The text comes in while he leaves a clothing store. Itachi rarely goes out of his way to go out of his way on his day off. Then again, Kisame rarely asks for favors. His best friend is solution-oriented, just like him. They prefer to handle issues themselves. That Kisame feels the need to reach out is enough for Itachi to agree.

Parking at the hospital is a nightmare. Itachi mumbles curses the entire time until a visitor spot becomes available. Stepping out of the car, he eases on sunglasses for the short walk to the ER.

The text reads that he needs a ride. Itachi assumes Kisame will be ready the moment he pulls up. His friend is not outside where other patients sit waiting. Frowning, the Uchiha removes his eyewear to walk into the building. Scanning the lobby reveals nothing but people needing assistance.

Itachi turns, going back outside to make a call.

"Where are you?" he inquiries without so much as a greeting.

Based on the background noise, Itachi summarizes that Kisame is somewhere he is not.

"You made it quicker than I thought," the man says on the other end of the receiver, "I'm still getting paperwork done."

Itachi's already heading towards the elevators.

"You're not in the ER?"

"Third floor."

An elevator dings. Itachi ensures it's going in the right direction before stepping on.

"Room number?"

"327."

"On my way up."

Nothing more needs to be said.

He steps off the elevator then walks down the hall as he owns it. Ignoring subtle glances from others, Itachi counts up room numbers looking for the twenties. Rounding a corner, he finds a crowd instead. Some three or four doctors dressed in bright blue scrubs stand halfway out of the door. He finds it strange and perhaps a health hazard on some level. Intent to ignore it on his way to pick up Kisame, Itachi comes to the distressing realization that the crowd seems to be pouring out of room 327.

What?

He pauses his walk, checking the number on the door twice more to be sure. Really, what have you been getting into, Kisame?

A doctor takes a step back, bumping him by accident.

"Oh," she says, smiling pleasantly. "Sorry. I didn't know you were right there."

Itachi jets his chin towards the room. "Is this where Kisame Hoshigaki is?"

The woman looks slightly startled then turns to the crowd. "Sakura, someone is here for Mr. Hoshigaki."

Several things happen at once. First, Itachi blinks rapidly in surprise at finding his brother's friend in his friend's room.

Sakura says. "Someone's outside?"

Then Kisame pipes up. "Is it Itachi?"

Finally, the woman turns back to him as if he can't hear. "Are you Itachi?"

The man in question takes a deep breath, trying to connect the dots as to why Sakura would be in the hospital with Kisame. How they knew each other. What the hell could have happened that landed both of them in the hospital? Considering the last time he saw Sakura, she was ass-deep into grinding on a random guy. He can think of several reasons and ways certain scenarios could result in hospitalization.

But Sakura and Kisame? Why? When? How did it slip his notice? Was he the guy that stood her up that time at the bar? Did she also conveniently forget his best friend when she had another guy's lips drooling on her neck?

Every thought brings more questions and gives Itachi a headache. He frowns, rubbing his forehead. Not in the mood to deal with this when a head of pink hair pops out of the door.

"Itachi?" Sakura's high pitch questioning only adds to his headache, but then she steps out into the hallway. "You're Mr. Hoshigaki's ride…? Erm, you okay?"

For the briefest moment, Itachi feels himself glower at the nerve of her. It's completely irrational. He has no reason to be upset. Kisame doesn't always tell him about his escapades. Sakura never did before. After taking in her attire for several seconds, Itachi realizes his reaction is equally irrelevant. Because Sakura's wearing the same bright blue scrubs as the woman next to him, pink hair pulled up into a high ponytail with a red headband, stethoscope around her neck.

Right. She works at the hospital.

Itachi just sort of watches, trying to reconcile the last image he has of her with this more professional person standing in front of him. Sakura just watches him watching her. He isn't sure which is worse. The fact that he thought she was fucking his friend. The fact that he was dead wrong. The fact that he's bothered by it. Or, the sudden tension because Sakura's giving him the most confused look he's ever seen on her face, waiting for him to explain why he's just staring at her.

All of them, probably.

"Um," she tries to clear the air.

Itachi finds words. "I–"

But Kisame just kills the vibes. "Fucking finally! I can get the hell out of here."

Sakura quickly turns her attention towards the room, glaring at her patient.

"I told you not to move so quickly. Hold on, Itachi," and she's disappearing into the room before he can get a word in. "You need to move slowly with three broken ribs! Mr. Hoshigaki!"

Itachi only heard her take that tone a handful of times. Never with him. Usually with Naruto. But it sounds a bit different, with a little extra something. He takes a few steps forward, peeking into the room to see Sakura manhandle her patient that she just instructed to be careful. To watch Kisame be forced back down on the bed by a woman barely chest height is...well.

"You leave when I tell you to leave," Sakura tells him. "Where's my paperwork?"

"It's over there!" his friend points to the other woman in the room with documents in her hands.

"You signed everything?"

"Yes!"

"Meds?"

"In my bag. Can I go now?"

The smile Sakura gives is anything but sweet. "Absolutely. When Itachi comes to help you out of bed."

Kisame shoots him a desperate look. Itachi decides to intervene.

"I can take it from here, Sakura," he says smoothly, coming up next to her and touching her lower back to indicate his approach. "Thank you for caring for him."

Itachi's touch is brief but involves all five fingers moving from one side of her lower back to the other.

Sakura's quiet little gasp is even briefer, the subtlest stiffening of muscles.

But a subtle glance her way reveals her blush.

Kisame smacks his teeth, grumbling about hospital residents and doctors.

Itachi smirks, feeling much more in control of the situation.

A/N: Last update of 2021! See you guys in 2022! Happy New Year!

-CeCe^^