Promises Remembered

Chapter 7

A/N We buried my grandpa today. It was nice to see family. I'm not sure why the playing of taps always gets to me but... Well onward. Here is the next chapter. We'll see a familiar face this time, I hope you like it! 

Chapter 7

Kakashi

Fifty-eight days into the past

The moment Kakashi's legs had been able to bear his weight and he could see well enough, he had escaped from the hospital. Considering how close to death he felt by the time he finally reached his apartment door, it might have been a mistake. Unable to move anymore, he propped himself up against his door and promptly passed out.

That was where a furious Sakura found him. To be fair, she had been the only medic to touch him. Unfortunately there had still been a string of ill tempered nurses bothering him throughout the day. It had been intolerable.

She did not sympathize.

Then she had done something that surprised him. Rather than shouting at him the whole way back to the hospital as he'd expected, Sakura had scooped him up like a small errant child and carried him into his apartment.

"Fine. I know I won't be able to keep you there, but you're a long way from being able to manage on your own." Tucked into his bed and shocked at his luck, Kakashi didn't move as she continued to run glowing hands over him. "If you promise not to be a nuisance and stay in bed, I can take some time off and look after you until you can take care of yourself."

His vision was still a little hazy, but he was pretty sure she was blushing and frowning furiously at the same time. Grateful for his mask, a smile twitched across his face. He reached out to touch her arm. "I promise to be a good patient, Sakura-sama."

With an annoyed glare, she shook his hand off. That definitely did not hurt his feelings. She huffed, and pulled out a syringe, injecting what he realized immediately was morphine.

"What about if I have to go to the bathroom or shower?" It was bad enough to have grumpy nurses helping him, Kakashi did not want Sakura helping him with a bedpan.

Apparently, neither did she, if the deepening blush was any indication. "If you're not comfortable with me doing that, we can always go back to the hospital?"

Kakashi was too sore and tired to be embarrassed by the whine in his voice. "Sakura-san... I know you too well to let you help me pee."

She scoffed and shook her head. "Fine. I'll get Tenzō or Gai to help."

"Gai?" Kakashi sighed. That was the last thing he needed. Might Gai and his enthusiasm had always been annoying to varying degrees. Still, at least it wouldn't be anything his eternal rival hadn't seen before. "That is acceptable."

"Good... Do you...need to pee now?"

Sinking into the comfort of the morphine and his own bed, he shook his head. "No. I want to sleep."

He was pretty sure she was laughing at him, but his eyes wouldn't open. "OK, Kakashi. I'll be here when you wake up."

That sounded nice.

<KSK>

Sakura

Asamida-sama was surprisingly understanding when Sakura asked for some time off. The students would be fine without her, especially if it meant successfully getting one of the most notorious ANBU patients to actually heal properly.