Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.

A/N: This has been edited (as of 11-8-18), nothing major has changed if you have read it before nothing pertinent to the plot has changed. Thanks to my beta-reader MissKyuubi for taking the time to fix errors!

Chapter 1

"Haruno." The gray-haired man said watching the young woman with a curious expression. "You look nervous." He added as he adjusted the cuff of his uniform. His eyes looked over the woman with a bored expression; she was neatly dressed, yet eager like a small puppy. With a keen eye, he noticed that she shook slightly with the nerves of her first day.

"You can call me Sakura." She said with a slight smirk. The man gave a small smile, and a chuckle escaped his lips, and Sakura watched as he scratched his chin, she had noted earlier when she met him that he had a scar that went down across his left eye, she also noticed that same eye was a different color, but didn't dare ask any questions.

"Well, at least you have spunk." He looked at his watch and jerked his head to the ambulance behind him. Sakura nodded her understanding and went around to the other side of the emergency vehicle. She threw open the passenger door and climbed up into the seat shutting the door firmly behind her. The gadgets that littered the dashboard were a lot different than what she had handled in the military, and she was excited to really get started in her training. She was grateful that her Army Medic training could be translated into a civilian job, and she could start immediately as an EMT, only needing minimal training on what the civilian side did differently.

Her partner, and her trainer for the near future, was the man that sat next to her, Kakashi Hatake. He reached up onto the dashboard and grabbed a bright orange book. Sakura leaned forward ever so slightly to catch the title as he went to read it. Make out Paradise? Is it an erotic novel? She wondered as he settled into his seat to read.

"Uh, Kakashi, aren't you going to train me?" She asked timidly. His oddly colored eyes shot up to meet her emerald green ones.

"You were an Army combat medic, what do I have to train you on?"

Sakura's jaw dropped slightly, and he went back to reading. He's no help, but he's right. I was trained by Major Tsunade, one of the best combat medics in the Army. Sakura pulled herself out of her thoughts and grabbed her EMT training book from her backpack. She studied, always trying to better herself for whatever position she was in.

A sound emitted from the radio, and Kakashi snapped his book shut with a slight sigh. Sakura eyed him and thought she even saw him pout, she almost asked him about it, but the radio chattered and dispatch filled the cabin. Sakura listened to the information being given, a report of shortness of breath and chest pain. She gave a nod to Kakashi and he responded to the dispatch that their unit was on their way, as he flipped a switch and steered the vehicle out of the lot. Sakura buckled her seatbelt and took a deep breath, setting her mind on the task at hand.

It was just another day, and a different battlefield.

OoO

Sakura eyed the vitals as she sat in the back of the ambulance. Her seatbelt tightened around her waist as she felt the vehicle slow and make a sharp turn. She heard the sirens cut off, and felt the vehicle shift into park. She was already out of her restraint and working on taking the gentleman's belts off as well. Her fingers moved swiftly having learned these basics in her stint of EMS schooling. She eased the gurney forward and released the locks just as the doors of the ambulance were thrown open.

Doctors assisted in helping her take the gurney out of the back, and she saw Kakashi start to help as well. Sakura quickly shouted out the vitals and information that would be needed and the doctors quickly took the man in.

Only once everything was all over, and Sakura slid into the passenger seat next to Kakashi did she feel like she could finally breathe. Kakashi put a gentle hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"That was good Haruno." He smiled his lazy smile and Sakura felt herself smiling back, and she settled into her new role of being an EMT. "Let's get going." Kakashi said, and started the ambulance.

OoO

Sakura unlocked her apartment door, acknowledging how tired she was, it was a very long and nerve wracking first day. After she did her first initial call, they took four more. One car accident involving an older woman with what Sakura assumed was a minor concussion, two less serious calls one for shortness of breath that seemed like a panic attack, one for a broken ankle, and one more for a wellness check on an elderly man. She was glad that this town was very small, nicknamed The Village Hidden in the Leaves. It was Sakura's hometown, Konoha.

Sakura noted that the light was on in the kitchen, which meant that her roommate was home. She smelled the uncanny scent of instant ramen.

"Naruto?" She called out in question. A man looked around the corner into the hall.

"Oh Sakura! You're back!" He said in his usual excited manner. "I was just making ramen, do you want some?" He asked his head returning back around the corner into the kitchen. Sakura walked down the hall, dropping her duffle bag at the door of her room as she went by.

"I'm all set Naruto; I ate just a little bit ago." She said stretching her arms up towards the ceiling.

"How was your first day? Anything like Iraq?" He asked peeking into his ramen cup to see if it was ready.

Sakura shook her head, her lips turning down into a slight frown. "No, nothing like Iraq." She murmured. Naruto grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the top of the microwave, and cracked them. He rubbed them together as he looked at her thoughtfully.

"Is it better?" He asked softly, his bright blue eyes filled with concern. Sakura eyed him wearily, and sighed.

"It helps to be needed, but of course I'm worried." She admitted. Naruto nodded, grabbing his ramen cup and going to sit at the table. He gestured for Sakura to sit with him as he began to slurp up the instant ramen.

Sakura took a seat across from him, and rested her head on her hand as she watched the blonde man eat messily, the broth leaving drips on the table and on his face. She waited for him to speak, not eager to fill the silence herself. Finally, he paused, and set his chopsticks across the cup. His eyes scanning Sakura's.

"Is your medication helping the nightmares?" He asked, in which Sakura nodded. He returned the nod, and tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You think that this job is what you need?"

Sakura closed her eyes and thought back to the few calls they took today. The types of injuries and need were different from the front lines in the Army. She pushed away the thoughts and images of the men and women that she sewed back up, or attempted to sew back up at least. The men and women that she knew went back home mangled physically, and mentally.

"As I said Naruto, it helps to be needed." She whispered quietly. The blonde nodded, and Sakura looked towards the clock on the kitchen wall. "I should be going to bed." She told him, and he nodded.

"I won't be here in the morning; I have a class at 9 o'clock." He said picking up his chopsticks. Sakura stood from her chair, and looked at her closest friend. He worked at a dojo over one of the gyms in Konoha named The Will of Fire. Well, not really worked, but volunteered. Naruto offered classes for the orphans or kids in foster care. When he wasn't doing that Naruto worked at the school as the physical education teacher.

"Oh Naruto, I meant to ask. How is Sasuke? He hasn't been around in a while?" She smiled as she watched her friend's cheeks redden and he smiled sheepishly.

"He was promoted, so he's been busy. He still doesn't want to be public with our relationship. I understand though." Naruto said his smile faltering at the end. Sakura gave him a sad smile and dipped her head.

"He loves you, he's just scared." She said softly, and the blue-eyed man scratched the back of his head.

"I know." He looked at the tired woman standing in front of him. He stood and took care of his trash; he cast a look at the clock. "Thought you were going to bed?" Sakura nodded and gave the man a hug. "G'night Sakura, let me know if you need me." He said seriously.

Sakura could only nod in understanding, but she wouldn't call out to him. If she woke from the nightmares, she would simply lie in bed and wait it out. It was her usual plan; she would ground herself and wait for sleep to take her. Naruto made the offer every night, caring deeply for his friend but not knowing how to help. He had watched the girl grow up; even thinking he had a crush on her at one point. However, once he realized that he liked Sasuke, Sakura had been the one he told. When Sakura came out to him about being a lesbian he wasn't surprised, and when Sakura's best friend at the time declared that she liked Sasuke. Sakura had taken it upon herself to protect Naruto and Sasuke's secret. Until of course Ino had caught on to the fact that Sakura actually liked Ino. It was a mess, and Sakura fell to Naruto for comfort. As the two now out gay kids in school, they stuck together until the end.

Then one night Sakura came to Naruto and told him that she had enlisted in the Army. "They'll pay for school. I can become a doctor." She had told him. At first he was against the idea, but she was persistent and she trained right up until the day she shipped out to basic training. When Sakura came back for leave, he saw not the scared girl who was bullied mercilessly as a child and teenager, but a strong and determined young woman. That had been nearly 9 years ago. Now Sakura, however, while still strong and determined held a fractured spirit, and Naruto's heart ached for her.

OoO

Blood seeped out of the man's ears, and trickled down from the corner of his mouth. Sakura removed the vest so that she could get to his chest. She leaned her head down to listen for breath sounds. Nothing. She began to do compressions, pumping his chest. Her own ears still ringing from the blast that had thrown the man. "Stay alive." She chanted. She did two breaths for CPR and she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Haruno." She started compressions again. "Sergeant."The voice tried again. "Sergeant Haruno! He's gone, help the others."

Sakura woke from the nightmare, dripping in sweat. Her eyes not adjusting to the dark fast enough and she felt the panic rise in the throat. Heart pounding she gripped the sheets. Ground yourself. She reminded herself. My name is Sakura Haruno, I am 27 years old, I am an Army Veteran. I am not active duty. I live in Konoha. My name is Sakura Haruno... She repeated the mantra over and over, reminding herself that she wasn't there. She couldn't help the man from her dream. Sakura took a deep breath, her heartbeat slowing, and the panic subsiding.

My name is Sakura Haruno... She continued with her chant;slowly, she drifted back off to sleep.

A/N: Please review!