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-Chapter 19- Team JDTE (Jadeite)

The last few days it had been pouring rain however the search for Austin continued but when the 5th day hit the rescue team had to call it. The rain was getting worse and there was even a good chance of flash flooding. During the last few days Jade tried her best to think that Austin was sitting against a tree just waiting for them and upon finding him he'd crack a joke on how long they took to find him. She knew the reality though when Eada let Professor Ozpin into their dorm, he carried himself with bad news.

Sitting down with all 3 of them he first tried to make sure they were prepared but nothing was going to prepare them for what he had to say as he unfortunately stated that the search has been called off, unable to find Austin and claiming he was deceased. Jade broke into more tears as she wept, Daisy held onto her crying herself and Eada joined the group hug. Professor Ozpin continued to try do his best to console the team but would only be in the way as he told them to take all the time they needed.

When he left he told Team TGRN who were outside as they made their way into the dorm to help Team JADE, they had been there for them now they were here for Team JADE. Over the next few days apart from crying Jade had been really quiet, it was eerie seeing Jade as she was, she sat on the roof in the rain just thinking the times she had with Austin, without her realizing it had almost been a year at Beacon and Austin had become such an important person in her life, yes he was her team mate but also boyfriend and then ex-boyfriend.

She hated how they left things, she hated rushing into choosing Search and Destroy that day and coming up with a dangerous plan as she blamed herself for Austin's death. Daisy had done her best to look after Jade forgetting about her feelings right now to help out her best friend, Eada on the other hand understood why she was doing so but Daisy was close to her limit, Eada had kept a close eye on Daisy with the help of Tiger as she ran herself ragged thinking about Jade's health she was ignoring her own.

With the help of Team TGRN they had managed over the next few weeks to calm Jade down and admit it wasn't her fault as no matter the plan anything could go wrong, Tiger and Eada had kept Daisy in check and at times basically forced her to get some rest and tried to get her to grieve herself. Eada did her best too, yes she had the days where you couldn't approach her but out of the 3 she held herself together the best, however the big feeling Eada got was once again losing her little brother again.

They hadn't argued in quite a while before his death and things had improved with their relationship but she wanted more time, she needed more time with Austin she now wasn't going to get, she wished to turn back the clock and somehow stop her parents from abandoning him or change the way they met again, maybe he would've revealed he was her brother sooner. All she knew though that she was thankful for the time she did spend with Austin, not only did he help her with combat and fighting but with him and her team, they got her to open her mind.

There had been a memorial service for Austin and everyone had shared their favourite story about Austin, Eada shared that he made her a better person, Daisy was truly indebted to him as they shared a heart to heart which helped her open up to someone else that actually knew in a way how she felt about being an abandoned child. Jade mentioned her biggest regret was letting him go when he was trying to fight for them, she put everything else before their relationship but wouldn't change the whole relationship at all.

After the memorial Professor Ozpin called them all into his office, in there was the remaining members of Team TGRN as they were asked if they'd like a 4th member to join their team. He quickly stated that it wasn't to replace Austin but to fill a vacancy in their team, the three girls looked at each other asking if they had asked the members of Team TGRN. Professor Ozpin calmly spoke that it was Tiger who was now looking to join another team as Nell and Ray were both dropping out of Beacon.

Eada, Daisy and Jade looked at them in shock asking if everything was ok or if they could do anything, Ray and Nell made it clear that they were ok but this type of lifestyle was too much to handle for them, with the death of Gretchen, now Austin in only their 1st year of training, continuing was too hard for them but admitted that there was nothing wrong with continuing to study to become a Huntress but they weren't strong enough for that. Jade told them they were strong, strong for following what they needed to do and supported their decision.

Eada and Daisy both agreed as the girls hugged, Tiger on the other hand was the only one wishing to stay and as they finished their hug Jade looked at Daisy and Eada as they all nodded then faced Tiger telling her welcome to the team. Tiger was so happy, she couldn't be more thrilled but upset at the same time as her two closest friends were leaving but the good news was Ray and Nell were staying in Vale and opening up a small restaurant and welcomed them to swing by anytime promising they still would have time for Tiger and Team JADE.

Professor Ozpin made it official and wished Nell and Ray good luck and if should they ever like to return all they'd needed to do was ask, facing Team Jade and Tiger he then mentioned that in respect for Austin they really shouldn't continue as Team JADE with a new member and it wouldn't be fair for Tiger not to be present in the team name so he proposed a new name with all 4 of them to be a proud member of. Everyone seemed to agree with that logic so Professor Ozpin declared that they would now be Team JDTE (Jadeite).

Professor Ozpin then had to ask the difficult question as he faced Jade asking if she thought she was fit enough for the role as Leader, Daisy back to her normal self slammed her hands on Ozpin's desk stating the fact that Jade was a good leader, Tiger and Jade reeled her back in as Ozpin apologized but went to explain as he didn't mean any disrespect but Jade had now gone through a terrible tragedy especially being close with Austin and wondered if she wanted to step down as Leader.

Jade thought about it, it would give her more time to focus on her friendships and herself, she looked to Daisy and Eada thinking it may be just be what she needed. She looked at Austin sternly and told Ozpin she'd step down and Tiger to become Leader. Daisy and Eada stared at each other in shock, Daisy had no intention on ever becoming a leader and Eada had given up on that but Jade explained to her team that she had a feeling it would help Tiger fit into the new team and got the vibe Tiger would make an excellent leader.

Turning to Tiger she agreed but wanted to make sure if Jade, Daisy and Eada were ok with it, the 3 of them nodded yes as Ozpin updated the file on the team, he then mentioned that they could have 1 more week off if they needed but should consider returning to their studies as soon as possible. The new team looked at each other and they all had the same feeling, speaking all at once declaring they would be attending class tomorrow. Tiger had moved her belongings in, it felt weird at first but the more they talked the more it seemed like the 4 had been a team all along.

Over the next week Team JDTE had gone to their regular classes, started studying kept up their training, out of all of this they still thought about Austin and Gretchen, the 4 girls made sure they'd talk to each other each night as they kept an eye on each other, certain little things would remind one of them or their departed friends. Tiger, Jade, Eada and Daisy all knew they would get through this together, they kept busy the following weekend as they went into Vale to help Ray and Nell set up their new restaurant.

All 6 girls caught up with each other as they put themselves to work fixing up the place, they shared a few stories, some laughs however there was a dull ache in the back of everyone's mind, Gretchen and Austin was in each of their minds, in the staff area Jade pinned a picture of Team JADE on the wall and Tiger put a picture of Team TGRN next to them. After they had done a good day's work before Team JDTE returned to Beacon they all sat around having ordered some food as they discussed plans and what each other did during the week.

It was something out of routine but it was something that was needed, Ray and Nell were excited to see their friends again as everyone promised as long as they were in Vale or Beacon then each week they should all catch up at the restaurant and do something together. Tiger grabbed her drink and held it up for a toast, beginning cheerfully with a "Here's to..." she looked around the room at her friends before continuing "Gretchen and Austin, we miss you" the rest of the girls echoed the 'we miss you' part and after clinking their glasses each took a sip.

Jade had gotten up afterwards and headed outside to get some fresh air, she leant against the building looking up at the sky and ran her hands through her hair, part of her was still blaming herself for Austin's death, she wanted to make peace with him but now she couldn't. Daisy came out and found her, softly asking Jade if she was alright, Jade couldn't lie but tried to use sarcasm to help saying she was Jade and not this person called 'alright'. Her smile fell when Daisy didn't laugh as she was more worried and once again asked if she was ok.

Jade shook her head opening up to Daisy at how she failed Austin, failed the team and failed herself, about how she wanted him back, loving him, Daisy gave her hug and changed her mind about telling Jade how she felt about her. She couldn't bring herself to add to Jade's worries by telling her that she was in love with her. Daisy sat with Jade and just told her that she helped Austin, out of everything he went through he could hold his head high being with you, Daisy then confessed the night he and her talked Austin mentioned that he was in love with Jade.

Jade cried as Daisy kept comforting her and whispering that he can now rest well, not only did he face his biological parents, he won the Vytal Festival literally almost by himself and to top it off he is now with his true parents as she bet that Gretchen and Austin would be looking down on them. The two finished their hug and went back inside as they bid farewell to Ray and Nell telling them they'd be back next week as Team JDTE left together and headed back to Beacon to continue working their way to becoming Huntresses.

To be Continued...