"Good morning sleepy head." Tooth chirped from across the room, then walked over to beside the bed Jack was semi-conscious in. "We need to get some fluids in you, so how about you try and sit up for me and I'll give you the tea. I even put some honey in it, to make it go down easier." Jack grumbled a reply and lifted himself up with the arm that was not throbbing, and with the help of Tooth, was able to get into a mostly upright position. Tooth gave Jack the tea and turned around to grab something behind her.
"I found these with you. This backpack and a staff. Are they yours?" Jack nodded, then took another sip from his tea.
"Th-this is really good. You make it just like how Nor…" Jack paused, feeling melancholy sweep over him, then shook off the feeling, "Like how a good friend of mine makes it." Tooth noticed the pause, but did not push the subject.
"So, are you ready to tell me why you were out there?" Tooth asked gently, not wanting Jack to shy away.
"I got lost on a trail." Jack lied, and Tooth gave him a look of suspicion.
"That's not what your journal says." Tooth remarked, and regretted it as soon as she said it.
"You looked in my journal?" Jack asked, sounding more confused than offended.
"I needed to know who you were, and that was the best option I had. I'm sorry. I like your doodles, though." Tooth remarked, trying to lighten the mood a bit, and Jack let it go for now.
"So, you live out here alone in the mountains?" Jack asked, then wiped at his brow as a drop of sweat escaped from his bangs. Tooth noticed this and picked up a damp cloth from a bowl of water and gave it to Jack.
"For your fever, and yeah, I do live out here alone. It's been a few years now since I had come into real contact with others. It gets lonely out here, sometimes, so I like the company. Plus, I couldn't just leave you in the woods to die." Tooth smiled, and Jack flinched at how white and perfect it was. Jack dabbed at his forehead with the cloth and relaxed into it, the cold feeling nice against his feverish skin.
"So, um, the arm…" Jack finally asked, noticing how tightly wrapped up it was. Tooth took out a sling from under the bed and set it on the bed in Jack's lap.
"Coyote bit you good. This is for whenever you feel like moving around. She bit through a muscle, so that needs time to heal. You shouldn't use under any circumstances, understood?" Jack nodded his understanding and set the sling beside his notebook on the nightstand beside the bed.
"So, I don't remember our previous meeting very well. How about you tell me what I missed?"
"Hmm, well I introduced myself to you, then you passed out." Tooth smiled again, and Jack could not help but smile back.
"What did you say your name was again?"
"Oh, Tooth, well, Toothiana, but Tooth for short. My mother gave me the name. It's native to her tribe near India and I got the nickname Tooth from… hey, what's the matter?" Tooth asked, noticing how silent and rigid Jack had become during her explanation.
"I-wa- you're Tooth. You mean, you're the tooth fairy?!"
"Well, I wouldn't put it that way. I'm not-"
"No, I should have seen it sooner. Of course you're the tooth fairy! I have been waiting for you to show up for ages! You-you're the one who holds m-m-my memories!" Jack let his words stumble out as Tooth grabbed Jack's shoulder, concerned about how much he was shaking and how little sense he was making.
"Jack, I think you should lie ba-"
"No, Tooth, don't you remember me? I'm Jack. Jack Frost. You know, the Spirit of Winter, the one who changes the leaves and leaves frost patterns- Tooth, you have to remember me. This is important. M-maybe if you help me- my dreams! You could help explain my-"
"Jack, you need to calm down. You're causing you fever to rise. Here, let's drink some more tea and-"
"Tooth, I am begging you. I've always trusted you more than anyone and I need your help now. Please." Jack begged, tears brimming his eyes as he stared at the woman resembling Toothiana before him.
Tooth sighed after a minute, and gave in. "What is it you need?" Jack's smile was almost blinding.
"Okay, I need you to help me unlock my memories. My life, the real life, is fuzzy, but it's there. I believe North put a spell on me or something; he was a wizard back in the day. Can you, queen of the tooth fairies and holder of memories, help me remember my past?" Tooth stared at Jack, a prominent frown on her face and her hands wringing. She did not want to give into Jack's delusion, but he was asking for her help, and for some reason, she could not turn him down.
"I'll see what I can do." Tooth answered after a minute and Jack could not contain his yelp of excitement.
