Summary: Qui Gon Jinn lives and takes Anakin on as his apprentice. The newly knighted Obi Wan Kenobi goes on solo missions. Que Gon does not dissolve the training bond, despite Obi Wan's knighthood and his new bond to Anakin.
Obi Wan stared as Qui Gon fell and watched the Sith left him for dead and prowled before the energy gate. It fell and he attacked. They dueled and the Sith fell -cut in two. He made his way over to his failing master.
"Master," the man was unconscious from blood loss and impact. Staunching the flow of blood he sought the aid of the Force. He was answered by the sound of small feet, Qui Gon's latest pet, Anakin Skywalker, was stopped by the energy barrier. Obi Wan looked up and saw the boy's fear, love and devotion and he realized that although the boy's future was clouded he would enliven the Jedi. The barrier dropped and he slid to the ground next to Obi Wan.
"He can't die, he mustn't!" Then ObiWan felt it too, Qui Gon must not die.
"Anakin!" He grabbed the child's shoulder. "Do as I say." The boy nodded. "Reach inside yourself and find your strength." The boy was untutored, but willing to do anything. "Good, trust me." His grey eyes met the pure, trusting blue ones and he swallowed and reached for the boy's hand, drawing part of the boy's power through it into himself and through his bond to Qui Gon. He was so focused on guiding it he barely heard the slight gasp of the boy beside him.
"It's beautiful." Obi Wan blinked and found that he too could see the tendrils of the Force that he was directing.
"Indeed." He pulled away his hand but left Anakin's. "I do not have enough power to stabilize him, keep in contact." He watched the flow, they needed to move, but he could not carry Qui Gon and have the boy keep contact. "We need to move him." The wide blue eyes looked up at him and blinked.
"But if I-"
"Let go he'll die. I know-there is another way to keep contact." He took a deep breath, if the council found out they'd have a fit. "A training bond, like mine."
"I thought it wasn't allowed."
"Neither is this." Obi Wan indicated the Force connection, "We're not supposed to show you anything. Nor is it the Jedi way to keep someone back from the Force if they are falling into it." Anakin's eyes flared.
"How do we make the bond?"
"Normally Qui Gon would, but I can do it because I'm bonded to him. I'll have to go into your mind." The boy nodded and looked him in the eyes. Obi Wan entered the boy's mind and created the base of the link then drew him through his own mind and into Qui Gon's. The man was no where in sight and both Jedi, for Anakin was now a Padawan retreated, exhausted. They stood shakily and Obi Wan lifted their master and limped out followed by Anakin.
Anakin couldn't remember ever feeling more tired than he was when he stumbled into the hanger pushing open the huge door. One of the pilots called for a medic and the three were rushed away to the infirmary. He thought he heard Obi Wan telling them not to separate them as he collapsed. He awoke to arguing voices and struggled to sit up be blinked when he realized where he was. In the infirmary on Naboo on the bed beside Qui Gon Jinn, his Jedi Master, he swallowed and realized that the voices had stopped and the people they belonged to were staring at him. He recognized Padme immediately and the black man was one of the Jedi masters from the council he knew.
"How are you Ani?" Padme asked coming close.
"I-" he croaked.
"Wait, let me get you some water." He gratefully took a couple of sips of water.
"I'm tired." She smiled sympathetically.
"I'm sure you are Ani. Master Windu says that your life force was severely drained." He bit his lip and glanced at the forbidding black man.
"Do you know what you did, young Skywalker?" Ani swallowed and nodded.
"Yessir." The man's gaze pushed him to enunciate what he had done. "I bonded myself to Qui Gon and gave him the energy he needed to survive."
"How?" Anakin blinked, he didn't want to get Obi Wan in trouble, but had no idea what to say. Padme took his pause for confusion.
"He doesn't know, he just woke up and probably doesn't remember it well, let him rest before interrogating him." The man frowned and opened his mouth when a moan came from the next bed. Obi Wan sat up, blinking.
"Master Windu?"
"Yes Padawan."
"Qui Gon!" he exclaimed suddenly alert. He glanced across to the bed on the other side of Anakin.
"Will live Padawan Kenobi." He relaxed slightly. "Do to the dual bonds." Obi Wan swallowed at the implied question and looked over at Anakin who shrugged.
"He was dieing and I begged the Force to help, that's when Anakin arrived. He said that Qui Gon must not die, and that was true. I felt it in the Force. I drew some of Anakin's strength and tied it to Qui Gon." The older Jedi gave him a measuring glance.
"Very well. Rest, young Padawans." Anakin blinked and turned to Obi Wan.
"Did he mean-"
"You? Of course, that bond makes you Que Gon's Padawan."
"Oh, what about-" Obi Wan cut him off with a shake of his head, the secondary bond to him ought not be mentioned. Anakin swallowed and changed what he was about to say, "the Council?" Obi wan sent a burst of approval at the younger boy.
"Mace Windu is on the Council, and he acknowledged the bond, there shouldn't be much of a problem." Anakin nodded his understanding. "Now get some rest."
"Good night Obi Wan, thank you." Anakin felt rather than saw Obi Wan's smile.
"Good night Anakin, you are most welcome."