Sandy Wakes

He was floating, drifting along through soft clouds shaped like flying trains, Easter-eggs and teeth. Jack's fractal patterns playfully adorned the fluffy shapes within his dreaming mind. A soft paw brushed against his cheek and he heard Bunny's voice come to him from far away. "I'm not sure, but I think he'll wake soon." Sandy spun around in the air trying to locate the distant voice. When he looked up, it was then that he saw that the sky was filled with a blurry image of Bunny's face. "There's little signs he's givin'. Looks like it won't take another wish from Manny to wake 'im this time."

"Okay, so what exactly is it that you want me to do?" Sandy turned again and saw Jack with one of his infectious smiles. Sandy stared up at the giant images puzzled. Their words were confusing and disorienting in his world of soft comforts. "And why not get one of the yetis to watch him?"

"Because I need ya ta try and keep 'im awake when he stirs. He also needs ta drink this."

"What's this?"

"Just some special juice I squeezed for 'im. He'll need ta take small sips at intermittent intervals. It'll help restore his strength and aid in prepping his stomach ta accept small amounts of food. Golden gumbi's just lucky he ain't human.

"Okay… so, here's a question. Why can't you do it?"

"Because I'll be with the yetis North's not usin' ta fix him up a healing dish. They know how ta cook, but they don' ave a clue as ta what one of his species needs ta recover from a blow like this. As ya know, he's lost most a his sand. The golden grains we swept up off the floor have helped, but..."

"They're not enough." Jack finished looking down and shuffling his feet. "I'm glad we could count on Jamie and the others to cleanse the poisoned grains we gathered, but until he's regained his strength, there won't be any new dreams and who knows if the right dreams are even getting to the right person now?" Jack turned and looked down at Sandy still buried under the multitude of covers before heaving a heavy sigh. "Sure seems like he needs the few dreams he's managed to create just to keep healing."

Bunny nodded somberly. "Yeah, he does." he shook his head as his ears fell back. " He's lost a dangerous amount of weight and probably won't be able ta stand much cold, but ya still our best bet at keeping 'im awake. So, will ya help me?"

There was that mischievous smirk again. "Are you seriously asking if I'll help or not?" He asked twirling his staff in his hands. "What? Are you afraid I'm going to say no?"

Bunny shrugged. "It's the polite thing ta do. Tooth and North don't get onto me quite as much as they used ta, but I still need ta remember human manners."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Of course I'll help, but I do have to wonder. Why is it you haven't just tried to wake him before now? You know, prepared the dish, called me over, I'm sure my chill would wake him in an instant."

Bunny shook his head. "Tha' probably woulda worked, but at the time, 'e needed ta sleep more than 'e needed ta eat. And now…"

Jack nodded in agreement. "He's so, tiny. How on earth did he manage to sleep for thousands of years?"

Bunny shrugged. "Near as I can figure, he miraculously wasn't harmed when he crashed down on this planet. It's also possible 'is mermaids may have had something ta do with it when they found 'is downed star. But these are only speculations. I don' rightly know."

Jack nodded as he looked down at their still sleeping companion. Bunny patted his shoulder. "Don' worry, I'll be back in a jiff and it's possible he may not even wake while you're watchin' 'im. And if 'e's still asleep when I get back, we'll give ya idea a go." With that he turned and hurried out the door towards the kitchens.

Jack sighed and quietly sat down next to the bed to wait and watch.

In the silence that followed, Sandy's clouds unexpectedly swirled around him forming one of his many shooting stars. The strange conversation he'd just observed was forgotten as he embarked on a wild, frivolous ride through solar systems and stars unknown to man. Eventually, the dream slowed again and he found himself bouncing along, laughing lightly on those soft fluffy clouds before he lost his balance and started tumbling through their layers. He scrambled to catch himself but the waking world was calling to him, his body demanding something from him. Slowly, he opened his eyes and confusedly took in the twilight room. What...? Where...? He wondered dizzily, his thoughts jumbling up on top of one another as he closed his eyes for a moment in hope of stilling the rapidly spinning world.

"Yeah-ha! You're awake!" Jack chimed with joy doing a back flip. "Bunny said you would be waking soon!"

Sandy opened his tired eyes and slowly turned to look at the boy. Part of him wanted to sit up but he just didn't have the energy or will to even try. Exhausted he released a heavy sigh, and closed his eyes.

"Ah come on, you just woke up! Can't you stay with me a little while?" Jack asked, pleading. "I'll nip your nose if you don't open your eyes again." He threatened, a smirk of mischief playing at his lips.

Sandy scrunched his brows in confusion and diligently, struggled to obey. He didn't understand why Jack would threaten to bite his nose but felt if he could just see the kids face, it would all make sense. Try as he might, his heavy lids refused to budge. He was just too tired and quickly stopped caring when the silver linings of his trampoline clouds came back into view. Delighted, he began to play amongst them again before something cold pressed itself against the back of his neck. Sandy bolted upright and almost head butted Jack who was hovering right over him. Sandy grimaced as pain radiated down his spine and out to the tips of his fingers and toes. Bunny's incision had been small, but the damage inflicted by that dastardly shard had been extensive and Sandy could barely breathe.

"Whoa! Hey! Easy…easy...I…I didn't expect you to react like that!" Jack cried anxiously, trying to hold him steady. Muscles tense and throbbing, the Dreamweaver gratefully clung to Jack for support. His body trembled and shook which did nothing to ease the pain still raging through him. "I...I'm sorry. I...I tried shaking you but you were already asleep and …and I promised Bunny I'd keep you awake till he got back."

Sandy grit his teeth against the pain and nodded his head in acceptance of the apology.

"Which reminds me. Bunny said you needed to sip on this."

Panting heavily, Sandy lifted his head to look at Jack as the master of winter reached over and grabbed the glass of juice. Ever so gently, Jack maneuvered the straw into Sandy's mouth. It was still several seconds before Sandy found the strength to draw it up into his mouth. The sweet taste of sun ripened solar plumes touched his lips and he smiled in quiet delight. He managed another sip before he started shivering from the cold. Ripples of pain coursed across his muscles and he turned away from the straw to press his head against Jack's shoulder. Almost in a panic, Jack set the glass down and grabbed up the blankets, struggling to wrap the small, trembling, little man back up. It would have been much easier, if Sandy wasn't clinging to him like a life-line.

"Look, I...I really am sorry." Jack whispered as he held Sandy tightly, trying to provide the support the Dreamweaver appeared to need. "I…I shouldn't have antagonized that Gray Hound and I…I shouldn't have flown off with just the two of us to track down Pitch." There was more that Jack wanted to say but Sandy managed to lift a hand and press a finger to Jack's trembling lips. Slowly, Sandy lifted his head to look up at Jack and saw the tears glistening at the corners of the winter kid's eyes and despite the pain, reached up to touch the boy's cheek. He smiled kindly at him to let him know all was forgiven though he wasn't exactly sure why antagonizing a Gray Hound would cause such a problem. Even if it was a prank gone seriously awry, he was pretty sure he could put the dog to sleep before it could do anything to him. Now, Tracking down Pitch on the other hand, that could have been trouble, but he couldn't remember. Exhausted, his head plopped limply back against Jack's chest.

"Hey! You had better not be falling asleep again!" Jack scolded as he pressed his cold fingers against Sandy's cheek. Sandy couldn't stop the chilled shivers that raged painfully over him and he hazily wondered why he felt so cold. The touch of winter had never bothered him before. He pressed his hands against Jack's chest in effort to push himself up and look Jack in the face again, but just didn't have the strength or will. Jack wrapped him up in a tight hug, relieved he was still awake but worried about how weak and frail he'd become. He couldn't help but wonder if Sandy would ever regain his former strength. "Look, I…I know you just want to go back to sleep, but, but..." He reached over and picked up the glass again. "You need to drink more. Bunny said it should help give you some of your strength back."

Sandy managed a couple more sips and had to agree that it was helping, but he still felt so tired. Jack heaved a heavy sigh and looked to the door. "Bunny said he'll return bearing some genuine Star Pilot dishes with him."

At the mention of food, there came a low rumble from Sandy's tummy. Confused, he scrunched his brows and worked to maneuver a shaky hand to rub at his abnormally thin abdomen. Jack started chuckling in genuine relief. "I think that may be the first sound I've ever heard you make!" He joked trying to lighten the mood.

Sandy's head drooped to the side as he struggled to express his confusion. He'd never been so thin and his stomach had never made that sound before. His eyes pleaded with Jack for answers before his tummy growled again, eliciting another laugh from the winter spirit and leaving Sandy with a deep feeling of unease. "D... D...Don't worry," Jack said chuckling. "I'm sure Bunny will be here soon and he'll quiet that talking beast of yours."

Sandy weakly shook his head as he leaned heavily on Jack for support. Fear gave him strength as he slowly and painfully, forced the wonderfully warm, super soft blankets down to reveal his upper body. Jack's cold hit him like a sledge hammer but he ignored it and looked down at himself. What he saw caught his breath. His ribs were protruding through a super soft, knitted, gold and brown sweater suit. Jack couldn't stop the laugh that burst from his throat. "North said he would have the elves make you something to wear till you regained your sands!" He said wiping a tear of mirth from his eyes. "That's adorable!"

Through the horror of seeing how thin he was, Sandy barely saw the golden brontosaurs marching through fields of snow, separated by broad bands of dark brown. His cheeks turned a bright, vibrant orange in consternation. What happened to me!? Just as much from chill as feeling self-conscious, he pulled weakly at the blankets, trying to cover himself back up as quiet, dry sobs racked him. How will I be able to tend to the young ones now?

"Awe, come on. They're not that bad." Jack said as he awkwardly patted Sandy's back, careful not to touch the sight of the incision. "They actually look really cute on you."

Sandy shivered and shook his head dismally. It wasn't the adorable pajamas that upset him, it was his physical condition! He was way too thin to be healthy. This frailty was probably why he lacked his normal strength and felt perpetually woozy. By the stars! Everything hurt. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. It didn't help that sleep was adamantly pulling at him. He knew he'd had to have been seriously injured to use up all his stores of fat, but to teeter on the edge of starvation? He shook his head, striving fiercely to drive off the mental fog only for it to thicken into white, fluffy clouds with vibrant silver linings. He took a deep breath and barely managed to form a question mark before it disintegrated. By the Constellations! it hurts just to speak! Sandy shuddered pitifully.

Jack swallowed uneasily. "I'm not really sure what it is your asking. But if you're asking who dressed you." He smiled impishly. "Wasn't me."

Sandy managed a weak smile of indulgence and managed to shake his head against Jack's shoulder. I sure hope Bunny hurries. I don't know how much longer I can handle this! Sandy thought as his eyelids fluttered closed again and he saw the white, fluffy clouds taking shape.

"Come on Sandy, it's just a little longer." Jack cooed encouragingly. "Here, I'll…I'll help you sit up." Holding Sandy tenderly, he gently worked to lean the little man back against the head board. Sandy grimaced in pain, his breath hitching in his throat at the change of pressure and positioning. "Sorry, sorry." Jack murmured as he hurriedly planted several pillows behind the little man for some support. "It's your back isn't it?" Sandy didn't respond as he worked furiously to catch his breath. After a moment he managed the smallest of nods. His back was definitely a problem but it wasn't the only thing. He kept his eyes closed as he drew deep breaths and waited for the pain to recede.

"Bunny said you would probably be extremely sore and stiff for several more weeks yet." Jack began, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "That thing was buried deep and did a lot of damage. I'm… glad you survived." Even though Sandy's head was swimming and the world was tilting, He did his best to free his hands and urge Jack to continue.

Jack stared at him. "Surely you remember what happened?" Eyes still closed, Sandy slowly shook his head.

Jack just stared at him open mouthed. "You…you can't remember! That can't be a good sign." Sandy's head drooped to the side as sleep pulled at him. "Come on Sandy, stay with me!" Anxiety building, Jack again put the straw to Sandy's lips. "Drink, please drink." Eyes still closed, Sandy did his best to oblige and managed to finish it off before he started seeing the lost galaxies of his dream realm.

Jack suddenly leapt off the bed drawing Sandy back to the realm of consciousness. "I know! Let's…let's play a game. That should help keep you awake!"

Sandy gazed numbly up at the Guardian of Fun as the young lad began bouncing on the balls of his feet. "It can't be too long, can't consist of anything in the way of physical exertion, you're too weak for that…" He suddenly twirled his staff in excitement before spinning around to look at Sandy. "Charades! That game won't be very strenuous. And You must be a master of the game!"

Sandy cast him a doubtful look. "Look, I know it's usually a party game, requiring four or more people…" his voice trailed off timidly, almost shyly. "But… but if it's just the two of us, it will give me a chance to try and learn your language. And So… what do you think? Care to give it a try?"

A look of tired bewilderment crossed Sandy's face as he shrugged in acceptance.

"Great! You start."

Sandy just blinked at him not really sure what to choose for the first word. But Jack was quick to offer up a suggestion. "If you want to, I've…" He began, scratching his head nervously. "I've been trying to figure out what you were trying to tell me when I was initially chosen to be a guardian." His cheeks turned slightly pink from embarrassment when he recalled how excitedly Sandy had raised his small hand, asking permission to speak.

Sandy didn't notice the boys blush as he struggled to summon another question mark. At least it was becoming easier to summon his sand. Bunny's juice must be kicking in. Sandy thought tiredly.

Jack scratched his head uncertainty "I'm... guessing your memory's really not wanting to function?" He asked, almost sheepishly. Sandy looked at him bleary eyed and nodded his head. He was so tired he wasn't even sure where he was and he'd certainly never seen this room before. His eyes finally caught sight of the window and the snow beyond it. He looked up at Jack as a pair of candy canes managed to clump together before building into a house and falling apart. His head rolled to the other side of the pillow as his eyes fluttered shut. What is taking Bunny so long? He wondered miserably.

"Ummm..." Jack began uncertainly. "Candy canes and a house?" He asked uncertainly.

Sandy nodded and weakly flourished his hand, urging him to dig deeper.

"Wait a minute!" Jack exclaimed, causing Sandy to blink and shift in curiosity. "I remember hearing a story once that entailed a house made of candy!" he scratched furiously at his head as he began dancing around the room ignoring Sandy's struggling cues that he was…"Barking up the wrong tree."

"A witch lived in that house and oh...what was it called?" He rubbed a hand through his hair before leaping up and pointing his staff at Sandy excitedly. "A gingerbread house! That's the symbol for a gingerbread house isn't it?"

Sandy managed a small chuckle at the kid's enthusiasm and shook his head bemusedly. Calling on his sands, he forced another house to appear this one had a gingerbread man standing at its front door. Jack managed to latch onto that detail just before it fell apart and Sandy lay there struggling to catch his breath.

"Oh" Jack was crest fallen. "So, I take it that last image you conjured was the symbol for a gingerbread house?"

Eyes closed, Sandy nodded his head.

"Woohoo!" Jack cried stirring Sandy from the long arms of sleep. The Dreamweaver cracked a weary eye open to look at the playful child in confusion. "I learned a word!" Jack cried in excitement before a question mark flashed above Sandy's head. "Gingerbread house. Jack explained with a mischievous smile. "I did learn the word for gingerbread house, right?" Sandy started chuckling in spite of himself. The child's exuberance was contagious and he couldn't help but smile. And hey, it might not have been the word he was trying to teach Jack so he could ask where they were, but meh, he couldn't begrudge the kid a small victory.

Taking a deep breath, Sandy struggled to reproduce and maintain the two original images. But he just didn't have the strength or energy to hold them as they fell apart again. Dizzy with effort, he started panting hard but didn't give up as he lifted a shaky hand to Jack, urging the candy-canes to appear in his palm to signify their importance to the equation. Unable to hold it any longer, his hand dropped back to his side as the image turned to lose sand.

"Candy-canes, candy-canes." Jack muttered, a crooked finger pressing against his lips as he racked his mind for a potential answer. Sandy's eyes fluttered shut as he released a long sigh. "Hey don't quit on me now!" Jack said shaking him. "It's got something to do with Christmas doesn't it?" Eyes still closed, Sandy nodded. "So, Christmas house?" Sandy nodded again rotating one hand through the air urging him to keep going. "Wait, You're asking me a question aren't you? You're wondering if we're at North's Workshop!?" A small smile quirked at the corners of Sandy's lips as he managed a quick thumbs up. Jack started laughing. "Asking…asking a question isn't really part of the game." Sandy just shrugged his shoulders as he struggled to open his eyes to gaze pleadingly up at Jack. Jack shook his head bemusedly. "You really are out of it if you don't recognize a room at the North Pole." Sandy lightly nodded. Than, uncertainly, he shook his head. He should be able to recognize any room at the North Pole, but he didn't recognize this one. He released a heavy sigh. This wait was growing intolerable and he just couldn't stay awake any longer.

His tummy growled again and Jack was just about to reach over and try pinching him when the doors finally opened. Sandy opened his eyes in relief to see the great Pooka enter, bearing a tray of steaming foods that instantly made his mouth start watering. "Glad ta see ya've returned ta the land a the living." Bunny said with a relieved smile. "Did he just now wake or have ya had ta keep 'im entertained?"

"Oh, I didn't have to keep him entertained." Jack answered with mischievous smirk. "It was just more fun that way." Sandy weakly nodded his head in agreement as Bunny set the tray on the bed. "And before you ask, yes I got him to drink the juice."

Bunny smiled appreciatively at Jack. "Thank's mate, we owe ya one. Can ya do me another favor? Sandy's kind of propped up, but he's gonna need ta sit a little straighter. Do ya think ya can grab the seat cushion from the chair?"

Jack let out a laugh. "Are you kidding? Of course I can." With that he rose and grabbed it.

Bunny's ears drooped as turned to look at Sandy. "This might hurt a little, but I need ya ta lean forward." Sandy managed to lift a hand towards Bunny asking for assistance before it weakly plopped back down onto the bed. Bunny cocked a brow and shook his head before rising to take his hand to assist him. "Do ya know where ya are mate?"

Sandy clenched his teeth tightly as the motions pulled at his wound and frayed nerves. "Deep breaths mate, I know it hurts, but, deep breaths." Sandy did his best and was infinitely relieved when at last he was leaned back into the steep, supportive cushion Jack supplied. He closed his eyes and was content to just breathe as Bunny gently pressed his paws against his forehead and cheeks. "You're a little chilled there mate. Ya been embraced by winter?"

Sandy nodded as Bunny gently forced his eyes open, checking them for any more signs of trouble. "So, I'll ask ya again, do ya know where ya are?"

Sandy nodded before looking over at Jack.

Bunny's whiskers twitched in worry. "Ya still can't spare ya sand ta speak?"

"Actually, Bunny…" Jack piped up. "I…may have inadvertently answered that question for him during a little game of charades."

"Charades?" Bunny asked cocking a brow at Jack.

Jack just shrugged his shoulders. "It worked didn't it? And for the game, he asked if we were at the North Pole." Before Bunny could say anything Jack continued. "He woke up just shortly after you left and I had to come up with some way to keep him from falling back to sleep without constantly chilling him. I held him for a while, and knew I had to release him when he stopped shivering."

Bunny immediately turned back to Sandy and swallowed. "Well, that explains why ya freezin'. How many fingers am I holding up?"

Sandy opened his bleary eyes but couldn't quite focus them. He waited till he was sure of the answer and slowly, raised a shaky hand to reveal two fingers in turn."

"A little slow on the answer. But it's correct." Sandy's eyes slid closed as his head rolled back and forth with the effort of staying awake and from the residual pain pulsating in his back." Alright, alright. Let's get ya fed and into a hot bath. I'll be with ya if ya fall asleep in the steamy waters."

Food… Hot bath. Sandy thought, a small flicker of hope flashing through his mind before it faded. But, that would mean moving, if it hurts just to sit up, how the heck am I going to manage a bath?

"Open ya choppas, I'm gonna have ta hand feed ya." Sandy turned his blurry focus back to Bunny and saw the spoonful of steaming morning dew. Exhaustedly, he opened his mouth to receive the glowing broth of day's first light. It was exactly what the old star pilot needed, and Sandy gingerly swallowed it down before opening his mouth for more. It was a slow process, but with each bite, Sandy could feel his strength returning and the waves of dizziness dissipating.

"That's it, jus' a little more. Do ya think ya can chew?" Bunny asked after a little while. "I've got some fresh sunflower butter spread over some cloud rolls."

Sandy lifted his head and smiled eagerly. Gingerly he tried to sit up straighter. "Doncha push it!" Bunny said gently placing a paw on Sandy's shoulder to prevent him from moving. "I can tell the broth is doin' its job, but ya not ready ta move on ya own just yet. Ya still have too much healing ta do."

Sandy glowered at him. After all, he'd managed small movements while they were waiting for Bunny's return but acquiesced when he heard Jack chuckling.

"So, do ya remember anythin'? Jack's election to guardianship? The great Tooth Race?" Bunny asked prodding Sandy's memory with lighter thoughts.

Sandy raised a brow of confusion. Of course, he remembered Jack joining the team. How could he not? It was a dream Jack had secretly wished for even if he hadn't realized that was what he'd been longing for. An odd little smile graced Sandy's lips as he recalled Jamie running up to give Jack a big ole hug without running through him. And the race? That had been a phenomenal game! One he hoped they could play again someday… with Tooth's permission of course.

Bunny cocked an ear at Sandy's odd little smile. "Well, I see ya remember the good times. I'm glad ya memories workin' though I suspect Tooth will want to check that more thoroughly when she returns.

But Sandy's mind was already pulling off the covers and poking at the darker areas, trying to recall why the game was necessary and how he'd wound up in this bed in the first place. His eyes suddenly widened in shock and he choked on a small piece of bread. Pitch… Pitch Black! The Boogeyman had done this to him and who knew where he was now!? They had thought him soundly defeated but he had reappeared in the infirmary and… and Tooth! Tooth was in trouble!

"Whoa, whoa easy there!" Bunny said immediately leaning Sandy forward to support and help him cough it out. After a moment, Sandy spat out the piece of roll and a shaky image of a tooth appeared followed by a question mark.

"Tooth'll probably return in the next day or two, unless we send word ta her that ya awake. But honestly, with as weak as ya still are, ya might not be up ta her pokin' and proddin' at ya chompers."

Struggling to breath, Sandy nodded his head in agreement. But the information didn't ease his worry. If he was held up here, without his dream sand, how were the children managing? Pitch was still out there doing who knew what!? An image of the Nightmare King hastily appeared above him and Sandy couldn't stop a shudder of fear from coursing through his small body. He immediately started struggling to rise from the bed, despite the pain and weakness raging through him.

"Oi! knock it off." Bunny cried forcing him back down into the pillows and beneath the covers. "Pitch has been dealt with. His plan ta turn ya' inta one a his minions was his last ditch effort to reclaim control, but Jack's interference prevented that from happenin'."

"Yeah!" Jack said laughing. "You should have seen the look on his face when instead of seeing you and his nightmare sand slinking down his hole, he found us instead! He was so certain the shard would turn you so completely, you wouldn't need or want his help in taking us down. One quick blast of winter fun and he was permafrosted."

Sandy looked at Bunny quizzically. "He's locked in North's freeza. Good riddance ta bad rubbish."

Sandy sighed mournfully but nodded his head in mild agreement. At least the children will be safe from harm while I'm recovering. He thought mildly. No dreams, but at least they'll be safe from nightmares. All will be well.

"Now, if ya done chokin' and frettin', ya still need ta finish ya dinna'." Bunny said leaning forward, with another spoonful of broth. "Manny wants ya there when 'e hands down final judgment. But fer now, ya've gotta rest. The children have been fine since ya been out a' commission and they'll be fine till ya finish recoverin'."

Sandy reluctantly relaxed back into the cushions and eagerly accepted the proffered spoonful. The tray of food Bunny brought was small and the portions meager in comparison to what Sandy could typically pack away. Even so, Sandy soon found it difficult to keep eating. "Come on mate, just a couple more bites." Bunny said trying to coax Sandy into eating just a little more.

Sandy merely looked up at him with bleary eyes as he gingerly rubbed at his protruding belly and shook his head. Another bite and he would burst. He needed a little time to let this digest. And hadn't Bunny mentioned a bath? In truth he was feeling much better now that he'd eaten, but he was so ready to just fall back to sleep. He looked up at Bunny as a small series of zzz's appeared above him, followed by an Elizabethan bathtub crossed out before his eyes fluttered shut.

"Sorry mate, ya need this bath ta help relax those tense muscles and heal those injured nerves a' yours. It's kinda a miracle ya can move at all right now." With that, Bunny reached down and gently lifted him. Sandy was barely conscious of the fact that he was being carried to the hot springs beneath North's workshop. He didn't even notice when Bunny removed his P.J.s. But as soon as the heavenly warm waters lapped over him, he smiled. The lusciously warm, mineral waters just felt so amazingly good. He couldn't help but feel the heat seep deep into his muscles and tissues soothing the perpetual aches and pains. Bunny was right, he did need this. Gently, Bunny ran his paws through Sandy's hair, washing it clean. The light, ticklish touch, elicited a drunken little giggle from the Dreamweaver and he smiled appreciatively up at the only Guardian who was older than him. Slowly, Sandy lifted a hand from the water in offering before Bunny clasped his forearm in brotherly companionship. "It's been a rough ride, but ya can relax now. I'll be right here."

With his heart full of hope, Sandy smiled warmly at his brother in arms. A happy tear trailed down his face as his head dropped trustingly against Bunny's shoulder. His eyes close in peace as the realm of dreams claimed him once more.

Authors Notes:

I do want apologize, this chapter was much later in coming than originally planned. I've been having internet troubles and had to go to my parents place just to get this posted. I'm still not quite done with the final chapter, but I hope to have it finished before the 27th. Thank you for your patience and I hope you've enjoyed it so far.

In this last chapter, I've tried to modify Bunny's speech. I hope its a little more understandable.