It was 4 in the afternoon and Sasuke just came back from another tiresome school day half an hour ago. He hadn't even bothered to look at the receiver for any missed calls from the hospital, knowing how bad he would feel if there weren't any.

Now he was sitting in his living room doing his homework and learning for the next math exam.

School was annoying as hell right now and he was happy every day when he was finally back home. The lessons were boring and he didn't even know why he bothered going there anyways. The subjects taught were easy enough to learn at home.

Also he was tired of having an angry Naruto on his heels every minute of the day. All the blond idiot did these days was lecturing him about how wrong car races were, that he should have told him about Itachi, because he had the right to know if his friend had any siblings and other things associated to the events 3 weeks ago.

Sasuke hadn't bothered telling about his older brother. Why should he? Itachi was barely home anyways. The only times he had visited him was as Sasuke was 11 and 13 and both times it was only for some days. Now he was 17 and Itachi was 21. Meaning that since his parents death nearly 8 years back he had only seen his brother 3 times, including this time. Only Suigetsu, Juugo and Karin knew about his brother before.

Today Naruto had bothered him about his rare visits at the hospital again. He couldn't change anything about the situation if he visited him. He would only sit beside Itachis bed and feel the guilt eat at him till it got too much and he felt like throwing up. Every time he visited he wouldn't be able to sleep properly for the next 2 nights.

So in the last three weeks and four days he had only visited Itachi four times and only when Madara came along. He didn't dare to be alone in this room again. The last time he visited was four days ago on a Tuesday as Itachis artificial coma was stopped and he was supposed to wake up, but he didn't.

They had waited for hours, but Itachi didn't even stir.

Tsunade said it is nothing to worry about and that Itachi was out of the coma and only sleeping right now. But damn was he taking long.

The next day the nurses had sent them both home, promising to call if Itachi should show any signs of waking up.

Sasuke hadn't seen any reasons for going to the hospital and wait there alone if he could very well wait at home for the nurses or Tsunade to call.

Naruto was pretty pissed about him not going, but he could care less. He had other problems to worry about and no time to stay at the hospital all day.

The police had interrogated him several times now and he had a court trial in 7 weeks.

He swore that he hadn't started the race, but right now all evidences were against him. Even his defense lawyer advised him to make a confession, to get a more lenient sentence, but he refused to take all the blame for something he just had not done. Besides, you're not allowed to lie in court so he wouldn't. End of the story. He would go into jail, but at least he didn't lie.

Itachi was the only one that could release him of the conviction, since he was the only other living witness. If he told the judge that Sasuke hadn't started the race they couldn't sent him into jail, even if Itachi was his brother. In case of doubt for the defendant.

He still would get punished because even if he hadn't started the race he still took part. He already lost his driver license for an unknown amount of time and had to take part in several advanced course, which he had to pay on his own, to get it back someday.

Also he had been ordered to pay money to the wife of the dead driver and his insurance would only pay part of it. The rest of it he had to pay himself. His insurance also refused to pay for his car and only pay part of the money for the damaged train, because the accident was self-inflicted.

Since Madara refused to give him any more money from the family account, as punishment for taking part in a street race again, he had to go find a job, but so far he didn't have any luck.

The money on his own account wasn't enough to pay for everything. He was practically blank. At least he didn't need to worry about his apartment, food and everything else. Madara was paying for it all since years.

After half an hour Sasuke was finally done with his homework and decided to have a short break before learning for the exam.

As he leaned back and stretched his gaze fell on the laptop sitting neatly on the table besides him. It was Itachis.

The police had found it intact together with most of Itachis luggage, which had all been in the trunk of the car.

Itachis cell phone and his wallet had been found by one of the firemen on the ground next to the car. They probably slipped from the pocket in his jacket as the emergency physician had Itachis clothes cut open.

Now they were in the spare bedroom together with the luggage.

Even if he knew it was silly to try and spy into his brothers life he had tried to look through the cells contents, but the power had shut off before he could find the charging cable and now he couldn't find out the PIN.

He also roamed through Itachis clothes, but besides from a picture of him and Itachi together as they were younger in his wallet there was nothing interesting. Why the hell did he even keep such a silly picture with him?

The only interesting thing now was Itachis Laptop, but Sasuke just couldn't figure out the password.

He had tried hundreds of times already. One time Madara caught him while trying and after lecturing him again he actually tried helping, but they didn't get any further.

He even had Shikamaru take a look at it and use various programs to figure it out, but it was no use and it only ended in another fight with the holy Samaritan Naruto.

Knowing his brother the password was probably some complicated system of various letters and numbers without any meaning, which could only be found out with sheer luck.

Sasuke grabbed the laptop, set it on his knees and started it. After 15 minutes of trying his cell phone ringed.

It was Madara.

"Yes?"

"Sasuke, I just got a call from the hospital. It seems Itachi has woken this morning. They couldn't reach any of us, since you were at school and I have been working. But they said he was barely awake for a minute and he wasn't responsive yet. He's sleeping now, but according to Tsunade he should wake again soon. I will be at your apartment in 20 minutes if that's ok."

"…"

"Sasuke?..."

Sasuke shook his head to get it clear again.

"That's ok. Till then, uncle."

He hung up and stared at the laptop before him.

Itachi had finally woken. He let out a shaky breath and shut off the laptop.

Sasuke made himself ready as fast as he could and waited for Madara by the door.

He was nervous. How fatal where Itachis injuries really and what would he say to him? That's if he could talk at all. Would he make him accusations? Probably.

Yes, it was partly his fault that all this happened, but he didn't hurt him on purpose. Even if they hated each other, they were still brothers.

Through the window he could see Madaras car coming and he walked outside locking the door behind him.

They were silent the whole drive to the hospital and the walk to Itachis room. There was nothing to be said.

Tsunade greeted them just outside and they entered the room together.

Itachi was still pale and looked a little thinner than normal. Yesterday they had removed the lens tube from Itachis airways since he had been breathing without the machines help for some time now. His lungs and his heart seemed stable again.

"He should wake again soon, but of course it can take a while. If he shows any signs of waking up please call one of the nurses, there will always be some walking around the corridor."

Madara nodded and grabbed one of the chairs standing by the table and sat down besides the bed. Sasuke followed suit. Tsunade walked out again, she also had other patients to take care of.

And so they waited.

After some hours they were both getting restless. It was nearly 21 o' clock and Madara was walking around the room not able to sit still anymore.

Itachi had done no more than stirring a little in his sleep. Every time he did Madara would immediately call one of the nurses, but Itachi never woke.

It was nerve wrecking. One more hour of this and Sasuke would go home. He could see Itachi later when he was already awake. He didn't need to sit around and wait for it to happen.

Out of nowhere Madara stopped short in his tracks and rushed towards Itachis bed.

Sasuke sighed.

"Uncle, he's just stirring in his sleep. I don't think he will wake up today. It's already late, let's go. We can come back tomorrow."

"No, I think this time he's really waking. Call a nurse."

Chewing on his lower lip Sasuke reluctantly stood up from his comfy chair and walked out the door, calling one of the nearby nurses. She made a sign to be there any minute and he turned back towards the room.

"Itachi?...Sasuke he's waking up!"

Suddenly feeling a rush of excitement Sasuke sprinted over to Itachis bed, standing beside his uncle.

They silently watched as Itachi continued to slightly move in his sleep as if something was discomforting him. His eyes fluttered and slowly opened a crack only to be painfully pressed close again.

"Sasuke the light!"

Sasuke understood and hurried off to dim the bright light so it wouldn't hurt his brothers eyes.

He rushed back and with a pounding heart watched as Itachi blinked several times, trying to get his eyes back to work properly. He looked tired and pretty confused as he looked around the room.

"Itachi? How are you feeling?"

Madara was touching his shoulder gently to get his attention.

"Ehm...I.." The next moment his body was shaken by a small coughing fit. Madara took a glass of water which stood beside the bed and helped him drink.

Sasuke could only watch silently. He was glad that Itachi was finally awake but he still feared what he would say to him. Till now he had only shortly looked at him, not really regarding him at all. He would have thought his older brother would at least be a little worried for his little brothers health after their accident. But there was no such emotion in his eyes at all.

"Th-ank y-you. Wh-ere a-am I?"

Itachis voice was hoarse and shaky and it seemed pretty hard for him to speak.

"You're in the Konoha-Hospital. Are you in any pain?"

Itachi slowly shook his head no and looked around the room again till his gaze fell on Sasuke.

Sasuke felt very uncomfortable and didn't dare breathing as Itachi mustered him.

Something wasn't right. Itachis look was so empty it made the hairs on Sasukes neck stand up.

Itachi stopped and moved his eyes to Madara only to muster him the same way he did with Sasuke.

"Itachi? Is everything alright?"

Itachi frowned and slowly shook his head.

"Act-tually no. I'm s-sorry to ask t-that, b-but who are you?"

AN: I'm sorry for the late update (as always). I had the end of this chapter in my head for months now, but I couldn't find a way to start it.

Still hope you enjoyed it ^^