All characters belong to the creators of Lego Ninjago: the Masters of Spinjitzu TV show and are not my own.

Chapter 11

The Heart of the Matter

Low, rhythmic beeping filled the room. Feet shuffled down the hall; voices murmured outside. Jay sniffled.

Zane handed him the kerchief from his pocket.

"Thanks."

Cole watched as Zane placed his hand on Jay's back, comforting in the only way he knew how in that moment. As they sat, Wu fought for his life in an old hospital bed. His gaze drifted - Wu's chest rose slightly, held, then fell, only to rise and fall again in the same way.

"We should have been here sooner." Head rising, he saw Jay as he looked past the floor. His head rose in a heated glare.

"Jay, I... I'm sorry! I really thought-"

"You thought what? That he was dead? I told you we should have gone to a hospital! But noooo - you HAD to tell me he was dead." Jay stood as his voice continued to rise. "IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, HE MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT IN TIME TO GET BETTER TREATMENT!"

"Jay, I don't think that yelling will help Sensei Wu's predicament." Zane said in an attempt to calm him.

"Quiet, Cat Boy!"

"Leave Zane out of this!" Cole implored, angry. "He's just trying to help. If it weren't for him, Sensei would be dead right now." No one missed the low note his voice took, the chilling fact sobering both parties. In his anger, Cole had joined Jay in standing. As the blue ninja sat, Cole lowered himself into his chair. He was sitting closest to Wu, directly at his side. Jay watched the cold coffee in his cup as Zane watched the EKG monitor from beside him, both men in chairs at the foot of the bed. No one was going home tonight.

"You look like you took quite a tumble." Cole turned to the kind nurse next to him. She spoke quietly so as to not wake Jay and Zane. "Do you want some scrubs to change into?"

"No thanks." The nurse nodded. Moving to the other side of the bed, she changed one of the bags hanging beside the old sensei.

"Your grandfather will be just fine." Cole didn't bother to correct her, instead nodding his head slightly to her gentle smile. She looked to the others. "Your friends really care about you." Cole raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, they're staying with you, aren't they?" She didn't say it sarcastically, but more so to point out what appeared obvious to her. Her tone suggested that she wanted him to know what she assumed to be true; she cared about him.

"I guess."

"You guess?" she chuckled. "Son, not everyone would be willing to spend the night in a hospital room if it doesn't involve them." She smiled as she spoke, finishing her task. Walking toward him, she headed for the door. "You've got some good friends; hold on to them if you can." Patting his shoulder lightly, she walked into the bright hallway.

Cole turned to face his "grandfather." His old, weathered face was lined with age. Beard brushed and cleaned, its white was a far cry from the dingy brown that covered his robes. No matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise, he knew Jay was right. A heavy sigh left his lips as he watched the sensei's chest rise and fall. Leaning back, he let his mind lull him into a restless slumber.