Pompeii
Chapter 3
Vesper Chan

Sakura felt a twinge of pity for the poor people who had to use the cots in her downstairs office. She didn't have a bed yet, but she had two decent cots and a patient table to chose from in her clinic. None of them provided sufficient comfort for a good night's sleep. Maybe if she was drugged or doped up it wouldn't be so jarring to her bones, but when Sakura rises in the morning before the sun is up she knows it is more so from her body's subconscious desire to leave the lumpy bed behind and less from a habit of early rising.

Undergrad internships taught her to stay awake for days at a time. She could do more than just survive on five hours of sleep. Five hours was plenty of time for her.

That's why Shizune found Sakura already waist deep into a mess of banker boxes filled with files from patients since the founding of the town. Two mugs of coffee were still warm on Shizune's desk.

"What's this?" the receptionist asked, seeing the coffee. "Is one for me?"

Sakura feels a bit lighter when she sees the other woman's reaction. "I already had mine, those are both for you but I didn't know how you liked your coffee so one is strong and the other is sweet. You can pick whichever one works better for you and fix it up. I brought down what little supplies I had for early mornings but I'll admit I was pleased to see you already had a coffee set up in the staff kitchen. I didn't bring much food with me."

"It's 7:00AM, Sakura. How long have you already been here?" Shizune asked in wonder, eyeing the boxes that look like they have already been looked through.

"Only a little bit longer than you," Sakura lied in a nervous voice. She actually hadn't paid attention to the time, but she remembered it being a dusky gray outside her windows. "I'm making more of a mess than anything though. I'm afraid I haven't been very productive."

"Sweet thing," Shizune clucks, reaching forward and grabbing Sakura's hands. "You're doing so well already. Oh, I have such a good feeling about you. I feel as if I can finally breath again. Oh, you make me want to cry."

"Please don't," Sakura laughs with a smile. "I'm not worth it."

"Oh no, you don't understand what it's been like. We were so desperate for some good help. I think it's been nearly fifty years since we've had a decent doctor we could rely on. It's been one mess in a lab coat right after the next."

"Well, I hope I can live up to your expectations. I can only promise to do the best I can. I'll rely on your guidance from time to time with new and old patients."

Shizune smiled and it seemed as if the shadows under her eyes were nearly gone. "Of course. Anything you need, you just ask."

"Speaking of which…" Sakura let her words trail off as she looked behind her at the mountain of banker boxes. She would have to close the door to the backroom if anyone else walked in. "I haven't thrown anything out, but once a patient dies we don't have to keep their medical records. There are some in there from the 1700's."

"Oh those are all active, they just don't check in on a regular basis. Some of the older ones are terrible about scheduling physicals. You have to hunt them down."

Shizune laughs at the idea and Sakura suspects the woman imagianed Sakura hunting down a 300 year old creature in the woods with a cell phone or something equally ridiculous shouting about house calls. Sakura prays such a task never becomes necessary.

"Ah, good thing I didn't discard anything. Still, are there really this many active patients? We legally don't have to keep records after 8 years in this state. I wouldn't throw them out if the person is still local, but it looks like an awful lot."

"Some of the files are quite thorough, as I'm sure you've noticed. We had one doctor…actually more than one, that had a habit of keeping meticulous notes on anything and everything. I'm sure there is some rubbish in here we could throw out once it's organized." Shizune clapped her hands, drawing Sakura's attention. "But first breakfast. I brought scones. Share one with me?"

Sakura had forgotten about breakfast after her power bar, but the though of something so delicious made her mouth water. Her nod and doe eyed look was enough to make Shizune laugh. Together the pair ate in the small staff kitchen, leaving the paperwork for later.

When they had finished breakfast Shizune showed Sakura to the back of the office where the opposite receptionist' desk sat. Originally the building was meant for a join practice with two doctors, or was it one doctor and one witch doctor? Shizune couldn't remember. Regardless, there was no need for a second doctor just yet.

Shizune said they would set Sakura up with a pager for emergencies and someone named Minato would set her up with a way to travel back in a flash in case of emergencies. Apart from Minato Shizune said she would be delighted to handle any new introductions Sakura might feel overwhelmed with.

The morning was devoted to paperwork, a review of the most popular patient files, and taking stock of the supplies in the office.

It was lunch time when the first patient came in. Shizune had just stepped out to pick up some famous take out when an unknown stranger darkened the door.

Literally.

Sakura had to stretch her head back to see all of him at once. Their doors were tall, nearly seven feet, but the man in the door filled the entryway. He was wearing a hoodie and sweatpants paired with running shoes. The hood was pulled low over his face as he bent his head to see into Shizune's desk. When he found it empty he frowned.

"Sir?"

He looked up, shocked to see someone in the opposite corner of the room. Sakura put down her papers and stood from the small waiting table where she had been spreading out old files. "Can I help you? I'm Dr. Haruno."

"You?"

Sakura wasn't sure what she was expecting, but when his voice cracked like a boy's in puberty she was sure that wasn't it. He didn't seem to be expecting that either, since he shrunk back in the doorway, hunching his shoulders.

"Do you need medical assistance? Shizune will be back in a few minutes if you just need to speak with her, but I'm more than willing to help if you'll let me." Sakura pointed to one of the open rooms with a table. "You can walk on in."

He nodded, swallowing before stepping inside. Hesitantly, he reached behind him and pulled the door shut. He coughed again before following her into the room and standing awkwardly in front of the bed. Sakura pulled a clipboard off the wall and clipped on a form for visitors. She had become good at filling them out.

"I didn't know there was a new doctor in…I mean I heard, I just didn't know you were a…"

Sakura raised a brow, hoping he didn't say what she thought he was going to say. "A what?"

He ducked his head, tugging the hood down further. "You're so tiny."

Sakura almost grinned. "Ah, I guess I do seem tiny." She looked down at the chart. "Could I get your full name for this, please?"

"K-kisame Hoshigaki."

Sakura mouthed the syllables of his name before dating the page. "Thank you, I'll run you through a few basic check ups if you don't mine. Height, weight, eyes and all the good stuff."

Kisame followed direction beautifully. He slouched when she asked to measure him and it took a chiding remark for him to pull himself up to his full stature but other than that he was a model patient. He seemed nervous around her the way a man would be with small children or fine china. He was careful and considerate of her space and tended to keep his head low.

"You said you were having trouble breathing, can you please remove your hoodie so I can listen to your lungs?" Sakura asks, setting the clip board to the side to handle the cords around her neck that make up the stethoscope.

She hears his breath of hesitation before he ducks his head and pulls his hoodie up over his back and off. He pulls it neatly into a ball and sets it down alongside him on the table, still refusing to meet her eyes.

Bedside manner means you shouldn't outwardly ogle the hunky men, right? Sakura mentally panics.

Kisame was likely the most physically fit man she had ever met in her life, and she's met a few personal trainers. Kisame is so well toned Sakura almost forgets to note the true color of his skin, a gray blue that's more blue in the proper light. There are other things to note too. On his ribs under his arms are cuts. The same cuts are on his neck and cheeks, each set smaller.

Gills

Sakura swallows, remembering to be professional. "Have you been having trouble breathing?"

Kisame nods. "It's just gotten worse. I think it has something to do with the lake."

Sakura lifts the metal part to his chest and he flinches at the contact. "Deep breath now…" Kisame complies and Sakura hears something that makes her frown. "And breath out." She repeats the process three more times, confirming her suspicions. "I do hear something wet in your lungs, likely mucus. How long have you felt like this?"

Kisame shrugged. "A week or two, but it just started getting bad. I could stand it until now. It was better after showers, but those don't help anymore."

Sakura nods, making a note in the back of her mind. "I'm going to give you a breathing treatment before you go, but I also wanted to inspect your gills. If the water was contaminated there may be some blockage there."

Kisame shuffled nervously, which was funny since he was a hulk next to her. "Alright, but they're sensitive. Please be gentle."

"I'll try my best."

Sakura started with the gills under his arms, pressingly lightly with the pads of her fingers. She noted right away how awkwardly they closed. She would have suspected them to seal up tight when on land since he was taking in oxygen through the nostrils and mouth.

"Did you notice your gills failing to close properly, or is it normal to be slightly yawning like this?" Sakura asked, fingers ghosting over the site.

Kisame shook his head. "They're supposed to seal."

Sakura couldn't help but feel her lips tug down. There were cotton swabs and q-tips on the counter, Sakura reached for one before returning to Kisame's gills. She warned him to hold still for a moment while she swabbed the inside of his gill with the skill of a surgeon. Still, he grunted and flinched at the intimate contact.

"You were right," Sakura breathed, pulling the q-tip back and looking over the end. "There's something in the water that's clogging your gills and keeping them from closing. Showers cleaned them out initially but I'm guessing you didn't scrub this area if it's sensitive. "

"No," he said with a harder than usual tone, glaring at a corner of the room. Sakura recognizes the stance; he's steeling himself or bracing for something.

"Kisame, I will need to clean out your gills before giving you the breathing treatment. I can't do anything for what's too far deep, but I'm writing a prescription for that."

Kisame swallows, dark eyes still dangerously narrowed. He reminds her of a shark with blue gray skin and bead like eyes, glassy and black. "I understand."

"I'll try to be as gentle as possible."

Kisame blinks and then stars down at her. "I'd actually prefer if you made it hurt. We-uh,-Finfolk don't normally touch our gills but our lovers will play with them or touch them as a sign of affection. I know you're a doctor and this is for my good, but don't worry about being gentle."

Sakura felt her ears turn a little red, but nodded sternly, remembering her job. "I'll be quick then."

And she was. Sakura went through a handful of q-tips cleaning out just the gills under his left arm, and another handful under his right. After that he asked her to ignore the ones on his face since those were able to fully seal and were likely not coated with whatever gunk she was pulling out.

"Please tilt your head," Sakura asked, moving in with quick hands.

The gills on his neck fluttered more violently to her touch, closing around the q-tip and flaring widely. Sakura pulled back and waited for them to calm before going back and finishing the job. She didn't miss the way Kisame held the edge of the exam table.

"Almost done here," she breathed, pulling away from one side to move around his body for the last set of gills.

"A moment please." Kisame swallows, wincing. "I'm just…my breath."

Sakura stepped back and moved to throw out all the used q-tips. When she came back she came back with a glass of water for him to sip from. Kisame downed it all in one gulp, nodding his thanks.

"Kisame, do you know of anyone else who might be contaminated like this? You said it was from a lake. Are you the only one who swims there?"

"No, but I doubt Zabuza will come here unless he's really dying. Haku didn't seem as bad, but he's a merrow, not a fin folk. Those lightweights always did have better filters." Kisame chewed the edge of the plastic cup and Sakura noticed how sharp his teeth were, like razors. He had the mouth of a shark, truly.

Kisame caught her stare and his eyes went wide. He turned his head to the side and hunched his shoulders again, the way he had with his hoodie. "Sorry," he gruffly muttered, not looking her way again. His cheeks tinged a shade of purple. "I know my coloring is odd."

"Is that such a bad thing?" Sakura asked, worried about his apology. Had her stare been too impolite? Should she be apologizing?

Kisame shrugged. "I'm not very popular for it. Zabuza doesn't look as menacing, but we're both fin folk. We're famously frightening to behold." He sniffed at her, nostrils flaring. "Little things like you aren't typically our biggest fans. You're super delicate after all. I'm pretty sure my whole hand could wrap around both your wrists. Doesn't that unsettle you?"

Sakura bit her lip. "Sorry, I didn't know that it should, but I'm a doctor and I'm new so I guess I don't see things like that. I mean, yeah you're substantially larger than I am and you could crush me if you wanted to, but so could a car, and I still like cars…still want a car. And besides, I think you're selling yourself short. You're no one I'd run screaming from, not by a long shot."

Kisame slipped a chuckle. "Oh, and who would you run screaming from?"

Sakura forgets her little mantra about being professional with a good bedside manner. "Honestly, Polo Moms. It was terrible in the city. They're so bored and have nothing to do while their perfect child is out on the polo field so they make up a headache story and sit in our office complaining about it. They're so entitled about it too, just trying to get our drugs and speak to whoever's in charge. I'd run from those. I used to work in retail, I know the type."

"Ugh, you really are new, aren't you?"

"I said that, didn't I." Sakura waved her q-tip in the air between them. "Ready to finish up or should I complain about my life some more?"

Kisame inclined his head, stretching his necks so his gills flared open. He didn't brace so much or look like he was fighting her when Sakura moved to clean out the last of his gills. If anything he seemed more relaxed. She even noticed his eyes wander the room freely. The shape of his shoulders softened as Sakura pulled the last bit of mess from his gills.

"That should do it. How's breathing?"

"Still rough, but better. I feel the difference."

Sakura nodded, looking pleased. "I'm going to get you set up with a breathing treatment and then process the paperwork. I think Shizune came back a little while ago so she'll help me out. Also, I'd like the know the name of the lake where you first noted the contamination."

Kisame rubbed the back of his neck. "It's the only lake big enough to swim in around here, Icarus lake."

"And you said there was someone else who was having the same trouble breathing. I'd appreciate if you'd encourage him to come in so I might treat him as well. It's not good to let this stuff, whatever it is, sit in your lungs. It could turn into a much more serious infection."

Kisame swallowed. "Yeah, but like I said, Zabuza likely won't want to come unless Haku or I force him. He's stubborn and doesn't like things or people he doesn't know. Heck, the only reason I came in was because of the crows."

Sakura blinked, momentarily lost. "Crows?"

"Yeah, that or ravens, I forget which ones Itachi uses. But there's a bunch outside that are keeping watch, so the Uchiha must value this place or trust you or something. I thought it would be worth coming in because I trust one of their guys with his judgment of character." Kisame grinned wide and his teeth were a mess of edges. "The last few quacks weren't worth spit."

"But you'll come back to me if there's an issue?" Sakura asked, fighting to keep her grin from overtaking her face as pride swelled in her chest. She liked knowing she did a good job.

"Yeah, I guess you're alright princess. I'll even see about dragging my buddy in here for you sometime soon."

Sakura wrinkled her nose. "That's Dr. Princess Haruno thank you, I worked well and hard for that title, don't forget it."

When Kisame laughed it nearly shook the room.

Sakura set Kisame up with a breathing treatment that would cycle for seven minutes while she stepped out to see what happened to Shizune. The dark haired woman had a file folder for Sakura and a warm styrofoam box full of breaded chicken tenders and cheese fries.

"Are you trying to send me to an early grave with such amazing food?" Sakura hisses, stealing a fry for herself before closing the lid again.

"I told you it was amazing. Oh, and I ran into Ino along the way. She's bringing a couple of friends by later with a…couch was it?"

"That sounds like her."

"I told her I'd help you guys set up. You haven't had the chance to properly settle in have you? I noticed you slept on the spare cot."

Sakura blushed bashfully, feeling like a child next to the older woman. Shizune seemed like the type of woman to spoil others. She had the aunt vibe more so than the mom vibe. Still, Sakura adored the doting. "I'm still waiting on some things I ordered to arrive. I know my address now, but don't feel like you have to do anything else. Seriously, you need your own time off. I doubt one early release day is going to be enough."

Shizune smiled wide. "Trust me, having you in there has done wonders for my heart. I feel easy knowing you're here now. And you're treating Kisame, that's a feather in your cap you know."

Sakura shifted the weight of her body from one leg to the other, making a mental note to ask Shizune what she meant once Kisame was on his way. "I'm just happy I'm able to help. I'm terrified for a day when I'm at a loss for how to fix someone."

"You're going to do just fine, Sakura. You want to help people, you don't know how big a deal that is right there. Everything else will come to you and I'll be here with files and files in case you ever need that support."

"Speaking of support," Sakura looked at the watch on her wrist. "I should go unhook Kisame. Don't eat too much of my food, I'm starving."

Sakura helped Kisame out of the breathing mask and handed off her prescription note, instructing him on how often he should take his tables and what he should and shouldn't eat or drink it with. He grinned before leaving, his credit information already on file, promising to bring the other in if they needed it. He nodded to Shizune but saved a wink for Sakura before ducking through the doorway to the outside.

The rest of the day was uneventful until Shizune left and Sakura had the office to herself to explore without looking too nosy. She didn't get far before a knock at the front of the office, the abandoned half, had her sprinting to the door. Ino was there with a slightly worn looking section piece and a tired looking young man.

"Sakura, meet one of the laziest people in the entire world. Shikamaru, Nara Shikamaru. He's my slave for the evening so we don't have to worry about hauling anything ourselves, right Shika?"

The boy sighed, shoulders slumping as a groan of 'troublesome woman' fell from his lips. Nara waved his hand at the couch and a pair of unnatural shadows stretched over it, picking it up and moving it inside the house. Ino hummed in excitement as she watched her friend direct shadows like puppets into carrying a couch up the stairs.

Sakura told herself she wasn't shocked, but she admitted to being impressed.

"Where do you want it?" he asked from inside her room. The couch was position in the middle of her mess.

Sakura opened her mouth to answer but Ino rushed in. "Over here, tilt it like this, and set it down behind where I want there to be an end table. Oh, this will look good with some nice wood pieces, don't you think so?"

"I…guess?" Shikamaru huffed, moving the couch like Ino told him to. He glanced back over his shoulder at Sakura and nodded his head in greeting. "Thanks for making her happy. She has less time to bother me now that you're finally here. Seriously, it's been all she's ever talked about."

Sakura grinned back. "She mentioned you a few times. The most lazy person I know? Sound like someone familiar?"

Shikamaru groaned, scratching the back of his neck. "What a troublesome woman."

"But that's Ino, you know. She'll call it like she sees it."

Shikamaru sighed, and Sakura suspected that was is favorite thing to do. Ino finished dressing up the couch and kicking aside some boxes before scolding Sakura for neglecting to clean or dress up her new space. The office downstairs could wait. It'n not like Sakura needed to devote every waking moment to her new work.

"The paperwork has been a mess for years, it can wait a few more days." Ino stuffed a hand into her purse and pulled out some papers for Sakura to look over. "Here, I have some business cards for places you can visit around town. There's a woodworker here, he's an asshole you need to watch out for, there's a linens outlet here, they'll set you up with sheets and the like." Ino pointed out each one as Sakura flipped through them. "Oh! There's our grocery store, it has the best local produce, and here's a place where you can by kitchen supplies. You like to cook, right?"

"Thanks Ino, this is a help." Sakura pulled the cards back and drew her friend in for a hug. "I appreciate it."

Ino made a happy sound as she wrapped her arms around Sakura. Sakura could smell floral delights in Ino's hair and it made her want to curl up in something warm. Sakura thought about warm coco and movies when Ino squeaked and broke the hug.

"Shoo!" Ino cried, pushing Shikamaru aside to race to the window sill and flap her hands. "Get out of here, don't leave these things behind you dumb birds!"

Sakura frowned at the poor raven being shooed away while Shikamaru straighten up and paid attention. "You're met with the Uchiha?" he asked.

Sakura nodded, remembering not to mention anything about them being clients for ethical practice. "I've met two of them yesterday. They're from the police force, they came in to say hello."

Shikamaru smiled lazily, and the curl in his lips was more a smirk than anything. "Man, I almost feel bad for you if you've only just met two of them. Still, I guess you could do with worse company. Ino will tell you to shoo the birds away but you can ignore her, she's just jealous."

"Are the birds…dangerous?"

"Nah, they're just dolts. They'll keep an eye on the place and keep it protected like they do anywhere. Just…if they start leaving things behind…"

Sakura saw the young man's calculating gaze shift. "What should I do?" Sakura asked, pressing him for an answer.

The young man sighed and went back to rubbing the back of his head. "Ah, do whatever you want, it doesn't matter one way or the other. They're not dangerous and I doubt they're being very serious about it. Ah, Ino, I'm going. I'm having dinner with Choji and Sakura needs a break from people, let's go."

Ino pouted from the window, but picked up her things and nodded, promising Sakura she would be back and that they would find something fun to do together once Sakura got some free time.

Once the pair had exited Sakura went over to the now shut window and picked up the thing the bird had dropped earlier. It was just a bit of copper wire, but it was twisted into a coil that caught the light beautifully. Sakura twisted the wire at the end and hung it from the latch to the window. It seemed to shine with the end of the day sun and that thought made Sakura's heart thrum a little.

She would look forward to furnishing her new room and making this a place for her. Maybe some plants would brighten it up. There was plenty of natural light for it.

Hesitantly she touched her bottom lips and breathed deep. "I'm home," she said out loud, believing it a little bit more than yesterday.