Author's Note; Yesh, the second chapter to the double update. Now, I'm going to be a couple days behind on the next update so I'm warning everyone now before I forget! No update until either Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Chapter 14

Sasuke

Tsunade was brutal on Naruto after finding out he cut himself yesterday. She was even more pissed off when she actually saw the damage that was done and gave him some more healing salve to put on the cuts to make sure they didn't get an infection. She was also grateful for Gaara and me staying to help with Naruto since Itachi's jobs wouldn't let him take the rest of the week off.

So right now, the three of us were gathered around the kitchen table working on our homework and Naruto wouldn't sit still. Every few seconds, sometimes a minute or so, he'd shift in his wheelchair that he was using since Tsunade found out he walked a bit yesterday and reprimanded him for that as well.

Both Gaara and I knew he was in pain, but he refused to take any medication for the pain, saying he could deal with it, but we knew that he'd soon reach a limit and start begging for the relief from the pain, but he has yet to ask for them.

"Hey, Sasuke, Gaara, wanna go out and get some ramen?" He suddenly asked after slamming his pen down. I could tell he was done with homework for now, and he looked like he had a headache.

I don't blame him, I'm getting one as well.

"Well, I don't know, Itachi is expecting us to be here when he gets home." I said, and I wasn't exaggerating, Itachi told me this morning that he didn't want Naruto to go out much today, especially into town where we could possibly run into Yaguro since he left the hospital two nights ago after Gaara threw his ass out of Naruto's room.

"It's just to the ramen stand." He whined.

"I can ask Itachi to pick up some ramen." I suggested, hoping he'd listen.

"But it isn't the same." He pouted, and I could only sigh heavily in annoyance.

"The old man there is willing to deliver." Gaara said quietly, completely focused on his homework save for the conversation at hand, but he was right, they do deliver.

"That's fine." Naruto finally gave in after a few minutes of looking between Gaara and me before he sighed. And since Gaara and I knew Naruto fairly well, he wasn't liking being kept inside the house all day. That's probably what the problem was. "Barbeque pork ramen, extra large order." He added with a grin.

"What would you like Gaara?" I asked.

"I'll have vegetable ramen." He said, the same thing I was going to get.

"Alright, I'll be right back." I told them and left the table to go to my room where my phone was and had the ramen stands' number programmed into my phone. Somehow, I knew I was going to need it if Naruto was staying here.

After ordering the food and paying with my bank card, I tucked my phone away in my pocket and grabbed my laptop before heading back out to the kitchen to find that Gaara had moved into the seat next to Naruto's wheelchair and they were huddled together. I was only hoping, mentally, that they were looking at homework together as I sat down in my seat across from Naruto.

"Whatcha guys doing?" I asked slyly. I loved teasing them two.

"Nothing, Gaara was just telling me something about our math homework that I wasn't getting. God, why do we have to go to school anyway?" Naruto said, then complained before roughly messing his hair up with both hands in frustration.

"It's so we can get a better life." Gaara said.

"From walking up behind you two, it looked like you guys were making out." I said with a wide grin, only because I wanted to see their reaction. I knew they weren't making out or anything. But it's fun!

Immediately, both of them blushed the same shade of tomato red and Naruto hid his face in embarrassment. Gaara, on the other hand, coughed lightly to clear his throat as he looked the other way. Oh, God, maybe they were.

"Uhm … so, what are you reading for English Sasuke?" Naruto suddenly asked to change the subject, and that only made me suspect that they were even more.

"I'm reading a book called Identical by Ellen Hopkins." I answered as I pulled my book out of my back pack and put it on the table. "I've already read it so I just need to write the paragraphs and the report and I'm finished."

"Such a damn show off." Naruto pouted. "I'm reading Impulse by that author."

"It's a good book, but too depressing in my opinion." I told him, and it was the truth. I hated the ending to the book, only because I feel like Connor's parents are like ours, Itachi and me. Pisses me off.

"I'm liking it, but sometimes I have to read each transition between the characters a couple of times before I understand what's going on." Naruto said, and I wouldn't blame him.

Then Naruto's face paled for some reason and he stared at me with a look that was starting to make me worry.

"What's wrong Naruto?" I asked, afraid of what he might say.

"I have to work this weekend!" He nearly screamed and I thought Gaara was going to flip out.

"You can't work this weekend!" Gaara screamed as he stood up. "You can't, if you've forgotten what's happened since Monday."

"If I don't work this weekend and get my paycheck, I'll be fired and that paycheck is keeping electricity in our house!" Naruto argued, and I could tell he meant what he was saying.

"Don't worry about it, okay?" I said, but he was still freaking out.

"I have to worry about it!" He finally yelled and pulled his hair again. Now I felt like I needed to tie him down so he wouldn't hurt himself on accident.

"Well, let me call your work, they'll probably listen to me Naruto." I said, hoping he'd let me get a try to get him some time off work. And when the blonde nodded after a couple of minutes muttering to himself how he'd never be able to pay the bills for the next few months because of his injuries, I got the number and went to my room so I could call them without the noise. I had a feeling that if they heard Naruto in the background, they'd think twice and screw him over.

Sighing heavily as I sat in my computer chair while trying to calm down and think of the right words to say, I dialed Naruto's work number and waited for it to stop ringing. It took a couple rings before someone answered. I had to cringe because of her shrill voice echoing in my ear.

"Welcome to McDonalds, this is Mari, how can I help you?" She said.

"Yea, I'm Sasuke Uchiha and I'm calling in for a friend, Naruto Uzumaki, he won't be able to come in for work for a few months." I said, and I could tell by the way she was breathing into the phone that she wasn't happy at all.

"Why?" Was all she said.

"He got a back injury a few days ago and he won't be able to work for a couple months." I said, repeating most of it.

"I'm sorry, but he's needed this weekend." She said after a few minutes of complete silence, and her attitude was starting to piss me off.

"I'm sorry, he's not even allowed to walk around the house, he can't come into work until his doctor says he can." I said with a little bit of venom in my voice.

"If he doesn't show up at midnight tonight, he's fired." She said and then I lost connection.

I couldn't believe she hung up before I did, and besides that, I was completely furious with her. And I was furious enough to call Itachi while he's at work.

"Is everything okay Sasuke?" Were the first words he said when he answered the phone two rings later.

"No, everything's not fine though Naruto's completely alright." I said. "I called Naruto's work and I'm guessing it was his boss that answered the phone, but she said that if Naruto doesn't come into work at midnight tonight he's fired."

"Who's the person you talked to?" Itachi asked after a moment.

"She said her name's Mari, didn't tell me what her last name was." I answered.

"What's his work number and I'll have Tsunade call in. I think she'll have fun." Itachi said, and I could tell that there was amusement in his voice. I could only smirk at his idea.

"I'll text it to you." I said, and we ended our conversation and I text the number straight to him like I promised and went back to the kitchen in a better mood than I thought I would be.

"I'm so fired." I heard Naruto whine when I got there, his face buried in his hands and Gaara was trying to comfort him as best as he could.

I sat down in my chair before I spoke to let Naruto know I was back.

"Hey, Naruto …" I said before his head shot up from his hands, he didn't have to say anything to ask me what was said.

"Tsunade's calling that wench for you." I told him after a moment, and I could tell he was relaxing a bit, but he still looked tense. I wouldn't blame him.

"Alright." He said when there was a knock on the front door. I had forgotten all about the ramen when I went to make the phone call for Naruto and shot back up to my feet.

"There's the food, I'll be right back." I said as I left the room and answered the front door to find the old man that owned the ramen stand in the middle of town, I could only smile when I saw him.

"Two box orders of ramen, one barbeque pork and the other a vegetable ramen." He said, and I nodded as I took the two boxes from him and handed him a five dollar tip. "How's Naruto doing? I haven't seen him at my shop in a few days. I was starting to worry until you called ordering a whole box order of his favorite."

"He's doing fine, just sore from over exercising and hurting himself earlier this week." I told him, keeping to the lie Naruto made because I knew if anything else was said, it would be a disaster.

"Well, tell him to take it easy and I hope to see him soon." The old man said with a wave as he pocketed the tip and walked off to his car.

"I will." I waved back and closed the door. Walking to the kitchen with the two orders and set them down on the table. I could have sworn I saw Naruto drooling at the smell of his ramen and tried to reach for it before I pulled it back away from him.

"You have to wait until everyone gets their food Naruto, and you have a whole box order to yourself." I said before giving Gaara his order and mine before pushing the barbeque pork box over to Naruto and pulled the first order out for him.

"You're mean." He pouted before I put his food down for him. I could see why Gaara blushed around him all the time.

"Itadakimasu." The three of us said when I sat down and grabbed our chop sticks and started eating, though Naruto shoveled his food into his mouth like there was no tomorrow.

"Slow down Naruto or you're going to choke." Gaara warned.

"I'll be fine." Naruto smiled after swallowing his huge bite of noodles and went back to shoveling it in. Gaara was the first one laughing when Naruto suddenly started coughing a few times before forcefully swallowing what was in his mouth.

"Told you so you dork." Gaara said and patted Naruto's back softly as he coughed a few more times before he was breathing regularly.

That's when my phone rang in my pocket. Shocking me because I wasn't expecting a call from anyone, so I quickly pulled it out to see who it was, and it was the school's number and answered immediately. "Sasuke Uchiha speaking …"

"Sasuke, make sure Naruto doesn't go to work tonight, if he does I'll tie him to his chair and I'll get his boss sued for making an injured worker come in to work." Tsunade's voice said into my ear. I could tell she was trying to talk quietly so Naruto couldn't hear her.

"Will do, thanks for the call." I said, making sure not to say her name and she didn't seem to mind before we said our good byes and hung up the phone. Naruto was glaring at me when I pocketed my phone again.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"Itachi, he wanted to know what we were thinking about having for dinner and suggested some type of stir fry and we were to discuss what meat to have with it." I lied, well, half lied, Itachi text me a few hours ago asking that and I hadn't talked about it until now. Good thing I had something to fall back on.

"Whatever, I think we should have shrimp." Naruto said as he crossed his arms, though I could tell he didn't believe what I said.

"That sounds good." Gaara said, and I could tell he sounded genuine. "I have yet to try shrimp."

"You've gotta be kidding me Gaara!" Naruto squealed. "Shrimp is amazing!"

"I got a question for you two." I found myself saying before I could stop myself while texting Itachi saying that we'd like shrimp stir fry.

"What would that be?" Naruto said, and I think Gaara knew what I was going to ask because he started blushing a little bit.

"Are you two a couple yet?" I asked, knowing that if I didn't ask, I'd be beating myself over until I knew.

"I can't believe you'd ask such a thing …" Naruto mumbled as he blushed darker than Gaara and looked over at him, probably hoping he'd talk instead of him.

"Yes, we're a couple." Gaara said, and I could see Naruto relax once again, but blush darker than earlier. "We've been a couple for a couple months now."

"Really?" I asked, shocked because I'm usually good at telling who's a couple or not.

"Yea, we wanted to wait and let others know but, now that you know, I think it's alright." Naruto said.

"My father doesn't know, so please don't tell anyone." Gaara said. "You know how my father is."

"I do, and I promise not to tell." I said with a small nod, and I was serious.

"My Dad doesn't know either, and you know how he is." Naruto said, and I could tell he was worried a little bit.

"You know I won't tell that bastard." Gaara hissed, though I think he hissed because of who was on the subject.

"I know you won't, but … you know how he can find anything out if he wants to." Naruto said, then looked at me.

"I swear, if he finds out, I'll kick his ass for thinking about hurting you." I told him, and they both knew I was serious.

"So you know what his dad's like?" Gaara asked me.

"I do … for a long time I've known." I said, looking down because I felt ashamed for not helping him sooner than now. "I just wish I did something about it a long time ago."

"And you know I'd have kicked your ass for taking my father from me." Naruto said, his voice dark and I know, personally, that he'd do something to make me regret it.

"I know, I know." I said to make sure he'd take it down a notch before taking another bite of my soup. "Lets finish our lunch so we can get back to our homework. We have too much to do just to let it sit."

"I hate homework." Naruto pouted.

"Oh, and I have to warn you, tell Itachi before he finds out on his own." I said. "He'll do something out of his way to make sure it's as embarrassing as possible."

"What will he do?" Gaara asked.

"He takes pictures and blackmails." I said, truthfully. Last time I had a girlfriend, he took pictures and threatened to tell her father about us. It only worked because Sakura's father hates my guts.

Sakura only broke up with me about six months after the first threat of blackmail because she couldn't handle her father finding out one evening and ground her for life. I was okay with it, because I didn't want her to get in trouble and never see her again.

"So what about the great Sasuke Uchiha, does he have someone special?" Naruto asked with a toothy grin, I could tell he wanted some personal information, but I didn't want him to know … he's a loud mouth.

"I do, but I'm not telling you who it is." I said, half lying, I still wished to be with Sakura, but she said she wanted to wait a while before we got back together. I didn't blame her one bit, the last time we were together and talked about getting back as a couple, she said her father was bombarding her with questions about having a boyfriend. I made sure to mention that he's a little over protective, and she agreed with me one hundred percent.

"Is it Sakura?" Naruto asked, with that same grin and I found myself giving him a death glare before I could stop myself. "I knew it! You two need to find better hiding places, I hide on the top of the school during our free periods also when I'm not bombarding Tsunade-baa-chan with questions about my Mom." He added and stuck his tongue out at me.

"If you tell a single soul what was discussed here I'll make you wish you hadn't." I said.

"Don't worry, that's my trump card if you tell about us." Naruto said, and I somehow felt relieved.

"So, what was your Mom like, Naruto?" Gaara and I asked at the same time.

"From what Tsunade-baa-chan said, my Mom was a very nice person. Smart, valedictorian as a matter of fact, and she went to college for a couple years where she met my Dad. Baa-chan said that my father was a complete dunce, but also as smart as my mother and he was going to college for something to do with politics and all that." Naruto answered, and his face was beaming with a wide smile. I think he had been waiting for us to ask him that for a while now. "Baa-chan said my Mom wanted to get a psychology degree to help troubled teens or something like that."

"Sounds like your Dad was a good man … back then." Gaara said. "And that your Mom was a wonderful woman."

"Yea." I nodded, Gaara had taken the words right out of my mouth.

"Dad is only the way he is now because he's having an extremely hard time believing that Mom's actually gone …" Naruto mumbled as he looked down at his bowl and picked at it, I could tell the conversation was making him lose his appetite and I felt horrible for asking, I could tell Gaara felt the same thing.

"Well, Naruto, he has an ego that needs to be knocked down, because he should know that his wife would be flipping in her grave for how he's treated you all these years." Gaara said, and that seemed to lift his mood, but only a little bit.

"Who is good at trigonometry?" He asked, changing the subject.

"You're in trig?" I asked, beaming because I would have known if he was in my class or not.

"Yea, I was transferred into trig last week." Naruto said as he reached behind his head and rubbed at the back of his neck nervously. "I sit in the back behind Gaara."

"No wonder I don't see you in class." I huffed. "Well, what is it you need help with?" I asked and Gaara and I huddled around him as we both tried to explain it as simple as possible for him.