Okay, I'm back with more of Team, and I hope you guys can forgive the long delay.

Team Part Eleven

Home

On the way back to the Administration building to file a report for their mission, Hinata was rapidly starting to regret her actions during the "chicken fiasco." Her teammates had yet to say a word, and they trailed behind her by a good four feet or so.

She blinked back tears of frustration and remorse and hurt. Dammit, she had meant every word she had said to Mrs. Kiyoko. But she shouldn't have let her temper get the best of her, shouldn't have been rude to a paying customer. It was just that Hinata was so discouraged.

It had been almost five months since she had joined her team but so little progress had been made. She knew it was, in part, due to the fact that she was so much weaker than her teammates. It was also because every step they took was monitored and judged and ridiculed by the village. She felt stifled and harassed and angry constantly. And if she felt that way, she knew that Gaara and Naruto must be feeling it, too.

She heard low voices behind her. Were they talking about her?

She risked a glance back at her teammates. They avoided her eyes, Naruto almost popped his neck out of joint pretending to "enjoy" the scenery while Gaara studied the dirt he was walking on. Had she embarrassed them that much? She turned back to the front and grasped her knapsack tighter against her abdomen.

Feeling sorry for herself, and sorry for her teammates, Hinata didn't notice when Naruto widened his stride to catch up to her.

"Hinata– " startled out of her morose thoughts, Hinata jerked at the sound of her name and dropped her sack.

Her face heating, she bent to pick it up at the same time Naruto did, both mumbling apologies. It was awkward and she felt stupid and she fumbled even more when they knocked shoulders and their hands brushed.

Naruto and Hinata both backed up and with a muffled swear, Gaara swooped down and picked up the pack.

"Here, Hinata." He handed her the knapsack and waited until he was sure she had a firm grasp on it. "We need to talk." His voice was quiet but he sounded hesitant and a little angry.

Stricken, Hinata looked at Naruto. He flushed and jerked his head in the direction of an open area just before the village gates.

With a calm demeanor she certainly didn't feel, Hinata sank onto a wooden bench and set her bag at her feet. She kept her hands locked together tightly in her lap, because she feared she would start fidgeting or trembling.

Gaara and Naruto didn't take a seat beside her. Instead, they stood in front of her, about three feet away. Naruto glared at Gaara, and Gaara glared back. Naruto sighed and took a small step forward.

"I'm not really sure how to say this, Hinata . . . you know I'm not that great with words and stuff. But, today, with the chicken lady, well, I . . . err . . . that is to say . . . we . . . well–"

With a huffing sigh, Gaara interrupted. "We didn't know you felt that way. We didn't realize that being with us in front of the village affected you so much. It was never our intention to hurt you or to embarrass you and so we apologize and understand when you report to Tsunade and request a transfer." He kept his eyes above Hinata's head, as if he was watching trees instead of her expression. Naruto was kicking at a half-buried stone in the ground at his feet.

Silence.

Naruto risked a glance up at Hinata's face and gave a sharp cry of dismay. "Are you crying? Don't cry! What can I do?"

Gaara's sharp gaze shifted to Hinata and his eyebrows drew down in a tight frown. His statement wasn't supposed to have made her cry. It should have relieved her, made her feel better. Well hell, now he really knew he'd never understand women.

Hinata pressed one hand over her mouth to stifle a sob and shook her head frantically at Naruto's words. They thought she was upset becauseshe was with them? Did they not see she was upset because of the things the villagers did to them?

Naruto crouched down in front of her, " Hinata, we need to know why you're crying. Otherwise, we can't fix it. Please tell us . . . we won't be hurt that you don't want to stay with us. Honestly."

Gaara knew Naruto was lying, could almost smell it on him. Having Hinata, who he had thought was managing pretty well with their moods and their faults and their demons, not be able to handle them would be the last straw. He was pretty sure they'd both end up leaving the village, simply because there would be no place for them. Either of them.

Managing to control her tears, Hinata brushed at her wet cheeks. She motioned Gaara closer, and kept waving her hand at him until he was seated beside her on the bench. Naruto still at her feet, she reached tentatively for words to explain herself.

Quietly, she said, "You two are the most caring people I've ever met. I . . . I've never had people worry about me like you do, or care that I cry or hurt or get upset. It's overwhelming and wonderful and frightening all at the same time."

She smiled down at Naruto, a smile that took his breath away because it was caring and sweet and wonderful and accepting, and she raised her face to Gaara and gave him a smile, too. He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the way she made him feel–clean, decent, likeable, human–and let his arm rest against hers.

Naruto rested a hand on her knee to keep his balance, "We hurt you and we never wanted to. We're sorry."

"You never hurt me, you dolt." she said with a warmth to her voice that took away the sting of the nickname. "I'm just so frustrated with the bigotry and the insults and the rudeness and the hate that fills this place. Being on this team with you, while showing me how far behind I am in skill, has set the base for a friendship and a support system that all three of us need. I don't want to lose that. I refuse to. Don't let them chase you two away. This could be your home, if you want it to be. Do you?"

Naruto sniffed surreptitiously and hoped neither of his teammates noticed his damp eyes. When Hinata's hand tentatively covered his, he knew she saw his teary expression but he didn't really care. He reached out a hand to Gaara and felt a burst of warmth in the bit of his stomach with the former Sand ninja gingerly placed his hand palm to palm with Naruto.

"I want this." Naruto's voice was firm and steady though his hands shook the tiniest bit.

"I want this." Hinata's voice was soft but warm and accepting.

Gaara had to clear his throat before he was sure his voice would work. Saying these three simple words aloud would risk more than he ever had before. But he felt Hinata's arm warm against his own and Naruto's hand strong in his and knew it was worth it.

"I want this."

Watch out, Konoha, Gaara thought, we're coming home.

More to come this week. On with the plot, says I!