Where is she!? Anakin groaned.
He watched the clocked worriedly as the physical therapist toyed with his arm. The therapist was a human woman with long blond hair and large green eyes. She had a pretty smile, but Anakin hardly noticed. Which doesn't mean, she failed to notice him. She was quite taken by the tall, handsome, virile young Jedi and seemed to prolong his treatment.
The woman stretched out his machine hand, and aimed a laser beam at the tip of one of Anakin's fingers. A sharp red light ripped through the end of it.
He snatched his hand away, flinching with the desire to hit her. Strangely, the pain that shot through to the rest of his body.
"I'm sorry," the woman said. "The work on your arm was amazing. Your nerve ends are grafting to the prosthetic perfectly. I assume, the pain in your arms and legs were more acute when I did that."
"I should hope you wouldn't do it again," Anakin said, a hint of threat in his voice.
"No, I won't," the woman replied. "It's a surgery tool, nothing that will damage the material of your new hand. The pain will go away in a few minutes. I wanted to know if your limb is working as it should. Is there anything you want to tell me? Any discomfort?"
"Sometimes... where the flesh of my lower arm meets the prosthetic, there is pain. But only when I move my hand."
"Ah... I see. You need more practice. So, let us meet twice more in a week. I will notify the Council. I have a feeling they want you... or rather, need you back on the battleground. It simply too early for that."
Anakin sighed. But it was a sigh of relief. More time to spend with Padme. If he could play the injury out a bit longer -- long enough to have something that resembled a honeymoon, he would be happy. But not too long, he was also ready for war, and ready to defend the Republic. Sometimes, between his wife and his duties - he felt torn between the two. Having it all is harder than it actually sounds.
Padme walked through the Senate hall to the chambers where the special meeting would take place. Along the way, Bail Organa briefed her on the upcoming congregation, news she received with much relief. It seems the chancellor would like to vote himself more power. This time he wanted the power to oversee clone field tactics as Commander in Chief. A job that belonged to Jedi!
What was the Chancellor thinking? The idea that he could orchestrate a war better than the generals out on the battlefield - who would need his orders to make a move would put their military units in danger. Palpatine's demands grew more and more absurd with each meeting. It seemed he wanted control of... everything.
Senator Organa and Padme Amidala stood outside of the congressional hall, waiting for the meeting to start. They spoke feverishly about the Chancellor's new demands. In fact, Padme was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't see Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker approach. When she turned, Anakin seemed equally shocked to see her, and both were equally uncomfortable. How might they keep their eyes from lighting up? The joy in them, in having seen each other?
Anakin could not hide the smile that threatened to spread across his face. So much so, that he folded both arms behind his back and looked toward the ground. Perhaps, Obi Wan Kenobi might not see how deeply Anakin felt, how deeply embarrassed he was, and discover their secret. Padme's cheeks were scarlet and suddenly, her words tumbled out of her mouth clumsily.
"Master Kenobi," she said, greeting him first.
"Good to see you, Senator Amidala," he replied, a cheerful gleam in his eyes. "Anakin..." he said.
Anakin looked up. He turned to Bail Organa first, "Good evening Senator Organa."
"Good to-" Bail started.
But Padme was already speaking, and both spoke over each other.
"Good to see you, Anakin..." she said.
Anakin flushed, turned to Padme as nonchalantly as he could muster, but again, she spoke at the same time:
"Good to see you, Milady."
"Will you be on Coruscant long?" she couldn't help but ask.
Obi-Wan Kenobi surpressed a smirk. The two couldn't hide their feelings for each other if they tried. But something must have happened between the two for them to behave so awkwardly.
And Anakin only recently left Naboo of all places...how hard was it to put two and two together? They obviously saw each other, and if anything happened beyond that, he'd be hard pressed to think Anakin wasn't behind the whole thing. Anakin wore his feelings for Padme Amidala like a coat of finish - he shined whenever she was around.
At the same time, the Senator looked quite uncomfortable, nervous even. She was a Senator after all and knew an untoward relationship betwixt the two would cause a major scandal. She knew how important he was. She knew he was the Chosen One. That isn't to say she doesn't like Anakin, or even to some degree, shared his feelings. But Padme was wise beyond her years and would never cross the boundaries between them. She would protect Anakin - save him from himself. Or at least he hoped.
Anakin's presence was so acute it was as though he were right there in front of her, breathing down her face. The way he leered at the Senator, as though he might devour her there in the congressional hall. If Obi-Wan could, he'd bind Anakin around the neck and hold him back, for he feared the young man might dare to try.
Thankfully, Senator Organa didn't seem to notice.
"As I were saying to Senator Amidala... I don't see how the Republic would benefit if the Chancellor were given authority by the delegation to head the Clone Wars as Commander in Chief."
"I agree, " Obi Wan started... "And not because the Chancellor has never held such a position, much less, ever stood on a battlefield while the ground is still hot."
"The Chancellor means well," Anakin interrupted.
"Of course he does, Anakin, but the change would cause more red tape than necessary. Decisions must be made and made quickly. In the throes of war, there wouldn't be time to update the Chancellor or seek permission. He's a very busy man," Obi Wan countered.
"I agree," Padme said. It was all she could say at the moment.
Lights in the congressional hall flickered on and Senators and other interested politicians began to trickle inside. Obi Wan Kenobi, Bail Organa entered the hall first. Padme and Anakin followed, their elbows brushing as they walked inside.