Chapter 9

Sakura came into the little hospital room. The slow, continuously beeping told her that Naruto still hadn't made any progress. A part of her hoped for some kind of reaction, bad or good. She knew she would regret it as soon as he would get worse but the waiting was killing her. Naruto had lied there for about a week now. He hadn't moved or showed any sign of life since the one time he coughed up his own blood. She was a professional and had seen a lot of things but that had been nerve wrecking for her. She looked over at the chair by the bed. Sasuke was leaning up against the wall and was sleeping.

She had been really surprised when she had noticed how affected Sasuke had seemed when he came with Naruto. She had been sure they hated each other the time the mission started, but obviously something must have happened or Sasuke wouldn't still be sleeping by his side. She did another check-up on Naruto and sighed. She hoped the lab technicians would soon find out what kind of poison it was and find a cure, but noting had seemed to work so far. Tsunade had convinced everyone at her bureau and their affiliates that this was a very serious matter since the one who had invented the poison could use it as blackmail or as a weapon they wouldn't know how to defend themselves against.

This wasn't about one boy anymore it was for the best of every village that they would find the one responsible for this and capture him and destroy his organisation. Sasuke hadn't gotten permission to go with the others after his little incident at the interrogation, but something told Sakura that Sasuke wouldn't leave Naruto's side even if he could. She softly touched Sasuke's forehead with her hand, trying to determine if she should interfere or just let him be. She felt him move and soon after those black eyes bored into hers for a split second before they latched onto Naruto's sleeping form.

"Is he alright?" She could still hear the worry in his voice even though she knew he tried hard to keep it monotone.

"Just another check-up. It doesn't seem like there is anything out of the ordinary" She tried to be cheerful. They had to keep hoping, with so many people out there, they had to find the ones who did this.

"Which just means that we still don't know what the hell is happening and if he will survive right?" The harsh tone made her flinch.

"I'm sure they will soon be home with good news. We just have to wait a little longer and we'll find a antidote I'm sure of it" She wanted to squeezed his shoulder as a comfort, but he quickly moved his shoulder out from her grip.

"Just leave. We both know he would probably not survive this, so it's stupid to keep encouraging ourselves that he'll, against all odds, just jump out of the bed with that goofy grin like always" Her heart hurt a little from the cold tone and words. She knew he would never like her, but she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Naruto after having seen the way Sasuke looked at him. She had no idea what Naruto did, but the boy could apparently do magic since he could turn the cold man into someone who would loose his cool like before and now stay by his bed.

"You should probably go home" Sakura said to him gently. She knew he would never listen to her, but she was worried about him. It was obvious that he was exhausted, the dark purplish circles under his eyes got more and more apparent as the days went.

"Yeah, I probably should" Sasuke said dejected. He rubbed his eyes and stretched. He had been sitting in this position for way too long now. She sighed and walked away. She could hear the "but I'm not going too" that was left unsaid. Sasuke looked over at the still form on the bed. He could feel the seams that was holding him together was slowly tearing apart, and soon he wouldn't be able to take it anymore. It was so exhausting having to wait like this, he wasn't used to it. He had always wanted to have a plan, to know what their next move would be, to have everything figured out.

He couldn't do this anymore, and he was sure that from now on whenever Naruto would be involved he would feel uneasiness, because he would loose the control he always had. Because of the threat there wasn't any real missions anymore, so the ordinary teams had been dissolved. Now would be the perfect time to find a new partner or a new group so he wouldn't have to work together with Naruto in the future. He knew this wouldn't happen every time, but he was almost falling apart and he didn't want a repeat of this when his feelings for Naruto would be even stronger. Sasuke heard commotion outside the door. He wasn't sure if he should leave and inspect it or stay put. The door sprang open and a smiling Kakashi appeared.

"Great news. We have found the enemies headquarters. We're preparing to infiltrate the place and hopefully arrest everyone and stop the production of the deadly serum they're making" Sasuke could feel the hope filling his body.

"So we'll get an antidote?"

"There should be a antidote in their laboratory or else our people could make one. It will be easier when they get the raw materials and the recipe. So have patience, it will all be over soon" Sasuke's knees gave away and he fell down on the chair. It was over. Soon it would all be over, Naruto would be well and he could go back to figuring out how to deal with changing teams afterwards. The door, that Kakashi hadn't closed, slammed shut from the wind. The high noise brought Sasuke out of his thoughts. He went to Naruto's bed and suddenly the hope from the good news dissolved.

Naruto's breathing got quicker and quicker. He was hyperventilating. Sasuke panicked, why did this happen? Why now? Why couldn't he wait a little longer, they would soon get the antidote. Was it because of the door, was it just another reaction like last time? Sasuke had no idea and again did he find himself in the middle of something he had no control of and with no idea of how to make everything better. Sasuke caressed his arm, trying to comfort him. He wasn't even sure if t was good or bad. He had prayed for something to happened for a while and now this happened. Naruto shot up with a scream and hugged his body. He was having what looked like a panic attack. Sasuke cupped his cheeks and tried to get eye contact.

"It's alright. Shhhh. Look at me" He tried to coax Naruto. "Look at me" Sasuke said a little more firmly when it didn't seemed like I got through to him. Sasuke shook him gently "Look at me. Every thing's fine" Naruto looked at him and gave him a small smile. Sasuke smiled back, but the warm, happy feeling inside him was quickly replaced with horror as he saw Naruto's eyes roll back into his head and felt his body grow limp in his hands. "No, no, no, no" Sasuke screamed. Not now. Not again. Naruto was just fine. He had looked at him. Naruto was fine. Please no. Don't do this. Naruto is fine. Just fine. Please just let him be fine, Sasuke begged to no one in particular.

So, what do you guys think will happen next?