Chapter Four

Jak slowly opened his hand, horrified at what was happening. His mouth hung open and he felt pure terror for the first time in his life. He was terrified to look up into her eyes. In his trembling hand stood the long straw and she had grabbed the short one. He could no longer keep up his big strong hero image. He was in disbelief of what was happening. A stifled cry was heard from Rayn as she quickly walked away towards the elevators. Sig and Daxter's heads hung in shame as Daxter climbed onto Samos who had grabbed onto a chair nearby to keep from reacting the way he wanted. Torn pulled Ashelin closer, pained but at the same time relieved that the woman he loved was safe with him and he couldn't imagine being in Jak's situation right now. Meanwhile Jak stood staring into his hand as if waiting to wake up. Keira's unusually happy voice sliced through their thoughts and through the silence.

"Well that's that. Fair and square. No need to worry. I trust Jak" she attempted a half hearted smile to convince the others and she handed the last vial over to Jak whose hand was still open and his mouth still hung in shock.

Snapping back into reality he looked up at Keira who now had her hands clamped behind her back, smiling strangely and looking at him with those innocent green eyes. She leaned toward him and said "Well drink up"

Somehow he found his voice and began "Keira, I can't"

"What do you mean you can't? You made the rules and it was fair just like you said. No complaints. You said you're going to get the last one so it's okay. But rules say it's your turn to drink. Right here on the spot" somehow she kept up her act as everyone looked at her, shocked that she was reacting this way. Was she in denial?

"No Keira I don't care if I made the rules. I'm not drinking it. What if I don't come ba-"

He was interrupted again "No, no, no don't say that. I know you will. You said no one will die in your hands and I believe you. Even if not, you still won fair and square"

"Won? Keira this isn't a game. Don't use that wor-"

Interrupted again " I don't wanna hear it. I'm not drinking it because then it won't be fair and you made rul-"

This time he cut in " Fuck Keira, I don't care about fair, Why? Out of all times you choose now to be stubborn! I just…Oh my God" he turned around as he yelled and banged his clenched fists on a nearby table. He looked down at his fists, frustrated and lost in thought. Everyone jumped at his sudden outburst but stood in silence watching it all play out. He stared at the vial in his hand and he knew what had to be done.

He slowly turned around to feel everyone's eyes burning into him waiting for a response, even Keira had cut off her act and she was shaken. He never got so angry at her and this was the first time he had cursed her in such a way. He looked up at everyone around him as he lifted the vial up into the air. No one could tell by his solemn expression what he was thinking.

"Fine" was all he mumbled as he put the vial to his lips and let the cooling liquid flow into his mouth. Keira winced and closed her eyes as if she ingested something painful as he did this. Then without her realizing she felt a strong hand grab her small waist and pull her almost harshly.

Jak pulled her roughly against him with his left arm and used his injured right hand to quickly press her face forcefully against his. He firmly pressed his lips against her soft quivering ones as he used his fingers to pull her jaw so that he could slip the antidote through his lips to hers. Her head was tilted back and she used all her strength to escape his grasp yet it wasn't enough, even with his injured arm, her strength was still no match against his. She pounded his chest with her fists trying to push away and he just held tighter until her head was far back enough that she had to swallow the antidote. He didn't back away until he felt all the liquid leave his mouth into hers and waited until he heard her swallow it all. The pounding on his chest slowed down as she clenched his shirt and clawed at it. Warm salty tears streamed down her cheeks as she swallowed it, feeling the cooling relief from the poison instantly throughout her body. Jak's chest hurt and he felt her tears against his cheeks. It pained him so horribly. Her neck was in pain from being held so forcibly and roughly, but the pain in her neck and mouth was the least of her worries. Her heart ached. This had to be the most painful kiss she ever had with him.

Not like this, she thought, please not like this.

I'm so sorry Keira. I couldn't let you die if I failed.

Her body became limp in his and she began to slip down to her knees but he held onto her frail trembling body, as he stood firm. He couldn't look at her. He loosened his grip on her neck so that he can massage it, knowing it must've hurt, while placing his chin on her head. He felt like he had done the worst thing in the world to her and yet he was saving her. He tightened his embrace on her and he heard the muffled cries in his shirt. She clenched onto him as if he were her very life, even though to Keira, he was her life. She screamed into him and everyone had to walk away. It was too painful to watch. Jak just held her tighter and whispered into her hair "I'm so sorry Keira, so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you like that, I swear."

After about ten minutes, which felt like an eternity, Jak glanced up at the tall wooden grandfather clock near one of the windows. It was a quarter to eleven at night. He was running out of time. He slowly and gently pulled Keira's body away from his so that he can look into her red swollen eyes still leaking tears. He had to keep strong and keep his voice from quivering. He lifted her chin with his hand so that he can look into her eyes. He hoped that he didn't see fear in her eyes, not fear of his death but fear of him because of what he just did to her. He whispered to her, noses touching, "Please don't fear me because of what I just-" Her finger pressed against his lips, hushing him as she nodded. A slight feeling of relief spread through him. She knew he'd never hurt her like that again if it were in his power.

"Keira, I have to go meet Mizo now. I promise I will be back. I will get that antidote and everything will be okay. You have to believe in me" his eyes stood gentle.

She nodded again even though her long elvish ears drooped. She wiped some stray tears upon her cheeks before putting her damp hands to cup his face.

"You better come back Jak. I still wanna take apart your Boomer so you can yell at me" she tried to smile and with that he placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. He was never the type to display too much affection openly but right now, under the circumstances, it didn't matter. His fingers ran through her hair as he backed away from her a bit to make an announcement.

"I'm leaving now everyone. I will come back by tomorrow morning with my antidote and we can go back to Haven City"

Everyone nodded at Jak and placed their hands on his shoulders "We'll be waiting" Torn reassured.

"That's right Cherry, we still got some metal heads to fry for sport" Sig encouraged. With that Jak's hand left Keira's hair and he grabbed his Vulcan Fury. He had his other weapons in the Boomer. Such a pity he'd have to use them after it's been a year.

"Wait Jak I'm coming too!" Daxter yelled and swiftly crawled up his back onto his shoulder, "I can't let you have all the fun, after all that's what friends are for". A wide grin spread across Daxter's face as Jak gave him a thumbs up "You're the man Dax".

With his back turned he swiftly headed toward the exit until he heard a voice yell out to him from behind.

"Wait Jak", it was Keira, her footsteps running to catch up to him. He could feel her almost right behind him. He turned his head without turning around so that he could hear what she had to say.

He heard her footsteps stop and her slightly panting voice, "I love you Jak, with all my heart" She stood facing his back, her hands placed on her heart as if to show him, a genuine smile upon her face.

Jak continued to walk out, right before he stepped out of the doorway to leave, knowing Keira awaited his reponse, he replied "I love you too Keira, more than life itself". It was the first time he told he loved her in front of others; he hoped it wouldn't be his last.

With that he left, back into the cold damp mist of the night. The rain had stopped. As he walked out toward his Boomer he released wheezing coughs that he had been holding in to prevent Keira from worrying even more. His cupped his hand on his mouth and felt something warm and wet splatter from his lips on his palm. He didn't have to look at his hand to realize he was coughing up blood because he tasted it. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and his hand with his side. He took one last glance in the trunk to make sure all his guns were there along with some Light and Dark Eco if he needed it. He hopped into the leather interior of the car and started the engine. Daxter shared the same look of determination in his eyes.

"Let's go Dax. We got some ass to kick"

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Ah-hah! I bet you thought Jak grabbed the short straw at the end of the last chapter and then you realized Keira did but you didn't expect Jak to do what he did. Isn't mind games fun? Lol Well I had to keep up the suspense and drama somehow. Still more action to come, I'm working on chapter five. Don't forget to review! 