I stand by the door and stare at Gaara, a little terrified. This is terrible; how did this happen?

Actually, I know exactly how it happened. Seri betrayed me. One minute she's asking me for a teensy little favor, the next I've become the personal physician of a madman. Former madman. I don't know!

She walked me down the hall, where Gaara was waiting. Then she actually scolded him.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "Didn't I tell you to wait in the examining room?"

I was sure then that he would kill her, or something equally gruesome. Instead he just regarded her levelly, with hardly a change in expression and said, "I apologize." Then went back into the room he was standing outside. My chin still hurts a little from hitting the floor after that.

And then, the ultimate betrayal. "I'm really busy and I don't really have time to do this anymore, or anyone more qualified so I need you to do the Kazekage's check up. Thank you."

After her quick muttered speech, Seri left me. At first all I could do was stand there and blink with amazement at how smoothly she had roped me into yet another, even scarier responsibility, and then I realized Luo was standing behind me, and decided it was time to move.

So here I am.

"How are you feeling this morning?" I ask him quietly, some stupid part of me hoping that maybe he won't hear me, and he won't respond, but at least I can feel like I tried. I'm so glad Luo decided to stay outside the door for this.

"I feel fine." he answers.

I nod, trying to look calm, and look quickly through the papers Seri gave me. Gaara's medical file. I stop quickly though, as he's still just watching me, and it kind of creeps me out.

"Ok fine, that doesn't really matter does it? We both know your body is in good enough condition. This is just a formality right?"

He shrugs. I wish he didn't make me feel like such a fool so easily. I don't even think he's trying.

So I go through the examination, checking his throat, his ears and eyes. When I put the stethoscope to his chest I almost expect to hear nothing, no heart beat, but it's there, beating away steadily. I listen to it a little while longer, to make sure it really is ok, and to reassure myself a little I think. It's nice to know, after all this time, that he really is human after all.

I step back and tell him he can get dressed again. Until now I hadn't even though about it, but I just saw the leader of a nation without his shirt on. It takes a lot of concentration to keep myself from blushing at this point. And it's stupid; it's not as though I've never seen a man without his shirt on before. I guess I just never imagined Gaara in this situation before.

I turn to the counter to jot down some quick notes on his file, and to hide my face from his view. "You'll live." I tell him. I look up at him, but he's not smiling. And he still hasn't put his shirt back on.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asks.

I bite my lip. How am I supposed to respond to that? I know what I should say, how to respond diplomatically, that is, but for some reason that answer doesn't come out of my mouth.

"A little, yes," I answer, and when he frowns I go on. "The right word would be intimidated I think. You are the leader of this country, you know."

"Yes I know."

I smile a little at that, although I'm not sure if that was him being funny, or if he really meant it. I just don't know about him.

"You know Seri will probably make you do this all the time now?" he asks, while (finally) putting his shirt back on.

I sigh. "I've come to realize that she has a way of tricking people into doing more than they plan to."

He pulls his shirt over his head and stares at me. "I could ask her to get someone else if it makes you uncomfortable."

I shake my head, and not only for diplomatic reasons. True, I don't want to offend him, but I also don't want to feel like I'm letting Seri down, and I do enjoy having work to do. I don't mind having more responsibilities at the hospital, and I tell him so.

"I guess I can understand how you feel." he says, and shrugs. He stands then and walks to the door. When he opens it he turns around and faces me again. "Thank you." he says, and leaves.

As soon as he's gone I can feel myself relaxing. There's something about that man that gets me on edge. I think it might be the near death experience I've had because of him, maybe.

Moments later Luo appears in the door. "There's a little while before your class starts," he tells me, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

I shake my head and follow him out of the room and to the hospital cafeteria.

We eat in silence. The food isn't as bad as the food at the Konoha hospital, but it's still not good. Too bad I don't have more time to go out and get real food. I could probably suck some more money out of Luo before I get rid of him.

After breakfast I meet my students for another day of teaching and healing. Luo tags along with us all day, silent, but still somehow getting on my nerves. My nerves which are still on edge from the morning, and I can't calm down until much later that night.