Master Apprentice
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Over a week had passed and Qui-Gon was getting restless. When he first saw Obi-Wan in his uniform, he'd had some vane hope that seeing the enchanting young man wear the same uniform all of his staff wore would somehow diminish his natural beauty and make him as ordinary as the rest of his staff. He couldn't have been more wrong. What had been a lovely face had become handsomely beautiful with a fresh shave and a hair trim. The red hair had become a fall of silken light golden red curls from exposure to the warm sun and the green eyes that, from the first, attracted and enchanted him had somehow become more captivating and compelling than ever before. Obi-Wan's already tanned skin had become golden and the hard work of the stable had compacted and firmed the already existing muscles. As he stared out the window of his bedroom to watch Obi-Wan at work, his fingers twitched, wanting to reach out and touch him. He smiled slightly as he watched Misty tag along Obi-Wan's heels. The man and the puppy were almost inseparable now. As the time to sell the puppies came closer, it was generally accepted that Misty would remain here. He knew his staff found it rather amusing that he wouldn't be selling the puppy that would fetch the highest price out of the litter because Obi-Wan had grown attached to her.
With a sigh, Qui-Gon turned his head away from his view of Obi-Wan outside his bedroom window and went out of his room to go into his study, where he would have fewer distractions and be able to get some work done. Sighing again, he sank down into his study chair and glanced at the work awaiting him. Pulling forth a piece of paper, he leaned over his desk to read what it said; feather quill poised ready in hand. His eyes skimmed over the words and before long his mind wandered.
Over the last week he had attempted to get to know Obi-Wan with out much success. Still, he had learned enough to believe that, beneath that mask Obi-Wan wore, was a fiercely intelligent and complex man not easily won over by a friendly manner it appeared. Apparently the young man had learned well the risk of being fooled by a show of friendliness and had being stung at least once before. It certainly wasn't making Lord Jinn's life any easier.
Qui-Gon also suspected that behind that beautiful face lay a sense of humour he had yet to coax out. Getting Obi-Wan to smile was proving challenging enough. Right now Qui-Gon wanted nothing more than to bring out his new employee's true personality. He'd seen snatches, but nothing more and he would do anything to get Obi-Wan to actually laugh and see an expression of real joy, real passion, to be able to touch... Qui-Gon threw down his quill in disgust. He could not seem to be able to keep his mind from wandering to the enchanting man even as he impatiently waited for Reginald to arrive.
`Qui-Gon?'
Qui-Gon's head jerked up and he saw one of his maids at his door. The daughter of a previous maid that had worked here, he'd known Simone as he was growing up. Sometimes she felt like one of his cousins, but she was still his employee. `You really should call me Master Jinn, Simone.' He smiled, thinking of some of the pranks they'd both pulled as children at this manor. She had even come to stay at his Father's manor once.
`Certainly, Master Jinn.' She grinned. `I just came to say that your brother Reginald is here.'
`Finally.' Qui-Gon rose up as Simone let in the towering hulk that was his older brother Reginald. `Reginald, I am so glad to see you.' Qui-Gon drew his brother into a hug.
The tallest and broadest son of his parents, Reginald looked more like their mother out of the three, for all of his Jinn build. Grey eyes and dark brown hair, only the chin and the eyebrows betrayed him as his brother. `Dylan sent me a message to come here. I could only imagine some emergency would have required him to ask me to get here as soon as I could.'
Qui-Gon's face saddened at the reminder. `Yes, indeed. Come sit down, please.'
Qui-Gon had just gotten Reginald to sit when the study door flew open and Obi-Wan stumbled in. `I'm sorry, sir, but your guest's horse has been found to have an infected hoof. A stone was entrenched in it for sometime. It's surprising the horse continued for however long it did, even though it must of been very painful,' Obi-Wan blurted.
Reginald quickly rose again. `Take me to her,' Reginald demanded.
`Yes, sir.' Obi-Wan hurriedly led Reginald back to the stable.
Qui-Gon was at his heel, nearly tripping over little Misty on the way. Before long they had reached the stable. `What do we have here, Tony?'
Reginald stepped up to his horse, which Tony was doctoring. `Infected foot. A few days old by the look of it. I got the stone out and drained the wound as best I could. I soaked it in warm salt water, compacted it and am now wrapping it up with herbs.' Tony grunted. `Nasty wound like that's going to take a few weeks to heal. You may have to borrow one of Master Jinn's horses if you're planning to go anywhere.'
Reginald stroked the head of his whining horse. `Poor girl. I'm sorry I was in such a rush to get here or I would have done something sooner.' Reginald soothed the horse gently. `This had better be good, Qui-Gon. My horse is out of action for the next few weeks. I always try to give her my best care.'
`Dylan would never have asked you to come here if it wasn't important, Reginald,' Qui-Gon told him. `You may have revoked the Jinn name, but you still are the second son of our parents. Now come back to the study and I'll tell you what is going on, because this effects everyone in our family.'
Reginald sighed, but nodded. `All right, Qui-Gon, but I'm not planning to stay here long, so you may have to lend a horse to me.'
`If you're coming with me to Father's manor, you'll have to borrow one of mine anyway.' Qui-Gon led him back toward his manor.
`Why would I be going back there?' Reginald frowned.
`It's to do with Father,' Qui-Gon told him quietly.
`What about him?' Reginald asked, as plain spoken as ever.
Qui-Gon took a breath. `Father is dying.'
Reginalds face went as pale as a sheet.
Obi-Wan was surprised when the mailman came and found that one letter was addressed to him. Opening it, his hands shook as he recognised the handwriting of his former employee. He wanted to burn the piece of paper, but what it said was too important. His former employer held his half-sister hostage. He knew him too well to think he would make this up, and with it was a lock of his sister's golden blond hair, as well as her signature on the bottom of the letter. He knew better then to think she was being treated well. His old employer demanded money and goods to pay for her freedom. Obi-Wan knew his half-sister deserved much better then the life she had been given, but what could he do? He couldn't steal from Lord Jinn, he got paid no wage, and the food and accommodation he had here more than made up for that. He had a respectable job with a good Master of noble background. Life had thrown him an unexpected wildcard that was proving to be turning in his favour. It was hard to forget that his half-sister wasn't doing as well as he was. But now, because of him, her life was in danger. He wasn't about to give up the good fortune he'd stumbled into unexpectedly, but somehow he had to help Eilwen.
Finally, unsure of what to do, he turned to the head housekeeper. Next to Tony, she was the closest friend he had and he found it easiest to talk to her about things troubling him. `Nancy?' He sulked up to her, unsure if he should talk about something this personal.
`Obi-Wan?' she greeted warmly. `How can I help you?' Reluctantly, Obi-wan handed over the letter. Her face paled as she read it over. `Who is this person?'
`My past employer.' Obi-Wan hung his head.
`Do you think he would harm your half-sister?'
`I have no doubt of it. I've seen his drunken rages before. He wouldn't dare touch me, but with Eilwen, he would feel no such restriction,' Obi-Wan said softly.
`There is nothing else for it but to tell Master Jinn.' Nancy rose to her feet.
`Does he have to know?' Obi-Wan blurted.
`Obi-Wan, the safety of your half-sister is at risk. You are one of his employees. As such, he has a duty of care and responsibility to you and to your family. He is a kind, compassionate man and he will help. This is blackmail, a serious offence with which this person can be charged. As a direct threat to you, as his employee, Master Jinn needs to know about this. You are part of his responsibility.'
`But I've being so much trouble already,' Obi-Wan stressed.
`Nonsense,' Nancy told him. `Master Jinn has had to bail other staff members out of trickier situations than this. That is what he is here for. Now come,' she demanded.
Obi-Wan could do little but follow with a falling heart. Qui-Gon would never keep him after this.
Nancy knocked on the study door.
`Can it wait?' Qui-Gon's voice called out.
`I'm sorry, Master Jinn, I thought it best to bring this to your attention now.' Nancy opened the door.
`What is this about?' Qui-Gon looked grave and very sad. Obi-Wan supposed he must still be talking about his ailing Father with Reginald. Nancy, much to his dismay, handed over the letter. Obi- Wan bowed his head. Once again he'd proven he was more trouble than he was worth. Well, he had tried to get off to a fresh start, but he was beginning to see that a fresh start was never truly possible.
`Obi-Wan?' Qui-Gon called his name encouragingly.
Obi-wan did not look up. `Yes, sir?' he mumbled.
`This isn't your fault, Obi-Wan. You're not in trouble. Now look me in the eyes because you have nothing to be ashamed about.'
Obi-wan reluctantly did as asked and was surprised to see gentle warmth and acceptance in Qui-Gon's eyes. `Eilwen is my responsibility; I should be taking care of her. Instead I'm here.' Obi-Wan bit his lip, but now that he had found the courage to look Qui-Gon in the eye, he couldn't break away from the dark sapphire eyes that watched him intently.
`You are my employee, Obi-Wan. That means you fall under my responsibility to care for you. If an employee of mine is threatened in any way, it is part of my responsibility to you to deal with it. It is also my duty to see that both you and any close family of yours are properly cared for. Normally the pay you would earn would be sent to your parents. The fact you are orphaned saves me the trouble of doing that. Instead you have a half-sister, which by rights, I should have being making sure was being properly cared for. In this I have failed you as an employer. Now I must fix this, and make sure no harm comes to your half-sister, and that in future she is properly cared for,' Qui-Gon told him.
Obi-Wan could only stare, mouth open in genuine surprise. `I -- don't know what to say,' he finally managed.
Qui-Gon smiled. `No need to say anything, Obi-wan. The look on your face and the light in your eyes is all I need to know I've done to right thing. Now go take care of Reginald's horse.'
`Yes, sir.' Obi-Wan beamed, feeling light hearted. Eilwen's future would be secure. If he did very well, then she would benefit from his good reputation and if he earned a good enough pay, maybe she would be able to marry reasonably well. Tears of gratitude welled. He didn't deserve any of this; Qui-Gon was almost to good to be true. He hoped for once maybe, this time it was for real; that Qui- Gon was an honest man and would keep his word. He'd been deceived too many times, however, not to realise his chances were small.
`That was a good thing you did, Qui-Gon. I can tell you haven't changed much.' Reginald smiled when Obi-Wan left. `You do pick up some strange ones though. An orphan with a half-sister?' He raised his eyebrows.
`An orphaned bastard with a half-sister,' Qui-Gon corrected.
`Ah, excuse me for not knowing all the facts.' Reginald grinned. `What are you going to do?'
`Send Jerry down there to sort it out and bring young Eilwen here. I've being thinking of bringing her here anyway. I've being trying to think of ways to help Obi-Wan, but I keep drawing blanks.'
Reginald gave him a look. `Is there any reason why you might giving him more help than your other staff?'
Qui-Gon sighed; he never could hide things from anyone in his family. `You mean other than the fact I find myself attracted towards him?' Qui-Gon looked at his brother.
`Ah, would there be any other reason?' Reginald questioned with a teasing twinkle he so often had when talking about Qui-Gon's love life.
`I suppose I also want to right some of the wrongs of his past,' Qui- Gon confessed with a sigh. `Obi-Wan is proving an interesting challenge even compared to my worst hard luck cases, as so many of my family and friends call it.'
`What secret does this one hide, young brother?' Reginald asked expectantly.
`Wouldn't I like to know. I can only guess. Right now the guess is that he has suffered from sex abuse as a child,' Qui-Gon said sadly. Reginald stilled and paled. `That is tough indeed. How bad?'
`Bad enough. I better warn you now not to touch him in any way. He is extremely adverse to anyone even trying to attempt to touch him. He keeps his body language very still and controlled. I haven't seen a natural, uncontrolled moment from him yet. Each step, each posture seems to be carefully considered before performed. I have tried to get through his walls, get rid of that neutral mask he wears pretty much constantly on his face, but my efforts have had little effect. I get snatches, like that look of surprise he gave a moment ago, but that's it.'
`Nothing better than a good deed, especially one that's personally motivated.' Reginald smiled. `What are your chances with him right now?'
`Next to nothing,' Qui-Gon said downcast. `It didn't escape my notice that he went to Nancy with his problem first, and then Nancy dragged him here. It just shows that I haven't being as successful in trying to gain his friendship and trust as I hoped I was. I don't think his former employer and any employers before him has helped my position at all. He still clamps up whenever he does something he perceives as wrong and is frightened of me because he knows, as his employer, I'm the one who is suppose to punish him.'
`With time perhaps he will learn to see you are here to help him, not harm him,' Reginald said gently. `Does he show any interest in you at all?'
`No, and for the life of me, I still cannot figure out if he is gay or straight or something. It's driving me nuts.'
`You don't know?' Reginald collapsed into laughter. `That is rich, Qui. Lusting over a man who you're not even sure would share your attraction toward men.'
Qui-Gon slumped in his chair. `This last week or more has caused me more problems and headaches then I usually get in a year. Yet I can't seem to help my infatuation with him.'
`Lord Qui-Gon Jinn, third son of the prestigious Jinn family, lusting over a common orphaned bastard.' Reginald shook his head in amusement. `What would our parents say?'
`Dylan already promised to tell them.' Qui-Gon scowled slightly.
`So Dylan has been here and is already passing the word on. Most interesting. You must be serious about this then?' For once Reginald wasn't teasing him.
Qui-Gon paused, then had to nod. `As I told Dylan, my instincts tell me that with Obi-Wan I could find true love again. I am not letting that go without a good fight.'
Reginalds face gentled. `There we have the true reason behind all of this. Let's hope those instincts of yours are right once more.' Reginald said.
The rest of the day seemed to be working out fairly well until a scream pitched the air. Qui-Gon leapt up from his study chair with Reginald right behind him, and both stumbled out to view the problem. Simone had dropped her plates and Obi-Wan was trembling as he clenched his hands; his jaw locked and his green eyes glazed over into the wild, panicked, terrorised look Qui-Gon had seen once before and hoped not to see again.
`Did you touch him?' Qui-Gon's eyes pinned Simone.
`I, I didn't mean to, I bumped into him,' Simone stammered.
Qui-Gon sighed and wondered how to deal with this. He needed something breakable and preferable replaceable. He eyed the pile of broken plates Simone had dropped. Thinking quickly, he grapped a large armful of plates from a nearby cupboard. `Obi-Wan?' he asked softly.
`Stay away,' Obi-Wan murmured quietly.
`Will you come outside?' Qui-Gon asked. He'd rather not have plates thrown inside.
Obi-Wan's face went very, very still and an empty blank look totally unlike the one before transcended over him. Qui-Gon shivered at the almost black eyes. `I must be punished for my disobedience. I understand, Master.'
Like a wooden puppet, Obi-Wan walked blindly down stairs. Qui-Gon followed, not sure what else to do. He had a feeling next time he came across any of Obi-Wan's past employers, they would have a lot of explaining to do. Not only that, they would be very lucky to walk away alive. He hated to think what had happened over Obi-Wan's lifetime to make him like this. It was dreadful. It was little wonder Obi-Wan was afraid of him for no other reason than he was his employer.
Obi-Wan came to the stable and stopped, body trembling in trepidation, eyes completely blacked over. It was horrible to see him waiting for his `punishment' like this.
`Obi-Wan?'
`What is my punishment, Master?'
`Punishment isn't necessary, Obi-wan. It was an accident. Simone bumped into you.' Black eyes blinked at him. `Obi-Wan, it's all right. I won't punish you. Do you hear me at all? Do you even know who I am?' Qui-Gon pleaded.
`You're my Master.' Obi-Wan's forehead furrowed in thought as he seemed to struggle to snap himself out of it.
`Name, Obi-Wan. Call me by name.'
Obi-Wan struggled, the black look fading into that faintly recognisable wild look. `Lord Jinn,' he said slowly.
`First name?' Qui-Gon pressed.
`Qui-Gon.' The look of blackness vanished, but the wild look was still there.
`Would you like something to break?' Qui-Gon offered the plates.
`Yes, sir.' Obi-Wan's hands moved towards them. His eyes flashed in anger as a muscle in his jaw ticked in response to his inner rage at what had once been done to him. A flicker of recognition as the black glaze looked at him a moment however settled Qui-Gon as a hand carefully lifted a plate, with astonishing gentleness, testing it's weight, it's size, it's even balance and curved edge.
`Break it, Obi-Wan. Break them all, one by one. Throw them. As hard as you can against the fence post there.' Qui-Gon indicated. `Scream out your anger, cry out your hate, shout out your rage for all to hear and let them know what had been done to you,' he persuaded softly.
Rage completely took over Obi-Wan's features, obscuring his delicate beauty to something twisted and unrecognisable. Qui-Gon loathed to see it, but saw the necessity of driving out Obi-Wan's hidden rage.
For a moment, Obi-Wan tested the balance of the plate, then with an unexpected violence, hurtled it forcibly at the fence. `I hate her.' The chill of Obi-Wan's rage caused a shiver over Qui-Gon as Obi-Wan reached for another plate. `I hate her.' The second plate went. One after another, plates were picked up and pitched. A steady stream of, `I hate her, I hate her, I hate her,' was muttered by the young man. Tears poured down the face twisted with rage unnoticed as the emotional storm continued, unleashed and terrifying in its raw power. Qui-Gon was starting to run out of plates.
He glanced about and saw Reginald. `Find me some old plates, and something large, an old bowl or vase. Something that'll makes an almightily crash.' Reginald rushed off.
Qui-Gon was glad to see him return with a large armload of plates and an old symmetric bowl. Reginald approached cautiously, handing over the old plates to topping up the three Qui-Gon had left.
`Hold the bowl for now,' Qui-Gon directed, using his instincts to guide him to what Obi-Wan needed most right now. Unfortunately that seemed to be smashing up a number of his plates. But if that was what Obi-wan wanted, then that would be what Obi-Wan got.
Several plates later Obi-Wan was finally slowing down; tiring as emotional exhaustion was starting to take a toll, the storm slowly abating as the energy that drove it began to dissipate. The slow tears became crying and the crying was becoming sobs. `I hate her, I hate her, I hate her.' Obi-Wan's voice, once so full of angry rage was broken and rough, and had turned full of despair, hurt and pain. Somehow that was harder to bear then the anger. To know Obi-Wan had been hurt so badly, to be powerless to help, to make it go away and not bother or pain Obi-Wan again was agonizing.
Finally the last plate was gone. Haunted eyes looked at Qui-Gon pleadingly. He looked lost and lonely and the empty hands fell to Obi-Wan's sides. Qui-Gon could see that he was about to cave in; to break down and cry. He just needed that one last almighty crash. Qui-Gon held his hand out for the bowl. Reginald wordlessly handed it over. Qui-Gon slowly presented it to Obi-Wan. Dark green eyes looked at him with a faint flicker of recognition and thanks, and his hands came up to trace the edges.
`Take it, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon encouraged. `Lift it up in your hands and pitch it as hard as you can against the post. Watch it smash into tiny little pieces with one huge smash. Scream out on top of your lungs, howl out to the very stars above just how much you've been hurt.'
A look of understanding flickered, an acknowledgement that someone was there, even if Obi-Wan wasn't quite conscious of the world about him in his emotional state. The bowl was carefully extracted from Qui-Gon's loose grip and lifted upwards in reverence, as if it were a crown. Hands felt the bowl's shape and arms tested its weight as Obi- Wan perched himself ready to throw; bowl balanced carefully in one hand as aim was judged.
`I HATE HER!' With a strangled howl full of hate, anger, grief, rage, pain, hurt and loss, the words tore themselves free from deep within Obi-Wan's chest as he hurtled the bowl at full force toward the innocent fence post. There was a tremendous crash as the bowl shattered into a multitude of pieces and the next thing Qui-Gon knew Obi-Wan was huddled against the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing that the storm was over for now, though he doubted it would be the last time he saw it, he sat himself beside the sobbing young man. His brother silently joined him, offering nothing more than a steady presence and unjudgmental company. He simply watched with silent compassion that only Reginald was capable of giving. Qui-Gon wanted to offer physical comfort of some form, but, with Obi-Wan, something as simple as a touch would only make things worse. So he forced himself to sit and wait for the sobs to slowly calm and quieten. They slowed back down to crying; Obi-Wan making little hiccup sounds as he tried to regain control of himself. He eventually did and slowly lifted his head, silent tears running down his face.
`Better?' Qui-Gon quelled to urge to wipe the tears away. Obi-Wan simply nodded.
`That was quite a display,' Reginald rumbled softly. Obi-Wan flinched as his cheeks pinked in shame.
`I think he's being hiding it all up for a very long time. It's only truly starting to show,' Qui-Gon said gently. Green eyes looked at him a moment and Qui-Gon's heart leapt in joy to see their return once more and smiled in reassurance. `You have done nothing to be ashamed of.' Obi-Wan's eyes flicked to the plates, then looked down at the ground. `Look at me, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon bid softly. Green eyes hesitantly lifted up. `I don't know what life you've had before now, but to me, they are only plates. They can be replaced. They are not going to be missed and I can always get more. It's just crockery, something easily breakable and a perfect thing to vent anger out on without doing anything or anyone any harm, but the plates and maybe the fence post.' A flicker of a smile almost crossed Obi-Wan's face.
`I am sorry about the mess,' he said hesitantly.
`Never mind that, leave it as it is. Let it also serve as a reminder. Besides I have a feeling several more plates are going to meet their doom at that fence post. I must get Nancy to stock up on more plates. I have a feeling you may need them as something expendable to use.' Startled green eyes looked at him questioningly. `It wouldn't do for the Lord Jinn to run out of plates would it?' Qui-Gon quirked an ironic grin. `Why don't you tend to the animals, Obi-Wan. It'll give you a chance to recollect yourself. I give you full permission to raid the kitchen whenever you find yourself in need of plates. Is that clear?'
Obi-Wan hastily got to his feet, stumbling slightly as weak knees and unsteady legs tried to hold him up. He pulled a semblance of a correct stance and bowed. `Yes, sir.' A smile did manage to sneak onto his face a moment before the man turned and went to the stable.
Qui-Gon got to his feet, Reginald standing up next to him. `That is a very troubled young man,' Reginald said beside him.
`Yes, I know.' Qui-Gon nodded.
Reginald sighed and turned to him. `You are doing a good thing, but, brother, please take care. He may not be salvageable and I see your heart too clearly. Love will only heal him so far, beyond that he has to heal himself. You can only help, guide and direct. You can show him what love is, but if he can not feel it, then you must let him go.'
Qui-Gon looked away. `I know. It would be a disservice to us both if I tried to hold him without his love to me.'
Morning came earlier than Qui-Gon wanted it to. But being a man who disliked lying around in bed, he never-the-less made himself get up. He sat down at the table, not feeling all that hungry as he picked at his breakfast. Last night he and his brother had agreed that the sooner they left for Fathers manor the better. Qui-Gon did not like the idea of leaving Obi-Wan here in the midst of a post-trauma crisis, but he was equally eager to see his Father before he died of his lung sickness. His Father and his family needed him now and family did come first. Obi-Wan never seemed to need anything but to be left largely alone. His Father could die in a matter of days. Obi-Wan would require much more than that to begin to properly heal. He looked up as the young man came in and reluctantly sat down two seats down from him. While his brother was here, he did come first.
Though still a bit pale, Obi-Wan seemed mostly recovered from yesterdays emotional storm. `You look better this morning,' Qui-Gon said gently, not wishing to startle the man or put him under any stress.
`Thank you, sir. I slept better last night than I have in a long time,' Obi-Wan murmured quietly.
`I'm so glad to hear it. I've been worried about you. But apart from a few hiccups one must expect with new employees, Tony says you're doing quiet well.' Qui-Gon smiled his pleasure.
`I, we had a bit of a talk yesterday, afterwards,' Obi-Wan said hesitantly. `He's helped straighten a few things out.'
`Tony is a good man.' Qui-Gon nodded, reminding himself to commend Tony later. `Excellent animal handler; you could do worst then work under him.'
`I know. He is very kind to me,' Obi-Wan said.
`Hence part of the problem?' Qui-Gon hazard. `You haven't being exposed to too much kindness have you?' he said as gently as possible.
Obi-wan squirmed uneasily for just a moment. `I haven't worked with bad people,' he said with a slight note of defensiveness.
`No, your last employer probably couldn't be classified as actually bad, in spite of holding your sister hostage, but he certainly isn't kind.'
`Not as kind as you and Tony,' was the timid response.
`I think you'll find there are more kind people out there than you might think. Take Reginald for example. For all his hulk and rough nature, he is a good, kind man. As are many of my family and friends. So are my servants in their own ways, as I believe you are.'
`I thank you, sir.' Obi-Wan blushed.
`I know you are a good man, Obi-Wan. A couple of bad episodes and a few broken plates doesn't change the fact you are a thoughtful, even generous, man who is kinder to animals than anything else. Though perhaps that is because an animal will only act bad if it has being ill-treated itself.' Qui-Gon gave a soft smile and was rewarded by a weak, true smile shinning through. Not a forced one, or a controlled one, or even a quirked half-smile. The truth behind it shone strongly. Qui-Gon changed track `I don't mind doing whatever it may take to help you, even if that means going through a few broken plates. I think, over all, once you have worked through your problems, you are going to be worth the chance I took with you and even become something beyond my own expectations.' Qui-Gon kept his hopeful expectations to himself. It was much too soon and Obi-Wan would be easily frightened.
`I'll try my best to live up to those expectations, sir. Sorry I've being so much trouble so far.'
`No trouble at all, Obi-Wan. You haven't been my most difficult employee, that's for sure. I've had much worse. Most of my staff here has made some mistakes of their own, and even some large and quite serious ones. You're not the first and probably won't be the last.'
`That's some relief.' A flicker of that relief showed on Obi-Wan's face. `So why do you do it? Keep staff on even after they've done something wrong, knowing you could be risking it happening again?'
`Sure, it is a risk keeping staff after such mistakes, but as my two older brothers have recently reminded me, my instincts has never being wrong so far when it comes to people. I can and do pick people who turn out to be well worthwhile at taking a few chances with, and discarding those who don't deserve a second chance. I like you, Obi- Wan, and I believe you are worth those chances. You're going through a difficult time now, but I think you'll turn out fine.'
`There you are, Qui-Gon.' Reginald bumbled in and sat down between him and Obi-Wan. Reginald glanced shrewdly at Obi-Wan a moment. `You look mostly recovered.' Reginald's casual tone did little to cover the concern in his face.
Obi-wan nodded shyly. `Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.'
`So, Qui-Gon, are we still leaving for Father's manor sometime today?' Reginald turned his attention to him.
Was it Qui-Gon's imagination or did Obi-Wan still and pale at that news. Qui-Gon sighed slightly and nodded. `Yes. I have Simone upstairs packing up a few things for me. Have some breakfast, Reginald.' Qui-Gon shifted a plate under Reginald's nose and with a smile watched his brother dive into the food with hungry relish.
`When I'm finished, then can we go?' Reginald glanced at him.
`Now you've decided to go, you're eager to be your way, aren't you?' Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled.
`A habit of my chosen lifestyle.' Reginald shrugged easier. `Eat when you can, but the mission always comes first.'
`Seeing your parents is hardly a mission, Reginald,' Qui-Gon reminded gently.
`Might as well as be. I haven't been to Father's manor since I was twenty-three.' Qui-Gon paused before he nodded. He remembered why Reginald came after all. His face must have said something. `Oh, Qui. I'm sorry.` Reginald quickly put his arm about his shoulder. `I never could keep my mouth shut when I should. I know how much Edmond meant to you.'
Qui-Gon bit his lip and nodded. `Forget it, Reginald. It was a long time ago.'
`A time I know you have never forgotten,' Reginald said to him. `We all loved Edmond, Qui. I remember the first time he came to Father's manor. You quickly developed a close relationship. Our parents had just figured out that you were, well you know.' Reginald flicked a glance at Obi-Wan. `I don't think they were sure what to make of him at first. Dylan and I brought girls in by the handful; our sisters were the same with boys, except shy Beth of course. But when you introduced Edmond, I'd never seen them so flustered.'
`Those were good days.' Qui-Gon smiled. `The eight of us together in the Family Manor, this old place was our summer refuge.'
`It doesn't surprise me that this place will fall to your hands. You've always loved it here. Dylan will keep the family home and I shall bunk up in the palace in between missions for the King, doing what I had always dreamed as a child: making an honest difference and making a name for myself as Richarlo Naville.'
`Dashing young rescuer for any damsels in distress.' Qui-Gon grinned.
`It's a pity those damsels are almost always spoken for or are the old, frail, wrinkled kind.' Reginald chuckled.
`You could always try for a dashing young knight in distress.' Qui- Gon grinned.
`No thanks, Qui. I'll leave the men to you, I think.' Reginald shook his head.
Qui-Gon gave his head a shake. `Obi-Wan, have Tony ready a horse for Reginald and get him to show you my horse, Smudge, and where his tack is. You can saddle up my horse, alright?'
`Yes, sir.' Obi-Wan hurriedly got up; the puppy Misty coming out from a corner to tag along behind the stable hand.
`You really like him a lot.' Reginald noted with a humorous smile. 'You don't trust that stallion of yours to anyone.'