Chapter 5

Pillow Talk

In which Obi-Wan listens to Qui-Gon's advice.

Mmmmm – she smells good Obi-Wan thought upon awakening. He turned his head to examine the woman who slept on his chest. Asleep, the look of sarcastic amusement left her face and she looked serenely sweet, not unlike a certain padawan of his acquaintance. He lifted one hand and played with the curls above her eyes. She must cut them herself, he mused, seeing how no two curls were the same length. An odd feeling of contentment colored all his thoughts. Closing his eyes again he calmly centered himself and reached out to the Force. The feeling of contentment there only blossomed into one of peace, serenity and oneness. However inconvenient this affair might be, it was apparently the will of the Force. Oh well, I guess I just have to go with my feelings on this one. Somewhere Obi-Wan knew, his master was laughing.

And what was Jerika feeling now? He brushed her mind with a light touch. Contentment, happiness and satisfaction were predominant. Satisfaction? Yes, smug satisfaction, even accomplishment colored her thoughts. He didn't know whether to be insulted or pleased. It was not the best of feelings to see one's self as a conquest. Faced with the possibility of being stuck here alone with him for a week, she'd decided to treat him as both companion and entertainment. His normal function as Jedi protector had never entered the equation. She'd discovered that he was fun to tease, and accepted him as an amusing companion to help pass the time. Flirting with him was a step up in the overall teasing scheme – that it had led to sex was just a bonus. At least that was what she was thinking on the surface.

But underneath that satisfaction was a deeper feeling, one that threatened to outshine all other feelings and motivations, and it was a great deal scarier than being some one's conquest.

On the flight to the little base he had not enjoyed her company at all. She teased him at every opportunity, making fun of his beard (don't tell me, let me guess, its forbidden to use the Force to find your razor), his clothing (Is that the only clothing you own? Of course not, I have several other sets. And it's all like that? Yes, naturally. Bleh! I had no idea Jedi took a vow of ugliness.).

It was four hours of hell.

Besides picking on him there was the fact that she wouldn't let him near the ship's controls. Granted, it was her ship, but who was rescuing whom here? And after she'd set them in hyperspace, to an unknown destination, she'd left the cockpit, gone back to the main cabin, and fixed them a meal. Well all right, he had to admit to himself, that that had been quite nice. And when they had introduced themselves he had felt it too, the spark. But he had felt attraction before, how had it been different this time? And it had only been that one moment, because then she began grilling him with more questions than his apprentice, interspersed with more teasing. It was all thoroughly annoying.

And now she was sleeping with her head on his chest.

Qui-Gon had told him the only thing more difficult to understand than the Force was a woman.

"Avoid them as much as possible, especially in your personal life."

"But Master, I thought you liked women."

"I do, quite a number of them, and quite frequently."

"But – "

"But I have been a Jedi knight for more than 30 years. You are still an apprentice. Wait until you are a full knight, there will be plenty of time after that."

Obi-Wan, who was 18 at the time, turned pale at his master's recommendation. "I think I shall turn to the dark side if I have to wait as much as ten years to have sex Master."

Qui-Gon turned so red he was nearly purple, "I didn't say not to have sex Obi-Wan! Oh Force spare me – " He had to sit and laugh for a moment, while Obi-Wan had stood fuming and tapping one foot in frustration, "I meant don't get involved in a relationship."

He'd thrown his arms down in relief. "Oh! Well of course! I'm in training, I don't have time for such things."

"No you don't, but I know you."

"And?"

Qui-Gon sighed, "You are a good-hearted young man, but you don't have the greatest control of your emotions, so despite a serious commitment to your training I believe you could easily become attached to a woman. Just don't mistake physical attraction for emotional attachment."

Very good advice Master, but what am I feeling now? She was so much more that just a pretty girl. Arrogant, irritating, and a rebel was what she was. Also honest and caring, able to see through to the feelings he kept deep inside, she was able to see him as a man first, and a Jedi second.

The matter suddenly became infinitely more complicated. Jerika turned her head and opened her eyes; those marvelous jade green orbs regarded him as a sleepy smile wreathed her face. She scooted higher up his chest, then folded her arms, and placed a kiss just above his left nipple. She laid her cheek on her hand while the other played idly with the coppery hairs between his pectorals.

"You know, I've had some good sex before, but nothing like that." She lifted one arm and bent her head to use her tongue to make wet circles around that same nipple, then did it to the other, pausing only to grin wickedly.

"Oooooh! Uh, Captain…"

"Captain!" Her head jerked up and she narrowed her eyes, "I was 'Sweetheart' last night." He caught a hint of sadness in that direct gaze and a mental sigh. Another one, Fun all night, but in the morning they realize what they've done She sat up, clutching the sheet around herself, shoulders sagging.

"Wait. You're not going anywhere."

"I'm not? Who's going to stop me? Certainly not you – Jedi Kenobi."

One other thing Qui-Gon had told him suddenly came to mind. "If the Force does ever lead you to a relationship with a woman Obi-Wan, never show any doubt when you're in bed. Never let a woman think you regret one moment you spent with her."

His arms went tightly around her and turned her to face him. "Yes, Darling, me." Pulling her close he kissed her thoroughly.

When they paused she still appeared slightly unconvinced. Obi-Wan stroked the planes of her face, tracing the lines of her brows, and running his thumb along her lower lip as he whispered, "Just because I'm surprised to wake up with you, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself, or want more, or don't care about you."

"After last night you were surprised?"

"I've had sex exactly twice in the last five years. Yes, I was a little caught off guard." This change in her from complete self-confidence to worried uncertainty was endearing. He kissed the end of her nose, firmed his hold around her shoulders, slid one arm beneath her knees, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and standing, lifted her and took her with him towards the bathroom.

"Hey!"

"What? We have an investigation to continue, can't laze around in bed all day can we?"

"No, I suppose not." Jerika looked downcast, but then her eyes brightened, twinkling with a green fire that made Obi-Wan's knees weak, "You wouldn't be against a long hot shower would you? I think I'm extremely dirty."

"Certainly. A Jedi never does a job half-way."

"Well, that's a full list of all those I know of who've bought Tancho in the last six months." She sat back with a tired sigh, rubbing her temples. "This is why I'm a smuggler. It's more fun, less work, and more exciting." Jerika waved a hand limply at the screen, "This is about as interesting as cleaning my toenails."

"Even you must admit that this is perhaps just a bit more important than getting to Kessel faster than anyone else in the galaxy." He smiled gently though and reached a hand up to massage the back of her neck.

"Agreed, but – oh, yes right there – it feels like a demotion. I've gone from successful business woman to Jedi research assistant."

He laughed and sat forward, examining the screen, "We've barely scratched the surface here right?"

"Yes and no." Her hands moved over the keyboard again, "There are undoubtedly hundreds of other buyers, but not many who have purchases large enough to be of any consequence or in conjunction with any of the other chemicals or items you listed." She shoved a hand through the thick curls falling over her forehead. "We'll have to keep checking them for other connections, matching them with people who have government or military connections."

He nodded, "It is going to be nearly impossible though. Anyone who'd send that many droids against a large smuggling operation, in daylight, in a highly populated area would have to be well-funded, and therefore able to cover his tracks easily."

"Or totally crazy." She leaned back again, closing her eyes, "This means a least six more months of research doesn't it?"

Obi-Wan nodded, "And we can't stay here for six months."

"No. " She opened her eyes and turned to face him. Reaching out with one hand she cupped his cheek. "We'll be lucky to get two more days."

"Well then, we should make the most of it." He pulled her chair close and leaned in to kiss her. She made it easier for him by getting up and sitting in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Obi-Wan felt a wave of tired sadness rise up in Jerika's mind. He rolled on his side and reached over to stroke her cheek. "Darling what's wrong?" He raised himself up on one elbow to look over her shoulder and was surprised to see her eyes swimming with unshed tears. Kissing her softly he pulled her close.

"Oh, it's – it's, n-nothing I…" She swallowed, "We, how will we – What will I do when you have to go back to Coruscant?" She bit her lip, fighting the tears.

This is why Qui-Gon said not to get into a relationship. He kept his gaze locked with hers and said, "You'll come with me."

She sat up straight, "I most certainly will not!"

He sat beside her, keeping his eyes glued to hers, not her breasts, which bounced fetchingly. And he had to concentrate on what she was saying so as not to be distracted by the way her mobile face went from sad confusion to angry annoyance in an instant. Oh Force, oh no. I can't be falling in love with her. "I need you. I cannot finish all this research by myself. And how will you be safe from whoever attacked us?"

Jerika shook her head and jumped out of bed. She opened her mouth to deny him, but shut it when she saw him trying valiantly to keep his eyes on her face. Grabbing the nearest article of clothing to hand she threw it over her head to spare his dignity. "My business is important! If I can gain a little more of the market share and get a couple of other, um, businessmen to form a consortium, we'll be able to force the senate into restructuring the tax laws. Don't you see? My dream is within reach. I won't have to be a smuggler anymore, and not because I made enough to retire either. This could mean –"

"That no other little girls have to scratch and claw to stay independent like you did." He had gotten out of bed while she dressed and now helped settle the garment she'd chosen – his tunic – into place.

"Exactly!"

"And if you joined the fair trade commission, you'd be doing the same thing legally."

"But they – "

"You would have the support of the Jedi. We'd make sure you were heard." He turned back to the bed, and unable to immediately locate his pants, jerked the sheet from the bed to modestly wrap it around his waist. "Once you got established everyone would listen to you and believe you. In only three days I've come to trust you."

Jerika smiled, with a hint of sadness, "And I trust you, no matter what, but you're not a double-talking bureaucrat. It won't be enough. I can do far more as a smuggler. I'll send you any information I find and when I can I'll come to Coruscant. And we can meet on other worlds when you have diplomatic missions."

"That's the best idea you can come up with?"

"We both have our duty, I can't give up my operations, and you can't give up being a Jedi."

"Now Jerika, listen – "

"No way! I can't live that way! You can't ask me to move to Coruscant and work for the fair trade commission, that's no life. I won't have a real job, I'll just be your mistress."

"Just a minute! It's not like that at all! You, you're a Smuggler for Forces' sake! No matter how you justify that for the sake of improving the lives of legitimate freighter captains, it's still illegal!"

"Oh! And so its better if I give it all up, fire all these people, let some totally dishonest crook take over my business and go with you so that once a week you can get laid!" By this time they were nose to nose, she wearing his tunic, and he wearing the bed sheet around his waist.

He let go of the sheet and grabbed her upper arms, "Of course not! You're not listening to me, you've made up your mind I'm wrong and you're putting words in my mouth. You'd be an important person, some one who's seen trade from the wrong side of the law and knows the problems the taxes create firsthand. You could make a real difference!"

"And coincidently, warm your bed whenever you were home to need it." She said calmly, crossing her arms over her breasts and raising an eyebrow.

He whirled away from her, growling in frustration and nearly tripping over the sheet. Squaring his shoulders, he calmly pulled his makeshift garment into place and faced her again. Closing the distance, her took her in his arms, her folded ones still between them. "That is all I am allowed then, a couple of nights with you and then six months or more alone? Jerika, how can I live that way?"

She thawed considerably, unfolding her arms and placing her palms against his chest, "What else can we do? I can't be anything but what I am, and you – You are a Jedi! You have to continue. Even if you could bring yourself to leave your profession, it won't leave you." A sad smile framed her face as she lifted one hand to his cheek, "You are so much a Jedi that I can feel you in contact with the Force when you walk across a room. We're not talkin' a career change here, we are talking fundamental change, on the order of a cellular restructuring. It would be like you getting up and deciding this whole human thing just didn't suit you, you were going to become a Wookiee!" She forced a silly grin on to her face.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi? No thank you, that's Obi-the-Hutt from now on!" He attempted to follow her lead in lightening the mood.

It seemed to work for she began to laugh, "Sorry old boy, I'm not a Jedi, I'm a Jawa, thank you very much!"

He laughed and picked up his discarded robe, threw it on and shuffled about the room, making Jawa-speak at her until she dissolved in a fit of laughter, lying back on the bed, kicking her legs weakly. Leaning over her, still squeaking in imitation, he began to tickle her unmercifully while muttering about wanting to sell her used speeder parts.