I'm not dead! School and other stories have been sucking up all my muse but I'm starting to get back into this one! I'm sorry for the wait but some things can't be forced. I'll try to work on getting more written for this story!

And for all of you that have stuck with me this far, thank you so much! The support means a lot to me!

Reviews are love!

Oh and I still don't own anything but Sakura and Hebi.

Blue eyes scanned around the white room – where was he? Why didn't he feel quite right? There was a noise and he squinted out of reflex. A woman showed up in the doorway – a nurse…was this a hospital? What had happened to put him here?

"Are you awake?" the nurse asked him, obviously not expecting an answer because she jumped when he nodded and said so. She paled and then ran out of the door, calling for the doctor – the Gotei patient was finally awake and responsive.

The doctor came in quickly, "Do you remember who you are?"

"Ichimaru Gin," he frowned. "Why wouldn't I know who I am?"

"You've been in a coma for the past five and a half months," the man explained. "It's not uncommon for amnesia to come with it. What's the last thing you remember?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Anything about a fire? Or a man named Aizen?" he prompted.

Gin thought for a moment…yes – he remembered it, though it was a little foggy. He had been fighting Aizen – and the traitor had stabbed him, then he got separated from his enemy so he had tried to find a way out. It'd be easier to fight Aizen if they were out of the burning building. While he was running something heavy fell on top of him – probably a support beam now that he was thinking about it. He relayed this to the doctor.

"Good, now do you remember Sakura or the Gotei?"

"How the hell could I forget that wonderful woman when she's carved inta my brain?" the words slipped out before he could stop himself.

"Well that's a relief," the doctor sighed. "I have a phone call to make. Nurse, keep tabs on him – make sure he stays with us."

"Hai."

Gin was very confused – in a coma? For five and a half months? What had happened? Was Sakura okay? He was sure she would still be pissed that he didn't say goodbye…he hoped she was okay. Maybe the grief and uncertainty of him waking from the coma would override her anger…

The doctor stepped back in, "They'll be here in a few minutes."

Gin wanted to ask who but he had a feeling he knew who it was.

When they did show up, Sakura was pissed but apparently for a different reason than he had suspected.

"Calm down Sakura," Shunsui

"Can you blame me for be worried with a creep like Mayuri lurking around my division and around Hebi?" she retorted.

"No," her fathered sighed.

"Stop complaining Sakura, that's an order," Yamamoto said coldly and smoothly.

"Hai sou-taichou," she sighed, but was still silently grumbling to herself. "You told me Renji and Ichigo were going to be meeting us here, shouldn't we wait for them?" she added suddenly.

Yamamoto stopped for a moment – just a few feet before their destination, contemplating and then nodded. They didn't have to wait long before the familiar sets of red and orange hair appeared in their view.

Sakura noticed that all of the men, especially her friends, seemed tense. Before she could question it they were ushering her into the room they had stopped next to.

When she saw who was lying on the hospital bed, she froze and felt very faint. He opened his eyes when he saw her.

"Sakura?"

Her bottom lip trembled as she nodded; she turned to her friends and family.

"You…knew. You knew the whole time didn't you?" A tear of anger and frustration rolled down her cheek.

"I'd apologize but I know you wouldn't hear it," her father said sadly.

"This is why you wanted me to leave Hebi at home," she said quietly.

"We don't want to shock him too much, he just woke up," Ichigo told her.

Renji grimaced, "And it's safe for you to cuss us out. Kami knows we deserve it…"

She turned back to Gin and walked to his bedside.

"I missed you," he whispered.

"I missed you too," she choked out. "Oh thank Kami you're alright…I've been so worried."

"What did you mean by 'they knew'?" he asked.

"I had no idea where you were," she sighed. "After Grimmjow and the others stopped updating me on you I started getting worried. Then there was the fire and apparently no one knew where you were."

"Ah carried 'im outta th' buildin'."

"What are you doing here?" Yamamoto said sourly to the bluenette.

"Ah deserve her anger as much any of ya do," he spat back. "Or 'ave ya forgotten ah'm 'er friend too?"

"Knock it off you guys," Sakura scolded. "I'm pissed at all of you."

"I think that's the first time I've heard her swear in months," Renji snorted.

Ichigo nodded in agreement, "She's had good reason not to."

"True."

Sakura ignored them and spoke to Gin instead, "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," he smiled slightly. "How are ya?"

"I've been busy and kept in the dark," she sighed. "It takes a lot to run a division smoothly. I'm still working out the kinks."

"Good," he smiled even more.

"You can guess who the only dissenting voice was," she laughed softly. "Kira did a good job while he was in charge though."

"Kira was captain?"

"For a while," she nodded. "I was a little preoccupied at the time and couldn't take the seat even if they had offered it to me then."

"I see," he yawned. "Sorry."

"Don't be; you just woke up from one heck of a nap," she teased. "It's fine Gin. I'm just happy you're alive."

"Me too," he admitted. "For a little bit there I thought I was going to die. I'm glad I didn't." He fell silent for a moment and then, "So how's Shinsō?"

"She's been good," the Captain laughed. "I couldn't ask for a better guard snake. And the persimmon trees are all happy and healthy."

"Good, on both accounts," he laughed softly with her and then dropped his voice even lower. "And the curtain?"

"I got the PINs in circulation; we're down to the final phase – so soon, very soon." She whispered. She spoke normally again, "You should rest. I'm going to go yell at these idiots – who are very corrected when they said they deserve it – and you shouldn't be too stressed right now."

"Not without a hug at least," he teased.

"It's been a long year without you," she admitted as she hugged him gently and kissed him lightly.

"Same here," he murmured against her lips. She pulled back and smiled at him.

"I love you, Gin," she told him.

"I love ya too, Sakura," he smiled genuinely. "I'm glad I didn't die. But ya realize I'm a criminal now, right?"

"You tried to do the right thing Gin," she reassured him. "That's all that matters to me."

The doctor ushered them out, telling them that Gin needed more rest.

"Sakura?" he called one last time.

"Hai?" she turned back, looking under the doctor's arm.

"Come back soon," he smiled.

"I will, I promise." She grinned, "Even if I have to put the entire Gotei in a lockdown to get out."

He laughed as much as his body would let him – which wasn't much – and watched the doorway even after the group had left. He felt better now. But who or what the hell was Hebi?