Recovery

Jack had no idea how long he was out, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a gurney, covered in the remnants of their center filled, Christmas snow. North and a couple of his yetis were carrying more in from the window to lie on top of him. "What… what happened? How am I suddenly lying down in a gurney?" Jack asked in confusion before he suddenly remembered. "Sandy!" He panicked and instantly scrambled to his feet, summoning more snow to swarm about their injured comrade wherever he may be.

North was there in an instant and gently picked him up and laid him back on the bed. "Take et easy! Sandy es fine thanks to you. But now you need rest and, as you mentioned, ze snow seems to have healing properties." Gently, North pressed another handful of snow against Jack's bare and blistered chest.

Jack batted North's hand away. "I'm fine, really. Where's Sandy? I remember blowing on the incoming flakes just as quickly as I could. I started feeling lightheaded, but I kept going...What happened? Is he okay?"

North chuckled. "You fainted, my friend. Loose too much air, too fast, you fainted. And Sandy's fine. He's resting peacefully now. Your snow efforts did cool him below his healthier temperatures but…ve believe he vill survive now." Sheepishly North rubbed at the back of his head. "Unfortunately, he is ahhhh…still lacking in sand, so, ve hope you don't mind, but ve put your hoodie back on him vhen ve moved him to warmer room. You should 'ave heard Bunny complaining about ze cold all ze way down ze hall."

Jack just chuckled in relief. "I'm glad he's going to make it. And I don't need my hoodie right now anyways." He paused to scratch his head nervously. "You've probably already noticed, but...I kind of need the snow applied directly to my skin." He winced as he once more tried to rise. "I guess stirring up that storm took a lot out of me." He shook his head, fighting to ignore the dizzying waves of vertigo, and the numerous burns beginning to scream at him. "May I see him?"

North's brows scrunched in concern. "I think it's best you rested. Dose burns look better den dey did but, dey still look quite upset."

Jack chuckled. "You mean angry?"

North cocked a puzzled brow at him before shrugging his shoulders. "Dat's vhat I said. At any rate, you overtaxed yourself. Fighting Sandy's fever one on one and den hyperventilating till you fainted bestowing your gift, just to save him…vell, it took big toll on you. You may not know how big toll vas." With that North took the bucket of snow Phil offered him and dumped it on top of a spluttering Jack.

"But North! I'm fine! Really, I'm just a little sore but that will mend with time."

"It vill. Especially vhen Bunny gives you one of his chocolates. He'll return shortly."

"But I'm fine now!" He roared. Before North or any of the yetis could stop him, he leapt out of bed and took to the air, showering them all in snow. "I need to see him for myself! Please North, it's important." Jack clasped his hands before him in an earnest plea; his grip tight about his staff.

How could North say no? He sighed and wiped the snow from his face and beard. "Fine, Fine, one look den into snowbank, ja?"

Jack gave him a winning smile before jokingly giving him a smart salute. "Yes sir!"

Chuckling and shaking his head, North led the way to Sandy's temporary sleeping quarters. Just as they neared, North stopped Jack at the door. "One look. But vhile you are vith him, I vill fetch somezing for you to eat." Jack looked up at him bewildered.

"But you said you wanted me to jump into the snow bank right after... right?"

North scratched his head. "Vell, I did. But food in belly, proves to make sleeping easier and recovery faster." He tapped his nose and winked. "I also believe you wish to have some alone time vith him, no?" Before Jack could respond, North turned and left. Taking a deep breath, Jack opened the door and crossed the threshold. It wasn't exactly dark, but neither was it light. Rather it was like twilight. The ceiling was awash in the gentle glow of imitation stars. Jack gaped at the room in astonishment before spotting the bed off to the side. Anxiously he flew over to it and looked upon its occupant. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when he saw Sandy sleeping peacefully; his small mouth parted ever so slightly with the tiniest touch of a smile. Smiling in turn, Jack almost brushed a hand across his golden brow but stopped short when he remembered North mentioning how cold Sandy had become. He drew a heavy breath and glanced up at the glowing essence of a weak dream, circling above him. He had to fight back a chuckle as he saw a fun filled snowball fight taking place. He was surprised to find himself pictured there, helping Sandy pummel the boogeyman into the ground. Pitch was struggling to wade through a snow drift in a pathetic attempt to escape. But Jack flew up over the villain's head and nailed him right in the face. Pitch reached up to wipe the snow off his face before covering his mouth to suppress a sudden fit of giggles. He struggled to trudge on, but the giggles were relentless. It wasn't long before Pitch was completely bowled over in hysterical laughter. His dark hands struck at the snow as he collapsed to his knees unable to stop it.

Mesmerized by the dream Jack didn't hear Bunny come up behind him. He jumped when he felt a paw land gently on his bare shoulder. "Laughta' is the best medicine, ain' it mate?"

"Hey! When did you get here Cotton Tail?"

"Been 'ere the whole time, ya just didn't see me. Ya were too busy gawking at the room to notice me sittin' in the chair. I was about ta call ta ya when ya headed for 'is bed."

"Huh, I wonder why North didn't mention you were here, especially when he suggested I might want some alone time with him."

One of Bunny's ears rose noticeably as he cocked his head. "Ef ya want ta be alone with 'im for a spell, I can leave."

Smiling, Jack shook his head. "Naw, you can stay. I just... needed to see him for myself." His smile faded. "I... needed to make sure he was alright." He turned his focus back to Sandy's dream and noticed it had changed slightly. It still entailed snowballs and prank fighting along with plenty of delighted laughter, but it was also a fanciful memory, picturing all the guardians and the Burgess kids having an all-out snowball royal. Jack watched in fascination as both North and himself suddenly teamed up to launch a monstrously huge, snowball at an unsuspecting Sandy who had just nailed the Tooth fairy with a snow pie for sticking her fingers in his mouth for the umpteenth time.

Bunny shook his head. "That scene with you and North team playing him, has been a constant reoccurrence. If I didn't know betta, I'd say when ya buried 'im in that snow 'e was aware of the combination of magic's… And… there I come to help pull him out again. It's like 'e's stuck on repeat...but at least it's better than that nightmare."

"So..." Jack began turning to him. "You're here; North has gone to get snacks; that just leaves Tooth..."

Bunny shrugged. "She left jus' shortly before ya came in." He paused and looked at him closely. "I don't mean ta be a motha hen, but those burns still need tendin' too. They look betta then they did, but they're still viciously red and black."

"Alright, alright!" He said chuckling. "Tell North I'm taking a dunk in the snow right outside his window. That way I'll be close by if Sandy needs anything." Before Bunny could say or do anything, Jack blew open the window and dove into the healing snow-bank of winter wonderland. Cursing slightly, Bunny quickly re-fastened the windows before rushing back to Sandy's side. The guardian of dreams shivered in his sleep and clutched the large bundle of blankets tighter about himself, but otherwise, seemed undisturbed. The weak little dream still spun above him, shifting back and forth between the two events.

Bunny shook his head as he gently reached out a paw and brushed it across the injured guardian's brow and cheek before rising again and shoving another log into the small, hidden, fire place. "That Gumbi." he muttered. "Still leapin', before thinkin'."

"Where Jack go?" North asked a little while later bearing a tray of cookies. His lieutenant came in right behind him, bearing a tray of milk filled goblets. "He needs to go outside and vrest in snow, but needs cookies first!"

Bunny rolled his eyes. " 'E's in the drift jus' outside the window. Kid still needs ta learn ta think before he leaps. He's rash, but at least we all made it outta that mess alive." He shivered. "Ya got that shard unda' lock and key?"

"Tooth es takin et to my study's study. She needed to retrieve teeth from great tooth race after all."

"Ahhh, so that's where she went. Jack was askin'." Bunny turned back to the window. "I 'ope the kid's alrigh'."

North chuckled as he set the tray of cookies down and took the goblets from his lieutenant's hands. "Tashi, have other yetis check in snowdrift outside dis vindow. I vant to make sure Jack es okay! Ef he es, offer him some snacks."

Tashi instantly gave a quick salute before hurrying down the hall bellowing out orders to the next yeti he came across. In moments, another yeti was dispatched and the two Guardians heard a commotion outside the window.

"Oh come on Phil!" Jack's groggy, disembodied voice mumbled through the window panes. "This is as good a place as any to curl up for a nap. Besides! I'm right outside his window. If Pitch decides to try to pull anything again, I'll blast him to kingdom come before he gets within a hair's breadth of this place! I swear, he's never touching Sandy again!"

"Groogie nnn vrilk?"

Jack paused in confusion and looked up at the offerings. "Okay…Maybe one, then I'll continue my nap." He said with a yawn before his voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper. "Just don't tell Tooth I won't be brushing my teeth."

Phil held up a paw to his mouth to suppress a chuckle.

"I mean it! Don't you dare tell the Tooth Fairy!" Phil shook his head and crossed his heart in promise.

Jack sighed and eagerly grabbed up several of the sweet snacks and bit into them with gusto. "Thanks! These are really good by the way." In moments, the cookies were devoured and Jack was curled up in the snow again, fast asleep.

Phil turned to the guardian's watching in the window and gave them two thumbs up. He said something in yetish before placing his hands under his cheek to indicate that Jack was out cold. North smiled. "Good vork! Come back inside, ve need to devise better defenses to keep Pitch out!" He turned back to Bunny. "Are you sure you're going to be okay staying here?"

Bunny grabbed a cookie from North's tray. "I'll be fine mate. What more harm can Pitch do ta my warren? I'll have plenty a' time ta get it all cleaned up before Easter next year. If I don't stay ta keep an eye on 'im, who else will?"

"Vone of my yetis could."

Bunny snorted. "As if they know anythin' 'bout Star Pilots. Naw, ya stuck with me till 'e's back on 'is feet mate." He paused taking a deep breath. "Any idea when those crazy elves a' yours be finished makin' a set of P.J.s for 'em?"

"Von't be long and vill probably be ze ugliest dings you've ever seen. They don't make toys, but dey do make hideous Christmas sweaters." North chuckled. "Et vill be interesting to see vhat zey come up vith, no?"

Bunny groaned as he planted a paw across his face. "Can' wait ta see the look on the blighta's face when he wakes up. Not only is 'is sand gone, but he'll be wearin' an ugly sweat suit taboot."

"How long you dink he'll be out?"

Bunny looked up at him and shrugged. Hard ta say. Et could be a few days, et could be a few years. The last time the Tsar wished him well, he didn't wake until the Tsar wished for 'is help and that took a few thousand years. I'm also concerned about what Pitch is up ta. He may have failed to make Sandy his, but that doesn' mean 'e'll give up. 'e's been out ta ge' Sandy ever since 'e learned the Wish Masta' survived the crash."

North put a comforting hand on Bunny's shoulder. "Ve vill make our defenses strong, so strong not even Pitch's shadow vill slip through dis time. And if he tries, he'll be caught and sucked into a solid pool of light where he cannot escape." He paused and took a deep breath before reaching down and gently messaging Sandy's face. "Just sleep and heal my friend. Ve vill take care of dis for you." With that he leaned down and planted a tender kiss on Sandy's glowing forehead and rose. "Tashi, Yaloo gather ze other yeti's ve have trap to set. Except you Phil, you keep eye on Jack."

Phil gave North a quick salute before settling down beside the child of winter to wait for him to wake.

Authors Question repeat:

I know I just added this question onto chapter one, but incase some of you jumped back to where I left off: What do you think of North's and Bunny's written accents? Are they difficult to understand? Should I edit them so they are simpler, straight forward English? You're input is very important to me and I'm a perfectionist...Which is why I'm just now posting this. So, if a majority of you tell me it's too hard too read, I will edit this story accordingly. Thank you for your input.