Ding, dong.

Good morning, Mr. Tanaka.

     Sasuke's robotic alarm woke him up. He groaned and rolled to his other side, having just been dreaming about finally, just maybe seeing his family again.

      The hospital's chemical smell stung at his nostrils, especially so since the janitors had been in overnight. The whiny hospital lights vied for his attention in a tug of war with the deep sleep that Sasuke was gradually emerging from.

        Ding, dong.

        Good morning, Mr. Tanaka.

       The computerized voice was practically singed into Sasuke's memory at this point. He had been stuck there for six years, and every damn morning that thing went off. On the rare occasion that he could sleep, it woke him up during the best dreams.

         "Ding, dong."

          "Good morning, Mr. Tanaka."

          Sasuke was just about ready to throw hands when he realized that it wasn't his alarm this time. His love, and also Dana Taylor's daughter, was playfully mimicking the alarm's tones and peeking through the doorway.

          This, and only this, was what got Sasuke to sit up. "Jax," he smiled sleepily. "Come in."

          "Hey cutie," she giggled. "Sleep well?"

      He rubbed his eyes and nodded. "You?"

      Jax nodded, even though she rarely ever slept and was mostly out looking at stars or trying to drum up trouble with the night shifts. "You know something? Dana says we're gonna get you out of here pretty soon. Just a few more tests."

        There was the faintest spark of hope in Sasuke's eyes before it smothered away. "She always says that."

         Jax frowned. "I know, 'suke. Just...maybe this time, she's right?"

        Sasuke shrugged.

        A smirk tugged at the corner of Jax's lips. "I wouldn't want you to leave, anyway, you know. That means I won't get to see your face every day."

       "Consider that a luxury," Sasuke joked.

      "Um, lie," Jax said, sitting next to him on the bed. "You're, like, adorable."

       "Not as much as you," Sasuke responded, wrapped his arm around her shoulders. When she smiled and rested her head on his chest, he rested his chin atop her head. "I would like to stay here, though, if it means being with you."

        "Psh. I was kidding," Jax said. "It's not like you being released from this hellhole could make us grow apart. Nothing could."

        Sasuke smiled at the wishful thinking of his girlfriend. He kissed the top of her head sweetly. "Damn right. We're inseparable."

       Jax giggled. "As long as we're together, it's gonna be okay..." her fingers laced with his.

      As long as we're together...