a/n: Yes, I know it's been done before, but I started this way back in like 8th grade but never finished typing it. Recently my brain reproduced it so I decided to start all over. It's probably not going to be all that long, but one never knows. The more reviews I get the more I'll write so review.
Disclaimer: Although I do know someone who knows George Lucas fairly well, I am not George Lucas and so I do not own Star Wars.
Prologue
Anakin had never been one to take getting sick or injured quietly, that was if he allowed himself to reveal that he wasn't in prime condition. If it was discovered that he was ill or hurt he would argue that he was perfectly fine and could continue on as if everything was normal. He guessed that it was one of the character traits that had developed when he was a slave on Tatooine and had never fully disappeared, because after all a sick or hurt slave was costly and could easily be sold away from their family. It was only after a long scolding or he was simply so weakened that he could barely stand up at all that he would, still complaining about it, allow himself to be put to bed and be attended to.
Obi-Wan knew all of this about his padawan, probably much better than anyone else in the galaxy, and it was for this exact reason that he sat watching a planet slowly disappear behind them before they jumped into hyperspace, thoughtfully stroking his beard as if that would help him. Yes, their last mission had been long and tiring, especially on the boy, but he had never let that affect him before. When they finally returned to their ship after days of traveling through the planet's thick forests, Anakin grumbling about everything from the constant rain to the temperatures that dropped to near freezing each night for the first several days until Obi-Wan sharply reprimanded him upon which point he had withdrawn to quietly sulking, the ship had been started and the boy had immediately declared that he was retiring to his rooms. The master had carefully studied his padawan for several minutes, although the boy has said nothing about it Obi-Wan was well aware that for the past several days his health had slowly been declining, slightly worried that the teen had picked up yet another exotic illness that he seemed to come down with uncomfortably often and then sent him off to bed.
The Jedi knight sighed heavily, Anakin was making him grow old long before his time, surely he hadn't caused Qui-Gon this much worry when he was a teen. After several more minutes the man stood there, but as soon as the planet was replaced by the streaks of light that meant they had hyperspace he stepped back, best to check on the boy now, a cup of tea and a friendly presence were sure to help.
As Obi-Wan entered the room, two cups of hot tea held in his hands, he stopped for a moment to inspect his apprentice. At times it was hard to remember that this gangly, suddenly deep voiced, self confident teen was the young apprentice who had hidden behind his robes for the first several weeks after arriving at the Jedi Temple; then were the times when he could easily mistake the seventeen year old padawan, who would be a knight in just a few years, for someone much younger. This was one of the times when he showed how young he was, Anakin was curled up on his bunk with the blankets wrapped tightly about him, his flushed face contrasted the shivers that shook his body, and he turned glazed eyes towards the door when it opened. After a moment of gazing at the figure that looked back at him, he croaked. "Master?"
Obi-Wan moved forward and brought a chair to sit by the bed, "I thought you might want some tea."
Anakin nodded appreciatively and wrapped his hands around the mug.
"You don't look so good." Obi-Wan put his hand on the teen's forehead, a smile gracing his lips as the boy leaned in to the soft touch. "You're burning up."
"I don't feel so good." Anakin sat the mug on the small ledge next to the bed and sunk back down onto his pillow.
"Get some rest, we'll be back at the temple in several hours and then we'll take you up to the healers."
"But," The padawan opened his mouth to protest.
"Don't even try to argue with me, if you're feeling poorly enough to admit it, I probably should be worrying about you being on death's door step."
Anakin smiled slightly at this, but kept his eyes closed. "Don't worry, master, I'm not on death's door step."
"Shhhh, just try to sleep." Obi-Wan gently his apprentice.
The boy nodded and curled up, reaching out with one hand and grabbing the hand of his master. Obi-Wan gently rubbed the back of Anakin's hand with one thumb as the boy's breathing slowed, Anakin never admitted to be sick or injured, he acted as if he needed no one to take care of him, yet when he was sick he was still the small little boy that needed his master's hand in his, a quiet reassurance that he would be all right, to fall asleep.