Everything happened so fast. The stage lights came back on allowing visibility to return to the Chancellor's box. Cassandra crouched on the floor, her gown stained with wine, a massive glowing shield protecting her, the Senator, and the Chancellor. "Behind you!" She screamed at Anakin.

The Jedi whirled around to confront the intruder, a masked man in a durasteel suit with a blowgun in his hand. Vaulting over the seats, he drew his lightsaber and went after the assassin.

The assassin ducked the first sweep of his blade, shoving a table over on him. Anakin swept it aside with a push of Force power and charged his foe.

The assassin fired a blowgun and a small dart skimmed by Anakin's cheek then the assassin fled the box, cape billowing behind him.

"Go after him, Anakin! Capture him!" Palpatine ordered, climbing unsteadily to his feet.

He required no further prompting. He tore out of the box and down the stairs, shoving past people after the fleeing assassin. Pulling out his commlink as he ran, Anakin ordered back up from the Temple to protect Cassandra. "Dispatch someone immediately."

"Yes, sir."

Cassandra would be safe with the Chancellor and his security until someone arrived.

The assassin leaped into a speeder hidden around the corner. Anakin lunged off the platform grabbing the left wing as it ascended into the sky. The wind ripped through his hair, his robes billowing wildly around him, obscuring his vision.

Anakin tried to crawl forward when the ship dipped and angled to the left, the assassin attempting to dump him off. Gritting his teeth, he held on as the speeder raced recklessly through the city.

"Anakin." Obi-Wan's muffled voice echoed from the pocket of his pants.

He couldn't reach the commlink to answer.

A cold sensation began to creep into his limbs. His fingers slipped, loosening their hold on the wing. Anakin latched back on. The traffic around him turned into blurs of color.

Kriff, what was happening to him?

"Anakin, I'm on my way." Obi-Wan said.

The speeder arced through a tunnel, dodging smaller craft. Spots ate at the edges of his vision. Anakin shook his head, but his sight didn't clear.

As the assassin's ship exited the tunnel, the last of Anakin's strength gave out and he plummeted toward the ground below.

*********************************************************************************************

Cassandra released the shield spell. Senator Brig brushed fragments of glass from her dress, grimacing in sympathy. "It's lucky you were able to react quickly, or you'd be dead."

She met his dark eyes uncertain of what to think. "Why would anyone in Coruscant want to kill me?"

Senator Brig helped her stand, retaining a hold on her elbow as a squad of clone troopers stormed into the box. "The Separatists are a ruthless enemy. They will kill anyone who stands in their way."

Chancellor Palpatine took charge of the situation, issuing orders to the clones. The other guests and the actors were fixated on the commotion in the politician's box. In the bedlam, they had become the new entertainment.

From the shards of glass on the ground, Cassandra plucked a small silver dart. The assassin's weapon. She tucked the clue into a fold of her dress to give to the Jedi.

Senator Brig drew her to the side as the troops filed through the aisle leading the Chancellor to safety. This close, Cassandra could smell his cologne, a light spicy fragrance. "Thank you for protecting me."

He smiled crookedly. "Please allow me to escort you back to the Jedi Temple. I suspect your Jedi Protector won't be back for some time."

"I don't know." Cassandra said doubtfully.

"I insist. I must repay you for your kindness this evening." He propelled her out of the box, sliding an arm around her back. "I have my own guards, so we will be safe."

Any run-of-the-mill guards wouldn't keep her safer than Anakin.

He better be okay.

Conflicted, Cassandra glanced over her shoulder. The odds were good Anakin was on the other side of the city. She couldn't hang around the theater for hours without having to answer for loitering. "I suppose I'll accept your invitation then."

"Wonderful." Senator Brig flashed another charming smile. "Perhaps this time I'll give you a glass of wine that won't explode."

She regarded him flatly. Joking while Anakin was risking his life to hunt down the assassin was in poor taste. Typical politician.

*********************************************************************************************

Anakin fell into the passenger seat of a speeder. He blinked, disoriented sure he was hallucinating Obi-Wan beside him. "Master?"

"I see you're up to your usual antics, Anakin. You're lucky I was able to locate you so quickly." Obi-wan turned the speeder sweeping around in the other direction. "You're looking pale. I'm taking you to the Medical Facility."

"I...think I've been poisoned." Anakin groaned, slumping over.

"That's a good guess." Obi-wan's voice was thick with his usual sarcasm. "You have a cut on your cheek."

Anakin was losing consciousness, he thrashed against the encroaching dark. "What about...Cassandra?"

"I believe she has been escorted back to the Temple. She's safe." Obi-Wan answered.

If anything happened to her.... Anakin wouldn't accept Cassandra was safe until he saw her with his own eyes.

The poison flowing through his body was too much to fight even for him. Anakin lost the battle to stay awake.

*********************************************************************************************

They were almost to the temple when Senator Brig received a comm from the Chancellor. "Master Skywalker has been taken to the Grand Medical Facility. He has been poisoned."

Cassandra's heart dropped. She fumbled for the dart tucked in her skirts with a shaky hand.

Senator Brig watched her with a bemused expression, ending the transmission. "I suppose we'll be heading to a new destination?"

Her voice shook. "I need to go to the hospital."

"Of course, my lady. It gives me great pleasure to assist you."

Cassandra glanced out the window to avoid his smarmy gaze. She was too worried about Anakin to care if she was rude.

Senator Brig may be a creeper, but he was true to his word and flew her to the hospital. When she hopped out of his sky car he remained in the backseat, his long legs crossed at the ankles. "I wish you luck, Master Pierce. I'm sure we'll meet again soon."

His driver shut the door and the Senator's car disappeared into the evening traffic. Cassandra raced inside.

A reception droid rolled over to her. "Good evening, how may I assist you?"

"I'm looking for Anakin Skywalker." Cassandra told the droid.

"Master Skywalker is receiving emergency treatment. He cannot accept visitors at this time." The droid said politely.

"I have a clue as to what he's been poisoned with." Cassandra showed the droid the dart. "Now, let me go!"

Rolling down the hall the droid beckoned with a mechanical arm. "Follow me, miss."

Obi-Wan stood outside a room, arms folded. At the sound of Cassandra's approach, he looked up. "I thought you went back to the temple."

"I insisted on a detour when I learned Anakin was here." Cassandra gave him the dart. "The assassin fired this at me. If Anakin was struck with one, it's likely the same poison."

"Wait here." The Jedi ordered. "I'll give this to the medical droids to be analyzed."

Obi-Wan entered the emergency room. Machines beeped wildly inside, signaling how far on the brink Anakin was.

Cassandra wrung her hands. She couldn't stand by without knowing what was happening. She crept into the room. An unconscious Anakin was strapped to a bed surrounded by equipment and a pair of medical droids.

Obi-Wan sighed exasperatedly when she sidled up to him. "I see you listen about as well as Anakin. Thankfully, the assassin used a relatively common poison. The medical droids were able to identify it quickly and administer the antidote."

"Will...he be okay?" She whispered, hugging her middle.

The medical droid attached an IV to Anakin's tanned forearm speaking in soothing tones to its patient. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her bodyguard's prone form. He ended up like this because he tried to protect her. "Obi-Wan do you think I was the target?"

The older Jedi regarded her kindly. "I can't rule out the possibility however the Chancellor and two senators were both present. Either one would make an attractive target for the Separatist movement."

Cassandra appreciated Obi-Wan trying to console her. She rubbed her eyes, mascara smearing across her fingertips. "The assassin aimed at me. I don't think this has anything to do with the Separatists."

Despair filled her. Which meant, Anakin was fighting for his life because of her.

A medical droid rolled over interrupting them. "Master Skywalker is stabilized. His vitals are strong."

"Thank the Force." Obi-Wan stroked his beard, red hair glinting under the fluorescent lights. "Now, I had best escort you to the Temple."

"We can't just leave him here alone." Cassandra protested, moving toward Anakin's bed.

Obi-Wan's arm swept out, blocking her. "As Anakin is unable to perform his assignment in his current state it is my responsibility to assume his place. We will return to the Temple and meet with the Council to discuss this development."

Cassandra glared at him, shoving his arm aside. "You talk to the Council. I'll stay here."

"That is out of the question. The assassin escaped. What if he returns and makes another attempt to kill you?" Obi-Wan challenged, the lines of his face stern.

She ignored him and marched over to Anakin's bed and took his hand carefully in hers. His palm was big and warm and marked by calluses from his training.

All of this for her.

How many people would Cassandra watch fall for her? She trembled with anger.

Obi-Wan joined her. "I sense your anger. I'm not happy about Anakin ending up here but that doesn't change what happened."

For someone full of energy and vitality Anakin looked so unnatural in the hospital bed. Dark golden curls sprawled on the pillow, his skin gray beneath his natural tan.

Cassandra hated seeing him attached to all those tubes and wires. Maybe if she had confided in him about her past this wouldn't have happened.

Anakin's heart of gold superseded his reckless and arrogant nature. He'd shared the most vulnerable part of his past and she was so afraid of her own memories she hid from them like a coward. Because she didn't want to be viewed as weak.

No more. Cassandra inhaled deeply as tears threatened to start again. She made a mistake. When Anakin recovered, she vowed to fix it.

Aware Obi-Wan sensed her inner turmoil Cassandra blinked away the moisture in her eyes and lifted her chin. "You can do what you like Obi-Wan. I'm staying here with Anakin."

His mouth twitched in a frown. "This is very unwise."

Meeting the Jedi's concerned gaze, she chuckled bitterly. "Oh, the assassin would be a fool to mess with me right now."

Even if it took every drop of magic in her veins Cassandra wouldn't let someone die for her ever again. This time she would protect Anakin.

A chill coursed down Obi-Wan's spine. Her usual sweetness replaced by a cold determination. For the first time since meeting Cassandra Pierce, the Jedi realized just how dangerous an angry sorceress might be.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Since I cannot dissuade you from this course of action please remain inside the Medical Facility. I will return after I debrief the Council."

*********************************************************************************************

"Master Pierce is convinced she was to be the victim of the assassin's plot." Obi-Wan paced the floor of the Council chamber as he spoke. "I suspect she might be correct."

Master Windu was the only other Council Member in residence. The rest were engaged in various conflicts around the galaxy. "You are uneasy, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan didn't deny it. "The Sorcerer Supreme sent Master Pierce to us for protection but I cannot help but wonder why when Earth has all manner of protect at its fingertips."

"You refer to the Asgardians." Mace propped his elbow on his knee. "I admit, this has also occurred to me."

A city full of gods and none of them were capable of guarding the sorceress? No. Obi-Wan suspected something was amiss.

"You suspect Master Wong of having ulterior motives." He asserted.

"I believe there is more to the story than we know." Is all Windu said.

None of the Jedi save Master Yoda had anything but a base understanding of magic. Obi-Wan didn't know Cassandra well enough to claim whether she was deceiving them or if she was in the dark to what the Sorcerer Supreme intended by sending her to the Jedi.

"What do you recommend, Master Windu?"

The other Jedi leaned forward in his chair. "Until we uncover Master Wong's motives keep an eye on the sorceress." He paused then continued. "Given what transpired at the theater I recommend sending Master Pierce to a different location."

"Send her into hiding?"

Windu inclined his head. "You will take her to Caranda. Chancellor Palpatine has offered his holiday home for Master Pierce's protection. He is grateful for her quick action against the assassin."

"I am to assume protection of the sorceress?" Obi-Wan said incredulous. He had other obligations to focus on in the war.

Master Windu often surprised him with his decisions, but this was out of bounds even for him. Obi-Wan had been assigned to lead the 212th Attack Battalion.

"Only until Anakin is recovered. Then he will take your place on Caranda." Windu answered and stood. "Until you can resume your leadership of the 212th I'll take over."

All of this juggling to accommodate a foreigner. Obi-Wan bore Cassandra no ill will but it was utter insanity with resources stretched so thin.

He reminded himself to trust the Council. Mace Windu was both powerful and wise. The Jedi Master would not recommend a course of action if it weren't necessary.

Convincing the sorceress, however, would be no easy task. Not when she was so attached to Obi-Wan's former apprentice. He sighed. Another source of trouble to be worried about.

"Chancellor Palpatine has made this an executive order." Windu went on. "Master Pierce cannot disobey without facing severe consequences."

"That's a relief."

Mace smiled thinly. "Go now. May the Force be with you."

A/N:  This chapter wasn't as fun to write as the last one but necessary. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Until next time, my friends! Art (c) Me.