"He needs to rest for a few days, but he should be fine." Chopper beamed.
"Thank goodness," said Nami. "I was so worried!"
"You're a SUPER doctor, Chopper!" Franky grinned at him. Chopper's cheeks turned bright red and he began to clap and dance.
"Sh-shut up! That's not gonna make me happy, stupid!"
"Doctor-san, should we be leaving Zoro alone to rest?" Robin asked, smiling at Chopper.
"Oh, yeah, that's a good point," Usopp said. "C'mon, Luffy. Let's go out and finish that snowman!"
"You can check back again tomorrow, everyone," Chopper called after them as they all left, one by one. Soon only Chopper and Sanji remained.
"Sanji...?" Sanji closed the door to the infirmary and turned to Chopper.
"I won't disturb him. Is it okay if I stay for a bit?" Chopper nodded and Sanji sat down on a chair next to Zoro's bed. "Thanks, Chopper."
Zoro was lying on his back, a white sheet pulled up to his armpits. Multiple IVs were attached to his arm and a mask covered his mouth and nose. Puffs of condensation appeared with each breath he took. A wet towel was placed over his forehead. His lips were still ashen and his cheeks still flushed, but his breath was no longer shallow and laboured.
"He... he was so close to death," Chopper said, moving the oxygen mask aside to stick a thermometer into Zoro's mouth. "If you hadn't got him back here when you did he would've-!"
"But he didn't. You saved him." Sanji beamed at Chopper. "It's okay now."
"Y-yeah!" Chopper removed the thermometer. "Hmm, it's a little higher than I'd like..."
"Can I help in any way?" Sanji asked.
"Could you cook him something nutritional?" Sanji nodded in reply. "Something like a soup. He can't eat properly right now."
"Got it." Sanji smiled and rolled up his sleeves.
Sanji laid out the ingredients on the worktop before him: chicken, olive oil, onions, garlic, carrots, herbs, chicken stock and yoghurt. He also pulled out his blender from its pristine packaging.
As the olive oil heated on the pan, he lit a well-needed cigarette and took a drag. When he was satisfied the oil was heated, he put some of the seasoned ingredients in the pan and stirred in his stock as they simmered. Next, the chicken was added. And, eventually, the yoghurt to give it a creamy texture and taste. Finally, he turned down the heat and stirred the mixture until he smiled, satisfied. "Chicken soup will be perfect for that mosshead," he said as he poured some of the mixture into the blender and pressed the button, smoothing out all the lumps. The rest could be be saved for later or served at dinner.
He poured the soup into a bowl and topped it off with a basil leaf. It was placed onto a try, along with a spoon, and he carried it out of the kitchen and headed towards the deck.
"Sanji," Luffy called, "food! I want some!"
"You're so damn annoying! Just wait until dinner, I'll give you some then. This is for the Zoro," he said.
"I'm hungry," Luffy moaned. "Make lots of meat, okay?"
Sanji sighed and walked into the infirmary with his tray, glancing over at Zoro. "Chopper, is chicken soup alright? I blended it for him."
"That should be fine. But you're... gonna have to feed him." Chopper rubbed the back of his neck and laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, Sanji. I need some fresh air," he said as he turned the door knob.
"G-got it..." Sanji sighed at sat down by Zoro's bed. The door shut, leaving the two of them alone. "Okay, Mosshead, we're gonna need you to sit up for this..."
Placing the tray on the table, Sanji slipped his arm under Zoro and gently lifted him up. The towel on his forehead fell off onto the bed. He supported Zoro's weight with one hand, and reached for the tray with other, placing it on his own lap. He pulled down Zoro's mask and guided a spoonful of soup toward Zoro's lips, tipping the contents into his mouth. It went down with ease. Sanji released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "This isn't so bad, I guess," he said as he slipped another spoonful between Zoro's lips. And another. And another, until the bowl was empty.
"Alright. We should probably try and get some cold water down you. Might help ease that nasty fever of yours," Sanji mumbled as he set Zoro back down. He darted out of the infirmary, returned with a glass of water and pulled Zoro back up into position. He pressed the rim of the glass against his dry lips and tipped it ever so slightly. "There we go..."
After he had given Zoro half, he set the glass of water on the table next to the tray and tucked him back into bed, glancing at the bandages wrapped around his torso. Sighing, he secured the oxygen mask back onto Zoro's face and picked up the towel, dropping it into the icy water. He then squeezed out the excess water and placed it onto Zoro's forehead. Zoro whimpered behind the mask. His dishevelled green hair slick was with sweat. "Zoro..." Sanji knitted his brows as he gazed down at Zoro, biting down on his unlit cigarette. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you..."
Dark circles were etched under Sanji's eyes. He collapsed into the chair once again, putting away his cigarette. He crossed both his arms on the bed and rest his chin on top of them, inhaling deeply. He pulled a face. Disinfectant mixed with vomit and blood wasn't a very pleasant scent. Nevertheless, Sanji found himself dozing off. He shook his head and gave a few hard blinks, but it didn't stop his eyelids from sliding shut. His entire body ached and felt as though he had strapped weights to each of his limbs. He yawned and laid his head back down on his arms. Finally, he gave into the fatigue and closed his bleary eyes, allowing himself to be engulfed by darkness.