It happens after several long hospital shifts and even longer missions – Sakura gets sick, and it hits her hard, to the point that Tsunade puts her on sick leave for a solid month. There's no healing chakra – from medic-nin or Sakura herself, Tsunade warns sternly – and no medications, no drugs that can help. Only Sakura, some herbal teas and lots of sleep.
This is how Itachi finds her: wrapped up in several blankets, a half-drunk mug of tea on her bedside table and her skin burning feverishly warm beneath her sweat. His heart melts at the sight, but he's just returned from a mission, fresh out of the Hokage's office after giving his report and he probably smells. He'll return home, change out of his gear and beg some food off his mother to bring to Sakura. She's deeply asleep, so much so that she doesn't even stir as he presses the back his hand against her forehead, gently wiping damp strands of hair away from her face.
At least, that's what he thinks until he takes his hand away and she makes a noise of protest, eyes fluttering open to stare blearily at him. "Itachi?" she asks, her voice barely more than a whisper. He's by her side in an instant, crouched close to hear her.
"Sakura," he says softly, stroking her hair again. "Go back to sleep, you need to rest. I'll be back soon."
"Itachi," she says again, a little louder this time. "Itachi, don't go." She blinks up at him, her brow furrowed and green eyes beseeching.
Itachi is not immune to the strength of her gaze, and he reaches out to squeeze her hand. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promises. This is a mistake – Sakura's fingers intertwine with his and she clings to him like a lifeline.
"No," Sakura snaps as she begins to sit up, weakly pushing the layers of blankets away as she reaches for Itachi. "Wait, please. Don't go, Itachi," she says, voice smaller and sadder as her sudden burst of strength passes. She sniffs pathetically, eyes watering even as she still grasps his hand to the point of numbness.
He is cradling her in the next moment, murmuring soothing nonsense and reassurances as he lays her back down in bed. "Rest, Sakura," he implores, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he eases her into lying flat. She holds onto him so tightly that he ends up lying beside her. "It's alright, I'll stay," he says soothingly, and seals the deal by shedding his gear.
"Stay?" Sakura breathes. "Really?"
"Of course," Itachi promises. Her grip relaxes as she settles into bed, allowing Itachi to make himself comfortable as well. There is still the slightest furrow between her brow, so he leans down and kisses it away. "I love you," he whispers, and thinks about how weak he is against her, even while she is delirious with fever and half-asleep. But he thinks this fondly, because that's what love is.