Chapter 17: The Day After

Doc used his medical scanner after he patched up Washington. After the mission they took Wash to the infirmary straight away. Doc spent the night stitching him up and making sure everyone. RWBY checked out so they all went and got some sleep. Except Blake, she was still looking up things about the White Fang on her scroll. Carolina stayed with Doc and Wash. So now it was morning, and team RWBY went back to check on Washington.

They found Washington was still out of his armor but he was moving around without blood spilling everywhere so they took that as a good sign. Now all Doc needed to test was to see if Wash had to take it easy or not. Carolina and team RWBY waited to see the results.

"Well aside from a few bruises," Doc said. "And the stab wound, everything appears normal."

"But is he going to be okay?" Blake asked.

"Of course! With the help of the medical unit in Carolina's armor, Wash's aura, and with my stitching, it would be as if he never got stabbed." Team RWBY breathed a sigh of relief.

"You were reckless Wash," Carolina scorned. Wash scoffs.

"I'm not the one who got knocked out," Wash replied. Carolina cracks her knuckles.

"You will be in about three seconds."

"Hey!" Doc spoke up. "The infirmary is a place of healing, not a place of harming."

"Although it would make things a little more interesting," O'Malley said.

"You sure you're okay Washington?" Yang asked ignoring O'Malley's comment. Wash stands up and moves around a bit. He then grabs his stomach.

"Well aside from being a little sore," Washington said. "I'll be fine."

"So, what'd we learn about the White Fang and Roman?" Carolina asked.

"I need to go over my files first," Weiss said.

"Aside from them somehow getting Atlas robots," Blake said. "And they're somewhere in the south east of Vale, I got nothing."

"I'm sorry I didn't get anything," Ruby said a little guiltily. "But Penny kind of distracted me."

"Don't worry about it," Wash said. "She was friend that went missing, of course you'd be worried." Ruby gained a little smile. "Anyway, you guys see what you can find and discuss it later."

"That can wait," Yang said. "I think we should just kick back and relax and just be glad we survived our first mission."

"Yeah let's celebrate!" Ruby agreed. "Let's grab some food and drinks and have some fun in the dorm!"

Weiss turns to Washington and Carolina. "You guys want to join us? You did help after all." The two soldiers shook their heads.

"You would've done fine without us," Carolina said. "It's your victory. You guys celebrate it."

"I'm actually not going to join," Blake said. Her team looked as if she had contracted a virus.

"Why not?" Ruby asked.

"I just want to see what the White Fang are up to as soon as I can."

"But Blake―" Yang tried but Washington put a hand on the brawler's shoulder.

"Let her go," he said. "If she wants to continue that's fine. Carolina usually did the same." The Huntresses look towards Carolina and she shrugs.

"It's true," She said. Blake gets a smile on her face and nods towards Washington.

"Thanks," She said. Washington nods back. With that team RWBY leaves, with Blake heading to the library, and Ruby Weiss and Yang heading to their dorm. When it's just Washington, Carolina, and Doc, Washington let's out a sigh.

"You mind telling Ozpin they're fine?" Washington asked Carolina.

"Sure thing," Carolina responded. "You sure you're going to be okay?" Wash flashes a smile and traces his scar with a finger.

"I got this glasgow grin and survived didn't I? I can handle being stabbed." Carolina didn't move. "Carolina I'm fine. The armor and aura protected me. I just need to rest for a few days."

"All right, take care Wash." Carolina gently punches him in the arm.

"Hey can you do me a favor?" Wash asked Carolina. She nods. "Tell Ozpin about the mission. Let him know everyone's fine." Carolina nods and leaves. When the door closes Washington turns to Doc.

"Thanks for lying Doc." Wash said.

"Washington…. How did you not bleed out?" Doc said. "That stab wound was really deep."

"Not deep enough!" O'Malley said. "Missed your internal organs by mere centimeters."

"I don't know," Washington said. "But for some reason… I could feel my blood harden… Because I wanted it to."

"What does that mean?" Doc asked. Wash places his hand on his stomach wound.

"Doc, I might have found my semblance." Wash looks nearby and sees a scalpel. He grabs it and opens his hand. "But there's only one way to find out."

"Washington, are doing what I think you're doing?" Washington looks at Doc. He then takes the scalpel with the blade touching his hand skin, and he slices it. Blood drips from his hand. Washington stares at it, hoping that his theory is correct.

"Come on…" Washington whispered. He concentrated on the red liquid in his hand. Soon, his blood began to move, it seems to go to one spot. The blood then rises and forms a square in the middle of Washington's palm. The square then goes up, with a little bit of blood sill connected to the wound. The blood then hardens, and Washington taps it. His finger doesn't go through it, his blood is solid.

"Wow…" was all Doc could say.

Washington stops looking and thinking about his blood and it turns back to a liquid and drops into his hand. He lets out a tiny chuckle. "Guess we know what my semblance is now."

"The ability to control your own blood…" Doc shakes his head. "There has to be a downside."

"I think there is." Washington shows Doc his hand. "Notice how my hand hasn't healed yet?" Doc nods his head. "Well Auras are supposed to speed up the healing process. But my hand seems to be healing as it would back on Chorus."

"So you're saying that you can control the flow of your blood once it's outside the body and harden it, in exchange your healing capabilities are down?"

"I believe so. Since I can harden my blood to stop myself from bleeding out… that takes a lot of my auras energy with it. But I need to make sure." Wash grabs a nearby bandage and disinfectant. He pours the disinfectant and lets out a grunt as he does. He then wraps his hand back up. He goes to wear his armor was laying and starts putting it on.

"What are you saying?" Doc asked.

"Doc," Washington said as he turned to the medic. "I need your help to see how far I can take this."

"Oh my," O'Malley said. "This will be a lot of fun!"

With Ruby Weiss and Yang:

The three entered their dorm excited to start celebrating. "I say we order pizza!" Yang shouted.

"I'm down for that!" Ruby said.

"Sounds like a plan," Weiss said opening her scroll. She calls the pizza place as Ruby and Yang start moving stuff around. Yang put her boombox on a desk and connected her scroll to it. Ruby moved the furniture around for activities they could do.

"Hello there," Weiss said on her scroll. "I would like two large pepperoni pizzas please." Weiss removes her scroll from her ear. "You guys want anything special?"

"I'll take a bag of chocolate cookies if they have any!" Ruby said turning on the TV.

"I'll take a medium garbage pizza," Yang said selecting music. Weiss nods and puts her scroll to her ear.

"I would also like a medium garbage pizza, and what kind of cookie deals do you guy have? Preferable for one person with a big sweet tooth." Ruby gained a smile at the fact Weiss does know she's a sweet tooth. She didn't think she would care. The voice on the other side of the line speaks. "Really? I'll take that then. I'll also want one medium anchovy pizza."

"Getting a taste for fish Weiss?" Yang joked.

"Hardy har, it's for Blake," Weiss said covering up her scroll. "I believe that will do for our order." The voice speaks again. "I'll pay with a card." As Weiss tells the person where to deliver the pizza to Yang starts playing dance music. Not loud so everyone in the dorm can hear but still decently loud. Yang does a small bow towards Ruby and sticks out her hand.

"May I have this dance Miss Rose?" Yang asked. Ruby giggles and takes her sister's hand and does a little curtsey.

"I would be honored Miss Xiao Long," Ruby said. With that Yang grabs Ruby's hand and the two sisters start dancing together. While Ruby doesn't really like dancing when she was with Yang it was usually fun. Mainly because Yang would toss her around like a ragdoll.

Weiss rolls her eyes as the two sisters continued laughing and dancing. "Yes that will be all. Thank you." Weiss hangs up her phone. She turns to see Yang spinning Ruby very fast.

"Yang that's too fast!" Ruby shouted but it was too late. Ruby spiraled out of controlled and ran itno Weiss. The two fell down and see stars. When they regain their composer they get up and see Yang laughing.

"I'm sorry, but that was too funny!" She said. Weiss and Ruby scowl and look at each other and they grow wicked smiles. They nod and charge at Yang, tackling her. "Hey no fair! This is two against one!"

"All's fair in love and war Yang," Ruby said. Yang throws the two huntresses off of her and charges to her bed, grabbing her pillow. She puts her arm in the pillow case and wraps the pillow around so it's like a boxing glove.

"You really want to do this you two?" Yang said with challenge in her voice. Weiss and Ruby look at each other and charge to grab their pillows. They then hold it in front of them as shields. "Very well," yang said and so the team starts circling each other, waiting for one person to make the right move.

With Carolina:

Carolina walks over to the school to see if Ozpin is in his office. She notices a few students walking around talking, going to breakfast or whatever. "So that was an interesting Mission," Church said.

"I'll say," Carolina said quietly. "Still, at least the girls are safe."

"Carolina, are you actually starting to care?" Church said in a sarcastic tone.

"Shut up." But Carolina did have to admit, the dimension was growing on her.

"Well Washington has, otherwise we wouldn't have gone on that mission." Carolina scoffs.

"Wash was always a softy."

"Or he's just accepted that there may not be a way back." Carolina is silent to this. There was no way Washington was giving up that easily. Was there? "Relax Carolina. I'm sure he isn't giving up."

"Yeah well…" She enters the school. Students are still walking and talking some even carrying books. She goes over to the elevator and waits for it to come down. As it does a Student walks up to her.

"Excuse me Miss Carolina?" he said. Carolina turns to see Scarlet from team SSSN talking to her.

"Yes Scarlet?" Carolina asked.

"Have you seen Sun anywhere?"

"No I haven't why?"

"The shirtless bastard put some sort of vibrating thing on my desk to annoy me. I'm trying to find him so I can get him back."

"What exactly are you going to do?" Carolina asked. She was afraid he might actually do something to hurt Sun.

"I'm going to tackle him and make him chug these." Scarlet pulled out a hand full of pixie sticks, or as in this dimension they were called, "sugar tubes".

"Oh. Have fun." Scarlet nods and continues his search for his leader. The elevator opens and Carolina steps in. She presses Ozpin's office and the doors close and she goes up. The elevator reaches the top with a ding but Ozpin doesn't say anything on the intercom like usually does. That's when she notices that someone is yelling Ozpin's office. She waits for a literal minute and nothing happens so she enters anyway.

"…a liability Oz!" The voice yelled. Carolina recognized it as Ironwoods voice. She notices the general was leaning on Ozpin's desk. "I don't need the citizens to fear Atlas because of them!"

"Then we should close the schools then and not send the students on mission!" Ozpin yelled. This was a surprise as Ozpin always kept a calm nature.

"Ozpin if they didn't go out those people would still have lives and cars!"

"You are only mad because you are taking just as much of the blame as I am!" Ozpin pointed at the General. "You are not the only one who suffers from this James!"

"Jesus what the hell did we walk in on?" Carolina said. The two look at aqua colored soldier. Ironwood scowls and speed walks over to her reaching behind him.

"You daughter of a bastard!" He yelled as he pulled out a revolver. However Carolina pulled out her pistol and they both aimed their guns at each other.

"I so much as see your finger move I pull," Carolina threatens.

"ENOUGH!" Ozpin yelled. The two don't move but they do tense up a little bit. "James, put it away."

"You're trusting her more than me?!" Ironwood said.

"In this current situation, yes. You pulled it out first, you put it away first." Ironwood doesn't move. Carolina notice Ozpin goes for his cane. "I'm not asking James." Ironwood's scowl deepens and he slowly puts his revolver away and Carolina follows soon after.

"So… what happened to make the general hate us?" Carolina asked.

"James is receiving the bad side of some publicity," Ozpin stated in his normal tone. He sat down in his chair. James and Carolina walk up to him with James still having a scowl on his face. "As am I."

"Why?" Carolina asked.

"Because of your little 'mission'," James said with air quotations.

"As you know I am a headmaster and James controls Atlas's army," Ozpin explained. "When the news found out about you, Washington, and team RWBY's involvement with the giant robot on a freeway… well let's just say we aren't getting awards anytime soon."

"I don't need you and your idiotic friends ruining Atlas's good name," Ironwood said. "I was okay with you staying here and protecting the student's, but I do not need you or your friends to interfere with Atlas. Especially since they'll probably die if it weren't for the fact you were in a city!" Carolina had enough by then.

"You listen to me you pompous asshole!" Carolina said turning to the general. She grabs him by the collar and yanks him close. "Insult me all you want but you will not get away with calling my family weak! They may be idiots but I bet they can take on any of your army, human or bucket of bolts!"

"They'll die within five seconds the moment they step foot outside." It was taking every ounce of Carolina's energy to not beat the shit out of Ironwood. Ozpin has had enough of this ordeal. He gets up and pushes the two apart.

"James. Get out!" Ozpin said. He said it with such hostility and anger that Ironwood's scowl disappeared. Instead it was replaced with a shocked and slight pleading look.

"Ozpin I was just―"

"OUT!"

Ironwood didn't move for a second. He then nods and walks towards the elevator. He enters and the elevator door closes. Ozpin sits down again taking deep breaths. Carolina takes the chair she forgot existed next to his desk and sat down and removed her helmet. She didn't feel right having Ozpin have to guess what her facial expressions were.

After a couple more deep breaths Ozpin speaks. "Thank you for letting me calm down, Carolina."

"Of course." There is silence again.

"Boy you can cut this tension with a knife," Church said.

"Shut. Up." Carolina whispered. Luckily Ozpin didn't hear her.

Ozpin takes a deep sigh. "So I am assuming you came here to tell me something?"

"Washington wanted me to let you know how we did." Ozpin nods.

"Right, how is team RWBY?"

"All safe. No one injured." Ozpin nods his head.

"Good. And you and Wash?"

"We'll live." Ozpin raises an eyebrow.

"What happened?" Carolina is hesitant to tell what happened at first.

"I passed out halfway through the fight. Washington got stabbed. Doc said we're okay." Ozpin had a concerned look on his face. "He's been knocked around a lot worst Ozpin, he'll be fine."

Ozpin closes his eyes. "I see. Thank you for letting me know." Ozpin is silent again for another minute. "You two did well. Washington kept his word and made sure they were safe. I am grateful for that."

"Of course, any time." Carolina stands up and was about to leave but Ozpin put his hand up.

"Before you go, do you want me to explain what Ironwood and I were arguing about? You two came up a lot."

"I can already guess." Carolina sits down again. "He's mad because since Wash and I took the role of Atlas soldiers, he and his army were to blame for the deaths and injuries of the people the robot caused on the highway."

"Exactly. But he fails to realize I have to face the same consequences as he does." Ozpin takes a sip of his mug that was nearby that Carolina didn't notice. "He is just doing what he thinks is best. He believes he needs the people to trust him and his army."

"I can agree with that. An army is meant to protect. People won't want protection if they're scared."

"True, but I can also see you disagree with his army being here." Carolina is silent. It's like this man is a mind reader.

"You bring a giant army to another continent for three reasons." She lifts a finger for each reason she says. "To protect from a giant threat. To take over. Or to prepare for a giant threat. Once the people find that out, you both will have some explaining to do."

Ozpin is silent. He knows what Carolina is thinking. And he can't deny it. Carolina leans forward.

"You never made it a secret that you hide things from everyone to me and Wash. All I'm saying, if you want more of our help, we'll not only need help getting back home, we need to know what you and your friends are hiding." Ozpin takes another sip from his mug. He didn't view it as a threat and Carolina never intended for it to be.

"I know," He said. "But there are some things that should just stay within this dimension. I'm afraid that our enemies might go to your dimension."

"And your biggest fear is probably one of two things. You're afraid they'll get resources from our dimension and take over… or you're afraid they'll ignore you and just take over our dimension."

"I want the threat gone. But not so much that it puts other people, even if they are from another dimension, at risk." Carolina nods and stands up.

"I won't force you to tell us. But we can't work in the dark forever."

"I know." With that Carolina takes her leave. As she steps in the elevator and it closes, Ozpin brings up a screen. The screen said "Qrow" with the voice lines and a picture with a profile and a question mark.

"What is it Oz?" Qrow asked in the robotic disguised voice. "Better make it quick I'm busy."

"I need another favor of you," Ozpin said.

To be continued.

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