Master Apprentice
Archive
Crisis
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Category: AU, Romance, Humor
Pairing: Q/O
Summary: Our boys end up surprised in more ways than one
Series: Third in a series. "Surprise" is first, followed by "Wrapped Around Her Finger"
Notes: Thanks to Annie who, as usual, provided excellent beta services.
"Paabi."
Paabi he was named by Darri when she was six months old, and Paabi he remained. No amount of coaching would get her to say "Poppa" or anything else. In the end, Obi-Wan decided he rather liked the name, and it certainly was his alone. Qui-Gon was first Dada, then Daddy, but even as her conversational skills improved, there was no change to Paabi.
"I get to go along too?" Darri asked hopefully, watching as he and Qui-Gon packed for their first serious away mission since her birth four years earlier.
"Not this time, Darri." Qui-Gon paused in his packing and smiled at the little girl.
"Why not?"
"Its going to be a long, drawn out series of negotiations, Darri. Not the kind where we can take a little girl." Obi-Wan sat down on the bed and Darri climbed into his lap.
"But, Paabi, you and Daddy take me other times. And what about Bryn?"
Bryn was the additional member of the household, Obi-Wan's 15 year old apprentice.
"Those weren't missions like this one, sweetheart. Daddy and I can't do the work we've got to do and look after you properly at the same time. So, this time you're going to stay with Atiel Yoda and with Bryn, because he's staying behind, too. And you like playing with Teahle and the others in the creche."
"I like Teahle." This was admitted through tightly pressed together lips and she looked so much like Qui-Gon when he was upset about something that Obi-Wan had to bite the inside of his lip to keep from smiling.
Qui-Gon met his lifemate's eyes over their daughter's head, and got down on eye level with her. "You like Bryn and you love Yoda."
"Yes."
"But?"
"But I want to go with you and Paabi! I'll miss you."
"And we'll miss you, my heart, but we'll be back before you know it."
"Promise?"
"We both promise," Paabi said firmly.
"And I don't have to eat all my vegetables?"
"What has that got to do with this discussion?" Qui-Gon wanted to know.
This got him the look he was coming to label 'Oh, clueless Daddy'. "If I can't go along and I have to be a good girl for Atiel Yoda and Bryn, then I don't see why I have to eat things I hate. Even if they are good for me."
The smug look that said "got you" was pure Obi-Wan.
Who was regarding Qui-Gon with thinly veiled amusement. "Well, Daddy?"
Qui-Gon sighed. He was outnumbered and outnegotiated. "All right, but only until we get back."
"Good." She hopped off Obi-Wan's lap and skipped across the room.
"Where are you off to?" Obi-Wan asked, curiously.
"Bryn needs to be bothered." She was through the door before either of them could ask her exactly what that meant.
It wasn't just that Dar wasn't as active as usual, Bryn thought apprehensively. The little girl usually ate with all the gusto of a starving Corellian freighter pilot; and usually she loved sitting with him and the other Padawans in Dining Hall. She liked the bustle and the people. Many of the newer Knights had been senior Padawans when she was a baby and would stop by to tease her or, if back from a mission, bestow some small gift on the usually happy little girl.
But tonight she sat listlessly beside him, not even pretending to be interested in the food on her plate and when she leaned against his side, he was shocked to feel the heat burning through his layers of tunics. Healers, he thought. Now.
"I tell you, Qui, something is wrong. I can feel it." Obi-Wan paced back and forth in their cramped quarters. "Are you certain there haven't been any messages from home?"
Qui-Gon, worried, shook his head. "According to the Tigren's aides, no. And given the current state of affairs, I can hardly antagonize them by flouting their communications blackout."
The blackout wasn't really one as such -- but the Dirrellians were a people not given to trust of outworlders and only their present Tigren's friendship with Qui-Gon Jinn and deep respect for the Jedi had allowed them a hand in the negotations which would - hopefully - restore peace to a three planet system that had been at war for close to 75 years. The blackout was meant to prevent anyone from throwing a spanner into the works, either internally or externally. Without the Tigren's express permission, neither Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan could contact Coruscant. Incoming messages - in prearranged code - from Yoda would be accepted. But there had been, to their knowledge, nothing from Yoda.
"I know. I know. But I can't shake this sense that Darri's in trouble."
Qui-Gon might not have his mate's gift for farseeing, but he respected it. "I will ask the Trigren to let us contact Yoda."
"Master - has there been no word?" Bryn was a far cry from the usual perfectly turned out Padawan. He had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep and his tunics were decidedly rumpled. Master Yoda looked no better, truth be told.
"No. My messages are being kept from them, I think."
"Why?"
"To speed the negotiations. The Dirrellians do not care what happens so long as their business comes to a fruitful conclusion."
"Master Yoda, with all due respect - Darri may die. They need to know." His tone left Yoda in no doubt that given any further delay, Padawan Bryn a'Yarron would hop the next transport available and personally drag his Master and his Master's lifemate home.
Dexant Bas appeared in the doorway, looking more hopeful than they had seen him in days. "Yoda, Bryn -- communications says there is an incoming transmission from Qui-Gon."
The look Tigren Z'enli f'ra was giving his aide would have dropped a bantha in its tracks. "And you did not see fit to transmit Master Yoda's messages to either Knight Kenobi or Master Jinn?"
"The blackout," the aide began self-importantly and unwisely.
"Xirah! Enough - My direct orders were that ANY messages from Master Yoda were to be given immediately to the Jedi. IMMEDIATELY. Get out."
Finally realizing that all was not right with his world, the pompous aide beat a hasty retreat.
Zen turned to Qui-Gon, hands out in a gesture of apology. "If I had known. . ."
Qui-Gon cut him off. "Will you accept Knights Chun and em'Drombiasis as our replacements? Both Obi-Wan and I will personally vouch for them."
"Of course."
Qui-Gon turned to go.
"Qui - may your Force and all of my gods go with you."
Unable to speak, Qui-Gon simply nodded.
His Padawan was dozing, curled up in a chair at Darri's bedside. A forest of tubes and machinery surrounded the bed, obscuring the tiny body that lay on it, unnaturally still. Obi-Wan put a gentle hand on Bryn's shoulder and the boy woke immediately. "Master!"
"Sh. . .How long has she been like this?"
"It started three days after you left. She wasn't playing as much as usual, but I thought she was just missing you and Master Qui-Gon."
The boy's eyes filled with tears, "I. . .I should have taken her to the healers then, but I didn't think it was anything..."
Obi-Wan pulled Bryn into his arms. "It's all right. Yoda told Qui-Gon that your quick action gave her a chance. . ."
Qui-Gon quietly entered the room, Dex at his heels. He'd heard the last of the exchange, and now he said, "Obi-Wan is right, Padawan. Others might have simply put it down to a child's fever. We are in your debt."
"But she's not any better." Bryn's anguish was palpable and found its echo in the three adults in the room.
"She will be." Dexant Bas put all his assurance into that. "Master Yoda is here, Bryn. You're going to spend what's left of the night with him. And no arguments, either. He," this was said to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, "hasn't left this room since Dar was brought in."
Obi-Wan dredged up a reassuring smile for his Padawan. "Go on, Bryn. Master's and healer's orders."
"Yes, sir. But you'll call me if..if anything changes, right?"
"Absolutely."
Dex ushered the boy out, then turned to face Darri's parents.
"Corellian Meningitis. One of the initiates just arrived from Correllia Prime. He, of course, is immune to the virus, but turns out to be a carrier. One of my aides missed it when he did the original mediscan. If he'd caught it, the procedure to irradicate the virus in its dormant state is pretty simple. He didn't pick it up. He's been reassigned."
Obi-Wan asked, "Are any others ill?" He dropped his cloak on the chair Bryn had vacated, sat down and tugged his boots off, then moved to the bed, where he very carefully climbed up and curled next to Dar, managing to hold her and not dislodge any of her tubes.
Dex shook his head. "Apparently this new child, he's about a year old, was homesick and Dar was the one who spent a great deal of time working to convince him being here wasn't such a bad deal. The other children didn't have as much to do with him and of course, the creche Masters and Padawans have all been innoculated."
Qui-Gon was at his most rock solid serene Jedi Master-ish. "Yoda wouldn't say much, Dex. What is really going on?"
"I told him not to. There wasn't anything you could do on the trip home anyway. It's like this -- in an adult its serious enough. For the under 12's it's about 90% fatal. I won't kid you, she's not out of the woods by a long shot." Dex took a deep breath. "However, the mere fact that she's still with us is a good sign. She'll reach the crisis point during the next 24 hours. If she weathers that final fever spike. . .well, we can relax."
He didn't need to say what the alternative was.
Obi-Wan would have cut his tongue out before saying so, but Qui-Gon's Jedi Master serenity made him want to scream. How could he kneel there, meditating, sending healing energy to Dar, and never so much as frown? Obi-Wan had left his daughter only for necessary trips to the fresher. He could barely find his center, could not keep it long enough to even lightly trance. Qui-Gon meanwhile, was solid, supportive, calm, serene and driving Obi-Wan crazy. Didn't he care? As soon as he thought it, Obi-Wan knew the question was unfair.
Sighing, he glanced at the monitors and realized that there was still no change in Dar's temperature or pulse rate. His legs were cramped and had long ago fallen asleep. Using a push from the Force to get to his feet and stay there, he decided that a brief walk to Dex's office and back would dissipate at least some of his nervous energy.
Qui-Gon opened his eyes and rose from his meditation pose. "Go on. I'll be here."
"Right." Not able to meet his lifemate's eyes and feeling guilty because of it, Obi-Wan hastily retreated.
Qui-Gon's mask of serenity didn't fade until the door closed behind Obi-Wan. He moved to the bed and sat down beside Dar, carefully taking one tiny hand in his. Her usually rosy cheeks were bright red and sunken, and her little fingers burned. A sob caught in his throat and his eyes filled with tears.
Dex was sound asleep, slumped across his desk, and Obi didn't have the heart to wake him. He simply turned around and walked back to Dar's room. At least his legs were alive again.
He heard the harsh, wracking sobs through the door and, heart in his throat, rushed in, expecting the worst. But a quick, panicked glance at the monitors showed that Dar's condition was unchanged.
Qui-Gon was still crying, arms wrapped around himself, as though afraid of flying apart otherwise. "My baby. . ."
Obi-Wan put his arms around him and rocked him as though he were Dar's age. "It will be all right. I know it will be all right."
"I can't bear it if she. . ."
"She's not going anywhere. It will be all right."
Never, never, he thought, as he rocked Qui-Gon, and sent soothing love through their bond, never would he buy that stoic act again.
"Ick."
Qui-Gon opened his eyes warily. He and Obi-Wan were slumped in a heap beside Dar. He turned his head and found his daughter's large blue eyes regarding him unhappily. "Daddy."
He found he had no voice. Beside him Obi-Wan stirred then his green eyes widened.
Dar smiled at them. "Paabi." Then her face crumpled. "Tubes hurt."
A very exhausted, very triumphant Dexant Bas fairly babbled. "Amazing, absolutely amazing. She's completely back to normal. Of course, we'll run more tests to be certain, but there don't seem to be any residuals at all. I can't believe it. I've never seen a case without some residuals. Oh my."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, equally exhausted, and if anything more triumphant, nodded.
Dex went on, happily, "She's already demanding real food, did you know that?"
They did, but they were happy to listen to the news anyway.
"Real food, she told me. 'And take these tubes out.'" He laughed. "Well, I've got the tubes out and Yoda got the cooks to make her anything she asks for. I think your Padawan would have set up a stove in her room if we hadn't made other arrangements. He's very protective of her."
Obi-Wan laughed at that. "Very. She chose him, you see."
"But I want to go home." Dar felt fine, she couldn't see what everyone was fussing about.
Dex patiently explained, "Honey, we've got more tests to run, to be sure you're really all right. Then you can go home. Paabi and Daddy and Bryn can stay here all the time."
Dar thought about that. "They can stay with me at home."
Dex shook his head, then repeated, "We have to make certain you're all right, Dar."
"No. I want to go home. I don't like it here." She put her arms out toward her Daddy and began to cry.
Qui-Gon had reached his limit. He picked his daughter up, blankets and all. "We're all going home."
"But Qui. . ." Dex began.
"If you want to run tests, that is fine. She can come back here in a day or two. Now she goes home with us."
Obi-Wan moved to stand beside Qui-Gon. "You know where we live, Dex."
Tears drying on her cheeks, Dar snuffled down at her doctor. "See you later."
Obi-Wan sat down heavily on the sofa and released what he was sure was the first deep breath he had taken in weeks. His precious Darshan was home. Safe, and if not entirely well, recovering. They still had Dex's tests to take, and there could be repercussions, but it didn't matter. She was alive.
Qui-Gon sat next to him, putting one arm around his shoulders. "Yes."
Obi-Wan hesitated, then he said, softly, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
He leant his forehead against Qui-Gon's shoulder. "For ever doubting you, my love."
Qui-Gon did not pretend to misunderstand. "Ah, well, it was more my fault. Old habits die hard -- I forget that our problems are to be shared."
He wrapped his arms around Obi-Wan and they stayed like that, content just to be together.
"Ick!" There was a scuffling sound and then Bryn emerged from Darri's room, covered in juice and grinning from ear to ear.
"She hated the juice."
Voice dry, Obi-Wan replied, "So we see, Padawan."
"Isn't that wonderful?"
Qui-Gon nodded. "Completely."
"Dry off and go to bed yourself, Bryn. We'll get back to work in a day or two and you need to be rested." Obi-Wan felt Qui's arms tighten around him and snuggled closer.
"OK, Master. Oh - Master?"
"Yes, Padawan?"
"It's good to be home."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes, my young Bryn. It is."
fin