Jack's POV

"I'm sorry."

Jumping from the window, quickly catching onto the breeze, I make my escape from Santa's workshop to rescue Jaime.

I couldn't risk everyone else's lives.

As they slept in their respectful rooms, they were none the wiser.

Ting ting!

"Sandy!" I exclaimed.

He formed a little golden plane and flew at my side, saluting.

"Thanks for always being there."

Bring ting!

A little golden thumb appeared above him as he signed his response.

We flew through the snow capped mountains in a comfortable silence. With just the whistle of the wind and light beat of Sandy's propellers.

I had Pitch's cave in sight and I dived steadily down with Sandman on my flank. I quietly landed at the entrance and took slow steps inside. Somehow, it got more frigid the farther we walked. The narrow opening flared off to two different paths.

I looked down to Sandy. He pointed to the right pathway and I firmly nodded as he tapered off. I carefully walked down the other side, powers at the ready. I came to a barricaded steel door, but I easily froze over the locks and chains and burst through.

"Jaime?" I whispered.

The little bit of light from the barred openings high in the cell let me see Jaime's unconscious battered body slumped on a metal chair in the center.

"Jaime!" I forced my frightened body to tend to him. His shackled arms were worn with cuts and bruises and sticky with dried blood.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have left you. I love you so much, please don't leave me alone! I need you so much."

I held his sleeping head close to me and hummed the chorus to Feels like Forever as I silently weep relief for his life.

"Mmmmm," he moaned.

"Jaime, baby, please wake up," I pleaded.

"J-Jack?"

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to get you out of here."

He started to cry as he opened his eyes. "Please hurry."

I let go of him to freeze off his chains. They made a loud clank as they fell to the floor. Then I effortlessly lifted his weak form and made way for the cave entrance.

"We're almost there, love," I encouraged as I saw the flicker of light at the end.

He nodded and buried his head more into my neck and held on tighter. Suddenly, the cell door clanged shut and I made out to a sprint as the dark chuckle echoed.

We busted out the entrance with Sandman waiting there.

"We gotta go, Sandy!" I took off flying and he wasn't far behind.

"You can't run for long, Jackie Boy!!" Pitch's cackle warned.

Jaime whimpered in my arms and shivered.

I whistled for the Yeti as we neared the factory. They clumsily ran to the my favorite windowsill and watched on wearily.

"I need blankets, hot water and washcloths prepared in my quarters. Go! Now!" I ordered.

They yelped and ran to get the items. I forced the wind to shut the windows and laid Jaime on the canopy of pillows I kept there.

"You're okay now. You're safe with me, my love," I lulled.

Sandy tugged at my hoodie and pointed to the window.

In the horizon, I saw a black cloud getting closer and closer.

"Warn the others. It's not over yet."