Wow. Another story. Made to avoid doing my homework. So. This one will be updated in random spurts.

Not quite sure how the pairing will turn out, but it'll be Hinata and either Gaara, Sasuke, or Itachi (NOT Naruto, sorry, maybe a small crush, but nothing much). And of course, one-sided stuff with Sakura and Ino obsessing over Sasuke. And some Neji and Tenten friendliness.

And disclaimer applies to the whole: I don't own Naruto (the series). AR (alternate reality, set about now)

Rated: T (as a precaution, but I don't think too much bad stuff will happen)

Summary: AR Hinata's the new intern at Konoha's Psychiatric Facility. What crazy people shall she meet there? Some hot ones at the least. Hina X Gaa/Sasu/Ita

Patience Patient

Hinata nervously checked her watch, tapping her foot slightly as she bounced up and down slightly on the bus. She couldn't be late- but not too early either. Not on her first day. Not quite done with college, her resume had been accepted. Oh gods, I hope I don't screw up, she thought as she got off at her stop, walking two blocks to stand in front of the glass doors to a large, tan, concrete building.

Konoha Psychiatric Facility

She exhaled, trying to calm herself so that she'd appear a bit more… professional. She was wearing black suede flats, loose black slacks, and a silver-grey collared shirt with a white wool coat over it all. Everything was chosen to look organized, but to still be comfortable.

She shivered slightly- quite cold, and it was only mid November. Hinata pushed the sliding doors, walking past the guards next to the exit to go to the front desk. She swallowed, remembering to try not to stutter.

"Hello. I'm here to see Dr. Hatake," Hinata managed to say, very quietly though. But the lobby was practically silent, so she was (thankfully) heard.

"Seventh floor, elevator's over there." The middle-aged woman pointed to Hinata's right. "His wing is on the left. You'll see his secretary, and she'll direct you from there."

"Thank you." She ducked her head slightly in gratitude. She followed the directions, walking over and stepping into an already occupied elevator. She pressed the button so that it lit up, and stepped back as the steel doors closed, unconsciously standing with her back to the wall, facing the other briefly.

The man was about her age, she nervously observed, smiling a little out of politeness. Dark bangs framed his face, and his hair was spiky in the back. Very pale skin and dark eyes. He was dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans, with a black wool coat to complete the dark attire. His looks could get him any girl, she noted, managing to hide her blush.

"Seventh floor?"

"Hunh?" Hinata was startled at his voice. Elevator rides were usually silent, especially with strangers- like an unbroken rule. "Ah, y-yes. You too I guess?" she mumbled, for lack of anything better to say.

"Obviously." He glared a little at her. "Don't worry. You'll hate it."

She shrank back a little, closer to the wall, gripping the handle of her briefcase harder. Please, why does this have to be a slow elevator? She thought frantically, scared slightly. This guy exuded an aura which made her tremble slightly in fear. "Uh… if you don't mind me asking… why?"

A snort. "You'll learn soon enough."

A small ringing noise was emitted, and the elevator doors slid open swiftly. He pushed away from the wall, swiftly walking out, leaving Hinata behind. She was still a little shocked and scared, but managed to run out before the elevator doors caught her. The man had disappeared, for which she was very thankful.

Hopefully I won't meet him again. She turned left, walking slowly down the navy-carpeted halls. The hall opened up into a waiting room with a nice view of the park, and she stopped for a moment to admire it.

"And who might you be?"

Hinata turned around with a small noise of surprise, seeing a woman sitting behind a dark brown desk. She had her hair tied up in two neat buns, and was wearing a pale pink, sleeveless shirt with a high collar and miniature gold buttons down the front. Her chocolate eyes sparkled a little as she smiled kindly, twirling her pen in one hand as she looked away from her computer. "Well?"

"Oh, um, Hyuuga Hinata."

"New patient? Oh, you can hang up your coat in the closet. He'll be with you in a minute-"

"N-no, I-I'm the new intern that Yuuhi-san recommended. I uh, was told to meet Hatake-san at ten."

"Ah, that explains why you're here." She grinned. "Nice to meet you, I'm Tenten." She waved her hand nonchalantly at her nameplate on the edge of the desk. "You can still hang your coat up- it's pretty warm in here."

"Alright." Obeying, she unbuttoned her white coat off, taking a hanger and placing it on the metal rack. But she kept her briefcase with her, though it didn't have much. Just her papers, and some stuff for her college classes.

"I doubt he's with a patient, but I'll see if he's available." She picked up her phone, pressing and holding a number down, waiting for a minute. "Hey Kakashi, the new girl Kurenai suggested is here. Yeah, Hyuuga Hinata. Alright, I'll send her in." She put it down. "You're good to go. Door right over there, the first one."

She was surprised at the informality Tenten addressed the doctor. "Thank you very much."

"No problem!" A wink. "Good luck! I remember my first day." She giggled.

That doesn't make me feel any better… Hinata walked to the door, knocking politely. Once hearing a muffled 'come in' she entered, peering into the room. "Ano… Hatake-san?"

"Please, you don't have to be so formal. Just Kakashi will do." The doctor was in a white coat, with an olive turtleneck, and had a mask covering the entire bottom half of his, but at the same time, only one eye could be seen. A metal plate with the insignia of the Konoha on a cloth band was covering his left eye. His hair was silver-grey, but he wasn't old (around thirty she guessed). He moved a pile of papers out of the way, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. "A pleasure to meet you Hinata-san. I've heard a lot of good things about you."

She blushed a little, flustered by his compliment. "Ah, thank you Hat- Kakashi-san." She sat down in the chair, sitting up straight, albeit nervously, not leaning back. She was too fidgety, glancing around his comfortable, somewhat messy office.

"So, do you have any history of counseling and such? Or is this your first internship."

"It's my first. Th-though my friends always say I'm… uh… never mind," she muttered.

Kakashi smiled. Not that she could see his face, but it just felt like he smiled, and she was reassured. "I'm not going to start you on counseling right away. I'd like you to meet the patients, and do some paperwork to get accustomed around here, and then I'll move you onto interacting with the patients more and finally counseling some. It might feel a little slow at first, but the office always has a lot of excitement, so I don't think you'll be bored. Does that sound good with you?"

Hinata nodded, glad that he was going to take things slow with her, but still worried about the tasks she would have to do. He seems very nice though… I'll be fine, I'll be fine…

"My ward has some long term patients, and some that will come in and out. But we help people who are particularly violent become… less so, to the point where it's more tolerable I suppose."

What? I didn't know that! I should've listened to Kurenai-sensei! Things suddenly got a lot worse. She was feeling a little light-headed, the nervousness and the sudden news of the type of patients she would be interacting with was getting to her. She smiled a little nervously, feeling Kakashi's sharp gaze study her a little more closely.

"You're going to have to sign some papers, confidentiality and such. But-" he pushed back from his desk, standing, with Hinata hurriedly following his example "-I'm glad to have you join us here Hyuuga-san."

"N-no, thank you for allowing me to work here," she managed to get out, bowing a little. "I-I really appreciate-"

The door swung open, banging against the wall, interrupting her. She jumped a little, turning around to see the man from the elevator, standing in the doorway and scowling.

Kakashi sighed. "Sasuke, couldn't you have waited a little longer?" He didn't get an answer though; the other was busy staring at Hinata, as the older man noticed. "Ah. This is Hyuuga Hinata-san. She's the new intern."

Sasuke grunted. "My appointment was an hour ago."

"But I was wandering down the path of life-"

"Whatever."

"I-I'm sorry for disturbing you, I'll leave now," Hinata muttered, edging towards the door nervously, keeping her gaze down. Away from this 'Sasuke'. He stepped away from the door, allowing her to escape.

"Don't worry bout Sasuke, he's just being grumpy as usual," called out Kakash, tone cheery. "Tenten will show you around, meet some of the patients. Have fun Hinata!"

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Ho hum. Reviews. I like. Do it. When I see a thousand hits to my page, but only 12 reviews, it angers me greatly.