Herewithme

Title: Here With Me
Author: Ginger Ninja
Archive: If you want it e-mail me!
Time Frame: Obi is 13 in this.
Feedback: So, should I write something like this again, or should I never step down the fluff path again? "Once you start down the fluff path, forever will it dominate your destiny..." Uh-oh...Feedback is welcome! Thanks for reading and, if you decide to review, thanks for that too!
Spoilers: for JA6

*Author's Note*
OK, I put this together late last night for NO reason other than to write something that was nothing but fluff! This is Non-Slash so if that's not your thing, go back now. It also probably sucks seeing as I threw it all together within the space of an hour one and only George Lucas. *Sniff* *sob*

//Talking over a bond//

Dedicated, forever, to the wonderful people and friends who read and review. And of course, Dara, Tessa, Jess and Laura my close friends and fellow authors.

May the Force be with you all...always.

***

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn sat on his bed in his own room in the Jedi Temple, his back leaning up against the wall of his bedroom. In his arms he held a very precious bundle. It was his fast asleep apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The boy was just recovering from a nasty bug that had been going around many of the youngsters in the Temple. For two days straight the young boy had suffered from terrible sickness, a high fever and a severe headache. On the third day the fever had finally broken but Qui-Gon wasn't ready to release Obi-Wan just yet. The boy had been sick and it was the first time he had been sick since becoming Qui-Gon's Padawan Learner and Qui-Gon admitted it had worried him more than he expected it would. Qui-Gon thought back over the past two days.

After tending to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon had come to realise how special Obi-Wan was to him. The boy had tried valiantly to hide his sickness from Qui-Gon as they had been due to go on a mission but on the morning they were supposed to leave, Obi-Wan had become strangely quiet and had been unable to leave the 'fresher after rushing there just before they were walking out the door. Hearing Obi-Wan retching, Qui-Gon had gone into the refresher and found his Padawan throwing up. Qui-Gon had sat with the boy, mopping his sweaty brow as Obi-Wan waited for his stomach to heave again.

And for the first time in a...well, the first time ever really, Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan a look into Qui-Gon's youth. Qui-Gon only wanted to take Obi-Wan's mind off everything so he began to tell Obi-Wan tales of his own youth and of what it was like being sick and under the care of Master Yoda. But laughing soon made Obi-Wan feel worse and Qui-Gon decided to read to the boy instead.

Obi-Wan had fallen asleep leaning on the 'fresher so Qui-Gon used the time to clean Obi-Wan up a little. As gently as he could, Qui-Gon changed Obi-Wan into his baggy sleep clothes and placed a cool cloth on the boy's burning forehead.

Qui-Gon's legs had started to seize up so he lifted Obi-Wan up and carried the sleeping boy into the main chamber of their apartment and settled him down on the sofa. Qui-Gon had gone to make himself some coffee when Obi-Wan started to mumble deliriously in his sleep. Qui-Gon listened on as Obi-Wan called out heartbrokenly for his lost friend Cerasi as he dreamt of her. Qui-Gon had awoken the boy, only to get covered in vomit.

Obi-Wan had instantly apologised but Qui-Gon silenced him, placing one large finger on the boy's lips. "Hush Obi-Wan," the Master soothed. "It's not your fault that you're sick." Qui-Gon took the boy's temperature and found that the fever had risen. "I think we'd better get you down to the healers."

"No Master please no!" Obi-Wan begged. "I don't want to go. Please?"

Qui-Gon hadn't agreed at first but when Obi-Wan grasped his Master's large hand in his two small, sweaty ones, Qui-Gon gave in. No, moving the boy now wouldn't be fun for either of them and Qui-Gon had no wish to drag the sick boy through the Temple.

Qui-Gon wiped Obi-Wan's face then cleaned himself up. When he went back to Obi-Wan, this time he was ready for the boy's unexpected projectile vomiting; Qui-Gon came armed with a bowl and a washing up cloth.

The next day started of the same. Obi-Wan was still feverish and although it wasn't worsening, it wasn't lessening either. Qui-Gon sat with Obi-Wan on the sofa, the small teenager's head resting in his lap. Qui-Gon often had to wake the boy from his tormented dreams in which Obi-Wan seemed to be reliving some of the worst parts of his young life: the death of Cerasi and of his childhood bully Bruck.

Obi-Wan had stopped talking a while ago. Last thing he told Qui-Gon was talking made his headache worse. The weariness in the child's eyes when he was awake touched Qui-Gon's heart and he didn't think he had ever been more anxious for Obi-Wan.

"Master?" Obi-Wan had spoken for the first time in just over a day on the second night.

"Yes Obi-Wan?"

"Thank you."

Qui-Gon's mouth opened slightly in surprise. "Obi-Wan?"

"Thank you for taking care of me," Obi-Wan elaborated quietly and there was a ghost of his usual humour in his voice as well as sincerity.

"You are most welcome Padawan," Qui-Gon said quietly so not to jar the boy's headache.

"You make me feel...safe Master."

Qui-Gon was astounded at how honest Obi-Wan was being with him. Placing a hand on the boy's forehead, Qui-Gon found it was cooler then earlier. Obi-Wan was not delirious now. This was all coming from his heart.

"You took care of me and I...I'm very grateful Master," Obi-Wan said, his voice quiet and husky with sleepiness. "I never had someone care like this for me before when I was sick."

Qui-Gon hugged Obi-Wan and carefully turned him around so they could face each other. "I hope I don't have to do this again," Qui-Gon admitted.

Qui-Gon instantly knew Obi-Wan had taken the statement the wrong way. He probably thought Qui-Gon was angry. Biting his lip, Obi-Wan tried to turn away to hide tears but Qui-Gon held him still. "Obi-Wan, I'm not at all angry with you. I meant I hope this doesn't happen again because I don't like seeing you so sick. I...I care about you and it hurts me to see you feeling so unwell."

Tears slipped out of Obi-Wan's blue-green eyes and Qui-Gon tenderly brushed them away. "Really?" Obi-Wan asked in disbelief, his eyes showing the hope of a child.

Qui-Gon laughed and stroked Obi-Wan's spiky hair. "Really young one. I missed all the noise you insist upon making. This place is rather lifeless without you making your usual ruckus."

Obi-Wan moved slightly so he could hug Qui-Gon as tightly as he could. "Thank you Master, that means so much to me."

Qui-Gon smiled and lifted Obi-Wan a little higher in his arms. "It means just as much to me my Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon used the Force to coax Obi-Wan into a peaceful sleep. Qui-Gon fell asleep too on the sofa, content and peaceful now that Obi-Wan was slowly recovering.

On the morning of the third day, Qui-Gon had awoken to find Obi-Wan still fast asleep in his arms. Needing to stretch, Qui-Gon gently put Obi-Wan down and raised his long arms above his head and yawned, feeling his spine pop.

"Master?"

Qui-Gon stopped mid-stretch and turned around to see Obi-Wan calling out for his suddenly absent Master in his sleep.

"Master where'd you go?" Obi-Wan sounded like a lost little boy and Qui-Gon couldn't help but smile. It was amazing. Even when he was asleep, Obi-Wan could sense that Qui-Gon had moved away from him.

Not wanting to wake the boy but knowing he wouldn't be able to leave the room without doing so, Qui-Gon picked Obi-Wan up and carried the small teen into the kitchen. Qui-Gon made himself a cup of tea and some toast while carrying Obi-Wan on one hip and keeping up a one sided conversation with him.

"You know Obi-Wan you are far too heavy for me to be carrying you," Qui-Gon said the snoozing boy. "This is special treatment you're getting here."

Qui-Gon took his breakfast back into the other room and sat back down, never once moving Obi-Wan off his lap. He ate his breakfast and read the book he had been reading to Obi-Wan the other day without disturbing his Padawan's rest.

At regular intervals, Qui-Gon checked Obi-Wan's temperature and was glad to see that the fever was rapidly going away. Obi-Wan awoke late in the morning and Qui-Gon managed to get the teen to eat and keep down some dry toast and water.

Qui-Gon managed to wash Obi-Wan down later in the evening; the boy was uncomfortable in his sweat-soggy clothes and more than ready to change. After he was clean and in a fresh set of pyjamas, Obi-Wan was carried into his Master's room.

"Ah, I feel much better now thank you Master," Obi-Wan said with a smile as Qui-Gon placed him on the bed. "But, why am I in here?"

Qui-Gon tucked Obi-Wan in. "I'd rather have you in here and have you throw up rather than in your own room. If you're here with me I can keep a much closer eye on you."

Obi-Wan curled up next to Qui-Gon, his eyes closing and a smile on his lips. He patted the empty part of the bed. "Here with me?"

Qui-Gon got into bed and placed an arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Here with you young one."

Obi-Wan snuggled up contentedly to Qui-Gon's side. "Love you Master."

Qui-Gon kissed the top of Obi-Wan's head. He was full of joy to hear Obi-Wan share his feelings with Qui-Gon so openly. The boy deserved the same from Qui-Gon. "I love you to Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan slept peacefully that night with Qui-Gon ready to awaken him from any night terrors. None came and Qui-Gon too fell asleep, his Padawan wrapped up in his arms and blankets.

"You're safe here with me Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon whispered to his boy.

//I know Master.//

//Sleep Obi-Wan, I'll be here when you wake up.//

//Pleasant dreams Master.//

//You too Padawan.//

And with that the Master and Padawan slept peacefully, disturbed by nothing and happy in the serenity they found now they had a new understanding of each other and a new appreciation of the relationship they shared.

***The End***