Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything that has to do with it, George Lucas does (Darn it! Oh well but if he ever wants to sell it...)
Summary: AU One year after Attack of the Clones Anakin and his family are on the run from the Empire. As they try to hide on Naboo, problems begin from within as Qui-Gon's health begins to fail.
Warnings: Nothing for this chapter.
Author's Note: This was my first attempt at fanfiction that I started in 1999 and I have rewritten it several times in order for it to tie into the movies a bit better. I just tried to fix some of the spelling, grammar and typing mistakes but bear with me. My CP and dyslexia makes it hard to catch everything.
Chapter 9: A son's intuition and a little help from friends
The day past quickly but unfortunately by late afternoon Qui-Gon was ill again. He was cold, dizzy and was having trouble keeping anything including water down. Both Obi-Wan and Christian forced him to go to bed and stay there, assigning Faolan as his guard. Even Ryoo and Pooja found ways of helping the ill Jedi Master. At first they were afraid and unsure of what was wrong but after their parents quickly reminded them that Qui-Gon was very ill and that some days he would be fine and other days he would be very sick they readily agreed to keep him company if he asked for it.
Later that night while Obi-Wan and Christian were watching over Anakin, getting the Padawan though his last night in the Healing Trance he had been in for almost four days. Qui-Gon woke suddenly, pain shooting though his abdomen. He leaned over the side of his bed and grabbed the bucket that Obi-Wan had placed there for such emergencies and emptied the meager contents of his stomach.
The Jedi Master had been though this enough times in the past few months to know it was just his illness rearing its ugly head. He reached for the bag of medication that he kept on the nightstand and uttered a few cruses in Nir'duinain when he discovered he had already taken the last of his pain medication that morning.
Jinn clenched his teeth to keep from screaming as the next bout of pain assaulted him and groaned.
"Master Jinn?" Asked a worried voice, from the doorway. Qui-Gon turned his head and was surprised to see that it was Padme's mother Joble, who owned the voice.
The Jedi Master tried to calm her fears, "I'm fine Mrs. Naberrie, I'm sorry if I woke you."
The older woman would have none of it; she knelt by his side and took his hand. "Master Kenobi just about scared the life out of me when he ran out of Ani's room with a look on his face that would scare the dead. He asked me to stay with you until he had something to help with the pain and nausea. Unfortunately he said it would take few minutes."
"He can feel me?" Jinn asked, wondering if his control of his mental shields was starting to slip. Which was not a good sign.
"I think it was more of a son's intuition then the Force Master Jinn." Joble said, giving him a knowing look.
They both looked up when the Kenobi twins came in with worried looks on both of their faces, "Sorry we took so long father." Obi-Wan said. "This should help, its Cavasan Root mixed with Honas Leaves."
Qui-Gon nodded and allowed Kenobi to support his shoulders as he drank the steaming concoction that he handed him. "Thank you Obi-Wan." Jinn said as his stomach started to settle down.
Joble stood and let Christian take her place as Faolan put his head in Qui-Gon's lap and whined, "Do you need anything else?" She asked.
"No, thank you Mrs. Naberrie, I'm really sorry for scaring you earlier." Obi-Wan said, taking the mug from Qui-Gon.
The older woman smiled," Oh pay of no mind, Master Kenobi. I'm just glad I could be of help, get some rest Master Jinn." She said before turning to leave.
Obi-Wan started to follow her, "I'll get you some water father." He said. Once he was out in the hall, where Jinn couldn't hear him. The Jedi stopped Joble. "Mrs. Naberrie is there any way I could speak with a healer concerning my father and contact my grandmother. I am a healer but I've mainly worked as a medic on missions and I've never treated an Asacalare's disease patient before. Qui-Gon needs medication and treatments that I can't give him and I really don't know the best way to help a terminally ill patient. I need to be his son not his healer."
Joble nodded, "Not only are you caring for your father but also your brother and my daughter as well. You can't keep this up young man; you're going to make yourself sick. I'll do my best to find a healer for you but it may take a while, I think I know someone that I can call. As for your grandmother, write a letter and I'll see that it gets off the planet. We'll take one step at a time, all right." Obi-Wan nodded. "Have a good night Master Kenobi and if you do get a chance, rest."
"Thank you Mrs. Naberrie." Obi-Wan said giving her a formal bow, wincing when his back snapped.
Joble smiled, "May the Force be with you Obi-Wan Kenobi, may it be with all of us." She said, giving the young man a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll sit with Anakin for a while."
Obi-Wan watched his hostess for a moment before heading into the Refresher for the water he'd promised his father, Cavasan Root tended to have a horrid aftertaste to it and was generally mixed with whatever local alcohol one could find to make easier to drink. But since most Jedi chose to take the vow not consume food or drink that would have any ill effect on the mind and body when they're knighted and since alcohol would react to Qui-Gon's medication, he had to try and find other ways of masking the taste. Not only was Obi-Wan having his former master use Cavasan Root but also right now taking small doses of it regularly was the only way he could walk.
Before Obi-Wan went back to look after his father he splashed come cold water on his face, to wake himself up and make the fever he was running less noticeable. The young man sighed and took a deep breath, regretting it when he doubled over with a racking cough. He immediately covered his mouth with both hands and added all the strength he could to his mental shields, he did not need his brother or father knowing just how debilitated he really was, not yet any way.
"I'm sorry I took so long I needed to speak with Mrs. Naberrie." Obi-Wan said giving Christian and Qui-Gon a small smile as he handed the Jedi Master a large glass of water. "Any more pain?"
Qui-Gon drained the glass quickly and set it on the nightstand, "No Obi-Wan, I'm fine." He said taking a good look at the younger man, knowing he was hiding the fact that he wasn't well. Jinn had seen the other force down a few herbal concoctions in the last few days, the question was why was he trying to hide it and how much did he have to hide." I'll be fine you two, go and see to Anakin and I'll relieve you in four hours."
"Father you need the rest, Christian and I will be fine." Obi-Wan told him.
"Obi-Wan's right father." Christian said, agreeing with his brother as he stood. Not able to see how pale Obi-Wan was.
Christian, Obi-Wan is getting worse. Jinn told him, sending the blind Jedi a mental picture of what his twin looked like. Using their bond but being extra careful not to let the other Kenobi twin overhear.
I'll keep an eye on him. Christian told the older man. Excuse the pun.
Qui-Gon smiled, you always had a wonderful sense of humor, never apologize for it. If your brother becomes too tired, come get me.
Christian sighed, Yes father but in the mean time please get some rest.
Jinn nodded, "All right you two, go see to your brother and I'll see you in the morning."
The other nodded and took up Faolan's harness and mentioned for his brother to follow him, "Good night father." Both men said as they left.
Obi-Wan smiled at Joble Naberrie when he and his twin came into Anakin's room, "Thank you for watching over our brother Mrs. Naberrie."
"It was my pleasure Master Kenobi, how is Master Jinn?" The older woman asked as she stood.
"He's doing much better, the Cavasan Root I gave him will last the rest of the night." The young man said going over to Skywalker and checking him over. "And Anakin will be able to come out of the Healing Trance tomorrow."
"That's wonderful."
"It'll be a few more days before he'll be at full strength but his wounds are healed."
"I'll leave you three be." Joble said as she headed for the door. "Is there anything you need before I head back to bed?"
"No thank you milady, we'll be fine." Obi-Wan said with a smile. "Rest well."
"You too young man, good night." The older woman said as she left the twins alone with the Padawan.
"Why are you acting like this?" Christian asked as his brother sat down in one of the oversized chairs, grateful to finally be able to get off his feet for a few minutes.
"What in the name of the Force are you talking about?"
"You haven't said one non-medical thing since I've gotten here."
Obi-Wan looked at his brother, "Really?"
"Yes, and frankly it's driving everyone insane. Ryoo and Pooja don't know what to make of you, our hosts are wondering if they can have a conversation with you and our father, Padme and I are wondering what happened to your sense of humor. Your only 25 Obi, you can still have a little fun once and awhile."
"I'm sorry Christian, I didn't know. I've been running on autopilot since we left Coruscant, I think I'll feel better when Ani's awake."
Christian backed up a few steps, "How big is that chair Ben?"
Obi-Wan looked, "Big enough to hold at least two of me, why?"
His brother smiled, "Move over."
When Qui-Gon came to check on them later, he found the Kenobi twins sound asleep huddled in each other's arms. Jinn had to smile, Christian and Obi-Wan had hearts bigger then the galaxy and had plenty of love to give. Especially to each other.
