Into the Fire

Chapter Eighty-Nine

When they arrived at the hospital, Kakashi steeled his nerves and walked into the building he'd only recently escaped, pushing aside his own discomfort in favor of helping the friend who'd supported him so staunchly.

“Hello beautiful.” he quipped when he pushed open the door to Kurenai's room, “How are you doing?”

“Is that bastard with you?” she panted angrily, turning wild eyes on the startled copy-nin.

“Which bastard is that?” he inquired casually as he slipped off his jacket and settled comfortably in the chair next to the kunoichi's bed, gently pushing her hair back off her face and wiping it with a damp cloth.

“That infantile bastard of a Sarutobi who couldn't keep his dick in his pants and did this to me.” she grunted, grabbing hold of the silver-haired man's hand and squeezing desperately when another contraction swept over her.

Kakashi idly noted the time, humming soothingly as he listened to her breathing through the pain, joining her for a deep cleansing breath when the pain finally ended. “That was great.” he said encouragingly, “The contractions are only about two minutes apart . . . it should be just about time.”

“It's horrible 'shi-kun.” the dark haired woman moaned, “I can't take much more. They should use this for torture . . . just when you start to relax it starts up again.”

“I can help you.” the copy-nin offered softly, reaching up and pushing the eye-patch off his sharingan, “When the next contraction hits look into my eye.” He slipped out into the hall, grabbing a cup of ice chips from the nurses station and hurrying back, easily lifting and resettling Kurenai more comfortably before giving her a piece of ice to suck on.

“It's starting . . .” the dark haired woman gritted out, voice rising to a strangled howl at the end. Kakashi gripped her hand tightly and leaned over, locking eyes with her . . . almost vomiting at the wave of pain that ripped through his midsection. Just as suddenly as it had started, the contraction ended and the jounin had to fight the urge to just turn and run, suddenly unsure of what he had gotten himself into.

“How are you doing beautiful?” he finally managed, voice thick and unsure.

“That was so much better.” she whispered, “Thank you 'shi-kun.”

“No problem.” he lied glibly, “Let me know when the next one starts.”

“Could you go find the midwife?” the kunoichi asked, “I think it's just about time.”

Thank god, the copy-nin thought, hurrying off in search of Asuma. “It's almost time.” he reported, steeling himself when the bearded man grabbed his shoulders frantically.

“Is she doing okay? Does she still hate me?” the Sarutobi demanded.

“Kurenai is doing fine, she's very strong,” Kakashi replied soothingly, “and she doesn't hate you . . . she hates your dick, just to be clear.” he ended with a snort of laughter.

“Ha ha, very funny.” Asuma sulked, “I'll be sleeping on the couch forever.”

“I'm sure she'll change her mind once the baby is born.” the copy-nin mused, “Still, I wouldn't fall asleep naked around her anytime soon. You need to go find the midwife for me so I can get back inside.”

“Of course.” the bearded jounin assented, “I'll be right back.” he turned around after a few steps, fixing the silver-haired man with a piercing look, “Thank you Hatake-san, for everything. I don't think Kurenai would have gotten through all this without you.”

“She's been a very good friend to me.” the copy-nin replied solemnly, “I'm just happy I can return the favor.”

“You already have.” Asuma admitted as he fiddled with a cigarette, casting a frustrated glare at the no smoking sign, “She's never had many close friends. I'm glad she has you to confide in . . . I trust you not to hurt her.”

“Thank you Sarutobi-san, I assure you, your trust is not misplaced.” Kakashi replied formally, ending with a graceful bow before heading back into the delivery room.

“The midwife's on her way.” he whispered, wiping the dark-haired woman's face again and taking her hand.

By the time the midwife finally appeared twenty minutes later the copy-nin was drenched with sweat and feeling distinctly nauseous. “Alright Kurenai,” the medic said encouragingly, you're fully dilated, I need you to push with the next contraction.”

If you had asked him before tonight what the most painful thing he could imagine was, the silver-haired man would certainly have not thought anything could beat the agony of recovering from Kankuro's attack. Now, however, he was reassessing that decision, the feeling of being split in two, repeatedly, flooding him through his sharingan as the kunoichi pushed through her contraction was by far the most agonizing sensation he could imagine.

Through the haze of the genjutsu he vaguely heard the midwife speaking to him, and he followed her instructions robotically, not really thinking things through. “Look, you can see the head.” the medic exclaimed, so he looked . . . and felt the world spin dangerously around him.

Before he had a chance to assess what he'd seen, the copy-nin was flooded with the pain of another contraction and he steeled himself for more pushing, only to be pleasantly surprised when the first desperate squeeze resulted in an almost hollow sense of relief.

“It's a boy.” the midwife exclaimed joyfully, “Would you like to cut the cord?”

“Uh, okay?” Kakashi answered tentatively, taking the scissors shoved in his hand and carefully snipping the proffered umbilical cord.

“Wait just a minute.” the medic announced gleefully, “We're not done yet. It looks like you have a surprise here.”

“A surprise?” the copy-nin asked hesitantly, dreading the answer even before the question was asked, “What kind of surprise?”

“Another baby, silly.” the midwife declared, “You and your wife are doubly blessed.”

“She's not my wife.” Kakashi retorted stiffly, “She's my friend. Her husband's out in the waiting room.”

“Well, your friend is starting another contraction.” the medic corrected herself.

I know, the silver-haired man thought, nausea ripping through him at the shattering burst of pain and sending him running for the bathroom. When he came out, wiping his hand across his face he hurried to the kunoichi's side. “Sorry Kurenai-chan, that was a rough one.”

“I can't believe you're doing this for me.” the dark-haired woman said thoughtfully, “You don't have to you know.”

“I don't want to see you suffer.” Kakashi admitted, gritting his teeth as another wave of pain splintered his insides, “I said I'd protect you and the baby . . . babies,” he corrected himself, “apparently you're having twins.”

“Here comes the other little one.” the midwife urged, “One more push and you'll be done.”

Kurenai gritted her teeth and pushed as hard as she could, watching with veiled amusement as the copy-nin paled even further, swaying dangerously when the baby finally made its appearance and that frighteningly hollow feeling rushed over him yet again. “This one's a little girl.” the medic cooed, “She looks just like her momma.”

After a brisk rubdown the midwife quickly swaddled both infants, plunking them into the dazed jounin's arms as she pushed him back into the bedside chair. “You don't want to see this part.” she cautioned. Kakashi gladly took her advice, the odd squishy feeling alone was enough to make him long for the cool tile of the bathroom yet again.

“Let it go 'shi-kun.” the kunoichi ordered, “I'm fine, and you don't look so good. The last thing I need is to make you pass out and piss Ibiki off.”

The jounin gratefully released the genjutsu, relaxing as his internal organs seemed to rearrange themselves into their usual positions. “I'm so glad I'm a man.” he muttered petulantly, “That is no fun at all.”

He looked down at the bundles carefully cradled in his arms and a soft, warm smile spread across his face as he cooed tenderly, stroking a single finger ever so lightly across the tops of their fuzzy little heads. “One of each . . . now I need to go find another dog.” the copy-nin muttered absently, totally captivated by the tiny infants studying him intently with serious eyes.

“I'm sorry.” he exclaimed, shaking himself out of his stupor, “Here are your babies Kurenai-chan . . . they're so beautiful, just like you. I'll go get Asuma so he can come see you.” The silver-haired jounin made sure the kunoichi was safely settled with the infants before hurrying out into the hall, eventually making his way outside where he found the usually controlled Sarutobi pacing and smoking like a chimney.

“What happened, is she okay?” the bearded jounin blurted as soon as Kakashi appeared.

“Congratulations 'suma.” the copy-nin replied with a tired smile, “It was twins . . . a boy and a girl. Kurenai's doing great, she wants to see you.”

“Twins?” Asuma squeaked, “As in two babies?”

“Yup, they're beautiful 'suma, you're a very lucky man.” an exhausted Kakashi slurred, “I'm gonna go home now and catch some z's . . . tell Kurenai I'll stop by to see her tomorrow.” With a wave and a nod he turned and trudged toward home as the bearded jounin rushed inside to meet the two newest members of his little family.