Broken Beginnings (A Star Wars: Clone Wars fanfic)

Chapter 7: The Past is Revealed

Anakin POV

I watched as my padawan stayed floating in one of the many bacta tanks we had here at the Temple, she hadn't been in there for very long and I couldn't have been more worried.  She had been stripped down to her underwear and now I could see all that she has suffered; her arms and chest had so many bruises and scars that in some places it was difficult to see her beautiful skin.  Her legs and stomach were a similar story, however the long gashes across her mid section looked very similar to the wounds inflicted by whipping.

Even with all of this seeing her neck for the first time was by far the scariest part about her.  It had two scars that circled the top of her neck and the bottom, the wound seemed fresh though it also seemed to have had some time to heal.  They were still jagged as though something had been sharp enough to break the skin, but had been worn down on the skin too.  I stood behind the glass viewer and hoped that she would be alright, that seemed to be all I could do.  I feel so helpless.

'She's strong, Anakin, she will be alright.'  I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard the voice of the man I felt was my older brother.

'I hope you're right Obi Wan.'  I sighed.

'I'm always right and since when have you known our bacta tanks to fail?'  He had a point they had healed thousands of Jedi over the years, yet now I just felt like it isn't enough.  Like there's something more we should be doing.  I don't even know how long she was like that for.  Knowing that she could have been like that for half an hour or more made me feel sick to my stomach.

'But-'

'I know.  How do you think I felt about you when you got hurt?'

'Yes, but you knew why I was injured, I didn't have a complicated past which includes someone who wants to kill me.'

'We don't know that this person wants her dead, Anakin.'

'Look at the facts Obi Wan, this is the second time he has come after her and that's only that we know about, my guess is that whoever it is has tried this before only she managed to get away.'

'That maybe so, but the only way for us to help her is if she tells us and you know better than anyone how reluctant she is to do that.'

'Yes.  Maybe this can change her mind and convince her to tell me at least some of her past or why is someone is out to get her.'

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Roughly an hour later and I am sitting in a chair by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up.  I watched her chest rise and fall steadily, before staring and her beaten face.  I just had to know who had done this to her so I could beat them into the ground!  Still a small smile cracked on my face as I saw her eyes flutter open and she glanced around for a second as she filled with terror.  Within and instant she launched up into a sitting position gasping and looking for her attacker.

'Hey, it's ok Alexa.  You're back at the Temple.  You're safe.'  I took her hand in mine and she calmed down.

'What happened?'

'I was hoping you could tell me.'

'I was the others, we came out the plaza and it started to rain everyone ran for cover.  There a lot of us.......  People everywhere.......  We got separated......  Then I ran into him.........'  She trailed off.  That "him" had to be the guy who attacked her, I needed to know who he was.

'Who is he, Alexa?'

'N-No one.  J-Just a guy.'  She stuttered, avoiding my gaze.

'Come on Alexa, I need to know who is after you.'