The chime rang. Qui-Gon looked up from his datapad and stared at the front door for a long moment, a swirl of conflicting emotions chasing each other around inside his belly. The last time he had opened the door to his home, it had been the worst mistake of his life. He glanced over at Obi-Wan for reassurance, saw the boy curled up on the couch, fast asleep under his favorite afghan. Still the faint wrinkles between the youngster's eyes did not vanish even in sleep, but he was here. He was home. Qui-Gon's mistake hadn't ruined everything.
The older Jinn slowly made his way to his feet, drawing on the Force to strengthen his legs and calm the churning of his stomach. The currents were at peace around him, gently encouraging him to take this gamble. It was almost enough to still the trembling of his hand as he set it against the control panel beside the door.
The door slid silently aside and Qui-Gon stared out at the bright day, watching the trees lining the street as they swayed gently in the breeze. Then he blinked, looked down, and met the eyes of the small Jedi who stood patiently on the steps, looking up at him with large, calm eyes. The little Master held himself propped on some sort of stick, Qui-Gon noted with bemusement. He also looked older, grayer, and more bent with age in person.
"Greetings, Master Jinn," the Jedi said, bowing respectfully. "Come into your home, may I?"
Qui-Gon bowed back reflexively, unsure of how to respond to this singular event. "Um, yes, Master Yoda. Certainly. I only ask that you keep your voice low. Obi-Wan is sleeping. He's still slightly feverish, though he's been improving every day."
Yoda nodded gravely and quietly hobbled past him into the house. Qui-Gon followed a bit sluggishly, his mind and body still playing catch-up. While he had considered many possibilities for what kind of Jedi the head of the Council might send, this had not been one of them.
The little Master made his way over to the couch where Obi-Wan lay sleeping and stood there looking into his troubled face for several long moments, his height making his own eyes precisely on level with the child. A green hand with three thick, clawed fingers hovered over the bright head for a time, as if measuring without touching. Yoda closed his eyes then, and Qui-Gon caught his breath at the power of the Force drawing into the room, though he did not understand what it was doing.
The tall man sank to his knees beside the Jedi, watching carefully. The wrinkles between Obi-Wan's eyes slowly smoothed away, and his lips parted with a soft exhalation. Qui-Gon could have wept with joy—his son looked so peaceful now, so content with himself. Nothing he and his wife had done had been able to accomplish this.
Eventually Yoda lowered his hand and opened his eyes, taking a step back as he leaned on his stick again. He seemed to deflate, somehow, and the concentrated power in the room dissipated slightly, though it seemed that this Jedi carried a great deal of it around with him. It was as if he were the nexus for a meeting of a hundred golden currents, all smooth and controlled and glowing with the Light Side even as their depths defied comprehension.
"Could you touch him?" Qui-Gon whispered reverently. "I haven't been able to touch him. It isn't even shields. There's just . . . nothing. Did you touch him, even so?"
Yoda shook his head, his mouth grim. "This little one . . . denying the Force, he is. Doing harm to himself by his denial. Touch him I could not."
"But he relaxed. He felt your presence."
"Perhaps so. But not through the Force it was. That I cannot explain, Master Jinn, not for certain. Aware you are that he was not sleeping deeply, nor well. Perhaps it was that he woke for a moment and saw me, and his own mind supplied the comfort. Always he has had great trust in this old Jedi. A marvel and a wonder it is. Humbled by it, I am."
Qui-Gon smiled ruefully. He could relate. Despite all that he had suffered, this wondrous boy had such a great capacity for trust, for love.
"Can you help him?"
Yoda slowly turned to look at him, his citrus eyes still solemnly unreadable. "Come I would not have if think it possible I did not."
Qui-Gon relaxed marginally, settling back on his heels. "Yes, I wondered about that. I expected you to send another Jedi Knight, not come yourself. Though I had hoped it would be someone Obi-Wan knew and trusted, I hadn't hoped for this. Surely you must be very busy with your duties."
"Ah, a doubled-edged blade, such an assumption is." Yoda's eyebrows lifted reproachfully. "Busy I am, yes, with the duties of a Jedi. But always the duty of a Jedi it is to show compassion to hurting sentients, and provide all the best help that is possible when it is needed. Too great are none of us, to take a moment to help the smallest."
The man bent his head, accepting the mild chastisement. "As you say, Master."
Yoda looked back at the serene face of the sleeping boy, and Qui-Gon thought he descried a troubled gleam in the depths of his calm eyes. "True it is, though, that return to the Temple I must in less than a standard week. Not long enough it will be, I fear, but long enough to begin the work, I hope." Gently his small hand smoothed the afghan over Obi-Wan's shoulder, pulling it up slightly where it had drifted.
Qui-Gon smiled. He suspected that one reason the head of Jedi Council had sent himself on this mission—though perhaps it was only concern among many—was simply because he had a tenderness for his former student, and wanted to see for himself that he was well and getting better. It wasn't at all hard to believe. This boy was very easy to love.
"When leave I must, another Jedi I will send to watch in my place," Yoda continued, still studying Obi-Wan's face. "Danger there is here, though the source of it is not clear." He raised troubled eyes to Qui-Gon, his strange, rough voice very serious. "Guard your little one well, you must. Reaching for him the Dark Side is, always reaching."
Qui-Gon shuddered. "It will never claim him," he said, more firmly than he'd meant to.
Yoda smiled, softly and slowly. "No. Claim our Obi-Wan the darkness never will."
For a moment they were still, just watching him sleep, this wounded young boy who had found his way deeply into each of their hearts. Qui-Gon wondered idly why Yoda had not taken Obi-Wan as his apprentice, but perhaps this was one area in which the duties of the head of the council superseded other paths a life might take. And he had to admit that he was glad the little green Master had not claimed the child. If he had, Qui-Gon would never have met him, would never have caught his gaze across a crowded docking area and felt a bond bloom between them. Never would have taken him home, introduced him to Julune, watched him strengthen and grow from a frightened, hesitant, sorrowful little lad to a boy who all but glowed with light and life. He never would have found his son.
But many other things also would not have happened. Qui-Gon exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. "Even so, the darkness has managed to wound him," he said sadly. "You said that you want to start Obi-Wan on the path to healing, didn't you?"
Yoda nodded solemnly, his gaze never wavering from the youngster's still features.
"How do you mean to accomplish this?"
"Easy it will not be, Master Jinn, for you or for the young one."
"I did not expect to be. What do you ask of me?"
Master Yoda turned to face him, leaning with both hands on his walking stick. "Leave me alone with him, you must."
Qui-Gon started, and had to remind himself to keep his voice low. "Master Yoda . . . he is frightened when I am not near. He panics if I move around the corner for a moment. I would not cause him distress."
The small Master tilted his head, his eyes gleaming sadly. "That, we cannot avoid. Pass beyond this fear Obi-Wan must, if he is to heal."
"With all due respect, Master, you don't teach a child to swim by throwing him into the middle of a lake."
Yoda smiled, real mirth brightening his eyes. "Agree I do. But saw you did that trust me he does also. Perhaps enough it will be to help him remain calm. Besides, know you do that remain in this state forever you cannot."
Qui-Gon sighed softly. "Yes, I know. And I know he's been clinging to me, and it isn't healthy in the long run. But for now . . . he needs me. Needs to know that he is safe. Must it be now? It just seems . . . too soon."
"Trust my judgment, do you?"
Jinn hesitated. For a long time he just looked at the small Master, his gaze occasionally flickering to Obi-Wan's peaceful face as his mind wove back and forth. The entire Jedi Order trusted this Master's judgment. But this was Qui-Gon's traumatized son they were talking about here. But even Master Dooku respected this wise, wrinkled little old creature. But this was Obi-Wan they were talking about. But Obi-Wan trusted him too.
At last he nodded, his breath leaving him in resignation. "Yes. I . . . I trust your judgment."
Yoda nodded, not in triumph, but in simple acknowledgement. "Very well. Now, know I do that work there is to do your garden. Neglecting it you have been, yes? When your wife comes home, call her to assist you."
Qui-Gon blinked. How did the little Master know so much? "But what if . . . what if . . ."
"If need you Obi-Wan does, call you I will. Fear not, Master Jinn. Know my summons when you feel it, you will."
The man swallowed, and slowly climbed to his feet. Everything seemed to moving too quickly. He looked down at his son, saw how tenderly Yoda's little hand rested on him, and felt a surge of peace. The Force was calm about them, but ready for what was to come.
"Thank you, Master Yoda." He bent at the waist, and carefully made his way out the door.
But he could not help looking back.