AN: I can't be held responsible, really. After all I'm didn't create Naruto even though I wreak angsty havoc upon kishimoto's characters. It's all his fault. Yes that's precisely correct!
Sasuke returned late or early in the morning, depending on how one looked at it. Sharingan eyes flickered onto the dying fire and sighed throwing the rest of the firewood gathered onto it, in hopes of keep it's dying warmth alive. He glanced at the bright pink hair covered beneath cloak and blanket, still shivering in her sleep. That couldn't bode well for her injury. He knew she wasn't fully healed yet with such an enormous wound though she'd tried to keep that from him.
He stripped down from his anbu gear which was cold and soaked and realized she'd rolled onto his blanket. Figures. She denies him vehemently and then ends up using his gear. He sat by the fire, warming himself and expending some chakra to help speed up the process, when it came to him. She was on his bed roll after all. Smirking, he fixed red eyes on her prone figure. Just you wait…
Sakura came to in the morning with the scent of woodsy cinnamon surrounding her. She detected a vague scent of smoke, possibly from gunpowder or a camp fire, she couldn't tell. The smell was at least two days old and had been muted with snowfall. She was so warm and content and she curled against it. Were it not for her wound she might have gone back to sleep. Her abdomen ached and she peeled open one sleep deprived green eye open. And was met with a pale expanse of creamy hardened flesh that was definitely not Tanned and whisker cheeked. Oh gods…Sakura was spooning with a very naked and half covered Sasuke.
A piercing shriek woke him, and Sasuke was up, katana in his hand, nakedness or not as he leapt to the offensive. The shriek rose in pitch and volume and Sasuke winced, realizing his current state of affairs. He sighed and cracked his neck, stretching much to a completely mortified and totally red faced Sakura, who tore her jade eyes off of him and cut off her shriek with a scowl.
"What the hell did you think you were doing" she said, outraged.
"Sleeping, that is until you screamed." He retorted with a snort, wrapping the cloak around him temporarily.
"You know exactly what I mean you perverted-" She started, but those sharingan eyes silenced her with a glance.
"Let me put this in perspective for you. I was cold and wet, and you were sleeping on my bedroll. Would you rather me have froze to death in the cold, Medic?"
"Put some damn clothes on" She ordered, storming out of the cave. Sasuke's smirk refused to disappear as they traveled back to Konoha.
Sakura gasped and wheezed, eye narrowing as her other was closing. She was dizzy and nearly fell, if not for the steady hands supporting her.
"Idiot. You can't push yourself this hard with your wound" He chided, breathe hot on her neck as he stood behind her.
Sakura glared and pushed off of him, and stumbled. She caught the tree branch as he caught her before she fell. His hands steadied her and supported her again.
"Take your hands off me" She said tone soft, but firm.
"No."
"I'll be fine, if I rest for a minute" Sakura retorted.
"I'm not going to let you fall off the tree and draw more attention."
"I'm not going to fall off the tree, and We're ten miles from the border, Sasuke. You should head on" She wheezed.
"Because leaving a wounded captain to fend for herself is always such a good idea" He mocked.
She said nothing, eyes closed in exertion as she rested.
"We'd get there quicker if you let me carry you." He prompted, smirk sliding across his face.
"Absolutely not"
"Regardless, you're going to have to head to the hospital upon our arrival" Sasuke said with a nonchalant shrug.
"No" Sakura's pink brows furrowed.
"I'm liable to report any and all medical needs of my team to the medical staff Taishou, including yours." Sasuke told her.
"Damn it Sasuke, I am a medic"
"No, you're an anbu captain and your chakra is dangerously low. Don't think I couldn't sense you patching up your wound all this morning" Sasuke told her.
Sakura hated him in that moment. He was being deliberately difficult.
"And if I let you carry me" She asked wincing as she resorted to such cheap tactics, still she would do almost anything to avoid Shizune's lecture.
"You're still going to the hospital" Sasuke said, red eyes gleaming in predatory amusement as he pushed the blood caked strand of red pink behind her ear. "It would just make the trip more satisfactory." he murmured.
Sakura scowled, swatting his hand away from her cheek and rose darting off towards Konoha. Sasuke grinned and followed suit admiring the view of his Taishou's hastily departing figure.
Naruto could feel them coming, as he watched his team practicing.
"I'll be right back" He said with a whiskered grin to his team. They all exchanged knowing glances. Their sensei tried to hide it but it was clear as day that he and Haruno sensei were definitely more than teammates.
Naruto saw them coming and eyes widened as he took in Sasuke carrying Sakura across his back as she was unconcious. He flash stepped to him.
"Teme.." He said, blue eyes anxious about the precious burden he carried.
"I'll take her to the hospital, Dobe" He said.
Naruto scowled, knowing he needed to stay with his team, anxiety for her safety clear as day. He sighed raking a hand through blonde unruly hair.
"Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you to keep her safe" He said gripping his brother's arm tightly.
Sasuke blinked in acknowledgement, saluted, and vanished.
When Sakura came to, she turned to her side in the uncomfortable hospital bed looking on the bedside. She saw the daisy's in the vase and smiled knowing Naruto must have come by. But by the window she saw the red roses and glowered at them. Damn him. She scowled, and then looked in front of her. Sharingan pierced her with a look of prideful amusement.
"I hate you" She spat.
"I don't regret keeping you safe. He asked me to, if you'll remember. I don't break my promises anymore" Sasuke retorted, taking her hand and kissing it.
Sakura yanked her hand away, wincing as the iv stuck up in her arm moved.
"Try not to hurt yourself more, Taishou" he said, taking a seat in the hospital chair, crossing his arms as he sat.
Shaaa…this was ridiculous, she thought folding her arms against her chest huffly. She was in such a mess.
"SAKURA CHAN!" Naruto burst through the door bearing more daisy's as he wheezed. He launched himself at her and Sakura gasped as he impacted. She clenched her jaw against the pain and tried to fight back the tears of pain and of joy at being back in his arms.
"You're hurting her, Dobe" Sasuke remarked.
"AYE!" Naruto meeped, stepping backwards, leaving a pouting Sakura who sniffled. He kissed her swiftly and Sakura wrapped her arms around him, tasting the ramen and sighing in pleasure at the familiarity of Naruto. Green eyes darted to Sasuke who met her look dead on with a predatory glare.
She broke off the contact and gripped his hand, interlacing it in hers. "How is your team?" she asked.
Naruto went off on the tale of their progress, while Sakura proceeded to put her chakra to good use and heal the rest of her abdomen wound. She sighed in relief as the pain receded, broken tissue closing up. She sat up and pulled the i.v. out of her arm. She glanced down. Irritated they put her in a medical gown, she scowled fiercely.
"I brought your clothes" Sasuke said, tossing a tan knapsack to her.
Sakura eyed the bag with distaste. She didn't want anything from the stoic Uchiha.
"If you get changed, then we can go out" He said, hope shinning in his eyes. It had been three weeks since she'd been home and longer since they'd had anything remotely forming a date. Sakura sighed. "Out" She motioned with her thumb.
Naruto headed outside, giving her his thousand watt grin. She couldn't help but smile back. He was such a loveable idiot sometimes. She opened the pack, pulling out her vest and shorts and skirt. Sasuke sat there, hands folded across his arms, with a dark grin.
"Out" She repeated, eyes narrowing at him.
"I thought it was only fair. You've seen me naked."
"That's not funny, Sasuke"
"I figured you could return the favor." He smirked.
Jade eyes narrowed to slits. "Unless you want to go flying out that window and into the hospital room next to me, I suggest you leave. Now"
"You're welcome. But you'll thank me later" Sasuke said, with promise.
Sakura glared balefully as he left. She changed quickly, slipping on her ninja boots and feeling ten thousand times better in her regular clothes than her anbu uniform. Apparently the other staff had cleaned and soaped her down because the blood was out of her hair and her skin wasn't covered with blood and dirt. She'd have to thank them for that later as she wouldn't need to shower before going. Smiling wide as she opened the door, she launched the tan bag at Sasuke's face, and glomped her man.
He grinned, amused at her playful antics and she kissed him again, happy that she would have some time to spend with him and her, finally alone.
Sasuke coughed.
Naruto broke off the kiss, flashing her the smile that crumbled any resolve she had left, and he took her hand, interlacing his calloused fingers in her own.
"Ready?" He asked her.
"Absolutely" She beamed. Until he looped his arm around Sasuke's.
"Naruto?" She breathed, eyes wide and alarmed.
"We're making dinner tonight, Sakura chan! It's been a while since team seven got together" He beamed.
Sakura scowled, shooting Sasuke a dirty look ,who merely smirked. So this was what he had meant, the bastard! SHANNARO! Inner Sakura snarled.
Sakura scowled angrily, stirring the impromptu soup she had been forced to make while Sai looked questioningly at his captain at he cut up the onion. Kakashi sensei had said something about rescuing a cat, which really meant he wasn't coming.
"Taishou-Hag?" He questioned. "You mad at dickless, or at fake?"
"Both" Sakura scowled to her vice captain as she stirred hastily while he poured in the onions. The two sat, watching T.V. and talking about anything and everything while Sakura fumed.
"Ah." Sai said. "Then I think I will retire for the evening" He said.
"What, No, Sai don't go" Sakura pleaded, grabbing his arm.
He disappeared with Ninja smoke and Sakura cursed.
"Need help in there, Sakura chan" Naruto finally offered seeing as how Sai abandoned her.
"Let me do it" Sasuke insisted. "You've worked with your team all day" He said.
Sakura turned her back on the both of them, fist clenched.
"Thanks Teme." Naruto replied, drinking his beer contentedly watching the T.V.
Sasuke picked up where Sai had left off cutting up the miscellaneous vegetables on the counter. Sakura choose to ignore him as the time ticked away. She was lost in thoughts of team seven through every stage they had gone through. When she finally was pulled out of her thoughts, she realized the soup was simmering with all the cut vegetables in it, and that Naruto was asleep and snoring contentedly.
"You might have burned it" Sasuke turned the heat down on her stove, and she flinched as she realized he was right behind her, one arm stopping her stirring, the other arm on top of her as he turned the heat down.
"Naruto is here" Sakura practically hissed through clenched teeth.
"What do I care?" He said, lips touching her neck.
"If you don't stop, I-" She faltered, when he turned her head, kissing her muffled protests.
"You'll what?" He challenged.
"Stop it" She glared, as Naruto shifted on the couch, snores dissipating for a second before coming back with absolute force.
"Deep down, buried beneath that layer of disdain, you like it" Sasuke told her, hand on her chin forcing those green eyes to look at him.
"I have never hated you more" Sakura said vehemently.
"You'll still remember this tonight. The forbidden is all the more tempting." He replied evenly with a smirk giving her a last kiss before leaving.
"Have an evening with Dobe, on me. It won't matter" He told her slamming her door behind him.
Naruto woke up, scratching his head.
"Teme?...Sakura Chan?" He didn't know why she was crying, or curled up against him with a grip that refused to let go, but he stroked her hair kissing away the tears and promising to protect her always. She only cried more.