I tossed this off late at night after having seen Episode 3(Didn't catch the name, sorry), so all spoilers relate only to that

Just fixed a few minor typos, this is still the same old fic.  I've been getting tons of reviews, though.  I'll get a sequel out soon J

This was tossed off late at night after having seen Episode 3(Didn't catch the name, sorry), so all spoilers relate only to that episode and the original movie.

Disclaimer: Sara, Jake, and everything else WitchBlade belong to TNT, Warner Bros, the creators, Comic Authors, yadda yadda, basically they're not mine… So Don't Sue!!

A Hidden Pain (Jake's musings late one night at a local bar)

By Kaylenn Mir

My partner, Sara… Sometimes I wonder what it is she's hiding from me.  I know it must be important, but it hurts that she can't trust me.  I want to be there for her, even though she doesn't want anyone there.  And I have to admit, that kiss sure as hell didn't hurt my interest in her either, but it's not like I'll ever get anywhere on that particular aspect of our partnership.  I may have an ego, but I can also face reality.  I'm not her type, and she's made that fairly clear.

            But the secret still stings.  And I know it's there, because there's something not right about her sometimes.  She gets this look in her eyes, like she's seeing something right in front of her that no one else can see.  It's a little scary sometimes, to not know when your partner's going to zone out or lose it on you.  And then there's the way that she comes out of situations no one should walk out of.  Not that I'll complain, mind you, she's saved my ass a few times in just those situations recently.  It's just creepy.  Like all the sword wounds with unknown metal traces that guys coming out of fights with her end up with.  I'm not blind; I've been keeping tabs on it.  And the only times these types of wounds show up is when she's involved.  I heard the sounds of a sword in that clone artist's studio, and there wasn't anything on the floor afterwards that could have made the sounds, let alone the marks on the bodies.  There's definitely something strange going on.

            And another thing, where the hell does she get her information?  Not that it's bad, it's just strange and unlikely sometimes.  Like why does she keep coming up with Kenneth Irons?  What's up with that guy?  When she says his name it's with venom, but there's something else there as well.  I know they have a link, but what is it? 

And what does that strange bracelet have to do with any of this?  I see her rubbing it when she thinks no one's looking, and I have to admit, I think the stone glows when she does.  I hear her mutter something under her breath from time to time, it sounds like "damn Witchblade"…  But the WitchBlade's just something out of a fairytale, right?  Just something that my grandmother told me when I was a little boy, it's not real.

Maybe I'm just imagining things.  I mean after all, we've only been partner's around a month, if that.  This could just be me getting used to the eccentricities of Ms. Sara "I don't need a partner" Pazzini.  I guess I'll just take it one step at a time, and hope that she'll decide to tell me what this secret is soon.  Otherwise I'll just set to digging on my own and find out.  And I sure wouldn't mind another kiss, either…

R&R Please.  I accept constructive criticism, Talismanic shopping lists, and former blade-wielder notifications !!