Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, nor his hunky pals.

vvvv

Genma went early to watch for Iruka at the academy, but sure enough, a substitute showed up to take the classes out to the field about twenty minutes after the regular start time.

He debated with himself again, but the outcome was still the same. He needed to bring this to Tsunade's attention.

"I can't say as this is a surprise, Genma. Sit."

He settled in the closest chair and leaned forward with his hands on his knees. "You were expecting me?"

"Naruto spoke with me this morning. I understand that you were there when he asked Iruka about his injuries. I assume that's why you've come to me today?" she smiled patiently. "It's pretty shocking news and it seems to have traveled quickly. I've known since I became Hokage. You'll come to accept it once the first shock wears off."

"It's not that," Genma said. "I'm worried about him, about the way Kakashi's been around him."

"Well, Kakashi's Kakashi. Once he knows…"

"He does know. I think he's known for a while . Iruka told him before anyone else knew."

"What?" she startled and sat back in her chair. "Hold on a minute." She hailed her assistant. "Get Marsh in here. There's something he should hear."

When the blond psyche-nin appeared, Tsunade waved him in. "Tell him what you just old me."

"You mean, that Iruka told Kakashi about his injuries?" Genma offered, sitting up straight.

"He did?" the psyche-nin "You're sure he voluntarily told him?"

"I don't know how voluntary it was. I just know that Iruka told me that he'd already told Kakashi. He told me after Naruto left."

The psyche-nin shared a meaningful look with Tsunade.

"So why are you here, you're worried about him?" Dr. Marsh queried.

"I went by to see if he was all right last night, and I got into it with Kakashi. He wouldn't let me talk to him, said he wouldn't even give him a message. Well, wait, let me back up - I happened to come by once, earlier. Kakashi has a bottle of sake and it looked like he was having to do some convincing to get Iruka to let him in. It seemed…wrong. That was around eight. I came back at ten, that's when he got angry. He came to the door and said they'd been asleep and I woke him, but he was fully clothed. Then told me not to try contacting Iruka, that he wouldn't be going in to work tomorrow. That sounded pretty flaky. When I asked what had happened to Iruka, he'd only say that he was asleep."

"I wonder what that was all about. We need to bring Iruka in and talk to him, make sure he's doing all right. I'll talk to Kakashi myself." Tsunade was growing even more concerned.

"If you call Kakashi in, I can go get Iruka while he's gone." Genma offered hopefully.

"So be it. Shizune, go fetch Kakashi. I believe that you will find him at Umino Iruka's home." Tsunade tapped her desktop nervously. This was not going to be fun.

Genma stood and she motioned for him to sit again. "Wait to leave until he arrives. I don't want any altercations."

vvvvvvv

Kakashi gently shook Iruka's shoulder as soon as he showed signs of wakening.

"Come on, buddy, take this - you'll feel better." He had an analgesic and a glass of water at the ready. He knew from experience that the side effects of drinking with the meds were usually severe headache and lingering drowsiness.

Iruka startled hard and water sloshed on them both. Kakashi jumped up from the edge of the bed and Iruka nearly went off the other side of it, clutching the sheet to his nude body, wildly disoriented.

"No, no, stop that! You're all right, Iruka." he still held the struggling man by the upper arm and kept him in check so he wouldn't fall off of the bed. "Iruka, listen to me."

He could almost see the alarms battling for dominance in Iruka's head: Late for work! Naked! Kakashi's here! Head splitting! Let go of me!

"Stop. Hold still a minute, you're okay." he slowly let go of Iruka's arm, and the other man froze. He was naked, after all, with only the covers for protection.

"Take this. It'll make your head feel a little better." He watched as the shaking hand took the water and the pill, and a touch of reason appeared to be returning to him. "I already let them know you'd be out sick today."

Kakashi sighed, continuing. "You took a pill, Iruka, and you didn't tell me. I brought sake over, and I had no idea that you'd taken anything. So now you have a headache and I'm very sorry."

Iruka handed the glass back and twisted the sheet in his hands.

"You were in that heavy robe so I helped you out of it to get into bed. Nothing happened between us, okay? I wouldn't do that to you."

"Ooch….thanks," Iruka breathed, tipping his aching head onto one knee. "Sorry to be so much trouble for everyone." Everyone, his brain turned that word over - was this the person who has told everyone? His mind was still too foggy to reform his thoughts prior to taking that sleeping pill.

"Hey, it was a misunderstanding. I'm sorry too, if I hadn't been so set on hanging out with you this might not have happened." But better than the alternative, Kakashi thought - he suspected that Genma might not have been so principled if he'd been here instead and discovered that he had Iruka here alone and sedated. There were worse scenarios.

"Is someone at the door?" he winced.

"I'll get it, " Kakashi grumbled. Damn Genma, I'm going to have to get serious on your ass. He yanked open the door and saw Shizune regarding him with a sideways smirk.

"So you are here! Come with me immediately. The Hokage wants you to report to her right now."

"Er - just a minute." He stepped back and closed the door, making his way back to the bedroom.

"I have to run to the Hokage's. I know you're hurting, but you need to come out here and seal the door after I leave. Don't let anyone in, got it? I can let myself in." Iruka was still very motivated when it came to the locks, and took the robe from Kakashi. He slipped it on, glancing at the copy-nin's face to see if he was looking. He had turned away, and Iruka felt comforted - a little.

He followed Kakashi to the door and locked it and sealed it behind him as he left. Checked the seal, rechecked the lock - shit!. He clenched his fists and headed to the bathroom, hoping his headache would subside. If he could just stop doing stupid things like this…

He was still seated in the thinking position when another knock came at the door. Kakashi had been specific. Don't answer. He can let himself in. He ignored it, finished his business and went to wash his hands and face, He needed a shower.

The knocking grew more insistent, and he fought the urge check the lock again. Go away, damn you. He turned on the shower to drown out the noise, but as the water started he though could detect a seal break. He paled, shutting off the water and held himself tightly, listening, The locks. He could hear someone cracking the lock, and his heart froze.

"Iruka! Are you all right!" Genma shouted, pushing in through the doorway.

Recognizing the voice, Iruka sat heavily on the bathroom floor and panted, releasing the fear that had held his breath.

Genma spotted him as he swept along the hall, and crouched down to him quickly. "What's wrong? "

"You scared the crap out of me, breaking in like that !" he gasped, shaking his head. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Come on, we need to get you to the medic center." He reached down, offering a hand.

Iruka pulled his arm back. "What are you talking about?"

"Tsunade's orders. You need to go to the medic center."

I miss work one day and it's a village offense? "No. I don't need a release for one day of sick leave."

"Get dressed. Hurry, we need to go." Genma ordered urgently. He wasn't sure just how long Kakashi would be detained.

"I'm not!" He felt anger heating his neck and wasn't sure where it was all coming from.

"You ARE, Umino, it's Hokage's order. NOW, or I'll bind you and take you just like this." he stood over him and Iruka looked upset and pained. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you."

"You're already hurting my head." he stood slowly and moved carefully past Genma so their bodies wouldn't touch. He closed the bedroom door so he could change in private.

At the medic center Iruka pulled at his ponytail self-consciously, irritated, Genma hadn't allowed him what he considered proper time to do his hair, and it felt imperfect. They went past the waiting area and sat in a consultation room. Genma watched him too closely and Iruka bristled.

"You just - stop staring at me. It makes me feel uncomfortable." he shifted in the under-padded chair. "Just tell me why I'm here."

"Tsunade wants you here. Maybe she wants to talk to you and your shrink together. I'm just the gopher. You shouldn't hold this against me, I'm just doing a job." Genma protested against Iruka's very personal angry look.

"A coincidence, is it?" he grumbled. "Now you're just lying to me for the hell of it."

The psyche-nin opened the door and proffered a hand to Iruka. He shook it grudgingly, and followed him to another room.

"Have a seat." He looked like he wasn't quite prepared yet, and it irritated his surprise guest even more.

"Since when do I get dragged in here like this?" he asked angrily, his head still throbbing.

"Since you get drugs under false pretenses and fail to take the precautions to protect yourself while you take them. You weren't honest with me yesterday, Iruka. I want to know why."

"I was honest. I don't know what you mean."

"You left out a very important detail about your life recently. It's not like you aren't aware of what a big step you were taking. You can keep things from me if you choose, but don't expect me to be prescribing you medications based on selective information.. I'll have to cut you off. "

Iruka rubbed his forehead fiercely.

"Does your head hurt?"

He nodded miserably.

"Let's move you to the chaise so you can lie down." He oversaw, without touching, Iruka's transfer.

"Did you take something for it?" Iruka nodded. "Take ten minutes. Close your eyes. I'll darken the room. It would be best if we got your head clear before we go on."

vvvvvvv

Kakashi blinked at Tsunade.

"He told me very matter-of-factly. It was a complete shock. It came completely out of the blue. We were discussing other things at the time."

She puzzled over this, eying him skeptically.

"So why were you holding him in his home, not allowing him to talk to anyone?"

"I wasn't! I had some word with Genma over his weird behavior towards Iruka. He's been hovering over him and it's getting on his nerves."

"You took him some sake? Did you two get drunk?"

Oh shit, Kakashi thought.

"We were just going to hang out. But he'd taken medication, and he didn't tell me. He had a couple of drinks and I noticed that he was way too out of it. By the time I figured out what he'd taken he was completely out of it. But I kept an eye on him, he was okay. He just has a hell of a headache today."

"Is there more to this story?" Tsunade leaned forward, her face growing unpleasant. "He was completely defenseless then, was he not?"

Kakashi frowned under his mask and his tone darkened. "He was completely defenseless. I could have done anything I wanted to him... "

He leaned forward to meet her, his eye narrowing into a fierce stare. Did she think he was that low? "...and he wouldn't even have been able to scream."

He paused vengefully to let that sink in, then continued. "I put him in bed to sleep it off and I stayed to make sure he was all right. And, yes, it took a measure of self-restraint. But that's all that happened."

She leaned back exhaling in relief, and studied the ceiling. "Fair enough. I hope you understand that there's some significance in his confession to you, Kakashi. Six months ago he was determined to take his secret to his deathbed. Something has obviously changed, though. I hope it's a good sign."

She brought him back into focus. "You're going to continue to be a perfect gentleman until I tell you otherwise, am I clear? No more sake nights. No more catfights with Genma. If you can't do better than that, stay away from him altogether. I've got lots of boring grade-school missions I can farm you out on, and you won't see Konoha for a month. Am I understood?"

"What do you mean, tell me otherwise? You'll give me an 'all clear' at some point?"

"Don't screw with me, Hatake. You'll get whatever I judge is your due."

Shizune stepped in and signaled that she was needed in the foyer . "You wait right here until I dismiss you."

Iruka eventually relented and came clean with Marsh. Yes, he'd revealed his secret to his best friend, and yes maybe it was because there was some faint hope he had of having a relationship - maybe someday. But not now, he'd only revealed it because he wanted to be honest with somebody in his life. It made him feel vulnerable and he liked his confident self much better, so he wanted to forget about it as soon as he'd said it. Now it was far too late. He described his behavior to Naruto, Genma's confession about the file, Kakashi showing up after he'd taken the pill, his rocky start to the morning. The therapist excused himself for a moment.

Marsh returned to his desk after leaving the room to hail Tsunade and tell her about Genma's discovery of the misplaced file days ago. There would be a lot of people in hot water now. The office staff was starting to search for the file under threat of death.

He'd also been taken aside to discuss another line of treatment, 'recommended' by the micromanaging Hokage. He would have to do some convincing, but his game plan had been changed, and it was up to him to sell it to the patient.

"Iruka, we've worked together for a long while, so I have debated about offering this option to you. It appears that you're working back towards exploring your options and abilities as far as becoming active sexually. I am a registered surrogate, and there are quite a number of paths that would open up as far as developing your confidence and empowering you in your relationships. However, if you choose to have me help you in this way, it would be best if I recuse from your case and transfer you to another therapist for your regular counseling sessions."

Iruka glumly pinched his inner arm experimentally, in hopes he was having a bad dream. Ouch and oh, shit.