A/N: It's moving along nicely. Thanks so much for reading!
Ch. 17: "Power that Gives You Strength to Survive" - Aretha Franklin, A Deeper Love
Qui-Gon found Dorlisa with the other patients, uninjured and helping where she could. She accepted him as Halldor's envoy, and cheerfully talked to her father over the comm unit.
"I will send a transport for you," Halldor said to Qui-Gon, after he'd said good-bye to Dorlisa. "They will be there by tomorrow morning."
"We will be ready," Qui-Gon said, and disconnected. He glanced at Dorlisa, who had gone back to helping the medics. She seemed just fine. When he checked on Obi-Wan, he found his Padawan asleep again, so he went back out to help in the clinic, cleaning up and getting things back into place. He and Dorlisa shared dinner with the medics, brought in by the boarding house not too far away. Merit offered them blankets and a pair of the unused medical couches. Dorlisa slept almost immediately. And as soon as she had, Qui-Gon took his place next to Obi-Wan.
Dorlisa woke them all at dawn with her exclamations of excitement at the sound of the transport outside. It didn't take long to get Obi-Wan into a hover chair. His blue eyes were bright and aware, but only someone who knew him well could see the pain that tightened his eyes and the corners of his mouth. "Are you ready?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said, and Qui-Gon could hear the relief in his voice.
The Equani medic touched the controls of the chair, and followed Qui-Gon as he moved through the front door to the transport. Dorlisa joined them at the front desk, dressed in something clean, her hair braided out of her face. She looked torn, caught between wanting to stay and wanting to go. She hugged all of the medics and some of the patients before going out to board the large transport. Halldor hadn't been able to come, and Dorlisa pouted only for a moment.
"He stayed behind, so he could get everything done. When you get there, he'll be able to spend time with you," her aunt explained, gathering Dorlisa into a hug. The girl gratefully returned it, and smiled when she pulled away again.
Obi-Wan dozed the whole trip back to the capital, leaving Qui-Gon free to talk with Dorlisa. He took care not to weary her with his questions, making a game of them, but when she fell asleep after they'd eaten lunch, he had no more information.
Halldor and Kalifa met them in the courtyard. Dorlisa abandoned the transport without a second glance, and rushed to her father's arms. Halldor gathered her up, nodded at Qui-Gon, and took her inside.
Kalifa helped Qui-Gon get Obi-Wan into the hover chair she'd met them with. Obi-Wan moved stiffly, leaning on Qui-Gon until he could sit down again. "Thank you," Obi-Wan said to Kalifa, and she nodded, relinquishing the control to Qui-Gon.
"There is food and a medic waiting for you in your quarters," Kalifa said. "Halldor wishes to speak with your Padawan this evening, after Dorlisa has gone to sleep. He will join you in your quarters tonight, if you will make yourselves available."
"Tell him we will be ready," Qui-Gon said, then glanced at Obi-Wan. "Ask him to let us know in advance so Obi-Wan is awake when he arrives."
Kalifa nodded and left them at the door to their quarters. Inside, the promised medic helped Obi-Wan onto his sleep couch, checked him over, and with few words, left them alone. Qui-Gon helped his Padawan eat - if not too much - and then let him sleep.
Qui-Gon settled down to meditate next to him, to clarify his own mind and figure out the best way to report to the Council. The interview with Halldor, when it finally happened, lasted longer than Qui-Gon would have preferred, but Obi-Wan held up remarkably well.
Halldor saw them off early the next morning, looking well rested and much better than he had when they'd arrived. "Thank you again," he said, bowing to them.
"We are glad to be of assistance," Qui-Gon said, bowing to him as well.
Kalifa helped him with Obi-Wan, who still moved slowly and stiffly. "Travel safely," she said, when they'd settled him into the Navigator's seat. Qui-Gon bowed, and then shot a look at her retreating back. She had activated the door, closing it, so he could not ask her about the feeling of fierce triumph that shot through the Force. Qui-Gon buckled Obi-Wan in, and then set coordinates for Coruscant. Obi-Wan sighed softly and fell asleep before they'd even reached escape velocity.
Once the ship had made the jump to hyperspace, Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. He didn't like the block on their bond, but he didn't doubt Obi-Wan's words about not being able to remove it. He'd gotten used to knowing his Padawan's state. With a shake of his head - he couldn't change it with wishing - he closed his eyes, and meditated to calm himself.
He snapped to awareness just after Obi-Wan jerked awake, looking around wildly. He caught sight of Qui-Gon and sagged back in his seat, wincing in pain. Qui-Gon caught a sense of relief before Obi-Want turned away to stare out the window. "What happened?" Qui-Gon asked.
"They're getting worse," Obi-Wan murmured, barely loud enough for Qui-Gon to hear.
"What are getting worse?"
"My dreams."
Qui-Gon could hear a note of despair in his voice. "How?" he asked. He wished he could make these better, but he didn't know how, and he didn't dare try anything until he'd spoken with Master Satoru.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "They mostly portray my worst days," he said listlessly, still looking out the window. "When everything I did was wrong, not matter how well I performed. When everything I said was a lie." He sighed. "I don't remember what happened until I dream about it."
Qui-Gon didn't press him, not wanting to increase his anxiety instead of easing it.
Obi-Wan rested his head against the headrest, looking out the front screen instead of the side window. His eyes started to droop again. "At this rate, she won't have to worry," he mumbled.
Qui-Gon straightened, both from his own alarm and at a nudge from the Force. "Who won't have to worry?"
Obi-Wan rolled his head to look at him through barely-open eyes. "Hmmm?" he asked, struggling to open them more.
"Obi-Wan, who won't have to worry?"
Obi-Wan blinked, struggling to wake himself up more. "What do you mean?" he mumbled, words slurred. "I don't understand."
Qui-Gon touched his shoulder. "Never mind," he said. He watched Obi-Wan relax and fall asleep, wishing he could stop the nightmares. He couldn't, and he knew it. Obi-Wan needed his sleep to recover. The night before had gone on like this, he mused as Obi-Wan jerked awake again, but it amazed him that his Padawan could function at all.
The pattern continued through the two day trip to Coruscant. Obi-Wan would fall asleep, then jerk awake too soon, wincing at the sudden movement. After a day, Qui-Gon convinced Obi-Wan to take the medicine Merit had sent. Even with the medication, Obi-Wan didn't sleep well, although he slept better. During those times that Obi-Wan got his sleep, Qui-Gon focused on the silent bond between them, like he had during the time Obi-Wan had left the Temple. He'd know if anything got through.
Finally, Obi-Wan drifted into a deep sleep, relaxing so completely that he looked boneless. Seconds later, the navicomputer beeped to let Qui-Gon know they'd reached Coruscant's outer sensors. Qui-Gon let out the vilest curse he knew. He'd have to wake Obi-Wan to get out of his seat, into the Temple, and to the Healer's Wing.
A healer met them on the landing pad with a hover chair. Qui-Gon helped Obi-Wan into it, and Obi-Wan sagged once he'd settled in. Qui-Gon followed them through halls less populated than usual, as many of the Jedi currently ate mid meal. Theela met them in the healer's wing and took over Obi-Wan's hover chair. "What more can you tell me?" she asked.
Qui-Gon explained what he knew in more detail as Theela deftly got Obi-Wan onto a medical couch and hooked him up to machines that would monitor him. She glanced at him in concern when he related what had happened on the way back.
"He couldn't sleep?" she asked, adjusting one of the machines.
"Not long enough to do him any good," Qui-Gon said.
Theela nodded absently, keying something in on the machine, and then turned to him. "And you?"
Qui-Gon smiled tightly. "I was not caught in a landslide."
If she'd been human, Theela would have rolled her eyes. "He'll be fine," she said, although not as sharply as she could have. "You can go and freshen up. These will let me know if something goes wrong." She gestured to the machines by Obi-Wan's bed.
Theela's suggestions came very close to orders, but did not quite reach that level. Qui-Gon nodded and pulled one of the chairs closer to the medical couch, sinking into it. He smiled wryly when Theela chuckled as she left.
He had to admit, though, that a short time in a 'fresher and clean clothes sounded good. The thought of a clean tunic for Obi-Wan, and a glance to see that he slept deeply, decided him. Obi-Wan already looked better than he had on the trip in, and Theela would take care of him. Even with those thoughts, it took him a while to actually leave Obi-Wan's side.
The number of Jedi in the halls had increased. Mid meal had ended. Qui-Gon nodded to those he knew without stopping until he got back to his quarters. The few moments in the 'fresher felt wonderful, as did the clean clothes, both as good as he'd imagined. He got a clean tunic for Obi-Wan, but on the way out, the Force nudged him as he passed the comm unit. He spent a few minutes getting Master Satoru filled in, and promised an appointment as soon as Obi-Wan recovered. He signed off and had just turned toward the door when it chimed. Qui-Gon waved it open and stifled a sigh. "Mace. What do you want?"
Mace sat down in one of the over-stuffed chairs. "Your message didn't say much."
Resigned, Qui-Gon sat down across from him. "I preferred to wait until we got back to give the full report. It holds… delicate information. Obi-Wan was injured, and his shields are erratic. He can't control them."
Mace leaned forward. "You are certain?"
"He told me himself, and he is sure."
Mace stroked his chin. "I'll inform Yoda he is off the roster for any missions."
"As am I," Qui-Gon said, his eyes firm when they met Mace's. "I will not leave Obi-Wan alone."
Mace grimaced, but nodded. "Do you know what happened?"
Stifling another sigh, Qui-Gon related what he knew and what he'd learned from others. "Obi-Wan is currently under Master Healer Ashthoret's care, and will see Mind Healer Satoru as soon as Theela allows visitors."
"Good." Mace stood and Qui-Gon stood as well. "Keep us informed."
Qui-Gon saw him out, then leaned wearily against the door. He just wanted to be at Obi-Wan's side. He picked up what he'd come for and strode out of their quarters, at least outwardly calm.