Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I'm so sorry but I fell asleep last night at my desk! Between a difficult chapter and lack of sleep, I'm sorry!

As stated, this was a difficult chapter. I didn't want to give too much away while trying to make it a little hilarious. Also I flipped flopped, rolled around, and rewrote this thing roughly four times. Its just one of those chapters that is needed to help further the story but has dry bits in it. Again, not one of my best chapters. I know people say I'm my worst critic so I'd like to see what you guys think.

After laying the sleeping woman down and tucking her in, the admiral grabbed his uniform's coat and covered her with it. If Katie's sense of smell could wake her, then maybe it could be masked. Briefly the plan seemed to work as the brunette nuzzled the soft white fabric and pulled it to cover her cheeks.

Content on leaving the room to allow his blood to simmer down, he stepped out while taking in copious amounts of air. His body needed to cool. Closing the door behind him, his copper orbs saw Tashigi appear in the distance. In her hands were two cups of coffee. With Smoker at her side, the admiral understood why the petty officer had taken so long to get back.

The marine crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder blades against the door until the smaller swordsman had reached him. A white cup of coffee was offered and thankfully he took it. His nose twitched. Burned naval coffee was a reminder how spoiled he had become over the last few weeks. The bitter substance bit back as he took a long sip. Quietly the woman pushed by him and took her post. She closed the door behind her, leaving Smoker and he alone.

"You're back already…", Aokiji was hopeful that the captain had news for him.

"I wanted to peek into our victim's past before diving into the history of the twins with the intent of finding common names that might have popped up. Honestly just going off your hunch won't be enough in a trial. What I found instead is interesting and something you might not be able to fix. It's a huge hindrance in everyone's investigation."

"Oh my", Kuzan responded. His thin brow arched as he listened.

"Apparently one Laurel M. Katelyn joined the marines when she was fourteen and that's all I have. The official report is blacked out. Not even the dates can be read. To make matters worse, it was authorized by the commander-in-chief and signed off by the fleet-admiral Sengoku himself."

To the officer's luck, Katie had already explained part of what happened. Kuzan could imagine the marines covering that incident up as quickly as they could. What really gained his curiosity was the extent that Kong himself would completely erase it. This brought up questions the officer wasn't sure he wanted the answers too.

"Miss Laurel had already explained some to me but if you think there is a connection then speak to Bogard, Garp's man." Normally Aokiji would have forgotten all about what transpired between Katelyn and the commodore but that awkward confrontation he saw had stuck in his mind. It was her expression and sterile tone of voice that bothered him. He'd like to know why.

"What worries me is that you, of all people, have some idea of what I'm going to find. Any surprises…?" The captain felt that his ranking officer was holding out on him and he didn't know what that reason was.

"I think we'll both be in for a shock. I'll find a way to open those files. I want to read them myself but there is something else I need your help with", the admiral's voice grew cold. Smoker had placed two new cigars between his lips before lighting them up. The tall man carefully listened.

"Katie made mention of an old smell she's scared of. I heard a familiar voice as soon as I closed the door. I just can't seem to place it. She also told me a name but I can't remember it either", Kuzan sighed before he scratched his head. "Mind taking a look around for anything or anyone suspicious?"

"Not at all... I'd like to question her myself if it didn't impede any of the findings", Smoker bluntly voiced. "Those old bastards in the law department are sticky about investigating their own. Any method is alright when it comes to pirates but not so easy when it's another marine", the White Hunter puffed. "I'll have my guys post up randomly through the halls. They can act as extra eyes and ears."

"Kane! Our old buddy! How are you", Garp bellowed loudly from down the hall. The boisterous outburst startled both men who were deep in their conversation. "I see you're covering up that scar my Katie gave ya! Bwahahaha", the older vice-admiral laughed proudly with a thumbs up.

Both the admiral and the captain briefly had a foreboding appearance over shadowing their facial features. The two marines began their trek down the sterile hall into the sign in area for that particular wing. The sight was not something they were prepared for, at least for Smoker who hadn't trained under Garp. Aokiji on the other hand, wasn't ready to spot the older vice-admiral threaten with a smile. When the greying hero was mad, he'd usually bark some nonsense and just throw a punch before spouting what was on his mind. Now the higher ranking official could see a side of the man he had never expected.

To further add to the bizarre scene, Sengoku was standing shoulder to shoulder with his long time colleague and friend. The same man he shared a granddaughter with. Behind the wall of broad muscle and white suits was another. A man roughly Smoker's height and build with crimson hair who also donned a white three piece suit but not a marine uniform. His large midnight eyes were in tears as his back had been arched over the counter behind him. Leather gloved hands adjusted his half mask that covered the right side of his face as anxiety and fear had him shaking like a dry winter leaf left in the wind.

Sengoku stood by with a content grin, munching on rice crackers from a bag he brought with him. "Oh… It has been a long time", the afro styled fleet-admiral hummed. A massive hand patted Garp on the shoulder before grabbing more crackers. "I almost didn't recognize him with that thing he's wearing", Sengoku teased.

These two heroes weren't acting like they normally would have if this had really been a friend. It was very concerning, to say the least. Considering the man they had focused their attention on was nearly pissing himself with fear. His hands even flew up to protect himself as if they were going to assault him and knowing Garp, he'd do it.

"Oh my… Where have I seen him before", Kuzan blinked contemplating the familiar face in the white suit. Even the leather mask the flaming haired man worn was white. "Is he a marine", he continued before rubbing the back of his neck as copper orbs watched the two officers bully the person in question.

"Seriously… You don't know him", Smoker annoyingly inquired. His teeth clenched down his cigar as prickles of exasperation gripped his shoulders. "That's Sakai Kane. The only people who have brought in more prisoners than him... are those two", he nudged his chin forward to indicate Garp and Sengoku.

The admiral blinked. "No… That's not where I heard that name from… It's something else", he admitted in a foolish manner.

The captain pinched the bridge of his nose with gloved fingers. "Does Trode Isles mean anything?"

"No…", Aokiji tilted his head.

"Destruction of Otterwin Keys?"

"Nope…"

"Ferfair Enclave War?"

"Uh… No…", the officer sighed in disappointment.

"The arrests of Warewick pirates at Domino Islands?"

The officer shook his head. "Afraid not…"

"Maybe when Garp found out that Kane had left over a hundred marines to die in the Stoneval Keys during a volcanic storm, the old man beat him so bad that he was found unfit for active duty and was bumped down to train cadets in the youth program." The hunter's voice was dry by this point.

The admiral perked his head. "That's it! I was in the Needosa Isles when I heard about that."

"It was brutal. Garp had beat him with a single punch. It landed in his midsection and apparently broke nearly every bone. He was quoted for saying, the only thing that separates us from pirates is we're men of honor and we don't leave our own behind", Smoker added. "He later went back and saved twenty one men of the one hundred and twelve that were left."

That was the hero Aokiji knew. He probably did it with a smile too. Now the grandfather was lording his size over the very same man, it slightly made more sense. This was a pure display of disrespect. "Kane's not in uniform", the ranking officer pointed out with a bit of surprise.

The lower ranking official beside him sighed. "He's not a marine anymore. The bastard is a financial liaison for the World Government. In other words, that coward there signs the checks addressed to the marines so we can get paid."

"Why couldn't this be easy", the admiral bemoaned before shoving his hands deep into his pockets and sauntering over. If this carried on too long, there could be serious repercussions.

"You two are enjoying yourselves too much", Aokiji spoke up with a relaxed stance. "Think about others trying to rest here. Katie isn't the only patient, you know?"

"I don't want to hear that from you", the old grandpa snarled as blue eyes shifted back towards the cowering red head in front of him. "I still can't believe this worm of a man used to be a marine…"

Sengoku raised a hand to stop the concerned admiral. Usually he was the first to be professional in front of others. Kuzan couldn't understand why he was letting Garp run wild. This had to be personal and strangely he had a feeling he should know why but again, couldn't recall the reasoning.

"Oh…", the red headed man in white hissed. "Katelyn is here? What trouble has she caused now? Should…", was all he could utter in a slithering tone when the liaison discovered the admiral's enormous hand painfully wrapped around his nose and mouth. It happened so quickly, the World Government's official didn't even have a chance to blink.

"Say her name again like you just did, I dare you", the officer lowly jeered with his nose slowly inching towards Kane's. Large midnight eyes teared up as the man shook his head. "No? Are you sure", Kuzan inquired in a warning tone. The liaison swiftly nodded before the admiral removed his hand.

Though, Aokiji thought the red head was afraid of him, he had been mistaken. Behind all three of the officers there stood a tall looming black shadow. A masculine woman's face appeared just before the three marines, who were acting like children, found themselves on the white tiled floor with knots swelling from their heads.

"All of you should be ashamed", Liddy snapped. "My nurses are frightened and huddled in the break room; my patients are disturbed and restless… Have each and every one of you lost your mind?! This is a hospital", she snarled before smacking the three marines in the back of the head with another single swipe. To the vice-admiral, it was as if he were smacked by a bear which garnered profound respect from him.

"Not another word out of any of you until you learn what it means to be in my wing", the large robust woman shook her fist before turning on her heels. Her warning didn't fall on deaf ears. Sengoku felt shame and like his friend, discovered a bit of respect for the raven haired woman and her wishes.

Garp thought every minute was hilarious. His head had whipped back as he laughed almost uncontrollably. The higher-ranking officer wasn't as amused as his counterpart. Kuzan gingerly rubbed the two sore spots on the back of his head. He mused with his thoughts and wondered when was the last time he had been disciplined.

"Well sorry… It seems I have made things worse", the admiral admitted before standing straight.

"Nonsense", Sengoku interjected before returning to his feet. "Garp took things too far and this one doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut", he thumbed towards Kane. "I deserved my share for not stopping it sooner", it seemed the fleet-admiral had taken responsibility for Garp like he had always done in the past.

"That's a fierce woman. I'd go as far as saying, scary…", the vice-admiral laughed before happily waving to one of the nurses behind the sign in desk. In response, the men were given ice packs by the staff.

Two of the women in white nursing uniforms came before them and bowed. "We're sorry for Liddy-sama's reaction. She can get a bit over protective of us but that's why we love her."

Sengoku grabbed the back of Garp's head and pushed him down forcing him to bow as he did. "No… It's us old fools that should apologize. Thank you", he humbly spoke earning around of "aw" from the women.

The captain was speechless to say the least. It was the equivalent of watching three kids get in trouble. They were marines! Act like it, that's what he wanted to berate but refrained. Although one was a friend, they were his superiors.

The snowy colored haired officer's suspicious mind didn't dismiss the man in white, ominously. Smoker smelled out a strong possible lead. He was on the prowl. The captain figured he'd have to be careful since he was a World Government's official but from the look of things, he'd have the support of the fleet-admiral if trouble should come his way.