Gaara watched the boy in his arms, who whimpered and shivered as he slept. It had been a few days since Naruto had been released and he still freaked when he woke up, couldn't see, and no one was there. So Gaara had taken to holding him as he slept. Naruto said the nightmares came less when he did. Gaara winced as Naruto's hands dug into his skin. The boy whimpered loudly, a tear falling from his eye.
"Ssh" Gaara whispered "don't be scared, I'm here."
"Gaara" Naruto cried in his sleep
"I'm here" He gently stroked Naruto's back, calming him. "I'm here."
"C'mon Naruto, at least come out and train with Lee's team.
"No."
"Naruto, you haven't been outside for two weeks."
"I know."
It was true; it took Gaara a week to coax Naruto out of his bedroom, and then three days to convince him to let his friends in. Sakura had been the first, five days ago.
"Sakura, it's going to take him some time, his heart still needs to heal."
I know but…" she bit her lip "I don't want to lose him too."
"S-sakura"
"Yes, Naruto?"
"Are…" he lifted his head and looked straight at her. She guessed he could tell where she was by the sound of her voice, but it was still unsettling to be stared at by a blind man with pale eyes where vibrant blue used to be. "Are there still whispers?"
"No Naruto, no more whispers."
"Then I guess… I'll try. If Gaara comes too."
"I'll come."
"I'll go tell Lee."
Gaara wondered why Naruto had agreed to go, and if it had anything to do with the last time Lee came to visit……
- - - - - -
"Naruto Clone! What have you done with Naruto? You are not Naruto!" Lee shouted through the door.
"Lee"
"Gai-sensei, that is not Naruto. Naruto would never hide like this, so that cannot be Naruto. Naruto is not that kind of man. Kakashi called him out #1 hyperactive knucklehead ninja. That man is not Naruto, and I am going to stand outside this door until I know why.
- - - - - -
Gaara had waited until Naruto fell asleep, and then showed Lee. The sleeping Naruto: curled into a ball and shivering with fear. The only sound from lee was a simple "oh" before he left. That night hadn't been good, and Naruto refused to leave Gaara's side after. Sakura was kind enough to bring them food, and news from Lee. And plead. Naruto was deep in depression. Sakura tried to coax him out by hiding her own, but Naruto was no fool; he could hear it in her voice, feel it in her touch.
"Dobe" Gaara was pulled out of his thoughts by Naruto's voice. He was leaning against the door frame, eyes closed.
"What?"
"Dobe. He always used to call me that. But now…" Naruto stood and opened his eyes, "He's the dobe."
"You missed." Naruto said coolly. Tenten had been practicing with kunais while Naruto and Gaara sat on a log and watched.
"Whaat? How many?"
"Five."
"Five Tenten" Neji walked back from inspecting the targets. "You're not sick are you?"
"No but…" Tenten looked back and forth between Naruto and Neji.
"But what?" Neji asked, stopping in front of Tenten.
"Naruto… said I missed five before you did…"
"Ah." Neji looked at Naruto "Sound, right?"
Naruto had winced at the word sound, but recovered and attempted to hide it. Naruto nodded.
"Gaara…" Naruto breathed while said shinobi was closing the door to the apartment.
"Yes Naruto?"
"Do you…" he turned to look at Gaara "love me?"
"Yes"
"Gaara…" Naruto took a step towards him, but tripped. Gaara caught him.
"Yes?" he wrapped his arms around the blonde.
"Stay with me." Naruto laid his head on Gaara's shoulder.
"Always." He softly kissed the boy in his arms. "As long as you let me." He whispered gently before carrying the sleepy ramen-lover to bed. "Sleep, Naruto. It's good for you."
"Yes mother."
Gaara laughed before wrapping his arms around Naruto.
"Gaara?"
"Yes?"
"Love you too."
Gaara smiled, and held Naruto close. He probably wouldn't see hidden sand again for a while… but he didn't care. Somebody here loved him, and that was all that mattered.