"The medic-nins had said you'd gone into a lighter sleep. I'm glad to see you've woken up."

Kakashi looked toward the door. Iruka was standing there. Kakashi was startled for a moment before he remembered that he was no longer in the dream.

He quickly wiped the tears away from his face as Iruka turned toward the window and pretended not to notice.

Lighter sleep? Mouthed Kakashi silently while Iruka was turned away.

Iruka spoke to cover the awkward moment.

"Naruto asked me to come see how you were. Hokage-sama sent him on a mission after she got tired of him coming in here every fifteen minutes. Of course, he just got me to do it for him, so it's not like there's much difference…"

"Where's my mask?" interrupted Kakashi.

Iruka's voice was a little colder when he spoke. "On the table next to you."

Kakashi rolled over and grabbed his shirt with the mask attached to it. He tried to pull it on, but the simple acting of putting his arms over his head left him suddenly exhausted.

Iruka walked over to Kakashi's bedside with quick steps. He took hold of the shirt, raising an eyebrow. Kakashi sighed and slipped his arms into it, allowing Iruka to pull it over his head.

He adjusted the set of it over his nose then lay back down again, worn out. Iruka walked balk over to the window.

"How long have I been in the hospital?" Kakashi asked, shutting his eyes.

"You've been in a coma for a little over three weeks. You shouldn't try to do anything yet," he added quickly, seeing that Kakashi was struggling to sit up again. He started toward the bed again, but Kakashi had given up and lain down again before he'd taken two steps.

Kakashi lay there panting, horrified at his own weakness. He lifted his hands before his face and stared at them.

"Three weeks." Repeated Iruka quietly. "The medic-nins healed your wounds, but it's going to be a long time before you're back to normal.

Kakashi put one hand over his eyes and let the other drop back to his side.

"How did the mission go?" He moved his hand away and turned his head to look at Iruka. "Naruto's all right, then?"

Iruka stepped closer and sat in the chair next to Kakashi's bed.

"Yes, he's fine. He had some deep cuts, but they healed quickly." He gave Kakashi a look. "Do you remember what happened?"

Kakashi struggled with his memories.

"I remember one of the missing nins coming at me…" he said, slowly. Iruka nodded.

"You weren't able to fully dodge his jutsu. Naruto wasn't able to see clearly, but he doesn't think it was the jutsu that did the real damage and the medic-nins agree."

Kakashi blinked. "Then what did the damage?"

Iruka looked at the floor. "The force of the jutsu, combined that the fact that were already moving to dodge…" he stopped, obviously searching for the right words.

"You hit your head against a tree." He finally blurted. His face turned red as Kakashi stared at him.

"I've been in a coma for three weeks because I hit my head against a tree?"

Iruka nodded. He looked embarrassed. Kakashi rolled over with a soft groan. He heard Iruka get up to leave.

Kakashi looked over his shoulder.

Talk to them.

"Oh, Iruka-san," he said hesitantly.

Iruka paused in the doorway.

"You know, it will be a while before I'm back up to speed…"

Iruka turned around.

"It would help if I had someone to spar with." Kakashi finished. Iruka blinked rapidly, bringing up a hand to point at his own chest. Kakashi raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"You—oh! Uh, certainly, Hatake-san!" he bowed, flustered, then quickly departed before Kakashi could say anything else insane.