Sneezefic by Nermal

With a sigh, Obi-Wan followed the path of a snowflake as it danced on the wind and eventually drifted down to the snow covered ground. The cabin he and Qui-Gon had been given on P'Thonos was small, but now that his mate had been gone for five days, it felt too large. Large, cold and empty. Even the compact, efficient kitchen unit seemed too large for one person. Obi-Wan not only used to the smaller rooms in the Temple, he was used to sharing them with Qui-Gon. He was not accustomed to spending hours alone, anxious and waiting for his bondmate.

Qui-Gon had left before the snow started to fall. The trade dispute negotiations were taking place in the capital of P'Thonos, where their cabin was located. Obi-Wan was to remain at the capital while his master traveled to the two other major cities, meeting with representatives and getting a better feel for the planet's financial situation. The trip was supposed to last only three days. But then the snow had fallen, burying the capital and preventing both air and land travel. It was easy to see why – the snow, heavy and thick, still fell from the white sky, strong winds swirling about what had already fallen to the ground. The snowflake that Obi-Wan had been watching disappeared into the mass of snow and as he drew back from the window, a hundred more flitted before Obi-Wan's eyes to follow the same path.

He knew it was colder outside. The snow, the wind, the thin, sharp icicles that dripped from the eaves of the cabin all indicated the freezing temperatures outside. Obi-Wan, however, could not get it out of his mind that it was just as cold inside. He felt it inside him, at the very center of his body, where it made him cringe and shiver every time he heard the wind blow. His hands and feet were cold, as was his increasingly runny nose. A sore throat and sniffles did not appear to be much in the way of illness, but a dull ache in his head and tired feeling behind his eyes did. A head cold, maybe 'flu, Obi-Wan figured. He had not become proficient at self-healing yet and would need Qui-Gon to help him if he wanted to prevent himself from getting sick.

Or from getting more sick. Qui-Gon would not be home soon enough to stop the cold. Already Obi-Wan could feel his nose and throat starting to get itchy, a sure sign that nothing more than rest, warmth and a good amount of liquids would help him.

Coughing softly, Obi-Wan padded over to the kitchen area. The cabin was not more than two room separated by a partition – a bedchamber with refresher unit and a small kitchen and sitting area. He had been watching the snow from the bed, where he could feel the wind as it whipped against the cabin. He would put water up for tea, enough for a whole pot, and then go outside to see if the air traffic had resumed. Hopefully, when Obi-Wan arrived from his short trip outside, the water would be hot and he could work on soothing ache and itch in his throat.

He would have rather listened to the holonet reports and check the traffic that way. The storm had knocked out the communit's connection and his own commlink was not able to pick up the signal. However, it was an inconvenience Obi-Wan was willing to endure if it meant he could find out that his mate was going to be returning soon. Once the air taxis and buses resumed services, Qui-Gon was sure to come back. The cabin would be so much warmer then.

A heavy, cold weather cloak, gloves, boots, and thick tunics helped keep back the bite of the snow and wind. Obi-Wan took a few steps from the cabin after shutting the door and gazed into the distance. Only a few, weak, yellow lights shone through the cloud cover and even those were obliterated by the snow with each gust of wind. Obi-Wan hugged his arms to his chest, shivering, and strained his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he could not see the blink of green, red and blue lights that would tell him life on P'Thonos had gotten somewhat back to normal. There was only the cold, the snow and the empty cabin.

And the wind. The harsh wind that forced Obi-Wan to clasp his arms more tightly around his chest and wait until the blast died down to walk back to the cabin. It made his eyes sting and nose run and set up an ache in his chest that threatened to make him cough. Sniffling wetly, he trudged back to the cabin for his tea. Then to sleep, for he would not miss his Qui-Gon as much as when he was awake. The thought of the hot drink and the sleep tunic he had taken from his mate before they left Coruscant brought a small smile to Obi-Wan's face. There was some warmth in the snow covered cold of P'Thonos.

Too much warmth. P'Thonos was not this warm. Obi-Wan shifted in bed. He had to be dreaming of home or someplace warmer. Closing his eyes tightly, Obi-Wan burrowed deeper into the covers and willed himself back to sleep. To wake up and feel the cold would be too harsh after such a dream. The warmth pressed closer when he sniffled and a soothing hand skimmed over his arm to his chest when Obi-Wan coughed.

"It's no dream, my Obi-Wan. You can go back to sleep, I'll be here when you wake." Qui-Gon's voice was quiet and the touch of his lips, soft. He kissed the side of Obi-Wan's neck, his chest pressed close to Obi-Wan's back.

Having Qui-Gon spooned up behind him was the safest and warmest thing Obi-Wan ever felt. He sank deeper into the warmth. Sleep crept over his senses and the niggling thought that Qui-Gon ought to have waken him faded. The sniffles, however, managed to linger. Obi-Wan rubbed his nose into the pillow, taking light, sniffly breaths. He could almost get his nose to stop running, but not enough to shake the tickly feeling in his nose. Not rubbing his nose this time, Obi-Wan sniffed delicately and wrinkled his nose against the tickle.

"ehh… hih! HihChishh!" The sneeze made Obi-Wan sniffle wetly. He curled in on himself and took another hitching breath. "huh! HetChshhh! Chishhoo!"

"Bless," Qui-Gon murmured and brushed his lips over Obi-Wan's ear. "Has it been too cold for you, my Obi?"

Obi-Wan wanted to say no. It was cold, but not so cold that he could not endure it. Being away from his mate had the cold sharper and then he had gotten sick at an inopportune time. The denial was on Obi-Wan's lips and he started to speak, drawing back closer to Qui-Gon when the wind shrieked outside. "Little bit."

"Just a bit, I'm sure, with all the snow and wind…" Another kiss to Obi-Wan's neck warmed the skin behind his ear. Qui-Gon nuzzled lightly, kissing, and hugged Obi-Wan close.

Obi-Wan indulged himself in the protective warmth for a few minutes. Although groggy, he was awake and awake meant sniffling. He shifted in Qui-Gon's arms until he was half sitting up, half facing Qui-Gon. The tissues were on the table, next to Qui-Gon's side of the bed. Obi-Wan made a move to reach for them, but before he could, Qui-Gon's hand rested on his wrist.

"Let me…" Qui-Gon clicked the hololamp onto its dimmest setting. He offered Obi-Wan a handkerchief, slid an arm around his shoulders, and helped Obi-Wan sit up. "You're catching cold," he said softly and stroked Obi-Wan's hair.

His nose full and tickly, Obi-Wan made a small sound of agreement before getting ready to sneeze again. "Hehh… ehh… eh! eh-heh!heh!" The little, anticipatory breaths quieted. Obi-Wan's nose twitched, the tickle became unbearable, and a quick, wet "hehCHISHH!" burst out. He caught the sneeze in the hanky, let out a "ihhChshh!" then a "KishOOO!" and finally a fast double "CH'ishhoo!CH'ish-HOO!" to work out the tickle.

"Love… bless you." Still petting Obi-Wan's hair, Qui-Gon sighed. He waited until Obi-Wan cleared his nose to pull him closer. "When did your cold start coming on?" The question was asked carefully and Qui-Gon kept petting as he asked it.

The gentle attention and caring kept Obi-Wan from answering immediately. This was the warmth he had been longing for – not just a physical warmth, though he and Qui-Gon always kept each other warm, but the pure warmth that came from being with his mate. "Just this past morning. I had a scratchy throat and runny nose all day, nothing worse."

"Perhaps it won't be a heavy cold." Qui-Gon frowned. "You should get more rest to make sure it doesn't turn into one. Can you get back to sleep?" He pressed a kiss to Obi-Wan's forehead and then to his hair. "I shouldn't have woken you up…"

"You didn't… my cold did." Obi-Wan nuzzled up into the kisses, rubbing his hair into Qui-Gon's face. He knew his mate enjoyed the soft tickle of his short hair and Obi-Wan liked the nuzzling kisses against his scalp. A quiet, happy sigh followed the series of tiny kisses Qui-Gon pressed to his hair. Obi-Wan yawned, cuddled closer, and urged Qui-Gon to lie back down. "My cold is making me sleepy now…"

"Good. You need the sleep." The light clicked off. "As do I, now that I have the time and an armful of warm padawan."

"Do you have more meetings tomorrow?" Obi-Wan yawned again. Sleep tugged down his eyelids and had him curling against Qui-Gon's chest.

"No. The snow has caused a state of emergency – I was just lucky to be able to get a ride home from one of the representatives who had an air car. I get a free day that I can spend fussing over your cold." Qui-Gon hugged Obi-Wan to his chest, this time letting Obi-Wan use him as a pillow. "Good night, my Obi-Wan."

"Night, Qui." Obi-Wan smiled against Qui-Gon's chest. Sleep overcame him and Obi-Wan gratefully let the warmth envelop him.

"ehh…ISHH!" Obi-Wan sneezed into the hanky and shivered. Sleepy and cold, he had gotten out of bed to look for Qui-Gon. The idea seemed like a good one at the time, but now that he stood barefoot and sniffling in the kitchen area, it had lost much of its appeal. "h'CHishh! Ch'shoo!"

"Oh, Obi-Wan, blessings… How am I supposed to fuss over you when you insist on getting out of bed like this?" A warm embrace brought Qui-Gon close to him. "It's so much easier to fuss when you're tucked in bed. And you don't shiver so in there." He rubbed his hands up and down Obi-Wan's arms then hugged him more tightly. "I've made us tea. Get back in bed and warm up, love."

Bed sounded like an excellent idea to Obi-Wan. As did tea and being fussed over a bit by his mate. Nothing, however, seemed more urgent than the almost desperate need to sneeze again. He took a slow breath, moved away from Qui-Gon enough to turn his head, and waited. It felt like the tickle would fade and the sneeze would wait until he returned to the bedroom, until his nose twitched involuntarily. "Huh-SHOO! IhhTISHHOO" The sneezes rushed out and caught Obi-Wan by surprise. Wrinkling his nose, he sniffled wetly. "Sorry…"

"Bless you. You need to get warm, Obi." Nuzzling Obi-Wan's hair, Qui-Gon blessed him again. He touched his lips to Obi-Wan's forehead and added, "and I need you to warm the bed up for when I come to join you."

"All right." His nose felt sniffly and the itch was still there. Obi-Wan moved out of Qui-Gon's arms reluctantly, liking the way it felt to have his lover hold him and pet him when he got the sneezes. "You'll be there soon?"

"Of course. I think I've made it clear enough that the bed is much warmer than anywhere else during a snowstorm."

Obi-Wan raised his head to brush a kiss over Qui-Gon's lips. The smile on those lips was genuine and full and enough of a reason for Obi-Wan to make his way back to the bed. Another fit of sneezes kept him busy enough for the few minutes it took Qui-Gon to return. He was blowing his nose when Qui-Gon settled on the bed and was unable to hold back the whimper of relief after he finished.

"I think you've caught yourself a very sniffly, sneezy cold."

Another little sound, this time one of pathetic agreement. Obi-Wan wiped his nose and exchanged the used hanky for a clean one. "Can you help me with a healing trance this afternoon? I want this cold gone by the time the trade dispute meetings start."

"I think I can manage that."

"Thank you." Clean handkerchief in one hand, hot cup of tea in another, Obi-Wan leaned back against the pillows. He paused in his drinking to rub his nose into the hanky and sniffle softly a few times, each time getting his hair stroked or kissed by Qui-Gon.

"We can just rest now, though," Qui-Gon said, "and do the trance later. I'd like to just keep you warm for a while longer."

"And fuss?"

"And fuss."

Obi-Wan put his empty teacup down to snuggle closer to Qui-Gon. "If you keep me warm enough, I might fall asleep again."

"I see nothing wrong with that. It's a rare treat I get to hold you as you sleep and I remain awake." Qui-Gon petted his fingers through Obi-Wan's hair. He sighed with content and pleasure when Obi-Wan pressed a kiss to his chest. "Besides, you need sleep and cuddling to help with those sniffles and sneezes. Much more than a healing trance."

"It's not too dull for you?"

"Too dull? How could holding you be dull? And I can pet you and watch the snow fall. It sounds perfect."

"Perfect," Obi-Wan repeated. Last night had been perfect, waking up in his lover's arms when he needed Qui-Gon's warmth so much. Today would be perfect, too. He would keep Qui-Gon as warm as his lover kept him, and as happy. Nuzzling Qui-Gon's chest, Obi-Wan kissed it again. Qui-Gon would know the perfect way to spend a snow day away from home.