I am significantly more on top of this this week than last week. School starts again for me next week, but again, we should be fine for this fic.

LightWolf: Wow, you've been around for so long! Yeah, poor Cole totally has PTSD. It's always kind of bugged me in the show that the ninja don't have PTSD (probably cause it's a kid's show) so I compensated by dumping it on Cole. Because as stated, I am evil. When the fic is over, you should totally tell me that list of saddest chapters. I need to know.

Xavier slid off the examination table with a thump and a wince.

"He's completely fine, aside from some minor bruising. There are no signs of shock." The doctor was telling the horde of people surrounding him.

"Thank goodness." Nya said.

"Close call, huh kid?" Jay said and ruffled Xavier's hair. He was smiling, but his eyes were still worried and his posture tense.

"What are we gonna do about Cole?" Kai asked as they migrated out of the med bay.

"I dunno but he can't keep pulling stunts like that." Jay said with a scowl.

"Garmadon said we have to wait for him to come to us and then he will get better." Zane fussed.

"But he keeps hurting people!" Jay said. "We don't have time for him to get over himself!"

"What do you want us to do, kick him out?" Nya said. "He's one of us. We can't turn our back on him."

Xavier bit his lip. He didn't want to talk about this now. He moved to slip away.

"Xavier, where are you going?" Zane asked.

Shoot. Xavier thought. He turned around to see everyone looking at him.

"I don't want to talk about this." He signed.

"We have to talk about it sometime." Jay said with a furrowed brow.

"Why do we even need to talk about it?" Xavier signed.

He tried to keep his agitation out of his movements but he didn't think he managed to.

"Cole is hurt. We need to help him. The end."

"He's hurting people, kid." Kai said after a translation. "Heck, he nearly killed you. We can't just let things stay like this."

This was going in a circle.

"I'm going for a walk." Xavier signed.

Everyone looked at each other and back to him.

"I'll be safe." He signed with a bit of frustration. "I'll be inside the base."

Nya finally gave a slow nod and Xavier bounded away before Zane had a chance to decide to come after him.

He loved his protectors. He especially liked it when Zane called them brothers and sister. But they could be overprotective. Getting a chance to be alone like this was hard to come by.

Xavier continued down the tunnel until he reached Nya's office. Xavier didn't have a lot to do in his spare time. He either took walks or studied his sign language book. He slipped into the darkened room, turned on the lights, and picked up the book on her desk. He blinked. There was a frame photo there that wasn't there before.

Xavier picked it up.

It was a group of people that Xavier recognized.. Kai, Cole, Zane, Jay, and Nya grinned up at him. They surrounded a young man wearing green and were joined by an old man with a very long white beard. They looked happy.

It was a shock to see them so light, like they didn't have any troubles. Especially Cole. Xavier's throat hurt as he looked at a Cole without the darkness he had returned with.

The doorknob turned and Xavier instinctively slammed the picture down. It was Cole.

The earth master blinked at Xavier and Xavier blinked back.

"Hey-" Cole's voice sounded heavy. "Hey Xay."

Xavier waved his response.

"You," Cole paused. "Doing okay?"

Xavier nodded. They stared at each other. Cole looked down.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." Cole muttered. "I'd never mean to hurt you."

He glanced back up at Xavier.

"I know." Xavier signed truthfully around the book.

He didn't blame Cole at all for what happened.

Cole managed a ghost of a smile.

"Can't understand you bud." He said. "Maybe I should take a look at that book-"

He reached for the sign language book still in Xavier's arms.

Xavier flinched.

A shadow fell across Cole's face immediately. Xavier panicked and dropped the book. He moved his hands furiously in the air.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to flinch, I'm just still on edge." Xavier signed. "Please don't be sad. I want to help!"

Cole turned away and Xavier remembered his words were just hand flapping to Cole.

"I guess," Cole said. "I can learn it later."

His voice was spiderwebbed with cracks, ready to break. He threw the door open and slammed it behind him.

Xavier stared after him. He was biting his lip so hard he drew blood. He wouldn't chase after Cole. What could he do? Flail his hands at him and hope Zane is near enough to translate?

Xavier scoffed in his mind. No, it'd be best to leave Cole alone for now. Maybe later Xavier could apologize with a hug or something. He settled down to read.

Still concerned a few hours later, Xavier wandered into the mess hall. There was always a chance Cole would be here.

This time, he wasn't. Instead, Xavier found the rest of his companions huddled together at a table. Xavier approached warily. They were still arguing about Cole. At least, Jay, Nya, and Kai were still arguing. Zane just sat listening and looking concerned. Garmadon had joined them with a similar look of worry. Nya caught sight of Xavier and waved him over.

The others grinned or said hello as Xavier slipped between Zane and Garmadon. Zane placed an arm around Xavier. Xavier started stealing food off of Zane's tray as the others started their bickering again.

"All I'm saying is that Kai went through the same thing and he's not like this." Jay said.

"Kai is not unaffected." Zane said. "He is struggling with his training and often does not keep his temper in check."

Kai flushed red.

"That's not because of what happened." He said. "I'm frustrated. My element-"

He stopped and Nya cut in.

"Kai's always been like this." She said. "Cole seems like a different person."

Xavier tuned out the arguing as he cracked open the book he'd brought with him. He needed to review the words he didn't use much. Like ice cream. He didn't even know what that was.

A hand touched his shoulder. Xavier glanced over at Garmadon.

"Did you see him?" Garmadon asked.

The old man's deep voice soothed Xavier a little.

"Yes." Xavier signed, then remembered Garmadon couldn't understand him.

Xavier nodded instead. Garmadon smiled and his normally dull eyes twinkled. Slowly, but legibly, he moved his hands into familiar shapes.

"How was he?" Garmadon signed.

Xavier grinned at Garmadon.

"You know it?" He asked.

"Some. It's been a long while." Garmadon said out loud. "My father had a hand in inventing it."

"Cole is still sad." Xavier explained. "I could not help."

And made it worse, he thought.

Garmadon put his arm around Xavier.

"Cole is working hard towards recovery. He will find it one day."

Xavier looked up and was surprised to see pain in Garmadon's eyes. They were watering and he gave Xavier an extra squeeze.

"Are you okay?" Xavier signed.

Garmadon nodded.

"Yes." He said. "You and the others just remind me of someone."

Xavier dreamed of falling rocks that night. They clattered around him, always coming close but never directly hitting him. Someone was yelling that something was wrong. A final, hulking boulder came barrelling directly at Xavier. He heard the sound of Cole crying out. The boulder hit.

Xavier jolted awake and gulped for air. He clutched at his sweaty blankets and let the sound of the others breathing soothe him. Zane, steady and methodical. Jay, filled with mutters. Kai, studded with the occasional snore. Cole-

Cole.

Xavier sat straight up. How could he have missed Cole's rumbling snores? Xavier launched himself out of bed and flew across the room. The halls of the base were completely black and silent. Xavier lit his way with his powers and started running on bare feet through the rough stone tunnels. His heart beat hard and instinct lead him upward. He didn't know what Cole was doing but his heart told Xavier it wasn't good.

Xavier tripped. He crashed face first onto the rock. Xavier found himself signing 'ow' over and over in the darkness. He relit his fingers to see an unconscious guard lying sprawled on the floor. Xavier's stomach dropped. His face went hot and he scrambled to his feet. The rest of the way felt as long as it had ever been to Xavier. He had to bash the heavy door to the entrance cave open by running his shoulder into it a few times. He climbed the rickety metal stairs on all fours. He could tell the air was chill around him but the combination of panic and exercise kept him warm.

There was one button press and Xavier was outside. The moon was full. Xavier could clearly see Cole mounting Rocky.

Xavier couldn't scream to stop Cole. So he did the only thing he could think of. He flared his element. It bathed the landscape in green gold light. It startled Cole. He fell from Rocky onto his back. Xavier ran to him.

"Xay?" Cole asked. "You're not supposed to be awake."

Neither are you. Xavier took Cole's hand and tried tugging him back to the base. Cole sat up and pulled his hand out of Xavier's grip.

"No." Cole said. "I'm not going back."

Xavier noticed the bulging sack slung over Rocky's back. His hands moved without him thinking.

"You can't go. You can't. We need you." Xavier signed. "We love you. You just need time. We don't blame you."

Cole just stared back at him but Xavier tried one more thing. Perhaps the emotion could come through.

"I'm not afraid of you."

Cole shook his head and put his hand on Xavier's shoulder.

"I still have no idea what you're saying, buddy." He said softly. "And I'm really, really sorry about this."

"You don't have to-" Xavier started to sign. Cole stepped back. Four walls of earth shot up to trap Xavier.

Jay woke up to a frantic Xavier shaking him.

"What the- Xavier?" Jay blurted as Xavier scrambled off to wake Zane. Jay looked around the dark room and let his eyes adjust. There was no Cole.

"Oh no." Jay groaned. "What's he done now?"

By then Zane and Kai were at least sort of awake so Xavier started signing so fast his fingers were almost a blur. Jay caught 'left' and 'dragon' and silently thanked whatever deity he believed in for Zane's robot ability to keep up.

"You are sure?" Zane asked.

Xavier nodded and Zane nearly leapt out of bed.

"Come." He shot to Kai and Jay. "Cole has run away."

Within ten minutes they'd gathered outside with Nya and surprisingly Pixal. Shard, Wisp, and Flame paced nervously.

"Kai, I'll go with you. Xavier you stay-" Nya started.

"No!" Xavier signed. " I am going!"

Jay could see Nya grit her teeth.

"Fine. Go with Zane." She relented. "Pixal, Jay, you go by yourselves. Use these radios to inform the others if you find him."

She passed out small rectangular radios. Jay took his and rubbed it with his thumb.

"Choose a direction and go! Let's get going!" Nya said.

Jay scrambled up Wisp. The others mounted their own dragons and Pixal boarded her mech. They launched into the air.

Jay urged Wisp forward.

"Let's find him, Wisp." He muttered.

The blue dragon roared in response.

The land rushed out under them. The reality of the situation finally hit Jay.

Cole was gone. And Jay wasn't sure he wanted to find him.

This of course meant that it was Jay who spotted Rocky perched on the top of a lone mountain an hour or so out. Jay groaned to himself. Wisp didn't need urging once the dragon saw his companion. They landed in the midst of the ruins of some burned out buildings.

"Found him. On the tallest mountain in my sector." Jay muttered into his radio.

He got a chorus of relieved sighs and promises to be there soon.

Jay looked around. It was eerie here. There seemed to have once been a large building here, but there had been a fire. Burned pillars loomed over him and odd blackened shapes scattered the ground. The dead trees clawed the sky.

"So you found me."

Jay jumped about a foot in the air as Cole emerged from the shadows of the remains of the main building.

He shambled forward until he was a few yards from Jay. His scythe was out.

Jay took a deep breath.

"Come back." He said.

Cole raised his eyebrows.

"Why?" He asked.

Jay grit his teeth. This was going to be difficult.

"We want you back." He managed. "We need you-"

"No you don't." Cole said. "If it were any of the others I might've believed it. But you?"

Cole shook his head.

"You've always hated me."

Jay groped for what to say. Even if Cole was right, which Jay was still trying to determine, that truth would probably not be a helpful addition.

The wind danced past and Jay shivered. What to say, what to say? All he could see was Cole's scythe.

"Fight me for it." Jay blurted.

"I- what?," Cole sputtered.

"Fight me." Jay repeated. "I win: you come back. You win, you get to leave and do whatever."

Cole stared at him just long enough for Jay to question himself before nodding. He twisted his scythe into a curious backhand grip.

Jay unsheathed his nunchucks.

"No killing." Jay said as a precaution.

Cole gave him a withering look.

"First one to pass out or yield loses."Jay went on.

Cole just nodded.

They stared at each other. Jay wasn't quite sure why he was doing this. Was it a stalling tactic? Was it an excuse to try and beat Cole up? Or did Jay really mean it? Jay had no idea, but here he was.

They moved at the same time. Jay barely caught sight of Cole's scythe swinging at him. He dove into a roll and popped up again behind Cole. Jay moved to slam his nunchucks into the back of Cole's head. Cole ducked and Jay's momentum rolled him over Cole's shoulder and onto the ground. Jay barely had time to scramble away from Cole's overhead swing. Jay hopped to his knees and Cole swung his scythe back. Jay's hands crackled and he hurled a ball of electricity at Cole. Cole side stepped to let the ball fly by harmlessly, though his hair did stand on end. He wasn't expecting it when Jay launched into a flying kick. So Jay's foot collided nicely with Cole's face. Cole grunted and fell onto his back with a thud. Jay landed perfectly behind. He smiled to himself. Nice. He had rarely landed that-

Rock.

Jay had barely time to whirl around and smash his nunchucks into a flying rock Cole had launched with his foot. He flinched as the shattered pieces pelted his face. Then what felt like a mountain barrelled into Jay. Jay hit the ground hard and suddenly he could barely breathe. Cole's knee dug into his chest. Jay sucked in a shallow breath but his lungs still burned. Cole clocked him in the face. Jay's vision blacked out for a second. Before he could do anything more than groan Cole's fist rammed into his nose. This time Jay heard a crack and blood started oozing from his nostrils.

Another hit to his cheek.

"Go to sleep!"

One more higher up on the temple.

Jay finally had the presence of mind to grab Cole by the shoulders.

"Dat's enough!" Jay gasped and shocked.

Cole went rigid as Jay's current passed into his body. Jay let go and Cole fell to the side with a thud.

It was quiet.

"Are you-" Jay said between heavy breaths. "Are you still awake?"

Cole groaned in response.

"For pidy's sake." Jay said. "Come here. Let's get this ober with."

Jay made to get up. The world spun around him and he fell back.

"Dang it." Jay muttered. "Could you just like pass out by yourself for me?"

Cole grunted and Jay heard him trying to get up. It wasn't working.

"You seriously dink you can move after I almost blew out your nervous system? You're more of an idiot than I thought-"

"Can you shut up?" Cole snapped.

Jay was a little shocked that Cole could actually speak.

"Afraid I'll start spidding facts?" Jay said.

"By facts you mean insults? You don't care. Why are you even here?" Cole muttered.

"Cause I care about the people who actually care about you." Jay snapped. "Imagine Xavier's face if I come back and have to tell him 'I'm sorry, the big lug ran away. Into the dangerous world. With Lordings. And an evil ex-pupil of ours. By himself-'"

"Shut UP!" Cole roared.

Worry streaked up Jay's chest as he realized Cole had staggered to his knees.

"Don't even pretend you know what's going on!" Cole spat. "Don't you know what happened?"

Worry sharpened into anger.

"Yeah, I know! But Kai went through the same thing! And he's not nearly killing Xavier!" Jay shot back. "He's not losing his temper and completely closing off!"

He struggled to sit up and managed it, though the world rippled around him. Cole was still stuck on his knees.

"I am trying!" Cole said.

"Are you?" Jay spat. "You don't try to hold back, you don't try to keep your temper, you're not trying to get better!"

Cole had staggered to his feet.

"What do you think," he said with grit teeth. "I'm doing?"

"You're running away to get better?" Jay asked with incredulity.

Oh. Jay thought. When he said it out loud, things started to make more sense.

"Garmadon told me," Cole went on. "That I need peace to heal. I can't find peace at the base."

His voice had gotten softer.

"I don't want to leave you guys. But things aren't gonna get better if something doesn't change."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jay protested. He was still on his knees.

Cole snorted.

"You think any of them would accept that?"

Jay had to admit that the others wouldn't take it well at all. Jay however, was starting to understand. He decided he didn't hate Cole. He also wanted Cole to get better. The others were probably almost there. Jay took a deep breath.

"I yield." He said. "Now you don't have to knock me out!"

From what Jay could tell Cole was just staring at him.

"Come on, you gotta go!" Jay urged. "The others are gonna be here soon and you know Zane isn't gonna let you go easily."

Cole smirked.

"I'd go faster but my nervous system's all out of whack." He said.

Jay laughed nervously.

"You're coming back, right?" Jay asked as the thought came to him.

Cole rolled his eyes.

"Course I am, Zaptrap." He said. "That's the point of all of this."

"How're we gonna know you're okay?" Jay asked. "I am not living with three people in a constant state of panic over you. This could take months."

Cole was stretching his arm and kicking out his feet. He looked thoughtful.

"Come back here every five days. I'll leave a message for you. I won't be too far from here just in case." He said after a minute.

Jay grinned and nodded his assent.

"Have fun." Jay said. "And good luck."

Cole grinned back.

"Will do." He said. "And thank you."

Jay shrugged.

"Just get out of here."

Cole turned and whistled for Rocky. The drake lumbered over and Cole made to get up.

"Cole!" Jay called.

Cole looked back. Jay bit his lip.

"I'm sorry." Jay said. "For, you know-"

"It's chill." Cole said. "See you."

And Rocky dove off the mountain into the night.

Let me tell you, writing Cole and Jay in this scene has been one of my favorite things to write. They are destined to be friends, no matter how salty Jay gets. To be honest, this is in general one of my favorite chapters. Lots of angst, but a little bit of hope.

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great week!