Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

13. Chapter 13

13

An ANBU guard leapt to the sitting room window. "Kankuro san, there has been an incident at the hospital. Uchiha Sasuke attacked the princess."

Kankuro practically levitated off the couch. "What!"

"We need the kazekage at the medical facility at once."

"Get Gaara!" Kankuro barked at Shikamaru hurrying to the window. "Take me to her right now!"

Shikamaru blinked and Kankuro and the ninja were gone. "Shit," he scrambled to his feet and ran to Gaara's room. Sasuke attacked Raine? What the hell? "Gaara!" Shikamaru threw the door open. "Gaara get up, Gaara!"

His brother in law's frantic voice yanked Gaara up and out of sleep. "What is it Shikamaru?" he was asking before he was even awake.

"It's Raine," Gaara looked at him. "She went to see Sasuke at the hospital. ANBU said he attacked her."

"What!" Gaara lost his breath. He threw off the covers and reached for his pants. "Godamn it! What the hell was she doing near Sasuke!"

Shikamaru turned his head to give the naked kage some privacy. "I don't know. She was supposed to be buying tomatoes."

Gaara pulled on his pants and zipped his fly. "She went to see him?" Again? Godamnit Raine! Why can't you leave him alone! He plucked his shirt off the floor and slipped it on over his head.

"I don't know!" Shikamaru was frustrated; he didn't have enough information to tell Gaara what was going on. "Damn Sasuke, he's so troublesome."

He slipped his feet into his sandals and ran around the bed to get his jacket and gourd. "Is she alright?"

"Kankuro ran out of here before I could find out anything."

Gaara pulled his jacket on and then his sand. She better be alright! "I can't even take a fucking nap," he growled. Gaara ran past Shikamaru. "Stay with Temari and the boys!" he called running down the stairs. Gaara made haste to the hospital.

Sakura checked Raine over completely. There was no sign of any lingering damage. Sasuke had done just what he said he had; read her mind and nothing more. A specialist insisted on a blood sample just because the princess got close to the Uchiha. Raine was quiet through all the poking and prodding. Sakura thought she looked miserable. When the room cleared of buzzing nin Sakura sat with Raine. "You okay?"

She was and she wasn't. "Sasuke was crying."

Not just crying, wailing. "He understands what he did to you now Raine. He saw it all through your own eyes, your feelings."

"So he knows…"

"Sasuke knows he hurt you. That's why he was so upset. I know it's hard to understand him; Sasuke is pretty messed up, but he…"

"Don't say it," Raine lifted a hand. "Uchiha Sasuke doesn't love me."

Sakura knew Raine was a bright and clever young woman. "You know what Sasuke feels for you."

"It's a lie."

Raine was running from the truth. "Sasuke felt something for you the last time he abducted you. Infatuation, obsession; whatever it was it was enough to make him care about you. He could have escaped from Konoha and disappeared, instead he came here to fight for you. Sasuke wants to protect you."

"Gaara will protect me." Shit. "He's probably going to be so angry."

"At Sasuke."

"At me too. I shouldn't have… I just wanted to talk to Naruto. I heard Kankuro say…"

It was as if speaking his name summoned him and Kankuro burst into the room. "Mouse!" Sakura jumped and Raine cringed. "You okay!"

"I'm fine Kankuro."

Okay good then. Kankuro let it rip. He opened up his mouth and for the first time ever he screamed angrily at his mouse. "What the hell were you doing here? What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you nuts, cuz that guy sure as fuck is! You're lucky he didn't rip your fucking heart out with his bare hands!"

Gaara's wife burst into tears and Sakura jumped between Kankuro and Raine. "Kankuro! That's enough, you're upsetting her."

"She's lucky she's alive enough to be upset!"

"Sasuke didn't hurt her he just looked into her memories."

He was in her head! "That son of a bitch what memories?"

"W-what he d-did to me," Raine hitched through her sobs. Kankuro had never yelled at her like this before. She had never seen him so mad. It was scary.

"Sicko. What the fuck did he wanna see that shit for?"

Sakura sighed. "He wanted to know the truth about him and Raine because he can't remember it clearly."

His eye squeezed shut in aggravation. "There was no him and Raine. He's a fucking stalker! A kidnapper!"

"Yeah, well now he knows that doesn't he?" Sakura frowned.

"I don't give a fuck what he knows or what he thinks he feels he's a sicko! You stay the hell away from him mouse! He'll godamn kill you!"

Raine broke into harder sobs just as the door kicked open again and Gaara came hurrying in. He had heard Kankuro screaming in the hall. He pushed past his brother and Sakura and went to his hysterical wife. "Raine?"

"Gaara," Raine blinked at him through her tears. "Oh Gaara!" she flung herself into his arms and he hugged her hard.

"It's alright Raine I'm here." His ninja filled him in the moment he arrived at the hospital. "You're alright."

She thought about what Sasuke and Naruto said about Orochimaru and her mother. Fear wound its coils around her heart. "I don't want Orochimaru to steal my body! I want to stay with you!"

Son of a… Gaara frowned. "Orochimaru isn't going to do anything to you Raine."

"Godamnit," Kankuro growled. She knows. Those fucking idiots told her! He turned and pulled the door open so hard the top hinge came right out of the wall. He dropped the half hung door and stormed out into the hall.

Gaara made a move to go after his furious brother but Raine squealed and clung to him tighter as she cried even further terrorized by Kankuro's display. "Kankuro!"

"I'll get him," Sakura ran after the Sand ninja. He was half way down the hall and Sakura sprinted to catch up. "Kankuro wait."

"I'm gonna crack skulls!"

She hurried to keep up with him. "I think you need to calm down. This is a hospital!"

"Good then maybe someone can fix those two fucktards up after I kick the shit out of them." Kankuro kept walking. He was headed straight to the room they were keeping the Uchiha in. Naruto would be there too. Bonus. Double ass whoopins.

They rounded a corner and Kankuro saw Naruto. Sakura reached for Kankuro's arm. "Oi Kankuro!" he shook her off and lunged forward.

"You stupid ass hair!" Kankuro charged and Naruto turned his face just in time to meet Kankuro's fist. He punched the ninja hard enough to lift him off his feet and send him flying back into the hall.

"Oi!" Kakashi put up his hands. "Calm down Kankuro!"

He ignored Kakashi and yelled at Naruto. "You told her about Orochimaru you stupid fuck! What the hell is wrong with you!"

Naruto gaped at Kankuro. His jaw was hurting. "Sasuke opened his mouth."

"She shouldn't have been anywhere near that freak!"

Curious medical staff started peeking out into the hall as Naruto scrambled to his feet. "She came to see me."

"Then why the hell didn't you take her away from Sasuke to talk to her?"

Naruto frowned. "She heard you talking about Sasuke; that he could sense Orochimaru. Genie came to me to find out what was going on. Gaara didn't tell her…"

"That's his right. Gaara is her husband. He will decide what is best for Raine not you and not that piece of shit in there!" Kankuro slammed a fist on the door to the room that held Sasuke. "Motherfucker had his hands on her again. How could you allow it?"

"That's enough, this is a hospital." Kakashi stepped between Naruto and Kankuro. He frowned at the Sand ninja. "Perhaps you should go watch the surveillance tape with Kiba. Two doors down."

He narrowed his eyes at Kakashi. "Fine I will!" Kankuro stormed past them all to go find Kiba and see for himself what the hell happened.

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief to see the angry ninja go. "He's really pissed."

"No shit," Neji watched Kankuro disappear into the room they had confined Kiba in.

"Kankuro has a point," Kakashi turned on Naruto. "You should not have let her be near Sasuke, Naruto."

"She just came in and," Naruto lowered his eyes. Sasuke…he was so happy to see her. "We all started talking before I thought to leave."

Kakashi rested a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I understand that you want to help Sasuke, but you can't let your feelings get in the way. Sasuke used his Sharingan on both of you."

Naruto looked up at his sensei with forlorn eyes. "He didn't hurt either one of us."

"He could have killed you both," Neji frowned.

"He's not going to hurt her. Sasuke wants to protect Raine."

Sighing tiredly Kakashi started down the hall. "I imagine the kazekage is with her now. Gaara will decide the best way to protect his wife."

Neji shifted and looked at the retreating jonin. "Kakashi?"

"I need some coffee. You're in charge till I get back Neji." He couldn't be around Naruto right now. In many ways Kakashi felt the same as his student. He knew how much Sasuke cared for the woman, no; Sasuke loves her. His eyes… Sasuke's heart had been crushed by the weight of Raine's true memories. Just when he started to know what love is…He put his head down and kept walking.

Gaara held her until Raine settled and stopped crying. He kissed the top of her head. "You're okay Raine. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"Why didn't you tell me Gaara? Orochimaru is going to take Sasuke and make me his Rhiannon." She looked up at Gaara's frown.

"It's never going to happen Raine."

"Why; because you have an Orochimaru detector?"

He took his wife by the shoulders. "Is that what he told you?"

"I heard Kankuro talking to Shikamaru. He said Sasuke was your dog."

"Sasuke is a prisoner and you need to stay the hell away from him."

Gaara looked kind of mad, but she was kind of mad too. "Sasuke told me the truth."

"Sasuke is insane!" he resisted the urge to give her a good shake. "Stay away from him. You don't know what he's capable of."

"I what!" Raine pushed away from Gaara. "The hell you say! I know just what Uchiha Sasuke can do! I'm the one he dragged from one hell hole to the next! I'm the one he..!"

He reached for her and Raine frowned at him. Godamnit. "Raine, listen."

"He brought up all of those memories. He saw and felt them all for himself! I showed him what he did to me and then he…"

Gaara hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "I know. You don't have to say anymore." His wife shook in his arms. Damn you Sasuke!

I'm sorry Raine! I'm so fucking sorry! Raine grabbed a handful of Gaara's jacket. "He cried Gaara. He was crying when they took me out of there. Sasuke was…"

As gently as he could Gaara rested a finger across Raine's lips. "Just a side effect of the jutsu. That's all it was." He made the lie sound totally convincing. "Sasuke finally experienced your pain." And it hurt him. Damn that guy!

Raine wasn't sure Sasuke's weeping was a side effect but Gaara seemed to think so. "What are you going to do to him Gaara?"

He took a deep breath and let it out. Raine seemed to be calming. "For now Uchiha Sasuke is my prisoner."

"You're going to use him to tell you when Orochimaru is close."

"Orochimaru isn't going to get anywhere near you Raine. I will do everything, and I mean everything in my power to keep you safe."

Gaara…for me… "Sasuke will fight for you."

Not for me, for you. "He has his own reasons for fighting Orochimaru. He is our common enemy."

I will do anything to protect you Raine. I love you. Sasuke's voice echoed in her head and Raine leaned into Gaara. "Are you going to torture him?"

I'd love to. "That is not my way."

She rested against her husband. Raine felt tired, drained. "You're angry with me Gaara."

Gaara sighed. "I'm not angry, I was worried. I heard he attacked you and I," he shook his head. "I just don't want Sasuke to hurt you anymore."

Raine looked up at Gaara as new tears sprang into her eyes. "I love you Gaara."

He took her cheek in his hand and smiled a little for her. "I love you Raine so very much." He pressed his lips to hers and ended their little argument with a kiss. "How about I take you home?"

Orochimaru sat in the dim. The room was lit by a single candle. Sasuke… He couldn't believe the way his container had turned against him. Siding with Gaara. What the hell is wrong with him? "Keh," he hissed annoyed and disgusted. The sannin had an idea.

You've found yourself the object of hate of yet another Sharingan Orochimaru. Raine and I will raise our children, not you and Rhiannon. "So it's all about my dear little Raine is it? Sasuke fights for her now." It was infuriating. The Uchiha was completely screwing over Orochimaru's simple plan. "He doesn't love her; he isn't capable of feeling that emotion."

Kabuto stood quietly by waiting for orders. He reached back into his memories and recalled walking in on the couple shortly before Sound was attacked. Sasuke had turned Raine away from Kabuto and shielded her from him. "It must be obsession. He's confused his feelings for love."

"You don't have to state the obvious to me Kabuto," the sannin quipped. "He figured out what I intend to do to his sweetheart. He doesn't approve."

"Sasuke and Raine could be together forever as part of you and Rhiannon. It's a shame he doesn't understand what a gift you're offering him."

The sannin glared at the candle flame. This body is reaching its limit. He had enough strength to try once more to retrieve his containers. It would be difficult, Sand was a stronghold in Gaara's desert; Sasuke could feel the sannin's approach. "Kabuto, summon my best at taking down a barrier."

He straightened. "The Sound Onsa?"

"Saichi too."

"As you wish Orochimaru sama," Kabuto bowed a little and went out to follow his orders. He smiled at the sannin's brilliance. Orochimaru will have what he wants one way or another.

Kankuro sat back watching the surveillance tape with Kiba. He saw his friend hit the Uchiha in the face. It was the highlight of the tape. "Rewind that shit and let me see it again," Kankuro grinned a little.

"It was a good shot yo," Kiba rewind the tape and decked Sasuke again.

"I'm glad somebody hit that mother fucker." Kankuro sighed and stared at Sasuke's bloody face. "The nerve of that guy."

"Crying like a pussy. As if that makes it all better. Keh!"

He heard the Uchiha say he should die and Kankuro agreed. "I should just go kill that son of a bitch right now. Slit his fucking throat while he sleeps."

Kiba sighed and sank back in his seat. "It's too bad he's still useful." He looked away from the screen to his friend. "Sister okay?"

Sister was a pet name Kiba used only in front of Kankuro; it was short for sweet little sister. Kiba had always thought Raine was a little cutie. "Yeah. I kinda yelled at her a little, well; maybe a lot."

"You yelled at that poor girl?"

"I just want her to stay away from Sasuke." He felt like a big meanie; "I made her cry."

"Yo! You didn't have to go that far." Kiba frowned. "Did you scare her?"

"I hope so. I know it sounds mean but if she's afraid of Sasuke she'll stay away from him. I don't want mouse near him again. Every time she gets near the freak something bad happens."

That was true. Last time she saw Sasuke Raine busted up her arm. "He aint nothing but bad luck. It's always been that way. His clan, team seven, he even turned on Orochimaru."

"That Uchiha bastard can't be trusted. Look what he did to Naruto," Kankuro flapped a hand at the screen. "And that idiot was trying to help Sasuke."

"He don't know when to quit. Doing that probably fucked up the whole deal he made with Gaara ne?"

"You guys had to pry him off of mouse. I don't think Gaara's gonna be real happy when he sees all of this I love you shit either. He might just kill the fuck."

Kiba shrugged. It was possible. Kiba would if he were in Gaara's place. But Gaara is the kage and he wants to protect his family. "Sasuke did surrender himself to Gaara. His fate is in the kage's hands."

Kankuro nodded and hit the rewind button. Sasuke had the audacity to hold mouse's face in his hands while he did his jutsu on her. Kill him Gaara. Kill him and be done with it. We'll find another way to protect mouse. We don't need that sicko.

Gaara took Raine home. While she settled the children he explained everything to Temari and Shikamaru. Temari agreed to stay with Raine, Shikamaru wanted to go with Gaara to find Kankuro. Gaara kissed his wife and babies and promised to be home for dinner. The men went back to the hospital and ANBU escorted them to the viewing room where Kankuro and Kiba sat watching the tape.

Kiba rewound it to the beginning so Gaara could watch all of what happened. Raine had come to speak to Naruto and Sasuke just had to open his big mouth. Raine nearly fainted when Sasuke divulged the sannin's plans. Gaara narrowed his eyes at the screen watching the Uchiha catch and hold his wife. It looked like the bastard was going to kiss her. Sasuke put her down and started arguing with Naruto.

Naruto went on to tell Raine the truth of her mothers past and Gaara grit his teeth. The Uchiha professed his love to Raine and vowed to protect her and then he trapped Naruto in his jutsu. He froze the Konoha ninja and turned on Gaara's wife. The bastard was practically on top of her as he browsed her memories. Gaara watched Sasuke crumble and break down. He fell into tears as he hugged Gaara's wife.

The Konoha ninja arrived and helped Naruto regain control of the situation. Kiba blasted Sasuke in the face. Gaara wished he had been the one to do it. "I've seen enough. Shut it off."

Shikamaru was frowning. "What a troublesome guy."

"They've got him doped up down the hall," Kiba grumbled. "Naruto and Neji are with him and ANBU is guarding the room."

"You gonna kill him Gaara?" Kankuro looked up at baby brother standing behind him.

"No," Gaara remained perfectly calm even though inside he was raging. "I want him to live with the pain and the guilt of what he has done to the woman he claims to love. He'll live knowing that she hates him and loves me. Sasuke will sleep in a cell alone and Raine will be in my bed; Sasuke can think about that every night for the rest of his miserable life." Gaara turned and went out without another word. He headed down the hall to Sasuke's room.

ANBU bowed to the kage and Gaara stepped into Sasuke's room. Neji stood by the door, Naruto was asleep in a chair by Sasuke's bedside. The Uchiha also looked asleep. Gaara looked at Neji. "Things are quiet in here."

"Naruto is exhausted. Sasuke pushed them quite hard to get here so quickly."

Gaara's eyes went back to the Uchiha. He went to the bed on the side free of Naruto and looked down at Sasuke. "What did they give him?"

"A small dose of valerian, enough to quiet him."

Then it shouldn't be too difficult to wake him. Gaara reached down and slapped Sasuke in the face, not too hard but not to soft either. "Sasuke, wake up." Sasuke's eyes fluttered and Gaara hit him again. "Wake up."

Sasuke's cheek was stinging and he forced his eyes open. When he could focus he saw Gaara frowning down at him. "Gaara," he mumbled trying to wake up more.

Gaara took a handful of Sasuke's t shirt in his hand and pulled the limp Uchiha up as Gaara bent glaring into Sasuke's eyes. "You fucked with my wife again you son of a bitch," the kage growled.

The mention of Raine brought fresh pain to Sasuke's heart and he nearly cringed. "Raine, I…"

"You fucking used your Sharingan on her again."

"I just looked. I didn't…"

"If you ever do that again I will kill you. I'll have you fucking drawn and quartered. Do I make myself clear Uchiha Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked into Gaara's eyes. They burned with fury. "I didn't do it to hurt her."

"You did. You made Raine remember a lot of fucked up shit Sasuke. You tormented and abused her." The Uchiha squeezed his eyes shut and Gaara slapped him in the face again. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Naruto was in mid snore when Gaara's command startled him awake. "Huh?" he blinked at Gaara and Sasuke. "Oi Gaara! What are you doing?"

Gaara cut his angry eyes up to Naruto. "I'll deal with you next."

Naruto recoiled from, his friends blazing stare. He put up his hands in surrender. "Take it easy Gaara."

He returned his attention back to the Uchiha. "Did you see it all Sasuke? Did you feel her fear, her hate? Are you fucking satisfied now?" Sasuke still wasn't looking at him and Gaara grabbed his face. "I said look at me motherfucker. At least have the balls to look me in the eye and tell me you know what you did to my wife!"

Sasuke clenched his teeth and looked at Gaara again. "I know…"

"You know what?" it came out sounding more like an animals growl then a human voice. Gaara squeezed Sasuke's face harder. I should just kill you now.

"I hurt her." Sasuke felt his heart breaking all over again now that he was wide awake. "I hurt Raine."

"If she wasn't smart enough to negotiate with a psycho, if I hadn't got her away from you when I did you would have raped her."

He still had Raine's memory of his attack on her in his room under the desert. She had been terrified. "I…"

"You molested my wife in her sleep!" Gaara threw the Uchiha down on the bed. It was much too tempting right now to kill the bastard.

Sasuke could still feel that memory too. It was one of those that conflicted with his own; it made his head hurt and his chest ache thinking about it. "I know Gaara, I know!" Sasuke turned his head away from Gaara and squeezed his eyes shut.

Gaara didn't care how much pain Sasuke was in. He kicked the bed. "I said look at me godamn you. You're done running away from this Sasuke."

Damn you Gaara! Sasuke summoned what feeble strength he had and sat up. He fixed his eyes on the furious kage. Seeing Gaara this angry just made him feel worse. Gaara and Raine had a very special love between them. Her pain was his pain. It must have been so horrible for her and Gaara took care of her… "I'm sorry I did those things to her."

"Why?" Gaara pressed. "You're not sorry for you. You enjoyed watching her, torturing her, violating her body. You liked it."

The Uchiha clenched a fistful of covers. It was sickening to think that what Gaara was saying was true, but it was the truth. "What do you want me to say Gaara? That I'm sorry for wanting Raine?"

Wanting. In a flash Gaara's hand was around the Uchiha's throat. In one fluid move he lifted Sasuke right off the bed and slammed him into the wall. "I want you to say that you see how much she hates you!"

Naruto jumped to his feet. "Oi Gaara!"

"Stay out of it Naruto," Neji warned stepping forward. He wouldn't let his friend interfere with the kage.

Gaara put his face close to the choking Uchiha. "Do it Sasuke, bring out the Sharingan. Give me a reason to kill you right now."

Sasuke reached for the hand around his throat. "Stop…"

For a moment Gaara tightened his grip on Sasuke. He slammed him once into the wall and then dropped him. Sasuke coughed trying to catch his breath. "I should kill you for what you've done to my wife."

His throat stung when he coughed. "If I couldn't help you protect her I'd let you."

The kage grabbed the Uchiha by the face and made him look at him. "I can kill you any time I want to Sasuke. Don't forget that." Gaara shoved him away.

"What do you want from me Gaara?" anger and humiliation besieged his aching heart.

"Total obedience." He glared at Sasuke.

Naruto stood back quietly watching the display. The room was charged with heightened emotions. Murderous intent oozed from Gaara like miasma. Don't kill him Gaara! He swallowed the lump in his throat and stayed silent.

Obey Gaara. The very idea was nauseating. "You have it," Sasuke bowed his head.

He stared at Sasuke. "Are you that desperate to protect her?" he tested.

"I've seen Orochimaru perform the resurrection jutsu. It's sickening and if something goes wrong she will die." Sasuke met Gaara's eyes. "It's incredibly painful. Some die from the pain, others die when they resist too much. I can't let it happen to Raine."

"Because you love her?" Gaara sneered.

Yes. "Because it's sick. If the jutsu succeeds Raine will become a part of Rhiannon. She will always be with the one person she hates even more then me; Orochimaru."

Gaara's eye twitched. "I won't let Orochimaru have Raine. She's not a container; she's my wife and the mother of my sons."

Yusuke. New pain in his chest at the thought of Raine mothering their beautiful son. "Raine is a good mother." Sasuke missed his family.

"She's the best," Gaara boasted. "I couldn't ask for a more perfect woman for me either. I wake up every morning and thank god that she's in my arms."

I would too. Sasuke dropped his eyes. He didn't want to look at Gaara. The Uchiha had felt Raine's love for his rival. It was everything he wanted Raine to feel for him and more. "You're a lucky man Gaara."

"I know I am." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying to calm down.

Gaara has her love. "I won't give you any trouble. I just want to help."

"Please Gaara," Naruto couldn't stay silent anymore. He could see the way both of his friends were suffering. It made his own heart ache. "Sasuke knows what he did and he has to live with it. He'll behave for you."

Gaara looked at Naruto. He looked almost as miserable as the Uchiha. "You never gave up on this guy did you?" he huffed frustrated.

"People can change, you did." Naruto had a point to make he just hoped he could say it all the right way. "You weren't a good guy when we met you Gaara you were a cold blooded killer. You lived to kill and you set your eyes on Sasuke. You went after him and Lee. You would have killed Lee and now he's practically your best friend."

Sasuke looked up at Naruto. His voice was wavering slightly. Naruto's fists were clenched. "Oi Naruto. That's enough."

Naruto wasn't done. "You know what it means to change Gaara, to want to change. You know what it's like to feel like shit for the things you've done in your past."

"I also know what it means to atone for what I've done!" Gaara snapped. Unfortunately Naruto had a point but he was also stirring up some bad memories. Lee…

"That's what I want to do," Sasuke looked at the kage again. "I'm sorry for what I did to her Gaara but I can't change it. It's in the past just like the shit between you and me. I just wanna," Sasuke grit his teeth. "I just want it all to go away."

Gaara studied Sasuke's face. It was a pathetic thing to realize that he had once been in the very same place Sasuke was in now. Old guilt stirred in the kage's heart. Lee forgave me. He and Naruto befriended me, even Sakura… "It won't go away. It will always be with you. That I do know."

"Give me the chance to do the right thing Gaara," Sasuke frowned and clutched the front of his shirt. "I can't stand the way it feels. Inside it's like…"

Tears were forming in the Uchiha's eyes as Gaara watched him. It's like being eaten alive from the inside out. "I don't ever want you near Raine again. You're aware of how she feels about you aren't you Sasuke?"

Fear anger pity "I know. Seeing me upsets her. I can protect her without… ever having to see Raine again." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's the least I can do."

Sasuke's tears fell and Gaara had to look away. His stomach was a tight nauseous little ball. Damn you Sasuke. "Your new ANBU guard will be moving you to a cell near my office. You are to cooperate with them completely at all times. One of them will always be with you. They will sound the alarm should you feel Orochimaru's approach."

The Uchiha bowed his head. "I understand."

Gaara looked back at Naruto. "You're hopeless you know that? Fucking idiot."

Naruto sagged. "Sorry."

"I should tell you to stay the hell away from my wife too. She seems to get into trouble with you Naruto."

He sagged even more. "I didn't want anything bad to happen to genie."

Gaara understood that. He's a trusting idiot. "Raine is not a ninja. She has to be handled gently. She's a woman, a mommy. Raine is delicate she needs to be protected."

His rival' words pulled at Sasuke's heart. "I'm sorry it' my fault. Naruto told me to stop, to leave her alone."

"I know." Gaara saw the tape.

There was a knock on the door and an ANBU stepped in. "Kazekage sama, we're ready whenever you are."

He nodded at his shinobi and looked back down at the Uchiha. He had dried his eyes and was looking at Gaara. "Can you walk Sasuke?"

Sasuke almost smiled. His body felt weak and tingly from the drugs. "I can probably crawl," he almost laughed.

"You can lean on me," Naruto offered.

Lean on Naruto ne? His heart hurt more. "Thank you Naruto."

Naruto's words hadn't been lost on Gaara either. The ninja desperately wanted to help his friend. "Alright then, let's get this over with."

Sasuke leaned on Naruto as the kage and his ANBU led him through Sand. The Uchiha wasn't too dopey to notice the death glares Gaara's shinobi gave him. They all hate me. They're all probably hoping Gaara kills me. Sasuke tried not to look at them. Soon enough they arrived at the tower. Sasuke was taken to one of two cells on the top floor. Two ANBU checked him in while Gaara and Naruto stood by.

The Uchiha held the bars of his cell while ANBU patted him down for weapons. The guy felt the picture in Sasuke's back pocket and yanked it out before Sasuke could protest. "Kazekage sama," he offered the picture to Gaara.

Gaara took it and Naruto straightened. "Wait Gaara," Sasuke pleaded as the ANBU finished frisking him.

A picture of Naruto and Raine. It was the first tournament Gaara had taken her to. "Where did you get this Sasuke?"

Naruto reached for it. "It's mine. I must have dropped it."

"That's a lie," Sasuke didn't want to get Naruto in trouble but he didn't want to start right off being a deceitful asshole. "I stole that picture from my file in Konoha when Naruto showed it to me. He didn't know I had it."

"I knew you had it Sasuke," Naruto argued.

Gaara frowned. "And you didn't take it from him why?"

"I…" all eyes were on him. Sasuke was frowning and shaking his head. "I wanted Sasuke to have a reminder; he cares about someone and someone cares about him. Me and Raine. That's why I didn't take it. I wanted Sasuke to feel something good in his heart for a change."

Sasuke's mouth fell open. "Naruto…"

Hopeless. Gaara sighed. "Tell me Sasuke, what do you feel when you look at this picture?" he looked at the Uchiha staring at his friend.

He cut his eyes up to the picture in Gaara's hand. "I…" Gaara was staring at him patiently waiting for an answer. Sasuke had the picture memorized. Raine's smile. She looks so pretty. He dropped his eyes to the floor as the ache in his heart started to spread out again. He didn't want to lose his picture and hoped his answer would satisfy the kazekage. "The shame of what I have done. The pain of my betrayal and evil deeds."

It was a clever answer. It left it completely up to Gaara whether or not Sasuke would be allowed to keep the photo. ANBU would assume the kage let the Uchiha keep it so he would suffer. "I see."

The frisker stepped back. "All set kazekage sama."

Gaara nodded. He passed the picture to Naruto and waved ANBU out of the cell. He waited until they stepped into the hall before he spoke to Sasuke. "And what did you feel before you read Raine's memories when you looked at that picture Sasuke?"

For a minute he just stared at Gaara. "Hope."

Naruto's anguish came out in an audible sigh. "Sasuke you…"

Gaara stepped to the door. "You'll never be with Raine or Naruto again. Keep the picture Sasuke. I hope it does something to your heart." Gaara opened the door. "Visiting hours are over Naruto. Let's go. Raine and Temari are making dinner."

Sasuke looked at Naruto as his friend handed him the picture. "Thank you Naruto."

"See ya later Sasuke." Naruto followed Gaara out.

The cell door slammed shut and Sasuke was alone. He stood where he was listening to Naruto and Gaara move away from the room. Soon enough all was quiet. Sasuke took his picture and went and sat on his bunk. He stared at Raine's smile trying not to remember how her panic felt inside of him. I'm sorry Raine. I'll make it up to you. I'll be here for you. I'll Sasuke couldn't think anymore. He lay down and tucked his picture under his pillow. Miserable Sasuke cried himself back to sleep.

Gaara brought Naruto home, Kankuro brought Kiba and Akamaru. The boys loved the big dog and were always happy to see him. Temari and Raine fed everyone and after dinner Kakashi and Neji dropped by. They talked with the kage and offered to stick around for a few days. Orochimaru was Konoha's enemy as well; Kiba and Naruto were eager to fight along their Sand ninja friends. Kakashi wanted to make sure that he the Uchiha was a properly transferred and well behaved prisoner before reporting back to Godaime hokage. Kakashi found them all rooms in town and dragged his team back to them to give the kage's family some peace.

They tucked the boys in and Raine and Gaara headed off to bed. It had been a long and exhausting day. Gaara didn't bother with the pre tense of pajamas; he stripped and got into bed. Raine giggled at him looking for a nightgown. "Tired Gaara?"

Gaara settled himself in bed and smiled a little at his wife. He was beat; the kage had a busy day. "Come here."

Raine did. She went to the bed and crawled up beside Gaara. Raine lay against him and her hand brushed the hair out of his eyes. "You've had such a hard day."

"Just doing my job as kage."

"It's dangerous, scary."

He took her hand and kissed it. "You don't have to be afraid Raine."

"I worry about you."

"I can handle myself pretty well." Gaara wrapped his arms around Raine and kissed her. He didn't want to think about Sasuke or Orochimaru anymore tonight. Raine was safe in his arms; that was all that mattered to him now. Gaara started to help Raine out of her clothes. "I want you Raine. I love you," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh Gaara," she sighed. "I love you too." Raine gave herself to the man she loved.

After a good nights sleep Gaara was refreshed. He headed off to the office a little late; he had spent some extra time with his family this morning. He took in reports from his ninjas. Things were quiet in the village and the desert. The Uchiha had behaved all night. This morning his guard had brought the prisoner breakfast. He hadn't touched the food or the orange juice at all. He wouldn't even get out of bed.

It was getting close to lunch time when Gaara went up to the tower to check on his prisoner. The Uchiha lay on his side in bed staring at the wall. The guards had cleared his untouched breakfast and left him a pitcher of tea and a glass. Sasuke didn't touch that either. "Sasuke?"

He heard Gaara come in and when the kage spoke to him Sasuke sat up. He looked up at Gaara. "Morning kazekage sama."

"Not hungry?"

"Not in particularly."

"You need to at least keep yourself hydrated. You're in the desert you know."

Concern or order? Sasuke didn't really care. He poured a glass of tea and drank down half of it. He hadn't realized he was so thirsty. "I see that, well; not really. I don't see much in here."

"Perhaps you should try getting out of bed." Gaara went through the door and into Sasuke's cell. The Uchiha watched him curiously, cautiously. "If you're half dead and weak how will you fight Orochimaru?"

Sasuke dropped his eyes. "I'm not half dead yet."

"It's an easy thing for the desert to sap a man's strength. You have to eat. You have to stay hydrated." He didn't want his prisoner keeling over at a critical moment.

"How am I supposed to train in this tiny space ne Gaara?"

Gaara shrugged. "Find a way."

He looked up at his captor. "I suppose I could do some pretty basic exercises in here, but I do need to run. I should try to increase my speed as much as possible."

"I can't let you go running around Sand Sasuke."

The Uchiha frowned. "You should be training with me. We should be coming up with offensive and defensive moves together. It will take both of us to stop Orochimaru with me like this."

Train with Sasuke? "You aren't injured, what are you talking about?"

Sasuke rubbed at his seal. "Hokage sealed the power Orochimaru gave to me. I can't call out my other form. I'm weaker this way; a lot."

The kage folded his arms across his chest and eyed his prisoner. "I can remove Tsunade's seal at any time. I can also put a new one in its place."

His eyebrows went up. "That's a high level seal."

"It's not so tough."

"I had no idea you could do such things Gaara." Sasuke straightened. He was a bit impressed Gaara could seal and unseal evil.

"I'm a kage. I had to learn a lot so that I can be of absolute service to my people."

His people. Gaara protects all of Suna. "I think I've underestimated you Gaara. You're more of a leader then I thought you were. You care about this village and these people."

"I do."

It was a hard thing to understand. "Didn't they all want you dead? You were hated and feared by the same people that you now protect."

"Things have changed since we knew each other in Konoha Sasuke." His prisoner stared at him waiting for him to go on. Gaara thought about what to say. Sasuke was in a delicate position right now, his heart and sanity dangled precariously on the ledge of the abyss. He sighed and went to the chair at the desk in the cell. Gaara dragged it forward and straddled it to sit down. "You want me to explaine?"

He's different then what I remember. "Yes."

"Naruto reached me. From him I learned that I didn't have to be alone in the dark. I didn't have to hate and kill; there was another way. I started to share my life with my siblings and eventually my people. It was a good thing. I learned to care about others."

"I care about Raine and the boys, dumbass Naruto too I guess," Sasuke tried.

Gaara nodded. Sasuke's paternity was his saving grace. Regardless of how Yusuke got here, Sasuke loved the boy as his son. His heart wasn't all black, just confused and hurt. "It's a good place to start. Putting the feelings and safety of those you care for ahead of your own is the next step."

"I'll fight for them."

"Protecting them is only part of it. There is also their happiness to consider."

Their happiness… "Like how Yusuke is happy to stay with Renji?"

He smiled a little at the mention of the boys. Renji had been covered with strawberry jam when Gaara left the house this morning. "Yes."

Raine is happy with Gaara. Sasuke looked at his knees. "You were like this when you met Raine?"

"No. Raine has changed me too."

"She loved you and gave you sons." He looked Gaara straight in the eye. "Why?"

Gaara sat reflecting back on what seemed so long ago. He remembered catching the beautiful stranger in his arms. "I think I fell in love the moment I saw her. Of course I didn't know what it was I had never been in love with anyone until I met her."

Me neither. "You won her heart. How?"

"We were just right for each other from the start."

"I wouldn't exactly call a slave girl right for the kazekage."

Gaara frowned at the Uchiha. "It wasn't like that."

"Hotohori gave her to you didn't he?"

"Did Raine tell you that?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Orochimaru did."

The sannin again. "I gave Raine her freedom. I don't own her I love her."

"She loved you for making her free?"

"I don't know all of the reasons she fell for me Sasuke. I treated her with kindness and respect. I didn't even sleep with her until after we were engaged." Gaara sighed.

"You didn't take her when she was your slave?"

"No, and she wasn't my slave." Gaara shook his head. Sasuke's sense of values was still sort of demented. "I wanted to be with her before I even knew her situation with Hotohori. She was the most gentle person I had ever met. She deserved to be treated special and by god Sasuke I tried."

And then I came and I just… "I treated her like shit," Sasuke stared at his hands. "I guess in the beginning it was to get back at you but," he frowned and squeezed his hands into fists. "How could I…"

"I don't know. I can't understand why anyone would hurt her. It's almost incomprehensible to me that anyone could willingly hurt Raine. I can't tell you why you did what you did to her Sasuke. I understand that your obsession with her started out as a way to hurt me, but… you took it so far."

Grabbing her, forcing myself on her. "I saw what I did. I have to agree with you Gaara. I can't understand why I would hurt her. I saw myself doing those things through Raine's eyes. The things I did to her." Sasuke swallowed hard and looked at Gaara. "Why don't you kill me for what I did to her? You must hate me."

Gaara stared at the Uchiha's frown. "I want to protect her Sasuke. You're useful for that aren't you?"

"I'll do anything to keep Raine safe."

He favored the Uchiha with another long cool stare. "You love her?"

Sasuke knew Gaara didn't want to hear it, but he wasn't going to lie. "I do. My heart… is broken."

"Good. Then at least we know you have a heart that can feel." Gaara stood up. A little banter with Sasuke he could deal with, but he wanted to go home for lunch.

The kage was leaving. "Gaara wait!"

He looked over his shoulder. "What is it Sasuke?"

Raine… "Is she alright? Is she really mad at me about yesterday?"

"I'm the one who is mad at you about yesterday. Raine is fine. Taking care of the boys has settled her down. It was business as usual when I left this morning."

Sasuke swallowed his guilt and pride. "I apologize for yesterday. I did something to her she didn't want me to do, again."

"And you're suffering for it aren't you?" he faced the door again.

Yes, he was. "I am."

"Then it is enough." Gaara started out. "Eat your lunch Sasuke."

Gaara went out and Sasuke heard the cell lock him in again. He's going home to her right now. Raine… After a moment Sasuke got to his feet. He went to the small barred window in his room and looked out at the sky. I'll find a way to make it up to her. I have to. I just have to!

Sasuke drank his tea. He ate his lunch when his guard brought it to him. He was doing sit ups on the floor when Naruto came to see him that afternoon. Naruto was happy to see Sasuke up and moving. He brought his friend gifts; two Shonen Jump magazines and all three books in Jiraiya's Paradise series. Sasuke did his best not to roll his eyes at the trash and thanked Naruto for his offerings.

They sat and talked for a while. Sasuke couldn't resist asking Naruto what it was like to eat Raine's home cooking. Naruto quietly admitted it was better when Temari wasn't helping. The ninja woman couldn't make a decent bowl of rice to save her life. Poor Shikamaru ate it all with a smile on his face. Naruto laughed and said, "Now that's love." After a while Naruto got up and headed off to another one of Temari's experimental dinners. He just hoped Raine made something good to compensate.

Sasuke watched from the window. He saw Naruto move down the street and disappear behind the buildings on his way to the kage's home. He sighed and stared at the stack of crap Naruto had left him; perverted novels and cartoons. Better then nothing I guess. Sasuke went to the paperbacks on the desk and sifted through them. A character on the cover of one of the Jump's caught his attention. He took the rag back to his bunk and the Uchiha sat down to read about Monkey D. Luffy while he waited for dinner.

Gaara hadn't had to deal with his prisoner again. Four days went by and Sasuke was on his best behavior. The Uchiha was polite and obedient to his guards. Naruto visited him every afternoon and kept Gaara apprised of Sasuke's status. He was calm, passing the time with push ups and Jiraiya's novels. On the fifth day Gaara finished work for the day and headed up to Sasuke's cell to collect the visiting Konoha ninja. Gaara heard Naruto running his mouth before he got to the door.

"You never shut up do you Naruto?" Gaara said coming in.

"Oi Gaara," Naruto greeted with a smile on his face.

He nodded at Naruto and then looked at his prisoner. He looked well of health and his mood seemed decent. "How are you Sasuke?"

"Good thank you." Sasuke bowed a little to the kage.

"Sasuke's been reading the stuff I brought him," Naruto was excited. "We were just talking about One Piece. It's the best manga ever! Sasuke's so way behind in the story I was trying to catch him up. If its okay I'll pick up some back volumes for him before I leave Sand."

One Piece sounded familiar. Shikamaru reads that doesn't he? "That's fine."

Sasuke couldn't keep his little smile away. "The king of the pirates begins his quest floating in a barrel. This I gotta see."

Gaara blinked at the Uchiha. It was weird to think that Sasuke could be curious about such a normal thing as a story. He made a note to himself to ask Shikamaru about it later. "I'm headed home for dinner. Are you coming Naruto?"

"Who is cooking what?" he asked cringing slightly.

Gaara cringed a little himself. "It's Wednesday, Temari is making pasta sauce."

"Please tell me genie is making the noodles."

"That is my prayer," Gaara mumbled. He headed for the door.

Naruto stood and started after Gaara. "See ya Sasuke."

"Later dumbass." Sasuke watched them go and heard them move down the hall to the stairs. He went to the window and saw them walking down the street for a minute and then they were gone. He stayed at the window staring at the sky as it changed colors with the sunset wishing he was eating Raine's noodles instead of prison food.

With his prisoner behaving Gaara was able to relax back into his life. He woke shortly before his alarm went off six days after putting the Uchiha in jail. He hit the alarm off before it could bleat into the quiet house. For a few minutes Gaara just lay back and enjoyed the silence. Eight people in one house afforded the place very little quiet time. After a while he snuggled up to his naked wife. He knew just how to wake her.

Sasuke had no alarm clock, he didn't need one. A tingling in his seal snapped him out of sleep. He sat straight up forcing himself awake to be sure of what he was feeling. Shit! Sasuke flew out of bed grabbing his shirt off the chair as he ran to the door. "Oi guard, Orochimaru is coming. Let me out of here. We have to get Gaara! Hurry up!"

The kazekage had instructed Sasuke's ANBU guard what to do in this situation. Two ran to sound the alarm and four more escorted the prisoner to the kage. Gaara hadn't expected Orochimaru to attack at the crack of dawn when he was trying to get some morning nookie. He was really starting to work Raine up when, "Kazekage sama!" outside of his bedroom window.

Oh shit. Gaara pulled the blankets up over them, Raine froze embarrassed. "What the hell?" he grunted.

Sasuke stood between two ANBU on the wall outside of Gaara's room. He lifted a brow at the couple in bed. "Orochimaru is coming, now."

Great Sasuke's out there too. Gaara slid out of bed leaving his startled wife covered. "Wake Kankuro and Temari," he instructed ANBU streaking to his dresser for clothes. "Can you tell how close he is Sasuke?"

Gaara was buck naked. They were getting ready to… "We have some time. The village will be ready before he gets here."

Raine sat up holding the covers against her watching Gaara hurry to dress. "Gaara?" she was scared the sannin was coming and freaked out that Sasuke was somewhere out her window. Can he see me!

"It's alright Raine." He buttoned his pants and pulled a shirt on over his head. "You just take care of the boys like normal okay. Everything's fine." Gaara threw on his jacket and buckled his sand to his back. He hurried back to his frightened wife in bed. Gaara took Raine's face in his hand. "I'll be back soon. I love you. Kiss the boys for me."

Sasuke saw Gaara kiss Raine. He saw the way she clung to him and Sasuke looked away. Gaara appeared in the window a moment later and the Uchiha could smell Raine's perfume on him. "We should go to the gate. He'll do this head on," he said without looking at the kage.

Gaara agreed and he nodded. "Let's go. I'll take command from there."

Raine heard Gaara and the ninja at the window leave. She heard noise in Kankuro's room and further down the hall Shikamaru and Temari were getting out of bed. The house was coming alive and Raine hurried to get up and dressed too. The boys would be up soon and she had ninja to take care of. She could at least make them an English muffin before they went off to war. Raine would help too. Be careful Gaara.

They made haste to the gate and Gaara and Sasuke stood on top looking out over the desert. ANBU fanned out around them and Gaara's shinobi took up their posts around Sand. The kage shifted his feet adjusting himself and Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Got yourself a case of blue balls ne Gaara?"

Gaara glared at Sasuke sidelong. "Shut up."

"You're sister is right, you're a slob." Sasuke stretched his arms behind his back watching the sunrise and trying to purge the sight of Gaara's bare ass from his mind.

"And how is it you know what Temari thinks ne Sasuke?"

The Uchiha shrugged. "I spied on your family. She's said it a lot."

He turned and looked at Sasuke. "You remember that do ya asshole?" Gaara had no coffee this morning and he didn't get wake up sex either. He was cranky.

Sasuke straightened and faced Gaara. "Not really, not like real memories. Just things that stand out. Stuff I know. I can't explaine it; I don't have a degree in psychology or some shit. I just know I heard her say it."

Calm down, remember he's fucked up. Gaara sighed and turned to one of his ANBU. "Can I get a fucking cup of coffee!" The ANBU vanished in a blur.

Gaara was defiantly agitated. "You always this bitchy in the morning?" Sasuke teased.

Bitchy? Bitchy was a woman's word. Gaara frowned at the desert. "I get bitchy when I'm trying to get laid and get interrupted for bullshit," he growled.

He is a slob. Sasuke did some squats waking up his muscles. "You should loosen up Gaara. Who knows, maybe this fight will be even better then sex."

The kage rolled his eyes down to Sasuke's devious grin. "Maybe if we can kill Orochimaru this time."

Sasuke stood. "He's a hard bastard to kill. He knows every trick in the book. Slippery snake bastard. To kill him we have to catch him, keep him from using any jutsus and land the death blow simultaneously."

He faced Sasuke. "If I can hold his hands?"

"It's not enough. He can do a lot without even having to make seals. The key to killing Orochimaru is to wear his body down and hit him while all of him is in one solid place. He can turn into ether if he wants to. We have to make him burn up a lot of chakra and the chakra he has," Sasuke shook his head. "It's fucking nuts."

"So what are you saying? That all we can do is beat his ass until he runs away?"

Beating on the sannin sounded like fun. "We can certainly try to kill him, but yeah. He'll flee if he gets too close to death. If we can't stop him from doing that he'll get away and come back another day."

Fucking bullshit. "Keh, where the hell is my coffee? I'll throw it in that bastards eyes!"

Sasuke tried not to smile. Frustrated Gaara was amusing. "Orochimaru is no ordinary ninja. His trickery is limitless. In every sense of the word he is a snake."

The Konoha ninja and Kankuro arrived at the gate and hurried to the pair at the top. "Oi Gaara," Kankuro lighted beside his brother.

"Anything yet?" Kakashi asked.

"Not yet," Gaara answered.

Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Is he close?"

"No but he's coming." The tingling was shifting to more of an ache. Sasuke rubbed at his seal. "Maybe he's trying not to touch the desert so Gaara can't sense him."

"A levitation jutsu?" Neji pondered.

Kiba and Akamaru put their noses in the wind to Kankuro's right. "Don't smell snake yet, but as soon as I do." Akamaru growled in return. "You suppose that fuckin Kabuto guy is with him? Akamaru wants to rip off his legs yo."

Kankuro frowned. He wanted to rip that kid apart too. "I'll kill that punk."

"Neji is most suited to fight Kabuto," Sasuke advised turning to the Hyuuga. "He can repair his body quickly but if you keep at him mercilessly you can probably take him down. You mustn't give him any opening to escape your barrage."

"Who the fuck put you in charge Uchiha?" Kankuro snapped glaring at the prisoner beside his brother.

Sasuke met Kankuro's hateful stare. "Tactical advice, I know your enemy better then you do."

No shit! "Cuz you're one of them."

Gaara put a hand up to stop the two from bickering. Where is my fucking coffee? "That's enough. Sasuke has information; he's trained with our enemy. We will use that knowledge to our advantage to crush them so just shut up Kankuro."

He frowned at his testy baby brother. "What's a matter Gaara? Didn't get any ass this morning ne?"

Kiba and Naruto looked at Gaara curiously. "Concentrate on the fight ahead," Gaara stared at the desert waiting for his coffee and Orochimaru. He had the feeling it was going to be a long day.

The boys were up and so was the barrier around their house. Temari and Shikamaru helped Raine dress the boys and get them to the table for breakfast. The adults tried not to act as nervous as they felt. ANBU outside was in contact with the shinobi all over Sand including those at the gate. Hiei was watching the princess cut the crust off Gabriel's toast when in his earpiece he heard, "What the hell is that?"

A glowing ball of blue light appeared out of nowhere and hovered over the desert. "Orochimaru!" Sasuke warned bringing out his Sharingan.

"Byakugan!" Neji looked at the chakra ball. It was approaching critical mass. "Get down it's going to blow!"

There was a huge explosion just as Gaara threw a shield of sand in front of them. The aftershock shook the ground and kicked sand into the air. The kage let the wall crumble and looked out into his desert. Orochimaru stood atop the great snake Manda. Gaara narrowed his eyes at the sannin. "Orochimaru."

Orochimaru grinned at the rag tag little band of ninja atop the gates of Suna. It's no contest. With a wave of his hand and Manda spit out all eight of the Sound Onsa. Orochimaru didn't bother with talk. He would either get what he wanted right now or he wouldn't. He started to change the desert into an army of soulless shinobi to serve him as his eights made a run to surround the village.

"Shit this again?" Gaara put his hands out and rolled swatches of desert to disrupt the jutsu. Orochimaru's living shinobi broke into two groups. Four went to the right, four went to the left. "Stop them!"

Kankuro, Kiba Akamaru and four ANBU dove to the right. Kakashi Sakura and Neji went left. Soldiers of sand rose up all over and started a charge on Sand. The kazekage opened a sinkhole near the gate sucking in many as they ran to attack. Sasuke prepared a phoenix jutsu and set as many on fire as he could in a single blast. Naruto made clones of himself and moved his ass to help the shinobi meeting the intruders near the gate.

"Where's daddy?" Gabe asked mommy when she sat down.

Raine looked at Gabe. "Daddy had to go to work early."

Gabe felt things. "The desert itches. Daddy will fix it?"

He feels the desert even behind this barrier. Shikamaru pat Gabe on the head. "Sure he will. That's probably why he left early, to take care of it."

The boy nodded satisfied. "Good job daddy."

Temari stared at the ANBU in the tree. He was listening to something over the wireless. Gaara and Kankuro have engaged the enemy. She stood up and ran from the kitchen. "Stay here Shikamaru!" The ninja grabbed her fan and raced to the gate.

"We have to do something about Orochimaru!" Sasuke barked.

Gaara churned the desert with his chakra smashing Orochimaru's creations back into sand. "There are still too many of these damn soldiers!"

Sasuke's hands flew through the seals. "Everybody fucking move!" A giant wave grew out of the middle of the desert. There wasn't much moisture here and it collapsed in on itself flooding out haphazardly. Gaara's shinobi rode the flood that washed more of the sannins soldiers away.

Temari arrived in a blur and stood beside Gaara. "Look at this shit." She bit her thumb and opened her fan. "Everybody move!" She brought her fan back and summoned Kamatari. The weasel appeared and swooped down over the desert smashing clone soldiers to dust as he raced toward the giant snake.

Manda hissed at the creature Orochimaru was shielding them from. He swung his tail and knocked the summon out of the sky. Kamatari disappeared before Manda could eat him. The angry snake recoiled and faced the gates of Suna.

Two of the ninja Kankuro and Kiba pursued came to a sudden stop. One set to work at once eating away at the barrier around Sand while the other turned to fight. Two more were still running. Kankuro waved Kiba on. "I got this guy go!"

"Right, Akamaru!" they bounded after the fleeing sound ninja.

The thing in front of Kankuro wasn't dicking around. He immediately went to stage two much to Kankuro's dismay and attacked head on. The same scenario played out on the other side of Sand. Kakashi and Sakura left Neji to deal with a guarding monster. Kakashi caught up to his target seconds after Kiba did. Four of the Onsa worked to destroy the barrier around Sand; four went to level two of their cursed seals and fought the ninja in their way.

Things were getting interesting, educational. The sannin smiled at Sasuke. "I have a surprise for you Sasuke." Orochimaru pushed on his stomach and tipped his head back.

On top of the gate Sasuke Gaara and Temari watched with disgust as Orochimaru pulled something big and wrapped in a snake like tongue up from his weird insides and out of his mouth. "That's sick," Temari gagged observing the sannin deposit whatever it was at his feet. The tongue retreated back into the monsters mouth and she stared at what was left behind. You've got to be kidding me….

Sasuke's heart jumped into his throat. The evil sannin had produced a child from his body, not just any child. "Saichi!"

Saichi opened his eyes and stood up in front of the man he called father. Orochimaru pat the boy on the head. "You can learn much today Saichi. Watch my son."

It felt like Gaara had the wind knocked out of him. "Saichi…" he turned to Sasuke and the Uchiha looked at him with wild eyes.

"Gaara!" Sasuke was trying not to panic.

"I know."

"We have to get him!"

"I know!"

Temari stepped forward. "You have to get that baby away from him! It's too dangerous for him here!"

"Orochimaru isn't going to just give him to us!" Gaara snapped. He rolled the desert again to assist his shinobi.

"Get rid of Manda and take off this seal!" Sasuke grabbed at his mark. "I'll fight Orochimaru to the death for my son!"

Damnit… "Calm down Sasuke."

"We have to get him back now!" Sasuke insisted. "Gaara!"

Temari blasted more soulless soldiers with wind. "If you're going to do something hurry up and do it! That baby is going to get hurt or killed in this mess; Orochimaru is just using him as a shield!"

Sasuke looked at his son. Even at a distance he recognized the Sharingan. "You have to protect Saichi Gaara! Get rid of Manda and grab Saichi! He'll be safe in your sand!"

Save the baby. Gaara grabbed Sasuke's shoulder and turned him some so he had access to Sasuke's seal. "Kill him if you can Sasuke. Do everything you can to get him away from Saichi." He stabbed his fingers into Sasuke and released Tsunade's seal.

The Uchiha flinched feeling the needling of the release. A second later he was calling on all the power he had. Temari stepped away as Sasuke transformed. "The snake."

"Right," Gaara got busy with the jutsu. "Go!"

Sasuke flew off the wall and raced toward Manda. Daddy's coming!

The ninja Kankuro fought was fast and seemed to have a limitless supply of shuriken. His puppets were getting all banged up. It was if the fiend knew just how to hit the puppets to throw them off enough to avoid Kankuro's attacks. He was an ugly mother, big too. His speed was impressive. The sand ninja brought out a third puppet. The monster couldn't dance forever.

Naruto didn't have to be asked. He laid eyes on the tot at Orochimaru's feet. Sasuke's baby! The Uchiha had changed forms and was charging the snake. Gaara moved the desert to trap Manda. Naruto bit his finger and quickly summoned the boss. "Quick boss! We have to stop that snake!"

Gamabunta frowned at the chaotic scene before him. Orochimaru attacking Suna again. The sannin held a child hostage. The frog went for his knife. "Enough of this shit. Kill him if you can Naruto!"

Even at stage two the monster gave Neji little trouble. He finished the ninja off quickly and went after the one that was trying to dig at the barrier around Sand. The ninja had to cease his jutsu to defend himself from the Hyuuga. Neji didn't give his opponent time to go to the next level of power. He disabled him quickly and made a run back for the gates of Sand taking out clay soldiers as he went.

Kiba and Akamaru faced off with both of the enemy at once. Apparently the bad guys were expecting an easy fight. The Konoha ninja and his dog didn't give them one. Using their new jutsus they fought like beasts slashing at the enemy before they could both release the power Orochimaru gave them. "Take them down Akamaru! Gatsuga!"

Sakura slammed her fist into the ground opening a crater beneath the enemy ninja. They dove away from the hole and away from each other. Kakashi used Raikiri to eliminate one of the Sound before he could transform. The other went after Kakashi and Sakura guarded his back. It was dangerous getting close to her in a fight. She smashed her fist into the sand ninja's face and broke his jaw. He screamed and hit the ground half conscious.

Kankuro altered his strategy some. He distracted the brute he was fighting while his puppets crept around and killed the guy behind him. It sent the big guy into berserk mode but he had at least lost the capacity to think clearly. He ended the creature in a hail of poisoned spikes. The ninja fell to the sand and Kankuro saw Kiba and Akamaru headed back his way. It was time to get back to the gate and finish this fight.

The sand beneath Manda started to cave. Gamabunta speared his tail and leapt back crushing earthy ninja to powder. Sasuke made a straight run for the annoyed looking sannin. Orochimaru knew the Onsa had failed. "Be good Saichi," he went to meet Sasuke in combat abandoning the baby on Manda's head. He clashed violently with the Uchiha above the desert.

"The baby Gaara!" Temari screamed. The big snake was sinking and the child was going down with it.

Gaara lifted a hand and sent some sand after the toddler. It was difficult to catch him with the snake thrashing about. If he falls off he'll be sucked into the swamp and… Gaara wouldn't let Saichi be sacrificed in such a way. He concentrated and felt his sand wrap around the boy. "I've got him!"

Sasuke attacked Orochimaru with all he had. Their powerful strikes and blocks threw sand into the air all around them. "What have you done to my son you bastard?"

"I've raised him," Orochimaru growled back. It was time for plan B. Orochimaru dropped his guard and Sasuke kicked him in the chest sending him flying backwards. "Go Manda!"

The snake vanished and Saichi hovered in a ball of sand over the sinkhole. "Boss!" Naruto panicked. The frog leapt over the hole and Naruto made a grab for the baby Gaara was shielding.

Do it Sasuke! Orochimaru didn't defend as his container appeared behind him and kicked him up into the air. That's right boy. Think that you've won. The Uchiha pummeled Orochimaru's already failing body.

He put all of his being into his final slam of the lion combo. Orochimaru's body felt solid when he hit. Yes! Sasuke felt the bones breaking. "Die!"

Gamabunta delivered Naruto to the gate. Gaara let the sand relax around the boy and Saichi appeared in Naruto's arms as his summon vanished in a puff of smoke. Gaara had no time to marvel at the boy before there was another explosion as Orochimaru's body hit the desert. Sasuke was right after him.

Kill him. Kill him now! Sasuke saw the sannin hit the ground but by the time he got down there himself Orochimaru was gone. High up on the gate Saichi started to cry. The sand clones fell into piles of dust and an eerie calm swept the desert on the wind. Sasuke reverted to himself as he bounded back toward the gate.

Naruto nervously bounced the crying kid in his arms. "It's okay," he tried to sooth.

Gaara and Temari looked at the boy who cried with eyes like Raine. He looked like Yusuke, only older. Saichi looked more like Raine then Yusuke did but he still resembled Sasuke strongly. "Saichi?" Gaara stepped toward the baby.

He was to his son in a heartbeat. "Saichi!" Sasuke appeared in front of Naruto.

Saichi looked up at another pair of Sharingan eyes. "Da-ddy?" he sniffled.

Everyone startled and Sasuke almost crumbled. "Yes," he grabbed his boy from Naruto and hugged him. My son! I've got him Raine. I've got him. "Saichi." He felt his little arms around him. "Daddy's got you."

How does Saichi know Sasuke is…? He felt his sister tug at his arm and Gaara tore his eyes off of Sasuke's elated face. "What is it Temari?"

The child was her top priority. "If things are done here, you should get that boy to the hospital. Let a specialist look at him."

Gaara looked at the desert as the Uchiha kissed his boy. "Sasuke?"

"He's gone," Sasuke answered the kage. "He was badly beaten and he's retreated."

Naruto stared at the boy cuddling the adult that looked just like him. Sasuke and his son… "Orochimaru is gone?"

Sasuke composed himself and turned to the kage. Gaara looked a little pale. "She's right. We should have Saichi checked out and Raine should be notified that we've rescued him from Orochimaru. She'll be really happy." Sasuke was happy enough to cry, he was sure Saichi's mother was going to be happy too.

Raine. Gaara's heart skipped a beat. We rescued Saichi. "Yes," Gaara had goose bumps. "She's been very worried for him."

"Let me stay with him Gaara, at least until his mother comes."

Saichi was clinging to Sasuke. He looked frightened and there were dark circles under his eyes. Poor little guy. "Alright Sasuke," Gaara was worried the boy might be sick. "Let's get him to a doctor."

ANBU came to the sliding glass door. Raine did breakfast dishes while Shikamaru paced behind her. The boys sat at the table having fun with play dough. "Princess, the kazekage is asking for you."

Raine pulled her hands from the sink and spun around fast. Gaara! "Is he alright!"

"Yes princess. He's waiting for you at the hospital with the child they were able to rescue from Orochimaru."

"Child…" she felt her knees go weak.

"You don't mean?" Shikamaru steadied his sister in law.

ANBU nodded once. "Uchiha Sasuke claims that the child is his, that the boy is Saichi."

Raine pulled away from Shikamaru. "Watch the boys!" She ran to her guard. "Please take me to Gaara."

Gaara stood at the foot of the boy's bed watching the Uchiha with his son. The little one was indeed very tired. He had stayed on the thrashing snake using his own chakra, an incredible feat at any age let alone two years old. It took its toll on the baby though; Saichi had fallen into a deep sleep. Sasuke sat in a chair at the boy's side holding his tiny hand and watching him breath. The med nin that checked Saichi out said he was alright, just exhausted. They were still waiting on the results of all the blood work.

Sasuke stared down at his son. Saichi dozed as daddy held his hand. His son looked just like him, like Yusuke; an Uchiha. Daddy's got you. It's going to be alright Saichi. Mommy is coming. "Yokkata…"

"He's going to be alright Sasuke." Gaara could feel the excited relief radiating off of Sasuke. "He's safe and he can rest here."

The Uchiha had thought over the reasoning Orochimaru had for bringing Saichi into the fight. "Orochimaru wanted Saichi to copy our jutsus. He was using his Sharingan through all of it."

"I must admit I'm surprised he just abandoned the boy like that. Had the summon fled Saichi would have fallen to his death. What kind of a monster deserts a child like that?" Gaara frowned. He thought for sure the sannin valued Saichi's life at least a little unless he's made more like him. "Keh."

"He wasn't expecting me to be able to fight at full power. He didn't count on you releasing the seal that kept my power restrained."

That reminded the kage, "I can't leave you like this Sasuke. That power has to be contained. The evil must be sealed again."

Figures. "Can you wait until I've seen to Saichi? The sealing process tends to make me black out and I want to spend every second with him I can."

Sasuke was watching his son sleep. "Alright Sasuke. We can take care of it when you return to your room later."

You mean my cell. He reached up and brushed Saichi's hair from his brow. "It's okay Saichi, daddy's here," he assured the baby again and kissed his forehead.

Gaara couldn't imagine what Sasuke was feeling right now. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. "I'm glad that we were able to take Saichi back."

"What's going to happen to my boy Gaara?" he thought Saichi might be spending some time here in the hospital. The pediatrician that examined him found nothing wrong with him, but he looked sickly. They were running a battery of tests on Saichi's blood now.

"If there is anything wrong with him Saichi will receive the very best care Sasuke, you have my word."

"You think he's sick?"

Compared to his own boys at home, yes. "He just looks tired Sasuke, pale. The dark circles under his eyes concern me."

"Orochimaru liked it out of the sun, away from the light of day. I doubt he ever took Saichi to the playground." Sasuke sighed. Yusuke was the lucky one. He was taken into a family. Saichi… "What has he done to my boy?"

Gaara opened his mouth to try to offer a word of comfort when the door opened behind him. He turned and saw his wife. "Raine," Gaara stepped to her.

Raine saw Gaara first and flung herself into his arms. "Gaara! Are you alright? They said," her eyes landed on Sasuke and then lower to the child in bed. It almost looked like Yusuke laying there. "Saichi…?"

"He's going to be okay," Gaara assured her. Gaara released her so she could see the boy. "The doctors are taking good care of him."

Still clinging to Gaara's arm Raine stepped around her husband and looked down at Saichi. He looked small and frail in the adult size hospital bed. He looked unhealthy too. Oh no…Saichi. She stepped to the side of the bed letting go of Gaara and focusing on the boy. "Saichi…"

Sasuke watched Raine come to their child. He could see the love and worry in the young mother's eyes. His heart beat hard in his chest. He wanted to tell her Raine I got Saichi back for you! But no words came to him. She sat on the bed by their baby and stroked his white cheek. Tears filled Raine's eyes and Sasuke fought the urge to grab her and hold her. He wanted to cry with her. We have our baby back.

My Saichi. Raine hadn't seen her baby since he was a newborn. "I missed so much. My poor baby."

Saichi's eyes fluttered open. A familiar face hovered over him. "Mommy," he identified.

Raine looked down into her baby's red eyes. "Saichi?" She couldn't help herself and Raine scooped him into her arms. She hugged her long lost son as the tears fell.

Gaara went to his wife and sat behind her. He hugged her and let her sag against him as she held Saichi and cried. Saichi knows his parents. Orochimaru must have shown him. "It's alright Raine."

It should be me. Sasuke sat still and silent watching the kazekage hug his love and his son. What if he takes away Saichi like he did Yusuke? What if…

She looked up and over at Sasuke. He was watching her with Saichi. "What did Orochimaru do to him?"

He shook his head. "I don't know if he's done anything."

"They're running some tests now," Gaara explained.

She looked back at Gaara and Saichi started to fuss. "Is he sick?"

"We don't know," Sasuke was honest. Saichi squirmed away from his mother. Reluctantly she let him lay back down. Saichi was very tired. He reached for his daddy and Sasuke took his hand again. "I'm here Saichi."

Raine watched the boy reach for his father. "Does he know that we're his parents?"

Sasuke looked up into Raine's eyes. "Yes. He called me daddy."

She didn't like looking at his Sharingan and her eyes went back to her son. Sasuke is daddy not…

Gaara was watching the way the Uchiha looked at his wife. Every nervous twitch of the eyebrow gave away what the prisoner was feeling. He looked at Raine with love and longing in his eyes. The door opened again and Gaara stood to greet the specialist that came in. He was holding a chart and looked nervous. "You have news."

"Kazekage sama," he didn't know how to say it. "The child has more venom running through his body then an adult could handle. Why it's not fatal to him we don't know, but we would like to begin administering an anti venom to bring his blood toxicity down."

"He's poisoned!" Raine gaped at the doctor.

Sasuke blinked down at his sleepy boy. "Saichi; what did Orochimaru do? Why did he hurt you?" he grit his teeth and looked up at the kage. "Gaara!"

Gaara stepped toward the ninja. "I want this boy treated immediately. Do whatever is necessary to help him."

"We'd like to get him up to peads, get him into a room and begin his treatment."

"Do it."

The specialist started out. "Who will fill out the boys chart?"

"I will," Sasuke spoke up. "I'm his father and I know Orochimaru best."

The ninja looked at his kage and Gaara nodded. "Alright. We'll be in for Saichi in a minute. You'll all have to occupy yourselves while we move him. He's going to room six if you want to head up there now."

Gaara nodded again and the doctor went out to get his team. He needed to tell ANBU what was going on; Gaara went to Raine and put his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay."

"Orochimaru poisoned him! What the fuck is wrong with that guy?" Raine started to cry again and Gaara hugged her. "He's just a baby!"

It hurt him to see Raine cry for their son like this. It hurt him to see Gaara try and comfort her. It infuriated him that the sannin had done something to their baby. Sasuke grit his teeth. This isn't right. This isn't fair!

The door opened again and two nurses guided a child size gurney into the room. "I'm afraid your party has to step out kazekage sama."

Gaara pulled Raine to her feet and escorted her to the door as she leaned against him trying to collect herself. "Sasuke, let them see to Saichi."

"Uchiha Sasuke, you're Saichi's father right? Tia has some paperwork for you to fill out at the nurse's station up in peads."

Sasuke snapped his head up at the nurse. It was the first time someone was offering him the chance to perform a fatherly duty. He got to his feet quick. "Where's that?"

"ANBU will escort you," Gaara assured his prisoner and whisked his wife out the door. Sasuke hurried after them. "Take Sasuke up to the nurse's station, pediatric unit."

Sasuke took one more look at Raine. She looked worried and sad. "It will be okay Raine. Saichi is going to be fine." He turned and followed his guards to the elevator.

"Gaara," Raine clung to her husband and stared up into his eyes.

He wrapped Raine into his arms. "It's going to be alright." Gaara kissed his wife. She settled a little and he started them down the hall. He didn't want her to see them move the poor child. Gaara felt awful about Saichi. The sannin had done something so vile to a child; like Raine when she was just a baby. Godamn you Orochimaru! "Let's get some coffee. I'll send a message home. I'm sure Temari's there by now."

Temari went home and filled Shikamaru in on the battle. One of Raine's ANBU showed up as she finished her retelling. He informed the family that the kage and the princess were seeing to the ill little boy. Temari nearly choked at the thought of anyone poisoning a baby. "What is wrong with that guy? Has he no conscious?"

Shikamaru held his wife until her fit passed. It wasn't an easy thing to do. "Calm down Temari. Saichi is being treated now, the boy will be alright."

Just a baby like mouse was when Orochimaru Temari hugged her husband and whispered her secret fear to him. "What if he comes after my nephews?"

He hugged her harder. "Then we'll protect them."

While they moved Saichi Gaara sent one of his shinobi to find Sakura. She was as close to Tsunade as Gaara could get in this desert and he wanted her to look at Saichi. She arrived with Kakashi Naruto and Neji just before they settled Saichi in. She hurried in to help the medical team. The others clustered around Gaara and Raine in the hall. ANBU had filled Sakura in on the way over. All of the Konoha ninja looked disgusted.

"Sakura can help," Kakashi assured the kage and his fretting wife.

"Sakura is an excellent medical ninja," Naruto boasted and peeked at Sasuke. He was filling out forms to try and help his son.

Raine leaned against her husband. "How could he do such a thing? Saichi is even younger then I was when Orochimaru…"

Gaara gave her a squeeze. "Saichi is going to be alright. They'll take excellent care of him and Sakura is here too."

Sasuke finally finished making notes for Saichi's doctors and hurried to join the group gathered in the hall. "I wrote down as much as I could remember," Sasuke nodded to Gaara and looked at Raine. She peeked at him and he felt something tug at his heart. I should be holding her not Gaara. Saichi is our son. "Don't worry, they'll help him."

"We should all be grateful that Saichi was rescued," Kakashi said soothingly.

Saichi's father nodded affirmatively. "Now he'll be safe." He cut his eyes back up to the kage that held his love. "We can protect Saichi here in Sand."

"Of course we can," Gaara agreed and Raine relaxed some.

A nurse appeared at the door of Saichi's room. "He's awake and asking for mommy and daddy. He got a little upset when we put the IV in. We aren't quite finished with him yet but if just the parents want to come in that's alright."

IV? They were sticking her poor baby with needles. Raine was to the door ahead of Sasuke. "Let me see him!" The nurse moved and Raine rushed in.

Sasuke looked at Gaara. The kage made no move toward the door, obediently following the nurses order. Gaara waved a hand at the Uchiha. "Go on." Sasuke didn't have to be told twice, he hurried to be with his boy.

Sakura was examining the weepy baby when Raine got to his side. Saichi was hooked to two different IV's. There were tears in his red eyes. "Mommy," he bleated and reached for her. Raine got as close as she could and took his hand. Saichi looked past her. "Daddy."

Sasuke stepped up next to Raine and looked down at their son. "It's alright Saichi. Daddy is here too."

Raine didn't want to cry and scare the poor child more. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You're going to be alright baby."

"Mommy daddy stay." Saichi closed his eyes.

"We'll stay," Raine promised as her little one drifted off to sleep.

Daddy looked up at Sakura. "What do you see?"

She was about done looking at the remarkable child and looked up at Saichi's parents. "I think he's going to be just fine. His immune system is incredible."

"Orochimaru poisoned him," Raine hissed.

"For some reason it isn't fatal to Saichi. Yes he's sick from it but," Sakura shook her heal. "Less then half the venom in his body could kill an adult."

Sasuke remembered the way the sannin had brought Saichi out of his body. "He was inside of Orochimaru, in that place where he keeps the sword…"

"What are you taking about?" the confused mommy turned on him.

"Orochimaru spit Saichi out in the middle of the fight," Sasuke gestured with his hand.

Spit out…Orochimaru… "He ate him!"

Raine wavered and Sasuke hooked an arm around her waist to steady her. "Easy Raine. This is no time for fainting."

She clutched a handful of Sasuke's shirt and frowned at him fighting her buckling knees. "Orochimaru ate him!"

"No he just swallowed him," Sasuke began to explaine but Raine sagged. He caught her in his arms and held her up. "Oi I said don't faint!"

"You knew Orochimaru could do this?" She had never imagined Saichi traveling with Orochimaru inside the sannin's gut.

Sasuke liked having Raine in his arms, but now was not the time for such luxurious thoughts and feelings. He gave her a little shake. "Fuck it, it doesn't matter. We've got Saichi now. Orochimaru can't hurt him anymore."

Don't tell me fuck it you asshole! Raine barred her teeth and forced herself to stand on her rubbery legs. "Is he going to come back for him?"

Mommy looked mad. Sasuke pulled her close. "I won't let Orochimaru near Saichi ever again. He'll be safe here. I'll do anything to protect him. Do you understand Raine?"

She still felt weak and her heart was beating hard in her chest. Sasuke had her squished right up against him and he was lecturing her! "Let go of me!"

"Can you stand on your own two feet?" Sasuke returned her frown.

Raine pushed him away and he moved back keeping his eyes on hers. "This is your fault Sasuke!"

He loved her, he didn't want to hurt her but Raine was wrong. He shook his head. "This is Gaara's fault. If he had waited until after I had you and Saichi away from Sound to take you back, Saichi would have been with you and not Orochimaru. If he hadn't crushed me into a coma I would have been with our son."

His words hit her like a slap in the face. Yes, things could have been different for the sick boy in bed beside her if only "Don't you blame Gaara for this! You pushed him to it! You made him fight you!"

Sasuke closed the distance between him and Raine in a single step. "While I lay in the hospital fucked up Orochimaru was raising our son; doing whatever the hell he wanted to him. Gaara didn't do enough to try and find Saichi! He did nothing to stop this," he grabbed Raine and turned her so she was looking at their boy. "Look at him. Do you think I would have let Orochimaru do this to him?"

"Oi," Sakura interrupted. "Settle down both of you. Saichi needs to sleep. If you want to argue do it someplace else." She felt sorry for both of them, but she felt even more sorry for the little boy that looked like the bickering adults. "I can imagine this is pretty fucked up for both of you guys. You love to hate each other or whatever; none of that shit matters. The only thing that matters now is Saichi, his health and wellbeing."

Sakura had their attention. Saichi's parents were staring at her sort of dumbfounded and Sakura sighed. "Look, whatever happened with you guys and Gaara and Orochimaru, just forget it. It's water under the bridge. You can't go back and change the past and holding some kind of stupid grudge isn't going to do you any good either. You need to worry about the present and the future. That sick little boy knows you're his mom and dad. That's what he needs, not this arguing crap."

Sasuke straightened. He hadn't been bitched out that good since his mother was alive. Sakura was right. It didn't matter how they had come to this, here they were; deal with it. He looked down at Raine and she rolled her eyes up to his. She was still frowning a little. "Sorry. Sakura's right." He sighed and looked at his son. "We need to get our shit together for Saichi."

Raine turned her attention back to Saichi's pale face. The little one needed his mother. "I'm his mother. I'll be that for him. I'll take care of my baby."

His heart was moved again by her love for their son. "I'll do everything I can for Saichi too." Sasuke took his place beside Raine.

For a long time they stood quietly while the nurses finished and went out. Sakura went with them to talk to the nervous men waiting in the hall. Finally they were alone and Sasuke couldn't hold back. He reached for Raine's hand and grabbed it Sasuke tried not to squeeze it too hard. Raine looked at him, but Sasuke kept looking at Saichi. "We've got him back Raine. Two years…"

His grip wasn't painful but the look on Sasuke's face needled at her heart. "Sasuke?"

"I just want him to be okay and I would really love the chance to be his dad." He gave her hand a final squeeze and let go. Sasuke went to a chair beyond the foot of Saichi's bed and sat down to watch his son.

Be his dad? Raine tore her eyes away from the depressed looking Uchiha and focused on Saichi. Saichi calls Sasuke daddy. She took a deep breath letting the implications sink in. Sasuke and Saichi wanted to be a part of each others life. What is Gaara going to say about that? Raine didn't think it was appropriate for a child to visit someone in jail. She took Saichi's hand and waited for what came next.

Gaara took in all of the information from the ninja treating Saichi including Sakura. He started for the door; he wasn't crazy about Sasuke being alone in there with Raine even if he could see the Uchiha was sitting away from her. Sakura tugged at his sleeve and Gaara looked at her. "Is there something else?"

"Yeah, I kinda…read those two the riot act."

"Oh?"

"I told them that they need to put their shit aside for the kid. It's what you were going to tell them to do right Gaara?" Sakura smiled a little. Gaara was a good kage. He would do the right thing for Saichi.

"Saichi is innocent in all of this. We can all put our personal differences aside for his benefit," Gaara conceded.

Naruto was still nervous and worried. "He's gonna be okay right?"

Sakura nodded. "He'll be alright. A few days in the hospital and he'll be good as new."

Kakashi looked at Gaara sidelong. "Will you be taking Saichi home with you when he's able to leave here kazekage sama?"

Gaara thought of the sickly looking baby in the next room, he thought about his own happy healthy brood at home. Saichi would certainly stand out amongst them. "Saichi will be with his mother. It looks like he really needs her." He said no more. Gaara went in to check on his wife and her baby.

"He wont," Naruto hesitated.

"Won't what?" Sakura pressed.

"Gaara won't take Saichi away from Sasuke will he? Saichi knows Sasuke is his dad. It isn't like…with Yusuke." He frowned at the thought.

Kakashi shook his head. "Gaara is Yusuke's dad Naruto."

"I know. I just mean…"

"Saichi has already identified who his parents are," Sakura explained for him.

Neji had kept his mouth shut listening and watching. When he spoke up all he had to say was, "I trust Gaara to do the right thing, don't you. He has so far."

"He has," Kakashi agreed.

Naruto nodded satisfied. Gaara will do the right thing. He peeked through the window in the door. Gaara stood with his arm around his wife. Sasuke sat in a chair watching his son. All was quiet. It will be okay.

Eventually Gaara took Raine home to see to their boys. Seeing their rosy cheeks and healthy appetites made her quietly worry about Saichi all the more. She made dinner for her family and after they got the boys cleaned up Gaara took Raine back to the hospital to check in on Saichi. The kazekage let the Uchiha remain with his son while Raine went to take care of their healthy babies.

Sasuke was well behaved, quiet unless he was talking to the toxicologist that had taken on his son's case. The Uchiha had given him as much information about the snakes the sannin used, but many were summons and Kusangagi was a mystery that bordered on myth even if the sannin could summon his sword. Sasuke gave up his chair by Saichi's bedside to his love when she returned. He went and stood with Gaara at the foot of the baby's bed.

"How is he?" Gaara asked quietly watchin Raine lean over the sleeping boy.

"The levels of poison in his blood are slowly coming down. He ate some red jello earlier and had two glasses of fruit juice, then he went back to sleep. He's really worn out."

Raine looked at Sasuke. "He woke up?"

She's sorry she missed it. Sasuke could read it in her eyes. "Just for a little while."

"Did he say anything?" Gaara asked luring Sasuke's eyes away from his wife. "Was he able to tell you anything Sasuke?"

Sadly Sasuke shook his head. "He asked for a drink, he said 'drink' and he rubbed his stomach and said 'hurt' when he finally got hungry."

Gaara thought that was kind of sad. He wondered if Saichi knew his 'hurt' was normal hunger. What has Orochimaru done to him? "Does he speak?"

"I think that he can, at least some but that doesn't seem to be his primary form of communication. It appears that the only time he rests his Sharingan is when he's asleep. He tries to communicate with his eyes. Projecting thoughts and feelings using the Sharingan. I think he might have communicated with Orochimaru that way."

"What do you mean, like telepathy?" Raine fret. Saichi was over two, he should have a bigger and better vocabulary then the twins but all he said was drink and hurt?

"The Sharingan can be used to project as well as copy." Sasuke looked at Raine again. "Like what I did to you at the tournament but to a much smaller degree."

She suppressed the shiver Sasuke's confession gave her. "So then he…"

"He tries to talk to you directly into your head. The nurses didn't understand so I turned my eyes on him to look him over myself. I heard him…" Sasuke looked back at Gaara. "Can you get Neji to look at Saichi's chakra circulatory system?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Raine panicked.

Sasuke lifted a hand and answered her question still looking at Gaara. "For an Uchiha using the Sharingan requires a little chakra and the bloodline limit rarely shows up before ten years old. Saichi is constantly using his Sharingan; it's already evolved to its second stage. He's a pretty little guy to be burning that kind of chakra all the time."

He didn't need Shikamaru here to make any deductions for him. That small and burning up chakra all of the time. Gaara frowned a little. "You think the continuous use of the Sharingan has something to do with his weakened condition."

"I'm sure of it. It has to be affecting him." Sasuke had paid very close attention to his son. The boy was uncomfortable here and very tired. Saichi thought the IV was mean and primitive. "He's…really smart I just know it."

"Can you make him stop?" Gaara asked eyeing the curious look on the Uchiha's face.

"I'll tell him to stop it!" Raine jumped in. Sasuke was talking to Gaara like he was the other parent; Raine had been pushed right out of the conversation.

Sasuke frowned some and turned to Raine. "Raine, its likely Saichi has been doing this for…maybe years. Turning it off for him, it might be a lot like going blind."

Panic was creeping up her back. Saichi is… "He's blind!"

Sasuke sighed heavily and cut his eyes up to Gaara. "You wanna settle her before she wakes Saichi?"

"Raine, Saichi isn't blind," Gaara assured her moving to be at her side. "Think of how Yusuke uses his eyes for a closer look at curious things."

Gaara came to her and Raine looked up at him. "He only does it a little."

"Yusuke has you to rely on to teach him Raine," Sasuke saw her bring her eyes back to his. "Orochimaru is what Saichi had up until now."

She sagged in her seat. "Then Saichi has never known what it is to be loved. Orochimaru was just…what, training him?"

What it is to be loved. Sasuke's eyes went from his distressed beloved to his sleeping child. Sasuke wanted to love them both and to feel it from them in return. "I want Neji look at him and I want to help him."

The door opened and a stern looking nurse came in. "Kazekage sama, visiting hours have just ended. The princess may stay with the baby but I'm afraid," she lifted a brow at the kage's prisoner. "You gentlemen should be on your way home."

The Uchiha straightened feeling a cold pain in his heart. He looked away from the mean nurse I'm his father bitch! to Gaara. "You need to take me back to my cell."

He hadn't forgotten he needed to seal Orochimaru's evil. He acknowledged Sasuke and then said to Raine, "I'll come back for you in a bit okay?" She nodded and set to watching her sick boy sleep. Gaara bent and kissed the top of her head. He knew her heart was hurting, he felt it in his own. "I love you."

Watching them made Sasuke's heart ache with jealousy and loneliness. I love you too Raine. Watch over our baby. He crept up to his son and kissed his cheek. "Sleep well Saichi. Daddy loves you."

Gaara kissed his wife goodbye as Sasuke went to the door. There were four ANBU in the hall, two were Raine's guards; one of them was Hiei. "Keep an eye on her for me."

"Hai kazekage sama."

Sasuke walked with the kage and two ANBU to the elevator. "Can I visit him again tomorrow Gaara? I'd like some more time to see how he's using his eyes, how he's trying to talk to us. I would really like to be there when Neji looks at him too."

Clearly the Uchiha was excited and concerned. "Take it easy Sasuke. Yes you can see him tomorrow and if you think you can help him then do it."

A small sigh of relief escaped as they boarded the elevator. "Thank you kazekage sama. I'll do my best."

Gaara escorted Sasuke back to his tower and stepped into his cell with him. "Mind if I sit down on the bed while you do it? I'll probably black out." Sasuke went to his bed pulling his shirt off. He threw it on the chair and turned his back to Gaara. "Do it."

The kage stepped over to the Uchiha and his hands moved through the seals. He almost felt sorry for Sasuke, but this was for the best. Gaara stabbed his fingers into the Uchiha sealing Orochimaru's evil by five. Sasuke cried out and fell over face first on his bunk. Instinctively Gaara felt for a pulse, he was alright. His scream had been a little startling, unnerving. It hurt so much he passed out from the pain.

ANBU stepped in as Gaara stepped out. He told them to make Sasuke comfortable and went back to the hospital to collect his wife. It was late when he finally convinced her Saichi would sleep through the night and Gaara took his tired wife home. They checked on their babies, all of their boys were asleep. The couple headed off to bed.

Raine told her husband how worried and sad for Saichi she was. Gaara promised to do everything he could for the boy. He told her he was going to let Sasuke study the baby, Gaara was even willing to accept his help so long as Saichi could benefit from the Uchiha's knowledge. Raine told him what Sakura had said. She promised not to scratch Sasuke's eyes out and try to deal with the jerk for Saichi. Gaara assured her Sasuke wouldn't get his hands on Raine again. She kept Sasuke's handshake to herself.

Gaara took his wife to bed and told her not to worry anymore about it tonight. He would get word on Saichi in the morning and tomorrow they could go see the baby again. She relaxed in his arms and Gaara kissed her. He pushed everything else from his mind but her and Gaara made love to his wife.

The next day was much easier on everyone. Saichi was awake longer and seemed more alert. He ate when his daddy got there; he liked his daddy's voice and red eyes. He didn't like the IV poking out of him though. Sasuke did his best to sooth his fussy son. Finally he crawled up on the bed next to him and Saichi cuddled against his daddy's chest. Sasuke's heart filled with joy as he held his son. "Daddy loves you."

Neji came with Gaara and Raine late in the morning and confirmed what Sasuke suspected. Saichi was using chakra constantly when he was awake keeping his Sharingan activated, but the boy had incredible chakra. Using the Sharingan might tire him, but a normal sleep schedule would be enough to compensate. Orochimaru's venom was doing more to hurt Saichi then the child could do to hurt himself.

Raine came prepared; she was a mommy after all. She brought Saichi a teddy bear and a stack of colorful children's books to read and look through with her boy. He took the bear and held it as he sat on Sasuke's lap. Raine smiled at him. She thought he looked a little better today and he seemed to be showing some emotional attachment to the one he called daddy. Raine brought out Goodnight Moon and Saichi watched her read it looking from her to the book.

Saichi pointed at the bunny. "Is his room?" he asked mommy.

"Yes," Raine said smiling. She was hoping Saichi would like the books.

"This my room?"

"This is the hospital Saichi. This is just your room while you're here."

"Can I have his room?"

Mommy laughed a little. "Do you like his room?"

The little boy nodded and reached for the book. "Balloon?"

It was depressing he didn't even know what it was. Gaara felt bad. "Would you like a balloon Saichi?" he offered.

Saichi looked up at Sabaku no Gaara. "You have one?"

Gaara smiled at the tot. "I can get you one. They have balloons in the gift shop."

He had never been given that information and Saichi's mouth fell open. For a minute he was just an excited two year old. "Really? Do they have the red balloon?"

Gaara chuckled, so did Sasuke. "I'll send someone to check." Gaara went to the door and flagged Hiei over.

Saichi pat his daddy to get his attention. "They got kittens too?"

Sasuke laughed down at his boy. He loved having him on his lap. "Sorry son I don't think so."

He turned back to his mommy. "I read it to you," Saichi reached for the book.

Raine humored him and handed her boy Goodnight Moon. He flipped back to the first page and started reading it aloud. Raine startled. "Saichi you can read?"

"I watch you read mommy."

"He copied you," Sasuke was beyond impressed.

Gaara caught the exchange just as he had finished ordering up a red balloon. "Copied?"

"Saichi what were you watching on mommy when she read you the story?" daddy asked patting his boy reassuringly on the head.

"Mommy face moves when she read."

The Uchiha grinned. "He was watching and memorizing your muscle movements as you read aloud," Sasuke explained.

Raine was just as weirded out as the men were impressed. "Shouldn't he be resting his eyes?" she frowned a little at Sasuke.

"It's alright Raine," Gaara eased returning to her side. He looked at the Uchiha and the pale baby on his lap. Sasuke looked happy, proud. Raine seemed a bit annoyed by it. "We have time for another story while we wait for Saichi's balloon."

Gaara took Raine home and the family had lunch together. Kankuro was unusually quiet; he was upset about the whole business with Saichi. He felt sorry for the kid but he didn't think Sasuke should be allowed around him. "How is he?" Kankuro finally asked his baby brother quietly.

"Saichi is doing better today." The little one had been quite excited about the red balloon. He was still holding it by the string when Gaara brought Raine home to see to their babies. He looked at Yusuke, a much healthier and slightly smaller version of Saichi. What will he think of Saichi?

"We should be able to bring him home in a few days," Raine told Temari. The women had wept together over the poor baby's condition.

"Who you talkin bout mama?" Gabe was nosey.

Raine turned to her boys clustered together at the table. Renji had spagettio sauce all over his face. "Mommy is going to bring another baby home."

"Baby?" this wasn't the way Gabe remembered it going last time. "But mommy too skinny for a baby."

"The baby is already here," Raine had Yusuke's attention now too. "Saichi is two." Raine held up two fingers.

Yusuke imitated his mommy. "We be two next."

She smiled at Yusuke. "That's right."

Renji touched his twin's cheek with a messy hand. "Is birthday coming. Get new toys."

Shikamaru chuckled. "I see Gabe has explained the concept of birthday presents to his little brothers ne?" he grinned at his nephew and Gabe giggled delighted.

Kankuro couldn't help but crack a smile. His nephews were too damn cute. Maybe a birthday party was just what this crew needed to lighten the mood. Uncle Kankuro had some cool presents too. "It will be fun."

The kazekage allowed Sasuke to sit with Saichi while he was in the hospital. ANBU brought him to his son after breakfast and the Uchiha did his best to be a good daddy to the two year old until visiting hours were over. Raine came by to spend time with the baby too. Most of the time Gaara was with her but once she was accompanied by Temari and Shikamaru. The newlyweds left the hospital that afternoon with heavy hearts. Saichi's pale face was just as distressing as his attachment to his father.

After five days in the hospital Saichi finally came off the IV. His doctor informed the kage that the boy could be released from the hospital after one more exam tomorrow. Gaara pulled Sasuke into the hall that evening while Raine read to Saichi. "We're going to take Saichi home tomorrow."

For a minute Sasuke just stared at Gaara as the implications of such a thing ran through his mind. Gaara is taking… "What about me?"

"You can still see him tomorrow morning. They won't discharge him until after lunch."

"And then what?" Sasuke felt cold fingers wrapping around his heart.

"Raine can take him home and try to settle him. It's going to be a bit of an adjustment for him. It's probably best for Saichi that he spend some time with Raine and the boys."

Sasuke agreed that Saichi should be with Raine and Yusuke, but "What about me Gaara? When does Saichi get to spend time with me? He needs me too."

Gaara could hear the panic in the Uchiha's voice. He was prepared for this. "Arrangements will be made so that you can still visit with Saichi."

Visit? "You're taking him away from me?" the cold around his heart started to spread.

"Saichi will be told that you're a busy ninja with many missions."

He is. He's taking Saichi away. "So I won't see him everyday anymore."

It was a difficult thing to deal with but Gaara stepped closer to Sasuke and did his duty as kage. "You are still a criminal and a prisoner Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke stepped up to meet Gaara's challenge. "You have murdered more people then I ever even thought of killing. You're just as bad as I am."

"I am the kazekage," Gaara corrected his prisoner.

It came from his heart, "You're a fucking baby stealer," and Sasuke lowered his eyes.

The challenge he had expected, 'baby stealer' he had not. "I'm not going to steal Saichi I'm going to help Raine take care of him."

The Uchiha stared at the ugly tile floor. "He calls me daddy. He likes to sit in my lap. Saichi loves me."

"And he will continue to have you Sasuke. Visitation will be arranged but Raine doesn't want him visiting you behind bars."

"I won't see him everyday though. I'll only see Saichi when you let me."

Gaara sighed. "It will be up to Raine. She'll get Saichi on a good healthy schedule. She'll do what's best for him. You trust her to do that don't you Sasuke?"

Raine… She was a good mother; she would do the right thing for their son. "I do."

"Give her the chance to mother him for a while Sasuke. She's damn near magical when it comes to children. Give her some time to make him comfortable in his own home."

You mean your home. "I don't want to lose Saichi again Gaara." The Uchiha frowned at the kage. "Two years Saichi was with Orochimaru, I missed everything just like with Yusuke."

"Not like Yusuke." Gaara was defensive. "He has always had a father."

"Keh," Sasuke was getting more frustrated. "I haven't even had the chance to be a father to either of my sons Gaara! It isn't fair for you to take Saichi away from me too. He knows I am his daddy not you!"

"Get a hold of yourself Sasuke," Gaara took his distraught prisoner by the shoulders. "Do you want Raine or Saichi to see you like this?"

Sasuke stepped away from Gaara. "No." He didn't want to look at Gaara, didn't want the bastard near him. Sasuke looked through the window at Raine and Saichi. "Please don't shut me out of his life Gaara."

His prisoner's hands were clenched into fists. The world was a shit sandwich and Sasuke had just taken a big bite. "I honestly don't intend to do that Sasuke. I want Saichi to think you're my busy important ninja and that's why you're gone sometimes. I don't want to hurt or frighten him Sasuke."

Sasuke turned a little and looked at Gaara sidelong. No of course not. You want to be has dad. "I just want to see him."

"You will," Gaara promised. "It will do both of you good."

The next morning Sasuke's stomach was too nervous to handle breakfast. He poked at his scrambled eggs for a little while and then asked his guard to take him to the hospital. He spent the rest of the morning with Saichi and just after lunch Gaara and Raine showed up. Sasuke felt his heart take a dive as Raine dressed their baby in a cute little shorts and t shirt combo. He looked adorable.

Saichi liked his new clothes. His mommy picked him up and gave him the good news. "How would you like to go home Saichi?"

He was still ghastly pale and the dark rings under his eyes remained. "Home? Mommy and daddy go home?"

Sasuke stepped toward Raine and his son. Gaara was behind her when Sasuke repeated the kazekage's lie. "Daddy has to go to work Saichi. I have a mission. Mommy is going to take you home and show you your room."

His red eyes went to his daddy. "Daddy going away?"

Daddy's heart was breaking. It was written all over his face. "I wont be gone long Saichi I promise. When I come back we'll do something fun okay?"

It wasn't okay. Saichi clung to his mother and buried her face against him. "Daddy don't love me no more!"

Sasuke gave up on giving a crap about anybody else's feelings, Saichi was all that mattered. He closed the distance between him and Raine with a single step. He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close so that their son was between them. His other hand went to Saichi's small frail shoulder. "That's not true Saichi. Daddy loves you very much. I'll miss you a lot."

Raine stared up at Sasuke wide eyed. He was so wrapped up in losing Saichi that he didn't seem to care that he was hugging on her in front of her husband. "Sasuke?"

Gaara hurried into the fray. He didn't blast the Uchiha away from his wife like his gut told him too. Gaara stayed calm and laid a hand on Raine's shoulder to settle her. He didn't want a nervous woman holding an already upset baby. "It's alright."

Saichi turned his pout on his daddy. "When you coming home?"

Never. Sasuke refused to crumble in front of his son and he swallowed his pain. "As soon as my mission is over. I'll be as quick as I can." He smiled down at his son.

"See you soon?" Saichi's small voice sounded hopeful.

"You bet." Sasuke bent a little and kissed Saichi on the cheek. "I love you Saichi."

Gaara didn't want to be the heel, but he didn't want to drag this out either. ANBU would see to the Uchiha after he and Raine departed with the child. He looked at the prisoner still holding his wife. "Good luck with your mission Sasuke. I'm sure you'll do a great job like always."

Sad eyes met Gaara's. "Thank you kazekage sama." He shifted his eyes to Raine. She was watching him with a strange look on her face. Sasuke let go of her staring down into her eyes. "Take good care of our son." Before she or Gaara could protest Sasuke pressed his lips to Raine's cheek and kissed her.

The kage glared at Sasuke as he backed away from Raine with his eyes on her surprised face. "Let's go," he tried not to sound angry.

"See you soon Saichi," Sasuke swore once more as Gaara escorted Raine and his baby away. "Be good for your mommy!" the door swung shut and they were gone. I've lost him. Sasuke went to Saichi's bed and sat down. He picked up his baby's pillow and brought it to his face. It smelled like baby shampoo and red jello. Saichi… I love you. The tears started to sting his eyes. Take care of our baby my love.

The Uchiha broke down and cried into his son's pillow. Sasuke's heart was broken. All that he loved was with his keeper, Sabaku no Gaara. Please don't take him away Gaara. You have everything else don't take Saichi too!