It felt like ice water sleeting against his burning skin. Ginta gasped and huddled tighter, shivering in earnest now under the cascade. Water washed sweat into his eyes and mouth, salty and acrid. A scent of damp linen, blood, and something nauseatingly foul rose up from the wet bedding, and he twitched his head to the side. He wanted to tear the blankets and bandages off, tear the flesh open and let out the poison.

Scorpion venom?

No. Kakashi's hands on his, holding him back. Kakashi's voice, low and just a little frantic, insisting that he stop. Stop. Be still. Breathe.

He could breathe. Hot air seared in on the choking scent. The shivers subsided with the falling water, until it was a fine mist and his shaking was a subtle tremor.

He lifted his head and found Kakashi's eye. "That's c-c-cold." His breath came in shallow little pants. "And now you're wet." He caught a breath, glancing down to see red streaks racing up and down his bared leg, spreading out from under the sticky, fouled bandage. "I think that's looking... Little worse."