Okay, I lied. I'm a terrible, dirty liar. I said that chapter 13 would be the last chapter. But it is, in fact, not. I don't even think the next chapter is the last chapter. I think there will actually be two more chapters after this one. I'm sort of sorry, but not really. I think it'll be worth it, at least I hope it is. I have several thousand words of sex written already so... I'm not even joking.

Thank you again for all the reviews and comments everyone! I really appreciate it!

Chapter 13

It turned out the mill storage was packed with more than just starving people. There was food, ammunition, tools, and even clothes. The meds that Sanji and Zoro had been sent to find were also part of the loot. It seemed Moria—or more accurately, Doflamingo's—gang had been stockpiling for longer that Nami had first calculated.

The prisoners were rounded up and given blankets and jackets from the supplies. There was no telling how each individual would take to solid foods, so Sanji ordered only small sips of water and a fast track back to the compound where Law and Chopper could conduct a better diagnose. Before sunrise, most of the prisoners were loaded into the back of both Kidd and Franky's trucks, and those that didn't fit were placed on any motorcycle seat that was available. There were twenty-three in all, eleven of them children. It was going to be a long, hard ride, but Luffy continued to assure them that they would all be okay. He would keep them safe.

After Zoro helped load the last truck with the medicine and a few extra crates of food, he saluted to the small group of Luffy's men that had volunteered to stay back and guard the remaining supplies. Luffy had promised they would return quickly, or they would at least try, but it was still an enormous danger to be left behind like this and Zoro acknowledged it.

"You good, swordsman?" Kidd asked when Zoro started making his way toward the caravan.

Zoro nodded, "Supplies are loaded, let's get going."

Kidd's hand fell on his shoulder before he could move away.

"You should probably drive," Kidd murmured.

"What?" Zoro frowned and turned to where the red head was indicating.

Sanji stood about twenty feet from them, adjusting a makeshift harness around Drake and his passenger's chests. The harnesses had been Nami's idea since most of the prisoners were too weak to hold on for more than a few minutes. The rigs would keep them securely on the motorcycles and behind their drivers and allow them to sleep if they needed to.

At first, Zoro was not sure what Kidd was talking about, but then Sanji turned his face and Zoro could see. The cook's eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot, his face was ashen. His hands were steady as they tightened the straps around Drake, but Zoro could tell from his bearing that he was almost ready for a harness himself.

He said nothing but nodded to Kidd as he moved away. When the cook met him at his bike, Zoro held out his hand, palm up.

"Give me your keys," he said gently. He didn't want it to sound like an order, but he did mean for it to be insistent. He also didn't want to have to knock Sanji out but he would do it if he had to.

Surprisingly enough, Sanji didn't argue. He merely pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them at Zoro's chest before he took a step back and waited for Zoro to climb on. Zoro might have wondered for half a second if this was some kind of trick, but quickly decided that was stupid. He climbed on and revved the engine.

When Sanji slid on behind him, Zoro's grip on the bars faltered.

There was no space between them, only the press of Sanji's damaged body against his back, and few layers of cotton, leather, and down between them. As he settled, it seemed all the energy and all the fight the cook had left in him bled out, leaving him a heavy weight against Zoro's frame. The swordsman was still for a few moments, gaging the dynamics and trying to judge what would be acceptable and what would not.

Then, as Sanji's head came down on his shoulder, Zoro decided to just fuck it.

He reached behind him, took Sanji's hands, and pulled them around his waist. Sanji's stiffened, but he either appreciated the warmth of Zoro's pockets, or he just didn't really give a fuck either, because he relaxed after only a few heartbeats. Then he nuzzled into Zoro's neck and tightened his hold.

Zoro felt relief wash over him and his heart lift, released from the terrible darkness of the possibility that Sanji no longer trusted him.

"Hang on, shit cook," he murmured, and kicked the bike into gear.

It took a week before all the prisoners were eating solid food again. It was almost two before they were all up and out of the church, getting assigned bunks, and being put to work with jobs around the compound.

And it was two weeks and one day before Sanji collapsed.

Usopp had found him in the kitchen late that night, propped up against the door to the office like he had slid to the floor and decided to take a nap right there. Chopper's explanation of what had happened had been given in a hushed whisper behind a pulled curtain. Zoro had stood there with Law and Luffy, listening with his arms folded tightly across his chest to stop himself from grabbing the nearest living thing and strangling it to death.

Exhaustion. Sanji had passed out alone in the kitchen because he had spent a sold two weeks helping to feed and nurse twenty-three people that he didn't know back to health. He had worked himself into a near coma, and they all had just let him do it. Zoro had been so angry he literally wanted to kill someone.

Not that Sanji could have been stopped, no, Zoro knew that would have been impossible. However the swordsman did feel like he had done something terribly wrong. He should have tried harder; should have insisted that Sanji rest. He had seen the tired lines of Sanji's face; he had seen the dark pockets underneath the cook's eyes. He had seen what had happened back at the mill and all that blood that Sanji had coughed up but Zoro had just stood back like everyone else and let the idiot work himself almost to death.

Chopper had told him it wasn't his fault. Usopp had reminded him that everyone was overworked and overstressed. Law mentioned repeatedly that Zoro had almost collapsed himself after six days straight defending the wall from the recent herds.

Excuses. It was all just a bunch of fucking excuses.

Now he sat by Sanji's bed in the cook's private room, arms folded tightly and jaw clenched hard against the fatigue that pushed against the back of his skull. It was late, probably close to midnight, but Zoro couldn't sleep. He wanted to be there when Sanji woke. He had to tell the cook he was sorry and try and make things right. Zoro knew it was stupid; Sanji would probably not wake for hours, and when he did he probably wasn't going to be in the mood for talking, but no matter how he tried to rationalize it, Zoro could not make himself leave. Watching Sanji's chest rise and fall slowly underneath the patchwork blankets, Zoro felt a kind of desperation he didn't know he was capable of.

Standing, Zoro moved to the window and pressed his forehead against the glass.

"You're such a moron," Zoro said softly.

Behind him Sanji stirred.

Zoro turned so fast his neck might have popped. He watched as Sanji's brow furrowed and the cook ran his tongue over his teeth. The swordsman said nothing and moved closer, lowering himself back down into the chair. He couldn't figure out what to do with his hands so he settled for just folding them across his chest again and leaning back, waiting for Sanji's eyes to open.

The cook coughed once, a dry, rasping sound, and his eyes fluttered open. He squinted against the lamplight and looked around blearily. When his gaze fell on Zoro, he blinked once, seemingly confused.

Suddenly embarrassed, Zoro shifted and murmured, "Hey."

Sanji lifted a hand and gave him a small wave before he pushed himself up on his elbows. It was then that he froze, his eyes widening for a moment and his hand flying to his throat, no doubt searching for the scarf that was always wrapped around his neck. He did not find it, but his fingers did find his skin still covered. When Chopper had changed his clothes, he had put Sanji in one of his long sleeved, turtlenecks. Relief washed over the cook's face and his shoulders relaxed as he settled back against the pillows.

Zoro felt a profound sadness well up inside him as he watched feelings he was all too familiar with dance across the cook's face. For a moment, Sanji had looked so young, so frightened, so lost and alone. Zoro understood those feelings better than anyone could possibly understand, and he wished he could find the words to explain why. He knew it wasn't the right time, however. There were other matters that needed attention at the moment.

Sanji smacked his lips again and pointed to the water canteen on the table beside where Zoro sat. The swordsman handed it to him obediently and Sanji opened it, swishing the water around in his mouth for a moment before he spit it, unceremoniously, on the floor. It was pink.

"Gross," Zoro huffed.

Sanji shrugged and swished again, spitting it out onto the floor. It wasn't as pink that time, and so the cook put the canteen to his lips once more and drank. When he finished, he tightened the lid and set the canteen on the bedside table. After readjusting himself again, the cook began searching the area around him, the bedside table, behind the pillows, in the folds of the blankets.

"What do you need?" Zoro asked.

Sanji made a sign like he was writing, so Zoro reached behind him to grab the notepad and pen from the table. The cook took them with a nod of thanks and scribbled a few words.

How long was I out?

"About a day," Zoro said. "Usopp found you last night in the kitchen."

Huffing a sigh, Sanji wrote, I swear if Patty and Carne fucked up the kitchen I'll kill them.

The corner of Zoro's mouth turned up into a small smile as he read. Of course the idiot would be more worried about his kitchen than himself.

"Terracotta took over while you were out," he said softly, "she kept the other guys in line."

Sanji let out a breath and nodded, seemingly satisfied.

Grinding his jaw, Zoro braced himself for what he was about to say. This could go down a lot of ways and he hoped that Sanji wouldn't fly off the handle.

"Law's scheduled a food run tomorrow," he said, almost flinching when Sanji's head snapped up. "He doesn't want you to go, but he knows he can't stop you."

Scratching furiously at the paper, Sanji held up the pad for Zoro to read the words DAMN RIGHT HE CAN'T.

Zoro looked evenly at Sanji over the rim of the notepad.

"I don't think you should either."

Sanji huffed, his eyes blazing as he reached for the coffee mug sitting on the bedside table. He pulled back, readying a throw at Zoro's head, but the swordsman was there, catching Sanji's wrist in a firm grip. The cook hissed at him through his teeth and struggled against him. He was very strong, even for someone that hadn't eaten in a day and had only minutes before been recovering from exhaustion, but Zoro was stronger.

"Let me finish," Zoro growled. "Law and I both know we can't stop you. So would you please stop trying to kill me and just listen to what I have to say?"

Sanji's eyes were still furious, and his breath was still heavy, but even then Zoro was relieved to hear that it sounded like his lungs were clear again. The awful rattling that was so prominent just a few days ago was gone.

Slowly, carefully, Zoro released Sanji's wrist and put his hands up in a show of surrender. He backed away and sat back down on the chair.

"I think we need you on the food run," he said. "You'll know what's good to take and what stores best and what goes better with what. No one else that's going is gonna know that."

Sanji's face softened as he listened and his eyes widened a little at Zoro's words.

"I know that you're not in the best condition right now, but I also know it would be foolish to not take you with us. So… come with me. Usopp's lending me the truck. I'll carry whatever you want or do whatever you want me to so you don't have to strain yourself. Just let me do the work. That way you're still in charge of the food, but don't have to… I mean you can rest, sort of. That sounds stupid now that I'm saying it out loud."

Again, that embarrassed feeling came back and Zoro had to shift around again and rub the back of his neck to ease the tension that pulled through his body. He watched Sanji's face go from slightly surprised and thoughtful, to something that looked a little like amusement. The cook flipped his pen between his fingers and wrote something on the paper before he turned it around to show Zoro.

Is this going to fulfill some samurai bodyguard fantasy of yours?

Zoro's head fell between his hands and he groaned. "Oh my God, no. I'm just trying to help you get better."

He wanted to grab the cook by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. This whole thing was so frustrating.

Feeling a tap on his forearm, Zoro looked up to find Sanji tapping on his skin with the click end of the pen. The cook's face had grown serious and when their eyes met, Sanji nodded solemnly. Yes, he agreed. He would let Zoro watch out for him.

Zoro let out a breath he had not realized he had been holding in. "Good. Okay."

Sanji's eyes, however red-rimmed and underlined with grey, were still so blue. They sparkled under the fringe of the cook's shaggy blond hair and turned mischievous as they studied Zoro's face. He wrote on his pad and flipped it around for Zoro to see.

You're blushing.

Zoro ran a hand over his face. "No I'm not."

Sanji smiled, apparently pleased with having the upper hand, and scribbled a few more words.

When are we leaving tomorrow?

Sitting back, Zoro absently smoothed the front of his sweater. He was still embarrassed and his cheeks were still hot, but at least he could focus on something else for now.

"We're heading out the same time Luffy's group leaves, probably after breakfast. Ace and Brook are heading south towards the water; we're going southeast. There's residential stuff and a few rich neighborhoods out that way."

Suddenly Sanji's eyes went wide and his smile widened. He scribbled and held it up.

You just want me to go with you so you won't get LOST!

It wasn't true, but damn did Sanji know how to get under his skin. Not only was Zoro embarrassed enough to be practically squirming in his seat, he was also surprised to find himself a little turned on. He scoffed and stood, trying desperately to look like he was as non-pulsed as possible, but aware that he was probably failing miserably.

"Whatever helps your ego, shit-cook. Get some sleep; I'll see you in the morning."

He turned and headed toward the door, but just as his hand closed around the doorknob, something hit him softly between his shoulder blades. Zoro turned around and found Sanji's notepad lying on the floor. He eyeballed the cook, who had already turned away from him and hunkered down underneath the covers, but then stooped to pick up the notebook and flipped to the last used page.

Thank you.

A feeling started to whirl in Zoro's gut, a feeling not unlike those he would get before a tournament. Some people called them butterflies; some said they were knots. Zoro didn't know what they were, but they tumbled and swirled around inside of him like a summer breeze. He took one last look at Sanji's back before he set the pad on the window sill and stepped out into the night.

The next morning Sanji was in the kitchen and delegating jobs out to the other cooks like nothing had happened. His staff was as loud and rambunctious as ever, but Sanji noticed they were a little more careful than usual and didn't really cross him. He knew it was for his own good, and he understood that the people he lived and worked with cared for him, so Sanji just let it happen and took no offense.

One of the former prisoners, a young man by the name of Tajio, slipped into the kitchen early during prep and asked if there was anything he could do to help. He told Sanji he had been a short order cook in Portland before Dead Day and Sanji immediately found a place for him. Tajio thanked him and fell to line beside Patty, who welcomed him as warmly as a person ever could.

As soon as the line was set up and people began to trickle in, Sanji caught Zoro slipping in through the back.

"Can I just get some rice? I'm still loading the truck."

Sanji kicked him out of the kitchen and set him down at a table with Ace and Luffy. The brothers were stuffing their faces with Bartolomeo and Franky, while Kidd and Nami spoke softly together near the head of the table. Zoro pouted but Sanji shook a finger at him like a father scolding a misbehaving child.

You will eat before we leave Mr. Samurai Bodyguard. You're going to need your strength to keep up with me.

Zoro felt his cheeks heating as Sanji headed back into the kitchen. He wasn't sure if it was because of the scolding, or because he was in fact a little excited about playing bodyguard and Sanji had noticed. Either way, the bottom line was he was having an embarrassing physical reaction, but thankfully only Kidd and Nami seemed to notice.

Oatmeal, fruit, and three slices of cured ham later, Zoro found himself surrounded by children begging to be taught how to swordfight. He fended them off with promises to teach them when he got back, and managed to get out of the dining hall to finish loading the truck. When Sanji left the dining hall and threw his pack in the backseat, he took stock of enough water and other supplies for at least four days. He nodded to the swordsman in approval and turned to say goodbye to Luffy and the others.

Law got to him first.

"You know," he said quietly, "this is really stupid of you."

Sanji smiled at his old friend and signed, I know.

Law took a breath and glanced behind the cook to where Zoro was saying goodbye to Chopper.

"What's up between you two?"

Sanji shrugged and signed as nonchalantly as he could, I want his dick. I think he wants mine too.

A rare smile pulled at the corners of Law's mouth which he quickly smoother over with his fingers. "I thought you swore off men."

You did ruin me for them for a while.

Law shook his head. "I couldn't handle you."

Sanji's smile widened to a grin. What about you?

"What about me, what?"

Raising a hand, the cook pointed to the group of people crowded around where Luffy was standing, smiling, and hugging folks goodbye. Kidd stood in the bed of his truck, Nami at his side. Both redheads were watching them, their eyes sharp with longing.

Law let out a breath and turned back to Sanji. "I don't know."

Nami said you two were fighting again.

"We're not really fighting. I just don't know how much longer I can do this. They're gone for months at a time and I hate not knowing if they're okay."

They're bad ass fucking redheads man, they'll be fine.

Shaking his head, Law huffed, "You say that now. They're coming back in a few weeks to try and get Zoro to join the gang. What if he does? Will you be able to stand not seeing him and not knowing if he's even alive for months at a time?"

Sanji took a breath, moved a little closer. I believe in Luffy. I believe in his crazy crew. If anyone's going to be okay, it's them. If Zoro decides to go with them, I know he'll be safe. He will help keep them safe.

Law sighed again and rolled his head from side to side. Sanji pulled a cigarette from his pocket and slipped it, unlit, between his lips.

You love him. It was not a question.

Dark eyes studied the pockets of Sanji's jacket for a few long moments before Law finally answered.

"Both of them…"

Sanji smiled. Then why don't you stop being a fucking tight-ass and go say goodbye? Right now that's all they want.

Sliding his hands into his pockets, Law studied the ground for a moment before he nodded and moved away. "Fine. Good luck. Bring me back some scotch."

Sanji saluted and waved to Luffy before he climbed into the truck. Zoro was waiting for him and started the engine as Sanji slammed his door shut.

"Everything okay?" Zoro asked quietly.

Sanji merely nodded his head, watching as Law made his way over to Kidd's truck. Nami moved to the back and smiled softly as Law lifted his arms and slid his hands over her waist. He lifted her easily out of the bed and lowered her to the ground. They spoke quietly, heads close together and bodies pressed against each other. When he lifted his hand, took her chin between his fingers, and kissed her once, softly on the lips, Sanji smiled. Nami was tough, she was hard and strong on top of being extremely intelligent, but when it came to Law, she was gentle.

"Oh…" Zoro murmured from the driver's seat.

Sanji turned to him. The swordsman was leaning on the steering wheel, arms folded and his chin resting on his bicep. He watched Law and Nami with a strange combination of surprised annoyance; a small quirk of his eyebrows and a downturn of his lips. It was charming.

When Sanji turned back, Kidd had moved to the edge of the truck's bed and had dropped to one knee to speak to Law. He stoked Nami's hair as she stood leaning into Law's embrace, and a look of affection came over the read head's face. His eyes softened and his mouth turned up in a gentle smile. It was easy to think of Kidd as some kind of wild dog, but it was obvious that assumption was wrong in the way he looked at Law; the way he treated Nami. When he leaned in and met Law's lips in another soft kiss, his movements and body language were unmistakable. The admiration and the fondness and love were obvious.

Sanji had always thought that Law brought out the good in both his partners without even trying, and the cook liked seeing his thoughts proven like this.

Zoro apparently agreed, because he snorted into the crook of his elbow and murmured, "It's like he's tamed them."

Sanji turned to the swordsman with a grin on his face. He pulled his notepad from his pocket and scribbled a few words.

You don't think it's weird?

Zoro read it and shook his head. "No. Why? Look how happy they are."

Somehow, Sanji had known that Zoro would say that. When the cook looked out the window again, he watched as Law backed away and Luffy's gang loaded up and started their engines. His tattooed friend waved once, solemnly, but seemed to have shed a heavy weight from his shoulders and he stood with a much straighter posture than he had only a few minutes before.

Returning to his notepad, Sanji wrote, It's funny that it took Kidd and the end of the world for Law to finally say something to her.

Zoro glanced at the notepad before he smirked and shifted into gear.

They followed the caravan of trucks and motorcycles for about half a mile before they went their separate ways. Luffy's crew went northeast while Zoro and Ace drove south. Another few miles down the road and Ace pulled to the side and waved them up. As Zoro pulled up next to him, Sanji rolled down his window.

"We're on channel three," Ace said holding up a walkie. "Usopp says we can use them up to seventy miles apart, so as long as you don't cross over into Arizona we should be fine."

Brook's sunglasses hung from the tip of his nose and his afro jutting out in a perfect circle as leaned over Ace and smiled excitedly. "This is my first food run, Sanji! I'm so excited!"

Sanji chuckled and scribbled on his notepad. He held it up for the occupants of the other vehicle to see.

Be careful. Gather as much as you can. Winner doesn't have to do dishes until the next run!

Ace's eyes lit up. "Oh, it's on."

"Goodbye, my friends!" Brook waved excitedly, "Take care!"

"Good luck," Zoro said.

Sanji rolled up his window and the two trucks pulled out, Zoro and Sanji to the southeast, and Ace and Brook towards the water.

TBC