Troublemaker, Part 5: Upon my Return
Soft boots padded down the halls. After briefing the Council on the outcome of his mission, Qui-Gon was headed to see the child he knew would be waiting for him. He had been gone longer than intended. Going into the mission he had suspected a traitor among the king's staff. His intuition had of course been correct, but it had taken two days longer to catch the offender than he had planned. Yet at every free moment, his thoughts turned to Obi-Wan.
He saw Master Trajun when he entered. He did not see Obi-Wan so he greeted her.
"Welcome back, Master Jinn," she said. Mola Li Trajun was a tall green Twi'lek and had a gentle, patient manner, as was required of all who worked with the children. "Obi-Wan has been asking for you constantly. He has worked very hard while you've been gone and can't wait to show you. He even made me count down the days until your return. I think he is afraid he'll forget what he has learned."
They both smiled. "I was, unfortunately, delayed," he explained.
She nodded. "Wait just a moment and I will find him."
She returned following a very energetic Obi-Wan. "You're back!" Obi-Wan ran to him, ready to spout out the multiplication tables right that instant.
"Not so fast!" Qui-Gon laughed. "Let's go sit down first. I just got back and need to rest."
Obi-Wan barely managed to contain himself as he walked to Master Jinn's quarters. Once there he stood in front of the couch where Qui-Gon sat and performed his mathematical show, right up through ten times ten.
"That was very good, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon embraced the boy. "I'm very proud of you."
Beaming, Obi-Wan climbed into his lap. "Now you have to tell me what happened on... at that place you went."
"Oh, I have to?" Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Obi-Wan nodded. "You said you would."
"Very well, then I guess I have to."
Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan about the problems the King of Nelsa was having. Qui-Gon had investigated and discovered that the archduke was working with the King's opponents and had finally apprehended him. When he was finished, Obi-Wan was amazed.
"Will I get to do things like that when I'm a Jedi?" he asked.
"Most certainly you will." Qui-Gon smiled and touched Obi-Wan's smiling face. "Now, I think your accomplishment deserves a reward. What would you say to some ice cream?"
"Ice cream sounds good!" Obi-Wan shouted, jumping down and running to the door.
Out on the streets of Coruscant, Qui-Gon held Obi-Wan's hand, afraid the little one would otherwise get lost in the big city.
They headed to the ice cream shop, Comet's Delight, in the central market square. At the counter, Qui-Gon lifted the boy so he could see the different kinds of ice cream they had.
"That one! That's my favorite!" Obi-Wan said, pointing at the flavor he wanted.
"Chocolate, please," Qui-Gon ordered from the attendant. "In a cup. Make it two, with chocolate sprinkles."
They sat and enjoyed their dessert. When they were finished, Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan and said, "You are a mess! Wipe your face."
Obi-Wan grabbed a napkin and scrubbed at his mouth. When Qui-Gon looked again, he just laughed; Obi-Wan had only smeared the ice cream around. "Give me that." He took the cleaning cloth and wiped Obi-Wan's face clean. "There, now you look like a proper little gentleman."
They sat a moment just enjoying the company until Obi-Wan leaned his head against the Master's arm. "I'm glad you're back."
Qui-Gon smiled down at him. "So am I."
After a few more minutes, Qui-Gon decided it was time to go back. He walked Obi-Wan back to the initiate rooms and said good night.
As he was leaving, he felt a small twinge of pain in his head and frowning put a hand to his brow.
Master Trajun noticed this small action. "Are you all right?" she asked with concern as she came to his side.
It passed quickly and he smiled at her. "It's nothing, just a bit of a headache. It's gone now. I just need to go lie down. Good evening," he said and departed.
Yet when he got to his quarters, a more intense pain returned and did not fade away quickly. Thinking that perhaps there was a problem, he reluctantly convinced himself to make a short trip to the Healers.
"Hi, Qui-Gon. Here to visit someone?" Fren said when he saw the tall Jedi.
"Actually, I came to see you. I've got a rather awful headache I think needs to be tended," Qui-Gon answered.
"Oh, you came here to be looked at? Voluntarily? All of your own free will?" Fren looked at him as though astounded.
Qui-Gon scowled back at him. "Cut out the jokes and get to work, if you would be so kind."
Fren adopted his more professional manner. "Have you had any other symptoms?"
"A little while ago I had a smaller headache, but it didn't last long. That's it."
"All right, I'm going to run some tests. Then we'll see what we've got."
Qui-Gon sat trying not to complain too much while the Healer worked. He hated being poked and prodded and scanned. He started wondering why he had come here over a simple little headache.
At last Fren left him to compile the results of the tests. Qui-Gon was about ready to bolt from the ward when Fren told a Padawan Healer to ready a room for Qui-Gon.
"Fren, this is silly. I'm sure it's nothing, really!" Qui-Gon protested.
"Get in the room, Jinn."
Sighing, Qui-Gon did what he was told and sat on the bed.
"Looks like you'll be with us a couple of days, Qui-Gon. You seem to have caught a nasty virus, most likely in something you ate on Nelsa. I checked the databanks and the Nelsans have developed natural immunity to this particular bug. The headaches are just the beginning. If you hadn't come to be examined, they would have gotten worse still until you fell into a coma, and after a few days, you would have died."
Qui-Gon grimaced, thinking that this visit was not so useless after all.
"Now lie down and give me your arm." Fren jabbed an IV into his limb. "Fortunately, you're still in the early stages, so you can be treated. DON'T remove this!"
Qui-Gon had no intention of interfering with the flow of the antidote. He closed his eyes, wishing he would not be confined in the hospital room for some days.
"Oh, you have some visitors, Qui-Gon," Fren added.
Opening his eyes again, Qui-Gon turned to the door but saw only one visitor, Master Trajun, smiling at him. She bent and lifted little Obi-Wan, clad in his sleepclothes, placing him on the bed beside the Master.
"You okay, Master?" he asked.
"I'm just fine, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon smiled reassuringly.
"Master Trajun said you were sick."
"Yes, but I took my medicine so don't you worry about me."
Obi-Wan crinkled his nose. "Ew, medicine's icky."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "But it's good for you."
Forgetting the medicine, Obi-Wan looked at him with those big precious eyes. "Can I stay with you?"
"That's up to Master Trajun."
Obi-Wan turned to her, his eyes even bigger, if that were possible. "Can I?"
"What about it, Fren?" she said.
"Sure, the little guy can stay. Qui-Gon could use the company. That's why I called you." Fren smiled at them and took his leave.
Master Trajun walked to the side of the bed and touched Obi-Wan's hair. "I'll come get you in the morning. Be good." She smiled and left also.
Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan was tired. He figured the initiates were being tucked in when Fren called. "Time to sleep, I think, my little cub."
Obi-Wan crawled up to him and lay his little head on the Master's chest. He curled up at his side, a little paw resting by his face, ready for sleep, the picture of a perfect little cherub.
Thinking that his stay might not be so bad, Qui-Gon smiled and wrapped an arm around his boy as the sun set, and together they slept in peace.
Soft boots padded down the halls. After briefing the Council on the outcome of his mission, Qui-Gon was headed to see the child he knew would be waiting for him. He had been gone longer than intended. Going into the mission he had suspected a traitor among the king's staff. His intuition had of course been correct, but it had taken two days longer to catch the offender than he had planned. Yet at every free moment, his thoughts turned to Obi-Wan.
He saw Master Trajun when he entered. He did not see Obi-Wan so he greeted her.
"Welcome back, Master Jinn," she said. Mola Li Trajun was a tall green Twi'lek and had a gentle, patient manner, as was required of all who worked with the children. "Obi-Wan has been asking for you constantly. He has worked very hard while you've been gone and can't wait to show you. He even made me count down the days until your return. I think he is afraid he'll forget what he has learned."
They both smiled. "I was, unfortunately, delayed," he explained.
She nodded. "Wait just a moment and I will find him."
She returned following a very energetic Obi-Wan. "You're back!" Obi-Wan ran to him, ready to spout out the multiplication tables right that instant.
"Not so fast!" Qui-Gon laughed. "Let's go sit down first. I just got back and need to rest."
Obi-Wan barely managed to contain himself as he walked to Master Jinn's quarters. Once there he stood in front of the couch where Qui-Gon sat and performed his mathematical show, right up through ten times ten.
"That was very good, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon embraced the boy. "I'm very proud of you."
Beaming, Obi-Wan climbed into his lap. "Now you have to tell me what happened on... at that place you went."
"Oh, I have to?" Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Obi-Wan nodded. "You said you would."
"Very well, then I guess I have to."
Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan about the problems the King of Nelsa was having. Qui-Gon had investigated and discovered that the archduke was working with the King's opponents and had finally apprehended him. When he was finished, Obi-Wan was amazed.
"Will I get to do things like that when I'm a Jedi?" he asked.
"Most certainly you will." Qui-Gon smiled and touched Obi-Wan's smiling face. "Now, I think your accomplishment deserves a reward. What would you say to some ice cream?"
"Ice cream sounds good!" Obi-Wan shouted, jumping down and running to the door.
Out on the streets of Coruscant, Qui-Gon held Obi-Wan's hand, afraid the little one would otherwise get lost in the big city.
They headed to the ice cream shop, Comet's Delight, in the central market square. At the counter, Qui-Gon lifted the boy so he could see the different kinds of ice cream they had.
"That one! That's my favorite!" Obi-Wan said, pointing at the flavor he wanted.
"Chocolate, please," Qui-Gon ordered from the attendant. "In a cup. Make it two, with chocolate sprinkles."
They sat and enjoyed their dessert. When they were finished, Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan and said, "You are a mess! Wipe your face."
Obi-Wan grabbed a napkin and scrubbed at his mouth. When Qui-Gon looked again, he just laughed; Obi-Wan had only smeared the ice cream around. "Give me that." He took the cleaning cloth and wiped Obi-Wan's face clean. "There, now you look like a proper little gentleman."
They sat a moment just enjoying the company until Obi-Wan leaned his head against the Master's arm. "I'm glad you're back."
Qui-Gon smiled down at him. "So am I."
After a few more minutes, Qui-Gon decided it was time to go back. He walked Obi-Wan back to the initiate rooms and said good night.
As he was leaving, he felt a small twinge of pain in his head and frowning put a hand to his brow.
Master Trajun noticed this small action. "Are you all right?" she asked with concern as she came to his side.
It passed quickly and he smiled at her. "It's nothing, just a bit of a headache. It's gone now. I just need to go lie down. Good evening," he said and departed.
Yet when he got to his quarters, a more intense pain returned and did not fade away quickly. Thinking that perhaps there was a problem, he reluctantly convinced himself to make a short trip to the Healers.
"Hi, Qui-Gon. Here to visit someone?" Fren said when he saw the tall Jedi.
"Actually, I came to see you. I've got a rather awful headache I think needs to be tended," Qui-Gon answered.
"Oh, you came here to be looked at? Voluntarily? All of your own free will?" Fren looked at him as though astounded.
Qui-Gon scowled back at him. "Cut out the jokes and get to work, if you would be so kind."
Fren adopted his more professional manner. "Have you had any other symptoms?"
"A little while ago I had a smaller headache, but it didn't last long. That's it."
"All right, I'm going to run some tests. Then we'll see what we've got."
Qui-Gon sat trying not to complain too much while the Healer worked. He hated being poked and prodded and scanned. He started wondering why he had come here over a simple little headache.
At last Fren left him to compile the results of the tests. Qui-Gon was about ready to bolt from the ward when Fren told a Padawan Healer to ready a room for Qui-Gon.
"Fren, this is silly. I'm sure it's nothing, really!" Qui-Gon protested.
"Get in the room, Jinn."
Sighing, Qui-Gon did what he was told and sat on the bed.
"Looks like you'll be with us a couple of days, Qui-Gon. You seem to have caught a nasty virus, most likely in something you ate on Nelsa. I checked the databanks and the Nelsans have developed natural immunity to this particular bug. The headaches are just the beginning. If you hadn't come to be examined, they would have gotten worse still until you fell into a coma, and after a few days, you would have died."
Qui-Gon grimaced, thinking that this visit was not so useless after all.
"Now lie down and give me your arm." Fren jabbed an IV into his limb. "Fortunately, you're still in the early stages, so you can be treated. DON'T remove this!"
Qui-Gon had no intention of interfering with the flow of the antidote. He closed his eyes, wishing he would not be confined in the hospital room for some days.
"Oh, you have some visitors, Qui-Gon," Fren added.
Opening his eyes again, Qui-Gon turned to the door but saw only one visitor, Master Trajun, smiling at him. She bent and lifted little Obi-Wan, clad in his sleepclothes, placing him on the bed beside the Master.
"You okay, Master?" he asked.
"I'm just fine, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon smiled reassuringly.
"Master Trajun said you were sick."
"Yes, but I took my medicine so don't you worry about me."
Obi-Wan crinkled his nose. "Ew, medicine's icky."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "But it's good for you."
Forgetting the medicine, Obi-Wan looked at him with those big precious eyes. "Can I stay with you?"
"That's up to Master Trajun."
Obi-Wan turned to her, his eyes even bigger, if that were possible. "Can I?"
"What about it, Fren?" she said.
"Sure, the little guy can stay. Qui-Gon could use the company. That's why I called you." Fren smiled at them and took his leave.
Master Trajun walked to the side of the bed and touched Obi-Wan's hair. "I'll come get you in the morning. Be good." She smiled and left also.
Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan was tired. He figured the initiates were being tucked in when Fren called. "Time to sleep, I think, my little cub."
Obi-Wan crawled up to him and lay his little head on the Master's chest. He curled up at his side, a little paw resting by his face, ready for sleep, the picture of a perfect little cherub.
Thinking that his stay might not be so bad, Qui-Gon smiled and wrapped an arm around his boy as the sun set, and together they slept in peace.