Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.
Summary:
A/N: After a long hiatus, I'd like to welcome you to the third installment in my Force of Providence series. Though I will try to post fairly regularly I must admit that may not always be possible as my inspiration of late has come in fits and spurts. If there are those of you who are also reading Human at this time, know that I haven't given up on that story. This one was just pulling at me and its plot bunny has been ruthless! Lost starts immediately after the events of Undone. Enjoy!
A/N 2: As mentioned above, this is the third book in this series. Book one, Bound, and book two, Undone, can be found on my profile page. I highly recommend you read the previous books before beginning this one; however, this story can stand-alone.
A/N 3: Big thanks to my lovely and wonderful beta Maevependergast. I still couldn't resist tweaking somethings so all mistakes found here are mine.
Thanks:
I just want to send a big thank you to all the readers and fans who have stayed with me during this journey. I would also like to send a special thanks to all the commenters/reviewers who words consistently encourage me and help me to improve. Thank you all.
Please R&R!
~LOST~
Chapter 1 – The Young and the Restless
HEALER'S REPORT
Submitted by: Master Healer Ar Songe
Submitted to: The Jedi High Council
Regarding: Training Accident
Name: Mir, Lantis
Species: Felinoid
Gender: Female
Maturity: 13 years standard
Rank: Padawan
Description of Incident: Patient was performing aerial maneuvers on secondary and tertiary bars in the main gymnasium when she fell from a height of approximately 7.62 meters. Witness reports indicate that patient did not attempt to brace herself from impact. Patient injuries are consistent with eyewitness observations. I arrived on the scene approximately six minutes after the incident occurred. At that time, patient was bleeding profusely from a head laceration. She was conscious, but severely disoriented. Patient was loaded onto a hover sled. She lost consciousness en route to Healing Halls.
Diagnosis: Preliminary examination of patient revealed multiple rib fractures, a clavicle fracture, a skull fracture, a fracture of her right femur, a fracture of her right fibula and tibia, several lacerations including one on her scalp, and several deep tissue contusions. A degree two Force scan revealed multiple internal injuries and bleeding. Patient was in beginning stages of hemorrhagic shock. Patient was immediately prepped for surgery. Surgery revealed further injuries of spleen damage, liver lacerations, right kidney damage, and swelling along the spinal column spanning from L3-L7. A more definitive assessment of the spinal injury could not be made at that time due to the excessive swelling.
Treatment: Internal damage to spleen, liver, and right kidney was repaired during a seven-hour surgery. Patient was then placed in bacta submersion for 68 hours. Fractures have mended appropriately, however, the trauma and bruising of the surrounding tissue will take several days to fully heal. Swelling along the patient's vertebrae has not decreased. Patient has yet to regain consciousness.
Prognosis: Patient is expected to make a full recovery from her internal injuries as well as her multiple fractures. However, the swelling around her spinal cord may be hiding other injuries. Paralysis of lower extremities is highly likely. Duration of paralysis, if present, is unknown.
Healer's Notes: At the time of my first appraisal of Padawan Mir's injuries on the gymnasium floor, I was unsure of her survival chances. However, I am very pleased with the present outcome. Mir's surgery went very well and my staff and I were able to repair all of the organ damage she suffered from the fall. A lengthy stint in the bacta tank has also repaired the most grievous of the physical damage. What concerns me is the swelling along the lumbar section of her spinal column. I had hoped that time and bacta would have lessened the inflammation by now, but there has been no discernable change. Several individual assessments have revealed that, currently, Lantis is paralyzed from the waist down. The exact extent and permanence of the paralysis is anyone's guess. Her master, Master Tivi, has not yet been told of his padawan's paralysis. I am greatly concerned about what his reaction will be to such news. That is not to say that Master Tivi has behaved in an inappropriate or un-Jedi like manner; however, such a catastrophic injury to one's padawan is nearly certain to unbalance the anyone's serenity and as Lantis has still not regained consciousness… I, of course, will do my duty, but this is one message I wish I did not have to deliver.
End Report.
Ar Songe was not dawdling. He really wasn't. A Jedi is calm, serene, placid, therefore the Master's slow and steady gait was simply a reflection of that inner serenity and not a totally conscious method of delaying a conversation he was loathed to have. Ar paused in the corridor directly outside of one of his patient's room. With a mental slap to himself and a deep breath, he tightened his control and released his anxiety into the Force. He was a master healer, damn it. He had delivered bad news before, far worse news than this, but it was always trying on him. It was worse still when the subject of the bad news was someone so young. With his equanimity restored and his slightly detached healer's resolve in place, Ar waved opened the door and stepped inside the small space.
The scene before him was exactly the one he had come to expect. Lantis lay still and silent on the medical couch, the small rise and fall of her chest and the constant beep of various monitors the only obvious testament to non-Force sensitives that the young one lived. To those with an affinity to the Force, one could see the still bright aura that surrounded the small form tucked under the light bedclothes. The aura nearest her, however, was significantly darker. Not the muddy eddies of someone dabbling with the Dark side, but instead the stifling gray desperation and exhaustion of someone in great pain but who was trying diligently to not let that pain overwhelm him.
"Master Tivi," Ar spoke unnecessarily softly. The white-haired Jedi Master did not look back, but a small dip of his head accompanied the acknowledgement of his words.
"Master Songe," Vresh replied in an equally hushed voice. The healer stepped forward to ostensibly check the various monitors illustrating Lantis's bio-signs. He glanced at the master across the bed from him, taking in his haggard appearance and darkened skin under his eyes.
"She still hasn't awakened," the master stated breaking the heavy silence between the two Jedi. "Shouldn't she be awake by now?"
"Not necessarily," Ar answered as he turned towards the bed and its single occupant. "With the head trauma she suffered it is not unexpected that she would remain unconscious for several days. I could wake her with stimulants, but I would rather let her body heal and wake naturally," he paused then tilted his head in consideration of both master and padawan. "We shall wait another day or two. If she has not awakened by then, we can reconsider the matter."
Vresh didn't reply verbally, only gave a sharp nod of his head. His eyes never left his padawan's face. Ar took a deep breath and began speaking the words that needed to be said, but wouldn't want to be heard.
"Master Tivi, there is something we must discuss about your padawan's recovery," the master healer paused for some recognition, but when he received only silence he pressed on. "All of the internal damage has been repaired by the surgery and bacta has mended the other injuries; however, there is still an area of concern. During the surgery, we noticed significant inflammation around her lower spine. The inflammation prevented us from ascertain what, if any, injury lay beneath at that time. I had hoped that the bacta would alleviate the swelling, but so far it is unchanged."
"What does that mean? The swelling…" Vresh asked finally taking his eyes off his padawan and looking at the healer. Ar's mouth formed a hard, thin line, but his eyes showed nothing but compassion.
"It means that, at this moment, your padawan is paralyzed from the waist down."
Vresh swallowed visibly as he searched the healer's eyes then turned back to his apprentice. He took the small furred paw in his hand. When he spoke again his voice was scarcely above a whisper.
"Is it permanent?"
Ar could hear the unvoiced plea in his voice, but the oath he took as a healer would not let him tergiversate. He would speak plainly regarding the padawan's prognosis.
"The duration of this paralysis depends greatly on how profound her spinal injury is. Right now, there is a great a chance that she will recover completely as there is that she will never walk again and there is a vast spectrum of recovery in between," Ar said as he reached out and placed a hand on Vresh's shoulder. "We won't know anything until the swelling goes down. There is no reason to lose hope. She is young and strong and she has the Force."
"I know," Vresh answered softly as he squeezed the small paw under his large hand. "She will recover. She has to."
Ar didn't know how to respond to that. The vehemence behind the master's words and the sudden surge of intensity he felt through the Force almost caused the master healer to stagger. Vresh, however, appeared oblivious as his focus never shifted; the larger world falling anyway under his regard for his padawan.
Ar turned and left the room quietly, gathering his calm before moving further down the hall and entering another patient room. This room was considerably larger than the last as it was meant to and was currently housing two occupants. Or at least it was supposed to be Ar thought with a frown. The medical couch immediately visible upon entering the room was empty. However, the mystery of its missing patient was quickly solved when Ar took in the rest of the room. On the second medical couch lay both Master Jinn and his padawan, Obi-Wan. The young boy was tucked into the older man's large frame, his small arms wrapped around the man's rib cage, the man cradling the smaller body in a protective embrace. Ar was preparing to leave when dark blue eyes caught his own.
"I apologize. It was not my intention to disturb you," the healer spoke softly in deference to the still sleeping youth. "He had not been sleeping well. Unconsciousness or sedated rest yes, but not simple, restorative sleep."
Qui-Gon looked down at the crop of auburn hair pressed against his medical tunic.
"Very little of late has been simple for him," he answered ruefully as he gently carded through the boy's short locks. Reflexively the thin arms tightened around the master's torso as Obi-Wan burrowed deeper into the embrace. Ar found himself smiling lightly.
"The young often have a resiliency that we lack in our elder years. It will take time and work, but he will recover from this. You both will."
"Yes, we will," Qui-Gon answered softly, but with the steely determination he was known for.
"It will not be easy."
"Very few things worth having are," Qui-Gon replied as he brought his gaze from his apprentice to the Mirialan healer. "What he has endured has largely been because of my poor decisions. It is only appropriate that I repair the damage that has been done. He is my padawan. I will not let him deal with this alone. Not while I have breath in my body."
"That is as it should be, but your self-recrimination has no place here. You must let those feelings go if you both are to heal."
"Moonlighting in the soul healer's ward?" Qui-Gon retorted with wry grin. Ar gave a polite nod and returned the smile.
"In between caring for injured padawans and their obstinate masters," the healer returned in jest, but the tease fell flat as Qui-Gon's expression turned more somber.
"Has she awakened?"
"No," Ar replied with a heavy sigh. Qui-Gon studied the healer's face intently.
"There is something that concerns you," he stated, not asking. Ar nodded.
"Yes, but perhaps not what you think. She is paralyzed from the waist down," Ar said raising a delicate hand to forestall Qui-Gon's expression of dismay. "It is uncertain whether or not it will be a permanent condition. At present, I am far more concerned with her master."
"Vresh? Why?" Qui-Gon asked, surprise suffusing his features. Ar cocked his head to one side.
"As a master yourself, I am surprised you have to ask," he retorted. "He sits vigil by her bedside night and day, leaving only when he was summoned by the Council. He eats rarely and sleeps less."
"I doubt that I would act much differently in his place," Qui-Gon replied mildly. Ar dipped his head in acknowledgement.
"Perhaps, but it serves no good to anyone if he becomes my patient as well."
"Is it that serious?"
"We are approaching that point yes."
Qui-Gon nodded and glanced down at the sleeping youth in his arms. Looking at Obi-Wan's face relaxed in slumber he knew exactly how his friend felt. The urge to protect, to comfort, to be there was undeniable. A master was responsible for his padawan in nearly every way. The need to guard their charges from harm almost parental in its intensity. Yes, he knew why Vresh sat vigil for Lantis and why the man would continue to do so without thought for the toll on himself. Qui-Gon looked back at Ar.
"I will speak with him."
"No," Ar replied surprising him. The healer noticed his bewilderment and gestured to the sleeping child in his arms. "He needs you more right now."
Qui-Gon nodded then spoke again.
"Speak to Master Uvain. She excels at thumping even the most obstinate amongst us," he said with a knowing grin. Ar tilted his head in acknowledgement.
"I shall do just that, in the meantime," Ar said as he turned to leave, "I expect you to learn from his poor example."
"I will do what I must," Qui-Gon replied in a low, gravelly tone that was immediately belied by the mischievous glint in his eye. Had Ar Songe been anything but a Jedi, he might have rolled his eyes at the intentionally challenging response. As it was, Master Songe merely paused for one heartbeat within his few strides leading him out of the room and into the corridor.