Bolting upright in the Halls of Healing, Callera gasps for air. The dim lighting causing her eyes to dart around. Seeing the small form of Anakin a few beds over, she struggles to leave the bed.

"Do not move, Bladesinger. The boy is fine and in a healing trance, I do not want you to disturb the bacta cast on your leg." The stern voice of Master Che whips Callera's head around to the blue-skinned Twi'lek.

"How is he?" Callera's voice soft to try and not wake Anakin.

"Physically, he's mostly fine. What you did with him, repaired his throat fast enough to prevent any last damage from lack of air. Mentally…" Che trails off.

"He saw his mother die to save him, and still nearly died." Callera finishes hollowly.

The master nods, "If he had been with us since infancy, this would be easier to help him process. But like this…"

Callera interjects softly, "Do you know anywhere to get Corellian whiskey and vweilu nuts?"

"Not personally but I know a few Jedi who might, may I ask why?"

"Ryshcate. It's a Corellian pastry made with those ingredients, commonly used in remembrance of their homeworld when far from home." Pausing to gather herself before continuing, "Also often served at during their wakes."

"You wish to hold a wake for Anakin's mother?" The Chief Healer's tone curious.

"While we know that she has become one with the Force, the wake and mourning is for us the living. A chance to share good memories and reinforce that while gone, the departed is still with us. The Clans of Dathomir and many other cultures have similar traditions, the Corellian approach always felt the most 'Jedi like' to me. The most celebratory yet personal."

"I will ask around Jedi Bladesinger."

"Thank you, Master Healer. How bad was the damage?"

"All of your muscles and ligaments suffered some form of tearing, inconsistent with the fight. Your calf was nearly cut in half by a lightsaber and several cuts and scrapes from what looks to be debris from the fight."

"What about Anakin, I know you said he'd be fine…" Callera's words trail off.

"His throat will make a full recovery and whatever you did has ensured no lingering brain damage from a lack of oxygen. As I said, he will make a full physical recovery."

Callera's body sags in relief even as her stomach churns. "This happened because of me."

"What do you mean?"

"This was retaliation and punishment. Sidious froze me in place to watch as Maul struck at the Supreme Chancellor, the Queen, and Anakin. He wanted me to watch them die."

"Out of those targets, only the Supreme Chancellor is dead. The Queen is going to need an extensive Bacta regimen after having the majority of her bones broken and many organs bruised. Senator Palpatine might need to replace his left arm, depending on how well he responds to his own treatment." Master Che starts rattling off injuries.

"And the only reason Anakin did not die immediately, was his mother's love made her faster than a blaster bolt." Callera's voice hollow. "He was the intended target, determined to break me while the others were for Sidious' direct benefit.

"The Council shared with me your full story. Do you still believe Sidious is Palpatine after this?"

"I know it even more now, Master Che. His eyes told me everything I know about him is true. But he knows I cannot get the Order to act without proof." Frustration leaking into Callera's voice.

"Even after this 'Maul' hurt him?"

"Especially then. He let himself be wounded to throw off suspicion." Callera's voice sure despite the exhaustion.

"Could be just projecting this 'Sidious' on Palpatine?"

"Definitely not. Emperor Palpatine was a Sith Lord that the founder of our Order faced twice. Once as he is now, and once in a younger clone body that he managed to jump his consciousness into."

"But here is different."

"The major strokes of the 'Grand Plan' are still present Master Che. Which is why I have been trying to prove what I know, but when dealing with conspiracies, masters of hiding in plain sight, cut-outs, and so many other ways to hide one's direct involvement; I'll have an easier time keeping sand in my hand during a windstorm then proving Palpatine is the foe we seek. I just hope when I find the one grain of sand that links Palpatine to the Sith; I am believed."

Master Che nods in acceptance, "Be careful to not let that drive blind you to what the Force has called you to do," she tilts her head towards the sleeping young man, "he will need you to help guide him through this loss to become a Jedi."

"I can multitask, Master Che. It also helps that Master Qui-Gon and Padawan Obi-Wan believe me. I am not alone in both finding Sidious and helping Anakin grow."

"Do not forget that Jedi Bladesinger, now get some sleep. I'll ask around for those items and see if the kitchen staff would not mind preparing that ryshcate for you as well." Master Che slowly leaves the room

"When will Anakin wake tomorrow?" Callera's tired voice full of concern.

"You will be awake before we help him out of his trance, he needs a friendly face right now."

Callera nods in thanks as she settles back down onto the bed, trying to slow her breathing. 'I'm sorry Shmi, but I will do my best by your son. I swear.'

**********

Callera's eyes slowly open in the predawn hours, breathing slow and steady and feeling the bacta flowing over and around the wound in her leg, slowly rebuilding her calf. Sitting up she finds a crutch resting against the wall, setting it under her right arm as she stands up remembering that she's supposed to have the crutch under her strong side, she hobbles to the refresher to get ready for the moment she dreads. Finding a beige homespun floor-length skirt in the fresher she can wear and keep the bacta cast on as it finishes its work.

Hobbling back out to see the Chief Healer looking at her with some exasperation, "You could not wait till one of us cleared you?"

"As I said before, those of us with any medical training make the worst patients." Callera's light tone belies her worry. "I'm guessing one more day with the cast, and then a week of light physical duties before my body is ready for active duty?"

Master Che nods in confirmation, "You do seem to know your body well, but it's light detail within the Temple until the mind healer assigned to you clears you for full duty."

"Even if the crisis I am trying to stop starts to speed up?"

"Then you better do your best to work through your issues, Jedi Bladesinger. Until you are cleared, you are considered a potential risk to any task the Order might ask of you. You knew that I would be recommending this once you if you were accepted."

"Yes, but in my mind 'the crisis' I mentioned was not Naboo, but Sidious."

"If you are needed in the field earlier, then your mind healer might accompany you until you are cleared. But for now, I would focus on research, learning the differences between your time and ours. Maybe there is something in there you can bring to the Council while you heal."

"Understood, Master Che." Callera's disgruntled words interrupted by her stomach rumbling, "Do I have time to get to the kitchen to grab something before Anakin is brought out of his trance?"

"We will have something brought in for you, and then bring him out of it."

"Thank you, Master Che."

The minutes till food dragged on, but the moment her stomach had settled it filled with dread. 'How to comfort a child whose mother is dead because of you.' If it wasn't for her denying of Palpatine's goal, Shmi might have lived longer.

She sat by Anakin's bed, just holding the boy's hand while Healer Ky'sa slowly brought the young man around. His eyes slowly opening, his head turning towards Callera. Two sets of grief-stricken eyes meet.

"I'm so sorry Anakin." Tears flowing freely from both as Callera pulls herself up to hug the young man. Sniffles become cries becoming a heartrending wail.

"MMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

Doing her best to hold Anakin upright in bed, rubbing his back as the tears flow. "Let it all out, Anakin. Let all that hurt and pain all out." Callera's words choked out as her tears join the young man's.

"WHY?!"

Callera stays silent, she's the reason. Wails turn to whimpers and turn to sniffles. Pulling away slightly so she can look Anakin in the eyes. Puffy eyes meet puffy eyes. "Your mother chose your life over hers," The words hollow as Callera speaks them feeling like ash is on her tongue, "she wanted to give you a chance to live."

"Why didn't you save her?" Anakin's words cut right through her, accusation in his eyes.

Unwilling to look away Callera opens up, letting him feel her guilt and sadness, "The Zabrak that attacked us had help, a mentor far more powerful than myself. That mentor froze me in the Force, made me watch everything, made me watch the blaster bolt meant for you; unable to do anything but watch. They wanted to kill you with me watching."

"But, but mom then…" Anakin's words trail off.

"Your mothers love for you gave her a speed faster than any blaster bolt. She wanted her brilliant boy to live. She chose to give the dark the greatest insult she could, a willing sacrifice for her son." Callera pauses briefly with that, trying to give Anakin time to process, "But regardless it hurts, I know. Someone you care for deeply has been torn from you. The loss will always hurt; I'm not going to lie, but given time you will be able to look on her memory and her sacrifice with a lighter heart."

"You mean I'll forget her?!"

"No Anakin, in fact just the opposite. I mean that you will think of her at random times; there might be the occasional pang of loss, but the warmth of her love will be more than those feelings of sadness. It will take time though."

"What will happen now?" Anakin's voice hollow with loss.

"The same thing as if your mother had lived. You're an initiate here at the Temple, and in a few years I'll be your teacher if you still want me to be."

"Why did those bad people want you to watch me die?"

"Because I stopped their plans for Naboo, Anakin. I derailed years of schemes, with a few days of talking and one brawl with Maul."

"Do you know who was helping him?"

"Yes."

"WHO?!" Anger surges to the forefront over grief in Anakin's voice.

"Maul's Master is a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious. He's been trying to manipulate the galaxy to destroy the Jedi Order and what I did put those plans at risk."

"I want to kill him." The words send a shiver through Callera.

"I know you do Anakin and deep down I do too," the admission startling Anakin out of his dark thoughts briefly, "and if we have the chance, we will be the ones to bring him to justice. Not revenge. He needs to be held accountable for his crimes which are many and multiple, Anakin."

Anakin's eyes flare briefly before sadness reenters them, his body sagging as the high energy emotion leaves him. "Are you going to find him while I'm here in the Temple?"

"Unfortunately, I will not be directly involved with the hunt for Sidious for a while. The High Council and Chief Healer Che have benched me for a while, to get my own head on straight."

Anakin tilts his head quizzically.

"Remember on the ship, how I said I was a poor teacher for the basics for you?" He nods, "The High Council and Master Che want me spending time with Mind Healers to work on fixing that issue."

"What about Sidious?" The boy's voice tired and plaintive.

"Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are working on it right now, and just because I'm confined to the Temple for a while does not mean I'm not going to be searching for him. Archival research, news research, and other groundwork I can still do while here. And given that time the both of us," Icy-blue eyes lock with sky-blue ones, "we both will be able to join in the hunt as Jedi, for justice and peace."