[Phase 1]

(Noodle's dialogue is in Japanese unless otherwise specified. I'm lazy.)

She doesn't want to go out there in the snow. It's unfamiliar and white. Why would there be white on the ground?! What would cause it? Frankly, the whole idea of white powdery stuff falling from the sky really makes her nervous.

So, while Russel's taking a nap, Murdoc's decided it'd be a laugh to lock Noodle outside for a bit. Just so she can experience the snow in all its cold glory. He'd at first thrown her guitar case out into it, because that's apparently the only thing to get her to go out. His father used to do that to him, after all. Murdoc's told her that her guitar is in there, as well, but he knows better than to actually damage it. However, Noodle wouldn't put it past him.

She's gotten her case back from over by the dead cedar tree, but when she came back to the door, it was locked. The little girl bangs on the large doors, but all she gets in reply is the sound of snow falling on the ground. Letting out a whimper, Noodle gives the things one more knock before setting the case directly under the frame, (she is glad to see that her beloved guitar isn't actually in there), and then steps back out in the flurry. She'd not bothered to put on a heavy coat, just because she had thought that she'd be right back inside. But now she feels stupid for falling for Murdoc's joke. And she's cold; the green sweater isn't doing much for her.

Noodle is glad, however, that she'd put her rain boots on instead of her red sneakers. Her feet are dry for the time being. Crossing her arms to conserve heat, Noodle begins walking round the building, looking for an alternate opening. If she finds one that's locked, she'll try to kick it open. If she's not too numb by then.

Angry, she begins ranting to herself in Japanese.

"Why would Mu-doc do that? It's evil! It's cold and wet out here and I don't know if I can get back inside.. Maybe I can climb the building if nothing's open down here." Noodle deliberates, beginning to run through the snow. She can feel her cheeks flushing, and it feels like her heat is radiating off of them. This makes her nervous, but not much is helping other than the movements. Of course, she then ends up tripping over something hidden and falling face first into the slush.

"No! Bad!" Noodle shrieks, dusting the flakes from herself. Her fingers are numb, she notices. After she's done her best to wipe the snow off, she stands again. When she begins running again, she groans at the realisation that her pants have grown heavy with ice. So she's forced to keep walking. Eyes squinted, she looks at the building with desperation as she moves. It's not fair, not good. Noodle's so cold now, and the wind isn't helping at all.

It's been twenty minutes now, and eventually she's back at the front entrance. All of the other doors are metal, and therefore rusted shut, so she couldn't open them no matter how hard she tried. There's not much in the way of shelter, either, considering how unpredictable the wind is, and Noodle's desperate. After a few tries, (she can't feel her fingers at all, now, except for a painful tingling,) the child manages to get her guitar case opened. Backing herself into the small corner by the door, she puts the guitar case in front of her, hoping it'll block some wind. The girl then curls up as much as she can, shivering violently. She's definitely looking forward to getting her revenge on Murdoc. And she wants her Russel. And Stuart. But nobody's come yet. And so, she waits.

"Hey, Murdoc, have you seen Noodle round?"

2D stands in front of the bassist's Winnebago, a lit fag twirling between his fingers. "She's, um. She's not with Russ." He explains, trying not to appear nervous.

Murdoc grins. "Ha! She's just outside! I tricked her into going! Isn't that hilarious?!" The Satanist laughs, as if it's the funniest thing he's ever accomplished.

"Um. Murdoc-- Murdoc. It's, uh. It's blizzarding out-- outside." The bluenette definitely looks nervous, now. "How- how long's, um. How long has she been out?"

"Bah, not long. Maybe an hour. My father used to do the same to me, I was always just fine." Murdoc tries not to admit to himself that he'd forgotten about her being out.

"Uhh, uh, uh. Murdoc, there's no shelter out there! Did you lock her outside in a fucking blizzard?!" Stuart's voice is steadily raising.

Murdoc hisses. "Keep your voice down! She'll be fine, I'll go let her in. Was just a joke, she was too scared to go outside, so I made her! Didn't mean anything of it!"

The singer groans, rushing away towards the lift. "You can't just lock a child outside like that! She's so little, and she must be so afraid! Oh no, oh no! Russel's gonna kill me!" Fag forgotten, Stu begins sniffling. His eyes have gone white with fear for the tiny girl.

"Why would he kill you? It was me who did it! Though, I could blame you. I could." Murdoc seems thoughtful as the lift goes up towards the lobby.

"Please don't," 2D says quickly, his foot tapping impatiently.

Murdoc hums along to the lift music, which is still Stairway to Heaven played backwards. Eventually, the ding sounds and the doors slide open. Stuart immediately breaks into a run towards the doors. Murdoc follows, only he's just walking at a brisk pace.

2D unlocks them as quickly as he can, then pulling them open.

Quickly, his gaze falls upon the girl curled up in the corner next to the entrance. "Oh no. Oh no." 2D rushes over, flinching at the stinging wind. He picks her up, then rushing back inside, dragging the guitar case with him.

The doors slam behind the pair as he gently sets her down in front of Murdoc. "Mur-Mur-Murdoc, she's not moving. Murdoc." The bluenette's words slur together as he drops to his knees.

The bassist feels his heart drop into the pits of his stomach.

"Shit, oh Satan. Fuck, fuck- Noodle, dove, Noodle. Wake up. Come on, wake up." He finds himself begging. He lowers his hand down to shake the girl.

"Noodle, it's not bedtime. Don't sleep yet!" The younger man begins to cry. "Please, please wake up."

Moments pass before there's any movement from the small girl. "Nnn.." Noodle moans quietly. She's never felt so cold. In fact, she feels so cold that it almost feels warm.

"Stuart. Get Russel, now."

"But-- but--"

"NOW." The green man yells. He begins rubbing at Noodle's arms, trying to generate some form of heat. "Noodle, darling. Noodle, you're alright. It'll be alright. Don't fuckin die on me, you're better than that." Murdoc mumbles to her. She's so cold, so cold. But, she feels alive. Only just.

Stuart runs off as quickly as he can manage, wailing. He's so terrified that he'll lose his best friend because of Murdoc. Just like he lost his girlfriend, but this is much worse than that! Noodle is a child! Nothing but a baby!

By the time Russel's downstairs with Stuart, the singer is convinced that Noodle's dead. She's just too little to be able to generate any heat fast enough, right? Noodle's just so thin!

"What have you done to my baby?!" Russel yells, absolutely shaking with anger. "What did you fucking do?!" The drummer pushes Murdoc away from Noodle. "Get away, you piece of shit! Noodle, baby. Noodle." Russ kneels down. "Noodle, say something. C'mon, say something." The large man pulls her into his arms.

"It was an accident, damn you!" Murdoc defends himself. "An accident!"

"I don't think locking a little girl outside in the snow is an accident!" Russel is beyond pissed. "She don't even have a coat on!"

There's a small movement, a flutter of Noodle's eyelids as she registers this new source of heat. Even opening her eyes is a challenge, but she does it.

"Russ, look! Her eyes!" Stuart exclaims. "I'll get blankets! And dry clothes!"

Noodle groans again, the shivers returning. "Ow.." she whispers, trying to make her vision focus.

"Oh god, oh god. Noodle. I'm so sorry, Noodle." Russel sniffs loudly.

"No.. No cry, Rus-ol." The ten year old weakly reaches her hand up and rests it on his cheek. She can't stand seeing him cry.

The man forces himself not to flinch at how cold her hand is. He rests his on it, wishing she could be warm again. "I'll try-- try not to." He promises.

"Mu-doc.." Noodle slowly turns her head. "Where."

"Here, dove." Murdoc feels too guilty to look her in the eyes.

Noodle weakly kicks her leg out and taps him on the shins. "No good." Her voice is a bit stronger, now.

"I know. Should've thought the, er. Joke out so you didn't get hurt." Murdoc admits. "I guess I probably shouldn't have figured that you'd be alright; I never was when my father did this kind of shit to me, yeah?"

"Hmm. Is, um. Is good. Fine." Noodle replies, the warmth from Russel finally seeping into her body. She takes Russel's hand and presses it to her lips. "Gomenasai." She apologises.

"For what? You ain't done anything wrong." Russ rubs a thumb over her cheek. "You just scared me, I thought you's was dead." He explains gently, expression soft.

"No, no. No dead." Noodle murmurs. "Cold. Um. Much."

"Yes, I know." Russ holds her tighter, as if she could be snatched away from him at any given moment. "We'll get you better, I promise."

Hello, all!

Dunno where this idea came from, but it's there. I managed to write this chapter in roughly an hour and a half! I'm so relieved!

Apparently all my friends on g read this fanfiction. I have friends!! Haha!! But also school is starting up soon and I'm really excited. I'm ready for winter, damn it!

Thanks for reading! Leave me a review!

Until next time,

Liz