Chapter 3: Recovery and Initiation

The moments after the short battle were almost in slow motion for Cassie, she was happy to be back in solid form, but was still wounded by the bullet, she sat for a few moments wondering what to do, stunned still.

Whitebeard called for his doctors to see to her, and a pair dashed over, but not before Ace reached her and pulled her in to a rib crushing hug.

"Ugh, Ace! Bullet wound!"

"Ah, sorry." He smiled, glad she was back.

He accompanied her to the medical bay where she did her best to lay still as she was stitched up.

"How the hell did you find me?" He wondered aloud.

"Wasn't hard, I was keeping tabs on you, and turned out I was in the area when all that shit went down with Teach. It's not like it was hard to see an exploding island, boy."

"I'm glad you were there though... It was getting a little heated in there."

"Understatement of the fucking year Ace." She laughed, "Ow... Damn laughing hurts."

After she was cleared to leave, she walked with Ace to the galley to join the rest of the crew for lunch. They sat together, joined by the other ex-Spades, and chatted together about things that had happened to them since they had last seen each other.

Ace once more fell asleep face first into his plate, and Marco noticed Cassie's head drooping too, her exhaustion catching up to her. As her head finally came to rest on the wooden table, he smirked and walked over, poking Ace roughly on his way past to wake him up.

"Oi, get up, you've got your own bed to sleep in."

Marco carefully picked up the slumbering woman, who didn't even stir she was so out of it, and carried her to Ace's bunk.

The crew then had a few repairs to make due to the Marines and as first mate, he had to oversee them.

Whitebeard called Ace to his private study to talk.

"This woman was a member of your old crew, unofficial or not, you agreed your whole crew would join, that would mean her too. This family just keeps growing."

"Yeah... I dunno how she'll take that though. Her last crew were major assholes."

"So I've heard. You talk to her, and we'll sort it all out later."

"Sure." Ace nodded before leaving to go and find her.

He entered his cabin and saw her completely unconscious in his bed. Sitting down at the tiny desk he decided to wait until she woke up. She deserved some rest after what she'd been through.

She'd refused to talk about what it was like between worlds, and hadn't mentioned what it had felt like either, but he could tell she'd deliberately left out that experience.

Nearly a full day after she'd fallen asleep, Cassie finally awoke to find Ace on the floor beside the bed, snoring softly. She sat up slowly, not wanting to tear her stitches, and swung her legs out, stepping lightly to avoid standing on the pirate. She still felt heavy and slow, and knew it would be a while before she was back to her old self again. Walking softly into the early afternoon sunlight on deck, she was greeted by the crew as though she was one of their own already.

Leaning on the railing and looking out to sea she sighed and closed her eyes, letting the breeze roll over her.

"Ace talked to you yet?"

Not expecting the voice she jumped and turned to find Marco leaning on the railing next to her. He smirked.

"Uh, no... He's still asleep, on the floor."

"Typical Ace."

"Yeah, seemed that way, but family's a big thing for Ace, and your crew is like a family, so I guess it's understandable."

"You're not crew, not yet anyway. Ace was supposed to talk to you about that. Since you were an unofficial member of the Spades, and they joined us, that makes you an unofficial member of the Whitebeards."

"Huh? Hadn't thought of it that way."

"Decision's not up to me though. That's for the Captain to decide. You should probably go see him. As a non-crew member, he's been very giving towards you."

"I suppose I should at least go thank him for that." She laughed, glancing up towards the blonde.

Marco jerked his head towards the door she would need to take to speak with the intimidating hulk of a man, and walked away.

The study door was open, and Cassie knocked on the frame and waited outside the room. When Newgate waved her in, she stepped forward nervously.

"Um..."

She didn't know what to start with.

"I, uh, just wanted to... thank you, for, you know... all the help you've given me. So, uh, thank you sir."

"You saved the life of one of my sons. A debt had to be paid."

"Don't make me any less grateful though sir."

A chuckle escaped the large man.

"Turns out you are supposed to be one of my crew members, but why should I let you join?"

"Oh...? Uh..."

She hadn't been expecting an interview.

"Well... I... I've got pretty cool powers... when they're working right... Um... but..."

"But?"

"But that's not why I should be part of your crew! Ace and the others, they're my friends, and I protect my friends, so even if you don't have me join your crew, I'll still be around. Whether you like it or not!"

Turning bright red with embarrassment she looked down at the floor. What had possessed her to spurt that at the most dangerous man on the sea?!

A loud guffawing laugh burst forth and Newgate slapped his hand down on the desk before rising.

"Looks like you'll fit right in around here! And I get a new daughter! Gwahaha!"

"What? You mean... You've already decided?"

Whitebeard grinned, "Welcome to the crew!"

The afternoon passed into evening, and drink was flowing when Ace finally roused from his slumber. He rejoined his crew on deck and spied the ex-Spades chatting away with Cassie who was sitting awkwardly in a chair.

The familiar buzz of a tattoo gun reached his ears. Realising what was happening he walked over quickly to see the half-finished Whitebeard symbol now decorating the woman's lower back.

"You joined?" He asked with a grin.

"Well I ain't getting this tat for nothing! 'Course I joined. You didn't think I'd bail on you after all the trouble I went through to save your hide?" She laughed back.

Ace sat on the deck and chatted with Cassie until the same mark that adorned his back and shoulders found its place above her hips, before heading to dinner with her.

The crew sat together and toasted a welcome to their new member before tucking in to the feast laid before them.

As things drew to a close, Cassie was shown to a room she could call her own, and she placed her few belongings there.

There were some clothes that went into drawers fitted under the bed, a couple of books added to the single shelf above the head of the bed, carefully strapped in. On the tiny desk she placed a photo frame, a hairbrush and a small makeup bag.

This would be her home now, at least, she hoped it would be.