I do not own Naruto otherwise I'd be rich; blah, blah, and etc.

(( fyi, the lemon will be in latter chapters , and I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I was very busy ))

Shikamaru walked leisurely down a beige hallway full of medic nins toward room number 306: supposedly he had to walk down this hallway, turn left and it was the second door on the right, but you can never be too sure of the directions a harried and preoccupied medical intern gives you. The harsh fluorescent lights were really starting to get on his nerves, but he assured himself this would not take long.

When he arrived at his supposed destination, Shikamaru realized he had been given directions to a supply closet. Troublesome. He quickly turned around, and picked up his pace. This was annoying: He should be outside enjoying the weather, and the clouds, not navigating through some beige labyrinth full of hand sanitizer dispensers and navigationally challenged interns.

The young ninja was too busy complaining to himself to realize he was about to crash…thud… right into the back of another very lost person.

"Oh shit!" was the only comprehensible thing uttered as they both hit the cold sterilized floor.

Shikamaru sat up slowly and rubbed his head. At which time he muttered something to the effect of "sorry…"

"Son of a bitch," muttered the other.

"Excuse me?" Shikamaru said in an irritated voice.

The young women pushed herself up of the floor, and spoke, "not you." She was looking at her skirt, which was torn up the side. "Well, maybe you," she said with a smile.

Shikamaru laughed, "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. I was lost; literally and in thought."

"Really? Me too, actually," she said as she looked around the hall. "An intern gave me dreadful directions. You never should trust someone running on 30 minutes of sleep, and questionable coffee."

He laughed, "yeah, I suppose you shouldn't… um, my name's Shikamaru. Nice to meet you, ah…"

"Oh, it's Ayame," she glanced around once more. "I know you're also lost and all, but you don't by chance know where I can find lady Tsunade, do you?"

"Somewhere back the way I came, and I'm not sure where that is," Shikamaru scratched his head "you wouldn't happen to know where I can find room 306."

Ayame chirped, "Actually, I do. I passed it a minute ago."

Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets and smiled, "well, could you take me there?"

"I think I can manage."

...

Naruto sat contently in his little bed that folded up and down. Ramen cup in hand, and person to talk to death at hand, he was very content indeed. Even if his head was still throbbing.

"So why are you here again, Gaara? I don't really remember. Sakura says I'm terrible at remembering things, but that's just because I don't listen to half of the stuff that comes out of her mouth. She's always going on and on—manners this, and rant that—she's always ranting about something you know; Boys, medical stuff, Tsunade, even the temperature of her ramen. She's always angry about something and i always have to hear about it. It's like—"

"Naruto," Gaara said coolly.

"Yeah, buddy?" Naruto said cheerfully to the red headed sand nin.

"Talking might aggravate your condition; you should limit yourself to using few words."

"Oh, really?" The blonde said softly with a smile. "Okay, I can do that." The sand nin's true motive went right over Naruto's head.

There was a knock, and the door to 306 opened. Shikamaru waved and stepped in the room.

"oh, hey Shika—" Naruto's excited words trailed off into an incoherent mumble when he saw the blonde standing behind Shikamaru. Gaara just nodded at the twosome, stoic as ever.

"Naruto, uh, and Gaara, this is Ayame," the lazy nin pointed to his left. "She helped me find this stupid room."

Ayame smiled, and waved her fingers at the two sitting figures in the room, "hello there."

Both Naruto and Gaara stared, but with completely different expressions painted on their faces.

"Well, um, I hope you're feeling better than when you were admitted, um Naruto? Right?" Ayame fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. She'd never been stared down so intensely before in her life. The red head had no expression on his face, he didn't even blink, and the blonde was drooling into his ramen cup.

"Naruto," Gaara said calmly.

"hn?" Naruto blinked, and looked at the sand nin.

"Are you going to answer her?" Gaara said.

"oh, um, ah, yeah sure," he whipped the drool from his mouth and looked back at Ayame. "What was the question?"

"um, you know, never mind," Ayame turned to Shikamaru, "I really need to find Lady Tsunade."

"You know Granny Tsunade?" Naruto chirped, "Short tempered, isn't she?"

"No, not really," Ayame said with a laugh. Her sarcasm went right over Naruto's head.

"The Hokage is in the hallway to the left of the waiting room," Gaara said nonchalantly.

"Where's that?" Ayame said to Shikamaru.

"Don't look at me. I was lost when I bumped into you," Shikamaru said.

"I'll show you," Gaara said as he stood. He looked over at Naruto, "try not to upset anymore pink haired kunoichi."

Naruto laughed, but stopped when he remembered how Sakura sent him flying, "yeah, yeah… I'll try not to."

Gaara brushed passed Ayame, and started walking down the hall. He stopped after about ten feet and turned toward room 306. "You are coming, correct?" he said blankly.

Ayame blinked, "uh, yes." She turned and waved once more at Naruto. She then said to Shikamaru, "well, goodbye then, and thanks for ripping my skirt."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "I said I'd pay for it."

"oh, yeah, maybe the next you see me," she laughed.

"…" the lazy nin pulled out his wallet.

Ayame walked toe to toe with the sand nin. She thought his presence was far more enjoyable when he wasn't staring. Though, his steadfast silence was killing her. She had tried to start up conversation, but all she managed to get out of him was one word answers. She didn't know if he was indifferent, shy, or just plan old laconic. She was contemplating if she should try at conversation again when Gaara broke the silence instead.

"Ayame," he looked at her as he spoke.

"Yes?" she said softly. His gaze was intense, but it wasn't his unyielding gaze that was making her fidget with the hem of her skirt this time. She couldn't quite place it, but thought it had something to do with the way his arm brushed against hers.

"Are you from Konoha?" he said.

"No, well, sort of," she said and smiled, hopeful he might in return. He didn't and so she stared at her feet as they walked. "My mother is from Konoha and my father is from a very small country that neighbors it. So small in fact, I don't know why they even call it a country really. I live there, but I come to Konoha often; Sometimes months at a time. So, I sort of live here."

"I see," he said. The red head let his eyes wander along her figure, but quickly looked away when she turned her head to look at him.

"So where are you from, Gaara?" she said sweetly.

You couldn't tell, but he was smiling. He liked the way she said his name. He kept his eyes forward, and was silent.

"Gaara?"

"hn."

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer," she said.

"Suna."

"The desert, huh? I thought so," she said with a smile.

"Why's that?" Gaara said as he again laid his gaze on her.

"That head band slung around that sash," Ayame tapped it with her finger as she spoke. "yep."

"If you already knew the answer, why ask the question?" he said.

"Silence makes me uncomfortable, and I didn't know what else to ask…" she looked back down at her feet.

"Silence makes you uncomfortable?" Gaara asked. He watched her intently as she walked staring at her feet. He wanted her to look up at him so he could see her eyes again.

"Um, not usually, no. I actually enjoy silence, but…" she searched her vernacular for the right words.

"My silence makes you uncomfortable," Gaara said.

Ayame swept a stray hair from her face and spoke "well," she looked up at him. He was smiling, or at least it looked like a smile. She quickly pointed to the right of him, "Quick! Look over there; I'm changing the subject…" He was definitely smiling now.

"…alright," he said as his face once again to on its stoic appearance. "Why do you need to see the Hokage?"

"She asked to see me. I run errands for her while I'm in town," Ayame said "Mostly buying scratch lotto cards, sake, and dumplings for her. That sort of thing." As she spoke Ayame studied the features of the sand nin's face. She rather liked them.

"I see," he said in a low voice.

"What about you Gaara, why are you here?" she unconsciously let her eyes wander from his face to the rest of his body; finally resting her eyes on his messy head of hair. She thought it was a lovely shade of red. He caught her eyes wandering, and the right corner of his lip curved up into a smirk.

"Naruto," he said coolly.

"Not the hospital; Konoha. Why are you here in Konoha?" she said

Before he could answer, he was interrupted by a caffeinated Sakura.

"Hello, Gaara. How's Naruto?" the pink haired kunoichi asked in between sips of coffee.

"He's better now," Gaara said.

After a couple more sips of coffee, Sakura noticed the blonde stranger standing next to him. She smiled warmly, and spoke, "hello, I'm Sakura" she put out one of her hands. Ayame smiled back and shook her hand.

"Sakura? That's such a lovely name. I'm Ayame," she said kindly. There was something in the way she said Sakura's name that made the pick haired kunoichi blush slightly. Ayame took notice and her smile grew.

Sakura sipped at her coffee some more then spoke, "nice to meet you Ayame."

"Same to you, Sakura," the blonde put emphasis on the medic's name, and Sakura blushed again.

"We shouldn't linger too long Ayame," Gaara was staring at the beige walls as he spoke. He looked back at Ayame. "You said the Hokage wanted to see you."

"oh, you need to see Tsunade-sama," Sakura chimed. "I could take you to her."

"There's no need," Gaara said rather casually "we know where she is."

Sakura looked at Gaara and then back at Ayame. She sipped at her coffee, and spoke with a smile, "oh, good. I need to pick up some test results, and check up on a patient anyway."

"Maybe I'll see you around, Sakura," Ayame said.

"Hopefully not because you need stitches or something," Sakura laughed.

"hopefully," Ayame said. she turned toward Gaara and spoke, "shall we?"

………………………………………………………….

(( Hello there readers! I know, I know, we haven't got to the good stuff yet, but it's coming. I promise. I ask that you please review so I know what you like and don't like then I can improve my writing accordingly. If you have any requests let me know - ))