Note: The creation of the drug "yanthamine" belongs to Durhelediel. Thank you for letting me borrow! Please ask before using.
The days of Dooku's "punishment" flew by. The bonding he had done with a certain young initiate helped him look forward to the days in the crèche rather than dread them. He wondered about taking the boy as his padawan when he was knighted. /That's a long time away, Yan. Just concentrate for now on actually getting knighted/ he told himself.
With a smile he pulled open the door to the crèche.
The instant he walked inside however he knew something was wrong. He glanced around. Qui-Gon was nowhere to be found. Concerned at what he sensed he headed over to Master Rayeln, a human female crèche Master. He didn't see Master Perchel anywhere.
"Where is Qui-Gon?"
She sighed heavily and turned to face him. "He contracted some type of illness. He had severe stomach cramps and then stomach upset and had to go to the Healers. He fainted early this morning and hasn't awoken since."
Dooku felt the bottom drop out of his stomach at her words. "Is he going to be alright?"
"They don't know. Senior Padawan Han'yaie is running tests to see what could have caused this," she explained. "I was with him most of the night."
It was only then that Dooku realized how tired she looked.
Dooku's comlink beeped then, startling him. "Heard I have that sick young Jinn is," came his Master's voice. "What is his status, Padawan?"
Dooku relayed what the crèche master had told him.
Yoda hummed to himself. "Sit with him you should. Needed in the crèche today you are not. Help Qui-Gon will need when he awakens. Frightening it might be to awaken and find no one there."
Dooku paused at that. He hated being in the healer's wing. He was in there often enough without visiting, however, if he was honest with himself he knew that he did care about the boy and didn't want him to be alone when he awoke. "Yes, Master. I will go sit with him."
"Very good that is. See you later I will. Keep me informed of the little one's status, you shall."
Dooku acknowledged his Master's orders and then headed for the Healer's Wing.
Dooku approached the Healer's Ward with some trepidation. What would he do if the boy never woke? He crushed that thought, pushing it away marveling at the fact that he felt such attachment to this little child.
"Here again Padawan Dooku?" the apprentice at the front desk smirked.
Dooku scowled. He was not in a laughing mood. "No," he said curtly. "I am here to visit Initiate Jinn."
The padawan sobered and nodded. "Master Yoda informed me that you were coming. I am sorry I had only hoped to lighten your mood a little. He's in Room 118 at the end of the hall on your right."
"Thank you," he said tersely and stomped off in the indicated direction. He came to the correct room and pushed open the door.
The sight that met his eyes made his heart stop.
Qui-Gon lay on the bed, pale as a ghost and sweating. He was dressed in the gown of a medical room patient and he had monitors with wires of all kinds attached to him. Dooku slowly went closer and put a hand to the boy's face. The boy was burning up with fever.
He sat down on a chair next to the boy and took his hand. "You have to get better Qui-Gon. You have such a bright career ahead of you. You will be a Jedi and travel the galaxy saving lives. Maybe even with me," Dooku realized then that there were tears on his face and he wiped them away angrily. Crying was a weakness and it didn't help anything. "Doesn't that sound nice?"
Qui-Gon made no reply.
Dooku bit his lip. He had to pull through this. Just then he happened to glance down at the boy's arm and he noticed something peculiar. His brow furrowed. It looked like an animal bite.
Had Qui-Gon been bitten by something he was allergic to?
As he pondered this thought Han'yaie came in to take some more blood samples.
"Did you notice this bite on Qui-Gon's arm?" he asked by way of greeting.
Han'yaie frowned and came over to look. "No I hadn't . I ran rests for the usual childhood illness and came up dry. My guess is that he has an allergy to something that caused this. We're just not sure what yet."
"Maybe he was allergic to something that bit him?" Dooku suggested.
"It's very possible. I'll take a sample from that bite and see what I can find out," the padawan Healer said as he drew more blood and then hurried out.
Dooku signed. Maybe just maybe something would show up that had not before.
Several hours later Han'yaie came back with the results. Dooku had taken to using a damp cloth to cool the young one's forehead.
"I have discovered what is causing the problem. A rodent bit him and it carries a very diluted form of the drug yanthamine. Now, in doses that small, the diluted drug shouldn't have been harmful to most Jedi. However, it appears that he is very allergic to it. I've got an antidote that is nearly ready. It will be another hour before I can use it."
"An hour! What have you been doing this entire time?" Dooku snapped. Concern about Qui-Gon was causing him to lash out at the healer.
Han'yaie drew himself up to his full height. "That's enough Dooku! I have been working trying to figure out what's wrong with this boy since last night," he snapped. "These things take time," he said more gently as he realized how harsh he was sounding.
Dooku's anger melted some but not entirely. "I will stay with him until he wakes up. He needs to have someone here."
Han'yaie's gaze softened. "Of course. But don't forget to take care of yourself too."
Dooku waved a hand dismissively. "I won't."
Han'yaie nodded. "I have other patients to check on. I"ll be back as soon as the antidote is ready." He turned and left.
Dooku watched him leave and then turned back to face Qui-Gon. At least they had found a cure. He had to pull through this. He had to.
An hour and a half later Han'yaie came in with a loaded syringe. "I am sorry I am late getting back. My last patient needed a test that took longer than expected."
"It's about time," Dooku huffed. He had been keeping vigil over the initiate and was irritated for his sake at how long it was taking.
Han'yaie gently injected the youth in the arm. He backed away after he had done so. He reached out to the Force to see if the antidote was working. After a few moments he smiled with satisfaction. "He will be alright. Depending on when the medication starts to get through his entire system he should awaken in the next several hours."
Dooku was relieved. He let out a long, slow breath, as if he had been holding it the entire time. "I am glad," he said with heartfelt sincerity. It amazed him again and again that he felt such attachment to this boy even though he had only known him for a few days.
"We all are," Han'yaie said as he fingered his chest length padawan braid. "I must go alert Master Perchel and Master Rayeln and let them know. Let me know when he awakens. Use the call button on his bed to page me."
Dooku nodded and again sat down by the child's bed and reached for his hand.
As expected, Qui-Gon awoke about two hours later. He moaned softly and then blinked several times. He glanced around the room to see where he was and with some surprise found the older boy Dooku standing by his bedside, holding his hand.
Dooku's face broke into a smile seeing the blue eyes focus on him. "Hello little one. How are you feeling?"
Qui-Gon winced. "Like I've been run over. What happened?"
"You got very sick. Of course you feel bad. It's very natural," Dooku said warmly. "I need to let Han'yaie know that you're awake. We've been very worried about you."
Dooku pressed the button to alert Han'yaie.
At that Qui-Gon came more awake. "You were worried about me?" He asked softly, as if in disbelief that anyone could care about him that much.
"Yes," Dooku said seriously.
Qui-Gon smiled and then Han'yaie came in before he could say anything else.
"Qui-Gon! Thank the Force you're alright. You've given us quite a scare. How do you feel?"
"Awful," he moaned pitifully.
Han'yaie hid a smile at Qui-Gon's melodrama. "I know. You'll feel better in a few days."
"Then what did you ask for?" Qui-Gon asked, pouting.
Han'yaie did grin at that. "Because I wanted to make sure I was correct so that I could write it on your chart," he explained. "You'll be out of here in no time if you rest and eat."
Qui-Gon made a face. "Healer's food is nasty!"
Dooku laughed. "Qui-Gon, that's not nice."
"But it does!" he protested.
Dooku chuckled. Yes he and Qui-Gon were alike in far more ways than one. An idea came to him and his eyes sparkled. "Well I have a solution Qui-Gon. If you eat the Healer's food like you're supposed to I'll take you to go get some sweet snow as soon as you're better. How does that sound?"
Qui-Gon frowned curiously. "What's sweet snow?"
Dooku grinned mischievously. "Eat and find out."
Qui-Gon appeared to be thinking it over. "Okay," he said as though he were granting a huge favor.
Dooku patted him on the shoulder. "That's my boy," he said warmly. He paused at that. Where had that thought come from? He was slowly realizing that the Force was leading him to this boy. For what purpose he didn't know, but he realized that he would be very happy to find out and follow it's course. With any luck, maybe.. just maybe he would be an asset to the Order instead of a disgrace after all.