*Still crying* As you guys have figured, this story does center around that episode from Season 5 of Clone Wars as it was the one that made me ball my freaking eyes out! I love Obi-Wan! And I loved Satine and their relationship (obviously as I wrote how many stories about them? Duh). BUT I FREAKING LOVE MAUL and when he killed Satine off…. I was so mad and so sad…. DAMN YOU MAUL! Anyway, please enjoy the chapter! Review!

Last time: Sasha returned home and got Obi-Wan to open up to her.

Now: Obi-Wan's friends come to see Sasha

Chapter 2- A Friend's Touch

A stiffness in Sasha's back alerted her that she had fallen asleep, and in a very uncomfortable position. Sasha opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. She looked around and noticed that she was still sitting on the floor of Obi-Wan's private chamber with her back against the bed. She tried to figure out when she fell asleep as she noticed that it now even darker in the room. She glanced at the chrono to see that it was still the afternoon, it was just that shadows of the temple were casting over this half of the temple at this moment so it made the room darker. Sasha squinted to see that her Master was resting on the floor, his head against her leg. From what she could see, he was still asleep.

The last thing Sasha recalled was that they were crying in each other's arms when at some point Obi-Wan passed out from pure exhaustion. Sasha had helped him lay down on the floor so his injuries weren't aggravated by the awkward position he had feinted in. She had then remained by his side while he rested while also placing a message to Master Windu that Obi-Wan had let her in and was now resting. Master Windu informed her that he would have a healer stop by in a while to see to his injuries. She must have passed out too from her own exhaustion as she waited.

A knock to the chamber door made her jump slightly as she was still disorientated from her brief nap. Thinking it best to not move him, Sasha reached up and used the force to open the door as well as turn on the lights to a low dim so she could see. The door slid open and on the other side was Jedi Healer Bant as well as a couple other familiar faces. Sasha recognized Jedi Master Garen Mulan, Master Reeft (a Dressellian Jedi), and of course Master Jacen Par. Sasha squinted as she realized that they had turned on the main living area lights on to full. So the sudden light change stung Sasha's eyes for a moment. Bant entered the room, leaving the three men in the doorway.

"How is he?" Bant asked as she came over and knelt down beside Obi-Wan.

"Physically, I don't know," Sasha stated, her mouth dry and in need of water. "Emotionally… broken."

Bant looked up at Sasha with concerned eyes on her Mon Calamari head. Sasha met her gaze then they looked down at her Master.

"Well let's get him into the bed and then I'll need some time alone with him to inspect his injuries," Bant said as gestured to the men in the doorway. "Can I get a hand?"

Garen and Reeft came forward as Jac lagged behind. The two Jedi knelt down and carefully lifted Obi-Wan off the floor. They all heard a grunt of discomfort as he was moved, but Obi-Wan did not retain consciousness. Sasha attempted to move away, but felt her sore body protest. Jac held a hand out to her. She took it and pulled her to her feet, and out of the way so they could lie Obi-Wan down on his bed. Sasha thanked Jac with a nod before turning her attention to the others who were helping her Master. As soon as Obi-Wan was situated on the bed, Bant turned to the rest of them.

"Please wait outside," Bant said. "I need to work."

The men all nodded and headed for the exit back into the main living area. Sasha hesitated for a moment as she stared down at her Master on the bed. A hand on her shoulder caught her attention. She turned her gaze to see Jac frowning down at her.

"Come on," He said gently. "He'll be okay."

Sasha nodded and followed him out of Obi-Wan's private chamber, but not before giving on last look at his bed where Bant was busy removing the pieces of Beskar armor. Sasha then turned her gaze to living area as the door slid shut behind her. Once out there, she released a heavy sigh she didn't know she needed to release. She then looked at the three Jedi Masters before her. She had met Master Garen a couple of times now, but Master Reeft had been stationed in the Outer Rim for so long that he was hardly at the temple anymore. She had only ever met him once and that was when she was still apprenticed to Master Zane Dunigan as Zane knew Reeft and Garen too. So it was a little strange to be standing in her living room with two of her Master's oldest friends. Jac and Bant were one thing as she was used to see them often through the war, but the other two were still strangers to her.

Anyway, Garen had sunken into one of the chairs in the room with his arms resting on the top of his head as he lounged back. Reeft was standing beside the window, staring out into the Coruscant afternoon skies. Jac moved over to the couch were he ended up patting the seat next to him while glancing to Sasha.

"Sit," Jac said.

Seeing him so serious like this was throwing her off just a bit as he was all smiles and jokes all the time. However, she had seen him serious on many occasions so it wasn't that uncommon. She almost wanted one of his jokes right about now, but decided not ask. It was however strange to just see him there and not with Cayden. Ever since that mission where they saved Cayden from Obi-Wan's twin brother, she always saw Cayden with Jac whenever they would run into Jac. Rarely now was Cayden not with him. It reminded her a little of when she was with Zane and they would run into Jac alone without Cayden. Sasha obliged and came over to sit down next to him on the couch. As soon as she sat, Sasha folded her legs into a criss cross position taking up a majority of her side of the couch.

"Cayden just told me what happened," Jac started breaking the silence. "How are you doing with all of this?"

No one had asked how she was fairing through this. Not even her own Master. She had been so concerned with his wellbeing that she realized no one had asked her about hers. She frowned and rubbed at her hands in her lap, her gaze lowered to them.

"I'm okay," Sasha admitted. "It's hard to hear that she is gone. I almost don't believe it. She was my friend. She taught me so much. I just wish… I wish I could have said good-bye."

Jac nodded as he leaned back against the couch. Sasha glanced up at them.

"Do you all know what happened then?" Sasha asked. "I assume that's why you are all here?"

Garen nodded. "Reeft and I were visiting with Bant when she received the call to come check on Obi-Wan. We knew we hadn't seen him in a while and thought since we were all here we could come see him. Since it has been a while since all us were here at the same time. According to Bant, though, she was told he had returned from a mission looking unwell and was refusing medical treatment. I said that sounded like Obi-Wan." He chuckled for a moment before his smile disappeared. "Then we ran into Jac outside. He told us what happened."

Sasha looked to Jac. "How did Cayden know? He and Ahsoka told me. And where were you anyway?"

"Cayden said he learned from Ahsoka who learned from Anakin," Jac said plainly. "I was still on my way back from a small mission on Kamino. I didn't find out until I walked into my own quarters and was told by Cayden. So I had to rush over here to see if you two were okay."

"Cayden… he didn't join you?" Sasha asked carefully. She didn't want to reveal her hand about her relationship with Cayden to his own Master even though hers knew.

"No, he had a sparring test that I told him he could not miss," Jac explained with the shake of his head. "I told him to that if we wanted to check on how you both were fairing, he was to finish with his test and then come by later."

Sasha nodded, but did not respond. Reeft looked away from the window and at them.

"Do you remember the last time we came to Obi-Wan's quarters like this, Garen?" Reeft asked.

Garen nodded slowly. "Yeah, it was just after he returned from Naboo. After Qui-Gon was killed by that Sith." He frowned. Sasha knew that everyone looked up to Qui-Gon Jinn, even Obi-Wan's closest friends. She wasn't surprised in the slightest that they would have come by to check on Obi-Wan after that.

"Maul," Sasha breathed out with a slight edge to her tone.

"Yeah, I think that was his name," Garen said as he snapped his fingers. "How do you know of him?"

They didn't know everything then. Just that Satine was dead. She closed her eyes as angry tears brimmed. She felt a hand on her shoulder again. She knew it was Jac.

"Maul was the one who killed the Duchess," Sasha said through gritted teeth. She took an unsteady breath before opening her eyes.

That silenced the room. Jac's hand squeezed tighter on her shoulder as his head lowered. The others frowned. She heard Garen curse under his breath as he leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees. No one had the words to respond to that statement. There was just a mixture of sadness, anger, frustration, sorrow, and pity that was wafting through the room. They remained that way until the door to Obi-Wan's chambers opened. All heads perked up to see that it was only Bant in the doorway. She smiled at them gently as she came around the couch.

"How is he?" Reeft asked moving from the window.

"I have put him into a deep healing sleep," Bant started. "That should help with the mending of his ribs and his concussion. Everything else should heal just fine too. However, he is no state to return to action at this time. Whatever happened to him has traumatized him. I could sense it when I was trying to get him to fall into the trance." Bant then looked to Sasha. "How are you doing? I understand you too returned from a mission."

"I'm okay," Sasha said as Jac dropped his hand. "Just a little sore. Nothing a good night's rest won't fix."

Bant nodded before sitting down on the arm of the chair Garen was sitting in.

"So I overheard little bit, but care to explain what happened?" Bant asked as she folded her arms.

Sasha sighed and looked to the floor. She explained everything. From Obi-Wan going to Mandalore to save Satine. To Maul's sudden appearance. To the Duchess' death. Sasha explained it all as if she was not actually there and had heard all of this from her Master. She did, however, leave out the key details of her own unsanctioned mission to Mandalore and her Masters romantic feelings toward Satine. By the time she was finished, there was a forlorn silence that hung in the room.

"Oh, Obi-Wan," Bant said as she frowned.

Garen reached up and rubbed small circles in her back as he too frowned. Jac looked over to Sasha. He was frowning at her, she could see it in her peripheral vison.

"That's… that's rough," Jac said wholeheartedly. "I know he and the Duchess were good friends. No wonder he is upset. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help."

Sasha looked up at them then turned gaze around the room to take each one of them in. She nodded. "You all have done so much already, just by being here. So thank you. But I will contact you if there is anything else."

All of them nodded.

"We should leave you to rest," Bant said as she stood from her seat on the arm of the chair after a pause. "It is getting late. But contact me if he is having any other difficulties."

Sasha nodded. "I will."

Bant came over and pulled Sasha from her seat on the couch, and into a hug. Sasha hugged the healer back before pulling away. As Bant headed for the door, each of the three men bade Sasha farewell. Garen placed a hand on her shoulder while offering her a small smile. Reeft simply bowed to her. And Jac pulled her into a hug. As soon as the four of them were gone, there was this unsettling silence that remained behind. Sasha glanced to the door of Obi-Wan's chamber with a frown. She then sunk down onto the couch with a heavy sigh. This had been a very long day.

Anakin snuck back into the Temple just around midnight. He had been at his apartment with his wife, Padme Amidala. After learning the news of the late Duchess Satine, Anakin had rushed home to tell her before anyone else could. When he had told her she was so distraught that he held her while she cried. He even made dinner for her and remained by her side for so long. It was the longest they had spent together in the past week. He had just wished it was under better circumstances. However, Padme had received a call about thirty minutes ago from the Senate building that for a late night Emergency session had been ordered. Anakin and she guessed it was word of Satine's death finally reaching the capitol. He reminded her just before she left that she hadn't learned this from him or that Obi-Wan was there. Padme didn't argue with him on that. So then he left to return to the temple shortly after she left for the Senate.

As he moved through the empty and quiet halls, he felt a nag in the back of his mind to go check on Obi-Wan. To see if he was still locked away in his room or if he had finally decided to get medical help and brief the council. As he rounded the corner into the next corridor towards his own room, he spotted someone walking alone in his direction. At first, he couldn't make out the figures shape. Even though it was still fairly well lit in the halls, they did keep it at a softer tone to add to the mood of the sleeping temple. So seeing someone clearly was a bit more difficult. But as he got closer he sensed it was Sasha. So she had returned from her mission which meant she most likely knew what happened. He felt himself frown as he got closer.

"Hey, Sash," Anakin said in a quiet voice.

Sasha's head perked up from where it had been hanging and staring at the ground. She looked tired and lost in daze. She slowed to a stop as he approached her.

"Hey, Master Sky… Anakin," Sasha said softly with a gentle smile.

"What are you doing up so late?" Anakin asked.

"I couldn't sleep," Sasha admitted with a shrug.

Anakin nodded. He paused before asking his next question. "I'm assuming you heard about Satine?"

Sasha lowered her gaze and nodded. "Yeah."

Anakin frowned then looked up and down the halls. "Here, let's go talk in my quarters."

Sasha nodded and followed him as he started the rest of the way down the hall towards his private quarters. When Anakin reached his room, he opened the door and entered. He switched on the light and walked over to the couch. He and Ahsoka shared an apartment much like Sasha and Obi-Wan did. However, he didn't sense her presence when he entered the room. There was a note on the side table that read, "In the Archives studying. Might be back late… Or in the morning. –Ahsoka." Anakin was silently grateful that Ahsoka wasn't there at the moment so he and Sasha could talk in peace. But also so she wouldn't question him about where he was. In the clear for now, he thought.

Anakin turned from the note to Sasha, who was standing in the middle of the living area, staring off into space. Seeing her in better light, Anakin was able to see the bags under eyes and the redness in them from what he assumed was from crying. She almost looked like a lost child by how she was holding herself at the moment. But she wasn't a child. She was an adult like him. Anakin constantly forgot that Sasha was only a year younger than him. Being a Jedi Knight with a padawan of his own made him feel older than he really was which was only a twenty-one years old. He even remembered when they were younger that she was in many of his padawan classes. In fact, she was the only padawan who didn't seem to bully him for being different. She was his only friend and tutor in those classes for so many years. He probably would have failed a few classes if it weren't for Sasha. And when the Council announced that all senior padawans were going to become Knights because of the war, Anakin's age was the cut off. So Sasha and Cayden both missed it because they were a year younger. So even though he was he 'superior' in the sense of rank in the order, they were still equals.

Anakin folded his arms as he looked down at her. That was the other thing Anakin never seemed to think about, but consciously knew existed. Sasha was about an inch shorter than Obi-Wan who clocked in at 1.77 meters. But she was considerably taller than most of her peers including Ahsoka. But to Sasha, Anakin, Jac, and Cayden were the only ones she ever had to 'look up to' in their group of friends as she and Obi-Wan were always at eye level with each other.

She didn't meet his gaze, but she did turn more to face him.

"Have you talked to Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked her. Sasha nodded. His jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "What? He let you in? Is he okay?"

Sasha looked up to meet his gaze. "He… he is mending, physically at least. However, he is struggling. Losing Satine was hard for him."

"I figured as much," Anakin mused. "Her loss is going to be hard for a lot of people. But how did he let you in? I tried and he just told me to go."

"I don't know," she admitted. "He just opened the door after I talked to him through it. There was no explanation to it, but… I was able to get him to open up. To tell me what happened." She paused. "To comfort him."

Anakin sighed. That was relieving to hear. It meant his old Master was starting to heal his heart already. "And his injuries?"

"Bant showed up early this evening and took care of them once he fell asleep," Sasha said.

Anakin ran his human hand over his face. "That stubborn fool. He nearly gave me a heart attack when he came back."

"You're worried for him," Sasha stated obviously.

"Of course, I'm worried about him!" Anakin said, raising his voice a little. "He took off with the Twilight and a bag on his back. And then he returned without my ship, in Mandalorian armor, and looking like a freaking zombie. He then shuts me out from trying to help him. Not only does he worry me, but he pisses me off from time to time too."

Sasha furrowed her brows at him. "He just lost someone close to him. Someone he knew before either of us were around. You could at least cut him some slack. You didn't see him as he broke down. You didn't feel the darkness that clouded his heart as he retold the tale of what happened. He is a broken man right now who needs his friends, his brother of all people, to be there for him. To support him. And where the hell were you anyway?" Now she was raising her voice.

Anakin turned his gaze to the wall. "I need some air. After he shut me out, I felt I was going to explode. So I left. I went for a drive to clear my head."

"You drove for over ten hours?" Sasha asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I may have made a stop or two to grab something to eat,' He lied. "But it doesn't matter what I was doing."

"Yes, it does," She started. "You should have been there with me. He needs my support just about as much as he needs yours right now. You're his best friend. Anakin. And not seeing you there when I arrived… it pissed me off. I expected you to be there for him and you weren't. I had to pick up the pieces and hold him as he cried." He could hear her emotions swelling. Was she angry at him or something else? He then noticed her turn her head to the floor. "Cause I couldn't be there for him when he needed me most… when she died…" Her voice choked up on those words.

Anakin turned back to her. "Sasha, you're right. I just… I couldn't face him until I calmed myself down first. I admit it took longer than I was planning, but I thought he might need the space. I'm sorry." There was a silence before he spoke up again. "Are you doing okay?"

Sasha nodded at first before it slowly turned into her shaking her head. "No," she croaked as she pressed a hand to her mouth.

Anakin wasn't much for a hugger. He would hug his wife and once in a blue moon, Ahsoka when she was distraught. But he had never done such a gesture to Sasha. They weren't really that close. However, now it didn't matter. Anakin moved forward and wrapped his arms around her. Sasha hid her face in his tunic as he heard her start to sob.

"She was my friend too… And I wasn't there to help him. To help her. I feel like I've failed," Sasha rambled as she sobbed. "I just can't believe she is gone."

Anakin didn't say anything. His gesture was saying more than words ever could to comfort her. They held that position for a while. For the first time in their friendship, which goes all the way back to little nine year old Anakin and eight year old Sasha in a youngling class his first real day at the temple, they shared a hug and an emotional moment. This changed their relationship from being just friends with the same master to being brother and sister with the same father figure.

Obi… I loved you always…

"Satine!" Obi-Wan gasped as he awoke with a start.

Laying, panting, Obi-Wan noticed he was lying in his own bed. His body felt stiff and sore as he relaxed against the bed sheets. The nightmare he just had about Satine's death left him shaking. It wasn't a dream. It really happened and he really was alone without her now. Letting out a shaky breath, Obi-Wan raised his hands to his face and pressed his palms into his eyes as he tried to regain himself. After a moment, he dropped his arms and started to sit up on his bed. His injuries felt like a distant memory now, but his head still ached but it was more of a dull throb.

Obi-Wan remembered Sasha coming in to talk with him. To comfort him and cry with him. He also vaguely remember Bant being there, tending to his injured body. However, he had no idea when that happened or how long he was out for. Glancing at the chronometer on the wall, Obi-Wan noticed it was 4:30am. So it had been more than several hours since his conversation with Sasha as he recalled it was still midday when that happened.

Going against his body's better judgement, Obi-Wan moved from his bed and immediately took noticed of the discarded armor on the floor. He then looked down at himself to see that he was still wearing the flight suit that was worn under the armor, but his upper torso was completely bare and wrapped in bandages. He also took notice of the dirt and blood that still smudged his skin. He really needed a shower.

Slowly moving forward, Obi-Wan grabbed his cloak off the hook on the wall and tossed it over his shoulder instead of putting it on. He could sense Sasha was there in their apartment, but he had to guess she was sound asleep in her room as her presence seemed calmed and relaxed. He then moved toward the door and opened it to reveal the living area of his apartment. That's when he noticed Sasha was sound asleep on the couch, wrapped under a blanket. He moved forward and glanced over the couch back to look at her. She looked so tired even while she slept. He guessed she had been up late and must have fallen asleep in the past couple hours. He decided it was best not to disturb her. Quietly, he moved past her toward the refresher. He disappeared inside and took a quick shower.

After about ten minutes, Obi-Wan emerged from the refresher, wrapped in his cloak and the flight suit discarded. He felt clean and refreshed. As he moved silently back towards his own room, he noticed Sasha was still asleep on the couch, but this time the blanket that had covered her was thrown to the floor. Obi-Wan picked up the blanket and laid it back down on her, tucking her in. He then disappeared back into his own room to get dressed for the day in his Jedi robes.

He didn't feel like resting anymore as he knew that dream would just keep plaguing his mind for a while if he did. So he decided he wanted to go out and clear his mind for a while. He had to admit he was feeling a bit better, but his heart still ached for Satine. However, it was time for him to stop hiding in his room and face the music. He just needed to get all of this thoughts and emotions together before facing anyone about his journey to Mandalore.

As he exited the room again, this time full dressed in his Jedi robes, Obi-Wan noticed Sasha stir from the couch. She slowly rolled over, opened her eyes, and looked up at him.

"Master, you're awake," She whispered. "How do you feel?"

"I'm alright," Obi-Wan whispered back. "You go back to sleep. I'm just going to go for a walk."

Sasha nodded. She then started to move from the couch. Obi-Wan came around to stop her.

"You don't need to go with me. I'm fine. Just go back to sleep. You can even stay out here," he said.

"I know, but I think I want to retire to my own room," she said as she stretched. "The couch isn't exactly comfortable."

"Okay," He said as she moved past him from the couch with the blanket wrapped around her. "Good night, Sasha. Rest well."

"Good night," Sasha yawned as she reached her door. She stopped for a moment before looking to him. "I'm glad to see you feeling better."

"Me too," he admitted.

She nodded and disappeared into her room. Obi-Wan sighed and then left to go on his walk.

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