Where there is a Flame
Rating: T
Summary: Jack is badly injured while performing his duty as a Guardian. It is up to the others to help the spirit recover and also teach him that just because he was alone before doesn't mean he is now.
Author Note: Thank you to all those who have reviewed! When I got up this morning my inbox was flooded with reviews, follows and favorites it was amazing! But, on a more serious note chapter 2 was inspired by the new reports coming out of CT. No family should be torn apart by the senseless violence that took place at that Elementary school. Please take a moment of silence for those families before you read this.
Chapter 2
The minute the stretcher holding and incoming victim hits the floor of the Emergency Room her sobbing wails catches his attention from where he had been looking over the lone survivor of a car accident. The young boy wasn't expected to live through the night, his injuries so severe that even his touch did little to calm the child's internal terror. He places a ghostly pale hand on the youngster's forehead and within minutes the child is finally at peace. With a sad sigh the ancient spirit steps away and moves through the busy hall of the hospital, barely twitching as nurses and personnel run right through his form to the little boy's side as the machines wail and scream. Choking wails allow the saint to pinpoint the exact position of the terrified girl and within minutes he is entering the brightly lit bay. He approaches, frowning a little at the sight of the distraught child strapped to the back board soot staining her face and causing thick wet tracks to form on her round cheeks from her tears.
"Shhh… easy, easy my young friend." He coos softly and moves to smile at the little patient and watches as her large, scared eyes track his movement. Although her wailing screams have died down the tears spill freely from her eyes as the doctors begin ordering and the nurses scramble to carry out the orders.
"Sophie. I like that." He smiles widely and moves with the youngster as she is removed from the backboard, always staying within eyesight. He runs a hand over the tiny arm as she trembles and sighs as the information flows into his mind from her bright and colorful aura.
"Oh my little friend, I am sorry for your experience with the fire." He sighs and listens for a moment as the doctor gives a negative response to there being any broken bones or severe injuries.
"Look at that!" he laughs happily, causing Sophie to give a rasping giggle. "You came out only slightly singed, that is good news!" he explains, running his fingers through the wild hair as the little girl calms and focuses on the happily smiling nurse in the brightly colored uniform as she talks sweetly, holding up a plush toy which Sophie reaches out to accept, hugging the comforting item close to her little chest. With the youngster distracted the invisible spirit allows himself to frown, feeling the unmistakable signature within the girls shining aura.
A Guardian had saved her
He smiles to himself, filing away the interesting information for later just as two more people enter the overly crowded room. He glances up and sees what can only be Sophie's mother practically collapsing beside her little daughter.
"You are in good hands now my young friend. I will visit again later." He smiles down once more is makes to move out of the room happily knowing that this one child will be perfectly fine. He's about to phase through the door when the wide eyes of another child stops his movement, drawing him up short. He frowns, noticing immediately the related swirls and colors in this boy's aura. He smiles and waves before moving off at a quicker pace than before, alarmed that a child that old would be able to see him. Children stopped being able to see his form when they reach school age, only seeing him again when they were about to be brought into the afterlife.
But this boy… this boy was special. His sister was too.
He smiles and makes his decision.
It was time to visit the Guardians.
The second the sleigh set down North began bellowing orders to Yeti and Elf alike, his demands setting them scrambling as the gravity of the situation becomes known throughout the complex. Jack hadn't moved after the initial jolt of takeoff, his thin body lacking the tension that would have made for a rougher ride. Sandy is monitoring the sand dancing above Jack's singed face, his lips pursed in concentration. Bunnymund pats the dream master's shoulder before leaving their injured companion in the hands of Tooth and Sandy to help prepare the room Jack will be placed in for recovery. Tooth hums a soft tune as she runs her thin fingers through Jack's soot encrusted silver hair not caring if the black gunk dulls her colorful finger scales.
"We will take care of him in the private chambers." North informs as Bunnymund walks over, indicating the narrow stairs that lead upward to the space rooms above the garage section of the complex.
"How do you propose we get him up there?" the Pooka asks, skepticism coloring his words just as the floorboard overhead are pulled away revealing the harry features of Phil and three other Yetis.
"We hoist him up." North plans and sweeps and arm to indicate the rapidly workbench top being carried by more Yetis.
"Do not worry Bunny." North places his large hand on the grey furred shoulder before moving back to command the Yetis carrying the detached worktop closer to the sleigh.
"Hey, hey there you." Bunny commands, drawing the attention of a She-Yeti who immediately steps up to receive the Pooka's orders.
"I am going to need every bottle of burn salve you have here, clean linin ripped up in strips for bandages, ice water, not cold faucet water but ice." The Yeti stops him and lets out a series of rumbling barks, telling him the tub in the room was already being modified to be placed on a bed of ice blocks and being filled with a slushy ice mixture from the ice outside. "PERFECT! We are also going to need tweezers, antibiotic creams." He finishes, clapping the tall creature on her broad shoulder as she retorts with work already being done.
"You, are a brilliant Sheila, credit to your people." He praises and the Yeti gives a soft roar in thanks before moving off to carrying out the Pooka's orders, barking and grumbling out orders to other Yetis.
"Bunny, we are ready to move him." Tooth calls over the commotion, bringing the grey furred Pooka back to the sleigh. Bunny resists the sad pull back into melancholy at the sight of the usually exuberant and laughing spirit so still.
"Alright mates, we are going to move him just like we did to get him on the sleigh. Our movements need to be slow but not jarring. Sandy, how's he looking?" Bunny instructs, taking up his position while Tooth gently grans ahold of Jack's narrow ankles, wincing out a small gasp as a section of burnt flesh sticks to her hand.
"Oi, Tooth, easy. I know it's not pleasant but it's going to happen. Get the job done." Bunny dictates, watching as the Fairies large, horrified eyes lock on his. Visibly the female guardian composes herself and Bunny can't help but feel a swell of pride at the strength she is displaying. Bunny gets a nod from Sandy and with a breathy count the four guardians pick their young friend up and soundlessly deposit him on the blanketed table top. Jack's body reacts to the treatment by tensing, a long moan sneaking through chapped and bleeding lips.
"Let's get him up." Bunny orders and the Yetis begin to move the makeshift gurney over to the awaiting hole in the ceiling where Phil and the others drop down chains to be hooked onto the table's brackets. North helps hook the chains as Sandy settles himself once more at the injured spirits head and gives a small wave as Phil and the others begin to pull up the tabletop.
"What is our next move Bunny?" North questions as he ushers Tooth and the Pooka upward by the stairway. Bunny has to think about it first and shakes his head sadly as they make it to the top, his mind drawing a blank.
"Bunnymund?" North inquires as his tall friend doesn't answer, stopping to gaze at the long eared guardian. Bunny scrambles to think, his knowledge chasing sense chasing what if's around his mind.
"I- I don't know Nick." He breathes, panic clutching at his chest. North shakes his head and places his large hands on both of Bunny's shaking shoulders.
"Listen to me Aster. You do know what to do, I have never dealt with burns to this degree, my knowledge rests in bleeding wounds, infections and sickness. Jack has a mortal form akin to mine but I never dealt with burns in my former life." He admits, blue eyes narrowing dangerously as Bunny absorbs his words.
"I have never dealt with a winter spirit who went and got himself toasted!" he retorts icily and North shakes his head.
"He must be kept cool. The fire made his body too hot, possibly causing more injury." He begins and Bunnymund nods
"Yes, alright. We get him cool, then we start working on his burns and injuries." He states, moving to where Phil is helping to pick up the tabletop to transport it into the awaiting bathroom.
"North! In that massive library do you have anything on Winter Spirits?" Tooth suddenly asks, her large wings creating a breeze as she flits around, her baby fairy following closely and chirping.
"Yes, I do not know where exactly, but I am sure there is something down there." He responds, frowning as he tries to recall if he'd ever seen one. Tooth doesn't wait and takes off like a bullet, causing Yetis to dive out of the way.
"North!" Bunny roars from the bathroom and the toy maker refocuses on the task at hand. The bathroom is crowded with five large Yeti's, a six foot rabbit, a tabletop and now the Russian. Bunnymund stretches himself out over the tub, bracing one leg on the windowsill and the other digging into the wooden wall, suspended by thick claws.
"Alright boys, we are going to do this nice and easy but quickly. Sandy, are we good?" The small man nods and begins to float over the slushy mix in the tub. Bunny takes a deep breath and gives a single quick nod, his large paws on either side of Jack's face, supporting his head as the Yeti's and North submerge the youngster's body into the slushy water.
The reaction is instantaneous
Jack's swollen eyes widen as much as possible, an animalistic scream tearing from his ravaged throat as his abused body thrashes in the bath, his chest heaving as the chill tears through his body. Jack struggles violently, his brain in survival mode and unable to process the sensations. North gives a loud curse in Russian as Jack lashes out with his legs, catching the guardian of wonder in the chest as the lithe body writhes and twists.
"N-nah… ugh." He gasps, thick coughs rattling his chest as he struggles. Bunnymund retains his grip, thankfully keeping Jack's face above the water enough so he doesn't draw in any of the water.
"Sandy! Put him out!" Bunny orders loudly as Jack grows even more violent, his choking coughs sending black mucus into the water as he sobs and struggles, swollen face screwed up in agony as he screams. High pitched wailing causing tears to spring into North's eyes as he watches the struggling child. Sandy throws a handful of dream sand but it seems to barley phase the wounded. He ramps up to try one more time but North's shout stops him
"NO! He's out, Jack is out. This is his body reacting, he is not awake." Sandy stops and looks down at the immortal teenager and notices the lack of awareness in his swollen eyes, the slivers of blue dull and unfocused as the body continues to thrash.
"I saw it… long time ago. The body reacts to pain, sensations even if the mind isn't there to make it do so." North informs his accent thick and words tumbling out at a fast rate. As the words are spoken the fight seems to leave the winter spirits body. Coughs, thick and painful sounding continue to force the teen's chest upward with convulsions but he's stopped struggling. Pained whimpers and hacking gasps for air are all that is being produced as Jack's limp body sinks further into the icy bath. The three Guardians breathe easily while Phil and the others shake the half frozen water out of their fur.
"Alright… alright, uh, we need something for his head." A drench Bunnymund decrees and Phil gives a barking order as the other three disappear. Within a second one of them returns with a work stool fitted with towels for comfort and Bunny allows the Yeti to work. With a grunt the furry creature designates that it is safe to place Jack's head on the down. Bunny gently sets the young spirits head onto the makeshift stand and sighs when his mouth and nose don't slip beneath the liquid. With a grunt the tall Pooka brings himself back to standing on the floor, rotating his hips with a grimace. It's been too long since the guardian has had to bend in such positions, abused muscles protest sharply.
"Should we be worried that the water is not freezing?" North inquires in the silence that descends upon the small room. Sandy shifts a few images above his head and Bunny can only regard the unconscious form in the tub.
"Give it time mate; we don't know how long he was in that building or really what damage he's got. All we know is the little dag was overheated which isn't good for someone who controls the winter chill." Bunny counters and crosses his arms worriedly.
"Tooth is pursuing the library for anything that might help." North states, looking around the drenched bathroom before claiming the toilet seat as his place to sit. Sandy also procures a spot on the stained glass window sill, his attention still on the youngling.
"Well, we might as well settle in at least till something happens." Bunny sighs and sinks to the floor, his head falling back against the tile with a fwump. The sound of Jack's ragged, rattling breath their only companion.
"Okay… this one says that winter spirits are vicious and sullen." Tooth dictates to Baby Tooth, her wings beating so quickly the turn the pages of the ancient books. Luckily she can read as fast as her wings beat.
"Not this one then." She chucks the book over her shoulder, allowing it to find a place to rest on the rapidly growing pile of ancient texts. A lot of them are written in Russian, German and what could possibly be Latin but the fairy doesn't have time to analyze. Grabbing another leather bound spine she flips it open and chucks it as the language is illegible. Baby Tooth chirps excitedly at her Mistress, drawing the larger fairy to a black bound book on the very end of the expansive top shelf. She takes the volume off the shelf and starts to thumb through the ancient pages, her eyes widening as her iridescent wings beat faster.
"This might be it Baby Tooth! Good job!" she shouts to the small fairy and takes off, clutching the handwritten journal to her feathery chest. She ducks and whirls past the continuously working Yeti's up to the guest section of the complex.
"NORTH!" she shouts barely managing to stop her motion before slamming into the wall at the rear of the small room.
"What is it?" North asks, sitting up and rubbing his large hands on his pants. Bunny cocks and ear in their direction as Tooth talks quickly, words blending together.
"Baby Tooth saw this and it's got a bunch of drawings of leaves and medical stuff like bones but it's in Russian or Islamic or I dunno just readit!" she throws the book at the large man who nearly drops it, scrambling to keep the ancient text out of the puddles as the fairy turns to peer down at the playful sprite in the slushy tub.
"Oh… look at him." She breathes sadly, eyes becoming sad once more. The swelling around the youngling's eyes has remained puffy with the skin bruising slightly.
"No change?" Sandy shakes his head
"At all?" tears begin to gather as Tooth kneels beside the porcelain basin, hand drifting over the hair plastered to the teens forehead, beginning to hum softly while Sandy calmly monitors the fantasies Jack is seeing in his mind.
"Bunny… this could be something." North calls over softly, forcing the tall rabbit spirit to uncurl from his place and stride across to the larger spirit. He looks at the old hand written pages and scoffs, ears cocking to the side in annoyance.
"I can't read Russian." He states with an irritable clack of his teeth.
"I know this. But here, here is a small section on elemental spirits and bits of research." He taps a finger on the page with a frown. Bunny waits and resists the urge to stomp his foot in impatience.
"And?" he presses, knowing that both Sandy and Tooth were waiting too.
"This.. person observed that cold element spirits when they get overheated they tend to lose their ability to focus powers… the time depends on length spent in heat." He reads thickly, running his fingers along the words.
"Well… that's useless. We don't know how long he was in the house." Tooth states angrily from beside the injured spirit.
"No, no this is good." Bunny states but is cut off as North continues to read everyone oblivious to Sandy's frantic movements over on the windowsill.
"During recovery, elemental spirits are difficult in management. As their energies are regained they will sporadically use them without any apparent control." He continues as Sandy begins to frantically wave his arms, searching for anything that will gain the attention of the others. Wordlessly he crouches down and tries to sooth and weakly struggling teen as he tries to comprehend where he is. For Jack it's a terrifying ordeal, his body is no longer on fire but the chill is cutting into him almost as bad as the fire had. He tries to force his eyes open but something is weighing them down, keeping his vision swimming and dangerously narrow.
He panics.
The air that had moments before been passing feebly into his lungs is suddenly non existent
The only noise he can make is a frightened sob that quickly turns into a scream of terror
"Shit!" Bunny curses loudly, slipping on the ice water as he scrambles to get over to the tub. Tooth is frantically trying to calm the youngster but Jack isn't listening, lashing out and trying to find purchase on the slippery tub bottom.
"Jack! Calm down, calm down! Ohhhh please Jack!" Tooth pleads, bending in closer only to be drenched with a spray of chilling water as Jack's long fingers latch onto the corner of the basin.
"Sandy!" Bunny shouts as the small man tries to cast his sand he's not fast enough. In a show of impressive strength born of self-preservation the loner spirit hauls his body out of the icy slush only to slam chest first onto the tiled floor, his chest heaving as he vomits up sooty black gunk. Bunny is beside the teen instantly, his large paws pressing the scrawny shoulders down as Jack tries to weakly get away from what he perceives as a threat.
"Jack, calm down mate. Calm down, listen to me, listen. Calm.." Bunny soothes as Jack retches up more black gunk and draws in wheezing sobs as he curls into himself, shuddering violently.
"Okay, okay. Are you with me snowball?" Bunny jokes gently and shares worried glances with the other guardians who are gathered close by.
"Bahnneee…" Jack wheezes, swollen eyes struggling to open
"Yeah Jack it's me. Everyone else is here too but I need you to be calm alright." He explains slowly, finding the shuddering and twitching coming in waves as the youth breathes and coughs.
"dh… duh." He starts but can't seem to finish as his body heaves violently once more, producing more sticky looking tar and leaving the winter spirit gasping, his usually pearly white teeth stained a grotesque black as the sooty tar gathers on his pale lips.
"duhn't fffeell goow—d" he gasps out and curls further into himself, breaking open the burns on his back which seep a dark blood. Bunny nods his head, ears pressing against his skull.
"I know Jack, I know. We're going to take care of you." Tooth states firmly, trying to get closer to the teen but stops as Jack's body heaves sharply with a sobbing cry. The four older guardians are at a loss of what to do as the teen curls himself up further, sobbing openly into his ruined sweatshirt.
"We're going to take care of you… promise." Bunny whispers sadly, sharing a sad look with North and Sandy.
Author Note: My hike was short. The place I went was interesting, almost slid into pond trying to take up close shots of a water fall with ice on it. Scared some water rats and wood peckers, didn't stay long since the trails weren't trails and I have this fear of falling into Northern NJ sink holes out in the woods. (We don't have random sink holes in New England!) If anyone can tell me who the spirit in the hospital might be you will get a cookie! Drop me a review if you feel it is deserved!
