Chapter 2 - 'Just in Case'

By Jiffer

A/N: I updated as soon as you told me to xXxDeadOnArrivalxXx. And don't worry Loser81. This is not going to turn out to be one of those cliched love stories… at least, I hope it doesn't.

This is a great deal shorter then my last chapter, but I promise that the next one will be longer. And hopefully updated sooner. I'm a bit sporadic when it comes to updating. Some days I'll put up new stuff the next day… other times it takes me a month. I'm trying to get better at it, though. Promise. Anyway, I hope you like! Please… if you have the time, review. It boosts my confidence and helps me write faster, and I'm not just saying that. :P

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Something was definitely not right with Naruto's floors.

Naruto staggered to his left.

Yes, there was a definite sideways slant to his apartment that hadn't been there this morning. And if he wasn't mistaken, it slanted both ways.

He staggered to his right.

"Idiot," Sasuke said.

Naruto felt a hot pressure of a hand on his shoulder steady him and jumped. "Don't touch me!" he shouted furiously at Sasuke. Why was Sasuke always touching him? He shouldn't be touching him. It was wrong. It was...

Naruto lost his train of thought.

"Just keep you hands to yourself, Uchiha! I'm going to bed!" he announced with an infuriating glare over his shoulder at Sasuke. He had to turn most of his body around to do it properly. "So you are more then welcome to leave me alone now!"

Sasuke didn't seem to be paying him any attention. His face was turned towards the window. The curtains were open and moonlight was pouring into the room. He spoke without looking at him. "Take off your weapons pack, dobe."

"What!" Naruto yelled.

"I don't want you hurting yourself by sleeping with it on," Sasuke stated calmly.

"Oh, so now you're Mr. Concern suddenly, are you?"

Sasuke turned his head and fixed Naruto with a looked that would've sent a warning off in Naruto's head if he had not been so drunk.

"I mean, it wasn't like you were too concerned on our last mission when I nearly got a kunai in my head!"

"You weren't staggering drunk then, were you?" Sasuke said back impatiently.

"SO? You still should've backed me up!" Naruto squawked.

"I'm your partner, not your babysitter," Sasuke said coolly.

Naruto sputtered, his indignation too fierce to form into a coherent sentence. He balled his fists and made a show to teach Sasuke a lesson or two but feel flat on his face instead. He cursed loudly at Sasuke's feet.

"You're wasted," Sasuke said unnecessarily.

"You're an asshole," Naruto said as he staggered back up.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Get to bed."

"Don't order me around!"

"Okay. Keep staggering around until you break your neck then."

"I just might do that!"

Fine."

"Fine!"

"Fine."

"FINE!"

Sasuke caught Naruto as he tottered again. He deftly took his pack off and threw it onto the couch as he pushed Naruto back onto his feet.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Naruto announced shakily.

"Not on me, you're not," growled Sasuke. He half carried Naruto over to a chair and plopped him on it. "Stay here. I'm going to get you some water."

"Mmmm," was Naruto's response as Sasuke went away. For a while all he could think about was the swaying of the chair and the slight nausia in his stomach. Everything was swirling around him and his eyes kept doing circles trying to stay focused onto something. He wanted Sasuke to come back and maybe bring a trash can, but a small part of his brain was protesting that action for reasons he was having a hard time remembering. The only thought that surfaced was 'I hate that bastard' and it didn't seem to justify why he must sit here in dizzy agony alone. Who cares if he hated Sasuke? His whole body was out of control. He felt like he was on a 'Tea Cup ride' at the fair, spinning faster and faster. Sasuke could help. Sasuke could make it stop if he'd just come back . Why did that jerk leave him anyway?

Sasuke returned just in time to hear Naruto mumble out feebly, "Sasuke." It was a voice of frustration and despairation.

"I'm here, dobe," Sasuke grumbled, bringing the glass of water over to Naruto to drink.

Naruto's eyes were closed and his head leaned back against the chair. His hands were clinching the arm rests tightly, as though he was scared of being thrown off it. "Don't...call... me that," Naruto breathed. His breath reeked harshly of booze.

"Here," Sasuke said, trying to hand Naruto the water. Naruto shook his head stubbornly. His hands didn't move.

"Don't want it."

"Too bad." Sasuke forced Naruto to take a sip of the water.

Naruto made a face. "Mm never going to the bar ever again," he swore.

"Yeah, sure," Sasuke said in disbelief as he made Naruto take another sip.

Naruto rested in the chair for a long time, taking a sip of the glass when Sasuke offered it until finally it was emptied. Sasuke waited five more minutes before placing the glass down on the floor by the chair and asking Naruto if he was ready to get up and go to bed.

Naruto looked to already be asleep but he lifted his head slightly and peered blearily at Sasuke through half closed eyes. "I can sleep here, thanks."

"You're going to sleep in your bed." The tone in Sasuke's voice refused to be contradicted.

"Don't wanna get up," Naruto protested anyway.

Sasuke once again found himself half-carrying Naruto, this time to his bedroom. He followed the trail of socks and old underwear, wondering if the blonde evercleaned his apartment and deposited Naruto onto the bed with a heavy heave. The blanket was on the floor, so he bent down and threw it on him.

Naruto was already hugging his pillow when the blanket plopped on him. "Thanks," he mumbled softly.

Sasuke's response was to take the trashcan by the door and place it strategically next to where Naruto was facing. "Just in case," he said.

TBC...

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