Chapter 17

"Are you sure?"

"About as sure as we can be. We'll only know for certain once Plo and the others get in there, but Plo is confident."

Obi-wan gently pulled Anakin's hand from his mouth, where Anakin had been viciously biting his nails.

"I still think I should go in there with them."

"Anakin, we've been through this. Plo and the rest of the Jedi team are trained ex-navy seals. They're prepared for anything. We're just civilians."

"But when they find Ahsoka, she'll be upset and afraid. She'll want to see a familiar face."

"I know, but she'll see you soon enough. We'll be waiting for her at the hospital, and they will bring her straight there."

"Are you sure we shouldn't tell the police that we've found them?"

"It's your choice, but Plo is fully prepared to operate on… shall we say, the gray edges of the law, in order to get Ahsoka out. I believe she will have a better chance with the Jedi than the police."

Anakin nodded. It made sense, but he was still terrified. What if it was too late? What if Ahsoka had been dead for weeks now?

"Breathe, dearest. It's almost over. Plo and the Jedi are on their way right now. Shall I drive us to the hospital?"

Anakin nodded jerkily and shuffled himself into the car. Obi-wan hummed softly during the ride to the hospital, a tune he often used to calm Anakin. It did little to settle Anakin's nerves this time. He focused on keeping his breathing even, trying to match his jagged breaths to Obi-wan's steady ones.

They got into the waiting room of the hospital, where Obi-wan deflected queries about their purpose here. Anakin didn't know what Obi-wan said. He couldn't hear it over the buzzing in his own head. Obi-wan led him to a chair, which Anakin fell into, shaking violently.

"Shh, it's ok, sweetheart. Plo and his team have this."

Obi-wan put an arm around him, pulling Anakin into his side. Anakin nestled in, taking deep breaths, letting Obi-wan's scent calm him.

"Obi-wan, what if she… if she doesn't make it? I can't stand it – I couldn't bear it if –"

"Let's try not to assume the worst, dearest. Panicking now isn't going to do us any good. We'll know for sure soon enough."

The minutes dragged by. Anakin was sure they had been sitting there for hours. The clocks had to be wrong. It couldn't have been a mere ten minutes. He felt like he had run a thousand miles in his head, going over every horrible possibility again and again.

Twenty minutes. Thirty minutes.

Obi-wan's phone rang.

"Hello? I understand. Thank you, Plo. I'll see you soon." Obi-wan hung up and turned to Anakin, a grin unfurling on his face. "They have her. She's ok, Anakin. Shaken, but unhurt."

Anakin could have fainted in relief. In fact, he almost did, clutching at Obi-wan's arm to remain upright. He flung himself at Obi-wan, laughing shakily as they embraced. Obi-wan held him tightly, whispering words of reassurance in his ear.

Time continued to drag, but at least the pit of molten dread in Anakin's stomach was no more.

Finally, twenty minutes later, the hospital doors open to reveal Plo, some other men who must be the rest of the Jedi, and a group of pale, skittish-looking people, many of whom Anakin recognized as victims of Maul he and Obi-wan had spoken to.

He had eyes only for Ahsoka.

The moment he saw her, he was up and running. She bolted for him and the two of them met in the middle. Ahsoka flung herself into his arms, clinging tightly to him. Anakin felt the back of his t-shirt becoming wet with her tears.

"It's ok, Snips. You're safe, now. Did they hurt you?"

Ahsoka shook her head. "They manhandled us a bit to get us where they wanted us to go, but mostly they used guns to threaten us into doing what they wanted. I'm not hurt. Just hungry. There was a tap, at least, so we had plenty of water, but they barely fed us. Plo would only let us eat one energy bar each on the way back."

Anakin rubbed Ahsoka's back sympathetically. "If you eat too much after a prolonged period of starvation, you'll just throw it up. We'd best let the doctors decide what type of meal schedule you can be on."

Ahsoka's arms tightened around him. "I don't want doctors. I'm not hurt."

"I know you don't, Snips, but you need to get checked out. Hopefully, it won't take long."

"I'll make sure it doesn't," Obi-wan promised, coming up to them from behind. "I'll talk to whoever is in charge here."

Anakin assumed that was Obi-wan speak for offering a huge bribe, but he didn't care.

Ahsoka let go of Anakin and threw herself at Obi-wan, hugging him just as tightly as she had her brother. "Plo told me that the police probably never would have found us, that it was only thanks to you that he managed to rescue us. Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, Ahsoka. That's what you do for family."

Ahsoka's eyes were filling with tears again. Anakin joined the hug, and the three of them clung to each other for several moments before they were interrupted by a doctor.

Anakin refused to leave Ahsoka's side as she was examined. Obi-wan graciously agreed to stay in the waiting room, though Anakin suspected it was only so that he could hand out bribes to the appropriate people to ensure that Ahsoka was taken care of quickly.

The doctor quickly pronounced Ahsoka in good health, other than some malnourishment. He gave Anakin a print-out of the eating schedule he would like Ahsoka to be on for the next week until she could work back up to normal meals.

They spent about an hour talking to Luminara, who only reprimanded them a few times for going around her. She seemed more relieved that Ahsoka and the others were ok than anything.

"I'm putting officers outside your house, and outside the houses of all the other witnesses, until we find out for sure who Maul managed to convince to implement the kidnapping and bring them to justice."

"No need for that in our case," Obi-wan said lightly. "I've already hired Plo and five of the other Jedi to be personal bodyguards for Ahsoka, Anakin, and myself. None of us will be going anywhere without them until whoever did this is behind bars."

"I'm glad to hear it. I'd best get to interviewing the others. Give me a call if you need anything."

When they got home Ahsoka showered, ate the small meal she was allowed, had a cup of hot chocolate, and went to bed.

Anakin was left hovering outside the door of her bedroom, wanting to be there if she woke and needed anything.

"She'll probably sleep for a while." Obi-wan rubbed a hand down Anakin's back. "She's exhausted – and so are you. You should get some rest. I'll stay up; I can wake you if Ahsoka needs anything."

"Are you sure? You must be tired as well. You've been working on finding Ahsoka nonstop with Plo while I've been busy falling apart." Anakin's eyes sought the floor. He felt horrible about the fact that Obi-wan had been forced to find Ahsoka all on his own while Anakin struggled to get through a day without devolving into a blubbering mess.

"Hey, look at me. You've done so well, Anakin. I can't even imagine what it must have been like for you. You don't have anything to feel bad about. Ok?"

"I'm pathetic," Anakin mumbled. "You've always having to take care of me."

"Is that what you think? Anakin, before you came into my life, I was so lonely I cried myself to sleep some nights. I had no life outside of work. Everything started to feel so pointless that I wondered what the purpose of continuing was. You've changed everything for me."

Anakin stared at Obi-wan with wide eyes. "I never knew."

"I'm sorry. I guess I should have made things clearer. This isn't a one-sided relationship. I get as much from your presence as you get from mine, I promise you."

Anakin doubted that, but it was good to know that he was helping Obi-wan, too. Maybe with time, when Maul was put away and he felt more settled, he would start to feel like he could contribute to their relationship on an equal level.

"I know what you're thinking, and I want you to stop. This isn't a business transaction. You don't need to pay me back for anything or feel like you need to contribute more than you are. I love you, Anakin. I want you, just as you are. It's ok if you need me. I need you too. We may need each other in slightly different ways, but there's nothing wrong with that. You're not pathetic."

Anakin chuckled. "I didn't realize you'd taken up a career as a mind reader."

"Just with you, dearest. Now come on, let's get you to bed."

Anakin couldn't deny that he was tired, but he still resisted. "I'm not sure… I'd still rather stay up in case Ahsoka wakes up."

Obi-wan fixed him with a stern look. "You've barely slept these past two weeks, ever since you came back from seeing Maul. I know the nightmares have been bad, but you have to sleep dearest. Ahsoka is back now. You need to take care of yourself if you're going to take care of her. Come on, I'll read to you until you fall asleep."

"That's not fair. You know that's an offer I can never resist."

"Oh, I know."

Anakin fell messily into bed and allowed Obi-wan to tuck him in. He barely heard the first paragraph before he fell into a deep sleep. For once, his sleep was dreamless.

Over the next few days, Ahsoka ate steadily more and more. She was still jumpy when it came to small noises and now slept with the lights on, but apart from that, she seemed remarkably well-adjusted.

Obi-wan recommended she see a therapist, a suggestion Anakin wholeheartedly supported.

He was less enthusiastic when Obi-wan suggested that he should see a therapist as well.

"I don't need it," Anakin insisted.

"Yes, you do, sweetheart. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you've been through several massive traumas. You need to heal from that."

"I am healing. You're helping me."

"I know that, but I'm not a professional. I want to do right by you, and there's only so much I can do, given that I don't have the training of a psychologist. Please, just consider it? For me?"

Anakin sighed. "Fine, I'll consider it. You know I'd do anything for you."

"Thank you." Obi-wan kissed him lightly. Anakin wrapped an arm around Obi-wan's neck and deepened the kiss. Obi-wan was just pressing into Anakin's mouth when a gagging noise had them both pulling apart.

"Seriously? Don't I have enough trauma? I don't need to see your tongue down anyone's throat, Skyguy."

Anakin flipped Ahsoka off and kissed Obi-wan once more for good measure. Ahsoka rolled her eyes and sat down at the breakfast table. "So, do I get to go back to school today?"

Anakin pursed his lips in disapproval. "Your psychologist says that if you feel ready, you are to be allowed to go."

"I'm ready! No way am I losing my scholarship because of this."

"Snips, I told you, I've already talked to the school. They're not going to take your scholarship because you were kidnapped. That would be a PR nightmare for them."

"Besides, you don't need that scholarship," Obi-wan added. "You know I'm happy to cover your school fees."

"I'm not giving you an excuse to spend even more money on me," Ahsoka said indignantly.

"You act like I need an excuse, dear."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes again.

Over the next few weeks, Anakin watched Ahsoka carefully. He could see the therapy was making a difference to her. She was less jumpy and only slept with the lights on some of the time now.

Maybe, just maybe, it could help him as well. Obi-wan didn't push but encouraged him toward the idea every time Anakin brought it up. He gave Anakin the names of some good therapists who dealt with trauma.

Anakin spent a lot of time contemplating those names. He was on the verge of calling many times, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"I want to do it," he confided to Obi-wan, "but every time I try, I just envision some stranger laughing at how pathetic I am, and I just can't breathe."

"No one is going to laugh at you," Obi-wan promised. "If they do, I'll have their license from them faster than you can say 'unprofessional'."

Anakin chuckled. "I guess it's a stupid fear."

"I would never call you stupid, dearest. You're one of the smartest people I know. Your insecurities aren't linked to intelligence."

Anakin nodded. "Could you… could you do it for me? Book the appointment, I mean? After Maul's trial? It's three weeks away, and I don't want to get started with therapy before then. No point in baring my soul to a stranger if we're just going to have to move states and change our names, then start again with someone else."

"Fair enough. I don't think that's how this is going to play out, but I'm happy to wait until after the trial before calling. Only three of the witnesses have pulled out, which still leaves seven of you to testify against Maul. That's more than enough to put him away for life."

"I'm actually surprised that it's only three. I would have thought that being kidnapped, or having their loved ones kidnapped, would put most people off."

"It didn't put you off."

That much was true. Anakin had been willing to throw it all away to get Ahsoka back, but now that she was home safe, he wanted the bastard responsible for taking her to rot in prison for the rest of his life, and Anakin was prepared to do whatever he had to in order to make that happen.

Ahsoka was already chafing against Obi-wan's compulsory bodyguards. Plo and the other Jedi were nice and good at being non-intrusive, but Anakin understood that going to school with a bodyguard was not considered cool.

Obi-wan wouldn't relent, though, and Anakin was on his side on this. He wasn't mad about it either, but he wasn't about to let Maul get at him or the people he loved so close to the trial.

At least they could be alone when they were in the house. The guards patrolled the perimeter, though insisted on checking inside if they were coming home to an empty house. It made Anakin feel safe, but it was also a bit claustrophobic.

Anakin couldn't wait for the day when this was all unnecessary. Luminara was working with Obi-wan's investigators to find out who was responsible for the kidnappings. It looked like the original theory that Sidious was in league with Maul was correct; now they just needed to prove it.

Once Sidious was behind bars, they would all be safe.

Getting Maul convicted would be the first step, or so Luminara informed them. Once Maul realized that he was in for life, he would be more amiable to selling out Sidious for a deal. She assured them that after everything Maul had done, he wouldn't be getting a lesser sentence, but she could trade better prison conditions with him in return for everything he knew about Sidious.

Anakin had to trust that Luminara knew what she was doing. Obi-wan had looked into her and assured Anakin that she was one of the best in her field.

The day before Maul's trial found Anakin in bed, under multiple blankets, despite the fact that it was a warm summer's day, with the heat turned up on full. Obi-wan staggered slightly as he walked into the room.

"Anakin? You don't have a fever, do you? Are you getting chills? It's frightfully hot in here. Anakin? Oh, sweetheart, what are you doing in there? Can I join you?"

Anakin nodded, and despite the heat, Obi-wan crawled into his blanket cave, pulling it shut over their heads.

"You're nervous about tomorrow?"

Anakin nodded again, worried that if he opened his mouth, he was going to throw up all over Obi-wan.

Obi-wan carded his hands gently through Anakin's hair. "It'll be fine, Anakin. Remember that this doesn't rely solely on you. There are multiple other witnesses, all of whom will tell the court exactly what kind of monster Maul is."

Anakin nodded again, trying his best to relax. It was a lot easier with Obi-wan here. He took deep breaths of the comfortingly warm air inside the blanket cave.

"That's better," Obi-wan murmured, still running his fingers through Anakin's hair.

"If he isn't convicted…"

"We'll deal with that if it happens. I promise you, he's never going to touch you again. I don't care what I have to do. You will be safe, dearest, I swear."

Perhaps it was crazy, knowing what he did about Maul, but Anakin believed Obi-wan. Whichever way this went, they would survive, together.