Obi-Wan wasn't fully aware of an intruder until he saw something orange bend down next to his bedside. The Force told him the intruder meant no harm—and instantly regretted staring at the lovely face that appeared before him.

He made Handmaiden Padmé gasp in surprise. What dropped to the floor with a rather loud noise he could only guess to be his lightsaber, the metallic sound was unmistakable. Even in her frightened state, she looked absolutely breathtaking.

Padmé quickly composed herself and took slow breaths to steady her beating heart. How dare he do that to her; staring with near bloodshot eyes when he was supposed to be asleep! Really she found it quite rude.

She bent back down to once again retrieve his lightsaber and finally placed it back next to the water bowl. "I see your finally awake," she managed to say given her jumpy state. "How are you feeling?"

Kenobi swallowed. "My throat is dry."

She nodded and sat beside him. "Unfortunately I cannot give you any nourishment until you have been given the proper treatment for your wounds…"

"Wounds?"

"Yes. You were injured back on Naboo and Master Jinn brought you aboard," she looked at him curiously. "Do you remember?"

Kenobi stared off, doing his best to recollect earlier events. After a time he shook his head. "I remember the sound of something loud happening…someone calling out my name…" He winced as he attempted to sit up. Padmé gently eased him back down and he looked into her eyes. "But nothing more. Am I missing something?"

So his condition was not too bad. "No. I think that is all you need to know, Jedi Kenobi."

"Obi-Wan."

"I'm sorry?"

"I would prefer you call me Obi-Wan," He smiled. "And to whom do I owe my care to?"

Padmé felt her face about to flush. He was cute and charming. "I'm Padmé."

"Thank you, Padmé. For everything."

Now her face began to flush. She looked down to hide her embarrassment. "I suppose I could give you a little bit of water to calm your aching throat. Can you breathe okay?"

"Somewhat." Then his face took on a look of puzzlement.

The silence made her flush further, thinking he was still staring at her, but when he made a sound of displeasure… "Is anything wrong?" Padmé asked, worried.

"I can't…did you numb me with anything?"

"No. I only gave you a small dose of an antidote earlier in case if your bloodstream was infected, but nothing to leave you with no feeling. Why?"

He gestured with his chin down the blanket. "I can't feel my legs."

A bit scared, Padmé took the blanket off of him and closely examined his legs, particularly around his ankles. "Tell me if it hurts anywhere." She silently chided herself for not examining him more thoroughly. Carefully she pushed her fingers around his skin. He hissed through clenched teeth when her fingers pushed a sensitive spot on his right ankle. She did it with the left one…and heard him hiss again when she touched his foot. There weren't any signs of blood around his legs, but when she carefully began to pull off his boots… "Obi-Wan," her voice sounded small. "Can you feel that?"

"What is it?"

Padmé looked closer inside both his boots, and then looked for tears on the outside. "You must have somehow twisted your ankles when you fell. Okay, I'm going to slowly lift your legs one at a time. If it hurts too much, please tell me and I'll stop."

"Agreed."

"Okay," Padmé slowly lifted his left leg and gently bent his knee, supporting his calf and upper thigh. She looked over at him. "Hurt?"

He shook his head.

"Next one." Gently setting his leg back down, she went around the other side of the bed and prepared for the right leg. "Again, tell me if it hurts." She lifted him carefully like before, about to bend his knee—

—and that's when a small trickle of blood made its way out of his boot and oozed onto his pant leg. The sight surprised her and she nearly dropped his leg back onto the bed. "Padmé?"

"Your bleeding," her voice nearly caught in her throat. "I need to remove the clothing around your boot and the boot itself to see something."

"My ankle is broken, isn't it?" His words stopped her. This time he managed to ease himself up and look at her with knowledge of understanding. "And I think…I think something is digging into…" He reached along his left hip, and searched for the meaning behind his pained expression.

"Stop, let me see." Turning him over, she looked for the object that caused him sudden pain…and found an even bigger piece of droid metal embedded into his skin, just below the belt that tightened his tunic. How could she have missed that? And at that size? Then again, she recalled Master Jinn's hurried pace at wanting to get aboard the bridge to take off from the hangar bay. He didn't seem at all interested in checking in on the status of his Padawan—which made her feel even guiltier about not thoroughly examining him closer. She took out her comlink and immediately called for one of her fellow handmaidens—

—until she realized that all she was grasping onto was air. She turned to see Obi-Wan holding the tiny device. "What are you doing? You need immediate attention—"

"I want you to do it," Obi-Wan replied calmly. The look on his face nearly made her heart flutter. Why is he staring at me like that?

"I don't have the right skills for something that deep." She tried again, "Handmaiden Yané—"

"Please Padmé." This time he looked serious, almost…was there a hint of embarrassment?

How could she resist? And with the look he was giving her? Somewhere deep within her self-conscious a warning went off.

She tried a different approach, sitting back down on the bed. "In case if you didn't know," she started in a soft tone, "we've landed on a desert world called Tatooine. The ship was damaged in a quick fight with the Federation. We made an emergency landing, and Master Jinn took Jar Jar and Handmaiden Yané with him to seek out repair parts…and medical supplies for you. Yané is better then any one of us at handling this type of situation." She held up a hand, expecting him to interrupt, and he politely bowed his head for her to continue. "I will grant your request of wanting me to tend further to your injuries, but all I ask is the chance to relay a blood sample to her in case if your blood is infected."

Another inclination. "Agreed," then his brow furrowed.

Padmé smiled. She knew what he was thinking. "I know that I told you earlier that I gave you something for that, but as it turned out…let's just say, somebody isn't keeping track of what we have."

He nodded. "I understand."

From the Archived Journal of Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi

Royal Starship

Tatooine

Mid-Evening

I could not begin to express what I felt when she told me that my master had gone off with one of her fellow handmaidens. Somehow I got the vaguest feeling…that she was supposed to have gone with him. But instead she remained here, being placed with the responsibility of tending to my care.

I do not fully understand why when I was experiencing a Force-vision that her voice slowly brought me back from my short slumber. As part of my training I immediately reminded myself of the Jedi Code…

(Silence. Slightly heaving breathing in background)

I also do not understand why I stopped her from calling one of her "sisters," even if she was possibly feeling the need to contact my master. I suppose…I didn't want her to go. I understood that it was her duty as one of the Queen's 'maidens to follow orders and act upon with loyalty and complete discipline—but somehow I sensed that she felt relived, even happy, that it was her who was chosen to look after me and no other.

I am uncertain whether to feel…

Her touch was gentle when she checked my legs for any signs of bruising. I even felt a shiver crawl up my spine. When she began to bend my knee, her hand that supported my upper thigh slightly trembled. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was slightly embarrassed with handling me that way.

I'm a Jedi. I shouldn't think such thoughts.

Right now she is analyzing the data she collected on my blood sample. Handmaiden Yané has informed her that they took shelter from an oncoming sandstorm in a nearby living area. They are to return in the next day with the right supplies for my medical needs.

(Short pause. Slight movement in background)

Padmé is returning with my evening meal.

I look forward to dining alone with her.

(Shuffling of material in background)

Already I feel as if my fever…

(Comlink off)