A/N: Alright, I know I'm not very steady with updates. Some come fast and some get lost in the mail, (Don't expect another update too soon...) but rejoice! Chapter 17 is here! And let me just say, that for being what I think is the longest chapter yet, it is a decent one. I have to apologize if anything or anyone seems OOC, but I did what I could to keep everyone as themselves WHILE sticking what I needed to in there. Prepare yourselves, shippers; this one's a bumpy one, filled with emotional discomfort and one very confused ottsel!

On the other foot, I need to say thank you to everyone! I mean, not only for reading and reviewing, putting up with my rants and personal demeanings of myself,but aspecial thank you to those few who actually DO read the Authoresses note. I mean, they really do mean a lot to me and I have to say, I can't believe how far I've come.

I go back and look over the work I have done and previous chapters I have written, and am absolutely shocked to be able to see the progress that I have made. Just, the words and the style and the methods I have and use have improved so much, and I only have you all to thank. If it wasn't for your encouragement and constructive criticism, I don't know where I would be. And although I still have things to work on (coughcough endings and spell-check coughcough)…and even though no matter how many times I check, grammar will always get the better of me, I will keep getting better!

And I got a good number of reviews for the last chapter. I think this story is getting more popular, although not by TOO much. But who cares, I love any reader I have! Oh, and I need to say that I'm sorry if this story drags on in places that it shouldn't. I think I may have played on certain parts for too long and it may have killed everything, but I thought I'd take my chances.

Just consider this as your guys' early X-Mas gift. So when that time comes, Merry Christmas everybody, and God Bless.

And so, without further ado, thanks go out tooooo:

Silver Draggon: I think I'm kinda guilty of it myself. From time to time I won't review out of lazyness, but I do always come back later and do it. Some people just don't want to. (shrug) Can't let it get to you. Anyway, I always have fun tossing Daxter little one liners to say in my chapters, and its rewarding to know that my readers are enjoying them and laughing about them. Makes me feel like I acomplished something, like oh say.....staying in character at least a little bit. Also, I'm not gonna yank your chains, I love leaving a good cliffhanger at every chance I get. But think of it this way: This time around, you didn't have to wait TOO long.

Demyrie: (backs away slowly) Eheh, I'm afraid of getting beat with sticks. If I don't update quick enough, you'd be surprised how big of a mob will come after me with sticks being the main weapon of choice. But seriously, now, thanks much for the flattery. Glad to hear you liked Daxter's comments that much, cuz I always worry they aren't good enough. And don't be jealous, you'll always be one step ahead of me! (beams) Lets see, also happy you liked the people in the sewers, I have a small spot for them in the story but you WILL be seeing them again sometime so ya. And you KNOW I have to leave a good clifhanger now and again. I have a reputation to live up to, lol. OH! And it's great you loved the little section of memories ringing in Daxter's head, cuz before you even reviewed, I placed some more of THAT into THIS chapter! I think I overdid it this time around, but I didn't have the heart to take it out. Work on JAM!!

jemisard: Gaw, I love you. Your always so sweet and know how to smack sunset pink into a writers cheeks. Your compliments always mean so much to me, and I gotta say I'm glad that you take the time to review. OH OH !!! And you caught onto EET!! I actually tried really hard to keep a constant content feeling throughout the whole chapter, even during the more active moments, which cannot be helped, in my opinion. So you made my day by making me feel pretty good about all that. And for the record, I love making Dax's whole world just revolve around Jak. Can you blame him? He is, after all, a heroto all of us.

Jira: I know I can't help but smile when a story or a chapter gets a feeling in my stomach, don't you? It doesn't matter what the feeling, if a story can get something in there, its good. And your right, either the Eco worked or didn't work. I mean there's only two options! Unless of course he has an allergic reaction. Ahhhh, but that doesn't happen. As for what DOES happen, you'll have to read on in order to find out. Even if I am the writer and already know what I want to do with my story, as a reader it's still always fun to ponder on endlessly about all the possibilities and story can have.

Sanjuno Shori: I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again! I love leaving cliffhangers!! I mean, I like reading them too, as long as the person who wrote it keeps on going with the story. Anyway, I couldn't stay away from the pants statement, it was just begging me to stick it in there somewhere. .......Soooo I did. And yay for you! I updated as soon as I could, but the next installment won't be for a while. Try to let this one satisfy you til then.

jess: I dunno. When I picture Jak with anything BUT a gun, I can't help but wonder what he would do with the item.. Because he's just so... so Jak that he HAS to put it to good use! And the thought of a needle in his hands just cracked me up on the spot, so I put that in the story to lighten the mood a bit. (You shoulda seen the smile I had while I was typing it.) Yes! Cliffhanger! Yes! Jak lubbs his gun and likes to pull the triggerrrrr!! Yes!! Daxter... DOESN'T get a break, but then again, that's my own fault. Heh.

manicalpha: Eh... The more people bring it up, the more I wonder how mean it actually was of me to leave that nasty cliffhanger. I guess I needed something to make readers come crawling back to me, muwhahaha!! I'll be seeing YOU on the review page! (lightning and other cool evil effects)

Shark: (tosses you a bone) Simmer down there, before you hurt yourself. Your making me dizzy. Sit down in that chair over therrree.... And take this (hands you next chapter) And now you can find out what happens and stop jumping up and down so fast.

Elrond-is-cool: (Writes a song about cliffhangers) Cliffhangers, people. It IS the word of the last chapter. Remember it well, I'm starting to obsess over the idea. Glad you like my story, and glad you reviewed. Here you go, this is one of my faster updates so enjoy.

Midnyte Wolf: Hello there, dear. Don't take it the wrong way, but I wish I coulda been there to see your face when the chapter ended. It sounds like you twitched until your body went numb. Actually, your constant twitching helped me get moving on fixing up this chapter. Ah, and don't even sweat returning e-mails quickly or anything. I don't have you on any deadline or anything like that. Take your time cuz trust me, I KNOW what its like.


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There were a million different scenarios that I thought up in that one second, wanting to experience each and every one of them at the same time, but knowing full well that I had to take one step at a time, and opening my eyes would have to be the first. So I opened them quickly, expecting and wanting a positive reaction from the object of my desires that was kneeling in front of me, because that was all that mattered at that moment. Of course he'll be happy, why wouldn't he be?

As soon as my lids flew up, my pupils started flickering around the room, smiling like the biggest idiot ever but not being able to help it! I couldn't wait to get a mirror and see how well I had turned out for Jak, or get myself some awesome new threads or… or… There were just too many things I wanted to do. Too many things I HAD to do. Too many things to TRY that I couldn't even think about doing as a short little ball of fuzz!

I looked at Jak.

And he was looking at me.

And to my dismay, he was...frowning.

My heart sank all the way to my feet when I saw that face, deeply cut by the disappointment that shone from his blue eyes, but more than anything, I don't think I've ever been so flooded and overwhelmed by the simple emotion of confusion before in all of my life.

Isn't this what he wanted?

How's that old saying go? 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade'? Or how about:

'When life gives me lemons, I squirt myself in the eye'

Because no matter what I do or how hard I try, nothing seems to be in my favor. I'm cursed, not even able to be comfortable with myself now as I sat there on the bed, fingers intertwined sharply with the sheets beneath me, my eyes anywhere but forward so I wouldn't have to face him. 'Coz my heart couldn't take that look he was giving me.

My eyes began to sting in an instant, and I bit my lower lip to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. The tears that I threatened back because there was no way in HELL I was going to let Jak see such a thing. I had to swallow a growing lump in the back of my throat, and take a few deep breaths in order to think straight.

No matter how tongue-tied or bizarre the feeling in my stomach was, I had to say something to him sooner or later. And so I lifted my head to meet his gaze at long last, holding it there with a distraught expression of my own. Once I had him looking at me, I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out because… something… didn't seem right. Something didn't feel right. Suddenly, my heart ran into a panic before my head could even come to a conclusion. If everything felt alright… wouldn't that mean that everything wasn't alright?

I mean, shouldn't I be feeling something?

And there stood my problem. My neck was craned back so I could look at the blonde in front of me. My body felt warm, which was weird for being stripped. And my ears were still picking up on sounds that were coming from outside of the den. Just as it's always been. It was then and only then, that I noticed how short I was. How much Jak was still hovering over me.

That was when it connected.

The cold, miserable truth.

Looking down, my blurred vision was blinded by the familiar but sickening color of orange. I clenched my teeth tighter, and twisted my fingers even more into the sheets enough for it to cramp my hands with the applied pressure. It was becoming near impossible to stop the salty drops from forming behind my eyes, and the heat they emitted was enough to kill me. No, I take it back.

I hadn't changed. I was still… I was still… Now I'll never be able to…

That was enough to kill me.

"M-maybe it was the wrong brand," I choked, shrugging my shoulders tersely, not knowing what else to do or say. Humor was my secret weapon. It was always there to get me out of tight situations or hectic moments. It kept me from being caught as the miserable little shit that I am and was acting like now.

When he didn't say anything back, I released my fingers from the bedspread, letting the throbbing pain slowly dull and eventually die before hopping onto the floor with a thud.

"You might wanna consider a refund."

Although inside these stupid words made me feel a little bit better; I mean it's nice to have a little comic relief every now and again, it was still not enough to make Jak smile, or even change his expression in the slightest. I needed him to change it though, and soon. I don't think I can take it any longer. Whether he knows it or not, he's pretty expressive through his eyes, and they bore deep into me, tearing me apart particle by particle.

"I…"

I couldn't even talk anymore, it was so stupid. To think that me: DAXTER, was at a loss of words. But that was not as stupid as the next thing I did…

My paws started motoring, creating a constant pitter-patter on the floor and eventually on the concrete once I had reached the waiting door.

I ran as hard and long as fast as I could, into the city, faster than I ever had before because I knew that if he wanted to, Jak could catch me.

And I didn't want to be caught.

I needed time alone! Time to think! By myself! Time to figure just what the hell had happened – or didn't happen – or whatever it was! What I needed was to go faster! To get past this forest of legs and smog and… and… Just what the hell happened, anyway?

When the thoughts refused to let me be, I ran faster, and faster still when I heard the distant sound of Jak's boots slapping hard against the ground, and his desperate cries for me to come back. And I wanted to so bad, but…

I also needed to get away.

I had no idea where I was going, but I kept departing despite the aches that were creeping into my feet and hands. I never knew that I could move so fast before, but once I had gotten to top speed, it was hard for me to find the will power to stop.

I didn't necessarily feel tired, but my breaths became heavy and I started to slow down. I only came to a complete stop when I reached a dead end. I must admit, I was really surprised at the distance I had gained in such a short time, unless thinking about all those things distracted me from a little thing called time. My chest puffed in and out as it regained its composure, and I straightened my back so as to stand on two legs again.

When you just finish freaking out and running off as a spontaneous reaction to something you don't know how to handle, you start to question yourself and doubt your ability to rationalize. It shouldn't be a big deal, but now that I'm here, what was I supposed to do? There was no way I was gonna go back, at least not so soon. What would he say? And I was here and had no energy to go back even if I wanted to. So with a limited number of options, and a ramp leading up to a large metal door right in front of me, it was only natural that I chose to climb the ramp and step inside of the automatic entrance.

After all, it leads to the forest, and the forest was safe. It was also quiet, and reminded me a lot of…

Anyway, it was a good place to think. And I usually don't need things to be silent when I dive into my head but this time was different. This time I couldn't do it any other way.

This is wrong, this is all wrong. Everything feels wrong! I'm still the same but I feel different and I don't like it at all!

I shook my head with such hostility, I stumbled a bit to the side, but I didn't want these feelings to rush me just yet. Strange, but true, the place looked a whole lot bigger when I was just by myself, but I approached the warp gate regardless, and dove right in without any vacillation. I never get used to the buzzing sound that makes its way into your ears when warping. Or that 'tingly sensation' that Old Greenie is always complaining about. Trust me; I can totally understand where his hatred for the thing comes from.

The blue ring of craziness spat me out onto a ledge that placed me higher up than I was before. As soon as my feet hit the lush grass, I was off and headed towards the floating platform, which was just waiting for me to step onto it. The vibration under my toes disturbed me but I put up with it while it gently hovered downwards and to an opening that was Haven Forest. Stepping off and hearing the platform make its way back unoccupied sent the tiniest of shivers up my spine and down again. It was just a little strange, being here all by myself. Not scary, just different.

Plus, I think anybody would be a little rigid if their only exit floated out of reach.

But I sighed it away, and strode on over to the highest and most secluded place I could find. It was a pretty decent spot, if I do say so myself, where I could get an overview of the rest of this area of the forest. And if by some chance the current view got boring, there was a short cavern-type passage behind me leading to another part of the forest that I could go on over to. So I sat my furry butt down to start my thinking. But after all of this time getting here and after all the things that I couldn't stop thinking about before… I didn't know where to even start. When did… any of this start?

Well there we go. The beginning is usually the best place to start, isn't it?

My hand came up to harshly rub my face, as if preparing it for the hardships ahead that it was just bound to endure. It's not like I enjoy making myself suffer, you know. But…

Okay, okay, so summing everything up...

You would think that since Dark Eco was the thing that triggered a tail on my end and fur on my face, that Light Eco would be the remedy. I mean, they are opposites, and dark is usually bad and light is usually good… So what am I missing here? There's gotta be something I overlooked. No…no! What's there to miss? Aghhh, okay okay…

Mebbe if I use hand gestures, it'll help me focus.

If Dark Eco equals furry animal, then Light Eco should equal flawless human… Right? Right!? Apparently wrong… Even Samos said to me one time that Light Eco would most likely be the cure. Heck even Keira said it to me at one point, that it would likely be the thing I'm looking for.

The key word here is 'Likely.'

Hn.

Maybe..? Maybe it never was what I needed to change back. Maybe I kept telling myself that it was what I needed, and it eventually became law in my head. But... if Light Eco doesn't reverse the effects of Dark Eco, then what does?

Oh man… Does anything fix it? Or am I cursed to be like this forever?

No, get your head on straight, Lightning, heh. Don't get all caught up in questions you won't be able to answer. Just think about what happened, and then you can go back and nitpick all the details.

Okay, so I'm an ottsel (shrug) due to the unfortunate events of falling into a vat of Dark Eco. (Insert pathetic sigh here…) And used the only Light Eco I could find to save the world. So… I never actually knew if the stuff worked. But I safely assumed it would, and by the way everyone was talking about it, it sounded as though I just threw away my only chance at becoming beautiful again. Even with all of that put into play, one Jak still sought out to find a way to help me, and in a crazy turn of events, we ended up in this heap of a city.

(Deep breath)

SO! After a few years, a small bit of hope returns when we find word – or a box rather – about some Light Eco hidden underneath the city. In the sewers, which is only natural because that's where most rats like to hide. ANYWAY! We grabbed us a jarful, easy as pie (ahem) and brought it back with us. Here's where the fun stuff starts.

If by only touching – or more accurately bathing in – Dark Eco can make me look like this, then letting the wonderful substance of Light caress my body should make everything better. But apparently, something screwed up. Now, there are a number of things that could've happened. Let's be reasonable here.

Maybe it has a mind of its own and it thought I was just too sexy as an animal to reverse it.

…Nah.

Okay well how about this: Since I was dipped in the dark stuff, maybe I needed to be dipped in the other stuff? Like, it wasn't enough to balance or kick out the bad junk. That's always a possibility. Or maybe Light Eco never had the charming effect that everyone gave it credit for in the first place. It could be that it doesn't have healing powers like the green stuff. After all, people like to assume that white is good. Or maybe there was a certain way I had to do it.

Then again maybe I'm just thinking about all this a little too hard. There has to be a simple explanation for all of this, I just need to clear my mind enough to be able to think of it. Think, think, think!

I guess I had been unaware of the fact that I was unconsciously pounding at my forehead with my fist in order to get my brain working, because it was starting to hurt. And it made me relax my shoulders a bit. I can't think straight if I freak out too much.

So, where were we? Oh, yeah, the details. Well... what if I just think about what actually happened compared to why certain things did or didn't happen.

I closed my eyes, and replayed the movie of what occurred. Taking the jar back, Jak opening the jar, me touching the Eco, and nothing happening. What about the 'warm feeling' I had? Okay, erasing fantasy now, and coming into contact with truth, reality, and facts. Maybe I just thought I was feeling something, 'coz I was expecting it in the first place. After all, I was too busy visualizing to really pay attention to any 'feelings' I may have been actually having.

My eyes clenched shut as tight as I could get them, and again I let things replay. Over and over and over again they played, wracking at my brain and repeating, repeating, repeating until they became engraved…

And that... didn't rhyme on purpose...

Don't worry about it. Dax and me will be fine. It's not like we haven't been on missions more dangerous and mysterious before. Besides, we love a good adventure.

No…

You don't know how scary it is when I'm on your shoulder and stuff, watching you do all these crazy stunts with me right there with you. You're amazing though, let me tell you that much at least.

Dax.

No! That's not it!

What do you want me to do?

NO! That's not it, either! Think! Think! There has to be… there's gotta be… Somewhere, something has gotta…

Snake...she-she promised that no-nothing would --

Eco...don't --

Huh..?

Something about Novanya. Or he called her Snake, rather.

Yeah, so?

Then something about eco.

It was probably nothing important.

What the…?

Nothing important.

Memories, their all flooding so fast…

We're having a fight.

HA! Nice… I thought that was outta there already. But that has nothing to do with anything. C'mon, concentrate.

Jak, are we ok?

Get on subject! It's hard though, when the words that are coming back to me are echoing so loud…

But there's something going on. I don't know what exactly, but I intend to find out.

Yeah, I remember him saying that.

These doors reflect you. They reflect your soul.

Black is fear.

Jak… What did you see? It was the same look you gave me just now back at the den…

I know you think you're a God, but can't you go on for at least an hour before having to look at yourself?

Heh…

This one really counts. Don't screw it up. Track him down, take the package from his possession and bring it back to me right away. You got all that!?

Yeah. That guy… Why did he look so familiar?

Light Eco...

Everything's… Everything's…. I've ignored it all up till now… It was all right under my nose and I never even…

Why is that package so important to you?

But what does it all mean?

You have a good eye, Jak. You know how to deal your cards.

What the hell did that mean?

I've got a promise to fulfill…

SNAP! My lids bolted open and a gasp escaped my lips in the sudden flash of memoirs that had come in gone in about the length of about one second. All of this... information was connected somehow. Well, most of it. I've gotten this far, and now the only thing that I wanted to do was put all the pieces together.

That guy that was already half dead by the pipe at the Pumping Station, he mentioned something about Snake and Eco. I threw it all aside, but Jak held onto the words. He knew something was there. How could I have been so blind? Nothing like missing something that's right in front of you to make your day. And let's not ignore how defensive Snake gets when it comes to her deliveries, and that one in particular, which just happened to be Light Eco. And what's with the guys in the sewers? Do they have some kind of connection with Snake?

My head rested heavily in my palms. It was all just too much to take on at once. It was too confusing, too cluttered, so scrambled I couldn't place each and every one of them in line; it was impossible. The only thing I'm getting out of this whole thing is that there's gotta be more to Snake than what I'm seeing, and there's something up with that Eco that those dorkatrons are working with.

But what's the connection? Why can't I figure this out!? Watch it become one of those things that are just so easy to see, that once you figure it out it's like: 'Duh! Why didn't I see it in the first place!?' I started to hype myself up for another round of 'let's torture ourselves with our brain and figure this out' when I heard a sound behind me. Like leaves, like someone walking up behind me.

I deadpanned.

"Can't stay away, can ya, Jak? I had a feeling you'd come," I drawled with a naturally derisive tone, keeping my back turned, using my voice to cover for me. Because If I turned around, I would be trapped.

"Then again, I can't say that I'm surprised." I was just rambling now. I didn't want to face the silence anymore. The silence scared me now; it made it too easy to get sucked into the things that I had once thought to be repressed deep inside. I never expected them to ambush me so suddenly. "I don't know what made me think I could escape you."

I bowed my head, probably blushing at the various meanings that one statement could hold, but glad to know that if I was turning pink, I couldn't tell.

"Just tell me one thing, Jak."

He didn't say a thing, which pricked a quick sting to my chestas I continued on, feeling the same presence behind me, although it remained unmoving.

"Why is it all so important to you?"

I know I'm playing selfish and I'm dealing out the 'me' card, but I needed this now more than you'll ever know. With all this puzzlement and –dare I say it – anger clouding my head, I needed to know that even after my stupid little act just now, Jak was still gonna stand by my side. I needed to hear that he still cared about me and he was willing to forgive the fact that I ran off and left him behind.

I needed him to need me.

More than anything.

'Coz if he didn't? Well… I don't know what I'd do.

Still no sound erupted from behind me, and my breath hitched as my brows lowered at the weird feeling that rose within me. Jak was right behind me so why was the fur on my back starting to rise? My eyes went left, and then right, then I finally turned around.

"Ja…"

I trailed off into nothing, dropping the name as is was, leaving my mouth agape, eyes grown to a size so huge, it didn't seem humanly possible, and every sense – including common sense – was screaming instructions at me that I couldn't comprehend.

I mean… my face was mere inches away from the most hideous looking Metal Head I've ever come across. Then again, I've never been so close to one before. His breath made my eyes water, and those fangs and claws made me gulp, loudly. My breath grew louder, even though I tried desperately to keep it from doing so, as if keeping it quiet could prevent him from smelling my fear.

And a few seconds past with him eying me, probably trying to calculate how and where to start, while at the same time, I was trying to figure out why he was there. I mean, weren't they supposed to be cleared out? That doesn't matter now, though. What matters now is that I stay alive so I can figure out what the hell was going on with other matters.

Before I could allow anymore air to come into my lungs, the Metal Head reared its ugly head back, beating his chest with his curled up paws, and letting out a roaring growl. While he was busy letting out his warning, I let out a little warrior cry of my own. I call it screaming. And together in unison we made the most horrible harmony of shouting ever heard, and as soon as I was done screaming in alarm, I stepped backwards, afraid to turn my back.

Of course in doing so, I stepped right off of the ledge and plummeted to the lower ground. I hit it hard and painfully, rolling with it to prevent any kind of injury that would keep me from escaping. As soon as my rolling was slowed enough to let me, I spun onto my feet and started to run to the nearest cover I could find; the tall grass that hid me rather well. Or, would've hid me rather well if I wasn't such a bright uncamouflageable color! Yet that was where I stayed, ducked down as low as I could go, holding my breath cause it was too damn loud. I could hear the beast's feet pounding after me, his nose swiftly tossing air in and out as he searched for my scent.

Praying to whoever could hear me that ottsel's didn't smell very appetizing, I tried not to let the sweat that stung my eyes bother me too much. But he walked right by me, not noticing the trembling blades of tall grass as I shook, and for a moment, I thought I was safe.

For a moment.

Just as I was breathing out a silent sigh of relief, his head burst through the grass and I fell back in surprise. But that didn't faze me too bad, for I was running in an instant. I tried to disregard the irony of acting out some sort of horror movie, with me running through grass that was tall enough to act as a cornfield, being chased by something that wanted to do more than just play a little game of fetch. So there I was, fearing for my life, surprise that it wasn't flashing before my eyes like it was just a moment ago when all I was trying to do was think, parting the grass in front of me as fast as I could, refusing to slow down and weaving every chance I got. The one time I dared to look back, I tripped and landed face first into the dirt. With no time to worry about the taste in my mouth or the blur forming in my eyes, I rolled out of the way just as the Metal Head pounced and landed where I was mere seconds ago. Immediately I started sprinting in a new direction, knowing to never look back, no matter how tempting or how close the sound of his heavy footfalls sounded.

Thank God this was a forest. Looking up over the grass and into the sky, I could see a tree standing there; my salvation and my place of refuge. Metal Heads can't climb, can they? I couldn't think, the sound of my gasping breaths were too deafening.

I jumped for my life, reaching out my arms and catching the bark of the tree, scrambling up as soon as my fingertips touched something solid. Up and up I went to the highestbranch of the tree, and I was finally able to breathe and look down at my pursuer.

"Ha! Aren't so tough now, are ya!?"

I just can't keep my mouth shut.

Whether or not it was because of my remark or he never intended to quit in the first place, the stubborn thing started to charge at the tree repeatedly, determined to get me into his clutches. Was this really the way I was gonna go?

The tree shook and I desperatly clung to the branch I was on, wrapping all five limbs around it. Another charge, and the tree shook again. I can hear wood cracking. I looked around for a way out, but saw none. I considered diving into the water cause I don't think Metal Heads can swim, but it was too far away and I wasn't willing to take that risk.

Another shake of the tree and I hugged even tighter.

The next one hit the mark. The tree quaked and the branch I was on wobbled to such extremes, my intense grip faltered and I was falling. My claws fully extended, I scratched at the air, hoping to catch something, anything before I fell too far. Looking down, the creature that was chasing me was now waiting, coming closer and closer with every second I fell. His chomps opened wide to welcome me, and with a gasp I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

This was it. I was never going to see Jak again.

Daxter!

Huh!?

Something knocked the wind out of me simultaneously as my own name - inanother voice -sliced through my head. The world as I knew it was spinning and shaking. No really, everything was all upside down and moving and whatnot. Only when my bumpy ride stopped did I understand what was going on. A single shot rang out into the air, scattering birds and causing butterflies to slowly make their way elsewhere. In Haven Forest, a Metal Head moaned as the bullet struck him in the head, and he fell to the Forest floor, defeated.

Lifting my chin ever so slightly, my vision showed me Jak, his right arm outstretched and holding his favorite mod of his prized gun, smoke drifting out of its end. His other arm…

…Was cradling me.

When the Metal Head stayed motionless long enough for Jak to know he had done the job, he put his gun away and looked at me, disappointment saturating his features. God, that look was starting to become something I saw too much of. He didn't need words, I knew what he was thinking, and at the same time, he knew that I was sorry. For a second, I forgot my pride and my self control, and buried myface into his blue fabric in appreciation and then relaxed as he started walking, just like so many times before.

With a headache starting to form, and fatigue finally taking its toll, I reached out a wavering paw to clutch at Jak's tunic and I started to pull myself up to his shoulder, but suddenly released and allowed myself to fall back into Jak's hold without so much as a second thought.

The feeling of being this secure… was just too good to be abandoned right now…