[Disclaimer: I own only my stories.]
-No More Waiting-
Part 1
'How did I get into this?' The blond thought.
He was pinned on his back, panting and in pain, as he felt he was being torn apart.
"Please. Please, don't do this." He begged, staring into the mocking eyes of the man pinning him down.
"Plead all you want." the sneering figure hissed, "It's more fun that way." As the man's pale lips silenced, Naruto felt the burning, blinding pain of a serrated blade digging itself deeply into his thigh, the wielder careful to avoid the femoral artery. He clenched his jaw, biting off a shriek of agony.
'Sasuke, I'm sorry. You were so willing to wait for me until I was ready. I was so stupid to be so scared and now my virginity's being stolen from both of us. I never wanted anyone but you to have it. I'm so sorry, Sasuke. I love you.'
-oOo-
"Where the hell is the dobe?" Sasuke growled.
"Sasuke-kun, would you calm down? You know Naruto's less than punctual." Sakura chided her childhood crush.
"It's been three hours!" The raven shouted. "This is too much, even for him!" 'Something's wrong.' For the eighth time that afternoon, Sasuke whipped out his mobile, his thumb tapping Naruto's number. Impatiently, the Uchiha listened through four trilling rings.
"S... Sa... Sasuke." Naruto's panting voice echoed in Sasuke's ear.
"Naruto?" he cried, "What's wrong?"
Erratic breaths quickly evolved into soft sobs on the other end of the line. "Sasuke... I'm s-so sor-ry."
"Naruto, where are you?" The raven shouted, his voice pleading.
The blond's sobs filled the air, "I-I... I don't know, Sasuke... I-I'm so sorry!"
"Naruto, please! Tell me how to find you!"
"I... I'm outside... I'm c-cold, Sas."
'Cold? It's 4:30 in July! Where is he?' "Keep thinking, Naru! What can you see? Smell? Hear?"
"... It's quiet... I... think I smell sakura flowers..." he let out a soft exhale. "S... Sasuke.. please... I feel s-so cold... I can't move, Sas... my leg..."
"Hang in there, Naruto! I'm coming!" Sasuke cried. He and Sakura were speeding along in her car toward the sakura orchard. Sasuke stayed on the line with his lover, trying to keep the fox focused and awake, while the pinkette called for an ambulance.
Pulling up to the stand of pink flowered trees, Sasuke leapt from the vehicle, sprinting for the outlying area.
'He can't smell them too strong so he can't be inside.' He pulled the phone away from his mouth as he let out a bellow of 'Naruto!'
"Sa... Sasuke... I can hear you." The blond's voice said.
"Call out then! Tell me where you are!"
Through the speaker, Sasuke could hear his love's weak attempts to call for him, but the air around him was silent.
"Come on, Naruto! Help me find you!"
Again, silence.
Then, he heard the faintest whisper of his name on the wind.
"Naruto, call again! Come on, baby, again!"
From the south, Sasuke heard the sound of his name uttered from the sweetest voice he knew. Shooting like a bullet from a gun, Sasuke hurtled toward the sound. It took mere seconds before a mop of yellow hair came into view.
"Naruto!" the raven cried. As he came closer, his nose was assaulted with the acrid smell of copper. 'No. Please, no.' Coming to an abrupt stop, Sasuke fell to his knees beside his lover. He had to choke off the bile that rose in his throat when he saw the man he loved lying in a crimson pool on the dirty ground. Delicately, he lifted the tan teen into his arms and ran off to find Sakura and get Naruto to a hospital.
He thanked every god he could think of when he returned to see police and an ambulance pulling up.
A flurry of action ensued. A stretcher was dragged over quickly and Naruto was placed on it before being rushed into the back of the white van. Sakura jumped into her car as Sasuke climbed in with Naruto and the medic.
The raven stared down at the blond, silently pleading for him to stay alive. However, the blood-soaked clothes that were being cut from his tan body were quickly filling the Uchiha with a foreign emotion: Doubt. Sasuke held tightly to Naruto's hand as it grew colder. 'No. No, it can't end like this! We were supposed to spend out lives together! We were supposed to grow old together! This can't be happening!'
"Naruto, please! You said you loved me! Damn it, Dobe! Don't you dare die on me!" He cried, tears welling up in his coal-black eyes.
He felt the softest squeeze on his fingers in reply.
"Hang on for me, Dobe! You're gonna be fine!" Sasuke said encouragingly, "I love you, Naruto, so stay with me!"
Another soft squeeze of the hand.
"I'm right here, Naru! I'm right here!" Sasuke brought the tan hand he was holding to his lips, kissing it tenderly.
The van pulled into the emergency bay of the hospital and the flurry of action began again. As Naruto was pulled out, Sasuke cried, "Call Tsunade Senju! She's his Godmother!"
Medics, nurses and doctors sped away with the prone blond, leaving Sasuke standing in an empty waiting room, clothes soaked with his boyfriend's blood, and tears of fear falling silently from his eyes.
'Naruto, please don't die on me. I love you so much. Please, don't leave me. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life. I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again. Just, please, hold on!'
"Sasuke!" Sakura caught the raven as he crumpled to the floor, sobs wracking his body.
"He can't die, Sakura. He can't. He can't. He can't..." The words fell repetitively from his lips as he curled himself into the fetal position, Sakura holding him tightly while petting his back.
After several minutes, Sakura was able to move him to a chair while a nurse brought him a cup of tea. His uncharacteristically shaky hands gripped the paper vessel as he tried to calm himself down.
'Okami-sama, if you're there, please don't take him from me. I couldn't live without him. Please, pull him through this. I love him. If he died, I wouldn't be far behind. That might be cruel to do to our friends, but he is my reason for living. Just him.'
After an eternity of waiting in the barren room, breathing stagnant air which only made him feel even more tense, the doors opened and Tsunade walked out, her hair disheveled. Sasuke jumped from his seat and ran to her.
"Tsunade! Please, how is he?" Seeing her severely melancholy look, the raven feared the worst.
She rested her hand in his shoulder. "He's stable. He lost a lot of blood, but he will pull through."
Sasuke felt life return to him once again, but he could not ignore her dejected expression. "What aren't you telling me?"
The surgeon took a steadying breath. "Naruto... was raped..."
Sasuke felt his heart stop. Short of hearing his blond had died, he struggled to imagine it getting any worse... That is until Tsunade finished her sentence.
"Repeatedly."
The rest of the world faded away.
The raven stood frozen in place, unable to breath. This couldn't be happening. This had to be some truly sick practical joke.
As the cruel wave of reality crashed down upon him, Sasuke felt the bile rise in his throat again, but this time he didn't bite it back. He sprinted to the nearest garbage can, emptying his stomach into the metal bin. The pinkette at his side rubbed his back while Tsunade got him a glass of water.
Once he had cleaned out his mouth of acid, he looked up at his lover's only family.
"Can I see him?"
She nodded silently and led him through a maze of hallways and nurses desks, ending at room 227.
"I'll be back later to check on him." The woman said softly before retreating around the corner. Sasuke took a deep breath and pushed the door aside.
Inside the room, Sasuke could not help the sadness that gripped at his heart, seeing the man he loved lying there.
Somberly, Sasuke walked across the faded blue room to a green plastic chair beside the blond's bed. Sitting down, he took a sun-kissed hand and held it gently in his own.
"Why didn't I come to pick you up?" Sasuke muttered to himself, "Why didn't I wait for you? Why didn't I make you stay over last night? Why haven't I asked you to live with me yet? How could I let this happen to you?" He saw the small clear drop splash across his alabaster knuckle before he realized he was crying again. 'My father would have disowned me for crying this much.'
"Wow. So, Uchihas CAN cry." a raspy, sweet voice whispered.
"Naruto!" Sasuke started.
The blond smiled softly at his raven.
Sasuke leaned forward, running his ivory fingers across whisker-like scars. "I'm so glad you're safe."
Naruto's eyes fell, the blue orbs filling with sadness and... regret?
"Dobe, what's wrong?" 'Stupid question, Uchiha.'
The blond's answer was not what Sasuke was expecting.
"I'm so sorry, Sasuke."
"... What?"
"I was so worried over nothing! I kept making us wait... and now..."
The dark teen looked at the fox with confusion. "Naruto, what are you talking about?"
"I made you wait to take my... And now, I can't. He stole it!" The blond's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'm so sorry!"
Sasuke was stunned. "THAT'S what you're worried about?" He growled. "You think I care about that right now?"
"B-but... I didn't want anyone to have it but you and... be-because of me, that can't happen."
The raven pulled his crying lover into his arms. "You dobe." He whispered gently. "Yeah, I wanted to share that experience with you, but I'd much rather have you safe and alive! Without you, I couldn't survive. I was terrified that you wouldn't wake up. Now that you're awake and in my arms, my ONLY regret is that I didn't protect you."
The tan teen held tightly to Sasuke's shirt, assuring himself he was indeed back in Sasuke's arms, where he should be.
As Naruto cried into his chest, Sasuke ran his fingers through the disheveled yellow spikes, hushing and humming warmly into his lover's ear.
As the blond's breathing returned to normal, two police officers stepped into the room, looking repentant.
"We're sorry to interrupt, but we need to ask Uzumaki-san some questions." A rather mousy looking man said. Sasuke couldn't help but wonder how the kid had become a cop in the first place.
"Can't this wait?" He snapped, causing the two uniformed men to cower momentarily.
"Sas," Naruto quietly spoke, "It's okay. Just, stay with me."
Sasuke squeezed the blond's shoulders and helped him sit up, the raven supporting him from behind. With a warning glare, the Uchiha nodded to the two men.
The interview went on for well over an hour as Naruto was asked to recall every chilling detail. Several times, Sasuke wanted to put a stop to it as his love quaked in fear, but every time he tried, the blond would utter a quick, "It's okay. You're here." and keep going.
When the two men made their exit, the mousy one stopped and turned back to Naruto.
"You're really brave, you know." he said quietly and quickly left the room.
'Mousy or not, not a bad guy.' Sasuke thought, watching the two leave. When he returned his attention to Naruto, he was taken aback to find the blond's head turned down.
"What's wrong, Dobe?" The raven asked softly.
The kitsune let out a sharp breath.
"Are you in pain? Should I call Tsunade?"
Naruto shook his head slowly.
Sasuke pulled him tightly against his chest, nuzzling his love's neck. "Naruto, please tell me what's wrong." His normally stoic voice was tender and warm.
"I... I'm not brave." He mumbled. "If I was brave, I wouldn't have let this happen."
The body behind him stiffened, and then his head was being gently turned to look into midnight eyes. "You're ALIVE. That's all I care about. I'm glad you didn't try to be a hero." Sasuke placed a tender kiss to his lips. "Wounds heal. And I'll be here to help."
Naruto shook with emotion and tears as Sasuke's promise sunk in.
"I love you, Teme." He wept softly.
"I love you, Dobe."
-oOo-
Days passed slowly as the fox was interviewed, examined, and photographed from every possible angle. By the fourth day, Sasuke stood in front of the door and refused to let them in.
"Every time you come here," the youngest Uchiha growled threateningly, "He gets worse and worse. You have DOZENS of photos. Make do with those! If you come back again, you'd damn well be prepared to deal with one HELL of a lawyer. Trust me."
Wisely, they did opted not to wrestle with infamous Uchiha Empire.
-oOo-
For two weeks, Sasuke awoke every night to his lover thrashing about, calling his name. He would wrap the blond in his arms, whispering, "I'm here, Naru. I'm right here." over and over again until Naruto fell back asleep.
After the 17th day, plans were made for when Naruto would be ready to go home.
"It's not a question, Tsunade!" Sasuke growled. "I'm not letting him go back to his apartment! It was just outside of it that that bastard grabbed him!"
"Do you have a better idea, Uchiha?" She snapped.
"He's coming home with me!"
"Uchih-"
"No! I love him and I'm not gonna let this happen to him again!"
She stared at him dumbfounded. Here she thought they were just best friends. "Y-you... wha-"
"You guys, stop fighting!" Naruto's raspy voice chided.
"Dobe! What are you doing? You're supposed to be in bed!" Sasuke ran to his lover's side, wrapping his arms around the tan body. "You just had your walk. You should be resting!"
"I was, but I couldn't listen to you two yipping at each other anymore." He huffed, sweat building quickly on his brow. "Tsunade-bachan, he's telling the truth. We've been together for eight months. He asked me to move in with him this morning and I said yes." A drop of clear liquid slid down the left side of his face. "Please, give us your blessing."
The blond woman eyed the two 18-year-olds. She watched her godson stand so tall while shaking with exertion. The youngest Uchiha held softly to his partner's waist and shoulder and his black eyes were filled with gentleness and concern.
The woman nodded. "Very well." She sighed, sounding bored, "Uchiha, I'm placing my godson in your care." Then her gaze turned sharp, amber eyes glowing with the threat of violence, "Treat him well or I'll rip you limb from limb!"
Naruto chuckled while Sasuke took a deep breath and nodded to the surgeon.
"Okay. Now, get your ass back in that bed, Brat!" She bellowed.
The teens jumped and quickly returned to the blond's room.
-oOo-
On crutches, Naruto wobbled unsteadily into Sasuke's flat, following after the raven who was carrying his luggage; the last of his things to be moved over.
"You doing alright, Dobe?" Sasuke called over his shoulder.
"Shut up, Teme! These damn things are awkward!" the blond growled, struggling to keep his questionable balance on the tall pegs.
Sasuke chuckled, setting the bags down in the great room and returning to his lover's side. "Need a lift, Usuratonkachi?" He asked as he swung the blond into his arms bridal-style.
"What the hell, Teme?" Naruto yelped, gripping the raven's neck tightly out of instinct.
"Well, Dobe, you seemed to be having some trouble with the crutches, so I figured I'd help you out." Sasuke playfully snickered.
Naruto grumbled slightly, but let himself settle against his boyfriend's strong chest. "Bastard." he hummed contentedly.
Sasuke carried him up the stairs to their shared bedroom and placed him gently on the mattress. "Okaeri nasai, Naruto." Sasuke whispered, pecking him on the lips. Naruto smiled warmly at his lover in reply.
The rest of the afternoon consisted of the raven reorganizing the flat to integrate the blond's possessions, making dinner, and, as the summer sun set, helping Naruto into the tub to wash off and relax. Watching his lover's face for signs of distress, Sasuke slowly undressed and slipped in behind the tan boy. Feeling Sasuke behind him, Naruto nestled himself against the porcelain body.
"I love you, Naruto." Sasuke whispered softly into Naruto's wet, yellow hair.
The kitsune settled further into his love's embrace, humming in comfortable pleasure.
"Stay with me, Sasuke."
The Uchiha wrapped his arms around Naruto protectively. "Always."