Author's Notes: I know it doesn't seem like it from looking at the chapter numbers, but we're approaching the end now. Not too much left to cover, sadly! Well... okay I guess there's that one thing that takes up a bit of time. Ha, I forgot about that😆 But nevermind that, you'll find that out later. For now, enjoy this!
Chapter XI
By the time Anakin finally made it to the detention level, he was afraid he might be too late.
He'd heard some chatter from one of the battle droids that sounded like execution orders, and yet when he rounded the corner with Hardcase, Dogma, and Rex there were no droids to be seen.
Anakin reached out with his senses, searching. There were five occupied cells, but he couldn't pinpoint Ahsoka. Same as since they'd found her the first time, even when she was right in front of him, he couldn't tell it was her. Not through the Force, anyway. It was like she was blocked from it.
"Check cells one, three, six, and seven. I'll take this one" he ordered, running to check number nine as the others spread out.
The call came quickly from Hardcase. "Sir! I found her."
Anakin ran over, Rex right behind him. He came to an abrupt stop though when he reached the open doorway, shock at what lay before him settling deep in his bones.
Large parts of his Padawan's body had been obviously subjected to fire, the remnants of her clothes barely hanging to her frame. There was a puddle of water underneath her head, and a pool of what must have been her own sick right nearby. She lay on her side as if dead.
Anakin slowly descended, dread in his heart until he got close enough to hear her strained, wheezing breaths. Thank the Force. He knelt beside her and very, very gently gathered her malnourished frame in his arms. She made a pained whining and he froze on his knees, her upper body held against his chest. This feels disturbingly familiar.
"Ahsoka?" He called softly.
Her eyes fluttered, and she wheezed a little harder.
"Ahsoka, I'm here." His heart clenched as she opened her eyes, recognition of… well, anything nowhere to be found. He called again to bring her rolling eyes to a halt, his voice cracking slightly. "Ahsoka, I'm here."
Her eyes locked onto his. "Ani-" came the croak from her throat, and he flinched as if slapped. Realistically, he knew that her throat must've simply caught, as Ahsoka never called him "Ani". But in his mind he had been transported back to a dark night in the desert, his heart seizing with fear and filling with hatred as someone else he loved died in his arms. Not today.
"I'm going to get you out of here, Ahsoka." Not even needing to reach to the Force for a burst of strength, he lifted his Padawan into the air, one arm underneath her legs, the other cradling her head to his chest.
Her eyes closed again, and her head went limp.
Anakin walked up the stairs to Rex and the others. "I'm gonna need you to watch my back," he told the Captain.
"You can count on us, sir," replied Hardcase, Dogma nodding beside him.
"General Kenobi reports that Dooku has escaped and he's set the ship to blow, sir," Rex reported calmly.
Anakin nodded his acknowledgment. "Then let's get going."
They started running.
Ahsoka woke from a nightmare much later, breathing hard, barely able to move. But arms reached out from the darkness of the room to engulf her, and instead of being scared, she was surprised to find that she felt safe.
One arm warm, the other cold. It felt like home.
Author's Notes: Don't mind me crying softly in the corner at the angst, softness, and feels 😪 (Yes, I get emotional at my own fics. I write what *I* want to read, remember?😆)
