Chapter Nine

The next morning Qui-Gon awoke in the predawn and was too excited to go back to sleep, much to Master Rayeln's annoyance. He bounced in his bed while sitting up. Dook was coming back today! He could barely contain himself. He giggled at nothing, amused by the mere thought of seeing Dook again. After several minutes of this, Master Rayeln, now thoroughly annoyed, told him to go with her to the playroom where he could play quietly.

She did not want him to wake up his agemates.

Qui-Gon sat playing with the blocks, building a big tower and wishing Dook was there to help him knock it over. He could do it himself of course, but playtime with Dooku was more fun.

He knocked over his tower and giggled as the blocks scattered. He put his thumb in his mouth as he gathered the blocks and began stacking them again.

Hope and excitement flared in him. Soon things would be alright.

His Dook was coming back.

Dooku was thoroughly annoyed. He had not only been surprised by the pirates and had managed to not only get his arm sliced off, but his right leg was broken now as well. /Not my finest moment/ he thought to himself.

His leg was bound in bone knitters and Han'yaie had glued the vibroaxe wound closed and had then bandaged it, before whisking him to a room.

It was early afternoon, he saw, peering at the chrono in his assigned room. He wondered vaguely when his Master would be by to bring him his things that he had left on the ship. He was quickly growing bored in this room.

Just then there was a timid sounding knock on the door. "Enter," Dooku said, eager for the distraction.

Qui-Gon appeared then, poking his head in before giving an excited squeal and hurrying over to his bedside. "Dooky, Dook, Dooku!" he said eagerly.

Dooku smiled, happy to see the boy, his earlier annoyance forgotten, lost in the gleeful smile of the young boy. At least someone was happy to see him back. "Hello, Little Jedi."

"Dook! I missed you!" Qui-Gon said and meant it with all his heart.

Dooku smiled and touched Qui-Gon's face, pushing the boy's stray brown hair out of his eyes. "I know, but I am back now."

"I felt you get hurt," Qui-Gon said sadly, putting his thumb in his mouth and clambering up to sit on Dooku's bed.

Dooku hastily made room for him in the bed. There wasn't much space, but Qui-Gon would not be deterred. He jammed himself in the small space between the railing and Dooku and hugged him around the neck, resting his head on Dooku's good shoulder. He pulled his thumb out of his mouth long enough to ask, "Does it hurt bad?"

Dooku was touched by the child's concern. "I've had worse," he said truthfully.

He frowned as the boy continued sucking his thumb. The act made him realize just how young this boy really was. "Qui-Gon, when did you start sucking your thumb?"

Qui-Gon shrugged one shoulder. "Don't know," he said.

Dooku frowned. He didn't like the feeling he sensed. Qui-Gon had been insecure while he was gone and had turned to bad habits for comfort. It left him with a bad taste in his mouth. /All because of the Council/ He thought in irritation.

He pulled the boy's thumb out of his mouth. "Jedi do not suck thumbs, Qui-Gon. You don't see me doing that do you?"

Tears sparkled in Qui-Gon's blue eyes as he shook his head.

"Promise me you won't do that again," Dooku replied sternly.

Qui-Gon hesitated before finally saying softly, "I promise, Dooky."

Satisfied at the answer the child gave and knowing the boy would keep his promise, Dooku changed the subject. "I brought something back for you."

Qui-Gon's eyes grew large, his tears forgotten. "You did?" he asked in awe.

Dooku grinned mischievously at the boy's response. "Yes. When my Master brings me my bags, I'll get it out for you."

Almost as if on cue, the tap tap of Yoda's gimmer stick could be heard and Yoda entered, hobbling on his stick. He smiled at the pair and turned his attention to Qui-Gon. "Happy to see him you are, yes," he said. "Happy also am I. Good it is to have you back, Padawan mine," Yoda said turning his attention back to Dooku and putting a tri-fingered hand on Dooku's arm. "Done well you have."

Dooku's face flushed slightly with pleasure at his Master's praise. Praise from Yoda was a rare thing indeed and was a great gift. "Thank you, Master," he said sincerely. He had not thought he did well, but his master was not one to question.

"Welcome you are. Missing something, I think you are," Yoda said before handing Dooku's knapsack to him.

Dooku reached for the bag and grimaced as he moved his wounded shoulder.

"More care when moving you should take," Yoda scolded his apprentice.

"Yes, Master," Dooku said absently as he pawed in his bag for his bottle of sand, purple water and shells. Finally he found what he was looking for and fished it out. He handed it to Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon giggled seeing what Dooku had brought him. "Purple water!" he squealed in delight.

"That's right. Didn't I tell you the water is different there?" Dooku smiled.

Qui-Gon clapped happily. "Purple!" he said grinning, before remembering his manners. "Thank you, Dooky."

"Of course, young one," he replied.

"Go now I will," Yoda said after a few minutes. "Catch up you two should. Be back later I will," Yoda hobbled to the door, smiling serenely. /Yes this pair is meant to be. Even time and distance break not this bond. Great feat it was. Fine Jedi they both will make./

Yoda continued smiling as he hobbled along. This was the will of the Force.

Soon, all would see that.