Okay guys I am so sorry it took so long to update. I have been slammed with work and school and I just haven't had time to update. I actually saw the movie today and it was fantastic! So I decided it was time to sit down and update this story in honor of the release day! I hope you like this chapter. As always thanks for the reviews and please leave feedback and suggestions for the story.
Jack watched weakly as Sandy floated over to his bedside. He wished he could smile at the golden form floating before him; it used to be so easy for him. He'd always loved Sandy. Every night he could count on his dreamsand to appear in the chilled night air and make him feel as though he wasn't alone anymore.
But he was too tired, too drained from all he'd been through. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to smile again, with these horrid memories plaguing his mind. Jack shuddered ever so slightly as he thought about what it would be like to have the memories of his time with Pitch for an eternity.
Sandy looked over the boy before smiling sadly, slowly and carefully he placed his small golden hand over Jack's cold and unmoving one. Golden eyes met dull blue and Sandy tried his best to smile warmly at the boy. He needed to be shown positive emotions, affection, and love. He'd needed that way before now. But now, after the things that had happened, if they had any hope of getting the old Jack Frost back, they would have to shower him in it.
Golden dreamsand floated above Sandy's head, the image of Jack in his bed showed up clear as day, the only difference was that the boy was resting peacefully with small z's emanating from him. Jack nodded weakly in understanding, "thank you Sandy…I really want to sleep."
A pang of pain filled the Sandman's heart, aside from his voice still sounding worn and raspy, he sounded exhausted from it all. More dreamsand wisped around Sandy's head, forming the image of Tooth and a bottle of medicine. A small clock then formed and showed the minute hand move five lines.
"Tooth will be here in five minutes? Okay Sandy…" Jack said quietly. Without warning, Jack's hand suddenly gripped Sandy's tiny golden one as he accidentally shifted again in his bed. Pain shot up and down his torso, it was like he could feel each of his injuries all at once; it felt like it was going to consume him.
Sandy winced as Jack squeezed his tiny hand with a force he didn't know the boy was capable of. He watched as Jack's features form into a grimace. 'Is he really in this much pain?' Sandy thought, worry etching itself onto his rounded face.
"I have it! I have the pain medicine!" Tooth's voice echoed from down the hallway by the infirmary. Sandy heard the flitter of her wings as she approached. Slowly the door opened and she came flying in. She had four different bottles in her arms with different names on each of them. Once her pink eyes fell upon Jack's pain stricken form she immediately placed them on the table and floated over to the opposite side of the bed. Her eyes zipped to Sandy for a brief second, only to be met with a sad look. Carefully she placed one of her petite hands on his cheek while the other began to massage his hair. "Oh Jack, I'm sorry I took so long." She whispered softly. "Where does it hurt Jack?"
Jack took a moment before his eyes fluttered open, "E-everwhere…Tooth…Please." He rasped out.
Tooth shushed him softly before floating back over the medicine. She opened up one of the bottles and poured the liquid from it into a small plastic cup. "This should be enough for now, and it will help you sleep." Tooth said as she flew back to his bedside, the medicine clutched tightly in her hand.
Slowly she placed her hand underneath Jack's head and lifted it up carefully. The plastic cup met his lips and he tried his best to swallow the medicine. Tooth stopped when he began to sputter and cough. The coughing became more violent as Jack struggled to swallow the medication. Sandy floated idly and clutched Jack's hand tightly, trying to comfort him. 'Why is everything so hard for him?"
Tooth waited patiently for his spout of coughing to end, whispering soothing words to him, as he no doubt felt an immense amount of pain from the coughs wracking through his injured body. "Do you think you can take the rest Jack?" Tooth questioned. Jack's tear rimmed eyes met Tooth's and he nodded. Once again Tooth supported his head and poured the liquid into his mouth until he had successfully swallowed all of it.
"There we are, you're all set Jack. Just wait a little longer and you'll be out like a light." Tooth said as she gave him a smile small. "Thanks Tooth." Jack responded tiredly.
It took a while for Jack to actually calm himself, even after the medicine had started to work. He hated to admit it but fear was still plaguing him. He was still scared of the nightmares. It was like having a never-ending battle with himself that only ever resulted in more anxiety.
He kept shifting his gaze between Tooth and Sandy, each of them on either side of his bed. They both kept trying to comfort him in their own ways but it wasn't working. Who he really wanted right now was Bunnymund, for some reason he felt safest with him, he'd always felt that with North primarily but North wasn't here now.
"Tooth? Can you get Bunny?" Jack asked softly. Tooth looked surprised at first but then smiled, "yes Jack, if that's what will help you sleep." In a flash she was up in the air, she gave a quick nod to Sandy before zooming out of the room.
Bunnymund still stood in the grand room, trying desperately to think of a good plan to save North, much to his dismay nothing had come to him yet. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the flitter of Tooth's wings getting louder. "Bunnymund?" She called out. "I'm here Tooth." He shouted back.
A few seconds later the rainbow colored Guardian hovered in front of him, "Bunny…It's Jack, he wants you." Tooth breathed out. Bunnymund now wore the same expression of surprise that she had worn not a few minutes before. "I know Bunny, I know, but he feels safest with you, and he can't sleep, and he needs you! He needs to sleep or-" Bunnymund interrupted before Tooth could continue. "It's okay Tooth, it's okay."
Bunnymund suddenly felt like an older brother or parent to the boy. If he needed him there to ease his pain then he would be there. "Tooth you gotta try and communicate with MiM, we need his help to save North. I'll be with Jack until he falls asleep and then I'll be back." Without another word he hopped full speed towards the infirmary, leaving Tooth staring at the moon.
Jack's blue eyes flew to Bunnymund as he entered the room; Sandy was still there holding his hand.
"How are you feeling mate? Is the medicine working for ya?" Bunnymund said as he crouched down on the wooden floor to look at the winter spirit. "The pain isn't as bad…But I…I just wanted you here I'm still scared." Bunnymund nodded in understanding. "I'll be right here, you need rest mate, you have to start healing those wounds of yours." That's when he saw Jack's free hand moving ever so slightly. It didn't take Bunnymund long to figure out what it meant.
Wasting no time or effort he place a paw on top of the boys other hand. "I'm right here, you can rest now."
Jack met his gaze one last time before his eyes finally shut. Minutes passed as the two guardians sat there holding the boy's hands in their own. To both of their relief Jack's chest began to rise up and down at a steady rhythm. He was asleep once more.
"You're up Sandy, take care of those nightmares." Bunnymund said.
Sandy got to work right away; gold sand whirled around Jack's head and took the shape of dolphins. Just as sandy had originally envisioned.
Now that the boy was sleeping, it was time to get to work on saving North.