Tiny Troubles

Part 19

This is it people...the last official part of this story(besides the epilogue). It's been a blast writing for this story and I owe a huge thanks to everyone who read and/or commented on this story. You guys gave me the inspiration to finish this story. :)

So without further ado, let's get started! 

(Pssst, anyone remember the mysterious criminal who started this whole mess? I wonder who it was...)

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Previously on Tiny Troubles...

"Poor guy," Nya softly whispered, running her hand through Cole's hair. "I can't believe he was suffering so much and didn't even say anything."

"That's Cole for ya," Jay replied. "Always the rock for everyone to anchor themselves to whenever they need to, but too stubborn to admit when he needs help."

"I am just glad that he finally told us what was wrong," Zane said, rubbing Cole's back. "Now, we can be there for him and help him."

"Shhhhh," Kai quietly shushed. "Let's discuss this later, poor Cole's exhausted. He needs some rest."

Everyone made themselves as comfortable as they could in the small room, pulling up chairs and surrounding Kai's hospital bed.

Meanwhile, Cole peacefully slept on, surrounded by the people that he considered family.

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Part 19

The ninja ended up spending the night in the hospital. In the morning, the doctors released Kai, warning him that he had to keep the sling on and that he couldn't move his shoulder too much until it healed. This meant no training or fighting crime, which made Kai a little disappointed, but a glare from Nya swiftly stifled most of his complaints.

Once they were on the Bounty, the ninja set about making Kai comfortable. Jay and Lloyd brought out pillows and blankets from the bedroom and set them on the couch in the game room. Zane went to the kitchen to make some spicy sushi for Kai and noodles for everyone else for lunch. Nya went to assist Zane, while also finishing the peanut butter cookies that she and Cole had started making the day before.

Speaking of the little ninja, he kept close to Kai. The two of them made themselves comfortable on the couch, Kai hugging Cole close to him with his uninjured arm. The two of them sat quietly on the couch together, watching a random tv show that they didn't care about. Sometimes, Cole would quietly start talking about some of the things he remembered about his mom--the way she always wore her hair in a braid, how she loved nature and would take him out for walks in the nearby park, how her laugh was infectious and made him smile and laugh too. Kai listened to the little ninja, nodding and occasionally adding things that his mom did that was similar to what Cole's mom did. A few times, Cole would start to cry and would mumble, "I miss her so much..." During these times, Kai would hug Cole tighter, whispering, "I know Cole, I know. It's okay, shhh, just let it out..."

Around noon, everyone else piled into the game room, Zane and Nya carrying trays filled with food. They ate lunch in the room, keeping a careful eye on Cole. But, despite the fact that he still missed his mom, Cole managed to eat most of his lunch. He even let Jay snap a few selfies with him on the blue ninja's phone. Jay also included Zane in the photos, though the nindroid was less enthusiastic about it.

As he finished his food, however, the little ninja suddenly felt...weird. It felt like his skin was tingling and he scratched at his arm, trying to make the tingly feeling go away.

"Cole?" Kai asked, noticing. "You okay?"

"Feel weird," Cole mumbled, still scratching his arm. "My skin feels tingly."