Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 73- For so long, I didn't.

Sorry for the really slow updates guys, I've been trying to focus on my art skills a little bit more lol — but here we go, new chapter at last!!
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C O L E

We moved slow.

Dust kicked up in swirls around our boots as we walked, carried, limped our way across the pavement towards the Bounty's landing ramp. She looked like a blessing and a ghost all at once—scarred, weather-worn, still standing. Just like us.

I kept glancing back.

Zane and Kai had Jay between them, each holding up a side. Jay's arms were slung over their shoulders, his steps dragging more than they walked. He didn't complain, but his jaw was clenched, and every so often I'd see his fingers curl like he was holding in a yell of pain.

"Left—easy, easy," Kai muttered, adjusting Jay's weight with a grimace. "You good?"

Jay let out a noise. It was kind of a yes. Kind of a don't ask me that again or I will pass out.

He wanted to get out of that hospital as soon as he could. Don't know why— probably wanted to see his home. It had been a long time, after all. Wanted to feel safe, I guess.

"I can walk," Jay mumbled a beat later. "I'm walking, aren't I?"

"Barely," Zane said, voice gentle, not mocking. "Your coordination is at sixty percent and deteriorating."

Jay made a face. "You're deteriorating."

"Technically, no."

"Shut up."

It should've been funny. Normally, I'd laugh.

But there was a tightness in my chest that hadn't really gone away since the mirror captured him.

I thought that once we'd saved Jay, once he'd been freed from the Overlord, this would all be over and everything could go back to how it used to be.

But it didn't.

Jay had been at the hospital for 2 weeks, and now he's finally getting back to the monastery, yes, but he's not ok.

We're all not ok.

I kept my pace a few steps ahead, clearing the way, watching the shadows like I half-expected the Overlord to come clawing out of the dirt for a second round. I knew he couldn't. We'd sealed him. Jay sealed him.

Still didn't stop my spine from twitching.

Behind me, Jay stumbled again.

Kai cursed under his breath and tightened his grip. "Okay, okay—we've got you. Stop being stubborn."

"I'm not—" Jay's breath hitched, sharp. "I'm not stubborn."

"Lies," I called back, trying to lighten the mood. "That's your whole personality."

"I—" Jay tried to respond, but he broke into a coughing fit instead, doubling forward with Zane and Kai struggling to keep him upright.

My stomach twisted.

I turned around and reached for him. "Jay—hey, breathe. Just slow it down. You're okay."

He nodded, or tried to. "M'fine," he rasped. "Just... burned lungs. Punched and stuff."

"Yeah," I muttered, rubbing a hand down my face. He wasn't in a stable condition in the slightest.

The only reason the doctors allowed us to leave was because of Zane's extensive information on health and injuries. Without him, Jay would've been in there for.... God knows how much longer. What, 3-4 more weeks?

We finally reached the ramp. The Bounty's hull gleamed in the morning light, a reassuring sight. I was getting so sick of those plain white hospital walls... and the horrendous food.

Nya and Lloyd were already aboard—Rue too, out cold, wrapped in blankets and drugged up with painkillers. Turned out that she'd broken her leg quite badly and had to have surgery a couple days ago. She'd been recovering quickly though.

Kai's eyes flicked to her the second we got close. His grip on Jay didn't loosen, but I saw it in the way his jaw clenched. Like he was afraid that if he looked away for too long, she'd vanish.

I couldn't blame him.

She already had once.

"Let me take him the rest of the way," I offered quietly.

Kai hesitated, then nodded. His arms were shaking from the strain anyway.

I took Jay's side, slinging it over my shoulder, Zane still on the other. He weighed practically nothing now—bones and bruises and lightning barely contained.

"You good with this?" I asked.

Jay blinked blearily at me. "Don't drop me and we're square."

"You break, I glue you back together."

"Great. That's—reassuring." He smiled wearily.

Step by step, we got him up the ramp. Zane didn't let go until we were inside, until Jay was resting against the med-bay wall, his whole body trembling with the effort it took just to sit down.

I crouched in front of him.

He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"That was... humiliating."

I smirked. "Hey, not as bad as the time I was half conscious and Kai had to drag me around when the Overlord attacked last time,"

Shit, shouldn't have said that.

Jays face immediately drooped, and he looked at the floor.

"You didn't fail us," I said quietly, interrupting the silence.

His lip twitched. "I almost killed you."

"You didn't."

"But I almost—"

"Jay."

He shut up.

"I saw you, zaptrap. You fought him every second. You fought so hard it nearly killed you. And in the end..." I glanced toward the mirror we'd kept locked in a containment box, ready to ship over to borgs secret safe in the jungle.

"You won."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I still feel him. Sometimes."

"I know."

"And I'm scared of sleeping."

I didn't say me too, but I thought it loud enough for both of us.

Jay's hand lifted slightly, reaching for something, then dropped.

I caught it.

Just held it for a second.

He didn't pull away.

"You're not alone," I said. "You never were."

"I needed you guys." He started. "I wanted to see you so badly that it hurt." Jay closed his eyes, hand slipping back to his side. "And for so long, I didn't."

That cut deep.

Real deep.

And I didn't have a good response.

"We're here now," I whispered. "That's what matters."

He leaned forward. Not much. Just enough that his forehead bumped mine. Just enough that his breath hitched again, and this time, he didn't pretend it was anything but grief.

"I'm so tired, Cole."

"I know."

"I just wanna go home."

"We're taking you there."

And when I felt him start to cry, silent and aching—

I didn't let go.