Saga Birthday Musings Obi/Qui A belated birthday fic for Kestrel_Kenobi

FLAKE ALERT! Ok, sorry anyone who's already replied, but I'm gonna go lock this up and move it to the Before thread here http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/22952573/p1/?0

Title:Birthday Musings
Authors:Stella_Ripple and obi_webb
Summary:Qui-Gon is recovering from a vacation that had not quite gone to plan (as usual) whilst Obi-Wan enjoys the role of nursemaid and chief worrier!
Keywords: Birthday, cake, sneaking out, resting, caring
Disclaimer: When the sandbox beckons, who are we to resist?
Notes: My wonder co-writer obi_webb and I wrote this for Kes's birthday. Hope you had a great one, sis and enjoy! obi_webb will be posting the second part of this little piece later!




Birthday Musings

Qui-Gon eyed the warden, carefully studying the unrelenting features that were always near his own; lately he had begun to notice a new exhaustion running through them. It was becoming evident enough from the tired slump of the shoulders, and the deepening of the lines around the dropping eyelids that he had only another half hour till the sharp eyes that kept him under constant scrutiny could not help but close.

Careful to keep the smile on his face mild and unassuming, he watched delightedly as the man?s shoulder edged further and further back into the hard-backed chair. He waited until the stern mouth had slowly slipped apart before letting the calculating gleam in his eyes become apparent. Tentatively, he lifted the thin sheets covering himself and proceeded until he had enough height for his stiff legs to sneak over the side of the bed and felt a shiver snake through him as they touched the cool stone. Concentrating all his weight on the balls of his feet, he tried to edge over the side of the mattress until he was sitting straight up with his back to his unsuspecting guard. Pleased to find that the several weeks of confinement hadn?t dented his ability carry out covert missions he stood up quickly, eager to get out while he still could.

A violent creak echoed after him- effectively shattering the silence he had been carefully cultivating.

Qui-Gon froze, willing the Force not to be so cruel as to take away his hard-won freedom. Nervously, he twisted his head, half expecting to be met by a forceful pair of hands intent on clamping him back down to the confines of his four-legged torture chamber. But at the sight behind him, he fought to keep back a huge sigh of relief.

Obi-Wan was still in his chair, just as he had been every time he had looked in the past weeks, but this time the miracle he had been praying for some days now had at last been granted him- his young gaoler was fast asleep.

Too grateful to tempt the Force any longer, Qui-Gon padded out to the door as quickly as he dared, stopping only to grab his shoes. Once outside, he was hit by a brightness that his eyes had long forgotten- and that immediately started them watering- it had been a long time since he had seen anything that was not lit by the dim lamps of the hospital. Blinking rapidly against the new intensity, he waited while the fresh air, another forgotten friend, swept a cool greeting through his clothes. He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was good to feel life again.

He walked slowly across the village, marveling as he savoured the smell of the fresh blooms wafted over with each new breeze and his ears tingled at the sound of the chirping of new birds, at how quickly nature?s wonders fade from the mind, and delegated to the misty realms of memory in only a few short weeks, leaving him in the grips of a cold reality of blank walls and gleaming tiles, with only the blank-faced doctors for company.

Now his conscience prodded him and he cringed at his own omission. Could he be trying to forget the worried eyes and pinched face that had bent over him every time he had drifted into a lucid state; the reassuring smile that had always been the first thing he woke to every time; the gentle hands that had, of late, been

 

lovely job, can't wait to see the next part!

adore this description: He walked slowly across the village, marvelling as he savoured the smell of the fresh blooms wafted over with each new breeze and his ears tingled at the sound of the chirping of new birds, at how quickly nature?s wonders fade from the mind, and delegated to the misty realms of memory in only a few short weeks, leaving him in the grips of a cold reality of blank walls and gleaming tiles, with only the blank-faced doctors for company.

that Kes sure has it made! lucky girl getting this for a gift.