Part two if the Insidious Fear arc.


Jamie stroked his sister's hair as he tried to understand what happened tonight. Outside, the blizzard still raged. Sophie had finally fallen asleep curled up in his lap after spending most of the evening crying. Their mother thought she was just sad over having to return form trick-or-treating early. Jamie tried to sound casual as he told her not to worry, that he would comfort his little sister. He just wished there was someone to comfort him, too.

It was obvious that there was something very wrong with Jack, but he had no idea what it was or how he could help. It hurt to see his childhood hero like this. His image of the Guardian as this strong, invincible force of nature had been shaken pretty badly earlier this year, but even then Jack had still kept his cool. Seeing him so frightened was something else. Jack's smile was brittle and his eyes were haunted. That he had actually been frightened of him enough to feel the need to defend himself was just baffling. He rubbed his bruised arm, the one he had used to cushion their fall when the winter spirit's wind had thrown them on the ground. Jack needed help and fast.

Jamie sat up straight as he remembered. He may not be able to help the young Guardian, but he knew who could and how to ask. Getting up carefully to avoid waking Sophie up, he set out to find some paper.


North made his way to his office, easily navigating the increasingly hectic workshop even while eating fruitcake and reading mail. Letters from children started to come with more frequency once Halloween was over. He would be buried in them soon. North didn't mind; he loved reading them. He stopped in his tracks when he got to a short letter written in Jamie's now-familiar, usually neat handwriting. This one looked like it had been written in a hurry, the teen's hand shaking slightly.

North,

I don't know when the blizzard will clear enough for me to go out and post this. I hope it won't be too late. Something is wrong with Jack. He needs help. I don't know what is happening with him. Please come.

Jamie

North's eyebrows shot up as he re-read the letter a few times. He hadn't received news from Jack since he left in spring, after recovering enough to cross over to the southern hemisphere to spend the summer there. Or the winter, as it would be for him. He had looked fine then. He said he felt good. North thought that he had come to thrust them enough to not lie about that. Was he wrong? Or was this unrelated?

He would find out soon enough. For now, what mattered was calling the others and finding the winter spirit to provide whatever help he needed. He hurried to the Globe room, pushing yetis and elves out of the way, to send the signal. He then gave orders to have the sleigh prepared for his departure. The others could join him there, if they didn't make it fast enough.

He threw a quick glance at the Globe before leaving the room and stopped abruptly for the second time today. The lights in the town the winter spirit called home, usually among the brightest on the Globe, were going out. He paled considerably before running out. He needed to get to Jack quickly. He had no idea what was happening, but it must be serious if it was affecting the belief of children.

Not really paying attention to his surroundings, he did not see Bunny running in, shivering, until he collided with the Pooka, sending both of them tumbling on the ground, cursing.

"What's going on, North? What's happening this time?"

"It's Jack! He needs help!"

He had expected Bunny to be just as worried, to follow him without questions. He was wrong. The Pooka looked wary.

"Help? Why? What happened?"

"I don't know! Jamie says something's wrong, so something must be wrong!"

"Whoa there, mate. Are you sure it's not just some sort of joke?"

North looked at Bunny like he just grew another head. A joke? What kind of joke would that be? They should be on their way already. North did not understand what made Bunny so mistrustful. And why he looked more than a little hurt.

"Bunny," he said as calmly as he could, "lights are going out in Burgess. Jamie says there is blizzard there."

Bunny's eyes widened as he understood how serious this was.

"The lights are—what are we waiting for, mate?"

North started running again, knowing Bunny would follow this time. He was a little surprised to find Sandy already sitting in the sleigh, his arms crossed over his chest and a question mark over his head. North shoved Jamie's letter in the small man's hands as he sat at the front and took the reigns. Bunny did not even protest to their mode of transportation.


Tooth had no idea what was going on. She had just been pulled hastily into the sleigh a moment before it went through a magic portal and no one had filled her in yet. She pushed herself up from where North had unceremoniously thrown her to look around in confusion, taking a moment to recognize the house half-buried in snow as Jamie's.

"What happened?"

Bunny frowned as he looked around, his expression unreadable.

"Jack happened, apparently. Something's wrong with the kid, apparently. Jamie called us for help."

Worry clawed at her stomach. Raising her head, she spotted Jamie looking out the window at them. She flew up to him as he pulled the windowpane open. Sophie was there as well, peeking out from behind the bed fearfully. Her expression did not change when Tooth smiled at her. Something was very wrong, here.

"I'm glad you guys came."

Tooth flew inside as the others made their way to the window with varying amount of grace. Sophie perked up when Bunny came in, but she still looked wary. The Pooka carefully approached her and crouched next to her.

"What's wrong, little ankle-biter?"

Sophie's eyes filled with tears and she threw herself at the Easter Bunny, crying into his fur. He rubbed her back, throwing Tooth a helpless look. She swallowed and turned back to Jamie as the teen ran a hand through his hair. The long sleeve of his shirt slipped enough for her to see the bruised skin underneath.

"What happened here? What are those bruises on your arm? Did someone attack you two?"

Jamie tugged the sleeve back down hastily, shuffling in place without looking at any of them. He bit his lips and ran a hand through his hair one more time. North put a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder.

"Jamie. You said Jack needed help. Is he hurt? Where is he? Who attacked you?"

"I-I don't think he's hurt. I don't know where he is. I checked the lake this morning, but he's not there. I think he left Burgess."

Sophie was crying harder and Jamie still hadn't answered North's last question. Had it been Pitch? Had Jack gone after the Boogeyman alone? He might have, if he had hurt the kids. Jack could be reckless.

"Jamie," she said in a soothing tone, trying to calm the worried teen, "you need to tell us what happened. Who did this to you?"

Jamie took several shaky breaths before answering.

"Jack did."

The heavy silence that followed was only broken by Sophie's sobs.


Hey, I just realized it's been exactly a month since I started this! I'm pretty happy with how much I've managed to write in that time. I'm not sure how long I can keep posting a chapter a day, though. I've been neglecting other stuff.