Okay here I am! I actually thought I uploaded this like a week ago then checked my profile and was so confused when I couldn't find it anywhere. Silly me :]

"I want to know the truth." Itachi's face was unreadable, and his voice gave Hinata no clues as to what the stoic man was thinking.

"O-okay."

Itachi's face softened a little as he blew out a strained breath, "What's really going on her Hinata?"

"I….I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "Hiashi is planning something big, but neither Neji nor I know what it is."

Itachi's face became blank again. "Then why did you bolt out of the hospital like that?"

Hinata felt a blush adorn her cheeks. She mumbled something barely audible.

"What did he say?" He phrased it as a question but Hinata could tell from his tone that Itachi wasn't going to settle for anything less than the whole story.

"Uh, it may have been something along the lines of killing you."

Itachi didn't say anything for a tense minute then started laughing. "And you believed him?"

"Sure. That's me. Big gullible Hinata, might as well get it embroidered on my breast pocket." Hinata snapped and turned away from him, not wanting him to see the hurt and embarrassment on her face.

Itachi quickly spun her around , halting all thoughts of escape. "Hey now, I didn't mean to sound mean spirited." He said quietly, "I'm just surprised he'd stoop to that."

"He'd do it." Hinata murmured. "He'd seriously do it."

He gave her a quizzical look. "You really believe that?"

She nodded and burrowed closer into the Uchiha's chest, as if his body warmth could chase away the lingering ghost of her father.

"It'll be okay."

Hinata nodded again, but didn't relinquish her grip of him.

Itachi didn't seem to mind. Quite the contrary, he seemed content to stand there and let the fragile Hyuuga to soak in his inherent goodness.

"I'd like for you to come home with me tonight."

Hinata stiffened immediately, mentally withdrawing herself from their previous intimacy.

"No, not like that. I like your cousin and all but I'd feel a lot better if you were somewhere I can keep and eye on you."

She didn't say anything.

"It's actually more for my sake than it is for yours." Itachi admitted.

A tense moment of silence followed before Hinata finally spoke. "Okay."

Itachi let out a relieved breath. "You really let me squirm there for a minute."

Hinata laughed a little, lightening the mood almost immediately, "Sorry."

"Come on. You can have my bed and I'll take the couch."

She frowned, thinking of the last time she had stayed at Itachi's home, "Wait, don't you have a guest bedroom?"

Itachi shook his head. "No. The apartment was originally designed to have two bedrooms but I rarely have anyone over, so I turned it into my study."

"Oh." Hinata blushed. She'd slept in the guy's bed before she'd even kissed him. How ironic was that?

Itachi chuckled as he guessed where her train of though was heading. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Wait here for me. I'll just tell you're cousin we're heading off."

"No, I'll come too. It doesn't seem right not to say goodbye myself."

Itachi shrugged. "Whatever you want."

The pair returned to the living room where Neji and Tenten were still snuggled on the loveseat. They said their goodbyes, and were soon on their way to Itachi's apartment.

For the strangest reason Hinata couldn't quell the butterflies raging in her stomach. She was nervous. But why? For the life of her, she couldn't figure it out. She'd been to Itachi's home before, and it wasn't like they were going there for a romantic liaison anyways. It was strictly business. Strictly. Business.

"Are you feeling alright?" Itachi asked, seeming to pick up on some of her tension.

"Uhm… yeah." Even to herself, Hinata's voice sounded tinny. Like she was talking through a cheap walkie talkie.

"Are you sure?" Itachi's face furrowed into a concerned frown.

"Absolutely."

Itachi guided his car into his delegated parking space and killed the engine. "You know, it you don't want to talk about something you can just say so. It beats lying to me, you know."

"I'm sorry."

"Why don't you trust me?"

"I do." There was no hesitation her reply, "I… I just don't really know what's wrong with me myself. I kind of feel weird right now. Like my insides are made out of plastic."

Itachi nodded, "Alright. I guess I'll just have to settle for that until you figure the rest out." He offered her a crooked grin. "Come along, Bed Thief. Let's get you settled in."

"I am not a bed thief." Hinata protested, "If anything you're the Bed Relinquisher."

The two laughed and settled into their usual routine of playful banter.

Hinata changed into her favorite pair of pajamas, the ones with Kermit the frog on them. She said goodnight to Itachi, crawled into bed, and was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Her sleep was restful and dreamless. It left her feeling more refreshed that she had in days.

Shuffling out of bed, Hinata decided she wanted a shower before she wanted to brave the rest of the day. Stepping carefully into the bath, she slid the glass door shut and cranked the water on.

Shampooing her hair, Hinata fell into the familiar, relaxed rhythm. Soon, the hot water began to fog the small space and something caught her attention from the corner of her eye.

There on the sliding doors, written in clear chap stick were the words : SLEEP WELL BITCH?