Song lyrics by Donovan

An' my belly is cravin', I got a shakin' in my head
I feel like I'm dyin' an' I wish I were dead
If I lived till tomorrow it's gonna be a long time
For I'll reel and I'll fall and rise on codine
An' it's real, an' it's real, one more time

So far Cody had managed to focus when focus was needed. He was still able to perform under the pressure of battle surrounded by the scream of blasterfire. It was when things got quiet that all he could think of was her. Whether it was in his own quarters, twirling the stem of the flower she had given him between his fingers or like now sitting at a table by himself in the mess, picking at rations that lacked all taste after the sweetness of her lips, he couldn't get her out of his head.

She was a spice that he would always crave. He knew if he could go back, he would have never left that lift. She had said the words, "Not here." But the look in her eyes had said she could have liked him to take her anywhere. How he had wanted to just press her up against the wall then and there. And when he had bent down to pick up his helmet and the sight before him was those shapely legs clad in skin tight fabric, the only place he wanted to be was between those legs.

His imagination took him further than the actual events as they transpired. If only he could have held her close without all his armor in the way. He would have loved to explore every curve of her with his hands, his lips...

The crash of a mess tray beside his table woke him from the daydream.

"Damn." The General knelt down to pick up his cup and silverware and food items that had scattered across the floor.

"Here let me..." Cody rose from his seat to help.

"No, I've got it," Kenobi force pulled everything back onto the tray in a jumble and then set the tray on the table across from Cody's seat. He took the chair not looking at the commander who still stood not knowing what to do. "Sit."

Cody obeyed.

The general leaned low over his tray. "Could you please try not to think so loudly?" His tone was an attempt at humor but there was a not quite disguised edge to the words that hinted at jealousy of what he had seen in the clone's mind or perhaps embarrassment for prying into those thoughts in the first place.

"Sorry, Sir," Cody frowned down at his tasteless vegetable mash. "I shouldn't have been thinkin' such things anyway."

"No you're welcome to your own thoughts," Obi-wan cleared his throat and the commander glanced up to see a flush rising beneath the new growth of the General's beard. "It was my own fault for... Cody, I've been curious about something."

Cody became defensive. "We didn't really do any more than kiss, Sir!"

"No, no please it's not that," Kenobi waved away the confession. "It's um... Master Shaak Ti. Was she..."

"She was at your funeral." Cody remembered. "And she... she told the Duchess and I that it was good that we could comfort each other in our sadness."

"She... encouraged you then." The General stroked his beard and then mumbled. "While knowing I was still alive."

"I never thought about it like that, Sir."

"Hmmm... explains a few things." Obi-wan rose taking his tray and placing it right into the recycling bin without touching anything on it.

It explained nothing to Cody however. The clone was even more confused now than ever. At least the general didn't seem to be angry with him.

Cody confined his imaginings to when he was certain he was alone and renewed his conviction to protect the general. The General, however, was making this difficult and Cody thought, possibly avoiding him.

Things came to a head when a holo message arrived at the Jedi Temple as a challenge to Obi-wan. The images showed the inhabitants of village on Raydonia being slaughtered by an enemy the general was sure he had defeated years before.

"Let me come with you as your guard," Cody insisted.

Kenobi was adamant, "No Commander, your place is here with the 212th. This is a personal matter. One I need to rectify on my own."

"But Sir. I made a promise that I would keep you alive." For her, he added to himself and perhaps the general knew that was what was implied.

Obi-wan put a hand on his shoulder. "At least I know she'll have someone to lean on if I don't make it back."

"Surely, that won't be necessary," Cody hurried to reply. "You've already beaten him once."

"Let's hope that's the case."