Author's Note/Disclaimer: Still don't own Ninjago.

Jay's turn this time around. Takes place shortly after Snakebit. I kinda want to write a little spin-off based on Jay's offer towards the end of this chapter, because it would be funny and adorable. We'll see what happens.

Chapter Two: Jay

Zane was awakened by the soft sound of whimpering. At first, he wasn't sure what was causing it. He could almost believe it was the wind blowing through the cracks of the ship. As the sound grew louder, he realised it was a voice.

He glanced across the room, as it was evident the sound wasn't coming from above and as such, didn't belong to Kai. Cole was sleeping soundly, so Zane glanced downwards. Jay wasn't nearly so calm.

The blue ninja was cuddling his golden weapon like a teddy bear and tossing back and forth, moaning and whining. Occasionally, something that sounded like words escaped him, but they were too garbled to be intelligible.

At first, Zane didn't know what to do. It was evident Jay was having a nightmare, but he wasn't sure if he should try to wake him. As it turned out, he didn't need to worry, as Jay suddenly snapped awake with a short scream.

Though Zane knew what was going on, he wasn't expecting the scream, and he jumped, cracking his forehead against the upper bunk. Kai grumbled something, but didn't wake. Cole never even reacted to either the scream or the bang.

Rubbing his sore forehead, Zane watched Jay for a moment. The blue ninja sat up in his bunk, now cradling his golden weapon as a sort of emotional support, trying not to cry. Whatever his dream had been about, it certainly bothered him.

"Jay?" Zane tried not to startle Jay or wake the others, but he failed on the first count. Jay jumped, wiping quickly at his eyes in an attempt to hide the fact that he'd been crying.

"Zane?" he replied. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"It's okay," said Zane. "Are you all right? You were having a nightmare."

"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it," replied Jay quickly. It was evident by his tone that Jay didn't really want to discuss it, but Zane didn't take the hint.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Jay snapped. He winced. "Sorry."

"It's alright. Goodnight."

"'Night."

Jay lay back down and was soon snoring softly. Zane, meanwhile, lay awake, wondering what could be so bad about Jay's dream that he wouldn't want to talk about it. He always seemed to want to talk about everything else. He wasn't going to pry, though. If Jay really didn't want to discuss it, then that was that.

Zane rolled over onto his side and tried to get back to sleep, but found he couldn't. Sighing, he found himself wishing the falcon would show up again so he could at least have someone to talk to. It was strange that the strongest connection he felt to anything was to that bird. Pushing those thoughts aside, he tried to sleep.

He was interrupted once more as Jay began to whimper again. He'd known the others to have bad dreams before – even he'd been beset by them at one point or another – but two in one night seemed a little odd, even for Jay.

This time he didn't hesitate. Getting up, he made his way over to Jay's bunk. Carefully, he reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. Jay snapped awake immediately, letting out a frightened gasp. Still caught up in the dream, he dropped his weapon and startled Zane by grabbing him into a tight hug, trembling. Zane didn't know what else to do, so he just patted Jay on the back until the blue ninja came to his senses.

"What the – hey!" Without thinking, Jay pushed Zane away. Zane fell back, but he caught himself before he was hurt. Once Jay had calmed down and realised what he'd done, he looked appropriately ashamed of himself. "Sorry."

"Jay, is something bothering you?" Zane asked.

"What are you talking about?" replied Jay, his voice growing shrill as it tended to do when Jay was stressed. "I'm fine! Don't I seem fine?"

"Not really, no."

Jay deflated. "Okay, you got me. But I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure? What's bothering you may be the source of your nightmares."

At first, Jay just stared at him, brows creased angrily, and Zane knew he was right. The look of concern on Zane's face was enough to change Jay's mind. Heaving a sigh, he gestured for Zane to sit down with him. He began to talk as Zane joined him.

"I'm worried about my parents," he admitted.

Zane's expression became quizzical. "Why is that? We stopped the Fangpyre and restored your parents to normal. They should be fine."

"I know that! But what if we hadn't been in time? What if it happens again? What if someone tries to use them to get to me for some reason?"

Jay was clearly upset, but Zane didn't know how to reply. He tried to think how he would feel if his own parents were in trouble, but being unable to remember them, he couldn't really wrap his mind around an answer. He had no idea why he'd left home in the first place. Maybe his parents were monsters and he was better off without them, but he had no way of knowing for sure. He knew he needed to say something to calm Jay down, though.

"There's not much we can do about 'what ifs'. We will just have to deal with things as they come and hope for the best."

Zane could tell by the unimpressed expression Jay fixed him with that what he said was the wrong thing.

"You're not very good at reassuring people, you know," Jay said flatly.

Zane dropped his gaze, ashamed. "Sorry."

Jay sighed. "It's okay, you're trying." He was silent for a moment. "How do you deal with it?"

"Deal with what?"

"Not knowing about your family. It must be driving you crazy."

"It is vexing, I admit. I don't know where they are, or if they're in trouble. They may be dead for all I can remember."

Jay was horrified. "How can you say something like that so calmly!?"

Zane shrugged, his expression a mix of confusion and distress. "I don't remember anything about my family. What they looked like, their names, if I … if I cared about them … There's nothing there, Jay. It is… difficult to feel anything for people I can't remember."

Jay didn't reply, the look on his face absolutely heartbreaking. Zane could tell his friend was trying once again not to cry.

"I've upset you. I'm sorry."

"Geez, Zane! You've got nothing to apologize for!" Jay fidgeted as though he was conflicted about something. After a moment, he made his decision, startling Zane by wrapping his arms around him and pulling him into his second hug of the night. "If it'll help, you can be an honorary member of my family. My parents like you, I'm sure they won't mind."

Zane didn't know how to react. An awkward smile crossed his face, but he didn't push Jay away. He didn't know what to make of the offer. "Jay…"

"No, no arguments! Until you find your own family, my parents are now also your parents. You're stuck with us."

Zane let out a weak laugh. "Okay, if I must."

"You're the little brother, though. I always wanted a little brother. Come 'ere!" Jay pulled Zane down into a sudden headlock, giving him a noogie.

"Hey!" Zane easily wriggled out of Jay's grasp. He turned to give Jay an annoyed look, but stopped short when he noticed the happy grin plastered across Jay's face. Somehow the conversation had gotten turned around on him, but he'd accomplished what he had set out for. Jay seemed to be feeling much better. It would be wrong of him to refuse his offer now.

Zane couldn't help the small smile that crossed his face. Jay tended to have that effect on people. Somehow, he had the ability to make the others feel better, even when he was the one having the problem in the first place.

"So, you are feeling better now?" Zane asked, trying to get back to the original topic. Jay fixed him with a confused look for a moment before he figured out what Zane was talking about.

"A little. I mean, I'm still going to worry, but that's inevitable. I can't let that drag me down, though." Jay's face split with a huge grin. "Especially now that I have a little brother to look out for."

Zane's smile was strained. "Yes."

"Well, I should probably let you go back to sleep."

"Yes. Goodnight, Jay."

Zane got up and headed back to his own bunk as Jay rolled over, clutching his golden weapon once again. "'Night, Zane." In moments, Jay was once again asleep. This time, he was much calmer.

Zane, meanwhile, lay awake, starting at the top of the bunk above him, suddenly feeling wide awake.