I don't own Jak and Daxter, I only own Krane, Overture/Schorn, Marlin, and the two strange men...and Slain.

Thanks for the reviews! Don't worry, we only have about three or four more chapters and this thing is done and over with! Anyways, this chapter contains a flashback, so when you see this: 0000- that means that the flashback as started and until you see it again, it has not ended.

Enjoy!

The next day was too long and too drawn out for Jinx. He had finally gotten some work time with Krane again which he had missed before but his idea of going on missions with her wasn't cleaning up bodies of Metal Heads and people. He had gotten over it though, and on his lunch break he walked into the Naughty Ottsel to get something to eat.

"Hey losers!" Jinx yelled in a playful tone as he walked into the bar to see Jak, Daxter, and Tess. "What's on the lunch menu today?"

"Whatever sandwich I feel like making!" Daxter said, sliding across the table.

"Eh." Jinx twitched as he said down. "Gimme whatever I get for under…a cheap price."

"The Daxter Special it is!" Daxter said, walking over to a door beside the bar.

"I wouldn't eat that if I were you," Jak whispered to Jinx once Daxter was out of earshot. "I had it last night and my stomach still hasn't recovered."

"Whatever." Jinx shrugged. "Maybe then I can go home."

"Ya sick?" Tess asked, looking towards Jinx.

"Nah, just nervous 'bout this thing I got with Krane," Jinx confessed.

"She said yes to a date?" Tess asked with excitement. "What are you two going to do? Take her somewhere nice!"

Jinx grinned. "I would if I had the money. Whatever I guess we're just gonna walk around and hang out togeth'a."

"You always do that!" Tess complained.

"She wants to do that," Jinx explained. "I don't really care as long as I get to spend some time with her if you know what I mean." He winked towards Jak who shivered.

"Don't say things like that," Jak hissed. "Do you really like her or what?"

Jinx took out a cigar and brought it to his mouth. "Blondie I love her."

"Really?" Jak asked with a slight laugh. "Did you tell her?"

"Yeah," Jinx answered while bringing a lighter to his mouth. "She got pissed off and ran out of the door though so I don't know what her feelin's are but whateve'a I'm gonna tell her again."

"Are you gonna ask her out?" Tess asked, as she picked up a glass and began to pour a liquid into it.

Jinx looked down to the bar. "Maybe. It all depends on how the date goes."

"Can I ask you something?" Jak asked as he set his drink down onto the bar. "Do you really love Krane?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Jak looked away. "I'm just asking you. It's just that sometimes you don't act like it that's all."

A part of Jak found it hard to take in the fact that Jinx really did love Krane. To him it only seemed like they were friends even though he acted so differently whenever she wasn't around, either that or some kind of one-sided love. Jinx's so called love from Jak's prospective just didn't seem as strong as everyone kept telling him it was.

"Jakey boy," Jinx rested his elbows on the bar, and then his chin on a bridge his fingers made, "Krane and I…we've been through a lot togethe'a over the past two years. Tryin' to do things without her would have been impossible, and she's the only one who knows almost everythin' about me. She's been takin' care of me for two long years, and I don't know what I would do without her ya know?"

"I didn't know it was like that," Jak said, feeling a bit bad that he had thought something so negative out of something so positive.

"You ain't the only one," Jinx answered. "Mog and Grim didn't think that I could love someone like I love her but it's possible. The day I met her I knew she was gonna be trouble."

"Tell us about it again!" Tess said as she leaned in towards Jinx. "It's been awhile since I've heard it!"

"You knew about this?" Jak asked as Daxter walked out of the back room with a plate in his hands.

"Here ya go!" Daxter exclaimed as he slid the plate towards Jinx. "One Daxter Special, hot off the stove!"

"Stove?" Jinx asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Or whatever you use to cook it," Daxter said, moving his right paw back and forth.

"Anyways," Jinx said, forgetting about his sandwich. "Which one of my great stories do you wanna hear?"

Tess perked up. "Tell us the one where you first fell in love with Krane!"

"That one 'eh?" Jinx asked as he lit the end of his cigar. "That little incident took place a year ago…"

0000000000000000000000000

"Jinx," Torn said, hitting his hand down onto his table of maps. "I need you to get down to Krew's place and talk with that client of his your friends with. We're missing information and that guy is the one that's got it!"

Jinx was sitting on a bunk bed, looking off in a space while Torn spoke. Instead of reacting to what Torn was saying, he moved his hands out and cracked his knuckles as a smile crossed his face.

"Don't worry 'bout it!" Jinx said, hiding behind his confident grin. "I'll make sure everythin' gets handled today!"

"Take Krane with you," Torn ordered, causing Jinx to twitch.

"Do I have to?"

"Why? I thought you liked her."

Jinx shrugged. "She's alright."

"Isn't she living with you?"

"Only because she doesn't have anywhere else to live and you won't open a new bunk bed."

Torn rolled his eyes. "Whatever Jinx, just get outta here already. I need that information as soon as you can get it."

Jinx stood. "Right away Captain!" he said with a sarcasm dripping off of the last few words.

Jinx had grabbed a zoomer to take down to his place but the engine died halfway through his trip. Thinking it was some kind of sign; Jinx walked the rest of the way until he reached his home that he now shared with Krane.

He walked up to the front door of his home and walked in, finding that the door was strangely unlocked. When the door opened, he found large bags of food in the main hallway.

"What the?" he asked out loud.

Jinx walked into the kitchen to see Krane running about, putting food away in the cabinets. He took in the sight for a moment, and then shook his head.

"What are you doin'?" he asked.

"Filling the cabinets with food. Why? What are you doing?" she answered back as she put food away.

"We've got a mission to do."

"Can you finish it on your own right now? I've got a lot to put away and then I have to cook it later," she said as she moved to the right side of the kitchen.

"Yeah," Jinx hissed.

"Thanks."

"I'll be down at the Hip Hog talkin' to one of the Underground's informants, come where whenever you're done," Jinx turned away.

"Fine."

Without saying another word Jinx walked out of the kitchen and out of the house. He made sure to lock the door behind himself this time and as soon as that was done, he shoved his hands in his pockets and began walking.

For the past year Krane had been living with him and he still hadn't gotten use to the way she ran things. She was always cleaning something or running around looking for someone. If she wasn't on a mission for Torn or Krew, she was at his house cleaning things up. Normally he wouldn't complain about someone cleaning his messy house but it was the fact that he wasn't used to someone taking care of things for him without asking for something in return.

It didn't seem to matter to Krane who always made sure there was always a dinner waiting for him when he came home, and an unmade bed for him when he went to bed. Even though she had her own things to do, she had always made sure Jinx had something to come home to. Something like a family.

That was the simple thing Jinx couldn't get used to. It always felt as if there was someone waiting for him to come home, and Jinx had been living on his own for five years now so getting back into having someone waiting for him rattled him. Her habits were so different from his, and seeing everything so different in his own home made him feel like it wasn't even his home anymore.

The other thing that bothered him a bit was the fact that after their date, she had said that she had only wanted to be friends with him. After being rejected, Jinx kept away from her for a while until Torn asked him to board Krane at his place. Since then they hadn't been talking to one another as often as they used to, but they interacted with one another if they had to.

Stupid. Jinx thought as he walked down to the Hip Hog. Forget about it, I'll talk to her 'bout it later.

Through his thoughts, Jinx hadn't noticed that he was now standing in front of the Hip Hog. Once he realized it, he walked into the bar to see the man Torn had sent him out to find.

"Slain!" Jinx called out.

A blond man sitting in the booth closest to the front door turned around to greet Jinx. He waved his large arm that was covered in muscles from wrist to shoulder, beckoning Jinx over.

"Get your ass over here Jinx!" the man, Slain, called.

Jinx walked over to the man, showing off more of the man's features. He had dark blue eyes and a thick facial structure that led down to a well-built body. Over his muscles, Slain wore a plain white tank top, and large black pants that tucked into thick boots. The thing that stuck out the most about him was the large tattoo of a burning fire on the side of his face.

"You got Torn's info?" Jinx asked as he slipped into the booth.

"Sort of," Slain answered. "Ya see there's this piece of paper I need you to get at this meeting tonight."

"Me?" Jinx repeated. "Why the hell do I have to do it?"

"Because the guys there know me," Slain whispered as Krew flew by. "If ya go in sayin' that you're there for Torn's papers, I'm sure they'll let you in."

"What did you do to get on their bad side?"

Slain moved back against the booth. "Well I got this guys daughter pregnant and left her."

"Where exactly am I goin'?" Jinx asked, rolling his eyes.

Slain moved in towards Jinx so that Krew wouldn't hear what he was about to say. "Ya know those small houses down by the Pumping Station? Ya know they sit on the planks?"

"Yeah." Jinx nodded.

"You gotta go in the one way in the back. Ask them for Torn's papers and everythin' will be fine!" Slain grinned. "Come on Jinx! Can't you do me a favor like this? Especially after everything I've done for you?"

It was true, Jinx had known Slain since his old school days where he was the closest thing he had to a best friend at the time. Slain always managed to get Jinx into some kind of trouble but Slain always made up for it later by doing something. The last big thing he had done for Jinx was to help him get the home he was living in.

"Fine," Jinx said with a sigh. "I'll go tonight but I get in trouble with Torn for this, it's gonna be your ass."

That night Jinx was walking down towards the house he had been directed to when he sensed something wrong about the whole place. Figuring it was because it was so late at night, Jinx blew off his feelings and walked into the small house to see a large group of eight people standing around.

"I'm here to pick up Torn's information," Jinx said with confidence, even though his heart was pounding away in his chest.

"So you're the guy Slain sent?" one of the men said who stepped up towards Jinx. "Welcome, we've been waiting for you."

The man who had been talking to Jinx was wearing a business suit, which differed from the street clothing the other seven were wearing. He walked over to Jinx, and wrapped his left arm around Jinx.

"Welcome to your death," the man whispered.

Before Jinx could react, the suited man punched Jinx in the gut with his right arm, sending Jinx instantly to the ground, holding his stomach and trying to stop the pain that ran through him.

Krane was now running around Haven City, looking for anyone who had any information about where Jinx was. Torn had barked at her for not knowing where he was, and now she was looking for anyone that knew anything about his whereabouts.

As she ran down the street, she spotted the man with the fire on his face and remembered how Jinx had once told her about him. Her running began to slow as she neared him and she remembered how Jinx had been sent out to get information from him.

Slain was standing outside of a single townhouse with a large bag over his shoulder. Krane stood there, watching him for a moment as he closed and locked the front door behind him. He shifted the bag on his shoulder, causing a small shirt to fall out of his bag.

"Hey!" Krane yelled towards the man. "Where's Jinx?"

"What are you talkin' about?" he asked, turning towards Krane. "Who the hell is Jinx?"

"I know Jinx was supposed to be talking to you about the information for Torn," Krane answered, growing angry. "So where the hell is he?"

"Who are you?" Slain asked with a slight laugh. "His little girlfriend?"

"That doesn't matter!" she hissed. "Where is he!?"

Slain turned away, laughing. "Look I really don't care kid. I'm getting the hell outta here, I've got too many people wantin' to kill me. I've done a lot in this town, and now it's finally catchin' up with me."

The click of a gun caught his attention and made him turn around. There stood Krane with a gun in her hands, and a glare in her eyes. Slain looked down the barrel and laughed once more.

"You really wanna know that bad?" he asked.

"What does it look like to you? I'm gonna let you make a choice, tell me where he is and solve my problem, or don't tell me and I'll solve your running away problem," she answered.

"Fine," Slain answered. "Jinx is down near the Pumping Station. He's in the house in the back of all of the other houses."

Krane put her gun back into the holster on her hip, and brought up her radio instead. She then pushed a small button on the top, not taking her eyes off of Slain.

"Torn? Over," she said into the radio.

"Yeah? Over," Torn answered back.

"Jinx is down by the Pumping Station, I'm heading over there now but I'm gonna need back up. Out," Krane said.

"Wait! Don't go there yet! Wait for—"

"I'm going. Out." Krane turned off the radio and placed it back on her hip. She looked back towards Slain. "If I find you here once more after this, I'll kill you."

Slain looked away from her once more. "Good luck. I left Jinx with a lot of bullshit."

"Thanks," Krane said sarcastically before she ran towards where Jinx was said to be.

"Tell us where the Underground leader is!" a man ordered as he punched Jinx in the stomach.

This had been going on for two long hours even though to Jinx it felt like it had been two days. He knew he should have told Torn where he was going, or at least Krane. As far as Jinx knew, no one had any kind of idea where he was.

"You think…I'm gonna tell you?" Jinx answered with a laugh. "Don't make me laugh, you broke my ribs remember? It hurts to laugh."

Everything hurt. His face was swelling and blood was coming out of the side of his mouth where his lip had busted open. He knew that one or two of his ribs had been broken, and he could feel his left eye swelling. His arms hurt from the rope that was holding him back that had been tied to a chair, and the pressure on his chest from the rope made the pain from his broken rib worse.

"Don't be a smartass!" the man in the suit yelled. "Tell us everything you know about the Underground and we'll let you go."

"What the hell did Slain get me into?" Jinx asked, looking up towards the man in the suit.

The suited man grinned. "He told us that you would take his place in this integration. He said you knew just as much as he did about the Underground. He sold you out, are you happy?"

Jinx shook his head. "I should'a thought somethin' like that."

Suddenly the front door busted open, revealing Krane. She moved her gun out in front of her, and aimed it for the man in the suit. The rest of the men came close to her, but she moved her gun towards them, causing them to back off.

"Give Jinx back to me now," Krane hissed.

"Who the hell are you?" the man in the suit barked.

"You don't need to know," Krane answered. "Just give Jinx back to me and we won't have any problems."

"I didn't think you were gonna come," Jinx said with another laugh.

He hadn't known Krane for that long and she had come for him even though she didn't have any idea what was going on. A person like Slain who he had known for so long and trusted had set him up to die and betray his cause while someone who he hadn't known for too long came to save him. Someone who had been complaining about and thinking negative thoughts about came to save him, and risked herself for him.

"Well I'm here," Krane said. Jinx to twitched from the comment.

The man in the suit sighed, and turned towards Krane. "Come on girl, let's talk this out! You've got to be with the Underground right? Why don't you sit down and we can discuss some kind of business deal."

Krane shook her head. "I'm here for Jinx and Jinx only. So let him go, and we'll leave you alone."

One of the men moved up beside Krane and as he moved up, Krane turned around to him to hit him with her gun when another man sunk up behind her and hit her on the right side of her back. Jinx heard a nasty crack come from where she was hit, and he tired to jump forward but was held back by the ropes.

"Krane!!" Jinx yelled.

Krane doubled over and held her side while she sat on the floor, trying to get over the pain running through her back. The man in the suit walked over to her and pulled back his right leg, getting ready to kick her when the click of a gun caught his attention. Looking up, he saw Torn standing in the doorway with a gun pointed out towards the man in the suit.

"About…time," Krane huffed out.

"How about you give me my two recruits back?" Torn asked with a grin.

"You and what army?" the man in the suit asked.

More Underground members gathered around Torn, showing ten other members had come with Torn. As the man in the suit looked at all of the members that had come with Torn, he began to panic. He turned back around to Jinx, and punched him in the face as hard as he could, knocking him down to the floor.

"Jinx!" Torn called.

Jinx hit the floor and moved his head to his side and saw Krane still on the floor. They looked towards one another as Jinx felt all of the pain hit him at once. He felt both of his eyes start to water from the beatings his head had taken and when he closed his eyes for a moment, he realized that it was the best feeling he had felt all day.

You stayed. Jinx thought as the time he had his eyes closed grew longer and longer.

You came to help me, and even got hurt because of it…what the hell…were you thinkin'?

He couldn't resist the feeling of keeping his eyes closed, so the next time his eyes closed, he kept them closed.

R&R please!