The SEAL'S Kiss

Celestia193's Author's Note: Warning: Sasuke broods (but that's nothing new), Sasuke is vengeful (also, not new), and Itachi has a bad hair day (sorry).

Chapter 12

He'd succeeded. His charge was safe, and the bodies of four more assassins had been transported to the morgue for autopsy, which were in progress with great urgency. But right now, Sasuke couldn't focus on any of that. He could hardly think about anything but protecting Hinata…from what had happened to his brother. Hinata and Itachi, that was all that filled his mind as he sat on a bench outside of the OR, every second that ticked by fraying yet another nerve.

His team wasn't here, they were busy at the police station with Neji, giving testimony about what happened. Nine civilians had been injured, in addition to Itachi, and two of them were in critical condition. None, of course, were shot by his team, but half of them were injured just trying to run out of the building, tripping over each other, as well as their own feet.

None of that mattered. What mattered was that his parents were soon to arrive, and he had no idea what to say to them. Protecting Itachi was his responsibility. Protecting Itachi and Neji and Hinata fell to his team, yes, but he was the team leader. Which meant that when shit hit the fan, it was his fault.

Despite that, despite his guilt, his sense were still on full alert as Hinata returned from the bathroom just across the hall, her light footsteps catching his attention as he looked around warily, but found no threat. "It's been two and a half hours…"

"Sasuke, he took a bullet." Hinata sighs as she sits next to him and embraces him. "It's going to take them awhile to stabilize him, but we got Itachi here quickly. He's strong." She rests her head on his shoulder. "He'll pull through. I know it." Seeing him like this was beyond gut-wrenching. As much as the two brothers bickered, the bluenette knew that they were close and that this was tearing Sasuke apart with guilt.

"He will." Sasuke's rational mind knew that, though he wasn't feeling very rational at the moment. "We're survivors." He glances at her, guilt surging up again, but for an entirely different reason. "I'm sorry, I should have been watching you instead." His fists clench. "If you want to go home…we can leave."

"No. I don't want to go home." She kisses his cheek. "It's important to you to be here and I want to make sure he's alright as well. Itachi has never been anything, but kind to me." Hinata wasn't entirely sure if they were close enough to be considered friends, but they were at least cordial acquaintances. "I'm worried about him too. You made the right calls, Sasuke." She pleads with him with her eyes to understand that it wasn't his fault.

There were barely any calls to be made. It was all about instinct and protecting who needed to be protected. Should he have communicated more with his team? Should they have kept everyone together more? How did those shooters get into the club with weapons anyway? He thought that he'd made sure that security was air-tight, but even that hadn't been enough. "He could have died in there." He still could, if things went south. Sasuke grits his teeth. "YOU could have died in there."

She shakes her head. "Sasuke, don't torture yourself with what ifs." That was only going to drive him crazy. "You did your best and because of you, we're all alive. Itachi had a close call, but he is going to be fine."

Sasuke's eyes drift shut, but his arms reach out to wrap around Hinata as he pulls her into his lap. "I just want him to be alright." He didn't want to lose anyone he loved, but there was someone insisting on trying to take people away from him. "…Whoever is behind this has to die." That was a simple fact. They wouldn't be safe until the enemy was dead.

"I know and they will." She cuddles closer to him, trying to provide what comfort she could. "We'll make sure of it."

"Indeed we will." Fugaku walks down the corridor towards them, a grim look on his face. "I've just come from the morgue. The first autopsy is done, and the other three should be done in a matter of hours." Though he wasn't too pleased with the fact that the FBI was encroaching on the case already. "Your mother is interrogating the medical examiner and a few of the civilians as we speak."

Sasuke opens his eyes, looking over to his father. He hadn't expected him to take up the case so quickly, but it did explain why they took so long to arrive. "Good." If anyone could find them, it was his father. "We're still waiting for news on Itachi."

Hinata merely nodded at Fugaku. She didn't really trust herself to speak further at the moment, but she took some solace in the fact that his presence seemed to calm Sasuke. This was a man who was used to dealing with dangerous situations as often as he enjoyed those surprisingly fluffy pancakes that he liked so much.

"Yes, I am aware." Fugaku would be lying if he said that he hadn't questioned all of the nurses on the way here. After all, his eldest son was in surgery, and he wanted to be informed of any and all news or changes regarding his condition. But so far, nothing.

The doors to the OR open moments later and a blonde woman wearing a surgeon's uniform comes out. "We've removed the bullet and examined the cracked plate of bone, he's stable now." She looks at the worried family. "He's not going to be better overnight, but the worst of the danger has passed. He's being closely monitored."

Sasuke's heart leaped in his chest, but he kept his reaction tempered as he stared at the woman he knew quite well. The Idiot's grandmother, Tsunade. "He's still under anesthesia?" If his brother wasn't awake, then there was no point in trying to talk to him. Not yet…

Tsunade shakes her head. "He's asleep, but that's good. He needs his rest." The poor boy looked absolutely insane with worry. "Though you can see him. I doubt you could wake him up, if you tried. We had to give him a lot of anesthesia for the surgery."

Of course they did, it took a lot to keep an Uchiha down. Still, Fugaku sighs and shakes his own head. "Then I suppose we'll see him now, and then I'll drive Miss Hyuga back to the White House."

Hinata bites her lower lip and looks at Sasuke. "Would you prefer me to stay?" She didn't mind staying and she was a little afraid to leave him like this.

Sasuke pauses, before shaking his head. "I'll probably be here all night." And besides, the motivations behind his father's offer were clear. Sasuke knew that he was in no fit state to be driving anywhere.

"Alright, but call me if you need me." She smiles and caresses his cheek. "I don't care how late it is. Okay?"

He nods. "Okay." Then, Sasuke turns to Tsunade. "What room is he being transferred to?"

"Room 442." Tsunade smiles at him. "Follow me. I'll take you there." She turns around and slowly heads down the hall.

Sasuke hurries along behind her following her down the hall, which connects to another that further connects to the back doors of the operating room. Sneaky. Of course, as soon as he saw the numbers on the wall, it didn't take him long to count his way to his brother's room, and dart inside, followed soon after by his father and girlfriend.

It was quiet, very quiet, and while Sasuke knew that unconscious people didn't move too much, especially under anesthesia, it still unsettled him to see his brother lying so still in a hospital bed.

"He's very lucky that he got here as quickly as he did." Tsunade places her hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "This is one of the best hospitals in the world. He'll pull through. If you need anything hit that red button for emergencies and green for requests." She gestures to a switch by Itachi's hand.

"Good." Fugaku approaches the bed himself as Sasuke sits by Itachi's side, gazing down at his injured son. Itachi's skin was pale, but that was only to be expected. And there were bandages wrapped securely around his head, concealing the wound. "How long do you expect him to be a patient here?"

Tsunade sighs as she considers the question. "Difficult to say." The recovery rates varied so widely. "I would say at least a couple weeks to be on the safe side. We'll take several x-rays while he's here to monitor the healing of his skull. But he should be fine to leave in two weeks."

Two weeks? Sasuke didn't like the sound of that, even if it was totally reasonable. After all, it had been a shot to the head. "What about his shoulder?" He'd taken a hit there, but it didn't look like it had gone through the bulletproof clothing.

"There is a bad bruise there, but his shoulder appears to be fine." Tsunade assures him. "The man is extremely lucky."

"Yeah…" Sasuke reaches for his brother's hand, squeezing it tightly, and relieved to find it still warm. If Neji hadn't pulled Itachi when he had, his brother's hand likely wouldn't be. …He would so better next time. He had to.

It was morning when Itachi's eyes finally flutter open and what does he see? He sees his foolish little brother sleeping by his hospital bed. For a moment, he was confused why this was the case until he remembers what happened at the club.

"They must have taken me to the hospital." He'd been shot and yet he felt no pain. Which told him he was on a hell of a lot of drugs. He wasn't entirely sure that he was actually awake or that Sasuke was real, but that wouldn't stop him. "Sasuke?" He had to ensure that his foolish little brother didn't do something incredibly…well, foolish, and blame himself for this.

Sasuke's head shifts on the blankets, his cheek rolling off the sleeve of his jacket as he groggily opens his eyes. That was Itachi's voice, wasn't it? It takes a few seconds, but the reality hits him, and he curses quietly. "Must have fallen asleep…" And despite the routines that usually had him up at six on the dot every morning, he was still very much not a morning person. "Itachi?" His brother wasn't awake already, was he?

"Yes, it's me." It looked like he was already doing so. "Sasuke, this wasn't your fault and I'm alive. So don't beat yourself up over this." The guilt was written all over his face. Well it was time to put a stop to that.

His expression hardening, Sasuke looks down at his hands. "Yes, it was. And nothing you can say is going to change the fact that I screwed up." His job…was to protect the people he cared about. He succeeded with Hinata, but he'd failed with Itachi. And half a success was still a failure.

"You didn't screw up." Itachi raises an eyebrow. "I'm alive. That's what matters." He was really going to be foolish, it seemed.

"And if Neji hadn't pulled you out of the way, you wouldn't be!" Cold tingles shot through Sasuke as he once again contemplated the possibility that Itachi might have died.

Itachi sighs and shakes his head. "Sasuke, don't do this to yourself." He smiles at him. "I will be fine. Eventually."

"I know. Sakura and Tsunade said so." And if there was anyone Sasuke trusted to make the right calls on medical emergencies, it was those two. "…How are you feeling?"

Itachi raises an eyebrow at that. "I'm on enough drugs that I'm not in any pain." It was Sasuke that he was worried about.

"Good." At least Itachi wasn't hurting. Sasuke still fidgets, unable to look his brother in the eye. "…Tsunade said that you're going to have to stay here for a couple of weeks. And Sakura said that your skull cracked a bit." He just…had to say something, anything… "You were in there for over two hours."

"Well yes, it generally takes awhile to treat such injuries." He sighs as he looks at Sasuke. "If it was as severe as you believe it was, I don't think I'd be able to conduct a conversation."

That…was true. "I know." Sasuke still couldn't forget that if it had been an inch, even half an inch closer to his face, they wouldn't ever be able to have this conversation. Still… He glances up at Itachi, focusing on the bandages, instead of the dark eyes staring at him. "…At least you'll have a story behind the scar, though." Dumb, but distracting, at least.

Itachi chuckles at that. "Well not my primary concern, but I suppose that's true." He doubted Neji would care too much about the scar though.

His heart lightening a little as he hears his brother chuckle, Sasuke lets a small smirk appear as he examines the bandages more closely. "Looks like you've got a bald spot now, though." The hair looked thinner on that side. And it was easier to concentrate on Itachi, than on…everything else.

"You lie." Itachi shakes his head. "There is no bald spot."

Taking some amusement in his brother's vanity, Sasuke takes in a hissing breath. "Well…if that's what you want to believe, okay. But it sure looks like there's a chunk missing around where they took the bullet out. I mean, it DID crack your skull, and the doctor said that they went in to take a look at it, so…"

"Well...it will grow back." Itachi was not an idiot, he knew that sometimes…such measures were necessary for surgery. That did NOT mean that he had to like it, though.

Oh, this was going to be priceless, seeing his brother trying to deal with his little disaster. And it reassured Sasuke to see that Itachi didn't seem to have taken too much permanent damage. It…was also a good way of ignoring the guilt for a few minutes. "You're right, it will." And now, to be just a little sadistic. "But it's going to look ridiculous when the bandages come off." He tilts his head, as though considering the matter. "I'm sure Neji will help you even it out."

Itachi grumbles. He really didn't want Neji to see his hair in such a state. "I'm sure that he'll offer." Like hell was he going to allow the other man to see this monstrosity.

Sasuke resists the urge to laugh at the expression on his brother's face. He wasn't the only one who looked like a 'wet cat' when they sulked. "Well, I guess there's always Sakura. She's the one who usually handles mine. She's very good at it." Yep…ever since the academy…

"I suppose so." Itachi makes a face. "As long as she doesn't try to dye my hair pink or some unnatural color."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke shakes his head. "For the last time, despite what you think, her hair IS naturally pink." Though it was amusing to see his brother make such a face, he looked absolutely appalled at the idea of having pink hair. "Then I'll talk to Sakura about it later." It was all so very amusing. "Though I guess you won't have to worry about hair products for a while."

Itachi didn't believe that for a second. "Whatever you say." That couldn't be natural, but he was in no mood to prove or disprove that! "Though you're right. I should probably get some rest. And you should try not to do anything foolish. Unless it involves playing Doctor with a certain princess, then you can be as foolish as you desire." If anyone needed physical companionship, it was his brother!

Sasuke shoots Itachi a dirty look. As ever, his brother could be very insistent on changing the subject. Particularly ones that Sasuke would rather NOT discuss. "I do not play 'Doctor' with her!" He had much better things to do with her, like dancing, and…not letting her get hit by bullets.

"Well everyone has their preferences. Personally, I quite like that one." He tilts his head. "You strike me more as the type to take after father though. Maybe, the office is more your style."

The dirty look takes on a downright snarky tone. "I don't have an office, and the difference between you and me is that when I'm alone with her, I'm teaching her to tango. You know, a life skill."

He considers that. "Ah well that's an interesting choice. Whatever works for you." Itachi smirks as he enjoys teasing Sasuke.

Sasuke's eye twitches as he stands up. "In that case, I'll tell Sakura to be VERY thorough in cleaning you up." Like hell was he going to sit here, taking sex suggestions from his brother. That was just humiliating! He was NO blushing virgin. "And I'll make sure to tell Father that you'll be well enough for visitors later." If that would stop Itachi from commenting on his non-existent sex life.

"You are adorably shy sometimes." He chuckles and nods. "Very well. I'll see you later." Well mission accomplished. Sasuke was no longer feeling guilty and as an added bonus, he had met his mandatory embarrassment quota for the next month easily. Being an older brother meant that he had to embarrass Sasuke somewhat regularly to help build up his immunity to such things! Really, Itachi was doing him a great service by teaching him impulse control when one thought about it!

His eyes were rolling like wheels as Sasuke excused himself from Itachi's room, glancing back at his brother one more time and clenching the door frame as he disappears from sight. It hurt to see Itachi like that, even if he was a total pain in the ass sometimes. No innocent people deserved to be shot like that. He would do better, he had to.

Taking out his phone, Sasuke shoots off a text, first to his parents to let them know that Itachi was doing okay, and then one to Sakura.

Itachi's awake. Damage seems minimal. Was wondering if you could do me a favor. ~ Sasuke

Of course. What do you need? ~ Sakura

Big brother is missing a big chunk of hair on the left side where they took the bullet out. He doesn't want to let Neji at it, too embarrassed to let his almost-boyfriend help even it out. Think you can straighten it up so that it grows out properly? ~ Sasuke

Well he must be doing really well for that to be a concern. Sure, I don't mind. ~Sakura

Better than I expected, yeah. He's awake and talking, and annoying the fuck out of me. Just make sure to be VERY thorough when he can get the bandages off. ~ Sasuke

I'll be very thorough. Still sore about the blond hair, huh? ~ Sakura

Yes. Itachi definitely deserves to have his precious hair fucked with after the shit he's pulled. Maybe I should get Tsunade a couple bottles of sake to thank her. ~ Sasuke

Sakura shakes her head at this. This wouldn't end well. Itachi really did take a lot of pride in his hair.

Alright. You know that this probably means you're declaring war though. Right? ~ Sakura

Sasuke's mouth twitches, memories of many a humiliating incident coming to mind. Dyeing his hair blond was far from the only transgression that Itachi had made while they were younger. Sasuke's teenage years had been anything but calm, thanks to Itachi. But now, the doctor had given him a perfect medium for getting back at the sadist.

He declared war a LONG time ago. Consider this to be my counter-attack. Besides, it's for his own good, otherwise it'll never be even, and grow out all funny. You know what to do. ~ Sasuke

Okay. Though I'm really not sure if it's a good idea to mess with your brother. He's a little scary sometimes. Talk to you later, I have plotting to do. ~ Sakura

Thank you, and be sure to plot enough for the both of us. ~ Sasuke

Satisfied, Sasuke tucks away his phone, yawning as he walks down the halls and back into the hospital lobby. He hadn't slept much, but he still had to check in on Hinata at least. She would probably stay home for the weekend, but that didn't mean that his job ended just because someone got hurt. His father taking over for a few hours was one thing, but he couldn't just shirk his duty like that.

So, he hails himself a taxi to take him to the White House.

Hinata hadn't slept at all since what happened to Itachi. She was pacing the entire night. Worried about the elder Uchiha brother and Sasuke. She must have walked at least a couple miles in the room she was staying at. If it was possible to wear a hole in the carpet, she would have by now.

"Hinata?" Neji cautiously walks into her room, his hair a mess, and dark circles forming under his eyes. He knew that he looked terrible, but he'd only just received word on Itachi's condition from Mikoto. He had slept about as much as his cousin had. Meaning…not at all. "…They said that Itachi is stable now. Sasuke stayed at the hospital all night, and only left a little while ago."

"Oh thank goodness!" Itachi was going to be alright! "That's wonderful news!" She embraces Neji tightly, knowing that she wasn't the only one worried about the Uchiha Brothers.

Neji wraps his arms around his cousin, still shaking a little from the news. "Apparently, the wound was shallow, and he's got a cracked skull, but no brain damage." Which was an enormous relief. "He'll be there for a couple of weeks, but he's already in recovery from surgery. And it sounds like Sasuke is on his way here, now." He wouldn't have blamed the man for taking a day off, but it seemed that wasn't going to happen.

She continues embracing him, almost afraid to let him go. "Good. That's really good to hear." Though Sasuke really should have taken the day off, the selfish part of her was relieved he was coming over. That way she could try to comfort him.

"Yes…" Neji takes a deep breath, before then releasing his cousin. "I'm taking Sai with me, and the two of us are going to go to the hospital to visit Itachi. We're going to go in disguise, and no one outside our family is going to know about it." Neji knew that it wasn't very safe, but he had to see Itachi. And with the assassins from the night before all dead, the threat was diminished, at least for now. "You should stay here and wait for Sasuke. I think…that the two of you need each other right now."

"Alright." Hinata slowly lets go of him. "Just stay safe, alright?" After everything that had happened, she was terrified to let her cousin out of her sight."

"I will." Neji smiles reassuringly at his cousin. "After all, you're not the only one with a SEAL watching over them." Though he was beginning to suspect that perhaps there were many more people in need of such bodyguards. These assassins were relentless.

The bluenette nods after considering that. "Well that's true." She smiles at her cousin. "I'll see you later then."

Neji nods. "See you at dinner." And as a dark-haired figure passes by the door, Neji follows closely behind, leaving Hinata behind as he leaves the safety of the White House with Sai.

"Hopefully, he's alright." Hinata knew what was likely to happen though. "He's probably going to internalize this." Blame himself for something that wasn't his fault and try to pull away from her, but she wouldn't let that happen. Not without a fight.

The minutes tick by slowly, until at nearly ten in the morning, there's a knock on Hinata's bedroom door. Quiet, but firm, and not imposing at all. "Hinata…?"

It was Sasuke! "Come in." Now was the moment of truth. She had to assess how bad the damage was.

The door opens, revealing a tired, disheveled Sasuke, fresh out of a taxi. "Hey." He steps inside, a little unsteady on his feet. "Itachi's going to be okay…"

"I know. Neji told me." She smiles and rushes over, hugging him tightly. "That's wonderful news, but you should really sit down." He looked so dead on his feet!

"Probably…" He hugs her back a little lethargically. "…You haven't slept either, huh?" He had a feeling that was the case. The circles under her eyes were proof enough. "You should try to get some sleep. I can come back later."

She couldn't sleep when she was worried about him. "No. I didn't, but I don't want you to go either." Sleep could wait.

"…Okay." He didn't really want to go either. Sasuke was tired of just hearing the sound of his own voice. The more he heard of his own voice, the worse he felt.

"You should get some rest." She cuddles up to him, laying her head against his shoulder. "I doubt they'll be stupid enough to strike the White House."

"A second time, you mean." After all, those assassins attacking the White House was how they'd gotten to this point in the first place. And he was not looking forward to any repeat of THAT. "…I'm sorry."

She shakes her head and pushes him onto the bed, straddling him playfully. "None of this was your fault. You saved us twice." One way or another, Hinata was going to have to snap him out of his guilt. "It'd be impossible for no one to get injured every time and we will find out who is behind this attacks and deal with them. I promise."

Staring up at her with a hint of surprise, Sasuke blinks. "I think…I'm supposed to be the one promising that."Somehow, she'd gotten that mixed up. Her job was to help places in need, and get along with people. Killing the bad guys and keeping her safe was supposed to be his job.

"Maybe, but I think you needed to hear it more than me." She smiles at him.

Maybe she was right… "Hinata…" Sasuke raises a hand, stroking her face gently. "I won't fail again. I promise." And he had to keep this promise, no matter what it took.

She shakes her head at that. "Sasuke, you've never failed at this job. Everyone got out alive." That's what mattered most, Hinata thinks to herself as she leans into his touch.

True, everyone got out alive, but still, no one was supposed to get hurt. Next time, no one was going to get hurt. And that's if Sasuke allowed there to be a next time. But those assassins were NOT going to get a third shot. Not if he had anything to say about it.