Master Jinn found himself outside the council room doors more relieved than he had been since Obi-Wan's departure. No, he hadn't gotten the child back, but the council did partially removed one thorn from his side.
Master Dalia and Da'Neel was given their own quarters. Master Jinn was to oversee the strenuous training involved in a padawan's life and Master Dalia was to take over her role as master to Padawan Da'Neel. In actuality, she would once again become the master to the unruly padawan-almost-knight.
Maybe she thought she got the best of the agreement but in Jinn's view he did. He would not have to put up with the young man, except when training him with the saber, katas or if a mission was to arise.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes and begged the force not to let the latter happen. He knew he would not have to go on any missions unless a disaster struck. He had requested and received a leave in his mission rotation to care for his personal business, Obi-Wan.
All things considered this day had gone well for the master. He only wanted to go home, meditate, and tomorrow go into the city to visit with Obi-Wan again.
However when he reached his apartment, devoid of padawan and other master he found a commlink message waiting. The seemingly urgency of the red light blinking startled Obi's guardian as he hurriedly pressed the necessary buttons to here the message. That particular red light signaled an incoming call or message but from outside the temple. The fear that swelled in the master was that something was wrong with Obi-Wan. His worry about the child's well being was quickly put to rest, but the news left by the orphanage administrator was still tainted with problems and almost bordered being a threat..
//Change of venue for Obi-Wan's sake. That's ridiculous. They don't even want him but they want the hearing set in their city on their planet where the man literally controls everyone there. I wouldn't have a chance. It can't happen. I won't allow it.//
Qui-Gon listened twice more to the message. He heard it thoroughly the first time, only he hoped he hadn't. It would be hard to fight a man of Lar's status even here on Coruscant, but it would be *impossible* on his home world.
//How could Selena trash our friendship in such a way. I did not follow through with my promise to wait until she came to find out the mystery of Obi's medication but she should know how the council works. She plans to do this and possibly destroy the child's life. Why? Does she no longer feel any passion or sense of responsibility for the little boy? //
So many thoughts kept popping up in Jinn's mind as he found his way blindly to his former master's suite. He could not even remember getting there, let alone seeing how he got there.
In Yoda's common room he sat and patiently listened to Qui-Gon rant and rave about the Lars and their outrageous petition to move the court hearing back to *their* home world.. That was clearly what it would be. They would have to go to court and fight just to keep Obi-Wan on this planet and then worry about the court hearing of suspected abuse by the kindly master who respected all life forms no matter how small or how inconsequential they were.
"Problem this could be Qui-Gon. Jest with you I will not. But have a favor owed to me by Fini, I do. Time to use that favor I think it is. Call to him I will make. Have this ludicrous idea of the Lars put to rest by the end of the day I also will. Made-up crime incurred here, then venue here it will stay. Worry you should not. Have a child to see tomorrow and an attorney today. Be on your way you will for business of my own I need to take care of."
Qui-Gon trusted his former master inexplicitly and if he said it would be taken care of, Qui-Gon knew it would if at all possible and Master Yoda seemed more than convinced that it was.
####
The next day when Obi-Wan came to meet his guardian in the same little eight by eight room there was no hesitation on his part to literally throw himself in Qui-Gon's arms.
All the staunchness and reserve the Master ever had melted in that moment. Not to say Obi loved him for he did not know him. However one thing was sure he needed Qui-Gon now. He needed to know there was someone who was willing to care for him and that he could put all his trust and faith in. Qui-Gon had been designated that *someone*, no matter how rough and rocky a start their guardian/ward relationship had begun.
With both large arms of Master Jinn's wrapped around the tiny little form that had rushed him and latched onto the master as if for his life, Jinn could feel trembling of fear, sickness and self doubt all rolled into one. This confinement to the orphanage had done grave damage to the child's overall physical and mental state. Qui-Gon recognized that first off.
"WHOAA…. You are going to bowl me over with such a big bear hug. What is wrong?"
Obi turned Master Jinn's head so he could whisper in his ear.
"I don't want to be here. I want to go home…well I want to go back to the temple. I don't like it here."
Qui-Gon noticed that the child spoke in his ear as if he knew they were being watched, listened too in almost an act of betrayal or at least the child felt it was.
"Why are we whispering little one?"
"I know they are there behind that mirror watching us. I just want to warn you so..you know so you won't say anything to incrm.. What was that word? Oh yea, incriminate yourself. That is what my friend told me."
Had the boy not been so afraid Jinn would have gladly stayed in that position with the little hand pressed soothingly against his cheek to keep his ear very close to the child. It felt good to be near the child. A connection, There was that word again? But what other word could the Jedi master use to describe the anomaly shared by he and Obi? They had no bond. Obi had no force abilities or midichlorians so Jinn had to use the word *connection* and not *bond*. Somehow he thought what they had in moments like this was more than a connection…. But what? That was a question that would remain unanswered until all the other problems Jinn faced was cleared up. Then he would have to deal with this strange magnetic pull the child had on him as he evidently had on the child.
Qui-Gon talked in a whispered tone although he didn't believe he needed too.
"Obi, I have done nothing to incriminate myself of anything. I know your friend tried to help you. I am glad you at least have a friend, but you must remember I have nothing to indicate I was abusive to you. Things will turn out fine. You will see."
Obi dropped his head as if he thought he had made a mistake.
"I am sorry. But my friend said once you get in here that you never get out. They won't listen to the truth even if it is the truth. His parents weren't that bad he said and he is still here. The system believed his dad was mean and cruel and David tried to tell them here he really wasn't. He got upset sometimes that's all."
Master Jinn tipped the child's face up so he could see it. The master understood it more. The boy, David must have been placed here because of some cruelty done to him by his father. It had been explained to him by Mace that some children refused to believe their parents were bad to them. The children took the blame upon themselves and chose to ignore the truth for fear they would be stuck here with no one to love them. That could be David's case or it could as Master Jinn thought through with a touch of stark realization, be the truth, the father had done nothing and still the boy was here and remained he had.
Jinn tried to shake off an uncomfortable feeling. That was his situation and in some warped way he hoped David was wrong; that he was not being held here out of anything but the right reasons; that his father truly was abusive. It would be a travesty to a child to be taken as Obi-Wan had for no apparent reason other than the Jedi wanted the best for him.
Qui-Gon pushed back the spiked hair on Obi's head and pressed his chin gently on top of it. There they spent much of their visit in quiet reflection and basked in an overwhelming peace that came over both master and child when they were together.
Was it peculiar? Immensely so, but Qui-Gon would rather bathe in this feeling of contentment than to question its meaning right now.
The news of the birth of Selena's child trickled down through the grapevine. The court knew of it first, because they could now set up a hearing date. It finally reached the Jedi and in particular Master Jinn.
He thought Selena had planned to notify him personally of the birth but in retrospect he realized she would assume he was displeased with her over the actions taken to have Obi-Wan removed from the temple and his care. Still he felt betrayed not just because he did not receive word of the healthy birth, but also of the court action.
No matter how much he tried to piece together the reasons behind what seemed a vindictive act, Qui-Gon could not come up with one.
//She certainly seemed devoted to Obi-Wan and wanted the best for him even when she could not keep him. What has suddenly changed? //
Qui-Gon could also not help but wonder if the new-born was a force-sensitive as was his brother. Was it as strong as his brother's Owen? Qui-Gon had no doubt they would not relinquish their second child to the Jedi if it was blessed with the force, but he would have liked to know just to satisfy his own personal curiosity.
####################
Qui-Gon could not have been more nervous if he awaited an all out battle with the Dark lord himself.
His knowledge of court hearings was limited to occasionally testifying on the corruptness of someone he captured or when he sat in on a diplomatic court hearing of some sort. Nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to endure.
This unknown territory for him, the legal system seemed to be stacked against him even before he tried to defend himself. His attorney, Mr. Griswald of the Coruscant capital, believed the master innocent and also believed he could convince the court of that.
What he was not so sure of was if the court would give custody back to Qui-Gon or if they would decide it might be best for a child not trained in the Jedi way and with no force abilities, to go to the orphanage which his blood-relatives recommended.
Of course Mr. Lars' prominence would carry a lot of weight even though he was from another planet. He might well be able to sway the court to send the boy back home if for nothing else than the state's reluctance to pay for his care in an orphanage or foster home. Times were hard and credits hard to come by lately on every planet in the galaxy.
Master Jinn was flanked not only by his attorney, Mace and Master Yoda accompanied him for moral support. He was not permitted to speak with Obi-Wan when he entered the courtroom. As they waited for the judge and others to enter, Jinn was bowled over by the arrival of Mr. Lars and his wife.
He had no doubt Owen's father would want to come a strutt his authority around the courtroom just so everyone knew who he was and who Jinn's battle was with. The surprise came to Jinn in the form of Selena herself. Still paled from the birth of her child but she basically seemed healthy and ready to face Master Jinn.
When she got completely in the courtroom, she was escorted by her husband straight to the prosecutors' tables where Obi-Wan sat with the attorneys against Jinn.
//They do seem like a friendly bunch. Possibly old friends or something //Qui-Gon suspected that might be more fodder to fight with if the prosecutors did know the Lars personally. It would not help his case or believability any.
He watched with intrigue interest as Obi-Wan refused the hug offered by Selena. She seemed sincerely distressed by the child's refusal to give her any kind of salutation. For a moment, Qui-Gon felt bitter toward her and felt she got what she reaped.
Master Yoda tapped his former apprentice with his gimer stick to get his attention and not to cause pain.
"Support they have with high creditability in the Lars. Deny it I will not. But on Coruscant not without higher support we have. Wait a moment see what I mean you will."
Qui-Gon resented the fact that his master and the others took this as a popularity contest but he knew in truth that was how a lot of cases and situations were settled with the higher power. Yes, it paid to know the right people in the right places. The Jedi were even more astounded as the Judge seemed to recognize both the Lars.
//What is this, a reunion of friends of the Lars family? //Jinn vehemently thought.
Had the master not been an adult he would have sunk down in his seat. That was how he felt with so many friendly faces on the opponets' side.
Qui-Gon noticed Yoda' ears perked up and twitched a little *jig* with glee. He knew that meant at least something was about to go their way because that was a sign of good news for the little master.
Qui-Gon looked up to see an entourage of Senator Valorum and Senator Palpatine.
At first he thought they came in support of the Lars', but he knew those twitching ears that they came in support of the Jedi, Qui-Gon in particular
Now each had a cheering section and no matter how ridiculous it seemed, his attorney leaned over to speak with the master about his *back up*.
"I know it might sound strange to you Jinn, but people look at who the accused is associated with. It does you nothing but good to have *ole* Fini and Palpatine sitting behind our backs."
############
Mace had never seen his friend sweat even under the most periling of conditions. Jinn was noted for his steel nerves in a time of crisis, but this Qui-Gon on the witness stand had lost all sense of his Jedi training in stoicism and calm.
He looked like he was about to blow up and tell the prosecuting attorney just where he could go. Of course Mace never had been in a hearing like this, however, even he could guess that the judge would not like where Qui-Gon recommended they all could go.
//He just have to keep his cool. //
"Master Jinn do you really expect the court to believe you can take vital medication away from a child and know when he is under too much pain or too ill from not having it to know when to administered it again? "
The prosecutor thought he had scored well against his main witness and the accused, Master Jinn.
"I expect you to believe the Jedi would never withhold medication to harm the child. It was to see what reactions it had on him since his aunt would not voluntarily tell the healers or myself why he took it in the first place."
"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable! Do you now sit there and accuse his aunt of undo harm to Obi-Wan Kenobi because she gave him the medicine in the first place? "
"No, I meant nothing negative about Selena….I mean Mrs. Lars. She cared for Obi-Wan quite diligently for the several years that my apprentice, her son, Owen and would visit."
Master Yoda could only sit in his seat on the courtroom pew and shake his head. Very occasionally he would break the normally constant eye contact with his former apprentice when he lower his head as if he was about to nod off to sleep.
Never in his days of being acquainted with Qui-Gon and there were a lot of days, had he seen someone so able to push the right buttons, ring the right bell, and overall anger the usually calm easygoing Master Jinn.
The prosecutor was doing his job to the best of his ability and right now his *best* was making Jinn seemed at his *worst*.
Obi sat at the other desk with another prosecutor //an old goat //was Obi-Wan's exact thoughts of him, but he would never be courageous enough to call him that to his face.
Obi kept his elbows on the table and his face buried in the palms of his hands. He looked up only when he would almost fall because the grump of a prosecutor would knock his elbows off the desk with no warning.// Very rude of him to say the least. //Oh, how Obi wanted to say it out loud, but then again he didn't dare.
It seemed to him Mr. Qui-Gon was not doing so well up on the stand. He listened to here anything that might sound good for them, he and Mr. Qui-Gon. When the judge quickly reprimanded Master Jinn right before he got off the witness stand, Obi was determined to say what he had to say no matter how much trouble it would cause him.
//They can't blame Mr. Qui-Gon for my actions here in court. //
"Master Jinn I plan to call a recess and when we return I hope you will answer *all* the questions forthright and quickly when the prosecutor asks you. Maybe you should try to use that Jedi decorum and remember the mantra that Jedi don't lie. I have heard that a lot lately and I have begun to wonder if there is any *truth* in it."
Qui-Gon was dumbfounded.
//Did the judge himself, insinuate that I have lied on the stand?//
The sound of the gavel rang through the courtroom and signaled the start of the court's recess.
Qui-Gon got up to leave, however, even the judge stopped his departure when Obi's voice emitted a shrilling stream of words..
"You are wrong, very wrong. Mr. Qui-Gon doesn't lie. He never hurt me. Aunt Selena you know that. Why won't you tell them the *TRUTH*? He loved Owen and he has treated me well. *PLEASE* listen to me!!"
All the while the boy cried out his outburst, he made his way to the center of the courtroom, where Qui-Gon was as he walked toward his friends. The older prosecutor had tried to grab Obi-Wan to stop him but he was not fast enough.
Like a little lightning bolt, the boy, who now could not speak for the tears and wails of anger, raced toward the enormous master who stood and waited for Obi to reach him.
Like an instinctive reflex of any parent when Qui-Gon saw Obi make a beeline to him, he extended his large arms and enveloped the boy in the safety of a cocoon made from the master's arms.
Obi-Wan hid his face in the master's tunic, clamped his hands over his ears to stop all the voices that yelled his name, and refused to let go.
The deputy who tried to remove Obi-Wan from the arms of Qui-Gon, thought he heard the Jedi *growl* in anger when he stepped up. Needless to say, he backed off quickly when only to his ears, a few choice words were mumbled.
"I suggest you not even attempt to take him from me right now!!!"
The look he planted on Selena made her shrink back and try to hide in the crowd of other courtroom attendants, anxious for mid-meal. .
She knew what she did was wrong. She had lost all sense of her Jedi training and even her human decencies. She hadn't even attempted to curb the obstinacy of her husband. All this had been his idea and now she wanted to back track on the entire nasty business of Obi-Wan's removal from Qui-Gon and the Jedi temple.
//How could I ever have agreed to such a despicable thing. The child is terrified. I wanted Jinn to find out the truth, yet when he tried, I balked on the idea. What is it, my way or no way? He will find out. The truth about Obi-Wan can't be hidden forever.. I can't keep giving bogus medicine for an even more bogus illness. It will start to harm Obi when he goes through puberty. Even the healer I took him too last said he would have to be taken off the medicine for a period of time. He's building a toxicity to it. When do I have them stop giving it, when it almost kills the child? //
She felt a hand grab her arm and squeeze not too gently on it. Mr. Lars was not force sensitive, but he had picked up on her guilt and gently reminded her, they agreed to follow this court hearing to its entirety.
She dropped her head in order to break the eye contact she had with her old friend, Qui-Gon.
Master Jinn stood in the center of the room and gently rubbed Obi's back and whispered things unheard to anyone else's ears, as the deputy bailiff looked on with a knowing smile.
"I will give you a few minutes with him, Master Jinn. I got one at home about that age. I probably shouldn't say this, but …. *MAN*, I can't begin to tell you how I would feel if someone took him from me."
Qui-Gon nodded a *thank you*. The judge saw things were back in order and he really was hungry so he left to let the bailiff handle the matter. it wasn't as if the master planned to steal him.
//He only wants a little personal contact with him. It can't hurt anything under court supervision. The Jedi master visits him at the orphanage anyway.//
Even the judge felt some compassion for the two, child and Jedi master. Not that he questioned his friend Lars' motive in all this, but to him there seemed to be a certain something about the two, unwilling plaintiff and defendant..
He left the courtroom shaking his head and gripped with a feeling that this trial could get nasty to the point that it would harm the child. He certainly wasn't in favor of that.
Mr. Lars had to pull his wife from the courtroom to go find a restaurant. She seemed compelled to stand there as long as Jinn had the child nestled in his arms. Finally she agreed to leave with her husband and shot one glance at the two together, both giving each the comfort and solace they needed. For that, she was grateful. Her one regret though, was the fact she was the reason for all this turmoil and confusion in the little boy's life. Obi-Wan already suffered through so much unhappiness, only to be forced to go through more.
Finally Qui-Gon managed to console the child enough to hand him to the bailiff. The gentle court bailiff took Obi-Wan by the hand, with a promise that after mid-meal, Master Jinn would be allowed to visit with him a few minutes longer until court resumed. Obi, with just a touch of hesitancy, went with him so they both could go find a well deserved mid-meal.
#######With the Lars at mid-meal#######
"I have tried not to sound harsh Selena, but you are going to ruin everything wearing your heart on your sleeve the way you do. We agreed, to ever have any true peace of mind in the raising of baby, Obi has to be out of our lives."
"Yes, we did agree, but now I wonder why. He is out of our lives and still you are not satisfied."
"Satisfied, why should I be. Qui-Gon Jinn gets a repeat performance. Why, so he can do the same thing to Obi as Owen?. .. Why should he get a second chance at being happy?"
"We did, didn't we? That is not to say we will ever forget Owen, however, we have another child that has to be raised. He is not force sensitive and even if he were he would not go to the Jedi."
"No, you are right about that. I wouldn't send a dog to the Jedi to care for if I cared anything about him."
"Why were you so willing to send Obi-Wan then? Is an animal more worthy of a home than a child. Sometimes I can't figure out this hatred you hold for the Jedi."
"They took my son, our son or so I thought. I mean, did you not care for him as I did?"
Selena reached over and cupped her husband face in her soft petite hands.
"Of course I did. But don't you see it was the will of the force that took our son. Qui-Gon is not to blame."
Mr. Lars pushed his wife's abruptly away.
"I told you not to say that. His death is on Jinn's hands. I will not allow him another chance at happiness with Obi. And Obi-Wan needs to be out of our lives completely and with finality. We agreed to break all ties and move on with our new son, our new life…"
"I thought that is what we did when we gave Obi-Wan to Master Jinn. I don't think that is it. You hope to hurt Qui-Gon the way you have been hurt with the loss of our first son, Owen. Revenge is a nasty business and has a way of backfiring, my husband."
########with the Jedi during-meal in another eatery#####
Master Yoda and Mace tried to coax their friend to eat with them but food was the last thing on his mind. What stayed on his mind was the child. Not worry for him persay. He knew where he was right now. What he thought about through mid-meal was how he, he controlled reserved Jedi master with an exemplary record of diplomacy, managed to let the little guy worm his way into his heart. Just a couple of weeks ago, before he was removed from his home, they were at each other's throats. Now they both seemed determined to hold to each other for dear life.
"How did I let this happen?"
Mace was confused by the comment, Yoda, however, was not.
"Happen for a reason it has. Will of the force."
"Master everything I do is the will of the force according to you. I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to say anything different."
"Just so I don't feel left out Qui, Could you or Master Yoda let me in on what exactly you refer too when you say "let it happen". Let *what* happen?"
"Child found a door to Qui-Gon's heart, he did. Doesn't like it too much Master Jinn thinks. "
"Its not that I don't like him. I care a great deal for the child. I just find it odd I didn't know it till he was taken away."
"Too much like you I think he is. Fight like cats and dogs, future I see for you both, but care for one another, of that I have no doubt."
"He's not force sensitive Master."
" Aware of that I am Qui-Gon. Monopoly on love we Jedi have… hey? Think not I do. Given choice in the matter of who we love we are not. Love comes to us… Humph...there.. it is …. If love is there, matter not if force is or not?"
"How can he exist at the temple?"
"What think you, Jedi, monsters we are? Handle a little child blessed not in the force you can not? Shame on you Padawan of mine to admit such a travesty you do."
"Master, you know very well I don't mean that. He just doesn't fit in."
"Then make him fit we will."
Mace looked at Qui-Gon and took another sip of tea.
"See… I told you, he has an answer to everything."
"Smart with me you will not be Mace Windu. Clip your ears right here in food hall I will."
"I suppose we should go back. The court bailiff said I could sit with him for a little while before we resume the hearing. I only wish I could have spoken with Selena alone before all this started."
Mace and Yoda both knew the *him* Qui-Gon referred too, was Obi-Wan.
"Husband always by her side he is. Suspect I do, for whatever reason, he caused her to do this he did. Much trouble I see for them if forces his will on her all the time, he does. Not good for relationship, any relationship."
"Well you should certainly know, with all the knowledge of marriage you have which is what…. Zero?"
"Master Windu, feisty you are today. Take some of that vinegar from your words I will, if stop you do not.……"
They entered the courtroom, Yoda and Mace in an almost argument and Jinn, with his thoughts elsewhere. He concentrated only on *his* little boy.
//Now where did he say I should go? Oh yes, Down this hall…behind the first door….to the left……//
######################
Feedback is wished for and appreciated!!!!
PEACE ewen
Master Dalia and Da'Neel was given their own quarters. Master Jinn was to oversee the strenuous training involved in a padawan's life and Master Dalia was to take over her role as master to Padawan Da'Neel. In actuality, she would once again become the master to the unruly padawan-almost-knight.
Maybe she thought she got the best of the agreement but in Jinn's view he did. He would not have to put up with the young man, except when training him with the saber, katas or if a mission was to arise.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes and begged the force not to let the latter happen. He knew he would not have to go on any missions unless a disaster struck. He had requested and received a leave in his mission rotation to care for his personal business, Obi-Wan.
All things considered this day had gone well for the master. He only wanted to go home, meditate, and tomorrow go into the city to visit with Obi-Wan again.
However when he reached his apartment, devoid of padawan and other master he found a commlink message waiting. The seemingly urgency of the red light blinking startled Obi's guardian as he hurriedly pressed the necessary buttons to here the message. That particular red light signaled an incoming call or message but from outside the temple. The fear that swelled in the master was that something was wrong with Obi-Wan. His worry about the child's well being was quickly put to rest, but the news left by the orphanage administrator was still tainted with problems and almost bordered being a threat..
//Change of venue for Obi-Wan's sake. That's ridiculous. They don't even want him but they want the hearing set in their city on their planet where the man literally controls everyone there. I wouldn't have a chance. It can't happen. I won't allow it.//
Qui-Gon listened twice more to the message. He heard it thoroughly the first time, only he hoped he hadn't. It would be hard to fight a man of Lar's status even here on Coruscant, but it would be *impossible* on his home world.
//How could Selena trash our friendship in such a way. I did not follow through with my promise to wait until she came to find out the mystery of Obi's medication but she should know how the council works. She plans to do this and possibly destroy the child's life. Why? Does she no longer feel any passion or sense of responsibility for the little boy? //
So many thoughts kept popping up in Jinn's mind as he found his way blindly to his former master's suite. He could not even remember getting there, let alone seeing how he got there.
In Yoda's common room he sat and patiently listened to Qui-Gon rant and rave about the Lars and their outrageous petition to move the court hearing back to *their* home world.. That was clearly what it would be. They would have to go to court and fight just to keep Obi-Wan on this planet and then worry about the court hearing of suspected abuse by the kindly master who respected all life forms no matter how small or how inconsequential they were.
"Problem this could be Qui-Gon. Jest with you I will not. But have a favor owed to me by Fini, I do. Time to use that favor I think it is. Call to him I will make. Have this ludicrous idea of the Lars put to rest by the end of the day I also will. Made-up crime incurred here, then venue here it will stay. Worry you should not. Have a child to see tomorrow and an attorney today. Be on your way you will for business of my own I need to take care of."
Qui-Gon trusted his former master inexplicitly and if he said it would be taken care of, Qui-Gon knew it would if at all possible and Master Yoda seemed more than convinced that it was.
####
The next day when Obi-Wan came to meet his guardian in the same little eight by eight room there was no hesitation on his part to literally throw himself in Qui-Gon's arms.
All the staunchness and reserve the Master ever had melted in that moment. Not to say Obi loved him for he did not know him. However one thing was sure he needed Qui-Gon now. He needed to know there was someone who was willing to care for him and that he could put all his trust and faith in. Qui-Gon had been designated that *someone*, no matter how rough and rocky a start their guardian/ward relationship had begun.
With both large arms of Master Jinn's wrapped around the tiny little form that had rushed him and latched onto the master as if for his life, Jinn could feel trembling of fear, sickness and self doubt all rolled into one. This confinement to the orphanage had done grave damage to the child's overall physical and mental state. Qui-Gon recognized that first off.
"WHOAA…. You are going to bowl me over with such a big bear hug. What is wrong?"
Obi turned Master Jinn's head so he could whisper in his ear.
"I don't want to be here. I want to go home…well I want to go back to the temple. I don't like it here."
Qui-Gon noticed that the child spoke in his ear as if he knew they were being watched, listened too in almost an act of betrayal or at least the child felt it was.
"Why are we whispering little one?"
"I know they are there behind that mirror watching us. I just want to warn you so..you know so you won't say anything to incrm.. What was that word? Oh yea, incriminate yourself. That is what my friend told me."
Had the boy not been so afraid Jinn would have gladly stayed in that position with the little hand pressed soothingly against his cheek to keep his ear very close to the child. It felt good to be near the child. A connection, There was that word again? But what other word could the Jedi master use to describe the anomaly shared by he and Obi? They had no bond. Obi had no force abilities or midichlorians so Jinn had to use the word *connection* and not *bond*. Somehow he thought what they had in moments like this was more than a connection…. But what? That was a question that would remain unanswered until all the other problems Jinn faced was cleared up. Then he would have to deal with this strange magnetic pull the child had on him as he evidently had on the child.
Qui-Gon talked in a whispered tone although he didn't believe he needed too.
"Obi, I have done nothing to incriminate myself of anything. I know your friend tried to help you. I am glad you at least have a friend, but you must remember I have nothing to indicate I was abusive to you. Things will turn out fine. You will see."
Obi dropped his head as if he thought he had made a mistake.
"I am sorry. But my friend said once you get in here that you never get out. They won't listen to the truth even if it is the truth. His parents weren't that bad he said and he is still here. The system believed his dad was mean and cruel and David tried to tell them here he really wasn't. He got upset sometimes that's all."
Master Jinn tipped the child's face up so he could see it. The master understood it more. The boy, David must have been placed here because of some cruelty done to him by his father. It had been explained to him by Mace that some children refused to believe their parents were bad to them. The children took the blame upon themselves and chose to ignore the truth for fear they would be stuck here with no one to love them. That could be David's case or it could as Master Jinn thought through with a touch of stark realization, be the truth, the father had done nothing and still the boy was here and remained he had.
Jinn tried to shake off an uncomfortable feeling. That was his situation and in some warped way he hoped David was wrong; that he was not being held here out of anything but the right reasons; that his father truly was abusive. It would be a travesty to a child to be taken as Obi-Wan had for no apparent reason other than the Jedi wanted the best for him.
Qui-Gon pushed back the spiked hair on Obi's head and pressed his chin gently on top of it. There they spent much of their visit in quiet reflection and basked in an overwhelming peace that came over both master and child when they were together.
Was it peculiar? Immensely so, but Qui-Gon would rather bathe in this feeling of contentment than to question its meaning right now.
The news of the birth of Selena's child trickled down through the grapevine. The court knew of it first, because they could now set up a hearing date. It finally reached the Jedi and in particular Master Jinn.
He thought Selena had planned to notify him personally of the birth but in retrospect he realized she would assume he was displeased with her over the actions taken to have Obi-Wan removed from the temple and his care. Still he felt betrayed not just because he did not receive word of the healthy birth, but also of the court action.
No matter how much he tried to piece together the reasons behind what seemed a vindictive act, Qui-Gon could not come up with one.
//She certainly seemed devoted to Obi-Wan and wanted the best for him even when she could not keep him. What has suddenly changed? //
Qui-Gon could also not help but wonder if the new-born was a force-sensitive as was his brother. Was it as strong as his brother's Owen? Qui-Gon had no doubt they would not relinquish their second child to the Jedi if it was blessed with the force, but he would have liked to know just to satisfy his own personal curiosity.
####################
Qui-Gon could not have been more nervous if he awaited an all out battle with the Dark lord himself.
His knowledge of court hearings was limited to occasionally testifying on the corruptness of someone he captured or when he sat in on a diplomatic court hearing of some sort. Nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to endure.
This unknown territory for him, the legal system seemed to be stacked against him even before he tried to defend himself. His attorney, Mr. Griswald of the Coruscant capital, believed the master innocent and also believed he could convince the court of that.
What he was not so sure of was if the court would give custody back to Qui-Gon or if they would decide it might be best for a child not trained in the Jedi way and with no force abilities, to go to the orphanage which his blood-relatives recommended.
Of course Mr. Lars' prominence would carry a lot of weight even though he was from another planet. He might well be able to sway the court to send the boy back home if for nothing else than the state's reluctance to pay for his care in an orphanage or foster home. Times were hard and credits hard to come by lately on every planet in the galaxy.
Master Jinn was flanked not only by his attorney, Mace and Master Yoda accompanied him for moral support. He was not permitted to speak with Obi-Wan when he entered the courtroom. As they waited for the judge and others to enter, Jinn was bowled over by the arrival of Mr. Lars and his wife.
He had no doubt Owen's father would want to come a strutt his authority around the courtroom just so everyone knew who he was and who Jinn's battle was with. The surprise came to Jinn in the form of Selena herself. Still paled from the birth of her child but she basically seemed healthy and ready to face Master Jinn.
When she got completely in the courtroom, she was escorted by her husband straight to the prosecutors' tables where Obi-Wan sat with the attorneys against Jinn.
//They do seem like a friendly bunch. Possibly old friends or something //Qui-Gon suspected that might be more fodder to fight with if the prosecutors did know the Lars personally. It would not help his case or believability any.
He watched with intrigue interest as Obi-Wan refused the hug offered by Selena. She seemed sincerely distressed by the child's refusal to give her any kind of salutation. For a moment, Qui-Gon felt bitter toward her and felt she got what she reaped.
Master Yoda tapped his former apprentice with his gimer stick to get his attention and not to cause pain.
"Support they have with high creditability in the Lars. Deny it I will not. But on Coruscant not without higher support we have. Wait a moment see what I mean you will."
Qui-Gon resented the fact that his master and the others took this as a popularity contest but he knew in truth that was how a lot of cases and situations were settled with the higher power. Yes, it paid to know the right people in the right places. The Jedi were even more astounded as the Judge seemed to recognize both the Lars.
//What is this, a reunion of friends of the Lars family? //Jinn vehemently thought.
Had the master not been an adult he would have sunk down in his seat. That was how he felt with so many friendly faces on the opponets' side.
Qui-Gon noticed Yoda' ears perked up and twitched a little *jig* with glee. He knew that meant at least something was about to go their way because that was a sign of good news for the little master.
Qui-Gon looked up to see an entourage of Senator Valorum and Senator Palpatine.
At first he thought they came in support of the Lars', but he knew those twitching ears that they came in support of the Jedi, Qui-Gon in particular
Now each had a cheering section and no matter how ridiculous it seemed, his attorney leaned over to speak with the master about his *back up*.
"I know it might sound strange to you Jinn, but people look at who the accused is associated with. It does you nothing but good to have *ole* Fini and Palpatine sitting behind our backs."
############
Mace had never seen his friend sweat even under the most periling of conditions. Jinn was noted for his steel nerves in a time of crisis, but this Qui-Gon on the witness stand had lost all sense of his Jedi training in stoicism and calm.
He looked like he was about to blow up and tell the prosecuting attorney just where he could go. Of course Mace never had been in a hearing like this, however, even he could guess that the judge would not like where Qui-Gon recommended they all could go.
//He just have to keep his cool. //
"Master Jinn do you really expect the court to believe you can take vital medication away from a child and know when he is under too much pain or too ill from not having it to know when to administered it again? "
The prosecutor thought he had scored well against his main witness and the accused, Master Jinn.
"I expect you to believe the Jedi would never withhold medication to harm the child. It was to see what reactions it had on him since his aunt would not voluntarily tell the healers or myself why he took it in the first place."
"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable! Do you now sit there and accuse his aunt of undo harm to Obi-Wan Kenobi because she gave him the medicine in the first place? "
"No, I meant nothing negative about Selena….I mean Mrs. Lars. She cared for Obi-Wan quite diligently for the several years that my apprentice, her son, Owen and would visit."
Master Yoda could only sit in his seat on the courtroom pew and shake his head. Very occasionally he would break the normally constant eye contact with his former apprentice when he lower his head as if he was about to nod off to sleep.
Never in his days of being acquainted with Qui-Gon and there were a lot of days, had he seen someone so able to push the right buttons, ring the right bell, and overall anger the usually calm easygoing Master Jinn.
The prosecutor was doing his job to the best of his ability and right now his *best* was making Jinn seemed at his *worst*.
Obi sat at the other desk with another prosecutor //an old goat //was Obi-Wan's exact thoughts of him, but he would never be courageous enough to call him that to his face.
Obi kept his elbows on the table and his face buried in the palms of his hands. He looked up only when he would almost fall because the grump of a prosecutor would knock his elbows off the desk with no warning.// Very rude of him to say the least. //Oh, how Obi wanted to say it out loud, but then again he didn't dare.
It seemed to him Mr. Qui-Gon was not doing so well up on the stand. He listened to here anything that might sound good for them, he and Mr. Qui-Gon. When the judge quickly reprimanded Master Jinn right before he got off the witness stand, Obi was determined to say what he had to say no matter how much trouble it would cause him.
//They can't blame Mr. Qui-Gon for my actions here in court. //
"Master Jinn I plan to call a recess and when we return I hope you will answer *all* the questions forthright and quickly when the prosecutor asks you. Maybe you should try to use that Jedi decorum and remember the mantra that Jedi don't lie. I have heard that a lot lately and I have begun to wonder if there is any *truth* in it."
Qui-Gon was dumbfounded.
//Did the judge himself, insinuate that I have lied on the stand?//
The sound of the gavel rang through the courtroom and signaled the start of the court's recess.
Qui-Gon got up to leave, however, even the judge stopped his departure when Obi's voice emitted a shrilling stream of words..
"You are wrong, very wrong. Mr. Qui-Gon doesn't lie. He never hurt me. Aunt Selena you know that. Why won't you tell them the *TRUTH*? He loved Owen and he has treated me well. *PLEASE* listen to me!!"
All the while the boy cried out his outburst, he made his way to the center of the courtroom, where Qui-Gon was as he walked toward his friends. The older prosecutor had tried to grab Obi-Wan to stop him but he was not fast enough.
Like a little lightning bolt, the boy, who now could not speak for the tears and wails of anger, raced toward the enormous master who stood and waited for Obi to reach him.
Like an instinctive reflex of any parent when Qui-Gon saw Obi make a beeline to him, he extended his large arms and enveloped the boy in the safety of a cocoon made from the master's arms.
Obi-Wan hid his face in the master's tunic, clamped his hands over his ears to stop all the voices that yelled his name, and refused to let go.
The deputy who tried to remove Obi-Wan from the arms of Qui-Gon, thought he heard the Jedi *growl* in anger when he stepped up. Needless to say, he backed off quickly when only to his ears, a few choice words were mumbled.
"I suggest you not even attempt to take him from me right now!!!"
The look he planted on Selena made her shrink back and try to hide in the crowd of other courtroom attendants, anxious for mid-meal. .
She knew what she did was wrong. She had lost all sense of her Jedi training and even her human decencies. She hadn't even attempted to curb the obstinacy of her husband. All this had been his idea and now she wanted to back track on the entire nasty business of Obi-Wan's removal from Qui-Gon and the Jedi temple.
//How could I ever have agreed to such a despicable thing. The child is terrified. I wanted Jinn to find out the truth, yet when he tried, I balked on the idea. What is it, my way or no way? He will find out. The truth about Obi-Wan can't be hidden forever.. I can't keep giving bogus medicine for an even more bogus illness. It will start to harm Obi when he goes through puberty. Even the healer I took him too last said he would have to be taken off the medicine for a period of time. He's building a toxicity to it. When do I have them stop giving it, when it almost kills the child? //
She felt a hand grab her arm and squeeze not too gently on it. Mr. Lars was not force sensitive, but he had picked up on her guilt and gently reminded her, they agreed to follow this court hearing to its entirety.
She dropped her head in order to break the eye contact she had with her old friend, Qui-Gon.
Master Jinn stood in the center of the room and gently rubbed Obi's back and whispered things unheard to anyone else's ears, as the deputy bailiff looked on with a knowing smile.
"I will give you a few minutes with him, Master Jinn. I got one at home about that age. I probably shouldn't say this, but …. *MAN*, I can't begin to tell you how I would feel if someone took him from me."
Qui-Gon nodded a *thank you*. The judge saw things were back in order and he really was hungry so he left to let the bailiff handle the matter. it wasn't as if the master planned to steal him.
//He only wants a little personal contact with him. It can't hurt anything under court supervision. The Jedi master visits him at the orphanage anyway.//
Even the judge felt some compassion for the two, child and Jedi master. Not that he questioned his friend Lars' motive in all this, but to him there seemed to be a certain something about the two, unwilling plaintiff and defendant..
He left the courtroom shaking his head and gripped with a feeling that this trial could get nasty to the point that it would harm the child. He certainly wasn't in favor of that.
Mr. Lars had to pull his wife from the courtroom to go find a restaurant. She seemed compelled to stand there as long as Jinn had the child nestled in his arms. Finally she agreed to leave with her husband and shot one glance at the two together, both giving each the comfort and solace they needed. For that, she was grateful. Her one regret though, was the fact she was the reason for all this turmoil and confusion in the little boy's life. Obi-Wan already suffered through so much unhappiness, only to be forced to go through more.
Finally Qui-Gon managed to console the child enough to hand him to the bailiff. The gentle court bailiff took Obi-Wan by the hand, with a promise that after mid-meal, Master Jinn would be allowed to visit with him a few minutes longer until court resumed. Obi, with just a touch of hesitancy, went with him so they both could go find a well deserved mid-meal.
#######With the Lars at mid-meal#######
"I have tried not to sound harsh Selena, but you are going to ruin everything wearing your heart on your sleeve the way you do. We agreed, to ever have any true peace of mind in the raising of baby, Obi has to be out of our lives."
"Yes, we did agree, but now I wonder why. He is out of our lives and still you are not satisfied."
"Satisfied, why should I be. Qui-Gon Jinn gets a repeat performance. Why, so he can do the same thing to Obi as Owen?. .. Why should he get a second chance at being happy?"
"We did, didn't we? That is not to say we will ever forget Owen, however, we have another child that has to be raised. He is not force sensitive and even if he were he would not go to the Jedi."
"No, you are right about that. I wouldn't send a dog to the Jedi to care for if I cared anything about him."
"Why were you so willing to send Obi-Wan then? Is an animal more worthy of a home than a child. Sometimes I can't figure out this hatred you hold for the Jedi."
"They took my son, our son or so I thought. I mean, did you not care for him as I did?"
Selena reached over and cupped her husband face in her soft petite hands.
"Of course I did. But don't you see it was the will of the force that took our son. Qui-Gon is not to blame."
Mr. Lars pushed his wife's abruptly away.
"I told you not to say that. His death is on Jinn's hands. I will not allow him another chance at happiness with Obi. And Obi-Wan needs to be out of our lives completely and with finality. We agreed to break all ties and move on with our new son, our new life…"
"I thought that is what we did when we gave Obi-Wan to Master Jinn. I don't think that is it. You hope to hurt Qui-Gon the way you have been hurt with the loss of our first son, Owen. Revenge is a nasty business and has a way of backfiring, my husband."
########with the Jedi during-meal in another eatery#####
Master Yoda and Mace tried to coax their friend to eat with them but food was the last thing on his mind. What stayed on his mind was the child. Not worry for him persay. He knew where he was right now. What he thought about through mid-meal was how he, he controlled reserved Jedi master with an exemplary record of diplomacy, managed to let the little guy worm his way into his heart. Just a couple of weeks ago, before he was removed from his home, they were at each other's throats. Now they both seemed determined to hold to each other for dear life.
"How did I let this happen?"
Mace was confused by the comment, Yoda, however, was not.
"Happen for a reason it has. Will of the force."
"Master everything I do is the will of the force according to you. I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to say anything different."
"Just so I don't feel left out Qui, Could you or Master Yoda let me in on what exactly you refer too when you say "let it happen". Let *what* happen?"
"Child found a door to Qui-Gon's heart, he did. Doesn't like it too much Master Jinn thinks. "
"Its not that I don't like him. I care a great deal for the child. I just find it odd I didn't know it till he was taken away."
"Too much like you I think he is. Fight like cats and dogs, future I see for you both, but care for one another, of that I have no doubt."
"He's not force sensitive Master."
" Aware of that I am Qui-Gon. Monopoly on love we Jedi have… hey? Think not I do. Given choice in the matter of who we love we are not. Love comes to us… Humph...there.. it is …. If love is there, matter not if force is or not?"
"How can he exist at the temple?"
"What think you, Jedi, monsters we are? Handle a little child blessed not in the force you can not? Shame on you Padawan of mine to admit such a travesty you do."
"Master, you know very well I don't mean that. He just doesn't fit in."
"Then make him fit we will."
Mace looked at Qui-Gon and took another sip of tea.
"See… I told you, he has an answer to everything."
"Smart with me you will not be Mace Windu. Clip your ears right here in food hall I will."
"I suppose we should go back. The court bailiff said I could sit with him for a little while before we resume the hearing. I only wish I could have spoken with Selena alone before all this started."
Mace and Yoda both knew the *him* Qui-Gon referred too, was Obi-Wan.
"Husband always by her side he is. Suspect I do, for whatever reason, he caused her to do this he did. Much trouble I see for them if forces his will on her all the time, he does. Not good for relationship, any relationship."
"Well you should certainly know, with all the knowledge of marriage you have which is what…. Zero?"
"Master Windu, feisty you are today. Take some of that vinegar from your words I will, if stop you do not.……"
They entered the courtroom, Yoda and Mace in an almost argument and Jinn, with his thoughts elsewhere. He concentrated only on *his* little boy.
//Now where did he say I should go? Oh yes, Down this hall…behind the first door….to the left……//
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Feedback is wished for and appreciated!!!!
PEACE ewen