Rating: K+

Spoilers: Uh…there was this stowaway after Alabasta, if you don't know who that is then, surprise! Also, this isn't meant to be shippy/romantic at all. Because Chopper + anyone = ew. The kid's a reindeer for goodness sake!

Time Frame: Between Alabasta and Jaya

Robin was sunning herself on the deck of the Going Merry enjoying the company of a good book when she sensed to presence of someone behind her. She didn't even need to use her power to know it was the little doctor. The reindeer's stealth skills were…subpar to say the least.

"Can I help you, Doctor?" she asked without looking up from her reading material.

"Eek!" he screeched as he ducked behind a crate, backwards of course. Robin waited for the doctor to gather himself, and after a moment he approached her again.

"Um…I was wondering, if, sometime if we could…I mean if you would let me-" he sputtered. Robin raised an eyebrow, causing the doctor to gulp loudly.

"I need to give you a physical," he finally managed. Robin's eyebrow raised another notch, and he gulped again.

"A physical," she repeated slowly.

The navigator came out from her tangerine trees. She leaned her pruners against the wall and took a seat next to the archeologist. Robin suspected that the girl had heard the conversation and was trying to stick her nose in where it didn't belong.

"Yeah," the doctor continued, his nervousness gone with the presence of the navigator, "I need a baseline on you in case anything bad happens. Not that anything bad would happen to you, 'cause you're strong…but just in case."

"It's not that big of a deal. Chopper's very professional," the navigator added with a sly wink. Robin glanced between the two of them and shut her book.

"Of course, Doctor. Is now a good time for you?" Robin asked.

"Sure! I've got my stuff all ready. Do you remember where my office is?" he said with more enthusiasm that was warranted.

Robin had thoroughly examined the little infirmary (along with the rest of the ship) when she had first stowed away, but saying so would be impolite. So the archeologist allowed the doctor to lead her, curiosity edging her on.

"Pulse 77, blood pressure 112/72, respirations 12, temperature 98.2…" the doctor muttered to himself as he noted down Robin's vital signs. Robin couldn't help but smile a little at the reindeer's attitude. She had been on a great many pirate ships and none of the doctors had ever actually been truly competent. After all, how many medical professionals would be willing to throw away lucrative careers to become outlaws? The answer was not many.

"Okay, now I'm going to listen to your lungs and heart…" he continued as he placed the stethoscope to her chest. The doctor frowned, and took the instrument out of his ears. He changed forms, turning his more humanoid shape. Now having the advantage of hands, he felt the area right beside her heart where she had been stabbed by Crocodile. Confusion flickered across his face as he examined the old wound. Robin forced herself not to wince as the doctor prodded at the still very tender flesh.

"Robin, what happened?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"That's where Crocodile stabbed me, Doctor. I'm sure the captain's told you already."

"No, he didn't!" he exclaimed, "Crocodile stabbed you? When? A-and how?"

"In the Royal Tombs, and with his hook of course. I received aid in Alubarna after the captain rescued the king and me. There's no reason to worry; it's healing quite nicely," Robin replied nonplussed at the doctor's distress. The look of sheer horror on his face almost made Robin chuckle as he ordered her to show him the wound. Robin obeyed, and the doctor carefully peeled back the layers of bandages that she still wore.

"Why didn't you tell me?" the doctor asked as he examined where she had been stabbed. Robin would have thought he sounded hurt, offended even, had the notion not been ridiculous. What reason did she have in telling these people about her weakness? With her power reapplying bandages was easy, and she was healing. Now it only hurt to take deep breaths, and she almost had full range of motion back in her arm.

"Honestly, I thought you already knew," Robin replied.

"Of course I didn't know, or I would have looked at it myself! You could have cardiac temponade, or a pulmonary embolism, or…or hemothorax!" he exclaimed as he jotted down some notes in her file.

"Surely if any of those things had happened I would be dead by now."

"That's not the point! I'm the doctor, I need to make sure everyone's healthy, and that includes knowing when someone's been stabbed! You're not going to be like Zoro, are you?" he asked, clearly worried at the thought.

"I wasn't planning on it," Robin said, hoping to pacify him.

"Good. It's hard enough to deal with him as it is," he said with a small sigh.

"I apologize for causing you undue distress."

"That's okay. You really know what cardiac temponade is?" he asked.

"Yes," Robin replied with a small smile.

As the doctor continued her physical (okay, swallow for me. Now walk in a straight line. Grab both my hands and squeeze) the pair had a pleasant conversation about various medical things. He was thrilled that there was someone else he could talk to without having to dumb down the language or explain all the words.

And despite herself, Robin enjoyed the discussion. The doctor was naïve, but there was no doubting his intelligence. Apparently he had been trained on Drum Island by one of its most experienced practitioners. He could easily become rich serving royalty with his skills, but instead had chosen to follow Monkey D. Luffy on his fool's journey to become the Pirate King. It was all very fascinating.

Eventually he finished, and Robin went to take her leave as he finished his documentation. His nervousness around her was gone. Robin knew that the doctor had taken the time as some sort of bonding experience. It was unfortunate, building attachments now would make the eventual betrayals that much more difficult. Before she left, however, Robin had to ask one question that had been bothering her since joining the Straw Hats.

"Doctor, why did you join the captain?" she inquired. He paused his writing and looked up at her.

"Because he invited me, I guess. Luffy didn't care that I was a monster, and he doesn't think my dream's stupid, and because he's my friend. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I was just curious," Robin replied.

"Oh, okay," he said before tapping his pen on his desk in thought, "Luffy thinks I can be the best doctor, and he knows I can find a cure for every disease."

Robin blinked in surprise, "Is that your dream, being the best doctor?"

"There's no disease that can't be cured," he replied, as if quoting.

With a small nod, Robin left the doctor to his notes.

Out on the decks of the Merry life was continuing as usual. The cook was swooning over the navigator, the swordsman was lifting weights, and Longnose was entertaining the captain with a story. You wouldn't think by looking that they had recently defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and saved a country from a devastating civil war.

But there was more to this crew than met the eye. The captain with the 'D' initial and his collection of dreamers were set on a course for greatness, and they had invited her along for the ride. They ignored obstacles and laughed at the concept of 'impossible'.

Robin decided that after she was fully recovered she would leave them. The doctor was incorrect; there were some things that could not be healed. However, that didn't mean that the darkness that haunted her had to spread to this little crew.

"Healthy?" the navigator asked as she saw Robin approach. Robin gave her a nod before picking up her book as the cook lavished her in praise and offered a delicious snack. She accepted with a small smile before opening her book to where she had left off.

A couple minutes later the doctor came out of his infirmary with a silly grin on his face. He quickly joined the captain and Longnose in a rowdy game, eventually pulling the swordsman in along for the ride. The noise level continued to escalate until the navigator took it upon herself to restore order.

It was all very odd, this pirate crew. Robin was sure that she was watching history in the making as these children nonchalantly saved entire countries, surviving things that should have killed them twenty times over in the name of adventure and friendship.

Robin resolved to study them and figure out what made them tick until it was time for her to leave them. They, proving that common sense wasn't all that common, already trusted her. It should be easy, to understand these people and why they continued to dream.

But it wasn't. They continued to confound her with their acceptance, and not being able to understand frustrated her immensely. For some reason they cared, not just about each other, but about her.

The concept was both alien and frightening.

Robin sat, read her book, and watched her crewmates with a horrible fascination that was probably unhealthy. Beside her the navigator chattered about the state of the world, pausing only to bark the occasional order.

Once again she felt the doctor's nervous presence behind her. Robin turned to face the reindeer, polite mask in place.

"Um, you seemed really interested in the herbs we were talking about, so if you want I'll let you borrow this," he said as he handed her a book. Robin was touched at the gesture, and she could feel the navigator's smile beside her.

"That's very kind of you, Doctor," she replied as she accepted his gift. The doctor beamed before running off back to the others.

Yes, the Straw Hat Pirates were very odd, not to mention confusing and just plain different. But that did not mean that they were bad, and as Robin flipped through the doctor's book with a small smile she thought this chapter of her life would be quite enjoyable while it lasted.

AN: Edited 9/3 because the wonderful Tare-chan reminded me of the difference between a hemothorax and a pulmonary effusion (pulmonary effusion is fluid around the lungs that is not blood).

Finally a chapter with the Straw Hats! I think Chopper/Robin friendship fics are nearly as fun as Chopper/Zoro friendship fics, but not nearly as common. Actually, I'm a sucker for any sort of friendship between the Straw Hats. Friendship's cool.

Also, in case anyone doesn't know cardiac temponade is blood filling the sac around the heart, hemothorax is blood filling the sac around the lungs, and pulmonary embolism is a blockage (probably caused by a dislodged clot) of the main arteries of the lungs. All are deadly without proper treatment and could potentially be caused by a stab to the chest. The more you know!

*insert pleas for reviews here*