Bedside Manner (Law x Reader)

28. Maybe Just One Drink

"They're holding him?" Penguin frowned, eyes darkening under the brim of his hat. "On what charges?"

"They can hold him for up to seventy two hours without one. If they haven't found anything concrete, they'll have to let him go then."

Penguin's fingers curled into fists against the counter. It had already been over a day since they had marched Shachi out of the clinic and it would be nearly two more before they could see him again. That was assuming they didn't fabricate some bullshit evidence to put him away.

The radiologist hadn't gotten any sleep-- the shared apartment being far too quiet, too empty without the other's presence.

He hesitated to bring it up, but something was bothering him about their situation and it had been for some time.

"...Can we see him?"

The blond shook his head.

"Did you reach out to the old man?" Law asked from the side of Penguin, reminding the other two men of his presence.

Rosinante rubbed at the back of his neck. He had thought about calling Sengoku as soon as he had heard about Shachi. Of course he had. The man had been a father figure to him for so long, he had become one of the first he would reach out to for just about anything.

"I didn't want to trouble him--" he began to explain, "--but being retired, I don't think there's much he could do anyway."

"Are we just supposed to wait around while they pin this crap on him?" Penguin ranted. "I would have barely considered those two friends, so what the hell? They haven't bothered us in the whole time we've known you."

What changed?

Why now?

He aggressively ran his hands up and down his face with a growl.

"I'll talk to him."

Rosinante was up and moving towards the front door before either of the younger men fully processed his statement. Both were fully aware of who he meant.

And it wasn't Sengoku.

Sometimes he forgot just how well the young surgeon knew him or how easy it was to read the emotions on his face. He forgot that he wasn't as closed off, that he didn't put up that same wall with the boys.

Law cut him off, pressing his palm against the wall and blocking him with his arm. His eyes narrowed in on the profile of his face. Rosinante couldn't even bring himself to look the young doctor in the eye, fidgeting where he stood.

"Why would you talk to him? We cut ties with The Family long ago and it should remain that way." The blond flinched, but rather than question the reaction, Law frowned. "We have thirty-eight hours to figure something out. Let's bring Shachi home ourselves, Cora-ya."

He ruffled the surgeon's hair with a sad smile. "Everything will be fine, Law. You don't need to worry about me."

-

"Yeah, I didn't think I was getting that deposit back anyway." You rolled your eyes as your building manager continued to give you an earful on the other end of the phone.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch; I'm having it replaced as we speak."

A pause. Then, a grumbled acceptance before the call was ended. You shoved the device into your pocket as you left your bedroom to check on your brother's progress at the door.

Both halves of the old one were haphazardly propped against the wall in your living room. Beside it, a pile of wood splinters had been swept up into a pile. The only evidence you needed to be assured that Kid had been worried. He would probably never admit it out loud-- at least not using those exact words.