All the Small Things

Disclaimer: Not ours. Bummer.
Summary: Life in the ER is hectic. Lives hang in the balance, tempers rise and emotions abound. Dr. Uchiha and Dr. Uzumaki deal with the tensions at work every day. And then they go home and deal with their own relationship. SasuNaru
Written by: Phantomsnow and michelerene (ff)/ lexjamandme (aff)

Author’s Note: Okay, sorry about the wait. Totally, one hundred percent, my fault. I wanted to get DMZ updated and then my house got a Wii, but no worries, because it is only a matter of time before I throw my damn arm out and then I’ll be back to writing diligently like before. Plus, Roely is a slave driver… really, it’s scary.
Oh, and Fluffy’s back on duty… take that as you will. ;)

All the Small Things
Chapter 10

Naruto would be the first to admit he done some crazy stuff in his lifetime. Naked renditions of “I’m a Little Teapot”, that trip to Greenland and diving into an ice covered lake, pursuing Sasuke Uchiha, the biggest bastard this side of the sun… but today, at this moment, while he hurdled over a stroller and dodged a collapsing tower of “Tickle Me Elmos”, Naruto realized he had hit an all time low.

The plan was simple. Get Yuri a new boa. So Sasuke, Naruto and the twins had gotten up early to run some errands before work. The agreed upon strategy included Naruto entering the store in a high collared jacket with a baseball cap firmly over his head. Obviously, Sasuke couldn’t be the inside man since he started grumbling darkly about ‘other people’s kids’ before they even pulled into the parking lot. Naruto was to go in, retrieve the boa and walk the hell out. Sasuke said he would be idling in front, just in case the worst happened.

Fucking bastard, Naruto mumbled, weaving through the bikes while several blue vested employees hollered at him, the ‘worst’ had certainly happened. They must have tenacious security cameras here, Naruto thought, having no idea how they had recognized him… and so quickly. Didn’t they have something else to do? Feed a giraffe, brainwash millions of kids, provide instant headaches to millions of adults…

“Sir! You are not allowed in the store! Sir!”

Naruto made it to the sliding doors and turned flamboyantly, saluting the panting employees and the red faced manager cheekily before slipping out of the doors and running full force to the waiting black SUV.

Wrenching the door open, Naruto tripped inside and started hitting Sasuke before the door was even closed behind him.

“Drive, teme! Drive!”

The truck jerked into drive and Sasuke calmly… yeah, the twins were scared… exited the parking lot. A tall, cheery faced giraffe silently watching their ‘strategic retreat’.

“So,” Sasuke drawled while Naruto righted himself in the seat and stared gloomily out the window, “How’d it go?”

“Mission failed,” Naruto muttered and Sasuke smirked before Naruto continued, eyes darting to the twins as he whispered, “And on a side note, I hate you. What now, teme?”

“Couldn’t it just be lost?” Sasuke asked, his black eyes looking at his giggling daughter in the rearview mirror.

“No,” Naruto said slumping into his seat, “She asked for it a dozen times yesterday and twice this morning. She doesn’t know how we will play dress up if ‘mommy’ doesn’t have one too.”

Sasuke looked out his side window so that Naruto wouldn’t see the small smile that came to his face when he thought of the twins and their ‘mommy’ playing. When the hell had he become such a sap?

“S’uke?” The dark haired man turned and looked into the endless blue skies of Naruto’s eyes, “That was one of the best nights I can remember, bastard… but never again. The twins’ toys are off limit… I’ll get you your own damn toys. Understand?”

“Promise, dobe?” Sasuke’s voice was low, teasing and filled with not just a little hint of something else. Something most assuredly naughty.

Naruto blushed and nodded curtly, “But you figure out how to get ‘it’.”

Sasuke nodded, his pale fingers tightening around the steering wheel as he turned into the hospital and parked. Naruto leaned over and kissed his jaw noisily, the twins giggling in the backseat before jumping out to unbuckle them.

Sasuke pulled his cell phone from his pocket and hit the familiar speed dial, his fingers tapping on the door handle while he listened to the message pick up. After the beep, Sasuke left his message.

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it… wait, no choice, just fucking do it…”

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Iruka entered the ER and headed straight towards the nurses’ station. He tossed his coat behind the counter and stood quietly in front of the large white board. He did this same ritual every day before he started work. Doing it let him get an idea of what had happened, was happening and what might happen in the future and it always gave him a few minutes of mediation time before life invariably flew out of control.

He saw that Kakashi was in and that Sasuke and Naruto would be following close behind. Oddly, Naruto’s name had been tagged indicating that he would be spending his day in the OR recovery. Chocolate eyes narrowed in concern and he wondered what that meant. Surely the blonde wasn’t thinking of transferring. Even with Orochimaru gone, Naruto had never shown must interest in the field. Now, Uchiha… Iruka could see that.

“Iruka?”

Iruka turned, a smile splitting his face as he took in the man before him, “Grandpa Sarutobi! Hello! What brings you to the ER? Naruto won’t be in for another hour or so…”

The old man’s face pinched slightly and he stepped toward Iruka, placing a weathered hand on his arm, “Iruka, didn’t you hear?”

“Hear what, sir?” Iruka said and almost choked when his voice cracked.

“Asuma was shot four times in the chest yesterday. He nearly died. Or, if I’m to believe Jiraiya, did die only to be saved by the miracle that is ‘the brat’.” The old man’s eyes twinkled, a light chuckle escaping his mouth as he shook his head. “Those two spend more time tattling on each other…”

Iruka tried to smile but in his mind Asuma’s strong, smiling face swirled around while images of gunshot victims, bloody and dying dueled for control.

“Is he okay?” Iruka interrupted and then blushed when he realized his rudeness, “I’m sorry, I…”

“No, Iruka, it is quite alright,” Sarutobi nodded, “I was just stretching my legs, but I’m headed back up now. He hasn’t awoken yet, but Jiraiya and Naruto assure me he will soon.”

Iruka nodded and understood why Naruto had been relocated for the day. The loud beep of the elevator made Iruka realized that he was being lead toward the elevators.

“Oh, sir, I have to…” Iruka stammered, pulling his arm gently.

“You have to come up and see my son. Read his chart, tell me what Jiraiya and Naruto might be keeping from the old man, no?” The statement seemed innocent enough, but there was no question in those sharp eyes.

Iruka nodded and once more felt the aged fingers pat his arm soothingly before the doors slid shut.

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Orochimaru detangled himself from Kabuto, grimacing at the white, flaky mess on his flat stomach. He had things to do, people to kill and he needed to make sure that the hit he had ordered on Naruto’s uncle was successful. Damn man knew too much. It wasn’t an easy feat to find an organization that was willing to kill a cop. He wanted it to seemed like a random hit by the Yukuza so that there wouldn’t be anything linking him to it. He laughed as he relieved himself in the bathroom. Nothing was better than when a plan came together… flawlessly. Orochimaru started undressing aware that his pupil was watching him from the doorway of the bathroom.

Kabuto watched his lover as he undressed, running his gaze down the older man’s physique. The doctor was in excellent physical condition, for his age, and well endowed. Kabuto licked his lips and slowly walking up behind the taller male he grasped his manhood with both hands and started pulling the skin around the mushroom head back in hard, urgent movements. He buried his nose in the long, dark hair. It was amazing how a fifty something man was so firm and tone.

“Shall we continue this in the shower?” Orochimaru asked amused. He stepped out of Kabutos grasp much to the young doctor’s disappointment. The menacing man chuckle darkly as he beckoned Kabuto to follow him into the shower stall.

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Sakura watched while Kakashi smiled at the pretty girl with the long legs that were currently up in stirrups. The young woman was flushed with both embarrassment and coyness.

Kakashi pulled on his latex gloves slowly, his eyes still on the pretty blonde that lay on the exam bed with her legs spread eagle. He was aware that she was flirting and his ‘automatic flirtatious response’ smile had appeared on his face. It wasn’t something he was consciously aware of doing but from the response of the woman on the bed, he hadn’t lost his touch with women at all. Sakura rolled her eyes. Kakashi bent down low as he gently inserted a long cotton swap into the young woman.

“It seems you had a miscarriage,” he said already taking off his gloves and helping the women sit up on the bed.

“A miscarriage… but I didn’t even know I was pregnant,” the blonde seemed confused and a little frightened. Kakashi reached inside the front pocket of his lab coat and pulled out a prescription pad.

“Well, from my examination, you were about five weeks along and there no need to worry, it’s not uncommon for this type of miscarriage to occur,” He smile softly trying to reassure the young woman.

“Oh,” was her only response but the worry didn’t leave her face. “Will there be any more pain?” she asked quietly. Kakashi stood up and place his hand over one of hers that lay flat on the bed.

“No, but just to make sure, I would like to admit you and keep you overnight just in case,” he said as he patted her hand.

“Thank you, Doctor,” she raised watery eyes to him. “Even though I didn’t know I was pregnant… Why do I feel so sad?” she asked.

“It’s normal to feel that way and if you feel like talking to someone about it, I can have our psychiatrist come by.” The woman nodded.

“I’m going to have a nurse help you with the paperwork to get you admitted and then Dr. Neji Hyuuga will take things from there. He is a very good doctor and he’ll take care of you.” He explained in a soft voice.

He made sure the she was comfortable on the bed before leaving the room. Kakashi was walking towards the nurses’ station when the intercom admitted a raspy page.

“Doctor Hatake! Please contact Dr. Kage… ASAP!”

He found Chouji and ordered him to take the patient in exam room one up to O & G and admit her for observation before heading up to Tsuande’s office. What could she possibly want now?

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Tsunade had that look that meant she was serious (and more than willing to hurt him) and to Kakashi’s horror, he realized that he had no choice but to obey her order. He was starting to think that he rather spent his entire career dodging the snake’s wondering hands and tongue than to go see a shrink! He didn’t have anything against Nara but he didn’t want anyone messing around with his head. Who knows what irreparable damage they might do?

“Is this necessary?” he asked one more time just to make sure.

Tsunade gave him an impatient look. “Yes, it’s necessary. The brat and Uchiha will be going as well, and I have no doubt that from the results of the hospital investigation, a number of other young men will be following soon.”

“So, when do I have to see Nara?” he asked resigned to his fate. Tsunade smile in relief, she really hated to force such a private man but there was no choice.

“Ten minutes from now. So get going, Doctor.”

Kakashi wondered if he could fake an emergency and not go at all?

“Oh and Doctor, don’t worry about the ER. Doctor Umino is taking over for the next hour,” she called out to his back.

So much for that idea, he thought with a grimace. He just hoped that whatever his doofus was doing to Orochimaru was slow and painful.

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Iruka was sting on the right of Asuma while grandfather Sarutobi sat on his left. The brown hair man looked so pale but was breathing on his own and his vitals look steady. Iruka reached out a trembling hand and took hold of Asuma’s larger one. He held it tightly, thinking about the missed opportunity with this silent, strong man. Once upon a time, he had been madly in love with the bear like man but Asuma had pushed him away. It was his fault really, he let him. Ever since that failed love affair, he has been drifting, not really looking for a permanent thing and hence Sabaku. Yet lately, after seeing how Kakashi had gotten over his fears and fought for Obito’s love and how Naruto and Sasuke loved each other, the ache was back and deeper than before.

It had scared him to learn about Asuma’s near death experience and Iruka couldn’t express how glad he was that Naruto was able to save his life.

“You still love him?” the older Sarutobi said more of a statement of fact than a question. Iruka nodded his head slightly bringing Asuma’s lifeless hand to his cheek.

“I don’t think I ever stopped,” he looked up at Asuma’s father with a smile and then his eyes drifted upwards noticing the time on the wall clock.

He brought Asuma’s hand to his lips, pressing a kiss on his open palm before gently placing his hand back on the bed.

“I’m sorry, Grandfather, but I have to go back to work,” he stood up. Iruka walked to the door but turn around to look at Asuma.

“I will be back I promise,” he nodded a goodbye to Sarutobi and left to take over the ER while Kakashi was talking to Dr. Nara.

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Thoughts of murder ran through Shikamaru’s mind while Kakashi went on and on about his sordid fantasy that involved Sasuke’s cousin. They wouldn’t convict him for taking out a potential sexual predator would they?

“Doctor, cut the crap, it’s too troublesome,” Shikamaru finally said interrupting a particularly stomach turning fantasy about Obito suspended with robes from the ceiling.

“What do you mean?” Kakashi asked raising an eyebrow.

Shikamaru sighed. The doctor was clearly in denial and an ass… that couldn’t be over looked. He seriously considered just stamping the silver haired doctor’s file as ‘sane’ and closing the case, but it went against his principles. Damn troublesome principles!

So, with that in mind, he went in for the kill, “Why are you afraid to open up? Why do you push people away from you and why did you keep Dr. Sannin’s sexual harassment a secret?”

Shikamaru watched as Kakashi suddenly become uncomfortable as he struggled to keep all emotion out of his face and body language. But, he was a professional and noticed the slight stiffening off his shoulders, the fake smile and the gray eyes darken slightly.

“It’s none of your business.”

Shikamaru sighed… again. “Fine, then I can just let Dr. Kage know that you refused to cooperate and therefore are not qualified to keep working under your clearly confused and traumatized mind.”

Kakashi eyes narrowed, he knew blackmail when he heard it.

“I slept with him. Willingly.”

Shikamaru sat up. Finally, it was getting interesting.

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And so it was that Kakashi opened up like a… okay really, it is too troublesome to come up with an appropriate and equally witty simile and so Shikamaru instead turned and watched the clouds while Kakashi spoke of annoying Uchihas who just wouldn’t get out of his fucking mind even five years after he had ended it and how alcohol was the… insert amusing metaphor here… Shikamaru yawned into his hand.

“Kakashi, stop…” Rich brown eyes blinked slowly when Kakashi stood and still ranted about poor decisions being made through a foggy haze of numerous hard alcohols and how he had paid for that one lame ass decision from that day on. Orochimaru held one night over Kakashi’s head for years and when Naruto had come to him, as a supervisor and friend, and told him about Orochimaru using Sasuke, forcing him to provide sexual favors for time in the OR, it was Kakashi who had advised both of the young interns to shut their mouths and watch their backs. Just like he had done. Orochimaru would destroy them, he had advised, but, the truth was…

Kakashi flung himself onto the maroon leather couch and dropped his head into his hands, “I was just happy not to be the only one.”

Shikamaru sat forward and tossed his notepad to the floor before pushing his fingers together in the form of a diamond in front of his body and staring intently at them for a few moments. Then, after a long, suffering sigh, he met Kakashi’s gray eyes.

“First, this is all too troublesome.” The brown head shook, “Second, you leave this office and you find Obito. All of these interviews are per his request and therefore he will have partial access to my notes.”

Kakashi shook his head but before he could continue the psychiatrist held up a lazy hand, “You tell him. I know that you are both working on your relationship. Tell him or fucking end it.”

Kakashi snapped his mouth shut and nodded, leaning back into the couch and flashes of five older brothers beating his head and body into a cornucopia of pain made him grimace… because after they were done, then Obito would get his turn.

“And then, come see me. In fact,” Shikamaru leaned over snagging a book from his desk and flipping several pages, “I have an opening on Thursday, same time…”

“Nara… I really don’t think,” Kakashi began standing.

“I do and if you’re not here, I will tell Tsunade that you aren’t mentally stable enough to continue in your position.” The dark haired doctor leaned back into his chair, “Debilitating feelings of abandonment, fear of commitment, god like complex, all working together to…”

“What? God like complex… I’m a god damn doctor…” Kakashi growled.

“I know,” Shikamaru said standing, a timer vibrating on his desk, “That’s why it works. Sadly, our time is done. Goodbye, Hatake.”

Kakashi stared for a moment before he ripped the offered appointment card out of the shrinks hand and nearly stomped out of the room.

Shikamaru slouched against his desk, “Damn Obito, he so fucking owes me,” He muttered and then pressed a button on his desk, “Next.”

“Yes, Doctor Nara… a Sasuke Uchiha will be right in.”

Shikamaru watched a lone cloud blot the sun, sending shadows across his office.

“Perfect.”

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If dealing with Kakashi had him thinking of death, having Sasuke Uchiha glaring at him from across his desk was making him doubt his own sanity. Did he really want to dig deep in the mind of a man who on a good day resorted to snarl as a morning greeting?

“Doctor, if you’re done glaring at me, could we begin?” Why did he listen to his mother and become a psychiatrist? He should have gone with his first career choice and taken that course for security guard. At least in that job he could indulge in his favorite past time which was, of course, sleeping.

“Hn,” glare firmly in place.

“When was the first time Dr. Sannin approached you in a sexual way?” Longing look outside.

“Hn,” yeah, glare still there, could make a small child pee themselves.

“Did you ever think of informing the authorities?” Eyes now focused on ceiling.

“Hn,” Death glare with raise eyebrow, seemingly questioning shrinks mental capacity.

“Were you ever involved in a relationship outside of work with Dr. Sannin?”

Sasuke gripped the hand rest of the chair tightly… finally, Shikamaru thought.

“Troublesome… Doctor, let me make this clear. We need answers and we need them in a language that all of us speak or I will be forced to suspend you from the hospital,” Shikamaru countered the hard look of hate that Sasuke had directed at him.

“Fine!” Sasuke growled his teeth were clench and his face pale. He didn’t want to be here, sitting in front of this lazy, sorry excuse for a man who called himself a doctor. He knew however, that Nara’s threats weren’t idle and that he would be suspended.

“He approached me during my first year of internship. It never crossed my mind to report it. I am an Uchiha after all. We handle our own messes. I was never involved with him, but…” The dark haired doctor looked away briefly but Shikamaru caught the look of pain in his black eyes before he did. They were finally getting somewhere.

“He offered to make me the greatest surgeon, to give me the power to become someone important...” Sasuke’s eyes were cold and he talked in a strange monotones, as if he was talking about someone else. Shikamaru lazily wrote on his notepad… the subject had issues with power and control; he displays a lack of emotions outwardly that leads doctor to suspect extreme inward chaos.

“Why was this power so important?” Shikamaru asked keeping his eyes on Sasuke. He watched in silent interest for his answer.

Sasuke’s cold stare intensified into the icicles. Shikamaru suppressed shivers as he suddenly felt like he was in the Antarctic. Those shivers multiplied when a small smirk appeared on Sasuke’s face.

“It’s funny really… the dobe never had any parents and yet he is such a decent human being and I… I have had everything, parents and money, and look where that has gotten me.” The words were said with no emotion, Sasuke’s face didn’t even twitch.

“I see, so it all goes back to your parents?” Shikamaru mused although his face sounded like he was two blinks from a coma. Everything always went back to the parents.

Sasuke nodded. “I wanted to show them… to get their attention so I almost became his lover. You see that was what he wanted in exchange. He wanted me to suck his dick, to spread my legs for him but I couldn’t…”

Shika nodded. “Why? Why couldn’t you?” he asked.

The ‘are you stupid’ glare was back, “Naruto.”

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“Naruto?” Shikamaru asked and sat back into his green chair, “Why am I not surprised?”

“If you knew, Doctor,” Sasuke bit out, “You shouldn’t have fucking asked.”

“If you could give Naruto a title, a symbol of his place in your life, what would it be?” Shikamaru asked his gaze centered solely on the dark haired doctor before him.

Dark eyes held his and unlike the blonde idiot they were discussing, Shikamaru couldn’t glean anything from their inky depths.

After a few moments the psychiatrist pressed again, “Come on… is he your lover? Your friend? Parent? Rival? Conscience? Soother? Antagonizer? This is not a difficult question for a genius such as yourself. What is Naruto Uzumaki to you, Uchiha.”

Sasuke’s hands fisted at his side, “Everything, asshole. Naruto is my everything.”

“So, because of Naruto you no longer feel that urge to garner your parents’ affections, to outshine your peers and be the best. Power is no longer important?”

Sasuke appeared to contemplate that for a moment and Shikamaru was glad that he was at least attempting to take this session seriously, “No, power and recognition are still important… just not everything. That ‘title’, if you will, belongs to Naruto now.”

“Normally, Uchiha, this level of possessiveness and co-dependency on other person would be… concerning,” Shikamaru looked out the window, the sun finally burning away the smothering clouds, light flooding into the room, “But, I know Naruto and through him, I know you. The fact of the matter is, you make ‘crazy’ work, hell, you make it look good and I don’t know if it is an Uchiha trait or an Uzumaki one…” Images of Obito and Itachi flashed in his mind, “I have my suspicions though and I am not going to mess with that.”

Shikamaru tossed his notebook to the side, “Naruto is waiting in the hall. He’ll be next, Sasuke. What is he going to tell me that you aren’t?”

Sasuke’s eyes became sharper at the mention of the blonde doctor and he ran his hand through his hair, “He’ll tell you how that one decision… the decision for power… nearly tore us apart. He’ll tell you how strong I was… how I stood against Orochimaru from then on out. How brave I am… The truth is, Shikamaru,” The brown haired man raised an eye at his first name, “I only made it because of him. I never stood against the snake bastard.” Black eyes met and held surprised brown, “I cowered behind Naruto. That is how I survived.”

The timer rang irritatingly on the desk and Shikamaru was surprised when the urge to fling it out the window filled him.

Sasuke stood, “Our time is up.” He nodded to Shikamaru, his hand in his pockets before heading for the door.

“Uchiha, if you ever need to…” Shikamaru began knowing offering would be foolish. Sasuke was untouchable to everyone, but Naruto… his everything.

The dark haired doctor paused at the door, “Make sure Naruto is okay.” And then he was gone.

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A knock was heard at the door and Shikamaru smiled, “Come in, Doctor.”

The blonde man entered the room, his smile brightening the office while he strolled toward the leather couch. Shikamaru noticed he carried a thin box under his arm and stood from his desk, meeting Naruto at his chair.

“Let’s play.” Naruto said flippantly and dropped the box marked, ‘Chess’, on the glass table.

“Naruto…” Shikamaru said taking a seat while the blonde upended the box and began straightening the pieces, “I’ll beat you… I always beat you.”

“Well, in the next hour, I want you to feel like you have accomplished ‘something’,” Naruto said and because he was white, moved his first pawn.

Shikamaru sighed. Could nothing be easy? Long fingers reached out, fingering a black pawn that in the end of this game would capture Naruto’s King. Let the games begin.

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“… so then when I was three my parents died. I moved around a lot after that. I’m pretty sure that I still wet the bed when I was five. I think maybe I had detachment issues, no solid foundation or security… I sucked my thumb until I was eight…”

Shikamaru rubbed his temples, Naruto hadn’t shut up for a moment and the black pawn was closing in on Naruto’s naively placed King, the blonde’s confidence in the power of his Queen sadly misplaced.

“Naruto, as riveting as this all is…” Shikamaru began and sat back, watching Naruto debate with himself about moving a rook or his last remaining knight.

“Then, of course, we shouldn’t forget my time with H-Haku…”

“Enough!” Shikamaru yelled and blue eyes snapped to his, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? I know all of this. Your past is not why you are here today and you know it.”

“But, that’s just it, Doctor, I don’t understand ‘why’ I am here today. Do you or Tsunade, who recognizes my past just as well as you do, think for a moment that any encounters that I had with that asshole would even register with all the other shit I have to contend with?”

Shikamaru moved his renegade pawn one step closer, “Naruto, you register emotions for Hallmark commercials. I don’t for a minute think that Sannin didn’t fuck with you only to have you walk away unscathed, unbothered… it’s not possible. And what he did to Sasuke…”

“I’d rather not talk about that.” Naruto mumbled, chewing on his bottom lip, assessing the board.

“Which is shrink speech for ‘bingo’.” Shikamaru drawled.

“Right, I was pissed that he would bring Sasuke to his knees. Uchihas don’t bow to anyone. No one should make Sasuke feel dirty, used, powerless… no one deserves that.”

“No one but you.” Shikamaru hit back and as predicted, Naruto returned the volley.

“Yes, but me,” Naruto head snapped up, “No… wait… that isn’t what I meant. I don’t deserve it… I know that.”

Shikamaru sighed and moved the lone pawn into position, trapping Naruto’s King, “Checkmate.”

A tan hand ran through golden spikes, “Damn… I thought I’d get out alive this time.”

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The chess board had been cleared away and Naruto was mortified to see he still had a half hour left of session with his bored looking friend.

“Shikamaru,” Naruto sighed falling back into the couch, “Couldn’t you just make up some shit… pull it from all the times you’ve had me on this couch…” A tan hand rubbed the back on his head, “Now… that didn’t come out right, did it?”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, “When Sasuke left today he asked me to make sure that you were alright. Why would he say that?”

“Have you met my Uchiha? He is always concerned about me.” Naruto said waving the statement away but Shikamaru watched him cross his arms over his chest. Classic signs of avoidance, subconsciously closing himself off…

“Naruto… what exactly was your interaction with Sannin. I know about you finding Sasuke and Orochimaru when you were interns. I know about you beating the shit out of him last week. Is there more? What has Sasuke concerned?”

Naruto let his arms fall onto the couch, “Itachi came to our house the other day. He had talked to Kakashi. He didn’t know until then. Sasuke didn’t want him to. Itachi would have never stood for it.” Naruto was quiet for a moment, “Sometimes I don’t understand why Sasuke did. Kakashi stood behind us, told us to just stay out of the asshole’s way and to keep our heads down, but why would Sasuke agree to that?”

Shikamaru made a classic ‘noncommittal shrink’ like noise and Naruto continued, “Sasuke can’t handle weakness… that’s why. He couldn’t go to his brother and confess. Couldn’t risk it getting back to his parents.” The blonde sighed, “I wonder if he is open with me because he trusts me or because I’m not worth enough that my opinion about him would count.”

Shikamaru leaned back into his chair and turned his head toward the clouds, “Do you really think that, Naruto?”

“I am weakness. If Sasuke hates weakness, why would he come to me… love me. How can you love what you hate?”

“Naruto, we are getting off track… this is about what Sannin did to you, but as your friend, I can tell you that you are the strongest person I know. I have no doubt in my mind that Uchiha feels the same way.”

“Sometimes, Shika, no matter how many hugs Grandpa gives me or how many times Sasuke pulls me close, I can’t help but feel like I’m still dirty… used. Orochimaru made me feel that way every time he looked at me. Every time. Like he knew where I was from, what I really am.” The blonde head bowed, “I would do anything to protect the ones I love, Shika.”

The dark haired doctor held his breath, “What did you do?”

“I walked away from Jiraiya… I left surgery. I had wanted to pursue… I think, at one point… But, Orochimaru said he would tell Sasuke’s family. He’d hold me against the wall and hiss in my ear, while he ran his slimy hands under my shirt, of Sasuke’s demise and so I left. I never looked back.”

“You didn’t tell Sasuke?”

“No. What could he have done? I could handle it. So I did.”

“Until he held Sasuke against the wall, slimy hands running under Sasuke’s shirt…”

Naruto leaned forward slamming his fist against the table, “I know where this is leading. Why do I place my well being below Sasuke’s? Do I feel like I am worth less than him? Not as important? The answer, Doctor, is yes. And I don’t care. At night, when Sasuke holds me, I am perfect, special and pure. In Sasuke’s eyes I am all of those things. That is all that matters.”

The timer rang loudly and Naruto made to stand, “Sit your ass back down, Uzumaki.” Shikamaru said no inflection in the words at all. He shook his head from side to side, “It’s like one huge co-dependent nightmare from hell. I could spend the next fifteen months observing the two of you, write a book and live out the rest of my life on the profits.”

Naruto glared, “Your diagnoses, Doctor?”

“Too troublesome,” Shikamaru flipped through his appointment book and scribbled onto a white card, “At least twice a month, Naruto. You have a lot happening in your life right now and…”

A tan hand pulled the card from his fingers, “I know, Nara. I was planning on making an appointment soon anyways. I can’t trust my mental health to Sasuke Uchiha alone… that would be insane.”

Naruto smiled before leaving and Shikamaru slumped into his chair. Today was hell. Plain and simple.

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Kakashi stared down at the phone contemplating whether to call Obito and tell him about the damn snake bastard or wait till he got home. He was a coward, he realized, but how could he tell Obito that he had willing slept with the man who has been harassing Sasuke and Naruto. How can he tell Obito that he had encouraged them not to turn the snake in? How did one slip that into the conversation and still hope to have the man he had only just rediscovered? He sighed and moved his hands over the phone only to jump high in the air when it rang suddenly. Obito’s phone number blinked at him from the caller id and he swallowed the lump of fear in his throat.

“Hello?” he said into the phone.

“Hey, you!” Obito’s voice sounded a little strained. Kakashi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes wondering if Nara had said anything to him already.

“Kakashi, I…” Obito began.

“Obito I need…” Kakashi started at the same time.

Obito giggled. Kakashi could hear his nervousness over the phone.

“Let me confess first and then you can take a turn,” Obito said.

Kakashi nodded and then spoke up, “Okay, go on.”

“I tried really hard to get out of it but…” He heard Obito take a deep breath, “We’re having dinner with my family tonight!” he finished in a rush.

Kakashi pushed his chair from the desk and stood up almost dropping the phone in the process. He was so dead… the Uchiha brothers hated him. Steeling his voice he said, “Okay, what time?”

“Six,” Obito said, “It will be fine. I promise.”

Fine? Kakashi highly doubted it, “Fine, I’ll meet you at your father’s house and then we need to talk.”

They exchanged parting word and Kakashi slowly put the phone on its cradle, sitting back down. He must remember to call his lawyer about his will. He wanted to include Sasuke and Naruto’s twins… just in case.

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Neji looked darkly at the short redhead insisting that he go out with him in his creepy monotone voice… not that Neji had room to judge. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at him in an attempt to get rid of the doctor. Didn’t this guy know how to take no for an answer? He conveniently forgot that he, himself, never took Naruto’s negative answers to his advance as final.

“I don’t want to have lunch with you now or anytime in the foreseeable future, Dr. Sabaku,” he drawled in a voice lace with impatience.

The smaller male smirked as he leaned towards Neji with humor in his green eyes. “Well, unless you’re a psychic, which I very much doubt,” he said invading Neji’s personal bubble further until they were nose to nose. “You can’t predict what might happen ‘in the foreseeable future’.”

Neji nervously stepped back, his back meeting a wall but Gaara just narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and stepped closer. Neji growled in warning, placing his hands on Gaara’s shoulders to push him away, his mouth open to tell the red head off, when he found to thin pair of lips on his own.

There was a cough and a snort and Neji, who had been too surprised to push the man away before, quickly shoved the doctor from him. He turned to wide eyes to see expression the love of his life’s relieved smile and Sasuke’s smirk of distain.

“We didn’t mean to interrupt,” Naruto said giving Sasuke a sharp look when he snorted.

“It’s not what it looks like..I ..we ..he won’t take no for answer!” Neji protested glaring at Gaara and then turning pleading eyes to Naruto. Gaara shrugged his green eyes smoldering with lust as they looked at Neji.

Naruto smile, “Well, we’ll leave you two alone. Sasuke and I were just on our way up to see the twins.” He grabbed Sasuke’s arms and pulled him towards the elevator when the raven seemed a little too interested in Neji and Gaara’s interactions. He knew Sasuke and wanted to avoid anything that might come out of his delicious but sarcastic and cruel mouth. He was actually happy that Gaara was keeping Neji busy. That meant two things, one, Iruka was out for the redhead and, two, Neji wouldn’t be murdered mysteriously in the near future by any potentially jealous and overreacting bastards.

Life was good, he thought, shoving Sasuke, and his sadistically pleased smirk, into the elevator.

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Gravel crunched under the Mustang GT’s tires as Kakashi pulled into the round driveway of the Uchiha’s mansion. The red sports car was already in residence and Kakashi eased in behind it before turning off the car and seeing the five identical black cars lined up to his right.

“Predictable morons,” he mumbled crossing his arms and resting them on the steering wheel while he looked out at the monstrosity that was Obito’s childhood home. Monstrosity… Kakashi smirked, that’s what Sasuke called his childhood house. A monstrosity, never a home. He sighed and wondered what they were eating tonight. Chances are this would be his last meal. He should have called ahead and made a request. Closing his eyes, he smiled. He could just see Obito’s mother eating hotdogs with beer… that’ll be the day.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Kakashi jumped, twisting to the side only to see Obito’s face smashed against the side window, his cheek and eye distorted. Kakashi rolled his eyes and shoved hard on the door, pushing the doofus away.

“I just washed the car,” Kakashi said and Obito smiled, wiping the side of his face with his hand.

“I appreciate that, no one wants to get dirt on their face. You are always looking out for me.” He fluttered his eyelashes cheekily. Kakashi just stared at him and thrust his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels.

Obito took in the gesture and sighed, “Okay… you’re being very serious. What is bothering you?”

A disbelieving eyebrow arched in response, “Is that really a question, counselor, because let’s take a moment to look at the evidence, shall we. Exhibit A,” Kakashi turned toward the five black cars, “The Fearsome Five are in the building. Exhibit B,” Kakashi looked at the mansion, “I’m at your family’s residence for the first time in five years after stepping on their poor little ‘Ito’s heart.”

Obito took another step back, “Perjury is, in fact, a crime.” His voice was cool, authoritative and accusing. “I have little doubt that my family is an annoyance to you, but you said today that you had something to tell me. It must be big. What is it, Hatake?”

Kakashi ran a hand through his silver hair, “Uchiha, now isn’t the time. Let’s see if I live through this and then you can…” He stopped himself and glanced at Obito’s narrowed, black eyes.

“What did you do, Kakashi?” His voice was like honey… poisonous honey.

“Not now…” Kakashi said quietly, “Please…” His gray eyes were pleading, asking for understanding, compassion… love.

Obito sighed and pressed himself against Kakashi’s body, dropping his chin on the man’s shoulder before turning his face towards Kakashi’s ear. “I don’t care what it is, asshole. I might be angry… you might be sleeping on the couch for the next year, but I will not live without you again.” Obito’s hands wound into silver locks and his lips sucked harshly on Kakashi’s pulse point until Kakashi released a moan of pleasure. “You are mine.”

Obito stepped back once more and grasp Kakashi’s hand, “So, let it go for now. We’ll deal with it later.”

Kakashi closed his eyes for a moment before nodding and squeezing his doofus’s hand, “Obito, I lo…”

“Ah… if it isn’t Kakashi Hatake.” Kinye said from the opened door. He turned his head slightly, yelling behind him, but not taking his eyes off his little brother or the walking dead guy. Smirking, the oldest of the Fearsome Five yelled, “He’s here!!!”

Kakashi desperately wished that he was home, even if he would be on the couch for the foreseeable future.

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The doors slid closed and Naruto pushed Sasuke against the wall of the elevator.

“I see that you are feeling better, Doctor.” Naruto said flatly, watching as sadistic humor swam unchecked in black recesses.

A shrug. “Hn.” Then the pale pink lips surged forward, capturing the pouting lips of the blonde, pushing him until their positions were reversed and Naruto was pushed into the wall of the moving box.

“I wish Neji and Gaara all the happiness in the world,” Sasuke whispered into Naruto’s ear before nipping at the tan lobe.

“You are such a…” Naruto panted quietly, trying to remember the word while nimble fingers ran around the waist of his scrub bottoms, thumbs dipping inside before tugging the elastic in the front.

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘god’,” Sasuke murmured as his exploring hand found Naruto’s arousal and caressed it softly, eliciting a breathy moan from the shorter doctor.

“Ahhh… S’uke,” Naruto said and his hands gripped Sasuke’s shoulders, his forehead falling against Sasuke’s chest.

The elevator slowed and Sasuke stepped back from the flushed Naruto, turning as the elevator doors opened, Naruto hidden behind him in the corner, as several nurses entered.

Naruto ran his trembling hands through his hair before holding his white lab coat closed, “Bastard… that was the word I was looking for!” He hissed.

Sasuke smirked, “Of course, it was.”

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Yuri and Yoshi ran around the nursery, showing their parents their cubbies and recent art projects as well as favorite toys and books. Naruto glanced at Sasuke who sat in a chair one eighth his size and withheld a chuckle at how ridiculous he looked. But, just when he thought he couldn’t hold it in anymore, Sasuke turned and looked at him with piercing black eyes. The look in those eyes took away any thought of laughter and instead stole Naruto’s breath. He looked so relaxed, happy, content, pleased, proud but mostly he looked at Naruto with adoration and Naruto returned the look with a gentle smile.

If co-dependency was wrong… damn him to hell, but he didn’t want to be right.

“I love you, too.”

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Everything… Naruto was the cause of everything good in his life. Everything safe in his life. Everything… there was no better word. He looked into blue eyes and all he could think was ‘You are my everything, dobe.’

“I love you, too.”

Naruto voice echoed in his mind and Sasuke blinked… oh my god, had he been talking aloud!

“Calm down, bas…” Blue eyes scanned the nursery, “Doctor. I just wanted you to know.”

Sasuke nodded and shifted his pint size chair closer to Naruto before brushing his pale fingers above Naruto’s ear, pushing a blonde lock into place, “Thank you.”

“Mommy!” Yoshi said, his chibi hands clapping on Naruto’s cheeks before twisted the man’s head away from his Daddy to look at him, “What is beeping?!”

Naruto stared for a moment before he realized his pocket was vibrating, “Oh, it’s my beeper, chibi.”

Fishing it out, Naruto looked down and frowned before looking up at three sets of curious eyes, “Ah, I need to go. An emergency downstairs.”

Sasuke nodded, “Do you need me?”

Naruto shook his head as he caught the pouting twins in his arms, giving them a hug and snuggling their midnight crowns, “No, I don’t think so. It’s Peds.”

Sasuke nodded and stood, the twins running to hold onto his legs. Naruto smiled and leaned forward to press a quick kiss on Sasuke’s cheek, “I’ll see you later.”

He turned and walked out of the room, but as the door closed behind him, he looked in and saw Sasuke smiling down on their children, childish giggles filling the air.

Naruto closed his eyes, willing himself to never forget the sight.

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So, the long and short of it was that Uchihas… as a clan… were never allowed in Babies R Us again. For all eternity… so help me god.

Well, that is what the manger said before Hinata helped Itachi into the car, her face red from extreme embarrassment among other things.

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Itachi smirked at the large giraffe that smiled down on him and his little mouse as they walked through the doors. Hinata was still flushed from the impromptu make-out session in the car and Itachi was explaining why they found themselves in the obnoxious toy warehouse. There hadn’t been time for words earlier… unless they were ‘yes’, ‘more’, ‘harder’ and any synonyms thereof.

Hinata giggled, “They used a pink boa as a sex toy?”

“Yes, that is my understanding.” Itachi said and cringed when a child two aisles over screeched as if the devil himself had dropped by for a visit.

“You know, part of me wonders if that isn’t something I, as their case worker, should be concerned about.”

“Don’t say that, Hinata-chan,” Itachi purred, “Be a good girl and I’ll get you your own boa.”

And then Hinata smirked and Itachi was fairly certain he fell in love all over.

“You wear it and we have a deal, Uchiha.”

Itachi growled before grabbing Hinata’s petite hand and dragging her toward an aisle that looked like a pink bomb had exploded, the laugh of his mouse following behind him.

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And so it was that Arata, the manager on duty, found a tall, dark haired man wrapped in only a boa and an extraordinarily limber woman in the supply closet next to his office.

His entrance must have startled the couple because the woman ‘eep’d’ jumping off of the taller man. A pained yell was heard, “Holy shit! I think you broke it!”

And silence fell.

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Naruto hummed a little tune before pushing open the door to the Pediatric patient room in the ER only to be met with a sight that had the tune dying on his lips and his blue eyes wide with surprise.

“Big brother?”

Itachi sat of the small exam table shaped like a dog, the rainbow colors of the room contrasting violently with the dark look on Itachi’s face. Hinata met Naruto’s eyes for a moment before looking down, a blush covering her face. Between Itachi’s legs a large bag of ice rested innocently.

“You will never speak of this, blondie. To anyone… ever.”

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After being slapped on his back by five fiercely protective brothers in pleasant greetings, he was pulled by his doofus to the dining room table. He bow politely to Obito’s parents and his brothers’ wives, who were all sitting around the dinner table.

“Welcome, please, sit,” Obito’s father said, gesturing to the chairs on his right. Kakashi let Obito eagerly dragged him towards their chairs.

They sat down just as the doorbell rang and a tall, brown hair woman was led in by the butler. At first, Kakashi didn’t recognized her, it had been a number of years since he had seen her. There was no doubt, upon closer inspection, that it was her… Obito’s college crush and Kakashi’s number one rabid fan girl.

Rin, the girl Obito swore he was in love with, the girl Kakashi always hated with a vengeance because the fool was always gushing over her. He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth as Obito, who had been sitting next to him, jumped out of his chair and ran towards her.

“RIN!” he shouted in glee, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Rin, it seemed to Kakashi, was eager to return the doofus’s attention by winding her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

“Obito-kun, long time, no see. I was surprised when I ran into one of your brothers at the airport and he invited me to dinner,” she said pulling away from Obito to look at his handsome face. Time has certainly done wonders for her once goofy and annoying friend. She could tell that he had grown and matured.

There was a discreet cough and both Obito and Rin turn to look at Kakashi. Rin blinked. Her old crush was here in the Uchiha mansion. Well, it wasn’t surprising really since Obito always swore up and down that Kakashi was his best friend.

“Kakashi?” she said in a happy tone letting Obito go completely and walking towards him. She ignored Obito’s parents, his brothers and their wives.

She eagerly wound her arms around Kakashi and hugged the strangely stiff man, “Oh, it’s so good to see you,” Rin exclaimed letting go and then standing up after realizing her rudeness. “My apologies,” she said bowing. “I’m Rin Mikato and I was Obito and Kakashi’s college friend.”

Obito’s father raised an eyebrow. He did remember his son talking about this girl but found her a bit too brash and forward. That opinion had not changed.

“Yes, well, welcome. Daisuke, please show our guest to her seat,” he ordered receiving an approving nod from his quiet wife.

“Please, server dinner now,” he told the butler.

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Itachi was getting impatient. Naruto hadn’t stopped laughing since he got there, in fact, his foolish little brother’s lover was clutching his stomach with amusement, tears running unchecked down his scarred cheeks. Itachi’s lips tightened and he turned to the embarrassed woman beside him and whispered in her ear.

“I can’t do that!” Hinata exclaimed. Itachi gave her what amounted to his version of a ‘puppy eyed look’ but only it made Hinata shiver in fear because, quite honestly, he looked like a pit-bull about to bite.

“Fine!” she muttered as she walked up to Naruto and then, giving him an apologetic look that he missed because he was laughing so hard, kicked him hard in the shin.

“OW!” he shouted, staring in indignation at Hinata who blushed and backed away to stand next to Itachi.

“He told me to do it!”

“Big brother,” Naruto began with a delighted gleam in his eyes. Itachi swallowed, he forgot that Naruto could and sometimes enjoyed being as dangerous as any Uchiha. He moved the ice pack over his manhood and wince in pain as he jolted it.

“Okay, let me take a look at little Itachi,” Naruto said putting on gloves, smirking at the glare coming from the taller version of his Sasuke. Hinata giggled her face redder than a tomato. “You can go wait in the waiting room, Hyuuga-san,” Naruto said taking pity on the clearly embarrassed woman. She nodded quickly and bent down to give Itachi a quick kiss on the cheek before making her way out of the room.

“So, what happened?” he asked curiously removing the ice pack and eyeing Itachi’s penis with a critical and clinically detached eye.

Itachi had a faint blush across his nose, his eyes roving the room while Naruto leaned close to his crotch.

“It’s all Sasuke’s fault.” he growled as Naruto poked and prodded his tender shaft.

Naruto swallowed his laughter, “Really, how come?” he asked gently exploring Itachi testicles for any signs of damage.

“He sent me to get that damn pink boa!” Itachi was a little uncomfortable having Naruto’s face and hands in between his legs. A sudden, and very uncalled for, flash of Naruto in the same position with Sasuke made him shuddered with disgust.

“I think I just vomitted in my mouth a little,” Itachi said.

Naruto look up concern, “Are you all right? Do you feel dizzy?”

Itachi shook his head and grimaced, “No, it’s nothing, Blondie, it’s just my mind and you… there… and then with Sasuke…”

Naruto ‘accidentally’ squeezed Itachi’s scrotum a little too hard, smiling in satisfaction when Itachi involuntarily yelped in pain.

“HEY!” he reprimanded, glaring down at Naruto’s bow head.

“Just trying to help,” Naruto said quickly backing away from the furious Itachi, “Well, I have good news and bad news about little Itachi-kun,” Naruto chuckled at Itachi thunderous expression.

“Cut out the lame jokes, Doctor,” Could saracasm kill? “And fucking fix this,” he demanded.

“Do you want the good news first?” Naruto dodged the ice pack by moving to the side. That was just gross, if it would have hit him, he would have been infected by Itachi germs and other things that might linger in his special place. He turned hurt eyes to Itachi who rolled his eyes but wince with pain.

“Okay, seriously,” The blonde paused for dramatization, his blue eyes blurring with fake tears. Itachi sighed. If he wasn’t so concerned with his baby, he probably would have decked the damn clown despite Sasuke’s threats of murder.

“You will never have children!”


“WHAT!”

Naruto burst out laughing once more, wiping the many tears coming from his eyes. “Oh, oh, I’m so sorry, big brother, but you should see your face!” He pointed at the opened mouth, wide eyed and extremely pale faced Itachi.

“Funny, Naruto, I hope you realize that payback is a bitch!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, look you’ll be fine. I’ll prescribe some pills for your pain, it’s just a little bruising,” he said taking out a medical pad from his lab coat pocket. Naruto grinned up at Itachi and winked. “You just won’t be using little Itachi for a week or two.”

“I don’t why you’re grinning,” Itachi said calmly and there was something in those dark eyes that made Naruto shiver.

“Why? Hey, wait a minute, you did get the boa, right?”

Itachi shook his head, “Didn’t I tell you? Hinata and I were in the closet at the store when this little accident happened and now we are banned for life from that hellhole,” he said to Naruto, whose eyes were starting to twitched. “Told you payback a bitch.”

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Well, it wasn’t hotdogs.

Kakashi moved the ambiguously nutritious food around his plate and had to consciously stop himself from fisting his silver locks and running out of the room.

To his left was Rin… god help him, but until fifteen minutes ago he had been under the impression that she had fallen off the earth and somehow he was disappointed to be proven wrong. If she touched is thigh one more time he was going to…

Across the table sat all five brothers. They didn’t even make any attempt to look like their sole purpose wasn’t to intimidate Kakashi. In fact, their stares pretty much assured Kakashi that one, Rin’s appearance was no accident and two, they wanted Kakashi to react. He thought about standing up and screaming, ‘Keep your hands off of me!’ just to prove to the fearsome five that he was serious about their brother, but then the elder Uchiha’s would be horrified by his manners and he had to impress them too and then… well, then there was Obito.

Obito sat to his right, happy as can be, talking to his parents, brothers and sister-in-laws. If Kakashi stood up and called Rin on her behavior, Obito would be angry at Kakashi for humiliating her in front of his family and Kakashi couldn’t help but think that Obito was still infatuated with the dark haired woman.

Nails scratched down his thigh and Kakashi closed his eyes… sexual harassment seemed to be the fucking ‘magic words’ in his life. Rin giggled lightly and the damn brothers increased the intensity of their glare. Obito’s father asked Kakashi about his job at the hospital now that he had been promoted and Obito’s mother asked what he thought of dinner.

Kakashi wasn’t sure he had ever been this close to crying in his whole life.

The clinking of a water glass pulled his attention.

Obito stood and a smile split his face in the way that few Uchihas ever smiled, well, except Obito. When the conversations died down and he had everyone’s attention, Obito laughed lightly.

“Wow,” he sighed, “where to begin?” Turning to his parents, he bowed his head slightly, “Please, forgive me.”

Kakashi’s eyes widened and Obito’s brothers swallowed thickly while internally screaming ‘Bad Omen!’ Their little brother’s eyes turned slowly until he was looking directly at them before passing onto Rin, who looked mildly confused.

“Rin… darling,” Obito smiled, “I am fucking Kakashi. Nearly every day… most of the time more than once. So, armed with this knowledge, I’d like for you to stop touching him and leave.”

Rin stammered and pushed her chair back, “When… but I thought that you liked me…”

“Nope, sorry, and I’m certain Kakashi isn’t harboring any feeling towards you either. Again, sorry.” Obito shrugged, “But, call me. We’ll do lunch.”

Rin stood and accused herself before leaving quietly. Obito turned toward his brothers, “How dare you.” He hissed, “You forced my hand! You made me hurt my friend in front of my whole family. What was your numbskull intent? Did you think Kakashi would submit to her charms? He has an UCHIHA! Did you think that I could be up started by her?!” Kakashi cleared his throat and Obito leaned down faster than any of them could predict and claimed Kakashi’s lips with his own, his tongue darted inside and just as Kakashi’s eyes closed, Obito stood. Kakashi felt a gentle patting on his cheek, “It’s best if you sit quietly, love.”

Kakashi stared indignantly at the dark haired man, ready to defend his own honor. He was not some little girl to be asked to sit and look pretty. He was Kakashi Hatake, damn it and…

Obito leaned down again and nuzzled his lover’s neck, nipping at the skin there before whispering in his ear, “Don’t even think it.” He warned and then turned once more on his brothers. “Five years ago Kakashi hurt me. I know that all of you care for me and I treasure each and every one of you to my very soul, but I never stopped wanting him… fuck, I never stopped needing him and now I have him and nothing will take him away from me. Not you,” He glared at his brothers and then turned on Kakashi, “And not you.”

Six heads nodded and Obito’s parents sighed. Sometimes their youngest son was such an enigma. So different from the typical Uchiha and at other times, more of an Uchiha than either of them had seen since Fugaku’s sons.

“Now, this is the last time that Kakashi will be ‘set up’. This is the last time that you will all sit across from him like some inquisition squad and this is the last time that we ever, and I mean ever… eat whatever the hell this is. Honestly, Mother, I’m scared.”

Obito sat down and began arguing with his mother about the merits of oregano and Kakashi let his head fall into his hands. What was he thinking immersing himself into the ‘joys’ of the Uchiha? How the hell did Naruto survive? Shifting, he felt the white appointment card Shikamaru had given him in his pocket.

Therapy… lots and lots of therapy.

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Naruto sighed and bowed his head in front of the smirking Itachi. Minutes passed and Naruto didn’t say a word, his blue eyes covered by golden spikes. Itachi’s smirk left his face.

“Blondie?” He said quietly, mildly concerned that he had hurt Naruto’s feelings. That wasn’t good. The bruise from his last encounter with his little brother’s fist had only faded completely this morning. He didn’t want to give his brother a reason to rectify that.

Naruto tilted his head back up and his blue eyes swirled with devious glee. “Big brother… for a man with a broken dick you sure seem confident.”

Naruto strode toward the now wary man and grinned up at him, “Payback? Bitch? You have no idea. Here’s the deal, Uchiha. Yuri has to have that boa. And you fucked up.” Naruto couldn’t stop the snicker, “Oh god… like literally, fucked up. Fuck, you fucked up fucking.”

Itachi growled and Naruto tutt’ed him. “Now, now, it’s okay. It’s not like you’re the first one. But, I still need the boa and you are going to get it for me.”

“I am banned from that store,” Itachi said with a glare and then muttered, “And I wouldn’t go back anyway.”

Naruto smiled sweetly before handing Itachi a prescription for muscle relaxers and pain meds, “Then, you’d better find someone else.” Itachi opened his mouth to tell Naruto where he could stick the damn boa when Naruto continued, “Or I’ll tell Sasuke, Kakashi and…” Itachi’s black eyes widened, “Kisame.”

Silence reigned for several minutes while Itachi tried to channel generations of Uchiha-ness into a glare that would incinerate his pseudo brother-in-law. Sadly, generations of Uzumaki-ness just sparkled brightly back at him while Naruto’s lips twitched upward.

Itachi broke contact and gracefully, with a very pained face, slid off the examination table, “You are a bastard, Uzumaki.”

“I know,” Naruto said opening the door for the older man, “But, as they say… when in Rome…”

Itachi just walked off. Naruto waited until he was nearly to the corner, “By tomorrow, big brother!”

With a muffled curse, Itachi was gone.

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“Hn. Dobe.”

Naruto stiffened as arms wrapped around him from behind but his muscles immediately relaxed at the eloquent greeting of his most precious person… bastard.

“Hey, teme.”

Sasuke nuzzled into the tan neck of the shorter man before pulling him back into the room Naruto had just exited. Shutting the door behind him, Sasuke made to push Naruto against the dog shaped table. Naruto struggled in his arms. “No, Sasuke.”

Black eyes narrowed as they looked down at him and Naruto smiled shyly up at him, “I need you to trust me. We do not want to be doing anything on that table.” Images of Itachi’s ‘you know’ drifted into his mind… Naruto shivered, “Or in this room at all. No, no, no.”

Once they were back in the hallway, Naruto shoved Sasuke against the door and attached himself to Sasuke’s mouth, licking and biting the pale, pink lips and nearly purring when Sasuke’s hands worked their way into his lab coat and across his chest.

“Are we done, S’uke?” Naruto whispered and pulled away slowly. Sasuke’s eyes darkened as he looked down on his dobe, the idiot’s lips swollen and moist. No one had the right to looked that… delectable. But, sadly, Iruka had caught him on his way down to collect Naruto and head home.

“You are, Naruto,” Sasuke said and grabbed Naruto’s hand in his own as he headed down the hallway, “Iruka asked me to stay a little later until Kakashi gets here.”

“What?” Naruto said pouting, “We could wait…”

“No, take the twins and I’ll walk home when I’m done. They are tired, dobe, and I hate to see them in daycare for so long. Plus, I’m not sure that what they get fed is healthy and you can always stop at the café they like on the way home. Oh, and I think Yoshi caught a little cold, so I leave that to your capable, germophobe hands…”

Naruto laughed and pushed his shoulder into Sasuke’s side, stopping the dark haired doctor’s words. “What’s so funny, dobe?”

Naruto turned Sasuke so they were facing one another and looked up into confused and irritated midnight eyes, “And all this from a man who didn’t think he’d be a good father.” With that Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke’s neck and pulled his dark head down until their foreheads met, “You never cease to amaze me. I-I love you so much, bastard. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You have given me everything I have ever wanted.”

Sasuke felt his heart beat painfully in his chest and something ran up his spine… it was fear. He had an all encompassing fear that someone or something was going to rip his dobe from his arms. He wrapped his arms around Naruto and pulled him close. Oh god, oh god, oh god…

“Naruto,” Sasuke whispered into blonde locks and was horrified when he felt the prickling of tears behind his eyes, “I love you, too. With everything I have and more. You are… everything to me.” Naruto looked up with confused, blue eyes and nodded slowly.

“Sasuke? What is…” His tan hands fisted into Sasuke’s hair and he sighed, “You are scaring me a little,” he finished with a forced smile.

Sasuke stamped down the feeling, unwilling to worry Naruto, “My love scares you now? After six years, now you’re scared?”

Naruto watched the black eyes close off and considered pushing the issue when a yell down the hall drew their attention.

“Dr. Uchiha! We need you in exam room six!” Sakura yelled before rushing into the room.

Naruto stepped back from Sasuke and then eep’ed when Sasuke pulled him forward for one more kiss. “I love you,” was whispered onto his lips like a brand and then Sasuke turned and vanished down the hall.

Naruto tried to make sense of what had just happened for several moments before he headed toward the elevator, intent on gathering the twins before heading home and waiting for Sasuke.

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“You don’t have to come with me,” Kakashi said again as they entered the ER doors, “I have a whole shift.”

Obito nodded and, oddly enough, kept quiet. Finally, Kakashi entered his office and turned, “What the hell, Obito?”

“You said you had something you wanted to talk about,” the dark haired man began and then shuffled his feet. Kakashi nearly smirked. How could one man rip into a horde of Uchihas one moment and then seem so childish and innocent the next. “Kakashi, I…”

The office doors burst open and Iruka’s head appeared in the doorway, worried etched across his face and Kakashi immediately felt his insides still, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need help in exam room six.”

Kakashi nodded and turned to Obito, “I love you too. We’ll talk when I get home.” A black eyebrow rose is suspicion, “Really talk, doofus.”

Obito nodded and followed Kakashi and Iruka out of the office.

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Konohamaru walked behind Udon and Moegi as they made their way out of the building. It had been a long day and he was more than ready to go home. As his friends slipped out of the sliding glass doors, Konohamaru remembered that his grandfather might need a ride home.

“Hey, guys,” He yelled and the two interns turned, “I’ll see you tomorrow. I forgot my grandpa is here.”

They waved and Konohamaru turned, heading back into the building. He turned the corner in time to see Kakashi and Iruka burst into exam room six. As the door swung shut, he caught a glimpse of midnight spikes.

Stopping in his tracks, Konohamaru considered his options. Technically, he was off duty and he could go home. But there was a room full of doctors, both Heads as well as his resident… something big was happening in that room.

Konohamaru shrugged off his coat, throwing it behind the nurses’ station before heading toward exam room six. With a smile on his face, Konohamaru sealed his fate.

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Sasuke walked into the room and Sakura was reading machines carefully while making notes.

“What do we have?” He asked while noting that the patient was male with long white hair although he didn’t appear much older than Sasuke. He was ridiculously pale, which coming from Sasuke was saying something and had two red dots on the middle of his forehead.

“He walked in by himself and fainted once he was given a room. His heart rate is normal, but his breathing is shallow. I didn’t get much of a history beyond his name is Kimimaro.”

Sasuke nodded and read the chart that was handed to him. The doors opened and Kakashi and Iruka entered followed by a smiling Konohamaru. He raised a dark eyebrow at the other doctors but shrugged before turning his attention once more to the pink haired nurse, “Were you able to gather a list of his symptoms?”

“No, nothing.”

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Naruto buckled up the squirming twins and closed the door before leaning against the SUV. Something wasn’t right. Sasuke was acting so weird, like he was afraid, but what could he be afraid of?

Hearing the laughter of their children, Naruto tried to let it go. Sasuke would tell him. This feeling didn’t mean anything beyond he was tired from the last couple of days. There was nothing to worry about.

A car drove slowly passed him and out of the corner of his eye he saw pale, white skin, long, inky hair and sinister yellow eyes. Whipping his head around, the car pulled out of the lot and he wasn’t able to make a clear identification. Was it Orochimaru? No, the bastard was restricted. He knew he was. Why would he even be here?

The feeling of unease was nearly crushing his chest and he rubbed at it with his hand to release the tension.

“Mamamamamama….”

Naruto walked slowly to the door of the car. Sasuke was right. They needed to go home, the twins were hungry, tired, needed stability…

As he made his way out of the lot, Naruto felt like a piece of himself was being left behind, ripped askew… dying… slowly.

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Upstairs in a dark room of OR recovery, Asuma Sarutobi opened his eyes to see his father asleep beside him. His chest burned but not nearly as much as the nagging feeling that he needed to remember something important.

He swallowed and grimaced at the drying in his throat, his tongue running over his chapped lips the faint taste of copper filling his mouth. Blood…

Oh god… blood, bullets, Orochimaru…

“Dad!” Asuma croaked out, “Oh god, Dad!”

Grandfather Sarutobi opened his eyes to see the horror filled eyes of his son, “Asuma… son, what is the matter?”

“He has a virus! He wants to release it…” Coughs wracked the younger man’s weak frame and the elder Sarutobi cursed when blood splatters covered the sheets. Pressing the call button, he turned to his son.

“Don’t talk… shhh…”

More wet coughs, “Virus…” Dark brown eyes closed and Asuma slipped into unconsciousness as Jiraiya and several nurses entered the room.

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Obito got to the door when he realized that he had left his car at his parents and driven with Kakashi. He had forgotten to grab the keys.

“Damn it,” He muttered and turned on his heel, picking up his pace he walked toward exam room six. “Just stick my head in…”

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Sasuke finally turned his attention to the other occupants of the room, “Wow… is it observation day or something?”

Kakashi and Iruka just looked at Sasuke and then each other. Iruka’s forehead wrinkled into a frown, “I got a page that Kakashi was needed in room six. I didn’t think he was here and so I was coming myself when I saw him in his office.”

Kakashi shrugged, “Well, since we are all here, let’s figure out what’s up.”

The doctors moved around the bed and Sasuke slipped on his gloves before feeling the man’s neck and head for wounds. Finding nothing, he tilted the patients head back and then jumped when a pale hand wrapped painfully around his own.

Looking down he saw bright green eyes drilling into him as a small smile formed on nearly white lips, “Orochimaru sends his regards and…”

Yelling, Sasuke jumped backwards, having barely heard the words. The man’s tongue was black and slimy.

Kimimaro gave a feeble cough and something black oozed out of the corner of his mouth and when he blinked, black tears left tracks down snow white cheeks. “His regards and death.”

The four doctors and one nurse watched while the man laughed until machines blared to life, indicating his heart had stopped. No one moved to do anything.

“Shouldn’t you guys be doing something about that?”

All eyes snapped to the door and Obito stood there looking at them in concern.

Sasuke reacted first, “Oh shit, Obito…” Remorse filled his eyes and colored his voice, “SHUT THE DOOR!”

Obito slammed the door behind him and Sasuke ripped the curtains off the runners in the room, jamming them into the crack under the door.

“Sasuke,” Iruka began, “What is…”

“Call the Tsunade! Tell her we need the CDC.” Sasuke ordered and worked to keep his breathing normal when all he could see, all he could hear was Naruto… “Orochimaru killed this man. Kimimaro said Orochimaru sent ‘death’.” Kakashi strode to the body and looked inside the man’s mouth, realization hitting him in the chest and feeling a tentative hand on his shoulder, he turned and saw Obito… oh god… Obito. “Why are you here?” And even to his own ears it sounded like his heart was breaking.

Obito looked at his cousin and then back to the silver haired doctor, “I just needed your keys.” The fear in Obito’s eyes was nearly his undoing and Kakashi turned and kicked the heart monitor, sending it crashing to the floor, effectively drowning the sob that wrenched out of his throat.

“Sasuke,” Konohamaru whispered, “What does that mean?”

Sasuke shut his eyes, unable to look at Naruto’s little brother. They were so similar. “Orochimaru sent us a contagious virus…” Sasuke walked to the phone since everyone else seemed frozen. Nodding toward the corpse on the bed, he squared his shoulders and hit Tsunade’s extension.

“A deadly virus.”

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