Chapter Three

Qui-Gon frowned as he heard a knock on his door and felt his friend Kyran's presence. What was he doing here? His Master had just thrown him out. He stood carefully and let his friend in his room. "Anybody having deja vu? " he greeted his friend.

Kyran had a worried frown on his face. "Worse than that," he greeted in return. "Your Master just..." Then he saw Qui-Gon's face. "Qui-Gon! What..." Then it clicked and his eyes grew wide.

"What ? Something the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kyran took a small mirror out of a inside pocket on his tunic. Wordlessly, he handed it to his friend to look at.

Qui-Gon frowned a little then blinked in astonishment at the blood smeared across his face, then he winced. He looked awful. "Well now I know why he said my punishment was over. I look like something the gundark dragged in."

"You need to go see the Healers again," Kyran remarked quietly. "You need to make sure he didn't do more damage. Do you still have that hoversled?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. " I don't want to go back to the Healers. I'll be fine. And no I don't have it. I've been in my room most of the time."

"Besides, I don't want to get my Master in trouble. If the healer's find out then the Council might too."

Kyran looked doubtful. "That won't go away in a day, Qui. How do you propose hiding that?"

Qui-Gon looked down. "By staying in my room and pretending I'm still being punished. That's how."

Kyran couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're...what? Qui, you need to make sure your face is all right now."

"It's FINE. It wasn't that bad. Han'yaie got all the glass out. It's not like there's any left in there."

Kyran sighed. "Well, do you want me to help you with your homework? Your master called me and asked me to come back so you don't have to worry about getting in trouble."

"I guess." He frowned a little. "Master Dooku has since locked himself in his room and he won't come out." Qui-Gon bit his lip. "Do you think he's alright?"

Kyran glanced over across the living area to the closed door. "I don't know. This is really serious for him. Maybe I should go check on him...see if he needs anything..."

" Kyran nodded. "Sure." He stood up and hesitantly knocked on the door. "Master Dooku?"

A muffled voice answered, "Yes?"

"Can I come in?" Kyran asked.

"If you must." Dooku said his voice still muffled from where he'd buried himself in pillows.

Kyran tapped on the release for the door and slowly entered. "Master Dooku? Qui-Gon and I were just wondering if you...needed anything?"

"I need someone to give me a good hard slap in the face." Dooku mumbled. "What have I done."

Kyran cleared his throat softly, not quite sure what to say. "Well, um...Perhaps I should go get Master Yoda..."

"No. Not right this minute." Dooku said as he pulled more pillows over his head.

Kyran frowned as he watched the elder Jedi on the bed. "What are you doing?" He finally asked, bewilderment in his tone.

"Hiding hoping that I didn't assault my own padawan in anger. that's what."

"So, what? Now you're going to pretend as if it never happened and make him think that he's done something wrong to deserve that?" Kyran demanded. "You're just going to wallow in your self-pity? Jedi don't do that either, Master Dooku."

"I would advise you to mind your place Learner Josel."

Kyran wasn't intimidated. He stalked over to the bed and tugged the pillows off of

Dooku's head. "It is my place when the Jedi Master isn't acting rationally," he returned hotly. "Now get out of bed and go talk to Master Yoda."

"No. I do have the authority to order you out of this apartment, Josel."

"You could do that," Kyran agreed. "But your Padawan is hurt and won't go to the Healers. Do you want to know why, Master Dooku?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Because he's covering for you--doesn't want you to get in trouble with the Council. If that isn't true loyalty, I don't know what is. You two may aggravate each other more than two womprats in a cave, but you two both have a serious connection through the Force. Only one person can get him to get out of his rooms to have his face looked at--that's you. You also need to face up to your responsibilities for your actions. If you want, I can call Master Yoda for you while you convince your stubborn Padawan to see the Healers."

Dooku stared at Kyran. Qui-Gon was hurt? In a tired sounding voice he said "Alright. Call him. I'll go see about Qui-Gon."

Kyran wasted no time.

Dooku slowly made his way to his padawan's room. He peeked around the corner and saw Qui-Gon sitting with his back to the door, his head down and away from him so he couldn't see his face. "Padawan?"

"Yes Master?" Qui-Gon said meekly keeping his back to Dooku and continued working on his assignment.

"I need to ask you to do something, Qui-Gon," Dooku said as he came all the way in the room.

Qui-Gon finally glanced up. "Yes Master?"

Dooku's breath caught in his throat as he saw what he had done to his padawan. He could barely get the words out that he needed to say. "Go to the Healers with Kyran."

Qui-Gon frowned a little. "But if I go then the Council might find out." He looked stricken.

Dooku sat beside him on the bed and sighed. "I'm about to go talk to Master Yoda," he informed him. "So the Council is about to find out anyway. You need to make sure I...I didn't damage something more. Go with Kyran. Walk slowly. Remember that your feet aren't healed all the way yet."

"But.." He tried to think of some other argument to offer. "It's not really that bad Master. Han'yaie got all the glass out earlier. Remember?"

Very gently, Dooku placed an arm on his padawan's shoulders and said, "Go."

Very quietly Qui-Gon slid off his bed. "Is it that bad?" He touched his face gingerly and winced a little.

Dooku hesitated, but then nodded. "It's starting to swell. You need to make certain about the cuts. Kyran is waiting in the living room. Go with him now. If I am still to be your master...if you still want me to...Master Yoda will let us know soon, I'm sure." He seemed uncertain.

Qui-Gon swallowed. "Yes Master. I ..." He paused. "I'll be back soon." He very carefully tried to walk to the door.

Kyran met him halfway. "I found your hoversled. Master Dooku had kept it in his room. Sit." He pointed at the cushioned seat

Qui-Gon scowled at the hoversled and sat on it very grudgingly. "I'm sitting."

Kyran took the side handles and expertly steered him to the Healers.

Yoda frowned a little as he knocked on the door of his former padawan's quarters. Dooku's call for him to come over and talk sounded like his padawan was in distress. He had come as fast as he could get there.

Dooku opened the door and just stood looking at the little green Jedi Master for a moment. Suddenly, he looked very old. The skin around his face was sagging and his brown hair was in disarray. The proud aristocratic Jedi was very obviously in need. "Thank you for coming, Master Yoda," he said listlessly. "Won't you sit down?"

"Distress you are in." Yoda said as he settled himself on the floor cushions. It wasn't a question.

Dooku nodded as he sat down on the floor in front of the small Jedi. He couldn't meet his eyes. "Yes, Master Yoda. I...struck Qui-Gon today."

Yoda could not believe what he was hearing. "More you should tell me. Happened what did?"

Quickly, Dooku explained about the events that had happened since two days ago. "And I found myself hitting him across the face. I didn't even consciously hit him...I just did. It was done in anger." He hung his head.

Yoda frowned deeply. "Apologize to him did you?"

Dooku frowned. "Not...exactly..."

"Exactly what did you say to the boy then?" Yoda narrowed his gaze.

"I...I just...went to my rooms. I needed to think about what I had done," Dooku confessed. "Then Kyran came in..."

"Talk to him you should. Understand he needs to that love him you do. Otherwise confused he will be. Meditate on your actions and your anger and what caused it you will."

Dooku glanced up, confused again. "Will I not be...expelled from the Order?"

"A Master young Jinn needs. His master you are. Explain things to him you will." Yoda's tone left no room for arguements.

Dooku noticed that Yoda didn't exactly answer his question, but left it alone. "Yes, Master Yoda." He bowed his head.

"Meditate with you I will if need help you do."

Dooku nodded and stood. "Yes, Master. I think I'll go see Qui-Gon now."

Yoda hummed a little and carefully got up from the floor. "Good that is. Check back on you later, I will. May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you," Dooku returned, and left to go find his padawan.