Author's Note: Words written in Italic are the character's thoughts

Jaune wasn't an expert on hangovers or even drinking in general but he had been lead to believe that a hangover was supposed to happen the morning after you went drinking. So why was he nursing the worst headache of his life while he was still in the bar?

"Are you okay lad?" the bartender asked cautiously, clearly worried though if the worry was for the sickly teen or the possibility that he would have to clean some vomit off of the floor.

Jaune did not respond, his headache was getting worse by the second. His vision was getting blurry, his heart was pounding and everything hurt.

"Kid? Are you alright? Hey, do you need a doctor?"

This wasn't supposed to happen, this was supposed to be a celebration. He had been accepted into Beacon, he was on his way to prove to everyone that Jaune Arc didn't need protection, he could be the one who protected others. He was going to make friends, go on adventures and even get a girlfriend. It was just a few drinks, so why did he feel so cold while his veins felt like they held liquid fire? He needed to leave, he needed to head back to the hotel and rest his head a little. Jaune fell head first into the floor.

"Shit, someone call an ambulance! Kid! Stay With me! Kid!"

The next time Jaune opened his eyes he was in the back of what appeared to be an ambulance or least that is what he thought it was. He passed out again before he could get a real good look around or before any of the paramedics even noticed he awoke. The next time he awoke he was laid flat on a table in a white room surrounded by people wearing scrubs and face masks but, the most jarring of all was this wretched and constant Beeping noise that would not go away. Jaune turned his head and saw the Heart Monitor and just as he began to understand what was going on pain flooded his entire body, blocking any possibility of coherent thought.

"What's going on? He was stabilizing, what happened?" shouted one of the nurses.

Jaune's body was convulsing again far more violently than before, his body was now beginning to glow as his aura came to life desperately trying to heal and protect the body. The surgeon and the nurses could only stare as Jaune's aura began to dim then flicker and finally ceased along with Jaune's life.

"What are you waiting for? Get the Defibrillator!" The head surgeon commanded snapping everyone else out of their shock. Within moments the Doctor has the defibrillators in his hands fully charged. And attempts to shock life back into the corpse. Nothing, so another attempt is made which is followed by yet another failure, which is followed by yet another failure. "Dammit, I thought I finally found something worthwhile. Everyone. Clear the Room," spoke the doctor. Within a few minutes, Dr. Arthur Watts was alone with the body of Jaune Arc. "Well I suppose there is a little silver lining in all of this," Dr. Watt's said as he walked over to a cabinet and opening it to reveal a variety of blades all different sizes, shapes and design "At least now there are a few less Would-Be huntsmen to interfere with my mistress's plans." Dr. Watts was now standing over Jaune with a cruel jagged knife in his hands "Well young man, let's give you some battle scars."

Jaune woke up screaming. It was not because it he was scared and he certainly wasn't angry, he was just screaming and that worried him. It took Jaune an unknown amount of time to compose himself a observe his surroundings. Jaune was in a forest, he didn't know where this forest was but, he hoped that it was close to the bar that he did remember going to. He remembered being accepted into Beacon, going to celebrate by drinking, he remembered a man with a big bushy mustache buying him the drinks and patting him on the back to congratulate him and after that… nothing. "I guess, really went all out with the celebration and here I thought this kind of thing only ever happened in movies."

*CRACK*

Jaune spun around to see the source of the noise and beheld a Beowolf staring right at him and walk towards him ever slowly and for the second time that day, Jaune screamed. Without warning the Beowolf rushed Jaune and viciously backhanded him knocking him into a tree. Jaune was able to quickly recovered and made some distance between himself and the Grimm that was once again staring at him and standing oddly still. Thanking Oum for a break Jaune reached for his sword and the cursed Oum when he found that the sword wasn't there. "Shit! Where is It?" Jaune looked back to see the Beowolf approaching him cautiously and so Jaune began to slowly back away himself.

*BANG*

The monster's snapped to the side and Jaune took that opportunity to start combing the area for his weapon while thanking Oum for whomever had shot the Beowolf.

*BANG*

*BANG*

Jaune was able to find his sword embedded in a tree not too far away from where he initially awoke and his shield was located a little further away hidden under a bush, "Man I finding this shield would have been next to impossible it wasn't white."

"You alright kid?"

"Ahhh!" Upon hearing the voice behind him, Jaune spun around to face the source with his shield raised to protect himself along with his sword. Standing before Jaune was a tall pale man whose red colored eyes made Jaune recall some old ghost stories he heard as a child. However, the intimidation factor was cut by fact that the stranger dressed and acted like a somewhat drunk businessman. "Kid, could you please put down the sword, I'm not here to… " The stranger who was already uncomfortably close came even closer and Jaune could now smell the alcohol in the man's breath but, also the concern in his eyes. "Are you bleeding? Is there Anything broken? How many fingers am I holding up?" The man was frantic.

"Um, three fingers? I'm sorry what happened?" Answered a very confused Jaune.

"Kid, I don't want to alarm you…but you might want to take a good look at yourself," the stranger produced a small shaving mirror and handed it over to Jaune who cautiously took it from the man. Jaune was a mess no, that was a severe understatement, his armor was ruined! It looked like the Grimm used it for a Bloody Chew Toy! How was he still in one piece? Before Jaune could continue his thoughts the stranger spoke again. "This is going to sound weird, but I need you to take off your chest plate and hoodie."

"Why?"

"To check for wounds."

A part of Jaune wanted to protest however the bigger far more rational part of Jaune's mind acknowledged that the man had a point and so his took off his what was left of his chest plate and hoodie, revealing a set of four scars that looked like a massive claw just scraped across Jaune's chest. Furthermore, on Jaune's right shoulder was another scar that looked like a massive bite mark.

"Damn, kid… your aura must be incredible."

"My what?"

"You, don't know what aura is? What were you doing here? I swear to Oum, kid you better not be just another stupid wanna be huntsman!"

"What! No! I got accepted into Beacon and I was celebrating!"

The man calmed down considerably and even had an understanding look on his face. "Let me guess, you had a celebratory drink and then another and another and so on."

"Yeah…," Jaune admitted with no small amount of embarrassment.

"Well, that explains a lot, well ain't no use sticking around here's. Come on, I'll take you back to town."

"Thanks, um… who are you?" Jaune finally asked.

"Names Qrow, now come on and let's back to civilization," Qrow said already walking away. Once there we can see about, replacing your broken armor, can't be having you showing up without it, now can we?"

"Hopefully no?" Answered Jaune a little nervously.

"Dats Right!" laughed Qrow as the two began their trek back to town.

It only took Jaune and Qrow a little over an hour to make it back to town but, it wasn't the same town that Jaune went drinking. It was far bigger and much busier.

"This isn't the town I was in."

"Are you sure kid?"

"Yeah, I was drinking in Jouburg, you know that town?"

"Kid, this town is Lodun which is about 40 miles west of Jouburg."

Jaune was shocked and beyond confused. How did he find himself in Lodun's woods? There is no way he made the trip in one night while drunk and nursing a hangover. Did someone take him there? If so than Who and Why? Jaune was then snapped back to reality by a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey kid we're…," a look of concern came over Qrow' face. "Come I'll take you to my place."

"Your place?" Jaune was confused, as they were already standing in front of a doctor's office so why did Qrow want to take Jaune somewhere else? "We're already at the doctor's why do we need to go to your place?"

"Look kid, I just need you to trust me. There is something I want to check and it could be nothing but, when your luck is as bad as mine. Well, you learn to stop taking chances." Normally Jaune was not the kind of naive fool to go into the home of a complete stranger but, Qrow did save him from a Beowolf and lead him back to town.

"Well, my mother did once tell me that strangers were just friends you haven't met and you did help me out back there. Alright then, lead the way Qrow." With that Qrow lead Jaune to his house which wasn't too far away from the doctor's office. The house itself wasn't very big or look too inviting. In fact, it looked more like a criminal hideout, which made Juane begin to question whether or not he could trust Qrow.

Qrow noticed the unsure look on Jaune's face. So Qrow pulled out his Huntsman license showing to Jaune before explaining the house, "This isn't really my house, it's just temporary housing for while I'm working in this area. It's not pretty but it doesn't cost me a dime, which makes it a rather sweet perk of the job." The look of uncertainty faded a bit from Juane's face and while it was clear that the boy wasn't completely convinced, he was still willing to follow Qrow inside the house.

Once inside Jaune was taken aback by the interior of the house, it was surprisingly clean and organised though apart from a sofa and a TV there wasn't much in the way of decorations unless the occasionally empty bottle and can be counted as decorations. Jaune then turned to Qrow, "Well now what?"

"For starters, you should go take a shower, don't worry about your hoodie I have a shirt that I think will fit you. Though I have nothing to replace your armor yet but, I think that I can come up with something."

Once inside the show Jaune hesitantly took off his clothes and then gave himself a good hard look in the mirror. Jaune did not like what he saw. Jaune was pale, sickly pale like someone had drained the color out of him and the scars… Qrow told him that he had large scars on his chest but, those scars were so big and there were so many smaller scars on his body. How am I still alive, thought Jaune.

Thirty minutes later Jaune emerged from the shower and found a set of clean clothes along with a slightly dented white cuirass. After putting on the clothes Jaune heard Qrow calling out to him from a different part of the house. "How was the water? Was it warm?" Jaune was taken aback by the oddly specific question but answered anyway.

"Um, you my want to have your heater checked because while the water wasn't cold, it sure was lukewarm. Anyway, what's with the armor, I thought you didn't have any?"

"Oh, that? Well, I have this friend of mine who's a bit on the paranoid side of things and they were staying here just a couple of months ago."

"Um, that doesn't really answer my question."

"I was getting to it kid, geeze. Anyway, I don't use armor but my friend does and he likes to store his old armor just in case he needs it later."

"Is it really okay for me to take it?"

"Sure, its okay. There are like two other chest plates in the closet."

"Well if you're sure it's okay!" Jaune was pleasantly surprised by the gift. It wasn't every day that you got drunk and woke up in the forest near a town 40 miles away cover in scars that you couldn't remember how you got. Honestly, he thought he was going to die back there but that was the past, life was moving on and so was Jaune.

*Knock*

*Knock*

"Hey, kid! Are you decent?" inquired Qrow. from the other side of the door.

"I'm fine, you can come in," answered Jaune.

Qrow then came into the room carrying two mugs of coffee, one which he then handed to Jaune who took it. The two then began to drink in the silence at least until Qrow nervously puts the his cup down and looks right at Jaune. "Kid, this is gonna sound weird but, can I take your pulse?"

"What."

"Your, pulse kid. There are a few things that haven't been adding up and checking your pulse would help answer them."

"Am I sick?"

"Maybe."

Jaune then took off his glove and held out his arm. Qrow wordlessly took the arm and place his fingers on Jaune's wrist. After a few seconds, Qrow let go of Jaune's wrist and took a long drink from his coffee before speaking. "That Beowolf didn't know what to do with you, it hesitated, it was confused. Almost. like it didn't know what it was looking at, your skin is pale and cold, my heater isn't broken you just couldn't feel the heat and you don't have a pulse."

"I don't have a pulse?"

"Kid, what's the date?"

"The 16th, why? What's going on?"

Qrow then took a deep breath, "Jaune… it's the 23rd."

Jaune was shocked silent but before he could process the revelation Qrow continued, "I have a friend that works at a bar in Jouburg, just five days ago he called me up and tells me about a kid that was in his place."

"That was me, wasn't it?"

"I think it was."

"What did your friend say?"

Qrow was silent for a few seconds and then he looked Jaune right in the eyes, "He thinks he saw you die."