Concussion

At first it had gone unnoticed, lost in the chaos of their escape from the listening post, lost in the relief of getting Artoo back from the Separatists. But barely an hour after the Twilight had departed, Anakin started to see it.

Ahsoka was acting off. She'd been unapologetic about her encounter with Grievous, but she'd also not been detailed in what had happened. The bruising around her neck and bleeding from her head had been noted but nothing had been done about it. There was nothing Anakin could do for a bruised neck apart from let it heal, and Ahsoka herself had said she'd clean the blood from her face. It had seemed straightforward, a blessing in disguise considering she could have been killed. But Anakin should have known there was more to it.

Anakin had suffered from many concussions during this war, his time as Obi-Wan's apprentice, and probably even before that point, though he often shut down any line of thought that concerned his time before the Jedi. He knew the symptoms. Ahsoka held her head often like she was having a bad headache, which honestly was normal for any kind of head injury, no matter how serious. But her gait was off, like she was uncoordinated, and he had most certainly heard her vomiting in the ship's refresher. He recalled that the last time he had a concussion—probably about a month before Ahsoka had become his apprentice—he'd had the same problems, as well as slurred speech.

Worry knotted in his stomach, but he tried to take a deep breath to calm himself. Concussions were serious, but not something untreatable. And if he'd survived the innumerable ones he'd received, he knew Ahsoka would be fine too. The worry shifted, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth as guilt settled in his mind. He should not have left her unattended. He should have known that his distaste and bad feeling in the Force for that R3 droid was legitimate. He should have never let Artoo get caught in the first place.

Wandering the small ship, it didn't take Anakin long to find Ahsoka, who was sitting on the stairs leading to the hangar, her head in her hands. She had not been his Padawan for too long—it had only been a couple months since Christophsis—but by now she was not nearly as bad about hiding insecurities behind bravado. He wouldn't have to dance around the issue, at least.

"Ahsoka," he said softly to get her attention. "Did you hit your head when you were fighting Grievous?"

Ahsoka grunted in reply. He supposed that was a yes, then. Her symptoms certainly indicated it.

"Did you lose consciousness?"

Ahsoka hummed an affirmative, her eyes closed. Seeing her without her usual pep made Anakin's stomach knot even more. She'll be fine. Concussions are only mild brain injuries. She'll be fine.

He swallowed hard, making himself believe that, knowing it to be true, but still terrified nonetheless. There was nothing to be done for a concussion but observation and lots of rest, and he hated that – mainly because there was no definitive quick fix. This was a waiting game.

"When we dock with the Resolute you're going to the medical bay to see Kix," he told her firmly, brooking no argument. Ahsoka didn't seem to be in the mood to argue anyway. Besides, unlike Anakin, Ahsoka didn't have many qualms with being checked over by the medics.

Sighing, Anakin sat beside Ahsoka, watching her. At least she wasn't passing out right there – that normally wasn't a good sign. He had to make sure she stayed awake. Kix would do a quick scan of her head to make sure the damage wasn't serious and then she'd be relegated to her quarters. She'd grumble about it and then she'd be fine.

The remainder of their time in hyperspace was spent occasionally prompting a response out of Ahsoka and then watching her in silence. When Anakin heard the hyperdrive disengage, he reluctantly stood. Ahsoka jumped slightly at the sound and opened her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Anakin asked, crossing his arms.

"Headache's still there, but not as nauseous," Ahsoka answered hoarsely. "I didn't think my fight was that bad. Maybe I'm just sick. I'll be fine, Master."

"You probably have a concussion," Anakin explained.

Ahsoka paused before looking up at her master, her brow knitted in worry, her eyes wide. Anakin felt his heart clench at the sight of it. "Isn't that bad?"

Anakin shrugged, doing his best to allay her concern. "It's… not the best, but it's not terrible, either. It just means you'll be ready to lose your mind by the end of the week."

"Why?"

"Because you'll be stuck doing nothing that entire time."

"But what exactly is a concussion?"

Anakin bit his lip, trying to remember how Obi-Wan had explained it. "It's when your brain finally protests against all your foolhardiness."

Ahsoka's expression turned to bemusement and exasperation. "Oh, brother."

Anakin flashed his signature cocky half-smile, happy to see her acting more like her usual self. He supposed that explanation was more applicable to himself than to her, although it certainly worked for today's antics. "Kix can explain it better than me. It's a mild brain injury, that's all I know for sure. You'll be alright. Just stay here. I'll come get you when we dock."

Thankfully, Ahsoka listened and waited for Anakin to retrieve her. When she stood, she wobbled slightly on the stairs, and Anakin hastily wrapped an arm around her to guide her. He'd already called ahead to Kix, who had a stretcher waiting just outside the landing ramp.

Ahsoka looked at the stretcher and shifted in Anakin's grip. "Seriously, Skyguy?"

Anakin gave her a stern look. "You decided fighting a Jedi killer was a good idea; this is your fault."

"You would have done it."

Blast, she was already feeling better. He felt relieved and annoyed at the same time. "That's different."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and slowly made her way to the stretcher as Kix watched both Jedi with irritation, his arms crossed.

"Honestly, I just patched you up," he grumbled, glancing at Anakin briefly before guiding the stretcher towards the medical bay. "Can't you two stay healthy for more than two days?"

"Hey, I don't get hurt that often," Anakin argued, feeling that the clone medic's attack was not necessary. After all, his last visit to the med bay was the first time he'd blown himself up in a while.

"Like when you got launched off a ship while it was almost halfway out of atmo, sir?"

Ahsoka sat up in the stretcher. "He did what?"

Anakin grabbed the young Padawan by her shoulder and shoved her back down, growing steadily grumpier. "Hush. You need to rest."

Ahsoka smirked as she watched him. "I'll be sure to ask Kix all about it while I'm resting."

Before Anakin could reply, they'd arrived at the medical bay. The bright lights made Ahsoka cringe, and she closed her eyes with a moan. Anakin leaned against the back wall, tapping his heel on it as he watched Kix work. Kix activated a med droid and handed the scanner over to it as he took Ahsoka's vital signs, and then he stood her up to perform the usual coordination tests that were required to check for a concussion. The droid, programmed for proper scanner calibration and usage, started examining Ahsoka's head. Ahsoka, to her credit, didn't question or argue as all of this happened, despite how Anakin could tell it overwhelmed her slightly.

After a few minutes things had settled, and Kix took the scanner from the droid. Ahsoka glanced at him. "So what does it say?"

Anakin smiled. Ahsoka had such faith in everyone, expected everyone to know everything. It was endearing, but also a little unsettling. He'd never been that trusting – well, for the most part. He knew he looked to Obi-Wan and Palpatine that way, but they were the exceptions. "Be patient, Snips. Kix has to send the info to a radiologist to interpret the image first. Should be back soon."

"Radiologist?"

"Doctor who interprets medical imaging."

"Oh."

Kix gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, commander. I've seen enough brain scans in my time to know yours looks normal. Shouldn't take long for the doc to corroborate."

Ahsoka nodded, and Kix headed elsewhere, leaving Anakin alone with his Padawan. Touching the light setting for the room, Anakin dimmed the lights to ease her discomfort. He heard Ahsoka exhale a sigh of relief and gratitude as she settled back on the hospital bed.

"So no concussion, then," she remarked with a hint of triumph as she smiled at Anakin.

Anakin smirked back. "Yeah right. You've got one."

"He said my scan looked normal."

"They often do. Concussions are funny like that."

"Then why scan at all?"

"To make sure it's not anything worse."

"So what now?"

"Now we wait for the doc to say it's a concussion, which we all already know," Anakin answered, crossing his arms. "Then you'll get prescribed bedrest."

Ahsoka sat up on the bed, mirroring her master. "So let me get this straight: A concussion is a head injury with no visible head injury and the treatment is to do nothing?"

Anakin shrugged and was grateful to see Kix reenter.

"A concussion, commander, is a mild and temporary brain injury," the clone medic explained. "Pressure on the brain from impact affects its performance and causes reactions in the neurons, creating temporary damage. Proper rest ensures that everything heals the way it should.

"The radiologist just cleared your scan of any major injury. I have instructions for both of you."

Anakin sighed and took the data chip bearing the discharge instructions. "I know the drill, Kix: no physical or mental exertion for at least forty-eight hours, and then slowly reintroduce stuff over the course of the week."

"Two weeks, sir," Kix corrected him firmly.

"Two weeks?" Ahsoka repeated, horrified. "For one lousy head smack?"

"I'll make it three if you don't calm down," Kix retorted sternly, carelessly tacking on, "Sir."

"Jedi heal faster, Kix. We can revisit it in a week." Anakin tried to reason. He honestly didn't mind Ahsoka taking it easy for two weeks, but he could understand her frustration. Kix had tried the same tactic on him, and he'd successfully maneuvered around it.

Well. Maneuvered around Kix, that is. Obi-Wan was not so easily fooled. But Obi-Wan wasn't around as often anymore, so Anakin didn't have to worry about being practically incarcerated after an injury, thankfully.

"Fine. Check-up in a week." Kix agreed somewhat reluctantly before dismissing both Jedi.

Ahsoka shifted in order to slide out of bed. "I just sit in bed and watch HoloNet for a week?"

"Eh, no," Anakin replied with a sheepish smile. "No screen time for you for a couple days."

"What? What am I supposed to do, then?"

"Sleep."

Ahsoka groaned. "Can I meditate?"

"No." Anakin answered firmly. "Anything that requires concentration is out of the question. That means no meditating, no focusing on reading or watching anything, nothing of the sort. I'm going to be waking you up on and off tonight, and then you can spend the next day or two catching up on sleep. Then you can try HoloNet, as long as it doesn't hurt."

"Why are you going to be waking me up if I need to rest?" Ahsoka asked, confused.

"Because things can get worse within the first twenty-four hours," Anakin explained. "So I have to watch you and make sure they don't do that."

"Fine," Ahsoka grumbled, but just as she stood to leave, Anakin pushed her back on the bed. "What?"

"No physical strain either," he reminded her, watching as Kix came back into view with a hoverchair. Ahsoka groaned a second time.

Anakin tried to find a way to reassure her, but he realized that if he were in her position he would find the prospect both bleak and incredibly frustrating as well. So instead, he just decided to exacerbate the issue with a knowing smile. "So the next time you run into Grievous…"

"Send him after you," Ahsoka finished grumpily.

Anakin barked a laugh. "I'll take it. Hop on, Snips."

Reluctantly, Ahsoka stood, pivoted, and sat on the hoverchair and let her Master push her out of the med bay. Anakin finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she would be fine, and then started thinking of all the wonderful ways he could take advantage of this situation. What a great learning experience for his reckless little Padawan!

Then Anakin almost halted halfway to Ahsoka's quarters. Blast. He was starting to sound like Obi-Wan.