Healers entered the alley way, and Qui-Gon was relieved to see his friend Nik-Ka. Nik-Ka was a mind healer, probably the best the Jedi had to offer. He approached the small huddle, two healers accompanying him.
Bending so he was eye level with Ja'lisa, warm brown eyes met frightened blue ones, "Ja'lisa, I am Master Nik-Ka. Myself and the healers are hear to help you. You will be safe now."
Then Nik-Ka waited. Ja'lisa had to trust him. The girl studied him for a few moments and nodded. She then released her death grip on Qui-Gon's waist and took the hand of the mind healer. Qui-Gon promised, "Obi-Wan and I will be to see shortly."
Qui-Gon watched as Nik-Ka and one of the healers led the girl away, he then turned his attention to his own padawan, who was standing, but still not all right. Pulling Obi-Wan into an embrace, the master held his padawan as tightly as he could without causing him more pain. When Qui-Gon released him, the healer began to examine him, "Well, Obi-Wan. You have a horrible burn on your arm and several cracked ribs but a quick dip in the bacta tank and you will be fine."
Obi-Wan merely nodded, he was still having a hard time comprehending what it was like to come home and live in constant fear. What it was like to have a Master who did not protect you, one you could not trust. Then his eyes were averted to Master Windu who was pulling Dern Galen to his feet. The evil master's eyes shot daggers at Obi-Wan and the youth took a step closer to his Master, who immediately put his arm around the trembling boy. Then they watched as Dern Galen was led away.
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Obi-Wan sat in the waiting room of the healer's ward in the temple. He spent a couple of hours in the bacta, and was now waiting for news of his friend. Obi-Wan rubbed the spot where the saber burn was. It was healed now, just a faint pink remained where the injury was. By tomorrow, that would be gone too. His ribs still ached, but that to would pass before he knew it.
What really hurt was his chest. And he did not expect that to pass anytime soon. Placing his hand over his heart, he began to breath deeply, willing himself to calm down. From the doorway, Qui-Gon watched his padawan struggle with this anxiety attack. Quietly, the Master came forward and sat next to the youth, he then put out an inviting arm. Obi-Wan turned to the big Jedi and willingly fell into the embrace. Closing his eyes, he tried to hold back tears.
Master and Apprentice stayed like that for a few moments. Qui-Gon would give his young charge all the time he needed to come to grips with this horrific situation. Resting his chin on Obi-Wan's head, the man began to recite a soothing litany, all the time rubbing Obi-Wan's back.
Obi-Wan then spoke, "Master, are you angry at me now?"
Qui-Gon thought carefully, no he was not angry at Obi-Wan. Not at all. Was he disappointed? Maybe. But Obi-Wan most likely gave his word to a very frightened girl. And when Obi-Wan gave his word, that was just as good as a trillion republic credits in the bank. Qui-Gon was angry with himself, he knew something was amiss, and he did not do enough to stop it. And the result of that was a confused child in his arms and an even more confused child in the care of the healers.
"No, my Obi-Wan. I am not angry."
Obi-Wan sniffed a couple of times, he then blurted out, "Well, I am! Why, Master? Why did Master Dern do that to Ja'lisa? Why would any Master do that to his padawan? Aren't Master's supposed to love and protect their Padawans?"
Qui-Gon held his padawan close as he tried to think of a suitable answer, "I don't know, Obi-Wan. I don't know why any Master would do that to the greatest gift one could receive. Masters are to take that gift and cherish it." The man then took Obi-Wan's chin and turned it upward ,"I look in your bright eyes and I see the worlds differently. I see a wonderful boy, who was given to me to train. To be my legacy. The force blessed me when it gave me you. I could not imagine hurting you like that. I can't imagine anyone hurting one like that."
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said, fighting back tears, "Thank you for being my Master and loving me."
Pulling his student into another embrace, the teacher responded, "You don't have to thank me, young one. You are a special gift. One that I thank the force for everyday."
Bending so he was eye level with Ja'lisa, warm brown eyes met frightened blue ones, "Ja'lisa, I am Master Nik-Ka. Myself and the healers are hear to help you. You will be safe now."
Then Nik-Ka waited. Ja'lisa had to trust him. The girl studied him for a few moments and nodded. She then released her death grip on Qui-Gon's waist and took the hand of the mind healer. Qui-Gon promised, "Obi-Wan and I will be to see shortly."
Qui-Gon watched as Nik-Ka and one of the healers led the girl away, he then turned his attention to his own padawan, who was standing, but still not all right. Pulling Obi-Wan into an embrace, the master held his padawan as tightly as he could without causing him more pain. When Qui-Gon released him, the healer began to examine him, "Well, Obi-Wan. You have a horrible burn on your arm and several cracked ribs but a quick dip in the bacta tank and you will be fine."
Obi-Wan merely nodded, he was still having a hard time comprehending what it was like to come home and live in constant fear. What it was like to have a Master who did not protect you, one you could not trust. Then his eyes were averted to Master Windu who was pulling Dern Galen to his feet. The evil master's eyes shot daggers at Obi-Wan and the youth took a step closer to his Master, who immediately put his arm around the trembling boy. Then they watched as Dern Galen was led away.
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Obi-Wan sat in the waiting room of the healer's ward in the temple. He spent a couple of hours in the bacta, and was now waiting for news of his friend. Obi-Wan rubbed the spot where the saber burn was. It was healed now, just a faint pink remained where the injury was. By tomorrow, that would be gone too. His ribs still ached, but that to would pass before he knew it.
What really hurt was his chest. And he did not expect that to pass anytime soon. Placing his hand over his heart, he began to breath deeply, willing himself to calm down. From the doorway, Qui-Gon watched his padawan struggle with this anxiety attack. Quietly, the Master came forward and sat next to the youth, he then put out an inviting arm. Obi-Wan turned to the big Jedi and willingly fell into the embrace. Closing his eyes, he tried to hold back tears.
Master and Apprentice stayed like that for a few moments. Qui-Gon would give his young charge all the time he needed to come to grips with this horrific situation. Resting his chin on Obi-Wan's head, the man began to recite a soothing litany, all the time rubbing Obi-Wan's back.
Obi-Wan then spoke, "Master, are you angry at me now?"
Qui-Gon thought carefully, no he was not angry at Obi-Wan. Not at all. Was he disappointed? Maybe. But Obi-Wan most likely gave his word to a very frightened girl. And when Obi-Wan gave his word, that was just as good as a trillion republic credits in the bank. Qui-Gon was angry with himself, he knew something was amiss, and he did not do enough to stop it. And the result of that was a confused child in his arms and an even more confused child in the care of the healers.
"No, my Obi-Wan. I am not angry."
Obi-Wan sniffed a couple of times, he then blurted out, "Well, I am! Why, Master? Why did Master Dern do that to Ja'lisa? Why would any Master do that to his padawan? Aren't Master's supposed to love and protect their Padawans?"
Qui-Gon held his padawan close as he tried to think of a suitable answer, "I don't know, Obi-Wan. I don't know why any Master would do that to the greatest gift one could receive. Masters are to take that gift and cherish it." The man then took Obi-Wan's chin and turned it upward ,"I look in your bright eyes and I see the worlds differently. I see a wonderful boy, who was given to me to train. To be my legacy. The force blessed me when it gave me you. I could not imagine hurting you like that. I can't imagine anyone hurting one like that."
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said, fighting back tears, "Thank you for being my Master and loving me."
Pulling his student into another embrace, the teacher responded, "You don't have to thank me, young one. You are a special gift. One that I thank the force for everyday."