A/N: Thanks to weathermangohanssj4 for this idea. I love where this story is going, and I hope to be writing it for a long time. Please leave me reviews as they motivate me to finish chapters. I always respond to my reviewers with PMs because you deserve it.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, I just buy the mangas!

There was a still anxiety in the air as they sat in the small, dark bar on Grove 13. Shakky toiling behind the bar created the only noise, but no one felt like speaking. Eight members of the Strawhat pirate crew sat dismally around a corner table. Some very serious, and others weeping at the situation they had found themselves in. It had been almost two days since the first of them had found their way back to the Sabaody Archipelago, and had discovered their captain to be comatose. Whether from severe exhaustion or the mortal wounds that covered the entirety of his rubber body they could not be sure, but it was certain that the chance he stood of survival was small. Now they were all together again, and Silvers had completed the coating of the Thousand Sunny. The last piece was for Luffy to wake up and moan, telling them how hungry he was. However, it had not happened, and his nakama were left waiting in a mix of fear and apprehension as the warm Grand Line sun shined, unfelt in the sky above.

Chopper was the first to speak that day, though it was already well into the afternoon. He slid from his seat and walked underneath the table to the other side. As he made his way slowly from the group, he spoke softly over his shoulder.

"I'm gonna check on him~." He managed through the tears. The others barely looked his way, as they sat in silence.

He closed the door quietly behind him as he came into the room. The lights were kept on in case Luffy were to wake up, and there was an IV that Chopper had set up the day before. The young reindeer climbed onto a stool next to the bed, and stood on his tiptoes. Tapping the IV, he inspected the feed tube, and made sure that it was securely fashioned in place both in the IV bag, and in Luffy's arm. Once done, he sat down and turned to the desk that had been set up next to the bed. After a minute or two of scribbling notes in a book, he set down his pen. He felt his eyes begin to sting as tears formed at their edges. Then, without restraint, he cried. He buried his face into his furry little arms, and for what seemed like forever, just cried to his self loudly. When the tears finally began to subside, he sat up. Turning to look at his captain lying peacefully on the bed beside him, he sniffled a few times before he decided to speak.

"Luffy, I don't know if you can hear me. Doctorine told me once that some patients in a coma can hear when people talk to them. If you can, then I guess I have a lot to say." Chopper was relaxing as his voice became clearer now that he had stopped crying. "I remember when I met you I was so scared of everything. I didn't want to be hated anymore, and I thought I would never have another friend. You didn't let me run away though. You chased me, and scared me even more." Chopper chuckled at the memory of running from Luffy atop the Drum Rockies. "You gave me courage to be a pirate…" He paused and hung his head. Sighing, he straightened up before saying, "No. You gave me the courage to be a doctor. Thank you Luffy."

After saying what had been on his mind since before he could remember, and what he had wanted to say to Luffy since their crew had been separated, he went back to his notes. Finding it a little easier this time, he concluded his work before too long, and hopped down from his stool. It had been about twenty minutes since he had entered the room, and now as he headed out he thought it had felt like days. He reached the door and laid a hoof on the knob. Pausing, he turned back to look at the unconscious Luffy.

"I'm not worried Luffy. I know you'll be okay." He whispered as the tears reforming in his eyes betrayed his words. He opened the door and stepped out into the bar area. The mood seemed the same, and the atmosphere was much tenser than he recalled. The small reindeer made his way to the table where his crew sat in silence, and smiled a little as they looked at him.

"He's okay for now. I talked to him. I think he can hear it." Chopper looked at his feet as he felt his cheeks flush. "If you guys wanna talk to him too, it might help."

Everyone stared at him for a moment, somber and emotionless, until Usopp broke the silence nervously.

"I… I think… I'll go talk to him. I guess I need to tell him something." He said as he stood, and started across the room.

"It'll make you feel better. A… a little… I guess." Chopper said, causing Usopp to stop and look over his shoulder with a hooded gaze.

"Ah…" was all he said before continuing to the door. He placed a shaky hand on the knob and took a deep breath. He had to gather his meager courage, because this was the scariest moment of his life.