000

Obi-Wan had been cleaning the storeroom most of the day and were in the back of the room stacking table cloths on the shelf, when he suddenly felt the presence of a Jedi; he brought his shields up, and quietly peeked out the door. Standing in the diner was a Master and his Apprentice. He watched as they took a seat and the waitress took their order. He felt trapped, and he had to get out of there, he looked around and realised he wasn't far from the back door. What are they doing here, are they looking for me, or are they just having something to eat, maybe the Jedi eat here sometimes? he thought to himself.

Obi-wan could not get caught by the Jedi; Master Windu had made it quite clear that he should never return to the temple. Therefore, he crouched down and quietly crawled out the storeroom door and made his way down the hall to the back door. He took off down the street, and didn't stop running until he got to the park, it was just on nightfall, by the time he got to the gardeners shed, and he was out of breath. His head was hurting, and his chest ached, probably from all the running he did. Obi-wan stood looking up at the ledge, and for some reason it seemed far away; he tried to focus so he could jump up, however, his head started to spin and the whole building seemed to move. Obi-wan was feeling ill, and his head felt hot. I think I should have walked, I don't feel so good he thought.

He leaned against the wall and raised his hands crossing them over, resting his head on them. He would have to wait until everything stopped spinning…

Qui-Gon and Mace watched as Obi-wan came running back and noticed his unsteady form waver; he balanced himself against the wall, and looked as though he was about to collapse. Qui-Gon lowered his shield to sense Obi-Wans state of mind, and he was bombarded with chaotic emotions; he was worried about Obi-wan, and he was very pale and didn't look well at all.

Obi-wan's was feverish and dizzy, his shields had collapsed and he could sense the Jedi. He turned around and could see them walking towards him. At first he did not recognise them, as his eyes were blurry. However, soon he could see Qui-Gon, and a feeling of recognition came over him, he remembered seeing the Master around the Temple, and maybe he might have even spoken to him at sometime in the past. Nevertheless, he felt sick and at this moment he couldn't be sure of anything.

But when his eyes connected with Master Windu's, his whole world came crashing down around him. His short life flashed before his eyes, the accusations in the council chambers fell heavily on his thoughts, the words Master Windu had said to him, banishing him from ever coming back to the Temple, the last person he ever wanted to see was almost so close to him he could touch him. His face, which had lost all colour, seemed to go white, and his eyes showed his panic. Run, run, run the voice in his head was saying, he tried to comprehend his predicament, yet he could not concentrate on anything but those eyes that seemed to bore into Obi-wan.

Obi-wan was going into shock, and the two Jedi realised it and started to run towards the boy. That made Obi-wan worse, a small plea of "I'm sorry" escaped his lips before his legs gave way and he crumpled to the ground. He felt hands picking him up and for the first time in a long time, he was held against something warm, and he tried to make sense of the warmth that permeated his body. However, his thought process was slipping away, and he was incoherent and shaking uncontrollably.

Qui-Gon placed his warm hand over Obi-wans head and sent a calm sleeping suggestion to the boy who lapsed into a dreamless sleep. Mace had commed for a shuttle to come from the Temple, to pick them up; it arrived at the entrance to the Park as they came out carrying a limp Obi-Wan. In no time at all they were back in the Temple and were handing Obi-wan over to the Healers.

An hour later the healer approached Qui-Gon with good news, Obi-wan would be alright, they had closed the gash on his head and other than the bruising around his cracked ribs, the only other thing they could find wrong with him was under nourishment, and fatigue.

"He should be waking up very soon if you want to sit with him" the healer remarked.

"Yes thank you" said Qui-Gon. "He will be scared when he wakes up, his shields collapsed in the Park and I had flashes of all the things that have happened to him since he left the Temple. He will be confused, and I want to be here to assure him that he does belong here at the Temple."

The healer agreed and left Qui-Gon, holding Obi-Wans hand.

Master Yoda came to the ward and stood in the doorway watching Qui-Gon, watching Obi-wan. He closed his eyes and rested his hands on his cane. After a moment he opened them and noticed Qui-Gon watching him; he had felt the small Masters presence.

"Master Yoda, he is so scared, I felt the fear bouncing off him in the Park. Is he in danger of turning away from the light?" Qui-Gon asked.

"His fear is borne from events surrounding him and he fear's doing the wrong thing, turn he will not to the darkness, but help he will need, many things he has done that he perceived is wrong, and he feels guilty about abandoning his brother he does. Leave him alone you should not, when ready to leave the ward, take him you will Qui-Gon" Yoda stated.

"Yes Master, he will move in with me, and when he is well enough I will make him my apprentice. It is what I want, and I just hope that it is what he wants too."

Obi-wan woke up to voices, he felt strange, and warm and comfortable. He opened his eyes in the direction of the voices, and his first reaction was one of panic, he tried to lift himself off the bed, but a large hand stopped his progress.

"Whoa, steady there Obi-wan, no one is going to hurt you, you are safe" Qui-Gon stated.

Obi-wan looked at the large hand that was pressing against his shoulder, and then his eyes darted all around the room, as if expecting something bad was going to happen. His breathing increased as though he had just run a marathon, and he was starting to hyperventilate.

"Obi-wan calm down," Qui-Gon called for the healer who rushed in nearly knocking Master Yoda over.

"What is the matter..., however, she realised what was happening when she got past Qui-Gon, and she quickly placed her hands on Obi-Wan's chest and sent soothing waves into his body to relax him. Gradually his breathing returned to normal, nevertheless, he had closed his eyes, and tears were trickling down his face. Another hand rested on his other shoulder, and he opened his eyes, Master Yoda smiled at Obi-wan.

"Hello Young one, glad I am that found you we have, fear I did that lost to us you had become. Grave mistake the council made in sending you away, expect to see you here on my return to the Temple I did. Sad I was when found you gone, started a search for you we did. Banished you should never have been, innocent you were, the deceit was by others." Yoda told Obi-wan the truth hoping that the boy would speak to him and release his fears.

Obi-wan stared at him, his eyes never left the Master, and when Yoda had finished speaking, and was waiting for a response, Obi-wan closed his eyes and turned his head away.

Qui-Gon who was sitting on the other side shook his head slowly, worry was lining his face, the boy was so full of despair and was unresponsive to anything they were saying. He sat with Obi-Wan through the night, and as the boy slept, Qui-Gon thought about everything that had happened in the park. It was if the force wanted Qui-Gon to know everything about Obi-Wan, and when his shields collapsed, Obi-Wans life memories flowed into Qui-Gon's consciousness like a conduit. Qui-Gon saw all the horrors, and pain the boy had been subjected to in his short life. He saw the disillusionment and reality of not becoming a Jedi, felt the breaking of his heart once more when his Mother died in his arms, and again when he had to give his Brother up.

Qui-Gon thought This child has nothing left to give, he cannot comprehend that he has anything left in his life. I must reach him and bring him back to life, give him something to live for.
The morning lights filtered through the window and the suns rays lit the room; bringing warmth with it. Obi-wan stirred, his arms stretched out seemingly to greet the day. His eyes fluttered open and there was Qui-Gon, still in the same place as he was the last time Obi-Wan woke up. He glanced at Qui-Gon, and then he wriggled and moved in the bed, his eyes were searching for something.

"The fresher is over there, through that door" Qui-Gon pointed.

Obi-wan got out of the bed his eyes never moving from the big Jedi's face, and he walked slowly over and went inside closing the door behind him. A few minutes later the door opened and Obi-Wan stepped out he looked at the bed then the Jedi and then to the door leading out of the room.

Qui-Gon sensed his thoughts; he was deciding whether to come back to bed or to run out the door.
"You wouldn't get far, dressed like that" He mentioned.

Obi-wan looked down at him self; he only had a sleep tunic on. He surveyed the room and couldn't see any clothes, so he came and sat on the bed. Just then an apprentice came in with two trays of food, and sat them down on the bedside table.

"Hello Master Jinn, my Master said you two might be hungry, so here it is. I chose the food my self I hope it is to your liking."

"Thank you Padawan Trent, I am sure your choice will be just fine" Qui-Gon stated.

Obi-wan stared at the food and wasn't sure whether to touch it or not.
Qui-Gon lifted the tray and sat it on Obi-Wan's lap. "There you are, I think the Padawan's choice will be just fine don't you think?"

Obi-wan was extremely hungry so he started shovelling in the food as quick as he could in case Master Windu came in and took it away from him. As he brought another handful of food to his mouth Qui-Gon stopped him with his hand.
"Whoa there young one, what is the hurry, you have plenty of time to eat, no one is going to take the tray away."

Obi-wan looked at him with shock written on his face. he knows what I am thinking He tried to raise his shields but nothing happened.

He looked at the smiling Master for a moment and then he slowly put the food in his hand down on the plate and chewed the food in his mouth.
"That's better; go slow otherwise you will give yourself indigestion." Qui-Gon indicated.

Later the Padawan came back and removed the empty plates and cups. The boy still hadn't spoken, and Qui-Gon went over to the cupboard and brought out some Jedi Padawan clothes, and laid them on the bed.
"Here you are Obi-wan, these are your size, so if you would like to get dressed we can leave the healers, would you like that?"

Obi-wan grabbed the clothes, wondering why they would give him Padawan clothes instead of initiate tunics to wear, nevertheless, he did not care he just wanted to get dressed and leave this place. It did not take him long to return fully dressed. His hair was a mess, and it hung down around his face, and was full of knots.
"Would you like me to brush the knots out of your hair?" he asked standing up with a brush in his hand. Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders. "Well if you come and sit here I will try and get the knots out."

Obi-wan hesitated for a moment and then he walked over and sat on the chair, and while Qui-Gon brushed his hair which was a golden colour with streaks of ginger in it, the lad pulled at the sleeves of his tunic, picking at the cuffs. Qui-Gon took extra care not to pull the hair around the gash in Obi-wan's head, and when he had finished, at least his hair was laying flat and curled ever so slightly down his neck.

"There I am sure that feels better now doesn't it Obi-wan?" the Master questioned.

Obi-wan didn't answer him; he just raised his face and smiled at him. Qui-Gon didn't want to pressure him, but a one sided conversation was not a good way to start a relationship with his new Padawan.

"Tell me something Obi-wan do you have a tongue" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-wan looked confused and nodded his head.

"You Do! Well if it is not asking too much would you mind speaking to me, I would like to hear your voice and maybe you could ask me some questions" Qui-Gon explained.

Obi-wan was still afraid, and even though he had listened to Master Yoda, he felt insecure and worried that Master Windu would banish him again. He didn't understand; if what Master Yoda said was true, why was it that Master Windu had not come to speak to him.

Obi-wan did want to ask some questions, he looked into Qui-Gon's eyes and could only see compassion. "I-I am…. scared" Obi-wan stuttered.

tbc...