I have no rights to Naruto.

Enjoy.

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Suza had personally seen to Ibiki's injuries, the ANBU Commander only permitting it when he was in the room, standing like a sentinel his eyes never leaving Sakura's form on the bed, the various machines hooked up to her beeping away. He processed Suza's words like a machine, taking in the words and nodding, finally moving when with an exasperated sigh Suza left the room eliciting a promise that he would use the nurse button to call her when Sakura woke up. Gingerly sitting down he reached out taking Sakura's hand in his, caressing the skin, tracing her fingers and thumb, settling down to rub his thumb on the back of her hand as he waited for her.

Hours passed, many times Ibiki's hopes rose and fell as Sakura would fidget, murmur or flutter her eyelashes only to settle again. Finally she truly stirred, a whosh of breath escaping from her lips as her hand trembled in Ibiki's and as he watched her eyelashes flutter she opened emerald eyes, blinked and focused on Ibiki by her side.

"Wha…happen.'d?"

"Shhh. Wait a sec. sip." Ibiki stood getting the water and straw bade her drink, his large hand helping her raise her head the slightest centimetre as she sipped the water through the straw. One hand rose gesturing she was finished and placing the drink on her bedside table Ibiki sat down, drinking in the sight of Sakura awake and looking at him, squeezing her hand he began.

"The Hokage is livid. The Kazekage is livid."

The anaesthetic had worn off and though deep rooted tiredness pulled at Sakura, she still managed to level a glare at Ibiki that shut him up. "Ibiki."

He swallowed and scooted his chair closer. "The delegation were attacked, it is believed by rogue-nins but we haven't been able to confirm it. You were injured badly. They couldn't save it."

She looked at him.

Blinked.

Swallowed.

And slowly raised her free hand to cover her stomach releasing a gasp as she found her stomach dramatically smaller, tears filled her eyes and her mouth wobbled. Quietly she began to take small open mouthed breaths before suddenly sinking her head back into the pillow and closing her eyes. Her hand never let go of Ibiki's.

Anything that could be said was interrupted with the arrival of Doctor Isshin, the pompous Doctor giving the duo a flashy smile, clucking his tongue. "Dear, dear, such a sad event. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you and save your child. The Hokage was most upset for you as well and passes on his condolences. Doctor Yuki is talented, but . ." He trailed off, giving the duo a humble smile that came off as greasy and superior as he picked up Sakura's chart and tutted reading down the page and flipping over to the other, face frowning.

"No has been in to you yet?" He didn't even give them a chance to answer, not paying attention to the pale and trembling Sakura or the barely suppressing his anger Ibiki as he continued. "The Hokage will be most disappointed." He cleared his throat and shook his head, face filling with sympathy despite his reference to Danzou. "I'm very sorry Haruno, the Kunai pierced your womb, you lost your entire volume of blood, an emergency blood transfusion was carried out but you lost your child. I'm afraid that's not all."

Neither Sakura nor Ibiki had moved, the pink haired Kunoichi gripping Ibiki's hand every time Danzou was mentioned or the Doctor gave her a sympathetic look.

With a heavy sigh Doctor Isshin, face deepening in sorrowful sympathy said. "The kunai and surgery performed left internal damage, if the kunai had entered a few inches higher or to the side or if you had immediate Chakra healing perhaps…..but as it stand now I'm afraid you won't carry a pregnancy to term."

Sakura raised her head and looked at him blankly, the silence in the room enveloping and supressing until Isshin fidgeted under her stare and, moving from one to foot to the another awkwardly . "Well . .. I'll send in Suza to explain things further and if you have any questions . . . . . . .. "

The door swung as the Doctor made his exit, Suza entering immediately after his exit frowning as she held the clip board he had thrust into her hands. She took in the stoic form of Sakura, the pink haired Kunoichii looking to the side as Ibiki held her hand and was whispering apologies to her. Suza briskly moved into the room clipping the chart back in place at the end of the bed and then moving to raise Sakura up, piling pillows behind her as she scowled Ibiki.

"I told you to buzz the moment she woke up, the last thing needed was Isshin coming in and –"

Suza stopped as she caught sight of Ibiki's pale face and downcast eyes, flickering her gaze from him to a quiet Sakura, tears were gathered in her eyes, but none fell. Forehead wrinkling in confusion the matron softly spoke. "Sakura?Ibiki?"

A shuddering breath escaped Ibiki, his large frame moving to sit on the bed and hold Sakura to him, hands well accustomed to it caressing her hair and rubbing her arms in reassurance. "I am so sorry Sakura, so sorry." Delicate hands rose and wrapped themselves around Ibiki, holding onto him for dear life.

Watching all this Suza rolled her eyes and barked. "I told you to buzz me."

Startled at her loudness the two on the bed turned, Sakura's face tear stained from silent tears and Ibiki beginning to get angry.

"Yuki and I doctored the chart."

Silence, then. "You what?" Sakura choked out.

With a smirk to rival Ibiki's Suza proudly explained. "Yes, you lost the foetus but Yuki was able remove it and repair the damage with minimal scarring. She created an incision and stitched it closed about four inches higher than the original wound, Meogi was on healing experience today and she happily used her Chakra to help heal you."

Ibiki's colour had returned, his dark eyes even happier than Sakura's in Suza'a opinion as he confirmed. "So Sakura can have children?

"Yes. If, and when she wants." Suza replied, voice hardening as she stressed Sakura's choice.

Sakura's body sagged against Ibiki's, tears slowly and silently running down her checks as she closed her eyes and took Ibiki's strength.

"Make sure only Yuki or I examine you Sakura." Suza began to list off a set of instructions, Sakura nodding her every now and again, relying on Ibiki to file it all away for her. "You should be released in a couple of days, for now rest. Both of you."

With that final instruction Suza left the room, closing the door as Ibiki squeezed his large body into the bed beside Sakura and held her as her tears dried and she went to sleep. He followed shortly, his arms never letting her go.

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Dia Duit,

A big thank you to all who have reviewed, some have pm's blocked so I can't answer and some I haven't had time to after the last chapter, I will do so for this one

This is not going to be very action heavy, so some will be disappointed but I have the while story outlined and I hope you will enjoy it, though yes Sakura is going to make some suffer with Ibiki's help lol.

Hope you enjoyed.

Lots of love,

The Rose and the Dagger x x x