Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, and (of course) beautiful yaoi love.

A Death to Escape

Chapter 21: Waking- Up

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up."

-Veronica Roth

--

Sasuke looked from the blushing brunette to the grinning redhead, then back to the brunette. Lee turned his face away from the raven's scrutinizing gaze, unintentionally revealing a bite mark on his neck, peaking out from the collar of his shirt. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, and couldn't help but look back at the redhead once more.

"Notice anything interesting, Uchiha? Or are you just appreciating the view?"

His obsidian gaze hardened. "Maybe I'm just surprised, Gaara. You might not be as stupid as you look." He glanced over at the brunette. "For Lee's sake, I hope that's true."

Gaara stepped up, grabbed Sasuke by the shoulder and jerked him back to face him. "What the fuck did you just say?"

"Gaara- stop!" Lee called out, grabbing the redhead's arm, struggling to yank it back. "Let's not do this."

Gaara glanced down into those earnest eyes, then back at the raven's irritating face. "You're lucky my Lee is so forgiving." Gaara released his grip and took a step back.

Sasuke's jaw tightened. "I have nothing against Lee. In fact, Lee is the one I'm worried about."

The brunette raised his eyes, and stared in shock. "Me..?"

Sasuke kept his eyes on the redhead as he replied: "Don't let him take advantage of you, Lee. If he's too stupid to appreciate what's right in front of him, then he shouldn't be able to have it."

Gaara lunged forward, but Lee jumped between the two, forcing him to stop.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Uchiha!" Gaara spat. "Worry about your own fucking relationship!"

Sasuke's eyes blazed. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

He pushed past Lee, grabbed Gaara by the collar, and forced him back against the wall. "You're really going to make a comment like that when you fucking know where Naruto is right now?!!"

Gaara grabbed the raven and pulled him close, their faces mere inches apart. "And who's fault is that, Sasuke."

"Stop!!" Lee screamed. The two paused, fangs bared, but attention briefly pulled away. "This is Itachi's fault, no one else's."

When neither responded, Lee stepped close and grabbed their wrists tight. "Fighting each other isn't going to bring Naruto back. Do you really want to waste time like this?"

That seemed to get through to them.

Lee watched as their grips slackened, their sneers softened. He took a step back, releasing his own hold on them.

"You guys don't need to like each other, but you do need to help each other. Naruto deserves that much."

Sasuke took a step back, eyes still locked onto Gaara's. "Fine. I'll work with the prick. But I don't want to hear anymore fucking comments about me and Naruto."

Gaara pushed away from the wall and took a threatening step towards the raven. "Then don't fucking presume to know about me and Lee."

Sasuke glanced over at the brunette, trying to read his face, but it was difficult to see much past the embarrassment reddening his cheeks. "Lee- you know where to find me if you need to talk."

Ignoring the hate radiating off Gaara, Sasuke turned and walked away from the pair.

After a tense silence, Gaara grabbed Lee's hand and the two followed after him.

--

Naruto woke up slowly. His mind was foggy and his body felt incredibly heavy- like the weight of the world had crashed down on him and he had slept right through it. He raised himself up and grabbed his head, pushing his palm tight against his throbbing temple.

"Yeah, some of the drugs here can cause that to happen. Some water, some food, and you'll be alright."

Naruto looked up, startled to find Jiraiya in his room, leaning casually against the wall, eyes studying him closely.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, not knowing what else to say. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head, hoping to ease the tension in his back and shoulders.

"Never left."

Naruto's head snapped up at that. "What? Are you being serious..?"

Jiraiya yawned and moved over to the blonde, dropping down to sit on the end of his bed, like longtime friends rather than an orderly and his unstable patient.

"Figured you could use a friend after last night."

Naruto eyed him. "Are you even allowed to be my friend?"

Jiraiya gave him a mischievous smile. "You planning on telling anybody?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Then I guess we got nothing to worry about."

A surge of gratitude rushed through him, and without thinking about it Naruto reached out and grasped the man's hand. "Thank you, Jiraiya.. I- I don't know what else to say except- thank you."

Jiraiya gently padded his hand. "Guess this means you're not afraid of me anymore, huh?"

Naruto pulled his hand away, feeling embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head, offering a strained grin. "Yeah.. Heh. Sorry about that. It's.. I've.."

Jiraiya gave a knowing look. "You know kid- maybe you shouldn't be in this place, but I do think you could use some help. It's obvious you've gone through some heavy shit. And that kind of thing weighs on a man."

Naruto swallowed and looked away.

"Naruto."

He looked up.

"Don't wait until you actually do need to be here to get some help. By then.. well.. for a lot of them- by then it's too late."

Naruto nodded, but chose not to respond. Anxiety started to worm its way into his thoughts, and he didn't want to put voice to it. Yeah- he's been through a lot. But he didn't want to give Jiraiya any reason to question his sanity.

The man was finally on his side- he needs to keep it that way.

"So.. what are the chances you can get me out of here?" Naruto asked, already knowing the answer.

"Out of this room? Absolutely."

Naruto gave him a look, clearly not amused. Jiraiya patted his leg. "I'm sorry kid. This is all I can do for now."

The blonde swallowed back his disappointment. It wasn't Jiraiya's fault. He was already doing more for him than he needed to. More than anyone else would.

"Come on. Let's get you spruced up and then I'll get you something to eat."

Naruto got to his feet, and followed him out of the room and down the hall- this time staying close to his side, feeling safer than he has in quite some time.

--

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, Sasuke, Lee, and Gaara got back into the car and took off towards the institution.

"Think this will work?"

Sasuke met Gaara's eyes through the rearview mirror, exchanging a concerned look, before turning his attention back to the road. "You'll just have to be convincing. Shouldn't take much."

"Cute, Uchiha."

"Gaara.. do you really have to do this..?" Lee asked, his voice low, eyes averted from the Uchiha's sharp gaze. "I want to save Naruto too, but what if both of you end up stuck in there? And.. if we convince them that Naruto's been set up, won't you be stuck there on your own?"

Gaara pulled him the brunette close, resting his cheek against his head. "You're so sweet, my little duckling."

"Gaara-"

"It'll be ok" he said firmly. "I'm admitting myself. All I have to do is pass their tests once Naruto's out, and I'll be free to leave."

Lee didn't look convinced.

"Sasuke, are you sure that's how it works?"

The Uchiha glanced back at the two in his rearview mirror again. "I'm sure, Lee. I looked into asylums a lot over the years. Ever since Itachi.. ever since Itachi was admitted."

"Ok.."

When they were a few blocks away, Sasuke pulled over and gave his aunt a call. He let her know that they were in place, and were waiting for her signal. The woman gave a quick reply and hung up.

"So, how does your aunt know this shrink?" Gaara asked, trying to pull Lee out of his darkening thoughts.

Sasuke noticed as well, and decided to keep it civil. "Family friend, I guess."

"And her recommendation is enough to get me in?"

Sasuke nodded. "That and the bullshit paperwork she's faxing over."

Lee looked up at that. "Can't she lose her license for this?!"

"My aunt is very thorough. According to their paperwork, Gaara has been seeing his therapist for six months now, and patient confidentiality laws keep her from sharing anything more."

Sasuke's phone buzzed and he quickly answered it. "Is everything ready?" A woman's voice faintly came through. After a while Sasuke gave curt reply, and hung up.

"Alright." Sasuke turned around to meet Gaara's eyes. "Ready?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Lee- you can walk with him if you want, but don't let them see you walk up to the gate. You'll have to turn back before that."

Tears filled the brunette's big innocent eyes, and Sasuke had to quickly turn away to avoid creating his own.

"I'll.. wait here for you."

Lee nodded and slid out of the car, followed closely by his counterpart. Gaara was about to close the door, when he paused and dipped his head back inside.

"Hey, Sasuke."

The Uchiha already knew what was coming. "What, Gaara."

The redhead gave an impish grin and winked. "I'll tell Blondie that you said hi."

Anger rolled through him, but he quickly forced it back down. So that's how you wanna play, huh?

Fine, asshole. I'll play your little fucking game..

Gaara started to walk away, but before he got out of earshot, Sasuke rolled down his window. "Hey, Gaara!"

The redhead turned to face him, still looking proud of his little jab.

Sasuke grinned coldly. "Don't worry. I'll take real good care of Lee while you're gone."

The grin on his face fell. "You son of a bitch-"

Sasuke rolled up his windows and watched Gaara with mild amusement as he stormed back up to him.

The redhead screamed, eyes wild, as he slammed his fist into the side of the car. "Open the fucking door!!"

Sasuke eyed him calmly, watching his frustration build.

"I swear to god, Uchiha" Gaara growled, "I will fucking kill you if you go anywhere near Lee."

Sasuke tilted his head, letting his gaze drift over to the nervous brunette behind him. "Is that so.."

"You piece of shit- you think this is some kind of fucking joke?" Gaara jutted his finger against the glass, eyes narrowed on the passive raven staring back at him. "Keep your hands off of him."

The smooth emotionless mask cracked. "Oh yeah? You mean like how you did with Naruto?"

Gaara's eyes narrowed.

"I'm warning you, Uchiha."

"Gaara- come on" Lee slid in front of him, pushing him back from the car. "Sasuke's just messing with you. Just let it go, ok?"

Gaara glared down at the brunette. "Don't fucking defend him, Lee. Did you hear what he just said?"

"God, you're fucking exhausting." Sasuke stepped out of the car and walked around Lee. "Can you really be this stupid?"

"What did you just say?!"

Sasuke grabbed the redhead, and stepped in close. "Gaara. Don't ruin your last moments with him."

The redhead froze at that. He looked over his shoulder at his wide eyed brunette.

Sasuke lowered his voice. "Can you honestly not see how fucking scared he is? Pay attention. You came at me with some stupid comment, and I gave one back. Fair is fair. You want to be pissed, be pissed at me. But don't take it out on him."

Gaara clenched his jaw tight and shoved the Uchiha away, but the fight was drained out of him.

"Yeah, yeah- I get it.."

He stepped around the raven, and walked up to his little duckling, feeling ashamed of himself for giving Lee another reason to worry.

"I'm sorry, Lee", he said quietly. He held out his hand. "Will you still come with me..?"

The brunette pushed past his hands to wrap his arms around his waist instead, burying his face in his chest.

Sasuke looked away and walked back to his car. He could hear Gaara whispering soothing things into the brunette's hair, and a pang of sadness echoed through him.

He missed Naruto so deeply- it made moments like these just.. unbearable. Not being able to hold his little blonde like that.. to comfort him, to keep him safe.

To just say, I'm sorry..

Sasuke looked up and met Gaara's eyes once more.

The redhead flipped him off, then pulled his brunette close. The two shared a passionate and completely undaunted kiss, then headed off towards the asylum. Gaara grasped Lee's hand in his own and raised it to his lips to place a soft kiss in his palm before letting their arms fall between them.

Sasuke watched their hands intertwine, the two lovers holding on for dear life as they exchanged a small sad smile.

Guilt swirled in Sasuke's gut.

Lee finally gets his person, and I send him away- to fix my mistakes, to save MY person.. no matter the cost.

Sasuke sighed heavily and threw his head back, closing his eyes against the blinding truth.

"Guess I really am a monster.."

--

Author Note:

I keep picturing Jiraiya with an old cowboy accent- like straight out of an old western. No explanation. It's just what comes to me every time. So, if he sounds a little twangy to you when I write in his dialogue, that's why.

So in my mind we've got:

- Deranged Itachi

-Ol' Cowboy Jiraiya

-Loki-ish Gaara

-Adorable uke Lee

-Angry Sasuke, and

- Constant victim Naruto.

~

Yep. Sounds about right. ;P

••Side Note: I feel like Jiraiya is the only person who could tame Cinnamon the Angst Horse.. One of many reasons that man is a true cowboy.