Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto, not me.

When Kumo awoke, she felt like her skin was on fire. A strangled moan somehow managed to escape her blistered, parched throat. A blur that might have been a nurse or nurses plural danced in her vision. Was she seeing multiples, or were there really identical twins or triplets dancing above her? She couldn't think straight when her head felt like it was being split in half. She was vaguely aware that the nurse(s) was/were saying something. She could see her/their lip(s) moving, but it was unintelligible. What the hell does imkagurne bbblllledddgn mean? That's probably not what she/they is/are trying to say. Kami! My head hurts so bad! She blinked a few times, but all three of them were still there, still dancing and spouting gibberish. She tried to lift a hand to touch her splitting head, but the pain from that movement caused her to pass out again.

"Kazekage-sama?" The nurse (singular) enquired timidly.

"Yes?"

"The patient from Konoha was awake briefly this afternoon. I estimate her chances for survival are now about 80%."

Gaara nodded, pleased. It had not had not made him happy to have to send a message to Konoha two days ago, reporting that the girl had been found, but that she was in critical condition and only had a 30% chance of survival. Whoever they sent should be here tomorrow. "I'm sure that the group that is on its way from Konoha at the moment will be pleased to hear that when they arrive. Will they be able to see her?"

"I doubt that she will be conscious, but I don't see why they couldn't see her if they remained silent and didn't disturb her."

Gaara nodded. "Thank you." And turned back to his paperwork.

Temari greeted the Konoha team at the gate. "I will show you to the hospital."

"How is Kumo doing?" Shino asked.

"She's still alive. I think the nurse said she had survived the worst and that she would probably pull through."

Shino nodded, hiding his relief to know that she was still alive. It had been eating away at him to travel, knowing that chances were that by the time they reached Suna, Kumo would probably be dead.

The nurse showed Hinata, Sakura and Shino to the room where Kumo was sleeping. Hinata gasped when she saw the mass of blisters that was Kumo at the moment. The nurse shot her a glare and held a finger over her lips. Silently, the three Konohagakure ninja approached the bed to observe the patient. Her eyes flickered behind her closed eyelids, and her breath came in short, ragged gasps. Her skin was red and blistered where it wasn't covered in bandages and she had quite a variety of tubes and wires connecting her to various machines. After taking a thorough look, they exited the room so they could have a discussion.

"Her chakra network was stable at least." Hinata reported.

"She still has a slight fever," the nurse reported, "And she was found severely burned and suffering from heat stroke. But she did briefly regain consciousness yesterday, though she did not seem to understand anything that was going on around her. It will be a week at the minimum before she is stable enough to be moved to Konoha."

They all nodded in understanding. "I will show you to where you can stay. If she regains consciousness and awareness, I may allow you to visit her for a short period."

Though Shino remained outwardly calm, inside he felt the stirring of unfamiliar emotions. Analyzing them, he came to the understanding that he had been feeling worry for Kumo, and now that he had seen that she should recover he was feeling anger towards Kakashi. He had been briefed on her past before becoming one of her senseis. He should have realized that her emotional state is fragile. He almost caused her death with his selfish desire to maintain his "cool" image and always arrive fashionably late.

Tsunade called Kakashi to her office. The copy nin arrived, hands hanging limply at his sides, a dark circle beneath the one uncovered eye. "Feeling sorry will do neither of you any good. What is done is done, and cannot be changed. Kumo will survive, and when she arrives back, you will acknowledge her, and apologize, properly. If she wishes a new sensei, you will honor her decision. And after you leave my office, you will shower, eat and sleep. Yamato will make sure of that. You're no good to anyone in the state you're in. Yamato, escort him to his house." Tsunade commanded. Kakashi blinked, did he really not realize that Tenzo was in the room already when he entered?

The Anbu greeted Kakashi with "Senpai." When Kakashi just blinked at the younger man, he put his hand under his former teacher's elbow and hauled him out of the office.

"What are you doing, Tenzo?" Kakashi finally asked.

"I'm going by Yamato now, remember? And I was ordered to get you out of the pity you've sunk into. You can't change the past, Senpai." He added in a softer voice.

Oh, but I wish I could. How I wish I could.

Kumo woke to feeling like her skin was still on fire, though it also itched now. She stopped concentrating on the pain/itch when she heard her name spoken. She could just make out the conversation being carried on in low voices outside the hallway.

"…progressing nicely…heals fast…mumble, mumble, mumble…"

"I am glad to hear that." Kumo was startled to hear that voice. What was Shino doing here? Wherever here was. "May I see her?" Shino asked.

"You know the drill." The female voice acknowledged.

Shino entered the room, and though Kumo couldn't really tell because he covered so much of his face, she liked to think that he was a at least little happy to see her awake.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like crap." She admitted. Shino nodded, but didn't say anyhting more. "Take off the creepy glasses." She rasped.

One brown and one dark grey eye looked at her analytically. "You're looking better."

"Well, I don't see three of whoever is in my field of vision anymore. At least, I assume that there weren't identical triplet nurses looking after me, and dancing while spouting gibberish."

A corner of Shino's mouth twitched slightly. Did he just almost smile! "I find that unlikely to say the least." But his voice was as calm as ever.

Her voice became more serious. "You came here for me."

"I did." He acknowledged. "You are important."

Kumo thought her heart would beat from her chest in happiness. "I ran because I was afraid I would hurt Kakashi and that you would hate me for it." She told him slowly.

"His behavior was inexcusable, but the next time you feel angry, I hope you do not feel the need to almost kill yourself yet again."

"I thought you would hate me for almost killing him."

"I don't hate you."

"Does Kakashi hate me?" Kumo almost didn't dare to ask.

"No. I think he realizes that it was his fault."

"It was my fault."

"You are new at having a village, being trained as a true ninja, having friends. It is understandable to make mistakes when you're starting off."

Shino's understanding made her feel funny. She had felt so many new things since she had left Iwa, it was overwhelming sometimes. It would be easier if she didn't have to remain human. Humans were so complicated.