Uncertainty

Anakin had been waiting impatiently outside the surgery room for hours when finally a young female jedi healer informed him about his padawan’s condition.

‘He is stable for the moment. The baktatank healed most of his wounds.’

Anakin sighed in relief. He had expected more negative news. But the young Tw'ilek destroyed his short time of relief.

‘But his liver is dysfunctional. The metal piece destroyed it entirely. He needs a donation. A living donation to be exact. Currently, an organ donation isn’t possible because there’s no donor.’

‘Test me then. I’ll be his donor if we have the same blood group.’

‘These are good news. Please follow me, master Skywalker.’

‘Can I see Petro first?’

‘I’m sorry master Skywalker, but he has not woken up yet. Follow me now.’

Petro slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a white ceiling. His view was still blurry and his head was pounding so he shut his eyes again. As he opened them once more everything was much clearer. He observed his surroundings and recognised that he was in the Halls of Healing in the Jedi Temple. Next to his bed Anakin was sleeping in a chair. The young padawan smiled.

I won’t leave your side either if you get injured, master.

Petro tried to sit up and groaned in pain. His whole body hurt, but the worst was definitely his stomach. He removed the cover from his torso and saw that his stomach was completely dressed. Anakin was woken up by his padawan's scream and rushed to Petro's bed. He pulled him into a hug. Petro was surprised by his master’s action at first but hugged him back after a few seconds. When they let go of each other again Petro saw that his master looked miserable himself.

‘Don’t do that ever again! You frightened the hell out of me!’

‘You know me. I can’t guarantee for anything master.’

They smiled at each other.

‘What happened?’

‘We’ve found you in Maul’s fighter wreckage.’

Petro turned his face away, ashamed of the memories that slowly came back to him.

‘I remember. I’ve failed the mission. I’ve disappointed you. Again.’

‘Hey Petro, look at me. You have not disappointed me. Maul is still too strong for you. After all he's a fully trained Sith. Don't forget that. I don't expect you to defeat him.’

‘I know…but one day I’ll beat him. That’s a promise.’

‘That’s what I wanted to hear. I’ll train you the best I can for this day.’

All at once Anakin’s cheerfulness changed into concern again.

‘What’s the matter, master?’

‘Listen, Petro. You need a transplantation because your liver is dysfunctional. The metal piece did some heavy damage. But fortunately we have the same blood group. I’ll be your donor.’

‘Master, that’s very generous. But I can't except this. Besides, don’t you need your liver yourself?’

‘No, I can give you part of my liver. I need only half of it for living. Don’t worry, I’ll be just fine.’

Petro still wasn't convinced by his master's reassuring words but he was way too tired for arguing. Slowly he drifted back to sleep. Anakin ran his hand through his padawan's hair, making sure he relaxed by sending him memories of more peaceful times through their bond.

After a while Anakin left the room and went to Vokara Che.

‘Master Che, when will we make the transplantation? My padawan and I are needed back on the battlefield, soon.’

‘Master Skywalker, after the surgery you won’t be send back on the battlefield for quite some time.’

‘For how long exactly?’

‘For a few weeks. It depends on how fast Petro recovers and on him sticking to his recovery schedule.‘

Anakin sighed in defeat. 'He won't take it very well.'

Master Che threw him a compassionate smile before she left him.

The same moment Master Windu contacted him.

‘Skywalker, the council requests you presence at once.’

Anakin sighed. This day was getting worse and worse.

‘I'm on my way.’

In the Council chamber he bowed to Masters Yoda, Windu and Plo Koon, the only three who attended this meeting.

‘How is your padawan, Skywalker?’ the Keldor asked sympathetically.

‘Not very well. He’s heavily injured and needs a new liver, but I already agreed to be his donor. We probably won’t be able to go on missions for the next couple of weeks, though.’

‘Of course. The wellbeing of your padawan comes first. How’s the experiment going beside this accident?’

The Council had entrusted Petro with his own regiment (over 2000 troopers) the number of Jedi Generals had decreased over the last years. Therefore they considered the teenage padawan capable enough beside his habit to ignore orders sometimes.

‘Well, Petro has already learned a lot thanks to this experiment. He now better understands which responsibility he bears for his men. His decisions mostly take the possible risk for his troopers in consideration. He made great improvements.’

‘Did he lose many men?’

‘No, the losses are low compared to others.’

‘Well, we're glad that it turned out to be the right decision.’

Anakin was proud that the Council was pleased with Petro's progress. But this moment, as always, lasted only for a second.

‘Master Kenobi informed us that Petro once again did not follow your orders today. Is that correct?’ Mace asked and ruined the moment for Anakin.

‘Yes, it is.’ he admitted.

‘A mind of his own padawan Dameron has. Perhabs the newest events taught him something. Dismissed your are for now, Skywalker. Hope the surgery goes well, we do.’

‘Me too, my masters.’

Anakin left the room and wanted to go back to the Halls of Healing right away when something came to his mind. A certain Senator would probably kill him if he didn't inform her about the surgery eventually. So he took a speeder and visited her.
The apartment was quiet and he was almost convinced that she was in the Senate when he felt her presence. He walked up to the bedroom and carefully opened the door to not wake her up. There she was, his beautiful angel, sleeping peacefully. Anakin took off his boats and laid down beside her. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at her husband.

‘Ani, you are back.’

‘Yes, I am. You look so beautiful when you're sleeping.’

He tenderly stroke her cheek. She took his hand in hers and kissed it.
Suddenly Anakin remembered the reason for his visit and tensed up.

‘What is it, Ani?’ she asked worried by her husbands sudden change of mood.

‘Petro got heavily injured on our mission that’s why we’re back earlier than planned.’

Padmé was shocked by the news.

‘How is he doing? Can I see him?'

‘He had a piece of metal in his stomach and now his liver is dysfunctional. I’m going to be his donor.’

‘That's already decided?'

'Yes, it is. But there's some good in this as well?'

'And what would that be?'

'We won't be send on missions for a few weeks, not until Petro's fully recovered.'

Padmé still didn't like the idea of both of her boys having to undergo surgery though.

'That is really the only good thing in all this.'

'Everything will be fine. Don't worry, my love. How are the kids?'

'They're as well as they can be. I'm just glad they're both sleeping right now.'

'I want to see them before I leave.'

Anakin took Padmé's hand and together they went to Luke and Leia's room. The twins were sleeping peacefully, a real rarity. Anakin quietly put a kiss on top of each Luke and Leia's head before closing the door behind him.

'I still can't get over the fact how lucky I am. Did I ever tell you that?'

Padmé rolled her eyes in response. 'Only every day since their birth.' She still kissed him passionately for his charming words.

‘I love you, Ani. I'll visit the two of you as soon as possible. I'll let Petro's room get prepared and

'I'm looking forward to that.'

Katooni slipped, unseen by the jedi healers, into Petro’s room.
Luckily, he was awake.

‘Katooni, it’s so good to see you.’

He looked miserable but her sight always brightened his days.
She walked over to his bed and hugged him tightly. The young Tolothian started tearing up.
Petro was surprised by her sudden outburst.

‘What’s the matter? Why are you crying?’ he asked worryingly.

Her voice sounded broken when she spoke.

‘When I heard of your accident I feared you'd be dead.’

‘But I’m alright. They’ll fix me up again.’

He comfortingly patted her back and whispered into her ear.

‘I won’t leave you. Not so soon.’

They separated again after a couple of minutes and Petro whipped Katooni's tears away.

‘Shh. Don’t cry.’

Suddenly she leaned forward and kissed him passionately. Without hesitation he kissed her back. When they both separated for catching their breaths Katooni whispered ‘I love you, Petro Dameron. That's why you can't die.’

‘I love you, too. And I won't leave you. That's a promise.’

Before they could kiss each other again the door slid open and Obi-Wan and Anakin entered. Katooni jumped off the bed and knelt on the ground. She pretended to be searching for something to escape her master's look. He couldn’t see her crying. Only when she had her emotions under control she stood up again.

‘Katooni, what are you doing here?’ Obi-Wan asked surprised.

‘I-I was just visiting Petro. I’ve heard from the accident and I was worried about him, master.’

‘Well, he can finally get a new liver now thanks to his generous master.'

Petro burst out laughing, Anakin normaly doesn't even share his food. Then his face suddenly twisted in pain. He began coughing up blood again.
Anakin rushed over to his padawan and removed the cover. The bandage on his stomach was completely drenched in blood.

‘Call for Master Che!’ he ordered.

Obi-Wan opened the door but Master Che was already standing in front of it. Katooni and Anakin both held one of Petro's hands.

'This doesn't look very good. Master Skywalker, we must operate immediately.’

Anakin let go of his padawan’s hand and a team of jedi healers prepared him for surgery. Meanwhile Petro had been placed on a stretcher and was brought to the surgery room. Katooni held his hand as long as she was allowed to. When they reached the room Master Che ordered her to step back from the stretcher. She squeezed his hand one last time and let go of it. She barely managed to hold back her tears. Obi-Wan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

‘He will be alright, Katooni.’

What if he won’t be? I can’t live without him.

Anakin’s stretcher arrived now, too. They stopped for a second next to them.

‘May the force be with you, Anakin. We’ll wait here for you.’

‘Thank you. I see you two later.’