Healing Water

A/N: I do not own any Star Wars characters; they belong to George Lucas. I just like to play with them for a little while for my own entertainment.


Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling fan as it hummed while spinning on medium speed. I turned my head to look out the window and saw water streaming down the glass pane. Lovely weather was here again. Right. Sometimes, it paid to be sick…not that I enjoyed being sick. I just preferred for the weather to be lousy when I felt lousy.

The doorbell rang for the third time today, and I groaned, placing a pillow over my stuffy head. Having a terrible cold will make anyone want to avoid seeing other people. But I knew I didn’t need to be rude just because I was sick.

Flinging back the dark blue bedspread covered with black bamboo stalks in an Asian print, I slowly put my feet on the floor. I slipped on the fuzzy blue slippers Ronnie gave me on my birthday last November and made my way to the front door of my apartment.

When I opened the door, I sighed hard enough to make my shoulders slump. There in front of my home was a delivery boy…the third one today. The first one had brought me a bouquet of a dozen white lilies. They had been breathtaking and were now in a vase on my dining room table. The second delivery had been a dozen red tiger lilies. I didn’t even know tiger lilies came in red, but the beautiful proof was in another vase on the coffee table in my living room.

Now, the delivery boy held not a dozen, but two dozen white roses. “Delivery for Miss Natalie Grant. Sign here please.” He held up a clipboard, and I scribbled my name onto the paper. Holding a tissue to my nose, I somehow managed to clear it for two breaths before I was unable to breathe again. Then, I took the roses and thanked God that they were already in a vase. I didn’t think I had anymore left in my apartment. Thinking about it, I didn’t know where I could possibly put the roses.

It wasn’t that I didn’t get flowers on occasion…I just never received quite this many at once. And from clients no less. Ok, they were more than just my clients. I mean, how many people can say that they make masseuse house calls to a Jedi master and a Sith lord? Not many…even I can barely say it.

Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul had been two of my regular clients for the past two months. Typically, they each scheduled me for sessions twice a week on different days, of course. During his first time at “Hands of the Seasons”, Qui-Gon came into the studio. However, after Ronnie started the house call sessions, both he and Darth Maul had used that means to see me.

Speaking of my boss, I had called Ronnie earlier this morning after the second delivery boy stopped by, and I asked her,

“Ronnie, you didn’t tell anyone outside the office that I was sick, did you?”

“My God, Nattie, are you getting worse? I hardly recognized your voice.” Ronnie had a splendid way of making you feel super when you were ill. So I sounded much lower in tone. At least my speech was understandable, unlike some people when they’re sick.

“Veronica, please just tell me if you did or didn’t.”

“Well, yes. I had to cancel two of your appointments, one from yesterday and one from today,” Ronnie answered finally. She knew when I used her formal name I was in no mood to beat around the bush. “Mr. Jinn and Mr. Sarin were both rather concerned when I called to tell them about the cancellations. They asked what had happened, so I told them you were very sick and wouldn’t be back in the office for a week or two.”

That stopped me for a minute. First, I didn’t think Ronnie would give me that much time off, and second, I didn’t even think Maul had a last name. You learn something new everyday. Running a hand through my long hair, I shook my head, saying, “Thanks for explaining, Ronnie. And thanks for the time off. I just hope this thing gets out soon. I’m so sick of being sick and it’s only been three days.”

“Well, just remember, drink lots of fluids and eat chicken soup,” she said brightly. “And get better soon, Nattie. Bye.”

Now here I was, trying to rest, and I had three bouquets of flowers. Looking around the living room, there was no place for the third vase. I brought it into my bedroom and set it on the nightstand on the left side. Sitting on my bed, I tried to smell the flowers but only managed to stuff my nose even more.

Growling (a trait I attribute to being around Maul so much), I snatched another tissue from the seventh Kleenex box and blew my nose fiercely. Then, I quickly lowered my nose to one of the roses and sniffed its sweet scent. Then, nothing as I couldn’t breathe AGAIN. With a huge sigh, I fell back onto my bed and crawled under the covers, nestling into my pillow.

The ringing doorbell snapped my eyes open, and I thought, ‘I know it’s not his fault…he’s just the delivery boy. Mustn’t mangle him…must NOT mangle him.’ Getting out of bed for the fifth time today (since I had to eat something even if it was just toast), I went and opened the front door, saying,

“I know, I know, delivery for me.”

“Uh…yes, Miss Grant.” The new delivery boy handed me his clipboard, still holding the bouquet of two dozen red roses. I was definitely seeing a pattern here…not at all obvious. Giving him back the clipboard, I took the vase of roses and locked my front door. I immediately went back to my bedroom and placed this vase on the nightstand on the right side of the bed.

Then, I promptly collapsed onto the bedspread and once more buried myself under the covers and sheets. I prayed there’d be no more interruptions of my rest as my eyes closed, and I dozed lightly. It wasn’t fitful sleep since I could barely breathe, and that alone kept me from really resting.

With a sigh, I turned on my side, facing the red roses, and I smiled, finding my thoughts drifting to Maul. It never occurred to me that he could be so romantic, but there it was on my living room coffee table and nightstand. He did know how to make a girl feel great about herself. Then, I shifted to my other side and gazed at the white roses. Qui-Gon was always a gentleman, and he made such intelligent conversation. And he really knew how to cuddle after a session.

Rolling onto my back, it occurred to me that they were bound to know about each other. I mean, they are Force users. They had to have sensed the other at some point over the past two months. Yet neither one said anything to me about the other. It was a little curious if not a little worrisome.

Closing my eyes, I sighed while reaching for another tissue. My hand landed on a rather muscular forearm, and my eyes opened wide. Looking up, I stared into a red and black tattooed face, fiery eyes gazing into mine.

“How…how did you…? Maul, what are you doing here?” I finally managed to get a question out without stuttering. Sitting up, I felt his hand grasp mine as he sat down on the bed.

“You should know the answer to the first question, Natalya,” he said in that voice that felt like fur sliding down my spine. “As for the second, I wanted to see how you were feeling.”

“Lousy…though I’m very flattered by your concern…and visit,” I told him, feeling heat that wasn’t sick-related creep up my neck. “Also…thank you for the…”

A knock at my door prevented me from finishing my sentence. Sighing, I moved to get up, but Maul barred me with his body, saying,

“Ignore them. It can’t be that important.”

“No, but it is rude…if it’s another delivery boy, I don’t know where in the world I’m going to put whatever it is,” I told him, moving around his body and through the bedroom door. “I have you to thank for that partially.”

I heard him follow me to the bedroom door, felt his gaze on my back watching me. Currently, I was wearing black pajama pants and a light blue spaghetti strap top. Technically, I was concealing more skin than during my sessions. Our massage uniform consisted of a white halter top with a short, black skirt. Of course, who knew about the preference of Sith lords? Maybe Maul preferred a little cover. Right.

His low chuckle made me grit my teeth as I forgot yet again about the mind-reading ability both he and Qui-Gon possessed. I’m sure the sickness was making me slightly more forgetful…or just less aware of certain things. Oh, well, not much I could do besides get better.

Walking to the front door, I opened it, saying,

“If it’s another delivery, you’ll have to tell me where the hell I’m going to put it.”

“I’d suggest your bed, but perhaps I’m being too forward,” a familiar husky voice said. Looking up, I saw the other Force-user in my life giving me that smile that made me want to start giggling. I restrained myself from turning into a silly giggling girl, and said,

“Qui-Gon? I…uh…”

Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, Qui-Gon leaned in to kiss my forehead, saying,

“You’ll have to forgive my abruptness, but I’m here to see how you are coping with your illness.”

“Well, you’ve seen her, so why not leave, Jedi?” Maul’s voice sneered behind me, and I turned to see his narrowed eyes on Qui-Gon. Looking back at Qui-Gon, I saw him return Maul’s glare, saying,

“It appears as though you’ve done the same, Sith. Why not take your leave?”

The Sith lord stalked over to where the Jedi and I stood, and he stopped right behind me, growling,

“She desires my company.”

“Uh…guys?” I tried to intervene, but they seemed to be in their own world.

“What if she would prefer my company?” Qui-Gon shot back.

“Um, guys?”

“Why should she prefer the company of a Jedi when she could have one of the most powerful overlords of the Sith?”

“Guys! Put a sock in it!” I yelled before bending over in a coughing fit.

Both men looked at me then, Qui-Gon placing a hand on my back and Maul gently grasping my hand. Pursing my lips, I pulled my hand out of Maul’s and backed away from Qui-Gon. I inhaled as best I could, considering I was still rather stuffy, and said,

“I appreciate the concern from both of you, and your gifts are very nice, wonderful even. But you’re both driving me crazy right now! I really just need to rest, and your verbal battle really isn’t helping that! Now, please, I just want…to…oh…”

The room was suddenly spinning as I felt blood rushing to my head. Swaying slightly, I closed my eyes and fell backwards into someone’s arms. I heard Qui-Gon say my name just before I blacked out.

~~~

I was lying on something warm and rather hard…at least harder than my bed or couch. A hand was gently running through my hair, and I sighed before slowly opening my eyes. A pair of gorgeous blue eyes looked into mine, and I raised my head off Qui-Gon’s chest, asking,

“What happened?”

“You fainted, Natalie,” he answered, his fingers lightly touching my cheek. “I caught you when you fell.”

Sitting up, I saw we were in my bedroom lying on my bed to be specific. I looked around the room, asking,

“Where’s Maul? Did he leave?”

“Actually, he’s in the kitchen.”

“Cooking?”

“I suppose that’s what he’s doing.” Qui-Gon sighed and looked at the red roses on the opposite side of the bed from where he laid. Glancing at them, I turned my gaze to the white ones before leaning up to rub my face against Qui-Gon’s.

“Thank you for the flowers, Qui-Gon,” I whispered. “They’re all very beautiful.”

Smiling at me, he brought a hand under my chin and leaned forward to kiss me. I turned my head away, placing a hand over my mouth, and mumbling,

“I don’t wanna get you or Maul sick. In fact, you shouldn’t even be in bed with me.”

Raising an eyebrow, Qui-Gon stated, “That’s the last thing I thought you’d ever say to me. And you won’t get us sick…not with your illness.” To prove his point, he grasped and removed my hand before pressing his lips to mine.

Someone’s clearing throat made us break our kiss, and I looked up to see Maul carrying a tray into my bedroom. He walked around to the other side of the bed where the red roses were placed. Placing the tray in front of me, he sat down, saying,

“It’s still hot.”

There was a large bowl of golden broth in the middle of the tray along with a glass of orange juice. Sitting up, I felt Qui-Gon shift and place two pillows behind my back. I looked at the soup and saw clouds of steam rising from it. Yep, definitely still hot. Then, I turned to look at Maul, asking,

“You made this?”

“I’m not sure what’s so surprising, but yes, I made it,” he said, frowning. “You had most of the ingredients to make a proper broth minus a few herbs. It will help your throat.”

Smiling at him, I picked up the spoon and stirred the soup before lifting the utensil to my mouth. It burned as it went down my throat, but it felt so good. Sniffing slightly, I said,

“I wish I could smell the soup. The aroma must be heavenly.”

His frown softened, and Maul placed a hand over my eyes, his thumb and middle finger on either of my temples. My head grew warm at first, and I felt slight pressure only for a moment. It felt really weird…I couldn’t even describe the sensation, but after he removed his hand, I inhaled deeply. My eyes widened as I found I could breathe almost normally.

“What did you do?” I asked, leaning over the tray to smell the warm, delectable soup. “I wish you could teach me that.”

Chuckling low, Maul said, “You would need the Force to perform it.”

“Well, damn, there goes that idea.” I ate more of the soup, and it still burned wonderfully down my throat. Take that evil sickness; burn, baby, burn. The heat finally became too much for my tongue, and I reached for the juice. Swallowing, the cool juice soothed my mouth, and I attacked the soup once again.

After finishing the bowl, I leaned back against the pillows allowing Maul to take the tray off the bed. He placed it on the chest at the foot of my bed and returned to his seat at my left side. Glancing from him to Qui-Gon, my suspicions increased until I finally asked,

“All right, what’s going on? When you arrived, the two of you were ready to rip into each other. What happened?”

The two exchanged a look before Qui-Gon said,

“Well, Natalie, after you fainted and we moved you in here, Maul and I had a discussion before coming to an agreement.”

“And that would be…?”

“Since you are ill, we should devote less of our time to…’ripping into each other’ as you put it, and devote more time to helping you,” Maul explained, lying on the bed and facing me.

“You see, Natalie, you’re always doing your best to help us,” Qui-Gon added, the back of his hand brushing against my cheek. “We thought you deserved that as well. Anything that you desire, just ask.”

Blinking, I stared at both of them, for once speechless by what they said. It was almost a miracle having a Jedi master at one side and a Sith lord on the other without them fighting, physically or verbally. I felt…well, happy and relieved to have both with me without having any bloodshed.

“Well…I suppose I could use some tea, preferably mint,” I said, smiling at Qui-Gon. He nodded, leaning in to kiss my forehead, and rose from the bed heading for the kitchen.

Then, I felt Maul curl up beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and drawing me closer. He covered my mouth with his, and I moaned softly into him. Parting our lips, he ran his palm down my cheek, whispering, “You had me worried, Natalya.”

“Well, I hadn’t exactly planned on fainting on either of you,” I murmured back, leaning my face against his palm.

“Let us not allow it to happen again,” his voice growled softly. Then, Maul looked at me with a frown before placing a hand against my forehead. “You are too warm, Natalya.”

Unwrapping himself from around me, Maul rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. I heard him rummaging through the cabinets and then the sound of running water, half wondering what the hell he was doing and half thinking I really didn’t care right now. Then, he came into the bedroom holding a washcloth in his hands. Placing it on my forehead, its sudden coolness made me jump a little before I relaxed.

“That should help,” he said, lying on the bed beside me again. Having someone in the bed with me was actually pretty comforting. A calm hand to say that I would be fine soon. And as I expected, his hand gently stroked my hair. Smiling, I asked,

“Shouldn’t I get some ice, too?”

“No,” he answered firmly, still running his fingers through my mane.

“He’s right, Natalie,” I heard Qui-Gon’s voice add as he came through the doorway. He carried my favorite mug, dark blue with silver snowflakes, filled with tea. Handing me the mug, he said, “Ice would cause too much of a temperature change, shocking your body and possibly making you feel worse.”

“Huh…I suppose the home medical journals need updating,” I told them with a shrug.

Slowly sipping the tea, it was sweetened just the way I liked it, and I made small sounds of approval. The delicate flavor played over my tongue, and I took another sip as Qui-Gon slid next to my other side. Both he and Maul let me enjoy my tea quietly…though I could feel just the hint of tension between the two in between sips.

After I finished, Qui-Gon took the mug from my hands and set it on the nightstand behind him. Maul shifted the pillows to where I could lie back. My head lay on a smaller pillow sitting on top of my two regular pillows. Looking from one man to the other, I was almost glad I had a queen-sized bed since the three of us fit on it…just barely.

As I gazed up at them with heavy-lidded eyes, I smiled, thinking, ‘I really should thank them for what they’ve already done.’ Sitting up, I faced Maul and slowly leaned in to kiss his soft mouth. I pressed my forehead against his, saying, “Thank you for making the soup.” Then, I turned around to Qui-Gon and claimed his lips with a lingering kiss, smiling, “And thank you for making the tea.”

Both men stared at me, a little surprised by my sudden show of affection despite my illness, I suppose. Then, as I laid my head back against the pillow, they each shifted closer to me. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head to the right of the pillow…right against Qui-Gon’s broad shoulder. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, his fingers gingerly combing through my hair. I felt Maul’s arm curl around my waist as he leaned against me. What a way to rest up from an illness. Pressed between two warm, solid bodies, I drifted off to sleep.

TBC