I'm getting worse at titles...

Anyways, it turns out the next chapter was indeed successful! I think this one is my favourite so far, because it's so long and I really like how Temari's love for Kankuro turned out, though I can't say for sure how in-character they are. I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to write that because I've been writing about Temari and Gaara for most of this story, but I think it turned out well. A lot of the anime (dubbed) is in this one, but I tried to work my own thoughts and stuff into it. A couple parts feel like they go a little too into the anime stuff, but I couldn't end the scenes early so I just kept them going and tried as best as I could not to just keep on writing what's in the anime. That's not really what fanfiction is about, is it?

Also, I wasn't sure where to end this one because I was looking through the episodes to see if Temari told Kankuro that she didn't end up going with Naruto and his group and I couldn't find anything, but I saw the scene with Baki and Kankuro where Kankuro was already informed about Chiyo being on the squad, so I went ahead and pretended it was Temari who told him about that stuff. So I just added that scene to the end of it and decided it was long enough and ended the chapter. There's one more to go, and like how this one skipped the extraction of the poison in Kankuro, the next one will be skipping ahead to when Gaara wakes up, and then skipping ahead again when the three siblings are alone so I can put my own stuff in it without all of Suna as an audience. The next and final chapter could possibly be up tomorrow, but I doubt it will be done tonight considering these past two chapters took me at least four and a half hours, and I don't know if I want to waste most of my night doing the next one. Still, the prospect of finally finishing this is tempting...

Relief and Worry

Temari sighed in relief as Sakura announced that Kankuro was no longer in immediate danger. Her brother was safe...He wasn't going to die...

She suddenly felt dizzy and leaned against the wall just behind her, sliding to the floor as she realized her legs couldn't support her. He's safe...Kankuro is safe...Thank you, Sakura. She didn't know what she would do if she was left to worry about both of her brothers' lives.

She looked over at Kankuro, watching as he slept. He looked so peaceful, nothing like he had before when his life was in danger and he had been in pain. Temari was glad he could sleep, but she longed for him to wake up, to talk to him so she could really know he was alive and well, and not about to leave her at any moment.

Gaara was pushed to the back of her mind, for which she felt guilty, but she couldn't think about both of her brothers at once. She just couldn't. Worrying over both of them overwhelmed her, and while Gaara was who knows how far away, Kankuro was right in front of her. She had to care for him first; she couldn't just run off in search of Gaara until she knew Kankuro was alright. If she was to go after Gaara, she needed Kankuro by her side. She needed to know that he would be with her, offering support when she needed it. And she needed them both to be by Gaara's side when he was rescued, so he would know that he had the love and protection of both his siblings.

Hearing quiet gasps and relieved sighs, Temari stood and was instantly by Kankuro's side. He was awake.

Some of the tension in her released, and she gave a quiet sigh. Kankuro was awake. He wasn't going to leave her before he could regain consciousness. She felt indescribably relieved, and glad, though she still had lingering fear for her other brother. She wanted to be happier Kankuro was okay, but she couldn't be completely reassured until she knew that Gaara was safe as well. But for now, she could be glad she wasn't about to lose both of them.

Her attention was drawn back to Kankuro, whose unfocused eyes were trying to make sense of the images in front of him.

"Kankuro, are you alright?" Temari asked, watching as his eyes slowly turned to her.

"Temari...? You're back already?" His voice was quiet from underuse, but Temari was glad to hear it again.

"I heard the village was in trouble," she responded.

"I'm sorry...to be such a bother."

"Shut up!" she retorted. "Don't be ridiculous!" He wasn't a bother at all, not when it came to his life being in danger, and there was no need to apologize...Well, maybe there was, for making her worry so much, but now wasn't the time to bring that up. She wanted to enjoy every moment she could with him before they had to go after Gaara.

To her right she could hear Kakashi talking to Baki about finding the scent of the Akatsuki. Kankuro interrupted them. "There's no need for that." He struggled to sit up on the cot, startling Temari. What if he reinjured himself? There was no way she could handle both her brothers being in danger again.

He had already sat up before Temari could stop him. As she watched him, scrutinizing his expression and body language carefully, she decided that she would wait to see if he seemed to be in a lot of pain before trying to hold him down. She knew that he would be too stubborn to listen to her unless he was in enough pain to admit it would do him good to rest; she would feel the same way if she were in his position.

Kankuro revealed that he had Crow take a piece of the Akatsuki's clothing, so it would be easy for Kakashi to find them by scent. Kakashi went over and picked up the cloth, commenting on Kankuro's capability to go down fighting. He nodded, wearing a proud grin, but immediately winced and clutched his stomach in pain.

"Kankuro!" Temari cried, bending down so she was at his level. "What is it?"

He looked about to reply, but noticed Naruto standing at the end of his bed. Temari followed his gaze in understanding. "Yes. He came all the way from the Leaf Village to help us."

After a moment of trying to focus his eyes, he asked, "Is that...Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Hey there," Naruto replied, quieter than usual but wearing a smile.

"...I see."

Temari was about to ask what he meant by that, but just then Kakashi used a summoning jutsu to bring forth a group of ninja hounds. Naruto engaged in a short conversation with one of them, Pakkun, she thought she heard Naruto say, before Kakashi broke them up and presented the dogs with the fabric. They sniffed at it, then dashed off in pursuit.

Naruto began talking about how they would leave as soon as the dogs returned, but was silenced by Kakashi and the arrival of Ebizo and Chiyo. They approached Kankuro, who was surprised to see them.

"There's something we must know and only you can tell us," Chiyo said. "Am I correct in thinking that one of your opponents, the one you fought with, was Sasori?"

Kankuro let out a long breath, but didn't reply.

"Well? Speak up, Kankuro," Ebizo prompted.

"...Yes, Sasori of the Red Sand. He told me so himself."

Chiyo was silent at his response, even when pressed by Kakashi to speak.

Later, Temari watched as Sakura brought back an antidote that would get rid of the poison lingering in Kankuro's body. He grimaced at the taste, but diligently drank all of it. Sakura then ordered him to lie down and rest, which Temari heavily agreed with. He had done enough by trying to get Gaara back, now he could just leave it to her and the others.

While a bit of conversation went on around him, Kankuro remained silent, staring at his hand but clearly somewhere else. Temari wished she knew what he was thinking about. She was sure it had something to do with Gaara, but she didn't know what. She had noticed that her two brothers were close to each other, closer than she was with either of them. It made her glad, to know that both of them were happy, although it also made her feel a bit left out.

"Naruto..." Kankuro said suddenly, in a quiet voice but one that drew the attention of everyone in the room. "Save my little brother, will you?"

Temari was surprised to hear him say something like that. Was he really willing to admit he wasn't in any condition to go after Gaara? Was he okay with letting Naruto do it for him?

"Don't worry, I will. After all, I'm going to be Hokage someday. And for now the Kazekage can just owe me one."

-X-x-x-X-

Temari stayed with Kankuro the entire night, despite Baki's wishes, worried that he might try to leave her again if she didn't remain by his side at all times. She stayed in the cot next to him, talking quietly with him until he was too tired to stay awake any longer. His quiet breathing eventually lulled her to sleep.

In the morning, just outside the recovery room, she was told Gaara's whereabouts were known.

"What? Gaara? You sure?" She was too intent on Gaara to remember to keep her voice down in case she woke Kankuro.

"Yes, ma'am," the Sand ninja replied in an official tone. "They've found where the Akatsuki have taken him. The Leaf Village ninja are getting ready to move out."

"So will we. I want you to put together a pursuit squad," she ordered. "And be quick."

"Right." He turned and left to follow her instructions.

"Temari..."

At the sound of her brother's voice Temari rushed back into the room to his side. To her surprise he was trying to sit up. "Kankuro, what do you think you're doing? !" she scolded him. "You're not going anywhere, you need to rest."

He looked at her with understanding, if a bit reluctant, but his eyes begged her to let him help. There was no way she was letting him out in his condition, no matter how much he wanted to help Gaara, or how much she wanted him by her side.

"I give you my word, I'll get Gaara back." He needed to see that he was far too injured to not end up being a liability to the mission, and that she understood how strongly he felt about saving Gaara. She felt the exact same way.

Kankuro was silent, and Temari was worried he would refuse and try to go anyway. She was sure that he would find a time when she wasn't looking and escaped to go after Gaara by himself again, and she wasn't sure he would be as lucky the second time if he ran into more danger, which was inevitable. And she was worried he wouldn't like the idea of her going. If she didn't have Kankuro's support, she didn't think she could do it. It was hard enough to watch Kankuro near death, poisoned...who knows what she would find when she got to Gaara.

Finally he gave her a half-smirk, half-smile, and she returned it. She could see in his eyes how much it hurt him to let her go without him to save their brother. She hoped that he could see she understood that, and that his support gave her strength. And above all, she hoped, if it wasn't already obvious, that she was glad he was alright.

"Well, I guess I should get going," she said, not wanting to leave Kankuro but she needed to get Gaara back.

"...Yeah."

On impulse she pulled him into a hug, mindful of his injuries. She felt him tense in surprise, but he wrapped his arms around her in return. Temari could feel tears forming in her eyes but she held them back.

"I promise I'll bring Gaara back, I won't give up until I do."

"I know, sis, I know."

She reluctantly let go of him, knowing she had to leave. Kankuro grasped her hand and squeezed gently, telling her everything he couldn't put into words. She gave him a small smile as she squeezed back, then left the room, determined to find Gaara so the three of them could be together again.

Gathering the squad together, she led them to the spot where Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura were expecting them. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she apologized.

The group was prepared to leave, but they were interrupted by Baki's appearance. He looked over at Naruto's group, then at Temari's.

"Temari, you and your group are to stay here. Patrol the perimeter."

What? ! After rushing back to Suna when she heard about Gaara, after Kankuro being poisoned and rendered unable to go after him, after Temari promising to do it for both of them, she was just supposed to stay here? ! Gaara was hers and Kankuro's brother, and no one was going to stop Temari from leaving to get him back.

"Are you kidding me or what? !"

"Orders. From above."

Temari gasped in disbelief, knowing she'd been beaten.

"If word gets out that the Kazekage is missing, our enemies may use it as an opportunity...to launch an attack on the village."

"Come on!" one of the pursuit squad ninja retorted.

"Don't you get it? ! That's all the more reason we have to get him back as quickly as we can!" Temari argued. "Look at these Leaf ninja. They left their village and came all the way here just to help us rescue Gaara. And Gaara isn't even their leader! He's our Kazekage! The Sand shinobi should be the ones to save him!"

"I'm sorry," Baki said.

"Well I'm going!" a voice from the top of one of the buildings called out. Temari recognized the voice. Lady Chiyo...?

She stood on the railing of the building, looking down at them. "If a Sand shinobi is needed then I'm the one to go."

"Granny Chiyo?" But she hardly any more fit to travel than Kankuro was!

"But...But you're so..." Baki trailed off.

"I'm retired, yes. Which means, of course, that I'm free to do whatever I want."

The squad ninja were just as concerned. "Yes, but...the journey will be difficult!"

"Bah! Don't treat me like a fossil!" She leapt down from the roof, landing in front of Naruto and Sakura who flinched in surprise. "After all, it's been a while since I've doted on my adorable grandchild."

Temari, her team, and Baki followed the four to the entrance to Suna. She was forced to accept that she wouldn't be going with them right away to save Gaara, but she would be going later on. At least for now, she could rest in peace knowing that Naruto and the others were going after her brother.

"All right, we'll head out on our own then," Kakashi stated.

"Thank you...I'll try to convince the council to change their mind."

"Don't worry, we'll catch up with you," Temari said, assuring herself more than Naruto's group. She would be able to relax for a while with them going after Gaara, but she wouldn't be fully at ease until she saw Gaara with her own eyes.

"Heh, by the time you can catch up with us, we'll have already rescued Gaara," Naruto countered.

"We'll see you soon," Sakura finished as they left. Temari watched them go until they disappeared, wishing desperately to chase after them but knew that the village needed her. They could handle things until she arrived. And, hopefully, Kankuro. Though she worried that if Kankuro was well enough to travel by the time she was allowed to follow them it might be too late.

She returned to the recovery room to check on Kankuro, who was surprised to see her.

"You're still here? I thought you went after Gaara."

Temari avoided his gaze as she checked him over to make sure he hadn't been straining himself while she was gone. "I was ordered to stay here by Baki. Lady Chiyo is going with them."

His eyes widened with surprise. "Chiyo?"

She nodded, still not making eye contact with him. "She's going with them to save Gaara. Meanwhile I'm stuck here patrolling. I...I'm sorry. I tried to convince Baki to let me go, but—"

"It's okay." Kankuro grabbed her arm and gently pulled her down to his level. Temari didn't resist; she was too shocked to do anything. "I understand it wasn't your choice. I am a little upset you didn't get to go, but I know that you tried. That's all I can ask."

"But I could have tried harder! I could have—"

"Temari," he interrupted, his tone taking on a stern edge. "You don't have to blame yourself. I understand." His voice softened as he continued. "We're both just worried about Gaara. And I know you're worried about me as well. You need to relax. I'm fine, and Gaara will be too."

Temari's shoulders sagged slightly as Kankuro said what she had been trying to convince herself of. It had no more meaning than when she said it, but it felt good to have her brother say it.

"Thank you," she replied.

"No problem."

He released his grip on her, and she stood up straight. "I'd better go..." She headed towards the entrance to the room to meet up with her patrol group.

"Don't worry, he will be fine."

She turned to face her brother, a small smile on her face. "I know."