Geez, guys, I'm really sorry. Some shit went down and then school started. So, here we go.


I finish marking up a sheet of scrap paper, making do until Tsunade sends me actual medical slips for patients, detailing Sasuke's condition. My gaze drifts over his swollen eye that is slowly becoming discolored; I left that part out of the report. He's fast asleep, I can see his chest steadily rising and falling through his slack shirt.

The thought is fleeting when I see his bare skin, but it's there nonetheless. I reach out my arm and part the material of his clothing. Then, my hand hovers over his chest, seeing the scars, wanting to touch, wanting something I never thought I could get this close to. As he breathes in, his abdominals rise to meet my aching fingers, enticing me. I can feel the heat coming off of his flesh. I place my palm flush against his skin. A currant of warmth surges through me and alights my cheeks a deep seeded red.

I trace the scar across his abdomen, gingerly so as not to upset the stitches. I want to know what happened, whether this attack was justified or not. Odds are, he deserved it. I bring a hand to his face, curling my fingers around his structured jaw, caressing his long neck, his broad shoulders. He's changed so much. Yet, I bring my hand up to the nape of his neck, weaving my fingers through his unruly locks, not everything. I smile remembering all the times we made fun of him for his chicken ass hair.

Suddenly there's a knock at the door and I pull my hand away sharply, blushing.

"Yes?" I call out. One of the soldiers comes in with a steaming bowl of rice and tofu.

"I thought you might be hungry, Haruno-san," he hands me the food, smiling warmly. "Thank you," I say, genuinely touched. Exhaustion and hunger have been raging a war inside of me; too hungry to sleep and too exhausted to make food, "the prospect of having to get in the kitchen was becoming really daunting."

"I'm sure, Haruno-san" he laughs and extends his hand, "I'm Kanada Lui, by the way." I shake his hand.

"Call me Sakura," I say as I stuff a mouthful of food into my mouth. My deprived taste buds react as though it's the greatest thing in the world. It takes me a few more bites to realize Lui has made himself comfortable by leaning against a nearby wall. When he notices my eyes on him, he gets this somber expression on his face.

"Tsunade-sama never told us what we would be doing here, I mean we all had a pretty good guess once we knew the location, but still - I just can't believe it," his eyes move to Sasuke and he looks unnerved, "I can't imagine what this is like for you." I set the bowl down on the bedside table. There seems to be a twinge of pity to his words. "I don't know what I would have done if it were one of my teammates." Something spreads across my lips akin to a smile but with grief and bitterness laced like a poison.

"To be honest," I return my gaze to Sasuke, searching for an answer, "I didn't know what I was doing until I'd already done it."

"How did you find him?" Lui asks. I look him over, not sure who I can trust with that information; though, considering he's on the ANBU team assigned to the compound he must have some credibility. He gives me an expectant look that, combined with his physical boyish charm, makes me think of child waiting for candy. "He was fatally wounded when I found him, poisoned by mangrin."

"Mangrin?!"

"We don't know by who, and if Sa - he does, he hasn't told anyone, to my knowledge," I look back to Sasuke as he stirs slightly, then check my watch; it's been only three hours, the sedative shouldn't be wearing off yet. Suddenly Sasuke is thrashing like he's trying to escape from bindings, his brows are furrowed and his mouth is twisted in an expression of sheer horror and agony. Lui and I reach out to still his arms, which only causes him to flail more. He slips free of my grasp and and slams his elbow into my gut. I double over in pain. Sasuke screams, not a battle cry, but that of a terrified child. Guards clamber into the room to help. I try to shuck the pain and rush over to him. His eyes are shut tight and he's sweating profusely, his breath coming in ragged. Is he dreaming? I try to shake him.

"Sasuke," I shake harder, he's burning up, "Sasuke!" I turn to Lui, "Get me a bowl of cool water and a washcloth!" Lui nods, relinquishing his grip on Sasuke's arms to someone else. Another guard has his feet. Many of them stand around, unsure of what to do. I try slapping his cheek as gently as possible, calling out his name. His only response is another anguished cry. When Lui returns, I dip the cloth in water and press it to his forehead, his cheeks, his neck, his chest, then repeat. It seems to calm him slightly. Gradually his limbs still, his breathing slows. Some of the guards leave, others stay, unsure if the crisis is over. "I believe this was a severe reaction to the sedative and I will be sending a report to Tsunade-sama about it as soon as possible so that we may avoid this issue again," I state, addressing the room. That's good enough for the rest of them; everyone but Lui leaves.

"I can stay in here, to subdue him," Lui says sternly.

"I don't think that will be necessary," I reply, albeit unsurely, "I'll take care of him tonight and hopefully Tsunade-sama will have a more suitable solution. In his condition, I think it's best if we give him breathing room."

"Very well," Lui bows, "If you need me, I'll be right downstairs."

"Thank you," I dip the cloth in the large ceramic bowl then wring it out before pressing it to Sasuke's forehead again.