DISCLAIMER: *cuts the Ring off of Sauron's hand* Haha! I have finally regained my One Ring of Unlimited Copyright Privileges, hereafter called the ORCUP, because I like acronyms and ORCUP sounds better than ORUCP (or maybe I'll just call it the Ring...) and- *Cin Drallig tackles me and runs off with the Ring* HEY!

I think Cin might be mad at me. I wonder why... *ponders* In any case, he now owns Star Wars and I don't. *sighs*

Warning: This chapter contains high doses of Master-angst, Master-Padawan fluffiness and may result in the overwhelming need for readers to use up a packet of tissues bawling, eat copious amounts of chocolate and/or hug something fluffy. Viewer discretion is advised.

************

He hadn't moved from his place at his Padawan's side for hours. Much of that time had been spent in meditation, and once he had even dozed off, only waking up when he felt himself nearly fall off the bed where he was sitting. But his focus always returned to his tiny, hurt apprentice. Across the room, he could sense Qui-Gon reacting in a similar fashion to Obi-Wan.

Cin reached forward and gently caressed the unhurt side of Zara's face with his thumb, for what felt like the thousandth time since she had been removed from the bacta tank. He had to be particularly careful over the bruises and abrasions that marred the girl's otherwise pale skin. Her breathing was still slightly laboured. Cin knew she would hurt when she woke up, not only from the bruises on her body, but from the various cracked and broken ribs.

In short, she was a wreck. And it was his fault.

A tiny, logical part of his brain insisted that there was nothing he could have done to spare her this torture, that she would have been hurt no matter what his actions were. But his heart cried out that he should have done more to protect her on the satellite, or tried harder to rescue her from the Ylesian mine. If only he hadn't failed in his role as her Master, she wouldn't be fighting for her life now.

His vision became blurry. Irritably, Cin blinked away the moisture accumulating in his eyes. He'd already sent his Padawan through hell and back, he was not going to sit here and cry-

"Cin, shut up." Qui-Gon didn't look up from Obi-Wan, although he was definitely paying attention to Cin. "There's nothing either of us could have done and you know it."

Cin checked his shields, cursing when he realized how badly they'd crumbled. The strain of the last two weeks was taking its toll on him. He was tired and argumentative, and didn't care that he was broadcasting his inner anger. "I swore an oath to protect her from anything like this happening. I should have done more-"

"Like what?" Now Qui-Gon looked up from Obi-Wan's still form, frowning at Cin. "Neither of us had time to draw our lightsabres on board that damn satellite. We tried negotiating, and that didn't work. We couldn't do anything to prevent being stowed inside that escape pod. We couldn't have gotten to Ylesia or into the mines any faster than we did. We couldn't have done anything to prevent that guard from throwing the grenade without dying in the process. We couldn't have run any faster to get to them, and we couldn't have gotten onto the Hutt's ship without being killed. And I'm amazed we found out they were on Nar Shaddaa as quickly as we did. We could do no more than what we did."

Cin looked away from his friend, back to Zara's pale face. "I would have rather died than have had her suffer like this."

"And what would have happened to Zara?" Qui-Gon sat up straight, not raising his voice, although he was clearly frustrated with Cin. "She would have been left an orphan Padawan and blaming herself for your death! At least this way both of you are still alive!"

"Alive, but for how long? You heard what Mace said; Zara nearly died in surgery!" Cin's emotions were escaping his control. He knew his shields were about to collapse, baring his anger and pain to any who wished to eavesdrop.

"Nearly died, Cin. She's still alive now, and the healers think that she'll recover from this. You know if she heard you right now she'd be upset with you for thinking like this!"

"They think she'll recover. What if she doesn't? Who will there be to blame? Only myself!"

"Cin!" Qui-Gon's patience reached its limit as he snapped at the younger Master. "You-" He paused, his attention drawn to Zara. Although the girl was still unconscious, her brow was furrowed with pain and tears were escaping the closed eyelids. The tiniest of whimpers escaped her throat.

Remorse for his Padawan's pain struck Cin's heart as he bent down, stroking Zara's hair. "Shh, it's all right. I'm right here, you're going to be fine. Shh..." He gently brushed a kiss across her forehead, quietly murmuring words of reassuring nonsense to her. It seemed to be working; a few moments later, Zara had relaxed, the creases on her forehead easing as she slipped back into a somewhat peaceful sleep. Cin stayed bent over her though, touching his brow to hers. His own tears escaped his eyes, running off his cheeks and landing on Zara's face. He drew in a shaky breath as he whispered, "I'm sorry, Zara. I'm so sorry."

Qui-Gon looked away from the other Master, giving him some privacy. He was still frustrated with Cin's stubbornness and self-blame, but knew he wouldn't be able to speak with the younger man about it while both were so worried about their Padawans. Besides, he understood what Cin was talking about; he himself had been running over every scenario that the Jedi had encountered on this Sithly mission, trying to figure out if there was anything that he could have done differently to rescue Obi-Wan sooner. He had come to the painful conclusion that there was little, if anything, that he could have done to help his apprentice.

It didn't make his own inner pain at seeing the boy he loved as a son in this condition any easier to bear.

Perhaps half an hour went by with neither Master speaking to the other, lost in their thoughts and, admittedly, still irritated with each other. Cin remained bent over Zara, using the Force to ease any pain that he sensed through their bond. The exhaustion of the last days was catching up to Qui-Gon, and more than once he felt himself nodding off.

He was almost sure he was dreaming when he felt Obi-Wan stir and moan slightly.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon placed his hand on Obi-Wan's cheek, feeling the teenager slightly nuzzle his face into the large palm. "Obi-Wan, please wake up."

************

Everything hurt. Force, his arm felt as though it were on fire. It hurt to breathe, to move, to even open his eyes. His head felt as though there was a herd of banthas stampeding through it. Obese banthas, at that. With iron-clad hooves.

He heard a gentle voice calling his name. A hand was placed against his face. Obi-Wan leaned into the touch, feeling safe within that familiar palm. He wanted to go back to sleep, but he wanted to know where he was. He didn't feel as though he were with the Hutt still... but it never hurt to check.

With an effort, he forced his eyes open. The bright light assailed his sensitive pupils, making him wince. Someone moved above him, causing a shadow to fall across his face. He could now see.

He looked up into the one face that he had wanted, more than anything, to see again. "M-Master?"

Qui-Gon smiled, joy in his eyes. He kept his voice soft, much to Obi-Wan's relief. "Easy, Obi-Wan. You're safe now. Don't exert yourself, you need to heal."

Obi-Wan managed a weak grin back, squeezing his Master's fingers with his good hand. He frowned. "What happened?" He barely remembered anything.

"I'll tell you later, Padawan." Qui-Gon ran a hand through Obi-Wan's short hair. "Do you want some water?"

Obi-Wan nodded. His throat was parched, and his voice could barely get above a whisper.

Qui-Gon reached to the side, producing a cup of water and a straw. "Sip it slowly, I don't want you getting sick."

Heedless of the warning, Obi-Wan greedily sucked the water once the straw found its way to his mouth, only stopping when he had finally satiated his thirst. Qui-Gon smiled as he replaced the glass. "Feel better?"

Obi-Wan nodded, relaxing into the pillow. "Master?"

"Shh, you need to sleep," murmured Qui-Gon, pulling the blanket up around Obi-Wan's shoulders.

"Master..." Obi-Wan looked contrite as he whispered to Qui-Gon, "I'm sorry I couldn't stay out of the healers' ward for you."

Qui-Gon hesitated before he chuckled, remembering that conversation back on the ship during the original mission to Ylesia. Had it really been less than two weeks ago? It felt like a lifetime had passed since that fateful day. "Well, I think I can forgive you this once, Padawan. But see that it doesn't happen again." Qui-Gon grinned when he said that, reassuring Obi-Wan that he was teasing.

The teen smiled and closed his eyes, only to snap them open a moment later. "Zara! Master, what-?"

"Shush, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon ran his fingers through the boy's slightly shaggy auburn mane. "We rescued her too. She'll be all right; she's just in the next bed."

Obi-Wan glanced over, ignoring the sudden pain in his shoulder. He managed to catch a glimpse of Master Drallig sitting nearby, intently watching him. When the Master noticed Obi-Wan was looking at him, he smiled. "She's fine, Obi-Wan."

Reassured that his friend was in good hands, Obi-Wan sank back into the pillow. The brief time he had been awake had been taxing to his strength. He was dimly aware of Qui-Gon brushing a hand across his forehead. "Sleep, Obi-Wan. I'll be right here when you wake up." A light kiss was planted in his hair, and then Obi-Wan drifted into a peaceful, healing sleep.

*************

Qui-Gon sat up, wiping a tear of joy away from his eye. The tall Master said nothing, content to look upon his resting Padawan. His relief radiated through the Force, taking with it a large portion of the man's worry.

Cin smiled before looking back at Zara. If Obi-Wan had awoken relatively quickly, maybe Zara would wake up soon. He squeezed the girl's fingers gently, praying to the Force that she would awaken soon.

An hour later...

Qui-Gon glanced over at his friend, sympathy in his eyes. "Nothing?"

Shaking his head, Cin lightly probed into the Force, seeking any sign of consciousness from Zara. "I don't understand. Why is she still unconscious?"

"She was sedated more than Obi-Wan. She's also smaller, so her body might be having a harder time with the dosage. Be patient; I think she'll awaken sometime soon."

Cin sighed, stretching his stiff shoulder muscles. "I hope you're right, Qui-Gon. Force, it's driving me mad, not knowing if the healers missed something that they won't know about until she's awake. What if she has amnesia or can't touch the Force? What-"

"Calm down." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "You worry more than most other first-time Masters, Cin. Zara's a strong girl, she'll be fine."

Not trusting his voice, Cin merely nodded, looking back to his apprentice. He sighed again, and started to close his eyes for meditation, nearly missing the slight motion of Zara's eyelids.

"Padawan?" He touched the unhurt side of her face. "Zara, can you hear me? Please wake up."

***********

Why did everything hurt? She wanted to open her eyes, but pain would shoot through her face if she tried. For that matter, breathing was painful. A tear escaped her closed eye. She could feel it trickling down the side of her face until a large thumb caught it and brushed it away. A soft voice was speaking above her.

That doesn't sound like the Hutt, thought Zara. It almost sounded like... Cin? But wasn't he dead? If that was him, then she had to be dead as well... except, she didn't think she would hurt this much after death.

Her eyes flickered open. Through the tears of pain, she could see her Master sitting above her, a smile on his face. He spoke, his voice gentle. "Hey, you."

Zara tried to smile, but winced as she felt a hot pain in her right cheek. She tried to speak, "What-?"

"Shh. I don't want you speaking right now, Zara. You have broken bones in your face that need to heal."

Her brow furrowed. Cin smiled. "Try to speak to me through the Force, all right?"

With an effort, Zara reached out for the Force, cringing slightly as though she expected pain. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that it didn't hurt, and clung to it. She could feel her Master's relief and joy through their bond, as well as another Force presence nearby. Glancing over, she just saw Master Jinn sitting on another sleep couch, smiling at her.

Master Jinn... Obi-Wan! Zara glanced at her Master. Where's Obi-Wan?

"Easy." Cin brushed a hand through her hair. "He's fine. He woke up an hour ago and wouldn't rest until he knew you were all right."

Zara relaxed. What happened, Master? How did you find us?

"That's a story for when you're better." Cin's fingers traced a pattern on Zara's unbroken cheek. "Do you feel all right?"

Like hell. Zara wrinkled her brow as Cin chuckled. Everything hurts really bad.

"I can imagine, little one. You look like you've been through the various levels of Sith-hell."

Zara blinked wearily. Feel like it, too. Why'm I so tired?

"Because your body needs to rest more to finish healing." Cin dropped another kiss on Zara's forehead. "Go back to sleep, Zara. I'll be here when you wake up."

Promise? Zara weakly gripped her Master's fingers, suddenly afraid that if he left, she'd never find him again.

Cin blinked, before reassuring her. "Promise. I'm not going to leave you."

The left side of Zara's mouth twisted upwards in a smile as she gave in to the call of sleep. Before she dropped back into unconsciousness, she felt rather than heard Cin whisper through the Force, I love you, Padawan.

Love you too, Master, was Zara's last thought before sleep claimed her.

************

"What'd I tell you?" asked Qui-Gon, a grin on his face. "I told you she'd be fine."

Cin smiled before looking back at Zara, his joy dimming slightly. "She was scared that I would leave her."

"She's been separated from you for the better part of two weeks, Cin. It's natural for her to be afraid of losing you." Qui-Gon yawned. Weariness was finally weighing down on him, reminding him that the two rescued Padawans weren't the only ones needing to sleep. He slouched in his chair, still holding Obi-Wan's hand. "They'll be fine, Cin. Trust me."

"Thanks, Qui-Gon." Cin stretched before resting his head on Zara's bed beside her leg. "Force..." A moment later, he was out cold.

Qui-Gon smiled before closing his eyes and letting sleep drag him into the world of peaceful dreams.

**************

See? I'm not completely evil! I like my fuzzywarm as well!

Only a couple of chapters left! I'm also thinking of writing a bunch of one-shots based off of this, including alternate endings and other stuff. Let me know whatcha think of that! I might put a poll up...

Still need RPG players! Please come check it out! Jedi Apprentice forum, look for Sithstrukk's forum.

Thanks for reading! Please review!

Xaja