DISCLAIMER: *tackles Kit and takes the Ring* Finally! My One Ring of Unlimited- *Frodo Baggins trips Xaja and takes the Ring* HEY! Damn Hobbit.

Me no own Star Wars. Me also have no grammar after getting two hours of sleep last night. Me not happy about that.

Finally, an Obi-Qui centric drabble-ish epilogue! Hopefully no one will cry during this one...

Ren Ankh: Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion! I personally think Obi-Wan is amazing, but whatever. *shrugs* Does this song exist with Zara's name in it? No. The original song is "Lucy", done by Skillet (BEST BAND EVER!) from their new album "Awake". Check it out. And check out the rest of their songs, while you're at it!

************

You've been home in the Temple for over two months now, yet you still bear scars from your two-week nightmare. Physically, you are close to what you were before you were abducted. Your arm was deemed 'healed' last week, although you still continue therapy. You were already slight to begin with, but you are now thinner than you were. If I look, I can still see your ribs underneath the healing scars on your abdomen.

If one ignores the scars that can be seen marring your skin and the stiffness of your arm, you would appear to be physically healed. But I know better.

Your eyes are haunted with grim memories of your captivity. The dark shadows under your eyes betray the many sleepless nights. You still fear to be alone in the dark and hate to be away from me for longer than a few minutes. You jump at sudden noises, such as a Youngling dropping a training 'sabre. The bolts from the training droids make you flinch.

I don't know what hells you went through, Padawan. But my heart cries every time I see a physical or emotional scar left behind from your ordeal. I also fear to be away from you, not wishing to let you out of my sight again.

I sit on the edge of your bed, watching you sleep. You do not stir as I seat myself, for which I am grateful. You don't sleep enough as it is. Rationally, I know that you are safe here, in the Temple, surrounded by thousands of Jedi. But my instinct as your surrogate father is too strong to just entrust you to the Temple security force. I failed to protect you on Ylesia, Padawan. My heart demands that I keep watch over you.

Your brow furrows as yet another terror from your memories comes forth to frighten you. You whimper slightly, twisting and turning in your sheets, trying to escape whatever plagues your sleep. I lean forward, brushing my hand across your forehead. "Shh. Easy, Obi-Wan. You're safe. Nothing can harm you."

I think you must have heard me. You relax into your pillow, the lines in your brow easing. My hand remains where it is, though.

Master Cin tells me that Zara is suffering as much as you are, Padawan. Indeed, I sometimes feel the disturbance in the Force when she wakes up screaming from nightmares. Cin confesses that neither of them have slept well since before this ordeal started. We know what they're feeling, do we not, my young apprentice? Even if you do not wake both of us from nightmares, I will be awoken by images playing in my mind, images of you dying in my arms. Those scare me worse than the actual memories of rescuing you.

You start to moan again, the bed sheet clenched in your fist. I run my hand through your hair again, but it does not calm you this time. My heart lurches within my chest as you whisper, "Master, no! Please, Master. Help me! No..."

"I'm right here, Obi-Wan," I murmur into your ear. I touch our bond, using the Force to reassure you of my presence and your safety. I can sense the vaguest images of the nightmare through the bond, and I know you are reliving the memory of Cin and I running to the Hutt's ship, trying to rescue you.

As you calm down again, I lower my head in grief. If only Cin and I had run faster! You would not have had to suffer as much as you did, and you would have been safe much sooner. But what is done is in the past and cannot be changed. And I know you do not hold me accountable- or at least, not that you say to my face. I often wonder if you secretly, within the depths of your heart, blame me for not rescuing you sooner.

I shake my head, willing that thought out of my head. You wouldn't do that, Obi-Wan. You've said as much to me; that you know I was doing everything I could in my power to save you, and vehemently argued against me every time I said otherwise, that I should have done more.

My own weariness tugs at me, pulling me to bed. I hope that the rest of your night will be spared of trouble, Padawan. I slowly stand up, giving your hand a light squeeze as I rise. I think I'm imagining it, but it feels like you're returning the squeeze.

I can't resist bending down and dropping a fatherly kiss in your hair. "Sleep well, my Obi-Wan." I whisper. I finally tear myself away from you and toward my own bed.

This will not be the last time I keep a late vigil over your bed, Padawan. But I don't complain. I'd do it for years if I had to, for you. Anything to help you heal. I may have failed you on the mission, but I can do my part to help you recover.

*************

Considering I am running on two hours' sleep today, I think this turned out okay. Please note: Insomnia is highly over-rated. And so are caffeine addictions, particularly when one is trying to sleep just as the coffee is FINALLY kicking in. *scowls*

Anywho, please review! I'll see if I can get some more one-shots out soon-ish! Thanks for reading.

(For those of you who liked the last one-shot, I did another songfic by Skillet. This one is "Monster", and I think it warrants you checking it out. Because I said so, and you should trust me on matters like this.) ;)

Xaja