Chapter 2
A vision? Qui-Gon knew very well that Obi-Wan suffered from nightmares/visions. He had been having them since before Qui-Gon knew him. Qui-Gon was used to having to calm him down afterwards, if it had been particularly bad. Although as he got older, he got better at dealing with them himself. As it seemed he was getting them less often as well, but Qui-Gon wasn't entirely sure whether that was true or whether Obi-Wan was just hiding them from him. Qui-Gon had never had a vision, at least not the same way Obi-Wan did, but he could tell that it wasn't something to envy. Visions were glimpses into possible futures, but the future is everchanging and Qui-Gon didn't really believe in acting based on visions of things that might not even happen. 'You should focus on the here and now', that's what Qui-Gon has been trying to teach Obi-Wan for years. Qui-Gon never underestimated how much emotional stress and even pain came with the visions Obi-Wan had though.
This vision however, was on a whole new level.
"How could a vision do this to him?" Qui-Gon asked. "Perhaps we should take this outside?" Mace suggested, pulling Qui-Gon from his bewilderment. Yoda nodded in agreement. Qui-Gon however was reluctant to leave his Padawan. "Qui-Gon there's nothing you can do for him now." Mace said. Studying his friend carefully he added "We need to find you a healer, you look terrible." Qui-Gon wanted to disagree but Yoda was only a blurry green blob and he was seeing two of them. Reluctantly he let Mace help him to the room next-door as Yoda left to find a healer.
Mace and Yoda took a seat in Qui-Gon's room as the healer examined the Jedi Master. "running through the halls like that was heedless" the healer said with a shake of his head. "You need rest. If you so much as stand up, I will personally tie you to this bed." He added, knowing full well that Qui-Gon wouldn't listen. Throwing him a last warning look, he turned to the two Jedi Masters sitting on his left. "I understand you have questions for Master Jinn..." "We won't take long" Mace interrupted, knowing what the healer was going to say. "Thank you" the healer said bowing his head to the Masters before leaving them to talk.
"A vision has never done anything close to this to him before" Qui-Gon stated without giving Yoda or Mace the chance to ask him a question first. His Padawan was in a coma next-door and he wanted answers. Both Mace and Qui-Gon looked at Yoda expectantly. Yoda closed his eyes in thought "clouded Kenobi's mind is. See what caused this, I cannot." "You're sure it was a vision?" Qui-Gon asked. Yoda threw him an accusing look "hmpf, know what of having visions, do you Master Jinn?" he said challengingly. "My apologies Master Yoda" Qui-Gon replied regretfully.
"Qui-Gon, what do you remember?" Mace interjected. Qui-Gon pinched the bridge of hid nose in thought. "I don't know. When we returned from Dantooine he seemed fine, he was exhausted but so was I…" Mace and Yoda shared a look but didn't interrupt so Qui-Gon continued. "I was awoken by a sudden burst of pain, it took me awhile to realised it had come from Obi-Wan. I immediately hurried to his room. The pain, the… sorrow, it was so strong I could barely shield myself from it. When I finally reached him, I was thrown back by a massive force wave… The next thing I knew, I was on the floor next to Mace…" "So, Obi-Wan threw you against the wall?" Mace asked surprised. Qui-Gon frowned "I'm not sure he meant to…" "Hmm, say anything did he?" Qui-Gon shook his head lightly, feeling the dull pain protesting against the movement.
There was silence for a while before Yoda finally spoke. "Leave you to rest, we should" he then hopped of the chair he was sitting on and Mace stood up in response. "Wait. What about Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon exclaimed. "I fear his fate is in someone else's hands. Get some rest Qui-Gon." Mace said before he and Yoda left the room.
. . .
It had been a week now since Obi-Wan fell into a coma. And as he had done every day since then, Qui-Gon arrived at Obi-Wan's room at almost exactly 4 pm. He entered the room with his usual greeting, "still sleeping I see" and smiled sadly as he took his usual seat next to Obi-Wan's bed. He turned his datapad on and sighed "The council is keeping me busy. This is your fault you know. They're trying to keep me distracted…" he looked up and couldn't help letting his hand gently stroke Obi-Wan's short ginger hair. He could practically hear Obi-Wan complain, 'Master, I'm not a child'. He smiled at the thought. "I miss you Obi-Wan, please wake up" he whispered, hoping Obi-Wan would hear him.
Qui-Gon let his hand glide down the thin braid behind Obi-Wan's ear. "You're so close Padawan, don't give up now." Pulling his gaze away, he turned his attention to the work the council had given him to do. Occasionally he would ask Obi-Wan a question he knew he wouldn't answer, but every time he would look up at the still form of his Padawan as if expecting one anyway.
"I thought I might find you here." Qui-Gon turned to face the man standing in the doorway. "Mace. What can I help you with?" he asked kindly. "I'm afraid I'm here on council business"
. . .
Qui-Gon walked down the hall on his way to the healer's wing, as he did at that time every day. "Qui-Gon" he heard, followed by the sound of rushed footsteps. He turned to see who was calling and found Mace Windu walking towards him. "Mace, can this wait?" He asked, determined to reach the healer's wing at his usual time. Mace however shook his head "I'm afraid not" Qui-Gon sighed "what is it?" "You missed another council meeting" Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, he should've known that Mace would come to him about that sooner or later. "Qui-Gon, we all understand how hard this is for you, but…" Qui-Gon held his hand up to stop Mace midsentence. "No, you don't understand. I refuse to think about it, never mind discuss it with the council, I told you that the first time you asked me" "Qui-Gon you have to, even if it's just with Master Yoda and me, but you have to talk to us… the first time I approached you it had only been a week, I respected that you weren't ready, but Qui-Gon that was almost 2 weeks ago now... We have to prepare for the worst." Qui-Gon shook his head "No, 3 weeks isn't that long. He will wake up and everything will be fine" he said, sounding more convinced than he felt. Because in all honesty he couldn't stop thinking about the worst scenarios. What if Obi-Wan didn't wake up? What if he does wake up but isn't the same?
The healers had warned him that whatever caused the coma could've done more damage than they originally thought. But in his famed stubbornness he refused to believe that. The council however was very much concerned. They had been pressing for Qui-Gon to discuss what he would do if Obi-Wan had any number of psychological problems. To his annoyance though he knew they were preparing for the scenario where Obi-Wan doesn't wake up at all.
Mace looked unconvinced and opened his mouth to say something, but Qui-Gon had had enough. He turned on the spot and continued his walk to the healer's wing. Mace, who was unwilling to give up, followed him. "Damn your stubbornness Qui-Gon!" Mace exclaimed. "You're being selfish! If he wakes up…" "when he wakes up" Qui-Gon corrected. Mace sighed "what will you do if he does have a problem Qui-Gon? You need to be prepared, because that boy will need all the help and support from you as he can get. What he doesn't need is you denying there's something wrong until the bitter end!" Qui-Gon finally stopped walking and turned in annoyance "You really think I don't know that?" Mace folded his arms but didn't answer. Qui-Gon took a deep breath "I know there's a chance… Of course I have been thinking about it. And I will be there for him, no matter what he needs Mace. You should know that. What I do not need, is the council discussing this as if he's already lost!" Qui-Gon turned on his heels and kept walking.
When they finally reached Obi-Wan's room Qui-Gon was annoyed to see that he was 20 minutes later than usual. Ignoring Mace, who was still following him, he opened the door ready to enter, but rather than offering his usual greeting and taking a seat, he simply froze where he stood.
"You're late"
