A/N: Sorry for the late update. Really busy lately. It was trouble writing this chapter and it's longer than usual, but I hope you enjoy it. And please do review ;)

Timeline: after the end of the Kuma battle in Thriller Bark

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Doctor's Recommendation

Within a span of thirty or so minutes, the ex-pirate hunter made three attempts at leaving the bed in the sick bay and twice at removing his dressings. Of course, he was ruthlessly scolded, re-bandaged, and forcefully put back to bed by the little doctor. However, Chopper had just about enough of Zoro's rebelliousness. What did he have to do convince Zoro to stay down and just rest?

"I've been in here for three days already! When can I go out?" Zoro gruffly complained. The swordsman was barely conscious during that three day period, but now that he was wide awake, he was itching to get out of bed.

Chopper said with utmost frustration in his voice that Zoro needed more time to heal. "Why are you so impatient now anyways?"

"I want to keep training – " Zoro began, but was shortly cut off by Chopper's outraged cry.

The tiny reindeer honestly didn't know how to get through the man's thick green head. "You need to stay in bed! The less you move, the faster you'll recover so you can train!" Chopper tried reasoning, throwing his arms up.

Zoro, being the natural born rebel he was, decided he had enough. "I can't afford to stay in bed all day! I need to get stronger. There's nothing to do and my muscles ache – "

"Because you're hurt!" Chopper said as he tried to prevent Zoro from throwing off the blanket.

Before the injured green-haired man could retort, the door was kicked open with a bam.

"You stupid Marimo, just do what Chopper says and stay in bed," Sanji announced irritably. He pointed his cigarette at Zoro while he said this. "Or else I'll ban you from the drinking bar!"

Following in Sanji's lead, Chopper was startled as each crew member came pouring in trying to convince the swordsman in their own unique way. If Zoro was disobedient, Nami claimed she would raise the interest Zoro had to pay back. Usopp decided he would tell Sogeking bedtime stories. Robin would happily restrain Zoro and gave him a demonstration using her Devil Fruit Powers, which made Chopper squeal and Zoro freak out.

Surprisingly, Chopper even saw Franky and Brook trying to convince Zoro. The shipwright's suggestion deemed disturbing to Chopper...after all, he was a doctor himself and that was just physically impossible. Last of all, Brook wanted Zoro to hear all the skull jokes he could possibly make. By then, it dawned on Chopper that Zoro was being threatened – not "convinced," and that wasn't good considering the veins popping out of the man's head.

"Ah, Zoro's awake?"

Chopper turned to stare where Luffy had just entered the room, his hands stuffed with food and…bottles of sake.

Great, the small doctor thought, more trouble!

But Chopper unintentionally noticed how Zoro moved less erratically, argued just as less, and even appeared…relieved?

"Oi, Luffy!" Sanji yelled as the rubber man strolled across the room. "I thought you said wanted a snack – not a meal."

Luffy grinned as he placed himself at the end of the bed, piling his collection on to the mattress. "I ate my snack! This is for Zoro!" Luffy announced happily.

Like the rest of his shipmates, Chopper was surprised. Luffy, the gluttony, cheerfully offering food to someone else other than himself? Outrageous.

Nonetheless, this worked wonders for the swordsman. As everyone around him poked fun at Luffy, the little doctor noted the irritability and even the urgency to leave had gone from Zoro. He behaved, if a little reluctant with the captain by his side. Well, at least he was staying in bed.

"Ah," thought Chopper.

"Who's watching the ship outside?" Chopper asked out of the blue. "I thought Nami said a storm was coming." Everyone looked from one person to another and quickly scrambled off, hollering at each other as they did so.

"I thought you were on look out!" Nami yelled at Usopp, who in turn yelled at Franky and so on and so forth.

Chopper closed the door behind him quietly as he left the sick room.

"Chopper?" Nami asked looking back curiously. With good reason, she asked, "How come you're leaving Luffy in there?"

The little blue-nosed reindeer just gave a small laugh. He couldn't believe how simple it was. "Don't worry about it – doctor's recommendation!"