Sasuke and Naruto sat in the waiting room to wait for Naruko, or any word from the doctor. Naruto had his hands clenched so hard his knuckles were white, eyes wet from unshed tears. Sasuke gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Naruto leaned into him gratefully. He whispered softly, "She'll be ok right?"

Sasuke nodded, trying to sound more confident then he felt, "She will. She'd never leave us like this." Naruto nodded slowly and they both blinked when Naruko raced into the waiting room and hurried to Sasuke's and Naruto's side. They stood as she demanded, looking them over and dragging them into hugs, "What happened? Are you two ok? How about Ariana?"

Sasuke said gravilly, "The brakes wouldn't work. Naruto and I were in the side car together and she yanked it loose right before we could run straight into traffic. Two cars hit her."

He felt his whole body about to collapse and quickly sat in a chair and Naruto sat next to him, "We don't really know how, but the brakes just wouldn't work. And she went flying."

Both boys looking devasted and close to tears. She grabbed them both in another hug, "Now you listen to me, Ariana's too strong to be taken out by something like this. You can't give up on her. You have to believe she's going to pull through this."

Naruko rubbed her forehead, pushing back the wave of sadness and panic and taking things in hand. She knew she had to be strong, for the boys and herself. She pulled away and they nodded. She sat next to Naruto and asked, "Did you call Itachi?"

Sasuke nodded and Naruko flipped out her phone, "I'll call Kisame so he can take over for her."

Kisame answered, sounding healthy and well, "Naruko! How's it going?"

Naruko said sadly, "Ariana got into an accident, so you need to take over things at work."

He gasped and asked, "How! When!"

Naruko said, "Today, and bike crash. Can you?"

He said strongly, "no problem. I'm feeling better so I'll take over."

Naruko thanked him and then took a deep breath as she called Jiraiya. He answered sounding confused, "Hello? Whose this? How'd you get my number?"

She said nerviously, "Um Ariana gave it to me. My name is Naruko Uzamaki. But listen sir, Ariana was in an accident."

As quickly as possible she told him what she knew and when he said he'd be there as soon as possible she said softly, "Thank you sir."

Jiraiya paused and then said gently, "She'll be fine Naruko. You'll see."

Naruko said, tears almost choking her up, "Thank you sir. See you soon."

She hung up, steeled herself and settled back to wait for the news.

Hours passed and she went to grab sandwiches from the cafeteria for dinner, but none of them really ate anything. Finally at around 10 o clock the doctor with blond hair pulled into two ponytails, came out looking exausted. They jumped to their feet and she said, "She's lucky to be alive. But I'm sure she'll make a full recovery. You can see her in the morning. Why don't you all go home and get some sleep?"

Naruko shooed the boys out, who now looked exausted and relieved. They took a taxi home and Naruko grabbed Sasuke's arm before he could go into his apartment, "Spend the night with us. We all could use the company."

Too tired and drained to argue he nodded and went into his apartment to change. Naruto followed silently behind him and Sasuke put a hand on his shoulder and said gently, "She'll be fine."

Naruto nodded dumbly and Sasuke went into his room to change into his pajamas. Once he was done he came out and turned to look at Naruto, only to see him crying. Sasuke quickly went to him and Naruto threw himself into his chest. Sasuke held him tightly and said, "Oh Naruto."

Naruto let out a sob and Sasuke moved to the couch and held Naruto on his lap. Naruto just held him tighter and cried into Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke hugged him tightly and waited for the tears to stop. Once the sobs ended he pulled away and put his finger under Naruto's chin and made him look at him, "It'll be ok Naruto."

Naruto shook his head slightly and Sasuke ran his hand through his hair, hoping to sooth him. Naruto sniffled and said, "My parents died in a car accident. Drunk driver ran a red light and hit them. They promised Naruko and I they would come home. They never did."

Sasuke looked blankely at the TV and said, "Some moron rolled his car and we were just standing at the corner. Everything happened so fast."

Naruto's eyes widened and he stared at him. Naruto had sensed that his parents were a touchy subject so couldn't bring himself to ask before. Sasuke clenched his fist at his knee, "Ariana grabbed Itachi and I and pushed us out of the way but...she couldn't save them. Nobody could."

Sasuke smirked coldly, his eyes turning dark and dead, "We had been arguing. Father was telling us to stop being friends with Ariana, that she was beneath us. But she was our friend, and she saved us. I wished then that Father would just..."

Sasuke clenched his teeth and Naruto gently pressed his hand to his cheek, shocked to find him crying. Sasuke looked at Naruto, so much pain and sadness in his eyes, "I wanted him to die! I wanted him to stop saying I was worthless, or saying Itachi was childish! And I wanted him to stop bad mouthing Ariana! But I didn't really mean for him to die! I didn't mean it."

Naruto moved and rested his forhead against Sasuke's, "I know Sasuke. I know."

Naruto closed his eyes as they held each other and finally cried themselves out. Sasuke was surprised to find a weight lifted from his shoulders. He sighed and Naruto opened his beautiful blue eyes to look at him. Naruto grinned and said, "Lets get over to my place and get some sleep."

Sasuke nodded and on impulse pecked Naruto on the lips. Naruto stared, blushing and grinned brightly. Sasuke slowly smiled and looked down, cheeks starting to turn red, "So Naruto, I know this is terrible timing but I uh, well I."

Naruto blinked in realization and blushed as he smiled and said, "I like you too."

Sasuke looked up at him in surprise and smiled. They kissed softly and Naruto rubbed his nose with Sasuke's, "And i'd be glad to be your boyfriend."

Sasuke smiled happily, making Naruto stare in surprise and then they got up, grabbed some clothes for Sasuke tomorrow and headed back over to Naruto's apartment.

They said good night to Naruko, who didn't mention their red eyes and they went into Naruto's room. Naruto changed and they held each other in bed and slowly falling asleep, neather feeling alone or sad any more.