Another semi-short one, and this one's not very good, I'm afraid. I may come back and edit it later, but I'll post a note if I do. :-) Thank you so much everyone who has reviewed, and continues to review, this story – were it not for the deluge of warm reviews I've already received, I doubt very much this story would be updated more than once a week, possibly less You all have given me the encouragement to continue. Thank you so very much!

Just Easier Than Dealing With the Pain

By: Syntyche

Chapter Four

Qui-Gon Jinn emerged from the 'fresher, showered, impeccably groomed, and ready to start the day at an hour his apprentice tended to refer to as 'absolutely unreasonable, Master!' He yet needed to run through his morning stretches and meditation, but he paused for moment at the door to Obi-Wan's cabin.

Letting himself into the darkened room, Qui-Gon didn't need to wait for his eyes to adjust, instead using the Force to heighten his senses and guide him to his apprentice's sleep couch.

Hmm. It appeared his apprentice had mutated into a cocoon of some sort during the night. Qui-Gon scaled the lights up to dim and studied the inert form of his Padawan. Normally, Obi-Wan slept with arms and legs sprawled and the blanket twisted somewhere about his waist. This morning he was barely visible beneath the warm russet coverlet; one closed eyelid, fringed with thick, light-colored lashes, and a bit of forehead was all Qui-Gon could see.

The Jedi Master released a sigh and probed gently at the Force signature of his Padawan. Threads of exhaustion ran in fine lines through Obi-Wan's shielding, but Qui-Gon was unable to sense more than that without prying past the barriers Obi-Wan had erected.

Qui-Gon still hoped that Obi-Wan would come to him with whatever was troubling him, but he also knew he couldn't wait much longer for Obi-Wan to take the initiative. His Padawan's recent behavior was worrisome to the Jedi Master.

Qui-Gon eyed the still form, and his shoulders drooped a fraction. He'd tried talking with his Padawan yesterday at lunch, with dismal results …

*

Were he not a patient man, highly skilled in the Force, and a trained negotiator … Qui-Gon Jinn would be fidgeting. As it was, his fingers twitched slightly on the tabletop.

Anytime now, Obi-Wan …

On cue, Obi-Wan hurried into the room, looking, well, cleaner perhaps than when he'd exited, but no less agitated. "Padawan," Qui-Gon began.

"This looks wonderful, Master," Obi-Wan interrupted with a tight smile as he took his seat across from Qui-Gon.

"Thank you, Padawan," Qui-Gon said mildly, noting his Padawan's uncharacteristic interruption and moving ahead, "Obi-Wan – "

"I don't think I've had this much food set in front of me since before you left for Corellia, Master – though Master Depa certainly brought meals quite often."

"Yes," Qui-Gon agreed. He'd discovered the overflowing dishes of food his Padawan had stashed in the cooling unit during his absence the first time he'd gone to the cupboard to retrieve a teacup and found the majority of their plates, pots, and pans missing. "But Obi-Wan, we need to talk – "

Obi-Wan suddenly busied himself with digging into his meal. "Of course, Master; I've been waiting to hear about your trip – "

Exasperated with the continued interruptions, Qui-Gon finally exploded, "Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan froze in mid-bite, fork halted at his lips. "M-Master?"

"Padawan." Qui-Gon worked to tamp down his irritation, unsure of whether to be concerned about his apprentice or merely annoyed. "Is something bothering you, Obi-Wan?" he finally asked.

Obi-Wan's smile wobbled. "No, Master."

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said sternly.

Obi-Wan blanched. He should have known better than to keep interrupting Qui-Gon, but his mouth was running on hyper while his brain slogged along at sublight. Oh, Sith. Make something up!

What? He was telling himself to lie to Qui-Gon??

Fine. Show him what a failure you are.

Obi-Wan's head dropped in defeat. "No, Master," he sighed softly. "I apologize for my rudeness." His eyes glanced to the floor and back up, and for a moment he looked like he might have said more, but his face closed over in an expression of resignation.

Disappointment clouded Qui-Gon's strong features and Obi-Wan felt it keenly, but all the Jedi Master said was, "Very well, Padawan."

Conversation ceased after that, so in a way Obi-Wan got what he had wanted, though he couldn't help feeling guilty and more than a little frustrated for disappointing Qui-Gon yet again. He hadn't had an appetite when he'd sat down at the table, and that certainly hadn't changed after his aborted conversation with his Master. Obi-Wan pushed his food around enough that it looked like he'd actually eaten some of it, and then politely requested to be excused.

Qui-Gon nodded and watched him leave. He decided to give his Padawan some space yet a little while longer, to see if he could work out whatever was troubling him on his own while Qui-Gon was occupied with the trade disputes.

He didn't see Obi-Wan for the rest of the day, but far into the night he'd felt the Force around Obi-Wan rippling and humming as the young man strove to exhaust himself enough to sleep.

*

Qui-Gon decided that that it was probably best not to let Obi-Wan sleep in this morning, despite the late hours the Padawan had kept last night. There was still much to be done before they landed on Drymar III.

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon shook his Padawan's shoulder gently. "Come on, Sunshine, it's time to get up," he said lightly.

Obi-Wan muttered something incoherent, his visible eye squeezing shut and his forehead creasing. His breathed slowed as he tried to return to sleep.

"Padawan." Qui-Gon tugged on the blanket obscuring Obi-Wan's head and a bleary blue-grey blinked and stared up at him muzzily. A thickly mumbled protest reached Qui-Gon's ears.

"Stll drk otsde, Mstr!"

"It's always dark in space, Padawan," Qui-Gon said shortly, but with a small grin. "Up, Obi-Wan," he ordered, injecting a note of sternness into his voice. "We have much to do."

"Ys, Mstr," the blanket sighed. Satisfied his Padawan would shortly be ready to face the day, Qui-Gon returned to his own quarters to prepare for his meditations.

They would be on Drymar within the day, and perhaps the change of scenery and routine of their mission would do Obi-Wan good.

Something would have to be done about his Padawan, Qui-Gon knew; but if Obi-Wan refused to come to him or show him how he could help, what could he do?

end chapter four