While You Were Out

Chapter 6

"Down the Rabbit hole"

Anakin paced back and forth in the small room, waiting and growing more impatient by the minute. At last, the Healer returned with Ameris following behind like a faithful dog. She was carrying a covered tray and by the look on her face he knew it didn't bode well.

"Your sample, Jedi Skywalker?"

"Errr, I didn't know which one was for... well, for the extra so to speak."

Ameris giggled and pointed to the middle fixture and Anakin wordlessly made his way into the fresher.

"Jedi Skywalker," the Healer's voice rang from the other room. Gods, she couldn't even let him relieve himself in peace. The urge to reach out through the force and choke the old bat was becoming overwhelming.

"Jedi Skywalker, your wife has been contacted and will be returning early despite our recommendations. Yet before we allow you to visit your daughter, we have one more thing for you to do."

Anakin whipped around, unaware or perhaps uncaring that the fresher door was open and Ameris was directly in the line of sight.  She flicked her lectu almost appreciatively and had the good graces to flush a bit. Anakin pulled his robe a little more tightly around himself but did not drop his eyes, which were now sparking in anger.

"You've poked and prodded me enough..." he began slowly but was once again interrupted by the  Healer.

"Your daughter is a force sensitive as you must be aware..."

Anakin said nothing, but nodded his head glowering.

"And she is picking up on your anxiety, it making her worse...."

Anakin slumped his shoulders and exhaled loudly.... he should have known.

"Alright," he said softly. "I'll meditate and calm myself before I see her..."

"I'm afraid that's not going to be good enough Jedi Skywalker... You see, we know your history when it comes to your children..."

Ameris looked horrified. "Wait! Is he THE Skywalker? The one who..."

The Healer nodded and Ameris lost all of her bravado and hid behind the end table.

"My wife was in pain..." Anakin interjected, trying to sound calm and composed. "She didn't need visitors... the news of her appointment as majority leader could have waited for a few days AFTER the twins were born..."

"Bale Organa did not need to experience the pain vicariously through a force choke on his testicles never the less... but we digress... As I said, she is picking up on your anxiety, so before you can spend any time with her, you need to take a mild calming agent."

Anakin sighed heavily. For his daughter he would endure anything. Reluctantly, he rolled up his sleeve, the left arm this time but the Healer shook her head and signaled for Ameris again.

Anakin looked at the healer's assistant, who had crept out of her hiding place and the innocuous looking tray she held. Upon it sat a cup, a pair of gloves and what looked like a white greasy blaster bolt...

"No..."

"Master Skywalker, this way we can be assured that you get the full benefits. It is a time release medication..."

"I'll take a tablet..."

"Well, there IS an under the tongue administration... but you must allow it to dissolve completely...  Ameris will have to stay with you..."

Ameris looked terrified at the thought. "Master Ratchet..." she began but the Healer waved her off.

"Ameris will return with it in a moment... I trust you will give her no problems?"

"None," Anakin agreed, and then added, "It's mild, correct?"

"Of course..." she replied and Healer Ratchet and Ameris left the room together.

"Only for you my girl..." Anakin though quietly to himself, as he awaited their return. "Only for you..."

Almost as soon as they were out of the door, Ameris dropped all pretenses and begged the Master to reconsider.

"How is a mild tranquillizer going to hold him? He threw the bed next to his wife out the door with a thought when she started contractions...."

"Mild is subjective Ameris..." Ratchet told her smoothly. "It is mild... for a Bothan... in ten minutes he'll drop like a stone for an hour. When he awakes, the residual effects will help him stay calm and we'll have finished all the procedures that our anxious father might have issues with and we can all rest a bit easier... the father, the healing staff and most importantly, the daughter... She'll be up and wrapping him around her finger again in no time... Make sure he keeps it under his tongue and report to me afterwards, I'll be in my office. I'm expecting Master Kenobi to be returning my message anytime..."

Ameris smiled and followed her mistress into the infirmary.