I really appreciate thereviews, everyone! And thank you, I'm glad my writing style is comprehensible. :)

I've been busy the past few days (new puppy!), though I will try to post a bit more frequently in the future. Here is the next part, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 3

There was a hand on his shoulder.

"Master?" came a soft voice, prodding him into wakefulness. But he was so tired, and waking up would require that he move. Hopefully, the voice would leave him alone if he ignored it . . .

"Master, Obi-Wan? You need to get up now," came the voice again, a note of pleading in it this time. Anakin. Why did waking like this seem so familiar? "

"Please?"

At this final urging, Obi-Wan opened his eyes, groaning softly as the bright light hit his eyes. Turning his head to the side, he saw the anxious face of his Padawan.

"Hello, Anakin," Obi-Wan greeted him, his voice little more than a wisp. "Come to say hello to your old Master?" he said with a small smile, in an attempt to alleviate his Padawan's apparent anxiousness, bewildering as it was.

"Not exactly, Master," Anakin replied, looking only somewhat reassured. "When I received your message, I came to see you, but the healer said I could take you back to our quarters now. I know how you dislike the healer's wing, so if you're ready we can go now . . ." he trailed off, uncertain. Obi-Wan had specifically told the healer's that there was no one to take care of him; so perhaps he didn't feel that Anakin could?

Obi-Wan blinked in surprise, and sat up. Or at least he tried to sit up, finding that his Padawan's strong hand on his back was the only thing that kept him from falling back to the pillows. Another surprise. When had Anakin moved to sit on the bed? Obi-Wan was dismayed to find himself so unaware of his surroundings.

"Master? Shall we leave now?" Anakin tried again in quiet tones.

Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, Obi-Wan replied, "Padawan, I will be quite alright here, really. There is no need for you to deal with this," he said, gesturing as if to indicate himself.

"Master," Anakin started, switching tactics, "do you like staying in the healer's wing?"

"Well, no, Padawan, of course I don't. Bu --"

Anakin cut him off before he could finish his sentence, and closed the trap. "Well, that's settled then. No reason to stay, after all. Healer Tirrel's given me your medication and instructions already, so we can go now." Standing up, Anakin offered his arm to Obi-Wan.

Hesitating slightly, Obi-Wan swung his legs over the side of the bed and gave a soft sigh, which quickly turned into a coughing fit. When it passed, he stood up, swaying slightly as he accepted the proffered arm. Anakin eyed him worriedly, realizing how badly his master must be feeling to accept help so easily.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan prodded gently, "Are you alright with this?"

"Yes, Master," he replied, looking down to meet the other man's eyes, not questioning what Obi-Wan meant. "Shall we?" he gestured to the exit.

Obi-Wan gave a small smile and inclined his head slightly, and they headed out of the healer's wing.

Before they were even halfway back to their quarters, Obi-Wan's head was swimming and his chest ached. Drawing a deep breath to stave off the dizziness, he soon realized this to be a mistake as he broke into a fit of coughing. Recovering himself and realizing that he had stopped walking, he looked up to see Anakin hovering at his side with a look of concern.

"Master, are you alright?" Anakin began hesitantly.

"I'm fine, Anakin, thank you," he replied, continuing down the corridor's. He didn't make it far, though, before he was overcome by a wave of dizziness and fell into darkness.

"Master!" Anakin cried, catching Obi-Wan and scooping him up against his chest like a child. "Poor Master," he murmured, quickening his strides as he carried the limp form of his Master to their quarters. As he reached the door, Anakin put him down and held him upright against his chest with one arm as he palmed the door open with his other hand.

Swinging Obi-Wan back up into his arms, he headed straight for the larger bedroom and waved the bedcovers aside with the Force. Gently, he laid Obi-Wan down on the bed and pulled the covers up, tucking them around him firmly. Noticing a folded blanked on the shelf as he turned to leave, Anakin hesitated for a moment and then grabbed it, spreading it out on top of the still form in the bed and smoothing the edges. Anakin didn't have much experience with people who were sick, but surely, warmer must be better. Satisfied, he turned and made his way to the kitchen.

xoxoxox

Obi-Wan came awake slowly, not quite sure what had woken him. Feeling quite tired, he wanted to go back to sleep, but it was too late for that. The tickle he felt in his throat quickly developed into a coughing fit, which lasted for several moments before he fell back against the pillows, exhausted.

Pillows. He was in a bed. His bed, though he didn't recall getting here. Remembering leaving the healer's wing with his padawan, he groaned softly in embarrassment as he realized that Anakin must have carried him the rest of the way to their quarters and put him in bed. Shoving off the too-warm blankets, he sat up with effort and slowly got out of bed. Shivering as the cool air of the room hit him, he shakily made his way across the room and paused at the door to the balcony. It was evening, he noted with a glance out the window, and it would be delightfully cool outside. Feeling uncomfortably warm, Obi-Wan stepped out onto the balcony and closed his eyes, enjoying the touch of the chill wind against his heated skin.