Anyways, I wish I had been able to do more writing lately, but I haven't been able to get on for a variety of reasons. Enjoy the second chapter please!

I don't own Naruto!

Shikamaru's eyes opened slowly, taking in the white room surrounding him. Wait just second... How did he get here? Last he checked, his world consisted of grey stone, moss and metal bars.

"Hey! Guys, look! Shikamaru's awake!" Shikamaru's head whipped around to spot Naruto, tugging Sakura into the room, with Ino and Chouji close behind. He felt the sudden need to pull up the covers further, so they were practically covering his mouth.

"How are you doing?!" Ino asked, concern written all over her face. Chouji was munching chips, which Shikamaru was grateful for. It restored some level of normalcy for him. Naruto suddenly got in his face. "Do you feel better now?!" Shikamaru almost threw himself backwards to make space in between both of them, a sharp intake of breath punctuating the movement.

Sakura hit Naruto on the head, pulling him back. "Idiot! Kakashi-sensei said not to touch him!" Naruto started whining. "But I didn't touch him, Sakura! Don't be so mean... Ow!"

While the pair pulled off to the corner so Sakura could continue abusing Naruto, Ino looked at Shikamaru intently. "Are you okay, Shikamaru?" Chouji had stopped munching, watching him just as carefully. Shikamaru nodded weakly. "I'm.. I'm great... You guys don't need to worry.."

"Of course we do, we're your friends! Are you sure you're just fine?" Ino said, voice raising a couple decibels. "Yes, of course..." Shikamaru said, still keeping the covers bunched up around him. Chouji's brow creased in concern. "Positive?"

Shikamaru sighed, holding his head in his hands. He wanted to talk to them about it, he wanted to just let it out, but at the same time, he was afraid of what they would think. Would they think he was insane? Or would they just think he was weak and broken and wouldn't want to be around him?

"Shikamaru, you can talk to us. We're not going to make fun of you or anything, I promise," Chouji said, very concerned over the internal debate he could see going on in Shikamaru's head.

"I.. I just don't want to talk about it, guys." He felt inexplicable stinging in the corners of his eyes. Ino and Chouji watched him, but didn't say anything. Maybe he would want to talk to Asuma about it...

A nurse came in, ushering them out. Naruto yelled over his shoulder that he'd be back later with some ramen, and Sakura had hit him over the head. Then everything had been quiet.

Shikamaru felt uneasy. It was so quiet, just like... Just like it had been in that place. He felt his heart start to race. He immediately placed his hand over it, starting to panic. He knew it was illogical, there was no reason to freak out because it was too quiet.

Too quiet, too quiet! He felt his head start to pound. He had to get out of here now! Feeling like he was fighting invisible demons, he tore free of the sheets and ran out of the room, both hands on his head. He was breathing heavily, and he swore he could feel someone right behind him, breathing on him as it easily kept pace.

He scared the nurses out of their wits as burst past them, trying desperately to get away from the thing behind him. He nearly knocked into an elderly patient on his way out the door.

He ran out into the meadow, but he just couldn't get away from it. He could feel pure terror rising in his throat as its fingers grabbed his shoulders. Slamming into a tree to shake it off, he continued on in a haphazard manner, trying to free himself from something he coldn't see. It had to get off him, he had to get it away!

He slammed into another tree, but the thing seemed resourceful, for he could still feel its finger clinging to him. He started to choke as the fingers closed around his neck, and he fell to his knees, wildly clawing and kicking, trying to get away from it. Nothing he did could shake it off, and his vision started to grow fuzzy as he took uneven, gasping breaths.

Suddenly, he felt a large pair of hands on his arms. He looked up, eyes still wide with terror. The man before was undeniably familiar, and he felt him wrap his arms around him, pulling him close. He started to shake violently, feeling the fingers slip away from his neck.

"Shikamaru, are you okay?" It was Asuma. Shikamaru started to cry, and plead with Asuma. "Please, please keep it away! I can't... Please!" Asuma rubbed Shikamaru's head, rocking him back and forth. He'd dealt with trauma victims before, so he did have some idea what he was doing here. Looking down at his quivering, sobbing student, he felt a painful twist in his chest. Whoever did this to him deserved to die, no questions about it.

They stayed there for some time, until Shikamaru had calmed down. Then he and Asuma walked back to the hospital, and Asuma stuck around until Shikamaru finally fell into a troubled sleep.

Aren't you guys proud of me? It only took me a couple months to finish! *Hangs head in shame* I'm really sorry it took so long! Please forgive me!