Summary:: AU-About 2 years after PTM. Obi-wan is having to deal without his Master, who is still alive, and training Anakin.

Disclaimer:: I don't own StarWars, I'm not getting money off of this.

Special Thanks to:: red_rose_knight, and CYNICAL21 for writing such great fan fics! You guys allowed me to get my mind into gear about writing. Hopefully this will be somewhat of good quality.

" text " = normal/verbal talking
italics = flashbacks
'text' = talking through a bond/force communication.
*text* = emphasized words

Notes:: Sorry for such a late post. I know how much it bothers people when it takes people to update their stories. ~_~;; I'll try not to do that again.

Dead Ringer

"I tried to drown my past in grey
I never wanna feel more pain
Ran away from you without saying any words" - Art of Life, X-Japan

Chapter Four :: The Pain of Memories

He stared at the ceiling for what could have been hours. Obi-wan was laying down on his sleep couch, most of his blanket was carefully gathered under his right shoulder using it to relive some of the pain that had dissolved to a dull throb.

He didn't get much sleep the night before, and so most of the night he was slowly force healing the now minor gash on his neck.

His shoulder was a different story.

Bant had managed to fuse the bone back together just enough to were it wouldn't bother him too much. But that didn't stop the scream from the nerve endings.

A quite chirp filled the room, along with the small flash of the green light.

"Go away." he muttered to no one.

The chirp persisted.

Obi-wan heaved a heavy sigh, and the defeated Knight got up.

"I'm coming. I'm coming."

"Knight Kenobi." he stated only turning on the audio communication.

"Did I wake you up?" The voice belonged to no other then Zhu.

"Not really." and as to undermine his own statement a yawn over came him.

"uh huh...don't forget you need to come in so we can check those wounds of yours."

"Believe me, between you and Bant, I won't be allowed to forget."

"Good. I was thinking about placing halo messages all over your apartment."

"Thanks but no thanks."

"Oh yes. I have one more question." Even without the view screen engaged Obi-wan could see a devilish grin forming on his friends face.

"My padawan wants to know if you sleep in the nude."

"MASTER!" the horrified cry of Zhu's padawan came blaring through the unit. Zhu's laughter flooded through as soon as the cry was finished.

"You should of had the view screen on! The look on her face was priceless!"

"Sometimes I wonder what the Council was thinking when they allowed you, of all Jedi, to have a padawan." he managed to stifle his own laughter.

"They weren't thinking!" shot back a retort in the background of Zhu's laughter.

"Be nice to Jace, she's a good girl." Obi-wan chuckled slightly.

"Are we talking about the same girl here?"

"Yes"

"So, Do you?" The Healers voice was dripping with mischief.

"Do I what?"

"Sleep in the buff?" he pressed the question again.

"NO! now go away!"

A rich laughter started back up, and the young Knight could only shake his head.

"Don't forget your appointment."

"I won't." another yawn nearly intercepted his words.

"Okay. Navari Out."

Obi-wan turned off the comm unit, a smile still hinting at his features. Sometimes he wondered if he was lucky or cursed to have the friends he did. Bant and Zhu were always picking on him. He knew that they cared about him, but sometimes he thought their only mission in life was to give him grief. Garren had always managed to get them both in trouble, but then again they always did have fun. Memories started to flood back to him, he remember them all as one, not just moment by moment. They were all so happy, so much acceptance, so much pride. The hint of the smile faded away, leaving a melancholy shine in his eyes.

It was so painful. His heart convulsed nauseatingly, and he quickly squashed the memories that had been his past. He wanted to forget about all of it, as none of it had ever happened. It wouldn't be painful anymore if he forgot those times, those times when he was happy. The past didn't matter, it was what you did in the future.

But no matter how much he wanted to believe, he couldn't. His eyes drifted to the small desk near by, to small plain box. He knew he couldn't believe, couldn't forget. He moved to the desk, his hand reaching down to the box, but stopped. There his hand wavered, unsure if he wanted to. It would only bring back more painful memories. He didn't want that.

With a new focus, and a stiff lip he turned around gathering his clothing and retreated to the refresher. He would never again open that box. Never again gaze on the smooth stone that laid snuggly inside.

Obi-wan had finally made it to the Mess hall. He had stopped to talk to several people on the way, and each face beamed when he approached. He couldn't tell why they were so happy to see him, and it seemed as if everyone wanted a piece of his time.

His empty stomach was not very happy with all the delays he had been force to endure to get here.

"Kenobi!" A voice to sweet to be anyone else but Jace's. He found her waving from the other side of the cafeteria. He nodded in her direction and went to get his food, then made his way to the table were she sat.

"Padawan Priori." Obi-wan made his voice sound as stern as possible. Jace Priori was Zhu's 18 year old padawan. Thick locks of brown hair were kept up in a neat bun, the padawan braid that hung from behind her right ear was nearly 2 feet long. Jace was often teased by people for having a band of freckles that stretched from cheek to cheek on her face. The freckles suddenly disappeared under a shade of red, and she gave him a nervous smile.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were lost somewhere along the way. Her mouth clamped shut and she dropped her face into her hands.

A first he thought she was sobbing quietly, but soon it was all to clear that she was giggling madly. The Knight started to laugh as well, whole heartily. There had been no words exchanged but everything that had to be said, they did with laughter.

Jace finally managed to get her giggles under control, wiping the tears from her hazel eyes.

"By the Force! I can't believe he asked you that." Her laughter kept coming back in bursts as she remembered that little scene from before.

"Your Master has no shame. I thought you would of learned that by now." He crumpled his own laughter enough to start eating.

"I should of. But he keeps surprising me." She took a sip of her drink.

Obi-wan glanced around huge room, unsure of who exactly he was looking for. But he had an ideal. He was searching for that one face that held that cold blue gaze. When he found no such match, he let his breath out.

"Knight Kenobi." A low voice called from his left.

"Padaw..." He stopped as he turned to fully look at the owner of the voice. His eyes quickly noticed the missing Padawan braid. "I mean, Knight Cammali"

The grin on the new Knight's face was ear to ear. "How you been?" Luca Cammali crossed the end of the table, taking a seat across from the two.

"I've seen better days. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there for your Knighting. The Council has a knack for sending me out on missions when I've been invited to important events." His voice held an elegant hint of amusement.

"Yeah I heard. Did you really get hit by a Slug Thrower?" He already knew the answer but wanted it to be confirmed.

Obi-wan motioned to his shoulder and neck. "Unfortunately. I had not expected it, not in a thousand lifetimes."

"Well I hope they heal real quick. You owe me a match for not being at my Knighting."

"Deal." Obi-wan swallowed quickly.

"I have to get back to the Healers Ward." Jace announced as she stood up, with her tray.

"I'm going that way too. I'll walk you." Luca jumped up from his seat.

"Your going to the Ward? Why?" Jace quirked one of her slender eyebrows.

"Yeah I think I'm sick." He confessed.

"Sick?" The Padawan Healer looked even more confused then before. She dumped the plate into the trash, placing the trey on the side with all the other.

"Lovesick!" The newly appointed Knight, placed his hand over his heart, giving his best puppy dog eyes.

Obi-wan had watched them, sitting quietly in his seat sipping his tea.

Jace looked stunned for a moment, then started another giggle fit. "You idiot.." She barely managed to get out and then left, Luca following behind like a lost puppy.

A smile cracked on his lips. Now matter how much time went by...

...some things never change.