Qui-Gon could feel Obi-Wan's confusion and consternation echoing down the bond between them, and knew that his Padawan had sensed his own unease at the course the Council was suggesting. Or was about to suggest.
Unease? He was bordering on panic. There was simply no way he was going to let his Padawan out of his sight - and it would require that Obi-Wan be out of his sight - now that he'd found him, now that he knew who was after him. He could almost guess what the Council would suggest. He fought to think of another plan, but he felt leaden, unable to even consider something else.
The silence drew out, but no one answered his challenge. Instead, they changed the subject.
"How did you know it was Toman?" Oppo Rancisis asked, breaking into Qui-Gon's thoughts.
"I was his Padawan for a year," Obi-Wan said. "I... came to know his mental touch very... well." The boy's voice was flat, almost toneless.
"How did he coerce you to stab Master Jinn?" Adi asked.
Obi-Wan swallowed, and Qui-Gon could feel how hard it was for him to do this. He stepped closer to the boy, lending his support as much as he could, but did not stop the questioning. Much as he would have liked to, it was necessary if they were to catch Toman. "It was as if he'd wrapped his hands around mine and directed the blows. He used the Force to do it."
"How can you be sure?" Plo Koon asked.
Obi-Wan paused. "He... I have been controlled from within my mind, and from the outside, by all of my Masters except Master Jinn," he said slowly, in that same flat tone. "I can tell the difference."
The silence that filled the room did nothing to ease Qui-Gon's feelings. He was not adept in the Unified Force, but the inevitability of this plan - using Obi-Wan as bait - was screaming at him. He looked at Master Yoda, and was struck by the empathy he could see on the old Master's face. Maybe the ancient Master did know how he felt.
"Master Qui-Gon," Yoda said gently, and everyone else in the room grew quiet. "Understand I do, that to lose your Padawan you do not wish. Another way can you see?"
Qui-Gon took a deep breath, and his shoulders slumped. "No, Master. I cannot." Obi-Wan was alarmed at his words, but Qui-Gon could do nothing to reassure his Padawan now.
"Return this afternoon," Mace said, and there was a gentleness to his tone. "We will discuss what must be done then. Say nothing of this, Qui-Gon," he said, adding a warning to his voice. "We still do not know if Toman got in or if there is someone here helping him."
Qui-Gon stared at him. "I cannot even speak with Obi-Wan?"
Ki-Adi-Mundi shook his head. "No, Master Jinn. We cannot take the risk that you will be overheard."
He'd thought Obi-Wan was alarmed before; now he was terrified. Qui-Gon bowed sharply to the Council, and then turned to Obi-Wan. "It will be okay," he said gently before leading the way from the room.
They walked back to their quarters in silence, and once inside, Obi-Wan sat stiffly down at the table. Qui-Gon walked past him, to the small kitchenette to one side of the room, and as he did, he touched the boy's shoulder, and then ever so gently tugged on the braid that lay there.
Something in the Padawan gave, and Obi-Wan began to tremble. "Master," he said softly as Qui-Gon moved toward the stove. "What will happen to me now?"
Qui-Gon turned around. "I don't know. Now we wait and see what the Council decides. They did not confine you to quarters, however, Obi-Wan. I believe Regina would like to see you again. She was quite upset that I left you there."
Obi-Wan smiled wryly, and his trembling eased. "I couldn't go with her," he said. "I didn't want you to catch sight of me in better light."
Abandoning his idea of tea, Qui-Gon sat down across from his Padawan. "Why?" he asked.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "Mostly because I wasn't sure of anything. You'd had enough pain in your life, I guess I thought I'd keep you from more - as much as I could. Since most of your pain lately has been my fault anyway. And I had the feeling that if I went with you, we wouldn't have escaped."
"I believe you are right, much as I might hate to admit it," Qui-Gon said heavily. "I did not like the idea of leaving one so young behind. I was surprised when I found you still there."
Obi-Wan nodded. "They were returning soon, I remember that much," he said.
"Yes," Qui-Gon said. And they nearly had you, he added in his thoughts, and stood to shove the thought away. "We are both upset," he said calmly. "Perhaps some meditation will help."
Obi-Wan nodded and stood as well, joining his Master in the center of the room. Kneeling, they sat quietly in meditation until the Force around them no longer swirled in agitation. Qui-Gon opened his eyes first, noting in some satisfaction that the tension in Obi-Wan's shoulder's had eased. Obi-Wan looked at him and smiled hesitantly.
Qui-Gon knew his Padawan did not want to stay there, and so he smiled back. "I know the Ambassador and his family would like to see you again."
"I would be glad to see them as well," Obi-Wan said. They got to their feet and left their quarters, moving down the hallway in silence.
It didn't take them long to reach the safe house. The door opened immediately when he rang. Behind him, Obi-Wan shifted a little, and the serving girl beckoned them in. "I will get my mistress, Master Jedi," she said, and left them standing in the small parlor. They weren't there long before the Ambassador's wife stepped in and smiled brightly at him. "Master Jinn," she said, reaching to take his hand. "It is good to see you again." He took her hand, smiling as well.
"It is good to see you in such good spirits," he said in greeting.
"Let me get my husband. He will wish to see you." Her eyes flicked over his shoulder, then she stopped to take a better look at Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon tried not to smile at the discomfort that leaked down the bond from his Padawan. She excused herself and left the room.
"She was surprised to see you," Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan ran a hand through his hair. "I should have cut it," he said.
"Not until the Council says."
As soon as he spoke them, Qui-Gon wished the words back. Obi-Wan tensed again, and his eyes dropped to the floor. "Padawan, it will be okay," he said softly, but that was all he had time for as Ambassador Mahália swept into the room.
"Master Jinn! It is good to see you again. Thank you for...." The ambassador stopped short, his eyes on Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon had to smile as his Padawan shifted uncomfortably.
"Ambassador," Obi-Wan said, giving a slight bow.
"Ben! I'm glad to see you. I wondered why Kath insisted on getting Regina." Turning back to Qui-Gon, the Ambassador smiled. "Thank you for retrieving my children," he said. "And for going back for Ben."
"I couldn't leave him there," Qui-Gon said quietly. "He is my Padawan. I simply lost him for a time."
"Your Padawan?" the Ambassador asked, then he grinned widely. "That explains much about him."
Qui-Gon nodded, and noticed out of the corner of his eyes that Obi-Wan's face had flushed again. He barely noticed the small girl that entered the room.
"Ben!" Regina cried, and ran across the room to throw herself at Obi-Wan. He caught her in a hug. "They didn't kill you!"
"No, they did not. They wanted me to tell them where you had gone."
She drew back and looked at him seriously. "And you did not."
"Even if I had, it would have done them no good," he said. "By the time I would have said something, you were already here."
She nodded and straightened her skirt, turning to Qui-Gon with an expression of gratitude. "You went back for him?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "Of course. He is my apprentice, and I could not leave him there."
"Did you know, when you left him?"
Qui-Gon looked at her solemnly. "No. And I imagine that is why it took so long for the Healers to notify you that he was here."
"I'm glad you found him. But this means that you will no longer be my body guard, doesn't it?" she asked, turning to Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon could tell she was trying to be brave, trying not to cry, and he wondered at his Padawan's ability to form such close ties so quickly. Obi-Wan managed a sick-looking smile that immediately disappeared.
"Not at present, no," he said, and Qui-Gon could feel his uncertainty. He sent reassurance down the bond, but it didn't help as much as he'd hoped.
They stayed for a while. Qui-Gon didn't say much, listening as Regina cheerfully told the story of her rescue. When she was finished, Obi-Wan explained his part of it much more reluctantly, which no one in the room had heard. When he was finished, Qui-Gon took a deep breath. "We need to get back," he said, and ignored Obi-Wan's startled look. The boy schooled his expression immediately.
"It was good to see you again," he said politely, standing as Qui-Gon did. The Master was pleased to note that his Padawan's mood had lightened considerably.
That lasted through most of the afternoon, until Yoda summoned them to meet with the Council. Qui-Gon could do little more than send his Padawan calming reassurance through their bond, and he had to be careful. He could not let Obi-Wan know how uneasy this made him. So he came to a stop in the center of the round chamber and bowed precisely, every inch the serene Jedi Master he was supposed to be. Behind him, he could sense Obi-Wan trembling.
"Decided we have," Yoda said without preamble, and there was compassion in his eyes as he gazed on the two Jedi before him. "Cast out, the Padawan will be."
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