Don't Forget to Remember Me
Summary: It's been a decade since Sakura has last seen him, their last good-bye left feelings unsaid. Years later, the two reconnect but will one of them run before everything is said and done.
Sakura prided herself on her ability to multi-task, so when the ER decided to crumble around her with multiple incidents and limited staff, she simply adjusted the knot on her head and started prioritizing. After all, the knowledge of Medicine courses through her veins, it has become a part of who she is a gifted healer in more ways than one.
'Ino bring the supplies to do a quick blood test.' Sakura instructed to the blonde nurse, 'also be sure to check-up on bed 8.'
'Of course.' Ino turned in the opposite direction but quickly reversed. 'Oh, before I forget Ten needs your assistance.'
Sakura released a tired sigh, 'did she say for what?'
'Nope.'
'I've got two more patients to see,' Sakura mumbled, 'Do you think—'
'What would you do without me, forehead?' Ino's smug smile didn't go unnoticed.
'I'd have more food in my apartment and much more room on the DVR.' Sakura chimed.
'But no friends.' Ino shrugged.
'Peace and quiet, the way I like it.' Sakura argued with a smile.
'Oh, please.' Ino flipped her ponytail, 'you'd die without me.'
Beep Beep— Sakura checked her cell, '911'— Ten Ten.
'Crap!' Sakura's eyes locked with Ino's, 'it's an emergency.' She quickly grabbed the chart and shoved it into Ino's hands with a small wave before escaping into the crowd of white coats and matching scrubs.
'I'll be accepting chocolates and a gift card to Starbuck's.' Ino yelled at Sakura's back as she turned the corner.
Sakura has been an RN at Tokyo Medical for two years, graduating at the top of her class— the Hospital was honored that she chose their facility to practice Medicine. After all, Sakura had a influential push in the Medical Field— Tsunade Senju, is not only Sakura's adoptive mother, she's also a sought-out Internal Medicine Doctor with enough credentials, she puts others to shame.
Sakura rounded the corner and right into a brawl, 'what in the world…' her green-eyes widened at the scene in front of her. Security had their target trapped against the cool tile, hands bound and a stain of blood soaked through his light blue shirt.
'Sakura! Thank God.' Ten Ten appeared from the mess.
'Ten,' Sakura glanced behind her and at the red-headed man that stayed glue to the tile. 'What the heck is going on?'
Ten Ten rubbed her forehead, 'there was a fight somewhere, and he was brought in — against his will, apparently. He tried to leave but the laceration on his shoulder… I couldn't let him.'
Sakura listened as Ten Ten explained the situation, 'before I messaged you, he was in the examination room, I stepped out for a moment and this happened.'
'It's not your fault, Ten.' Sakura squeezed her upper arm for support, 'I'll handle it.'
'Uh, nurse?' A security guard with hazel-colored eyes approached them, 'what would you like us to do with…' He trailed off; Sakura followed his line of vision. The two other security guards hoisted the patient up from the floor giving Sakura a better view of his pale face.
Iridescent Jade colored-eyes— blue and green, more blue if you looked closely. He didn't let anyone that close unless it was her.
Sakura's heart drummed in her chest at her discovery, he didn't seem too concerned about her at the moment.
A straight nose and strong jaw, his bottom lip is fuller than the top but what Sakura focuses on the most is the angry tattoo carved into his forehead.
'Love…' A small pain fills her heart. 'Why would he do that?'
The security guard clears his throat breaking Sakura's thoughts; she quickly blinks them away for now. 'What's the plan, nurse?' He sounded tired, not that she could blame him.
'Leave him cuffed, place him back in the room. I'll need to gather supplies.'
The security guard informed the others, the red-headed man didn't go without a fight but they managed to get him through the door. Sakura returned with a cart of numbing medication, sutures, bandages, and the key for the cuffs. She hoped he would recognize her and make this a little easier for them both.
Sakura nodded at the security guard guarding the door before lightly tapping on the wood, she didn't give him a chance to respond before she pushed the cart through and the door closed lightly behind her.
'Still causing trouble I see.' Though her tone was serious, there was a funny feeling bubbling in her belly.
His Jade colored-eyes traveled from her dirty nursing shoes up her scrub-covered body and stopped on her heart-shaped face.
'It's been a while Gaara.' Sakura's lips pulled into a fond smile that he didn't return.
She didn't expect him too, his face held no emotion but his eyes told her something completely different. He remembered enough of her for his eyes to widen slightly in surprise, and that made her heart beat a little faster.
'You're always in the way.' His raspy voice is thick with annoyance.
'You do remember?' Sakura asked lightly, it is not every day your childhood love walks into your Hospital, unless he's injured in that case, she was lucky he was dumped at her Hospital.
The harsh stare he pointed at her, almost made her flinch. 'I don't have time for this shit.' He glanced around the room, 'discharge me, Haruno.'
'Haruno?' Sakura mocked with wide eyes, 'so we're back to that?' An attitude was forming on the tip of her tongue.
Gaara continued to glare at her, 'what'd you expect?'
'Oh I don't know. How about a 'Hi Sakura, remember me? The boy you constantly had to stitch up because I couldn't play well with others.' She crossed her arms and cocked out her hip.
'That was a long time ago.'
Sakura released a dry chuckle, 'obviously.' She pointed out his injury, 'somethings never change.'
'Are you going to discharge me or not?' He challenged.
Their eyes remained locked, neither one gave in— green clashed with Jade, silently searching for a surrender.
Sakura inwardly sighed; this wasn't part of her job. She wasn't a child anymore, Gaara didn't owe her anything.
'Let me dress your wound.' Gaara's jaw tightened, he didn't like that answer. 'I'll discharge you right after.'
He inhaled through his nose, 'fine.' He adjusted himself on the table and lifted his hands up; he gave her an expectant look.
'Oh, right.' Sakura pulled the key from her scrub pocket; her fingers grazed his skin, despite his cold exterior, his skin is warm. 'There.' She silently backed away from him.
Gaara rubbed his right wrist and watched as Sakura started navigating around the cart she pushed in, 'just stitch it up.' Sakura's eyes cut to his, her tongue was ready to argue but she simply sighed and agreed.
'Remove your shirt,' She pulled a pair of gloves from a box and pushed the cart closer to the table. He peeled the light blue shirt from his body, Sakura watched as the muscles in his stomach flexed and relaxed as he placed the shirt beside him.
'Oh my,' Sakura schooled her reaction, 'he's not a scrawny little boy anymore.'
His chest is as pale as his face, toned and scarred; a faint pink scar runs on the right side of his abdomen about four-inches long and she is curious about how it got there.
Sakura opened her mouth, 'don't ask.' He drawled, 'worry about this.' He moved his injured shoulder without discomfort.
Sakura glared at him, 'you don't have to be so rude to me.' She moved around the table to his back, pulling the latex gloves over her small hands. The laceration didn't penetrate to deep, 'Can you tell me how you got this at least?'
Her gloved hands lightly touched his skin, 'a bar fight.' He said casually, as if it was light conversation. Sakura couldn't believe what she heard; she sighed and shook her head at his stupidity.
'This might sting.' The antibiotic spray coated the laceration, Sakura waited for a moment but Gaara didn't even flinch. 'Alright,' she dabbed away the excess medication and cleaned the wound of dried blood. 'You're going to need a couple of sutures.'
He grunted as a response, Sakura always hated his one-word language especially as children. 'Without the numbing medication—'
'Just do it, Haruno.'
'Fine.' Her teeth gritted in frustration. Sakura gathered the needle and suture in her skilled hands, with a deep breath she stabbed through Gaara's skin. She waited patiently for a reaction but the tiny room filled with silence.
She didn't question him about his 'bar fight' as much as she wanted too; she wanted to know how Gaara got here and why? Was he adopted after all? It is not as if she would know since he never wrote her single letter like he promised he would.
'Let it go, Sakura… You were children.'
The bitter ache lessened but after all these years; Sakura found it still managed to eat away at her heart more than she thought.
She smoothed the bandage over his sutures, the wound would heal but with a scar, Sakura didn't think he would care to much about it. 'Done.' She pulled the gloves off with a snap. 'The sutures should be removed after a couple of weeks but I doubt you'll be blessing us with your presence.' Sakura walked over to the trash to get rid of the gloves.
Gaara moved off the table and grabbed his bloody shirt, 'you were always the smart one.' He pulled the shirt over his bright red hair.
She leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, 'Gaara please be more careful.'
'You don't have to worry about me, Haruno.' He said as he fixed his shirt. He has mentioned that before, but as a twelve-year boy. Sakura smiled at the memory.
'You've told me that before.'
Gaara glanced around the room; he found his jacket thrown on the counter behind her, Sakura stood a little straighter as he approached her. 'I guess you're right.' His vivid colored-eyes took her breath away; he was standing close enough that she could place her hand over his heart as she did countless times as children. She would be lying if she didn't admit her heart had sped up as he came closer; the smell of the Hospital had washed away his natural scent.
'I wonder if he still smells the same.'
'Somethings never change.' Sakura's breath hitched as he reached around her and grabbed his jacket, slightly grazing against her but his eyes never left hers. He reached out a brushed a strand of pink behind her ear, 'this will be the last time. I promise.'
A rose blush covered Sakura's cheeks, 'you've broken that promise more than once.' Her voice came out as a whisper, she didn't mean for it to sound so so mushy but she couldn't help it.
His close proximity made her head swim.
He simply smirked, 'you never held it against me.' He took a step back, giving Sakura room to breathe and put his jacket on.
She didn't how to respond to his comment because it was true, she couldn't turn her back on him when he was pain… physically and mentally.
'Am I free to go?' He asked.
She knew she couldn't keep him here any longer, Shizune would come searching for him once she caught word of the altercation.
'I can't believe I'm allowing this to happen…' She muttered mainly to herself. She pulled out a small pad from her scrub pocket; she clicked the pen and wrote a small to-do list.
Use the ointment.
Sutures need to be removed in two weeks.
Don't get into any more fights, stupid!
(555) 855-456-1010
Sakura ripped the paper from the pad and thrusted it into Gaara's chest with a small tube of medication. 'You're free.' He placed the tube in his pocket and glanced at the note and raised a brow
'You're giving me your phone number?'
Sakura's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, 'Yes, no!' She exclaimed, 'for emergencies.' She didn't like that smirk look on his face it made her knees weak. 'In case you decide to get into another knife fight, you don't have to interrupt the whole Hospital.'
'Bar fight.' He corrected.
'Oh, I'm sure sharp objects were involved.' Sakura argued.
He chuckled lightly as he shook his head, 'See you around, Haruno.' He reached for the door and Sakura let him.
'Bye Gaara.' The guard gave her a baffled look as the door opened but Sakura waved him off.
She waited for the door to close before she sank to her knees, it's been a decade since she's seen him, he brought forth buried feelings that she locked away because of the heart ache.
Beep Beep— Sakura didn't check her phone, she replayed the sound of his voice over and over.
Beep Beep— She forgot she worked at Hospital and still had four hours of her shift.
After the third text, she snapped out of her stance.
'Forehead, bed 4 is requesting you.'
'Forehead?'
'Sakura, do I need to shout for you over the intercom? Move your ass.'
Sakura quickly responded to Ino, she stood up and turned on the sink, she splashed cool water on her face before leaving the examination room ready to get back to work.
'You need sleep.' Ino handed Sakura a cup of iced coffee with whipped cream, 'and not this sugary mess you call coffee.'
'I'll sleep tonight; right now I need the caffeine.' Sakura stabbed the straw through the lid and took a sip. 'That's the good stuff.'
Ino rolled her eyes and sipped from her own hot coffee, she couldn't understand how Sakura added ice? Who does that? 'Forehead, are you okay?'
Sakura's pencil came to a halt as she glanced up at her friend, 'of course why?' She took another sip.
'You've been quieter than usual is all.' Ino's blue-eyes shined with unspoken concern, 'is there something on your mind?'
Her shift ended uneventful after Gaara was discharged, Shizune, the Head Nurse had a lot to say about that. Sakura would be doing charts until her hand cramps for allowing a patient to walk out of the Hospital after causing such a scene.
She didn't argue.
'Earth to forehead,' Ino poked her between the eyes. Sakura blinked and swatted her hand away, 'you've been extra spacey too.'
'Have not.' She argued and sipped her drink. 'is Ten coming over?'
Ino's elbow rested on Sakura's table, holding up her chin, 'yes she's on the way with breakfast.'
It was 6 a.m. and their shifts started at 7:30 a.m., Ino lived directly across the hall with her cat Tulip while Ten Ten lived a block away with a boyfriend.
Sakura nodded and continued her study; Ino figured questioning her would only make Sakura feel cornered so she would wait until she was ready.
Knock Knock— 'it's open.' Both girls shouted at the door, Sakura never locked the door once Ino came over because Ten Ten was sure to follow.
'Good Morning babes!' Ten Ten held a box of sweets and white paper bag as she walked into Sakura's dining room; she placed the goodies on the table.
'What are you study now?' She glanced over Sakura's shoulder before taking a seat. Ino slid a cup of coffee over into Ten Ten's hands.
'It's for Shizune,' Sakura didn't look up from the page. Ten Ten glanced over at Ino who shrugged her shoulders and sipped her coffee.
Ten Ten didn't question it and slumped in her chair, 'I'm beat. Last night was rough,' she opened up the box and handed Ino a glazed donut before taking one for herself. 'And because I know you hate donuts, I got muffins this time.' Ten Ten placed the treat in front of Sakura's book.
Sakura gave her a grateful smile.
'Tell me about it,' Ino agreed before taking a bite.
'Oh!' Ten Ten exclaimed, causing the other girls to stare her with a confused look. 'Sakura, what happened with that aggressive patient?'
'You had an aggressive patient?!' Ino shrieked. 'And didn't tell me?' Her blue-eyes narrowed on Sakura's face.
Sakura sighed; she wasn't going to get this finished in time. 'Calm down.' She told Ino, 'and he wasn't aggressive.'
'Really?' Ten Ten crossed her arms and gave her serious look.
Sakura scoffed, 'he wasn't that aggressive. At least with me.'
Ten Ten's gaze shifted to Ino's, the blonde-haired woman was already on it. 'What's that supposed to mean?'
'Yeah because he was ready to throw me out on my ass.' Ten Ten chimed.
Sakura didn't like how their eyes bore into hers, searching for clue, a hint as to why she didn't share this information sooner. 'I-,' Sakura glanced back and forth between them. 'I don't know.'
The girls didn't buy that excuse, their stares only intensified. 'I just talked to him.' Sakura's green-eyes casted down as she started picking at the muffin Ten Ten placed in front of her earlier.
'Fine.' Ten Ten gave Ino a look. 'What'd you talk about?'
Sakura's fingers froze on the blueberry muffin; she was not going to get out of this one. She rubbed her hands together, getting rid of the invisible crumples and looked back at the two of them. 'Have I ever told you two that I was adopted?'
Thoughts?