Disclaimer! I don't own any of the Naruto characters! Just my OC.

I hope you like this chapter, even though it took me soooo long to write it. i had MAJOR writer's block...


Chapter 3: Midnight Surprise

Dark. Everything is dark, but warm. I try to force my eyes to open, but they feel as heavy as lead. I finally get my eyes to flutter open, but it doesn't help much because everything around me was blurry. I can make out two forms, but I can't really tell if they are people or just objects in a room. I rub my eyes to clear them. Everything around me is still blurry and I can faintly hear some sounds. Maybe someone is talking? Dangit, it's no use. I still can't see much. I close my eyes and count to ten before trying again to clear my eyes.

Where am I? I don't think I have ever been here before. Everything is still a tad bit fuzzy, but I can see much better. Brown, one of the forms I saw earlier has short, brown hair. The other has red. I slowly shut my eyes again. Who do I know that has short brown hair? Stupid question, I know tons of people like that. What about red? That seems so familiar. I am so losing my mind; I can't even remember who has red hair! Wait, I only know one person with short red hair.

"..raa…"

I feel something shaking me and I faintly hear some sounds.

"…eiraa…ou…..ay…?"

I know that voice!

"Teiraa! Are you okay?"

It's Kankuro!

"I…" my voice faltered. I force my eyes open and focus in on the blurry shape in front of me. It really is Kankuro!

I tried to speak again, "I'm…okay." I strain myself trying to sit up, but I manage to sit with my back against something hard, but soothingly cool. Shoot, I must be seriously sick. I haven't been this weak since I had the flu when I was 8.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Where am I?" I asked, oblivious to Kankuro's question.

"Uh, you are at my house. Now, back to what I said ear-"

"If I'm at your house, where are Temari and Gaara?"

He sighed, "Temari is downstairs and Gaara is right…wait, he was here just a minute ago."

I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened as Kankuro continued rambling on. I…I was at the café, and I was cleaning up after talking with Temari. I picked up a chair to put it on the table, then what happened?

"Are you even listening to me, Teiraa?" Kankuro interrupted my thoughts.

"Oh, sorry, no."

"I was just talking to you about-"

"Wait, wait, wait. Okay, I'm sorry for interrupting you again, but I need to know what happened to me at the café and I need to know how I got here."

He gave me an agitated glare.

"Please? I really am sorry!"

"I was told that you were downstairs cleaning up when you started to seem unsteady. You picked up a chair to set it up on a table but fainted. You sure are lucky Gaara walked in or you could have seriously hurt yourself with that kind of fall."

"Wait, you said Gaara? He was the one that caught me?"

Kankuro gave a slight nod and a huge smile. At that very moment Temari rushes in with a thermometer, a bag of ice, a large bowl full of water, a washcloth, and a book that was titled, "How to Take Care of Your Sick Sibling".

"Okay, Kankuro, move!" Temari stated as she shoved Kankuro away from me.

"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" he asks, agitated that he was again slightly forgotten.

"I'm taking care of my little sick sister!"

"How many times do I have to tell you, SHE ISN'T YOUR SISTER!"

"She hasn't denied it!"

"She shouldn't have to! It's common sense!"

I timidly interrupted, "I think you guys are just overreacting, I probably just have a slight cold. I think I will go home." I threw the blanket that was covering me off and let my legs fall off the side of the bed I was on. I steadied myself with my hands gripping the side of the bed as I stood up. "See? I'm fine." I smiled then tried to take a step, only succeeding in starting to fall again. If Temari hadn't pushed Kankuro to where he was standing right then, I would have fallen flat on my face.

"This only proves that you definitely aren't fit to go home." Kankuro declared as he helped me back onto the bed.

"Well, what am I supposed to do then?"

"You can stay here!" Temari shouted excitedly. "Right, Kankuro?"

Kankuro stood silent for a moment. What's he thinking about? He gave a devious smile. This can't be good…

"I think she can stay here. She definitely can't go anywhere currently; well, not in this state at least." Temari and Kankuro continued chattering about what I would do while staying at their house. This is no good. What am I doing staying at my boss's house? This day has just been so crazy. I don't like the direction my life is headed right now. It's all just so confusing. I just want to give up.

"Open your mouth."

"What?" I asked.

"Open your mouth."

"Why?"

"Because I need to take your temperature!"

"But why?"

"Because it says to in this book!"

Temari has just ordered me to open my mouth so she can shove a stick thing inside it to take my temperature. I shut my lips tight and shake my head, refusing her demand.

"What are you, a five year old? Just open your mouth. It'll take your temperature quickly, and then I will know what to do next."

I still refuse.

"Hey, you better do as she says, Teiraa. You never know what this monster might do to you." Kankuro stated. Temari punches Kankuro in the arm before ordering him to leave.

I sighed, "Is it absolutely necessary?" Temari nods her head so I grab the thermometer from her hand and shove it in my mouth. After about a minute, Temari takes it out of my mouth and looks at it. She gives a confused look, looks at her book, then back at me.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, afraid of what she might say.

"Well, um, a little. You have a very high fever of 103.2 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't think you will be going anywhere anytime soon, so just get some rest."

"What? You just expect me to sit here and do nothing until I get better?"

"Well, no, not exactly. Try getting some sleep. You probably got sick from lack of sleep. I'm going to go check on something; will you be okay by yourself for a while?"

"Of course I will. I'm not a baby."

Temari left the room, leaving me all alone. I slowly laid myself back down, closed my eyes, and started thinking. They care…they care…they care! Our entire conversation has finally sunk in. Why else would they force me to stay, right? There can't be any other reason why. I wish I could be caring and kind like they are to me. I continued thinking about how they were kind to me and fell asleep soon after.

I woke up with something cool on my forehead. It's wet, and cold, but it feels kind of good. I reach my hand up and feel a wet cloth. Who put that there? I glanced out of the window that was across the room and it was still completely dark. It's a little bit hot in here. I hear some sounds coming from above me. Who could be awake now? I slowly sit up and take the cloth off of my forehead; I don't feel dizzy anymore so I try standing. Nothing happens, so I timidly take a tiny step while tightly clinging to the bed beside me. I didn't fall, so I carefully inch myself over to the window. I unlock the window and slide it open, quietly. A gust of the cool winter night's air lightly brushes over my face, cooling it immediately. I crawl out the window onto a small balcony. This must be at least the second floor. I gaze up seeing the wispy clouds float slowly over the pale moon and countless diamond stars.

"Hey! What are you doing out here!" a deep voice from above me shouts.

I gasp and turn around to look up. It's so dark; I can't tell who said that! They must be on the roof though.

"W-who's there?"I timidly shout back.

"It's me, Gaara."

Gaara? What is he doing up so late? Or early, whichever it is.

"Oh. I, was, uh, just looking at the sky. It always looks prettier at night."

"You are sick; you shouldn't be out here at all. You should be asleep, getting rest so you can get better faster."

"But I don't feel sick anymore!"

"Wait right there, I'm coming down there."

I sigh. He never lets me do anything. After a minute or two, I hear soft (but quick) footsteps entering the room.

"What are you doing still outside?" Gaara demands.

"Oh, right. I was supposed to come back inside." I muttered.

I start trying to crawl back inside, but it is much harder getting inside than it was getting out. Gaara sighs and mumbles something inaudible but reaches out his hand to help me.

"Thanks." I smile. I grab his hand and he helps my back inside, but right before I step down, I hit my foot on the window sill and fall down. I land on something soft, but it smells so good. I hear a moan and I open my eyes. I landed right on top of Gaara!

"Oh-my-gosh-I'm-so-sorry!" I yell with my words all jumbled up as I get off of him as quickly as I can. I sit down beside him and he starts shaking. What's wrong with him? Is he shaking with rage? Oh no, he must be really mad at me!

At that very second, Gaara bursts out laughing. He's…laughing? So wait, he's not mad? I'm so confused.

"Hey, uh, Gaara? Are you okay?"

He stops laughing, but the light in his eyes is still there as he sits up. "Yeah. I'm fine. What about you?"

"Oh! No, I'm okay. Sorry I fell on you."

"It's okay, it was an accident."

We both grew silent; I sat there no quite sure what to do. The more I think about what happened, the funnier it really is. It's also surprising that he didn't totally blow up at me. I really am stupid. And a klutz. I wish I could be a more sophisticated person.

"You should probably go back to bed." Gaara broke the silence.

"But I'm not tired right now. I've been sleeping forever!"

"That is a major exaggeration. Go to bed. You are sick."

"And what if I say no?"

"Then I will have to carry you over there."

I laugh, "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

I hold my ground and stare defiantly back at him. The pale moonlight washing over us made me think I was dreaming. This is exactly like a dream, or something that would happen in a manga or anime. Gaara slowly rose to his feet.

"This is your last chance." He whispered.

"I'm not going to bed. So what are you going to do about it, tough guy?"

I saw a slight grin escape his face as he walked over beside me. "This!" he shouted as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I screamed, "PUT ME DOWN!" I flailed my arms and legs in an attempt to escape my captor, but to no avail.

"Hey, don't say I didn't warn you." He walked slowly over to the bed and dropped me on it. I could see a smirk on his face.

"Jerk." I muttered under my breath.

"What? I couldn't hear you? Do you want to try saying that again?" he said sarcastically.

He is way stronger than I thought he was. He easily picked me up then walked over here while I was flailing all about.

"Oh, no, I didn't say anything." I gave him my best fake smile.

"I can see you are already feeling much better."

"I guess I am. I wonder if I can go home tomorrow?"

Gaara turned away from me. Something's wrong. Did I say something to offend him?

"You should rest now."

"But I'm still not tired!" I shouted.

"What am I suppose to do about that?" he countered.

"I don't know! Couldn't you just stay and talk for a while?"

He turned around and looked at me but didn't say a word.

I quickly added, "Unless you're tired, or don't want to; then you can leave, or go do whatever."

"Sure."

"Really?"

"Why else would I say sure?"

"Thanks, Gaara. This means a lot to me."

I slowly got under the covers again and Gaara pulled up a chair next to the bed. We talked until we heard noises coming from the house. Gaara told me it was just Kankuro and Temari getting ready to leave. That morning, I fell asleep talking to Gaara.