I included an apology in the Author's Notes of Setting A Precedent, but I'll apologize again for the delay in posting chapters. As far as I know, I don't have any way to leave messages regarding updates and delays, but I really do post the chapters as soon as I am able.
Okay. Enough. And lots of Obi is coming, I promise.
To Whom Loyalty is Owed
Chapter Two
Obi-Wan sat cross-legged on the sofa in his and Anakin's apartment. At least, he assumed the rooms were the ones that belonged to him and Anakin – he hadn't really been here enough to know, spending, he admitted tiredly, far too much time in the Healer's Wing during Qui-Gon's recovery. But the new plate affixed by the door read 'Kenobi/Skywalker,' so he imagined he was in the right place.
Obi-Wan studied the datapad on which he'd been attempting to compose a letter to Qui-Gon that would explain his absence and apologize to Anakin. Qui-Gon was as far as he'd gotten. Frustrated, Obi-Wan tossed the datapad further down the sofa and slumped backwards until his head rested on the back of the divan. It was no use. His emotions were too out of sorts for him to concentrate on anything. Master Yoda had struck a cruel blow. It was one thing to think those things, another matter entirely to hear them spoken aloud so casually. He had stayed with Qui-Gon minute after agonizing minute while the older man healed, first in a bacta tank, then in a recovery room. Though their bond had been broken, he had done his best to shunt healing energies to his former Master. Through the long nights when Qui-Gon had wrestled with a pain that was nearly unbearable, he had been there to calm and soothe and comfort as best as he was able. He had abandoned his own responsibility – Anakin – to care for his friend and former teacher.
And despite all that, young, bright Anakin would do more for Qui-Gon than Obi-Wan had managed to. Even Master Yoda knew it.
Obi-Wan thudded his head against the back of the sofa a few times. This was one time the bitterness and pain was very, very difficult to push aside. He closed his eyes and did his best not to remember, not to think, not to feel at all, but the doubts that had been plaguing him all morning certainly weren't going to relinquish their hold on the young Knight now.
The comm unit at the far wall bleeped for his attention, and Obi-Wan was severely tempted to ignore it. The thought that it could be Qui-Gon only increased his hesitation, but his brow furrowed as he realized that he'd actually wanted to avoid his former Master. Few times in his life had he every actually desired that. This startled realization galvanized Obi-Wan, and he pushed himself off the couch and stumbled to the comm.
It was Master Yoda, his gravelly voice sounding almost comical over the unit's tiny speaker. "Knight Kenobi. Ready, your transport is. Prepared, are you?"
Prepared? Obi-Wan wanted to laugh. It was easy to be confident in his own abilities with his Master standing by his side. Could he be so confident alone? He would have to be. A tiny part of his heart died as he realized he was leaving another bit of his old life behind.
He glanced at the datapad lying forlornly on his sofa. He would try to send Qui-Gon a message once he was in hyperspace.
"Yes, Master Yoda. I am ready."
~*~*~
Anakin hugged his mother tightly, burying his face in her shoulder as he tried not to weep. He had grown accustomed to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, loved Qui-Gon and come to care for Obi-Wan, but in his mother he found a comfort and strength he knew he needed.
"I love you, Mom," he whispered.
Shmi Skywalker held her son close, running callused fingers over his newly shorn hair, cut into typical Padawan style. She had been confused at first to see the small braid running from behind Anakin's right ear, but Qui-Gon was able to explain to her – with Anakin's excited interjections – the symbolism of the Padawan braid. After Qui-Gon's explanation, then, she had been confused by the hint of ginger hair that had been plaited into her son's braid, expecting instead to see intertwined a lock of Qui-Gon's mahogany and grey. Qui-Gon had gently described what had occurred on Naboo with the Sith warrior and his subsequent request that his own Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, train her son. He felt her initial flicker of anger and wondered at it, but after he'd finished his explanation he didn't bring the matter up again until later, after Anakin had retired for the night. He and Shmi were seated quietly around the large workbench Shmi had again cleared to use as a table, as she had during his first visit to her home nearly a month and a half before.
"You are disappointed." It was a statement, and she did not need to question as to what he was referring to.
"Yes," she said simply.
"Obi-Wan is good, and capable. I will stand with him, and I will help him train Anakin."
Shmi's dark eyes came up to stare into his. "I entrusted him to you."
"As I entrusted him to Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon returned, but he knew he was doing an inadequate job relating to a lonely and grieving mother why he had seemingly broken his word to her. Leaning closer, he reached across the table and took her hand in his. She glanced at their clasped hands briefly, but did not pull away. "I was dying," he said quietly. "I wanted more than anything to see that your son would be taken care of. I knew Obi-Wan would excel in that; his generous heart saved me when I thought I was lost so many years ago. He will do right by your son, and your son will benefit greatly from him." It was a little more personal than he'd intended, but it was true, and perhaps it would allay her fears some.
Shmi contemplated his words. Perhaps his former apprentice would be a good teacher to her son … but could she really entrust her son to him? She had never met this young man, knew nothing of him …
"Couldn't you take him back as your apprentice?" she asked hesitantly, and didn't like the way Qui-Gon's rugged features tightened.
Qui-Gon heaved a heavy sigh. "I do not believe it would be a good idea at this time – "
"Then leave him with me!" Shmi snapped, her eyes bright with anger. "My son is lonely and hurting! Your apprentice has done nothing for him!" She swallowed. "He speaks to me of his great dream to be a Jedi. I believed that in sending him with you he could achieve that dream and have a better life than he had here. Now you bring him to see me and he tells me that he has learned nothing! He tells me of the distrust and dislike your Council has for him. He tells me that your apprentice did not and does not want him." Shmi was near tears now. "What kind of life have I given him over to, Master Jinn? I believed in you. I trusted you. I may not have much to give my son, but at least he knows he is loved and wanted here."
And for the first time in a long while, Qui-Gon Jinn didn't know what to say.
end chapter two
And wow, I didn't realize how short this was compared to Chapter One.
Sorry! Chapter Three will be up as soon as my wonderful betas add their
corrections. *l* They seem so long while you're writing them ...