Assignment and Accusation
"You have to go."
"I won't!"
"Temari, I need a leader at the border I can trust."
"You just want me away from here!"
Before he can answer she yells, "You don't know what it's like to lose someone you love!"
His face speaks more than mere words.
In an instant she's in his arms, "I didn't mean it, Baki, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it," she whispers.
Obstinancy
"I'm going with, gah...," Kankuro sinks back against the bed.
"Don't be a fool. You need to heal."
"I am going!" He struggles to rise again.
Baki sighs. "Temari won't go and you won't stay."
"Temari's going?" Kankuro tries valiantly.
"To the border. I sent her," Baki clarifies.
"Oh." A pause. "Baki, I don't think I can go," he admits weakly.
A warm hand clasps his shoulder. "It's okay."
Departures
Hatake Kakashi''s reputation precedes him.
The Leaf kunoichi has already proven what she can do; he has no doubts about her strength or determination.
Naruto?
Well, the boy's an idiot, but Gaara held him in high regard.
And Chiyo.
The bitch has had a change of heart it seems.
As he watches the party depart, Baki realizes that Gaara's life is in the hands of three strangers and her.
A/N: Personally, I like the way this one turned out. The Sand Siblings, they are soooo dysfunctional you just gotta love them. I hope they seriously hand the Fourth Kazekage his ass and soon in upcoming chapters. Too bad he's already dead because I think a little patricide is called for in that family. Oh, well, with my luck, Kishimoto will probably create some sort of family reconciliation scene before the son-of-a-bitch is sealed away. Meh.
BTW - The title of this chapter is from a quote by the poet John Milton: "They also serve who only stand and wait."