Doctor Peach had returned with Glynda, and was giving Jaune a physical, while her Aunt Glynda escorted Ren away for a 'meeting' with Ozpin. Overall, Jaune was feeling better. The extreme pain that her body had suffered was now just a dull ache, that was slowly fading into the background.
"This should help with any physical pain." Peach informed the young blond as she applied a path to the small of her back. "Glynda mentioned this change seemed much more intense than the last."
"It was."
"How so?"
"It felt like my body was burning, like someone was trying to rip my insides out." Jaune replied, describing the agony she had suffered. "I started to…"
"Jaune?" Peach asked as she saw the depressed and desperate look that crossed Jaune's face for but a fraction of a moment. Her training told her what it symbolized, but she would need to hear Jaune say it. "What did you start to think about?"
"It's…"
"Jaune." Peach cut the young woman off. "I think I know, but I need to hear you say it."
"It's nothing."
"Jaune, I'm a trained therapist. I know the signs of desperation, and what those types of thoughts could lead to. This is not a judgment. I just need to know, so I can help you work through this."
"I wanted to die, okay?" Jaune snapped. "I want it all to stop. I want this whole situation to end… and…"
"It's okay Jaune. I'm not judging, but you do know that following through with such impulses would hurt quite a few people, right?"
"I know." Jaune sighed, her shoulders slumping, "I couldn't… but I wanted to."
"I can not fully imagine what it is like, or what you are having to suffer through, but you have loved ones that can help you. Loved ones that would do anything they could for you."
"No one can help me." Jaune sounded so utterly defeated as she spoke.
"We can, and we will." Peach spoke, her tone stern and comforting at the same time. "I want you to rest for now. We'll talk about these impulses and feelings at a later time, okay?"
"I guess."
"Just bear with it a little while longer. Show me that Arc stubbornness, please?"
Jaune just nodded, her body language still speaking loudly of her defeatist thoughts. "Rest, find something pleasant to distract yourself, I have a meeting to crash."
"I don't…"
"This has gone on long enough, far too long, actually." Peach informed the young blond woman, as she put some of her equipment back into her bag. "I intend to stop this foolishness, today. So hold on, give your Aunt and myself a chance to make this right, please?"
"Okay." Jaune replied as she crawled back into bed, and pulled her covers over her, while also picking up her scroll from the nightstand, where Ren had left it after he assisted her back to bed.
Jaune snuggled into her covers, looking for any warmth and comfort they could provide. She tapped out her passcode and opened the chat app on her scroll. She ignored the message from Pyrrha, Nora and Ruby. She didn't have a plausible excuse yet to offer so instead she moved to the ongoing chat she and Coco had been having. She heard the entry-way door open and close, as she began to type out a message.
Jaune: Coco, are you on?
Jaune waited for about five minutes.
Jaune: I guess not. 8(
Jaune: I'm back at Beacon… just feeling a little under the weather…
Jaune: Is that invite for coffee still good?
Jaune: I'll log back on, in a bit. TTYL.
Jaune had just closed the chat window and was considering trying to find some videos to occupy her time, when her scroll pinged, and a notification appeared on the screen. So she abandoned her current plan and reopened the chat.
Coco: Hey, Angel. 8)
Coco: Sorry, I was in class when you messaged me, so I couldn't respond right away. 8(
Coco: The coffee invite is always open for you. ;)
Jaune: If I'm feeling better, can we have it tomorrow?
Coco: Of course.
Coco: So, not feeling well? Anything I can help with?
Jaune: Just bad cramps, I'm a little early this time.
Coco: Where are you? I can drop by, a belly rub and a hot water bottle do wonders.
Jaune: Aunt Glynda's apartment. But it's easing up… and don't disguise your attempt to get your hands on my hot bod.
Coco: Can you blame me? 8*
Jaune: Not really. LOL
Coco: So if you feel better tomorrow?
Jaune: I would like to have that coffee with you.
Coco: Then it's a date! 8D
Jaune: LOL. Where should I meet you?
Coco: I can't skip classes, or I'd take you down to Vale… how about lunchtime at the cafeteria?
Jaune paused, she really did want to have that coffee with Coco, seeing as that bastard Sky had spoiled the first one. But the cafeteria at lunch meant she might run into her team and friends. No, correct that she would run into them, but she really did want to get to know Coco better.
Coco: Jaune?
Jaune: Sorry. Was just checking to see if Aunt Glynda had me scheduled for anything.
Coco: So?
Jaune: It's a date. 8*
Coco: 8D
Jaune: So where should we meet up?
Coco: At the main doors, we'll find a more private table, and then I'll get you my preferred hot beverage.
Jaune: I'm looking forward to it.
Coco: I have to jump off. Still got more classes. TTYL?
Jaune: TTYL.
Jaune minimized the chat window, and returned to her search for something to watch. Deciding short videos weren't in the cards, she opened the movie app she had installed, and began to peruse the selection of new offerings.
/=/
Ren was in over his head. What Headmaster Ozpin was divulging to him made no sense. It conflicted with everything he knew of the world, yet here Ren sat in the Headmaster's office listening to the older man speak of fairy tales being true. That magic was real, and that Jaune was in possession of nearly limitless powers. Ren's mind was still struggling with the fact that Jaune, his friend and teammate, was in reality a very attractive female. A thought that made him blush slightly.
"So Mr Lie Ren," Ozpin continued to speak, taking the young man's silence as acceptance of what he was being told. "That is the situation as far as you are concerned."
"There's more?" Ren asked, disbelieving there could be anything more to the incredible and unbelievable explanation.
"There is, but suffice to say those portions I have left out are not of concern for yourself. All I need is you to focus on Jaune's current situation. A situation that unfortunately you have found yourself tangled in."
"So what now?"
"Nothing much will change in regard to your participation. I still need you to support Jaune. Assist her when she needs to distance herself, for obvious reasons, and…"
"And?"
"Oz you can't." Glynda remarked.
'I can and I will." Ozpin replied.
"Sir?" Ren asked. His gut turning as he wasn't confident he wanted to know what else the Headmaster had in store.
"You will now take on the role as a protector, of sorts."
"I don't understand."
"There are individuals that covet Jaune's powers, and as such, until she is in full control of her abilities she will need to be protected." Ozpin continued, giving neither Glynda nor Ren a chance to speak. "If she EVER comes under attack, you are to assist her, in whatever manner you see as appropriate, to get Jaune and yourself out of the situation."
"Ozpin, you are skirting a very…"
The ding of the elevators preceded the entrance of what Ren and Gynda could only describe as agitated Doctor Peach. Dropping her bag at the elevator doors, she stormed forward and slammed her hands down on Ozpin's desk. Leaning her rather slight and short form in a menacing manner towards the Headmaster.
"Doctor Peach, what can…"
"You have to end this fucked up experiment." Peach snapped, her use of such language surprising everyone in attendance, "Jaune is undergoing immense physical and emotional trauma."
"I see, while I can understand your…"
"You don't understand one ounce of the shit that poor girl is going through." Peach growled, "IF you don't reverse this bull shit, she's going to break. She's already showing signs of cracking, or having a full emotional breakdown."
"Prevention of such an outcome is why…"
"Get your head out of your pretentious ass and fucking listen!" Peach cut him off, as Glynda started to move to her colleague's side, in an attempt to maybe calm down the pink haired woman.
"Okay." Ozpin responded with a slight tone of annoyance tinting his voice. "Please continue. Help me understand the situation as you see it."
"Reverse the procedure, or that poor girl is going to shatter into pieces. Do it before it's too late. Before she…" Peach paused, and gave Glynda a glance before continuing. "Jaune is becoming suicidal."
"You can't be serious!" Ozpin responded, shock flooding his tone, while Ren gasped, and Glynda bolted for the elevator, totally abandoning the conversation. Ren wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that he heard the Deputy Headmistress whimper something along the lines of 'Not losing her baby.'
"As serious as a fucking heart attack." Peach growled. "Reverse this, fix it, cancel it. Do whatever it is you need to do… or you will lose your precious maiden, and… and a family will suffer the premature loss of a loved one… at your hands."
/=/
Glynda burst through the door of her quarters, panic having fully seized her heart as she barrelled through the halls of Beacon. Those she encountered in the hallway stepping back, clearing the way for her. Not seeing Jaune in the main living area, she rushed over to the partially opened door to Jaune's room. Upon seeing Jaune's form asleep in her bed, Glynda stopped, and exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing heart. Without a second thought, she moved over to the bed. Kicking off her heels, she climbed in beside her, wrapping her arms around her, and burying her face into Jaune's messy main of golden hair.
"I'm not losing you." She whispered as tears began to fill her eyes.
Glynda felt Jaune snuggle back into her, seeking the warmth and comfort Glynda's body offered. It was moments later that Glynda herself succumbed to her own stress and fell asleep, with Jaune pulled tightly against her.
/=/
"Jaune's mom had a relapse." Ren lied to Nora and Pyrrha upon being questioned by the pair when he returned to JNPR's dorm. He had been excused by the Headmaster as Doctor Peach and his discussion started to devolve into a shouting match. "I think his dad called, if I remember correctly…"
"So he was sick during combat class because of stress?" Pyrrha asked, her eyes and voice openly showing her concern for their blond leader. "Has he left Beacon?"
"I'm pretty sure he'll be returning." Ren answered.
"Pretty sure?" Nora asked.
"He didn't really say, while I was escorting him to the bullheads." Ren once again lied, doing his best to use the key phrases Ozpin had given him to build a story around.
Nora eyes her partner and nearly lifelong friend. She could tell there was something up with him. That the explanation he was offering her and Pyr-Pyr wasn't accurate. Believable yes, but accurate no. But she kept her suspicions to herself. With the concern Pyr-Pyr was showing, she didn't want to upset the champion even further. So she decided to bide her time until she and Ren were alone, before she would voice her concerns.
"How long will he be gone?" Pyrrha asked.
"A week, maybe longer… depends on how his mom is doing." Ren once again lied, knowing full well Jaune was hiding out in professor Goodwitch's quarters. "We should probably start collecting his school work, like we did the last time he had to leave."
Pyrrha and Nora just nodded in agreement.
/=/
It was a welcoming feeling that Jaune woke up with. Her Aunt Glynda, holding her tight as she slept, reminding Jaune of times long ago. Times when Gylnda would visit Ansel, spending the night cuddling Jaune as they slept. Jaune felt a little bad at trying to work her way free of her Aunt's embrace. It was so warm, calming and comforting that she didn't want to separate herself from it. Also, her Aunt looked so peaceful that Jaune felt a twinge of regret in possibly having to wake her up.
"Jaune?" Glynda asked sleepily, as she was roused from her slumber by Jaune's movements, "Everything okay, sweetheart? Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes." Jaune replied as she worked her way free of her Aunt's embrace and the covers. "You should rest some more."
"No, I need to get up and get ready." Glynda replied as she picked up Jaune's scroll and checked the time on the Lock Screen. "I have classes soon."
"Why, did you? You know."
"Because you needed it, and so did I." Glynda replied without a hint of hesitation.
"You?"
"Doctor Peach said some disturbing things when she was yelling at Ozpin. Things that made me very concerned… no, that's wrong… they made me afraid."
"I…"
"I can't lose you, Jaune. I can't. I wouldn't survive it." Glynda offered as she moved towards Jaune and pulled her into a hug. "We're going to fix this, okay?"
"Okay." Jaune replied.
"Get some breakfast, I'm going to get ready for class."
"You want me to put on coffee, while you have a shower?"
"That would be, delightful, sweetheart."
/=/
"What's eating her?" Nora asked as she and the remainder of JNPR sat down with their sister team, RWBY to have breakfast.
"Where's Jaune?" Ruby asked, totally ignoring Nora's question.
"His mother had a relapse." Pyrrha informed the petite young woman. "He's going to be away for a bit."
"How long?"
"Too long." Nora answered, before attempting to steer the conversation back to her original question. "So why does Yang-A-Rang look like she ran out of her favourite shampoo?"
"It's nothing." Yang muttered in response, ignoring that someone had purposefully made a pun for her. "Forget about it."
"She's upset about her 'Special Class'." Blake informed the table from behind her book.
"Blake!" Yang groaned.
"How is the CBT course going?" Ren asked, as he started on his breakfast; of bacon, eggs and toast.
"Yeah dish!" Nora added, before shovelling a forkful of syrup drenched pancakes into her mouth.
"I don't see why everyone is interested in Yang's course. It's not like it is helping her." Weiss commented as she picked at her own meal.
"What?" Yang asked, dropping her fork onto her half empty plate. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just what I said." Weiss replied, "It is supposed to help you with decision-making, and impulse control… none of which you seem to be improving in."
"I'm improving." Yang retorted. "Besides, you give up a free period to take a course that involves you being in the same room as Sky Lark and see how much you like it."
"Is he that bad?" Pyrrha asked, her tone hinting at her distaste for the young man and his team as a whole.
"Worse." Yang replied.
"How so?" Ren entered the conversation, with his own question.
"Where to begin." Yang replied with a snort. "I actually like the course, even if it takes up my free period. It's helping… but Sky… he has to be the most misogynistic perverse asshole I've ever met."
"He took one look at Doctor Peach, the instructor for the 'extra course' and started leering at her, but it's what he said that made my skin crawl…"
"Yang?" Blake asked, lowering her book to look her partner in the eyes.
"It was disgusting and pathetic at the same time." Yang stated as she pushed her empty tray to the centre of the table. "I mean Cardin is an ass, but compared to Sky and his comments…"
"What did he say?" Blake asked.
"Ruby, cover your ears." Yang spoke as she looked directly at her little sister.
"Yang." Ruby moaned, "I'm not a little child. I drink milk."
"You're not hearing this… cover your ears." Watching as Ruby huffed and then followed her directions, Yang nodded before continuing. "He looked straight at Doctor Peach and with that stupid grin of his…"
"If you don't feel comfortable saying it." Ren offered, "Don't say it. We don't need to know."
"He told Doctor Peach… 'You look like the type of girl that likes extra sausage on her pizza… want to skip the pizza and just get the sausage?' " Yang shook her head and shivered. Blake, Ren, Nora and Pyrrha all had looks of disgust spread across their faces.
"I don't get it." Weiss commented. "Pizza with sausage is delicious. Why would you not have the pizza, and just have the sausage?"
"Seriously?" Blake asked, looking at the SDC Heiress in disbelief, while the others just rolled their eyes at the obvious proof of how sheltered a life Weiss had lived. "I'll… I'll explain it to you later."
"What's to explain?" Weiss asked with a tilt of her head, while the rest of the table sighed and shook their heads.
"Are you done?" Ruby asked rather loudly, her ears still covered by her hands. "Can I remove my hands now?"