There's always a pause, as time passes. Whether between the slow tick of the clock as the second hand moves, or the moment where everything is silent in a street at night. As one day hesitates, reluctant to move on to the next in the time between late at night and early morning.

This pause, or stutter between the events of one day to the next, between different events and situations can be tortuously long or ridiculously short. It's the pause where every one freezes as they see a car speeding round the corner moving to hit someone. Time slows as even the most insignificant details are branded into the watchers minds, but its not long enough to react, to prevent it.

It can be the uncertain pause between a life changing question and an answer, as time drags until the reply is given.

Time moves of its own accord. Making your own personal hell last forever and the moments you'd like to savour seem so fleeting and unreal.

Sasuke glared at the clock as he watched the second hand make its slow tedious way round the clock face. Time was moving far too slowly it seemed, and the more time he spent at work, stuck near his brother and Naruto, the more he felt like he wanted to hurt someone.

Sasuke's frown deepened, he tapped his pen against the desk unconsciously mirroring the slow tick-tick of the clock.

He ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration. He couldn't make himself motivated to work, it was Friday and it was half six and he still hadn't managed to leave.

His sadistic bastard of a brother had called a meeting during the lunch hour which had run on for two hours, and Sasuke was now stuck trying to catch up with all the work he was meant to be doing during that pointless meeting.

To make matters worse, there had been absolutely no reason for him being there. Apart from Itachi having the opportunity to make jibes about his lack of family loyalty. Just because he was the only Uchiha who, when deciding to move out, instead of going just a couple of streets away from the main house as most did, Sasuke found a house and moved to the other side of the city.

But Sasuke could easily live with that, it meant that he could easily get away from the pressures his family put on him, his brother and father in particular. His mothers looks of slight disappointment was a different story.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair and stretched. He glanced at the window in the door of his office and noticed that his father was watching him. So, stifling a sigh, Sasuke tried to focus on the last document he had to work through.

After a quick scan of the sheet he realised that this was going to take a while and his annoyance increased as he recalled that this was yet another thing his brother had pressed onto him. Bastard, he thought, but nevertheless Sasuke gritted his teeth and tried to get through it as fast as possible. At least then he could go home and get away from the watchful eyes of his family.

Sasuke stifled a yawn as he shut down his computer, able to finally leave work. After a quick glance at the clock which told him that he would be home almost two hours later than usual, Sasuke wandered towards the stairs. He passed many empty work stations as he headed towards the exit, and towards freedom. And after half an hours driving, getting stopped at almost every damn red light, Sasuke finally got home.

"Surprise." A bored voice greeted him as he opened his front door. Sasuke turned to see a shock of pink hair over the back of his sofa as Sakura leaned back in her seat to look at him. "I hope you don't mind Naruto told me where you keep your spare key." Sasuke looked at Sakura who had quite happily made herself at home in his house and his eyes softened slightly.

"It's fine," He said and was rewarded with a large smile.

"But you are late," Sakura protested, pointing at her watch. "And I brought Chinese takeaway." She sounded slightly dejected and Sasuke shook his head slightly, dumping his coat and bags before coming to join her on the sofa. Sakura looked at his tired face.

"Bad day?" She asked sympathetically

"It's starting to look up." She blushed slightly and began to busy herself with the takeaway food.

"We'll probably have to reheat all of this." Sakura said and a slight smirk crossed Sasuke's face as she tried to continue as if he hadn't said anything.

He watched her as she found her way to his kitchen with her bag and he could vividly remember when he had run into her at work. Sasuke had been thrown completely when he saw her, standing looking unsure in the corner of his brother's office. He had instantly tried to ignore her presence as the only bright spot amongst the gloom of the office. She had seemed too naïve to ever survive in the insane office politics and rivalries he had grown up with.

"What?" Sakura's frame eclipsed the light from the doorway as she stood, hands on hips, in front of him. "You're giving me a strange look."

"I was just remembering something," Sakura frowned at him and returned to the kitchen. "You seem to know you way around well." Sasuke commented.

"Because I've been here for ages waiting for you, I had plenty of time to look around. You don't mind do you?" Sasuke shook his head and then realised that she couldn't see him from where she was standing in the kitchen.

"No," He said out loud, "It's fine."

"But you know," Sakura continued. "Your house puts my place to shame, it so much bigger."

"Really? I always thought your flat was nicer." He heard her laughter and then she came back into the room carrying in the takeaway on two plates. She looked at Sasuke, who was just watching her movements and placed them on the coffee table.

"You look really tired Sasuke." She said softly and he shrugged. Sakura reached out and cupped his face in her hands and he gave her a tired smile, before she softly kissed him on the lips and then moved away to hand him the food.

"Eat it whiles it's hot." She said firmly pressing some cutlery into his hands and Sakura watched him take a bite before she started eating herself.

They hadn't been dating long but already Sakura had realised that Sasuke had a terrible diet and often skipped meals during his working hours preferring to just spend his time out and as far away from his office as he could manage. It wasn't what he ate, he usually ate food that was quite healthy, it was more that he didn't bother with any kind of regular meals, something that bothers Sakura a lot. So she had come to try and drag him out for a meal, or for something whenever she was with him.

They ate in silence and after Sakura tidied up the plates and put them back in the kitchen she looked at Sasuke's slumped position on the sofa and wondered what had happened to make his day so bad. He seemed to be barely focusing on anything at all.

"I should get going and leave you in peace." She said softly and Sasuke's hand shot out to stop her.

"Don't," He pulled her down onto the sofa next to him.

"Sasuke you need to get some rest," Sakura said, trying to be the voice of authority.

"I don't want you to leave," He said quietly and Sakura smiled slightly.

It was strange how Sasuke's vulnerability emerged when he was tired. It was as if he didn't have the energy or will to keep his normal barriers and reservation up. On the few times they had been out late at night Sakura had found Sasuke, who always projected an image of independence and self-assurance, hated it when he was alone.

This seemed to be rooted in his childhood and Sakura wouldn't have been surprised if this fear was some how related to his brother, it all seemed to go back to him.

Sakura moved over towards him on the sofa and leant back on him. She had learnt from Hinata that Sasuke and Naruto had spent most of their childhood together and had even disappeared for hours on end causing Sasuke's parents and the orphanage Naruto belonged to endless worry.

"Okay, I won't go." Sasuke wrapped his arms around Sakura and buried his face in her hair. Sakura suppressed a smile, this was a new development, she'd never seen Sasuke act so childishly before. "Sasuke," She whispered.

"Mmm?"

"What are you thinking about?" He was quiet for a while before replying.

"You?" He said hesitantly as if trying to gauge what the right answer was. Sakura sighed.

"Liar, come on Sasuke I want to know what's bothering you. I've never seen you like this before. Not that I'm complaining much." Sakura shifted in his arms and half turned so she could raise his head to meet his eyes. Sasuke looked away across to the other side of the room.

"It was just a shit day at work." He said pulling her closer to him.

"Tell me about it." Sakura said running her fingers along the back of his hand. Sasuke sighed, shifting his hands so he could catch Sakura's in his own.

"I got stuck in a meeting with my brother, that's all really and I had to stay late because of it." Sakura shook her head slightly.

"Liar," She said again. "Something's bothering you and it isn't just that," Sasuke looked hesitant.

"I'm sorry." He said loosening his grip on her hands .Sakura frowned, this was definitely getting weird, he never apologised. Not even after he ditched her for several weeks. "I'm just not ready to talk about it yet." Sakura nodded and settled back into his arms. She gently ran her fingers over a small bruise on his arm and he shifted uncomfortably.

Sakura frowned, lost in her own thoughts as she thought about her conversation with Naruto which seemed to have occurred years ago. She wondered if Sasuke knew and what he would say if he didn't.

Sasuke shivered slightly as Sakura gently ran her fingers over the purple mark on his arm, he watched her expression change as she thought of different things. Sasuke watched her fingers pass over the bruise and his thoughts travelled back to his brother. It was always a stupid argument that started it, it always was, but Sasuke's pride refused to let him back down, they had been arguing in one of the many corridors at work which had been lucky in a way as things didn't escalate into something worse, there had been some pressure on his arm as Itachi had grabbed it to whisper something in his ear and that had been it.

Of course Naruto has spent the next hour hanging around being concerned, which had been the worst part. Why Naruto couldn't stay as an idiot instead of being a perceptive idiot was beyond Sasuke.

Sakura smiled as she studied Sasuke's face, his sweet attitude from before seemed to have vanished and he had a more serious expression on his face. She reached out and brushed his hair away from his face, managing to jerk him out of his thoughts. He gave her a questioning look and Sakura smiled.

"We should go somewhere," She said.

"What, now?" Sasuke gave her a strange look and Sakura laughed.

"No," She protested half heartedly. "Another time and just, I don't know, go out somewhere away from the city." Sasuke frowned slightly.

"Where did this come from?" He asked and Sakura shrugged reluctant to say the real reason. That she wanted to get him away from the city to where his family was to see if he would finally relax properly.

"I thought it might be nice," She said and Sasuke sighed.

"Alright," He said wearily and Sakura grinned at him.

"It'll be fun, I promise." Sasuke looked doubtful.

"You also said it would be fun to go out with your friends," Sakura looked slightly sheepish.

"Ino's relatively harmless. She's just always been a little overprotective of me." Sasuke frowned at her.

"I don't think bringing carving knives into the conversation was just a 'little overprotective'." He said flatly and Sakura gave him a sympathetic smile.

"She's always been a little eccentric. She's just disappointed that you're life isn't surrounded by a web of conspiracy." Sasuke gave Sakura a strange look and Sakura found herself getting protective of Ino. "She's a bit too fond of crime drama." Sakura explained. "And anyway, it's not like your friends are completely normal." Sasuke shook his head.

"I never said they weren't. But I can safely say that none of them have ever used death, disembowelment and what else was it? Oh yes, desecrating the body as a threat." Sakura cringed slightly.

"She was that bad?"

"Although I thought the alliteration was a nice touch," Sasuke said thoughtfully. He raised his hand to his mouth to stifle a yawn and Sakura looked at him sympathetically.

"You're tired. I should really go this time." Sasuke nodded reluctantly. Before she could make a move to leave he tightened his grip round her waist and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Get home safely," He said softly, "And just so you know you're always welcome to come back here whenever, whether I'm here or not." Sakura nodded and pulled away from him.

"Get some rest," She said firmly, "I'll call you tomorrow." Sasuke nodded and released her, she made a move to tidy up the mess from the take away she had brought but Sasuke stopped her.

"I'll do it." He said and propelled Sakura towards the door before she could protest. She hesitated in the doorway looking up at Sasuke as he leant against the doorframe watching her, his dark eyes partially hidden by his unruly hair.

"Goodbye Sasuke." Sakura said softly and he nodded. Sakura made her way down the few steps onto the pavement she turned to see that Sasuke was still watching her and smiled before walking down the street.

Sasuke's eyes followed Sakura as she walked down the street until she turned and he could no longer see her. He gave a small sight and retreated back into his house, closing the door firmly behind him. He leant against the smooth wood and sighed, wondering how long this small piece of happiness would last.