Qui-Gon was just beginning to regain consciousness as Jango loomed over the defeated Sith Lord. Well, they assumed he was defeated. He could not walk, he did not have his lightsaber, and he was backed into a corner.

He turned his attention to Obi-Wan, who appeared to be struggling to stand up. He didn't have to reach very far to feel how weak the boy was. -Stay down, Obi-Wan,- he said. The boy's eyes widened at the command and for the first time in a long time their eyes met.

-But he's going to die!- Qui-Gon's attention snapped back to Jango as Sidious cried out and blue lightning arced from his fingers to the bounty hunter, who fought valiantly to deflect it with the 'sabers he held.

Qui-Gon forced himself to his feet and called his lightsaber to his hand. He took two long, powerful steps toward Sidious and Jango.

The Sith Lord's head rolled across the floor, eyes open wide and seeing nothing. Panting, Qui-Gon stepped toward Obi-Wan before slumping to the floor in a heap. Jango deactivated both 'sabers and rushed to his friend's side.

"We need to get you to the healers at your Temple," he said as he checked out the man's wounds. The blaster burn he'd suffered on his chest was already beginning to fester.

"Take Obi-Wan to the ship first," he said in protest as Jango started to help him to his feet. The bounty hunter shook his head.

"Old friend, your wounds are far worse."

"Obi-Wan first," Qui-Gon repeated. Jango sighed, but did as he was asked and went over to help the boy up.

Lifting Obi-Wan was a lot like lifting a life-size rag doll. Though Obi-Wan tried hard to support his own weight, he simply couldn't. Jango had to half-carry, half-drag him out to Slave I, where he strapped him into the seat behind the co-pilot's seat.

As an additional precaution, he sealed the hatch before returning for Qui-Gon. They'd gone through enough trying to save the boy that he wasn't about to lose him again.

Qui-Gon was back on his feet when Jango rounded the corner into the flat. He stood over Sidious' corpse. He sensed the bounty hunter approaching but did not acknowledge him.

Jango crossed the room and stopped beside his friend, ready to offer his strength when the other's ran out. From the way he swayed on his feet, Jango figured that would be any minute now.

He took his helmet off as Qui-Gon continued to stand there and stare down at the dead man.

"I don't know what you're looking for, old friend, but have you considered it might not be there?"

Qui-Gon glanced over at Jango. Their eyes met for just a moment, but it was long enough for the bounty hunter to see the pain and frustration in the Jedi's eyes.

He reached out then and wrapped his arms around his friend, dropping his helmet on the Sith's corpse. It rolled for nearly two meters before finally coming to a stop. It took Qui-Gon a moment to raise his arms and embrace his friend, but it was then that the tears flowed.

"C'mon," Jango said after a long moment. "We need to get you back to the temple. You and Obi-Wan need healers and they'll want to send someone to collect Hanli."

Qui-Gon nodded and called the Sith lightsabers to his hands. He clipped them to his belt as Jango helped him out to Slave I. To have those fall into the wrong hands would be a terrible thing.

As they left the flat, he called Jango's helmet to his hand. Before they boarded the ship, he leaned over and kissed the bounty hunter on his cheek before slipping the helmet over his head.

Jango stared down at him in disbelief, thankful for the way his helmet hid his facial expressions. He wouldn't give Qui-Gon the satisfaction of seeing him blush.

He strapped Qui-Gon in the same way he'd strapped Obi-Wan in and started to prep the ship for take off.

"Stick close to me when we land, Jango. I won't let them arrest you. Not after all the help you've given me. You killed a Sith Lord. That alone should redeem you in the eyes of the Council," Qui-Gon said. The words were followed by a pained wheeze as he shifted in his seat.

He glanced back at Obi-Wan and found that the boy was staring at him with a strange, fascinated expression plastered on his face.

It felt like it had been years since he'd last seen the boy's face even as it had been less than a week. There was a contentment in his heart again that had been missing all that time as he looked back at him.

"Hello, Obi-Wan," he said. He managed a small, tired smile as Obi-Wan leaned forward in his seat and threw his arms around Qui-Gon's shoulders, hugging him tightly.

There was nothing but love coming through their training bond as the boy slowly sank back in his seat. For the short flight back to the Jedi Temple, it was almost as though he had his Padawan back.

Jango removed his helmet as they landed in front of the temple.

"Here's hoping they don't just kill me outright," he muttered. Qui-Gon shook his head.

"They won't."

Jango unbuckled both of them and helped Qui-Gon up first, draping him across his left shoulder before pulling Obi-Wan up onto his right.

"None of that funny business like back there now," he scolded Qui-Gon as he helped them debark. Qui-Gon gave him a look of feigned innocence but said nothing.

As they stepped down onto the landing pad, they were greeted by fifteen Jedi with their lightsabers drawn. When they saw Jango they were ready to charge, but they deactivated their 'sabers when they saw Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan struggling to stay on their feet.

All three of them were helped inside, Jango temporarily and wordlessly forgiven for his crimes.