"Gaara took her death pretty hard obviously. He hasn't gotten close to anyone since." Naruto finished up the tale which he had spent most of the evening telling.

Sasuke nodded. "Understandable."

"That's what I thought, but he's much happier now you know? He is a lot more at ease."

"Really?"

"Trust me, you wouldn't have wanted to meet Gaara right after her death. He was downright scary. Suicidal almost, but he decided to stick around."

"Why?" Sasuke asked, for once genuinely interested.

"He said, 'there must be a reason why I'm still here and I intend to find out what it is', whatever that means." Naruto answered.

"Oh, well that's—" Sasuke's response was interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone. He quickly pulled his out and flipped it open.

"You found him?" "It's on?" "Should I be there?" "On my way."

Sasuke flipped the phone shut and stood up, laying the bill on the table. "Let's go," Sasuke said as he started towards the exit.

"Hwy, where are we going?" Naruto asked loudly as he followed the rapidly moving Sasuke out of the restaurant.

"Neji's," Sasuke replied simply as he climbed into the car.

"But why?" Naruto whined as he climbed in on the other side.

"I'll explain on the way," Sasuke said as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

When they got on the man road, Sasuke began to explain. "Neji wanted to help Gaara out, but the books and police say they need proof. Neji intends to get it."

"How?" Naruto asked.

"Hidden microphone."

"On Gaara?"

Sasuke nodded as he turned into Neji's driveway.

"So, let me get this straight. We get a recording, give it to the police and Gaara's good to go?"

"Theoretically."

"How so?"

"There's custody and all this other crap, but he'll definitely be out of that house." Sasuke said his as they went up the stairs of the front porch. He rang the doorbell. Neji answered.

He ushered them inside without a word and motioned for them to follow him. They followed Neji to his room where the receiver to the recorder was set up.

"So," Naruto said flopping down onto the bed," what now?"

"Now," Neji answered," we wait."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They didn't have to wait long. Soon enough, silence and the creaking open of a door replaced the overwhelming sound of a car engine that was coming from the receiver. They heard the echo of footsteps on wood, then a gruff voice demanding," where've you bee," in a slurred speech that screamed, "I'm drunk."

There was no response, just the continuance of footsteps on wood. Then, "You'll answer when I'm talking to you!" They heard a crash of breaking glass and the thud of something falling to the floor. /a soft groan was heard.

The boys went rigid. "Not so tough now are you?" The sounds of glass plinking to the floor. Of something slamming into a wall. "Still won't answer? I'll just go ask that blonde friend of yours, or maybe, that new one that's been hanging around. Tell me, what's his name again, Neji or something?"

They heard a ragged intake of breath. "Stay away from him."

"Who will make me? You?" The voice was incredulous. "I'll break him and have him disposed of, just like her. You can't stop me." They heard another slam and the sliding o something down a wall.

"I won't let you…"

"How? From down there? You can't do anything. You're useless. A monster. No one can love you. Care about you. You're alone." They heard the sound of a foot meeting a stomach. A gasp for breath.

"That's…not…true…my…friends…they…care…about…me…" heavy breathing could be heard. Another thud.

"You don't have any friends." Another loud thud. The sound of someone storming away.

"I'm…sorry…Marya…I…don't…think…I'll…be…keeping…that…promise." They heard the thud of someone falling to the floor.

That thud seemed to wake the guys from a trance. Naruto was instantly up, hitting mute on the recorder. "We have to hurry."

Naruto and Sasuke were at the door; they looked back, surprised to see Neji still on the bed. He seemed frozen sitting there staring at the receiver. "Come on!" Naruto practically yelled," we can still help him! We have to…"

Neji nodded slowly," Help." Then, suddenly, he seemed to wake up. He was soon running out the front door of his house. Naruto and Sasuke not far behind.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When they reached Gaara's house the door was unlocked and ajar. They entered the house cautiously. The hallway seemed the same; then they entered the front room. Naruto felt like throwing up.

"Gaara!" Neji ran over to a bloody figure hunched over near a wall. The sounds on the tape slowly fit together. Painting a gruesome scene. It seemed that a Gaara had been thrown into a small glass table. Then, beaten badly, with glass cutting into his skin. The shards and blood were everywhere. "I'll call an ambulance." Sasuke left the room to get the phone.

Naruto walked over to Gaara. He sat down next to Neji. Brushing Gaara's bangs off his forward Naruto sighed. "You better not die now bastard," he said softly. " We still have our little bet. You can't die yet!" Naruto's fist hit the wall in frustration.

"Nar-ruto, Ne-ji."

Neji and Naruto looked down at Gaara. His eyes were open and bleary, disoriented. Sasuke came in to the room and knelt down with the others. "They're on their way."

"Sa-suke."

"Gaara," Neji said softly, taking his hand.

"Nar-ru-to," Gaara said softly, turning his head towards the blonde, then back to Neji," I win."

He fell unconscious again.

The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance.

Naruto turned into Sasuke. A few teas falling down his face. Sasuke pulled him into a hug. Letting him cry into his chest.

Neji sat there, holding Gaara's hand. His eyes were again distant and glistening with moisture.

"Please Gaara, hold on."

For the first time in many years, tears fell from Neji's eyes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well, this is written Tuesday, and you'll be reading it Saturday or Sunday depending on when I get home from vacation. I hope for there to be another chapter up too because it seems cruel to leave you there for another five days while I'm on retreat with my church.

I'd love a review. I expect that this fic will end somewhere around twenty chapters unless, a new idea comes to me.

I'm too busy to check for typos right now. If there are any bad ones, tell me.