Chapter 9

The weeks that followed passed by in a blur. She could remember fragments here and there, and all including her snappish and wild patient. The moments where their tempers would clash the hardest, moments where he walked so close to her that she could smell his scent, times when she was granted the oppurtunity of seeing him sleep. Oh God how he looked like an innocent child. She believed that was his real freedom, in his sleep. At least at the beginning stages of a deep slumber. His nightmares always brought an end to the minscule utopia he discovered in sleep.

She didn't like his nightmares. Had he really ever slept peacefully? No. Maybe for an average of twenty minutes, but then the bad things would start. He would start twitching and jerking on the bed, his head swinging violently back and forth, while he would start to moan in gut wrenching agony.

Then the yelling would start. He wouldn't really speak words, but just a continuous yell of anger, pain, frustration, and pure rage with his back arched off the bed and his hands clenched into balls of steel on the bed at his sides.

It was a horrible sound. One that made her want to scream with him, hold him in her arms, wrip at the flesh that covered her body, anything that would make him feel less pain, even if it caused her to feel it as a result.

More than once if she reached out to touch him, when the turmoil of emotions in her body that was caused by watching him writhe in front of her, got to much for her to handle he would suddenly jolt awake and pounce at her touch. He would have her pinned under his weight with pure murder in his eyes.

When this had first accured, she had been terrified and thought that he would kill her. But he didn't. Instead he kept her pinned under him until his breathing leveled, as well as her own, then would back off her to lean against the wall, one hand clutching at the mark above his left eye while he winced and growled low and dangerously at something only he was aware of.

He never spoke of what tormented him in his dreams, only said that it was something that was past and present and part of him. Sakura didn't understand, which was probably his intention. He was always like that. Speaking in ways that made you stop and think. Like when he had put the thought in her head that maybe she was the insane one. There could be truth in that. Depending on what stereotype you put yourself in: Sane vs. Insane, Logical vs. Ilogical. On and on.

Was anything even real?

"Sakura. Would you like to wait in the visitor's room with Gaara? They should be here shortly."

The pinkette in question snapped out of her thoughts to gaze at the honey-eyed blonde standing before her. She had a tranquil smile on and seemed at ease, relaxed. Maybe she was happier that Sakura was making such break throughs with the patient that had caused trouble during the years passed. Or maybe it was just a good day. Snow on the ground, cool crisp air that made you watch as it blew the heavenly flakes through the air. It was a good day.

"Yes, I think I will. Is he there now?" Sakura asked as she pulled her white medical coat tighter over her icy blue scrubs.

Tsunade nodded with a grim smile. "He's not usually in the best of moods on his birthday, so watch your back, okay?"

"I will." Sakura agreed."Thank-you."

She turned down the hall way, toward the visitor's room where she was going to meet the only remaining family of Gaara. His brother and sister, Kankurou and Temari.

Maybe, hopefullly, they would be able to shed some light on Gaara's past. Things that she wasn't able to find out from the files or the red-head himself. She hoped that, after this visit, they would want to meet with her in private. Away from the facility.

Turning the knob on the door, the young woman stepped through gracefully and scanned the empty room for a splash of red. Which wasn't to hard to find. He stood leaning against the farthest wall, away from the door, arms crossed over his chest, and a distant look in his cold eyes.

She didn't hesitate to walk over to him, and once she was close, she sat down on a chair by his side. He didn't even blink.

"So your siblings are coming, huh." she started, and glanced up at him. He didn't move. "Are you happy?"

He was still, unmoving, a perfect stone statue. She frowned slightly, and huffed a breath.

"Fine. Don't talk, see if I care." she snapped.

But she did want him to talk. Wanted to know what was going on in his head, if he was anticipating the arrival of his family, or absolutly loathing it. And why.

After a few minutes of silence, Sakura rose from her seat and crossed the room to the window. Staring out, she could see the cold wind blow the limbs of trees, making them look like dancing arms. The dead leaves on the front courtyard floated over the snow covered ground, giving the institution a look of death. Which, in a sense, was true. Was anything really alive here?

She sighed as she rose one of her small hands to the cool glass of the window pane. Her fingers spread, and her emerald eyes gazed out at the grey sky. She hoped that today would go by fine, that she would get the answers she wanted. The answers that could either help or destroy Gaara's chances of freedom.

"Gaara?" A deep male voice questioned from the doorway.

Sakura partially turned to the person, and let her hand rest at her side once again. The man at the door had spiky brown hair that fell messily around his tanned face. His eyes were a dark color of brown, almost black, and seemed teasing and warm. But also wary and on gaurd.

He was built nicely. His frame was firm and hard, and the lean muscles under his skin bulged out the slightly. A white long-sleeved T-shirt and faded blue jeans with grey New Balances covered his body.

The male was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. With a jolt, the pinkette noticed how much he looked like Gaara when he stood that way. Or would it be how much Gaara looked like him.

His eyes went to her after glancing at the red-head standing at the wall. His mouth set in a grim line while he glanced over her. She felt like she was being judged, set on a table and being examined by him as he continued to stare at her.

She didn't doubt that this was Kankurou, Gaara's brother. Both of the males had the ability to make you question yourself with one of their looks, much like he was doing now, and how they held themselves. How they seemed tensed and ready for anything at any moment.

And then, a slim hand rested on the male's forearm. He turned his head slightly to the left to glance at the person behind him. With a nod, he took a step away to let that person enter.

A woman then stepped in beside the male. Sakura knew this to be Temari, the sister. She was beautiful. Her coarse sandy colored hair was put up in four pigtails, that would have been funny on someone else, but suited her and even further complimented her fisque.

Temari's shirt was long-sleeved with sleeves that stopped at the middle of her slender forearms, and was a soft lilac color. It wasn't tight fitting, but it wasn't loose either. The jeans she wore framed her curves in an envious manner while the bottoms where tucked into a pair of deerskin boots that were dampened with snow.

Her blue-green eyes glanced over the room, skipping the pink haired female entirely, and landed on her youngest brother. To Sakura, they seemed to soften and sadden as they looked at him, and her heart gave a tug.

The room was filled with a quiet stillness. Everyone was silent, even the wind ceased to blow outside as the people stared at one another. Sakura glanced at all three of the siblings, and noticed how they seemed tensed, wary.

But then, underneath the silence she also noticed something else. Something that she didn't quite understand. How they seemed to be communicating with each other without speaking.

Temari stared openly at her red-haired brother. Her eyes asking the question that she couldn't seem to say aloud. 'Are you okay?'

Kankurou, his arms over his chest, his brow creased with concern, asking his own. 'What can we do?'

Then there was Gaara. He stared back at his siblings with no hint of welcoming or acceptance. Just the same jaded look he had everyday that seemed to never leave. His eyes answering them with a cool look that was the same as he biting voice.

'You can't help me.'

It was what always resided in his looks. The same answer to every question.

She took a step from the window toward the middle of the room. Commanding the attention of it's occupants. The siblings eyes all snapped to her, and she froze for half a second before continuing to greet Kankurou and Temari.

"My name is Haruno Sakura. I'm Gaara's doctor." She said.

Kankurou gave her a once over before extending his hand for a shake. Sakura smiled slightly, grateful they weren't writing her off just yet, and grasped his larger hand in hers and have a curt shake.

Temari nodded at her, which the pinkette returned.

"I was hoping that after you visit with Gaara, we could talk." Sakura suggested.

Temari's eyes flashed with emotions. Some to quick for Sakura to catch. But that didn't stop her from recognizing some. Anger, frustration, hurt, fear, sadness, and hope flared and then died away just as quick as they appeared.

"We will meet you outside later. Then we can discuss where we can go." Temari spoke in bell-like voice. It was warm and snippish at the same time. As if inviting you in, but warning you to keep away to.

Sakura nodded to them, "That sounds good. I hope you enjoy your visit."

She gave a last glance to the two older siblings in front of her. Kankurou met her gaze, and she could see the hope deep in the depths of his dark orbs.

Taking a step back, she walked quietly to the door leading to the hallway. Once at the door, she turned her head to have a last look, and locked gazes with Gaara.

His normal hard, cold eyes were softer now. But only fractionly, just enough for someone like her to notice. Someone that was used to his piercing gaze.

She smiled slightly at him, and stepped out the door.

If she would have stayed any longer, she would have seen what could only be described as a miracle. If she would have stayed any longer, she would have caught the slightest lifting of Gaara's lips. If she would have stayed any longer, she would have seen how Temari and Kankurou stared at their brother in amazement. If she would have stayed any longer, she would seen how the hope flared in all of their eyes.....Even Gaara's.