Archive :yes to master_apprentice,Temple Library and my
homepage only
Category: Hurt/Comfort, POV
Rating: PG
Pairing: Q/O
Warnings: Well, not the ones you expect.... No, I have
absolutely no idea what I am doing here! Never done anything
like this before - don't know if I ever will again!! (have
patience please - and no, I do not even know what a 'beta' is!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Spoilers: None
Summary: Qui-Gon returns home from a difficult mission. (Part
of "The Master's Pathway" Series, currently under private
development.)
Feedback: yes, e-mail only
DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognizable
characters, names and references, etc are the sole property of
George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, Lucasarts Inc and 20th Century
Fox. Aren't we glad he created such wonderful things for us to
play with and enjoy? This fan fiction was created solely for
entertainment purposes and no money was made from it. Any
similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and
not intended by the author.
OBI-WAN
I am NOT a child! It is utterly ridiculous for the Council to
be sending you alone on a mission like this! And you do not
help matters any by just agreeing with them! Since when do YOU
agree with the Council in the FIRST place! I am 19 years
old.... Old enough to vote, old enough to own property - even
old enough to dedicate or die for the cause of peace in the
galaxy... But NOT old enough to go with you to a little known
planet? I utterly disagree Master - but at your request I will
stay here and wait... THIS time anyway.....
I look up at the chronometer on the wall, yet once again. I
have been uneasy the last few days - and cannot discern why.
Your message said you expected to arrive half an hour ago... I
still have not sensed your presence and now I am starting to
feel anxious. Finally, finally, after nearly another half-hour,
the comlink chirps and the voice informs me of the transport's
arrival. Your tardiness has made me impatient now - annoyed
even....
I add more hot water to the spiced bath that has been waiting,
already drawn, for some time now. Suddenly I sense your
presence on this level, and go to the door, waiting for you to
trigger the panel in the hallway. It opens, and I cannot help
but gasp with alarm and surprise. Your long cinnamon colored
hair is dark chocolate colored from mud and who knows what
filth.
You have a large dark purplish bruise above your left eyebrow
and I can tell you have healed a gash there. Most alarming of
all, your eyes are a dulled steelike-deep blue, marked with
heavy shadows under them and more lines than usual. Your now
torn dark brown robe bears bits of grass and streaks of dirt
and other foreign matter. One sleeve is ragged; the material
appears chewed, as if you were caught up in something large and
'hungry'. Your linen tunic is spattered heavily with mud and
what smells like algae pieces....and swamp water perhaps. Even
the knees of your leggings bear grass stains, and your boots -
your boots are caked with mud and grass. You nearly sway as you
stand there at the doorway for a moment.
"Master! What happened?" I react with, and you stagger as you
enter our rooms, dropping your travel pack like a lead weight.
"Wha'?" You murmur at me as if confused, then suddenly you look
at me - and take me into a long, long hug, resting your cheek
on my head and I can feel you trembling severely from
exhaustion. Quickly I realize you are damp - as if you have
been soaked and it has now been so long only dampness remains -
and I feel anger start to simmer beneath the surface as I touch
my hand inside your tunic and feel cool, clammy skin rather
than the customary warmth.
The shock of that cold-to-touch skin galvanizes the
professional in me as now I pull back out of your arms, yet
keep hold of one wrist as I consider your face. You are pale,
drawn, and even haggard looking. I can feel your pulse in your
wrist - and it is nothing to brag about right now.
Exhaustion - hypothermia - possible concussion.... These are
the words that run through my mind as I help you shed your
robe, and watch as now you shiver weakly despite the warmth of
the room. The dullness of your features does nothing to
reassure me that you are all right.
"Come Master - let me help you get out of those wet clothes
and into a hot bath. We need to get you warmed up." I say as I
draw you towards the rear of the apartment. You do not say
anything - only nearly stumble and fall over the travel pack on
the floor. // Master - are you hurt anywhere? // I send over
our mind link - and all I get back are vague images of running
- harsh and heavy breathing - darkness - and being so, so cold.
Suddenly, I realize that right now you cannot understand, nor
even form cohesive sentences in your mind. I stroke your cheek
in a gesture of wordless comfort, but you seem encased in a
thick blanket of numbness and do not even meet my gaze. My
sense of concern doubles at your lack of response.
Quickly I strip the damp clothes from you and leave them to
fall as they may on the floor. Carefully I hold onto your arm
as you get into the tub, and as the steaming hot water welcomes
you, I feel your sigh of enormous relief. Gingerly I cup the
water in my hands and pour it over your head - then squeeze the
shampoo into my hands before I apply it to your head and begin
lathering the muck out of your long hair.... It ONLY takes five
times to get rid of the mud - and now the water is murky brown.
The heat of the water seems to revive you a little bit, as now
you at least make eye contact with me here. I pull the plug
even as I turn on the tap to empty and refill the tub - and
this time I pour an ample amount of bubble bath into the
water... and am rewarded with a weak half smile from you. You
do have a fondness for bubble baths, as do I - but that is a
secret shared between us.
Slowly you relax back against the tub and let me wash you part
by part. I count the bruises on your body as I go... and am not
at ALL happy with their number. I can feel you are warming up
now. With a deep sigh you close your eyes and sink further down
- and I feel you doze off - not really asleep, but not fully
awake either as you just soak in the warmth of the water. I can
feel your thoughts drifting aimlessly and unfocused again.
It upsets me greatly that you were sent on this mission alone.
How many of these marks would not be on you today if I had been
allowed to go with you?... What hardships and stresses have
caused this condition you have been returned to me in?...
Sometimes I wonder about the wisdom of the Council. They take
severe advantage of you Master.
You are so relaxed I am afraid you are going to fall asleep
there in the tub. "Master? Your face?" I warn as I lather up
the wash cloth and now make short work of scrubbing your neck,
face, and your beard - but careful I am around the bruise on
your forehead. // Headache - for days now // I receive from you
as almost a whisper, and can feel now the pounding in your
temple on that side of your head.
You must be shielding me from your pain I realize suddenly. It
nearly brings tears to my eyes to think that even now - YOU
seek to protect ME. Finally you are done - even your fingers
are pink and wrinkled from the water - which is now cooling
fast.
Gently I help you out of the tub, dry you thoroughly with a
large bath sheet and wrap you in the thick black velour night
robe that always hangs on the back of the bathing-room door. I
cannot resist the urge to give you a brief gentle hug. "Hot
tea?" you manage to murmur softly into my ear and I smile.
"Coming right up... here - you sit." I direct as I guide you
into the sleeping area and park you on the large bed that is
yours. You don't object out loud, but I hear you think // It is
too early to go to bed! //
I intend to argue the matter if you make me Master- but I
don't think you will really - you look like you can barely keep
your eyes open. When I come back in a few minutes, it is to
find that indeed you have your eyes closed. Actually, you are
sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating. Silently, I put
the cup down on the nightstand, and instantly your eyes open
and you blink heavily at me. // Too tired to even meditate -
some Jedi I am...// crosses your mind and I frown deeply. How
could you think such a thing? What do you expect from yourself!
"There will be NONE of THAT Master!" I warn sternly, and your
eyebrows rise in mild surprise. "Here - drink your tea now." I
insist, and you slowly take a few sips, before sighing and
rubbing at your temple near the bruise with a briefly pained
look. I wait until you have finished the tea, then put the cup
aside for you.
You visit the refresher, and I take the opportunity to open
and fold down the blankets on the bed, find your sleeping
pants, and your favorite hairbrush. You frown mildly at the
opened bed at first when you come back.
"Here Master, let me brush your hair." I say kindly as I sit
on the edge of your bed. You send me with a grateful look as
you don the sleep pants and sit before me on the floor. I use
the hairbrush to start at the top edge of your forehead and
gently brush your hair back towards me, carefully undoing
tangles and smoothing it down. Finally I can start near your
face and brush all the way back and down in one long, smooth
stroke.
Your eyes are closed I notice, and there is just the hint of a
smile on your weary face. Now you park one arm on my knee and
rest your chin on it as well. I smile as I continue the long,
slow strokes with the hairbrush. You hate 'wild' hair in the
morning - while I thoroughly enjoy it.... Especially when it is
yours.
I cannot help but wonder which you will have tomorrow morning.
Chuckling softly at the image I see in my mind, I give a gentle
kiss to the top of your head and you seem to purr sleepily.
"Into bed Master, let's see if I can help with that headache
some." I suggest quietly, and you seem to have forgotten about
arguing as you sigh and with my help, slip slowly under the
covers.
"Turn over on your stomach -" I instruct and you do - your
hands up around the pillow to hug it mildly, the side of your
face with the bruise not being pressured upon. I go to the
bathroom and come back with the small bottle of scented oil
that has been in the warmer for the last 20 minutes or so.
Gently I pour a little of the oil in my palms, rub them
together and start at the top of your shoulders, making slow,
smooth circles in your skin and working out the many knots I
find in the muscles beneath. If you still have these knots
after your bath.... I hate to even imagine what they must have
been like before you got here.
I wipe my hands on the towel and now start at the base of your
skull, gently drawing up your hair as I gently massage upwards,
imagining the tension fleeing out of you through the top of
your head. As they go I catch images from your mind.... Blaster
fire... Explosions.... War ruined city....things chasing
you.... Being lost in swamp and fog .... Cold.... Miseries...
and maybe worst of all - loneliness. - Feeling alone and
outnumbered and hunted by so many... and then I see you
remembering me.... The image of returning home is what kept you
going - kept you moving - kept you dodging, and hiding, and
running - until finally you were able to escape that awful
place.
Quickly I wipe away the tear that traces a path down my cheek
as now I feel your breath slowing, becoming deeper, and I sense
the heavy limpness of sleep overwhelming you. Suddenly you jerk
all over and gasp as if startled and lift your head with an
unintelligible murmur of dismay. "Come Master - " I coax gently
as I pull the pillow up close beside me. You scoot up,
collapsing upon it with a soft whimper as you roll onto your
side and curl up some. Sleepily, you nuzzle against me, and I
pull the blanket up over your shoulder and gently tuck it
around you.
I turn on the light beside the bed and find a datapad on the
floor nearby - where you so often leave them, or they fall from
your hands after you nod off at night... Curious, I look at the
title, then scroll through the pages even as I absently stroke
the hair back out of your face and smooth it down over the
blanket that covers you. I find a page you have marked and this
is the passage you have highlighted:
When in your heart true friendship rings
Despair can never rule as king.
When in your heart love holds command
Return thou will from any land.
Friendship and love - the power of Light
Unequalled they are - in endurance or might.
I look at you asleep beside me.... Hair loosed and so silky...
Hands still and limp... Breathing deep and even, soft and
slow,... Features unlined and more youthful looking - maybe
even a touch of innocence left over from childhood past - lips
parted slightly in complete surrender to slumber. I cannot help
but smile to myself - then lean over and kiss you gently on the
forehead.
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