The first tear fell from his eye. He should have been the one to protect her, he should have been there. The tear made its way towards his cheekbone. He should have seen through the attack, he could take the idiots, Temari was already weakened. As the tear dripped of his chin, another started its journey from his other eye. He should be the one lying in bed now, fast asleep, no way of knowing if he was ever going to wake, not Temari.

Tenari had been rushed to the Hospital of Suna. The medic ninja had worked on her for a full hour before Shikamaru was allowed to even see her. As he was making his way towards the door, the head medic stopped him, saying that Temari's exterior wounds had healed, but the infection from her back was starting to spread throughout her bloodstream. Her life was riding on her will to live.

Shikamaru smiled slightly as he imagined her sharp voice calling out to him.

"What'cha crying for, crybaby? Do you really think I won't go down with a fight?"

He held back the stinging in his eyes. Temari will be alright, she's a fighter, and he should be one too. He almost believed himself, but after a glance at her, all the faith was gone.

Her face was very pale, her skin clammy and cold to the touch. It was almost as if she wouldn't make it... He shook his head forcefully. Thinking like that would only diminish what tiny sense if hope he had left.

Naruto lingered awkwardly at the side, unsure if what to do. It was his fault, he shouldn't have let the enemy ninja capture him. Shikamaru shouldn't blame himself.

"Shikamaru? I'm sorry." Naruto said softly, hanging his head.

"For what, Naruto?" Shikamaru replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I shouldn't have been captured. Then everything would have been okay."

Shikamaru turned a sad and exasperated expression on Naruto.

"This isn't the time to blame yourself Naruto," he said hypocritically,"let's just hope that she wakes up."

"Alright." Naruto said softly, then settled down in a chair to wait, feeling defeated.

They kept their vigil for three days, sitting by Temari's bedside, waiting for something, ANYTHING, to happen.

After that long wait, their patience paid off.

"Sh-Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru's head shot up from the chair that he was sitting on, and he all but scrambled up to Temari's bedside.

"Temari! You're okay! You're... You're okay!" Shikamaru started to break down in sobs of relief. She smirked and reached out a hand to him, which he clasped in both of his, still unable to stop himself from crying.

Naruto tapped his index fingers together awkwardly, feeling very much like Hinata.

"Urm... Temari, I'm glad you're okay." He said, eyeing Shikamaru's sobbing form.

Temari rolled her eyes at Shikamaru, then smiled at Naruto. "Thanks Naruto. I'm glad too."

Temari, although awake, had to undergo examination for another three days before she had completely healed from all her injuries. She was walking Shikamaru and Naruto to the gates of Suna, her fingers interlaced with Shikamaru's.

"I KNEW there was something going on between the two of you!" He exclaimed when they first held hands. Temari laughed while Shikamaru smacked his forehead with his palm, sighing with exasperation. Soon they reached Suna's gates, and they turned to say goodbye.

"See ya Naruto, Cryababy." Temari said, smirking at them.

"Alright Troublesome Woman. Try not to die while we're away." Shikamaru said, returning her smirk.

"Why? Because you're afraid you'll cry your eyes out?" Temari laughed at the blushing Shikamaru. She turned to Naruto.

"Sorry for calling you annoying, Naruto. I guess you're not that bad after all." She said, smiling and sticking out her hand for a handshake.

"It's okay, Temari." Naruto said, completely ignoring Temari's hand and going straight for a hug.

The hug lasted a little longer than comfortable.

"Umm... Naruto?" Temari said, struggling slightly out of Naruto's embrace. Naruto was still clueless, and did not loosen his grip on Temari. After a few more uncomfortable seconds, shadows wrapped around Naruto's waist and pulled him off Temari.

"What was that fo-" Naruto's voice trailed off as he noticed Shikamaru's glare. "Uh... Heh heh... Sorry Shikamaru." Naruto said awkwardly. Shikamaru sighed and motioned for Naruto to follow him, then waved goodbye to Temari.

Temari watched them go, smiling slightly, then ran up to Shikamaru and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Bye Crybaby, see you soon." She whispered into his ear, then with a final wave goodbye, ran back into Suna.

Shikamaru smiled, walking in silence for a while with Naruto.

"So..." Naruto started. "What do you think happened to those rogue ninja?"

The head rogue ninja stirred. He didn't know how long he was out. He looked over his body, and almost fainted at the sight of the hideous wounds that he sported. A quick check confirmed that all his henchmen were no longer with him. He sighed, he should get back to the hideout and heal up, then gather new henchmen. Yes, that was a good plan.

"And where do you think you're going?"

The raspy, gravelly voice stops him in his tracks. "G-G-Gaara?" He calls out, voice shaking in fear.

"Are you the one who injured Temari?"

The head rogue ninja shuddered. "N-no, sir, it wasn't me." He said, fighting to keep control of his voice.

"Oh really? It is said that in this very spot, Temari was attacked. And you're here. care to explain?"

"I-I'm sorry Gaara! I'll never do it again!"

"I know you won't."

He sighed in relief.

"Sand Burial Jutsu!"

His eyes darted down fast enough to see sand encasing his body.

Uh. Oh.

"DIE!"

A/N: That's it, that's the end of my first fanfic :) Hope you enjoyed it, and please leave a review! :D