I'm on a roll! This one's kinda short but (as always) important.


Chapter 8

I looked around the room; vaguely studying the white walls and plain laminate flooring. Sasuke said this was my sixth day here lying in this flat bed. My eyes glanced over to the pastel floral pattern covering the obviously uncomfortable chair still occupied by Sasuke. He still hadn't left my side, "Sasuke?"

"Yeah?" he looked at me, eager to do anything I asked of him.

"Why isn't Itachi here? I mean no offense, and you've been so helpful, but he hasn't even called? I need to see him." The pain of missing my Ita soaked my voice.

"He doesn't know you're in here Naruto. I told Kisame not to call until we have more diagnostic information – you don't want him to worry do you?" The flat voice that answered me was obviously hiding something.

"I really need to talk to him Sasuke." I could feel the medication starting to take the edge off my pain again. Thank God for morphine. I'd over heard the doctor talking with my father this morning; they had been talking about my injuries. Apparently I'd lost too much blood and had too many broken bones to even attempt movement for another two months; hell, I couldn't eat because the spinal damage in my neck and they'd shaved most of my hair so they could stitch up my scalp. When he had finally spoken to me, he'd said I was lucky to even be alive.

With a determined sadness in his voice he spoke firmly, "You can talk to him when you're stronger, but right now you need to rest."

I wanted to roll over and pretend Sasuke wasn't sitting there, keeping me from Itachi, but I couldn't so instead I settled for spitting out an angry "whatever" while tightly closing my eyes. I felt like hell had rammed me head-first into a brick wall with a steamroller set on fast. The doctor told me, while Sasuke was out of the room earlier, that I had a fractured skull; broken ribs; a broken shoulder; two broken hips; bruising on most of my internal organs; not to mention that about seventy-five percent of my body was covered in stitches. Maybe it was a good thing that Itachi didn't know – he would've killed Ibiki on the spot. But I knew something Sasuke couldn't know; I only had a fifty percent chance of even surviving the next week.

Without opening my eyes I whispered, "Sauske?" I hated being the first to break the silence that had fallen between us.

"Yeah?" his stubborn voice held no sorrow but was thick with exhaustion.

"What if I don't make it out of this hospital bed? I mean, if I don't survive then I'll never get to say goodbye to him if you won't let me call. He'll be worried that I haven't answered or returned his calls –" tears pushed their way through my eyelashes "I don't want to die with him thinking I'm mad at him or ignoring him. Please Sasuke, just let me call." Anger shook through my body; I shouldn't have to beg to speak to my lover.

"You're not going to die Naruto. Don't talk like that. As soon as you are stronger I will dial the phone for you and let you talk to him as long as you want to. Itachi will forgive everything as soon as your voice isn't filled with pain. But for now let me worry about Itachi, get some rest. I'll be back in a minute." I didn't open my eyes again until I heard the heavy door click shut. The tears flowed freely now, warm and soft on my cheeks, I looked toward the window and silently cried to myself. I'm so sorry Itachi, I'd call if I could get to the phone but I'm just not strong enough yet. I hate that I let you down. I'm so sorry . . . I love you.


I knew I was being selfish, not letting Naruto talk to Itachi, but Itachi was to blame for that. He was supposed to be home a month ago so he will just have to be mad. He shouldn't have left us alone, so I don't care that he's not here to watch Naruto heal . . . Oh who am I kidding? I am just pretending that Itachi doesn't care; I'm pretending that I'm the one Naruto's in love with. The ringing of my phone broke into my thoughts. "Hello?"

"Sasuke; is Naruto okay? You haven't called me back and it's been a week. What the hell is going on!" his voice was worried and furious. I smiled a little, despite the fight I knew was to come.

"Yes he's fine – we're just busy. I'll have him call you as soon as he has the time. 'Bye Niisan." Ending the call would unleash hell later, but letting that conversation go any further would have had him tracing my location and flying out here. Will they both hate me for that? "Duh." I muttered.


"Hey kiddo, how are you feeling? Sorry I haven't been by often." Irukas' voice woke me gently. "Where's Sasuke? I thought he'd be in here."

"Hey, Dad; I'm doing alright, still hurt all over; every breath is a struggle and the pain medications don't seem to be helping. Sasuke's out getting food or something I don't really know." It's been at least a week since I spoke to Sasuke – every time he came in I'd pretend to be sleeping. "So where've you been?" The excited worry filling his face confused me.

"So no one else is in here?" his question surprised me.

"No. . . Dad what's going on?" I looked around and saw Kakashi and my doctor guarding the door.

"Naruto, I left Ibiki. His actions were inexcusable and we're going to keep you safe from now on, but to do so I need your help. Are you up to it?"

Confusion filled my face but I nodded anyway. "What do I need to do?"


Dun-dun-dun-duh...the plot thickens lol