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Itachi wasn't sure what to expect when he arrived at Konoha Hospital the next morning. On his walk over, he realized that this would be his first day ever "at work." As trust fund kids, Itachi and Sasuke knew they would never have to hold down real jobs to support themselves. The Uchiha money was generations old, and Itachi's parents had certainly never broken a sweat to earn anything in their entire lives. It was small wonder that Sasuke had followed in their spoiled footsteps.
His train of thought was broken by a loud, "Hiya! You must be Itachi!" Startled, he looked down to see a preppy-looking blonde with a bumped up ponytail, holding a clipboard and smiling right at him.
"I'm Ino Yamanaka, director of the hospital's Volunteer Service Corps!," she continued rapidly. "We don't get too many guys volunteering around here, unfortunately, but Tsunade told me all about how much you wanted to help in the Transplant Unit. That's great! Sometimes volunteers get squeamish, but it sounds like Tsunade thinks you can handle it. Well, c'mon and follow me!"
It took Itachi a moment to process everything she said before realizing that he needed to be following her. "This day is intense already!" he thought. He caught up to Ino quickly enough that she never noticed that he hadn't been right behind her. She had been talking the entire way, so when she turned around suddenly to ask him, "Don't you think so?," Itachi wasn't sure how to answer, since he had missed most of the one-sided conversation.
He slowly replied, "What?"
"Guys!" Ino huffed to herself, rolling her eyes. "Try to keep up! Anyway, like I was saying, it's nice that you'll get your own dressing room since you're the only guy volunteer here at the moment. I've already hung up your uniform for you inside, and don't forget to thoroughly wash your arms and hands before entering any wing or room in the hospital. Ok, so I'll meet you on the 8th floor in 10 minutes, ok? Just stay by the elevators and I'll find you. Ok?"
"Ok!" Itachi said quickly, wanting to make up for his previous mistake.
He headed into the dressing room and was relieved to see his uniform consisted of a very large black t-shirt with the word "Volunteer" written across the front in white. There was also a small gold badge with his named engraved on it. He pinned it on and headed out the door only to nearly fall over Ino.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you that you're going to have to pull your hair back. It's not like we're conservative or anything, but it's more hygienic for the patients if we keep our hair tied up. Here, I brought you a scrunchie."
He looked down quizzically at the hair tie, which was teal with black polka dots, before accepting it.
"Sorry," Ino continued, "but it was this or a yellow hairbow."
Itachi quickly pulled his hair into a low ponytail that trailed down his back.
"Ok, that's better," Ino smiled sweetly. "Let's head upstairs together and I'll brief you about some of our basic policies. First of all…"
She continued talking and walking briskly and Itachi managed to keep up this time. "What a day," he thought again as the elevator pulled them up.
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"Oh God! I'm freezing," Sakura thought as she shivered uncontrollably. Mentally she knew that chills were a typical side-effect of the immunosuppressants she was taking, but that knowledge did little to help her cope with the icy sensations. Somehow, her shaking arm managed to reach up for the nurse call button and hit it a few times before being buried back under the blankets.
It didn't take long for Ino to burst into the room in her typical hyper-attentive manner. "Sakura, what's wrong?" she questioned while she took visual inventory of her condition. "You're shaking like a leaf! You've got the chills. Ok, there was a code blue up the hall, so it might take a few minutes for your nurse to respond. It's lucky we saw your light flashing! Ok, Itachi, we need to get her into a warm bath!"
His eyes widened visibly, but Ino dismissed his embarrassment saying, "C'mon buddy, go get the bath started! We're all adults here, ok, and Sakura needs to warm up! Let's go!"
Itachi quickly complied and prepared the bath while Ino helped Sakura up. Itachi hurried to help Ino with Sakura, just as the shivering patient nearly collapsed to the floor. He wrapped one arm around her waist and placed one behind her knees, lifting her up easily. He felt her hot forehead pressing against his chest as she went limp in his arms. "Ino," he said worriedly, "I think she has a fever."
"She probably does. Her immunity is really low right now because of the drugs in her system. C'mon now, bring her over here by the tub and hold her up for a minute while I get this gown off her. I don't think she can stand up by herself."
Itachi nodded and supported Sakura's light form as Ino undressed her. He looked away, but the bathroom mirror betrayed his noble intentions by reflecting her naked beauty completely. Even the gruesome black stitches that tracked across her chest and under her breasts could not detract from her fragile loveliness. His breath hitched, his heart stopped for a fraction of a second as this image etched into his mind forever. But Ino's voice broke through impatiently, "Itachi, she's ready! Get her in the tub, but don't submerge her stitches!"
He lifted her up and carefully knelt down, easing her trembling body into the warm water. Ino sent him to find a nurse and by the time they returned, Sakura was no longer shaking. The medical team took over, allowing Ino and Itachi to withdraw into the hallway.
"You did good, Itachi!" Ino grinned at him broadly. He smiled shyly and looked down. "Is she feeling better?" he asked. "Yes, thankfully, because we were able to act so quickly! I'm so glad to have you on the team! Well, let's keep going, huh?"
Ino chattered on, but Itachi's thoughts were whirling. He could have never have expected this on a first day! Although he felt anxious knowing how weak Sakura was, he also sensed that a bond had been formed between them somehow. He hadn't felt connected to anyone in so long that the warm feeling radiated through him and stayed there all through the night.
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Sakura drifted in and out of sleep. She was warm now and her pain meds were working. She dreamed of a man with dark eyes and black hair cradling her in his arms as they flew across the moonlit sky, far away from everything. She could hear his rhythmic heartbeat and felt safe for the first time in forever.
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