Thank you for the reviews! Some of you seemed shocked at what you've read, but you've assured me…er, sort of, that it was a good lemon. I hope so, I'd hate to disappoint, especially seeing as how I'm in the middle of writing a book with sex scenes in it. Sigh. Anyways, thanks for your support, give me a bit more feedback on the lemon. For the sake of research! Ha-ha!

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My Personal
Assistant Uchiha

Chapter 9: Open the Door To Her Fear

Sakura rolled over in the bed and looked around. She wasn't in her own bed.

A part of her semi-unconscious self that was disturbed and suddenly jerked her awake, but she calmed down, remembering the night before's activities.

She lied back down, sighed as she stretched. She felt her muscles warm and a disheartening pop resounded from her back as she relaxed again. I actually slept! It's been so long since I've slept more than three hours…

She looked over to the clock and her eyes widened with shock.

Four o'clock! She was absolutely shocked and beyond disturbed.

PM!!

It was that instant that Sasuke had chosen to walk in. And it was his unfortunate mistake.

"You never thought to wake me up?!" she howled and he frowned heavily.

"I was hoping you'd sleep for twelve hours. And you did. We came home at three in the morning, and we…stayed up until four." His smirk was irking her incredibly.

"I was hoping you'd still be groggy so I could get in some nice, easy sex, but apparently you're being difficult."

She hissed at him and stood. And that was her mistake.

Sakura gasped once she reached standing position and crumbled; Sasuke was too late to grab her, but not to hold her once she'd fallen. "Ah! What's wrong?" she mumbled, and her eyes oddly drifted up to the bed for some sort of answer.

A large blood stain marred the white of the wrinkled sheet and she paled. "Damn. No wonder I can't walk. It was a rough night down there." She muttered and lowered her head to look herself for any of that ugly brown stain on her skin.

Oh…right. She was still naked.

Sasuke was trying to be considerate to her; after all, he was the reason for her fragility that day.

He watched her search her body for something. As she looked again and rubbed her hand around her self feeling for something. When she moved her hand around down there he started to get warmer.

"Ah, Sakura? What the hell are you doing?"

"Looking for a blood stain." She said easily and continued.

"I already washed it off with a cloth this morning." He said and she looked up at him, with a blush. Silly to be embarrassed when he'd seen more of her than anyone ever had.

"Oh. Thank you." she said quietly and tried to push herself up. "I ah, need a shower." She whispered, angry that she was becoming so withdrawn, like hiding in a shell. She was stronger woman than that was she not!?

Sasuke stopped her from walking past by whisking her up and flying out of the room on impatient feet. She was too surprised to say anything as he fumbled with the door knob of her bedroom. She reached down and did it for him and he kicked it open.

"Easy!" she shouted as he dropped her on the bed. She tried to cover her nakedness but he grabbed her wrists and held them over her head.

"No, Sakura. Don't hid from me." He said and knelt over her swiftly heating body to lay a kiss on her neck and then her lips.

"Alright," she replied.

She watched as he undressed quickly, slightly clumsily, as he'd nearly fell on his face pulling a foot out of his pants.

Sakura smiled slyly and lied back as he climbed on top. "Now, remind me again how it went last night."

"You mean this morning?"

"Do be an ass, just kiss me." She snapped and had her breath taken away by his mouth.

Sakura enjoyed the shower, even more so when Sasuke had joined; though he might have asked first. He poured shampoo into his hair and rubbed it through roughly, causing her to yelp when a droplet of suds hit her eye.

"Careful, Sasuke! You don't need so much damn soap!"

"Look at yourself." He said and smirked when she reddened. "My hair is almost as long as yours." He continued, pointedly.

"Oh hardy har har." She muttered, but continued lavishly massaging her scalp. She was surprised when Sasuke lifted hands to her lathered hair and rubbed, causing her to relax and get covered by goose bumps all at once. "Oh, damn." She slurred.

She reached to wrap her hands over the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. "That feels so good, Sasuke."

"Hn." He said simply.

"I didn't know you were so affectionate." She goaded him, knowing he'd make a smart ass remark.

"I saw what a shitty job you were doing so I figured I'd do it myself. I don't want lice you know." He said a little worse than she'd expected and her hackles rose, but she ignored his retort and came back with one of her own.

"You know clean hair is a better home for lice, right?"

Silence…

She'd won!

"Hn. Whatever." He muttered, but continued massaging her scalp.

Sakura sat on the couch as she ordered food over the phone. She still hadn't restocked the damn fridge and she knew she was putting it off. Sasuke came up from behind as she hung up the phone.

"Forty minutes." She said.

"I think I know what we could do with that time gap." He replied huskily.

"God, you get hornier than Naruto! I was wondering how Hinata can handle it, but I see I'll have to start worrying about myself now." She laughed as she saw his face.

"That's not true. The dobe is like a god damned rabbit."

Sakura nodded. "True, but we've had sex three times in a single day!" she said. "I did like the shower though."

"I bet you we could break three, and we will." He predicted and she smirked.

"I bet we will."

Oh they did; three more times. By the time midnight hit, she was dead asleep and he beside her.

Morning came soon and so did another day at work. Sakura yawned and stretched as she looked at her clock. Seven o'clock on the button. Seven hours, holy shit! She thought, happy that she'd had another night of full sleep. Let's make this a habit!

She tossed back the blankets but was pulled roughly back under and after another romp they got up energized, and began getting ready for work.

As they walked, they grabbed Sakura's favorite meat buns and ate as they went.

Once they walked into the hospital she was in the process of sending Sasuke to her office. "I don't think I want to keep you locked up in here for much longer," she said, "Even though I don't mind having you around. It's good to have someone around with a no-nonsense attitude, but I know you'd be happier out in the field with Naruto and the others."

Sasuke was stoic, but he nodded. "It's true." He said quietly.

Sakura knew if she sent him from the hospital, he might never come to her again, not for anything more than a good lay. She loved him, and he was gentle and affectionate to her, but that didn't mean he loved her back, or even wanted her.

Depressed, she watched him walk away, as she clocked them both in.

Just as she set the cards in the in box, she saw a finely manicured hand snatch her arm. She looked up to see Tsunade's worried face. "I just got in and I heard Hinata asking about you; you're needed."

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, switching to her business face.

"Early contractions on a patient, one of your regulars; she and her husband came in just a moment ago."

"Who?"

"Ayame Mitari." The Sannin said.

"Oh, shit…" Sakura was worried "Which room?" she demanded and Tsunade led the way.

ooo

"Ayame Mitari pronounced dead at 10:40 am on Friday, the thirteenth of August."

Sakura looked on, frozen, as her patient, pale and lifeless, was covered with a white sheet by one of her nurses.

She had been able to do nothing for the young woman; absolutely nothing.

She looked down at the motionless bundle in her arms and nearly cried. Quietly, she walked out of the room and down the hallway. She saw Sasuke turn the corner at the far end, a big bundle of paperwork in his hand and a surly look on his face.

When he spotted her, he slowed when he saw her face. He looked like he wanted to storm down and demand what was wrong, but she looked away from his piercing gaze and turned to the left. Her eyes wandered the empty waiting area and landed on a lone man; Hatsuda.

She nearly wept at the sight of the dejected, nervous husband. He looked up and his eyes, full of hope and trust, had her look down swiftly to the silent wrap in her arms.

"How is she? How is my wife?" He looked down to the bundle Sakura held and he whispered, "Is that my child? My son?"

Sakura, throat impossibly painful, choked out the words she always hated to utter as she set a hand on his shoulder. "Hatsuda…please sit down."

His eyes widened, but he obeyed, still entrusting his hope with her.

She knelt down to met his eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Hatsuda, I am so sorry." She saw him visibly pale and she hitched back an escaping sob. "Ayame…she bled far too much for us to save her. She is dead, Hatsuda." She whispered.

The man burst into tears and fell to the floor, raked with painful sods. "Please, just be calm, Hatsuda…I have-"

But he could not be consoled. He wailed with despair and punched the floor with his fist when a pitifully weak cry emitted from the bundle Sakura cradled protectively.

Hatsuda looked up, tears frozen on his face, at what Sakura held. When he saw a tiny hand appear, he wept silently and blubbered.

"See, you woke your son." She said firmly, yet gently; she wanted him sobered. She adjusted the baby so his face could be seen and Hatsuda fell in love with the tiny baby.

She handed him the boy carefully. "He is premature, Hatsuda, so I must take him back to rest in a few minutes, but I wanted you to see him."

The new father sniffled and nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Dr. Haruno." He said nothing more, just watched his child as Sakura backed away to give them time.

Once she rounded the corner, she met Sasuke. Sakura said nothing, just struggled not to burst into sobs. Why did he make things so difficult for her?! She could have just punched a wall, but now she was going to cry.

When he opened his arms, silently telling her to come, she obeyed. And, finally, she wept as he gathered her into his arms.

ooo

Tsunade got the report on the mother's death from Sakura and looked at the young medic. "You've slept I see."

Sakura nodded.

The Sannin closed her eyes and set a hand on the documents. "I'll get right too it…As much as I'd like to keep Sasuke working on your paperwork- they are perfect, by the way- I fear I want to cut his sentence short." She saw Sakura look away.

"That is, if you agree with my decision. After all, you are the Hospital's second in command."

Sakura's eyes met the older woman's and she took a long breath. "I've gone and done it again, Tsunade. I've fallen for him again."

The Sannin smiled softly, understanding. "I knew it would happen. You've slept with him too."

At Sakura's blush, Tsunade smirked. Then quickly became serious. "I can't let your feelings get in the way, howev-

"I think it is best for Sasuke. He is withering within in the hospital walls." It pained her to say it…

He might never want her again once he's not obliged under law to see her everyday.

Tsunade studied her depressed once-pupil and nodded grimly. "I see. You'll let him go then."

"I must. He can't be trapped by me. I can't bear it anymore."

"Will he still see y-

"I have no idea…I can't hope." Sakura said, her throat constricting. "The last time I put my hope with him, it took me years to take it back. I can not hope for him to stay with me again…I'll just let it all happen." But even as she said the words she never what was going to happen.

Just when she get to have a taste of him, of a life they might have lived.

Sasuke Uchiha was going to leave her...and she'd opened the doors to let him.

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Coming onto the end of this fic. Please let me know what you think.