Happy Accidents

Chapter 15: Recuperation

Sakura had been in the hospital a few days now, spending most of her time sleeping or resting. She was beginning to feel stir-crazy; now that she'd had some time to rest she was finally able to visit with her best friend.

"Sakura!" The blonde said with worry, rushing over to give the doctor the gentlest hug she could manage. "Oh my god... I'm so glad you're okay," she said through tears as she wiped her eyes. Sasuke gave the two girls a nod before stepping outside the room and closing the door behind them. He understood girl-to-girl privacy at least.

"Yeah, I'm okay... mostly." She was still in pain and incredible bored, but it was better than dead, that was for sure. "How did the exhumation orders go?"

Ino sighed. "They're still processing, but for now there isn't much that can be done. Finding him is the first priority. There's enough evidence alone right now for an arrest with your attack and the other two witnesses. We have a solid case to arrest him, sweetie. The exhumation orders and all of that evidence can come later when it comes to more properly laying charges." Damn, Ino knew how to put things to rest fast. Leave it to her to shut down the issue with record speed.

"Okay, okay, fine. No work talk. Well... not case talk, anyway." Sakura's expression turned glum, and her hands played with the edge of the blanket. She didn't even know how to begin asking or talking to her friend about all of this.

"Sweetie, what is it?" Ino asked softly. "Come on, you know you can talk to me. Especially when you look like you're about to burst into tears." Was it something the stupid detective said? Was she going to have to go out there and go full lawyer on him, maybe with a textbook or three?

"I know, I just don't know where to start." Sakura sniffled and gingerly wiped a couple of tears from her cheek. "I, um... I-I know I told Detective Uzumaki that I couldn't remember why I went home early that night, but the truth is... I didn't want to tell him. I—it's not... relevant to the case, at all." The more she talked, the more depressed she felt. Somehow with all the fear and turmoil the words she'd heard struck even deeper.

"Okay, so... you were obviously upset by something, that much I can tell. And you said it had nothing to do with the case?"

"No. Well—not directly. I was going to bring up the list for those exhumation orders to Detective Uchiha, and I overheard them talking in his office. Him and Uzumaki, I mean." She took a deep breath. "I don't think either of them knew I was outside, but Uzumaki was trying to get Uchiha to ask me out. He's been... I don't know. There's just something about him that I can't shake. Just this... feeling, in my chest." She knew what it was—she just didn't want to admit it. She couldn't bring herself to accept the reality that she might have feelings for the quiet detective. Besides—he probably had a better selection to choose from if he wanted a girl in his life. A far better selection than her, anyway.

"And? What did he say? Do I need to kick one or both of their asses?" Ino was fired up as always, ready to knock some sense into either of them. She was a terror when she was unleashed. Sakura knew that much.

"No, you don't have to. Please. It'll only make it worse." Sakura sighed again. "He said that... that he wasn't interested in dating me, and that we wouldn't work out. How could he even know that? He... I just don't get him. I-I know that there's a level of professionalism he prefers, a-and I get that, but... he just sounded so harsh, so convinced that... that nothing would ever work between us." Sakura felt heartbroken by that fact. Being shot down before you even had a chance was disheartening. Deeply so.

"Oh, hun, it's okay," Ino replied soothingly, reaching for a tissue to hand to her friend. "Maybe that's not what he meant. He'd be crazy not to want a girl like you, though. You're smart, sweet, kind, and gentle. You're an amazing cook, and you're incredibly pretty. You never know. There may be more to the situation than you think. If you ask me, I think he's got a soft spot for you. He's practically refused to leave your side. He only left you alone with Uzumaki, and from what I understand it was no more than twenty minutes for him to shower and change. He hasn't left. He's determined to make sure you're safe." Ino had her hands on Sakura's shoulders, pulling her into a gentle hug.