Yasona Black : You forgot? I was away a very long time! Sorry! I'm glad you're still reading :)
Just Jill : Sounds good to me...Obi-torture, yay! Thanks for reading :)
A.N. This is a short post, but I wanted to post it, so here it is!
Chapter 6: Echoes from aches
Qui-Gon was frenetic. He didn't know what was wrong with his apprentice, and didn't know what to do. He put a gentle hand on Obi-Wan's back and again, he felt that strange sensation of touching him, and yet grasping insubstantiality. He tried to soothe his Padawan, feeling incredibly helpless. Searching through the bond, Qui-Gon was only met by a barrier he could not cross. It was as if Obi-Wan's shields were so tightly closed that he couldn't even take a glimpse of what his Padawan was feeling. The Master studied him intently, trying to pull healing Force into the boy's body. He did not know what else to do.
Obi-Wan was clearly in pain. He was huddled on himself, lying across the floor and trying to be brave and not letting a sign of being assaulted by pain. And he was failing miserably. With his head still wrapped up in his hands, the tensed lines on his face still showed across his fingers, his contorted features were twisted in distress, his tensed muscles cruelly shaking in agony.
Qui-Gon tried to sooth him, but there was little to do. The pain was not physical. It was coming from elsewhere, attacking his very soul.
He saw the thigh grip of Obi-Wan's hand lessen a little. Slowly, the boy stopped moaning and lay almost motionless on the small starship's cold floor. Too motionless.
"Obi-Wan?"
Nothing.
"Obi-Wan??"
"M-Master?"
Relief flooded Qui-Gon at the sound of the small response.
"Yes Obi-Wan, it's me. What was it? What did you hear?"
"Voices. Voices crying in anguish and agony."
Obi-Wan shook his head as if to clear a remnant echo. He lifted his aquamarine eyes and met his Master's deep blue ones. They were troubled. Concerned. His Master was worried for him. Strangely, it made the boy feel safer. He closed his eyes again, letting this sudden weariness overcome him for a second. He wavered softly. The hand on his back steadied him.
"I could hear them, feel them…" There was a tremor in the boy's voice. It had been as if he had felt everything, all the anguish and suffering he had heard in the voices. It had overwhelmed his like a tidal wave, letting nothing but devastation behind.
"I feel so tired" He whispered quietly.
He felt himself being lifted. Everything seemed so fuzzy and unreal. He saw a bed, but before he could feel himself being lowered on it, his eyes rolled he saw nothing but a welcoming void.
Qui-Gon softly put his charge on the small bed he had been in a few minutes ago, and covered him gently with the still warm blankets. He kneeled beside the boy and arranged his braid almost unconsciously on his chest. He caressed the shimmering face with a loving hand. He realized now that he loved the boy more than anything else, and he would stay there as long as his Padawan would need him to be.
TBC