Bepo frowned as he heard Katrina whimper in her sleep again. He wondered what kind of dream she must be having to be clinging so tightly to his fur and sleep so fitfully. Law had ordered he watch over her and report to him in the morning or if there were any changes. The navigator couldn't help thinking back to how Katrina helped him when she could have just as easily done as everyone else had while he'd been lost on the Archipelago. She was a kind person, something that was rather rare to see in the Grand Line.

"No...please..."

Katrina mumbled in her sleep, a frown pulling her face into one of discomfort. Fear filled Bepo's nose as the brunette continued to make it through whatever nightmare was going on inside her mind. He found himself compelled by a feeling of wanting to comfort her, however he possibly could. Lowering his head so his snout pressed against the side of Katrina's neck, a low rumble filled the infirmary. He wasn't sure if the sound would help ease her slumber, but he knew Law had said the sound had a soothing effect.

"...the pirate captain couldn't stand to see what had happened to his crew and ship. Yet, as he stared up at the carved Jolly Roger on the main deck of his beloved Depth Strider he knew who had been behind it all. He vowed to get his crew back and get revenge for-"

The sudden sound of the library doors being thrown open had the young brunette of nine stop reading from the book her sister had picked for their reading session. Blue-green eyes frantically scanned the room, looking towards the end of the bookshelves hoping to somehow see around or through them to know which of her brothers had just come looking for her. Glancing down towards her confused younger sister, the brunette tried to keep the fear she felt out of her voice.

"Sara, why don't you be the first to take a bath tonight?"

She suggested to the young auburn haired youth curled up against her side. The sleepy look in her emerald eyes told the older girl she'd been close to falling asleep before their reading had been interrupted.

"Wha bou you Kat?"

Sara asked in a drowsy tone, reaching to rub the sleep from her eyes as a yawn pulled her mouth into a big 'O'.

"I'll be along later to tuck you in. Go on now."

Katrina told her sister and thankfully Sara didn't protest any longer. She got up and started to head towards the front exit of the library when Katrina stopped her. She still didn't see them, but she was pretty sure she could hear them whispering to one another and it made her blood run cold. If they were here it only meant one thing; their parents had been given their newest assignments and had left the island.

"Use the other door this time."

She urged, pointing to the large bookshelf behind their mother's work desk. She watched as her sister pulled a book from the thousands on the shelf before the bookshelf slid to reveal a small wooden door. Once Sara had walked through and shut the door after her, the bookshelf slid silently back into place. It would lead to the kitchen nearest the baths. Katrina had found it by accident one day and hoped she'd never have to use it for its intended purpose.

"I'm telling you Admiral Nicholas, the fugitive is hiding in this library."

The sound of her older brother Clark's voice made Katrina freeze as she was brought back to her current situation.

'At least Sara is safe.'

She thought to herself as she tried to steel her nerves and body for what was to come. There was no point trying to run, and hiding only made any punishment she received even worse than what they had originally planned for her.

"Find and apprehend them. Bring them to me."

The sound of Katrina's eldest brother, Nicholas, ordering for her 'capture' had a stone form in the pit of her stomach.

Placing the book down, Katrina got to her feet just as Clark stepped out from among the bookshelves. Her brother was a younger image of their father for sure with his dark brown hair and intimidating presence despite only being twelve years old. His blue eyes were strikingly different from their father, but still held her in place as if she were bound in chains.

"Found you you cur."

Clark said with a wicked smile spreading across his face as he then closed the gap between them. Grabbing hold of her arm, Katrina winced at how tightly he held onto her upper arm.

"Admiral Nicholas, I've apprehended the runaway!"

Clark called, turning away to have his voice heard across the library. Katrina resisted the thought that popped in her head to try to flee. It was no use.

"Back to the base with them."

Nicholas' voice ordered and Katrina found herself being led out of their mother's library and outside through the kitchens. Once they started walking through the backyard towards the small forest behind their house Katrina had to fight the fear swelling in her gut. Clark was leading the way towards the boys' secret base, a small dug out hidden under the leaves in the woods with only one entrance.

Katrina watched as Clark tightened the knots around her ankles and wrists, securely tying her in place to the table in the center of the dug out. Trying to keep her breathing even, she wanted to beg him to let her go and not do this, but knew from last time and the time before that that there simply was no talking them out of this.

"For the crime of running away from imprisonment you shall be subjected to conditional correction."

Nicholas said as he approached, a knife in hand. Katrina's blue-green eyes widened as she saw him lean over and hold the blade over one of the lit candles nearby.

"No….please."

Katrina begged, despite knowing her pleas fell on deaf ears, as the blade grew brighter under the heat of the flame.

"Silence!"

Nicholas shouted at her before waving one hand in Clark's direction. He understood the silent order and grabbed a cloth from the floor before shoving it in Katrina's mouth as a makeshift gag. The taste of dirt and oil filled her mouth as the cloth was shoved inside. The smell of some sort of oil filled the young girl's nose as she tried to stay strong and not whimper or cry. Showing any sort of weakness usually resulted in more severe torture.

The searing pain of the red-hot blade being pressed against the flesh of her collar bone had Katrina scream out despite knowing it would only feed into her brothers' fantasy.

"See what happens if you drag it horizontally, Admiral."

Clark piped up as Katrina's scream died down. She saw Nicholas reheat the knife before approaching her left side. He pressed the flat of the blade against her skin before dragging it along her shoulder. She momentarily felt relief and tried to breathe through the pain before the sudden loose feeling around her extremities caught her attention. Before she could think further, she found herself forcibly turned over and the searing pain of the hot blade returned as her brother dragged the blade down her back in one quick swipe. The tip of the blade sliced through the soft flesh of her back and blood welled up almost instantly. Katrina cried out, her cries muffled thanks to the cloth in her mouth.

"End her session with something she'll remember Captain Clark."

Nicholas said in a bored tone and Katrina could barely make out her brother's feet as he walked away. Light spilled in as he left the dugout and the two of them alone. Katrina focused on trying to breathe, if she made it through this session she'd be safe for at least a month. Feeling herself being forced back onto her back, the young girl couldn't help but whimper as the wood of the table pressed against the fresh wound on her back.

"This should teach you not to run away."

Clark whispered, his voice close to her ear before pain erupted in her lower right pelvis. Her brother had stabbed the knife they'd been using hilt deep into her flesh. Katrina doubled over and watched as Clark used a different cloth to clean her blood from his hands before running one through his hair to get it out of his face. He threw a dark smile her way as their eyes met and Katrina felt she was close to passing out.

"Don't go dying on us now."

He said before the light suddenly blinded her once more. The silence that fell over her after the departure of her demented siblings left Katrina with only the sound of her labored breathing as she tried to think through the pain. She knew if she removed the knife it could cause more damage, but she also knew she couldn't treat the wound until after removal of the foreign object in her body.

Katrina bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep her whimpers of pain quiet as she used the wall to assist her in her way towards the room she shared with her sister. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since their brothers had come to find her in the library or how long it had taken her to patch herself up after the duo's most recent game. Feeling a stabbing pain shoot through her abdomen, Katrina paused and held onto the wall in hopes of not passing out. It always confused her why her brothers did such things to her, but simply knowing the reason wouldn't make it stop. She'd long ago stopped asking why.

Making her way inside their shared room, Katrina silently closed the door behind her and glanced over to the small form under the blankets that was her little sister. Knowing she hadn't had to go through any of it yet was a small bit of peace Katrina held onto. Easing herself onto the bed beside her sleeping sister, Katrina prepared to go to sleep and put the horrible night behind her when she found it odd she didn't hear or feel her sister's breathing despite lying right next to her.

"Sara?"

Katrina called out in a pained whisper, waiting with baited breath for some answer or sound of her sister's breathing yet heard neither. Moving until she was close enough to look at her sister's face, Katrina saw it was facing away from her. She placed a hand on Sara's shoulder and shook it gently, calling her name once more yet once more received no response. The silence suddenly felt heavy and Katrina was suddenly hit with a need to see her sister's face. Reaching forward, Katrina gasped when she finally got a look at Sara's face. It was pale, all color having drained from it and her lips were blue in color. Her eyes, usually shining and vibrant, were almost gray in color. It looked as if she had choked or suffocated. Before Katrina could process much more of what she was seeing, her sister's eyes which had been staring blankly into space snapped to her own blue-green ones.

"Don't leave me Kat. They make me play when you're not here."

Katrina screamed as her sister suddenly grabbed her arm and turned her head to look at her. Her head slumped forward once she did so, as if her neck was broken and couldn't support the weight of her head any longer.

"I don't want to play the game alone….don't leave me!"

Sara shouted before jumping from their bed and scrambling towards her. Katrina closed her eyes before suddenly feeling something grab her from behind and pull her backwards. When Katrina opened her eyes she found herself falling over the edge of the cliff outside her family's house. Her bedroom and sister had faded away as she was swallowed by the dark waters beneath.

Katrina gasped as she shot up into a seated position. Her mind having sent her on a roller coaster before snapping her awake, the brunette was more than just a little disoriented as she came to and found herself in what looked to be an infirmary. As her eyes adjusted she realized she wasn't alone on the infirmary bed and as fuzzy images of before she blacked out flashed into her mind she found herself rather confused.

"Bepo?"

She asked, though she could tell it was him from the fur she felt beneath her fingers. They were currently curled up together on a bed meant for patients. More accurately, she had been curled into a ball on her side in her sleep and Bepo had curled around her as he'd kept watch and tried to comfort her.

"Hi Kat."

Came the slightly timid-sound of Bepo's voice from beside her on the bed.

"How did I-"

Before Katrina could finish asking her question, Bepo moved to get to his feet. He then turned to face her and bowed.

"I'm sorry. Captain said to tell him when you woke up."

He apologized before seeing himself out and leaving her alone.

It took a few moments of silence to tick by before Katrina's brain processed what was Bepo's departure and couldn't stop herself from laughing just a little at how oddly adorable he was with his apology.

Seeing as she had been left to her own devices for the time being, Katrina took the chance given to look over herself for any signs of injury. Her head ached from where Jericho had slammed it against the concrete floor, but other than that and a faint tenderness to her cheek she felt relatively okay. She still couldn't fully remember what happened in the storage room with Jericho, but from the lack of pain Katrina could only assume he wasn't actually able to finish what he had started. That's what was concerning her the most. Out of everyone in the tavern, no one would have come to her aid. So then, what the fuck happened before she blacked out? She vaguely recalled a short interaction with Law, but she couldn't be certain if it had actually happened or if she'd simply dreamed it. Surely he wouldn't have let her be after striking him? He was the Surgeon of Death.

Speaking of said Supernova, Katrina was beginning to wonder what she was doing in the infirmary aboard his ship. By all rights, shouldn't she have woken up on the storage room floor with Claudette screeching at her for an explanation she didn't even have to give. Was there something he wanted from her? Payment? For what though, medical care? Normally if one takes it upon themselves to provide aid without the consent of the other party, it wouldn't be right to ask for payment. Then again, these were pirates so the 'normal' circumstance didn't exactly apply here.

Katrina had been so engrossed in her own thoughts of trying to figure out why Law had her aboard his ship, that when the infirmary door opened and the tanned man himself entered the room she hadn't noticed.

Law had just finished brewing himself a cup of coffee when Bepo padded into the Galley. Turning away from the coffee maker after making sure to have cut it off, Law lifted the ceramic mug in greeting to his first mate.

"Kat's woken up Captain."

Came Bepo's reply and Law remained silent at first as he took a sip of the hot, dark liquid filling his mug to the brim. He had noticed Bepo had taken to calling Katrina by a shortened version of her name. He wasn't too surprised, honestly, considering she had aided him in returning to them when he'd gotten himself separated from them on the Archipelago. Law had seen then that Bepo seemed to have taken a liking to the brunette. Truth be told, the young woman had caught his eye as well. It was obvious to anyone who saw her that she'd had no business in an establishment like Jericho's. Law found himself curious as to how she'd wound up there and why she stayed. It wouldn't have taken her much to slip away from Jericho or even overpower him to obtain her freedom, so then why had she been like a caged bird?

Deciding mulling things over on his own had yielded no concrete results, Law turned his attention instead to the one that could answer his questions. It was still pretty early in the morning, the crew had just switched and rotated shifts. Law could hear the sounds of snoring coming from the crew rooms as he passed, heading towards the elevator at the end of the hall that would take him to the second floor. The warmth from the cup in his hand helped fight against the slight chill in the elevator as he waited for it to reach his desired location. He'd had Bepo weigh anchor a little ways away from the Archipelago but this early in the morning everything felt chilled.

The almost silent ding of the elevator reaching its destination brought Law from his thoughts of the cost of installing heating along parts of the sub. Exiting the elevator, Law made his way to the infirmary to see the only patient they had onboard. He'd expected a bit more when he'd made his way inside, but it seemed Katrina was lost in her thoughts. Before he could act on the sudden urge he felt to see what she would look like caught off guard, he felt a familiar burning sensation in his throat when he swallowed. Silently moving across the room to the medicine cabinet adjacent from the infirmary door, Law set his already lukewarm coffee down on the surface of the cabinet he'd stopped in front of. Reaching up, he grabbed a small bottle of antacid from the array of medicines and salves housed inside before closing it behind himself. He frowned as he took the antacid with a sip of his coffee, it'd gone fully cold now. Abandoning his coffee, Law instead turned his attention back to the brunette that had brought him down here in the first place. Clearing his throat to gain her attention, Law did nothing to hide his amused hint of a smile at her reaction. She'd snapped her head in his direction and her hand moved to her upper thigh, almost as if reaching for a concealed weapon. Of course, Law already knew about the two daggers she'd had hidden on her person.

"They've been removed and set aside for now."

He spoke up, both providing her with an answer to her unspoken question and informing her that her only means of defending herself was out of her reach. Law didn't miss the way her blue-green eyes seemed to narrow slightly after a few moments passed.

"Why am I here?"

Came her response. Law smirked to hide his amusement before placing both hands on the desk behind him and casually leaning against it.

"Aren't infirmaries where injured people go when they are hurt?"

He quipped and didn't miss the look of disbelief on her face as she looked back at him. He smiled before turning to grab the clipboard that was on the cabinet desk. Her mouth had dropped open ever so slightly at his response before it closed and her lips pulled into a tight frown full of suspicion.

"Just what are you playin' at?"

"I assure you Miss Katrina, I'm playing no games."

Law said in a reassuring voice as he made his way to the second desk inside the infirmary. This was an L-shaped one with a dark wood finish on the top and stainless steel legs bolted to the infirmary floor. It was set off to the right side of the medical room, the same side as the private exam room, its cabinets and drawers full of various materials and items Law might need. Each location was memorized like the back of his tattooed hands.

Grabbing the back of the chair that was tucked under the desk to prevent it from rolling across the infirmary uncontrollably, Law pulled it out to him. Giving it a test spin before taking a seat, Law turned back to look at Katrina. He'd noticed she'd dropped out of the defensive posture she'd taken up on the infirmary cot. He also didn't miss the way her lips parted and fell open a second time, showing her disbelief of what he'd told her. She'd taken to sitting with her legs crossed at the knee, back leaning against the metal wall of the sub.

'She certainly looks at home.'

Law thought to himself before returning to the task at hand. Gently pushing himself off from the desk, the chair glided across the infirmary stopping a few feet from the cot Katrina was sitting on.

"Then why save me?"

Came her next question, the confusion in her voice clear as she met Law's gaze and waited for his response.

"Would you have preferred I'd stayed out of it as everyone else had and let Jericho do as he'd pleased?"

Law asked instead of answering her question, his amused smile disappearing to be replaced with a dissatisfied frown thinking about the now deceased blonde.

"Well…no. It's just…"

Katrina started only to trail off uncertain, her eyes dropping from his and lowering to her hands she had settled on her lap. He noticed she started picking at her nail polish and noted her demeanor seemed different.

"Miss Katrina, I couldn't very well stand by and allow Jericho to have committed such actions."

He told her in hopes of putting the matter behind them.

"But you're a pirate."

She said, as if that would have made it okay if he hadn't stepped in. Law felt a surprising surge of anger rise in him at that thought before pinching the bridge of his nose and breathing slowly to calm himself.

"I am. But I am a man before anything else Miss Katrina. And a man wouldn't do or allow that to happen to any woman."

Law said and noticed, this time, Katrina lifted her eyes to look back at him. The shocked disbelief in their blue-green depths at his words didn't sit right with him, but he also knew it would take more than words to prove it to her. That was fine with him, they'd have plenty of time to earn one another's trust once she joined his crew.

"So Jericho….he didn't….I mean, he wasn't able to-"

Law pieced together the rest of her question and cut her off before she had to finish it.

"No, he wasn't. I wouldn't be sitting in front of you as I am now if he had."

He responded dryly, he could see the confusion on her face, but chose not to address it further. Honestly, he didn't feel too comfortable thinking about why the thought of Jericho doing so to Katrina bothered him so much. He knew he'd have done the same thing for any female in a similar situation, and yet, even now Law wanted to feel his blade slicing through Jericho's flesh. The blonde really had gotten off way too easy.

"What now?"

Came Katrina's next question and it was now Law's turn to feel confused. Was it not obvious?

"I doubt you saved me for free. So what do I owe you?"

She asked, further clarifying without him having to say anything. She could probably see his surprise on his face, Law wasn't too sure what face he was making at the moment as he hadn't been expecting that question. In hindsight, he supposed he should have.

"You owe me nothing, Miss Katrina. If you must see it as anything, see it as me repaying you for your kindness the other day with my first mate Bepo. Nothing more."

He told her and watched as she seemed to sit and process that information. When it seemed she was ready to move on, Law decided it was time he drew her attention to why he'd returned upon her waking up.

"I would, however, like to give you a comprehensive examination."

Law informed her and waited to see how she'd respond. It wasn't often he was surprised and wondered if she'd manage it a second time.

"A comprehensive? That's just blood work, physical exam, and ... .what else exactly?"

She asked apprehensively, a guarded look entering her eyes as she stared at him. That was something he noticed she seemed to have no issue doing; looking him in the eyes. He was used to almost everyone looking away when speaking to him.

"Blood work, physical exam, pelvic exam, medical history questions of course, mammogram, x-rays, reflex test, vision test, hearing test, immunization records, neurological exam, pap smear, blood pressure, and a few other tests just to be thorough."

Law listed off leisurely as if reciting the alphabet. He noticed Katrina's cheeks flushed slightly around her nose when he mentioned pelvic exam, pap smear, and mammogram though she played it off rather skillfully.

"W-What are the chances you have a female nurse onboard?"

Came her reply to everything he told her and Law was able to bite back the bit of laughter that wanted to come out with a rather entertained smile taking its place.

"It would be unwise of me not to staff my crew properly, don't you think Miss Katrina?"

Law asked, amused knowing full well how uncomfortable the brunette before him was.

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

She snapped, a bit of a hurt tone to her voice as she crossed her arms and a frown appeared on her face. Law blinked once, then twice before realizing the woman in his infirmary was pouting.

"We can start on the other stuff, but call for the female you have on staff for the more intimate exams please?"

Katrina asked as she scooted to the edge of the infirmary cot and seemed to be waiting for his guidance on what to do next. Cocking an eyebrow at how readily she was for this, Law nodded in response to her request before propelling himself across the room towards the door and the phone hanging on the wall. The light gray almost blended into the metal walls, but Law picked the receiver up with one hand while holding the clipboard he'd grabbed earlier in the other. He slowly spun himself in a semi-circle left, then right as he waited for someone in the Navigation Room to pick up. He didn't have to wait much longer before hearing the sound of Uni's voice.

"What's wrong Captain?"

Law could hear the groggy sound of his mechanic's voice and wondered why Clione or Bepo hadn't answered though supposed it wasn't extremely important at the moment and he could ask them later.

"Uni, tell Ikkaku she's to report to the Infirmary."

With that, Law returned the gray receiver where it had been in the wall before spinning so he faced the cots once more. Meeting Katrina's curious gaze, he offered her a small smile.

"Ikakku, one of the few females onboard, will be here shortly to oversee the more intimate exams."

He told her, using her words in an attempt to ease her discomfort.

"I assure you Miss Katrina, I only wish to ensure you are alright."

He offered as his chair slid to a stop a few feet from the cot she occupied.

"Seems a bit excessive if that were all it were."

Was the response he heard, but from the way she turned her head away from him and chose to look about the room instead of at him told him she was annoyed or bothered one.

"Let's get started then."

Law said, choosing to ignore her comment. It wasn't as if she were entirely incorrect. He had intentions of her joining his crew, but he knew if he were to ask her now she'd refuse. She has no reason to join, and quite honestly, Law wasn't certain he wanted her to either. She piqued his interest and had caught him off guard a time or two but that didn't explain why he wanted to keep her from leaving.

"Name?"

"Katrina Honjouku."

Law filled in the first blank of the first page on the clipboard and stopped after writing her last name.

"It's my mother's maiden name."

Katrina provided without Law asking and he simply silently made a note next to it.

"Date of birth and age?"

"I'm twenty-two and my birthday is October fourth."

Law found himself pausing in filling out her sheet again. Her birthday was two days before his own and she was two years younger than him.

"What about you? Or am I the only one who gets to answer questions?"

Katrina suddenly asked and Law looked up with a slightly raised eyebrow that disappeared partly under his hat.

"My birthday is October sixth, and I am twenty-four years old. Feel free to ask any question you would like Miss Katrina."

He answered, mildly surprised she'd even asked in the first place. Did she truly wish to know or was she uncomfortable still and attempting to ease tension he didn't feel?

"Any allergies to shellfish or iodine? To any medicines or foods? Bee stings?"

Law continued with the next few questions and noticed Katrina had taken to swinging her feet back and forth as they hung over the edge of the cot just slightly since she had sat so far on the edge.

"No, I simply never cared much for fish. Though shrimp every now and again isn't half bad. Only to bee stings, mangos, and coconuts."

Law nodded before adding the information to her chart.

"Are you currently taking any medication? Do you have any known diagnosed conditions?"

The questions kept coming and Katrina continued to answer them. She knew eventually it would get to the physical part of the exam, she was just relieved to know Law was as smart a man as she had thought him to be and had a female onboard who could assist with medical exams concerning females. She didn't know if she'd have agreed if Law had said he didn't have a female who could do the other exams. Perhaps it had something to do with the 'You Can't Say No' aura Law seemed to exude when in his domain. Maybe it had something to do with him being a doctor?

Shaking the useless thoughts from her head, Katrina took a deep breath before letting it out slowly and waiting for Law to remove the cold piece of metal belonging to the stethoscope in his ears from her skin. He'd already checked her ears, her reflexes and almost got kicked for it much to Katrina's amusement, her temperature, her vision, drawn her blood, and now he was listening to her lungs.

"Do you smoke?"

He asked and Katrina rolled her eyes as he turned away from her to pick up the clipboard from where he'd placed it in what had been his seat.

"Nope. Not a fan of the smell or smoke."

She answered honestly, her father smoked on occasion and that was the only time she could say she enjoyed the smell. He ordered special cigars that smelled like honey to her.

"Why were you on the Archipelago?"

Katrina initially froze at the random, non-medical related question but did her best to play it off. Glancing his way, the brunette noticed Law had resumed his spot in the wheeled chair and had a nonchalant look on his face as he seemed to be rereading over the paper they'd been filling out together about her.

"What makes you think I don't live there?"

She asked back, and resisted the urge to look away when Law's grey eyes lifted from the words on the clipboard's paper to meet hers. When she said nothing else a smirk appeared on his face and a flash of mischief seemed to shine in his eyes.

"If you say you do, then you do."

Was the response he gave and Katrina frowned, feeling like he'd gotten some kind of point over her.

"I was left…stranded here about two years ago. Jericho gave me a place to stay, but it came at a price."

Katrina offered, omitting the truth while hoping to satiate Law's curiosity. The tanned captain hummed in response and Katrina could tell he didn't believe her but was grateful he didn't ask further.

"Which Blue are you from originally?"

Law asked, making Katrina shake her head at his persistence.

"These aren't medical questions, Doctor."

She pointed out and saw Law was going to say something else when the door to the infirmary opened and a woman with curly dark brown hair wearing a yellow and orange hat entered the room. The hat was situated in the middle of her head and seemed to cause her hair to puff out on either side of if. She was wearing a beige colored boiler suit with a Jolly Roger sewn onto the left breast to be worn with pride.

"Uni said to report to you in the infirmary Captain?"

The woman asked, glancing from Law to her and Katrina could tell the woman was attempting to size her up from the doorway. Even without her daggers, Katrina could cause enough chaos if she wanted.

"Yes, you'll be overseeing the remaining exams for Miss Katrina here."

Law explained casually and Katrina could feel her face heat up at the mention of it again.

'Ugh, why did I agree to this again?'

She wondered but couldn't bring herself to stop it now. It wouldn't hurt to know for certain she was healthy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been to a doctor, let alone not have to pay for it. Katrina glanced back towards Law, wondering if he was going to give them the room or if they were going to proceed with him there.

"This way then. Captain's orders."

The woman, Ikkaku, said before moving from the doorway and started heading towards a door Katrina hadn't noticed before. Following her, Katrina was led into a smaller examination room.

Hearing the sound of the door shut after she'd stepped inside, Katrina looked back at Ikkaku uncertain where she wanted to begin.

"I know others already said this to you, but thank you for helping Bepo. There's not many who offer their assistance, let alone without asking for something in return. "

The other brunette said as she walked purposefully over to the desk in the far left corner and pulled open the second drawer from the top. Katrina watched as Ikkaku pulled a black patient gown out of the drawer before turning back towards her, offering her the garment.

Taking the offered garment and the moment to change as a moment to gather her thoughts, Katrina found herself a little bewildered. She believed the universe often returned gestures, both kind and unkind but lately she had only been given unkind situations and scenarios. Admittedly, the time of peace she'd gotten to enjoy aboard the Swift Pirate's ship could be counted as kind.

"What led you to followin' Law?"

Katrina found herself asking Ikkaku as she stepped back into the room from behind the medical curtain within the private exam room.

"He and his crew stopped at my home island about nine years ago."

The other brunette started as she motioned for Katrina to move to stand where she wanted and proceeded with her physical exam.

"My little brother had gotten ill and our island's doctor only treated the more financially well off."

Ikkaku continued calmly, Katrina watched as the other woman stopped and turned to write something down on a clipboard she hadn't noticed. Probably more of her medical information that would be passed off to Law once they were finished.

"Some doctor."

Katrina commented dryly as Ikkaku turned back towards her.

"Next is the cervical exam. If you wish, we don't have to proceed."

Ikkaku stated calmly with a kind, patient look in her eyes as she waited for Katrina's response.

"I might as well take advantage of the medical care while I'm gettin' it."

Katrina offered as an answer after a few moments of contemplation.

"What do you mean? We get regular check ups and any medical need Captain takes care of right away."

Ikkaku asked confused, explaining how well Law took care of them and confirming Katrina's suspicion that the other woman thought she'd be joining them.

"I…won't be joinin' you guys."

She answered softly, hoping not to offend the Heart Pirate standing in front of her.

"I see."

Silence settled between them for a few seconds before Ikkaku asked another question.

"Mind if I ask why not?"

She asked as she walked to the sink in the room and prepared for the next exam.

"I don't really have a reason to."

Katrina responded before moving to sit on the examination chair situated to the side of the room. Ikkaku walked over and handed her a paper cover before turning to face the door and provide Katrina with a bit of privacy to undress for the exam.

"The captain helped you. We're not like a lot of the groups out there, we don't go around killing civilians and raiding islands."

Ikkaku told her from over her shoulder. Katrina couldn't deny that had been a question she'd wondered. What kind of Pirate was Law? Bounties were often awarded for a few reasons. Threat to the Government or threat to Civilians or other Pirates. Notoriety as well, that was how Strawhat Luffy had gained such a bounty for a Rookie so young. She didn't know all of them, but Katrina had heard a few names repeated amongst the crowds on the Archipelago over the years and the gossip Claudette and the other brothel women were always going on about. The newspapers told of their exploits of course, but as it was published and distributed by the Government Katrina only placed so much faith in its contents.

"What happened to your brother?"

Katrina asked instead as Ikkaku came to her bedside and started the exam.

"He got a fever from the illness that had started to take hold of him. It reached a level where it would have killed him if we didn't get help. My father went to the doctor and begged, promising to work to pay off the medical bill. The doctor had him thrown in jail."

Katrina gasped in surprise and Ikkaku paused.

"Sorry, did that hurt?"

She asked, hands stilled where they were.

"No, sorry. It wasn't that. The doctor threw your father in jail? For what?"

Realizing she hadn't hurt her, Ikkaku finished up the exam and cleaned everything up.

"He claimed my father had tried to break in and burglarize him in retaliation for not treating his son."

Ikkaku explained as she walked back to the clipboard and wrote something more down.

"You can get dressed again."

The brunette said, drawing the medical curtain for Katrina to change.

"Did you lose your brother that day?"

She asked gingerly as she hopped off the medical chair to clean up and get dressed.

"No, Captain was also locked up in the same jail my father had been thrown into. Not too sure what got him thrown in jail, but I'm glad he was there. He decided to bust out, and his escape freed my father as well."

Katrina heard Ikkaku explain as she took a seat on the doctor's stool in the room.

"I don't know what possessed Captain to follow my father and come examine my brother. But he did, then because of that my brother got the medicine to fight something called Pneumonia."

Ikkaku finished explaining that not only had Law saved her father, but her brother as well.

"After that, how could I not offer my services to the Captain?"

Ikkaku asked honestly and Katrina could tell Ikkaku genuinely respected Law and was devoted to serving him.

"It's not him, it's Pirates in general I dislike."

Katrina offered softly in response, hoping to explain that it wasn't she didn't like Law and rejected his offer because of that. It was just she was done with being and being around Pirates.

"Oh?"

Ikkaku asked, clearly curious and quietly asking for further explanation if Katrina so wished. But, the medical exam was over. They weren't crewmates. They weren't friends. They were strangers who owed each other nothing.

"Simple as that."

Law had amused himself while Katrina and Ikkaku were occupied by going over the medical information of the ocean-eyed brunette in the other exam room. Of course he'd noticed that one of her arms had been broken at one point, the scar along her collar bone peeking out from the neck of her shirt when she moved. It was obvious the brunette had gone through torture of some variety. The new sexual trauma added would probably mean she'll want to bolt as soon as the exam is over. He didn't have another excuse to keep her here, he could only hope his offer made her come back.

The sound of the private exam door opening caught Law's attention. Ikkaku walked out first, and delivered a folder to him to add to Katrina's medical file. Said brunette walked out of the room shortly after. He saw Ikkaku give her one last warm smile before excusing herself from the infirmary leaving the duo alone once more.

"So….?"

Katrina prompted, breaking the growing silence that had settled over the room. Law could tell she felt uncomfortable around him and supposed it made sense. He remained in his seat by the desk and allowed her her peace as she kept her eyes trained on him and made her way to the infirmary beds. Closer to the exit he noted.

"So."

Law repeated, amusement clear in his voice as he watched her. He could tell she didn't know what to make of the situation she was in. Law was aware of his reputation, but he was also a man who knew how to get what he wanted.

"As I said before Miss Katrina, you owe me nothing. If you wish to leave, you may do so."

Law said and was in no way surprised when Katrina turned from the infirmary beds to move towards the door, but before she'd taken a step he continued.

"However, seeing as your employer is now dead and it was rather obvious during our visit to his establishment that the others won't exactly be waiting with open arms for your return I can't help wondering where you are so quick to run off to?"

He asked and didn't miss the tick of one of her eyes at his question. It was a brief reaction, one he would have missed had he not already been looking at her face already.

"And whose fault is it my employer is dead again?"

She quipped, crossing her arms and leveling him with an unimpressed stare.

"Touche Miss Katrina."

He responded with an amused smile spreading across his face.

"Why not find a new employer?"

"Right, like I wouldn't have tried that before."

Came Katrina's sarcastic reply, confirming that the brunette had plans to leave the Archipelago.

"You could come with us. The coating for the trip to Fishman Island should be finished within the next few days."

Law said, offering her a spot among them and watched Katrina for any kind of reaction.

"Because joinin' a stranger's Pirate crew is somethin' that beats havin' my own freedom?"

She quipped in response and Law had to admit it was a pretty decent answer.

"It's clear you have nowhere to go Miss Katrina, so why not come with us? Yes we are strangers now, but does not everyone start off as strangers at some point in their lives? Do you intend to live the rest of your life never trusting another person?"

He asked and saw Katrina's lips pull into a tight line and her hands that were tucked under her folded arms balled into fists. He had apparently hit a nerve.

"And what if I do?"

Came Katrina's answer. Her voice was surprisingly cold and void of emotion where Law had expected to hear suppressed anger.

"Thanks for the exam and for….Jericho."

Katrina said, once again gaining Law's attention and he saw her move towards the door. She'd pulled it open and was through the threshold before Law had finished getting to his feet. When she paused in closing the door behind her he found himself almost tripping over his feet when he stopped mid-action of going after her. Something he wasn't aware he'd been doing.

"Take care Law."

Was her next response, this time Law thought she sounded tired as she closed the door behind her.