Alrighty then, this is chapter 5 and I think it's safe to say that this chapter is the halfway point of 'To Wait By One's Deathbed'. I don't really plan to write more than 10 chapters anyway. Mostly because I don't want it to drag on forever and well…I'm lazy as hell. I can plan ahead like crazy, but when it actually comes to writing it, I find myself being distracted a lot…or just staring at the computer screen in unsureness. Okay, I won't keep you guys waiting anymore so please feel free to read ahead.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. ……… Nope still don't own it. Damn, waiting didn't work.

Chapter 5: The Undeniable

The next morning

Sasuke awoke slowly sometime after the sun had risen into the previously blackened sky. Naruto's resting form laid heavily on top of his own, the blonde's left arm hanging limply to the side while his right was tucked under the Uchiha's back. He figured that they both must have fallen asleep after their somewhat intimate moment last night. The tears Naruto spilled the previous night had left dry, streak-like trails in all directions on his whiskered cheeks.

It was incredibly disheartening for someone that was usually so chipper and energetic to breakdown like he had done.

Sasuke ran his fingers lightly over Naruto's cheek, smudging the dried stains. He was not sure what had compelled him to act the way he did last night. He sucked in a large breath, Naruto's head moving with the motions of his chest. Last night and right then were the only times that he had ever been so close to anybody in a long time, both mentally and physically.

Naruto was unnaturally still, almost to the point of being motionless. He did not even react to Sasuke's soft caress or the movements of his chest. That when Sasuke remembered something that scared him more than he would ever want to say.

Naruto had not taken his medication last night.

The doctors that gave him the medicine had warned that the predetermined coma, maybe even death, might take hold prematurely if Naruto had missed taking the pill. Even if he had failed to take it only once, the risk involved was still very high.

Sasuke held Naruto close to him while he sat up on the couch quickly. He moved one of his hands to the back of Naruto's head, the other gripping the boy's back.

Shaking Naruto slightly, he called out, "Naruto."

There was no response from him. His head lolled to the side, almost dropping off of Sasuke's hand when he had shaken him.

Gripping the blonde's shoulders with both of his hands, Sasuke called out again, "Naruto!"

Not a sound came out of his mouth. A small tremble shook Sasuke's frame, his hold on Naruto tightening out of anger and, unexpectedly, sadness. In his stupor of emotion, Sasuke just barely noticed the minor noise of Naruto's breathing. It was too light to be considered a normal inhalation, but at least it was proof that he was still alive.

Unsure of what to do at first, Sasuke laid Naruto back on the sofa gently. He then saw the pill and the cup of water still sitting on the table. The raven-haired boy wasn't sure if it would help at all, but it was at least worth a try.

He picked up the pill and the glass, contemplating as to how he was going to get Naruto to swallow it. After a few seconds of thought, a crimson blush of embarrassment appeared on his face.

The only way he was going to get Naruto to take the pill would be to pass it to him through his mouth.

Taking another deep breath to clear his head, Sasuke put the tablet on his tongue and took a suitable amount of water in his mouth. He placed the glass back on the table and positioned himself above Naruto, opening the boy's mouth a little with quivering fingers. He didn't feel as perfectly calm as he normally was and his face got redder and redder as the proximity of their mouths decreased.

By the time that his lips were mere centimeters away from Naruto's, Sasuke's face was the color of scarlet, not to mention excruciatingly hot feeling. Afraid that he might swallow the pill if he waited any longer, Sasuke jammed his eyes shut and descended.

It was an easy task to get the pill and the proper amount of water into Naruto's mouth and down his throat, but that's not what bothered Sasuke. What bothered Sasuke, as he rose up from above Naruto, was that he didn't feel as disgusted as he did when they had accidentally kissed the day they were assigned to the same squad together. This time, though, their lips had connected for a good reason and it didn't technically qualify as a true kiss.

But that wasn't an explanation as to why the "kiss" didn't feel bad to Sasuke. Instead, it felt almost pleasant.

Deciding that now wasn't the time to think about it, Sasuke picked up Naruto and headed straight to the hospital.

One hour later in the waiting room

Sasuke sat alone in the waiting room, his foot tapping anxious, irregular patterns on the ground. He had explained what had taken place to the medical ninja and, instead of reprimanding him for his carelessness; they chose to tend to Naruto right away. Sasuke was told that the other members of their squad would be informed of the current situation, which made him all the more anxious. Especially where Sakura was concerned.

God knows she would burst into the room and start clinging to Sasuke while crying her eyes out in the midst of babbling inaudible nonsense. The thought of it alone made Sasuke release an annoyed sigh.

To say that Sasuke was feeling impatient at the moment was a vast understatement. He was just surprised that he hadn't been pacing the floor for the last hour.

Sasuke heard the door to the waiting room open and he turned to see Sakura walking towards him.

"Sasuke-kun, is he…is he okay?" Sakura asked when she finally reached him.

"I don't know," Sasuke answered in all honesty, standing up from his place on the bench.

"O-Oh," Sakura said softly, looking down at the floor.

Sighing deeply, Sasuke started, "Look, Sakura--"

But before he could get into what he was going to say, Sakura attached herself to his chest, sobbing. Sighing once again, Sasuke put his hand on the pink-haired girl's back in an attempt to calm her down.

This felt different. It wasn't the same as when he been comforting Naruto. In all actuality, Sasuke really didn't want to be standing the middle of the hospital's waiting room with a crying Sakura on him. He would've rather been by himself throughout his stay in the waiting room.

After about five more minutes of crying, Sakura finally backed away from Sasuke, wiping her wet face with her hands.

"Do you know where Kakashi-sensei is?" Sasuke asked quietly.

"N-No," Sakura answered.

"Figures. He'll either be late or not show up at all," Sasuke said, sitting back down on the bench.

"So, Sasuke-kun," Sakura began before sitting next to him, "what happened to Naruto?"

Pausing for a moment, he replied, "His medication. He didn't take it last night."

"But why not?"

Sasuke was unsure how to answer that question. He wasn't very comfortable explaining the events of the previous night to Sakura or anyone else for that matter. That moment in time was something private, something that should be kept between him and Naruto.

The door to waiting room opened once again, but it was at the other end instead. The same medical ninja that had treated Naruto when he was first injured stepped into the room, a smile on his face. He motioned Sasuke to follow him into the room. Sasuke looked over at Sakura, who just smiled as a result.

"It's okay. I can wait," Sakura said, apparently taking the smile on the medic's face as a sign of good news.

Sasuke got up and walked with the medic into the patient ward. He quickly closed the door behind him, the smile still on his face.

"We almost lost him there for a second, but I'm happy to say that Naruto is awake now," the medic said.

Sasuke sighed in relief at this news, but the medic obviously wasn't finished talking.

"But we really have you to thank for that, Sasuke."

"What are you talking about? I was the one who almost let him die," Sasuke said lowly, disappointed at himself because of his recklessness.

Putting his hands on Sasuke's shoulders, the medic continued, "We both know that, but now is not the time to look down on yourself because you made a mistake. Naruto may have past the deadline to take it, but you still gave him the pill and that helped immensely in the end. Even something small like that can change the outcome."

A small smile emerged on Sasuke's face at hearing this. He was happy that he had helped prevent Naruto's death, even if it was by doing something small like the medic had said.

"Now, you should go over there and see him. He did ask for you specifically when he woke up," the medic informed.

"He did?" Sasuke asked, a little bit surprised.

The medic nodded before turning around and walking into the waiting room to give Sakura the same news.

Sasuke walked up to the bed, gazing at Naruto, who at that moment had his eyes closed. Sasuke sat down in the chair next to the bed and touched Naruto's hand lightly with his fingertips.

"Naruto," Sasuke called out gently.

Naruto opened his eyes slightly and smiled before replying, "Hey, Sasuke."

"How are you feeling?"

"I've felt better."

After a moment of silence, Sasuke whispered, "I was really worried about you."

Naruto looked Sasuke in the eyes. Of course Naruto had been told what had happened, but he was taken aback by Sasuke's statement.

"Well, you don't have to worry anymore. I'm fine now," Naruto said, not breaking his eyes away.

Naruto took hold of Sasuke's pale hand, to the Uchiha's astonishment, and closed his eyes tiredly, slowly drifting off. In that moment, as Sasuke sat next to Naruto's bed, holding the blonde's hand tightly, he acknowledged the undeniable feeling that he had felt all along.

Uchiha Sasuke was in love with Uzumaki Naruto.

Author's Notes: …I swear to God…Stupid crying people… Anyway, it took me a while to actually start working on this chapter because there was a lack of inspiration and these last few weeks have been horrible for me. Oh! I have a question for you guys. Would you guys like for Iruka to show up? I can write it either way, but I was thinking about how close Iruka and Naruto are and because I wasn't really sure if I should do it, I decided to leave it up to you patient people. Please leave me a review!