Jack woke up and a familiar pain hit him, he whimpered as he sat up in the bed, his back had been hurting like mad since his experience with Pitch, the doctor had told him he had cracked a bones when thrown to the ground at some point, it was a relief that it would heal on it's own with a little rest but it didn't stop the pain.

North had told Jack to stay in bed and although Jack wanted to do as he was told he'd been in bed for a few days too many and was beginning to bore. It wasn't like he'd break his back going downstairs. He cautiously got up and left the infirmary, walking past the still unconscious Sandy.

Reaching the stairs he went down halfway then knelt down to listen into the conversation the guardians were having in the living room, he wasn't exactly sure why, maybe just curiosity but something told him he should.

"I think this is becoming too dangerous if you ask me," Tooth said quietly, "Pitch obviously want the kid for some reason, until we find out why I say we keep him out of this."

"Don't be ridiculous Tooth, it is perfectly safe!"

"North, Pitch could have killed the child if he really wanted to! Can we really risk that?"

"I agree with Tooth here North, the kid is definitely strong but with Pitch going at him alone like he had been... we should be thankful the last two times we got lucky, not use it as excuse to continue gambling the way we have. Besides, Manny said he should help us, he already has, no need to have him fight until the end."

North frowned, "you think he will listen if we say he should end mission now?"

Bunny shook his head, "doubt it, but it's not up to him any more, if we tell him to stay put because of his back we can pretend it was just unlucky he got injured."

"Why don't we just ask him? He only came to get innocence, if we give him offer-"

"He'll finish the mission North, he's too determined for his own good."

"I just think, we already have Sandy out of mission, are we not gambling by sending Jack away too?"

"I'm not leaving," Jack said, finally announcing his presence.

"Jack!" Tooth took a step back.

"You are meant to be resting," North said crossing his arms.

"Yeah, until Pitch is defeated, I heard."

Bunny flinched, "Jack, this is dangerous, we don't know why but Pitch is after you personally."

"Yeah, well I do know why and it is as much a reason for him to hate me as it is for me to hate him... well perhaps not but, I want to be a part of this and you can't stop me."

"Jack..." Tooth whispered.

"You know why Pitch wants you?" Bunny looked shocked, then angry, "why didn't you tell us this sooner?"

Jack frowned then sighed, "I didn't know before, not until Pitch sort of mentioned it... it's a long story, I'm not really ready to share it with you, not now in the middle of this mission. Please, just let me finish it with you, I promise to be careful, I won't try any more stunts like the one before."

North smiled, "well it is definitely fine by me."

Bunny hesitated before sighing, "told ya he was too determined."

Tooth frowned, "fine, but you have to be accompanied at all moments, no more running of alone."

"Got it, wasn't planning on running of anyway."

Jack was determined now, if Pitch was anything like him then he deserved to rot in hell in Jack's opinion. Bunny opened the door to the guest room where Jack was supposed to be resting to call him down for dinner, instead he found Jack slashing out at thin air with his staff.

"Hope it's Pitch's head your imagining and not mine," he said at the angered expression.

Jack turned and grinned, all anger forgotten, "nah don't worry, wasn't Pitch but definitely wasn't you, I'm not that imaginative."

"I don't know if that's meant to be good or bad," Bunny said chucking before raising an eyebrow, "weren't you like, meant to be resting?"

Jack grinned, "I did try, promise."

Bunny grinned, "fair enough, I won't tell them if you don't, but dinner is ready now."

"Perfect!" Jack said excitedly running downstairs.

Bunny smiled before going down after him, they all sat an enjoyed there meal, Jack as always ate a lot, although he tried his best to be polite and use his knife and fork but the time he had spent just snatching and eating what he could get his hands on showed, and the guardians chose to ignore it, pretending they didn't notice for the sake of not making him feel even more unconformable then he was.

"Jack?" North spotted something suddenly.

Jack looked up, "yeah, what's up?" he asked.

"Your hoodie... it is ripped," he pointed out, frowning.

Jack looked down, "oh yeah..." it was ripped at the shoulders, "I'll have to sew it back up, I guess last time I didn't do a good job."

"You know how to sew?" Bunny held back laughter, clearly not believing Jack.

"Well I have to don't I... not like I have parents to buy new clothes when people rip it trying to stab me with sharp stuff!" he shouted clearly upset by Bunny's comment, his anger quickly faded as he saw the guilty expressions of the guardians, Jack looked away form them and at his food before pushing it away, "I'm not hungry any more," he whispered getting up and leaving without another word.

Jack got to the guest room he was staying in and closed the door, locking it before climbing under the sheets of his bed and crying, he cuddling the cushion close to himself like a teddy and cried for a few hours, he had never meant to shout at the guardians, he didn't want then to feel guilty for what had happened, it wasn't there fault, it was more his fault than anyone's. He hated himself for saying does stuff, a part of him feared the guardians would shout at him, scold him, punish him for what he said, and he knew he deserved it.

"Why do I have to be so stupid?!" he shouted louder then he meant to.

"Jack?" he heard North's voice from the other side of the door.

He immediately regretted what he had just said, he stared at the door uncertain as to what to do.

He heard another knock, "Jack... I got you something," he said.

Jack stood up from the bed and hesitantly opened the door, North smiled when he saw Jack, he had obviously heard Jack shout and it wasn't like Jack's eyes where very white, yet he pretended to not notice as he placed a huge box on the floor for Jack, "I ordered them earlier, it is new clothes."

"North... I like my current clothes, I don't need anything else, it's just extra weight."

North frowned, "Jack, this go in wardrobe thereby they not weight any extra, besides, you need to wear something wile your hoodie is being washed and sewed, besides, some of this will be more practical and safe for battles."

Jack hesitated before opening the box, on top of everything sat a leather outfit with a cloak and everything. Jack gasped and took a step away form it, he stared at it wordless. It was so similar... he closed his eyes as tears filled them as more memories came back, "North... please... I just want the clothes I have now."

North looked at the leather outfit, "but Jack, this is perfect, it protects from the wind and is way less heavy then hoodie..." he looked at Jack who was beginning to tremble then down at the leather outfit, he frowned before moving it away and pulling out some hoodies, "what about this Jack, better?"

Jack looked at the hoodies North had pulled out, two blue, two black and one navy, he smiled and nodded, "there perfect, thank you North."

North smiled before pulling out a few pairs of leather trousers similar to the one's Jack already has, "this good too?"

Jack nodded, "yes, thank you."

North nodded, "I will send this back to store, yes?"

Jack nodded, then hesitated, "I'm sorry North... I didn't want to sound rude it's just... it's a long story but... it brings back bad memories, remind me of something I just want to forget... even though it's becoming harder to all the time."

North frowned, he knew by the end Jack was no longer speaking to North but to himself, yet he still felt he shout try and help, "do you want to talk about it? Perhaps we can help?"

Jack shook his head, "that was a long time ago, and it's over now... I just want to move on."

North nodded, "I understand, we all have times in life like that."

Jack nodded, looking away and heading towards the bed.

"Jack, one more thing."

"Hm?"

"We got news recently, about Pitch..."

Jack turned, "how recently?"

"Yesterday."

"Why didn't you tell me? What's wrong? Is it bad, good?"

North frowned, "ever heard of Ravenwood? It is famous prison."

Jack tensed and nodded, "I know of it."

"Many of Pitch's followers as well as Pitch himself were taken there and recently that has been breakout witch we guess Pitch was leader of."

Jack clenched his fists, he felt like he couldn't breath, "is there a list of people who escaped?"

"Yes, downstairs, why?"

"I need to see it."

"O-Okay..."

Once Jack was downstairs, North got the paperwork out of a cabinet and held it out to Jack who grabbed it, at that moment Bunny entered the room, "what's going on?" he asked looking at the paperwork.

Jack didn't pay him any attention as he went straight to the letter O, searching, searching, Overland, he froze, he didn't realize he'd stopped breathing as he just stared at the paperwork, he didn't notice until the paperwork was taken of him and Bunny picked him up with strong arms, "Jack!" he shouted.

Jack gasped and closed his eyes, "Jack," North said softly, "are you okay?"

Jack shook his head, "I-I need to lie down..." he whispered and Bunny quickly lay Jack down on the sofa, kneeling by his side, North right next to him.

"Jack," Bunny began to speak, slowly and clearly, "who is it?"

"W-what?"

"Who is it on that list that scares you?"

Jack hesitated, opening his eyes to look at Bunny who looked about ready to kill, Jack gasped and backed away with fear, North grabbed his hand and at that moment Jack realized, Bunny wasn't angry at him, he was angry at whoever had hurt him, because there was no hiding that whoever scared him that much must have hurt him. Jack took a deep breath, "Overland," he whispered.

Bunny's eyes widened, "Aldric Overland?"

Jack nodded, tears spilling from his eyes.

Bunny looked confused for a second, "what did he do to you?"

Jack shook his head, "I-I... he... North I'm tired!" he shouted, it was clearly a beg, he didn't want to be questioned by Bunny, not about this, not about anything but least of all this.

North looked at Bunny who hesitated then nodded, North picked Jack up with his big arms, "I'll take you to bedroom then we'll get you some dinner to have in bed, sound good?"

Jack nodded, cuddling up to close, his heart was beating fast and he was struggling to breathe, whatever had been done to him, they would find out and make Aldric pay.

North helped Jack change into some pyjamas he had bough earlier that day before lying him down carefully in the bed, tucking him in and getting him some nice warm soup to have for dinner, he stayed with him until he fell asleep before going downstairs to see Tooth and Bunny waiting for him, Tooth looked worried while Bunny prepared to kill.

"I take it Bunny explained?"

"Is he okay?"

"Very nervous but he is sleeping now and he sleep peacefully."

"That's good..." Tooth whispered, sitting down on the sofa slightly more relaxed now that she knew Jack was well.

Bunny growled, "he was having a stress attack knowing that man was free, whatever he did to Jack was serious and I want to know what, the kid has lived here as long as I recall and as far as I'm concerned this Aldric never came here.

"Jack, according to most, appeared here around ten years ago, same time as Aldric was arrested," North said, "perhaps they knew each other before that? Aldric held many people prisoner as slaves... perhaps Jack was one of does unfortunate people."

Bunny shuttered at the though, "but how did he make it here then?"

"I say he probably escaped, ran away to here and began to make his new life."

"But North... how in the world would he escape at age four?" Bunny crossed his arms.

"Maybe somebody helped him?" Tooth suggested.

"But then they would have told him to go to police, Jack clearly wasn't given instructions."

"Maybe he was told to just run as far as he could go?"

"Unlikely, that would be worst possible advice for young child, if someone though it out well enough to get him out they would not make that mistake... Bunny is right... perhaps he was abandoned, no use as slave so they threw him out?"

"They'd kill him first, what's the point in releasing evidence?" Bunny said coldly.

"You said he appeared around the same time as Aldric was arrested, right? Perhaps when he was captured a lot of his workers began to flee leaving prisoners unguarded, Jack being just a child didn't understand but did understand he could escape, he ran away and ended up here."

North nodded, "that is good theory Tooth, yes, we will stick with that until Jack is willing to tell us."

Bunny crossed his arms, "on second though, I don't care what he did, I just want to make him pay."

"All in good time Bunny, first I believe we must make sure Jack is okay... he is in no state for battle until he calms down. Perhaps we should hire psychologist?"

Bunny shook his head, "he would hate that... we just need to be careful with him..."

"Maybe I can talk to him... I fear if we end up in battle with this Aldric Jack will not be able to take it. We should also be prepared to get Jack out of that if it happens, we can't risk it," Tooth said, standing up.

Bunny nodded, "Tooth is right."

North nodded, "but you must wait for tomorrow, he is sleeping now."

Tooth nodded, after a bit longer of talking the guardians went to sleep as well. The next morning Tooth was up early but she waited until late to go to see Jack, not wanting to wake him up after yesterdays experience.

Quietly she walked up to Jack's door. She knocked on the door, waiting a moment for a reply, "y-yes?" Jack sounded upset, he had probably been crying, Tooth frowned.

"Jack, it's me... can I come in?"

There was a moment of hesitation before he replied, "y-yeah, sure..."

Tooth slowly opened the door and looked inside, Jack was sitting on the bed, Tooth gave a small smile, "you okay?"

Jack shook his head, "n-not really..."

Tooth carefully shut the door and sat next to Jack, "do you want to talk about it?"

Jack looked up at her then to the floor, shaking his head, "I just want to forget..."

Tooth frowned cuddling Jack close, "I know... but sometimes you can't forget Jack and perhaps letting it out will help?"

Jack shook his head, he looked at Tooth again, the sight made Tooth want to cry, Jack's big blue childish eyes were red from crying and fill with even more fresh tears ready to fall, he looked about to cry and he was trembling ever so slightly.

"Oh Jack," she carefully wrapped her arms around him, holding him close, "sh, you're safe here, don't be scared."

"B-But Tooth... you don't understand h-he... h-he hurt me... me and others."

"He was a horrible person," Tooth said coldly, "and he will pay..."

Jack cuddled up to Tooth, "I'm scared."

"I know, I know," Tooth held him close, "you're safe with us... Jack?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Remember when we said earlier about not fighting, you said you wanted to, do you still want to?"

Jack froze and pulled away from Tooth, looking up at her, he hesitated before whipping the tears out of his eyes and putting on a determined expression, "yes, Pitch has... Pitch made it personal! And I have to fight! I'm the only person who really knows how horrible he is..."

Tooth wanted so badly to ask what it was this Aldric could have done to Jack but decided otherwise, instead she just nodded, "okay, but you need to be prepared Jack, earlier you froze just at the name, you can't do that in battle."

"I won't... I-I... was just shocked, I never expected to hear from him again and... it was just... memories are beautiful, but also very, very, painful, sometimes."

Tooth smiled, "yeah, they are... but there only memories, you know that right?"

Jack nodded, "yeah, I do."

"Good, so..." she stood up, holding out a hand to Jack, "feel like some breakfast?"

Jack smiled, "yeah!" he grabbed her hand and followed her downstairs, waving to Pippa who was playing in the living room before entering the dining room where breakfast was waiting for him on the table. Bunny was the only person at the table, reading the newspaper.

He looked up when Jack entered and smiled, "feeling better Frostbite?"

"Frostbite?" Jack laughed, "where did that come from?"

Bunny shrugged but grinned, it was nice to see Jack was back to normal, "I'm patrolling after breakfast, want to pop along?"

"Yes please!" Jack said sitting down for breakfast, helping himself to some toast and spreading some jam on it.

"One condition though," Bunny looked at him seriously, "no jumping of roofs this time," he smiled.

Jack grinned, "no promises! But I'll be more cautious this time."

Bunny sighed, "I'll take what I can get," he said in fake resignation.

Jack was energetic as he jumped form roof to roof, doing somersaults and back flips, Bunny laughed as he followed Jack, not bothering with the gymnastics, Jack had never felt so good, a few days in a proper bed with actual food and even with the fighting the energy boost was tremendous. He was used to sprinting around half starving and sleep deprived and now, he not only felt full of energy but happy. He chose to forget about Pitch and Aldric as he just enjoyed the fresh air, not having to worry about the civilians and police officers seeing him. Knowing that if they were attacked, Bunny would have his back.

Jack was happy, he was enjoying himself, so much that he had completely let his guard down, and he didn't realize how big of a mistake that was until Bunny suddenly shouted his name making him half turn, "Jack!" suddenly Jack was thrown to the ground at first he panicked but then realized it was Bunny, suddenly he saw several arrows just miss and hit a slightly taller building that was in front of the one they were currently on.

Before Jack could figure out what exactly had happened, they were surrounded, warriors, proper warriors, not like the pitiful criminals Pitch had convinced to join him surrounded them, some of which were pointing there arrows straight at them, Bunny moved over Jack like an animal protecting it's child, "Jack, stay down," he whispered.

"Bunny," one of them said happily almost as if singing, "long time no see, how are things working out for you?"

"Better then you, I'm sure," Bunny said looking up, "I heard you've been reduced to scaring innocent children, Aldric."

Jack gasped at the name and Bunny made himself smaller, covering Jack better, his chest pressed against Jack's back and he could heard the frightened heart beat of the kid beneath him.

"Children...?" Aldric sounded confused before shrugging it of, "so, what are you hiding, Bunny?"

Bunny just glared up at him.

"You seem to think your fragile body could protect whatever you think is so valuable, you're making me curious, I'm tempted to shot you just to find out, perhaps you'd be better of telling me?"

"I won't let you touch him."

"Him?"

For a moment Bunny though Aldric looked innocent, confusion and curiosity shone in his brown eyes that matched his hair. But Bunny wasn't being fooled and with one sudden movement he leaped, throwing Aldric of the roof and then turning tacking another archer. Jack who was left suddenly alone jumped to his feet throwing the third archer of the roof with his staff. A swordsman was about to hit Jack but Bunny pulled Jack out of the way before the sword touched the pail skin.

Before Jack had a chance to say anything Bunny pulled him onto his back and ran as fast as he could, forgetting how Jack could keep up with him without the ride. Once the warriors had been out of sight for almost ten minuted Bunny stopped, putting Jack down.

"Woah... you're fast..."

Bunny was panting but smiled all the same, "and don't forget it mate," he sat down, "god, haven't run like that in forever."

Jack grinned, "perhaps you should train more."

Bunny grinned, "is that an insult?"

"How about a suggestion?" Jack said grinning.

Bunny laughed, "better just be that," he said finally catching his breath and standing, he turned to look in the direction they'd come, "we lost them... that was close... not sure you know any of he other warriors," Jack shook his head, "though so, there all friends of Pitch, and trust me, you know Aldric? Well there all similar strength."

"Not much help, Bunny, I never actually fought Aldric properly, so... yeah."

"So he what's motivated to learn to fight?"

Jack looked surprised then grinned, "yeah, he kinda was, how'd you guess?"

"Well, lets just say you're not the first he has motivated."

"Woah, really?"

Bunny laughed, "it's a long story, but I promise to tell you some day, perhaps after this is all over, for now, we should go warm the others... perhaps have a hot chocolate."

"Sounds fun," he turned towards where they had come from, "he didn't see me did he? Aldric."

"Nah, mate, although, doubt he will remember you, he has caused much pain to many people," Bunny clenched his fists, "doesn't even bother to remember his victims, he deserved what's coming to him."

Jack grinned and looked away, "perhaps... although white hair and stuff... he'll probably remember."

Bunny looked at Jack then grinned, "yeah, you're probably right this time, either way I wouldn't worry about it."

Jack nodded, "I won't, not while I'm with you at least," he smiled, not a mischievous grin but a childish, grateful smile, "thanks you by the way... for protecting me like that..."

Bunny smiled, "no problem, Frostbite."