Thank you for your thoughtful reviews! I also like to see more "normal" interaction between Obi-Wan and Anakin, its just not there in the movie(s), so its what I decided to start writing. Anyhow, here is the next chapter, also on the short side. The next chapter, the final one, is longer.

Chapter 7

Anakin looked blankly over the railing, seeing but not taking in the breath taking view of the wakening city-planet from a balcony of the Temple's highest spire. Wallowing in his thoughts of guilt and anger, Anakin didn't notice his Master's presence until he felt another shoulder brush his as the older man sat down next to him.

"Hello, Anakin," came his Master's soft, slightly raspy voice.

Anakin jumped, though said nothing. Wanting to be left alone yet needing comfort, he simply waited, knowing that Obi-Wan would not leave him alone anyway.

Obi-Wan, however, did not say anything more, and simply gazed out at the bright view of the city. Shivering, he pulled his robes closer and crossed him arms over his chest, muffling his coughs with his sleeve.

Several minutes passed before Anakin spoke, figuring that Obi-Wan could and probably would out-wait him if he wanted to. It was too cold for that.

"Master . . . I'm sorry I left." he said tightly, looking down as he twisted his fingers up in his robe. "I shouldn't have left you alone."

"Anakin, its alright. I'm alright. You called the healers, thank you." pausing for a moment, he continued when Anakin didn't respond, "Talk to me, Padawan mine. Something more is bothering you." he coaxed.

"It's just . . . I can't! I can't deal with it, Master." he burst out.

"What is it that you can't deal with, Anakin?" Obi-Wan prodded, sounding concerned.

A moment passed in silence. "Sickness." came the nearly inaudible reply. "I hate it, Master. Does that make me a bad Jedi? Or a bad person?"

Obi-Wan paused a moment before replying. "No, Anakin, it does not. You are as you are. Why, though, do you feel this way?" He placed his hand on Anakin's arm, the small gesture providing comfort as intended.

"When people are injured, there's something wrong that I can at least try and fix . . . but when they're sick, I can't do anything to stop the things invading their body. I can't stand to be so helpless and . . . useless." he choked out. "I used to think I could help, but . . ." As a child, he'd thought he could help anyone, if only he tried hard enough.

"Anakin, that is simply the nature of disease. Microorganisms are living things as well, and it takes a special sort of training to be able to fight them off from outside," he said gently. "The fact that it bothers you not to be able to help shows that you care, not that you are a bad person."

"But Master, what can I do? If there even is anything to be done about caring too much," he added bitterly.

"Do? Just what you were doing. Just because you can't cure disease doesn't mean you can't help the person. You don't need to be afraid of people who are ill." he finished, looking searchingly at Anakin. "And really," he added, "I would hardly call you useless, Padawan. If I recall, you make an excellent chicken soup."

"How would you know?" Anakin shot back, lightening somewhat, "You wouldn't even eat it."

"True enough," he admitted, "Though I'm sure it was quite good. You can be quite the caretaker when you put your mind to it," Obi-Wan said wryly, stifling a cough.

Anakin grinned and turned to face him. "Perhaps, Master, perhaps." Suddenly, realization hit him. It was barely dawn and here he was, sitting atop the cold, windy Temple spire. With Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, who was sick, and probably still feverish."And a good thing too," he continued, "Because it appears to me that a certain someone is doing a terrible job taking care of themselves." he said pointedly, looking at Obi-Wan. "It's freezing up here, Master."

"True enough, Padawan, but that is what a robe is for," he said, spreading his arms as if to demonstrate. The effect was somewhat spoiled by a brief fit of coughing.

"Hmmph." Anakin eyed Obi-Wan worriedly. "Maybe so, but I think I'm ready to go back to our quarters now." Rising to leave the balcony, he threw over his shoulder, "Are you coming, Master? Or do you need help?"

"Yes, I am coming, and no, I do not need help, though thank you." he replied, and Anakin watched as he rose stiffly and followed him inside.