John strode away from his class sweaty and famished.

His old caretaker, Master Anderson, had seemed over joyed to see him. He tried to return the delighted smile, but found himself silently agreeing with his master.

Anderson was an idiot.

His hungry was such a distraction he barely noticed his friend Mike was chasing him down. The fellow youngster grabbed his wrist firmly with a loud, "Where have you been? You've been gone for a month, and you come back able to spar with the senior padawans? I thought you had been expelled, John! Why didn't you say anything?"

John frowned at the other boy. "Mikey, I was told I had a master the day I left! I hardly had time to pack, and we aren't supposed to focus on personal attachments…" He paused as he saw hurt pass over his friend's face. "But I did miss you, Mikey. I was going to ask Master Sherlock if I could come visit, I promise." He gave Mike a sloppy hug.

"You have a master?" The other boy blinked as John released him.

"Mmhmm. He is only a knight right now. Knight Sherlock Holmes." John ushered the other boy out of the class room. Hunger was getting the better of him, he had to eat soon. He knew the temple dining hall would be closing shortly. His stomach whined in protest of lack of food.

"I've never heard of him." The older boy huffed. "I think you were exiled and are to chicken to tell me."

"I was not! Master Sherlock is real, he's just not well known." John said defensively. At last he managed to push his heavy set friend out the door…

And into the legs of a tall, tall master.

John had to lean his head all the back to see the towering master's face. Mike gulped loudly, the master was intimidating to say the least. Years of training had perfected the tall master's daunting glare. John tried to look at him through Sherlock's eyes. All he could deduce about the man was: he was tall, older, and in desperate need of a haircut. John felt displeasure welling in his chest.

Sherlock would have been disappointed in him.

The master peered down at him with grey eyes. He was wearing a frown, but had prominent laugh lines around his eyes. The padawan of Sherlock Holmes was unafraid. John pushed Mike forward in a bow and leaned forward himself. Mike was absolutely petrified.

"I am looking for John H. Watson." The master had an accent that John couldn't identify. The boy tilted his head curiously in a very Sherlock way.

"Hello, sir." He stuck out his hand politely, the man was no more intimidating than a tea-less Sherlock. He smiled at the memory of Sherlock going nutters from lack of tea. "I'm John H. Watson. Erm…you can call me John though." The tall master wrapped his large hand around John's tiny one. John craned his neck back to meet the man's eyes.

And he thought Sherlock was tall.

"I am to escort you to your quarters, young one." The tall man said gently.

John's face immediately fell. "Is something wrong with my master, sir?"

"No, no, I need to ask you some questions." The big man knelt in front of the child. "Is that alright?"

"Um…yes, Master." John was surprised a master asked a padawan leaner if "that was alright". He side stepped his best friend and gave a small bow. He grabbed the older man's big hand and gave a small tug. "Follow me, Master. I know it's not traditional, but it seems kinda foolish if you don't know where my master's quarters are. Unless you do know where they are…" He looked up at the tall master curiously. "Do you know?"

The tall man chuckled warmly. "I know where they are, young one. I was friends with the man who once owned them."

"Oh." The child dropped his hand sadly. He took two steps until he was in the shadow of the taller man.

The master stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Do you know, I seem to have forgotten where they are." The master chuckled and held his hand back out to the child. "Would you mind, John?"

"Not at all, Master!" The child gripped his hand pleasantly. John smiled ear to ear at him. "Master, if I could ask your name?"

"My name is Qui Gon Jinn, youngling."

The boy opened his mouth to reply, when his stomach interrupted with a rude growl. John blushed. "Forgive me, Master. I haven't eaten today."

"You sound like my padawan." The elder chuckled. "Is that not a thermos tied to your belt, child?"

John blinked. He had completely forgotten Sherlock's gift. He pulled it off his belt carefully and uncapped it. The smell of makino soup hit his nostrils. He breathed deeply. "Master…" He thanked Sherlock repeatedly in his head as he drank ravenously.

Had his master sensed he would miss lunch?

"Did your master make that for you, John?" Qui Gon asked harmlessly.

"Um…" The boy blushed, knowing Sherlock would not want him telling anyone about his master's good deeds. Qui Gon smiled knowingly, the boy blushed harder.

Qui Gon waved his hand in front of the door, it sprang open. John bowed his head over his soup, he wished his master would come back from his meeting. Qui Gon motioned for John to sit on the meditating mats. John gulped down his soup, threw the thermos in the sink, and knelt on the mats. The old master knelt across from him. He gave the boy an encouraging smile.

"Tell me about your master." The master said kindly.

John frowned slightly. "He is a good man, no matter what anyone else thinks." John's loyalty was immediate and fierce. He glared at Qui Gon threateningly. "He is a good man."

"I'm not here to insult your master, young one." The old man said gently. Light shown over half his face, the other was completely dark. John's mouth dropped slightly, the master seemed to be the force itself. Light and dark, trustworthy and mysterious. John gulped. "I just wish to know more about him. He is very shielded from other Jedi, and I knew his master long ago. I feel like I owe it to him to know his padawan better."

"You knew Master Lestrade?" John's hostile attitude was dropped.

"He was my best friend as a child." The old master said kindly.

"What was he like?"

"You answer my question first, young one." The old man chuckled.

"He is kind, Master. He doesn't want anyone to know about it, I don't know why. He can be cold sometimes, but he always makes up for it… I know it doesn't bother him when others call him a freak or accuse him of being a bad master, but it bothers me. He is my master, he deserves respect." John sniffed.

"What do you know of your master's history, John?" Qui Gon's voice was soft. He placed a gentle hand on his new friend's shoulder.

"Nothing really." The boy said quietly. "He doesn't wish to tell me yet and that's alright. It isn't my place to question him."

"Your master will never talk about his past willingly. He would barely discuss it with Lestrade, but it is something he must face with you."

"Why?" The boy asked uncomfortably. "He doesn't want to tell me, I can't ask him to…"

"Young one, he doesn't want to tell you for fear of losing you." Qui Gon sighed. "When he was young the only person he had was his master. Others misunderstood his situation, they would not speak to him in fear of a ten year old boy. It took me two years to get him to even say hello to me."

John was transfixed with the master's story. "That is cruel!"

"You are right, young one." He said gently. "Your master deserves much more than respect, he deserves an apology. He is scared of losing you and that is an unhealthy attachment. He must face it."

"I cannot ask him to, Master." John said simply. "He will tell me when he is ready, I will not ask him before that. "

Qui Gon stroked his beard deep in thought. "One more question, young one. Do you feel safe with your master?"

John gave him a confused look. "Yes, Master. He is very good with a light saber. He could easily protect me in a fight."

"No, no, young one. That isn't what I meant."

John looked puzzled. "The locks on our house in Tatooine are good, Master. And Master Sherlock gave me this." He held out his light saber for inspection. Qui Gon's eyes widened as he noted whose light saber was in the boy's hand.

"Young one, I meant do you feel safe with your master all the time? Are you ever scared of him?"

"Are you asking if he hits me?" The boy asked with child innocence. Qui Gon shook his head with a small smile.

"John, you are truly a remarkable young man." Qui Gon bent at his mid-section in a small bow. John followed suit. "If you'll excuse me, young one, I have a call to make."

John rose to make tea, under Qui Gon's watchfully eye. The master smiled down at his comm link, he pushed down the button down and spoke softly. "Master, as far as I can tell the boy is healthy, safe, and happy. I asked him if he felt safe with his master, he didn't even understand the question." The master gave a small laugh. "He is a fine boy, he has a small attachment issue, but I will vouch for both of them."

"Thank you, the council does." Yoda's voice came through the comm. "Returning to his quarters, Sherlock will be."

"Master, if I may…will they be kept together?"

"Decided, the council has. Kept together, they will be."

Qui Gon let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, Master. I will watch over the boy until his master returns."

He disconnected the line and was served tea. The boy chattered to him about lessons he had begun learning. Qui Gon listened intently, relishing the innocent conversation. He was asked about his padawan, and he described the fifteen year old Obi Wan proudly. John beamed as he revealed they were born of the same planet.

Qui Gon chuckled warmly as the boy showed he could wiggle his ears.

Oh my friend, if you could see how well your apprentice is doing with his.

oOo

Sherlock waved his hand over the control panel.

He needed to see his padawan, he needed contact with the boy. It was a foolish emotion. Sentiment. He saw the boy kneeling across from the long haired master, he was demonstrating his ear wiggling technics. Sherlock sighed relieved. John was alright, and blissfully arrogant to the whole situation. The child smiled hugely as he saw his master entered.

"Master." The boy bowed to him.

"Little one." Sherlock mirrored him, his heart hammered in his chest.

Stop it! He shouted inwardly at it. Useless idiot, you cannot even feel. Go back to pumping blood and stop this nonsense!

Qui Gon smiled at him from the mats, Sherlock gave a small nod. The elder man excused himself to the washer, Sherlock waited impatiently for the man to exit the room. He motioned for John. "Come here."

He knelt down as John ran to him. Sherlock pressed his forehead against John's tenderly, the boy wanted desperately to hug him, but it was a childish feeling that was quick erased. Sherlock pulled on the boy's ear delicately.

"How was your idiotic…your classes?"

John smirked at him. "I learned new things from them as well, Master. Though you are correct, you are the better teacher."

Sherlock ran his hand through the boy's hair. "You are bias, little one."

John pressed himself closer to his teacher, Sherlock allowed it. It was the closest thing Sherlock could give to a hug. He carded his fingers through the boy's hair. John smiled at him. "Thank you for the soup, Master."

Qui Gon came out of the washer silently. He observed the maser and padawan duo leaning into each, Sherlock was muttering something and making the child laugh. Sherlock smiled at the little boy encouragingly. John pulled out his saber and demonstrated a technic learned in class, Sherlock rolled his eyes. He rebuked the child, the master wacked the boy across the back of his head.

"It could work!" The child defended his new technic, he rubbed the forming lump.

Sherlock snorted. "We will put it to the test later on."

Qui Gon cleared his throat loudly. Sherlock nodded at John, who deactivated his saber. The master motioned to Sherlock, the young knight knelt in front of the boy and whispered to him softly. The child nodded swiftly, bowed, and ran into his room.

"Master Jinn." The knight bowed, Qui Gon was a man that Sherlock respected…grudgingly. The old master smiled and rested his hand on the young knight shoulder.

"Lestrade would…"

"Don't say be proud." Sherlock said shortly.

"Have laughed himself senseless." Qui Gon finished. "You raising a padawan, he never would have believed it."

Sherlock stared at the long haired master for a long time, at last he cracked a small smile. He looked towards John's room. "He would have been outraged at the council's decision to take away padawans from their masters. Someone would have gone home with their boots full of gladark."

"Sherlock, they are only being thorough." The master said gently. "Let go of this anger, it is over. Your padawan will stay with you, do not stay angry at healed wounds."

"What of the others, Master? They've done nothing wrong, other than…"

"It is being handled. Unfortunately this is your brother and my former master's doing. They do not trust your former peers." The man's hand was steadying. Sherlock glared at him with barely contained anger.

"Can they not see what the Acolytes are planning? My padawan would be able to figure it out faster than those blind fools." Sherlock snarled. He was done being a controlled Jedi, he was in to confines of his own home, his padawan was out of the room. It was the perfect time to lose control. Qui Gon raised his eyebrows.

"Take care of what you say, my young friend. Those blind fools elected to allow you to keep John."

"I was speaking of my brother, Master."

"And my former master?"

Sherlock stuck out his chin in defiance. "Yes, Master. They were some of the few who voted against me raising John."

"Are you angry at his viewpoints, young one, or angry that he went against your wishes? Be mindful of your feelings, Sherlock. You are too attached to the child." Qui Gon said sensibly. Sherlock huffed in annoyance, the older man sounded like his former master. Qui Gon was not a man Sherlock would rebuke easily, unfortunately Qui Gon had often bested Sherlock in his youth which had earned him the young knight's respect.

Barely.

"And you are not attached to Obi Wan?" The knight asked resentfully.

"I am not blinded by it. Obi Wan knows of my past, all of it. Even Xantos. You do not have enough faith in the child."

Sherlock was stunned into silence for the second time in his life. Qui Gon was mildly surprised at the lack of quarrelling from his friend's former padawan. Under normal circumstances Sherlock would out live Yoda trying to have the final word, but John was a sensitive subject with the dark haired knight. The reproached bowed his head somberly. "He is too young to understand."

"He is an intelligent young lad. He has a right to know about his teacher's past." Qui Gon was very gentle with his words.

"And decide if he wants to leave or stay." The knight said dejectedly.

"Yes." Even gentler.

"He is only eight."

"You insult him by assuming his age is a factor in this decision."

Sherlock's hands twitched at his side. He had just secured his padawan staying with him through the council. Why would he risk losing the boy twice in one day?

"Master Jinn…"

The elder raised his hand, silencing the young knight. "Tell him."

"I.."

"Right now, Sherlock. I want your word."

A Jedi's word was binding. A solemn oath that could not be broken. Sherlock hesitated. "With respect, Master, no."

"Oh?" Qui Gon raised his eyebrows.

"I will do so tonight, Master. After he is rested and has meditated, you have my word." He bowed low.

Qui Gon returned the bow just as low. He held Sherlock by his shoulders and squeeze reassuringly. "It will strengthen your bond, my young friend."

"Or destroy it." The knight said quietly.