Opportunity
Summary: Pre-TPM. Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi. Master Dooku has words with Qui-Gon about Jinn's apprentice.
"You coddle that boy, Qui-Gon. There are other who agree."
"Then you've heard incorrectly. Obi-Wan is not coddled. Unless respect for injury and mental well-being is now considered to be coddling."
"You know as well as I do, any other apprentice in the same situation would be back in training immediately, back on missions immediately. Yet, yours is hiding from the galaxy in his bedroom."
"Master, I respect your concerns. You must respect my ways. When needed, I do offer my apprentice time to recover. When time permits. As it does now. We have the downtime. A few days of rest will benefit him more than rushing him into a mission unprepared."
"I never once coddled you, Qui-Gon. You were sick or injured and you were back in the field at my side. That boy must be treated the same. He already comes to you in a weakened state. Not chosen until thirteen. Bypassed by tens of other Jedi for his impatience and anger and lack of confidence. You should never have chosen such an apprentice after your last failure. I taught you better than that."
"Those others chose to see only his weaknesses, opting to overlook Obi-Wan's strengths. And he certainly was not a failure for those mentioned traits. He simply needed time and training to mature into a fine apprentice. Obi-Wan is strong and confident, I see it every day, on every mission. With all due respect, my Master, I know my apprentice far better than you do."
"Indeed. Yet, I feel you only do him harm with your stubborn ways. He is already far to Code-driven for one so young. Harden your stance on him, Qui-Gon, or he will disappoint you. He will fail you. I promise you that."
"Respectfully, I disagree, my Master. I understand my failings with my last apprentice, but Xanatos turning was not my fault. He was destined to be what he chose to be. Obi-Wan is not Xanatos. Not in any aspect. Will he disappoint me at times? Certainly. I'd be foolish to say otherwise. Will he fail me in the end? No. Such a thing is not in his heart."
"Then we will agree to disagree, Qui-Gon. I fear for his future. I fear for your future."
"He and I will mange together."
"Well then, that is that. I do wish to meet him one day."
"With all due respect, Dooku, I would ask that you keep your distance from my apprentice. He is working tirelessly to be the best version of himself. I do not want for mixed signals."
"As you wish. Be safe my old friend."
"You as well, my Master."
The Jedi Masters concluded their conversation. Dooku retreated from the room. Qui-Gon stood stoic in the doorway, pondering the interaction. Disappointed but not terribly surprised.
A soft voice came from behind.
"Master Qui-Gon?"
Obi-Wan. Short hair tousled, eyes puffy. The right eye still swollen shut from the injury; the concussion still making him groggy.
Qui-Gon turned toward him. "Obi-Wan, you shouldn't be up."
"Was that Master Dooku?"
"It was. You overheard?"
"Yes. He doesn't approve of your training of me or my recovery time. Should I be further along? Should I be back on mission?"
"Pay no mind to his words, Padawan. My old master has specific ways. He and I did not and do not always see eye-to-eye."
"Like us." Obi-Wan said, pointing a finger between them.
Qui-Gon shrugged. "To an extent."
"I've never met him or talked to him."
"And you won't. I want you to steer clear of him if possible. I ask that of you as your teacher."
"Yes, Master, I understand, but…"
"No, buts. I need you focused on yourself. You and I see some things differently, true, but I make no insistence that you follow my exact path. I need you to find your own path. I fear that you might be steered elsewhere should Dooku show influence."
"It doesn't sound like he likes me very much."
"Don't take that to heart. Dooku hasn't much appreciation for most as individuals. He matters not in your future success as a Jedi."
Qui-Gon reached his hand to the boy's swollen temple. "The swelling is down some. Can you see from that eye yet?"
"Not really. It's all blurry and my eye waters constantly." Obi-Wan rubbed at his face. "Still have that headache too."
"All the more reason you are to be resting and not being concerned with the musings of two old masters."
"I know." With shuffled steps, Obi-Wan made his way to the couch and sat with a quiet thump. "But I also know that you were irritated while speaking with him. I felt that over our bond. It takes something considerable to irritate you to that level. It woke me."
Now he understood. Qui-Gon's ire had been up. Dooku did occasionally have that affect on him when the man tried to push influence into sensitive topics. Qui-Gon's training of Obi-Wan was one such topic. He regretted, however, allowing those negative feelings to drift through the bond with his student.
"I apologize for that, Obi-Wan. It should not have happened. I find myself protective of you when others challenge either your abilities or my methods of training you."
"Master, I don't want to come between you and your old teacher."
"Not your concern," the big Jedi said, walking toward the kitchen. "Since you're up, I'll make us tea. Then, back to bed."
With a slump, Obi-Wan sank deeper into the couch. He was surprised when a pillow and blanket landed in his lap.
"You won't last through tea." Qui-Gon mused with a warm smile.
He wasn't wrong. A half cup down and Obi-Wan's head began lolling to the side. It was impossible to keep eyes open, even if he currently had only one good eye to work with. Qui-Gon removed the mug from his hand before pushing the boy horizontally onto the couch.
"Master…"
"No talking. Put your head down and close your eyes. I am setting the lock on our door, directing any inquires to my com. You can sleep without interruption. Regardless of Dooku's feelings on the matters, you will rest until you are well enough to return to duty."
Eyes slogged closed. "Thank you, Master." Obi-Wan's head sunk into the pillow, the blanket pulled to his shoulders.
Qui-Gon's com alerted him. A message from Dooku. Jinn removed himself rom the room and away from his now dozing apprentice.
"Apologies, Qui-Gon, for intruding into the training of your apprentice. My feelings remain true, but it is wrong of me to speak badly of your ways. Your apprentice, I am certain Obi-Wan works hard for you. I have heard positive feedback from others regarding your teamwork. That is good news indeed. May it continue should he pass his trials to Knighthood.
May the Force be with you."
The message ended. Qui-Gon sighed. Leave it to Dooku to be both positive and condescending in the same message. A glance back toward the couch and his resting apprentice, Qui-Gon deleted the message. He'd not be sharing it with Obi-Wan.
The message however, it did leave a bad taste in his mouth. With a push of negativity into the Force, Jinn returned to the living area. Standing over the couch, he adjusted the blanket on Obi-Wan's shoulders.
"Master, are you all right?" Obi-Wan stirred and whispered from his semi-sleep. Woken once again by Qui-Gon's irritation over their bond.
"Nothing to be concerned about, Padawan. Go back to sleep."
"You're upset again."
Qui-Gon slow blinked at the boy's comment. How connected they had become in this last year. How tightly bound they had become in this last year. Obi-Wan's concern for him when he himself felt so badly from his recent injuries… it brought a warmth to his heart, filling a coldness that had been left long ago by Xanatos, and just recently by Dooku.
"It will pass. I appreciate the concern." Qui-Gon responded softly, while pushing a tendril of the Force in the boy's direction, urging him to rest. The mind drifted back to Dooku's words; that providing Obi-Wan the chance to rest and recover would cause him to disappoint or fail.
He let out a breath. Qui-Gon was indeed grateful for his training under Dooku, even if they didn't always see eye-to-eye. But knew without fail that the older master was dead wrong about the promise of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It was unfortunate, Qui-Gon thought, that Dooku couldn't see past his growing discontent for the Jedi in order to care about the well being of his past student's current apprentice. It was unfortunate that the only attention Dooku had ever paid to Obi-Wan was to berate him behind his back; to call him weak and a potential future failure.
Jinn stepped over to check on his charge once more. Sleeping soundly now, wrapped comfortably in the blanket, the boy finally rested. His mind was silent, helped certainly by Qui-Gon's now quieted thoughts. Those thoughts of Dooku pushed to the side. He could worry on that tomorrow.
The rest of the evening would focus on relaxing - silence and calm. One of his old paper books lay on the end table, so he picked it up and sat down into his favorite old chair.
There, he spent the next hours reading and watching over his apprentice.
Time enough would be had for training and missions. There would be challenging months ahead. Impossible days. Seemingly endless trials and tribulations.
Obi-Wan was sixteen. The foundation laid down here would help guide his future. Qui-Gon was determined that some of that foundation allowed for the boy's own well being; both physical and mental. Already filled with anxieties and a follow-the-Code mentality, Obi-Wan certainly had issues to overcome. He would never be one to float in that gray area where Qui-Gon resided. Or in the even grayer area of Dooku.
Nevertheless, Obi-Wan Kenobi was needed by the Jedi Order.
There wasn't a specific reason Qui-Gon could point to as to why he knew this. The Force had guided him to the boy for a purpose. Perhaps it was
as simple as giving the young by-the-book apprentice a way out of an impossible situation. When following the Code wasn't the answer, Qui-Gon's words might register in his head. Offer him another way… another option… when the galaxy fought against him.
Qui-Gon hoped that Obi-Wan would remember their days together in the most positive of light. That the boy would one day be unafraid to say, 'that was a lesson I learned from Qui-Gon Jinn'… and then move forward. The Master Jedi cared little about his own legacy, but he longed for Obi-Wan to have every opportunity.
Allowing him to rest and recover from a difficult time, despite Dooku's personal beliefs… it began that opportunity.
END