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"We should probably get him out of the bath and into bed," Qui-Gon continued, now kneeling himself, but still outside of the bath and beginning to gather Anakin up. "You get his feet."

Normally Obi-Wan would have carried Anakin himself, either cradled or over his shoulder although the teen had reached a size now that he needed to use the Force to manage it without awkwardness. And once he stepped up out of the water he prepared to do just that, but Qui-Gon showed no desire to loosen his grip under Anakin's shoulders.

"Okay, you hold him there while I dry him off." Somehow he doubted his padawan would appreciate being surrounded by wet sheets or blankets for the rest of the night.

"Do you want to go find him a robe or bedclothes of some kind too?"

Obi-Wan nodded. They were already availing themselves of someone's hospitality. A couple more items of clothing shouldn't make things any worse.

Other than having to deal with their missing host's bad taste.

The only sort of robe he found was one of metallic red with bits of dark lace at the sleeves. Not a woman's by the rest of the clothing contained therein, not even really feminine, but also not something he could envision his padawan wearing by choice. But there was nothing else beyond a few oversized shirts also with an inordinate amount of lace on the cuffs, and pants that probably wouldn't be comfortable in casual wearing for the tightness and the material they'd been made of, much less comfortable sleeping in.

He could check back in Qui-Gon's room, but finally he decided shirts for them both, hoping they would be long enough to provide sufficient covering.

While Qui-Gon supported Anakin, Obi-Wan tugged the shirt over Anakin's head and arms, then lifted the teen's braid out from underneath the wide collar of the shirt. He then leaned over to grab up the second one, but a gentle hand to his arm and a shake of Qui-Gon's head before he pointed it toward the tub had Obi-Wan reconsidering the idea.

Qui-Gon was right. He'd rinsed off, but hadn't really had any opportunity to soak out the cold or the bruises. Not to mention spend a little time alone with Qui-Gon.

"Just let me get him to bed and I'll return."

And he could doubt that Qui-Gon's smile in response was only because of the care he was showing his padawan.

When he returned, the other master was submerged and leaning back against a towel draped across the side of the tub. The water had now risen to lap against dusky nipples and Obi-Wan needed to catch his breath. But he forced himself not to look away or blush, although he wasn't sure if he'd been completely successful in the last. Then it didn't exactly matter as Qui-Gon's eyes were closed, and didn't even open as he found his own towel to pillow his neck and moved down to sit alongside.

Obi-Wan quickly helped his body adjust not only to the temperature, but the sheer comfort offered by the water's buoyancy. He'd played down the injury to his ankle because it was as he'd said; being only twisted, the soreness should be gone by morning. And in truth, his shoulders and neck ached more, no doubt as much from tension as from the actual exodus from the car into the riverbed.

Now he couldn't help but give a low sigh of relief in being engulfed by so much warmth.

"My former padawan would accuse us both of being decadent," Qui-Gon offered, still with his eyes closed, his expression matching the bliss Obi-Wan was feeling.

"Don't tell me he prefers sonics too? Actually, Anakin is just uncomfortable in what he sees as wasting so much water, but ..."

"Bathing is for cleansing or healing and should be accomplished with the least amount of resources, allocated in optimum efficiency."

Even without a somewhat more prim accent than even Obi-Wan's own, Qui-Gon's words had the sound of a too oft said litany. Much like several of the High Council tended to quote the code.

"I find it hard to imagine you having such a joyless padawan. To live with your own obvious enjoyment of life and duty ..." But Obi-Wan trailed off as he realized how judgmental his words could be interpreted; something he and Anakin were all too used to hearing from other masters about their own relationship and something he tried never to offer in return.

As if sensing Obi-Wan's discomfort, Qui-Gon opened his eyes and the look turned Obi-Wan's direction changed to one of reassurance. "I don't mind talking about him. Defending him," he began to explain. "His outlook wasn't really Xan's fault. Yes, he made a choice to so view his environment and live his life, but he was rebelling against his birth parents and heritage." Now Qui-Gon showed a rueful frown.

"Unlike many of us, Xanatos' parents kept in constant contact with him. Sometimes I think they only did so to remind him he had given up the throne to a world -- Telos, actually -- instead of out of any affection. I know Xan chose a life of asceticism to remind them he was more than content to leave all of that behind."

"And how did all of that affect the two of you and your own relationship?"

A rueful laugh this time. "I certainly wasn't a substitute father figure for him. All too often he made me feel like the juvenile. But we did get along. I think he found some form of perverse pleasure in being frustrated with my manner. And he was a joy to teach. Very dutiful and intelligent. The only reason he wasn't offered my spot as the Head of the Solus Four Temple was because several of the other masters refused to have to listen to someone so young."

Obi-Wan got the impression that had been a complaint used against Qui-Gon too. "As if age has anything to do with ability, and sometimes even experience," he muttered in disgust for the blinders some of their fellows surrounded themselves with. "As you might imagine, that type of thinking is even worse on Coruscant despite Councilors like Master Yoda and Knight Ki Adi-Mundi. Indeed, the furor when Ki was appointed to the Council; too young and not even a master yet --"

"I imagine it was much like a twenty-four year old padawan taking his own padawan on the first day he was knighted and they having to call him Master Kenobi. Especially now that he has proven how capable he is despite their grousing."

Obi-Wan blushed but didn't draw back when Qui-Gon shifted toward him. He reached out to brush away a few drops of water that collected at Qui-Gon's jaw line. "Yes, well, no doubt our extraordinary padawans have simply made us both look good," he murmured and leaned up to brush his lips across the skin his fingers had touched. Qui-Gon shifted body and head at first to encourage Obi-Wan explorations, but then so that their lips met.

Another sigh escaped Obi-Wan before he brought them so close together that sounds and air could only be exchanged. Despite Anakin's earlier quandary and Obi-Wan knowing he'd have to tread carefully around his padawan while the teen figured out how he was going to deal with the changing dynamic between all three of them, the knight's own awareness of Qui-Gon's desirability had been greatly enhanced by Anakin's own confused interest.

And by Qui-Gon's, which was deliciously not so confused.

The older man was open and pliant under his touches, was content to let Obi-Wan take the lead, but was by no means being passive. This was a meeting between equals, something all of Obi-Wan's former couplings had sadly lacked no matter which role Obi-Wan had taken. Maybe that was why this one was so different -- being new to Coruscant, Qui-Gon had no expectations of Obi-Wan because of knowing him first as a padawan or now as the master of one such as Anakin. With Qui-Gon he didn't have to live up to another's preconceived notions.

"If this is going to go any further, I think we'd better find something to use as lubricant other than the bacta sedative," Qui-Gon eventually suggested during one of their breaks for air.

"There is always the Force --"

Qui-Gon pushed Obi-Wan back from were they were sprawled up the steps.

"I don't know about you, but I don't think my control is up to such a demand."

Obi-Wan laughed and sneaked down for another quick kiss, then knelt upright and began looking about the room. Both he and Anakin had disrobed here and, therefore, both of their belts should be somewhere nearby. Assuming his had weathered his immersion better than his lightsaber --

Damn! He still hadn't realigned his crystals. It was bad enough that he and Qui-Gon were considering sex in a house they had no idea of where the owners were, or when they were due back, but because of the attack, insuring his saber worked should have been the first thing he'd taken care of after seeing to Anakin's health.

"Obi-Wan?"

He looked first to Qui-Gon, and then down at himself. It had become obvious something else was now on his mind other than finding mutual pleasure and release. "I'm sorry," he apologized, brushing fingers and lips once more across Qui-Gon's mouth when the other also made move to rise. "I -- we -- I'm sorry." And he rose up completely out of the bath, calling first a dry towel to his hand that he wrapped around his waist, and then reached for his saber before kneeling back down on a dry section of tile.

He had a feeling the other master was gently laughing at him, but now that he'd remembered his mission, his erection had faded despite the allure of his potential partner and he wouldn't be able to let go until he'd seen to his duty first. He pushed his wet hair back, guilt making his movements choppy but then Qui-Gon was suddenly behind him, wrapping another towel first around Obi-Wan's hair to soak up the excess water, then arranging it around his shoulders to handle any subsequent drips before they fell into the open casing of Obi-Wan's saber.

"I hope you never again feel you have to apologize for knowing your duty," was offered close to Obi-Wan's ear, and he shivered from the warmth it surrounded him with.

He turned his head for a kiss, this certainly not being the first time he needed do something more in addition to calibrating his weapon. "Then thank you for your understanding. It isn't that I'm not interested --"

This time Qui-Gon took the lead, silencing him with a deeper kiss before running his fingers down Obi-Wan's extended arms and busy fingers. "I know," he smiled, and then sat back on his haunches. "I just didn't expect your concern for your lightsaber to come before your consideration of mine," he groused by with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Obi-Wan didn't bury the laughter that welled up out of him at that, but did ruthlessly shove away the image that had called to mind. Qui-Gon's saber was quite impressive. As was his weapon.

"We should consider this a reminder of the dangers of distraction," Qui-Gon was continuing much more soberly. "And count ourselves lucky that it didn't come at our expense. While I've no doubt we'll find time to renew our interest and explorations before leaving Erinne, I can also admit to being content to consider it only for the future if that is what is needed."

Obi-Wan nodded and turned his attention more fully back on the crystals that powered his saber for a moment, before then smiling back at Qui-Gon. And closing the casing with a decisive snap before thumbing the blade on. The brilliant blue shaft extended to its full length, then Obi-Wan powered down both the size and the strength to make sure all facets were working properly. He knew the mood was lost for the night, but also knew that that was all. The overall interest was still very much intact and would only continue to grow. At least until some of the curiosity -- and desire -- was abated.

"We should probably be considering sleeping, anyway," he said in practical resignation. "I fear Anakin, like your Xanatos, would find any sluggishness we exhibited come the morning to be only our just desserts and he would revel in saying I told you so, even if he didn't have the opportunity to warn us not to stay up too late."

It was Qui-Gon's turn to nod and he rose, then bent over to gather up the shirt Obi-Wan had carried in. The Jedi Master made no move to offer it to Obi-Wan to deal with himself, however, and so the knight let himself be dressed much as he had done for Anakin, only this time because it was Qui-Gon who pulled his damp hair our from underneath the collar, he shivered in reaction.

While Qui-Gon's fingers still rested across the back of his neck and shoulders, Obi-Wan lifted his own to cradle the back of Qui-Gon's head and tilted it down while he raised up on his toes. This was the first time they'd kissed while standing, and Obi-Wan marveled silently at how well he fit within Qui-Gon's embrace. Then was thankful for the other's strength as he knees actually wobbled before the kiss was through.

"A down payment?" Qui-Gon smirked when Obi-Wan took a shaky step backward.

"A promise."

4.

With a sudden awareness that was part Force and part all his own, Obi-Wan woke knowing several hours had passed even though the last thoughts on his mind had been of Qui-Gon, just as were these first upon his awakening.

So no nightmare to explain his abrupt return to consciousness, at least not his, and he quickly cast his mind out for the source if it had come from another.

Even though his heart said Anakin, Obi-Wan made sure there was no closer threat or danger first that might keep him from reaching the teen, before letting his mind touch that bright flare of light and life. Only to recoil instantly from the alienness surrounding that light, automatically falling out of his bed and into a crouch. He reached through the Force to bring his lightsaber to hand even as he also sought to make a connection with Qui-Gon, hoping the most basic of bonds all Jedi shared in being connected with the Force would be enough to awaken the other two rooms away.

Although he could see nothing amiss as he cautiously approached Anakin's bed, he brushed up against a barrier that he couldn't pass through and Obi-Wan's initial concern spread to full-fledged alarm. Strung wall to wall, it was something akin to a Force barrier, but not exactly that as he wasn't getting the psychic feedback he'd generally found when trying to counter something a stronger Jedi set up against him in a testing.

"Obi-Wan?" The door to the bathroom opened behind Obi-Wan, with Qui-Gon entering quickly, but with obvious caution.

"I can't reach Anakin!" Not only was the barrier keeping Obi-Wan from physically reaching his padawan, but somehow their training link was also being blocked. The only way he could tell Anakin was alive was in seeing the faint movement of his padawan's chest in the blue of his saber's glow. That Anakin showed no signs of distress was the only thing keeping Obi-Wan from greater panic.

Qui-Gon reached his side and tested the barrier with his hands while Obi-Wan tried to penetrate the barrier with a Force probe of his own. Neither was successful. Nor was trying to cut through the barrier with their sabers.

"It's possible the barrier is just here, two dimensional instead of enclosing him within some sort of cube. If we approach him from another side -- well, I don't see that adding structural damage to our list of reimbursements the Order is going to owe the house's owners as being a problem."

Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon was trying to keep things light, but it was also a good idea. Something at least to try, nor was it as if he had any better idea than to keep checking the barrier mentally and physically in hope of finding some weak spot.

Of course, it was such a good idea that whoever had set the barrier had also set one preventing them from opening the door to the hallway.

"See if you can get out through your own door."

Qui-Gon nodded, but quickly returned. "The energy field either extends all of the way down, or keeps being adjusted to our probes. I think we should see if it is actually part of the wall or just across the openings."

Even if the barrier was only at the doors, it would take Qui-Gon about as much time to cut away enough of the stone for them to pass through as it would for Obi-Wan to finish testing the barriers. So after a distracting glance at the ripple of muscles across Qui-Gon's bare back as the Jedi Master thrust his blade into the native stone the Erinne settlers used in place of the permacrete and permasteel used by many other cultures, Obi-Wan put both Qui-Gon and Anakin out of his mind and focused on trying to identify the nature of the barrier.

Portable energy shield generators produced visible barriers of translucent color based on what type of lazing system and components used. So this wasn't that, even if the technology was available on Erinne, at least not as a standard security system in a private individual's home. That meant it was some form of Force-based energy field, yet even if Obi-Wan couldn't have pushed his way through it, he should have been able to identify it as such. Or it was some form of technology he was unfamiliar with.

Or something completely different, like mystical or psychic energy. Which meant he should be able to find the being manipulating the energy, even if he did know what the energy was.

"This is working," Qui-Gon called out, breaking Obi-Wan's train of thought. With reluctance the knight turned away from Anakin and moved nearer just as Qui-Gon pushed a third block away. Obi-Wan caught Qui-Gon's eye and stepped up to the opening, first reaching with his hand through the hole, then with his entire body when he meet no resistance.

They ended up in another corridor, one giving a sense of abandonment greater than the others they had passed through to find these rooms. It was also much narrower, and filled with sheeted obstructions that appeared to be mostly soft-focused shadows for how much dust lay upon them. A service corridor then, one that passed almost secretly along the floor, no doubt only connecting to rooms where servants long ago would have congregated or worked from before answering the owners' summons. It wouldn't give the two Jedi much room to maneuver, but if they stayed mindful they could both work on creating a new passageway, which Obi-Wan had a feeling would be useful. He was beginning to feel time was getting away from them.

Walking them down a few feet past where Anakin's bed stood, Obi-Wan hoped he was accurately placing an empty wall space. Not that he would worry too much about cutting through the ancient wooden armoire and the garish clothing within, however, if his calculations were slightly off.

This time they worked to make the opening almost five feet across and somewhat higher so Qui-Gon could pass through it even while carrying Anakin should Obi-Wan need to defend them against ... something. Again it seemed to be working, at least their blades passed into, then through the stone. Of course the barrier could be a foot or so beyond the stone ...

It wasn't, or somehow the stones could pass through the barrier, for when they Force-pushed the debris it moved forward into Anakin's side of the room with no difficulty. This was beginning to show signs of a test instead of a real threat, and Obi-Wan's feeling of disquiet intensified even as he could now approach his padawan. And something was still blocking his mental connection to his padawan.

"The energy field is dissipating," Qui-Gon remarked as he moved past Anakin's bed toward Obi-Wan's and the bath.

Obi-Wan frowned, as the coincidence of their bypassing the field and the timing of its fading seemed to support the idea of someone testing and being directly aware of their actions. He gripped his unlit lightsaber tighter in hand; wearing only the borrowed shirt, he had no place to hang the weapon, yet he wouldn't have so disarmed himself even if he were in full Jedi garb.

Qui-Gon had opened the door to the main corridor, positioning himself to watch for potential trouble from that quarter and he did extend his own blade. It should have been the only light in the room, but now Obi-Wan could observe a faint, pale nimbus surrounding Anakin's body. The energy field that had blocked the doors hadn't been so discernable; yet Obi-Wan approached this one just as cautiously, testing to see whether it blanketed only his padawan or extended beyond what was visible.

Using Force-sight the glow was brighter, almost containing color instead of just light, and Obi-Wan was reminded of his master when Mace Windu had passed into the Force. Which immediately brought to mind the reason for their presence on Erinne, that of a ghost. That might also be a Sith, or at least seeking out a Sith's magics. But he could sense nothing remotely sentient within the glow itself, just a muting of Anakin's presence below it, not only blocking their link, but somewhat smothering Anakin's life force.

This alarmed Obi-Wan even more but he willed his fear into the Force and continued to probe the field. He could not sense any danger to his padawan, could better see that Anakin breathed, if somewhat shallowly. While Obi-Wan couldn't sense if Anakin dreamt or was fighting his imprisonment within his mind, the teen looked no more restless than he normally did, lying prone across the bed in a sprawl of limbs that would have to be corrected once his padawan found someone to share it with. Obi-Wan had many memories of being nudged off to one side and out of the blanket in the times they had, by lack of foresight or accommodations, been forced by necessity to find their rest together.

His use of the Force changed nothing and finally Obi-Wan reached out with his hand toward this energy field. From the corner of his eye he could see Qui-Gon vibrating, looking as if he wanted to move from his defensive position, but willing himself to stay put. Obi-Wan wouldn't have minded the older Jedi's more direct back up himself, but recognized and appreciated Qui-Gon's prudence in staying where he was just the same. Despite all they'd been able to determine, apparently they weren't alone in this house.

Physical touch provided what his Force probe had not, but almost before he could register the sensation being not unlike things crawling up and under his skin, the glow disappeared and the field collapsed. In the next moment Anakin was rolling over, then moving up and out of the bed while calling his lightsaber to his hand in a duplicate of Obi-Wan's awakening. Except that Anakin had thumbed the blade on even before his mind registered he was awake.

Or registered who stood before him.

"Ani, no!"

Obi-Wan ignited his own weapon in a frantic parry as his padawan's longer blade swept out toward him. He also attempted to reopen the mental link between them even as he could feel Anakin's shields snap up in response to feeling the Force being used against him. Obi-Wan scowled and countered the aggressive Force probes launched both physically and mentally against him.

"Anakin, Padawan!"

But still no change and Obi-Wan felt another surge reach for him, this time from farther away. For an instant he couldn't move, but neither could Anakin, and so he forestalled turning his own mental abilities to attack once he recognized the meaning and the paralysis' origin. Indeed, he settled back into the invisible bonds, could see and feel as Anakin reacted to this intrusion just as automatically as he had to Obi-Wan's proximity to him. Then also registered Anakin's dawning awareness as first his padawan realized he couldn't easy free himself before finally sensing who he was now and had been fighting. When he stopped struggling, Qui-Gon released the Force-hold he had placed on them both.

"M-master!"

Now Anakin's horror and guilt buffeted their link and Obi-Wan instantly returned soothing understanding and comfort. He closed the distance between them as Anakin dropped his saber and his knees buckled, catching up his padawan and dropping down with him so that they both landed on their knees. Qui-Gon's presence was closer now, a deep well of compassion laced with sharp concern, and Obi-Wan didn't even think of the ethics or rightness of drawing upon some of that boundless support to help bolster his own frayed confidence and nerves.

Obi-Wan had known from their first meeting that Anakin could channel more raw energy from the Force than he could himself, that it was only his training and experience that kept him ahead and able to teach his padawan. One day soon Anakin would finally learn to control what was still mostly unconscious talent, and would no doubt eventually even surpass Master Yoda's command of the Force, leaving Obi-Wan and every other Jedi far behind.

But Anakin needed a master right now, not an equal or a friend. He needed someone to hold him and tell him that things would be okay even though he had committed the one unpardonable sin a padawan could do - draw his saber with aggressive intent against his master. Despite the action being unintentional, the Code made few allowances for padawans or initiates who couldn't control themselves or succumbed to outside influence as it did for those who willfully turned. Anakin knew this -- Obi-Wan knew this. And now he would have to convince Anakin that it didn't matter, that he wasn't about to mention this to the Council or any one else --

Damn, Qui-Gon knew this also.

For a moment he lifted his attention from Anakin, becoming aware of just how much he was drawing upon Qui-Gon's energy and presence, and how freely they were being given. Yes, Qui-Gon had witnessed what had just happened, but he wasn't going to let it ruin Anakin's chances of becoming a knight either.

Obi-Wan sighed. Now to convince Anakin. Offering forgiveness and counsel would have been much easier to do if Anakin hadn't retreated far back into his own mind, however. And if Obi-Wan's own mind and body didn't feel as if he'd challenge all twelve of the Jedi High Council to steal his most private memories by bludgeoning away his mental shields, while at the same time he was performing the fifteenth level of the Sun's Furnace kata in a more than doubled normal gravity field and in the midst of a Tatooine sand storm.

"Ani -- Padawan!" he finally commanded in his sternest master tones, both mentally and verbally, and with his hand firmly grasping Anakin's chin to bring it up. Anakin's eyes flew open as expected, and Obi-Wan fixed him with his gaze, not letting his padawan turn away or hide his face.

"Ani, it is alright," he said much more softly, but still with a core of steel and the Force underlying his words. "You were reacting to a threat - yes there was a real threat here!" he forcibly spoke over the protest Anakin began to make. "There is - was - something here, not a full presence but certainly an intent. Qui-Gon and I were being kept from you while ... something was trying to get to you."

Now that Anakin's eyes and expression began to clear with just a hint of calm and hope, Obi-Wan let go of his hold on his padawan's chin, smoothing away the bruises he had undoubtedly left with a light touch and a tendril of the Force. He then rocked back to sit on his feet, surprised but managing to hide his flinch when he felt Qui-Gon's very solid legs against his back. When Qui-Gon's hand came down to his shoulder after first brushing surreptitiously down the back of his head and across his neck, Obi-Wan even relaxed into the offered physical and emotional support so that he could give all of his own to Anakin.

"Ignoring what passed between us as you came out of your sleep, how do you feel, Padawan?" he then asked, making a conscious effort not to lean into Qui-Gon's touch too much. "Do you sense anything wrong or out of the ordinary?" Obi-Wan didn't himself, not any more. But he wasn't convinced that what he had seen and felt had simply dissipated because of his touch.

The alleged ending to this ... test had been so like the last moment of their shared vision; him facing down Anakin as his padawan tried to kill him.

Anakin shifted back to sitting on his own feet and hung his head, but this time Obi-Wan couldn't sense any accompanying shame. Which allowed him to mentally pull away from all but the most basic bond between them. While he could still feel Anakin perform a series of mental and physical checks before confirming what Obi-Wan had hoped, Obi-Wan stayed away from all of those private places Anakin needed to check to ensure his wellness.

"I don't feel anything strange, Master. No presence, no misplaced thought or emotion."

"Except for the guilt," Obi-Wan said with a patient smile. "May I also check, Padawan?" As Anakin's master he could have insisted or just done so without asking, but Obi-Wan had never before invasively forced himself into Anakin's mind without permission, and couldn't fathom doing so now. Especially now, if someone else already had.

Anakin's surface emotions had always been easy to read (as were his padawan's expressions), and now so were his surface thoughts as their bond continued to evolve and grow. But he would need to go much deeper than Anakin's surface memories to make sure that the intruder was not simply lying dormant within. Even at the best of times this was not one of Obi-Wan's specialties. Nor did his padawan have a more typical Jedi's Force sensitivity. Should the teen fight the probe, they could both end up in a lot of trouble.

Qui-Gon's hand tightened around his shoulder and he let his head twist to look up at the other Jedi while he gave Anakin time to prepare himself. Although the light was now almost non-existent -- just the diffused glow from the bath Qui-Gon had passed through to reach them at Obi-Wan's mental call, the blue of Qui-Gon's eyes caught his own and Obi-Wan accepted the calm and confidence the other master offered, drawing it into himself as he had the energy he'd been offered earlier. Fully aware that he would not be handling any of this nearly as well if Qui-Gon had not been present, he let his gratitude and quiet delight in Qui-Gon's support shine back out of his own gaze.

Then turned to face his padawan when Anakin took hold of his hands.

Obi-Wan led them into a shared communion, letting Anakin do much of the reaching out. He had to know his padawan agreed to this.

Nor was it as hard to filter out Qui-Gon's presence as he might have thought; then Obi-Wan realized that he hadn't ... exactly. He was still mentally aware of Qui-Gon's closeness, although he could no longer feel the hand that lay on his shoulder. All concerns with the outside environment gave way to his internal landscape, and here he could see that his mind had already made a welcoming place for the other master. Just as he had for Anakin at Mace's death.

For just an instant, memory of his first sharing of this type of togetherness with Qui-Gon flashed across his mind's eye, seeing Qui-Gon superimposed on some of the events he and his master had shared together from the hyperspace visions. Somewhat ruthlessly he twisted away from what had become desire and alternity mixed, feeling a spasm of guilt to so dishonor his memories of Mace Windu by wishing the other had been there instead and thinking of what might have been. The need to block his feelings of guilt from Anakin greatly helped Obi-Wan turn away from the Force-fed fantasy of being with Qui-Gon.

He gathered up Anakin's own guilt and fear and wrapped it within love and comfort. As he had already assessed on a surface level, no taint of otherness permeated their bond and so Obi-Wan dropped deeper, buoyed by Anakin's willingness and his own commitment to protect this cherished soul.

Finding Anakin's memory of when the manifestation had stolen over him was difficult, for it was buried deep within the teen's subconscious. Outwardly Anakin had not sensed anything amiss when it had begun, passing from one dream state into another, as even a Jedi's dreams were wont to do. But Anakin's connection to the Force was so very strong despite his lack of control that some part of his mind had registered the alien presence. And had just as quickly rejected it. Obi-Wan could feel an echo of frustration and determination that was not solely Anakin's.

So there was a spark of intelligence behind the occurrence.

Now that Obi-Wan had the barest feel of the other, he wanted - needed - to trace it further than just assuring himself that it no longer resided in Anakin as anything other than vague memory. This, even more than his deep probe of Anakin's mind would be difficult, even painful. And not something for his own comfort that he wanted Anakin involved in; his padawan already had too much of connection to this ... Other.

Fortunately, using the Force to put his padawan to sleep was not difficult, especially from so far within, and when Anakin was already fighting to stay awake on his own.

Obi-Wan knew he should do more than just assume that Qui-Gon would see to Anakin's comfort, that he should let the other know what he was planning. That the danger to Anakin - and themselves - had been alleviated.

At least until he aroused the Other's ire by trying to pursue and observe it.

But Obi-Wan had never been one to put off an onerous duty, nor to accept uncomfortable consequences as being a reason to ignore what needed to be done. Again he spared a second of gratitude for the Master Jedi's presence; had it just been him and Anakin, Obi-Wan would never had been able to attempt this next bit for fear of being too disoriented to then see to and protect Anakin should something more happen. Yes, he was taking Qui-Gon for granted, but it did seem to be for the greater good.

Still he'd apologize. Later.

Obi-Wan opened himself up to the part of his mind he normally kept closed off or at least under strict control. It was like blinders being taken away from his inner eye as between one deep breath and the next, his mind filled with patterns of Force. It would be so easy to get caught up and lost within the myriad of possibilities and past occurrences, but in this he did have training. And this time, a most decided purpose.

Deftly Obi-Wan sought out the new thread of something intertwining around Anakin. It took a little more effort not to look into the possibilities, not to see all of the potential futures this pattern could weave into his and Anakin's life. Perhaps he should, but he had neither the energy or the stamina to make this a long vision quest, not and still have the ability to use the imprint of the Other to actually find him - it - him.

A definite him.

Obi-Wan didn't let himself get distracted in trying to actually picture the Other, and when he eased Anakin out of the thread the pathway became even more nebulous, and not just because the two of them no longer had any common ground of interaction. The Other had little interaction or connection to any others.

Which made it much more likely that this was their ghost rather than simply another Force user.

With that thought Obi-Wan tugged his shields tighter around his mind and started to slow down. Were he to confront the ghost here on a mental plane, he would be at a decided disadvantage, especially with how worn out he had been before even beginning the trace. Far better to simply lurk for just a moment, maybe try and confirm what his heart and intellect was telling him, but keep the Other from being aware he was even there. Unfortunately that would take a lot more finesse than what Obi-Wan was feeling up to.

But to come this close and not come away with anything more than a few vague suspicions -

Just as he decided that last thought was more vanity and arrogance than prudence, he felt a tug against his mind. And a sharp push against his shields. He fought both, yet the push began growing in strength. In pain.

Whether he had slipped up and made the Other aware of his presence, or whether the Other might just have been doing a little mental reconnaissance of his own, Obi-Wan had been found.

And the Other was not pleased.

He was also better at this than Obi-Wan was, perhaps not in life, but exceedingly so in death. Obi-Wan felt his shields shake beneath a bludgeon of power and for an instant his awareness of anything - everything - wavered. He struggled to keep hold of his sense of self, but the patterns of the universe overrode memory and ego, overwhelming his control and threatening to fling pieces of him out of time and into every possible past, present or future. But he recognized the ploy, this not being the first time another sought to use his connection to the Unifying Force against him. Such was how Sith preferred to attack.

He had only to reach back to his link with Anakin -

Almost too late he recognized the trap for what it was, could sense that although there had been no trace of the Other left in Anakin, he had not checked for the same within his own mind. Had he sought the safety and steadiness of his bond with his padawan, he would have been stuck there, caught in a prison comprised of their combined insecurities so recently rediscovered in their shared vision. That future was very much on the Other's - the Sith's - mind; his own power and desire to make it come about, a very real danger here within the mindscape of the Force.

For a moment Obi-Wan felt keen despair, which let disorientation overtake him again. And he paused, as much as he could when even remembering to breathe took almost all of his effort. He considered ceasing to fight, that it might be better to allow his own consciousness to be scattered within the patterns of the Force than to doom Anakin along with himself to a pit of insanity. Or Darkness. True, Anakin might lose his way anyway upon seeing his master fall, but there were other Jedi who cared. Who might be able to help his padawan.

Certainly Qui-Gon had shown a willingness -

Of course! That tug in the same instant that the Sith had attacked. Qui-Gon had been offering himself as an anchor. If Obi-Wan could just reach for that touchstone ...

It was still there. Undiscovered or disregarded, and certainly not warded against by the Sith. Qui-Gon's pattern burned almost as brightly within the Force as Anakin's to Obi-Wan, promising a different sort of safety that he fled toward with all of the power left within him.

After settling Anakin back onto his bed, Qui-Gon resumed his position next to where Obi-Wan still knelt on the floor. He had not been surprised to feel Obi-Wan put his padawan under, certainly thought it fitting since Anakin had done the same to his master only days before and with just as little notice. But Qui-Gon hadn't been expecting for Obi-Wan not to come out of the trance almost immediately afterward, and now found himself wondering what he might do to help. Or do to at least to let the knight know that he wasn't alone.

Qui-Gon had no experience in the type of probing Obi-Wan had been attempting; the only thing remotely close to such use of the Force he had ever undertaken was psychically reading the memory residue of the various artifacts he had discovered or unearthed in the course of his research. Even when still training Xanatos, he'd never needed to perform any sort of deep reading to test his padawan. Nor had he ever been the recipient of such a communion from another Jedi.

But he was not surprised at how uncomfortable it had made both master and padawan, before Obi-Wan had used a Force compulsion to push Anakin to sleep.

Although just as unskilled with the second phase of whatever Obi-Wan now pursued, Qui-Gon still sensed when it began to go wrong. Instantly he dropped down behind Obi-Wan and clutched the distressed form in his arms even as he strengthened the passive mental connection between them. Because he still wasn't sure what Obi-Wan was doing or where the knight's focus was, Qui-Gon made no direct mental forays himself, not even into the Force. Without the understanding he would likely hinder things more than help, perhaps even putting himself or Obi-Wan at risk. But he could offer his presence. And more of his energy -- whatever the knight needed.

Whatever Obi-Wan needed.

A couple more minutes passed before Qui-Gon could sense that Obi-Wan was surfacing from whatever he'd been doing. The knight came back to his surroundings with a deliberate shake, then a moan of obvious pain in response to moving his head. Qui-Gon gathered him up a little tighter, not enough to make Obi-Wan feel trapped within his embrace, but certainly enough for Obi-Wan to know he wasn't alone.

And almost immediately Obi-Wan relaxed his body and let his head drop back against Qui-Gon's shoulder. Qui-Gon brought up a hand to wipe away some of the sweat from the knight's brow, and the few tears that had spilled from beneath Obi-Wan's lashes. Much as he had done on the Udan Orr, Qui-Gon focused tendrils of healing energy with his fingertips, not knowing what hurt, exactly, but unable to sit idly by.

"I found our Ghost."

The words hung in the air, barely spoken, barely even breathed. Qui-Gon wasn't sure if trying to collect his thoughts or speaking was proving difficult for Obi-Wan, or if, instead, his own ministrations were soothing the knight to the point of lethargy. He could hope for the latter, but feared it was the first, especially as no matter how he tried, the tiny furrows between Obi-Wan's brow didn't fade.

Although he knew asking questions would just keep the knight from seeking the rest he so obviously needed, Qui-Gon also knew Obi-Wan was expecting them. "Is it actually nearby - here?"

A quick shake of his head had Obi-Wan biting his bottom lip and Qui-Gon wincing in sympathy. "Its influence is here, but not the ghost itself. We were not in contact long enough for me to find out much, but I got the impression it is tied to somewhere or something else right now. And it doesn't want to be."

Qui-Gon smoothed his thumb over the single upraised corner of Obi-Wan's lips. "I don't suppose it just wants to pass on?"

This time Obi-Wan remembered not to shake his head again. He did open his eyes though, and offered an upside down, tired smile that disappeared all too soon. "It was at least Sith trained, if not a full Sith at the time of his death. No he doesn't want to pass on. He's seeking something or someone -"

"Anakin?" Qui-Gon had to ask. Given the teen's raw abilities in the Force, Anakin would be quite a prize for any Sith, alive or dead. Despite his lack of control and inexperience, Anakin wouldn't be easy to control or corrupt, of course, but would be well worth the effort should the Sith prove successful. The same would be true for either himself or Obi-Wan, but directing the effort against the teen would appear to be the better use of the Sith's limited energy instead of challenging older and more experienced Jedi.

Unfortunately, if the Sith knew enough not to even try to take over either of them, it would also likely know it would have to eliminate them in order to have full access to Anakin. So all three of them were still no doubt in significant danger, just endangered differently.

"I think it wants to use Anakin, but that is not its only goal." Obi-Wan's eyes suddenly widened. "Is Ani -" and he started to pull away.

"He's okay," Qui-Gon murmured into the knight's hair, not letting him break the hold. He then scooted back the few inches to lean against Anakin's bedside, shifting them both so that Obi-Wan could twist and reach for Anakin's hand and find his own comfort and answers. Instantly Obi-Wan brought his padawan's hand to where he could feel the steady pulse against his cheek.

"He's fine," Qui-Gon repeated. "He's comfortably sleeping."

Obi-Wan gave the barest of nods and a ghost of a smile, then all but collapsed back against Qui-Gon's chest and neck. "I wish I was."

"Sleeping or fine?" Qui-Gon asked lightly, though he also genuinely wanted to know the answer.

"How about both?" came with another wry twist to the corner of Obi-Wan's mouth. "Or maybe just wishing I could be the padawan this time, and let someone else take the responsibility."

And how much did Obi-Wan have to be hurting in some form to admit something like that?

Qui-Gon had to work to keep from tightening his hold again, and contented himself with rubbing his fingers up and down Obi-Wan's arm, ignoring the trembling he could feel even as he sought to ease it. Ever since being shown an alternate reality where he had been Obi-Wan's master, Qui-Gon had been finding it hard not to have proprietary feelings about the knight despite how that might be received.

Yes, he was the older of the two, but Obi-Wan definitely had more experience in the field, and just about as much in training a padawan. Not to mention in dealing directly with Sith. Qui-Gon would do everything he could to help, of course, but he didn't know the first thing about taking the lead on this sort of mission.

But maybe he could do something.

"How about I take responsibility for getting us through the rest of the night," he offered. And putting actions to words, he snagged the down filled coverlet that Anakin had pushed to the end of his bed. Qui-Gon then gently shifted Obi-Wan off of his lap, but didn't let him out of the circle of one arm, encouraging the knight to lean against him as he wrapped the blanket around both their shoulders. Using a bit of the Force he called Obi-Wan's saber into his hand and set it onto Obi-Wan's lap after shifting his own to the floor underneath the hand not holding the knight's head against his shoulder.

That Obi-Wan made only the most minor of non-verbal protests convinced Qui-Gon he was taking the proper stance. While not the most comfortable position to sleep in, the carpet beneath them was thick and warm, and he truly doubted Obi-Wan would sleep any better in his bed, as it was too far to reach out and physically touch his padawan. As for him, he would drowse or meditate, using the Force to set a portion of his awareness to keeping watch throughout what remained of the night.

Qui-Gon found it easy enough to just stay awake, and eventually light began creeping through the open door to the major hallway and windows somewhere uncovered just without. He hadn't needed to be responsible for another's well being in years and frankly, had found it refreshing and comforting if in an odd sense. He spent most of the time, however, musing more specifically on Obi-Wan and the relationship that seemed to be developing between them.

Having sex -- or nearly so -- was much easier than trusting someone well enough to fall asleep against him.

Actually, his overall welcome by both Obi-Wan and Anakin still amazed him. The three of them had known each other for less than a week, but Qui-Gon already felt part of their lives, of their future. Some of that came from the Force, he knew, but not all. His own experience and expertise had been sought, his ongoing presence encouraged. He'd been shown respect as well as trust, and given friendship and camaraderie. Friend, yes, and maybe eventually partner?

Who would ever have imagined he'd find such a place at this stage of his life?

He couldn't ignore his considerable attraction to Obi-Wan either. Not conventionally handsome, Obi-Wan wouldn't be considered unattractive by those who enjoyed the looks of humanity. It was just that the force of Obi-Wan's personality and character far outstripped his physical appearance. From the beginning Qui-Gon had recognized this knight as the type of Jedi his youthful self had secretly wanted to become when he grew up. Adventurous and skilled in the Force, remarkable with weapons, and a natural-born leader, Obi-Wan's easy good nature could inspire confidence and light a room with his mere presence.

Then there was his quirky grin and that full, heart-stopping smile.

Not to mention the sheer awe he'd felt in when observing of Obi-Wan and Anakin together.

Theirs was a rapport to envy, no matter what the other masters might think about Anakin's informality. Certainly the two were closer friends than he and Xanatos had ever managed. And they would, no doubt, remain so long after Anakin achieved his knighthood.

If he could be a part of making sure that goal was achieved, that their friendship stayed intact, Qui-Gon would consider his life well spent.

Even when it meant having to wake the two when he knew further sleep would be most welcome. Unfortunately for their current circumstances, sleep and recovery were not the things most needed now.

At least Anakin had seemed to rest easy through the remainder of the night. And once Obi-Wan had allowed himself to be tucked within the embrace of Qui-Gon's arm, even he had settled, not even stirring when Qui-Gon had used the Force to build up the fire again to have it last through the rest of the night, then built it up once more so that there'd be no chill in the room once they began to move about. Qui-Gon feared the knight would still need hours of meditation in addition to more sleep, however, before he properly sorted and banished the remnants of the Sith's presence from his mind.

Would that they would have enough time for that to happen.

Unfortunately, Qui-Gon suspected, now that the Sith knew it was being actively hunted, it would become even more aggressive.

Just the flexing first of his fingers, then his entire arm which had fallen asleep right along with Obi-Wan, woke the knight. He came alert with a start, his hand immediately reaching out for his lightsaber, though his training held and he did not light it as Anakin had from his surprise too few hours earlier. As he watched surreptitiously, Qui-Gon could almost see Obi-Wan's thoughts replaying what had led to him being in such a position, and was gratified when Obi-Wan relaxed back against him for just a moment before pulling away.

"Good morning," Qui-Gon offered, although he held back from taking a quick kiss. Somehow the ease and ardor of the night before seemed out of place in the light of day. At least until they'd all dealt with the ramifications of all that had happened in the night.

The look offered in return had him suspecting a disagreement with his characterization of the day to come; that or Obi-Wan was not a morning person by natural inclination. At least no obvious pain still caused the knight's brow to furrow or backlight his eyes, and Obi-Wan gained his feet without exhibiting any of the swollenness in his ankle of the night before. He also managed to dredge up a smile to offer as he took a quick glance at his padawan before offering a soft hello of his own. Then promptly began a series of stretches and muscle isolations that left Qui-Gon's body twinging in sympathy.

And instantly hard with arousal despite his intent to the contrary.

Spending a few seconds ruthlessly willing his emotions and body back under control, Qui-Gon rose himself. He began to move more slowly into a set of katas that comprised his own cure for poor sleep. With surprise Qui-Gon found he finished before Obi-Wan. Which left him little to do other than take another opportunity to simply watch Obi-Wan move. And to then find he was not the only one so indulging himself.

Which was more effective than a cold shower in dismissing the stirrings of a reawakened erection.

Anakin hadn't moved beyond raising his eyelids, but he watched his master with a hunger barely contained, with a predatoriness quite different than the mere hormonally driven interest he'd been trying to hide the evening before.

Qui-Gon well knew it was not uncommon for a padawan to become attracted to his master, especially as such a vulnerable age and stage in Anakin's development. But such feelings could prove not only detrimental to the current mission, but to the master/padawan pairing overall, assuming Anakin discovered Obi-Wan was ready to share his affections with another. Certainly the strength and tenor of what was being directed toward Obi-Wan right now was definitely something to be concerned about.

The three of them absolutely needed to talk about the future.

Preferably before the Sith ghost began to try and influence it.

5.

While not the first morning Anakin had awakened with an erection, never before did he remember feeling quite so aroused, nor having such a focus for his desires as in both of the two men before him. With his master only wearing a shirt, and Master Jinn only wearing a pair of pants, it was all Anakin could do to decide which man to watch.

For all that he had teased his master about developing the typical padawan crush, Anakin had convinced himself it would never happen, last night he had begun to speculate on what it might be like to have sex with his master, and those speculations had not faded now that he should be looking at his hormones with rational thought instead of emotion. Before Master Jinn's obvious interest, Anakin could at least convince himself he wasn't quite sure if he could deal with trying to satisfy someone who pretty much controlled his future even were he to ever manage to get his master to see him and not be reminded of his lost lover Bruck.

There were simply too many issues of control and imbalance, not to mention what could happen to their master/padawan pairing should they try a more intimate relationship at this stage in his life and training, and have it not work out.

Of course, dwelling on all of that only had him shifting again to consider Master Jinn, this time not as a rival, but as an opportunity.

Definitely older, perhaps a little too sedate and probably bookish, but still the older master had a quality of serenity and hidden depth that intrigued Anakin probably about as much as it seemed to intrigue his master. Just the thought of those depths, of being the one to challenge that serenity ...

Certainly if he was going to consider an older lover, he could see it being someone like Master Jinn, and someone who hadn't been one of those who had been judging his abilities and suitability since his first days at the Temple. Beyond Master Mace and his own master, Master Jinn had been the first Jedi not to pre-judge him based on his stupid midichlorian count, or the rumors of him being the damned chosen one! Which wasn't exactly the best reason to base a relationship on, nor was he sure he was actually interested, but damn if he wasn't feeling horny!

Thank the Force he had automatically tightened his shields in an attempt to be able to sleep - pretend to sleep -- for a few more moments. These were not thoughts he wanted his master to even accidentally overhear.

Maybe they weren't his own thoughts anyway; maybe he was simply being influenced by the emotions the two masters weren't really trying very hard to disguise. Maybe it was their desires acting on his own hormones.

It wasn't like he really thought he was ready for a relationship, or even sex with someone, although he knew a few of his age mates had begun experimenting.

And, should he make a play for either master, he'd be getting in the way of the other, and a triangle was definitely not how he wanted his first sexual relationship to be framed.

Yet on the other hand, trying something with both of the other two --

Giving a snort of self-directed disgust, Anakin threw back the bedcovers and jumped out of bed, offering a chipper greeting to both men as he bounded across the room.

"First dibs on the fresher, Masters!"

Needing to piss would be an acceptable excuse for his hard on should it be noticed. But something else then registered on his mind with a greater urgency than the call of nature or his hormones, and he paused at the door to the bath. He'd noted what the others were wearing by how the clothing had enhanced their desirability, but only now noted he was wearing a shirt somewhat similar to his master's.

He had no memory -- well, maybe a very vague memory of putting it on -- no, of having it put on him. But he definitely had no memory of actually getting into bed, of falling asleep, although he did remember having at least one nightmare, now forgotten other than as a residual horror, nightmare. So his master must have put him to bed, and he could almost recall something that could have been a compulsion, but --

"Ah, Master, did something more happen last night after you dressed my bod -- my hand?"

Had Anakin not been intimately familiar with the sequence his master was performing, he would have sworn the smooth pivot and upturn next undertaken were truly part of the kata. He smothered a sigh at how effortlessly his master modified something thousands of years old, not for the first time despairing of ever being that natural in the physical arts or the Force. High midichlorian count be damned, he was the greenest novice when he compared himself to his master!

"Then don't compare yourself," was offered archly, his master holding the leg, arm and neck extension beyond any reasonable length, showing no concern for how this lifted his shirt midway up his hips.

And so far ignoring Anakin's spoken question.

"Concentrate on your own strengths and weaknesses and stop making everything a competition."

Anakin flushed, not only in being told again words he had heard too many times before, but for needing to be told. And for being so easily read. Not to mention being so easily distracted by a peak of forbidden flesh.

His flush deepened as Anakin considered just how long his master might have been reading him, or might still be reading him now, but then he calmed when meeting only a sympathetic expression. There was no disappointment or censure there, just patience and perhaps even a bit of curiosity.

Out of his own sense of morbid curiosity Anakin flicked his attention toward Master Jinn as he wasn't quite sure that the Force might not be exhibiting a perverse sense of ... something at his expense, and perhaps both men were aware of the nature of Anakin's thoughts upon awakening. There he found more concern than patience, and something that might have been the awareness he was hoping not to find. But he also found what he thought could be understanding.

And eddies and currents of energy gathered thickly within this room. Nothing that seemed threatening or dangerous, but undeniably something more than he -- or they -- were generating. While it didn't quite feel similar to the cliched calm before a storm, Anakin had the impression the Force was now waiting for something. Watching.

And that was just a little too much for him to face right upon awakening.

"Never mind, Master, it will keep but my bladder with not," he offered with his most winsome smile. If something had happened the night before, he'd be told. " I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Leave some hot water," came clearly through the door as he pulled it closed. Yeah. Like he'd be using any hot water.

"He doesn't remember last night."

Eyes closed again for the last few moves of Breeze Over Mountain, Obi-Wan sighed out the breath he'd been holding and nodded at the Jedi Master's observation. This morning Obi-Wan felt as old and just as worn as the wind-etched stones he always visualized when performing this kata. In most times past he was the breeze and the mountain was an obstruction or challenge to overcome. The end of the kata should leave him feeling lively and with a renewed sense of purpose as there were always ways around, over, or through the mountain.

Today, though. Today --

"I am loath to remind him of what did happen."

He should have tried something less demanding, like Rain Over Rock.

But rain generally depressed instead of energized him, and he needed no more excuses to drive him back to the sleep he'd already shortchanged his body. Not to mention that he'd get enough exposure to physical rain before they finished here on Erinne to actively seek it out in his meditations or training katas.

Refusing to give up, Obi-Wan instead reached for the timeless patience of the mountain to settle into his bones, determined to get something from his efforts.

"But he needs to know, not only what we're truly up against, but of his own vulnerability to it," Qui-Gon challenged, as if Obi-Wan's thought of wanting to keep all of this away from Anakin was also what he would choose to do.

Except then Qui-Gon moved until he was standing just inches away, close enough for Obi-Wan to feel the warmth of his presence and body. To breathe in Qui-Gon's exhalations. And for Obi-Wan to feel the confidence and trust being offered.

Obi-Wan sighed again, but out of relief this time. He made no move to restore a proper distance between them. And when Qui-Gon began to mirror his movements, Obi-Wan let a frission of desire and delight overtake him. He moved into the moment instead of worrying about Anakin and the future, if only for a few more of those moments.

Not since his master's death had Obi-Wan followed another's lead in even something as simple as a kata; concerned that somehow doing so would diminish his stature in Anakin's eyes. A part of him balked even now should his padawan finish his ablutions before he and Qui-Gon finished this active meditation. But the saner part of him was willing to reach for any aid in restoring his fractured control, and to ease the still present strain from his psychic confrontation with the Sith.

Breeze Over Mountain turned into Petals Falling on Grass, and Obi-Wan's anxieties turned into calm. He found his center and found the answer to a question that he hadn't yet dared to dwell on. The rapport he and Qui-Gon shared in the salle had not been a one-time event, not just a gentle push from the Force to encourage the two of them to consider working this mission together. Once again they moved as one, anticipating, knowing the moves the other would make as the lead changed between them, then back again as Qui-Gon nudged them both into Sunlight Over Stream, turning the calmness of their movements into something a bit more spirited to end with.

Tempted only for a moment to take them even further with Stone Skipping Across Brook, Obi-Wan let their kata come to a close instead. There wasn't really enough open space within this room to perform some of the aerial movements of that one, nor was he sure of how Qui-Gon might have reacted to something so aggressively energetic since the man's size more naturally cast him into the ground based, yet sensuous form of the kata. Then there was Anakin, who had finally slunk back out of the `fresher and had stood gaping instead of joining them.

The living reminder of Obi-Wan's responsibilities as master and Jedi.

And of why Obi-Wan had not ceded control to someone else since his own master's death.

Even if he thought to spare Anakin the rigors of a morning workout, they still needed to discuss the multiple occurrences of the night just past. How what had first happened might affect their mission, and what the following events would mean more specifically to the current day's plans. Trying to get to the capitol might be a waste of time if the Sith had already found them.

"Qui-Gon, while I take Anakin through a few forms, would you see if you can find something edible for breakfast after your shower?" He ignored the look of dismay suddenly gracing Anakin's face and the theatrical groan. Despite his immediate protests, Anakin must have anticipated this however; the teen hadn't bothered with his morning shower despite the length of time he had spent in the other room.

Obi-Wan bit back a smile at Anakin's expense, knowing full well what had kept his padawan so occupied. He remembered being that age and watching his own master with a surreptitious eye. Hormones didn't need any emotional involvement to bring about a physical reaction. And while he knew he and Anakin would have to have another talk soon about what his padawan thought his emotional involvement was or should be, Obi-Wan rather imagined his own morning shower would need be a bit colder for having worked so satisfactorily with Qui-Gon.

"I won't promise any epicurean treats, but I'll manage," Qui-Gon offered as he changed places with Anakin.

Still tired and heartsick on Anakin's behalf, even with the work he'd done with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan let the teen chose which kata he wanted them to perform instead of trying to pick something appropriate himself. Anakin well knew this exercise was more to keep him on a disciplined schedule than from worrying about losing any sort of tone should he miss a day or two, and so made no more complaint. And pleasantly surprised his master by choosing Fire With No Smoke, one of the more challenging forms Anakin had not yet fully mastered.

As if recognizing his master needing some form of distraction -- and not just from Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan let his pride in the choice and insight show in his expression. And in letting Anakin take the lead. By the second run-through he had dropped out completely to simply watch and correct, his intuition -- or the Force -- telling him that he needed to make sure Anakin would be prepared for an coming battle.

And that he would need to hoard his own energy.

Or, perhaps, he was simply staying too distracted and falling prey to guilt and paranoia.

"Can we talk, Master?"

"Now that it is just the two of us?" he offered a knowing, but gentle smile.

Even once Qui-Gon finished his shower, he'd no doubt return to his own room and whatever clothing he could find that might remotely fit him.

By those he had found the night before, Obi-Wan had a feeling twins had once inhabited this room, standing somewhere between his and Anakin's size, though more slender or less fit. The pants Qui-Gon had found himself also reflected the slighter genotype of Erinne humans, but at least they'd been long enough for the tall master.

Anakin nodded, and offered a shrug that was slightly tinged with embarrassment.

"Do you think you can talk and move?" he smiled, yet asked without any trace of sarcasm or implication of displeasure. As important as discipline and preparation was, his relationship with Ani was much more than simply training and duty. And he never wanted Ani to feel he couldn't come to him with questions.

Even if they were about things Obi-Wan wasn't really ready to talk about himself.

Again Anakin nodded, but took the kata down to half speed. Which had its own difficulties, and Obi-Wan stepped up to work the forms with Anakin. For a few minutes they moved together down from the higher levels to the more rigid, simplistic forms and Obi-Wan was content to wait for Anakin to bring up whatever he needed to say. Or ask.

"You and Master Jinn are going to end up together, aren't you?" Anakin finally asked during a portion of the kata where he needed keep his chin and eyes down. Not that Obi-Wan couldn't see his blush anyway.

"Yes, I think we are," Obi-Wan said slowly. "At least for a little while."

"Is it because of the vision or because you like him?"

"I was ... attracted to him well before the vision, Ani."

"But?"

"Not necessarily a but." He shrugged and moved closer to help Anakin lower into the bend at his waist the teen had a tendency to overcompensate for and dip below a level plane. "I can't completely separate my feelings now into what was influenced by the vision and what would have occurred regardless. Just as you can't completely forget the things you saw. The knowledge has already become part of our experience and helps to form the future." He then eased Anakin into the half cartwheel to be performed still in that position, using his arm as the fulcrum for Anakin to stay in contact with and keep his upper body straight while he flipped.

"What I can tell you is that we are not doing this because the Force or the vision told us to, if that is what you're asking," he continued, before directing Anakin to try the move a couple more times.

"Well, no, I know that," came Anakin's spaced out response. "Or I know that you never let the Force push you into something without it also being your decision after you've considered all of the options. But I guess I was wondering if it did maybe convince you of something you might not have considered on your own."

"It, or you, Anakin?" he prodded gently.

Anakin came up out the bend and out of the kata to finally meet Obi-Wan's gaze. "I-I guess you know that I've been looking to f-find someone for you."

The stutter and the look of hapless chagrin was absolutely endearing, as was the concern behind it, and so Obi-Wan refrained from a sarcastic comment or admonishment to mind his own business that he might first have been inclined to say. "You have seemed awfully concerned about my well being of late," he said with the same gentleness he had used to encourage this confession. "But you are also having some trouble in reconciling what it might mean if you are successful?"

Another blush and a deepening of his chagrin, making him look so much like the boy Obi-Wan had first taken as his padawan.

"Such feelings are natural, Anakin." And he tucked his arm around Anakin's waist and began leading them over toward the bath.

"I felt the same way when my master became involved with Knight Tahl when I was sixteen. I guess many of the training masters wait until their padawans are at least supposedly old enough to discuss this and understand the feelings. Or maybe it happens around this age because of the padawan's own greater involvement with others outside the training relationship." This second room was empty and the door to Qui-Gon's room closed, so Obi-Wan didn't feel any need to curtail their discussion.

"Because of the nature of the relationship between master and padawan, it is rare to choose to spend too much time with someone your padawan wouldn't like, but at least from the masters', well, from this master's point of view, I could never be happy with someone you didn't like. Or who didn't care and have a place for you in their own heart. It is always easier to find such a person who at least fully understands the Jedi even if they are not Jedi themselves. Like our docents, support personnel or liaisons."

Before pushing Anakin into the shower, Obi-Wan brought him over to the long vanity and began carefully removing the bandages still wrapped around Anakin's hands. In the few hours of treatment, he expected all but the most serious of cuts to have healed although it would be another day or more for the burn to be fully gone. Even longer if they couldn't let the burn breathe uncovered.

"So how do you feel about Master Qui-Gon?"

A third blush, and Anakin tried to turn away, not just his head, but his whole body. Obi-Wan kept a firm grip on Anakin's hand, however, and tugged gently to get back the teen's attention.

"Don't be ashamed of your feelings, Anakin. The only concern I may have is your difficulty in controlling your body's reactions. And that you are feeling guilty because of them. We have had plenty of discussions about your hormones and about the frequency in which you are plagued with them. Master Qui-Gon and I were both once your age and going through the same confusion you are now. Neither of us have any right to be disturbed by your thoughts or fantasies, and at least I am flattered to figure occasionally in them."

The hand was well on its way to a full recovery. Now all Obi-Wan had to do was find a better type of bactacreme, or they would have to let it heal naturally.

"Even though I don't know what I want?" Anakin asked, his words muffled as he drew off the shirt. "And even if I keep changing my ideas of what I should or shouldn't do?"

"As long as it doesn't affect our mission or your training, nor lead to any secrets or darker emotions that you just aren't ready to deal with on your own, you have my permission to indulge in any sort of fantasy regarding me, my padawan." Obi-Wan turned on the shower, and then began looking for a few more dry towels. At the rate they were using them up, they were going to have to find a way of laundering them soon.

"And if things get too confusing, I will help you -- although that doesn't mean that I will have sex with you," he added quickly to forestall the teasing that had begun to twist Anakin's lips before his padawan stepped into the enclosure.

"Nor will I act as your procurer, either with Master Qui-Gon or any other third party," he continued with a bit more volume and a bit more sternly to be heard over the pounding spray. "If you wish to approach someone about sex, I will help you with suggestions on how to go about it -- or how not to offer -- but I will not make the offer for you. That is one rite of passage you must go through on your own."

"You really would let me proposition Master Jinn?" the slyness of Anakin's tone was heard quite easily.

"I would never presume to make such a decision for anyone," Obi-Wan said in full earnest as he went ahead and opened the door to join Anakin.

The shower was large enough and it wouldn't be the first time they'd shared. Plus, he hoped it would show Anakin that he wasn't uncomfortable with Anakin's burgeoning sexuality, even if the teen was himself. Maintaining a sense of normalcy was probably the best action right now, plus a willingness to let Anakin make a few mistakes or blunders, but with people that wouldn't affect the existing relationship. And if, somehow, Qui-Gon did end up becoming a point of contention between them, well that was a failure in his ability to teach and reach his padawan that it would be better to discover now than in a situation where it might not be so easily dealt with.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure Master Jinn has already made his decision," Anakin said in mock displeasure and deflecting the spray so that it hit Obi-Wan in the face. "Maybe instead you both should be worrying about me suggesting a threesome."

Obi-Wan was sure his splutter came both from reacting to Anakin's words and from having to swallow a face-full of water. By the time he regained his composure and his breath, Anakin was slipping back out of the shower and into some impressive shields, though he could sense Anakin's pride and amusement without any difficulty.

Which only made Obi-Wan worry that Anakin might have been offering a true warning.

6.

"I've set up some sort of fruit, sweet-bread and juice in the other room once you're finished drying off," Qui-Gon called out as he re-entered the bath from Obi-Wan and Anakin's room. "Also, I found a picture that contained our driver, so I fear this is -- was his house."

Obi-Wan looked up from beneath the towel he was using to dry his hair, and then draped it around his neck. "It's an awfully big estate for just one person."

"The picture showed a large, extended family," Qui-Gon frowned. "And there is every indication that it was picked up and held quite frequently. I could sense a great sorrow surrounding it and, if I had to guess, I would say he lost most if not all of the others pictured in some tragedy within the last six months to a year."

He didn't add that it wasn't completely a guess, that as part of his abilities and training, he could read past histories that might have triggered some great emotional event by handling certain objects. The Force talent of psychometric readings was nearly as rare as prescience -- might actually be a related skill now that Qui-Gon thought about it, and even possibly the same talent manifested between those more in touch with the Living Force than with its unifying aspect. The rareness of psychometry had been the major reason he'd become a field and research archeologist instead of healer though he had started with roughly the same level of ability in both talents.

"Well, I guess that means it's pretty unlikely we'll be confronted or arrested for trespassing then," Anakin quipped as he worked on his own hair. "But that also means we shouldn't count on getting any help out here unless we find a working comm unit or vehicle, right?" he added more darkly. Then gave a grunt of frustration as he tried to start on his padawan braid and found out just how painful his burn still was.

"May I?" Qui-Gon asked before Obi-Wan had a chance to notice his padawan's distress. He needed to make sure Anakin was still comfortable with him, especially given the teen's careening emotions upon awakening.

At his request, Obi-Wan did look up and over toward the two of them, a laugh being surprised out of him from whatever Anakin's expression was showing.

"Sure, Master," Anakin said, his tone holding even more laughter than Obi-Wan had offered.

Obviously Qui-Gon had missed something during his preparation of breakfast, and just as obviously master and padawan had cleared up at least part of Anakin's confusion.

Leaving them all to discuss the night's other events and ramifications.

"We'll look for some form of communications after breakfast," Obi-Wan recommended.

"And see if we can find some other clothing?" Anakin said most hopefully as he pulled on the shirt he'd been wearing to sleep in.

Obi-Wan nodded. "We might as well avail ourselves of necessary supplies. We can leave an inventory and credits to replace them should we not be correct in our thinking that there won't be anyone coming back to the house now. And we should find some way of letting our contact know about the driver's death."

"And that we were attacked?" Qui-Gon asked carefully, but not mentioning which attack. He was pretty sure Obi-Wan had not yet mentioned to Anakin about the Sith's activities, and didn't want to do so first.

"I would not want to discourage our contact from thinking of our delay and the driver's death as coming from the storm," came the slow answer. "Until we can figure out who was aware of our arrival, we don't have any idea of who might have ordered the attack."

"You don't think it was the ghost?" Anakin's voice cracked in surprise.

"I do think it was our ghost, but even it had to have had some way of finding out the timing of our arrival."

"Or he has some way of monitoring at least the governmental channels if not all signals going outbound," Qui-Gon suggested. "Which I suppose means we won't be trying to contact the Temple from here, either?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Someone had or forced the opportunity to override the planetary and local security grids. I'll not chance our ship's systems to some sort of virus or parasite by hooking or routing any local system into the Udan Orr. We'll update the Council only once we've gotten back to the ship directly, and even then we'll have to operate with the expectation that such a transmission will be intercepted."

Qui-Gon found himself blinking somewhat stupidly in response to that.

Had he really been shut away for so long that he could no longer recognize the potential for danger? But no, even during his active days in the field, Qui-Gon had had little need to develop such a strong sense of defense.

And felt his heart break all the more for what Obi-Wan and his padawan had gone through in such a short time as they had.

"But that would mean having to walk all day in the storm," Anakin protested in disgust.

"As would heading toward the capitol and our contact," Obi-Wan quirked his lips in response to the whine. "I didn't note any other towns along the route our driver had programmed in, but it is possible we might run across someone else before traversing the full sixty or so kilometers. But it is either finding a comm unit or walking. Unless you'd rather we take the chance that the local security and comm grid is no longer compromised?"

"No!" Anakin said quickly, loudly, and slipped out through the door into the bedroom.

Qui-Gon followed Obi-Wan and was brought up just short of running into the other when the knight pulled up himself before walking into Anakin.

"Ah, Masters, where did those holes and all of that debris come from?"

Qui-Gon found his gaze flicking to the damage he and Obi-Wan had inflicted the night before. The placement of the two holes left no doubt as to what had been the focus; the bed Anakin had slept in was almost perfectly centered between them.

Although Qui-Gon suspected Obi-Wan would have preferred to deal with Anakin's sharp 'no' and his rather obvious running away, Obi-Wan just brushed a hand to his padawan's shoulder as he continued to pass by before beginning to look through the drawers and armoires for clothing. "Last night our ghost tried ... something while you slept and Qui-Gon and I needed to do that to reach you."

"What did the ghost do?" came in a whisper.

"Nothing, Anakin," Obi-Wan quickly offered in reassurance. "Nothing other than try to keep us away from you."

So Obi-Wan wasn't going to explain about the mental attack that had followed. Or that the ghost was their Sith.

Qui-Gon wasn't sure if he agreed with that decision, and looking over to Anakin as the teen dragged himself to help find something suitable to wear, Qui-Gon wasn't sure glossing over might not just make things worse.

"But why would a ghost be interested in me?" Anakin pushed, and this time Qui-Gon caught the slight emphasis he was placing on the word ghost.

And the shimmer of fear that accompanied the emphasis.

Obi-Wan had noticed too, for he stopped his explorations and brought Anakin back to where they both could sit down on the nearest bed. "Because the ghost is a Sith, Ani," was said very gently.

Obi-Wan could feel as the trembling began to overtake Anakin. He kept the sigh that wanted to break out to himself and turned to face his padawan. "Ani, what exactly are you afraid of? We've talked about ghosts, and you know about Siths. Does this have something to do with why you don't want to go back to the road?"

The teen blushed and loosened his hands from Obi-Wan's grip though he then scrubbed them against his face instead of trying to really pull away. "No, or I don't think so," he said slowly. "Things just don't feel very safe right now," he finally blurted out, his frustration and embarrassment obvious, along with the effort he was making to better define his apprehension. And get himself back under control.

Exchanging a quick glance with Qui-Gon that he could only hope the other master understood, Obi-Wan focused his awareness inward to see if he could pick up anything similar to what was disquieting Anakin.

His padawan's prescience was even more sporadic and unreliable than his own, right now no more common or accurate than any other Jedi who had the inclination. But neither Obi-Wan or Master Yoda had any doubt that eventually Anakin would master this, as he was slowly and not so slowly expanding his other skills. No doubt he would even surpass Obi-Wan in this some day, as he'd begun to show so much potential in certain other areas.

There were some of the oldest masters who were even muttering about Anakin possibly being the Chosen One --

The flash of vision when it came wasn't about whether they should wait where they were, or go out either to the capitol or back to their ship. Once more Obi-Wan was caught up in what he'd been shown in hyperspace, was once again hearing words about the Chosen One and bringing balance to the Force, first in Qui-Gon's voice, then, of all people, the years ago discharged Senator from Naboo, Jordan Palpatine.

Pain, anger, despair, all accompanied the images and words, but despite that, Obi-Wan didn't break away from what he was being exposed to. This wasn't just a rehash brought on by his own unease, and so should have greater meaning than just his dwelling on something distressing.

More unfolded within his mind.

Images of he and Anakin fighting together, fighting each other, then of Ani fighting others, first against a young Jedi, then alongside that same young Jedi and against another Sith. Images of Anakin turned. Then Anakin redeemed. And the visions started up again, first the same, but then with greater and greater variations. In all of these Anakin still turned, became a creature of death and destruction. But in no others did Anakin return in the end to the Light. He became a Sith, some times the only Sith, sometimes training his own apprentices, including that tow-headed young Jedi Obi-Wan had noted at the start of the sequence.

That was the worst, that pairing, a Future which resulted in a millennia of Dark over all reaches of the known Republic and beyond, until a cataclysm of war and hatred, of genocide and planetary destruction plunged the too few surviving worlds and species into utter chaos. Through it all Obi-Wan could still sense the Force -- Light and Dark -- but weakened with so much destroyed and because so very few could sense it. Weakened until it seemed to fade out altogether.

It was the horror of this last possibility that broke Obi-Wan out of the vision. He met his padawan and Qui-Gon's concerned glances with a wan smile, but before he could offer further reassurances, he needed to rush back into the bath, barely making it to the sink in time.

"Master? Master!"

Focusing on Anakin's voice and Qui-Gon's hands, Obi-Wan got himself under control. Anakin had come in only so far as the door and it was Qui-Gon who offered him the cool glass of water. By the wildness in Anakin's eyes, his padawan had caught at least part of his visions through their training link, and now that bond held only guilt.

From both sides.

"Ani -- Padawan --" But Obi-Wan needed to cough and clear his throat before he could form any words of reassurance, and in the instant he needed take his eyes off of Anakin to again accept the glass, the teen took off, disappearing in a blur of Force-enhanced speed.

"Ani, no!" he called out, tried to follow, only to stumble as he pushed himself away from the counter he'd been leaning on. Qui-Gon caught him up, saying nothing, and helped him back into the bedroom and the nearer bed, before nodding to Obi-Wan's silent entreaty and taking off after his padawan.

Anakin ran, paying no attention to direction or path, moving too fast to even note his surroundings other than to avoid the odd furnishing, and to force or Force open a succession of doors. He moved utterly by instinct, caught up in his emotions and the Force, aware of neither the Dark nor the Light as he drove himself deeper into the labyrinth of secret passageways and hidden corridors. As he drove himself -- or something drew him.

Part Three

1.

For the first few minutes, Qui-Gon had little difficulty following Anakin; the very air shrieked of the teen's emotions and distress. But as he moved farther away from Obi-Wan and into the portions of the house more abandoned, the trail became obscured. Visibility lessened as power connections had apparently been turned off in the areas the inhabitants no longer used. Heavy curtains covered windows that might have led to the overcast outside, but soon Qui-Gon moved into the greater interior, where no form of light penetrated.

When he bashed his knee into a side table pushed away from the stone wall, Qui-Gon stopped to gather his breath and his wits.

While they had no evidence the Sith had anything to do with Obi-Wan's most recent visions, still they had managed to work in the Sith's favor; the three of them were now separated. And Anakin -- no himself too, he discovered to his acute embarrassment, were without their weapons. Anakin wasn't even wearing anything more than a damp shirt.

At least Qui-Gon had put on his normal belt upon dressing this morning, and he pulled the small light from one of its pouches. Now he could see the dust as well as smell it, and the fresh footprints Anakin was leaving. Indeed, clouds of disturbed, stale air hung before him. Unfortunately the footprints were still spread out and blurred, implying Anakin was still running and likely without any conscious consideration.

A profound quiet surrounded Qui-Gon, his breath and booted footsteps the only sounds he could hear so far from any other avenues of life, including the storm out beyond the walls. Turning the next corner, however, was like returning to one of the tombs and crypts he had surveyed years past, or that one temple on Tegist.

Great tapestries hung from floor to ceiling and covered the full length of a long, wide corridor. So too there was carpeting, thick and not particularly faded from what he could tell with his feeble light, although dust covered everything. For a moment he stood transfixed, wishing desperately that he had brought along a lantern or that some form of overhead lighting could be turned on. He had a feeling much of Erinne's history lay before him along this gallery, not only the scenes being depicted able to tell him stories, but so would a study of the threads and stitching, of the colors chosen and the techniques employed to keep the images rich and ageless. The placement, even the shadows that could only be doors or further corridors leading away seemed to be incorporated into part of the history, a great darkness or secret or --

With a shake Qui-Gon came back to himself, appalled that he'd let personal interests distract him from the mission at hand. He moved back to where he had come into this timeless room and began a search for clues as to where Anakin might have departed from it. Unfortunately, though dusty, he could no longer make out any telltale footprints, nor were there streaming cobwebs torn asunder any longer to frame the youth's passage. He had five directions to pick from, including stairs leading up and another set going down.

He found himself doubting Anakin would have chosen either staircase, even though the one heading downward lay in the most direct path. Which left him to examine the other three corridors, each of them leading obliquely away from the direction they'd been heading. Carpeting again extended as far as he could see, and so no footprints. Indeed, no nothing to give him any indication anyone else had been along this path for years upon years.

Acknowledging the uselessness of any conventional wisdom, Qui-Gon next reached out with the Force, looking again to pick up on the disturbance Anakin's emotions might have left behind. He had a moment's pause, but knew that he was not susceptible to visions such as those the other two had experienced. The only images that ever came to his mind were those of imprinted by history, or the occasional flash of fancy that lay in his own subconscious. But he found nothing, not even a remnant of the stories that were being told within the tapestries. Something else was present in the room, something that absorbed psychic emanations.

At that Qui-Gon's stomach gave a twist. But further cautious exploration didn't give him the feeling that it was from machinations of the Sith, at least that it wasn't something recently done or of immediate danger to Anakin or himself. He supposed some of the same odd energy that kept the tapestries as if they'd been finished yesterday might also incorporate available life energies. Or that the stones they covered had some sort of dampening crystal embedded within. It wasn't as if he couldn't feel the Force here, just that the residual energies of Anakin's passing that he'd sensed in the back of his mind up until this point were now muted.

He supposed he could go back, take another passageway and see if he could find a connecting corridor that intersected with Anakin's path further along. Or go all the way back, return to Obi-Wan and see if the youth's master had means by which to find his padawan -- If that was the case, the knight should be able to do so even from his current position and no more time would be wasted, allowing Anakin to get even further lost from them. All Qui-Gon needed be able to do is form the connection that the Force had implied or encouraged to exist ...

Q-qui-Gon?

Qui-Gon gave a sigh of relief; the connection between them was there.

He didn't stop to think what it meant to have the same type of link Obi-Wan and Anakin had only just progressed to the first afternoon they had met, only that it now meant he could be back in pursuit of Anakin before something worse happened to the teen.

Hopefully.

I have no idea where I am at the moment, nor where Anakin is, I'm afraid, Qui-Gon sent quickly. And I've lost his trail. I was hoping you could find his direction through your link -- Oh, for that to work Obi-Wan would also have to be able to find Qui-Gon's current position for some form of triangulation, or he could still spend hours trying to get to Anakin.

Give me a moment, came back from Obi-Wan.

A sudden blankness filled a part of Qui-Gon's mind. He could still somewhat sense their connection, but now as if once removed and he had only faint echoes of what Obi-Wan was doing. He also got the impression that Obi-Wan was moving, was coming in his direction and found himself needing to interrupt Obi-Wan's efforts.

Neither Anakin or I am armed, he admitted with full embarrassment.

I know, came a slightly amused sense of exasperation. I'll give Anakin an out, considering he isn't even dressed, but you had already made one foray downstairs before this --

The most danger I ever find myself in on my missions is dirt in my food, assuming I even remember to eat, Qui-Gon offered in rejoinder, willing to encourage this bantering as it was displacing the tightness of Obi-Wan's thoughts if not fully easing them. Were he on the outside observing the interaction, no doubt Qui-Gon would have considered their frivolity inappropriate, but somehow the lightness of the moment made the seriousness of the situation more manageable.

You should also find a light, he thought to warn although the Force only knew how far Obi-Wan had already come away from the meager remnants of their equipment.

Of course, came back with a touch of sarcasm --or maybe irony. And Qui-Gon was pretty sure Obi-Wan wasn't commenting on the obviousness of Qui-Gon's statement, just the inevitability of it.

The blankness returned to the location in his mind that felt of Obi-Wan. Deciding to return to Obi-Wan instead of continuing after Anakin, Qui-Gon departed the tapestry gallery, figuring to mitigate whatever time he could to get them back on the padawan's trail. And quicker than expected, he saw the glow from another light source. When he would have put his hand on his saber hilt -- again reminding himself that he wasn't wearing it and flushing -- he focused instead on his and Obi-Wan's burgeoning connection and was able to convince himself that it was the knight.

Obviously Obi-Wan had started after the two of them, and long before Qui-Gon had thought to try to make contact.

"Qui-Gon?"

This time the Jedi Master heard the words out loud as well as mentally, and he thumbed back on his own light to use as a signal. In another minute he could see that Obi-Wan had only taken the time to pull on a pair of pants and wrap around his own belt; like his padawan he was bootless and still wore the shirt he had slept in. He held the light in his off hand, held his saber unlit in the other, and carried two clipped to his belt. Qui-Gon wasn't sure which sight pleased him more, but simply kept his sigh of relief internal and then stepped forward to clasp his hand on the other's shoulder to further strengthen their connection and offered a concerned smile.

"Are you okay?"

Obi-Wan shrugged and held his arms away so that Qui-Gon might retrieve his own saber hilt without the knight needing to disarm or give up the light that was only now enough to make out more than five or so feet ahead.

For a moment Qui-Gon debated keeping the weapon in hand, but decided to clip it to his own belt. He rather imagined there'd be at least one door or two that would need opening before they found Anakin, and figured the extra light was more valuable than his extra blade.

"He's still moving pretty much without any thought other than panic."

Qui-Gon could still feel as well as hear the pain in that admission, but when he thought to ease out of their mental connection, Obi-Wan snapped his head around and Qui-Gon could see a bit of something that could have been mirrored panic.

"At least his Force use is also minimal and entirely unconscious."

Neither of them needed to mention the thought that immediately came to mind with that statement. From their first days as initiates, Jedi were warned of the dangers of letting emotions overtake them, of calling upon the Force in such a stage. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering. And the Dark was always only a misstep away; pushing away in fear, pushing back in anger, pushing out in pain. Were someone of Anakin's innate talent to consciously accept the deceptive rush of power offered by the Darkside, his fall -- his fall could easily result in something much like what Qui-Gon had glimpsed in sharing Obi-Wan's first visions.

"He's scared, but he's not foolish," Qui-Gon said automatically. "We'll find him."

But before Anakin found the Dark? Or was found by the Sith ghost?

"Which way?" Qui-Gon asked as Obi-Wan began to scout out each of the directions the teen could have gone.

"Here," which was the stairs leading down. For a moment Obi-Wan was torn between going up instead of continuing to follow Anakin, hoping to intercept his padawan quicker. But there was already something off about this house, and not necessarily having anything to do with their mission and the ghost. From what little he recalled in his dash to catch up to Qui-Gon, there had been several aborted passageways, as if the house had been built or rebuilt over time with certain plans and construction abandoned before completion. For all he knew, using the near stairs to go up would never connect with Anakin's current, finally stationary position.

"He's stopped," Obi-Wan breathed in relief. But his relief was short-lived, as he still was getting no sense of conscious awareness from the teen. Anakin's mind was still awhirl with confusion and fear, now overlaid with weariness. It was possible his padawan had only stopped to regain his breath, and would be up and running again in just a few moments --

Obi-Wan let out an explosive breath and started down the stairs, relying more on his Force-sense than the bobbing light to keep him from misstepping. He could hear Qui-Gon following him, appreciated that the other master wasn't questioning his lead, or questioning him at all right now.

He had no idea whether he was saving or endangering the mission right now, was still too aware of his failures so far in falling to the distractions poised both by his visions and by Qui-Gon's presence. Initially he'd thought it more the Force than his own interest that had led him to invite the other Jedi along, but now, trailing after the all too clear evidence of his misjudgment, he had to wonder about his motivations.

"Damn, he's moving again," he called back, wishing for just an ounce of the calm patience he could feel behind him. "At least he's no longer running in a blind panic." But Obi-Wan wasn't sure that wasn't the state Anakin was now in despite his words, only that he was no longer clearly sensing the overwhelming fear and guilt. Their link was ... off now, something no stronger than it had been in the first days of their pairing.

Obi-Wan didn't think something was actively blocking the two of them, nothing perhaps except their own unconscious. Anakin's guilt, his own stress and anger -- but no, he was actually sensing Qui-Gon's emotions with little difficulty. With, in fact, a remarkable amount of clarity, given how new and set upon their relationship was. He was getting concern for and on his own behalf, plus a healthy trepidation for their surroundings and their circumstances.

"I haven't thanked you yet for your care of Anakin." It was somehow easier to do this in the relative darkness of the steep stairwell, knowing his flush wouldn't be noticed. "And not just in this morning's incident."

"I -- he -- you're welcome," came the answer, along with a brush of fingers against the back of Obi-Wan's neck. "You both are easy to care for."

"I assume you mean that metaphysically and not based on current circumstances," Obi-Wan said, his blush growing. He'd made things anything but easy between them from almost the beginning. "Between both of our mini breakdowns, and --"

"Between your obvious dedication to each other and the mission, you mean," the other interrupted with a not unwelcome bite of a tease. " I knew the job would be dangerous when I took it."

"Yeah, but you were only expecting a ghost, or maybe a Sith --"

Obi-Wan stopped suddenly, biting back a cry as he was enveloped in a coldness that rivaled his dunking the evening before, only this time it wasn't external, wasn't rain or ice that he could find a source of warmth against. This was a coldness he'd felt maybe once before, in a power station on the planet of Naboo. When another master/padawan link was severed.

"Anakin!"

2.

As if in a dream Anakin followed the siren call. He was no more mindful of the sudden lash of rain engulfing his body than he was the crunch and cut of glass and other debris underneath his bare soles. He took no time to look at the distinctive architectural of the solar/library that the last door he had opened sent him into, had no notion this massive room was in the exact center of the house, or that its ceiling rose a full four and a half stories above him and was made out of thick glass panes set in a metallic patchwork frame save for two jagged holes that nature and neglect had brought about. His eyes saw only the circular staircase that spiraled around a surprisingly thin center pole, while his mind saw only the pulse of a shadowed something that now sought to welcome him. Even when his first steps onto the metal staircase sent the Force fleeing from him, the echoes of two cries of denial and despair starting in his mind then snuffing out as he might end a candle's flame, he heard only a hum of power and felt only the peace of utter stillness.

Obi-Wan shrugged off Qui-Gon's helping hands, not because he didn't appreciate the physical and mental stability his companion was offering, but because he couldn't stand to feel another's touch where it should have been his padawan's. Even Qui-Gon's. And immediately he steadied himself, began to run, calling on the Force for speed, and for hope to find Anakin despite knowing the teen was gone.

Surely Ani wasn't dead, couldn't be dead, for there would be something still felt within the Force, a sense of familiarity, a speck of individuality before the spirit was subsumed by the greater whole of the Light. It had been so with Mace, with Garen and even Bruck, one last caress of love that even now would occasionally wrap around him when despair and the guilt of surviving without his closest friends threatened to overcome his willingness to continue on his path. As long as he had the Force, a Jedi was never truly alone.

But such sentiment offered him no more comfort than the axiom there is no death, there is the Force. It might not be a final death on an ultimate scale, but it could still mean that his padawan was lost to him until he was ready to release himself into the next stage of life. Which might not be all that too far away should he fail to get himself under control and rush blindly into whatever had already taken Anakin.

"The ghost is nearby," came from Qui-Gon somewhere behind him, and Obi-Wan nodded in acknowledgement of the warning.

Their ghost, who was also a Sith, and who had already shown he had dark designs on Anakin. Maybe Anakin wasn't dead, for why would something that had already worked so hard to take his padawan away, now kill the teen when he could achieve his goal without immediate interference? And if not dead, then the only thing that could have so neatly taken Anakin from his mind would be a Force barrier, the type of obstacle he'd been expecting last night's to have been but was not.

A barrier that was a thing of technology and, therefore, a thing that could be turned off. Or destroyed.

Just like the Sith.

Obi-Wan finally stopped for a moment and leaned against the wall, bending over to catch his breath and let Qui-Gon catch up to him. The visions, the tension, even his inability to sleep well since the end of his last mission was also catching up to him, as evidenced by the ease in which he'd allowed himself to believe the worst instead of simply taking the time to think. In this he had been as bad as Anakin, letting his fears take over and running from the truth instead of facing it.

And once again he was faced with needing to thank Qui-Gon. Whether having him along had been only his own ideas and desires, at the moment he could only be glad for the other's steady presence and give thanks to the Force regardless of which of them should get the credit for it.

"We're approaching the direct center of the house," was all that Qui-Gon said as he pulled up alongside Obi-Wan. But his expression, then the solid, comforting hand that turned into firm circles across his back gave away much of what the other was feeling.

"Do you think it significant?" No longer needing to take deep, shuddering breaths, Obi-Wan still waited a moment before straightening back up, now loathe to lose the physical contact between them.