Alright, here it is, the update that you have been waiting for, Chapter 11. It wasn't really worth the wait I made you endure, please forgive me! I've had homework, and been drawing, and have been working more on my other, not yet posted, fanfic. No final editing here.
Thanks to my anonymous reviewer Dude for reviewing last chapter.
Blade and Karn are mine, everything else I stole uhh...borrowed from Naughty Dog.
Jak awoke in agony. He screamed in pain and tried to move away from his already injured side.
"Dammit, I was nearly done." A course voice said as Jak's vision began to come into focus. "Just bear with me Jak, try not to move, I'm almost done."
A second cry tore up Jak's throat as whatever was going on happened again and he heard a high female voice exclaim "Torn you're hurting him! You said he wouldn't need anesthetics!"
"I know that Keira. Do you honestly think I enjoy that thought?" Torn snapped back. "Besides he was already passed out, I didn't count on him regaining consciousness so soon, he'll be under again in a few moments anyway, very few people can remain conscious while getting stitches without anesthetics."
Jak's vision blurred again, but he didn't black out, he zoned out. His mind wandered, detached from the pain his body was being forced to endure. He snapped back to reality at the sound of Torn's voice.
"There, I'm done, I'm impressed Jak, you're still conscious. If you tear these in any, way, shape, or form, I'll kill you."
Jak winced and nodded, actually noticing his surroundings for the first time. He was in a room at the Freedom HQ lying on a bed; Torn had blood all over his hands; Keira was standing just behind the ex-Krimson guard, and Blade was standing sheepishly in one corner of the room. Jak slowly pushed himself into a sitting position, not doubting what Torn had told him.
"You wouldn't happen to be done patching me up, would you?" Jak asked Torn, hoping he'd been passed out for the worst.
"We've yet to remove the bullet from your shim and shoulder." Blade said from his spot in the corner. "It won't be a walk in the park, it'll hurt a hell of a lot." He continued, wandering over. Blade laid a hand on Torn's shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll do this bit, you've done enough for the moment, besides I owe it to him, for the part I played in this." Torn shrugged and handed Blade a pair of tweezers.
"Be careful Ripp," the Freedom League Leader said before turning to Keira, "We should go removing bullets is a delicate process; we'll just be an unneeded distraction to him if we stay." And before the mechanic girl could protest he took her wrist, inadvertently giving her a bracelet of blood, and led her from the room.
Blade chose to start on Jak's shin, he gently eased the tweezers into the wound, but pain made Jak flinch, just flinch, but it made it impossible for Blade to get the bullet out on the first try. Jak clenched his teeth and tightened his leg muscles preventing it from happening again, Blade laid his hand down on Jak's leg just above the bullet hole helping the wounded teen stay still. Jak's neck corded out and his breath was heard through his clenched teeth as Blade skillfully removed the bullet on his second attempt, for which Jak was grateful.
"You're pretty good at holding still; I'm frankly surprised you're still conscious after the last third of those stitches." Blade said as he moved to stand over at Jak's right shoulder. "You'll have to turn your head, it doesn't matter which way, but you ear might distract me if you don't."
Jak turned so he was facing his hurt shoulder. As Blade went to work removing the bullet the neckline of his shirt slipped showing that Blade had an extra neckline. Jak saw a thin jagged of scar tissue running halfway around the base of Blade's neck, starting on one side going around back and ending somewhere on the other side. So intent was Jak on studying the mark that he didn't even notice the bullet come out. After Blade turned away Jak remained silent for a few minutes until curiosity overcame him.
"How did you get that scar?" Jak asked; Blade spun around, his ice blue eyes wide with shock.
"What scar?" Blade replied, trying to sound innocent.
"You're a terrible liar, now how'd you get it?"
Blade laughed for a moment, "Torn used to tell me the exact same thing, said I needed to practice more," he sighed, "I got this scar the day my parents died." Blade began, running his fingers subconsciously over the scar tissue around his neck. "My dad was mad at me; I can't remember what it was I'd done, probably something minor, the littlest things got him so damn pissed at me. Mar I hated it, my punishment was always a beating, sometimes it was for no reason at all, a couple times he'd gotten drunk and found himself in need of a punching bag, usually though, he just felt like it. Whatever reason it was, he beat the shit out of me, that day I got fed up and fought back. In the end he ended up pulling this necklace Torn had given me from my neck, the chain slit open the back of my neck, and I ended up running away."
Jak nodded slowly, there was something that didn't fit with Blade's story, "Torn never struck me as the kind of guy who was raised in an abusive home, or as someone who would just stand by while someone close to him got hurt."
"You're too damn observant Jak; Torn never knew about the beatings, he still doesn't. Now let's drop this, shall we?" Blade paused, unsure of what to do next. "I should bandage those now that the bullets are out."
Neither of them spoke as Jak's wounds were dressed; Torn came back with Keira shortly after Blade finished.
"Nice work Ripp," Torn said after inspecting the bandaging, a rare smile showing on his face. "Hey before I forget again, Ripp, I've got something for you." The ex-Krimson guard reached into his pocket and when he pulled it out some small blackened chain dangled from his closed fist.
Blade held out his hand and Torn dropped what he held into his brother's palm. There was a metalhead fang on the chain, it was a necklace. Blade looked at his brother.
"Thanks Torn. I never thought I'd see it again, I thought it got destroyed in the explosion."
"I thought you got destroyed in the explosion, it's no problem giving it back to you; just don't put me through that again." Torn said lightly punching Blade on the shoulder, he turned his attention to Jak. "You listen to Jak, because you just got stitches, you get a nice set of restrictions to go with them," the Freedom League Leader began to count them off on his fingers. "No bending down, no sudden movements, no stretching, no jet-boarding, no racing or driving of any kind, and no running around."
Jak pulled a face. "Want to just cut to the chase and say I'm confined to bed until you deem it safe for me to be up and about?" he asked sarcastically crossing his arms over his chest.
Torn rolled his eyes. "It's not that bad, but to make sure you listen, Keira will be around to enforce my guidelines. I've got to get back to work." Torn turned and motioned for Blade to follow him. "Come along Ripp, I'll find something for you to help with."
As the two brothers left Jak stuck his tongue out at Torn's back and Keira had to stifle a giggle behind her hand. Blade closed the door behind him leaving Jak and Keira alone.
Jak didn't look at Keira; instead he chose to study the ceiling, he ran over the escape in his mind. 'How could I lose control like that? Why couldn't I stop him from hurting Karn?' The ceiling was not interesting by any stretch of the imagination and Jak averted his eyes to the bed upon which he sat. 'He'd been helpless, and I attacked him. I felt enjoyment doing it; I wanted to watch more terror streak across his face. Why can't I control myself anymore?'
There was a creak as Keira sat down next to Jak, she put an arm gently around his shoulders and pulled him closer. "What's on your mind Jak?" she asked, he didn't answer right away. He didn't want to talk, but he needed to.
"It's about Karn," Jak said at last, "I did something terrible to him," Jak could feel his throat tighten as though a lump had suddenly formed there. His vision blurred, and this time it wasn't because of pain. He swallowed repeatedly and blinked rapidly, but it wasn't effective. He laid his head on her shoulder as a single teardrop slid down his face; Keira gently wiped it away with her finger.
"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Keira said softly, rubbing her hand up and down Jak's arm. "Torn said it was just a few scratches. He also mentioned your darker side, but I have no doubt Karn will be okay, I mean, if it was just a few scratches,"
"Dark eco infused scratches," Jak mumbled; the hand stroking his arm faltered.
"Oh Jak, you didn't," Keira said.
"I did." He replied gravely, "He didn't even do anything to tick me off; he just got in my way. I should be punished for such an evil action." Jak trailed off his throat tightening again.
Keira looked at him, "You're already punishing yourself enough; you're suffering because of the punishment you've given yourself. I don't like seeing you this way Jak. You've already undergone more discipline in nineteen years of your life than most experience in a lifetime."
Jak looked at Keira, "What do you mean by that?"
"Your torture," was her simple reply.
Jak knew she was right. He relaxed and just sat leaning on her shoulder, actually allowing himself to feel the care and concern she had for him.
Just a note here, next chapter I will completely drop the whole "Blade" thing and will be referring to him as Ripp, I am getting sick of all this "Blade" business.
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