With Love Comes Pain
Author: Laura Kenobi
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Star Wars. I do, however, own any original characters, planets, etcetera that I created for this story.
Archive: Please contact me first!
Comments/Reviews: You can email me through my profile, and you can always leave a review!
Author's Notes: ((italics)) represents thoughts and "/ italics /" represents communication through the Force.
This story was first published in its original version on July 17, 2001. In July 2005, I decided that since four years had passed and my skills as a writer had undoubtedly improved since this story was first written and posted, it might be refreshing to return to this story and give it a fresh look and an update. For the most part the overall story remains the same - my goal has been to improve on and expand on the original, so I hope the result will prove enjoyable to all of you who are wonderful enough to read and review. The version of this story below is the updated version. Call it the "Special Edition" version of this story.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! It's been great! As promised, here is chapter two! Enjoy!
Summary: When a mission goes dreadfully wrong, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn must deal with the possibility of loosing his Padawan Learner...
Chapter Two
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Qui-Gon Jinn was usually a very patient man. It was part of his personality, as well as his training as a Jedi.
Not today.
His apprentice had been in the emergency surgical unit for almost twenty hours. There had been no sound, not movement, no nothing from the unit since the procedure had started. No indication of Obi-Wan's condition.
The healers had rushed the Padawan into surgery as soon as Qui-Gon had landed the ship. All Qui-Gon had heard was "we'll take care of him". Kitla was one of his best friends and one of the best healers in the Temple, but he couldn't help his worry. In every way that matters, Obi-Wan was his son. His son was in there, severely injured, and he could do nothing but sit and wait. He reached out through the Force, trying to assess his Padawan's condition.
Suddenly, for the first time since they had arrived, a healer apprentice came out of the room. She was practically running. Qui-Gon thought he was going to be sick.
She was covered in blood.
He could tell she was going to try and avoid him, so he leapt to his feet and strode directly into her path. She crashed into him, and he grabbed her arm.
"How is he?" Drilling the healer apprentice with an icy blue stare, he demanded an answer. The young woman was visibly shaken, taken aback by the towering Jedi Master.
"N-not too g-good, Master Jinn. We are doing all we can. M-Master Mooral will come to... to discuss the situation as s-soon as she can."
Knowing she had told him the truth, and also knowing that he was frightening her, Qui-Gon nodded slightly and released her.
Looking down, he noticed that some of the blood from her tunic had transferred to his as she collided with him. Something about seeing his Padawan's blood in this way drained the Jedi Master. He resumed his seat and waited.
And waited...
And waited...
And waited...
Finally, when Qui-Gon was beginning to feel that he could be kept in the dark no longer, Master Kitla Mooral came walking slowly out of the unit, followed by the rest of the operating team. Nausea swept through Qui-Gon as he noticed with a pale face that every single one had blood on his or her tunic. He leapt to his feet stepping up to Kitla and forcing her to look into his anguished eyes.
"Tell me." There was a dread in his voice that left no room for argument. She sighed.
"Qui-Gon... he isn't doing well. His internal injuries are some of the worst I've ever seen. Although we fixed him up as best as we could..." she trailed off and Qui-Gon noticed tears in her eyes. His heart constricted in pain.
"Be specific. I want to know all of his injuries."
She wanted to argue with him, he could tell, but instead she took a deep breath and began.
"His left leg is severely fractured, and his left arm is broken, although not to the same extent as his leg. The left side of his body is where we found the most damage. Multiple internal injuries. We postulate that whatever crushed him landed one his left side first, or in some other way it hit him hardest there."
With every word she spoke Qui-Gon felt more and more helpless.
"He has a serious concussion from a blow to the left side of his head... he isn't responding to anything. His eyes will sometimes open but it is clear that he is not really seeing. He is in a coma-like state, and from what we can tell he is in considerable pain."
The healer took a seep, steadying breath, and Qui-Gon couldn't breathe. Then she spoke the words he dreaded most.
"We're not sure how much longer he can stay alive, Qui-Gon. I want you to consider the fact that he is in terrible pain, and that he may never wake up. Many things I believe should be left to the Force, but..." Her words were tight with sadness.
"You want me to decide if we should take him off of your support and just let him die." Qui-Gon's heart shattered with his words. Why? Why was this happening to his apprentice? Obi-Wan did not deserve such a terrible fate. He was the most wonderful young man Qui-Gon knew. Kind beyond imagination and completely selfless. So eager to learn and so willing to help...
"I-I'm so sorry, my friend..." Kitla Mooral felt Qui-Gon's pain as she looked at her tall friend, "I've done all I can."
"I know." He did understand, but he couldn't express his emotions in words.
"Why don't you go see him? You don't need to decide anything right now. Perhaps he will be able to feel your presence."
Qui-Gon could barely nod. As he entered the room where his Padawan lay, he could barely stay on his feet. Obi-Wan looked so pale and weak.
Taking a seat beside the bed, Qui-Gon noticed that Obi-Wan's eyes were closed. There were tubes and other medical devices all over the place. A machine was forcing every part of the young Jedi's body to work. The tall Jedi Master choked softly on his breath.
((Why? Tell me why...))
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Obi-Wan couldn't feel the pain anymore. Actually, he noticed with surprise, he couldn't really feel anything. Opening his eyes slowly he took in his surroundings.
He was sitting in room – but was it really a room? It was foggy, and deathly silent.
((Am I dead? Where is Qui-Gon?))
Thoughts whirled around in the young Jedi's head. He assumed he wasn't dead... he had been told all his life that when he died many past Jedi would greet him, and there were no Jedi here.
((Should I be relieved or scared? Where am I? Master...))
Reaching out into the Force, he searched the man that had become as dear to him as a father. The older man's presence was very far away.
Groaning, Obi-Wan tried to imagine what Qui-Gon would tell him to do. Qui-Gon always had the answer.
(("Focus, Padawan. The future is always in motion. Make it work to your advantage. Use the Force..."))
Suddenly determined by the memory of his Master's voice, Obi-Wan began to search for a way back to Qui-Gon.
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End Chapter 2.
Thanks for reading! Please review! If you want me to email you when the next chapter is posted just leave your email address or sign your review! Thanks again! - Laura