"Good morning Gaara came from every direction when they walked in the doors. He responded, usually with a wave, but sometimes with a smile or a nod.
"Wow Gaara, there's so many…" Naruto looked around in wonder, falling behind.
"Stay close to me Naruto, we don't want you getting lost."
Naruto nodded and walked a little faster until he was walking behind Gaara's side.
"You got taller Gaara." He said as they entered the elevator.
"People do that. So did you."
"Not as much as you though."
"Gaara? Gaara I need to talk to you." A female voice familiar to Naruto said as they stepped out of the elevator.
"Not now Sakura, I need to find Tsunade."
"She's in your office…Naruto?"
"Sakura?"
"Can we save this? Sakura, what did you need to talk to me about?"
"But you said that you needed to find…"
"Yes, and now I know where she is."
"In your office."
Gaara paused for a moment to look at her, and when she avoided eye contact, he relented. "Alright" Gaara sighed "In my office."
Sakura moved back to walk beside Naruto. "So, how are things going with Sasuke?"
"He left."
"But-"
"Don't Sakura" Gaara looked back over his shoulder. "It's fresh."
"Oh…sorry.."
"It's… alright. You didn't know. So, how are you and Lee doing?"
"We're alright. It was a little rocky at the beginning when… but we're much better now."
"I see."
"Where the hell have you been Gaara?" Tsunade was on him the minute he opened his office door.
"I was at home, sleeping." Gaara pushed past her to clear the pile of papers he had left on his desk.
"Then why didn't you answer the phone?"
"I had to pick up a friend." He replied, moving from the desk to put papers into various hanging folders in one of the file cabinet drawers. "And there's a minor problem with my phone."
"I thought you said there wasn't-" Naruto started, before being interrupted by Gaara
"There isn't." Gaara finished with the papers, nearly slamming the file cabinet drawer and holding onto the handle. "There is not…a knife…in the phone." Gaara took his hands away from the handle and went to clear the small coffee table that sat in front of a couch well used from the many all-nighters Gaara pulled.
"Again Gaara?" Tsunade sighed.
"…Yeah."
"You could just get a cell pho-"
"No!" Gaara jerked up from leaning over the table, empty candy wrapper in hand, to glare at Tsunade.
"Stubborn ass." Tsunade muttered.
"What?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Gaara has a little problem with telemarketers." Tsunade informed him with a smile.
"It's more than a little problem Tsunade, stop minoritizing my issues."
"Minori… is that even a word?"
"Don't know."
"Tsunade-sama… umm…"
"Yes Sakura?"
"Gaara was looking for you…"
"Well, what did he want?"
"I-I don't know ma'am."
"I was asking him."
"You remember that guy I was telling you about?"
"The one who went to the same college as you?"
"This is him. He needs a job."
"Good, I've got an Idea."
"Sakura"
"Yes Gaara?"
"Wasn't there something you needed to tell me?"
"Oh yes … Konohamaru he… last night we…" Sakura paused, looking to the floor. "He's gone… we couldn't save him."
"But he was doing so well…"
"I know but… around four he just…" Gaara sat on the couch behind him, though it was considerably more like falling, and put his head in his hands.
"Gaa-" Sakura started before Tsunade stopped her, shook her head, and ushered Sakura out of the room.
"Gaara…" Naruto said softly as he sat down by Gaara's side.
"He was such a good…he didn't deserve…"
"Gaara." Naruto pilled Gaara's head onto his chest, over his heart, knowing how it used to comfort him, and wrapped his arms around his former lover. Naruto offered Gaara what he could. Fingers gently running through his soft hair, a steady heartbeat, and whispers in his ear as Naruto held him close.
