𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓘𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 18

With practiced care, Sakura eased the breathing tube from the young mother's throat and passed it to the attending nurse. The young woman coughed, a harsh, rattling sound that echoed in the sterile room. Sakura waited patiently, allowing her to regain her breath, before offering a cup of water.

"Small sips, honey," Sakura murmured, tilting the cup to her lips and guiding the water in. The young mother managed a few swallows before gently pushing Sakura's hand away. "Thank you," she croaked, her voice thin and raspy. Her hand instinctively went to her throat, exploring the tenderness there. Sakura covered it with her own, squeezing gently. "That's perfectly normal after having a tube removed. Your voice will come back in time." A reassuring smile softened her features.

The young mother nodded, her gaze shifting to the two detectives standing near the foot of the bed. They exchanged a look, then glanced back at Sakura, their expressions questioning.

Sakura continued to massage the young mother's hand, providing a silent comfort. "These detectives have a few questions for you," she explained softly. "If it's too much for your throat, I can get you a pen and paper." The young mother shook her head, a small gesture of refusal.

"If it becomes overwhelming at any point, please let us know, and we'll stop," Naruto added, his voice gentle yet firm.

Another nod from the young mother. Sasuke produced a small digital recorder, placing it discreetly on the bedside table.

"Are you aware of your current medical condition?" Sasuke inquired, his dark eyes observing her as she focused on the hand Sakura held.

"Y-yes," she stammered, her gaze flicking towards the recorder.

"Do you remember what happened to you?" Naruto asked, carefully studying her body language.

Hesitantly, the words began to tumble out. "I-I was walking home from class… took a shortcut… wasn't feeling well… wanted to get home quickly… and then… he… he approached me… the man who… who fathered my child." Fear laced her voice, making it even more fragile.

"What's his name?" Sasuke pressed gently.

"Rin," she whispered, barely audible.

"Rin. And how old is he?"

"Twenty-five," she replied, looking directly at Sasuke.

Naruto crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "Was Rin aware that you are underage?"

The young mother's eyes darted from Sasuke’s intense gaze to Naruto’s stern countenance, then back to Sakura, seeking solace in her gentle presence.

Sakura squeezed her hand again, offering another warm smile. "It's okay, honey. You can tell them the truth. They're here to help you."

The young mother inhaled deeply, gathering her courage. "He… he didn't know my age when we first… got together."

Sasuke’s voice was sharp. "You lied about your age?"

The young mother flinched, pulling her hand away from Sakura's. A flash of anger crossed her face. "If you’re going to judge me, just leave. I don't want your help."

"We're not here to judge your past choices," Sasuke countered firmly. "You were brought in with life-threatening injuries. We need to know the truth so we can find the person responsible."

Naruto leaned forward, his voice laced with concern. "Are you even concerned about your child's wellbeing?"

The question struck a nerve. The young mother's body tensed. Her hand flew to her stomach, and a look of panic filled her eyes. She glanced wildly around the room before ripping the IV line from her arm.

Before anyone could react, she bolted upright, attempting to scramble out of the bed. Naruto and Sasuke reacted instantly, pinning her back down. Sakura quickly prepared a sedative.

"Calm down!" Naruto yelled, restraining her legs. "This isn't going to help!"

Tears streamed down the young mother's face as she thrashed against their hold, her cries escalating into desperate screams.

"He's right," Sasuke added, holding her arms firmly. "You're only making things worse."

Sakura, with practiced efficiency, lifted the young woman's gown, swabbed her thigh with antiseptic, and administered the sedative.

Gradually, the young mother’s struggles subsided. Her screams softened into whimpers, then faded into silence as the sedative took effect.

Sakura signaled to the detectives to release her. Gently, she pulled back the blanket and examined the surgical scar on the young woman's abdomen. "Thankfully, it hasn't reopened," she murmured, drawing the blanket back up.

"Why did she react like that when I mentioned her child?" Naruto asked, puzzled.

Sakura turned to face them, her expression grave. "She wasn't fully aware of her current situation, despite what she said. In her mind… she still believes she's pregnant."

Sasuke frowned. "How is that possible?"

"It's a coping mechanism," Sakura explained. "A way to block out the trauma."

Naruto sighed. "I think we should leave it here for today." Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"I'll post two officers outside her door until we know more," Sasuke said, watching as Sakura discarded her gloves.

"Good," Sakura replied. "I have other patients to see. I'll call you when I'm finished for the day." She leaned in and kissed Sasuke’s cheek.

"Be careful," he murmured, his voice softening. "And remember what we talked about earlier." A gentle smile touched Sakura’s lips.

"Of course, Detective," she replied, a playful smirk dancing in her eyes.

Sasuke chuckled, returning the kiss before watching her leave the room. A firm hand clamped down on his shoulder. He turned to see Naruto grinning mischievously.

"Didn't know you were into role-playing, Sasugay," Naruto teased, bursting into laughter.

Sasuke’s eyes twitched. "Say that again, and I'll make sure you never see another case file."

"What's wrong, Detective? Can't take a joke?" Naruto continued to taunt, circling his increasingly irritated partner.

"Dobe," Sasuke growled, his voice dangerously low. Naruto finally subsided. "Okay, okay, relax. We're needed back at the station anyway." He gathered their belongings, tossing Sasuke the car keys. "Your turn to drive." He then darted out the door, a childish grin plastered on his face.

Sasuke grunted, issuing clear instructions to the guards before following his boisterous partner.
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Karin slammed a bag of cash onto the table, sinking into the plush leather chair. She crossed her legs, the hem of her skirt riding up, revealing a glimpse of her thigh.

"I need legitimate documents," she stated, her voice cold and sharp, "and a child, around seven years old, who resembles this man." She slid a photograph across the polished surface. "If this isn't enough, I'm willing to pay more."

The mysterious woman across from her picked up the photo, tucking it into her waistband. She hefted the bag of cash, peered inside, and nodded.

"I'll be in touch within three business days."

Karin leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. "Two days. Or else. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am. Understood." The woman vanished as quickly as she had appeared.

Karin rose and walked to a framed picture on the desk. She picked it up, pressing her lips against the glass, her fingers tracing the image within.

"Don't worry, my love," she whispered. "One day, we'll be together. Officially." She clutched the photo to her chest, a flicker of obsession in her eyes.

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Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll be working on making my chapters longer <3