Hongo was fed up. He was trying to draw up his patients next dosage of meds and that was the second— make that third time someone had bumped into him. "Alright that's enough!" He snapped turning to glare at the room. "I know you are all excited that Luffy is starting to wake up but this is an infirmary! Get out and find something to keep yourselves busy. I will let you know when he is awake and ready for visitors!"

"Aw come on Doc. We'll behave. We just want to see Anchor." Whined Yasopp from his perch on Ace's bed. "You and Captain hogged all his attention last time."

"I did not!" Gasped Shanks. "Lucky had way more time to talk with him than me!"

"Yeah as I led him through a battle ground! We didn't have time to talk, unlike you and your time in the infirmary!" Lucky argued back.

"Hongo kicked me out so I wasn't even in there while he was conscious!" Shanks argued back. "Besides he's my kid and I'm captain." He said sticking out his tongue.

"I said out!" Said Hongo dangerously, most of the crew wisely exiting the room. "Ace and Benn can stay."

"Thats not fair! Why do they get to stay?" Whined Shanks and Yasopp as they slowly moved to the door, shoving each other.

"Because Ace is recovering and Benn is capable of acting like an adult." Hongo smacked both men with a haki coated fist and they yelped, diving for the door.

Benn sighed, relaxing in the chair next to Luffy's bed. "You know he's going to be pouting outside the door until you let him back in."

Hongo grinned sharply. "As long as he's outside my infirmary, he can do whatever he wants." He finally was able to draw up the meds and he watched as a grimacing Ace swallowed it obediently. The kid had finally given up fighting against him and he was starting to look less like death as the meds kicked in.

The sound of rustling sheets and faint groaning drew their attention back to Luffy's bed where the young adult was twitching. Ace sighed as Luffy settled back down. "How much longer is he going to be out?"

"It will be soon." Hongo said patiently as he studied Luffy's vitals.

"You said that hours ago and he's still barely responding." Ace grumbled.

"He's coming out of it Ace. Give him time. He's reacting to the world now and that's a good sign." Benn reminded him, having heard Hongo repeat this the last few times Ace asked.

"Yeah yeah." Ace sighed as he leant back. There was a few minutes of peace and then Ace bolted up, smiling wildly and ran from the room.

"Should we be worried?" Hongo asked, staring after the cackling boy, happy to see him acting more carefree after days of melancholy.

"Nah." Said Benn easily. "If it's something concerning, the rest of the crew can deal with it since they have time to laze around all day." There was the squawks of denial outside the door and the sound of a group of pirates quickly moving away from the door. Benn rolled his eyes fondly. "You would think we were safely in our territory and not smack dab in the middle of marine territory with two of the most wanted kids on board."

The two men worked in companionable silence before the door flung open and Ace appeared carrying a tray, covered in different meals. The men stared at him in bemusement as Ace plopped it on his bed and grabbed a bird leg, waving it over Luffy's face. "Uh Ace, he's not going to-" Benn trailed off as Luffy's head shot up, chomping down on the bone and swallowing it whole. "Well now that just alarming." He said finally.

"Meat!" Moaned a still sleeping Luffy.

"That's it Lu. Theres alllllll this food here. You just have to wake up." Ace said proudly, waving a steak in the air. Instead they watched as Luffy's arms extended, grabbing the plates and dumping it into his mouth as he continued to sleep. "Hey! That's cheating." Ace shouted, smacking the hands that were shooting past him, and trying to yank some of the plates back. Eventually there was only two plates remaining, clenched firmly in Ace's hands. "Damn it Luffy! You need to wake up!" He snapped, kicking the hand trying to sneak up on him.

"Ace… you're being mean." Whined Luffy, finally cracking open his eyes blearily.

"Yeah well you're being boring!" Ace said fighting back tears of relief.

"Anchor!" Benn said jumping to his feet and leaning over the pouting face. There was a thud and loud yelp outside and Hongo snorted as Shanks tentatively cracked the door open, rubbing the bump on his head. The captain looked pleadingly at his doctor who glared at him warningly before nodding. Shanks carefully slipped in and joined the family at Luffy's bedside. "How you feeling kid?"

"Hungry!" Luffy grinned, snatching the last of the plates from his distracted brother. "You look funny." He said cocking his head and studying Benn's face.

Benn rolled his eyes. "Yeah blame your brother for that and you did just sleep through two days of meals. But I meant do you feel any pain?" Luffy shook his head, already distractedly poking at the IV in his arm. "Leave that alone Luffy." Benn scolded, taking Luffy's hand in his. "You gave us quite a scare this time kid… I think you even gave Shanks his first grey hair."

Both boys burst into laughter as Shanks squawked in offence, frantically looking at his hair to ensure it was still a vibrant red. "You're one to talk about grey hair! Your whole head went grey since last seeing the kid."

Benn sniffed. "Yes cause of you. And I look good with grey hair." He turned his attention back to Luffy who had begun to squirm. "Seriously Luffy, what did you think you were doing?"

Luffy looked up with puppy eyes and let his lip tremble slightly. "I'm sorry pa, dad. I didn't feel hurt and I wanted to help. You had so many people to help cause of me and I didn't want to be a bourbon."

Shanks smiled softly. "Aw kid. You've never been a burden and we weren't going to leave those people there once we broke in. I promise we would have been fine even if we didn't get to restock. But you need to realize that your health and safety is more important than anything else. Understand?" Luffy buried his head in Shanks shoulder, nodding.

Benn and Ace caught each others eyes and shook their heads. He was hopeless. Luffy had Shanks wrapped around his finger alright. Benn cleared his throat and Luffy slowly pulled back to look at him. "Luffy… cut the crap. What were you doing?"

"Nothing." Luffy said sadly. Benn frowned at him sternly and Luffy shifted guiltily.

"Wait what?" Asked Shanks confused.

"Oh seas Shanks. You have got to be tougher than that!" Ace said exasperated. "He's going to walk all over you. Just because he plays naive doesn't mean he really is."

Luffy sunk down in the bed. "I just wanted you to see I'm tough and brave like you and dad."

"I thought we had this talk when you were younger Luffy. Putting yourself in danger does not prove you are tough and is never acceptable." Benn said firmly.

"But Pa! I didn't feel hurt. And it was just hunting."

"Maybe you didn't feel hurt but I know that multiple people told you that you were injured and that you needed to take it easy. And it wasn't just hunting. You flung yourself onto an unknown island and ran off without telling anyone what you were doing. What if there was something more dangerous there? Or if the marines had tracked us down? Or if you fell into the sea? I know you are strong and capable Luffy but even Shanks will make sure someone knows what he's doing."

"We're only tough and brave when we have to be Luffy. When someone is in danger or needs help. We don't put ourselves in a bad situation just to show off and when we are injured we let others deal with problems, unless we need to be involved." Shanks added.

"Screw this! Luffy as soon as you're better I'm going to kick your ass!" Ace spat, shoving past Benn to glare at his brother.

"Ace." Benn said disapprovingly.

"No. The little shit snuck away from me and went hunting without me. I have the right to kick his ass for making me worry." Ace snapped.

"There will be no threats in my infirmary or I will kick your ass until you need your own bed here." Hongo warned as he moved the three away from his patient. "As for you young man, I told you to keep your ass in that bed."

Luffy gulped at the irate doctor. "Sorry Hongo. I'll be good, I promise."

Hongo held a large needle, flicking out bubbles and Luffy's eyes went wide. "Oh I know you will." Luffy nodded frantically and Hongo smiled evilly. "Now how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Instantly three voices raised in annoyance until Hongo pointed with the needle. He glared at the boy in the bed. "I'm tired?" Hongo gestured for him to continue. "My head hurts… my sides. And I'm achey."

Hongo nodded acceptance and then inserted the needle into his IV tube. "These pain meds will help with that."

Luffy narrowed his eyes at the doctor. "You weren't.."

"Threatening you with a needle? Luffy I am a doctor, I do not stab people with medical supplies when they piss me off."

Luffy sighed in relief. "Oh right."

"I just make sure your medicine is nice and strong, with none of the sweetness that I give kids - you know cause you're all grown up now." Hongo continued, grabbing two glasses of meds. "Ace, yours has pineapple flavour." Ace grinned, throwing back the meds and sticking out his tongue at his brother.

"But Hon-"

"Drink it Luffy."

Luffy looked at the liquid, disgusted. "I'd rather have the needle." He muttered quietly before swallowing the meds and grimacing.

"Good. Your next dose is in 8 hours." Hongo said cheerily.

Luffy's distraught cries filled the room.