"Ahsoka Tano?" The healer questioned with a thoughtful frown. "She is Master Krell's padawan, correct?"
Anakin nodded. "That's right. Who took care of her when she was here last?"
The healer looked back down at her datapad displaying Ahsoka's information. "Her previous visit, or at the moment?"
The Jedi paused. "Wait, what?" He asked with a frown. "She's here now?"
"Yes, she was just admitted an hour ago."
Anakin's frown deepened. "What's wrong?"
"Her master carried her in unconscious and now she's being treated for an abdominal infection." The healer explained sadly. "Her previous wound didn't heal effectively and she ended up being too restless for her own good, tearing a bit of inflamed tissue which then became infected."
Something tells me she didn't want to be restless. Anakin thought grimly, a powerful surge of anger rising within him. "Thank you." He replied curtly. "But I still want to know who took care of her last time."
"Stass Allie, I believe."
"Can I talk to her?"
"Yes, I believe she is between patients at the moment."
"Alright. Where's Master Krell?"
"I'm not sure, he left almost as soon as he dropped her off."
Figures. Anakin thought angrily, walking past the healer and towards the main lobby area where Stass Allie sat with a datapad. The woman looked up, surprised to see Anakin approaching her. "General Skywalker." She greeted, setting the datapad aside and standing up. "What can I do for you?"
"Master Allie." Anakin greeted as well, subduing the anger in his tone with some difficulty; she wasn't who it was directed towards and therefore didn't deserve it. "Did you take care of Ahsoka Tano when she was first admitted after we returned from Algeroth?"
"Yes, I did." She frowned in concern. "I heard that she was back today; I told her master he should never have released her so soon after such a gruesome injury."
Anakin's brows raised slightly. "So you can confirm that Master Krell released Ahsoka before she should have been ready?"
Master Allie nodded. "Yes, of course. No wonder she has such a nasty abdonimal infection; she wasn't fully healed yet! And now because of her master, her life is in even more danger than before!"
The healer took a deep breath to compose herself and looked up at Anakin hesitantly. "My apologies, my temper got the better of me. What is it exactly that you are inquiring about?"
After a few moments Anakin looked around, making sure they weren't within earshot of any prying listeners, and leaned in. "I believe there is substantial evidence that Master Krell is abusing his title over his padawan."
Master Allie's eyes went wide, the seriousness of the accusation not lost on her. "Oh, Force. That poor child. Is there anything I can do to help?"
The ferocity and determination in her voice took Anakin aback; he thought it would have been more difficult to persuade her. But, as he'd learned earlier with his old master, maybe turning Jedi against Master Krell wouldn't be as difficult as he'd thought. "Er, yes, of course. Any documents, legal evidence, anything solid to prove that he is not treating his padawan well."
"I'll get right on it." Master Allie paused and looked up at him. "I'm not usually one to pry, Skywalker, but I'm curious as to why you are so invested. I know you two were both injured on Algeroth, but I wasn't aware you were so close."
The word close echoed through Anakin's head like a threat, a word he'd been trained extensively to fear but had chosen over and over again not to. It took him a moment to respond. "I just believe that every padawan should be treated with respect and care, not discarded and pushed so hard by their master that they can't recover."
Master Allie nodded. "I see." She replied, but her gaze didn't waver. Anakin knew exactly what that cautionary stare meant, he had received it thousands of times: 'Don't get too attached, Skywalker'.
He ignored it. "Is her room open to visitors?"
"I believe so, yes. But she won't be very talkative; she just underwent extensive and intrusive scoping to remove the infection so she'll be extremely out of it."
"I understand. What room?"
"This way." Master Allie lead him to a room clearly designed for surgery recovery; it was much more elaborate and had many more machines inside than a usual room. Ahsoka laid curled up under her sheets as Anakin sat and Master Allie gave a frustrated sigh.
"Ahsoka, dear, you cannot lay like that."
A slight head tilt in their direction proved that Ahsoka had heard her, but she made no effort to move. Master Allie just walked over and gently readjusted the padawan, who limply complied likely because she couldn't do much else. Her eyes were open and she stared resignedly at the Jedi Master as she was situated into a safe lying position straight on her back. "There." Master Allie declared, glancing at Anakin. "I'll be back to check up on her later."
The healer left, and now it was only Anakin and Ahsoka in the room. Anakin stared at her and stifled a laugh; whatever they had given her, it must have been strong. Ahsoka's head lolled to the side and she stared back, the widest grin he'd ever seen on her forming. "Oh, Maser Sywalk! I like seeing you!"
Anakin couldn't hold in his laugh. "What happened?"
Ahsoka shrugged but then winced. "Ow. Uh.. I donmember. Oh wait I do!" Her eyes got big and she tried to sit up but winced again and laid back down. "Ow. But I was walking n I had a wild dream I was drowning in... Stuff, and then I heard my maser talking to counooku and then I died."
The Jedi stared blankly, not even attempting to decipher everything she had just said. "Sounds interesting."
"Oh, it was wild!" Ahsoka frowned. "I wasurprised to see my maser talking wih coundooku thouh. Das bad."
Anakin's eyes widened slightly. "Wait... You said he was talking with Count Dooku?"
"Yah. I guess they're friends or someing."
Although Anakin was taking everything Ahsoka said with a massive pile of salt, for some reason he had a feeling that this little detail rang true. But he didn't dare try to ask her more at this moment, knowing he would receive nothing but more incoherent babbling. Instead he just gave a small laugh. "Well, I'll leave you be."
As he stood up to leave he heard a small 'nooooo' from Ahsoka and turned back around. "What's wrong?"
"Ion wanna be alone."
"Why?"
"Becus ifIm alone..." She trailed off, looked around, then gestured Anakin closer. He complied, leaning in. "... He can come in."
"He?"
"My Maser. He's gona be sooo mad a me."
"Why?"
"Becus imnot practicing." Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "But thisis his fault anyways."
"What do you mean?"
"He wan to practice ALL the time, even when imnot healed yet."
Anakin pursed his lips lightly. "I see."
Ahsoka was quiet, an unexpected change of pace. Anakin watched as her head turned back towards the ceiling, her stare seemingly going through it. She sniffled lightly, and Anakin was immediately hit with an uncomfortable fidgety feeling, one he had whenever someone near him was crying. "Donlet him get me." She breathed quietly, her hands forming fists in the sheets. "Donlet him get me."
The Jedi stared at the padawan, overcome with a feeling he didn't experience often for people who weren't Obi-Wan or Padmé: an immense surge of protectiveness, a promise to himself that he wouldn't let anything happen to that person. That they were much too important now to let go of. His eyes softened and he gently unfolded one of Ahsoka's hands from its deathgrip on her sheets, placing his own hand on top of it. "I won't." He promised, equally as quiet.
The promise hung in the air between the two, and Anakin gave a sigh and stood up. "Get some rest, kid."
"Okaeskyguy."
Anakin paused and turned around. "What did you just call me?" He asked with a short, surprised laugh.
"Skyguy, becaus your lasname and you're... A guy."
The Jedi just stared at her for a moment before snorting lightly and exiting the room. "Skyguy." He repeated humorously to himself as he walked out of the Halls of Healing. As he walked out his comm started beeping, and he answered it absentmindedly. "Skywalker."
"Well, you sure sound tired." Anakin felt a jolt of excitement run through him as his wife's voice reached his ears. He quickly looked around, then retreated into a corner with a small smile.
"Padmé." He breathed, a sigh of relief.
He could practically hear the smile in Padmé's voice as she responded. "I just got back for a few days, I-"
"I'm already on my way."
Padmé laughed. "Alright, looking forward to it."
"Me too." Like you wouldn't believe. Anakin shut off his comm and immediately made a beeline for his personal speeder, more than grateful for the distraction from his current predicament.
Y'all medicated Ahsoka is fun af to write not gonna lie XD I'm back on my grind and the inspiration has returned so expect more updates for this book and Luke and Leia - Jedi! Thank you all so so much for the support on this book so far, the rankings have been absolutely BONKERS and it already has over 3k views! And it's not even done yet!!
Anyways, I love you all! Drink some water, eat some food, get some sleep, and take your meds <3
Nelgiz :)