Bunny continued to stare at Jack in silence trying to pin down that feeling in his gut that told him something wasn't right. Jack himself did nothing but run his fingers over his staff, brushing over the charred surface and tracing the rough carved grooves with his fingertips. He seemed just fine with the quiet in the room, not even attempting to fill it with conversation or jokes or...anything. On any other occasion Bunny would have enjoyed the peace, but not now. Jack was like North, in that they both enjoyed an almost constant noise. Some kind of background racket or just general sound that seemed to show off a constant moving of the world around them. As it was Jack just lay on his bed quietly, not seemingly disturbed by the silence in the least.

"How you feelin'?" Bunny asked finally.

"Fine...I guess." Jack answered dully, his brow furrowing as if he didn't understand why the other had asked.

"You guess?" Bunny raised a brow of his own now.

"Yea."

"But yur not sure?" Bunny continued almost setting down his brush.

"What do you want to hear Bunny?" Jack snapped suddenly with exasperation, his voice cracking and becoming wispy every few words, "That I feel groggy all the time? That I ache all over? That I feel like a stupid rag doll every time someone needs to help me to-to do anything? I feel like crap, okay? Happy now?"

Bunny didn't move from his seat as he stared at Jack. The young Guardian's face was scrunched with annoyance, his chest heaving to replace the precious air he had used in his little rant. Not only was it the most Jack had spoken in all the time he'd been awake, but it also seemed to be the most...truthful. Blatantly so. However, he seemed to have pushed himself to get it out as he was now trying to push down a coughing fit. Bunny rose again and filled a glass with water for him, but this time when he moved to help Jack sit up the teen moved as best he could out of his hold.

"Frostb-"

"No." Jack rasped bluntly.

"You need it."

"I'm fine." Jack replied roughly.

Ignoring him Bunny tried again to get him into a sitting position.

"Don't touch me!" Jack snapped, wincing as he shifted a bit fast to avoid the Pooka's grasp.

"Fine." Bunny relented with an annoyed sigh, "I'll get you the medicine instead then."

"No."

At this Bunny stopped and look into Jack's face. The look of annoyance was still there, now complimented by flushing cheeks from his exertions. Jack hadn't ever refused the medicine and if he was really starting to hurt again he couldn't see why he'd refuse it now. It didn't make sense.

"Frostbite, if your startin' ta hurt again-"

"Whoops, I was wrong. My bad." Jack cut him off with a small huff.

Jack's voice was sounding more and more strained the longer he used it, but that didn't seem to deter him any. If it were painful to use he didn't really show it. After another moment of looking the other over Bunny turned back to the sealed bottle on the nightstand that had been filled for whenever Jack woke. Regardless of Jack's stated disinterest in taking it Bunny wasn't going to let it go. The kid clearly needed some.

"Frost." Bunny stated as he moved again to the bed, glass in hand.

Jack didn't reply.

"Jack." He tried again, his own annoyance starting to rise.

Since when had Jack been this difficult? Not counting before his staff had been taken by Pitch...or his attempted running away from Sandy, or trying to get him to leave him in a ditch... Okay, so maybe Jack had always been difficult, but not like this. Not since coming back from Pitches lair. Up until now he had been, dare he say, on his best behavior. Then again, he had also been asleep for most of it...

"Come on, ya need ta take this, now sit up." Bunny demanded trying and failing once more to get the young spirit into a sitting position.

"I-I don't need it." Jack wheezed, pushing himself farther from the Pooka.

"Don't lie ta me. I can see yur hurtin'. So lets go."

In reply Jack crossed his arms on his chest as best he could and gave an annoyed grimace. Bunny, in turn moved more onto the bed, careful not to spill the liquid in the cup. Jack may be injured still, but Bunny wasn't going to let him get away with acting like a petulant child. One way or another Jack was going to drink this medicine. Grabbing Jack firmly by his mostly uninjured upper arm with one paw Bunny hovered the cup above Jack's face, not that he could see it.

"I don't mind doin' this the hard way either." He stated as Jack tried to squirm away again, stopping as his aches were getting to him, "Now, open up."

Jack let out a weak grunt of refusal, snapping his mouth shut tight. Without missing a beat Bunny moved his paw from Jack's arm and instead pinched his nose shut. Jack grunted again with surprise and reached with is one mainly functional hand to try and pry the furry appendage from his face. The annoyance that had taken over his features was now being replaced by anger as he continued to struggle with the older Guardian. His face started to tint from the blood rushing to it as he refused to give in.

"Just open yur bloody mouth, ya dag." Bunny all but scolded.

He was starting to get concerned with how adamant Jack was and with how long he was holding his breath. If Jack didn't give in soon then he would have to. Least the kid pass out again, this time from suffocation.

Luckily it didn't come to that as Jack finally broke, gasping for air greedily. Bunny allowed him at least two gulps of air before pouring the medicine into his gaping mouth. It wasn't too much, but enough to get Jack to sputter before frantically trying to swallow it. After the equivalent of two sips had been taken Bunny backed off, placing the mostly still full glass on the nightstand, right beside the water. Jack didn't move as he panted, licking his lips of the liquid that didn't make it into his mouth. It was clear that despite his protests Jack still wanted the medicine itself. The anger had yet to leave Jack's face even after Bunny moved back off the bed to stand beside it.

"There now. That wasn't so bad was it?" Bunny stated crossing his arms with a grin.

Jack was clearly not amused and turned to face the Pooka. Instead of replying though he pinned the other with a glare, his eyes opening enough to make it a solid one. Bunny's grin fell, though not from the mere act of Jack glaring at him, he was used to that. But, Jack's eyes...

V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V

Sandy drifted through the large halls of the Pole once more. He had just completed another rotation of the earth sending dreams as he went and wanted to stop in to check on Jack while he was nearby. He was surprisingly glad to feel that Jack wasn't asleep as he approached the room. Even if he couldn't speak with the other like usual he had come up with an idea to solve that problem for now. He hoped Jack was up to it. After all, he had some questions for Jack and thought this the best way to keep it private, if Jack wanted.

Lowering down to the doorknob Sandy turned it and gave the large door a hefty push. He looked into the room with a smile, expecting to see Tooth still lingering and maybe Bunny and North sitting around trying to talk to Jack. Every time Jack woke up it was like they were glued to the room, hoping, perhaps, to see a glimpse of the old Jack. Like they needed to see it to reassure themselves that it was really over. What he wasn't expecting was to be met with the Pooka's back, rigid where he stood between Sandy and the bed. He couldn't see Jack, but he could hear a slight panting from his direction. He almost feared that something was happening to him again, only he could see the end of the staff still on the bed beside the teen.

Bunny, once registering the door behind him was open, turned to face him. His expression was shocked and a little...afraid. Sandy made a face to question the other, but he was given the expression of 'later'. Apparently whatever it was Bunny didn't want to speak about it so soon...or in front of Jack. Speaking of, now that the other had turned some Sandy could see him. He was shifted around on the bed that looked like there had been some minor struggle on and was lightly holding his chest as he steadied his breathing the rest of the way. His face was slightly flushed and held the ever so telling signs of discomfort and a bit of anger. Making a set of signs to ask Bunny what was going on the other huffed and crossed his arms, though whatever annoyance was to be there was replaced with concern.

"He refuses to drink anything." Bunny replied getting Sandy to raise a brow.

Jack hadn't refused any of the refreshments before. Another set of signs from Sandy asked for the reason of this denial.

"Dunno. He just doesn't want it."

"Who are you talking to?" Jack asked, confused and annoyed at being spoken about in front of him.

Sandy was startled at first to hear the other speak before becoming greatly excited. If Jack was speaking again then maybe he was recovering faster then they thought. Or, better yet, now they could help more by being able to truly communicate with him. It would certainly come in handy for the questions Sandy wanted, no, needed to ask.

"Sandy's here." Bunny answered looking back at him.

Sandy didn't miss the look of slight confusion on Bunny's face either at having to explain his presence. It wasn't the first time they had to announce such when he arrived. That is, when he didn't just pat the boys hand to make him aware himself.

"Oh. Hey, Sandy." Jack replied dully, his hand doing one of his generally weak waves towards the door.

Sandy raised a brow at the response. He almost sounded...bored. Sandy couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt that he wasn't greeted more enthusiastically, or at least more friendly. The way Jack spoke was like he didn't care either way. Before, when Jack could only grunt the tone was generally brushed off because, what else could you convey with such a sound? With words though? It sounded much different. Almost like it was meant to sound uncaring.

Sandy didn't like it.

Looking back to Bunny, Sandy's expression was concerned yet determined as he mimed out a few symbols. If something had happened to put Jack into some kind of mood, or if it had something to do with his Center that was only just now showing, then he wanted to know. He wanted to know now.

'What is wrong with Jack?'

Bunny, instead of replying aloud, signed that he'd explain later. It was strange to see Bunny using Sign language after such a long time.

'Why not now?'

Again Bunny nodded towards Jack. Sandy narrowed his eyes as he tilted his head at the Pooka's antics. It was really unlike him to act this way. Before he could question further they were interrupted.

"You know, it's kind of rude to have a suddenly silent conversation around a blind guy." Jack stated with some annoyance in his still uneven voice, "Though, I guess if you're going to talk about a person in front of them then this is the way to do it."

"Jack." Bunny stated with some exasperation.

"No, really. Good job there." Jack huffed out.

Sandy watched in confusion. Jack wasn't acting like himself, not at all. Sure he and Bunny fought often, but more often then not in good humor. Or at least on Jack's part. What he was hearing now wasn't playful banter or teasing. Jack was...actually picking a fight.

"It's not what it sounds like." Bunny tried, realizing too late about his wording.

"Well, it sounds like nothing, but, if it's not what it sounds like then that would make it something. Which, I pretty much already figured when you decided to go 'silent communications' on me." by the time Jack stopped talking he was coughing, wincing at that pain it caused.

Sandy looked on with concern, both for the teens temperament and his obvious discomfort. There were so many questions he had for Jack already, now he all these new ones too.

"Just, cool your heels and drink somethin' before you lose your voice again." Bunny scolded crossing his arms.

It took a moment for Jack to finally settle his latest coughing fit, but when he did he slouched his shoulders and crossed his arms with a huff. Furrowing his brow in annoyance Jack held out his hand for one of the glasses. Apparently that fit was enough to make him change his mind.

Bunny picked up the glass he knew to have the medicine in it and handed it over. He didn't try to help Jack up though which caused Sandy to give him a look of confusion. Jack didn't seem to mind though as he struggled to get upright enough to sip at the glass. It was evident from the look on his face that leaning up that way wasn't painless, but he kept at it none the less until he had drunk what he deemed was enough.

"Betta'?" Bunny asked taking the glass back.

"Are you going to ask that every time?" Jack countered, his voice still uneven but a bit less rough then before.

"Maybe." Bunny replied giving a look towards Sandy, as if to make sure he was seeing this.

Sandy nodded his head to the silent inquiry. He didn't understand it, but he could see clearly that Jack was acting up. This time it wasn't even from Bunny riling him up either. For all intents and purposes Jack was simply being ornery. Still, he had to try and see if Jack would be willing to communicate with him. Looking at Bunny he gave the sign to translate for him to Jack.

"Sandy wants ta know if you'll speak with him." Bunny looked from the small guardian to the youngest, most likely unsure how a conversation would even pan out given the circumstances.

"Well, at this point I can talk at him. Not sure how it'd work the other way round." Jack stated rather rudely, waving a hand in front of his closed eyes, "Still can't open them much."

"Says he's found away around that." Bunny raised a brow now at the golden man who only waved off said look.

"Really? Besides going second hand through one of you guys?" Jack asked, again more rude then was really necessary.

Bunny looked like he was going to say something to Jack, but Sandy stopped him. Jack wouldn't act this way, and until they were sure what was the cause of his sudden attitude there was little good to come from scolding him just yet. Bunny didn't seem to like the logic behind it but nodded his understanding none the less.

"Apparently." The Pooka replied with a slight huff in his own voice.

"Whatever. Go for it." Jack sighed, shifting around a bit he tried to get more comfortable.

Flying over to sit at Jack's left side Sandy took his hand in his, ignoring the flinch from the other at the action. Jack had always seemed a bit sensitive to being touched, especially back when he first became a Guardian. Though he had hidden it fairly well, either by avoiding it or only tensing up at initial contact. Now ,however, he seemed more aware of anything that so much as grazed him. Be it a hand or the brushing of feathers or fur against him. Instead of just tensing up like usual Jack would instinctively try to move away from said touches. They each in turn would ignore the action itself and try to avoid any unnecessary contact.

That's not to say they stopping altogether. After all, it was a lack of touch that made him so hypersensitive in the first place, or so they could assume. One way or another they were going to right this wrong one hug, kiss on the head or pat on the back at a time. This situation, as horrible as it was, was a good place to start over with that. The actions could both comfort, assure and desensitize Jack all at once.

Taking Jack's hand gently Sandy opened it, palm up, and laid it flat on the bed. Jack's brow furrowed with confusion but allowed the action none the less. Taking that as a good sign Sandy slowly started writing in the teens hand. It took a moment but Jack seemed to catch onto the idea and his brow shifted into a look of concentration.

"Yoouuur, asking if...I can understand this?" Jack hazarded a guess.

Two pats on his hand signified 'yes'.

"Kind of?" Jack offered with look of uncertainty.

Sandy began writing something else, careful not to go too fast so Jack had a chance to put the letters and words all together. He also tried to keep it short so there was less to decipher. Jack's lips moves slightly as he followed the words he was reading off his palm.

"Yea, I think I can manage this." Jack answered with a nod, before snappishly adding, "And you don't need to use baby talk, I can read this just fine."

Writing a quick apology to placate him in his current mood Sandy looked to Bunny showing they would be fine like this. As in, he wanted Bunny to leave them for a while. The other clearly didn't wish to step out and made that known clear enough with an angry shake of his head.

"I'm not leavin'." He stated plainly, catching Jack's attention as he did so, "I here to-"

"To what Bunny? Babysit?" Jack interrupted, "Not really necessary. Besides, Sandy's here. It's not like I'm alone in here. Not that it would matter."

"That's not it." Bunny retorted, trying to ignore the last statement.

"Then what is it?" Jack asked, his voice now lowering his features becoming somewhat dark with anger, "Think I'll try to bail on him again?"

Both Guardians looked startled at that one, staring at the boy in shock as a heavy feeling grew in their gut.

"Because I'm pretty sure he'd put me down if I tried." Jack went on with a halfhearted shrug.

Sandy tightened his hold on Jack's hand as he looked between him and Bunny. Even the Pooka seemed to be struck speechless for the moment. Jack, however, didn't seem bothered at all by the highly uncomfortable silence that sat heavily in the room. The only difference in him was that now that he had finished speaking his face had gone back to a more mildly annoyed expression.

When the silence had lasted almost a minute Sandy made a sign of Bunny leaving again, this time adding a sign for his eggs. He really should be at the Warren getting the final preparations done. Casting one more look at the teen Bunny nodded weakly and back towards the door.

"I'll, uh, come back later then." He managed to say before turning to go.

Though not before Jack got a last word in.

"Not until after Easter."

Bunny hesitated at the door but said nothing. With a gentle push from Sandy's sand he was out, the door closing behind him. Jack sighed lightly at the sound. The two of them sat there in silence for a time. Jack seeming to enjoy the peace he found himself in, and Sandy trying to understand if what Jack had just said was an order of some kind, or just another passing sharp remark. Whatever it was, he was sure it was going to latch into Bunny's mind as well.

Releasing his still tense hold on the winter spirits hand Sandy began writing once more. Jack's attention as back on him the moment his grip had changed.

'What did you mean by that?' Sandy started off with.

Jack shrugged and for a moment it seemed like that was all Sandy was going to get out of him.

"Well, it's almost March right?" Jack asked, though clearly rhetorical, "He shouldn't even be here right now."

Sandy bit his lip knowing that if Bunny had heard him say that...

'He is worried about you. Like we all are.' He scribbled down on Jack's palm.

"My staff is here. I'm here. What's there to be worried about?" Jack asked his brow raised in actual confusion.

Sandy was torn by not only the question, but how he could or should answer it. He couldn't bring up anything about Jack's Center being either extremely weak or, dare it be, even potentially damaged. With the fragile state either one would have him in the news could be too straining to bare, and there was no way to tell how he would handle it. Especially since each spirit manifested different traits, mannerisms and triggers when their Centers were askew. Not to mention the variations that came with how much damage and such was taken in the first place. It was too delicate a subject to delve into while Jack was so clearly not himeself.

However, Sandy also didn't want to have to lie to Jack either. He could just stay silent, yet that was another thing he couldn't bring himself to do. Jack deserved answers. Even if they were just place holders for the facts later to come. In the end Sandy gave the only reply he could at the moment.

'We will always worry.' He wrote slowly, hoping to let it really sink in.

Jack shifted his head as if he were rolling his eyes, which prompted Sandy frown before adding something else. Something he hoped would truly get his attention.

'we are family.'

It got his attention alright, but not at all like he had hoped.

"Family?" Jack practically scoffed bitterly, "We're a decent enough team, I'll give you that. Friends? Sure. But family? I wouldn't go that far little man."

Sandy was stunned once more by Jacks words. Not only for what was being said, but the way they were being said. The rough quality in Jack's voice only lent more to the almost hateful tone he used on the word 'family'. As if the word itself was offensive. He couldn't take his widened eyes off of Jack now, his mouth agape as hurt, confusion and sorrow rushed across his face.

Sandy tried to write something else into Jack's hand but the teen pulled it out of his grip.

"I'm done talking." Jack stated, his tone still a bit bitter.

Sandy tried frantically to grab his hand again, needing to go on. Needing to fix or explain or whatever he could to get Jack to never say those words again.

"I said I'm done talking." Jack growled out batting the others' hands away, his voice almost dropping out from his attempted rough tone.

Sandy could only sit there and look at the other sadly. He was greatly distressed at this point. What was wrong with Jack? Surely it was his Center, of that he was certain. But for such a drastic change. Perhaps they were not as lucky as they thought and something serious had, in fact, happened to their youngest? After all, even with weakened Centers none of the other Guardians had ever acted like this. They never changed so severely from themselves. Though, there was one thought, one that Sandy couldn't bare to put even the slightest bit of consideration towards. What if... Jack hadn't really changed at all?

What if Jack really did think that way? If one of Jack's traits in this state was to be overbearingly truthful, which Sandy had seen from other weakened spirits before, then did that mean that he truly felt this way about the Guardians? That they were merely teammates? Basic friends at best? Was Jack only pretending to be friendly with them on a daily basis?

He couldn't bring himself to believe it. Jack wasn't like that. And maybe that was just it. Maybe Jack was lying right now. If a spirit could be overly truthful then they could just as easily hold the trait of deceit. But, then did that mean everything Jack said was a lie?...What if it were both? Blatant lies with blunt truths? It was a possibility. Then how would they be able to tell the difference?

Sandy had fallen so far into his thoughts he hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps retreating from the door.

Oh. OOOH OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH. Something is up with Jack! *Cue Nightmare Before Christmas song here*

So, only a few people took a shot to get their cookies. I promised to mention once this chapter was up and thus I shall.

LunarCatNinja - Holy crap you are SO close to being on the money. You get a Cookie with sprinkles~

Rosycat - Good shot. You got some of the main points so YOU get a cookie. No sprinkles though, sorry. :I

And don't worry. No elves have been eating those...at least not that you can prove.

Anyway, this chapter was SO hard to write. All the minor details I REALLY need to get perfect here were a pain. I am going to sleep for half a century now to recover for the next chapter.

Lies. I'm going to go start it right now. *Cries forever because I am forever awake*