So this winner of a website apparently isn't sending out any emails for, well, anything. If you've subscribed to this, the newest update starts on chapter 18. I've also been updating over on Ao3 whose subscriptions are working. My name over there is Its_Levioooosa on that note I'm trying to push myself back into fandom (shout out to my meds lol) cause it really does bring me joy! But if you want to listen to me shit talk about anime and Harry Potter, come hang out with me on twitter. It's a brand new account so I need friends, the user name is Its_Levioooosaa (I'm super mad at whoever has it with just one 'a' cause I wanted all my usernames to match)
I've taken some liberties with how chakra works and how they're able to use it for healing. We don't know too much about it, but if Sakura can use it to pull poison out of a body and shove her hand through Naruto's ribs to keep his heart beating I'm going to say what I'm having her do here is completely doable.
Underlined is indicating who a message is from.
March 12th
Moonlight filtered through the curtains across the window. Hinata blinked, eyes adjusting to the darkness. Glancing around, orientating herself to the surroundings, the dark hospital room coming into view. Her single bed took up the majority of the dark room, though she was able to make out the outline of a second door she assumed led to the bathroom. Turning slowly she could feel an IV attached to her arm and a hard brace starting just below her knee and stopping at her ankle. Spying her device laying on the small table next to the bed, she stretches her right arm out, able to reach it without tugging too much on the IV placed in the left. Pulling it slightly causing the plug to fall to the table, holding the button down and it flickers to life.
Hinata scrolls through the messages, before landing on the thread between herself and Naruto, a little number three next to his name. She blinks, the words fuzzy.
Must be the pain meds. She thinks using the light on her phone to look at what the IV bag says before reading the messages
Naruto: Sorry if I'm not there when you wake up I stopped back by and Sakura said she gave you more to sleep while setting your leg
Naruto: Let me know when you're awake and I'll bring you some food
Naruto: Love you
Hinata smiled at the last message, replying, not expecting his almost instant reply as it was a little past one in the morning
Hinata: Just woke up, bring me a cinmon roll in the morning? I love you too!
Hinata: Cinnamon, these pain meds have me all fuzzy.
Naruto: You're cute the bakery's not open right now but I have stuff for sandwiches here
Her cheeks flared as the complement went straight to her foggy brain.
Hinata: Sneak in and bring me one?
Naruto: See you soon
She smiled, biting her lower lip, despite the heavy thoughts that edged in the back of her mind. The fear of being alone swirled through her. Normally it wouldn't have bothered her knowing she was safe. But her head spun, she felt like she was floating. The feelings seemed to wrap around her, turning the bits of happiness messaging with Naruto had brought her vanishing. Not realizing that tears had silently started falling down her cheeks until a familiar voice, her favorite voice, broke through the fog.
"Hey," the bed dipping as Naruto sits on the edge. "What's wrong?" He asks as Hinata moves herself into a sitting position.
"I was just," she stops, taking a deep breath, "I was just thinking. I always get like this wherever they give me IV med. Talk and feel too much." Saying the last part almost to herself.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Naruto asked, remembering how countless people had been lecturing him about letting it be her choice as to when, or if, she talked. Hinata eyes following the movement as he places a bag on the side table.
"Food first," a blush rising on her cheeks as her stomach growls at the mention of food. "I haven't eaten since the rescuers came. Whatever they gave me in the field made me nauseous." She explains at Naruto's concerned look.
Naruto unwraps two sandwiches, hastily thrown together by the looks of them. The pair eat in silence, Naruto finishing first, his finger tracing idle circles on the exposed skin of her knee peeking out of the edge of her hospital gown. His eyes not leaving her face as she ate.
"What?" Hinata questions, hands subconsciously brushing her face feeling for bits of the sandwich left behind.
"Nothing, your face is just looking better already." His hand stilling against her leg.
"I never saw it, well never asked to, was it bad?"
"Just a little swollen and a cut," he reaches, finger tracing the edge of the now fading wound "but it looks like Sakura's healing balm is working."
"Hhhmmm." Hinata hums, turning her face into his palm, now cupping her cheek.
Moments slipped by, Hinata unaware of how long it really was with his warm palm pressed to her cheek.
"You look tired." Naruto stated, his hand moving to brush long hair behind her ear. "I should go and…" Not finishing his sentence before Hinata cuts him off.
"No, I mean please stay. I know a nurse would sit with me if I needed someone, but I don't want just someone. I want you." The light in her eyes falters, skimming across the blanket covering her lap. "I need you to stay with me."
Wordlessly Naruto toes his shoes off, pulling his shirt over his head and swinging his legs onto the bed next to hers. Leaning back, resting his head on a bent elbow.
"Let's sleep then." Reaching, to help ease her back down on the bed, pulling the blanket of his sweatpants coved legs and her bare ones (save the brace).
"Can we maybe, I don't know, talk maybe?" Hinata questions, her voice hardly a whisper.
"Yeah." Naruto mumbles back, stretching his arm out to drape over her waist.
"I just," she starts "it's not like he did anything to me. He hardly even saw my breast. But the bruises, the way he gripped me, I can't stop feeling it. Smelling his breath, feeling it across my face."
"What can I do?" Concern covering his face.
"Stay." She meets his eyes. "All I could think of when we were in that cave, when he was on top of me, was your soft touches on me instead. Your breath on the back of my neck, chest pressed to my back keeping me warm when we've slept together. I kept thinking 'what if I never see him again, what if I never get that life we talk about' it was so hard when they were there hitting and kicking my sides." The silent tears start to fall again, her eyes staying on his. "All I thought of was what if I didn't get to marry you," eyes falling "make love with you, have your babies." The blush creeping up her neck at the thought even through the sadness.
"Hey, hey now." He mummers, pulling her close. "I know these are just words, but, you're safe, you're here, home. I'm not going anywhere. Tomorrow I'll go to Kakashi-sensei and tell him I'm off until you say so. You'll get those things, I promise, but I'm not asking you to be my wife in a hospital bed. Let's get you out of here, get you healthy and well. I want to do it not just because you're sad and worried but because I love you. Because I worried about those things too, because the thought of never seeing you again killed me." Tears coming to match hers.
"I love you." Hinata says, attempting to turn into his chest, the IV pulling on her arm.
"I love you too." Naruto replied, "Now let's sleep and we can talk more or not talk more tomorrow." He turns to his side, wrapping his arm around her and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "When your heads clear."
"I'd like that, thanks for coming." Nuzzling into him as much as she can with her limited movement.
"Anything for you, sweetheart."
"Uzumaki Naruto, how the hell did you get in her?" Sakura's voice dragging the pair from their sleep.
"The window." Naruto mumbled back, rolling his head into Hinata's neck letting his lips skimming against the skin, thinking that it was only Sakura in the room before the loud sound of someone clearing their throat dug him fully form sleep.
Naruto bolts from the bed as soon as his eyes lock with Lord Hyuga. Standing at the foot of his daughter's bed, arms crossed tightly across his chest. A slight smirk came to his face at Naruto's sudden movement.
"I'm just here to see what Hinata needs and when she can come home, not to scold you two yet again."
"Father." Hinata says, finally coming to, scanning the room around her. "Sakura, I think I've had enough of these meds" She motions towards the IV "I can hardly think straight."
"The breaks aren't too bad, just a slight fracture in both bones. I should be able to chakra bandage them both and lock it in place with a brace. That'll get you home today as long as you promise to stay in bed for the next two days." Sakura pulls the chart from the end of her bed. "Now the other things, we can talk about later."
"Can Naruto stay?" She reaches out for the man at her side, fingers twining with his.
Sakura only nods as she continues to read through her night medications and summary form the unknown machine at her side.
"She'll need someone with her for the next two days, I'll be sending her out with crutches but if she could keep the leg up and elevated as much as possible that'd be best." Sakura says, turning to Hinata's father. "I want her non-weight bearing on that leg for a minimum 48 hours than easing back into it."
"I'll insure someone's with her at all times, what will it look like getting her back to walking?" Lord Hyuga asks, arms uncrossing, relaxing as he talks.
"Can it be Naruto?" Hinata looks to her father, eyes pleading. "Please, dad."
Lord Hyuga's face softens at the last word, Hinata had so rarely called him anything but father since she was young. She sat there looking so small, so vulnerable in the hospital bed. Who was she to deny her.
"We'll move you to my wing and you both can stay in separate" stressing the word "guest rooms, doors will stay open at all times and you'll message him on that annoying device of yours if you need assistance in the night." He's met with a small smile from his daughter.
"Perfect," Sakura stayed in the role of doctor, keeping her smile at bay. "After the two days it will really just be based on what the x-rays look like and how Hinata feels about putting weight on it. But I'm confident that she should be back to regular walking by next week and easing back into training by the end of the month."
"Thank you for caring for my eldest so diligently Dr. Haruno, I'll leave her in your capable hands. Please let me know if anything else is needed, but I don't believe I'm needed for the other part of Hinata's exam." Lord Hyuga turned to leave. "Naruto, a word if you don't mind." He motions for the door leading to the hall. Naruto nods following the older man out the door.
"I'm not here to lecture you boy." Lord Hyuga starts at the nervous expression on Naruto's face. "As much as I disliked walking into my daughter's hospital room to find her not alone, I know she'd be in a worse state if you weren't here for her. Just remember our earlier conversation and be respectful of my home and we won't be having another."
"Yes, I mean, I will be respectful. I just want to take care of her, ya know."
"I know." He reaches out, clasping Naruto's shoulder before turning to leave. "Thank you."
Naruto walks back into the room as Sakura gently pulls the IV from Hinata's arm.
"Now I'm going to give you some pain pills, take them if you need them. There's no shame in taking them. Yeah the chakra will hold the bones in place for the next two days but there'll still be pain from the bones shifting back together."
"I'll make sure she does." Naruto moves to reach for the bag he had brought with him last night. "I brought you some clothes, figured you didn't want to be in a hospital gown on the way home. I couldn't get into your room, ya know, so it's some of mine. Hope that's okay. Do you need help changing?"
"I should be able to get the shirt, but maybe some support for the pants. Or whatever you brought me." Hinata giggling slightly at the thought of Naruto's clothes draping over her.
"I want to get a look at the bruising on your side too." Sakura moves to her side, reaching for the tie on the gown at Hinata's shoulders, fingers stopping waiting for Hinata's permission.
"Yeah, go ahead. There, um, on both sides. It may just be easier if I just take this off."
"Naruto." Sakura points towards the door.
"No, please." Asks again. "He's seen," face going bright red "he's seen me without a top. Him leaving makes me feel anxious." Hinata bites her lower lip.
"I'll sit back here." Naruto sits behind her on the other side of the bed. Fingers pushing Sakura's away at the ties. "I'm only leaving if you tell me to Hinata." He says more quietly, leaning in to look around her shoulder meeting her eyes. "Okay?"
"Okay." Hinata confirms, holding onto the gown as Naruto moves to the second tie. Before taking a deep breath and letting it fall around her waist.
Naruto had briefly seen the bruising yesterday, but today it was on full display in the soft light of the room. Bruising in the shape of fingers wrapped around both of her arms, while splotches of bruising differing in states of healing stand out against the light skin covering her ribs and down her side.
"Hina." Naruto's voice soft, contradictory to the red gleam in his eyes, the harshness in his face as both hands brace against her shoulders. "He's fucking lucky."
"Who?" Hinata asks though she already knows, trying to distract herself as Sakura gently touches the bruising, moving back to take notes.
"I almost killed him yesterday. They had in the Hokage's office." Naruto's words clipped, breathing deep attempting to calm himself at the sight of his girlfriend's injuries. "I pinned him to the wall by his throat. Shikamaru told me later that his windpipe was almost crushed. Fucking bastard." The last words said to himself.
"Naruto!" Hinata exclaims. "You can't do that, the treaty." She starts
"No, Hinata. I don't give a damn about a treaty. He tried to kill you, to assault you. That treaty can burn for all I care. The Raikage is sending guards to come collect them tomorrow. I'll be damned if they leave this village without hearing from me."
"I'd like to go with you." Was all Hinata had to say. The couple all but ignore Sakura as she hands Hinata Naruto's shirt. Wordlessly shrugging it on the long sleeves falling well past her hands.
"Everything in me wants to tell you no. I want to keep you from seeing him again but if it's what you want I won't stop you."
"While I'm glad you two are doing this whole open communication thing and Naruto you're doing a great job at supporting and respecting Hinata right now but I'm going to need her to lay back so I can get her bones taken care of."
"Oh! Yeah, okay." Hinata turns, she leans back, the gown riding high on her thighs.
"Now what I'm going to do is something new we've been working on. The chakra will pull the bones together and keep them together while it heals. You have two slight fractures, one on each bone, so this will just help them get connected again and heal properly."
"That's so cool, Sakura." Naruto smiles down at his friend, while standing at the side of the bed.
The medical-nin only smirked at him. "Now this might hurt a bit when the bones are pulled, and since you wanted the IV out, maybe grip something." The words hardly left her mouth before Naruto moved, taking Hinata's hand in his own.
Hours later Hinata was hobbling out of the hospital doors on crutches. Standing at the top of the stairs she contemplates her options. Trying to figure out what would be best to go down the four stairs. Her good foot or the crutches first. Finally deciding on her crutches when suddenly she's off her foot and Naruto had lifted her crutches, with little effort, swiftly walked down the stairs before placing her back on the ground.
"Naruto." She scolds. "I need to figure this out if I'm going to be dependent on crutches for two days."
"Ya know, you could just let me carry you everywhere." He turns towards her, a smile pulling at the edges of his mouth. Hinata turns her face towards him, pinning the right crutch under her arm, she moves to pull his lips down to hers for the first time in almost four weeks.
A little shorter than what I wanted but I wanted to keep the part where Hinata confronts her captors and a little bit of healing (wink) in the next chapter.
As always thanks for reading and reviews really do keep me going!