The Book of Good Tidings Part III

Grabbing up his little pack, Bali stepped out into the hall between he and his master's rooms in their small apartment. Surprise glinted in the nine-year-old's bright green eyes.

None of the apartment lights were on.

Bali made a curious face and walked softly into the common room searching for his master. After all the older Jedi was always up, usually meditating or sitting at the table studying something he had gotten from the Temple library. The room was dark save for a small light glowing over the warmer.

The little padawan looked around the room and finally accepting that something was wrong put his little pack down and cast out searching for his master. He had promised to come back by the morning and a flare of worry raced through Bali's small form. Searching the training bond he discovered it wasmushy?

He could sort of feel his master but it was partially blocked and it didn't feel quite right. Struggling to hold back his worry, Bali instead reached for his master's Force signature. To his surprise he found it where it should be, in Obi-Wan's room.

Creeping quietly back toward the closed door, Bali checked through the Force but found no danger, just a sense that his master was in there. The same mushy feeling reverberated through the training bond and it only served to worry the apprentice.

"Master?" he asked softly but received no response. "Master?"

Frowning Bali looked back in his room at the chrono. It was time to get up, well passed it in fact. They should be meditating and then off to breakfast and then, uhg, classes.

Lightly knocking on the closed door, Bali waited for an answer, a sound or anything. He knocked a little louder and backed up just incase he had to bolt for safety. From beyond the door, he heard a soft groan.

Carefully palming the door open, Bali braced himself but found the room darkened. "Master?" he called softly but received no answer. Through the Force he could sense Obi-Wan on the sleep couch. He activated the lights.

The instant the room lit up, Obi-Wan jerked, thrashing in his tangled up cloak and grabbed a pillow mashing it over his face. His voice was muffled, "Turn it off!"

In a panic, the boy obeyed sending the room into darkness again. Waiting in silence, Bali reached up again and brought the lights up low. He froze when Obi-Wan groaned.

Allowing his eyes to quickly adjust to the very dimly lit room, Bali spied his master flat on his back in the middle of the sleep couch the pillow held firmly over his face. Approaching quietly, the padawan was shocked to discover the elder Jedi was still wearing his boots. After a moment more, Bali realized Obi-Wan was completely dressed.

"Master?"

"Too loud," mumbled the pillow muffled voice.

The little padawan crept closer to the pillow and carefully reached out and pulled up a corner. Obi-Wan's pale face winced at the dull light that shined down and tried to find solace in the pillow again.

"Are you all right?" Bali asked worriedly.

One pale blue eye opened and winced slightly before focusing on the worried little face. "Bali?"

Bali nodded, half wondering if his master knew who he was.

"Bali." The second time the boy's name was spoken, the Jedi smiled. Then a look of panic filled the master's face. "It's morning." He sat up quickly and they both suffered the wave of nausea that passed through Obi-Wan do to the quick action.

The apprentice grabbed the Jedi's arm. "It's okay, Master. You don't look so well."

"I don't feel–"

Obi-Wan sank back to the sleep couch allowing his head to rest on the semi soft surface as he squeezed his eyes closed.

Bali pressed a small hand to Obi-Wan's forehead and frowned. All he could sense was mushiness.

A groping hand reached out and clasped the front of the boy's tunic. Pulled forward until his nose was inches from the pillow, he heard his master whisper, "Am I dull?"

Wrinkling his nose at the bad breath that hit him, Bali tried not to squirm too hard. "Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan frowned and buried his face in the pillow again.

Worried, the padawan rushed to the common room and activated the lights. At the communication unit, he made a call to Bant. Waiting ever so patiently, Bali took a moment to reach out and brush his thoughts with his master's. Worry raced up Bali's spine as all he received was the mushy feeling again. Something was terribly wrong.

"This had better be good," Bant grumbled very softly. The unit's view screen was gray and fuzzy and Bali strained to see the image but realized it was covered.

"Healer Bant?"

"Whisper," she pleaded.

"You don't sound very good. I think Master is sick too."

A soft peal of laughter and then a groan came over the link. "Obi's feeling rotten? Good."

Bali just that there, not quite sure how to answer.

There was a brief silence then Bant spoke slowly. "I'm sorry Bali. You just caught meat abad time. Your master will be finein several hours. Just go eat breakfast and go to class, okay?"

"Okay."

Just like that Bant cut the transmission.

Bali sat in front of the comm for a few moments before slowly standing. He looked at his pack and then toward his master's room. His master had always stayed with him when he was hurt or not feeling so good. Marching back into the room, Bali found Obi-Wan still lying there like he had left him. "Master?" he called out softly.

The only answer was a low groan.

Lowering the lights a little more, Bali walked to the sleep couch his master was sprawled out on. He crawled up onto the soft cushions and leaned against the headboard. He reached forward and tugged on the covers pulling them up on his master.

"It's okay," he whispered patting Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I'll stay with you." The little padawan reached out and pressed his hand to the tangle of cloak and tunic on the Jedi's shoulder and offered up a little strength through the Force. His master had often given him comfort and strength through their bond when he didn't feel so good.

Closing his eyes, Bali reached into the training bond and offered healing waves through the Force. He immediately felt the mushiness begin to clear from his master's mind.

For a brief moment he felt the flare of fear before it was quickly locked under heavy mental shielding.

A surprised squeak escaped the padawan the instant his wrist became trapped in a firm grip and he was thrown forward into the bedding.

"Don't!" Obi-Wan growled, tightening his hand around Bali's small wrist and wadding up the boy's tunic in a tight fist.

"Master!" Bali screamed, uncertain what was happening until he spied wild blue eyes. It took only a moment before they calmed.

"Bali?"

The tight hold loosened and Bali felt fear through the bond before being pulled up from the sleeping couch. Trembling warm hands pressed to the sides of his face. He could feel the mushiness creeping back into his master's thoughts.

"Padawan. Forgive me, Padawan."

"It's okay," the boy said softly, still not quite sure what had happened.

"No, it's not," Obi-Wan said, still checking the boy for injuries. He gently took hold of the small wrist he had grabbed moments earlier and examined it.

"You didn't hurt me master. I'm okay. Just a little," Bali paused, he didn't want his answer to show what a baby he was, "surprised."

His master gave a weary smile but then the expression turned serious and it worried the apprentice. "Listen to me, Padawan." He lightly shook the boy's shoulders for emphasis. "Never try to Force heal me. Don't."

"But, Master–"

"No."

Bali frowned, not quite understanding. "But if you are hurt–"

"No."

"But–"

"You will not. No argument."

Looking sadly into Obi-Wan's pale blue eyes, the padawan asked, "What if you need to be healed. What if you are hurt? I don't want you to die."

"The answer is still no." The older Jedi's hands remained firm against the little boy's shoulders. "Promise me that you won't."

The frown deepened on the boy's small features. "Yes, Master."

"I will run myself through with a lightsaber before I allow you to wound yourself healing me."

Frightened eyes studied his master. "Master?"

"My head hurts," Obi-Wan said softly, releasing his hold of the padawan and turning back to the safety and comfort of his pillow.

Relaxing slightly, the padawan watched his master slip toward sleep. "I'm sorry," the boy whispered adjusting the covers again. "I was just trying to be helpful."

"I know, Padawan. Don't ever feel bad for trying to help. You just didn't know." Obi-Wan's eyes closed and sleep quickly returned.

Bali quietly crawled from the sleep couch and stood there watching his master sleep for a time. He whispered softly, "You are a good master."

"Even if I am dull?" a sleepy voice asked.

Smiling the padawan answered, "I have to say you are dull. You're a master and everyone expects them to be boring. My friends would all be jealous if they knew the truth."