Cole was tired. All day long, he had been poked and prodded like a science experiment. He still couldn't move or speak, but everyone seemed to be concerned with his cognitive abilities. At least, that was what he took from the MRI and CT scans. They had shown him pictures of his friends and family, as well as of random strangers, to see if he knew who any of them were. He didn't know how he was supposed to answer any of their questions, since they knew he couldn't speak. Now, he was finally back in his room, exhausted, and with an EEG cap on his head for the next twenty-four hours. He tried to sleep, but the machines kept loudly beeping. How anyone managed to actually rest in a hospital was beyond him. His dad wasn't helping matters. If anything, he made them worse. The only time his dad had left his side was during the MRI and CT testing.

His dad was talking to him, but Cole wasn't listening. Instead, he stared at the TV and wished someone would turn it on for him. His friends weren't there, so he wanted to know if they were off doing ninja business. He also wanted to know what day it was. Though it only felt like a long day he was with Anna, he remembered what she had told him about time moving differently in the Departed Realm. He hadn't been in the Departed Realm, though, so surely it couldn't have been more than a few days, a week at most.

The next day, Lou finally left Cole and allowed his friends to visit. The nurses only allowed two in at a time, but that was better than nothing. Wu and Misako came in first. Cole guessed the others were fighting over who got to come up first. They said some vague "we're glad you're getting better" spiel, but that was about it. Jay and Nya came in next. They said similar vague statements as Wu and Misako. He also noticed that they didn't have wedding rings on, so he assumed he hadn't missed the wedding. While they were speaking, Cole got thirsty. He stared at the bucket of ice chips on the table near him, trying to will it to move closer to him. He tried to speak, but his voice was still not cooperating. He tried to get Jay or Nya's attention for help, but they were oblivious. Kai and Skylor were just as oblivious to his glances to the bucket. Though Skylor did keep cutting Kai off when Kai started talking about Morgen, or Cole's treatments, or really anything relating to why Cole was in the hospital. Cole made a note to ask about that when he had his voice back. Lloyd and Zane also seemed to avoid talking certain subjects, though at least Zane noticed Cole kept looking at the bucket of ice chips and gave him some. As the ice melted in his mouth, it felt good on his throat, but it wasn't enough to satisfy his thirst. Still, he figured he could try to talk now.

"… -ow…" Cole squeaked out.

"Don't try to talk. The doctor said you need to rest," Lloyd said.

"Are you in pain?" Zane asked.

Cole glared at the nindroid. Of course he was in pain. Every muscle in his body hurt. Muscles he didn't even know he had hurt. Only when he was completely still did the pain subside a little. Are you in pain, what kind of a dumb question was that?

The next day was more of the same. More testing, then friends and family would visit and talk at him. Not to him, at him. And everyone pretty much said the exact same fake sympathy lines. Just like they did when Anna died. Cole decided he would either learn how to talk back to people or blow out his voice permanently trying.

That evening, the doctors agreed to let Cole try solid food to see how it affected him. The nurse placed the tray with the white goop in front of him. He spat the bite the nurse had given him out. Grits. He liked grits well enough if they were prepared right, but these definitely were not prepared right. No salt, no butter, and on top of that, they were instant grits. He could forgive the hospital for using instant grits, but not the lack of flavor. What was next, cornbread from a box? He wondered how they expected him to eat this abomination, and not just because he couldn't move his arms.

"I'll feed him," Lou offered upon seeing Cole refuse food.

"Alright." The nurse got up and left them alone.

"It's been a while since I've done this," Lou muttered as he scooped some grits onto the spoon.

"-utter," Cole squeaked.

"Water?"

"Bu-Butter." It sounded like Cole had laryngitis.

"Butter?"

"Yeah." Cole's throat was starting to hurt from the strain. He waited silently as Lou went to inquire about butter. He stared at the bowl. Whoever came up with the idea of instant grits needed a slap to the back of the head. Why did that make him think of Anna?

"They are refusing to put butter in the grits, but they are going to get you some Jell-O," Lou sighed as he threw the bowl into the trash.

"… Anna…" Cole mumbled.

"What was that?" Lou turned pale.

"Anna."

"Uh… Anna isn't… She's not… here… um…" Lou stuttered.

Did everyone think Cole didn't know Anna had died? He guessed, since they still weren't done testing his cognitive responses. He assumed they thought he had the mind of a one-year-old, the way they kept treating him.

"She… says… she… won…" Cole had to concentrate on each word to make sure he spoke clearly.

"She won? Won what?"

"… Bet."

"Bet? What bet?... Wait, do you mean… No, she did not win. We both lost. There's a difference. And how do you even know about that?" Lou asked.

"I… saw… her."

"You saw her? How? Did you go to the Departed Realm?"

"No… limbo… She… came… and…" Cole couldn't take the pain anymore. He had to stop talking.

"It's okay. You'll get your voice back, and we will talk then. Uh, I'm going to go check on the Jell-O." Lou left the room. Cole knew Lou was going to talk to a doctor or nurse, whoever he ran into first. That, or he really didn't want to tell Cole what the bet was. Either way, Cole wondered if he would ever be able to speak complete sentences again.