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Bright light assaulted his sensitive eyes as they flickered open to take in the all too familiar sight of the infirmary. Groaning softly, Obi-Wan attempted to bring a hand up to his face to block out the bright lighting, but was impeded by several wires and cords that connected him to the machinery beside him. The feeling of being trapped caused him to rise to full consciousness.

"Mahhster?" he questioned, his voice muzzled by sleep.

"Padawan?" an equally gruff voice responded from the opposite side of the room, causing the younger Jedi to swivel his stiff neck toward the source. His Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, was perched somewhat precariously on the window ledge that ran under the small curtained portal.

"Why am I…?" Obi-Wan began before the tightness in his throat encouraged him to stop his attempts at speech.

"You were involved in an incident on the lower levels and were injured," Qui-Gon explained gently as he rose from his uncomfortable seat to move to his apprentice's bedside. "You should try to get some more sleep, it is still quite early in the morning."

Nodding his head gently, lest he disturb the headache he could feel slowly building, Obi-Wan allowed unconsciousness to once again claim him.

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Adjusting the cords and monitors that adorned his apprentice's arms, Qui-Gon pulled the soft flannel sheet up to cover the signs of abuse that marred the young Jedi. Although Xanatos had done an admirable job in repairing the major damage done by Obi-Wan's unfortunate foray to the lower levels, the dark Jedi had been unable to completely heal the multitudes of injuries.

Crossing the room again to the window ledge, Qui-Gon perched on the ledge and watched the traffic buzzing past the small window. He had drawn the curtain mostly closed to keep the dawning light from awakening his apprentice, but over the years, he had found that there was nothing better to aide in his long vigils at his Padawan's bedside than the constant traffic flow of the Republic. The ever-changing scenery allowed him to remain awake, yet it wasn't enough of a distraction to keep him from his meditative thoughts.

The Soul Healer assigned to Obi-Wan had visited earlier, greeting Qui-Gon as if he were a friend, rather than the usual sterile greeting of a medical professional. Although he still had reservations about whether or not this was really what was best for Obi-Wan, the Jedi Master had found that the Soul Healer's gentle approach had gone a long ways toward convincing him of the rightness of his choice. The Soul Healer had also impressed Qui-Gon with her questions. Master Deehu Saand had inquired about Obi-Wan's prognosis and had offered to stay with the apprentice if Qui-Gon needed to take a break in his vigil.

She had also refrained from asking him the frustratingly open-ended analysis-worthy questions he had come to associate with anyone calling herself a Soul Healer. His experiences with one after Xanatos's turning had soured him on the profession as a whole, but Master Saand had already done much to assuage his inaccurate assumptions.

"I'm not here to analyze you or Obi-Wan," she had explained with a soft smile as he had inadvertently commented on her lack of probing questions. "Eventually I will want to attempt to learn more about what has been bothering your apprentice, but for now it is important that he recover physically and that he knows he is still secure here within the Temple."

Master Deehu Saand's visit had only lasted a few moments, and by the time she left, Qui-Gon found he was much more comfortable with the idea of taking his apprentice to a Soul Healer. Although she had been afforded the longest visit, Master Saand had not been the only visitor Obi-Wan had received in the hours following the last of his surgeries. The entire Jedi Council, led by Master Yoda, had visited and several other of Qui-Gon's friends had also offered support. The greatest turnout of well-wishers had by far come from Obi-Wan's own personal acquaintances, however. The Master Jedi had not even known just how much his apprentice had come to mean to so many.

Bant, Garen, Reeft, Siri and N'erak had remained outside in the recovery waiting room through the long hours between surgeries, and it had only been the insistence of their Masters that had led the five other Padawans away. All had vowed to return as swiftly as possible when they had been allowed a few moments to visit an unconscious Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon had to excuse himself to wipe the tears that had been running from his eyes at the strong showing of support. Though Obi-Wan had been injured many times on missions, he had never before been so close to death as he was upon his arrival at the Temple. The young Padawan had never managed to be injured quite so severely on Coruscant previously, either.

The thought of his apprentice's apparent suicide attempt caused the Master to cringe inwardly. He knew that Obi-Wan had not seriously intended to be hurt, but the Padawan's actions still spoke strongly to an unconscious intent. Obi-Wan had wandered, however inadvertently, to the most dangerous levels of the Republic Capital, and had done so without even the protection his lightsaber could have afforded him. Though a Jedi never used his weapon in anything other than defense, it could still serve as a powerful deterrent against any would-be attackers.

\Why did you feel you needed to run from the Temple so desperately that you didn't even pause to change clothes or take your 'saber with you?\ Qui-Gon again asked the difficult question that raged unendingly within his mind. He knew that Obi-Wan could not answer in his current condition, but it did not stop the Master from obsessing over the disturbing puzzle. Obi-Wan had clearly been courting death, and he had almost succeeded.

His thoughts rolling in a disturbed tumble, Master Jinn continued his silent perusal of the Courscanti traffic as his apprentice lay healing in the small Medbed behind him.