Rock Lee paced outside Sakura's hospital bedroom. The part of the exams that took place in the Forest Of Death had ended, and Lee would soon have to take part in the finals, yet he didn't feel comfortable knowing that Sakura still had not woken up. He was waiting for a nurse to let him into Sakura's room. Tenten had visited the day before but Lee had kept on training, though he admitted only to himself that it was because he wasn't sure he would be able to handle the sight of poor Sakura being weak and in pain…

Now, he almost regretted not visiting her but at the same time he did not, for he was able to get some crucial training done. He knew it was important for him to become a ninja for himself, for Guy, and for Sakura.

"Hi," A nurse greeted him with a friendly smile on her face. Her eyes were bright and cheerful.

"Hello," Rock Lee said with a respectful bow. "I've come to see Sakura."

The nurse frowned.

"What is it?" Lee asked, ignoring the fearful skip his heart made. "What is wrong?"

"It's just...she isn't doing well at all. Please don't be scared when you see her." The nurse replied.

"I will not be," Lee promised, though he felt a pang of anxiety. Just how bad were Sakura's injuries? When he had asked Tenten, she had told him they weren't that bad...but the nurse was saying other things now.

He pushed the door open and walked into the room. Sakura was lying on her back in the hospital bed as sunlight streamed through the room's open window. Although most of her body was covered in a thick sheet, her head was wrapped in bandages, one of which covered one of her eyes that had been bruised during the battle in Forest Of Death. She was sound asleep, her one eye closed tight. He could tell also by the rise and fall of her chest that she would not be waking up soon. He went to stand at her bedside, his heart twisting with pain.

Poor Sakura… He thought to himself as he gazed down at the girl he had saved from those brutal ninjas. He gently brushed his hand over the bandages that lay across her forehead. She fought so bravely. She does not deserve to be in this bad of shape. Nor does she deserve the death of her comrades. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help her get better. He had been raised that with hard work he could overcome anything. But now, seeing Sakura in the hospital bed, he felt sick to his stomach. He was helpless and nothing he did would help with the outcome of Sakura's recovery. He just had to hope that she survived.

"Sakura…" He murmured out loud. "You fought bravely against those ninjas. I...I wish I could have protected your teammates too." He felt tears welling up in the corner of his eyes and he forced himself to hold back. "I also wish I could have protected you better. You do not deserve to be in the state that you are in."

Love for the female ninja made his heart ache. He wanted to punch the ninjas who had harmed her even more, yet he knew he couldn't. He wanted to pull her deep into a hug and never let go. She deserved any protection and more that he had to offer her. I need to figure out how to help her when she wakes up… but I will have to wait until the chunin exams are over. He wanted to train as hard as possible for the finals. If he could defeat his opponent, he would be able to prove himself as a genius to himself and his sensei, Guy, and that would help him improve. He needed to improve...he would never allow something so awful to happen to Sakura again.

Sakura was awake.

Those words echoed through Lee's head as he made his way to the hospital. He had ignored some snide comment from Neji as he ran away from the training area upon hearing the news from Tenten. He needed to make sure his Sakura was safe...he needed to see how she was doing.

"Sakura!" Lee called when he finally threw her hospital room door open. His joy faded when he saw the look on her face. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, which were pulled up to her chin. Her eyes looked dull with pain, and she no longer had the bandage around her head. Her silky pink hair was a mess, though to Lee it was still as beautiful as ever. But he couldn't get over the look of sadness in her eyes or how pale she looked.

"Lee?" Sakura rasped, lifting her head to look at Lee. Her eyes were still dull. Lee could hardly handle the look on her face. "We...lost the exams. My team." She chuckled, though there was no humor in her laugh. "They all died. I am the only one left."

Lee went to her side. "Oh...Sakura, I am so sorry," He said, holding back a sob. He couldn't imagine how painful it was to lose all your teammates in one foul swoop. He didn't want to imagine it. All he knew was that the love of his life didn't deserve such pain. "It is all my fault. I could not protect them." Lee bowed his head in shame.

"It isn't…" Sakura said in a weak voice. Tears began to pour from her eyes when Lee looked up. "It's mine. I...I should have fought harder. I'm too weak, Lee."

"No," Lee replied firmly. "You fought with all your might, Sakura, and you were amazing."

"Lee…" Sakura turned her head away from him. "I have so much I want to tell you, but right now I need alone time. You...you need to train to finish the exams. Please, Lee, I need to think."