Supernova
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter Two:
It takes Obi-Wan a long time to compose herself. She's a wreck, overcome by years upon years of grief, of fear, of emotional turmoil she's suppressed in the name of self-preservation. Her vaunted Jedi composure has become an armour against the despair she's carried in her heart for so long, but no wall is impenetrable, and as with everything, Obi-Wan would eventually reach a breaking point.
It seems, just as she has found reason to rejoice, that moment has finally come.
As Obi-Wan cries it out against his chest, Garen soothingly rubs circles on her back, combs his fingers through her unbound hair, and hums a wordless, mindless tune under his breath. It's emotional catharsis in it's rawest form, and it's enough to lull Obi-Wan into a state of exhausted peace. In time, she will meditate, reflect upon her feelings, recognise, acknowledge, and accept them, and then release them into the Force, but for the moment, she is content to soak in the lightness she is surrounded by, and Garen is disinclined towards discouraging her.
Eventually, however, Obi-Wan breaks the introspective, companionable silence between them.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Garen answers. She's slumped against his chest, her legs tangled with his own, and he could perhaps linger like this forever, "I cried like a baby when I realised, too. Master Clee was beside herself."
Garen can't hide the wonder he feels, and neither does he try to. Instead, he allows his emotions to wash over them both, open and unguarded and lingering, and Obi-Wan basks in it. She closes her eyes, and revels in Garen's familiar heat, in the steady thump of his beating heart, in everything that is her other half. She can't remember how long it's been since they were able just to be - free from the Sith, the Empire, from men and women and monsters intent on capitalising on the Jedi at their weakest - but they've the chance now, and although she has questions that need answering, and no doubt others do too, Obi-Wan won't waste it
Even as a part of her subconscious continues to reel at the thought that Master Clee is within their reach, unscarred, unbroken, and mercifully, gloriously alive, Obi-Wan laughs wetly. "I can just imagine."
Garen clears his throat, rests his cheek against her hair, and exhales deeply. "I'm glad you're awake. It's been hard, being here alone."
.",
"When did you wake up? What happened?"
"A few days ago," Garen answers, "Apparently we collapsed in Master Trell's Government and Politics class."
"We didn't miss much, then," Obi-Wan opines glibly.
Garen huffs a laugh, and continues, "I woke up in the room next door to yours, but since there was nothing wrong, Master Che released me the same day. SHe'll probably do the same for you."
"And us?" Obi-Wan presses, "What happened to us? How did we get here?"
Garen sighs, and hugs her close. "Your guess is as good as mine, Obi. Perhaps the Force took pity on us, perhaps Vadar made a mistake, perhaps it was the Jedi Temple itself. It could be anything, but we may never know."
Obi-Wan doesn't get the chance to reply. There's a chime from the door, and it opens a moment later. Master Healer Che, who fills an entire room with her personality alone, strides towards Obi-Wan's bedside, and offers her patient a gentle, compassionate smile. She's younger than Obi-Wan remembers, unbroken by war and all of the people she'd not been able to save, and it takes a great deal of effort for Obi-Wan not to stare.
"How are you feeling, Padawan Kenobi?"
"A little disoriented," Obi-Wan replies mildly. It's probably the greatest understatement of her life.
"That's to be expected," Healer Che acknowledges mildly, "You collapsed quite suddenly."
"Garen was telling me about it. Why did it happen?"
"We ran some tests, and there is no physical reason for you both to have collapsed the way you did. You're both in excellent physical condition, you had no prior injuries to speak of, no viruses, no foreign substances in your systems, not a thing. It's a mystery. Unless you have any ideas?"
Garen's shrug is nonchalant, and his irreverent quip is all Garen Muln, circa 16 life days old. "The Force?"
Healer Che offers Garen a flat, deadpan stare, and Obi-Wan rolls her eyes, long-suffering. Neither of them are impressed by his humour.
"Thank you for that illuminating insight, Padawan Muln. Perhaps you can make yourself useful and inform Master Jinn that Padawan Kenobi has awoken. I believe you will find him in one of the training rooms."
Garen glances at Obi-Wan, reluctant to leave, but she offers him a small, reassuring smile, and through their bond, the reality that he has to obey. As padawans, they're expected to do nothing less.
"I can see where I'm not wanted," Garen acquiesces. He offers Healer Che a bow, "I'll be back soon with Master Jinn."
Obi-Wan watches Garen leave, unsure of how she ought to feel about Qui-Gon's impending arrival. She'd long ago come to terms with his parting, let go of the hurt and guilt and betrayal she'd felt during those last days with him, had healed the emotional, psychological, spiritual wounds he'd caused throughout her apprenticeship.
What would it do to her to see him once again?
"I'm just going to check your stitches," Healer Che pulls Obi-Wan from her reverie, "You hit your head on the corner of your desk when you collapsed."
"Lovely," Obi-Wan acknowledges wryly, "How many stitches?"
"Just three," Healer Che replies, "They'll dissolve in their own time, and the wound shouldn't leave a scar. It was a clean cut, for what it's worth."
Healer Che proceeds with her check, and follows directly afterwards with a test of Obi-Wan's eyesight and pupilary response, reflexes, and memory. The last is daunting - Obi-Wan has no idea of the date, nor of the identity of the current Supreme Chancellor - but Garen funnels her the answers through their bond, and Obi-Wan passes Healer Che's tests with flying colours.
'You're lucky," Garen grouses at her along the bond, 'I had to flounder for those answers.'
'You're own fault for waking up first.'
'Not my fault I didn't brain myself on the way down.'
'Yes, well, I can't be perfect all the time, can I? Also, I was unconscious, so it's not as though I can be held accountable for my actions.'
Garen sends her a wave of fond exasperation, and Obi-Wan hides her smile behind a mask of calm indifference. Healer Che is occupied in any case, updating Obi-Wan's medical chart, so she doesn't notice her patient's preoccupation, and Obi-Wan works hard not to bring attention to the matter.
'I've reached the training halls,' Garen informs her, 'Would you like me to delay finding him?'
It's tempting to refuse, but Obi-Wan knows it won't make a lick of difference. In an hour or a year, the reunion - such as it is - will be as awkward, emotional, and uncomfortable as possible, and it'd probably do her better just to get it out of the way, so she can move on to other - arguably more important - things.
She expresses as much, Garen doesn't offer an opinion either way, and Healer Che draws Obi-Wan's attention back to the private room once more.
"Since there's nothing wrong with you, I have no problems discharging you into Master Jinn's care," Healer Che informs Obi-Wan, "I'd prefer it, however, if you at least took the day to rest. Do you have any questions or concerns?"
"No, Healer Che," Obi-Wan answers, "I trust your judgement."
Healer Che nods, satisfied, and excuses herself to check on her other patients. As the Twi'lek healer leaves, Obi-Wan settles back against the pillows propped up behind her, ruminates on she and Garen's presence there - or then, rather - and she waits.