Together Sakura and Ino applied as much chakra as they could to the wounds but the healing was slow and didn't seem to be helping much, they refused speak to each other about what they thought had happened. They knew it wasn't good to speculate and so decided to keep their thoughts to themselves at least until Temari was well enough to leave the hospital.

Gaara barged into the room, followed by everyone who had helped Chouji to look for Shikamaru. They all were anxious to hear what had happened to Temari. Chouji finally decided it was time to tell everybody what he had seen.

"You see I was just walking to the store to buy me some ramen for lunch and then I saw this girl who I thought looked like Temari so I asked her if it was her and then she just fell onto the ground. Just like that -splat. I didn't know what to do, so I brought her to the hospital".

Shikamaru looked at Chouji who was clearly restless.

"At least you were there Chouji, thank you for reacting the way you did" which stunned everyone in the room.

Ino asked the boys to leave because the room was over-crowded. She allowed Kankuro, Gaara and Shikamaru to stay. The boys left the room and sat outside waiting on more news. Sakura began by asking Kankuro if they had been ambushed prior to arriving to Konoha to which Kankuro replied

"No."

They had all travelled together, rested well enough to continue travelling, had eaten when they were hungry and hadn't encountered a single enemy. Sakura decided that it would be best to not to tell her brothers about her condition but simply said

"Look boys, whatever happened she is burnt out and must rest for a while."

Shikamaru looked at Temari. He had let fear creep into his mind, he didn't know why he felt so protective of her, but he did.

"Is there anything you are keeping from us, Sakura-chan?" Sakura looked toward Gaara and shook her head hesitantly.

"Didn't you need to go see Lady Tsunade upon your arrival Gaara and Kankuro?" Ino questioned them.

They had forgotten all about doing that, Gaara decided to go to Lady Tsunade and to take Kankuro with him as his body guard. He looked toward Shikamaru.

"I trust you with her. Will be back soon" and left the room.

Sakura followed as she found herself feeling thirsty and excused herself to get a glass of water. Outside the room were all the boys that had helped and she told them that Temari would be fine and asked them to join her to get some water, to which they all agreed to instantly.

Shikamaru looked at Temari with genuine concern in his eyes, forgetting all about Ino who was still standing there. In what seemed to be an excruciating awkward silent moment for Ino she decided to speak.

"You know, she really is quite strong, Shikamaru, I never knew how strong she was. She's always acted so bitchy and like a total know-it-all but, her strength is astounding."

Shikamaru didn't know how to reply to Ino. He had always thought of the Sand kunoichi to be an unstoppable force; it wasn't in her nature to cause such a commotion.

"I'm aware that strength is defined in two ways. Physical strength and mental strength. And I know she possesses both, but right now to me she looks so fragile."

"She's just human after all Shikamaru" Ino replied with a sour tone and excused herself out of the room.

He gazed on her features, yeah she is a woman I know that, but she's always acted so darn proud and superior around him. He had been around her enough to understand that she had an invisible shell of armour around her, to protect herself and to keep everyone out.

He didn't know why but he stood up from the chair that was next to her bed, leaned down toward her and kissed her on the forehead and asked her to wake up soon and stop scaring the ones that love her. He sat back down in the chair next to her bed and continued to watch over her.

Temari opened her eyes and found that she was in hospital. She was confused and sat up too quickly and fell back to the bed. This woke Shikamaru who had fallen asleep on the chair.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where are we? What did you do?" Temari was screaming

"I did nothing Temari, you collapsed in the middle of the street! You tell me what happened to you, you're the reason we're all here" Shikamaru replied sternly.

Temari had to think before speaking, she couldn't tell him she was tired from training too much so she chose to lie.

"I've been having nightmares and it's hard for me to get much sleep, I guess it caught up with me" in a panicked tone "this never would have happened had you just listened to me and taken me to the hotel when I asked" which annoyed Shikamaru.

"If I had known you were so tired woman I would have taken you there, but it's not just me you scared with your damsel act, you scared the life out of Chouji and your brothers too you know".

That's right! Where are my brothers? Are they alright? Where are they?

Shikamaru could tell what she was thinking and answered her questions.

"Your brothers are fine, they had to go check in with Lady Tsunade, they trusted me with you and they will be returning shortly."

Temari sighed, and then Sakura opened the door and walked inside, towards the bed.

"Temari-chan, you gave us quite the scare young lady"

Sakura you are younger than me and you're sounding like an elder.

"I'm sorry" Temari managed to say "I'm feeling much better now, am I free to leave?"

"Not so soon. Shikamaru do you mind leaving the room for a while, I'd really like a glass of water if you don't mind" Shikamaru didn't mind leaving the room, but getting Sakura a glass of water..

"So troublesome, fine. I'll be right back." Shikamaru left the room and Sakura walked over to Temari who sat upright in the bed, wondering what was wrong with Sakura. She touched Temari's hands and told her she had seen her wounded hands.

Temari felt a tingle of anxiety through her body but decided to half tell Sakura what she had been up to.

"So you were training with your hands, although you use a fan as a weapon?" Sakura asked unconvinced.

"Yes, that's right; it's a technique that I'm teaching myself."

Sakura knew she wasn't going to get any further information from the stubborn Sand village kuniochi and decided to stop questioning her.

"As long as you know what you are doing Temari, it looks as if your hands will take a while to heal, so no more training until they have healed completely, understood?"

"Yes of course Sakura-chan". She got herself out of the bed and headed towards the door. She hadn't realized that her hands were in such bad condition but decided that she wouldn't push herself anymore until she was all clear.

"I guess you are free to go then Temari" Sakura said with a smile. Temari thanked her politely and walked through the door to find a group of boys sleeping on the bench outside. Neji had Rock Lee leaning on him; Kiba was on the floor with Chouji and some other boy who she had no clue was.

They had obviously fallen of the small bench. She giggled on the sight, exploring how much they had grown since the last time she saw them. She decided a rude awakening was her right and then she whistled a loud ear piercing whistle and then began yelling.

"OKAY YOU LAZY BOYS, ENOUGH SLEEPING. YOU BETTER GET UP NOW OR I WILL MAKE SURE YOU WON'T LEAVE THIS HOSPITAL!"

The boys jumped up, thinking they were being summoned for war and within seconds Temari was squeezed by Chouji who was so relieved to see her awake and well. The other boys simply smiled as Temari thanked and apologized to them individually and one by one they left.

"Temari-chan will you join us tonight? Shikamaru and I are having a gathering at the highest ground of Konoha to watch the eclipse. The more the merrier really! Oh and bring lots of snacks" he was giggling when Temari agreed to join them and Chouji forced her agree twice to bring lots of snacks. Temari thought it was the least she could do because Chouji had been so worried about her and somehow managed to carry her and her fan too. She leaned in close to Chouji who had continued talking about snacks when..