Broken Routine

Summary: And then came the Routine. The Routine had only been deviated from twice. Two missions, two sides of the same kunoichi, and one Uchiha saving the day.


Chapter Two

Several weeks had passed since Sasuke's return. For the entirety of that time, the boy remained in the hospital, still physically weak from his most recent, and most difficult battle. And although his injuries were plentiful, the only person he let within two feet of himself was Sakura.

She was the only person he permitted to heal him. But even the matter of such a simple arrangement was not without its' difficulties.

--

It had been several hours since their exchange at the gates. Sasuke had been brought into a hospital room along with Naruto, injected with several different substances, and told a medic would be by shortly to heal him.

As the Uchiha thought about a complete stranger being responsible for his health, immediately detesting the idea, in walked a familiar pink-haired figure. Sakura gave him a weak smile before picking up the diagnostics chart at the foot of the bed.

Her appearance, for some reason, struck Sasuke as odd. Out of all the possible medic-nins, it had to be her. Why not? She was, after all, Tsunade's apprentice. But hadn't anyone known about the pairs' history? The fact that they were former teammates, and that once upon a time she said she loved him? Apparently not.

Either that, or someone up there really hated him. Sasuke opted for the latter. He doubted the Fifth Hokage had been pleased to hear her apprentice was former teammates with an S-class criminal.

And why had it bothered him so much, that she hadn't called him Sasuke-kun right off the bat? He'd found himself actually flinching at the lack of suffix. He'd expected the name to roll of her tongue so easily, like it always had when they were young. But that was the price wasn't it? He hadn't expected her to completely accept him without question. It's what leaving did to you.

"I'll start with that arm, alright, Sasuke-kun?"

The question brought the boy out of his inner musings, and his eyes to Sakura's face. She was looking at his right arm, his Chidori arm, which, in addition to being broken, was badly burned. But as gruesome as it seemed, it certainly wasn't his most pressing injury. So why start there?

When Sasuke phrased the question out loud, or rather, raised his eyebrows, the girl explained. "I know, there are worse injuries, but I'd rather both of us be comfortable before I try a half-hour healing."

Did she feel awkward, healing him? Did she think he felt odd? As Sakura gathered chakra in her hands, something popped into her patient's brain.

"Aren't you going to tell me to trust you?"

The glow around her hands didn't lessen as she replied evenly, "Not if you don't."


It was the same, warm, tingling sensation as when Kabuto had been forced to heal him while training in Sound. But it also felt the tiniest bit different, in the sense that Sakura not only had to heal him, but wanted to.

Sasuke remained quiet as she went from his arm, to his leg, to the broken ribs bleeding through the bandages around them. Naruto was at the mission debriefing with his team. Having a demon sealed in oneself, with almost limitless chakra, seemed to quicken the healing process.

The blonde had been adamant about bringing Sasuke back, shouting his promise to Sakura across the battlefield. The mention of Sasuke's female teammate shook him somewhat, and Naruto took the opportunity to bring him down.

Despite everything, both boys knew the girl's wellbeing placed quite high on their list of priorities. The Uchiha had tried several times to break the bonds linking him to his old team, but it seemed every time he came close, Sakura would come along and carefully re-knot the fraying tie.

After a while, Sasuke just stopped. Because deep down, he knew that Naruto and Sakura would never, ever give up on him. Even when everyone else had.

As the teen turned to leave, Sasuke's hand shot out and snaked around her wrist. She turned, eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"What did you mean?" Sasuke demanded, his voice holding curiosity more than anything else, "Not if you don't?"

Sakura repositioned herself to face him again, putting her free hand on his that held her. The boy took the inclination and released his grip. For the next few seconds, the pair deliberately avoided each other's gaze. Sasuke's chosen prerogative, the physical touch, was way over the invisible boundary that had been set. It wasn't like him, and it weirded them both out.

"What I meant," Sakura began softly, "is that I'm not going to ask you to trust me if you don't. If you don't trust me, I don't want to put you in a situation where you're uncomfortable."

He stared at her, not quite comprehending. No one had ever given him a choice before. His family, his team, trust was mandatory for function. But this...

"Do you trust me?"

He had to know. The girl smiled down at him, and without hesitation, gave her answer.

"I always have."


"I have a mission" were the first words out of Sakura's mouth as she walked, unannounced, into Sasuke's hospital room one week later. The Uchiha had his own room now, Naruto being fully healed.

To this announcement, the boy merely raised his eyebrows, but Sakura knew it was an inclination to continue.

"It's a B-rank, thanks to Naruto's complaining. We're escorting a wealthy client back to his homeland."

Sasuke's mind flashed unwillingly back to that fateful mission in the Land of Waves, all those years ago. Quite an eye-opening experience, near-death was. Even more so at twelve years old.

The medic-nin, quick as she was, caught the change in his expression. "It's only B-rank for the long trip. Over two weeks, I think. This guy's no one special here, but in the Snow, he's apparently famous for his ice sculptures."

The raven-haired teen raised his eyebrows again, but this time it was more of an "are you kidding me?" kind of look. Sakura just shrugged.

"That's what I thought. I dunno...there's something weird about this guy."

As he watched her, Sasuke noticed the girl's expression change, for the briefest instant, to fear. So she too, had been brought back to their genin days. When he blinked, it was gone, replaced by a light smile.

"Just thought I'd let you know, Sasuke-kun. We leave in a few hours."

At his pointed look, she elaborated. "We being Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, and I."

Of course.

Sasuke kept wanting to say something to her, anything really. She was leaving for two weeks, after all. On a mission that could so quickly become a life-and-death situation. But what do you say to a girl who's more than a teammate, who's never lost hope in you no matter what? He had no idea.

But of all the things running through his mind, one was already coming out of his mouth. "Sakura..."

She turned, that same surprise as before flashing in her eyes. There was a pause, and Sasuke knew he'd never be able to form the words. Luckily, Sakura knew. She always did.

"I'll be careful, Sasuke-kun. I promise."

It was something he would hold her to.


Author's Note: Okay, so the first two chapters were short. I'm just having a little trouble cutting my story in places that will still flow after. The next one will be longer, I guarantee it. We're headed straight into Sasuke's hearing, and Sakura's return.

Stay tuned,

Annie.