Chapter 14

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he registered was the fell of cold, hard cement under him. There was not a layer of clothing separating him from the ground. Above him was a clear blue sky and he could hear birds twittering in the distance. A strangley familiar smell hit his nose. The last thing he remembered was losing conciousness in Naruto's arms. Was he dead and this was heaven?

"You ain't dead, yet, and this ain't heaven," said an irritatingly familiar voice. Sasuke sat up to glare at the woman preening roses.

"Is there a reason why I'm naked?"

"Not like you needed clothes as a dog," said Tsunade. "I'm surprised though. Some didn't think that you'd change, and earlier than some thought. We had a bet going."

"Did you win?" asked Sasuke pulling his legs up to hide a bit of his modesty. You would think that a woman with powers over life or death, she'd give him some clothes to wear.

"If if makes you feel better, no, I did not."

"It does actually," said Sasuke. "Can I have some clothes."

"On the fountain."

Sasuke turned to see the same fountain from his first dream years ago. A set of clothes were placed on the bench around it. Getting up, he walked toward the fountain, making sure Tsunade had her back to him the whole time. Quickly, he grabbed the sweatpants and sweater and pulled them on.

"So now what?" he asked. "Am I going to hell?"

"Do you want to go to hell, Uchiha?" asked Tsunade snipping a bud. She placed it in the basket.

"Not particulary."

"I told you ten years ago that this was your second chance. If you hadn't learned what you were supposed to, you wouldn't be here."

"Why a dog?" asked Sasuke. "What does a dog have to do with learning my lesson?"

"A dog fits all the qualities you were to learn; honest, loyal, unselfish and compassionate. First the first nine years, you haven't shown any change at all, but in the last few months, you proved you had changed."

"So, my dying meant I learned my lesson?"

"No, you dying was an unforeseen event. No one thought you would actually jump in front of the gun and get shot."

"She was pointing the gun at Naruto!" said Sasuke angrily. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Which begs the question; Why did you jump in front of the gun?"

"I wasn't thinking at the time. I reacted."

"No. Why did you?"

"She had a gun. She was a dirty cop."

"No. Why did you?"

Now Sasuke was getting irritated. Why was Tsunade questioning why he jumped in front of the gun. He replayed the scene in his mind. The gun was leveled at Naruto and the look on Kin's face told him that she seriously intended to kill him. The thought of Naruto hurt or dead was like a fist around his heart. He had trouble breathing and made him nauseous. Realization hit him like a brick wall.

"I love Naruto."

Tsunade smiled softly and nods.

"There, now you've figured out the end of the lesson," she said.

"What are you talking about?" asked Sasuke.

Tsunade placed the shears in the basket, stood and walked toward Sasuke.

"The lesson only ends when you've learned the last lesson. Self-sacrifice. You died to protect to man you love."

"You still haven't answered my question. Now what?"

"Now, you put what you've learned to use."

And she pushed him into the fountain. Sasuke only had time to think, 'Not again', before water surrounded him.

XXXXXX

..."So when animal control came to the scene, there was a boa constrictor wrapped around her arm," said Sora as he and Arashi push the gurney toward the ambulance. "She nearly lost her arm."

"How did a boa constrictor get in her house?" asked Arashi.

"It was her neighbors. It got loose and somehow got into her apartment."

"That has to be the worst neighbor."

Both men turned toward the alley when they heard a loud bang. It was the sound of something heavy hitting a dumpster.

"What was that?" asked Sora.

"Probably another O.D. dropoff," said Arashi. "We better go check it out."

Locking the ambulance, both men warily walked toward the alley. At night, the job was more dangerous with addicts trying to get into the ambulance for a quick raid. Sometimes they would use a distraction so their partner would raid the ambulance. As a precaution, they lock the ambulance to prevent theft.

The two EMTs walked around the alley and found a figure slumped against the hospital building. They couldn't see his face because of his dark hair.

"Sir," said Sora taking a small step towards him. "Sir, are you okay?"

The man groaned and his head rolled toward them. He mumbled a word so softly that they could barely make out what he had said.

"Naruto..."

XXXXXX

Itachi smiled as he watched his wife settle their six month old son. Yahiko was a copy of Konan, except for Itachi's dark brown eyes. Konan sang softly as she swayed .

Itachi was amazed that he had managed to have a child. Because he had been so sickly as a child, he didn't know if he had been able to father children, and with Konan's illness, it would have been near impossible. Luckily, his wife was an Uchiha at heart and already had a plan in place before they even met.

When their son was born, Konan had suggested naming him after Sasuke, but Itachi felt uneasy about naming his son after his brother. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but it was because he felt that Sasuke was still alive. So they compromised and named him after Konan's childhood friend and big brother figure, Yahiko.

At the moment, Konan was softly singing to encourage their son to sleep.

"When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long/And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong/Just remember in the winter , far beneath the bitter snow/Lies the seed, that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose."

With one last yawn, Yahiko fell asleep in his mother's arms and Konan set him back in the crib. She tucked him in before turning to smile at her husband.

"Watching again?" she asked.

"You're just so good with him," said Itachi. "Every time I try to get him to bed, he just cries and cries until you take him."

Konan laughs softly to not wake the sleeping baby. Itachi smiled down at his wife. Marrying Konan was something Fugaku was dead set against. With her past background, her illness and struggling art career, she was not Uchiha wife material, but Itachi knew she was the one after a couple meetings, so he proposed six months after meeting her and they eloped. He expected Fugaku to retaliated, and he did. He tried to force them to divorce, make Konan sign a prenup and limited Itachi's access to his inheritance and refused Konan access to the Uchiha accounts.

Luckily for Itachi, he set up his own account and they lived comfortably together for five years until they decided to expand their family. Mikoto had been more than supportive of their decisions and helped them find the best clinics and doctors in the country. Both were more than happy with their lives and didn't want to change a thing.

"That a Uchiha for you," she said as the phone rang. "You better get that. I just got your son to sleep."

Laughing softly, Itachi went to answer the phone.

"This is Itachi Uchiha," he said.

"Mr. Uchiha, this is Detective Yamato of the Konoha Police Department," said a male voice on the other end. "Sorry to disturb you at this late hour."

Itachi felt his blood run cold.

"Is my mother..."

"Your mother is not the reason for the call, Mr. Uchiha," said Yamato. "I'm calling in regards to another family member of yours. Your brother, Sasuke."

the phone fell from Itachi's hand and fell to the floor. Konan walked up to her husband and put a hand on his arm.

"Itachi, are you okay?"

Itachi didn't answer, still in shock over the news. Konan picked up the phone and spoke into it.

"Hello? … Yes. … Yes. … Are you sure? … Yes, thank you."

She hangs up and hugged Itachi.

"He's alive, Itachi," she said. "He's alive."

After calling the babysitter and promising extra for the late hour, they left for the hospital. By the time they arrived, Itachi had gotten over the shock and was anxious to see his little brother again. When they arrived both went to the registration desk.

"We're here for Sasuke Uchiha," she said.

"Relation," asked the nurse in a bored tone.

"My husband is his older brother and I'm his sister in law," said Konan in slight annoyance. Itachi smiled at his wife. She hated rude people.

"Room 712. Ask for Doctor Shizune."

"Thank you."

They walked down the hall toward the ICU and waiting anxiously for the doctor to arrive. They didn't have long to wait until a woman with pixie hair walked up to them.

"Mr. Uchiha?" she asked. Itachi nodded. "I'm Doctor Shizune. I'm your brother's doctor."

"How is he?" asked Itachi. "What happened to him?"

'That I cannot say," said Shizune. "He was found with a gunshot wound, but we managed to stop the bleeding. I would like to keep him here for a day or two to prevent infection."

Itachi nodded. Although not a doctor himself, he spent enough time in them to understand some of the colloquialism, so he knew that what she was suggesting was the best form of care.

"He has multiple scars, particulary one on his right thigh," continued Shizune. "A scar that deep would leave a pronouced limp, and from examination, it is at least six months old and had been cared for by a medical practicioner."

"But there have been no reports from hospitals or police station for years," said Konan. "How could he have gotten it stitched without the police finding out?"

"There are a lot of back alley doctors, ones who have lost their license and provide medical care for the less than desirable patients for the right price," said Shizune.

"Like gangs or the yakuza," said Itachi. "But those types of doctors are pricey. Where would he get the money?"

"I'm afraid I can't answer that, Mr. Uchiha," said Shizune. "I can say that he was well nourished. Wherever he had been staying, he was taken cared of."

"Can I see him?"

"He's heavily sedated at the moment. I don't expect him to awaken until mid-morning or so. You can see him then." An announcement blared through the P.A. system for Shizune and she sighed. "Excuse me."

She turned to leave, stopped, and turned back to them.

"One more thing," she said. "The EMTs that found heard him mumbling a name, 'Naruto'. Do you know what that means?"

Itachi thought for a moment. The name did sound familiar, and it took him a minute to remember where he had heard it.

"Yeah, it was the name of the team captain of the rival soccer team when my brother was in school," he said. "I haven't heard that name in thirteen years. Why would he be mumbling his name?"

"It's been known for disoriented patients to say names or anything that came to mind," said Shizune. "During his shock, he might have remembered his old game rival."

"Thank you doctor," said Konan. Shizune nodded and left to attend another patient.

"Somebody shot him," said Itachi. "Why would somebody shoot him?"

"He'll tell us when he wakes up," said Konan. She looked up to see her usually expressive husband have a set face. "Itachi, what are you going to do?"

"Protect my brother," said Itachi. "No doubt news of his return would have hit the news right now. I don't want reporters sneaking into his room for private interviews."

Taking out his cell phone he dialed a number and waited for it to connect.

"Neji, I have a job for you."

TBC