AN: This is a rewrite of the orginally posted chapter five. After some feed back it became apparent that the orginal broke the flow of the story and felt like time skip. So I have corrected this by pulling some aapropiate content from chapter six and creating some new. This is the longest chapter so far, but I think the length is needed. Thank you to everyone that has offered feedback, either through here or AO3.

/=====/

Coco sat on the floor of the waiting room, her back pressed against the wall. She constantly wrung her hands and licked her lips, obvious signs to Blake and Velvet of Coco's agitation, and to be honest they couldn't blame her. Considering what they saw in that small room after Professor Goodwitch ripped the door from the wall. Doctor Peach had been lighting fast, bodily shoving people out of the way to get to Jaune, while simultaneously calling in the emergency.

Now they were sitting in the waiting room, Professor Goodwitch having been forced to leave in order to report to the Headmaster. She took Ren with her to provide additional information on the event, as she had not personally witnessed it. Brown and amber eyes watching the distressed young woman across from them. Both doing their best not to look at the dark stains on her clothes, and the slightly reddish brown tint on her hands.

They had tried to get Coco to wash, and even offered her a change of clothes, that Velvet had gotten Yatsuhashi to drop off. She refused it all, and just plunked her ass down beside the entryway doors to the treatment area. Just past those doors, all three knew Doctor Peach was working hard to save Jaune's life.

"Jaune's going to be okay, Coco." Velvet offered, in an attempt to ease her friend's agitation.

"Is she?" Coco snapped. "You know that for sure, Bun-Bun? Can you guarantee it?"

"Coco, it's okay." Blake hesitantly tried to intervene. "Everything is going to work out."

"How… how…" Coco was beginning to hyperventilate as she started to clutch her blood stained hands together and rock back and forth. "Why? How? Why?"

Blake and Velvet took a quick glance at each other and moved as a unit. They surrounded the distraught young woman, and pulled her into a tight embrace, hoping that their warmth and closeness, might give Coco some sense of stability. As soon as they had gotten their arms around her, Coco began to sob, and seconds later had completely broken down.

/==/

Ren had volunteered to accompany Professor Goodwitch to make the Headmaster aware of the situation. He could tell during the rather rushed walk that Professor Goodwitch was barely holding herself together. Though, upon entering the Headmaster's office, Ren began to question many of his life choices. Lie Ren was not as unflappable as his peers thought, he just was much more skilled in schooling his expressions and moderating his vocal tones.

It took more than a little effort for Ren to try to ignore headmaster Ozpin's new… body, seeing as it was now encased in a form fitting pantsuit, grey-silver hair in a less complicated bun than Professor Goodwitch wore, and… make up. How could he forget the makeup? He doubted the Headmaster had applied it to him… herself, so whoever had, had been skilled, very skilled.

Lie Ren tried hard, he tried so hard, but in the end his body and mind betrayed him. Right at this point in time, he was scared, so very scared of what Nora would do to him if… if she ever found out. Lie Ren found the Headmaster very fetching, almost bewitching, and his traitorous mind was feeding him very, very unwanted images. So the very uncomfortable meeting, at least for him, dragged on, and after he gave his statement, it all faded into the background.

It was at this point, as Glynda and Ozpin started to wage a verbal war about next steps and damage control, that Ren had an epiphany, of sorts. He apparently was extremely attracted to mature, older women, even if he KNEW the one garnering all his attention was once male. Nora was older than him, right? He was sure of it, so he forced his mind to perform some strenuous mental gymnastics, and began to picture an Older Nora. A vision of how Nora would look more than a few years from now… and it eased his mind.

He was snapped out of his daydream by Professor Goodwitch, who laid a hand upon his shoulder.

"Are you okay, Mr Ren?"

"I'm fine. Fine. Just thinking…" It was at this point, Ren noticed that the Headmaster was now engrossed in the scattered books on his desk. "I take it, we're finished?"

"We are. I will escort you to the dorms." Professor Goodwitch commented as she steered Ren towards the elevators. The ride down was silent, and Ren used that time to get himself organized mentally. Nora was chaos incarnate when she chose to be, but she was also in equal measure very empathetic and observant. So he did what he could to scrub his mind clean, of the lewdness that had just recently invaded it.

They were about half-way to the dorms when Professor Goodwitch's scroll started to ring. She pulled it out, and Ren would swear on Nora's affinity for pancakes and sweets that he did not see the disciplinarian of Beacon's face go white.

"I… I… I… um… I have to take this. Can I rightly assume you can return to your dorm without issue?"

"Yes, Professor." Ren replied. Glynda just nodded to him, and Ren took that to mean he could vamoose.

/==/

Velvet and Blake had managed to get Coco over to the chairs, and partially calmed down when Doctor Peach stepped through the doors. Coco was on her feet and across the room in less than a second. If Doctor Peach was surprised by this, she hid it very well. Velvet and Blake also rose to their feet and slowly approached.

"Is she?" Coco pleaded, her eyes red and puffy from her earlier crying session.

"She's going to be okay." Peach answered in a soft, comforting tone. "She's resting right now, so you should…"

"No!" Coco snapped, "I'm not going anywhere until I see her!"

"Ms Adel, Jaune is going to be okay. She just needs some rest…"

"I NEED to see her! I need to!" Coco's earlier angry tone instantly evaporating, and becoming laced with fear. "I need to!"

Velvet and Blake moved closer and gently placed their hands upon Coco's shoulders, only to have her shake their hands off. Her bare brown eyes never straying from Peach's pink. Peach waved Velvet and Blake off, when the pair once again reached for Coco. Peach crossed her arms over her chest and held Coco's stare for a minute or so before speaking.

"IF I let you into see her, do you promise to behave yourself?" Peach asked, her tone sounding rather stern. "This is an infirmary, and Jaune is here because she needs medical care… this is NOT a place to cause a scene."

"I just need to see her. I need to know she's okay."

"I just told…"

"I DON'T care what you say! I NEED TO SEE HER WITH MY OWN EYES!" Coco snapped, her voice almost sounding feral. "You could be lying to me… like… like… like…"

"Coco," Peach reached out and pulled the taller young woman into a hug. "I wouldn't lie to you about Jaune. I wouldn't, but I also understand, and if you can calm down, I'll take you in to see her. Can you do that?"

Peach felt Coco nod as she sobbed into her shoulder.

"I need to hear you say it, Coco." Peach spoke, her tone soft and comforting. "Can you calm down for me?"

"Yes."

"Good girl." Peach slowly released her hold upon Coco, allowing the young woman to stand at her full height. "Now go get cleaned up a bit, change out of those clothes, and I'll take you to see her, okay?"

Coco nodded, and sniffled. Velvet handed Coco the bundle of clothes they had delivered earlier, before she made her way across the waiting room to the marked restroom. As soon as the door closed behind her, Peach turned her attention to Blake and Velvet.

"How are you two holding up?" Peach asked, her pink eyes studying the body language of the pair. "If you feel the need to talk, my door is always open."

"I… I think I just need to get some rest." Blake replied. "But maybe?"

"I'm available when ever it is convenient for you, Ms Belladonna, and you can always request a specific time and day if that would better suit your needs."

"Thank you." Blake responded. "I think I'll just go check on my team."

"And you Ms Scarlatina? Would you like to have a chat?"

"I really should also check on my team, but if it is okay… I'll wait here until Coco is ready to return to the dorms."

"That is a perfectly acceptable and a wise decision."

A moment later, the restroom door open, and Coco returned to the waiting room. Her face looking a little fresher, hands clean of dried blood, and her stained clothes exchanged for clean ones. She stopped just a little distance from Doctor Peach, Blake and Velvet. Doctor Peach nodded to the two young faunus women, before turning her attention to Coco, and without a word, signalled for her to step on through the doors. Once the pair had vanished inside. Blake gave Velvet a weak smile before she herself left, heading back to her dorm.

Now alone, Velvet went into the restroom gathered Coco's discarded clothes and then moved back to the rather uncomfortable bank of chairs, to once again wait.

/==/

Jasmine Arc was beyond furious with her sister. All this time she thought Glynda and that old coot Ozpin were looking after Jaune. Training her, instructing her, and preparing her to come home… and then Vi found that sickeningly atrocious video. Jasmine wasn't sure HOW Vi found that atrocity… but right now she was mortified and ecstatic in equal measure that she did.

"WHAT THE FUCK, GLYNDA!" Jasmine screamed as Glynda answered her call on the fifth ring. The Headmistress had to hold the scroll further from her head until the screaming abated to a loud voice. "You're supposed to be taking CARE of Jaune! NOT subjecting her to… to… to whatever that was!"

"I'm…"

"Don't even fucking say you're sorry. She is your daughter! Your flesh and blood. The only true link you have to Johnathon… and you allowed that to happen to her?"

"It… it… it was a mistake." Glynda pleaded, attempting to weather the glare that Jasmine was aiming at her through the screen of her scroll. "We were just… just trying to protect her!"

"You CALL that protecting her?" Jasmine continued to scream and rant, as Glynda raced to her accommodations in order to give this conversation a bit more privacy… seeing how well Jasmine's voice was carrying. "You're not stupid Glyn… but what you've allowed to happen makes me seriously doubt your intelligence, and your… your… commitment to Jaune!"

"How dare you!" Glynda hissed back. "I love Jaune! I would do anything for her! You don't know how much I fought to keep her safe… to prevent this shit from happening!"

"That wasn't love, Glyn… no parent worth their salt would EVER subject their child to such agony…"

"I had NO choice! He wouldn't listen!"

"No excuses!"

"But…"

"You ARE her mother. You are meant to protect her! You should have told that old fart to go fuck himself and left…"

"Left? Left to where?"

"To Ansel. To us." Jasmine stated flatly. "You should have just brought Jaune home… and stayed here…"

"I… I…"

"Tell me the truth… is it over? Is that atrocity over with?"

"Y… yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I'm coming to Beacon."

"Jas you can't"

"I can, and I am."

"Why?"

"I'm bringing Jaune… and YOU home."

"I can't!"

"You can and will be."

"I…"

"Glyn…" Jasmine's voice lost the edge of rage, and took a softer, more comforting tone. "It's time. Time for you to be with family… time for you to be Jaune's mother."

"I don't think I can… what I did… what I allowed to happen…"

"Stop! You can, and you won't be doing it alone. Your family, Glyn… you're family."

"I…"

"Vi and I will be arriving in at least a week, at most two. Get things ready. It's time to come home, Glyn." and with those final words Jasmine Arc, formerly Jasmine Goodwitch ended the call, leaving Glynda alone with her own thoughts.

/==/

Doctor Peach was silent as she gently guided Coco to Jaune's room. She knew from experience that this meeting could cause issues, but she was also well aware that sometimes it is best if such issues come out before they have time to fester.

"She's just in here." Peach informed Coco, as she stopped before a partially closed door. "If she is asleep, you will not wake her. Understood?"

Coco nodded, and slowly pushed open the door, as Peach stepped aside. The lighting in the room was dimmed, and Coco took a minute to let her eyes adjust from the much brighter lighting of the corridor. Swallowing, she moved forward towards the form curled up under the covers of the bed. Coco paused when the figure moved. A second later, a bedside lamp was activated.

"Coco?" Jaune asked in a pathetically weak and strained voice.

"Jaune, are you…" Coco's mouth went dry as Jaune sat up, and her bandage wrapped arms came into view. Instantly, Coco's mind jump back to that horrific image, of Jaune slumped in the back of that small closet, her blood welling up from deep cuts in her arms.

"Coco?" Jaune asked, her voice sounding even more weak, as Coco just stood there.

"How could you?" Coco snapped, the picture of a blood covered box cutter, laying beside Jaune. "How the fuck could you?"

"Coco?" Jaune whined, flinching at the tone of Coco's voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

"What were you thinking?" Coco's voice grew in volume as her anger spiked. She closed on Jaune causing the young woman to flinch in fear, and then hiss in pain as Coco grabbed her hands and roughly pulled her arms forward, exposing the bandages that ran from her wrist to her elbow. "How could you do this? You said you LOVED me, and then… and then… I have to…"

Peach moved, stepping in before the situation deteriorated even further. She came up behind Coco and placed her hands over the almost hyperventilating young woman's, and slowly began to peel her fingers from around Jaune's wrists.

"You said… you said…'" Coco choked out, tears running down her own cheeks.

"I'm… sorry?" Jaune squeaked out, as she yanked her newly freed arms back and to her chest. "I'm sorry!"

"Sorry? SORRY?"

"Ms Adel, that is quite enough." Peach spoke, her voice stern but even. "Go to take a seat in my office… now."

"I… she…"

"Now, Ms Adel. Right now."

Peach guided the openly distraught young woman to the door, and then directed her to continue down the hall. As soon as Coco was on her way, Peach turned her attention to Jaune. Moving to the room, she gently coaxed Jaune to allow her to check the bandages. Satisfied that the stitches did not tear, she pulled Jaune's covers down.

"I need you to try and get some rest." Peach spoke, her tone moving from stern to motherly instantly. "So come, scoot down."

"She…"

"She's upset, Jaune. Very upset." Peach commented as she pulled Jaune's covers up and tucked them in around her. "You understand that, right? Why she would be?"

"I…"

"What she is feeling, does not negate what you've been feeling and suffering through. Right now you're both hurting… but for different reasons." Peach reached out and brushed some of Jaune's hair from her teary eyes. "Now, I know this won't be easy, but I need you to try and rest. Put this out of your mind for now, and get some sleep."

"But… Coco…"

"I will speak with Ms Adel, she doesn't know what you've been through, but right now you need to get some sleep." Peach once again brushed Jaune's hair aside. "Would you like something to help you rest?"

Jaune just weakly nodded.

"Alright. I'll send a nurse in to give you a little something to help you get sleepy."

"Okay." Jaune responded, her voice weak, and filled with sadness.

/==/

Coco was a ball of conflicting emotions as she tried to sit in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in Peach's office. Anger, fear, relief, helplessness and sadness rolled about in her stomach, making her to feel weak. Unable to sit still, she stood and began to pace. Unable to get control of herself, in a fit of frustration, she ripped off her beret and launched it across the room. If she still had her sunglasses, they too would have impacted the wall.

"Fuck!" Coco swore, as she continued her pacing and replayed her most recent conversation with Jaune. NO, that wasn't accurate… her last interaction with the girl that was embedded in her heart, hadn't been a conversation. "Fuck!"

"A little upset, are we?"

Coco whipped about in surprise, and only relaxed her tense body when she saw that it was Doctor Peach standing in the doorway.

"It's understandable, but taking it out on Jaune, especially right now… is not good for either of you." Peach moved into her office and took a seat. "Have a seat."

"I think I'll…"

"Ms Ad-, Coco, please have a seat." Peach waited for Coco to listen to her suggestion, and sit down before she continued. "I understand your anger, and your frustration. I do, and just about everyone who is in your position would react the same way… but…"

"You're going to tell me Jaune and my situation is special?"

"Every situation like this is special and unique, but just not as unique as yours and Jaune's" Peach reached up and rubbed her eyes. It had been a long day, and was shaping up to be an even longer night. "I can see the signs. Jaune means quite a bit to you; probably more than you are willing to admit to yourself right now… and that is scaring you."

"She lied. How can I trust someone that lies to the person they say… they… say"

"She did lie, but not without reason. It wasn't to cause you harm, or really to hide something from you…"

"But she did."

"Yes, she did… because she was forced to."

"Forced? How? Who?"

"That is neither here nor there. Just understand the choice to tell you the truth was taken from her, a long time before she and you started to show interest in each other."

"But…"

"I'm not here to tell you how to feel, Coco. I'm just here to give some reference to this situation." Peach sighed, "And after you hear what I have to say, it will still be your choice whether to continue in your relationship with Jaune or not… because yes, she lied… and that is a big deal."

"What is… is going on with her? I want to understand… when Professor Goodwitch ripped off the door… I saw her… I saw…"

"I know, I saw it too… and I have a feeling that's more of what you are upset about than a lie… right?" Peach gave Coco a warm smile, "Nothing will leave this room unless you want it to, so say what you feel."

"How…" Coco cut herself off, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. "She said she loved me… but she did that? How can she do that? Why would she?"

Peach didn't say a word, and just stood up. She crossed the distance between herself and Coco and quickly wrapped her arms around the crying young woman.

"She told me! She told me and she… she… did…"

"This is not a justification, what I'm about to tell you… just some hard learned facts…" Peach took a moment to school her features, and voice pitch, "When someone is under such crushing pressure, and suffering so terribly emotionally and physically… they sometimes lose sight of the world that surrounds them."

"They end up in a place so dark, that they can see no exit. There is no guiding light, and it drives them to end that suffering. To take away the pain any way they can…" Peach had continued as Coco's outright crying became soft sobs. "Do you kind of understand? It's okay if you don't… this is a delicate and harsh situation for both you and Jaune."

"Do you think that… she does?"

"From what I know of Jaune… I can guarantee she does… and in those last moments after she chose to act… you were foremost in her mind."

"But I wasn't enough… was I?"

"Unfortunately, Jaune has suffered so much… she was and is in such horrific pain… trapped in such deep darkness… that even though she knew she would be hurting you and those who care for her… she just couldn't see a way to get free of it all."

"Will… will she be alright?"

"With some time and the proper support… she can be…" Peach stepped back and with only the slightest of pressure got Coco to look up at her childlike face. Peach smiled softly, invitingly, comfortingly, ignoring the smeared and running mascara. "I will not lie to you… this will take time… Jaune needs a substantial amount of emotional support, and care… something I know you can help provide, but YOU do have to be honest with her about your own feelings. Jaune is VERY vulnerable right now, and she needs every life-line and anchor that she can get."

"Can I…" Coco dropped her eyes from Peach's, "She shouldn't be alone… should she?"

"No, she shouldn't… and yes… you can stay."

"But… I… didn't ask." Coco responded, a little surprised that Peach had so easily known what she was going to ask.

"I feel as a Doctor and as Jaune's friend… It would be good for both of you." Peach continued her warm and comforting smile, still speaking in a soft, almost motherly tone. "Should I arrange for a bed, or would you rather hold her?"

"I…" Coco stammered, "I…"

"It's okay… those beds are large enough… BUT."

"But?"

"No Hanky-Panky… neither of you are ready for that, right now. Understood?"

"I wasn't" Coco responded, her tear stained cheeks flooding with color.

"Shall we? It is getting late." Peach giggled, enjoying Coco's innocent response, while also retrieving a couple wet wipes which she handed to Coco. Coco quickly wiped her face, removing the traces of ruined makeup. "Ready?"

Coco nodded, and slowly stood. With Peach's soft, comforting touch on her shoulder, the pair exited the office and made their way to Jaune's room. Once there, Coco hesitated, biting her lip and second guessing her desire.

"It's okay." Peach whispered to her. "She needs to know and feel that she is safe… and you need to know she won't just vanish on you."

"Are you…"

"Yes, I am."

Coco felt Peach's hand leave her shoulder, and biting her lip, she entered the room. The light from the hallway, and a small nightlight near the bed, were the only sources of illumination in the room. Closing on the bed, Coco paused, before taking a moment to remove her boots. She didn't even notice that she didn't have her beret anymore.

Tentatively, Coco moved around the bed, and lifted back the covers. She looked up at Doctor Peach, who was still standing in the doorway, and after getting another affirming nod, Coco climbed into the bed. Jaune was curled up on her side, and Coco carefully moved close. Reaching out, she hesitated for a moment before sliding her arm about Jaune's mid-section, and using the softest of touches, pulled her grumbling form up against her chest.

Coco slid her other arm under the pillow to help cradle Jaune's head, and before she moved to rest her own head upon the pillow, she gently brushed her lips over Jaune's temple. Jaune murmured at the touch and, much to Coco's surprise, snuggled backwards into her.

"I can't lose you, Jaune." Coco whispered, barely keeping her emotions from making her choke on her words. "Please don't leave me… I love you."

"Love you…" Jaune murmured in her sleep.

Coco lay her head down, and as she held Jaune close, feeling the gentle motion of her breathing, Coco smiled, and drifted off. Peach waited in the doorway, keeping an eye on the pair for a few minutes, before she was satisfied they were both asleep. Reaching for the door handle, she pulled it partially closed, giving them some additional privacy.

"Glynda can rage at me later." Peach chuckled to herself, as she prepared to go speak to Ms Scarlatina and inform her of the current situation with her teammate. "I'll just tell her… Doctor's Orders."