A/N: Wow, I think my last chapter had the biggest reaction of any of my chapters before it! Thank you so much to everyone who favorite/alerted my story, favorite/alerted me, or reviewed! If not for you guys this story would probably be at a dead insperationless halt.

Answering Questions:

StarKiss666: As far as things go in my story, there will be an exception for Gaara and his siblings so he can see them. Since Gaara was there for ten years, I'm saying he got there at six and I'm putting him at sixteen so he's the same age as Sakura(who was a junior in high school). Technically, most would consider her still a virgin because her hymen was not broken in the rape since it was by another female, but some rape victims don't consider themselves virgins and look at themselves as dirty (metaphorically). It really is horrible the way rape victims are affected, and-in my opinion- I am keeping her symptoms to a minimum. After going years with that traumatic event locked away inside your mind with only your parents knowing, and them not really caring, someone would be more heavily affected. And while yes, Shikamaru and Sakura's other friends will probably be in counseling, they didn't have as strong of a connection to the shooter and even to need a stay at the mental hospital. The number of dead will be mentioned in the upcoming chapters. Thank you so much for your long review with questions that showed me you really played attention to detail and wanted to know things about my story! It makes me feel so grateful to have such amazing people reading my story!

Enjoy!

A blonde, with a guard on each side of him gripping his arms tightly and shoving him along, let a malicious grin spread across his face. Stashed in the section of his pants where his "male parts" were located and he could not be patted down without a reasonable cause, was the object of his amusement. He glanced back at the nurse's station, the grin growing wider. He then turned his head back to face the hallway, picturing his soon-to-be victim.

"I'm coming for you." He hissed under his breath, so quiet the guards couldn't hear. As he sinisterly thought over his plans, he mentally scolded the nurse. Medical records should not be left in easy to access places where their content could result in 'accidents'.

Sakura POV

I awoke after a dreamless nights, thankful for the peaceful sleep. I sat up in bed, glancing down at my leg. I gently prodded at my still healing wound, thinking over my actions the day before. I had been surprisingly open, but it was easier to do with someone who shared your twisted past. I pushed myself out of bed and into my wheelchair before going to the bathroom to do my morning routine.

I brushed my hair, washed I face, brushed my teeth, and got dressed in a pair of blue jean shorts with an off the shoulder blue long-sleeved shirt that had a matching in color cami underneath. I then wheeled myself out of the room before going out into the hallway. With a heavy sigh I continued to push myself along. I glanced around the hallways, feeling disappointment settle in my stomach when I didn't see Gaara. I had, in only a short time, grown to like and become accustomed to Gaara's companionship. It felt odd to be alone.

I made my way to the therapy room, pulling open the door and entering to find Tsunade sitting in her usual seat, scanning through a clipboard full of papers. She looked up when I entered, her expression surprised. "Sakura, you know we don't have group, right?" I was taken by surprise by that and shook my head. "You came in on Friday, and now it's Saturday. Through the weekdays we do group sessions, Saturday our individual sessions, and Sundays are the therapists' day off as well as visiting day. Don't get any ideas though; guards and nurses are still here. If you need me, though, I can be called in so you can talk to me anytime, even Sundays."

I thoughts that over for a while before I spoke. "But then, your whole life practically revolves around your patients." I put my arms out sideways, upside down to emphasize her confusion with Tsunade. "These are people you don't know, you have no duty towards, and you put every minute of the day into them?"

A large smile spread across Tsunade's face and she replied, "Just because I don't know someone or don't owe my help to them, doesn't mean they don't need my help." Tsunade pushed her reading glasses, which I had never before seen her wear, up onto the top of her head and leaned back in her chair. "I do this because I want to help people. I don't want people to be haunted for the rest of their lives by regrets and scary experiences." Then, to direct her words towards me specifically she added, "You don't want to be afraid of close contact forever, do you? Sure, you may be able to touch another person, tap them on the shoulder, maybe even some day hug them, but you'll never get rid of that fear unless you talk about it. Those times, when you need to suddenly talk, don't go by my work schedule."

I nodded, finding truth in Tsunade's words from how a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders when I had talked to Gaara. Or maybe it was just the fact that Gaara cared enough to listen. "Can I make a phone call? I would like one of my friends to visit me tomorrow." Tsunade nodded, standing up. She motioned for me to follow, walking out of the room and down the corridor. She stopped beside a pay phone, a few feet past the entrance to the rec room.

"Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.." Tsunade told me as I pulled the phone off the hook and cradled it between my ear and shoulder as one of my hands tapped in Naruto's number, it being one of the few engraved in my mind from dialing it so much, while the other held onto one of wheels to keep me in place. As soon as I was done dialing I pulled my slender hand back and wrapped my fingers around the cold, plastic phone.

Three rings sounded in my ear before a familiar voice picked up the phone. "Hello?" I smiled, able to picture Naruto with his goofy grin.

"Hey Naru."

"Sakura!" His voice became more distant, probably from moving back from the phone. "Guys! It's Sakura!" I heard a chorus of hellos to me before Naruto spoke again, this time is voice its usual booming loud. "What's up Saku?"

"I'm not ready to see everyone yet, but I wanted to see if you could come see me tomorrow. I know I haven't been here long, but I need a familiar face." He didn't reply for a moment, silence between us keeping me on edge. What if he's busy, I'd be making him feel guilty for not being able to go! Or what if he doesn't want to see m-

My thoughts were cut off when Naruto replied. "Yeah, that would be great Saku." He sounded chocked up, and I realized he must have been trying to compose himself.

"Idiot, its okay to cry. It won't bother me." I heard a weak 'okay' from the other end of the line before a few sniffles. Then after a few moments of sniffles, he spoke again. "I'm sorry Saku. I honestly thought Sasuke had gotten better."

Confusion slammed into me, making me grip the phone tighter. "What are you talking about?"

"Back in middle school, before you guys were going out, he used to talk about killing his brother and everyone who ever him wronged. I talked him out of it, told him it was ridiculous and would hurt everyone that cared about those people. Then he told me he'd just kill himself. I refused to let him think that way, or so I thought. I guess all I did was trap those violent thoughts inside him where he wouldn't say them and they just got worse."

The phone was in my death grip now, being clutched in my hand with my knuckles white, but the difference in their coloring almost not noticeable with my pale skin. "I've got to go Naruto, but you listen here. Sasuke fucked things up. He had everything. A best friend that cared about him, friends that always treated him well even if he barely acknowledged them, parents who wanted the best for him, and a girlfriend who loved him and would have done anything for him. He threw that away. You may have been right about the anger, something inside of him he struggled with, but we were always there to fucking listen. Never once were we too busy for him. Only was he ever too busy for us. You have no blame for his actions. He made a horrible choice, and he ruined everything. This is not your fault."

Naruto fell silent, seeming to digest my words. "Thank you Sakura, for that."

Then, he hung up, leaving me tightly clutching the phone in my hands. I hadn't even had time to tell him when to come.

"How did that go?" Tsunade asked, startling me into dropping the phone.

"Fine, fine." My words were rushed, causing Tsunade to lift an eyebrow.

"I could hear your part of the conversation, and it sounded like you were upset over something."

"One of my friends was blaming himself for what happened." I growled, getting tired of her pestering. I really wasn't up for interrogation after my conversation with Naruto.

"Sakura, not five minutes ago we discussed this. You need to let out things that bother you. It's okay to let people know you're not alright." She scolded me, and I winced when I realized she was right.

"I know." I admitted, grabbing the dangling phone and placing it back on its hook. I stared at the shining metal that boxed around the phone as a small form of privacy. I reached out a hand, placing my thin fingertips against it and letting my nails click as they touched the metal. "But I can't burden people with my issues. If I say no, I had an absolutely shit day and I have a migraine, what are they supposed to do? They can't undo my bad day, they can't make my migraine disappear, but they do gain a sense of guilt for not being able to help. I do when people tell me their troubles anyways." I kept my gaze fixed on the phone box, refusing to look at Tsunade as I said my confession.

"Did you ever think that maybe it would be okay to let other know you aren't okay, because then they can be a little gentler with you? Don't you think they'd feel even guiltier later if they find out you had a bad day and a migraine and they were loud and complained about an easy day?" I blinked, somewhat startled on Tsunade's perspective. My lips were parted for a moment, words almost slipping through my lips, before I closed them and pressed them together in an amused smile. I slowly pulled my hand back from the phone box, returning it to my lap.

I decided to allow my earlier thoughts become words and told Tsunade, "You sound identical to my mother. After she cleaned me up and told me daddy meant well, she would always spill some sort of positive philosophical shit to me. I never believed a word of it, so don't expect it coming from you to make much of a difference. I really don't mean to be rude, but I'm kind of working on this thing of not always being a disappointment when I don't follow peoples hopes."

Tsunade nodded, flashing me a broad smile. "Everyone fears failure. Some just fear it more than others." She paused, seeming to think over her words carefully before she spoke. "Sakura, I know this isn't an entirely appropriate question, especially because of our current psychologist patient relationship, but are you afraid of death?"

I laughed at her question. I had a habit of doing that when I was nervous; felt backed into a corner, or, like any other person, was amused. This case, I was amused. "I've never feared death itself since it is inevitable. I do, however, fear dying a pathetic being. I don't want to die alone and sad and I especially don't want to die a useless death."

She seemed somewhat baffled by my response. "What do you define a useless death?"

"I have nothing against people who kill themselves, I can understand pain can drive people to make certain choices, but I refuse to allow myself to take that way out. With all the money, time, and resources that have been wasted on my life, I cannot just end it. I want to die doing something to give back to world. It may sound corny, but I want to be the person that dives into that burning building, saves the little kid by sending them out the window into an awaiting safety trampoline, and dies from inhaling too much smoke. I want to be the person that protects someone from being mugged or attacked and dies in the process." I had always felt that way, ever since the first time I'd pressed my father's gun to my head and rested my finger on the trigger. I would always know I'd been millimeters from death, but it had been a death without benefit for others, except for the fact I would be dead that is.

"That is very noble." Tsunade observed, and I let out another round of amused giggles.

"Not noble, just sensible."

A/N: I know, I'm being slow. I was considering suicide myself (no pity wanted, just realization the note on my profile about my stories going up for adoption if I'm gone for so many months is serious), but Sakura's theory is one of my own. Doesn't mean I'm safe from myself, but it helps to think that way when the gun in your hand keeps going towards your head. So, things haven't been easy, but then again, when are they? Thanks for reading!