*Peers around corner and shuffles over* Can't believe how long this has taken me. My sincerest apologies for making you all wait this long- especially with the lovely reviews you gave me for the previous chapter- the most any chapter in this story has received! 16! I thank each and every one of you who reviewed and you know who you are. You all made me feel so happy reading your thoughts :D So thank you, thank you! Love to you all!
Basically Uni got crazy towards the end of term (just survived!) and for the first week of holidays I was back at work to get money (poor student that I am). Also- as my beta reader DarthUmbreon will know - this chapter gave me a severe beating. I tried and tried and it just would not write. I near gave up - though thanks Div for the support and words of wisdom! It is thanks to her this is now as it is! So I hope you enjoy (and I promise not to make you wait as long for the next chapter!)
There should be another chapter and a short epilogue just to wrap things up I think. We shall see how it goes. Ideally I would like to have this finished before Uni starts again which is in a couple of weeks. Then I do exams and shall then be free to contemplate new messes our lovely Jedi pair can get themselves into :D
Disclaimer: As usual...no ownership here.
Enjoy!
Chapter 14: Dawn Breaks
"Heard you he did Qui-Gon. Have more faith in your Padawan you should," Yoda comforted the distraught Master.
As Yoda finished speaking, Qui-Gon felt something move in his mind as Obi-Wan's body simultaneously stirred back to life, lungs finally doing their job, only to find a strange machine blocking his throat. Wearied, dim blue eyes cracked open and Qui-Gon could feel the confusion, pain and exhaustion radiating off his Padawan in waves.
"Obi-Wan, calm down, it's alright," Y'Chiryō was already beside the young teenager, two healers flanking him. "You've got a machine that's helping your breathe. We're going to remove it now," he explained quietly, soothing waves of the Force brushing over Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan blinked in recognition, too weary to even move his head in a nod. As Y'Chiryō busied himself in helping the newly awakened Padawan to breathe, Obi-Wan's eyes flicked around the room before sliding sideways to where Qui-Gon was seated in his hovo chair, settling on the sight of his Master. It was a miniscule movement but his fingers twitched in Qui-Gon's direction as though reaching for him, but the exhausted Padawan obviously had no strength left to move. A wave of various emotions battling through him, relief and joy battling to become the main contender, Qui-Gon took the offered hand, holding it firmly but gently as the ventilator was removed from Obi-Wan's throat, allowing him to breathe by himself.
"You did well Obi-Wan. I am proud of you, you were very brave," Qui-Gon managed to say around the lump in his throat, tenderly brushing back the gingery-brown hair from the boy's forehead. It looked to be a herculean effort just Obi-Wan to keep his eyes open. "Sleep now Padawan, you need to rest. You are safe Obi-Wan; I will be here when you wake up." His words had the right effect and one corner of Obi-Wan's lips lifted into a tiny smile as his eyes fluttered shut, body sinking into sleep and not coma-related darkness as Y'Chiryō nudged the Padawan towards a healing trance.
The four Jedi Masters around the bedside seemed to deflate after those brief minutes of frantic movement upon Obi-Wan's awakening. There were no words for a moment; all seemed content to bask in the Healing Force that swirled around Obi-Wan's recovering body.
At last the Master Healer looked up. "He's out of danger now Qui now he's breathing unaided. Brain signals are normal, vitals holding, not as high as I would like, but far better than a few minutes ago. Now he is conscious again his injuries should recover quickly, teenagers are remarkable in that way," Y'Chiryō smiled at his patient's relieved looking Master, before his brows narrowed. "But I think you should take your own advice in this case. You need rest as well Qui-Gon Jinn and I am going to make sure you get it. You should not be up at all. You'll undo all my good work."
"I'm fine-" Qui-Gon immediately began to protest.
"I will be the decider of that," the Master Healer put his hands on his hips. "And if I say you need bed rest, then bed rest you shall have. Although… I suppose it would not hurt to set up another bed in here. I'm not going to get you to leave this room willingly am I? And if I do, you're more than likely to come back before you are ready."
"Stubborn Qui-Gon always has been," Yoda agreed, blinking serenely, Mace nodding emphatically.
Grumbling but relieved he could stay to watch over his healing Padawan, Qui-Gon allowed the healers to manoeuvre another bed into the room and he settled down with minimal complaints on his part. Though Y'Chiryō still rolled his eyes at the other master's occasional gripes.
"There will be healers checking on Obi-Wan regularly, just to make sure," Y'Chiryō said as he powered down the lights to a dim level to allow the Master and Padawan to sleep relatively undisturbed. "Sleep Qui-Gon, before I have to sedate you. You are on your last legs as it is."
"I will, I will," Qui-Gon muttered, shutting his eyes as he slipped into a light sleep. Even though his eyes were closed, his mind stayed alert, monitoring the bond attaching him to Obi-Wan, watching and keeping the sleeping boy company.
Qui-Gon was not quite sure of the time when he woke next. He had not even been aware he had fallen asleep, but had a growing sneaky suspicion that an aged green master had something to do with it. Blinking lethargically, the Master immediately looked over to his left where his recovering Padawan was lying, still sleeping. With simple satisfaction, Qui-Gon watched as the boy's body breathed for itself, no longer needing machines to do the work for it.
"Padawan…" Qui-Gon whispered. How often did Obi-Wan end up in the Healers? They had only been together less than two years and the count was already rising rapidly. How was it that after every mission Obi-Wan was somehow invalided home? Qui-Gon's brow creased as he thought about this. He would definitely need to have a conversation with his Padawan over his reckless behaviour. The anger was beginning to surface again. How could Obi-Wan throw away his concerns for his own life so easily? How could he risk everything for Qui-Gon? His self-sacrificing nature was well…going to get him killed. And Qui-Gon honestly did not think he would be able to recover if that happened.
A shift in the Force across the room snapped Qui-Gon from his thoughts. Obi-Wan was moving on the bed, his hand on top of the blankets tucked securely around him was twitching, clenching and unclenching. His smooth brow wrinkled as his head moved slowly from side to side, eyes screwed tightly shut, sweat dotting his forehead.
"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon called, not too loudly, in case it attracted outside attention. "Obi-Wan!"
Their link in the back of Qui-Gon's mind was churning with anguish, the Master could quite clearly pick up on his Padawan's thoughts- as though the boy was shouting them at him, rather than unable to control his mental abilities and side of their shared bond at that moment.
/ Dead…no…please…I didn't mean…don't…no…my fault…too late…please! /
His Padawan was muttering now, lips moving soundlessly as his shivers continued. Qui-Gon debated what to do and sat up, vision swimming as the sudden movement threatened to knock him unconscious. Cursing his own limits, Qui-Gon took a few deep breaths.
/ Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan I am here. You are dreaming. Wake up Padawan, you will hurt yourself. Please Padawan- can you hear me? OBI-WAN! / Qui-Gon called out across the bond, only to be flooded with a barrage of emotions, grief, sorrow, fear, anger, misery- all a deadly whirlpool threatening to drag him under, submerging him in hopelessness.
"Right…that does it," Qui-Gon muttered to himself, before moving the blankets and easing his body off the bed. He knew Y'Chiryō would disapprove, but the hovo chair that had been in the room before had vanished. Qui-Gon had no choice, he realised grimly: he would have to walk over to his Padawan. If Obi-Wan would not listen to his mental thoughts, he would have to physically shake him awake.
Legs shaking, but held up by his infamous sheer determination alone, Qui-Gon wobbled across the room, the short distance tiring him beyond belief, the Force aiding him as he moved. 'This is a bad idea!' The rational part of his brain was stating rather obviously as Qui-Gon staggered towards Obi-Wan's bed. Hands shaking, he grabbed the side of the bed as his legs gave out, landing gently on the edge of the bed and not on the floor to his utmost relief or on top of Obi-Wan.
"O…Obi…" Qui-Gon managed to whisper, his lungs heaving with his exertions of crossing the room.
Obi-Wan's body shuddered beneath the blankets and a quiet whimper of grief reached Qui-Gon's ears. Forcing his hands to steady, Qui-Gon laid one on the boy's shoulder, shaking it gently, painfully aware of the drips and machines still attached to his Padawan's healing body, mindful of the tightly wrapped bacta laced bandages around the laceration across Obi-Wan's chest. He would have to be careful not to aggravate anything. "Obi-Wan. Wake up. It's alright, you're safe…it's alright my Padawan…"
Obi-Wan could hear a voice close by and feel something on his shoulder. The grief was cloying, all-consuming and inescapable. Why? Why was he too late? Why had he been unable to save his Master? Why was he such a failure?
"You're safe…it's alright my Padawan…"
No…it could not possibly be…that voice…Eyes suddenly snapped open, as Obi-Wan started awake, tears leaking down his cheeks, glinting on his eyelashes. His breath came in short wheezes, chest tight with grief, completely at a loss as to where he was. Through the haze of tears, the confused Padawan could make out a shape hunched by his side and as he blinked the figure solidified and became recognizable. Obi-Wan felt his mouth drop in complete surprise.
"M-m-mas…w-wha- y-y-you…" he could not form the words, his throat raw from the ventilator earlier and his earlier trauma on Rhasta.
"It's alright Obi-Wan. I'm here," Qui-Gon's voice was calming, like cool water and Obi-Wan let it wash over him. He could feel the familiar Force presence of his Master in his mind and through the Force for the first time in what seemed like forever. Carefully, Qui-Gon manoeuvred his body so he was mostly sitting on the bed, his legs unable to support him if he stood beside Obi-Wan. He was exhausted but did not let that deter him away from comforting his distressed Padawan.
"A…alive…." Obi-Wan whispered, relief clearly colouring his words. /Master…thought you were…dead/ the Padawan switched to talking through their bond, revelling in the comfort, warmth and security Qui-Gon was sending back along.
/ I'm fine Obi-Wan. You saved me. You are alive, I am alive and everything is alright. You don't need to have any more bad dreams Padawan/ Qui-Gon soothed, slowly raising a hand to brush back Obi-Wan's hair from his forehead in an affectionate gesture. Obi-Wan needed as many reassurances that they were both alive as possible. /How do you feel Young One? / the Master asked, reverting back as though Obi-Wan was a child again.
Drawing comfort at the name Obi-Wan settled back down onto the pillows. How long had it been since Qui-Gon had called him Little One? Far from being irritated, Obi-Wan's lips twitched weakly into a semi-smile. / Tired Master…so tired…and what about…you? Master? Are you…alright? / the selfless Padawan asked insistently.
/Don't worry yourself over me Padawan / Qui-Gon gently chastised. / I'm not the one who was in a coma until very recently. / Immediately the Master froze. How much did Obi-Wan remember? How much of their deep bonding deep inside Obi-Wan's subconscious did the boy remember?
/ Master? / Obi-Wan could sense Qui-Gon's trepidation and it worried him. What was wrong? Had he done something wrong? He had been in a coma?
/ Obi-Wan how much do you remember from my last mission? Do you know why you are in the Healers? / Qui-Gon asked carefully.
/I remember Master…I remember the warehouse. I remember… / the Padawan's mental voice choked and wobbled, breaking off as the boy shivered in his Master's arms. Qui-Gon could tell what Obi-Wan had been about to say. / I remember…in my head…I saw you, it was you? I don't know. It is…jumbled. / the boy admitted, face creasing in confusion.
/It's alright Padawan. He can no longer harm you. No longer harm either of us. We are safe on Coruscant. You will heal and you will get better. / the Master's voice rang with enough conviction for both of them. Shakily, Obi-Wan nodded.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" an un-amused voice said from behind the two Jedi, breaking through their mental connection.
"Y'Chiryō," Qui-Gon greeted the Master Healer as serenely as possible as he stalked into the room, glancing menacingly at both Master and Padawan. "I think it's… quite obvious that Obi-Wan and I were just talking."
"You, Qui-Gon are meant to be resting in bed. How you possibly managed to get over there…never mind. I knew you were stubborn Qui-Gon Jinn but moving in your state across the room was reckless," Y'Chiryō scolded. "Now, lean on me, I'm putting you back to bed."
Qui-Gon nodded, there was no arguing with Y'Chiryō when he was in that sort of mood. He did agree he had been reckless- but for a just cause. If Obi-Wan had awakened and Qui-Gon not been there…the Master leant on his Mirialan friend, pushing his pride aside for this moment. Once he was settled in his bed again, Y'Chiryō fussing over the monitors by his bed with a "Look Qui- your stats are all over the place" as Qui-Gon looked over at Obi-Wan. The young boy had a slight smile on his face as he watched his usually stubborn Master be bossed around.
"You too Obi-Wan Kenobi. Sleep. You need rest. How many times do I need to stress this?" Y'Chiryō demanded, crossing the room towards the meekly nodding Padawan, eyes already heavy with sleep. "Good. Now- sleep, both of you."
It was over a week later when Qui-Gon was released from the Healers care. He had been given physiotherapy sessions for his damaged shoulders and short dips in the bacta tank had removed much of the lacerations from his back and he was slowly returning to his usual self. He had yet to broach the topic of his latest mission with Obi-Wan. Inside, his feelings still roiled. Why had Obi-Wan left the Temple without telling anyone? How could he have been so reckless? Qui-Gon had spent many fruitless hours in meditation trying to find his serenity before talking to his Padawan but the attempts had been in vain. So they had not talked. Qui-Gon wondered how long they could put it off for. The boy had broken several rules and endangered his life.
Obi-Wan on the other hand was still in the firm clutches of the Master Healer. For the first few days since he had awoken, the Padawan had borne this patiently, too weak to argue with the healers or his Master. As his strength began to return though, so did the restless young boy who hated being cooped up and made to stay in bed.
"Obi-Wan, it's for your own good. You need to heal and you're not strong enough yet," Qui-Gon tried to appease his grumpy Padawan, standing at the foot of Obi-Wan's bed, arms folded. The medication the boy was on was also contributing to Obi-Wan's bad mood as his Master patiently reminded himself. Obi-Wan's Force control was still scattered; he was being helped by Qui-Gon and Master Yoda to try and regain control. Mostly for his Padawan's privacy, Qui-Gon had put up shields to prevent the constant stream flowing from Obi-Wan's mind as the boy struggled to gain control over his shields and Force presence, having expended so much in keeping Qui-Gon alive on the catwalk in the warehouse.
"I feel better Master. I've been sitting here for days. The healers won't even let me get out of bed and walk to the window!" Obi-Wan groaned. "If they'd just let me show them…"
"I know it is hard Padawan but you don't want a setback in your healing," Qui-Gon pointed out. Time for a distraction technique. "Didn't Bant come and see you yesterday?"
"Obi-Wan!" Bant's elated voice had rung through the room as she had popped into the Healers to visit her childhood friend, once Y'Chiryō had decided Obi-Wan well enough to receive visitors. The Mon Calamari beamed as Obi-Wan returned a fraction of her smile.
"Hey Bant," Obi-Wan greeted her as she moved quickly over to his bedside. "How have you been?"
"Shouldn't that be my question?" Bant replied, casting an eye over Obi-Wan's bandages and assortment of bruises. "Honestly Obi, I let you out of my sight for a minute and this is what happens to you. You scared me to death! I mean- you just disappeared- you didn't tell anyone, you just vanished! I had no idea where you had gone- there was a rumour that you had run away! And then I hear you've been brought back with your Master…in a coma!"
Obi-Wan bit his lip. "I know… I'm sorry Bant…I just..."
At the look on her friend's face, Bant softened, feeling slightly guilty at her words, realising Obi-Wan was probably beating himself up about the situation enough as it was. "Obi-Wan…we just care about you. Qui-Gon cares about you- he loves you, anyone can see that. I love you Obi- you're my best friend. You've got to look after yourself too you know. You can't go saving the galaxy by yourself."
"I couldn't tell anyone!" Obi-Wan sat up straighter. "He…he said…Bant- he would have killed Qui-Gon. I couldn't let that happen. I had to go. You don't think I agonized over what to do? I had to save Qui-Gon- even if it was at the cost of my own life. It was my fault that…that he captured Qui-Gon. If I hadn't…if I had just…"
Bant wrapped her arms around him. "You can't dwell on the 'ifs' Obi-Wan. You are back and alive and that is what matters now. Just heal and come back to being good old Obi-Wan Kenobi. You understand me?"
"I could feel his anger…" Obi-Wan whispered, staring at his hands, which were trembling slightly. "He was angry at me. He thinks I should not have come. That I was wrong…"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, listen to me. Your Master loves you. He was scared for you- you taking on a Dark Jedi by yourself. You killed a Sith, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon was probably terrified for you…and bringing you back in a coma…" Bant reassured the miserable Padawan. "You should talk to him Obi. I bet he is probably hurting inside as much as you are- but as a Master- of course he's not going to show it. You should help each other."
Obi-Wan chuckled thickly. "When did you become so wise?" he asked wryly, looking up at her.
Bant smiled, "Obviously when you weren't looking," she grinned. "Now heed my words Obi-Wan. Talk to Master Qui-Gon. Now- an update on Temple gossip…"
"She…gave me a lot to think about." Obi-Wan said quietly, after emerging from his thoughts, his previous grumpy mood morphing as he remembered what his best friend had said. "Master…I… I need to apologise. I understand if you don't want to talk to me again, if you don't want such a disobedient Padawan…if you don't want…but I have to tell you that I am truly sorry for what I have done. I left the Temple without telling anyone. I lied to Tarin. I have not thought about your injuries on Rhasta, or how you are healing. I have been selfish Master and I am also sorry for that. I am sorry for being reckless and not listening to you or Master Y'Chiryō when it comes to my healing. Please forgive me." Obi-Wan bowed his head.
Qui-Gon blinked at the sudden transformation. He had been prepared to argue his case about keeping Obi-Wan in bed and now his Padawan was spouting apologies like no tomorrow. And what was this about not wanting to talk to him again? Bemused, Qui-Gon moved to Obi-Wan's side, carefully seating himself on the edge of the bed, lifting Obi-Wan's chin with one gentle hand, concerned to see the hot tears glistening in Obi-Wan's eyes.
"Obi-Wan…" Qui-Gon sighed. "There is so much that needs to be said before you start apologising. I think it will take time and much meditation to unravel everything. I have not been fully truthful with you and neither you with I, I think too. But let me assure you Padawan, I am not giving up on you as my Padawan – do you understand? Whatever happens- whatever has happened, we are Master and Padawan and so it shall remain. Yes?"
"Yes Master," Obi-Wan smiled weakly, the tears trailing down his cheeks.
"We must concentrate on getting you better first," Qui-Gon said decisively. "Then we shall worry about what has happened."
"Thank you Master," Obi-Wan whispered. Neither could say who initiated it, but Obi-Wan was soon buried in Qui-Gon's shoulder, accepting the warm love flowing through the bond as he reflected the emotion back just as strongly towards the older Jedi. "Love you Master."
Master Healer Y'Chiryō smiled in the doorway, before turning away from the sight of the Master and Padawan. He had been about to deliver another round of medicine but that could wait, in his expert opinion. There was a much deeper healing going on in Obi-Wan's room, a healing he would not interfere with. Later he would be needed, to help the younger one with his shields and physiotherapy, but the bond healing which was occurring was up to the two occupants of the room. Smiling widening, knowing that both his patients were well on the road to recovery, Y'Chiryō left them in peace.
Yay for our team finally on the road to healing. It shall be slightly rocky- Obi-Wan's still in trouble for sneaking off without permission. Qui-Gon's got to instill some sort of sense into young Obi-Wan that he can't just go running blindly into danger. And hands up who wants another Tarin appearance? I'm sure the busy Senator can squeeze in a quick hello :)
I'd love to hear what you think of this (apologies again for it being...well a month late :/ eep!)
AldabaranFox