Ta-dah! Chapter three! Enjoy-eth!

---------------

Where am I? Everything is…dark. I can't see.

I feel like I'm falling. Am I dead?

Wait…there's a light. It's so bright. Am I in Heaven?

And…wait. Mom? Dad? Is that you…?

That's it. I must be dead.

"Sasuke?"

Huh? Who's that?

"Sasuke!"

Mom? Why are you crying?

"SASUKE!"

So many people yelling my name. What's going on?

"SASUKE!!"

Mom…Dad…Where are you going?

***

I feel terrible.

My eyelids are like lead. I can't open them.

And I feel like I'm going to throw up.

And…what's that smell? Where the heck am I?

"Sasuke?"

I recognize that voice.

"Sasuke? Are you awake?"

I turn my head and open my eyes a little. "Naruto?"

Naruto's smile is so bright it's blinding. "Sasuke! You're okay!" He's gripping my hand really hard.

Naruto was worried about me? "How long have I been here?"

"About two days. You woke up a couple of times, asking for a cookie."

My face flushes. "I did?"

He nods. "Yep. But I'm just glad you're okay. You are okay, right?"

I smile. "Of course I'm okay."

"Good." Then, without warning, he punches me in the face.

And it really hurts.

Tears threaten to spill over. I grab my cheek and glare at Naruto. "What was that for?!" I start to shout, but the look on Naruto's face is so menacing…so frightening, it shuts me up fast.

"Wha…"

"WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" He shouts. "YOU HAD EVERYONE SO WORRIED! WHAT COULD MAKE YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!"

"I--"

"SHUT UP! YOU COULD'VE DIED! IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT YOU DIDN'T! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD'VE DONE TO KAKASHI? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT COULD'VE DONE TO ME?!"

"Naruto, I--"

"SHUT UP!" He's crying now.

Whoa.

"THERE'S NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WORTH TAKING IT OVER! NOTHING!"

"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?!" I shout back. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU!"

Naruto is quiet for a moment. Then he chuckles, but it sounds dark and hollow.

"You're so selfish."

"I am not selfish."

"Oh you're not, are you? Listen to yourself, Sasuke! You're sitting here whining about everything you've lost, when you don't even realize that I never even had the pleasure of sampling those things!"

"What are you--?"

"I never had a family!" He's shouting again. "Up until now, I never even had friends! I raised myself! For twelve years, I grew up alone, wondering why everyone hated me!"

I'm silent.

"And then, I found out. Who I was. What I was. But do you know what, Sasuke? I made it through. I never gave up!"

He wipes the tears from his eyes. "And, even though you don't realize it, you do have a family! Kakashi, Sakura, and I! We're your family!"

He plops down in his chair and turns his back towards me.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," I whisper. "I…was stupid. And selfish. I didn't realize that…I'm sorry," I say again. I feel so dumb. What was I thinking?

After a few awkward minutes, Naruto slowly turns around and glares at me. I think he's about to punch me again, and I brace myself for impact.

But then he does something entirely different.

Naruto leaps out of his chair and onto me. He grabs me up in a tight bear hug. I just lay there, stunned. He doesn't let go.

"Don't ever do that again!" He harshly whispers into my ear.

I slowly wrap my arms around his trembling frame. "I won't," I say quietly.

We stay like that for 97.4 seconds. I can feel a strong blush creeping up my face when Naruto finally pulls away.

What's wrong with me?

The door to my room opens and Kakashi walks in, along with a nurse.

A very hot nurse.

"Hello, Sasuke!" She chirps. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better."

She smiles. "That's great, because we have some good news for you! "

"What?"

"You're being discharged," Kakashi says. "You can go home now."

I start to cheer.

"Though, because of your little escapade, we're going to have you see a therapist for a week or two."

Everything within me crashes. "WHAT?!"

"It's either that, or institutionalization for you, buddy," Kakashi adds.

"It's only for a little bit," the nurse reassures. "And, if you behave, you might have your time reduced."

A groan and fall back into my pillow.

"So whaddaya say?"

I only have one choice. "I'll do it," I mumble.

"Great! Your first session is tomorrow! Dr. Tsunade is a wonderful therapist."

DR. TSUNADE?! NO!

"Now get your things and get out!" The nurse says cheerfully.

I walk out of the hospital with a dark cloud over my head.

"Don't worry, Sasuke! I, Naruto The Blonde Boy Wonder, will escort you on your perilous journey to the therapist's!"

It can't get any worse than this…

-------------

Chapter four is in progress as you read. I shall have it up shortly. Thank you for reading.