Short note: The first two chapters are really just to establish character, so sadly, no GaaSaku goodness in those. Be comforted, however, that I waited to post this story until all the drabbles were completed. After drabble # 3, there really is no rhyme or reason. My posting them (after these first three chapters), however, will rely entirely on the feedback I get.

Also: This little project was done in cooperation with my close friend, known here on FF as if i had wings. She drew gorgeous pictures and helped in the writing of this series. Links to her pictures are on my profile, and the cover image used for this fic is done by her as well. All hail the artist!

Summary: When the professional, no-nonsense doctor met the crude, chain-smoking bouncer, neither of them could have predicted the upset the other would cause to their lives. Who likes change, anyway? Drabble series, AU, GaaSaku. M for sexual implications, substance use, and language. Written in collaboration with: if i had wings

Stranger Than Fiction

By Socially Suicidal

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Drabble # 1

Plump, pale pink lips parted with an exhausted sigh. The warm, moist breath mingled with the wintery night air creating a soft screen of fog that puffed out and quickly disappeared. The heavy glass door falling shut with a dull thud behind her, the young woman tugged at her faded turquoise sleeves, pulling them over her dainty hands as she made brisk pace down the dimly lit parking lot.

Haruno Sakura had just endured one of the longest Fridays she had ever been unfortunate enough to experience in her, albeit not exceptionally long, time in the medical field and it was barely passed nine o'clock. Thank the heavens that Tsunade had decided her day had been full enough and had suggested (or commanded) Sakura to cut her shift and retire early.

The older woman had been somewhat of a surrogate mother to Sakura ever since she was a lowly med student studying ferociously to someday graduate the top doctor of her class – a goal she would have attained if it hadn't been for that snobby creep Kabuto transferring in unexpectedly and swiping her title from underneath her delicate nose (yes, and his little dog –namely, Orochimaru – too). Now, a somewhat freshly hired doctor at the esteemed Konoha City Hospital, Tsunade had not abandoned her maternal role but had become a very demanding, but supportive, boss who cared for the girl's welfare deeply and watched her skills develop with keen, expectant eyes.

At the thought of Kabuto, Sakura gave a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold as she remembered her fury from early that day directed at the silver haired worm.

How can he treat patients like that? Her furious inner voice cried from within the recesses of her mind as she slammed the door to her classy off-white 2005 Lexus GS 300, a car that had taken her four years of bartending and bussing tables while studying the medical textbooks splayed out on empty tables as she flew by to save up for, despite the model being three years old at the time of purchase. She still thanked whatever deity watched over her for the scholarship programs that may or may not have saved her a life of waitressing and bartending in order to make ends meet.

Earlier that day, the pinkheaded doctor had witnessed Kabuto, the sniveling four eyed bastard, snapping at an upset mother concerning her ill child as the women had become panicked over the lack of information she had received regarding her daughter's state of being in surgery.

Sakura had promptly flown in, comforting the mother immediately and setting aside her concerns after quickly checking with the nursing staff about her daughter, who was recovering amiably but was still under anesthetic. She had later given Kabuto a stern, if not heated, piece of her mind in the safety of the staff lounge about having the decency as a human being to treat such distressed people with some form of humane sensitivity and compassion. Despite being sure of her words falling on deaf ears, Sakura huffed in satisfaction for putting the conniving little creep in his place, if only for the moment.

Jabbing the key into the ignition, Sakura started the car and carefully backed out of her parking space, remembering how Kabuto's unnatural ability for education had stolen away her dream of being top of her class. The bastard had no people skills to speak of - notwithstanding that creepy charm he had attempted to put on her upon their first meeting - just getting by on his – albeit amazing – skills and wide availability of knowledge. How do you have a doctor that doesn't care about his patients? For heaven's sake!

Her grumbling was met with an interruption as her phone started ringing; coming through over her newly installed Bluetooth system, which had been purchased with the money she received from her recent promotion to assistant Vice President of Medical Affairs, a title shared with Tsunade who also held the esteemed title as Chief of Staff. Her new position held her responsible not only for her own patients but for helping Tsunade communicate hospital goings on with the CEO of the hospital, the elusive Uchiha Madara. The system had cost a good chunk of money but she had figured it was worth it, better safe than sorry, she justified. How would it look it the newly appointed assistant Vice President of Medical Affairs was rushed into the ER after a cellphone related car accident?

Just hired not ten months ago and already promoted, Kabuto could take that and kiss her-

Tenten's voice channeled through her car radio after she had scrambled to answer the call, again interrupting her rambling thoughts, "Hey Sakura!"

The pinkheaded girl warmly returned the greeting as she turned right down the small, isolated street her apartment was located on.

"Are you working?" The brunette asked casually, and Sakura was too distracted by all the morons crossing the street and preventing her from getting home to notice the oddness of the abrupt question.

"Actually I'm just on my way home now, or trying to be," the doctor grumbled as she attempted to inch her way through the swarms of people casually strolling around on the street, "I swear, do these people not know that the black pavement is a street not a sidewalk?"

There were many perks to living off of the main urban road, but the people bustling around casually at night were definitely not one of them.

"Great!" chirped Tenten over the radio, "A bunch of us were thinking of going out tonight. I know last minute, but it really seems to be working out for everyone!"

Blinking in surprise to the sudden suggestion as she pulled into a spot near her apartment, Sakura audibly hesitated, to which Tenten hurriedly continued pitching the idea to her busy friend, "It's just that everyone's always busy all the time, especially you with all the crazy hours you work, and we haven't at all gotten a chance to really hang out together in how many years? It'll be fun!"

Sakura paused her formulating of an excuse not to come out (in favor of staying home and relaxing in attempt to enjoy her time away from a hectic time at work) but found some truth to Tenten's words about never seeing the old friends she held dear. "Alright," she sighed, "What are we doing? Dinner?" Sakura suggested hopefully, her stomach giving a low rumble at the prospect.

"You're so old Sakura!" Laughed the brunette, "We're going clubbing! Ino's working tonight so we'd thought we'd visit her. I'll send you the address of the club we're headed to and we'll all meet there at about midnight, okay? Wear something sexy, you'll have fun - I promise!" With that, the line cut off and Sakura groaned at the prospect of a long night of uncomfortable heels, too-short skirts, stomach churning alcohol, and hordes of far too intoxicated individuals.

Pulling into a spot near her apartment, Sakura cut the engine and gathered her bag, preparing to face the cold once more and brooding over what outfit would be comfortable but appropriate for the club scene. On the bright side, she would have time to feed her cat.

Sighing, Sakura hustled into her building, realizing how, in her surprise from the invitation, she had neglected to ask Tenten what other friends would be joining them.