RWBY (c) RoosterTeeth

Rose Above The Clouds

Truth

A dust mine cleared, an ancient Giest Grimm taken care of, the kiddos now have their official Huntsmen Licences, the Amity Communications tower launch site was secure, and there was cake. All and all, Qrow probably considered this one of the better days. He was flowing with pride at the kids. They'd come a long way from the runts that started at Beacon Academy. For all of them, a life goal had been achieved when they were issued their licenses. And even though doubts lingered in some minds, they were far too preoccupied right now to care. They could let their troubles rest until tomorrow.

When all the pomp and ceremony was done, the group made their way back to Atlas Academy for a well deserved night's rest. They certainly earned it after all.

Quarters had been set aside for Qrow as well, a teacher's apartment that served well enough. A bed, an en suite bathroom, a table mounted computer, a chair and a kitchenette. He was on his way for a nap. As much as he tried to stay clean and sober, he'd been hiding a few of the less pleasant withdrawal symptoms with fists full of aspirin, fake smiles and galleons of water. Sleeping was hard in the first week alone, and while it'd been improving, Qrow was still well into sleep debt. The amount of times he'd been caught napping would've landed him in hot water if he was one of Ironwood's greenhorns.

As if summoned by the thought of him, Ironwood emerged from a corridor Qrow had just passed on his way to bed.

"Ah, Qrow there you are. I was wondering if we could take a moment to talk privately?" James requested formally.

Pausing his stride, Qrow turned back to regard the General with an eyebrow raised. "Uh, sure. What's on your mind?"

"Not here." James waved his hand then gestured for Qrow to follow him. The stresses of command had taken their tool on the man, and James Ironwood was looking as threadbare and worn to the bone as ever. But even through that, Qrow noticed another layer of anxiety compounding his already fraught expression.

"So are you going to tell me where we're going, or should I start taking bets?" He offered in his caustic tone.

Ironwood gave a chuckle, distant and forced. "The Military Hospital."

Qrow's expression darkened and rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "I hate hospitals..."

Their journey to the Hospital included a ten minute trip in an airship. When they arrived at the gates, they were greeted by a part of Atlesian military Huntsmen standing guard at the front door. Just inside was a check-in station.

"Please present your scroll for identity verification." The receptionist said dutifully following her script even though the man before her was the Atlas Headmaster and Commander of the Military.

Ironwood produced his scroll at set it into a port on the raised platform by the receptionist's computer terminal. "James Ironwood, General of the Altesian Military."

The port pulsed blue before turning bright green, authenticating his credentials. When the General gave Qrow an expectant look and gestured to the terminal, he repeated the gesture stating his name and occupation. When the computer flashed green, the receptionist pressed a button that opened the security gate towards the main complex.

Like any hospital, all the typical elements were present, the clinical white walls and ceiling, the harsh smell of antiseptics, medications and powerful cleaning chemicals. But Atlas took it to a whole new extreme. As they walked, Qrow's fatigue and impatience were mounting in equal measure.

"Okay, I think I've been played along with this little sight-seeing trip long enough. So, spill it. What's the deal? Unless you're planning on showing me where the Winter Maiden's resting, I can't think of any other reason why you'd bring me here?"

Ironwood's shoulders fractionally tensed and his posture stiffened. It seemed the entire time he was silent, he was pondering precisely what to say to Qrow. "There's something that you need to know. The truth is I wasn't sure how to breach the topic to you before now, and if I'm being totally honest I was waiting for you to recover - I know you've been struggling somewhat since you came to Atlas."

Qrow's frowned ever so slightly, lips pressed in a thin line. "That obvious is it?"

"I'm an observant man. And I can't recall a single conversation we've had where you haven't taken a sip from your flask at least once. However, that being said I would like to congratulate you. I can't imagine its been easy." Ironwood glanced over his shoulder,

Qrow was silent, shoving his hands in his pockets as they walked. "Lets just say... a few things happened in recent weeks that made me take a good long look at myself, and I didn't like what I saw."

"Its always the way, isn't it?" Ironwood agreed somberly.

"So, since you dodged my question I'll ask it again; Why'd you bring me along James?" Qrow gestured to the walls around them, "Not that I don't appreciate the company, but I can imagine more picturesque places to have catch-up. We could've gone for a coffee at a nice cafe or something."

Ironwood chuckled fondly at the joke that time. "As much as I'd like to tell you, I've come to realise its best if I just showed you and let you make your own judgements."

Qrow scowled at the cryptic answer. He was so very sick of cryptic answers. But James must have had a good reason, and whatever his answer was, it was deeper in the hospital. He noticed a black sign, the only irregularity of colour in this damned place, indicating the path to the isolation ward.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" Qrow mused as Ironwood led them to an elevator which took them three floors up.

The General guided them both down the narrow hallway lined with security personal. At the very end of the hall was security station, set between two doors. The far door was basically an airlock, dead bolted shut with a gleaming black and blue number pad. The door closest to them was a plain pale blue slide door. As Ironwood approached the desk to speak with the officer, he gestured for Qrow to enter the slide door.

"I don't know how to prepare you for this, so I think its best if you see for yourself."

The security guard sitting at the desk opened the door, Qrow quickly glanced at Ironwood before ascending the stairs within. They led up to an observation lounge. On Qrow's left side, the windows were slated at an angle and opaque. A row of fluorescent lights illuminated the room from above which only added to the clinically detached feeling permeating the halls.

"I hate hospitals..." He muttered to himself again.

When Ironwood finally joined him in the room, he had a folded plastic evidence bag in his hand that contained something Qrow couldn't quite make out. "Three weeks before you and your group arrived at Mantle, some of my men detained a woman claiming to be a Huntress who stole her way inside Mantle's borders with the intention of seeing General Palatinate."

"Wait, as in your predecessor?" Qrow frowned, confused. "But, she passed last year, didn't she? A state funeral was held, and didn't the old man give a speech?"

"And retired ten years ago on top of that. This was among the woman's personal affects when we brought her in for questioning." Ironwood handed the bag to Qrow, and inside was a scroll. Black with silver edging highlights. It was an old fashioned model that went out of service about twelve years ago. While Qrow contemplated the scroll and fished it out of the bag, Ironwood had crossed the observation room and stood by a dimly lit control panel.

Qrow's lips pressed in a thin line while he waited for the thing to boot up, his eyes promptly widened the the size of saucers when the Huntress License flashed on the scroll's interface. His mouth opened in stunned disbelief and his eyes darted to Ironwood who returned only sympathy and silent apology.

"Given the nature of the situation and our enemy, I'm sure you can understand why we've elected to keep her in observation."

Ironwood ran his finger down the control panel, transitioning the opaque wall into translucent glass. Qrow approached the window and stared down, wide eyed and speechless. He leaned closer, hands pressed to the glass on either side of his head and completely oblivious to James' presence. He stared, slack jawed as his heart leapt to his throat and his gut twisted into knots. Emotions he couldn't even begin to describe were coursing through him, his mind raced with questioned, regrets, memories and so many things he couldn't even put name to them all.

"James..."

Qrow's voice was a low rumble as he stared down at the red-head currently sifting through reports in the isolation room, an indescribable emotion painted his expression as he looked towards the General.

"Why is my dead wife in your isolation room?" He stared down again at the form of Summer Rose.

Author's note:

This is set about Episode 4 or so of Volume 7. Enjoy. :)

Aurora313