Chapter 10

Kakashi sat, his hands folded in front of his face as he stared forward blankly. Three hours had passed since the doctor had informed him of Sasuke's condition. Three hours in which Sasuke hadn't once stirred from his drug induced slumber. Kakashi could tell Naruto was growing restless and nervous again. His silent fretting filling the air with a nervous tension, effecting Kakashi as well. He wished Sasuke would just wake up, though he knew the best thing for the boy at the moment was rest. He just wished he would show some sign that he was truly alive and the shallow rise and fall of his chest wasn't just some kind of illusion.

Kakashi glanced up, his eyes darting to Jiraiya who dozed in a chair at the foot of the bed. Slowly he looked across the bed, his eyes scanning over the still motionless Sasuke to Naruto.

The blond boy sat beside the bed, his hands clasping Sasuke's as if for dear life. His head was bowed, his face contorted with apprehension as he worried his bottom lip. Kakashi noted how the boys' body trembled slightly, his hands shaking as he held Sasuke's. Beside him Kyuubi sat, her head resting on the bed, her muzzle mere inches from Sasuke's face. Kakashi could see as her breath rustled the boys dirty hair.

With a silent sigh Kakashi closed his eyes, letting his forehead rest against his hands. He wanted nothing more than to go back home and sleep, to forget any of this ever happened. He had known Sasuke was going to be a handful when he decided to take him in. But he had never thought the boy would remind him so much of his lost friend. Now every time he looked at Sasuke all he could think about was him, and how naïve the two of them had been back then. Every time he looked at the raven he was reminded of his mistakes, and what they eventually led to.

I'm not going to let Sasuke end up like that, Kakashi thought to himself. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to convince himself. I'm not going to make the same mistakes again…

Kakashi's eyes flew open as he heard a soft gasp. He looked up to see Naruto looking in Sasuke's direction, a terrified look in his face. Beside him Kyuubi lifted her head, whining softly as she watched the raven.

Kakashi watched as Sasuke twitched as the sleep fell away from him. He groaned softly as his head turned. Kakashi could see his eyelids flutter as sleep released its hold on him.

"He's waking up!" Naruto said softly. "He's waking up! Shit! Shit! I gotta get outta here!"

"Naruto!" Kakashi said, standing. Naruto looked frantic as he searched for Kyuubi's handle.

"Forward, Kyuubi," he said, his voice shaking. Kyuubi stood, leading her master towards the door.

"Naru-" Kakashi started only to stop as Jiraiya raised his hand.

"Let him go." The older man said softly. "You know how he gets. He doesn't want Sasuke to see him because he thinks he'll hate him…"

Kakashi nodded, he sat back down. On the bed Sasuke groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open.

"Sasuke…" Kakashi said. It was a relief to see the boy finally moving after so long without even a twitch.

The boy groaned again, his eyes squinting against the dim light above them. After a moment or so they opened once again, scanning the room with a confused look on his face. He opened his mouth to speak only to close it a second later, understanding flashing across his face.

With another moan he closed her eyes, sinking further into the pillows. At his sides his hands clenched into loose fists. Beneath the sickly tint of his skin a light pink blossomed on the boys cheeks.

Kakashi guessed that the boy had finally realized what had happened.

"How do you feel Sasuke?"

Instead of answering the boy opened his eyes, glaring at Kakashi for a moment before turning his gaze on the opposite wall. His jaws clenched together in a weak act of defiance.

Kakashi sighed; this was going to be an enjoyable evening.

***

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, glaring at the wall to his right. How the hell could I have been so fucking stupid? He thought to himself. He felt so humiliated for putting himself in this situation. What the fuck was I thinking!

He clenched his fists as hard as he could; his body was still weak though, so his nails barely even left marks on his palms.

He struggled to keep his eyes open as his head throbbed. A nurse had already been in at one point, giving him more pain medication and making sure he was alright. But even with the pain medication his head still pounded.

He had acted like an idiot. He knew he was an idiot. But what made things even worse was the fact that everyoneelseknew it too now!

How the hell was he supposed to show his face in that school again? He could stand being known as the druggie. But this, this went beyond the point of druggie.

And it was all his fault! This is all that fucking cripples fault! If that bastard hadn't tried to interfere than I wouldn't be in this fucking bed!

That was another thing Sasuke was wondering about. Where was Naruto? Jiraiya sat in a chair at the foot of his bed but the blond boy hadn't once shown his face, though Sasuke could have sworn he had heard his voice when he woke up.

Why the hell do I care where that bastard is? He thought, his cheeks flushing slightly with anger. It's all his fault. I'd be happy if I never see his face again anyway!

He heard Kakashi shift in his chair. The silver haired man had said only tried to speak to him for a minute or so before giving up and falling silent. Which seemed odd to Sasuke. Last time he was in the hospital Kakashi hardly stopped talking, no matter how cold of a shoulder Sasuke gave him. Something was different about the man today though, Sasuke could tell. From the corner of his eye he could see him. His face was different that usual. He looked exhausted, his eyes drooping miserably. Without thinking Sasuke began to wonder what was up with him.

Wait! Why the fuck do I care what's wrong with him? He gritted his teeth. Those seizures must have fucked with my head or something.

***

"You're going to have to take it easy for about a week. Your body is still weak; it can't handle a lot of stress at the moment so I arranged for you to have a week off of school."

Sasuke said nothing as he stared out of the window. Kakashi fell silent as he drove; the only sound in the car was that of the rain outside and the windshield wipers rhythmic pounding.

It had been four days since Sasuke had been taken to the hospital. Four long days of lying in a bed, listening to doctors and nurses telling him what not to do, and watching nothing but cheesy daytime dramas on TV. Kakashi had visited him every day for several hours after work, bringing him clean clothes and several books, which Sasuke never touched.

Over those four days Sasuke had said almost nothing. He refused to explain to anyone what had happened that day at school. He refused to answer the doctors and nurses when they questioned him, preferring to turn his head and remain silent. He knew he was acting childish, but he didn't know what else to do. He was humiliated, completely and utterly humiliated.

So, other than a few choice curse words, he had said nothing.

Withdrawal quickly set in mere hours after he woke up, but luckily for him he had the pain medication the doctors were giving him. It was definitely not enough to give him the high he so desperately craved (they were careful not to give him anymore than necessary) it was better than nothing though. Unfortunately they had begun to decrease the amounts as the days went on until they were barely giving him more than your average Tylenol.

Much to his relief though, that morning the doctor informed him that he was fine to leave. He could finish recovering back home, well at Kakashi's house. Sasuke didn't like the hospital, the place depressed him deeply. The sterile, impersonal scent made him sick to his stomach. So he was almost ecstatic to be able to leave, though he was careful to hid it behind his usual stony countenance.

"I asked Naruto to pick up your work though, so you don't fall behind."

Sasuke stiffened at the sound of the blonds' name. Not once had Naruto shown up to visit him in the past four days. Not that Sasuke was upset or unhappy about this fact. In fact, Sasuke was glad he hadn't seen the boy. It was his fault he was in this position in the first place; he had no right to be showing his face around him.

"Next week you're starting your therapy again, I found you a good psychiatrist to go to every other day. I think seeing him, along with your group meetings will help make this process easier."

"What process?" Sasuke snorted. He despised the idea of more therapy; he knew it was just a waste of his time and Kakashi's money. He had no intentions of quitting anything. But he knew he was lucky that Kakashi had decided against sending him away to some rehab center. For that fact, at least, he was grateful, though he still hated the idea of double therapy. He tapped his fingers against the armrest, he couldn't help as his mind began to wonder, planning different ways he could get his hands on the drugs he craved. Each scenario he came up with was more ridiculous that the last. The withdrawal was messing with his mind, making it so he couldn't think straight.

"Sasuke. Please don't do this. You know you need to stop. Especially after the other day I thought you'd finally come to your senses."

"There's nothing wrong with my senses. I'm not quitting anything and you know it." Sasuke said with a sneer as he continued to stare out of the window.

From the drivers seat Kakashi sighed. "Sasuke… Your killing yourself, slowly but surely. Those drugs are pushing you further and further. One day you're going to lose control and nothings going to be able to bring you back. Trust me, Sasuke, you need help... Before it's too late."

"How many times have I told you I never asked for anyone's help! Besides, maybe that's what I'm hoping for! For a way to kill myself before someone else can!" Sasuke shouted, he felt his anger getting the best of him, withdrawal mixing with his humiliation and anger.

"Sasuke…"

"No! I was perfectly fine before you and that fucking cripple showed up and started to try and fix me! So why don't you all just leave me the fuck alone and let me do what the fuck I want! It's my fucking life not yours!"

"Sasuke I-" Kakashi started as he pulled into the driveway, his face contorted with surprise and shock. Sasuke's words ran through his head, mingling with another voice until they were one.

Before he even put the car in park Sasuke flung the door open, slamming it behind him and cutting Kakashi off.

Sasuke clenched his fists, muttering angrily under his breath as he stomped forward. Rain pelted him from above, and by the time he got to the front door he was soaked. Roughly he tried to turn the handle, his face contorting with anger when it wouldn't budge. With a cry of frustration he lashed out, his foot colliding loudly with the door.

He scowled crossing his arms and glaring off across the lawn, his back to the car.

Kakashi watched the boy from inside the car, the rain echoing as it pounded against the metal roof. As he looked out of the rain streaked windows Kakashi could have sworn he saw his old friend standing where Sasuke had been a moment ago, looking just as he had the last time Kakashi had seen him.

Kakashi blinked but as soon as he did the image was gone, leaving Sasuke in its place.

A/N: I really like where this story is going! I never expected Kakashi would play an overly major part in the story, or have much of a backstory so this whole thing about his friend is as much of surprise for me as it was for you guys xD