For The Blood We Spill

Chapter 18 - Battle

Author's Note: *awkwardly waves* Sooo... it's been a while, huh? Lol. I'm so sorry for just. Vanishing like that. I never meant to drop this fic for so long, but I'm back! And I'm hoping/planning to update this weekly until it's done. It should be 20 chapters. :)

Thank you all so much to those of you who have stuck with me all this way and who have waited patiently for more. You mean the world to me. ^-^

~ Amina Gila

Anakin awakens to pain. His entire body aches, fierce and unyielding, and a quiet whine escapes from him as he twitches. A feeling of pins and needles ripples through his limbs, and he winces, pulling his eyes open. The room is familiar to him, extremely so, given how many times he's ended up in the medbay on his Star Destroyers, and it takes him a moment to realize how unusual it is.

He left the Order. He hasn't been fighting for some time now.

And then, reality returns.

He almost wishes it hadn't. Aside from the almost constant ache inside of him, from the way everything has come crumbling down, is now the even more real fear for Obi-Wan. No matter how hard he tries, he can't forget or unhear it, Obi-Wan's agreement to join Dooku. Force. His master is Fallen now. He's joined Dooku. This was never supposed to happen, not to Obi-Wan. He was – he was supposed to...

But he'd been so adamant. He'd refused to listen to Anakin, no matter how Anakin tried to convince him not to do it, and he doesn't know what to make of that, what to feel. The Jedi way would tell him that now that Obi-Wan's gone this far, he's lost. He can't be saved. But Anakin cannot believe that. He cannot believe that Obi-Wan is lost to him forever. Even if they never speak to each other again, it would have been a comfort to know that Obi-Wan is out there. The Jedi would tell him to – to kill him probably, the way they've tried to kill Dooku and Ventress and even Maul.

Good thing Anakin isn't a Jedi. He didn't kill Maul or Savage, though he could have, and he did kill Sidious – it hadn't been pre-planned though – but he won't kill Obi-Wan. He'll find him. He'll stop him. Maybe if Obi-Wan sees that he's safe and free, he'll turn back before he does something too regrettable.

Maybe.

"I can't. You – I... you mean too much to me."

Hopefully.

He'll just have to try not to be too optimistic.

Anakin turns his head to see Ahsoka at his side, head pillowed on her arm as she curls half on his cot and half on her chair. She's sleeping, albeit restlessly, and Anakin just watches her for a moment before reaching out and lightly resting a hand on her head. She comes awake with a start and a gasp, eyes widening, her relief crashing against his shields.

"Anakin, you're awake!"

Her exclamation draws attention, and the next thing Anakin knows, Kix is fussing over him, checking his vitals and making sure he's alright. "You need to rest and take it easy, General," he says, giving him a firm look. "Do not strain yourself excessively. You're recovering from a very... trying ordeal and being cut off from the Force like that was very hard on your body."

Anakin pushes himself upright, bracing himself as his head spins from the change in position. "I'll be fine, Kix," he answers. "We – we need to get to Obi-Wan before it's too late."

Ahsoka's face pinches with concern. "Where did he go? Do you know?"

"I..." He wavers, uncertain what to say, but there's no use in denying the truth, no matter how much he doesn't want to explain to Ahsoka what has happened to Obi-Wan. "I – when I was captured, all Dooku wanted in exchange for my life was Obi-Wan's compliance."