A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for such a long wait! But we're really hitting the climax of the story between this chapter and the next one and I really needed them to be right! I'm also really sorry for not getting to personally reply to reviews as much this time, but you all know they mean the world so a BIG thank you to Tala White 14, MysteryGirl7Freak, SoccerLoverxoxo, AlexatheNerd, JilianLo and The-Unnamed-Artist for your wonderful reviews! And of course to all who are reading, have followed and/or favourited this story since the last update; Thank You! :D

Disclaimer: Not mine :(

Not gonna lie, things get pretty bad for Jack here, but, this is also the worst it will get so prepare yourselves... and of course, Enjoy!

Jack cracked open his eyes, blinking repeatedly to steady his vision and clear his sight. His most recent memories were confusing; Pitch had arrived, looking slightly jumpy. Once he had spoken with the demon, Crowley had became angry and made to follow Pitch out of the room, stopping only to firmly knock Jack on the head, rendering him unconscious. He let out a low sigh as his increasing awareness brought his injuries to his attention. He shifted slightly, attempting to ease the strain on his pained muscles or curl into some sort of position in which he could protect his healing skin.

"Jack?"

Jack froze, refusing to look up to face the person who that voice belonged to. He must not be awake at all. He must be trapped in a nightmare. A nightmare where he would be reunited with the four people he missed most, just to have them took away again.

"Hey frostbite, you with us?"

It was not the Russian accent he heard this time, but an Australian one. "Don't." He mumbled, refusing to look up and see his friends for fear they wouldn't really be there. "You're not real." His anguish washed over his words, making them heavy with unshed tears.

"Jack it's us. Please."

Tooth. The flicker of hope still burning in Jack raged through his veins. His breath stilled as he regained his focus, imploring his weary brain to actually work. He came to the realization that he couldn't be dreaming; he was in too much pain, and there was something, something about her voice that grounded him and helped him focus on what was real and important.

They were here?

They were alive?

He raised his head to confirm what he already knew and was met with the smiling faces of his four friends. Joy and relief, the likes of which he had not known surged through his body, making him feel light headed as his heart began to race as it rejoiced at the reunion. A smile broke out across his face, closely followed by a laugh, a truer one than he had done in a long time.

Once the initial leaps of joy had calmed slightly, Jack began to realise what was wrong with the situation. They looked to be tied to the walls, all of them, bar Sandy, showed visible injuries and they seemed slightly weary. Plus there was a tall guy in a trench coat over beside Bunny.

"Erm, this is Castiel, he's an angel. He's helping us." Tooth provided once she saw where Jack's line of vision was directed.

He nodded slowly in response before turning his attention back to his fellow Guardians. "Is everyone alright?"

"Of course we are! Bumps and bruises, that is all, right guys?" North questioned. Tooth, Sandy and even Bunny nodded in response. Sandy's expression dropped, a figure of Jack and a question mark appearing above his head.

Jack looked down at his bared chest and had to agree, he could look better. His chest was littered with small cuts, but there was no mark quite as horrid looking as the one at his side, where Crowley had plunged the salted knife into him initially, but all the same, they still hurt. Despite this, he smiled to reassure his friends, "I'm alright."

"They tortured you." Tooth whispered, eyes watery with tears at the acknowledgement of what had happened to Jack since they last met.

"I'll be fine." He nodded in her direction, not wanting any of them to waste time worrying over what couldn't be helped.

"Why?" Bunny questioned. "What is it they want?"

Jack sighed, shaking his head slightly. "The demon's feel vulnerable. They want to figure out how to weaken or kill an Immortal."

The four Guardians just looked at Jack in pure surprise and horror, whereas Cas just rolled his eyes. Of course they did, he thought dryly to himself.

The group did not have anymore time to discuss what that might mean as they were interrupted by an English accent coming from the shadows behind Jack.

"Good lad Jack, least I know you were listening." To some in the room, the voice was unfamiliar, but both Cas and Jack knew exactly who had spoken. Jack merely closed his eyes in annoyance but Cas spoke up to confront the demon.

"You are meddling in things that should not be meddled in Crowley. Let them go." He demanded, his voice low and dangerous, reminiscent of thunder rumbling in the sky.

"Castiel!" Crowley greeted, ignoring Cas' demands and stepping forward into the light. "Where's moose and squirrel?"

Cas' eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, "Who?"

Crowley sighed exasperatedly at the angel's lack of wit. "The Winchester's you flying moron."

Cas hesitated briefly before responding. "I came alone."

"It's a sin to lie angel." Crowley responded, getting right up into Cas' personal space.

"I'm not lying." He replied coolly.

Crowley just sneered in response. "How else would you five have got in? Hmm?" Cas' gaze flickered slightly as he realised that Crowley already knew for sure the Winchester's were somewhere in the building. "Don't be worrying," Crowley continued, "They'll be joining us soon too."

The demon turned back towards the five Guardians, satisfied that the angel was appropriately quietened. "You four are here at Black's request. He wanted you to see what was happening with your youngest member. Bit sad I know but I'm not here to judge." Crowley announced in greeting to the group of immortals.

"You will not touch him! Never again!" North replied, the angry tone of his voice being a clear warning that any further abuse to Jack would not be well received.

"Oh really." Crowley sneered. He walked slowly towards Jack, smiling tauntingly at the other Guardians as he approached their completely defenceless newest member. He grabbed the boys cheeks tightly in his hand, "I think you'll find I can do whatever I want." Crowley frowned upon seeing Jack's defiant glare. "I'm getting tired of your cockiness boy." He reached for the cut he had inflicted earlier, putting some pressure on the wound. Jack whimpered slightly, but still refused to break his strong gaze.

"Stop it! You're hurting him!" Cried Tooth.

"Crowley," Cas called, warning him to not go any further.

"Don't even think about it mate." Threatened Bunny, while sand flushed out of Sandy's ears as he expressed his anger as only he could.

"Enough of this!" Demanded North in his gruff voice.

Crowley ignored them all as the two men continued their battle of wills; him continuing to place increasing pressure on the tender wound, and Jack continuing to not back down. Eventually though, the boy gave up, dropping his head in defeat as he succumbed to the pain surging from his injury.

Crowley sneered, a mocking grin appearing on his face. But as he turned away Jack pulled himself up by grabbing onto his chains above his head and kicking out at the demon with strength he did not know he had. He knew it wouldn't do much good, on the contrary, it would probably make things worse for him, but he didn't care. He was Jack Frost, Spirit of Winter and Guardian of Fun. No demon was gonna make him break.

Crowley fell very ungracefully to the floor, and Jack swore as he returned his feet to the ground that it didn't matter what happened to him as retribution for his impulsive attack, seeing his captor fall to the floor with an 'Oof' made it so worth it.

Jack let out his trademark chuckle at the sight, relishing in the moment of fun. But that fun was soon cut short as the dark shadows below his feet and around him began to pulse, grains beginning to form and move towards him. As if carried by wind, they began to circle him until Jack could no longer see the room around him. As they began to pick up speed, he began to feel where they made impact with his skin. A cut here, a bump there, some superficial, some knocking him aback slightly. It must have lasted no more than a few minutes, but the whole experience quickly became very disorientating.

And then, it just stopped. The sand attacking him dropped to the floor, fading once again into the shadows.

Crowley had returned to his feet, much to Jack's annoyance, and was gazing angrily at the teenager. The others in the room, bar Sandy, had been gagged with black nightmare sand but they all seemed to be trying to inform Jack about something. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he tried to piece together what had happened and he looked to the Sandman for help. Sandy too was trying to tell Jack something, but every time he did more nightmares dissipated his golden sand before the message could get across.

"What's going -"

"Jack." Pitch called from somewhere to Jack's side, just beyond his peripheral vision.

Before Jack could comprehend what was about to happen, Pitch swung the same iron bar as Crowley had used, only this time the top was hot. Red hot.

It made impact with Jack's shoulder, the pain from the impact being completely overrun with the burning from the heated metal. Jack gasped in surprise, his nerves literally were sent on fire as the meeting point began to hiss. He let out a pained scream, hating himself for showing such weakness in front of his enemies, but he couldn't help himself. Pitch smiled gleefully at the sound, and became highly disappointed when the boy's screams faltered to a stop all too soon. To Jack's relief, the natural coolness of his skin made the metal cool much quicker than it would have otherwise. It was a small mercy, but Jack was not going to be greedy; he would take what he got. The heat was unlike anything he had experienced, even now the brand throbbed angrily.

He looked towards his fellow Guardians, gaining strength from their presence. North, Sandy and Bunny all were glaring thunderously at Pitch; Jack felt as if he could touch their anger, it was so immense. Tooth met Jack's gaze; a million emotions swimming in the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

Jack made to attempt a smile, but was interrupted by Pitch as he passed the metal rod to Crowley. The demon used his powers to once again infuse heat into the top of the bar. Jack blanched in fear at the idea of going through such pain again, so soon after experiencing it the first time. Tears began to slowly slip down Tooth's face as she, along with the other Guardians began to struggle desperately against their restraints.

"Oh I'm sorry Jack, did you not enjoy this? One would think one would get tired of being cold all the time." Pitch snided sarcastically as Crowley reheated the metal. "Crowley had an inkling such heat would be unbearable for a Winter spirit."

Jack closed his eyes, not caring about what Pitch had to say, just attempting to ready himself for the pain that was about to come.

"Do you not want me to Jack? All you have to do is ask nicely, and I'll stop." Pitch teased in the fakest nice voice Jack had ever heard.

Jack turned to face Pitch, fury written on every cell on his face. It wasn't enough that he had screamed? Pitch wants him to beg? Not gonna happen.

"Have it your way then." Pitch continued when he saw Jack's angry expression. He swung the bar again, once again making contact with his left shoulder, but this time, at the back. Jack tried to hold onto his cries, but he eventually gave in, screaming out half in pain, half in frustration.

Pitch methodically handed the bar back to Crowley, who proceeded to once again heat the metal, before handing it back to Pitch. Jack saw Pitch coming towards him again, and he knew he had to give in. He couldn't go through that pain again.

"Please." He mumbled, his voice slightly rough, "Please don't."

Pitch watched the young Guardian thoughtfully, incredibly pleased that he had got what he had wanted from the beginning; he had brought Jack Frost to his knees. He rose the bar and struck Jack once again, missing the first mark closely, instead hitting the boy closer to the neck.

Jack screamed out once again, a few tears seeping their way out of the corners of his eyes. The onlooking Guardians, along with Cas, were all furious. There was no need for this; Pitch had gotten what he wanted, but still he was intent on only causing pain.

After what felt like a lifetime, the metal cooled, and Pitch took it away, dropping it on the ground at Jack's feet. Jack felt close to passing out, but anger fuelled him on as he looked accusingly towards Pitch.

"What did you do that for, I said please!" He shouted, completely enraged by the injustice which had just been done to him.

Pitch merely shrugged, not seeming one bit bothered by Jack's anger. "It was already hot." He lamely provided as an excuse.

Jack just looked at him in disbelief as the Nightmare King made to leave, followed soon after by Crowley. Jack turned back towards his friends, gaining comfort from their presence and satisfied that they too saw the unfairness of the situation, before unconscious pulled a string too many and he allowed himself to fade into the blackness.

A/N: I'll be good this time, the next chapter is nearly finished so it won't be as long of a wait, thanks for reading and please review! :)