Tiny Troubles

Part 14

Oooooh, you guys are in for a treat this chapter! This one was one of my favorite ones to write so far! Why? Well, remember that special guest that I mentioned last time??? 

~~~~~

Previously on Tiny Troubles...

Kai chuckled again, gently patting Cole's shoulder. "Of course, pal. Sleep tight."

"Don' let the bedbugs bite..." Cole slurred as his eyelids closed. A few seconds later and the little ninja had drifted off to sleep.

"Awwwww," Jay cooed. "I love having a little brother. He's just so cute!"

"Indeed," Zane agreed, smiling. "I'd even go so far as to say that turning into a kid has had a good effect on Cole. He is eating more, and, while at times he is frustrated with his situation, he seems happier than he had a few weeks ago."

"Shhh!" Kai shushed them. "Let's continue this conversation elsewhere, before we accidentally wake Cole up." Then, casting the sleeping ninja a smile, Kai added, "Though, you guys are right. It's nice seeing him happy."

There was a murmur of consensus among the ninja as they exited the bedroom, leaving their adoptive brother alone to sleep.

Though Jay did manage to sneak in a picture of a sleeping Cole cuddling the stuffed panda, a tiny smile on his face.

~~~~

Part 14

It was a beautiful afternoon, almost evening, and Lou Brookstone was worried.

Now, as the father of a certain Ninja of Earth, whose line of work usually entailed him to run head-first into danger, Lou felt that he was allowed to worry from time to time. It wasn't easy for him to cope with the fact that his son wasn't off at one of the most prestigious dance schools in Ninjago, safely learning how to be a better dancer. But he managed to cope with it, and seeing as how most of the danger was over with that Overlord guy defeated, Lou allowed himself to worry a little less about his son.

But then, a few days ago, on the day when he usually received Cole's weekly call, his son never called. Lou had patiently waited to see if maybe Cole had forgotten and would call him the next day. But Cole never called. Instead, Lou had received a call from his son's sensei. He had reassured Lou that Cole was alright, but had a run-in with a criminal that had left him unharmed, but...changed. Wu had then gone on to say that Lou was free to visit his son and his friends, but to be prepared for a bit of a shock. The old sensei had also warned Lou against saying anything about his and Cole's private life. Apparently there were a few things that his son had kept hidden from his friends and wasn't entirely eager to share. Lou had a good idea what exactly his son was hiding, but decided that he shouldn't interfere.

It was his son's way of coping, after all.

Which brought him to his current situation: on the deck of the Destiny's Bounty, knocking at the door and praying that someone could tell him what had happened to Cole.

Lou waited for a few moments after the first knock. When the door didn't open, he knocked again, worry growing.

A muffled, "Coming!" sounded through the wooden door. Seconds later, a young lad wearing green opened the door and looked at him with surprise. "O-oh. Hey there, Mr. Brookstone."

"Hello there, Lloyd," Lou greeted, smiling. "And please, none of that 'Mr. Brookstone' stuff. It makes me feel old. Just Lou is fine."

"O-oh. Okay then. C-can I help you, Mr. Brook--er, Lou?" Lloyd asked.