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 25: Keeping- You Safe

"No one ever really gets used to nightmares."

- Mark Z. Danielewski

--

Itachi's dark hollow eyes drifted away from Deidara's limp corpse and back to the younger Uchiha. "I like the new look, little brother."

Sasuke flinched. He was so focused on Deidara, that Itachi had nearly slipped from his mind.

Not a mistake he could afford to make again.

It took a moment for Itachi's words to register. He had completely forgotten about his disguise in his haste to get to Naruto. He fingered the long strands of his sandy brown wig as he met the Uchiha's stare.

Itachi noticed the look of confusion and grinned. "Though.. it might have been more convincing if you didn't run in here screaming for your precious Naruto."

Naruto flinched, but kept his head down- afraid to draw anymore attention to himself.

Sasuke hadn't even noticed that he had called out for Naruto. He had been in such a panic- he didn't even stop to think, his body just moved.

Itachi recognized my voice, Sasuke thought, he knew I was coming before I even pulled back the curtain.. but Deidara..

He looked over at the injured blonde struggling to sit up on the hospital cot now that he wasn't being pinned down to it.

Deidara knew because Naruto knew.. I'm sure he could see it all over his face..

Itachi took a step towards his brother, his wide twisted smile flashing menacingly. Sasuke could feel his mouth go dry at the sight of it. His heart seized in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Despite all of the posturing and bravado he showed racing in here, he could still see the blood-splattered monster that killed his parents every time he looked over at Itachi, and it terrified him.

He terrified him.

But losing Naruto terrified him more.

Sasuke swallowed his fear, preparing himself to meet Itachi head on, when Jiraiya stepped in for him.

"That's enough, Itachi."

The raven raised an eyebrow. "Is it?"

Several orderlies stepped in behind Sasuke, and after quickly surveying the scene, moved towards Itachi. "Time to go, Mr. Uchiha."

Itachi laughed dryly. "Heh. Which one?"

Ignoring his comment, a handful of men circled the raven, detained him, and easily dragged him from the room. "I will finish what I started, Imposter" he called over his shoulder, his voice sharp as it found it's target.

"This is just the beginning."

Naruto paled, and Sasuke could see him pull into himself as wide fearful eyes followed the Uchiha's retreating form. He wanted so badly to say something that would show Itachi that he was wrong, to convince him that Naruto didn't deserve this, but insanity had consumed his brother a long time ago.

It was too late to change that now.

At the sound of the door slamming shut, Jiraiya rushed over to tend to Naruto, and Sasuke- after dodging past a couple of orderlies who seemed intent on escorting him out as well- finally made it to his blonde's side.

"Naru.."

Tears welled up in those huge cerulean eyes, and quietly slid down his scarred face. "S'ke.." he choked out.

Sasuke grabbed him and pulled him down into his arms, holding him close. "I'm sorry" he whispered, "I'm so sorry.."

--

Naruto was released from Konoha Asylum late the next day, though it felt like much longer than that. Sasuke had made quite the scene when they told him they would have to keep Naruto overnight for evaluations. It wasn't even a guarantee that he would be processed the next day, which only fueled the raven's wrath.

"I'm taking him out of here, whether you fucking like it or not!!"

The front desk attendant, a younger woman this time, flinched under his seething stare and simply nodded. Several orderlies heard him and forced him out, earning themselves a few bruises along the way.

When the door slammed in his face, Sasuke screamed with rage until his voice was hoarse. And then he collapsed on their front steps and cried, finally releasing all of the pent up emotions he had been holding back for so long.

Lee was forced to leave shortly after that. The asylum staff insisted on clearing out the hospital ward of all visitors after the incident, knowing the last thing they needed was the press getting wind of someone being murdered by one of their patients under their noses. Lee didn't know why he was being thrown out, all he knew was that he wasn't ready to leave Gaara's side. He put up quite a fight, but still ended up being roughly dragged out of the front doors.

"Wa-wait! Please, just let me- Nnnnn!" Lee cried out as he was shoved mercilessly to the ground.

Sasuke jerked his head back and found Lee slowly pushing himself up. He quickly got to his feet and rushed over.

"What the fuck is your problem!?" he shouted, slamming his hands against one of the men closest to Lee, pushing him away. "What gives you the fucking right to-"

The man grabbed Sasuke's wrist and yanked it to the side. The raven clenched his jaw tight to hold back a gasp of pain as the man stepped close. "Don't try my patience, kid."

"Let. Go." he ground out.

"Sasuke!"

Lee struggled to his feet, grabbed the orderly's wrist, and looked up at him with wide innocent eyes. "Sir- please, let him go!"

The man stared down into Lee's face, longer than Sasuke liked, before finally releasing him. He shoved him, forcing him several paces away.

Lee turned towards Sasuke, but the man grabbed him and held him back. Lee looked up in surprise, and the man grasped him by the jaw, forcing their eyes to meet again. A tremor of unease ran down the brunette's spine.

"You're lucky you have such a cute friend watching your back" he said to Sasuke, never taking his eyes off Lee.

"You son of a bitch!"

He rushed forward, but two other orderlies stepped in front of the Uchiha, blocking him. "What the hell is this!?"

Lee grabbed the orderly's wrist and squeezed hard. He jerked the man's hand away from him, but another hand shot out and grabbed him by the back of the head, pulling him close.

"Feisty, huh? I like that.."

Lee gasped. "Don't-!"

The orderly grinned. "How about next time you visit by yourself, hmm? I have a few empty rooms I could show you.."

Lee turned away in disgust as the man continued to undress him with his eyes.

The front doors opened again, and another orderly peeked his head out. "Hey- what's the hold up?"

With one last look the man finally released Lee and the group walked back inside, locking the doors behind them.

"Lee!" Sasuke ran up to the brunette. He could see that he was trembling, and guilt pulsed through him.

Why can't I fucking protect the people I care about..

Sasuke pushed back choppy bangs and looked into deep inky wells filled with tears. "Lee..? Are you ok?"

Lee bit his lip hard, then slowly shook his head.

"Yeah.." Sasuke wrapped an arm around his shoulders and steered him away from the building. "Come on, let's go."

Neither of them slept that night, and they found themselves drinking steaming mugs of coffee right at day break, mentally preparing themselves for what comes next.

"You don't have to go today, Lee" Sasuke said, finally breaking the silence that had sat between them since the night before. "Gaara will be ok- I'll sit with him."

Lee stared into the murky brown liquid, and shook his head.

"Lee-"

"I'm going, Sasuke."

The Uchiha sighed. "Alright. Just.. stay close, ok?"

Lee nodded, not wanting to put words to that fear. He wouldn't let anything, or anyone, keep him away from Gaara. He would be by his side- no matter what.

They found that the doors were still locked when they showed up that morning, but after a very convincing phone call from Gaara's "therapist", the asylum finally allowed Sasuke and Lee in to see him.

Sasuke kept an eye out for many people, including the newest threat- the orderly with his eyes set on Lee. He had no intention of letting Gaara's little uke out of his sight today. He couldn't stand the thought of anyone else being victimized because of his negligence.

His eyes flared at the thought.

I won't let that asshole touch him again.

They went to see Gaara first, but after a while Sasuke's impatience got the better of him. He grabbed Lee and dragged him back into the hall.

"Sasuke, wait! I- I want to stay with him!"

"We'll go back later. I need to check on Naruto."

Lee pulled back, forcing Sasuke to stop. "You can go. I'll just stay with Gaara."

Sasuke shook his head and went back to dragging him down the corridor.

"I won't go anywhere else!" Lee yelled, struggling in his grasp, drawing attention from a few startled nurses. "Stop! Sasuke, let go! I want to go back!"

Sasuke jerked his arm back, yanking the brunette close to him. "Lee- enough. I'm not leaving you alone after what that psycho did yesterday. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not."

Tears filled those tired eyes again, and Sasuke sighed. "I'm sorry.. We'll go back after I check on Naruto, ok? I promise."

Lee didn't respond, but he didn't fight him either. Not wanting to risk it, Sasuke kept a firm hold on his wrist as they made their way back to the front desks.

Sasuke still wasn't sure why they were suddenly so receptive to him, but he figured it was likely due to something his aunt said or did. Whatever it was, the attendants answered all of his questions, and assured him that Naruto would be released sometime today. They also told him that Jiraiya was staying by his side around the clock, which gave him a huge sense of relief. After everything that had happened, Sasuke knew he could count on him to keep his blonde safe.

He gave them his cell number for the hundredth time, just in case, and let them know where to find him for the rest of the day, then pulled Lee back down the hall, prepared to keep his promise.

--

Naruto threw his head back, screaming against Deidara's hand. He fought to get his arms loose but they just kept forcing them back down. Naruto managed to knee him in the stomach, and Deidara removed his hand just long enough to backhand him across the face. Naruto's head snapped to the side violently. He opened his mouth, desperate to make this stop, to get someone to help him, but something was shoved into his mouth, muffling his cries.

Itachi sliced the knife across his forearm and Naruto shrieked behind the gag as blood ran down his tortured flesh. Tears fell from his eyes, and they just.. laughed. As he sobbed and screamed and begged for mercy, they laughed..

His face reddened with shame. He closed his eyes tight, wanting to block out the excitement he could see in their eyes, but Deidara wasn't having any of it. He wrapped a hand in his hair and jerked his head back, shouting for him to look at him. Naruto tried to refuse, to rebel against Deidara the way he never had before, but in the end he couldn't hold out against the pain.

Once a rabbit..

Always a rabbit..

As Itachi lifted the knife light refracted off the blade, blinding him for a moment. Naruto blinked and everything changed.

He wasn't lying on a hospital cot anymore, he was lying on a hardwood floor. Deidara was on top of him, trapping Naruto's arms between his knees. Another knife descended towards his face as his head was forced back, and plunged into his cheek. Naruto shrieked in agony as Deidara sliced a deep gash into his face, but it didn't stop him for doing it over and over and over..

Naruto's eyes rolled back and darkness took him. When he opened his eyes again he came face to face with another one of his tormentors. He saw a shock of orange hair and a face full of piercings- Deva. The man tilted his head as he studied the blonde, his eyes cold and distant. His humanity unreachable.

Naraka, the larger of the three brothers, held Naruto's arm out as Deva reached down and grabbed a push pin.

Naruto struggled against him, fighting to free himself, but it was useless. Without warning, Deva stabbed the pushpin into the cut on his forearm, severing one stitch after another.

No.. please-

Stop. Stop...

"Stop!!" Naruto shot up in bed, screaming. He scrambled back, kicking the sheets away, halfway between his nightmares and reality.

"Naruto, you're ok. You're safe now-"

A hand reached out for him and he slapped it away. His back hit the wall, and he pulled his legs in close, wrapping his arms around himself, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"No..." he moaned, "no.."

"Naruto.."

His head shot up, face twisted in anger. "Don't touch me!"

"Kid- it's me. It's Jiraiya."

Naruto paused, letting his words sink in.

"You were having a nightmare."

Blue eyes hesitantly looked up behind long blonde bangs. "Jiraiya..?"

"Yeah, it's me." The orderly sat down on the cot and patted his hand. "I'm here."

Naruto leapt into his arms, surprising the man. He could feel the small blonde trembling, tears wetting his shirt. He pulled him close, and rocked him side to side as he cried. "Shhh.. it's alright now. I've got you."

"Why" Naruto choked out, "why is it always like this? Wh-why does this keep happening to me?"

"I don't know, kid.. but I'm not going to let it happen again."

Naruto really wanted that to be true, but there were so many people in his life who had promised the same thing, and yet..

He buried his head into the man's chest, accepting his warmth and comfort.

While he still can.

--

Naruto was shocked when he heard he was being released. He turned to look at Jiraiya and found that he was just as surprised.

"I.. I can really leave?" he asked softly.

The attending physician nodded. "We are processing your paperwork now. A Mr. Sasuke Uchiha is here to take you home. Are you comfortable leaving with him?"

Naruto's chest clenched tight. "Yes, he's my-" he paused, "yes, I'll go with him."

The woman patted his leg, then rose to her feet. "Alright. It shouldn't be long now. We'll gather your things and be back when everything is set."

"Thank you.." he whispered.

The woman peered over at him behind half-moon spectacles, considering her patient. "After every thing you have been through in this institution.. I'd rather you didn't."

Naruto looked up at that, eyes wide as he watched her turn away and leave the room.

"Jiraiya.. is this really happening?" He glanced over. "Are they really going to let me leave?"

"Looks like it."

Naruto twisted the thin sheet in his hands as his heart was suddenly pummeled with an onslaught of emotions.

"Thank you" he finally said. "For everything. I- I don't know how I could ever repay you.."

Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "I didn't do anything special. Just take care of yourself, alright? Find people who can help you, who will support you. With everything that has happened to you.."

Naruto looked away.

"Naruto, it is ok to need help. It's ok to need.. more than what you already have. I think it's about time you find that."

The blonde nodded.

"But for now, let's talk about you leaving. What's the first thing you want to do when you're finally free of this place?"

He considered this for a moment before replying. "Eat something that isn't hospital food."

Jiraiya laughed at that. "I feel that. Anything in particular?"

Naruto gave a small smile.

"Ramen."

Author Note:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski is one of my all time favorite books, and I fangirled over using one of his quotes in my story :)

It's the little things, you know?

If you ever want to feel like your sanity is unraveling as you read, try House of Leaves.

And enjoy the nightmares~