Title: Rightful Owner
Author:Geri K Timeframe: JA
Characters: Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon
Genre: Obi-Angst PG
Summary:Obi-Wan is Qui-Gon's Padawan, but in name only. One incident after another turn's him into a tense disillusioned boy, until he can stand it no more. Notes: This is a re-write of my story from another site.

Disclaimer: I don't own any known characters. They all belong to George Lucas. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 1.

Qui-Gon's voice was beginning to grate on his nerves. Once again, he was being told that his behaviour was unacceptable. He stood steady and controlled; it wouldn't do him any good to be disrespectful. That would earn him more punishment. It was his duty to stand there and listen to his Master. Discipline was part of a Jedi's learning, but never in his young life had it been so constant.

"Obi Wan, you know very well that we get up just before sunrise. How many times do I need to explain our routine to you?"

Obi-Wan's first transgression for the day was earlier that morning. Obi-wan had slept in. Qui-Gon's idea of rising at 4.30am seemed to be normal for the Jedi Master, even though none of Obi-Wans fellow padawan's were made to rise that early. It was a good hour and a half before the rest of the Temple stirred. Qui-Gon said it was the best time to meditate before the temple filled with annoying intrusions in his life.

"Yes Master I'm sorry."

"Obi-Wan I don't need you to be sorry. I require dedication to your training. I need an answer to my question."

"Master I'm sorry for being disrespectful, but I was studying very late last night for my Astrophysics test tomorrow. I do know that a routine is very important in a Jedi's training and I'll do better."

"See that you do Obi-Wan."

"Yes Master I will. May I be excused as I'm due in class in a few minutes."

"Yes, you are excused. I'll expect you in the training room after your class, for our Kata sessions. Make sure you're not late." Qui-Gon said and sighed like the weight of the galaxy was on his shoulders.

Obi-Wan hurried off to his Mathematics class. He was quite good with numbers and he knew he'd pass that exam in a few days. Therefore, when the teacher was writing next weeks assignments on the board, Obi-Wan closed his eyes. He was tired and thought (I'll close them for just a moment.) Eventually, a tapping sensation brought him back to a conscious state.

"Padawan Kenobi, am I boring you?"

Obi-Wan jumped up from his chair in a startled state. "Master Yaddle, I-I …" he glanced around and he was the only one left in the room. "I'm sorry Master."

"Do you have an excuse as to why you were asleep Padawan Kenobi?"

'No, Master Yaddle I'm tired but it's my own fault. I stayed up very late last night."

"Does your Master know that you are tired?"

"Yes Master Yaddle, he spoke to me this morning about my lack of focus."

"I see, tell me Padawan what time do you rise in the morning?"

"My Master likes us to rise at 4.30, before there are any interruptions to our meditations."

"Are your meditations rewarding?"

"I'm sorry Master? I'm not sure what you mean?"

"When you meditate with your Master in the morning are they satisfying, worthwhile, or are they disappointing?"

"I don't actually meditate with my Master. He sits over by the window and meditates and I sit on the floor," he answered nervously.

"So would you say your meditations are satisfying or disappointing?"

"I-I'm not sure, Sometimes I fall asleep and then my Master berates me… But I-I would like them to be satisfying."

"Very well Padawan Kenobi, I'll let your transgression go this time. Nevertheless, if you fall asleep in my class again your Master will hear of it."

"I'm sorry for being so disrespectful and it won't happen again. Thank you Master Yaddle."

Master Yaddle watched as Obi-Wan hurried down the hall. She felt the boy's nervousness and his weariness. She wondered why Qui-Gon found it necessary to rise at such an early hour. Especially if he didn't meditate with his Padawan. It surprised her, because when Xanatos was his Padawan they never rose before 6am. She rubbed her chin, she would keep her eye on young Obi-Wan and perhaps speak to Yoda about Master Jinn's early hours.

Obi-Wan hurried to the training halls. He knew his Master would be waiting. Relief filled him when he saw his Master walking in through the doors. Obi-Wan quickened his pace and caught the door before it closed.

"Ah there you are Padawan, right on time. We shall begin with level seven and continue through to level twelve. I want you to focus on each step of the kata. First you shall walk through them and then you can perform them at full pace."

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan said as he took off his outer tunic and his belt. He lay them on the bench and stepped to the centre. Qui-Gon stood off to the side with his hands on his hips.

Obi-Wan began the steps and drew the Force around him making sure he placed his feet in the right position for each faze of the kata. He began slow and steady and concentrated on his balance. He concentrated on his movements as he twisted and moved with accuracy. Deliberate swings of his arms and legs showed he was in control of the movements.

"You need to concentrate on your balance Padawan. You swayed when executing your spin. If you were spinning away from an opponent and you lost your balance as you just did, you'd be dead now!"

Obi-Wan lowered his head. "Yes Master I'll practice," he knew he hadn't lost his balance but it was not his place to argue with his Master.

An hour later Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon walked back to their apartment. "Padawan, Bant asked me if she could come over before lunch. She has something to tell you. I told her she could, but I don't want you to make too much noise while she's here. Do you understand Obi-Wan?"

"Yes Master, did she say what she wanted to tell me?"

"No she didn't Obi-Wan."

Obi-wan loved Bant's company and she made him feel good, she'd talk to him about silly stuff, they'd laugh, and he felt very comfortable in her presence. He knew she'd been hoping to be chosen soon and Obi-Wan wondered if that was what she wanted to tell him.

"Hi Obi," Bant said as he opened the door.

"Hi Bant, come in."

"Where's Master Qui-Gon?"

Obi-Wan glanced over to Qui-Gon's door. He was in his room but the door was open slightly. "My Master is in his room, lets sit on the sofa." He said quietly.

She was bubbling with excitement and could barely wait until she sat down to tell him her wonderful news.

"Obi, I just can't believe I'm going to be a Padawan," she giggled excitedly.

"Bant I'm really glad for you, I hope being an apprentice is everything you wished it would be." Obi said softly knowing his Master would not be happy about her raised voice.

But he couldn't spoil her excitement by telling her to be quiet; he could tell she was excited with anticipation. She chatted on for a few minutes and waved her arms telling him her story. Several time he heard a loud cough coming from his master's room. Obi-Wan knew that it was too late to try to keep her quiet; he would just take the punishment once she left.

"Being a Padawan has changed you too Obi, you're so controlled now, no more mucking around. I mean you know when to have fun and when to concentrate. I wish I could concentrate on my studies like you do."

"You'll be fine Bant and you will make a great apprentice."

She laughed and hugged him. "Oh do you think so! - I hope so. I don't want to make any mistakes. Oh, I'm so excited!"

"I can tell Bant, you're practically jumping out of your skin," he said smiling.

She got up to leave as Qui-Gon came out of his room. Obi-Wan hoped she would just leave quietly. It wasn't that he didn't want her to be happy; it was just that he'd promised his Master they'd be quiet.

But in a loud voice she looked past Obi-wan and said "Goodbye Master Jinn. Thank you for allowing me to visit with Obi"

Qui-Gon glanced at her and nodded, but Obi-Wan sensed the rising irritation coming from his Master as he turned and acknowledged Bant.

"Wow look at the time, it is nearly meal time. Oh by the way, are you coming to the picnic lunch in the gardens. Everyone is going. Are you going to come?" she chattered on as he walked her out the door.

Obi-Wan paused to look over at his Master who was staring blankly at him, a cold shiver passed over him, and he turned back to Bant and quietly said. "I'm not sure what I'll be doing for lunch I'll let you know. I'll see you later," he said as she left.

He closed the door quietly and turned around; Qui-Gon was standing in the middle of the room with his arms folded.

"Come here please Padawan."

Obi-wan felt the heat rise in his neck, he could never tell if Qui-Gon was angry or not, he always spoke in a calm voice. He couldn't tell anything through the bond either, for some reason only known only to Qui-Gon, Obi-wan had been told not to access their bond unless they were in the training rooms sparring or if they were on missions.

From the day that Qui-Gon had taken him as his apprentice on Bandameer. It was quite clear to him that their Master/Padawan pairing was a spur of the moment decision, a decision that was thrust upon Qui-Gon unintentionally by Obi-Wan. All because they'd been trapped in a mine together with explosives ready to go off.

The way out was blocked and Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon to leave him behind and save the miners. Obi-Wan had a detonator strapped to a collar around his neck and he couldn't get it off. So he was going to detonate it and blow a hole in the door and then Qui-Gon and the miners could escape before the explosives went off. Qui-Gon stopped him from killing himself and they found another way out of the mine. It seemed to be the turning point in their relationship and Qui-Gon called him Padawan in the mines and promised to take him as his apprentice.

Qui-Gon was an honest and fair man and he probably felt obligated to reconsider Obi-wan's apprenticeship, probably out of guilt. It turned out to be a regrettable mistake on Qui-Gon's part. Each day Obi-wan realised Qui-Gon was becoming more distant towards him. He'd begged Qui-Gon to accept him so many times and now he wished he'd just stayed in the Agri-Corps.

He was certainly glad that Qui-Gon had rescued him from the mines, after he'd been captured and enslaved. Nevertheless, this was not how he thought his apprenticeship would be. He thought it would be fulfilling and so different from the way it was turning out.

Force, he thought Qui-Gon refused me enough times. I should've given up."Why did I accept? I should've seen it in his eyes that he didn't really want me. The more I think about it, the more I believe he felt sorry for me and that's why he finally took me and now he regrets it. He certainly made it clear enough how he felt about me before I went to Bandameer. He told me I was too angry and that the Agri corps was the best place for me!

All these thoughts were racing through Obi-Wan's head as he was being called to the middle of the room.

"Yes Master" Obi-Wan said stopping directly in front of his Master.

"Earlier this morning I had to speak to you about your clumsiness, because you broke my vase while you were drying your hair with the towel." Qui-Gon stated.

Obi thought I wouldn't have broken it had you not made me jump.

For crying out loud who gets up at 4.30 in the morning, I was still half asleep when you dropped my books on the table making me bump the table and knock the vase over.

You said that you tripped over my books that I'd left on the floor in my room. How could you trip over them? You never go in my room; you just stand at the door. Anyone would think I have a disease or something.

He brought his thoughts back to the conversation and answered "Yes Master I'm sorry that I broke your vase I didn't mean it."

Qui-Gon studied Obi-Wan for a moment and thought I suppose I did make him jump.

"Yes you've apologised Obi-Wan so we'll forget about that. Now, did I ask you to keep the noise down while Bant was here?"

"Yes Master"

"Then why is it that while I was trying to… meditate, you had to make so much noise". Qui-Gon said.

"I am sorry Master but Bant was excited and I was happy for her and I didn't realise you were meditating."

Qui-Gon closed his eyes for a moment and thought.

What's wrong with me, I just lied to my apprentice, he's right I wasn't meditating at all. I was staring out the window. Nevertheless, I won't allow him to back answer me or be disrespectful. I let Xani do that and look what happened to him.

"Obi-Wan I'm trying to be patient with you, but I don't think you understand that being a Jedi is a very serious commitment and sometimes it appears that you're not as committed as you should be. I brought you back from Bandameer, because you showed me that you had commitment, but of late you have constantly tried my patience".

That really stung. Obi-Wan felt a pang of dread rise within him.

"I-I am committed Master. I want to be a Jedi. It's all I've ever wanted. I couldn't be anything else."

Obi tensed up fearing the worst. Qui-Gon was finally going to dismiss him as his apprentice. He would stand tall, he would take it like a man, he wouldn't beg. Obi-Wan straightened upand waited for the dismissal…...

tbc...