64. Formation of an alliance

"Still can't believe I've slept for so long." Judy, who was lying in the hospital bed, touched her forehead, carefully massaging her temples under the bandage with her thumb and middle finger. She had a leg covered with a cast, and around her neck a brace supported her. "D'you have anything against headaches?"

"Sure, the painkiller's in there," Law said and pointed with his face to the infusion stand on the opposite side of the bed while he was leaning with folded arms against the wall.

Judy gave it a glance, more unpleased before she sighed and grabbed a fashion magazine that was lying on her nightstand. "Glad you haven't told the others I've been awake for a while now."

"Especially Quinn would've been devastated to see you like that."

"Thereby it's just me waking up from a long-ass nap, of course I'm not completely all here," she said as she was going through the pages of the magazine to stare at the photographs. She looked at Law then. "By the way, do you have...?"

"Right." Law grabbed into his coat. "It's all I could get, not the best looking, but it'll look fine on you anyway."

"Wow, first time after how long you're flirting with me? Is that pity?" said Judy and put the magazine down on her lap to grab the item Law was handling her.

"I was just stating a fact," he said nonchalantly.

It were glasses. Judy put them on and stared through them without a move before her eyes have a broader look around the room. "Great to see again," she said and looked back at Law. "This won't be permanent, will it?"

"Again, it probably will," he answered, just slightly annoyed.

"You serious?" She eased back into her bed and grabbed the magazine, skimming through the pages with fraught lips. "Fuck my life... And, how's it going? You and Miss Stubborn?" When she checked on him again, his face showed just the same defensive expression before her accident. "Oh, I see, still single."

Both stayed quiet at each other, Judy's eyes focused on the prints. She skimmed through the texts, not making the appearance to actually read what was written before she lowered the magazine a little and tilted her head back at him. "Do you remember our conversation before we fucked in Quinn's room? You've told me we're in the same boat, longing for people we'll never be with due to our lifestyles. And then we should fuck that thought out of our heads. Remember?"

Law rolled his eyes briefly away with a little inhalation. "I do."

"Did you know that the person I was talking about was you?" His expression changed a little in surprise and Judy put on a sarcastic smile as she looked at the magazine again. "Exactly. Did the fucking opposite."

"Why haven't you told me?"

"Then what? You probably wouldn't have cared anyway and I'd be fucking embarrassed about it," said she, scoffing with a small laugh. "You're cool and everything, but when it's about your feelings you're... well, shit. I'm actually quite happy you found someone like Quinn, I think she does good to you." Judy then perked a brow at him, another dishonest smirk on her face. "Let's be real, we'd make an awful couple."

He shifted his eyes aside with a tad chuckle as well. "Can't disagree."

"Can't believe that we would ever be into the same guy..." Judy worded out loud her thoughts before she added, "Quinn's head over heels into you, just saying."

"I know."

"Geez, don't treat it so lightly. Anyway, life's full of surprises, if you had asked me three years ago if I'd be ever here talking to a hot senior doctor as a friend, I'd say no way, I'd probably told him shit about myself to bang him."

"You actually did," Law said, "never cared about your fake resumé anyway."

"Not?"

"Judy, you were just good-looking and an easy flirt, it's not that deep."

"Don't you have any standards?"

"I don't judge by education."

She raised both brows and closed the magazine, putting it away while keeping her eyes on him. "So you won't think I'm a loser because I don't even have a high school diploma? In fact, I've no graduation at all?"

"You just strengthen my thesis. Would never have guessed so just by talking to you."

"Wow, don't make me fall for you too," she joked.

"I just knew you were unhappy with your job, and now I get why you feel hard looking for a new one," said he. "How did you get the job anyway?"

"I let my boss fuck me."

Law was just glaring, unsure how to treat that comment.

"That wasn't a bad joke," Judy said when she noticed his struggle to believe what she just had said and he responded only with uneasiness on his face. "Look, it's my decision; there's nothing I can do."

"And you still suck his dick whenever he wants," he said and she tried smiling, eyes swiftly looking away. "Did you agree on that too?"

"That's ridiculous..." said Judy and faked a laugh.

"You tend to be late at home every now and then and exasperatedly try to avoid the job topic. Count one plus one."

"Well, what should I say?" Judy said, still having the smile on her face. "Life."

"And that's a crime."

"Law, it's okay," she said and looked away. "I'm not overqualified like you, I need this job. I mean, what should I do anyway? Who would believe me?"

"You've got an aspiring lawyer among your friends, ask her," he said and she responded only with silence. He stood there, staring at how she avoided looking at him any more. "Judy. If he's doing that to you, you won't be the only one."

Judy looked down, biting her lower lip as her mouth stretched.

Law sighed. "Does Quinn know?"

"No, I haven't told anyone..." she said and her face slowly tilted back at him. "And I ask you to do the same."

"I won't."

Judy was looking at him as he added nothing, being calm as ever. She moved her eyes around the room, unable to fix a point and her hands fiddled the sheet of her blanket. In all serenity, Law watched her over the course of a minute of forced silence until her arms jumped up swiftly.

"Geez, I feel like trash now. No graduation, no pride, not being taken seriously — fucking love it," said she and slammed the arms back down. "And then look at me now, fucking tied to the bed."

"That's temporary. You're just making your life harder."

"Oh shut up, you don't understand, you've got everything. Looks, money, qualification, respect."

The room silenced again.

Judy moaned out a loud exhalation and stared at the wall in front of her. "I always thought I was going to be single my whole life because I want to, and now I envy my best friend for having someone adoring her for the way she's." Another scoff with a smile as she glanced at him. "But well, you weren't better, so I guess everything can happen, eh?"

"Juuuudy!" The two heard a guy from outside and their eyes drew over to the door to see Shachi smashing the door open with a big bouquet in his hands, staring in panic. "I bought you flowers! I mean, we bought you flowers! Oh damn, you look great with glasses!"

They looked at him quietly but moved their eyes to the door again when they heard Penguin calling her name the exact same way. Said guy appeared right behind him with his girlfriend, holding up shopping bags in their hands. "When we heard you're awake, we rushed over immediately! Oh damn, you look smart with glasses. Ah, look, we brought you snacks and stuff and- where's Quinn?"

"Juuuudy!" Quinn's voice came in the same way and she rushed inside with a fully packed backpack, targeting the bed immediately while pushing the others to the side. "Judy! Judy! My dearest Judy!" She put the bag down and took out dozen of Tupperware boxes and to-go food from diverse restaurants while her face, filled with happy and worrying tears, didn't leave the sight of Judy once. "You're back, I was so worried about you, I thought you were gonna die, I couldn't stop worrying about you, oh my god, I'm so glad you're back, please forgive me for everything bad I've done to you, I love you very very very much and you look different with glasses, but nonetheless like Judy!"

"Guys, chill," said Judy, "you're extremely noisy."

Quinn turned her head to the others, holding the index finger in front of her lips. "Shhh!" She looked back at Judy with less volume, but with the same expression in vocal and look. "Look, I made you so much food, I wasn't sure what you'd crave for or if you would at all, but I made and bought you everything you like, just in case! You're not obligated to eat though, so don't worry!"

"Quinn was number one in worrying about you," Stella said, "we're glad you seem alright."

"I-I was number two!" Shachi claimed.

Quinn leaned down and hugged her torso tightly. "We were all worried!"

"Chill– ah, urgh, geez, Quinn! I'm fine, you should calm down." Judy looked at Law while Quinn wasn't letting go of her. "I told you not to tell them!"

"How long? I thought it was finally time," Law answered, being the only person relaxed in the room.

Shachi tilted the side of his face forward, eyebrows in tension. "What d'you mean not to tell them?"

"Yeah, what d'you mean?" Quinn also demanded as she slightly straightened to look at her friend's face.

In search of any kind of support or explanation, Judy was staring at Law but only received an invisible shrug. "I couldn't hear another day of their whining. Sorry."

"At least tell them I'm fine!"

"She's fine," he said dryly and Quinn straightened from her.

"Anyway, we didn't know what kinda flowers you like, so we brought you a bit of everything," Shachi said, lifting the bouquet again for her to see.

Quinn looked at him. "I've said she likes roses."

"Yeah, but you can't buy a friend roses for a hospital visit!"

"But you've considered it!"

He turned a little rosy, irked in expression. "I did not!"

"Thank you," Judy said, "any flower would've done it. None either."

The bunch started to talk and talk about all paraphernalia Judy had missed during her absence and they were all strongly invested that they haven't noticed Law walking past them. Judy was listening to them and looked at Law who gave a small hand sign that he was off, not planning to disturb their moment of reunion.

Anyway, there wasn't much to tell since adult-real-life was going on so that they had seen each other only two times the last couple of weeks. It was reason enough though to babble about things extremely trivial.

"Where did Law go?" Penguin asked as he was looking around after a while, and the others joined his head movements.

"Back to work I guess," Judy said.

...

"Shouldn't we stay longer? It's totally fine to me!"

"Nah, Shach', go home," Judy said. She pointed at the massive amount of food that was still standing around. "Thank you all for coming, but you definitely can take some of Quinn's food home."

"Alright, we'll see each other, call when you need something," said Stella and looked at Quinn. "Should we drop you off your place?"

Quinn was still sitting at Judy's bed and she shook her head. "I'm staying 'till my bus arrives, but thanks."

"You sure?" asked Penguin, collecting some of the food bags, half even untouched since it was way too much.

Shachi grinned while he was helping him. "Don't annoy Judy."

"Almost three years sleeping under the same roof, I've nerves made of steel," Judy said.

The three left then. When they were out, Quinn turned her head back to Judy and she leaned with her arms down to the edge of the bed. "It's great to see you awake, I can't wait till you're back home."

"Sorry, must've been hard for you."

"It was!" she said and she looked to the side, becoming quieter, "I was at Law's place the first two nights."

"How was it?" Judy asked her pretty lighthearted and made it a wakeup-call for Quinn. "Hey, tell me, I'm curious."

She moved her face a little down and was slow to answer. "It suits him."

"It suits him?" Judy raised a brow in disbelief and then pushed her arm, laughing. "Now c'mon, I wanna hear everything. What kinda human he is!"

Quinn looked at her smiling face but didn't adjust to it. Her words came out in vigilance as she was trying to figure out what to tell. "Well, he's very neat and tidy, more of a pragmatic type."

"And?"

Quinn looked at her.

"No more?" Judy laughed again. "Normally you would chew my ear off uncontrollably."

"Well..." Quinn's eyes moved up as she was thinking. "His place's actually nice, else kinda boring. But it does fit his personality."

"He sure must've a big apartment."

"Actually not," said she and glanced back at her to add as correction, "though, it's a big studio apartment!"

"Studio?"

"It's on the other side of the center and I think only affluent people live there. Basically a housing complex with its own underground parking lot! I've never been to such a place before, you've got to see that."

"Wow, so posh?"

Breaking from her reticence then, Quinn told Judy all the things about Law's place she could remember, and it was basically everything since there wasn't a lot to memorize or forget. She couldn't point out enough how neat Law was and how cute it was for him to set up the figurine she had given him on his shelf.

"Quinn?" Judy said as she found the perfect pause for her to squeeze in between her sentences and Quinn straightened, looking at her well-focused. "I think I won't be able to leave town with you on your birthday weekend."

Quinn shook her head and hands frantically. "No, it's alright! It's just a birthday I can celebrate here with the others! We can visit the city another time; glad I haven't booked yet."

"How about you spending the weekend with Law?" said Judy and Quinn gaped at her in speechlessness. "Won't he be there anyway? I'm sure he'll manage to take that weekend off."

"Don't be silly, I can't just ask him to prioritize me before his work," Quinn said with pink cheeks while she tried to appear confident to her, "also, I haven't booked a hotel yet, the prices must've risen!"

"I'm sure he'll be provided a private hotel room during his stay anyway."

Quinn looked... appalled with her own fantasies.

"Quinn?"

"I can't stay with him in a private suite," she stated, already turned red, while her eyes were huge and frozen into space.

"But in his apartment? Together in his bed?"

"No, wait, this is different, we─"

"Oh Quinn, don't be silly."

No corner in this hospital existed that Law did not know - except for the lady's room, of course. Else, he had been at this place long enough to even picture every detail in his mind. From the day he had appeared around first only with the little sheet in his hands telling him where to go, to the day he interned with no second thought, and to now where he had worked his ass up with barely a resting hour. This hospital was quite manageable though since it was one of the smallest of its kind; he could match each spot with dozen of memories, from very trivial to less trivial.

"You alright?" Quinn asked as she arrived in front of him, standing in his silence. As usual around this time, the corridors were deserted. He was leaning against the wall with his hands casually in his doctor coat, feet crossed, and his eyes sought for the emptiness in the air.

It was a comfortable silence, the one you couldn't tell apart from night or morning. Either the clock was ticking or the birds switching, and his voice adjusted to that calmness. "Can you remember the day when you visited Penguin here?"

"Of course I do." Quinn made a half turn to look at the corridor, staring at the restroom doors at the side with a smile. "You've eaten my rice balls then despite not liking it so much. Weirdo."

"That what also the day I admitted to myself you were special to me."

Back at him, her off-guardedness was visible. She should have known why he had sent her that little text to come over, nothing he did was only to see her face, time wasn't around to be wasted. His kind could be compared to waiting tables, always be in motion and don't walk around with empty hands.

"I always hated when you talked about Sabo and how you acted around him. I was curious about literally anything going on between you two yet at the same time, I didn't want to hear anything," he said and his arms folded at his chest, his face moving away as he mumbled, "jealousy, never had that before and it's an unpleasant surprise."

Quinn had her hands together and she was unusually calm for herself. "It is."

"Peanut."

Tensed nevertheless.

"I want to apologize."

This corridor was just one of many where he had encountered her several times, from the good to the bad moments. From when she approached him with the silliest joke to moments of annoyance and contempt. Reflecting back, one wouldn't understand why any reaction he had been giving her used to be cold; but for Law, he rather found it hard to understand why he developed uncommon empathy for this woman. His nature hadn't changed yet it adjusted to her well-being day by day.

"For everything I've done that hurt you, ...starting by me being insensitive."

Quinn giggled down to the side. "You mean when you told me I couldn't change my doctor?"

"I think I tried to keep you with me as a patient because I enjoyed being around you. But my pride made me staying rude. Whenever I was mean to you out of the blue, it was irrational." He sighed, barely for anyone to hear. "I'm sorry about that."

His apology was long overdue, he didn't expect anything from her in return. He doubted that she was still deeply affected by his behavior, hence it were only fractures of her giving a shit about whatsoever. Law understood that she must have resigned to his rudeness anyway, but she should know that it had affected him. He wanted her to see that he cared enough, that he didn't brush past conflicts off just because she was still able to aim a happy face towards him.

"Forgiven and forgotten." She smiled.

Why was he surprised? It wasn't just one of those smiles she usually carried on her face but a smile of genuine affection. Not those she gave anyone regularly. Different, much different; softer, much softer; sincere, so sincere that it burned into his head and make him melt in his shame yet thankfulness. A warmth that had been needed a long time ago, but couldn't be found anywhere.

She giggled again. "I mean, I can see why I was annoying."

He had been wondering awhile now what else the appeal of her was. They had barely anything in common. No interests, neither humor nor personality. She was his antithesis.

The longer he was exposed to her, the more he had the chance to reflect on his feelings for her just to realize that it was the energy he lacked. The energy he needed in his life to apprehend his own entity and give him the rest he deserved. She helped him to ease, to let go, to be himself.

Quinn stood in front of him staring for his response.

Law would lie if he would tell anyone he was going to be a better human with her by his side, but with her, he would try. For her sake, for his sake; and regardless of how small the change would be, it would be worth it.

"So you want to take this further?" he said and Quinn gawked at him, words lost in her mouth. "An alliance."

"An alliance?" she repeated in disbelief.

"Don't you?"

Quinn's eyes were still rigid.

"Peanut?"

She shook her head awake. "Yes...! O-of course! I mean, that must be the next step after a peace treaty I guess, yes, formation of an alliance... right, yes, great, of course."

"You're sure about it?"

"I mean, only if you want. Hey, wait, are we talking about the same thing?" she said, trying to include humor, but his tacit glare stiffened her into a salute and she nodded while realizing they were not talking at cross purposes, "101 percent, Sir."

"And you're aware I might have less time for you than the average partner? In fact, there's no nine to five to hold onto."

"Better than no time!"

"No visits at work."

"What?"

"I've said no visits at work."

"But– why?!" Quinn's face changed to instant dissatisfaction, "what if I wanna bring you food or pick you up or–"

"At the moment, I don't need anyone to know I'm with a patient. This would make everything just complicated." She huffed as she stared to the side like a child. "Peanut."

"Aye aye, no visit at work... meh."

"Stop pouting, it's nothing hard to accomplish."

"Aye."

"That's it."

Quinn looked surprised. "That's it?"

"Yeah, that's what I've said."

"Do I need to make a contract?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry, it's– so we're... boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes turned huge, her cheeks warm. "Real boyfriend and girlfriend aka romantic relationship-wise?"

"Yeah."

"Like I can introduce you as my better half now?"

"Yeah... Peanut."

"Sweet and Salty?"

"Peanut."

"Partner in crimes?"

"Peanut."

"Peanutbutter Sandwich?"

"Peanut!"

"I'm sorry," she said and it was unclear where her eyes went, they were all over the place while her lips quivered in loss of words.

"I hope you don't plan too much ahead now," said Law.

"No, it's, I, you, me, I–" Her body appeased and she now gaped blankly into space. "I'm living in the moment and it's the best moment of my entire life."

But slid into erratic motion again.

"I-I mean, I don't know what you like about me, you're so great and I'm great too, but I'm a simple great and you're another kinda great, and-and-and, first we didn't get along and now we're here and... heeey, wait... does that mean I've to leave now? Because we're at your work! And I'm your–" She mouthed the word girlfriend and then continued to talk. "So basically... hey, what happens if I do visit you at work? What would you do? Don't tell me you'd quit then. Oh no, please don't walk out that fast, we just have started. Oh my, I feel different now. What is this feeling? Oh my. I'm with Law Trafalgar now. Oh! Not too loud, sorry." And she talked and talked.

Law stepped up to her and held one of her cheeks to kiss her lips. She came to hold and returned his kiss and made him sure about this being probably the best way to refract for the time being.

"You're calm?" asked he as he straightened a little to look into her face. She nodded two times, sharply. "Please do me a favor and don't make a big fuzz out of it."

She saluted. "Aye aye, I'll be a good... you-know-what. You won't regret your decision today, Doctor!" It were only seconds she could hold before he saw her face restraining the burst of words and impatience.

Law rolled his eyes. "Fine, you can tell Judy," said he and was given a giant smile.

Quinn squished his cheeks and gave him a big smooch on his lips. "You are the best!" As she stepped off, her energy didn't vanish and she turned around, eager to talk. "You know what we are? A salted caramel peanut chocolate cookie bar! Have you ever had that? Sounds so good! But I can't, sadly. That's so unfair!"

"Peanut."

"I'm going, I'm going," she said and laughed, hurrying off the spot. "See ya!"

It looked somewhat clumsy when she ran down the corridor in her happiness, somewhat attentionless and foreseeable to soon run anyone over if she kept her spirit. "No running in the corridors!" Law shouted from the distance and she waved at him in response, trying to slow down just to end up in an awkward jog.

Law kept watch and she swiftly turned her head with a Cheshire-grin one last time.

He did it. Maybe he should have done this earlier, maybe this was the right time, it actually didn't matter because right now everything was going fine. He regretted nothing.

She ran into a trashcan.

What had he gotten himself into?

END OF PART II

A/N: Where is 'Don't teach doctors' heading?

1. Hallelujah! We made it and I'm so happy about this! I'm very sorry for the delay of this chapter even though it was almost ready to be posted. Thank you very much for reading until here, 64 chapters and almost 400k words is not easy!

2. You might have noticed that I decided to separate the story into parts. I felt like it would fit well for a pretty hellish long slow-burn and I can tell you this story is nowhere near the end, in fact, I have planned to end this story after four parts (unless no one wants to continue, then nvm lol). So stay for their relationship, for Law's story, for some lemon, for additional op characters and cameos if you like :)

3. What, another three years?! Hold on! No, big announcement: I intend to finish this fanfiction this year. I had and still have so many things going on that I have lost my focus to work on this story, but abandoning it would feel like betrayal towards Quinn, myself and my readers. I've invested so much into Quinn and Law's relationship that it's impossible for me now to ever think of another OCxLaw story to write haha.

4. So what are my plans? Since you're unfortunately used to big gaps between each update, I announce another big break after this chapter. I realized it's easier for me to work with a deadline so that I want to give this project my full attention in my spare time. My plan means drafting out the rest of the story within five to six months so that I can start updating every other day or so regularly until we reach the story finale. Tell me what do you think of this idea!

5. Since this story was received better than I have expected, I wavered for quite a while between revising the story or finishing it. I decide to go for the latter before considering checking on my old awkward writing. So thanks again for not minding!

6. Your feedback has kept this story alive and inspired me every now and then, so I'm eternally grateful for it and I hope I'll still hear from you :) For anyone who decides this was enough, they're finally together, I'm happy you've stayed for this finale and hope you liked it!

Anyway, see you!