Sorry for the wait...


Second Chances

BattleStations

Hospital


Where ever I was, it smelt horrible.

My eyelids were too heavy for me to lift. I couldn't feel my legs, my arms, anything really.

It was really quiet, I heard the whisper of a machine above my head, but that was about it. I struggled against the wave of drowsiness washing over me and squinted my eyes open. It was really bright.

Well, it was bright because I opened my eyes looking into a light…. But beside that the room was windowless and had dull lighting –one aimed into my eyes-. My empty gaze found the white starchy sheets I was laying on and the sent of bleach overpowered anything else in the room.

I was in a bare hospital room.

I flexed my stiff arms and legs and groaned. How long was I out?

My arms wobbled as I pulled my body up and leaned forward completing a sitting position.

I heard a door creak open and my eyes snapped to the door moving inward. With the door open the soft footsteps of people outside the room met my tired ears and quiet conversations muffled the whining door.

"Oh…. You're awake." As the door clicked shut I softly shook my head of the confusion that came with that extra noise. Pushing my hair over my shoulder I saw Iruka standing by the closed door.

"How log have I been here?" I asked him yawning and slowly pulling my legs criss crossed.

"A few days." He said smiling. Jeez, all I did was inhale smoke…. "Most was for you to rest up, you were exhausted and the majority wasn't from your valiant rescue." He added giving me a sad smile. That's right, I remember. I bet Sasuke and his stupid brother are the only Uchiha's left.

I can't say I'm that much affected. Sure the woman -that I still have no name to call her by- was nice to me, I enjoyed her company, but there was nothing noteworthy about our relationship, I don't even think we had one.

"It seems you've been working yourself a bit hard." He said sighing and gracefully falling into one of the visitor's chairs. I can't even fall into furniture that gracefully.

"I do what I must." I answered vaguely. "How's Sasuke?" I suddenly realized my heroic act of running into a burning paper building wasn't a completely idiotic thing to do because of him. I saved him, therefore it was justified. And not stupid.

"He's been awake for two days and doctors are keeping him for observation. Though I suspect they still haven't found a place for him to stay." The nin replied sadly. Iruka is his teacher; he has to care about him even just a little bit…

"And Naruto?" I was afraid to ask, that kid could cause serious trouble, it's his specialty or something.

"Left a few hours ago. He's been in here everyday, we try to tell him you're fine just resting, but he's still here more then he's not." He sighed again; I believe Iruka knows exactly how Naruto could be.

"Well, I can't complain. He's just worried." I sighed inspecting the front of my new duds. Nice backless paper shirt/dress thing. "Where are my clothes?" I asked looking up, though Iruka was looking at the door not me. Whoa, how come I didn't notice it was open? That thing screamed last time it opened….

I smiled as I finally found the one who had entered.

"Good morning, my sunshine." Kakashi said cheekily. The animal mask was on the side of his head and his cloth mask was up and doing what it always did, covering his face. I missed Iruka's face fall at my bright greeting from the nin.

I beamed at him then dropped it almost immediately, Sarutobi-san would be so proud!

"Seriously, where are my clothes, this thing itches." I said to both of them scratching my arm to prove my point.

"You mean those?" Iruka asked slowly pointing to something right next to the bed I was in.

I glanced down and so there they were. A nice folded pile of black cloth.

"Yeah…." I replied stretching my jaw. "So it is." I smiled to Iruka. "You guys mind?" I asked motioning to my paper shirt and then to my pile of clothes.

"Oh! No!" Iruka said hurriedly quickly escaping from the room. Something weird happened to him as soon as Kakashi entered the room.

"Kakashi?" I asked raising an eyebrow for affect trying to push Iruka's behavior out of my active mind. "Sorry no stiff girl trying to dress herself show." I shrugged and he lightly chuckled.

"The Hokage has to speak with you." He added as the door slowly clicked shut.

What does he need now? I just woke up for Pete's sake… who is Pete anyway? And why does everyone care about his sake?

I sighed straightening my tight black longed sleeved shirt and tiredly dropped into one of the three seats lined on the wall by the bed. Slowly I attacked the task of wrapping up the neat cloth boots I wore. They come in handy, don't make any noise as I walk and are really comfortable. Very neat indeed.

Wow. I never thought it would be so tiring to put on my shoes.

-

Eventually the door opened and Kakashi laughed at me as I was close to passing out curled up in the chair.

He lazily walked over and crouched down in front of me. I could just see him grinning under that mask through my bleary vision. At least I dressed myself before running out of energy.

"I think you need to rest more." He said smiling.

"No, really?" I asked yawning and moving to get up. But before my feet hit the ground Kakashi swept me up in his arms and place me back on the bed.

He didn't say anything but I got the message from the pointed look he gave me.

"I know, I know. More rest." I mumbled giving him a sleepy glare. He twitched a smirk and clicked the door shut. I vaguely thought about how he could get the door to not make a sound before sleep took over and I drifted off.

-

"Samma-san?"

I mumbled incoherently trying to make the owner of the voice leave me alone.

"Samma-san I'm sorry to bother you." The soft voice said solemnly. I had to open my eyes and sit up when they were being that nice.

"Sasuke-kun?" I asked yawning and slipping off the bed to crouch down near him. "What is it?" I asked him quietly pushing my drowsiness away and giving him my full attention. He kneeled down on the bleached floor and I sank down with him, both of us were just about hiding behind the tall hospital bed.

He kept his head down and watched his hands in his lap as they tightly clenched each other.

"Samma-san…do you like me?" he asked raising his head and waiting for my answer with his big shinning eyes.

"Oh Sasuke." I mumbled pushing my forehead to his and smiling. "What made you think otherwise?" I asked him sadly smiling to him. "Of course I-"

Screech…

Someone was opening the door. The buzz of people lowly talking out in the hall instantly rushed to my ear.

"Moi-san?" a quiet female voice asked confused. I leaned low to the ground and looked under the bed. It was only a nurse.

"Yeah?" I asked sitting up and rolling to my feet.

"Oh!" she yelped surprised. "Why on earth were you on the floor? You're dressed?" I just shrugged not really feeling like answering. "Oh…" she mumbled slightly put out. "You haven't seen the young Uchiha, have you?" She asked testily.

"Have you lost him?" I asked back avoiding the question.

"Oh…ummm. Not exactly." She replied as her eyes lowered to the floor.

"But you can't find him?" I asked feigning confusion.

"Oh! Well you obviously haven't seen- " She was cut off as she was getting annoyed with me.

"Samma." I looked to the open doorway and Kakashi came in. "The Hokage needs to speak with you." He said glancing to the flustered nurse. I watched him closely and sighed as a grin formed in the shadow of his face. "Both of you." He added momentarily glancing under the bed then back to me.

"Yeah, I guess I've slept enough." I agreed refusing to admit we were caught. "Come on kid." I yawned setting up an air of easiness about me. I smiled to the nurse as I passed with Sasuke.

Once I passed her, the smile faded and I glanced down to Sasuke. He was walking as close to me as he could and I couldn't help but frown. Poor kid. Can't quite say I know how he feels, but I've been there. Not fun.

"It's okay Sasuke-kun." I tried to comfort, but as I said I've been where he is before. Nothing anyone can say can make it feel any better. He just leaned his head against my side as we stopped at a door only individualized by the number carved into its surface.

"Ah Samma, you're awake." Sarutobi-san said standing as Kakashi opened the door. The room was almost identical to the one I was in, though there was a window framing the dark sky. "And it looks like you've found young Sasuke-kun." He added giving his minute smile then dropping it as a wave of seriousness washed over the room. The door clicked shut and Sasuke moved even closer to me and I rested my hand on his shoulder. "Kakashi, you may stay." He added motioning the extra nin in the room to leave.

Kakashi nodded and we moved out of the way as the three nin in the room left out the door.

"The most logical option is to put Sasuke-kun under the house of the Hyuga's clan." Sarutobi-san said turning to look out the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

I'd never met one of the Hyuga's, but I'd rather Sasuke not stay with them, they were just about as harsh as the Uchiha's. But at least there he had his mother, but who would he have over there?

"I'd rather stay with Samma-san, Hokage-sama." Sasuke voiced shyly keeping his gaze down.

"That's what I thought." Sarutobi-san replied lighter then before. He pointedly gave me a look and I, ashamed, looked away. I wouldn't be telling anyone about that until I absolutely had to, but like most things I pushed it away and concentrated on Sasuke.

Another kid? I was just becoming a free guardian here. "But that's up to Samma-san." He added starring harshly at me. Wow. Give me the responsibility of answering myself! Of course how can I say no with the Hokage giving me that look; not to mention, Sasuke gazing up at me with his sad watery eyes.

"No complaints." I mumbled lowly, I was more morning my loss of privacy then having to house little Sasuke, I adored the kid, of course I didn't mind. I glanced back at Kakashi and we shrugged to each other. Now there would be two, Naruto and now Sasuke.

So I think I have a boyfriend, do boyfriends mind if you have two kids?

I'm still working on the NEXT chapter so, there's another long wait, but of course I wont post if there's not a lot of reviewing...By the way THANKS A BUNCH FOR THE REVIEWS FOR THE LAST CHAPTER, you guys did good with that, plus it made me start and almost finish the next chapter, so see you guys!

Review!

-BS