Well, as I said I'm continuing this fic. I've got some ideas for things but I could still use some suggestions. Also, thank you to all the kind people that favorited, commented, and put me on story alert! YOU PEOPLE RULE!!

Still Naruto's POV


I'm still awake

I'm still awake. I've been lying here for the past six hours holding Sasuke as he whimpers and moans in his sleep. Uchiha keeps muttering things and he's not sleeping well. What's happened to you? I mumble calming words into his ear and finger comb the raven black hair on his head. He's whimpering again and keeps nuzzling into my chest unconsciously. I smirk as I see him do something that he hasn't done in a long time.

Slowly his left arm curls on top of my chest and brings his hand dangerously close to his lips. I know what he's doing. One of Sasuke's most guarded secrets is about to be shown. I've never told anyone else, simply because I like the idea that I know something others don't about him. I'm the only one who's ever been this close to him really. I suppose Sakura had her fair share, but she could never really focus on something for more than a minute.

Eventually he brings his thumb to his lips and begins sucking on it. I smile and brush his hair back from his eyes as he makes small contented noises. This was one of the signs that Sasuke felt safe and protected. He settles again and breathes in and out deeply.
Finally he's comfortable and I can think again.

He's been here for nearly eight hours and I don't even know why he's here. God knows what he's been through; I don't blame him for being like this. He left Orochimaru about a year after I had last seen him. Kakashi told me he just showed up outside the Konoha wall, beaten and scared. After about two weeks, he seemed to bounce back though. I thought he was fine. Until now…

When Sasuke came back and I was there I could see what affect the snake sanin had on him. He was broken. His whole self was shattered so badly, I didn't know how he was able to piece himself back together. Sasuke tried to hide it but I could see the pain behind his mask. He practically said it when he explained how bad he felt about leaving Konoha in the first place.

I had been there when Sasuke said that he was going to Orochimaru. I had already predicted what would happen. He didn't believe me. I knew he'd be dead and I knew that I'd never see him again. I was so happy when I found out that he was back. I just couldn't believe it. That feeling immediately changed when I saw him. Seeing someone that you care about, completely helpless to what was going on around him. I remember there were two Black Ops agents guarding the door and Tsunade and Shizune were inside, questioning him.

At first, I couldn't believe that the pale, shivering form lying in the hospital bed was Sasuke. The way he looked straight at me, eyes open, but seeing nothing. He had become so lifeless… I remember I did the only thing that made sense to me in that instance. I walked over, sat down on the hospital bed, and pulled him into me. That's when he broke down. I held him as he sobbed, telling him that it was going to be alright.

It was in that moment that I knew that I wouldn't be able to leave him. I spent the whole night cradling him in my arms as he slept. That was the first night that we spent together and I can remember every detail of it. I took care of him. Like I am now. I found out so many things about him in that first night…

I can tell you why he went to Orochimaru. I'm stroking the hair and breathing the scent of the strongest ninja in my class and I'm saying that he was scared. I think he was always afraid that his brother would come back and finish him off. God, he's suffered so much in his life; I can see why he's always pushed to be the best.

Now I'm happily lying with Sasuke, curling a lock of his hair round my finger while he sucks his thumb. He needs me; I know that, he knows that, Sakura probably knows that too. I still don't know why he's here and at the moment I don't care. He's smiling in his sleep and mumbling round his thumb, signifying that he's dreaming.

As a human the biggest loss you can suffer from is the loss of a life close to you. We both have suffered that in our lifetime. Your life is built of stable people you place around you for company and when they're taken from you, there's nothing to live for. He's lived for revenge and nothing else. I've lived for him…

So the only way we can loose someone else is if they leave. He left. Sasuke's life crumbled around him because one of the walls of his safety had gone. He left for fear that he would never become strong enough to defend himself. All that time I loved him.

I don't think he understands what kind of love I hold for him. It's more than friends. It's more than anything I can imagine. What we have, it just feels so much more. When Sasuke was wounded by Haku, I felt his pain. When he was depressed about the curse mark and the decision that he would have to make, I felt his sorrow. And I reveled in it all.

I'm sure that's the way with Sasuke. Instead of him feeling bad, he feels pain. In a way it's even worse for him. I've never been able to comprehend it, so I've still got no idea how to help him through it.

Yes I feel bad about letting him go. Yes I'd feel guilty for letting him just waltz away from everything. I still feel like it's my fault. But I would never make him go through all of this again. Kakashi said he was fine, but I could hear through his lie. All stuffy, he forgot that I hear more than just words. The man was lying and obviously did not want to be talking about Sasuke, but rather some new mission that we had to accomplish. For a Jounin, he's pretty dumb really. I'd have thought he knew about our bond but he had no idea. Sasuke had been feeling pretty down and I'd been depressed myself so I knew something was up. When he just turned up tonight, without even insulting me once, that's when I knew the bond hadn't lied.

And of course it could have lied. We've been separated for the past year and it's a very rusty link we have. I wasn't even positive that we still had it. But right now I'm holding him and he's sucking his thumb and I'm purring just like the old days. I know I'll have to ask him questions when he wakes up. I know I'll probably ruin everything. I know he'll hate me again. But right now it feels like the past hasn't happened. And I'm home.


Yeah... short chapter this time. The next one will be longer. If it isn't... then I'll bribe you with cookies not to hate me!