Disclaimer: This is getting old. How many times do I have to say it? Shiningheart of ThunderClan doesn't own One Piece. She's fairly certain she doesn't even own the originality of the plot. Seriously. 'Law finds chick, Law saves chick, chick befriends the Heart Pirates, and adventures are had.' How many bloody times has that happened?

Me: Disclaimer...

Disclaimer: Well, it's true! Probably the only thing you DO own is Nadeen, and any other OC Heart Pirates that rear their hatted heads.

Me: Disclaimer...

Disclaimer: Do you deny it?

Me: Well...

Disclaimer: Yeah, that's what I thought. ON WITH LE FIC!

Chapter 3: "Are all pirate captains this insane, or are you just special?"

Time had a habit of getting away from Law whenever he was sucked into something. He'd made the mistake of opening one of his new medical books and the next thing he knew, three hours had passed. It was a thick book that would have taken a normal reader at least few days to get through, but Law was anything but a normal reader. He was already almost done, and the urge to ignore his doctorly duties was intense.

With a sigh and a shake of his head, he placed a marker within the pages and left the confines of his beloved office. Either the crew were all off doing something quiet for once or they were eating dinner in the galley. Maybe he'd join them after he checked on Nadeen. And then she'd get some real food. Of course, nothing too heavy. 'She's probably going to be sick of bread for the next decade and a half, so maybe jello or pudding. Hell, maybe even ice cream. God knows she needs to get some sugar into her blood...'

He was so into his thoughts that he only heard the raised voices when he was outside the door for his infirmary. He waited outside for a moment to distinguish the arguers. One, predictably, was Nadeen. The other, he realized with dread, was Jake. Jake was one of the older men on the crew, possibly being the oldest at 49. He was still spry for his age, though that didn't stop silver from streaking through his straw-shaded hair. Compared with his light tan and blonde hair, his black eyes were strikingly daunting. Even Law genuinely respected him.

His only problem with the elderly man was his supersticious ways. He was the type to throw spilled salt over his shoulder or run in the other direction if he ever spotted a black cat. Women had no place aboard a ship to him, not even in the kitchen or washroom. Honestly, Law should have seen this coming. No way would Jake make things easy for him, not if it involved allowing a woman to sail with them.

From the sounds of it, though, Nadeen was holding her own pretty well. Law still had to interrupt them, and did so by slamming the door open. Nadeen, who'd been in the middle of a heated comeback, immediately fell silent at the loud bang. Both she and Jake blinked at his sudden entrance, but Law only had eyes for the elder man. In that soft tone he often used to scold and terrify his crew, he said, "I do so hope you aren't upsetting my patient, Mister Jake. If you are, I just might have to kill you."

Jake's tan skin paled a shade under Law's scrutiny, and he ducked his head to avoid looking at him. "Jus' a minor disagreement, cap'n. T'was just leavin', I was." He threw a sour look at the bed-ridden female that practically screamed, 'This isn't over' before passing by Law. He stopped at the door, though, and looked his captain square in the eye. "She'll be the death of us all, cap'n. Women are bad luck on the seas."

Law gave a one-shouldered shrug and answered casually. "Nothing we won't be able to handle. We're pirates, Mister Jake. We live for danger, do we not?" He gave a chilling smirk that would have froze any civillian in their tracks, but neither Nadeen nor Jake seemed effected by it. "While you're out, fetch Mister Cyrus. Miss Nadeen needs to bathe, and I don't think she'd be comfortable with any of us with her."

The elderly man nodded before finally leaving, the click of the door echoing in the silent infirmary. Both Law and Nadeen listened to Jake's footsteps and only relaxed once they faded away. Nadeen immediately flopped back on her pillows, a dark look over her features. "If I ever meet a more belligerent man, I swear to every diety in the sky or otherwise residing that I will skin his eyeballs while they're still inside his head and stuff the jelly down his throat."

The threat was an intriguing one, and Law allowed himself to picture it inside his head before chuckling low in his chest. The result was rather evil sounding, even to his own ears. "As... invigorating as that mental image is, I'd prefer you to not try and handicap my crew... even if they deserve it."

Nadeen seemed to think over his words and scratched at her scalp, wincing once she touched it. Law didn't know if it was in disgust at her hair's state or if her head was just tender, but he imagined Cyrus would tell him later. "No crippling, huh? How about just mauling?" Law smirked and shook his head in a negative. "Maiming?" Another shake of the head. "Severely injuring?" A third shake of the head. "Mentally scarring pranks that only a mind as disturbed as my own would come up with?"

That brought him up short and Law almost asked what pranks she could possibly come up with that would scar his crewmates, but he still ultimately gave another negative. "Believe me, they're mentally scarred enough with just having me as their captain. Ask Derek about the stampede I caused on the last island before we came to the Grand Line. He squeals like a little girl and hides in the closest corner, and it... it's just something you have to see to understand."

She gave him a wide-eyed look and seemed to be on the verge of asking, before sighing and shaking his head. "I'm... not entirely sure I even want to know..." Law silently applauded her with a mischievous grin and she rolled her eyes. The pirate captain would have frowned at the display of disrespect if he hadn't caught the beginnings of a smile on her face as well. So, she was the type to enjoy meaningless banter, was she? That certainly fit the profile of when she was speaking with Penguin on the marine deck. "So, who's Cyrus and why would I not mind him seeing me both naked and at my weakest?"

Law gave himself a subtle shake to get back on topic and leaned against the wall by the door with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Shachi and Penguin had once called it his 'I'm so much more awesome than you could ever understand' pose. That had earned them both a slap upside the head and laundry duty for the rest of the month. Good times, good times... "He's our navigator. He's a bit... extravegant, but I've never met anyone who can predict the weather like he can. As for why you shouldn't worry about him..." A knock on the door caused Law to grimace instinctively, knowing exactly who was on the other side. "Well... you'll see."

-Nadeen's POV-

The door flew open at such a speed that Law had to jump to the side to not get hit by it. Nadeen stared, horrified, at the man- she had to remind herself that Law had used the masculine pronoun, so it was indeed a man- standing in the open doorway. Cyrus had long, curly brown hair that swept over his shoulders. His eye lids were coated with bright blue eye shadow that matched the horridly bright and sparkly suit he wore. Dark eyelashes, thick with mascara, framed dark green eyes. He was so tall that he had to duck into the room, but that was attributed nearly entirely to his 5-inch platform boots.

Nadeen slowly, VERY slowly, turned her head to look at Law. He looked almost sheepish, but instantly the look was wiped off and instead she was met with a raised eyebrow, as if he were curious as to the reason for the look of absolute. Abject. Horror. So... that's why she didn't have to worry. "So, you're the little dear that my captain has decided to take on?" Cyrus asked, running a critical eye over her. She squirmed under his judging gaze and cast Law a desperate look, which he pointedly looked away from. "Bit scrawny, don'cha think?"

She narrowed her eyes at the words and twisted her expression into something hopefully distainful. "Thanks for that. Really know how to make a girl feel special." She gave a sarcastic little thumbs up and cringed when the crossdresser threw his head back and gain a teeth-grinding chortle. Another glare at Law, except this one he met with his own. Why he was glaring at her, she had no idea. Maybe it was a warning to be nicer to his crew. Maybe he just didn't like to be glared at. Both seemed probable. Nadeen sighed at the thought and forced a smile to her face when Cyrus stopped laughing. "So... bath time? I seriously feel like I need it."

Cyrus beamed a bright smile at her, his teeth straight and sparkling. No, seriously, they were sparkling. Nadeen almost refused then and there to go anywhere with him. She was afraid she'd go blind. He nodded so vigorously that his hair bounced. "Oh, yes, you certainly do! I can smell your stink all the way from here." He waved his hand in front of his nose, as if warding off her stench.

Nadeen frantically went through Law's rules in her mind, her fists clenching her blankets so she didn't expend unneeded energy flinging him through the door with her powers. 'No crippling, mauling, maiming, killing, or injuring. No mauling, maiming, killing, or injuring.' Her eye twitched as she spoke through clenched teeth, trying desperately to not scowl darkly. "That would certainly explain why Law hasn't come any closer than the door."

Law apparently decided that was his cue to bow out. He pushed away from the counter he'd been leaning against since Cyrus disturbed his place by the door and cleared his throat to get their attentions. "Well, while you two are busy, I'll go have Mister Coryn make something light for your supper, Miss Nadeen. I don't suppose you have any requests?"

He asked it mockingly, with a smug smile that made Nadeen want to hurt him. He was abandoning her! With the crossdresser that had insulted her twice times in the past three minutes! Oh, there would be retribution for this, mark her words... Law would pay. With a sweet smile on her face, she spoke in a sugary voice that would fool anyone that wasn't looking into her eyes. "Anything but bread, if you would, Mister Law. Perhaps soup, with small little chunks of whatever the cook finds best?"

He nodded in understanding and bowed at the waist, all gentleman-like. The effect was ruined by the glint in his eye. "As you wish, Miss Nadeen. Just remember my rules." Nadeen gave a lazy, two fingered salute that made Law chuckle as he was leaving the room. He threw a last order over his shoulder to his subordinate. "Bring her to the galley when she's clean." Cyrus was about to start speaking, but Nadeen held up a hand to stop him. He fell into a confused silence, only to understand when they heard a laugh outside of the door and footsteps leading away.

Nadeen gently took the IVs from her arm and set them back on the bed, not entirely sure what to do with them. She'd have to ask Law to show her later, as well as how long she'll need to have them. Less than five hours on it and she already felt better than before the marines found her. "Well, let's get this over with." She sighed and swung her legs over the side of the bed, wincing when the cold floor hit her bare feet. She'd need to pester Law about socks, too. Actually, she'd have to pester him for a new outfit entirely.

Cyrus wrinkled his nose and apparently agreed with her. "Ugh, we have got to get you new clothes, darling. Those rags you have now may have looked good when you were healthy, but now they're just... just..." Nadeen nodded in agreement and pushed herself to her feet. She almost stumbled at the sudden change of balance, but Cyrus was suddenly at her side and steadying her with a surprisingly gentle hand. "Easy there, doll. Can't smash that pretty face of yours before we wash it off."

She blinked at him in surprise before smiling brightly and nodded. "Yup! So lead the way, mister man-dude!"

-Galley, with the Heart Pirates-

The gallery was filled with the remaining Heart Pirates. Law sat at the head of the table, silently amused at the antics of his oldest friends. Shachi and Penguin were wrestling playfully on the floor, surrounded by their cheering crewmates. How this fight started, Law had no idea. They'd already been at it when he'd entered from the hallway. He'd at first been worried that something was wrong with the sub; the two only ever fought when they were at odds about how to solve a problem.

When a crewmate had noticed, Law became annoyed. They weren't fighting seriously, they were just having fun. Apparently there was a stupid betting pool floating around, but no one would tell Law what it was about. It took just a tiny bit of intimidation, but eventually someone spilled. Law had officially scared the shit out of the newest crewmembers by bursting into laughter and leaning against the table, trying not to fall. It was the first time they'd seen him show emotion so openly, let alone humor.

The reason? The bet was on what Nadeen would look like once she bathed and filled out a bit. She looked as brittle as a twig now, but a little fat here and a bit of muscle there could make a girl look way different. Penguin seemed to be under the impression that beneath the fragile mask was a beautiful angel whose simple touch could turn men to jelly. Shachi thought that his childhood friend was an idiot and that even if she did come out prettier, there most certainly wasn't an angel underneath.

Law shook his head and sipped at his mug of coffee, humming a little in delight at the bitter taste. He loved coffee. "Why are my closest human friends a bunch of idiots?" he questioned Bepo, who sat on the floor like a dog next to him.

Bepo blinked his sweet little eyes up at his captain and answered a little hesitantly, "Because... Because you grew up with them?" Law paused to think about that before smirking and raising his cup in agreement before taking another swig...

... Only to choke on it when Shachi and Penguin suddenly appeared on either side of him with sly smiles on their faces. They both stared at him eerily and Law looked back and forth between them warily. He really, REALLY didn't like the looks on their faces. "What do you think, huh Captain?" Penguin asked. Law raised an eyebrow at him, pretending to not know what he's talking about. "Nadeen, what do you think about Nadeen?"

Shachi nudged Penguin a little with his elbow, a sparkle in his eye that said he was up to no good. "If memory serves me, don'cha have a thing for red-heads, Cap?" Law's eyebrow twitched and he narrowed his eyes on him. Any sane person would have run from the look they were getting, but Shachi's smile only widened. "Kathy was a red-head, from when we were fifteen."

The Surgeon of Death winced a little at the reminder. She'd been his first real girlfriend, and it hadn't lasted very long. He said as much with as bland a voice as he could manage. "And that lasted about half a year before I got sick of her endless blathering about things I couldn't care less about. She was more of a strawberry blonde, in any case. What's your point?"

Penguin answered instead of Shachi and fixed his hat into a more comfortable position. "And then Danielle when we were 18. You dumped her when you found out she only dyed her hair red to get your attention." Law glowered at them but didn't even bother to deny it. "And then that last chick you bedded about two months ago. That was a real babe."

Law gave Penguin a disturbed look that Shachi actually mirrored. "You remember the women I've laid with when I don't even remember their faces?" Admittedly he wasn't really paying attention to their faces, but that's not something either one of them would be likely to pick up on. The engineer actually looked bashful. "That's...slightly creepy, Penguin. I hope you know that." He shrugged sheepishly and Law promptly disregarded him in favor of looking at Shachi. "Seriously, still waiting on a point here."

Shachi gave an exaggerated sigh and threw an arm over Law's shoulder, earning an annoyed glare which he ignored. "Our point, my friend, is that Nadeen's a redhead. You have a thing for redheads. Tell me that didn't play any part in your decision to keep her around!"

The captain gave Shachi a shove to get his personal space back, and Shachi tumbled to the floor like he'd just been slugged in the face. Despite himself, Law smirked at his antics. "That didn't have any part in my decision to keep her around." Shachi and Penguin gave him disbelieving looks, and Law shrugged before taking another gulp of his cooling coffee. "I saw a challenge, a puzzle to be solved. If she interests me at all, then I assure you it's not for her body."

Penguin and Shachi both perked up at this, but the ever elequent Penguin was the one who spoke. "Really? Then would you mind if we hit on her and see where that leads us?" Law almost felt bad for Nadeen, even as he waved his hand to give them the go ahead. The two gave a cheer and started dancing, but stopped when the door to the galley snapped open.

Law almost choked on his coffee for a second time, but this one was more in amusement than surprise. Nadeen was being cradled in Cyrus's arms like a precious child, though she looked far too annoyed to be enjoying the free ride. Cyrus had crocodile tears pouring down his face as he wailed softly over something Law didn't know about. The larger man spotted him and decided to share whatever was plaguing him. "Captain-chan!" He hurried over to Law and ignored the snickering from the men and the curled lip of his captain. "Have you seen Nadeen-chan's back and ribs? They're all black and blue! It completely goes against her skin tone!"

The doctor in him reared it's ugly head and Law sat a little straighter, narrowing his eyes on Nadeen. She grinned a little sheepishly and shrugged lightly. "Nothing you can do about it anyway. They're only cracked, so the most you could do is make a paste to sooth the pain and speed up the process. And I know you don't have the ingredients for that, so it would only be a waste of time on both sides right?"

He would never admit to anyone, even himself, that he was slightly impressed at both the selflessness and the knowledge. He'd had cracked ribs before, and they hurt like a bitch. It showed a tolerence to pain that could be both beneficial and detrimental to her health. Law narrowed his eyes even more until they were nothing more than angry gray slits. "And yet, you still neglected to tell me, your doctor, that you were in pain? Suppose you were wrong about them just being cracked? What if there's internal bleeding? What if, God forbid, you puncture a lung and drown in your own blood?"

The festivities of the Heart Pirates paused at their captain's tone. Everyone, even the ever oblivious Cyrus, inched away at the rage he was emitting. Nadeen either ignored it or didn't notice it. Privately, Law hoped it was the first one. It would be fun to see what she'd have to face before her little mask cracked. Either way, she met his wrath with a raised eyebrow. "I've seen men drown in their own blood. Caused it, half the time. And this isn't anything like it." God dammit, she was one of those difficult patients, wasn't she? He gave an angry growl and Nadeen sighed, like he was the one being stubborn. "Look, if it bothers you that much, I promise I'll sit still and quiet so you can give me a thorough examination later. You can even skip the anesthetics if you have to operate."

Well, fuck him, how was he supposed to pass that up? He struggled to keep the anger up, visibly wrestled with it on his face, before sitting back against his chair with a huff that those with suicidal tendencies would call a pout. "I hope your liver gets stabbed." he snarked, finishing off his coffee. Nadeen gave a sarcastic smile, but didn't verbally response. Law sighed and stood to refill his mug... and get her dinner. Can't forget the reason she's up and about in the first place. "I'll be back momentarily with your food. You move even an inch away from your seat and I will run you through myself!" She gave another lazy salute, just like earlier, but this one made Law scowl. She'd put him in a foul mood, and he'd let everyone know that.

Words: 3591

Pages: 7

Me: I'd have added more, but it was at this point in the chapter that I got bored writing. And if I get bored writing, you'll get bored reading. Next chapter will be her meeting the crew.