Author's Note: Hello everyone and Happy 13th Anniversary Ninjago! I know I'm a few days late. I didn't mean it to be. I wanted to post this sooner but I figured it was much more fitting for a Ninjago fic to be updated on the show's anniversary. And then procrastination, detailing, etc. all got in the way, but finally, it's released on the week of the show's anniversary.

For Zenopatra13:
Hey man! Lovely to see you again!

Also yeah me too! He gives off the vibe that he's the number one shipper for everyone else yet he still has no idea how to talk to Nya without feeling like he's tripping over himself. I plan for him to be a matchmaker just to spite Kai's words of him not being a good wingman. It's the most canonical thing I've ever seen in Jay. I mean it's the same guy who literally saw Zane of all people take interest in someone, aka Pixal, and teased about it, even if it was only one moment in Rebooted. If they didn't have to deal with Overlord, I'm so certain Jay would've definitely pushed Zane to do something, get her number or something like that. He would. (NGL I would too cause Pixane just be too sweet.)

For Moonlight mm123:
Thank you. I've been trying my best on action. Like I said before, I'm mostly used to it on TMNT since I could look at the episodes/comics and use the scenes as templates, trying to describe it as best as I can. I feel like I could do more, but I'd have to try to not make it look... I guess overdone like in Mortal Kombat (Most fatalities are neat but in 2023 it's clear they began lacking in creativity and became a bit more lucrative instead). Not saying they're not capable of that if pushed too far, but I don't think anyone wants to see the Ninja do that. (*secretly looks over at my draft of overprotective Oni-Anacondrai Garmadad beating Chen like Kratos beats Heimdall*)

And I understand what you mean there about Ninjago being just a fictional world where nothing like Italy or Japan exists. The most we got of any sort of real-world counterparts is the Eastern mythology and cultures being referenced. (Great Devourer is a reference to Imoogi in Korean Mythology.) Heck, the flags on Destiny's Bounty have Chinese symbols meaning "dragon god." I know the Ninjago characters themselves don't have any real life ethnicities, but it is fascinating seeing so many headcanons of our main group, with appearances, languages, etc. You know all that.

I've mostly used to Cole being Italian because of VelvetPersona's work on here way back before season 2 was ever announced and her worldbuilding and romance writing is so gorgeous. I still envy it but the creator envy is not as crippling as it was years ago. (I might sneak in a bit of Korean later on because of Chosen by Destiny written by Black Shard if I feel like it. It's an interesting AU-ish fic. It's been completed for a long time now. Might not do that, but it's an interesting idea to see Cole be mixed-race.)

I'm also thinking about how people in the Never-Realm seem to know Spanish ("mala" being a feminine term for "bad" in Spanish, hence Wohira/Wojira being a she like the Great Devourer) and they called it an Old Tongue, which makes me think about the idea that maybe the First Spinjitzu Master didn't make every human/living being/beast in the realm, but he could've actually taken them there. Not saying Earth is one of the realms, I highly doubt it, but I wouldn't doubt that he got humans from somewhere else (seeing other realms have human/humanoid inhabitants) and decided to let them inhabit his world alongside many other things. Then he found those most worthy to have Elemental Powers, made them his guardians who would would then pass on these Elemental properties which makes a few elemental techniques lost to time cause they didn't get to live long enough to teach. (In my AU, other elemental abilities have been forgotten because the users didn't survive their own powers since Wu had to tell Lloyd to take control of his own power before it could control him, which indicates something like that has happened before.)

Basically I like the idea that the people have different ethnicities but they're able to speak "Common" (a TTRPG reference) between all these vast realms. There is no way Ninjargon reaches to different places. I mean the Ninja are able to understand people from the Never Realm, Cloud Kingdom, Imperium, and even Chima. So the language they all speak isn't really Ninjargon at all, but Common. Meanwhile, people from outside Ninjago can't even pronounce the name which indicates there's an older/forgotten name to it. (which wouldn't surprise me since the FSM was seen as a savior/creator-being and he wanted to bury the past (his own past) in the dirt. Yeah I'm biased about that man. Incredibly so.)

Sorry for rambling on for so long. I get excited when it comes to explaining things.

Anyways like I said in the last chapter, this one is a bit slow paced. Not gonna lie I definitely got lazy somewhere in the middle, but at least there is a surprise in the end. All in all, I hope you guys like it still!

Chapter 8: Window of Opportunity

It was already the next day.

Cole had no idea how time could simultaneously feel so slow yet pass by so damn fast. Maybe someone with time powers could understand that, but to him, there was no such thing. He set down the comb, fixing up the swept bangs he was so proud of while checking his outfit out in the reflection. He donned a more casual attire for the day. A dark gray sweatshirt with his black hoodie and matching black jeans while a cap sat before him, waiting for him to put the comb down already. Overall, it was just normal.

There was nothing notable about it. Mostly, it was just a case of blending in. He'd rather not be recognized and swarmed by fans, either he'd lose track of time or he'd have to resort to drastic measures to escape. Of course, he knew he didn't have to worry. It's not like his fanbase was ever-growing like Kai's. He swears the interactions with fans were feeding into his ego. Cole shook his head, to send the thought flying and fix his hair a bit before he finally relented the comb and grabbed the cap, preparing to head out.

There was just one problem about him leaving.

"And just where are you going?"

Ah yes. How could he forget? It was the one. The only. Dreaded chatterbox of a blue bird.

He stood in his way, blockading him in the bathroom while he had his hands on his hips. Cole really didn't want to deal with him at the moment.

"I'd say I'm not going anywhere but it already looks like you know exactly where I'm headed." Cole informed him.

"Hmm.." Jay hummed with a cocked eyebrow, "So you are visiting her?"

"Only for answers," Cole replied in a matter-of-factly type tone.

"Oh," Jay's eyebrow fell back down and his face scrunched up into a sort of frown, "Well, that sounds awfully selfish of you, Cole. She's practically stuck in one place and you're taking advantage of that. It kinda doesn't sound like a good thing, you know."

Cole gave a frown of his own. He knew what it sounded like. He's been thinking about it since the day before and it didn't settle right within him, yet he's been trying to justify it.

"If you had weird things happening to you and suddenly a person just pops up out of nowhere claiming to know you, wouldn't you want answers too?" Again. Cole was trying to justify it.

"Yeah, of course I do. I'd want answers, but," The Scandinavian got interrupted when the taller man walked out, shoving his shoulder aside.

"But nothing," Cole immediately shut him down before he could ramble on.

However just when he was out on the deck, he faltered in his step and felt a small pain of regret.

'Scopare.' He cursed at himself.

He didn't mean to sound like a jerk to him. It was just Jay. Sure he has this little dramatic narrative that he seems to have written in his mind, if only for his own entertainment. Harmless, but annoying entertainment. Cole would have to apologize the moment he could. For now though, he still wanted answers and he hoped Sam had them.

The ebony-haired man went to the side of the ship and hopped off, tucking and rolling just as he landed on the rooftop. He honestly was glad that Nya decided to park close to one of the buildings. Destiny's Bounty was almost sitting right on top of it, if it weren't for it technically idling a few feet in the air. Nothing too drastic for this guy.

Cole would have used his golden weapon but again, he was going incognito. He couldn't afford attention at this time. He was still a little bitter at the interviewers for hogging his dad and using the pride he held for him to get a name out. He couldn't ever blame his dad. Not for being so proud of him like that and saying his name to them. He more than likely would one day do the same thing too. The ebony-haired man shook his head and gave a small chuckle.

He climbed down the fire escape of the building and finally touched his feet on the ground. He would've loved a rooftop run, but then it wouldn't feel the same without the guys.

'Maybe another time,' he figured.

He walked from the alleyway and to the sidewalk, listening to the bustling city in the background and adjusting his cap on his head. No one's even glanced at him yet. Good. By now, he wasn't too far from the hospital.

By the time the building was finally in his view, he couldn't help but feel something… foreboding about it. Maybe it was the vastness of the building itself, the memories of his past that he'd rather never bring up, or… perhaps it was something else entirely. None-the-less, he pushed through, heading up to the building and walking through the sliding doors. He had to go to the desk to mention he was visiting someone and was told to sign in. Finally he made his way down.

'It's just one visit. It's just one visit. It's just one visit.' The master of Earth kept telling himself.

At least, that was what he was telling himself the whole time while he forced himself to go forward, feeling the hallway look so big yet feel so constricting around him. The bronze-skinned man tried to ignore the smell of pine cleaners and almost found himself sneezing at the overwhelming aroma, but thankfully he held it back.

'It's just one visit. Get answers and get out. That's it.' He thought, already knocking on the door before he put his hand on the lever handle and turned it. He could keep on trying to convince himself of this, that it was the better option, yet nothing he'd say ever stopped himself from feeling so….

Antsy...

'Was that the right word?' Sam wondered.

Well, whatever word was the right one, the brunette had been feeling it all day. She felt it all night too. Although plenty of other people had claimed that it was safe there in the hospital room, she still considered it an unfamiliar environment. In doing so though, it took so long for her to even sleep.

The nightmares forcing her to wake up didn't help her feelings any. All in all, if she was being honest, the brunette didn't get to sleep comfortably until she saw the sky gently lighting up with streaks of pink and orange across the morning sky from the window that was on the other side of the room. Even if there weren't any nightmares of Pythor with his gaping maw or someone's claws reaching her face, all she got was a state of dreamlessness. It was just dark but she could still hear enough.

In fact, hours later, she heard the wooden door creak open. Her uncovered eye cracked a bit and in her blurry vision, she watched the form of a person walking into the room and checking in the drawers and the heart monitor she was still hooked to. All the while, she kept herself as still as possible, not really wanting to interact with anyone yet. It took a little bit, and perhaps her dozing off for a short while and waking up again, to see that the person checking in had left who knows how long ago. It had been hours since then and she still couldn't shake the feeling of being so antsy.

The tan-skinned girl had noticed the IV was not stuck in her anymore and it looked like she was allowed to move around, just as long as she didn't accidentally pop the stitches. Of course, she didn't really need to be told that part. She'd seen more than enough injury. A thought crossed her mind at that moment.

'Did they...' She wrapped her arms around her torso, holding the less-exposed tracksuit one of the hospital staff gave to her the night before close to her form with a pincer-like grip in her hands. 'Did the doctors see them?'

Sam's breath was nearly caught in her throat at the idea. Surely, they would've questioned her if they did.

However, even if they did see them and asked, she wouldn't have been able to answer without being looked at like she was crazy or with pity. She already didn't like having to show her eye to the nurse accompanying her the day before. Sam definitely didn't want anyone else to know about her eye, let alone her-.

"Hey, Sam." She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the voice mention for her and felt a tap on her shoulder.

The brunette spun on her feet, doing a swift turn. The Italian man was, unfortunately, a victim to the wild mane that picked up in her little spin.

"Ack!" He let out the moment the hair swatted in his face and backed up a bit.

"Oh!" Sam's eyes, or rather just her more visible left eye widened. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in."

"You're telling me." He replied half-heartedly after he rubbed his face. Her hair felt kinda... grainy? Like sand? Weird..

"What're you doing here?" Sam asked.

Cole looked at her, finally taking his hand off his cheek and raising an eyebrow. "You forgot already? I said I was gonna visit you again, didn't I?"

Sam's face had a dust of pink and she stuttered, "Oh, oh! Right. You did say that. I guess I had so many other things in my mind that it just hadn't come up."

"Other things?" He inquired, "Like what?"

"Like..." Her voice cut off and she shifted her weight back and forth on her feet, gently rocking herself side to side, while her arms crossed.

Cole noted the small signs of nervousness. Albeit, they were obvious signs, but signs of nervousness nonetheless. God dammit, he already knew he was intimidating, despite everything to make himself look more casual and he was even in a more relaxed pose to not show off the otherwise obvious stature he had. He wasn't trying to look scary.. Or was it something else? He shook the thought away.

"Forget I asked. How about we just start over?" He cleared his throat and reached a hand, "Hi, I'm Cole."

'Why the fuck am I being so awkward at this?!' He mentally screamed at himself, even if it was impossible to do so.

"Oh." The brunette finally let go of herself and grasped his hand right back in a shake. "Hello, I'm Sam."

"It's nice to meet you, Sam. How's your day been? I mean, aside from the scare?" Damn, he sounded so generic.

"It's been alright... I guess." She let go of his hand, still feeling that bit of antsy-ness.

What was she supposed to say? She knew she didn't mistake him for anyone else the first time they met. It was impossible to do so with his bronze skin, dark hair, silvery-gray eyes and even his voice. Well, his eyes did have a darker gray at one point, but something must've happened for his pupils to have gone brighter. She did wonder what that was.

"I..." Cole tried to start before he finally just let out a huff and sighing, taking the cap off and letting his hair fluff back out in its freedom. "I'm sorry. I'm usually not so awkward about talking. Then again, every time I did, Jay usually just filled in the extra space you know?"

"Jay?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, just the blue ninja you saw. He's the Master of Lightning but more like he's got a mouthful of lightning instead. Literally, he's the Mouth of Lightning."

"Sounds like he's got a lot to say." Sam noted.

"He has a not-so-secret talent of being a chatterbox." The Master of Earth chuckled.

The brunette eased up a bit, sitting on the sofa closer to the window. The sun gently shined her hair a bit. Her hair already looked dark brown, almost black, but the sun definitely showed more of the brown color there. Not that, Cole was saying anything. He just thought it looked a little pretty. He could think that and not have it as a romantic compliment... unlike someone he knew. He could already see Jay doing that stupid, mischievous cat-like smile. Thankfully, he was never the type to read minds... If that was even possible.

Cole shook his head, trying to remain focused. He came here for answers. Not for looking stupid, leaning against the side of the bed.

"Look..." He went on, "I'm glad you're doing alright but.. I'm still confused about how you know me and all that. I mean.."

Sam was surprisingly more understandable than he thought. She nodded. "I get it. Some strange girl you've never seen before claims to know you and all that."

"Yeah, so..." He sighed. Damn, this shouldn't be so difficult for him. "How about this? I ask a question, you answer, then ask one of your own and I answer. You know, go back and forth? Is that alright?"

The tan skinned girl nodded. "Yeah."

'It's just some questions. Nothing else,' The ebony-haired Italian thought to himself. 'Yeah. Just a little Q&A. How hard can this be?'

"Alright. I got one. Were you ever a dancer?" He inquired.

"Why'd you say that?" She responded right back.

"No reason. It's just when we were fighting the Serpentine the day before you kinda rolled across one of their backs and it's just... something I've seen in swing dancing." He felt his own face heat up. Was that a bit weird to ask and bring up now? The man was genuinely curious. She did hold her own against the Serpentine that ambushed her and all.

"I..." Sam's more visible left eye looked a little foggy for a moment but she gave a short dulcet hum. "I guess you could say I was interested in dancing at one point. It was so long ago though."

Something about the way she spoke in the past tense struck a chord in his mind, but he shook it off.

'Keep focus, Cole.' He told himself. 'Just ease into the harder questions and... leave.'

Something else also told him that it wouldn't be so easy but he elected to push that feeling aside.

The spyglass was held up to one of the serpentine's red eyes. His glare remained on the window, catching a glimpse of the teen girl sitting down.

"We have a vis-ssual of the girl," The younger Hypnobrai warrior hissed, dragging the s out pretty far. "Do we get her now?"

"No," The answer was immediate. The older Venomari took the spyglass from the Hypnobrai and looked through it, seeing the brunette-haired girl with someone. "She is not alone. It looks like one of the ninjas is with her."

"It's Ninja." The younger serpentine corrected, only to receive a hiss and had to dodge the hallucinatory venom spat at him. The venom splattered on the ground beside him.

"We wait for her to have a moment of solitude. When all is quiet and there is very little human activity happening." The older Venomari flickered his tongue out and brought the spyglass down from one of his main eyes.

"That could take days for all we know." The Hypnobrai still protested the dark green Serpentine.

He bared his teeth at him, preparing another spit before he withdrew them and shoved the spyglass back to the light blue serpent person.

"We will not fail when the time comes." He hissed. He knew they couldn't go back empty handed. Not with that violent, violet Serpentine King being so itchy in the scales to have this girl for whatever reason. In his view, he caught sight of a dark feathered bird in the distance. It was the Ninja's pet bird. He knew that from seeing it circle back to the one suited up in white.

He grabbed the Hypnobrai by the shoulder, hissing an order to hide before the bird could spot them.

He just came here for questions, yet there weren't many answers. Cole noted the way she acted. How she either hesitated or looked scared to answer when it came to a few questions. Even the ones that were normal and he repeated from the day before, she still answered but there was sometimes a tone of grief or fear that she was trying so hard to hide. He even tried to ask about the bandages that were still around her right eye since he knew there was no injury upon first arriving at the hospital and she did just about anything to avoid answering.

However, other and much more simpler questions did lead to some answers and well.. She did ease up a bit more.

"You know, for someone who looks like a quiet and awkward person, you are quite talkative." Cole commented.

"Oh…" Sam felt her face heat up in embarrassment and looked like she shrunk into herself. "I'm sorry."

Cole looked confused. "What for?"

"I... Let's just say growing up, talking a lot got me into... trouble." Her gaze averted from him and she was looking down into her hands, fiddling with the sheet.

The bronze-skinned man hadn't considered her being a runaway like he was as a possibility. That suddenly put some of her mannerisms into perspective. From the sound of it, her life prior to encountering him must've been in a pretty bad place. Meanwhile, he did have an alright life, sort of, if he didn't count for the grief that overcame the two men in the house, before his dad sent him away to shape him into a mold that he just didn't fit.

'Oh mio Dio! Did I sound insensitive to her? To her whole situation? This whole time? Is the whole thing that happened to her the reason why she has her eye covered?!' He hoped that wasn't the case at all.

He genuinely didn't mean to sound like an insensitive prick if he did the entire time. The Italian looked to see the girl's head hanging down and her hair hiding her face, unable to read any possible emotions that could be running through her head at the moment. Finally, he spoke up.

"Well, I don't think you're going to get in trouble with me just for talking." Sam looked back to Cole who had his hand settled on the back of the sofa, barely reaching for her. "I mean, I've been listening to Jay talk for a long time, like a really long time, and personally, between you and him, I think I like listening to you better."

Her blue-hazel eye remained on him and her face warmed up a bit. She sounded better than whoever this Jay really was? Her lips barely curled up a bit, forming a small smile. Cole had noticed the gentle breeze that flowed by. Oddly enough, the window was closed.

"Merci." She spoke just above a whisper.

He had to rack through his mind just to translate what she said. It only took a moment for him to realize that she thanked him.

'She's French?... Huh. Neat,' He thought before answering with a chuckle, "No problem, lady."

Oh boy. That was Cole's first thought when he climbed onto the deck, already seeing the bluebird in view. Jay was sitting on a chair he no doubt brought out from inside just to sit in the middle of the deck. Cole really didn't want to know how long he was waiting there, but he could guess, considering how committed Jay sometimes was when it came to bits.

"Sooo, anything?" Jay had a raised eyebrow.

Cole hummed, "Hmm. No. Not yet. I think she does know something though so I'm definitely visiting again."

Perhaps, he should've thought through what he was going to say to Jay first because now he sees him looking at him with a small smug smile while keeping a raised eyebrow.

"Oh really?"

"You know, you're a talkative bluebird who isn't afraid to let anyone know what's on his mind, so it's kinda freaky with you having short replies."

"Is that so~o?" Jay asked, dragging the o out quite a bit.

"Yes." Cole replied firmly.

"Alright.. Alright… You wanna know what's on my mind?" Jay finally stood up from the chair he set in the middle of the deck. Cole still wondered how long the Scandinavian was there. The shorter man in blue didn't give him a chance to decline the offer.

"Well, I believe what you said earlier is absolute tull og tøys. I mean really? First it's nothing and now you're going back? What exactly happened to getting answers with Sam while you were there?"

"We were just talking."

"Uh huh. Talking right."

"I still don't get why you think that there's anything more."

"Because you don't go out of your way to talk to anyone new! I mean you don't talk to people outside of us at all and suddenly you're actively seeking out to talk to this one girl who, might I remind you, seems to know you and you've dreamt about and doodled despite only seeing her once before that doodle?"

"Jay, again, she's a stranger. I don't know why you're so wrapped up in this narrative you've written."

"Yeah, sure, a stranger." Jay put his hands on his hips, hissing so sarcastically at him that the earth master wasn't so sure that all the Fangpyre venom didn't get expelled from him, "Cole, I spent hours into the night and the next day and I still taste the burnt rubber and dirt from you speeding off to her rescue."

"Zane sensed danger, the Serpentine is still a threat, and we all saw she needed help." He listed the things off so easily, " It was just a coincidence that it was her that we rescued."

"Right… A coincidence." He kept that stupid raised eyebrow at him.

Cole shook his head and groaned, rubbing his eyes in frustration before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh, "Look, Jay. If it makes you feel better, if someone just falls out of the sky and I happen to be the person to catch them, then I'll consider fulfilling your stupid romantic narrative you've got written out in your little head."

Jay laughed softly. "Yeah, that'd be funny. It'd be even funnier if it was her."

Cole just rolled his eyes at him, pushing him out of his personal bubble. Still his blue brother was persistent about it.

"Yeah right. As if that'll happen."

'Not your dream girl and you don't have feelings for her, ræva mi.' Jay thought sarcastically, watching his ebony-haired brother-in-arms already head out for the second time that week.

He knows he sees something with them. He literally saw it upon the first moment and connected it faster than the blockhead did when Cole was venting about his dream to Zane. He was a little hurt, but did come to an understanding that he wanted a sort-of clarification of his dream as well and Zane did sound like the best option to go to. There was Sensei Wu, but the old man wasn't around. He was off to Mimir knows where and he, along with his shinobi brothers despite their differences, all hoped he would return in one piece.

Jay kept his mantis-green eyes on Cole and watched him drive to the hospital to see Sam again and yet he supposedly was only visiting for answers, but the Master of Lightning had doubts about that now. He knew answers weren't easily given and if Sam doesn't have any, then why was he even bothering to visit again? Why put all this effort, even if it's little compared to the grand scheme of things, just to see her?

Maybe there was something. Something that Jay was already figuring out and it's taking Cole too long to see. Nonetheless, if this did continue on, he was definitely taking matters into his own hands one of these times.

"Jay! Are you coming?" Kai called to him.

He looked back to the Ninja in Red and gave a smirk underneath his mask.

"Oh definitely. See ya back at the Bounty." He started his Storm Fighter.

"Hey! You're not having a moment alone with Nya!" Kai yelled back at him.

He only got a short cackle in response and Jay was already speed flying back to their home.

It was already the next day when he saw her again and this time he looked different, or rather, he looked more... rugged. A mess. He was panting and sat down, collapsing on the chair and pulling his mask off with a heavy sigh. His head was tilted back on the top of the chair.

"You... would not believe the trouble we got through here." He panted and huff, letting go of his scythe and having it lean on the wall. His other hand ruffled his hair out and Sam bit back a chuckle of amusement over his obvious fluffiness.

"What? Was it some Serpentine?" Sam asked, still forcing back that chuckle but it eventually faded.

The Master of Earth leaned his head into a hand and sighed. "We thought so, but apparently not. We haven't been able to spot them other than that surprise party of yours." He chuckled to which Sam nodded in response. "Well, we'll still patrol and keep an eye out for them still. Anyways, what's new with you?"

"Umm. Well, the doctor and nurses finally agreed to let me out tomorrow afternoon." She smiled. "As nice as it was here, I don't think I would've stayed sane being in one place for too long."

"Oh, really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Do you have anywhere in mind that you're going?"

Sam was silent for a moment before answering, "I'll think of something."

She hesitated again. He noted. The master of earth nodded. "Alright. Well, when the time comes, I'll see you off, okay?"

The brunette gave a small smile and nodded, "That'd be nice."

Yet another day, he started from back on the Bounty again. Cole admitted to himself that he rushed through the training just to leave again. He still had Jay's little smug face burnt into his head. The Master of Earth had to once more push him out of his personal bubble just so he'd stop momentarily. He still didn't get why Jay had to insinuate the reason for Cole visiting Sam had to be anything more than trying to press for answers. Answers he swears she has yet it's like something, or perhaps, someone had a tight hold on her and whoever or whatever it was, just didn't ease the grip on her any.

Now she was going to leave. Off to who knows where and Cole had no idea where'd she go. She said her old home wasn't on any map nowadays, it'd be hard to pinpoint her location. Any opportunity or hope he did have for getting answers for the repeating dream or why she circled around in his head would be dashed away like crumbs on a countertop.

"Hey Nya, weird question." He voiced, standing before her door. That's right. He came to the other ebony-haired person to see something real quick.

"Shoot." He heard her command from inside her room.

"Would it be weird of me to ask for some extra clothes?" He asked.

There wasn't an answer. Not at first. Instead, he watched the door open up and saw the shorter woman in front of him with a hand on her hip and a raised eyebrow.

"What?" She looked at him with a confused face.

"Do you have any extra clothes you don't typically use anymore?" He clarified.

Now there was some intrigue. Both of her eyebrows were raised and she had a

"Is this for that girl you keep visiting and Jay is insisting you have feelings for?" She asked, already heading back into her room and looking through her closet.

Cole immediately groaned and face palmed. "I don't. Per l'amor di Dio, I don't get why he thinks that."

"Probably because it's one of the few times you've ever interacted with a girl before." She suggested in a teasing tone.

"I've interacted with girls before," He almost sounded so offended so damn fast.

"Consistently." She giggled for a moment, "You're seeing her and talking to her consistently. So maybe Jay sees something. Other than that, I don't know, but I do know he's convinced and you know how he is when he's convinced about something. I mean, he's not as bad as Kai but…"

"No. No. I get it." Cole sounded defeated, "I know."

The pattern was already familiar to him by now. He walked in, signed in, and headed down the hallway to the room. He clutched the bag of extra clothes in hand and made his stride down the hall. Although he felt somewhat eager to see her off, something in him felt odd. Maybe it was the nurses scrambling around him or the police talking to security, yet he paid little attention to them.

His hand was already knocking on the door in a familiar pattern for Sam to know it was him. There wasn't an answer. He turned the lever handle and walked in with a small welcoming smile.

"Hey, Sam.. I know this is your last day here and you probably don't need it but Nya said you could borrow some of her clothes if you… want to.." His smile dropped so fast that the speed could've made Jay almost die of jealousy.

His silvery-gray eyes flicked around and all he could see was that the once pristine room had turned into a mess. It looked like a whirlwind went right through. The entire bed, frame, mattress and all, was flipped to the side on the floor. The little alarm button meant for emergencies looked disabled, broken even. The IV bag was on the ground, popped open and the contents spilled all over the floor. The drawer that was on the side of the room looked like it got broken into as well.

The worst of it all was the window.

The awning window was only supposed to open to a certain point at an angle like it's supposed to but the hinges at the top were busted right off. The window was on the ground and the inner layer of glass was broken. The morning wind was a gentle breeze flowing into the room and making the curtains barely sway.

The mess was present but the person who resided in the room was gone.

This really was her last day here.

She's gone.

Author's Note: Again first off, translations before they get lost. Be warned, there are some swears because you mean to tell me that a bunch of teenagers without adult supervision wouldn't swear? I believe the Ninja should've been allowed to, even if it'd be censored via language barrier or the classic bleeps. (It's also just really funny watching the unnecessary censorship clips of them. XD)

*Scopare (Italian) - Fuck
*Oh mio Dio (Italian) - Oh my God
*Merci (French) - Thank you
*tull og tøys (Norwegian) - nonsense
*ræva mi (Norwegian) - my ass
*Per l'amor di Dio (Italian) - For God's sake

So, you see what I mean? I got lazy somewhere in the middle and it looks obvious that I did. I'm telling myself it's alright because it happens. Also, I just wanna get the plot rolling. I didn't mean to make it look messy but hey, the chapter's arrived and I'm actually excited for the other chapters after this one. I'd tell you why but that'd be spoilers and I'm trying hard not to spoil anything.

Anyways, aside from the mess, I hope you guys liked the chapter. If you did, you know what to do, leave a favorite, kudos, likes, follows and reviews/comments. I'll be sure to check in and read them.

Other than that, I'll see you guys next time. Bye!