Sitting at Lee's side got usual for Gaara, when Naruto was at training.

First Ebisu and then Jiraya asked him to stay away while they handled Naruto's training.
Gaara obliged without asking.
Ebisu didn't think of it as necessary, but Jiraya took the time to tell him quietly that he was too much of a distraction for Naruto while training. He understood that they were good friends and that Naruto would always do his best to impress and protect his friends, but he should stop thinking about impressing anyone and start concentrating on his training.
Naruto would always whine and try to get Gaara to come with him, but Gaara always declined and insisted that someone needed to watch over Lee.

Séngo still hadn't done anything, but the bad feeling still lingered in Gaara's belly.
He still thought that he was planning something, but he couldn't do anything as long as he stayed away from the hospital… Naruto made him promise at least that much.

The blond had found him in Lee's hospital-room and took him back home.
There, he told him about the exams.
About all this creepy guys and their weird behavior and how he kicked Kiba's ass.

Gaara smiled a little when he heard Naruto talk like that.
It was just how he was. He couldn't understand why these persons would want to kill somebody.
Gaara once would've understood, but Naruto had taught him better.

The smile vanished soon though, when the little blond angrily told him about Séngo's behavior and Shikamaru's assumption about him watching Naruto.
Gaara growled and stood, but Naruto held him back. "Wait! What are you doing?"
"Making world a better place by ridding it from his existence."
"WHAT?! NO! You can't just go around and kill people!"
Gaara raised an eyebrow.
"I could do so all my life, so why shouldn't I be able to now kill one person who actually deserved it?"
Naruto stood before him and watched Gaara with serious eyes.
"Because that's not how you're supposed to solve problems. You didn't kill Sasuke, didn't you?"
Gaara growled. "That's because he is your friend. And Séngo hurt Lee terribly, was about to kill him and is now watching you! He will make his move and who knows what he's planning! I won't take the risk that he will hurt you too!"
Naruto's eyes softened a little.
"He won't hurt me. I can watch over myself and you're with me, aren't you? And when you're not, I've still your lucky charm, haven't I?"
Gaara's determination wavered a little under Naruto's soft smile.
"He hurt Lee at the exams, where it is actually allowed to kill your opponent, as cruel as it sounds. As long as he didn't do anything you shouldn't approach him. And… you shouldn't forget that you only could go around killing, because everyone thought you were a monster. Have you already forgotten that you aren't one?"

Gaara averted his eyes, while his shoulders sacked down.
Naruto smiled and laid his hands on the raccoons shoulders.
"You can beat the shit out of him as soon as he tries anything stupid, but killing is the monster way, Gaara; the way how Shukaku would solve problems. You have to learn that taking someone's life is never the right thing to do. People can change, you know? You're the best example, aren't ya?"

Gaara nodded and sat down again.
Naruto sat down next to him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I promised that I would open your little lucky charm when I'm in trouble… now I want you to promise me something. Promise that you won't do anything until he did the first move."
Gaara nodded hesitantly, but Naruto wouldn't have any of it.
"Say it."
"I won't do anything… I will wait for his first move… I promise."
Naruto had patted his back softly and told him that everything will be alright.

Gaara sighed by the memory of this damned promise.

Almost a month had passed and Lee still hadn't recovered fully from the poison Séngo had soaked his needle with.
He rarely woke and wasn't eating enough.
Gaara once heard the nurses talk about it and that Lee was rarely touching the meals they were bringing him… so he started bringing him something to eat. Naruto had happily agreed, when Gaara told him about his intentions and made sure that they would always have enough there to make meals for three persons.
The just hoped that it was really Lee eating the food they left him and not just one of the nurses throwing it away, when Lee wouldn't touch it…

Gaara was genuinely worried about the raven, but didn't show it much. Not in the hospital, at least.
Gai was also often visiting, but he seemed to be more optimistic than before.
He was always grinning and often gave him thumbs up – and told him to always use enough meat while cooking for Lee, because a man needed it to train his muscles or something like that. Gaara wasn't always listening, but it is indeed always funny to see how the nurses were scolding him afterwards for his much too loud voice.
Nevertheless, Gai needed someone to tell him that Lee would make it.
He was too worried about his student and Gaara needed to remind him that Lee was not the kind of person to simply give up. Gaara was sure that Lee would never let go of his dreams and that he would regain his composure, but the time he would need seemed to be too much…

Gaara sighed heavily and looked over to the sleeping raven.

He surely just needed more time…

Hey Guys ^.^

I'm sorry, it's just another bridging-chapter, but I somehow need to get forth XD

I think that it will get better sooner...
Séngo still hadn't made his first move after all ;)

Well... I'm tired, so I just leave it at this and eat something with sugar in it to wake up a little XD

See you all! ;)