Chapter 25:: Hospital Visit

The Sand Siblings, Naruto, Hinata, Shikamaru, and Matsuri all stood outside one of the Suna Hospital's emergency rooms, waiting for news on Izuka's current condition. Everyone was silent as the minutes ticked by, all of them in no mood to speak thanks to the events that happened that night. It was one minute before midnight before a doctor came out the room, his face completely exhausted as he stared at the group of teenagers before him.

"Well . . ." asked Naruto as he looked at the doctor, the worry evident in his eyes as the doctor approached them. "How is she?"

"She's lost a lot of blood and one of her chakra gates was severely damaged," said the doctor as he took off his mask." But . . . she will make a full recovery, though her chakra control won't really be the same after tonight."

"How so?" asked Temari as she raised an eyebrow.

"To put it simply: the Lady Sage may be able to use a lot more chakra without exhausting herself or she will be able to use less chakra . . . it's anyone's guess." answered the doctor as he threw his mask into a nearby trash bin.

"Can we see her now?" asked Hinata as she looked at the doctor hopefully.

"Actually . . . you can; she woke up just a few minutes ago. The nurses have taken her up to a room on the next floor. Please . . . follow me." The teenagers followed the doctor down the hall, up a staircase and down another hallway filled with rooms filled with patients recovering from various wounds and ailments.

"She's just behind this door . . ." said the doctor. "I would suggest immediate family members be the only ones' visiting her for the time being, but you will probably not listen to me."

"Sorry doc, but I think you're right." said Kankuro with a small shake of his head. The doctor only shook his head in understanding before walking back from where they came, leaving the teens by themselves outside of Izuka's room.

"Who wants to lead the way?" asked Matsuri as she pointed to the door.

"Why don't we ask the immediate family?" asked Shikamaru as he nodded his head to Naruto.

". . . . Very funny," said Naruto as he grasped the doorknob, but he really wasn't in a happy mood. He slowly opened the door and peeked his head in the room to see Izuka staring out the window, her gaze unwavering as she looked out into the village. ". . . Sis?"

"Hmmm . . ." Izuka was startled out of her thoughts at Naruto's voice suddenly calling out to her. She slowly turned her head around to see everyone walking into her room, Gaara being the last one to enter. "Oh . . . Hey everybody."

"How are you feeling?" asked Temari as she walked over to Izuka's bedside.

"Like crap . . ." mumbled Izuka as she crossed her arms; her pale skin looking even paler in the light. "I didn't expect my birthday to be . . . this eventful."

"Yeah . . . who knew right?" asked Matsuri as she let out a nervous chuckle.

"What happened to the bandits?" asked Izuka as she looked around the group.

"Most of them have been captured, but some are still out there somewhere." answered Kankuro as he looked out the window.

"Including Zabu and the bandit that shot me?" asked Izuka as she raised an eyebrow. No one verbally answered, but there were a few heads that shook yes. ". . . Great."

"Don't worry Izuka . . . We got ninjas scouring the entire village for them, and we have all the possible exits heavily guarded. They aren't getting out of here that easy." said Kankuro as he crossed his arms.

"Hmm . . . that's good to know," said Izuka as she looked up at the ceiling. "The news of what happened tonight is certainly going to spread across the shinobi lands don't you think?"

"It's probably going to be on the front page of every newspaper . . ." muttered Naruto as he crossed his arms.

"Eh . . . it's to be expected." said Izuka as she did a small shrug. "You guys should probably get some rest. I have a feeling you're going to need all your strength come morning."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here by yourself?" Hinata asked suddenly. "We can keep you company if you want."

"That's okay . . . I'll be fine here. You guys get some rest." said Izuka with a small smirk as she turned to the group. "Even you Naruto."

"Fine . . . I know when I'm not needed." said Naruto with a small smirk as he headed for the door. The others followed suit and left the room . . . all except for Gaara, who still remained where he stood at the end of Izuka's bed.

"Gaara . . . you should get home and get some rest. . . Why aren't you leaving?" Izuka asked curiously as she raised an eyebrow.

"Because I wanted to wait till after the others left so I could apologize." answered the Kazekage as he walked over to her side.

"Apologize . . . For what?" asked Izuka as she raised an eyebrow again.

"For getting you into this situation," answered the redhead as he looked at her apologetically. "If I had sensed the other bandit sooner . . . maybe . . . maybe . . ."

"It's alright Gaara . . . I don't blame you for what happened to me." said Izuka as she sent him a small smile. "I sensed the other bandit on the roof and by the time I figured out what he was planning to do, I didn't have enough time to initiate a counter jutsu, so I just used my body as a human shield instead."

"Hmm . . . you do know it's usually the boyfriend's job to protect the girlfriend right?" asked Gaara as he knelt down at her side.

"I know, but I hate those kinds of rules okay . . . I wanted to protect you and so I did. You have a problem with that?" Izuka asked bluntly as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Nope . . . And thank you for saving me from that attack. I owe you one Izuka." said Gaara as he leaned down and kissed her on her forehead.

"You can repay your debt by never making me go through a huge birthday party ever again." said Izuka as she began to fiddle with her bracelet still hanging along her wrist.

"We'll see," said Gaara as he let a small smirk come across his face. Izuka smirked at him as she left her room before returning her gaze back toward the window. Gaara on the other hand, stood outside her room by himself, his thoughts going straight toward the bandits

"Those bandits will pay . . ." was the last thing Gaara said before disappearing in a cloud of sand.

Please review!