Chapter 11 Down, But Not Out
Qui-Gon's heart dropped, gripping Obi-Wan's hand, "Obi-Wan, shhh, please, keep still. Let An-Paj help you."
Obi-Wan sobbed, "Master, I...I can't feel my legs...I can't feel them."
Qui-Gon's voice caught as he tried to calm his young apprentice, "Oh, Obi-Wan, shhh, all will be well."
Qui-Gon moved aside so An-Paj could work, but he did not let go of Obi-Wan's hand, silent tears rolled down the Jedi Master's face.
Obi-Wan saw them and moved his hand up to wipe them away, it was so much like his apprentice to be more concerned with his master then with himself. Qui-Gon brought his padawan's hand to his face and held on to it tightly.
An-Paj closed his eyes and tried to gauge the severity of the injury, it was grave, and Obi-Wan would need to return to Coruscant at once, if he was to heal. An-Paj pulled out his comlink and was relieved to hear that Leona had arrived. Turning to Qui-Gon he said, "Qui-Gon, we need to be very careful with him, we need to keep his head and neck aligned with his spine."
Qui-Gon nodded, "What do you need me to do?"
An-Paj continued, "I need you to keep him calm."
Qui-Gon took a deep breath, "I will, I must. An-Paj... how bad is it?"
An-Paj sighed, "I do not yet know, Qui-Gon."
Suddenly Qui-Gon asked, "Ren, where is Ren?"
Darick, who had been working on taking care of Klea who had passed out, came forward, "I'm sorry Qui-Gon, but he's gone. He used the diversion as an opportunity to escape."
Qui-Gon released his anger and turned his attention back to Obi-Wan who had his eyes closed, "Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan opened his eyes, "I'm so tired, Master."
Qui-Gon looked at An-Paj who nodded, Qui-Gon then turned to Obi-wan, "Then sleep, Obi-Wan, I will be here when you wake."
At that time, Leona arrived, she ran toward the small group and immediately began assisting An-Paj. Qui-Gon moved away, to allow the healers room to work.
Qui-Gon then noticed that Bruck was still quite upset. Qui-Gon moved over to the teenager. Bruck saw him and blurted out, "It's all my fault Master Qui-Gon. I was not focused, and...and Obi-Wan always says that your focus determines your reality."
Qui-Gon almost smiled at the idea that Obi-Wan was quoting Qui-Gon's instruction, "He really says that?"
Bruck nodded, "All the time."
Qui-Gon assured the boy, "It's not your fault at all, Bruck. Obi-Wan allowed the force to lead him, we must trust in it."
Bruck struggled with words, "But...but, he is hurt now, and hurt bad. It is hard to see him that way."
Qui-Gon put his arm around Bruck's shoulders, "It is Young Bruck, but you must be strong, we all must be strong, if we are to see Obi-wan back to health again. And you have another friend who will need your strength in all of this."
Qui-Gon led him over to Klea, who was waking. Klea sat up with the help of Darick. Turning to Bruck she asked, "Are his injuries serious?"
Bruck's eyes filled with tears again and he nodded. Then he sat next to his friend and tried to offer her some comfort. But it was not easy.
Qui-Gon returned to Obi-Wan's side, who was now asleep. An-Paj turned to the Jedi Master and said, "It is best that he is asleep, I don't want him trying to move when we are trying to immobilize him."
Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hand again, taking comfort in the warmth of the smaller hand in his larger one, "What do you need me to do?"
An-Paj responded, "As soon as Leona and I have him immobilized and on the stretcher, I want you to cushion him with a force field. Then we will be able to move him to the ship."
Bruck heard and piped in, "I want to help as well. He is my friend, probably the only real friend I have ever had." Bruck's words caught on a sob, which he held back. Darick moved over to him and put a hand on his padawan's shoulder to offer support.
Leona, then told An-Paj, "I have it here for now, go and see to your apprentice."
An-Paj did not need to be told twice, he went over to her, and though he wanted to strangle her for disobeying him and sneaking aboard the ship, the hopeless look in her eyes made him melt. Taking her hand, An-Paj pulled her up, he embraced her tightly and tried to calm her trembling body, "I was worried for you, Klea. Don't ever scare me like that again."
Klea nodded, "Will Obi-Wan be all right?"
An-Paj rubbed her back soothingly, "I don't know yet? But I hope so Klea, I hope so."
An-Paj did not want to think of what would happen if Obi-Wan did not recover, or worst yet, died.
After a few moments Leona had Obi-Wan immobilized, she gently told Qui-Gon, "Alright, we can move him without aggravating the injury."
An-Paj heard that and he and Klea went to Leona. Klea took Obi-Wan's other hand and said, "I will monitor his vital signs."
An-Paj was worried about Klea's mental state, but thought it was best that she was doing something to help Obi-Wan, "Agreed. Is everyone ready?" Everyone nodded, "On my count then. One...two...three."
The stretcher Obi-Wan was on rose in the air, and the group starting walking towards the ship. Klea gripping one of Obi-Wan's hands, and Qui-Gon gripping the other.
An-Paj and Leona settled Obi-Wan in a bed in the small medical unit of the republic cruiser. An-Paj took out an i.v and thought it best to inject the needle while the patient was still asleep, he knew how much Obi-Wan hated needles.
Across the room, a small group stood together with worry etched on their faces. Klea looked as though she was ready to pass out again, and Bruck looked as though he was ready to crack. Darick saw his padawan's inner struggle, and said gently, "Bruck, come, let me get you and Klea something to eat, and then you should get some sleep."
Bruck answered, "I am not hungry nor tired."
Darick sighed, "Well, as your Master I must insist..."
Bruck then lost patience, "Or what Master? You will punish me? Big deal! My friend is hurt because of me...DON'T YOU GET IT? Because of ME! It's all my fault!" He paused before he added, "And that is the greatest punishment anyone can ever face."
Bruck stormed out of the med unit and down the hall. Once he was inside the sleeping quarters he allowed the tears he was holding back to finally fall. Darick closed his eyes and focused on the force, he then followed his Padawan, hoping that he could help him.
Klea joined her Master at Obi-Wan's bedside, taking his hand she asked, "What happens now?"
An-Paj answered, "We wait. When we get him back to the temple, we will know more. Now Klea, you are coming with me."
Klea argued, "What about Obi-Wan?"
An-Paj nodded to Leona, "Leona will look over him for now, and Qui-Gon is here. I am worried for you."
Klea stiffened, "I am fine, its Obi-Wan who is not."
An-Paj knew that Klea was shielding and having a harder time with this then what she was letting on, An-Paj placed his arm around her and said, "Let me be the judge of that."
In a few moments it was just Qui-Gon and Leona. Qui-Gon took placed a loving hand on his padawan's face and looked at the healer, "Can't we just place him in bacta?"
Qui-Gon knew the wonders that a dip in the bacta could produce, he did not understand why they would not put him in the tank that was readily available.
Leona thought carefully before she answered, "Qui, he cant go in the tank because he has a spinal injury. We need to keep him immobile, or his condition will worsen."
Qui-Gon closed his eyes, and Leona was not shocked to see tears squeeze out between the closed eyelids. Not knowing what to say, the healer just gave Qui-Gon's shoulder a gentle squeeze and left the room.
Qui-Gon sent healing energy to his Padawan, all the time willing the force to make him well.
Darick gently knocked on the door that separated him from his distraught padawan. He was not surprised when Bruck did not answer.
Again Darick knocked and said, "Bruck, I am worried for you." Darick heard a small sob through the door. Darick's heart almost broke at the sound. He knew that Bruck blamed himself and his job as the boy's master was to make him see it was not his fault and to guide him.
Opening the door, he took in the sight of his padawan laying on his side. Darick sat on the bed next to him and gently placed his hand on Bruck's head.
Bruck took a couple of deep breaths, found his center, and with his Master's help, released his anger to the force. Bruck then faced his Master and whispered, "I wish it would have been me."
Darick pulled Bruck into a protective embrace, "Bruck, this was the will of the force."
Bruck considered the words and replied in an almost angry tone, "I just don't understand it. Why would the force want to make Obi-Wan suffer like this? He does not deserve it! He is such a great person. Why did the force choose him?"
Darick sighed, "I don't know Padawan, but the force will guide us. Do not doubt that.
Qui-Gon sat watching Obi-Wan sleep. The padawan's face was as pale as the sheets, and he looked much younger then his sixteen years. Qui-Gon gently stroked his hair, wishing he could make everything better. But he couldn't.
Qui-Gon almost did not hear Leona come in. The healer looked at the Jedi Master with concern, "Qui, you have not slept in days. Darick, Bruck and Klea are all resting. You should too."
Qui-Gon shook his head, "I will not leave Obi-Wan."
Leona smiled, "Like I would ask you to, I think that cot right there will do well."
Qui-Gon looked torn for a moment and then Leona added, "Qui, I really don't want to have to mind whammy you."
Qui-Gon cracked a small smile, "Very well Leona. I will do what the healer orders. But please watch over him."
Leona
pulled a cover over Qui-Gon and replied, "Of course."
Hours
later Qui-Gon bolted awake. Gasping for breath, he noticed that he
was soaked in sweat and the sheets were tangled around him. He looked
over at the other bed, sighing in relief he muttered, "It was
just a dream, Jinn. A dream. Obi-Wan is here, he is safe. He will
walk again, he will be fine."
The dream disturbed Qui-Gon quite a bit. He was searching for Obi-Wan under hundreds of rock piles. He would dig him out, only to have him disappear. He would move to the next pile and it would happen again, and again, and again. All the while Ren's evil laughter was ringing through the air.
Qui-Gon jumped out of the bed, and went to Obi-Wan's bed. He touched his padawan's, almost holding his breath, waiting for him to disappear, but of course Obi-Wan did not. Again Qui-Gon whispered, "It was just a dream."
Behind him a voice said, "And it sounds as though it was a bad one."
Qui-Gon turned around to see An-Paj, Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hand and replied, "It was not one I wish to have again."
An-Paj nodded and started to examine Obi-Wan, the cut on his leg concerned him. Without the normal circulation, it could cause a nasty infection. An-Paj then said, "I have contacted the temple and they know the situation. Master Nik-Ka was on a mission, but he is on his way back to Coruscant. I know the temple has other mind and soul healers, but I thought it was better that you and Obi-Wan have the help of one who knows you."
Qui-Gon nodded, "My thanks An-Paj. You are a good friend. How is Klea?"
An-Paj thought for a moment, "I am worried for her as well. I think I am going to have her see Nik-Ka as well, and I am going to suggest it to Darick for Bruck."
Qui-Gon replied, "I think that is a good idea. But what do you know of Obi-Wan's injury?"
An-Paj answered, "When we get home to the temple I will be able to run more tests, and we will go from there."
