Pairing: None really, possible pre-slash Q/O I suppose
Rating: G
Category: I don't think there's a category for this. JA
oriented, pre-slash, sort of POV
Spoilers: DON'T READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED FOR
JA#8! It takes place near the very end of that book. It's just
a short vignette in response to something that happened in the
story. If you want more of a summary before you read, email me.
Archive: Master and Apprentice--anyone else ask please
Summary: The aftermath of an event from Jedi Apprentice book
#8.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, much less these fine
characters--although I own a couple of action figures of them,
does that count? Probably not. Oh well, I refuse to make any
money off them in any event, so please don't sue me. Jude
Watson owns this version of the characters, though I suppose GL
is the man with the true claim to them. But it's JW you have to
think for this story idea.
Notes: Huge thank yous to Marnee and Kristi for the quick betas
in the middle of the work day!! This story had been bugging me
since I read JA#8, but it finally decided to write itself late
last night, and I couldn't have gotten it out this quickly
without them.
Obi-Wan stared at the dark pool, watching with both horror and
fascination as the black cloak slowly disintigrated into
nothing. Suppressing a shiver, he turned to the others. Andra
and Den stood a few feet away, unable to really see the grusome
death last of the fading sunlight; however, Andra had seen the
pool's effects earlier, and from her pale face and wide eyes,
Obi-Wan thought she had a good idea exactly what had happened.
Neither Telosian moved as Obi-Wan turned to Qui-Gon. The Jedi
Master was still standing over the pool, lightsaber glowing in
the hand that hung limply by his side. Obi-Wan moved to stand
beside him, reaching down gently to push the power button on
the weapon. The sudden darkness seemed to wake Qui-Gon, who
turned to look at Obi-Wan wordlessly.
"We'll be outside when you're ready," Andra said. Obi-Wan
nodded, but his eyes never left Qui-Gon's face as the footsteps
of their allies faded into the distance.
It was clear Qui-Gon was in shock. Obi-Wan searched desperately
for something to say, but everything he thought of seemed so
inappropriate. Then he remembered Andra's pain earlier in the
day. Acknowledge the loss and give him something to focus
on. "I'm sorry, Qui-Gon." The older man nodded absently,
eyes shifting to the ground. "We need to get back to Thani. The
people are hurt and confused--we may be needed."
The reminder of duty got more of a reaction out of the Master.
"Yes, of course."
They turned away from the pool and made their way to the park
entrance in silence, neither of them speaking until they
approached Andra and Den. Andra glanced at each of them
briefly, then asked, "Where are your swoops?"
"We left them by the crack in the wall," Obi-Wan answered,
jerking a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the
secret entrance. "Go on, we'll catch up with you."
She nodded, then they both sped off toward Thani. The two Jedi
headed the opposite way to pick up their transportation.
Obi-Wan wanted to say something to make Qui-Gon feel better,
but he couldn't find the words, so he stayed silent.
"What was it that kept you so long before?"
The sudden question startled him. "When?"
"When you and Andra came out here to gather evidence. You said
you had one more thing to take care of."
"Oh. That." He couldn't lie, no matter how much he didn't want
to tell the truth right now. "We lost our transports. We had to
find another way back to town."
He felt Qui-Gon's sudden spike of fear and his anger at himself
for having put Obi-Wan into that situation. Obi-Wan knew
Qui-Gon didn't question his abilities. He'd felt the Master's
quiet confidence as they'd chased and fought Xanatos. Never
once had Qui-Gon doubted that Obi-Wan would be up to the
challenge. It was Qui-Gon's lack of trust in his own abilities
that troubled him now. And nothing Obi-Wan could say would fix
that. But he could offer a distraction.
"Did you know you saved my life a few years ago?"
Qui-Gon blinked at him. "I would have remembered that, I
think."
The boy smiled. "You didn't see me. About three years ago, you
caught some initiates jumping into the fountain in the main
Temple gardens. You yelled so loud that I heard you outside the
door and knew not to join them."
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at Obi-Wan's obvious glee over
avoiding trouble. "I fail to see how that saved your life."
"I'd already seen Master Yoda twice that week for my
'adventurous nature,'" Obi-Wan answered with a grin. "If he'd
seen me again he'd have killed me for sure."
"I doubt he would have actually killed you," Qui-Gon said with
a wry smile. "But if you knew you would be in so much trouble,
why did you decide to do it?"
Obi-Wan shrugged. "It seemed important to answer the challenge.
Bruck dared us--" He stopped as he realized who he was talking
about, and the memory of the other boy's death came back to him
again.
The Jedi Master stopped and laid his hand on Obi-Wan's
shoulder. "You did everything you could. Bruck chose his own
path; his death is not your fault."
"I know." Obi-Wan met Qui-Gon's eyes. "Just as Xanatos' death
was not yours."
The corner of Qui-Gon's mouth quirked up. "I'll promise not to
blame myself, if you do the same."
"It's a deal," Obi-Wan agreed with a smile. He knew the
feelings of blame would still linger in both of them for some
time to come, regardless. But he also knew they would have each
other to remind them of their promises.
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