~Well, here's a new chap, explaining partially what had happened before, and why they are in a cave. Thanks for the reviewers, and enjoy!

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Chapter 2. As Lightning strikes

A blinding light flash accompanied by a thunderous Bang struck a tree not too far from the cave
Obi-Wan awoke with a start, hand already gripping his lightsaber.

"Calm down, Obi-Wan, it's only lightning." said a calm voice behind him.

He turned quickly, looking at his Master, who had also awoken from the sudden noise, but hadn't reached out for his lightsaber.

He loosened up, and tried to see anything through the storm. The tree was blackened, and split up, but the rain had prevented it from catching fire.

"You're right Master" he said, now fully convinced they were safe.

Qui-Gon turned, and let out a soft grunt when he tried to shift.

Obi-Wan quickly went to his Master, helping him to get up.

"Are you alright? Your arm-

"Hasn't improved, yes. I'm afraid it's rather useless right now. It won't heal without more Bacta and a trip to the healers, and we have not much. We have to spare it for Miriam." he said, looking at the woman, who laid on a make-shift bed, next to her husband, Stephen, both still soundly sleeping.

Obi-Wan frowned, looking at his Master's left arm, who was in a make-shift sling. Qui-Gon had been hit by blaster fire when they tried to escape from their not so friendly followers.

He remembered…

….…They ran through the dense forest, trying to avoid the blaster fire, which was aimed at them. While running, he deflected the fire, not only for himself, but also for his Master, Stephen and Miriam.

They had helped them on their mission, and paid now dearly for that. Miriam was pregnant, and couldn't run, so Qui-Gon had to carry her, since her husband wasn't strong enough to ran the whole way, with his wife. He looked at Stephen, while returning a blast back to its shooter.

"Stephen, at your left!" he yelled, seeing a man sneaking up on his friend.

Stephen quickly turned, and shot the man down with his own blaster, then he ran to Obi-Wan.

"How many are there left?" he replied, frantically looking around, while they ran further into the dark forest.

Obi-Wan felt the Force around him, telling him that there were too many to fight.

"Too many, we must find cover, now!"

Then he heard his Master's call for help through their bond, and he quickly sprinted to his Master, who was ahead. At least, that was moments ago.

The moment he realized that his Master had fallen behind, he felt a sharp pain through their Bond, and he heard a pained yell.

He turned around , and saw that his Master and Miriam had fallen, his Master clutching his left arm, and trying to protect them both with his lightsaber.

He dashed to his Master, a horrible feeling of failing to protect him, making his stomach turn.
He kneeled next to his Master, felling the Force urge them to stand up. He pulled Qui-Gon up, and saw the wound in a quick glance. He felt bile rise up. Between the layers of scorched cloth, a chuck of the arm missed. Blood flooded out, spilling on to the ground. His Master tried to block him from the pain, but his face said enough.

Stephen had picked up his wife, yelling at them they had to move further.

The noise of blaster fire came closer and closer, and they had to go.

Once Obi-Wan realized this, he guided his wounded Master, easing the pain with the Force, and they ran further.

He looked back, and saw a man. If they wouldn't find a hiding place, they would be captured soon. Or worse… He felt desperation rise. They had been in situations like this before, but then they knew where to go. Now they didn't.

Suddenly, he felt the Force pulling at him. He quickly let himself being drawn into it, and felt the Force guiding him. He sprinted forward, and motioned the others to follow him.
being let by the Force, they ran on, and on.

Then he saw it. A cave, hidden between bushes and trees. If not for the Force, he wouldn't have seen it.

He felt relieved joy flare up, and yelled to the others. They looked surprised, and Stephen gave him a lopsided smile. He stopped, letting the other pass him, so that he could protect him from the back now they knew were the cave was. They ran the last few meters, and when they were all in the cave, he staggered and fell down.
Then his Master touched him. He turned around, and his eyes widened. His Master had put a trembling finger on his mouth, motioning them to be silent.

But that wasn't what had shocked him;

Qui-Gon was as white as a sheet, and he trembled. His Master clutched his wounded arm, eyes closed.

He wanted t help, but was stopped by Stephen who pointed outside. They heard noise and yelling coming closer. He felt his heart clench. Their followers… They couldn't be seen now…

The noise neared awfully close, and then it passed them. They felt the ground tremble underneath the footsteps. When they were gone, Obi-Wan felt a shudder pass through him.

His master had opened his eyes. Obi-Wan saw to his horror that they weren't the sparkling midnight blue as normal, but clouded in pain.

He quickly went to his Master, whispering to him he would help him.

His master only nodded, and reached out for Obi-Wan, to see his arm. It looked very bad: Blood was still flooding at the gaping wound, and it wouldn't stop doing so unless the wound would be closed.
He carefully removed the burned cloth, hearing his Master letting out a pained breath. It needed to be brought to the healers, but that wasn't an option now.
The blood would go through the bandage, it wouldn't hold it, the wound was just too large. And Bacta only wouldn't be enough. The blood had to coagulate. Now.

He only saw one option to do so.

-I need to burn the wound with my lightsaber in order to close it-, he thought, and he felt his throat tighten at the idea. Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and saw his Master, eyes saying everything he needed to know.

He took his lightsaber, and turned it on. The blue hue hummed. His Master offered his wounded arm , and looked the other way out. Obi-Wan felt with a pang that his Master trusted him completely. Once, he would have done everything to feel that way, but now he wasn't sure of that.

Obi-Wan laid the arm down, and took a deep breath.
He held his lightsaber as steady as possible, and brought it close to the wound. He immediately saw the edges being molded together, and smoke came out of the wound, together with the sickening smell of burnt flesh.

While he slowly secured the wound, he felt his Master's pain through their Bond. Although Qui-Gon tried to shield him from it, it didn't work completely. He went on, ignoring the feeling, and his Master's ragged breath and gasps.

When he was done, and there leaked no blood out any longer, he placed his lightsaber on his belt.
He fished a Bacta patch out of his utility belt, and placed it on the wounded arm.
He reached out for another patch, but Qui-Gon stopped him, shaking his head weakly. Obi-Wan frowned, asking the question without speaking.
His Master opened his mouth, and said with a rough voice;

"We.. have to spare the Bacta we have, Padawan. Miriam will need it..."

He felt a flash of annoyance, but his Master laid his right hand on his own, squeezing it softly in reassurance.

"I'll be fine. You did a good job on it. It needs to be bandaged now. Could you do so?"

Obi-Wan felt ashamed for his feeling, but Qui-Gon squeezed his hand again.

He took the bandage out of his belt, and placed it on Qui-Gon's arm. When he was satisfied with the result, he ripped a large piece of his own robe, folding it so, that it could go on as a sling. He placed that also on his Master, and then looked. It wasn't perfect, but enough to hold on.
Qui-Gon looked also better, he had regained a bit of his color.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan. You did very well. Although it does needs to be brought to the healers, I'm afraid." Qui-Gon cracked a smile, knowing that his Padawan held a very un-Jedi like grudge against the healers.

Obi-wan flashed him a weak smile before responding:

"At least this time, it's not me.. Although I'd have preferred so. It's my fault you're hurt…" he murmured the last bit

His Master answered sharply, surprising Obi-Wan.

"It is not your fault, Padawan. It was chaos, and we were all confused. You only reacted as everyone would have. It was my own fault, I didn't rely on the Force enough."

Then he softened, and gently took Obi-Wan's chin, and lifted it up, so that he and Obi-Wan locked eyes. Obi-Wan only saw gentleness, trust and love. He didn't deserve all of it after what he'd done.

"A Padawan needs to protect its Master…" he whispered, unable to look at Qui-Gon.

"And you did so. While I was running, you shielded me from all the blasts."

"Except for one…."

"Yes, and that was only because you saved Stephen's life, Padawan."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth for a denying answer, but his Master put a finger on his lip.

"I'm very proud of you, Obi-Wan. Never doubt that. And now, we need to help Stephen and Miriam. We aren't done yet." he said, looking at their friends.

His Master stood up, wavering a bit from the blood loss, and he grabbed Obi-Wan's shoulder for support. Together they walked to Stephen, who had made a make-shift bed for his pregnant wife.

Stephen looked concerned at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, but Qui-Gon smiled, a sign that he was alright.
Stephen smiled back in relief, and then looked at his wife, who was now sleeping. He rearranged the blankets, and then said;

"Well, this should do it. "

Then an idea suddenly sprang into Obi-Wan's mind

"Master! Our comlinks! We can make a call!"

But his Master shook his head.

"I'm afraid not so, Padawan. Don't forget they could trace us with that."

Obi-Wan sunk down disappointed.

Then, to Obi-Wan's horror, his stomach made a loud, rumbling noise. He blushed furiously, while his Master and Stephen laughed cheerfully.

Still snickering, Stephen said;

"Well, it seems I'm not the only one with a hungry stomach. Let's make us some food."

His Master's eyes still twinkled with mirth, when they sat down.

"Well, since the weather has only became more worse, I'm afraid we'll have to do it with our ration bars" he said while he and Obi-wan took out their rations, sharing them with Stephen, who laid some apart for his wife.

Obi-Wan had stood up, gathered the twigs which laid in the cave, and made a small fire.
While they sat there, silently eating, they knew this was only the beginning of their haphazard escape, and that they still were on the run… ~~~~

"…Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan!"

His head snapped up. His Master looked curious at him, eyes sparkling.

"Were where your thoughts, Padawan?"

Obi-Wan smiled.

"Were it all started, Master."

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~Well, I think this explains it quite well. Not enough, since you still don't know what went wrong, and why they were on that mission. And Miriam, of course. You'll also find out who Stephen and Miriam are. Anyway, thanks for reading, and please review!~