Love Can Change the Weather

Chapter 10

Jack arrived just in time to see the red flickering lights of an ambulance at the side of the road. A heavy feeling in his stomach that settled when he was told he could see Cara again started to weigh him down even more. Assessing the area, he saw Ellie's mom with a blanket around her shoulders, talking to a police officer while she cried. Jack flew over to her in hopes of making sense of the situation.

"…then it went over with her in it."

"Ellie," Jack wondered, knowing the adults couldn't hear him.

Jack went the ambulance, wondering if Cara was in there. He wondered if he could help.

Peeking through the ambulance's windows, Jack saw Ellie's dad getting his arm bandaged and Ellie crying and inconsolable.

"Ellie," Jack called, using his staff to bang on the window.

Ellie looked up to see him, just as a paramedic opened the door to exit the ambulance. Jack flew in and sat by the girl who clutched a stuffed penguin close to her.

"Ellie, what happened? W-Where's Cara?!"

"T-t-there was an accident," Ellie sobbed, "a-and Cara, and Cara, she…" Ellie couldn't talk anymore and continued to sob. Jack began to fear that her cries would be enough to break her in half.

Once his arm was bandaged, Greg went to his daughter and rocked her in his arms. These were the first words he heard her speak since the car went over. "Don't worry honey, don't worry," he soothed. "They'll find Cara."

Jack looked on as father comforted his daughter. Even though Greg did all in his power, Ellie couldn't be quieted. Reaching into his pocket, Jack remembered what Sandy had given him. Extracting a small golden pouch, Jack pulled out a pinch of sand and sprinkled it on Ellie.

Ellie looked up at him with questioning eyes, and Jack only gave her a smile.

"It's okay, Ellie, just go to sleep now and everything will be fine."

Jack waited as Ellie's sobs died down into silent tears before she fell asleep. The worry etched into Greg's face seemed to easy slightly as he held Ellie against his chest. Carefully putting Ellie on the gurney, he stepped out into the cold to help his wife.

Jack left with him, stealing one last look at Ellie before following silently.

The paramedics, police, and Ellie's mom stood by the edge of the cliff pointing down. Flying over, Jack looked to where they pointed. Over the cliff was a ravine that eventually ended in a deadly drop with powerful rushing water.

Without second thought, Jack flew down in search of Cara. Maybe it was the wind in his eyes, but tears rushed to Jack's blue eyes and he furiously wiped at them. Coming to a sudden stop at the end of the drop, he hovered above the white rapid waters, searching furiously. Jack didn't have to look far to find a black SUV turned upside down, secured against a large old tree that stood against the waters. However, because of the lack of moon in the sky, the dark vehicle would be difficult to find from above without a searchlight.

"Cara!"

Jack flew over to the car and looked into the windows to see Cara with her eyes closed, in the backseat. Unable to open the doors due to the water, Jack used his staff to break a window, and gingerly crawling in, he was able to extract Cara from the vehicle with only a couple of scrapes from the broken glass.

Cradling Cara against his chest, Jack flew to the tree and rested on a sturdy tall branch where the waters could not get them.

"Cara," he said softly, his voice breaking, as he gently turned Cara's head to face him, setting his staff down against the branches. He brushed her hair out of her face, and ran a hand down her wet cheek. She lacked the warmth he normally felt radiating from her; it was his only indication that she was freezing.

"Cara, open your eyes," he said again, lightly shaking her. There was still no response. Jack began to lose hope. Shaking her once more, and getting nothing in response again, all he could do was hug her close to him before saying goodbye.

(-)(-)(-)

"Cara! Open your eyes!"

"See, he calls you."

"He came back." Cara smiled faintly, once she knew that it was Jack's voice calling to her. She had been having a lovely conversation with a man she was allowed to call "Mim".

Cara turned to Mim who was both shadow and light, dancing all around her. Although she could not see his form, she knew that Mim was good and could be trusted.

"What do you remember, Cara," asked Mim.

"Darkness," Cara said after a moment. "The car was falling, and then there was darkness. Then I woke up to a strange light across my eyes, and the next thing I know I'm talking to you. Why?"

"Do you know who I am, child?"

"You're Mim, you're," it dawned on Cara. She blamed the car accident as to why she didn't realize this sooner. "M-I-M, Man in the moon. You're the one Jack talks to all the time. You're the one who told him he had to go to the East Coast."

"I did," said Mim. "Do you know why?"

"So the kids there don't stop believing."

"Yes, but for another reason," said Mim.

"What reason?"

"Cara, I'm sorry. I wish I found you sooner."

"Your journey has only begun, Cara, but for now, Jack Frost calls to you. Answer him."

"I don't know," said Cara. She wanted to see Jack more than anything, but she had a terrible headache and her left side hurt really badly. "I want to sleep. Jack will be there when I wake up, right? It'll be okay if I sleep for a little while—"

"No!"

Cara looked at Mim with confusion. "Why not? Everything hurts, and I want to sleep."

"When you wake up, you'll feel fine," Mim assured her. He knew that if Cara went to sleep, she wouldn't wake up.

"You promise," asked Cara. "I really am tired. I don't want to hurt anymore."

"I promise," answered Mim, a smile in his voice.

"Cara…"

"How do I find him," asked Cara. She was surrounded by light. There was no up, down, left, or right.

"Just follow his voice," said Mim. "You will wake. Also, there is something else you must remember."

"What is it," asked Cara, beginning to walk in the direction of where she thought Jack's voice was coming from.

"Don't forget Ellie and all you've done for her."

"I never will."

"Good. I'll see you again."

"Ellie's fine, everyone's fine. Just, you…Cara I'm sorry."

Cara continued to follow Jack's voice. There was a sudden burst of light and Cara lost track of all senses as the bright light engulfed her completely.

Then she woke up.

Slowly her eyes fluttered open. Around her, Cara could hear the sound of rushing water, and suddenly she felt cold. A moment ago her entire body ached, and now the only thing she felt was stiff from the cold.

The first thing she saw was Jack. His blue eyes were wide and rimmed with red, and his entire face looked on with surprise as she stared up blinking at him from his arms. Jack noticed that Cara's complexion was waxier and paler than usual. He hated to think it, but she was the color of death. He hoped it was only from the cold. Jack's surprise then gave way to a smile.

"I heard you calling," Cara answered, her voice softer than she anticipated. Finally, it all came rushing back, and she sat up quickly and looked around. "Oh God," she said.

Jack steadied his arms around her and nearly fell from the tree in the process. "It's okay, Cara," he soothed, "Ellie's fine, everyone's fine. Just…It was only you that went over."

"Oh God," Cara said again, as the cold began to sink in causing her to shiver. She moved closer to Jack, even though she knew he would only make her colder.

Jack felt her burying herself into him, and he continued to hold her, unsure of any other action to take.

Until he heard her cry.

Cara's cries were similar to Ellie's: gut-wrenching sobs that came from one's soul. The true sound of pain.

Just like with Ellie, Jack knew this was why Sandy had given him the sleeping dust. Jack wanted to know how Sandy knew this was going to happen, but instead of dwelling on that, Jack focused on sprinkling the dust on Cara's tear-stained face, and watching as she eventually went to sleep, her chest rising and falling in deep, even breaths.

Carefully shifting her in his arms, Jack took up his staff and took the sky. There was only one place he could think of taking her now.

Author's Note: Be ready. :)