When Stars Align

Chapter 4 - Barriss

Author's Note: Second Battle of Geonosis. :')

~ Amina Gila

He can still taste the earthiness in the air, feel the oppressive darkness and lack of air, and the heat from the explosion.

"At least we destroyed the factory," Barriss's voice filters in, and Anakin is overwhelmed with relief over the fact that she's alive. "We've saved countless lives."

At the cost of their own.

No.

Obi-Wan needs him.

Rex and his brothers need him.

Anakin is not going to die here, not like this. "I'm about to save two more," he promises, withdrawing his comm. It was damaged in the explosion, but he can fix it. He's done things like that all the time.

Anakin is good at fixing things, at machines. That's the one place he knows he can succeed.

The wires spark on contact.

Obi-Wan is looking for him.

Barriss is gripping his hand, and Anakin can feel her fear. She's accepting, but she's terrified, and she doesn't want to die. She's thirteen. Anakin is fifteen. They're Jedi, and that's more important than anything, but he still doesn't want this. Obi-Wan and Rex need him. Echo. Fives. He has friends. Family.

People who will miss him.

He doesn't want to die here. Doesn't want this to be the end.

"We'll be okay," Anakin tries promising. It feels like it falls flat. It does.

Barriss is still holding his hand, and Anakin half drags her to her feet when light finally blinds their vision. His master. His master came for him. Of course, he did. Obi-Wan. Master. (Father.) They're safe.

Obi-Wan grips his arm, leaning down to help him out of the debris himself.

Because he loves him. Because he cares. Someone does. Someone other than the mother that Anakin walked away from.

Anakin is leaning on him a little, panting and exhausted and aching everywhere. "Don't you ever do something like this again," he orders fiercely.

I love you, he wants to say. Doesn't say it, only nods mindlessly.

He's safe. They're okay. They're – that's all that matters.

***

Years later and Anakin still thinks space is cold. He's getting used to it, though. The difficulty is trying to sleep though – being here in an actual cot, in actual barracks on a ship somewhere. He's safe here, after being on Geonosis for weeks. He's used to sleeping on rocks and sand. Not somewhere comfortable.

"What? What is it?" Barriss asks. She's lying on her back in a position that couldn't possibly be comfortable, but she's doing it, anyway.

"I think something's wrong," Anakin admits, turning over to face her, "It's so... quiet. Maybe I'm just being jittery."

"You should get some rest while we have the chance."

He sighs. "I can't." He doesn't feel safe. He can't sleep, either.

Whether it's the memories of Geonosis, or just the rippling warning in the Force that something's not quite right, he doesn't know. All Anakin can make sense out of is that he can't sleep. Doesn't want to... anything.