Chapter Thirteen
Obi-Wan had helped his Master recover from injuries before and he knew how difficult rehabilitation could be. He had volunteered to help Padmé learn to walk, and although she was a fighter, he was beginning to see just how stubborn she could be.
"You don't understand," she would tell him with aggravation. "I've never done this a day in my life! It makes no sense to me that walking requires two appendages. And why won't these feet stay straight?"
She was frustrated and Obi-Wan asked the therapist he was assisting to allow her to take a break. Once it was allowed, Padmé slid down to sit on the floor. The hair against her temples was wet with sweat and the rest of it was fuzzy and sticking out in all the wrong places, but he didn't care. All he could seem to think about was the possibility of them taking walks together along the stony streets of Theed with only the stars above as company.
"It's going to come. You just need patience. In time, you'll learn balance and gain more strength, and I'll be here with you every step of the way."
Padmé looked at the Jedi curiously as she caught her breath. Learning to walk – something that looked so easy for humans was far more difficult than she had believed it would be. When others kept telling her it was going to take time, what did they mean? Days? Weeks? Months? More? Podlings learned to swim within hours after birth, but she'd been told it would often take more than nine months for a human youngling to walk. Was it going to take that long for her as well? And if so, how could Obi-Wan stay for such a length of time? Didn't the Jedi answer to somebody?
"Why?" she asked him simply, although doubting he would give her an honest answer. Such a blunt question typically met with a more roundabout response. She had learned that over her years in the Queen's Court.
"Why what?"
His first reply was typical; utter denial. He knew exactly what she was asking him but had no time or tolerance for such games such as this and asked again, although this time was much more specific.
"Why are you going to stay and help me? Don't you have someplace else to be?"
The Jedi opened his mouth, though she could guess what he was about to say. So, Padmé beat him to it.
"Please don't answer my question with another question. I need an explanation. Something I can understand, because I feel guilty keeping you here when more than likely you're needed elsewhere."
He couldn't avoid such a forward demand and Padmé waited silently for his reply.
As expected, he appeared pensive as if he were trying to figure out the best way to explain his motives without revealing too much.
Truthfully, Obi-Wan Kenobi was a coward when it came to matters of the heart. He could stand toe-to-toe with a Sith Lord and negotiate treaties before Kings, but when it came to admitting his innermost feelings, he got all tongue tied.
There were other patients here participating in therapy and he glanced their direction, although nobody was paying attention to either of them. To avoid such awkward conversation, he couldn't just stand up and run. He was a Jedi Knight for Force-sake!
"Because," he paused while once more organizing his thoughts. "I feel somewhat responsible for your current situation."
"So, you consider my rehab as part of your duty?"
You see? That's exactly why he hated participating in conversations like this! That wasn't what he meant at all!
"They have plenty of therapists here who can take of me, Obi-Wan. Tell me the truth."
The question was, how did she know he was avoiding it? Could she read his mind? Having lost all of her Mer abilities, she could no longer speak to him telepathically, but was that all she'd been able to do?
Obi-Wan eyed her warily and then realized how ridiculous and paranoid he was being. Of course not, he decided. She was a female and most females in every species across the galaxy seemed to possess the ability to read the intentions of a male. The males, on the other hand, were completely clueless in regards to the machinations of the opposite sex.
"The truth," he repeated, aware he was still stalling. "The truth is I care about you and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I will eventually be required to leave, but for the time being, I want to get to know you as well as I can before that happens. If that's all right with you."
Padmé regarded him carefully for a moment and wiped her face with her crumpled towel lying nearby. Care. An interesting choice of word, she thought. Did he mean as a friend? A sister? A colleague? When he had touched her hand the other day, it certainly hadn't felt like a family member or a friend. Just that simple contact had made her heart nearly jump out of her chest. How could he not see that?
"I suppose I can put up with you for a while," she teased. If he was going to avoid the truth, then she could too. At least for the time being. One of these days though, and hopefully soon, one of them was going to have to be brave enough to admit how they felt. Padmé was hoping it wasn't going to have to be her, although she would do what she had to in order to secure happiness – something she hadn't actually had in a long, long while. Not since Jobal had been cast from the Kingdom.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's continue. Up we go!"
With his hands beneath her arms, the Jedi lifted her up and propped her back in between the set of parallel bars.
"Just ten more minutes," he encouraged her, "and the nurse said we could switch to the aquatic exercises."
A blush radiated up Padmé's neck and into her cheeks. She enjoyed the water exercises but couldn't ignore the way Obi-Wan looked at her during them, nor the way he supported her body so tenderly. He certainly had no trouble expressing his feelings then! Though, she could be imagining it.
"You just want to see me back in that tight wetsuit," she accused playfully.
"Why, yes. Yes, I do," Obi-Wan admitted, his shyness suddenly disappearing as his hands wrapped around her waist.
Taking a simple step was extremely difficult and she'd been at this for about half an hour. Her developing leg muscles were sore and just about to give out, when Padmé got an idea. She purposefully stumbled and slipped her hands off the railing. Of course, Obi-Wan was there to help and he lifted her completely off the floor, announcing to the therapy droid that she'd had enough for the day. He then carried her out of therapy, down the hall, and back to her private room.
Once settled back on her bed, Obi-Wan drew the curtains to block the western sun and ordered her evening meal. He then drew a bath and called for the nurse who helped her into the tub.
Padmé was pleasantly surprised to find him still waiting when she'd returned. The hot water had done wonders for her muscles and she was feeling slightly more energized. She shushed the nurse and requested to be placed in the chair next to Obi-Wan, who was leaning into his hand, fast asleep.
For a while, Padmé simply enjoyed the pleasure of watching him rest, though he didn't stay that way for long.
"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked while brushing his hand through his coppery locks. "Feel better?"
She would love to have been able to replace his hand with her own.
"Actually, I do." Padmé didn't have much practice with flirting and quickly decided not to try. She didn't wish to make a fool of herself. It was best if she was just honest. "Thank you," she told him earnestly. "Thank you for taking care of Sheev, for helping me, for coming to Naboo."
She half expected him to brush off her compliments, but he didn't. He looked at her intensely and slowly revealed that captivating little grin of his. "You're welcome."
