I'm just gonna go ahead and apologize in advance if you guys find this chapter boring. It is a continuation of the Jack's treatment. I really had fun writing it though, if that helps. XD Anyway sorry it took a few days to update, life is starting to get a bit more crazy again with my nephew and school starting up, but don't worry I won't ever drop this story for good, it will get finished no matter what. Enjoy this chappy and please leave reviews. I will cry if I get over 1000 reviews. I just can't believe the support you guys have shown and it just makes me so happy. Thanks again! :)

Edit: I wanted to address something Kiki said/asked in the reviews section. "I don't get it. In this story Jack doesn't seem like Jack. I'm sure he wouldn't act this way even if he was hurt SUPER badly"

You are right Jack definitely isn't the Jack Frost you saw in the PG movie. In this story he's been tortured for days, mentally and physically. I don't care who you are, or how overconfident/mischievous you act, if you go through enough pain, you are not going to be the same, at least not for a while. I know I write him as broken down and fidgety, but that's how he is right now, the pain is still fresh and he hasn't really gotten a break yet. I honestly don't understand how you don't see why he would act this way, but I felt like I should explain anyways. You'll see how Jack changes throughout the story, I promise you he isn't going to stay out of it like he is now.

And now to address this part. "And what's Pitch doing? The guardians have been vulnerable for quite a while. Can't he just waltz in there and kill them with ease."

You bring up a good point, they were all pretty much at his mercy, though they do have a new edge with the weapon MiM gave them. There is also a limit to how many nightmares Pitch can make before he too gets tired. I meant to show in chapter 17 that he was pretty much out of juice from the attacks he had made at his own lair and on the North Pole, I'm sorry if this wasn't obvious. And about him attacking whenever he wants and just killing them, well first off, that would be pretty anti-climactic, second, Pitch wants them all to suffer first, he wants them to go through as much pain as he has been through with the loneliness and bitterness built up in him since the dark ages. He doesn't want to just kill them off because that's boring to him. He wants a show first because Pitch also has dramatic tendencies like that.

And lastly "MAKE SOMETHING SUPER DUPER EXCITING HAPPEN, PLEEASE! anyway, THANK YOU FOR UPDATING! IT MEANS A LOT!"
As much as I would love to give you guys an action packed chapter every time, I can't, the story has to slow down for development to happen or else it's just going to seem like a rushed mess. I'll do my best to keep the story interesting but I can't promise something super duper exciting to happen.
Please don't be offended by this, the reason I addressed it is because it might answer some of the questions other people might be having.

The three Guardians waited patiently with aching chests for Jack to calm down. Sandy sat as still as a statue on the bed, running his small golden fingers gently up and down the winter spirits head as he held his battered face to his surprisingly soft chest.

North had since grabbed one of the wooden chairs and settled down, grasping Jack's entire hand easily in his bulkier one. He would wait as long as Jack needed for them to continue. Once the boy had stopped crying North had tried to explain that his wounds needed to be treated or there could be an infection, which would cause even more pain.

However, Jack refused to cooperate, he merely stuck his face further into Sandy's welcoming embrace before whispering at a barely audible level that he wanted to stay as he was for a while. None of them had the heart to refuse his request.

Bunnymund stood at the edge of the bed with his arms crossed and his face angled at the ground. He would be lying if he said that the feelings of shame and guilt were gone. No they were still clinging to him like a spider to its web; the Easter spirit had no idea how long he would be stuck with this guilt, but if he had it his way it would be for a long while. Every time he glanced up at Jack he was reminded that he really did deserve all the self-hatred he felt for himself. 'I won't fail you again Frostbite, I'll die before I let anything like this happen again, and I'll be sure to take Pitch with me.'

They all basked in the uncomfortable silence for what seemed to be hours but in reality was about twenty minutes or so.

They were all quickly pulled away from their thoughts as they noticed Jack moving.

In one sudden motion Jack pulled away from Sandy and looked over at North, wincing slightly as a sharp aching feeling rattled through his skull.

North's eyes widened before he leaned closer to the winter spirit, "Jack…" It was all he was able to get out before he was surprisingly interrupted.

"North…You're really okay…" Jack whispered, his voice audibly breaking. Carefully he reached out a shaking hand towards Father Christmas. North grabbed it instantly, feeling moisture gathering at the bottom of his eyes. 'Even after everything he's been through, he's still worried about us, still worried about me.'

"Yes Jack, I'm fine, absolutely fine. We are all fine, even Tooth." He said hearing his own voice break slightly. He watched as Jack's eyes flickered with relief at the news of Tooth being okay.

The winter spirit would of asked the question sooner but he was too scared to hear the answer.

North decided that Jack looked calm enough now that he could press the issue of his wounds being treated once more.

"Jack, are you ready to let us treat your injuries? I promise we will be as gentle as we can."

Jack immediately flinched before clenching his eyes shut. A shaky breath escaped his lips as he felt his heartbeat quicken beneath his chest. He was already in so much pain; the scrapes on his cheek ached and felt hot on his face. The injuries that were hidden beneath his bandages all felt the same, aching with that burning heat that seemed to seep through his entire body. His entire torso flared in agony if he breathed too hard or at the slightest shift of his weight. And his leg, oh god his leg hurt like hell. But he knew in the back of his mind that if he didn't let them treat him, that he would be worse off.

"I-I guess, if it will make the pain go away…" he whispered, feeling North tighten his hold on his much smaller hand.

Jack wanted to be strong, he really did, but he could still feel the immense fear creeping back in.

"We will do exactly that, and nothing less." North promised before laying Jack's hand back on the formerly white bed sheets.

The Guardian of Wonder stood to his feet, the wooden floorboards creaking at his weight.

"Sandy, could you please get me a pair of scissors. Bunny, ask the yetis to make a cast for Jack's leg."

Immediately the two Guardians got started on their assigned jobs. Bunnymund hopped out of the room and headed to the workshop to find the yetis, while Sandy floated over and retrieved a pair of scissors. Sandy eyed them with a confused look before he handed them over to North.

"It is just to help get clothing off, nothing more. Relax Sandy." North explained as he leaned over Jack who was doing his best not to tremble.

"Jack if at any point you need us to stop, you let us know and we will." North said in calming voice.

Jack met his eyes with his own before nodding slightly.

The sound of snipping was all Jack heard as he leaned into the pillow and tried not to tense up. The sounds ended as quickly as they came, and he felt the North pushing his body carefully as he pulled the material of his shirt out from under him. As he tried to pull the material free it dragged across the bandages on his back. Jack hissed in pain as the gashes on his back seethed.

"I'm sorry Jack." North said with a hint of sadness in his Russian voice, pulling the rest of the material away from the winter spirit's body. He handed the bloodied material to Sandy who disposed it with a looked of disgust on his face. The disgust didn't come from the blood itself but the fact that it was coming from Jack and Pitch was the one who caused it.

"Okay Jack, I know you aren't going to like this but I need you to move into a sitting position."

Just as he expected panicked blue eyes met his own and a soft whine left the boy's lips.

"I know Jack, but I need to remove those bandages and clean the wounds under them." Father Christmas explained gently as he tried to convince the boy that everything he was going to ask him to do was necessary. This process was going to be a long one if sitting up frightened the boy this much.

Jack thought about what North was telling him, but it wasn't just the idea of the pain that was sure to come that scared him, it was the fact that North would see the words carved on his back. He didn't want him to see them, not him; he looked up to him almost like he was his father. Jack could feel the shame building up inside him at the mere idea of North seeing those horrific words.

"N-no…" The Guardian of Fun said anxiously. "Let Sandy or Bunny do it…"

Sandy's eyes widened in realization, he knew what Jack was doing, he didn't' want North to see…

"But Jack…Why-"

North was interrupted as Sandy floated in front of him, shaking his head no. North's face contorted in confusion as to why Jack wanted someone else to clean his wounds. None of the reasons he thought of in his head made sense, but he decided that in time he would find out, when Jack was ready to tell him. He didn't want to break the trust that had formed between himself and the spirit of winter in the past year. He treasured that trust.

"Alright Sandy you do it."

Sandy smiled warmly before he turned back to Jack, who was still hiding his face in shame. He moved over to the other side of the bed and sand swirled above his head as he silently asked North to help him move Jack into a sitting position.

Together the two of them pushed Jack up and set him against the fluffed white pillows. Jack hissed at the movement of his leg being jostled and his torso being shifted.

Once he was settled Sandy unraveled the bandages on his neck and arms, leaving his torso alone for now. His golden eyes met Jacks, giving him an assuring look before he grabbed a bottle of peroxide and a cloth from the nightstand. Jack shook slightly at the sight of the two objects.

He knew what they were for.

Sandy floated back over and gave Jack the most assuring face he could before he placed the cloth over the gashes on the boy's injured face.

Jack whimpered instantly as the cloth was dragged over wounds. It was like a fire trailed every motion of the cloth and he cold not stop the trembling that came with every stroke against his flesh.

Sandy moved to the bite marks on his neck and ran the cloth gently over them before reaching the old wounds on the boy's arms. Jack's whimpers turned into cries of pain.

"It h-hurts, Sandy i-it hurts." He whimpered as tears gathered in his eyes. Suddenly he felt a large hand wrap around his own. Shakily he turned his head and found North sitting there in the wooden chair, looking at him as a father would his son. "You can do this Jack, I know you can. Just hold on…" North cooed as he squeezed the boy's hand. Jack nodded weakly as Sandy began to unravel the bandages on his torso.

"North…P-please don't look...Please." Jack begged.

North just nodded his head before he looked at the floorboards beneath him. "Tell me when Sandy is done redressing your wounds. I won't move a muscle until then."

Jack felt a swell of emotions at those words and he squeezed North's hand weakly. "I will…"

North grimaced at the yelps and screams the tore from the boy's lips when Sandy started cleaning the wounds on his chest and back. Jack was holding his hand so tightly he was sure that the circulation had been cut off. He tried to keep his curiosity under control but his parental instincts were driving him mad. He wanted to see what had happened, wanted to know if he could help fix the hurt, but he knew better. If he looked up now Jack would not forgive him, so instead he tried to memorize the patterns on the floorboards, counting the rings etched on the wood.

Finally Sandy finished and Jack felt like he was going to pass out all over again, waves of nausea came and went along with the waves of agony. The room swung dizzily in his vision, he needed a break. "C-can we s-stop please." Jack requested as he fought back that tears that stung at his eyes.

Sandy nodded as he had just finished re-wrapping his torso. When he turned to put the peroxide away he frowned at the image of the words left on Jack's back that flashed in his mind. He understood why he didn't want North to see, he probably wouldn't have wanted any of them to see if he wasn't unconscious when they discovered them the first time.

"Y-you can look up now." Jack said unevenly, as he tried to ignore how terrible he felt.

North looked up and smiled the best he could at Jack. He reached out a large hand and placed it on top of his white hair, "you did wonderfully Jack…"

Without warning he leaned forward, wrapping his large arms loosely around the quivering spirit, the gesture startling Jack, who was completely unprepared for the sudden embrace.

Jack sat there unmoving and eyes wide, not sure at what to do. North was being so gentle, so caring. Jack had to remind himself that he was also the man who wielded two large duel swords like they were light as feathers. Despite all that he'd been through, despite the constant fear he continued to fight off, he knew he was safe in that moment. Slowly he leaned into the embrace, letting his head rest against North's warm chest.

"Jack, I am so proud of you…And I am so sorry for what happened…so sorry…I though I had saved you by giving myself up, but I see now that I was mistaken. I hope you will forgive me…"

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. North gave himself up in exchange for his safety, and he was still trying to take the blame for what happened?

"It's not your fault…it's mine…" Jack said flatly. It was true wasn't it? He was the one who had sent Pitch over the edge, the one who fueled him with the want of revenge. If he had never gotten involved a year ago, it was possible that things would still be okay now.

Jack was jerked from his thoughts as the warmth from the hug suddenly left him. His blue eyes met North's and he was shocked at what he found. He looked angry, completely and utterly angry. 'Is he mad at me?' Jack thought as a lump formed in his throat.

The Russian's voice came thick and strong, "Jack I want you to listen to me very carefully, this is not your fault, not under any circumstance. You are newest Guardian, we should have protected you, and we failed. Do not blame yourself."

Jack was about to protest when another voice joined in.

"He's right mate…if the fault lies with anyone for what's happened, it's us." Jack looked up in weakly as he eyed the pooka standing in the doorway, "But I couldn't even protect Tooth…" Jack whispered brokenly.

Bunnymund hopped into the room with a perfectly fitted cast clutched in his paw. "Pitch holds all the blame for what happened to Tooth." Bunnymund said, anger seeping into the words as they left his mouth.

Jack flinched visibly upon hearing the Boogeyman's name, clutching at the bed sheets as he felt the need to hold onto something.

Sandy watched the boy carefully, seeing how distressed this conversation was making him. This discussion had gone on long enough, now they needed to finish treating the boy and get him to sleep. That was what was most important.

Without wasting anymore time he floated between North and Bunnymund who were on either side of Jack's bed, letting his golden sand speak the words he had just thought in his head.

The two Guardians audibly agreed with him before getting back to work on Jack. North cut away the most of the boy's pants before cleaning the wounds on his legs. He was especially gentle on the boy's broken appendage.

Once North had finished Bunnymund carefully placed the injured leg into the white cast the yetis had fashioned easily in the workshop. Jack cried out at every slight movement, making Bunnymund move extremely slow throughout the entire process.

Finally the cast was on and Sandy stacked two pillows at the bottom of the bed and guided his leg onto them so that they could keep it elevated.

North was the one who finally re-dressed the boy; taking extra effort to do it without looking, in respect for the winter spirits remaining dignity.

The Guardians thought about moving him to a cleaner bed but decided it would be better for him to get some sleep, that he so desperately needed, first.

Sandy pulled fresh covers over the boy's bandaged body, stopping when they came up to the Jack's, he gave Jack a smile before settling himself into a chair by the nightstand. He was going to give him the best dreams he could come up with after he fell asleep.

Bunnymund poured the pain medicine that Tooth had used into a cup and handed it to North.

"Are you ready to sleep Jack?" North asked patiently as the boy stopped and looked over at Tooth, who seemed to be resting almost peacefully.

"Yes…" Jack finally answered after he swallowed any worries he still had for Tooth. He wanted sleep so badly, everything was still hurting, and he desperately wanted to escape it, even if it was just for a little while. He knew he was safe to sleep with Sandy there. He wouldn't be having those horrific nightmares under the golden man's watch.

After they gave Jack the medicine he fell asleep quicker than they thought he would. Finally both Guardians were treated and asleep.

Sandy instantly made his dreamsand float over them both, giving them sweet dreams.

North looked over at Bunnymund who was watching the scene next to him.

"Bunny…. We need to talk about what's happened. I believe I know why Pitch has gotten so powerful…and if I'm right, we are in for the fight of our lives."