Fear Nothing - Prologue

Itachi sighed and hung up the phone. He hated this. This would be the third time he had to do this and always he would feel sick to his stomach. Deidara and Hidan would be here any minute now to take him to the police station. He picked up his phone and put it in his pocket and put on his jacket just as the door bell rang. He took a deep breath and walked to the door to answer it. Deidara and Hidan both smiled at him. He gave a half smile back.

"Are you ready, un?" Deidara asked. Itachi nodded firmly. He wanted this to be over with. Hidan slid behind the wheel while he slid into the passenger seat and Deidara sat in the back. The drive was only fifteen minutes but it felt like it flew a lot faster when you dreaded it. They pulled into the police parking lot and parked. Hidan and Deidara were out of the car quickly while Itachi took his time.

They walked slowly up the steps and Hidan held the door for them. Itachi walked in and was greeted by Detective Monroe. "Hey there Itachi. Are you ready?" He asked. Itachi closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "Yeah, let's go." He said. Detective Monroe led Itachi to a back room. The room was dark with a window into a viewing room. It was the type where you could look in but they couldn't look out. This is where they did the identity line up.

Itachi sat down at the desk. He clenched his fists as his stomach turned. Hidan and Deidara were allowed back with him for moral support and Deidara offered it now. He held out a hand which Itachi took. Hidan reached out on the other side and Itachi took his hand as well. He wouldn't have been able to do this if they weren't here. He remembered throwing up a couple of times the first time he had had to do this.

He squeezed the offered hands tightly as the light came on. Five figures stood with their backs to him. He shivered at the thought of having to say yes or no of each one. Detective Monroe spoke softly. "You know what to do Itachi. If the man that raped you is here you have to tell us so. If not you have to tell us either way." Itachi nodded and swallowed hard. Detective Monroe spoke into the microphone.

"Will suspect number one turn around and face the glass please." The suspect turned to face the glass and Itachi closed his eyes. He opened them slowly at the encouraging hands squeezing back on his own. He eyed the suspect and lowered his head. "No. It's not him." He said almost above a whisper. Detective Monroe nodded and asked the second to turn around.

Again Itachi felt like he could run screaming from the room and once again Deidara placed his free hand on Itachi's shoulder giving him the courage to go on. He focused on the second one. He shook his head. "No, it's not him." He said. Detective Monroe nodded. "You're doing fine Itachi." He said. Itachi nodded and wished he felt as confident. The third was asked to turn around and Itachi breathed slowly as he felt the light headedness come on a little heavier.

He looked at the third one and again shook his head. "No." He said thickly. "Just two more, un. Then we can get out of here." Deidara said softly. Itachi nodded and tried to smile but it felt as though his face was frozen in a frown forever. Detective Monroe asked the fourth to turn around and Itachi didn't hesitate to look. He felt confident as he eyed him. "No. It's not him." He said yet again.

The fifth was asked to turn around and Itachi's nerves were once again singing. He swallowed the urge to scream and eyed his fifth possible suspect. Relief and disappointment ran through him as he shook his head. "No. It's not him." He said standing up on shaky legs. Deidara threw his arms around Itachi and gave him a hug. Itachi hugged back grateful for his friends.

They walked back out to the main area of the station and Detective Monroe called the three of them into his office. "Itachi, I have to tell you something. I have been transferred to Anchorage Alaska. I won't be the Detective on your case anymore." He said somewhat sadly. Itachi began to panic. "So what does that mean? You are going to drop my case?"" Itachi asked. Detective Monroe leaned forward. "No, no, no. I will simply be giving it to another Detective." He said waving his hands in a surrender like manor.

Itachi began to calm as he sat back in his chair once more. "Who will be the Detective on my case then?" He asked. Detective Monroe smiled. "He is a great Detective. You will like him. He is fresher and younger than me so he is full of pep. He won't let you down. We will find this guy Itachi. What he did to you and others I am sure is unforgivable and he will be punished." Detective Monroe said. "Yeah if we ever find him." Itachi said sullenly.

"We will. With this new Detective on the case I have a feeling he will find this guy a lot quicker." Monroe said. "What's his name?" Itachi asked. Monroe gave a smile. Detective Kisame Hoshigake. He is twenty seven but he knows his stuff. As a matter of fact I was wondering if you could come in tomorrow morning at ten o'clock to meet him. I think it will help you out to get to know who will be working your case." Monroe said.

"I would like that." Itachi said. Monroe nodded and stood. Itachi stood as well and they shook hands as they always did before parting. "Don't lose faith Itachi. Dirt bags like them always turn up." Monroe said. Itachi nodded and gave a small smile. He walked out of the police station feeling a little on the down side. "So the suspects were a dead end and I get a new Detective working my case. That's wonderful." Itachi said gloomily as he got into the car.

Deidara squeezed his shoulder and Hidan put a hand on his knee. "Just remember what Detective Monroe said. Guys like that always make mistakes. He will turn up Itachi." Hidan said. He started the car and drove to their favorite restaurant. "You will have to pay for mine, un. I don't get paid until tomorrow." Deidara said. Hidan laughed. "What else is new?" He said and Itachi actually laughed.

They entered the restaurant and their favorite hostess put them at their usual table. The waitress they liked knew their orders without asking and went to put it up. Itachi sat back and sighed. His life had been so simple before this had happened. He still had nightmares which his doctor had prescribed sleeping pills for but the pills made him sleep so hard that he could never seem to get up in the morning on time. His therapist had told him he should try chamomile and he had retched the first time he tasted it.

He closed his eyes and tried to forget about the past eight months. He wanted his life back.