Disclaimer: I wish I owned hot and steamy Xanatos/Obi-Wan love, but alas…

Malaise

"Xanatos?" Obi-Wan called carefully as he entered the other man's home.

No answer, which was strange because Obi-Wan knew he was there. He could feel him in the force.

"Xanatos?" He called again, heading towards the bedroom. It was late, and the ex-Jedi could be asleep.

Obi-Wan slid into the room and rolled his eyes at the lump beneath the sleepcouch covers.

"Xanatos," he said irritably. "I told you I was coming tonight."

The young Jedi crawled under the blanket next to his lover and nudged him. "Are you still asleep?"

"Get out of here," the lump responded gruffly.

Obi-Wan was a little taken aback. "What? Why? Did I do something?"

"I can't deal with you tonight," Xanatos rasped out.

"Deal with me?" Obi-Wan demanded. "What am I, your stupid pet blunga?"

He moved closer and laid his hands on Xanatos's chest. "And what's wrong with your voice? Are you sick?"

"No," Xanatos snapped, pushing Obi-Wan away. "I told you to leave."

Obi-Wan touched the older man's forehead carefully, and he immediately shoved the Jedi's hands away. But not before Obi-Wan felt the heat.

"You are sick."

"Dammit, just leave me alone so I can sleep."

Obi-Wan shook his head and cuddled against Xanatos. "I came all this way, I might as well nurse you back to health." Obi-Wan traced some kisses on Xanatos's jaw before sucking on the fleshy part of his ear.

Xanatos groaned. "I'm really not up for that."

The young Jedi smiled at him. "All the more reason to get better quickly. Have you taken medicine?"

Sighing and pressing a hand to his forehead Xanatos shut his eyes. "I can't remember. I can't remember the last time I got out of bed, at least."

Obi-Wan frowned. "That's not a good sign."

Xanatos opened his eyes and scowled. "Are you going to take care of me or whine, brat?"

With a smile Obi-Wan kissed Xanatos's heated forehead. "I'll see what I can find in the way of medicine for a fever."

He started to climb out from under the covers, but Xanatos grabbed him and wrapped his arms tightly around the younger man.

"Wait, don't leave me yet."

Obi-Wan struggled against the tight embrace. "Xanatos, you're being ridiculous. I need to get you antibiotics."

"I don't want them, just lay with me."

"Xanatos…"

"You're not leaving me again. Every time you come here you abandon me and go back there."

Obi-Wan eyes burned as he grasped Xanatos's meaning.

I don't abandon you, I love you.

"You know, sometimes I think that you won't come back," Xanatos smiled bitterly. "For all my talk, I'm always afraid that you'll change your mind when you get home. That you won't want to see me anymore. I've never been so terrified."

Won't come back? How could he even think that? Obi-Wan wiped the rebellious tears off his face and leaned up, kissing Xanatos more forcefully than necessary.

"I'll always come back."

Xanatos opened his eyes, and they were darkened with hate. "And then you go on those missions with him. That selfish prick. He can't – or won't – keep you safe. You return with bruises and cuts that you shouldn't have. How could he let that happen?"

Shuttering his blue eyes, the young Jedi sighed. "Even when you're sick you can't forget your hate. Those injuries are usually my fault, not Qui-Gon's."

"If he really loved you like his son he would never let you get hurt," Xanatos said fiercely. "I would commit suicide with my own lightsaber before I let those things happen to you."

For a moment Obi-Wan's voice caught in his throat. "I wouldn't want that."

"I would do it anyway." The dark Jedi closed his eyes in exhaustion. "At least wait until I fall asleep to leave."

Obi-Wan wrapped his arms tightly around his lover and laid his head on Xanatos's chest. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"Of course you didn't," his voice was growing groggy and slow, but he reached his hand up to fall on Obi-Wan's hair.

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It was a curious thing to wake up next to Xanatos still dressed. Obi-Wan stretched and hit a button next to the bed, blacking the window against the sun's glare. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he shook Xanatos gently.

"I'm awake," Xanatos grumbled.

Obi-Wan smiled. He sounded better. "I was just checking."

"Figured that you got lucky and I finally kicked it?"

"That's what I was hoping for."

Xanatos laughed, then coughed. "I feel like I actually am going to die."

Obi-Wan moved closer to him, to share body heat of course. "But at least you're coherent this morning. You wouldn't believe some of the things you said last night."

Suddenly feeling well Xanatos turned his sharp eyes on Obi-Wan. "Like what?" he demanded.

The apprentice shrugged with a knowing smile. "Nothing much."

Xanatos didn't seem convinced, but he let it slide. "You know, I'm feeling a lot better."

"I knew that was coming," Obi-Wan said, holding back his laughter. "Can't you think about anything else?"

In response Xanatos pulled Obi-Wan down to kiss him.

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A/N: I haven't updated Every You and Every Me in forever. I feel especially bad because I told you guys the next update would be ready soon. Oh well. Thanks for reading, please review!