Disclaimers: Don't own 'em, just using them as a vent for my creative outlets until I come up with characters of my own that people like enough to write fanfic about ;)
A/N: Sorry about the delay, I've been suffering from a writer's block blind spot - I've had later chapters done for months, but just couldn't get chapter two into shape. So, I've cut it into two shorter chapters so I can post a little more while I try to fix what will now be chapter three.
Safe As Houses: Chapter Two
Tsunade was pacing the floor of her office watching the cloud-filtered glow of the sun sink beyond the Hokage Monument when Naruto and Sakura entered.
"Did you..."
"No luck." Sakura cut her off with a shake of her head. "Have all of the people looking for him reported in yet?"
"You were the last ones." Tsunade pulled a bottle from the bottom drawer of her desk and filled a small glass. "You might as well have a seat and join me."
They obediently took seats on the couch and watched the Hokage drink in silence for a few minutes.
"The rain's getting worse, isn't it?" Sakura sighed.
"Yes..."
Suddenly, a crash of thunder coincided with the office door being thrown open. In the doorway stood a bedraggled figure clutching a scroll case, water dripping from muddy silver hair that had finally given in to gravity.
"Kakashi!" Tsunade stood up abruptly from her desk.
"They knew." he tossed the scroll case into the office and staggered away.
"Kakashi-sensei, wait! You're more than twelve hours late, I think we need a better explanation than that!"
Sakura jumped from the couch and ran after him, intending to drag him back into the office if needed. He cried out in pain and stumbled as she grabbed his arm firmly.
"Could've sworn...got that back into the socket..."
She drew her hand away quickly and looked at the smear of fresh blood on her palm. For the first time, she noticed the dark stain on his arm, slowly spreading and running down towards his wrist.
"You're hurt..." Sakura could feel the anger from earlier coming back. "You're hurt, and you were just going to wander off somewhere alone? What were you thinking? You need to go to...Kakashi-sensei?"
He had passed out while she was shouting at him and lay slumped against the wall just outside Tsunade's door, still clutching his injured arm.
"Sakura, help me get him to the hospital. Naruto, go spread the word that Kakashi's finally made it home." Tsunade gave him a significant look. "No need for too many details."
With a nod, Naruto headed down the hallway as Shizune passed to help her teacher, and was soon on his way through the storm towards ramen.
