Garmadon stared at where Lloyd had disappeared. Had that…just happened…?

Maybe they could fix this…

He quickly wiped away the tears from his face, taking a breath. Then he suddenly felt something nudge his hand. He looked down, seeing Ochre beside him.

The dog wagged his tail, the leash still attached to his collar trailing behind him.

Garmadon patted the dog's head, wincing when his ribs ached. Maybe he should lay down again…

The door suddenly opened.

He looked up, seeing his brother come in.

Wu frowned in concern. "Why are you out of bed again? You should really be resting, brother…"

Garmadon shrugged, glancing back at Ochre. Then he limped to the bed, the dog following him, and laid back down.

Ochre came up as well, curling up beside him, and Garmadon laid a hand on his back.

Wu walked over. "How did it go with Lloyd?"

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Mm-hmm."

Wu watched him for a moment, then nodded. "Good… How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

He rose an eyebrow. "Alright…well, I brought you some healing tea." He handed him the cup he'd been holding.

Garmadon slowly sat up, taking the cup and staring at the tea. "Thanks…"

Wu smiled. "Of course, brother."

He slowly started sipping it, stroking Ochre.

Wu watched him for a few more minutes, then went and sat down in a chair that sat against the wall.

Garmadon glanced at him uneasily.

Wu didn't move, looking around the room. Every so often he glanced at Garmadon.

He shifted uncomfortably, then tried to relax, stroking Ochre. He took a breath, thinking back to the accident.

He frowned. That car…it'd come speeding towards Lloyd. Towards his son.

Why?

But when he'd jumped in front of it…it'd swerved. Like it didn't want to hit him. But was fine with hitting Lloyd.

His jaw clenched. Ichor…he wouldn't…

He would. He knew it.

Ichor tried to kill my son.

He realized Ichor really would go that far. Just to get his revenge.

Garmadon's hands clenched, and he gritted his teeth. A wave of anger came over him. He tried to murder him. And if he hadn't been there….Lloyd might be dead.

I'm putting everyone in danger. Again.

But he couldn't leave, or tell anyone. Wu couldn't know what he'd done. And his brother wouldn't let him leave, either. He felt tears prick at his eye.

I'm trapped.

What if Ichor came after Lloyd again? Or he came after Misako? Or Wu? Or the ninja?

Or Ochre.

He swallowed, then took a breath, his hand clenching Ochre's fur tightly. It would be fine. It had to be.

He sipped the tea, trying to let the warmth calm him.

It didn't work.

The door opened. Garmadon tensed, raising his head a little to see who it was.

A doctor stood there—Joe, he remembered. "Hello?"

Wu straightened, looking at him. "Yes?"

Joe smiled. "I was just coming to inform you, anyone can come see him now. So if you'd like to bring family in you may. Any number of people, but I wouldn't recommend over ten…I don't think they'd fit in here." He laughed a little.

"Oh… Thank you." Wu nodded, smiling. He stood, looking at Garmadon. "I'm going to bring Misako, alright? There's something we need to discuss."

Garmadon frowned anxiously. "Oh…"

Joe left, and so did Wu, shutting the door behind them.

He stroked Ochre, waiting impatiently. This couldn't be good… "Discussions" with Wu were actually interrogations. He'd rather not be interrogated. They probably wanted to ask him about the car. What had happened, how it had happened….etc.

He sighed quietly.

How much longer can I keep my secret?

A few minutes later, the door opened again. Garmadon looked over, seeing Wu and Misako enter. He tensed, petting Ochre's neck.

They both walked over to him, worried looks on their faces.

Garmadon swallowed.

"Brother…we wanted to talk to you about your injuries."

Injuries? He bit his lip. "I'm fine."

"I know you will be fine…but I more wanted to discuss the types of injuries. The ones not caused by the car." Wu watched him closely.

Garmadon swallowed again, now more nervous. "I…what do you mean?"

"I think you know what I mean—those injuries you've been hiding from us. Your broken arm, leg, and ribs, including the metal replacement ribs. The deep cut on your leg. The scars."

His mouth went dry, and he tried to speak, make up some excuse, but nothing came out.

Wu frowned. "Why didn't you tell me about them? I could have helped…"

There was silence. My secret is too fragile…and besides, you've already done so much…

"Brother…." Wu sighed. Then he took a breath, straightening, and looked him in the eye. "To more urgent matters…I had a question."

You just asked me a question… "What is it?"

"I…" Wu hesitated, which just made Garmadon more nervous.

"What?"

"I….well, based upon evidence…"

Evidence of what? He frowned, shifting uneasily. What—

"Brother, were you tortured?"

Everything seemed to freeze in time. He stared at Wu.

"Ever wondered how pirates feel?"

There was a scream—

"I see…."

Garmadon blinked, focusing on him again.

Wu frowned. He'd seemed to take his silence as a yes. "By whom?"

Ichor. His jaw clenched. He couldn't say anything. No. They'll find out. "I….no one."

Wu rose an eyebrow. "No one?"

"No. I'm fine."

His brother looked disbelieving. "Then where did you get those scars?"

He shrugged a little.

"Garmadon…we just want to help." Misako moved closer to the bed.

He looked away, focusing on Ochre's face. He stroked him, studying his piercing yellow eyes.

"Why won't you tell us what happened? Who did this to you?"

He didn't reply. The less he spoke, the better.

"Brother, please let us help you…." Wu sighed.

He still didn't reply, trying to block their questions out. He didn't want to talk about it anyway. He tried to control a shudder, then stroked Ochre with both hands. His eye landed on his robotic arm, and he shuddered.

It would be fine.

I just want to forget.

Wu sighed again, and him and Misako exchanged a look.

Garmadon took a breath, tearing his gaze away from his arm, and looked at them. "Can I have my gi yet?"

They both looked at him.

"I can ask a doctor…" Wu headed for the door.

Misako watched Garmadon, then followed Wu.

His distraction worked, thankfully. They'd left him alone. For now.

He sighed, then looked at his robotic arm. He bit his lip, looking away again.

They can't know.