Disclaimer: I own Naruto as much as I own the mall downtown.

If: Oi... bit of a longer wait this time around eh? Sorry 'bout that. Got caught up in school and all that. ... Might not be able to update again till next week either (damn school)... but anyway, hope y'all enjoy this chapter!


Demonchildssister: lol, I'm an updating maniac when I'm inspired like I am now. Power to my imagination not letting me not post/write things when they pop into my brain.

Dark Dragon34: Woo! I'm glad you're liking meh story! Thanks for the review!

xX-Angel.Eater-xX: Wow, tears to your eyes eh? That's pretty cool. I'm glad I moved you so, and glad that you love meh story! Thanks for the review!

LETmeCRY: Wahh... I'm so glad you liked my flashback! I was worried it would be a bit confusing... Thanks for the review!

YINGYANGBLOSSOMS : Woo! I just love getting your reviews! I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks a bunch!

Brooklyn'sGurl: I'm pretty sure we'll be finding out why Yashamaru does what he did soon. I'm glad you liked that line at the end, I hadn't put it in originally, but I'm glad I did put it in. Thanks for the reviews! I love hearing from you!


Vater unser
der Du bist im Himmel
Geheiligt werde Dein Name
Dein Reich komme
Dein Wille geschehe
Wie im Himmel als auch auf Erden
Und vergib uns unsre Schuld
Wir auch wir vergeben unsern Schuldigern

Vater höre meine Stimme

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti
Amen

(Vater Unser (the Lord's Prayer), E Nomine)


Sasuke was curious to say the least. He was curious, he was angry and he was nervous, too many emotions for an Uchiha to be feeling. Actually, the more he thought about it, he shouldn't feel any emotions if he were to truly call himself an Uchiha. But all that was aside from the point. Sasuke was just full of emotions because of one boy, one guy that he barely knew. How could one person create so many emotions in someone? How was it he was nearly torn apart with worry because of Gaara?

There were too many questions he needed to ask, there were too few things known, too little information, and no explanations in sight. He couldn't ask Gaara, Gaara was in a comatose state, he had been in one since he got to the hospital four days ago. Sasuke couldn't ask Gaara's family, they had never shown up. He couldn't even ask Naruto, every time he tried to ask something the blonde came up with some excuse to leave the room. Sasuke was frustrated to say the least.

The doctors had said that Gaara should have woken up after he had come out of OR, but he never had. After hearing those screams that first night, Sasuke couldn't bring himself to leave Gaara's side. He also found out that after that night, which was spent holding the red head, he couldn't come out of contact with Gaara. Every time Sasuke would let go of the red head's hand, which he had started doing so he wouldn't have to be lying with the hurt boy, the nightmares would start again. It would start with whimpering, which would gradually increase into frightened screams. No one else but Sasuke could stop Gaara from screaming once he started. So Sasuke had resigned himself to staying by Gaara's side twenty-four hours a day. Luckily for him though, Naruto came back after school the day after they had found Gaara and taken the red head's hand. When Sasuke had let go, Gaara hadn't started to whimper. Relieved, Sasuke left the room for the first time in over twelve hours. Thus a pattern developed. Naruto would come to visit for an hour before school, would come back after school and stay until visiting hours were over. During this time Sasuke would leave the room and take care of eating and using the restroom. He was eternally grateful that Naruto could also calm the red head, he didn't know what he would have done if Naruto wasn't able to do so.

Sasuke had expected Gaara's parents and family to show up that first night, and was definitely not expecting to stay by the red head's side for four days. When Gaara's family hadn't shown up that first night, Sasuke had passed it off as they were at work or didn't know or something (it had rained after all, the blood would be washed away, on the outside at least). But when they hadn't shown up at all the next day, Sasuke got angry and suspicious. He tried to ask Naruto about it, but Naruto had suddenly become very silent and had said he needed to go home. To say that Sasuke was suspicious of something would be a gross understatement. Sasuke didn't like being left in the dark, especially about something like this, where Gaara's life had been at stake. Wouldn't they notice that their son was gone? Shouldn't they have notified the authorities or called one of Gaara's friends (though the only friend Sasuke knew Gaara had was Naruto)?

Sasuke didn't like this situation one bit. First it was Gaara in all his mystery. Then it was Gaara's conspicuously missing family. On top of it all, Sasuke hated hospitals. Sasuke had been to hospitals a few too many times in the last three years to like them very much. Sasuke had blocked most of those horrendous memories from his brain, but he found that being in a hospital made it very hard to deny that they had happened. Some things were meant to be buried and forgotten, why couldn't he forget them now?

So Sasuke's life became nothing. He sat in the hospital room, holding Gaara's hand, and wondering what was going on. Questions flooded his mind, overwhelming him at times. At other times it was memories that were overcoming his senses, reminding him of times and places he would rather not remember, leaving him in a crying mess. Sasuke didn't like being so weak.

The fourth day started as normal as was to be expected. Sasuke got his breakfast and made a beeline to the bathroom when Naruto showed up. Sasuke couldn't seem to eat, or at least to hold food down. The dreams that had haunted his sleep that night were still haunting him that morning and food wasn't a pleasant thing to be seeing or eating. Naruto hadn't asked him what the problem was, for which Sasuke was eternally grateful.

The time between Naruto's visits was spent reading a book one of the nurses had been kind enough to bring for him. It was a murder mystery by Agatha Christy. Sasuke was very engrossed in the book. The story kept his mind off the problems he was facing at the moment, and the thoughts and dreams plaguing his existence.

Naruto had come back around three that afternoon. After taking up Gaara's other hand, Naruto had indicated that Sasuke could go do his thing. Letting go of Gaara's hand somewhat reluctantly, he had gotten attached over the time spent holding it, Sasuke stood from his chair. He stretched and then turned to leave. As he exited he noticed another blonde at the counter, but ignored her and headed off to the bathroom and mess hall.

Naruto had picked up his own book, planning on reading during his visit this time around to avoid Sasuke's questions. He pulled his book out of his bag, a horror book by Steven King. Though horror wasn't normally his book topic of choice, Naruto had fallen in love with this book: Misery. Naruto was totally creeped out beyond belief and yet totally drawn into the book. He barely heard the door click open as he started to read. Looking up, Naruto was surprised to find it wasn't Sasuke in the doorway, but Temari.

"Temari?" the blonde questioned. The other blonde, who had her hair in four ponytails, took a step forward into the light. Naruto noticed that she was wearing jeans and a black shirt that he was pretty sure was actually Gaara's. Temari had even gone so far that she had outlined her eyes in black. Naruto was a bit surprised at her appearance.

"How… how is he?" she asked tentatively. Naruto looked over at his friend's unconscious and unaware form, peacefully sleeping.

"He's healing physically, but I'm afraid his mental state isn't that great," Naruto said looking down as he did so.

"What do you mean?" Temari asked, worried and nervous about the answer.

"I mean, he was supposed to wake up three days ago and that if I or Sasuke don't hold his hand he starts to scream and thrash and try to…" Naruto couldn't finish that sentence. He looked up at Temari, who had tears in her eyes.

"He… unconsciously is trying to kill himself?" she stuttered, Naruto nodded his head. Temari took three steps and collapsed into Sasuke's chair.

"I don't know what he keeps seeing behind those closed eyes of his, but it can't be good," Naruto said, bringing his other hand up to stroke Gaara's cheek lovingly.

"No… it certainly can't be," she murmured. Naruto looked up from Gaara's face to stare at her.

"Does that mean…" he started. Temari cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"What I can tell you is this: father hasn't been drunk lately, he's banned us from coming here and … and he's been scarily happy about it all," she said, faltering at the last bit. Naruto stared at her, horrified.

"It seems like he wants to remember and savor it," Temari went on. She brushed her hand through Gaara's hair. "I don't even know what happened…"

"All I know is that we found him in a puddle of his own blood on your front porch. There was a ton of glass embedded into his skin and we were afraid that he wasn't going to make it," Naruto said. Temari frowned.

"That would explain the new carpeting and coffee table in the living room," she mumbled. Naruto's mouth pressed into a firm line.

"He threw him through the coffee table," he growled. Naruto fisted his hand in Gaara's bed sheets, having taken his hand from Gaara's face. "If I could I'd get him out of there."

"So would I, and so would Kankuro, who is distracting father at the moment so I can visit," Temari said. "But no one can ever get evidence on him. And Gaara won't testify against him, he's too scared of what would happen."

Naruto sighed heavily. "Maybe this will change his mind."

"I doubt it, this sort of thing has happened before," Temari said darkly. Naruto glared. "I mean the hospital part."

Naruto growled.

"Father won't even pay for it. Gaara's not even covered by the insurance," Temari said. She frowned and caressed Gaara's face again.

Naruto stood, knocking over his chair in the process. He clenched his fists, momentarily forgetting about Gaara's hand in his.

"He shouldn't be able to get away with this!" he shouted, forgetting where he was. The door opened and Sasuke re-entered the room.

"… Naruto, who's this?" Sasuke asked. Naruto paled and Temari turned around. Temari blinked several times before looking to Naruto.

"This is Temari," Naruto said. Sasuke blinked a few times before nodding to Temari. Temari smiled.

"And who are you?" she asked. Sasuke just looked at her, face blank.

"Sasuke," he said. Temari nodded and grinned.

"So, how do you know my brother?" she asked. Sasuke turned to her and stared, wide eyed before turning to Naruto and leveling him with a deadly glare. Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Temari is Gaara's older sister," Naruto said sheepishly. Sasuke turned to glare at her.

"Where the fuck have you people been? He's been here for four days! Don't you people care!" Sasuke suddenly exploded. Both Naruto and Temari were taken aback by the outburst. Temari narrowed her eyes at Sasuke.

"Who are you to criticize me? What do you know about our family!" she yelled in return. Sasuke growled at her.

"Would you two calm down!" Naruto shouted, looking nervously at Gaara, who was still sleeping peacefully. Sasuke and Temari instantly shut up, turning to look at the peaceful seeming red head.

"Jeez… fine Sasuke, you wanted to know what was going on, and now you'll know," Naruto said. Sasuke's eyes widened. Temari got up from Sasuke's chair and guided him to it.

"You're going to want to sit through this," she said kindly. Sasuke just frowned in confusion.

"I don't know if Gaara will be too pleased with me revealing all of this, but in this situation it's unavoidable," Naruto murmured. He gave the red head's hand a squeeze.

"You should probably take over Sasuke, I'm going to need to gesticulate," Naruto said. Sasuke grabbed Gaara's hand in both of his. Temari raised an eyebrow.

"Are you my brother's boyfriend or something?" she asked. Sasuke just looked at her, stunned. Naruto laughed.

"He's not Temari, but from the way he's been acting I'm pretty sure he wants to be," Naruto said. Sasuke glared at the blonde. Temari chuckled a bit. She left for the moment and dragged a chair in from the hallway.

"Alright Naruto, why don't you start? I'm sure Gaara would like it better if you tell him instead of me," she said. Naruto nodded.

"Alright Sasuke, I'm not going to tell you a lot of things, but I will tell you the general idea of what's going on. Some things you're going to have to figure out on your own. Maybe when Gaara wakes up he'll fill in the holes I'll leave, but we won't know until he wakes up," Naruto said. Sasuke nodded.

"So let's begin."