Here and Now

Chapter 7: the long way back

** Hey guys!! I have vacation now, finally! Enjoy the chapter!**

Obi-Wan lost his consciousness. Everything went dark. He didn't feel, that his Master was shaking him to the core and begging him to open his eyes. Kenobi was so tired, so he just drifted into the welcomed oblivion. But even in his sleep he didn't find rest.

The face of the tattooed man, it was burned into the young man's brain. The mad stare of the Sith, this gaze would haunt Obi-Wan forever. The Padawan hated to kill, but this excrement of evil deserved it. A small groan came from Obi-Wan's bloody lips. So Qui-Gon lifted his brave son in his arms and murmured comforting word's into the youth's ear, though Obi-Wan couldn't hear him. The Master knew it, but he had to do something, he had to calm himself and pretending that Obi-Wan would be alright was one step closer to calmness! He placed a kiss on the Padawan's temple, knowing that Obi-Wan hated it. The 25-year-old man thought that he was much too old for this show of affection.

"You are never too old for a kiss, son!", Qui-Gon said with a small smile, that soften his worried features. The sparkling blue eyes returned just for a moment.

It was a long walk until he reached the hanger. They covered a long distance during their fight. Every few moment he checked his pupil's vital signs. He couldn't let him die, not know! This battle was Obi-Wan's ticket for knighthood. The Master could not wait to inform the council of  his student's courageous deeds. If Qui-Gon only knew half of Obi-Wan's ordeal. Blue eyes studied the sleeping form in his arms. Obi-Wan looked so pale. The colour of his beige tunic matched his complexion. And it looked like Obi-Wan was in much pain. His eyes were shut tightly, but small tears escaped nevertheless. His gaze was directed to two brown things lying on the floor- their cloaks! Slowly he lifted their robes and pulled over the shivering, wounded Jedi.

"There you are, feeling better now?", he asked Obi-Wan as if he was expecting an answer.

Suddenly Qui-Gon heard cheering sounds and he knew, that the battle was won and that peace and justice would return to the small planet. Quickly he made their way to the throne room, where a distressed Queen screamed for her Healers, when she saw the battered Apprentice. Immediately two healers arrived and took care of him and of the worried Master. Qui-Gon needed also a treatment of his wounds. Especially that on his back, where he had landed on, after being hit by a Sith. He knew better than to argue with a healer…

He felt so hot. Obi-Wan developed a high fever. His wound on his left arm was infected and now combined with his drained condition it was a very serious situation. He had disturbed dreams. The Dreams were about dead people! There was Cerasi telling him to stay back, Bruck and Xanatos trying to convince him of the opposite and there was Tahl, saying that he should go back.

What was happening with him? Then he saw the Sith, who tried to catch Obi-Wan's arm and to pull him to his side. But the Jedi backed away and run back.

But where was back? He broke into a dead-run, not knowing where is was going.

"Padawan, don't you dare to die now, come back!" *

He heard his master's desperate call over their bond, but still didn't know where to go because in his opinion he never went away. He followed his master's voice. First it sounded so far away, but now it was  getting closer and closer…..

He awoke with a start, breathing hard. It was just a very vivid dream or wasn't it?

He heard beeping sounds of the machines, that were attached to his body. He turned his head and saw a  relieved Master smiling down at him.

"Padawan, never do that again to your old Master!" Then his tone became low.

"I thought I had lost you, boy!" The Apprentice was lost, but lost for words. His hand searched Qui-Gon's, squeezed it and promised never to pull a stunt like that again, with a mischievous on his lips. He was happy! He saved his master and he was still alive. He could have hugged the whole wide world of Naboo for this gift! Life was so very precious, he never really enjoyed one single moment before like he did with this. He was at peace with himself…Yes peace, after all!

Then the door burst open and the peace was gone because Anakin and Jar-Jar made their way to the injured and now annoyed Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Obi-Wan I got to tell you a wizard story!" Anakin said, but with his high pitched voice he caused Obi-Wan the headache of his life. It sounded as if Anakin would speak through a megaphone, he only could plead that Jar-Jar didn't open his mouth, but it was too late.

"Hello, mesa back! Mesa became big general!" If he thought Anakin's voice was a torture for his head, then Jar-Jar's was an execution! He dropped his head onto the pillow and hoped that oblivion would claim him again, but this wish was elusive!

Tbc…