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Obi-Wan awoke to find himself in the Halls of Healing, his mind wrapped in a sturdy, comforting presence.
"Ana-?"
"No, old friend. Your padawan was rather upset. Too upset. Plo took him to meditate."
As Mace's words drifted over him, Obi-Wan felt like he was only grasping half of their meaning.
Anakin wasn't here. Anakin was upset. That much he knew. And, that was all that really mattered. He needed to help his old pa-
"Not so fast," Mace put a firm hand on his shoulder as he tried to lunge up. "I'm shielding your mind for you, remember? I won't pry into your emotions. Still, I can't help but be aware of your thoughts. Skywalker will be fine."
Obi-Wan settled back into the bed. After the jolt of action, however, he felt his mind becoming more alert.
The last shards of a niggling thought pulled at his memory. Apparently feeling the direction of the memory, Mace turned away almost awkwardly. As if he could give Obi-Wan any privacy in this moment.
"It's alright, Mace. I trust you. This memory is one that we share, at any rate. We might as well discuss it without this embarrassment."
That was what it took for Mace's stoic expression to fracture ever so slightly.
"What were you doing, Obi-Wan?! What happened that made you... do that? You are usually so reserved and put-together. Of course, you don't need to be put-together all the time, but... to go from calm one moment to setting a mental alarm off throughout the whole Temple..."
"I am truly sorry, Mace. I am still more sorry that you are now trapped here shielding for me."
"There is no need for apologies. Just... Tell me why, Kenobi. What happened?"
Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment. But, considering that the whole Temple had gotten a glimpse into his mind, considering that Mace could currently feel the tenor of his thoughts...
"It was something that you said, Mace. I was... venomous, you said. I know - I knew even at the time - that I was misconstruing what you meant. But, I just couldn't get it out of my head. To be honest, that made it even worse, being able to recognize how foolish I was but still not being able to snap myself out of it. It felt like I was two people at once, but I was trapped in the one that I didn't want."
Mace placed his hand back on Obi-Wan's shoulder, more delicately this time. "I should not have said that, my friend. What's past is past."
"I just don't know how to move on now, I suppose. Working with the Council, being so near to Anakin... It all seems like too much, just now."
Mace looked at Obi-Wan calmly, seeming to weigh an idea in his mind. Finally, he began, "I have a proposition. This is not a solution, but perhaps it will provide you with a break from the duties that are harming you right now. And, it could also be the first step to reconciling with Skywalker."
Obi-Wan gave a slight nod, urging his friend to go on.
"The Council needs somebody willing to go undercover for a while. We need one person to infiltrate a group of bounty hunters. Apparently this group is planning to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine; we need a spy on the inside to foil their plan."
Mace could feel the acquiescence pulsing through Obi-Wan's mind even before he had finished the explanation.
"Please, take time to decide, Obi-Wan. There are... other considerations as well."
"Such as?" Obi-Wan was now sitting up attentively against the headboard.
"To remove all suspicion, you would have to fake your death. It may be distressing for whoever witnesses it."
Obi-Wan glanced to the main doors of the Halls of Healing. His eyes were unfocused. Mace felt his friend's mind gliding along wide swatches of memory.
"Well," Obi-Wan spoke up as he brought his mind back to the present, his eyes back to Mace with a teasing glint, "Qui-Gon only saw my value when I was about to die. Perhaps Anakin will have similar sentiments."
Mace's voice did not match Obi-Wan's light tone. "Is that what Qui-Gon told you?" he demanded.
"Well, not in those words, but-"
"What were his words?"
"There weren't any words, really. He just... He was willing to abandon me to the Agricorps. And then he took me in after Bandomeer. I don't see what else would have changed his mind."
Mace took a breath. "He took you in because he saw how selfless and devoted you are. He realized how valuable kindness and care like yours are to a knight. He did not value you just because you were willing to die."
"Yes, well..." Obi-Wan's gaze shifted awkwardly, finally landing on the bedsheets in front of him.
"Anakin will be the same. I was not suggesting that we trick him into thinking you've died just to teach him a lesson about attachment. As soon as we released the news of your supposed death, I would explain the situation to him. It would be a secret from him for less than a day."
Obi-Wan's eyes shot up to meet Mace's. "Then why did you bring Anakin into this conversation at all?"
"I just meant- Forgive me, my friend. You know that I cannot always get across exactly what I mean. I mentioned your padawan because we all know that he is impressed by large, physical gestures of bravery. And, he is used to seeing you express your courage in more soft-spoken ways. Realizing that you pulled this mission off will help him see that he cannot invent a simplified version of you in his mind. It would remind him that you are not only his master; you are a being with a variety of facets, many of which he has not taken the time to understand yet."
Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll let you get some rest," Mace murmured as he settled down on the chair beside Obi-Wan's bed. "Just think it over."
"Oh, Mace, you know me better than this. I will postpone the official paperwork, if you prefer. But, of course I will do this. Only..."
"Yes?"
"I don't think it would be wise to tell Anakin. Even after the public knows of my 'death.'"
"Oh?"
"It is no secret that Anakin and I are close, particularly for Jedi. All eyes will be on him - judging his grief, questioning any move that does not seem correct to the media.
"Mace, I know this about my old padawan. We cannot rely on his non-existent acting skills. I will have to rely on his forgiveness after the fact."