That won't happen to you

Chapter 98

Anakin waited impatiently in front of the council for Obi-Wan to come out.

Obi-Wan had called him. Had said there was a meeting. And this meeting was about Ahsoka.

Maybe someone had seen her?

Maybe someone had even found her.

He couldn't sit still and paced nervously. Up and down. Up and down.

And then the whole thing from the beginning.

And again.

And again.

But Obi-Wan did not come.

The doors to the council remained closed.

And Anakin walked.

Up and down.

Up and down.

Up and down.

If they had found Ahsoka, then someone should have told him, right?

Or had they only found her body?

He hoped not.

Please. Please not that.

He was afraid. He was so terribly afraid.

What if she was dying?

Or had the council found out nothing?

Did they discuss it? That they didn't know anything?

Maybe they had received a message from her, too. Was that possible?

But then shouldn't that message have gone to him?

"BROTHER! SKYGUY!" he suddenly heard echoing through the hallway.

"WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm here!" he yelled back.

"Snips I'm here. Hang in there!"

"Rex... SkyGuy... I know you're looking for me... Find me...please."

Her voice sounded like she was crying.

Anakin swallowed.

"I'll find you Snips. I promise. On my life. I will not give up. Until I find you I will not stop. I swear it" he whispered. His hands clenched into fists.

At that moment, Obi-Wan came out.

"Anakin?"

The young Jedi wheeled around.

"What is it?" he opined.

"The council has made a decision"

"A decision? What kind of decision?"

"Anakin, Ahsoka has been missing for sixteen months now. The Council has decided that there is no point in looking for her any further."

Everything fell out of Anakin's face.

"The Council is going to forbid me to look for Ahsoka?!" he indignantly

"Obi-Wan. I just heard her. She was calling out for me. She was literally screaming for me to find her. She's scared. And I've got to damn well help her. I can't just give up on her."

Obi-Wan smiled broadly. Too broadly.

"Obi-Wan?" asked Anakin with a queasy feeling.

"My dear former Padawan."

Obi-Wan replied.

"Why are you grinning like that? You wouldn't be grinning like that if you were giving me bad news."

Obi-Wan grinned wider.

"No. I wouldn't."

"Then tell me damn it"

"The Council, at my and Master Plo's request, has decided to give you a few months to meditate and find yourself again. On a quiet planet in the Outer Rim. So get the hell to the hangar and be away from the temple before they realize why we asked for it" Obi-Wan said as he continued to walk without making a face.

Anakin stopped for a moment, frozen. "Thank you" he rushed off.

"I don't want to lose her either," Obi-Wan muttered softly.