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Cody had noticed ever since Obi-Wan had returned from Kadavo that he didn’t seem like himself. It was to be expected, the Commander supposed after something traumatic. Kenobi had been no stranger to nightmares and insomnia before. But something seemed different, the way he was easily spooked, avoided crowds, and seemed to laugh less. Perhaps the worst part was the dark, weary bags that gathered under the General’s eyes.
He seemed wearier these days, struggling with his recovery. Chronic pain. Muscle cramps. Difficulty remaining upright. His gait had significantly worsened. Lightheadedness. The 212th has since learned to distinguish between his bad and worst days. On a bad day, Obi-Wan wears his cardigan and uses his cane, never quite able to maintain his body temperature. On the worst days, he is bed-bound and conducts business from his quarters.
Rex and the General had both been tight-lipped about what happened. It wasn’t a secret around the 212th that Obi-Wan was prone to have seizures induced by his frequent head and neurological injury. But Cody had seen the medical report for his General: injuries consistent with psychological torture, beatings, whip lashes, and electric shock.
“Sir?” Cody called, watching Obi-Wan struggle with paperwork. His hands shook, struggling to hold the stylus and datapad. Obi-Wan grumbled under his breath, releasing an exhaled breath.
“ ‘m fine.” Obi-Wan dismissed.
He tried to continue his paperwork, but Obi-Wan’s hand trembled. The Jedi General released a frustrated sound, hand dropping the stylus. He couldn’t get his hand to stop cramping and relax, overwhelmed by the shooting pain.
“You don’t look fine.” Cody frowned.
“There is nothing Sternum can do. It is what it is.” Obi-Wan grimaced, trying to rest his useless hand on the desk until the spasm passed.
“Are you certain?” Cody asked.
“C-c-could you give me my rescue meds?” Obi-Wan trembled.
Cody launched into action, locating the medicine bottle and a cup of water, pressing the medicine to the General’s lips, encouraging him to swallow with water. He then administered the hypospray.
It was a tense few moments until Obi-Wan’s hand released.
“What happened?” Cody asked.
“Electric shock on Kadavo caused neuropathy in my hands and feet,” Obi-Wan explained, resting his useless hands in his lap.
“There’s nothing they can do?” Cody pondered softly.
“Best we can do is treat the pain and prevent further nerve damage.” Obi-Wan shook his head. His eyes began to droop tiredly, Obi-Wan knew the medicine would make him drowsy, but at least he could finally rest.
“Sir?” Cody called, unsure.
“C-c-could you help me to my room, Cody?” Obi-Wan asked in a voice small, and shy, unlike his usual commanding, larger-than-life demeanor.
“Of course,” Cody answered, helping Obi-Wan onto shaky feet. They tried to walk down the hall together. Cody carefully avoided Obi-Wan’s bandaged, healing back, finding it difficult to support the general whose legs were becoming shaker by the second.
“Sorry, Cody. My legs seem to be cramping up.” Obi-Wan said, apologetic.
“No problem. Can I pick you up?”
“Just be careful with my back,” Obi-Wan replied quietly.
Gently the Commander scooped his Jedi up, allowing Obi-Wan to rest in his embrace. The General made a soft, content sound, resting his head on the Commander’s shoulder.
“Good man, Cody.”, Obi-Wan said tiredly.
“I strive to be, sir.”
Cody carried Obi-Wan back to his room, thankfully to avoid any vod. They would never let him live down the sight of Obi-Wan being carried bridal style back to his room. Obi-Wan continued to melt into Cody like a clingy, sloth.
Cody’s face grew hot and flushed, embarrassed, desperately trying to stop the lingering thought about how cute the general looked at the moment.
“Here we are, sir,” Cody announced gingerly, sitting his general on the bed.
“Thank you, Cody.”, Obi-Wan yawned, struggling to get his layers of clothes off.
“Umm, would you like help, sir?”
“Please,” Obi-Wan said.
Cody tried to be as professional, brief yet gentle, and tucked the General into bed, still thankful to be wearing his helmet. Obi-Wan made a soft, content sound, squirming until he finally got comfortable.
“Do you mind staying?”, Obi-Wan asked softly as Cody turned the lamp on and the overhead lights off.
“Not at all, sir.” Cody swallowed thickly. Fuck. He has a crush on this idiot Jetti of his with no self-preservation skills.
Cody changed out of his armor and into his blacks, content to settle into bed beside Obi-Wan. They had distance between them, but it wasn’t long before Obi-Wan became clingy again and rested his head on Cody’s chest, sleeping.
It was morning when Obi-Wan woke to his comm beeping. He found that he was not alone. Oh, Cody stayed with him. His face flushed with embarrassment. On stiff, trembling limbs, Obi-Wan pulled his sleeping gown around him and quietly answered his comm.
It was the Council. Ah, too important of call to delay answering, he supposed, stepping into the small working quarters attached to his room. It was hard to contain the pained grimace on his face on holo call, hands heavy, and uncooperative, almost like he was wearing thick gloves.
“Are you listening, Master Kenobi?” Mace asked with concern, bleeding through his voice.
“Ah, I’m afraid not. Could you repeat the question?”
Mace and Yoda shared a glance talking across their force bond from the Council chambers. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes enterally, and waited until Yoda spoke up.
“Send the 501st shall we, rest you need. Death you look like, young Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan’s cheeks flushed. He heard Cody stirring in the other room. Panicked, Obi-Wan crinkled the breakfast bar in his hand and hung up. Kriff. His head spun at the thought of Cody in the other room. He didn’t want to admit he got his first night of uninterrupted sleep in weeks.
He’s not a youngling. He doesn’t need to share a bed with someone else. Besides, having a crush on your commander is against regulations. Obi-Wan limped across the room, settling on the couch with a grunt. Cody poked his head out of the refresher, shirtless and still toweling off from the shower.
“You okay?” Cody asked.
Obi-Wan internally groaned. Cody is going to be the death of him. He’s too pretty. Obi-Wan shouldn’t think his commander is pretty. He sinks deeper into the couch cushion, wondering if he can manifest non-existence.
“I-I’m fine.” He swallowed.
“You don’t look fine.” Cody pressed the morning dose of pain meds and a glass of water into Obi-Wan’s hand. Still clad only in his blacks, water from the shower dripped down his bare chest.
Obi-Wan was speechless and quickly downed his medicine, only breathing when Cody returned to the refresher.
“I’m screwed.” Obi-Wan thought.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, giving the medicine enough time to kick in. His entire body felt like a bruise. He knew it wouldn’t even take the edge off. He didn’t realize how lost in his head he got until Cody called his name frantically.
“Hey, are you with me?” Cody asked with a frown.
“Sorry. Bad pain day.” Kenobi exhaled.
“I called for your name for five minutes, sir. I think it’s time to go to the medbay.” Cody worried his hands.
“I’d rather not move.” Obi-Wan sighed.
“I’ll call for Sternum, okay?”
Obi-Wan hummed a yes in affirmation and got lost in his breathing, focusing on the art on the wall. He didn’t know how much time had passed other than feeling the prick of the hypospray and Sternum starting IV fluids and pain meds.
They must’ve tucked him into bed because when he comes back into his body, he has been carefully positioned with pillows, heat, and cool packs applied to various limbs.
“Sternum?” Obi-Wan called.
“You should’ve commed me.” The medic frowned, looking over Obi-Wan’s mess of vitals.
“I thought it was nothing but a stim and sleep couldn’t fix.” The General made a sound.
“You are having seizures. And the dissociation concerns me with your history of neurological injury.” Sternum crossed his arms.
“I asked Cody to supervise.” Obi-Wan refuted.
“You’re going to the medbay. You need medical supervision.” The medic said with finality.
“I’d rather not.” Obi-Wan swallowed.
“You don’t get a choice. I outrank you, disrespectfully, sir.”
Obi-Wan pouted as Sterumn arranged for the transport to the medbay. Cody tried to alleviate anxiety by gathering things he thought might make the General more comfortable.
Sternum’s assistant arrived with the transport stretcher. Obi-Wan stubbornly insisted on transferring to the bed himself while the medic squawked at him not to reopen any wounds or pull out his IV. It was indignant. The General frowned grumpily as they moved towards the medbay. He crossed his arms. Sterumn muttered under his breath, ordering a complete work-up and admitting the General to a private room.
General Kenobi was uncooperative about putting on the hospital gown. He didn’t want them to have easy access to his body. It wasn’t like him to fight Sternum, a sign that his anxiety and pain were higher than usual.
Cody murmured quietly to himself, troubled. Few sentients in the galaxy possess the ability to soothe an upset Kenobi. It would be several days before they could rendezvous with the 501st.
“Could he wear a pair of sleep clothes instead? Cody suggested. He brought a sleep shirt with buttons.
“That works.” Sternum nodded. He glanced at Kenobi, who worried his hands nervously.
“I don’t want to be here.” Obi-Wan crossed his arms.
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s for the best.” Sternum said apologetically.
Obi-Wan’s face crumbled. He avoided Cody and Sternum’s glaze, murmuring something and excusing himself to change.
“Do you have to do all the tests today?” Cody asked.
“At least the scans and blood draw. His vitals are a wreck.” Sternum sighed.
“He hates both of them.” Cody worried his hand.
“I can suggest some anti-anxiety medicine as pretreat.”
“I wish General Skywalker were here,” Cody whispered.
“Yeah, me too, vod.” Sternum murmured; by the time they had returned, Obi-Wan had curled into a ball in the bed, shuddering, body wracked with shivers.
Sternum turned to grab a blanket from the warmer and draped it over the General, who immediately pulled it over his head.Cody turned the lights off, and Sternum resumed sitting at the General’s bedside.
“Do you want some medicine to help with your anxiety before the scan?” Sternum asked, getting only a nod before Obi-Wan burrowed back into his blanket. The medic pulled a hypo from his pocket and pushed it through the IV line.
“I’ll return in about thirty minutes, okay?”
Obi-Wan gave a quiet okay, he only peeked out from his blanket when Cody had taken Sterumn’s seat. Unsure of what would help, Cody picked up the book Obi-Wan must’ve been reading before Kavado and began reading aloud. He has seen General Skywalker do this many times.
Obi-Wan’s eyes met Cody’s. He seemed less tense as the medicine began to take effect. He finally spoke when Cody got to the end of the chapter.
“I didn’t know you liked reading children’s novels, sir.”
“Anakin’s favorite from boyhood.” He murmured.
“That’s sweet,” Cody said.
“Reminds me of simpler times,” Obi-Wan explained, worrying about the blanket in his hand.
“It’s okay if you wish your vod’ika.”
Obi-Wan made a soft sound. “Wish ‘kin were here.”
“Soon, sir.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes drifted to the clock. He waited for Sternum to return. Sternum asked the General to sit up, so they could draw his blood first.Obi-Wan shuddered but agreed, leaning into Cody for support as Sternum talked him through the procedure and tried as gently as he could to stick him.
Obi-Wan’s breath trembled, closing his eyes and hiding his face against Cody’s shoulder.
“You okay, sir?” Cody asked.
“Makes me nervous. I was experimented on as a boy. Wanted my blood.” He explained.
Sternum made a mental note to add that flag to Kenobi’s file.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Cody said.
“I am just unfortunate to have crappy luck,” Obi-Wan replied.
“Almost done, sir,” Sternum said as he removed the needle and placed the bandage. The General jumped out of his skin, distancing himself from both men, rubbing at his arm.
“Can I look at it? The blood, I mean.” Obi-Wan swallowed.
“Sure.” Sternum let Obi-Wan examine the caped tube. He took a moment to hold it in his hand, and his breathing slowed.
“You can have it back now.” Obi-Wan swallowed.
He looked drained and tired. Sternum knew blood draws were tricky for Obi-Wan, yet he tried to be brave.
“All done.” Sternum announced, placing the compression o staunch the bleeding.
“Let’s get this over with,” Obi-Wan murmured as Sternum helped him into the wheelchair.
Obi-Wan was quiet on the short walk to the scanner. He gingerly seated on the narrow bed, and waited for Sterumn’s instructions.
Sternum talked him through the brain scan as Obi-Wan tried to calm his trembling breath. He hated the rumbling noise and tight spaces.
Obi-Wan felt like his head was underwater. His vision went spotty. It was becoming increasingly difficult to listen to Sternum and focus. He couldn’t find the words to warn the medic before his limbs began to contract and flail helplessly.
Sternum immediately stopped the scan and called for assistance. He prepared to push a rescue dose. By the time help arrived, the medic had counted three minutes between the seizure beginning and Obi-Wan’s muscles relaxing. Stim and the medical team sprung into action getting the General stabilized.
The Jedi was vaguely aware of being transported from the scanner to a stretcher. He gingerly opened his eyes when the room had stopped spinning and the number of sentients reduced. Obi-Wan was tired and dizzy, having difficulty coming back into his body.
“Welcome back, sir.” Sternum murmured, offering a cool, wet cloth and darkened the lights so as not to overwhelm the man.
“Again?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Yes, longer than the last.” Sternum frowned.
“ ‘kin?” Obi-Wan swallowed.
“On his way.” The medic reassured.
Obi-Wan made a soft sound, closing his eyes again. “Don’t tell him.”
“Sir?” Sternum’s eyebrows furrowed.
“He’ll just worry,” Obi-Wan murmured.
“Of course, sir.” Sternum sighed. He didn’t want to lie to his Genral’s ade, yet he wouldn’t betray his wishes either.
Obi-Wan thankfully slept for nearly an hour before the subsequent seizures rattled him. He needed a little more support after the latest but nothing concerning. Sternum wasn’t thrilled about the cluster of seizure activity, but at least they had been less than three minutes, and the General seemed to be holding his own.
He adjusted meds, knowing Obi-Wan often had a headache and nausea afterward. Obi-Wan didn’t sleep after the third but did at least rest quietly. Sternum worked quietly at his rest when Stim knocked, having the latest scans and lab results.
“Sternum, can I borrow you for a second?” Stim asked.
“Of course. I’ll be back, sir.” Sternum leaned over to reassure Obi-Wan, who gave a tired nod as he burrowed deeper into the quilt from his quarters. Cody had been right that things from the General’s quarters seemed to soothe him.
Stim passed the data pad containing the latest brain scans, and Sternum pulled a pair of reading glasses from his scrub pocket.
“His increase in seizure activity is consistent with the trauma of repeated and sustained electrical damage,” Stim confirmed.
He’s had three seizures in the last two hours. He’d have to ask Cody.
“Damn. We had him on a stable dose before Kadavo.” Stim sighed.
“Hey, vod, when General Skywalker arrives, send him straight away, okay?” Sternum pinched his nose tiredly.
“Baar’ur?” Obi-Wan called quietly, spooked by the stir of emotions Sternum held. Damn. Sternum must be off his game today if he’s leaking emotions. He made a mental note to send for the General’s favorite popsicles. The medic took a centering breath as the General once taught him.
“Yes, alor?” Sternum squeezed his shoulder.
“I’m going to be okay, right?” Obi-Wan’s voice had gone soft and quiet.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to help you get back to baseline as soon as possible, okay?” Sternum reassured, getting a soft squeeze
“Okay,” Obi-Wan affirmed.
Sternum was relived when the afternoon was far less eventful than the morning had been. Once Obi-Wan’s pain and nausea were under control, he seemed to rest for longer stretches. The jedi didn’t like taking pain mediation as it altered his force perception. His willingness to cooperate only further affirmed to the medic how poorly the General was feeling.
The medics of the 212th had a warning system in place. It was Upchuck who let Sternumn know to be prepared for General Skywalker’s arrival. The medic freshened up, trusting his twin and batchmate Serum could take the next shift of sitting with the General.
“Where is he?” General Skywalker burst through the medbay, causing quite the stir. Kix was on his heels, breaking into a light job. Stim and UpChuck were on standby should they need to intervene. It wasn’t that Skywalker was violent, just about as gentle as a bantha in a glass shop.
“General Kenobi is stable. You can see him as soon as you have taken a breath and drawn your shields. I don’t need you upsetting my patient.” The head medic said calmly as they walked together down the hall.
“Sorry. I-I just worried when you said he asked for me.” Anakin took a moment to unravel the maelstrom of feelings he oozed. He took a moment to release his emotions into the Force, still feeling unbalanced but not as loud as he had been. Sternum could only imagine how overwhelmed Obi-Wan might feel if he’s about as force null as a rock.
With a quiet hum, Anakin gestured at Sternum to proceed. Sternum quietly gazed at Stim and Upchuck, who dispersed when they had settled the upset General. Skywalker and Kenobi sure were a pair. He swore they could be more stubborn than a mother tooka when one was hurt or sick.
The key to dealing with Skywalker has been to keep him moving. Skywalker and Kenobi were similar in that way. Given the General’s wishes, Sternum avoided revealing the particulars of Obi-Wan’s prognosis. Skywalker was aware his master was still recovering from the aftermaths of Kadvdo. Thankfully, Anakin didn’t have many questions. He just wanted to see Obi-Wan for himself.
Anakin’s breath hitched when they arrived at Obi-Wan’s door. His master had a visible weariness even in sleep. The knight didn’t like how thin, and frail Obi-Wan looked. The mission had taken a toll physically and emotionally on his master.
Anakin swept across the room like a phantom, settling at Obi-Wan’s bedside. He could tell Cody must’ve come by. They had put Obi-Wan’s sheets on the medical bed, and his master wore his sleep clothes. Anakin could tell by the soft, clean scent of detergent the Jedi used. It smelled like home, something that grounded him in the sterile, bright, cold environment of the medical bay.
“ ‘kin?” Obi-Wan asked, opening his eyes only enough to see Anakin for himself before closing them again.
“Obi-Wan, I’m here,” Anakin reassured, brushing the fallen flocks of hair out of his master’s face. The knight sniffled. He had been so scared. It wasn’t like Obi-Wan to admit he wanted Anakin at his side. Usually, his master liked to hide when he wasn’t well so as not to worry, which did not help Anakin worry less.
“Stay?” Obi-Wan asked, making room for Anakin to lay next to him.
“Of course.” Anakin toed his boots and cloak off, settling beside Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan draped Qui-Gon’s beloved ratty quilt over them both. He was content to let Anakin press his head against his chest. It reminded the master of easier days. He remembered the first time Anakin had gotten the flu, and they both had been so sick. They spent an entire week in bed together. The master had been so young and afraid, not having cared for a sick child before.
“Hmmm,” Obi-Wan said softly as sleep called to him. Sternum left them, giving them privacy to rest. However, he noted that the General’s vitals and anxiety seemed to improve when his ad arrived.
Eventually, Anakin stirred, carefully extracting himself from the hospital bed to stretch. Obi-Wan still rested, and the knight wasn’t going to wake him, not when Obi-Wan needed all the rest he could. He knew how little his master rested or stayed put. The fact that he hadn’t attempted to escape the medbay yet spoke to how poorly he felt.
Confident Obi-Wan wasn’t going to stop breathing or disappear into thin air, Anakin ventured to the vending machine for a snack and found Kix minding the front desk. He made a soft sound and leaned against the counter.
“Kix, can I ask you a question?” Anakin asked in a small unsure voice. It lacked his usual cock, sure, bold, confidence.
“I will certainly try my best.” The medic replied.
“Is Obi-Wan having seizures and migraines again because of Kadavo?” Anakin swallowed heavily.
“Kriff.” The medic swore to himself that Sternum would eat him for breakfast. They should’ve known. Anakin might be reckless and impulsive, but he is not an idiot. He’s always been good at sniffing out Kenobi’s bullshit. Maybe too good.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss General Kenobi’s condition with you.” Kix made a soft sound.
“Is there anything I can do to help him?” Anakin asked thoughtfully instead. What a tricky bastard, Kix thought. He knew what it was like to worry about your aliit, though.
“Well, he needs rest. Anything to help reduce his stress. You could take a refresher on your seizure aftercare and first aid. Sir, I suspect what the General needs most is care and support. You’ve got that part down.” Kix answered reassuringly.
“Thanks, Kix.”
When Anakin had returned to Obi-Wan’s room, he heard a murmur of two voices talking lowly. Rex had slipped into the General’s room. Skywalker soon clashed with Cody, who had been turning the corner to do the same, it appeared, sit with Obi-Wan.
“Ah, perhaps we should give them a moment,” Cody said softly.
“I worry about how Kavdo affected the Captain,” Anakin said, voice laced with affection and care.
“As do I.” Cody swallowed.
“You’ll keep an eye on him for me?” Anakin looked at Cody with a softness he didn’t usually show towards the other man.
“Of course,” Cody reassured.
When Rex and Obi-Wan finished talking, Kix shooed everyone away to let Obi-Wan get some rest. Obi-Wan seemed less on edge than before, though Kix suspected the urge to escape the medbay was still itching at the General. It had been a long day, after all.
“Kix?” Obi-Wan called softly as the medic reviewed the General’s vitals and administered evening meds.
“Yes, sir?”
“Do you mind asking Cody to read to me? I-I sleep better is all.”
Kix contained the absolute delight he had in himself. He had a bet to win. He couldn’t wait to text the medic group chat. About fucking time. Good for them. He instead replied in a calm and measured voice, “Of course, sir.”
“Thank you, Kix.”
Kix was more than happy to do what he could to alleviate the General’s pain. He knew his patient’s wounds were more profound than the ones visible. Bacta doesn’t mend all hurt after all. He commed Cody, who arrived within moments with Obi-Wan’s book and soft things from his quarters.
“The General asked for you,” Kix explained.
“Is he alright?” Cody asked.
“He just wanted some company,” The medic reassured with a smirk.
“I brought his sleepy tea too. Only if the medic approves, of course.”
“He’s been good. Let him have his tea.” Kix hummed.
“Thanks, Kix’ika.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t keep your cyare waiting.” Kix teased, delighting in the way Cody fidgeted nervously.
Cody knocked and was pleased to hear a calm, steadier, less pained, “Come in.”
“Hi, I brought your book and a thermos to make your tea.” Cody smiled shyly.
Obi-Wan patted a place next to him, and Cody glanced nervously around the room before toeing his shoes off. He settled next to Obi-Wan, offering the cup of tea, and picked up the book where they last left off.
As Cody turned the page, Obi-Wan murmured a soft thank you. They were drawn together, almost close enough to kiss. It was Cody who closed the gap between them as their lips brushed. It was a brief, affectionate kiss. Kix was not eavesdropping and let out a tiny whoop before realizing he got caught. He high-tailed it out, pretending to drop something and find it before disappearing to the main desk giggling.
By the time shift change occurred, Sternum had noticed Cody and Obi-Wan were sound asleep in the hospital bed. He rolled his eyes. That’s the last time the boys in blue are allowed unsupervised in his medbay.
It wasn’t often someone who could convince the General to rest. He did, however, drape another blanket over the General and his commander. He’d let it slide this time, but he will be having some choice words with Kix in the morning about aiding shenanigans in the medbay. But for now, the General and his Commander deserved a peaceful moment.
The war threatened life and limb. Who was Sternumn to deny them a moment? The 212th’s medic would never concede and admit perhaps Kix was correct. He had decorum and order to maintain after all. Love is an important part of the General’s treatment plan, the medic hummed, closing the door to the General’s room softly, “Rest well, sirs. It’s my turn to keep watch.”
Fin.