Panic
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars
Rating: G
I should be doing homework, but this bunny wouldn't let me be. Damn things are a nuisance. I've written several things recently haven't I? Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Patrice

Panic
"Mama! Mama!" Ben was crying out for his mother. Mara came into his room to find the four year old in bed looking very pale.

"What's wrong Ben Ben?" she used her nickname for him. She felt his forehead to see if he was feverish. He was. He was also clammy and trembling. "Are you sick?"

"I don't feel good Mama. It hurts."

Mara didn't want to hear this. Hoping she would wake up and find it was just a nightmare she asked again, "Where does it hurt?"

Ben pointed to his head and his abdomen. "Here."

More calmly than she felt she told him to stay put while she left to call Cilghal. After that she called Luke on his comlink. "Luke are you there?"

"Yes, love. Is something wrong?"

"Ben is sick. I don't know what's wrong with him. He's never been sick before. What do I do? I called Cilghal, but I have to do something before she gets here." She was rambling and didn't even notice.

"Mara, love, calm down. It'll be ok" Luke thought of what he could tell her to do. She wouldn't be satisfied unless she could do something. So, he thought back to what his aunt Beru had done for him when he was sick. "Make sure he stays in bed. Give him lots of liquids, and keep him warm."

"I think he has a fever."

"Ok, then put a cold cloth on his forehead for a time to try and bring the fever down."
Mara was just barely registering what her husband was telling her. Panic was swirling around her even faster and more strongly than a few minutes ago.

Luke picked up on this. He was of course deeply concerned about their son too, but he could feel it wasn't serious and could be handled by Mara and Cilghal, at least until he got home that evening. Her level of fear and panic were highly unusual though, and he decided he should come home sooner. "I'm coming home right now. It might take awhile though since I'm on the other side of Imperial City, but I'll be there as quick as I can."

"Get here soon," was all Mara said in reply.

"I will, love, I will."

***

Mara returned to Ben's room and sat beside him. "Mama, were you talking to Daddy?"

"Yes I was. He's coming home as soon as he can." She put up every force shield she could to keep her feelings from affecting Ben. She had never been this fearful or this panicked before and that was scaring her even more. She lay down and took Ben in her arms. "We're going to wait for Miss Cilghal together ok, Ben Ben?"

"Yes, Mama."

"There's no reason to be scared. She's going to make you feel better." On the inside all Mara could think about was what she had done wrong to deserve this.

'I can't believe this is happening to my sweet little boy. He can't get sick. Has the disease come back? What would it do to him? It's been four years and nothing has happened. Why is it happening now? What did I do? Please get better Ben. Please. Please. Please. Please. I can't help you. I want to help you. How can I help you? You can't tell me. Too young. So young.'

Academically she knew fear was of the dark side, but that didn't stop her from feeling it. And true to the dark side it was clouding her thoughts and preventing her from sensing the force correctly.

'Get better. Let this be a horrible nightmare. All my crimes coming back. My child is sick. Don't do this to him. Hurt me. Hurt me. My only child. Our only child. Help us.'

Mara was being rendered uncharacteristically helpless by panic.

***

Only after Luke had repeated to her word for word what Cilghal had said was Mara comforted. "It's just the City Flu. Every kid gets it occasionally. It's very common and very mild. He should be back on his feet in two days at the most. All we have to do is give him this medicine twice a day and make sure he gets rest."

"Yeah, I should have known that from the beginning. He's my son. Why didn't I sense that it wasn't serious?"

Luke kissed her gently. "I think that's the reason. He's our son so of course you will be panicked if he's sick. I was panicked too."

"You don't understand. I couldn't help him. I'm never helpless. It was a worse feeling than Ben being sick."

"I wouldn't worry about it Mara. It's the first time he's been sick and with what that blasted disease did to you I would have been surprised if you weren't fearful. After we get through this Flu we will be better prepared for next time." He hugged her and felt her tension ease.

"We just have to make sure he brings disinfectant when he plays with those germ ridden neighbor kids." And with that Mara was back.

The End
It's not filled out as much as it could be I know, but I was exploring a feeling more than a plot.
P.S. A big smiley face to those who liked Han/Mara and the poem. Thanks!!