Desires of Men ~SEQUEL TO THE LIFE I LIVE~

Home Is Where The Doctor Isn't

"Wait, wait. I think this is it!" Summer said, holding up a file to show Law, he shut the cabinet he was currently looking through, coming to stand beside her. She opened the file, flipping through several pages and diagrams. Some of the illustrations looked like drawing of devil fruits, listing several theories at the top of the pages.

"As to the conclusion of the origin...devil fruit trees...supposed existence, but requires more research..." Law read, taking the file in his hands. "Yes, this would be it."

"Great, now let's get out of here please. I would really lot a hot shower." Summer sighed, grimacing when she put weight on her ankle. It still hadn't gotten better, and she was slowing them down.

"I could always carry you." Law offered, smirking when she narrowed her eyes. The scowl on her face was attractive, he had to admit.

"The hell you are. I can walk, goddammit. I'm not an invalid." And she set off out the door.

~~~

She ended up being carried by the Surgeon of Death, pouting the whole way while he seemed to be enjoying himself. She held the file in her arms, which were crossed stubbornly. He didn't say anything about her being severely underweight. During the course of...who even knew how long, Summer had no doubt lost a third of her body fat, her muscle had reduced drastically, though she was still tough enough to take on the staffers. She'd proved that earlier.

He held her bridal style, something Summer didn't take too much pride in.

"The rest of the men should be in the room up ahead." Law said, rounding a corner of the hall. His words made a ball of worry begin to knot in her stomach.

"You think...they'll be happy to see me?" She asked hesitantly. He stopped short, looking surprised down at her. She looked away, too embarrassed by her insecure question that she couldn't bear to see his disappointment. The words in themselves reminded her of when she'd first been forced to stay on the sub, never truly secure with the way things were.

"I'm fairly certain that is the most ridiculous question I've ever heard."

She swallowed, still nursing a worm of doubt that they'd come to hate her, or even wish they had never come to get her in the first place. After being away so long, who was to say she was even still a Heart Pirate?

Law said nothing more on the topic, and she wasn't inclined to talk about it either. He continued back down the hall, nearing the double doors of the employee lounge. She was angled into his chest, and therefore couldn't see through the window of the door. Suddenly, there was this overwhelming fear at the thought of seeing them all. That little seed of doubt, it was still there. What if they hated her? What if...?

Law pushed open the door, and the entire crew swung around to face them. Summer's heart leapt to her throat. They were smiling. All of them.

~~~

"SUMMER-CHAN!" Shachi and Penguin yelled at the same time, sprinting towards the girl in Law's arms. He deftly put her down in time to avoid the bear hug that commenced. She was squeezed from both sides, and she would have complained that they were hurting her wounds, if she hadn't cared so much about seeing them again.

"You guys..." She sputtered, failing to hold back the tears of relief as more men approached, wanting to hug her or pat her shoulder, or give words of relief at her rescue. They literally surrounded her with their love and affection, and it was all overwhelming. It wasn't a bad thing, thought. She'd never been happier to feel so unprepared for something.

"We've been looking forever for you! We've missed you so much, Summer-chan! We're sorry we let them take you away!" The engineers babbled, slowly making less and less sense in their words. Bepo came up last, pushing through the bunch to forcibly remove her from Shachi's and Penguin's hug.