Sorry for missing two weeks. I've had the flu and just not felt like doing much. Then on top of that I jacked my back up and had to go to the emergency room and was out of work for two days. Plus work has been a pain in the butt with reports constantly needing to be completed. I can only type at work and for that matter post so I usually write on Monday and Tuesday morning then read over the chapter and then post it. I have two laptops at home and one has word on it but the internet connection is dodgy. The other has great internet but I can't access word without updating and buying the code for it. Long story short I was sick and had very limited time to work on my stories and I'm sorry. I've been great at the weekly updates so far. So not bad right? Enough of my excuses.

The next planned update will be January 9thdue to Christmas and New Years. If I post before then awesome if not then guaranteed the 9th.

Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas (however you say it) and Happy New Years! Happy Holidays! That should cover everyone.

Chapter 24

Prison was, and Zoro felt that was odd, calmer than the jail. He expected it to be more dangerous, louder and over all worse. In the week they had been there he was absorbing all aspects of the place. He heard a term for that it was called situational awareness, to be aware of your surroundings at all times. He just had it beaten in to him when he was younger. His sensei had told him to always be aware of the world around him that an attack or opportunity could come from any point. His friend Kuina took advantage of that and would sneak up on him just to punch him then laugh as she walked away telling him to "pay attention."

Her constant reminders helped him to be aware of all things. Such as the smells that wafted through the cell house. It always had a smell of old steel, of a place built from metal and rarely aired or cleaned. Then there was the smell of body odor. It seems that while they had access to a shower every day some people chose not to use it. Then there was the smell of new sweat from people working out in their cell or fresh from recreation in the yard. That he was used to. He spent hours each week in the gym or working out at home. He smelled ramen noodles often enough or other assorted foods cooking. Rice seemed to be a staple with ramen noodles as the top contender of prisoner made food. There was the smell of burnt hair once and he learned it was because someone was using the electrical plug to get a flame going. He had also smelled the scent of pine and learned that was the synthetic marijuana known as toochee. He had smelled pot and cigarettes as well. He had even smelled rotting fruit with a hint of rubbing alcohol and learned it was prison wine processing.

There was the feel of the place. The walls of his and Sanji's cell were not wide nor tall and had peeling paint in places. There were two bunks one stacked on top of the other with old coarse sheets and a scratchy wool blanket. Each mattress was lumpy and thin and the pillow not much better. There was a stainless steel toilet with a sink on top where the tank would be. There was no lid or seat and would be cold at times when he had to sit down. There were two locking cabinets one for each one of them so they could put their things in them. There was nothing special about them just metal with shelves and doors that locked but the top was a flat surface and he thought that would be handy. The cell houses were all metal and concrete with doors with bars everywhere.

The look of the place was institutional as it was one. Grey was the decorating scheme as well as black. Multiple variations of grey covered all the walls and the floors. All the bars were painted black. The guards were dressed in black and white and the inmates were in khaki colored jumpsuits. Overall a drab place.

The sounds he heard didn't bother him. More often than not it would be people yelling from one cell to the other and playing music. Sometimes they would talk crap and try to start something but once the doors were open it was another matter. He had heard the sounds of flesh slapping as he walked down the range to his cell one day and didn't know if it was from a fight or something else.

The food Zoro felt was a crime. Maybe he had just been spoiled after two years with Sanji but the food they served was awful and never left him feeling full. It had been worse for Luffy who had an insane metabolism and was used to eating so much more in a day. He learned they could buy commissary and that included different food stuffs and planned to do that once they had money on their accounts.

Zoro was never more thankful than after their arrest that he used to listen to all the stories from the Baratie staff. Him and Sanji had learned a lot of the do's and don'ts of prison life that way. There were the prison's rules. The biggest thing for them was no relationships. Him and Sanji had to hide theirs or be immediately separated. Of course no fighting, drugs, assaults or intimidation. No jerking off either which fine he understood that wasn't something you did in public but if he felt the need he would have to hide. One thing that had gotten him into trouble once was that you were always supposed to be where you were scheduled to be. He had been given a pass to medical for a physical. Like he knew where that was. Sure the guard gave him directions but the walkways and building were not where he said they were and Zoro found himself in the machine shop irritated.

Inmate rules were easy to follow. Don't look into another man's cell. Don't sneak in and rob someone, do it face to face. Don't talk to someone else's family or friends on the outside unless you've been given the go ahead. And number one don't tell on someone though some made a career out of it.

Zoro was relieved to find they were all together. Him and Sanji in one cell. Usopp and Chopper in another to their right and Luffy with a nice man in his 30s in the cell on their left. Luffy of course made friends instantly with the man. Once Luffy gave the man the seal of approval Zoro felt better. He had seen Nami a few times and learned their rooming was all her doing. He was incredibly thankful for that. He knew he would stress if he couldn't see or at least hear the others.

Captain Tibbs had been working at the prison for fifteen years. He had started out being gung hoe and strictly sticking to the rules but he had learned to relax and went with the motto that as long as no one was being hurt he didn't step in. It made life easier for all involved. He knew many of the inmates were in for decades and some would never go home. He felt whatever they had to do to get by he was fine with that.

But he was currently baffled. One of the new inmates was standing in front of him adamantly stating he wasn't lost, that the staff moved the walkways and buildings. He wasn't sure if the man was lying or truly believed that. But the blush and embarrassed look on the green haired man's face was something else. Captain Tibbs had seen more than his fair share in his years in corrections and had heard some of the most unbelievable stories yet this took the cake. The man was supposed to be in medical yet he was in the garden which meant by all rights he should be written up.

He had a feeling the five new rappies (A/N: people who were charged together on the same case for the same "rap") were going to be a problem when they received notice from the head office that they all had to be housed together. One was small with big doe eyes and Tibbs had a feeling at some point the poor kid would be victimized. Another was a bouncy ball of energy that they tested a few times for drugs just to make sure he wasn't on something. Then there was the man who talked a big game but was scared out of this boots. Tibbs was most concerned with the big guy in front of him and the blond man that came with them. Both were quick to anger and even quicker to defend their rappies.

And now the big guy Roronoa was his name looked like some kid standing their arguing over a broken lamp where all evidence pointed he was the guilty party yet he argued otherwise. "Okay. Okay." Tibbs finally broke in to the other officer and Roronoa's argument. "If you really believe the streets move-"

"And they do." Roronoa said.

"Fine let's test this theory. Walk to the mess hall. I'm sure you've been there numerous times." Tibbs said.

A huff then "fine" from the prisoner. "This is the third time I've tried to find the shitty medical building" Roronoa mumbled.

Tibbs walked in stunned silence as he followed the man who did circles around the prison yard getting close to the mess hall and somehow walking further away again. The man would stop look around in confusion and irritation then set off on a new path. Tibbs wanted to laugh. Oh how he wanted to laugh but he remained professional.

After twenty minutes of mindless walking and Roronoa getting further annoyed Tibbs found himself turned around and a bit lost. He had no idea how this happened his was focused on the prisoner and seeing what he was doing. The man must have been born without any sense of directions it was an oddity. After getting his bearings and deciding he didn't get paid enough for this and was going to pass the problem on to someone else. "I'm taking you to Dr. Brook for an evaluation."

"Okay." Roronoa said.

Tibbs couldn't help it and let out a small laugh. "Follow me." Tibbs led him to the psych department and opened Dr. Brook's office. The doctor was new but made an impression. He was taller than anyone he had seen and incredibly then. He was starting to be referred to as Dr. Scarecrow. He introduced the two, explained the situation and closed the door. Tibbs was going to do some nice paperwork to take his mind off that enigma.

Once the door was closed Brook immediately hugged Zoro. "I'm so glad to see you." Brook said.

"Me too." Zoro replied. "I appreciate you being here and all but why are you and Nami here?"

Brook sat down and pointed to the chair across from him where Zoro sat. "We… we were floundering after the sentencing but Jinbei sat us all down and made us discuss the next course of action. Actually it was more like he took the reins of the operation and set us to task. We knew there should be someone on the inside that is why me and Nami are here. Robin, Franky and Jinbei are gathering evidence and pressuring witnesses to get the sentence reversed and get all of you free."

Zoro nodded. "Thank you." He wasn't sure how to handle years in prison. He knew he and Sanji could easily do it. Luffy could handle many aspects of it but he was used to being free to do whatever he wanted and the small portions of food were just too little for him. His biggest concern was Chopper and Usopp. Even if they adapted and got through all those years he knew they would be changed. Zoro was forever thankful to his nakama to not let them handle this alone.

"So how are you doing?" Brook asked.

"Eh not bad. Curly's still down. It doesn't help that it's the first time since he was a kid he hasn't worked so all the free time leaves him time to brood. Luffy's being Luffy and trying to make friends with everyone. Chopper and Usopp are doing okay. The routine of this place is helping us all." Zoro explained.

"But what about you?" Brook asked.

Zoro sighed and sat back in the chair. "What can I say? That I'm stressed my friends will be hurt? That I worry any time I'm away from them? That seeing my beloved with such a defeated look crushes me? That I have to fight and argue with him over petty shit just to get some life back in him?"

Brook put a hand on Zoro's arm. "Don't worry my dear Zoro we will get you all home soon."