title: Something To Talk About
pairing: SasuSaku
author's notes/warning: Grey's References, galore! YAY! Yes, I am slightly obsessed. DEAL WITH IT. Um, yeah, this kind of came from nowhere. I really felt like this scene matched Sakura and Sasuke. There's no real romantic interaction between the two, so if you're looking for that, I would head back. Anyway!
disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or Grey's Anatomy.

So. Annoying.

Sasuke scuffed the toe of his sandals on the dirt as he headed towards Hokage Tower, ready to be assigned another stupid, pointless D-rank mission. He was still on probation, still had another year to go of D- maybe C-rank missions. He still had six more months of 24-hour ANBU observation. Still had x amount of years to endure scathing glares and muttered remarks about his cursed family and failing eyes.

So annoying.

Grimacing, Sasuke started up the long, winding staircase to Tsunade's office. He wondered what his next "mission" would be. Raking leaves, perhaps? Building farm fences? Chasing that damn cat again?

"Ch," he muttered, sticking his hands into his pockets. "How stupid."

"OI. SASUKEEE-TEME!"

Sasuke groaned as a blonde, bright, orange, loud thing smashed into him. He stumbled into the wall as Naruto pounded on his back, flashing that cheesy, million-dollar grin that had somehow gotten the Hyuuga to fall in love with him.

"What do you want, dobe?"

"Ne, what's eating you. Sasu-chan?" Naruto mocked, curling his hands behind his heads. "Is that stick up your ass going deeper? Is it the oh-so-exciting missions you go on, while I'm out risking my life as an ANBU captain?"

"Shut up, dead last."

"Tsk, tsk, ickle Sasu-cakes didn't get his tomato his morning."

"Go away."

"Oh, quit bitching," Naruto said, completely ignoring his friend's grouchiness. They continued on their way to the Hokage's Office, Naruto easily falling into step beside Sasuke. "Seriously, what's biting you in the ass today? Your grumpiness isn't as charming as usual."

"Do you ever stop talking?" Sasuke snarled.

Naruto rolled his eyes, "Look, everyone knows what happened before you left for Suna last week—,"

This stopped Sasuke dead in his tracks, which brought a triumphant grin to Naruto's face.

"What are you talking about?" muttered Sasuke, attempting to appear cool and aloof in usual, but Naruto knew him better. The blonde pretended that he didn't hear the note of desperation in his best friend's voice, and explained.

"We all know what happened between you and Sakura-chan," he said, his voice taking on a serious tone. "That you both got way drunk, and that baby Sasu-face finally lost his virginity—,"

Sasuke groaned, but Naruto continued.

"—to one pink-haired Jounin. Oh, and that you bailed on her the next morning. Way to go, Sasuke. You really know how to work this kind of shit."

"Shut up, Naruto."

The Hokage-to-be blinked those brilliant cerulean eyes at his friend, startled.

"Man, you must be really messed up about this, if you used my actual name," he said. Sasuke snapped out a curse and continued on his slow walk, with Naruto trailing behind. "Seriously, man, what were you thinking? You know Sakura still—,"

"I know, dobe," Sasuke muttered, quietly. "I know…"

Naruto lifted an eyebrow at his friend, but decided not to comment any further. They walked in silence for a little bit longer, Naruto letting Sasuke stew over the information he had given him.

After all, practically every shinobi knew about the Uchiha-Haruno Incident of two weeks ago. All except Kakashi-sensei, who was away on a mission, and Naruto considered this a stroke of luck. If the Scarecrow found out about Sasuke screwing over his might-as-well-be-daughter, Sakura, the Uchiha could completely forget about repopulating his Clan.

"I screwed up, Naruto," Sasuke confessed, when they came to the Hokage's door.

"I think we could classify that as fucked up, bastard," Naruto replied, easily.

"I don't know what I was thinking—,"

"Alcohol does that to the best of us."

"—and now Sakura probably hates me…"

"Along with the rest of the shinobi population…"

"Why haven't you tried to kick my ass yet?" Sasuke asked, suddenly.

Naruto snorted. "Scratch that 'tried,' teme, I would totally kick your ass. And I haven't because I know that you didn't want it to happen like that."

Sasuke blinked. Code for, what do you mean? Naruto sighed in an exasperated sort of way, as if he were dealing with a three-year-old.

"How stupid do you think I am? Don't answer that. Look, I know you care about Sakura-chan, despite the fact that you act like a complete dick to her like all the time, and she doesn't deserve that shit. She still loves you, and I know you could love her, and that you want too, but you're still dealing with your demons. You wanted to love her right, but the alcohol kind of got in the way."

Naruto finished his speech with a pitying look in Sasuke's direction. The Uchiha sighed and glanced away, cursing Naruto and his way-of-knowng-everything-and-being-so-inspirational-and-freaking-nice.

"Whatever, dobe. I have to go get my next assignment. I'll see you later."

"You're welcome, asshole!" Naruto called, turning and heading off in some other direction. "Ichiraku tonight, don't forget! You owe me—,"

Naruto's voice was cut off as the Hokage's Office door shut, and Sasuke stood before Tsunade, Shizune, and…

Shit.

Sakura was facing her teacher, her back to him. She had stiffened quite obviously, but had yet to turn and face him. Shizune looked frightened, while Tsunade continued to evaluate her apprentice over her threaded fingers.

"Very well, Sakura," she said. "Excellent work, you are dismissed."

"Thank you, shishou," replied the pink-haired girl. With a bow, she turned, and walked right pat Sasuke without a word, without even looking at him.

Sasuke felt like an ice-cold wind and settled over his shoulders, as Sakura left the office, shutting the door without so much as a slam. Cursing himself, Sasuke turned away from Tsunade to chase after Sakura, to make sure she was—

"Turn around, come back, and get your mission, Uchiha."

Sasuke paused, and slowly turned back to face Tsunade. She surveyed him with her bright, amber eyes, making him feel as if he were being X-rayed. Shizune's lips were pressed tightly together, and she refused to met his eyes.

"Turn around from what?" Sasuke replied, easily.

"From my apprentice," she shot back at him, snarling.

Sasuke scoffed. "I wasn't—,"

"Oh yes you were, Uchiha," Tsunade snarled. But then, her eyes softened and she seemed to deflate. The Fifth Hokage leaned back into her chair, tapping her fingers on the edge of her desk. "Listen, you can't do this, Sasuke. You don't have the right. Not anymore."

Sasuke looked away, staring out the window.

"I just…I just want to find out if she's okay," he confessed.

"No, she is not okay," Tsunade replied, exasperated. "The love of her life screwed her and left her. How could she be okay? Right now, she's a personification of a failed mission and every shinobi is slowing down to stare at the wreckage."

Sasuke winced.

"Sakura is doing the best she can with what she has left," Tsunade continued. "And I know you can't see that because you're in it, but you cannot help her now. You will only make it worse."

"Godaime—,"

"Here's your next mission, Sasuke-kun," Shizune said, stepping forward and offering him a folder with the mission details. "Maybe, someday, this can be okay. But right at this moment? For now? It's not."

"Walk away, Uchiha," Tsunade ordered. "Leave Sakura to heal. Go."

Unable to refuse, Sasuke let his feet carry him back down the stairs, out into the streets, and towards the Uchiha Compound. As he walked, he spotted Sakura, Tenten, and Ino in the Yamanaka Flower Shop. He paused, and saw Sakura gasping over something Tenten and Ino had said. Then, she smiled, and even laughed.

Smirking to himself, Sasuke walked away.

Someday, he thought, this will work.

Yes, yes, we all love Grey's Anatomy, no?