Hello my dear readers!

So, finally, after a long wait for you...chapter three of Infected!

Got me longer busy then I thought before, but oh well.

This one turned out long, too- it would've been even longer if I hadn't decided to put one part into the next chapter.

This is also the next to last chapter, chapter 4 will be the final one.

Soo...I'll just let you read, right?

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own ROTG or any characters of it, otherwise Bunny and Jack would be rolling in the hay- or grass, I guess- in an extra, special clip for adults only. No, I'm not the least ashamed about that.

Jack had always thought of himself as someone strong, someone who didn't got shaken by things so easily. After all, he had endured three hundred years all on his own, unseen and so damn lonely. Never knowing why he became what he was and why. He would have laughed at himself bitterly now if he had been able to laugh now. He had been stupid. So stupid. That pain was nothing. That pain was a piece of cake.

That pain felt like softly floating in warm water, the wind caressing his skin and hair, like a gentle kiss on his lips and a hug for his heart. If he were able to choose he would have rather stayed that way, forever alone and unseen then to feel like that now. This pain was worse, worse then anything he had ever experienced. The pain after being treated like that, of hearing those hard, venomous words...

He had fled to the Antarctica, the last resort his numb mind had been able to come up with, where he could be alone. For the first time in his long life, the white hurt his eyes, too bright, too...pure, untouched, still whole but he landed nevertheless. Landing stiffly he actually stumbled over a little, skidding to a hold while panting before he ran over the snow, further away from the coast until his legs gave in.

He doubled over, almost falling, staring at the snow before he slowly sunk down, unable to hold back any longer. Jack gasped, trying to breath slowly, trying to stop himself from hyperventilating, to hold it back, suppress the overwhelming pain- but it was too much. Pale fingers arched, burying themselves into the snow underneath his trembling body while his mouth slowly opened, only air escaping before he found his voice again.

The scream exploded from his throat like a wild beast, tearing through the icy air like a force of nature, louder then anything else which had ever sound in this ice desert and making the cold air tremble under the pressure. Oh god, it hurt too much, too much. His heart was bleeding, breaking apart in pieces, destroyed by the one he had fallen for, crumbling. Tears rolled down his pale cheeks, freezing immediately in response to his powers while he continued to scream.

The pain of being hurt, betrayed, treated like that from the person he had completely fallen in love with- it was like his heart was slowly being ripped apart. Like he was invisible all over again and slowly bleeding to death, calling for help- but no one did see him. Like he was drowning all over again. Like he was walking over shards of glass, ripping open his bare feet.

Like he was slowly suffocating in ice, crawling over his mouth, nose, body, until there was nothing left of him. Like the darkness was swallowing him, devouring his body, his mind. Like he was burned alive from the inside. No, it was too much. Too much to bear. Around him the air vibrated when his powers awakened, in response to the pain eating him alive and the emotions pouring out of him.

Alongside his scream the wind roared, violently whipping through the air before everything exploded in a giant blizzard storm, destroying everything in it's path with no mercy and lightning speed. The force of it made the ground shake, cracks appearing in the ice before freezing over again in the next second, ice flying through the air like razor sharp shrapnels. But Jack didn't notice anything of it, the tears making his eyes blind while he screamed out his pain until his throat was hoarse.

The white haired spirit didn't know how long he had been doing this, but when his mind slowly started to clear after what seemed like an eternity he was laying curled up in the snow, cheek pressed into the calming cold. The young guardian slowly sat up, staring at his surrounding with dry eyes which took in the destruction of everything. Everywhere were now frozen over cracks, snow plates sticking out of the ground randomly, fresh snow and ice covering everything and making it look like a bomb field.

But the blue eyed male's mind was still too numb to really grasp everything, so he just stood up and, faltering a bit, dragged himself back into his secret snow cave, the only resort he had right now. His feet felt heavy, far too heavy to lift, but...He had nowhere else to go. Not anymore. Not after these words being said to him. Just like bullets, they had pierced through his heart with ease.

They had destroyed the thinned out shields around his darkest fears which had kept them locked away. And now...he didn't want to think about it. It hurt too much. All he wanted to do now was to sleep, to sleep and drown for a while in the depths of this other world, where only good things happened. Maybe he would fall asleep and never wake up again, if he was lucky. He forced his numb body to sit down, staying like this for a minute before he finally curled up like an embryo, unconsciously wishing he could become a part with the snow and disappear.

/ Please...let me fall asleep...and never let me wake up again.../ His mind, devoid of any really focused thought aside from this one sharp, whispered before quieting again. He felt so tired, so...hollow and empty. Like someone had burned everything inside of him, and all that was left was this shell, this thin, pale doll. Sitting in a corner without a sound.

Tired. He was so tired. It hurt too much to think, to speak, to be even awake at all. So, without a sound, without any resistance, he let his body sink onto the ground, eyelashes fluttering one last time. Sleep. That was all he wanted now. So he fell asleep, inwardly wounded, bleeding, broken. Without thinking about the destruction outside his breakdown had caused- he hadn't wanted to, couldn't. There had only been destruction anyway, proving what Bunny had said.

So he let go, falling into the endless, calming depths of sleep. Outside, the fresh snow and ice glittered coldly under the light of the sun setting down, but the normally pure white and transparent blue wasn't pure anymore. It was darkened, crisscrossed by streaks of faint, glittery black, laying like a breath of darkness over everything.

Dark. It was dark, too dark. He couldn't see a thing. Where was he? He was scared. He didn't know why, but he was so scared. The next thing he noticed was that it was cold, really cold. His body,his hands, feet, even his insides, stomach, heart, everything felt cold, ice water instead of blood being pumped through his veins. Too cold. He felt like he would freeze to death in the next moment, freeze over like an ice statue. His feet moved, one hesitant step into the darkness, and in the next second he lost the ground underneath him.

His scream was almost immediately interrupted,choked, and suddenly it was even more colder, shocking his whole body, his brain. Water everywhere, around him, inside him, suffocating him, filling his mouth when he tried to scream, only air bubbles rising up. He tried to get up, reach the surface while struggling against the cold, but there was no hole, only smooth, solid ice pressing against his hands. He couldn't breath, couldn't swim, couldn't breath, someone had to save him, couldn't breath, why was no one there, he needed airhelpmehelpmehelpmeairneed airhecouldn'tbreath-

With a scream Jack bounced up, blue eyes wide in horror while he panted hard. Trembling he sat up and pressed himself into a corner of his cave, hands gripping his staff so hard that his knuckles were white. What...what was that? That hadn't been a dream. That, that had been...Ice cold water, surrounding him, he couldn't swim, couldn't breath, no one was there, why was no one there-

"No! No! Stop it, stop it, stop it! I don't want to remember, I don't!", he gasped, pressing his eyes shut, fighting the memory.

He didn't want to see it again, feel it again. He had almost forgotten it, that memory he had gotten back after his encounter with Pitch, when his staff had been broken and there was nothing left to do. With a soundless cry he violently shoved it back, refusing to let the memory rise again into his mind so clear.

After doing that he just sat there for a while, simply trying to breath slowly again and calm down the trembling of his body. Out of all times, why did this memory appear now? He didn't understand it, but guessed it was because he hadn't tried to re-live his re won memories again, to get used to them. He had tried, the second night after their defeat of Pitch, but as soon as he had closed his eyes and remembered it had overwhelmed him like a shock wave. It had hurt too much, to see, live through them, to remember what had happened- pictures of big brown eyes, so scared, staring into his own, the white, white snow, ice cracking underneath his feet, shock, her scream, his name on her lips, ice cold water, and he couldn't breath, couldn't breath anymore-

"NO!", he whimpered, holding his head before shaking it forcefully, trying to hold back the fear and nausea which threatened to take control. No, he couldn't let it take control of him, couldn't let, didn't want to remember, couldn't let- Jack breathed out slowly before he lifted his hand, creating a long, thin and sharp piece of ice and- drove it through his left hand.

Hard.

"...! ". the winter spirit arched up, letting the pain course through him. His mouth was shut tight while his face scrunched up in terrible pain before he opened his mouth, letting the held back air escape in a hissed, silent scream. Panting he stared at his hand, the ice blade had gone straight through, blood oozing out around where it had destroyed skin, muscles and bones. It hurt terribly- but the nausea, the panic and pure, overwhelming fear were gone, replaced by the sharp throbbing in his hand.

It was a clean, good feeling compared to the other, blocking out the torturous memory and the feelings connected with it. Jack grabbed the ice piece and roughly pulled it out, biting into his lower lip to suppress any sound before he threw away the ice shrapnel and stared at the hole in his left hand. It still oozed blood generously. Blue eyes narrowed slightly in concentration, and in the next second ice crept over the skin, closing the blood weeping wound and sealing it. It would heal in a few days, maybe longer, maybe shorter- he didn't really care. As long as it still hurt and suppressed the memory of his...dream he didn't care.

The winter spirit slowly stood up and gripped his staff, climbing to the surface where the wind greeted him, just like always. But he didn't manage to smile- all he was able to produce was the weak lifting of one corner of his mouth. He slowly lifted his fingers to stroke the wind.

" S' alright, wind. Just dreamed a little wild, that's all", he whispered.

He didn't have to be afraid, not anymore, after all, it had been just a dream. A not so nice dream maybe, a piece of his memory, but nothing to be afraid of- all he had to do was to lock it away. And even if it had been a nightmare, a little one, it didn't matter. He wasn't stupid. He knew there still were nightmares- not everyone could dream good every night, they hadn't just disappeared because Pitch had been defeated. They were still there in the world, they were needed, to keep the balance. And it wasn't like Sandy could always make sure he dreamed well- not like he wanted to, he didn't need to be babied.

He'd rather have another one then remember those venomous words shot at him by-

The teenager's body stiffened while his grip tightened around his staff, producing a cracking sound.

"No, stop that. Don't think about it", he murmured and breathed it, shoving the screaming, weeping memory away.

"Don't think about it. You don't need them. You don't need anyone. You don't need him. Not at all...you'll be fine. You managed 300 years all alone, so who cares about what he said? Who cares?"

He tried to laugh, like he used to do all time, but...no matter how much he tried, the laugh he produced sounded...horrible. False. Empty. Broken. Like it came from some rusty, old flute someone had forgotten in a corner, letting it get dusty. And then, remember it, pick it up out of curiosity- just to test it- and play a few tunes. Just to hear those horrible sounds. He abruptly closed his mouth again, dropping the laughing while he straightened up, whispering:

"Who cares?"

Abruptly, he propelled himself into the air, flying through the air at high speed. It wasn't important, his feelings didn't matter. Not anymore. It was better to stop thinking about it and do some work, to deliver snow and ice to cities like he was supposed to. He demanded the wind to be faster, letting it whip against his body, his face faster, ignoring the glistening drop which had managed to escape one of his eyes. The tear slid down his cheek, only to freeze immediately before the wind ripped it off, whirling it away into the gray sky. The wires sizzled loudly, louder then usual when naked, pale feet wandered over them, wrapping them in thin ice layers. But Jack didn't notice it, didn't think at all. He was like a hollow shell, not thinking, just walking, moving his body where he needed to be.

The laughter of children made him turn his head, he could see them running into the park where they probably would start up a snowball fight. Earlier he would have loved nothing more then to join in, and maybe see if some of them could see him now, but...Not anymore. He just wanted to be alone. No laughter, no talking, no meeting at all. The winter spirit wandered over the roof, practically dragging his staff behind before he breathed out, calling out his powers of snow and ice.

The gust of cold wind came immediately, surprising his numb mind a little- the force of it was a bit greater then he had thought. Snow flakes flew through the air thickly, showering the city generously- but not that gently. Jack could feel it in the air, tiny pieces of ice flying around as well, roughing up his skin a little, tiny pricks. Just a little- that wasn't too bothersome. He moved his right hand, to lead the snow a bit away from the streets, only to wince in surprise when a stinging shot through his hand.

Jack gasped lightly, eyes shutting for a second- only to be bombarded by pieces of his dream from last night, making him cry out silently.

"N-no, no, stop it", he gasped, arching over while pressing his hands against his pounding temples.

"STOP IT!"

The wind flared up, more wildly, for a moment the snow- and the ice pieces- got harder, stronger, sharper, before the pain ebbed away, as quick as it had come. At the same time the wind and snow calmed down a bit, the ice disappeared, leaving the winter spirit shaken and unsure. What had that been? A flashback? He covered his eyes, breathing in slowly before pressing with his right hand against his left one, wincing at the sharp pain.

The young guardian stood up, shaking his head before he dragged himself over to the edge of the building, casting one, last look at the city. Whatever, it had just been a flashback. He squinted his tired eyes a little, staring more closely. Something was strange about the snow, it almost seemed...darker, kind of...dirty...No, must have been his imagination, it was as always. He had brought enough snow to this city. There were still other cities. With one, hard push he shot into the air.

While he flew he couldn't help but remember what had happened before, that strange slip when he had wanted to lead the wind away, the pain which had flared up. The way his powers had grown suddenly, blocking, bucking up, almost like...Another stinging shot through his head and he gritted his teeth, closing his eyes while feeling dazed.

He was so tired, he needed...sleep. Inside his mind, something, a tiny fraction of fear, rose up, only to be immediately suppressed by him. It had been just a dream, a little...flashback. Surely it wouldn't happen again. With this thought on his mind he sunk down onto the ground, in his snow hollow, curling up like always. He was so tired- everything hurt, and he just wanted to sleep in peace, the only comfort he had left. If he only knew.

-Water everywhere, around him, inside him, suffocating him, filling his mouth when he tried to scream, only air bubbles rising up. He tried to get up, reach the surface while struggling against the cold, but there was no hole, only smooth, solid ice pressing against his hands. He couldn't breath, couldn't swim, couldn't breath, someone had to save him, couldn't breath, why was no one there, he needed airhelpmehelpmehelpmeairneed airhecouldn'tbreath-

Third night.

-Bunny's eyes, the way they pierced through him, so angry, angry at him, those wild green eyes, looking at him like that. It hurt to look at him, but he was unable to move, unable to properly response, only able to stutter while he stumbled backwards. He was pinned under that look which felt like a violent slap against his face, his skin, making it burn. And then his mouth opened- only to spit out words. Terrible, sharp, painful words. And they hit him, hit him straight into his heart, in his core. All he could do was stare, stare at the one he loved the most, spitting out those venomous words. Inwardly he cried out, pure, sheer pain, ripping him apart, hurting him where it hurt the most. And he felt himself breaking, crumbling apart like old pastry while Bunny's words trampled all over his heart, destroying him-

Fourth night.

- he flew through the air, heart filled with both joy and confusion, a nervous giddiness, more crashing then landing on the ground. But it didn't matter, he had just flown- flown!- through the air, and landed more or less properly, not far away from the start of the village. Why had nobody said anything? Someone had just flown down, from the sky! It didn't matter. Laughing breathlessly he pulled himself up and started greeting everyone enthusiastically, waving left and right, to the two women walking just past him, a group of men discussing something. But, after a few seconds, when no one waved back, he realized something wasn't right. He cried out to them, demanding why they didn't react, didn't they know it was rude?- when a group of laughing children ran straight through him. He staggered backwards, eyes wide open, realizing- that they didn't see him. Didn't hear him, didn't feel him- did he even exist at all for them? Was he just a ghost, a memory- WHY DIDN'T THEY SEE HIM-

Two weeks later.

He was tired. So tired. But he couldn't fall asleep. Jack clenched his staff, eyes blindly staring at the white wall of snow in front of him while forcing himself to stay awake. His eyelids, heavy with exhaustion and fear, sank down, only to be opened up a second later. No, he couldn't fall asleep, he couldn't- mustn't, didn't want to fall asleep. He grabbed one of the many ice pieces laying around, broken rests of an ice pillar.

Swiftly rolling up the sleeve of his left arm he searched for the right place before taking the ice piece and starting to cut slowly, drawing a bright, red line over his pale skin. One more next to dozens, littered all over his arms, pale scars, some fresh, some already fading. They went on, though, not only on his arms but everywhere now over his body. He had no other thing to keep himself awake- nothing except his powers. And he didn't want to use them- he feared that one of the others might come and look for him.

He didn't want to dream of...these things, these...memories. / It hurt it hurt it hurt make it stop make it stop- / - he shook his head, trying to suppress the memories, pictures of these...things, trying to think of something else. But it was difficult, so difficult, to not fall asleep, even if he cut his body- but if he gave in, those dreadful memories, things, would pop up in his mind again, in his dreams, when he was all alone and vulnerable, open to any attack at his mind.

He couldn't fall asleep. But he was strong, right? He could go on without sleep- he was a spirit after all, and spirits didn't really need to sleep.

And he still had his duty as a guardian, as a winter spirit, to bring the ice and snow to the world. Not to mention it was the only thing which could probably distract him temporarily from his...problem. He didn't want to think about it. All he wanted to do was to do what he had always done, to make the children laugh in joy at the snow. To see their smile, the sparkling in their eyes and let it make him forget at least for a minute what had happened.

He had neglected his duty long enough, during these two weeks he hadn't even once gone outside. The blue eyed spirit climbed to the top of his cave, hissing when another wave of pain shot from his right hand through his whole body. He swayed for a moment, fighting for balance before he caught himself and used his staff as a support.

"Wind!", he called, waiting for the soft, cool wind which would carry him to the cities which needed to be iced and snowed in.

He didn't expected the violent blow which hit him out of the blue, almost throwing him off his feet. Shocked he struggled for a stance while grabbing after his magic to take control of the wind- and for the first time ever in his life, his goddamn long life it didn't work. His magic stuttered before suddenly going onto maximum level, twisting out of control and making the wind howl with force, snow and ice particles whipping against his face.

Jack panted, fighting against the utter exhaustion while he tried to reach his magic, to get a grasp on it. It rebelled, violently fought against him, twisting, sliding through his grip like a giant snake, like he was trying to press a tornado into a jam jar.

"Get- back, I won't let- you-", he hissed through gritted teeth, pressing, pushing with his pure will strength against the aggressive magic.

His head started to throb in pain, making him feel dizzy and almost lose his stance while he pushed with all the force he could muster up, feet slipping in the snow. For one, terrible moment he thought he had lost it, balancing between gaining the control back and the total loss of it. The magic roared one, last time before it slowed down, smoothing out like the sea after a storm. Panting the white haired teenager leaned again his staff, feeling drained of any power inside him, pain making his head swim and his body ache, sharp and stinging. What...what had that been?

His magic hadn't obeyed him, hadn't stayed in his control...head still slightly throbbing he finally managed to stand up straight after the worst pain had subsided.

"...".

The nausea was still there, but he didn't dwelt over it, not really caring, as long as his magic was under his control again. Something wet dripped down over his lip, making him twitch in surprise.

"What is that-", interrupting himself he stared at his fingers which were stained a dark, liquid red.

He slowly touched his nose, feeling the wetness of the liquid dripping down. Blood. His body was literally fighting against itself. Just...why? What was wrong with him? But...He didn't have time for this, he still had to do his duty. Propelling himself into the air he let the wind carry him to the city, missing the roof he had intended to land on and instead fell down onto a lower one. He narrowly avoided to crash and stumbled the last few meters, gripping onto his staff for support when another headache rolled over him.

He breathed out sharply, letting it course through his body before it subsided, then he stood up again. It all didn't matter. He was a guardian, even if his body was falling apart- it didn't matter anymore. The only purpose his life now had left was to do what he had already done before he became a guardian. He would still bring the snow and ice to the children, no matter if his heart and mind were broken by the person he had fallen for. It didn't matter. All he wanted to do now was to make it snow, to hear the laughter and joy of the children. So he took a deep breath, straightening up before he tried to concentrate and closed his blue eyes, reaching for his magic. That time before with the wind had just been a slip, a small mistake, because he hadn't used any of his powers at all during those two weeks. He had just been out of training, out of practice. It wouldn't happen again.

The moment he touched his magic and the pain flared up immediately he knew he had been wrong. So wrong. He screamed out, body arching up when the pain shot through him, ripping through his body violently and without mercy. / NO! / He blindly tried to keep the magic under wraps, to keep it low, but it was impossible- the pain was too strong.

"N-no, please, don't- n-no-", he whimpered, crooking up on the roof.

One, two, three more seconds and the magic twisted through his weakened fingers, breaking free. Around him the air flared up when his magic slipped through his thin control and practically exploded. The wind started to howl loudly and the temperature suddenly dropped several degree, turning the former lukewarm air into a freezing hell.

Clouds accumulated in the sky, gray and dark, immediately starting to snow so strong that you could see nothing at all, millions of thick, grayish snow flakes in strangely twisted pattern and blackish ice splinters flying through the air. Jack whimpered, fighting for air while trying to stand up. His body burnt like liquid fire, eating it's way through him, through his skin, fat and muscles, deep into his bones. It felt like he really was set on fire, his skin burning away, and with a cry he ripped his sleeve up. Only to stare in horror at his arm. The skin was still pale and smooth- aside from the self inflicted scars- but that wasn't what was shocking him. Because underneath the skin, just below the surface, were-

Screams.

The sound of humans screaming down on the streets, full of panic and fear, the sound of something crashing into each other. It ripped through his ears, making him freeze in shock before another wave of pain burnt through him, making him cry out. Oh god, please not. Please not. Anything but this. Struggling he slowly stood up and pulled down his sleeve, heavily leaning on his staff before he tried to call for the wind, to carry him down, to stop this madness and destruction. But it didn't react to his silent call, leaving him with no other choice then to climb down, as good as he could with his body pulsing in pain. But he couldn't let this happen. He had already lost control of anything else, and if he now lost this as well-

The last meters he almost feel, only thanks to his staff he managed to stand, gasping for air before he blinked through the heavy snow flying through the air, his blue eyes widening when he saw everything. At that moment he almost wished he was blind. No. The streets were a chaos, pure, sheer chaos. Cars had crashed into each other when their drivers hadn't been able to see anything any longer, or had lost control of their car because of the deathly glassy ice over the whole street and probably everywhere in the city.

At some parts it just were two cars, but not too rarely it were more, wedged into each other horribly, one big truck having simply smashed several cars under it's weigh like flies. Fire burned on several of them, throwing flickering, yellow light onto the terrible scene splayed out in front of him. He could see, hear the humans running, tumbling through the chaos, some without a scratch, some more injured in different ways. But they were all screaming in horror, yelling, asking why this had happened, yelling names of other people- he could make out the shapes of several humans in or around their car, laying still, way too still, dark puddles around them.

He stumbled backwards, trembling now with both pain and horror. What had he done? Just what had he done? He had to do something, anything- desperately he screamed for his magic, to make it stop this bloody blizzard and storm he had unleashed. But it didn't work, his magic had gone wild, out of control, not reacting to him. The immortal teenager ran forward, tumbling as well, not noticing how the humans he passed were shivering in their jackets, lips and faces stiff with cold, almost bluish, how their breath clouded in front of them.

Didn't notice how thick the ice glistened on his hoodie, crunching with every movement, how the ice spread even further when his feet touched it. The ice crunched under his feet while he stumbled, slipping, pulling himself up to continue his search for something, any thing he could do. More than once he almost feel, gasping at the terrible, painful feeling when people ran through him, not seeing him, but he didn't stop. But no matter where he looked- he couldn't do a thing.

They didn't see him- and so he couldn't touch them, couldn't pull them out of burning cars or out from wreck parts. The realization hit him like a slap across his face. Still he continued to stumble through the chaos he had created- /- his fault, all his fault-/, stopping when he heard a voice, barely audible over the screams and howling of the wind. The voice of a child.

He froze, one, two seconds- then he ran forward, stumbling, falling down, picking himself up again, searching for that voice. And then he finally found it's source. It came from a car which had crashed into a tree at the side of the street, another one having crashed into it. It was a little girl, her lower body being buried under parts of the destroyed cars. She was crying, her eyes huge and wide open in pain, her light brown hair matted to her head on the left side, dark with blood.

It stained her face and her green jacket, pooling underneath her where she was laying, her hands weakly scratching over the dirty and icy ground. His heart, having beaten way too fast before slowed, almost to the point of completely stopping while he stared at her, mind frozen. He knew her. She was the eighth child who had started believing in him, a shy girl who was a play mate from one of Jamie's friends.

He remembered how her brown eyes had widened in wonder when she had first seen him, giggling when he had breathed out a snowflake. She wanted to become an artist. Her name was Nora. He stepped forward, numbly, forcing his pain filled body forward until he reached her and fell onto his legs, staring at her. Her head turned, having heard something, then she stared at him, tears running down her face.

"J-jack?", she cried, trying to wipe her eyes clean which produced a red smear of blood over her cheek.

He nodded, trying to smile at her but his mouth failed him, just thinking of what he could do.

"It h-hurts Jack", she sobbed, "And M-mommy and Daddy a-aren't here, I'm so scared! P- please, help me!"

"I-it's gonna be alright don't worry", he heard himself say, "I'll save you, j-just see".

He stood up with effort, stumbling over to the wreck before he started to pull on them, trying to get them off her. But it was useless, the wreck parts didn't budge and he was too weak, he couldn't even call the wind to maybe make it whirl a few parts away. He didn't notice that her breath puffed out in small clouds, the trembling of her little body caused by the cold - caused by him. Didn't hear the sizzling of ice spreading underneath his feet, around the accident place and beneath the girl, making part of the blood freeze. Didn't notice how colder it got, the cold slowly sucking out the warmth from the girl's body, deep from the bones.

"Getoffgetoffgetoff", he chanted, desperately, gasping, fighting- but it was useless.

Trembling he gave up and sunk down exhausted, crawling over to her. She was still struggling weakly, her hands trying to pull herself away- but the wreck parts were far too heavy for a little girl aged nine.

"It hurts", she whimpered, and all Jack could do was to stare at the dark pool of blood underneath her, staining her small body.

"Jack, I'm c-cold", she whispered once more, her huge eyes looking at him while she reached out with her bloody hands.

"It's gonna b-be alright", he answered, feeling like he would faint at any minute, "I'm sure your parents will be here soon".

The white haired teenager reached out for her, one hand shakily stroking her cheek, the other one taking her hand. He didn't realize at first why her trembling got even worse, making his weak hands shake slightly, too- and when he did it was too late. Her face, which had already been pale from the blood loss, had lost even more color, taking on a bluish color while she tried to speak, her pale lips barely able to move:

"J...Jack, I-m …..c-cold...".

"Th-that's just the blood loss. Hang on, okay? Your parents will come soon, I think I c-can see them coming!"

"...cold...", she whispered, her eyes slowly closing, barely open now, "Mommy...and...Daddy...h-here -s-soon...?"

"Yeah, they are, hang in Nora, p-please", he begged, tears starting to run down his cheeks, immediately freezing and falling down, hitting the ground with a light clanging.

"...mh...they a-are?...Jack...th-thank y-you...I'll t-tell Mommy and D-daddy you h-helped me...".

The little girl murmured the words, a faint smile on her stiff lips before her eyes fluttered one more time, slowly closing.

"Hey Nora! Don't, hang in there! Please, open your eyes-", Jack begged, lightly slapping her cheek.

But she didn't react anymore, neither to his cries nor him shaking her and squeezing her hand. He reached out once more, fingers touching her throat, looking for the pulse, next her breathing. But there was none. She was dead. The knowledge hit him like someone had just shot a bullet through his chest, burning and painful.

With a gasp he fell back, staring at the smiling, peaceful looking dead girl. No. No, that couldn't be. She couldn't be dead, she was just nine and wanted to become an artist. She was too young to die like that, buried under the wreck of a car. Trembling he reached out, gently touching her blood smeared cheek, stroking the matted brown hair. Only then he noticed how strangely stiff her hair felt like, the tips were glittering, the bluish tint her skin had taken on- just like it had been so cold she had frozen to death-

With his blue eyes wide open he reeled backwards, nearly falling when he hastily tried to stand up. Just in time he managed to catch himself, one hand scarping over the frozen ground while the other landed close to the dead girl. Quickly Jack pulled his hand back, staring at the dark red ice clinging to his hand, red ice, smelling metallic and heavy. The white haired male gasped, his breath starting to get faster while he looked back at Nora - and he saw everything.

The way her hair was stiff because it was frozen, ice glittering in it, her skin pale and bluish because of the warmth loss. The thin ice pattern on her clothes which were frozen stiff with cold. The frozen ground and blood puddle underneath her- he could hear the sizzling of blood freezing where it had just left her now cold body, the last warmth being sucked from within a second.

He had done this. He had killed her. It was his fault that she had died before anyone could have helped her. Because of his cold. His cold had stolen her warmth away until her body hadn't been able to work any longer, until it had been simply too cold for her heart to beat any longer. He had frozen her to death. Jack took one, two steps backwards, starting to hyperventilate. He had done this. It was his fault.

/ - his fault his fault his fault his fault only his killer killer he was a killer a killer a monster a monster he had killed a girl who had believed in him monster monster he was dangerous dangerous run away run away- /

Jack screamed, a terrible, broken sound while tears streamed down his face, freezing immediately like always while around him the blizzard clamored. The air, already overfull with his magic, reacted once more, and in the next second the sky seemed to be on fire- lightnings twitching through the air violently, pure destruction. In the next second Jack jumped up, running, running, running.

Blind with tears stinging in his eyes he called out again and again before he was suddenly swept off his feet, a violent wind gust, colder then any other wind, had caught him and now whirled him high up in the air. Somehow, with the last piece of strength and control he had managed to press together he landed in the Antarctica, with ice scratched cheeks and hollow eyes before hiding away in the deepest part of his cave, far away from anything. He had never wished so much for his life to end.

Around the same time, in another place.

Green. Some purple. Then a bit yellow, to paint some flowers underneath the green circles...furry, nimble fingers moved the brush quickly, but with great care, creating a beautiful egg. "There you go, all pretty ya little one", Bunny mumbled, gently putting the egg down which immediately ran over to it's friends, running around happily. The big rabbit watched the group of little eggs he had painted for fun- but somehow the joy and satisfaction he normally felt when trying out new patterns didn't come.

"Dammit", Bunny growled and briskly stood up, wanting to practice a bit. Maybe training with his boomerangs would help him feel a little better. His eyes, sweeping over everything in his surroundings, fell on a little blue egg among the others, making him freeze immediately, memories rushing through his mind. Blue. Brilliant icy blue eyes, staring at him wide open, so vulnerable, breaking, cracking like a mirror-

"Stop it!", he hissed, holding his head before he angrily stood up and punched a tree, making it tremble with the force. He didn't want to remember what he had done- it hurt so much, to know what he had done, overwhelming guilt and deep pain burning underneath his skin, making him feel sick. How could he have done this? To the one he had fallen for? To Jack?

There had been no excuse for what he done to him. No excuse could have made up for that. He could still remember it so vividly, like it had just happened yesterday. Well, how could he, when he had driven the other one away so cruelly, more cruelly then he had wanted. But he had been so desperate...The heat had hurt so much, driving him crazy, making him loose his mind. He had been on the verge of snapping, of completely loosing himself to that wild and animal side inside him. All he had wanted was to be left alone, to endure this days of torture, not only filled with the painful, clamoring need to mate but also with the knowledge that Jack would never really love him.

And because he had been careless Jack had been able to invade the warren. He hadn't wanted him to see him like that- especially like that. He could still remember the way his body had shook with the heat, the painful desire, the need to mate- with Jack. Jack, who had been so close, close enough to fill the air around him with his smell. Jack who hadn't had a clue what effect his presence had on Bunny at that time. He had been so close, so close to completely loose control and simply throw the winter spirit onto the ground and to take him until he couldn't even scream anymore.

He had been so close, so close to hurt Jack in way he would have never forgiven himself. And in his desperate, half insane state of mind he had done the only thing he had been able to do. He had used his painful, deep feelings of love for the younger male, the sharp, suffocating desire to take him - to lash out at him, yell at him. Shaping them into hurtful, cruel words, the only weapon, the only defense he had had left to push Jack away. To chase him away instead of raping him, instead of then having to see the hate and disgust in those blue eyes. He would have rather died then to do something unforgivable and then deal once more with losing the one he loved.

Only to regret these words the moment they were spit out, realizing too late what damage they would do. Bunny had said everything, everything Jack should have never heard, hitting every single, most tender point inside him. But it had been too late, too late to change that- all he had been able to do was to watch Jack's back who had practically fled from the warren. He had never hated himself more than at this moment. He had spent the next four days locked up in his house, curled up in a corner while trying not to rut against his own hands, desperate and disgusted with himself and denying himself any sort of sexual relief as a punishment.

After the heat had finally been over, leaving him still feeling uncomfortable and tense he had mostly stayed in his warren. The big rabbit had rarely left at all, just a few times to send an egg to North, that he had taken a break- he hadn't wanted to meet any of the other guardians at all. Especially not if that meant to be face to face with Jack again, after what had happened in the warren.

He had decided to stay away, to let grass 'grow' over it and hope the winter spirit would have recovered until the next guardian meeting he knew North would force everyone to go for sure. Instead of going to the surface and maybe wander a bit through his home Australia he had busied himself with painting new patterns, training his fighting skills, mediating and cleaning up.

But nothing had been able to really take his mind off that scene between Jack and him, not more then a few minutes at all. And even then, there had been a strange pressure in his mind, a bad...feeling. Like something wasn't right, like something had gone horrible wrong. A pressure on both his mind and heart, pulling and stinging, making him all tensed and uneasy, making his instincts run wild.

And once, this giant outburst of pure...power, far away from him and yet so strong that it left a trembling aftermath in the air even after having vanished as fast as it had come. What had that been? And why had it happened? What was this pressure which made him feel so strangely uneasy and nervous, almost in panic? Nothing was wrong down here in the warren- and if there had been something wrong with the children he would have immediately felt it.

Bunny stared, watching how his little eggs played with each other, playing catch or simply tumbling over each other. A few of them came over to him, scurrying around his feet, one particular determined to climb up his legs which was kind of impossible with only two little legs. He had to snort involuntarily at that, one corner of his mouth twitching up while he picked it up, holding it close to his face and letting it walk over his hand. It was the small blue one, the one with a blue which reminded him so much of a certain spirit's eyes. Gently he nudged it, watching it march back and forth on his hand.

"What do you think I should do, hmm?", he murmured.

"Do you think I should try to find him and...apologize? He is pretty stubborn. I bet he is still totally pissed off and angry, not to mention hurt. Would he...even listen to what I'd try and say? But then he'll want to know why I even treated him that way- and I don't know how to tell him without saying everything...".

Bunny sighed softly, eyes looking at the egg, but his mind was far away.

"Isn't it ironic? After all these years I spent heartbroken, after her I thought I would never be able to love someone that much. And then it happens, I fall in love again, knowing he will never love me back- and what do I do? I hurt him, chased him away like a bad person. I'm so stupid...why did I even let these feelings form...I can still smell him here...".

It was still there, that smell- Jack's unique, own smell, sometimes softer, sometimes stronger when he walked through his warren- but always there. That smell of ice, snow and frozen sugar, with a weird tone of peppermint creaminess, mixed with the smell of...freedom and wildness. His smell. Why was it still here? It had been over two weeks ago when he had been here, but it was still here. Or was he just going mad? Had he lost his mind? Did he just imagine -

Something next to him rustled and he looked down, seeing one of his eggs carrying a paper tied with a ribbon on it. "North", Bunny mumbled and picked it up, taking the paper of it before he set the little egg free. "What does he want this time...". He read the message which was against all odds, very short this time, the message clipped and clear: " Bunny. Come to my place. Guardian meeting, is very important. It is about Jack. North."

The paper fell down with a soft rustling, Bunny staring at it before he shook himself and catapulted himself forward, his long, strong legs carrying him through one of his tunnels in mere seconds, faster then ever before. All the way through his tunnel he cursed himself for not having acted on his feelings. His instincts had been right after all. He just hadn't thought it would be about the winter spirit. About two minutes later, breathing only slightly heavier then usually he arrived at North's place, not even a bit surprised to see that North was already awaiting him. A few minutes later Sandy sailed through the open window, wearing a deeply worried expression, shortly followed by Toothiana who looked equally worried.

"Well, I think you all know why I called you here- I did wrote it into your message, so I won't beat around bush much longer. It's about Jack...he-",

at that North hesitated a bit, looking very worried,

" Has...anyone heard anything from him lately? I think he somehow went...missing..."

" But- no, I haven't heard anything of him lately, but that doesn't mean he's gone missing!", Toothiana immediately said wide eyed, fluttering through the air to approach North.

"I don't really know either, my dear. But something...must be wrong. Aside from not having met any of us in the past two weeks- I haven't heard even once that it has snowed anywhere. Anywhere. I wasn't that worried about him not meeting any of us- he is young guardian after all and young spirit. Must be strange for him to suddenly have family like us, so I do not wonder he needs to be away from us sometimes, to catch breather you know? But then, after four days yetis noticed that it hasn't snowed anywhere, not at all. Jack has duty to bring snow and ice, and he has always done good that. Maybe not every day- but over two weeks now? Not to mention this strange...outburst I felt some time before-"

"So you felt it as well?", Toothiana asked, looking first at North then at Sandy who nodded, followed by a short nod from Bunny who inwardly felt his stomach turning.

"Well, was hard to miss, eh? Was pretty strong- I wanted to take a look, but was gone too fast to find source..."

Sandy, using his golden sand, first formed a ball of golden sand which exploded, followed by a tired looking, tiny figure showing Jack, both connected with a string, ending with a big question mark about his head.

" You think too it is maybe connected to him?", North asked, looking down at Sandy who nodded in reply, looking thoughtful, before turning his head to stare at Bunny.

"And what do you think, Bunny? You think our Jack is connected to that outburst? That he maybe has gotten himself in trouble again?"

The rabbit looked aside, not daring to look at North while he shortly thought, before hesitantly replying:

"I don't know. I haven't heard anything from him lately, too...but, I have this feeling..."

- he unconsciously rubbed over his chest at that part-

" That he really is in trouble this time-"

"Wait, you have feeling that Jack is in trouble?", the white haired old man said wide eyed, eying him with both surprise and confusion.

"Normally you never have feeling like me-", he patted his stomach,

"But if you do...". He stared more closely at Bunny who growled, staring back at him, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"Bunny, is there something you know-"

One second later everybody froze, all thoughts wiped aside for later, Bunny's ears perking up on alert. There was something in the air again, the faint hint of something clustering...In the next moment Bunny, like all, hissed in surprise and shock, feeling a powerful wave of that again. It had been just like the same time when he had felt this eruption of something going on a rampage- only that this time it was even stronger, shaking him to his core and leaving him unable to move for a short time.

Toothiana was the first to speak, her purple eyes wide: "Guys, that...that came from a city a few kilometers away from...Burgess. And...it felt like...snow...".

North stared at her before looking back at Sandy and Bunny, the same thought reflected in their eyes. A city not far away from Burgess, that snow ? outburst and Jack been missing for over two weeks now...it could only mean one thing.

"To the sleigh. NOW", North ordered sharply, everyone immediately followed. Within minutes they were all seated in the sleigh, the reindeer setting off the minute everyone was in. the tunnel of ice was crossed fast before they were in the air, North taking out a snow globe, saying: "Purgiston". The portal swallowed them, whirling them through a tunnel with dozens of colors before they landed.

"Quick, it is over there!", North impatiently called, only to get passed by Bunny immediately, the four guardians rushing to the edge of the cliff they had landed on. Only to be faced with a terrible sight. The city was covered in snow, thick and...gray, with darker sprinkles, ice glittered thick and heavy on everything where it had been able to get a hold. It didn't look right. This was not the beautiful snow scenery Jack always painted over a city like he always did. This...felt wrong, terrible...twisted in a strange way - a way which had never been part of Jack.

But, what was worse then the wrongness of this sight was the smoke which was rising up in a few parts of the city. "We have to get closer", North murmured and went down, followed by the others. It was even worse from close. They hadn't expected to see things like that. The city was in chaos, everywhere were people running through, injured or not, wrecked cars which had crashed into each other or were destroyed through other things. Ambulances were trying to get through, their helpers having to go on feet, firefighters trying to get bleeding people out of their smashed cars. And the snow was still falling over everything, silent and strange, accompanied by the deep cold and the wind howling through the streets.

"That...", Toothiana held a hand in front of her mouth, looking totally shocked, "That is...terrible! Just what did happen here?"

She whirled around to North who was about to open his mouth, interrupting him:

"North, I don't think Jack would have done this! He would never do something like this, to purposely hurt people by creating this!"

"I agree with you Tooth, Jack is kind young spirit, he'd never do this! But, then...why? How else did this happen? Because no matter how you look at it, this snow looks like it came from him...",

the red coated man murmured, kneeling down to scoop up a bit of it, examining it.

Sandy did the same, staring at the snow before his eyes narrowed.

"But, North...this snow...if it comes from Jack, then why is it that...gray? And with these strange black sprinkles?",

Toothiana said hesitantly, staring down at the mass covering everything.

/ It smells...unclean- but there is still a part of Jack inside.../, a voice inside Bunny's head whispered while he stared at the turmoil in the city, feeling numb.

Sandy looked up at North, his expression dark and his eyes worried, his golden sand slowly forming Jack, trembling and breaking down.

"You think...", North replied, voice sounding even more worried now, then he straightened up and looked at the others sharply.

"We don't know what exactly caused this to happen and why Jack did this- only thing I can come up with is loss of control. For something like this to happen, one must be so deeply disturbed and cracked open - emotionally, that is...".

The older guardian went silent, staring at the others who looked back equally worried before noticing that Bunny had been the only one that hadn't said anything at all. And that the look in his eyes was not only worry- there was something...else running far deeper then that.

"Bunny, why haven't you said anything? Do you have any idea what could have happened-"

The coat wearing guardian stopped, fully taking in the look in Bunny's eyes who twitched back slightly, continuing much slower, suspicious:

"Bunny. There something you are NOT telling us? Something important?"

The big rabbit twitched back at the stares of all three directed at him, yelling out impulsively:

"Goddammit, NO! It wasn't on purpose, I didn't do it to really hurt him, I would never do that! But he came down that day, and fuck, I couldn't bear it! He just smelt so, so - I had no other choice, I had to say these things -".

He immediately shut his mouth, realizing with utter horror that he had just been spitting out everything he had never wanted to tell. Oh hell. In the next second he turned around, racing away to quickly open a tunnel down to his safe warren. Only to be grabbed by two big hands and get slammed against a tree, an angry looking North right in front of him, with Sandy and Toothiana peeking over his shoulders confused and frightened with wide eyes.

"What did you do to Jack?!" the old man hissed, looking very angry.

"Let go off me!", Bunny hissed, trying to get his hands off, but North was strong, holding him in place.

"No, only if you tell us what you did. What did happen? Tell us EVERYTHING!"

"NO!"

"Then I should-"

"Shut up and let go off me!"

"NO! Tell us what you did to him first!"

"I did nothing!"

"You MUST have done something, said something! Look how city looks like! What have you done to him?! Did you even think about his feelings before you shot out one of your snark replies, huh?!"

"Feelings? FEELINGS?! Shit, you don't even know a bit about this! You don't know how I FEEL at all about this! You know NOTHING about what I FEEL about THIS!", Bunny yelled back, totally furious now.

North wanted to spit out another sharp reply at that before he stopped, his eyes staring at the Easter Bunny while something clicked in his mind. North's eyes widened and he let go of the green eyed guardian who bristled at him with narrowed eyes.

"You...Bunny, are you saying that Jack...he is...you...he is your-"

"No! NO! Don't say this word! Please...", the gray rabbit interrupted him, ears dropping on his head while he looked away.

"It...it hurts too much...". Sandy and Toothiana exchanged slightly confused looks while North stared at Bunny, his expression no longer furious but caught off guard, worried and apologetic.

"Bunny, I didn't know that- I'd never thought that Jack...that he is...to you...since when?"

"Since...shortly after everything had calmed down after Pitch's defeat", the guardian of hope replied slowly, head low.

"But what does it matter now? It is not like he could ever feel that way for me, y'know...it would've been just like with her...".

He paused, shortly closing his green eyes before opening them, continuing:

"You must believe me, I never wanted to hurt him like that! I would've never, I swear. But...it was just that...he came into my warren at that time...when I was...in heat...I didn't know what else to do! I was reacting so strongly to him, and I didn't know what else to do- I didn't want to, but I was so close to simply- so I spit out these- these things, these words...and hurt him...I'm so sorry. Never have I regretted anything more than this...".

North stared at him, thinking, before he put a warm, big hand on Bunny's shoulder, squeezing reassuringly while staring intensive at him.

"Bunny, I believe you. I know you would have never purposely hurt him like that- especially with him being your... S' was because of your heat, you aren't to blame for that, friend- it must have been terrible for you...but, Bunny...Are you sure about that? Are you sure that he would- could- never feel the same way for you?"

The rabbit laughed shortly, sounding bitter and hurt:

"Oh, please North. Don't try and give me hope for this, it is useless. You wanna know why I'm so damn sure about that, mate? Well, maybe because I'm a fucking, giant bunny! He is a human- immortal- but still a human. It would be the same as with her! He would see me as disgusting, he would hate me and don't want to ever see me again in his life. He could never fall in love with me, a pookah, it is simply impossible."

"But, Bunny, you forgot one thing: Jack isn't like her. He is an immortal, having lived much longer and having experienced things no ordinary human could have. His personality isn't like hers, isn't made to hate someone, he is too cheerful, too mischievous, too warm... And he really likes you a lot. Why else would he visit you that often? You know, sometimes, when I watched you two...The way he looked at you sometimes...have you never noticed it? Why should he hate you for your honest feelings? "

The other male twitched back at these words, eyes widening at their truth.

"Let me guess: you never gave this love a chance, right? Instead of trying it, trying to see if he might feel the same you locked these feelings away and denied them, hurting yourself- and hurting him in the end, as a result. You didn't even dare to think about it! Sometimes, you know, you are really stupid, no? Vy glupyy krolik !"

The guardian of joy shook his head, sighing, then his face turned serious again.

"I'm not finished talking with you, friend. But, right now, we must find Jack, is most important now! I feel no good thing..." he stared at the gray snow, eyes narrowing before he turned to the others, saying:

"Is best if we split up as four. Now, go, search for him! Hurry- I fear for him..."

Everyone nodded, and in the next moment they jumped apart, racing in four different directions, with only one thing in mind: to find Jack. / I'm so sorry Jack. But I will find you, and then I will apologize for everything and explain everything. Just wait / Bunny thought grimly, racing through the forest at high speed. Somehow, he would find him, even if it meant to search at every goddamn place in the world- he would find him. No matter how.

Three days later.

Desperate. He felt so desperate. Three days had passed since they had met and had talked about Jack maybe having trouble. Three days since they had felt that big outburst of magic, only to find a city in a terrible state, with no winter spirit in sight. Three days since they had been searching for him frantically. He hadn't been able to find him yet, even though they had searched all kind of places. Places where he might appear because he went there often, like their own guardian homes, but of course he hadn't been there.

Or cities he had frequently visited, like Burgess where Jamie lived, but nothing. Even in the Antarctica they had found nothing, North had volunteered to go there because he was most used to that weather, but nothing. No sign of him, no foot steps, no strange snow falls. Nothing. Bunny breathed in deeply, trembling while everything built up in him before he let out a loud scream, scaring away the birds in the trees close by while he punched a tree with all his might, making it tremble with the force.

"Damn it, where are you?!", he whispered, fear and utter guilt gripping his heart, making him tremble while he cursed himself again and again.

It was all his fault. Even if North had said there might be a...chance...but now? If he hadn't fallen in love with Jack, if he hadn't desired him that much, then this would have never happened. Jack would have never gone missing like that. It would have been better if he had never fallen for him. Maybe he should have never let him that close, letting him visit that often. Giving him the unwanted opportunity to fall for the white haired guardian. Letting him wander around in the warren, letting him close enough to smell him- his goddamn, strange, alluring smell.

That smell he could still smell all over his place, although- his train of thoughts stopped midway. Frozen in his angry steps he stood there for a few seconds, re- thinking what he had just remembered. In the next second he thumped onto the ground, creating a tunnel to race through immediately, arriving in his warren a few seconds later, shortly out of breath. But he recovered quickly, already looking around strained, ears up while he closed his eyes to concentrate, his nose sniffing the air.

It should be here somewhere, just not far- there! His nose, having sniffed intensive, searching while filtering through the myriad of other smells, had caught something, the smell of ice, snow, frozen sugar...Bunny raced after it, his heart beating wildly inside is chest while he followed the trail of that familiar smell which slowly grew stronger and stronger until he reached it's source. The big rabbit stopped, his green eyes frantically wandering over where he now stood.

It wasn't that far away from his house, a bit further away which was why he didn't went here often, leaving it to his eggs though they rarely had went there lately. It was like a little valley, a small, grassy place with a small water fall ending in a pond. He had often mediated here to calm down, with the soothing sound of the water fall next to him, but he hadn't done it lately, too worked up over what had happened in his heat period with Jack.

"Where is it, where is it-", he hissed, searching for the source of that smell, in the grass, close to the water fall, even in the water fall, until his search brought him closer to the rocks standing aside. A soft wind gust stroked his nose, carrying a strong whiff of that smell and he froze, racing over to hectically search next to the rocks. He dug through the grass, already wanting to give up- when suddenly his hands touched something cold. Bunny twitched back, his green eyes widening before he leaned forward and grabbed the thing, pulling it out of it's grass hide away. He stared, stunned and speechless while his heart started to beat faster. It was an ice egg.

It was as big as two fists together, but just in the right size to hold it in both hands. He had never seen an egg that beautiful. It was made of the clearest ice he had ever seen, shining and glowing with a bluish tint. The shape was perfectly even, and the surface...it was decorated with a captivating pattern which vague reminded him of a pattern he knew. Every detail was carved in with the utmost care, not one flaw, not one mistake was visible. Every detail was beautifully made, in harmony with each other and he took a closer look, mesmerized. The middle of the egg itself was completely free of any decorating and completely see through.

He looked inside, first thinking he was just imaging it. But, no, it was still there. The inside of the egg was - alive. Flowers of purest ice bloomed, beautiful and fascinating, fading after a while, only to be reborn again in new forms. He watched, captivated, seeing how the flowers bloomed and faded.

Wanting to get a better look he tilted it a little, twitching in surprise when he saw how the flowers faded into thousand tiny snow flakes, forming a new scenery. Instead of the flower field now was a grassy hill, softly moving with an invisible breeze and – one of the corners of his mouth went up unwillingly- two little bunnies hopping over it, playing.

Another tilt, another scenery. This time it was the forest Jack lived in, with the lake, a constant shower of snow flakes over it, making it look like from a fairy tale, a sight which was strangely calming.

The pattern themselves entwined around the bottom part and the tip of the egg- he then realized why they felt familiar. They looked like his fur signs, only much more elaborated and complex, merging with other patterns which reminded him of snow flakes and their weightless dance in the sky.

Oh god. Bunny had to actually sit down, feeling shocked to his core, yet strangely numb at the same time. A memory floated up to the surface of his mind, Jack with his feelings hidden behind a blank mask, turning away from after he had yelled at him. Something glittery, which had slipped through his fingers and- it was like a slap right across his face. Jack had had the egg with him, to...give it to Bunny. It had been a present.

But what a present! Why should Jack put so much effort into a present for him, just like that? He could tell just by looking at it that it must have taken days, if not weeks to make it, to create something like this. It wasn't just some ordinary egg- if that wasn't already visible with this ever changing scenery inside. This egg was filled to the brim with magic - Jack's magic.

He didn't know why he knew this- the white haired spirit could have very well just asked North or someone else to help with the magic part. It was his own, that very wild, icy and free magic which filled him, ran through him like his blood. He could feel the flow of it like a heartbeat underneath the surface, the sound of it on that other, invisible level of magic he was able to sense.

With trembling fingers he lifted the egg, turning it and seeing a fine, delicate sentence, actually only two words: " For Bunny". For a moment he just sat there, trying to come to terms with Jack having made a present like that for him- for him! But why? Why?

"You know, sometimes, when I watched you two...The way he looked at you sometimes...have you never noticed it?"

North's words echoed through his head and he twitched back, ears flattening against his head. The egg rolled through his fingers and fell onto the ground with a soft thud while he stood up stiffly, shaking. No. No, that couldn't be. The present, North's words- they all pointed at only one, possible explanation. Oh god. His stomach lurched and he bent over, pressing his hands against his aching temples. He had been so stupid, so blind. That day, when he had been in his heat, when Jack had come into the warren he had wanted to-

"What did I do? Just what did I do?!", he whispered, standing up slowly.

He had to tell North all about this. Had to show him the egg, and the two words on it. Only two words, and yet...And yet they said so much. Every single detail on it spoke to him, telling him what Jack had never been able to say on that day, when he had so cruelly chased him away. But now, first he had to take the egg and- The egg. Wait, where was it? Looking around frightened he noticed it laying not far away in the grass, it had rolled away a bit after having been dropped. Quickly he picked it up, immediately looking if it had gotten a crack.

His hands touched the smooth surface, checking- only to stop when they felt a gap. Bunny turned the egg, eyes widening when he saw a crack in the egg's beautiful surface, staining it. Oh no. one of his fingers slipped a little, suddenly feeling another gap- another crack. Two cracks? Why hadn't he heard it crack when the egg had dropped?

The rabbit looked more closely, green eyes narrowed. Only to twitch back, feeling his heart pick up the pace while a bad feeling crept up. There were even more then those two, smaller ones, crisscrossing from the biggest, first crack like a fine spider web. But that wasn't what made his heart beat faster in nervousness.

The cracks weren't clean. The ice was...stained, the clearness tainted with black which seemed to slowly spread further, looking unhealthy and...wrong. Twisted. Just like the snow on that city. Why hadn't he noticed it immediately? He stared at the egg, realizing that the flow of the magic inside also seemed not right, almost...disturbed. It didn't feel right, didn't feel good. This was not like Jack's magic usually felt like.

In response to the strange magic flow the scenery inside it also started to waver, withering, the bunnies, the grass. Everything disappeared, just to be replaced by wild, fast swirls of those tiny snowflakes, flickering like a broken light and strangely colored. Even when he softly nudged against it it didn't change again.

The magic inside pulsed in irregular waves, fluttering occasionally like it was about to set out for a moment. Then it started to pulse again, in those disturbed, strange waves which swelled before getting suppressed. It almost felt like...

"Jack?", he whispered, voice full of longing and guilt.

He hadn't really expected a reply, it was an egg after all, even if it had magic inside- he almost dropped it when the the egg's magic started to flare up again wildly, similar to the feeling of that outburst at the city.

"What the - ". He stared, eyes widening when he saw how the uncontrolled, fast swirls of tiny snowflakes froze for a second before rearranging, showing the blurred, unclear picture of a wide landscape completely white. The soft elevation of a...hill. Entirely made of snow. Bunny stared at it, trying to make out what place this was. His hands unconsciously gripped the egg tighter- and in the next second he stumbled backwards, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions which weren't his.

Pain. Fear. Panic. Tiredness. Pain. Pain. Loneliness. Exhaustion. Guilt. Fear. Exhaustion. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. -

The rabbit stumbled, sucking in a deep breath with wide eyes. That- what he had felt just now, those were- Green eyes took a second look at the blurred scenery inside the egg. And suddenly he knew were Jack was- he could somehow...feel it. The guardian of hope stood up, quickly thumping onto the ground to summon a tunnel, racing through towards where he believed the winter spirit was, the egg in one of his pouches.

It was cold, so cold. Freezing slightly Bunny hopped around a bit, trying to get used to the temperature before he stood up, eying his surrounding. The scenery he had been able to see inside the egg had lead him here. To the Antarctica. He knew North had already searched here before him, but somehow he knew he was right. The gray furred bunny wandered over the seeming endless soft hills and, sometimes, mountains of ice and snow, looking out for a certain one. At the same time he sniffed the air, trying to catch that one smell he now wanted to find more than anything else in the world-

There. He crouched, sniffing the air once more before he raced after the scent trail, vivid ice and snow, frozen sugar...A few minutes later he stopped, staring. Right in front of him lay an opening, round and iced on the edges. There were no foot steps leading inside, but he knew- he knew Jack was here, inside, somewhere. With a last look around he slipped inside, finding him self in a big cave with holes on the ceiling, making it surprisingly bright. He wandered through it, finding himself in another, and another.

And although he was nervous, afraid and longing to finally find the younger male- he couldn't help but feel somehow mesmerized by the quiet beauty of this place. It wasn't like his warren, where everything was full of colors, this was more reserved, calmer but not any less captivating to see. The glittering of the white snow, the shining ice pillars...

/ This...is Jack's secret hideout / he thought /...he has never told us about this.../.

The thought made him realize he was probably the first to ever see this, and both shame and guilt pulsed through him. He hadn't even asked and invaded a private place, probably the only place where Jack could be really alone if he wanted to be alone, thinking, dreaming in peace. Still thinking about it he reached the next cave- or hall, since they were all really big.

Only to froze.

Ice sculptures.

But not just of anything or anyone. He was face to face with...Sandy? Caught of guard he hastily took a few steps back, staring in wonder. There were four ice sculptures standing in the middle of the hall, carefully arranged. North. Toothiana, Sandy. And him. He stepped closer, examining them stunned. They were perfect mirror pictures of them, every detail, be it so little, was there. He could see every hair of North's beard, the fine, tiny and raw surface structure on Sandy to recreate his sand. Or the many feathers on Toothiana's lithe body. And, on him...he stepped towards his own sculpture, eying it from head to toe. It really looked exactly like him, the fur, the pattern on his forehead, arms and legs, even the arm covers and his pouches.

Everything had been made with a lot of patience, many hours spent on shaping the replicas of the guardians. He could almost see it himself how the blue eyed teenager worked on them, patiently and with loving care. He felt his heart aching and breathed out slowly.

/ Oh Jack.../ The thought of him reminded why he came to this place, immediately he shook himself and wandered further.

His anxiousness grew with every step he took while walking deeper and deeper, the light continuously weakened as well. Just where was he? After walking further for like fifteen minutes he entered another cave. This one was the darkest. Only one, long light ray illuminated it- it took him a few seconds to adjust. Thankfully it went rather quick- he could see damn good. The moment he could finally see enough was also the moment he realized the scent filling the air, stronger then at any other hole. He whirled around, towards it's source, finding himself caught by two brilliant blue eyes staring back at him equally shocked and wide eyed. He had found him.

"Jack", he breathed, feeling relief flooding his insides.

Only to freeze in the next moment when he took a closer look at the immortal male. Jack was in the furthest corner away from him, half curled up in the shadows and with his hoodie up. But even those couldn't hide the shocking sight Bunny was faced with, making his stomach turn. Jack looked...terrible. He had always been rather lean, but now he looked too thin, almost like...something was sucking out his powers, the dark blue hoodie hanging off his frame like it was three sizes too big. His whole, thin body was trembling constantly, like he was either freezing or in great pain, hands twitching and cramping again and again.

He could see his cheekbones protruding much more then before, the hollowness around his eyes. His skin which had always been pale- but a vivid, beautiful paleness- suiting his winter look, was now more gray than white. Making him look sick - really sick. The skin under his eyes was dark, visible circles under them, like he hadn't slept a day at all. The beautiful, white hair was tousled, messy and also looked strangely dirty, grayish. It stuck to his forehead with...sweat? That was definitely not a good sign- Jack had never sweated at all. Never.

His smell also wasn't like Bunny had grown used to sniff whenever he had visited him in his warren. His body still smelt of ice and snow, of frozen sugar and all these other things, but now...there was something else underneath it, tainting it, decaying it slowly. Like something was slowly eating him up alive from the inside, destroying him bit by bit. Creating that sick smell he had smelled at the city. But the worst...were his eyes. Those brilliant blue eyes he had thought more often about than anything else, dreamed about, haunting him...They had always been so bright, shining with mischief and fun, so alive and wild.

But now...He felt like he was looking into the eyes of someone who was dying, having seen hell itself. That light inside them wasn't there anymore. They were dull, having lost their brilliance, darkness creeping up from the edges, giving him a twisted, wrong look. And that look...they were empty, hollowed out with exhaustion- and yet, filled with so much pain and fear that they were practically overflowing. He could almost taste them in the air, making his heart ache and his skin burn. Slowly stepping closer he took him in, noticing shocked that the walls around him were all messed up, half destroyed, colored with a strange, unhealthy blackish color. Just as the ice, blackish colored.

Just like the big snow pieces laying around, nerved with this strange black mass. Just what was that? He could see how the white haired male twitched back at the sound of his name, standing up quickly before he ran away. In the next moment he flew through the air, escaping through the round window. Fuck. Bunny immediately raced after him, trying to jump through the window, but it was too far away. His patience nearly ripping he opened a tunnel to the outside, popping up just in time to see Jack, crashing onto the ground with a terrible crushing sound.

"Frostbite?!" he yelled, shocked to see how he hadn't been able to fly properly.

"Wait, where are you going- goddammit, stop, we need to talk!"

"GO AWAY!", the teenager yelled, stumbling, yet he continued to run away from the big rabbit who was horrified to see that he wasn't even able to walk properly anymore.

"Like hell I will!", he growled, determined, racing after the exhausted immortal who continued to run although it was visibly draining him of his energy.

Despite his obvious weakness Jack somehow still managed to keep a certain distance between them, making the bunny curse under his breath. He wouldn't let it go that way. Using his quickness he drove Jack into another direction, towards a v- shaped formation of big ice rocks, all the while wondering why the winter spirit didn't try to fly away. He would be cornered there, unable to escape him any longer. The moment Jack realized his plan it was already too late, Bunny was blocking his path, cutting any other possible path for him to escape.

"Stay away!", he yelled, voice already way weaker then before while backing away, his trembling hands gripping his staff tightly.

"Like hell I will!", Bunny replied fiercely, staring at him.

"Look at you, what happened to you- what I did to you! I will take you back to North's place- and don't make me force you. Please, I don't want to hurt you again!"

He took another step closer, pain stinging his heart when he saw how the blue eyed spirit pressed himself even further into the corner.

"Stop running away, please! I...I just want to help you-"

"I d-don't care! I don't even want to hear you, see you! Stay away from me!"

"Frostbite-"

"No! Stay away!"

"Jack-"

"Stay away from me!", the white haired male yelled before he suddenly doubled over, falling to his knees while gasping, his hands cramping around the staff before it slipped through his grip.

"Jack!", Bunny yelled, racing towards him, ready to help him up.

" I SAID STAY AWAY FROM ME!", the teenager, crooking up on the floor, yelled before crying out in pain.

The bristling of his fur was the only warning Bunny got. In the next second everything around him exploded when magic, Jack's magic ripped through the air violently, completely out of control. The wind howled out loud, whipping against his body while grayish snowflakes whirled around, mixed with sharp ice splinters which cut through his fur and skin, making him hiss in pain. The force, the sheer pressure was so giant that he was pressed to the ground, struggling to get up only to get knocked back again. He could hear the terrible sound of ice plates simply being ripped apart like it was paper, the screeching, cracking sound of massive ice rocks being destroyed, turned into powder like it was nothing.

The ground was vibrating underneath him with the force of the snow storm rampaging over him- and all he could do was to brace himself against it and endure it until it was over. After, what seemed like an eternity it slowly, slowly calmed down before disappearing completely. Only then he dared to open his eyes, pushing off the mass of snow and ice blocks having fallen close to him. His eyes widened at the destroyed surrounding around him- it looked like a battlefield, only destruction and chaos left after the blizzard.

"Frostbite?", he frantically yelled, standing up before he hissed. He was injured, though not too much it seemed. Several ice splinters had cut him badly, but not too deep, and his leg and hip hurt where a massive block of ice had crashed against him. But he could still walk, immediately going on a search for Jack, fearing that he got injured badly, picking his way through the destroyed field of ice and snow he spotted something dark and blue not far away from him. Oh thank god. "Frostbite? Frostbite!" There he was, alive and on his feet, dragging himself away from the destruction, visibly swaying from one side to the other and using his staff as a support.

Bunny's relief of seeing him unharmed and still halfway okay disappeared as quick as smoke when he saw how Jack doubled over again.

"Frostbite!", he panted, running over to him. Jack wasn't even able to voice any protest. In the next second he bend over and heavily vomited onto the ground, a disturbing, black, gooey mass, his body shaking with strain. Right after that his legs finally gave in, buckling before he fell over unconsciously, caught in time by Bunny. Easily the rabbit lifted him up, horrified at how light the teenager felt. He stared at the black mass at the ground, his heart pounding in his ears before he stared at Jack's face.

The hoodie had fallen off, letting the terrible change stand out even more. The winter spirit's face was grayish, flushed while sweat glistened on his forehead, whimpering slightly, his eyelids fluttered but didn't open. Carefully, slowly Bunny touched his forehead, twitching in shock. The white haired male was burning up practically- and yet, at the same time, he felt colder than ever before. He could feel, see it on himself, ice spread through his gray fur, clumping up before it started to melt after a few seconds. In the next second Bunny turned, creating a tunnel to jump in, clutching the unconscious teenager tight to his chest, his heart racing with an unbearable, overwhelming fear. He needed to bring him to North's place. Fast.

A few minutes later he arrived at the workshop, gently laying the unconscious teenager onto one of the big couches. It didn't took him long to find one of Toothiana's mini fairies she had let stay here as a precaution- in case someone needed to send messages fast. "I found Jack. I'm at North's place with him now". All he now had to do now was to wait till the others arrived. He sat down, right next to the unconscious male, looking at his grayish colored face and the hollowness.

"I'm so sorry", he whispered, stroking his cheek with one hand, listening to the heavy breathing.

He didn't dare to move away, in case something happened to Jack, who was still trembling, occasionally arching up and writhing in pain. Luckily it didn't take the others long to arrive, North first, having used his magical orb, Sandy and Toothiana arriving almost only seconds apart. As soon as they spotted Bunny sitting next to the couch, with a small figure laying there they ran over to the two.

"Where did you find him?! What happened? Have you talked-"

"Is Jack alright?! Why is he unconscious?!"

North and Toothiana both talked at the same time, fast and excited before they took a closer look at the immortal male. Toothiana twitched back, purples eyes widening while she covered her mouth, whispering:

"Oh god..."

North's eyes darkened before he turned around, ordering clipped and sharp:

"To the infirmary. Now".

Bunny immediately scooped Jack up, carefully, quickly carrying him into the infirmary where he laid him down onto the bed. "What's wrong with him?!" North asked sharply, staring at the winter spirit's grayish face with horror, reaching out to feel his forehead.

" Chert vozʹmi ", he murmured "He's burning up. That not good. Toothiana! Quick, bring me cloth and water to cool him down!"

The tooth fairy immediately obeyed, fluttering to the cupboards along the wall, rummaging while Sandy slowly flowed over to Jack. The golden little man stared at the pale figure, eyes worried before he reached out, one small hand touching the blue eyed spirit's cheek. Bunny, having worried stroking back the younger male's sweaty hair, looked up, twitching in surprise when Sandy's eyes widened and he ripped his hand away.

"Sandy?!"

The white bearded man asked sharply, hands gripping the sheets on the bed tightly. The sandman shook his head, his sand forming signs which said to take off Jack's sweater. Bunny did as what Sandy told them, jerking his head at North who stepped closer, helping him to pull off Jack's hoodie.

"Dear god", he heard North whisper next to him, followed by a loud gasp from Toothiana behind them, the sound of glass breaking onto the floor. But neither of the guardians moved, too horrified with the sight in front of them. Without his hoodie concealing it it was visible how thin he had gotten- not to the point his ribs were visible, but it wouldn't take much more. The skin was the same as with the face, still pale like it used to be, but now with that sickly grayish tint. But that wasn't what made them stare in horror.

Not even the sight of the small scars crisscrossing his left arm and part of his upper body, already halfway healed. It was his right arm. Thin, black lines were writhing underneath the skin- his veins- looking like the winter spirit had ink pulsing through him instead of blood. They were spreading from his right hand, up his arm and already partly over his chest, right over his heart and creeping up his neck. For one, long minute nobody said a thing, then, North moved, touching the arm before he carefully forced one of Jack's eyes open, staring at the blue which was now nerved with black. Then he looked up, staring Sandy, slowly asking:

"Sandy...what is this?!"

The sandman looked terrible pained, eyes full of sadness before he formed another row of signs, letting them read it. Bunny, heart pounding in his ears, read them, sucking in a deep breath in horror while North and Toothiana gasped both next to him. The white haired man repeated, looking both horrified and debilitated:

"He got infected by nightmare...and is in coma now...he won't wake up anymore..."

No. the gray furred rabbit could feel his heart breaking, a terrible, ripping sensation while his inside cried out in pure pain. No, that couldn't be true.

"No. No! That can't be true, it can't be! There must be a way to stop this!", Bunny yelled, breaking the terrible silence in the room. North, his blue eyes full of pain, replied slowly.

"Bunny, you know is no way to stop this. You know we can't stop it from spreading inside him- that must been what has caused him to loose control. It must have been inside him all that time, laying dormant inside him...something...must have triggered this, something severe..."

The guardian of hope felt his heart getting stabbed by those words, knowing exactly the answer. It had been his fault. All his fault. Just like he had known. North, having seen how something inside Bunny's eyes broke, looked frightened, quickly saying:

"No! No Bunny! Was not your fault! You couldn't have known that! How should you known he was infected? Me didn't know, neither Sandy nor Toothiana sensed anything! What happened back then at day of heat is not your fault!"

"It is", Bunny clunky replied, ears hanging down while he stared at Jack's trembling form,

"And with this I practically killed the one I care the most for. The one I fell in love with. Isn't that hilarious? The first one after centuries I fell for rejected me and never wanted to see me again. And then, after another couple of centuries I fall in love again, with him.

Only to ruin it all by first trying to push him away, hurting him, pushing him into this state and then hearing he had feelings for me as well. After all these years, these goddamn long, lonely years, the chance of a partner, a mate, and of course I destroyed it! And now, all I can do is to watch him die slowly, right in front of my eyes."

North straightened up fully, eyes blazing with both pain and annoyance.

"Bunny", he sharply said, "This is not your fault! You didn't know it! I understand how you must have felt like, but this is not your fault! You were hurt before, so you afraid of another rejection. But don't blame yourself for this-"

"Oh yes, I do! It is my fault!", Bunny hissed back, ears laying flat back in anger.

"No, is not! Vy glupyy krolik! Why are you so blind?!"

"I'm not blind! I can see exactly this is all my fault! I should have never fallen for him, fuck, I should have never allowed feelings like this at all!"

"Use brain you imbecile ublyudok ! Is not your fault, dammit!"

"It is! So shut the fuck up now, okay?!"

"Do I have to smash your head against wall until you get it?! Is not your fault!"

"Oh yes, it is-"

"GUYS!"

In the next moment both males yowled out when two small, but very hard fists hit their head with force, making them stumble backwards before both turned, angrily staring at Toothiana. The humming bird like female stared back with an equal icy glare, not in the least intimidated before she said clipped, sharp annoyance in her normally sweet voice:

" Sandy is trying to tell us something important! If you guys are finished with trying to bash your heads over stupid things who's fault it was- not like anyone could be blamed for this- we can all listen to him now, right?!"

Bunny, sniffing shortly, nodded shortly, throwing one, last sour look at North who glared back before they all turned to Sandy. The golden colored man had an equally icy glare in his normally warm gold eyes, tapping his foot impatiently in the air. When he was sure all eyes were on him he sighed silently, starting to form his sand signs. His words were followed by another, stunned silence, everyone was staring at him with wide eyes. Bunny was the first to recover, slowly saying:

"There...is a way?"

North jumped up, grabbing Sandy who twitched in surprise:

"Quick! You must tell us!"

The sandman freed himself gently, stepping back a little before he continued to tell them. It was true that the infection inside Jack couldn't be broken- but that didn't mean he couldn't stop it in another way. The coma the winter spirit was in wasn't normal, it was forced onto him, after he hadn't been able to resist any longer. But that coma could be broken- because it was a nightmare. The young immortal was caught inside it, being suppressed and attacked.

And Sandy, as the guardians of dreams could form a connection to let another one enter this nightmare and pull Jack out. He may not be able to control the nightmares like Pitch could, but that connection was possible for him. But, whoever would go...might not come back.

"Sandy, I don't want to sound offending, but...since you're the dream master and have a lot more experience with nightmares...why can't you enter the nightmare?", the tooth fairy asked, looking at him worried.

Sandy sighed soundlessly, looking unhappy before he made signs again. He couldn't- that meant, he could very well, but to stop the infection it was needed to be 'treated' from both sides. He would suppress and heal the infection on the outside of Jack's body- but to completely erase it someone had to enter Jack's nightmare. The nightmare would have never been able to start spreading if Jack's inner shields hadn't been weakened by an big, emotional turmoil. And to destroy it, to save Jack from getting completely infected someone had to do this.

"I'll do it", Bunny said shortly, staring at Sandy and the others with a hard expression, dead serious.

North, shortly after he recovered from his words, said quickly with worry:

"Bunny, are you sure this is a good idea?! You don't know what will await you, and since you are so emotionally bond to him it might affect you more than one of us-"

"I don't care. I will go, no matter what you'll say", the guardian of hope replied unfazed, staring at North.

"I put him through all of this, I will pull him out of this mess I created. I hurt him, North. All what I want is to save the him, my...mate. Even if he still might reject me after all of this...".

North sighed, looking at Toothiana and Sandy who both nodded.

"Oh, fine. Sandy?"

The golden man ordered them to come all to Jack's bedside, telling them to hold him down- he would first start with the healing measures. The moment the golden sand touched the black veined arm, Jack, although unconscious, cried out terribly, voice breaking with pain while his eyes, having been closed before, snapped open, rolling back until only the white part was visible. His whole body bucked up wildly, arms and legs trashing around violently while North, Bunny and Toothiana struggled to keep him down.

After what seemed like an eternity his cries and struggling weakened until he went slack again, though he was still trembling and whimpering occasionally in pain, face scrunched up. Exhausted the guardians let go of him, Bunny immediately looked at Jack's arm. Around it there now was a shimmering, golden layer of dream sand, wrapped around like a second skin, up to the infected chest part and neck, covering them as well.

Sandy leaned back, sighing before he concentrated, eyes closing while he moved his hands. On his hands grew a golden ball of dream sand, whirling and moving softly, sounding like the whispers of the universe itself. Bunny stood up and walked over to a second bed in the infirmary, dragging it after him until it was right next to Jack's on the right side.

"I want to be next to him", was all he said at the questioning looks from Toothiana and North.

Slowly he sat down onto the bed, the soft mattress giving in under his weigh a bit before he full laid down, stretching out. The green eyed rabbit turned his head, staring at the outline of Jack's pale face, feeling his heart ache with pain. Slowly, very slowly he reached out, moving without looking, until his hand hit something smooth which felt both too hot and too cold. Carefully he took Jack's hand into his own, holding it gently but firm, ignoring the hissing sound and the short, stinging pain when his hand made contact with the infected hand.

He could feel the unsteady pulse of his heartbeat, the twisted, strange pattern of his magic pulsing deep inside him.

"I'm ready", he said aloud, staring at the ceiling, trying to relax.

North's and Toothiana's faces appeared right next to him, both looking incredible worried and nervous.

"Are you really sure about this, Bunny?", North asked.

"I can go, too- maybe this is better, like I told you-"

"No. I won't discuss with you about this. I made my decision", Bunny replied sternly but not too sharp.

The humming bird like female next to him looked at him with wet, purple eyes, quietly saying:

"Please...bring him back. Bring both of you back safely."

North nodded, stepping back a bit:

"I ask the same. Please...be careful. Stay safe".

Bunny nodded, looking up to Sandy who had watched them with a sad, but determined expression before turning his eyes onto the rabbit under him.

"Ready?", his sand signs silently asked.

Another nod. In the next moment Bunny could feel how the dream sand hit him and his consciousness slowly blacked out. One, last thought crept through his mind, clear in the mist of dreaming taking over:

/ Wait for me Jack. I'm coming for you. Just hold on /.

His dream consciousness awakened in the next moment, shortly seeing a table full of delicious looking carrots, a cake made of carrots, beautiful painted eggs.

It only lasted for three seconds. In the next moment he felt himself get grabbed, pulled out before he was thrown into another direction, feeling how he passed an invisible wall- he was entering Jack's mind- when something dark, twisted...evil grazed him...

Then he was falling, falling into the thick darkness.

Falling and falling and falling -

And here it ends!

Well, you'll see soon enough what will happen in the next chapter...

And now, the usual question...

How did you like it? Was it good? Bad? Too OOC?

Any scenes I could have done better?

More insight of the characters?

Sorry, if some of you wanted more of Jack's POV,

though I think I got that fairly well shared, with Bunny's POV being the other half.

I'm curious to see what you'll write in your reviews.

But, just to let you know, the 4th chapter will probably take much looonger,

because the next thing I'll work on will be the 2. chapter for 'The spring tribute'.

I bet a few of you are reading this as well...

So, bye for now, see you in my next chapter!

your author Kamo-chan

REVIEWS PLEASE! I'll work extra hard on chapter 2 of 'The spring tribute' / chapter 4 of 'Infected' when you tell me if you read both stories. I would love to know :)