Title: Don't Forgive, Don't Forget

Author: Darth Manul & Darth Corsa

Genre: Drama, Angst

Summary: AU, non-slash. After Melida/Daan Qui-Gon is mad with his former Padawan and doesn't want to take him back. So, the Council find a new Master for Obi-Wan - Count Dooku.

Feedback: Always appreciated. You want to write a feedback!

Disclaimer: The galaxy belongs to us, these characters – to Luсas.


Obi-Wan respectfully bowed his head, listening to the conversation between Qui-Gon and the Council members. They were discussing his future. Honestly, he had no guesses about what they would decide and the only thing left for him was to reproach himself for misbehaving on Melida/Daan.

Qui-Gon had returned him to Coruscant (Obi-Wan suspected that it happened not without Yoda's persuasion) and brought him to the Temple, but whether he would agree to be Kenobi's Master was a different question. During the flight, Master Jinn had being piloting the spaceship intently (he even didn't set up the autopilot!) without a word.

It was always difficult to read anything on his calm face. Having arrived to Coruscant, they immediately went to the meeting with the Council instead of visiting the Healer's Ward (Kenobi's wounds were not dangerous, but usually Qui-Gon insisted on going there, despite Padawan's assurances of his wellness).

Obi-Wan understood perfectly that he was in fault and that he would not get away with his error in judgment easily, nevertheless the suspense frightened him. Kenobi felt remorse for insulting Master Jinn, who had not still forgotten Xanatos' betrayal. Now Obi-Wan hoped that Qui-Gon would forgive him. The Council could choose to send him away again. If they did, would they send him back to the AgriCorps?

"It's scandalous! I'm speechless!" Saesee Tiin repeated once again, looking strictly at the drooping Padawan. "If all the Jedi did what they consider important, would the Order exist anymore?"

"However, sometimes the Force suggests better solutions than the Council can. Moreover, the Council can hardly assess the situation as right as a Jedi who does the mission." Qui-Gon shouldered, looking at Master Tiin indifferently.

Some piece of hope brightened for Obi-Wan.

"Are you defending your Padawan as always, Master Jinn?" Mace Windu, who had been being nearly silent before that, asked. He was sitting with his fingers crossed, leaning forward.

"Certainly not. Obi-Wan isn't my Padawan anymore, I dare remind you. It was just a thought."

Obi-Wan chilled because of the indifferent but firm intonation of those words.

"It would be unwise and foolish to spend such abilities left to growing plants in the AgriCorps or doing something not related to the Force. We're far too outnumbered to allow every young Padawan go where he wants. Especially when he's minor: we are responsible for his well being and his life."

Obi-Wan listened to Master Windu carefully. Despite such strong reasons, they were not intending to send him away. Of course, there would not be special indulgence, but, at least, it seemed he would stay a Jedi.

"As the Council wish." Master Jinn smiled a bit and bowed. "May I go now? You see, the last mission was uneasy."

"Are you going to leave us? Just to go away?" Adi Gallia had completely forgotten about formalities and was staring at Qui-Gon surprised.

"Yes, I am. If I may remind the Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi is no longer my padawan. I've reported about the mission, and now I need rest—well deserved rest, by the way!"

At that moment fear tightly embraced Obi-Wan. Did that mean Master Jinn really did not want to see him anymore?

Qui-Gon smiled coldly, then said, as if he had read Padawan's mind:

"I don't think that we'll be able to work efficiently after everything that has happened."

Having bowed politely, he went out of the Council Chamber.


Obi-Wan looked at the door confusedly and turned to Master Yoda, who had closed his eyes, thinking.

"Solution, the Council has made. To leave you a Padawan to Master Jinn, not the will of the Force, seems, it is. Assign you another Master, the Council will."

"Yes, Masters." Obi-Wan nodded, trying to hold back the tears. He had become comfortable with Qui-Gon as his Master so much that he even could not imagine anyone else to fill this place. Moreover, Jinn himself refused him! From the definite point of view, it was like a betrayal.

"Congratulate yourself: when Qui-Gon was here the first time… well, hardly anything can ruffle him so much." Saesee Tiin growled, speaking of Master Jinn's legendary tranquility.

Kenobi somehow managed to look even more guilty.

He wondered which Master he would be given to instead of Qui-Gon. Perhaps, not such a famed one as Qui-Gon was—who needs a Padawan-looser?

"I suppose all the formalities will be done by the next morning. You'll temporarily stay with Qui-Gon; this way you'll have time to collect your things." Windu finished without naming the new Master.

Obi-Wan bowed and left the Council Chamber.


Maybe, it was yet another chance given? The possibility to spend some more time with Qui-Gon definitely appeared to be the will of the Force.

Although, on the other hand, could they send him elsewhere—to the Youngling quarters? Countless stars, Obi-Wan had been living there so recently before he became a Padawan. Perhaps, someone has already taken his room.

And now it was time to use this last chance. If only he spoke to Qui-Gon, apologized, promised that things like those one would not ever happen again, and he himself would become a model Padawan, which would never make the Master shame for him…

Obi-Wan pushed the door gingerly.

Qui-Gon was reading one of his favorite paper books, having lounged comfortably on the soft pillows of the sofa. When he heard the sound of the opening door, he turned his head to the former Padawan surprisingly.

"It's you again?" He asked in bored voice. The Jedi put the book away, but did not forget to insert a bookmark. Now he was sitting with his leg over the other.

"Master… Jinn, the Council told me to stay with you until they have everything done. Until tomorrow, probably."

"Well, so it will be, if they ordered this," Qui-Gon shouldered. "At last, you've already come. You know where to find everything you need." He buried in the book again.

"I'm so sorry about what happened… Forgive me please, Master…" Obi-Wan began, staring at the floor. Silence. At last, he raised his head. Qui-Gon was still reading the book as he did it at the beginning.

Having sighed heavily, Obi-Wan went to his room.


Obi-Wan had no dreams that night, just black emptiness. When he awoke, it was quite late, but there was no feeling of a good rest. Vice versa, his tiredness only increased. In his mind, on the one hand, there was a slight hope that a new day would bring good news and Qui-Gon would forgive him. On the other hand, there was his famous 'bad feeling', which invaded his soul and was true in more cases than Obi-Wan wanted to admit.

Having dressed, Obi-Wan warily opened the door to the common room and saw that Qui-Gon was sitting on the sofa in the same position as yesterday and was reading the holopaper, learning the latest news.

As invisibly as he only could, Obi-Wan passed Qui-Gon and sat in the armchair opposite the tall Master, who seemed not to notice the presence of his former Padawan and was silent. Obi-Wan was getting nervous and didn't decide from what to begin. He automatically grabbed the sofa pillow and started to crumple it in his hands, thinking what it was better to say.

"Good morning, Master." He finally began.

Qui-Gon didn't look and him, but mumbled.

"…Kenobi. You know, they've gone mad in their Senate! They still don't know what to do! For three months! Three months, can you even imagine? If they don't start thinking quickly, the inhabitants will die out and the problem will disappear itself! I believe, the teakettle is beginning to boil right now. Bring me some tea, too."

Obi-Wan, not trying either to object or to answer, obediently stood up and went to the kitchen, where he took out two cups, put some tea in them, and poured hot water. Taking cups, he returned to the common room. He put one cup in front of Qui-Gon and shyly asked: "And what else are they writing?"

"Thank you." Jinn sipped his tea. "What's the matter? Bureaucrats, all of them! If only they can see our field missions or to present on them! They would immediately change their mind! They do what they want, with no reasons at all!"

Obi-Wan politely nodded in agreement and had been waiting for some more time, until understood that Master Jinn wouldn't continue the conversation. Collecting himself, he resolutely said: "Master Qui-Gon!" And, as if being afraid of his impudence, continued quietly: "I... I want to apologize for my behavior, I…"

"To apologize? I better suggest you to think about your relationship with your future Master. Besides, the Council hasn't told me who will be so 'lucky' to take you. I wash my hands of you." He stared at holopaper once again.

"Master, please, listen to me! I didn't want to leave the Jedi Order, but you yourself have said that sometimes the Force tells us something and there can be strange and unreasonable decisions! I was sure that this was that case. I'm really very sorry."

Qui-Gon angrily put the holopaper away on the table and made himself comfortable, leaning on the sofa and crossed his legs.

"So, now you askme to listen to you." He imitated the voice of the former Padawan. "And what have prevented you from listening to me before? What was unclear in my orders? You are lucky that you're still alive now as well as most of your new friends. You are a Padawan, not a Knight to make such decisions by yourself. First, learn to do what you are ordered to do, young Padawan, and then do, what you think is right! Force! Why am I condemned with such Padawans? I was right from the beginning: I shouldn't take you as my Apprentice. And see, what's happened." He sighed and added arrogantly: "And bring me some waffles from the kitchen."

Obi-Wan stood still. Some part of his mind absolutely didn't expect that their conversation would go in such a way, but then, what he should expect.? 'You betrayed him, idiot!' he said to himself.

He automatically got up and was on the way to the kitchen, but changed his mind at the last moment. "Master! I'm really very sorry about it! I still believe that it was the correct path in that situation. Have you acted like a Jedi, too, when you decided to bring Knight Tahl to Coruscant? They could have healed her there!" He froze from his rudeness.

Qui-Gon stared at him expectantly and dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Yes, young Obi-Wan Kenobi. I've acted like a Jedi. I am a Jedi Knight of the Order. I will never abandon my fellow Jedi or a Mentor. I cannot even think about it!" He raised his voice: "And it's not your place to judge my actions! Look at yourself: you are even not a Padawan now! I really don't know why the Council decided to leave you in the Order, much less find you a new Master. They should have removed you!"

Obi-Wan was standing silently, clenching his fist. So it be! The anger and insult were arising in him. "And what about Melida/Daan? What would have happened with them? They would have killed each other, if we didn't help them! We are Jedi, it's our job to help them, besides, Tahl went there to help them!"

Qui-Gon looked at his former Padawan disapprovingly. "We, as Jedi, should keep calm in the first place. Calm means, my former Padawan that I can rely on every fellow Jedi, and he or she will help me and save my life. Any time and any place, under every circumstances! There is no need to say sorry; I can never forgive such behavior! It was my duty to save Tahl's life not to deal with your foolishness and unrestraint!

"But they… But I… Isn't the mission more important? And what a Jedi will chose—a life of one or many? We determined the future of entire planet! There were many little children among the Young; many of them were much younger than me! And all of them would have been killed, if not our help. I think that our presence there was the will of the Force. I'm really very sorry! Sorry a Jedi can choose a life of one over the lives of many. I would have been better off staying in the Agricorps! Better off if your Xanatos killed me!"

Qui-Gon looked at his former Padawan and losing his famous Jedi serenity, yelled:

"Will you teach me, what's more important for a Jedi? Xanatos… Xanatos could be a better Jedi than you are! He used his head first, before doing something! Do you realize what's happening on the Outer Rim now? So, if you want to change something, you should collect yourself, clench the teeth, and do what's ordered, not what you're thinking is right! I wouldn't wish a Sith an Apprentice such as you!"

Obi-Wan understood well, that if he wanted to make peace with Qui-Gon, he should shut up, silently listen to all rebukes and blame, accept them and ask for forgiveness one more time. But the mention of Xanatos, who turned to the Dark side and Qui-Gon somehow still respected him…

"I'm not Xanatos! I didn't turn to the Dark Side, I only wanted to help them! Is it so bad intention? I think many will agree with me! And, please, return my lightsaber. I think, it was very foolish of me to give it to you. Has Xanatos returned his weapon too?" Obi-Wan asked, realizing that he had already said too much and reached the point of no return and there is no way back.

"Not Xanatos, you say? Really? You're much the same: you both have betrayed the Jedi! Maybe, he's more dangerous, but I think that you'll reach his level soon. You've broken the Code, left everything you were taught here behind, and do you even realize that? If I were on the Council, I'll send you to the Agricorps again, without remorse or hesitation!" Jinn took out Obi-Wan's lightsaber from the pouch on his belt.

"But you're constantly arguing with the Council! You can possibly be on the Council yourself! They understood me, unlike mighty Qui-Gon Jinn, the best Jedi of the Order! I hope they'll find me a new Master, not like you! Give me my lightsaber!" Obi-Wan approached Qui-Gon and expectedly extended his hand.

"Yes, I'm arguing. Learn your place, my former Padawan; you should first prove them that you are something too! There is no other way, you know. Hey!" Qui-Gon abruptly stood up and smacked Obi-Wan's hand.

Obi-Wan stared at Qui-Gon, nursing a hand and not believing what'd happened. Hurt on his face caused contempt in Qui-Gon.

"Pathetic life form. How could it even appear in your little head? But why I'm surprised, I've already said that it's only one step between you and Xanatos. I don't think that it's safe to give it to you. I'll keep the lightsaber for your future Master, if he even exists. And right now, do something useful—go and wash the dishes!" Jinn ordered sternly.

"Dishes? What dishes? I'm not your Padawan anymore, I refuse to wash dishes!" Obi-Wan crossed his hands on the chest.

Qui-Gon was really angry this time, grabbed Obi-Wan's braid, and led him in the kitchen.

"You will do what I say! 'Not a Padawan'! You're still Jedi and you will listen to the elder, who have seen more than you! Come on, don't dare to move! A dolt!"

On the way to the kitchen, Obi-Wan was squirming and even tried to kick the former mentor, who didn't ease the grasp. Finally, finding himself in front of the dirty plates, Obi-Wan took one of them and threw it against the wall.

"Going to the Dark Side, are you?" Qui-Gon was white with rage, caught his former Padawan by the collar and clipped him on the back of the head.


Dooku knocked at the door for several times, but didn't hear anything in response. Finally, with the little help of the Force, he opened the door and came in the quarters of his former Padawan. There was nobody in the living room, but he heard some squawks from the kitchen.