Chapter 9: The Truth Denied
Obi-Wan quickly shook his head. "Master, are you feeling alright? You have me confused with someone else. I am not the Chosen One, Master. I am far from being that...that powerful or…or important. I'm not that special. I'm just…me."
"Obi-Wan, I know this is hard for you to grasp, but it is true," Qui-Gon said firmly. He knew Obi-Wan would automatically deny it. Obi-Wan would not want the title of 'Chosen One' be put on him. He wasn't sure he would be able to convince him that he was the Chosen One, especially not in one conversation. But Obi-Wan deserved to know the truth, rather or not he did deny it. "You are a lot stronger in the Force then you believe. I have seen it for years and felt it."
Obi-Wan shook his head again, more fiercely. "No, Master. I am not strong at all. I barely managed to save your life. I almost killed myself doing it. If I was as powerful as the Chosen One, something like that wouldn't have been so hard."
"Obi-Wan, listen to yourself." Qui-Gon moved closer to Obi-Wan, until his knees were touching his and placed his hands on either side of the younger man's cheeks. "You saved my life when I was far too gone to be saved, something that would have been nearly impossible for anyone else to do. I would not have survived if you weren't there. The wound was too great to be healed. You, also, changed the course of fate. The Force had to shift and change when it let me live. You made that possible. You have a much easier grasp on the Force then anyone I had ever seen, even when you were just thirteen years old. Search in yourself, young Padawan. What does the Force tell you?" He could clearly see that his Padawan was shaken and it hurt knowing he was the one that got Obi-Wan so off balance, but Obi-Wan needed to know. He had the right to know. Why? Why couldn't it have been anyone besides Obi-Wan? His heart felt heavy just thinking of his boy's future responsibilities. Obi-Wan did not deserve the life as the Chosen One. He should have a normal, happy life of a Jedi, negotiating a peace treaty on a planet not destroying the Sith.
Qui-Gon sighed when Obi-Wan didn't respond. He hadn't even moved, his eyes gazed distantly away from him. His face was hard, expressionless. "The injections you have been taking every month have something to do with this, little one. The liquid is some sort of solution that gives off an illusion that your Force signature is lower than it actually is. It is a way to hid you in plain view, to keep you safe from fallen Jedi's and the Sith. Yoda wanted to keep you, the Chosen One, safe from detection and let you live a normal life."
Much to his pain, Obi-Wan shook his hands off his cheeks and stood up. "I am not the Chosen One, Master!" he snapped. "I don't know why you are saying I am. I have much respect and love for you, Master, but…but I just can accept this. I am just an ordinary Jedi doing his duty for the Republic. Anakin is more equipped with the title and he is only a nine year old boy. For Force sake, he built a functional droid! At age nine! He is the first human to survive and win an actual podrace! He built his own podracer! I am not that…that..." He sighed in frustration. "There is nothing special about me!" There was a pause full of tension.
"Obi-Wan…" Qui-Gon said gently, realizing he was pushing his Padawan. "When we reach Coruscant, we can go see the Council. They can tell you more about it than myself and answer any questions. They know you are the Chosen One and..."
"Then they are wrong, too!" Obi-Wan snapped suddenly, interrupting Qui-Gon in mid-sentence. There was another brief moment of stunned silence. Obi-Wan looked bewildered; as if he couldn't believe he just said that and interrupted his Master. His eyes flickered around the room awkwardly before saying in a controlled tone, too controlled, "Now, if you excuse me, Master, I am going to go…talk to Skent."
Qui-Gon sighed and nodded his consent. They were far from being done with the conversation, but it was a lot of information to load on the younger man. The least Qui-Gon could do would be to allow Obi-Wan some time to think about it before pursuing the issue some more, if needs be. "You may go, Obi-Wan, but be back here before dinner. We'll walk down to the mess hall together." It was his way of making sure Obi-Wan ate something. If Qui-Gon was with him from the beginning to end, he would be able to keep an eye on the amount of food Obi-Wan puts in his mouth. Otherwise, after the conversation they just had, he was sure Obi-Wan would try his best not to put much food into his mouth.
He watched with a heavy heart as Obi-Wan left the room. He knew that he would return with his head bowed shamefully, asking for his forgiveness, but it didn't make it easier to know Obi-Wan felt it necessary to run from the conversation. Maybe it would be best not to see the Council on their return. There was no need to push the issue. Pushing it might threaten their relationship and that was the very last thing Qui-Gon wanted to do. If this one conversation pushed Obi-Wan to leave the room, he didn't want to know what will happen if he kept bringing up the topic.
Qui-Gon stood up, groaning when the bones in his knees cracked. He was getting old for this. It was moments like this he was glad he no longer had to chase after a young boy anymore. If he had ended up training Anakin, he had no idea how he would have done it. He had no clue how Yoda was going to do it. A youthful boy was a lot to handle for an old Jedi Master. He was suddenly glad that he didn't end up as Anakin's Master. Not to say he wouldn't have done it if he absolutely had to, but he was glad to have the calm, collected young man during moments when his age caught up with his bones.
Obi-Wan sat on top of Skent's temporary desk, his hands clinching the edge of the desk tightly as he thought about what his Master had told him. He came straight there after their little discussion and he had told Skent all about it, venting off like Skent was a Mind Healer or Bant. Now that he was done, all he could do was sit there, feeling utterly drained and wallowing in self-pity, hating himself for yelling at his Master. Skent had sat quietly through the whole thing, his hands folded over a datapad. He knew his medical record was on that datapad. Skent was once again assessing his state of health when he came barging into the infirmary. The actual Healer of the ship had left for the mess hall almost the moment he had entered the room, maybe sensing Obi-Wan's need to talk to a trusted friend alone.
He lifted his eyes from the white ground to gauge Skent's reaction. He didn't know what to expect. Skent ordering him to find Qui-Gon and send him to the Healer so he can determine if he was mentally sound or saying he shouldn't question his Master's authority? They were close enough guesses, but they didn't compare to Skent's actual reaction.
"What makes you think Qui-Gon is lying?" Skent asked calmly.
He shook his head. "I don't think he is intentionally lying to me! I believe he truly believes what he was telling me is the truth and that's what concerns me!"
"I see," Skent said with a nod. "And why can't it be the truth?" he asked.
Obi-Wan held back the groan. "Weren't you listening? I'm not strong enough, not powerful enough. I am not the Chosen One. I would know if I was, wouldn't I?" he asked rhetorically. "I'm just an average Jedi, doing average normal Jedi things."
"Is that what you are or what you want to be?"
Obi-Wan blinked in surprised, being unable to answer.
Skent shrugged his shoulders in a carefree way, not giving Obi-Wan time to answer. "Then continue to be an average normal Jedi. Don't try to change yourself or your views just because Qui-Gon says you are the Chosen One. Don't push yourself to try and please him by acting like you are more powerful then you actually are. Which…" he quickly said before Obi-Wan could protest. "…you are prone to do from time to time. No matter how many times you protest, Obi-Wan, you constantly seek Qui-Gon's approval and try to please him without seeing that he is already pleased with you. He wants you to be yourself." He paused as he gave Obi-Wan a look, challenging him to deny it. Obi-Wan wisely kept his mouth shut and Skent continued. "Prophesies are like visions, I believe," he said, getting right back on topic.
Obi-Wan gave him a curious look. "How?"
"The Force gives us visions for two reasons. One, so someone can change the course of the future, to make sure the vision doesn't happen. Or two, to prepare someone. They aren't meant to try and change it, but get mentally prepared for a death of a friend or a friend's sudden dangerous change of careers, etc. Most visions want to just prepare you. That is why when someone acts upon the vision, trying to change it, the mere fact they took action brought the vision to pass. Prophesies are like the same thing. Note, however, that there hadn't been many recorded prophesies and that I am going off my own assessment."
"Then, how do you think they are the same?" Obi-Wan asked again. He knew all about visions. He had had that lesson repeatedly from Yoda and Qui-Gon. Being more perceptive to the Unifying Force gave Obi-Wan many visions throughout his years and with it, came the lectures. However, he didn't know how they were the same thing as prophesies. Prophesies wasn't what he was familiar with, never being on the receiving end of one and, as Skent said, there hadn't been a lot of known prophesies over the years.
"True prophesies happen rather or not we are aware of them. You try and ignore a prophesy and it will end up coming true in the end anyways. You try and make the prophesy come true and it will. You might not even be aware there is a prophesy concerning an event or person and it will still come to pass. It has a habit of coming true no matter what you do, like a vision you aren't supposed to change. Keep in mind that it's my own assessment," Skent repeated as he leaned back in his chair. He shrugged his shoulders again. "Just don't fret about it, Obi-Wan. Just be yourself and don't let a prophesy burden your shoulders. If it is meant to happen it will. If you are the Chosen One then you are. If not, then you aren't. Don't let it bother you."
"Then why bother to tell me at all? That is if, if, I was the Chosen One, which I'm not. Why tell me if it won't change anything?" Obi-Wan asked. His hands started to relax their grip on the desk as the conversation continued.
"Would you rather he didn't tell you? Would you rather if he kept this belief to himself and not let you in?" Skent questioned back. "I mean, if you were the Chosen One, would you like to know that you were? Or would you rather if Qui-Gon kept this from you, a secret concerning yourself?"
Obi-Wan paused and thought about it before slowly shaking his head. "No. I would have liked to know, I suppose."
Skent nodded. "Good. Then, there is no reason for you to get snappy at your Master." Obi-Wan cringed as he remembered his attitude towards Qui-Gon. How will Qui-Gone ever forgive him for his attitude? Skent stood up and placed the datapad on the desk next to Obi-Wan. "Now, we were gone a lot longer than I thought we were going to be and, in the rush to get to Naboo, I left your injections at the Temple. I'm sure Qui-Gon has your spare with him?" he asked, changing the subject.
Obi-Wan nodded distantly, his mind still on what Qui-Gon and Skent told him. Qui-Gon was taught how to inject him years ago before they went on their first mission together. It was for cases where they were to be gone from the Temple for longer than a month. The reminder of the injection reminded Obi-Wan what Qui-Gon had just told him about it. For the first time in a very long time, Obi-Wan was tempted to ask Skent about it. But, the part that feared knowing the truth, prevent him from speaking out.
"You will need an injection real soon. Please make sure you inform him that you need it before we reach Coruscant when you go and speak to him." Skent gave him a look that said he better go speak to Qui-Gon now and apologize. Obi-Wan was planning on doing that anyway and hopped off the desk without complaint. "Don't worry, Obi-Wan. You know Qui-Gon just as well, maybe even better than I do. Do you really think he won't forgive you? I'm sure he understands and won't hold it against you."
Obi-Wan paused, realizing some of his fears must have broadcasted itself into the Force. "I know he most likely won't be angry, Skent, but…he might be disappointed in me. Disappointment is worst the anger. As a Jedi I shouldn't let my emotions…"
Skent placed a hand on his shoulder and Obi-Wan immediately stopped speaking. "Now I know you need to speak to him if you think he would be disappointed that you got a little snappy. You're still a Padawan, Obi-Wan, not a Jedi Master…"
"A Senior Padawan whose Master believes is ready for his Trials already," Obi-Wan interrupted. "This will make him think differently." He blinked as his own words came to him. Wasn't that what he wanted? To remain with his Master a little bit longer and not become the youngest Jedi Knight in the Order? He mentally shook his head. There was a difference between having a Master believe you are ready for the Trials and doing the Trials. He was proud of himself that Qui-Gon believed him to be ready, but that didn't mean he wanted to do the Trials so early. He didn't want Qui-Gon to believe he was too young or inexperienced to do anything on a mission. Having Qui-Gon believe he was ready would give him a more equal status with his Master. He would be trusted to do things.
"Even Jedi Masters lose their cool once and awhile, Obi-Wan. You cannot tell me you never saw Qui-Gon get a little snappy," Skent said. "Surely you have been there when Qui-Gon is arguing with the Council. Someone usually losses their cool there, rather it is Qui-Gon or one of the Council Members," he said with amusement. Obi-Wan chuckled quietly and nodded, remembering some past incidents. "And I know you were awake the time Qui-Gon was arguing with me all those years ago when you were sick with that alien stomach bug." Obi-Wan nodded again with a faint smile. "There are two people he usually loses his cool around, Council Members and, when it comes to your health, Healers," Skent said with a faint smile.
He then sighed, suddenly seeming really serious. He sat back down on the chair and glanced at Obi-Wan, who was still standing by the desk. He looked away. "And you didn't see him when we thought we lost you. When he thought he lost you," He mentioned solemnly. His eyes gazed over in remembrance. "Such despair and grief. Worst then when he lost Xanatos." Obi-Wan wanted to ask, but the look on Skents face made him keep silent. Skent shook his head and brought himself back to the present. "He cares for you, Obi-Wan, a lot. He is not going to let a little snappy attitude destroy your relationship with him."
Obi-Wan listened to his words. For the most part, he knew Skent was right, but that small insecure part of him was still nervous at seeing a disappointment look on Qui-Gon's face. The part of him that would always fear seeing disappointment or anger in his Master's eyes. He tried to smile, but wasn't sure he succeed. "Thank you, Skent."
"It's what I'm here for," Skent said with an affectionate smile. "Now, scat, Obi-Wan. You have a master to talk to."
Obi-Wan left the room and walked down the quite corridor. There was low lighting on this part of the ship, giving the corridor an eerie look. The corridor was dim, empty, and quiet. The only sounds were his own footsteps against the metal floor. There weren't many people on the ship. Those that were on-board were off doing their jobs, making the corridors silent. With the infirmary doors closed, he couldn't even hear Skent. It gave Obi-Wan a lonely feeling, a sense that he was the only one on the ship. The illogical part of his mind feared he was the only one there; that something happened to the crew and the two other passengers.
A fear he never had before, at least this strongly, took him by surprise. He stopped in the middle of the corridor, bracing himself against the wall with his hand. He breathed heavily; his heart started pounding rapidly, his mind rushing with unfounded possibilities of what could have happened to Qui-Gon and the crew. He knew he wasn't alone on the ship, but that illogical part was taking over once the seed was planted, growing to a full out panic. His legs shook and his hands shook as he tried to clear his head. He looked ahead but only seemed to see the long, lonely corridor stretch farther and farther away, becoming longer and longer. He closed his eyes before he became to dizzy. A sound passed his lips as he tensed. He tried to think logically, tried to let the Force fill him with relief, but it wasn't working. He was too tense, too frightened. He was panicking too much.
The Force…the training bond! He slammed down the mental shields he had put into place after his last discussion with Qui-Gon. He desperately searched for that light and strength brought to him by his bond with Qui-Gon. He found it easily enough. His Master wasn't far from him, maybe still in their sleeping quarters. He was still here. Obi-Wan wasn't alone. His Master sensed his desperate search and sent a feeling of reassurance and concern back to him. The warmth that filled Obi-Wan sent him sliding down the wall with relief. He sat there, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, focusing on the open bond. His breathing calmed, so did his heart rate. He sensed his Master quickly heading his away and he couldn't have been any gladder. He never thought he would possibly act that way, so illogically over a mere thing. He really was a weak Jedi. Certainly not the Chosen One as his Master believed.
"Obi-Wan!"
He heard the heavy footsteps of his Master rushing towards him and forced his suddenly tired eyes opened. Qui-Gon knelt down next to him, his face looked worried. "Master…" Obi-Wan sighed in relief. He felt much better now that Qui-Gon was with him physically as well as mentally. He leaned his forehead against the cool interior of the ship and closed his eyes again. It felt good; the coolness against his warm forehead. A hand touched his temple softly, comfortingly. It was only then that Obi-Wan faintly realized his forehead was a little damp with sweat.
"Obi-Wan, what's wrong? I felt your distress. What happened?" Qui-Gon asked softly in concern.
He opened his eyes and turned his head to face his Master. "It's nothing, Master. I apologize for upsetting you," he said as he struggled to gain some composure. He sat up. "It was childish, really, Master."
"Obi-Wan, what I felt from you was far from a childish feeling. Please tell me what bothered you."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "It really was nothing to be concerned about, Master." Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. He couldn't believe how childish and pitiful he felt right then. It was stupid and completely illogical. There were no facts supporting his misguided fear. He couldn't believe how pathetic he was. He was twenty-one years old, for Force sake. He was no longer a child needing someone to take care of him.
"Stop, Padawan!" Qui-Gon suddenly snapped. Obi-Wan jumped and glanced at him. His face was stern and there was a passionate fire in his eyes. "Stop calling yourself pathetic. You are far from being pathetic."
Confused how Qui-Gon knew he was thinking that, Obi-Wan checked his mental shields, only to realize in his haste to open up their bond again he had took down all of his shields, leaving him completely opened to any trained Force sensitive person to read his thoughts and feelings. He quickly put some of those shields back up and looked away from Qui-Gon.
"Obi-Wan, look at me." Obi-Wan kept his eyes down, feeling utterly ashamed and horrible. He didn't want to see the look on his Master's face. "Padawan, look at me," Qui-Gon ordered. Hearing the authority in Qui-Gon's voice, he slowly brought his eyes back up. Qui-Gon placed his hands on his cheeks and looked at him straight in the eye. "You are not pathetic. You have been through a lot, Obi-Wan. You are a strong young man. Now, tell me, little one, what happened? And don't tell me it was nothing," Qui-Gon said before Obi-Wan could get a single word out. "You are not, not nothing to me, little one. Whatever fears you have, I will never think of you as pathetic because of them nor for your reaction when facing your fears."
Obi-Wan looked up and down the corridor, remembering his thoughts and feelings when he realized how lonely it felt, that there were no one else around, that he couldn't feel his Master's presence. "It was quiet, Master," he whispered. "I stepped out of the infirmary and the door closed behind me. There wasn't any sound. I had closed our bond on my side and I couldn't feel you. There was no one around. I…I…" He looked down in shame.
Qui-Gon placed a hand under his chin and gently but firmly brought his head back up. "Don't be ashamed," he said softly.
Obi-Wan gave him, what he was sure was a pitiful look. "You weren't there and I…I panicked. I felt so…alone. I'm sorry, Master. I know it was childish and that I had overacted."
"Don't, Padawan. It wasn't childish." Qui-Gon sighed. "Come, little one." He grabbed Obi-Wan by the shoulders and pulled him into his embrace. His arms wrapped around the smaller young man's body. Obi-Wan felt the warmth of the hug fill his body. He closed his eyes and coiled into his Master's chest. His head lay just above Qui-Gon's heart, once again hearing the smoothing pounding sound of the heartbeat. He felt Qui-Gon's chin just above his head. "I'm not going anywhere, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon whispered from above. It sounded very much like a promise. It gave Obi-Wan comfort.
He heard the door of the Infirmary swished opened from somewhere behind him, but he didn't move from his spot, didn't even bother to open his eyes. He felt Qui-Gon's chin slid across his head as the older man looked over. He felt Qui-Gon's chin tap the top of his head as he mouthed a short conversation with Skent before the Infirmary door swooshed shut again.
"Come, little one. Let's get you to our quarters. We will forgo our meal just this once. It looks to me like you need rest more the food right now," Qui-Gon said as he helped him to his feet.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said absentmindedly, letting Qui-Gon support him.
Qui-Gon sat in the mess hall with a half-eaten plate of food in front of him. Skent was slurping away at his soup across the table, completely involved with it. The room was filled with chatter as the crew took their break for meal and talked and laughed with their fellow crewmates. Qui-Gon was seated away from the Naboo crew members, at the far corner wall in a position to see the whole room. He was hoping for time to ponder his thoughts, but then Skent sat down across from him, asking concerned questions about Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon had skillfully managed to sway Skent away from the topic without the Jedi Healer's notice and it wasn't long after that that Skent got distracted with his food, finally, leaving Qui-Gon to his thoughts.
His thoughts, understandably, centered completely on the young man currently sleeping in a Force seduce sleep in their quarters. Qui-Gon hadn't realize just how effected Obi-Wan was with the fight with the Sith and their close-to-death experience. It was a good thing the Council wouldn't Knight Obi-Wan just yet. Physically, Obi-Wan was getting better, healing extremely well and was back on his feet. Mentally, as Qui-Gon had just noticed, Obi-Wan was struggling to regain his balance. Nearly losing Qui-Gon had sparked a fear inside his young Padawan. It was the fear of being alone, being without his Master. Qui-Gon had no idea how to help Obi-Wan overcome the fear. Perhaps Obi-Wan should go to a Mind Healer, but his boy hated Healers of all sorts. Qui-Gon sighed inwardly and pushed the food around on his plate. However, Obi-Wan may not have a choice. A fear, like the one Obi-Wan had, must be overcome. It wasn't healthy in their job as Jedi. Perhaps Qui-Gon could request a month break without missions. He was sure the Council would grant him the request. He didn't ask that often and they, him and Obi-Wan, had been through a lot on this last mission.
"You never answered my question, Qui-Gon." Skent's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced up with an expressionless face. Skent had apparently finished his soup. With the distraction out of the way, he was back to the topic Qui-Gon had avoided earlier. "How is Obi-Wan? What happened in the corridor?"
Qui-Gon inwardly sighed, knowing he couldn't try to sway Skent away from the topic for the second time. He might even catch on to what Qui-Gon was doing if he tried to sway him. "Obi-Wan will be fine, Skent. He seemed to be more effected with the fight against the Sith then we thought. I am thinking he will have to see a Mind Healer when we get back to the Temple," he said somberly. The thought that his apprentice needed a Mind Healer weighed heavily on his mind.
"You truly think that would be necessary, Qui-Gon? You know how much Obi-Wan hates going to the Healers, a Mind Healer would be worse."
Qui-Gon nodded as he gazed out at the gossiping crew still in the mess hall. Most of the crew members were leaving, returning back to their stations, but there still lingered a few at a table or two. "Obi-Wan has developed a fear that would need to be…faced before going on another mission. It would be too dangerous otherwise," he said. "He panicked when he was alone and couldn't feel my presence," he answered Skent's unasked question.
Skent sighed. "I was afraid of that. You two have the strongest bond I have ever seen. I would say I was surprised earlier when Obi-Wan seemed to show no…" He paused as he searched for the words to say. "…no physiological effects of your bond almost being severed. I feared what would have happened if you truly did die. To have that strong of a bond being suddenly severed could cause physiological damage. Usually one wouldn't have a problem if the other didn't die, but, as I said, you two have the strongest bond in my lifetime. Almost dying, in your case, would have been enough to shaken the bond to a degree that the affects would have been present."
Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and nodded in thought. "I don't show any signs of being affected because of my age. Obi-Wan is much younger and more vulnerable." His guess was confirmed when Skent nodded. "Is there anything I can do for him now?"
"Be there for him, I suppose. Leave your bond open to him. Let him know you're there. I'm sorry. That's the best I can do. I'm a simple Healer not a Mind Healer," Skent said apologetically.
Qui-Gon smiled at him. "Your advice is sound, Skent, and I will make sure I follow it," he assured.
When Qui-Gon woke up the second day of their travel, Obi-Wan was already awake and trying to mediate. It didn't look like he was having much success. He was kneeling on the ground next to the sleeper with his eyes closed, but his face was pulled back in frustration. He sighed loudly and opened his eyes. Qui-Gon was sure it was the information he told Obi-Wan yesterday and Obi-Wan's newly found fear that kept him from being able to mediate properly. From personal experience, Qui-Gon knew how frustrating it was to find yourself unable to find peace in meditating. "It looks to me that you need help, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon asked as he rolled himself out of the sleeper and sat up.
Obi-Wan's eyes snapped to him. "Master! I didn't sense you were awake. Sorry." Qui-Gon was sure that if Obi-Wan hadn't been trained as a Jedi, his face would have flushed in embarrassment.
"It's alright, Obi-Wan. You looked preoccupied." Qui-Gon slid off the sleeper and knelt on the ground. He moved over to face his student. Obi-Wan averted his eyes. No doubt because of yesterday's mishap.
They faced each other for a tense silent moment before Obi-Wan spoke. "I'm sorry, Master, for yesterday. I didn't mean to show you any disrespect and I do appreciate you telling me what you believe to be true. However, I don't and can't accept it to be true. I deeply apologize for my attitude. Not agreeing with you shouldn't promote me to be disrespectful towards you," he said shamefully.
"Obi-Wan…" Qui-Gon waited until the younger man lifted his eyes up. He gave him a calm smile. "…I understand. I knew you wouldn't accept it. I had expected a reaction. There is no need to ask for forgiveness. However, if you want one anyway, little one, then you have it. I forgive you." He paused as he let Obi-Wan process his words. He waited for him to lift his eyes up. There was a light in his eyes that spoke of his gratitude for his Master's forgiveness. Qui-Gon smiled and patted Obi-Wan's knee. "Now, let me help you with your mediation," he said.
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said.
"I am your Master still, Obi-Wan. It is my job to help you through your mediation," he said with a smile as he took his hand off Obi-Wan's knee.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, Master. I mean it. Thank you for everything," he said, his face opened to his emotion. It showed his deep, sincere gratitude for everything Qui-Gon had done in his life, not just now, but for everything; his understanding, his patience, his calming presence, the strength in his words, his teachings, everything.
Qui-Gon wanted to tell him that there was no need to thank him, that he was completely willing to teach him and help him through any problems, that he would always forgive him, but he knew that wasn't want Obi-Wan needed to hear. Not at that moment. He smiled at his boy, now a very capable young man, with sincere love. "You are welcome, little one."