Chapter Two
The next day Dooku trudged down to the crèche at the appropriate time. On reflection, though, Dooku had to admit it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The boy Qui-Gon was so much like he knew he had been at that age it was almost uncanny. In spite of his mood, Dooku smiled thinking of the boy. He pushed open the entryway door.
"Dooky Dook Dooku!" said an excited three-and-a-half year old as he raced over and grabbed the padawan around the knee in his eagerness. He remembered the other boy from the day before.
Dooku smiled and lifted the lad into his arms. "Hello Qui-Gon. It's nice to see someone is happy to see me today," he remarked.
Qui-Gon beamed. "We planted trees today!" He shouted in his eagerness.
"You did?" Dooku was amused at his enthusiasm. Yes, the Living Force was strong in this boy.
Qui-Gon nodded earnestly. He squirmed in Dooku's arms. "Down." Dooku complied and the boy grabbed his hand and led him across the nursery to where several pots were filled with dirt and he pointed to the one that had his name on it.
Dooku couldn't help but smile. The child's glee was infectious.
"When they grow we're going to put them in the gardens!"
"That's right, I did that when I was your age."
Qui-Gon's eyes went wide. "You did?"
"Indeed I did. Did you feel the tree calling to tell you what it needed?" Dooku asked the boy curiously.
Qui-Gon nodded solemnly. "It needed more water." He pointed to his spray bottle that he used to water his tree.
"Hey tree boy! Why don't you go back into whatever hole you came out of!" Sneered a voice. The green skinned Rodian boy had not noticed Dooku behind Qui-Gon. "Did you hear the plants talking again?"
Qui-Gon's eyes filled with tears but they didn't fall. He nodded once.
"Oh really? What did it say?" the other boy shot back, pushing him so that he fell hard and sat down. "Plants don't talk you baby."
Dooku stepped between them and grabbed the other boy by the collar of his tunic. "It is saying that if you do not leave this one alone, I will see to it that you do," he said darkly, his blue eyes flashing.
The other boy looked back at Dooku with wide eyes.
Dooku's grip tightened on his collar and he hauled him back to where Master Perchel, a Togarian female crèche Master, was taking care of a boy who had skinned his knee. "This one was picking on the little ones again, Master Perchel."
The Master sighed and glared at N'hirik. He had been doing that quite a bit these days. "I will take care of him. Thank you for stepping in padawan Dooku."
Dooku nodded curtly and turned around to go back to Qui-Gon. He wasn't where he had left him. His eyes swept the nursery and he cursed silently. He was nowhere to be found. "If you'll excuse me Master Perchel, I've got someone I need to go locate."
Master Perchel frowned. "Do you have any idea where he might be?" she hadn't seen the boy escape but now it made sense.
"Yes I know exactly where he's gone."
Qui-Gon sat by the rows of trees in the gardens with tears running down his cheeks. He didn't see how he could ever be a Jedi. N'hirik was right. He should go back into whatever hole he had come out of. He glanced down at his clothes and tried to rub off the dirt from planting trees. He gave a huge sniff.
"Qui-Gon?" he heard his name called softly and he turned to look at the speaker, but then turned away in shame, tears still falling. Dooku's heart broke for the child. The Living Force was a blessing that most Jedi didn't have but at times it was a curse. Like now. /We are both cursed. Destined to be different./
"It is alright, little one. He can't hurt you now," he said as he squatted down next to him.
Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around Dooku's neck and sobbed. "See?" He blubbered through his tears. "They don't like me. Nobody does… except plants."
"Is that so?" Dooku said rubbing his back awkwardly. "Do you know something?"
"What?" Another sniffle and a hiccup.
"I like you," Dooku said and with some surprise he discovered he did. It was not empty words.
Qui-Gon stopped crying and looked at Dooku. "You do?"
"Would a Jedi lie?"
Qui-Gon gave Dooku a shy smile. "No."
"Well there's your answer then," Dooku dried the boy's tears with a handkerchief gently.
Qui-Gon smiled and hugged Dooku around the neck. "Come on. The trees back in the crèche will get jealous if you don't go back and help them," Dooku teased. "They will think you like the ones better!"
Qui-Gon giggled. "I guess I had better go then. Mine needs more water."
Dooku lifted the boy in his arms. "Don't pay any attention to those other boys Qui-Gon. If they bother you again be sure and tell me."
Qui-Gon nodded at the instruction. He sighed as Dooku carried him. "Dooku?"
"Yes young one?"
"Will you stay and meditate with me tonight before we go to bed?"
Dooku was so astonished at the request he almost dropped the boy in his surprise.
"If you don't want to .. that's okay," Qui-Gon said a little sadly sensing the padawan's surprise.
To his astonishment Dooku found himself not only agreeing, but also looking forward to it. "Yes I would be glad too," Dooku said giving him a smile. "If my master agrees to it I will." He knew that Yoda would. He would see it as a good exercise for him.
Qui-Gon beamed and then they arrived back at the crèche. He put the boy down and smiled as Qui-Gon went to spray more water on his plants. Yes, he would be a great Jedi. The Living Force would see to that.