Ashara glared at Tarkin as he gave the report about what had happened to the Jedi Council. She could feel Anakin's anger as well, and she could feel the council's confusion as to why Ahsoka would do this, especially for those who were close with her.

"I do not believe that Ahsoka could have fallen so far", Master Plo Koon said. Ashara was glad that he was on the side of Ahsoka, but she could feel many in this room who were not on the side of Ahsoka. 

"The beliefs of the Jedi Council are irrelevant", Tarkin said. "We deal strictly in facts and evidence, and the evidence points to Padawan Tano being guilty of the attack on the temple and the murder of the Republic officers. This is sedition." 

The holographic forms of Tarkin, Commander Fox and another clone trooper disappeared, and Master Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke.

"Skywalker, was there no way to stop your padawan before she escaped?"

"No, Master Mundi", Anakin said as he walked into the center of the room. 

"The council believes that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime, still believe they are wrong, do you hmm?" Yoda asked.

"I believe she didn't kill the clone troopers or the woman who used the nano-droids to blow up the temple", Anakin said confidently. Ashara wanted to step in and put in her piece, but she knew that it was not her place to speak as of yet. "That's why she's running. To prove her innocence."

"Now she's in the lower depths", Windu said. "With her skills, she will be hard to find."

"Two teams we will send", Master Yoda said. "Master Skywalker and Master Plo Koon, with clones you will go."

"I think it would be best if Skywalker would stay here", Windu argued. "Having you involved may actually make things worse."

"Master Windu", Anakin said, his voice dangerous. "With all due respect, she is my padawan."

"The reason for you not to go", Windu said.

"I think we're being foolish if we take Anakin off this mission", Obi-Wan said. "Who knows her better?"

"He's emotionally tied to her", Master Windu said matter-of-factly. "Probably too emotional to do what needs to be done."

Ashara stepped in. "With all due respect, Master Windu, Anakin is the one who tried convincing her to come back in the first place. The clones would have just stunned her and brought her back forcefully. I believe that if Anakin goes, he may be able to convince her to come back, and if she still refuses, the clones can stun her if necessary."

"A good point, Ki makes", Yoda stated. "You must prove to us that you will stay focused. Can you?"

"I've already alerted security on the lower levels to be on the lookout for Ahsoka", Anakin said. 

"Go swiftly then, Skywalker, and bring back this lost child before it is too late."

"Yes, master", Anakin said turning to leave with Plo Koon. Ashara bit her lip.

"Master Yoda", she called. "Permission to go with Skywalker?"

Master Yoda shook his head. "Still recovering from your capture, you are. Return to the medical wing, you must."

Ashara sighed, but nodded, leaving just after Anakin and Plo Koon. She walked behind them slowly, not wanting to go back to the medical bay and be all alone. But unfortunately she was ordered to rest. She did have to admit though, she was exhausted. Running around had depleted her energy stores, which was weird because she normally had really good stamina.

She found herself in the medical wing sooner than she thought where a nurse droid hurried her to bed, and did a quick check over to make sure that Ashara hadn't strained herself. She received a thorough chastisement from the medical droid, but she barely paid it any mind as she drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~

Ashara woke with a scream, sitting up, her eyes darting wildly around the room. She felt as if she was in danger, but from what she could tell there was no danger. A hand quickly wrapped around hers and she looked at it, and saw Rex. He was saying something but she couldn't hear a word he was saying.

Eventually though, her hearing came back and she was able to hear him clearly.

"Ash, what happened?" he asked, clearly worried about her. She opened her mouth to answer, only to discover she had no clue.

"I- I don't know. A nightmare, I think. I can't... I can't remember."

Rex frowned. "Stay here, I'm going to get the nurse droid."

He left, but wasn't gone for long, returning shortly afterward with the nurse droid. After explaining to the nurse droid what happened, it gave a simple explanation.

"It appears that even though she recalls no memory of what happened to her when she was the separatists captives, her mind continues to go there when she sleeps, only for her to have no memory of it when she wakes up."

Rex furrowed his brows, while Ashara understood exactly what it meant. "So I still have PTSD even though I can't remember a thing that happened while I was there."

"Correct", the droid answered. "I will compile a list of things that help manage PTSD. Other than that, she appears to be fine and is free to leave as soon as I return with the list" The droid left, and Ashara sighed softly.

"Somehow I get the feeling I'm going to be having a lot of nightmares", she muttered. Rex gripped her hand tightly again.

"I'll try to help you through every one of them", he promised. Ashara smiled and pressed her forehead against his. 

"Thank you", she whispered. "You're the most amazing man I've ever met."

Rex smiled, and opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the door opening. It was Anakin.

"We found Ahsoka", he said softly. "She was found in a warehouse full of the same explosives to blow up the Jedi temple."

Ashara's eyes widened, but something still seemed off. "What else can you tell me?"

"She was working with Ventress", Anakin answered. Ashara narrowed her eyes, knowing about the sith apprentice. Dooku tried to kill her, and now apparently she's on Coruscant. Something was definitely off. She turned to Rex.

"Did you know about this?" she asked sharply. He hesitated before nodding. Ashara glared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she snapped. Rex was quick to defend himself.

"I was going to, but then you woke up screaming. I was a little more concerned about that."

Ashara felt guilty about snapping at him, but she also was upset that Ahsoka had been caught so quickly. "Can I see her?"

"Yes. You have been summoned along with me and Ahsoka to the Chamber of Judgement", Anakin said. Ashara instantly got a bad feeling about this, and sighed softly. 

"Let's go", she said softly. "Rex, can you get the list of PTSD management from the nurse droid and bring it to me later?"

Rex nodded, and she stood, following Anakin out of the medical wing. They walked solemnly to the Chamber of Judgement, and found Ahsoka waiting inside. Ashara sat next to the padawan, and grabbed hold of her hands.

"Ahsoka, everything will turn out fine", she said softly. "I promise."

Ahsoka stared up at her with sad eyes. "You can't promise that, Master Ki."

Ashara tried to give her a smile, but it quickly disappeared as she hugged Ahsoka tightly. "May the force always be with you, Ahsoka."

Ahsoka hugged her tightly back, tears dripping down both their faces. They both knew that the other was scared, but neither one said anything. When they pulled away, Ahsoka looked at her pacing master.

"You're not helping", she said softly. Anakin groaned.

"I'm sorry, Snips", he said, sitting down on her other side. "I... I just.. I just don't know what to do."

"It's okay. I don't either", she said, defeat resounding in her voice. A chime sounded as soon as she finished speaking, and the three of them knew it was time. They hesitated for a moment longer, Anakin and Ashara sharing a glance. Though neither of them spoke, they both knew what the other was thinking. They didn't want to lose the togruta that had become like their younger sister. The three of them were family, and always would be. Ahsoka stood, leading the pack. Ashara and Anakin followed. Ahsoka stood in the center, two temple guards on either side of her, while Anakin and Ashara stood a little ways back, watching as their platform got raised up, and then as Ahsoka's platform got raised up higher.

The two Jedi Knights stepped backward a little bit so they could see the padawan they both knew and loved. She looked up at the Jedi Masters before looking down at the ground. Ashara wondered if she was feeling self-conscious, having been singled out like this.

"Padawan Tano", Yoda's voice resounded through the room. "serious charges have been levied against you. How plead you?"

"Not guilty, Master", Ahsoka answered truthfully. "I would never take the lives of innocents. The values of the Jedi are sacred to me."

"There is evidence to the contrary", Master Mundi said. "You were alone with Letta Turmond when she died. Can you explain this?"

"Someone used the force against her", Ahsoka continued to answer truthfully. Ashara prayed that the council would see Ahsoka as not guilty, but she knew that they were more loyal to the senate now than they were to their own values.

"Which brings us to Ventress", Master Plo Koon said. Ashara hoped that Ahsoka was just using Ventress as a tool to get what she needed, not that she was actually working with the former sith apprentice. "Can you explain your association with her?"

"We had a mutual understanding", Ahsoka said softly. "I thought she was helping me."

"Did she help you acquire the nano-droid weaponry found when you were apprehended, the same devices used in the bombing of the temple?" Windu cut her off, and Ashara was starting to understand that no matter what she said, the council had already made their decision. Ahsoka was guilty in their eyes.

"No!" Ahsoka exclaimed respectfully. "I was setup and deceived, as you are being deceived now."

"The question is, Padawan Tano, who is deceiving us?" Windu continued, not letting her continue. "Ventress, you, or someone else?"

"I am not deceiving you", Ahsoka shouted, getting upset. "I would assume Ventress is, but I can't be sure. My sense is clouded."

 "Clouded by the dark side these things are, Padawan Tano", Yoda explained. "Dangerously clouded, but not just surrounding you. Surrounding many things in these times."

"You've already made your decision, haven't you?" Anakin suddenly shouted. Ashara realized that he had come to the same conclusion as she had. "This meeting is just a formality."

Ashara looked up at Ahsoka, and she could see the same understanding in the padawan's eyes that both Anakin and Ashara had come to. The council had already made a decision, and it wasn't in favor of Ahsoka.

Yoda sighed. "Reached a decision we have, though not in total agreement are we."

"It is the council's opinion that Padawan Ahsoka Tano has committed sedition against the Republic, and thus, she will be expelled from the Jedi order." Ashara's eyes widened in shock. she hadn't been expecting that. She had expected maybe a suspension or prison-time, but not full on expulsion. 

Ahsoka's platform started coming down, and Ashara wanted to rush over and hug her, but she knew that action would be frowned about by the council, so she remained where she was. Anakin wanted to rush up to her too, and he started to but he was stopped by the Jedi guards.

"Your padawan status will be stripped from you", Master Mundi said. "and you shall forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic. You will be turned over to Republic courts to await your trial and whatever punishment they set for you." Ashara watched as a temple guard removed Ahsoka's string of beads that symbolized her padawan braid. "Henceforth, you are barred from the Jedi Order."