Chapter 12

The nightmares

AN. Ok I have to warn you there is Rape in this chapter if you don't like, don't read it's not that detailed. But I felt I should warn you. Read at your own risk. I don't want to get backlashed for not saying I didn't warn you.

On a light note thanks for the followers favourite's reviews too. You have no idea unless you write what it feels like to have a review it's like been on a high. So thank you.

I don't own Naruto I own this plot and Rachel.

Tsunade opened the door she wasn't expecting to find Rachel and Minato close together on the sofa in the Hokage office.

She raised an eyebrow as she watched Rachel scramble off of Minato. He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly a sign he was flustered or nervous.

"Interrupting am I?"

"No" they both said facing away from each other.

She entered closing the door behind her upon closer inspection she noticed Rachel's red and puffy eyes she looked exhausted.

"Actually I'm glad you're here" Minato said.

"I know I ran in to Jiraiya on the way here." she looked at Rachel.

"Sit" Minato got up and went back to sorting out his papers. Rachel sat and Tsunade took a seat next to her she made her hands glow a light green.

Over the top of papers he saw Tsunade frown, she removed her hands and asked to see her arm were the new seal was. Once she inspected that she looked to Minato.

"She exhausted but I don't need to tell you that she needs rest Asap. Even if I have to drug you to do it" she looked to Rachel.

"I'm fine ok? It's been a long day and I will admit I feel beat but I'm ok I know my body's limits."

Tsunade looked to Minato for help he shook his head indicating that it was no good,

"As for the seal it fine numbness should ware off soon, now your other hand. "

She held up the still bandaged hand and Tsunade pressed her green glowing hands to it, once done she removed the bandaging the cut had completely gone."

"Thank you" Rachel said, as she stood "I'll see you at home Minato, don't work too hard it's your day off remember."

He nodded and waved her off.

Tsunade stood "let me check you over since you depleted over half of your chakra." she moved around his desk and came to his left side. She did the medical diagnostic jutsu.

"Your fine but I recommend a full days rest."

He nodded to show he had heard her "What can you do for Rachel in regards to her sleeping?" he asked

"There's several things I could do, however I don't think she would let me do any of them" she folded her arms across her ample bosom.

He swivelled his chair around so that he was facing her.

"Ok let me rephrase that, what can you do to help her sleep without her knowing?"

She smirked at him, unfolding her arms she rummaged in the coat pocket and pulled out a brown packet, she handed it over to Minato

"It's a sleeping powder put it in her tea, the effects are almost instant so make sure you're not far when she drinks it."

"Is it tasteless?"

"Of course it is I made it." she snorted.

He nodded and placed the brown packed in his flak jacket pocket

"The council want you punished for last night" he said.

She huffed and crossed her arms showing her annoyed by scowling at him.

"And are you going to punish me?" she asked coldly.

"They want me to seal your chakra as warning to others."

"Well get on with it then."

"I told them that would be a waste of a good medic."

"And?"

"And they agreed but still want you punished"

"Stop toying with me Minato" she warned.

"I'm stopping your credit for a month, that is unless you want to be banned from every bar and shop that sells alcohol?"

"So not only am I forbidden from leaving the village I can't gamble in it either!" she snapped.

"You forced there hand Tsunade when you came for a fight, as it stands they think I'm been too lenient with you."

She turned away from him her anger evident.

"There's one more thing." he said

"What?" she snapped.

"They want you marked."

She spun around and slammed her palm on his desk "No way in hell!"

Minato sighed it was a good thing that desk was reinforced it was lso a good thing she didn't use chakra.

"It's that or your chakra sealed, your choice"

She growled her displeasure "is it permanent?" she asked teeth gritted.

"Yes." he answered honestly.

She thought about it but there was a catch Jiraiya knew how to uses it and knowing him he would use it to flash in to the hot springs when she bathed.

"I'll do it so that sensei can't use it."

He knew what she was thinking the same thought had crossed his mind to.

"Fine," she said as she removed her hand from his desk "it seems I am left with very little choice."

"You brought it on yourself." he stood and opened a draw pulling out a brush and some chakra infused ink.

She had perched herself on the end of his desk.

"Were do you want it?"

"Neck then I don't have to be reminded I have it."

He nodded "Take off your coat."

She did and laid it on her knee, he moved her two blond ponytail out of the way,

He had done this seal more times than he could count there were a few his sensei was not allowed to access simply because he was not a Kage.

Taking the brush he carefully drew the seal on to her neck making Sure to make the modifications so his sensei can't access it.

He felt Tsunade shudder probably because the ink was so cold, it took him less than two minutes.

"There" he said "all done."

She hopped of his desk and put on her green coat.

"A word of warning Minato, don't you dare use it whilst I'm in the bath otherwise the village will have a dead Hokage."

He smiled he knew she meant every word of it. She left his office and he was left alone. He begun to sort through all of the papers that had piled up, even though it was his day off he couldn't afford to leave the paperwork otherwise it could come back to haunt him for days afterword's. It was late when he got home he found Rachel cleaning again even though there was nothing to clean, he guessed she was using it as a distraction.

"Rachel" she turned from sweeping the floor "Have you eaten yet?"

At the mention of food her stomach rumbled and a light blush adorned her face.

"I'll take that as a no, I'll go and get some can you get some plates? I haven't had Raman in a long time."

He was gone before she could answer she had just set the plates on the table when he came back he carried an arm full of bags, he set them down on the work top.

"I forgot to ask what flavour you like so I got a lot."

"That's ok Naruto likes it a lot as well he says it's his favourite food."

He paused in his actions.

"Really? Kushina also love it she would eat it very day if she could."

"It seemed Naruto has picked up that habit to, he often asked for it for his lunch or tea." She chuckled as she dished out her portion of the Ramon, she sat at the table and waited for him to join her.

He did so he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, it was the first time he had noticed that she didn't use them she used a fork.

"Don't you know how to use chopstick?" he asked lightly

"Took you long enough to notice." she teased.

"Wait I don't have any forks" he said.

"I know I went and got some that first week I moved in."

He rolled his eyes at her as he continued to eat, the silence between them was comfortable there was no tension.

Once done she moved to clear the plates and do the pots, however he placed a hand on her arm stopping her.

"Leave them I will take care of them, why don't you go and take a bath relax a bit" he smiled warmly at her.

She shrugged and went to do as he had suggested.

She lay in the hot water as steam rose up around her, her body ached and her head hurt, she was so, so tired the hot water wasn't helping it was making her sleepy, he eyes were so heavy.

Maybe taking a bath wasn't such a good Idea after all. She thought.

Her eyes began to close No can't fall asleep.

There was a sharp knock at the door she jumped awake.

"Rachel I made some tea do you want some?" Minato had called through the door.

"Err yes please."

"All right don't be too long or it will get cold."

"Ok, thank you". She heard his footsteps fade way, deciding to get out of the bath she washed and dried wrapped a towel around herself and went to her room she changed in to a pink short sleeved pyjama top and grey pants with a pink belt around them. She put on her black silk dressing gown and headed down stairs.

The tea was waiting for her on the kitchen counter Minato stood opposite and was drinking his own, she picked the warm mug up and took a sip it was sweet just how she liked it.

Minato was staring at her "What do I have shampoo in my hair still? She asked.

"Ah no sorry I was thinking."

She took another sip "About what?" she asked.

"That I hardly see Naruto as it is and things are going to get busy from now on. There's an ambassador coming in a few months' time and I have to prepare for their arrival."

"Well it can't be helped, you're the village leader, besides I'm sure I can keep Naruto entertained." She took another sip of her sweet tea.

"I know but it doesn't stop me from feeling guilty I didn't even know he liked Raman for crying out loud."

"Minato you're a great dad you make sure you see him every night before he goes to bed, you play with him you tell him story's, you teach him how to throw rubber kunai, you're a great dad." She smiled at him as she said it.

"Thank you I guess I just needed to hear it."

She nodded and took another sip of her tea, Minato placed his cup on the counter behind him.

For a moment her vision blurred and she dropped the mug it was almost all gone any way, she stumbled forward Minato caught her in his arms she had her hands on his upper arms to steady herself his hands were around her waist.

"You ok?" he asked concern in his voice.

"Yea I just went dizzy there for a second" she placed her hand to her head before she pushed herself off of Minato.

"Hey take it easy" he adjusted his hold on her "Be careful theirs broken-"

"Oh I'm sorry I broke your cup." she said as she tried to move away from him she was stood up straight now he kept a hold of her by her shoulders.

"It doesn't matter" he said, she stumbled again this time backwards he caught her and picked her up bridle style.

Her eyes were heavy, why am I so sleepy? She thought even when I am tired I'm never sleepy.

Her sea green eyes widened she grabbed his shirt in a fisted hand "W-what did you do?" panic laced her voice.

He looked down at her panicked sea green eyes "You need sleep Rachel."

"No, no you don't understand" she was struggling in his grip he tightened his hold.

"Your pushing yourself too much Rachel you need rest" he was walking up the stairs now she was struggling fighting to stay awake.

He walked to her room and laid her on her bed her eyes were barely open.

"Please Minato" she pleaded "I-I can't go to sleep."

He gently stroked her face as a tear slid down her cheek

"Don't fight it you'll feel better after some rest" he said gently.

Her eyes slid shut and she finally fell to sleep. Minato sighed he undid her dressing gown and took it off of her he placed her under the covers before he left and went to his office that was hidden in the house.

Rachel's dream.

Rachel Lockhart that was her real name the name her mother had given to her it wasn't Chi she wasn't from the village hidden in the wind, no she was from London and a writer at least that was what she used to be.

There was too many of them she tried to fight them off. Too many hands groping her flesh they had tied her down to something forced her legs apart.

One after the other. Oh god it hurt like hell. She couldn't scream for the gag in her mouth.

She couldn't recall how long she had been like that been torn apart by the savages by these men, she never saw a face never saw it coming one minute she was walking home the next she was been dragged somewhere.

She was cold and in pain they had ripped her clothes off of her she had given up crying a long time ago she just laid there in the dark waiting for death to take her.

But no that was not meant to be, no one had found her no one had reported her missing, she was alone since her parents had died she had been alone no friends no boyfriend no family, she prefers to live on her own.

Once it was clear she wasn't going to be found that's why they came back to do it all over again.

Hands all over her skin, touching groping pulling biting cutting, it didn't matter how hard she fought against them she couldn't win there was no gentleness it was not her first time that had been taken away by a boy in college whom she would never see again. A one night stand as it was. He was gentle he was patient with her.

Not these men they thrust hard and held her down placing her in all sorts of awkward positons.

If she survived this if by some miracle she did she swore she would not let another man touch her.

End dream.

Minato was in his office in the house it was hidden by a seal so that Rachel or his son could not enter he was looking over the seal design Kushina had done when she sealed the Nine tailed inside of him and Naruto, He hadn't looked at it yet he knew he should of done considering there was a tailed beast in side of him and his son. But he had to get over or at least grieve for her first.

She had sealed the beast well he knew if he wanted to he could meet the nine tails in his mind Kushina had said she used to talk to him when she wanted some of his powers.

But he had refrained from doing that at this point he knew he would have to go away and train and learn how to use its power.

It seemed she had put a portion of herself in to Naruto's seals he guessed so that when it came to taming the Nine tails she could be there to help his son.

He stretched and yawned it was getting late he should go to bed.

He exited the office and walked along the hallway towards his room.

When he heard a muffled sound curious he peeked inside of Rachel's Room.

She was tossing and turning fighting off some imaginary force.

"Get off of me!" she yelled in her sleep.

He stepped inside of the room intent on waking her, he walked around the bed the moon light cast a glow over the bedroom.

He placed his hand on her side he was about to shake her awake when she shot up fist aimed for his face, it never connected though his free hand enclosed around it. Her eyes he noted were glazed over unfocused unseeing.

"I said get off of me!" she punched with her left hand he caught that one as well.

"Rachel wake up" he said gently.

She didn't hear him as she struggled in his hold, she lashed out with her legs he moved to the side to avoid a kick but he had not seen that the cover was on the floor and he momentarily lost his footing which sent him to his right on to the bed he let go of her hands as he fell.

She pushed herself up and ran around him he went to grab her but missed she ran in to the hall and down the stairs.

"Shit" he cursed as he heard the front door open he flashed to her marker on the back of her neck. She was running bare foot down the street.

Grabbing her shoulder she spun out of his grasp and aimed a kick for his mid-section, he dodged she didn't waste time in attacking again lurching forward she aimed a punch for his face, again he dodged he didn't want to hurt her. He flashed behind her and placed both his arms around her, flashing again he teleported them to his room they landed on the bed her face down and him on her back his legs either side of her.

Before she could move he pinned her arms either side of her head

"Rachel stop wake up."

"Dammit no, not again please stop" she thrashed about in his grasp he placed both of her hands in his left hand and flipped her over, her eyes were still unfocused.

He was unsure of what to do how do you wake a sleep walker?

He suddenly jumped back and away from her chakra had begun to pool around her hands she got up and again aimed a punch his way, he dodged and used his foot to trip her, she stumbled but recovered quickly, he doubted she was even aware she was using her chakra it was probably a defence her body was reacting to the emotional state it was In.

He could see her hands were turning red her chakra was so potent that it was burning her skin.

Pulling out some chakra binding rope from his weapons pouch he tackled her to the bed by kicking her leg she stumbled backwards the back of her knees hitting the bed and she fell, not giving her chance to get back up he straddled her waist and took a hold of her wrist and begun to tie her hands, all the while she thrashed and struggled in his hold.

Once the rope was around her wrist the chakra flow stopped.

"No, no, no get off of me" she pleaded, begged.

"Rachel wake up" he wouldn't normally do it but he saw very little option he slapped her across the face hard enough to leave a mark not bruise.

She blinked several times before her eyes began to focus again she was breathing heavily.

"Rachel?"

"W-what …" her senses came back ten folds her feet hurt she was cold her cheek stung so did her hands painfully, she could feel the heat of someone sat on her.

She saw blond spikey hair and azure blue eyes staring worriedly at her.

The she remembered he had forced her to sleep he had given her something in her tea.

"Get off me" she snapped.

He blinked but did as she has asked, she sat up bringing her bound hands to her chest she looked down to see that they were red and tied together.

She turned her anger gaze towards him he sat next to her on the bed.

"You made me sleep" she snapped. "Then that was your fault!"

She stood and went to walked away "Rachel?" he placed his hand on her shoulder she spun around knocking his hand away with her bound hands "Don't touch me."

He was taken aback with her tone he let her go, he sat on his bed and went through everything that had just happened he had gathered the dream was about a past rape, judging by how she reacted when he touched her.

He sighed and ran his hand through his blond locks he stood taking off his flack jacked and forehead protector, he then went in search of her, he had to at least untie her hands.

He found her in her room she was stood next to her bed her bound hands were underneath her pillow searching for something, when she found it she sat on the bed and placed the knife in-between her legs so that the sharp end was pointing upwards.

She was shaking he noted, the knife wouldn't keep still in-between her knees.

He walked in to the room not giving her chance to protest he took the knife from between her knees and held her hands steady and cut the rope that bound them.

She didn't say thank you she could barely look at him.

"Do I need to ask why you have a knife under your pillow?"

"Protection"

"Against?"

"Men."

He looked down at her still trembling form her hands were red and sore.

"We need to treat the chakra burn"

She pulled her hands closer to her chest "I'm fine I just want to be left alone."

"Well that's not going to happen" she glared at him "What were you dreaming about?"

She lowered her head and remained silent, he placed the knife on her night stand thought he wasn't planning on letting her keep it.

"Rachel I want to help you I've seen enough to know that you were hurt badly by someone…"

"Not just one there were at least five." she said it so quietly that he almost didn't hear her.

"Five" he repeated.

"I'm tired of been tired, I'm tired of been so dam scared of men" she looked up at him and he saw the pain in her eyes, she wanted help she was asking for help.

"Let me help you"

"I can't" she said it came out more like a sob.

"Rachel. I'm not going to hurt you, you need to trust me, let me help you."

"What can you do? Huh tell me what can you do? Can you make the dreams stop? Can you make it so I'm not afraid anymore?"

"If you let me I will try and help you I make no promise but you have to meet me half way here."

"I-I don't know how." she said, she looked broken.

"Yes you do, start trusting me ok just a little bit."

She nodded her head.

"Ok, I'm going to get Tsunade to come and look at your hands ok?"

In a flash he was gone he wasn't gone for more than two minutes when he came back he had a very angry Sannin with him, but she took one look at Rachel and her anger dissipated.

"What happened?" she asked as she sat on the bed her hands glowing green over the chakra burns.

Minato explained what had happened as Tsunade healed her hands which took some doing.

"Given what you have told me the sleeping powder wasn't the best choice, however" she looked to Rachel "I can do something to help you sleep and maybe stop sleep walking, but it will take time to find the right dosage."

"What is it?" she asked hesitantly.

"For now I can give you a sedative that will knock you out completely in terms of long term treatment I can give you some pills that will do more or less do the same thing but it's a guessing game until I find the right dosage."

Rachel nodded slowly she did want to sleep again and she did want to trust Minato.

"Alright then" Tsunade opened her medical bag and pulled out a syringe and bottle she tipped the bottle upside down and plunged the needle in to the lid drawing Clear liquid in to the syringe, she placed the bottle back in her bag.

"Arm" Rachel gave her, her right arm she found the vein using chakra and stuck the needle in, surprisingly it didn't hurt.

"Ok all done" I'm giving you a small dose it should take about ten to fifteen minutes before it starts to work."

She nodded Tsunade put her things away and stood "I want a lift back home since you woke me up, and next time you pop in to my bedroom they'll be a dead Hokage."

Minato took her home and returned to find Rachel sat in the same place he had left her.

When she looked up he saw fear in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I-err scared to go to sleep."

"You're fighting it already?"

She looked away, he left the room and brought in a chair placing it by the bed "Come lie down" she looked at him like he had sprouted two heads.

"I won't hurt you I give you my word as Hokage."

She still looked at him like he had sprouted two heads.

He gently reached out took her hand in his, "Trust me." He said gently the flinch didn't go unnoticed by him but he was determined to show her that she could trust him.

She was silent unsure of what to do she was tired of fighting tired of keeping her guard up, could she afford to let her guard down for one night? Her instincts tell her no but her mind screams yes.

She pushed the covers back and slid in, she made sure she was as far away from him as possible.

She flinched when he took her hand in his "I'm right here there's no need to be afraid."

He rubbed his thumb up and down the back of her hand, he watched her eyes flutter closed then open and then close, she was finally asleep, he watched her, he kept watch all night to keep her safe. He knew something very bad had happened to her and he hoped he could start to gain her trust. She intrigued him to no end she was so full of secrets. Maybe one day he would find out what they were but right now he was content with just been her guard.

An. I edited the last part a reviewer called Nordom said it didn't fit well, and after thinking about you were right I didn't see it till you said it though. So thank you.