Chapter 5

A/N: Yea, I'm like sooo sorry that this took so long for me to get out. I wanted to edit it, for your convenience. It's just how I am. The move also took me by a little surprise, and I kept forgetting my disk so I could upload the chapter and etcetera etcetera. Just more excuses for you to shoot back at me with a blow dart. But I wish you wouldn't. They're worst than the flames. But anyway, on with the fic.

Luffy paraded into work the next morning after the early morning PT training, as bright and cheery and awake as ever. On the other hand, fellow older officers were putting extra sugar and caffeine pills into there coffee. The black haired smiled at them though, saluting politely as they passed by. They yawned in response, doing their best to make it look like they where use to early mornings.

Luffy arrived at his oak, black colored desk that was joined with his partners- Detective Bryan Ghoast- desk. He frowned slightly, looking over the clutter and the stacks of papers.

"Maybe I should get around to cleaning this desk." He sighed aloud, flipping through the old case files and criminal profiles from old cases he worked on. He and Bryan weren't really working on anything at the moment. Actually they where only working on a domestic disturbance case and they where helping some detectives on a meth lab investigation, which seemed to tie in with the domestic disturbance somehow.

"I guess I will put these away today; before someone decides to ring my neck!" Luffy proclaimed laughing, picking up a manila folder. He began sorting through the files, separating them into easy-navigatable files.

"Good morning Officer Luffy." A voice came after a while, when Luffy was somewhat half-way done with his filing. He looked over his stacks of paper to see the police chief, Chief Baxter Smith, standing beside his desk, wearing his usual well ironed gray suit. Luffy saluted. "It's nice to see someone in this precinct hard at work this morning." The younger officer smiled.

"Just making up for being lazy, sir." He responded. Chief Smith laughed, old face wrinkling with his laugh.

"Such a breath of fresh air around here." Chief Smith commented, gray eyes twinkling. "Keep up the good attitude, Officer Monkey, and I'll make sure you don't have to retire until you're 70." Luffy frowned.

"Is that a good thing, sir?" He questioned, earning another laugh out of the chief.

"Depends on how broke you are once you get older." Chief Smith smiled. "Well, I must be going to work, Luffy. Keep up the good work. I want to see more good reviews of you on my desk."

"Yes sir!" Luffy saluted, watching the Chief walk the semi-long, desk crowded path to his office. As soon as the chief disappeared, Luffy went back to his tedious work.

After Luffy finished filing his papers and took his lumps from his fellow officers and detectives for taking so long to do it, the boy walked the half mile to his favorite burger place "Funny Fries Place', a restaurant especially reserved for officers. It was owned by an old couple, Jean and Dan Funny. It wasn't too shabby, a fair size restaurant with all the right kinds of atmospheres. That's right, interchangeable atmospheres. It was a cool place for Luffy to be during lunch hour; plus, he had his name on a wall with the title of 'most loyal (and profitable) costumer'.

Luffy stepped up to the counter where Jeannine, the owners daughter, stood behind, humming a song while cleaning the baby blue counter tops. Jeannine was about 20 years old, making her only about a year and a half older than Luffy. She had dark blue hair that fell to her shoulder blades, waving slightly at the ends. She also had green eyes that seemed more neon then natural green. Her body was slim and dainty, giving her a petite teenager look.

"Hi Jen!" Luffy smiled, hopping in front of the counter that Jeannine was cleaning. The girl looked up, smiling brightly.

"Afternoon, Officer Monkey." The girl greeted, setting down the rag she was cleaning the counter with. "I got you're order right here, hot off the grill." Jeannine handed Luffy a plate that held 2 burgers and an extra large order of fries. "Just how you like it; extra ketchup." The black haired teen licked his lips.

"Thanks Jeannine." Luffy kindly thanked before heading off to his favorite table in the far corner next to a window. After a quick scan of the desert specials, Luffy dived into his food.

"Luffy…" After a while, Luffy heard a voice above him, interrupting his eating. Luffy turned around with fries still in his mouth. "Wow, that's… extremely attractive." It was Sanji standing behind him, twitching an eyebrow at Luffy's appearance. Luffy swallowed his fries and then smiled.

"Hey Sanji!" Luffy picked up some more fries. "What are you doing here? I thought you were out on beat?" Sanji pulled off his hat, sitting across from Luffy.

"Yea, I was." The blonde started, scratching his head. "But I made an arrest the Chief ordered while I was out…" Luffy stopped shoving fries into his mouth, listening intently to Sanji's pause. "Now Chief wants to see us in his office." Luffy frowned, and got up from his seat.

"Sure, I'm on my way."

Nami stomped into the police precinct of her town, extremely pissed. She and Zoro were just out looking at the possibilities of a new car, when some police dudes had the balls to arrest Zoro on some grand larceny and felony shoplifting bullshit charges. Nami had drove home to change into some tennis shoes and a pair of jeans (she had a feeling she was going to need the ability to move), then quickly to her current location, still piping mad.

"I need to see Zoro Lindy." Nami spoke to the familiar women at the front desk. The brunette looked up from her work.

"Are you his bail?" She asked, seemingly amused. Nami growled.

"I've been here enough times for you to know this! Now let me see him." Lindy closed the book she was working in.

"I know, but its procedure; you know I have to do it." The older women hopped over the desk. "Follow me." She led Nami to the elevator, sending it to the third floor.

"So what's Zoro in for this time?" Lindy asked as the doors to the elevator closed, lurching its way up the building. "I don't ever remember any radio calls about Zoro today, or for the last few weeks for that matter."

"Some trumped up damn charges on nothing what so ever." Nami responded, fuming. "Zoro has done nothing wrong at all, and yet every cop I see wants to arrest him! Like it'll improve their ego or something." Lindy laughed.

"Well, you know how men tend to be." She spoke as the elevator stopped on their floor. Nami made her way out, followed by Lindy and a few other officers. "I see Zoro brought in here at least 3 times a month, by men no less, for questioning when there are no radio reports or anything about Zoro being involved in some crime. As far as I know, there's probably a contest among the males to see how many times they can bring in Zoro."

"Well, if there is, I'm going to bring hell with the next time." The two stopped at Lindy's desk.

"I'll do a check on that arrest for you Nami." Lindy spoke, flipping through papers on her desk. "Zoro's in the interrogation room. I'm sure you remember where it is." Nami nodded.

"Thank you, Lindy." She said before making her way toward the interrogation room. When she got there, she peered into the reverse window. Zoro was sitting in the middle of the pale gray room quietly, looking out of the barred window.

"Nami, it's been a long time, hasn't it?" Nami turned and found Sanji walking toward her, the boy Luffy that she met yesterday walking beside him. The red head rolled her eyes.

"Yea, since yesterday at that restaurant." She responded.

"No need to be such a bitch." Sanji chuckled

"Whatever. Now, maybe you can tell me what the hell has Zoro been arrested for?" Nami asked. Luffy looked at her in confusion.

"Sanji, you arrested Zoro earlier?" He asked the blonde, looking at him. He nodded.

"But I assure you Nami he's done nothing wrong." Sanji said to the girl. "This is just a peaceful compromise on behalf of the chief." Nami looked at him with unbelieving eyes. "Trust me." Sanji opened the door to the room. "And you may want to tune in; this conversation may just have an effect on you." Nami looked at the departing teens in confusion, as Sanji prepped the room for an interview.

Zoro was staring out of the interrogation room's barred window, not thinking about anything in particular, just staring at the passing birds.

"Still on earth Zoro?"

"I'm still here Sanji, what the hell do you want with me?" Zoro asked, not turning around.

"Just to reason with you on the fact that you're getting good and damn well tiered of the police always on your ass." Sanji answered, as Zoro felt a weight settle on the table.

"I don't know about that--"

"Let's not turn what I just said into something crude, I'd like to get this over with." Sanji cut him off. Zoro grinned. "The chief has a proposal for you. Something simple and it'll end the police's worry over you and your worry over the police."

"And what if I don't accept?" Zoro asked. Sanji growled.

"You haven't even heard the offer yet!" Zoro chuckled. "Now shut the fuck up let me talk. The chief wants to station 2 officers and two detectives in or around your place, that way we can get what you're doing straight from the horse's mouth and we can clear your reputation."

"Now I definitely want to know what happens if I don't except." Zoro responded turning to the cop at long last.

"You have to!" Zoro's eyebrows furrowed as he turned and noticed that there was somebody else in the room.

"You're that kid from yesterday." He said after the boy's appearance sparked some memory in his mind. "Luffy." Sanji looked at Zoro.

"You know my partner?" He questioned. Zoro shrugged.

"I saw him yesterday at lunch. He wanted a straw." Luffy was sobbing loudly, walking toward Zoro. "Is there something wrong with him?"

"Other than the usual?" Sanji asked. Luffy stopped beside Zoro, still crying his poor little lungs out.

You just have to accept!" Luffy spoke through the sobbing. "The Chief really cares about you! And he's really worried! You can't let him go on worrying about you!" Zoro looked at the crying teen in thought. Luffy looked back at him, sobbing subsided but eyes still watery.

"I'll have to check with Nami." Zoro relented, making the teen smile. "But I'm sure she'll agree if you don't disturb her privacy."

"Thanks!" Luffy smiled, his once sad expression disappearing. "You won't regret this!"

"A bit too late for that statement." Zoro said. "I'm assuming you'll be coming along?" He turned to Sanji. The blonde nodded.

"Chief wanted to station people closer to your age, so Raina and her partner Usopp will be coming along too." The green haired teen nodded. "Just remember, this is only temporary. Just until we can get enough information to clear your name and get this mess all under the bridge." Zoro got up, walking out of the interrogation room. He saw Nami, leaning against the wall opposite of the reverse mirror.

"You up to it?" Zoro asked the girl, figuring she already knew what he was talking about. Nami nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"If it means we can leave the house together and not have you arrested for 30 different reasons in an hour, then let's do it."

Zoro pulled into his driveway as dusk made itself known, its vibrant colors dancing along the front of his house. The car the other 4 cops were in, pulled in beside his. Zoro climbed out of the car, while Nami grabbed the keys and made her way to the front door. Once opened, she paraded into the house, leaving the officers carrying their bags to fend for themselves.

"OK, there are a few rules." Zoro said as soon as everyone was standing or sitting in the living room around the oak coffee table. "One, Nami's the queen of the house. Whatever she wants, she gets. Meaning if she wants to use all the hot water in the house, she has every right too. It also applies for other things. Two, don't break anything. If you feel like you can't touch it without breaking it, then resist the urge. Three, if you plan fuck anybody in my house, can you do it quietly? If it's not too much to ask. And no sleepovers, either." Zoro looked around the room. "Are we feeling each other?" The officers looked to one another.

"Where are we sleeping?" Sanji asked, folding his arms. Zoro looked up.

"There's one room upstairs and two downstairs in the basement." He answered after a minute of thinking. "I don't care who gets what room."

"Well, I claim my own room." Raina spoke to the males sitting beside her. "I have enough trouble getting privacy as it is."

"Yea, and I'm not sleeping with Mr.-snores-a-lot." Usopp chimed in, pointing at Luffy, who was sitting across form him on the couch.

"I do not snore!" Luffy stomped, yelling at Usopp.

"Yes, you do." Usopp contradicted. "The last time I shared a room with you I just about went deaf." Luffy growled, rolling up one of his sleeves.

"Let's stop this before we end up silting each others throats for shelter like they did last week on 'Survivor Extreme'." Sanji interrupted. The arguing continued. "Shut the fuck up!" Everyone stopped in their tracks. "Let's go this way: Luffy gets a room to himself upstairs, Raina gets a room to herself downstairs, and me and Usopp will share a room."

"Well, who made you boss of them all?" Raina barked at Sanji. Zoro still stood there, shaking his head. "I think I was capable of forcing that decision on everyone my damn self."

"I did. Got a problem with that?" Sanji asked Raina roughly.

"Well, whoever gets the room upstairs, just be quiet on the way up." He spoke before making his way up the stairs to his room.

A few hours later, a soft knock came at Zoro's door. He looked up from his large book of 'Informants and Information'.

"Come in." He said. The door opened to reveal Luffy. He smiled at Zoro.

"I just wanted to tell you that I got the room up here." He said. Zoro nodded. "And-that-I'm-glad-to-be-here-and-I-hope-you-aren't-that-bad-a-person-that-everyone-says-you-are-because-you-don't-really-seem-all-that-bad-and-I-hope-that-I'm-right-about-it." Luffy rambled off in one breath. Normally, no living person would have caught that unless he was talking in super-slow motion, but Zoro trained himself to notice and understand things like that.

"You don't think I'm a bad person?" Zoro asked, looking at Luffy intently. Luffy shook his head. "Are you sure you're a cop?" Luffy laughed.

"Sure of it! I just don't think you are a bad of a person that everyone says you are." Zoro smiled slightly.

"Well, I thank you for that." Zoro responded. Luffy smiled widely. "Have a good night, Luffy." The teen nodded, and left, closing the door behind him. Zoro went back to the book he scribbling in.

"This'll be an amusing experience." He chuckled as the phone rang. Then Zoro groaned. "Will I ever get any damn peace?" He picked up the phone. "Roronoah residence, Zoro speaking."

"How's the arrangement going?" An old, soft male voice spoke. Zoro immediately placed it to Chief Smith.

"Just fine, no one's drove me off the deep-end… yet." He answered. The Chief chuckled.

"Well, I hope no one does; I know how you get when you're mad. I can't lose any of my good officers." Smith commented. "But enough with the small talk. I just called to say you'll be compensated for all expenses that my officers use in your home. They've been given instructions to write down every resource they use. We'll have to round off in the end for electricity."

"Well, that's mighty kind of you Chief." Zoro responded. "I hate to talk and run, but I have some work to be done."

"Well, don't let me keep you any longer than necessary." Smith finalized. "Have a good-night Zoro. And keep yourself out of trouble."

"The same goes for you old timer." Zoro smiled. "Say hello to Nora for me." He finished before hanging up the phone without waiting for a response, going back to his writing.

A/N: Hey, did you like that? Well, there's more to come... soon. I'm not for sure how soon, but soon, I am sure of that! Reviews, as always, greatly appreciated.

Digitaldreamer: eyes widen. That's the longest review I ever gotten… I mean, the longest good review I ever gotten. And I like your review too. Constructive criticism. You gave me good pointers without putting me in the cramped Subwayoven and setting it on high. I'll take them to heart. And fan art? drools in corner No one's ever said anything I've ever written was deserving of fan art! cries

Kura: She's kind of out of it right now… the rest of you may need to wait a little while for her to answer your reviews. But they'll be answered. twitches at Kittynara hopefully.