I'm just going to tell you guys right now that this chapter is pretty chill. I promise that the next one will be more interesting :)
I hope you guys like it anyways. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Until next time!
"We will need to keep an eye on the both of them, they are still both considered to be in critical condition." North said as he finished bandaging the last of the abrasions on his leg.
Sandy looked over his shoulder at North as he continued to swirl his dreamsand over the two resting Guardians, silently asking for elaboration.
Blue eyes met gold and North instantly understood, he could read Sandy like a book at this point, even if he would sometimes overlook the cheerful dream giver.
"Jack coughed up blood at some point, it stained the cloth used to gag him, and it was fresh. I worry his insides are not well." North explained as he sat up in the large cushioned chair and rubbed his temple.
Bunnymund's ears perked up at the words internal bleeding; he turned his attention away from treating his injured foot and looked up at North. "He's coughing up blood?" he asked, worry intertwining with the words he spoke.
"Coughed up blood." North corrected him, "but still, we have to make sure it goes away or we might be looking at surgery."
Bunnymund felt anger boiling in his stomach again, anger at Pitch, "I really hope we don't have to go that route, Jack's been through hell and back…he needs a break."
"We all do…but yes, Tooth and Jack need time to heal if we ever hope to defeat Pitch." North said as he let out a sight. 'This is an all out war now…what are we going to do if we don't find a way to get our bearings? MiM help us…
"Hold on a second mate, you're not expecting Jack to help fight Pitch are you?" he nearly growled as he leered at the Father Christmas.
"Only if he is up to it." North replied carefully. He knew it would anger Bunnymund but the reality of the situation was that they were going to need all the help they could get if they wanted to win against the Nightmare King, especially if his theory turns out to be true.
Bunnymund almost could not believe what he just heard, "what do you mean, if he's up to it? North, he's been tortured for days, and he just got done going through another round of it. He's not going to be up to it! Hell at this point I just hope we can get the damn kid back to normal, and who knows how long even that will take."
North waited patiently for the Easter spirit to finish venting his feelings, he knew that emotions were still high from everything they had been through recently. He was about to respond when Sandy suddenly levitated between them glaring daggers at the both of them.
Sandy felt anger of his own building up in his round belly, enough was enough; there was no point in fighting. He pointed directly between Bunnymund and North and pointed at the door, a sand image of them fighting forming above his head as he did. 'If you want to fight do it somewhere else…'
The air thickened with tension as the three Guardians glanced at each other.
With a heavy sigh, The Guardian of Hope leaned back down and began to finish treating the puncture wounds on his foot where the nightmare wolf had clamped down, winching slightly as he pulled the bandages tight.
North nodded at Sandy as a silent thanks before he stood up and made his way over to the coat he had discarded earlier. Carefully he eased the heavy velvet coat back onto his body, feeling content as he felt the weight of it back on his shoulders. Blue eyes widened as he felt the inside pockets of the coat. 'How could I have forgotten...?'
His giant hand plunged into the pockets eagerly, carefully retrieving the broken pieces of Jack's staff from their depths.
Emerald eyes narrowed as they observed North placing the pieces of Jack's staff on the nightstand the winter spirit rested next to. "He'll be happy to see those when he wakes up again." Bunnymund said as he stood from his chair.
"He'd be happier if we had all the pieces." North said heavily.
Bunnymund and Sandy couldn't help but feel the feelings of disappointment that North felt in that moment.
"We'll just add that to the list of things to do." Bunnymund said with a hint of humor in his voice.
North looked up and smiled at him, "Yes, yes we will. Now Bunny we need to talk, would you follow me please? I'd like to talk while I check on the work the yetis have accomplished on fixing the Pole."
Bunnymund nodded in affirmation as he put his leather holster back on, he eyes found the blue stone MiM gave them resting on the counter of the medical cabinet. After a moment of hesitation he grabbed it and made his way to the door of the infirmary. He'd rather have it than not have it, just in case there were any more surprise visits from fearlings.
Father Christmas followed the large rabbit out the door glancing back at Tooth and Jack's resting forms as Sandy watched over them. Right before he closed the door he peeked his head back in, "Sandy why don't you send good dreams out to children as well, something tells them they need them now more than ever. "
Sandy looked over and smiled as he floated over to the giant windows; instantaneously golden dreamsand materialized and raced out into the frigid air, into all directions of the world.
North quietly closed the door and released the handle when he heard the soft click of the lock falling into place.
A frustrated grunt echoed through Jamie Bennett's messy bedroom. The boy paced back and forth across his cluttered floor, pulling at his chocolate colored hair as his feelings of frustration grew. "Come on Jamie think, what other ways can you contact the Guardians?" he nearly yelled as he continued to pace around the room. "I'd put a letter in the mailbox for the North Pole but they won't get that for a few days, and if Jack's hurt, I don't have a few days. I can't contact the Easter Bunny and he only comes on Easter. Then there's the Sandman, you can't talk to him because he only shows up when you're asleep!"
Jamie stopped and looked down at his hand, clutched within it was the piece of Jack's staff that Pitch had tossed at his feet the previous night. It looked like an ordinary piece of wood now, for without the winter spirit's touch it couldn't glow that magical blue it always had. But Jamie still had no doubt that it belonged to Jack's broken staff.
"There's only one option left…I've gotta lose another tooth, but that's easier said than done when you don't have furniture hitting you in the face at high velocity." Jamie groaned. With an exasperated sigh he made his way over to the bathroom connected to his room, carefully placing the wooden shard on his desk as he made his way over.
"Ouch!" Jamie cried as his foot slammed into one of the toys on his floor, "I've really got to clean my room." He groaned as he reached his small hand out to the silver handle of his bathroom door. In one swift motion the door swung open and he crawled up onto the marble countertop by the mirror.
When he saw his reflection Jamie couldn't help but notice how tired he looked, he hadn't slept after Pitch left. There were multiple reasons for that, one being how scared he was for Jack, and two being for the fear he felt of the horrible nightmares Pitch had promised him. He was still in his Pajamas too, and it was almost noon. A Spider-Man band-aid rested on his cheek over the nick that the Boogeyman made. "Alright time to see if I've got any loose ones." Jamie said.
He leaned in as close as possible to the large mirror, opening his mouth as wide as he could in order to see his teeth clearly. Apprehensively he poked around his mouth, feeling each tooth with his index finger. After a few minutes he pulled his finger out, "great, there's one loose, but I'd have to mess with it all day before I could get it out…"
He didn't get long to wallow in his misery before a voiced resonated through the small room.
"Jamie!" Came a high-pitched voice behind him. Jamie jumped instantly, and nearly fell of the counter top from the surprise. Slowly he turned his head and found his little sister standing there looking up at him with curious green eyes.
"What is it Sophie?" Jamie asked as he hopped off the counter top. Sophie continued to stare up at him before speaking again, "why were you looking at your teeth?" She asked curiously, tilting her head slightly causing her messy yellow hair to fall over her shoulder.
"I'm just trying to see if any are loose…" Jamie explained as he walked around her and back into his bedroom. Sophie followed him and giggled, "do you want to see the Tooth Fairy again? She was so pretty…" she nearly squealed in excitement.
Jamie smiled a little at how excited his little sis was. She still remembered the Guardians even if that night happened when she was still a toddler. She wasn't exactly old now either, still five, but at least she was better at talking.
"Yeah it's really important, I need to see her." Jamie said quietly as thoughts of Jack injured flashed in his mind. He winced visibly as his imagination went into overdrive at how hurt he might be. Remembering that Sophie was still watching him he quickly looked at the floor, not wanting his sister to see that he was upset. Much to his dismay she already noticed.
"Jamie what's wrong, you look sad…" Sophie asked as she walked up to her brother, leaning down slightly to see his face.
Jamie decided it would be better to tell her rather than hide it away from her. He and Sophie had been close since she was born; she was practically joined to his hip when he wasn't out at school or with his friends.
"Sophie…you know Jack Frost, our friend?" he asked as he walked around her and went to retrieve the piece of Jack's staff off of his desk.
"Uh huh he's the skinny boy with the big stick and the pretty white hair." Sophie giggled.
Jamie's lips twitched into a smile at the description she always used for him. He walked back up to her small form and crouched down to her level.
"Well Soph he got hurt." Jamie said quietly as he held out the wooden shard and showed it to her, "and his staff is broken and this is a piece of it."
Sophie covered her mouth with her tiny hand and gasped. "How did he get hurt Jamie?" she asked.
Jamie glanced at the floor and decided that it would be better if he lied about this part, "I don't know Sophie. I just know that he needs this, that's why I need to lose my tooth." Jamie said sorrowfully.
Suddenly tiny arms were wrapped around his waist, squeezing firmly in a tight embrace. "He'll be okay, we'll get your tooth out." Sophie said happily as she hugged her big brother.
Jamie was taken aback at first but quickly hugged his sister back. He may not of been able to tell her the full truth but he was glad he could at least tell her part of the story. When Sophie pulled away Jamie immediately saw a mischievous look in her eyes. Before he was able to figure you what she was up to she balled her hand into a little fist and hit him across the face.
"Ow! Ow! Sophie! What in the heck was that for?" He nearly screamed as his hands went to cup his hurting cheek and mouth.
Sophie laughed lightly, "I was trying to knock out one of your teeth. " She said, giggles escaping her as she watched her brother groan and clutch his face.
"Leave getting the tooth to me Soph. No more hitting!" Jamie commanded as he rubbed his cheek.
"Mkay." Sophie said as laughter continued to escape her tiny body.
"I'm probably gonna be having nightmares about you knocking all my teeth out tonight…" Jamie said, half joking, and half serious. His brown eyes widened in concern as he watched Sophie flinch in fear.
"Sophie what's the matter?" Jamie asked as he stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I had a scary nightmare last night, and had to go sleep with mommy…" Sophie nearly whispered.
Jamie's stomach dropped as he realized that it was the Boogeyman's doing. His mood continued to fall as he knew that those nightmares where going to keep coming until he helped the Guardians and Jack.
'I've got to hurry…'
"Sophie why don't you go play in your room, I'm gonna be busy getting my loose tooth out before it's time to go to bed tonight."
Sophie merely nodded in response and trudged out of the room.
"This tooth is coming out today, whether it wants to or not. Don't worry Jack, I'll be there soon."