A/N: C-C-Coming at ya with something fresh off the press. Watch out, you just might get ink on your fingers. And we can't have that, now can we? New Update, I, Sakura, enjoy, enjoy. This is star reporter, Rai Lockhart, reporting on the most important event in recent history. Please, feel free to review.

Sitting in the waiting room has got to be the worst feeling in the world. I was shaking all over my body, staring at my shoes with a renewed intensity. They were the same black flats I had worn to the party tonight, as I hadn't had time to change since then.

I couldn't meet her eyes. She, the one who had called me, was doing everything in her power to see her son's status. Was he okay? Was he hurt? Would he... wake up? She was nervously standing by the door, jumping slightly at every noise, at every footstep heard behind the door. A doctor would come out, and she would brighten, ever so slightly, but he would just move on to another group of people, waiting for the bad news. The nurses would tell her just to wait, that she'd be the first allowed into his room when he was ready. She said she wanted to se him right now. Now, she screamed. Mrs. Nara had tears in her eyes, and I couldn't help think that they were because of me. I did this.

It was my fault that he was in there, my fault that he might never wake up, my fault she had to stand there, waiting, knowing, and yet hoping for something else. I made him angry. I got him upset. We could have worked it out. I could have not said anything. I could have ignored him, ignore it. And... Maybe... he would still be here... with me, with us, with her. Tears welled up in my already puffy eyes, and the tears flowed down my already wet cheeks.

Me, all me. No one else. It wasn't even his fault! God damn, I hate me so much right now. I bet she does, too. I know she does. I was shaking uncontrollably, breaths coming in short, strained sounds.

But what the hell was he thinking, getting into a wreck like that? Huh? Why would he go and do something like that? Couldn't he... couldn't get have just let me live on? We would have gotten over it eventually. But now... He could die? What in the world was he thinking?

"Sakura..." A deep, familiar voice jerked me out of this self-hatred I had started since coming here. I looked up, slightly surprised, and saw Mr. Nara looking down at me. He was here; of course he was here. He hadn't been there at the start, because of work, but no, he was here now. "Sakura, kiddo..." It was like a twisted, sick joke, hearing him use Shikamaru's nickname for me. I looked up at him, lip trembling and body shaking. I felt sick to my stomach as I met his eyes. I felt like I could blow at any moment. Maybe if I died, he'd be there, and we would be together.

"Honey, leave her alone for now, okay?" He understood; don't ask the crying girl questions about why he might have wrecked. They both knew that he went to the party. And he wasn't the type to drive erratically unless he was angry. So I should know why he was angry... Yeah, I should know. Me. I was the reason.

I started trebling again, knowing that eventually they would ask, and eventually they would find out that I had caused the wreck. It was me! All me! I HATE ME! More voices filled the waiting room as family arrived. They were bound to come, of course. They needed to be here, too. They needed to be here when... when... A shiver fell over me once again.

"Sakura, honey," my fathers voice was suddenly beside me. "It'll all be okay, he'll be fine." My father had been here the entire time, as he was the one who had taken me here. Luckily for me, he was ready to go, reading a book in bed, awaiting my return.

"No, daddy, it won't be fine." Tears erupted again. He put his arm around my shoulder, and squeezed. More voices echoed in the room. There were at least 10 people here now for Shikamaru. His parents, grandparents, Chouji, my parents, me. I took note that she wasn't here. His parents probably wouldn't know to call her, probably didn't know that she was his date tonight. Why should they know? No one else knew about his date with her. She was part of the reason. so I wasn't all to blame.

Who am I kidding? Of course I am! Me, all me. Shikamaru's in a coma, because of my. He was in an accident because of, you guessed it, me. He was hurt, badly, because of me. And my stupid, loud, fat, ugly mouth. And Kiba. Kiba was to blame, too. But mostly me. I must have looked in pain, because my father started petting my head.

I checked the clock hanging above the doors. Mrs. Nara's parents were talking to her, trying to get her to calm down. Not on their life, she screamed, not when it was her son, her baby... I glanced up as my mother moved over to her, and whispered something in her ear. Mrs. Nara nodded, looking relieved. Slightly. I figured my mother was going to go in there and check; she had clearance, she worked here. Of course. But Mrs. Nara wasn't entirely happy. Her friend would see her son before her. How unfair.

My mom moved through the doors, being stopped by a new nurse who soon left her alone after she showed her badge. I looked down again. My fathers grip tightened.

I should have believed him. Looking back, it seemed like a petty thing to argue about. Something Kiba told me? What was I thinking? Well, I can tell you what, I wasn't thinking. And now there might never be a chance to apologize. For all I know, he could be bleeding to death. I felt sick once again, thinking of my best friend, well, ex-best friend, bleeding to death. It was kind of funny in a way. This was all my fault. Haha. I was starting to go hysterical. Ha. Crazy girl with the dead friend!

I grabbed my fathers hand, and squeezed as hard as I could. He hugged me tighter with the arm around me, and I just let the salty tears hit the ground. What was I thinking? How could I have yelled? There was so much left unsaid... I told him I never wanted to see him again! I didn't mean it, I really didn't.

And then, I did something I hadn't done in a long time. I clenched my eyes together, and began to mumble a prayer under my breath. I wasn't one for much religion; I had seen too many people in the hospital to believe that someone could let this happen. If someone really was protecting us, then why would they want to see us suffer? Especially like this. Tormenting so many people. But if there was ever a time to be proven wrong, it was now. Come on, deity. Tell me I'm wrong...

Let him live. Please, oh God, oh someone, let him live.

I leaned into my father completely, and his grip on me increased tenfold. I just frowned. "This is all my fault, this is all my fault..." I murmured under my breath. There was no way it could be otherwise. I just knew it.

"Shhhhh, it's not. It's okay." My father rocked me a little bit.

I could see every little fantasy I had had about Shikamaru and I flash before my eyes. It was then that I realized that all the plans we had made when we were younger, even the crazy ones, were little prayers in their own right. When you make a plan with someone, you don't expect someone to go and die on you... They were tiny prayers to Father Time, these plans. And now they were all ruined.

My mother had still not returned.

The worst part about having a mother who worked in the hospital was knowing that most people in the waiting room don't get what they want. Most doctors only come here to have someone break down crying. There's no comfort in the waiting room... All there was were nervous people, waiting for the bad news to come and hit. That's all that the doctors brought, except on rare occasions. I really, really hoped this was a rare occasion.

The TV in the corner kept playing on as if nothing was going on, as if the world was perfect and Shikamaru wasn't possibly dying.

After being gone for a good ten minutes, I looked through the waiting room doors that connected to the wards, and saw her. She didn't look optimistic. Shit, no. Slowly, she moved trough the doors, and a tear drenched Mrs. Nara ran to her. My mother, being the compassionate woman she was, gave the other mother a hug, and whispered something in her ear. Mrs. Nara shook her head, and beckoned to her husband. My mother took them both through the doors, not saying a word to anyone else.

My nerves were shot by that time. I had no idea what was going on. Were they going to see the dead body? Was he about to die?

Was he... okay?

I breathed deeply, and tried to calm myself. I turned away from the doors, hoping not to see my mother come back. If it was good news, she'd call for me. Soon, one set of grandparents went through the door, followed a few minutes later by another. I tried not to think about the fact that no one was saying anything. To take my mind off of the situation at hand, I glanced over to Chouji. He forced a weak smile, and I removed my father's hand to go see him. Chouji and I never really talked; he was more of Shikamaru's friend than my friend. We had known each other for so long, yet we just kind of waved and moved on.

"Hey, Chouji," I spoke in a low, strangled, scratchy voice. I probably looked like I had been bawling my eyes out, which was completely true.

He nodded, as if to acknowledge me while he tried to get his voice together. "Hiya, Sakura," he said, his voice strange sounding because of the 'problem.' We sat in silence for a second, awkwardly staring around at the walls. Chouji cleared his throat, obviously trying to think of a good subject. "So... It's odd for Shikamaru to get in a wreck, huh?"

"Yeah..." I agreed, a little too quickly and pushily.

"I wonder what happened to make him do that. He's usually so careful." Even though his tone didn't sound accusatory, I took it that way. I had to tell someone, I just had to.

"It w-w-w-was me. I did it. S-Shikamaru and I got in this fight at K-K-Karin's party and h-he left and I l-l-left and there was a driver who was sw-sw-swerving and Sasuke d-dodged and I guess Shikamaru didn't but it's my fault. All my fault. If he h-hadn't ben so angry at me, he could have driven better!" I was speaking so fast and quietly, it was a miracle that Chouji heard me.

He just frowned. "Sakura, it wasn't your fault. You said there was a driver, who was most likely drunk. It was that guys fault." I hated that fact that he was trying to console me. I hated it. It was my fault!

"How can you say that? You have no idea... No idea. It was me. God damnit, it was me. I did this to him! I'm a bad person! A bad friend! A bad person! I let him down, I broke Mrs. Nara's heart... And now he could be dead!"

I shouldn't have believed the rumor in the first place. I shouldn't have been so dense as to let it get in the way of a friendship. I should have heard Shikamaru out. I should have gone with him o the party, and left with him. I should have saved him. I shouldn't have doubted him. I shouldn't have yelled at him, nor told him I hated him. It was me, all me. I ruined our friendship. I killed my best friend. I believed a rumor, got caught up in drama, didn't listen to the only voice of reason I had anymore, my one constant in an entire changing world.

I could feel the sea of doubt that had grown inside of me for Shikamaru shrink. The small pebble of hope I had clung to when I was so blind was growing back into the solid mountain that was our friendship. I was to blame. It was me, all my damn fault. I hated myself even more.

"Chouji, how could I have been so blind?" I asked, breaking down once again.

"We all have to have our doubts at one time or another. If you didn't doubt him, your friendship could never grow nor become stronger. He'll forgive you for believing those people, you know that. All that's left is for what you two have to grow to become stronger, more durable, and even better than before."

I stopped crying to look at Chouji. That was one this that I was always hocked about; he was very good at looking at the world in a way that no one else could. He had wisdom about these things, and it was amazing. "You.. you really think he'll forgive me for the hell I've put him through?"

"Yes, Sakura. Don't be stupid. He'd forgive you in a heartbeat." I had to smile at that. Yeah, I guess he would...

"Chouji... Shikamaru wants to see you." I grimaced at the fact that my name was no where to be mentioned. His grandfather was in the waiting room now, the other three grandparents not far behind. Chouji stood up, and started heading toward the door.

He turned back hesitantly, looking over his shoulder at me. "Are you coming?"

"He doesn't want to see me," I said sadly.

"No, he just doesn't know you want to see him." The last words I said to him flashed into my mind like a bad record. 'I never want to see you again...' I got up slowly, and followed Chouji and Mr. NAra's father to the roo mwhere Shikamaru was. My mother was outside, leaning against the window, and Mrs. NAra was coming out of it, her husband pulling her along.

"He's okay. I can't believe it. He's hurt, but he's alive..." She was saying to her self. Mr. Nara was trying to coax her into geting something to drink, realizing that Shikamaru wasnted to be alone with his friend. Chouji held the door for a fraction of a second, looking at me. I shook my head, too afraid to go in. He nodded, and went in alone.

The door shut. "Sakura, darling, it's okay to be afraid." I looked over at the older woman leaning on the door frame. "I was the one who was there when Shikamaru woke up. He was a little groggy, and seemed to mistake me for you. He apologized to me, telling me that he didn't mean what he said about someone... I couldn't catch the name. I don't think he's angry at you." I ignored her and looked through the window, trying to keep myself out of view from Shikamaru. I could see him smile weakly at something Chouji had told him. Chouji smiled, more than he had when he was with me, and glanced backward. I dodged out of sight as Shikamaru glanced my way, too.

What game was Chouji playing, looking at me like that? I wasn't supposed to even be here, he didn't ask for me, I was invisible. I peeked back in relieved to see Chouji taking up all of Shikamaru's attentions. From what I could see of the boy lying in the bed, he was hurt pretty badly.

"Mom," I asked softly, "What did happen to Shikamaru?"

"He got in a car wreck. A drunk driver was going the opposite way, and he crashed into Shikamaru's car. Shikamaru said that he saw the car in front of him swerve, and he got nervous. Understandable." I kept a neutral face, but inside, I was itching with curiosity. Was he nervous because he car swerved or because he thought that someone in the car was being attacked? Was he thinking about me?

Agg, I really did cause the wreck, didn't I? Suddenly, when I was drown in my own thoughts, Chouji stood up. I watched him without taking it in. Subconsciously, or by my mother, I have no idea, I stepped backwards, dodging from view. A gentle voice came out from behind me. "Hey, Sakura..."

Before I knew it, Chouji had grabbed my arm and was dragging me into the hospital room. I was fighting for my life here, and I was reaching out for my mother. I didn't want to go in. He hated me. I know he did. My mother made no move to help me; she just watched Chouji lead me into my sure doom. Nyah, I hate that Chouji is so strong!

But as son as I heard, "Hi..." in that nervous, lazy draw, I stopped struggling and turned to look at Shikamaru. He was smiling weakly, and Chouji moved me to the chair that was next to the bed. The one that he was using.

"But where will you sit?" I wondered as he forced me downward.

"Out in the waiting room. I've had my time with him. I's your turn. Besides... I need to make a phone call to get home so I can sleep."

My mother spoke from out of sight. "We can give you a ride home, Chouji." The Akimichi smiled, and exited the room, shutting the door behind him. He was leaving me in the room with the guy who probably hated my guts, despite what show he put on for his real best friend, the one who wouldn't let a rumor get between them.

"Sakura, I have something to tell you..." My thoughts were interrupted by his voice.

I cut in quickly. "I'm sorry."

He looked taken aback, shock filling his features. "W-What?"

"I'm so sorry. I've had a lot of time to think this over... Well, not a lot, but there's not much to do out there besides cry, pace, and read magazines that are like a bazillion years old. Anyway, I was thinking. I've been stupid, a complete idiot. How in the world could I believe Kiba? Of all the people in the work to believe... God, I've been such an idiot." I was crying.

"Yeah, well..." Shikamaru looked at me, that same spark in his eye, and laughed a little. I had to smile, but I wasn't done. He was trying to get me to stop crying, I knew that.

"I'm just so sorry. I shouldn't have insulted Tayuya. I mean, you like he so much, obviously. I forced you into the wreck. It's my fault you're here... If I hadn't been so blind! If I had actually thought things through, I could have done so much more. I could have rectified the situation. I could have ignored it. I could have actually listened..." I was crying to hard right now.

Shikamaru looked off to the side a little bit. "I never really liked Tayuya... I mean, I did, for a while. But something kept nagging me at the back of my mind, and that's what I wanted--" My voice interrupted his own.

"And then Sasuke tried to tell me that it was wrong of me to believe rumors. And I know I should have been more worried about you, I mean, I fricken' pissed you off so badly with all that crap I said! But after the kiss with Sasuke, nothing was entering my mind--"

"K-Kiss?" Shikamaru stammered. I didn't see it at all, but he winced, as though in pain. Well, more than phsycial pain.

"Yes, kiss. Sasuke and I go out now, I think. Oh, who cares? God, I'm so, so, so sorry."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. That stuff I said about Sasuke... I was just angry. Forgive me?"

I smiled. "Yeah. Forgive me?"

"A thousand times over." My tears were starting to dry; either that or I was running out of water in my body. I know, I know, it's impossible. But I was so relieved to hear him say that. We were friends again. Better than ever. Right?

I paused for a second, concentrating back on my friend. "You said you had something to tell me?"

He voice returned to it's normal lazy draw. "I was going to apologize for the crap I said about Sasuke and tell you to forget about the stuff that Kiba said. But you got over Kiba's crap yourself and I already did the Sasuke thing. And we're good." He stopped again, and looked at me," We are good, right?"

"We're great. I messed up, not you."

"I didn't help the situation..."

We both stopped for an awkward silence. "So..." I said, attempting conversation. "Hurt... much?"

"Yeah, the bruises and blood kinda make for a painful night. They say that a few of my ribs are broken, and a couple of bones in my arm. Apparently, I could have had brain trauma if I hadn't woken up." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. I hated seeing him here, in a bed, covered in bandages.

"Must have sucked. That car came close to hitting us, too. Sasuke dodged it, though."

"He's a good driver. I got nervous following you, though. I saw him swerve up ahead and thought he was drunk or something."

"Aha, sure sure. But you are feeling okay, right?"

"Yeah. The doctors were afraid that I was going to be in a coma. Your mom sure has a healers touch, though. They said she walked in, leaned toward me, and said something in my ear. Then I woke up." He turned his head, and looked away. I saw the rest in my mind; him apologizing, my mother saying something. He just didn't want to admit it.

I smiled. "Ah, yeah. It only sucks when you're trying to get out of a test or something, you know?"

I could hear someone coming. My mother opened the door, and said, "Mrs. Nara is coming back. You two need to hurry it up so she can spend the time with her son, mmkay?" I nodded, and looked back at him.

We stared at each other for a minute, and then I did something completely... Well.. Expected. I leaned in, and gave him a hug. He tightened under my light grip, probably because it hurt like hell, but he didn't pull away. "Try not to get into an more wrecks, okay?" I said, tears coming back.

He wrapped his arms around me with a small "Ouch." I tried not to gasp as the familiar feelings of attraction warmed the pit of my stomach. Just friends, right? Sasuke, right? Right... When I went to pull away, he smiled lazily. "I'll try not to, not that my mother will ever let me drive again. Nyah, that troublesome woman won't ever let me near a car she's not in." I just grinned, and moved toward the door.

Mrs. Nara came in, and I stopped at the door to offer a little wave to Shikamaru. He nodded to me, and then turned his attention to his mother.

"How are you feeling?" My own mother asked as I stepped out and shut the door.

"Better. Much, much better." I smiled, knowing that he was okay. I was going to have to thank which ever god was responsible for this. They saved him. We were friends. He was alive. That last one really set my heart free. He's alive.

Chouji was standing in the cafeteria when I went in there to look for something to eat. I hadn't had a real dinner, and this whole thing really killed my appetite. He looked at me. "Is all as it's supposed to be?"

"Yeah," I said, my throat scratchy. He grinned.

"I figured you two would get over this ugly drama thing."

"Hey, having a good friend in the hospital can do wonders for a friendship, ya know?" He handed me some kind of liquid, and something to eat. I ate it without thinking.

"You look really tired, Sakura. Emotionally spent."

I sat in a chair, soon to be followed by Chouji. I placed my elbows on the table, and put my head in my hands. "You have no idea. I feel like I've lived a thousand years in two seconds. It's amazing. I've gotten angry, fallen in love, cried my eyes out, relaxed, resolved my problems, got accepted into a crowd I once hated, and solved world hunger. Okay, maybe no hunger, but I did go to my first party tonight."

"What happened at that party? It must have been something between you and Shikamaru; there's no way he would have gotten so angry over anyone else."

I bit my lip, and removed my head from my hands to look at the slightly overweight teen. "We got in a huge fight over Tayuya and Sasuke. Some crap was said. I told him I never wanted to see him again. I told you that I fucked this whole thing up. It was mostly my fault that this whole thing started. You were the one that didn't believe me." Chouji just shook his head.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I should have listened to you."

"It takes time to learn these things. Don't be angry if you don't get it right off the bat. It takes most people at least two weeks to get annoyed with me."

He was an alright guy, that Chouji. We never talked, because, well, I never really saw him as a me friend. He was a Shikamaru friend, like Hinata was my friend and not Shikamaru's. "You know, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Haruno."

"Either that, or we're so tired we'll forget this conversation ever took place." I smiled, despite myself. "But if it does lead to friendship, it'll be one I'm glad happened." He nodded. "And if you're really good, I'll even share my best friend with you." He laughed.

It was a nice laugh. Gah, I'm tired. "You're a very funny girl, Sakura."

"Nah. I'm just really tired. Trust me, I tone it down when I'm better rested. Not as funny, but it's more or less the real me then." This was truth. At sleepovers, the girls like to keep me awake so I'll make jokes for them. People say I'm more enjoyable when I'm on the brink of sleep deprivation.

"Well, hey. How about we get your parents to take us home? I'm kinda dead, as well." I nodded, and we went back to the waiting room, where both my parents stood. My mother smiled, and look at Chouji.

"I'll take you home, Chouji. Sakura, you and your father are going to take his car back." And with that, everyone left, ready to go back to their lives. I waved to Chouji, and got in the car.

My father started it up, and we were on the way home. "You're better now, I hear."

"Yeah," I said sleepily. "Much better..."

I must have fallen asleep in the car. I can't really remember what else happened that night, but not much.

Shikamaru and I were friends again.

All was right with my world.

A/N: So, are you guys happy? Shikamaru's alive, all is right with the world, and SasuSaku is abundant. Well, not in this chapter, but still. It might be abundant later. I've got another good twist planned out. Oh wait... You don't want to know the details. I hope you enjoy, and review, please? And check out the one shot I wrote. It's crappy, but I like it. Okay, okay, no more shameless plugs. Sorry that this chapter seems kinda choppy and pieced together, but I was in a lot of different moods while writing it. I'm glad it's done, though. I like this one. Based slightly on What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie. Don't own Naruto, nor song, but I do own idea, I believe. OH! And don't be offended by all the stuff about God I put in here. If you don't believe, I'm not saying you should. And if you do, I'm not saying that God is bad, or anything like that. Now that that's cleared up...

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