Do forgive me for my two week absence. working two jobs is exhausting I tell you that. Also thank you to trafalgars for the nice review! It's defiantly keeping me motivated! Again I don't own any of One Piece or it's characters in this story except for my original characters. Enjoy!

Agony

That's all that Law could feel.

When they had arrived, Ione was tied to a chair and one of the men had a pistol pointed directly in front of her forehead. If they would have came a second later, Ione would have dead, but by the looks of her appearance one would have thought she was. Her once porcelain skin was bathed in blood, bruises appeared everywhere on her body from her legs to her arms. Her face was completely swollen— eyes were swollen shout and her hair was matted and caked in blood. She didn't look human.

The grinning face Doflamingo usually wore was gone replaced by a feral snarl; his veins bulged out from his forehead as he advanced to the panicking men. Corazon rushed to Ione and placed his hands on her face to sooth the girl, to let her know that she was safe. Law felt like his lungs instantly filled up with air as he saw her flinched which meant she was still alive.

Law's feet moved forward slowly to the scene, getting more of an up close view. Her feathered jacket laid tattered on the floor next to her leg stained in red. One of her hands was strapped to a table. Out the corner of his eye he saw the familiar black and white bracelet on Ione's wrist that miraculously didn't have a speck of blood on it. Turning his view more directly on it he started to feel relieved that she still had it on her until his eyes landed on something that made him sick. Two bloody stumps that used to hold fingers were present on her hands. Streaks of blood steady flowing out the stumps. Inches from her hands were the two fingers pointing to her hand as if pointing out to where they used to belong.

Bile rose up in the back of Law's throat as he tried to swallow it back down. Ione wasn't just tortured, she was butchered. Corazon seeing him coming closer pulled his hands from her cheek and took a step back to let the boy and girl meet each other after their ordeal. He looked on sadly as he saw Law shakily bring his hands up to Ione's face. Ione relaxed as if she could sense that it was him. Law closed his eyes and swallowed hard as he tried to fight off the sobs that wanted to escape his body. He brought one his hands down to cup her damaged not caring that her blood wet his hand.

"I couldn't protect you." he said in a weak tone as he held his head down, his hat covering his eyes as tears streamed down his face.

It hurt Corazon to see the two of them in such a state. He had forgiven Law long ago for the stabbing incident and has since grown accustomed to Law. He especially found it interesting how he and Ione interacted with each other. It was… cute. Ione defiantly melted the ice Law created around him. They didn't have a care in the world when they were around each other and it was very clear that they shared a special bond with each other. But seeing them in pain besides in happiness made his stomach hurt. They shouldn't have to deal with such pain, no child should. He already knows that the innocence they once held has since left them a long time ago, but Corazon still thinks there is a chance for them to get that back, he'll make sure of that.

Corazon's heart broke more when he saw Ione tilt her head forward resting it against Law's forehead as her own sign of comfort even though it was she who needed the most comfort, but that was just who she was. Ione was a selfless person.

Corazon notice that the room had quieted down. He looked over to see his brother wiping the blood residue from his hands. He guessed from the dismembered body parts that layer around, that he was finished with the men. Doflamingo turned to were Ione and Law were and walked over to them. He used his strings to cut the bindings to free Ione and grasped Law's hand to pull it away from her cheek, then used a cloth to wrap around Ione's hand.

"Pick up her fingers. There is still a chance to have them reattached. If you really want to be a doctor you should have known this by now instead of gawking at her. We need to hurry and get her to the ship." Doflamingo commanded as he picked up Ione and cradled her to his chest causing her to cry out from the pain that radiated throughout her delicate body.

"I got you my little dove." he cooed in a sickly sweet voice as he walked out the room leaving Corazon and Law behind.

Corazon frowned as he looked at Law who looked at the door that Doflamingo walked out of with a blank face. He pitied the boy as Corazon walked over to the table to grab the dismembered fingers and place them in his pocket. Turning to Law he pick him and laid him over his shoulder. Law didn't put up a struggle as he loosely wrapped his arms around Corazon's neck hid his face as they walked out the nightmare room.

Corazon fought the urge to cringe as he entered the ship to the sounds of Jora, Baby 5 and Buffalo crying after seeing their wounded crew mate. Law simply pulled his hat down over his ears to drown out the crying as they made their way to the infirmary. Even Señor Pink wore a frown over his face as they walked past. The others like Pica and Diamante kept a straight face, but one could tell that they were pretty upset too.

In the infirmary, Doflamingo laid Ione out on the bed and was rubbing her head looking down at her. Ione had finally passed out from exhaustion and laid motionless. Without lifting his head up Doflamingo spoke.

"I hope all those bodies I gave you to experiment and study came at a good use seeing as you will be doing the task of repairing her hand. I hope you wont fail her. That would be tragic doctor Law."

Corazon having set Law down stiffened at the words said to him. Making Law perform surgery on someone he cared about and who is also emotionally drained is not a good call to do. He didn't doubt that Law couldn't do it, it was just too much pressure for him. If he slipped up, he would forever hold himself responsible adding on to the guilt he was already feeling. But seeing as Law was the one with the most medical knowledge having studied it made him the best fit.

Law didn't say anything for a moment having looked down with his hat covering half his face. After a moment he moved to the counter to put gloves and a surgical mask on and walked over to Corazon who held on the fingers.

"I'm going to need Cora-san to assist me" he stated.

Doflamingo pulled his hand away from Ione and looked up at the two with an unreadable face. Moving forward he walked past them and paused at the door.

"Don't fail me. Don't fail her."

It took over three hours to patch Ione up. Her injuries included four broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, broken nose, fractured eye socket, and a possible head concussion. Corazon helped in cleaning her wrapping the wounds while Law was focused on the task of attaching her fingers. It was technically Law's first surgical procedure on a live patient. He remembered what nerves and tissues went with what from the practices he did with his dead subjects. In the back of his mind he was nervous about messing up jeopardizing Ione's hands and maybe causing more damage, but Law's doctor side was at the wheel on display showing deep concentration on his work.

When it was all over Ione laid silent on the bed. Law guessed that she wouldn't wake up for some time because of the trauma. Law felt Corazon place his hand on his head, indicating the good work he put in helping Ione, but Law still didn't feel much better than before. All he could do was wait as he stared at the sleeping girl.

Corazon sighed as he took a long drag of his cigarette. It has been almost a week since saving Ione and everyone has been on edge or in some cases hyper emotional case in point the hysterical cries from Jora and Baby 5's mouths whenever they walked past the infirmary or thought about the girl. Even Diamante and Trebol were quiet versus their usual snarky, cynical selves. Doflamingo too seemed more on edge being more irritable. It irked Corazon of his interest in Ione. Ever since she came to them, Doflamingo always paid special attention to her. Then again he too paid special attention to her. It was hard not to grow fond of the girl with her kind smile and warm eyes, plus she was annoying like the other brats. However he suspected it was because of her devil fruit power and how powerful it was and the potential of its magnitude in the future that Doflamingo grew such an interest, but with his brother it couldn't be that simple.

With a huff Corazon put out his cigarette and walked to the kitchen. The only person he was worried about though was Law. Law simply refused to leave Ione's beside opting to be seated right next to her bed. Corazon even offered to sit in for him in case he was worried about her being alone if he wanted to leave, but Law still refused, only accepting the offer if he had to use the restroom. Corazon even had to bring him his food, but it wasn't just him isolating himself that made Corazon worry. It was clear that the stress and the combination of the lack of sleep and appetite was affecting his health. The white blotches on his clothed body had spread to cover his cheeks and hands. He would see Law clutch his stomach and grimace from the pain that would spread but still never complained, choosing to focus his attention on Ione and her alone.

Corazon opened the refrigerator and saw that there was some left over soup. Hopefully Law would be able to eat this, if not then Corazon will gladly shove it down his throat. Corazon finally made it to the infirmary after making a second batch of soup since he tripped and spilled the first one. Law was sitting perched slouched forward on a chair facing the bed Ione laid on. His eyes looked dull, but were focused on his target, his hand unconsciously toying with the bracelet that was on the wrist of Ione's bandaged hand. She herself laid on the bed, chest moving up and down in rhythmic patterns. The swelling went down tremendously over the past few days only still leaving bruising marks.

Corazon set the soup down on the table making it sound in a clang to notify Law of it being here, but Law gave no indication of acknowledgement. Corazon waited for a few seconds until he came over and gripped Law by the back of his neck dragging him to the table. Law made a feeble attempt to claw at the arm that held him hostage but he was just too weak to do so. Law glared at Corazon when he was seated at the table, Corazon thrusting a spoon in his hand.

"I'm not hungr—?!" Before he could finish speaking a spoon full of soup was roughly placed in his mouth silencing him. Law chocked and cough as a result. Corazon just stood with his arms crossed as Law got up and pushed the bowl of soup of the table. Law looked at Corazon with big, crazed eyes that were lined with red streaks due to his insomnia.

With his new found adrenaline that coursed throughout his body Law shouted, "What's your problem?!"

Corazon didn't say anything and just looked at him with an expressionless face. Law sighed and rubbed his face in his hands. What's the point of him speaking to someone who doesn't even speak!

"She's going to be mad at you when she wakes up, seeing as how you treated yourself."

Huh?

Law shot his head up and looked at Corazon who held the same emotionless expression. He quickly looked around and saw it was just them in the room. Then were did that voice come from?

"Gosh kid you have issues."

Law jumped and look at Corazon who wore a slight smirk on his face. Law tried to talk but felt as though the words were stuck in his throat. He lifted his hand and pointed his shaking finger.

"Y-y-you ca-can talk!?" he said in astonishment looking at the now grinning man who shook his head.

"Of course I can talk, I've always been able to talk." he said as he went to light a cigarette only to stop since he was still in the infirmary with Ione in the room.

Law stared at him with his mouth agape. Question circulated in his head at what to ask him. Did Doflamingo know? Was he a spy or something? Did he mean harm to them?

Corazon seeing the predicament he was in quickly said "I will tell you everything you need to know soon, but right now is not the time."

He walked over to Ione's bed and looked at her. Law's small footsteps approached and stood next to him. Corazon reached down and moved some strands of hair from Ione's face, smiling as he brushed her hair back.

"She cares about you, ya know."

A tired smile appeared in Law's face as he looked down at the sleeping girl, glancing at her peaceful face despite the damage to it.

"Do you care about her?" Corazon asked looking at the boy. He raised an eyebrow as he saw Law frown and put his head down obviously trying to hide the dust of pink that appeared on his face.

"Of course I do."

"Then why are you doing this to yourself?"

Law kept his head down in shame. He knew that if Ione saw like this it would make her upset seeing how he just gave up…. making his death approach faster, but that was how it felt like for him to see her broken, to see her sleeping with a chance of her never waking up. Law knew that she would wake up seeing as how he treated her, but there was a voice in the back of his head that thought about if she never did. It would just hurt too much to lose someone he cared for again.

Corazon heard sniffling and turned to see Law openly crying, his hands trying to wipe the tears that escaped his eyes. Eyes softening, he pulled Law to his side rubbing his shoulder in a comforting matter.

"There there, it will be alright, I promise" he cooed at the sobbing boy.

"She's a g-good person. I-I-I'm so happy I met her!" Law cried as he wrapped his arms around Corazon's legs since he was only able to reach his thighs. Corazon smiled as he continued to rub Law's back agreeing to what he said. He had to hold back a chuckle as a thought crossed his mind. I guess he was good with children.

I light moaning sound alerted the pair soon after.

Law tore away from Corazon and rushed to the head of the bed. He could see Ione scrunching her face up; he mouth opening and closing as she turned her head. Law looked in awe as he saw blue eyes appear to meet his gray ones.

"Ione?"