Author's notes-
A huge thank you goes out to Realbluelightsaber! (err.spelling?) You
totally made my day with your review.and guess what? You're the first
reviewer, so I dedicate this chapter to you! (
"Yes, my dear Padawan." Obi-Wan's voice sounded so childlike, it took Qui- Gon back to the time when Obi-Wan had been little more than an insecure child, rather than a man, in the prime of his life. Obi-Wan's smile was almost sickly, and when he next spoke, a high pitch of hysteria tinged his voice. "I am sorry, Master. I mean no disrespect. I just can't be too careful. After all, I might just be losing my mind," A soft bit of laughter rang in the air, "What's left of it." "Obi-Wan, remember your thirteenth birthday? I gave you a black rock, that had red streaks running through it. It was from my home planet. I found it when I was swimming in the River of Light. It was Force sensitive." Obi-Wan nodded mutely. Qui-Gon merely watched him. He felt fear course through him. What had happened to the strong, bright, unstoppable child he had raised? Obi-Wan suddenly whirled around, heading back towards the kitchen. He rinsed his glass out, still trying to let all of this sink in. He filled the glass with water, and walked back into the living room, his bare feet soundless against the floor. He sank onto the couch, sipping his water. What has happened to my Padawan? Qui-Gon thought. Have I caused him this much grief? The very thought that he could have done so much damage to his Apprentice, ripped his heart to shreds. Obi-Wan could feel his Master's eyes on him. Why was Qui-Gon back? How had he disturbed his Master? Was it his drinking? He knew it was slightly un-orthodox, but his Master, a Jedi well known for having been a rule breaker, was a fine one to lecture about rules. Was it Anakin? The boy was certainly damned trying, and beyond frustrating. "I have missed you." Obi-Wan's head shot up at these words. His eyes, the color of Kamino's oceans, softened. He smirked. "I have missed you more than you can imagine, my Master." "Oh, I don't know Padawan. I can imagine quite a lot." Obi-Wan's warm chuckle at this statement lifted some of the shadows from the incorporeal Master's heart. "I am training the boy, as you requested Master, but I feel as though I am not doing as well as you could have." The far-away look in the younger man's eyes told Qui-Gon that he was remembering his own Apprenticeship. "You are being foolish. You are doing the best that any Jedi Master can do in your situation. You went from Padawan to Master in a very short time." Obi-Wan smiled. "You are doing your best, Obi-Wan, I know. You've always done your best. Please don't give up on Anakin. He is just young. Don't give up on the Force either. Destiny can be very cruel at times." Obi-Wan shouldn't have been surprised at how easily Qui-Gon had been able to pinpoint every one of his feelings. He had missed this. He had missed Qui-Gon pointing out what he was feeling, narrowing his problems down into small parts that were easier to understand and solve. He had missed the man's compassion, and understanding. He was glad that Qui-Gon wasn't angry with him for his self doubts, but instead offered him concern and kindness. "That is no excuse, Master. I was trained to overcome any obstacle thrown in my path." Qui sternly looked at Obi's face. "It is no one's fault but mine. I should have never made you promise me to take Annie as your Padawan." Obi- Wan's eyebrows shot up at this statement. None of this was Qui-Gon's fault! It was all his. He was the one who lacked the teaching skills, and the patience required in dealing with a teen-aged boy. He was the one who had taken another's life in a fit of revenge, and hatred, and had enjoyed it. He was the one who, because of his mistakes, had been unable to help his Master, when the man had needed him most! The least he could have done for his Master was to take the boy as his Padawan learner. "If that is what you truly believe, Master." Obi-Wan said dully. If it made Qui-Gon feel better to say that he deserved part of the blame for all of his screw ups, then so be it. He could play his part in that ruse, no matter how absurd it was. Qui-Gon nodded, silently. He knew that Obi-Wan didn't truly believe his reasoning. Obi-Wan himself, felt uncomfortable in the way this conversation was beginning to shape itself. It was leading to places that he didn't want to discuss with anyone. He knew it was beginning to lead to his exhilarating brush with the dark side. He had no wish to shame his Master, and his Master's teachings with that particular revelation. He hoped that Qui-Gon would just drop their conversation. Qui-Gon must have sensed this, for he sat on a chair near Obi-Wan's and gazed at his Padawan.
"Hmm," Qui-Gon mused, thoughtfully, "Remember our mission to Gala? We ended up on Phinidar. We were sidetracked by Guerra, and Paxxie." Obi-Wan grinned. The two began to swap stories, remembering the various unique missions they had attended together. Obi-Wan honestly didn't care what they spoke of, as long as it didn't lead to his current issues. He was very thankful his Master had dropped his earlier subjects.
The sun rose, spreading fiery colors across the city skyline. It painted Obi-Wan's quarters, and it's occupants in liquid fire. It found both Master's sitting in a companionable silence that is only possible for two people who have known each other for a lifetime. Behind Obi-Wan his holovid began to beep. The annoying tone filled the silent apartment. An incensed groan came from Obi-Wan. "Damn obnoxious." His voice trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder. There he saw the strong, tanned face of his handsome Padawan, back dropped by a beautiful garden, and waterfall, courtesy of Naboo. His grumbling immediately ceased, as his eyes grew dark with anger. "What in the HELL is he still doing there? I specifically told him to drop her off, and hurry home!" He turned back to Qui-Gon, noting regret and sadness in the elder man's face. "What is it Master?" Obi-Wan knew he didn't need to ask. His heart cried out, though. He didn't want Qui-Gon to leave! "I have to go now, Obi. You have your own life to live, now." Obi- Wan Kenobi jumped up with a wordless cry, but it was too late. Qui-Gon had disappeared.
"Yes, my dear Padawan." Obi-Wan's voice sounded so childlike, it took Qui- Gon back to the time when Obi-Wan had been little more than an insecure child, rather than a man, in the prime of his life. Obi-Wan's smile was almost sickly, and when he next spoke, a high pitch of hysteria tinged his voice. "I am sorry, Master. I mean no disrespect. I just can't be too careful. After all, I might just be losing my mind," A soft bit of laughter rang in the air, "What's left of it." "Obi-Wan, remember your thirteenth birthday? I gave you a black rock, that had red streaks running through it. It was from my home planet. I found it when I was swimming in the River of Light. It was Force sensitive." Obi-Wan nodded mutely. Qui-Gon merely watched him. He felt fear course through him. What had happened to the strong, bright, unstoppable child he had raised? Obi-Wan suddenly whirled around, heading back towards the kitchen. He rinsed his glass out, still trying to let all of this sink in. He filled the glass with water, and walked back into the living room, his bare feet soundless against the floor. He sank onto the couch, sipping his water. What has happened to my Padawan? Qui-Gon thought. Have I caused him this much grief? The very thought that he could have done so much damage to his Apprentice, ripped his heart to shreds. Obi-Wan could feel his Master's eyes on him. Why was Qui-Gon back? How had he disturbed his Master? Was it his drinking? He knew it was slightly un-orthodox, but his Master, a Jedi well known for having been a rule breaker, was a fine one to lecture about rules. Was it Anakin? The boy was certainly damned trying, and beyond frustrating. "I have missed you." Obi-Wan's head shot up at these words. His eyes, the color of Kamino's oceans, softened. He smirked. "I have missed you more than you can imagine, my Master." "Oh, I don't know Padawan. I can imagine quite a lot." Obi-Wan's warm chuckle at this statement lifted some of the shadows from the incorporeal Master's heart. "I am training the boy, as you requested Master, but I feel as though I am not doing as well as you could have." The far-away look in the younger man's eyes told Qui-Gon that he was remembering his own Apprenticeship. "You are being foolish. You are doing the best that any Jedi Master can do in your situation. You went from Padawan to Master in a very short time." Obi-Wan smiled. "You are doing your best, Obi-Wan, I know. You've always done your best. Please don't give up on Anakin. He is just young. Don't give up on the Force either. Destiny can be very cruel at times." Obi-Wan shouldn't have been surprised at how easily Qui-Gon had been able to pinpoint every one of his feelings. He had missed this. He had missed Qui-Gon pointing out what he was feeling, narrowing his problems down into small parts that were easier to understand and solve. He had missed the man's compassion, and understanding. He was glad that Qui-Gon wasn't angry with him for his self doubts, but instead offered him concern and kindness. "That is no excuse, Master. I was trained to overcome any obstacle thrown in my path." Qui sternly looked at Obi's face. "It is no one's fault but mine. I should have never made you promise me to take Annie as your Padawan." Obi- Wan's eyebrows shot up at this statement. None of this was Qui-Gon's fault! It was all his. He was the one who lacked the teaching skills, and the patience required in dealing with a teen-aged boy. He was the one who had taken another's life in a fit of revenge, and hatred, and had enjoyed it. He was the one who, because of his mistakes, had been unable to help his Master, when the man had needed him most! The least he could have done for his Master was to take the boy as his Padawan learner. "If that is what you truly believe, Master." Obi-Wan said dully. If it made Qui-Gon feel better to say that he deserved part of the blame for all of his screw ups, then so be it. He could play his part in that ruse, no matter how absurd it was. Qui-Gon nodded, silently. He knew that Obi-Wan didn't truly believe his reasoning. Obi-Wan himself, felt uncomfortable in the way this conversation was beginning to shape itself. It was leading to places that he didn't want to discuss with anyone. He knew it was beginning to lead to his exhilarating brush with the dark side. He had no wish to shame his Master, and his Master's teachings with that particular revelation. He hoped that Qui-Gon would just drop their conversation. Qui-Gon must have sensed this, for he sat on a chair near Obi-Wan's and gazed at his Padawan.
"Hmm," Qui-Gon mused, thoughtfully, "Remember our mission to Gala? We ended up on Phinidar. We were sidetracked by Guerra, and Paxxie." Obi-Wan grinned. The two began to swap stories, remembering the various unique missions they had attended together. Obi-Wan honestly didn't care what they spoke of, as long as it didn't lead to his current issues. He was very thankful his Master had dropped his earlier subjects.
The sun rose, spreading fiery colors across the city skyline. It painted Obi-Wan's quarters, and it's occupants in liquid fire. It found both Master's sitting in a companionable silence that is only possible for two people who have known each other for a lifetime. Behind Obi-Wan his holovid began to beep. The annoying tone filled the silent apartment. An incensed groan came from Obi-Wan. "Damn obnoxious." His voice trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder. There he saw the strong, tanned face of his handsome Padawan, back dropped by a beautiful garden, and waterfall, courtesy of Naboo. His grumbling immediately ceased, as his eyes grew dark with anger. "What in the HELL is he still doing there? I specifically told him to drop her off, and hurry home!" He turned back to Qui-Gon, noting regret and sadness in the elder man's face. "What is it Master?" Obi-Wan knew he didn't need to ask. His heart cried out, though. He didn't want Qui-Gon to leave! "I have to go now, Obi. You have your own life to live, now." Obi- Wan Kenobi jumped up with a wordless cry, but it was too late. Qui-Gon had disappeared.