Chapter 21

The cabin

Rachel awoke to the sound of the crackling fire she blinked up at the wooden ceiling she blinked several times she didn't move she didn't want to move as pain flared up in her entire body, a sob escaped her lips as tears leaked from her eyes, if she was in pain then this was real and being back in her own world had only been a dream.

She cried at the unfairness of it all why me she thought why the hell me I didn't ask for this I didn't deserve this I didn't ask to be reborn I didn't want to know the dam story line I didn't ask for any of it so…."why me?" she voiced blearily above a whisper.

Minato lay in the sleeping bag in front of the fire he heard her sobbing and his heart wrenched for her he could hear her pain in her sobs and cries he turned over on his back and listened to her pain filled cries.

Her heard her whisper the words "Why me" and he clenched his fist she didn't deserve what had happened to her no one deserves what she went through.

When it became apparent her sobs were not going to ease in fact they were getting worse her breathing was ragged and forced she sounded like she could not breathe he sat up and pushed the sleeping bag aside and stood he made his movements slow he did not want to startle her.

She looked so broken that he wondered if he could really fix her.

Her face was tear stricken and red he moved forward and gently placed his hand over hers she didn't even flinched which meant she was not aware of his presence.

He gently placed his other hand on her forehead and stroked some of the hair out of her face once done he gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he rubbed his thumb over the back of it.

The crying must have exhausted her after only a few moments of crying she fell back to sleep she hiccupped a few times but Minato was sure she was now asleep.

He went back to his sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep himself he was beginning to feel the strain of it all now.

Hands so many hands touching groping pulling.

Minato had been awake for a while he showered and changed, he wore his blue jumper and trousers no forehead protector leaving his blond locks loose ,Kakashi brought his breakfast In. he was once again seated in the chair though he had moved it to the other side of her bed so it was next to her, he put the book down when he realised she was having a nightmare he shook her gently she shot up on her own and he felt the momentarily flare of her chakra, he frowned he was going to have to do something about that.

Lucky it was a short burst and didn't burn her hands.

He saw her grimace with pain because she had sat up too quickly he waited patiently for her to realise that it was a dream.

He saw the look of fear in her sea green eyes he wished he could take the dreams away so she could sleep peacefully.

After a few moments her eyes begun to clear of sleep haze she looked around the cabin once her gaze landed on him there was a look of…..displeasure.

Minato sighed he wondered if she was still mad at him for the mind walk.

"Rachel." he said gently.

"Minato." there was a coldness to her voice and he inwardly winced.

"Are you thirsty?" he asked. She nodded her head and he moved to get the cup he had filled up he gave it to her and he noticed she was shaking slightly she took two long sips before handing it back to him.

There was an uncomfortable silence between them he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly he wasn't sure what to say around her he didn't want to set her off.

He looked up when he heard the bed covers shift to see she had flung them back she gazed down at her bandaged legs she looked to her arms and chest that were also bandage she had a thin white nighty that gave him easy access to her wounds.

"Why am I not healed?" she demanded as her angry gaze shot up to Minato's. "Am I still a prisoner?" again her voice sounded angry Minato understood why she would think that.

"Tsunade couldn't heal you" he said completely ignoring the question about her being a prisoner "When we found you, you had two collapsed lungs Tsunade and Shizune poured a lot of chakra into your body as a civilian it overloaded it and would not accept any more chakra." He neglected to mention she had stopped breathing twice.

She looked away and he saw her ask the silent question why bother saving me. But she did not voice it aloud he wanted to tell her that she was worth saving but right now he doubted she would listen.

Her gaze snapped back to his "And am I a prisoner?"

"I'm keeping you here for your own safety" he didn't get to finish as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and tried to push herself up she groaned in pain as she sat back on the bed.

"Rachel?"

"No, ok just know I am not staying here if I am not been kept against my will." she tried again Minato got off the chair and knelt down in front of her his hands either side of her legs.

"You're in no shape to leave you can't even stand."

"And who fault is that?" She snapped he could see she was trembling with anger.

"I'm sorry I let Danzo get a hold of you that-" his sentence went unfinished as his face whipped to the side he had barely felt it but she had slapped him. He closed his eyes he had deserved that.

When he opened them again and turned his head to face her he was met with her angry gaze he took a deep breath and said as calmly as he could. "You're not leaving here Rachel you need to understand that I am trying to protect you." with that she stood and moved away from her brushing his hand through his blond locks his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist as she hobbled past him, she whirled around and pulled her hand free "Don't you touch me! After everything you have done you don't get to touch me!" she snarled at him "Living through it the first time was not your fault but being forced to go through it again was your fault Namesake!"

Minato was shocked he had expected her to be angry but he hadn't quite been as prepared for it as he thought he was.

She got to the door and he saw her knees give out he shot forward and caught her lifting her in to his arms and carried her back to the bed she fought weekly in his hold and once he laid her down he saw her eyes flutter shut as sleep once again took her.

He sighed as he slumped in to the chair he rubbed at his tired eyes he must have dozed off at some point when he awoke to the sound of ruffling sheets when he turned he saw her trying to get out of bed but at the other side.

Rachel?" he said sleepily. She glanced at him but refused to look directly at him he got up off of the chair "What-"

"I need to use the bathroom" she snapped "But I think I over did it earlier."

"I see." he hesitated "Do you need help?"

Her cheeks flushed and she nodded her gaze on the floor.

"Um ok I'm going to pick you up now ok?" he told her so she was aware of his actions.

He picked her up bridle style instead of flinching she winced as his hand was on a particular bad spot on her back he moved In to the bathroom and carefully stood her on her feet he made sure she wasn't going to collapse before he let her go.

"Thanks I can manage now." He nodded and left the bathroom closing the door too but he stood outside of it and listened in case she did fall.

Rachel was beyond pissed at him the fact that she had to ask him to help her so she could pee just takes the cake she was supposed to be mad at him and yet she had to ask for help she lifted up the nighty and grimaced at how much pain she was in.

She had somehow managed to do her business without having to call for him she opened the door to find him stood waiting for her she gave him side glance but nodded in approval for him to once again lift her up,

He placed her back on the bed and awkward silence settled between them he once again saw pain flash in her eyes.

"Um do you want me to see if Shizune is available to change your bandages and apply some anaesthetic cream?"

She nodded her head and he used a kunai to summon Kakashi if he channel his chakra thought the seal he could use it to signal Kakashi who had the other one.

The Anbu operative appeared in the room.

"Can you see if Shizune is available please?"

The operative nodded and vanished and returned with the news that the medic was in complex surgery to fix a small boy's spine and could take up to nine hours to complete.

Minato sighed he could see she was in a lot of pain the question was would she let him help her?

She seemed to read his thoughts and her eyes widened and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

"Its fine I can wait" she said voice tight with pain. She frowned and looked up at him "Who's been doing it whilst I've been asleep?"

Heat rose to his cheeks and he was unable to look her in the eye.

"You!" she cried he looked away his cheeks were burning red.

"Rachel I had no choice I didn't look or touch longer then I had to swear as Hokage I would never take advantage of you like that."

She looked down and deep down she knew he wouldn't she shifted again to try and get comfortable her body flared a whimper left her lips.

"Rachel please let me help you" he said gently "the cream will help, and I promise my hands will not linger nor my eyes."

She looked at him he was being sincere she knew he was she remembered that night when he took a shower with her half naked she knew she could trust him in that regards but after everything that he put her through part of her was unwilling to let her guard down around him.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply funny how he is always there when I need him, she thought to herself.

When she opened them she looked up at him he could see her uncertainty but she nodded her head and bit in to her lip.

"Ok" he said he moved to the first aid box and set it on the bed and opening it taking bandages and Garza pads out he then put protective gloves on and moved to the side of the bed he sat down he saw her visibly flinch he guessed it was an involuntary one because she clenched her hands in to fists he smiled gently at her she was nervous, hell he was nervous doing this whilst she was asleep was one thing but whilst she was awake was something completely different.

"Um I need to remove your nighty." she gulped but leant forward he slowly griped them hem of it and began to lift it over her slightly razed arms. Her chest, back and arms were covered in bandages so nothing was showing that did nothing for her though she pulled her arms around herself.

He wasn't sure how to do this when she was sleeping he undid all of the bandages and turned her over so her back was exposed.

"Um can you shuffle forward a bit?"

She nodded and moved forward he moved the bandages and Gazza pass to within arm's length. He sat knelt behind her on the bed once again told her what he was going to do.

He gently begun to unravel the bandages along her arms she looked at them as though seeing them for the first time she ran her hand along them and winced,

"When your body starts to accept chakra again Tsunade will heal them properly" she dropped her hands he scooted off the bed and moved around to face her he saw the look of disgust cross her face.

"Why would you think that about yourself?" he found himself asking

"This isn't me" she said "This body belongs to Chi not Rachel I got a painful reminder of that thank to Danzo."

He frowned "You're still Rachel why would it matter if the body you have is not yours?"

Her silence told him that she was not yet ready to accept who she was even if she did have chi body he saw her as Rachel the stubborn woman who had wormed her way in to his life.

He sat on the bed beside her and gently grasping her arm he opened the tub of cream with his other hand he gently seamed it on she winced slightly and he gave her an apologetic look he did her left arm next then he moved back behind her.

"You can use your nighty to cover yourself" he said as he handed her the garment he began to unravel the bandages she did as he had suggested and covered herself up.

He undid the large Garza pad that was on her back he studied them they had healed much since the first time he had seen them. The deep indentations in her skin were starting to close scab the red and angry marks still remained though where the whip had broken the skin, however the amount that were on her back it would take some time before they were to a point where they would not hurt her. He once again felt his anger rise from the sheer amount of them Danzo had enjoyed inflicting pain upon her and that is something he would never forgive himself for.

He worked quickly as she was squirming under his touch he heard her whimper in pain.

"Almost done Rachel just a little longer."

Once he had done he put on a clean Garza pad and got off the bed when he moved around to the front the nighty was bunched around her breasts and her face was flushed.

"I need you to lie down on your back for me ok?" she nodded he helped her to lie down he applied the cream to her stomach and legs he undid the bandages quickie She had a pair of pale pink sleep shorts on.

The only bit left to do was to do her left breast, he looked at her and asked her silently.

Her cheeks flushed and she bit in to her lip again, "Just too where my hand is no further." she said he nodded and smeared the cream heat rose to both their cheeks as he had said his hand did not linger longer then he had to.

Once done he helped her sit up, and re-bandaged her legs.

Now comes the awkward part he thought How am I going to re-bandage her without touching her….um, oh god why me he looked up to the ceiling and cursed why wasn't Shizune free.

Every time he touched her Rachel was surprised at how light his touches were his hands were gentle but firm, she resisted the urge to flinch though unsuccessfully she wondered if it bothered him the fact that she did flinch under his touch, if it did she knew he wouldn't say anything.

When she realised he was just stood there she looked up to see an embarrassed look on his face he had the roll of bandages in his hands, she frowned Why is he?...Oh he would have to touch her exposed parts to wrap the bandages around.

She looked away as heat rose to her cheeks, she took a deep shaky breath "D-do they have to go back on?"

"Um yea Tsunade said it's prevent infection."

Rachel sighed he was going to do this more than once, hell he had done whilst she was out cold.

"It needs to be done right?" he nodded "Then how about up pass the bandage around to me kinda like pass the parcel and I pass them back, that way you're not touching err-my front." he could work like that he sat behind her and started off the roll around her back he carefully handed it to her she pulled it across her front before handing it back to him. They continued like that until it was done Minato took off the protective gloves off and helped he back In to her nighty, he saw the tiredness on her face This must have made her tired again he thought.

After clearing away the first aid box he saw she could not keep her eyes open. He must of moved to quickly for her tired brain to process she shot a hand out to punch him he stepped back she winced at the pain in her muscles.

"Sorry" he said she blinked and shook her head "You look tired I was going to lay you under the covers." he said.

She nodded her head and this time allowed him to manoeuvre her she fell to sleep instantly.

Next when she woke Tsunade was there she had checked her over and offered a couple of spoonful's of soup to which Rachel throw up.

Tsunade had said it would take time for her body to accept food but she also said she was making good progress.

It was the middle of the day when Minato had to leave she was asleep so he didn't see the harm in it flashing to his office to see if there was anything urgent to deal with.

When Rachel awoke the cabin was empty she sat up and slowly got off the bed she looked around, he wasn't in the bathroom which meant he had flashed off some were.

She grabbed the duvet cover off the bed and wrapped it around herself like a giant cloak she looked hesitantly at the door she had no idea if Minato had placed a seal on it to prevent her from leaving, she hesitantly reached out and grabbed the knob she shut her eyes as if expecting to be shocked or repelled or something but nothing had happened.

She turned it slowly and opened the door once she realized there was no seal she opened it wider and shuddered at the biting cold she pulled the make shift cloak around herself and exited the cabin.

She hobbled forwards her teeth chattering in the freezing cold her breath fogged in front of her, her bare feet were already numb she tripped and fell more than once but she had to keep going she had no idea when Minato would find her using the tracker seal he had put on her.

There was no snow on the ground but the temperature had to be below freezing the duvet was not giving her much protection against the harsh winds she stumbled again and nearly fell on her face a hand steadied her she flinched subconsciously.

"Easy there little one" She looked up to see the face of her contact relief flooded her she was expecting it to be Minato.

"You're ok?" She had asked she felt relief that the man she had trusted for so many years was ok he hadn't been captured or worse killed.

He chuckled as he made sure she was stable on her feet.

"Of course little one" he tilted his head to the side "What are you doing outside in this condition?" He asked concern in his voice

"Looking for you" she brushed some of her hair out of her face

"I can't send the wolf's Minato sealed them" she showed him the seal in her arm, his hand was warm against her cold skin.

"This is Minato's work I can't undo It." he said as he bandaged It back up.

She pulled her hand back inside the duvet.

"How did it go in Suna?"

"Not as planned little one. Gaara uncle still tried to kill him."

She groaned "Can't anything go right?"

"You have done a lot little one stop doubting your accomplishments you know Jex would not approve of you berating yourself" his deep voice rumbled as he chided her lightly. She lowered hair head and sniffed. His large hand came to rest on her shoulder "It will be fine little one we will think of something to save Gaara from being lonely" she nodded her head "Perhaps it is time for you to trust Minato a bit more he may be able to help."

"He forced a mind walk he saw everything." she said through gritted teeth.

"We knew it was coming he was only doing what he thought was right to protect his village and his son"

"That doesn't make it right."

"I know it doesn't but he may be our best chance to help Gaara we-" he stopped mid-sentence "I have to go he's coming."

He jumped up in to the trees "Stay safe little one."

"Yea you too don't get yourself killed" she froze as she felt the air shift around her she turned to see Minato stood his azure blue eyes were not on her but on the retreating figure of her contact.

"Rachel who was that?" his tone cold.

"Um-my contact."

His hands moved to signal his Anbu Rachel reached out and stopped them with her Icey cold hands.

"No… please Minato."

His eyes finally looked down at her "Please Minato let me have this one secret." she looked up at him with desperation "I promise he is no threat to Konoha."

He was torn he wanted to trust her he really did but the fact that, that man could enter his village so easily unnerved him looking down at her he saw the desperation in her eyes it made his gut feel heavy with guilt at what the was about to do.

He let out a sigh, "Ok, I won't have him pursued, but now I need to get you back to the cabin. You should not really be up in your condition and it really is freezing out here."

"Thank you" she said giving one last glance over her shoulder in the direction that he disappeared, before she bowed her head and walked to Minato so he could use his teleportation Jutsu.

Once she was close enough he picked her up bridal style noting how cold she was in his arms. He used the action of lifting her to conceal from her a hand sign that he was sure his Anbu would pick up on, giving them the order to pursue and capture.

Once he arrived back in the cabin he set her down and undid the duvet cover she had used to protect herself from the elements though it did a very poor job her skin was pink from the cold.

He got the fire going and motioning for her to come sit closer to it she did with his help he had closed the cabin door when he had come back to find her gone he had cursed his fatigue he should have thought to put a seal on the door, she had already tried to leave once.

He ran his hand through his hair and watched as she sat shivering he got some extra blankets from one of the draws on the bed and draped them over her shoulders.

He sat down next to her there was an uncomfortable silence between them.

"Minato?" he turned to her and he could see unshed tears in her sea green eyes.

"I…I need your help" she said it quietly he waited patiently for her to continue "We need to kidnap the Kazekage son."

An, aww what a cliff hanger that was no?

Ok form now on as I have said it will not follow Cannon. You'll see why at the end of next chapter.

Naruto not mine Rachel is.