Sakura awakens on her second day of being hospitalized.
Kakashi is asleep when it happens, but the unmistakable tug on his fingers is enough to jolt him awake, and instantly, he knows. Sakura doesn't look at him, her apple-green eyes transfixed on the ceiling. Her thumb gently strokes the top of his hand, but the motion is absent, as though she is mentally somewhere far away. Somewhere he can't reach.
She tiredly blinks, her long lashes tangling with the movement, and Kakashi takes a chance to speak.
"You're awake."
There's no formal response, no movement of her head or limbs whatsoever, but the spark of recognition in her eyes tells him that she's heard him. He tightens the comforting grip on her hand.
"Sakura."
Another slow blink, and she finally rolls her head to look at him, but it's as though she doesn't really see him.
"Hey..."
Though her voice cracks, his breath still catches, and he's so happy she's okay that he almost doesn't answer.
Almost.
"Hey."
She moves her hand from his to raise it to his face, her fingers gently skimming the edges of his mask. Sunlight filters in through the curtains, and suddenly she is a coruscating vision of angelic proportions. It's a moment frozen in time, and one that Kakashi will freeze frame and gladly keep in his chest of secrets, locked safely away for only himself to ever recall again.
They're so caught up in each other's eyes that they don't even notice the nurse come in, and her gasp is what breaks their connection as they both turn their heads towards the sound.
"Y-you're awake! She's awake!" The woman runs out into the hall, no doubt to go and fetch Sakura's mentor. Kakashi has no doubt in his mind that the Godaime will drop everything to see her.
"Well. You've alerted the troops. Be prepared for the onslaught."
His joke is not met with much reaction, but the near-invisible tug at the corner of her mouth tells him she's laughing on the inside.
"How long has it been?" She asks, staring at the door the nurse had left through; she's probably waiting for a dozen people to come bursting through at any moment.
"Eight days since you left for your mission."
She blinks, and a strand of pink hair gets caught in her eyelashes. "Eight days..." her voice is like an echo, far off and distant, and he is adamant on keeping her here in the present with him.
Kakashi looks down at their joined hands, contemplates himself for a moment, and then squeezes her fingers to get her attention.
"...Sakura, I need to tell you somethi-"
The overpowering sound of the Fifth Hokage practically ripping the door off its hinges to get inside interrupts him, and suddenly five people are pouring in through the gap. Tsunade, Shizune, the nurse from before, Ino, and Naruto are all right there, and it's a bit much even for Kakashi to take; he subconsciously tightens his grip on Sakura's hand, but it's more for himself than for her. He's never liked the feeling of being crowded.
"Sakura, you're awake!"
"Thank God you're alright-"
"I'm so happy you're okay-"
"I need to check her vitals, make sure everything's alright-"
"Shut up! All of you!"
The loud, booming command silences every voice in the room, and Tsunade's voluptuous visage pushes its way to the front of the small crowd.
