A /N: Wow it's been awhile hasn't it? Sorry I've been so slack…senior year of high school? Freaking ridiculous! But here's chapter 3! I'm not very happy with this chapter…I don't know why…if you figure it out…TELL ME IN A DUN DUN DUN……REVIEW!!

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Standard Disclaimer Applies: Anything worth recognition does not belong to Frankie.

Caught Up In Between

Summary:AU Sasuke and Sakura were inseparable when they were kids. Then Sasuke left with high hopes of becoming famous, leaving little Sakura to fend from the bullies herself. When he comes to town for a visit, can they reconnect, or will Sasuke's dream of being famous keep them apart? Sasusaku.

C . h . a . p . t . e . r . 3:-:The Broken

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"I tried to kill the pain but only brought more." –Evanescence

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Sakura rushed over to Naruto.

"Naruto! Are you ok?" she asked him calmly.

She knew he was having a panic attack. She ran through the mess and made her way toward the kitchen. She tore open the drawers and pulled out the pouch that had Naruto's emergency anxiety medicine.

She sprinted back to him and took out a needle and a vile with the injection in it.

"Sasuke hold him down!" She commanded.

She grabbed his right arm and slowly rubbed up and down his forearm. When she saw a good vein, she inserted the needle and let the injection into his bloodstream.

A couple seconds later Naruto's breathing slowed down and he became stable enough for Sasuke to let him go.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked eyes wide.

Sakura's heart let out a painful cry at the sight of his eyes. His usually bright and cheerful eyes were suddenly vulnerable and lost like a small child. He clung onto her like a frightened child holding onto his mother. Sakura smiled weakly in return.

She whispered soothing words into his ear and stroked his hair comfortingly.

While Sakura took care of Naruto, Sasuke looked around the apartment to assess the damage.

All the furniture had been torn apart and turned over, there was broken glass littering the floor, the walls had been spray painted on. The kitchen drawers were opened and the cupboards were open and everything was knocked out of them.

He walked over to Sakura and Naruto's shared room and found the door to be locked.

"The room is password protected." Sakura called out from her position against the wall. Sakura's whole life was in the room and she'd be damned if some petty burglars stole shit from her.

Sakura looked around her dinky apartment that she shared with Naruto. It was completely destroyed. She sighed internally knowing she was going to have a lot of work to do.

She looked to the walls and saw what was spray-painted on them.

'There's no place for monsters! Go back to your cage!'

'Pink-haired freaks not allowed!'

Sakura sighed. It wasn't like this when she was younger; when her parents were still around. They would know exactly what to do in situations like these. But then again, if her parents were still alive none of this would have happened.

Sasuke glanced at Sakura and saw the pain that was embedded into her jade eyes. His own eyes bled crimson in anger when he thought of the punks who did this.

"Sakura." Sasuke spoke.

Sakura looked up at Sasuke curiously.

"Nani?"

"You and Naruto are staying at my place until you find a new apartment." He told her.

"What? Sasuke you can't do that. Naruto and I will just clean this mess up." And as to prove herself she went around picking up fallen items and righting the furniture.

"Sakura. It's not safe. You're coming with me." He argued.

"Sasuke." She countered in the same tone. "It's fine. I'm staying right here."

"Sakura you're coming with me." He said with finality.

"I have to clean this up Sasuke. I can't stay at your place too long." She sighed with defeat.

She went back to picking everything up until she stopped as if she remembered something.

She slowly walked over to Naruto.

"Naru-chan, a bed is comfier than the ground." She whispered. Naruto allowed himself to be led into the bedroom where he was tucked in and given a kiss on the forehead.

Sakura left the room and went into the kitchen. She came out with a bucket of soap and water and a sponge and began rigorously rubbing at the spray-painted walls.

After hours of rigorous scrubbing and Sasuke joining in sometime during the middle, the bright red paint was reduced to a light pink.

Sakura's arms were sore and her hands were coated in a sheer veil of pink. She was exhausted both mentally and physically and collapsed on the ground.

Sasuke had called for a car to come pick them up.

"Pack your things." Came the blunt order.

Somehow Sakura couldn't even find the energy to roll her eyes and snap back with a witty comment and lifted herself up to do what he ordered.

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After packing up a few of her things alongside with Naruto's in separate duffle bags she was ready to go. She changed from her school uniform (which she had changed back into at Sasuke's house before she left) into sofy sweats and a baggy sweatshirt, she awoke Naruto and led him to the ca-errr limo. Naruto fell asleep as soon as he hit the comfortable leather seats and took the whole row to himself. Sakura sat next Sasuke in silence.

Sasuke turned his gaze to his childhood friend. She had remained the same, physically with a few minor changes. She had grown curves which he imagined she would never have and her face held more prominent and sharp features.

Her eyes had changed the most. They went from the bright sparkling emerald to dull lifeless shade of jade. Her eyes had hardened with time. Her eyes were of someone who had seen too much pain at such a young age.

Her personality was the thing that changed the most. Before she was outspoken, rambunctious and friendly to everyone. She always had a smile on her face and she was easy to read.

Now he was having trouble figuring out what she was thinking. She had built up walls around her heart and even Sasuke could see that. Well now that he was back and he'd just have to tear them down won't he?

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked her gently.

She turned around and smiled at him beautifully. "Nothing Sasuke-kun. I'm just worrying about how we're going to be a burden to you and your family."

His eyes turned completely serious. "Saki don't you EVER think that you're a burden. For goodness sake's you have your OWN room in the manor! Doesn't that mean anything to you! You always have a place to stay ok? Please stop thinking like that. It would make me very sad." He faked a pout.

Sakura stayed silent because she knew better than to fall for his tricks. "Fine." Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

He grinned and ruffled her hair and threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Get some rest Saku-chan." He squeezed her lightly. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, the warmth and security she hadn't felt since he left, returning.

-x-

When they arrived at the manor Sasuke had gently woken Sakura up. Naruto had woken up a few minutes before.

He carried his and Sakura's duffle bags up the stairs into the manor.

Sakura silently made her way up the steps she had grown so familiar with over the past ten years leaving a letter every month on the doorstep of his mansion and a gift every year on his birthday. Her gaze saddened and refused to look anyone in the eye.

"Okaa-san, Sakura-chan and the Dobe are staying at our house for awhile." He told his mother.

Sakura stood behind Sasuke using him as a shield.

"Of course Sasuke, they are both welcome here to stay as long as they please." She told them all kindly.

"Thank you Mikoto-san." Came Sakura's quiet voice from behind Sasuke. She elbowed Naruto, signaling him to do the same.

"Uhh…yeah…thanks." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sasuke-chan will show you to your rooms." Mikoto smiled at them.

"Aa. Follow me." He told them briefly.

Naruto walked beside Sakura and squeezed her hand lightly. Sakura on the other hand, held on tight. She gave him a sharp look saying, 'I'm-not-done-with-you-just-yet'. Naruto silently gulped and tried to struggle against her vice-grip.

"Don't even think about it Naruto." She hissed at him.

Naruto sighed in defeat. Sakura was pissed and he was just hoping she wouldn't explode to badly when he tells her what happened.

"Sakura, you are to stay in your room and Naruto, your room is across the hall." Sasuke's deep voice broke the silence.

Naruto handed Sakura her duffle bag and proceeded down the hall to his own room. She opened her door threw in her bag and chased Naruto down the hall.

Naruto grumbled under his breath as Sakura followed him into his room. She wasn't going to let him go was she?

She shut his door behind them and Naruto dived onto the bed.

"Well I'm really tired Sakura-chan so how about we talk tomorrow?" Naruto questioned and pretended to sleep.

He heard his door open and close and let out a sigh of relief. He sat upright on his bed and let out a girlish scream.

"AH Sakura-chan…I thought you left." He admitted.

She shook her head with a stern look on her face. She looked Naruto in the eyes.

"What happened Naruto?" She began, "You haven't had an attack like that since the fourth grade."

Naruto tore his gaze away from her probing eyes. "Nothing happened, Sakura-chan."

"Don't lie to me. Naruto, please…don't lie to me." Her voice turned desperate.

He glanced back up at her to see her fist clenched and her eyes filled with pain. He knew she hated it when he lied to her, but continued to do so anyway.

"Sakura-chan…I can't." He tried to persuade her. She would blame herself for what happened. It pained Naruto to hide it but he didn't want to hurt Sakura.

"Yes…you can! You can tell me anything! What I guess living 10 years with you doesn't mean anything?" she questioned.

"Fine." She spat out. "Just fine."

She turned on her heel and slammed the door.

Naruto buried his face in his pillow. 'Great…what am I supposed to do now?'

-x-

"Once again, I'm falling to my knees. (I try to escape 'cause I just can't take it.)" –Simple Plan

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A/N: Life's a bitch isn't it? Or maybe I'm just a sadist.

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