The Red String of Fate

Mizuka's Return - Kakashi

"Okay, so you get past me, run to the operating room, and then what? She's not going to magically jump off of the operating table and be healed. You're going to interrupt four healers working on her, and put her life in greater danger."

Kakashi remained quiet in the hospital bed. He had been trying to get past Sai for the past half hour, but to no avail. Although he had received the antidote, the poison was still coursing through his body, making him weak. The best he had done was fall off the bed in vain. He knew the Anbu was right. It didn't matter, anyway; he was still very weak from the poison and the antidote was working slower than he had anticipated. He coughed violently and laid back down.

"She'll be back soon. Ino even said she would make sure you shared a room."

Naruto appeared in the doorway.

"You okay, Kakashi Sensei?"

Kakashi didn't respond.

"Well, Hidan overpowered Captain Yamato and got away. Is Mizuka okay?"

Sai answered quickly.

"She's not back yet; we should know soon."

"What happened out there?"

Kakashi simply stared at the wall on the other side of the room. He couldn't believe what happened; how he let his guard down and allowed her to be captured. And he wasn't even close to saying it out loud; that would make it too real. Ino appeared in the doorway.

"She's in post op. She's going to be okay."

He heard her words, but didn't move. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ino make her way across the room toward him, Sai and Naruto watching. She sat on the bed next to him and put her arms around his shoulders, whispering softly in his ear.

"She's okay, Sensei. She's safe. She'll make a full recovery. She's strong and resilient. And you'll be okay, too. I know you will."

He felt Ino rocking him gently, cradling him in her arms. He could feel his emotions rising to the surface, but fought to keep them down. He put a hand on Ino's arm and let her continue to comfort him quietly.

"Thank you."

His words were barely a whisper, but he knew she heard him. She got up slowly and headed back toward the door.

"I'll have her back to you in a few minutes, Sensei. C'mon guys, let's go."

Sai and Naruto quietly followed her out. Kakashi could see Sai lean against the wall outside of his room, keeping his post from out there. True to her word, Ino came back with Mizuka, unconscious and hooked to an IV in a hospital bed. She parked the bed flush against his, bringing the side rail down so there was no barrier between him and his bride. Kakashi scrambled clumsily to touch his wife.

"She's still under the anesthetic, but she'll wake up soon. She's had seven pints of blood and she's been stitched up with chakra, so she can't get up for a couple of days. Her physical state should be completely healed in a couple of weeks, but I'm more worried about her mental state... she may need some space to process everything."

She left it at that ; nothing more needed to be said. Kakashi still felt very weak and unbalanced from the poison, but touching his wife's arm made him feel more in control.

"I'll be around for a while, so please let me know if you need anything. And, Sensei? Don't try to handle all of this alone. We're here for both of you. All of us."

Kakashi let the lump in his throat go as the tears flowed freely down his face. Ino came to his bedside, handing him a tissue and leaving the box in his bed before taking his hand and squeezing it gently. He gently pulled her down and embraced her. Her hug was strong and warm as she kissed his tear streaked cheek.

"You'll both get through this. Just have patience."

She wiped his tears with her thumb and stood up, dimming the lights and leaving the couple in their large makeshift bed. Kakashi could feel his eyelids getting heavy as he breathed in MIzuka's skin. She smelled different than usual, like antiseptic, instead of her usual sweet fragrance. But, it was her. He clumsily tugged on his IV tubing, giving him some slack to curl up next to her, pulling his blanket over both of them. He pressed her hand against his face and allowed himself to drift off. He was sure that he wasn't asleep for long when he awoke to fingers gently moving, touching his face. He looked up to see Mizuka looking around, groggy and confused.

"Ka-kashi?"

"I'm here."

This was the first time he had words since the attack; his voice came out rough and hoarse.

"How..."

Team 7."

She went to move, but winced in pain, groaning.

"All of that... really happened, didn't it?"

He was quiet for a moment.

"Yes..."

He could hear her crying softly. He tried to comfort her, but she attempted to curl into herself, making her pain worse. She howled out in anguish and agony, causing Ino to appear in the doorway seconds later.

"Hey... calm down Sensei. You're safe. Don't pull your IV out. That's for you too, Kakashi Sensei."

Kakashi backed away from his screaming wife, trying to give her the space she needed. He was terrified. Ino saw it.

"It's okay, Kakashi."

Ino took the syringe in her hand and inserted it into the port in Mizuka's IV's tubing.

"This is for the pain, and to help you relax, Z."

Ino squeezed her hand for a moment, holding on tightly.  Mizuka pulled the bedsheet down and her hospital gown up.  Kakashi was nauseous at the sight of her severely bruised and bloated stomach.  She stared blankly at her injury and, after a minute, he covered herself again, laying her head back on the pillow.  Kakashi inched toward her again, cautiously.  Her eyes were dead and bloodshot as shr turned slowly and kissed him mechanically on the head.  Kakashi couldn't tell if it was the sedatives that were making her unfocused or the shock of the event finally setting in.  Either way, she was already falling back asleep.  He felt Ino kiss his cheek again gently as she curled into his lover, feeling broken.