Kakashi slowly opened his eyes. There was numbness all over his body and his vision was blurred. Where was he? What had happened? He could smell something... something that he didn't like but seemed familiar. Then something cold beeped by his side.. Instantly his eyes shot open as he reckognized where he was. Konoha Hospital!

He tried to move and a flash of pain crossed both his legs and left shoulder. Things began to return to his mind. The last part was a blur... he remembered Orochimaru preparing to shoot him, and he remembered hearing three shots but not being hit; the last scene on his mind was of a frightened Sasuke while he told the boy he loved him...

"Sasuke!"

Ignoring the rising pain on his body he sat and was ready to make himself free of all that hospital crap connected to him. He had to find Sasuke. He had to know Sasuke was alive and unharmed.

At this moment the door was opened and as soon as the nurse saw what he was doing she called the doctor and they immediately stopped him.

"Sir, you're very injuried! You need to stay at this bed!"

"Kakashi! What do you think you're doing!" Gai almost yelled to find his friend struggling agains the nurse and the doctor when he came in the hospital room.

Asuma and Kurenai came immediatly and the five of them held Kakashi on the bed, which only angered him.

"Let me go!"

"No! You need to stay in bed!" snapped the doctor, a pink haired young woman "Calm yourself, man! Sir, if you don't stop I'll have to ask for nurse Hinata to sedate you!"

At this threath, Kakashi stopped moving. His body aching for anything to stop the pain, but he had no time to pay attention to his needs. His eyes focused on Asuma.

"Where is he?! Is he fine?!"

"What is all this noise?!" asked a high voice coming in the room and Kakashi was surprised to find Commissary Tsunade entering "Hatake Kakashi, my niece, Doctor Haruno Sakura is here gently taking care of you and all you want is to run away from here! You lost blood, you need to rest!"

'Well then stop yelling inside a hospital!' he angrily thought and took a deep breath, people finally took a few steps from his bed. He tried again.

"What happened to Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Don't worry, he is fine, he went home two days ago." Answered Kurenai.

"Two days?!"

"That's right, Mr. Kakashi. You lost so much blood that we had to keep you sleeping for two days." Said Dr. Sakura "Now, you—"

"But was he hurt?" he interrupted her, earning a glare from her.

"No, he wasn't, congratulate yourself, now can you please hear to what I have to say?" she snapped at him. But it was useless.

Kakashi completely ignored her. He sighed relieved. Sasuke was ok. 'Two days... I've been stuck in here for two days...' It was hard, but he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He had expect he'd find Sasuke sitting by his side if that was the case... 'He believed Orochimaru, then...' Not that he could blame Sasuke; although he didn't remember exactly what happened, he was pretty sure that he was not the one to stop Orochimaru. Someone else had protected Sasuke, not him.

Kakashi sighed and again the pink haired woman snapped at him.

"Are listening to me?" she asked annoyed.

"Sorry, no." And ignoring her one more time he turned to Asuma "What exactly happened?"

"By the time we got there both you and Orochimaru were bleeding on the floor, he was dead and you were close to join him. We had to take the boy from the scene, he was crying desperately..."

That information took Kakashi's interest. If Sasuke was crying then...

"According to the boy, when Orochimaru was about to kill you, he fought with him for the possesion of your gun. But before Sasuke could shoot him, his brother Itachi came in and took the gun from his hand. It was Itachi who killed Orochimaru and left soon after." Gai finished the explanation.

"Considering that we and more four officers saw Uchiha Itachi leaving the place, this is probably true." Kurenai added.

Of course it was true!

Kakashi's heart was beating fast, very fast. Everything returned to his mind. He remembered Sasuke tackling Orochimaru, Itachi killing Orochimaru.. Itachi pointing the gun to his chest... And he remembered Sasuke screaming for him to stay alive, he even had the impression that he heard something about love...

He felt his body warming up a bit. Even though Sasuke had been probably sad because of his brother, there was no doubt that the boy cared for him, at least a little...

"Fine, I give up." Doctor Sakura said trully annoyed "You you're not giving a damn to your condition, so I'll just be pratical here. You will have to stay out of work for about two or three months. You are prohibited of walking during this time, so you will need someone to take care of you. If you don't have anyone to be with you at home, the hospital can provide you a nurse."

"That won't be necessary." Said a baritone voice, and Kakashi shivered.

The circle of people around his bed made way and he saw deep endless onyx eyes staring at him, coming closer.

Kakashi watched Sasuke walking until he was standing by the side of his hospital bed and they looked into each other's eyes, yet he couldn't read those black orbes. What were they telling him?

Then Sasuke broke their eye contact and turned to the doctor.

"I'll be the one to take care of him, you can give me the instructions."

"Hey, you are Uchiha Sasuke, Orochimaru's last victim." Tsunade said, watching him curiously "I understand you are greateful to detective Kakashi, but you don't need to—"

"Detective Kakashi not only fought for my life, but also is an old friend of the Uchiha family. As you must know he was Uchiha Obito 's partner and best friend." Sasuke interrupted her, speaking with steadiness and daring anyone to challenge him.

"Ooohh, Kakashi, I didn't know you had found the lost Uchiha heir!" Gai said "So that's why you went everyday to Ichiraku's!"

Before Kakashi could answer, Sasuke nodded and turned to Tsunade.

"I don't believe there is a problem in me taking care of a family's friend." Again, Sasuke dared her to disagree with him.

Kakashi watched everything with uncovered interest. He held back a chuckle, that scene certainly suited Sasuke much more than the boy serving tables. And the fact that he clearly wanted to take care of him made his heart melt. He should not have doubted that Sasuke had feelings for him.

"Well... this is not really our business." Tsunade slowly said "No one in the police station would have time to be his babysitter anyway. Do whatever you want, Mr. Uchiha."

"Good, now that everything is settled, I would apreciate if you all left the room." The doctor said "The detective must rest, now."

Everyone motioned to the door, but Sasuke kept steady in his place by the bed's side.

"I'm sorry Mr. Uchiha, you have to leave too." She tried to say, but as soon as Sasuke glared at her she gulped "Err.. but I'm sure you won't stay very long... excuse me."

Doctor Sakura was the first to leave and Kakashi chuckled at that. His friends waved at him with words of 'get well' and 'see you soon'. Tsunade was the last one, before she closed the door, she gave a long stare at Sasuke.

"You, boy, how old are you?"

"I'm eighteen." He answered lifting an eyebrow to her.

Tsunade only smirked and before she left, she said:

"That was close, Kakashi. It would be a shame to lose a detective like you because of a matter of age."

They both watched surprised the door being closed. However, Kakashi soon forgot about his lousy boss and looked to Sasuke, who did the same.

Again they looked into each other's eyes. Suddenly, Sasuke sighed and before Kakashi could see, the boy launched himself upon him and kissed him, still, being careful to not hurt him.

Pleasently surprised, Kakashi used his healthy arm to surround Sasuke's waist and bring him closer to his body. Their lips and tongues danced together and if it depended on him, he would never break the kiss.

Unfortunately, air was necessary. They had to part, but not before Kakashi sucked that honeyish bottom lip.

"Hey..." Kakashi whispered, their mouths still close, their nosed touching.

"Hi... How are you?"

"I was in pain... but I'm in heaven now." Kakashi answered, adding a small peck on Sasuke's lips. The boy chuckled slightly but there was a frown on his face. "What's wrong?"

"I... I thought I would lose you..."

Kakashi brought his good hand to gently stroke Sasuke's cheek and take the strands of dark hair from his face.

"Sasuke, I told you, didn't I? I will never let go of you in any circumstances."

"You did... I'm sorry I didn't believe you at that hour... I—"

Kakashi stopped him by kissing his mouth.

"It's over now... let's forget this. Come here..."

They kissed again, slowly and lovingly. After some good minutes, when they parted again, Sasuke's hands caressed his face, his scar, his spike hair, and Kakashi sighed, happy, in the boy's touch. Everything he had gone through was worthy, only to have Sasuke like this.

The boy positioned himself more comfortable in the bed, cuddling next to Kakashi, entwining one of his hands with one of Kakashi's.

"I'm curious, though." Sasuke said "How did you find me?"

"Well, that morning, I was waiting for a meeting to start when Asuma came to me and showed me the video of the Stadium's cameras and I saw Orochimaru, that's how we found out that he was the serial killer. I immediately went to Konoha Law School to warn you, but no one had seen you there that morning... so, I went to your friend's apartment and he told me that Kabuto had called you for a meeting with your boss, that's when I made the link."

"That crap of a person... If I meet Kabuto again I'll beat the living shit out of him."

Kakashi chuckled.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but I already did that. As soon as I and Asuma understood that he was helping Orochimaru we went to Ichiraku's. Kabuto was there opening the place... the first thing I did was giving him a few punches. Asuma had to hold me... Then we took him to our office for interrogatory. It was hard, the guy is as cold as Orochimaru, but the DA Shizune offered him some good deal if he told us everything. Apparently he was not very pleased with Orochimaru, he told us everything even though I didn't hear all of it, I left as soon as he said where you were."

Sasuke then lifted his head so they could look to each other. Kakashi never got tired of seeing how beautiful the boy was, how amazing was that smile.

"I'm glad I could get there in time..."

"I knew you would... because you are my hero." Sasuke answered, his eyes filled with an emotion Kakashi was almost sure he knew what it was.

They leaned into another kiss. But this time they were interrupted. The door was opened and poor little nurse Hinata got all red.

Chuckling, Kakashi released Sasuke, who, rolling his eyes, got out of the bed. Surprsingly, though, he spoke to the nurse.

"Hey there, Hinata. I'm sorry for not talking with you earlier."

"It's OK, Sasuke..." she answered still blushing madly and approaching Kakashi's bed with a needle "E-excuse me, detective. I- I'll inject a painkiller now..."

"Of course." He smiled at her "Do you two know each other?"

"Hinata is the cousin of my friend, Neji. It was at her father's house that I stayed during that period." Sasuke explained while he stood at the other sideof the bed and took one of Kakashi's hand into his "How is your sister, Hanabi?"

"She- she is fine. She always asks Neji about you."

Kakashi wondered if blushing was the permanent state of the poor nurse. Her face's color didn't change even when she was clearly relieved to leave the room.

"Hinata has serious blushing problems." Sasuke informed "Her sister used to have a crush on me."

"Ohhh... does that mean I have competition?"

"Hardly." Sasuke answered with a smirk.

"Well, after her sister caught us I doubt she'll sustain any hope."

Sasuke laughed and leaned to kiss him.

"Probably..."

"Sasuke... I am worried, though... You have to go to college..."

"Again, people would think I am the detective here." Sasuke smirked "Next week begins my choolar vacations, that means I will be able to be with you the whole day."

"And what about your job?" Kakashi asked, frowning as he saw sadness taking Sasuke's eyes at the question.

"Kabuto also made the favor of convincing the boss of firing me. He told the boss that I would neer return to work there and Mr. Ichiraku already hired another person to work there..."

"But now there is Kabuto's place to be filled."

"He already hired someone for that too." Then Sasuke forced a smile "But it's ok, I'll have three months to find another job until classes start again."

They remained in silence and Kakashi's good hand went to Sasuke's face. It was decided. He would not allow Sasuke to go back to his old life of working and studying nonstoppingly.

"No, Sasuke, you won't."

"What?"

"You will not find another job. You don't need to."

"What do you mean? I need the money to help Naruto with the rent and to pay for my studies."

"From now on, I will pay for your studies. As for Naruto's rent... well, during three months you said you would take care of me at my home and... if you want to... stay there even after I'm good..."

Sasuke stared at him.

"Are you... are you inviting me to live with you?"

"Yes." Kakashi only hoped he was not blushing and that he hadn't scared the boy, perhaps he should have waited "Well...Would you like that?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course I would like that! I would love that!" Sasuke suddenly answered with a wide smile, his eyes shinning with happiness as he placed a chaste kiss on the detective's mouth; but that was quickly replaced by a frown "But I can't let you pay everything."

"Yes, you can, at least for now. I have more than enough money to sustain us and pay your college." Kakashi assured him, lovingly stroking his cheek and offering a smile "Look, after you become a great lawyer you can help me with the house bills. How does that sound to you?"

The detective watched Sasuke thinking for a minute until he saw a simile gracing those beautidul features.

"OK, but until I can help with the money you let me take care of the house."

Kakashi chuckled.

"Fine, fine. Agreed." Even though he obviously wouldn't left all the house chores to Sasuke, the boy didn't need to know that at the moment.

"I can't believe my life is finally getting good..." Sasuke whispered as their foreheads connected and they were breathing each other's scent.

And neither did Kakashi. But life was getting good and he would never question or complain about it.

They would be living together. Together! After watching Sasuke for four months and nearly dieing to protect him, Kakashi would finally be able to have him by his side, have the proximity he had been dreaming about. And the best part was that Sasuke wanted it too. What had he done to deserve that? To deserve such a beautiful future with the one he loved more than anything?

*

Here it is. Not much written.

Next chapter will be the last. I had intended that this would be the last but it would be too big so I decided to slip it into two chapters.

Thank you for reading and for the reviews, they really helped me. =)