A/N: In case anyone is curious, the Yoda doll exists. Thank you to my reviewers!

Knight Queen: She's not stuck up, she just likes rules. ;) Thank you for both reviews.

A. NuEvil: They are interesting... I like them. I'm trying my hardest to make them balanced... you'll see more of them later, lemme know if I start failing. Thanks for both reviews.

Estel-Elf-Lover: Sorry it's a little late... I have a job interview tomorrow and my friends are coming in to town and life is busy. Oh, so good.

jedi71: Thanks! Lemme know what you like about it.

Kenobi-girl1: One a week, m'dear. I'm trying not to run out of chapters before I can write more!

horsiegurl: Maybe this is true, but I don't agree with you. Master/Padawan relationships are by definition formal, but there is also an intimate side of the relationship that I believe involves first names. But I'm glad you like the story anyway. ;) I update once a week on Wednesdays.

Thanks again to all my readers, even the lurkers. Hey, since everyone seemed to get my subtle five reviewer note, how about we all try telling me what you brilliantly love about the story, and what I could improve. Anyway, the story.


Chapter: Complications

Master Nu, the fanatical librarian, taught Obi-Wan to cross reference. Obi-Wan, to reward himself during the extensive reading the Council required of him, used his new found research skills to find out not only about the wisdoms of the ancient masters, but also their tactics. Obi-Wan considered these clandestine lessons hard won: after hours of listening to Master Nu talk about the wonders of cross referencing, anything he could take away from it was well worth it. So, with his new found researching skills, he learned about the techniques of ancient masters, and how to apply them – he couldn't wait to try one out sparing with Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan stood in a defensive position – feet shoulder width apart, left foot slightly forward, saber held forward held with right hand over left. He looked over at Qui-Gon: his master was taking his time preparing for their bout, talking with Master Tahl as she prepared to leave the training area. Obi-Wan sighed and stepped out of position. He had to wait. Cautiously he twirled his lit saber in his right hand, listening to its hum as it came near and then moved far from his ear. He was careful, but this rather useless saber move – something just to burn off energy – made him feel as if he was learning again, that he was making progress again towards being a Jedi Knight. He noticed that Qui-Gon was finished his conversation, and so he returned to his defensive posture as his Master came onto the mat.

"Are you ready, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Yes, Master," said Obi-Wan. His body tensed as Qui-Gon thumb activated his lightsaber with its familiar khiss, ready for the blow. Qui-Gon struck first, an overhand blow that Obi-Wan blocked easily, raising his hands above his head as he did at the beginning of every practice duel. Obi-Wan threw off the blow, and backed up. Qui-Gon followed, and Obi-Wan aimed for Qui-Gon's left side. Of course, the blow was easily glanced aside. It was a dance that Obi-Wan knew would occur, exercises that he and Qui-Gon always began with, as if to size each other up in battle.

Master and apprentice circled each other cautiously, looking for openings. Obi-Wan had the feeling that his master let this sort of sizing up go on for teaching purposes – he had no doubt that his master could wipe the floor with him if he wanted. Obi-Wan lunged forward as if to strike a hit, but stumbled slightly. He quickly recovered, and tried to calm his heart as Qui-Gon continued the exercise. It was a stupid misstep, it shouldn't have happened, and Obi-Wan wondered what Qui-Gon was thinking, but had to chance to wonder deeply as Qui-Gon lunged for the near touches to Obi-Wan's arms and body. Obi-Wan blocked two quick attacks barely, but deflected a low jab with an arc of his lightsaber.

Obi-Wan was doing well for where he was in his lessons, but he wanted to prove that he was worth more. If he could only maneuver Qui-Gon into position to try out his new move – Obi-Wan was proud of his new knowledge in dueling. The duel went on for several more minutes before Obi-Wan was far enough to Qui-Gon's left side to attempt his trick. Obi-Wan sprung into the air, trying to land on Qui-Gon's other side and catch him off guard, but Qui-Gon moved into his flight path, causing Obi-Wan to panic midair and allowing Qui-Gon to get through Obi-Wan's inexperienced midair defensive.

Obi-Wan threw himself away from Qui-Gon as his master deactivated his saber. Obi-Wan hissed and sank to his knees, holding his injured arm close to him, across his chest, shoulders hunched, fighting the pain. After a deep breath he looked down at the crook of his elbow and saw that the entire area – had a burn which was beginning to blister. Obi-Wan bit his lip as he realized how much power had been behind Qui-Gon's swing – which made the hit much longer than the average in a practice duel, and thus the damage was done even while the sabers were on a training setting. Qui-Gon kneeled beside his apprentice and gently took the injured arm into his hands, pulling it perpendicular to Obi-Wan's body and examining it.

"That was not smart, Padawan," said Qui-Gon, coolly. "You will need to see a healer."

"Yes, Master," said Obi-Wan, using his uninjured arm to push himself to standing. His heart sunk – in his fervor to show off his knowledge, he somehow didn't think how Qui-Gon would react. And it was poorly.

"What you attempted was an advanced Form IV move – you are trying to master Form II. Any particular reason why you decided to try that?"

"Yes, Master," said Obi-Wan quietly. "I came across the move in my reading for the Council." He picked up his saber, bending slowly to reach to the floor where it had fallen.

"And you thought you'd try it." Obi-Wan supposed Qui-Gon was trying to remain neutral in his questioning, but Obi-Wan heard so much disappointment in his voice.

"Yes, Master," said Obi-Wan. He couldn't really think of anything else to say. As Obi-Wan moved towards the door, Qui-Gon moved behind him, putting his hand on his apprentice's shoulder and began directing him. The healers weren't far from the training room. They went out the door to the right, past some classrooms, where the Med Center doors opened in front of them.

When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan entered the lobby of the Med Centre, the Padawan running triage greeted them. "I'm Padawan Amiens; I'll be placing you in the line for treatment. Training injury today?" he asked.

"Yes," said Qui-Gon, speaking for Obi-Wan. "Saber burn." Obi-Wan looked the Padawan in the eyes, but slightly resented the 'today' part of his introduction – he wasn't in here that often, was he? And for that matter, having never met this Padawan before, did he have a reputation?

Amiens made a note of the reason for the visit on the datapad he was holding and then shifted it under one arm, gesturing with the other gloved hand to see the wound. Obi-Wan obliged and the Padawan hissed in sympathy. "It's in a bad place," said the Triage Padawan. "I think it's beginning to blister. We'll take you into an examination room now." The Padawan lead the way, opened the door and gestured for Obi-Wan to sit on the examination table. Qui-Gon took one of the two seats left open in the room.

"I'll just take your temperature and blood pressure, and one of the Masters will be in to see you in a minute." Padawan Amiens did his work, entered it into the datapad, left the datapad in the holder on the outside of the door and closed the door behind him.

Silenced reigned for a moment, and then Obi-Wan interrupted what he deemed an uneasy silence. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry for what, Padawan?" asked Qui-Gon, sounding genuinely surprised.

"For being stupid," Obi-Wan said, refusing to meet his master's eyes. "I was just trying to learn something," he gushed. "Ever since… before… I don't feel like I'm learning anything new, everything is the same old, same old!"

"You have learned plenty, Obi-Wan. You impressed the Council just yesterday with your understanding of the interpretation of the Code." Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and surveyed his Padawan carefully, as he would anyone he met on a mission. It was a familiar stance for his Master to have and it comforted Obi-Wan somewhat, but provided a measure of indigence on the other.

"But nothing physically," Obi-Wan stressed. "I feel like I've been doing the same katas in the same form for months."

"You should have spoken with me about this before taking matters into your own hands, Padawan," said Qui-Gon calmly. "You are progressing – I am introducing new elements to your katas each training session, but you are not focused on the physical aspects of your training right now, so you did not see it." Qui-Gon shifted in his seat, leaning forward to look his Padawan straight into the eye. "In fact, my own master was an expert on Form II – I have many nuances to teach you still. I hope this settles the situation."

"Are you… upset with me?" asked Obi-Wan, quietly. He almost didn't ask the question, and it choked in his throat as he said it.

Qui-Gon sat in silence for a moment. "I am not disappointed in you, Obi-Wan."

"But are you angry?" Obi-Wan knew he sounded like a three-year-old initiate who had just made a mess and wanted reassurance.

"I am concerned, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan didn't know what he was thinking. "I didn't see this frustration within you, and I did not handle the teaching situation very well – there were other ways for this to end than you here, in the Med Wing. It appears that trust is still an issue."

"I will try to speak to you about my problems, Master. I'm sorry I didn't. And I'll be all right, Master," said Obi-Wan, sighing. "Just a little bit of bacta and I'll be fine."

Silence returned, and Obi-Wan had nothing else to say, nothing else to defend, but plenty to lament and worry about. Qui-Gon interrupted his self-depreciating reverie. "I mentioned to Master Tahl that we were leaving the Temple."

"What did she say, Master?" Obi-Wan focused on this new conversation – it helped block the pain and the same from his previous anxiety. He knew he should probably meditate, but the Healer might be in any moment.

"She expressed her jealousy at the chance to get out of the Temple," Qui-Gon said with mirth in his voice. "She promised to meditate on it."

"Did she ever sponsor any initiates, Master?" Obi-Wan's question was cut off by the door opening and Healer Winna Di Yuni walking in, but Qui-Gon nodded in answer.

"Good day, Obi-Wan," said Master Di Yuni. "Your chart says you had a nasty run in with a saber." She was reading from the chart standing just inside the door as she reached to close it behind her.

"Yes, Healer Di Yuni," said Obi-Wan. "I tried a move I wasn't ready for and Qui-Gon was." He paused for a moment. "Ready, I mean."

Healer Di Yuni chuckled. "Yes, Masters have a way of anticipating that sort of thing." She pulled a pair of gloves out of her lab smock and pulled them on. "Let's see about this injury."

Obi-Wan allowed his arm to be pulled away from his body and out into the light – the area the size of his four fingers together on either side of the crook of his arm was a bright red color – nearly the color of the muja fruit that had been Qui-Gon's breakfast. The area looked wet to the touch, and pustules were beginning to form. "Hm, looks like a second degree burn." She looked up at Obi-Wan and caught his eyes. "Really got you good there, didn't he?" she asked. She grinned and Obi-Wan allowed some lightness into the situation. "Your injury is in an unfortunate spot," she pointed with the pinky of her gloved hand to show Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, who was leaning in to see the examination, exactly what was such an unfortunate spot. "Here in the crook of your arm, your skin is more sensitive, has relatively thin layers of dermis, and is a point of tension from arm movement – normally, the saber doesn't burn quite so badly, as you know." She looked at the wound for a moment longer and then stepped away to take off her gloves.

"You'll need to wear a sling while its healing. Normal movement could cause scarring." Healer Di Yuni started taking out bandages and salves. "You'll need to change the bandage once a day, to absorb the moisture loss. Keep it dry, only put the salve we give you on it, and you'll be fine in about a week – as long as you do your part with the Force. I'll send a senior Padawan in to teach you how to care for it."

"A week?" asked Obi-Wan, horrified. "What about my training?"

"What about the mission, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon admonished. He spoke to Healer directly: "We are leaving tomorrow for a chaperoning mission."

"Yes, that's what his chart says." Winna's hand was on top of the packages of bandages and stared Qui-Gon down. "We are aware of that fact, but because it is a low risk mission, we cannot spare any bacta at this time. There is a shortage, and we have to prioritize injuries, as you can understand. The bacta planet has been shipping it, but nothing has been getting to its destination." She double checked the pile of supplies that she had placed on the counter next to the examination table, frowning. "It's a serious situation, one the Council has sent several teams to look into. But you see, Obi-Wan's injury is not life threatening, nor is he vitally needed. I'm sorry, Master Jinn, but he will have to heal naturally and with the will of the Force. Bacta just isn't available."

"I understand," said Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan could tell he did understand, but he didn't agree. Obi-Wan brightened slightly at the prospect that his master just really wanted him to be healthy.

"If you just wait here, I'll send someone in. Please be patient, there are other injuries besides yours. Today is a busy day in our clinic." She left.

"Looks like you're going to miss your chance to meet with Maela," said Qui-Gon, looking at his chrono. He sounded as if he sincerely regretted it, and Obi-Wan was caught off guard, wondering why. "I'll ask her supervisory Master to check in with her before you com them to tell them about their appearance before the Council."