kestis an enemy or an ally?

If he was an ally, then why did he lie? Why did he continue to lie to them?

A sharp ache of betrayal twisted deep within Obi-Wan's heart, he couldn't shake the strange lies that Cal continued to spin up; especially when he could be a threat.

"A spy perhaps?" The crackling suggestion from the holograped Jedi member was the plagued worry upon all of their thoughts.

It made way for the caving thoughts that perhaps, Cal wasn't someone to be trusted.

It didn't matter that he helped Anakin, nor did it matter that he helped them uncover Obi-Wan's intensive research on the bounty hunter.

It seemed as if it was all fake, all fabricated to gain their favour.

"Meditate more on this, I will." Yoda nodded to himself, the future was hazy; hidden in the deep shadowy darkness of the dark side. It was unnerving…

"You must keep an eye on this Cal , bring him with you to Kamino. We cannot leave him alone until we know his intentions." Mace instructed, eyes narrowing as the danger warned, the alarm in the Force growing shrill and impatient.

"Yes Masters. I will leave for Kamino tomorrow with Cal." He bowed, unable to shake the buried doubts that Cal was indeed an enemy.

"Your apprentice. He will protect Senator Amidala."

"By himself? I do not know if he is ready for such a task." Obi-Wan remarked incredulously, the apprehension displayed heavily within his sky blue eyes.

"There's no choice Obi-Wan." Mace argued, shaking his head in dismissal. "Prepare him as best you can."

.

.

The trailing footsteps pounded rhythmically behind him and Anakin easily fell in beside his master.

"Master, I wanted to talk to you."

"What is it?" Obi-Wan glanced at him, slowing at the heistance screaming upon his face.

"I was…" Anakin shifted, averting his eyes, he stared at everything but the Jedi and reluctantly, he continued. "I was talking to Cal."

Obi-Wan flinched, holding an impassive mask in place in the hopes to hide the dubious possibility that the ginger wanted to harm his relationship with his apprentice.

The Jedi Master decided then and there that he wouldn't allow Anakin to be left alone with the man anymore, not until he proved he could be trusted.

He ignored the nagging inkling that argued that Cal had indeed proven himself, risking his life to save Anakin's mother. Was that not a selfless act of a Jedi?

"...And he told me to tell you the truth."

"The truth?" Obi-Wan glanced at his apprentice in concern, unable to understand the Padawan.

A beat passed, the thick silence hanging within the air before Anakin finally mustered up the courage.

"I dislike it master, when you don't listen to me. When you treat me like a child."

Whatever Obi-Wan was expecting, it definitely wasn't that and he could only blink, unable to summon any thoughts as Anakin continued; his thoughts tumbling from his mouth.

"I…when you brush off my ideas without listening to me or constantly treat me like a child, it…I dislike it."

" Master ." Anakin added as an afterthought, glancing worried at the frozen, neutral expression upon Obi-Wan's face.

"Anakin, how long has this been going on for?"

"A long time." Anakin mumbled, dipping his head in shame, expecting anything but the soft guilty look and the warm hand gracing his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Anakin for treating you that way. I just… I guess I was trying to protect you ."

Cal was right after all.

Anakin's shoulders sagged, losing the tension. He felt so much better now that he told Obi-Wan how he felt.

"But I actually hurt you, I promise to try to change. I'll listen to you more, but please let me know if I cross a line." Obi-Wan continued.

"I will, thank you master." Anakin's eyes crinkled, happiness and pure relief blooming.

Thank you Cal, for giving me the strength to do this.

Of course. The reply was instant. I might have given you the idea, but it was all you Ani.

Oh Force. Anakin groaned at the teasing laughter, cringing at the old nickname. Please don't.

.

.

"Cal, we're leaving for Kamino tomorrow." Obi-Wan declared, ignoring the protesting horror at his apprentice, he focused upon the tired, reluctant nod.

"What, no!" Anakin growled, eyes flashing in a fierce protectiveness, no anger was present, but the hard edge was evident. "Cal needs to rest."

"Anakin we're on borrowed time, don't you want to find out who wants the senator dead?"

Obi-Wan wouldn't allow Cal to rest, especially within the Jedi temple where archives and secret files, to which may be easily accessible.

"Of course." Anakin nodded. "But not at the expense of Cal's life. He died master, that doesn't just go away after three days."

Obi-Wan was caught off guard by flaring resistance within the Padawan and the Jedi could only grit his teeth in helplessness.

This is what he was afraid of, somehow…Cal had gained Anakin's trust.

Blast it!

This was bad.

They didn't know what the supposed Jedi could or would do…

"He'll be fine." The Jedi Master gritted out, pleading for his apprentice to trust him.

Anakin glanced at Cal, holding his gaze as the silent conversation echoed louder than the spreading silence.

It's up to you Cal…

Taking a deep breath, Cal thought back on Jaro Tapal's words; although he wanted to help Obi-Wan he could still feel the reeling effects of the near-death experience, tugging upon his mind.

He left his family behind, he needed to heal.

Cal could feel the weary ache of his muscles, the overwhelming icy sensation that was barely kept at bay.

The tipping loneliness that threatened to drown him, which seemingly like a knife, drove deeper, twisting agonisingly into his heart at the recent encounter with them.

He missed them.

"I'm…not ready, I need rest." The Jedi admitted, voice wavering, then holding strong as he felt the overwhelming relief and pride flooding though the Force.

Progress…

He would start, start looking after himself more.

For them…

.

.

"Are you going to be alright by yourself?" Obi-Wan asked, leaning on the ship as he studied the concealed figure of Padme.

"Of course." Anakin replied, smiling. "I will make you proud master."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't." Cal called, grinning and Anakin scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I should be saying that to you."

Obi-Wan huffed, shaking his head in response.

"May the Force be with you Anakin."

"You too Master." Anakin replied, heading deeper within the ship.

Take care, Cal and good luck with Obi-Wan's terrified flying.

You too Ani. Cal teased, smirking at the frustration radiating from the Force.

I'm never living that down am I?

Nope. Never.

Well alright then, I'm glad you're alright.

.

"Do you want me to drive? I promise I'll go slow for the old man." Cal laughed easily and Obi-Wan couldn't help the ghost of the smile at the taunt.

"You've been hanging around around Anakin." Obi-Wan grumbled, but reluctantly he agreed, letting Cal take the pilot's chair as his bone-white knuckles dug into the seat, bracing himself for the ride.

And with the ease of a scrapper and pilot, Cal raised them off of the ground and towards the doom of Kamino, unknowing what awaited them upon the planet.


Cal finally taking care of himself! :D