A Bond of Friendship: Story 3: Deaths Door Author: Angel5000 Feedback: Please!! Email or reply to post! Time Frame: Pre-TPM; Obi-Wan is nearly 15. Disclaimer: As always; Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Yoda, Bruck, and all the other characters in this story, except for Healer Bash'ta whom I made up myself, belong to George Lucas, not to me. I am not making any money off this story and I hope I'm not breaking any copyright rules or anything like that. It's just in fun. Summary:  A strange disease threatens to take fourteen-year-old Obi- Wan's life and Qui-Gon must find a way to save his Apprentice before he looses him�perhaps forever. Author's Note: My stories aren't following those of the JA series, although there are several incidents and many characters that are the same. Author Note2: words surrounded by ~ ~ are personal thoughts and words surrounded by /  / are telepathic. A Bond of Friendship Series A Bond of Friendship A Bond of Friendship: Story 2: A Temple Visit A Bond of Friendship: Story 3: Deaths Door A Bond of Friendship: Story 4: Sad Days A Bond of Friendship: Story 5: A Birthday Forgotten A Bond of Friendship: Story 6: Everything Will Be Alright A Bond of Friendship: Story 7: A Fight For Life A Bond of Friendship: Story 8: A New Beginning More to come!!! * * * * * * * * *    Obi-Wan sat up suddenly in bed confused. ~Where am I? What am I doing here? Why do I have this strange sense of unease and panic?~ Then it all came back to him, he was at the Jedi temple. He and his Master had been called back the day before. They were going to learn of their new mission tomorrow, or would it be today? Obi-Wan glanced at the ion clock on the wall, it glowed 02:53, so it was today that they were going to receive their mission. In that case what he needed was some sleep. He lay back down, expecting sleep to come but it didn't. After several minutes of turning he decided he wasn't going to be falling back asleep any time soon.        Obi-Wan sat up and tried to use the calming methods he had learned as a Temple student. The meditating and calm thoughts seemed to work; until he was almost asleep then the panic would wash over him, pounding him like waves. This wasn't doing any good at all! He needed his rest if he was to do an adequate job on his mission. ~What else can I do?~ Every calming method he could think of had failed. ~Where is this panic coming from?~ It frightened him that he could be having these panic waves for no real reason at all. There was one other thing that might help. Rising from the sleep couch, Obi-Wan slipped on his shoes and headed as quietly as he could for the door. He didn't want to wake his sleeping Master when he left. The boy was just about to open the door when he was startled to hear his Master's voice.    "Is there something wrong Obi-Wan?"    Obi-Wan looked over at the sleeping couch where Qui-Gon was laying, he should have known that his Master would sense something wrong and awaken. "No, Master" Obi-Wan began but decided against it, it would be better if Qui-Gon knew, "Actually, yes, maybe there is."     "Come, sit here, and tell me what is bothering you." Qui-Gon said, concern in his voice. He knew something as wrong with the boy. Obi-Wan had not been sleeping well the last few nights, tossing and turning. Tonight had been the worst; the older Jedi had stayed awake most of the night listening to the boys tossing and turning. When he had awakened Qui-Gon had lain still, listening to his Padawan without him knowing. Qui-Gon hadn't been going to mention it. He had decided to wait for the boy to tell him himself, but that was before he had decided to leave the room. Qui-Gon knew Obi-Wan and he knew the boy wouldn't deprive himself of precious sleep unless there was something seriously bothering him.    Obi-Wan crossed to his Master's sleeping couch, thankful that he could tell someone but at the same time feeling guilty for waking the older Jedi. ~Qui-Gon needs his sleep more than I do.~ Obi-Wan told himself. "Master, I am not sure where to begin." He said after he had seated himself beside Qui-Gon.    "The beginning is always a good place to start young Padawan." Qui-Gon said. He was anxious to know what was on the boys mind but he tried to stay patient, he didn't want to push it.         Obi-Wan smiled slightly, yes the beginning was a good place to start but he wasn't sure if he knew what the beginning was, ~Where had this all started?~ "Master, I am not sure I know where the beginning is but I will try."    "That is all we can ask is that you try Obi-Wan. Now, continue."        "Yes, Master." Obi-Wan began to tell Qui-Gon how he had woken up feeling disorientated and confused. Then he told him of the panic and the strange feeling of unease. "It is all very strange Master because even now that I know exactly where I am the waves of panic still continue to wash over me." As he said this he shivered from another one.       Qui-Gon looked his Padawan with concern in his eyes, he didn't like to see the boy like this, and it worried him. "Did you try the Jedi calming techniques and meditate?" He asked, even though he knew already the answer.    "Yes Master; that is what concerns me. I tried all that I knew and every one of them failed."    "Was that why you were going outside?" Qui-Gon gently prodded.    Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, I thought that if I watched the stars it might calm me and lull me to sleep."    "Then what was the use of your lightsaber? I do not think that we are going to meet any enemies here young one." Qui-Gon asked, motioning toward the weapon clipped to the belt that hung around the boy's waist.    "If the stars couldn't calm my mind I was going to practice with my lightsaber. I figured if my mind wouldn't quiet then I would tire my body so that my mind would have no choice but to allow me the sleep I desperately need."      Qui-Gon nodded and then rose, "Come Padawan, and lay down on your bed."    "But Master, I just told you that I cannot sleep. What good will it do for me to lie there, trying to sleep? All it will do is keep you awake. You need your sleep more than I do!"        "I am glad for your concern Obi-Wan but you must trust me and obey. Do not worry, you will not toss for long." Obi-Wan looked at him apprehensively and then obeyed, lying on the sleep couch. Qui-Gon reached out his hand and placed it on the boys shoulder,concentrating with force. Obi-Wan moved slightly, "Lie still Padawan, this will not take long, then you will be asleep. There are still a few hours before daylight and you need all the rest you can get."     Obi-Wan wanted to protest, to say that it wouldn't work and trying to sleep would only make it worse but even as he opened his lips to speak he began to feel drowsy. He wasn't sure what his master was doing but whatever it was it seemed to be working. The panic and uneasiness came back but only for a moment. Then he was filled with calm, a calm he had never felt before. Instantly he was sleeping soundly.     "Sweet Dreams Padawan." Qui-Gon said before taking his hand away.    It had worked. He was surprised that it had taken so much of his energy to calm the boy. Usually just one touch could calm his anger but this time, this time it had taken much more strength than it should have. Qui-Gon didn't have the energy to ponder it though; heb arely had the energy left to make it over to his own sleeping couch before he fell into an exhausted sleep. For the next few hours Master and Apprentice slept restfully. *                *                *                *                *     Obi-Wan lifted his head, and looked at the clock on the wall, it said 0700. Qui-Gon usually got up as the sun was rising and woke his apprentice too. The sun was up already, had been for an hour, so why hadn't Qui-Gon awakened him? Obi-Wan sat up quickly, a little to quickly perhaps, because as he did so a great pounding began in his head, a pounding so hard and that it took his breath away. Instantly Obi-Wan fell back to the sleep couch, and closed his eyes, concentrating. First he recognized the pain as a signal that there was something wrong with his body, and he thanked it for warning him, then he slowly concentrated on it leaving him, it had warned him and now it could go. After a few minutes he sat up again, slowly this time. The pain was still there, but it had lessened enough to allow him to move about. Obi-Wan walked to the window and stood there, breathing the fresh air and holding his head in his hands.     The door opened and Qui-Gon entered. He had, as usual awakened as the sun had been rising, but had decided to let his Apprentice sleep. Now he saw him standing at the window clutching his head in obvious pain. "Are you all right Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked with concern, the boy should not have a headache; in stead he should be feeling very well rested and calm.     Obi-Wan turned slowly so as not to cause any more pain, "Yes Master, I should be fine." He began to walk towards Qui-Gon to illustrate his point but after only a couple steps he stumbled and fell. The last thing Obi-Wan remembered is the ground coming up at him very, very fast, and then blackness. *                *                *                *                *    Qui-Gon was worried about the boy, very worried. Instead of being refreshed the next morning he had been groggy and in pain. The Jedi ability to calm another person was not supposed to happen like this - what had gone wrong? And last night, the strange feelings of panic and unease the boy said he had felt what were they from? It was all so very upsetting. Qui-Gon paced back and forth across the Healing Ward where Obi-Wan lay, and watched as a medic droid was busy scanning his head and body for any signs of damage.         "Know yet what is wrong, do you?"     Qui-Gon looked up in surprise he had been so lost in his own thoughts that he had not heard Yoda enter nor had he heard the Healer and her Apprentice enter either. "No, the medic droid has found nothing wrong with the boy, except that he is currently unconscious and a slight fever is coming on." He looked closely at the Healer and the boy standing beside her, this boy was the one he had seen with Obi-Wan the day before, the one that his Apprentice's hatred hadbeen directed at.       "I am Healer Bash'ta and this is my Apprentice Bruck. We are here to help Obi-Wan." She dismissed the medic droid and then continued, "Can you please explain to us what happened so we can treat the boy as best as possible?" she said as she began to examine Obi-Wan. *            *                *            *            *                  Qui-Gon sat in on his bed, eyes closed, legs crossed, trying to calm his mind. He replayed the events over and over in his mind. Obi-Wan had fallen, and Qui-Gon had caught him, preventing him from hitting his head. The boy had lain limp in his arms, barely moving, as the pain was too much to bear. He hadn't spoken except to moan quietly as Qui-Gon gently carried him to the medic room, and then he had spoken. Right before he had drifted out of consciousness he had said something that made Qui-Gon's heart ache more than ever. Obi-Wan had opened his eyes and gazed at his Master for a few moments before whispering, "Please, Master" he paused, fighting the pain, "Help me" and then he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.     The door opened, bringing Qui-Gon back to the present, and Bash'ta entered, followed by Bruck. "Obi-Wan is unconscious. We think he will regain consciousness but it may take some work and" she paused for a moment "his fever is getting higher. If it gets to much higher there is a chance he may have some brain damage." Qui-Gon's heart ripped, ~No!! No! Not like this, I can't let my Padawan go like this! Idon't want to loose another one, I can't loose another Padawan, and atsuch a young age. His birthday is in a couple of weeks, and then he will be fifteen. Much too young to be lost to something as small as an illness�~       "There must be something we can do. Something we can do to help him..."Qui-Gon's voice trailed off.     "Go Bruck, and watch Obi-Wan for any signs, good or bad. I wish to speak with Master Jinn." Bash'ta said, dismissing her Apprentice. Bruck nodded and left the room. Strange, Qui-Gon thought, that this boy who has so much hatred for his Apprentice was spending his time to help save him. "We are doing the best that we can for the boy but we don't know what is wrong with him. I have never seen anything like this. I have done a brain scan and so far there is no brain damage.  As his fever rises I will continue to do periodic scans to make sure that there is no damage. There are special ointment and creams for lowering fevers and I have used all that I have. I have concentrated, using the Force to control his fever as best as I can and pushing it to heal him but I am exhausted and how can I use the force to heal him when I do not even know what is wrong?"     "My Apprentice is watching him, using his Force ability to keep the fever low and now all we can do is wait, and hope, that it will work. The other Healers in the Temple have come down for short periods of time to relieve me, but they are busy tending to the wounds of a Master/Padawan team that came in the night before. Even if it doesn't do much he is a strong boy, I can sense that the force is strong in him and he should make it through fine." Her words were meant to be comforting but all they did was remind Qui-Gon that the boy wasstrong in the Force, and that this shouldn't have happened in the first place. Something was very wrong here.         "There is something you aren't tell me, I can sense it in you. Please, what is it? I have the right to know." Qui-Gon said, fighting for control.     "Yes, you do. There is a special herb that enhances the Force's ability of those around to heal people. This special herb can do many things, most of which we don't know about yet. Because it is such a strong plant we do not often have a use for it. Normally bacta is the only thing we need, with a little help from the Force. Never before have I had to worry about a fever that was too high for me to control it myself, but with Obi-Wan," Bash'ta paused before continuing. She noticed that Qui-Gon's eyes had brightened at the prospect of hope.     "His fever is so high that even with my Apprentice I cannot keep it down, it is too exhausting. At the moment one of us is with him around the clock, giving the other a small break, but as the day goes on the exhaustion becomes overwhelming and my breaks must be cut shorter in order to relieve Bruck. If you wish we could get this herb but it has side affects that are unknown. There is a risk involved, we are not sure what the plant will do. We know that it increases the Force's ability to heal, but no other details are known. This herb grows deep in the azurite mines of Bandomeer. I know what you are thinking, nothing grows on Bandomeer, but this strange plant does. For some reason it seems to thrive on azurite- but it can only grow in the mines, and in the dark. It's very small about the size of a fingernail and very fragile. It cannot be handled roughly. If you will go to Bandomeer and get the herb then I give you the instructions on how to bring it back safely. Will you do it?"     "Yes, I will do it." Qui-Gon said quietly, fighting to keep his composure, "That boy means more to me than anything else. I will go to Bandomeer if you are sure that that is what needs to be done." Qui-Gon said quickly.     "I do not know if it will help him or not but we must try. You must try Qui-Gon, You must!" Bash'ta said urgently.             *            *                *            *            *              Bash'ta watched as the supply ship took off. It was headed toward Bandomeer with a load of supplies for the mining company. Qui-Gon had arranged for them to take him along too. The only difficulty would be getting the plant before the supply ship left the planet, two days later. "Go with speed Qui-Gon, Go with speed" Bash'ta whispered before turning and hurrying inside. She must do everything in her power to keep Obi-Wan's fever down.        Bash'ta hurried back to the Clinic. When she got there Bruck was nowhere to be found. ~He must have taken a break~ Suddenly she felt Obi-Wan grow strangely weaker. Grabbing her comlink she pushed a button that would signal Bruck, wherever he was, to get back to the Healer's ward. Hurrying over to Obi-Wan she focused with theForce, doing her best to keep the boy alive. He was slowly slipping.Bash'ta was afraid she was loosing him when Bruck rushed into the room, "Bruck! Obi-Wan's fading! Hurry!" Bash'ta shouted to him, never once moving her eyes, keeping her concentration on Obi-Wan.    Bruck just looked at her before slowly grabbing a small devise off the counter and attaching it to the bed near Obi-Wan. After it was set up he sped up a little but not as much as he should have.  Deliberately he pushed a button and a pink tinted energy shield surrounded Obi-Wan. The energy shield was specially designed to act as life support. It was filled with pure oxygen and there were small pumps that forced the fevered boy to breath. Six small vaporizers were set around the bed. These small machines would send out a mist of healing vapors into the energy field. The vapors, when breathed in by the patient, helped calm him and slow his racing heart beat. When they landed on his skin it helped to cool him and keep the fever down.     Bash'ta let out a sigh of relief. Obi-Wan was okay, for now. The energy shield would help keep his Life Force from slipping any further away and hopefully would keep his heart rate from becoming to quick.     ~But there is something wrong about the way Bruck had been gone when Obi-Wan's life force had started to slip, something wrong about everything...and why did Bruck seem not surprised when he came back and saw Obi-Wan near death? It had certainly surprised me!!~     Bash'ta shook her head, that couldn't be right it didn't sound like Bruck. He was one of the most compassionate boys she knew, and definitely one of the best Apprentices she had ever had. She just couldn't place her finger on it but there was something seriously wrong with this whole thing, something very wrong... *            *                *            *            *                "Finally!" Qui-Gon said to no one in particular. They were finally on Bandomeer. It had seemed to take a year to get there when in reality in was only a few days. As Qui-Gon stepped out of the ship he saw Clat'ha, the woman in charge of the mining corporation, and Si-Treemba, Obi-Wan's Arconan friend, waiting for him.     "How is Obi-Wan?" Clat'ha said the moment he was in hearing range.    "What? No hello how was your trip?" Qui-Gon forced a laugh before his face become solemn again, "He is not well, the fever is up and he is currently unconscious. I haven't contacted Healer Bash'ta within the last twenty-four standard hours so I don't know his exact condition but I only have two days to get this herb or I'm stuck here until the next ship leaves, which could be weeks. What I need is to get to the mines right away."     Clat'ha smiled briefly, "Then you do want to get to work right away, I was pretty sure that's what you'd want. Si-Treemba knows these mines as well as anyone else. Take him with you; he could be a big help. If you need me I'll be at the mine headquarters. We have arranged a room for you; I don't expect you to be searching twenty-four hours. Is there anything else you need?"     Qui-Gon smiled, he could always count on Clat'ha to have everything all worked out, "No, I think I'll be fine, but I would like to start searching right away."    Clat'ha nodded, she had expected that, "Follow me." *            *            *                *            *            *                 Back at the temple Obi-Wan was not doing well. His fever hadn't gone up, but it also hadn't gone down. Now instead of lying there peacefully he was tossing and turning in a restless sleep. He would toss for minutes, mumbling something that no one could understand, and then would lay still for as long as an hour before any more movement was made, not even his fingers would twitch and the rise of his chest was barely visible�     Bash'ta was getting worried about the boy, Bruck was with him whenever she wasn't but she knew she couldn't always count on an Apprentice to recognize the signs that she would. She was starting to get worried too, whenever she tried to take a break, even if it was only five or ten minutes, something would happen and Obi-Wan's condition would suddenly start going downhill. Bruck wasn't as skilled with using the Force as she was and it took most of his energy to do in ten minutes what she could do for several hours. It was wearing her down and she was becoming exhausted mentally and physically. Things weren't right about the way this was all happening. Bruck had been her Intern for nearly a month and in that time he had learned quite a bit. He truly ought to be able to keep him stable for at least half an hour�     At least the Obi-Wan wasn't unconscious anymore, just in this restless sleep. Unfortunately it wasn't always a good sign when the patient started to mumble incoherently, as was the case with Obi-Wan. Just then the Apprentice began to thrash and yell about someone named Sulana,     "Sulana! Sulana please don't leave me! Please Sulana!" Obi-Wan cried, thrashing from side to side.     Hurrying to his side Bash'ta did her best to calm him but it wasn't working well. Pulling the Force around her, the Healer placed all her concentration on the young boy on the bed before her. Slowly he stopped screaming but his pulse rate wouldn't calm. Just as Bash'ta thought she was about to faint from exhaustion Bruck hurried into the room and began to focus on the boy too. Finally he calmed and Bash'ta sank into a chair near him, sweating from the effort it had taken. It was then that reality hit her; ~this boy is going to die... ~ *            *                *            *            *                It was dark and damp. The only noise Qui-Gon could hear was the muffled noises of the miners up above and the sound of Si-Treemba's breathing. He and Si-Treemba had been searching for hours and the mine was about to close for the night, yet he didn't want to stop.    This plant grew in the lowest levels of the Azurite mines. The Arconan miners only had technology enough to go down six levels; luckily for them this strange, blue herb could be found on the sixth level, although it was scarce. It was found in more abundance down lower but there was just not enough technology to go down any farther at this moment. In order to find the herb Qui-Gon and Si-Treemba had to search along the walls, inspecting every corner of the wall. If they were careless then they could easily miss a whole patch of it. Since it was so small, about the size of a thumbnail, it grew in patches about the size of a child's fist, and there was onlyabout a patch every thousand feet or more. True, the plant was Force sensitive and whenever someone who was strong in the force was near it would let off a bluish glow but the glow was very faint and in order to see it you had to be paying close attention.     "We think that we should stop now. The mines will close soon and then we will be trapped here all night." Si-Treemba said in his usual way of talking. Arconans always referred to themselves as we. They never used the words I, me or mine.     Qui-Gon looked at Si-Treemba, yes, they probably should stop. He was sure the young Arconan was getting tired and Qui-Gon was sure he didn't want to be stuck in the mine all night. The Jedi nodded, "Let's go. I can search tomorrow." *            *            *            *            *            *     "How is Obi-Wan doing?"     A miniature holographic picture of Qui-Gon wavered slightly before Bash'ta. She knew he was worried about the boy and she didn't want to worry him more but she wouldn't lie, "He is not well. Although he is no longer completely unconscious he still tosses and turns and mumbles incoherently. Then he lays silent for lengths up to an hour before he begins again, not even his fingers twitch. You would almost think he was dead if it wasn't for the slight movement of his chest when he breathes. When he is awake it is only for a moment, less than five minutes, and then he falls back into a sleep.  It is not good. Earlier he was screaming for someone named Sulana. Apparently she was a friend of his who has died, I am not sure who she was but he felt great pain over the loss. Lately he's been crying out for you. Qui-Gon you must get back soon, I fear for his life. He needs his Master with him, he needs you."     "I have not found the herb yet, I will search all day tomorrow for it, I should find it then. I will leave in two days with the transport; do not worry. Please, keep him alive until I return." And then he was gone. Qui-Gon had cut off the transmission; he was to full of emotion to talk right now. He hadn't found the plant but he was going to find it tomorrow, he had to...     Bash'ta stared at the place where Qui-Gon's hologram had been standing just a few seconds before. She began to wonder if it was a good thing to send Qui-Gon to Bandomeer. If Obi-Wan died before he returned, if he died crying out for his Master, then it would devastate the Jedi, turning back towards the Padawan she prepared herself for another long and weary night. *            *            *            *            *            *     The next day Qui-Gon was up before dawn, waiting for the mines to open. An hour before they were to open he heard a knock at his door, and he crossed to open it. Clat'ha stood before him; at her side was Si-Treemba. "I though you'd want to start early so I have arranged for the guards to open the mines now." Qui-Gon could only stare at her in amazement, "Are you coming?" Clat'ha asked as she turned from the room, Si-Treemba at her side, Qui-Gon only nodded and followed her out.     "Obi-Wan is very ill isn't he?" Clat'ha asked after a few moments, she had noticed Qui-Gon's long, drawn face and the worry in his eyes. It looked as if he hadn't slept at all last night.     "Yes, he gets worse every moment. He is calling out for me now, and Bash'ta fears for his life. It is when the patients start to cry out for the ones they love that death is near. Right now he is standing at deaths door."     Si-Treemba was shaken; he couldn't believe that his human friend could be so ill. Last time he had seen Obi-Wan the boy had been so vibrant and so full of life. Just a few days ago Obi-Wan had been here, and had seemed fine and in good health. He had even convinced Si-Treemba to go on another one of his "adventures" that always ended with them both in some kind of trouble. ~Please hang on Obi-Wan!~ Si-Treemba silently called to his friend; knowing that the human boy wouldn't be able to hear him, ~Please hang on! ~     Qui-Gon and Si-Treemba searched for hours in the cave, not even coming out to eat. Clat'ha was beginning to get worried; Si-Treemba wouldn't even answer his comlink. ~The Arcanon boy had probably turned it off in order to work better~, She told herself, still she was worried. Just as she was getting ready to go in after them she saw Qui-Gon hurry out of the mine. In his hand was a small tube filled with a strange bluish plant, which seemed to be letting off a glow. Behind him came Si-Treemba, running to keep up with Qui-Gon's long stride. Clat'ha saw them coming and hurried to meet them, "Do you have it?" Qui-Gon nodded, "Good, lets go, maybe we can convince the transport pilot to leave a bit early." *            *            *            *            *            *     Qui-Gon was back in the Healers wing of the Temple; silently he cursed the hours it had taken to arrive on the slow transport. Bash'ta had ground up the plant and added some other ingredients to create a blue cream. Slowly she rubbed it on Obi-Wan's wrists, ankles, forehead, and stomach, "Okay, now we must concentrate.the cream will increase the power of the Force and hopefully Obi-Wan will start to revive. If the three of us focus then it should start to work in a couple of minutes." She said. Qui-Gon could only hope.     Qui-Gon and Bash'ta stood, one on either side of Obi-Wan, with Bruck near his head. They brought the Force around them and began to concentrate on the boy, as Bash'ta had been doing almost non-stop the last couple of days. At first nothing seemed to happen but slowly the cream began to glow. As they concentrated harder and harder the cream began to glow brighter and brighter. Soon the whole room was filled with the blue light. It was so bright that Qui-Gon was forced to close his eyes against it.     Suddenly the blue light vanished and they were jarred out of their concentration. The cream that Bash'ta had just applied on the boy had paled to almost a white and was slowly fading away; it seemed to be disintegrating right in front of their eyes! When it was totally gone Bruck turned to Bash'ta, a strange, haunted look in his eyes. "What happened Master?" The boy asked.     "I don't know my Apprentice. I am not even sure if it worked." As if on cue Obi-Wan's eyelids flickered. Slowly and deliberately the boy opened his eyes. He turned towards Qui-Gon and looked at him, confusion and disorientation showing on his face, "Master, am I.... am I alive?"     "Yes, my Padawan." Qui-Gon said, fighting for composure, "Yes, you are very much alive." He said as single tear ran down his cheek. *            *            *            *            *            *     Obi-Wan stood on the balcony outside his room watching the sun setting. Bash'ta had had to run some tests on him and take a fewblood samples before she would allow him to return to his own quarters. It had seemed to take forever to convince her that he would be fine with Qui-Gon. "Is it all right if I join you Padawan?" Qui- Gon asked from the doorway.     Obi-Wan smiled and turned to face him, "Yes Master."     Qui-Gon crossed the room and stood facing the sunset with his arm around his Padawan. He could feel the Force pulsing between them, in them, around them. They did not yet know why Obi-Wan had become so ill, but Qui-Gon knew, and Obi-Wan knew, that together, they could handle just about anything.     They would find out some day what had happened to Obi-Wan. Bash'ta and the other Healers would run tests over the blood samples she had taken from the young Padawan and they would review the head scans and search for reasons to his near death experience, but until they knew they would not let it continue to haunt them. Someday they would look back onto these past days not as a time of fear and horror but instead as a bonding experience. A trial that had been faced and conquered and had ended, not with sadness and grief, but with joy and happiness, a happiness that only one could have when celebrating the privilege of life. END

Return to Main Page

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws