This is set post-Pein's Invasion, pre-Kage Summit.
I own nothing.
It's a little cold this morning; autumn's coming in, and soon after that will be winter, and Sakura no longer has any clothes, apart from a thick cloak, suitable for such weather. Inside the hospital tent, she rubs her bare arms and reaches for the Tylenol bottle, tapping out two pills.
"Here you go, Hinata-san." Sakura holds the pills out to the girl lying prostrate on the pallet, and Hinata takes them gratefully; even if medication tends to disrupt the Byakugan, the pain's been starting to get to her and she can be forgiven for wanting a release.
Hinata smiles tremulously and, sitting up, unscrews the cap on her water bottle and downs the pills. "Thank you, Sakura-san."
Sakura's smile is as noticeably strained as the silence that falls between them.
Sakura has been overseeing Hinata's treatment for over a week now and she's watched, with keen eyes but not a word, as every day Hinata's pale, pearly eyes watch the tent flap.
There have been visitors, at least the visitors Hyuuga Kō will let through the door (Sakura is grateful for his vigilance; as she is now Hinata is a tantalizing target to assassins and kidnappers and Sakura can't be with her every hour of the day). Shino and Kiba have come, full of worry and questions. Heavily pregnant Kurenai has come too, plainly uncomfortable with her condition (with the cynical, brutally pragmatic mind of a kunoichi Sakura wonders why she didn't get an abortion when she still could if pregnancy is such an abhorrent state for her) and she strokes Hinata's hand. There have been the obligatory visits from Hiashi, Neji and Hanabi; Shikamaru comes occasionally too.
There's a problem with this is and Sakura knows it. Hinata still watches the tent flap, waiting for someone else to come, and Sakura already knows he's not.
(She knows what Hinata's thinking: When will he come, when is he coming, why hasn't he come yet?)
Hinata is still waiting for Naruto, and Sakura doesn't think he's coming.
It's been a week and he hasn't said a word about Hinata. He hasn't asked about her, hasn't asked me if she's alright, hasn't even acknowledged that she exists at all. Every time I try to bring up the subject someone calls him away or he says he has to go train.
Naruto hasn't come, and chances are he won't. He won't come to see the girl who risked her life for him without being dragged, kicking and screaming there. He won't acknowledge she exists without cause. What an immature little boy.
Sakura narrows her eyes at Hinata and feels something sad and cold grip at her chest. She watches, waits with her (at this point, knowing what she does about Hinata's feelings for Naruto, she wants Naruto to come), and Naruto doesn't come. Sakura wants Naruto to come talk to Hinata, even if her own feelings for her teammate are at the moment confused. She wants Hinata to not have to wait anymore.
This is cruel, cruel to her. I can barely make her eat and still, he won't come.
Sometime soon, later today if she can help it, Sakura is determined that she has to talk to Naruto about this, about Hinata, in such a way that he can't dodge the subject (Note to self: Even if Naruto does deserve it this time, do not hit him.). Maybe she can elicit a response out of him, because Hinata deserves that much.
She's not sure it will work though.