One week later, Obi-Wan came out of the bacta tank. He had been restless
all week, ready to get out of there. The healers had been forced to give
him sedatives to keep him still.
Obi-Wan's existence within the Temple was kept a secret, known only to Qui- Gon, Anakin, the Council, and the Healers. That had been Qui-Gon's decision. He wasn't completely sure that Obi-Wan would be comfortable seeing everyone again. In fact, he wasn't certain that Obi-Wan would even stay. Perhaps it had been too long.
Qui-Gon went to the healers on the morning that Obi-Wan was released from the bacta tank. The younger man remained unconscious for two hours afterwards, as a result of the sedatives. Qui-Gon was relieved when Obi-Wan finally woke up.
"Qui-Gon," the man murmured weakly. "You've just gotten out of the bacta tank. Try to rest a while." "Where am I?" Qui-Gon took a breath. "You're at the Temple. On Coruscant." Obi-Wan's eyes shot open. He was speechless.
Never again had he expected to be in this place, or even to lay eyes on it. He was supposed to die on Vaski 3.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Obi-Wan asked. "That's a story for a better time," Qui-Gon said gently. "You're weak and tired. You need rest." "I'd like to know," Obi-Wan said more forcefully, straightening up in his bed. Qui-Gon blinked. It usually took a Jedi two days of recovery after being in a bacta tank for only three days, and even then, they were usually too weak to even speak. Obi-Wan had been in a tank for three weeks.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon coaxed gently. He didn't want this right now.
"I'm not a child, Qui-Gon. I want to know what happened. Stop protecting me from what you think I should not know." The determination in Obi-Wan's voice sent Qui-Gon into a daze. He couldn't even think straight for a moment.
"Anakin came at you with a lightsaber. I pushed you out of the way." Qui- Gon stopped.
"And I suppose that simple action landed me in a bacta tank?"
"Anakin was running too fast. At me. And you jumped in and saved me."
"And in the process."
"My Padawan.. very nearly cut you in half." ******
Obi-Wan was horrified. No, not horrified. Something even more terrible. The very core of the man was rattled. Obi-Wan's breathing became staggered as he stared in horror at his former Master. Without moving his gaze from Qui- Gon, the young man moved his hand to feel at his torso. Qui-Gon took the man's hand before he had the chance.
"Not yet, Obi-Wan," said Qui-Gon gently.
Obi-Wan replaced his hand on the bed. His raspy breathing became regular again.
Obi-Wan collapsed into unconciousness.
Obi-Wan's existence within the Temple was kept a secret, known only to Qui- Gon, Anakin, the Council, and the Healers. That had been Qui-Gon's decision. He wasn't completely sure that Obi-Wan would be comfortable seeing everyone again. In fact, he wasn't certain that Obi-Wan would even stay. Perhaps it had been too long.
Qui-Gon went to the healers on the morning that Obi-Wan was released from the bacta tank. The younger man remained unconscious for two hours afterwards, as a result of the sedatives. Qui-Gon was relieved when Obi-Wan finally woke up.
"Qui-Gon," the man murmured weakly. "You've just gotten out of the bacta tank. Try to rest a while." "Where am I?" Qui-Gon took a breath. "You're at the Temple. On Coruscant." Obi-Wan's eyes shot open. He was speechless.
Never again had he expected to be in this place, or even to lay eyes on it. He was supposed to die on Vaski 3.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Obi-Wan asked. "That's a story for a better time," Qui-Gon said gently. "You're weak and tired. You need rest." "I'd like to know," Obi-Wan said more forcefully, straightening up in his bed. Qui-Gon blinked. It usually took a Jedi two days of recovery after being in a bacta tank for only three days, and even then, they were usually too weak to even speak. Obi-Wan had been in a tank for three weeks.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon coaxed gently. He didn't want this right now.
"I'm not a child, Qui-Gon. I want to know what happened. Stop protecting me from what you think I should not know." The determination in Obi-Wan's voice sent Qui-Gon into a daze. He couldn't even think straight for a moment.
"Anakin came at you with a lightsaber. I pushed you out of the way." Qui- Gon stopped.
"And I suppose that simple action landed me in a bacta tank?"
"Anakin was running too fast. At me. And you jumped in and saved me."
"And in the process."
"My Padawan.. very nearly cut you in half." ******
Obi-Wan was horrified. No, not horrified. Something even more terrible. The very core of the man was rattled. Obi-Wan's breathing became staggered as he stared in horror at his former Master. Without moving his gaze from Qui- Gon, the young man moved his hand to feel at his torso. Qui-Gon took the man's hand before he had the chance.
"Not yet, Obi-Wan," said Qui-Gon gently.
Obi-Wan replaced his hand on the bed. His raspy breathing became regular again.
Obi-Wan collapsed into unconciousness.