Chapter 13: Fever

{Aboard the Sunny: Morning….}

The following day after their lengthy conversation with Luffy, the Straw Hats were greeted with red skies. The burning shade of amber and blood set an anxious feeling simmering in Nami's gut. She had been told an old saying her entire life about the colors of the skies at night and dawn: a red sky at night was a sailor's delight, but a red sky in the morning, was a sailor's warning. And, she knew. It could be felt in her very bones that something was amiss, whether it was because she was still on edge from everything that had happened with Luffy, or if something was genuinely wrong with the weather - she couldn't be sure. But, she stayed on high alert all the same that early morning when she walked outside, being greeted by a tired Usopp and a cheerful Sanji who had already gotten up to begin breakfast. Her mind was focused on the burning red sky and watching the horizon for storms that could creep up on them at any minute, Brook was tuning his violin, and Sanji was cooking already, whistling a tune as he tried to think of something everyone would like, eager to find a way to help his Captain and everyone feel better by lifting their spirits with his excellent meals. However, it was inside the boy's cabin that things were a bit more concerning.

Franky had woken up that morning feeling slightly tired still, his mind having been ablaze with thoughts of the prior conversation, which had kept him up half the night to the point he had been tempted to relieve Usopp of his watch duty. However, sleep had eventually claimed him, thus he awoke and prepared for the day much like everyone else. Usopp had decided he would eat and then head off to take a short nap before noontime. He had voiced this as he left to begin fishing until breakfast was prepared, being greeted by Robin, Brook, and Nami's voices as he left the cabin. Franky had started heading out himself, calling to Zoro who had nodded, stretching with a tired yawn while shaking Chopper awake. The tiny reindeer had climbed into Luffy's bed last night, curling up to him and sleeping in an attempt to bring the boy some comfort, which had seemed to work as no one was awoken during the night by the distressed cries of their Captain. But, as the green-haired samurai reached up and nudged Chopper awake, the blue-nosed reindeer stirred with an annoyed groan about not wanting to get up - which made sense, Luffy was warm and comfortable to sleep against due to his rubber body making him a heat insulator and his skin being fairly soft from that as well - but Chopper begrudgingly started to rise, stretching and yawning and Zoro patted his head, being greeted with a fussy noise as he tried to get himself awake, Franky watching this as he and Zoro prepared to leave.

"Make sure to wake up Luffy, okay?" Zoro mentioned as he turned to leave. Chopper had nodded, agreeing to do so before he left the room; however, as soon as the samurai and cyborg had walked past the threshold of the door, a shocked yelp came from the tiny doctor, causing them to turn their attention back into the room, noticing how Chopper was looking Luffy over with a panicked expression on his face.

"Hey, Chopper? Is everything super in there?" Franky's question caused the reindeer to shake his head in a swift no, causing the two to enter into the room again, edging closer as they watched their doctor sit beside Luffy, hoof pressed firmly against his forehead. It was the first time Zoro had noticed it, and the same went for Franky. Luffy was breathing erratically, his eyebrows scrunched together in what was evident discomfort, and his face flushed a muted red, indicating a fever. The green haired samurai swore under his breath, rushing up to the bunk bed, looking to his Captain who shivered slightly as Chopper moved his blanket, feeling of his pulse and pressing his ear against his chest to listen to his breathing. The two men watched, waiting as they noticed how much worry was evident on the reindeer's face as he took in a deep breath, glancing back towards them.

"Luffy has a really bad fever. I'd wager it's about a hundred and two. Listen, Zoro, I need you to help me get Luffy into the Captain's room. I can treat him there better, Franky, once he's settled in there, you're going to help me bring in the things I'll need from the medical ward, okay?" Chopper stated. The two nodded.

"Right, so should I just pick him up?" Zoro received another nod.

"Yes, but don't let him get chilled. Let's wrap him up in the blankets first, Franky? Can you grab a few extra pillows and blankets from the linen area?" Franky gave a salute, doing as Chopper asked immediately while Zoro and Chopper wrapped Luffy up in the blankets, being sure not to jostle him to much as he was picked up by the green-haired samurai who was sure to hook his arm under his Captain's knees, cradling his shoulders and resting his head against his own shoulder as Chopper had instructed.

It was a strange feeling, to carry Luffy like this when he usually just hoisted him up onto his back and took him into the cabin area before tossing him onto a bed. It made Zoro realize possibly for the first time in his life how tiny his Captain was in comparison to some of the people on the ship and the absolute juggernauts they'd taken down in the past. It made him sometimes wonder how someone this small could handle all of this, but at the same time, it didn't surprise him. After all, it was the least likely of warriors that always proved to be some of the most capable. Sighing to himself, Zoro carefully followed Franky and Chopper out of the room, instantly catching the attention of everyone as Sanji stepped out to call everyone to breakfast, the announcement dying in his throat when he saw Zoro carrying Luffy. Everyone had swarmed to them in the time it had taken to blink, worry on their faces as Chopper told them to back up while Franky opened the door to the Captain's room, and let Zoro walk in behind him, Chopper helped Franky set up the pillows and blankets a certain way to make sure that his Captain was comfortable before Zoro laid the nineteen year old down as he was covered by the blankets, surrounded by the pillows for protection against the wall next to him. Nami, Robin, Usopp, Brook, and Sanji entered the room, watching as Chopper and Franky departed with a warning not to wake Luffy up as Zoro sat on the floor by the bed, quiet as the others stared at him.

"What's going on? Is he sick?" Usopp asked.

"He's got a high fever. Probably from the stress he was put under in the last day. It was a bit to much for his body and mind to tackle in one go, and he's exhausted and hungry most likely. Chopper mentioned yesterday evening that this could happen, just didn't expect it to be so soon." Zoro's statement had them all worried, and admittedly, even he felt that way.

Because Luffy didn't get sick.

"Then, I'll make a stock that'll help bring it down and give him some energy. Something with a lot of protein and calories, he'll need it," Sanji said without missing a beat as he glanced at his Captain before departing. Zoro sighed as he glanced up at the others.

"So, what is it?" Usopp swallowed nervously, seeming unsure of whether or not he should say anything.

"W-What will happen if he… has another relapse or a nightmare when he's like this?" dark eyes glanced to Luffy, watching the boy's uneven breathing and flushed features in anxiety.

"It wouldn't be good, that's for certain. But, I'm sure between Chopper and all of us, he's in good hands," Robin stated as Nami gave a sharp nod.

"Exactly, now. I'm going to keep an eye on the skies. Looks like we might be in for a storm or two, Zoro I'll leave you to watch out for him." she waved, departing as Usopp stuttered as he smiled.

"I-I'm gonna… g-go and catch a b-bunch of f-fish so Sanji can m-make a lot of g-good meals to help Luffy g-get b-better!" with that, Usopp darted out of the room, Zoro sighing. The long-nosed sniper had always had a serious aversion to people being sick because of his mother, which he understood, and appreciated that despite this, he still was making an effort to help Luffy. Glancing up, he looked to Robin who gave him a small smile as she sat down in a chair at the desk, watching Luffy as Zoro remained where he was on the ground, steadfast as always.

"The adoration for him is never ending. Somehow, he got all of us misfits to make a family, didn't he?" Zoro gave a half-laugh.

"Of course he did. Luffy has a way of convincing people to do things," he replied. Robin nodded, smiling as she continued to watch her Captain sleep.

"Despite the fever, when he's asleep he always looks so young… or maybe I'm just being sentimental… he always reminds me of how young he is when it's quiet like this. How I've gotten so adjusted to the chaos and noise, that when it's missing I find myself… getting nervous." a single green eye glanced up to her as Robin's smile remained. Two years ago, Zoro didn't have a single bone in his body nor an atom to spare that could store even a drop of trust in this woman, but now things were so vastly different. He had gotten used to her, and expected her to be there, especially after what had happened in Enies Lobby. Now, they were friends, family, comrades who shared a cause. If Zoro thought about it, everyone here were nothing more than foundlings that had nowhere to go. Luffy had been the one to form those bonds, to reach his hand out and take the most hopeless cases, the most dangerous individuals, the oddest of sorts, and the most damaged and give them a place to call home. Without him, none of it would have been possible. Not starting as a tiny two person crew lost at sea who found a navigator that Luffy wouldn't dare let go of - not because she was an asset, but because she was his friend - to the lying sniper with good intentions, the sardonic love-struck, woman-crazy cook, the unlikely doctor found on an island full of snow, the woman sitting across from him right now who had been so badly damaged by a world that hated her for just existing, the out of sorts cyborg with a strange behavior, and a singing skeleton who had dreamed of freedom and a reunion with an old friend. Luffy made those people his friends, when no one else would have.

"It's like magic, isn't it? Zoro?" dark green met ice blue.

"Magic? I don't really believe in magic… unless you count Devil Fruits," he stated. Robin laughed.

"No, I mean Luffy's ability to turn even enemies into friends. It's like a spell, isn't it?" Zoro shrugged at the comment, glancing to Luffy who seemed to be breathing a little easier than he had a few moments ago.

"To me, it's just his way of doing things. Nothing else, really," he mentioned as Robin hummed, seeming to think about something for a moment before her smile returned, pale eyes glancing towards the young Captain as she leaned back into the chair.

"The Will of D is a strange thing… though, so are all of it's holders. I've met a few people with the initial… and they were all very unusual people who couldn't obey the rules of the world. They hungered for freedom and to live and die by their own rules… I see that the strongest in Luffy… but even more so, I noticed how his words and actions hold sway over people… it makes me wonder if those who descend from the Clan of D maybe have some sort of power all their own." Zoro gave a nonchalant hum for his answer. Honestly, to him, all of this sounded to much like a simple conspiracy theory to be bothered with to much.

"Ancestry doesn't define a person. Their actions do," he said. Robin laughed quietly, nodding her head.

"True, it doesn't. It will never change the reality of ancestral obligation though. But, I honestly don't mind… to me, Luffy is more important than some theory about a bloodline that's almost extinct and is lost to time in memoriam. Who he is now, and who he can become are what matters most," she mentioned as Zoro smirked.

"He's going to become King of the Pirates. That's all there is to it."

The samurai had no doubts about the statement, and he hadn't since his duel with Mihawk at the Baratie. His vow had been to never lose again, not until he became the Greatest Swordsman in the World, and stood there to see Monkey D. Luffy become King of the Pirates. He had spent two years of hellish training with Mihawk and those blasted apes to claw his way back to his Captain, and now that he was here, there was no doubt in his mind that he and everyone else on this ship would accomplish every single goal they had set out for themselves. Zoro knew there would be obstacles, but that was why their crew was so reliable - they would all see it through. Sighing, Robin leaned back in her chair, watching the swordsman in questioning before a small smile came to her features as she glanced to Luffy who was sleeping despite his uneven breathing and what she was certain was a less than pleasant fever. Robin, despite all her good cheer and hopes, had found herself vexed over the circumstances of yesterday's conversation, and how much raw damage she had seen in her Captain. For the first time, she was reminded that this heroic, powerful, and kind hearted person was a child still. True, he was nineteen years old, but it didn't change the fact that she had known him since he was seventeen, and rarely recalled how young he was. Until it got quiet, and she caught the rambunctious boy sleeping. Then it hit her that her trustworthy Captain, was still so young.

To young to have suffered what he had.

"You're thinking about what happened two years ago, aren't you?" Zoro interjected, his voice breaking through her thoughts as Robin gave a small nod.

"I am… because it's… unfair. Neither Luffy nor Ace deserved what happened to them. The pain he endured… it was to much for a child to go through, and even worse we couldn't help him… it makes me sick honestly. Having heard what he saw and had to push through on that battlefield… and even at Impel Down. It just…" Zoro sighed.

"Makes your skin crawl to think we let our Captain down like that, huh? Or, maybe your comparing scars?" he mentioned. Robin closed her eyes tightly.

"I wanted to believe that I'd never see someone I care for go through something even remotely as awful as what I did… and then Sabaody happened, and while we were all scattered about… Luffy was dealing with all of this madness alone. He nearly died, and if that Warlord hadn't helped him, we wouldn't be here right now." Zoro shook his head.

"Whatever the reason, we owe that creep. If we run into him, I'll be sure to thank him as the first mate," he said firmly. Robin sighed.

"That creep is the person who saved Luffy's life, so I suggest you be nice when we do meet him." Zoro rolled his eye, clearly unimpressed by the notion of being polite to someone who gave him a sense of distress. He knew to trust his instincts, and that person with the few glances he'd gotten of him at Sabaody bled misery, pain, and deceit. He would thank him for saving his Captain, and promptly escort Luffy as far away from him as possible. He didn't trust someone like that to not try and pull something malicious.

"I can feel the super aggression from out here," Franky interjected as Robin gave a small laugh while the cyborg wandered back into the room with Chopper in tow.

"Is everything okay?" Zoro glanced to the small doctor, nodding his head as Robin smiled.

"Though, I might be wrong, I do believe Zoro has no interest in letting the Warlord Trafalgar Law get to close to our Captain when our paths cross at long last," she said off-handedly. Franky hummed as the green-haired Santoryu user gave the black-haired woman a scathing look of annoyance.

"Why? We can't assume he's hostile just because of a title." Zoro shot up to his feet.

"THAT GUY GIVES ME THE CREEPS! AND I TRUST MY INSTINCTS WHEN THEY TELL ME SOMEONE IS -" a faint hum of annoyance caused Zoro to freeze where he stood, shoulders raised in alarm as he glanced behind him to see dark gray eyes looking up at him blearily.

Instantly, the four crew members were at their Captain's side. Luffy sat up, coughing a bit as he tried to get his vision to stop swimming. He could make out who was in the room with him via the scents that flooded the room; however, his mind was almost to hazy to make up a full sentence as he tried to get his body to obey him. Luffy knew, without question that he was running a high fever, but he was certain it wouldn't require someone to climb a mountain again. Sighing, he felt the weight of Chopper getting onto the bed, holding out a glass of water that he took and carefully drank down, feeling a little relief from the cold liquid running down his throat. It was a rare thing, for him to get sick, and honestly Luffy couldn't recall the last time he'd gotten ill, that is, if he didn't count some things that happened on Rusukaina. Internally grumbling, Luffy was pushed back onto the many pillows behind him and he questioned if this fever would go down soon like the others had in the past. The others had backed away, Zoro sitting on the floor by his bed again, Robin moving to the side while Franky carefully sat down a few items on the desk. He watched, quiet as Chopper fell into his role as the ship's doctor without missing a beat as the tiny reindeer moved to sit beside him, looking him over gently as he seemed to make mental notes.

"At least your awake, but your fever hasn't gone down," Chopper said as he placed his hoof onto Luffy's forehead.

"It couldn't be an infection, could it? Remember how sick Nami got after Little Garden?" Zoro's observation had the little doctor sighing with a frown.

"Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be caused by that. But, I would wager that the stress from yesterday was a bit to much, like I warned it could be. However, I wouldn't doubt that it'll take some time to cease completely," the doctor surmised as Luffy gave him a small smile.

"You've got this." Chopper returned his smile with that almost cartoonishly broad grin.

"Oh, you don't have to flatter me! Thank you though," he said as he looked his Captain over with a frown now in place of his smile. Luffy knew then and there that he would have to explain some things to his doctor, especially if he didn't want to get verbally raked over the coals later.

"Chopper? Something wrong?" Franky's inquiry had the reindeer sighing as he crossed his arms.

"Can you guys give me a minute with him alone?" Chopper asked calmly. Zoro sighed, standing as he reached out, ruffling Luffy's messy hair as he gave him a small smile before leaving, seeming to tell him something that only those two would understand. Franky nodded, moving with a smile as he sat down the last of the items Chopper would need.

"I'll go and help Usopp with the fish he brought in. Get to feeling super again soon, okay? Captain?" he mentioned with a wave as Luffy nodded.

"Got it…" Robin started for the door, glancing back at Chopper's stern eyes and sighed.

"While your tending to Luffy, I'll check and see how Sanji is doing with that broth." and with that, the door shut, leaving the doctor and Captain alone. Chopper sat down in his stool at the desk, beginning to mix a few herbs together as he checked on his medical book to ensure he was judging everything appropriately. The last thing he needed was his Captain having a bad reaction to the pain killers - because somehow, the indestructible force of nature was sensitive to certain drugs - and thus, the two let the silence remain, only being disturbed by the occasional grinding sound of herbs in the pestal and mortar. The calmness and consistent sound almost lulled Luffy back into slumber; however, his mind kept telling him that they were far from done with whatever conversation was brewing within Chopper's mind. So, he braced himself, remaining curled up into the blankets and pillows, content to drift off if Chopper changed his mind, or answer his questions if he didn't.

"You've had these fevers before, haven't you Luffy?" he questioned. A tired, and weak sounding sigh left the young Captain as he turned to face the wall, unsure of how to best answer the other. However, he knew avoiding it would be pointless.

"I got them a lot while recovering… I ended up with fevers and symptoms that looked like a bad cold or something akin to it… but it was from everything my body had gone through. It was getting rid of the rest of the bad stuff I had put in my body during the whole thing at Marineford. But, once that was over… I had them when I got those dreams when I was awake. Rayleigh said that… my body and mind were sick, but my mind was sicker than the rest of me…" Chopper bit his lip.

Rayleigh had known from the get go that Luffy had post traumatic stress disorder. He had done all he could to help restore him, get him to where he could at the very least pretend to function normally. But, as he and the others had said before, this kind of damage didn't heal like normal wounds, even when compared to mental ones. Zoro had been right in saying that they were lucky Luffy wasn't completely insane, and Chopper counted his lucky stars daily that there was enough of his Captain and friend left over from the horrific trauma he'd gone through to salvage his mind and personality. It made him sick to think of the people Doctor Kureiha had treated that were so far gone, death was a mercy - and consider how close his Captain was to that ledge. He glanced back to Luffy, eyeing how he kept his face hidden away from him, maybe to hide his own shame at this weak side he'd shown his crew, or perhaps to try and hold together a semblance of his sanity while he tried to make sense of things that could have confused the wisest of people. Because, even Chopper knew that the human mind was no simple thing to understand, it was complicated, and every person's brain functioned differently on minute levels. Luffy's own was no exception, and as a teenager it was still developing, meaning that the damage done by the war and everything else from two years ago would have indefinite, lasting effects.

"It's from anxiety and the mental duress you were under yesterday. And, it was the same thing back then too… your mind can do really scary things to your body, that's why I'm going to help you. It'll take me a little while to research what I'll need to do in order to properly treat you, but I'm going to make you feel better, maybe we can even get rid of these nightmares and relapses all together," Chopper said. Luffy smiled, hearing the doctor get off his stool and come over to him, hopping up onto the bed as he motioned for Luffy to sit up. Tiredly, he did so, being offered a mug of what looked like rather muddy water that he knew he wasn't going to like drinking. However, he begrudgingly braced himself and downed the entire thing as quickly as he could, resisting the urge to cough up the bitter, dirt-textured sludge he was forcing himself to drink. Chopper watched him, expectantly, knowing how much he hated the medicine the doctor would give the crew on occassion - he had zero intentions of letting Luffy get out of taking all of it. Grimacing in distaste, Luffy held out the cup, shivering at the vile taste of the medication as he considered how much he wished medicine tasted better than it did.

"That's so gross!" Chopper smiled.

"But, it'll take care of that fever, and it'll let you sleep it off," he said happily as he hopped off the bed, setting the mug down while Luffy gave it and the pestal and mortar an offended look.

"It's still disgusting!" Chopper continued to smile, watching as Luffy felt his vision swim slightly.

"That medicine works fast, so I suggest you lay down before you fall over, okay?" he suggested as the nineteen year old groaned, flopping back onto the pillows, still tasting the revolting bitter-earth flavor of the medicine in the back of his throat as his eyes started to drift close before he finally gave up the fight and dozed off into a deep sleep. Chopper sighed, double checking on Luffy before shutting the door and departing out into the bright sunlight that was still tinged with slight crimson that faded into blue. Nami worried about that sky, he knew that and could sense her tension from across the boat as they drew closer to clouds that were tinged a steely gray. There was going to be a storm, no question about it. Chopper sighed, hefting a book he'd taken from the room over his head as he wandered quickly across the deck and into the galley where Sanji was stirring a pot that bubbled and steamed, food having been laid out on the table for anyone willing to eat. Brook was the first to notice his arrival, and greeted him with his usual skeletal grin, though Chopper could tell that he was definitely worried.

"Did Luffy fall asleep?" the musician asked.

"I gave him some medicine that'll cut that fever out and let him sleep. He should be out for the rest of the day." Nami gave a relieved sigh, slumping back into her chair as she kept glancing out the door, watching the skies while she tried to eat.

"I don't think I like that rubber idiot getting sick," she said with a pointed frown.

"None of us do, it's super not the same if he's not running around." Robin smiled, nodding in agreement as she sipped at her tea before glancing towards Chopper who was flipping through the book he'd brought in, seeming to be looking for something.

"What are you looking for, Chopper?" Robin's question was laced with curiosity as the reindeer sighed, seeming unsure of what to really say.

"I'm looking up treatments for PTSD. There's got to be something I can do to make this better… or at least… easier," he replied as Robin gave him a piteous look. She knew it, and without question, so did Chopper that you couldn't cure this disease of the mind. It was merely something one managed.

"Have you found anything yet?" Chopper gave a slow nod, seeming unsure of his answer.

"A few things, but… I'm concerned that doing these might cause more stress. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a good place to start, as that's supposed to help recognize and overcome destructive thoughts, and refocus on how to best cope with the relapses and things that trigger them," he explained. Usopp rose an eyebrow.

"Wait, so, this could help him to not start beating his head against stuff and hurting himself?" Chopper nodded.

"In… theory, but there's no guarantee it would actually work fully… there's no cure for this, just treatments that make it manageable. I just want to help him as best I can, and this is…." tears welled up in the reindeer's dark eyes, the other crew members giving him morose looks as Nami pulled him into a tight hug.

"We know, all of us want to help him, but none of us really know what to do, so… we'll figure it out together, okay?" Chopper nodded as Usopp hummed, pulling out one of Nami's maps, observing it for a moment.

"Hey, Nami? Isn't there a port town nearby?" he inquired. The ginger-haired girl glanced to the map, looking at it briefly.

"There is, it's Ruelle Island. They're known for letting anyone who needs to port do so, but you have to not cause any trouble. They treat people the same so long as they bring in business." Usopp smiled.

"How about we go there? Resupply, stay away from the storm for a few days, let Luffy get himself back to top shape, and just try and rest for a little before getting any further into the New World?" he offered. He couldn't believe he was suggesting going onto a random island that was only reported to be nice to Pirates and Marines alike, but he hoped that they could actually use this as a chance to recover from this bout of depression that seemed keen on hanging onto them. Nami hummed, glancing at the map again, seeming to think before nodding once.

"Alright then, sounds good to me. What about you guys?" Chopper looked up at her.

"Taking a few days of rest would be good for him, and us. I'll monitor the fever, but I'm sure he'll be fine. How long till we get there?" Nami took the map.

"Two days," she said confidently. Franky jumped into a pose.

"Sounds SUPER to me!" the others agreed, smiling and nodding as she ordered the others into what direction they needed to turn in order to head to Ruelle Island, but as they did, Nami felt the strangest sense like something had happened similar to this once a long time ago.

{.…}

Author's Note: Next chapter, we'll be taking a short break from the chaos and enjoy some genuine down time, and a few stories! On the note of the psychology used in this chapter. Yes, cognitive behavioral therapy is 100% something used to help manage the symptoms of PTSD, and bipolar disorder. It's usually coupled up with medication and other types of therapy as well. On a side note, Ruelle doesn't exist in the One Piece universe, naturally, so it, and the majority of what happens there, will be original. Ironically, Ruelle is French for Alley. So, expect lots of those. Also, Red Sky at night sailor's delight and red sky in the morning, sailor's warning is something I have literally heard my entire life. I don't live near the ocean. Weird.

Happy New Year everyone, let's hope 2021 is 10x better than 2020 was.

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.