Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything that has to do with it, George Lucas does (Darn it! Oh well but if he ever wants to sell it...)
Summary: AU One year after Attack of the Clones Anakin and his family are on the run from the Empire. As they try to hide on Naboo, problems begin from within as Qui-Gon's health begins to fail.
Warnings: Nothing for this chapter.
Author's Note: This was my first attempt at fanfiction that I started in 1999 and I have rewritten it several times in order for it to tie into the movies a bit better. I just tried to fix some of the spelling, grammar and typing mistakes but bear with me. My CP and dyslexia makes it hard to catch everything.
Chapter 7: Tearful Reunions and Nightmares.
When Obi-Wan awoke the next morning he was a little surprised that he felt a little better. You're a healer think like one. He chided himself as he went into the Refresher to use the shower. When you rest while you're sick it makes you feel better. Kenobi sighed and finished his business quickly, knowing that Ryoo and Pooja were usually early risers and used this Refresher.
The knight quietly snuck back into his room to get dressed. Kenobi hissed in a breath as pain flared in his chest and lower back as he reached above his head to put on a fresh tunic and had to sit on the edge of the bed to put his on pants and boots. Obi-Wan was just strapping his utility belt around his waist when someone knocked on the door, "Just a second." He called before grabbing his Lightsaber and heading to open the door.
Paddy Accu smiled at Kenobi when the young man opened the door, "Master Kenobi." The groundskeeper said as the knight stepped out into the hall. "Padme told me about your father and that you need to give him a blood transfusion?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan replied before running a hand through his still damp hair. "His body isn't producing enough red blood cells to keep his strength up."
"And he has my blood type." Paddy said before cocking his head. "When do we start?"
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
About two hours later Obi-Wan, Padme and Joble Naberrie went into Anakin's room only to find Qui-Gon sound asleep with his head pillowed on the bed and his hands around the Padawan's. Kenobi hated the fact that he was going have to wake his father but the unit of blood was ready and the Jedi Master needed to eat and take his medication. The young knight moved as quietly as he could and knelt at Jinn's side, "Father." He whispered while gently shaking the older man. He smiled gently when Qui-Gon opened his eyes. "I'm ready with the blood transfusion."
"We'll watch Anakin for you Master Jinn." Joble said with a small smile. "You just rest today."
The Jedi Master smiled, "Thank you Mrs. Naberrie." He said before trying to get to his feet.
"Let me help you father." Obi-Wan said as he helped the older man stand after his first attempt failed and a pained look came over his face. "Are you all right?"
"Oh." Qui-Gon replied as he drew himself up to his full height. "It's just my back and legs protesting the way I slept last night." Jinn smiled at the two women as his eldest son helped him out of the room.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"How long will this take Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked as Kenobi helped him into bed and began to prepare the I.V. site.
"About an hour." The knight said as he used a strip of rubber as a tourniquet in order to help him find a vein in the Jedi Master's arm. "But you will need to rest today."
"Obi-Wan." Jinn said with a sigh. "Your brother."
"Will be taken care of Master Jinn." Replied someone from the doorway.
"Mr. Naberrie." Qui-Gon said softly as he inclined his head in respect for the older man.
"How are you feeling Master Jinn?" The other asked as he entered the room and stood off to the side in order to give Obi-Wan some room to work.
"Tired." The Jedi Master admitted before clenching his teeth for a moment as his son inserted the needle.
"Sorry father." Kenobi said sympathetically in Nir'duinain before checking to make sure he hit a vein by injecting a sterile saline solution into the port that would be used to hook up the I.V. and deliver the blood to the patient. "I got it father hang on for just a second." Obi-Wan smiled as he grabbed the tubing that he had hooked up to the unit of blood that was hanging on a makeshift I.V. poll and hooked it up to the correct port before adjusting the flow rate. "There." He looked up at the two elders and smiled as he turned a little red. "Sorry. I'll just go check on Anakin and Mr. Accu."
Ruwee raised an eyebrow and moved to sit in the chair that had been placed by the bed, "What did he say?" He asked after the knight left.
"He is going to go check on Anakin and Mr. Accu." Qui-Gon translated before giving Padme's father a lopsided smile. "How can I help you Mr. Naberrie?"
"I need to know your son's full name Master Jinn and possibly what he looks like." The other replied. "I know the family that is hiding him but I think it would be safer for all involved if we use as much caution as we can."
"I agree." The Jedi Master said before raising a hand and using the Force to call his cloak into his hands. "When you go to pick up my son; ask for Christian Danonte Kenobi." Jinn smiled as he rummaged through the inside pockets of his cloak, pulled out a small envelope and pulled out one of the items it contained. "This is Christian."
Ruwee smiled as he took the old-fashioned paper photograph and looked at the young man. "He's beautiful Master Jinn." He said, speaking as one father to another. "He and Obi-Wan are fraternal twins?"
"Yes, that picture was taken about ten months ago." The Jedi Master smiled and shook his head in amusement. "I always try to take pictures of my children when ever I can get them together in one spot for more then two seconds."
"Same here Master Jinn." Naberrie said before going back to studying the photograph. "You do that with grandchildren too."
"Speaking of grandchildren." Jinn said with a smile as he concentrated on what was going on outside his room. "Yours are listening in."
"Oh that is most likely my fault Master Jinn." Ruwee said with a smile as he looked over his shoulder. "I told them I would take them with me when I went into the city today." He chuckled slightly before asking his final question. "Your son is blind yes?"
Qui-Gon smiled and nodded, "Although knowing him; Christian has most likely done everything within his power to hide that particular detail." The Jedi Master stifled a cough. "But you never know. Perhaps he finally listened to his father and has accepted his limitations."
Naberrie smiled and raised an eyebrow as the other man ran a hand through his hair, "Really?" At that Jinn couldn't help but laugh as Ruwee got up to leave. "I best be going Master Jinn if I hope to have your son here by this evening. I do have other things to do in the city as well and I won't pick Christian up until I'm on my way home. That way he doesn't feel too overwhelmed."
Qui-Gon smiled and bowed his head a moment before looking up, "Thank you for helping us Mr. Naberrie. I'll never be able to thank you enough."
The other smiled, "You already have thanked me Master Jinn. You have done a fine job of raising Anakin, Jedi or no and I had never met a man more worthy of my daughter's heart then Anakin Skywalker."
The Jedi Master smiled sadly, "I thank you for the complement Mr. Naberrie but I'm afraid I can only take credit for the last ten years. His mother, Lady rest her soul also takes credit for his disposition. More so then I do."
Ruwee cocked his head a bit in wonder as a thought suddenly came to his mind. "You were in love with Anakin's mother, weren't you?" Padme's father smiled again when he caught the shocked look that came over Jinn's face. "Anakin once told me that Shimi Skywalker was from your home world and that you and her were raised in the same village."
Qui-Gon was lost for words momentarily and ran his free hand over his face, "I never told Ani the whole truth about me and his mother." He sighed and shrugged as an afterthought. "But he never asked. Yes, I loved Shimi Skywalker more then anything but her father never approved of his daughter marrying a Jedi. I did try to win his approval but by the time I did she had already been taken as a slave."
"I understand." Naberrie said giving Qui-Gon a sympathetic smile before turning to leave. "Get some rest Master Jinn and please don't worry about your son. He will be fine with me and your family will be safe here."
Jinn nodded and smiled as his daughter-in-law's father left the room but had to lie back and close his eyes as his stomach turned, "Father?" Obi-Wan asked from where he stood in the doorway. "Are you all right?
The Jedi Master looked up and gave his son a weak smile, "I'm fine." He held up his arms toward the door. "Come here baby."
Kenobi sighed, hurried over to his father's side and carefully laid down next to the older man, "Father don't move your arm too much." Obi-Wan said in Nir'duinain when he felt Jinn move to hold him.
"I'm all right little one." Qui-Gon replied in the same dialect. "But I will do as you ask. Just try and get some rest."
"Do you think Christian is all right?" The knight asked after a few minutes of silence. "He sounded so tired."
"We will know soon enough little one." The Jedi Master said before sighing. "We will know soon enough."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Later that afternoon Ruwee Naberrie pulled up in the alleyway behind The Republic Hotel and quickly got out, "Stay here girls I'll be right back." He told his two granddaughters who were sitting in the back seat. The older man quickly went up to the back door and knocked exactly five times, he smiled when a small elderly woman opened it. "I am Ruwee Naberrie and I'm here for Christian Danonte Kenobi." He said, using the Jedi's full name as a way of identification.
The woman smiled, nodded and left momentarily. When she returned she was leading a handsome young man with jet black hair and dark blue eyes dressed in traditional Jedi robes at his side as always was a large black and silver dog wearing a harness, "Christian." She said while having the young man reach out to touch the older man. "This is Mr. Naberrie, he's here to take you to Verykino. You'll be much safer there and you'll be with your family."
"Thank you, for helping me Mrs. Dodders." Christian said before giving the tiny woman a big hug. "But I wish I could have been more of a help to you."
"You were plenty of help to us Christian." The older woman said with a smile. "If you hadn't helped us these past few months we would have lost everything. Now you go on and stay safe young man. May the Force be with you and may the Gods protect you and your family."
"Thank you My Lady may the Force be with you and The Lady of my people protect you and your family as well." Kenobi said before bowing low and then accepting Ruwee's offered arm.
"I want to thank you Mr. Naberrie for what you've done for my father and brothers." The knight said as Ruwee led him to where the speeder was parked.
"It is an honor to be able to help your family young man." The other replied before opening the speeder door. "Your four legged friend is more then welcome as well but will have to share the back seat with my granddaughters.
Christian laughed, "I thought I heard someone moving back there." He said before lowering himself to a crouch. "Hello. My name Christian Kenobi"
"Hello!" He heard two voices answer.
"Would you mind if my friend sits back here with you." Kenobi asked with a large smile. "He is extremely friendly."
"Sure." Pooja said as she and her older sister moved over.
"Thank you." Christian said before removing the dog's harness and standing. "Faolan in." The animal immediately jumped in the back seat and barked once to let his handler know it was safe to close the door.
Ruwee smiled and took the harness, "I'll put this in the trunk with your bag."
"Thank you." The Jedi Knight said before he got in the front passenger side and turned to smile at the two children. "You two are most welcome to pet him."
"But only when he has his harness off right?" Pooja asked as her grandfather got in the driver's side.
"Padme explained the rules of living with a service animal." Ruwee said when Christian coughed to hide a laugh.
"You're very right Pooja." Kenobi said with a smile. "Faolan has been trained to know that when his harness on it's time for him to help me around."
"You know my name!" The little girl said with a giggle.
"Do you two remember Christian from the time we visited Coruscant?" Their grandfather asked, as he turned onto the street that led to the docks.
"I do." Said Ryoo. "But you had a different dog then."
"You remember Casey." Christian said with a small smile. "She is Faolan's mother. Do you remember Casey's puppies at your aunt's wedding?" Both children laughed at that particular memory.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Christian." Obi-Wan said as he pulled his twin brother into a hug as soon as he was off the boat, "Oh thank the Lady you're safe; we've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too." Christian said as he returned the hug and then looked into Obi-Wan's eyes even though he was blind. "Have you been taking care of yourself?" The older twin looked away. "I'll take that as a no. And I bet Da and Ani don't know."
"Gods please don't say a word." Obi-Wan pleaded looking back at his brother. "They have enough to worry about."
Christian sighed as he crossed his arms, "I'll keep my mouth shut but please… start taking care of yourself."
Obi-Wan nodded before taking his brother's arm, "Come on, father's been asking for you."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Christian!" A voice called out as the Kenobi twins made their way through the house. Padme smiled as the two stopped and turned toward her as she caught up with them. "Oh thank the Force you're all right." She said before hugging him tight. "I was so worried about you."
The younger Kenobi twin smiled back and returned the embrace with just as much effort but was careful not to put to much pressure on her still-growing belly, "I'm all right Padme and thank you for worrying about me."
"Why wouldn't I?" The young woman said kissing his cheek before taking his both his hands and placing them on her swollen abdomen. "Meet you future niece and nephew."
"Hello in there." Christian said as both twins kicked in reaction to the new Force Signature they were being exposed to. "I'm you're Uncle Christian."
Padme stood in wonder as she felt the twins settle down after introductions had been made, "You Jedi never cease to amaze me."
Christen held his smile a moment longer before his thoughts began to drift to his younger brother, "I'd like to see Anakin later if that's all right Padme."
"Of course." She replied. "But I would go see your father first."
"Yes." Obi-Wan said as they resumed their journey to see the Jedi Master. "He threatened to get out of bed if I didn't bring you into see him before dinner."
Christian laughed as his brother and sister-in-law led him down the hall, "Why am I not surprised?"
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Qui-Gon looked up from his reading when his twins and Padme came into see him, "Christian thank the Force you're all right." He said in Nir'duinain as the blind Jedi sat on the edge of the bed.
"Father." Christian said taking the other's hand. "Obi-Wan told me about you're illness, is there anything I can do?"
"Oh Christian, just knowing you, your brothers and Padme are safe and with me is enough." Jinn said before he pulled the young man into his arms. "Let me look at you."
"Father." The younger twin said while trying not to laugh as his father checked him over and then kissed him on the forehead. "I'm fine. The family I was staying with made sure I was well."
"That family is in my debt." The Jedi Master said before hugging his blind son again.
"May I?" Christian asked before placing a hand on the side of Jinn's face.
"Of course little one." Qui-Gon said softly as he brought Christian's other hand up to the other side of his face. "I have missed this most of all."
The blind Jedi examined the older man with expert hands; this was one of his ways of seeing his loved ones. Christian smiled when he felt the length of Jinn's hair and the soft but coarse texture of his beard; the feel of them both hadn't changed in all the years he had known Qui-Gon Jinn.
"What's so funny Kenobi?" Qui-Gon asked raising an eyebrow at the young man's smirk.
"You haven't changed a bit father." Was the answer.
"Except being grayer." Obi-Wan said, sharing his twin's smile.
"Is this any way to talk to your elders?" Jinn said crossing his arms, in mock fury and keeping his tone light for Christian. "And to think I was the one who raised and trained you."
"Yes father." Both twins said at once while wearing identical smiles. "Sorry."
"And you two wonder why I nearly lost my sanity." Qui-Gon said before someone knocked on the door.
Obi-Wan went to the door, opened it and smiled when he saw it was Ryoo and Pooja with Christian's guide dog, who was back in his harness, "Hello ladies." He said and stepping aside and letting the three enter. "We have visitors Master. Miss Pooja, Miss Ryoo and Christian's four legged friend."
"Oh that's Faolan " Christian said as the black and silver dog lumbered over to him and wined. "I'm sorry boy, I should have had Obi-Wan leave the door open."
"Awww." Said Padme when she recognized the animal. "He was the one who squeaked when he came out."
"Yup." The blind knight said as his guide sat and began pawing at his knee. "That's him."
"I was hoping he would eventually get placed with you." Qui-Gon said as the dog began to check out the room. "He has his mother's temperament."
"I've noticed that too." Christian said with a smile.
"He's been walking around the house and yards like he's looking for something." Pooja said.
"He does that every where we stay, so he knows how to help me around so I don't run into anything."
"Master Obi-Wan told us that you couldn't see."
The younger Kenobi smiled, "Oh, I can see just not like you can."
"How?" Pooja asked confused.
Christian smiled, "Come here and I'll show you." Both children complied and stood in front of the blind Jedi. "My brother probably told you that I could sense what's around me using the Force. I can also hear the different tones in people's voices that make them unique, for example the younger of the two of you speaks in a higher tone of voice."
"That's me." Pooja said proudly.
"You've been blind since you where a baby right?" asked Ryoo.
"Yes."
"So you don't know what things look like?" Pooja asked frowning. "Like Master Obi-Wan or Master Qui-Gon."
"I know what things feel like and I use touch to create a mental picture of people too. My pictures just don't have color until the person fills me in."
"Can you make a picture of me?" the little girl asked.
Christian laughed, "Of course Pooja but I'll have to touch your face."
Pooja nodded and smiled, "Okay."
The Jedi ran his hands along Pooja's round face, over her eyes, ears and nose. Making her giggle when he gave it a gentle squeeze, he ran his hands through her curls and smiled, "You have a very beautiful face Pooja. What color are your hair and your eyes?"
"Dark Brown." She answered.
"Very pretty." The blind man replied with a smile of his own.
The little girl blushed, "Thank you."
"Can you do me too?" Ryoo asked.
"Of course Ryoo, I want to know both of you."
Christian did the same exam on Pooja's sister and looked up when he heard a knock on the doorframe, "Is anyone hungry, my mother and I made an early dinner." Sola said with a smile. "Do you think you can keep some soup down Master Jinn?"
"Yes, I think I can." The older Jedi replied, grateful that they were eating something light. He was starting to have increasing problems keeping anything down long enough for his body to make use of it.
Meanwhile Obi-Wan saw the confusion on his brother's face as he tried to figure out who was speaking and contacted him through the Force. That's Sola, Padme's sister. Are you hungry?
Yes very. The other answered
Qui-Gon looked at the woman standing at the door, waiting for the twins reply, "Don't mind them Sola, they always do this. We'll be out in a few minutes."
Sola smiled knowingly and left, with Pooja and Ryoo following.
"I'm going to check on Anakin before dinner." Padme said with a small smile. "Do you need any help?"
"No." Obi-Wan said returning her smile. "We've got things covered here."
"I'll see you in a few minutes then." The young woman replied before leaving the men alone.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Padme hid a smile behind her hand as she watched her nieces, they were fascinated with Christian's ability to know where everything was around him. Little did they know it was because Obi-Wan had told him before they sat down, looking at Obi-Wan now she noticed that he was pale and seemed extremely tired but was doing his best to hide it. A sharp kick from one of the twins brought her out of her thoughts, that and the sound of someone coughing.
"Obi-Wan are you all right?" Qui-Gon asked eyeing him with a worried look.
"I'm fine. I just have a tickle in the back of my throat." Obi-Wan told him before taking a sip of water and coughing again.
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow when he sensed that his son was lying but let it pass for the moment. Feeling that this was not the best time to challenge his eldest child. The Jedi Master closed his eyes and took several deep breaths when his stomach threatened to reject what he had just eaten. Oh Please. Not tonight let me have just one night where I don't have to run to the Refresher.
"Qui-Gon." Padme said pulling him from his thoughts. "Are you all right?
Jinn opened his eyes, tried to smile and nodded gently so as not to upset his stomach any further, "I'm fine child." He said before getting to his feet. "I just need to go lie down." The Jedi Master looked at each at the table. "Please forgive me.
"No forgiveness is necessary Master Jinn." Joble said as she stood to start clearing the table. "Go get some rest sir."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Later that night as Faolan was helping Christian into the house after a quick walk in one of Verykino's gardens, his keen hearing picked up the soft sound of someone crying out in their sleep. He stopped and looked at his human to see if the Jedi had heard it too. Christian immediately recognized the voice as that of his brother and urged the dog in the direction of their room.
He had already unpacked and Obi-Wan was always careful where he threw his belongings when they were sharing a room at the Temple, so there was nothing for the blind Jedi to trip on. Christian let go of Faolan's harness, sat on the edge of his brother's bed and placed a hand on his shoulder. He was alarmed at the amount of heat coming from his twin's body.
The other moaned when his brother touched him and tried to move away from the touch, "Obi-Wan, it's all right." Christian said in soothing guttural tones. "I'm here." Obi-Wan suddenly shot up, directly into his arms and broke into tears. "Shhh, Obi it was just a dream. Come on, this isn't good for your back, lie down."
By the time Christian had calmed his brother down enough to get him to lie back down Qui-Gon was in the room and by their side, "What happened?" He asked, with a worried look on his face.
"Nothing Father, I was having a nightmare and Christian woke me from it." Obi-Wan said before looking around for his wristcrono. "What time is it?"
"Almost one in the morning." Christian said after checking his own wristcrono that had raised dots that formed the numbers.
"And you're just now getting to bed?"
"No, I just needed to get some air. You know me."
"Yeah I do know you." Obi-Wan said, throwing back the blankets. "I'll watch Ani the rest of the night."
"No Obi, I'll watch over our brother. Christian told him as he pulled the covers back up." Father, will you show me the way so I can give Faolan a break." He asked while taking off his tired guide's harness.
"Of course."
"All right but I'm relieving you at five." Obi-Wan said before he settled back down in order to go back to sleep.
"Done." Christian said before he and Qui-Gon left the room, knowing he would be watching Anakin a lot longer then that.
