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Obi-Wan woke in a sweat. Heart pounding, his body froze as his eyes flew open. Without moving, he looked wildly around for the danger his body told him was there.
Yet, around him, nothing moved.
He lay on the narrow bed with Qui-Gon. After a particularly taxing and harrowing day, the Entarians had not seen fit to provide them with their own beds, so they had been forced to share. It was not the first time they'd shared a bed in the two years that Obi-Wan had been Qui- Gon's Padawan Learner.
Obi-Wan had spent the night as motionless as a rock, lest he disturb his exhausted Master's slumber. Despite its small size, the room was pleasant. Near the corner, a small window admitted a spring-like, early morning sun. Weak though the sun felt, its light had begun warming the room with a golden glow as long, thin shadows streaked the floor. The previous evening, Obi-Wan had opened the window, and he now could hear the morning birdsong.
Despite the calmness inside the room, Obi-Wan's heart continued to pound. Still frozen to the bed, he lay confused. His body told him something was terribly wrong, but the Force was silent. Slowly, carefully, he moved his eyes again around the tranquil room.
As Obi-Wan continued to assess the room, his senses told him more about his environment. Qui-Gon lay with his back to him. If Obi-Wan turned his head, his nose would be tickled by his Master's long hair, which covered his right arm up to his shoulder. Qui-Gon breathed the long slow, quiet snore of deep sleep. Ordinarily, the comforting noise of his Master's breathing as he slept would calm Obi-Wan, but not now. He continued to search for the danger, his heart slowing only somewhat.
Obi-Wan tilted his chin down to look at the bedclothes, then remembered. There were none. Entarians, a furred raced, apparently did not use any. Obi-Wan remembered Qui-Gon's expression as they entered the room last night, and nearly forgot his current alarm. He would not forget Qui-Gon's look of dismay tinged with mirth at the sight of the short, narrow bed. Qui-Gon had shed his voluminous robe, then spread it out on top of the bed. Both Jedi lay underneath Obi- Wan's smaller robe. The hood had kept their feet warm during the crisp night, Qui-Gon curled on his side lest his feet hang off.
Qui-Gon continued snoring quietly as Obi-Wan turned to look to his other side. His own and his Master's boots were set side by side by the adjacent wall, belts and sabers piled carefully atop them. Nothing appeared amiss, yet Obi-Wan could not rid himself of the feeling of panic that still gripped him.
Finally, he gave up, and took several deep breaths, drawing slightly on the Force to calm his emotions and allow him to relax again. Qui-Gon stirred in his sleep, noting even in his slumber by his Padawan's use of the Force. Obi-Wan had not quite succeeded in calming himself completely, but choosing not to further disturb his exhausted Master's rest, he let go of the Force. Qui-Gon sighed, and shifted his head.
Obi-Wan's well meaning intentions flew by the wayside as a cold, slimy hand clapped him across his face. Unbidden, a scream escaped Obi-Wan's lips.
Qui-Gon, instantly awake and on his feet, had his saber in his hand before opening his eyes. "What - ?"
Obi-Wan sat bolt upright in bed, his eyes wide and his heart pounding. "A hand -" he began, then looked around quickly. The hand had disappeared. He suddenly felt foolish.
"What is going on, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked roughly.
"I - nothing, Master."
Qui-Gon's expression reminded him about lying.
Obi-Wan sighed, struggling to calm his rapid heartbeat. "Something hit me on the face, Master," he said, feeling sheepish.
"What was it?"
"I'm not sure, Master."
Qui-Gon quickly and efficiently searched the small room, checking underneath their bed and peering out the window. After a thorough search, he said, "I detect nothing, Obi-Wan. Are you certain - ?"
"No," said Obi-Wan. "Not anymore."
"Very well," Qui-Gon said, sighing. He placed his saber on the floor next to his side of the bed and lay down once again.
After a few moments, Obi-Wan lay back, his mind working rapidly. He knew he hadn't dreamt that cold, slimy attack. He eyed the wall above the head of the bed suspiciously.
He had nearly managed to nod off to sleep once more when suddenly his right arm was engulfed in severe pain, as if a thousand hot needles seared his arm. Obi-Wan could not squelch a cry as tears welled in his eyes.
Calmly, Qui-Gon turned toward him and focused the power of the Force behind his touch. The blinding pain lessened.
"Sorry, Master," Obi-Wan choked.
Qui-Gon's only reaction was to chuckle. "The next time that we share a bed and I accidently lay on your arm, Padawan, please inform me. You become too alarmed when it falls asleep and accidently flops onto your face."
Obi-Wan did not lose his blush the entire day.