I love this chapter. Not much happens in terms of excitement, but it's definitely touchy-feely. I hope you enjoy it, because I sure do XD Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading

- Fell_and_Fallen

The next few days pass in a blur of pain, nausea, and Sensei's Tingling Tea. Nya, Lloyd, and Sensei take turns stopping in through the day to make sure I haven't ralphed up an organ or overdosed on tea, but for the most part I'm left alone, shuddering and queasy under a mountain of blankets. The adventure that spurred me the first day has completely drained from my system, and much to Sensei's satisfaction I haven't tried a daring escape plan. Instead, I sip soup and try to entertain myself with a book or fitful sleep.

Eventually, everything starts to subside. The nausea that kept me up through the night is just a sour twinge that tickles my throat every once in a while, and although the pain in my side is still substantial, it no longer hurts enough to make my legs numb. I feel strong enough to drag myself out of bed and stand with only a little trouble. I still need Lloyd's help to wobble up the stairs, but by the time we get to the dining room I'm walking pretty well on my own.

"Hey, you're up!" Jay cheerfully greets me as Lloyd and I enter. "You feeling okay?"

"Better," I nod as Lloyd helps me sit. "Still not a-okay, but at least I'm not ready to spew my guts anymore."

"Ugh, forget we asked," Kai shakes his head, but offers a smile. "Glad you're back."

"Glad to be back," I return the smile. "So what's for dinner? I've had enough chicken-noodle soup and tea to last a thousand lifetimes."

Cole emerges from the kitchen with a grin. "I'm glad you asked, because I'd like to introduce you to something I like to call 'Parmesan French Toast'!"

My eyes widen involuntarily and I struggle to figure out how I forgot that today was Cole's dinner day. Jay lets out a snicker, and I realize Cole is looking at me expectantly. I cough and try to cover my surprise.

"Er, great," I smile, and his expression relaxes. I notice a seat is empty, and a bubble of hope fills my chest. "Where's Zane?"

"Oh, he's helping a little and finishing the sides," the black ninja shrugs. "But this really takes the cake, no pun intended-"

"Maybe Ash should sit this one out," Nya interrupts. I look up and she gives me a sly wink. "I mean, she's still healing and eating heavy foods might set her back. She should probably stick to smaller things."

"Yeah," I agree too quickly. I cough again. "I mean, maybe I should just stick to sides. At least for tonight. Wouldn't want to, uh, jeopardize the healing process, right?"

Cole gives me a dubious expression, but thankfully just shakes his head. "Right," he seems deflated, but almost immediately perks back up. "Well, I hope everyone else enjoys it!"

"Yep. Can't wait," Jay says through clenched teeth as Cole hurries off to bring plates.

"Way to throw the rest of us under the bus, sis," Kai shakes his head. He's lowered his voice so the black ninja won't hear. "Maybe I should go throw myself down the stairs or something."

"Hey, if I could endure your cooking, we can endure Cole's," Nya whispers back. "Besides, how bad can it be?"

"Last time you said that none of us could move for the next twenty-four hours," Kai gives her a pointed look.

"You have to get better soon, Ash, because I don't know how much more I can take of this," Jay pleads. "Last time I almost got sick over Nya!"

"Let's not talk about that," Nya shakes her head.

Cole returns, bringing the conversation to an end, but everyone's mood lifts as Zane appears which much more edible food. I barely hold back a smug smile as I eat a salad while everyone else is subjected to the blackened experiment dubbed "Parmesan French Toast". Jay almost sobs into his plate, but quickly fixes his expression before Cole can see and Kai expertly shoves it down too fast to actually taste it. I mouth a thank you to Nya, who winks and discreetly hides her uneaten French toast under a napkin.

"So how are you feeling, Ash?" Zane asks as he pointedly ignores the food in front of him and instead slowly munches a carrot. His eyes are narrowed ever so slightly at Cole, and I wonder if he's actually offended by the blasphemous food.

"Better," I answer. "I think I'll be right as rain in the next few days."

"Then we should probably come up with a battle plan," Kai says. "Any idea where Desmond might be hiding?"

My stomach sinks at the sound of that name, and I chalk it up to the acrid smell of cinnamon and parmesan. I pick at my salad and wonder where my appetite went. "Uh, no. Honestly, he could be anywhere at this point. I mean, he managed to hide from all of us for four years."

"Well maybe-"

"Perhaps we'll talk about this some other time?" Zane's fixes his icy stare on Kai. I look up and cool gaze finds mine, and something imperceptible passes between us.

"Uh, sure I guess," Kai blinks, a little taken aback from the sudden change in atmosphere.

"Anyway," I cough a little and try to force a little more food into my mouth. "Where's Lloyd?" His chair had emptied in all the excitement, and I wonder if he found another way to escape Cole's cooking.

"Oh, I sent him to get the mail," Nya says. "It's pretty useful having someone else around to run errands. Or at least someone else I can count on to run errands."

"Hey, we're protectors of the realm," Kai humphs. "We don't have time for-"

"Picking up the mail?" Nya arches a dark eyebrow. "You're even lazier than I thought."

Lloyd enters the room again, a large box balanced precariously in his small arms. He drops it in front of Sensei, and from the noise, whatever's inside it is heavy. A stack of letters slides from the top and clatters onto Sensei's plate, into the sticky goop of cinnamon and syrup.

"Sorry," Lloyd apologizes as he tugs the letters out.

"Hey, that one's mine," Jay clatters out of his chair to retrieve his mail, frowning a little as the envelope drips a thick glob of syrup onto the table. He shudders.

"So what's in the box?" Kai asks as Sensei pulls the box closer to him.

"Just a few pieces of equipment," Sensei answers, "and some new robes for Zane, given that he's ruined two just in the past few days."

"Neither incident was my fault."

"Oh, this was there too," Lloyd says as he reaches into his sweater and pulls out a smaller box wrapped in black paper. "It says it's for Ash."

I set my fork down. "Me? I never get mail."

He nods and passes me the box. It feels light, but is substantial enough for me to set it down on the table. A card is attached to the top with just a couple of words typed on it in small print-

For Ash.

"Do you know who it's from?" Cole asks as I take the card and turn it over in my hands.

"It doesn't say," I answer.

Jay puts down his letter and takes the card from me. "That's weird," he says. "Who types a greeting card?"

"Looks like there's only one way to find out," Kai says as his eyes set on the box. The temperature in the room seems to drop, and I feel my stomach roll with something other than nausea.

My hands tremble a little as I reach out and take the paper in my fingertips. "What if it's from Desmond?" I ask as the dark thought rushes to the front of my mind. "What if something happens?"

"That doesn't seem like his style," Cole shakes his head.

"Cole is right," Sensei nods. "If Desmond wanted to kill you, he would have done it when he had you alone in the woods. His goal is to get you on his side. Killing you before you even recovered would leave that unfulfilled."

So what could be inside? I bite my lip, but reach out again and start to tear into the box before my doubts catch up to me.

The surface beneath the paper is also black and sleek, like a gift box from the store. I take a deep breath and pull the lid open, setting it on the table before I bring myself to look inside the box. The others crane over my shoulders and the table to get a look, and it takes a few seconds before I register what I'm seeing.

"Pictures?"

Kai leans over my shoulder, his eyebrows knit together in confusion, but as soon as my mind realizes exactly what I'm looking at I'm staggering to my feet and retreating a dozen steps.

"Ash?"

"They're mine," I stutter, my eyes fixed on the box of photos in front of me. "Or they used to be. From when I was a kid. They-they're…"

I take a deep breath and force myself to take a picture from the box, one that is worn, dog-eared, and incredibly familiar. The faded face of a curly-haired woman smiles back at me, her cheeks creased with smile lines. She glows in the light that strikes her dark eyes and holds the bundle in her arms out proudly. The baby hidden among the blankets is sleeping, and peaceful in its mother's arms. Its eyes may be closed, but I know all too well that once they open they'll be a bright crimson red.

"I used to keep this under my pillow," I say in a soft voice. "It's my mom."

"Why would he send you these?" Kai asks as I take the box and dump its contents on the table. Dozens of pictures spill out, every one filled with my younger face, smiling at Desmond who held the camera. There are a few of him there too, clumsy photos I took while he was teaching or working on something else. My stomach twists.

"He's trying to remind you of your past," Sensei says as he picks up another picture. "To get inside your head."

My hand clenches around the one in my hand. "Well it's working. These are the only things left of my childhood."

"Then we won't look at them," Cole says as he starts shoveling the pictures back into the box. "If this is part of his plan, we aren't playing."

"Perhaps he also gave away his location," Zane looks up at Nya. "Do we know where the package came from?"

Nya sifts through the paper. "Looks like everything is blank except for the card and our location on the bottom. No return address."

"Ash, are you okay?"

I blink at the sound of Jay's voice and realize I've been staring at the floor. "Uh, yeah," I answer with a shake of my head. "Yeah, I'm fine, just…"

I open my palm to my mother's face, the glowing smile that I'd memorized every night before I went to bed. I swallow the lump in my throat. "This was the only picture of my mom I had. I have no idea how he got it, but he knows what it means to me. If he's trying to get under my skin, he knows exactly how to do it."

I look up at everyone's worried faces, and crack a small smile. "Hey, I'm not about to burst into flames or anything. I'm just," I look down at the picture again, "afraid. If this is how Desmond's trying to convince me to help him, I'm terrified to see what he's going to do when I keep refusing."

"Looks like you're going to have to get better a little faster," Nya says in a quiet voice.

The room is swallowed by uncomfortable silence until Sensei picks up the box and takes it away "until I'm ready". The rest of us start to disperse, leaving dishes for whatever poor soul has to deal with it tomorrow, and the ninja head off to their room as I start for my own.

Someone approaches me, and I turn with a sigh. "Cole, I don't want to talk-"

"It isn't Cole."

I blink and realize I'm staring into Zane's cool eyes, soft but calm against my own. I blink again and manage an, "oh."

"I saw him coming this way and told him he left his scythe in the kitchen. It should by us some time," he says. When I don't speak, he continues. "I noticed you're still holding the photograph of your mother." His gaze flicks to my hand still clenched around the picture. He holds his own hand out. "Do you mind?"

"No," I shake my head as I hand the small picture to him. He stares at it for a few seconds before returning it to me.

"She's beautiful."

"Thanks," I answer. I glance back at the picture again, staring at it the way I used to as a kid. "I never knew her. She died just a few months after I was born."

"I'm sorry to hear that," his eyes grow sad.

"It's fine, it happened a long time ago," I shake my head.

The silence between us grows awkward, but thankfully Zane speaks again.

"Ash, would you like to join me-"

"Thanks, but I really don't want to talk-"

He smiles a little. "I know. I just wanted to know if you wanted to come meditate with me. I've found it helps clear my head before I go to sleep. Perhaps it will help you as well."

I blink. "Oh, well. Uh-"

"It will keep you away from Cole until he's asleep."

I don't hesitate. "Alright, Zane, lead the way."

The white ninja's smile returns as he leads me down into the ship, past our rooms and to an unfamiliar part of the Bounty's hull. I briefly remember that Nya had storage down here, but never thought anyone else ventured this far into the ship. Zane is completely confident as he heads wherever we're going, and I guess that assumption was wrong.

We come to a stop in front of a small door, and Zane invites me in with a polite wave. I enter the room, surprised to see a few mats and scattered candles that make this place look… homey. Zane picks up a pack of matches and lights a few of the candles before nodding to the mats on the floor.

"Please," he says in a welcoming voice. "Sit."

I follow his orders and take a seat, watching curiously as he sits to face me. His posture is perfect, and, feeling a little self-conscious, I straighten up.

"This is really nice," I comment. "How often do you come here?"

"Usually before bed. More often if I have the time," he answers. His pale blond hair is almost white in the flickering candlelight, and his eyes are piercing, but not uncomfortably so. "No one ever comes here. It is a good place to relax and reflect. It allows me to think more intrusively and work through my problems before they make an appearance in the field. I thought you might benefit."

"I appreciate it," I say as I turn the picture in my hands. "Not that I don't appreciate everyone else wanting to talk, but I like to deal with my problems quietly. It's, uh, nice to see you do too."

Zane smiles a little, though it's laced with something else. "I know it's difficult dealing with so many emotions about your parents," he says slowly. "It's one of the things I think about during my meditation."

"Your parents?"

"Yes," his gaze shifts. "I have no memory of them. Of anything, really."

"What?"

"Don't be so concerned. I've had these problems for a long time," his smile returns. "And as you said, I like to deal with my problems quietly."

"Still, Zane," I shake my head. "That's… does anyone know about it?"

"Sensei has been helping me cope, though in terms of answers, my past is a complete mystery," he pauses. "I have, however, come mostly to terms with it. Whatever my past was, my place is here now. Although it would be good to find out who I am and where I came from, I have a duty as a ninja and protector of Ninjago. So I meditate and leave my problems in this room."

"Not wanting to remember my past is one thing, but not being able to remember," I shake my head again. "I can't imagine how frustrating that is."

A smile touches his lips. "I'll admit it is hard dealing with it, but this place does bring me much-needed peace."

"I wish I could help you," I say. "I'm sure the others would too."

"I do not want to worry them. Besides, they have come to accept me as strange, or robotic as Jay put it."

"Hey, you live on a ship with colorful heroes and a girl with severe pyromania," I smile. "You're hardly the strangest thing here. Besides, robotic isn't a bad thing. Sometimes we need robotic."

He returns the smile. "Thank you, Ash."

There's a loud clatter of noise overhead, and the muffled sound of raised voices. I look up as a soft frown touches Zane's lips.

"The others must be arguing over bed sheets again," he says. "It seems that our meditation will be cut short tonight. You are welcome to stay if you like."

"Thanks, but it's probably time for me to hit the hay too," I say as we get to our feet. I shake my head. "Looks like we ended up talking after all."

Zane laughs softly, and I look up at the unfamiliar sound. He seems a little confused by it too.

"That was… strange."

"Looks like you're not much of a robot after all," I grin. "Everyone knows robots can't laugh."

His soft, chirping laugh returns as we leave the room, and I can't help the growing smile on my face as we make our way through the dark halls.

We pause at my room and Zane gives me a final smile. "Goodnight, Ash."

"Goodnight, Zane," I smile back. "And thanks. That meditation really helped."

"It wasn't much of a meditation."

"Still, sitting someplace quiet just having a normal conversation… it was nice," I say. "And, uh, thanks for not asking anything about my-"

"We can talk about it when you're ready," he says. His gaze focuses on the picture in my hand. "Sensei once told me that meditating on an object could allow you to work through the feelings associated with it. I have nothing to try it on, but perhaps you may want to. It would give you a chance to unravel your feelings before one of us asks."

"That's a good idea," I nod. "Thanks. I'll have to try it sometime." I give him a pointed look. "Now go to bed before someone hears us and comes to see if I'm alright."

Zane shakes his head with a smile and retreats down the hall toward the warbled voices that seem to have calmed during our conversation. I watch Zane's white shape until it completely disappears before I close the door and go to bed.

As I lay and wait to fall asleep, I stare at my mother's face in the dim light streaming from the window. Her dark, creased eyes are the last thing I remember before I spiral into darkness.