Of course, getting a doctor was easier said than done. Especially when all doctors on Lothal were used to heal Stormtroopers. But that wasn't going to stop Kanan. Not when his kid was sick.
Under the cover of night, Kanan held Ezra close to his chest, trying to keep him warm from the cold air. He couldn't leave the kid at home, and there'd be no way for the doctor…or whoever, to examine Ezra if he wasn't with Kanan.
Kanan pulled a hood over his head, and covered his mouth with a handkerchief, black as the Lothal dusk. It was important that no one saw him, especially with Ezra, if someone spotted a man (even a masked one) with a kid, it would be too easy to connect the dots back to Kanan. That would place Ezra in even more danger.
Ezra shivered and Kanan held him close.
"Don't worry," Kanan said, "I'm here."
With a powerful push from his boots, Kanan sprinted out into the city. There weren't a lot of people on the streets that night, but Kanan took efforts to keep them both hidden. He crawled behind alleyways, he snuck behind buildings and looked three times before moving to his next checkpoint.
Ezra was quiet, which made Kanan worry more. Was he getting worse? Kanan couldn't be sure exactly, he needed to hurry. Find a doctor and get Ezra better.
Coming up over the rise was what Lothal called a "Hospital". It was a mundane shack, old and rickety. Kanan walked up, and knocked. There were no lights on, and the place was locked up. Perhaps the doc was asleep. It was rather late. Kanan thought of going back, and trying again tomorrow…and then he felt Ezra shake in his arms.
No deal.
Kanan kicked the door open, and pulled out his blaster (something he remembered to grab this time). He walked in, pointing his plaster out with one hand, and holding Ezra in the other. "Anyone home?"
Kanan could sense that there was someone there, he (or she) simply hadn't made an appearance yet.
And out of the corner of his eye, Kanan spotted a wiry old woman with eyes of grey. Her face stone cold and her mouth trembling. She placed her hands up in terror.
"P-please," she said, "Take whatever you want. I-I don't have much but just take what you want and leave." Her voice almost begged, "Please."
Kanan took a step back, feeling guilty about barging in, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Ezra needed him. "Are you the doctor?" he asked.
She nodded. "I know what you're thinking," She said, "That I'm rich and an easy target to steal from, but the Empire doesn't pay us for healing their sick. Lately they haven't even been in need of me. I-I-"
Kanan stepped forward and offered the bundled child to her, "This kid, he's sick and he needs your help."
The woman placed her hands down to her sides, and pulled back the blanket that was covering Ezra's face.
"P-please," Kanan said, his voice slow and ached, "Please help him. I-I didn't know what else to…I-I don't have any creds but please…he's my kid."
The woman looked up and placed a soothing hand over Ezra's forehead. "He's got a fever," she said. She took Ezra from Kanan, and slowly ran her hands over the child's body…and she chuckled.
And Kanan couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she laughing? Ezra, a baby, was sick and she was laughing? For all they knew, Ezra could be dying, and Kanan would-
"Sir," the woman said as she handed Ezra back to Kanan, "Your baby only has the flu. Nothing too serious. If anything, it'll pass in a few days." Her smile beamed even brighter.
"Just the flu?" Kanan asked in shock "So…this was normal?" The wheezing, the coughing, and Ezra was…fine?
"How old is he, exactly?" The doctor asked as she scurried around her shack. "By my guess I'd say about twenty months."
Kanan nodded. Frankly, he didn't have any idea how old Ezra was…but she was the doctor and her guess was far better than his could ever be.
She only laughed as she grabbed some herbs and mixed them in a small bowl. "It's been so long since I've treated anyone, let alone a child this age. I mean, I see this kind of thing with mothers all the time off world. Their child gets the flu and they wreak havoc trying to get their baby healthy again when really all that's needed is a little time and rest. But this is the first time I've seen a father go to such lengths, and breaking in my door to boot!" She nearly fell to the floor in laughter.
And Kanan felt his face grow red in embarrassment.
"I-I mean, you come in here with a blaster…" she tried to stop herself from giggling but couldn't stop, "…and a mask, just for the flu." She finished mixing her herbs, placed them in a bottle and shoved a cork inside. "Here," she said, handing the bottle to Kanan.
Kanan wrapped his fingers around the bottle, and felt the old woman's hands in his.
"Give him one teaspoon a day, and he'll be fine." Her eyes felt so warm on Kanan, as if she were trying to tell him something. She reminded him of his master. "Not many parents around Lothal care that much." She smiled, "You must really love your son."
And there was that word again. Son. Papa. Family.
Kanan just held Ezra close, unsure of what to say.
"Be sure to visit me again," the doctor said as the escorted Kanan to the door, "He'll need regular checkups to make sure he's growing right. And next time, you can keep the blaster at home, okay?" She smiled, and gently closed the door behind her.
Ezra looked up, pulled down Kanan's mask and clung to his beard. Under the cover of the Lothan night, Kanan and Ezra made their way back home.