Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying this story, because a lot of the topics in this story are things that are hard to talk about. I hope I'm doing each character justice, because it's very hard to write some of these.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Kisame's large form slouched in the small chair he had been provided. Everything in this little hospital was too small for him, and even though it irked him, Kisame still felt more comfortable here than he would at home.

Everything at his house had been made specifically for him: Californian king size bed and raised counter tops. The tub that he had in the master suite was closer to the size of a pond, and could fit seven comfortably. It had all meticulously designed, and looked magnificent, but it all reminded him of the life he couldn't handle anymore.

"How many times have you thought about alcohol today, Kisame?" Kakashi questioned him from across the office. Kakashi sat lazily in a chair a few feet away from him; his ever present notebook was there, and so was the black pen he always wrote with.

Kisame's mind went to the earlier fight Kakashi himself had to break up; he even had the notebook and pen on him then. "Well if you count the fight between the two pipsqueaks," Kisame said as his voice rumbled. "Seven."

"That's a decrease," Kakashi said, and Kisame knew he was smiling. He shouldn't have been though… Kisame was lying.

Kisame had been thinking about alcohol since he had woken up for the day; the liquid always seemed to be on his mind. Bloody marys are always best in the morning, his voice would tell him when he woke up. Mimosas are good too, though.

Even as he was eating the sushi earlier, he had thought a warm glass of sake would go wonderfully with this, or maybe even plum sake wine, mmm.

But it wasn't that easy; one glass of sake here or there, or a bloody mary with breakfast wouldn't be so bad, but Kisame had never been one to do things half assed.

He usually had six bloody Mary's in the morning before he went to work, and even at practice or during games he would be drinking vodka, or tequila from his water bottle. At first his coaches didn't seem to know; his ability to tackle people wasn't hindered in the slightest by the amount of alcohol he consumed. But the more he drank, the more irritable he got before and after the game.

It had gotten so bad he had broken his own quarterback's arm… that was when the team had dropped him and told him he had a problem.

At first Kisame had been angry, and he had went on a four week drinking binge… He couldn't remember a lot from that binge, but the stuff he could remember he knew he didn't like.

A horde of girls, gambling, the fights... When Kisame had awoken from the binge with the worst hangover of his life, he knew he had to do something. Maybe he did have a problem like his coach had said.

He had sought out Kakashi the very next day (when he was finished puking his guts out in his oversized tub). Kakashi had told him about the hospital he was currently in now, and Kisame hadn't thought twice about coming here.

Getting away from the environment he was in was something he thought was necessary to help with his problem, but for Kisame it only seemed to make it worse. He yearned to have the burning sensation drip down his throat, he needed to feel the undeniable high he felt every time he had too much to drink… he needed it all so he could forget the loser he really was.

"What are you thinking about Kisame?" Kakashi asked, bringing Kisame out of his musings. Kisame looked up, slightly started at being caught wallowing in self-pity…

"Getting out of here," Kisame said as he brought a smirk to his face; Kami it was so easy to act this way, he was practically fooling himself. "I think I might have some teams interested in me when I'm done here and healthy."

"That's great to think about," Kakashi said with his nod. "But we have a long road we still have to make. Recovery will take a few more months in the least."

Kisame nodded his own head as his mind went to what drink he wanted to try when he was done with this place… A celebratory margarita would be good… ooh, or maybe screwdriver? Then again he had always been a Captain fan. Yeah, a good old Captain and coke would do me wonders.

XxxX

Sakura was still in the bathroom with Konan when the next bell rang. She knew it wasn't a meal time bell, because it was still in the middle of the day, so she assumed it had to mean the group session was supposed to be taking place soon.

Ignoring the bell, Sakura's hand rubbed comforting circles on Konan's back as Konan kept her face in the toilet. She had stopped throwing up about a half an hour ago, but her tears had refused to stop. Admitting what she had to Sakura… that had taken a lot out of her, and Sakura could even see it.

Sakura knew going to the meeting would be important, but Konan looked like she wasn't in the mood to go anywhere. Sakura refused to leave her roommate alone in this little room while she went off to the meeting… who knew if that slimy creep Kabuto would be back to visit or not?

And, she really didn't want to go to the group session anyways. She wouldn't be talking to anyone that was there, especially Kakashi or Kabuto. Kakashi seemed nice, but he seemed nosey too. If he was able to weasel out who she was from her then he would send her back to that awful place she was forced to call a home.

She didn't want to talk to Kabuto for obvious reasons… She had a bad feeling about him. She knew that he was the type of guy she didn't like to associate herself with. If she were on the streets she might even refuse his business because of his creepiness.

Sighing slightly, Sakura continued to rub Konan's back as she heard the blue haired woman's breath hitch. "I… Thank you," Konan said quietly through her tears. "I've… I've never had a friend before."

Sakura nodded her head in agreeance. She didn't have friends either; it was easier for her to think about leaving when she had no attachments to the people around her. She would feel like she wasn't leaving anyone behind then when she finally did leave.

"I'm going to call you Sakura," Konan said with a shaky voice, but Sakura noticed her tears had stopped. Sakura's soothing circles stopped at that admission.

Konan seemed to feel Sakura stiffen, and she turned her head away from the toilet to look into Sakura's eyes. Sakura's emerald eyes were wide with panic; how could Konan have guessed her name so easily? She hadn't said anything to give herself away so why…

"I won't tell anyone," Konan said as she looked back to the toilet. "I just… I understand why you don't want anyone to know."

We're alike, Sakura mentally agreed, and she wondered how alike she and Konan really were. Konan seemed too frail to be a working girl like herself, but Konan did seemed damaged. Sakura wondered who had hurt Konan so to make her the way she was.

Maybe it would be okay to open up to her roommate… Sakura doubted Konan would say anything to anyone.

"I-"

Sakura was cut off as she heard someone enter their room. Years of listening to her father try to enter her room silently had caused Sakura to be extra paranoid. She listened to the loud footfalls of a male walk through their room.

Sakura jutted her head back to the door, and Konan's eyes widened. "Do you think-"

"What are you two doing in here?" Kabuto questioned with a leer and a smirk. He stood at the bathroom door with his arms crossed looking positively disgusting, in Sakura's opinion.

Sakura's mouth remained closed; as did Konan's.

"Aw," Kabuto said while he walked further into the bathroom. "Don't be like that Konan-Chan. I know our time downstairs was cut short. I'm here to amend that… Pink-Chan, why are you glaring at me?"

Sakura's glare increased, and it only caused Kabuto to chuckle. "Oh Kami," Kabuto said as he kneeled down in front of Sakura. "I didn't forget about you either. You're so fucking cute. Come here Pink-Chan, let me have a taste of you."

Kabuto leaned forward, but Sakura tipped her head back to avoid his lips. Like hell she would allow this asshole to kiss her. In retaliation to her escape attempt, Kabuto gripped Sakura's face hard with his fingers and tilted it back down so he was looking into her eyes.

"Don't fight me," Kabuto warned as his face came closer to her own. He sent Konan a meaningful look before looking back to Sakura. "You know I can make your life hell, right? Ask dear sweet Konan-Chan about that one."

Sakura didn't listen to his threat, and when his face came even closer to hers, Sakura used her head to head-butt him back.

Kabuto was sent teetering off balance and fell back on his butt. Sakura heard Konan's gasp of horror, but she didn't have time to respond as Kabuto's hand slapped Sakura across her face.

The feeling of having her face slapped was a familiar one, but having it slapped in the hospital was not something she thought was going to happen. Sakura raised her own hand up to her abused cheek, and glared back to Kabuto.

"Or maybe the thought of me hurting you doesn't bother you," Kabuto said; Sakura's eyes were fierce and glaring angrily toward Kabuto. Being hit was nothing new, and it wouldn't stop her from fighting against him. "Yes I can see that you've experienced that a lot… What if I were to hurt someone else, though… would that change your mind?"

Sakura's eyes widened when Kabuto's eyes turned to Konan. She had never… she had never had to worry about protecting anyone else before. Turning to Konan, Sakura watched as Konan's eyes turned wide, and scared again… Sakura couldn't do that to her.

Sakura felt herself move before Kabuto could. She gripped Kabuto's hand and pulled him toward her.

She was used to disgusting men on her all the time… the look of fear on Konan's face made Sakura realize Konan wasn't.

"Come to your senses, have you?" Kabuto purred, and Sakura had to fight off the bile that threatened to come up. "That's my girl."

Sakura clenched her fists in her lap as Kabuto's hand traced over her jawline. Using two fingers, he tilted her face forward to meet his own in a slobbery, messy kiss.

His lips were slim and dry; they felt uncomfortable against her own. His tongue invaded her mouth without warning, and Sakura had to fight the urge to bite down on it.

He was the type to take and not give. He didn't give her a chance to breathe as he shoved his tongue down her throat as far as it would go. The hand that had been on her face wandered down to grip her right breast tightly.

"Mmm," Kabuto let out a moan. "I want to-"

"Ladies?" A voice from their bedroom called. Kabuto immediately let Sakura's body go, and backpedaled. Sakura found a great deal of relief in the space. She had been manhandled like that many times before, but she had never felt as dirty as she did now.

"Are you here?" The voice spoke again, and came closer to the door. Sakura watched as Kabuto stood and opened the bathroom door.

"Kisame," Kabuto spoke, a little out of breath. "What are you doing here?"

"Kakashi asked me to get Konan and her roommate," Kisame said with a raised eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just making sure Konan and the other girl were okay," Kabuto said as he took an invisible piece of fuzz off of his coat. "It's Pink's first group session after all."

"Really?" Kisame asked in a questioning tone, and Sakura wondered if all the patients here could see through Kabuto's front.

"Yes, really," Kabuto snapped, and Sakura felt Konan flinch at his tone. Sakura moved to touch Konan's arm, and felt her flinch again. Konan seemed to calm down when she realized it was Sakura who was the one who was touching her, though. "Now are we going, or not?"

Konan still looked queasy and unsure, so Sakura shook her head for the two of them. She glanced at Kisame, who looked tired and worn out, hoping he would take the hint and get Kabuto out of there.

"Alright," Kisame said as he headed back out the door. "I think Kakashi will want to know Konan and the new girl aren't coming, don't you think so Kabuto?"

"Mm-hmm," Kabuto agreed with a smirk on his face as he started to walk closer to Sakura again. Sakura had to stop herself from shivering at the predatory-like look on Kabuto's face. She really did not want her and Konan to be left here alone with that bastard.

"Then we shouldn't keep him waiting," Kisame said while looking over his shoulder. Kisame's words caused Kabuto to pause. "You know Kakashi won't start the group session without you. We're already late, so we should walk there together."

Kabuto seemed to sigh in frustration before he turned around. He didn't say a single thing as he walked out of their room with Kisame, and the fact that he didn't say anything caused Sakura more panic than it would have if he would have threatened them.

Turning back to Konan, Sakura noticed there were tears once again in the blue haired woman's eyes. Sakura took a deep breath before she turned her whole body towards Konan. She slowly wrapped her arms around Konan's body and held her tightly against her in a much needed hug.

"It's okay," Sakura's voice cracked as she spoke for the first time since she was arrested. "I won't let him hurt you anymore."

"Who will protect you from him then?" Konan questioned her quietly as the tears fell freely from her eyes.

"… I don't know yet, but I'll think of something."

XxxX

Itachi mentally sighed while he waited for the group session to begin. He had already been here for twenty minutes (even though the meeting was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago), and he was starting to get irritated. Kakashi was here, and so were a few of his fellow patients, but most of the group was not.

Hidan and Deidara weren't here, for obvious reasons; they were both probably excused from the session today because of their fight earlier. Konan and her roommate were also not here, along with Kisame, and Kabuto.

Konan being gone surprised Itachi, but having Kabuto, Kisame, and the new girl gone surprised him even more. It was the first group session the new girl would attend, and Itachi had not seen anyone miss their first session.

Kabuto was supposed to be supporting Kakashi; Kakashi looked a hint annoyed at him not being there yet. His roommate being gone also surprised Itachi; Kisame was usually one to be on time for things of this nature.

Itachi let out a mental sigh again, and looked around the room. There were twelve chairs scattered in what was a sad attempt at a circle in the middle of a mint green room. The room color was probably chosen to help calm patients, and when Itachi had first started here, it had done so. Now, however, Itachi found that particular shade of green to be irritating.

Scattered in the chairs were Pein, Zetsu, Kakashi, Sasori, and himself. After being at the center for almost a week, Itachi knew all the names of the people who were in the hospital. Well, everyone except Konan's new roommate…

How was it that Kakashi didn't even know her name? Was she mute? If she was, then she could certainly write her name down, couldn't she? Unless she was also illiterate, but that was something Itachi doubted largely. The pink haired girl looked intelligent; her apple green eyes shone with a type of intelligence he had not seen in people over half her age.

She did seem young, Itachi thought to himself while thinking back to the pink haired girl he had just met earlier today. Maybe she was running away from something, and that was her reason for not speaking?

Either way, Itachi had felt bad for the girl when he had seen her in the awful position she had been in earlier today. Kabuto was scum, and Itachi knew Kabuto was always trying to hit on Konan when she was alone. He had been trying to keep an eye out for her, but there was only so much he could do… He was here to get better, not take care of some woman. Now it seemed he would have to keep a look out for the new girl as well.

"Sorry we're late," Kabuto said while he walked into the session room, Kisame following him a few steps behind. "We went to go check on Konan-Chan and her roommate."

"Where are they, then?" Pein's heavy tenor spoke. It seemed maybe he wasn't he only one to notice Kabuto's interest in the blue haired woman then, because even though Pein spoke emotionlessly there had been a hint of accusation in his tone.

"Konan wasn't feeling very well," Kisame said with a shrug as he went to sit down beside Itachi. "I think her roommate is going to stay with her to make sure she's okay."

By the look on Kisame's face, Itachi knew there had to be more than that, but Itachi would let it be. He needed to focus on getting better so he could leave. His father was already trying to gain access into the hospital, even though Itachi had explicitly told them he should not come in.

He hadn't told his family the reason why he was in the hospital; he had only told them he needed some time away. He didn't want his family to find out he was a psychopath that dreamed about killing them every night…

The time in the hospital hadn't even decreased the nightmares. Kakashi had thought him coming here would help him, but so far it hadn't. Itachi didn't know what he was going to do if they didn't stop… he'd probably have to stay in here to make sure he didn't hurt anyone.

He had not told Kakashi the full story of why he had decided to come here, and Kakashi had not asked him. If he told Kakashi the real reason behind him being here, Itachi knew Kakashi would have him locked up in a real crazy house, not this vacation home one.

If Itachi didn't get better soon, then he would lose all hope in getting better. He didn't have much hope to begin with, but whatever hope he did have left would be gone.

He didn't miss being home, but he did miss certain things about home. He missed going out to grab a drink with Shisui, he missed his mother's cooking, and he missed helping Sasuke with his homework. If he never got better, than Itachi wondered if he would ever be let out of a place like this.

"Alright group," Kakashi's voice spoke as everyone found a seat. "Let's start back with who we ended with yesterday: Pein, I believe you were going to say something?"