Long robes fluttering in the wind coming off the Geralis River, Qui-Gon pulled together the worn edging of his cloak, trying to draw more warmth around him. As the steady rain increased, he sighed inside his hood. Three weeks of inclement weather in crowded city of Hirashr had left him only irritated and tired. He cleared his throat, feeling the beginning of a cough growing within. Despite his love for colder weather, his body had clearly reached its threshold for incessant rain and biting chill. Tonight had been the final meeting with the governor while Mace Windu negotiated with the union workers. Unfortunately for Qui-Gon, Mace�s companions were far more willing to comply than the governor�s cabinet. After arduous hours of talking, the governor had recognized the union�s contract and finally allowed him the freedom to return to the small room were Mace waited for him.

Checking his chrono, Qui-Gon reprimanded himself before he swore. Yoda�s tinny voice echoed in his head: "No use foul language has. Swear a Jedi does not." It was nearly the middle of the night, and he had no desire to be out this late in the deserted city. After his meeting with the cabinet, Qui-Gon had attempted to use the dilapidated speeder the governor had provided them with, but the ancient vehicle sputtered and died several blocks from the Cabinet House. Forced to walk the kilometers back in the rain, Qui-Gon kept his mind occupied on the dry clothes and warm couch that awaited him. Though he used the Force to keep his senses clear, he knew he was already feverish. When he got back to the Temple, Qui-Gon thought ruefully, they would surely demand a stay in the Infirmary. Allowing himself a sardonic smile, he figured he might as well uphold his propensity for coming back to the Temple in pieces.

Preoccupied with his oncoming illness, Qui-Gon recognized a moment too late the distinct warning from the Force that flared in his mind.

"Don�t move."

A sharp point dug through his sodden capes into the small of his back. He held his palms aloft, indicating his lack of a weapon. Using the Force to clear his anxiety, Qui-Gon sensed the presence of a humanoid behind him. It was male, and its signature contained a great deal of fury.

"Turn around."

Qui-Gon nearly gave a start when he saw who barked the command at him. A boy of indeterminate years, perhaps in his late teens, held a vibroshiv tightly in his left hand.

"Give me your credits," he snarled as he inclined the knife towards Qui-Gon.

Hoping to a avoid a struggle, he opted for the most peaceable tactic. With a slight wave of his hand, he attempted to use the Force to keep the would-be thief at bay. "You should be getting home now."

In the moment that Qui-Gon realized his mind-trick had not worked on the boy, he immediately recognized the bandit was going to stab him. He felt the movement of the boy�s arm before it moved, and he turned to sidestep the weapon. Although the Force�s warning gave him the impetus to dodge the slash aimed at his chest, Qui-Gon�s weakened system did not allow for him to entirely evade the blow. He gave a slight cry as the vibroshiv went into his side, but he reacted swiftly by engaging his concealed lightsaber. The green blade roared to life, and his attacker stumbled back, dropping his weapon. Without a word, the boy spun on his heel and dashed down the street, disappearing into the rain-slicked darkness.

"Come back!" he shouted. Qui-Gon moved to give chase after his assailant, but his legs refused to co-operate. Feeling suddenly lightheaded, he switched off his lightsaber and quickly felt the place where the blade had entered. When his hand came back covered with blood, he sank to his knees. Fumbling in the dark for his commlink, his hands were shaking as he signaled his partner.

Mace�s voice crackled in response, full of mirth. "Aren�t you ever coming back, or are you having too much fun with the governor�s cabinet?"

"Mace," he panted, struggling to control his breathing, "I was attacked."

His partner�s voice transformed. "What happened?" He paused before he added knowingly, "You�re injured."

"I�ve been stabbed. It�s serious."

"I�m on my way. Where are you?"

"Near the north business district by the river."

"Hold on. I�m coming," Mace directed, signaling off.

Qui-Gon attempted to use his link with the Force to staunch the blood flow, but his feverish state made keeping his concentration steady a difficult task. Although he had been wounded many times in his life as a Jedi, the shock of being so viciously wounded by one so young left him bewildered. The boy�s eyes had been consumed with malice; Qui-Gon had not seen a look full of such hatred since his second padawan deserted him. Pushing aside the dismal memories, he forced himself to focus on maintaining consciousness. As the water from the flooded streets seeped into his leggings, he felt the cold work its way into him. Shivering in his soaked robes, Qui-Gon nearly cried out with relief when he saw the imposing silhouette of Mace Windu jumped out of an oncoming speeder.

"I need med techs here, now!" the Jedi ordered, instructing the driver.

Mace was at his side in an instant, igniting a lumi-torch. Qui-Gon watched the other Jedi�s expression grow into a grimace as Mace inspected his wound. "It�s not good, Jinn. We need to get you out of here."

Feeling the supporting arm of his partner come around his shoulder, Qui-Gon struggled to his feet. He fought back the bile rising in his throat, trying not to lose the governor�s banquet dinner all over his friend.

"Can you walk?" Mace asked, still bearing most of Qui-Gon�s weight.

Qui-Gon managed a nod, but Mace continued to help him towards the speeder. "What made the wound?"

Qui-Gon winced, sucking air between his teeth. "Vibroshiv."

"Thought so." Mace�s expression grew solemn. "We�re leaving for the Temple as soon as you�re stabilized. You need to see the Healers, not these backwater docs."

As a slash of jarring pain traveled up his side, Qui-Gon almost lost his footing, falling forward before Mace caught him. "Can I get some help over here?" Mace barked, his face a controlled screen of frustration.

Between the driver and Mace�s formidable strength, they managed to get the impressively tall Jedi into the speeder, but Qui-Gon could feel his own senses wavering as he laid across the cushioned seats.

"Don�t leave me, buddy," Mace instructed, and Qui-Gon felt the slight wave of Force suggestion to keep him awake.

"It was a boy, Mace. . ." Qui-Gon mumbled. His head felt stuffed with heavy, packed cloth, as if he spoke from behind a curtain.

"Don�t speak. You�re going to be fine." Mace absently laid his hand on Qui-Gon�s forehead as the speeder lifted off the ground, and Qui-Gon barely heard his friend�s outburst.

"He�s burning up. You need to get us to the Med Center, now," the other Jedi growled.

The driver mumbled in a foreign tongue, and then shrugged. "I�m going as fast as I can."

Mace waved a hand at the man, barely containing his irritation. "You will go as fast as you can to get there."

The driver nodded. "I�ll go as fast as I can."

The last thing Qui-Gon heard before he finally slipped into choking darkness was the sound of the speeder�s engines roaring into full throttle.

***

He woke himself up screaming.

As awareness dropped heavily onto Obi-Wan�s mind, he sat up quickly, eyes wide as they scanned his surroundings. He was in his small chamber, drenched with sweat, and lost in a tangle of his own bedclothes. Within seconds, the door to his room slid open.

"Obi-Wan, are you all right?"

The kind voice of Master Heri filled the dark space between his bed and the hallway. "Did you have a nightmare?

Obi-Wan pulled his blankets up around him, feeling suddenly cold. "Yes, Master Heri," he replied in a whisper.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Disturbing images flashed into his mind, images he wished to forget. "No, Master Heri."

Obi-Wan felt her search his signature with the Force; he raised his shields in defense.

Master Heri took a step into the room. Her voice, although filled with compassion, made Obi-Wan nervous. The last time he had a dream, the Master on night duty had laughed at his nightmare and told him to forget it and go back to sleep. "You seem afraid, Obi-Wan. That�s perfectly understandable, but it might help to talk to someone about your dream. It might make you feel less afraid."

Obi-Wan bit his lip, debating. His voice came quietly at last. "You promise not to laugh at me?"

Master Heri gave a quick nod. "Knight�s honor."

The young boy let out his breath quickly. "I had a bad dream about Master Qui-Gon."

"What happened?"

Obi-Wan covered his eyes with his hands, as if trying to shield his mind from the images inside. "He got hurt. He was bleeding. The Healers couldn�t help him."

Although Master Heri knew Obi-Wan�s dreams had occasionally been warnings of the future, she accidentally allowed a gasp to escape her lips.

The boy heard her slip, and he drew his knees up to his chest. "Did something happen to Master Qui-Gon?"

Heri crossed the room and sat lightly on the edge of the child�s sleep-couch. Her answer came after moments of silent thought. "The Temple received a message that Qui-Gon was injured yesterday. He�s supposed to arrive sometime tonight."

Obi-Wan felt his eyes prickle. "Is he going to be all right?"

Heri took the boy�s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We don�t know yet."

Obi-Wan gave a silent nod, and then climbed out of bed to kneel on the floor. "I need to meditate now," he said softly.

Taken aback, Heri stood up quietly. "Would you like someone to meditate with you?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No thank you, Master. I need to do this alone."

As Master Heri turned to leave his chambers, she saw his slight form shiver. Moving silently back to the bed, she removed the top blanket and draped it around his shoulders.

***

A massive wave of Force suggestion brought Qui-Gon back into consciousness. As awareness returned slowly, he felt the prick of a hypo go into his neck. "Where�s Mace?" he asked weakly, surprised at the frail sound of his own voice.

"Master Jinn, you need to relax. Don�t speak." The white-robed Healer wiped off his face with a clean towel. "I finally told Mace to go back to his quarters. He hadn�t slept in nearly 48 hours."

Suddenly realizing his hair was soaked, he found his voice again. "Why am I wet?"

The Healer�s answer was clipped, but her mouth twitched at the corners into the smallest specter of a smile. "You�ve been in the bacta tank for two days. Your wound got infected, and your fever complicated things." Relief illuminated her expression. "We weren�t sure you were going to make it. It�s good to have you back, Master Jinn."

Settling back against the soft cushion of his hoverbed, he sensed a slight Force-wave. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the signature of the wave. "Obi-Wan?"

The Healer suddenly stopped her ministrations. "What did you say?"

"I�m probably still drugged," he replied, closing his eyes. "I thought I sensed one of the children. Obi-Wan."

"Master Heri, one of the creche assistants, came in two days ago, asking for you. She said that a boy named Obi-Wan had a disturbing nightmare about your injury the same night you arrived back from Hirashr. He�s been meditating for you as much as the Teachers would allow." The Healer paused as Qui-Gon took in the information. "He must care for you greatly."

Qui-Gon�s mind formed the image of the small boy: an elfish face capped with blonde hair and quick blue eyes. "He and I have managed to wander into a scrape or two together."

Another voice came from outside the small chamber, and Qui-Gon recognized it immediately. "Charr�a," he called hoarsely.

The Healer waved her hand as if to quiet him, but she reluctantly stopped, allowing the other Healer past her.

"Qui-Gon! Thank the Force you�re all right."

He took her hand. "It�s good to see you."

"How are you feeling?"

He grimaced, then grinned. "About as well as one can feel after getting a knife in the ribs."

"You�ve been quite the talk of the Temple."

Qui-Gon chuckled, then regretted it as a snap of pain issued from his side. "I can see the holo-headlines already: �Master Jinn Gets Mugged.�"

Charr�a brushed a lock of hair out of her line of vision. "Master Heri asked if I could bring someone to see you. He�s been asking for you."

"Obi-Wan?"

At the sound of Qui-Gon�s mention of his name, a tiny shadow moved outside in the corridor. Poking his small blond head through the doorway, he looked at Qui-Gon and then scooted quickly across the room to his bedside.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, what are you doing up this late?" he asked with mock rigidity.

The child�s cornflower eyes didn�t blink as he said quietly, "I came to see you."

Charr�a rose to her feet silently, and she took the other Healer by the arm. "Jinn�s going to be fine. Let him have a moment with the boy."

Qui-Gon hardly even noticed the other two had left in the midst of the child�s chatter. ". . .and I had a nightmare and Master Heri said that it was true and I thought that you died but they said you didn�t die you were just real hurt and so I couldn�t go back to sleep so I meditated for you and then they made me go to classes and I didn�t want to be there but they said if I was good then I could come see you later maybe and so I was really good and then finally Master Heri said you were awake but I already knew you were awake because I knew you were."

Obi-Wan paused to take a breath, but Qui-Gon cut him off before he could resume his tirade. "Thank you for your concern, Obi-Wan. When I woke up, I felt your Force-waves, and I was glad to know you cared."

The child reached out to take Qui-Gon�s hand. "You were gone a long time. I missed you."

Qui-Gon gave the boy�s hand a squeeze. "I missed you too," he replied, suddenly surprised at the truth of his statement.

Obi-Wan grinned with all his baby teeth. "You did?"

He laughed, then groaned as his side prickled. "Yes. Mace doesn�t talk nearly as much as you do, and certainly not as fast as you do."

The child giggled, and then leaned forward conspiratorially. "You know what?"

"What?"

"Yoda missed you too."

Qui-Gon snorted, a smile on his lips. "I hardly think so."

Obi-Wan shook his head in the affirmative with great authority. "He did. He said, �Nothing wrong in the Temple there is. Where is Qui-Gon?�" Obi-Wan explained in his best Yoda impression.

The Jedi Master chuckled, and then gave the boy�s hand another squeeze. "I�m glad you came to visit me, Obi-Wan."

The child�s voice came quietly. "I�m glad you didn�t die like you did in my dream."

Unsure of how to respond, Qui-Gon gave a quick nod. "Me too."

The sound of boots clicking against the floor tiles alerted them both to Charr�a�s oncoming presence. "Obi-Wan? It�s getting late. Master Qui-Gon needs to rest."

Obediently, the child let go of Qui-Gon�s hand and moved to her side. "Bye Master Qui-Gon. When you feel better, come to the creche and tell stories, okay?"

Charr�a gave Qui-Gon a knowing smile. "Get some rest, Jinn."

As the room quieted and dimmed after their exit, Qui-Gon settled back against the pillow behind his head. With the image of Obi-Wan in his mind, he suddenly thought of the young man who had attacked him. He hoped the boy had someone to go home to.