Disclaimer: All characters and quotes from Attack of the Clones belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I'm only borrowing them.
Alright guys! Here comes chapter 11 of Republic High! In this chapter, things really start to heat up…I hope you guys like it, but I don't want to say too much because I might end up spoiling it…Slight soppiness alert for the chapter, nothing too major though.
Here we go!
Anakin climbed into the back of the ambulance rig with a semi-conscious Padmé. She was hooked up to an IV drip, an oxygen cylinder, and a cardiac monitor.
One of the EMTs climbed into the back with Anakin and Padmé, chattering into his radio about tachycardia, dyspnea, hypovolemic shock, and a bunch of other medical terms that Anakin didn't understand.
"Where…am I?" Padmé gasped, sucking in air as fast as the supplemental oxygen regulator would allow.
"You're in an ambulance. You fainted. Obi-Wan thinks it was from loss of blood…" Anakin explained concisely, worried.
"No. No hospitals." Padmé declared firmly, fumbling with weak fingers to unbuckle the restraints holding her to the gurney.
"Miss?" One of the EMTs said, coming to stand beside her.
"Let. Me. Out." She growled, fisting his shirt.
"Sorry, miss, I can't do that."
Padmé's slightly glassy eyes blazed.
"Until you turn eighteen, your parents must make the final decision in your medical treatment. I apologize for the inconvenience, but you'll have to wait until your parents arrive at the hospital before we can release you.
"What if my parents are dead?" Padmé ventured, trying to keep herself from sounding desperate.
"Then your next-of-kin would be responsible for you. They'd have to be of legal age of course."
"He's my brother," She said, jerking her head to indicate Anakin. "And he's eighteen." She gripped Anakin's hand and squeezed.
Hard.
Play along. She was saying. Her chocolate-brown eyes pleaded with Anakin. Please.
The EMT glanced at Anakin skeptically. "Why didn't you say anything before?"
Anakin's tone had just the right mingling of remorse and chagrin. "I'm sorry, I was a little distracted. Guess I forgot to mention that little fact."
"Are you willing to let her leave this ambulance, being fully aware of the consequences that could occur if she does not receive medical attention?"
Padmé's grip tightened further. Please.
Anakin's little finger popped. "Yes." His voice betrayed a conviction and a strength that he did not feel. His conscience stabbed him. She could die.
The EMT reached behind his seat and withdrew a clipboard. His voice was ice-cold. "Sign here." He said.
Anakin was pretty sure the words 'insensitive mudcrutch' followed that statement but he wasn't sure. Reluctantly, he took the proffered pen, and scrawled his signature across the bottom of the page.
The EMT fixed him with a steely gaze and then poked his head into the cab of the vehicle.
"Pull over, John. She's getting out." He said.
The ambulance coasted over to the curb and the two medical officials released Anakin and Padmé, driving off immediately afterward.
Padmé remained standing until the ambulance rounded the corner, and then leaned heavily on Anakin as pain stabbed through her ankle.
Anakin eased her into a sitting position on the sidewalk. "Do you have your phone with you?" He demanded, almost angry.
"Yeah." Padmé replied sheepishly, unable to meet Anakin's eyes. Quietly, she said: "Thanks for getting me out of that."
"Don't thank me just yet. You have some serious explaining to do."
"Anakin, I can't-" Padmé began.
"Call Mace or Obi-Wan first, and tell the we need a ride back to school." Anakin interrupted. "You can, and you will. I just helped you lie to a medical official and avoid a trip to the hospital when clearly that's where you need to be. The least you can do is tell me why. I think I deserve that much."
Padmé finished her phone call, and eyed Anakin gravely. "I will, but you have to swear to me, under pain of castration and possibly death, to never breathe a word about what I'm about to tell you. To anyone. Not the cops, not child services, not even your mother. Nobody." Padmé said, gripping Anakin's arm for emphasis.
Anakin raised his right hand, and placed his left over his heart. "I, Anakin Skywalker, promise never to divulge the information you are about to tell. Being of sound mind, I fully understand the penalties of such a violation of your confidentiality, which include, but are not limited to: castration and/or death." He vowed.
Padmé eyed him approvingly. "Thank you." She said softly. She met his eyes. "My dad beat me."
Anakin was instantly livid. "I'll kill him!" Anakin swore.
"No, you don't understand…you can't. Getting involved with him would only put you in danger. My dad comes from a very powerful…family. He has some very powerful friends." Padmé warned. "Please don't go after him." She requested fervently. And then, she added: "For me. Promise."
Anakin fought to quell his rage, the fury-burn scalding his throat and searing his veins. "You're asking me to be rational; that is something I know I cannot do." He admitted, his voice shaking with anger.
Padmé gripped his hand. "Try. Please, for your own sake." Padmé
"It doesn't matter." Anakin said flatly. "How long has this been going on? How long have you been being abused?" He asked. His voice was eerily calm.
"That's not important…" Padmé wheedled.
"How long?" Anakin demanded in a sharp tone.
Padmé flinched at the bitterness in his voice. "Twelve years." She admitted meekly.
Anakin's fist clenched.
"I know what you're thinking. But if you go after him, the only person that will end up getting hurt is you. I couldn't live with myself if I caused something bad to happen to you. Promise me you won't." Padmé pleaded.
Anakin's voice was empty. "I promise." He said.
"Say it like you mean it." Padmé instructed.
"I promise." Anakin repeated with verve.
Distantly, a car horn beeped.
Anakin looked up to see Mace's pearlescent purple Eclipse parked at the curb. He reached down to help Padmé up and assisted her in hobbling to the car.
Mace's face was drawn. "You're being an idiot, Padmé." He commented as the injured girl crawled into the front seat.
"I tried to tell her the same thing." Anakin seconded with a scorching glare in Padmé's direction.
"Come on guys, you know why I can't." Padmé reasoned.
"It's still stupid." Mace continued.
Anakin's frown deepened. "Will it be safe for you to go home tonight." he asked as they pulled back into the school parking lot.
"No. Not after the school calls him and says that I'm in the hospital." Padmé admitted.
Anakin thought for a moment. "How do you feel about staying at my place tonight?" He asked.
"Your parents won't mind?" Padmé asked hopefully.
"Nope. I have my own place. It's…complicated." Anakin replied.
"Oh. I'm okay with it if you are." Padmé decided.
"Good." Anakin continued, satisfied. "Where is your stuff? If you're staying at my place, you'll probably need to get a few things from your place first, right? I mean, now's the perfect time, since your father is probably at the hospital looking for you." He said.
"It's in my locker. The combination is left-right-left. It's 7-18-33." Padmé told him.
Anakin handed her his car keys. "Here. Go to my car and stay out of sight 'til I get back." He instructed. "Thanks for the ride Mace." He said.
"No problem, man. Take care of her." Mace replied gravely.
The three of them went their separate ways; Mace went back to class, Padmé went to Anakin's car, and Anakin went to Padmé's locker.
After retrieving Padmé's purse and backpack, Anakin retuned to his car.
"Did you get everything?" Padmé asked as Anakin started up the car.
"Yes." Anakin said, as he peeled out of the parking lot, speeding across town to Padmé's house. He circled the block a few times to make sure the coast was clear, and then pulled up to the curb in front of Padmé's home.
"I'll be right back." Padmé said.
"I'll keep a lookout. If I beep the horn, find somewhere to hide." Anakin warned.
Padmé nodded and went inside.
Anakin's grip tightened convulsively on the steering wheel as soon as she was gone. He was still furious at her father; he hoped Padmé retuned soon- he wasn't sure he could control himself if he was left alone with the man.
Padmé came back outside with a small suitcase and another bag, stuffing them in Anakin's trunk.
"Let's go." She said.
Anakin complied all-too-eagerly. Just as he reached the end of the block, Padmé's father drove up in the opposite lane.
He motioned for Anakin to roll down his window.
"Duck!" Anakin hissed to Padmé, who doubled herself over as quickly as she could.
Anakin rolled down the window, and forced his voice to sound civil. "Can I help you?"
Ruwee's voice boomed across the gap between vehicles. "You seen my daughter boy?" Ruwee asked.
If not for Padmé's confession and her current injuries- Anakin might have answered truthfully- Ruwee sounded genuinely worried. "I was about to ask you the same question. Word is, she got carted out of school on a stretcher during lunch. Have you heard anything?" Anakin responded smoothly.
"No…She's not at the hospital. Let me know if you hear anything, okay kid?" Ruwee requested.
"Sure thing." Anakin lied. With that, he rolled up his window and drove off.
"Kriff!" Padmé exclaimed, sitting up after they'd been driving for a few minutes. She winced and bit back a scream-all that curling was murder on her ribs. "That was close! I thought for sure he was gonna catch us!" Padmé said breathlessly.
Anakin eyed her with kind disbelief. "Did you honestly think I would've handed you over to that monster if he had?" Anakin snorted derisively. "Give me some credit, Padmé, you know me better than that."
Okay guys, Review Time! Let me know what you think. And sorry to Oli if the soppiness bores you…it's a romance, but let me know if it's too much and I'll try to tone it down. Don't forget to review.
Peace, out.
~Ink17