Disclaimer: The list of things I own are regrettably slim and nowhere on that piece of paper is there anything to do with the possession of the Naruto characters. They belong on a much bigger list that is not only unfortunately hard to steal but comes with a big, fat, heterosexual stamp on it. Life sucks that way.

Full Summary: Naruto gets severely injured saving Sasuke's life on a mission and even with his healing he's still in the hospital three weeks after the incident. The only way he can be allowed out is if someone's willing to take care of him. Sasuke may just be offering himself up for the task - but what's the catch?

Pairing List: Sasuke/Naruto

Chapters: 1/8

Updates: Each chapter should be posted every four days after the previous one unless outside interference prevents me from reaching the internet/computer to upload it.

Beta: "In eighteen years precisely the planets will align ever so nicely…" – "Aye, verse." WAIT, WHAT! I'm sorry; I was distracted, by my beta. But that's okay, since it's her a/n anyway. So let's all celebrate and give thanks to the awesomeness that is Lady Ivvy! She's so fast and so efficient that she's going to have me running out of work to give her soon D: But regardless of that, everyone applaud her and give her awesome shit, yeah? Please and thank you! Lol.

A/N: Well, it sure has been a while since I've posted something, hasn't it? I suppose I could spout some crap about real life getting in the way - which, yeah, that's true - but it's not like I promised anything at a specific time (and you probably all know what it's like when fanfiction has to take a backseat) so I don't think I'll do that. Let's just settle with the fact that I have something for you now and deal with the next sizable break when it comes, yes?

Now; to the more important notes that regard this story - which, in all honesty, didn't start out with any actual plan. I just wanted to write some kind of Sasuke/Naruto and then it was suddenly spiralling out of control as paragraph after paragraph formed dragging a selection of plots to go with it. The idea that I have for this one now is… okay, perhaps little cliché, but I really don't care. I've always kind of wanted to do an Injured!Naruto and NurseMaid!Sasuke fic, so, here it is.

I hope my story will be at least a little different and not a complete bore. I suppose the fact that any Sasuke/Naruto is good will help - but to feel better in myself, I tried to add some more substance to it. I don't have much else to say about this other than the fact I hope you like it. So, yeah. Let me know?

I would also like to add a fewimportant notes (edited in on the 05/04/10 or 04/05/10) that FlyingTackle informed me weren't in this (or chapter two's) A/N and should have been.

Number one; Sasuke has in fact been in Sound/away/etc and has come back. This will be covered more strongly in the later chapters, but I just wanted you to know. (Oh and on a similar vein, you can probably tell it's largely AU since, oh hey, he's actually on Konoha's side. But whatever.) Number two; Sasuke, Naruto, etc are all about seventeen/eighteen in this story and Number three; If Sasuke seems rather OOC so far it's because it's a part of the story. I'm trying to keep him mostly in character (as I see fit) but there are large fluctuations (hence Naruto's comments of: "Why is he acting so weird?") that are a part of the story and his ~feelings. So I hope you can bear with me on that.

That should be all, but if anyone has any other questions or something, feel free to ask me in a review, I'll try and answer them as best I can, and if I think they're relevant enough for all readers to see, I'll add them here as well.

Thank you and enjoy.

Chapter 1

Everything hurt. That was the extent of what Naruto's brain could currently comprehend; anything else was easily shoved aside to make way for that blaring piece of information. Everything fucking hurt.

Naruto wanted to groan over how much pain his body was currently making him suffer through; it felt worse than when Sasuke had shoved that Chidori through his chest. He also wanted to curse - with Sasuke being the main subject of his anger as it was a natural reaction by now - but the long ingrained lessons of Shinobi survival refused to let him utter a sound or even twitch.

Keeping his breathing even, he tried to focus on the smells and noise around him, trying to remember where he was and how the hell he had gotten there.

The memories were slow to begin their return, coming in dribs and drabs as the mission he'd had with Sasuke came back to him.

- Flashback -

They'd gone to Lightning Country to steal a scroll that some bandits had managed to get a hold of. It was meant to be routine, but unknown to their intelligence the bandit's leader was a missing Rock nin and had caused them some trouble.

They'd managed to kill off most of the bandits and had taken the scroll before beating a hasty retreat since they were outnumbered and also ill prepared for a ninja of his caliber.

They hadn't managed to get far back into Fire Country before the ninja and his friends caught up with them and a battle began. They'd managed to kill off most of them easily enough until only the Rock nin and a few bleeding bandits were left. Naruto had been finishing off the last of the bandits when some innate sense had gone off and he'd glanced over to check on Sasuke.

The Rock ninja was holding him tightly - using a massive amount of his chakra to do it - as one of the bandits that Naruto hadn't realised was left standing held up a sword; it gleamed an unnatural green despite there being very little light to allow the effect. It was at that moment that Naruto could fully understand what Sasuke had said to him on the bridge when they were children.

"My body moved on its own."

In one second Naruto was throwing a bandit to the side with a kunai lodged in his stomach. The next he was in front of Sasuke, a sword ripping through his chest and pain overtaking his senses. He saw the surprise register on the bandit's face as his body shut down, allowing him to view things somewhat mutely as he collapsed to his knees. The movement took the sword with him as it slipped uselessly out of the bandit's still stunned grasp.

He could barely remember what happened after that as his mind started to slow with something more than pain and blood loss. What he knew logically wouldn't have been more than five minutes felt like hours before Sasuke was bent in front of him. Sasuke's face had been pure panic as he said things Naruto couldn't hear. Sasuke had ripped out the sword than but Naruto couldn't feel it as his eyes fell with Sasuke's to look at the weapon.

A part of his mind - that sounded so much like a lecturing Sakura - translated what he saw into something he could understand. The blade was littered with symbols and was not only chakra but poison enhanced. He knew than that this wouldn't be particularly quick or easy death.

Sasuke gently touched his cheek, making Naruto focus on him. His face was blank, but Sasuke's eyes were still fearful when he spoke again, but Naruto couldn't seem to hear him. He wanted to calm his usually stoic friend though, so he tried to smile- but before he knew it, he had fallen forward into Sasuke's arms and unconsciousness.

- End Flashback -

Mulling over the information, Naruto could come to the somewhat comforting conclusion that at least he wasn't dead. His nose and ears were starting to catch up with his brain and he picked up the telltale signs of a hospital. The room he was in seemed to be quiet though, and he could only conclude he'd been out of it for a long time if he was moved to one of the lesser used wings.

Not feeling particularly comforted by that thought, he decided to try to get his eyes to open so he could survey his surroundings and possibly find a way to get someone's attention. He hated hospitals, especially when he was as confused about his health - and what had happened - as he was.

Forcing his eyelids to cooperate through sheer force of will, he managed to snap them open. He scrunched them closed a moment later as the bright lights burned his retinas, making him hold back a hiss. Ignoring this other part of his body that was joining the 'aches and pains' list, he blinked a few times until he could look around the room without flinching.

The first thing he was able to confirm was that he was indeed in one of the lesser used wards of the Konoha hospital. There were at least five other patients in the room with him, so he could only assume that while his injury was bad, it wasn't overly life-threatening and that he hadn't been out for too long - even if this reaction to an injury was a little unusual and worrying by his body's standards.

Continuing to dart his eyes around - like fuck he was attempting to move his neck at this point - he took a quick glance at himself, wondering if he could spot any obvious bandages or injuries, but his thoughts screeched to a stunned halt as he found, laying with their head just beside his left thigh, was a fast asleep Sasuke Uchiha.

Gaping slightly at the other man, Naruto completely ignored the fact that his jaw was aching from the small movement as he was too focused on the fact that Sasuke was sleeping by his bed. That Sasuke was keeping a - somewhat - vigilant seat at his bedside and that Sasuke was looking like he hadn't slept - or showered - properly in the last forty-eight hours.

What the hell!

Naruto allowed himself a few moments to just stare in bewilderment at his - loosely acknowledged - best friend while trying to think up a legitimate reason for the other to be sleeping by his feet.

After almost two minutes of staring - and slight concern that Sasuke hadn't woken up at feeling eyes on him - he could only conclude that Sasuke had been taking a long string of missions while he'd been unconscious and on his - possibly forced - visit, he'd fallen asleep from exhaustion. It was the best Naruto could come up with, and with his worry for his own health starting to push more forcefully at the back of his mind, he finally allowed his contemplation of Sasuke to be shelved for the moment.

Opening his mouth, he did his best to speak, his voice coming out a rough croak, "Sas-uke?"

The reaction was instantaneous as Sasuke suddenly shot into a sitting position. His eyes and face became emotionless but for the guarded look to them. Naruto was almost relieved at seeing something so familiar, with his last memory of Sasuke being that terror-filled scene.

His relief however, was short lived as Sasuke seemed to finally register he was the one to have spoken. His eyes widened slightly and Naruto swore he saw Sasuke's whole posture lose a large amount of tension.

"Naruto," he practically whispered, eyes locked on the blonde's as a million emotions seemed to pass through his eyes, making Naruto blink at him. His confusion and worry for Sasuke was beginning to double.

He tried to express his concern without killing his parched throat. "What, ha-happened?"

Suddenly all the seemingly softness of Sasuke's features was gone and in its place came anger; hot and scolding anger that was focused on Naruto in the form of one of his deadliest glares. Naruto would have flinched if he wasn't so sure his body would be wracked with pain from it.

"You fucking idiot!" Sasuke all but snarled, "How fucking dare you go in front of me and in the path of that fucking sword! What the hell possessed you to do such a retarded thing like that! Do you have any idea how close you came to fucking dying? I had to drag your sorry ass all the way back to Konoha where they barely had enough time to inject all the antidotes to the poisons littering that blade! They could barely keep you in a stable condition for the first three days!"

Naruto was staring wide-eyed by the time the Uchiha had finished his rant. He was standing up and leaning slightly over the hospital bed, looking all the more menacing as his Sharingan blazed fiercely in his eyes. Naruto could only look at him with shock as one thought went through his mind. I must have really scared him to make him swear that much.

Sasuke only further proved Naruto's theory as he sunk back down into his chair, eyes fading back to their usual colour as he looked at Naruto with the closest thing to helplessness Naruto was sure anyone would ever see.

They were silent for a long moment, Naruto unsure what to say and Sasuke most likely brooding over everything he'd just blurted out. Suddenly he stood up, startling Naruto slightly.

"I'm going to get a nurse," he said tersely.

Sasuke hadn't taken more than three steps when Naruto spoke up, his voice still a rasp, "Sasuke." The other paused and tilted his head minutely to look at the blonde from the corner of his eye. Naruto wasn't even sure what he wanted to say, so he settled with an awkward and wholly inadequate solution, "Did you give Tsunade the scroll?"

Sasuke's eyes flashed and his lips formed a thin, tight line. "Yes."

Without another word he was out of the room, leaving Naruto to stare at the door. He suddenly felt weary as he turned his gaze to the wall on the opposite side of the room. He kind of just wanted to go back into the land of unconsciousness; it was looking much less hassling than his life was about to become.

-break-

Naruto had actually been starting to doze despite the continued ache in his limbs, when the door banged open, making him flinch and screw up his eyes. His body trembling from pain as he sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. Why the fuck does everything hurt if I was stabbed through the chest?

"Brat. You awake?" Tsunade's voice asked, cutting through the haze of mind-numbing pain.

"Fucking, ow," was all he managed to get out before grinding his teeth again; it felt like he was getting hit by multiple senbon and shuriken - from the inside out.

He felt a hand on his forehead and he almost jerked back from the touch; her hand was so cold. She sighed above him, and even though her words were brazen, he could hear the worry and sympathy under them.

"Worst is yet to come, brat. Your body's got about six different toxins in it and most of them will have lingering effects even after your body's flushed them out with fever. It'll probably take a month to fully recover - even with your healing." He opened his eyes into slits to stare at her; Tsunade's face was drawn into a tight frown. "You're extremely lucky to be alive."

Naruto did his best to summon up a smile as he answered, "So I've heard."

She seemed to relax slightly at his attempt and she let a glare slip on her face. "Always have to make things difficult, don't you? Damn, kid."

Grunting a reply while screwing up his face, he felt small shivers wrack his frame, which only brought about a new wave of pain. God, he hoped she'd give him something to get rid of this. Hell, he'd take a punch to the head at this point - anything to dull it would be fantastic right about now.

"Can't you give him anything to make him sleep?" Naruto heard Sasuke ask with some amount of annoyance in his voice. He mentally praised and thanked the Uchiha for voicing the query.

Tsunade's answer however, made his heart sink. "We don't know what will adversely affect his system, so for the time being… he'll just have to tough his way through it."

Opening his eyes, Naruto glared at her as best he could. "I hate you."

She glanced at him, and a small smile twitched at her lips. "Brat," but instead of saying more like he expected her to, she turned to Sasuke and said, "You've been here every night anyway, so I hardly doubt you'll mind making it official." She looked between the two of them with equal intensity, "Watch him."

Sasuke barely got the time to give a curt nod before she was walking past him and disappearing back into the bowels of the hospital. Huh. Naruto thought while looking back at Sasuke. He's been here the whole time?

Keeping his eyes on the other as Sasuke sat back down on the chair by Naruto's bed. Naruto waited for the last wave of pain to dull down enough that he could push the screaming of his body far, far away before speaking. "Get me some water, bastard."

His voice still sounded scratchy and it was also a lot weaker than usual; if Sasuke noticed, he didn't comment on it. Reaching over to the tray-table, Sasuke grabbed a cup and held it to Naruto's lips, the usual barb slipping out from habit alone when some water started to roll down his chin. "Tch. Idiot."

Naruto held down his smile as he drank half of the small cup. When Sasuke removed it to place it back on the table, Naruto started debating whether or not to start a conversation or just try and go to sleep. Sitting back down in his seat, the Uchiha surprised him by speaking first, "Go to sleep."

A spark of anger flared to life inside Naruto, and before he could stop it, the reply was slipping out, "What if I don't want to?"

Sasuke looked at him with exasperation. "Did you even hear what the Hokage said? You need all the damn rest you can get."

And didn't that just bring to mind a question that overrode his need to argue with Sasuke. "Hey, how long was out for?"

Something that Naruto couldn't identify passed across Sasuke's face and the Uchiha tensed visibly in his seat. It took him a few moments before he was able to relax himself and reply, "I brought you back to Konoha two weeks ago, but there was an extra two days travelling where you wouldn't wake up."

Naruto gaped slightly at Sasuke. "Holy shit. That's just… insane. What the hell was on that blade?" Naruto paused, frowning. "Hey, wait. If I was unconscious for that long, why the hell should I still need to sleep?"

"To heal, dumbass," Sasuke snapped out.

Naruto almost rolled his eyes, but managed to stop himself at the last second, he figured it would probably only make things worse. "Well, I'm not tired."

"Just go to sleep."

A small, indignant frown formed on Naruto's face. "No, you can't make me, asshole."

"Naruto." His name so rarely used by Sasuke and said in such a harsh and almost strained voice made him pay instant attention. "I… I don't want you getting worse."

Eyes widening, Naruto looked at Sasuke with a healthy dose of shock swimming in his blue irises. Sasuke... cared?

"Sasuke…" Naruto murmured before trailing off, not even sure what he wanted to say to him.

"Just go to sleep, Naruto." Sasuke said tiredly, not looking at him as his posture faintly slumped.

It took a few moments of consideration, but this time Naruto decided not to argue, and with one more puzzled glance at Sasuke, he let his eyes close.

A/N: So this is the first chapter: what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Got a critique about it? Well you've come to the right place!

See that little review button at the bottom centre of the screen? Just click that and all your thoughts - with the help of a keyboard - can be sent straight to me, the author - for my reading, dissecting and replying pleasure. Isn't this a great piece of sophisticated technology? Why don't you try it out? I'd love to hear from you. *innocent smile*