Cyare (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

65

A couple hours after take off, Rex found that he had won the bet. It was Kantooni who ended up sick, having been in there the longest of all of them. Ahsoka too was feeling the effects of the cold, sniffling and sneezing. Rex made her take a nap as the lights on the ship dimmed, telling him that it was after eight standard time and therefor time for bed.

Ahsoka was asleep, curled into a ball on the bed when there came a knock from the door.

Rex opened it to find Ganodi there, rubbing at her big eyes blearily. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a pillow tucked under her arm.

"Oh, sorry captain, I thought this was padawan Tano's rooms." She apologized, backing away. Rex gave a thin smile.

"They are, but clone troopers aren't normally a part of your traditions so I was instructed to bunk with her. She's asleep, can I help you?" He asked. Ganodi nodded.

"Kantooni keeps coughing and I can't sleep. Can I sleep in the meditation room?" She asked. Rex sighed and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

"Yeah. I suppose that would be alright. Just don't stay up too late." He raised his eyebrows at her. Rhodians lack the facial muscles to smile, but she perked up a bit.

"Of course! Thank you, Captain." She took off in the direction of the meditation room, her blanket dragging on the floor behind her. Rex closed his eyes briefly before deciding to go check on the little tholothian.

Kantooni was curled up in a little ball, shivering despite the blankets wrapped around her and her burning temperature. Rex knocked on the bed post, and she looked up at him before coughing weakly into her elbow.

"Hey." She rasped. Rex crouched by her bed and hesitated before laying the back of his hand against her forehead. He was right about the fever. She sniffed before turning away to cough into her elbow again.

"Not feeling well, eh?" He asked. Kantooni managed a slight smile.

"Uh uh." She shook her head and winced. Rex returned her small smile.

"I don't have much, but I have some stims that would help if you let me." He offered, trying to remember everything he could about tholothians and about children in general. Give her half the stims and let her sleep it off?

Kantooni closed her eyes with a soft whine. "Don't like needles." She whispered. Rex fished around in his kit, which was still slung over his shoulder. He pulled out the two little syringes out and showed them to her. They probably looked massive from her eyes though.

"See? It'll be fast, and you'll be better in time to build your lightsabers." Kantooni whimpered again.

"Ok. Just because being sick sucks." She rasped. Rex took her arm and turn it over so the veins on the inside of her wrist were exposed. She flinched as the needle slipped under her skin as he administered half the stims, one to help battle the cold and one to help her sleep.

The effect was almost immediate. Her eyelids drooped and she curled up tighter. Rex smiled and made to stand up. Kantooni stopped him.

"Can you stay? At least until I fall asleep?" She asked, her tired eyes open wide and pleading. Rex blew out a long breath.

"Ok. Sure, kid." He sat gingerly on the bed above her head as she curled back up, the smooth top of her head pressed into his hand. After a moments hesitation, he began so stroke the soft quills that fanned out at the base of her skull. She gave a small sigh and closed her eyes.

"Thanks... Dad...." She sighed as she drifted off. Rex froze, then resumed stroking the back of her head as his face flushed. As soon as he felt that she was asleep he quietly removed himself from the room.