Yay! Feels good to be home. :) Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter. I had fun with this one. I can honestly say I would love to have a grandpa like Garp. :D Who wouldn't?
Hope everyone had at least a good Monday. See you tomorrow!
Hours ticked by and not a single man was ready to leave. R had made himself a makeshift bed in a corner and slept while the older men chatted. Aokiji thought it was rather strange that Katie would only stir if they started to whisper or become quiet. She slept deeply if the three of them didn't mind the volume of their voice.
The doctor and surgeon had paid many visits but the source of her internal bleeding was still a mystery. It was disheartening. Katie was a rare blood type and the four of them had given everything they could. It wasn't enough. One medical practitioner had offered to do another exploratory surgery. They were at a loss. The two heroes began bickering at one another. Garp supported the idea of another surgery, his defense was that Katie was a tough kid. Sengoku argued not to perform the procedure in case something went awry.
The admiral simply couldn't handle any more bad news. He had grown attached and though the marine absolutely hated the position he was in, Kuzan wasn't going to give up either. He may have been a lot of things but quitting when someone needed him wasn't in his nature. The curly haired man sighed.
"Hey", the marine heard meekly from the bed. His copper orbs turned to see a pair of glossy blue hues staring up at him. Don't smile, he thought. Don't do it…, the ranked official begged but she did. It was weak in nature and forced pain into his chest. His hands trembled as the man lowered himself to cup one of her cheeks.
"Hey…", Katie spoke again. Supple lips met the bottom edge of his palm as a feeble hand slipped over the top of his own. The brunette breathed. "I hear arguing", she was blunt. "What about", the female asked while taking a hard swallow. Kuzan guessed it was from the pain killers.
"They want to implement another surgery. Garp is ok with it but Sengoku is worried." His answer was barely over a whisper.
"Ah… Then do it", the brunette spoke flatly. She swallowed roughly again.
"I don't think you understand", Aokiji tried to point out. "There isn't enough blood for another transfusion. Anymore loss or donations and you're risking not only bleed out but also poisoning. Your heart won't be able to take it", he explained softly with a thumb running over her cheek bone. His brow furrowed a bit. "Do you want something to drink", the marine inquired.
The young woman shook her head. "Not really. I feel like I'm coming off a bad drunken high. I've been on some painkillers before but this one is the worst", she fussed.
The admiral grew even more concerned. His mind suspiciously worked. "Katie… I need you to listen to me and tell me how you physically feel."
"Well… Dry mouth, bad headache, itchy hand, grainy throat, sticky, sweaty, cold, my stomach hurts. My back hurts… Just say everything hurts but the painkillers should soon be taking this away", she added with another weakened simper.
Kuzan shook his head. She shouldn't be in any sort of pain. His suspicion was slowly growing. "I'll be right back", he uttered before standing up straight. He was swift to snatch her medical progress off the end of her bed before giving R a swift kick to the feet. "Don't let anyone in here; not even the damn doctor", he ordered before leaving.
The two older men stopped their arguing as they watched the admiral leave with urgency in his step. Their eyes turned towards the half sleeping woman who gave a tiny wave. R was left rubbing his face and standing to stretch. Garp's brows furrowed. Sengoku dipped his head low, the light shimmered over his glasses. Both were left speechless.
The admiral took a few quick steps before grabbing the nearest doctor. He was much shorter than the admiral and younger in appearance than many of the other doctors around. The man seemed roughly the same age as R but that didn't bother the marine. Brilliant copper eyes blinked upward at the curly haired officer and back down to the massive hand around his upper bicep. With nervousness in his expression he asked, "can I help you?"
The ranking official forced the metal clipboard into the doctor's hands. "Read that and tell me if you see anything off", he ordered dryly as he released the young man's arm.
Without argument, the young doctor ran his fingers through his short dark brown hair and did as he was told. "Hm… Well yeah. Nothing too alarming but I see she's not exhibiting any side effects one would typically have after the trauma surgery she just went through. Her pulse is even higher than normal. Her platelets are low but that could because she's had so many transfusions. The heart rate is too normal. What I mean is…"
Before the doctor could even finish his sentence, he ascertained himself being dragged off by an admiral and shoved into Katie's room. "Before you think of arguing…, keep in mind the patient is of high importance. Being a doctor on Marineford you should recognize fleet-admiral Sengoku, vice-admiral Garp, and myself. The fourth man there is being promoted to rear-admiral himself next week. Now explain what you were about to tell me."
The smaller man rubbed the back of his head. In Kuzan's eyes he was what many of the marines would call a pretty boy. Angular features, thin frame, the long bangs with a charming smile. Everything the admiral wasn't. The officer could never understand why girls liked guys like him.
"W..W..Well", he stuttered before Garp barked. "Spit it out", the older man ordered.
"Well you see...", the doctor bobbed quickly from side to side briefly. "I think it's best I show you", the man added before walking over to her. His charming smile caused Katie to roll her eyes. She was awake which was a good sign.
"Your name is Katie, right?" The young woman nodded. "Well Katie… I'm doctor Noah. I've got a strange feeling I'll be your caretaker from this point." She nodded. "Dry mouth", he asked with her nodding. "Your eyes are glossed over. Not a typical sign of the drip we use. Do you feel any pain", the man asked. When she nodded once more, his brows furrowed.
"Katie… How do you feel", the medical practitioner inquired while masking the concern in his voice.
"Everything hurts", she admitted. "I itch everywhere and I'm sweating but I'm cold."
Her answer was everything the doctor needed to know. He took the hidden stool from under her bed and slid across the room using its rollers. The young man stuck his head out the door and yelled. "Liddy", he barked before sliding at the end of Katie's bed. An older nurse rushed in. To Garp's surprise it was like looking at a Dadan's twin. She was exceedingly tall, overweight with long curly black hair and a defined masculine face but her smile was soft. Something he doubted the bandit could accomplish.
"Do a complete checkup. Also get me a responsive kit. I want the needle as well."
"Hai", the older woman acknowledged before disappearing. She returned with a small blue box and an empty clipboard. As she checked the young woman's vitals, the doctor uncovered the brunette's feet.
"Alright… Here's the deal. If you laugh once I start tickling you, I won't have to poke you but if you don't I have to prick your toe." Katie smiled and nodded. She enjoyed Noah's warm grin.
Regrettably, the little woman didn't budge. The white feather between the toes and on the bottom of her feet didn't get a response from the female patient. She didn't even flinch when he stuck the center of the big toe. Blood poured like a faucet that had been turned on. The doctor was expecting a few drops but nothing like what had happened.
The brunette male began rattling off medical terminology and Liddy had moved quickly. After the flurry, the doctor pulled the four men to the side in the hallway. R stayed in the frame to keep anyone from entering. His size was intimidating and the accompany scowl in his expression had many mistaken him for Sakazuki. Even seasoned marines walking by rushed their step. The captain crossed his arms as he listened.
"I have to say sir, you have some sharp eyes. Katie hadn't been administered any pain killers that I can see. She was in shock… Probably delirious from blood loss. I'm sorry but she has all the classic signs of being administered blood thinners along with mild sedatives. No doctor or surgeon would have ever prescribed such a mixture. Especially since one raises the heart rate while the other, in the right doses, keeps the patient still. Her pulse was all over the place. With the proper medication, we shouldn't have to worry about her bleeding anymore but I will come check on her every four hours. Liddy will check on her every hour. I will write a complete report on my findings. I am just utterly flabbergasted. I can't say for certain that this wasn't a mix up but definitely malpractice unless someone was sneaking in the other doses while withholding the original order. I mean… The hospital keeps sedatives and painkillers under lock and key. In my report, I'll add all the names of all those with a key. Myself included. I'll even mandate an inventory check."
Sengoku nodded and let the young doctor finally take his leave. It was obvious that he was nervous around such men. "Someone is even targeting her at the hospital…", the fleet admiral groaned. The man was tired. Thick fingers reached up and under his black rimmed glasses as he rubbed his eyes.
"Good catch Aokiji", Garp smiled while slapping a heavy hand on his shoulder. The admiral didn't just flinch, he had to grit his teeth. The sting sunk all the way down his arm.
"When she started saying everything hurt, I had questions." His voice was dry and low.
"Kuzan… Do you mind staying? Garp and I have some business to attend to. R…", the large man paused before turning towards the captain in the door frame. "I'm handing Garp's case to you. I want the Golden Crown pirates eliminated before they can gain an alliance with the representative from the Big Mom pirates."
"Do I have authority to do as I see fit", the younger marine asked.
Sengoku nodded. It was all R needed. Blowing off some steam would do him some good. He left without wasting another second.
In the end, Kuzan was left alone with Katie again. He didn't mind it. In fact, the man enjoyed it. The tall officer sat in one of the chairs and at the edge of the bed. His hand propped his chin up while his elbow rested next to her. The raven haired admiral didn't expect to see glassy blue hues to shift in his direction.
"I'm sorry about your house", Katie mumbled.
"Don't worry about it…", he hummed. A smirk touched the corner of his lip. Aokiji was relieved to hear the news that she was going to get better. Now he could relax a bit. "How do you feel?" The marine didn't know why but he kept his voice low and to a whisper.
"Huh? I think I'm good…", she rambled. "I don't feel anything and my head is way up here…", the young woman flopped her hand around.
Kuzan broke out into a light chortle. "Katie… I'm going to ask… What happened", he questioned in a quiescent tone. Honestly the man didn't expect much of an answer. Her lazily half opened eyes revealed just how well the morphine was working.
"Oh… Yeah…", she hummed. "Lots of ticking clock. Loud too. Didn't smell anything before I dropped my water. Didn't see anyone either. I locked my door though", the brunette sang proudly. "No more thumps on my head", the little woman giggled tenderly.
The admiral hated to admit it but she was annoying. The drugs had her speaking riddles. He did take some of what she said with deep thought. The long-haired woman didn't see or hear her attacker and it happened after she locked her door. That meant the assailant was already waiting for Katie inside.
"Kuzan", the twenty-three year old breathed with her expression twisting. "I had to hurt someone…", the female spoke in a choked intonation. His copper orbs watched as ivory cheeks became littered with patches of strawberry hues. Panic hit the admiral. His back was straight as he tried to figure out a way to stop her from crying.
"Oh my… No-no… You're fine. Uh…", he stood as an idea hit him. Comforting wasn't his strong suit. Actually, he couldn't think of a marine that could. "Here…" The man quickly slipped her forward and maneuvered her smaller frame around. Katie immediately discovered the tall officer laying behind her. Her back was pressed against his chest while her head was under his chin. Short toned legs had been guided between his own.
The admiral slid a firm toned are around her smaller body while his free hand slipped up over her eyes. "Hey… Don't think about anything else but sleep. Everything can wait." The soothing muted tone he used oscillated through her ears. Katie's breaths slowed to a gentle pace. The officer knew she was used to taking things head on and in the moment. Right now, was not the time to be so stubborn. Besides the bunk was comfortable. Every hospital bed was made for marines his size which made things easier to set her in position. Aokiji leaned his head back after adjusting his two pillows. Copper hues closed. This was not how he imagined sleeping with a woman but in the moment, it worked. He could protect her like this and get his much needed sleep in.