Shikamaru's eyes opened slowly. He was really groggy. He stretched his arms above his head, yawning, but paused when Temari let out a small whimper.

"You OK?" he asked.

"I don't know...this brace...I think I put it on lopsided or something...it hurts, like I slept funny."

Shikamaru glanced at his watch. It'd been three hours since they'd knocked out; it was close to lunchtime. Thankfully he was on break from missions, and he was now excused from sentry duty because of his infirm guest.

"Let me see it," he said. He lifted the shirt partway up her body and examined the brace. "I think it's loose."

"Loose? I tightened it as much as I could!" Temari exclaimed, indignantly, then groaned from the stress of her outburst.

"It was tighter than this, I'm sure. I could feel it through your dress when I carried you here, and it was definately not this loose. See, if I were to pick you up with an arm around your back, it would slip now. It wasn't like that before."

"Well, excuse me for having mysterious bruises all over my body. It's a little difficult to move, much less put a brace on myself."

"Don't say I didn't tell you. Now, turn on your stomach and I'll see what I can do about tightening it."

Temari complied, but needed assistance. She groaned from the effort but was finally in a comfortable enough position for Shikamaru to begin his examination.

It was definately lopsided. And it was laced wrong. Shikamaru undid it and took hold of the edges, attempting to straighten it.

"OUCH! Baka!"

"Sorry!" Shikamaru hesitated. The only way to straighten it without hurting her too much would be kind of...sketchy.

"Temari...I have to...mm...sorry." If he could have closed his eyes he would have, but instead he kept them open and deftly slid his hands beneath the brace and the bedding, sliding it across her chest and stomach. Temari didn't make a sound. She was sient also as he relaced and tightened the brace, although it must have hurt. Then finally, she spoke.

"Thanks."

"You're not mad?"

"What were you supposed to do?"

"I don't know. It was just kind of weird...like I was feeling you up or something."

"It's a thick brace."

"I'm an imaginative man."

"You'll make me want to beat the crap out of you when I'm healthy again if you talk like that. But anyways...thanks."

Shikamaru smiled slightly. He straightened Temari's oversized shirt and helped her to roll back over.

"Hungry?" He asked.

"You know it. Dango on the side, please."

He didn't laugh...but he fingered his wallet and tried to remember where the nearest stand was.