It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 38

A/N: I hope you find strength and compassion in this time, both for yourself and others. 

Ahsoka did not miss this – the impossible expansiveness of the halls, where stares and wariness made no attempt to hide.

She refused to let her head dip, spine straight and shoulders tense for reasons that habit can only partially explain.

Though she did not let her eyes wander, it was impossible to ignore the hushed whispers that followed them through the echoing corridors. Here, she walked side by side with Rex, following being Obi-Wan - protocol be damned.

The further they traveled into the Temple, the further out of place Rex would be; even moreso than the Senate Building where it was common for clones to be stationed throughout in a manner that the Jedi had refused in their own domain.

The walk was longer than she remembered. She gritted her teeth as her armor dug into still raw wounds with every step they took up the unceasing staircases.

"How you holding up?" Rex asked, unnecessarily. He could feel her pain like it was his own.

She was too tired to force a smirk. "What I wouldn't give to relieve Master Yoda of his hover chair."

He huffed a laugh but cut it short when they noticed Obi-Wan glance at them over his shoulder, his face clouded.

Ahsoka glanced over at him as she rolled her eyes. "It's fine; he probably just wishes he had Master Yoda's hover chair too."

Though Rex didn't laugh, she didn't miss the quirk of his lips that he failed to hide.

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Even more than the journey through the Temple, Ahsoka truly did not miss the Jedi Council Chamber, full of faces that filled her nightmares for longer than she cared to admit.

There were more Jedi Masters in one session than she had seen since before the war began. Jedi who were knights when the war broke out, now in their deceased Masters' chairs.

She resolutely stared anywhere but at Anakin's empty chair, only to be met by eyes she had no desire to see again in this same room.

"Breathe, Ahsoka," Rex whispered over the turmoil of her mind.

Ahsoka hadn't realized she was holding her breath until he pointed it out, her nails making crescent-moons in muscles of her palms.

The wariness that had followed them in the wider Temple hadn't stopped politely at the door, but followed them in as an unwanted guest, reflected in the faces of beings who did not understand the depths from which they had fought to outwit the single-most dangerous man in the galaxies.

Fought and won.

She met Master Windu's dark eyes across from her, his stoicism a solid reassurance she had not expected. Ahsoka nodded tightly. He arched a brow, but he dipped his chin in response.

As soon as Obi-Wan had seated himself, Master Yoda's quiet voice filled the Chamber. "Gathered today we are to examine further the occurrences and actions of Padawan Tano and clone Captain Rex."

Ahsoka clenched her jaw.

"Cleared of any legal charges they have by the Senate and standing before us now free of guilt, our purpose it is to discover the role of the Force in the downfall of Darth Sidious. Remind us, allow me to, of the need to remove redundancy from our questions. Heard, all of this Council did, the testimony of Padawan Tano and the Captain. However, invite, I do you both to share when the Force first began to make its will known," he said, gesturing a claw towards them.