Chapter 5 - Together

Author's Note: Yes, this is a very open ending, but the story is officially ending here. :') Thank you all so much for reading, favoriting, following, and/or reviewing! :D

~ Amina Gila


Anakin is on the way back to his room when Ahsoka runs up. "You stayed," she says, panting a little. She must've run a long distance.

He pauses, eyeing her. "How could I have gone?" he asks.

"I know, as Jedi, we're not supposed to be angry," Ahsoka replies, "But – but I can't forget this. What they did to you –"

"They did what they needed to," Anakin interjects, "And I can't forget it, either, but the Council will only do what's best."

"How as any of this for the best?" Ahsoka protests incredulously. "They expelled you. I know the Senate demanded it, but why couldn't they have delayed until looking into the evidence more?!"

"I know, Ahsoka. I know," he replies, unable to meet her eyes. She's angry. He's just... hurt. "But in the end, this isn't about me. It never was. It was for the Order, and for the greater good."

"Master, what they did to you, they could have done to anyone!"

"I know," he tells her, because he does. "I know you're angry," Anakin continues, "And you have a right to be."

Ahsoka crosses her arms. She looks stung. Hurt. "How can we just accept this?"

"What other choice is there?" He doesn't mean to sound as defeated as he does, but he can't help it. It's just that... so much has happened, in such a short time span, and he needs time to think it through. To process it all. "This is where our place is, Ahsoka. We have nowhere else to go. We're Jedi. We are meant to help people, even at the cost of ourselves. And I understand it."

"But it's not right."

"Many things aren't, Snips, but we have to live with it. We can still change things."

"How?" she demands, jerking forwards, "There's just us." She turns away, arms still crossed.

Sixteen or no, she's still so young. She's still a child. The war is what forced her to grow up quickly. It hurts to see sometimes. Hesitantly, Anakin reaches out to touch her shoulder. "I wanted to go. I – I still do, but I could never leave you."

"Thank you," Ahsoka says finally.

"You're my responsibility," he reminds.

"You're not always going to be able to take care of me," she argues.

"I know," Anakin tells her, unruffled, "But I intend on keeping it this way as long as possible." Ahsoka often doesn't understand that, he knows. But Anakin has never let that deter him. He is her master. She's his padawan – it's his duty to take care of her. And more than that, he wants to.

"What now?" she asks. "Will things go back to normal?"

For the first time in what feels like a while, he cracks a smile. "There's never been a normal for us, Snips."

"That's true," Ahsoka agrees grudgingly, "There hasn't been. But I mean, what now? The war's still going on, and we'll just... go back to it?"

"What else could we do?"

"I don't know," she replies, shifting, "But can we really say we... believe in this?"

Anakin has always been blunt. Ahsoka is much the same way, and he appreciates her ability to ask the question straight, even if it's the same one that's been nagging him. "The Republic is falling," he agrees quietly, finally, "And I think everyone already knew that. But I have to believe something will come out of it and of all we've fought for."

"Can you really... trust them?" she asks quietly. The Council, she means, but that's not a question any Jedi would ever truly voice.

"They will always choose what they see best for the Order and the galaxy," Anakin tells her, "Even if... individuals are often lost sight of. That includes you and me. But we're not the only ones still fighting for what's right."

"Yeah," Ahsoka agrees quietly, "Even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes."

"We've – fought so many battles. We've lost so many. I have to believe it was for something." Instantly, he finds himself thinking of Echo, and Anakin lets that go as fast as it comes. There is always – will always be losses in war. Sacrifices.

It wouldn't hurt so much if it felt like his death served a purpose, like Hardcase's did. Hardcase won Umbara. If not for him... they would never have made it out.

Echo's still feels like it was pointless and preventable in so many ways, but... many will be lost in the war, and Anakin has to believe it's for some reason. He can't accept anything less.

**w**

Obi-Wan is beyond relieved that this is all over now – the person who bombed the Temple will finally face the consequences, and Anakin is... back. That he was thrown out of the Order at all feels almost unreal. He doesn't know that moving past it will be quite as easy for Anakin, though.

The next chance he has in between constant Council work and trying to deal with the war – and there's a lot of publicity against the Jedi now, given that there was a Jedi involved in the attack, which Obi-Wan... can get, but frankly he thinks they're all forgetting it was the Jedi Temple that was attacked by this Jedi, not just the Republic – he goes to find Anakin.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Obi-Wan asks, pausing near the doorway of Anakin's room.

"No." Anakin stands, untangling himself from the machine mess in the corner he was working on. He still looks tired, worn out, which is... unsurprising.

"Have you eaten yet?" he asks – it's still early in the morning. They finally got Anakin cleared late yesterday afternoon, and it's relieving that things are finally more normal again. Nothing has been, since the Temple was attacked.

Anakin mutely shakes his head.

Somehow, Obi-Wan's not surprised. "Why don't you come with me, unless your padawan is expecting you?" he suggests. He doesn't want to spend the entire time he has with Anakin – the times are pretty rare – talking about what happened. He would prefer if... things with them could return to normal, too.

Anakin makes a sound of acknowledgement, joining him as they make their way through the halls together.

"How... are you?" Obi-Wan asks, finally, once they're at their own table in the cafeteria.

"I'm fine, Master," he replies, gaze focused with great interest on the food he appears to have little motivation to eat in the first place.

"I know this was not easy for you," Obi-Wan answers, bluntly.

Anakin glances up, something weighted and heavy in his eyes. "I know the Council did what they had to do."

"Yes," he concedes, because he still doesn't see what other option they had, but that doesn't mean he's happy with how it played out, "But I still regret things went this far in the first place. It's... relieving that those behind it have finally been discovered."

Anakin nods, and he looks oddly hesitant for a moment. "That Initiate... Could I speak with her?"

Obi-Wan blinks in surprise. "Why?"

"I want to understand what she was saying," he explains.

Oh. That. Well... Obi-Wan frankly stopped thinking about it, with how ridiculous her claims were. "I can't say I believe it's worth it – much of what she's saying could easily be made up," he replies, "But I'll see what I can arrange."

"Thank you," Anakin replies, giving him a small smile, and it lets Obi-Wan hope for a moment that maybe things can... somewhat return to how they once were, after all.

**w**

Anakin gets permission to see Reva faster than he expected. She's still being held at the Jedi Temple right now because the Senate didn't want any more prison breaks. And the Temple is really the only place that can adequately contain Force sensitives, with no chance of them escaping.

She's sitting in the corner of her cell, looking distinctly unhappy, and it's... She's only ten. She's so young still, but this was... She chose to do this, and he can't understand why. It's not as if Barriss coerced her into it, from what the Council gathered.

"Reva?" he asks, uncertainly, standing outside the ray shielded entrance – there's no reason to go inside. He's hardly sure what he's doing here, but he just... wants answers. He wants to understand. Ahsoka told him later that she said something about him... Falling and turning on the Jedi? Everyone assumes it was a vision of some kind, but it doesn't make any sense, and he'd like to hear for himself what happened.

Her head snaps up, anger instantly filling her face. "What do you want?" she demands, angrily.

"They told me what you were saying," he replies, "I came to... speak with you about it."

"I have nothing to say to you," she snaps. He can sense her anger and hurt, and it's obviously extremely personal. She's clearly not making things up as much as the others seem to think.

"I merely want to understand what... happened," he responds, "I want to understand why you did this."

Reva glares at him. It looks almost ridiculous on the face of a child so young, but her eyes hold much more than a ten-year-old's should. She's seen far more, and Anakin thought he heard some mention of time travel. He doesn't think that's nearly as outlandish now that he sees her.

"You have to be stopped," she hisses, "And no one else was brave enough to do it."

"I'm not a Sith, Reva." He doesn't think she understands that. It's clear enough that no matter how old she was when she was in the future, her mind has reverted to that of a child. Hence her attitude. It's... sad, really. And, no doubt, she must have fallen in whatever future it is she's from. Anakin crouches in front of her, so they're more at eye-level.

"You will be." She moves closer to the ray shield. "You killed them. Everyone."

"Whatever you saw, it hasn't happened yet," Anakin reminds. He doubts she would listen to him. Considering what must have happened, he can't blame her. It's... no wonder she went unhinged. "And it's not fair to judge anyone based on a possible future. Not even you."

She glares back at him sullenly, stubbornly. Wordlessly. Not that Anakin expects her to talk.

"It's never too late to stop choosing vengeance and start helping."

"How would you know that?" she snaps.

"Because I did, too, once. A long time ago." A surge of pain shoots through his heart. "And that was something someone I used to know would say." His mother. "Vengeance is... consuming. It's easy to do far worse than the one who hurt you."

"No one could do worse than what you did."

"I know." Anakin stands, hesitating. He should leave. "But you gave us all a second chance. So – thank you."

Reva doesn't say anything. Anakin hovers a moment longer before leaving.

"This isn't your responsibility," Obi-Wan says, watching him, arms crossed. "You didn't hurt anyone."

"Maybe," Anakin replies, "But I could have. And either way, it's real to her, even if it's not to us."

"She's a traitor," Obi-Wan objects.

"She's a kid," Anakin reminds, "And she needs... someone. And for all we know, she may well have given us another chance. My – my mother would have said it's only fair to return that."

**w**

Going back to the Senate is a jarring reminder of how he could have ended up here on trial if Ahsoka hadn't been able to find the evidence fast enough. Constantly thinking about it is exhausting, even if he can't seem to fully turn his attention to anything else yet – it feels like it could have been nothing but a nightmare, but moments of it keep haunting him.

"Henceforth, you are barred from the Jedi Order."

Blinking the thoughts from mind, Anakin heads to Palpatine's office – he asked to see him, as soon as possible.

"It's so good to see you, my boy," Palpatine says, face filled with concern, "I was very concerned when I heard what was happening. I could not believe anyone would think you responsible for attacking the Temple."

Anakin nods. Palpatine is... the one person he still feels like he can be fully open with. He couldn't really with Obi-Wan because he's on the Council, and he's already obviously upset with what happened, and... Anakin doesn't want to bother him. With Padme it's just... become harder over time, and Ahsoka is his responsibility. He doesn't go to her over his feelings. That would be completely irresponsible. The clones he can always talk to freely, but Palpatine is, well... he's his mentor.

"It was... not easy," Anakin admits, "I should not have run from the prison, but... I did not leave my cell intending to. I was trying to track the Dark Sider I sensed, and... it went too far."

"I imagined it must have been something of that nature," Palpatine replies, "I have always told you to trust your instincts. The Jedi would never have found who was behind this, if not for that." He pauses, touching Anakin's shoulder. "You must know, Anakin, that I did everything I could to convince the Senate not to push for your immediate expulsion from the Order, but it was... considered protocol."

"I know," Anakin replies, quietly, "But... thank you, Your Excellency." It helps, knowing that Palpatine argued on his behalf, even if it didn't change anything in the end.

"But I must say, I was still surprised when the Council was so willing to go through with it, without even waiting for further evidence," Palpatine adds, "It bothers me to see how little regard and trust they have for you."

It bothers him, too, even if he knows none of this was about him. He should be able to let it go, like a Jedi should. But he can't make it stop hurting. "They have to answer to the Senate. Obi-Wan told me no one believed I was guilty."

"Was that true, or as he merely saying so?" Palpatine asks.

That... he doesn't know what to say. "I don't know," Anakin admits, subdued, "Some of them – I think they suspected."

"And that is what I mean," he presses, "Even after everything you've done for them, even though you are the best General, they still question your loyalty. I simply find is disturbing they made a mistake of this nature."

Yes, well... that, he can't disagree with, as much as he doesn't want to. He knows many of the Jedi are losing their way, straying from the Code, and while he's always tried to stick to it no matter what, it bothers him to see what's happening with the Jedi all around him. And if it's even happening to the Council, he doesn't know who to follow anymore. The war changed everything. "Much has changed in the Order, since the start of the war," Anakin admits.

"It only concerns me to know what will happen if this worsens," Palpatine muses.

Something twists uneasily inside Anakin. That's what he's afraid of, too. Palpatine isn't wrong – nor is Ahsoka – and he doesn't know what to do about that. In the end, the only beliefs he can be truly loyal to are the Republic and the Code. Not the Order or the Council. He doesn't know what that will mean for the future.

"But I am pleased to hear the perpetrators of this have been arrested. I can assure you they will be dealt with for what they have done," Palpatine continues, and this... Anakin thinks it's one of the first times he's seen genuine anger from Palpatine, even if it's not showing on his face.

He still doesn't know what to think of Reva, or what her fate will probably be. "They had... valid questions, even if that does not excuse their methods."

"Nothing could excuse how they attempted to frame you for their actions," the Chancellor says, firmly. Yes, he is definitely upset about it, Anakin can feel it. Anakin knows that Palpatine genuinely enjoys spending time with him – he's felt it before – and it's... touching, even if he doesn't understand why.

But he could never not be grateful for it.

**w**

Anakin hasn't seen Cody since his arrest, and he could feel how uncomfortable Cody was to even be involved in that. It's been a while since they worked together on a mission anyways, so he stops by at the cruiser there – he'll be heading to his own after that.

"General?" Cody asks in slight surprise, when he sees him.

"It's good to see you, Cody," he tells him, sincerely.

The clone nods. "We heard that you were being framed. I'm sorry about... what happened, sir." Mostly, Anakin can tell he means about having to arrest him.

"You were only doing your duty."

"We should have been searching for the real perpetrator, instead of hunting you," Cody sighs.

"You were only following orders," Anakin reminds him again. It was hardly Cody's fault.

"Are you... alright, sir?" he asks, "That would have been quite the ordeal for anyone."

"I am," Anakin assures. Even if the memories will take a long time to fade. If they ever do. He already knows he'll never be able to look at the Council the same way again. "It is dealt with now."

"Yes," Cody concedes, "But even so. You should know that I never doubted your loyalty."

He knew the clones would never question it, but it's still... warming to here. "Thank you," he replies, anyway.

"You don't need to thank us, sir. We all know what you've done for every one of us," Cody replies, firmly, "I've never seen another Jedi who does that, not even General Kenobi."

Anakin smiles faintly. "I think that's pushing it."

"It's not," Cody replies firmly, "Everyone looks up to you. Many of us were... upset when we heard what happened. We suspected a set-up from the start."

"I did not realize it was directly intended for me until later," he admits. He knew something suspicious was going on, but until that droid in his room...

"Why would any Jedi do that?" Cody wonders.

"It's just like with Slick, and with Krell, I guess," Anakin sighs, "Not all of us are good. Because of the Force, and that we have powers most people can't understand, it's easy to forget we're still... people. We have emotions and... with our powers, it's easy for them to blind us."

"Yes," Cody concedes, "I suppose there are always some who will be willing to betray their own, for their own... benefit." He wasn't with the troops on Umbara when they'd attacked each other, but Anakin knows he definitely lost some he was close to, or at least knew well. Hearing about more Jedi traitors can't be easy for any of the clones.

"What matters is that there will always be more who do not," Anakin points out, finally. Really, that's the most they can take consolation in.

**w**

Predictably, Jesse and Kix were very unapologetic when Rex did talk to them about it, although he did it more for a reminder for future than that he... actually disagreed with the actions they took this time. He doesn't know how his General would've continued the investigation completely on his own otherwise, though he would undoubtedly have found a way. That doesn't mean it would've been easy.

And yes, Kix pointing out that "if he didn't have help, he would have been out on his own even longer. And if he's still recovering from Cato Neimoidia, constant moving and drinking nothing will not help his health," is a good excuse, but still.

"All the boys were worried about you," Rex tells Anakin when he finally shows up – it's the afternoon after everything was over, and he'd already heard Fives and Jesse whispering about what they could do to break the General out of prison if it came down to it.

And they really thought they could have that conversation without him overhearing. Not that Rex wouldn't have helped them, if things had come that far and the Senate had actually believed the very little circumstantial evidence they had against him, but still.

"You didn't need to be," Anakin says, though it's a moot point. How could they not have been?

"We were going to keep searching on our own if the Commander didn't find anything," Fives interjects, approaching.

"Thank you," Anakin replies, "For – everything. Really."

"You would have done the same for any of us," Rex replies. And he knows that, without a doubt.

"We would have broken you out, if we had to," Jesse offers.

"They were already talking about it," Rex tells him, shooting them a pointed look.

"We would have," Fives agrees, unabashed.

Anakin glances at them, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I know. But all of that is over now."

"Yes, it is," Rex agrees, or so he can hope, and he's never been more relieved. He'd been so worried about all of this, even if he knew Anakin would be able to handle it. There's no way he couldn't, and no one could fabricate enough evidence to prove him guilty, but it was still... hard when it was going on.

And he's never been more relieved that it's over and that they have their General safety back with them.

**w**

It's been... difficult to sleep since this started. Not as if that's surprising. He often dreams, but they're back again. It's... often hard to deal with. They've been common enough during the war that he's adapted to the habit of going down to the hangars in the night cycle sometimes, when he can't even focus on meditating or can't work on battle plans.

Normally, that's something they're only supposed to do in the daytime, not that there is truly a day or night in space.

Anakin is used to being alone here. It doesn't bother him when he has something to focus on, something to do. Exhaustion is nagging at him, especially considering how he hasn't slept much in quite a while but staring blankly at the ceiling was getting... dull.

It was making him restless.

His fighter was lost on Cato Neimoidia, and Anakin hasn't had time to upgrade another one to his liking. He has time for that now. Sort of.

Everything around him fades away as he works, as it always does, enough that Anakin almost doesn't notice a familiar presence hovering nearby.

"Rex?" Anakin asks, sliding out from under the fighter. "What are you doing here? Is it morning already?"

"I heard you were out here, so I thought I could come down."

Anakin sits up after scooting back a bit more. He'll never stop being touched by his men's blind loyalty. He doesn't understand what it is they see in him so much, anyway, but they do. And it's... comforting. This is finally one place in the galaxy it feels like he belongs.

"How have you been, sir?" Rex asks. For them, it's not awkward. Not anymore. They're used to it. Anakin may be his superior, but in many ways, they still see one another as equals.

"It's... been a day," he says finally. He doesn't know how else to answer it.

"Kix maintains you should be resting," Rex replies.

Anakin huffs out a laugh. "Of course, he does." That's nearly always true, after all.

"With everything that's happened since Cato Neimoidia, I can't say he's wrong," Rex adds, dryly.

"He's not," he concedes, because really, he ought to be, but it's not an option right now. He can't close his eyes without being jolted awake with a nightmare of something or other, so he's given up trying entirely. "But it's not easy right now." He hasn't mentioned to anyone how he can't stop thinking about what Ahsoka said, her questions about the Order and the war. He definitely can't tell Rex that, when he's given so much blindly for the Republic and has lost so much.

"I understand that, sir," Rex agrees. Anakin knows it's a problem all the clones share – he remembers the times after Echo's death that he kept running into Fives out in the halls of the cruiser at night. At times, he had seemed so... lifeless afterwards, until more recently. "But still, I suggest you get some rest. I doubt the Commander would have a problem with you going to be with her."

Of course, they've noticed that he sometimes has an easy time sleeping if someone's next him, during the countless nights they've spent out on the battlefield together, with Ahsoka usually curled up next to him. "Yeah," Anakin agrees, smiling. It feels like it's the first time it's been sincere in a long time. "You too, Rex. This has been a long day for all of us." He has little doubt that from here, the war is only going to get worse.

He leaves the hangar after that. It somehow feels... easier now that someone told him to. Ahsoka is sleeping when he enters her room, so he takes to settling on the floor next to her. He used to do this with Obi-Wan when he was little.

Ahsoka is... his future. The future. She means... everything to him.

It's going to be hard to keep moving through their doubts, but they can figure this out together, somehow. He'll just do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

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