Naruto crossed his arms, glaring up at Hinata from the bed he sat on. She just finished checking his vitals, and as always, they were normal. Naruto hadn't spoken a word to her since she came in, too caught up in the confusion of seeing Sasuke and the anger of her actually leaving him like this. Yes. It was true that she told him she'd be taking less hours. Did that mean he had to like it? No. But that didn't mean he had any right to request she change her mind.

Even if he had thought she was joking when she first brought it up.

It's denial. Kyuubi said.

And when Naruto talked to Orochimaru about her leaving him, he also said Naruto was in denial.

And then, of all the things to bring up, Orochimaru wanted to press the issue of his abandonment issues.

Not that I have any.

Orochimaru may have been his doctor, but he was still a fucking idiot. The only problem Naruto had was the fact that he was stuck in this goddamn hospital.

And that Sasuke was here with him.

And that Hinata was leaving.

He raked a hand through his hair, scrunching his eyes shut as a low moan released from his lips. Why did she have to do this to him? He didn't want another nurse. Hinata was perfect. She was kind, anticipated his needs before he even spoke them, and could tell just by watching if any new medication affected him negatively.

She was the best nurse he could have asked for.

"You took less hours." He muttered.

He hadn't meant for her to hear. Not when he truly had no right to even talk to her about this, especially if it actually convinced her to stay.

He had no right to complain. Not when he understood the pain of someone trying to control him. If Hinata knew he wanted her to stop this nonsense and work more, then she had every right to think of if him as an asshole. It was her life, after all. If she wanted the leave, then by all means, she was allowed to leave.

But still, he pouted. He thought she was joking about it.

He heaved a deep breath as Hinata's eyes widened a fraction, and although the sight of those pupil-less, white eyes always freaked him out, he'd grown accustomed to the way they changed shape whenever she expressed feeling.

Those eyes weren't like his. It was impossible to see the depths of her mind through them. Not when there was a layer of white to get through first. But the shape and movement around the eyes told him everything he needed to know.

"I told you I would." She said, voice as concerned as always. She probably thought he'd forgotten that conversation. He often did. Or at least pretended to. Sometimes he got a little too comfortable and started talking about how rude Kyuubi was. She never judged him for it, never asked any questions or interrogated him. Just listened and let him talk through the confusion and anger and resentment.

God, how could he lose someone so perfect?

She'd even pretended to believe him when he feigned forgetting his rants about Kyuubi.

Hell, she'd gone along with his decision to forget the conversation.

"I thought you were joking," he said, folding his arms over his chest. "And why Sasuke? Isn't there any other nurse I can have. You know I don't want want any former coworkers of mine visiting, let alone treating me."

Hinata pursed her lips, her hair a tad wavy from the ponytail she wore hours earlier. "But Sasuke wasn't just a coworker. You've always talked about him like a friend, and I thought you could use someone familiar in my absence."

He closed his eyes. Of course that was her intention. While it was true he didn't want to start over with a new nurse, it would be easier to work with Sasuke than it would be someone he didn't know. At least this way, there was already some sort of relationship built in, and Naruto knew that whatever secrets he told Sasuke wouldn't be outed to the world.

So maybe it wouldn't be too bad. Maybe he was just being paranoid.

His fingers twitched. No. Not paranoia. That wasn't it. Caution.

He was being cautious because if he were paranoid, then he would have to admit that he was schizophrenic.

And he most certainly was not crazy.

Hinata sighed, sitting down next to him as Naruto pouted. Her white eyes locked onto his blue, and Naruto blinked as she rested her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry if it's not what you wanted, Naruto." She said, "he came to me asking for a favor, and I did it because it was a good job opportunity for him, and I know all he wants to do is help you. It's all he's ever wanted."

"I don't care." He said, "how do I get rid of him?"

Hinata rested her hand against his. "You'll be okay." She said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Now I've gotta go meet with another patient. I'll see you later."

Sasuke was crossed legged, notebook in hand, and as blunt as ever. He hadn't changed much in these few years. His face was certainly more pointed. But his eyes and skin? Still as dark and pale as Naruto remembered.

And his personality was still so stoic and uncaring.

Naruto hated it.

"Do you like your psychologist?" Sasuke said.

He had a notebook in one hand, and a pen in the other. This was the first question Sasuke dared to ask since he came into his room. Up until now, he'd done nothing but glance around and take notes. His eyes wandered up and down Naruto's body like a hawk. Looking for signs of an insane man. Seeking the fidgeting and the restlessness and finding confirmation in them.

Naruto clenched his fists. He wasn't crazy. He wasn't. Kyuubi was real, and Naruto didn't know how they couldn't see that.

"He's fine, I guess. Kinda shady. But you already know that."

"Shady sounds about right. I think we both know you're not a psychopath."

Naruto scoffed. He was one of the few people in the village who knew about Orochimaru's criminal history. And the only reason he knew was because Sasuke told him forever ago. Back when Naruto was free to roam about the world.

Back when he had a life worth living.

He shook his head. Thoughts like that were best kept in the back of his mind.

"I hate that diagnosis." He said.

Sasuke uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "Who wouldn't?"

Naruto chuckled. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be so bad. Yes, his best friend may now be his doctor. But that didn't have to be a bad thing. Maybe it even increased his chances of being believed about Kyuubi. Maybe Sasuke would realize Naruto's symptoms simply didn't add up.

Maybe Sasuke was his way out of this dump.

A small warmth, a hope, a shimmer of happiness, spread through his chest. How long had it been since he felt that? He couldn't remember. It must have been before he got stuck here. Before he realized he was never leaving. And he didn't want to let go of the feeling in fear of never having it again. So he held onto it. He grasped it with his hands and tried to keep it there forever.

He never wanted it to end.

"Is you're medicine working? Any side affects?" Sasuke said.

Except it did. Every small bit of happiness always ended. And all it took was a question about his goddamned medicine for it to break.

"Besides making me feel loopy?"

Sasuke bit his lip and wrote something down. "I think that's kind of the point."

"Yeah. Doctors don't like dealing with us, so they put us on pills that make us drunk and call it medicine."

"It's not that bad."

"Then you take those pills."

Sasuke frowned. "I don't need them."

Naruto rolled his eyes. Same excuse as the other doctors. No one needed pills like that. "Neither do I, but that doesn't stop anyone."

Sasuke sighed, tapped his pen on his notebook.

"You're schizophrenic, Naruto. All we've given you is a dopamine inhibitor."

And sedatives, ketamine, and high doses of morphine.

Naruto wasn't stupid enough to let the files they kept on him go unread. He wanted to know what it was they put into his body, and after breaking into the file room and reading the one with his name, Naruto learned that they gave him more drugs than they told him about.

"Isn't dopamine the thing that makes you happy? Why are you inhibiting that?"

He wished he didn't have to ask, because Naruto knew the answer already. The file was incredibly clear about it. But Sasuke didn't know he knew, and Naruto didn't know if Sasuke would tell him. Most doctors didn't. But Sasuke wasn't like most doctors. He was a friend.

Someone Naruto could use.

And maybe trust.

"Too much dopamine can cause hallucinations. Though the voices have yet to be explained."

Naruto nodded. He tried to keep a straight face. Wanted to make sure Sasuke truly believed Naruto knew none of this information. "You're saying I have too much happy chemicals in my brain?"

"Yes."

"That's weird, man. But I'm not schizophrenic, so all you're doing is getting rid of whatever happiness my brain gives me."

Sasuke pursed his lips. "You're still in denial about that?"

"I can't explain it." Naruto said, "But I know Kyuubi is real. I'm not crazy."

For half a second, Sasuke's eyes widened. "Kyuubi? No. Never mind. I never said you were crazy. I said you were sick."

Naruto clenched his fists, took a deep breath. "I'm not. You doctors just think we're too crazy to understand."

"I'm not a doctor." Sasuke said.

"I don't care."