See chapter one for disclaimer, notes, summary, etc, etc.

Chapter Four:

The foremost problem one had while laying idly in a sweat drenched bed, fevered with a illness was the fact that the hours were either spent in deep, dreamless or nightmarish sleeps or long, slow moments of introspect and thoughtfulness.

Sadly for Obi-Wan, the latter was taking its toll on him.

His fitful state of unconsciousness had broken a few hours earlier into a deep sleep before he surfaced to the top of wakefulness and found himself quite incoherent but at the same time very much alive and aware. He found that he had been moved, to the healer's ward as he had first assumed, but to his sleep couch that had been the only familiar object since he arrived three weeks prior. He was alone, and had been alone for several hours now, and nothing but his fraught breathing and the soft chiming of the chrono that came every hour bejeweled the silence of the room.

Qui-Gon was nearby and occupied, from what he felt through their tentative bond.

He had come in earlier that afternoon, when the Padawan was still half asleep and told him he had a meeting with the Prime Minister and his advisers in an hour, but he would be back as soon as possible. That had been three hours ago and he had still not returned.

Tied up with the politics, Obi-Wan presumed miserably. As much as he hated to admit it, he would rather stand through a tedious meeting with these politicians then lay abed with a fever. At least he would be doing something. This idle laying around would drive him insane, he was sure of it, and then Qui-Gon would have to give him up because he was too mentally ill to move on with his training.

Right, Kenobi, he thought sardonically, and Yoda's a Sith…

But he doubted he could lay here for another hour, especially with these thoughts as his only company. He needed to do something, if only for a little while.

He rolled onto his side and saw the shades to the large windows of the quarters were still tightly shut. Grey sunlight filtered through the tiny cracks and cool breeze slipped through the openings just a fervently.

Would it be so bad for him to sit out there for a few minutes and see the sun? He hadn't the chance since…Force, two days ago in the evening when he and Qui-Gon had sparred. He scowled at the miserable memory but forced it from his mind. He had already examined, re-examined, torn and put back together what he should and should not have done that night two days ago.

Such was the benefit of idle thoughtfulness.

But there were times when the 'man of action' within him called for its release and right now, it was calling him to step out into the morning sunlight and shed some of the heat that was bottled up inside of him—regardless of what logic told him for it was telling him his sickness would worsen if he did.

Another impulsive move, he thought and slipped out of the heated covers.

The air was cooled around him from the open window and grew cooler as he opened the shaded doors to the back patio. It was small and conventional, offering its attendants a spare view of the large gardens that circled the capital grounds while most of the view was taken up by the rather large and frozen lake. He had learned from that past two days that the I'tehl river had been manipulated from its course to empty into this large manmade lake, courtesy of Asdir and his advisers. The entire garden was ironic, while boasting lush trees and a sundry of different plant types, it also held a lake unmade by man at all, used for his own private uses and enjoyment.

Another reason why the Irinians despise Jedi company, he noted, we would rather spend our days in the nature of the Force than the large contraptions they've built. No wonder they're so jealous. They know that the life of simplicity far succeeds the one of metal and wheels, if only they would do something about it, then there would never be any quarrels.

But such was the nature of life; always a bundle of conflicts that meshed together into one uniformity of problems succeeding one problem.

Such was his situation currently. Melida/Daan only counting for one of the many. Telos, another topic that had not been mentioned since it occurred, and then the varies of minute things that made the whole world to Obi-Wan. His wanting to please, do everything to show his master he was the bright Padawan many were inclined to take him for, the learner who would take on any task without question. He wanted to be able to spar with Qui-Gon and not feel like he was constantly being scrutinized for every mistake he noted himself.

He only wanted a friend, a companion he could talk to about anything and everything, but felt that he could never achieve from his master if they kept this distance.

And it all starts with you, he thought, you should have told Qui-Gon you were feeling ill, show some trust, but instead you kept it from him and this is where your silly mistake has left you.

He sighed and placed his elbows on the ice covered railings of the veranda, ignoring the chill that crept up his arms.

He needed to talk to Qui-Gon, he realized and not a moment too soon. Everything from the minute detail of this mission and even before had told him that their long delayed conversation from Melida/Daan was overdue. He had to tell him this, everything he had just thought, he had to tell Qui-Gon, whether he wanted to hear it or not, whether he would be looked down from it, he had to tell him.

Idly he pulled out his polished stone from his pocket with cold hands and immediately felt its ever-lasting warmth roll beneath his fingers. The tangible presence of their trust eased his heart a little with its gentle company. It helped reinforce his courage by a few notches, but not enough to make it as strong as steel.

Nobody said it would be easy, but it had been ignored long enough.

Why did it take him so long to fully recognize it?

'I wonder whose judgment you have consented to follow that has led you from your bedroom to this chilled death trap. Was it the Irianians or my own?' A questioning voice sounded from behind him, making him start.

Blast, he thought, he was so preoccupied with his thoughts he didn't feel his master's presence.

But nor did his master make himself known beforehand. How long had the man been standing there?

Obi-Wan turned around shamefully, slipping the rock back into his pocket.

'Forgive me, Master, it was neither but my own. I was feeling too overheated in my bed and I thought that the weather would…ease that a little.'

'Ah.' Ah? Obi-Wan thought as the foreign word entered his mind. When had Qui-Gon ever said that before? Was he angry at all at his disobedience or rather, amused by it?

'Well, my Padawan.' Qui-Gon continued and moved forward, himself knowing that it was the latter that filled his heart. 'I do not want you catching a chill again so I must ask you to come back inside. I have some important news to share with you as well.'

'Of course, Master.' Obi-Wan followed immediately and found his room was as cold as the air outside. Blast, he thought again, he had forgotten to close the door. When would he learn to become more insightful with his actions?

Should I talk to him now? No, no, he realized. His master looked tired and did not have the time to stay long. No it would have to wait when the moment was--

'I hope you're quite comfortable under all of those blankets. Minister Asdir felt that stripping the entire capital of Irid of its blankets was required to repay you.'

He was interrupted by the sonorous voice and looked up from his bed. He cracked a smile, quite literally, for he tasted the metallic tinge of blood float into his mouth, and turned his weary gaze back to the man beside his bed.

'Will you give him my gratitude the next time you see him, Master?' He asked hoarsely. How had it gotten so scratchy? Ah yes, the heat from the fever…again…

'I will.' Qui-Gon reached out carefully and placed a cool hand on the burning forehead. He thought for a moment as he lay his hand on the skin that a wisp of steam rose into the air, but it was only an illusion. Still, he nearly flinched from the hot iron skin and drew away to pour his flushed apprentice a glass of water.

'Thank you,' he murmured and drank eagerly from the given cup until not even a drop remained. The water cooled his insides for a moment, a grand moment at that, before drying up in the warm fever again. He nearly moaned as another chill caught him and made him shiver under the damp covers.

'Is the window troubling you, Padawan?' Qui-Gon keenly aware of the discomfort Obi-Wan was feeling.

'Yes!' He moaned but then peeled back some of the covers from his neck. 'Wait, no, don't close it, it's too hot.' He moaned again and pulled the blankets tighter around him. 'Now i-it's to—o co-cold, pl-please cl-close it.' He said through shaking teeth.

Qui-Gon would have smiled if he had not been so worried about the current state of his apprentice. Despite his following pleads, Qui-Gon kept the window tightly shut and moved back to stand beside the bed.

'I want you to go back to sleep, Obi-Wan. You look too tired to stay awake and I think from this little abscond to the window has been enough for one day. I will tell you the news later. Right now, I would like you to sleep.' Knowing that the boy was about to argue he pushed, none too nicely, a large sleeping suggestion into the incoherent mind. Immediately the glassy eyes were laden with the burden of sleep and a large yawn came from his mouth.

'Ow,' he mumbled. 'Hurts….to yawn…' He slowly, very slowly peeled open one sleep induced eye and started pointedly at Qui-Gon. 'You're doing this.'

'Doing what?'

'This…' He whispered it so softly that Qui-Gon wasn't sure if any sound had come from the boy's mouth for a second later, he was breathing rhythmically in his song of sleep.

'That's it, Obi-Wan, sleep now. We can have our talk later.' He lightly caressed the relaxed cheek with the back of his hand before slipping out of the room.

And he didn't only mean about the mission…

A/N: This was a filler chapter because I couldn't think of anything better. I'm figuring on ending this soon. Maybe…one more chapter or two. I'll be surprising you (hopefully) at the end, but don't try guessing in case you ruin it! Thank you all your reviews! I don't have time for individual replies this time but thank you so much! They really help!

Kind Regards,

K.Elessar