Disclaimer: I do not own Kankuro or Gaara and am not making a profit from this story.

I got the idea for the story and title from a song by Tim McGraw. The lyrics don't fit at all, but I like its theme of doing everything for the good of someone you care about even when it means making personal sacrifices.

Just To See You Smile

Kankuro remembered the first time he saw his younger brother smile. Really smile. Something so different from the crazy, sadistic grin on his face when he killed. It was when Gaara told him about his dream to become Kazekage. The look was given at a sideways glance, but it was enough. So far Kankuro was the only person to see that smile, and from that moment on he knew he'd risk anything to see it again.

He watched Gaara fight Deidara with pride and just a little fear for his safely. But he never really believed his brother could actually lose the battle. He never believed Gaara could get captured. So when Kankuro saw him being taken away, his whole world stopped. The image of his brother's smile froze in his mind. Against all reason and against all of his training, he let his emotions take over and gave chase. It didn't matter if he had no backup or if he was going to take on a much stronger enemy. Kankuro would not let that smile fade from his life.

He could barely move anymore as the poison quickly spread through his body. The physical pain it was beginning to inflict and his wounded pride at losing were nothing compared to the agony of failing his family. He watched helplessly as Sasori walked away. His vision blurred. The last thing he saw before he passed out was the image of Gaara's smiling face shattering to pieces.

Kankuro woke up in the hospital to a jumble of voices. Temari was there. And...him. Naruto Uzumaki. The person responsible for Gaara's dramatic change in personality. Temari told him that a team had traveled all the way from the Leaf Village to help them. Kankuro found it rather ironic that Naruto would come to save his little brother again. He desperately wanted to be the one to rescue him this time. But he realized he would have to rely on someone else. His wounds would take too long to heal, and his movements were still labored. He remembered his first real conversation with Gaara. He remembered what his brother said Naruto taught him about sharing his burdens and joys with those around him. And he remembered that smile. It hurt more than Kankuro could ever admit, but he asked Naruto to save his brother for him. Even if he couldn't save Gaara himself, at least he would have the chance to see that smile again.

Baki believed Kankuro was pushing himself too hard, but that didn't matter. He didn't have time to rest in bed while his brother was still missing. He could not bear the possibility of losing him, of not getting the chance to strengthen the familial bond they had finally managed to form, of not being able to talk to him, and of never seeing that smile again. So Kankuro formed a plan to enable himself and Temari to join the search. Even if Kankuro had to rely on other people to save the Kazekage, he wasn't about to just sit idly by and let someone else do all the work for him.

The joy of seeing Gaara alive again was unimaginable. And yet Kankuro felt a slight pang in his heart that he had not been the one to rescue him. It hurt, but the important thing was that his brother was all right. He gratefully thanked Naruto. His words were simple but heartfelt. Even if he hadn't saved Gaara, at least he could stay by his side. He could continue to support him and gain more of his trust. One day, Kankuro wanted to see that smile Gaara showed him when he talked of becoming Kazekage again. And more than anything, the next time he wanted that smile to be because of him.