A World We All Live In

Chapter 20: Basket Case

I watched as Jak stat the trophy on the table. There was a shriek behind me and I knew it was Heavenly. I turned around and saw her ran over and squeeze Austin so hard it looked like he couldn't breathe. After she'd calmed down a bit, Austin kissed her gently. It was such a wonderful scene. I was happy that the two of them had lasted this long with out each other.

I turned around at the sound of someone coming into the garage. It was none other that the baron's daughter, Ashelin. She stared at Jak a moment, who hadn't noticed her yet and was busy talking to Austin. The KG commander walked up to Jak and put her hand on his shoulder, turning him around.

"Hey," she began, acting sweatier than we all knew she was "I watched your race to day, you were pretty amazing out there."

I came up on Jak's left as Jak began to speak, "Uh Autumn this is Ashelin…"

"EVERYONE knows who she is!" I stated glaring at the woman as she glared at me.

"And Ashelin this is Autumn, she's a…" once again I cut him off.

"A friend," I began, then continued "A very GOOD friend!"

"The Krimson Guard is searching for you and that other girl," she looked over her shoulder as a few KG walked by "I'd watch out for Errol, I can't protect you from him."

Ashelin seemed to glare at Austin and Heavenly. My mouth dropped open and I growled. Ashelin looked like she was about to leave when I jerked her around and pushed her against the wall.

"Don't think I didn't see that," I hissed, my anger growing "what you got against them?!"

Ashelin glared at me then spoke, "Nothing."

I let her leave, trying to hold back my anger. I may have been the youngest here but anyone mess with my friends, I messed up there face. Jak put a calm hand on my shoulder, giving me a small smile. I said goodbye to everyone ant left with Jak. I would have stayed with Heaven and Austin if it wasn't for the fact that I didn't want to be the one to have to sit next to them on the couch while they made-out. So I felt.

It was just Jak and I. Daxter had decided to stick around a bit and gloat a bit more. It was a calm, beautiful night. I leaned my head on Jak's shoulder as we walked and he looked down at me and smiled. Jak laughed a bit taking his left hand and running it through my hair.

"Your new look is… different," he began, laughing slightly "why'd Kier make you change it?"

"Because, a lot of KG and Baron Praxis sit up in the VIP box," I sighed then continued "she didn't want them to recognize me. Anyways how'd you recognize me?"

"You eyes" he said simply and everything went into silence again.

We walked in silence all the way to the slums. I needed to go see Torn so he'd be able to recognize me later. I figured he'd be at the Hideout. I was correct. As we walked through the door we saw the Tattoo Wonder standing at the normal place behind the table. He didn't seem to tell who I was.

"Who is this?" he growled and I just had to laugh.

"What? Can't tell it's me, Torny?!" I questioned pulling down my coat sleeve so Torn could see my bandages.

"Jenny? What did you do to your head?" Torn asked as he went back to work.

"The mechanic wanted me to get e totally new look so the KG wouldn't recognized me" I commented walking over and leaning against the table.

Jak jerked his head towards the door as it opened. Violet and Harley walked in, with Vi carrying packages on her back. I petted both of them and they knew exactly who I was by my scent.

"Hey guys how's it going?" I questioned as Harley jumped onto the table and Violet put her feet up so she could see Torn.

"Good you?" Violet asked as I took the cargo off her back and placed it under the table.

"Great, I've found Heaven and Austin!" I smiled widely and both animals got a shocked look on their faces.

"Really, where are they?!" Violet shouted ready to go see them. I'd yet to mention to either one of my friends that the two were here… and they could speak.

"They're at the Stadium Garage right now, if you hurry you'll catch them before they leave" I said and the two left to go see Heavenly and Austin. I waved bye to Torn and followed Jak out of the Hideout also. Jak and I were silent as we walked towards our safe house.

When we came through the door, we were greeted by Tommie and Gina. They both stared at me oddly before I explained the situation afterwards everything was good. Frankie was gone but I didn't worry about him, he was a big boy he could take care of himself.

Jak and I both made a dash for the bathroom. After tripping Jak halfway down the hall I made it to the door first. Jak probed his head up on one elbow while I stuck my tongue out at him. I walked into the bathroom and turned to the mirror. Staring at my new hair, I wondered if I'd ever get used to it. Though I had to admit Heavenly did do a good job on my hair.

I pulled my jacket off and laid it on the counter then began to unwrap my shoulder. The wound was bruised and bloody and nearly made me sick. I stared at my reflection a bit longer before moving to turn on the shower. After I finished undressing, I steeped into the steaming water.

It was so hot it burned when the water touched my skin. But I didn't bother to turn the heat down. I didn't flinch and I didn't move, instead I just let the water turn my back red.

Even without scrubbing, tons of dirt washed off my body. I grabbed the soap and began to scrub the dried blood and sweat off my body. I winched a little as I rubbed over my shoulder and thigh wounds. The wounds were getting better but they weren't healed yet.

After rubbing my sore back and popped my aching neck, I stepped out of the shower then dried off. I pulled all my clothes on then walked out of the bathroom. Jak was in our room and Dax still wasn't back. The blonde looked up at me as I walked in and stood.

"Dax called he's going to stay with Tess tonight" Jak told me as he left to go take his shower. I nodded as I plopped onto Violet and Harley's bed. I looked out the window at the dark sky and sighed. I walked over to the window and pulled it open. Looking up, I noticed that the roof wasn't that far away from the window.

So I climbed out the window and turned around so I was facing the roof. After pulling myself onto it, I rolled over onto my sore back and sighed. Looking up at the stars calmed me. Now if only I was getting a massage at the same time. I lost track of time very quickly staring at the sky. A breeze blew over the city and I shivered, my hair still wet.

It seemed like just a few minutes when Jak popped his head over the edge of the roof. He smiled at me then pulled himself up beside me. He laid back, with his hands behind his head like me, then turned and looked at me.

"What are you doing up here?" Jak questioned me as I rolled onto my side to look at him.

"Just looking at the stars," I began, rolling back onto my back and wincing from the pain "It calms me down."

"Yeah the last few days have been a little hard on you," he laughed at something "You still haven't told me how you got stuck on the statue like you were?"

I sighed remembering it as well, "I was pulling the ruby key from the statue and lost my balance," I suddenly remembered the Ruby Key and pulled it out of my pouch "I have to remember to give this to Krew tomorrow."

Jak nodded and returned to gazing up at the night sky. Everything was calm for a bit. That is until I sat up with my back and neck crying out in pain. I groaned and Jak looked over at me, seeing me rubbing my back. He sat up beside me a stared at me for a moment.

"What's the matter with your back?" he questioned concerned and I sighed.

"Knotted up muscles in my back and neck are killing me," I winced, rubbing my hand over another sore muscle "Ouch!"

"Role over onto your stomach" Jak commanded and I did. Jak got behind me and pulled off my jacket. He was straddling my legs which made me feel very awkward. He didn't seem to notice as he began to rub my back.

And suddenly I didn't care anymore about our position. I sighed when he hit a sweet spot but winced when he did a sore muscle. He dug hid thumbs into the knotted muscles until they relaxed. Jak put pressure on the back of my neck with his thumb then ran it down my spine. He stopped at my lower back then did it again.

After awhile he rolled onto his back and I slipped my jacket back on feeling pretty good. He smiled at me then looked up at the stars and I followed suit. I turned my neck back a forth and no pain came to me. I smiled over at Jak then spoke.

"Thanks," I said then continued "how'd you learn to do that?"

He shrugged then turned on his side and looked me in the eye, "I'm not sure."

I rolled onto my side again, with my head propped up on my hand, "Well that's a great answer."

He laughed staying on his side, "How come your always so sarcastic, it's hard to tell when your serious and when your not?"

"Prison, I guess," I stared at him a moment "I've always been a person that uses sarcasm a lot. But prison made it worse. Every single day I'd tell myself, 'what better way to lighten a dark situation than with humor or sarcasm?'"

He nodded and continued to stared at me. We just stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other. Jak eyes showed what he was thinking and I knew he'd bring it up sooner or later… it's just I didn't want to talk about it.

Finally he spoke, "Jen, do you really think you're going to die?"

And there it was exactly what I'd been waiting for but didn't want to talk about, "Jak……"

"Just answer me alright, it's been bugging me since we went up to the palace" he said with a slightly stern voice.

I sighed sadly then spoke, "Why wouldn't I. Why would the Precursors bring somebody that was suppose to die a long time ago here to protect someone that they needed and wasn't gonna die? They probably know something awful will happen to you if someone isn't there to stop it. That someone just happens to be me."

"Yeah but it doesn't mean your gonna die!" he protested sitting up and turning fully to me and I did the same as I spoke.

"But I still most likely will die in the end," I nearly shouted at him "who knows if the end for me will be the end of this civil war or some accident or the end of another adventure or just whenever I'm no longer needed! But I'm gonna die at some point… it's just that most likely it will be protecting you."

"Why do you have to be so hard headed?!" Jak shouted getting on his knees.

I got on my knees too, "Why can't you just except what's probably gonna happen?!"

Next thing I know Jak had his arm wrapped around my waist and had pulled me against him. We were both still glaring at each other. I had my hands gripped on his shoulder tightly. Quickly, before I could move (if I had wanted to) Jak brought his lips crashing into mine.

It was angry kiss at first but it turned sweet after awhile. Jak kept his arm firmly around my waist the whole time. I cranked my neck to keep the kiss going but slowly all the blood was being cut off from my brain and I felt light headed. But finally just before I blacked out Jak pulled back giving us both much needed air.

Jak stared at me not smiling and not frowning just a stare. He ran his hand through my hair then down to my upper back. He pulled me into a tight hug and rested my head on his shoulder. The blonde stroked my hair lovingly, just holding me to him.

"Why do I love you?" he questioned with a soothing voice.

I pulled back and looked him in the eye, "You tell me?"

He sighed and pulled me back to him. Jak was shaking. If from the cold… or something else I didn't know, but he was shaking. I tried to hold him tightly enough so he wouldn't shake but he continued to anyways.

"Jenny I don't want to lose you…" he trialed off, losing his composer for the first time in the few years that I've known him.

"I know, but its now my choice" my voice was so quiet and so shaking that I wasn't sure he heard me.

He sat back and pulled me into his lap. Jak cradled me in his arms like a mother would her teenage daughter, who'd just had their heart broken. Or a small child who was scared and was holding onto their favorite toy like a life line. The second one fitted him more. He was the little boy, going into the unknown and was hanging onto something that comforted him, me.

I began to doze off as Jak held me to his chest. He realized this and stood up. I had to hang onto his neck while he used one hand to pull us in through the window. I was barley awake when Jak laid me on Vi and Harley's bed. Jak laid down next to me and pulled my back against his chest.

He stroked my hair with one hand while keeping the other resting on my stomach. As I began to drop father and father into sleep, Jak pressed a kiss to the back of my neck that sent chills down my spin. As I dozed off I felt Jak slip away from me. But I didn't want him to leave so I grabbed his hand that was on my stomach and didn't let go. He got the message and relaxed against me again for the rest of the night.

Me: Well we've been having Benchmark (we have to take one for every class every 6-weeks) this week so that means no homework!!! I love testing week because I always get done with my test pretty quickly and can sleep or think about my story in the extra time. Well this quick updating wont last forever. Till next time!!!