Disclaimer- the new characters in this part are mine and only mine. Ha! I finally own something, Georgie! Take that! The title comes from the Goo Goo Dolls' song "Bullet Proof " off the 'Dizzy Up the Girl' CD. John Rzeznik wrote it.

And again, thanks for the reviews!

This is rather long, but read it, please, and review. I'm not a doctor (but one day I will be. Harvard Med, watch out!), so the medical junk might not be accurate. Does anyone know Ewan McGregor's blood type? I'd like to know, 'cause ya know, he does play Obi-Wan so I can make Obi's and Ewan's…never mind.

~Blazer~
July 22, 2002

BREATHE

PART SEVEN:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOSE CONTROL?

Qui-Gon lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Usually he could sleep whenever he commanded his body and mind to, but tonight something was wrong. He could feel a vague sense of fright, and a vague sense of anger. He glanced at Obi-Wan across the way to make sure he was still breathing. He was grateful to see his apprentice's chest slowly rising and falling.

Whenever he looked at Obi-Wan, his heart ached with love. This young man had saved him from certain death. He had taken some of Qui-Gon's wound and had washed it upon himself. They had shared the wound. Qui-Gon felt proud every time he looked at Obi-Wan. He owed this man everything.

Yet he also was worried whenever he cast his eyes on his Padawan. Obi-Wan had not woken from his slumber since the Naboo starship had brought his body to the Temple. That had been two weeks ago. Qui-Gon had awoken six days ago and there was still no change in Obi-Wan. The Temple Healer Veira Dirmond had told him Obi-Wan's vitals were good and he should awake any day. Everyday he didn't was a torture to the Jedi Master.

He wondered his vague feelings were coming from Obi-Wan. He examined the young man. He seemed completely peaceful in the bed. There were pulsars on his bare chest, temples and on his neck. There was a tube down his throat and a long white bandage wrapped around his stomach. Other than that, his color was ashy and he seemed somewhat frail. They had been watering and feeding him through an IV tube, but that was taken away at night.

Qui-Gon could not throw away his sense of unease. Was Obi-Wan dreaming? Could those possibly the feelings he felt? They were certainly not his own. His fright was wide in the open. He didn't hide this feeling. Every Master in the Temple knew how he loved Obi-Wan as a son. Even if the fright was his, he wasn't angry in the slightest. Well, he was angry with himself for not protecting Obi-Wan as he should have, but he knew that wasn't it.

He decided it was Obi-Wan and he was dreaming. He didn't know of what, but it pleased him that at least Obi-Wan's mind was active.

Suddenly a machine coming from Obi-Wan began to ring. Qui-Gon hurled himself into a sitting position and immediately pressed his CALL button. He snapped his light on and watched as Obi-Wan began to struggle against the machines. He could hear funny chokes coming from his Padawan.

Qui-Gon counted to five and hurled himself up. His body roared fury, but he threw himself forward and clutched the edge of Obi-Wan's bed, locking his knees. He reached up and snapped on Obi-Wan's light. He watched the heart monitor making jagged jumps.

He glanced to the door and saw the lights starting to come on. He saw Veira Dirmond and her apprentice come rushing into the room and straight to Obi-Wan's bed. "You shouldn't be up," Veira said, as she came around to the other side of Obi-Wan's bed. She examined the monitors as the apprentice produced a chair for Qui-Gon to sit in. He collapsed into it heavily.

"What's wrong, Veira?" he asked, his voice showing his fear.

Veira checked Obi-Wan's vital signs then just looked at him for a second. "He seems to be waking up," she said in a shaky voice. "He's fighting the machines but his brain shows no sign of waking. "

"What does that mean?"

Veira thought for a minute. "His body is ready to be off the monitors," she said with a sigh. "But his mind is not ready to wake. "

Qui-Gon held in his groan of frustration. He watched Veira withdraw the tube from Obi-Wan's mouth. His heart leapt when his apprentice began to cough. He prayed that any second now Obi-Wan would open his eyes. He waited for a minute while Obi-Wan coughed. Suddenly his Padawan stilled and began to breathe normally.

Veira sighed and saw the devastated look in the other Jedi's eyes. "Qui-Gon, I know he'll wake up soon." She looked at the young man fondly. "He's a fighter, Qui-Gon. I know he wants to wake up." She suddenly blinked her eyes and looked away.

Qui-Gon knew what she was thinking and voiced it softly.

"Then why can't he?"

~*~*~*~

"We're at the northwest corner below Sio Bibble's office," Qui-Gon said into his commlink. He was crouched down by Obi-Wan, his free hand gripping the younger man's shoulder in attempt to keep him sitting up. "We're at ground level."

"Are you injured?" Lieutenant Kikerio asked.

Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan a grim look. "Obi-Wan is pretty banged up. Let me check. " He felt along the younger man's body. Obi-Wan was in a trance sort of state and continued to stare blankly ahead. Qui-Gon finished his assessment in less than a minute. "His ankle is swelling, he's cracked a few ribs, and he has a deep blaster wound in his left upper arm. " He paused for a second. "He's lost a tremendous amount of blood, Lieutenant. He'll need a transfusion or something."

The Lieutenant gave a sound of concern. "I'll round up a medic. The Queen has called us back. Many guards are leaving into the woods, but the droids aren't following. I'll meet you are your location in a few minutes. I'm sending someone out for a medic and for blood. "

"It's safer in the woods," Qui-Gon said suddenly. "I'm going to take Obi-Wan into the forest. He's a bit out of it. "

"Then as bring a stretcher we can carry as well."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. We'll await your arrival. " He cut the transmission and turned to his task at hand.

~*~*~*~

Anakin Skywalker had always loved Padme Amidala since he had first met her all that time ago on Tatooine. He had known that she would be his first and only love, and she would be the one he would marry.

Anakin let his mind drift as he patrolled the area outside the hut. He knew he was too young to marry now, but one day he would fulfill his prediction. He was so sure of it. Being a Jedi had taught him he could somehow "see" the future. He had glimpsed his future in Padme. She was so beautiful and caring… she had always welcomed him and had cared about him when he needed it.

It was obvious she still cared about him. It filled him with warmth whenever he thought of it. She had been astonished to see him so grown up. Anakin zeroed in on his senses. He could feel her in the hut. She didn't know what she was doing, but he could feel her spirit and her soul. He smiled. Yes, one day he would marry her and he would die in happiness.

His Master had been gone for the last hour. He was beginning to worry about him. He figure it had taken him twenty minutes to get to the palace and then… and then what? Had he found Obi-Wan? Was he coming back right now? Anakin was tempted to leave his post and head out to search for him. But then Padme's voice floated out to him from the door.

"Anakin?" it called softly. He immediately ran over and greeted her with a smile. She stood in the doorway, her face worried. "Annie, have you spoken with Qui-Gon?"

He was surprised to see her look so worried about his Master. "No. But I know he's fine, Padme."

For a second she looked shaken. Then suddenly she laughed. "Oh, Annie, thank you. You're the only person outside my family who has the guts to call me my first name to my face. Most likely it is " Queen Amidala" or "Your Majesty". Its gets very annoying sometimes and I have to save my sanity by talking to my sister."

He shared her laugh; his eyes focused on her beautiful face. "You forgot one, M'Lady."

He had said something wrong. Her eyes dimmed and a look of anger hit them. Her lips tightened and she glared at him. He yelled at himself mentally for upsetting her. "Please don't call me that," she said harshly.

"But Obi-Wan Kenobi does," he said, confused.

Padme's eyes brightened. He had never seen her this angry. She almost looked crazed in her torn dress. Je'Tra had not arrived yet with her battle outfit. " General Kenobi is none of your business, Anakin. What he calls me is none of your business. What I wish is you business. I ask you not to call me M'Lady." She cocked her head at him.

Anakin was taken aback. He could only nod. He watched her retreating back as she turned and closed the door. He was now most defiantly upset. Probably as upset as she. He didn't have any clue to what he had said that had angered her, except calling her a name used by Obi-Wan. He wondered what…

He froze. Qui-Gon had told him Obi-Wan had left the Order due to a terrible act that he had committed against them. Qui-Gon had been reluctant to go into detail about what Obi-Wan had did. Anakin hadn't blamed him. He had visited Qui-Gon the night Obi-Wan had left. He had seen the gash on his Master's head. And if I hadn't been lonely and wanted company, Qui-Gon would have had no one to talk to…

Anakin got the impression that the crime Obi-Wan had committed had been something terrible. And now Obi-Wan was Padme's General of Security…

What if Obi-Wan was plotting against the Queen?

~*~*~*~

Obi-Wan wanted to sleep.

His entire body felt heavy. Even his tongue was at the very bottom of his mouth. He fought to keep his eyelids open, but he didn't have much energy to do anything else. All he wanted to do was sleep… and sleep… and sleep some more…

He was aware of Qui-Gon speaking, but he didn't have the energy to hear. He was aware that his former Master was gripping his arm, but he didn't have the energy to feel. He stared forward, his vision an odd swirl of colors. He didn't have any reserves to spare making the colors into pictures. All he wanted was sleep…that's all he would ever want…

Something screamed in his ear and sent a bolt of electricity through Obi-Wan's body. His head jerked to the right and he saw Qui-Gon looking at him closely.

"We're moving to the forest," Qui-Gon shouted in his ear. " I need your help."

Obi-Wan had a hard time concentrating on what Qui-Gon was saying. Now that he had gotten use to the level at which Qui-Gon was speaking, he was losing his energy. All ready his head was rolling back onto his shoulder and his eyes had chosen a new thing to stare at…

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon screamed, rising his level higher. " Help me walk you to forest. Its safer."

Obi-Wan didn't even have the energy to think.

~*~*~*~

"I hate you," Qui-Gon muttered.

He had Obi-Wan's right arm over his shoulders. Qui-Gon staggered along, most of Obi-Wan's weight dead. His left arm encircled Obi-Wan's waist tightly, and his right hand held the younger man's right arm to him. Obi-Wan's injured arm hung at his side limply.

"Why couldn't you lose weight?" Qui-Gon grumbled. "Anakin is nice and light…" He tightened his grip on the former Jedi's waist as a burst of anger hit him.

Obi-Wan suddenly groaned, startling Qui-Gon. Instantly the Jedi relaxed his grip, remembering Obi-Wan's ribs. He knew it was against his own attitude but he felt ashamed for what he had done. He shook his head slightly. That was the Jedi creed within him thinking. He knew what he should feel and what he should do as a Jedi, but the things he wanted to feel and do as a man were elusive to him for the time being. He continued on with his stagger towards the forest. He grimly realized this was going to take awhile, and he cursed Obi-Wan for all he was worth.

Slowly but surely, Qui-Gon made his way towards the forest. He wasn't sure if Obi-Wan was awake. His eyes were barely open, but Qui-Gon wasn't sure if he was really awake. And Obi-Wan made no move to suggest to Qui-Gon that he was awake. The Jedi's strained back was proof of that.

They broke into the forest. Sighing, Qui-Gon continued on towards some shrubbery. They needed to stay hidden. Qui-Gon watched his feet carefully, searching for any sign of something that would trip him. His muscles screamed agony whenever he stumbled and Obi-Wan fell against him.

"Wake up, Obi-Wan," he muttered irritably. They continued.

Gasping, Qui-Gon reached the bush. He leaned back and took Obi-Wan's arm off of him. He lay Obi-Wan on his side and then collapsed against a tree, struggling for breath. He looked at Obi-Wan with an expression just short of hate.

After a couple of minutes, Qui-Gon stood and went over to Obi-Wan. He kneeled by the young man, and roughly shook him.

"What?" Obi-Wan asked in a drunken way. He was stretched out with a log immediately to one side and shrubbery a few feet to the other.

"Obi-Wan, listen to me," Qui-Gon said urgently, bringing the Force to bring strength into Obi-Wan. He saw Obi-Wan's eyes become more alert and his breathing become a bit better. Qui-Gon brought the Force to bear on Obi-Wan's ribs and start to heal them. "Obi-Wan, are you listening?"

Obi-Wan groaned and tried to sit up, but Qui-Gon gently pushed him back down. "What happened?" the former Jedi croaked. He winced.

"You've lost a lot of blood," Qui-Gon said, ignoring the question. " You've twisted your ankle, and you've got more cuts and bruises than I can count. I can feel about four cracked ribs. "

"I sprained my neck," Obi-Wan moaned. "I think I did something to my kidney…"

"Which one?" Qui-Gon asked immediately, causing Obi-Wan to peer at him. Even Qui-Gon could hear the concern in his voice. Obi-Wan gave a weak grin. " Which kidney?"

Obi-Wan directed the man to his left side. Qui-Gon came over and prodded the skin. Obi-Wan tried to hold it in, but he let out a small whimper when Qui-Gon pushed his skin. Grimly, the older man sat back and said," I think you bruised it. You're lucky it didn't tear."

"Just take it out," Obi-Wan whispered. "I only need one…" Qui-Gon heard the strain in the man's voice and realized he was trying not to break down.

"Be quiet," Qui-Gon snapped. He allowed a bit of anger to come back into him. He reached into his pack and brought out a small medpac. " I'm going to wrap your ankle. "

"In what?" Obi-Wan demanded. Before Qui-Gon could do anything, Obi-Wan snapped himself up with gritted teeth. He used his good arm and scooted back from Qui-Gon.

"What? What do you mean 'in what'? In bandages, what do you think?"

"Let me do it," Obi-Wan requested in what seemed an almost frightened voice.

"But-"

"Let me do it!" Obi-Wan held his ankle protectively.

"Will you stop it?" Qui-Gon demanded. " You're acting like a baby."

Wouldn't you if you had what I did? Obi-Wan almost voiced the question aloud but stopped himself. "Just give me the pac, Qui-Gon," he said instead.

"I'm trying to help," Qui-Gon growled.

"I don't need your help," Obi-Wan said quietly. He sensed the anger within Qui-Gon. The man didn't realized that he had given Obi-Wan a clear access to his feelings when he had brought the Force upon Obi-Wan's injuries.

"'Don't need my help'?" Qui-Gon repeated. He stood in one fluid motion, tossing the medpac at Obi-Wan, who dodged it. " I think you needed my help just a little while ago, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You weren't going to make it here without me. You wouldn't have beaten the droids without me. But you're going to need more than my help to save you from what you've chosen. "

Fuming, Qui-Gon turned and started to stalk away.

Obi-Wan paused, then shouted at Qui-Gon's back, "And what have I chosen, Qui-Gon?"

"Death!" Qui-Gon yelled.

Once he was sure that Qui-Gon was safely away, Obi-Wan reached into his boot and took out a small dagger. He frowned. He hadn't wanted to act like a baby, but he didn't know how Qui-Gon would have reacted if he had seen the dagger.

It was, after all, Qui-Gon's gift to his former Padawan on his twenty-fifth birthday.

~*~*~*~

Anakin felt sick. He knew that Obi-Wan was evil! Somehow this attack was all Obi-Wan's fault… he would be the end of Padme Naberrie Amidala…

Sudden movement caught his attention. He activated his saber in one fluid movement and started to move towards the noisy movement of the bushes. He attuned his ears and his eyes. He called on the Force and gently probed within the bush. It was a man with a bundle in his arms.

"Who are you?" Anakin asked calmly. He sensed the man was reluctant to give up any information.

"Are you the Jedi?" said the young man.

"And if I am?" Anakin said.

"I'm Corporal Je'Tra Narbris of the Naboo Security Force. "

"Step out slowly," Anakin instructed the man, unwilling to take any chances.

A man rose from behind the bushes. Anakin could see now that his face was pale and he was nervous. "Where's the other Jedi?" Je'Tra said, coming around the bush and heading towards the hut. He was now more aggressive, which angered Anakin. This man needed to be afraid of him. " I need to speak with him. "

"Master Qui-Gon left me in charge," Anakin said in what he hoped was a humble voice. "He's on a mission for the Queen."

Je'Tra frowned. " Great. He left us with a kid. " Anakin was too stunned to say anything. Je'Tra continued on towards the hut. He was at the door when Anakin caught up to him.

"Corporal Narbris, you're very rude," he said angrily. "You're not showing any respect for a Jedi."

"You're not a Jedi yet," Je'Tra snorted as he entered the hut. Anakin followed him, fuming.

Padme welcomed Je'Tra as if he were her best friend. Anakin was jealous of the rude man. He obviously held a special place in Padme's heart.

"Here is your outfit, my Queen," the slimy slug said. " I think there may be droids following me. "

"What?" Anakin broke in, stepping up to the man.

"Annie, hush," Padme quieted. " Did you see them?" He could sense her unease.

"I heard them. We must leave here now. "

Padme frowned. "But what of the guards?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Your Majesty," Je'Tra said, glancing at Sola for support. She nodded. " We must go before they find you. "

"Listen to him, Padme," Sola said urgently.

Padme's face was pinched. She looked so worried that Anakin's heart ached for her. He wanted to hug her. She was only an inch taller than he was, but his muscle built made her look very tiny and fragile. She was indeed an angel that was easily broken in body, but never in her mind. Anakin wondered how her children would convince her into the things that normal teenagers slimed their parents into…

Finally Padme turned to Anakin. "Annie, Qui-Gon left you here. I trust your judgment. I don't want to leave, Annie. What do you think is best?"

Anakin noticed with pride the look of loathing that Je'Tra threw his way. He didn't even have to think about what Qui-Gon would want. "We should go, Your Majesty. It's not safe here. It's not safe at all."

He could tell he had disappointed her, but he wouldn't take back what he had said. Her well being was too important to him for that. He needed her safe.

Padme sighed and turned to Je'Tra. "Let's go, Corporal."

~*~*~*~

Obi-Wan filled the syringe up, grimacing. He knew needles were a part of life, but he still hated them. He supposed it was a childhood fear. When he had been about ten, another initiate had accidentally stabbed him when they had been learning about medicines of the galaxy. He supposed he had been paranoid of them since.

He shivered. He lit a glow rod and perched it on a low fern. He injected the needle into his good arm and pressed the plunger. He watched the liquid drain, horribly fascinated. Carefully, he withdrew the needle and quickly wrapped a small bandage around it. He laid the syringe in the pac, sighing.

He had wrapped his ankle; planted bacta patches on his cuts, and had cut off his left sleeve. The neat bandages wrapped around the wound were starting to slightly turn red. He had doused the wound in bacta, but apparently that wouldn't be enough. But at least the painkiller he had just injected himself with was starting to kick in. The pain was decreasing dramatically.

Sighing, he glanced around. Qui-Gon had been gone for five minutes. Obi-Wan fervently hoped that his former Master hadn't gotten lost. He knew firsthand that the Naboo forest was very treacherous.

There was nothing he could do about his ribs and kidneys. They weren't hurting that badly. Only when he breathed deeply or twisted the wrong way did they start to scream. He had himself in a pretty comfortable position, but he still couldn't muster up the energy to stand. The loss of blood had greatly fatigued him, leaving his muscles and limbs weak.

Now, isn't this good? Sometimes his sarcasm took on a mind of it's own.

Obi-Wan was starting to worry. Where was Qui-Gon? Had he gotten lost or was he truly not coming back? That suddenly brought into Obi-Wan's mind the question of why his former Master had come back in the first place. It definitely had not been for Obi-Wan sake. He realized Amidala had probably asked him to and he smiled. He had to love that girl.

He suddenly heard a small female voice calling out. "General? General?"

He breathed in relief. It was Lieutenant Kikerio.

~*~*~*~

Qui-Gon walked.

He didn't care where he walked to; he just cared about the burning words inside him that screamed at him to get away from Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon was sick with shame and self-hatred. After all he had done, after all he had sacrificed and had suffered through, he wasn't strong enough to face the demon inside of him that was jerking against its restraints with a fury equal to the power of a lightning bolt. He hated himself. So many people admired him and thought they knew him, but they couldn't be farther from the truth. Nobody knew him. He didn't even know himself.

He wanted to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The knowledge of that thought inside him made his skin itch. He felt too tight in his skin when the knowledge pounded at him. Every bone in his body had seemed to freeze when he had come across that thought. The beat of shame was like a club across his back.

He wanted to kill Obi-Wan.

He was a Jedi Master. Jedi did not kill because they could. Yet the burning rage inside of him was like a fire that ate everything it came across. He didn't know why he felt such rage at this man, yet he did. He walked, his head bowed, his face contorted.

He didn't even know himself. That was scared him the most. His fury was totally new to him. Even when his true love had died his rage did not compare to this. When the fire took over he was blind to anything else. When the fire took over he saw and heard and spoke nothing of it. All the other little fires had been sparks. Obi-Wan had triggered something this time that had unleashed a beast within Qui-Gon. He didn't even know what the man had said or why it was such a great deal to the Jedi Master.

And Qui-Gon was petrified. He didn't know he could possess hateful feelings for another being. Not even Tahl's killer had unleashed feelings such as these within him. There was no simple answer to the question that burned inside him. It was such a simple question but there would never be such a simple answer.

Why?

What scared Qui-Gon the most was that one morning he would wake up and not know who he was. His greatest fear was forgetting who he was and what he had done and all he wanted. He didn't want to be a man who knew his name and his rank and his being, but did not know what he wanted or why he had done the things he had done.

He didn't know why he felt these things. Was it something in his past? Was it something he had seen? Was it something that had never been?

Why?

The questions nagged and nagged him, but he couldn't answer them. It felt as if he were drowning in an endless pool of questions that made no sense and had no sense. They were meaningless questions that had slipped through his fingers and made up the universe. He watched them as they circled around his head, their voices hard and cold and accusing.

Why? Why were these emotions haunting him? Why the hate? Why the rage? Why the feeling of wanting to kill? Why couldn't he answer them?

And suddenly Qui-Gon realized it and the answer. It was so simple and yet it was so complicated. It was so confusing yet it made perfect sense. Qui-Gon leaned against a tree, panting.

Everything that people questioned that really mattered had to do with love.

And Qui-Gon had loved Obi-Wan Kenobi. Qui-Gon even had to admit it.

And the rage was for…

And the hate was for…

And the need to kill was for…

Love?

~*~*~*~

"I'm walking," Obi-Wan said, resolute.

Lieutenant Kikerio gave an exasperated sigh. She signaled the two guards who were carrying the stretcher. "We didn't bring this here for nothing, General," she said. She waved forward a man wearing the green tunic of a medic. "This is Ramilion. He's a great medic. He fixed my sister up in a flash. "

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Obi-Wan said, nodding at Ramilion.

The medic quickly unzipped his med pac. Ramilion took out some scissors. "You did a good job," he said, nodding at the bandage on Obi-Wan's arm. "But I need to inspect it. " Obi-Wan nodded and the man swiftly sliced through the bandages.

Kikerio was standing a few feet away while the other fifteen guards patrolled the area. She let out a low whistled at the bloody puncture in her superior's arm. " Whoa," she said. Then she realized that the other guards were watching her and she immediately straightened, giving them all cold looks.

Obi-Wan wanted to laugh but he was too caught up in watching Ramilion. The medic studied the wound for a minute, then reached in his pac and took out some water and a towel. He doused the wound in water and gently rubbed away the blood. Obi-Wan was leaning against a tree. He used it to push his head against, wincing.

"You okay, Obi-Wan?" Kikerio asked in a low voice.

"No worries," Obi-Wan said, managing a small smile. She was one of his only friends. Since what had happened three years ago, Obi-Wan had not wanted to get close to anyone. The apartment complex where he lived in Theed was small and he had never met any of the other neighbors. He was usually too busy to socialize although when he had first arrived he had met someone…

A hot flash of pain caused him to jerk his head towards Ramilion. His eyes burned as he watched Ramilion dousing the wound with some purple concoction. The medic emptied the tiny bottle into the wound and Obi-Wan was fascinated as Ramilion added some water and the concoction dissolved into Obi-Wan skin. His arm was now a faint purple. "What is that stuff?" he asked, incredulous.

Ramilion saw his shock and smiled. "Its my own creation," he said, obviously pleased at the reaction he was getting. " It's a pain killer and it fights infection and starts to close the wound without stitches. " He rolled a bandage around Obi-Wan's arm. "This is just a backup though. Better safe than sorry. "

Obi-Wan gave Kikerio an amazed look. "See?" she said with a grin. "He's great. "

Ramilion flushed with pleasure. He had Obi-Wan remove his top and he spread a thin layer of white cream over his abdomen and chest. Again Ramilion rolled the bandages around him tightly. "I can't give you anything for the kidney. You're going to have to go to an infirmary for that. "

"Of course," Obi-Wan said offhandedly, which really meant he wasn't going. He accepted the loose gray tunic that Ramilion handed him. He took off his utility belt and tucked the tunic in, then replaced the utility belt. "Thanks, Ramilion. Do you have any of that purple stuff?" He was eager to get some for himself and dab it onto his other cuts.

"Of course, General," Ramilion said. He took out a couple of bottles and handed them to Obi-Wan. " Its called WH-100.Do you want anything for the pain in your ribs?"

"No, thanks," Obi-Wan said quickly. He had no intention of becoming a painkiller addict. "But I think-"

"You need blood!" Kikerio said suddenly. She jumped to her pack and took out a small cooler. She walked over.

"No, wait-" Obi-Wan started to argue.

"You need blood," Kikerio repeated. She set the cooler on the ground. "Qui-Gon said you were out of it. " She peered at his face. "You're pale and you haven't stood once. If you were at full strength you'd be barking out orders in my face. "

"I'm tired," Obi-Wan snapped. Kikerio just left the cooler with Ramilion and walked away quite cheerfully.

"I hate her," Obi-Wan muttered. "I hate her."

~*~*~*~

Qui-Gon wasn't in control. He was far from it. He aimlessly walked, struggling to compose himself. He knew he had gone in a complete circle and he was nearing the place where he had left Obi-Wan. He was fighting to compose himself before he reached Obi-Wan. He didn't want to blow up and kill Obi-Wan in cold blood.

A snap blared in his ears.

Qui-Gon didn't think. He jumped down and behind a tree. He held his lightsaber firmly and slowly peered out from behind the trunk.

There were droids. There were only about fifty, but they were moving through the woods, and they had purpose.

Qui-Gon calculated quickly. If they kept in the same direction they would hit Obi-Wan dead on. Qui-Gon heart quickened. He replaced his lightsaber on his belt and streaked away.

~*~*~*~

The blood flowing into Obi-Wan's veins seemed to rejuvenate him. He could feel his energy returning and half way through the bag he wanted to go, but Ramilion insisted on him receiving the whole bag. Obi-Wan knew the guards were eager to go, but he couldn't argue with both the resilient Kikerio and the persistent Ramilion. He still didn't have enough energy to do that. He wondered if he had ever had enough energy and strength to argue with Kikerio in the first place.

"We should leave," Obi-Wan said to no one in particular. His voice didn't seem into it.

"Pretty soon, General," Ramilion said from his perch on a log. He was acting as an IV post. He held the IV bag of blood up high. A tube trailed from the bottom of it to a needle taped onto Obi-Wan's left wrist. The blood was dripping quickly, but it was still too slow for Obi-Wan's taste. "Almost done."

"Don't worry, Obi-Wan," Kikerio said. She handed him a food capsule. "Eat. You're going to need some energy. "

"Its dark," Obi-Wan said, accepting the bar and changing the subject. "Light some more glow rods. " The only rods activated were two around Obi-Wan and one near the center of the huddle the guards had gotten in. Four sentries patrolled the small perimeter.

"We'll use our night-vision goggles," Kikerio said. She stared at him until he lost his nerve and swallowed the food capsule. She grinned, although Obi-Wan could barely see it in the dim light. "How do you feel?"

"Since when are you so concerned?" he asked good-naturedly.

"Since you took a huge risk and fought the droids in the palace," she said seriously. " You went down a roof for star's sake, Obi-Wan! We didn't even know the droids were in the palace! You were shot! I blame myself for this you know? I didn't make a good enough barrier. You could have been killed. I should be demoted. I should be fired! You were lucky, Obi-Wan. You were lucky that Jedi got there when he did. And you made a huge sacrifice. "

A guard who had been listening spoke up. "We all agree, General," he said. The others made sounds of agreement.

Obi-Wan was stunned. He had never felt so honored. He knew a lot of these guards had not accepted him because he had left the Jedi and Amidala had made him General so quickly. He had told Kikerio what had happened in the palace, and apparently she had made it her business to make sure everyone else knew too. He felt warm all over now that he found he had gained the guards' respect.

"Thank you," he said softly. " But I didn't do anything special. We're all trained to do this. All of you would have done the same."

"I don't think we all could have survived fighting droids single-handedly for forty-five minutes; running up a set of stairs; breaking a window and flying through it; and then rolling down a roof that's forty feet up; and then rolling down one that was fifty feet up and survive," a guard said.

"And being shot," another added, earning some laughs.

Obi-Wan tried to scowl, but it ended up as a smile that sent the whole party into laughter. Ramilion had to stop himself from dropping the IV bag.

"Kikerio, it's not your fault," he said quietly. "Really, its not. The droids were going to find some way to break in or another. "

"What kind of droids were those?" asked a guard. The others all hushed.

"Probably Nakor," Kikerio said.

Obi-Wan sighed. "I'm not so sure. " He glanced at the faces of the guards. He saw only a couple who had been guards for three years. He didn't want to break bad news. Everyone knew what had happened with the blockade, even the newest recruit. "I think they were the Trade Federation droids. " He winced as soon as the words left his mouth.

Silence. He knew they were all soaking it in so he gave them time. "Are you sure?" one asked. "Are you sure it's the Trade Federation and not Nakor?"

Again, Obi-Wan sighed. "Nakor is small moon," he said. "It doesn't have many resources for an army like this. It's not a very rich moon, so it couldn't hire someone to invade Naboo. I got a good look at those droids. There exactly like the ones that we fought three years ago."

"They sound like them, too," an older man said.

"And smell like them," a woman said seriously. Everyone just looked her. She seemed puzzled. "What?"

Obi-Wan smiled. " I didn't really smell them three years ago," he said.

"I did," she said, triumphant. " They smelled like oil and-"

A low whistle sang through the air and they instantly went quiet. A minute later one of the sentries came running. "I hear someone," he said tersely. "And he's not trying to be quiet. "

Obi-Wan glanced at Ramilion, then at the needle. "Take it out," he ordered.

"But-" Ramilion said desperately.

"It's an order," Obi-Wan said quickly. He glanced at Kikerio. "Do as you please, Lieutenant. I'm not going to be much help. " The Lieutenant nodded with what seemed a sort of reluctance. He realized with a smile that she didn't want to mess up in front of him. She was like that at the oddest times.

Ramilion gently took the needle out of Obi-Wan's wrist and used the tape that had been holding it down to block off any bleeding that may occur. The medic packed the blood back in the cooler and was heading to his bag to store it.

"Toss it," Obi-Wan said from behind, startling him. "It'll weigh you down. If all else fails, we're going to have to run and you're not trained. Believe me, Ramilion, you don't want to be carrying that when those droids are chasing you. "

Ramilion hesitated. "We weren't done with the transfusion-"

"I'm fine!" Obi-Wan snapped. "Drop the cooler and help me up. Then hide."

"I can hit a target with a blaster-" Ramilion started.

"Good," Obi-Wan interrupted. "Now get over here. Please," he added.

Ramilion swung Obi-Wan's good arm over his shoulder with great reluctance. With ease, Ramilion helped the man stand. "You need to be careful of the kidney," Ramilion warned. "I don't know the extent of the damage. It's probably bruised. I know you're going to use your arm, but not too much. It needs rest. It'll hurt, believe me, I think it'll hurt."

"Thank you, Ramilion," Obi-Wan said, breaking away from him to stand on his own. He rested most of his weight on his good leg, mindful of his twisted ankle. Now I've got two busted legs. He hated fate and everything to do with it. "Now hide. "

"Of course, General," Ramilion said, dropping behind a bush and rolling into the vacant circular middle. Obi-Wan was pleased to see him take a blaster and pop the muzzle through the bush in the direction of Colonel Kikerio.

Obi-Wan made his way to join Kikerio behind a log. He walked slowly, his legs weak. He crouched beside her. "Droids?" he asked. He took out his blaster and rested the short muzzle on the log.

"I don't think so," she said.

"Then who-?" he started. Then he stopped himself and felt out with the Force. Sure enough, the current he was searching for was there and better yet, it was near.

"It's Qui-Gon Jinn," he said, relieved that the Jedi had come back. He stood up and shouted quietly, "Qui-Gon?"

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon voice yelled back and there was a breeze as Qui-Gon ran to the log. The guards had seen Qui-Gon running and were coming out of their hiding places. Some seemed angry. "There are droids coming right now," Qui-Gon said. "They'll be here in less than ten minutes. I think they're heading to the safe-hold. There's about fifty. "

Kikerio and Obi-Wan exchanged glances in the faint light of the one glow rod they had kept activated. "We need to get to the Queen," Kikerio said.

"Pronto," Obi-Wan agreed. He looked back at the guards. "Get your things. We're leaving now. Droids are coming. Have your blasters ready. Somebody comm ahead to the safe-hold, okay?" He saw Kikerio's look. "I lost my commlink, okay?" He looked at Qui-Gon. "Can I talk to you in private?"

Qui-Gon looked back at him and Obi-Wan thought he saw something like fear dash in the Jedi's mind. But then he knew he must have been mistaken because a split second later rage was clear in the Jedi's every feature. "Put the blaster away," Qui-Gon said. "I don't trust you in the least. I know what you did three years ago when you left."

Obi-Wan didn't need to glance around to see the amazed looks his comrades were giving him. He could feel Kikerio's eyes driving hard into his side. He was angry now. He knew the respect he had just won moments ago was slipping away. He clenched his fist and crossed his wrist behind his back. He didn't want Qui-Gon to see him angry.

Before Qui-Gon could say anything else to plant suspicion in the guards' minds, Obi-Wan stuffed the blaster on his belt and started to limp away. He heard Qui-Gon say something to Kikerio, then start after him. Obi-Wan lit a glow rod and when he was satisfied with the distance they had set, he stopped after leaned against tree. Qui-Gon looked back at him, now neutral.

"I know you don't trust me," Obi-Wan said, getting straight to the point. "I'm not going to say you hate me, because I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. " Qui-Gon opened his mouth, but Obi-Wan held up a hand. "But the fact is I live here now and what I did is in the past. I know you think it's foul, but we can't do anything about that now.

"I'm General of the Naboo Security Force. You can't do anything to change that fact. We're going to have to work with each other to figure this out, Qui-Gon. I'm not going to bring up the past. My faults are my faults. And yes, thank you for your help a little awhile ago. I need you to make a pact.

"It's not going to do any good bringing up the past over and over. We can't change it. Make a pact with me and it will make both our lives easier: I'm not going to say anything about three years ago and why I left the Order and what I did when I was a Jedi. Tell me you'll do the same. Let's just drop it for now and leave it be. You can hate me after Padme is safe. "

Qui-Gon mulled over Obi-Wan had said. The former Jedi could only guess what the Jedi was thinking. And Obi-Wan wasn't quite sure he wanted to know the evil thoughts that Qui-Gon was thinking about him.

"Do it for the Queen, then," Obi-Wan added.

Qui-Gon finally let out a sigh. "Agreed, Obi-Wan."

"Good," Obi-Wan, turning around to start back.

"I don't hate you," said Qui-Gon's voice suddenly. It was angry. Obi-Wan spun around to face him. "A Jedi is not to hate and you know it. And know that I don't hate you, even after all you did. "

And with that, Qui-Gon walked past Obi-Wan headed in the direction they had just come, leaving his former apprentice speechless and in shock.

~*~*~*~

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