A/N: Hey, everybody! I know, I've been gone for a while, I've been busy... but now I'm back! I hope you enjoy!

(04.14.2021)

Wifey - An endearing nickname for one's female spouse.

Beep.

"Bayonet and mini pattie."

Beep.

"Irrigation."

Beep.

"Sponge."

Beep.

Glancing up from the open incision to the resident working diligently across from him to finish cauterizing the last of any stray bleeding vessels and cleaning the inside of the surgical wound, Sasori smiled faintly. Four years ago, Kankuro had arrived at Konoha University Hospital East anxious and uncertain of his abilities – just as every other new resident had before him. Now, however, after having spent hours upon hours in the operating room scrubbed-in for everything under the neurosurgical umbrella, from hemi-craniotomies to anterior cervical discectomies with fusions, Sasori felt more than comfortable leaving him to close the case without him.

"Kankuro-san," he said calmly, gray gaze focused for a moment on the younger man's hands before lifting to meet his curious brown eyes.

Hands and tools held away from the open incision on the patient's back, Kankuro watched carefully as his mentor slide the bipolar forceps into the instrument holster attached to the surgical drape and stepped away from the sterile field. "Yes, Akasuna-sensei?"

"Close this case and then go home after signing-off Yamaguchi-san to the PACU, alright?"

Eyes widening only slightly, Kankuro stared at his preceptor for a second before forcing the proper response out of his throat and trying his best to look confident.

"Hai, Akasuna-sensei."

Sasori fought against the wave of amusement that came with seeing his student in a rare state of fluster, especially since it was hardly warranted. He had witnessed Kankuro close various surgical cases by himself and had no concerns about the boy's competency. However, having also once been in the man's shoes, he could understand the younger man's anxiety. Nevertheless, it was time for Kankuro to develop his own confidence in the OR, and it was the duty of his mentor to provide him such opportunities.

And so, after another second of calm observation, Sasori nodded to the resident before turning away and beginning the process of tearing off his surgical gown. He was happy to see out of the corner of his eyes that Kankuro's attention returned immediately to the patient the moment he had stepped away.

'He'll do well one day.' He thought proudly.

Bzzzzzt. Bzzzzzt. Bzzzzzt.

Mind focused on the growing list of documents and notes that were waiting for him in his office, Sasori hadn't noticed the vibrating cell phone lying on the utility table beside the nurse's station.

"Akasuna-sensei."

Thumbs snapping the back and side ties of the sterile surgical gown, Sasori grabbed the fabric covering his shoulders and pulled it down the lengths of his arms. Then, peeling the double-layer of sterile gloves off his hands along with the remainder of the gown, he balled the inside-out garment and tossed it in the biohazard waste container.

"Akasuna-sensei."

Relieved to finally be free of the stuffy protective covering, Sasori let his thoughts wander a bit as he methodically moved on to disconnecting his headlight and removing his surgical glasses. He was grateful that it was Friday; he was looking forward to sleeping-in and spending the weekend at home with his wife. Glancing quickly at the digital clock on the wall, he smiled faintly behind his surgical mask – they had decided last night to reschedule his next operation, so maybe he could head home early and surprise her.

If he was lucky, he might even be able to make it home before she did.

"Akasuna-sensei!"

Sasori nearly jumped when he felt a hand grasp his elbow and pull him away from the door he had nearly walked into. Then, turning around as casually as possible, he forced himself not to look surprised by the concern in his circulating nurse's eyes.

"Ah, Tsuki-san, my apologies," he said calmly, as if she hadn't just saved him from kissing the door of OR K09. "What is it?"

Instead of answering, the middle-aged woman picked up the vibrating smartphone and held it up to the surgeon's face. Sasori merely blinked, the screen turning dim as the phone stilled in the older woman's grasp. Then, he looked at Tsuki expectantly with a raised eyebrow. Tsuki rolled her eyes at the man before tapping the home button and holding it out for him to take.

Sasori looked down at the screen and the notification for a missed phone call.

1 missed call from Wifey

"Ah," was all he was able to say before Tsuki placed the phone is his hand and returned to her workstation. "Thank you, Tsuki-san."

Although her mask hid the teasing smile that spread across her lips, Tsuki couldn't hide the amusement glittering in her eyes as she watched the surgeon eagerly unlock his phone and listen to his voicemail. Despite his intimidating and sometimes abrasive personality, anyone who knew Dr. Sasori Akasuna knew the man was hopelessly in love with his wife. It was so obvious. From the way his typically sharp and calculating gaze grew tender when his wife's image lit up the lock screen of his phone to the smallest of smiles that graced his lips when her name came up in a conversation. Even now, if one bothered to look, it was easy to see the tension and fatigue leave his shoulders and his stance relax simply at the sound of her voice.

Really, to an old woman like herself, it was utterly adorable.

And, because Sasori's missus was just as much an angel as her husband made her out to be, having cooked meals and offering to babysit on the occasions that operations went longer than expected, she had easily won over the hearts of the staff of KUH East's Neurosurgical Unit.

So, when the rare instance came about that their fearless leader wanted to clock off early to surprise his wife, his team was more than happy to step in to make it possible.

Which is why Tsuki felt no remorse for giving the workaholic doctor the forceful nudge he often needed.

"Dictate your notes and then go home, Akasuna-sensei," she said sternly once the man locked his phone and put it in his pocket. "I'll ask Yamanaka-sensei to help Sabaku-sensei with the post-operative checks."

Surprise flickered across the man's gaze before he nodded, his tone relieved as he thanked her.

"I will be going then… Have a nice weekend, Tsuki-san."

Tsuki smiled behide her mask and nodded. "You as well, Akasuna-sensei."

A/N: Akasuna-sensei loves his wifey.

See you guys next time! Stay safe and healthy!

~Smash41KMF