The tension in the car was so thick Kakashi was sure even a knife couldn't cut it. Naruto sat brooding in the backseat, Sakura in the passenger; neither speaking a word. Kakashi drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, worry managing to cause his chest to clench and his eye to twitch.

No one said it, but everyone was thinking it.

Kizashi.

Though, just because he was thinking it, didn't mean Kakashi was going to say it. There was already enough going on right now as it was, the last thing Sakura or Naruto needed was for Kakashi to mention Kizashi and stress them out more. He had already caught wind of their argument; he already heard the words they shared; he didn't want to make matters worse.

Even if they might get worse.

Once they pulled up to the hospital, the trio wasted no time making their way in; Sakura asking at the front desk for a Haruno Mebuki. A nurse guided them down multiple corridors to a room meant for multiple patients to rest—green curtains separating hospital beds like small rooms. The nurse directed them to the left, humming, "Mrs. Haruno? Your family is here."

"Sakura?" Came a weepy voice.

Sakura pulled back the curtain, revealing a petite woman laid on the hospital bed; a cup of water on the table next to her and a wash cloth over her forehead. Mebuki sat up, arms out on either side to embrace Sakura, "Oh, Cherry—I am so glad to see you safe."

Kakashi and Naruto stood off to the side, giving the pair space while they embraced.

Sakura pulled back, "Safe? Mom, what happened—why are you here and where's dad?"

Mebuki's face scrunched up, fresh tears spilling over as another sob wracked her body, "Oh, Cherry—it's horrible. Your father has been kidnapped."

Sakura blinked.

"Kidnapped...?" She whispered, eyes locking with her mother's glossy set. "What..."

Mebuki sniffed, "These men, they—they came in and grabbed your father. A rag went over my mouth and I passed out. I told the police everything I knew. I didn't see much, just two men in cloaks—one with blonde hair coming for me and a taller one tackling your father down."

Sakura's jaw ticked, "You...You don't think..."

Mebuki nodded, "They think it's connected, Cherry."

Sakura's breath began to come in quick puffs, her vision tunneling immediately; fists clenching the edge of the bed sheets, a tremor running over her flesh. There was no way this was happening. There was no way they'd come back...no way... Visions of fists coming for her filled her mind; dark voices, pain, suffering flooded the space of her mind in a manner so rapid she became dizzy. The darkness was overwhelming, all of a sudden. The echo of pain clutched her chest tight; her palms began to sweat, anxiety flashing light lightening across her frame.

Sakura began to shake her head violently, holding Mebuki's shoulder as a desperate sob escaped her chest, "No- no, no, no—you're lying, Mom, you're lying, you're lying, you're lying-"

Mebuki shook Sakura, "Cherry, please—the police are on it, they're going to do everything they can to-"

"Oh, NO," Sakura wailed, curling over and sobbing into Mebuki's chest. "No, no, no, no, no; no, no, no, no, no. This—this can't be happening; this can't be real—please tell me this isn't happening."

"We have to be strong," Mebuki replied lowly, wrapping her arms around Sakura's body and holding her tight. "We have to be strong and trust the law, Cherry. Your father is strong. He will survive. Just like you did."

Sakura tossed her head back, howling; a blood-curdling, spine-chilling cry that left all eyes in the room brimmed with their own tears. She felt hands on her back, rubbing soothing patterns; sets of voices speaking to her, around her, above her...

She couldn't hear them.

She couldn't hear them over the thundering pulse of her breaking heart. She couldn't hear them over the cries that tore themselves from the cavity of her chest. She couldn't hear them over the dark laughter that bounced in the abysmal scope of her mind. She couldn't hear them over the thoughts of her dad suffering; being beat, tortured, and mocked.

She couldn't hear them.
She couldn't see them.

She could only see obscure eyes gazing at her; gazing at her father.

What kind of world was this?

Where good people suffered...

Sakura curled in tighter, bemoaning; weeping, tremoring, falling...

She was falling into that dark space she'd forgotten existed.

Naruto watched Sakura's body go limp, making quick work of jumping in to grab her sagging frame; a frown pulled deep on his face, tears falling over the edge of his eyes, streaking his cheeks.

Mebuki gazed up at Naruto, crying, "Is she-"

"She passed out," Naruto remarked evenly, carefully cradling Sakura to his chest. "This has happened before. I'll just lay her down in that next empty bed, I'll stay with her. Kakashi, can you stay with Mebuki?"

Kakashi gave a stern nod, his brow crumpled in the middle, "Of course."

Naruto passed the middle bed that was blocked off all the way around by curtains, taking her to the right-side bed and laying Sakura down gently; grabbing a chair and dragging it to her side where he sat, chin resting on his clenching fists.

This couldn't be happening...

Why was this happening?

"Sakura..." Naruto began, his voice rough. "I know you're upset with me right now, but—I love you. I love you, I love Mebuki, I love Kizashi. We won't quit until your dad is safe here with us. I'll reach out to whoever I need to, I'll-"

"Excuse me..."

Naruto turned, glancing back at the green curtain that was wiggling, "Hello?" He stood, peeling it back to see the curtain to the middle bed pulled back, revealing the upper half of a man looking pretty fucked up; gazing at Naruto with a stern expression. "You are?" Naruto asked.

The man gave a curt nod, "I'm Agent Seiichi. I can't help but hear what happened and...I think I can help."

Naruto pointed, "You...You're the same guy who was on Sakura's case..."

He nodded again, "I am—and I'm not done. There's much we have to discuss. When we've got some privacy, I'd like to talk to you and—what was his name—Kakashi?"

"- you're just going to have to rest for a while. We're going to have to put you on bed-rest until the baby comes."

Thin brows shot up, exasperated, "Bed rest? I have a job, I can't-"

"Baby," Obito cut, rubbing her back soothingly, "I'm positive your company will understand that the baby comes first."

The doctor with thick framed glasses gave a firm nod, "Right. Or in the very least stay as off your feet as possible. The stress you deal with on a daily basis- the baby is dealing with, too. You understand that, right?"

Rin huffed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I understand."

He adjusted his glasses, "Good. I'm glad we've come to an understanding. In the meantime, we want to keep you here for several hours just to make sure nothing goes wrong and you and the baby are fine. Because we are so full right now, one of my nurses is going to escort you to a different room where we can keep multiple patients. I'll have her go grab the wheel chair right now."

"I don't need a wheel chair," Rin argued. "I can walk, it's not like it's far."

The doctor sighed, "Ma'am, please don't argue with me on this. You're supposed to be off your feet. Now, I'll have the nurse come in with the wheel chair and escort you to the room. Have a wonderful day." He turned, exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.

"Fucker," Rin muttered, rubbing her belly and rolling her eyes. "I can't believe I have to be bed-ridden."

Obito gave a sympathetic nod, "I'd rather you be bed-ridden than anything else, Rin. Being bed ridden isn't all that bad."

She sighed, glancing up sheepishly, "Yeah, I supposed your right."

"Besides," Obito pecked her cheek, "that just means you get to take a break from everything that's been stressing you out. Just be at home while I'm on your beck and call. I can feed you chocolate dipped strawberries like the queen you are."

Rin chuckled, "I do like chocolate covered strawberries."

Obito kissed her again, slanting his mouth over hers and humming deeply, "I know you do—how else did this baby come about?"

Rin lightly slapped his chest, "Don't be naughty at the hospital."

"That's my curse," Obito replied, kissing her once more. "I'm naughty wherever I go."

"How can you at a time like this?" She replied with her head cocked, a subtle twinkle in her eye.

"Well, you and the baby are okay—so that's one reason. You're wearing that top that makes your fantastic tits look, well—fantastic. That's two. You smell like that rose bath soap and we always fuck after you take a bath, so my brain is trained to associate the two. That's three."

The door opened, a nurse coming through pushing a wheel chair; smiling sweetly. Obito pat Rin's thigh, piquing, "You ready?"

Rin huffed, shaking her head, "Yeah- I guess so."

"You're Kizashi's right hand man, right? Sakura's boss?" Mebuki sniffed, wiping away her tears.

Kakashi nodded, "I am, ma'am."

Mebuki's brow ticked down, "Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"I drove them here," Kakashi answered, clearing his throat. "I'm involved because I care and uh-"

Mebuki gazed at Kakashi, blinking before her brow ticked, "Are you seeing my daughter?"

Kakashi pulled at his collar, "Maybe this isn't the right time-"

Mebuki waved her hand, "No, it is. You're seeing each other, aren't you?"

Kakashi sighed, nodding, "Yes, ma'am- we are. I'm sorry about all of this going on—I'm sorry your family is having to endure this...again."

Blonde brows shot up, "She told you, huh?"

"She did."

Mebuki sniffed again, "My Cherry must be fond of you, then. I'm happy she's moved on from Sasuke—I'm happy she's with you. From what I understand, you're a great, hard-working man. That being said," she reached out, clutching Kakashi's hand in hers, eyes pleading, "Please- please keep my Cherry safe. Make her feel loved and taken care of—please."

Kakashi swallowed hard, noting the desperate gleam in Mebuki's gaze, "Of course, Mebuki. I wouldn't treat her any less. As well, whatever you need from me to help with Kizashi—please don't hesitate to let me know. I want him back just as much as you do. You said you told the police everything?"

She nodded, patting at the corner of her eye, "Everything."

Kakashi watched her face scrunch up again, fresh tears pooling in red-rimmed eyes. He leaned forward, patting her shoulder reassuringly as the woman began to sob again; struggling to fight back his own surge of emotion, struggling to hold in the shock and horror he was feeling.

A sickening twist of his gut.

The painful cries Sakura emitted sent lightening through his being; everything shocked him to the core.

Was this really happening...?

The tables were turned, and he was unaware of how to process it. Sakura's pain, Mebuki's pain; it was tangible. The raw emotion made the air tingle uncomfortably with the news; the haunting thought that the very same people who tormented Sakura could possibly have her father...

"You can come in—oh, is she okay?"

"She passed out," Naruto's voice came from the other side of the room.

"Go check on my Cherry," Mebuki pat Kakashi's hand.

Kakashi nodded, standing to his feet and pulling back the curtain only to freeze in his steps.

Brown eyes blinked in surprise, "...Kakashi...?"

Obito jerked his chin, "Kakashi."

Stood in front of the bed Sakura was were Obito and Rin; Rin sat in a wheel chair with her hand hovering over her pregnant belly, Obito pushing the wheel chair while a nurse talked quietly with Naruto before going behind the curtain to no doubt check on Sakura.

Kakashi glanced down at Rin's belly, humming, "Are you okay?"

She gave a small nod, "Yes. We're fine."

"Are you okay?" Obito shot back easily, surprising Kakashi by clapping a hand over his shoulder and shaking him. "You look like...shit."

"Are you sick?" Rin piqued.

Kakashi shook his head solemnly, "No, I'm not okay. I'm also not sick. I'm here with Sakura."

"She's in that bed right there," Obito jerked his head in her direction. "Is she okay?"

Kakashi shook his head again, "No. None of us are okay."

Rin frowned, "What's going on?"

From behind them came a blood-curdling scream; piercing, sharp, and haunting. Naruto's surprised shout along with the gasp from the nurse could be heard, followed by the sound of thrashing. Kakashi moved past Obito and Rin, jerking back the curtain to see Sakura's head whipping around wildly, eyes erratic, breathing, and begging to be left alone. Naruto had his arms wrapped around her, his body thrashing back and forth with hers; eyes sharp and pained. Kakashi moved in, grabbing Sakura's hands and following the far off look in her eyes. She jerked her head back, hitting Naruto's head and shouting to not touch her.

"Hold her," Naruto barked at the same time the nurse said she was going to get help and took off.

Kakashi wasted no time in wrapping his arms on the other side of Sakura's small body, feeling his gut drop when she began to tremor so violently, he was positive she was having a seizure. Mebuki was standing beside Obito and Rin who were watching, doubled over and clutching her chest; sobbing in harmony with her daughter's own terrible screams.

"DON'T TOUCH ME," Sakura screamed, breathing ragged and aggressive. "DON'T TOUCH ME."

"Sakura, honey," Naruto began to hum as soothing as possible despite the storm. "You're safe, honey. You're in a hospital with us. With me. With Kakashi. Your mom is here. You're safe."

Sakura's head began to shake back and forth, her fists attempting to swing but failing. She cried, bellowed into the air.

"Sakura," Kakashi titled earnestly, moving so he could look her full on. He grabbed her shaking face delicately; his own voice tight and strained, "Baby, listen to me. Listen to my voice. Hear me. You are here with people who love you. You're awake and you're safe. Take a deep breath with me, baby." He breathed in, Sakura not following along. He stated it again, "You're safe, Sakura. Take a deep breath with me." He breathed in, feeling a flicker of hope with Sakura sucked in a sharp breath and blew it out shakily. He nodded, "Great job. Just listen to my voice. I'm here with you. I'm here for you. I'll never let anyone hurt you. No one here is going to hurt you. We love you, Sakura. Naruto loves you, Mebuki loves you—I love you. I love you, and you're safe."

Sakura's movements began to slow, the tremoring lessoning; her breathing easier to follow.

Kakashi continued, "Take another big breath, baby. Breathe in and out with me. Remember where you are and who you're with. Big breath."

Sakura sucked in a decent lung full; breathing out raggedly, blinking tears out of her eyes.

"That's right," Kakashi soothed, raising his hand to rub her head. "Just be here with us. Everything is okay. Everything is going to be okay, baby."

"You're safe, honey," Naruto sung softly.

"I love you...Naruto," Sakura sniffed, shaking her head.

"I love you, Sakura-chan," Naruto sniffed back.

Sakura's eyes, now present, flicked to meet Kakashi's own gaze. She raised her shaking hands to hold his face, leaning her forehead onto his and breathing, "I love you."

Kakashi carefully moved forward to kiss her lips, humming roughly, "I love you, too."

Seiichi locked eyes with Sasori, muttering quietly, "She can't see you."

"I'll leave and when they're gone—I'll be back," Sasori remarked, moving to his feet.

Both men heard the entire fiasco; both men were silent with their own thoughts.

"How will I know you'll be back?" Seiichi asked. He didn't want to lose Sasori and the opportunity, but he didn't want whatever just happened to happen again—and he was positive if Sakura was here, it would.

Sasori glanced back at Seiichi, eyes hard and haunted, "Trust me, Agent—I'll be back."