Bail found Obi-Wan curled up on the sofa in his room, his face buried in the crook of his arm. The irony was not lost on him. He was Obi-Wan's lover, but what was that compared to what Qui-Gon had been to him? Bail had never really been able to compete with Qui-Gon Jinn, and he hardly felt he had any right to offer Obi-Wan comfort now, not when it was Qui-Gon Obi-Wan really wanted. But he could not stand by and do nothing.
He cautiously approached Obi-Wan, settling himself on the couch next to him and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. For a moment he said nothing, hoping that his mere presence offered comfort. Besides he wasn't sure what to say. "Anakin told us... about Qui-Gon," he began.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Obi-Wan mumbled into his arm. "I was going to, but -- I couldn't tell you over the comm, and when we got here, there wasn't time."
"It's all right. I understand, believe me," Bail assured him. Another long pause, then, "What happened?"
"The Senate sent us to Naboo--"
"You were the Jedi team sent to Naboo?" Bail gasped. The events on Naboo had been very much in the galactic spotlight of late, but Bail had been distracted enough by events in the Senate not to pay as much attention as he might have otherwise.
"Yes," Obi-Wan confirmed. And he began to tell the story of their flight from Naboo with the Queen, seeking refuge on Tatooine where they met Anakin, their later return to Naboo, and that fateful duel. But he made no mention of Qui-Gon's desire to train Anakin himself, or the fact that his master had effectively disowned him before the Council. Instead, he focused on the duel. Painful as it was, somehow it hurt less than what had happened in the Council chamber.
"The government wants to keep it quiet," he said, "but the creature we fought on Naboo was a Sith."
Bail absorbed this in shocked silence. "I thought there were no more Sith."
"So did everyone, but we were wrong."
"It would have to be, though. Only a Sith could kill Qui-Gon...." Bail's voice trailed off as the implications of his words hit him. Qui-Gon was dead, but Obi-Wan lived. Obi-Wan survived the duel. Obi-Wan killed the Sith. The realization chilled Bail. He always thought Obi-Wan was a great Jedi, but in truth his assessment had more to do with loyalty rather than much of an awareness of Obi-Wan's true skill. It was almost frightening to realize Obi-Wan was capable of killing a Sith, a Sith who had defeated his own master. "Good heavens, Ben, that's a hell of a way to become a knight."
Obi-Wan's eyes brimmed with tears. "I know," he whispered. "I'd almost rather..."
"... it never happened," Bail finished for him. As Obi-Wan's composure finally dissolved, Bail held him close.