C.M.D: Well, geez, it has been a short time since I last updated. I'm more than certain I felt a disturbance in the force for that cliffie last chapter. I ruined some people's x-mas, and others were luckier, but there was definitely some vocal outcries at what was happening. Cooes for the SasuNaru fluff; and angry rants about Minato's temper. And a whole helluva lot of crossed-fingers for Kushina's well being. Let me be the first to warn you then that this chapter will probably be make you weep, with a slight chance of cooing. But before that; reviews! THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING: YamiPimpster, cluelessninja65, White-Tainted-Red, narutofweak, Season Crystal, Amber Ice Fox, Colours, richon, pHIL, Utena-Puchiko-nyu, KagomeGirl021, Ilamay, The Desiree Incident, Kakashifangirlnumber1000, NamikazeFan, Nekid, co0ki3AdDict, Sighcoe, Nayeli, Aid, Sachiel Angelo, fullmoonwolf950, Chaos Dragon-Fox, MalikLove, InARealPickle, SweetHunniiBunnii, KitsuneNaru, psalmofsummer, mochiusagi, counter-intuitive, eyes0nme19. So many reviewers, so many readers... the numbers keep escalating. Gotta keep writing to make sure you're all happy!
Baa baa Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yessir, Yessir,
Three bags full.
One for the Master,
One for the Dame.
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
"Just what the hell is going on here?," Tsunade yelled, storming off the elevator before the doors even had a chance to fully open.
Nurses and orderlies scurried about the ICU, alarms going off down the usually silent hallways. At the sennin's roar, all activity froze for a moment, before one nurse had the courage to step to the blonde's side. "I'm sitting in my office, trying to do some work, when I hear all hell's broken loose," Tsunade grumbled, surveying the chaotic state of the ward. Everyone was frozen still. "So would someone tell me what the fuck is the problem! And the rest of you- don't just sit there gawking. We're a hospital , dammit!"
Movement returned to the frozen crowd and they hurried to take control of the situation, and hopefully, as far away from the disgruntled woman as possible. Tsunade frowned as she watched the staff clear out, except for those couple nurses restricted to the nurse station. Finally, the sennin took notice of the woman at her side. "L-lady Tsunade!," the nurse squeaked, as the blonde's attention fell on her.
"You're going to give me the run-down, then?," Tsunade snorted. "Fine. Walk with me."
The nurse obliged, handing the busty doctor her clipboard as she struggled to keep up with the other's long strides. How Tsunade managed that speed in those heels was anyone's guess. "P-patient 12, r-room 5B suddenly flat-lined at 1:16 t-this afternoon. T-the patient has already been on l-life support for the past six years, m-my Lady; p-pronounced brain-dead d-during admission. S-staff attempted resuscitation, b-but it failed. Cause of d-death is believed to do with c-change of environment. T-two unregistered visitors sn-snuck into her room..."
Tsunade hardly heard a word the anxious woman said. As soon as 'patient 12' had left the nurse's mouth, her stomach had dropped and the sennin almost dropped the clipboard in horror. Her rigid fingers flipped through the pages in her hands, hoping against all hope, but the name was written right there on the page, plain as daylight. Kushina had finally passed on... "Y-you said... there were two unregistered visitors?," Tsunade struggled to say, trying to concentrate. The tears in her eyes made it harder to do so.
"Yes," the nurse replied quickly.
"Then why is everyone running around for!," Tsunade growled, switching over to frustration. Anger kept her clear-headed, when grief threatened to uproot her common sense and duty. "This is basic protocol; get patient 12 processed and to the morgue. And get those two intruders out now!"
The nurse flinched at the woman's anger, and curled a little on herself.
"Well?," Tsunade snapped, when the nurse failed to jump into action.
"B-but, L-lady Tsunade...," the girl whispered. "I-it's Yondaime and his son..."
The silence that followed was unsettling. Tsunade gave the clipboard back to the nurse stiffly, before continuing down the hallway. As she approached the room, she could hear the yelling and crying happening from within. Shoulders tense, she threw the door open, staring into the hospital room. Minato sat pinned in a chair on the far right of the room, near the windows, three medic nins holding the man down even with his chakra restraints. Two nurses stood by Kushina's bedside, shaking their heads sadly as they pulled the covers up over the woman's face; but not before Tsunade saw the greyness of her skin. 'So she's really dead now...' The sennin had to breathe deeply for a second, feeling the weight of the situation settle fully on her heart.
A whimper sounded, and for an embarrassing moment, the woman thought that it had come from her. She realized, with some relief, that it hadn't. Turning, Tsunade finally took notice of the lone nurse on her left, trying to coax someone out of the corner. Two someones, actually. "Situation?," Tsunade asked quietly, coming up behind the kneeling nurse. The brunette jumped in surprise, looking over her shoulder.
"O-oh! Lady Tsunade," the woman bowed, turning fully to face her superior. Tsunade waved off the action and gestured for the nurse to report. The woman glanced slightly at Minato before doing so. "Patient 12 has been confirmed as dead. The medic nin have regained control of the situation and have restrained the Yondaime. We believe it to be dementia brought on by traumatic stress that forces us to take drastic measures for the Hokage's safety. At the moment, attempts are being made to handle the other two individuals and to treat them for shock."
The nurse looked behind her momentarily at this, biting her lower lip with worry. "We are having little success," she confessed to Tsunade. Nodding her head in understanding, the Slug Princess waved the nurse off, stepping past her to the corner. Naruto was there, crying and sniffling as he anxiously rocked in place -almost entirely correct to what Tsunade had thought she might find. What she hadn't expected to see was for the little Uzumaki to be huddled behind a much larger boy, who stood before the blonde protectively, glaring at all the adults with his black eyes.
'Uchiha Sasuke...,' Tsunade noted. 'I thought I'd be seeing you again. I just hadn't anticipated the when or where...'
Trying to appear harmless, Tsunade slowly lowered herself into a squat; first looking at Sasuke, before craning her neck to focus her attention on Naruto. "Naruto," she called softly. "Naruto, it's Auntie Tsun-Tsun. Please talk to me."
Sasuke stiffened in his stance, glowering harder at the woman, but behind him, Naruto shifted a tiny bit. The tiny boy lifted his head from his knees, staring past Sasuke's legs dazedly. "T-tsun-Tsun?," the boy croaked, tears dripping from the corners of his eyes as he struggled to focus on her.
"Yes," Tsunade breathed, somewhat relieved that the younger blonde had reacted to her so quickly. It meant that he wasn't entirely gone. "Yes, it's me Naru. Won't you come out?"
"N-no...," the child quaked, covering his head with his arms. "N-no! H-he'll get m-mad again. I-i... I d-don't want h-him to y-yell no more!"
"No, no he won't Naruto," the sennin tried to assure. She made to shuffle closer, but Naruto curled further into the corner and the little Uchiha actually curled his fists at her action. Tsunade wisely retreated. "Okay, Naru, okay. But I just want to put you in another room, away from the yelling."
Naruto raised his head a little. "A-away...?," was his muffled inquiry.
"Yes. Away." For a minute, Tsunade thought that it wasn't going to work. But after several heart pounding seconds, the Uzumaki uncurled himself and shakily rose to his feet. Anxiously, he waddled forward, and Sasuke was forced to step aside as the little boy suddenly rushed for the woman, throwing himself into her arms. Tsunade cradled the child close as he shrunk within her grasp, pressing his face into her neck seeking comfort. She cooed to him softly, trying to soothe the blonde's tormented soul even with tears in her own eyes. Nothing could express how sorry the woman felt that Naruto had to get wrapped up in all of this.
Standing up, Tsunade managed to deposit the trembling child into a nurse's arms. "Get him out of here," she sighed, looking at the Uzumaki hopelessly. "Get him something to eat or drink; anything to strengthen him. And take the other one back to his room."
"No," came the hissed growl. Exasperated, the sennin turned at the sound, looking back at the uchiha she had been ignoring up to that moment. Sasuke had turned his glare up to maximum, lip curled slightly in a snarl, fists clenched tightly at his sides. "I'm going with Naruto!," the raven growled. "And nothing you say will stop me."
Tsunade could only blink at the child. Slowly, a weary smirk came to her lips. "You're his 'protector', huh?," she questioned. "Very well. You may stay with Naruto. Nurse, if you will... and notify pediatrics of Uchiha Sasuke's whereabouts as well, please."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," the nurse replied. She turned to leave, Naruto still curled in her arms, and Sasuke followed; hospital gown swishing about his knees. There came a ruckus from the other end of the room, and Tsunade spun around to find the medic nins guarding Minato trying to hold the man back as he attempted to lunge across the room; screaming at the two departing children. At the shouting, Naruto began to sob, wildly squirming in the nurse's hold, wanting to escape. Sasuke tried to soothe little boy from where he stood; turning and acting as a barrier between father and son when it appeared his efforts were having no affect.
"Get them out of here NOW!," Tsunade roared over the noise. The nurse looked as if she had swallowed her tongue in fright and was bolting out of the room immediately. Sasuke followed a moment after.
"No!," Minato screamed, as the children disappeared. "Bring him back; get him away from my son. I'll wring his little neck, I'll kill that fuc-"
SLAP!
The medic nins rolled to the floor at the impact, sitting up shakingly, staring into the face of their enraged superior. Tsunade huffed angrily for a few moments, before reaching out and pulling Minato back up, the chair legs creaking under him in protest. Already the man's face was discolouring on the right side of his face, where she had slapped him; a streak of red slipping past his lips and contrasting with the brightening purple-black of his skin. He said nothing, did not react to the pain that surely burned beneath the surface of his flesh.
"Minato...," the sennin sighed as silence stretched on between them. The Yondaime said nothing still; moving his jaw slowly, testing the extent of the damage as he gazed at the floor. "Minato... please look at me!"
The cerulean orbs lifted up at the plea, cutting into Tsunade with accusation and betrayal. Knowing that this was going to be a long -and more than likely invasive- lecture, the woman ordered everyone out of the room. They did so immediately, taking Kushina's body along with them. "Bring her back...," Minato said lowly, anger seeping into his tone.
"Minato, she's de-"
"She's not dead!," the man shouted, interrupting the sennin. "Don't you dare say she's dead! Her heart still beats!"
"It doesn't anymore!," Tsunade yelled over top of the Hokage. She paused as it fell quiet again, breathing deeply before speaking once more. "Her heart isn't beating... not anymore. Minato, she isn't coming back this time."
He did not refute her this time, and Tsunade thought that maybe he had finally come to terms with Kushina's death. But his eyes were empty, devoid of any acknowledgment of what she had just said, and the Slug Princess felt her heart sink in despair.
"It's his fault," the Hokage muttered darkly after a moment. "All of it; everything -his fault."
"Whose fault?," Tsunade was hesitant to ask. She worried that Minato had finally cracked, just like his son. She feared the man she was talking to now was not entirely rational. Minato ignored her inquiry, muttering still; talking to himself.
"But it's alright," the man was saying, a twisted grin coming to his face. It looked sickly with the bruise. "Once he's gone, everything will be alright. I just have to save Naruto from him..."
"Save Naruto from whom, Minato?," Tsunade shouted, feeling her patience wane and her anxiety triple. She leaned forward, resting both hands on the armrests of Minato's chair, making sure that she was within the man's sight. Even still, his gaze was distant; not focused on the sennin despite her being mere inches from his nose. "Minato, answer me!"
Finally, the man looked at her and the sight made Tsunade's stomach roil uneasily. There was madness in the Hokage's eyes, just behind the overwhelming rage. "Him," Minato growled in answer, leaning forward against his bonds. The woman backed away out of instinct.
"That little monster," the Yondaime continued, his words getting darker and darker. "Corrupting, stealing my Naruto... I'll kill him, I'll kill that Uchiha brat. And then everything will be fine again. Kushina will come back and Naruto will always be mine. Forever and ever. I just need to make him go away."
Tsunade couldn't help it -she slapped the man again. Her hand trembled as she brought it to her chest, and the woman noticed that the trembling wasn't centered just on her hand. "Dammit," she hissed, feeling nausea fill her. How could he talk like that? Threatening a child... Minato wasn't sane! She watched as the Yondaime began to laugh, his head lolling back on his shoulder as he bubbled with the mad sound.
"Stop it! Stop it right now!," Tsunade ordered the cackling man. He ignored her. "If you don't stop this very instant, I'll be forced to check you in for psychiatric evaluation, and Naruto will be taken away from you!"
Her threat worked. Minato fell eerily silent, his mad eyes glowering at her. "How dare you...!," he hissed, chakra crackling around his bonds. Tsunade kept brave, refusing to be intimated.
"I dare," she replied, voice filled with just as much venom. "Would you listen to yourself! Threatening a child... You've been spiraling into madness ever since Kushina's death -and I'm talking about before today. We let it go, all of us, when your refused to accept that she was never waking up, but no more. She's dead, Minato; Kushina is officially and irrevocably dead. But your son isn't! He's been alive this entire time and yet you've completely forgotten about this fact. Protecting him, isolating him... Minato, that boy is growing every day and he's smart too. He wants to love you with all that he has, no strings attached, but ever since this year began..."
Tsunade paused to shake her head. "You've hurt him, don't you see that? More than trying to keep him all to yourself; that child's forgiven you for that. But yelling and screaming like this, ignoring him? He's afraid of you and he's confused. He doesn't understand your actions as of late; and frankly, neither do i. That boy has just lost his mother today... please don't make me tell him he no longer has a father too."
Minato was silent the entire time Tsunade spoke, his expression becoming more and more withdrawn as the lecture continued on. But as the sennin's words drew to a close, tears began to fill the Yondaime's eyes and slipped down his cheeks freely. Tsunade noticed this and her own eyes welled in response. "B-but...," Minato choked, struggling to speak a few minutes afterwards. He couldn't get the words out, and instead bowed his head, whimpering in the back of his throat.
Tsunade fell to her knees, releasing the chakra restraints, wrapping her arms around the man's shoulders. He curled into her embrace, his hands covering his face as he wept. Through splattering tears, he called Kushina's name; lamenting her lost presence and the things that he had done. "I-i-i... I'm de-despicable," he cried. "W-why did I-i d-do this for so long! I-i-i've ruined everything!"
Tsunade held him as he shuddered and keened, tears slipping down her own cheeks. "H-healing takes time," she tried to soothe, breathing into his ear over his cries. "And who knows for certain how long that takes. But everything is not lost. There's still a little boy waiting for his daddy, and he needs him pretty bad."
"I-i can't," Minato protested, pushing away from Tsunade. The sennin let him go, knowing that this too was part of the healing process. Minato buried his face back into his hands, ashamed. "I-i can't face him... not now. N-not when I'm still like this."
"Take you time then," Tsunade replied, wiping at the residue tears in her eyes. She took a breathe, rising to her feet. "I'll make sure Naruto is fine in the meantime. And when you're ready... we'll be waiting."
The sennin rose to her feet, staring at the hunched over Minato a moment longer, before leaving the room.
Naruto was really upset.
Sasuke sat in a chair behind the nurse's station, right next to the nurse who had taken them from the room. He watched with worried eyes as the other boy drifted into a fitful sleep on the woman's lap, his fingers curled around Usagi-kun in a death-like grip. The rabbit had always made him feel better, no matter the situation, but Usagi-kun's charms didn't seem to be helping Naruto at all. Sasuke bit his lips guiltily and stared at his knees. All of this was his fault. He had only meant to make Naruto happy... but everything had turned out so wrong. The Uchiha took a shaky breath, recalling the moment when the Yondaime had entered the room.
Everybody in the village loved the Fourth -he was happy, charming and overall, a compassionate person. But the man who had come into the room couldn't have been Naruto's father. His face was too contorted, too twisted with anger. It was no wonder Naruto had shrieked in terror at the sight. Sasuke looked towards the Uzumaki again, unconsciously rubbing his arm where the Yondaime had scratched him when trying to grab the child. The raven was thankful for his shinobi training then, because he would have certainly been hurt very bad if the Hokage had caught him. The man had become so... crazy... when the machines started making those funny noises. What it meant, Sasuke wasn't entirely sure. His young mind was stuck in a loop at the moment, brought on by shock; thinking about how scary the Yondaime was and his own guilt in this matter.
'I have to protect Naruto,' the child thought mindlessly. It was this one decision, running through his head over and over that kept him from locking up and breaking down like Naruto. The belief that Sasuke had to be strong where the blonde could not was conflicting with the child's own need for comfort.
"How are they?," came the strong voice again.
Sasuke lifted his head wearily, blinking at the busty woman who had helped them escape that room. He hadn't yet thanked her for that.
"They've quieted down a little," the nurse answered, patting the sleeping head of Naruto softly. The little boy stirred slightly at the touch. "But they'll need a check-up; perhaps after some rest. It's been very traumatic..."
"Yes," Tsunade sighed in reply. "I'll take them down to pediatrics so they can some rest and write a report in the meantime. The Yondaime is still in the room. Leave him until he's ready to come out, and then have a nurse to escort him to the morgue. I'm sure he'll want to see Kushina one last time."
The nurse nodded her head, lifting the sleeping Naruto and handing him to the sennin. Tsunade cradled the tiny blonde close, cooing softly when he whimpered in his sleep. She quieted when Naruto did, turning her hazel eyes to the Uchiha then. "Come," she ordered, turning away.
Sasuke scrambled out of his seat and around the nurse station, trotting after the woman obediently. As they got on the elevator, Sasuke felt exhaustion hit him and he leaned against the sennin instinctively. Tsunade glanced down at the boy, but said not a word. "I-i... didn't want it to turn out this way...," the raven mumbled, rubbing at his eyes.
"What do you mean?," Tsunade asked, genuinely curious. Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest, his face crumpled with sorrow.
"The pretty Queen... I only wanted to bring the Star to the Queen," he muttered cryptically. "I-i wanted to make him happy... so the King could be happy too."
Tsunade was starting to get it. Someone had told the Uchiha the story of Minato and Kushina like a fairytale; the Queen was evidently Kushina, the King Minato. That meant the Star could be only one person. "Is that why you and Naruto were in that room?," the sennin questioned.
Sasuke nodded in his head. "But the King got so angry...," the child frowned sleepily. He shook his head quickly, eyes staring at the floor sadly. "He tried to get to the Star... b-but I wouldn't let him. He looked like he wanted to hurt the Star."
That explained many things. Tsunade remained silent as the elevator doors opened, walking into the more lively and bustling pediatrics ward. People stared as the sennin passed through the halls, one child in her arms and another gripping the hem of her shirt. She refused to answer any of their inquisitive stares, concerned only about the children in her grasp. Tsunade found Sasuke's room without a problem and led them inside the quiet, little room. She tucked Naruto under the sheets there, watching as Sasuke instantly scrambled up beside the tiny blonde without a second thought. "W-will... will Naruto's mommy be okay?," the Uchiha asked, looking up at her.
He seemed a little more aware now. Tsunade sighed and pulled the sheets up to the children's chins. "She's gone now," the woman answered truthfully. "To a far away place. I'm sad to say she won't be coming back. But one day, Naruto will see her again, of that I'm certain."
"And his daddy...?"
Tsunade couldn't help but smile softly at the question. "He'll get better too, though it may take some time. Until then, can you make me a promise?"
Sasuke, who had started to close his eyes, opened them in a flash at the inquiry. Seeing she had his attention, the sennin continued. "The... um, Star, will need protection; until the King is strong again. Will you be the Knight; protect Naruto and stay by his side 'til such a time?"
The raven only hesitated a moment, but as he glanced at the still slumbering Naruto he became resolved again. "I promise," Sasuke answered, smoothing the furrow in the blonde's brow with his thumb. Naruto whimpered a little at the touch and shifted closer to the Uchiha. Tsunade's smile grew a couple inches as Sasuke wrapped an arm around the blonde's shoulders, pulling him close.
"Thank you," she whispered as the older child drifted off to sleep as well, no longer be able to stay awake. Quietly, the sennin leaned in and placed a kiss on Naruto's temple, before pulling away all together and retreating from the room.
There came a crash from the other line, and Tsunade could only grimace at the noise. She waited patiently as the noise ceased and the huffing breath of another individual sounded over the other end. "H-hello?," came the nervous man's voice.
"Finally realized Naruto's missing, have you Jiraiya?," Tsunade said smoothly, catching the slight hitch in the other's voice.
"Missing? What are you talking about -he's not missing," Jiraiya lied.
If it wasn't for the fact that the blonde knew the Uzumaki's current whereabouts, she might have believed him. The old pervert could be smooth that way. "Give it up, you git," Tsunade snapped. She wasn't in the mood for any of Jiraiya's antics. "Naruto's here at the hospital. Little thing came over all by himself. He's sleeping at the moment, but once he's awake I'll send him back home."
"Okay, well...," came Jiraiya's relieved sigh. "He's in good hands then. So, I'll just be going the-"
"Jiraiya," Tsunade said softly, cutting off the hermit's rambling. He fell silent immediately, catching the affliction in her voice. "Jiraiya... it's Kushina..."
There was silence.
"So it's finally happened then...," the frog sennin sighed. He sounded centuries older over the phone. "And Minato...?"
"Knows. Listen, I'll explain the whole situation later... but can you get Kakashi for me? And tell him to come to the hospital. Naruto's going to need somebody he knows and trusts right now." Jiraiya did not press further, and for that, Tsunade was glad. She was close to tears again.
"Alright, I will...," the man replied. "And, you, Tsunade... take some time to yourself, okay?"
"Y-yes, thank you," she said. "Bye." She hung up before the sobs could slip out.
Itachi stared into the room, not entirely certain on how to comprehend the image before him. Naruto was asleep in his brother's bed, alongside the slumbering raven, but that was not the surprising part. The bit that had the ANBU raising an eyebrow skeptically was the fact that his otouto-kun had his arms wrapped protectively around the Uzumaki. 'That's certainly a new development...' Itachi finally turned his head away from the sight as his mother came up to his side.
"Itachi, why aren't you going inside?," Mikoto asked, pausing at the doorway. She stopped and looked inside as well, catching sight of the newest addition. "Oh...," the woman cooed, before becoming serious. "Isn't that Naruto-kun, Minato's son?"
Itachi nodded his head. He would have offered more, but even he didn't know why Naruto was in Sasuke's room.
"Mikoto-san," a voice spoke up. Itachi tensed and turned to face the unexpected visitor. He had not even sensed their approach... which could mean only one of two things. Turning, the raven was glad to see that it was only a superior and not an enemy. His mother turned to the new individual as well, bowing slightly as she saw who it was.
"Lady Tsunade. Can I be of assistance?"
The sennin came to a pause before the two Uchihas, looking for all intents and purposes as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Not entirely," the blonde answered. "But there is something I wish to tell you, and to offer an explanation as well to the sight you see." She gestured to the room to which Itachi glanced at again, his brow furrowing in confusion. Had something happened between Naruto and Sasuke?
"O-okay...," Mikoto agreed. She patted Itachi's shoulder, regaining the teen's focus. "I'll just be a few minutes, alright? Watch them while I'm gone."
Itachi nodded his head at her request and turning to guard the doorway. His eyes glanced to his mother and Lady Tsunade as they walked a few feet away from the ANBU. To pay them respect, he adverted his eyes and ran hand seals through his head as they talked. Eventually, Mikoto returned to her son; looking as burdened as Lady Tsunade. "Poor boy...," she murmured, peeking back into the room.
"So you've heard then."
The ravens turned to their second arrival of the day. Kakashi, mask pulled high, appeared practically ragged. Now Itachi was really curious. What did everyone else know that he didn't? "Yes," Mikoto answered, "You've come to take Naruto then?"
The grey-haired nin nodded. His mother stepped aside and Itachi did the same, granting access to the hospital room. Kakashi accepted the invitation, stepping inside and to his brother's bedside. Itachi almost opened his mouth in protest as his colleague lifted the Uzumaki from his otouto-kun's side, but remained silent when Mikoto rested her hand on his shoulders. Cradling Naruto closely, Kakashi left the room, pausing just outside the door. The teen watched as his mother raised one hand, cupping the Hatake's cheek. "If you need anything... feel free to contact me."
Kakashi nodded at her words; unable to speak. Mikoto noticed and tried to force a smile to her tearful face. "Things will be alright... you'll see."
"I hope so," the man finally managed to murmur. He inclined his head to the Uchihas again, this time in farewell, before turning away completely. Itachi took this moment to look at this mom. Noticing her son's attention, she faced him; her thin smile growing a couple inches longer at his inquisitive gaze.
"Please watch Sasuke a little longer. I... I'll just be down in the morgue," Mikoto supplied softly, voice hitching only a little. "I must see Kushina." And then she was gone, leaving behind a stunned teenager, who could only blink at the sudden news.
Kushina was really... dead?
C.M.D: Soooooooo... am I forgiven for that cliffie, or have I dug myself a deeper hole? Right, well, I can't ever be sure how quick my updates will be, but I promise that they'll be consistent enough this year to keep you all happy. Second thing: I am no doctor. Normally, I'd go and do my research and study up on terminology, but... I was lazy, and I thought getting this chapter out was more important than making it medically accurate. It's not like this is Doctor fic anyhow. So pardon me for any discrepancies that you might find as well. Anyways, REVIEW, as always, and share with my your wondrous thoughts. After all, sharing is caring!