Chapter 6

AN: Not sure if I said this earlier, I just don't want to write about Franky and Brook I'm afraid. So pretend they're on an adventure of self-awareness elsewhere! :D

The door was flung open, nearly shattering under the force as Luffy and Zoro barreled into the room. Eyes scanned the room, noting immediately the empty medical bed and the smear of blood on the floor leading to a corner of the room, out of sight behind Chopper's writing desk. Tiny whimpers could be heard, barely from that direction, and an unspoken agreement flickered between the two men. Zoro held a hand out as the rest of the crew appeared, the other resting on his katana as he watched Luffy slowly advance into the medical room.

He walked a diagonal path towards the opposite corner, instinct telling him not to get to close to where Nami had obviously fled too. He couldn't stop the tear that slipped out when he saw her, pressed as far back into the wall as she could get, both hands over her mouth attempting to stifle the small sounds of terror and pain she was admitting. Her eye widened, pupil dilated until all he could see was black as she watched him slowly come into her line of sight and kneel down. "Nami…what happened?"

"Zoro, let me in!" Chopper's voice had hit a whole new level as he struggled against the hold the swordsman had on him.

"Not yet, look." The little deer peered into the room, stopping his struggles to get to his patient's side. Luffy sat cross-legged, trying to look at non-threatening as he could.

"Its okay, you're safe here." The captain murmured, holding a hand out to the young woman like he would to a stray dog. Why did it seem that every time he saw her, this scenario happened? Frantically she shook her head, using her heels to push even further against the walls. She kept darting looks between the window and the pirate in front of her, blood dripping into tiny puddles around her as wounds had been ripped open from her movement. "Please…Nami stop. Don't do that."

"He's here…" He blinked at the whispered words, glancing around the room. "He's here…he's here…he's here…"

"Zoro, search the ship. Now." The vice-captain blinked, nodded, and motioned for the rest to follow him. The little doctor stayed just inside the doorway, wringing his little paws and waiting anxiously. "Chopper, we need more bandages. Quietly."

Delicately, the reindeer gathered up as many of his dwindling supplies as he could and made his way over to Luffy's side, biting his lip and trembling with the physical restraint to not rush over to the injured woman and start patching her up. Her whole body shook and breath rattled in and out of her at an alarming rate. "Nami, I need to stop the bleeding. I'm going to come closer." Hoofs tapped softly one step at a time.

"No…no…no no NO!" She lurched to her feet, stumbling for the door only to have lean arms wrap around her and stop her flight. "NOOOOO!"

She fell limp in Luffy's arms, pain and blood loss finally catching up and rendering her unconscious. Gently he lifted her up and replaced her on the bed, staring silently at his blood-soaked hands while Chopper quickly fussed around the young woman. A wet cloth was deposited in them during one of the deer's trips from getting more supplies, threading a needle with sinew to re-close up many of the oozing wounds. Mindlessly he started to wipe the red liquid from his skin, letting himself be pushed out of the medical room on the doctor's next trip past him. It wasn't until a hand landed on his shoulder that he finally looked up.

"There's nothing here, no one but us. Nothing is missing or out of place either."

Robin uncrossed her arms, eyes opening. "I too could find nothing amiss. Perhaps it was a nightmare?" Even to her own ears, she didn't sound the least bit convincing.

Sanji sighed and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a deep inhale of the smoke. "I'll take first watch here tonight, just in case we missed something. Can't hurt to be on guard, whoever took her didn't do so senselessly." He took another drag, letting the nicotine calm him. "No one has said it, but we all know it. Whoever did this, has something against us. And they know where we are, they were able to send us that…message." Pure rage stole his voice briefly, remembering the day her eye was sent to them. "Its best we assume they're tracking us and Nami may have only been the start."

He lifted one foot and planted it into the captain's back, shoving him non-too-gently towards the men's bunkroom. "You're worthless to guard her if you're exhausted. Get out of here. I got this." The blonde folded his arms and leaned against the wall next to the door.

"Sanji's right, Luffy. Come on." Usopp guided the young man with him, nodding slightly to the cook. He kept looking everywhere as he walked to the bunkroom, thoroughly convinced something or someone was watching them.

The feeling followed the sniper right up until he shut the door, Zoro having chosen to retire to the crowsnest while Robin went to the women's room. He shivered, resolving to set about tinkering with making some traps around the ship tomorrow. His boots were discarded by his bunk, a long sigh sounding as he saw Luffy face down on his bunk, unmoving. Usopp got up and yanked his friend's sandals off, pushing him fully into his bed. After he had him settled into his own bed, the sniper slumped down into his own, running a hand over his face. "Why did this have to happen?" Sleep was a long time coming for him, and filled with nightmares even when it did come.

The night passed peacefully, in that no more incidents interrupted the inky darkness. Everyone slept fitfully though, senses tuned to an unknown threat that may or may not be lurking. Sunlight found Usopp dozing fitfully at his post outside the room where Chopper snored at his desk. The little animal had worn himself out completely tending to his charge through the night until he had no more energy left.

Nami groaned, light and pain slowly flooding her senses and dragging her back into the world. She raised an arm up to shield her eye, hissing as the motion caused a sickening flood of pain to shoot up her arm and into her skull. Instinctively she curled up on her side, moaning quietly as every motion just triggered another wave of agony. Bits and pieces of the previous night came back to her as she ground her lower lip between her teeth, trying to stay quiet.

At one point she had woken up in much the same state, but Chopper had given her something to numb it and send her back to sleep. "Chopper…" She looked over at him, debating whether to wake the poor little animal up to give her something again or to let him sleep. She spotted the window as she argued internally over what to do, instantly forgetting everything else as another memory hit her. Yellow teeth behind a crooked and twisted smirk, greasy matted hair, and malicious eyes. Her nightmare come to get her back.

She gasped for breath as terror flooded through her again, desperately looking around the room to make sure she was safe. Her teeth chattered together as she shook, a strangled moan escaping her before she fainted into darkness once more from the stress on her body.

The doctor woke not too long after that, a gentle hand shaking him awake. He blinked, staring at the disembodied hand growing from his desk pointing to a piece of paper. Breakfast is ready. He swiped a hoof across his eyes before hopping down from the desk, going to check on Nami and ignoring his gurgling belly.

"That's strange…" He pulled the blanket back up over the woman from where it had fallen to the floor. "Did she wake up?" He prepped a needle, injecting the clear painkiller, then set about changing a few bandages that were showing blood spots.

The soft clink of silverware and a few yawns greeted the reindeer when he finally made his way into the kitchen. Most of his crewmates had dark circles under their eyes and nobody was up to causing any shenanigans. Even the food, though delicious and filling, lacked the usual flair of Sanji showing off his skills.

"We should go restock, we're running low on supplies." Robin broke the silence, sitting back in her chair.

"Food stores have seen better days." Sanji grumbled, lighting a cigarette.

"I need more of everything. And stronger antibiotics."

"Aa. Let's set sail for closest island." Luffy announced, pushing away from the table and heading for the door. "Usopp, you'll have to be the stand-in navigator for a while longer."

The sniper flinched but quickly nodded. "Of course, just until Nami gets better."

The captain paused, hat covering his face in shadow and his shoulders hunched as he leaned one forearm against the doorframe. He gave a quick nod and vanished, making his way to his spot on top of the Sunny's figurehead. He stared vacantly out over the waves and endless water, barely registering as his crew and friends started to let out the sails and hauled the anchor up. Normally he'd be in the thick of preparing for departure with them, swinging from the ropes and getting in everyone's way.

"I'm going to kill him." He whispered, fists clenching until blood leaked from between his fingers where his nails had broken skin. "Every last one of them that hurt you."

~.~.~.~.~.~

Heavy footsteps had men leaping out of bunks and racing for the upper deck, punches and jokes passing amongst the filthy mob. They cheered as their captain strode through them, ascending to stand before the wheel as questions flew at him. He held up one hand, instant silence as everyone assembled waited. A twisted sneer peeled his lips back from rotting teeth. "They took the bait boys!"

A cheer rang up at the words, more than a couple tongues running along the length of a dagger in anticipatory bloodlust. "We'll let them settle down, get comfortable again. That's when we'll strike them again. Tonight though, we drink boys!" The planks shook as the men celebrated, and the captain smirked.

"To Captain Tierviq!" The crew called, raising mugs high before downing them.

You made too many enemies, Strawhats. Its time your world came tumbling down. The man went into his private quarters in order to make an update call. They only hire me when death isn't good enough. And I always deliver. He chuckled, building up into a full throated laugh. Perhaps I'll visit my little bitch again soon. Remind her who she belongs too, even in her sanctuary.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

AN: I apologize its shorter than it usually is but it seemed like such a good stopping point. I'll try to make the next chapters longer again.