Today was Sasuke's first group meeting, he didn't know how it would go. He was going to have to tell everyone his issues, which wasn't any of their business. Him and Naruto walked in at the same time and took their seats. Tsunade came in and sat in her chair at the center of the circle. "Everyone, we have someone new joining us today, his name is Sasuke." She said introducing him. "Hi Sasuke." Everyone said in unison. Sasuke just rolled his eyes.
Everyone began to talk about their issues. Naruto stayed silent most of the time. Then Tsunade turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, why don't tell us about why you're here." She smiled. "Well, I'm addicted to cocaine." He said. "What started your addiction Sasuke?" she asked. "My parents always put my brother before, my dad neglected my whole family, and then my best friend died in a drug raid, it got worse after that." Sasuke said, staring at the floor. His leg began to shake, why did he just say all that? Naruto looked at Sasuke sympathetically. Tsunade kept her composure. "Thank you for sharing Sasuke." She smiled. "Does anyone want to share their story with Sasuke?" Tsunade asked. Everyone looked at Naruto, he shook his head. "Naruto, it's alright, I know you can do it." She smiled. Naruto's hands began to shake and he swallowed hard. "Well, I've been here since I tried to kill myself about 2 years ago. I'm addicted to self-harming and have relapsed many times. My parents died in a car accident when I was 4 years old. I gave myself the scars on my cheeks because I feel like a monster, like their death was my fault." Naruto tried so hard not to cry, but it was no use, he put his hands to his face and cried. "Naruto, that's enough for today honey." She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. Group therapy went on for a bit longer, Naruto was excused to go back to his room, and Sasuke stayed and listened. He was mostly intrigued with Naruto's story and how tragic it was. He couldn't believe he had been here for two years.
Sasuke walked back to his room to find Naruto curled in the corner of his bed crying. Sasuke froze, he wasn't sure what to do. He let his instinct take over and he sat on the edge of Naruto's bed and placed a hand on his shoulder. Naruto looked up through blue, teary eyes. Sasuke gave him a small smile and Naruto continued to cry softly. He was holding a picture of what Sasuke assumed were his parents and him. Sasuke didn't say anything, he didn't know what to say. He just rubbed his hand up and down Naruto's arm for comfort. Naruto calmed down a lot after that and thanked Sasuke for comforting him.
Sasuke didn't know why this boy had made him so sensitive. He hadn't felt this way since Sai and the thought made him shake. He began to have a bad withdrawal. Naruto looked back at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Sasuke flinched away. Naruto's eyes got sad and curled back into the corner. "Naruto, no, I'm sorry, it's not you. Just memories." Sasuke said. Naruto suddenly hugged him. Sasuke wrapped his arms around him slowly, hesitant of this feeling. His heart began to beat fast. He was suddenly having less withdrawal symptoms and he was shaking less. Sasuke suddenly pulled him closer and hugged him tight. "I haven't felt like this in a long time…" Sasuke said. "Me either Sasuke…" Naruto smiled. "I need to go talk to Kakashi." Sasuke said and got up. Naruto nodded and picked up his sketchbook.
Sasuke walked into Kakashi's office. Kakashi looked up from his papers, not losing composure. Sasuke sat down. "I'm ready to talk now." Sasuke said. "Okay, go for it." Kakashi smiled. "Well, it's about Naruto." Sasuke said. "He makes you feel good?" Kakashi asked. "Yeah, he made my withdrawal go away, just by hugging him…" Sasuke smiled slightly. "That's good Sasuke, maybe you've found a good friend in Naruto." Kakashi said. "I'm just so scared now. I'm getting close to him and I promised not to do this again. I made a promise after Sai died to never get close to anyone again. I wanted to die when I lost him." Sasuke wiped his eyes. "Sasuke, do you realize why you used cocaine so much?" Kakashi asked. "To numb myself…" Sasuke said and he broke down. "Oh my God, I need help." Sasuke cried. Kakashi sighed and walked around to Sasuke and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've made your break through Sasuke. Are you ready to get better?" Kakashi asked. "Yes…yes I am." Sasuke said. "This is the beginning to a long recovery Sasuke. You will have days where it gets rough, but you have to stay strong." Kakashi said. "I know, I'm ready." Sasuke said and got up and left.
Sasuke went back to his room, Naruto had left. Sasuke was looking at his drawings on the wall, they were almost as good as Sai's paintings, if not better. They were dark and depressing drawings. Naruto did once say that his drawings were his feelings on paper. The PA alarm sounded in the hall way. "All nurses to the first floor infirmary with a crash cart, stat!" and then nurses were rushing down the hallways. Sasuke peeked out, an aide instructed him to stay in his room. This was serious.
Sasuke slipped out and followed down the hallway. Other patients were standing outside the infirmary, aides were trying to keep them back. "We're gonna lose him!" a nurse screamed. "He's bleeding through the bandages!" "Apply pressure!" they were all different voices. "Clear!" and Sasuke heard a shock. "Come on Naruto, stay with us!" and Sasuke panicked. Sasuke pushed through the nurses and two of the males had to hold him back. "Naruto! Damn it, let me go!" Sasuke screamed. Kakashi ran out of his office, Iruka, Naruto's therapist, running behind him. "We got a pulse!" and the monitor began to beep. Sasuke was shaking furiously. "Sasuke, you need to breathe." Kakashi said, setting him down on the floor. "Please, I, I, just need my fix, dear God, anything." He said, he noticed the medicine cart and ran towards it, kicking and shaking it. "Sasuke!" Kakashi grabbed him and Sasuke turned and punched him. Nurses contained him and took him to isolation. Kakashi wasn't shocked, highly stressful situation would cause Sasuke to have a very bad withdrawal.
Naruto was resting easily in isolation. He was on 24 hour surveillance, Iruka was in his room every day until he was considered stable enough to return to his room. His room was stripped and knives and handmade objects were found, Naruto was stripped clean of all of his utensils. "Iruka, I just, I don't know…" he began. "Naruto, you need to learn to accept your feelings and cope with them in the right way." He said, eyes soft. "Killing myself would have taken it all away, I just want to fucking die, let me die!" he screamed and began to cry. A stitch in his arm broke and the nurses came in to change it. He was flailing and fighting them. "No, please, just let me bleed, I don't wanna be here anymore, damn it, please!" he was screaming so loud his voice began to crack. They gave him a shot of morphine and he was knocked out.
Sasuke was depressed, but mostly angry. He just got out of isolation and apologized to Kakashi. He really didn't mean to hit him, he lost all control of himself and that's why he was so angry. Sasuke kicked his dresser and punched the wall. His anger was getting worse. The nurse brought in his medication and he swallowed it quickly. "Sasuke, they've increased your anxiety medication, so this might make you sleepy." She smiled. Even after his freak out, no one seemed to look at him differently, is there anything these people haven't seen? Sasuke was so worried about Naruto and they wouldn't let him see him and couldn't tell him his condition because of confidentiality, but he knew that Naruto had tried to commit suicide again and he didn't know what had driven him to the edge. But Sasuke had a feeling it was because of him, and luckily his medication was starting to kick in because his withdrawals were beginning.