"God DAMNIT, Tobi, Shut the Hell up, un!" Deidara said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"One last question, Sempai, Please?" Tobi pleaded.

"I swear to God, if you ask Something stupid, like 'Where do babies come from?' or something like that you'll--"

"Have you ever felt Alone?" Tobi interrupted, a slight mixture of curiosity and sadness creeping into his voice at the last second.

Deidara froze, his body tensing and sending ripples of memories whirling through his head. "Alone?"

- - -

I've . . . never felt so. . . .So frightened. . . .Sad. . . .Alone. . . .

Deidara gave another shiver, curling up into a tighter ball of body and covers. It didn't help. He was still freezing. He gave a feeble cough, sitting up and looking around the dimmed room.

Leader had graciously let him have the day off, but he was expected to be on missions again tomorrow. Great.

Deidara felt pale, and managed to get out of the bed to go to the bathroom and throw up.

When he came back, he flopped onto the bed and quickly fell asleep, not caring if he was freezing or not.

"Deidara?"

. . .

"Deidara, are you . . . Forget it," a slightly irritated voice chimed as the door to Deidara's room opened with a silent whoosh.

Sasori found Deidara asleep, spred-eagle on the bed. His face looked contorted with pain. Sasori couldn't help but feel sorry for the blonde terrorist.

Deidara's breath hitched, and he opened his eyes half-way. His disoriented vision deteriorated the details and elements around him, but Deidara could still make out his partner standing over him.

"Sas. . .ori-no-Danna?" he asked, trying to sit up. Sasori shoved him down.

"You need to rest. You don't get the day off tomorrow, you know," Sasori said. He sounded almost motherly.

Deidara gave off a cocky smile, despite his condition. "Does Danna care about me, un?"

"Shut up, Brat."

Okay . . . Maybe he doesn't. . .

"Look, I brought you something to eat . . . You probably threw up anything you ate from a Week ago," he joked, setting down a piece of toast on Deidara's stomach.

Deidara looked from the toast to Sasori, who frowned.

"Just eat it before I shove it down your throat," he said.

Deidara wouldn't argue, taking a small piece off the corner. It almost melted in his mouth, and he took another bite. Soon, the toast was gone, and Deidara was licking a couple crumbs off his fingers.

"Don't take me being nice to you as a permanent change, Brat. You're going to hear Hell from me tomorrow if you slow us down."

Deidara looked up at Sasori's stern face, and nodded, showing comprehension.

"Thank you, Dana, un," Deidara muttered, turning on his side.

"Thank you?" Sasori asked in bewilderment. "What for?"

"For making me not feel alone, un . . . Thank you."

Sasori smiled. "Deidara, you're ignorant. You're never alone, are you?"

Deidara looked up, surprised.

"You've got the Akatsuki. Zetsu, Itachi, Kisame. . .Me. . ." Sasori paused, noticing Deidara was asleep, a soft expression visible through his bangs.

Sasori frowned. "Sweet dreams, you brat," Sasori said, heading out the door and shutting it quietly behind him.

- - -

"Sempai? Deidara-Sempai? Deidara?!" Tobi said, snapping Deidara out of his dream.

"Wha-- hmm? Un?" Deidara asked, shifting the weight on his left foot so he could turn to the masked Shinobi.

"You never answered me. Have you ever felt alone?"

Deidara chuckled.

"I thought I was alone, un, but I couldn't be farther from the truth."