The Winding Path
Rating: T+
Summary: Healing from any condition never takes a straight path.
Disclaimer: All cannon characters are owned by the Great Flanneled One, and now Disney. All others are mine. I make no money off this.
Note: This is a sequel to Consequences
Timeline: 39BBY
Speech: " "
Training Bond communications: /
Internal thoughts: italics
Chapter Three
Qui-Gon woke only to find himself slumped in a chair in a private room in the Jedi section of the Healer's Ward. Reaching up a hand he rubbed his face, hoping to chase away the sleep that still clung to his mind. He was sore and his back ached from sleeping in a chair for Force knows how long. The chairs available were not conductive to getting a restful night, or day, sleep. At least Obi-Wan was resting peacefully now. Qui-Gon turned to watch his Padawan. Nyj had worked with him through the early ours of the next rotation healing and restoring what had been destroyed.
Even though exhausted, Nyj pulled Qui-Gon off to the side, "It will take upwards of several days before Padawan Kenobi wakes and shows any progress."
"Why so long?"
"His mind has to reacclimate to his full mind considering how long he went with it as damaged as it was." Nyj took a deep breath. "I need to get some rest. Healers Nela and Vokara will be able to help if needed." And with that he left the room.
With it now being in the second day Obi-Wan showed no signs of waking. Nela stepped inside the room. Her eyes went from the computers to the still form on the bed. She pulled out a small holo viewer and held it before her. "Master Qui-Gon?"
"Yes?" He sat up straighter.
"Because of your patience I wanted you to see this." She activated it. The image it created, and that began rotating was of a human brain that looked normal. "As you can see there are no more dead spots." Turning it off she let it drop back into one of her coat pockets. "I know this waiting is hard, but needed at the same time."
"So he will make a complete recovery?"
"Barring any complications, yes."
Qui-Gon let his shoulders drop in relief. "Thank you healer."
She gave him a generous smile before leaving the room.
Alone once again, Qui-Gon turned his full attention back to Obi-Wan. "I wish you didn't have to go through this," he kept his voice low as he placed his hand on the sleeping form.
"No one should," a familiar voice came from outside the room.
Qui-Gon looked to the door. His eyes widened when he realized Tomas was standing in the corridor. "What are you doing here?" Wait, this is the Jedi section. "Plus non Jedi are not supposed to be in this area." Moving to the door, he pulled the Viceroy into the smaller room and closed it.
"Your Twi'lek healer allowed me to come here."
"There are several Twi'lek healers in the Ward."
"The blue one. Her name is Healer Vokara."
Interesting. "So Viceroy, why are you here?" Qui-Gon folded his arms.
Tomas pursed his lips as he looked around the room. Compared to the one Eira was in, this had a different feel to it. Maybe because the one being cared for was Jedi. Eventually he sat down in one of the chairs. "After you and Padawan Kenobi had left for Coruscant everything continued on."
"And…Berland? Are they still having problems?"
"Problems is an understatement. They're still fighting each other. I don't want to get involved because it would only make things worse. Where the fighting is happening people have been fleeing. Marlote can take care of our own, but these refugees are putting a strain on our economy. If something's not done soon we will have our own economic crisis and be in just as bad a position as our neighbor to the south."
"A delicate balance."
"Very much so. And the refugees demand more than even what the local Marlotians have." Tomas waved his hand. "I don't wish to burden you with my political problems."
"Then I ask again, why are you here?"
Tomas let his eyes wander from Qui-Gon over to Obi-Wan. "Close to two weeks ago Eira developed a headache that would not go away. No matter what we did it didn't help. Davido." He looked back to Qui-Gon. "You remember him?"
Qui-Gon nodded.
"Well, he couldn't find anything wrong with her so he thought it'd be best if she came here."
"Which is understandable."
"Your healer stated that my daughter has a bond with your padawan," he blurted out.
What? Qui-Gon looked at Tomas for a moment, not quite understanding what he just heard at first. The Viceroy wasn't paying that much attention to him, his attention was fully on Obi-Wan.
"She thought it happened shortly before the two were rescued."
Instead of arguing against it, Qui-Gon searched through his memories of when they were on Vasda. The only thing he could come up with was when Obi-Wan called and anchored his mind to him. There was something odd about the whole thing, as if he wasn't alone in it. "I believe I know when it happened."
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Highness. When my Padawan was finally able to reach out to me I suspected he used your daughter's energy. It was apparent, at least to him that he didn't have the strength for him to call for help." Headaches? "And now? How is she?"
Tomas smiled. "Much better, though the healers want to keep a close watch on her."
"And to make sure that she doesn't have any relapse." Qui-Gon shook his head as he went back over to the other chair. "For now I think it would be best to keep the bond in place. No telling what would happen if it was formally unraveled."
"Do you think it would kill either of them?"
"Not that we know of." Qui-Gon paused, though he realized that Tomas was going to find out all about the bonds that the Jedi dealt with, and had, on a regular basis if this was to continue. "Although like I mentioned before I do think it's best to keep the bond in place, at least for now, and wait until Obi-Wan gains full mobility once more."
Tomas rubbed his hands together. "How long will that take?"
Qui-Gon rubbed his forehead with several fingers. "At this point in time I'm really not sure. If we had known about this beforehand, she would have been in ward also."
"I hate to see her having her in pain. Will the bond regenerate?"
"This is another thing that I really don't know about. I suspect the Mind Healers would, though." Qui-Gon's gaze strayed over to the closed door.
Standing up, Tomas looked around. "Even though your healer allowed it, I don't think I should be here."
"Don't worry about it," Qui-Gon motioned for the Viceroy to sit back down, then shrugged. "If you're questioned, just tell them that I let you stay."
Tomas sank down in the chair. He glanced back to Obi-Wan's still form. "How long will it take for your Padawan to realize what's happened between them?"
This time Qui-Gon gave him a grin. "Probably not all that long. He can be quite resourceful when he needs to be."
An answering grin spread across Tomas face, then it disappeared. "Even after this…especially after this and finding that he's alive, I wouldn't be all that surprised if Eira's attachment has increased."
That was not something Qui-Gon wanted to hear. Not only being attached emotionally, but with a Force bond added to that?
"But I'm not sure how or if they should remain in contact. Technically we're not in the Republic…." He shrugged.
"And we get sent on diplomatic missions like when we went to your homeworld." Qui-Gon rubbed his hands together. "When a Padawan has passed his or her Trials the training bond is formally unraveled. With this Force bond between them I'm not sure if that will even be possible." It made him wonder if he had such a thing with Tahl. Her death was so painful he couldn't decide if it was emotional or mental anguish he went through. If mental, then…. Qui-Gon shook his head.
"What is it Master Jedi?"
"Nothing in particular. And technically we're not supposed to have any attachments."
"It sounds like it doesn't quite work that way." Tomas gave him a knowing look.
"Correct. For now," Qui-Gon's eyes strayed back to Obi-Wan. He reached out a tendril and found him still out of it, "I will remain quiet concerning this. I'm not sure how the Council is going to handle it."
"Healer Vokara knows about this."
"I know, and that's what bothers me the most."
"Well then," Tomas stood. "I will remain on Coruscant until Eira is released. Then we will head back to Vasda. Before we leave, though, I think it would be good for the two to at least see each other. You know so that they know the other is okay."
"I'll think about it," even though Qui-Gon gave such a noncommittal answer, he was leaning towards having the two meet. If the bond is permanent, there would be no way for him to stop either of them from communicating with each other.
Being the Jedi section of the ward, Qui-Gon could easily sense most, if not all that were present. One paused at the door, but didn't open it. He had a feeling it was probably Vokara. She was good, but kind at the same time. Allowing Tomas to be here was probably because of her knowledge of what happened to Eira and why she was in the ward in the first place. Standing, he went over to the door and opened it. He was right about Vokara standing just outside. "Thank you for giving us time to discuss the issues we are now dealing with," he indicated the Viceroy who now stood behind him.
Instead of physically answering, she only nodded.
"My question is in concern for Force bonds. I don't know if you have knowledge about that, or if I need to speak with Healer Nyj."
"It's Nyj. Because of what he heals and works with, he'd be the best one to speak to," she nodded.
"Thank you Healer. I will definitely speak to him."
She turned her attention back to the Viceroy. "I'm sorry, but you do need to leave now." She indicated the way they needed to go, "If you will come with me?"
It was nice that Vokara made it easy for Tomas to leave the Jedi section. "I'll speak with you later, Master Jedi." And with that the two moved back in the general direction of the Wards specifically designed for non Force wielders.
TBC...