Hinata stared at the tall man that walked into her office. Lee was a bubble of energy, and he had an odd middle school bowl cut. His suit was professional cut but a bright shade of green.

"My assistant?" Hinata wondered with her mouth slightly agape.

"Yes, ma'am, I was sent by Kisame to ensure your success!" Lee told her cheerfully.

Hinata blanched. Was she doing badly? She sent him outside while she made a call to Itachi's assistant.

"Give him anything you can. He's great at pestering people to get their work done. If you can stand him, he's great at what he does." Kisame told her.

"I don't understand," Kisame hadn't answered her question.

"Hey, Itachi knows the director is trying to work you to death, and he likes to test his father's patience. Just take the help and keep him out of the director's way." Kisame had been quite helpful in navigating Fugaku's moods. He had been Itachi's assistant for many years, so he knew the two well, but he also seemed to not be as afraid of her losing her job as she was. Of course, it could be that he just didn't care. Kisame had seen many people in this position. Hinata probably was just a different face that would be gone in a month for him.

"Alright," Hinata mumbled.

"And hey," Hinata heard just as she was about to hang up. "Itachi wants to congratulate you on the contract, Tuesday."

"… But…" Hinata hadn't done anything. Itachi was so strange. "Uh, please thank him for me," Hinata said goodbye and waved Lee back to her office. It would be nice to have an extra hand, but she could already feel a pit in her stomach.

It had only taken a few hours.

"Hinata." Fugaku addressed her through the com. It was in his tone. He knew.

Hinata got up, heading into his office, putting a hand out to make sure Lee kept at his desk as he saw her get up from his cubicle on the other end of the hall.

Hinata bowed as she came in and readied herself for the worse.

Fugaku nodded at the cubicle and the man in the violently green suit. "What is that?"

"That is Rock Lee, my assistant," Hinata replied simply.

"Your assistant?" Fugaku asked calmly with a raised eyebrow.

Hinata nodded.

"Tell me. Can you not do your job? Do you need assistance?"

"No, sir," Hinata answered plainly.

"Then what do you need assistance for?" Fugaku asked.

Hinata opened her mouth to tell him that Itachi had once again meddled, but she thought better of it. "To better do my job, sir. Just as I am here to support you."

Fugaku's face flattened, and he sat back in his chair. He stayed silent for a few moments before his eyes slid back to Lee. "Schedule lunch with my son."

Itachi knocked, giving her a friendly wave as he entered her office.

Hinata gave a quick look at the time. Always checking. "Sorry to make appointments on such short notice."

Itachi waved his hand. "Don't worry. I had no plans. How are you liking your new assistant."

Hinata glanced around him at the man he had sent up from his department. "He's got a lot of energy."

"Yes, he does. Am I in trouble again?" Itachi nodded toward his father's office.

Hinata made a face. "I didn't tell him you sent him."

"Really?" Itachi wondered.

"I think he figured it out, though," Hinata tilted her head to look at Lee.

"Yes, I think I'm in for another 'dad is disappointed, but not surprised' talk." Itachi chuckled.

Hinata's face dropped, worried. "Disappointed?"

Itachi chuckled, but she didn't seem to get the joke. "He's just annoyed with me."

"Your department does quite well. He knows that." Hinata still looked genuinely worried that his father was disappointed in him.

There was something deeper there. Unfortunately, Itachi knew his father was only going to get angrier with time.

"Oh, do you have something to wear for Sasuke's party?" Itachi asked me to get up.

Hinata looked down at her schedule. "I have an appointment for a stylist Friday."

"Cancel it. I'll take you shopping." Itachi headed out the door.

"I can't…" Fugaku didn't let her finish as he left the room.

Itachi headed into his father's office, settling himself into the chair with a smile.

His father was gaining wrinkles every time he saw him. "What is that abomination from your department doing here?"

"My department? He's Hinata's assistant. He's under you."

"I'm getting tired of your games, Itachi," Fugaku grumbled.

"What game? Your assistant is here all hours of the day, and her main job is to make sure she is available to you. If she's off running errands, how can she do that? Kisame has someone he sends for things. Not sure why she shouldn't have one?" Itachi shrugged.

"Why are you so interested in my assistant?" Fugaku growled.

"Why are you so interested in ensuring she has a hard time?" Itachi fired back.

Fugaku ground his teeth. They both knew he had some reason for giving her so much shit, but Itachi wanted to know why this poor girl was on his father's shit list.

"Stop meddling," Fugaku demanded.

"When you stop treating her like she wronged you in a past life." Itachi countered.

Fugaku huffed. "I don't know what you mean."

"I'm sure." Itachi mussed.

Fugaku sat back, crossed his arms, rubbing his temple. He stamped his finger down on the phone. "Hinata, tea."

Itachi frowned. "Why not transfer her to another department if you dislike her so much? I would love to have someone so hardworking."

Fugaku shook his head, refusing to answer. Hinata came in shortly after with tea and a glass of water. She put tea in front of Itachi, the tray with another tea and water down on the desk. Itachi thanked her.

Hinata bowed her head, and she left. That's when he noticed that the glass of water was accompanied by two small pills.

"You're having migraines again?" Itachi asked. "It's been months."

"They seem to have come back with the girl and your visits," Fugaku took the pills.

"Maybe you should see the doctor." Itachi pushed.

"Maybe you should stop causing me headaches." Fugaku snapped back.

A few moments later, Hinata also brought in lunch.

Fugaku's headache was ebbing away as his son left, the medication kicking in. Itachi walked up to his assistant, who was standing at the green monstrosity's desk.

Hinata looked over at him with a concerned look, then back up to his son, nodding. Fugaku sighed. Was his revenge worth this fuss at this point?

Fugaku had to wait until the evening report to find out what was said. "And I have made an appointment for you to see your doctor at the end of the day tomorrow."

Fugaku's head snapped up. "What?"

Hinata's face hardened. "I can't keep giving you pain relievers at this rate. It's not healthy."

"You do not get to decide what is healthy," Fugaku growled.

"Your son is worried about you. I did it in your best interest, I think you should at least make sure you are simply deficient, and it's not something more serious." Hinata snapped back firmly.

Fugaku was pissed, but he was surprised she was holding this ground. He snapped his pen down.

"If nothing else, it would give Uchiha-sama the piece of mind that you are looking after yourself," Hinata added.