The meeting with the Council Members had gone on for several hours before Qui-Gon was able to finally shower and return to his quarters. He entered his apprentice's room, looking for Obi-Wan before he remembered that he had gone over to Bant's for the night.

\Isn't that convenient, one more night to avoid dealing with an issue you know you don't want to\ Ignoring his own chastising thoughts, the Master made his way to the kitchen to make some tea. The familiar routine almost always helped him to relax before meditation. Tonight, however, it did nothing to calm him.

\Is something really so wrong with Obi-Wan that even the Jedi Council is aware of it? What am I supposed to do for him?\

Adi and Mace had suggested that he talk to his Padawan, and try to get Obi-Wan to tell him what was wrong. When he had mentioned that he had already made several attempts they had then suggested he take his apprentice to a Mind Healer. Qui-Gon had been surprised that the Council would, however informally, suggest he take his fifteen-year old Padawan to one of the Healers.

"You can't be serious!" Qui-Gon exclaimed, his shocked blue eyes finding and holding Master Windu's gaze. "My apprentice does not need to see a Mind Healer. He hasn't been involved in anything that would serve as cause for him needing mental healing."

"Not all who seek the help of the Healers have suffered some great tragedy," Adi answered in her soft tones. "It is not always a single moment or event that leads to a person needing assistance."

"Regardless, I am not allowing Obi-Wan to suffer from the stigma that is attached to seeing one of the counselors. Do you honestly think the full Council will not think twice before Knighting a Padawan that has proven mental issues?" Qui-Gon asked, his agitation causing him to rise to his feet and begin to pace. "There is no way that I will allow Obi-Wan to lose his chance at becoming a Knight."

"It would not have to be like that," Master Gallia argued softly before being superceded by Master Windu.

"The Council would not have to know about it," Mace declared. "This is a private issue between Padawan Kenobi and the Healers. It would not affect his life in anyway."

"You say that now," Master Jinn argued, "but what will you say in ten years when you are deciding whether or not to Knight a mentally-unstable Jedi?"


Adi and Mace had tried first to convince him, and then had resorted to ordering him to take Obi-Wan to the Healers. Qui-Gon had refused, and the three had ended their discussion on less than amicable terms. \Chalk up another Council Reprimand for the "Great Qui-Gon Jinn"\

Making his way to the couch to wait for the tea water to heat, Qui-Gon sighed and sat down before burying his face in his hands. \What am I supposed to do?\

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I know that you were all trying to be nice to me, and that you were trying to have a good time, but I hated every second of it. When I am with others, I can't be the real me. The real me is too depressing, too sad, too boring, too… too me. I didn't want to ruin everyone's fun, but I also didn't want to have to try to pretend to be someone I'm not any longer than necessary. It is so draining, and I am already tired all the time anyway.

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From his vantage point in the kitchen, N'erak watched as Bant herded Obi-Wan into the room and directed him to the sofa. \He looks like he is being led to the slaughter or something…\ Obi-Wan's eyes were wide and his face pale, yet he wore the small grin that his friends had become so used to. It was the smile that meant Obi was hiding something.

"So what classes do you have this semester Obi?" Siri asked, turning in her chair to face Obi-Wan's new location. "Did you get stuck with that horrible ethics instructor again?" Siri and her Master had been on a mission for the past several weeks and had only just returned to the temple.

"Um, no, I got pretty good classes with good instructors," the Padawan answered, completely ignoring the first question.

"Well, that's good," Siri replied, before looking imploringly at Garen to continue the conversation.

"I got some interesting classes this semester," Garen said, moving over so Obi-Wan could sit beside him. "I ended up with Master Sensor for Navigation class, but I got Master Valone for ethics. That man just rubs me the wrong way."

"You're lucky you got Sensor," Reeft interrupted, "at least he attempts to teach you, instead of just expecting you to learn from the datapads."

"Didn't you have Master Valone, Obi?" Bant questioned, trying to draw her friend back into the conversation.

"Um, yeah, he wasn't so bad," Obi-Wan answered, shifting uncomfortably on the couch before speaking again. "Did you have something in specific you were having trouble with in Astrophysics, Bant?"

"Not really, I just wanted a chance to go over my project with you," the Mon Calamarian replied before immediately turning to N'erak. "So who did you have for ethics?"

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I just wanted to answer your questions and get out. I didn't want to "hang out" with your friends, I didn't want to have some social hour, I just wanted to do my good deed and get back to my room. Why couldn't you just let me be?