Surgeon

The interruption of the crew's annual video game match came with an intense groan of disapproval. The static noise caused the disheveled crew to move back; watching as the screen's color slowly returned.

"CA...CAPTAIN!" The scream from the white bear caused the sleeping black-haired male to awake abruptly. His eyes stared forth at the screen as he watched a battle play. Neither of them expected to see the recording of the moment she fell from the ship. He held his breath subconsciously standing up.

"You're one with them now," The redhead woman smiled as she slowly removed the golden saucer from the child's hands.

Standing tall and proud, the short girl grinned. She was the first. The first of her people to be one with their protectors. She felt the warmth of her blood flow through her veins as she swallowed the last drop of poison from her lips.

"Will sister be ok?" The tall green haired girl immediately moved to examine her sister for any signs of an illness. It was not common for the women to live after drinking the yuda poison, yet here stood her elder sister completely fine.

"Yes. She is doing better than recorded history." The doctor glanced at her noticing how she stood perfectly fine with no signs of discomfort or pain. It scared the older woman as she watched the child. Already an accomplished warrior and now she was one with the snakes of their land.

"Sister?"

"I'm fine Mari. Sonia stops worrying." Hancock dismissed her sisters' worry as she left to continue her training. She didn't show any odd signs of the poison until that year's winter hit. She started eating less and sleeping more. It took an animal expert to explain that the young warrior was hibernating. She was awake the majority of the time but she hated the cold. A rare occurrence on the island. The cool was always welcome to the women. It wasn't long before her sisters were forced to experience the harsh cold as well. The three only survive by their instincts.

Cold. She hated the cold. It always reminded her of those hellish years she spent underground.

'Sister'

Marigold's worry-filled voice sang in her ear like a melody/ She moved her head towards the sound. Feeling the familiar warmth, she felt her heart quicken as the blood flowed faster in her body.

'SISTER'

Sandersonia's voice rosed like a wave; crashing her senses. Moving towards the sound she felt her gut tighten as her toe twitched. Taking a deep breath she felt her lungs fill with air.

'WAKE UP'

Sitting up fully she gripped the wrist by her neck turning it towards its owner. Pressing the small blade to their throat she moved her other hand to strike. The smell of aseptic filled her nostrils. Stopping she looked around. Hospital? She was surrounded by dark blueish grey walls. A bright light shined above her.

Breathing heavily she tightened her grip finally turning to look at the person before her.

"Surgeon?" Her voice was raw. Bry and rough as she questioned the person in from of her. Slowly letting her hand drop she looked over his features before releasing him, not before taking the blade for herself.

"Empress-ya." Law looked more concerned as she tried to get up. She was still dressed in the same tattered dress she had on for months. Blankets fell to the ground as she moved, stopping to bask in the warmth the light gave her.

"Stay seated. Let me work," He stopped her from moving only to immediately move his hands as she subconsciously covered her body in haki.

"Empress... I need to check your pulse. It was so faint."

Concern. No, it was worry. The same worry tone her pirates would give her when she fought longer than she should. Swallowing trying her hardest to moisten her dry throat she shook her head.

"It's fine. I'm fine." The look she gave him almost made him believe her. reluctantly she took a deep breath calming her body as she handed him her wrist.

Taking her palm with no hesitation he waited the painful seconds as he finally felt the sign of her pulse. Releasing a deep sigh he stepped back looking over her wounds. He wanted to work while she was still unconscious; he didn't think she would wake from her corpse-like coma.

"Ikkaku," Calling the female in, Hancock cautiously watched the brunette move quickly around the room. Noting the only entrance to the room being the big metal doors. Ikkaku was wearing an ugly dingy brown jumpsuit but unlike her attire her appearance was pretty. Hancock acknowledged how she made the rough exterior uniform look almost cute -in a working girl kinda way-.

"Yes, captain?" Law turned glancing at Hancock.

"Is it ok if she cleans you so I can finish working?"

Boa thought in silence trying to move her bruised arm again. Now that the adrenaline was gone she couldn't move as far. Scoffing at herself she nodded. A wave of shame flowed over her as she felt how weak her body truly was.

"It's fine... Just don't touch my back." Her rasp voice called out an order no less. The look in her eyes held a promise to kill him and his crew if he dared deny it. Nodding he left the room as Ikkaku prepped the woman.

Keeping to her promise, Ikkaku left Hancock's back alone. Lightly wiping away at the dirt around her wounds. The deep cuts and puncture wounds scattered across her body. Looking up Ikkaku caught the Empress with her eyes closed her beautiful face covered in deep purplish green bruises,

"I bet you're used to this. Being bathed I mean." Chuckling the heart pirate tried to converse as she moved to the Empress's legs. She saw the shallow cuts against her calves carefully cleaned around them.

"No, I've never been bathed before," Hancock answered as she popped her ankle. Accidentally scarring the young woman. Chuckling at the noise she proceeded to do the other.

"Really? But you're an Empress." Shrugging Hancock didn't have an excuse she just never saw the need to allow anyone to touch her naked form but her. Right now was the only and first exception she could feel herself start to slowly lose consciousness again.

"Done," Ikkaku called out as Boa put on a simple white gown. It was short for her comfort but she figured it was for the procedures.

"I'll handle the rest." Law dismissed his female crewmate. Turning to wash his hands and put gloves on he sat down in front of her.

"I need to bandage you up. Can I do that?" Hancock tried to decline but her eyes were fogging over as she tried to concentrate on him.

"Don't touch my back." Once again her voice ranged out an order. Law gave no response as he started bandaging her bruised wrists and neck from the sea prison stone. She watched him stitch the cuts on her legs before he covered them in white gauze.

"You broke your ribs..." Hancock nodded she could feel it. She removed her top to face the Surgeon as she kept her back to a wall. He seemed to understand as he proceeded with draining the bleeding from the side of her chest.

Working quietly as he stitched and placed her rib in the correct order/ After minutes of watching him stitch under her breast he moved to bandage her, stopping to stare into her eyes. Anytime the bandage had to go to her backside Hancock took it wrapping the mark of her past.

"I'll leave some ointment and needles for your lower back." She nodded taking it off the small tray. He raised a brow amazed seeing her use the reflection of the table to her advantage. Using the reflective metal she sighed dropping her guard some as she treated the deep cuts on her back.

"Hnss." Moaning out as she messily stitched her side she took her time, stitching the last wound as she covered it in a simple gauze.

"I'm guessing you're not going to turn me in?" Hancock seemed to ask more than state. Something the Captain wasn't familiar with. Nodding he knew it was obvious. No one treats someone their gonna turn in.

Turning he watched her sigh before her body completely relaxed. Her eyes glazed over as she leaned forward, her eyes rolling back as she became limp. he caught her from falling catching her head on his shoulder.

"HEY, EMPRESS." He moved his hands placing them on her neck as he leaned her against him. Letting loose a breath as he felt the constant rhythm against his fingers he moved to check her airway.

"Stubborn woman." Shaking his head as she finally allowed herself to pass out. He laid her back down, covering her with one of the blankets. he later left the operation room, his crew stood silently the recording of the Empress' battle playing over again. The channel hadn't moved for four days since the crew first saw it.

"Captain?" Law turned to his first mate, Bepo, who stared at him with wide eyes. Pushing the bear away he sighed.

"Continue course. We'll stop at an island until she wakes up." Law answered.