The Demilitarized Zone

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Itachi Uchiha has always had a sadistic streak when it came to his little brother. Now the perfect opportunity has presented itself and he just can’t let it go by. He does love him after all. (SasuNaru)

Author’s Note: I feel as though I should apologize in advance for this chapter. It’s quite a bit… dimmer… than previous ones. Let’s just say, you know a chapter is grim when, as the writer, you re-read and realize you have relied on Sasuke Uchiha as your comic relief. That’s right, broody, moody, emo-bastard Sasuke… I’m so, so sorry.

The Demilitarized Zone
Chapter 7

Sasuke gently pulled the orange sleep pants out of Naruto’s grip, shifting the trembling man onto the bed while trying to get a grasp on what the hell was happening. Sasuke was having a terrible time focusing, something totally foreign to the young Uchiha. Part of him, probably the part located south of his waist line, was still in the green canopied forest lying under Naruto while the man whimpered and licked and…

Fuck! Right now… Right NOW, that same man was pushing him away with one arm and had fallen onto the floor in his rush.

“Naruto.” Sasuke said reaching down and pulling the blonde onto his feet, “What happened?”

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Kakashi had no problem whatsoever admitting when he was scared. Becoming a parent had seen to that. Everyone was scared of something, for most people more than just a few things. For instance, Kakashi was scared of 3AM feedings, Iruka when he was loud and Naruto when he was quiet. The key was recognizing those fears and learning to work through them.

Kakashi would go on to say that there is a monumental difference between being scared and being terrified.

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The silver haired man tried to blink the blood from his eyes and understand what had just happened. He had been driving Iruka to work at the elementary school before heading to the high school like he did every day. Iruka was talking about Naruto’s most recent email and how it seemed that maybe, just maybe, the littlest Uchiha was coming around to being the friend that Naruto wanted him to be. Kakashi smirked and implied that ‘friend’ wasn’t really what Naruto was looking for, even if he didn’t know it himself.

Iruka huffed, twisting in his seat to face the cocky man and opened his mouth to begin what was sure to be a lengthy lecture including but not limited to supporting Naruto, keeping sick thoughts and comments to himself and how maybe he needed a ‘couch’ reminder. Kakashi laughed out loud and turned to tell Iruka that he loved him when he saw it.

The truck was huge and before Kakashi could do anything to prevent the inevitable the vehicle plowed into the passenger’s side of their ‘work’ car… a rather puny, fuel efficient, two door sedan.

Kakashi could hear Iruka screaming and he tried to say something, to calm him down but his chest felt tight like something was pressing solidly against it, not letting up for a moment. He tried to turn his head, but again seemed unable to.

Kakashi was scared, but he took some comfort in Iruka’s screaming, signally that at least he was breathing and alive. Kakashi kept trying to communicate he was okay, kept trying to ask how the brown haired man was… Kept trying to do something.

And then Iruka stopped screaming and Kakashi knew, for the second time in his life, what soul numbing terror felt like before the darkness swept him away.

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Naruto shook his head and took a deep breath. Sasuke watched fascinated as a lone green leaf from earlier ‘activities’ clung to soft, blonde spikes.

“My parents were in a car accident,” Naruto said pulling away from Sasuke once again, “Gai-sensei didn’t say much,” Naruto’s blue eyes looked clouded and lost as he looked absently around the room, his uninjured hand opening and closing at his side. Finally he looked up at Sasuke and smiled. The deadness in the action made something deep inside Sasuke’s chest roar in pain. Naruto shrugged, “But, he didn’t use the words ‘youth’ or ‘spring’ once so that can’t be a good sign, right?”

Sasuke stared at him, pale face devoid of emotion. Naruto closed his eyes against the deep, black recesses of the taller man’s eyes and knew immediately he had made a mistake. Images that had been formulating in the back of his mind since he had seen Gai’s concerned face and listened to his sympathetic voice flooded to the forefront of his mind, his imagination running unchecked and wild.

Sasuke watched silently as Naruto gave a choked sob and turned to start throwing clothes into his suitcase once more.

Truthfully, Sasuke was at a loss… what did one do in this situation? He’d never comforted another person in his life. He didn’t know how. Whenever he had needed comforting his father and his brother could be relied on for a solid ‘Hn’ and perhaps a clasp on the shoulder. His mother might give him a brief hug and say the obligatory ‘It will be okay’ but just like his father and brother she would leave it at that. And, perhaps that was fine for the Uchihas. Sasuke knew it wouldn’t be fine for the dobe. He would need something else… something Sasuke and his family would have scoffed at. Something Sasuke didn’t understand.

Had the situations been reversed and it was Sasuke’s parents in jeopardy would Naruto be feeling so helpless? Sasuke mentally shook his head. Naruto would know exactly what to do… even with an Uchiha. Sasuke knew that Naruto was hurting. He could read it in his expressive eyes. He was trying to be strong and brave and doing a remarkable job but the blonde was walking a fine line between being okay and being so fucking not okay. Sasuke could ‘read’ all that from the blonde and knew that he understood more than most, but Sasuke didn’t know what to ‘do’ with that information.

And just like Sasuke ‘understood’ Naruto, the dark haired man was well aware of the dobe’s ability to ‘interrupt’ him. The blonde could read his silence, his smirks and his monosyllable dialogue as though Sasuke were broadcasting his thoughts and feelings for the man to read at his leisure. Naruto would know exactly what to say but mostly, what not to say.

Sasuke wasn’t so lucky.

“Stop, dobe. You are being stupid.” Sasuke walked toward the man and took the clothing from his hands. He looked down… stupid orange sleep pants.

Naruto stilled for a moment and turned around slowly. “Excuse me?” Naruto stared wide eyed, “My parents are in the hospital, you bastard. I have no idea what their condition is and right now I’m going to pack my stuff, get in my car and be with them.” Naruto ripped the pants out of pale hands, “You’ll just have to sing ‘Kumbaya’ with the all the other little assholes by yourself tonight.”

“Don’t be a dumbass.” Sasuke said calmly while Naruto fisted his right hand. “And don’t fucking hit me either, dobe, one of us has to be able to drive.”

“Why you fucking… what?” Naruto said tilting his head to the side.

Sasuke twirled around and began rummaging through the dresser drawer for his keys and wallet. “Someone else can come in and pack our belongings. I’ll drive you. You can’t drive like that, with one arm and this upset.”

“I am just fine…” Naruto began but Sasuke turned and looked him straight in the eye.

“Naruto,” The blonde felt his breath hitch, Sasuke’s voice was soft and Naruto could almost feel the warmth of the word wrap around him. “You are not okay… and you have a very sound reason for that. Let me help you.”

Naruto tried to answer, but the tears that had subsided threatened to choke him and so he just nodded.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

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Text Message

To Itachi
From Sasuke

Taking the dobe to the hospital. Send someone to get suitcases and Uzumaki’s car. I need to know how bad this is, big brother.

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Itachi allowed himself to lean against the back wall of the elevator for a moment before pressing the button to move the box to the fourteenth floor. This was not going to be pleasant. Straightening, he pushed the button and closed his eyes. At the telltale ‘bing’ he opened them again and stepped off the elevator. If the scurrying of workers too insignificant to even be given a ‘nickname’ was any indication, Itachi’s composure was once again at stellar Uchiha proportions.

He strolled down the DMZ and lifted a regal hand to loosen his tie. Stopping in the middle of the room he said, “Little duckies… Come out, come out, wherever you are.” He didn’t need to raise his voice. The entire room had fallen silent as the grave the moment he stepped onto the floor.

Shuffles could be heard from either side of the tall, black haired man. Finally, eight people stood in front of him.

“Follow me.” And without another word the tall man turned and walked toward the conference room. Had anyone dared, they would have laughed at the ‘duckies’ that trailed obediently behind him.

After the eight executives had filed into the room, Itachi shut the door and took a seat at the head of the table.

“Naruto’s parents were in a car accident this morning.”

“Are they o…” Kiba started but immediately shut his mouth when Itachi shifted menacingly black eyes in his direction.

“Their situation is critical.”

“Oh shit…Naruto…” Kiba whispered and this time didn’t care when Itachi glared at him. Looking up he said, “Naruto knows?”

“Yes and he is on his way to be with them.” Itachi said. He leaned back in his chair. “And I’m sure that you will all be happy to know that Sasuke is with him.”

Several sets of eyes widened. Itachi ignored it and stood to leave the room. Immediately Hinata and Sakura began talking about sending flowers and Gaara and Shikamaru exchanged glances while Kiba sat eerily quiet.

“Duckies,” Itachi said from the door not turning around, “I don’t know when Naruto will be back. It doesn’t look good. I also don’t know what Sasuke plans to do or when he will be back. It is your job to make sure that my minions only have to worry about the hospital and not what’s happening here.” Itachi turned his head around so that he could look at them, his face and voice devoid of emotion, “Is that understood?”

Itachi’s eyes widened when it was Kiba that looked directly into his eyes and answered, voice firm, “Yes, sir.”

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Twenty year old Kakashi sat near the back of the lecture hall quietly drumming his pen against his leg. For the life of him, he would never understand why Calculus with an Emphasis on Physics would need a lecture. He leaned his head back until he was looking at the ceiling. ‘Just show us how to do it and send us on our way!’

His thoughts were interrupted when the auditorium doors were thrown open and a panting undergrad entered the room, walking directly toward the Professor of Cruel and Unusual Punishment. After a whispered conversation, during which Kakashi went back to counting ceiling tiles, the Professor cleared his throat.

“Kakashi Hatake?”

Kakashi snapped his head down so fast he was absently surprised it didn’t snap off.

“Yes?”

“Please gather your things. You presence is needed in the Dean’s office.”

Kakashi stared for a moment before nodding, “Okay.” He quickly gathered his books and notebook, shoving them in his bag as he jumped down the steps two at a time. The panting undergrad held the door as Kakashi walked through.

“Hey, do you know what this is about?”

The freckled boy shook his head, “All I know is that it’s an emergency.” He shrugged his shoulders and strolled in the opposite direction that Kakashi would need to take.

Kakashi felt a shiver run down his spine at the word emergency and quickened his steps. Who could be involved in an emergency? He was alone. No ailing grandmother. No parents. No family.

So what? Iruka? They had been dating for six months. Would his name appear on any of Iruka’s “In Case of an Emergency” lists? The thought made him skip into a jog and soon he found himself in front of Dean’s secretary.

“Hello, I’m Kakashi Ha…”

“Follow me.” The woman stood up and immediately directed him toward the large double doors of the Dean’s office.

“Sir, Kakashi Hatake is here.”

A balding man in an expensive suit stood up. Kakashi couldn’t help thinking that was where his tuition was going.

“Mr. Hatake, please have a seat.”

Kakashi nodded, sitting in a maroon chair in front of the man’s desk.

“Mr. Hatake… do you mind if I call you Kakashi?” The young man almost rolled his eyes… emergencies usually implied urgency!

“No, I don’t mind.” He said instead staring at the man, scenarios swirling in his head about why he was here.

“Kakashi there was an accident and a car has been spent to take you to the hospital. Minato Namikaze and his wife were gravely injured. Kushina died before reaching the hospital. The last I heard, Minato was in surgery.”

Kakashi stopped breathing. It was as simple as that. He knew it was important. He knew he needed to keep doing it and yet for some reason his body decided to stop… just stop. Minato… oh god, Kushina! What about…

“Naruto.” Kakashi gasped out, air flooding his system.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” The dean asked.

“Their son! Naruto! Where is he?” Kakashi held onto the wooden arms of the chair until he was sure they would crack.

“I received no information about their son. Mr. Hatake, the car is waiting downstairs. The call I received asked you arrive as soon as possible.”

Kakashi stood nodding while pulling his bag onto his shoulder. “Yes, of course.” As he reached the door the balding man placed a hand on his shoulder.

“My condolences, son.”

Kakashi shrugged the hand off and kept walking.

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Sasuke didn’t think it was possible for Naruto to curl up on himself anymore. The man had followed him out to the car and got into the passenger’s seat without another word. He strapped himself in and then looked out the window.

Sasuke frowned, but didn’t say anything and just drove in silence. Not five minutes into the drive, the first rain drop hit the windshield. Sasuke started when something akin to a painful whimper escaped his passenger. Naruto pulled his feet up onto the seat, wrapping his good arm around his legs and resting his forehead against his knees.

“Fuck.” The blonde whispered.

‘It’s the rain.’ Sasuke thought and his grip tightened on the wheel as he racked his ‘genius’ mind for something to comfort the man.

“Dobe, why are you afraid of Gai?” Sasuke nearly cringed… he was so going to have to take that damn IQ test again. Obviously there had been a mistake.

“What?” Naruto whispered turning his head so that he could see Sasuke clearly. His blue eyes were teary and almost sparkled in the dim interior of the car.

“I was just wondering if you would tell me how you were ‘traumatized’ by Gai-sensei.” Sasuke said again, glancing between the blonde and the road, trying to read Naruto’s reaction.

“Oh… right. Gai-sensei.” Naruto said and let his eyelids shut. Sasuke was positive the man had fallen asleep when he began to speak, not opening his eyes.

“I guess it’s kind of silly really. You see, when I was little I got sick and my parents,” Sasuke glanced over to see Naruto squeeze his eyes even tighter, rubbing them harshly against his knees. With a gentle sigh, he continued, “My parents had finals they couldn’t miss and so in their desperation, they asked Maito Gai to babysit.”

“He was your babysitter…” Sasuke said and tried to keep the amusement out of his voice, “So what did he do to you? Lock you in a closet? Force you to eat all your greens?”

Naruto snorted at the lame pun. “No, teme. First of all, I had never seen so much green. And then he started ‘challenging’ me to do all of these tasks and would ‘punish’ himself by walking on his hands or doing ungodly amounts of pushups. Truthfully, I didn’t know his real name until three days ago. I always referred to him as ‘The Green Beast’ and no one ever corrected me. Dad probably thought it was hysterical when he saw I was headed up here. He never said anything you know… I was so mad.” Naruto chuckled, “I sent an email ‘disowning’ him the first day we arrived.” Naruto fisted his free hand into golden locks, “I didn’t tell him I forgave him… that it was okay and that I was only joking. I know he knew… but I never said it. I never actually said it.” A tear slid slowly down his scarred cheek and Naruto turned away from Sasuke to look out the window. They rode in silence until Naruto said, “Anyway, they never invited him back and I had recurring nightmares until…” Naruto hesitated, “Well, anyway, then they stopped and we moved. I never saw him again.”

Sasuke nodded a deep frown on his face and didn’t break the silence again.

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Kakashi was still carrying his book bag when he entered the sliding glass doors of the hospital. He walked quickly up to the reception desk and cleared his throat to get the nurse’s attention. She was on the phone, smiling and giggling and without even looking at him held up her hand indicating he should wait.

Kakashi felt anger driven by fear surge up inside him and just as he was about to release it onto the unsuspecting girl before him he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he met cold, black eyes.

“Kakashi, let’s find some place to talk.”

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When they reached the hospital Sasuke parked and they both set in silence before Sasuke turned to the blonde.

“Dobe, you have to get out of the car. You have to go it now.”

Naruto slowly unfolded himself and leaned his head back against the seat. “I just want it to be okay… like it was when I went to bed last night or woke up this morning with a horrible crick in my neck. Like it was this afternoon in the forest…”

Sasuke didn’t say anything. And this time he didn’t even try to think of something. His wayward mouth would only make it worse.

Naruto sighed and turned to the man sitting next to him, “Hey, I know that we aren’t friends or maybe we are or, well, I don’t know what we are, but would you…” Naruto sent a heart wrenching smile toward the black haired man and Sasuke knew whatever Naruto said next he’d do, without thought of himself or the consequences… anything to make the light come back. “Would you come in with me? Just for a little bit… until I know…”

“Hn. Dobe.” Sasuke said and reached out a hand to push blonde locks behind Naruto’s ear before opening his door and stepping out.

Sasuke walked around to Naruto’s side and took the young man’s hand in his own, rubbing gentle circles into tan skin. “And I think we are at least friends, albeit friends who like to kick the shit out of each other from time to time.”

Naruto nodded, pulling his hand free and followed Sasuke toward the main doors of the hospital.

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They were in a private room. Kakashi counted three boxes of tissues and could only assume this was where they took family members to tell them the ‘news’. The dark haired man set across from him and leaned back into the cushion with a deep sigh.

“Mr. Uchiha? I need to know…” Kakashi began.

“He’s dead.”

Kakashi swore the man had punched him in the gut, his breathing came out in a strangled whoosh and he doubled over in the chair and watched tears he didn’t know he had shed soak into beige carpet.

“Kushina died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and Minato died on the operating table.”

“I… what happened? How the hell did this happen?” Kakashi said attempting to straighten himself, to show his dignity, to stop looking like a weak fool in front of the second strongest man he had ever known.

“An old woman stepped in front of their car and in order to avoid her Minato swerved and ran head long into a transport truck.”

“And Naruto… was he in the car? Is he dead too?” Kakashi felt he had gained some control of himself, but he didn’t realize that he was clutching his book bag to his chest like a scared toddler with a teddy bear… like it was his only lifeline.

“Yes, he was in the car.”

Kakashi bit his lip to stop the sob from escaping… brilliant blue eyes surrounded by whispy tuffs of blonde silk flashed through his mind.

“He is in the NICU… He is alive and fine considering the state of the car. Somehow during the impact his face received several deep cuts and they want to keep him overnight for observation. Mostly as a precaution since he was shaken badly on impact.”

Kakashi nodded, hearing and understanding everything the older man said without really processing any of it. It was too much… would he ever be able to understand?

“I see. Will I be able to see him?”

“I should think so.” Fugaku began, “Kakashi, did you know that Minato and Kushina named you as Naruto’s guardian if anything were to happen to them?”

Wide dark, gray eyes met midnight black and Kakashi once again wondered why his body refused to breathe on its own.

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Naruto wondered if the air in hospitals was actually different than the air outside of the sliding glass doors. Was it healthier? Sicker? Cleaner? Whatever it was, as he stepped into the building that day Naruto knew that he never wanted to breathe it again, it didn’t seem to be filling his lungs, he couldn’t get enough of it, he couldn’t breathe…

“Dobe!” Sasuke hissed and grabbed Naruto’s chin pushing it up until sky blue met midnight black. “Whatever you’re doing, cut it out. We are here to check on your parents, not admit hyperventilating idiots.” With that, Sasuke let him go and Naruto found his breath and his anger.

“You can leave if you want to, bastard.” Naruto muttered darkly.

“Right,” Sasuke smirked, “It is the first thing I plan to do after making sure you are capable of getting to your destination.”

“I hate you.”

Sasuke nodded and started walking toward the reception desk. Better to see hatred crackling through Naruto’s eyes than the previous ‘lost boy’ look.

Naruto sighed, running a hand over his face before following the taller man. A dark haired nurse greeted them and Naruto rolled his eyes as she mentally stripped and raped the Uchiha.

“May I help you?” She asked Sasuke, blinking her eyelashes a little too much to be considered normal… or safe.

“Yes,” Naruto said and was glad when the nurse’s attention immediately directed to him, “My parents Kakashi Hatake and Iruka Umino were admitted this morning.”

“Of course, sir,” The nurse smiled and turned toward her computer, “Let me see…” Her fingers moved quickly over the board and then her face fell for the briefest moment before she turned her smile back toward the blonde. “Yes, if you’ll follow me, the doctor will need to see you.”

Sasuke fisted his pale hands at his side, mentally cursing. ‘She might as well have just said, damn, it sucks to be you.’

Naruto nodded and smiled, Sasuke’s hands clenched even more, “Of course.” His voice came out higher than normal and he closed his eyes to regain control. “Of course, we’ll follow you.”

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Kakashi followed Fugaku down the hallway and Kakashi distracted himself by counting the clicks of the older man’s expensive shoes as they echoed off the tiles. He remembered when Minato and Kushina had told him they wanted to name him Naruto’s ‘godfather’. They all laughed because none of them were Catholic, but Kushina liked the title and so naturally Minato and Kakashi smiled and agreed.

“Mr. Uchiha?”

“Kakashi, please, just called me Fugaku.” The man said and Kakashi looked up to see he had removed his tie and was stuffing it into his suit pocket.

“How can I be Naruto’s guardian? Yes, they mentioned it, but I’m twenty years old. Why not you and Mikoto? Wouldn’t that be a better place for him? Wouldn’t that be what they really wanted?”

Fugaku stopped and turned toward the silver hair young man, “Minato was my best friend. Of course we would take the boy… in a heartbeat. But, although we were best friends, our ‘views’ on childrearing are very different. Minato and I talked this over many, many times after we had children. After Itachi was born I, of course, asked Minato to be his guardian if something were to happen to Mikoto and I. It was then that we had our first talk about what we expected from our children.” The man shook his head, “Minato broke free of his ‘family’, I did not. Minato would have raised Naruto free of the restraints of generations of family honor and expectation. I am raising Uchiha heirs. It was a choice both of us made.”

Kakashi nodded his head and stared at the older man, it seemed like there was more he wanted to say.

“Kakashi, you are young… so young and if this is something you can’t do or don’t want to do nobody will look down on you for making that decision. But, you are so like Minato… He saw you as a little brother. You too are free of ‘expectations’. You are intelligent and carefree when the situation allows while still being able to take control at a moment’s notice. Truthfully, you are the closest thing to Naruto having his original father.”

It wasn’t until they were standing in front of the large windows looking into NICU that Kakashi realized they had started walking again. In a clear ‘crib’ to the front, Naruto lay tucked in soundly, bandages covering either side of his sweet baby face. Kakashi put a hand onto the glass and rested his forehead against it, his book bag making a terrible bang as it slipped to the floor.

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Naruto looked through the glass to see Kakashi lying on a thin bed. Tubes and wires wove from his pale figure toward machines that blinked and although Naruto couldn’t hear them, he knew they beeped as well.

“Mr. Uzumaki?” A tall man in a white coat said coming up to the two men. The tag on his coat proclaimed him a doctor. Naruto didn’t look away from the window, just nodded.

“Is he okay?” Naruto said reaching a hand up to rest against his reflection.

“He is stable for the time being. He and Mr. Umino…”

Naruto’s head turned slightly toward the doctor, but his eyes never left his father, “Is Iruka okay?”

The doctor’s face attempted a scold at being interrupted, but Sasuke glared darkly at the man from behind Naruto and the doctor swallowed and cleared his throat. “He is still in surgery. His injuries are extensive and numerous. He has several broken bones and the internal damage and bleeding is…”

“Yes. That’s fine. Can I see my Dad now?”

Sasuke’s dark eyes widened, “Dobe?”

Naruto turned around and looked at Sasuke startled, almost like he had forgotten the man was there. Sasuke’s teeth clenched when he saw Naruto’s eyes… they blinked slowly, attempting to focus. The light that Sasuke had ignored for such a long time was gone again. Just when he had found it…

Sasuke turned to the doctor. “He’d like to go in now.”

“Mr. Uzumaki, there are several things that I need to discuss with you, options and questions that you should consider…”

Naruto stiffened under the man’s lecture and unconsciously backed into Sasuke’s chest.

“Doctor… Makizi, is it?” Sasuke said his voice cold and commanding. The doctor nodded, “Naruto would like to check on his father and then you and I can continue this discussion.”

The doctor nodded and Naruto turned and made for the door. Sasuke watched as Naruto walked toward the bed slowly. He stopped next to the bed and tenderly laid his hand against the silver hair of his father. Sasuke could see his lips moving and his breath caught when the tears falling down scarred cheeks sparkled in the light.

“Excuse me? Sir?”

Sasuke turned away from the window and glared at the doctor. “Tell me everything.”

The doctor finally remembered that he was a doctor and allowed his ‘god complex’ to shine through. “And you are?” He sneered.

“Sasuke Uchiha.”

“Right. And you are?”

Sasuke glared. “Are you hearing impaired?”

“I cannot discuss confidential information with strangers. I don’t care if you are an Uchiha or not. That information is restricted to family members only so I’m sorry, sir, but…”

“I’m Naruto’s fiancé.”

The silence following the statement was deafening.

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Kakashi was dressed in the flimsy yellow smock all visitors were made to wear when entering the NICU. He sat in the rocking chair next to Naruto’s crib with his knees pulled up to his chest and the sleeping baby lying against his chest. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there and he assumed Fugaku had pulled stings so that he could stay. The nurses came in to check on Naruto and recording the readings the machines must be giving on the little boy.

He thought about sleeping but immediately tossed the notion aside. He didn’t want to sleep. Didn’t want to close his eyes. There was no ‘waking up’ from this and he didn’t even want to try. What was he going to do? He tried to remember what he had for breakfast, what he was wearing under this itchy smock, what he had been doing the last time he felt safe and normal. He couldn’t remember anything but sitting right here, rocking in this chair. Maybe he had been doing it forever.

Minato… He had known the blonde haired man since he was in high school. They had been neighbors and Minato had taken an immediate liking to the silver haired boy next door. Kakashi was quiet and moody and Minato enjoy nothing more than eliciting a reaction from the boy.

When Kakashi was old enough to go to college, he attended Minato’s Alma Mater. Minato still volunteered at his old school and eagerly accepted the position as Kakashi’s official mentor.

Minato and Kushina had readily accepted Kakashi in their lives and Kakashi spent more nights a week than not eating dinner at their house. He’d been the first person to learn that Kushina was expecting a baby and had stayed up until one in the morning with Minato trying to put the crib and stroller together in anticipation for the boy’s arrival.

And two weeks ago, he had been in this same hospital, one floor below, holding the sleeping newborn against his chest as Kushina smiled and Minato preened like a peacock.

Naruto wiggled in his arms and Kakashi looked down into wide blue eyes, “Shhh… I’m here. You’re not alone. We have each other.” The tiny chibi started as a tear fell against his bandaged cheek.

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Fiancé! Fiancé! What the hell was wrong with him! He could have said brother, cousin, crazy uncle no one talks about! But no… his goddamn mouth had to freakin’ open up and say fiancé… that’s it. He was back to “Hn” from now on. This was the real reason Uchihas were silent. Not for intimidation purposes… no, it was to avoid extreme humiliation at the nonsense their mouths puked out!

“Oh, I see.” The doctor said, “Congratulations and my apologies for my rudeness. I have to safeguard privacy, of course.”

Sasuke nodded.

“Actually I’m glad Mr. Uzumaki has someone with him. The prognosis isn’t good.”

Sasuke watched Naruto through the window as the doctor told him the situation.

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Naruto knew he should be outside of the room talking to that man about his papa. He knew that. He must have looked like such an idiot. He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing to walk toward Kakashi’s bed. But he had just needed to be in this room. Suddenly his mind was only able to handle one situation at a time and right now it was his silver haired father.

He reached a hand forward and brushed silver hair away from his father’s pale face. “Hey, Dad.”

Pale eyelids fluttered open to reveal dark gray orbs that relaxed upon seeing the bright blue eyes of his son.

“Sunshine.” Kakashi rasped out, the word followed by a series of painful coughs.

“Shhh… Dad, don’t talk. It’s okay. I’m here now. I love you.” Naruto held the larger pale hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to be okay… alright?”

Kakashi gave a small smile, “Did you see Iruka?”

Naruto shook his head, “No, Dad, he is still in surgery. I don’t know what… he has broken bones and bleeding… I wasn’t listening, Dad. I’m sorry. I just wanted to come in here.” Naruto looked up and saw Sasuke staring at him while the doctor talked to the dark haired man. Occasionally the dark head would nod or he’d open his mouth asking a question but his dark eyes never left Naruto. Naruto closed his eyes and wonder why being under the intense gaze didn’t make him uncomfortable… in fact he felt better… not so alone.

“I’m so sorry, sunshine.” Naruto opened his eyes and looked down at his father. “I’m so, so sorry…” Naruto gasped when tears slid down Kakashi’s cheeks.

“Dad? What do you mean? You have nothing to be sorry for.” Naruto began squeezing the man’s hand.

“I tried to protect you both. I should have done something. Paid more attention. He was screaming, sunshine. I couldn’t move… I tried. I couldn’t do anything. Please forgive me, I’m so sorry.”

“Dad! Stop, please stop. You didn’t do anything. It was an accident. You did your best. I know it, Papa knows it. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Kakashi turned his face away from his son but continued to ask for forgiveness. Naruto kept begging him to stop but then started when a hand fell on his shoulder. He whipped around dropping his father’s hand to see Sasuke standing behind him.

“Forgive him, dobe.”

Naruto’s mouth fell open, “He didn’t DO anything, bastard. He doesn’t know what he is saying. What the hell do you know?!”

Sasuke cupped Naruto’s cheeks between his hands and stopped the flow of words with a quick, chaste kiss, “It has nothing to do with what happened or if someone was at fault. Naruto, forgive him so that he can begin to forgive himself.”

Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but felt Sasuke’s thumb rub circles against his cheek and instead closed his mouth and eyes and leaned into the touch. Sighing, he nodded and turned toward the bed.

“Dad? Shhh… Dad, it’s okay. I forgive you.” Naruto said, petting the silver hair the way his strong father had always done for him. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss against the man’s forehead, “I forgive you.”

Kakashi gave Naruto a tired smile and with one last watering cough, closed his eyes, “Sunshine… I love you.” Finally, his face relaxed and he fell into a drugged sleep.

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Iruka listened to the ringing of the phone as he leaned against the Plexiglas wall of the phone booth.

The click of the phone being answered made him stand up straight, but then Kakashi’s message was heard.

“You know who you called. Leave a message.”

BEEEEEEEP.

“Kakashi, it’s me. Asuma said that you were called to the Dean’s office. I just wanted to check up on you. Call me later.”

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BEEP.

“Kakashi, it’s me. It is five now and I still haven’t heard from you. Please call.”

BEEP.

“Okay, now I’m worried. It’s six thirty. I swear if you are out doing something stupid… no, I know you’re not… and that worries me even more. Call.

BEEP.

“It’s eight. I hate to do this, but if you don’t call me by nine I’ll call Minato. Is that what you want? And then chances are I’ll risk waking Naruto and then he’ll get angry and threatened to dye your hair something mundane like blonde. Don’t make me do that….”

BEEP.

“Minato didn’t answer. What the fuck is going on?”

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Sasuke pulled two nearby chairs closer to the bed and forced Naruto to sit. The blonde sat back and sighed.

“Okay, teme,” Naruto began and Sasuke would never admit it but hearing his ‘pet’ name relaxed him in a way he didn’t imagine possible. For awhile he thought maybe Naruto would never be the same. “Let’s talk.”

And then Sasuke was sad they were back to normal. Talking wasn’t working out well for him recently.

“Hn.”

Naruto smiled. Sasuke thought maybe he was happy for the normalcy as well.

“First…” Naruto ran a hand over his face, “Thank you. For bringing me here. For getting me in here and for… whatever it was you did to make it better for him. So, yeah, thanks.”

“Dobe.” That’s right, Uchiha, one word answers… brilliant strategy.

“How did you know?” Sasuke winced. Mayday! Mayday!

“In college I took a psychology class. The topic was survivor guilt. When someone is in a life and death situation, regardless of their control, sometimes they can’t stop blaming themselves and therefore think other’s feel the same. They need peace… absolution… I don’t know. What I really remember is that they need someone to say the words ‘I forgive you’ just so that they can start letting go of their own feelings of guilt.”

Naruto nodded and didn’t break the silence in the room for some time. Finally, he sighed, “But Papa isn’t dead, I don’t understand…” Naruto’s eyes grew wide and his hands shook in his lap, “He’s not dead… right?”

“No.” Sasuke said, “He not. He is still in surgery.”

Naruto closed his eyes and nodded, “I saw you talking to the doctor. Did he tell you anything?”

Sasuke nodded, “Yes. Iruka has been in surgery since he arrived this morning. Kakashi was in and out of surgery relatively quickly… his lung had collapsed and there was some internal bleeding. The expectation is that he will be fine.”

Sasuke was interrupted when a nurse entered the room and fiddled with Kakashi’s IV adding another bag of clear fluid before walking out as quietly as she came.

“Dobe,” Sasuke began and internally started saying prayers to anyone… anyone who would listen to prevent his mouth from hurting Naruto more than necessary, “The doctor said that Iruka’s heart has stopped several times. It is taking so long because as they locate internal bleeds, his heart stops and they have to stop everything to restart it… to keep him alive.”

Naruto still hadn’t looked at him and Sasuke resisted the urge to grab his chin and force him to so that he could see Naruto’s blue eyes. Yes, he knew they would be missing the light, but they would still swirl with emotion telling Sasuke what he was thinking, feeling… that he was still here.

“What are you saying, Uchiha?” Naruto whispered.

“The doctors don’t think… that is, they can’t be sure that Iruka will make it.” Sasuke said and as he finished realized his nails where biting into his palms.

“Sasuke…” Naruto began, his voice barely audible over the beeping of the machines, “I…”

Suddenly Kakashi started shaking and the machines blared to life. Both Sasuke and Naruto jumped out of their chairs as the doors were thrown open and doctors and nurses invaded the room. Naruto ran to Kakashi’s side taking the man’s hand in his.

“Dad! Dad!”

“He’s going into respiratory arrest… what the hell happened?” A doctor yelled.

“His stats have been normal all morning. Did something change?”

Sasuke’s eyes widened, “A nurse was here.”

A balding doctor turned around while the rest scurried like bugs around the bed, Naruto still grasping his father’s hand tightly. “What did you say?”

“A nurse was just here. She changed his IV bag.” The doctor turned and glanced out the bag, “OH SHIT!” He ripped the bag off the stand and literally ripped the tube from the bag.

“What?!” Naruto screamed, “What is happening?”

“Get him out of here!” Another doctor screamed.

“Wait, no, tell me!”

A nurse shoved Naruto into Sasuke’s chest. “Get him out of here!” She hissed and pushed them both toward the door. “Now!”

Naruto struggled in Sasuke’s arms, “Let me go, bastard! Dad!” The door slammed in their faces and the blinds came down with a snap.

As soon as the door closed Naruto stopped struggling and if Sasuke hadn’t been holding him he would have fallen to the floor. Instead he held onto Sasuke’s shirt and pressed his face against the strong chest.

“Dad…”

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Gray eyes blinked opened and Kakashi looked around the room. Naruto was sleeping in his crib and the nurses were making their morning rounds.

“You’re awake.”

Kakashi looked up and saw Fugaku standing beside him. He must have been home because the man was wearing a different suit and didn’t look nearly as wrinkled as one would expect… or as Kakashi probably looked.

Black eyes stared down at Kakashi and although his suit was fresh and new, his eyes were tired and empty. He was in mourning, Kakashi thought. We all are.

Naruto began to fuss and Kakashi stood up to comfort the small child. Seeing the tall man over him, the chibi calmed down and started to make a gentle humming sound, his tiny bottom lip sucked into his mouth.

“The doctors have released him.” Fugaku said and watched as Kakashi picked the little boy up, pressing him against his chest. A small smile found its way onto the older man’s mouth. Naruto was so different than his newest son, smaller, lighter… different. He gently moved a finger over Naruto’s whisps of yellow hair. “I brought a new set of clothes for you.” Kakashi nodded, his gray eyes staring at something Fugaku couldn’t see.

“Kakashi.” The silver haired young man turned his head toward the voice, “Naruto is being released to you. The media found out about the accident and your guardianship. They are waiting outside.”

Kakashi paled, “What?”

“They are going to ask you a lot of questions. They are going to take a lot of pictures. If I thought it would be better, I would sneak you out of the building, but it’s best to just let them have their moment now and then we can block them from now on.”

“Okay.” Kakashi said and absently pressed his nose against Naruto’s crown, taking comfort in his sweet smell.

“The sooner, the better.” The dark haired man said and walked out of the room.

“Right…” Kakashi whispered, “Come on, Naruto. It looks like our fifteen minutes of fame are upon us. We just need to get through this and we are home free.”

Kakashi had no way of knowing how wrong he was.

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Sasuke had moved them to a couch outside of the room and set down. Naruto didn’t talk and Sasuke didn’t make him. Silence was golden… and allowed for zero possibilities to look like an ass.

After an eternity, Naruto fell asleep and Sasuke positioned the man so that his head lay in his lap. A nurse brought a blanket and Sasuke a cup of coffee. He nodded his thanks and thought about everything and nothing at all. Long, pale fingers carded through golden silk as Sasuke waited for news.

“Uchiha.” Black eyes darted toward the voice and Sasuke sighed seeing the shaggy haired visitor.

“Inuzuka.”

Kiba took in the scene before him and fisted his hands to his side, “What did you do? What is going on?”

“Shut up!” Sasuke hissed quietly. “You have no idea how long it took him to fucking go to sleep.”

Kiba looked worriedly at the blonde and nodded his head, taking a seat across the hall. “Is he okay?” He ran a hand through his hair after Sasuke raised a dark eyebrow, “Right, not okay. How are his parents?”

“I don’t know. Iruka has been in surgery… forever. Kakashi was stable but there was a mix up in medication and he had a seizure and they had us wait out here. I have no information beyond that.” Naruto whimpered and Sasuke continued petting the golden spikes until he calmed down.

Kiba just stared, “That’s new.”

Sasuke looked up and met Kiba’s suspicious eyes, “We learned a lot at camp.”

“Riiiiigggghhhhtttt.”

Sasuke closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. Kiba was quiet. Thank god.

Soon, Sasuke heard a gentle snoring and opened his eyes to see Kiba sprawled out and asleep in his chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Mr. Uchiha?”

The bald doctor from before had opened the door to the room and the nurses and doctors exited quietly.

Sasuke sat up as straight as he could without disturbing the blonde in his lap. “Yes.”

“Mr. Hatake has entered a comatose state. We aren’t sure how it happened but he was given a bag of insulin… We only just caught it in time. Had you not been there to draw my attention to the IV… Well, he is still alive. I cannot give guarantees about when or if he will wake up. I don’t know how the medication and his time without adequate oxygen will affect him if he does.”

Sasuke nodded his head slowly, “And the nurse?”

“We are looking into that, sir.”

“See that you do. And Mr. Umino?”

“He survived surgery but I am sad to say is also in a coma. Again I have no assurances to give beyond he is alive at the moment.”

“Fine. Thank you.”

The doctor nodded and walked off to follow the other doctors and nurses. Sasuke looked down to see that Naruto was still sound asleep and a glance across the hall confirmed that Kiba was at well.

Shit. Again his black head banged back against the wall. What now? Damn it. What now? So the doctor had done his job and left Sasuke to tell his ‘fiancé’ the news and then presumably comfort him. He should have left as soon as Kiba arrived. Kiba was his friend. His best friend. Sasuke remembered the shaggy man standing over them with his fists clenched at the sight of Naruto in Sasuke’s lap… maybe more than friends.

Black eyes snapped open and had Kiba been awake he may have burst into flames.

“Mr. Uchiha.” Sasuke turned his glare toward this new unwelcomed guest. A tall man in a dark brown suit with scars crossing his face stood before him his gold badge flashing in the florescent lighting.

Double shit.

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Iruka sat in front of his television with tears in his eyes taking in the images on the screen.

Kakashi walked out of the main doors of the hospital into a horde of media personnel, cameras flashed and men and women yelled out questions. Kakashi stared straight ahead, holding a blue bundle tightly against his chest, his book bag slung across his shoulder, while hospital guards cleared his way.

Across the bottom the news ticker read:

Minato Namikaze and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, died yesterday afternoon in a car accident leaving behind their two week old son, Naruto Uzumaki. Local college student, Kakashi Hatake, 20, has been named the orphan’s guardian.

“Oh, Kakashi…”

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Sasuke met the officer’s eyes and nodded.

“Ah, a quiet one,” The officer said taking in the two sleeping men. “I’m Detective Ibiki Morino.”

Sasuke held out his hand which the scarred man immediately shook, “Sasuke Uchiha. What can I do for you, Detective?”

“Ah yes, I was informed that you and Mr. Uzumaki are engaged. Congratulations.”

Sasuke stared at the man, his face blank, while inside his personal mantra turned into something composed of mostly four letter words of nefarious origins.

“Detective?” Sasuke said again. “Why would they send a detective to handle a traffic accident?”

“When they don’t think it’s an ‘accident’, Mr. Uchiha.”

Sasuke watched as two armed officers took position outside of Kakashi’s door.

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