SasuNaru

Locked up with You

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or St. Luke's

--

The room was relatively bright, straw chairs lined up along the walls, some clustered around a TV that was flickering, news spilling out the speakers. People were walking around or sat down reading. One was sat in the corner, almost melting into the wall and out of view reading, if it wasn't for his flamboyant red hair.

A long haired male was looking out the window, lips moving as if talking to someone who wasn't there. A boy with red makeup on his cheeks was watching TV, sat in the chair upside down, while another was next to him, spiky dark hair and a blank look on his face.

The nurse, Sakura, who had brought him up waved over to a man with his hair in a ponytail, lounging on a random chair. He strode over to Naruto lazily and stuck out his hand, not showing much emotion except boredom on his face.

"I'm Nara Shikamaru, welcome aboard," he said.

Naruto flashed the man a winning grin. "Uzumaki Naruto, it's nice to be here…"

Shikamaru let a stray smirk find its way to his face, letting go of the tanned hand. Naruto followed him as they walked into the middle of the room and the Nara spread his arms wide, getting a few looks from the patients.

"This," he said. "Is the Hutton Unit of St. Luke's hospital. I hope you enjoy your stay, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Unless it's about leave, food, other patients, or anything else related to problems ask someone else."

Naruto's grin faulted a little.

"Do you smoke?" Shikamaru asked, raising a brow.

"Err…no, I don't."

Shikamaru nodded. "Good, because we have smoke breaks every hour on the hour. It sucks for chain smokers, but they get used to it," the man grimaced as someone walked up to him, the man who was watching TV a moment earlier.

"Can I go visit his grave yet?" he asked in a monotone voice.

Shikamaru pierced his lips. "Take your medicine."

Naruto sprung back as the dark haired man raised his fist and went at Shikamaru, who raised his arms above his head and took the blow. The blond didn't know what he did, but he sure as hell didn't like where he ended up.

"Can I go-"

"This is Naruto," Shikamaru said, swinging his bruised arm over the blonde's shoulder. "Be nice, Sasuke."

Sasuke stared at the large blue eyes a moment before grunting and walking off, turning a corner the lead somewhere else. Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief and turned to a stone-shocked Naruto.

"Sorry about that," he said. "It happens often."

"O-often?!" Naruto spluttered.

"Yeah, but he only does it to staff…mainly me."

The blue eyes blinked a few times before he tilted his head to the side. "You're staff?"

There was a small moment before Shikamaru started to laugh, holding his hand to his forehead. "Yeah, I'm staff. You're not, so don't worry about Sasuke…just don't piss him off, please?"

"Sure."

A beeping pulled the attention of half the room to Shikamaru, who looked down at his watch, nodding a little. Letting go of Naruto, he walked over to the man talking to himself and said something. Naruto shivered somewhat as white eyes locked with his own. The man nodded and stood, walking over to him.

"Smoke break!" Shikamaru shouted. "Sasuke, get out of your room and stop brooding, because you're not getting another!"

Naruto turned his attention to the tall long haired man in front of him and grinned sheepishly. "I'm Naruto…" he said, a little unsure.

"Hyuuga Neji," the man said, his voice surprisingly lower than Naruto had imagined. "I need to show you to your room."

The two started to walk round the corner that the others had turned. They passed a few rooms, one saying 'SMOKING ROOM' in large red letters. Naruto couldn't see through the window because of all the crap in there.

Neji opened a double door which had a hall with more doors lined up inside. He opened the third one on the left and entered.

Three bunk beds were lined up against the wall, beside tables in between and three cupboards, three boxlike things sitting at the foot of each bed, and a large straw basket in the corner. A dressing table with some bottles and hair equipment stood opposite the beds, and a large window was on the far wall.

"This is our room," Neji explained. "Gaara, Kiba, myself and Sasuke are in this room with you," he shot the blond a hard look. "I hope you don't make a fuss."

Naruto grinned. "Don't worry!" he said. "I'll do my best."

The Hyuuga nodded and patted one bunk. "Sasuke," he walked to the second. "Kiba," and he did the same with the third. "Gaara and I."

Kiba's bed was messy to say the least, and he obviously took the top bunk. Naruto dumped his large duffle bag on the bottom bed and looked to Neji, who seemed almost happy with Naruto's choice.

The Uzumaki boy had seen Sasuke. He wasn't suicidal.

"Lunch starts soon, I believe that Kiba's stuff is in this box," he patted the box at the end of the bed. "And the rest of us took the cupboards. You can have my box; just don't make too much mess."

Naruto nodded and watched Neji leave the room, sighing a little. The other male may well have been nice enough to show him around, but that didn't decrease his air of arrogance. The blond opened his bag and walked to the box at the end of Neji's bed, tipping it upside down and letting his things fall out before dropping the orange and black bag on top.

He saw his black and orange jacket laying on top and picked it up, pulling it on over the black shirt he was wearing. It was colder in the hospital than he thought it would be.

Walking back out into the lounge he looked back at the redhead who was caught up in his book. The boy had wan green eyes that almost looked blue and pale smooth skin. He was wrapped up in his book so much he didn't notice Naruto staring.

Naruto jumped five meters into the air when someone clamped their hands down onto his shoulders, whispering a 'boo' into his mouth. Spinning round, he saw the red-cheeked boy from earlier stand there grinning.

"Kiba Inuzuka," he greeted, patting Naruto on the back. "Neji told me that you would be bunking with us, with me more like it."

The blond gave his new friend a classic grin, happy to find someone who was so friendly. "Yeah, hope you don't mind."

"Nah, not at all…I can tell why you don't want to share with Uchiha, he's a prick sometimes."

Shikamaru walked up behind them as people started filling out of the smoking room, frowning at Kiba. "Don't let him hear you say that."

Kiba tucked his hands into his pockets, smirking cheekily. "Why, scared you'll loose me?" he teased.

"No, I'm scared I'll be blamed and have to look after your damn dog all by myself. He's hell when you're in here," the Nara stated before turning back to Naruto. "Sorry about him, he's too loud…and obnoxious."

"Take that back!"

Naruto shook his head, keeping his cheery face. "I don't mind," he said. "Nice to find someone with energy."

Kiba put his hands back on Naruto's shoulders and steered the boy to face the redhead again. "That, my dear friend, is Gaara."

"Gaara…is in our room, right?"

"Yup, he just sits around and reads. Boring as though, he doesn't talk much, except to tell me to shut up or something."

Shikamaru sighed. "Kiba, everyone tells you to shut up," the boy pouted. "Gaara's like you."

That comment was addressed to Naruto, who blinked in confusion before the words settled in. His eye softened and he looked back to Gaara, who's eyes shot down to the book. So he did notice them.

Kiba and Shikamaru watched in amazement as Naruto walked over to the redhead, grinning as he always does.

"Mind if I sit down?" Naruto asked, getting a small nod in response. He sat on the chair next to Gaara, who looked at him for a long moment before going back to his book."

"I'm Naruto!" the blond said, trying to get an answer.

"Hmm…" was all he got.

"What you reading?"

"Oi, you two, lunch is ready," Shikamaru called, watching Gaara's face closely. Kiba ran off, catching the Hyuuga as they walked to the door.

"You coming?" the blond asked his companion, looking into the blank green eyes.

"…sure."

Shikamaru smiled a little and nodded in appreciation, caught by Gaara who looked away in embarrassment. Shikamaru started out the door, Naruto and Gaara following just behind.

The lunch hall was through a door in the main hall that you pasted to get to the lounge. All the halls and rooms and doors were making Naruto's head spin. The offices and check-up rooms were opposite the lunch hall, people going in and out of them.

Naruto followed Gaara to a lone table in the corner, sitting with the redhead. There was a long queue waiting to be severed, and Gaara was still reading.

"Dan Brown."

The blue eyed boy looked up at Gaara. "Huh?"

Gaara tipped his book slightly, flashing the cover at Naruto. There was a large block of writing on that read 'DAN BROWN', with a fancy type of 'Angels and Demons'.

"Oh," Naruto remembered asking what the book called. "That's cool…want to go get some food?" he asked.

Gaara shook his head and continued to read.

"Aren't you hungry? You're as thin as a stick, at least have something!" the blonde's grin turned slightly mischievous. "I'll force it down your throat."

The look that Gaara gave him made Naruto think he'd done something wrong, but the redhead stood anyway and made his way over to the line.

"Come on," he said, not looking at the other boy. Naruto rose and followed after a moment, pleased with the outcome.

Shikamaru watched the two from his table, shaking his head a little.

"It's amazing, huh?" Kiba asked, digging into the bangers and mash that he had in front of him. "Gaara's actually acting a little bit more like a human."

"No wonder your room always gets in to fights with your mouth in there," Shikamaru said, smiling a little. "But yeah…it is."

Kiba waved to the man who had just got his food, beckoning the Hyuuga over to them. The long haired boy shook his head a little but did anyway, lips moving to indicate he was saying something to himself.

"What do you think of Naruto?" Kiba asked Neji as the boy sat down next to the nurse. Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Kiba's immaturity.

"He seems nice," Neji said. "But very soft."

Shikamaru smirked. "You think he'll end up like Kiba?"

"God, I hope not," Neji growled, sticking his fork and knife into the food. "I could do without two idiots."

Kiba fumed. "Hey, take that back," he shouted. "I'm not an idiot!"

"Says you," Shikamaru said before looking back at Naruto and Gaara. "You think…"

"Shikamaru, no one is that perfect," the Hyuuga said, knowing what was about to come. "Uchiha is a lost cause."

The darker eyed boys looked over at the far table to see said man eating quietly. Kiba made a noise of agreement and continued to eat. "Yeah," Shikamaru muttered. "That's what I thought about Gaara…"

--

Some old black and white movie played on the TV, Kiba in his normal upside down position and Naruto next to him. Neji was back by the window, watching the outside world and Gaara was pacing. Back and forth…back and forth.

"Gaara," Naruto called. "Come watch TV with us!"

The redhead looked at Naruto, Kiba and then the box playing a movie before going back to pacing.

Kiba let out a frustrated sigh. "He does this every time he finishes a book. Gives it back to Shikamaru, who goes out and gets another from the library down the road."

Naruto chuckled. "Kind of like a dog, huh?"

Kiba paused a moment before laughing loudly, getting some attention of the other patients. "Gosh, you couldn't have said it better."

The Nara came back into the room and Gaara stood still, folding his arms. Shikamaru yawned a little and handed over a thick book.

"Dan Brown again," Shikamaru said. "I hope you liked his last book."

There was a nod and Gaara took the book, going back to the corner. The lazy nurse walked over to Naruto and Kiba, nudging the latter's head with his foot. "You'll get a headache like that."

"So?"

"So, then you'll come complaining to me and wanting aspirin that I'm not going to give you," Shikamaru explained, getting the boy to sit upright. "It's almost time for you to go to bed anyway."

Kiba frowned. "What if I don't want to bed? No one else gets told to go to bed."

Naruto felt like he was watching a Ping-Pong match."

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because I said so."

"So, that doesn't answer my question?"

Shikamaru heaved a sigh. "Because, once again, you will stay up late watching crappy TV, wake up on the chair- upside down, and come to me complaining your tired, have a headache, and that you're in pain because you slept weirdly, ask me for painkillers that you know I'm not going to give you and brood for the rest of the day."

Naruto sniggered at the Inuzuka's small blush.

"Fine," Kiba growled. "Prick…"

"I heard that," Shikamaru said before yawning. "I'm off then, my shift finished about an hour ago."

Naruto frowned. "Then why didn't you go?"

"I was waiting for Gaara to finish his book. He'd get pissy if I didn't get him another one."

Kiba laughed again. "I agree with you Naruto, just like a dog."

The Nara scoffed as the two laughed. "Troublesome. I'm off, see you tomorrow."

The two went back to the TV as the man walked out the room and into the hall. Naruto decided that it wasn't as bad in here as he thought it would be. Sure, it was hell as boring, but with Kiba, Shikamaru, Gaara and maybe Neji he could manage.

Hopefully.

"Hey, Naruto," Kiba started. "How'd you like your first day in the unit?"

"It's been ok…but don't you ever get bored?"

Kiba laughed. "No duh! I've lived with my dog all my life, so when I first came in it was weird for me not to be around him. People like Neji and Gaara…in a way, they're lucky that they have voices in their heads to keep them entertained, though Gaara has his books.

Naruto fidgeted a little. "What about Sasuke?"

The suspicious look that he got didn't make him feel anymore comfortable. "Why…do you like him or something?"

Kiba smirked at the colour of his friend's face.

"N-No! I was just wondering. You know … he's a bastard, why would I like him?"

"Because, uh, he's hot? Everyone else with a bit of common sense likes him at least a little?"

Naruto fumed. "What about you then?"

"I said with a bit of common sense, didn't I?" Kiba laughed a bit. "Man, you're fun.

"You want to know what Sasuke does, I can show you…"

Naruto was tempted. Very tempted. Until Neji came up behind him and gripped the back of Kiba's chair, giving the boy a strained 'you do anything and I'll kill you' grin.

"Inuzuka, who got blamed last time you went through Sasuke's stuff?" the Hyuuga asked dangerously.

Kiba grinned nervously. "Shikamaru?"

"And…"

"The rest of the room?"

Neji nodded. "I happen to be one of those people, and I will seriously not be pleased if I have to share the blame with you for something you did."

Kiba whined. "Naruto wants to see Sasuke's stuff-"

"I asked what he did!" the blond defended. "I didn't want to go through his stuff!"

The long haired boy sucked in a breath. "Sasuke paints. He sits in the lunch room and paints. That's all."

Kiba didn't drop it. "His works are really good, you should see them! He once drew a snake that I thought was real!"

"Only you could think something that was on a piece of paper would be real," Neji said, crossing his arms across his chest. He looked at his watch and smirked. "Oh look what time it is…"

Naruto figured that the groan Kiba gave meant he had to go to bed. Waving to his friend, the Kiba walked off down the hall to their room, wishing a good night sleep.

Neji turned to Naruto. "Sasuke's temperamental. Don't get on his bad side so early on," the man walked off, answering Naruto's unspoken question with a 'Kiba'.

Nothing else to do, Naruto walked over to Gaara and sat back down next to the boy, who didn't make any movement.

Just as Naruto opened his mouth, the redhead spoke. "No, I haven't seen, or want to see, any of Sasuke's drawings."

"Does that mean you won't come to the lunch room with me?" Naruto asked. "I'm in need of some coffee."

Gaara gave him a sarcastic look. "Coffee?"

"Yeah, Sakura said that they would give out coffee during the day!"

Gaara snapped his book shut and rolled his eyes as Naruto jumped up, whooping. The two made their way out the lounge and into the hall, getting a sceptical look from one of the nurses.

There was Sasuke, sat on the same table he'd been sitting since dinner, scribbling on a piece of paper. At least, it looked like scribbles when Naruto saw how fast Sasuke's hand was moving. He was holding a piece of bread in his left hand, and a pencil in his right, eyes concentrated on the paper.

Naruto hesitantly walked over and peered over the table, looking down at the picture. It was of a woman smiling, her face soft and her long hair flowing over her shoulders. In her arms there was a small boy with messy hair and large eyes, reaching up for his mother's face.

"That's you, you know?"

Naruto's whole boy froze and his eyes went wide. Partly because of the voice that spoke to him, and partly because he knew that the picture was of him.

Gaara was soon next to him. "You'll get used to that..." he said quietly enough for Naruto to hear.

"Dobe."

Naruto glared fiercly at Sasuke. "What did you just call me?!"

"Dobe, because that's what you are. Now, you finished admiring my perfection so I can work in piece?"

The blond fumed. "Well I'm sorry teme, how rude of me. Maybe next time I should take note of that giant ego filling up the room."

Sasuke's brow twitched. "Te...me?"

A smirk worked its way to Naruto's face. "Teme, because that's what you are."

Gaara sighed as the two began to banter, rubbing his temple. "I should've listened to Neji..."

--

For such a relatively well kept room, Naruto was finding it hard to sleep. The person above him was snoring, as was the person to his right, while the two on his left slept soundly.

Well, one slept soundly anyway.

Gaara lay awake, staring at the top bunk. His eyes were glazed over and Naruto knew that the redhead wasn't sleeping.

"Talk to him."

There was that voice again... "Hey, Gaara..." Green eyes came to focus on him expectantly. "Do you ever get bored reading books?"

The head turned back to the bottom of Neji's bed. "Sometimes," he admitted.

"So, what do you do when you're bored?"

A silence returned as Gaara thought of an answer. "Read anyway."

"Oh..."

This was getting nowhere.

"But...sometimes I just watch everyone else," Naruto waited for him to continue. "Shikamaru does that, I've seen him. All he does is observe everyone else. No doubt by the end of the week he'll have you pinned down."

Naruto rolled onto his back and looked up to where he guessed his sleeping friend's head would be. "He's smart then?"

"Very."

There was more silence while Naruto's lids slowly closed, but he tried to force himself to stay awake.

"Naruto," Gaara said. "You best go to sleep."

"But what about you?" the blue eyed boy asked, voice hazy and barely there.

Gaara couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his lips. "I'll go to sleep after you."

"Listen to him, you need your rest."

--

Kitty: day one complete! The next chapter will (hopefully) be longer. I worked hard to get this finished now... eh heh. I hope you like it if you see any improvements that are needed to be made, or any ideas that you can give they're appreciated!

R+R

ja ne

Kitty

Preview –

"Who's that?"

"Sai."

"Ah...he seems like fun!"

"Naruto, just don't go there. Seriously."

"Why?"

"Trust me on this one, ok?"