CYN I don't think I ever really understood what was going on with that thing in the WR. I usually only go to the Obi-Wan Workshop, so people were talking about the tension in the WR, and I didn't know what it was about. I only went into that notorious thread once, at the very beginning, to say I agreed with dianethx, who was against whatever changes they wanted to make.

Thank you for the compliments about the story. I'm so surprised and touched by the response to it. I've been nominated for a few awards but I never hold my breath or 'watch' the awards show. Thanks again, and have a great weekend.

Isaldaria I understand the need to study. I hope you've done well with University and thank you for your reply!

Shadowsage Hopesomg Thank you!

Athena Leigh Ullo's rather blunt, isn't he? Thanks for reading, as always.

Kynstar You're just unfailingly kind. Thank you for your comments and congrats on you well-deserved noms.

The Knight watched him go, then slouched down on the corner of his bed. A mind healer I'm not.

There was rustling from the other cot, and he saw Obi-Wan, eyes barely open, staring at him.

Ullo's hands tensed for a passing moment. And a delicate mind healer, I'm definitely not! "Hey, kid. Uh, he just went out for a second-"

"I know." Obi-Wan murmured.

He knows? Dread plunged the Knight's stomach. "Were you awake?"

Obi-Wan struggled to sit upright, propping his back against the wall for support. "I knew he was upset."

"You did?"

"Mmhm. He wasn't doing very well hiding it. Usually he's shielded better. I've done my best to shield as well…he's beyond exhaustion. That's why he's acting like this."

"Are you sure?" Ullo motioned to the door with his head. "Because from what I've heard, he wasn't bent out of shape from lack of sleep."

Obi-Wan studied him for a few seconds with eyes that appeared perfectly still, but seemed to glimmer in every direction, taking in every detail. "You told him."

Ullo took a steady breath. He knew there was no need to clarify just what was told. "Yes, I did." And I would do it again.

"You don't believe he's been through enough?" There was a careful measure of anger in the apprentice's tone. Very real, but very controlled. "After that disaster in the jungle, after his disagreement with the officials?"

"He's been through Hell, Obi-Wan. I wouldn't deny that." Ullo countered, determined to be gentle, noting the still-waxen cast of the young face. "But don't you believe you've been through just as much?"

The eyes didn't waver. "That's another subject entirely."

"Maybe. But do you believe it?"

"I believe that of all the pain dealt to us on this assignment, my Master has bore the brunt of it. And I believe you didn't help things by telling him what…what I said, in confidence, to you." There was a small break in the hard mask. "If anyone was ever to tell him, I should've been…" He shook his head. "How can I face him now? Now that he knows what I said?"

"I really don't think he's angry with you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan picked pieces of lint from the blanket. It was a method he taught himself in the crèche: Channel your feelings to something which does not require them. But he couldn't help the frustration building in his chest. His voice was a little strained, "And what if he's angry with himself?"

"Then he'll work through it. You'll work through it. The both of you."

"It would be better if he were just angry with me." Obi-Wan said in a borderline mumble.

Ullo took his chances, and sat beside the Padawan. "I'm sure he doesn't see it that way."

Obi-Wan brought his knees up to his chest and rested his head on them. "How would you know?" He wondered softly. "You hardly know him."

"That's true." The Knight canted his head to the side, so they were at eye-level. "But at the surface, it doesn't seem like you know him at all."

()

There wasn't exactly a plethora of options for Qui-Gon on the cramped vessel, so he closed himself in the lavatory. Which, if his thoughts had been more leisurely, he would have immediately noticed resembled a tall, thin closet.

But his mind was absorbed…spinning with bluntly-worded revelation. Qui-Gon leaned forward, gripping the cold rim of the sink.

Obi-Wan thinks he is inferior to Xanatos?

Acid bubbled from Qui-Gon's stomach to his throat. The yellowed artificial light radiated sickly around his face.

My Padawan believes he lives in shadow. A cold, ugly shadow at that.

He hung his head, not relishing the sight of his reflection.

And he was able to tell a near stranger—but not me.

So something had been between them after all, a frigid clamp that strangled their connection, disrupted the flow of their minds and souls. But then, what did he expect? The start of their relationship had not been smooth. The call of fate wasn't heard clearly, or right away. First, the rasping clamor of voices, cousins of conscience that wailed of betrayal and pains of the past, had to be quieted. And that wasn't easily accomplished, because he could admit, in the empty room, to himself, that the voices could be comforting. They sheltered him from new pain…but only because they obsessed him with the old.

Eventually, adamant refusal turned to reluctance.

And then, at last, acceptance.

There had been no such evolution required with his second apprentice. Xanatos was different.

In the end, that difference was the seam, the catch that was located by scrabbling fingers…and pulled Qui-Gon's world apart.

Obi-Wan was not so striking, without the sharp contrast of obsidian and alabaster, dark slashed against light. A clouded night.

Because Obi-Wan was light, untarnished by malevolence, the Dark. If ever Qui-Gon doubted that, the horrible moment in the Eume'Li jungle reinforced its truth. The light of his own heart was sucked away, taken in unison with what would have been Obi-Wan's last breath.

Qui-Gon didn't think life would have gone on much longer after that. And in that morbid assuredness lay the utter devotion-the love.

He himself knew it…but an old fool he remained, because Obi-Wan did not.

()

"That's ridiculous." Steel was worked into the facets of Obi-Wan's eyes. "Of course I know my Master."

Ullo smiled. "I never said you didn't. But at the surface, it would appear that way."

The questions were suspended in Obi-Wan's face, and in the air around them. He did not ask what Ullo meant; he waited for the answers.

"I think you know that he cares about you, Obi-Wan. This past day alone should be enough to determine that. You said you heard our conversation just now, so you must have selective hearing, weeding out the good and leaving the bad." The Knight knew he would have to handle the next words carefully. "I think you know he cares, but it's better for you, safer or something, to believe he doesn't."

All of Obi-Wan was trembling, the moisture in his eyes, his hands, his heart.

Qui-Gon chose that moment to reappear in the doorway. Knight Tirr stood and sketched a short bow.

"Thank you, Ullo."

Ullo headed for his bed, then paused in his steps. "Are you alright?" He mouthed.

Qui-Gon gave a single, curt nod. He saw that Obi-Wan was awake, a beat later caught the morose gloss in his eyes…and knew.

He stopped in front of his apprentice. "Padawan, you should be asleep."

Obi-Wan didn't attempt to blink away the tears. If his Master already knew what he said, what he believed, then why masquerade any longer? "I'm sorry, Master." And there was so much to apologize for.

"Don't be sorry." Qui-Gon smoothed his hair back.

But more tears fell, faster, until Obi-Wan had to wipe them away with quivering fingers. It didn't help much. There were new tears to replace those.

Qui-Gon put an arm around his shoulders and sat beside him.

After a few minutes, "I-I didn't mean to-"

"Shh." Qui-Gon gently lowered them to the pillows. "We don't need to talk about that." Laying face to face a foot apart, he reached out and rubbed Obi-Wan's arm. "Not now, Padawan."

Obi-Wan looked into the eyes that carried him through storm. Eyes that, in their depths, always contained wisdom

Eyes that he never believed held much else, towards him.

A hand settled on his forehead, and Obi-Wan felt the soft suggestion of sleep impossible to ignore.

Qui-Gon withdrew his hand, pulled the blankets up around them.

"Sleep well, Master Jinn." Ullo's voice floated up from the dark.

"You too." The Master murmured.

"And thanks."

"For what?"

Ullo grinned. "For stealing the title of 'Best Master' before I ever had a freakin' chance."

Qui-Gon laughed. "I think you'll have your chance."

It was silent then, as both Jedi surrendered to sleep.

The End.

I've had mixed responses from people about the idea of a sequel, so I guess the final decision'll be up to me. I think I'll have to write one, though, since I already have a title I really like. THANKS to everyone who read and reviewed!