I know, I know, I am a horrible author and you all want to murder me dead and gather up your torches and pitchforks, but to be fair I did warn you a few chapters about a horrible cliffhangers. I'm evil. Anyway, let's see if I can fix this.

I knelt beside the swordsman before he even hit the ground. The battle, Luffy's fight with Akainu, the marines, my pain, and everything else fell by the wayside with ease. I ask worriedly.

"Zoro? Zoro!"

I was so scared. My bravery was not helping me this time as I flip him over on his back, earning me a pained groan. I let a little relief slip into my mind, before I take it away. No you can't be relieved yet. Not until he is safe.

Blood, so much blood is coming out of Zoro's chest. I probe my fingers through it, trying to find the exit wound. Depending where it was determined my panic level. Ha, even though I am completely overrun with fear, I still keep moving. I know I found the wound when Zoro tenses horribly. I whisper.

"Sorry, but I need to find the extent of the damage."

Crap, the hole is right above the heart, and I would be surprised with the amount of blood he is losing that it didn't clip the aorta artery. No. I scream for the two people that pop into my head first, the only ones that could help.

"Chopper! Law!"

I pat the swordsman's cheek to try to keep his eye from flickering close, his pupils dilated with pain.

"Zoro you freaking idiot."

Then the gravity of what he did hit me. He did it to protect me. Zoro took a bullet for me. My tone gets angrier with worry and frustration of the fact that this is my fault.

"What were you thinking? Why did you do that?"

Zoro smirked.

"Relax Rose, I'm going to be fine."

I smacked him lightly, a scowl forming on my face.

"No you are not. Most people in my world die after getting shot in the chest."

Zoro tries to get up and for a split second I see the old uninjured Zoro, still strong and ready to face the world. Then he coughs painfully and I push him back down. He needs to stay still and not move.

"That is your world Rose, not ours. We are stronger here."

I feel two people kneel down and it takes little imagination to figure out who they were.

"Zoro!"

"Zoro-ya."

I glance at the two doctors pleadingly.

"Save him."

They get to work, Chopper pulling out bandages, a sewing needle, and tweezers.

"We need to check and make sure there aren't any more bullet fragments."

Law beat him to it.

"Room."

He literally reaches inside Zoro's chest, to which the latter grunts. He gropes around for a few seconds before pulling out several small metal bits.

"That's all I could find."

I let the doctors do their thing without getting in their way. They have ten times more experience then I do, but I had better be dead if I was leaving the swordsman's side. So while Law tried to fix the aorta and Chopper fed him medicines and sewed up the wound, I talked to the swordsman, trying to keep his mind off the pain, and mine off the panic.

"You idiot. Why did you do that?"

Zoro smiled faintly, closing his eye as he breathed.

"You are our main weapon in this war Rose. You came up with the strategy. You were the one who got to and rescued Luffy. You were the one that gave hope. Me, I'm just a swordsman. I'm not important."

I bow my head into his shoulder, whispering in his ear.

"No Zoro, it's the other way around. I am from another world. Who cares if I die here? You don't have another world to go to, and are a part of the original crew. If I go, you all go on with your lives. If you die, then..."

I trail off because Zoro grips my arm hard as he chokes. Law removed his hand from his chest.

"Sorry Zoro-ya."

Then he returns to his work. Zoro's death grip on me slackens slightly as he whispers to me.

"No, you are wrong Rose. You are apart of the crew too, and I do care if you die, and I know everyone else does too."

He slowly fell into an easy breathing pattern and I recognized that he passed out. So much for my distraction. I turn to the doctors.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Work, that will distract me from the scenarios my mind was now churning out a dime a dozen. Law wiped his forehead.

"He needs more blood. He lost a lot."

I thrust my arms forward. I am his blood type. I've given blood to Zoro before, and I am not afraid to now.

"Take it, take all you need."

Law reaches toward my wrist but Chopper interrupts.

"No Rose, you have lost blood today too. If you lose anymore you won't be able to function."

I give Chopper a glare that screamed to not mess with me for the will gladly give blood if it meant a few days of weakness. Anything is better then the alternative.

I grab Law's hand and push it against my wrist, and my tone gives no room for argument.

"Do it Law."

Law seems debating but I press his fingers against my arteries.

"Law, I insist. My blood will replenish faster because my body is used to it. Do it."

Law took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Room."

He slowly pulled and I gasped as he pulled a bubble of blood out of my arm about the size of a softball. The sudden dizziness made me sway slightly, but a few deep breaths makes it leave slightly. I watch as Law filters the bubble through Zoro's chest slowly.

My initial panic is no longer prevalent, and I dare risk a smile. Zoro is going to be fine. Zoro is going to be ok. He will fight again. He's-

I don't know what made me do it, maybe instincts, but I suddenly started counting. I decided to follow this little rabbit, because I had to be doing it for a reason. One...two...three.

Three people were breathing.

Where was the fourth?

No. My panic, once nothing, leaps back up to dizzying heights I had never even dreamed of before. His face is way paler then normal, and he looks so relaxed, way too relaxed for the pain he was in. No, he couldn't have. I hurriedly lean down placing my ear against his mouth. No, please don't. You can't. Law asked curiously.

"Rose-ya?"

I ignore him, my current task infinitely more important as I place two fingers on his throat, shoving hard against the jugular. Come on, something. Anything. Gosh darn it Zoro, give me something. No matter how I pleaded, the result was the same.

There was no breath.

There was no pulse.

In that split second, my mind went completely blank except for one word. No. That's all I could think. He couldn't be de-

Rose snap out of it. Don't say it because there's still time. Save him.

My mind snaps into it's highest gears, my medical mind from my genes and from my knowledge leaping to the forefront. No of horror has turned into No of fighting back. I will not accept it. I jerk my head at Law.

"Law, use countershock."

I try to ignore the shakiness in my voice, the complete desperation. Law looked really confused.

"Why? It will hurt him."

I yell urgently.

"Law he isn't breathing."

Law's eyes widen. It takes him a second, a second too long, to lower his hands against Zoro's chest.

"Countershock."

An electrical surge shot through Zoro's body, making it jerk and spasm as if it were still alive. I lean my head against his chest, searching frantically for anything. I would take any sign of life at this point. Nothing.

"Law again."

I am shaking, terror making me want to go a hundred times faster to save my friend. Chopper is sobbing as he does chest compressions, Law is muttering curses as he sends another bolt of electricity through the swordsman, and I just whisper to the one man who will always listen to me.

"Zoro, you have to come back. Don't you dare die on me. You said you would be fine, so you better be fine gosh darn it. I was supposed to protect you this time. I was supposed to be strong and brave remember?"

I bow my head, my fingers glued to his throat, and pray. If it was Luffy, I would pray to Ace, since it is Zoro, I pray to Kuina. I stare at the white hilted katana that hasn't left Zoro's side since the very beginning.

"Kuina, please give him back. Don't take him yet. He isn't meant to die yet."

And it is true. Roronoa Zoro is not the man to survive everything he has only to die by a petty stray bullet. He is going to be defeated by the next greatest swordsman. That is how he is to go if anything, but not this. Not now. I whisper more intensely.

"Kuina, I will fight you for him, and if I do, you will lose. I will fight death for Zoro, and I won't stop until he is back here with us."

Tears are gathering in my eyes and running down my cheeks, making me blind. Usually I would try to get rid of them, as they are weakness, but right now I couldn't care less.

"Law, again."

Law and Chopper glance at each other.

"Rose, he's..."

"No, do it again."

I almost scream at them. They think I am in denial, and I know I am in denial, but if there is some small chance that Zoro could survive, I am taking that risk if it means bringing him back. People in my world have been brought back after being dead for longer, and they didn't have a fraction of the will to live like Zoro does. Law took a deep breath, and once again brought his hands down on Zoro's chest.

"Countershock."

Again the pulse surges through the swordsman. As I watch, I have a horrible thought.

I had thought earlier on this trip how I have not existed in this world without Zoro's support. His strength and determination has fueled mine ever since the beginning. Without him, I am a building with no foundation, a body without bones or muscles. I am useless. I cannot exist.

I place my forehead against Zoro's, feeling it's semi coldness. I feel tears drip down onto his cheeks and it's wrong, because it looks like he is crying, and he doesn't cry.

"Zoro listen, I'm not strong enough. I am not brave enough to live here alone without you. I can't do it. You have to come back. I was supposed to protect you this time. Who else am I going to bother when they are training, train with? Who am I going to nap with, or fight side by side with? Who am I supposed to go to when I am scared and weak? I'm telling you Zoro, I am weak, and scared right now, so I am coming to you. Please."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, or more accurately a hoof.

"Rose, come on. It's too late."

No it's not. I refuse. I was not giving up this fight. I keep my eyes on Zoro as I order.

"Law, again."

Law sighed.

"Rose-ya, there is nothing we can do for him. He's de-"

"Don't say it."

Not the d word. If you say it, it makes it real. I look up at him, and I know he is surprised to see me crying. I plead weakly.

"Please, just one more, then I will stop."

This is my last chance. Both doctors look at each other and Law reluctantly places his hands once again in position. They have lost faith, and I feel like I did during Zoro's and Mihawk's fight. Everyone had doubt in my swordsman, but I stayed my path of faith. I know he can come back. I know he can, we just need to give him a chance.

"Countershock."

I lean down, placing my ear on his chest. I am terrified at what I will find, but I find my last ounce of bravery that Zoro always seems to provide me and listen close, trying to find anything.

Please Zoro. I believe you can come back. I can't do this without you. You hate seeing me like this so you better make it better by coming back. I can't give you anymore chances. This is it. Please, I am begging you with everything I have.

Silence. Pure silence. Law and Chopper both grab my shoulders.

"Come on Rose."

"There is no point in fooling yourself Rose-ya."

I tense and growl animalistically.

"Will you two be quiet so I can hear?"

I close my eyes in concentration. Come on Zoro, I know I am being selfish and trying to take you away from Kuina, but you can't leave the crew like this. You can't leave me like this. Please come ba-

Thump.

My eyes jerk open. What? I thought I heard-

Thump.

My entire body wilts with relief as I hear the slow but steady heartbeat. I unashamedly weep, happiness flooding my body. Chopper and Law misunderstood.

"I know it's hard Rose, but we...we have to move on."

"Let's go Rose-ya."

I laugh through my tears of joy.

"Guys, he's alive."

As if to prove my point, Zoro coughed lightly. Chopper took a few seconds of shocked silence and laughed through his tears and even Law smirked. I embrace Zoro's body, wiping my tears. Gosh, I was so close to losing him. So close. I never want to be that close ever again. I'm not dreaming. He's alive. I whisper, my mouth right near the white sheathed katana.

"Thank you Kuina. Thank you so very much for giving him back. I will take better care of him."

I sit back, my heartbeat calming down and my muscles untensing. My fear lowered drastically.

"Remind me to murder this guy later Chopper."

Chopper nodded.

"You and me both Rose."

Law cocked his head.

"How did you know countershock would work? I have only used it as an attack."

He didn't know? The great surgeon of death didn't know about defibulators? Right, technology isn't as advanced in this world. I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.

"Nerves are electrical pulses sent throughout the body. They control a lot of the body's functions, including taking in oxygen and making the heart pump blood. So electricity keeps people alive."

My hand grabs onto Zoro's arm, which is now it's normal color and temperature.

"When a person dies, the electrical impulses no longer go throughout the body. Sending an electrical current through the body helps get it going again. So if you want to save a person who is dead, use your countershock again."

Chopper looked confused.

"How did you know it would work? He was dead for at least a minute."

I sigh.

"Some people in my world die for longer periods of time, like minutes, even hours before being brought back. I knew with Zoro and his strong will, I knew he could come back out if we kept trying."

Slowly my senses, no longer tuned to Zoro and only Zoro, reach out back into the real world. We were uninterrupted by the marines due to the guard that was provided by Nami and Sanji. Looks like they do care. Brook, Usopp, and Robin formed a triangle guard around Luffy's fight. Luffy and Sabo look a little worse for wear then they were before, but Akainu does too. The fight for Zoro's life lasted a minute, maybe two, but it had felt like hours.

I suddenly felt someone staring intensely at me. I whirled around and my brown eyes met pure gold. Mihawk was staring so I hard I thought he was trying to see through me. Did he see everything that just happened? I didn't know what to do, so I just nodded. He cocked his head, and was that a smile, before turning and walking away. Man, that guy is about as hard to understand as Zoro is.

My mind has started thinking again too.

"Chopper, Law, take Zoro back to the Sunny using Room. I'm sure you guys want to make sure he is ok, and the infirmary will provide better service then on the battlefield."

Chopper frowned.

"What about patients? I need to stay here."

I take and shoulder his medicine bag.

"I will take care of them. Law is going to come straight back here after he drops you off."

Law nods and extends his hand.

"Room."

In a flash, they are gone, and I stand and sigh.

Ok, that ordeal is over. Now you just have to go back to fighting to protect Luffy and get him out of here. Simple enough. It will be tougher without Zoro as a strategic asset, but we should be fine. I smile as I leap back into battle, ready to fight a physical enemy this time, instead of a figurative one.