Title: ...the Padawan is Not Far to Follow

Author: tarotgal

Fandom: Star Wars

Rating: G

Pairing: implied Qui/Obi

Disclaimer: Not my boys. Just my ficlette.

Summary: Obi-Wan has caught a cold in the midst of a padawan retreat

Notes: This is paired with 'When the Master Gets Sick...'

Word Count: 1,000 words

 

 

...the Padawan is Not Far to Follow

 

     Slightly impatient, Obi-Wan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He cupped both hands to his face and sniffed hard. His head felt full, heavy, and his body felt no better.

 

     After breakfast that morning had been katas in the green valley at the base of the mountains, and then a swim in the lake. Following that was a picnic lunch then in the afternoon groups split off for various exploits from scouring the libraries to botanical hikes to sparring competitions. Obi-Wan had made it through breakfast all right, and had managed most of the kata forms without complications. He had cooled down by sitting in the shade of a tree, rather than swimming as he hadn't felt up to that. But after lunch, during which he had eaten practically nothing, he'd decided to approach one of the masters about how he was feeling.

 

     The problem was that, though almost all of the masters had accompanied the padawans on the trip, the masters were enjoying the time away from the temple as much as the younger Jedi. Had his own master been there, Obi-Wan would not have felt so badly about interrupting, but just now he felt all he could do was to hover beside a group of them and hope to catch one's attention.

 

     "ehhh-ehhh-HIPChhh!" He sneezed into his hands.

 

     The sound had been loud enough to prompt several of them to look at him. "Padawan Kenobi?" said Master Zintal. She broke from the group of masters with a respectful head bow, and walked over to him. "Are you all right?"

 

     Rubbing a finger under his nose, he shook his head. "I thig I've got a cold."

 

     Extending her hand out of her sleeve, she felt Obi-Wan's forehead with it. "And a fever, it seems."

 

     He nodded in understanding.

 

     "I think you had better return to the bunk house and get into bed," she advised.

 

     He nodded again, scrubbing at his nose as he felt another sneeze coming on. He didn't feel well enough to object and insist he get to stay to enjoy the fun with the other padawans. Especially as he didn't feel well enough to have fun.

 

     "Would you like me to go with you?" she asked, looking around to be sure nothing else was going on and she would be free to go with him.

 

     But Obi-Wan shook his head. "I dow the way," he told her. Then he thanked her and made his way over. He changed into sleepwear then crawled into bed and closed his eyes.

 

     When he opened them again, he was no longer in the small cot in the middle of a row of cots. Instead, it was a sleep couch in a small, private room. He sat up and spotted Master Zintal hovering in the doorway. It had been her calls that had awoken him. "The other masters and I moved you to a private room so the others would be less likely to catch your cold. And we thought you could use the privacy."

 

     Obi-Wan nodded and coughed. "Thag you." This sleep couch was cold and unfamiliar to him, from the feel of the sheets to the firm pillows. It was nothing at all like his bed at home, which he longed for. Well, that and the person he usually shared his bed with.

 

     "It is terrible luck that you had to fall ill during the retreat. So we just wanted to make you as comfortable as possible," she explained.

 

     Obi-Wan gave a weak smile of appreciation. There were numerous activities planned during the retreat that he would be missing out on now. Trips to the waterfalls. Exploring the caves. Swimming with the fish in the lake. Lying in the meadow under the sun with a good book. Sparring on the cliff tops. The padawan retreat was a much deserved and highly enjoyable treat. He felt miserable about missing it all, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it now.

 

     "ehhhh..." His breath caught again and he quickly turned his head away. "ehhh... ehhhhKshhhh!" He sniffed hard but kept his eyes closed as he felt another sneeze coming on. "uhh... ehhhKShuhhhh! Eh-Tchuhh!" He turned back, scrubbing at his nose with the palm of his hand.

 

     Master Zintal looked sympathetic. "We have been trying to get in touch with Qui-Gon to let him know you're not feeling well, but he isn't responding to his communications at the moment." She headed in and handed him a glass of water.

 

     "It's just as well," he told her, taking a sip. "He's busy with the iditiate selectiod cerebody brebaratiods. I would't wadt to worry- huh-hib." Obi-Wan's breath caught and he cupped his hand to his face. "ehhhh-HIHShhhhh! eh-eh-ehhh-Huhshhhh!"

 

     Master Zintal disappeared for a moment, then reappeared with a box of tissues for him. "Thag you very buch, Baster." Obi-Wan alternated blowing and drinking until his nose was a little less stuffy and his throat was a little less raw.

 

     "Of course," she told him. "If you need anything else, just give a yell. One of us will be around to help you out."

 

     "You deed't bother," Obi-Wan replied as he handed back the empty glass but kept the tissues for later use. "I'll be all right. It's just a cold."

 

     She looked at him skeptically. "Nonetheless, you should be looked after. And without your master here, the rest of us are happy to do it." She squatted down in front of the sleep couch and pulled the covers up to his chin. "Now, if there's nothing you need, I think you should try to get some more sleep. That's the best thing for a cold."

 

     He agreed with a yawn. He hugged the tissues to his chest as he curled up under the blankets, trying to get comfortable. It did not take him long to fall asleep, but he did so thinking about the fact that there was still a day left before they would be starting back.