Fever

All Character Belong to Oda

Risa: Little girls name

Latin for "smile".

Spanish for "laughter".

Beta reader: BrainDeadMaggot. X3

Risa Age: 2

Sanji is sitting on the rocking chair, rocking back and forth gently with his daughter over his lap as he rubs her back soothingly. Her face is flushed red, her breathing is heavy and despite the Koolfever pressed on her forehead, sweat continues to bead down her face from the fever she has. She sniffs and coughs lightly and buries her face into Sanji's night shirt. He can feel a wetness seep through to his skin and he frowns. His little girl just wiped her snot all over him. Zoro doesn't mind using his shirt as a tissue, but he does.

She had woken up with a fever the night before and it gradually escalated until tonight. Sanji's been trying his best to break the fever enough so he can get a few minutes of shut eye, last time he checked it was 1am. But if the fever continues or gets any higher, he would have to take her to the hospital.

His eyes go to the couch where Zoro is half awake trying to fight sleep, his head occasionally bobbing before he jerks awake.

"Marimo. Go to bed." Sanji orders, placing his hand on his daughter's forehead so he can check her temperature. "It seems to have lowered." He says with a smile on his face.

Standing from his seat, Sanji adjust his now sleeping daughter so her head is on his shoulder, and walks towards Zoro, shaking him awake so he can head to bed. When Zoro asks with sleepy eyes if she's alright, the blonde nods his head once and pulls Zoro's left hand so he can stand.

"Wait for me in bed. I'll be right there." The blonde says, so he can place her in bed. Nodding his head, Zoro finally stands with the help of Sanji and heads to where he knew his bed is. It doesn't take him as long to reach his bed as it normally does, and for that he is grateful. By the time he sits to lay down, Sanji is entering the room.

"Cook, can you get me my pills?"

"Didn't you just take them this afternoon?" Sanji questions, his eyes on Zoro's cast arm. The Marimo didn't give him too much information on it, but from what he did tell, Zoro apparently was busting a cartel in a building, on the opposite side of town. The tension escalated and from gun shots, bombs were soon exploding. From what he heard, if it weren't for Ace who grabbed Zoro as the bombs exploded and jumped out the three story window, they would both be dead. Zoro fractured his wrist, dislocated his elbow and sprained his shoulder. He has a large black and blue bruise on the back of his right shoulder. Ace wasn't any better, also spraining his shoulder, and breaking his leg.

Zoro can't sleep, his arm hurts the most at night. Sometimes the pain medication is not enough so he will be awake, moaning for hours. He had taken the pill earlier that afternoon, but that was before he knew their daughter's fever would keep them both awake. They both know pain killers can be addictive, but Sanji will allow him to take just one more. It's late, and he wants to sleep.

Wordlessly, Sanji takes the pills, opens the bottle and hands one to Zoro. Once Zoro takes it from his hand, Sanji closes the pills and places them on his night stand.

Exhausted, Sanji gives Zoro a quick kiss, telling him goodnight before he turns off the lights. It's been a busy week for him. Zoro's been like this for two days, and then his daughter caught a cold. Though he was able to go to work, since Zoro was staying with her, Zoro has a hard time cooking, cleaning and taking care of their little girl. Zoro is used to both his hands, and mouth if he needs it, but he can't use his right arm, and the pain is enough that Zoro also has neck aches. He's left only with his left arm, good thing it's his dominant hand.

Even though Zoro tries his best, it's still not enough. For his lunch break, he has to go home and cook lunch, or else Zoro would have to make a sandwich. Zoro is injured and can't take care of a sick child the way he could with both arms.., he can't carry her or hug her or cook her food or anything. When he gets home, it's like he's taking care of two sick babies.

He's exhausted...

It only feels like a few minutes when he feels rough hands shaking him awake. When he wakes, he sees Zoro over him, a worried expression on his face. From the lamp light that is on, he can say it is still dark out.

"What is it, Marimo?"

"Risa, I think her fever came back." At the mention of their daughter's name, Sanji is already sitting up and throwing the cover off his body, his muscle tightens when he feels the cold touch his skin. "I heard her crying, so I went to check on her." Zoro steps back, a worried expression on his face, as Sanji heads to her room, Zoro following him.

When he enters the room, he can hear her little sobs. He instantly places the back of his hand on her forehead, only to hiss when he feels how hot she is. "We have to take her to the hospital."

He picks her up, placing one hand under her knees, the other on her back. "Marimo, get her blanket." He orders as he steps out of the room and heads downstairs. He enters the kitchen and grabs Zoro's car keys. His car is in the repair shop, so they will have to go in the Marimo's green and black Mustang.

Zoro is next to him in a few seconds, pink blanket clutched in his hand. He has slipped on his slippers; no time for a 5 minute shoe lace tie with one hand. Zoro places the blanket over their daughter, then tucks it so it won't fall off her once they step outside.

Sanji opens the door, where the cold instantly hits them. Even though it stopped snowing a week ago, it's still fairly cold.

Once they reach the car, Sanji quickly opens the driver's side door and pulls the seat so he can place her in her carseat. Thankfully Zoro never takes it out, that would have been an awful hassle. Once strapped in, Sanji gives her a quick kiss on her forehead, wincing at how hot her skin feels on his lips, and he backs out. When he is about to move so he can go around the car so he can sit on the passenger side of the car, he sees Zoro already sitting there.

"Marimo, drive. You know I'm still no good. The hospital is way past my restaurant, and the highway would be the fastest way. Plus, you drive faster than -" Sanji closes his mouth when he looks at Zoro's wounded arm. Zoro can't use his right arm at all, meaning he can't drive and meaning he will have to drive.

Sanji feels his blood run cold. He's never driven on the highway, much less a great distance, he's never driven further than the restaurant. He can barely shift to fourth, how is he going to drive this?

Because he can't.

"Sanji."

The blonde's eyes snap to Zoro.

"Get in the shitty car and let's go!" Zoro orders.

"But-" Sanji tries to explain that he can't drive to the hospital, but Zoro doesn't let him finish. He talks over him, his voice drowning Sanji's.

"Sanji!"

Zoro's voice lowers. "You once said to me, everyone has something they can and cannot do. You do what I can't do, and I do what you can't do." Zoro sighs deeply. "I can't drive… so do what I can't do." A smirk comes over Zoro's lips. "Plus, who said you have to do it alone. I'm right here."

Sanji's eyes widen slightly. Taking a deep breath, Sanji nods once. Sitting down, Sanji feels a little more at ease. But there is still a tight knot in his stomach. But he can do it. For their daughter. He can do it.

"Just talk to me, ok." Sanji request, as he looks at Zoro. Seeing Zoro nod, Sanji sighs. Turning on the car, Sanji shifts it out of neutral and puts it in reverse, as he listens to Zoro instruct him. Even though he knows what to do, he feels better when the Marimo talks to him. As long as Zoro is helping him, he should be able to do this.

By the time he is passing the Baratie, it is then he notice that Zoro has gone quiet. He's not sure for how long, but now that he is aware of the silence in the car, except for the car's engine, there is nothing else. He knows Risa is sleeping, it was one of the things Zoro told him as he drove.

Taking his eyes off the road for a second, he glances quickly, where he can see Zoro seated on the passenger side, leaning heavily on the seat, and his head facing the window. Sanji bites his lips, anxiety starting to overwhelm him as he watches Zoro's deep breaths. He fell asleep.

He knows the pain killers Zoro took have a narcotic effect, but damn, why did it have to kick in now?

"Marimo." Sanji calls, shaking Zoro shoulder. "Marimo. Come on, please wake up." Not receiving any response from the other man, Sanji slaps his shoulder, trying to get him to wake. The only response Sanji receives is Zoro shifting slightly more to his right side, getting more comfortable, and murmurs something in his sleep. "Zoro!" Sanji calls again, his tone sounding loud, but the volume low. He doesn't want to wake their daughter. Seeing that waking Zoro is useless, he places both hands on the steering wheel.

"I guess it's just you and me now." Sanji says referring to the car. Even though Zoro is sleeping, he can still hear his voice in his head, telling him what to do.

"Put it in neutral when I'm about to stop if I don't feel comfortable shifting down. If the light turns green before fully stopping, shift into gear and accelerate."

Sanji continues like this, telling himself what to do before he does it. The voice in his head sounds far from his, but it sounds like Zoro's; much deeper baritone voice.

Sanji feels joy overtake him when he sees the hospital.

Parking the car, Sanji turns off the car. His heart's still pumping and for some odd reason his hair's a mess, but he can't dwell on that for long; he has to get their daughter to the emergency room.

He tries again to fruitlessly wake Zoro. Hearing no coherent response from the man, Sanji steps out the car, pulls the back seat and takes out their daughter. "I'll be back Marimo." With that Sanji closes the door with his foot and heads to the hospital.

Sanji is so glad when he is quickly attended, and the doctors leave with his daughter so she can be treated. Sitting down on one of the waiting chairs, Sanji finally feels his muscle tension relax, even if just a little.

Standing up once again, he heads to the car, to check on his sleeping husband.

It takes two hours before the doctor who took his daughter, Adakio, to step out, and declare that she will be fine. They were able to control her growing fever, and now she is just resting.

Sanji can't help but smile in relief. He looks down at his lap, which Zoro is currently using as a pillow. He was able to wake Zoro long enough to guide him into the waiting room, before he blacked out again. It must look awkward, having a grown man sleeping on his lap, but he doesn't care, he's his husband after all.

"You hear that, Marimo?" he questions as he combs Zoro's hair with his fingers. "She's going to be alright."

Sanji looks out the window to his left, where he can see Zoro's mustang parked. "I guess I'll be driving you home alone again." His blue eyes goes to Zoro's sleeping face, his mouth partly open, drooling on Sanji. He already has snot on his nightshirt, drool wouldn't make a difference now. "Your owner won't be driving you any time soon. It will be you and me again." A smile comes over Sanji's lips. "I kinda like that idea."

A/N:Really hope you enjoyed