*gasps happily* Oh my gosh I'm on the favourite author/story lists of people!! *faints* Thank you! And thanks to all those who've left reviews. Especially if you've left more than one. Nice to see you're sticking with me on this roller coaster ride of a story ^-^
More guilt for Qui you say? Coming right up! Can't let somebody hurt my favourite film character and get away scot-free...
Hard to Break, Harder to Fix
Survival
The bartender had seen enough. He was used to pub brawls but this was clearly way past that. One look at the attacker and victim told it all. Bounty hunters never did like Jedi. Well, nobody in this part of Coruscant liked Jedi, there were seen as 'no good meddlers', well, give or take a swear word or three.
This one was only young though, so the bartender took pity. Nobody as young as that, Jedi or no Jedi, deserved to have their head kicked in. Whipping out a blaster and aiming at the bounty hunter, the attacker was on the floor dead within seconds. Years of drunken fights had made him a crack shot with a blaster, so it was no miracle that he only needed two shots. He turned his attention to the boy lying on the floor.
"Hey kid," he said to the teenager's unhearing ears whilst shaking him violently, "wake up will ya?"
Maybe this was more serious than he thought.
***
Yoda carefully navigated his levitating chair down the winding corridors of the Jedi Temple, being mindful of the tall figure of Mace next to him. Both walked (and floated) in a silence uncanny for two who knew each other so well. Neither spoke until they had reached the threshold of Master Jinn.
"Oh, Master Yoda and Master Mace, come in."
Qui-Gon could already sense an atmosphere of sadness which immediately made him feel even worse. And that was before he noticed the serious appearance shared by both the Masters' faces.
Mace looked at Yoda uneasily and began.
"Look, I'm going to be straight with you Qui. Obi, he's here."
Qui-Gon's face lit into an maelstrom of emotions he couldn't begin to express through facial expression.
"In the temple? Where?" The eagerness in his voice was evident, making it hard for Mace to retain the composure in his own voice.
"Floating in a bacta tank."
Qui-Gon refused to believe it. His Obi, hurt, no. It couldn't be. He looked at Yoda, eyes wild, hoping he would disprove what Mace had said. Yoda just looked down. Mace continued.
"He came in at about midday yesterday. He wasn't in a good way. Word says he was attacked."
"Attacked?" Qui-Gon whispered. This was becoming less and less realistic to him by the second.
"He's doing well, he should be coming out of the tank soon."
Qui-Gon wiped his mind clear, shaking his head furiously in disbelief. "Can I see him?"
Mace nodded and Qui-Gon fell into step behind his old friend.
***
The sweet yet sickly smell of bacta greeted Obi-Wan's reawakened senses in a rushing wave as he strained to open his eyes. The healers room, what was he doing here? And in the Jedi Temple of all places? Thinking carefully, he tried to recall what had happened to him to launch him into a healer's ward. With a low groan he remembered snippets of what happened at the bar and shifted uncomfortably to look at the person next to him. Even if he still couldn't really see properly he knew there was only one short green Jedi Master in the Temple. He smiled weakly.
"Hello Master Yoda."
"Padawan Kenobi, lightens my heart it does to see you well." The rare smile that escaped Yoda's face was wholly genuine.
"I don't feel well," muttered Obi-Wan. Yoda chuckled.
"Many injuries have you. Lucky to be alive you are."
Obi-Wan's head pounded with every word either of them spoke, hindering his ability to think. Common sense came to him at last as he realised that if he was back in the Jedi Temple, his Master would be around somewhere. He drew up the force to check the building. To his dismay, the force wasn't there.
"The force..."
"Gone it is for you. Laced your drink was. Force blocker," Yoda nodded sagely, "but always there the force is. Back it will be soon."
Obi-Wan nodded. Some kind of force sedative, that made sense. That's why he couldn't identify that man in the bar. His thoughts returned to why he wanted to use the force in the first place.
"Master Qui - "
Yoda had already predicted the next question. "Outside."
"I don't wanna see him," he mumbled, rolling over and turning away from Yoda. Yoda wasn't going to give that easily however.
"He's been waiting outside ever since we told him you were here," said a new voice. It was one of the healers. "We told him that there was no point in watching a bacta tank but he wouldn't leave. Been here the whole day he has, oh and all of last night. Must really like you." She nodded at the truth in her own words and carried on clearing various medical instruments away. Yoda smiled. He couldn't have put it better himself. Obi-Wan paused. The whole day and last night?
"How long have I been here?" he asked.
"Since yesterday afternoon dear. You weren't too great either. Be grateful for the existence of bacta tanks otherwise you may not have survived the night. Nasty bump to the head you had. We were all worried about you. Well everyone in the ward that is. Nobody else knows 'cept your Master and Masters Yoda and Mace." On the mention of Yoda's name she realised she'd rudely interrupted him. Blushing furiously she said, "Sorry, got carried away there."
Yoda smiled again. He didn't mind at all. Maybe the truth coming from an ordinary stranger might affect Obi-Wan more. He looked at Obi-Wan again, who looked stunned.
"He was outside… all the time?" he croaked, thinking that Qui-Gon didn't care about him enough to sit outside the healer's ward for the best part of a day. Yoda simple nodded.
"Wants to talk he does. Do well you would to listen."
"But I've heard all he has to say," answered Obi-Wan somewhat defiantly. He desperately wanted everything to be back to normal. He wanted to be happy again but all his happiness depended solely on his Master being with him, and Obi-Wan was of the opinion that Qui-Gon didn't want that.
"Ah," said Yoda, an enigmatic look in his eyes, "but listen did you to what was not said?"
Yoda turned and left the room without another word. Obi-Wan sighed. He should've expected at least one baffling riddle.
***
Qui-Gon rose from his seat as soon as he saw Yoda leave the room. Yoda waved his hand impatiently, bidding his old apprentice to sit.
"How is he Master?"
"Well enough."
"Is he awake?"
Yoda nodded. The short vague replies were making Qui-Gon irritable, he wanted to know everything possible.
"Can I see him?"
Yoda pondered. "Let you talk he will, but wary you must be."
Qui-Gon sighed, hoping to let some of the strain and worry out. "Master, I have known you for practically all my life but I will never understand you when you talk in those riddles of yours."
Yoda smiled. "An old Jedi proverb there is. Strong bond exists between Master and Padawan. Hard to break it is, yet even harder to fix." He began his slow way back to the Jedi Council rooms, secretly confident.
Qui-Gon stared at the door, thinking of things he could possibly say to somebody whose life had almost ended because of his actions. He'd been sitting in this little waiting room for almost 24 hours and with each passing minute he felt more disgusted with himself for not preventing everything that had happened. He had failed Obi-Wan yet again.
***
Obi-Wan eased himself into a sitting position slowly. He still felt relatively numb from his hours in the bacta tank, but wasn't relishing the forthcoming delayed arrival of the pain. Feeling stiff, he gazed around the room. The force sedative was gradually wearing off, and now he could feel all the force signatures in the room. He relaxed a little. Having the force with him for the previous 13 years of his life and then having it snatched away, even only temporarily, was frightening, so it was comforting now that it was back in all its nurturing glory.
He heard the door creak open. Obi-Wan held his breath, he didn't need to glance over to see who had entered. He'd know that force signature anywhere. He downcast his eyes as that ever familiar presence approached and sat next to him.
Qui-Gon stared helplessly in horror. He blamed himself for every cut and bruise that marred his poor little Obi-Wan's skin. The bitter taste of guilt filled him until he was ready to explode, if only he could out things right. Not being able to hold back, he moved a hand to Obi-Wan's face and whispered "Oh my Padawan, what have I done?" Obi-Wan sharply turned his head away from his Master's touch, staying silent. Tears pricked Qui-Gon's eyes. No, Obi was right. He had no right to even be near him after what he had done.
"Obi-Wan, are you listening?"
He didn't look up. He didn't move a muscle.
"Obi, please just listen. I know I've let you down. I know I can't make it up to you but at least let me explain myself. I never got to do that. You said you wanted to know what was wrong? Well it was that mission, on Tattooine. You always asked what happened but I never told you. I regret that now."
Obi-Wan's mind raced. Could this be what Yoda meant about his Master not telling him everything? Maybe, just maybe if he heard him out, everything could be ok again. Obi-Wan nodded once, but still didn't look up. Qui-Gon took a deep breath, and began.
***
A/N
It's a miracle! Wonder Obi survives again! Hallelujah!
*ahem*
At the beginning of the story you all wanted to know what's up with Qui and all about this weird Tattooine mission that seemed to be the cause. Well, next chapter is the full story of Tattooine as told by Qui ^-^ I bet you all forgot about Tattooine with Obi's life hanging in the balance so much...