Chapter Title: Catching All the Black Lights

Author's Note: And so, we have reached the final chapter and as always (for me) we will end the story with a touchy-feely moment. I want to thank everyone who favorited, reviewed and followed. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Obviously, I hope you will leave a final review on your way out (should any of you read this). They are quite addicting!

Until then: May the Force be with you!

Crimescenelover

Disclaimer: This was written for entertainment purposes only. I claim no ownership of anything you might recognize.

Obi-Wan found himself alone again.

He had practically ordered Ahsoka back to her quarters for some much-needed rest. She hadn't really argued with the order, even though it was obvious she wanted nothing more than to remain at her master's side for when he woke up. But she had simply squeezed her master's hand once before departing from the infirmary with a pointed look directed at Obi-Wan.

The message had been clear.

Talk.

It had left Obi-Wan alone with his thoughts. He pondered Ahsoka's words as he kept coming back to his apprentice lying senseless before him. His mind constantly drifted back to the last couple of months and the tension between them. Given how close he came to losing the young Jedi today, the whole divided bitterness seemed practically ridiculous. Whatever their differences and arguments something so trivial shouldn't separate them. For his part he had wallowed enough in self-pity.

He was ready to clear the air. He had been for some time, but the war did a remarkable job of distracting him. There was always some battle, some issue or some urgent situation that demanded his attention. It was easy to postpone having a conversation he dreaded having in the first place. War was volatile and any minute something could go wrong as today had proven. Any minute Anakin could be torn away from him and if that was to happen, Force forbid, he wanted no bad blood between them. There were so many things he regretted never telling Qui-Gon, so many things left unsaid. He didn't want to have that with Anakin.

Ahsoka was right after all. He might not agree today, but eventually Anakin would see reason and he would come to terms with it as well. Or so he desperately hoped…

A rustle of sheets and clothing shook him from his musings. He looked up and a relieved smile spread out on his lips. Anakin were looking at him sleepily through half-lidded eyes. Though his eyes were fatigued they were lucid and clear and as the seconds passed his eyelids lifted higher and higher as he grew more aware.

He spoke then but his voice was low and muffled. The words were swallowed up by the oxygen mask. Frowning Anakin reached up with his right arm to remove it from his face. He only managed to lift the limb from the mattress when his face cracked first with confusion and then somber regret and something akin to loss when he realized he was still missing his prosthetic hand. Obi-Wan quickly stepped in and pulled the oxygen mask from his face. He placed it nearby in case the young Jedi should need it.

Anakin licked his dry lips and swallowed once before opening his mouth again.

"Well, you look like horrible."

Obi-Wan couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his throat. It was such an Anakin thing to say and it felt so ordinary that the concern all but evaporated from his mind.

"I have seen better days," he gently countered with a smile.

Anakin huffed and then winced, his left arm cradling his hurting midsection. He delicately raised his right stump again. "I think I can relate on that front."

"I believe I can help you there," Obi-Wan said, glad that he could at least bring some good news. He bent down and picked up the cybernetic he had placed on the infirmary floor. It would be attached when they arrived at Coruscant and when Anakin was hopefully more stable. Obi-Wan held up the cybernetic and showed it to the young Jedi. "I managed to retrieve this for you."

Anakin's face fell slightly and Obi-Wan was convinced he saw embarrassment flickering across his features. Well, that wasn't exactly the reaction he had expected.

"You shouldn't," Anakin muttered. "It's practically useless by now."

"What?"

"It hasn't been working properly since that device got me on the battlefield," Anakin elaborated carefully.

Obi-Wan felt anger rush through him. He knew his former Padawan to be reckless, especially concerning his own health. He had seen it time and time again, chastised him for it on several occasions. But this was pushing it too far, even by Skywalker standards. He couldn't even begin to fathom what had been running through the young man's head that would cause such a reckless decision.

"Anakin, you need to share that information! It severely compromises your squadron. What if Ahsoka had been hurt because of your irresponsibility? Or Rex? Or the rest of your battalion? You're lucky Maul wanted you alive, otherwise his brother would have torn you apart."

"Don't you think I know that? I thought I could control it. I didn't think it would suddenly stop working!" Anakin defended.

"But you knew your cybernetic wasn't functioning properly?"

"I had it under control."

"Anakin, you almost died because of it!" Obi-Wan stood up, the agitation forcing him into movement.

"I couldn't just remain behind and leave you to fight Darth Maul and Savage Opress by yourself!"

And suddenly Kenobi understood what caused the decision. Anakin was never one to remain idle when others needed him. He pushed his limits well beyond what was necessary simply because he believed others relied on him so heavily he couldn't even take a break. He tended to bear the weight of the entire galaxy on his shoulders and if anything went wrong he would carry that too. Admitting if anything was wrong or if he needed help went against his nature. He would carry on for as long as he could. It was a quality Obi-Wan both admired and loathed about his former Padawan. It infuriated him to no end because usually it was him who had to pick up the pieces when everything blew apart. Not that he minded too much but he would rather no one needed to do it at all. It had gotten better since Anakin had gotten Ahsoka to train and protect. Before that, Obi-Wan had noticed a change after Senator Amidala became a constant presence in their lives. But Anakin was still remarkably stubborn, and he was still carrying far too heavy a burden, heavier than he needed to.

The fight deflated out of him and he sank back down in his chair again. Drained, he ran a hand over his face before he looked up at Anakin again.

"You don't have to hide it if you're in trouble, Anakin. It's not weakness to ask for help," he gently tried to make his young friend understand. "Admitting when something's wrong is not frailty. It's strength."

Anakin looked up the ship ceiling and Obi-Wan had no possible way of knowing what the young man was thinking. He couldn't read him, hadn't been able to since the Hardeen incident. He tried one last thing.

"You have to trust me."

"Trust?" Anakin spoke and directed his blue eyes at his former master. Something had become alight within them as his voice filled with heat. "How many times have we talked about trust? About truth? How many times have you promised not to keep me in the dark?"

He gingerly rose from the bed, his muscles taut as he pulled himself up into a sitting position he was in no way ready for. He swung his legs over the edge of the cot with a grunt but remained seated. There he towered over Obi-Wan and stared at him hard.

Well. I suppose we're going to have that talk now. At least Anakin wouldn't be capable of storming off if things got too heated. Perhaps that had been Ahsoka's thinking all along. So far, he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad one.

"How many times have you promised to trust me?" Anakin continued angrily.

"About as many times as I have asked you to trust me," Obi-Wan countered steadily. As he had hoped it did seem to sway his former Padawan slightly. He carried on. "Anakin, I understand your anger and I know it was cruel putting you through my funeral. Not a day went by where I didn't think of you, where I didn't second-guess that decision.

But I don't regret it. I did it to protect you, Ahsoka and so many others. The fewer who knew the secret, the safer it was for everyone."

"I get the secrecy regarding the mission, I really do. But the constant lies, withholding of the truth… How can you expect me to trust the Council again? Or you?" Anakin said.

"Deception and manipulation is a powerful weapon of war, Anakin," Obi-Wan tiredly said. "Mistrust the Council if you must but do not abandon them. As for you and me, I was hoping we could move past this. I need you, Anakin. You may not be my Padawan anymore, but I will never stop caring for you."

Anakin sighed heavily. The bitterness had seemed to slowly vanish from his features. Obi-Wan felt an openness enter the Force around them as the young man gradually began letting him in again. He felt the air shift towards normal.

"I know. I'm working on it, more so after the day I've had. Give me a little time," Anakin admitted. "I don't support the decision, not the Council's or yours … But I am opening up to it."

Obi-Wan knew that was the best he was going to get, at least for the moment. And for now, that would have to do.

A silence stretched out. It wasn't strained with uncomfortable bitterness like the past few months. Anakin began to sway while they sat there, and he closed his eyes slowly in concentration.

"You okay?" Obi-Wan gently asked.

"Yeah, I'm fi –" He seemed to think better of it as he cut himself off. "Actually, I think I need to lie down."

Obi-Wan smiled proudly and gratefully at the sudden change of pace. Wordlessly he helped his dear friend settle back down on the mattress.

With his eyes still closed and his brows still gathered in a frown, Anakin muttered, "Thank you for coming for me."

It was Obi-Wan's turn to huff. He knew how difficult Anakin had with saying thank you and the sentiment warmed his heart. "Any chance of saving your sorry behind, I shall gladly take," he opted for the lighter response.

"Looking to finally try and even the score, old man?" Anakin smugly shot back.

Obi-Wan feigned offense. "Excuse you, I do believe after that scandal on Evielynn we are definitely even. Some might argue you owe me now."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Anakin unsuccessfully attempted to hide the yawn escaping past his lips. He was still healing. He had some distance to go before he would be back to full strength and for now the hour he had been awake seemed to have worn him out completely.

Obi-Wan placed a firm, comforting hand on his former Padawan's shoulder and smiled lovingly down at him. He seemed to fight the lure of sleep.

"Rest, my brother," Obi-Wan said. As Anakin's eyes drifted shut and his breathing evened out he gently added, "I'll keep you safe."

The End