"Naruto," Sakura crooned softly to the curled-up figure in the hospital bed. "Naruto, are you awake?"
"Good morning…" Naruto shifted a little to give her a groggy smile. "What's up?"
"Everything went very well," she said in a gentle, professional whisper, "You reacted positively to the anesthesia and the surgeon assures me there were no complications. How does you're throat feel?"
"Like it has no tonsils in it, Doctor Sakura-chan ma'am." He gave a scratchy laugh before shimmying up into a sitting position. Sakura moved fluidly to prop a pillow behind his back, brushing her fingers across his cheek to check his temperature.
"Still alive there, dobe." Sasuke had slipped into the hospital room without so much as a sound.
"No stinkin' tonsils were gonna get the best of me, teme." Sasuke sauntered over to the foot of the bed.
"You can go home tomorrow morning," Sakura said, ignoring the exchange. "But you'll need to stay in bed for a couple of days."
"Hn. Just another excuse for you not to spar."
"You wanna go right now teme?" Naruto began to rise, but Sakura laid a hand on his should and gently pushed him back down.
"No," Sakura scolded firmly, perching herself on the edge of Naruto's bed. "No sparring, no walking to Ichiraku, and no climbing fences at the bath house."
"But, Saaakuuurraaa-chaaann," Naruto whimpered, "Its all the bastard's fault." He snuggled against Sakura's arm, cuddling his head just above her chest. From the other end of the bed, Sasuke let out a disgusted tsk.
"I'm sure Sasuke won't try to rile you up," she said, chalking up his brazen affection to the after effects of surgery. "Right, Sasuke-kun." The honorific was stressed with a kunai sharp glare.
"Yeah, whatever."
"He's soooo mean Sakura-chan!" Sakura laughed and brushed away hair from Naruto's forehead.
"I'm mean? You're using this an excuse to-!" Sasuke halted at the look on Sakura's face. Naruto smirked at Sasuke and snuggled closer. After a moment, he turned his face upwards; jutting out his lower lip and widening his eyes.
"Sakura-chan… will you get me a Popsicle?"
A/N Naruto is acting like Ayame from Fruits Baskets. That reminds me… I have some FB fics to post…. Back soon!