Chapter Text
As happened with unfortunate frequency, it was a tired, soggy and generally bedraggled Master & Padawan team that departed the shuttle in the main hanger of the Jedi temple. Their most recent mission had, in fact, been a success and the elections on Anthosia (a planet that they had been assured was not perpetually drizzly, cold and grey but certainly was for the duration of their stay) had completed smoothly and lawfully as far as the general public were concerned.
Unfortunately, behind the scenes it had been another story entirely. An investigation by Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi into the source of funds for the far-right campaign had led them right in to the middle of a people smuggling ring they were obliged to break up through a difficult series of Aggressive Negotiations.
Qui-Gon was mindful to slow his step as they walked in to the temple and slid a glance at the damp 16-year-old, currently trying to shiver as unobtrusively as possible, following him. Jedi code be dammed he was immensely proud of Obi-Wan, always, but particularly at this moment.
Circumstances had meant that his Padawan had taken the lead on dismantling the smuggling ring whilst Qui-Gon put on a calm façade and handled the negotiations. Obi-Wan had displayed the wisdom, fortitude and skill of a Jedi with twice his experience. However, to Qui-Gon’s dismay, his usual amount of self-preservation instinct. He was sure Obi-Wan had been pushing himself too hard. Neglecting to eat properly, find time to sleep and at one point he had heroically saved the lives of 18 children, standing in a storm for hours using the force to hold up a crumbling building to stop it collapsing with the children inside.
The result was an exhausted and very ill Padawan. Obi-Wan was taking his illness with his usual attitude towards his own health and wellbeing, which is to say he was ignoring it. It had made for a very quiet journey home at least; Qui-Gon had sensed Obi-Wan trying (in vein) to hide his coughs, sniffs and shivers and focus all this strength on keeping his various aches and exhaustion behind his mental shields. Qui-Gon had been impressed at the effort but it had not quite stopped him from picking up on his Padawan’s state.
Noting the change of his Master’s gait and the concerned glance he was getting Obi-Wan sighed.
“I’m fine master” sniff. Qui-Gon rolled his eyes.
“Of course you are Obi-Wan, I have full confidence in your medical skills and extensive training. We shall however, be asking the Healers to back up your diagnosis.”
“But master really it’s –“ came the beginning of the reply,
“Not up for debate” Qui-Gin interrupted firmly. He was impressed with his apprentice’s self-restraint when this was greeted with nothing but a quiet huff and a folding of arms as he sullenly followed his master.
As they approached the lift doors a loud cheerful greeting came from one Jedi Master Ally Etude.
“Qui-Gon, Padawan Kenobi, welcome back!” Master Etude was one of Qui-Gon’s many old friends at the temple and had spent the previous year teaching Obi-Wan’s Negotiation and Meditation class. He was a permanently cheerful, deceptively energetic old Togruta, and both Jedi were pleased to see him. He cast an eye over the team.
“Ahh I see it was another peaceful walk among the gardens of Naboo for you two?” he smirked at Qui-Gon’s snort. His eyes lingered on the younger of the pair as he took in Obi-wan’s pale pallor, uncharacteristic silence, dark circles and quiet sniffs. “Are you quite well padawan?” he asked, concerned.
“Yes thank you Master, I may have picked up a slight case of the sniffles but I’m fine” came the slightly too loud, and rather pointed response, clearly directed at all occupants of the lift. Qui-Gon met his old friend’s eyes with a frustrated look.
“We are on our way to the healing halls now to get Obi-Wan looked at, I’m afraid he has clearly got the flu” he replied, equally pointed. He looked over at his padawan “or some kind of plague” he finished with a hint of a smile.
Another huff. Master Etude smiled at the exchange. Well used to dealing with stubborn young Jedi, and having had first hand experience of the stubbornness of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was not envious of his old friend. The lift arrived at his floor before he needed to get deeper into the debate.
“Well…I wish you a quick recovery from your sniffles Obi-Wan” he looked over at Qui-Gon “good luck Master Jinn” he said with a twinkle in his eye as he departed. Qu-Gon glared in response.
A beat of silence. And then the predictable: “Master, what if we just went home first for a rest, and to clean up and then I promise I’ll go to the healers as soon as-“
“Obi-Wan” Qui-Gon rounded on him fully in his best no-nonsense tone, feeling just a little guilty for interrupting again, but quickly loosing patience and finally allowing worry to influence his mood “I will not have this argument again. Your health and wellbeing is of paramount importance, you do not have to like it but you will go to the healers”.
The guilt returned when he watched the young man visibly deflate, shoulders slumping and posture finally starting to show exhaustion, he said nothing.
“Cheer up, perhaps Bant will be on duty, or maybe Master Toll?” he offered to his miserable padawan “and then we can indeed go home. Tahl may have re-stocked the pantry if we’re lucky. Or unlucky depending on what she’s been experimenting with”. This at least got a vey weak smile out of his apprentice, as they exited the lift and entered the busy reception area for the halls of healing.
Steering Obi-Wan over to the reception desk he greeted the senior padawan on duty, not Obi-Wan’s friend Bant unfortunately, but a Twi’lek competent enough to take one look at Obi-Wan and promptly direct them over to an examination room.
“Master Toll will be with you soon” she informed them.
Moments later the privacy screen was pulled back and Master healer Ermi Toll took in the sight of them with a cheerful hello.
“Ah my favourite patients back at Temple. I thought my life had been just that little bit too easy of late” he teased, pausing to run an analytical eye over Obi-wan.
“Hello Master Toll”
“Thank you for seeing us so quickly”
“Hello Obi-Wan, of course not a problem Master Jinn. I know when either of you actually walk in here voluntarily” a snort from Obi-Wan at this point, earning a raised eyebrow from Master Toll “then the matter deserves my immediate attention” he smiled. Truthfully, he was very fond of the copper haired young Jedi. Generally very polite, always kind, and known for being selfless, Obi-Wan was a good friend to Padawan healer Erin and had a dry wit that Ermi appreciated.
“Right” he started, brisk and suddenly business like “Master Jinn, if you’d like to wait just outside I will examine Padawan Kenobi”. He locked eyes with Obi-Wan “who will give me full and honest answers to all of my questions” he said sternly and was satisfied when the young man nodded and flushed a little. They had been down this road before, Obi-Wan was not a very forthcoming patient.
Qui-Gon left the room and Obi-wan eyed Master Toll with a very wary look. He had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the while exchange, and seemed to get a little smaller as he sat on the bio-bed. Ermi took a gentle approach, as one would a skittish animal.
“Now then Obi-Wan” he started “tell me how you feel, I’m just going to do a few scans but I’m assuming you have a headache, sore throat and blocked nose?” Obi-wan nodded (stopping quickly with a wince at the pain in his head) as Master Toll took his force levels and waved a beeping instrument over him, making a tutting noise at the reading.
“My head hurts the most, it feels like my teeth are throbbing and my nose really hurts” Obi-Wan reluctantly admitted. He knew better by now than to withhold information from Toll. “Everything is a bit fuzzy and breathing is…really hard” he finished lamely, wheezing a bit. Master Toll nodded, his readings corroborating this and more. Minutes passed, a few more waves of the beeping machine, as well as some prodding of Obi-Wan’s face. He was asked to open his mouth and say ahh, breathe deeply and then after even more tutting Master Toll invited Qui-Gon back in to the room.
“Well” he faced the two “let it never be said that you do things by halves Padawan Kenobi” he started. Qui-Gon sighed and it was Obi-Wan’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You have a nasty case of psychic shock from force overuse, you have the flu and you have one of the worst sinus infections I have seen in a long time” Obi-Wan groaned and Qui-Gon sighed again. “What on earth have you been doing Obi-Wan?” Master Toll asked incredulously. A beat of silence and then;
“I stood outside in the rain for ages” Obi-wan offered unhelpfully
“…why in the galaxy did you do that?”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time” came the flippant response. Toll bit back a smile.
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to throttle his student.
“Obi-Wan saved the lives of 18 children by holding up an entire building for a several hours, in the middle of a storm”. He explained to Master Toll, who was suitably impressed.
“Well…now that is quite something. Padawan Kenobi you should be very proud, few could achieve such a feat at your age” he complimented. Obi-Wan promptly went pink.
“Wasn’t a big building” he muttered and Ermi laughed, Qui-Gon shook his head.
“All heroics aside padawan, I’m afraid you’re in for a rough couple of weeks to say the least. You’ll need lots of rest, fluids, full meals and we’re going to fill you full of vitamins. You’re in no shape to do anything, absolutely no exercise or force use beyond your normal shielding.” Mater toll hummed for a moment, Obi-Wan had the sense not to argue as Ermi eyed him thoughtfully. “In fact, I know you’re not going to like it, but I’m temped to keep you here overnight to keep an eye on you”
Obi-wan, who had up until this point been holding his composure quietly accepting his fate, let out a noise of surprise and a look of utter dismay crossed his features. He shot a childish pleading look at his master.
Qui-Gon looked down at the boy sitting on the bed in front of him. Obi-Wan was one of the most mature, serious and intelligent young people he had ever met. He was the first person Qui-Gon would choose to watch his back, and he trusted him to shoulder responsibilities he would ask of no one else. But now, leaking exhaustion and hurt into the force around him, Obi-Wan looked every inch the stressed, miserable youth that he was.
“Master Toll is that strictly necessary? I assure you I can look after Obi-Wan perfectly well, and we will follow your instructions to the letter” he tried to negotiate with Toll.
“I don’t need looking after!” came an indignant mutter, summarily ignored.
“Master Jinn if you’re sure? I am not to be misunderstood. I want him off his feat for the next few days, and then plenty of rest and absolutely no stress.” Master Toll instructed sternly. Qui-Gon nodded
“We are of one mind in this Ermi, I promise I will make sure Obi-Wan behaves and I will monitor him closely”. Master Toll nodded approvingly. Obi-Wan looked between them both hopefully.
“Well, I will be back momentarily with my prescription for you” Master Toll looked from Qui-Gon to Obi-Wan “I’m going to get you a course of antibiotics, painkillers, vitamins – we’ll be taking about your general eating habits later- some decongestants and an inhaler”. Obi-Wan’s eyes widened, this all seemed rather excessive but Master Toll was already heading off to gather their supplies.
Obi-Wan turned to his master gratefully, with this eyes trained on the corner of the bed.
“Thank you Master. I’m sure it won’t take too long to shake this off, and I promise not to be too much of an inconvenience, I can look after myself”. He looked up at that, a familiar look of determination on his young face. Qui-Gon felt his heart clench a little. After all these years Qui-Gon had still never managed to assure his beloved Padawan of his importance. What was he thinking?
"Obi-Wan” he said softly, and put his hand on a skinny shoulder.
“It is my job to look after you, something I take great pleasure in doing. When you allow me to” he finished wryly. Obi-Wan lifted his head to look at his Master with a shy smile, and Master Toll re-entered the room. Holding a disconcertingly large paper bag full of medicine.