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 Six

Qui-Gon looked at the schedule that both Healers Nyj and Nela had come up with for Obi-Wan's recovery. If his Padawan wasn't already behind on his lessons, he would be soon enough. Obi-Wan needed to put all his energy in recovering from his injuries, and that would take time. Putting the datapad down, he sighed, then yawned. He was already tired and it was not even midmorning.

The comm pinged just loud enough to catch his attention, but not wake Obi-Wan. Taking it, he left his Padawan's temporary room and went into the main corridor. "This is Master Qui-Gon."

"Master Jedi, this is Tomas," the Viceroy's voice sounded tinny from the small speaker. "Are you currently in the ward?"

"Yes. Has your daughter been released?" He looked down both ends of the corridor then leaned against the wall.

"Yes, she has. She also wants to see your Padawan before we leave for Vasda."

"Technically neither of you are allowed in this section of the ward." Before Tomas could complain, Qui-Gon continued, "But I'll see what I can do, considering."

"Thank you Master Jedi."

Qui-Gon pocketed his comm and turned to look around once more. Tomas believed that there was a Force bond between the two, but he had yet to ask Vokara if it was the case. Thinking it would be better safe than sorry, he went in search for the Twi'lek healer. He eventually found himself in her office and seated across from her with her cluttered desk between them.

Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together, "Yes?"

"Viceroy Pedar wishes to have his daughter see my Padawan before they leave for their homeworld." He paused before throwing out his suspicions, "I do think it would be best if it happens, especially with their Force bond."

Instead of frowning, Vokara began shuffling the flimsi that were on her desk. "Maybe. I bent the rules earlier, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it again." Stopping, she sighed, "Does Padawan Kenobi even know about the bond?"

So it is true. "I don't know. He hasn't mentioned anything about it. I think it probably regenerated once he was out of the Mind Healer's Ward, for Tomas, the Viceroy, stated that his daughter's headaches have all but disappeared."

"I will have to speak with Nyj about this. I haven't had to deal with any Force bonds of this nature before." She rose to her feet and moved around the desk to the open door. "You're welcome to come along since one of the ones in question is your Padawan."

"I think I will." Qui-Gon followed her out and they eventually worked their way back to the Mind Healer's Ward. Just as they were to work through the shielding, Nyj came from around the corner.

"Just the healer I wanted to see," Vokara smiled.

Nyj looked back and forth between them, then smiled. "And?"

"There's something I wish to discuss with you, but not out in the corridor."

The Togrutan nodded then indicated a room off to the side. Opening it, they found themselves in a small conference room. "I use this while talking to Masters who have had their Padawan's injured badly if they weren't able to be in the ward," he glanced to Qui-Gon.

With the door closed, it was obvious that Vokara felt more comfortable speaking in the enclosed space. Qui-Gon turned his full attention back to Nyj, "I'm not sure if you realized this, but my Padawan created a Force bond with a non Jedi. Were you able to find any indications of it during his healing?"

"Force bond?" Nyj perked up. "The one on the other side should have been present for the healing."

"There was a problem, though. No one knew about it until about four days ago, when we returned."

Nyj shook his head. "I pity that person. Having it ripped out is easily a death blow. Are they all right?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes, she was brought here in time. I also believe that my Padawan did it because he didn't have the strength to call for me at the time." He folded his arms.

"Now that he's healed," Vokara nodded, "Will the bond regenerate?"

"It's possible. Even I don't have that much information when it comes to the nature of Force bonds." For a moment the Togrutan had an uncertain look on his face. He turned back to Qui-Gon. "I'd like to check one last thing before Padawan Kenobi's been released."

"You want to see if the bond has regenerated."

"If allowable."

"That's fine." Qui-Gon moved back to the door. He paused a moment so he could travel down the training bond. He gave a gentle push to see Obi-Wan's reactions. "He's asleep right now. Can you check while he's asleep?"

"Yes."

Obi-Wan was still asleep when they entered his room. Now standing near the head of the bed, Nyj closed his eyes while gently gripping the Padawan's head. There was an absent nod before he opened his eyes again and took a step back. Reaching down he placed a hand on Obi-Wan's forehead before he moved to the door.

Nothing was said until they were back in Vokara's office. "The bond has reformed."

"This should be interesting," Qui-Gon muttered.

"Actually, I find it quite fascinating."

"But you're not going to be the one dealing with it day in and day out."

Nyj turned thoughtful. "I suspect it was reformed because both were brought here before it was too late which kept neither one from dying."

Vokara leaned back in her chair. "So it can be survivable."

"Yes, but very painful. It takes a lot of mental discipline to survive such a break." Nyj gave Qui-Gon a meaningful look, "Even though a training bond is different all masters are taught how to unravel the training bond before death, for the Padawan will easily follow their master in death."

An image of Tahl floated through Qui-Gon's mind. There was an echo of the pain of her passing, but that was it. He still missed her greatly, but knew that he needed to train Obi-Wan. That was the only thing that kept him going after her death. Now, he was much better, though he knew there would always be that empty place in his heart and mind.

"If you have any more questions after Padawan Kenobi has been released, don't hesitate to comm me. I always try to keep in touch with all my patients."

"I will, Healer." Qui-Gon nodded.

That was earlier in the day. Vokara eventually got back with him, informing him that as long as the Viceroy and his daughter were with her, then they should be able to come see Obi-Wan before they begin their journey back home. With a small smile, he thumbed the comm on to contact the father of the girl…woman, that his padawan had bonded himself to. Personally, if their positions were reversed, he would have done the same thing. "Your Highness?"

"Master Jedi? I fear what you will say."

"There's nothing to fear. The worst I could have said is 'no.'"

"Which is what you're telling me."

"Actually your Highness, that's not the case. As long as you're with Healer Vokara, you and your daughter will be able to see Padawan Kenobi." The audio was silent for a few moments until he heard a loud exhale.

"Thank you Master Jedi."

Which is where he was now waiting. Qui-Gon looked to his still sleeping Padawan, though he had a feeling that Obi-Wan would wake up as soon as Eira approached the room…maybe. Personally he had no idea if Obi-Wan knew how to handle a bond of this type. Thinking it would be for the best, he reached over and gently woke Obi-Wan.

As expected, the response was sleep drugged, /Master?/

"Good, you didn't force speaking. We will work on that soon enough."

He gave a slow blink then stretched. /Am I leaving the ward?/

"No, not yet. At least not until Healer Nela approves of it." Even though there was no movement, he could sense not only Vokara, but two other people. "I woke you up because you have a visitor."

Getting up, Qui-Gon went to the door and stuck his head out and nodded then motioned for Eira to enter the room. Turning back around he found that Obi-Wan had closed his eyes again. As Eira passed by him, he placed a hand on her shoulder then stepped outside, but remained in the doorway.

Eira looked exhausted, which wasn't all that surprising considering what she had recently gone through. No one should have to deal with a broken bond, it was too painful. Sitting down in the chair he recently vacated, she reached over and grasped Obi-Wan's hand. "I can," she kept her voice soft.

That didn't take long. Qui-Gon glanced over to Tomas. He leaned towards the smaller man, "They know."

"That didn't take long," Tomas inadvertently echoed his own thoughts.

"No it didn't." Qui-Gon looked back into the room and the quiet, albeit one-sided conversation.

"I can't stay here for much longer. Papa and I are going back home as soon as we leave here." Leaning forward she brought his hand to the side of her face. "I'll send you a message when we get back to Artwe." She paused, "You get better." Dropping his hand she leaned even closer then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Rising to her feet she slipped past Qui-Gon. "Thank you, Master Jinn." Because of her skin coloring it was difficult to tell if she was blushing or not. Not only that, but when she was out in the corridor, she had her back to him.

"Master Jedi?"

Qui-Gon turned to look at Tomas again. "Yes?"

"I have a feeling that I will be speaking with you on a continuing basis," he gave Qui-Gon a wry smile. "And I don't need your fabled powers to know."

"Same here, my Lord." Qui-Gon lowered his voice. "If you so wish, you can drop the formalities."

"I will if you will." Tomas nodded. "You will be hearing from one of us soon enough."

"No doubt," Qui-Gon shook his head as he watched the two along with Vokara leave the Jedi section of the Ward and to the exit.

Even with all his time within the Healer's Ward, before his latest injuries, Obi-Wan had never been into the physical therapy area. It was connected with the ward, but that was about it. Eira and her father had made it safely back to Vasda, which was good to know. Not knowing when Artwe's sleep period was, Obi-Wan poked gently at the bond. The connection with Eira was completely different from the training bond he shared with Qui-Gon. In fact, even though he sense her easily enough, he could tell she was not on the planet. While with his master, his presence would grow fainter as the distance increased. Maybe that was why it took so much energy to send him an anchoring message when he was dying.

Nela directed the hoover chair he was using into a large room that had exercise equipment, equipment that was completely different from what was in the the gym and dojos on the other side of the Ward. Qui-Gon wasn't there at the moment, but he was reachable. At least he would be the only other one in the room.

Nela must have felt his spike in apprehension, for her hand pressed down on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry Obi-Wan. We'll get you up and walking sooner than you realize." While directing the chair again she continued, "and I also know you're worried. It's natural."

They stopped before some contraption that Obi-Wan had never seen before. "You need to learn once again how to balance on two feet before you can even attempt to walk once more. That's what this will do."

Obi-Wan looked at the machine in front of him with quite a bit of trepidation. Healer Nela was annoyingly cheerful at the same time. After pressing a few buttons the doors opened once again and several droids entered the room. Ironically enough, he felt better with droids around at this point in time. While directing several to keep the machine in place, Nela used the Force to help Obi-Wan to his feet and into it. It was an exoskeleton, he realized.

"I see you've begun."

Obi-Wan cringed at the familiar baritone voice.

"Not really, Master Qui-Gon," Nela answered. "At this point I'm getting him used to standing once again. This will come off soon enough and the real work will begin."

Obi-Wan turned his attention towards his master, who was standing just inside the room. He was glad, but still nervous at the same time. If anything he didn't want to make it look like he was a fool in front of him.

The whole process ended up being so mentally taxing that Obi-Wan was exhausted when he was finally ushered out. His muscles were still trembling from the exertion. /I can barely stand by myself./

"Considering the alternative, Padawan, you have done exceptionally well. I suspect you will be ready for training before you realize it."

Instead of attempting to answer, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and bowed his head, ignoring everything around him. /Will I be here every day?/

"Nela, how often do you want Obi-Wan to be here?"

"Not every day, for that will actually injure him." She paused, "Every other day will be enough. On the days though when he's not here a speech therapist can work with him."

TBC...