Remember When Chapter 3, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Author's Note: Uhh, I wasn't planning on putting this up until after I finsiehd The New Guy, but yeah, that didn't turn out how I planned. Writer's block for The New Guy made me turn to this story. The chapter's short, but gets the real plot going, so I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for all of your support! So, read, enjoy, and review.

Oh! Just so you know and don't get confused, Naruto and Sasuke started dating in February of their senior year in high school. In the first chapter, it was their two year anniversary (they're college sophomores), and now by the end of this chapter, it is April of their sophomore year. So, I hope that helps. I got confused myself.

Anyway, lots of love from SilverRose88.

Chapter Three

I'll spare you all of the details during the first month and a half Naruto was still in his coma. My days were the same: wake up, eat, visit Naruto, classes, visit Naruto, lunch, classes, visit Naruto, dinner, study and sleep. Rarely did I talk with anyone, though Sakura always made it a point to annoy me. I would never admit that her constant babbling did take my mind off other pressing things; if Sakura knew her antics were working, she'd never give up. In recent years, I have become more tolerant of her behavior, and we are close friends.

But during those days, I had never felt so alone, and that surprised me. I had been a lonely boy during childhood; always standoffish, and quiet. After the death of my parents, I was put into the care of my aunt and uncle. Under their supervision, I became even more alone and distant, despite their constant attempts to change me. Itachi and I moved out once he turned eighteen and believe me, living with my eccentric brother didn't quite 'fix' me either. But, it had been during those years that I met Naruto and our story began.

I mentioned before that we were rivals before friends and our constant arguing and fighting became the highlights of my every day. I ached to see him at school because it would give me another chance to tease him or humiliate him. I hoped for him to initiate a fight so that I could kick his ass ten different ways. I hadn't understood my need to his presence then, because at the age of twelve my intelligence hadn't quite reached it's potential.

However, I understand it now, and I think I began understanding during those days I visited Naruto in the hospital. I needed him because I needed to be needed. Yes, I know that it is a rather strange concept, but it is the truth. I had felt so alone for such a long time that being needed by someone, even if it was to cause havoc each day, was like a new drug I couldn't get enough of and I had never felt so wonderful in my life.

And, one evening while I was at the hospital visiting Naruto, that feeling came back. It was during the second month of his comatose state and of, course, I didn't realize the feeling until the day after when I sat down and thought about it. But, once I had, I could only think that it was the best day I had had in a long time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ah, Sasuke, you're back," Rika greeted the young Uchiha as he walked out of the elevators.

"Good evening," he replied, having grown a bit fonder of the nurse each day. She was the one always making sure he could be alone with Naruto every time he visited, and Sasuke knew he'd have to repay her somehow. Out of all the doctors and nurses he'd met, Rika was the one he tolerated most.

"Have you eaten yet?" she asked.

Sasuke shook his head.

"Would you like anything?"

"Actually, some black coffee would be nice, thank you," he replied and she nodded before walking away.

Sasuke made his way into Naruto's room and took his usual chair by the bed. The blonde was no better today than he had been two months ago and Sasuke's worrying was slowly increasing. There had been a few days when he'd worried so much he'd skipped classes to stay with the blonde, which only earned him lectures from Iruka, while Kakashi stood off to the side, grinning.

Ever since the accident, Sasuke had been seeing more of Kakashi and Iruka than he cared to. They came to visit Naruto once a week and found his visits thrice daily a bit troubling. Sasuke ignored them as best he could, but when they realized he wasn't going to listen, they brought reinforcement: his brother. While Sasuke had grown into ignoring his brother whenever possible, when Itachi wanted to be heard, he would be heard, and he made it loud and clear. Sasuke was sure his hearing would never be the same again.

But even with his brother, Iruka, and Kakashi ganging up on his 'unhealthy-visiting', Sasuke hadn't changed his routine at all. If anything, he strengthened it, finding time to visit the blonde a fourth time whenever he could. What his teachers and brother didn't realize or understand was that being with Naruto as much as he could made him start to accept things better. Sasuke had accepted things, especially after a month and a half of visiting Naruto, and he had started thinking that maybe he could ease off on the visiting a bit. But, when he thought about it later, he felt sick about even fathoming the possibility. Not visiting Naruto would be too hard for him to handle because when he wasn't with the blonde he felt incomplete and it was a feeling he couldn't stand.

Sasuke sighed and shook his head, clearing his mind of all thoughts. He reached for the blonde's hand and squeezed it softly before letting it rest in his open palm.

"Hey, dobe, I'm back again," Sasuke said, feeling the bit of awkwardness he always did when talking to his boyfriend who couldn't talk back. But even though he knew that, he still did it, because, if anyway, it gave me a peace of mind.

"You're probably getting sick of me, aren't you?" Sasuke asked. "Well, too damn bad, because I'm not leaving, ever. You're going to deal with me until you get better and then once you're out of here, I'm never going to leave your side. I'm not letting anything like this happen to you again."

Sasuke squeezed the blonde's hand and then kissed that back of it softly, only to drop it as if lightening had stuck him. He looked down at the blonde's hand and jumped to feet in shock as he saw Naruto's fingers move.

"He-He's…" Sasuke stammered and then look up into his eyes and saw his eyelids trying to blink open; fluttering slightly. Sasuke practically flew out the door and to the nurses' station.

"N-Naruto! He-He's waking up! Quick! Room 202!" Sasuke exclaimed frantically.

Rika, who'd heard Sasuke's exclamation, grabbed his arm and dragged him back to Naruto's room, one of Naruto's own nurses following after. In the blonde's room, the nurses checked the machines and the patient, but then before any conclusion had been made, the blonde stopped all signs of movement. It was as if nothing had happened at all.

"W-What happened?" Sasuke said, staring at Naruto blankly.

"Oh, honey," Rika said consolingly. "It was just a little spell."

"So, he's still in a coma?" Sasuke asked.

"Unfortunately, yes, dear. But it was a good sign! A very good sign!" Rika replied.

Sasuke clenched his fist at his sides to prevent himself him hitting something, or someone.

"I-I'm going home," he ground over and left quickly. He returned to his apartment in record time due to the fact he had driven at about ninety-five miles per hour, trying to calm his nerves. Of course, that only intensified how horrible he felt, making his anger and frustration reach the point of exploding. And explode it did when right after he walked into his apartment, he slammed the door and then slammed his fist fiercely into the wall.

"Dammit!" he yelled, not caring if he woke up the entire building. "Dammit!"

Sasuke leaned against the wall he'd previously been beating and slid down to the floor. He put his face in his hands and took a deep breath.

"God, he was so damn close…. So close…Why didn't he wake up? Why?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"He moved? That's great!" Sakura exclaimed the next day during class.

"Great? Sakura, he didn't wake up. He's still in the same place he was two months ago. What's great about that?" Sasuke snapped.

"Are you blind? Or just stupid?" she questioned. "I know he's still not awake, but at least he's progressed! Naruto moving even a little is a good sign!"

After hearing her say it like that, Sasuke did feel a little stupid. He'd been so angry that Naruto hadn't woken up he didn't give himself any time to be glad that Naruto showing movement meant he was better. And that meant he wasn't even close to how he'd been before. That thought alone was comforting.

"He moved…" Sasuke said slowly as if he wasn't quite sure himself.

"Yes! Naruto moved!" Sakura exclaimed, beaming.

"What is this? Naruto moved? Is he awake now?" came another voice, startling the two friends.

Sasuke turned to look at Hyuuga Neji, a classmate, and friend of Naruto and definitely not him.

"Yes, Naruto moved; last night," Sasuke replied coolly.

"That is wonderful news. I must go see him later," Neji said. "He has not awaken yet, however?"

"No, he has not."

Neji sighed. "That is unfortunate. Hm…I miss him hanging around," the Hyuuga said before nodding at Sasuke and waling away.

"That bastard," Sasuke mumbled angrily when Neji was out of earshot.

"You could have been ruder, couldn't you?" Sakura said, glaring at him. "Why were you being so mean? He asked a normal question."

"I just don't like him," Sasuke replied through gritted teeth.

"For goodness sake, Sasuke-kun, it's been ages since Neji liked Naruto. You don't have to be so angry and jealous at him."

"Who says I am?" Sasuke demanded.

"Sometimes, Sasuke-kun, you're easy to read as a book, and I know that look on your face. Besides the two of them are friends, so quit being an ass all the time," Sakura said.

"I can't help it," Sasuke said. "It's just--"

But he was cut off as a group of Naruto's friends bombarded Sasuke with questions.

"Hyuuga says Naruto moved! Is he awake yet?"

"Does that meant he's getting better?'

"When's he gonna wake up?"

"Can we go see him?"

Noticing that her friend was going to explode at any second, Sakura answered hastily, "Naruto moved, but he's not awake. Now go, before Sasuke-kun kills you."

They didn't need telling twice; the look in Sasuke's eyes and his feral growling was enough to send them away.

However, he turned to Sakura and demanded, "Why'd you tell them the truth? Now they're going to be there whenever I am."

"Sasuke-kun, no one will be there every single time you are," Sakura said. "But they are Naruto's friends and they care about him, too. You can't ban them from seeing him; be rational," Sakura said consolingly but with a little impatience. Sasuke could be very childish and selfish sometimes, especially concerning Naruto.

The Uchiha put his head in his arms on the desk and closed his eyes, not replying. Sakura looked at him and said, "I'll tell them to visit him between seven and eight every evening. That gives them one hour every day when you usually go home to eat and study. That way you'll never have to deal with them, okay, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke looked up at her and mumbled, "Thanks, Sakura."

She beamed because those words hardly ever came out of his mouth. "You're welcome, Sasuke-kun. I know you've hurting and if you're around Naruto's friends for too long, you'll kill someone, and it's best to avoid that."

Sasuke let out the slightest of smiles before looking away, thinking of the blonde. He usually tried to push Naruto out of his brain while in classes and sometimes it worked, but today he couldn't stop thinking of him. What if he moved again and Sasuke wasn't there? What…What if he woke up?

"Sakura, do you think he'll wake up?" Sasuke asked quietly, not looking up at her.

"Naruto? Oh, I have no doubt. You know him, he wouldn't let a bullet to his head stop him, so a coma won't either."

Sasuke couldn't help a smile at that; it was so true, Naruto was the most optimistic and enthusiastic person he knew. It was one of the things Sasuke loved about the blonde.

Sakura glanced at him and asked, "Why? Are you doubting it?"

"I'm just…scared," Sasuke mumbled.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Sasuke-kun, are you feeling okay? You said 'thanks', to me, at that, and you admitted to being scared. Either you're sick, or you're not Uchiha Sasuke. What's going on?"

"Very funny," he snapped. "You know how much I love Naruto. Of course I'm scared!"

"Sasuke-kun, just be optimistic. Naruto will wake up," Sakura said.

"Hn. Optimism is Naruto's forte, not mine."

"That's right. You're the 'screw-the-world-I-hate-everybody' one, aren't you?"

"Shut up, Sakura."

"See, that's the Sasuke-kun I know and love!" Sakura exclaimed before hugging him.

The Uchiha cringed and threw her off. "Don't ever do that again," he warned but she just smiled.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Another two weeks went by without any other promising signs from the blonde. I was starting to wonder if what I had witnessed had only been a fluke, a dream because it seemed so farfetched to me when nothing similar occurred. Sakura kept telling me not to give up hope and I listened to her fro awhile before tuning her out completely. She knew I never really listened to her so I didn't care about ignoring her. I think I said so before, but Sakura really helped me a lot during those days without Naruto. Had she not been there, I would have definitely found a way to put myself into the hospital with the blonde.

On another note, as usual, I spent most of my evenings at the hospital, my daily visits not decreasing in the least and eventually Itachi, Kakashi, and Iruka gave up on trying to change my mind. T he nurses at the hospital started to find my presence annoying, however, though I could care less what women in short white dresses thought of me. Rika was the only one who loved seeing me, and I was never sure if it was because she, like other girls at my university, found me attractive, or if she had a soft spot for lovers and tragedies. Either way, I was grateful for her kindness and realize now how much I owe her all of her help.

But the nurses at Kohona Hospital are not what I wish to talk about. What I wish to tell you now is the second day that changed my life--the first being the night of the car crash. I had thought that the worst was over, but I was so very wrong. I remember the day down to the precise minute. It was Friday April 13th, and I was visiting the blonde at six o'clock in the evening. I suppose I should have realized that something wrong was going to happen, it being Freaky Friday, but I was never one who believed in superstitions, so I thought nothing of it. I found out later, how wrong I was.

I'd tired to skip the entire day of lessons, but Sakura wouldn't hear of it, claiming I'd been skipping too many times already. I heeded her that day because I just wasn't in the mood to be on the receiving end of her anger. But immediately after my last class, I drove to the hospital, unknown to the pain that was coming.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Any change, Rika?" Sasuke asked the nurse as he walked out of the elevators. This question was his usual greeting ever since the blonde's first signs of movement. However, every day since then Rika's answer had always been the same.

"No, Sasuke, I'm sorry," she replied and the Uchiha sighed.

"Thanks," he said before walking into the blonde's room.

He took his usual seat by the blonde's bed and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Hey Naruto," he said softly. "How are you today? Feeling any better? If it helps, I feel like crap, too." The Uchiha smiled despite himself for a moment before letting it vanish and replacing it with a small frown.

"Your friends all say hi, too," Sasuke said, remembering how Naruto's friends had ambushed him when he tried to leave, saying they were going to go with him. Of course, one look changed all their minds instantly.

"Come on, dobe, wake up soon, okay?" Sasuke said, knowing he sounded desperate, but not caring. "I'm going insane without you, you know.

He sighed. "Iruka's freaking out about you, too. He attacks me every day to see if you've progressed since he knows I'm here almost five times a day."

"You're worrying everyone, Naruto, so hurry up and come back, okay?" Sasuke squeezed the blonde's hand tighter. "I know you'll probably blame me for the accident. I blame me for the accident. If I hadn't…you'd-you'd be okay, alive, and we could've spent the past month and a half together. And I don't care if you blame me…I-I just want you back. So, dammit, Naruto, get better soon."

Sasuke looked at his watch and figured he'd go get something toe at since he hadn't had anything but a bagel all day. He wouldn't have even had that had Sakura not shoved it down his throat. Sasuke got to his feet, then leaned over and kissed the blonde chastely on the lips.

"I'll be right back," he said before making his way to the door, only to stop dead in his tracks as he heard the monitors beeping in a different beat.

Turning around he looked at the blonde whose eyes were fluttering as he tired to open them, and whose hands, arms, and even legs were moving. Sasuke first thought was he was having some kind of seizure, but the beeping of the machines told him otherwise. It was the beat of a normal heart, and that meant--

"Quick, he's waking up! It's real this time!" Sasuke shouted as he stormed outside.

The blonde's nurse came running in, followed a moment later by Rika. Sasuke hovered behind them with his heart beating so fast he was afraid it was going to fall straight out of his chest. He was afraid and hopeful at the same time; was this read or just another fluke? Was god kind enough to bring the blonde back on his birthday?

"Sasuke, he's waking up. This is wonderful!" Rika exclaimed, grabbing Sasuke's hand and dragging him forward.

Sasuke couldn't form any words, couldn't do anything expect stare that the slowly awakening blonde with a rapidly beating heart.

And then, it happened. The blonde's eyes fluttered open to reveal the bright blue orbs Sasuke loved, the beeping on the monitors became steady as his heart rate went to normal. He raised his arm to rub his eyes and his nurse went to help him into a sitting position.

"There, dear, just sit against eh wall. How are you feeling?" she asked.

"C-Confused…Where-Where am I?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Honey, what's the last thing you remember?" she asked.

Naruto's face scrunched up cutely as he tried to remember. "Uh…I-I don't know…Sorry."

"It's all right, dear," Rika said, stepping forward. "Can you tell us your name?"

"Uh, Uzumaki Naruto…"

"Good, and--"

But Sasuke couldn't take anymore of this interrogation. He wanted to feel the blonde, hold the blonde, kiss the blonde and no damn nurse was going to stop him.

He moved out from behind Rika and said carefully, "N-Naruto?"

The blonde turned to face him quickly, recognizing the voice, and his eyes widened tremendously.

"Naruto, are you--" Sasuke began but stopped when his boyfriend of two years pointed a finger at him and yelled, "What the hell are you doing here, Sasuke-bastard?"