With the mood ruined, Jack walked back to the cave to sleep off the old memory of his life. Niko walks after him, laying down at the foot of the bed as usual. Jack slept for a really long time, not once waking in the morning; only whispers of pain would leave him, words tumbled here and there and begging at night for it all to stop. Jamie does his best to wake Jack when the morning comes. Jack doesn't wake the next morning, or the next day after that but finally around the 8th of November he awoke, groaning groggily; he look around for Jamie.
"Jamie?" Jamie stirred a little, propped up against the wall nearby.
"Hmm?" He muttered sleepily. He'd been trying to shake Jack from the nightmares.
"What happened? Where are we... how long have we been here?" He asked him all at once.
"We've been here about two months, you took a long nap..." He said slowly as he tried to process all the questions. Jack squirmed in worry.
"W-Why didn't you t-try to wake me?" Jack asked, shakingly fearful of why he wouldn't awaken. Jamie gave Jack a sad look.
"I did... countless times. Nothing I tried worked." Jack sniffed.
"It was just how my memory ended... first he said he'd make me better and then I never wake up." Jack sniffed, having been in that dream so many times.
"He can't hurt you again Jack. The Guardians saw to that. " He hugged Jack gently. Jack shivered.
"It's not Dusk, Jamie; just somebody from my past." Jamie though a minute.
"Well I will make sure he can't then. If he's still alive. " Jack shivered again.
"Jamie, it's not that simple... he wasn't a normal man he-" Jack gasped and whimpered, shaking his head' the memories hurt... everything, when he thought of the man, hurt him.
"I don't care WHAT kind of person he is. I will do what I have to in order to protect you. I was remiss this last time but I would rather you be alive and ticked at me than dead."
"Ticked at you? Why would I be mad at you?" He looked at Jamie with eyes full of confusion and tears from the awful memory. Jamie sighed, glancing towards Niko.
"Well... you were about the fire spirits. I just kind of figured something like that would be... worse." Jack smiled.
"That's different Jamie... if you lose your cool..." He sighed.
"You have free rein to beat the living snot out of the enemy that upsets you." He said only to squeak in pain, his mind remembering another memory... worse than the last. The man has ripped out teeth, taken hair and injected Jack with many chemicals that made fire run through his veins. Jamie winced when Jack squeaked. Jack squirmed a little, backing away from something invisible to Jamie, but what he saw was the same needle... The same one that caused him pain... the clamp and straps kept him in place.
"NO! STAY AWAY PLEASE STAY AWAY!" Jacked screamed at the top of his lungs; it was so loud it scared Niko half to death, making him run outside in fear.
"Jack?" Jamie touched his shoulder, trying to understand what was going on. Jack screamed and lashed out, biting Jamie's hand before he ran out of the cavern, away from his invisible enemy; Niko followed, barking. Jamie cried out when he was bit; wondering what on earth had gotten into Jack. Jack ran; all he could do was run from his past, the voices... The one voice that promised, and lied, kept repeating over and over again.
"Don't worry Jack, it'll make you all better, I promise."
"No daddy please! You lied to me!" Jamie followed Jack at a distance, icing over the small bite. Jack panted sitting on a tree stump surrounded by a few deer and the wolves hunting for them.
"NO! YOU PROMISED AND YOU LIED!" It's all Jack screeched as he held his hands over his my ears.
"Promise Jack, all better..." It leaked over the bond the images, the needle and the pain as well... Jamie felt it, like his heart would burst and poison fire... or acid... was running through his veins; the malnutrition as well as being locked away into complete darkness in a cage.
"That's it Jack, just let go. It'll be over soon." Jack screamed out, scaring all the animals away as bursts of ice flash froze everything around him before he fell unconscious. Jamie winced as he worked to move to pick Jack up and take him back to the cave. Jack was trembling in Jamie's hands uncontrollably, it felt like he might die... in fact his father had done it, but had brought him back with electrical pulses, which made Jack all the more fearful. This was all happening again...
"No... daddy you lied!" It's all Jack whimpered into Jamie's arms; then it dawned on Jamie that Jack's father was a scientist and had experimented on him at a very, very young age... in the image he'd been about 2 years old...
"My dearest Jack... you've been through so much." He murmured as he tucked Jack back into bed once more. Angry beyond belief that anyone would do that to their own flesh and blood... to someone like Jack. He awoke a few hours later, Jack didn't move a muscle; only feeling when, obligated to, did he move. Niko was right next to him, whimpering worriedly at Jack; he shook his head of the not-real-pain that shouldn't be there, but it's as if the aftereffects of the chemicals were still in his body, which they probably still were in a way.
"Jack, are you hungry?" Jamie asked softly. Jack shivered, not sure how to answer Jamie; he didn't speak, in fact he was practically silent all week. Jamie wasn't sure what to say himself, but each time he ate himself he offered Jack food as well; if only to see if he would eat. Jack didn't eat; he just felt sick to his stomach, as if he was being eaten from inside.
"It hurts." Jamie wasn't sure what to do, he stayed close to Jack as often as possible. Jack sighed and just lay down, working off the long dead chemicals in his body... or at least trying to find his sanity. Jamie gently held Jack's hand, offering silent comfort... or what comfort he could at any rate. Jack shuttered, his fear had attracted Nightmares. Niko snarls at the wolf creatures and horses.
"Niko, no. Get back here." Niko growled, protecting Jack and Jamie from them, there was sounds of a fight and a howl of pain. Jamie sent the wind and ice to protect Niko and drive the Nightmares away from the frost hound. The Nightmares snarled and Jack shuttered, walking out; they growled at him, but were starving, hungry for his fear. Jack shivered, Niko growled at any who came close to him or Jamie and his fangs showed he would rip them apart. Jamie follows, he didn't hesitate to blast the Nightmares into sand particles. Not wanting any of that they growled, but they would be back as they ran off into the woods; Jack shuttered.
"This isn't good, I can't be here; not with them roaming around. I'm endangering the children, and you, Jamie."
"Don't be silly Jack. I can protect myself, as for the children, well they have me AND the Guardians. They'll be fine." Jack nodded.
"Yeah, well I'm here too." He looked outside and realized he had nothing to do so Jack decided to carve himself some ice. Jamie watched in curiosity. Jack smiled, having carved the clock tower how he remembered it from his time, back in the 1700s. Jamie watched in fascination of the carving. Jack smiled as he carved into a slab of ice. Jamie was silent as he watched, he's good with ice... but not that good yet. Jack sighed and carved his own family, minus his father; he glared at the slab for a second, but continued, it looked just like the clock tower next to marketplace that he remembered... Despite the changes, the place where it stood was still a marketplace of sorts as shop buildings had replaced the open market. Jamie didn't really blame Jack for not carving in his father... the guy was crazy as far as Jamie was concerned... Jamie's father had abandoned their family, but he hadn't ever hurt him or Sophie... Jack sighed, but the carving was finished now; he just look at it, remembering memories of good things... good times.
"That's really good." Jack smiled.
"Thank you." Niko lay his head on Jack's lap; he scratched behind his ears and thought. Now what do we do? Should we leave the area?
"I think we should go somewhere safe Jamie. It's just not safe right here, I mean... what if the Nightmares come back and the kids are here?"
"Hmmm... well, okay. Not sure where else we could go that wouldn't have someone though." Jack sighed.
"I'm out of ideas." He said in sound of defeat.
"Maybe we should talk to one of the others then, maybe they'd have an idea." Jack looked at Jamie with an ok expression; Niko followed them, he had the ability to fly with wings of ice and snow, the wind carrying him.
"Let's go to Tooth first." Jamie suggested as he floated up on the wind. Jack smiled, following closely behind while Niko protected them from behind. As usual, the Tooth Palace was as busy as a bee hive with the little fairies flitting about at their job. Many of them chirped happy hellos at the three of them. Jack wondered why it was always so busy around this time of year, which is why he stuck close to Jamie. Jamie gave Jack a reassuring smile as he headed toward the center where he knew Tooth would be giving her fairies their orders and they'd be carried out. Jack stayed behind Jamie the entire time, not speaking to Baby Tooth or Tooth in any matter worrying the baby teeth. Tooth shook her head at Jamie.
"Sorry sugar, I don't know of any such place... you might want to try Bunny. He's been all over the globe. He'd know best... or North maybe."
"Okay, thanks anyway." Jack followed Jamie to the Warren and Bunny before visiting North; Jack fed Niko food when he whined. Bunny had the same answer as Tooth, but North had suggested setting up a base somewhere in the South pole. Jack liked that idea but he wanted to be close to the children, but not at same time.
"That might be ideal." Jamie said thoughtfully. Jack nodded and played with Niko, who tried to catch the flying fairies who were visiting North.
"Niko no." Jamie couldn't help but chuckle as the fairies nimbly dodge the hound. Later, Jack lay in his room, keeping away from any contact from anyone but Jamie; this concerned the others, but they declined to say anything on it. Jack clung to Jamie most of the time; the only time he let go was when he had to use bathroom or do a patrol. Jack followed him there anyway...
"Nooo!" He cling tighter as Jamie tried to get Jack to let go of his leg. After a few unsuccessful attempts to get Jack to let go he finally just lets him be. It was like trying to get superglue off, but Jack stuck onto him even during times unneeded.
"Okay, what gives? I know you love me but this is getting a little ridiculous." Jamie says after several days. Jack didn't speak, only nuzzling against his leg and smiling.
"Safe and warm." It's all he whispered. Jamie raised an eyebrow at that. Warm? He was... well okay then... He settled down in the cavern he'd found in the south pole and shifted to put his arms around Jack, drawing him a little off his leg, but closer at the same time. Jack rubbed his head against Jamie's chest.
"Safe and warm, away from bad man and needles." Jamie sighed inwardly, but he had promised to keep Jack safe and he would do just that. It's a few weeks before he became a little more talkative and more open with other people, but still clinging to Jamie. Jamie does what he can to help Jack connect with others again, but he knows it's not going to be easy. Jack fell once, at least, and scraped his knee on the floor; it wasn't exactly bad but he cried for maybe two minutes and clung to Jamie again. Jamie had patched Jack up with a bit of ice and gently soothed him like he would if it had been Sophie. Jack would sometimes toddle over and draw and the next be completely silent staring at the wall. Jamie isn't sure what to make of Jack's mood swings. Jack ran to Jamie once as he was chasing Niko and clung to him, repeating the same words.
"Safe and warm." Jamie had just hugged Jack then, gently kissing his forehead before gently encouraging him to continue playing with Niko. Jack had giggled and ran after Niko.
"NIKO I'M GONNA GET YOU!" It was almost like having a toddler for a bit, but it was fine enough with Jamie. He figured if this was what it took to get Jack to heal then it was worth it. He could play big brother for a while. Jack tackled Niko finally, he woofed in appreciation that his somewhat owner could catch him. Jack giggled as he licked his face.
"AHH NIKO NUUU!" Jack whined. Niko wiggled in happiness. Barking and licking Jack's face. Jack giggled until he'd had enough pushed the lump of snow and fur off him; he yawn tiredly like any child would after playing for hours on end. Jamie smiled at that and, like any good brother, he carried Jack to bed for a nap. Jack snuggled into Jamie closely, tired and yawning like a most adorable little brother; as if he was little. Jamie chuckled quietly and settled in next to Jack to watch over his dreams. The dreams stayed happy for about ten minutes and then came the awful nightmares.
"DADDY LET GOOO! LET ME GOOO!" It's all Jack would cry while thrashing and fighting against Jaime's embrace. Jamie did his best to freeze the nightmare... or he tried at least. Jack yelled and cried, the tears falling fast the screams growing louder.
"DADDY YOU PROMISED IT WOULDN'T HURT!" Jack yelled at the familiar echo of 'I promise it will make you better'... but it failed apparently his body was shaking uncontrollably; whatever happened to him with those chemicals was causing him have a seizure of sorts in his sleep. Jamie wasn't sure what to do. He'd not had any experience with this. Jack screamed, cried blood curdling wails, and shook uncontrollably.
"I-I-IT H-HURTS!" He screamed as his body shook. Jamie winced, but he didn't leave Jack. He tried everything to shake him awake from the nightmare. Jack flinched away from Jamie some and rolled a bit before finally his body stopped shaking and now he was still deathly still; the only way Jamie could tell he was alive was his heavy panting chest.
"Jack?" His eyes fluttered open, heartbroken tears fell from his cheeks as he just looked at the wall and curled in on himself from the pain. Jamie gently wiped the tears away but didn't say anything more. It's a while before Jack woke up again; he didn't talk, he looked miserable. It was the nightmares, they were tearing him apart and he was so tired all the time now. He wouldn't sleep, he was too scared to and the nightmares would get worse as well, they were realistic and his body would react to something that wasn't even there.
"Jack... I think it's time we talk to Sandy about this." Jamie said gently after a few days of Jack avoiding sleep all together.
"No I'm fine I can -yawn- handle it; plus -yawn- I'm just not tired." Jack said, about to drop off any second now, but he wouldn't.
"Jack. I'm pretty sure it's evident to anyone by now that you are. Deny all you like, but I can tell. Hun, I've been around you too long to not be able to." Jack whined.
"I won't talk to Sandy you can't make me." He said stubbornly and yawned.
"Besides, I don't want to sleep."
"Fine. Then I will. Because like it or not Jack, this isn't healthy." Jamie headed off to the entrance. He didn't want to leave Jack alone, but if Jack wasn't going to say anything he would. They needed to do something. Jack huffed and panted, his body wanting sleep more than he wanted it not to; he struggled to stay awake, using water to wake himself up.
"Please, I don't want to sleep; I don't want to return to Him... please, I beg you." Jack was begging to his body to let him stay up, but it was a losing battle. Jamie gives Jack a momentarily sad look before flying out of the cavern. He didn't want that either and he had a feeling that only the dreamweaver would be able to help Jack now... It wasn't hard to find the little Guardian as the sun was setting. He raced as fast as he could to the cloud, knowing too well that Jack wouldn't likely be able to fight sleep for too long. Jack tightened his grip on his teddy bear, he had dubbed Nathaniel as Niko had destroyed his first teddy bear; he'd been so upset, but North rebuilt him; but it wasn't the same teddy, which was why he'd named him Nathaniel.
"PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE EXPERIMENTS AGAIN! HE LIED TO ME!" Jack yelled out to nobody. Jamie landed on the sand cloud, concern etched into his features. The dreamweaver is not as shocked, he mostly used to these visits now. Sandy turned to Jamie, patting a sand chair next to him and sat up, ready to hear what the matter was; meanwhile Jack was losing it, Niko was whimpering in concern and Jack yelled at him several times to shut up. Jamie sighed and began to explain what's been going on and what he'd found out when Jack had unintentionally broadcast one of the dreams over the bond.
"I thought maybe you might have a solution... I mean... dreams are your thing." Sandy was shocked at this, the trauma caused horrifying damage; he thought for a long moment and spelled out: I need you go into Jack's dreams and get him to realize it's not real and that the man he is scared of has been dead for years.
He handed Jamie a bag of sand: Say, I wish to be in dreamland and it will take you to the person's dreams you intend to visit; you will leave once the dreamer awakens.
Jamie nods.
"The hard part I think will be getting Jack to sleep for this. Thanks Sandy." Jack squirmed, holding his ears, having used super strong duct tape to keep his eyes open; he wasn't going to sleep and that was that. Jack grunted, fighting the drowsiness of it all; pinching himself until he was bleedingly raw. he even slapped himself with meat. Jamie hoped Jack would eventually just give up and sleep, but he didn't think that was likely as he headed back to the cavern as quickly as he'd left. Jack struggled stressfully against his sleepiness and slowly weakening body.
"No no no!" He shook his head, pulling his hair hard; trying anything and everything to stay awake. Jamie landed back at the cave entrance. Jack shivered.
"Here goes nothing." He held a steaming hot pot of boiling water, which was dangerous for him to touch. Jamie saw it and froze the water instantly, causing the pot to burst. Jack yelled angrily at Jamie.
"WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT!" Jamie looks straight at Jack, his expression one of cold fury.
"I don't think I need to explain that one." Jack winced.
"STILL! I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP DAMN IT!"
"That doesn't call for something like that." Jack growled, annoyed.
"Well it would probably wake me up!" He hissed.
"I'd rather you not nearly kill yourself in the process." Jamie frowned, Jack burst into tears.
"Why can't you understand?"
"It's hard for me to fully understand, but Jack... I know the feeling of betrayal, maybe not in the same way you do though." Jack whimpered, crying more.
"But he promised it wouldn't hurt! He won't stop... only when I'm awake am I safe!" He yelled out.
"Sometimes promises are broken, you can't avoid sleep Jack; I will help you. I promise." Jack groaned, slapping himself to stay conscious.
"No no NOOOOO!" He burst out. Jamie moved over to Jack, clutching the bag of sand with one hand even as he reached out with the other.
"Jack..." Jack sniffed.
"What?" He looked at Jamie, tears of pain in his eyes as he was pinching himself too hard; it showed on his blood vessels, there were bruises.
Jamie gently wiped away the tears, his expression gentle.
"Trust me. Please." Jack looked at Jamie with eyes full of pain and despair; his voice quiet, eyes downcast.
"Okay, I trust you."
"I want to help. I do, really." He murmurs softly. Jack hugged Jamie close.
"I trust you Jamie, do what you have to do." Jamie took a bit of the dust from the bag and gently blew it at Jack to get him to sleep. This was the first step, only after once he was asleep would he be able to do as Sandy said, to enter the dream and help Jack from within... at least he hoped he could. Jack gasped and clung to Jamie, shaking and crying.
"Why?"
"You'll know soon love." Jamie murmured. Jack couldn't fight the sand; he was out cold and then the nightmares began; the room was dark, only a dim light could be seen and a brown haired man holding down a struggling brown haired toddler, his voice echoed.
"I promise Jack, you'll be all better." Jack cried, kicking and squirming.
"DADDY NO! IT HUURTS!" Jamie took a bit of the sand into his hand and as Sandy had instructed him, spoke his wish aloud to enter the dream, he knew this wasn't going to be easy for either of them... Jack pulled as hard as possible from his father's grip only for it to tighten.
"Sleep Jack, it'll be all better soon." Jack screamed bloody murder once the needle released its contents, he shook and twisted; crying in pain.
"Jack." Jamie said as he moved through the dream, he needed to get Jack's attention. Jack squirmed and cried another needle was inserted, the man's voice started to fade out; ringing started and then Jack felt the pain. He howled, arched, and screamed as the chemical worked its way through his body. Jamie moved between the two. Phasing through the man as if he wasn't there. He touched Jack's arm, knocking the needle aside. Now he knew why Jack hated needles. The thing dissolves as if it never was. He kneels at Jack's side.
"Jack. "