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 Nine
In Obi-Wan's viewpoint it had been far too long since he had last worked with the Creche Masters, especially Master Numa Shima. He would always have a soft spot for his old Creche Master. And then there were the little ones. It felt good to see the future before him, but difficult at the same time. He stepped into the room where Master Numa taught her latest batch of crechlings their early lessons in the Force. There were small tables scattered around the currently empty of occupants room along with chairs of the same size that fit the different races.
Was I that small? Obi-Wan shook his head then worked his way around the room and to the walls and the drawers that held what he assumed were arts and crafts.
"Padawan," Numa's very familiar, and warm voice came from behind him. Even though he didn't sense her, he smiled to himself, glad to see her once again, along with thanking the Force that he didn't jump.
"Hello…M-master Numa." He turned and smiled at her her.
"I was grieved, but then relieved when you came back. It's good to see you up and about." She indicated the door. "You know the Council informed me that I would be receiving some help for a time, but they never mentioned who it would be." Looking out of the corner of her eye, she smiled. "And you've grown."
Obi-Wan really didn't know what to think about her final comment. "Thank…you, I think."
They stopped in the middle of the corridor and she moved in front of him where she could grasp his upper arms. "In fact you're a little bit taller than me now."
This time Obi-Wan blushed. "Not like…M-master Qui-Gon."
She let his arms go and took a step back, "True. He's probably one of the tallest human Jedi here. He makes everyone look short." They began moving once again and soon they were back in the area where the different clans resided. For a moment he felt warmth, and the happy memories that accompanied it.
"Several weeks ago my Dragon Clan moved onto being Initiates. A few days earlier I got my next batch of crechlings. Most, if not all, are at least two standard."
"Can they use t-the Force?" Obi-Wan frowned.
"Yes, but right now it's just basic levitation. Most of the younglings," she placed a hand on his arm, "have come from the nursery or the Healer's Ward after being brought here." She paused, "And it's all right. I know you feel self-conscious. These will be young children that won't see you as being any different. In fact I suspect most will look up to you in awe. Don't be surprised if you end up with one of these crechlings as your own padawan in time."
Obi-Wan took a step back and shook his head, "No."
Numa couldn't help but laugh, "Most, if not all padawans that have come to help are of the same mind." She patted his arm again and then turned to the door and with a wave of her hand, opened it. Beyond there was chaos all around, at least that's what it felt like, while a mon calamari padawan watched over everything with his large eyes.
I didn't sign up for this. Obi-Wan actually wanted to leave and head back to his room, but couldn't when Numa grasped his arm and pulled him inside. She must have felt his trepidation for he felt waves of calmness envelope him.
"Younglings?"
The children stopped their play and all turned their attention to her and Obi-Wan. For a moment he felt like he was standing before the council once again.
"Yes, Master Numa?" At least that's what it sounded like. There were some that had a difficult time with the different sounds that Basic used, but it was obvious they were trying.
"We will have a visitor for several days. This is Padawan Kenobi, and he will be helping us."
A small Mirialan girl with purple skin toddled up and tugged at Obi-Wan's leggings, "You Padawan?"
Not being able to help himself, he knelt down to her level and gave her a kind smile, "Yes. See?" He thought it was interesting seeing a Mirialan without any facial tattoos. He indicated his braid and then let her reach out and touch it.
Picking up the end of the braid, she looked at him with wide eyes. "Pretty." Then pulled at it. Obi-Wan's head jerked down, while she giggled. She released it and put both hands to her mouth.
"Ow. T-that hurts."
Numa knelt down and turned the little girl to her, "Akilza, there will be no pulling hair. Tell Padawan Kenobi that you're sorry."
Akilza turned and looked down at her feet. "Sowy." As she looked up, Obi-Wan smiled.
"I…forgive you." It was obvious that she really didn't know any better. He placed a hand on her head then brought it down and reached for her hand. As he stood up, he picked her up so he could hold her. With her settled on his right hip, she had access to his padawan braid again. Instead of pulling it, she stroked it while laying her head against his shoulder. As he moved deeper into the room, he glanced over to Numa and found her smiling. To keep himself from blushing too much, he turned his attention back to the little girl he carried. "Can I…meet your…friends?"
As they reached one of the tables, she leaned towards the others while opening her arms. With another smile he set her back on her feet and let her run over to her little friends.
By the time he left the creche, he was tired, but at the same time it felt as if hardly any time had passed. He made a comment about that to Numa and she only smiled.
"I understand all too well, it's very tiring, but fulfilling at the same time. This is the main reason why I work with the youngest crechlings." As they reached the doors that led into the main corridor, Numa stopped him with a hand on his arm. "You will be back tomorrow?"
"Yes, I will."
"Good, then I will see you after your time with the therapists. I suspect the younglings will be excited to see you again." And with that Obi-Wan left the organized chaos and back into the calm corridors and towards the apartment. Once inside, he sat down on the couch with a sigh. He never truly realized just how tiring it was interacting with the youngest, though at the same time he actually enjoyed it. For a moment he wondered why he went with Qui-Gon for his master instead of Numa. But he couldn't change it now, it had been too long. The only thing that would force any kind of change was if something happened to his master.
With nothing really to do, he picked up the remote and turned on the holovid to see what was available to watch. After a few minutes, he turned it off. What he really wanted to do was to talk to Eira, but he felt it was almost impossible with the distances involved between Coruscant and Vasda. With a sigh, he let his head rest on the top of the couch's backrest and closed his eyes. It's not that he meditated, but he did try and empty his mind so he could focus on being calm.
"It's good to see you resting, Padawan," Qui-Gon's voice came from the door. "Especially after spending the afternoon with younglings."
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and raised his head to look at the door. Qui-Gon stood just inside the apartment, but the door was already closed. It bothered him that he still couldn't sense anything through the Force. "It…it is tiring."
"I would think so," Qui-Gon pulled off his cloak and draped it across one of the chairs, then went into the kitchen, but stopped and came back. "Come Padawan."
Looking at him in confusion, Obi-Wan sent through their bond, /Why?/
"I believe that it's been long enough. It's time for you begin eating in the refectory once again."
For a moment Obi-Wan cringed on the inside. He wasn't even sure if he was ready for something as big as this. Most of the time he was in areas that had few Jedi, well except earlier today when he was in the creche. Then again, maybe it was that he didn't want to have to deal with others of his own age. Most, if not all were still padawans, though he knew that quite a few were nearing their Trials, while he wasn't even a senior level yet.
"You'll have to do this sooner or later. Personally, I feel that you need to do this now before you completely withdraw into yourself."
Realizing it was a losing battle, Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet and went back over to where he had placed his cloak, but decided not to take it. He followed Qui-Gon out of the apartment and into the corridors, and down to the refectory.
In the end it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Most of his fellow padawans were glad to see him once again reemerging back into the rhythm of daily life within the Temple. It would take more time before he began to train once again in the communal dojos. Until then, he would have personal lessons to help him recover what was lost. Deep inside, though he was glad that he didn't see Siri. It's not that he didn't like her, he felt guilty that he never really liked her the way he liked Eira.
By the time they got back to their rooms Qui-Gon turned off into another hall while stating that he had something he needed to do, leaving Obi-Wan by himself, his holocomm was flashing letting him know that a call was coming through. Picking it up, he activated it. "Padawan…Kenobi."
A holo of Eira appeared above its base. She was wrapped in a robe, and looked very tired."Obi-Wan?"
"Yes…it's me." He gave her a genuine smile.
Eira gave him a long look."You've come so far since I last saw you." She smiled.
"Thank you." He tapped his the side of his head, "Even though you…are here, I still miss…you."
"Same here." She sighed while looking off to the side.
"What…is it?"
"It's nothing," Eira waved her hand while shaking her head.
"I don't think so. Please? Maybe I…can help?"
"Well," she bit her bottom lip, "I feel that I'm only complaining about our problems, when it's only one small place within the whole galaxy."
"But it still bothers you."
Eira's shoulders slumped. "Yes, it does." She took a deep breath while rubbing her arms. "You know about how there are refugees flooding over the border from Berland?"
Obi-Wan paused for a moment, until he remembered the problems ever since he and Qui-Gon had first come. It was as if their presence only made things worse between the two powers. "Yes."
"It's been growing worse. Berland is still in the middle of a civil war and the refugees are now demanding that my father resign because they don't like him, and if he doesn't then they're threating to have a no confidence vote. It's not right. Papa is doing the best he can. I wish you were here."
For a moment Obi-Wan wanted to reach out and pull her in his arms, but that was impossible for she was on Vasda. "Same here, my dear."
TBC...