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 Twelve
It was longer than expected when Obi-Wan finally limped back into the apartment. He sighed as went to his room then reappeared, sans his boot and cloak. He sat down on the couch and propped his bandaged foot on the caff table then let his head rest against the top of the backrest. "Why am I still here, Master?"
Qui-Gon appeared in the doorway of his room. He had never stated that he was back, only that he wanted Obi-Wan to come back sooner rather than later. He smiled as he took a silent step towards his Padawan while remaining out of the younger Jedi's eyesight. He stopped when he was behind the couch, "Because, Padawan, you are very bright, and strong in the Force."
To Obi-Wan's credit, he didn't jump, either that or he knew where Qui-Gon stood. "Then why do I feel as if I've been abandoned by the Force?"
Eventually Qui-Gon worked his way around to the door that led into their small kitchen. "Are you sure about that?"
Obi-Wan glanced up. It was obvious, at least to Qui-Gon that he was unsure. "No." He looked back down to his hands. "I feel things…know where they are."
"Good. Then we must begin with that." Qui-Gon turned and went into the kitchen fully expecting Obi-Wan to follow him.
"When can we start?"
Glancing over his shoulder Qui-Gon nodded at the gleam in Obi-Wan's eyes as he hobbled into the kitchen. "As soon as you're ready." He opened the cabinet and pulled out two teacups along with a plastic one. Above that was one of the bottles of Corellian whiskey. Its content level looked suspiciously lower than what he remembered. For the time being he put that out of his mind. If Obi-Wan was to begin manipulating the Force, he didn't want to use breakable items at this early stage. After placing the plastic cup off to the side he turned back around to look at Obi-Wan.
"I guess we'll start tomorrow?"
"I never said that, Obi-Wan." He paused while indicating the cup, "Padawan, I want you to retrieve this cup."
Obi-Wan's eyes flared in excitement as he nodded. He closed his eyes while reaching out with his hand, and furrowed his brow in concentration. Nothing happened. Taking a deep breath, he sat down at the small table and rolled his eyes. "It's not working."
"Now you're acting like a youngling."
For a moment Obi-Wan actually cringed. "Sorry, Master. It's just that it's been so difficult lately."
"I understand better than you realize." Qui-Gon leaned against the counter and folding his arms. "And I think you're trying too hard." He cast his mind back to what the Creche Masters taught the children in their care, especially with the first lessons dealing with the Force. "I want you to close your eyes and empty your mind." While he spoke he lowered his voice. "When you feel like you're ready, open your hand and envision the cup just within reach of your fingers."
At first, and just like before, nothing happened. Soon, though, the cup began rattling on the counter. Eventually it rose into the air, but the movement was jerky as if Obi-Wan was on the edge of control. He probably was mused Qui-Gon. Several times it looked as if it would fall to the floor, but each time it jerked back up. Eventually it reached Obi-Wan's hand and his fingers curled around the smooth surface of the cup.
Along with dropping his head in exhaustion, he shoulders followed suit as he took a deep breath. He opened his eyes. Even though they were tired they smiled.
"See, it's still there."
Obi-Wan turned his tired eyes to Qui-Gon. "I never realized just how exhausting it is. But I'm glad I haven't lost it."
Qui-Gon turned around and began preparing their tea, "And then there's the mindset. I actually think you forgot how to achieve it during your long convalescence."
"Which isn't all that surprising." Obi-Wan stood and joined him. After putting the plastic cup back in its place he turned to help make their mid afternoon tea. Dinner would be in the refectory later that evening. Holding out his hand with his palm down he attempted to call it one of the breakable ones to him. Soon it was hoovering just above the counter.
"You need to be careful, Padawan. Don't force your abilities. If you do you might end up worse than before, or even burned out."
The cup dropped and then bounced off the counter. Before Obi-Wan could grab it, it stopped its fall and floated back to where it was before. Obi-Wan grimaced before taking a step back. "Maybe I should let you get the tea ready."
"Wise choice, Padawan."
As Obi-Wan retreated back into the common room, Qui-Gon heard the comm ping. Someone was calling, but he wasn't sure at the moment. Leaving Obi-Wan to answer it, he finished preparing their tea and brought both cups into the larger room. At the same time Obi-Wan limped out into the balcony with comm in hand. Either it was one of his friends calling, or…Eira. He accessed their shared bond to see if there was anything in particular and was blocked. Qui-Gon knew at that point who he was speaking to, and there was nothing he could do about it. She was probably telling him her moving plans, which were not good in his opinion. The problem was how Obi-Wan would react if he found out that he had known about it all along.
Eventually Obi-Wan reappeared with an obvious bounce to his step. "So, what did she say, or am I not privy to that?"
Obi-Wan sat down on the couch and reached for the tea and took a sip. It was still hot, but not scalding. He looked back over to Qui-Gon, his brow furrowed. "How…?"
"I know you, Padawan."
After setting the cup back down on the caff table, he leaned back and shifted his position to an apparently more comfortable one. "Eira's in the final stages of moving here. She asked if I knew the different areas, and also if I could help her."
"And, are you?"
"If I can." Obi-Wan leaned forward again and retrieved the cup for another sip.
"I've said this before, and I'll say it again, your attachment to Eira's not good. And we need to do something about the Force bond between the two of you."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"And I believe it should happen sooner rather than later."
"If you think it's distracting me, it's not."
"Yes I know right now, but it could, and a distracted Jedi can easily make a critical error." Seeing that they were at an impasse, Qui-Gon rose to his feet and took his cup into the kitchen then reappeared. He headed for the door. Stopping, he turned, "Are you coming?"
Obi-Wan glanced to the small kitchen then back Qui-Gon. Eventually he nodded. After putting the cup in the sink he followed Qui-Gon out of the apartment for dinner. While accessing the bond again Qui-Gon found that it the wasn't blocked like before.
"It's the same as a training bond," Obi-Wan muttered just loud enough for Qui-Gon to hear him.
"And at the same time more dangerous, Padawan. I understand why it was needed in the first place, but what's happened afterward needs to be taken seriously."
"What if I want it to stay. I don't see anything wrong with it."
"It's dangerous."
"What's so dangerous about it?"
Qui-Gon opened his mouth to answer, but stopped. He really didn't know why it was drilled into them that having a force bond with someone you're attached to was dangerous. Maybe it was the attachment part that made it forbidden, or that it could create an attachment.
Obi-Wan stood in the middle of one of the communal dojos, not quite sure what was about to happen. He sensed Qui-Gon approach from behind and then reach over and place a blindfold over his eyes. It was large and dark enough to cut out all light. "Master?" he turned, not sure what was to take place. If there was one thing he had to admit, the katas were getting easier. Either it was because of his growing connection with the Force, or repetition. At this point he had no idea. He had recently moved on from the simple Shii-Cho movements to the more complex Makashi. Eventually he would be proficient in all the katas from all the different forms, but that would take time.
"Have no fear, Padawan. This lesson will make you have to use the Force."
Letting the side of his mouth quirk up, Obi-Wan shot back, "But I'll be able to hear the sabers."
Qui-Gon smiled as he stepped lightly away from Obi-Wan. Just before he was out of reach he removed Obi-Wan's lightsaber. /We will not be using them./ He then shielded his presence in the Force.
Now completely blind Obi-Wan turned around slowly, trying to sense if he could tell where the voice was coming from. Just on the edge he felt a ripple of two individuals. Siri. Why did it have to be her? At least she was out of the ward and back to training. There was another presence, but he couldn't tell who it was. Pushing that off to the side he tried to focus once again on Qui-Gon.
/Padawan, open your hands, palms up./
He complied and felt a long cylindrical object hit his palms. His once again strong fingers curled around the slightly rough, but smooth surface. A staff. "Is this what we're going to use?"
/Yes, Padawan. It is the only way. You cannot hear their movements, unlike lightsabers./
Obi-Wan tensed then tentatively twirled the weapon, ascertaining its weight, and how it reacted to different movements. It had been a long time since he used this type of weapon. Qui-Gon's presence then appeared, though it wasn't all that strong. What it did was prepare him for the first lunge. At first Obi-Wan felt unease, but with his tenuous connection to the Force it helped calm his emotions. There is no emotion, there is peace floated through his mind. Focusing once again, he could sense where the next strike would come from. Even with his own estimation, it was a slow sparing match.
Soon, though, it was getting harder for him to tell what was about to happen. The last strike he barely blocked in time.
"Enough, Padawan." Qui-Gon's voice came from in front of him. After removing the blindfold he propped himself up using the staff. Going through the katas was one thing, this was completely different, and exhausting at the same time.
"You did very well, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon came up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"It's exhausting." Obi-Wan rubbed his face with a free hand.
"I know. But your endurance will build back up."
Looking off to the side Obi-Wan realized that Siri was still there along with Master Adi. He knew she had appeared earlier, but the exercise took all his concentration. For a moment he wasn't sure if his face was flushed from exhaustion or embarrassment.
"Do not be embarrassed, Padawan Kenobi." Adi moved into the center section of the dojo with Siri now following. From his position it looked as if her leg was completely healed. "You have come a long way in less than a year."
"It's still difficult, Master." Obi-Wan shook his head.
"Padawan, it's not meant to be easy. Plus it will get easier tin time. You must be patient." Taking the staff that Obi-Wan still held, Qui-Gon took the weapons and leaned them up against the wall then retrieved their lightsabers. "Go and get cleaned up. Training is over for the day." He glanced over to Adi, "I believe that Master Gallia and Patawan Tachi are in need of the dojo."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan turned and bowed to the Tholothian master then retrieved his lightsaber before heading off to the showers. He never realized just how much strength it took to fight while using the Force. Before the accident it had been rather easy. Not anymore. Just before the door closed he heard the two masters speaking, but he was too far away to understand what was mentioned.
TBC...