Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Trust and Mistrust

Slowly, Obi-Wan opened his red-rimmed eyes. The last thing he remembered-he winced as he thought of the word-was the man Duenna called Qui-Gon holding him and whispering that everything would be alright. Though Obi-Wan felt safe around the big man, he was not sure he could trust him with that fact. He did not see how anything could ever be all right again. He remembered nothing and no one. He could not even remember anything about himself. Everything was so frustrating. Carefully, he climbed out of the bed he had found himself in, and walked across the room to the door.

Peering out of the doorway, he saw Duenna and the big man talking to two more long armed people. Suddenly, he saw one of them reach a hand out towards Duenna. Without thinking, he raced across the room, and hit the unknown person in the stomach with all his might. And as a Jedi in training, that was quite a bit. The force of the blow knocked the man down to the ground where he lay, rubbing his abdomen. Duenna moved towards him and held out a hand to help him up. Strong arms wrapped around Obi-Wan's body and he began to push against them. He stopped when he heard the big man's quiet voice.

"It's alright, Obi-Wan. Guerra was not trying to hurt Duenna. I would not let anyone hurt her, or you. Not ever again."

"He's right, Obi-Wan. I'm alright. Guerra would never hurt me. He is my son, as is Paxxi." She waved her hand towards the other stranger. "They are your friends, Obi-Wan. They have been worried about you." Obi-Wan turned his head and looked up at the big man, searching to see if this was true. He nodded. Slowly, Obi-Wan's body began to relax. He looked up at the now standing man, and lowered his head. He felt so bad. He had hurt a man who was his friend; he just could not remember that he was. But he did not know what to say or if there were even words to describe how he felt. The big man must have realized this.

"I know you feel sorry for what happened, Obi-Wan. Just tell Guerra you are sorry." The empty blue eyes stared up at him, then back at Guerra. In a small voice, the boy apologized.

"Mace, I want a shuttle out here now! I want Obi-Wan off this planet as fast as possible, and back at Coruscant so the Temple Healers can help him." The dark-skinned Jedi sighed.

"I know, Qui and I'm doing all I can. But you are needed on Phindar too."

"Don't give me that" Qui-Gon ended the sentence with a word Obi-Wan would hopefully never hear come from his mouth. "They need a Jedi team, and right now Obi-Wan and I are anything but. He still doesn't really trust me." Qui-Gon's angry words petered out and he sighed. The words he spoke were full of fear and a sadness so deep, it caused Windu's heart to break. "He still runs to Duenna when he is afraid. He lets me touch him, which is more then Guerra or Paxxi can do. But he won't trust me. He won't even call me by my name. He knew my name, he remembered it. But he can't remember me as Qui-Gon." The tall Jedi did not even try to stop the flow of tears cascading down his rugged cheeks. "Mace, please." He could not say anymore, and he did not have to.

"Qui, I'll send Adi out there and come myself to bring you and Obi-Wan back to the temple. You're right. You both need to come back." Qui-Gon nodded his thanks, as he was unable to speak at the moment. When he was finally able to speak he acknowledged the information.

"We'll be ready."

Over the next four days, Qui-Gon tried everything he could to get Obi-Wan to trust him. He was always careful around him, knowing that any sudden movements could hurt rather then help. Duenna also tried by easing away from Obi-Wan, but to no avail. Obi-Wan still held tightly to her and kept the big man who always seemed to be around now at arm's length. It all came to a head on the fourth day.

Qui-Gon had spent a little bit of his time with the police force, helping them prepare to send Baftu to the Senate. Phindar had belonged to the Senate before the take over by the Syndicat, and had never officially been removed. The provisional Phindian government had asked the Senate if Baftu could be tried in the Senate's courts on Coruscant. Even after all of the horrific things Baftu had done to the planet, the people still wanted justice; not revenge. There was no hope of getting a fair trial for him on the planet, so the Senate had agreed to hold it in their neutral setting. Another transport was traveling with the Jedi shuttle, and would be escorted by them on their return. Qui-Gon was unhappy about this; he did not want that…man to be anywhere near his Padawan. At least he would be on separate ship. There was that. Qui-Gon was walking down to the holding cell area, as paper work had to be finished that day. When he arrived, fear touched his heart. The guards were sprawled on the ground, uniforms smoking.

Running into the head of security's office, he found him slumped over his desk, blood running from a cut on his forehead. The Jedi Master grasped him by the shoulders and leaned him back in his chair.

"Timor, Timor, wake up!" Resting one of his large hands on the unconscious man's forehead, he concentrated on the Force and sent a tendril of it into the brain, causing the man to wake up with a groan.

"Jedi-Gon, Baftu…Baftu has escaped!"

Master Jinn took the stairs three at a time. All he could think of was reaching his Padawan. Who he had left in their rooms this afternoon. Reaching to door into the rooms, he palmed it opened. The sight that greeted him broke his heart. There was Baftu, holding his Padawan tightly against him with his arm and pressing a knife to his throat with the other. Obi-Wan's shocking blue eyes were wide with fright, and his breathing was made of short, fearful gasps.

"One more step Jedi, and I will slit his throat." Qui-Gon's eyes, though they seemed to stay focused on Baftu, slid down to look at Obi-Wan. The boy was staring at him, his blank eyes begging him for help. A tremor ran through the young body, causing the boy's neck to graze the knife's sharp edge. Quickly, the boy pulled back, away from the knife, towards Baftu. The Jedi Master stared at the single drop of blood that gathered and fell softly down to Obi-Wan's tan tunic. No matter what, he would not allow Baftu to take his apprentice.

"What do you want?"

"I want to leave this planet unhindered. I'm not asking for your promise not to follow me, because with this one to keep me company," here he shook the boy slightly with the arm wrapped around the boy's upper chest, "I know you won't do anything to…cause him to be harm." Qui-Gon's eyes became mere slits as he glared at the ex-dictator.

"You harm one hair on his head…"

"Don't be so cliché, Jedi. He won't be harmed…if you do exactly as I tell you."

Several minutes later, they had reached the landing platform. During the walk, Qui-Gon had sent thoughts of peace, calm, and safety through the small bond he had with Obi-Wan. At first, the boy had tensed and looked at him with a greater fear. But slowly, he relaxed and whenever Qui-Gon would send another, he would seek his eyes and nod. Qui-Gon was proud. His Padawan was taking this much better then he had thought he would. His thoughts were interrupted with a touch in his mind.

/Mace/

/Qui. We can see you from the ship. We are directly behind the three of you…is that Obi-Wan Baftu is threatening/

/Yes! Please, help. I won't let him take my Padawan Mace. Obi-Wan would die, he wouldn't be able to take it./

/Adi and I are here and we're making our way behind him. If we cause a disturbance, could you grab Obi-Wan before…before Baftu hurts him/

/I have to./

"Now Jedi, my friend and I are going to take that shuttle over there and leave this place. If you let me go and don't attempt to track me, I will send you a message giving you the whereabouts of your Padawan. If you try anything…" Suddenly, a huge crash was heard behind them, and Baftu half turned to see what had happened. Qui-Gon, without a thought, Force-pushed his Padawan out of his arms. But Baftu was quicker then he believed, as the thin, bloody line across his apprentice's throat attested. Adi and Mace ran over and quickly subdued the ex-dictator, while Qui-Gon knelt next to his Padawan.

"Obi-Wan? Obi…" His words were cut off by the boy throwing himself in his arms.

"Qui-Gon." The word was whispered, but everyone could hear the pain, fear, yet trust behind it. Qui-Gon sighed. Trust had finally been built between them.

Sigh! I'm evil, but at lease it ended nice! Enjoy...more to follow soon.