A/N This is my birthday present to all of you; three chapters! I know it's not what you asked for but I don't have enough money for all the things you probably DO want.

At seven eighteen, they heard yelling as they half ran to where the Anbu had directed Temari on his most recent visit. They rounded the corner to see Kiba stomping in angry half circles, nearly frothing at the mouth as he yelled. Kankuro had one arm on Gaara and the two shinobi could see it shaking from halfway across the courtyard. His other hand was waving around as he flipped Kiba off and shouted. The words were lost as they argued. Gaara, to Temari's instant relief, was conscious and trying to move away from Kankuro, apparently oblivious to the fact that he was being held back. His eyes were clouded over and face flushed as the sand moved around him. It looked like the leaves of a wilting plant shifting in the breeze. The shape didn't change, it only shuddered and dropped occasionally, only to hiss back up. Kankuro flinched away from it every time, but never let go of Gaara's arm. He caught sight of the two shinobi running toward him and stopped yelling, middle finger still upraised. Kiba had pulled his arms down at their approach. He yelled to Lee, oblivious to the single-minded fury on Temari's face as he focused on his friend.

"Where's the Anbu, Lee? We need help with this shit!" He said, crossing his arms. Lee slowed down as he approached. Temari didn't. Gaara looked in her direction, trying to regain focus as Kankuro grimaced.

"Wait, Temari! Let me expl-"

Her fist collided with his head above the hairline. It was a soft blow considering what she was capable of. But he yelped anyway, moving his arm up to guard against further attack. She gripped his hair, tugging on it.

"What the hell have you been doing, you idiot?!" She screamed at him. "Did you eat your face paint?! Why the hell did you send the Anbu away with Gaara in his current state! And then! To go straight into the eastern district at the start of a work day-!"

Gaara's shoulders relaxed at the sound of her lecturing. The sand fell away in soft mounds.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking, I just-Ow! Temari!"

"Damn straight you weren't thinking!"

Lee had moved to Gaara's other side, tentatively hooking arms with him. Gaara tried to pull forward again but stopped when he felt himself held back on both sides. His head turned toward Lee, who met his look with a determined expression.

"I am sorry." He began, never breaking eye contact. Temari's voice cut over his so that he seemed unusually quiet. "But you will only harm yourself more."

They stared each other down in a short and heavily one-sided battle of wills. Gaara relented with a small sigh through his nose. He relaxed his arm and leaned his weight back against the two that held him. Kankuro and Lee felt the immediate shift. The former turned his head quickly to see if his brother was collapsing while the latter broke into a huge grin, keeping a loose hold on the dirty arm.

"Where are we?" Gaara asked in a strangled whisper. Only Lee heard it, Kankuro had turned back to Temari and was attempting to apologize.

"We're going to the hospital, so that you can rest."

"That won't help."

"Why not, Gaara?"

He began to pull forward again, turning his head away.

"They won't help me."

"They must help you!" Lee's voice rose and his grip tightened. Kankuro and Temari stopped fighting, watching quietly.

"Lee. Let go." Gaara tugged away, once.

"I will not! I am sorry, but we will have to go to the hospital right away!" Lee shouted, pulling on Gara's arm. Gaara twitched hard, his head jerking to the side in an unnatural motion, like he had been punched. Then he was still. Lee loosened his hold immediately, nearly stepping back.

"Wha-" He began, reaching for him with his free hand.

"You three! Get over here!" Temari suddenly shouted, turning back to the men still hovering a yard away. They ran up, falling into a line on her far side as they watched Gaara.

"Keep a loose perimeter, facing north. " Temari said as she released Kankuro.

She walked slowly until she was in front of Gaara, keeping eye contact with him the whole time as she barked orders. He watched her with a faint amusement, leaning most of his weight onto Kankuro.

"Lord Kazekage…" Tatebou's cloth trembled over his mouth. "We… What happened to you?" He hesitantly stepped forward, raising his arms.

"Get moving!" Temari hissed, glaring at him.

"Yes ma'm!" He replied, jumping a bit. The three ran ahead, soundlessly. Kiba had moved to Lee's side.

"Those the Anbu? Are they with you?" He said, nodding to where Tatebou had ran off.

"They are here to assist! But Temari also came by since I was unable to direct them to your location. Since you altered your path." Lee said, glancing away from Gaara for the first time.

"Yeah, I found out we were taking the super long way so we changed course. Of course Kankuro had to be a huge dick about it but we shouldn't be wasting time." He relaxed in Lee's presence, letting his shoulders droop and leaning his weight onto one leg. Lee nodded slowly, keeping his reply to himself.

Without speaking, Temari turned back and began to lead the way. The others followed, nearly dragging Gaara, who seemed determined to stop at odd times and attempt to change his course. He was surprised whenever he felt himself held back, the sand jumping a bit at his feet. Kankuro flinched away, until it was only his hand supporting Gaara's upper arm. Lee held on tighter, until he had both hands gripping Gaara's arm as he marched forward. The sun beat down on them, swelling up to its full strength. Temari and Kankuro began exuding tension as they ticked off the remaining time in their heads. Kankuro kept shooting worried glances in Temari's direction and she tensed every time.

"We're not going to make it to the eight o'clock meeting." He finally said, instantly drawing the attention of the rest of the group.

"Then we won't go." Temari replied, marching along. He sighed heavily through his nose.

"I need to be there. I have to get something for the Leaf."

"What?"

"Urm..." He fidgeted, face going red. Gaara looked over and slowed down before being gently tugged forward.

"Remember how you said I'm supposed to give the Leaf clearance?"

"Yes..."

"Well I need to get the forms for that at the meeting."

Temari's next step faltered, but she reigned herself in quickly. Kiba and Lee couldn't help but pay attention. Kanmuri had moved ahead but felt the shift. He was too far to pick up the conversation and too aware of his station to watch and read lips, but he was curious.

"That doesn't make sense." Temari finally said.

A bird began to sing, sitting on a low wall. It called incessantly, repeating the same short notes over and over, oblivious to the group that moved along. Gaara watched it until he was nearly turned all the way around trying to see it. Kankuro and Lee had to tug him back. He nearly fell but they held him up.

"I need Forgive-Me-Foo to give me the forms..." Kankuro finally admitted, shoulders sagging.

"You... Told him."

"I didn't."

Temari turned to look at him quickly, like a twitch, before forcing herself to move forward again. Kankuro cringed, pulling his shoulders in like a scolded child.

"I just, just told him to stop worrying! He said you're under potential investigation and a bunch of other crap about the Anti-Gaara Foundation being more active so I told him to stop feeding all those rumors and to stop worrying about the Leaf, which is another thing he said had the Council all geared up."

"So you were played?"

"What? No! You really think Forgive-Me-Foo's that smart?"

"Maybe. But Foo is."

"What makes you think he's using him? It'd be a huge gamble."

"Well he's low on options right now."

A discarded ball rolled slowly beside them. Kankuro watched it, face tense.

"No." He finally said. "Foo wouldn't turn on us like that."

Temari didn't respond but her silence was enough. The group moved on, pushing and pulling a reluctant Gaara with them. Lee kept moving too quickly, then when Gaara nearly lost his balance, one bad leg dragging behind him, Lee finally matched pace. They left clumps of deep brown sand behind them, like a trail of crumbs, for anyone to follow.

Occasionally the sand burst up, like little burps, the ground boiling with Gaara's heavy step before it died down. It brushed Lee's feet a few times, his attention preoccupied until the flinch. He was bleeding from a few scrapes by the time the hospital was in view. Temari turned back to him with a grimace. Kiba stayed by his other side, flinching when the sand lurched up. He remained silent, watching everyone in turn, but bristling whenever his eyes landed on Gaara. He wrinkled his nose in distaste, feeling chills up his spine. He turned to Lee.

"Let Temari take over, something's brewin' in him."

Lee hesitated, then rubbed his bleeding foot against his other leg. He shook his head, the hair lightly slapping his forehead in grainy clumps.

"I am alright, thank you."

Temari turned to him then, keeping Gaara in her line of sight.

"He'll be fine with me. It's ok if you want a break."

"No thank you, I am fine." He grinned at her. It came out bright and clear against his grimy face. She sighed and Kiba wrinkled his nose up again. He glanced at Gaara, who had attempted to stop but was pulled forward. His eyes had nearly closed and his jaw clenched, he reached up with his left side and scratched a line down his throat. Kankuro leaned away from him, keeping a tentative hold.

"Kankuro, I do not mean to be rude but please do not let him do that." Lee said, eyeing the numerous thin red lines along Gaara's jaw.

"He's right, keep a better hold on him." Temari said, moving a bit closer.

"I am keeping a hold on him! But he'll scrape me up if I get closer. Lee's going to have bandages on his feet to match the one on his hands; I don't want that."

"Ugh, grow some spine!" Kiba shouted, leaning around to glare at him. "Even Lee's closer then you and he's just doing his mission!"

"Well this isn't my mission!" Kankuro spat back, looking away.

"Kankuro!" Temari said, stopping and glaring at him.

"Yeah, he's just your brother!" Kiba took a step forward.

Everyone stopped and Lee's hold loosened as he looked rapidly between Kankuro and Kiba.

"How many times do you plan on throwing that in my face?!"

"Kankuro!"

"As many times as it works, pal! I don't-"

Gaara wrenched his arms free. The sand welled up on either side, circling out in twin blades to surround him. It rushed the others, but they had already jumped away. Temari's fan was unfolded and held in front of her, Kankuro had ducked into the shadows, planting his feet to move back again. Kiba and Lee had leapt to the same side, falling into fighting stances immediately.

Mata's men dashed forward, forming a triangular pattern around the Kazekage, eyes on Temari for orders. She didn't move but felt the expectation hit her like a warm wind. This is why the Anbu had been called.

The sand didn't die down like before. It hardened into a loose shell around Gaara as he blinked and focused. He shook, rubbing his shoulders like he was cold, before he peeked around the sand casing. He saw Temari first. She lowered her fan an inch, softening her expression slightly.

"Temari." He said, craning his neck to see her over the lip of the dome. "I thought I heard you earlier."

She sighed, lowering the fan more. The others followed suit, watching the interaction. "Gaara-"

"But then you went away."

"What? No, I was right in front of you the whole time. C'mon we have to get to the hospital."

"Yeah, it's just another street over. We're so close." Kankuro said as he walked up to her side. Gaara's eyes followed him.

"No." He said. He leaned away, so that only the top of his tousled hair could be seen. The sand shuddered. Kankuro clenched his fists.

"Yes! This shouldn't even be a conversation we're having, ok? Do you want to die?"

"No."

"Good! Then we're going to the hospital!"

"Where are they?" He said, the unruly hair rotating even though he couldn't see around the sand.

"Huh? Who?"

"Where is he?"

"Who Gaara?"

"Kankuro, shut up! He's delusional. We'll have to wait for this to pass." Temari said. She turned to him. "Do you have any water? That might help."

"Aw no I-Tenten! I sent her to get some but then we changed course!"

"Seriously? Did you decide to have another shinobi go and inform everyone what was going on, in case they missed it?!"

"Hey, he needed water and I didn't have any!"

"Are you guys seriously going to have a fight right now?! Not a good time!" Kiba said, pointing to the sand dome. The hair disappeared inside.

The sand cracked, then caved. Gaara shouldered his way out, thick red scratches ran down his neck and past the collar of his shirt. Kankuro sighed through his teeth when he saw them.

"I'm going to the hospital, we need to bring someone back here to help." He said, looking to Temari. Her lips thinned but she kept her eyes on Gaara.

"Help what, catch him?" Kiba scoffed, looking to Kankuro. He earned a sneer.

"No, Kankuro's right. He won't be stopped easily like this and we'll only hurt him if we try. Let's just get to the hospital, maybe they have something that can help calm him down." Temari said, moving away.

"Nokan, Tatebou, Kanmuri." She clipped, sparing them a glance. They had moved closer, but waited for an order. They tensed when she called them, eyes on Gaara's retreating frame. "You three form an additional bloack against witnesses. I want the streets clear in every direction he could go before he reaches it."

Nokan had followed Gaara with his eyes, absentmindedly biting his lip.

"I'll send a signal if he changes direction toward the hospital. If he does, stay there and remain for support in case of an outburst." Temari continued, stopping long enough to make eye contact with the three of them.

"Yes Lady Temari." They replied in unison. They vanished in the next moment, the only perceivable movement was Nokan's hand seals as he teleported away.

She strode past the rest of them and Kankuro followed. Lee stepped forward, towards the crumbling sand dome. Kiba grabbed his arm.

"How stupid are you, man? Don't approach him!"

"But we must do something! What do you suggest?"

"Let's wait it out, maybe Tenten will find us if we stay put."

"We cannot! It is a dire situation!"

"You're supposed to know when to act and when not to act, right? This mission isn't worth your ridiculous risks, so just leave him alone, ok?"

Lee stared at him, raising his fists and shifting his weight from foot to foot. He looked back and forth between the paths available to him.

On one hand, he could stay in the clear street with his trusted friend to keep communication open between the involved parties while the Anbu kept the civilians away, until Gaara left the area and it began to fill up again. He could go to the hospital and wait there, making sure that any volatile reactions don't harm anyone else. Or, he could follow Gaara, attempting to help him while he slipped in and out of reality.

But Lee didn't see his options that way. He didn't see much of anything that way. There were only two paths clear to him; so he struggled between the two betrayals. To go along with Kiba would be the easier choice, to allow the others to manage things as they've been trying to would be the most understandable option. He knew, from the conversations he overheard to the attitudes he encountered, that his help was not wanted. That he and his friends had caused more harm than good. He didn't want to betray their trust again. It frustrated him to be so unsure of how to help. It was not just a mission, it was a symbol of the bonds between their villages. So far, their experiences had exposed the fragility of that bond; that only one person held it in place and that one person could die as easily at any time in his home as on a mission.

He also saw how, even as he felt alienated, that he was treated as more human than Gaara. He saw a great distance between the Kazekage and those around him and it hurt Lee, on a base level, to peer over that great distance. He had been patient, he thought, with their way of doing things but to witness it spread to his comrades, to see Kiba give up bit by bit in his own way to the fear of Gaara's volatile behavior, made him feel detached as well. He felt that if he didn't keep trying his best, didn't keep pushing forward with all that he had to help Gaara, that he would gain that same distance from him. In only a few short hours he became aware that, even though he readily called Gaara his friend, he knew very little about who he was as a person. It made him feel like an imposter, like the councillors in the Leaf who always praise the Hokage to make themselves seem closer to her than they were. Tsunade had very few real friends, only one that Lee could name, and seemed content. But he had also never claimed to be one. Because he did not want to claim to be what he wasn't, or use someone's name, even indirectly, for advantages. He couldn't betray anyone, even in that common way.

He found himself walking away. Kiba reached out to him again, grabbing his sleeve.

"Wait! What do you think you can do? He's not going to listen to you." He said, yanking on Lee's arm for emphasis.

"I am sorry." Lee said, turning back halfway to smile at him. "But I said that I would try my best to make Gaara healthier than ever! So I must try."

He gave him a thumbs up before tugging his arm free. Kiba let him go, shifting from foot to foot. He sighed loudly, running a hand through his mangy hair. He watched Lee move away as he counted in his head to calm himself down. It the short time they talked Gaara had already moved to a corner and disappeared behind it. Lee made it to the corner right as Kiba's counting reached twenty-three. He waited another moment, trying to make an objective decision, before he gave up and ran after them.