Chapter Thirteen

Ibiki stood outside the room, leaning against the wall across the hall from the door. Sakura smiled as she walked up to him, carrying a cup of some Mist beverage and a plate of food. He took the food and she sat on a chair next to him.

"Are you going to question her again?" She asked quietly.

Ibiki didn't answer, simply shrugging, non-committed, as he began eating.

"I don't think you should, sir." Sakura looked up at him, before turning back to regard the door, imagining the two people inside the room. She sighed as her thoughts turned to their shared team mate.

"It can't be like that between you."

"I know not now." She replied, staring at the floor, "but, maybe, with some time, he'll heal."

"Sakura." Ibiki said sternly.

"I can have hope." Sakura murmured. Then she started as a piercing shriek came from inside the room. In two steps, she'd crossed the hallway and thrown open the door.

Karin was sitting on the bed, struggling to regain her breath and swiping at her hair which seemed to be stuck to her face. Her clothes were wet, as were the blankets, and Sakura knew that couldn't be pleasant. Her gaze swung round to regard the other occupant of the room, who was chuckling as he emerged from a puddle on the floor.

Mindless of her current state of recovery, Karin launched herself off the bed at Suigetsu, crashing into him and reducing him to a puddle once again. She cried out in panic and pain when she struck the floor quite hard. Instantly, Suigetsu was solid and beside her, helping her up as Sakura took her other arm.

"What were you thinking? You shouldn't be out of bed!" She chided the other girl.

"That's what I told her!" Suigetsu agreed and Karin glared at him.

"You were trying to wash me! In the bed! With your tongue!" She shrilled, turning red with anger and embarrassment.

"Suigetsu." Sakura turned her disapproval on him, "She's recovering from a serious injury. Keep it in your pants. Or your mouth, whatever the case may be."

Karin snickered quietly as a blush crept up Suigetsu's face, but he recovered quickly, smirking as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. Karin choked and started coughing, and her blush deepened.

Sakura pounded on her back, throwing a glare at Suigetsu for causing the situation. Deciding that it was probably a good idea to let Karin use the bathroom, she directed Suigetsu out of the room, staring him down threateningly to ensure he went.

Once they were alone in the bathroom, and Karin was relaxing in the bath, Sakura took the opportunity to satiate her curiosity.

"So, what did he say?"

Karin bit her lip and looked away, the blush that had finally faded returning full-force.

"It must have been very saucy then. I didn't know you were such a prude!"

"You don't know me that well." Karin growled, sending a sharp look at the medic. "We aren't friends, Sakura."

"Friendly acquaintances?" Sakura asked with a small smile. Karin stared back blandly. Sakura frowned, "Fine, we'll keep this professional. As your attending medic, I advise you to refrain from sexual intercourse of any sort for at least two weeks."

"That shouldn't be too difficult." Karin muttered. Then she groaned.

"What's wrong?"

"My head is killing me! What happened to me exactly?"

Sakura leaned over, running her hands over Karin's hair, lightly, frowning as she flinched away from the contact. "What does it feel like?"

"Like my skull is cracked."

"In a way, it has. The fractures haven't completely healed. When you're finished, I'll work on them again."

"I'm finished." Karin responded, attempting to lever herself out of the water.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Karin replied tightly. She was unwilling to divulge that sitting in rapidly cooling water was bringing back memories, not all of them good.

Sakura helped her back into her hospital pajamas and into the bed. Then she ran a diagnostic scan and passed a little healing chakra through her system. Once she was finished, she instructed Karin to sleep and left the room.

She met Suigetsu out in the hall, impatient to be allowed back in.

"Don't you have anything else to do? Aren't you a chunin?"

Suigetsu glared down at her sullenly, giving her the impression that, gratitude aside, she was fast wearing out her welcome. Still, her duty as medic kept her here, despite their attitude.

"I'll tell you what I told her. No sex, Suigetsu, for at least two weeks." She held up a hand to stop his protests, "You don't have to obey, but if she relapses or something goes wrong, it will be on your heads, and I won't be returning to help."

She turned away from them, disgruntled and a little sad at how things had turned out. Suigetsu's voice halted her and she glanced back at him.

"We are grateful, Haruno."

She shrugged and continued walking.

Karin slept through the rest of the day and all of the night. Sakura continued treating her for a further three days, before declaring that she was healed enough to be released from the hospital.

The Leaf shinobi left that afternoon.

Author's Note: I know, it's really short. But this is the best spot to end this particular chapter, as it is also the end of the Leaf's involvement.

Also, please check out the side story, In the void. It's not directly connected to this story and is not essential to the rest of the storyline, but it does occur alongside these events and I think it's worth a read, particularly if you like Sakura/Sasuke.