The moment that his feet were on solid ground, Jack was already moving. "We need help! Quickly...he's bleeding badly!"
The two Yetis responsible for the medical care at the Pole, George and Yvonne, had been sterilizing equipment when the portal opened. The moment they saw the situation at hand, they were moving too. George made a series of groans, telling Jack to get Bunny on the table right away.
Jack carefully laid his friend down, still keeping pressure on the laceration. The fabric was saturated, and Jacks pale hands were stained a bright and gory red when he pulled them away. Bunny mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep...a good sign, perhaps. It was the first sign of life he'd shown since he had passed out.
Tooth had gone immediately to Bunny's bedside, but Yvonne herded her away with grunts and squeals, letting her know that she understood the concern but that she and George needed space to work.
"No! I need to be here for him! If he wakes up and I'm not here..." Tooth protested.
"We need to let them do their job, Tooth. I know it's hard...but he's in good hands." Jack said softly, guiding her toward the door.
"No! I can't leave him Jack!" Tooth resisted, looking back to where the Yetis were already working quickly on Bunny.
"You must, Toothie. It is the best thing you can do for him right now." North said as Sandy grasped her hand. She dissolved into sobs as they led her out of the room, shutting the door to leave the Yetis to their work.
Sandy tended to Tooth as she sank to the floor, wrapping his arms around her as she sobbed against his shoulder. North looked to Jack, looking very weary...no doubt from the stress of his worry for Bunny. "The army?" He asked.
"Won't be fighting for a while. Most of them scattered when the storm began, and I eliminated the threats that wouldn't back down. I set off a storm before I came to the clearing...the Arendelle soldiers should be equipped to handle it, but the invaders will be pretty crippled. We've bought them time." Jack relayed the summary of his duties briefly.
"That's good. But time is a luxury we don't have." North said with a sigh.
"No. That one was strong...stronger than the rest." Jack agreed. "I...I don't think Elsa will be alright for much longer." He spoke his fear softly, as if voicing it aloud would confirm its reality.
"I don't know the details of why they felt they must take her, Jack. But I feel that she is a pawn to them...and a valuable one at that. I do not think her life is in danger yet. But...soon, that may change." North reasoned.
"They'll be expecting us." Jack spoke the fact that they both knew.
"Yes. And they are right to. We will be coming. But I don't think you should go alone, Jack. You've seen how strong even the Horseman are. To take them on, plus Pitch and Grim? It would be a suicide mission. You wouldn't be able to keep yourself safe, let alone Elsa." North must have been able to see the anxiousness in Jack's eyes.
"As soon as we hear if Bunny will pull through, I have to go, North. You know I do." Jack said, watching as Tooth wiped at her eyes. "For Elsa, for Bunny...for every life they've impacted. They have to pay, North. And I can't bear to leave Elsa in their clutches one moment longer than necessary."
North sighed deeply, though he nodded in understanding. "I understand your feelings, Jack. Believe me, I do. But divided? We don't stand a chance. We came very close to losing Bunny today...we still could. I'm certain you would die if you tried it alone, Jack."
"So long as I got Elsa to safety, that would be price I'd pay." Jack knew it was rash, knew he wasn't thinking things through. But his love for Elsa outweighed all the rest.
North let the subject drop, seemingly aware that nothing he said would deter Jack in that moment. "You should take a moment to clean up." He said, motioning to Jack's hands. "I will come to get you if there's news."
Jack looked down at his hands, cringing at the garish streaks of red that had dried across his skin. That's not just any blood...it's Bunny's. Who could be dying...even now. His thoughts whispered darkly, causing a wave of nausea to roll over him. "Yeah." Jack said, swallowing hard. "I...uh...I should wash up." He glanced at Tooth, who Sandy was still comforting. "You'll keep an eye out for her? This has to be killing her inside..."
"I know it is. In fact, I understand more than you all may think." North said, patting Jack on the shoulder. "Go on and don't worry."
Jack did not ask for North to elaborate. It was clear that the older man was aware of the changes that had occurred around the Pole, and Jack just didn't have the energy to discuss it further. Perhaps it didn't even need discussing. After all, the heart was a wild thing...a free thing. No one could stop it from chasing what it wanted.
He thought about returning to his old quarters to wash up. He'd stayed frequently in that room before Elsa's arrival...but now, it just didn't feel like his. It would hurt to enter the room he'd shared with Elsa, to feel her memory in that vacant space. But it was a pain Jack was willing to feel, if only for the comfort that it would also provide. For though she was so far away, perhaps in that room, if only for a moment, she would feel close to him again.
Jack closed the door behind him. A fire was burning in the hearth, and candles were lit...it was as if the Yetis had wanted it to feel as if the unthinkable hadn't happened.
As if they were leaving the light on to guide her home.
Jack fought the burning sensation that settled at the back of his gaze as he made his way to the bathroom. He ran the water of the shower as hot as he could stand, then turned to face his reflection. There were smears of blood across his cheek and temple, and even some drying in the shaggy white strands of his hair. His round blue eyes looked haunted and hollow, and the dark patches below them stood out starkly against his pale flesh.
He was a wreck.
There was a smear of died blood on his shirt, and he made quick work of scrubbing it out as best he could. Laying it across the closed lid of the toliet, Jack stripped out of his clothes and slipped into the shower.
He scrubbed his hands until they were raw, making sure to carve out the dried flakes of blood beneath his nails as well. His face was next, and though the hot water stung, it did not deter him as he washed away the remnants of his friend's wound. He wanted no trace of Bunny's injury left on his flesh...no reminder of just how close they'd come to losing the snarky rabbit that was such an invaluable member of their team.
Jack reached for the shampoo, remembering the last time he'd held the bottle on his hand. It had been after he and Elsa had brought each other to shattering bliss beneath the spray, when he'd gently lathered her long golden locks and made her sigh. Remembering those sacred moments hurt him in the rawest of ways, and Jack would have traded anything in the world to have her back...right there with him, as she'd been just hours ago.
He washed his hair and body with the same thoroughness he'd given his hands, and when he was sure that not even a speck of blood could possibly remain, he finally reached for a towel.
Dressed, Jack exited the room with every intention of rejoining the others...except, the bed caught his eye.
Sunlight dancing on golden strands...the gentle weight of her head nestled against his chest. Her scent, so subtly floral. Perfection.
He closed his eyes, remembering.
"I've fallen in love with you, Jack."
A strangled sound escaped him, and Jack turned away, his heart feeling as if it might split in two. Oh, he knew what it was like to miss Elsa...he had spend every day of the past five years doing just that. But this...this was something entirely different. He knew what it was like to hold her, to touch her, to be loved by her.
He had never missed her, never needed her, so badly as he did in that moment.
He reached out, bracing himself against the windowsill as he fought the swell of emotions that threatened to overtake him. He'd do Elsa no good by weeping over her...but oh, how strong was the urge! Since the discovery of her absence, Jack had not been allowed a moment to grieve her, to really let the severity of the situation sink in. Alone in the room he shared with her, surrounded by her memory, Jack had finally come to terms with the truth of her absence.
And it broke him just enough that he knew no argument from North would ever deter him from going to her rescue. Whatever the consequence, he had to get her back.
White light flooded the room, bathing Jack in its gentle glow. Somehow, he felt its touch...and raised his gaze towards the heavens in awe. "Manny?" He whispered in shock, having never been addressed directly before by the Man in the Moon.
And then, the images began to play...one after the other, starting with Elsa's resigned agreement to go with Pitch. Manny spared Jack nothing...all that He had witnessed, He shared with the winter spirit. It was enough to make Jack fall to his knees by the end of it, consumed by the anger of watching her be hurt and the relief of knowing that she was alive. Elsa's heartfelt plea resonated in his heart, over and over again.
Just let him know that I love him. That I've always loved him...and that I always will.
"You'll tell me that yourself, Snowflake. Soon...I promise." Jack said, reaching up to wipe the hot moisture that had begun to pool from his gaze. "Thank you, Manny. Thank you for showing me that she's alright."
He pushed himself to his feet, his resolved strengthened. It would soon be time for him to fight, to bring his love back home. He could only hope that Manny would give him the strength to do what needed to be done, to battle even if it meant his family wouldn't be at his side.
Jack left the room, heading back toward the others to see if there was news on Bunny. For the second that there was, his journey would begin.
