You're Never Alone

Chapter 4: Back To Work

"Jack, Jack wake up." Jack heard Artemis's voice whisper, he didn't follow her orders though, "Jackson whatever your middle name is Frost wake up RIGHT NOW!" Jack shot up, "Good boy, I was starting to think I'd need to pour water on you."

"Did you wake me up for a reason or are you just being annoying?" Jack asked.

"First one, you're going back to work." Artemis said.

"What?" Jack asked, genuinely confused.

"You know winter, come on it's December fifth, people need winter." Artemis said.

"Oh!" Jack said, "Why didn't you say so." He grabbed his staff.

"I did in a way. Your job is to bring about winter." Artemis said, "You didn't really think you could stay in this frozen desert for the rest of your life, did you."

"No, that'd be a bit boring. I'd break out sooner or later." Jack said.

"Uh-huh, that shows how much you care about our generous hospitality." Artemis said. Jack suddenly realized something.

"You have an accent?" Jack asked.

"Yeah," Artemis said, sounding a bit shocked, "I used to have a British accent, but it's faded out over the years."

"You haven't told me much about your back-story." Jack said.

"You never asked." Artemis shrugged.

"Well, I am now." Jack shot back. Artemis glared at him.

"You're such an annoying little spirit. I'll tell you on the way." Artemis sighed. He's so annoying. He's too much like her.

"You're coming too?" Jack asked. He's always worked alone, and even though he appreciated the company, he liked working alone.

"I'm a bit rusty, but I think I'll be able to survive, maybe even point out whether or not you're doing it right." Artemis said.

"Oh goody." Jack said sarcastically.

"Are you mocking your host." Artemis said, crossing her arms.

"I would never." Jack said dramatically.

"Come on, you'll be late." Artemis said.

"Fine, fine. I'll be right there." Jack said. Artemis nodded and left the room. It was half an hour later that Jack came down.

"What took you so long?" Artemis asked.

"Hey you don't look this awesome instantly, it takes some time." Jack said, gesturing at himself.

"Don't push it." Artemis said, opening the door. Jack took his time to get to the door. Artemis lost her patience, and shouted, "Move!" Jack flew out the door, laughing. Artemis glared at him, but there was a slight smirk on her face. She then took of as well.

"Where to first?" Artemis asked.

"My home town, Burgess." Jack said, and the wind picked up, carrying them faster.

"Lovely." Artemis said.

"So," Jack said, changing the subject, "your back-story?" Artemis got a sad look on her face, and slowed down.

"Oh . . . that." She said. Jack looked at her, curious and slightly worried. Artemis was never sad ever. She was always all bubbly and mischievous. Which sometimes got annoying, but he liked her all the same. As a friend of course.

"What's wrong." He asked, flying over to her. She shook her head.

"Nothing." She said, "nothing at all."

"Who do you think you're lying to?" Jack asked. He was the King of All Lies. Half-lies, half-truths, serious lies, just-for-fun lies . . . he was really good at lying. Lying and pranking kind of go together.

"Jack Frost, King of All Lies." Artemis said. She was psychic.

"Lucky guess." Jack said.

"No, no, I'm pretty sure your name is Jack Frost." She said, some of her old mischief showing again. Jack felt an odd sense of pride in himself for that.

"By the way, you don't have to answer my question about your back-story if you don't want to." He said.

"Oh, it's okay, it just brings back some . . . bad memories." Artemis said. He looked at her sympathetically.

"Well, let's go to Burgess give the kids a Snow Day." He said. Artemis immediately lightened up.

"Do you know anyone there?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm pretty popular with the kids, and I met my first believer there." He said.

"Name." Artemis asked. He didn't need to know who's name she was asking for.

"James Bennett, but he likes being called Jamie." Jack said.

"How old is he?" Artemis asked.

"Nine turning ten December eleventh." Jack said.

"Believes in all the guardians?" Artemis asked.

"Yeah, believer in a lot of things. Aliens, Big-foot, you name it." Jack said.

"So, his birthday is on the eleventh?" Artemis asked, looking deep in thought.

"Yeah." Jack replied, "Why?"

"Let's hope we can get there in time." Artemis said, triggering Jack's curiosity, "It's a school day right?"

"Right?" Jack said. It was a Friday, "'Kay Artemis why are you asking me all this?" Though he had a pretty good idea.

"We're going to surprise little Jamie Bennett with a snow day specially made for his birthday." Artemis said.

"Not a bad idea, and he'll probably be excited to see me . . . who wouldn't be." Jack said.

"Oh, I'm sure he will." Artemis said, "after all you're so popular with the children there."

"What can I say, I can't help being awesome." Jack said.

"Right now all you're being is arrogant." Artemis said.

"It's not arrogance for one to see the good things about themselves." Jack said.

"Which book did you get that from?" Artemis asked.

"I made it up." Jack said. Artemis raised an eyebrow, "Fine, it was the book on the top shelf."

"Quotes that make you sound smart?" Artemis asked.

"Let's just say, I was really bored." Jack said.


A/N: My inspiration is back! Oh goody. Was this chapter not good enough? Yeah, probably. Was it worth the wait? No, probably not. But it's better than nothing. Would you rather way another six months. Well, that's all for now. Hope you at least enjoyed this chapter a little bit. Review whether you like it or not.