Part Five

Qui-Gon had been looking at the buildings and people around him. He heard footsteps in front of him, and when he turned his head to the sound, someone ran into him.

Before Qui-Gon could do anything, the person stepped back and looked up at him. The tall Jedi's heart nearly stopped in his chest. The boy was…no…it couldn't be!

The young man was a striking image of his Padawan. Though the boy looked like Obi-Wan, he didn't feel like the Jedi apprentice. With or without the bond or the Force, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan could know where the other was before asking.

Putting his hands on the boy's shoulders to steady him, Qui-Gon looked up and noticed men in redcoats heading their way. Qui-Gon wasn't sure what was going on with this boy and them, but the boy looked like he'd harsh abuse in the hands of some men, maybe the ones who were coming, but Qui-Gon didn't want to see the boy hurt more then he already was.

The young man didn't yet notice the men coming after him; he just was trying to get out of Qui-Gon's grasp to flee.

"Come with me. You'll be safer that way." Qui-Gon let go of the boy so that he could follow as the Jedi Master snaked through the crowd to lose the red coated men. He heard footsteps behind him and knew the boy was with him.

Ben wasn't sure why he followed the tall man in front of him, but he felt he could trust him. The man was dressed with a brown robe so he wouldn't be a lobsterback.

While Ben had been running he had stuck the sliver object back inside his shirt. He didn't want be caught out in the open with it.

The tall man knew his way in and out of crowds as well as knowing how to lose unwanted company. Ben's trust in the man rose up.

Once they got out of the city, the man spoke. "What is your name?" he asked as he turned to face Ben.

"Benjamin McGregor, and yours?" Ben asked back.

The man thought for a moment before answering. "Qui-Gon Jinn."

Ben tried the name and couldn't get it right. It took a moment until he had it correct.

Qui-Gon took a rag from the sack that he was carrying and wet it in the snow, then handed it to Ben. Ben started to clean his face, but winced gently when he hit a sore spot.

Ben wondered why Qui-Gon bothered to help him, so he asked. Qui-Gon just said, "You needed help." With that said he starting walking again.

"Where is the nearest place to go?" he asked Ben.

"There is just farms mostly, and a fort nearby."

"Should we try the fort?" Qui-Gon asked turning to him.

"NO!" Ben nearly shouted, dropping the rag. "Huh, no that is not a good idea," he said a little calmer, but he looked panicked. He stopped, his whole body hurt from the beating he had taken.

Qui-Gon frowned and with concern. "You need to rest and you can't go on like you are."

Ben wanted to protest but he knew that he couldn't go on in his conduction. He saw a small farm nearby. "We can stop there," he said while thinking, As long as we didn't go to Valley Forge I will be fine.

Qui-Gon nodded his agreement, but he looked disturbed.

Sam hid in the shadows, not daring to breathe while looking to see if anyone was on guard. With no one in sight, the redhead moved as fast as she could toward the outskirts of camp.

With the day being Christmas, the men had been given rum to drink. There wasn't enough to get drunk by, but the men were now fast asleep, so if Sam could keep quiet she could escape.

She felt bad about deserting Obi-Wan, but she just had to find Ben! As more and more days passed, there was more and more of a chance that Ben could be hurt or worse.

She narrowed her gray eyes, she would not think of any trouble Obi-Wan could get into with her desertion. She mustn't think of that.

Now at the edge of the camp, Sam carefully moved slightly away from the camp. If she got caught, she would be in big trouble. She knew for a fact that she would be flogged for deserted, and that they would discover she was a woman. I won't think about that, Sam told herself.

Sam walked a few meters before sensing something was wrong. She had heard something. Sam strained her ears to listen, but now there was nothing.

Suddenly there was a hand on her arm, Sam tried to scream but a hand covered her mouth.

"It's Obi-Wan," a familiar voice whispered near her right ear.

Sam's heart rate slowed down to its normal speed. Obi-Wan slowly removed his hand from her mouth.

"What are you doing?" he whispered, letting go of her arm.

Sam knew that Obi-Wan already knew what was going on, but she answered any way. "I have got to find my brother." Her eyes dared him to try to stop her.

"I will go with you," he said simply. Sam was about to protest, but he raised his hand to silence her. "You don't even know where he is and it would be better if you had company."

"You don't even have a weapon," she snapped at him. She didn't need his help.

"Nether do you." Obi-Wan quietly shot back. He continued, "I just want to help, and if we persist in arguing we will just get caught."

Sam wanted to scream her frustration at the young Jedi's calm logic. "All right," she said, giving in.

They started walking but quietly, for they were still in sight of the fort. Neither said anything.

Again Sam heard something and stopped. At that same time, Obi-Wan stopped and tensed from the familiar sound.

"Stop." The one-word-command quietly reached both their ears. The sound they had heard had been a musket ready to fire.

Obi-Wan stiffened more. He turned around, shielding Sam, in case the musket would fire at them. Obi-Wan knew the owner of the voice, but he had to be wary. He knew that they could easily be taken back to camp and be punished. Obi-Wan tried to stop himself from remembering the whipping he had taken less than a month ago. The whip hitting his back and the pain he went though was all still recent to him. He trembled thinking he might have to go though that again.

Tom looked at Sam and Obi-Wan. He had no idea why they were trying to escape camp, but he could easily tell Washington, who could have them both hanged. Before he could do or say anything, Sam spoke.

After realizing who the speaker was, Sam calmed down. Seeing Tom undecided on what to do, she spoke. "Tom," she barely spoke above a murmur in fear of being over heard, "Obi-Wan had nothing to do with this; I need to find Ben. Please don't turn us in," she pleaded looking into his eyes.

Tom felt himself siding with her. He didn't know why. "I must be losing it." He mumbled, but not loud enough for Sam or Obi-Wan to overhear. A little louder he said, "I am going with you."

Sam was relieved but surprised. "No," she said firmly, "I am not getting you into this."

"It is not up for a decision, Samantha. I am going. Somebody needs to watch you two." He started walking the way they were going. Sam stood in a near fury, but stomped after him without saying anything.

Obi-Wan stood for a moment before following at the rear. "What have I got myself into?" he asked himself.

Qui-Gon and Ben waited for the mistress of the house to come back with supplies to treat Ben's bruises and cuts. When the young man started to unbutton his shirt, Qui-Gon said, "I would like to see the object you are hiding."

Ben stopped, and looked up at the tall Jedi before him. "I don't have anything," he said, hoping that the lie would work. The older man was not fooled.

"You have something that the men who were chasing you for. Besides Daniel and Abigail might think you stole something of theirs." Qui-Gon pointed out logically, referring to the man and woman living in the house.

Ben sighed knowing Qui-Gon had a point. Unwillingly, he took the silver object from under his shirt and handed it over. Something that Ben would call shock or surprise came over Qui-Gon's features, but it was quickly masked before he could really notice.

Qui-Gon forced himself not to look at the lightsaber in his hand, but put it in his sack. Though Qui-Gon's face was unreadable, he was shocked in finding out that Ben had Obi-Wan's lightsaber. How and why did Ben have Obi-Wan's lightsaber? Where was his Padawan? Obi-Wan would never part with his saber willingly. Did Ben know Obi-Wan? Could Obi-Wan be… Qui-Gon stopped his train of thought there. He wanted to ask Ben millions of questions but this was not the time or place.

The woman they met, Abigail came and ministered to Ben's wounds. She didn't say much, but she seemed wary of the two men. With that done, she started supper. Daniel her husband, was gracious with the travelers. That it was Christmas Day didn't throw them off one bit. Daniel was a patriot through and through.

Daniel said that they could stay the night and journey in the morning. The look that passed over Abigail's face wasn't welcoming, but she didn't say a word. Qui-Gon, thanked them and said that indeed he and Ben would be off in the morning.