Chapter 30

They had already been waiting for five hours. With each passing minute, Ahsoka grew more restless. Shmi and Cliegg had to return to the farm to feed the animals, promising to return in the morning. It probably would overwhelm Master Obi-Wan either way if there were that many people around. Tired, she let her head sink against Dex's shoulder, suppressing a shudder. It got cold on Stewjon in the evening. Thankfully, Padme finally returned, a pile of blankets slung over her arm and a tray with three steaming cups in her hand. "They could only give us two blankets, I'm afraid," she explained as she set the tray down on the small table to her right and held out the two blankets.

"Thank you," Ahsoka murmured, taking one and wrapping it around her shoulders.

"Take it," Dex said, beside her, his chest rumbling as he spoke, "I'm warm enough."

"Okay," Padme agreed, not questioning the man or being too tired to do it and sat down next to Ahsoka, spreading her own blanket on her lap.

Dex wordlessly picked up the tray from the table and grabbed a cup before holding the tray out to them both.

The cup was pleasantly warm as Ahsoka closed her fingers around it, chasing away some of the chill that was trying to find its way into her bones.

An old familiar smell reached her nose. Sapir tea. Master Obi-Wan's favorite tea.

„Did they give you any update?", she asked quietly, staring at the green liquid swirling inside the cup.

„No," the senator answered solemnly, „… nothing."

„Have a bit of faith in your grandmaster," encouraged her Dex, even though he didn't sound convinced.

Ahsoka pulled a face. „You didn't see him after Maul and his… his apprentice got to him."

She watched how Dex pursed his lips and averted his gaze. „Oh, I did."

„What?", she breathed confused.

The Besalisk took a big gulp from his cup, not even flinching as the hot liquid must have burned down his throat. „You didn't even notice that he was gone from the Healing Halls a few days after your visit, didn't you?"

Shame bubbled up inside of her. „When I came to visit him… I- I didn't know what I had expected. I was still angry, for sure, but… but seeing him like that… it somehow convinced me that I should listen."

„You knew that Master Obi-Wan didn't want to fake his death."

She only had understood that right before the trial.

„Yes," answered Dex tight-lipped, „… I listened to his apology… to his story… If I had been in his position, I would have made the same decision."

„What happened then?"

„The doctors said that he could go home if he had someone to help him."

Something that Anakin and her should have done.

„But Obi-Wan apparently had refused," Dex continued, „… which was more than unlike him. It was almost like he was afraid of going home…"

Ahsoka squeezed her eyes shut. „It was our fault… we just left him alone."

Dex said nothing to that. „I offered to take him with me," he stated instead, „… and they let me."

He sighed and ran hand over his face. „Obi-Wan didn't want to at first, but I didn't take no for an answer…. He stayed more than two weeks at my place until the casts on his arms could come off and he was able to do most things on his own."

And they hadn't even questioned where the man that should have been part of their family was. If he was fairing well. If he needed them.

„Thank you," she croaked.

"Don't blame yourself, kid," Dex consoled her, "You had enough on your own plate."

"That doesn't change that I voluntarily decided to shut him out," Ahsoka bit out.

As Dex didn't answer they lapsed into silence, the tea in her hand slowly growing cold. The padawan drank the cup in one go, grimacing.

Sapir tea had never been her favorite.

Her eyes wandered towards the door that let towards the hallway. "How do you think Anakin is doing?", she asked.

She decisively forwent the word 'Master'.

"He was… upset," Padme chimed in, "… he was the one who told me that Master Kenobi needed help."

"Is he…?"

"Regretting everything? … yes, I think so. But he seemed afraid, almost haunted by something," the senator looked at her intensely, "And the chancellor has something to do with it."

"You think Anakin is in danger?"

"I don't know, Ahsoka," Padme shook her head, "But one thing I know for sure, the chancellor shows way too much interest in him."

Ahsoka frowned, letting that information sink in. She had never liked the chancellor and the friendship between him and her master had made her feel uneasy, but something like that? Orchestrating the abduction of a jedi master from prison? That was too much for a simple politician, right?

Right?

Probably Master Obi-Wan could tell them more.

Voices could finally be heard in the hallway and all three of them tensed up as a group of nurses along with a doctor pushed in a bed, an all-familiar figure laid up in it.

"Mr. Kenobi got through the surgery well," the doctor explained with a small smile as the nurses prepared everything, "We were able to remove the device from his spine, but it damaged some important nerves as well as bone material. Nevertheless, we are confident that with enough time he can learn to walk again-"

"Sorry," Padme interrupted the doctor, eyes wide, "You're saying there's a chance Obi-Wan might not walk again?"

The doctor eyed her with sympathy. "Maybe, yes. In addition to his spine, his legs have been severely damaged, and it's been difficult to fully repair. We did what we could, but we couldn't save large parts of his lower leg bones and feet, so we had to replace them. Even if he manages to get back on his feet, the chances of him walking without pain are very slim."

Ahsoka felt sick.

"There's nothing you can do?" Dex asked detachedly, staring at Obi-Wan's legs, which were hidden by the blanket. They formed unnatural shapes, already indicating to the braces that held them in place.

"I'm sorry."

Ahsoka couldn't follow the conversation anymore, her eyes locked on Obi-Wan's face. It was strange seeing him with hair that short. His beard on the other hand was longer than he usually kept it.

She knew already that he probably wanted to trim it as soon as he was able to.

Could he even do it without seeing anything?

Her eyes fell on the collar still strapped around his neck.

So he doesn't have the Force either.

"What about the collar?", she asked.

"It's Beskar," Dex answered instead of the doctor, "Only the Mandalorians have proper tools to open it… and I guess they are not very keen on helping."

Ahsoka cursed silently.

"He was awake shortly after the surgery," the doctor finally said, "He was responsive but it seemed that he had a bit of trouble with coordination."

"Could it be brain damage?", Padme asked concerned, her brows furrowed, "We know that he must have been cut of from air for a while…"

"Potentially," replied the doctor, clutching his datapad to his chest, "But the brain is capable of overcoming a lot of trauma so it would be a wise decision to give him time to heal."

"I see," Padme nodded stiffly, "Thank you, doctor."

"Of course," the man bowed slightly, "We'll leave you alone then."

As they finally left the room, Ahsoka didn't waste a second before jumping out of her seat and padding over to the bed. Carefully she took one of her grandmaster's hands in hers, minding the bandages wrapped around the limb. She could see stitches protruding from the hem of his shirt.

"They must have redone Arbor's crude stitching work," grunted Dex as he took the spot next to her.

"What did she do to him?", she whispered, gently clutching the hand in hers.

"Not now, Ahsoka," suggested Padme, now standing on the opposite site of the bed.

Million questions burned inside her head, but she stomped them down – for now.

The hand she was holding suddenly jerked and Ahsoka snapped her eyes up in surprise. "Master?", she asked, studying the man closely.

He didn't give her any indication that he had heard her.

"Obi-Wan?", Dex now tried, voice a little louder.

Still nothing.

"Maybe we should let him sleep," Padme finally suggested, "He definitely needs his rest."

One glance outside told Ashoka that it was in the middle of the night by now. "It's late."

Visiting hours were almost over. Soon they would kick them out. "I want to stay… he shouldn't be alone when he wakes up."

Padme's eyes softened. "Ahsoka, I don't think the medics will make an exception…"

Before she could protest, indeed a nurse entered the room. "I know it's not what you want," she gave a slight smile, "But I have to ask you to leave for today – our patients need their rest."

The padawan opened her mouth only to close it again. She couldn't come up with anything to say, tired as she was.

Thankfully it was again Dex who stepped in for her. "Could I speak with you for a moment?", he asked the nurse.

She hesitated for a second eyeing him warily before finally nodding.

They shortly stepped out of the room and Ahsoka wondered what he was up to. She again let her eyes settle on Obi-Wan, waiting for any sign that he was waking up.

Nothing.

About ten minutes later Dex came back, a fold up camp bed tucked under his arm. He held it out to her, smiling fatherly. "You can stay."

Her eyes almost balled out of her head. "I- I thank you, Dex," she blurted out, engulfing the man in a quick hug before taking the camp bed from him.

"Sure, kid," he grinned, before turning serious again, "If you need us, we're right outside in the ship, okay?"

She gave a short affirmative nod. "I know."

"Good," Dex tipped his head and spared Obi-Wan one last glance, "Watch out for him."

With that Padme and him left her, closing the door behind them.

The room fell silent except for the steady beeping noise of the machines. Methodically she got to work and set up the bed right beside Obi-Wan's, being as quiet as possible.

As she finally laid down on the bed, draping the blanket over herself, she turned so that she could see her grandmaster's silhouette in the dark.

"I'm here, master," she whispered, "… and I am not going anywhere."