Hey, sorry for not updating on Tuesday, like I promised, but I have a really good excuse... My little Jack Russell got bitten by a rattlesnake on Monday afternoon. It was really serious and he nearly died! I got very little sleep up until about last night. He was in a lot of pain and whined a lot throughout the first two nights, even after getting antivenin and pain medication. He's past the critical point now, but he'll still have to go through losing the damaged skin and tissue off of his leg :( I'm glad we didn't lose him though, I already lost a Jack to a rattler two years ago and I was devastated! He's just resting a lot now and being generally cute and handsome :)

Anyways, that's my reason. These are already written pretty far ahead, so I'm able to just stick one up for you guys (All... two of you that read? Heh). I should be able to continue regular schedule on Tuesday.

The Replacement

Request

Kakashi was in for his bi-annual physical, the one he loathed (Well, he loathed them all). The one Sakura insisted on performing herself. Regular Jounin were required one physical a year, while ANBU were required two. Just another reason he left ANBU to begin with.

"Have you spoken to Sai lately?" he questioned the medic-nin.

She was currently positioned in front of him, hands on his chest, pushing her chakra into his body in an attempt to feel for any anomalies. Focused, she didn't look up, "Uh, yeah. He's been in the hospital a few times this month."

"And how do you think he is?"

"He should be fine, his injuries were minor," she said distractedly.

"That's not what I meant," Kakashi's tone came out harsher, edgier, almost stern.

Sakura's chakra fluctuated slightly. She looked up at him, "Oh?"

"How do you think he is?" he said each word slowly, as if speaking to an incompetent child.

"Just spit it out, Kakashi. I don't have time to play your games." Sakura only worked in the hospital three days a week (Unless she was on a mission), the others, she trained intensely with her team. The days she did spend in the hospital were usually spent catching up on paperwork, instructing interns, performing the occasional surgery, and sometimes just plain old healing.

"You should invite him to have ramen or something with your team. Naruto still obsesses over ramen, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does. And you know Sasuke and Sai don't get along," she had her hands on her hips now, staring her old sensei down.

"He used to be a member of your team, Sakura."

"So did you, I don't hear you complaining." She moved over to the other side of the room to procure a set of exam gloves, "Strip," she ordered.

Kakashi ignored her, "Maybe I am."

The medic-nin's hands found her hips again, "So what, you want me to get the old team together again? You, Sai, Team Seven? They might kill each other!"

"That's always an option," the copy-nin replied, pulling his shirt off.

"Fine," she muttered, "But you can stop them."

Kakashi grinned behind his mask, "One more thing."

The pink haired medic only glared.

"Go and invite him yourself."

The glare continued. "You are so going to regret this," she said, pulling her gloves on and nodding towards his pants.