Thanks for the responses so far:
elektralyte: I'm glad you like the way Obi is shaping up, I think he would rely more on his humor without the constraints of the Jedi Order. Keeping that up without it becoming annoying is going to be the challenge! I agree with the whole Anakin, thing, I think Obi was out of his league a bit, although I know that's not a popular stance among Obi fans! (Oops, just lost half my readers with that comment!) I love Obi too, otherwise I wouldn't be writing about him, but the guy was still a kid himself in many ways when he took on Anakin, so I really wanted to explore how Ani would turn out with Yoda as his master. Let's not forget that Yoda spawned a Sith Lord in Dooku, so he's not exactly the best master ever! Anyway, suffice to say, thanks ever so much for the encouraging comments and really hope I can keep this up!
Valairy Scot: I really wanted to keep a lot of the story outline, certainly to start with, and as events moved on, changes things enough to keep it fresh, but still have those 'Oh, yeah, I recognize this' moments. Old Anakin does come across as a bit friendlier in this version, doesn't he? I think my favorite moment is when both Obi and Ani have that line about the bounty hunter entering the club. It's a moment of mutual respect that shows them that they can actually work well together.
Bek-K: Thank you so much for the encouragement. I just hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint! As for the rapid updates, I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to keep up this pace! We'll see how it goes!
Anyhoo, on with it, then.
/Oh no,/ thought Kenobi, /not again/ as the bitter taste and smell of bacta flooded his awakening senses and he heard himself groan. His eye flicked open and the ceiling of an infirmary met his gaze. His right hand came up to wipe the sleep from his eye.
Suddenly the bed behind his head began to rise up and he began to make out the rest of the room. It was much the same as the one he had been assigned to earlier, however his visitor elicited a strangled cry from his lips.
"Master Yoda," came his cracking voice, his eye wide in surprise and horror. After his adventure with Anakin and the sith it really shouldn't have come as a surprise, but it was the impact of waking to see the green gnome without the chance to establish his shields that he later suspected the Jedi master had wanted.
Although his face was grave, his force presence was hopeful and warm, his love for Kenobi being his predominant message through the force.
Kenobi, instantly feeling unworthy of such love and unable to compose himself within his mental shields, let his head fall forward into his raised hands and wept tears that had been waiting ten years to flow. How he missed Qui-Gon at that moment, his grief completely overwhelming him. Yoda said nothing, he didn't need to. He jumped onto the bed and threw his arms around his former student, his own grief at Qui-Gon's passing presented to Kenobi as a sign that the young man was not alone any more.
They remained holding each other for some time. Yoda spoke only after Kenobi's tears were spent and his breathing was easing.
"Knows, no one else does," he said softly into Kenobi's shoulder. "Suspects, Anakin does, but revealed nothing, he has at my request."
Anakin, the chase, the sith! It suddenly came back to him.
" What of the sith?" He asked desperately, looking up from his hands at his old master.
"Sith Lord, gone to ground he has. Find him, we will. With her people, hide Padme will. My padawan she has for support. Decoys left behind, she has. Well trained, they all are. Worried about you, they are." He smiled at the thought of the loyalty and affection only Kenobi could elicit from pretty much everyone he met. "
"Impressed, I am with your work. Surprised, also, with your decision to hide, padawan."
Kenobi closed his eyes and turned from Yoda at that name.
"Don't call me that. I haven't been worthy of that since I let Qui-Gon fall," he spat out with perhaps a little more vitriol than he had intended, but it seemed fitting.
Yoda took Kenobi's chin in his small hand and pulled Kenobi's face to meet his own.
"Believe that, I do not. Knight you would have been, to face such a foe and survived."
Kenobi was stunned and horrified at the same time. How could Yoda be saying these things? He had tapped into the dark side, he had felt it in that vicious battle. It had cost him the fight, led to his failure to save Qui-Gon.
Taking the lead again as he sensed Kenobi's turbulent emotions, Yoda continued while Kenobi thought over the encounter with the sith once again.
"Desperate, you were. Unprepared to face such a threat, you both were. Jedi Master, you tell me which, could have done better, mmm?"
"Well, there's you," came the obvious conclusion from Kenobi's lips.
"Unique case, I am. Old enough to have met first sith, these old bones. Vain have I become, think dark side I am?" he asked in mock horror.
Kenobi smiled at the green gnome.
"Well, maybe after those meditation sessions you used to subject us to."
Yoda chuckled. "Missed that, I have. No sense of humor, your peers. Entire Council's humor trapped on Hoth, I suspect!"
Kenobi's smile slowly dropped as he began to be aware of his current predicament.
"What will happen to me now?" he asked, mindful of the Council after Yoda's comment.
Yoda breathed a heavy sigh and sat back in his chair.
"Discuss with the Council, I must. No longer hidden, can you remain."
Kenobi nodded sadly. What had he really expected? Not only had he let down the order, but now Corde, Dorme and Sabe were without their security chief and his people had been lied to all this time. How could they trust anyone who replaced him now? There would always be the fear of betrayal in the back of their minds.
"Betray them you have not," came Yoda's calming voice as Kenobi's dark mood threatened to send him back into despair. "Love them, you obviously do and save them you have. Remember that, they will. Fear of that, have none."
"Thank you, Master, for not informing them. It is only fair to them that I do that. They deserve no less."
Yoda nodded gently, his waves of love and assurance giving Kenobi the strength he knew he was going to need to confront his people.
"Once fully healed, you are, come to the temple you must. Only then, to the Council, will I speak. On your side, in all of this, will I be. Promise this, I do. The force be with you, my friend."
"May the force be with you, also, master."
The green gnome leapt from the bed and headed out of the door. Kenobi watched him leave and then relaxed back into the pillows.
"Well, that went better than I expected." Kenobi sighed.