Fire in our hearts | Portgas D. Ace x OC

13. Fever

I opened my eyes with extreme difficulty.

I looked first at my surroundings: several wires connected to a tube in my veins, and a monitor that beeped with each beat of my heart. I glanced at my body, seeing my bandaged right arm and leg and the cuts on my stomach and breasts.

Trying to better understand my surroundings, I blinked my eyes a few times before I saw Ace sleeping in one of the chairs in the room. I took a deep breath as I realized that I had not been captured by the enemy, and neither had he.

I moved my body a little to the side trying to get my voice out, without much success. It was low and I had difficulty speaking. I shuddered to think that I must have been in that state for some time.

I saw a red button next to the bed I was on and pressed it, not really knowing what would happen. Within moments I could see Marco appearing on the scene quickly with his glasses and stethoscope.

- Penny! - he said cheerfully - you're awake! How are you feeling?

Ace got up in a jump, because until then he had been asleep and hadn't realized that I was awake. He came quickly to the side of the bed and held my hand. I didn't have the strength to take it back, in fact, I could barely speak.

- What day... is it today...? - I asked with difficulty.

- It's been ten days since we were at Marineford. - Marco answered - we are on one of our ships.

- My.... father... - I began to speak

- He is fine, he has been treated - the doctor explained, relieving me, - the person who suffered the most damage was you, Penelope.

- I'm hungry... - I murmured softly.

Quickly Marco went to the door to ask someone to provide a meal for me, and within minutes a bowl of soup was brought out on a tray.

I slowly tried to pick up the spoon to eat, but saw that I couldn't because my right arm was immobilized. Ace came up beside me, pulling out a chair, and held the spoon in his hands, offering to help me.

I was a little embarrassed to see him serving me like this, as if I were a child, but I gladly accepted the favor, for I was really hungry. He and I remained silent while Marco checked all the medications, measured my blood pressure and heart rate.

- After you eat you'll feel better. - Ace tried to comfort me.

The truth was, after taking things in and recapping everything that had happened, I was very, very upset with him.

We had an amazing time together, we had made love, and he had told me that he loved me. And the next day he left me alone, helpless, to go after revenge. He abandoned all of us and simply ignored our concern, our care for him, and still left the ship.

He was arrested, which made us even more distressed. We went to his rescue, we had casualties, and some of us almost died. Our father almost died, I almost died. All because of Portgas D. Ace's selfishness and resentment.

Seeing him alive and well was a great comfort to me. But everything that had happened still hurt me. The suffering I had, the pain I felt, the uncertainty, the doubt, that would always stay with me. And I would always live with this fear of being abandoned again.

I finished eating and turned over in an attempt to sit up and then stand up. Marco quickly stopped me, saying that I should rest for a few more days before walking around. I was a little disappointed, as being locked in that room would be quite tedious, but I thanked him for his care and agreed with what he said.

Marco walked away from the room and closed the door behind him, again leaving Ace and me alone.

- How are you feeling? - he asked, taking my hand again.

- Tired. - I answered truthfully - I think I'll go back to sleep.

That was all it took and I quickly fell asleep.

(...)

I woke up with some voices beside my bed. I realized that I was shaking, shivering, and chattering my teeth.

- She has a fever. That's why she's so cold - I heard Marco's voice - she needs to warm up her body until she starts to sweat and eliminate heat.

- She's freezing to death, Marco - Ace murmured - her lips are purple and her teeth are chattering - he sighed - let me help her, please. You know I can.

I could barely speak or open my eyes as I felt so cold.

- Okay.

Suddenly I felt Ace approach my body. For once he was shirtless. He lay down beside me on the hospital bed and wrapped his arms around me.

Feeling his warm body sticking to mine and slowly easing the cold that I felt was an unimaginable relief. In a few minutes, I had stopped shivering, and my body had already adapted to the outside temperature.

- I'm with you - he whispered softly - I love you.

And I fell asleep soon after, my heart beating faster.