"Sanji…" Luffy moaned in agony. "Sanji, come on…"

"We have to get out now," Law directed.

"Yeah, got it," Franky rumbled, his hand dipping into his pocket. "I'll go see how far Usopp's along."

Law and Zoro both nodded in response, "Right."

Luffy's head sunk back, his dirty face upward, "This can't be fucking happening."

"Think this guy's down for real?" Chopper wondered aloud, kicking Doflamingo's leg timidly with his foot.

"San-ji," Luffy groaned, folding in half at the waist, his forehead resting on Sanji's bloodied, and unmoving, abdomen. "You're special remember? You said so yourself…"

"Luffy," Law interrupted again, his fingers brushing gently against the back of Luffy's neck. "If we don't go now… We're gonna die in here."

Luffy made no effort to move. He rested against Sanji, his hands twisting anxiously through the water pooling between his legs. He groaned again, pitiful and morose. The sound was muffled by Sanji's body. Luffy cursed and buried his head more closely against Sanji's chest. He smelled like cigarettes, blood and sweat, and, very lightly, like fine cologne. Only Sanji, Luffy thought.

"Wake up, Sanji…" Luffy cried out, one of his dripping wet hands slapping over Sanji's heart. "Wake up."

"Luffy." It was Zoro this time.

"I've died hundreds of thousands of times," Luffy croaked. "And I always wake up."

"He's not asleep."

"But…" Every hope, every unspoken sentiment was carried by that single syllable.

"We're not out of danger yet," Law murmured. "We have to keep moving."

"Maybe if we reverse the IV again and I give him some more of my-"

"We don't have the time right now," Law hissed. "We are in danger. Do you understand me?"

"Then leave me," Luffy growled, his throat constricting painfully.

"Luffy!" Zoro shouted, the veins in his forehead raising. "You still have people who need you! You can't abandon us now." Zoro wasn't sure if Luffy had heard him, he lay so motionlessly. And then, suddenly, he was on his feet. He dipped down, scooping Sanji into his arms. Despite his small size, he carried Sanji as if he were weightless. Despite his small size, his strength dwarfed the others. Despite his small size, "Everyone is counting on you, Luffy."

"It's gonna be a climb," Chopper noted, limping as he sloshed through the shin-deep water.

"Usopp said he'd work on it," Zoro remembered, "Not sure what that means however."

"I'd suck a dick for a working elevator," Law muttered, removing his shredded jacket and letting it fall to the watery floor.

"Well, don't get too excited," Zoro sighed, covering Chopper's ears belatedly, "I don't think he's had time to build a working elevator." Zoro paused, waiting for Luffy to catch up to him, "Want me to carry h-"

Luffy shook his head, "I got him."

"You're hurt bad," Zoro realized, looking Luffy up and down.

"It'll heal." Luffy said, licking his lips. "Your chest looks bad. That's a deep cut."

Zoro shrugged, helping Chopper over a mound of rubble without instruction, "Yeah. It's fine."

"Don't push yourself too much," Luffy replied, his brown eyes dropping to the floor. "You're not as strong as you think you are." Luffy swallowed heavily, "No one is."

"Luf," Zoro began uncertainly. "I…"

"Save it." Law sighed, "The oxygen's getting thin."

"How much further was it?" Chopper asked, stumbling over his own tired feet, sticking his tongue out as if tasting the thin air. Zoro didn't even pause as he slung Chopper to the side, snatching him up and resting him carefully on his shoulders. Chopper smiled in relief, letting his head settle against Zoro's with grateful exhaustion.

"Not far," Luffy remembered, clutching Sanji more tightly in his arms.

"Guys? Is that you?" Usopp called down, his voice tight with worry.

Law stood below, in the center of the opening, the light from above and swirling dust pouring over him in a shower. His fingers plucked the steel cable secured to the ground and running up and out of the hole. He clicked his tongue, "Don't tell me you expect me to climb this piece of floss?"

Usopp smiled, slinging a metal and leather band down a second line and into Law's hand. "No, we're gonna pull you up. One at a time. Who's first?"

Law rubbed his temples and took a step back, his cheek twitching with irritation, "Chopper."

"What about the flames?" Chopper asked, pointing at the ring of fire above.

"That's why it's secured at the top and bottom," Usopp explained. "You won't touch the sides, no swing. Don't worry."

"Maybe we should send the human first?" Chopper reasoned timidly.

Zoro shook his head silently, his brows furrowed. He snapped the belt around Chopper's slender waist, tightening it as much as possible before hooking the second and third straps around the tops of his thighs, "Kids and pets first."

"Thanks, Zoro," Chopper murmured, his narrowed eyes rolling.

Zoro hoisted his arm above his head, sticking up his thumb, "Good to go, Usopp!"

"Okay, slow and steady," Usopp called back. "Up we go."

Chopper let out a cry of surprise as his feet left the ground. He tilted forward, his butt lifting upward and his head thrust downward. "Hold the cable, dumbass!" Zoro chastised.

"But it'll cut my hand!" Chopper shouted back, kicking his legs helplessly. "It's steel!"

"That's why I'm going slow…" Usopp replied.

"Nope, no way," Chopper refused, rising face down. "I'm not losing my fingers because of you guys. No way. That's just a bad idea." Chopper folded his arms over his chest, his body completely horizontal now, "Ya'll just stupid."

"Am not!" Usopp snapped back, his arms flexing with effort against the pulley.

"He's got a point," Law agreed with a shrug, "I wouldn't try barehanded there, Zor-o."

"Oh, God. I made it…" Chopper exhaled, his feet landing on solid ground above.

"Okay," Usopp huffed, unhooking Chopper from the harness. . "Sanji next?" Law and Zoro both looked down. Usopp wiped sweat from his brow, running a gloved hand through his kinky hair, "Well? Who's next?"

"You next, Zoro," Luffy instructed with a nod. "Sanji can wait."

"I can wait too. I-"

"Fuck outta here, Romeo," Law snapped impatiently. "Juliet is right behind you."

Zoro flushed with color but nodded wordlessly, harnessing himself quickly. He tore his shirt apart and wrapped his hand, holding onto the cable. "A'ight, Usopp. I'm ready."

"Oh, whew," Usopp panted. "You are well fed."

"Shut up!"

"Luffy," Law whispered, "I'll harness him in, but it won't look very nice… He'll…"

"Nah," Luffy refused flatly. "You harness me in, I'll hold him. If Usopp can lift Zoro, he can lift Sanji and me."

"That gouge in your stomach will reopen," Law pointed out. "Among other things, probably."

Luffy shrugged, "I'll hold him."

There was a gasp of shock when Zoro reached the top. Usopp knew now. Sanji was dead.

"Okay," Law conceded. "I'll hook you in and then be right behind you."

Luffy nodded, "'Kay."

Luffy held Sanji in his arms princess style as Law hooked him into the harness. As Usopp pulled he swung forward, his legs lifting backward. He adjusted Sanji carefully, chest to chest; his arms and legs wrapped around the others body.

Zoro grabbed hold of the harness when he reached the top. The light was blinding bright and Luffy felt nauseous and disoriented. Franky snatched Sanji with one arm right around his middle. Luffy felt bare and exposed, losing the warmth of the other's body against his. Sanji's warmth was fading and Luffy knew he'd never feel it again.

Luffy wasn't really conscious of the motions. He was unhooked from the harness and pulled into the bed of a massive truck. And then he ended up in the grass, the blades sticking up between his toes. Law was up. Everyone was together again. Someone was yelling instructions. Nami was crying, Usopp held her close and tight. Franky wiped his face and blew his nose. Ace looked at Marco and Marco looked at something on the horizon. Sabo snapped his fingers, his handsome face wracked with… fear? Anxiety?

"Luf," Zoro repeated, louder this time. "Are you okay? Do you need to reset?"

Luffy licked his cracked, bloody lips. His mouth felt like cotton. His tongue was dry and prickled and too big for his mouth. He felt the familiar lubrication at the back of his throat and turned to the side just in time to throw up in the grass, rather than on Zoro's feet.

On Sabo's orders, the truck was sent rolling backward into the hole, collapsing even more of the foundation on top. "Even if he revives," Sabo explained. "He won't be getting out any time soon, if ever at all."

Luffy sank to his knees. Zoro crouched in front of him, his hands on each of Luffy's shoulders. "Luf…"

"I should be dead. It should be me," Luffy finally looked up, his eyes meeting Zoro's, "I wish I'd never left Deadhouse."

"No, don't," Zoro groaned. "Don't say that."

"It's my fault…"

"Hey," Zoro barked forcefully, "Knock it off. Sanji wouldn't let you say that if this were reversed." Zoro placed a large, rough hand against Luffy's scraped knee. "Sanji wanted you out of Deadhouse, more than anything else in the world. He wanted you happy."

"And I got him killed."

Zoro frowned, his cheek twitching threateningly, "Luf, you didn't…"

"Move, move, move," Sabo growled directions, "If you wanna live, get in the truck."

"Come on, Luffy," Zoro murmured, his hand closing gently over Luffy's. "Come on."

"Go without me," Luffy said unexpectedly, moving his hand from Zoro's touch. "I'm too dangerous to be around."

"Luffy, for fuck's sake!" Zoro snapped. "I'm not losing you both…" Zoro's voice cracked and he withdrew sharply.

"Hey, Luffy," Law called out, approaching suddenly.

Luffy turned to reply, his head moving into the heavy swing of Law's fist. The punch hit Luffy's temple and for half a second Luffy's face scrunched up in pain. But then Luffy crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

"What the fuck, Law?!" Zoro snapped.

Law shrugged, a smirk twisting up the corners of his mouth, "I've known him a hell of a lot longer than you have. He needs a good knock out every so often." Law frowned, his eyes narrowing, "Carry him. Let's go."

"He's gonna be pissed at you," Ace warned.

"I'll survive," Law said simply, "And he'll get over it."

"In the truck. In the truck," Sabo commanded, gesturing impatiently with a gloved hand.

"What's the rush?" Franky groaned, sniffing loudly. "Give us a minute to… regroup."

"There are fires underground, no telling how extensive," Sabo began to list. "This group has multiple injuries; one person incapacitated, one dead. Very little fresh water and food rations. Very little ammunition or medical supplies. The infection has spread at this location…"

"Okay, okay," Franky grumbled, "We got it. Everyone in the truck."

"I thought the armored vehicles were a no-go," Chopper whispered, letting Robin wrap her arms around him. "Cause of tracking or whatnot?"

"We won't be taking it far," Ace replied before Sabo could. "Then we'll get off grid."

"Aren't we going to try to do something?!" Nami shouted abruptly. "Are we gonna sit around and pretend like he's not right there?!" She pointed a slender finger at Sanji's body, covering her face with her other hand. "We should do something."

"Me doing 'something' is what killed him," Law spoke up. "If it weren't for me, he'd-"

"I'll knock you the fuck out, no problem," Zoro interrupted. "That kinda talk is why Luffy's out, remember?"

"Ever since the camp," Robin said. "That's when it started. He wasn't feeling well." Robin smoothed her hand over Chopper's unruly brown hair. "That was before you. So… so, it wasn't you."

"My entire island was wiped out by Amber Lead disease," Law replied dryly. "It couldn't get any more my fault."

"Yeah, it's your fault," Zoro agreed.

"Hey, Zoro!" Usopp snapped. "What the heck?!"

"It's your fault you were used and abused and turned into a weapon," Zoro continued. "You came back from the dead just to fuck up everybody else's lives, right?"

"You-"

"No, shut up for a minute," Zoro snarled. "Sanji's dead and I'm angry. I'm fucking pissed. I could tear a man apart with my bare hands." Zoro coughed a peculiar cough, his eyes blinking slowly, "He loves… he loved Luffy. And more than anything he…" Zoro slapped his head forcefully, the contact loudly smacking. "All Sanji wanted was a real family. And I know that he… he… He'd be okay with this ending."

"And what ending is this?" Law whispered, yellow eyes glowing.

"You and Luffy, alive and free."

"Don't you think he'd wanna be alive too?" Law asked darkly.

Zoro shook his head, swallowing the lump in his throat, "No. Nope. He's okay with this."

"Zoro," Nami sobbed, moving across the cabin and beside Zoro. She slung her arm around him and buried her face into his shoulder.

Zoro swallowed again, looking down at the top of Nami's ginger head. His mouth twitched before straightening into an unmoving line. He placed his right hand on her head, stroking her hair with affection. "We've gotta finish this. We've gotta make damn sure that Luffy is safe."

Nami nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Yeah. Yeah. Okay."

"So what's the plan?" Zoro asked, leaning back against the jump seat.

"Uh, tubeing?" Usopp replied, making an uncertain face.

"What the hell does that mean?" Zoro asked, shaking his head.

"Uh, well, you see," Usopp continued, "The powers that be," he leaned toward Zoro and loudly whispered, "The white terrorist dude," Sabo made a face; not necessarily displeased, "Well, he says that the best path to take is by river."

"River? What river?" Franky asked, unimpressed. "I'm supposed to swim one armed down a river for an extended period of time."

"We aren't swimming," Marco called back from the driver's seat. "We got a boat."

"Yeah," Ace interjected. "It'll be a tight fit, but we'll make it work."

"Or we'll sink and die and only the most buoyant of us will survive…" Usopp worried.

"I'll let you borrow my floaties," Robin teased, winking.

"The hell you will woman!" Franky boomed. "He has his own girl. She can save 'im if she wants to…"

"Can I have floaties too?" Chopper asked. "I'm not a very good swimmer…"

"We're talkin' about titties, son, titties," Franky explained with a chuckle. "They float, ya see? Especially big ol' round melons like-"

"Francis," Robin warned, her eyes seemingly glowing.

Franky cleared his throat, "So where's this boat anyway?"

"Well," Ace replied, kicking his feet up on the dash. "I'll let ya know when I find it."

"We're going to have to do something about your friend," Sabo pointed out. "He's soaking wet and covered in blood. It won't be long before he smells."

"If I can deal with Mr. Rotting Skeleton for days, you can deal with this until Luffy's awake," Law reasoned, casting a quick glance at Brook. Law licked his lips before adding, "By the way, before… you saved us… thanks."

Brook looked as though he'd been awarded the highest honor. His skeletal face slid into an open expression, presumptively a smile, "Oh, thank you. I mean, you're welcome…"

"Hey, Ginger," Ace called back with a grin. "Which way to the Atchaflaya?"

Nami's swollen eyes sparked, "My name's Nami, not Ginger."

"My bad," Ace replied, sparing a quick glance at Marco. "Which way to the Atchaflaya River, Nami Not-Ginger?"

"Take a right," Nami replied, pointing in gesture, "And then go straight to Hell."

"Just trying to distract you a bit," Ace explained, still smiling. "You're too pretty to cry."

Law made a noise of indignation, "Jesus fucking Christ, Ace. I wish the world cared like that."

"Hey, I just meant-"

"Let's be silent the rest of the ride," Law spoke over Ace. "Silent."

"At least it wasn't me this time," Brook sighed. For some reason, probably a mixture of exhaustion and delirium, everyone began to laugh. But once the laughter died the silence felt heavier, more permanent; stifling.

Usopp slid from his seat, a handkerchief in his hand. He sat on his ass, his legs spread out in front of him. He leaned sideways, his stomach muscles squeezing tightly, and he began to wipe the soot and blood from Sanji's face. Thin smudges of black still streaked his face. Usopp sighed and then looked up in surprise as Franky sat across from him.

Franky opened one of the, very limited, water bottles with his mouth. He poured the fresh water onto Usopp's handkerchief. Next he pulled a fine tooth comb from his pocket and dumped water over the bristles. He combed Sanji's wet hair, dumping more and more water until the red color washed away.

"He was so handsome," Robin exhaled emotionally.

"Yeah," Nami agreed. "If anyone was too pretty to cry, it would've been him."

"It just doesn't feel real," Usopp admitted. "I'm looking right at him… but I can't… it just doesn't…" Usopp clenched the soiled handkerchief in his fist. "It does not compute."

"He knew he was dying," Law said. "He should have ended his own misery, but he didn't. He stuck around, he held on…" Law stared hard at the back doors. "And without him, none of us would be here right now." Law crossed his legs at the knee. "He was a good little Keeper." Law made an involuntary face, "Guess I should have told him that before he died."

Usopp wiped at his eyes, "Oh he knows. No more mysteries."

Law grimaced, "Ew. You don't seriously believe in an afterlife do you?"

Usopp crossed his arms over his chest, "If there isn't an afterlife, how can you reset? Where do you go? You die, you come back. YOU. Not some random soul or whatever, you. That's all the proof I need."

"I'm not drunk enough to listen to this shit," Zoro complained.

Law chuckled, "Right?"

"What you said was nice," Chopper interjected. "It would make him happy, Law."

"Ah, well," Law murmured, embarrassed. "He deserves a proper sendoff."

"A proper sendoff?" Zoro asked, closing his eyes. "He doesn't care about any of that shit. You wanna give him a proper sendoff, well," Zoro laughed softly. "Get that boy a damn cigarette."