AN: Okay, okay, I've been doing a lot of sibling trio angst so I figured it was time to give someone else a chance to be whumped... you're up, Jay.

Imo the angstiest season for characters that aren't in the sibling trio was definitely season 6, and i haven't really done much with that, soo... sorry buddy 'XD

Today's Theme: That's Where the Blood's Supposed to Be


Footsteps thumped outside the door. Cole pressed himself against the wall, unmoving, until they faded into the distance.

All clear.

Slowly, he let out his breath, his pellucid green skin coming back into view. He only had eyes for the flask on the table.

That's where I'll put the venom. That will be Nadakhan's downfall.

Checking one last time to make sure he was really alone, Cole pulled the bottle out of his pocket. The amber liquid glinted brightly from within, and Cole's breath hitched. One wrong drop of this, and he would be dead. Being careful was an understatement.

"...Cole? Is that… you?"

Cole's head jerked up at the raspy voice, and he whipped around, braced for a fight.

But the speaker wasn't Nadakhan or any of his crew. Somehow, Cole had missed him upon entering the room, curled up in the corner as he was, limp and pale and unmoving- although, at the sight of Cole, he was trying to pull himself up- his blue gi in tatters.

"What the hell," he whispered, his heart plummeting. Venom forgotten, he raced across the room, crying, "Jay! You're-"

The words died promptly on his tongue as he reached his friend's side. Jay was evidently not okay. Every inch of skin he could see was purpled and blackened with bruises, and blood was soaking his gi and the various bandages plastered across his shoulders and neck. He held his arm protectively to his chest, his hand limp where it connected to his wrist, and around his ankle, a large vengestone ball and chain, the skin underneath it swollen and discolored. His face was gaunt, his hair a mess, and there was blood trickling down his forehead. The most noticeable of all, however, was the eyepatch over his left eye. Cole couldn't see what was under it, but judging by the bruising and crusted blood peeking out, he probably didn't want to know.

"Jay," Cole said again, falling to his knees and wrapping an arm around him as gently as he could. Jay winced anyway, making a pained sound in the back of his throat. Cole ran his fingers through his friend's mess of hair, grimacing as he found it stiff and matted with blood. "What.. what did they do to you? What happened to your eye?"

Jay didn't seem to hear him- or he was avoiding the questions- and squinted up at him. Even his eyes- or the one Cole could see, anyway- seemed to have lost the usual brightness. "How… how are you here? And why are you… why are you dressed like a pirate?"

"Don't worry about that," Cole murmured, examining him. "Our friends are nearby. We're going to get you out of here." He bit down on his lip. Jay's bandages were all stained through. He needed to redress them as soon as possible, but he didn't have time. It would only be a matter of time before Nadakhan came back to check on Jay, or before someone discovered Lloyd and Nya.

Pulling the key out of his pocket, he unlocked the chain, and Jay pulled closer to him, gasping.

"I'm… I'm so glad you're here," Jay grunted, trying to pull himself into a sitting position. "I thought that-" he cut off, hissing in pain.

Cole pulled his hand back from Jay's side to find it dripping and red.

"I swear, those damned pirates are going to-"

"Cole, please," Jay whimpered. "If you don't go now, Nadakhan will find you. Tell Nya-"

"You must've gotten a concussion or something if you seriously think I'm about to leave you behind."

"Cole, I can't walk, how am I supposed to get out of here?"

"I'll carry you out of here if I have to, I don't care. This isn't negotiable, Jay. You're family, and I'm not leaving you. Besides," his voice dropped. "Look at what they did to you last time. I'm afraid if I leave and come back again you might not still be with us."

Jay jutted his lip out stubbornly. "I've lasted this long."

"Well, I'm not taking my chances. Here." Cole tore a piece of his shirt off and pressed it against the bleeding gash in Jay's side. He yelped in pain, but Cole forced himself to keep doing it. The blood quickly soaked the cloth, spreading across it like rays in the sky at sunrise.

"Cole?" Jay asked hoarsely after a minute. Cole didn't like the sluggishness in his voice. "I'm sorry… about everything. I… I should've told you guys about what I saw. Maybe then Zane and Kai would still be here… and you wouldn't be stuck with me."

"Hey, Jay, no. None of this is your fault, do you hear me?" Cole paused with the wound for a minute, looking down. "I was being a jerk to you. You were just scared and confused, and I was upset that we lost our friends and it seemed like the easy thing to do was to take it out on you. It was wrong to send you after the Tiger Widow alone. It was wrong to leave you when Nadakhan showed up, and it's our fault that you're here, that this happened to you. I'm so, so, sorry for being such an awful friend. I promise to do better next time. And that means not leaving you."

Jay looked down, not saying anything.

His wound was still bleeding through the scrap of Cole's shirt, but after a couple of minutes, it finally got to the point where it at least wasn't dripping anymore.

That's going to have to do for now, he thought, tying the fabric around Jay to secure it.

"Alright, buddy," he murmured. "Can you stand?"

To his surprise, Jay was stronger than he looked, and was actually able to almost get to his feet before his legs buckled beneath him. Cole grabbed him tightly- and was met with another whine of pain.

Cole looped Jay's arm over his shoulders, and even though he was supporting almost all of Jay's weight, the blue ninja was already starting to look pale and exhausted.

"Hold on, buddy," he whispered, forcing the tremor from his voice and trying to ignore the bandages that were already beginning to unravel. "Don't you stop being stubborn now. I'm gonna get you out of here."