RECAP: Stuff

Tsunade had checked all her patients including Sakura and was dreading going back to talk to Gaara about his results but she had to.

"So do you want me to tell you with Naruto or without?"

"What do you think is best?"

"...With I suppose."

"Does that mean it's bad news?"

"I'll get Naruto."

"WAIT!"

"I'll be right back."

Tsunade left and went into Sasuke's rooms with Sakura and Naruto. Sakura was asleep and Naruto was sitting by Sasuke, staring at him. She felt bad about interrupting but she had to.

"Naruto I've got the results. Do you want to come back in to Gaara's room?"

"...Hmm? Oh, right."

Naruto was in a daze after seeing Sasuke again. He followed Tsunade back into Gaara's room who was now looking very worried. Naruto walked over to him and kissed his forehead and smiled trying to calm him down.

"So what'd it say?"

"Well, as it turns out Gaara you have a tumor in your brain which is probably what has been causing your memory loss. ."

"Cancer?"

"Not necessarily, it could be benign. We haven't been able to tell yet but I would like to schedule a surgery to get it out."

"Cancer..."

"That hasn't been established ye-"

"WAIT!...Stop talking..."

"I'm really sorry, Gaara."

"...Can you come back later."

"Of course."

Tsunade stepped out while Naruto and Gaara mulled over what she'd told them. They were both too shocked to cry.

"Cancer...Naruto...it's cancer."

Naruto sat on the bed next to Gaara and put his arm around him.

"You heard her, it might not be serious. It'll be OK."

"IT'S CANCER NARUTO, NOT A COLD!"

"Gaara, stay calm. It'll be OK. You'll be OK."

"But for how long Naruto? A few more years? I've already planned my life out like I was going to live it for 80 more years."

"You're not dying."

"What about Naru? What about our kids? I am I going to live long enough to see them grow up?"

"Don't think like that. You'll live long Gaara, I know you will."

Tsunade was just outside ready to jump back in at a moments noticed but to her surprise she was getting choked up. She had to leave so she ran to her make-shift office in the hospital, slammed the door behind her and cried. She had no time to cry so she did her best to stop herself and went to file paperwork about Gaara. She handn't noticed but Shizune was in her office.

"OH!...How long have you been here? I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Is something wrong Lady Tsunade?"

"...No of course not what makes you say that?"

"Well uh...you were just cryi-"

"No I uh...you're mistaken."

"...Are you sure I'm mistaken?"

"Watch it Shizune."

"...Sorry..."

"Go get me Gaara's CT and MRI printouts."

"Alright."

Shizune passed by Gaara's room on the way. She was curious about why they looked so distressed but she'd already made Tsunade mad so she didn't want to further exasperate her by being late. She got the folder with the printouts and ran them back to Tsunade. Right before she walked into her office it occurred to her to check and make sure they were actually Gaara's results. She confirmed the name and walked into the office.

"I saw you lingering outside the door. Did you look at those results?"

"Of course not, I was checking the name."

"Hand 'em."

As she was handing her the results her curiosity got the best of her and she asked.

"Why can't I see them?"

"...He's just a private person."

"I was just wondering, they seemed pretty distraught when I walked by."

"...I better go talk to them."

MEANWHILE

Naruto and Gaara were sitting in silence waiting for Tsunade to come back and give them some kind of guidance and a few minutes later she did. When she walked in her eyes were raw and Naruto and Gaara looked terrified. She did her best to smile at them.

"So Lady Tsunade, this surgery, if you do it will I not have cancer anymore?"

"Well, we're not sure you have cancer at all but if we do get all of it out it will either eliminate it or considerably help."

"Alright, so this surgery sounds pretty risky."

"That's what I actually came in here to talk to you about. If this turns out to be benign then I don't know if the surgery is worth it. But we won't know if it needs to be out until we're in there."

"So what could go wrong?"

"Well, it's your brain Gaara. This mass isn't in a prime place. If something does go wrong memory, sight and motor skills could be compromised."

"...compromised...Naruto..."

"However if this thing is malignant we need to get it out as soon as possible. I suggest we schedule a surgery for later today."

"So could I die in this surgery?"

"...That's a risk with every surgery Gaara but you might die without it."

"...Alright let's do it."

"Oh...OK, I'll go schedule it."

Tsunade thought it best to leave before Naruto got his feelings in knowing that surgery was the best way to go. She heard him start objecting as soon as she left. She trudged back to her office. She did a quick seep of the of the waiting room to see if there were any real emergencies, luckily there weren't. She did see Temari, Matsuri and Shikamaru. She figured she better say hi.

"Are you looking for Gaara? He's going in for a surgery today, just so you know."

She was doing her best to hold back tears. At risk of seeming cold she left them before she could even see their shocked expressions. She dashed to her office. Her eyes welled up and she kept reversing it, she had no room to cry.

MEANWHILE

"Naruto, I'll die without this surgery."

"OK now let's say it's benign, which it probably is seeing as you haven't had any other symptoms other than memory loss, you'll do this surgery and you could come out blind barely able to use a fork."

"Naruto...please..."

Naruto got back in bed with Gaara and wrapped his arms around him.

"Sorry...I'm supposed to be the strong one for you. You're all I have."

"I love you Naruto."

"I love you too."

A few moments later Temari, Matsuri and Shikamaru rushed in. Both in tears hugging him profusely. Shikamaru could tell that this was the last thing Gaara needed so he reminded them that they had Kankuro to visit. The took the hint and reluctantly left. Naruto thanked Shikamaru. A little later Tsnuade called Naruto out to sign consent forms. It was really scaring him but he did his best to look calm for Gaara. That left Shikamaru and Gaara.

"So...dating my sister still?"

"Mhm..."

"Yeah...just so you know I don't hate you for being with Temari. I just wanted you to know that incase I die again...don't want you living in guilt."

"Gaara...you shouldn't talk like that."

"Well...I did die I can take it...ya know if you're ever a mission where you die you really shouldn't be scared. I was scared but it, it really wasn't scary at all."

"Quit talking like you're dying."

"...I think I am Shika...don't tell Naruto..."

"You're not dying!"

"Listen to me...please...I can't tell Naruto or anyone in my family these things...I would tell Sasuke but...point is I can tell you...Shika I'm not scared of actual death but I'm terrified of leaving Naruto. Can you calm me down...I think I'm going to have a panic attack. I can't just watch over him...I have to grow old with him..."

"Gaara...you don't need to be scared. What kind of surgery is it?

"Brain. I have a tumor."

"...Tsunade just said you were having surgery..."

"Thank her for me...if I don't live don't tell them I had a tumor OK?"

"You're going to live."

"...No matter what happens after this surgery I won't be the same. Either dead or changed. The only thing the same will be my love for Naruto...which is another reason I'm scared...terrified...petrified...I will love Naruto the same but what about everyone else...what about Naru and our kids...I don't want to change..."

"Gaara-"

He was cut off by Tsunade who came in to tell him not to eat any of his breakfast, he'd be going in soon. She left and Gaara got pale. He reached for Shikamaru's hand as if it was Naruto's. He took it trying to offer the same comfort as Naruto would.

"Shika...I uh...I know I'm young but...I have a will..."

"Do you want me to get it out?"

"NO!...I mean no...I want you to rip it up and burn it. That God awful will says I leave everything to my father..."

"Your father?...How can that be?"

"What do you mean?"

"...He's uh...he passed away..."

"He did...? Finally...I still want you to rip that will up...I don't want Naruto thinking I wouldn't leave anything for him."

"How did you end up giving everything to your father."

"He demanded I get one so one of his lawyers drew it up. I signed it without thinking...I hate my father..."

"I'll rip it..."

"Thanks...Shikamaru...will you be uncomfortable if I cry?"

"...I guess not..."

MEANWHILE

Naruto was trying desperately to stop crying. He was still in Tsunade's office with her and Shizune. He's signed the papers and now he couldn't control his tears. Tsunade hugged him which seemed to help some but it'd be awhile before he completely stopped.

"...Please don't let him die..."

"I'll do my best Naruto..."

"...I'm going to see him."

Shizune wasn't sure what was going on with Gaara but it must've been serious. She'd never seen Naruto break down at all.

MEANWHILE

"Why would you cry...?"

Gaara started crying slightly as he explained.

"Well...I...Sasuke...I mean it's just..."

"...Sasuke...?"

"I'm really gonna miss him."

With that onset of that last line Gaara broke out into full sobs. The more he cried the harder he tried to cover his face. Shikamaru wasn't sure what to do. He didn't even know why he was crying. Gaara was sitting up so he put his hand on his back trying to calm him down. He could feel some scars through his hospital gown, he could also feel his labored breaths.

"...I know it seemed like we weren't that close but...we were...and...I'm gonna miss him..."

A few moments later Naruto came in with red, swollen eyes. Shikamaru didn't acknowledge Naruto, he was still trying to calm Gaara down. When Gaara saw that Naruto had come in he immediately tried to stop crying. He smiled at Naruto with a few tears still running down his face. Naruto smiled back, Gaara saw that he'd been crying too. He sat up on the bed next to Gaara and kissed his cheek and wrapped his arm around him.

"You don't have to hide your feelings from me Gaara. It's OK to be sad and scared."

Gaara's tears started again. He put his head on Naruto's shoulder.

"Naruto...I'm scared..."

"I'm right here."

"...Thank you..."

Shikamaru tried to casually sneak out but Naruto stopped him.

"Are you here to see him?"

"Who?"

"You know. I'm pretty sure you didn't just come for Gaara."

"What do you mean?"

"Sasuke...did you come to see him?"

"...Why's he in here?"

Gaara looked at Naruto and the two exchange silent words. Naruto got up and walked with Shikamaru to Sasuke's room.