Title: Hidden Shadows Seeking Light

Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.

Genre: Drama/Mild Angst

Feedback: I would love to get feedback on this story. I would appreciate it if everyone would put down their flame throwers though because this is only my second time out and I know I made mistakes on the first story and have no doubt I will make many on this one. I need constructive criticism so that I will get better not mean comments that will only serve to make me cry. I thank each and every one of the readers who take the time to review this story. I love fan fiction and hope to write stories that can entertain others as much as their stories have entertained me.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.

Just to a little guide as to what things mean:

/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud

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Pulmee Den made his way into the State House with the air of a man on the verge of seizing greatness. He hummed with excitement as he ran over in his mind once more the events that would be occurring this very week. He could feel the potential power's energy humming just beyond the reach of his fingers, but soon it would be within his grasp. It would not be long now before Commander La'Kol was broken begging for mercy and he, Pulmee Den, would be accepting the position of Commander not Vice Commander in the planetary government.. He wasn't sure which moment he was looking forward to the most. He had longed to see La'Kol broken and begging for two years now. He had only wanted to be Commander since he had realized what a weak politico Relian was and seen him sacrifice the populace of the South time and time again. He realized that seeing La'Kol broken would bring him more joy than any title or position of power. Nothing was as satisfying as seeing one's enemies broken at one's feet. He smiled smugly and straightened his shoulders.

He laughed to himself. He quickly regained his composure though as he noticed Valem Tadol, attache' to La'Kol, approaching him. Over the years Den and Valem had come to hate one another, but political animals that they were never dared to show their fangs in public. They had learned long ago that subtle attacks usually resulted in deeper wounds.

"There you are Den." Valem pulled up along side the smaller man as Den made a line to his office.

"Valem." Den said absently as he studied the plans for upgrading the Capitol's security an urgent request since the recent assassination and kidnapping.

"I wanted to check with you about some final details with the ceremony this week." Valem gasped working hard to keep up with Den as the man rushed on towards his office.

"Must you?." Den stopped suddenly staring with open indignation at the other man. "Surely you can handle the ceremony Valem. You don't really need me to hold your hand do you?" His tone attempting to strip the man of any integrity he might have had, but from the look on Valem's face the attack had failed to draw blood.

"No Pulmee I don't require any hand holding I am perfectly capable of organizing the ceremony I was merely going to inquire as to your preferences as a courtesy." He stood his ground his obvious dislike showing through in both his verbal and body language. In all honesty he couldn't care less what Den wanted for the ceremony but protocol insisted that the the attaché of the Commander inquiry after any specific requests the Vice Commander elect might have. He had fulfilled the requirement.

"Well I trust you completely Valem. I am sure you will make it as formal as the occasion necessitates, so just knock yourself out. I am much to busy to be bothered with mundane details at the moment." He pushed pasted Valem continuing on to his office.

//I'd like to knock you out.// Valem thought watching the other man retreat. He couldn't believe that in two short days he would be working beneath this man. He had never personally cared for Relian but he at least had attempted to be civil. Den had always been almost openly offensive and even worse oily slick when need be. Valem didn't trust him and never had. The thought of his being the Vice Commander made him shudder and seethe.

Turning on his heels he decided not to "knock himself out" but instead to lean towards subtle and understated. He could always say he had wanted the ceremony to be solemn and dignified how was he to know that instead it would come off dull and uninspired. He smiled at the power Den had just given him. Valem wouldn't be wielding great power but he certainly knew how to take advantage of the power he had. He couldn't keep the devisable man out of office but he could do what he could to make the occasion as unimpressive as Den was himself. Glancing down at his ongoing check list he managed to remove half of his "to do's" with this one decision. Perhaps Den being over him wouldn't be so bad after all.

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It was into the night cycle and the transport had begun its final leg for the journey to Tiress. The Jedi would be arriving mid to late morning depending upon traffic patterns and available landing bays. Qui-Gon rose from his bunk sleep eluding him. He had never had the chance to speak to Anakin in depth about what Obi-Wan had felt he had found during the attack. He had wanted to, but he boy had seemed so exhausted it had seemed unfair to push him beyond what he was ready for. He had had a terrible experience. After a few more days Qui-Gon felt confident that the opportunity would arise when they could speak. He had thought about taking a look himself but had been amazed at the speed with which Anakin had repaired his shields.

He quietly made his way to the galley. Perhaps a cup of tea would be nice. It might settle his thoughts so that he could get a little rest before facing whatever challenge lay before them on Tiress.

Upon entering the galley, Qui-Gon found Obi-Wan sitting quietly at the table across from the galley in the commons area. He was sipping what appeared to be tea still rubbing one hand across his forehead.

"Headache?" Qui-Gon asked as he approached.

The knight made no move to respond just remained as he had been.

Qui-Gon moved up behind the knight and extended his hand to touch the younger man's temple. This caused an immediate response from the man as he flinched away from the other's touch.

"What do you think you are doing?" Obi-Wan asked staring at the man in complete disbelief.

Qui-Gon sensed the other man's outrage and felt a blush warm his cheeks. He had forgotten to apologize for their earlier confrontation. He chided himself and wondered how he could have overlooked something so important focusing on his concern for Anakin instead.

"I thought I could help your headache. I am no healer but I do tend to have more of that touch than--. I mean."

"Than I do?" Obi-Wan completed the man's statement. "Ah yes. That's right another of my faults. I never did have a very strong grasp on the living Force." He shook his head sounding still more resentful than anything else.

"I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to help." Qui-Gon moved on into the galley to get the tea he had come for.

//No!// He shouted to himself. // You will not allow this to happen again.// Turning he moved back over to the table where the knight was sitting.

"Obi-Wan I was wrong today. I had no right to question you or to take what you said and turn it into a personal attack. You didn't deserve such harsh and callous behavior from me. I am very sorry for my actions. I hope you can forgive me. " He stood his eyes never leaving those of the young man before him. He watched as Obi-Wan's eyebrows rose in surprise and disbelief.

"I don't know what to say to that Qui-Gon. I must admit that I felt you overreacted to my observations." His voice was soft and a bit hesitant. He wasn't use to hearing Qui-Gon apologize.

"I did overreact and I apologize. I also realize that we are still on very fragile ground where our relationship is concerned. I hate to see my momentary lapse hurt our chances of moving forward." Qui-Gon moved again now within reach of the other man.

"Yes. That had been a concern of mine as well." Obi-Wan said softly staring down into his mug.

"Well do you accept my apology?" Qui-Gon asked resting his hand upon the other man's shoulder.

Obi-Wan stared at the hand for a moment but did not move away from it. Finally he smiled up at the man. "I do accept, but on one condition."

"Name it." Qui-Gon stated relief evident in his change in posture. He was much more relaxed now.

"You must stop seeing me as the insecure thirteen year old you took as your padawan. I am neither jealous nor resentful of Anakin. I released those emotions long ago. I don't believe I ever felt that way towards him. I think I was more angry with you to be honest. I must be able to discuss concerns I have with you without fearing that you will turn it on me or doubt the validity of my concerns." His features were set in stone. This point had to be nonnegotiable.

Qui-Gon stood considering for a moment. //Do I do that?// He wondered to himself. //Do I still see him as that thirteen year old? How is that possible?// He surveyed quickly the man in front of him. He wasn't the thirteen year old boy though he still very much resembled him. The same striking green eyes, same ginger hair, same serious nature, same lean strong stature, but he was older. He had survived countless missions, narrow escapes, emotional struggles and rejections many admittedly at the Master's hands. He was thoughtful and wise beyond his years. He had a naturally easy manner in dealing with people that cause them to feel safe and soothed while also feeling an endearment to him in return. He made friends everywhere he went and yet seemed perfectly content to forge ahead in any circumstance alone. He thought back to the knight's composure during their conversation the previous night in the cargo hold. He also thought of his quick thinking during the attack that morning. He marveled at the man before him.

Obi-Wan watched as a myriad of emotions played across his ex-Master's face. He had forced himself not to blush under the other man's scrutiny. There had been a time in their relationship when he would have had to fight the urge to squirm. He would have felt certain that following such close examination he would have been confronted with a long list of abilities he needed to improve on but this time other than a mild embarrassment he felt nothing. He felt himself grow impatient for a response. Just as he was about to prompt the man for it, Qui-Gon cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Humph. Sometimes it is those who are the most familiar with us that cannot recognize when we change. It is as if I see you for the first time. You are no longer that boy. You are a fine knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Any Master would be thrilled to have had you for their Padawan. I stupidly wasted that opportunity, but it is my privileged to be your friend. I can try to remember you as you are instead of how you once were, but I fear at times you will need to for you to remind me of the facts as they are not as they once were. All I can do is ask for your patience as I adjust my view of you and accept what you have become. Can you help me?" He squeezed the knight's shoulder slightly.

A part of Obi-Wan wanted to stay angry. He was getting a little sick on this roller coaster he and Qui-Gon had been on now for over a year. He wanted to hate the man. He wanted to stop the transport and get off, but knew he could not. He couldn't do that anymore than he could hate Qui-Gon or willingly force him from his life. He wasn't sure if it was because he had known him since he was so young, wanted him to love him for so long or habitually sought the man's approval for all those years, but he found himself smiling and agreeing silently to be patient and to forgive him one more time.

"Qui-Gon." He said softly reaching up and taking the man's hand from his shoulder. He held it for a moment looking up into those deep blue eyes. "I am growing very tired of forgiving you." His voice seemed heavy with fatigue. Qui-Gon nodded understanding and squeezed the hand that held his.

"I understand. I realize one day I will run out of chances." His words were barely audible. The knight squeezed his hand in return waiting until the older man finally met his gaze before speaking Obi-Wan finally spoke the words that would haunt Qui-Gon's dreams for nights to come.

"I think you just did." He couldn't keep enduring the abuse, the rejection, and the pain. At some point he had to draw the line and here in this galley on a transport headed to a conflicted planet Obi-Wan drew that line. This was it. This was Qui-Gon's last chance to accept him as he was and treat him with the respect he deserved or the next time whether he chose to forgive him or not he would never attempt to reconcile their relationship again. It was a survival skill and Obi-Wan intended Force willing to survive.

Needing a moment to reign in his emotions Qui-Gon turned back to the galley remembering he had come down in order to make some tea.

"There's tea already made if you want some." Obi-Wan gestured with his cup toward the warming pot in the galley.

"Rooseleaf?" Qui-Gon asked giving a knowing smile. Obi-Wan had always loved Rooseleaf tea. He had always preferred Danghi.

"Danghi." Obi-Wan replied. The older man started when he heard the word turning to meet the other man's gaze "To this day it is always the one I reach for each time I set out to make tea. Isn't that funny?" His voice was soft and gentle. "Habit I guess." Obi-Wan offered a smile that warmed the man.

Qui-Gon smiled broadly and shrugged. "Hmph I think I can relate to that." He started into the galley to get his tea.

"It still feels odd doesn't it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes." The older man sighed, " I am sure that it will for awhile."

"It is like starting over but harder." It felt good to be speaking casually with the master again.

"Yes." Qui-Gon nodded coming back to sit next to the man. "I guess in some ways it is harder than starting over."

"No clean slate. " Obi-Wan held this eyes for a moment before closing his own to lean back against the back of the booth.

"Exactly. No clean slate but memories." Qui-Gon's voice rose optimistically.

"Both good and bad." His voice sounded tired.

The older man sat silently considering not only the comment but also a few of the memories from each category.

"Risking further bad memories, did you speak to Anakin about what I discovered?" Obi-Wan asked pulling the man from his thoughts.

"No. He had been too exhausted to talk." Obi-Wan shook his head gently at the last remark. He kept silent even though he was suspicious of the motive for the boy's fatigue. He didn't want to believe that Anakin would purposely use fatigue to avoid having to face his Master. After the look the boy had given him once he had thrown the knight from his mind Obi-Wan was not sure exactly what the boy was capable of to be honest.

"Someone targeted him. I wonder why? He is only a Padawan and despite his obvious natural talent he isn't trained. "

"May I ask you something?" Qui-Gon asked. After receiving a nod from the man he continued. "When we were in Anakin's mind today did the other presence feel like-" Qui-Gon paused the word curling up on his tongue seeming to refuse being uttered. "Did it feel like a Sith?'

Obi-Wan paused considering what he had felt and reaching back to remember that day on Naboo fighting along side his Master Yoda. The presence did feel remarkably the same but something was different.

"Yes and no." He answered still considering the feeling and his words with great care. "I would say it was very much like what I felt coming from the tattooed warrior that my Master and I fought." He paused. For a moment Qui-Gon feared that it had been his own reaction to hearing Yoda being called Master by the man that had caused him to stop but then realized that Obi-Wan was just still trying to evaluate what he had felt. "It was much the same but something was different. The power today was more controlled and darker somehow. It seemed to be not so much the weapon of darkness but the one wielding the weapon. Does that make sense? If the warrior was his light saber the one we experienced today would be the one brandishing the weapon. There was more depth to its presence." He shook his head rising from his thoughts wondering if he had made any sense at all. From the expression on Qui-Gon's face he saw that he had.

"We must proceed very carefully. If Anakin is being targeted by a Sith there is no doubt that he has a plan for the boy." Both men grew gravely quiet as the weight of that conclusion bore down upon them.

"I have been thinking." Obi-Wan began sighing as he did so. "In light of what happened, perhaps we should arrange for Anakin to be returned to Coruscant."

"I will not leave him unprotected on Coruscant." Qui-Gon's words were emphatic.

"He would be in the Temple. He could stay with Master Yoda or perhaps even Master Windu. He would be safe." Obi-Wan reasoned hoping the other man would consider this option.

"No. I will not leave him there without me." Qui-Gon stubbornly insisted.

"Then perhaps you should both return. I am more than able to handle this mission on my own. It wouldn't be my first solo mission. I have had several over the last year."

"No. They requested both of us. It would be hard for you to gain any trust if suddenly you showed up alone." Qui-Gon knew that Obi-Wan could handle it but had an uneasy feeling about sending the knight into the fray alone.

"How are you going to be involved in settling all that lay before us on Tiress and keep a Sith away from Anakin?" Obi-Wan's voice was incredulous. Sometimes Qui-Gon over estimated his own abilities to be all things to all people.

"I will manage. I managed to keep you safe?" He declared.

"When? Mirilent almost renamed a wing in the infirmary after me." From the look on Qui-Gon's face his words had struck home. Obi-Wan hated to see the pain he had inflicted but knew that the point had to be made. There were times he had been left too exposed because Qui-Gon had refused to leave him behind at the Temple. Obi-Wan had gained great skill as a warrior but it had almost cost him his life on many occasions. He had been older than Anakin and more thoroughly trained. He had watched Anakin this morning. He was doing very well but was in no position to be of any assistance in a battle. Knowing this was not the tack to take in order to successfully change the Master's mind, Obi-Wan cleared his throat and spoke again only softer.

"Qui-Gon please I have a bad feeling about Anakin being on Tiress. I am not sure that either of us will be able to protect him. We weren't able to protect him this morning, so what would make you think things will be different on a planet perched on the brink of war?" He reached out and took the other man's hand in his own. Qui-Gon raised his eyes and gazed into the sea green eyes of his ex-padawan. Obi-Wan could tell the man was now considering his words.

Qui-Gon was surprised by the sincerity of the knight's words. He didn't like the idea of leaving Anakin at the Temple without him, but could see the validity and necessity of it. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into on Tiress and somehow the Sith had known exactly where to locate Anakin.

"Obi-Wan do you realize how strong this Sith has to be in order to reach Anakin out here in the middle of space." His eyes held the younger man's as they both visibly sobered at the thought. They sat in silence for a long moment. Qui-Gon finally cleared his throat.

"When can we send a transmission to Coruscant?" Obi-Wan visibly relaxed hearing the other man's words.

"Not until we enter the Tiress system unless you want to make an emergency stop and contact them now." He waited watching the older man weigh the options. He had come to trust Qui-Gon's judgment while on missions above anyone else's save Yoda. He had no doubt that now that the man had put his own stubbornness aside that he would make the wisest choice for all concerned.

"Let's leave hyper space and report to the Council all has occurred." Qui- Gon paused. Obi-Wan could see the struggle that the man was experiencing. He didn't want to reveal the latest disturbing information concerning his padawan. Obi-Wan understood the man's loyalty and protectiveness but was relieved to see that the Master was now able to put the good of the mission ahead of his own insecurities.

"I will go make the necessary adjustments. I will let you know when we are ready to transmit." Obi-Wan rose and made his way to the cockpit leaving Qui-Gon to compose his thoughts.

Qui-Gon wasn't at all sure how the Council would receive this news about Anakin. Qui-Gon wished he had a better understanding of what had had happened during the attack. He needed answers and he knew there was only one person who had them. He quickly rose to his feet and made his way back to Anakin's room. Exhausted or not Qui-Gon needed answers and Anakin was going to supply them.

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Thank you to all who supplied reviews. I really enjoyed them. Your comments are keeping me typing that is for sure. I wanted to put more scenes into this post but these are the only two that I had ready and it would be a couple of days before the rest were there so I thought I would just give ya what I got. Hope you all are enjoying the story. Thanks again for the support.