Get as dead as he is.

Kakashi looked at the ceiling, breathed out slowly through his teeth, and wasted three precious heartbeats fighting the urge to throw Ginta down a flight of stairs. It wouldn't be hard to steal those folders and bolt, not with Ginta still limping -- but Ginta would only follow, or alert Intel prematurely, and either way would end in a fight.

They couldn't afford the time.

"Fine," Kakashi grated. "But when you fall behind, I'm leaving you there. Get your armour. I'll meet you outside the Western gate."

Ginta's face showed nothing, but his scent flooded with relief. "Good. I'll pack an extra thermal blanket." For Ryouma, Kakashi assumed, and didn't argue. Ginta continued, "Do you want to let the mission desk know you're too sick to take your mission?"

Kakashi flicked two dismissive fingers. "I'll take care of it. Just get your things. And try not to be too obvious about it."

Ginta's dry look suggested he thought Kakashi was being particularly dense, but Ginta was too decent to mention it. Then he saluted crisply, fingertips brushing the faded tattoo on his left arm, and left at speed, shutting the door behind him.

Kakashi waited three long seconds, feeling his pulse hammer adrenaline through his veins, then closed his eyes, clamped his hand tightly over his mouth, and dropped into an unsteady crouch, bending forward over his knees. Let himself shake. Didn't scream.

threeweeksthreeweeksthreeweeks

When he stood again, his eyes were dry. He threw the blanket back on the bed, dumped his uneaten lunch into the trash, gathered the mix of reports off the floor and heaped them into a rough pile on the desk in the corner. On his way to the door, he grabbed three scrolls off the bookshelf, tucking them into his armour. One was the emergency, heavy-duty medical kit he'd taken with him the last time he'd rescued Ryouma, with the blue ice-crystal numbing powder that had done so much good.

On reflection, Kakashi decided, shaking off a thin thread of hysteria, he needed to know people who required less rescuing.

He locked his door, activated the seals, and pulled his ANBU mask on.

Then he went to lie to his village.