The next few days passed quickly, Law's patients increasing exponentially. As promised, he healed the children first, then the women. By the second week, three hundred people remained on the island and based on the previous days, it would only take five more days to have the rest taken care of.
But on the third day, his worst fear happened and the rumors began to spread. Barcel Bay closed its ports to them and the other islands followed suit. Law was infuriated and when news came of Barcel Bay sending the patients back…he lost all mercy.
"Get there now." He ordered Kid and Killer. "Destroy their ships and if you have to, burn down their ports. Those people are not coming back!" Nodding, the duo was quick to run off.
"Law-chan, wait, we can have this settled in a few hours—" Corazon began to protest.
"We don't have hours." He said, face blank as he paced the small kitchen where the fishermen kept the Den Den Mushi. They were in one of the restaurants and a dozen or so people were watching with anxious expressions even though they couldn't hear a thing. "You need to contact Sengoku-ya and find out what's happening on the Marine front. Was this the World Government again or our spurned nobles?"
Grimacing, the man nodded and took off for the Marine base.
Law had the villagers find him a map of the area and he began contacting other islands for aid only to be rejected. He wanted to rage, to go and raze these selfish islands to the ground, hell, even just bury his face in his hands helplessly. But the villagers' gazes burned into his back and he forced himself to remain calm. They needed him to be calm. He needed to keep them calm.
Then he had an idea. Shoulders relaxing, he left the room and smiled at them. "This is a minor setback. It doesn't change anything, we're going to get all of you off this island."
The men took his word for it and the tense atmosphere dissipated.
Forty tortuous minutes later, the kids returned and Law explained his plan.
"Oh shit, why didn't we think of that?" Kid asked in surprise. "Yeah, my ship could probably fit us all. It'll be a tight squeeze, but they can deal with it. And it's not like we're leavin' the Blue…but it'll take a few days to get the engine built and actually gettin' it to the water is gonna be an issue too."
Law rubbed his face. "We don't have that kind of time."
"Time for what?"
Jumping, they turned to see Sengoku, the man looking angrier than they'd ever seen, past or present. Law straightened. "Who was it?"
"The Edwardo Family." He said with a scowl. "We caught them attempting to flee the island and have incarcerated them. You were correct, they didn't want to lose their subjects."
Law hummed. "It's a minor setback. My main concern is for the people in Barcel Bay. They need to get away from that island—"
"How? We just sunk all their ships." Kid asked.
"That's the problem, isn't it?" He shot back in irritation, angry that his poor decision had stranded those people in a hostile environment.
"The Fist is on his way!" Corazon called as he stumbled into the room, Den Den Mushi held protectively in his hands as he fell face-first. He grinned up at them and held up the snail to Sengoku. "Here, Tou-san!"
The Admiral took it. "Sengoku."
"Ah, Senny! I've heard you got yourself into a bit of a mess!" The snail laughed.
"Garp, what are you doing?" Sengoku demanded.
"I got curious! You just take off and suddenly you're investigating hazardous material poisoning a country? It sounds like fun!"
"Jesus Christ." Kid said in horror. "Everything's gonna go tits up…"
"I didn't sign up for a Monkey…" Law groaned, burying his face in his hands. He didn't doubt the man could help, but he didn't know how similar he was to his grandson.
"Garp, this is a serious matter. There are four hundred fifty innocents that need to be evacuated from Barcel Bay immediately!" Sengoku exclaimed. "How many ships are at your disposal?"
"Eh…one, two…three. I had five, but, well, we ran into Newgate. Yeah, we've got room for the poor bastards. Alright men, we're on a rescue mission!" The snail shouted and they heard cheers. "To Barcel Bay!"
"How long will it take you to get there?" Sengoku demanded.
"Eh? We're already here. Oh, they look like they've been raided."
"I'll just-er, go contact the families…" Kid said before he hurried out of the kitchen to find the snail.
"Emergency cauterization of a wound." Law told the Den Den Mushi. "We will contact the refugees and arrange their pick-up. Do you have a fax Den Den, Fist-ya?"
"Probably. Why?"
"I will send you copies of the names of the refugees to ensure everyone is accounted for." He told him, lifting up his bag.
"Ah, good idea, brat! Hey Senny, you employing kids now?"
"He is in charge of this operation." Sengoku replied with an amused smile. "He only came to me for help when the nobles began to interfere."
Law ignored them as he finally found the folder and he handed it to Corazon. "This is a list of every patient I've treated."
The man ruffled his hair before taking off to go have it faxed over.
Then Kid returned with the other snail. "They'll all be at the eastern coast. They've been quarantined in the prison, so they'll need to be broken out."
"Even the newborns?!" Law demanded in outrage. "I won't let this become another Flevance!" He bolted from the room, heading for the hospital to get materials in case his room failed.
"Sengoku-san," Killer began calmly. "Would you please accompany Law-san to treat the refugees?"
"I'll go give Tanushi-san a heads-up." Kid said quickly before also leaving.
"Of course." Sengoku agreed immediately. "What should I watch for?"
"He'll collapse, but it will be momentary." He replied. "Maybe to his knees, maybe he'll catch himself on something, but when he falters he is tapping into his emergency reserves. At that point if he continues to heal them, keep an eye on his hands. When they begin to shake, he is at his limit and needs to be stopped."
Nodding in understanding, he headed for the fishing boats while Killer went to go inform the villagers before they panicked. He would also need to warn Corazon of a slight chance of mutiny from the Marines.
Ten long minutes later, the fisherman, Law, and Sengoku were at the eastern shore and the Marine Warships came into view.
"Head out into the ocean." Law told Tanushi. "Well out of the range of cannon fire just in case. We'll need a lift back."
"You got it, buddy. Be careful." The man said as Sengoku grabbed Law around the waist and leapt up onto the nearest ship.
"Senny!" Garp greeted, glomping Sengoku.
"Gah!" Law exclaimed as he was crushed by the hug. Thankfully the man released Sengoku and peered at him.
"And brat!"
Law ignored the name. "There are newborns being held in that prison. I need to get to them quickly before they succumb to the harsh environment."
"I don't usually take orders from a no-good waif like you, but this time I'll make an exception." Garp said cheerfully. "Let's go men!"
Using planks, they all headed onto land and most went to surround the prison to keep away the rioting crowd. But the Vice Admiral and Admiral quickly made their way into the compound. Guards and more vitriol-spewing townspeople were apprehended and taken into custody but when they found the right floor, Law shoved himself free of Sengoku and ran to a specific cell. "It's alright everyone, we're going to get you all out of here." He used armament Haki to strengthen his hand and ripped the lock off the door before pulling it open. "Dana, Mary, Alice, Tani, Nochiko, Moni, Mira, Amelia, Kisa, Kora, Demi, and Dory, allow me to examine your children before I check you."
As the Marines began calling roll, Law took care of a few minor infections in the infants as the refugees were escorted to the ships. They were otherwise completely healthy and he began to heal the mothers, finding bruises and cuts that he was also forced to heal.
On his fourth mother, a dizzy spell overcame him and the woman steadied him in alarm. "Are you okay, Law-kun?"
Taking a deep breath, he straightened. "I'm fine. Let's finish taking care of you all." Pushing aside the lightheadedness, he continued working and to his relief there were no other complications and he was happy to tell them, "You'll be just fine as long as you follow the meal plans I assigned you."
With heartfelt thanks, they allowed themselves to be escorted out by their husbands and an entourage of Marines.
Running a hand through his hair, Law took a moment to get a grip on himself before he joined Garp and Sengoku. "How is it?"
"Nearly everyone's been accounted for." Sengoku told him. "The last few refugees are being checked in now."
Closing his eyes briefly in relief, he asked, "Any injuries?"
"Nothing our medics can't handle. You've done enough Law-chan." Sengoku said calmly.
Law looked up at him in confusion, something about what the man said niggling at his mind, but it was too fuzzy to focus. What had he called him?
Garp laughed. "Look at you, you're dead on your feet!" He crouched down and grasped Law's arms, lifting them up to reveal they were quaking even in the man's grip.
After a second, Law processed that and tried to jerk away from him. "Hey! Let go!"
Instead, the man lifted him up by his arms and a muscle in Law's jaw jumped as he clenched his teeth tightly against the pain. His ribs were still tender.
"Don't put so much stress on my ribs or they'll fracture again." He said in annoyance as he glared at the man.
"You're just like my no-good grandson!" The Vice Admiral laughed as he wrapped his arm around Law's legs so that he was sitting on it. "You'll be a powerful Marine when you're older!"
"I'd rather die!" He shouted furiously. Struggling to get free, but his legs may as well have been encased in steel. "Let go of me you crazy old man!"
The man just laughed. "You're at the end of your rope, brat. Just relax and let us handle the rest."
'I got this Tora-o. Relax, okay? Here, watch this for me.'
A weight on his head brought him out of the memory and he realized Garp hat put his dog hat on his head. "Watch that for me, would you? I got some insubordinate subordinates to beat up."
Then Law was in Sengoku's arms and Garp was suddenly across the field, fist connecting with the Marine Commander's head.
His own head was starting to hurt. "What just happened, Ojii-ya…?" He asked in a weak voice.
The man sighed, shifting Law so that his head was resting on his shoulder. "Garp has decided he likes you."
"Why? Make him stop." He muttered, the warm weight of Sengoku's hand on his back making it hard to resist the darkness tugging on his vision. He'd overdone it…
"That would be like trying to tame the Grand Line, buddy." He chuckled. "Why don't you rest while I take care of our guests?"
"You're ruining my image." He huffed but allowed himself to be swept away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~rp~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He woke up in time to see the others off and they gathered on the decks as he addressed them all.
"I know you've all been through so much already and now you're moving even farther from home." He said solemnly as he looked over his patients. "You're worried and afraid. Don't be." He gave them a wide smile. "It's almost over. For those of you with family still on Mangrove, I have your information and they will join you as soon as they can. Don't worry anymore, you're in good hands."
"Be careful, Law-san!" Amelia suddenly shouted.
"Take care of your brothers!" Kola, her husband, added.
They all began calling their farewells and well-wishes as if he were the one being sent out into the unknown as the ships began to set sail. Smiling, Law lifted his hand in farewell and watched them head below deck. "If any of them get hurt, I'll kill him."
Chuckling, Sengoku picked him up. "Don't threaten Marines, buddy. He'll keep them safe." He carried him to the extraction point and Law wrapped his arms around the Admiral's neck as he jumped to the boat.
Once he was sitting on the bench, Tanushi steering them back to the cove, he asked, "How are you, Tanushi-ya?"
"I'm just fine, Law-san, thank you. The others?" He queried.
"Good. I had to take care of a few infections in the newborns, but they'll be fine now." He shook his head to the drink Sengoku offered him, hands trembling too much to hold even a cup. He didn't want the fisherman to see.
"That's good." He said contently. "You know, ever since you arrived, I feel like the angels are finally watching over us."
Law didn't respond, looking out into the open sea. In their time, all these people were dead or dying. Where were their angels then? When the skin of his palm pulled painfully, he looked down at his fist and unclenched it, his vitiligo too-white against his skin. No, they couldn't rely on any god to save them, they had to be the change they wanted to see in the world.
But how much could they change? What should they change? He'd nearly lost all of his patients to a poorly thought out decision…he clearly wasn't at the top of his plotting game. Ah well, he'd just have to consider the issues as they came and play it by ear.
"LAW-CHAN!"
Looking up, he saw Corazon on the dock, waving at him happily. The last of the tension bled out of him and he smiled at his father. "Get away from the edge before you fall in!"
"I've never once fallen off a dock!" He protested with a grin as he plucked him out of the boat.
And promptly fell back in.
"That doesn't count!"
AN: Okay, so I probably could've fit last chapter into this one. I thought it'd be longer, it covered like ten pages in my journal…oh well.
There was a tiny bit of introspection here, but he brushed it off pretty quickly. And uh-oh, Garp's decided he likes the no-good waif. Law just can't escape the Monkeys.
Selphina: I don't think I'll ever go over the circumstances that led to the first chapter in the story. I was going to have Law sacrifice himself to kill Kaido, but to be honest, Blackbeard's the bigger threat here. Kaido has never even met Luffy so his defeat wasn't so personal. Blackbeard nearly got Luffy killed all those years ago and Law isn't above holding a grudge against someone he's never met :)
