Author's Note:  What the heck, here's two posts for ya'll.

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Smoothing a surprisingly gently hand over the Padawan's forehead, Xanatos leaned down and whispered something softly into Obi-Wan's ear. Knowing that the young Jedi had heard him, despite his current unconscious state, Xanatos carefully freed Obi-Wan's braid from where it had become twisted under him before rising again to his feet. All of the suppressed hostility and tension that was so much a part of the fallen Jedi seemed to have disappeared, leaving behind a man who looked much too young for the weight he obviously bore on his shoulders.

"He will be all right for now," Xanatos stated solemnly, refusing to lift his blue eyes from where they focused on the alleyway beneath him. "The Temple Healers should be able to repair any of the physical damage."

Catching the stress on the word "physical," Qui-Gon took a step toward his former apprentice; halting as Xanatos seemed to flinch away from him. "What do you mean?" the Jedi Master asked, softly enough that Adi Gallia would not have heard had she not used her Force-enhanced senses.

"Obi-Wan has a very important place to serve if the Jedi Order is to survive the next several years," Xanatos answered softly. "You must take care of him, Qui-Gon. He will have much to bear in the future, when he will be completely alone. For now, he needs your strength to rely on."

"What are you planning Xanatos?" Adi hissed, as she raised her still-ignited 'saber into a battle stance.

Raising weary azure eyes that were suspiciously wet, Xanatos swallowed audibly. "I am not planning anything. You have nothing to fear from me, I won't live long enough to pose any threat to you or the Jedi Order. My life is forfeit for helping, and it was a sacrifice I was willing to make." Taking a shaky breath, the former Jedi continued uninterrupted. "When I left the Order, I thought I had found my place in life. And then when I began to call on the Darkside of the Force, I knew that I would be the most powerful Force-user ever. Little did I know, I was only a pawn in a game…"

"You can't honestly expect us to believe you," Master Gallia scoffed, before turning to address Qui-Gon. "He's just trying to play on your emotions, Qui-Gon. You shouldn't listen to him. He should be arrested and Force-blinded immediately."

"You speak as if there is someone out there that has some kind of control over you," Qui-Gon commented shrewdly, ignoring the Councilor's comments.

Smiling a humorless grin, Xanatos sighed. "Yes, my life is no longer my own… if it ever did belong to me. I can't tell you who he is, but suffice it to say that he has an inordinate amount of interest in Obi-Wan, and will jump on any opportunity you give him to rid the galaxy of the boy."

"He sent these men after him?" Master Jinn questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"No, he did not send these men," the fallen Jedi trailed off.

"He sent you."

Nodding in response, Xanatos waited for the outburst he knew was sure to come from his former Master. Instead, he was shocked when Qui-Gon embraced him. At first he tried to pull away, but eventually he relaxed into the unexpected show of affection. It had been too long since he had last had contact with someone who was not trying to hurt him in some way.

"Thank you," the Jedi Master stated, after releasing his former apprentice. "I am not sure why I believe you, or even if I should, but the Force tells me that you have changed."

"I'd like to think that I have," Xanatos answered with only a semblance of his usual charm. "In any case, I must be leaving before I put you in any danger. Please take care of Obi-Wan, he is more important than you can ever fathom."

Stepping back, and nodding softly as he appraised his former enemy and even more former friend, Qui-Gon smiled sadly. "Be careful Xanatos. And know that if you ever need me, I will be there."

"Thank you… Master," Xanatos replied, before turning to exit the alleyway. At a stern glance and a slight Force-shove from Master Jinn, Adi Gallia stepped to the side and allowed the fallen Jedi to slip past her, disappearing almost immediately into the inky black of the night.

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"You do realize that it is entirely up to you to explain to the Council why we just let a wanted fugitive escape, don't you?" Master Gallia asked, as she walked beside Qui-Gon, following the stretcher that bore the injured Obi-Wan toward the Jedi Temple.

"What the Council doesn't know…" Master Jinn began, only to be stopped by a stern look and an even more persuasive growl from the Council Member. Sighing, he nodded. "Allow me to attend to my Padawan first, and then I will address the Council on this issue."

Accepting Qui-Gon's offer, Adi removed her comm. link from her belt, turning it on and setting it to Master Windu's frequency. Tuning out the two Councilor's discussion regarding the dispensation of the captured gang members, Qui-Gon turned his attention toward the puzzle that was his former apprentice. \Why did he come back to save Obi-Wan if he knew it would cost him his life? Was it all some kind of elaborate scheme? How could he have possibly known where Obi-Wan was going to be, though?\

Vowing to check his Padawan and their quarters over thoroughly for any tracking or listening devices, Qui-Gon moved forward until he was even with the stretcher. Gently grasping Obi-Wan's uninjured hand in his own; the Jedi Master dismissed his other thoughts until a later time. For now, his Padawan needed him, and he vowed that he would be there for him no matter what.