Marine Academy
Part 4
Chapter 25

The break room was crowded.

It had been more than two weeks since the Great War had ended.

The caregivers were finally starting to rest, enjoying the slower pace of the last few days. The majority of the soldiers who had survived had been stabilized and had been released from the hospital. There were now only a few chronic patients left, monitored night and day by the caregivers. The emergency department had been particularly quiet this weekend, which is why the entire staff had gathered in the huge break room to enjoy a good breakfast together. Everyone had brought something to give them strength: pancakes, fruit juice, scrambled eggs... The room was immersed in a friendly and warm atmosphere, each telling the other how their weekend had gone.

Murphy sat in one of the chairs, her eyes dark with fatigue from her night shift but a slight smile on her lips, enjoying spending time with her colleagues that she loved so much.

"The newspaper has arrived! And I believe we have a new Admiral in Chief!"

The room was silent in a matter of seconds as one of the anesthesiologists entered the break room, the morning newspaper in his hands. He noisily placed it on the table and read it aloud.

"Tonight marked the end of the battle for the title of Admiral in Chief of the Navy! While Admirals Akainu and Aokiji fought for several days off the coast of a still-under-rubble Marineford, Admiral Akainu was spotted in the alleys of the big city, returning to his home."

All eyes turned to the blonde who remained silent and attentive.

"The red dog appeared tired and injured after days of battle but quickly returned to his office early this morning."

"Sarah, did you register him at the entrances last night?" One of the doctors asked the general secretary of the emergency service who was on duty tonight. She shook her head and let the anesthesiologist speak.

"Admiral Aokiji, probably defeated after this battle, was also briefly seen by the guards at his home where he removed personal belongings before setting sail. Witnesses describe him as a man "tired and badly injured, one of his legs was covered in ice"".

"Shit, prepare an emergency room and set up the care protocol related to Admiral Aokiji, he should be coming to the Emergency Service soon!" One of the surgeons ordered the team who were already starting to get up and move aournd noisily.

"No need. He's gone." Murphy's voice echoed in the room, freezing the caregivers on the spot.

"At this moment, no official announcement has been made from Marineford and the current Chief Admiral Sengoku. The announcement of the new Chief Admiral's name should not announced in the following days, and everything suggests that Admiral Akainu and his Absolute Justice will be the future of Marineford."

Murmurs were heard in the room as everyone quietly gave their opinion on this change, no one daring to say out loud their disgust towards Admiral Akainu in front of Murphy. He was particularly unpopular among the caregivers, but since the doctor was highly respected, no one dared to say anything that could have hurt her.

The blonde had remained silent for the rest of the break, trying to absorb this new information.

Aokiji was gone, probably for good after that defeat.

Her relationship with the ice admiral was strange and complicated but she appreciated the man and the soldier he represented. His vision of Justice was gentle and tolerant. He had never stopped trying to protect her and keep her safe, despite his complicated relationship with Akainu.

He seemed seriously injured and she would have preferred that he put his ego aside for a few hours so that he would show up during his night watch and she could treat him.

But maybe it was precisely because of her presence that he hadn't shown up...

Akainu had won and he was also injured. He wasn't the type to show up at the Emergency Service, especially since he had been promoted to Vice Admiral.

Several times, she had found him at their house, upon returning from a mission, with major injuries. She had tried to negotiate with her husband so that he would agree to come with her to the Grand Hospital but he had always refused. So she had seen herself doing sterile care in their own bathroom several times. In return, she had knocked him out with antibiotics.

And now he was going to become Admiral in Chief?

The blonde sighed. Those days away from him, in the most total uncertainty of seeing him alive again after that stupid fight between Admirals had driven her crazy.

Despite their differences in recent months, she had been monstrously afraid of not seeing him return. But she had also been afraid that he would win and that his Absolute Justice would reach the top of Marineford.

According to the newspaper, he had gone straight home when he got back but had quickly left for his office. Had he tried to see her, to talk to her? Had this absence and this fear of not seeing the other again changed anything between them?

The doctor sighed as she grabbed her bag. The fatigue of this night shift and all the questions she was asking herself were starting to make her dream of a nice hot bath and a sleep in her warm bed.

She greeted the whole team and left to join her house, crossing the streets of Marineford which was already starting to get busy with the sunrise.

The rumors of the end of the duel between the two admirals were already invading the streets of the HQ.

She passed Vice-Admiral Momonga whom she greeted with a discreet nod. The doctor quickly arrived home, opening the shutters to let the sunrise warm the house with a soothing orange color.

As she entered the room to choose a clean outfit, she saw a note on their bed, the only trace of her husband's passage in their house for several days.

"Back from a mission. Important meeting all morning. I love you."