Chapter 25

Sakura couldn't help, but cry. She was still standing there, on the last chair in the waiting room of the hospital and, as well as Nanami and Karin, was crying. Kushina was being strong, hugging the fiance of Itachi, whose belly was a lot bigger, than three months ago. She couldn't see anything clearly, because of the tears in her eyes, but she felt an arm on her shoulder. She looked up and faced a man with blonde hair. At first, she thought it was Naruto, but when she wiped her tears away, she recognized his father, Minato Namikaze.

" Don't cry, Sakura..." he said in a gentle, yet very concerned, almost broken voice. " We can't afford to cry now. We have to be strong because of Sasuke..."

At the mention of his name, the rosette's gaze immediately shifted to the other chairs, where Sasuke was holding his face in his hands and Naruto was stroking his back with the same concerned expression as everybody else's.

Naruto and Sakura didn't really know what was happening until just a while ago, because after the call, Sasuke ran out of the house, without saying a word to them. They tried to reach him, but when they arrived at the parking lot, he was already driving out of it. And that's when Kushina called her son and told them about the accident. The reason, why Itachi was now in the ER, currently being operated because of some inner damage, that was, like the doctors have said, very critical, threatening his life. And that's why everybody has gathered here. Everybody was more than concerned. Actually, Sakura was feeling awful, and she simply couldn't imagine how the others were feeling. Kushina and Minato, who were like Itachi and Sasuke's second parents, Naruto and Karin, two of his best friends. Sasuke, his brother, whose only left relative was Itachi. And worst of all, Nanami. Sakura held the tears, as she thought of all the reasons, why Nanami would be worst of all. She was so happy with Itachi the last time they saw them. They were soon going to get married, they were two people, that loved each other really much, they were soulmates, Which would have been enough for Nanami to be broken. But the fact, that she was now carrying his baby was simply destroying the woman and she couldn't stop crying for the past four hours, that Sakura and Naruto have arrived at the hospital.

" Damn it..." she hissed, startling Minato, whose hand was still on his shoulder. " I know, M-Minato-san...I...I'll go to Sasuke."

" Please, Sakura, don't cry now. Not in front of him. you are the only thing, that could keep him going, no matter what..."

The rosette immediately felt worse. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, so she simply nodded. Minato forced a smile.

" Then go..."

Sakura stood up and walked past the room, passing by Karin, Kushina and Nanami. Only the mother of Naruto noticed her and smiled at her, trying to stop the tears from streaming down her face. And then she reached them. Naruto looked up to her and kinda choked. Sasuke didn't bother to see what was going on. His face was still hidden in his hands, so the only visible thing from his whole body, was his back and his raven locks. The thought about how he was feeling, mentally crushed Sakura and the tears started rolling down her cheeks once again. However, she held in the sobs, so she was basically silently weeping. She sat on the other side of Sasuke and immediately wrapped her tiny hands around him. She didn't say anything. She was just sitting there, waiting for the doctors to come out of the operation room and tell them the news. She didn't know how much time has passed. She was simply sitting there, hands around Sasuke, wet cheeks and a nervous biting of the lip.

And then there was a nurse, that came out of the room, and all seven people stood up and approached her. And Sakura got to see Sasuke's face. He didn't seem like he had been crying, but that didn't bother her. It was the fact, that his eyes have never been more scared, his mouth has never trembled so much, his features have never been even close to looking like they did now. He was afraid, more than anybody. He was staring at the nurse, who looked at the waiting people a bit startled, even pitifully.

" I-It's not over yet...they still work...I-I...I was told to get out and call another doctor..."

" Can you at least tell us how...how..." Kushina started, but didn't seem like she knew how to finish the sentence.

" It's not well...I believe they already told you...he's in critical condition."

" But what is it? What is damaged?" Minato pushed further and the nurse bit her lip.

" Traumatic brain injury."

Karin and Sakura stared at each other, both of them knowing what that meant. Of course, the eyes of Sasuke and Naruto didn't miss that.

" Are you all his family?"

" Yes!" Kushina answered and hugged Nanami, who was crying again.

" I have to go now, but, as his family members...have faith...I can tell you nothing more, I'm sorry..." the nurse said and after another pitiful look took off. Kushina and Nanami were already on the chairs, Kushina was telling Nanami to calm down, since it was no good for her baby and that seemed to make the young woman think a little, since she was inhaling deeper, trying hard to stop the tears. Minato, however, had his attention caught by the boys who were literally pinning Sakura and Karin to the wall.

" What's that, Sakura?" Sasuke asked in a husky, tired, afraid, broken, almost hysterical, non-Sasuke voice. It wasn't his usual ignorant self. And how could it be in such a situation?

" Traumatic brain injury..." she repeated in a whisper and just couldn't make herself look back at Sasuke's eyes. He tightened his grip around her shoulders. " It... It occurs when an external mechanical force causes brain dysfunction. It usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body or an object penetrating the skull, such as a bullet or shattered piece of skull. "

The rosette was choking, because she wasn't telling all she knew. And she defiitely didn't want to say it like this, as if she was reading it from a book, but she had no other way to explain it. At least not an appropriate way.

" And? What else..." Sasuke asked, since he knew, that she wasn't completely sincere. Something in her tone was telling her right away.

" Sasuke, I-..."

" You're the best in the class...you have to know!"

" M-Mild traumatic brain injury may cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain that can result in long-term complications or..."

" Or death." Sasuke finished in a whisper and released his grip. His hands were still there, but he wasn't holding her. His eyes were still at her face, but he wasn't watching her. " So...either coma or death..."

" No!" Sakura argued, but she knew, that it was really useless, since she knew he had spoken it. He had paraphrased her words in something so simple. Coma or death. Sasuke shook his head with the blank expression.

" Don't tell Nanami. She'll break."

Sakura stared at him amazed. Even now, even in that moment, he wasn't thinking about himself. He was more concerned of Itachi's fiance, who was still quietly sobbing at Kushina's already wet shoulder.

" Sasuke..." Sakura said and pulled him in an embrace. She never expected this moment to ever come. She never wanted this moment to come. She comforting him. It was so not normal. So weird. But he needed her, exactly as Minato said, and she knew it,since his hands wrapped around her, as if she was a life preserver, as if she was the only thing left over there.

So that was what they were waiting to hear from the doctors. Which one of the both cruel things was going to happen. Sakura really wanted to enter the room and see what was happening. Of course, she knew Itachi was in really reliable hands. Tsunade was there, after all. But that diagnosis. She doubted, that even Tsunade could do anything about that brain injury. So she really begged, that it wasnt death. she really hated the fact, that a person, already so close to her, was in such danger.

" How did it all happen..." Karin asked after a while. It was Minato, who answered.

" Car accident. He has lost control over he wheel and the car has fallen from the bridge between Otogakure and Konoha, down on the hills. He was currently talking with people from his personal bodyguard, so when they lost the connection, they immediately called 911. Thankfully, they found him still alive. And that's all I know. That's what Yahiko told me."

Nobody said anything, but Sakura felt, how Sasuke's arms tightened around her. She felt her tear rolling from her cheek on his shoulder and she knew, that sooner or later his T-shirt would look like Kushina's.

" Sakura-chan..." Naruto said and hugged his cousin, who was sobbing. " Please, tell me there's...here's something we could hang on!"

Sakura pursed her lips, not releasing Sasuke, so that he wouldn't see her face.

" Tsunade is in there. She's the best medic of all time." She said in an emotionless voice, as if she was also trying to convince herself. Karin broke down in Naruto's arms.

And Sakura looked up to the white ceiling of the hospital room. And she begged. She begged, that everythig would be alright.

" What is it, Hinata? You don't seem like you're having fun!" Ino screamed, trying to outshout the music. The Hyuga licked her lips and moved her teary eyes on one of her closest friends. As she saw the expression of her face, Ino took the remote and stopped the stereo, so that there wasn't any sound.

" HEY!" Kiba's unhappy voice reached her nd then his head appeared on the door, as well as Sasori's and Deidara's. they all seemed to be drunk, but when they saw the sobbing Hinata, they all shut up and entered the room. not long after, Shikamau and Temari also joined them. Other people from the party, including Neji and Tenetn also entered.

" What's going on?" Temari asked gently and kneeled next to the two other girls. Everybody was looking at the girl with a concerned expression and then Ino gasped.

" Did Naruto do anything?! Oh my, what did he do?! I'll kill that bastard!"

" N-No, Ino!" Hinata wiped the tears from her face. " It's actually all of them. Naruto, Karin, Sakura and Sasuke..."

" Now that you mention this...where are they?" Suigetsu asked with a frown and Hinata let a few more tears roll down her cheeks.

" They're in a hospital."

" A hospital?! What has happened, is Sakura alright?" Ino freaked out, but Hinata shook her head.

" No, they're fine...It's just...Itachi, Sasuke's brother has crushed his car. And he is now in hospital. They're there, waiting for...for the outcome of the operation.

There was complete silence for a few seconds.

" WHAT?!" Temari shrieked. Sasori and Deidara stared at each other with concern on their drunk faces. "Oh my God, hinata, do you have any further information?!"

The heiress shrugged and sobbed once again.

" He was such a nice guy...i was thinking...about the companies and my father and...making him accept Itachi-san's offer...but now, he's there...I don't know what's happening. I really hope he's fine. He even took us to an amusement park..."

The girl was talking nonsense, but Ino dragged her in a hug.

" What should we do?" Tenten asked with furrowed brows, receiving a stare from Neji.

" We can't do anything about it!"

" IT'S FUCKING OBVIOUS!" Temari outscreamed everybody and caught Deidara and Sasori by the collars. " We're going there!...Not everybody...just me, Deidara and Sasori...we are Itachi's friends!"

"b-but..."

" No 'but'-s!" Temari said on the urge of crying. "We'll take Anko as well!"

One more hour has passed and no news, yet. Because of Kushina's request, Nanami has received tranquilizers and was now sleeping on Kushina's shoulder, the path of her tears still visible on her puffy face.

Sasuke was still holding Sakura in the middle of the room, his face burried in the curve of her neck. And she was just holdng him, whispering fake words in his ears. Yes, he knew they were fake, but he still was taking them all. He wished to believe her. What would he do, if he lost Itachi? No, he didn't want to think of that. He wasn't supposed to think like that. Of course, everything would be fine. Itachi would be fine. As Sakura said, Tsunade was if she couldn't heal him, who could? He sighed once again and sank in the words of Sakura.

'Everything will be fine' ; 'Don't lose faith' ; 'Itachi is strong, he'll kick this injury's ass'

He gritted his teeth and waited for the next wave of reassurances and comforts. But all he received was a fuss. Naruto's voice rang.

" What are you doing here?!" Sasuke opened his eyes and turned around. Deidara, Sasori, Temari and Anko were standing on the entrance, looking at the way the closest people of Itachi were looking.

" How is he..." Anko said, while panting. Kushina and Miato looked at each other confused, but the one to answer was Karin, who seemed to be most familiar with these people.

" Anko-san!" she said and looked at her feet. " He has critical injuries, threatening his life."

" Oh my god...Itachi-senpai..." Sasori whispered and looked at the ER with the red light above the door.

" He'll be fine!" Temari said with such a sure voice, that almost made everybody believe her. Almost. The tears in her eyes,though, ruined that illusion.

" Who are you?" Kushina asked in a weak voice. Minato hurried to embrace her carefully, without waking Nanami.

" I'm Deidara. Those are Sasori and Temari. We're from KU. Friends of Itachi."

" I'm Anko Miarashi. Maths lecturer." the other woman said, staring in the red light of the ER. The parents of Naruto exchanged glances and the woman laughed dryly. " I am Itachi's friend. Actually...I was his...eh, nevermind...We're close friends."

Everybody stared at Nanami for a second.

" You better not say this, when she wakes up." Naruto said and Anko shot him a tired glare.

" Just because we're here because of these circumstances, it doesn't give you the right to talk to me like this, Uzumaki..."

" Enough, Anko!" Deidara growled at her, but Sasori lay his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Temari was already approaching Sasuke and Sakura.

" We're here for you, Sasuke..." she said and gently patted his shoulder. Hn. As if he needed more people to pity him. He ignored her and looked back at Sakura's neck.

He didn't really know how much time passed, but he knew, that the coffee, that Karin and Naruto brought him a while ago, was already cold. And the already awake Nanami was much or less looking like him, being unable to say or do anything, just looking at the blank walls. He didn't eat anything, that the people around him bought. He was simply sitting there, holding Sakura's hand and staring at nothing in particular.

And then his heard skipped a beat, as two figures got out of the room. When the women removed their masks, he recognized both of them. The black haired one was Shizune and the blonde one-Tsunade, of course. As she saw two of her students there, she seemed to be quite shocked and cleared her throat.

" Who is his family member?" Doctor Shizune asked and frowned, as almost everybody raised his hand.

" I'm his brother!" Sasuke said in the same time, nanami announced, that she was his fiance. they were gestured to come forward. However, Sasuke didn't release Sakura. He dragged her forward with himself and she didn't mind, because she knew he needed her. She ended up right between the two black haired people, Nanami and Sasuke. And she just realized, that both of them were holding her hands.

But there was something else. The blank expression of Tsunade. The way she was avoiding her eyes.

" I'm sorry..." she said and Sakura immediately felt how both her hands were squeezed. "...he was already in an awful condition when he arrived...we couldn't do anything to save him..."

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Cries and screams resounded in the room. In the same time, Sakura felt two heads on her shoulders, two people hanging on to her, as if she was the only standing thing. Beside them, Sasoru and Deidara seemed like they have been slapped, Anko and Temari were on their knees, hiding their faces in their palms, trembling uncontrollably, because of the sobs. Naruto and Karin were both in Kushina and Minato's embraces. And none of them seemed to be able to control their emotions, since the tears that were rolling down their cheeks threatened to become a river. And Sakura was standing there, feeling the hot tears of Nanami and Sasuke.

She raised her hand and faced her teacher. Her emerald eyes bore in hers and as Tsunade shook her head once again, Sakura simply couldn't hold it and felt a single, silent teardrop escape the corner of her eye. She couldn't allow herself to break now, because of Naruto and Karin, because of Nanami and mostly, because of Sasuke.

Yes, she could suffer, but she was supposed to suffer silently, so that she could be the needed support. Because that was the least she could do now.

Mmm, ok, don't kill me, guys...

I guess it's reflecting on the story, too, but in the last few days I'm in an awful mood, so, yeah...

However, I put much effort in this chapter, so if you liked it, please review and tell me what you think should happen from now on! :)

I love you all and you should know, that writing this story right now, makes me feel a bit better...

xox