Hey everybody!
Loooooonnnngggg chapter for you all, i figured you might like that.
Sorry for the time, as always busy i'm pretty busy with things.
By the way, just one more reminder, i have noticed Jamie's friends have names (or at least the internet has given them some) but i'm sticking with the ones i chose.
Because i'm too lazy to change them, and i like mine better.
And don't worry, there is A LOT MORE character development with them in the story
I figure at least.
Hope you enjoy
See u soon.
…..
The tension was so thick it could easily be cut with a knife, EASILY.
Everyone in the living room was quiet, the only sound that even somewhat stirred the silence was Jamie's breathing, his panicked little gasps practically exploding out of his body.
Jamie's mother and Jane both looked mortified and both seemed frozen in space as if someone had touched a stopwatch. Each women had horrific looks on their faces of disbelief and fear, each in a terrified trance, but neither really seeminging surprised.
Jack was in the same boat, just suck staring dumbfounded at te boy in his arms, who was peering at his mother with a terrified gaze.
''T...they were going to kill me….'' Jamie whimpered his eyes wide as he gave a mortified glance towards the black screen of the tv,''...Even after…..''
The child gulped and held back a sob painfully.
''...After doing that to me…...they were going to kill me anyway…''
Jamie turned to look at everyone, his eyes big and wide as he searched vainly for a response of some sort, anything really.
''They were weren't they?''
Jamie's mother quickly came to her son's aid,
''Oh Jamie…..I'm so sorry, this isn't your fault.'' The brunette quickly sat next to the child wrapping him into a tight hug,''I'm sorry...I can't tell you how much…''
But Jamie jerked away giving his mother a tear filled expression,
''They were just going to throw me out like a trash bag, after they were finished with me?!''
Jane launched forward and attempted to grab Jamie's shoulder softly making him turn towards her.
The redhead's eyes were full of sparkling tears, her red lips quivering uncontrollably as her usually confident voice cracked.
''Jami..Jamie….I''
Jane gazed at the boy below her and seemed just flat out lost, her eyes sparkling with tears as she attempted to speak, but her tongue and mouth only moved in the slightest, her calm demeanor falling apart in front of Jack's very eyes.
Jamie however seemed to put the pieces together violently quick, Jamie quickly got up from the couch and frantically turned to his family, his entire body shaking,
''They thought i wasn't supposed to live, I wasn't worth keeping alive?''
Jack struggled to get up, terrified Jamie might run away, but found himself struggling in the blankets momentarily, seconds passing like hours.
''Honey, I know this is hard to take in but…''
Jamie turned to that looking somewhat pale as he shot out a surprising sentence.
''Please get sophie!'' the child yelped.
Everyone stopped, a eerie silence taking the room.
Jack gazed at the boy worriedly.
Jane was barely able to speak,''Sorry jamie, what do you mean…..''
''I want sophie home,'' Jamie whimpered in terror,''Please get her home.''
Jamie's mother cleared her throat worriedly,''Jamie, maybe….''
"Please…'' Jamie said loudly his voice shaking and his eyes wide,''I want her safe.''
Jamie's mother was silent her eyes wide and the quiet continuing before she finally agreed.
At that Jane left to pick sophie up.
…...
Jack was cuddling with Jamie softly in his arms, no one had spoken for what seemed like hours since they had sat on Jamie's bed.
The tiny boy had been mostly quiet since they had entered his room, jack had encouraged the child to talk, but Jamie had refused, much to the the teen's terror.
The last thing jack wanted would be for Jamie to end up the way he had a few days before.
They both were cuddling in the bed quietly, Jack had his arms and feet wrapped around the child in a protective cage like position, while Jamie was curled up in a ball softly curled to his center.
It was at this point both of them looked up as they heard jamie's door open soon revealing Jamie's mother.
Jack blinked and gave the worried brunette a puzzled expression.
Jamie cuddled deeper into his friend's chest.
''Jamie…'' The young mom said slowly and deliberately.
Jamie peered out from Jack's arms,
''Yeah.''
Jamie's mother paused, chewing her lip and picking her words wisely.
''Your friends are here to see you…..if you would like.''
Jamie stared at the women quietly, like he wasn't sure if he had heard her right, and being honest Jack wasn't absolutely sure he had heard Jamie's mom right either. After a few long seconds of blinking trying to understand what was going on, Jack managed to steer his gaze to Jamie, who was shivering in his arms softly. Jack could already see the white of the child's eyes in his limited vision, and he could already tell by how big they were, filled with worry and an overpowering sense of dread and nervousness.
But as Jack gazed closer he seemed to notice the little boy also had a faint trace of curiosity glinting in his eyes, like a few faint fireflies on a foggy night. His eyes shining with a slight excitement and hope, among the fear and dread.
Jack's blue orbs gazed at the child expecting, while Jamie continued to shiver ever so slightly, making Jack give him a tight hug.
There was a long pause as the young mother hung by the door, half expecting to tell Jamie's friends Jamie wasn't up for a visit.
But Jamie surprised them all.
''Yeah…..actually, I would like to see them.''
Both Jack and Jamie's mother's eyes widen with surprise, the adult women hesitated pursing her lips like she wanted to refuse, but after she saw the look on her son's face she gave in and closed the door.
A few seconds later before Jack could ask Jamie he was certain, the door slowly creaked open, and Tina's familiar freckled face peered in, her red hair glowing vibrantly, her face etched with worry.
Jack felt Jamie shiver in his arms a little more strongly, making Jack pull him closer.
''Jamie?'' Tina whispered, slowly stepping in, her green shirt and genes ruffled like they had just been thrown on,''Can we come in.''
The child nodded slowly, his movements slow and thoughtful, but still riddled with anxiety a dread.
Soon other familiar faces started to form around the girl, each looking just as anxious and nervous as the next. Carefully the door slid open revealing Nate and rocky in the background looking unsussly sollem, especially for children.
Jack watched in shock as one after the other Jamie's friends filled the room, Tina was first, then came Rocky with his tall dark hair, Nate soon following behind with his bright red glasses, followed by tommy who was Rocky's jokester brother who at the moment seemed thoroughly terrified, and of course lastly came cupcake who held a fearful expression that showed a hint of angar.
Jack blinked in amazement as the group filled the room, each child bearing a worried expression, each gazing at their friend with worried eyes and slightly scared expressions.
Jack didn't say a word and just held Jame tighter, not sure what to say or if he should even speak.
There was an uncomfortable silence, for everyone in the room, before Tina finally spoke,
''We..we saw the news reports on tv.'' She mumbled looking at the ground,''we...sort of learned what…''
Tina stammered.
''Happened.'' Cupcake finished blankly, darkness in her tone.
Jamie immediately went pale, and Jack whispered for him to keep breathing.
Another silence.
''We wanted to come sooner, we swear!'' Tommy said quickly like he was sure Jamie might get angry,''It's just…..our parents thought you needed space.''
Nate was next to speak his voice quivering,''We've really been worried about you Jamie.''
A quiet mumble of agreement soon slid around the group, each bobbing their heads calmly and sharing similar expressions.
Jamie was still cuddled In Jack's arms, his eyes slightly peering out from his hair as he just gazed back at them all his little arms trembling, the boy sucked in a uneasy breath but soon found he was unable to speak, like his voice had been frozen in his throat, only allowing him to make little weezy breaths.
Jack turned to face the kids around him and followed the line of children until he came across Rocky, who had been silent from the moment he walked in the tiny room.
To Jack's complete surprise,despite the dark shading of the room the teen started to recognize the small water patterns on the other child's darker cheeks. Which Jack quickly recognized.
This was especially odd to the teen since Rocky was known to be one of the more ''tougher'' kids in the group. Of course cupcake was top when it came to dominance and angar, but Rocky was known for being less sentimental and more mentally willed. His brother Tommy was similar, but had much more of a prankster side to him, while Rocky liked kidding around but was more serious or sarcastic and could get annoyed by his brother's pranks after a while. The moment Jack had met the child he had found Rocky to be the one who teased Jamie the most out of the group about his beliefs in the supernatural. It never went too far, but he was known for poking the most fun at it, to the point Jaime would get slightly agitated.
But of course after the big battle with pitch last year, he didn't tease Jamie at all about that sort of stuff, but he still kind of poked a little fun.
So it was very odd to see the little african american boy standing quietly in the background with eyes filled with big tears, and looking the most worried out of everyone there.
The 12 year old sniffed and let out a tiny voice that cracked slightly, his big brown eyes staring straight at his friend in the teen's arms.
Jamie slowly peered upward himself coming face to face with his friend, a look of horror in his expression.
Both held eye contact for a few moments before Rocky finally opened his mouth,
''Jamie….'' the boy gulped and let out another sniff,''Are...are..are you...hurt?''
In Jack's arms the child blinked and sniffed, rubbing his nose on his sleeve before he finally sat up and sort of wiggled out of Jack's arms ever so slightly. Taking a shaky breath the child wiped his eyes and avoided his friend's gazes.
''I...I'm ok…..'' the child whimpered his voice not backing him up in the slightest,''I'm just….it...when..''
The boy stuttered his voice failing each time he tried to speak, like he was trying to put a glass statue back together with mud, it just kept falling apart. All through the while Jack had been holding the child's shoulder and rubbing his back quietly attempting to soothe him in some way, as he remained silent.
Jamie kept stuttering, each failed attempt at speech seeming to make him more fearful and frustrated as the seconds passes, causing everyone to look at him.
Eventually Jamie's eyes filled with tears,
''I'm just really scared…..'' he whimpered tears falling down his face as his voice cracked,''Really really scared.''
With that he began to cry softly, making all his friends look at him in uncomfortable horror, not sure how to react.
Jack hugged Jamie softly from behind giving all his friends a knowing sad look, that they all seemed to recognize.
''I'm sorry…..'' Jamie whimpered repeatedly his little voice reminding the teen of glass china tethering on the edge of a table,''I'm so sorry…''
At first all 5 children just stared at him, all looking freaked out and a little confused, even a little unsure if Jamie should be sorry for anything.
A more puzzled expression fell across Tina's face,
''Why are you sorry?''
Jamie who had quieted down a bit was now sniffing profusely, with his eyes a slight red,at first he attempted to answer, but then he didn't seem to be able too, like he had lost his nerve.
Or more likely (in jack's eyes at least) he wasn't able to give a reason why.
Quickly Jack spoke up for the first time since any of them had entered the room,
''Jamie...none of this your fault.''
Jamie let out a tiny whine and shrugged it off, not believing in the slightest.
Rocky suddenly from the background became much more visibly angry and swiftly spoke,''You think this is your fault?''
Rocky's brown irises were burning hatefully, his chocolate eyes glowing like embers from a fire, creating a much more sinister tone.
Jamie flinched from his friend's angry glare, quickly looking towards his hands in his lap, hiding his face shamefully, and kneeling back on Jack's chest, while Jack held his arms around him tightly.
Rocky's expression harden even more, his nostrils flaring in a protective manner.
''Jamie….I don't think anything you did made this happen to you….'' Nate said quietly.
''Of course not!'' Rocky glared turning to face his more subtle friends, his face turning a bright angry red, ''Nothing he did made it justified for those men to hurt him!''
In his angar Rocky slammed his hand on the bedpost, making Jamie jump slightly at the sound in Jack's arms, quickly his friend noticed this and he pulled his hand back hastily a more worried look in his eyes.
''Sorry Jamie…''
Jamie breathed heavily for a moment his eyes wide before he managed to breathe normally and he gave Rocky a curt nod.
Rocky still looked terrified.
''Calm down guys,'' tommy spoke his voice uncharastically nervous,''Relax,we can't panic, don't freak out Jamie even more.''
Jamie flinched at that comment.
All the friends were quiet for a moment a eerie silence forming around them all it's strange atmosphere creating even more tension.
Jack let out a sigh and started to speak,''your all right, Jamie didn't do anything wrong…''
All the children turned upward to look at the teen, counting Jamie himself.
''Jamie….you never did anything to ask for this ok?''
The boy was quiet for a moment before he slowly spoke,''But maybe it was because I did something wrong in the past…..like the time I got mad at mom..''
''What?'' his friends blurted in univision all shocked.
''What are you talking about?'' cupcake motioned her face pale,''How would that make this happen?''
Jamie shrugged and and slid onto the bed,''I don't know...maybe it's a karma thing…''
''Jamie,'' Nate said quickly his voice firm,''This depends on people's personal opinions, but my guess is that there is no such thing as karma...and even if it there was..''
Jamie peered up at him shyly through his hair.
''..nothing you did made this happen.''
Softly but firmly Jack took Jamie's ashamed expression and tilted it upward facing his face once more. Jamie flinched and gave jack that same worthless expression, that always broke Jack's heart into pieces. With a soft hand Jack continued to press the little boy's chin into his cool hand, gazing into the child's lost and tormented eyes. Jack observed him, giving him yet another encouraging expression, but at the same time felt an resentful glare as he noticed the red rings still circling the Jamie's eyes, and the scratches and marks still apparent after all the healing.
A burning rush of wrathful vengeance wriggled inside the teen's chest as he spoke.
''Don't blame yourself,'' Jack mumbled harshly (harshness not at all directed at the boy) ''you never asked to get hurt...you never asked to be kidnapped...you never asked to be bullied. The last person on earth who should be blamed for any of this is you…... Ok?''
All jamie's friends nodded encouragingly, making jack turn his gaze from jamie and smile at them all proudly, shocked by the massive support from such young kids.
Jamie still looked astonished and sort of looked away, a blush taking his features as he turned.
''Ok.'' he whimpered.
Suddenly everyone else became more calm and tina's voice filled the air,
''we really miss you at school Jamie.''
Another silence.
However after a moment this Surprisingly made jamie lookup, his eyes sparkling with hesidence and curiosity.
''really?''
Everyone nodded smiling.
''Yeah...it's not the same without you dude..'' Rocky grinned rubbing his neck,''Since you've been gone tommy's failed almost everything this week.''
Everyone burst out into laughter, counting Jamie and Jack who were supporting each other from falling off the bed, while Tommy was playfully beating up his brother.
''Not everything!'' Tommy shouted,''Just most! give me credit!''
''Fine, you spelt the word ''the'' right in english, you happy now?''
''Yes.'' Tommy announced proudly making everyone burst into laughter again.
''Shut up!'' cupcake grinned shoving both of them playfully almost making them topple in the process, without even knowing it.
As the laughter died Jack grinned and smiled at his young friends,''It's great to see you guys, we both missed all your annoying conversations.''
Everyone chuckled,''Shut it jack, you know well that you talk about the weirdest things here.'' Tina grinned crossing her arms in a smug expression.
''Half the time I just assume Jack's insane.'' Tommy shrugged.
Everyone laughed again, counting Jamie who was now sitting comfortably beside jack, his legs dangling over the bed and smiling softly.
Jack laughed his cool crisp laugh and ruffled the boy's hair carefully, at this Jamie chuckled and fought playfully with Jack's hand, acting a little like a kitten.
When the child looked up to face his friends shining eyes, he let out a small weez and mumbled,''Thanks guys….'''
The brunetted grinned shyly another blush taking his cheeks, this time a pale pink,
''It means a lot you came.''
All the friends nodded and beamed at one of their youngest friends, each face gazing upon the 11 year old warmly, along with the winter spirit who sat right next to them, clutching his staff and admiring the child.
''No sweat Jamie boi,'' Tommy hushed in a over the top squeaky voice.
Everyone burst out laughing again, before Tina's eyes widen and she reached into her pocket,''Oh Jamie!''
The boy looked up and Tina stepped forward holding a red scarf in her hands.
Jamie's eyes balgude,''My scarf..?''
Softly tina handed it over it's red velvet fabric sinking into Jamie's pale hands. Turning the red fabric over Jamie found the same word's stitched onto the outside of the red in blue writing,
''Number one believer''
As frustrated as Jack was with the other guardians at the moment, he had to admit North had really hit the nail on the head with that gift.
The blue writing was made in a frost like pattern, and even had a sparkling look to it, much like Jack's frost.
Jamie grinned gently running his fingers along the fabric, before he turned to look at his friends once more.
Rock and Tina were standing side by side in front of the child, both smiling kindly.
''Rocky found it while we were looking for you, he knew it was yours.''
Rocky nodded,''Hope it doesn't smell, it was in tina's jacket…''
Tina gave a friendly glare at her friend while Jamie snorted.
''It's fine.'' Jamie mumbled wrapping it around his scarf warmly around his neck, letting the soft fleece slide down his chest.
''Thanks guys,'' jack turned to face the group of kids, all about half his size,''I must of dropped that.''
Everyone smirked and turned to look awkwardly down at their feet, each seeming slightly out of place as the silence filled the air. Cupcake and tommy both peered upward for a second, the girl looking like she was going to say something, before she closed her mouth and returned to looking at their shoes.
Jamie seemed to notice this as him smile fell and he looked more concerned,
''You guys ok?'' he asked hesidently.
Rocky and tina slowly looked up, each passing questionable glances at the other, like they wanted to whisper a question.
Jack soon grew a perplexed face himself.
''We were just wondering if there was anything else we could do…''' tina mumbled from the background cautiously, gently twirling her hands.
Tommy looked increasingly uncomfortable, to the point sweat was beading on his head, his nerves running wildly.
Jamie gazed at them a little bewildered, while Jack was giving all the children a knowing glance, sharing the feeling of confusion and uncertainty. At this point the feeling was always by his side.
As the quiet continued Nate spoke up, his voice slightly shaking,''Jamie…?''
The brunette looked up curiously, making everyone turn their faces to the blond haired boy, making nate look even more nervous.
''Ummmmm….'' He stuttered, his eyes glancing around fretfully until they fell upon jack's cool blue eyes, which sent a wave of slight confidence through him.
Nate continued to stutter,''we've all been really worried about you and all….'' Nate sighed,''is ok we give you a hug?''
Everyone was silent, but a great feeling of hope had taken the room, flooding around the anticipating members, each gazing at the floor and giving side looks at Jamie.
Jamie sat there emotionless, his eyes wide, like the idea of a hug was new to him.
Nate quickly back pettled,''it's cool if you can't.. I mean it's understandable.''
''No...actually i'd like one.'' Jamie said thoughtfully surprising everyone.
Nate stopped talking immediately and everyone just gaped at the child, like they weren't sure they heard him right.
Jack blinked in shock himself, before he swiftly pulled the child into a hug, wrapping his arms carefully around the boy's chest. Jamie snorted and laughed as Jack waved his friends over softly. Turning to face one another all of Jamie's friends slowly grinned and came up to meet their close friend. Yet again Rocky surprised Jack by wrapping his arms tightly around Jamie, keeping him in a tight embrace, while tina and nate pulled themselves up on the bed too, hugging jamie's right and left sides. Soon tommy joined in hugging tina's back and patting Jamie's shoulder as he was soon squished by Jack who was hugging Jamie and the rest of his friend's tightly. Jamie closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath, making Jack cling to the child tighter, placing his chin on his head, while Rocky held jamie tightly up front and tommy, tina and nate closed in gently around his sides, forming a protective embrace that no one could get through. Each child smiled softly breathing in slow deep breaths, thankful to be together once again.
All of a sudden everyone let out surprised gasps as cupcake joined in, gripping them all tightly into a massive strong hug that practically crushed their lungs, counting the teen, who felt the powerful girl slightly lift them all up by a couple of cms off the bed they were sitting on. At this everyone burst out laughing, even Jamie himself, who was in the center of them all as he continued to be hugged by everyone else. Jack let out a crisp laugh and gasped making everyone giggle again as they pulled away some of them nearly falling off the bed.
''Ok i think that's good.'' Jack weezed letting out a gasp,''good job cupcake.''
Jamie chuckled and all his friends pulled away slowly stepping back, giving the boy space as jack swiftly yanked the boy back into his arms.
Tina smiled giving everyone behind her hesident glances''We better take off Jamie...but remember you can call us if you need anything ok?''
Jamie nodded slowly, his hair slightly falling over his face.
Jack smirked at the shy boy and ruffled his hair playfully, making Jamie giggle.
''Sounds good.'' Jack answered promptly.
Tommy was next to speak, giving Jamie a fake firm look and pointing an accusing finger,''You better bloody email us!''
Cupcake grinned and lightly patted/punched Tommy's (which nearly made him fall over) arm nodding excitedly,''yeah, write us up ok?''
Jamie softly nodded giving both his friends a honest smile,''yeah, i think i can manage that…''
Nate came upward, cutting between the other two kids and adjusted his glasses,''If you need any help with school work after this, feel free to call me up ok?''
At this Tommy quickly stopped smiling and turned to meet nate's face, his eyes huge,''Why would he want to do school work?''
At this everyone burst into laughing with the exception of tommy who actually seemed really confused as he continued to gawked at Nate in shock and slight horror, making Nate look more and more uncomfortable as the laughter died.
Finally Rocky came up, moving through the crowd of kids as he came face to face with Jamie, who was being held protectively in Jack's grip, acting a bit like the arms of a octopus.
Rocky came upward, a soft but determined look on his face as he came, his hair till at least a half a foot taller then himself slowly starting to curl into a slight afro.
Jamie peered up at him, his eyes curious as Rocky came closer and smiled at him.
''Hey jamie….'' the boy murmured rubbing his arm,''If you need anything...feel free to call me...or any of us ok?''
Rocky was smiling but he looked really serious, which made Jamie look a little scared but he slowly nodded, a small smile on his own face.
''Thanks Rocky.'' He whispered.
Both boys grinned, and quite suddenly Jamie hugged the african american boy quickly much to Rocky's surprise as his friend grabbed him tighter around the chest, making Rocky's eyes widen.
Jack chuckled and gave rocky a smirk.
Seeing this, the boy grinned back at Jack and hugged Jamie gently, both friends enjoying the moment.
Finally both pulled away and Rocky turned to face Jack, his face smiling but his eyes serious.
''Thanks for watching out for Jamie, jack.''
Jack grinned and nodded, returning the boy's gaze, a smirk on his face but his blue orbs filled with seriousness,''Well ...what else would i do?''
Rocky smirked.
Eventually all the children left the room, each waving a goodbye to Jamie and Jack, promising to call them up or video chat. Then the door closed.
it was quiet once more.
Now alone Jack peered down at Jamie who was fondling his scarf gently, eyes lost in thought and still seeming slightly freaked out.
Jack's smile faltered slightly as he glanced around the room searching for a distraction, until his eyes fell upon the sheets from doctor Fin.
Swiftly Jack snatched the sheets in his fist and turned to Jamie who was looking up at him curiously.
Jack smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around him slowly,
''Want to try some breathing practices?''
Jamie blinked, his eyes wide and puppy like, not really that sure as he stared blankly at the sheets. He turned to Jack briefly who gave him an encouraging nod.
Jamie softly smiled, still wary but let out a cautious sigh,
''Ok..''
.
.
Meanwhile…
.
.
The rabbit gazed downward his eyes wide and in shock, still admiring the tiny box that rested quietly in his paw. The other guardians were all sitting around peacefully, each giving worried looks toward the golden tin, a picture of a curious big eyed boy staring back at them. All of them had fallen silent after seeing what was inside, each had practically fallen over at the sight of the teeth, even bunny himself.
After everyone had gotten a chance to get their voices back, they had all just kind of broke down and started rapidly asking each other the same questions. Eventually however they semied calmed down, each just standing or hovering as they scanned the little gold box, each in a astonished trance.
Bunny held the little tin in his large blue paw glancing at it once in a while to see if it was actually real what he was seeing, much like everyone else.
When the great guardian peered downward once more he saw the same thing as before, still as real as themselves.
Jamie's pearly teeth were all there, resetting tightly in the grooves of the red velvet tin, about 8 of them in total. Each tiny little bone slightly reddish from blood, but sparkling a pearly white, glistening with the child's memories.
All children have different, but very similar designs on their little boxes, with the exception of the small self portrait on the front, they all have red velvet casings and all contain tiny teeth, However Jamie's tiny tin looked a lot more different than anyone else's.
The inside of the case was covered in frost, each little groove and crack covered in a frosty bluish whitish ice, tightly clinging to the velvet fabric. The teeth themselves were covered with frost too, each blanketed with a hard outer coat of glittering frost that made the teeth shine when exposed to light. When bunny had touched one of the tiny teeth, his paw had rapidly retracted as a freezing sensation spiraled around his arm, chilling him to the bone. It was such a hasty reaction from the cold, almost kind of protective in it's own defense way. However after a little while when the guardian's finally managed to touch the child's precious teeth, they had found that they weren't freezing like the rest of the metal tin, but were actual in a warming bubble of air, surrounded by frost and a warm blanket of fuzzy cold that was a spring like temperature.
All of the guardians were in utter shock,
And still were.
Bunny gazed downward, thinking over what this ment and wondering how it had even been possible. It had been a while since Jack had visited tooth's palace, (it wasn't hard to know because tooth's fairies were pretty giddy when he came) and he hadn't come near the child's memories then, hell he had never even seen the little tin before.
''Are you sure Jack hasn't been here at all tooth?'' Bunny asked the fairy, almost pleadingly.
The fairy turned upward her face a pale white,''No..never...He hasn't left the bennett house in almost a week, he might not have even gone outside in that time.''
''How do yovz know?'' North questioned quietly.
''Baby tooth told me when I asked her.''
The rabbit screwed up his face,''Well that would explain the lack of cold, spring's a lot earlier this year.''
Sandy nodded in agreement before flashing a few pictures over his head anxiously, making everyone look up.
Over the little man's head floated an image of a child curled up in bed squirming under the covers frantically violent streaks forming around his head, making the rest of the guardians cringe. Seconds later the sand child stopped squirming as the form of a windy haired boy with a staff appeared and cuddled up next to the child, as this happened the sand child became still and the violent flashes of sand over the boy's head grew soft and gentle only making the bigger figure cling to the child tighter. As this image ended another appeared, this time forming a golden tin, with frost patterns gliding around it, fighting off the more frantic swerving lines of sand coming towards the little box.
Bunny's eyes widen as he turned to face the other's,''Sandy does have a point, it's pretty likely that this has something to do with Jack stopping the truma dreams.''
North looked a little frustrated and perplexed,''But dozs he know he's doing itz?''
Bunny let out a impatient sigh and shrugged,''I doubt it if he didn't seem to understand what a truma dream was.''
The santa's eyebrows raised in an almost astonished look, his eyes widening in almost admiration and shock. Bunny caught this immediately and felt a small short lived smirk cross his face knowing exactly what north was thinking. The great north was always a very powerful guardian, and could be incredibly intimidating, but he also very cheerful. Anyone who got to know the giant of a man soon succumbed to his gruff laugh and sparkling humour, Along with his large heart, especially for children, even bunny had at times. When Jack had first been taken to north's almost a year ago now, the great santa had quickly become fond of the teen, it was pretty clear to everyone really. The thing was with North was he had a sense of humour and he was caring beyond belief towards almost everyone he knew.
But he had a special place for children.
Even more so, the naughty ones.
North had a very good sense of humour, and in a way he acted much like a big kid himself in a muscularly built man's body. Although he rewarded good kids with gifts and coal for the naughty, North still had a heart for the naughty children too. A lot of them he could relate to them in his odd sort of way, and oftentimes left smaller special gifts for the not soooooo naughty children.
Something that they could have fun with, that might cut down a little on their mischievous ways.
But of course not entirely….
So when that fateful day came and Jack arrived in...it was nearly impossible for North not to take a shine to the winter teen.
The days leading up to the great battle north had often been a great supporter for the teen and was often the one who talked to Jack the most, if anything he was one of the more closer guardians to the teen. As time passed and through their leaps and falls Bunny couldn't help but notice the man's protectiveness for the boy and how he acted kind of like a wild mentour, almost acting in a way like a sort of dad figure. Bunny had found this pretty astonishing at first as he found Jack pretty annoying for the most part and a bit of brat, and he still wasn't pleased with him after 1968.
However after the battle Jack became a little less annoying… but he also seemed to be closest to north out of all of them.
Jack had actually hung out with them quite a bit, the first week he had been pronounced a guardian.
However after that...that's when the odd routine of coming only at night some days stepped in, with little explanation why.
That's when the guardians quickly figured out that Jack was with jamie.
So now here bunny was gazing into North's surprised but prideful eyes, knowing very well that he had been right about the teen, and knowing he was capable of many great things.
''Well….jack made it clear he wasn't pleased with us.'' Tooth mumbled quietly.
Bunny immediately shot his eyes downward, his face darkening, making everyone look at him sadly. The rabbit didn't look up at first and just gazed at the multicolored tiles, a horrible feeling clawing at his stomach.
''Yeah...Jack wasn't thrilled with me…''
Sandy gave him a confused question mark image making the rabbit sighed painfully,''I shouldn't have freaked out.''
''Well...you were only trying to help Jamie's bruise.'' Tooth said quietly.
Bunny blushed under his fur at her support,''yeah..but Jack clearly wasn't thrilled.''
Everyone fell silent, a the brimming guilt crushing all of them, the elephant in the room practically taunting them.
''Did you guys talk to Jack...AT ALL before jack became a guardian?'' bunny asked softly.
A much more awkward silence filled the room up in a sickly like fashion, making the rabbit's stomach flip around.
''How coulz we have beenz so supid?'' North sighed deeply sitting down and covering his face,''300 years…''
No one could really argue, they had seen sudden glimpse of the teen over his 300 years, he always seemed very energetic and friendly, but more than often the guardian's didn't return the same enthusiasm. It wasn't that they didn't think Jack was a good spirit, but they were often busy and at times, and they...they just felt put off by him, and found him a little different. After so many years jack's constant and vain attempt of friendship that he so desperately wanted, was only pushed aside when the guardians had just ignored him, leaving the teen stuck into hies lonley world. Many times bunny had labelled the child as a pest for his snow storms and pranks and labelled the boy as a trouble maker or pathetic excuse of a spirit for the trouble he caused. But for a while jack had sort of subsided and dissipeared quietly, only leaving snow storms every once in a while to show he was still around.
When he had come back, the guardians still were off put, but jack didn't seem half as eager to talk to them, which seemed odd.
But they ignored him nonetheless.
Eventually after all those years of neglect and silent torment they dragged him to north's to force him into guardianship.
Looking back there was no question to bunny why jack preferred to be with jamie
As time when on Jack had grown as a spirit, alone confused, and lost.
If that wasn't bad enough bunny had started an angry space between them, over a bunch of snowstorms.
But clearly they should have said...anything.
Bunny bit his lip,''No wonder he's so close to Jamie...that kid is the only one who really acted happy to see Jack.''
Everyone sighed each eyes gazing down towards the ground a mix
of emotions on their contorted faces, with the exception of tooth who still seemed slightly puzzled.
''Well...that still doesn't really give us the answer to HOW jack can do it,'' Tooth reminded softly pointing towards the frozen teeth,''I still don't understand How Jack has grown so close to Jamie, especially enough to guard his memories like this...''
Sandy nodded his head sadly, his mind wandering back to his failure at Jamie's side.
...
The brunette boy fell on top of the pile of leaves, laughing and yelling with the shrill sound of a little girl's voice along with that. Both of them continued to tumble among the mountains of leaves, before the 17 year old popped out, his head, clutching a 10 year old in his arms.
''Happy birthday pippa!''
The little girl let out another charming laugh, as the teen swiftly pulled her into his arms and began to tickle her mercilessly making her cry out even more.
"Stop it! Jack let me go!"
The 10 year old struggled, but in response the 17 year old yanked her back into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Nooooo way, first you gotta say i'm the best big brother in the world."
Pippa chuckled and continued to struggle, her little brown dress now covered in leaves.
"Nno i..."
She was cut off by her own laughter as jack continued to tickle her.
"Jack stop it please!"
Whos the best big brother in the world?"
pippa continued to laugh before she turned around and shoved Jack into the dense leaf pile, making him yell out in protest.
Pippa laughed and threw herself in as well, leaning on her brother's thin chest, knocking the air out of him.
"Sorry jack," the girl yelped quickly trying to slide off his chest. But jack swiftly snatched her with a yelp and yanked her back into his white shirt.
"Just because you beat me up doesn't mean you win." Jack snorted rubbing her hair.
the little girl laughed again, and fought playfully against jack's hand for a bit, before she finally slowed and lowered herself back on her big brother's chest breathing contently.
The teen grinned a ruffled her hair again,"i'm gonna have to watch you, i don't want you to start dating."
Pippa stared at him, with her rounded face a lightly freckled cheeks, her eyes giving him this playful adorabal glare that shined mischievously in her chocolate eyes.
Pippa snorted,"you know i don't wanna date..ewww"
"Pippa the guys will all be trying to kiss you, i'm gonna have to be your bodyguard."
"But boys are so gross..." pippa spat sticking out her tongue.
jack's eyes widen," except me right?"
Pippa was silent scratching her chin, giving a playful smile but not saying anything.
Jack opened his mouth into a agasg expression and soon snatched her from the leaves.
"Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh you Asked for this."
Pippa laughed uncontrollably as jack pinned her to the ground and tickled her heavily, both struggling and laughing the whole way, until they were out of breath.
Jack chuckled and did raspberries on the 10 year old's neck, making the girl let out a protesting giggle.
''Jack stop it!i'm too old for that okay?''
Jack sat up and gave his sister a little air his lungs heaving, ''since when are you to old for things?''
The girl slowly sat up blowing some of the hair out her face and giving jack this lirttle glare that made him chuckle,''Because i'm 10 now? I'm almost a teen...''
''Really, your kina small for that.''
The girl crossed her arms over her chest and huffed only making Jack find her more cute,''I am NOT short.''
''Course not'' Jack smiled slyly,''Your just vertically challenged.''
The girl let a annoyed grunt and rolled her eyes, making Jack smirk.
It was actually kind of scary to him, pippa was growing so quick, it wouldn't actually be that long until she really was around his age now. he wasn't gonna lie, that kinda freaked him out a little.
Quickly shaking the feeling away Jack snatched the girl back into his chest and gave her a tight squeeze making the newly 10 year old laugh in surprise and eventually forget her annoyance. The teen grinned and snuggled the girl close pressing his face behind her hair as he blew it softly, making pippa giggle.
Both of them cuddled like that for a few minutes in the centre of their flaming leaf pile, each enjoying the sound of the rustling leaves and trees, the occasional call of birds dancing in the wind.
Both of them sighed.
''Jack?''
''Yeah?''
''Thanks for being here, I'm really glad your with me.''
The ten chuckled and gave pippa another tight squeeze,''Hey, you have me, I promise I'd never leave you...''
The girl turned to grin at him, her dark chocolate eyes sparkling, as the rich brown hair of hers dangled along her shoulders.
The that memory slipped away, and jack was violently brought to a cold dark place, as he watched his crying sister reach for him desperately.
"JACK!'' she screamed, her freckled cheeks covered with tears.
Jack swun his arms one way after the other, attempting to glide up into the sunlight to the little girl, but then his heart stopped, and he was force to float there.
...
Jack awoke with a gasp from his strange dream, feeling sick and shaking
uncontrollably. Shooting upward he let out a frantic gasp and whirled around
berserkly searching for the little girl who wailed for him pleafully. As
jack kept turning his head this way and that he soon darted his expression
downward as he heard a tiny gasp behind him. Flying his gaze backward he
found a tiny familiar child next to him, rich brown, slightly freckled face
and closed chocolate eyes.
"Damn it i fell asleep again" jack thought furiously pinching his neck.
At this point sleeping was becoming more and more like torture for jack,
every time he put his head down he was always sucked into another dream, and
now a days his dreams just kept bringing up the revolting past. Jack really
rarely slept, but even more less since the dreams had started to become
more frequent, that might of explained why he was so tired.
The teen let out a sigh and rubbed his face, trying to clear his head from
what he had seen, when a tiny coughing noise made his eyes narrow and turn
around. There lying in the soft blankets, was jamie curled up into a tiny
ball, coughing slightly in his sleep and letting wheezes fibrate through his
tiny body. Jack chuckled and admired the boy, his eyes sparkling.
Jamie's face was to the side, with a sleepy expression, his little rosy
cheeks standing out from the rest of his pale face. Softly jack adjusted the blankets around the little boy, cocooning the child lightly in the fleece blankets, making sure his rabbit was cuddled in beside him. All the while jack gazed down at ramie adoringly, letting out a hushed sigh as he stroked his hair, scanning Jamie's bruised face and following each familiar freckle, each familiar little thing he found made his heart flutter.
Suddenly out of the blue Jaime let out a terrified whimper and started to squirm as he let out fierce frantic cries.
Jack eyes widen and just like that he saw the looming swarms of sand shoot out from around, each stream of red starting to rapidly cloud over head. Jack however was shocked to find a different nightmare in the child's vision then usual.
there was no 3 men...
But instead a red van, and floating right behind it, was the red silhouette of a teen shaking it.
Jack's eyes widen, and he froze once more, his body locking up.
in the scarlet swarm of sand a outline of some van doors could be seen, with a silhouette of a very familiar teen tugging on them ravenously, his arms seeming to be on a death grip onto the van laches.
Jack watched in amazement and surprise.
As the silhouette struggled trying to open the doors, a tiny silhouette of a child could be seen from a crack in the door, squirming frantically to help push a large locked lever down. AS the two of them struggled, there was a massive crash and the red teen was thrown backward into a ditch as the van drove away, the child snatched from the space between the doors.
Then the image changed, but it wasn't what Jack was expecting.
Now the red teen lay in a watery ditch, his breath coming out more as gasps, like his lungs were about to crash like a plane. There a battered child crawled over hurriedly, rushing towards the body of the teen, somehow even though only being a silhouette, still seeming terrified. When the boy approached the teen, there was a sudden change as the spirit silhouette struggled to get up and scrambled away from the child, clutching his shoulder and pacing backward like an angry injured animal practically running away from the little boy.
When the teen turned back, he was limping but his gaze was at the astonished child on his knees, crying softly. The 17 year old in Jamie's dream didn't seemed phased and he just started to scream (to jack's surprise) his loud voice storming around the room, echoing like a warning, the voice vibrating from the core of the dream.
''You did this to me! You did this! You worthless little brat!''
The real Jack felt tears in his eyes.
the little boy attempted to get up, but fell back down as he had been limping himself, crashing to the ground he covered his face and his holders began to shake, tiny sobbing started to fill the room.
''Stay the hell away from ME! i never want to see you again, you dirty little slut!''
With that Jack managed to control himself and flat out attacked the horrible dream, attacking that sick teen trying to pull him out of the existence, before he hurt his friend even more. Jack continued pounding it in the thin air until it was all a calming blue.
When jack had calmed down, he swiftly dug Jamie from the covers and dragged his body into his arms, cradling him softly and touching his cheeks. At this point Jack was hysterically sobbing,
''Jamie please! I would never say that, never...please don't think that..none of this is your fault...'' Jack continued to cry as he cradled the boy,
''Please jamie..don't..i'm not mad..i'm not mad..you're my best friend...''Jack weezed.
At this point Jack was all jumbled as he sobbed into his friend's sleeping chest.
''Your my best friend.'''
He whimpered, his shoulders shaking,
''Please believe me…''
Jack wasn't sure how long he had been holding Jamie in his arms, or really how loud he was, but as he buried his face into the child's hair, a little shaky voice slowly became more apparent over the teen's quiet sobbing.
''Jack?''
The teen tore his pale face upward and gazed down, finding Jamie's worried eyes gazing up at him.
At this point the teen himself was red in the face, his eyes slightly tinged, with tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Jack attempted to take a breath but his throat clogged his voice, making him let out a shaky breath that made his arms shiver. At this point Jamie was staring up at Jack with a terrified expression, like he was sure his dream had come true.
''Ja..jack?'' The boy attempted to straighten up at the same time still being encased into the 17 year old's arms, making him struggle slightly,''Are you ok?''
Jack's icy blue eyes locked onto the little child below him, Jamie's face covered with concern and worry like a heavy blanket of snow.
The teen's eyes filled with tears once again as he dlouldragged jamie into another tight hug, tucking him into his chest as he let out a few more heavy shaky breaths.
When the teen finally let go, jamie peer upward jack immediately questioned him,
"Jamie i'd never let anyone hurt you, ok? None of this is your fault, i don't blame you for any of this."
The child stared at jack with his big brown eyes seeming very shocked and confused as his face twinkled with concern.
"What do you mean?"
Jack gazed down at the child firmly his eyes determinedly glowing,
"I would never get mad at you for this, ok? I would never leave you, not for anything."
jamie stared at jack for a good long moment his eyes full of an unreadable expression, before he slowly started to sit up in the teen's lap and raised his head to look at him more straight on.
"Jack why are you talking about this? "
The teen quickly answered,
" because i want you to know i would never leave you, i'd never say anything to hurt you ok?"
Jamie still looked thoroughly confused, but jack was persisted and swiftly yanked him into another tight hug, crushing jamie against his chest.
"I promise i'll always be there, ok?" Jack whispered quietly, keeping jamie close
There was a silence, as jack continued to hold the child stiffly his face etched with worry as he kept the boy close. The boy in bis arms didn't say a word at first, still confused, probably still unsure how to respond, as he just felt himself being tightly hugged against the spirit's chest. The teen rubbed his cheek softly along the boy's shoulder doing everything possible to let him no he wasn't mad, until jamie's small voice let out a tiny mumble,
"Ok"
Jack smiled lightly and gave Jamie another gentle squeeze, while Jamie hugged him back firmly, even though he wasn't quite sure what was going on.