Chapter Five

Jack leads the way to his cabin in the darkening woods, keeping an eye out for any unwanted visitors, his staff gripped loosely in his hand.

The Beast Spirit picks up his pace to walk beside Jack, chuckling as Baby Tooth pokes his ears to watch them twitch.

Jack swings his staff as he walks, freezing and frosting everything it comes in contact with. The frost creates swirling, feathery patterns across everything, branching out around the Winter Spirit as he walks.

It doesn't take the trio long to reach the little cabin nestled deep in the woods, not far from Jack's pond.

Jamie looks back the way they came as he waits for Jack to open the door. The entire area glistens as the moon shines down on the new frost covering everything, the snow completely untouched other than two sets of footprints. "You know," he starts quietly, "sometimes I envy your job. I could never pull off something like this".

"Jamie," Jack says, looking back at the boy as he pushes the door open, "You're a much better artist than I could ever be. The frost - it does that on its own. I just send it off to do its job."

When Jack steps inside, his eyes are immediately drawn to the painting Jamie had done for him all those years ago.

"I could never do that." He gestures to the painting. "Or what you do as the Beast Spirit."

Jamie follows his gaze as he too steps in the small cabin. "You're right, I'm sorry," he says, giving Jack a small smile. "Guess I've been alone too long. I paint with berries and things all the time, even carve each of my arrowheads when I get bored; animals just aren't very appreciative of art, though." He chuckles at that, remembering a group of squirrels getting angry at him after he carved up some of their acorns into tiny animals.

"Don't worry about it. If you ever get the urge to paint, I kept all of your stuff for you," Jack says, touching the pile of supplies he'd set out just a couple days ago. "I just couldn't let them get thrown out."

Jack gives Jamie a sheepish smile, a little embarrassed.

As Jamie examines the large wooden box filled with everything a painter could ever need, he notices that Jack has kept it in perfect condition over the years. "Thank you," he says sincerely, touched at how much effort the boy had to have put into taking care of it. "Really, Jack. This means a lot."

"I guess it just felt so final when they were getting rid of everything. I couldn't come to terms with you being gone, either, and I'm glad." Jack rubs the back of his head, giving Jamie an awkward lopsided smile. "I was determined to keep it, even if it meant I had to take up painting myself."

Jack runs a finger over the plain wooden box, thinking of the time he spent dusting the things, and the times he actually did attempt to paint.

"I'm glad, too," Jamie laughs. His smile turns mischievous as he asks, "So, did you take up painting? I wanna see".

Jack blushes as he recalls his awful abstract attempts lying in the bottom of the closet.

"Only because it's you," Jack says reluctantly. "And not a word gets to Bunny."

Jack gives Baby Tooth a pointed look before rummaging in the closet for the paintings, his face as red as ever as he finds them and shows them to Jamie.

Jamie laughs unintentionally as he looks at the various paintings. Deciding not to lie, since Jack will just see through them anyway, he admits, "Those are terrible".

Baby Tooth nods in agreement, giving the boy an apologetic look.

"If you want, I can try to teach you sometime. How's that?" Jamie asks, handing the pages back.

"Maybe," Jack grimaces, putting them back. "You think there is help for that?" Jack laughs, indicating his paintings. "I'm not sure there's much help for that."

"You never know," Jamie smirks. "With enough practice, you might be better than me one day."

"Don't fool yourself, Picasso," Jack snorts. "I don't think I'd ever get that good."

Jamie just shrugs at that, not put off in the slightest. "Even so, learning could be fun. We could try different stuff with your frost." His tail wags excitedly at that thought, mind already picturing different things they could make.

"Sure," Jack says, stifling a yawn. "Another time? I didn't really get any sleep at North's place." Jack's eyes are heavy as he looks at his friend, feeling as if he'll fall asleep where he stands.

"Sure, Buddy," Jamie says, pulling the wooden box off the table and placing it on the floor. Opening it, he curls up on the floor and pulls out some supplies, not willing to try to sleep yet.

Jack watches Jamie for a moment before wandering over to his bed and lying down by the wall so there would still be room should Jamie choose to share the bed again. It doesn't take him long to drift off to sleep.

After a while, Baby Tooth can feel sleep pulling at her as well. She abandons her place on Jamie's shoulder to lie on a pillow on the bed, pulling the much too large blanket around her to ward off the coolness coming from Jack.

Jamie's eyes grow heavier as the night wears on. As his head begins to bob, he doesn't even realize that his painting slowly morphs from a beautiful portrait of two wolves running through a snow-covered forest into a large Nightmare with gleaming red eyes charging full speed toward Jack. The Winter Spirit clutches a broken staff to his chest as he runs through dark sand pillars, eyes wide and terrified.

The brush eventually slips from his fingers to roll across the floor as Jamie slumps back against the wall, slitted eyes drifting closed.

~HOLD ME NOW~

Jack sleeps comfortably before his dreams turn to the evening Jamie was killed.

He finds himself sitting in the little cafe on the campus of the college Jamie had attended, the boy sitting across from him in the booth.

It's not long before the boy with the wild eyes enters, looking around until his eyes land on Jamie. He glowers at the boy before turning to the cashier. In cold blood, he fires at the woman and the cafe falls into a stunned silence as she crumples to the ground.

Jack's ears are ringing as Jamie steps from the booth to try to calm Nathan down. His eyes are insane as he points the muzzle of the weapon at Jamie's chest, and Jack scrambles to try to jump in front of him. There's a sick, twisted smile on his face as he fires multiple shots through Jack, and into Jamie before sending a bullet into his own brain.

The pain that sends Jack to the floor isn't physical, but emotional. He couldn't even save the person who had become the most important to him, even in his dreams. He spins around and grabs at Jamie's body, falling through the boy and into his blood as it pools around Jamie's body.

Jack shoots up with a gasp, terrified when he doesn't see Jamie beside him. He scrambles up from the bed, knocking Baby Tooth from the pillow in the process, and almost tripping over Jamie as he sits on the floor.

Jack falls to the floor beside the boy and wraps him in a tight hug, not caring that he's sure to wake his sleeping friend.

Jamie lets out a frightened squeak as he's jolted back into consciousness. His dreams had been a repeat of the one he had earlier in the day, and the pain in his chest remains even after he awakens. Neck throbbing painfully, he attempts to wriggle out of whatever has gotten a hold of him, his slitted vision distorting the world around him.

"Jamie..." Jack mumbles into Jamie's neck, trembling. The dream was so vivid, as if that day had suddenly repeated itself, that Jack couldn't help but be disturbed by it. It was as if he'd lost the boy all over again.

Jamie nearly begins to hyperventilate as whatever has him tightens its grip. The sharp pain in his chest intensifies, causing him to gasp and clutch at the front of his tunic.

Seeing something's not right, Baby Tooth rushes over to the pair, forgetting her agitation at being woken up so abruptly. She pulls on a lock of Jack's hair, chirping worriedly and pointing at the terrified Jamie, then down to the disturbing painting lying on the floor in front of him.

Jack looks from Baby Tooth to the painting then to Jamie, and immediately releases him. "Jamie... C'mon, wake up..." Jack says softly, worried for the boy.

Jamie's glassy eyes roll over toward the noise, but he clenches them at the sight of the disfigured...thing sitting next to him. With shaky fingers, he attempts to reach into his pouch to grab a ball of Dreamsand, claws slipping on the latch.

When Jack sees what Jamie's trying to do, he opens the pouch and pulls out one of the little balls. Carefully, he tries to feed the Dreamsand to the boy without getting bitten.

Eyes still firmly closed, Jamie opens his mouth to allow the sand inside, swallowing cautiously. His swollen throat nearly causes him to choke, but he manages to get it down.

He slowly opens his eyes as Sandy's magic takes its hold, the pain in his chest ebbing away as well.

Jack watches Jamie's face, concern filling him. He wraps a gentle hand around Jamie's thin arm as he waits for Jamie to come back to him.

Jamie looks over at Jack as he feels the boy's hand on his arm. His bottom lip quivers and he turns his gaze to the floor, only to be surprised to see something completely different from what he had painted last night sitting in front of him. "Wha-what is this?" he asks hesitantly as he carefully picks the disturbing picture up.

"It's yours, I guess," Jack says softly, trying not to think to much of the painting.

"But I didn't paint this," Jamie pleads, desperation and confusion clear in his voice. "I-I would never make something like this!"

Jack looks at the boy, trying not to say what he knows is obvious - if Jamie didn't paint it, then who did?

Jamie crinkles the paper in his paint-stained hands, not wanting to believe what whatever is causing this fear also has the power to control him as well.

Jack watches Jamie crumple the painting, having mixed feelings about it.

"Jamie, we'll fight this," Jack says softly, his own fear from his dream vanishing, only to replaced by fear for Jamie's safety and well-being.

"What if we can't?" Jamie asks in a near whisper. "I've already had three of these...attacks, and they're only getting worse. What if...what if I hurt you next?" He looks up at Jack, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"We'll figure this out," Jack says, determined to make his words true. "I know you'd never hurt me, Jamie. And I'd certainly never allow you to hurt yourself."

Jamie simply nods his head at that, knowing that he can trust Jack's word, but a whisper in the back of his mind tells him that he'll never get over this; that no matter what they try he's just going to end up alone again.

Jack moves to sit beside Jamie, his back against the wall and their sides touching. He wants nothing more than to reassure Jamie that he'll be able to help him, but he knows he can't promise that to the boy.

Jamie leans against Jack appreciatively, hands clasped in his lap in an attempt to calm their shaking. Looking outside, he sees that the sun is only just beginning to rise. He knows that his sister is most likely still asleep, but he still says quietly, "I wanna see Sophie..."

"But we have to figure out how to get her to believe in you," Jack says softly. "Otherwise you won't be able to talk to her."

Jamie bites his bottom lip as he thinks, ears drooping slightly at this realization.

Hesitantly, he reaches out and grabs another brush and canvas, doing the only thing he knows of that could possibly work to prove his identity. He's still not sure if it'll even work, but he's willing to try anything at this point.

Jack watches the boy, not completely sure of what he's doing, but tries not to disturb him.

Slowly, a picture begins to form. Jamie paints himself holding little Clara, the snow white kitten a big contrast to his green and brown attire. Behind them on the left side is Jamie Bennett, laughing with his family and the Guardians that final Christmas he spent with them all twenty years ago. On the right, the picture fades into a scene of various animals; birds soar in the sky, lions stalk their prey in the Savannas, wolves howl to the moon above, even little mice scurry about on the ground.

Finally after several minutes, Jamie sets the brush down, looking at his work.

Jack smiles as he watches the image form underneath Jamie's skilled brush. "I think that will work," he says, looking from the painting to Jamie. "This should help a lot, at least with Sophie."

Jamie smiles for the first time since awakening. "I hope so," he replies. "Mom's gonna have to see something a lot more...elaborate to convince her, I think."

"Let's concentrate on Sophie, for now. Baby steps." Jack's so relieved to see Jamie's smile, he pulls the boy into a hug, not concerned that he might get some of the paint that's on Jamie on himself.

Jamie chuckles as he returns the hug. He's still a bit shaken up, but having his best friend by his side helps ease him tremendously.

He can't help but remember the last time they were like this, so for old time's sake, he makes sure to smudge some of the paint onto Jack.

Jack wrinkles his nose when Jamie rubs the paint on him, but smiles nonetheless. "I missed you, Jamie," Jack mumbles. "And I'm glad you're back."

"Me too, Buddy," Jamie says. He laughs when Baby Tooth, apparently feeling left out, pushes her way between them, nuzzling both of their faces with her tiny head. "I missed you as well, Little One."

The little fairy trills happily at the acknowledgement, content to be sandwiched between her two favorite boys.

The trio stays that way for a while, not moving until Jack notices the sun's position high in the sky. "I think we can head over to Sophie's soon, if you'd like," Jack says, turning to look at his friends.

Jamie agrees by standing up. His back cracks loudly as he stretches out the stiffness from being slouched over for so long, and he sighs at the relief it brings. Bending down, he picks up the canvas then heads over to strap his bow and quiver on. Once finished, he says, "Ready when you are".

Jack follows, snagging his staff from where it lay by his bed before joining Jamie.

Jamie walks next to him the entire way, though the closer they get to Burgess, the more nervous he gets. He clings onto his quiver belt with his free hand, the old habit not dying with the emergence of his memories.

He's impressed by the modest sized house Sophie lives in when he finally lays eyes on it, having not been paying attention when they brought Clara to her new home. Pride wells up inside him for his little sister.

Sophie answers the door when Jack knocks, wearing an old sweater with the mascot of her college on it and a pair of jeans, her hair loose and messy, not unlike how she used to wear it as a child.
"Jack!" Sophie grins, hugging the Winter Spirit. It takes her a moment, but she feels a presence that she can't quite name.

"Hey, Soph," Jack greets her, his smile just as big as hers. "You wouldn't think it was just a couple days ago we last saw each other."

Jamie smiles at his two favorite people, tears welling up in his eyes as he watches them interact.

"Is he here?" Sophie asks suddenly, not realizing she's staring right at where Jamie's standing. "That Beast Spirit you were with last time. The one that brought Clara."

"Yeah," Jack nods. "But there's something else about him, Soph." When Sophie gives him a questioning look, he continues cautiously. "That Jamie, is our Jamie. He's a Spirit now, Sophie."

Sophie stares at jack as if he'd grown another head. "What?" Is all she can say, unsure if whether to believe him or not.

Jamie can't hold back his tears as he holds out the painting, a few drops landing on the surface. His baby sister has grown into a beautiful woman, and he missed out on all of it. He prays that this will work; he doesn't want to miss out on any more of her life than he already has.

It startles Sophie to see the floating painting, but she accepts it. She stares at it in shock when she sees the image of her brother with dog ears and a tail, holding Clara. He doesn't look any different than before he was shot, like he hadn't aged a day just like Jack. The thing that strikes her the most, is the scene of the animals to the right side of the painting. They're each created with loving strokes that show the painter understands them.

The tear drops on the canvas are what finally does it for Sophie. She clutches the painting to her body, not caring the painting isn't dry and she smudges some of the paint on her old sweater. The tears roll down her cheeks as she looks where she guesses Jamie is, though this time she's shocked to see her brother standing beside Jack, tears spilling from his eyes as well.

"Jamie..." She whispers, hoping the boy in front of her isn't an illusion as she rushes forward and wraps him in her arms, the painting having been plucked from her hands by Jack.

Jamie clings desperately to her, a sob breaking free as he buries his face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," can be heard like a mantra in her ear.

"It's not your fault, Jamie," Sophie whispers. "I never blamed you. You have no idea how proud I was of you when I heard what happened."

She holds her brother close, not ever wanting to let go of him again. She can't help but laugh as her little white kitten, Clara, comes out of the house to investigate what's going on, rubbing against her leg before sitting to look up at Jamie.

Jamie follows his sister's gaze as she laughs, immensely relieved that she's not upset at him for leaving, however unintentionally it was.

Tears still trickling down his face, he bursts out laughing as Clara meows up at him. "No," he denies, reaching down to scoop the kitten up, "I am not stealing your new mommy."

Sophie can't help but laugh as she strokes the kitten's furry head. "So, what, you're like Saint Francis of Assisi? You protect animals?" she asks, watching Jamie with Clara.

"Pretty much," Jamie answers. Using a claw, he scratches under the little cat's chin, eliciting a purr from her as she closes her eyes.

"I protect them from humans," he continues, "sometimes from themselves when their curiosity gets the better of them. I make sure they have plenty food to eat and water to drink, and if not, I help them find someplace that does. It's harder to do with pets, though. Humans can be cruel..." He frowns at this before shaking his head much like a canine would and moving on. "And I keep most animals that are endangered from dying out. I've had to let some follow Nature's course. That wasn't fun...at all."

"That sounds tough," Sophie says softly. "But it sounds like the perfect job for you. You always were so good with animals - our greyhound loved you!"

Sophie smiles as she cups Jamie's cheek with her hand, turning his face so she can look into his golden eyes. "It seems so strange that here I'm 32, and you don't look a day over 20."

"I know what you mean," Jamie chuckles. "You're my little sister; you're not supposed to be older than me." With a grin, he adds, "Well, at least you're not as old as a certain old man I know".

"Old Man Winter," Jack huffs, sticking his tongue out at Jamie. "Besides, I can't help it I've been around for over three hundred years."

"I knew you were old, Jack, but wow!" Sophie's eyes are wide as she looks at Jack in a new light. "You would have been around during the Colonial times, wouldn't you."

Jamie laughs at his sister's reaction. "You should see his house," he says. "That's proof enough what time he's from. It could fit in your house with plenty of room to spare."

Sophie had never thought of her house as big, but the size of her friend's home surprises her. "Why have I never seen your house, Jack?" Sophie pouts.

"No real reason to take you there, I guess," Jack shrugs. "Jamie's only been in it because he had no where else to stay. It's not like I'm usually there very much."

"Plus it's really cold in there," adds the Beast Spirit, aware that he's stating the obvious.

"I don't exactly need a heater," Jack snorts, petting Clara.

"If you don't mind the layer of frost on everything, then it's a nice place," Jamie laughs.

After feeling a draft from the other room, Jason walks into the living room and isn't surprised in the least to see his wife talking to Jack Frost. He is, however, surprised to see their new kitten floating in midair.

"The other one's here, I take it?" he says, eyebrow raised. "Jamie, wasn't it?"

Sophie nods, feeling herself choke up. "It's Jamie, Jason. It's my brother." She knows she sounds crazy, but she doesn't care.

"What?" Jason asks, his other eyebrow rising to meet the first. "How? I thought he was..." He cuts himself off, not wanting say that her brother's dead, even though it's been true for twenty years.

Jamie reaches out with his free hand, taking Sophie's and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"He's like Jack," Sophie says, returning the squeeze appreciatively. "He's a Spirit. But it's him, Jason. He did this painting."

Sophie hands Jason the smudged painting. "That's my brother. He has a few new features, but that's my brother." Sophie's smile is deliriously happy as she looks at her brother.

Jason examines the picture with a critical eye. He's never actually seen Jamie-he was murdered long before he and Sophie had ever met-but he's seen pictures. There's a photo of him placed proudly in the middle of their mantlepiece. Looking at the boy in the painting's features, there's no doubt in Jason's mind that it really is the same one he sees every time he walks by the fireplace.

The man glances up to hand the picture back to his wife, but his eyes widen when he sees the strange young man holding her hand. "...Jamie?"

Said spirit's tail wags excitedly, unintentionally causing him to wiggle where he stands. Even his current dilemma with Pitch's attacks is momentarily forgotten in light of the acknowledgement.

Sophie beams as she brings Jamie's hand up to her mouth, where she kisses his rough knuckles.

"I don't think you two had the best introductions last time," Sophie smiles. "Jamie, meet my husband, Jason. Jason, meet my brother Jamie."

Those two sentences were ones Sophie had resigned herself to never saying. After her brother's death, she knew she'd never have the opportunity to introduce her brother to the man she loves. But now, Sophie's so overjoyed she feels like she's twelve again.

Jamie's head cocks to the side at the mention of a husband. It still seems strange to think that his baby sister is all grown up and married; she's supposed to be a small little girl with a big imagination and an even bigger heart. Pushing it aside for the time being, he hands Clara over to Jack before extending his hand out to Jason.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Jason answers, the situation nearly as strange for him as well. He grips the technically older boy's hand in his own, surprised by his callouses. "I've heard a lot about you."

Sophie beams as Jack accepts the little kitten. "Let's talk inside, Jamie. There's so much to tell you," she says, pulling her brother into the house like an impatient child.

Jamie laughs as he follows her inside. He smiles as he notices his picture up above the fireplace and, while not his favorite picture of himself, he appreciates that Sophie has kept him with her all these years.

Jason shares a look with Jack at his wife's antics before shrugging and heading back inside as well.

"I took your advice, Jamie," Sophie says, her eyes sparkling. "I became a Pediatrician, and I love it. Sometimes it feels like I'm a Guardian, too."

"That's great, Soph!" Jamie beams as he forgoes a chair and sits in the floor. "I told you you'd make a great doctor."

Sophie continues to fill her brother in on her last twenty years, and the things he missed out on.

Jamie listens intently as she tells her story, idly scratching at his neck as the healing cuts under the bandaging begin to itch.

"What happened...?" Sophie asks suddenly, finally noticing Jamie's bandaged neck.

Jamie's fingers freeze and his eyes grow impossibly wide at the question. He glances over at Jack nervously as his ears press to his head. "Pit...Pitch is back," he mumbles quietly.

Sophie pales at the mention of the Boogeyman. "I thought you guys got rid of him?" Sophie says, hoping she heard wrong.

Jack shakes his head. "We thought we did. But he's back, and he's done something to Jamie that really messed him up," Jack says, squeezing the boy's shoulder as he comes to stand beside him.

"What do you mean by that...?" Sophie asks nervously.

Jamie's answer is nearly a whisper as he draws his knees up to his chest. "I can't sleep. I have nightmares when I do and when I wake up, everything's...scary. I see...things, I dunno what they are. Shadows that move away before I can see them, and people are...monsters; I can't even tell when Jack's by my side. Noise sounds like, like growling and now...now it's controlling my actions."

He lets out a whine as he clenches his eyes shut and grips his hair in his fists tightly.

Sophie moves to sit beside her brother on the floor, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Sophie says softly, not liking the animalistic noise her brother had just made. "But do you know how he got you like this?"

Shaking his head to answer both, Jamie leans into his sister's embrace.

"I heard a horse in the woods," he answers. "It sounded scared, so I went to help it and I couldn't remember about Pitch's Nightmares. I was so stupid; I should have known, but I didn't and the next thing I knew, it kicked me in the head. When I woke up, I was like this." Another whimper escapes him, though he's not aware that the sound bothers Sophie.

"Oh Jamie..." Sophie whispers. "We're here for you now. We'll do everything we can in order to not let Pitch hurt you any more than he already has."

"Thanks," murmurs Jamie. He keeps his earlier insecurities to himself, not wanting to think about the very real possibility that he could hurt Sophie.

In the silence that follows, Jason finally decides to ask, "So this 'Pitch' person...Is he the same guy you've told me about, Soph? The Boogeyman, or whatever?"

Sophie nods. "I know he doesn't sound scary anymore, but he is. He's the one behind everyone losing their faith in the Guardians 30 years ago, and now he's back..."

Not remembering the event, but knowing from stories, Jason nods. "You guys have stopped him before, right? Third time's the charm."

Jamie gives him a small smile, thankful that his sister found someone willing to believe in all the spirits.

"We defeated him, be he came back. He's much too strong for us on our own..." Jack says, finally speaking up. He'd let Clara down as she had begun to get cold in his arms.

"What happens if you don't stop him...?" Sophie asks softly, dreading the answer.

Jamie hugs his knees to his chest as he glances over at the woman. "I don't know," he answers just as quietly. "As far as I can tell, the attacks already change my appearance. I don't know how much, but I know my teeth and claws get sharper..." He brushes his tongue along the puncture marks on on his bottom lip where his fangs pierced through after he was brought to Santoff Claussen. "I don't want to think about what would happen if he completely took control of me."

"He won't." Sophie says firmly, cuddling up to her brother.

Jamie just nods as he rests his head on top of hers, desperately hoping she's right.

A/N: Anime Angel Alchemist here!

Sorry guys, I got nothin' for a A/N here, so I'll just give you a hearty thanks for reading and send you on your merry way.

Rating and Reviews are always loved!

~AAA