For full info, see first part.

Well, after a long delay, here is chapter 6! Yay! Hope you all enjoy it, next few posts will be a bit more on the action side than 1-6, just to tell you =)



Qui-Gon massaged the bridge of his nose before turning back to the apprentice in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Bant, but where did you say he went?"

"He said something about tutoring someone."

Bant clasped her hands tightly in front of her in an attempt to avoid fidgeting. She would be an impeccable liar – if it was the tendency of the Jedi to lie – and if she could only keep her nervous hands from betraying her.

"Who?"

Bant cringed inwardly. She had hoped that Master Jinn would just accept the news; then she could go and Obi-Wan could handle the details when he got back. Apparently, that wasn't how the Force intended this to work.

"I believe it was an initiate, Master Jinn."

"Name?"

Bant sighed. Obi, she thought, you're going to be doing my physics homework for the next month! "I don't know, Master. He didn't say."

Qui-Gon looked at her for a moment before tucking his arms into the folds of his cloak, calmly thanking the girl, and walking out of the training room.



* * *



Obi-Wan palmed open the door to his quarters, not bothering to call out for his master – both knew of the other's presence in the apartment. Obi-Wan had arrived home right before evening meal, just as he had all the other times he had left the Temple – only this time, he would have to outright lie to Qui-Gon. He hastily threw his bunched up poncho into his bed chambers before walking towards the kitchen, checking his shields, and entering.

"Hello, Master."

Qui-Gon turned from his dinner preparations to his padawan, a forced smile on his lips, "Hello, Obi-Wan. How did the studying go?"

A trace of confusion graced Obi-Wan's features, "Studying?"

"Yes, Bant said that you were studying for a galactic history exam…weren't you?"

Obi-Wan almost kicked himself. That must have been Bant's excuse for him!

"Oh! Yes, Master. It went very well. I should ace the next test."

Obi-Wan flashed his master a smile, not noticing Qui-Gon's suddenly darker visage. The master's suspicions were correct; Obi-Wan was hiding something from him.

"Then I shall hold you to that." The master spoke hardly and began attacking the food in front of him with more strength than was needed. Realizing his frustration, he relaxed, found his center, and turned to his padawan.

Qui-Gon put down the knife he was using to chop the muja fruit, "Obi-Wan."

The padawan, who was setting the table, continued to as he answered, "Yes, Master?"

"Wha-" Qui-Gon started, but was interrupted by the blare of the apartment comlink. Sighing, he left the kitchen and went into the common area, to the comstation.

Hushed voices floated into the kitchen, voices which Obi-Wan tried to ignore as he first finished setting the table, then went on to finish his master's dinner preparations. He was already lying to his master; he would not make himself feel worse by eavesdropping.

A few minutes later, Qui-Gon returned looking infinitely more tired than when he had left. He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan, now washing another muja fruit, put it down on the counter and turned his full attention to Qui-Gon.

"I told you of my negotiations, correct?"

Obi-Wan nodded.

"Well, they fell through. We have been ordered to go to the planet and continue them there."

Qui-Gon cast a glance at the raw food waiting to be cooked, "And we have to leave right now. Would you mind cleaning up? I have a few more issues to take care of. I guess we'll eat on the transport."

Despite himself, Qui-Gon gave a small smile at the look of complete revulsion on his padawan's face. Obi-Wan was never one for transport food.

"Yes, Master."

"Hurry. When you're done, pack, and we'll go."

"Yes, Master."



* * *



"One moment, master. Please?"

Qui-Gon checked his chrono, "Obi-Wan, we only have fifteen minutes to get the docking station."

"I know, I just want to say good-bye. In person."

Qui-Gon sighed and waved his padawan off. "Be back here in ten minutes, no more."

The boy gave a quick smile and hurried off, foregoing sprinting until he had turned a corner. He checked her quarters, the cafeteria, and, finally, the meditation area with the reflecting pool.

Obi-Wan called her name across the empty room and ran up to her, attempting to catch his breath, "Bant, do you make an effort to hide from me or is it just something you do naturally?"

She returned his smile and pulled her legs from where they were dangling in the water before standing up. "I didn't know I was being sought."

"I just came to say good-bye. Master and I are being sent to negotiate in," he looked at his chrono, "three minutes. I've really got to go, but I just had to say good-bye."

He reached out and drew her to him, hugging her, and giving a short kiss on the cheek. Obi-Wan agreed to her demand that he com her sometime before turning and walking quickly towards the exit. Halfway there, he slowed and called over his shoulder.

"And thank you, for what you did. But next time, pick a class that I'm actually in. You know I took galactic history last year."

Bant creased her forehead in confusion, "What? What did I say about galactic history?" Trailing off as she realized that she was now alone.



* * *



"Dinner is served."

Qui-Gon smiled at his padawan's look of sheer terror as the Jedi master dropped a disposable tray of what the box claimed to be food in front of the boy. Qui-Gon sat down across from Obi-Wan at the small duristeel table and peeled back the clear lid, cringing at the container's contents. He took a tenuous bite and, noticing that it tasted like literally nothing, shrugged and continued eating, albeit slowly.

A few minutes passed before either spoke. Qui-Gon made the first move, clearing his throat and beginning, "Obi-Wan."

The padawan stopped poking his pile of cream colored mush and looked at Qui- Gon, "Yes, Master."

"I know."

Obi-Wan blanched and dropped his fork. Blinking, he responded, "Kno- know what, master?"

"What's going on. Why you've gone missing for hours at a time. Why you're avoiding my questions."

Obi-Wan swallowed, "Master, I…"

Qui-Gon held up his had to silence the boy, "I just have one question. What's her name?"

Scrunching his face in confusion, Obi-Wan responded, "Her name?"

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, "Yes, Obi-Wan, her name. I was young once, despite popular belief. I know what happens when a boy meets a girl, but I must say that I'm grateful that you have not yet tried some of the stunts I pulled on my master."

Some of the color returned to Obi-Wan's cheeks and the boy's lips pulled into a small smile, "But Master, there is no-"

"Fine," Qui-Gon cut him off, "You don't have to tell me. I am, after all, only your master. I wouldn't understand such things."

Obi-Wan smiled – and changed the subject. "Master, what exactly did you do when you did understand 'such things'?"

"Obi-Wan, there is no power in this galaxy that would get me to tell you that – I have no desire to pull my padawan from a lower level cargo elevator window where he had – somehow – wedged himself quite spectacularly. Now, eat your mush."



* * *



Qui-Gon made his way down the short hallway to his apprentice's room. A disturbance in the Force had awoken him and, finding the training bond completely blocked off, his masterly instincts had kicked in. Finding his padawan's room empty was no comfort.

Qui-Gon's attention was drawn to the small door across from Obi-Wan's room – the 'fresher. Feeling the urge of the Force, he palmed it open and found his padawan slumped over the toilet, retching.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said softly and dropped down next to the boy.

Obi-Wan lifted his head and turned it to his master. Squinting at Qui-Gon, he mumbled something about hating travel food before turning back over the toilet and throwing up again.

Quickly, Qui-Gon went over to the sink, grabbed a towel, and ran in under cool water. He wrung it out before returning to his apprentice's side and carefully moping the boy's brow and neck, murmuring soothing words the entire time.

When Obi-Wan was finally finished, he allowed Qui-Gon to pull him back into a gentle embrace; the padawan using his master as a sort of back rest and closing his eyes.

Well, Obi-Wan thought wryly, at least I won't be doing this again for a while.

A hope rose in him. Maybe he didn't need it anymore. Maybe he could live without it.

The only thing which dampened this hope and made him doubt the truth of the statements was one word.

Maybe.



Well? What do you think? Tell me! Be a good lil Jedi and review!