Qui-Gon stood before his padawan with his arms crossed over his chest. "Good, Obi-Wan. That's it." He nodded to the boy who was holding the second to last stance to the first form carefully.

Obi-Wan stood with his feet shoulder-length apart and his right hand extended with a practice lightsaber clutched just a touch too tightly. The boy's brow was creased slightly in the middle, a sure sign of deep concentration in his young padawan. He'd been working hard all morning and Qui-Gon knew he'd made the right decision to begin this part of Obi-Wan's training.

He'd decided recently it was time they began working on the katas that shaped the basic training forms for lightsaber practice. Although every child in the Creche learned the first few basic forms in addition to many other basics of Jedi training, it was really up to their master to refine and build those skills. With Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon would have to both teach many of them and refine them, as the boy had been chosen at a much younger age than was common.

"Move to the next form," Qui-Gon instructed, eyeing the young boy with a critical eye.

Obi-Wan shifted his stance slightly and brought his arm back to rest at his side. The boy's movements were slightly stiff and his control of his arms and legs was mostly artificial, but that was more a result of his age and lack of practice than anything else.

Qui-Gon nodded again in approval. He'd been treading a careful line between being too demanding and allowing blatantly incorrect positions to slide. Obi-Wan was enthusiastic and ready to learn. He had already shown a natural affinity for the kata and showed the promise of becoming a proficient fighter.

"Now, the full kata from the beginning," Qui-Gon said, watching as Obi-Wan returned to the beginning stance before running through the motions of the kata. Some of the boy's awkwardness and stiffness faded, but he still looked like a six-year-old running though a kata with a practice 'saber.

As Obi-Wan moved into the last stance, Qui-Gon stepped forward and corrected the position of Obi-Wan's arms, which were slightly further out then they should have been. He moved back and looked over Obi-Wan's form for a moment. "Well done. I think that is enough for today. Do you have any questions?"

Obi-Wan flipped the practice lightsaber over and looked into the end which the blade would have come out had the 'saber been equipped with one. "When do I get a real lightsaber?"

Qui-Gon pulled the practice 'saber from Obi-Wan's hands. "When you don't do that anymore. This isn't a toy."

"But it doesn't work. It can't hurt me." Obi-Wan wiped absently at his sweaty forehead.

"That's not the point. The habits you develop now will carry through the rest of your training and it�s easier to learn the correct way now than break bad habits later. You'd look terribly funny with a hole in the middle of your head." He tapped the boy's forehead to make his point.

"I wouldn't do that with a real one," Obi-Wan protested, sounding both sincere and offended.

"I'm sure. You'll have a real one soon enough." Qui-Gon placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder and steered him from the room. "Let's go home and leave the room to someone else." He have a slight smile to the other pair of Jedi Knights they passed on their way out of the room.

Qui-Gon walked down the broad corridors of the Jedi Temple, his pace slower than normal to accommodate the short legs of his padawan. Obi-Wan still had to stretch his legs to keep up, but he did not seem particularly perturbed. The small boy was humming under his breath as they walked and Qui-Gon hid a smile at the sound. It had been a long time since Obi-Wan had felt comfortable enough to fall back into some of his old patterns.

As they neared their apartment, Qui-Gon could sense the presence of another Jedi inside. He had a pretty good idea who it might be and turned his attention to Obi-Wan. "You have your meeting with Master Yoda this afternoon, correct?"

Obi-Wan looked up at him, his elfin face suddenly serious. "Yes." The boy had been meeting with Yoda since they had recovered to help him better understand his gift of prescient visions.

"I want you to clean up and then head over there; we wouldn't want to keep him waiting," Qui-Gon offered a secret smile. "He gets grumpy when he has to wait."

Obi-Wan smiled in return. "Sometimes he's grumpy when he doesn't have to wait."

"When eight hundred years old you reach, grumpy you can be whenever you want as well." Qui-Gon gave his best impression of his former master. He keyed the door to their apartment open and was not surprised to find Bel-San sitting on his couch.

His friend looked up as they entered and gave a slight nod. "I know the override code. Hope you don't mind."

Qui-Gon directed Obi-Wan to the refresher and regarded his friend carefully, trying to gauge his current state. "No, not at all. Feel free to break into my apartment whenever you want."

Bel-San nodded. "As long as we're good." He sat back resting head against the back of the furniture, his eyes closed.

"Do you want anything? Something to drink?" Qui-Gon asked as he moved into the kitchen, already heating water for tea.

Bel-San waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever."

Qui-Gon took his time, stalling as best he could. He'd been waiting for Bel-San to come and talk to him about whatever had been bothering him for nearly a week, and this was the first time he had even seen the other man. He didn't want to be interrupted and he didn't think this was anything he wanted to air in front of Obi-Wan.

As he brought two mugs of steaming tea into the common room, Obi-Wan emerged from the 'fresher. The boy had changed out of his practice clothes and into his regular Jedi apprentice robes.

"I'm going to Master Yoda's now," he called as he neared the door.

"All right, be good." Qui-Gon waited until the door slid closed behind his padawan. "So, how've you been?" he asked cautiously. He didn't really know how else to start. Whatever it was that was bothering the other man, it was not something minor.

Bel-San laughed, and awkward and bitter sound. "I've been releasing a lot to the Force lately."

"Has it helped?" Qui-Gon looked at his friend cautiously. He'd never seen Bel-San quite like this.

"Not noticeably."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Would it be here if I didn't?" Bel-San blew out a breath and glanced at Qui-Gon apologetically. "Sorry."

Shaking his head, Qui-Gon set his tea aside and turned his full attention to the other man. "Don't worry about it."

The two sat in silence for several long moments and Qui-Gon began to wonder if Bel-San was ever going to speak.

"They turned down my proposal." His words were so soft and unexpected, Qui-Gon almost missed them.

"The Council turned you down?" Qui-Gon frowned in confusion. "But I thought they said everything was fine."

"Me too. Just another fine example of the things they don't feel the need to let me in on." Bel-San sighed. "Apparently it was a last minute decision. I don't know, no one seems to want to take the time to explain it to me."

"When did you find out?" Qui-Gon asked quietly, already half-sure he knew the answer.

"They told me just before I called you last week and we all went out."

Qui-Gon ran a hand over his face wearily. He should have know something was up when Bel-San had called; he should have been paying more attention. The last thing his friend had needed that night was to go out with a large group. "And they didn't give you a reason why?"

"Nope."

"Maybe now is just a bad time. I'm sure when you reapply they'll let you--"

Bel-San laughed again, cutting him off. "Reapply? You're kidding right? I think one crushing rejection is more than enough this year, thank you."

"You're not going to reapply? You've been talking about this expedition for better than a year."

"Well, obviously my enthusiasm doesn't count nearly as much as it should." He sighed. "Do you know how long I worked on that proposal? I just don't think I have it in me to go through that again. Not now." He should his head. "It doesn't really matter all that much anyway. It was just a thought."

Qui-Gon stared at his friend in disbelief. He'd never seen Bel-San so defeated. "So what will you do now?" he asked, a plan already forming in his thoughts. He doubted Bel-San would be all that pleased at his interference initially, but in the long run, he doubted his friend would see it quite the same way.

Shrugging dismissively, Bel-San picked up his tea. "Teach, I imagine. What else can I do? I'll teach all the kids about doing things that I will never be able to do for myself. I don't know what else to do."

***

Qui-Gon strode into the Council Chambers serenely, Obi-Wan at his side. He came to stand in the middle of the circular room and bowed deeply to the waiting members. "Masters."

"Petition you have for us," Yoda said as he leaned back in his chair.

"I come before you to appeal the dismissal of the proposal of Knight Bel-San Jacoba."

"We have already ruled in that case," Even Piell said, glaring through his scarred eye.

Yoda nodded. "Decision has been made."

"If you've no other business..." Yarael Poof waved a long fingered hand indistinctly.

Qui-Gon took a breath. "Pardon, Masters, but I think you are gravely mistaken in this case. I request that you review the proposal."

"Your advice is noted. May the Force be with you."

Qui-Gon looked once around the room before nodding. "And with you." He turned and left the room.

As he and his padawan walked away from the council chambers, Obi-Wan tugged very lightly at his sleeve. "Why did you do that, Master?"

"Bel-San wants to go on an extended mission to the Cascade Mountains of Was-4 and the Council is having a hard time seeing it his way. Bel-San is not quite as used to dealing with the Council as I am, so I thought I would help out a little."

"Um, it didn't seem to work," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon smiled and ruffed his padawan's short hair. "That's because we're just getting started."

***

"Come on, Mace. There must be something you can do." Qui-Gon crossed his arms over his chest.

"I think you are overestimating my influence with the Council." Mace pushed a pile of datachips away from him. "I sit in on sessions sometimes, run projects for them. I'm not on the Council. Not yet anyway. I don't know what I could do."

"To hear you tell it sometimes, they can't get anything done without your help." Qui-Gon gently pulled one of the datachips from Obi-Wan's hand and placed it back on the table.

"Yes, well, I may exaggerate a little from time to time. I don't know if I can sway any of their opinions."

"I don't care what you think you can do. I want you to do it." Qui-Gon took a breath. "Look, I'm not asking for me, I'm asking for Bel-San because he won't ask for himself. He needs us."

Mace sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

***

"Yeah, I think I might be able to work something out. I just wish I had known sooner. I swear, that man can talk the ears off a Gundar but never about anything important. Hold on." Payter paused. "No, wait, Kerge." He walked out onto the practice floor and repositioned his padawan's arms until he was holding a correct stance. "Try it again." He stepped back and rejoined Qui-Gon.

"I don't think he wanted anyone to know how important it was to him. I just want to make sure he gets this chance. After everything he's done for all of us over the years, I just want to be able to do something for him when it really matters."

"Don't worry about it. I've got some contacts who owe me a favor or two, and if push comes to shove, well, I haven't been in the intelligence business for the past twenty years without collecting some blackmail material. We'll get him there. You just keep pestering the Council."

"It's what I do best." Qui-Gon grinned and walked out of the practice room with Obi-Wan trailing closely behind him. The sound of Payter once again correcting his Padawan followed them out the door.

***

"Master Jinn, what a surprise. What can we help you with this morning?� Even Piell sounded resigned to his presence.

Qui-Gon barely checked the grin that threatened to overcome him. He supposed there were a few advantages to being able to request a meeting with the Council at any time. "I believe you are aware of my topic for the meeting this morning."

"Aware we are of what you are doing," Yoda said sharply, though Qui-Gon could detect a hint of humor and approval in the older Jedi. "Every morning this week, come to see us you have. Your point you have made."

"Pardon, my master, but I don't think I have made my point until Bel-San is allowed to go. Now--"

"You're point has been made, Master Jinn. Upon reconsideration of the matter, we decided to allow Knight Jacoba to follow through with his proposal," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, his voice slightly perturbed.

Qui-Gon bowed deeply, watching out of the corner of his eye as Obi-Wan did the same. "Thank you, Masters. I will leave you to your business then."

***

"Just a minute!" The sound of Bel-San's voice was muffled through the door.

Qui-Gon waited patiently outside for the other man to let him in. As the door slid open, a scene of unchecked chaos greeted him. "What's this?"

"Didn't you hear?" Bel-San practically bounced in place. "The Council called me this morning. They reconsidered my proposal and they agreed to let me go." A wide grin stretched across Bel-San's face.

"That's wonderful. When do you leave?" Qui-Gon surveyed the mess and started packing useful items he could identify in the chaos.

"Tomorrow morning. I have a transport waiting. Could you hand me that...yeah, thanks." Bel-San drew a breath and paused in his manic packing. "I was so sure they weren't going to change their minds."

"That's because they--" Obi-Wan began but Qui-Gon cut him off quickly.

"That's enough, Obi-Wan. I think he's been spending too much time with me; he's been saying all sorts of unpleasant things about the Council for a week now." Qui-Gon laughed.

Obi-Wan looked at him indignantly. "I have not."

"Do we need more meditation exercises?" Qui-Gon asked pleasantly. It wasn't a very nice thing to do, but he didn't want Bel-San to find out what they had done. He wanted the other man to have this for himself, and not feel as though he owed them anything.

"No," Obi-Wan said, sulking.

:I'll explain later, Padawan.: Qui-Gon sent to the boy mentally before turning his attention back to Bel-San. "How long do you think this will take you?"

Bel-San looked thoughtful as he shoved more clothes into a pack. "I'm not sure. I told the Council in my proposal that it should take about six months, but I'm not entirely certain. You know how proposals are; you always have to sound like you know a lot more than you actually do."

"That's a long time," Obi-Wan commented as he turned a small wooden statue over in his hands.

Bel-San gently removed the statue from the boy's grasp. "It may seem that way, but I don't know if it will be long enough to do what I want. We'll see."

"Well, in that case, we'll leave you to your packing, but make sure to come by before you leave. I'll see if I can't get a couple people together to send you off properly."

Bel-San nodded as he followed them to the door. "Thanks."

"No problem." Qui-Gon smiled.

Looking him directly in the eye, Bel-San shook his head. "No, I mean thank you."

"Oh." He should have known better than to try and fool Bel-San. "You're welcome."

Qui-Gon walked through the hallways with Obi-Wan in silence. He could tell the boy had a question, but wasn�t quite sure how to ask.

"Master?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan?"

"Teacher Bel-San is your friend, right?"

"Yes."

"And all the stuff you did, that was to help him go away for a long time, right?"

Qui-Gon nodded. He thought he knew where this was going.

"So, if he's your friend why do you want him to go away?"

Qui-Gon drew a deep breath. "It's a little more complicated than that, Obi-Wan. Going to Was-4 is very important to Bel-San. It's something that he really wants, and has wanted for a long time. Yes, because I helped him achieve his goal I won�t see him for a while, but that's what being a good friend is all about. Sometimes you do things to help the people you love even if it means you might lose something. We'll still hear from him, and he will come back eventually. Do you understand?"

"I think so, but um, why didn't you want him to know you helped?"

"Because it wasn't about me, Obi-Wan. He would have gotten to go on his own eventually. I just helped to speed up the process a little."

"Oh."

Qui-Gon smiled and ruffled Obi-Wan's short hair, noting absently it was time for a trim. "Don't worry about it, Little One, you'll understand someday."