Qui-Gon sat in his quarters staring down at his cup of tea that had long
since gone cold.
It was dusk now and since he had turned no lights on upon his arrival his quarters were gray and shadowed. The lighting seemed to reflect his mood perfectly.
He had not spoken to Obi-Wan or seen him; well at least in person, for over a year. Qui-Gon had learned upon his recovery on Naboo that his padawan had been knighted and had requested a mission as soon as possible.
He didn't find out until a couple months later that it hadn't really been that simple. As he laid dying on the floor of that melting pit on Naboo, his apprentice had fed him his own life force to keep him alive.
That in itself isn't necessarily dangerous. All Jedi are taught the basic techniques of healing. The danger lay in the extent of Qui-Gon's injury. By all rights he should have died in that melting pit. Obi-Wan had fed him so much of his own life force and energy that the padawan had nearly joined the Force right along with him.
Mace had told Qui-Gon that they had both been found unconscious with Obi- Wan slumped over his master. It had taken some quick work on part of the healers, but somehow they managed to stabilize the pair. What Obi-Wan had started was enough for the healers to use to pull Qui-Gon through.
It was days into his recovery before Qui-Gon would recall those last few moments with Obi-Wan in the melting pit. He remembered that he had come to terms with the fact that it was his time to join the Force. The only thing stopping him was the beautiful, weeping young man that held his head in his lap.
There were so many things he wanted to say to this boy whom he loved like a son. Things he should have said a long time ago. But he was growing weak and knew he must speak quickly. Thinking first of his duty as a Jedi he had told Obi-Wan to train Anakin, that he WAS the Chosen One.
He had seen the brief flash of pain in those beautiful tear washed eyes. He wanted to reassure, to comfort but he was so tired. All he could manage was a brief whisper of a caress to his padawan's tear streaked face.
He closed his eyes and awaited the will of the Force. Almost immediately he felt a warmth spread throughout his entire body. Warmth infused with such love and purity of light that he gasped at the sensation.
It was wonderful, and so peaceful. He had never felt such love just for him. It felt so right, it felt like home, it felt.... familiar. He realized that instead of his life force leaving his body, he was being anchored to it.
~Obi-Wan! No! ~ He thought. He knew what his padawan was trying to do and he knew the danger involved. Obi-Wan was giving too much; if Qui-Gon didn't stop him he would be lost as well.
Already Qui-Gon could feel the apprentice beginning to lose consciousness. He had to stop this. It humbled him to know that Obi-Wan would do this for him, but he loved the boy too much to let him sacrifice himself. With his last ounce of strength, he had forcibly pushed Obi-Wan from his consciousness.
Qui-Gon was startled from his memories as his comlink beeped. He debated not answering it, but as always duty won out.
"Qui-Gon" he spoke into the comlink
"Qui-Gon" he recognized the voice of his friend Mace Windu, "Your presence and that of your apprentice is requested immediately in council chambers."
"Am I to assume that I am no longer on inactive field duty?" Qui-Gon said dryly.
"Qui-Gon" Mace repeated somewhat hesitantly, "This concerns Obi-Wan."
"On my way."
It was dusk now and since he had turned no lights on upon his arrival his quarters were gray and shadowed. The lighting seemed to reflect his mood perfectly.
He had not spoken to Obi-Wan or seen him; well at least in person, for over a year. Qui-Gon had learned upon his recovery on Naboo that his padawan had been knighted and had requested a mission as soon as possible.
He didn't find out until a couple months later that it hadn't really been that simple. As he laid dying on the floor of that melting pit on Naboo, his apprentice had fed him his own life force to keep him alive.
That in itself isn't necessarily dangerous. All Jedi are taught the basic techniques of healing. The danger lay in the extent of Qui-Gon's injury. By all rights he should have died in that melting pit. Obi-Wan had fed him so much of his own life force and energy that the padawan had nearly joined the Force right along with him.
Mace had told Qui-Gon that they had both been found unconscious with Obi- Wan slumped over his master. It had taken some quick work on part of the healers, but somehow they managed to stabilize the pair. What Obi-Wan had started was enough for the healers to use to pull Qui-Gon through.
It was days into his recovery before Qui-Gon would recall those last few moments with Obi-Wan in the melting pit. He remembered that he had come to terms with the fact that it was his time to join the Force. The only thing stopping him was the beautiful, weeping young man that held his head in his lap.
There were so many things he wanted to say to this boy whom he loved like a son. Things he should have said a long time ago. But he was growing weak and knew he must speak quickly. Thinking first of his duty as a Jedi he had told Obi-Wan to train Anakin, that he WAS the Chosen One.
He had seen the brief flash of pain in those beautiful tear washed eyes. He wanted to reassure, to comfort but he was so tired. All he could manage was a brief whisper of a caress to his padawan's tear streaked face.
He closed his eyes and awaited the will of the Force. Almost immediately he felt a warmth spread throughout his entire body. Warmth infused with such love and purity of light that he gasped at the sensation.
It was wonderful, and so peaceful. He had never felt such love just for him. It felt so right, it felt like home, it felt.... familiar. He realized that instead of his life force leaving his body, he was being anchored to it.
~Obi-Wan! No! ~ He thought. He knew what his padawan was trying to do and he knew the danger involved. Obi-Wan was giving too much; if Qui-Gon didn't stop him he would be lost as well.
Already Qui-Gon could feel the apprentice beginning to lose consciousness. He had to stop this. It humbled him to know that Obi-Wan would do this for him, but he loved the boy too much to let him sacrifice himself. With his last ounce of strength, he had forcibly pushed Obi-Wan from his consciousness.
Qui-Gon was startled from his memories as his comlink beeped. He debated not answering it, but as always duty won out.
"Qui-Gon" he spoke into the comlink
"Qui-Gon" he recognized the voice of his friend Mace Windu, "Your presence and that of your apprentice is requested immediately in council chambers."
"Am I to assume that I am no longer on inactive field duty?" Qui-Gon said dryly.
"Qui-Gon" Mace repeated somewhat hesitantly, "This concerns Obi-Wan."
"On my way."