Chapter 3 The Healer's Mandate
Obi-Wan sat down in the nearest seat, "I am sorry, my behavior was reprehensible. I have no excuse." He said as he put his head in his hands.
"Yes, you do, Obi-Wan; you are ill. I think the best thing for you to do would be to go back to your quarters and rest." Quinlan Vos answered him. "Anakin?"
"Master Vos is right, Obi-Wan. You just need to rest, come on, I'll walk with you." Anakin said.
"I can't think straight anymore. I'm sorry…" Obi-Wan sighed wearily.
"Get some rest, Obi-Wan. We will also send the healer back to your quarters. You are more ill than would like to admit." Ki-Adi-Mundi told him.
"Yes, Obi-Wan to them you should listen. Better you will feel when you have rested. Clearer your mind will be." Yoda added.
Zak squatted down in front of Obi-Wan, "Please, Master Obi-Wan. I don't want you to die…" He pleaded.
"I will not die, Zak; and I am going to rest now." Obi-Wan answered as he stood up.
"Anakin, we would speak with you before you leave to rejoin your family." Mace said before they left.
"Yes, Master Windu, I will come and find you before I go." Anakin replied.
Zak moved to follow them out.
"Zak, our wish it is that you stay here for now." Yoda told him.
Zak nodded and sat down on one of the Council seats without protest.
Together, Anakin and Obi-Wan made their way to Obi-Wan's quarters.
"I'm sorry, Anakin; I don't know…" Obi-Wan began.
"Don't be sorry, Obi-Wan. You're sick and your head is not clear. I understand." Anakin assured him.
"I…I just hate being sick. I really hate it, I feel like a youngling." Obi-Wan admitted.
"Well, I don't like seeing you like this, Obi-Wan. But the only way you're going to get better is to do what the healers advise and rest. If not for yourself, than for me, my children and Zak." Anakin told him.
"I know, I'm sorry, Anakin…" Obi-Wan answered as his legs buckled and he collapsed to the floor. "I don't think I can go any further."
"Yes, you can, Obi-Wan. We can do this together." Anakin replied, as he pulled Obi-Wan to his feet. Leaning heavily on Anakin, Obi-Wan was able to make his way back to his quarters where he collapsed on the bed exhausted. Quickly, Anakin pulled his tunic off.
"I don't understand, Obi-Wan; it doesn't look any worse than it did this afternoon." Anakin puzzled. "Why are you so much weaker?"
"I expected this would happen." A voice said from the doorway.
Anakin turned to see the healer who had been with Obi-Wan earlier.
"I'm sorry; you must be Anakin. I am Declan." The man said.
"You expected this? Is he….dying?" Anakin asked hesitantly.
"No, no. It is not like that at all." Declan answered reassuringly. "The infection is running its course and Master Kenobi's fever is spiking. When his fever breaks, he will get better."
"But how long, Declan? If this goes on too long, he won't have any strength to fight." Anakin said with concern.
"Oh, not long, I suspect. I would predict sometime tonight. By morning, the worst should be over." Declan said confidently. "As long as he stays put and rests, he should make a complete recovery in several days."
"I'm sorry, Declan, I don't have several days." Obi-Wan countered.
"I'm not giving you a choice here, Master Kenobi. If you don't rest, you will never get well. We have discussed this already." Declan replied. "Master Yoda himself has given me leave to order you to stay here whether you agree or not."
"Well, there you have it, Obi-Wan. I don't think you will be going anywhere for the next few days." Anakin said firmly.
"So I have no voice in this?" Obi-Wan asked.
"None." Both Anakin and Declan said together.
"Now I really feel like a youngling." Obi-Wan responded.
"What?" Declan asked.
"Never mind, Declan; it's not important." Anakin answered. "Obi-Wan, once this fever is gone, and your mind is clear, you will understand why it was necessary for you stay off your feet for a few days. Right now, you just are not thinking straight, you even admitted that yourself. You are not going to miss much anyway, so stop worrying about it. Just focus on healing."
"I know, I know, it's just that I hate…" Obi-Wan started.
"Being sick, yes, I know." Anakin finished. "But if you do what you're told, you won't be for much longer."
Anakin watched as Declan carefully cleaned the wound.
"I will come back again in a few hours to do this again." Declan said as he worked.
"I can do that, Declan. I'm planning to stay here anyway, so it will save you the walk down here. If there is a problem, I can send for you." Anakin offered.
"Anakin, that will not be necessary. You should be with your own family; your place is with them." Obi-Wan told him.
"How long will it take you to realize that you are family too, Obi-Wan. I want to stay; Padme will understand." Anakin answered.
"Alright, Anakin. I will leave some things here for you and you can send word if you need me. Otherwise, I will be back in the morning." Declan replied.
"Well, I see I have no say here either." Obi-Wan said.
"No, it seems not." Anakin answered.
When Declan finished cleaning the wound, he pulled a vial out of his kit and handed it to Obi-Wan.
"Take this, it will help you sleep and should bring your fever down."
"I don't think…" Obi-Wan started.
"Just take it, Obi-Wan; why are you being so stubborn?" Anakin said.
Obi-Wan said nothing, but sighed and shook his head before obediently consuming the contents in the vial.
Before leaving, Declan the supplies Anakin would need to tend Obi-Wan's wound.
"I will check back in the morning, Anakin; but remember, if there is any problem, anything at all, please, send for me." Declan instructed him. "May the Force be with you."
"Thank you, Declan. If the Force be willing, we will not see you until morning." Anakin answered.
"You don't have to stay, you know, Anakin." Obi-Wan said groggily as the drug began to take effect.
"I know, but I want to." Anakin told him.
Anakin waited until Obi-Wan had completely succumbed to the drug before quietly leaving the room. He wanted to contact Padme so that she would not wonder where he was. On the way to the communications center, he met Mace on his way to find him.
"Anakin, I was just coming to look for you." He said.
"I have been with Obi-Wan, Master Windu. The healer just left." Anakin answered.
"And what news, then?" Windu asked.
"His fever is high, but Declan said that he expected it to break before morning. I hope he's right." Anakin informed him.
"You are staying here tonight, aren't you." Mace stated rather than asked.
Anakin smiled in spite of himself.
"You know me too well, Master Windu. Yes, I was just about to let Padme know that I would not be coming in tonight."
"Well, that is what I was coming to tell you; your wife has already contacted us. She had a feeling that you would be staying here and wanted to let you know she and your children would be fine. She understands, Anakin." Mace told him.
Anakin smiled again, "She also knows me too well, Master Windu."
