Part 39 (2/2)
”Mace, I'm sorry, ” she said. ”But did you really think I was going to turn my back on them?”
Anakin felt his eyebrows lift. Mace! He looked at Obi-Wan, who shrugged. His face and eyes were guarded. He knew, oh yes, he knew, that his former apprentice was displeased.
”Master Windu, ” Master Damsin added. ”We're all right. You focus on Grievous. And when this is over you can shout at me in person. ”
”Bet on it, ” said Master Windu. ”Indomitable out. ”
Anakin looked again at Obi-Wan. ”I've got to go. ”
”I know, ” said Obi-Wan. ”Taria, give me a moment. Sufi?”
Frightened, Teeba Sufi swallowed. ”Obi-Wan?”
”Where's Greti? Did you send her home?”
”I tried, ” said Teeba Sufi. ”She wouldn't go. She's sleeping next door. ”
”Then I'm sorry, but can you wake her? Master Damsin's hurt. ”
”She's just a child, Obi-Wan, and she's worn out, ” the Teeba protested. ”She's helped you enough. I can see to your friend. Young Greti needs...”
Obi-Wan touched Teeba Sufi's arm. ”Please. It's important. And Greti would want to help. ”
”Obi-Wan...” Master Damsin tried to sit up. ”Maybe...”
”Be quiet, ” Obi-Wan snapped, glaring down at her. ”Lie still. I'll be back in a moment. ”
Anakin led the way outside. On the sick house step Obi-Wan caught his arm. ”Anakin... ”
He pulled away. ”Don't. ”
Obi-Wan's dimly lit face was full of understanding, and sorrow. ”Anakin-it was a long time go. It ended a long time ago. ”
His sleeping anger woke. Really? It didn't look like that to me. ”You love her. ”
”She's my friend. ”
He felt his fingers fist. Don't yon lie. Not about this. Don't you dare. ”You love her. ”
Monotonous blasterfire filled the silence between them. Then Obi-Wan nodded. ”Yes, Anakin, I love her. But I was never in love. For a short while Taria and I needed each other. And when we no longer needed each other, we parted-and remained friends. ”
So that was how it worked, was it? Stay aloof, stay detached, never let yourself feel too much, too deeply, and the Order didn't care?
So if Padme and I pretended we weren't in love...
”Anakin, ” Obi-Wan said sharply. ”Don't. Are you going to tell me that if you crossed that line with Padme you could cross back again? That you would ever be satisfied with only being her friend?”
The thought was unbearable. Never. ”Are you saying you're satisfied?”
Obi-Wan met his gaze without flinching. ”Yes. ”
It was the truth. Baffled, his anger dying, Anakin folded his arms. ”I don't understand you, Obi-Wan. ”
162.
Obi-Wan almost smiled. ”I know. ”
And something tells me I never will. Not when it comes to this, anyway.
”I have to go, ” he said. ”The fuel lines need checking and Devi can't do it alone. ”
”I'll join you soon, ” said Obi-Wan. ”I just want to see Taria settled. ” A muscle leapt along his jaw. ”See if there's anything I can do to...”
The Force s.h.i.+vered a grim warning. ”She's in trouble, isn't she?”
”She's out of remission, ” Obi-Wan said, his voice oddly flat. ”Aggressively. ”
Anakin felt a surge of pity-not just for Master Damsin, but for Obi-Wan, too. No amount of Jedi training could buffer this kind of grief. Didn't he know that from bitter personal experience?
But I had Padme to soften the blow. And I was willing to let her help me. He won't let anyone help. He still thinks he has to face everything alone.
”Can't she go back into remission?”
Staring across the shadowed village square, Obi-Wan shook his head. ”I don't think so. Not this time. She's pushed herself too hard, too far. ”
For you. But he couldn't say that. Not with Obi-Wan's pain scorching in the Force. ”I'm sorry. I really am. ”
A long silence. Then Obi-Wan released a shuddering breath. ”I know, ” he said, glancing at him. ”So am I. ”
”Obi-Wan... ” He had to say this. ”Taria's not the only one in trouble. ”
”I know that, too. ”
”So what do you think? Wait for the droid reinforcements to get here and roll the dice on one last big stand?”
”I think... ” Obi-Wan dragged both hands down his face. ”I think it's a shame about Doctor Fhernan. ”
Anakin looked down. Bant'ena. Flawed, misguided, and ultimately heroic. There was pain for her, somewhere, hut he couldn't afford to feel it. Not now.
”She had her chance. I'll see you at the plant. ”
”You know, ” said Tryn, edgy with irritation, ”this would go a lot faster if you three stopped hovering”
”Sorry, ” said Bail. ”But we've got some anxious people who'll only believe an eyewitness account. ”
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