(Seatone AU)

Whitebeard had sat outside the medical bay for hours. It was quiet, despite the raging storm growing outside. The medical bay was deep within the ship though, keeping it sheltered from the rain and winds. There was another medical bay right at the main deck, for emergencies mostly, but Marco had both Ace and Thatch brought to the main one below. Izo was pacing before him, face blanched of colour, while the rest of his Commander's tried to settle everyone on the Moby Dick back down. Haruta was contacting their other ships, telling everyone to be on alert for now, that they would have a proper meeting soon to discuss the emergency.

The emergency was what Haruta wasn't to clarify just yet. Not when they hadn't gotten any information out of Teach. They needed to know if there were any other traitors onboard the ship, or if any of his children were being bullied into serving the traitorous scumbag.

Rakuyo was guarding and interrogating Teach right now, alongside Jozu. Rakuyo's spiked ball weapon, Betty, was probably trying to munch Teach's ankles right now. The idea would normally have made Whitebeard snort in amusement, but he was too angry and upset to find any true joy right now.

Thatch and Ace were badly hurt. They could even be dying. He could feel their haki, pulsing weakly, Ace's just stronger than Thatch's.

He tried to take comfort in the fact that Thatch's haki was steadily growing stronger though. That he seemed to be recovering. But it was still a difficult wait.

It was another hour before the door opened. Sam walked out, holding a clipboard, face carefully blank.

"Thatch is stable," she said. "He's in a deep sleep, unlikely to wake up anytime soon. He was very lucky, if Ace hadn't been there..." Sam trailed off, grimacing.

A small weight lifted from Whitebeard, but he refrained from celebrating just yet.

"And Ace?" he asked.

"Ace is very sick." Sam shifted her weight. "We found an entry point for a needle on the back of Ace's neck, and his blood samples have shown us he has a high level of seastone in his bloodstream-"

"Seastone?" Izo blanched. "But he's a Devil Fruit user!"

"It's not enough to kill him, thankfully," Sam said. "But he won't be up for doing much anytime soon. Commander Marco has given us strict orders to keep both Commander Ace and Commander Thatch bed bound for the next month, at least."

Izo winced. "That might be easier said than done."

Whitebeard nodded. "But they will recover?"

"Thatch took to the surgery well." Sam nodded. "We had to open him up, and let Commander Marco's flames heal his lung. It had collapsed when Teach stabbed him, because it was torn by the knife. Commander Marco's Phoenix was not happy, considering he wanted to go to Ace, instead of holding Commander Thatch's lung and pumping it to get it back in motion-"

Izo went paler, somehow. Whitebeard hadn't thought it was possible.

"That's disgusting-" Izo gagged. "Please stop!"

Sam rolled her eyes. "You see people get murdered almost daily, yet holding an organ is 'disgusting'. Big baby."

Whitebeard snorted. "I remember when he did the same for my lung-"

"You made it collapse because you drowned it in alcohol, you idiot!" Sam snapped.

Whitebeard huffed. "My darling daughter is being mean to me."

"You sulk every time I give you into trouble." Sam scowled, and Whitebeard grimaced when she kicked his leg. "I'm not a teenager anymore, it no longer makes me feel guilty that I might have hurt your delicate feelings!"

Whitebeard struggled to hold back a snort of laughter. Sam must have caught on, because her scowl only deepened, but she jerked her thumb towards the medical bay door.

"Anyway, you can come in and see them," Sam said. "Just stay calm and keep quiet. Neither of them are conscious and we'd prefer they sleep for as long as possible."

"We'll keep quiet, Sam." Whitebeard ruffled her hair. "Are you going back to bed?"

"I've sent some of the girls and boys back to bed, but I'll be staying up with Commander Marco." Sam lead them inside. "Hopefully some of them can at least sleep a bit more before the night is over."

"Hopefully," Whitebeard agreed.

He was proud of his sons and daughters for responding so quickly though. They had never had an emergency like this before, but they had done amazing well, coping under such pressure.

Izo gasped. Whitebeard followed his gaze, and frowned when he saw Thatch, so unnaturally pale that it made Whitebeard twitch, and his heart ache. He was laying on his side, Tate attending to him. Izo rushed to his side, and gently took his hand.

"Thatch..." Izo whispered.

Ace was in the bed across from Thatch. Marco was right by his side, smoothing out his hair. Whitebeard approached him first, and softened when he saw that Ace was still shivering, albeit more weakly now. He brushed a finger against Ace's forehead, and grimaced at how cold he still felt.

"I've given him heated blankets and water bottles yoi." Marco kept stroking Ace's hair, frowning softly. "It'll help warm him back up, and sooth his shakes."

"Will it take a long time to flush the seastone out of his system?" Whitebeard asked, taking a seat beside his eldest boy.

Marco nodded, massaging his forehead. "It could take weeks, maybe even months yoi. Thatch will be recovering from his blood loss for about three to four weeks. If Ace hadn't been there to keep pressure on his wounds, and unleash that wave of haki, Thatch wouldn't be here."

Whitebeard cursed. "All for a damned Devil Fruit."

Marco's eyes hardened. "Is that what Teach was after?"

Whitebeard nodded. "After you left, Teach ranted about his 'destiny' and the power of his 'Devil Fruit' and surpassing me. Thatch had gotten in his way by finding the Devil Fruit before him. It's what Teach has been searching for all these years."

Marco grimaced. "We knew he had been looking for something, but I never could have imagined he'd stab Thatch in the back over this. Bloody hell, he could have asked Thatch for it and he'd hand it over in a heartbeat yoi."

Whitebeard growled. "He wanted to be cruel though. He wanted to make us suffer, and he wanted someone to chase after him."

"You think so yoi?" Marco frowned.

"It's what my gut is telling me."

"And any good pirate listens to their gut." Marco nodded, softening when Ace leaned in closer to his petting. Marco instantly began soothing him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'm here, Ace. I'm not going anywhere. Just sleep yoi. Just stay asleep for now."

Ace settled in once more, no longer searching for some comfort. Marco kept up his massage, rubbing Ace's scalp gently, before rubbing his shoulder beneath the blankets.

Whitebeard softened at the sight. He was happy his youngest child finally felt loved and safe. Although, perhaps he wouldn't feel so safe anymore, after everything that had just happened. None of them had expected Teach's betrayal after all. He'd need to keep a close eye on Ace and Thatch, especially on their mental health. He didn't want Ace to shy away again, scared and lonely.

Not that any of them would let Ace do that. Especially not himself and Marco. Things would be messy for a time, perhaps a long time, but they would sort it out.

First things first though. They needed to deal with Teach.

And when Ace was strong again, he was going to teach that little troublemaker how to control his Conqueror's haki. Otherwise that would brew some chaotic situations that Whitebeard felt way too old to deal with now.

No, better to have Ace know how to control such a power, rather than causing trouble. He already caused enough trouble. If Whitebeard wasn't already old and grey, he would have been when he had first carried the feral child aboard his ship.

"It'll be good when these two are both back up and running again." Whitebeard smiled, glancing over at Thatch.

Marco snorted, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know, Pops. We might finally get some peace and quiet yoi."

Whitebeard snorted. "One problem with that, my boy. Haruta's still running around."

Marco chuckled. "Easier dealing with one troublemaker than all three."

But by the way Marco held Ace's hand, Whitebeard knew he'd rather be dealing with all three troublemakers than having two bed bound. Whitebeard leaned forward, rubbing Ace's back.

"You saved Thatch's life, Ace." Whitebeard chuckled. "He's going to owe you a ton of food when you're both recovered."

Marco smiled warmly. "He'll look forward to that."