Chapter 5

(later that night)

After hours of successfully pushing the Separatist forces into a retreat, Jaina, her white tunic completely filled with the black sand and soot, followed her Master inside the Republic base where Anakin was conversing with some of his blue-striped 501st clones.

At their arrival, Anakin turned and smirked. "Heard my 'little sister' took down an AAT on her first day?"

Jaina raised a playful eyebrow, wrinkling her nose. "Um…your 'little sister'?"

Anakin shrugged, the teasing smirk still on his face. "We share a Master now, since you're my old Master's new Padawan. Guess that makes you exactly that—my tiny 'little sister'."

Obi-Wan—also covered in dust and sand—smiled down at his little one. "She did," he confirmed warmly. "Thermal detonator to the repulsorlift engines. It was very clever."

He loved seeing the smug, playful look on her face—a look that he knew would be a common sight whenever Anakin was around.

It was clear she didn't mind the nickname at all, and seemed as though the two of them were getting along just fine.

As for Anakin…

His words were that of a teasing big brother, and his smile, tone, and manner indicated that he was being both affectionate and complimentary…in his own way.

Jaina, despite feeling her ears and cheeks heat up slightly in embarrassment, folded her arms teasingly across her chest and met Anakin's smirk with one of her own, not rising to the bait.

"Does that mean I get to call you my arrogantly tall 'big brother', then?"

Anakin laughed at that, his own smirk growing by the second. "Really? That the best you got?" He turned to look over the Padawan's appearance—his eyes lingering on her braid, the pale pink ribbon barely holding her tangled curls in place—before turning back to her with an exaggerated, teasing tone.

"You need a bath. You look like you've already been buried under a bunch of mud."

Obi-Wan rolled his own eyes. "It's the sand, Anakin," he defended, barely holding back a chuckle and gesturing at his own dusty robes. "It's almost impossible to do battle on Murkhana and remain clean. That, I can say with certainty."

Jaina blinked, glancing down at herself and feeling her face grow warmer. Her fingers fidgeted beneath her sleeves.

"Still." Anakin continued, not noticing her reddening cheeks. "You definitely need a bath, Jaina. You're starting to look more like a little Wookiee than a Jedi Padawan."

"I'm..." Jaina frowned, then subtly pulled at the pink ribbon that barely held her hair in place, and attempted to smoothen out the unruly curls that had—

"Let me."

Obi-Wan's soft voice broke the tension in the room.

He reached out, carefully and tenderly removing the ribbon, his hands lightly brushing the back of her neck as his fingers combed through her tangled curls.

"Thank you…" Jaina mumbled, her face still warm.

"Of course, my little one."

It was a moment of silence, a moment of care.

She didn't have to attempt to look beautiful. In his eyes, she would always look perfect, no matter what: it was as simple as that.

But what he was seeing now was a shy, anxious, embarrassed, and utterly exhausted teenager—who was clearly a little shaken from the heat of battle, and had a lot on her mind.

The Jedi Master knelt down in front of her until they were at eye-level. "Relax. You've had a long, hard day."

Jaina nodded slowly, her fingers continuing to fidget slightly beneath her large sleeves.

Obi-Wan smiled, placing his hands over hers to try and still them.

He looked at her gently, trying to convey, through nothing more than a look, that at this moment, she needed to trust him. That she could lean onto him if she needed to.

Their eyes met, and he saw all of the weariness and fatigue in hers—but also a hint of contentment.

She slowly nodded again.

Obi-Wan reached out and ran a gentle hand through her hair, feeling each and every soft curl under his fingertips.

She was his Padawan, she was a true Jedi-in-training, yet she was also just...a little girl.

She was, in this moment, his little girl.

And all he wanted to do—was protect her.

He smiled softly, standing. "Let's get you cleaned up."

(a few minutes later)

Jaina stepped out of one of the barrack's shower cubicles wearing a fresh tunic, her damp hair wrapped tightly in a towel.

"It's so cold," she murmured, grimacing.

Obi-Wan—now also in a fresh set of Jedi robes—smiled as he passed by her and dried his own hair.

"It's cold to get clean." His tone was reassuring, but his voice was playful and teasing. "Don't worry. You'll warm up soon enough."

Jaina groaned and chuckled, removing the towel from her damp hair and hanging it on a nearby rack.

"Come on." Obi-Wan held the door open for her. "Time for bed. We have another battle in the morning."

He began to lead her towards their quarters, watching as she gazed around at the rows and rows of double-deck bunks along the barracks and the slumbering troopers in them—exhausted from days of battle.

She was probably exhausted. She was also probably hungry.

Down the end of the trooper barracks, he opened another small door.

As soon as they stepped into the small cabin with a desk and similar double-deck bunk beds, Jaina's eyes were immediately drawn towards a small table with two chairs…and the two meal-packs that waited for them.

"I know the GAR rations are not much, especially for a growing teenager," Obi-Wan said, nodding towards the table. "But it'll do."

Opening both of the meal-packs, he sat down on one of the chairs and gestured for her to join him.

"Sit. Eat. Relax." He smiled, his tone light but supportive.

She was still clearly on edge, and he knew she wanted a bit of peace and quiet after the loud battle for Murkhana, even if some blasterfire and explosions could still be heard from the active fronts in the far distance.

Jaina sighed wearily as she sat down, then took a small bite out of the sliced meat

Obi-Wan began eating from his own meal-pack, studying her expression as she took a bite out of the meat.

He had expected her to be more hungry, given the exertion of the battle, but was it possible she was just anxious? Or perhaps tired?

No, she was just a little on edge in a strange environment.

She was a Jedi, but she was also just a young teenage girl, he reminded himself. It was normal for her to be a bit wary, tense, and slightly unsettled in a situation like this.

It had been her first mission, after all. Her first time off Coruscant. While in the middle of a war.

She needed guidance and support.

Jaina took another bite out of her food, gazing out the small window at the darkness and the silhouettes of the tropical forest that lay beyond. She listened quietly to the faint echoes of blasterfire still heard in the distance

Obi-Wan continued to watch her eat, not pushing her to talk or comment on the battle or the mission.

She was probably still thinking back on everything that had happened, processing it, comprehending it—and he knew she needed some time to do that.

When she was ready, he'd talk to her.

For now, though, he watched her, keeping her in sight and feeling her presence in his own wordless, gentle way; taking comfort in the presence of his little girl.

"…Do you think it'll ever…get quiet?" Jaina asked softly, taking another bite out of her food.

Obi-Wan paused, watching her. It was a good question...and a valid one.

"This place?" He asked quietly, feeling his brow furrow in thought. "Or the war?"

Both, he supposed.

It was a tough but important question.

"...No," he said honestly. "It will never be quiet. Not in this place...and not the war."

Jaina nodded slowly, taking another bite out of her food. "...I thought so."

"But it will get better," he added lightly, his tone encouraging. "Just...give it time."

"We'll have quiet days."

Obi-Wan turned to look out the window, as he watched the flickering lights of blasterfire cast long shadows on the dark trees from outside the base, as the explosions and crackling of lasers still echoed in the distance.

"The days that aren't, we just have to learn how to handle it…how to live with the noise."

"For now though," he said, turning back towards her, seeing her weary, utterly exhausted expression. "You need rest."

He smiled gently. "Get some sleep, my little one."

Jaina nodded again, a small smile on her face. She closed the empty meal-pack that she'd finished, and tossed it into a nearby waste bin, then began to climb up the ladder to the top bunk. "Good night, Master."

"Good night." Obi-Wan smiled, watching her climb into the top bunk and settle down with a tired sigh, the pink ribbon in her hair standing out against the grey of the blanket and the pillow.

There she was…his little one…his Padawan…a young teenager who still seemed so small, soft, and gentle—even if some might call her stubborn, determined, and strong.

He sighed softly, rising to his feet, as he made his way to the bottom bunk, just underneath her.

"Sleep well, my little one."

(a few hours later, the middle of the night)

Although she had fallen asleep fairly quickly in sheer exhaustion, Jaina jolted awake as the sounds of the explosions and blasterfire in the distance continued, one explosion particularly loud, and shaking the ground.

She gazed at the ceiling of the top bunk, slowly drifting awake and remembering exactly where she was. It was a sharp contrast to the peace and quiet she had grown up around in the Jedi Temple.

But she would adapt. She had to.

Jaina shifted her position to the side, curling her blanket tighter around herself and closing her eyes, attempting to ignore the noise outside.

As the sound of blasters and explosions continued in the distance throughout the night, Obi-Wan remained half-asleep, the sounds filtering in and out of his subconscious as he lay in the bottom bunk.

Then, his ears picked up something else.

A slight shift in the bunk above him...

Jaina folded the pillow around her head, around her ears.

And Obi-Wan felt a slight tightening in his throat, as he realized she was awake.

She was awake—and trying to hide it.

He was careful to not move, careful to not make a sound. Just...listening...

Listening to her heart beating, her steady breathing, her silent and careful movement, her quiet presence…

Jaina blinked, gazing intently at the wall next to her bunk, at the tiny dust particles on it, focusing on anything—anything—other than the explosions outside—

"Jaina?" He whispered quietly, slowly opening his eyes, his attention immediately brought to the young girl who was struggling to sleep above.

Jaina blinked. "Master?"

"Everything all right?" He asked softly, his voice quiet and gentle, very careful to avoid any loud noises.

As he gazed up at her little face, it was clear that she was still tense after everything that had happened so far. Which was expected.

"Just…" Jaina paused, clutching her blankets. "Having a bit of trouble…sleeping…"

"...Want me to come up there?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, his head tilting to one side as he waited for her response, though he was aware of the faint noises outside: the sound of explosions and blasters, and the distant echoes of the battle for Murkhana. "We could have a quick chat."

Jaina paused for another moment. "No, I'm—I'm fine, Master," she said quietly. "I wouldn't want to interrupt your sleep."

Obi-Wan smiled softly, noticing her tone was still soft, even quiet, and he could feel her strained expression and the way she was still trying to keep her emotions under control.

She was trying to be considerate, he realized. That was nice of her.

He was tired too...but he would never admit that to her.

She was his little girl...his young teenage Padawan...he had to be a model of strength in order to teach her the ways of the Force and the Jedi.

The Jedi Master stood from the bottom bunk and leaned his arms and his chin on the edge of the top bunk, gazing at his exhausted tiny little Padawan. "And what if I told you I wasn't asleep?"

Jaina blinked. "You…weren't?"

"…No." Obi-Wan chuckled slightly. "I was…but then you woke up, and now I'm not anymore. So," he smiled gently. "Want me to come up there?"

Jaina wrinkled her nose. "I'm sorry…" She paused for another moment, then readjusted herself on the top bunk, moving herself closer to the side wall, and making space.

Obi-Wan smiled and climbed up the ladder, sitting down next to her curled form, all snuggled beneath the blankets.

He gently leaned against the headboard, and folded his arms across his chest, gazing down at her. He could just feel the exhaustion radiating off of her; she was still pale as a ghost and obviously tired.

"What did you used to do, back at the Temple, when you had trouble sleeping?" He asked softly, hoping to take her mind off the war beyond the four walls of their base.

An amused smile crossed his face. "Although I don't even know why I'm asking—you'd read, wouldn't you?"

Jaina let out a soft chuckle. "I would."

Obi-Wan chuckled too.

"And probably all night too, am I right?" he added teasingly, hoping that this bit of humor might take some of the edge off her anxiety, as he tried to gently ease her into a state of quiet conversation—anything to take her mind off the noise. "What would you read?"

"Anything, really." Jaina shrugged lightly. "I finished everything that was in circulation and approved for younglings at the Archives, before I became your Padawan."

She laughed sheepishly. "I'm not entirely sure if Madame Jocasta loves me or hates me, if I'm honest."

Obi-Wan laughed softly, imagining Jocasta Nu—the stern and studious Head Librarian, who so closely guarded the vast collections of the Jedi Archives—becoming exhausted with a precocious and persistent young teenager.

"My voracious little reader," He teased playfully. "I bet you kept Madame Jocasta on her toes—constantly pestering her to grant you access to the Padawan-level approved texts, even before your Padawanship?"

The Head Librarian at the Jedi Temple, was not exactly known for being friendly.

It made sense that Jaina would annoy her out of her wits with her constant requests.

They both knew it was a fair trade-off—Jaina gained knowledge...while Madame Jocasta's sanity was slowly decimated.

Jaina grinned, her eyes lighting up in amusement at her own memories of Madame Jocasta's occasional...exasperation. "…I will neither confirm nor deny that statement, Master."

Obi-Wan laughed, and brushed a stray curl behind her ear. His little troublemaker was adorable.

"In all fairness, she does seem more patient with you than with other Jedi, including myself." He teased. "I may have gotten on her bad side a couple of times over the years too."

"I can imagine..." Jaina giggled.

"Did you prefer reading history books then? I recall you mentioning last week that History was one of your favorite classes?" He asked gently, continuing to attempt to take her mind off the noise outside.

"I'd read anything, but yes, I did enjoy history," Jaina smiled softly. "I felt like it was a combination of everything, in a way—the sciences, politics, culture and art, sociology, philosophy. Plus the comprehension necessary to piece everything together...find some patterns…I've always kind of enjoyed that."

Obi-Wan nodded, smiling. "I suppose that's why you're so good at strategy," He commented, his eyes still locked on her little form, in the dim light of the barracks.

It was adorable to see her like this—tired, yet still full of curiosity and knowledge.

Jaina's eyes lit up. "Really? You think I am?"

Obi-Wan nodded once more.

It was endearing to him to see her like this. Her tired little expression, her tiny frame, so small next to his own, and her excitement at his compliment was just too amusing.

"You might be a little green," the Jedi Master told her, his face splitting in a gentle smirk. "But I can tell—you have the potential to be a fantastic strategist. Who knows, maybe in time, we'll turn you into one of the top tacticians of the Third Systems Army."

He paused, his eyes still locked on her weary form. "Your mind simply works that way. It's a gift."

Jaina smiled warmly. "Thank you, Master."

Obi-Wan chuckled softly. Their relationship, while still relatively new after their one week together, already felt so precious to him. "Of course, my little one."

His eyes flickered over towards the dark windows, as the sound of a distant explosion shook the walls of the barracks slightly.

Jaina's fingers tightened around her blanket.

Obi-Wan noticed her grip tighten, felt the faint nervousness in her breath.

He placed his hand gently over hers, squeezing it lightly as he attempted to ease her anxious energy.

"I know the noises can be frightening," He spoke softly, his voice gentle as he continued to caress her hand with his. "But the fighting is still in the distance...It's okay, we're safe."

"I know...Logically, I know," Jaina murmured shakily. "I know they're at least twenty kilometers away…otherwise we would've begun hearing the Code Blue sirens of our outer perimeter being breached…"

"I also know it's...probably just the Separatist reserve troops…their main forces are probably gearing for a counterattack in the morning…they'll need more time to consolidate their assets…"

Jaina sighed. "I've already been trying to rationalize my nerves away…"

Obi-Wan smiled slightly, caressing her knuckles with his thumb, though he noticed her grip on the blanket was still tight, tense.

"But you can't always use logic when it comes to how you feel," he said softly. "Can you?"

He squeezed her hand lightly. "You're safe, my little one. It's okay..."

In this moment, she had every right to feel a little afraid.

Everything surrounding her was completely foreign.

Her entire life, from birth, had been spent behind the walls of the Jedi Temple. And suddenly, in this moment, she was away from the Temple, away from the safety she had known for her entire life.

Everything was unfamiliar…uncertain. Everything was shrouded in war.

But it was going to be okay.

"It takes time to adjust to a new rhythm," Obi-Wan continued, his voice gentle, as he squeezed her hand. "Every new environment has its own sounds, its own smells, its own rules of operation. But with time, aspects of it will become familiar."

"I promise, you'll adjust just fine."

The Jedi Master smiled softly. "…but that doesn't mean you can't be a little afraid, for tonight."

Jaina nodded slowly. "…okay," she whispered.

In this moment, Obi-Wan was going to keep things simple.

Instead of trying to teach her some lesson, or lecturing her about the Force, about how the struggle to master her emotions was one she would be facing for the rest of her life...

...he kept things simple.

"Now, do me a favor?" the Jedi Master offered her a soft smile, his blue-grey eyes locking on to her weary form. "Try and close your eyes. I'm right here next to you."

"We need to be up early tomorrow, and I need you to be well-rested and focused…all right?"

Jaina nodded softly, offering him a weak smile as she wrapped her blankets more snugly around herself, and closed her eyes. "Okay…"

Obi-Wan smiled and gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. "You've had a long day," he whispered softly. "Your body needs rest."

"Close your eyes…just picture yourself in the Temple Gardens...hear the rustling of the grass...no blasters...no war...nothing..."

Her breath grew soft and even, her small hand slowly relaxing in his.

In his ears, through the walls, came a deep explosion.

But his little Padawan seemed completely unaware. She was safe in this moment.

She was safe.

Obi-Wan sat and studied the sleeping teenager all curled up next to him, her breathing shallow but even, her eyes tightly shut.

It was all a far cry from her playful and exuberant nature when they were training; her cunning and calculating aura when they were out on the field.

Her breathing was soft, and her heartbeat was calm...

...she was finally relaxing, after a long day of battle—of violence. A long day of a very hard lesson.

Obi-Wan reached over to gently tuck her blankets in more snugly, then folded his arms across his chest once more, and leaned his head back against the wall.

The sounds of warfare were still raging outside the walls of the barracks...but in here, it was calm. A sanctuary where the only sounds were the quiet hum of the base generators, and the soft snores of his little Padawan.

With a content look on his face, the Jedi Master closed his eyes. He wasn't as tired anymore…

…he just needed to make sure that his little one got the rest that she needed.

As it was…

As it is…

As it shall be…