RECAP: Hello again everyone

Number 3 knocked before she went back in giving Gaara a chance to compose himself. He lifted his eyepatch and wiped both of his eyes. Naruto, who was hugging him, let go. Naruto was still unsure as to what was going on but it couldn't be good. She walked in and Gaara replaced his eyepatch.

"...Yes...?"

"...Gaara...I'm sorry about-"

"Don't apologize for what you feel...that's just the way you are...um...can I get a different intern now?"

"...Gaara...I wasn't trying to-I'm sorry..."

"It's expected. Although this is the first time it's actually happened to me...anyway um can you get another intern in here...or none at all please..."

"Sorry but there are no more interns without a patient..."

"Oh...well I leave today anyway so um just leave..."

"...Sure..."

She left and went to look for Sakura to report back. She couldn't find her outside the door so she checked Kankuro's room. Not there. The next place was Sasuke's room. She was about to talk when she saw what was going on. Sakura was bent over Sasuke. Almost sobbing.

"Sasuke, don't talk. You're too weak...but you're alive. You came back for me. You came back for Naru."

"...Sa..."

"No, shh. You're too weak. I can't even believe I'm talking to you."

She decided to turn and leave but Sakura caught her before she did.

"Get Tsunade. Now!"

She ran and got her.

"OK thank you for your services Number 3. Leave."

She did as she was told. Tsunade had not been told what was going on yet.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Look."

Tsunade looked at Sasuke who smiled back at him. She was in shock. It took her a second but she composed herself and did a basic exam.

"Lady Tsunade, is he like OK?"

"...Not yet...he's probably going to need a lot of physical rehab. He'll probably also go into long vegetative sleeps for a few months. Also he'll probably have some memory loss or general confusion for a while, that could be permanent though."

"But he's alive...I'M SO HAPPY!"

"Sakura shh!"

Tsunade went to get him a new IV. Sakura had done her best to stop the tears of joy.

"You OK? If you can't talk it's OK."

"No...I can...I'm so weak though...I can't move..."

"I know. That ninja cut through a lot of muscle too so you might have a rough time recovering."

"Is that...all that's wrong...?"

"...You could have some heart issues and maybe some things like that. And she mentioned confusion, selective memory loss. Nothing that bad, especially for dying."

"That's...not so bad..."

"I love you Sasuke."

"I love...you too..."

"...I'm sorry I almost gave up on you."

"I'm sorry...it took me so long...to come back..."

"I'm just glad you're here."

"How long...has it been...?"

"Um...almost three weeks."

"Then...I made good time...for a coma..."

"Sure did."

"Where's...Naru...?"

"At home."

"...I think I've forgotten...how to get home..."

"You'll remember soon enough. Cut yourself some slack, your expected to be forgetting a lot more."

"I'm tired..."

"That's normal. Want to sleep?"

"No...I just woke up...when can I get out of bed...?"

"When you can eat by yourself. When you can do that I'll let you out of bed."

"Speaking of...I'm really hungry..."

"I'll get you something."

"Wait...don't leave...can't you get someone else...to get it..."

"Of course."

Sakura paged Number 3 who came running, she was already on everyone's bad side. She got to the room and stayed in the doorway. Earlier that day she'd said that he was dead. And now he was alive and talking to Sakura. He was still pale and he still had awful scars and defibrillator burns but he was alive.

"You paged me?"

"Yes, go get Sasuke some food."

"Yes ma'am."

Number 3 left and came back with Sasuke's food. It was the kind of food they give all patients. Today it was soup which was lucky for Sasuke, he didn't have to chew. Sakura dismissed Number 3.

"OK, grab the spoon and drink the soup."

"OK...let's see."

Sasuke's arms were moving but his muscles had been severely damaged and he hadn't moved in weeks. He managed to raise his arm a little but not much.

"I can't do it."

"That's OK, it's your first day. I'll feed you."

Sakura started feeding Sasuke his food which he ate at an alarming rate. Very soon he had finished the soup and was still hungry. Sakura had number 3 bring in more soft food for Sasuke until he wasn't completely starving anymore.

"I'm feeling a lot better now."

"That's what not eating anything for three weeks gets you. Living off of IVs is not ideal."

"Thanks Sakura."

"There's no need to thank me. It's partially my fault you're like this."

"No it's not. It's nobody's fault."

"...If my medical ninjutsu was good enough..."

"Don't blame yourself. I love you too much to see you sad."

"...Thanks...so can you lift your arms or move anything now that you've eaten?"

Sasuke lifted his arm more than he had last time. Sakura smiled at him, he was already making progress.

"That's good!"

"No it's not. I can't even lift my arm all the way."

"Be patient."

"How's everyone else?"

"Kankuro got his leg cut open but I got that fixed. Gaara's sand was mostly dirt so it started suffocating him and a stray knife punctured his diaphragm so it was bad for a while but he's OK now."

"...Good. What about Naruto?"

"He's fine. He has a new scar but he's fine."

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah. I did get this scar on my back."

Sakura turned around and lifted her shirt off.

"Cool huh?"

"Of course it is, it's yours."

"Yours are pretty cool too."

"Oh yeah, mine. Hey can I get a shirt?"

"Ha, sorry about that. It was pretty hard with all the IVs but now that you can drink and eat It'll be easier. Be right back."

Sakura left to get Sasuke a gown. Number 3 came back in to ask for a job, trying to make herself useful, trying to not get fired. Sasuke got her attention before she could leave.

"Hey. You work for Sakura?"

"Yes sir."

"Hows my friend Gaara doing?"

"...Just fine sir, he leaves today."

"You're not telling me something."

"...I DIDN"T KNOW, I NEEDED WARNING!"

"...What?"

"I've just...it's not your problem."

"I'm bored. Come on, what are talking about?"

"I didn't know he was...with Naruto..."

"...So what did you do wrong?"

"I didn't do anything wrong...they did."

"So that's it. I thought you were holding back something medical actually. Well I'm not bored enough to talk to someone like you. Leave."

"Someone like me? I didn't do anything wrong?"

"What exactly did they do that was so wrong?"

"It's wrong."

"Why? They're in love. Like me and Sakura. Why is that wrong?"

"..."

"OK, now leave."

"...Yes sir."

Sakura passed her on the way to Sasuke's room with his gown. She didn't pay any attention to Number 3 on her way in.

"Now that you're awake this'll be a lot easier."

"OK, let me try and stand."

"No no. You shouldn't try that."

"No really I think I can."

"Why don't you sit up first. Then I'll let you try and stand."

"OK."

Sasuke managed to swing his legs over the side of the bed and sat up slowly. Sakura smiled, sat next to him and put her arm around him and kissed his cheek.

"You're legs work, and so do your arms."

"It still really hurts."

"Of course it does. Be patient."

"Why am I burned?"

"Stupid interns. It'll heal real soon though."

"I want to go home. I want to see Naru."

"You can't yet. You will though. Let's get this gown on you."

Sakura put his arms through the sleeves working around the IV's. She tied it in the back.

"OK take your shorts off and get back in bed."

"I'm not getting back in bed."

"Why?"

"I want to go see everyone."

"I'll bring them here."

"No, I can go."

"Take your shorts off and I'll get you a wheelchair."

Sasuke did and Sakura came back with a wheelchair.

"Where do you want to go?"

"To see everyone."

"Now? Do you want to wait a little longer?"

"No, I want to see everyone again."

"Alright, alright."

Sakura had to practically pick him up and put him in the chair but he got in. Sakura wheeled him into Gaara's room. Naruto and Gaara were getting Gaara's things together. Gaara was getting himself dressed to go home. He turned to see Sakura. He smiled at her then realized she was pushing someone. He was stunned when he saw Sasuke.

"Is...is that you?"

Naruto turned around confused, saw Sasuke, got on his knees and hugged him incredibly tight. Sakura had to pry him off.

"You're alive!"

"I'm alive."

"Oh my God! I can't believe this."

Naruto went to hug him again but Sakura pulled him off before he could. Gaara was still in shock but he found himself hugging Sasuke. Not as tight as Naruto but with the same amount of emotion. Sakura wanted to get Sasuke back to bed, fearing he was too weak to be out of it. Naruto didn't barrage him with questions as expected. Gaara didn't either. They were just happy he was alive.

"Gaara? What's wrong with your eye?"

"Oh yeah! Look."

Gaara lifted his eyepatch and revealed his cloudy eye.

"I like it."

"Thanks. So how are you feeling? Like how much can you move and stuff?"

"Not much at all. I barely got into this chair."

"Then what are you doing out of bed?"

"Just wanted to see everyone again."

"I know how you feel. Well me and Naruto have to go home now. We've already been discharged and someone needs our room."

"Alright."

"We'll see you tomorrow."

"You will?"

"Duh."

They hugged him goodbye and left.

BOTTOM NOTE: Yeah I'm weak. I couldn't bring myself to kill him...sorry BOTTOM NOTE OVER AN OUT