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"Kakashi!"

Sakura got free of Raido's grasp and ran to Kakashi. She was vaguely aware of Raido pulling out his phone and calling 911 frantically and Genma checking Deidara for life signs. She didn't care right now. She knelt by him and felt for his hand, for his heartbeat.

"Sakura," he gasped, and blood bubbled from his mouth. "Hit top of my lung. Need hospital."

"Raido's calling. I promise you you'll be ok. You'll be ok!"

"Sakura…"

She met his eyes and cringed when she saw the bloody mess that was Kakashi's left eye. "I'm sorry he did this to you."

"Why? S'not your fault. Sakura…"

Sakura gripped his hand. "Yes?"

"Love you."

Her breath sucked in fast when he said that. "You're not going to die! The ambulance is on its way! I won't let you die!" Tears were forming, and Sakura didn't bother brush them away.

"But just in case…I love you." His chest was heaving and he was coughing up blood and she was crying and she just wanted everything to be better…

Sakura heard sirens approaching loud and fast. She sighed, relieved. "I love you too. But you're not going to die."

Kakashi smiled shakily. "I can't keep out of accidents, huh?"

"Don't talk, please." whispered Sakura.

He ignored her and panted, "Is Deidara dead?"

"Yeah."

"Too bad."

"He shot you!"

"He was just…he was just a kid."

Kakashi's breathing was getting raspier, and Sakura held his hand ever more tightly.

"It hurts," he wheezed. "It hurts a lot."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"It hurts…"

The ambulance got there, and the next few hours was a blur of hospital noises and lights. They loaded Kakashi onto a stretcher and let Sakura ride with him, her hand still in his. All the doctors ignored her, concentrating on Kakashi (as they should) and talking loudly in medical terms to one another . Sakura, after living with Tsunade, got a lot of it and it scared her. She knew he was in pretty bad shape and she knew that the moment they got to the hospital he would be brought into surgery to get the bullet out and fix his lung.

He was still conscious, and he clutched her sweaty hand as the vehicle hit rocks and potholes, causing him to cry out in pain. They'd swathed his left eye in thick white bandages, but that didn't stop the gauze to turn red from the blood.

They made it to the hospital and Sakura was shunted to the waiting room. Raido and Genma arrived shortly afterward, followed by Enoki, who looked like she had just gotten out of bed and was accompanied by her drummer, TK.

"What's going on?" she asked, her silver hair completely messy and her pyjamas wrinkled. "What happened to Kakashi?"

"He got shot," answered Sakura, staring at her hands in shock. "One of his former students shot him."

Enoki's eyes widened. "What!"

"He was part of Akatsuki and was after Kakashi because Kakashi got him expelled from school."

"Was the kid a prick?" asked Enoki.

"Yeah."

"Then he deserved it. I hope he's in jail right now."

"He's dead." said Genma quietly.

"Did Kakashi…?"

"No, a member of his own gang shot him. Deidara probably went against them to try and kill Kakashi."

"Wow. Hopefully they don't come after anyone else."

"I doubt it," shrugged Raido. "They would've done it right then if they wanted to kill us."

"Yeah," said Enoki softly. "Probably."

"Who's he?" asked Raido, pointing to TK. The blonde drummer was snapping his fingers together and nodding to an invisible beat.

"That's my friend TK." explained Enoki.

"Is that his real name?" questioned Raido.

"I'm not sure." admitted Enoki.

"Why is he here?"

"He's an overprotective bastard, aren't you?" The last bit was directed towards TK, was nodded as he attempted to do the splits on the bench. "I'm pretty sure he cares about me, and he wanted to come along when I found out Kakashi was hurt."

"That's fine."

"By the way, I'm Enoki, in case you were wondering."

"I figured. I'm Raido, Genma's boyfriend and one of Kakashi's friends."

Sakura was barely paying attention to their forced conversation. She wanted his surgery to be over. She wanted him to be all right. Even if he lived, would he be able to go back to normal? He already limped, would he have chest troubles too? Would he be stuck on oxygen for the rest of his life?

"Is anyone here with Mr. Kakashi Hatake?" A nurse had emerged from the surgery room, a doctor's mask pooled around her neck.

"Us." said Sakura and Enoki in unison. Genma and Raido got up too, and they walked over to her.

"The surgery was a success. We removed the bullet from his chest and closed up his lung. He'll have a little trouble breathing for a while, but he should be fine. His eye, well, we did what we could, but we're contacting his doctor for her help. She's on her way and she should be able to fix his eye up. Are any of you related to him?" Her eyes fell on Enoki, who was tall and had the same silver hair.

"Me," confirmed Enoki. "I'm his first cousin."

"Do you know where we could contact his parents or any closer relatives."

"That's not a good idea," said Enoki quickly. "Kakashi and his father are badly estranged. Besides, I don't know where he lives anymore anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Well, then, we can let you in to see him in a short time. He's being moved to a regular room from the ICU as we speak."

"He's out of Intensive Care?" said Genma, relieved.

"We're actually out of rooms in the ICU," confessed the nurse. "Mr. Hatake isn't as gravely injured as some, and we're fairly sure he'll pull through, so we had no choice but to move him to a regular room."

"Did you say that only Enoki could see him?" asked Sakura, just realizing that.

"Only family-"

"She is family," said Enoki abruptly. "She's my third cousin, and therefore Kakashi's third cousin. Most of our family died a while back, so the ones of us that are left are pretty close."

"And them?" asked the nurse, gesturing to Genma and Raido.

"Family friends." they said in unison.

"And…him…?" This sceptical addition was directed to TK, who was trying to stand still but failing, waving his arms as little as possible.

Enoki rolled her eyes. "He's just an idiot, ma'am."

xXx

Kakashi opened his right eye to see Shizune at his side. He groaned and shut his eye again.

"You're awake," came the surprised reply to his groan. "Who would've known? Well, in case you're wondering, you've made yet another mess of yourself. The biggest one yet, actually."

"Dunno 'bout that." rasped Kakashi.

"Don't talk. I'm fixing your eye right now, and don't' worry about any pain, because you're fixed up on more painkillers than 2-D at a Gorillaz concert."

"Whaa…?"

"I said don't talk. I've superglued your eyelid back together, and before you complain, superglue is more effective than stitches, and I don't think you want to have ugly stitch scars all over your eyelid I saved your eye, since thankfully that gang member's knife didn't go very deep. You'll be fine. In a lot of pain for a good amount of time, but fine."

"Thanks."

Shizune patted his newly re-bandaged eye. "No problem. And you're welcome. I'll go now, since I think a couple people are waiting to see you."

She raised the bed up so Kakashi could see something other than his IV and left. Seconds later, a blurry Enoki and Sakura entered and equally blurry room. He raised his hand to rub his eye and found that it was the one with the IV. Cursing, he set it back down.

"Kakashi," said Sakura, holding back tears. "You're not dead!"

He nodded sleepily, unable to bring himself to say anything.

Enoki gave him a small smile and walked over to his other side. "Hey, cuz. You know we had to lie in order to get in here, just to see your sorry butt? You better be grateful."

"If you say so." he said hoarsely.

Enoki was the one trying not to cry now.

Kakashi looked down to see that most of his upper torso was bandaged. "Guns do kill people, people do." he whispered.

"Really?" Sakura asked, and he was surprised to hear a note of sarcasm in her voice. "Because if I pointed my finger at someone and said, 'boom', I don't think it would do anything."

And it was Kakashi's turn for his eyes to fill with tears.

He was alive.

xXx

"You have to take your medication every day."

"Of course."

"You may not overexert yourself, no matter how bored you get."

"I understand."

"You have to use the wheelchair when you want to get out of bed."

"I know."

"Make sure you get some fresh air every day. We don't want you to get cabin fever."

"Aye aye, caption."

Shizune glared at him. "Don't get smart with me."

"Sorry." Kakashi said, not sounding very apologetic.

It had been three weeks since Kakashi had been shot. The first few days had been miserable, him being mainly asleep, and when he was awake he was in constant pain and sometimes even a little delirious. It had taken another few days for him to be allowed to breathe on his own (he'd been given an oxygen tank shortly after Sakura and Enoki's first visit) and to be declared in the clear. After that it'd been pure recovery and some therapy to make sure he'd heal right.

The doctors had been very interested in his eye and leg, trying to get him to give them permission to do tests on him, but he'd firmly refused. He did not want to become some example to med students about what could happen in a knife fight or a car accident. His eye had scabbed over a while ago and he was just waiting for it to scar. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Deidara had gone right over his old scar, just making it so he'd go through more pain instead of making more scars. No need to worry about anything else disfiguring his face.

"You ready?"

Kakashi glanced back at Enoki. He was being discharged today and Enoki had offered to drive him home, where Sakura, Genma, and Raido were hopefully waiting. He hadn't had much of a chance to see them, and when he had he'd usually been tired or drugged up or in pain or in all three.

"Yeah. I'm sick of this place. I'm not very fond of hospitals."

"Is anyone?" joked Enoki, pushing his wheelchair out the front door. He chuckled and she snorted with disbelief.

"It wasn't that funny."

"I'm just happy to be out of the hospital."

"Don't think you're done yet, mister. You've still got to rest for the next month before you can even think about doing anything strenuous."

"Just in time for school to start."

"You chose to be a teacher, didn't you? Your fault. And be happy, because we're throwing you a party."

"Yay."

"You don't sound very enthusiastic to me."

"I'm not much for parties. Besides, all I get to do is eat cake, right? Nothing strenuous," Kakashi expression brightened. "Non-hospital food! That's certainly something to look forward to."

"I'll bet. That, and being alive."

"That's a benefit too."

She loaded the wheelchair into her car while Kakashi staggered into the passenger seat, realizing that Shizune was right in ordering him to use the wheelchair, considering how badly his chest hurt when he tried to walk.

"You alright?"

Enoki slid into the driver's seat and buckled her seatbelt. "Hello? You there?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." Kakashi rubbed his chin, which was unshaven. He hadn't been given a chance to shave in three weeks.

"Only fools are positive."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," finished Enoki, rolling her eyes. "That joke never gets old, does it?" she said sarcastically.

"Obviously it does."

"What's the shortest distance between two jokes?" asked Enoki, smiling as she got on the expressway.

"I don't know, what is it?"

"A straight line."

Kakashi really did laugh that did. "Who'd you steal that joke from?"

"TK, if you'd believe it?"

"That guy is weird. He came to visit me once and talked in nothing but nonsensical song lyrics."

"Yeah, he does that."

"Are you two dating yet?"

Enoki scowled at Kakashi. "What do you mean, yet? No, we're not dating."

"Why not?"

"I'm trying to break him-"

"I knew women did that."

"Shut up. I'm trying to teach him how to speak English without song lyrics. See, that's how he started to learn our language, and now he won't stop!"

"And you'll date him if he talks normally?"

Enoki blushed. "Maybe."

It was only a few more minutes before they reached his apartment, where Kakashi scowled deeply.

"And how do you all expect me to get up those stairs?"

"You'll see. Sorry, but I have to go now. "

He wheeled himself alongside Enoki and his jaw dropped when he saw what Genma and Raido had done.

"What is this?"

Genma and Raido beamed at him from the top of the stairs. "We built a ramp. Don't worry: it's removable. Be careful, it's steep." called Genma. Raido bounded down the stairs and took the handles of Kakashi's wheelchair.

Raido actually started pushing a protesting Kakashi up the full flight of stairs while standing on the ledge of steps they'd left open.

"You're insane!"

"Would you rather have me carry you?"

"I'd rather walk!"

"What, back to the hospital? Because that's where you'd end up."

Kakashi breathed a huge sigh of relief when they reached the top. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

"Of course I do," scoffed Raido. "I put together ten story buildings while walking on ledges barely bigger than tightropes. Get over it."

"Don't phrase it like that." said Genma, looking slightly sick.

"Hmm? Why?"

"Because it's dangerous and I worry about losing you, that's why." muttered Genma.

"It's not like I do that anymore. I'm not going anywhere." reassured Raido.

Sakura grabbed hold of the back of the wheelchair, pushing Kakashi down to the apartment.

"I can't believe you're in a wheelchair. It's weird."

"Tell me about it," replied Kakashi, slightly bitterly. "You wouldn't think getting shot in the chest would constitute a wheelchair, right?"

"As long as you're all right I don't care if it's a wheelchair or a full body cast."

"Really? Funnily enough, I do."

She leaned over and pecked him on the lips. He smiled. "That almost makes it worth it."

She opened the door, and he saw his apartment for the first time in three weeks. It was still cluttered and small, but it was his place. The coffee table was cleared off, and there was a small cake that read, 'Get well soon!' on it. A banner with the same reading was strung across the small hallway.

"Corny."

"Meanie."

"Corny and sweet." amended Kakashi.

"You're so sweet horseflies keep hanging around your butt." sniggered Sakura.

"How ladylike."

"Who said I was ladylike?"

Genma and Raido came in and sat down on the couch, while Sakura sat on the chair. Kakashi, just wanting to get out of the wheelchair, was squished in at the end of the sofa.

"That's good cake." said Kakashi, after they started digging in.

"You'd think anything was good after three weeks of hospital food." pointed out Sakura.

"Or three weeks of Genma's cooking." added Raido, who had somehow finished eating already and was leaning back with his arm around Genma's shoulder.

"You cook and I eat. It's a good deal," shrugged Genma. "Not sure why I should complain."

"You shouldn't. Who gave you that idea?"

"You complaining about my cooking. It's not that bad."

"Be honest, Gen. You can't even made hard-boiled eggs."

"Ah, but I can make ramen."

"What an accomplishment," grunted Kakashi in-between bites of cake. "Such culinary genius you possess."

"Would you like me to add another gunshot to the repertoire?" asked Genma playfully.

"I think I'll pass."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, pretty sure."

Genma pretended to pout. "Aw. It would have been such payback for everything you've ever said, you meanie."

"You little psychopath, you. Might as well rename you Deidara."

"I'd prefer not to be called a prick, thanks."

"Comes with the territory of being one. Sorry, man."

Raido snorted with laughter as he drank, making him spew Pepsi. Sakura had to clean it up while Kakashi lamented about how horrible it was that he didn't have to clean or cook for a month.

"Hey, we never got to have dinner at our place," realized Genma suddenly, "We were all so worried, I forgot about it."

"Speaking of forgotten people, where the hell has Asuma been the past few weeks? You'd think I would have gotten a few pity visits. Same for Kurenai."

Genma, Raido, and Sakura exchanged glances. "Well…"

"You sorta missed their wedding…They're on honeymoon now." mumbled Sakura.

"You went without me, didn't you?" asked Kakashi, trying not to looked too gleeful.

"I can tell how upset you are." sighed Sakura.

"I thought honesty was a good trait."

"Seriously, you're not upset you missed their wedding?"

"Maybe just a little," It was Kakashi's turn to sigh. "Sometimes it feels like I'm only present for bad things in people's lives, like I'm the Grim Reaper or something."

"I think it's more like you've got a Grim Reader on your shoulder, causing you constant pain," replied Sakura thoughtfully. "You're there for plenty of happy things, but that little Grim Reaper can ruin it for you."

Kakashi smiled at her, his eye creasing. "Thanks. You've got the opposite effect. You make everything sweet."

Genma gagged. "The sap is killing me. That's half the reason I date Raido."

Raido laughed and drew Genma closer. "You're pretty sappy yourself, being the chick in the relationship and everything."

Genma looked very indignant. "Why do you tell people that? It's humiliating!"

Raido grimaced. "Sorry, Gen."

"You should be. I'm embarrassed enough about it as it is."

Genma wouldn't meet Raido's eyes when he apologised again, and they excused themselves out to the balcony.

"He's very self-conscious." observed Sakura.

Kakashi started chuckling. "I was just remembering the first time Genma was a bottom. We were still in Texas, and he came over to play video games but he wouldn't sit down. He wouldn't sit down for the next two days, in fact."

"Maybe you shouldn't make fun of him if he's so self-conscious." said Sakura, a little apprehensively.

"Really? Because I bet you ten bucks that if you looked out the window they're making out."

"That's ridiculous. I'm sure they're not-oh." Kakashi laughed after Sakura peeked through the curtains to find that's exactly what they were doing.

"See? He's forgiven him already."

Sakura got up and sat on the couch with Kakashi, who leaned his head on top of hers.

"Are you tired?"

"A bit. It's a little hard to breathe, and my eye hurts."

"Thanks for being honest."

"I don't lie to you."

"Yeah, but sometimes you don't tell all of the truth."

Kakashi kissed the top of her head. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, you big goof."

"I don't recall that particular insult." he grumbled.

"Who said it was an insult?" Sakura kissed his mouth, then his jaw, then his Adam's apple and the top of his chest. When she went back to his neck she couldn't help but suck on it and even bite a little, making him moan a little.

"Imagine was the Professors at the University would say, telling a Doctor he's a big goof."

"Brag, brag, brag, is that all you do?"

"Just saying."

Sakura laughed at started to put her head on his chest but noticed him stiffen.

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault. It'll take a little while to get back to normal, but I'll get better."

"Don't you have to go to the hospital for therapy?"

Kakashi made a face. "Ugh, don't remind me. Every other day for a month. Enoki's driving me."

"Do what they tell you to. I want you to get better."

Kakashi yawned. "Okay, Mom."

"You're the old one here."

"Well, this old one is getting tired. Time to take a nap."

He unhappily got back into the wheelchair and she pushed him to the bedroom, where he reassured her that he could get undress by himself.

He kissed her goodnight despite it being early in the afternoon and Sakura promised that she'd come back tomorrow. When she went outside she basically had to pry Genma and Raido apart to say goodbye before she went home. Inside, she was crying. The last few weeks had been touch and go, but it turned out Kakashi was going to be fine. The worst was over, and the worst had been horrible.

Her worst fears were groundless, though. Kakashi was alive.

1. See, you don't have to kill me!

2. Sorry about the beginning of the last chapter. Didn't mean to!

3. Yes, another chapter already! Last week was Spring Break, so that explains my updateyness.

4. Thank you for your reviews! Please continue! :)