Set after Sasuke's and Naruto's battle at the hospital rooftop. What did happen after Kakashi sent his students flying? This is the aftermath…

Kakashi couldn't believe in his ears. Or maybe he isn't thinking straight right now. Yes, must be a heatstroke or stress or something. He couldn't be here, standing in front of a screaming Naruto, not even five minutes after he put their fight to an end.

"BAKA! What did you do? Why did you that! BAKA!" The kid is red from the screaming, a large bump in his head, angry tears down his whiskered cheeks.

"Naruto, stop screaming. And let me see your head." Kakashi took a few deep breaths, trying not to snap at the kid.

"I'm okay, you baka! I'm not the one you should be worrying about"

Kakashi's visible eye widened with surprise. "So I should worried with..?"

"SASUKE TEME! You don't know what day is today? Are you a complete moron?"

"NARUTO! STOP IT! That is no way to talk with your sensei! I know I'm laidback and easy going but enough is enough! Lower your voice and stop insulting me" Kakashi's patience hits its end.

Naruto hangs is head in shame "Sorry, Kakashi-sensei" He mumbles. "But today is the…the anniversary, you know…? The massacre and all that.."

"Oh shit…" Kakashi sighs.. What had he done? He just threw his emotional hurt student across a rooftop, scold him and send him home. Alone. In the anniversary of the worst day of his life.

He can't believe how stupid he was… His student… His 13 year old student… Just a child. A child so hurt, in so much pain. He has to go after him…

"Naruto…. Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes, go! Go after him! He needs you…" Kakashi takes a moment to look at this kid. The kid everybody hated because of what is inside him. The kid who were alone all his life. Standing here, selflessly asking him to go after his other kid who attacked the previous one…

Wait… "His kid"? Since when had he start thinking about them as "his"? Oh, this is not time for dat.

"Okay" Kakashi jumps from the hospital rooftop and speeds across the city.

The minute he arrives at Sasuke's door stop, he hears it. Things hitting the walls, feet stomping and a heartbreaking scream.

"CUZO! I HATE YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Kakashi's storms threw the door. Years of training did nothing to help him conceal his emotions. Nothing to prevent his heart to shatter in his chest.

His stoic boy, who never cries or shows any emotion, not even when he is in pain, his lying in the floor, sobbing his heart out, shaking so much that it looks that he is having a seizure.

Without a second thought, Kakashi picks the boy in his arms cradling like a toddler. He stands there, in the middle of the trashed living room, rocking his boy back and forth, rubbing soothing circles in his head, whispering sweet non-senses in his ear.

"It's okay, it's okay. I got you. I'm here now. I'm not leaving. I'm here, baby, I'm here" Baby? What is he talking about? This kid is a powerful shinobi, able to kill someone if he wants. But not of that means nothing right now. The only thing that matters is to calm the kid.

"Sensei?" Sasuke's voice is strained and choked "Why are you here?"

Despite his shock and probably embarrassment, he doesn't pull away of his sensei's embrace. Actually, he clings tightly to him, legs wrapped in his waist, arms around his neck.

"Because you need me…" Kakashi's voice is gentle and caring. "I know what day is today. I'm so sorry, Sasuke. I was an idiot to let you train like that without even realize it…"

Sasuke lifts his head from his shoulder and tries to pull away. "It's okay… It's not you job anyaway".

Kakashis hugs him closer and sits on the couch, sitting the boy in his lap. He sighs at the sight. Sasukes face is red and blotchy, tears and snot running down his cheeks, eyes blood shot from all the crying. But what brakes him the most is the painful look in his eyes. No child should have that empty, pained look in his eyes. So full of hurt and loneliness. No child should have this look…especially his kid.

"Sasuke… my job is to take care of you tree. Both physically and mentally. I told you to come to me when you need it. Why didn't you tell me something? Why are you here, crying all alone?"

"I… I don't want you to see me like that… I'm…weak" Sasuke hides his face in shame, in the first place he could found. Ironically, it's in his sensei's shoulder.

Kakashi can't help but chuckled at the childish gesture. After all the kid is just…a kid.

"You are anything but weak, kid. And even if you feel like that right now, it's okay. IT's an awful hard day for you, your best friend pushed you to the limit and your idiot sensei threw you across a roof. You deserve" to feel weak" Kakashi cradles the boy and rubs his back.

"You are not an idiot…" Sasuke whispers from his spot, still hiding in the crook of his sensei's neck.

"Yes, I am. And everyone in the village knows that, after Naruto screamed that at me."

"Teme" Sasuke chuckles.

"Yeah, he is, but he was right. I should be here, not there"

"You are here now…"

"I am… And I'm not leaving"

Sasuke sighs. Kakashi feels his breath in his neck , the tears starting to fall again. In seconds, the boy is reduced to a sobbing mess again. It takes a minute to Kakashi realize that the kid is talking with him. He stops mid stroking to ask him to repeat himself.

"The nightmares… I'm so tired… And they don't stop… Please, make them stop, sensei… Please… I can't take it anymore"

"Shhhh, kid, I know, I know. I know how it feels. I'm here, ok? Just try to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. You don't have to be afraid." Kakashi starts to rock the kid back and forth again, rubbing his back, whispering in his ear.

He feels the sobs subsiding, Sasuke's breathing slowing down, his muscles relaxing in his sensei's arms.

Sasuke feels safe for the first time in years. He feels so warm and comfortable and protected. He knows that Kakashi can protect him from everything, even from bad dreams. So he drifts of to sleep, sighing contently one last time, before it.

And right before sleep claims him he whispers "I love you, Kashi…"

Kakashi smiles and whispers back "I love you too, my boy… I love you too…"