Recap:

An hour later I'm still frozen, wondering whether or not everyone's better off without me; 'maybe if a pull the cord from my wrist no one will notice.' I'm about to try when I hear them, they're outside my room with whoever they've brought along. 'Is it Naruto?' I think while gripping my sheets watching the door. The handle twist and feet start to shuffle in; my eyes are closed so I see no one, look no one in the eyes.

They stare.

End Recap

Chapter 3

Savior

Lying in her bed Sakura could feel their eyes burning through her sheets; she refused to open hers. Playing as if she were asleep she let out a long exasperated sigh and rolled over facing away from them; that way if her face twitched no one would see.

Kankuro laughed "That has got to be the fakest of all fake sleeps I've ever seen" Sakura winced at this before turning over to face the three sand siblings. Watching them without showing any emotions she stared at their foreheads. She knew that she would be unable to look anyone in the eyes and lie convincingly later on.

"I see your responding to people now" Kankuro the more outgoing of the two sat down on the end of her bed crossing his legs as if he were ready for a sleep over. Temari gave him a questioning look "what? There aren't any chairs in here."

He seemed more light hearted than she remembered him; it was refreshing. Much like Naruto used to be before the quest for Sasuke; now everything revolved around that one mission. Even his ramen breaks were filled with conversations of their missing team member; not that she minded, she of all people wanted him back.

She looked from Kankuro to Temari who was now pulling out documents and handing them to her "here, there from Konoha". Sakura stretched out her hand taking the documents cautiously before setting them aside on her bedside; she already knew what they would say. The others watched curiously as she stared out the window ignoring that they were even in the same room as her. Temari continued talking none the less "A team from Konoha will arrive here in a day or two; most likely two due to the events taken place in the area. They'll need to be cautious." Sakura flinched at the news; this went unnoticed by everyone except Gaara who had been watching her reactions since he saw her place the paper's aside. Temari sighed "So … Ok … That's all I have to say, I guess were done here." Grabbing Kankuro by the hood she pulled him along with her "Gaara you coming?" Getting no reply she continued to walk with Kankuro in tow.

"Come on, you have to finish your shift with the chuunin."

"He can stay but I have to work with those talentless!..." arguing was heard all the down the hallway by everyone in the hospital and at least a hundred mile radius.

Sakura cracked a small smile before returning to her emotionless demeanor she was trying to pull off once she noticed Gaara was still in the room. Looking up she watched his chest inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale; 'how does he always remain so calm?' Gaara watched her face; her eyes avoiding his own "You should read that." Sakura looked to the documents he was referring to. A second later she returned her eyes to the window and continued to watch the clouds. Annoyed by his presence Sakura reached for the remote on her bedside and pushed the nurse response button repeatedly. Gaara stood with his arms crossed watching her with unwavering emotion in his haunting green eyes; Sakura could swear he could see right through her making her throat feel as if it were collapsing and in need of water.

The nurse finally came in what seemed like hours carrying her chart along with her "Well, well look who's up." Smiling she walked to check Sakura's I.V. "What is it I can do for you?" Sakura pointed downwards towards her bladder her throat feeling to dry to talk. "Oh of course! Kazekage sir if you'll excuse us." Gaara nodded; walking out he closed the door behind him and decided not to wait.

It wasn't till around one in the morning when Sakura felt well enough to walk around; she knew she would never be ready to leave the sand village before the Leaf arrived but at least she would be able work her legs out enough to not look pathetic in the eyes of her comrades. Lifting herself off of her bed she held back tears as her limbs screamed for release; pushing herself to make it to the door she opened it slightly looking into the hallway before continuing through the hallway. Slowly she progressed keeping a distance from voices at the other end. Her knees gave way as she reached the door to her way out causing her to have to catch herself on the handle; her breath caught in her throat from the pain in her stomach.

Slowly breathing in, out, in, out 'deep breaths'; she closed her eyes and lifted herself once more.

Once outside she could feel the wind picking up whipping around her causing the white hospital gown she had on to stick to her small frame. The dry sand filled wind cursed though the black night; whistling around each corner creating an orchestra of sounds. Walking into the storm she stood with her hands directly up into the sky; her bones now peeking through her skin showing how her eating habits had escalated. Her toes curled into the ground below her as the wind pushed her backwards with its strength; she felt as if she were flying. Closings her eyes she held her breath as the sand thickened around her covering her from the world; her body was completely hidden within the storm. Smiling she let herself be lifted from the earth slightly gliding in the wind before being set back down by the currents. Her mind left the desert watching her life pass before her; watching everything she had seen in those around her that she had never wanted to see. She was haunted by their faces and would soon be able to leave them forever and lay them at peace. Feeling her body lift once more into the storm the wind picked up speed ready to carry her with it. Feeling her feet leave the ground completely she smiled once more tilting her head back; she waited.

As she was being pulled backwards a pair of hands stretched out and an arm wrapped around her waist pulling her back to the earth causing her to snap back into reality and realize what it was she was trying to accomplish; she held close to body in front of her as she was carried back into the hospital.

Once in the door the sand cascaded off of her skin and fell to the floor; still holding her savior close she stayed cradled in their arms with her arms wrapped around their neck holding them close. Both stood standing in the hallway; both the color of sand.

Sakura pulled back looking straight into the eyes of Gaara; she saw nothing. Breathing in unison both watched the other; Sakura searched for a reason to look away. She saw no pain, no happiness, no memories plaguing his memory; she knew they were there she simply couldn't find them. Refreshed for once in not having to see someone else's pain she kept watching; convinced that the entire world could catch fire and his expression would remain the same she thought of what it would be like to be the one to make him smile.

Gaara watched as she looked into his eyes; watching her curious expression as she searched his mind. He was the first to break the gaze when he set her legs down and walked away to the nurse call button. "You should be in bed" waiting with her until the nurse came he watched as she slipped back into her almost comatose condition.

Letting her hair fall in front of her face she stood as the nurse talked with Gaara. She couldn't hear a word of what they were saying as she strained her ears in their direction. When they finished with their whispering the nurse approached her with a smile that questioned whether Sakura was crazy and led her into the showers before returning her to her bed.

With the sedatives they gave her it didn't take long before she drifted off to sleep.

Outside – Balcony of Kazekage Tower

Gaara stood above the village looking down watching what was left of the sand storm subside and small lights show through from the streets below. His mind had never been so crowded; not even when Shukaku was within him. Sleeping was no longer an option as he thought about what had happened earlier; she had so willingly stood in harms way and let the sand lift her up from the ground. She who had been so collected the last time he had encountered her; reminding everyone around her of the great Lady Tsunade. His mind left the storm and thought to when she had looked into his eyes and wondered what it was she had seen that had kept her looking. Not many look him in the eyes without looking away immediately afterwards regretting they had tried. She on the other hand looked as if she wanted to keep looking; 'why did I stop her?'

Gaara stood on the balcony and watched lights flicker on and the sand crawl across the earth till morning when he encountered Temari.

Now regretting he had stayed there all night he waited for her daily lecture on sleep "Gaara!" looking up he put up his hand in response.

"I couldn't sleep." Shaking her head Temari continued

"That also but first we have to deal with this." Holding up papers she waited for a reply but received none 'surprise, surprise' "you put her on lock down? Why?" now recognizing the papers in her hand as the ones he had signed the night before to place Sakura under lock down until the arrival of the Konoha team he took them from her hand and read them over.

"I believe the reason is stated on the documents." He handed them back to her and started to head back inside.

"It says she's a threat to herself! How so?" he gave her no response "Gaara! Sakura single handedly saved Kankuro's life and helped to save yours. She defeated Sasori of the sand for fucks sake!" looking up he waited to hear what it was she was getting at "How exactly did you come to the conclusion that she's a threat to her own life?"

"From what I saw last night Hurano, Sakura is in no way the same person she was the last time we encountered her." Temari lost in what he was referring to threw the papers down and then her hands flew into the air of defeat once again.

"Fine! You can be the one to tell her your reasoning behind this." Walking out the door she turned before she left with a smirk dancing across her features enticing Gaara's interest "You'll find her in our chakra control room. She put a ten foot hole in the wall of her regular room."

Authors Noter: Read, Enjoy, and Review! Good or Bad reviews welcome... I think i can handle a flame or two...Maybe?