Topic: Don't Leave Me
Author: Tigris
Summary: Obi and Qui are separated on a dangerous mission. Obi is taken and Qui returns to Coruscant. Obi is tortured for 2 months and the Jedi give up on him.
Rating: PG13
Time Period: Obi is 14
Spoilers: JA series
Disclaimer: Lucas owns all noticable SW characters, others are the authors. An'Paj is Jane Jinns.
*****************
Three days later the whole company was in a landspeeder, being driven to the Jacquino household by Kruschino. He was a man of twenty-three years, black haired and blue eyed, and as he piloted the small craft he filled them in on Obi-Wan's condition.
"We cleaned him up and got him some fresh clothes, but there wasn't much else we could do. He's too hurt to be moved to a hospital, but not that that would help anyway. They're short of supplies at the moment, and they're being forced to write off anybody in bad a condition as Obi-Wan. We put bacta gel on his cuts and bruises, but it's not helping a whole lot, and we also tried to bandage any open wounds and straighten broken bones so they don't heal crooked."
"It was the best thing you could've done, next to dumping him in a tank full of bacta," Leona said. "You must have a natural insight for healing."
Kruschino reddened, and said, "My sisters helped a lot too. We just did what we could for the boy. He doesn't complain at all, although you can tell he's in a lot of pain. Obi-Wan is also unconscious most of the time, which I figure is a good thing, since we don't have any pain killer handy."
"We thank you and your sisters, as well as your parents, for helping him," Saesee voiced from beside Yoda. "Not many people would have been willing too."
"Oh, my parents died a few years ago," Kruschino replied, evidently trying to sound neutral. "I'm Micaela's and Marcelline's guardian. And it was really no problem. It's what any decent person would do."
"I am sorry for your loss," Qui-Gon said sincerely, knowing exactly how he must have felt. "How much longer?" "Just around the corner," Kruschino answered, looking relieved that the subject had been diverted from his parents.
As they rounded the bend, a small, two-story house came into view, a young girl waiting outside. She waved. "That's Marcelline," Kruschino informed them, smiling back at her. Marcelline waited patiently as they exited the speeder, then moved to stand beside her brother as he introduced the Jedi.
"How is he?" Mace asked grimly, placing a comforting hand on Qui-Gon's shoulder. Qui-Gon was nearly beside himself; he could once again sense his padawan through their bond. He already knew how Obi-Wan was.
"He woke up a few minutes ago. I think he knew you were near," Marcelline answered leading the way into the house.
Qui-Gon could feel his heart pounding as they made their way towards Obi-Wan. Just a few more seconds, he told himself. He forced himself to remain at a walking pace, to keep breathing steadily.
"He's right in here," he heard Kruschino say, and a moment later he found himself in a dimly lit room, a girl of about eighteen standing next to a sleepcouch, a roll of bandages in her hand. She looked at him, and he looked at her, then turned his attention to the sleepcouch.
"QUI-GON!!" Obi-Wan cried, his voice slurred.
Qui-Gon tried to say something, but choked. He willed his legs to move and was suddenly beside the boy. He knelt down and reached out to cup Obi-Wan's face with his large hands. Oh, Force please let this be real. He smoothed the hair of the boy's forehead, and watched as his padawan smiled.
"Hello, Master."
"Hello, Padawan," Qui-Gon replied, feeling his heart break all over again. Relief washed over him. He was real, he was safe. He had beaten the Valhalla. He had survived, and Qui-Gon could hold him, could be there when he needed him to be. The emotions welled up inside him and spilled out over his cheeks, soaking his short beard.
"Q-qui-Gon you're heere," Obi-Wan said, struggling to talk around his broken jaw. Salty tears traced down his cheeks, stinging the cuts on his face, but he pushed the pain aside and held onto Qui-Gon with his good hand, breathing in his deep, spicy sent with everything he had left.
Qui-Gon laughed, wiping the tears from both of their eyes. "Yes, Obi-Wan, I'm here. And I have no intention of leaving."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kruschino observed the Jedi Master from his vantage point just outside the ship's infirmary door. The tall man was resting his head against the glass of the bacta tank, both hands touching the smooth surface, fingers splayed out as if to support himself. He had barely eaten in three days. He just stood there, watching his Padawan. Kruschino felt sorry for him. It must be horrible, searching for your Padawan for almost three months, then having to see him float in a bacta tank as he only got worse….Kruschino wished there had been more he could've done. He had scraped together every bit of knowledge he knew about healing, and when he discovered that it wasn't much; he had gone on pure instinct. He had cleaned out Obi-Wan's wounds, got him clean clothes, and blindfolded him, so the sudden reintroduction into light wouldn't damage his eyes. Healer Leona told him that he had done a wonderful job, but every time he saw the look of anguish on the Jedi Master's face he felt he should've done more. That's why he had offered to help track down the Valhalla, why they were on this ship in the first place.
"Yes, Kruschino?" Qui-Gon Jinn asked gravely.
"Master Tiin wishes to inform you that we are approaching Coruscant. Master Leona will be in here in a moment to help get Padawan Kenobi out of the bacta tank."
Jinn smiled softly. "Thank you. Why so formal, Kruschino?"
Kruschino flushed. "I'm not used to being around Jedi, that's all."
He watched as the Jedi peeled his gaze away from his Padawan, his keen blue eyes meeting Kruschino's own. "You and your sisters saved Obi-Wan's life, and in a way, my own. You may call me Qui-Gon."
"All right then - Qui-Gon." He moved to exit the room, wanting to leave the Jedi in peace.
"And Kruschino - "
Startled, he turned back, and saw Qui-Gon looking at him in the oddest way. Gratitude? Respect? "Yes?"
"Thank you."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rows of beds ran across the Jedi infirmary, but only one of them was filled. The small form of a boy was surrounded on three sides by life- support systems; a breath mask covering his nose and mouth as the unconscious child struggled to keep his lungs working. On the fourth side a man sat, the boy's fingers wrapped tightly around his hand as he provided his own form of life support.
beep…beep…beep…beep…
Qui-Gon watched as the tiny green light traced across the screen of the heart monitor in a steady rhythm, the machine signaling each time the light appeared with a resounding beep. Softly he talked to Obi-Wan; past missions, how they had met, the time he became Qui-Gon's Padawan; everything came into play, just so the boy knew he was there.
beep…beep…beep…beep…
He sent out waves through the Force, to make sure that Obi-Wan could hear him. He blocked out the knowledge that his Padawan's light was fading.
beep……beep…….beep…….beep…….
Qui-Gon told him about searching for him. He named off all the planets he had been too, and every person who had helped him. He told Obi-Wan about Kruschino, Micaela, and Marcelline. He told him that they would miss him if he left. "I'll miss you too. I didn't realize how much I needed you till now. Will you stay with me, Obi-Wan?"
beep………..beep………..beep……..
Obi-Wan's breathing slowed, as if he was remembering their missions too.
beep………beep………beep……….
Qui-Gon fell silent. Without even realizing it he began to breath with Obi-Wan, watching the boy's chest rise and fall under the blankets. Rise and fall…..Rise and fall……
The time between the signals of the machine was increasing, and at the same time the arcs the light was tracing were diminishing.
Rise and fall.
Qui-Gon heard the door hiss open behind him. "Qui-Gon?" Windu asked, and he realized the Council had come to check on Obi-Wan again.
Rise and fall.
Fall.
Suddenly a high pitched screech filled the air. Qui-gon's eyes flitted to the heart monitor, horror rising inside him as he watched an unwaving line file across the screen. Obi-Wan's grip on his hand loosened, sliding back onto the bed. The screeching grew and expanded into a dull roar that echoed through Qui-Gon's soul.
No," Qui-Gon whispered, the heart monitor's whining pounding in his head as he stared at Obi-Wan. He swayed on his feet, his vision suddenly swimming before his eyes. Qui-Gon felt hands press down on his back, supporting him, and vaguely remembered that the Jedi council members had just arrived.
A door swished open off to the right. Leona came bursting through, followed closely by several other healers and Kruschino. "Prepare a bacta tank," she ordered two of the healers, then started on Obi-Wan, the Force swirling around her.
"Leona," Qui-Gon pleaded, his blue eyes full of anguish, "Don't let him die."
Leona took one glance at the look on his face and paused. "Get Qui-Gon out of here," she said to the council members, her tone thick with sympathy. "I don't want him to have to see this."
"NO!" Qui-Gon yelled as Mace Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi half dragged half carried him from the room. They took him out into the hallway, where Qui-Gon's knees gave way. His fellow Jedi caught him as he fell, steadying him against the wall. "Stay out here, we must," Yoda said gently.
Qui-Gon shooked his head. "No," he said forcefully. "Obi-Wan needs me."
Ki-Adi-Mundi placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leona doesn't want you in there if something else goes wrong, Qui-Gon. But we understand how you feel."
"No you don't," Qui-Gon begged. "He was all alone for nearly three months, and now he's dying! Even if I couldn't be there then, he needs me now, and I want to be there!"
"Qui-Gon, you won't be much help if you're hovering over everything they do in there." Mace looked at Qui-Gon compassionately. "Leona will do everything she can."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Inside the infirmary, three healers struggled to prepare a bacta tank as quickly as possible. Two more preformed CPR on the small form of Obi-Wan as yet another hooked him up to life support. Leona sat in a chair next to the boy's bed, tightly clutching his hand, sweat beaded on her forehead. To a casual observer she would have looked like she was at lost at what to do, but every Jedi in that room knew she was doing the most dangerous thing a healer could do.
Leona envisioned her life force as a powerful steel cable, rooted deep in the Force web around her. She plunged the cable deep into Obi-Wan's being, wrapping around the tiny thread of left of his life and stopping it from receding into the waiting abyss below. The inky darkness of Death pulled at them, threatening to overtake the small boy.
If Obi-Wan left, he would take her with him.
But Leona had seen the pain on Qui-Gon's face. Jinn was her friend, she had promised him that his Padawan would be okay. She didn't know Obi-Wan that well, but he was a wonderful and sweet boy. He deserved to live. Leona would rather die a thousand times then have to tell Qui-Gon that Obi-Wan had passed on.
So she held on, tearing herself and the boy from Death's grasp. Leona fought her way back to consciousness, Obi-Wan in tow.
"We've got a pulse!" someone yelled.
Leona opened her eyes and stood, releasing her grip on Obi-Wan. She kicked the chair out of her way, then turned to the young man beside her. "Kruschino-"
A small syringe was pressed into her hand. Leona looked at it startled. How did he know? Shaking her head in amazement she injected the syringe's contents into Obi-Wan's IV pack.
"What does that do?" Kruschino asked.
"It will help his heart." Leona raised her voice to issue an order to the rest of the healers. "We need to get him stabilized before we place him in the bacta tank. And somebody go get Qui-Gon. His Padawan is going to need him for this."
"Yes?" he asked the young padawan standing there, her pale green skin fading into a still lighter shade under his sharp gaze. She shuffled her feet and stared down at the data pad in her hand, then remembering her Jedi training she willed her feet to remain inactive and forced her indigo eyes to meet his.
"They didn't say what they wanted to talk with you about," she answered, holding up the data sheet, "but the council would like to meet with you."
"When?"
"Now, sir," the girl cautiously replied, noting the weariness on the Jedi Master's face. She had passed by and through the infirmary many times over the last week and a half, and every time she had she had she had seen him sitting in the same chair by his padawan's bed. He kept his hand wrapped tightly around the boy's, his keen blue eyes staring intently at his face, as if at any moment the boy would wake up.
Qui-Gon sighed, looking down at Obi-Wan. "Alright then." He tried pulling his hand away, but found it wouldn't move. He sighed again and resigned to pull each of his sore fingers from Obi-Wan's one by one. Standing, he heard his bones creak, stiff from staying in one place so long. Qui-Gon took a moment to loosen up a bit, then followed the young girl from the room.
He kept his gaze focused on her shiny silver braid as she led the way to the Council Room, ignoring the way other Temple inhabitants shot him looks of pity. The girl stopped outside the Council Room and stepped inside. Qui-Gon heard her announce him, then watched as she stepped back to let him through, flashing him a small smile before she set off down the hall again.
All twelve council members sat in a semi circle, large windows ringing the room behind them. Qui-Gon strode quickly to the center of the room and bowed, then waited for them to begin.
He noticed that all twelve of them exchanged glances before finally focusing on him.
"Hello Master Qui-Gon," Adi Gallia began. "How is Padawan Kenobi?"
"He is still in a coma," he said gruffly, then added, "But Healer Leona has informed me that his vital signs are improving. He should be waking up soon."
"Good, that is," Yoda said. "Mission we have for you."
"A mission? When Obi-Wan is still in a coma?"
"You aren't going until he is fully recovered, Qui-Gon," Ki-Adi-Mundi said calmly. "In fact, the mission is because Obi-Wan was injured."
Qui-Gon's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I don't believe I follow your meaning."
Again, the quick exchange of looks.
"Dangerous, the Valhalla are," Yoda said slowly. "Know their leader, do you?"
"Leporello," Qui-Gon answered, struggling to keep anger out of his tone. "He was a senator of Ranieri, and acted as our guide. It was apparent from the start that he strongly disliked the Prime Minister, and disagreed with how he governed the people. He was kind to us, besides a few comments he made about the Jedi, and even helped us in our investigation about the Valhalla." He sighed. "I should not have trusted him."
"Do not dwell on the 'should haves', Qui-Gon," Mace Windu said. "Evil comes in many forms."
"Yes," Yoda nodded. "Hard to see, the Dark Side is. Comments about the Jedi, did you say?"
Qui-Gon rubbed his eyes, forgetting for a moment where he was. "He said once that Jedi children could be more prepared for the dangers of missions if they were disciplined…differently. He also mentioned that some Jedi tactics were a little old fashioned. What about the mission though?"
Mace leaned forward. "We have decided to send you- and your padawan- after the Valhalla. They are too large a threat to be left running loose, even as fugitives. They need to be brought to justice. As soon as Obi-Wan is well enough, we would like you to start looking into where they could've gone." He paused, casting another quick glance at the other council members. "We know this might be difficult for Obi-Wan," he said slowly, "But you are the ones who know the most about Leporello and his followers."
Qui-Gon nodded, his mind numb. He realized he actually wanted to hunt Leporello down…Qui-Gon quickly pushed the thought away and bowed again, turning to exit the room.
"Qui-Gon."
Qui-Gon stopped, suppressing a sigh as he once again faced the Council.
"Get some sleep," Mace said, and the others nodded.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TBC
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