AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hope everyone's weekend is going well! Today I'm publishing the next chapter of this story so that it all can be posted by Valentine's Day.
If you haven't yet had a chance to to do so, I encourage you to check out the story A Degree in Danger, written by measuremesky and featuring our favorite ninja as undercover college students. Measuremesky published the latest chapter yesterday. Her story takes place in the early fall, at the start of an academic year at Ninjago University, and my story here, which uses the same OCs (with her permission, of course!) takes place five months later, in the wintertime.
As always, sincere thanks go to all the readers, favers, and followers of this tale, as well as the commenters on the previous chapter:
FirstFandomFangirl - Yes, Sebastian will be spending time in prison, for at least the next two stories on my "drawing board." Then, in the story after that...oh, wait, is that a spoiler?
lovesgod12 - Stay tuned for the chapter after this one...Sam visits the World History Museum!
Kairocksrainbow - It's great to hear from you again!
The chapter below takes place on the very next day after the defeat of the evil sorcerer…
Chapter 7 - The Day after Victory
When Sam woke up on Sunday, she woke on the Bounty in a familiar bed in a familiar bedroom. This was Nya's room, the one Sam had stayed in last summer while serving her internship at Borg Industries. Sam looked over at Nya's bed. The bed was unmade and the girl was nowhere in sight.
Sam was glad she had decided a while ago to leave an extra change of clothes, nightwear, and some personal grooming supplies on the ship, just in case an unexpected situation arose, such as if the winter weather turned bad while she visited. That decision to leave extra things here was coming in handy this weekend. There was no doubt that returning from a cold lake in the middle of the night after being rescued from a kidnapper counted as an unexpected situation.
Theoretically, the Ninjago University student could have returned to her dorm room, but she had not wanted to wake her roommate Brooke and invite all sorts of questions that would keep them both awake for the rest of the night. As long as Brooke had seemed satisfied with Cole's explanation of a trip to Hibiscus Falls as the reason for her absence until Sunday, Sam had thought it best to let Brooke keep believing it for the time being.
Because Sam had taken a long hot shower last night to wash away the smell of smoke from the burning concession building, she did not have to worry about showering now, which was good because she was already being slowed down a bit by her sore wrist. After freshening up using the extra grooming supplies, she put on the extra pair of jeans and turquoise T-shirt. Upon applying finishing touches using supplies in her purse, which Kai had retrieved from the snowy sidewalk late on Friday, Sam left the bedroom and entered the dining room where the ninja team, except for Sensei Wu, was already seated, eating their...lunch.
"Hey, sleepyhead, come join us," Kai waved. He thought to himself that she looked extra pretty in the color of turquoise. It accentuated the color of her blue eyes.
Amid greetings from the team, Sam sat down, next to Kai. The group was having a simple meal of sandwiches and chips and fruit.
"None of us wanted to wake you. That's why I left my bed unmade. We all figured you could use the rest," Nya explained.
"Thanks, guys. I do feel a little more refreshed," Sam responded, "which is good because this coming week is gonna be extra busy, with my archaelogy class' field trip to the World History Museum and all."
Talking about college classes reminded Cole of Brooke. "Hey, Sam, when are you going to tell Brooke about what happened this weekend?"
Sam thought about her roommate as she selected two slices of bread upon which to make her sandwich. "Well, I suppose I will when I get back to campus. I guess I'm a little afraid to tell her, 'cause I think she'd freak out, even though everything's OK now. Same with my parents, especially my mom."
Sensei Wu entered the dining area. "Hello, Sam," he greeted the recently released kidnap victim. "I heard your voice so I knew you had finally awakened. I trust you slept well last night after your ordeal."
"Yes, Sensei, thank you for asking," Sam replied respectfully.
"That is good," the wise teacher said. "You should know that your parents already have been informed of the events of this weekend," he stated, exchanging glances with the red ninja. "Kai and I telephoned them this morning."
Sam's eyes widened. "You did?"
"I felt that your family should personally hear about the events before they become publicly known. Right now Sebastian is securely in the custody of the Ninjago City police, and charges will be filed soon against him in Ninjago Judicial Court by the Judicial Council. When that happens, the events of this weekend, along with his other past transgressions, will become a matter of public record."
"And how did my parents react to what you told them?" Sam asked apprehensively.
"Well, they weren't exactly thrilled, especially your mom," Kai said.
"But they were assured by a certain ninja that he would be keeping a closer eye on their daughter from now on," Sensei Wu added.
Laughter echoed around the table, causing Kai's face to turn crimson and Sam's face to reflect confusion. To the others, it seemed impossible that Kai could keep a closer eye on Sam than he already did. Whenever the red ninja was not sleeping, training, or playing video games, he tried to spend the rest of his time talking on the phone to, or personally visiting with, his blonde girlfriend, as much as her busy schedule permitted.
"On a serious note, however," Sensei Wu continued, "I would encourage you as a civilian, Sam, to press kidnapping charges against Sebastian, but the decision to do so is entirely yours. He is already facing charges of serious crimes against Ninjago, plus a charge of battery for injuring Kai's foot, so there are plenty of allegations against him already. Just let me know and I will simply notify the Council."
"Yes, Sensei, I do wish to press charges," Sam nodded.
Just then, they could hear the phone ring in the control room.
"Very good, then. I will answer the telephone," said Sensei Wu, turning to leave. "I am expecting that the president of the Ninjago City Park District is returning my phone call."
As he left the room, everyone looked at Kai, who grimaced.
Sam carefully maneuvered a knife in the mayonnaise jar to obtain mayo to spread on her sandwich.
"Is your wrist feeling any better?" Kai inquired.
"A little. I think it'll be back to normal in a few days."
After a few minutes, everyone finished eating, except for Sam, and began to place their dirty plates in the dishwasher. Before anyone had left the room, however, Sensei Wu returned after his phone conversation with the president of the Ninjago City Park District.
"I have good news," he said. "The park district insurance policy will cover the cost of reconstructing the concession building because its destruction was related to the capture of a known enemy of Ninjago."
A chorus of cheers erupted from the team.
"What a relief!" Kai exclaimed, grinning.
"Kai, however, will have to give some talks on fire safety to the various groups of young campers at Lake Ninjago next summer," Sensei Wu added.
Everyone laughed, even Kai.
"If that's all they want me to do, that's fine with me. I'll be happy to," he said.
Eventually the team members left the dining area, leaving only Kai and Sam as the only occupants. He wanted to keep her company as she finished eating.
"I hate Sebastian!" Sam hissed through gritted teeth.
"Oh, what a news flash!" Kai teased her as he carefully swung his encased right foot over the dining table bench seat, straddling it to face her as she ate. "So what did he do now?"
"He used up my last chance to go shopping for a Valentine gift for you," Sam explained. "I still have to buy some things for the archaelogy trip, and I have to pack, and tomorrow I have classes all morning, and then I'll need to go to the library to check out some books so I can start on my art history paper on the train ride to Chitow City, and…"
She paused as Kai placed a finger over her mouth.
"Here's a simple solution. First of all, you know you don't have to get me anything, right?" he said. "But, if you think you must, then just bring me back a souvenir from the World History Museum."
She looked at him blankly, contemplating the idea in her mind.
"They have a gift shop, right?" he asked, waving his hand in front of her eyes, trying to get a reaction out of her.
Sam nodded in response. "And you'd be OK with that?"
"Sure." Kai took her non-injured hand in one of his hands. "Also, Miss College Student, you ought to know that history isn't just a bunch of boring facts," he said quietly, looking down at her hand as he gently rubbed his thumb along the top of it. "History is stories. Of famous people. Famous couples. Like King Romapolus and Queen Antonia."
He looked into her blue eyes, smiling. "So keep that in mind when you're shopping."
And with that, he leaned in and stole a kiss.
"Oh, Kai! We're in the middle of the dining room!" Sam laughingly protested, blushing as she pulled away.
"OK, I'll stop teasing, at least for a minute," the red ninja grinned. "Let me know when you're ready to go back to your dorm room, and I'll arrange for a taxicab. Cole and I'll go back with you, and together we can tell Brooke what happened this weekend."
