Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata would end up together and life would be unicorns and rainbows!

(A/N: I'm now taking requests! Just PM me. I love you guys! I love the fanart and the feedback! I promise I'm going to be updating much more often now. This is the first of my new hospital series.)

What kind of hell was she in?

Hinata tightly gripped the clipboard pressed to her chest as the head doctor argued with Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto rubbed his temples in a soothing manner as he continued to argue with his childhood friend and current patient, "Don't be so damn dramatic, Sasuke. It's called hospital protocol."

The rude man with bandages wrapped around his eyes scoffed, "No, it's called her being a pervert. I don't need some pathetic newbie to bathe me or take care of me. I can do that just fine. I can feed myself. I can clothe myself. I can go to the bathroom by myself!"

Had he just called her a quote on quote, 'pathetic newbie'?

Hinata smiled through grit teeth as she clung to her clipboard, "I don't think can even see where the bathroom is."

Patient name? Sasuke Uchiha. What was wrong with him? Besides being a total jackass, he was in recovery after his eye surgery. Hinata put down the clipboard on top of the beige bedside table, "I'm going to be your caretaker for the rest of your stay here. I'm Hinata. Your medical r-report says that you're going to make a full recovery within a week. You can page me anytime by clicking the first button on the top of your remote. It'll always be on your left side. I'll be w-w-with you most of the day. I'm going to feed you, bathe you, take care of your well being and etcetera. I want us to get along."

The previously blind man clicked his tongue. He attempted to point an accusing index finger towards Hinata's voice, "You think that I'm going to let someone like you look after me? I'm not some goddamn sobstory that needs to be looked after by someone with a damn speech impediment."

Naruto grinned and let out a hardy laugh along with Hinata who failed at suppressing her chuckles, "No disrespect, , but I'm over here. You're pointing to the window."

Cricket, cricket.

Sasuke's hand fell back to his side and his jaw shut closed, "I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Naruto walked over to Sasuke's hospital bed and roughly pat him in the shoulder. He smiled at a slightly anxious Hinata. He winked at her and yelled with his ever so cheerful voice as he left the room, "Get to know each other! Hinata, take your one hour break now! Ask eachother questions, tell her what your favorite kind of ramen is, or tell her about that time you peed yourself in third grade and denied it! Get to know each other. You guys are going to spend lots of time together."

Hinata giggled as she pulled a chair closer to his hospital bed. Sasuke lifted his head and took his pillow out of its original position. He then lay his head on the mattress and pressed the pillow to his face in frustration, "What are you laughing at? It's rude to make fun of a blind man, you know."

No matter how rude he was, she had to admit that his muffled voice was husky. Hinata licked her lips as she stole the pillow from his hands and placed it back under his head much to his chagrin. Hinata slowly took in his features as she fluffed up the pillow for him. He had clean eyebrows, a firm jaw, and a perfectly chiseled mouth. Hinata gulped as she felt his eyes burning through the bandages, "You're not a blind man anymore. The surgery was a success. We do have to keep the bandages on for the rest of your day because even the slightest amount of light can ruin your eyes again."

Sasuke let out a soft sigh, "It feels strange. I've been blind since I was sixteen. It's been eight years since I have seen the sky. I haven't seen tomato for years. Eight years since I've seen the beauty of life. So many years since I've seen my father's face of disappointment which I really can't complain about."

Hinata let out a shaky sigh with a lump in her throat, "Lucky you. I had to see mine everyday until about two months ago when I moved out. I just try and try and try and it doesn't make him happy. So I stopped trying to make him happy so that I could be happy. It all started when I was little and my uncle-"

Sasuke cut her sentence off midway with sincerity weaved in his voice, "Can I ask you a question?"

Hinata nodded despite the fact that he couldn't see her nod, "Yes, of course. Y-you can ask me anything."

The sincere tone in his voice disappeared within seconds, "Did I ask you to give me your fucking life story? Do I look like Doctor Phil to you or are you just stupid?"

Hinata gaped at him as she blinked several times. She swallowed the hard lump in her throat. She stood up from her chair, "I'm going to get my lunch since it is my break after all. I'll be right back if you don't mind."

Hinata closed her eyes in order to prevent the tears that were threatening to fall down. She slammed the door as she left the room. She practically stomped towards the nurses' lounge as she constantly reminded herself that homicide was indeed illegal. She took her lunch box from the fridge along with her bottle of soda and headed back to the room. She passed her fellow nurse, Ino, who was Sasuke's previously assigned nurse, "First day with Sasuke, huh? I hope you can handle him better than I could. How's it going?"

Hinata's smile faded as she processed her best friend's words, "Are you on your break too? I'm surprised you even put up with for as long as you did."

Ino yawned as she stretched her arms up. She picked up her boxed lunch at the front desk as she walked Hinata to the room, "I was only with him for a couple hours to prep him up for his surgery. Worst four hours of my life but I'd rather him than my current patient. He's some sort of genius yet he's literally the laziest person I've ever met. He refuses to cooperate with me no matter what."

"I've got to get back Sasuke. If a crazed serial comes by, don't hesitate to tell him where I'll be with my favorite patient," she whispered at a waving Ino as she entered the room once again and sat down with her lunchbox in her lap.

Hinata took a big breath in and began to open her lunchbox. Hinata opened the bottle of soda and took a sip, "So tell me about yourself, . What was your childhood like? What do you want to do with your life? Were you scared before the surgery?"

Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest and rested his head on his pillow, "You're painfully nosy."

Hinata rose her eyebrows at the rude man as she opened her lunch, "I can't put my finger on it but something t-tells me you don't have a lot of friends."

Sasuke sniffed the air and leaned towards Hinata's lunchbox, "What is that exactly?"

"My l-lunch."

"I'm blind, not stupid. What is in your lunch?"

"Chilled tomato soup, a salad, mexican salsa with lots of tomatoes, a cinnamon bun and garlic bread."

He outstretched his hand towards her voice, "Give it here."

Hinata gaped at him as she withdrew her lunch away from his reaching grasp, "What? No! I made all this in the morning. Eat the hospital food."

"I do not like repeating myself, Hinata. Sasuke Uchiha gets whatever he wants and your lunch is no exception. It smells really good and it probably looks like amazing, but I can't tell cause I'm blind. Are you really going to deprive a dying blind man of what he requests?"

Hinata playfully rolled her eyes, "First of all, you may be blind but you're not dying. Secondly, you are the most overdramatic person I've ever met besides my best friend, Ino. And finally, I don't think patients are allowed to eat anything that the hospital doesn't give. Who knows? You may have a severe allergy."

Sasuke let out a long sigh, "What can I do to make you give me your lunch? I want it."

Hinata waved her lunch under his nose and quickly swiped it away before he got the chance to take it away, "Mhmmm. This tastes so good. If only my best patient, Sasuke Uchiha, could have a bite."

Sasuke bit his lower lips as he sat up, "You can't tell right now but I'm glaring at you. Tell me what to do. Don't make me beg."

Hinata laughed and set her lunch on his bedside table, "I'll feed you for every question you answer without any sarcastic responses!"

"Whatever. Just ask away."

"How did you first become blind?"

"The doctors don't really know. My eyes to used bleed with no end and my vision just gradually began to fade away," Hinata opened a plastic spoon and dipped it in the tomato soup. She brought it to his mouth as he sighed in contempt.

He swallowed it and took a hold of her forearm in midair. Hinata gasped at his sudden gentle grasp, "You made this?"

"Yes?"

"Marry me."

Hinata violently coughed as she continued to blink at the surprising gesture, "W-w-w-w-what?!"

"I need a wife that is able to cool like that. Give me some more."

Hinata had a moment to take a breather and calm down her racing heart. She vigorously shook her head as took a spoonful and shoved it in Sasuke's mouth, "Don't be inappropriate, ."

Sasuke took out the now empty spoon and held it up in the air for her to take once again, "Call me Sasuke. And I don't really care if it was inappropriate or not. Feed me."

"Ignoring that what you said even happened. Anyways, what was life like after becoming blind?"

"The toughest thing about it besides my mother's stress over it was that I had to learn Braille. I know German, Italian, Czech, Spanish and Belgium so then I had to learn how to convert those languages in Braille for my job."

"You have a job?"

She continued to feed him her entire lunch despite the rumbling of her stomach, "My blindness doesn't make me completely useless."

"I-I didn't say that."

"But you implied it," Sasuke growled with a harsh tone, "I work for my dad's company. My older brother, Itachi is my dad's heir. I'm just the spare in case anything ever happened to Itachi."

"Don't say that. Your parents love you. Do you want some salsa with lots of vegetables or garlic bread?"

"I want both," Sasuke finished the tomato soup and Hinata began feeding him the rest of her lunch, "My parents don't love me as much as Itachi. If they did, they would be here in my time of need!"

"Sasuke, if your family didn't love you then why would they spoil you so much?!"

"They spoil me so they don't feel guilty about not loving me! You have no idea what it's like being me! You're acting like you care about me and my problems just because you get paid to act like you give a damn about me. And it's ' ' to you!"

Hinata abruptly stood up with a clenched jaw and glossy eyes, "Excuse me for trying to get to know my patient, . You obviously are emotionally damaged and that's why you push people away like Naruto and your family."

Sasuke scoffed at her outburst, "Is it too late to get that other nurse back? She didn't talk as much as you."

"That's because you're not a good listener and I am just wasting my time here! I actually feel sorry for you. Not because you're blind but because you are so cruel and I don't think anyone will ever be able to love you for you. You are brutal and rude and ignorant. I feel bad for your soulmate. How is that person going to be able to deal with such a cruel man?"

"Tell me something I don't know," Sasuke took his pillow and attempted to throw it at Hinata.

Of course he completely missed.

"Get out! Get out! I don't want to see your stupid face!"

Hinata rose an inquiring finger in the air about to inform him about how ironic his sentence was. Sasuke shook his head and lifted his hand towards her, "Don't. I said that without thinking. Just leave and save me the embarrassment."

Hinata let out heavenly sigh as she threw her hands up in the air in defeat. She picked up her lunch along with her soda and walked to the door, "Wait!"

Had he actually had a change of heart? Was he going to apologize for being a complete asshole to her? Was he going to tell her to stay and that she was the kindest person he had ever m-

"You need to go but the food can stay."

Never mind.

Hinata rolled her eyes and placed her entire lunch on his lap. She slammed the door and practically stomped all the way towards Naruto who had just left a patient's room. He looked at her like a lost puppy, "What's wrong?"

"No disrespect intended for you sir but how have you dealt with him for all this time? He is impossible and someone else needs to be assigned to him."

Naruto awkwardly rubbed his back and took a queasy breath in, "About that...You see, there's a slight chance that Ino may have possibly, sorta, kinda told everyone how bad he is and no one wants to be around him. She can be an over exaggerator sometimes too. Why don't you take the rest of the day off? I'll deal with Sasuke for the rest of today."

Hinata handed him her pager and nodded at him. Hinata groaned at the sound of the now beeping pager. Hinata sighed and shook her head. She began to walk towards Sasuke's room with Naruto in hot pursuit, "It's okay. I'll just check on him one more time before I leave. Go see if the rest of your patients need something."

Naruto put his hands together as if he were praying, "You're an angel, Hinata."

Hinata opened the room and closed the door. She carefully eyed Sasuke as he ate the last of her lunch, "What it is, ?"

"Pick up my pillow."

"I'm not your slave."

She picked it up anyway.

"And fluff it for me. I'm going to take a nap so don't bother me for the rest of the day," Sasuke inquired as Hinata set the pillow up for him.

Hinata rubbed her temples in smoothing circles as she neared the door, "I'm going home early. Naruto has my pager if anything. Good night, ."

She closed the door before he could even interrupt her. She ignored the growl in her stomach as she walked to the nurse's lounge. She waved and smiled at Kiba and Tenten who were quietly chatting in the lounge. Hinata opened the closet door and took out her purse and jacket. She slipped on her coat and purse then headed towards the elevator.

She proceeded to click on the first floor's button. Her pearly eyes widened as a blur of an orange smock dove inside the elevator. Naruto took a breather as the doors closed. The elevator headed down and Hinata's eyebrows rose, "Naruto? Did something happen?"

Naruto grinned and began to dig in his left pocket. He took out a frog styled wallet and opened it. He pulled out two generous bills and out reached it towards his blue haired pupil, "Sasuke told me to give you this. He said something about stealing your lunch and that you're probably starving."

Hinata glanced at the two twenty dollar bills between Naruto's fingertips. Hinata shook her head and gently pushed his hand away, "Naruto, I can't take your money."

He took a hold of her hand and slapped the money in her palm, "It's not my money! Who do you think paid for my medical school? It sure as hell wasn't the orphanage. It wasn't my foster dad, Iruka or my perverted grandfather. I'm over a hundred thousand dollars in debt to Sasuke and he said that if I gave you a hundred dollars, he would erase half of my debt."

"I-I-I can't take your money."

"I swear if you don't take this money, I will fire you. Buy yourself something nice."

Hinata gaped at him as the elevator doors opened. He quickly shoved her out of the elevator and smiled at her. He clicked the 'close door' button as he waved at her through the closing elevator doors. Hinata let out a soft sigh and began to walk towards her car.

It would be a long week.

The next day, Hinata stood outside of Sasuke's door for minutes on end. When she finally overpowered the queasy feeling deep in her stomach, she swung the door wide open.

"Good morning, !"

"You're late," he harshly inquired as he slowly sat up in the dimly lit room, "You were supposed to be here hours ago. I was stuck with that idiot all day yesterday. That's not being very professional, you know."

"Oh hush," Hinata whispered as she threw his thin blankets off his body. She pulled on both of Sasuke's arms to get him off the small bed, "It's time for your bath."

Sasuke pulled his arms away and Hinata tugged on them once again, "Did you just say I smell?"

"N-n-no! I'm just saying that it's the scheduled time for you to take a bath! Would you rather Naruto come in and help you?"

"I don't need your help!"

Hinata let go of his muscular forearms. She threw her hands up in the air in defeat, "Fine! If you don't need my help, then let me watch you walk to the bathroom."

Feisty.

The room stood in dead silence for several seconds. Sasuke stood up with steam practically coming out of his ears. He angrily breathed out of nose as Hinata stared up at him.

Was he really going to attempt to find the bathroom?

He outstretched his arms upwards with a frown planted on his face. Hinata giggled and began pulling his shirt upwards. Hinata subconsciously licked her lips as she stared at his toned chest. She stood up on her tippy toes in order to completely take off his shirt. She pulled it off gently so she wouldn't alter his bandages.

She neatly folded his shirt and laid it on his bed. She could see him sliding down his pants from the corner of her eye, "I'll g-g-go get you your towel."

Hinata swallowed the invisible lump in her throat as she walked to the door backwards. She gave his mouthwatering body one more lustful glance before she fled the room. Hinata quickly walked to one of the laundry rooms on the floor and pulled out a clean, white towel. She hastily returned to Sasuke's hospital room.

She quietly opened the door and stepped in. She pressed her unoccupied hand over her mouth. Sasuke was walking all over the room, letting hands roam all over the room. He was clad in only boxers. His clenched jaw slightly loosed as he reached a hold of the closet's door door knob.

He yanked it open and stepped inside the closed. Several seconds later, he stepped out shaking his head, "That is not the bathroom."

Hinata's laughter roared through the room. Sasuke slammed the door shut and scrambled to gather his composure. He leaned against the door and coughed into his elbow, "How long have you been standing there?"

Hinata bit her lower lip and let it go. Her lips formed into a wide smile, "Long enough."

Sasuke let out a prolonged groan as if he were a child, "Let's get this over with! I'm trying on preserve whatever disunity I have left. I can't believe you're forcing me to let you shower me. You're one hell of a pervert, you know that?"

"And you're one heck of a drama queen, you know that?"

Sasuke burst out in laughter. Hinata hated to admit it but his laughter was contagious. Hinata soon joined him in laughter until his laughter died down, "What's so funny?"

"You were laughing too yet you didn't know what you were laughing at? What a weird pervert."

"I'm not a pervert!"

Sasuke scoffed, "And I'm not blind."

Touché.

"And who even says the word 'heck' anymore?"

"I do," Hinata put a misplaced lock of hair behind her ear, "I don't like cursing. It's just the way I was brought up."

"So you use 'heck' as a substitute for 'hell'?"

"When I was little and not so little," Hinata let out a dry laugh as her voice croaked, "...my dad used to scream at me. He used uhh...colorful language and I don't want to-"

"Stop talking. I can practically hear the hurt in your voice. Don't feel sorry for yourself. Don't cry. It gets you nowhere and you are stronger than that. You are really strong, I mean, look how long you've dealt with me without attempting first degree homicide."

Hinata laughed as she nodded and took a hold of his hand. She pulled him towards the bathroom but he stood his ground. Hinata looked up to him with a confused look on her face, "What's wrong?"

"Why are you trying to hold my hand? You're a pervert! Why would you do that? I mean, it's no like I've never held anyone's hand before. That would be strange for a grown man. I hold hands all the time! With everyone! Why are you trying to hold my hand? I told you not to fall in love with me yet here you are trying to seduce me! And if you think it's working, you're one hundred percent corr-"

Hinata pressed her index finger to his lips, "I'm guiding to where the bathroom is, ."

For the first time in his life, he was thankful he couldn't see because that prevented him from seeing Hinata's smug face, "Well? What are you waiting for?"

Hinata laughed while she continued to drag him towards the bathroom. The bathroom was wide; with an elevated seat in the large tub, a sink and a toilet. Hinata lead him inside the tub, "Take off your boxers or I will take them off for you."

Sasuke smirked towards Hinata's voice, "What's with the dirty talk, Hinata? At least have the chivalry to take me out to dinner first."

A crimson faced Hinata gasped at his words. In order to stall until she came up with a witty enough reply, she adjusted his shower head so the water wouldn't hit his bandages.

"Well, I did give you my lunch yesterday."

"Speaking of lunch, what did you make today? What did you bring me?"

"Nothing except the money that you forced Naruto to give me. Take off your boxers."

"Look away, you pervert," Sasuke mumbled under his breath, "I'm not the sort of energy you would like to make."

"I will. Tell me when I'm allowed to l-look at you again."

She didn't look away.

As he slowly took off his boxers, Hinata gasped and her eyes widened at his impressive length, "Are you sure you're looking away? I feel like you're staring at me."

"I'm positive! I'm not staring at you."

She was totally staring at him.

Sasuke clicked his tongue and suddenly took a hold of her head. He felt around her face and burst out laughing once again, "You were staring at me! This is why I have trust issues. Drape that towel over my lower side but don't look at it."

Hinata feigned innocence as Sasuke grew more frustrated by the moment, "Don't look at what?"

"It! It! It! It okay?! Never mind, I'll do it myself," he embarrassingly reached around until he squeezed something that definitely was not a towel.

He had accidentally touched her breast! His hand quickly retreated to his side, "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"Who's the pervert now? It's alright. Accidents happen," Hinata inquired with a crimson face as she spread out the towel over the tub, "I did what you wanted but the towel isn't leaving much to the imagination."

Hinata turned on the shower shower and took out one of the soap bars from the medicine cabinet above the sink. She wet the bar of soap and a frothy mass of bubbles lathered her hands. She began to stroke his wet chest with the bar of soap.

She had done this numerous times with past patients. Some would strike up an inappropriate erection. Some would make dirty suggestions. Some would be embarrassed or stubborn. Some were handsome, some looked like mutated eggplants. She had done this so many times, the only difference was that this time her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest.

Hinata gulped as her eyes skimmed his body. Sasuke had said something on the lines of flowers but Hinata couldn't comprehend anything at the moment. Hinata took close notes of his skin as she swiped the soap all over his sex god body. His body was chiseled perfectly with several scars here and there.

She gently scrubbed from his shoulder to his neck when she took note a black mark, "I didn't know you had a tattoo."

A sly chuckle made its way out of his perfectly curved lips, "There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"So you're the mysterious bad boy type?"

"If that's the type you like, then yes," he mumbled mostly to himself.

"Can you repeat that? I couldn't make out what you said."

"I said that you didn't answer my question about the flowers."

"I'm sorry! I'm sort of out of it today," Hinata confessed as she bit her lower lip.

"If I were to send you...If I were to theoretically send you flowers, where would I send them exactly? As a thank you for putting up with me. I know I can be difficult and it's not easy to put up with me sometimes."

He used the word 'sometimes' loosely.

A bright blush appeared on her cheekbones. The soap slipped out of her trembling hand by squeezing it so hard. The soap flew out of her hands and crashed right into Sasuke's cheek, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you! I would never hurt someone who didn't hurt me first. I-I was just so surprised that you're even contemplating getting me flowers. I've never gotten flowers before."

Sasuke licked his lips and hesitated before he replied back, "I'm going to be blunt with you. I'm going to ask you a simple question and I want a simple answer. Don't ask why I asked you this question because I won't answer. Do you have a boyfriend?"

By this point, Hinata's face was the color of tomatoes.

"No, I don't."

Sasuke's lips threatened to break out into a smile. His lips curved upwards for only two or three seconds. His lips formed back into a right line before Hinata could realize that Sasuke had actually rejoiced, "I don't have a boyfriend. I mean, me neither. I mean, I'm single too. Not that-"

Hinata laughed at his tiny ramble and shook her head. She wiped tears from her eyes with the hem of her top scrub suit and resumed what she was previously doing, "I have never met anyone like you."

"I could say the same for you. You're different. I haven't met such a perverted weirdo since Naruto. I should stop calling you a pervert or else you'll probably try to smother me with a pillow in my sleep.

They simultaneously laughed for about a minute. Hinata continued to roam his body. How could someone be so perfect?

"Having fun there?"

Hinata rubbed the soap between her hands and then proceeded to put the soap on her lap. She scrubbed behind his ears and on his face; being wary of the bandages, "How'd you get all these scars?"

"My father is the chief of police. I'm the head of torture and interrogation," he inquired with a poker face.

"They let a blind man be in control of the torture? This I have to hear," Hinata sprayed water on his face to get rid of the soapy substance, "You must have some crazy stories, huh? That sounds so exciting!"

Sasuke shrugged with a smirk painted on his eager face, "I guess it is. I make them talk even if it means by force. Sometimes they compromise and sometimes they retaliate. I love my job."

"You seem very passionate about your job. The only exciting thing about my job is Naruto."

Sasuke's smirk quickly fell, "Is that so?"

"He has a really great personality."

"Many people have told me that I have a dazzling personality," he lied through his teeth.

Hinata rose her eyebrows in curiosity before she continued, "He also has the best jokes!"

"I have great jokes!"

"Really? Tell me one."

Sasuke clicked his tongue, "Why did the blind man cross the road?"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know where I was going with that."

Hinata's laugh was music to his ears. He joined her in laughter. She ruffled his hair and then pat his head, "I'm going to give you some privacy so you can wash your lower half, ."

"You can refer to me as Sasuke."

Hinata placed the soap in the palm of his much bigger hand and stood up, "Okay. Sasuke, I'm going to be right outside the door. If you need anything, just holler. Don't get your bandages wet no matter what!"

"Don't tell me what to do," he half-jokingly inquired.

"And if I do?"

"Then...then I'll be forced to kiss you," he taciturnly spoke with a poker face.

"W-w-whatever you say, Sasuke. I'll be right outside the door if you need anything."

She hurriedly left the bathroom and closed the door. She leaned against the door as she put a hand over her racing heart. That definitely caught her off guard.

Several minutes later, Sasuke called Hinata in to turn off the shower. She helped him up from the large tub. He had wrapped the towel loosely on his hips. Hinata couldn't stop herself from staring at his evident 'V' line.

God, he was hot.

Good thing he was blind because if not, he would never let her live it down.

Hinata led him to his bed by his arm, "I'll go get you a fresh change of clothes and your breakfast."

"Don't bother."

Hinata looked left, right and left again, "I can't let you stay naked for the rest of the day."

(As much as she'd like to.)

Sasuke viciously shook his head, "I'm not a pervert like you. I meant don't bother getting me breakfast. The hospital food is disgusting."

"You have to eat something."

"You're right. Fetch me your lunch."

"Sasuke!"

"Hinata!"

"P-please don't copy me."

"P-please don't copy me," Sasuke mocked in a high pitched tone.

"Hinata is the most beautiful person in the entire world."

"Hinata is the most beautiful person in the entire world...inside and out...probably."

'Probably' as in a reminder that he still was technically blind. Now go re-read his statement.

Hinata blushed by Sasuke's side, "I didn't think you'd actually say it."

"Me either."

"I'll g-go get your clothes and your breakfast."

"You're actually giving me your lunch?"

"Nope! You're going to eat the delicious food the hospital has provided you."

"You are a very bad person, you know that? You're really going to deprive a dying blind man of his last wish?"

"You're not dying!"

"Actually...Naruto gave me the news this morning."

"What?!"

She had practically screamed in his ear as she erupted in violent sobs. Sasuke shook his hands in the air in denial, "I'm kidding! I made a joke! I'm sorry for trying to make a joke. I'm never going to talk again. I'm so sorry. You're the last person I would ever want to hurt."

Sasuke stood up and touched around until he found Hinata. He brought the weeping nurse closer to his chest. He touched around her face to locate the tears. He sloppily wiped them away from her eyes, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please stop crying. I haven't been trained to handle this kind of situation. Want to hear a joke? Would that make you feel better?"

Hinata wiped away her tears and nodded in Sasuke's warm embrace, "Why did the blind guy cross the road?"

"Why?"

"To get his seeing dog or something. I don't know. I didn't think this through."

Hinata's face lightened up at his terrible joke and began to walk towards the door, "I'm going to get your clothes and breakfast. If you ever scare me like that again, Sasuke, I will be forced to kiss you."

She walked out of the room with a smile on her face before he mumbled, "Don't tempt me."

Hinata came back with a change of clothes, a paper bag, a cup of coffee and a cart of hospital food. She gave him the change of clothes and the paper bag. He sniffed the air, "I smell hospital food that I am not going to eat."

"You aren't but I am. The bag I gave you was what would've been my breakfast. I'm going to eat the hospital food."

"Thank you. But if this is your way of bribing me to let you watch me change,-"

"What? You are absolutely ridiculous. I did it to be nice. You're my friend and friends do nice things for each other."

Sasuke smiled at her, "Does that mean I can your coffee too?"

"No," She smiled back at him, "I need it more than you."

Sasuke shrugged as he put down the brown bag. He slipped on the fresh change of clothes and snuggled back into bed. They ate in content silence.

It wasn't the awkward type of silence.

It was a nice, much needed silence. The only sounds the two heard were the heavy pitter patter of the rainstorm and the rustling of the hospital. Sasuke finished eating first but he didn't speak until Hinata did. Hinata began cleaning up the tray, "You're right. It was terrible."

"I'm tired, Hinata. I didn't get much sleep last night. As much as I enjoy your company, I want to take a nap."

"I don't appreciate your sarcastic remark," Hinata professed as she cleaned up after his mess.

Sasuke reached out for Hinata's thin forearm, "I wasn't being sarcastic."

Hinata shook off his gentle hold and resumed cleaning up after him. She took his old clothes and put them under her arm, "Go take your nap, silly. This will give me a chance to pay more attention to my other patients. I just got a new one today, Gaara."

"This 'Gaara' person better be a goddamn girl along with the rest of your patients," Sasuke snarled at Hinata as he pulled his blankets over his red face, "I'm the only guy you should be taking care of. I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but I need you more than they do."

Hinata sighed and put Sasuke's articles of clothing on the tray, "My new patient, Gaara, is in cooperating recovery after being in a car accident. I'm pretty sure he needs me more than you do. If you need me, just page me."

Sasuke took out his pillow and pushed it on his head, "Fine! Go to your precious little Gaara because obviously you don't give a damn about me."

"Sasuke, please don't be like that."

"Just go! I'll page you if I need you."

Hinata sighed and began to wheel the cart out of the room, "I'm sorry. I don't have time for this. I've got to give Gaara his sponge bath."

Sasuke took the pillow off his head and gaped at the ceiling, "You're giving him a bath too? Don't speak to me."

"It's my job! I don't know why you're overreacting."

"Why are you still here? Go! I don't need you here. I'm fine."

Hinata threw her hands in defeat despite the small stinging in her chest. She threw his old clothes in one of the washing machines in the laundry room. She then wheeled the cart towards the hospital's cafeteria.

On her way back to the patients' rooms, she encountered a doctor with an intern in the elevator, "Hello, Lee. Feeling as youthful today too, I'm guessing?"

The intern dressed in green scrubs smiled at the blue haired beauty as he showed off his athletic ability, "Not a day goes by where I'm not. Looking forward to working with such magnificent people!"

Hinata giggled at his enthusiasm and then shifted her eyes over to the doctor and past college classmate, "Hello Kiba! How are you?"

"So-so," Kiba mumbled as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm glad I ran into you. I've been meaning to finish our conversation from last time. I'm still hung up on it. Lee's determination must have rubbed off on me. Isn't tomorrow your day off too? Can I treat you to coffee so we can continue where we left off? You know, about Ino..."

"Come by my place at around twelve! Ino will be there," Hinata winked at him as she happily nodded at the two.

The elevator beeped at her floor and she stepped out. She was just about to enter Gaara's room when her pager began to go off. Sasuke needed her. She sighed and made her way to his room. She poked her head in the room, "What do you need?"

"I don't need you. I accidentally pressed the button."

Hinata nodded and closed the door. She began walking towards Gaara's room when her pager went off again. Sasuke was being extra stubborn today. She was barely two feet away from his room. She went back in and mustered the sternest voice she could, "Sasuke, what is it now? Please don't waste my time."

"Oops. It's not my fault. I'm blind. I can't see what buttons I'm pressing!"

Hinata let out a huff of air and closed the door. Her pager began to ring once again but she ignored it. She retrieved everything that was needed for Gaara's sponge bath. Gaara didn't speak at all which meant she liked him much better than Sasuke already.

Her pager wouldn't stop beeping. She finished with Gaara's sponge bath quickly and then proceeded to feed him his breakfast. She set up the TV for him and then she left as soon as she came.

She checked up on all her patients besides the obliviously lovesick one. She spent the day accommodating all of their needs. When it was time for the patients' lunch, she brought them their meals one at a time. She fed those who couldn't feed themselves.

Her pager continued to beep.

When it came to Sasuke's turn, Hinata took her lunch bag and looked for Ino. She was in Shikamaru Nara's room arguing with him. She did not want to get in the middle of that. She saw two buns sitting at the front desk on the floor and outstretched her hand towards Tenten, "Can you please give this lunch to Sasuke Uchiha? He's in room 221. Be careful; he's a feisty one."

Tenten nodded and walked with Hinata to Sasuke's room. Tenten left the door open as she walked in. He was lying in bed continuously pressing the button until the sound of the door being opened broke his boredom, "Hinata?"

"Hi! I'm Tenten! Here's your lunch. Compliments from Hinata. Enjoy."

He snatched the bag from her and opened it, "Where's Hinata? And why is she avoiding me?"

"Hinata has more important things to do. She is a nurse after all! But I'm sure she'll-"

"Get out."

"Huh?"

"Are you deaf or just stupid? I want to be alone right now."

Tenten clicked her tongue and cautiously walked out of the room. She closed the door and faced a guilt stricken Hinata, "Well, he's pleasant."

Sarcasm intended.

Hinata sighed and rubbed her temples to soothe her aching headache. Tenten briefly pat her shoulder before returning to her post, "Tenten, there's another bag in the lounge's refrigerator. Can you please give it to him when dinner time rolls around? We got in a tiny fight and I really don't want to talk to him."

Tenten gave her a thumbs up as she walked away. For the rest of the day, she took care of every need and supposed "necessity" of her other patients.

Her pager didn't beep for the rest of the day.

Instead of spending the next day relaxing, she spent her day off attempting to encourage Kiba to admit his feelings to her blonde best friend. She tried to focus on the whole Kiba Ino situation but Hinata couldn't do it. She attempted to keep thoughts of Sasuke at bay with no prevail. She couldn't stop thinking about him.

The next day, Hinata went to work early. She crossed ways with one of the interns, Matsuri as she exited Sasuke's room, "How'd things go with Sasuke and Gaara? I know Gaara doesn't talk much and Sasuke talks too much."

"Gaara was quite the gentleman," Matsuri confessed with red cheeks, "Sasuke on the other hand was very rude. He kept asking about you. He wanted to know where you were and if he had hurt your feelings. He wanted to do everything by himself. He even showered by himself. I just gave him his new set clothes. He said he'd rather die than eat the hospital food; not that I blame him. I told him I would be his caretaker for the day but he was throwing a hissy fit. He told me I ruined his life. How? What? Why? When?"

Hinata burst out laughing and shook her head. She gleefully nodded at Matsuri and gripped the lunch bag in her hands. She knocked on the door twice to find Sasuke in a towel standing up, "Good morning, Sasuke!"

"We are no longer on speaking terms. And if you don't call me , I'm going to report you for sexual harassment in the workplace."

Hinata rolled her eyes and took a big breath in as he began dressing himself, "I'm sorry I forgot to tell you that it was my day off. At least, Naruto came in here couple times to keep you company."

"It's no surprise you forgot! A little bird told me you've got a certain doctor on your mind."

Hinata knitted her eyebrows together as she stared at the floor, "What doctor? Who's this little birdie?"

Sasuke quickly dressed and slipped into the bed. He put his hands under his head to get more comfortable, "I heard some idiot say and I quote about how his "youthful" mentor was over your house."

Hinata laughed and shook her hands, "It's not what it sounds like."

"Get out."

"I refuse to."

"If you don't get out right now, I will call the police."

He can't even see where the phone is.

" I don't want to talk to you right now. You've pissed me off."

Hinata took a big breath in and slowly let it out in order to contain her temper, "You don't have to talk to me. I just came here to give you something to eat. You must be starving."

He hesitated for several seconds before stretching his hands towards her voice. She placed the lunch bag in his hands and smiled. He mumbled a quiet 'thank you' under his breath. Hinata playfully ruffled his hair as he began taking things out of the bag. Hinata smiled contently to herself as he began to eat. Hinata began drawing invisible hearts on Sasuke's upper arm with her fingertips until a splotch of red blood dripped onto his blood.

Hinata's head snapped to Sasuke's face. Blood was dripping from his bandages, "Sasuke, don't panic. I'm just curious. Did something happen to your eyes yesterday? Did you fall?"

"No."

" Did you put too much pressure on them?"

"No, I'm not stupid."

"Did you get them wet?"

Sasuke emotionlessly continued to eat Hinata's homemade food, "This is really good. What kind of seasonings did you use? It has a really tangy taste."

"Did you get your bandages wet?"

"Can I get the recipe for this?"

"Did you or did you not get your bandages wet?!"

"You should have your own cooking show. This is absolutely delicious."

Hinata snatched everything back and held it away from the defenseless man, "Please stop talking about food and answer my question."

"So this weather we've been having lately, huh? Am I right or am I right?"

Hinata set down the food on his bedside table and paged Naruto, "Sasuke! Please just answer me. Did you get your bandages wet when you blindly tried bathing yourself like the ignorant man you are?"

"About that," Sasuke clicked his tongue as he sat up, "I cannot confirm nor deny that without it hurting my ego."

Hinata quickly ran out of the room and towards another nurse Sakura who was studying a clipboard, "Sakura! Can you call for Naruto through the intercom? It's an emergency! I paged him but he hasn't come yet."

Temari, another fellow nurse, intervened as she was manning the front desk, "I know where he is! I'll go get him! Watch the desk while I get him."

Temari quickly dispatched from the two beauties to find the blonde doctor. Sakura took control of the front desk in Temari's absence, "Tell him to go to Sasuke Uchiha's room!"

"Will do!"

Hinata ran back to Sasuke's room. She returned to Sasuke's side in order to scream at him, "Why can't you just do as you are told? No one told you to try and shower by yourself! What if the water made severe damage to your eye nerves? What if those nerves are connected to something critical and you die?"

"That's the thing! I don't care. I have nothing to live for! I haven't been happy in such a long time. I don't give a damn about whether or not I die!"

Next thing Hinata knows, the quick ring of a slap is heard in the room.

Sasuke clutched his now crimson cheek. Tears swelled up in Hinata's eyes, "Well, I do."

"Of course you do. It's your job."

"You're wrong! It's because I l-"

Her sentence was cutoff by the door being pushed open in urgency. Naruto ran to Sasuke's bedside and examined the red stained bandages around his eyes, "What the hell happened to you?"

"He decided to shower on his own! He got his bandages wet and now his eyes are bleeding through."

Naruto harshly punched Sasuke in the gut much to Hinata's surprise, "That's what you get for being a stupid bast-"

Sasuke clutched his gut with one hand and put one hand on Naruto's face, "Don't curse in front of Hinata or so god help me, I will burn your house down."

Naruto 'psh'ed and continued checking his best friend's bandages. He thoroughly examined them, "Come on, you're blind. You don't scare me with your empty threats."

"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I don't know how to take a taxi and light a match."

Naruto blinked.

Touché.

Hinata swallowed down the hard lump in her throat, "Is he going to be okay? Should I get him a wheelchair?"

"Get a black light. I think we might have to operate on him once again or do some substantial repair work on his eyes. We won't know for sure until we check his eyes in a barely lit environment. Let's wheel him the way he is to the extensive care unit upstairs."

Hinata nodded and adjusted the bed so it would be mobile. She wheeled him out with Naruto pulling on the lower side of the bed. They pushed him inside the elevator and then entered, "This is unnecessary. I'm fine!"

A guilty Hinata rubbed his cheek where she had abruptly slapped him, "You're not fine. Please stop lying to yourself."

Naruto pressed a round button on the elevator. Naruto took out his pager to get Doctor Shizune and Docor Tsunade. The elevator doors opened to a brand new floor. Shizune greeted them at the door with Tsunade by the door. She nodded at an empty room as Hinata and Naruto wheeled Sasuke there with Shizune in tow.

Hinata hooked the bed so it wouldn't be mobile anymore. She stepped aside from Sasuke to give Tsunade space. After she cautiously examined his bandages, she took a long sigh, "Shizune, get a black light. Close the blinds. Keep the door shut."

Shizune hastily left the room. Tsunade took a hold of his chin and moved his head side to side, "What the hell happened to your cheek?"

Hinata gulped before she attempted to explain herself, "I-"

Sasuke quickly put his hand on her forearm and gently pulled, "I fell face on when I was trying to shower."

"And can you give me a reasonable explanation as to why the hell you would do that?"

"Sasuke, don't! He didn't-"

"Can we please change the subject? The more we talk about this, the more my pride gets hurt. I slipped and fell and now my cheek probably looks like someone slapped me so we can just put this behind us?"

Shizune ran back into to the room, "I can't find the black bulbs, Tsunade. Where'd you put them?"

Tsunade left with Shizune mumbling something about drinking sake during her break. Hinata fumbled with her fingers as she tried to find a nice way to tell him to get out, "Naruto, I'm pretty sure there's a black light downstairs. Tenten was using it this morning!"

"But Shizune and Tenten are getting one so I don't have to."

"Naruto. Go get it. Shizune and Tsunade might not find it, you idiot."

"Shizune and Tsunade might not find it, you idiot," he mocked in a girly tone as he gave Sasuke the finger while he left.

The door slammed shut so Hinata decided to play with his hair, "You didn't have to do that."

"Well, it's too late now and I don't regret it. If you told her you slapped me, you would've been fired. Then I would never see you again, no ironic wordplay intended, and I would never eat your delicious cooking again."

"Well, thank you. I appreciate the gesture but Tsunade really does not give a "heck"."

Sasuke burst out laughing despite the immense blood dripping from his eyes, "You did not just say that. I am done with you."

Hinata laughed along with him until their laughter died down, "I'm not going to see you for the rest of today but I'll make sure to give Naruto your lunch so he can give it to you. I'll see you tomorrow though. I'll try to check up on you later today."

Sasuke sat up and took a hold of he small wrist, "Why aren't you staying with me? What's so important that you can't stay with a blind man as he lays on his death bed? Are you going to make out with Doctor Kiba? What kind of sick person are you?"

Hinata bit her lower lip, "You're not dying, Sasuke. I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow. I wish there was something I could do to speed up the healing process."

"There is," Sasuke gently pulled her closer, "Kiss me."

"W-w-w-what?! Here?"

"It'll make me feel better. I feel like I'm going to die."

"Sasuke, stop! You're scaring me with these premonitions!"

"Then kiss me! Just a peck and I'll be completely healed."

"Here? Now? With all that blood on your face?"

Sasuke pulled her gently as he whispered, "I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's so bright, Hinata."

"Shouldn't we get our priorities straight?"

"I can see the other side, Hinata. You can have my-"

Hinata took a hold of his shirt and pulled him upward as she leaned over the hospital bed. She pressed her plump lips to his soft ones. She pursed her lips as he began kissing back. He slipped his hands around her waist as he deepened the kiss. Hinata quickly detached herself from him despite her opposing heart.

Hinata licked her lips.

That definitely was not hospital protocol.

"Would you kiss me if I told you I was dying again?"

Hinata burst out laughing and shook her head, "Well, I didn't want to be the one to tell you this but the test results came back. I'm suffering from a severe lack of kisses. You're a nurse, aren't you? Do your job and fix me."

Hinata glanced at the door and then quickly pecked his lips. He smirked at her quiet giggle, "If you actually expect me to get cured then I'm going to need a whole lot more of those."

Hinata muffled her laughter with her hands as she saw the door opening from the corner of her eye. She made it look like she was tucking him in as she whispered in his ear, "There's a lot more where those came from if you behave today."

Sasuke gulped but didn't say anything. Tsunade and Shizune walked in with Naruto in tow. Naruto set up the two black lights by Sasuke. Hinata nodded at Shizune, "I'll be going now. I've got to check up on the rest of my patients. Good luck!"

Hinata hurriedly left the room with her fingertips on her lips. She blushed all the way back to her floor. Unfortunately, she didn't see him the whole day. She attempted to sneak in his temporary room and leave his dinner but he was under heavy anesthesia with new bandages wrapped around his eyes.

She left his dinner with Naruto and gave him a kiss on the forehead when no one was looking.

The next day, Hinata and Naruto wheeled down a half asleep Sasuke back to his usual room. Luckily, Tsunade said that he would be fine and would still be able to leave in two days. Naruto set up the bed and scratched his blonde locks, "When he wakes up, shower and help dress him quickly. He has visitors waiting to see him in the waiting room."

Hinata smiled at Naruto's retreating figure as he left. Hinata set up his breakfast on the lunch tray and gently shook his shoulder, "Sasuke, wake up."

Sasuke yawned and stretched as he sat up, "If you know what's good for you then you'll stop telling me what to do."

Hinata playfully rolled her eyes and helped him get up. She walked him over to the bathroom; straight to the sink. She put toothpaste on his green toothbrush and attempted to open his mouth. Sasuke stepped back and swiped the toothbrush from her, "Why are you babying me? I am perfectly capable of brushing my own teeth, Hinata."

"Sorry! It's just that after that scare yesterday, I'm a little more on guard," she mumbled as she gave him more space.

Several minutes later, he was finished and ready to get his bath. He quickly stripped and Hinata handed him his towel for privacy. He flipped it across the tub to hide his 'swimsuit area'. Hinata turned on the white shower head and began to lather soap on his sex god body.

"Why are you being so quiet?"

"I'm still mad at you for yesterday. Feigning dying is no laughing matter. You almost gave me a heart attack!"

He smirked towards his side, "Not even the good kind?"

Hinata continued to scrub his upper half with the bar of soap and water, "That's what I don't like about you. You always turn everything into a joke."

"Well, I couldn't just come out and say that I wanted to kiss you! It was all I could think of at the moment. If I hadn't made you upset about faking an illness, there's no way you would've kissed me back."

"Who told you I wouldn't kiss you back?"

"I just knew you wouldn't. I didn't want to seem like some pathetic blind pervert of patient that took your kindness and you doing your job as flirting."

"Why are y-you always assuming the worst? What if I wanted to kiss you?"

"What if you rejected me?"

"What if I didn't?"

"But what if you did? I'd never be able to be around you since you were going to friend zone me anyway," Sasuke growled back as their voices both continued to rise.

"What would you say if I told you that I really did want to kiss you? Without having to be guilt tripped."

He rose two fingers in the air with sternness laced into his husky voice, "I have to tell you two things about that. First, I'd tell you that you have terrible taste."

Hinata playfully scoffed, "I've noticed."

"Secondly, I'd ask you if you wanted to kiss me again. Not that you'd say 'yes' anyway!"

"I practically just told you-...Never mind! You're just some bitter guy that doesn't let anyone get close to him."

"And you're just some closeted pervert with a nurse to patient fetish!"

"Yeah? Well, you're just an overly dramatic guy who needs attention twenty four seven or else he thinks he's dying!"

She did not just go there.

"Oh, really now? Well, you're a really bad kisser then!"

"You really think so?"

"I know so!"

"Maybe we should try again just to confirm your ridiculous theory!"

"Maybe we should kiss so you can know how it feels like to kiss a real man."

"Maybe we should make out!"

"Maybe I think you're really perfect and maybe you're too good for me and maybe; just maybe I really want to kiss you right now!"

"Then what's stopping yo-"

His lips melted onto hers. He nipped and bit her lower lip. She kissed him back with lust dusted on her tongue. Their tongues wrestled as the bathroom became steamier. Hinata hoped Sasuke couldn't hear her heart that was practically beating out of her chest.

"Ma'am, you can't be in here yet! 's not accepting visitors yet," the lovesick couple heard Matsuri scold.

Hinata quickly pushed Sasuke away by his shoulder. She stood up and licked her lips, "I guess your friends must be eager to see you."

"I don't have any friends," Sasuke confessed as he cleaned himself.

Hinata laughed, "You don't have any friends? I'm shocked! With that dazzling personality and brutal sense of sarcasm, I thought you would have tons of friends."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Maybe."

Hinata left the bathroom and joined Matsuri who was currently attempting to calm down a red headed woman, "Hinata! I tried telling her but she wouldn't listen. I didn't want to call security and make a scene."

The red headed woman sniffed around his breakfast and anxiously tapped her foot, "Where's Sasuke?"

Hinata opened the door to the bathroom slightly and handed him his clothes, "He's in the bathroom! Why don't you sit in the lobby until he's ready?"

"Tell him Karin is here. That'll speed up the process."

"If you don't mind me asking, who are you exactly?"

"His girlfriend, duh!"

Sasuke emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed. He used his white stick to find his bed. He sat on his bed and made himself comfortable, "Who was that, Hinata?"

"Apparently, your girlfriend," Hinata said with an obviously fake smile plastered on her face.

"What the he-"

"Sasuke! It's me," Karin yelled as she dove for a disgruntled Sasuke.

She wrapped her arms around Sasuke's chest. Sasuke pushed her way with one arm, "Hinata, quick call security. I don't want her here. Since when are you my girlfriend?"

A white haired male walked in with another largely built man following behind him, "I told her not to come in until we were told to do so."

Hinata sighed and smiled at everyone in the room, "You might as well stay. Matsuri, check up on Gaara. He just paged me."

The red headed woman attempted to drown Sasuke in affection much to his disgust. Sasuke made his way towards his bed and tucked himself in the thin blankets. Karin dragged a chair towards his bed. Suigetsu laughed and smirked at Hinata, "Is there a mental ward here we can put her in? Hi, I'm Suigetsu. I don't think we've met."

Hinata firmly shook his hand, "Hello, I'm one of Sasuke's nurses."

"Had I known that such a cute girl worked here, I wouldn't have been so stubborn about seeking medical help," he inquired with the eyes of a predator as he kissed the back of her hand.

Hinata faked her laughter to conceal how uncomfortable she was. She turned her gaze back to Sasuke as he started talking, "These are the people I work with. Karin, Juugo, that trashcan Suigetsu, and I form team halk. You know what I do for a living."

Suigetsu pointed at Hinata with his thumb, "And who is this lovely lady?"

"None of your damn business."

Hinata shuddered as he ran his eyes up and down her body, "I think I need to know her name before I ask her out to dinner."

If Sasuke could see how Suigetsu was checking his woman out, he would rip Suigetsu's throat to shreds.

"Her name is Hinata. She has seven boyfriends and doesn't need another. She also has three kids; all with yakuza leaders."

Suigetsu rolled his eyes, "Don't be a bastard about this! You're that overprotective of her?"

"I'm just trying to look out for you," Sasuke sat up in his bed and shrugged, "If you don't believe me, glance in the next room next me. There's a redhead there named Gaara who flirted with Hinata. Look at what happened to him."

Suigetsu narrowed his eyes at Sasuke and nodded at Juugo to come with him. They left the room so it was just Karin, Sasuke and Hinata. Hinata pushed the lunch cart so it would hover over Sasuke. The smell made its way to his nostrils and he smiled.

Karin carefully eyed Sasuke's breakfast, "That doesn't look like hospital food."

Hinata smiled.

Was Karin not aware that Hinata had open access to tons of sedatives that would leave her asleep for a week?

"Oh well! I'll feed you, Sasuke!"

Did Hinata's eyebrow just twitch.

Hinata looked at her watch and smiled at Karin, "Well, would you look at that?! Visiting hours are over! It was nice meeting you. It's such a shame that you can't stay any longer. The door's right over the-"

"Karin," Naruto exclaimed as he walked inside the room. He walked over to her and enveloped her into a bear hug. He smiled at Hinata, "I'm guessing you've met my cousin, Karin!"

"You're related?"

Juugo and Suigetsu walked back in with Suigetsu gaping at Hinata. Hinata giggled and began to inch towards the door, "I think this is my cue to leave you guys alone. Bye, Sasuke."

"Hinata, don't leave me with these idiots," Sasuke growled under his breath, "You're the only sane and likable person in this room!"

Karin faked a violent whopping cough. She cleared up her scratchy throat, "Are you sure she's the only one?"

"Positive."

"Offensive," Naruto inquired with a slightly menacing tone.

"Anyways, I've got to go! If you need anything, I'm just a beep away," Hinata politely inquired a pleasant smile as she went on her way.

Later on in the day, Hinata had tried sneaking in his room but there was no space there for her. The room was occupied with inside jokes and good times that Hinata was not welcome to. She had Matsuri give Sasuke his homemade lunch.

When visiting hours were over, Hinata attempted to get some alone time with Sasuke but he was already sleeping. The next day, her shift didn't start until three o'clock. She headed towards his room as soon as she clocked in. He had already showered by himself and got dressed with Matsuri's assistance. He had visitors in the room; chatting among themselves. He sat up in bed at the sound of Hinata's footsteps, "Hinata?"

Matsuri nodded at Hinata as she left the room. Hinata smiled at the guests and then at Sasuke, "Good afternoon, sunshine."

"Don't call me that. I don't want to get embarrassed in front of my family. This is my mother, father, and brother, Itachi."

Hinata waved at them, "Hello! I'm Hinata, one of Sasuke's nurses."

Itachi smiled at Hinata and threw her a wink, "Is this girl you were telling us about?"

Sasuke gaped at the sound of his brother's words, "Wait! What? I never said anything about anybody! He's a liar! I never trusted him!"

Hinata blushed and shook her head, "I just came by to see if there's anything Sasuke needs."

"Get me my lunch, Hinata. Please."

She pulled the lunch bag out of her larger bag and put it on his lunch tray. Sasuke's mother narrowly eyed his lunch. Hinata's lips formed a smile when he began to happily eat, "Is there anything else you need?"

His father cleared his throat before he spoke, "No, . You are free to go."

Hinata's smile slightly faltered and she nodded. She couldn't even give him another homemade meal since his mother had requested that he especially got to eat the hospital food. Tomorrow would be his last day there so she refused to let time waste.

Hinata would go to his side as soon as visiting hours were over and all other patients were attended to. Meanwhile, Naruto had just begun saying good-bye to Sasuke's parents in the lobby. Mikoto just smiled at her son's best friend and Fukako just shook his head in chagrin.

Naruto silently entered Sasuke's room. He walked up to Sasuke's bed and stretched his hand towards the chocolate that his mother had brought him. Sasuke snapped his neck as he turned to Naruto's direction and grabbed his arm, "I love you."

Naruto grinned as he wiggled his eyebrows, "I'm flattered but I have a wife and two kids. I can't be with you."

Sasuke inwardly groaned as his hand retreated to his side, "I thought it was someone else. Damn it."

Naruto let out a hefty laugh, "By 'someone else', did you mean Hinata?"

"What? No! I don't like her. I don't like anybody. Even if I did like her, I doubt there's any chance of her liking me back. She's a twelve and I'm a seven."

"If you really don't have feelings for her then who do you think I was?"

What a terrible time for Hinata to walk in.

"Love is dumb and it's gross. And I don't want anything to do with it. "

An unnoticed Hinata silently walked out of the room with tears threatening to fall.

Naruto smiled at his best friend, "And?"

"And I'm so madly in love with Hinata that it physically pains me."

"That's what I thought. Why don't you tell her? Tomorrrow's your last chance to do so!"

"I don't want to be rejected. I will do it when the time is right. Don't rush me."

Naruto's pager went off. He quickly stood up and speed walked to the door, "Tomorrow may be your one and only chance!"

The next day, Hinata attempted to call in sick but Naruto had insisted that she had to come. Sasuke was pulled into one of the lower floors of Konoha's General Hospital. Tenten told Hinata where Sasuke was and that she was to report there immediately.

She knocked on his door twice before going in. A slightly nervous Naruto waved at Hinata and she smiled back. She walked up to Sasuke's bed side. He had new bandages on and his head tilted from side to side, "What happened?"

"Someone gave him too much anesthesia this morning before his minuscule surgery."

Sasuke lifted one bent finger in the air, "When we were twelve, Naruto kissed me. He said it was an accident but I felt some tongue there."

Naruto took a big breath in, "He's really out of it. I got to go check up on one of my patients. Take off his bandages. I'll be back later...much later."

Naruto smirked as he left the room. Hinata gently pushed Sasuke forward in order to make him sit up. She gently peeled off his bandages. She pulled all around in a circular motion until the bandages fell off. She took the bandages and threw them out in the waste bin, "You can open your eyes now."

His eyelids twitched before he slowly opened his eyes. Hinata's breath got stuck in her throat.

Hinata gulped.

If Hinata didn't believe at love at first sight before, then she was definitely a believer now.

He crookedly smiled at her as the anesthesia was obviously too much for him to handle, "Are you...are you my wife?"

Hinata giggled and shook her head, "No."

"Well, why not? I can make you real happy."

"I'm your nurse, Sasuke. I've been taking care of you for the past week."

Sasuke looked over Hinata's physique, "Was I saint in my past life? What did I do to deserve such a pretty nurse?"

"How do you feel? Can you see? Is your vision blurry? Do you see any spots? Are your eyes itchy?"

"I can see just fine. But speaking 'fine', would you like to go to dinner with me sometime?"

"You're r-r-really out of it. You don't know what you're saying."

"I like you. I like you a lot. I want to buy you some dinner and then, and then, and then take you home with me. I'm going to take you on the best damn date of your life and then I'm going to kiss you. Or vise versa. I'll end up the happiest man alive either way."

Hinata laughed with a crimson red face, "How much anesthesia did they give you?"

"A lot," he stretched out his words, "My speech may be slurred and my head may be spinning but I meant every word I said."

Hinata smiled as she ruffled his hair. Sasuke leaned into her touch. He couldn't keep his head up because of the drowsiness Naruto sheepishly walked back in the room with a sly grin painted on his face, "How's his vision, Hinata?"

"He says it's fine but we should schedule an eye appointment with his optemetrist."

"Hinata, stop. You know I'm the jealous type."

"How much anesthesia did they give you?"

"Enough to make sure he doesn't remember today even happened but not enough to kill him," Naruto decided to chime in.

"This idiot is the biggest third wheel I know. Hinata, let me take you out to dinner. I fucking love you," Sasuke quickly covered his mouth, "I'm sorry. That just slipped out. I didn't mean to curse but I did mean it when I said I loved you."

"Love is dumb and it's gross and I don't want anything to do with it," she indirectly teased him with his own words.

He looked at her with his head slightly swaying, "I can't hear you over the sound of you agreeing to go on a date with me."

"But I didn't-"

Naruto cleared his throat as he maneuvers his way towards Hinata, "I think Sasuke needs to go to sleep until the anesthesia wears off. Let's leave him alone."

Naruto made a fatal mistake by wrapping his arm around Hinata's shoulders. Sasuke threw Naruto a dirty look, "I'm no longer blind, you moron. If you don't take that grimy hand off my woman, you're going to leave without it."

Well then.

Feisty.

Naruto threw his hands in defeat as he muttered something about him being a bastard. Hinata giggled and smiled at Sasuke. She waved at him and left him alone to recover.

Before she finished her shift, she slipped in his lunch and left it by his bedside. The next day, his bed was vacant. He wasn't in his original room either. Hinata looked around the hospital until she found Naruto.

Naruto's mentee, Konohamaru, told her that Sasuke was discharged in the morning. He was released to his parents' care. That was it. He was gone. Would she ever see him again?Curse the terrible timing of her shifts.

The week went by in a blur. The ever so hilarious Chiyo was there to keep her company but it wasn't the same. Two full weeks went by in a hazy blur. Hinata couldn't think of anything other than Sasuke.

Had he forgotten her that quick? Had his newly found vision contribute to a new love interest? Did he even remember how passionate their lustful kisses were? Did he forgot the sparks that flew between them? Did he even feel a spark like Hinata had?

It was ten minutes before the end of her shift when Chiyo had asked for a last-minute walk. Hinata helped her stand up and walk around the hospital lobby. Chiyo abruptly stopped in the middle of the hall. Hinata skimmed Chiyo's frail body for injuries, "What happened? Are you okay?"

Chiyo slowly nodded and winked at Hinata, "I'm fine. Don't waste your attention on me. Give it to that handsome young man waiting for you in the lobby. I'll get Matsuri to walk me back."

Hinata glanced at the lobby to see a nonchalant Sasuke sitting in the waiting area. Chiyo let go of her arm and began to walk back towards her room with Matsuri's assistance. Hinata silently thanked Matsuri and took a big breath in. She combed her fingers through her hair as she gathered the courage to face Sasuke.

She smiled at him as he arose from his seat. He took a bouquet of flowers that he had set on the chat beside him and outstretched the roses towards Hinata, "These are a thank you for putting up with me. Even I can't put up with me."

Hinata smiled at him as she took the flowers from him, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"You didn't want to see me?"

"No! I mean, yes! I did want to see you. I missed your jokes and ruffling up your hair."

"I missed you in general."

"So..."

"So...It turns out that I have reservations at this restaurant but no one to go with."

Hinata faked a gasp and covered her mouth, "You? Without a date? I wonder how with that dazzling personality and dark sense of humor."

Sasuke chuckled lightly as he licked his lips, "Would you like to go to dinner with me?"

"What happened to love is dumb and it's gross and-"

"If you're going to eavesdrop on a conversation, at least have the decency to listen until the end. Has Naruto's idiocy act rubbed off on you?"

"I heard that," Naruto yelled from one of the hospital rooms.

Sasuke slid an arm around Hinata's waist and pulled her toward him, "So is that a yes?"

"How can I refuse a dying man's last wish?"

Sasuke genuinely laughed before he ignited the sparks again. He pressed his soft lips to her warm ones. Their lips moved in a heated synchronization. Their tongues danced and slowly explored each other. Sasuke nipped at her lower lip before Hinata slightly pulled away.

"Hinata, I don't think this is hospital protocol," he nonchalantly teased her.

"Screw hospital protocol."