DISCLAIMER: *swats Obi-Wan and retakes the Ring* Haha! My One Ring Of Unlimited Copyright Privileges is mine! All mine! *Cin Drallig bodychecks me and takes the Ring* CRAP!

I don't own Star Wars. Grr.

This one's an alternate ending, character death. Prepare to bawl.

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Qui-Gon cried out in horror as the guard took aim at Obi-Wan's chest. He stretched out his hand, using the Force to knock the guard's blaster away...

But he wasn't fast enough. The bolt burned a hole into Obi-Wan's chest, making the boy jerk violently. The teen's eyes rolled up as he gasped in agony.

Rage clouded Qui-Gon's vision. He activated his lightsabre, the green blade slicing into the guard's abdomen. The man fell with a deathly gurgle as the Jedi dropped to his knees beside his Padawan.

"Obi-Wan! C'mon, answer me, Padawan. Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon's hands covered the bleeding wound in his apprentice's chest, trying to keep the teen alive. "Please, Obi-Wan, just hang on. We'll get you out of here."

Obi-Wan's cerulean eyes focused on Qui-Gon. The boy weakly raised a hand, trying to touch his Master's face. "M-Master..."

"Yes, I'm here." Qui-Gon removed his robe, covering the wound with it. "Hang on, you'll be all right. Don't die on me!"

"Sleepy..." Obi-Wan's head rested on the dirty concrete floor. "Dark..."

"No, Padawan! Stay with me! I can't lose you!" Tears were beginning to blur Qui-Gon's vision. "You'll be fine, but I need you to hold on!"

Obi-Wan managed to focus on his Master one final time. "Love... you..."

Qui-Gon paused in his ministrations. A logical part of him insisted that there was nothing he could do to save his Padawan's life. "I love you too, Obi-Wan. I'm so sorry..."

Obi-Wan's mouth twisted into a weak smile. He tried to say something to Qui-Gon, but only blood dribbled out of his mouth. One final breath escaped the dried, cracked lips...

And Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi passed into the Force, leaving his Master behind to cry out his grief.

Qui-Gon only moved when he felt Dooku grab his shoulder. "Qui-Gon, move! He's not going to feel anything. We need to get out of here!" Nearby, Cin had grabbed a severely-wounded Zara and was running for the exit, following Kit Fisto.

"Can't... I can't leave him..." Qui-Gon held Obi-Wan's dead body close to his chest.

"Then bring him with you," snapped Dooku. "But we need to get out of here, now!"

Qui-Gon gathered Obi-Wan into his arms, still wrapped in the too-large cloak, before following his former Master out of the warehouse. He was still in a daze- everything around him was a blur. All he could see was his Padawan's face, marred by cuts and bruises. Those will need tending to. He nearly kicked himself after thinking that- Obi-Wan wouldn't need help anymore.

He numbly felt Mace directing him to a sleep couch to set Obi-Wan down. He carefully laid his apprentice's slender frame out, making sure his limbs were all aligned. Don't need him getting cramps from- He shook his head.

"Qui-Gon." Mace stood above him, gently tugging on his arm. "He'll be fine. He isn't suffering anymore." The Councillor's dark eyes were filled with tears for his friend's grief. "He doesn't need you to care for him anymore. Come rest."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "No. I need to stay."

"He's not going to be hurt if you leave him, Qui-Gon. He's in the Force now."

"I can't leave him!" Qui-Gon held on to his Padawan's hand. "I won't!"

He struggled as hard as he could against Mace and Dooku when the two Masters pulled him away from Obi-Wan. He might have made contact with one of his fists to Mace's abdomen, but the Councillor didn't show it. The two managed to pull him away into a separate area of the ship. Cin didn't glance up from Zara, although the present Jedi could feel his heart breaking for Obi-Wan through the Force. Qui-Gon had only one last glance at his Padawan before Knight Aerdna pulled a sheet over the teen's face, at the same time that Mace shut the door leading to the sick bay of the ship.

Dooku wrapped his arms around his former Padawan as Qui-Gon wept. "I'm sorry, Qui-Gon." Dooku's hands rubbed a soothing pattern on the younger Jedi's back. "I'm so sorry."

"What's going on?" Garen ran up. "What's happened to Obi-Wan and Zara?"

None of the three Masters answered the teen. Dorlea glanced up sharply from where she had been assisting Kit with the flight coordinates, her face revealing her horror. Kit was watching as well, his Force signature first radiating confusion, than shock, than grief.

Garen translated the silence from the other Jedi correctly. "No! Obi-Wan!" He made a bolt for the door, but was caught by Mace's arm. "No!"

The Councillor was hard-put to keep the grief-stricken teen away from the medic bay. "I'm sorry, Garen. He's not going to feel anything anymore. He's not hurting."

"But what about us?" whispered Garen as he fell to his knees. "No, Obi. No!"

Qui-Gon kept his face buried in Dooku's shoulder, mentally echoing Garen's cry as he wept. What about me?

************

Zara wearily blinked as she came around. Force, but everything hurt... Her mood lightened when she caught sight of her Master sitting on the edge of her bed. "Master?" Why did he look so sad? He looked like he'd been crying.

Cin touched the side of her face, a sad smile on his lips. "Hey, Zara. How are you feeling?"

"Sore." Zara looked around. They were the only two occupants of the room. "Where's Obi-Wan?"

Cin hesitated. "He... he didn't make it, Padawan. He's in the Force now."

"No," whispered Zara, denying her friend's death. "No!"

"I'm sorry, Zara." Cin reached down and held her close to him, his own breath hitching with suppressed grief. "I'm sorry."

Zara cried herself back to sleep.

************

Five days after the partially-successful rescue, Obi-Wan Kenobi was burned on the funeral pyre. Among the many Jedi in attendance, Qui-Gon Jinn stood beside the pyre, hood drawn over his face to hide his tears. Zara Taerich rested in a hoverchair beside her Master, in too much shock to weep. Garen Muln stood behind his own Master, not caring who saw his tears cried for his best friend. Mace Windu stood with the rest of the Council, grief weighing down on his shoulders. Master Yoda stood beside him, mourning the bright, well-loved student. Master Dooku stood beside Qui-Gon, lending what support he could to his former apprentice. Even Dorlea Taerich was in attendance, standing near the back of the crowd.

When the flames died down and the crowd of mourning Jedi had dispersed, Qui-Gon remained where he was. Kneeling beside the pile of ashes, he placed his hand over where Obi-Wan's heart had been. "I'm sorry, Padawan. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Forgive me, Obi-Wan."

A hand tentatively tapped his shoulder. Dooku, who had returned when he realized Qui-Gon hadn't left the pyre, pointed out the window. "Look, Qui-Gon."

The mourning Master looked out the window into the Coruscant skyline. What he saw took his breath away. A light rain was falling outside, a rare enough occurrence for Coruscant's automatically controlled weather system. But that wasn't what surprised Qui-Gon.

A rainbow was stretched between two buildings, the vibrant colours standing out against the dull greys of the city buildings. Even as Qui-Gon watched, a second rainbow appeared below the first, echoing the brilliant colours of the first.

Dooku smiled. "He heard you, Qui-Gon. He's forgiven you."

Qui-Gon didn't bother trying to stop the tears that streamed down his face. He walked up to the window, pressing his hand against the glass as he stared at the rainbow. He could almost sense Obi-Wan in the Force, could hear the boy's voice whispering, I've already forgiven you, Master. I'll always be here.

Thank you, Obi-Wan. I was proud to call you my Padawan. Qui-Gon brushed at the tears on his face and tried to smile. I'll see you again someday.

He could have sworn he heard Obi-Wan laugh before the teen faded back into the Force, one of millions of souls in that universal power. Qui-Gon turned back to Dooku, finally at peace with himself. "He's not hurting anymore."

Dooku smiled. "Let's get you home, Padawan."

Qui-Gon nodded and let the older Master lead him away from the funeral pyre into the future.

************

I bawled writing this... *sniffs* I hate character death-fics so much, yet... this one wanted to be written!

Oh yeah, and before I forget, there's a new poll up on my profile, with various options for one-shots you guys want posted here. The 'character death' option is still valid if you want me to find a way to kill Zara or another Jedi...

Please review! Thanks!

Xaja