Suna's Ninja (Gaara Love Story)

47: Danger Zones

Gaara stared at the IV drip hanging from the metal pole next to Akimi's bed.

It has been seven weeks--Seven-- since she was admitted to the hospital, and she did not have clearance to leave the hospital and recover back at home like any mother would be allowed to. Instead, she lied in bed, still "in danger of being sent to the ER" once again. Her mouth and nose were still masked, thin tubes inserted in her nostrils to help provide her with oxygen. Her hands and arms had been injected with shots, so powerful they made her feel numb. Her hair had been braided and fastened into a ponytail as to keep it out of her face whenever doctors did their daily--daily--checkups.

Akimi spent the most of her time sleeping. When she was awake, she spent time with Gaara whenever he wasn't busy with paperwork or walking his rounds. Whenever he wasn't available, he always sent someone else in his place: Matsuri, Akimi's ex-teammates from KP, Baki, a few villagers who had close connections with Akimi (former long-term treated patients of hers, specifically).

Naki and Suko would always visit their mother. Their baby nurse Kayo would carry in the twins into Akimi's room, where the family of three would spend the next two hours napping, playing, or reading. Since Akimi was still on heavy medication, the doctors didn't want her to be feeding the twins. Instead, they had Kayo feed baby formula as an alternative.

"Gaara, are you okay?" Akimi reached over to tug on his rob gently. He brought his eyes back down fro the IV and at his wife.

"I'm fine," he murmured, patting Naki on the back. She coughed, the baby formula dribbling from her mouth. Gaara took the towel from Kayo and wiped the baby's mouth. Gently. "She's so small."

"Mhm," Akimi agreed, looking adoringly at Suko. Suko gnawed on her blanket, smiling at his mother. Akimi laughed and picked him up, cradling him with one arm.

"Lady Akimi?" A voice called from behind the door. Akimi sighed, watching Kayo scoop Suko into her arms and move away, as a doctor and a nurse came in. Everyday now, at least twice in the day time and one in the middle of the night, doctors and nurses would come to check on her.

Gaara stepped to the side, watching the procedure.

Everyday was the same process. Check her vitals, frown and furrow their eyebrows, give her more medication, interrogate her on any pain, give her the necessary shots, frown a little more, smile hopefully at Akimi, then leave.

Akimi was sorely getting tired of everything now. Her patience was wearing thin, and she wanted to be free. The worst part of this process was she couldn't even hold her children, because they would get in the way of the many wires and tubes connected to her. Everything was rather painful and so annoying.

"Just a little more, Lady Akimi," the nurse soothed, handing her a clean towel. Akimi sighed but let them do their work, hoping they'd pick up the process.

"I have to go now," Gaara said, alerting his wife who sighed.

"You better go now. You have a meeting today, right?" Akimi said, giving her hand to the doctor who pushed the needle into her arm.

"Yeah..."

"Better not be late! I'll see you in a couple hours, right?"

Gaara nodded reluctantly. After handing Baby Naki over to Kayo, he kissed his wife then left. Not long after, Kayo took the twins and also left. Akimi sighed in relief. The checkup was almost over.

"It seems everything is alright. Have some rest and we'll get dinner to you in a couple of hours," the doctor finally said. 

"Oh, that's great because I thought you guys would never leave," Akimi muttered, leaning back in her pillow. As soon as they left her room, she shut her eyes and tried to sleep.

4:42

Akimi turned her eyes from the digital clock hanging on the wall. She had been asleep for about an hour when she felt slight discomfort in her abdomen. She shifted, wondering if it was cramp.

Of all the things I have to go through, it has to be a cramp.

Thinking it was nothing, Akimi turned over to sleep some more. However, the pain grew intense until Akimi was sweating in pain. Something was wrong.

She slapped her hand on the "call" bell and tried to alleviate the pain by breathing calming breathes, but that seemed to torment her even more.

Suddenly, doctors and nurses rushed in, people shouting and spewing out order in rapid succession. Things had gotten a turn for the worst it seemed. Akimi struggled to breath calmly, but every breath she took was gut-wrenching stab in her stomach. Everything hurt.

"Get her to the ER!"