Disclaimer: 'sighs' I'm getting tired of saying this . . . so . . . yea . . . I am not saying it. And if you want me to say it then screw you.

Redemption

Chapter 6- Jealousy

Jak's POV:

I watched as Keira enveloped Torn into her arms. Anger and jealousy swept past me, as I saw her content face. I resisted the urge to head over to the two and beat the crap out of "Tattooed Wonder." What the heck was he doing? He had no right to have Keira in his arms. I could feel my dark side rising to the surface. The glass in my hand broke as I saw them kiss.

"Jak, are you okay?" Beside me, Ashelin grabbed a paper towel and wiped my arm which was soaking wet. She looked up to my face and followed my gaze.

I sighed and placed my arm around her waist, burying my nose into her neck, trying to convince myself that she was the one I loved. Not Keira. "I'm okay baby."

She wasn't convinced however. She pushed my arm off and angrily took my face into her palm. "You're not jealous of them, are you Jak?"

I looked into her eyes and saw pain. The same pain I saw in Keira's eyes when I told her, I didn't love her. I was jealous. Of course I was. I couldn't tell Ashelin that however. So . . . I lied. "I'm not jealous, baby."

The pain disappeared from her eyes and was replaced by doubt. "Jak . . . I hope you're telling me the truth." She smiled and pressed a kiss to my nose. "I love you." She let go of me and headed off to talk to Tess.

I looked down at the ground, guilt eating at my conscience. I closed my eyes and saw Keira's green orbs staring at me, her lips curved into a beautiful smile. " I love you Jak . . ." Her voice echoed through my head as she said those lovely words. Suddenly, I saw her sad eyes, tears streaming down her face . . . "When? When have you stopped loving me Jak?" I saw Ashelin, her eyes filled with doubt, " Jak, I hope you're telling me the truth . . ." "I love you"

I sighed. I didn't want to hurt Ashelin like I hurt Keira. I'm a coward . . . I know . . . the truth is . . . I was afraid . . . afraid to tell Ashelin . . . I didn't love her . . . and I was afraid to ask Keira to take me back, and most of all, I was afraid that she would reject me and tell me the words I didn't want to hear . . . I was afraid that she would say, "I love someone else."

Ashelin's POV:

I walked away from Jak, wondering if he really was telling me the truth. I should be ashamed of myself for doubting him, but I just can't help it. He tells me he doesn't love Keira anymore, but whenever I tell him the words in my heart, the words that tell him what I feel for him, the words "I love you," he just nods and kisses me. Never has he told me the words I long to hear from him. Not once did he tell me "I love you."

I looked back at Keira and Torn. I couldn't help but feel jealousy toward Keira. I watched as Torn's arms snaked to her waist, pulling her close to him, pressing his lips to hers, drowning her into a deep kiss.

I sighed and traced my hand over my lips, remembering how Torn's kiss felt.

Torn pulled me closer to him, a smile playing upon his lips. He traced the outline of my face and ran his free hand through my hair. "I love you Ashelin . . ."

I could feel my heart beating a thick dull thud. I smiled and kissed him.

He would always tell me he loved me. Then, he would pull me close to him, just holding me in his arms. He could always make me feel as if I was on top of the world just by telling me he loved me. And when he looked at me . . . I felt as if he could read me . . . I felt as if he knew me . . . the real me. He had this intense look . . . A look that would make any girl melt. When he smiled, my whole world brightened, and I was happy . . . happy that he loved me.

Now, looking at Keira, I guessed she was feeling the same feelings I felt when Torn and I were still in love.

He buried his face into her neck, and whispered something in her ear.

"You're mine Ashelin . . . no one will take you away from me . . . I'll always protect you, and love you . . ."

My heart ached with longing. I watched Torn's expression and saw . . . happiness . . . He was happy with Keira. No matter how I longed for Jak to be like Torn, I knew it wouldn't happen. He was only like that with Keira.

Keira made Jak smile. Just like she made Torn smile.

Torn's POV:

I could see Jak over by the corner, staring deeply at me and Keira. What was on his mind? I wondered. And why did he have that look on his face? A sour and jealous look? Could it be that he was jealous of me and Keira? No. He loved Ashelin. He couldn't be.

Something stirred inside me as I thought about Jak being jealous. Would he try to take Keira away from me? Would he bring her back . . . to him? I panicked. I won't let him. HE had taken Ashelin from me and I will not let him take Keira.

My grasp on Keira tightened as I thought about the possibilities of Jak taking her away. It was probable. She still had feelings for him. She was mine now.

"Torn? Is something wrong?" Keira looked up at me with green wondering orbs. She pulled away and cupped my face in her palms. "You look worried. Is there something you want to tell me?"

I shook my head. She'll probably think I'm overprotective if I tell her that I was worried that she would go back to Jak. She smiled at me and gently kissed me. I kissed her back. I truly loved this woman. A long time ago, I only knew her as Keira, the mechanic, but now . . . If anyone had told me that my life would revolve around Keira . . .and I would love every single moment of it . . . I only wished we could've been together sooner.

I buried my nose into Keira's neck, as we danced to the slow music that was playing in te background. No one would take her away from me. No one.

Jak's POV:

I felt Daxter jump up on my shoulder, before I saw him. I tried not to laugh as he gulped down a drink and burp in my ear. I rolled my eyes and glanced at the ottsel. He was drunk. Great. Just great.

"Hey buddy." He burped again and leaned against my head. "They make a nice pair don't you think?" I followed the direction as to where his finger was pointing at and saw that he was talking about Keira and Torn.

I said nothing. Instead, I looked away and shrugged Daxter off my shoulder. He fell to the ground with a thud, and I didn't bother to see if he was alright. To hell with him. I guess he must have realized why I pushed him off because he climbed back up and apologized.

'I'm sorry Jak," he said. He patted me on the head. "I didn't mean to. It's just that . . . aren't you happy for them? I mean come on! Keira seems more happier now. He's good for her. Don't you even care for her feelings? She was planning on killing herself you know . . . Luckily, Tattooed Wonder was there to save her."

I whirled around to Daxter, (who somehow manage to on top of one of the tables) and picked him up. "What? What do you mean tried to kill herself?" I practically shook the ottsel, forcing him to give me answers. Why was Keira trying to kill herself?

Daxter looked up at me with a weird expression. "It's because of you buddy. You hurt her real bad . . . or didn't you know that? I'm sorry Keira . . . I didn't mean too . . . it was all my fault. I shouldn't have pushed Jak and Ashelin together . . . I didn't care for your feelings at all."

He was talking nonsense again. Hallucinating. But I wasn't. I heard what he said. It was because of me. Keira wanted to kill herself because I hurt her a lot. I knew I hurt her, but . . . did she really try to kill herself? Did I hurt her that bad? Poor sweet Keira . . .

"So you see . . . why she's better off with him Sig? It's because Torn wouldn't hurt her like Jak did! She loved Jak . . . and look . . . she almost killed herself because of him." I see. Daxter was blaming me too. It didn't matter. I knew I was the one to blame. (It was kinda weird that Daxter was calling me Sig. Didn't he see Sig is over there? . . . oh yeah. I forgot. He's drunk.) Could it be really true though? I glanced at Keira. She was smiling. From here it looked like a genuine smile. Her face brought back memories of the past. Our past.

Keira and I were being chased by lurkers in the Forbidden Jungle. She had insisted earlier that we look around and try to find more power cells. She wanted to use them to power up her new invention.

"Jak! They're going to catch us! Run faster!" Just at that moment, I saw a snake hanging from one of the branches, waiting for Keira to approach it. I pulled Keira and grabbed the snake, throwing it towards the lurkers.

In the confusion of it all, Keira and I had managed to escape. We decided to head to head back to Sandover Village, since we have been gone for quite a while. During the walk toward home, Keira held my hand and turned me around to face her.

She smiled.

"Thanks, Jak. Thank you for saving me from that stupid snake."

She smiled.

Right then and there . . . I wondered . . . Will Keira smile like that for me again?

Sig's POV: (wowee . . . hehe . . . this is a new one . . .)

I watched Chili peppers standing by the far corner, sulking. Something must be wrong. I looked around for that vixen of a girl of his. She was by the bar . . . also sulking. What was wrong? I wondered. They must have gotten into a fight. I saw the pretty mechanic and Mr. Dread locks in each other's arms, and immediately doubted my theory.

Oh.

So that was what was happening. It was strange to see them together. But . . . they looked perfect nonetheless. I had heard about Miss Hagai's attempts or rather, attempt to kill herself. The rat boy told me. (Although I don't really consider him a boy . . . more like an ugly . . . thing.) I suddenly remembered that night.

Chili peppers and the rodent appeared from the smoke. The baroness was standing behind me, and both of us saw the downfall of the Dark Maker spidery thingy or whatever you call it. I hadn't been expecting Jak to turn up. I thought he was dead, but my worries immediately disappeared as I saw a figure approaching. It was Chili Peppers! He was alive! (Mind you, I was a little jealous of their glorious entrance. They looked so cool and uh . . . cool, but anyhoo,) Madam governess hurried to the two and placed a hand on Chili pepper's shoulder. Then . . . they kissed. I had smiled at that time, but out of the corner of my eye, I had seen a figure in the shadows, turning away from the scene.

The next day, when the Precursors were thanking us and asking chili peppers to go with them and explore the world, I had seen Keira looking very glum, and I could see she wanted to cry, but she was trying her best not to. Not in front of everyone. Instead, she stood by her father, watching. I remember Jak saying goodbye to us all. But he didn't say goodbye to her . . .

Later that night, when we were celebrating Cyber Errol's defeat, I had seen the mechanic, sitting by the bar, giving dirty looks at the couple who were dancing and kissing, not even acknowledging her and Tattooed Wonder's presence. Then later, the pretty lady had stormed out, then the commander followed her.

Who knew, that the moment they had walked out, their lives had turned and now . . . they were together? I couldn't help but smile. I had just realized who the person standing by the shadows was. It was the same girl I was watching now. Just a few days ago, her eyes were clouded with pain, swirling with dark emotions hidden beneath, and now, as I watched her, she was smiling happily. Just a few days ago, the commander was feeling nothing but rage for the world. He rarely spoke, much less smiled, but right now, he looked like the happiest man to ever walk the planet.

Keira's POV:

I buried my face into arms strong and lean chest, content to be in his arms. For some reason, I thought back to my days with Jak and realized . . . he never made me feel this way. I can't believe I was admitting this to myself. It's true however. Jak never made me feel special. He was always out there, having adventures, and saving the world. Ever since we came to the future, it's as if . . . I wasn't a part of his life anymore. Sure, he had gotten really jealous over me when Erol came, but . . . he wasn't the same. I know now that we had drifted apart a long time ago. We had drifted apart even before he was banished to the Wastelands. I also know that Jak hadn't woke up one day and told himself he didn't love me anymore.

We were never meant to be.

With Torn . . . it was different. I felt so happy all the time . . . I felt . . . I don't know exactly how I felt, but I knew . . . I knew . . .

I love him.

I knew it the day he saved me from sinking into depression. The moment he held me in his arms on that fateful day, I knew that our lives would be intertwined together. Was that when I had started falling for him? When I saw his kind eyes full of worry? When his eyes told sincerity as he told me he would be there for me and protect me? Or did I fall in love with him, the moment our lips touched together in a beautiful kiss?

I love . . . Torn.

With him, I felt safe and so wonderfully alive in his arms. I know he will protect me and secure me from any pain life brings. I can face those horrible things now . . . I can accept the pain that life sometime brings. Because . . . I have him. And I was thankful to the gods. Jak had indeed left me, but in return, I have found Torn.

My love, my salvation, my redemption.

End

Author's note:

So? What did you guys think? I am sooooo sorry I haven't updated for a long time. It's just that I had a horrible writer's block (same as always) Kami! I couldn't even think of anything to write:sobs: I'm a horrible person . . . and after I promised that the next chapter wouldn't take so long . . . :sigh: Anyhoo . . . I hope you liked this chapter. Right? I had to find inspiration. One way of doing that was playing Jak 3. So yeah. That definitely solved my problem. Hehe

Review Responses:

Flying cherry - Yay! I'm very glad that you like my fic! Don't worry. Jak and Torn will have their fight over Keira soon enough.

Kuro Kin'youbi - Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like my fic so far.

Jynxie the Plague - I can't tell you whether or not Jak will try to break up our beloved couple. It's a secret! Thanks for the review!

Jaky - I agree with you! Ashelin will suffer! I'm not sure if I'm going to kill her or whatever . . . but you know me. Hehe. I have plans for that wench!

Shadows-of-flame - I'm glad you liked the previous chapter. I liked it too. And another thing . . . I agree with you! Torn and Keira rules! Thanks for the review!