Hi all! I'll forewarn you, this chappy's kinda short, but it needed to be written. I should be able to get a few more chapters updated this weekend, since it's a 4 dayer! D

disclaimer: this is ridiculous...

Mr. Brightside

Chapter 6

Laughter is the Best Medicine

"And then she tried throwing it away and it hit our captain!"

Kiera was near tears from laughing so hard. She and Torn had been walking around the streets of New Haven for an hour or so now, talking about various things. Kiera told him about her life back in Sandover; what he home was like, how beautiful the ocean was, and, most importantly, all the embarrassing stuff Jak and Daxter had done.

Torn told her a little bit about his past, but stayed vague about certain topics; his parents, how he'd came to be in the guard, and why he'd left. She didn't press him for info, though. She knew some things people just didn't want to share with everyone. She did, however, hear some of his funnier stories about Ashelin. Who knew Mr. Hard ass had a sense of humor?

They were nearing the FLHQ now. Kiera didn't have a watch, but judging by the sun, they should probably get to work. Although, she'd bet her cactus on it no one else had even dragged their hung over butts out of bed yet.

Torn opened the door to HQ for her, and they stepped onto the elevator together. Kiera was still grinning from his story and Torn had a small smirk on his face.

"I don't think Ashelin wanted anyone hearing about her screw-ups back from her training days." She looked up at him with her beautiful green eyes sparkling.

"And I doubt Jak wanted his commander to hear all about his ridiculous fear of wumpbees, and I feel the deepest regret in finding it out, but I fear think they'll understand," Torn replied looking mockingly serious. Kiera burst out laughing. The tough ex-KG had a sarcastic sense of humor and an excellent poker face; a funny combination.

The elevator reached the top floor and the doors opened. Kiera still had a large smile on her face, lighting up the entire room. She looked towards the staff table in the center of the room and thought, 'Looks like I'm lacking cacti at the moment.'

The entire FL, well her friends anyway, were standing around the staff table chatting and drinking coffee, obviously getting over their hangovers. Jak and Ashelin were wrapped around each other, and both looked up just in time to see a giggling Kiera and a smirking Torn enter. Together.

Everyone's eyebrows were raised, obviously caught off guard by this odd turn of events.

"Where the heck have you guys been? It's almost noon!" asked a suspicious Daxter. Why had they come in together? And why in the name of all that was holy, namely him, had Kiera been laughing!

"I was about to ask the same thing." Everyone turned to stare at a surly looking Jak. The blonde savior had unlatched himself from a moody governess and was now sending a glare Torn's way. What was that dread-locked loser trying to pull? He'd better not be hitting on Kiera, she was...not with him anymore. Oh yeah.

"We've been getting breakfast," replied Kiera, who had composed herself and was now sending a glare at the goateed idiot. How dare he look at Torn that way after what he had done! "Is that a problem?"

"Getting breakfast?" Daxter grinned in that horribly evil, pervy way that only he could grin. "Did you two need refueling after a long night?"

The aqua-haired girl ignored his comment. She'd know that was coming the moment the words had left her mouth. It was Daxter we're talking about here, of course he'd make a crude comment!

"What!" This statement had come from an angry looking Jak, who'd stood up so fast, his chair had slid across the floor a few feet.

"Yes Jak, breakfast. That's what it's called when you eat food in the morning. We saw each other in the bakery and, since we were going the same place, decided to walk here together. Now, will someone tell us what's up already?"

Torn had to admit, he was impressed at her comeback. She'd stood up to that guy, who by the way had no business glaring at him. That and the part about explaining breakfast could

ve come straight from his own mouth.

"Sure. Well, there's been an accident down in the sewers," answered Sig. The wastelander had to laugh silently at the little mechanic's spunk. Ol' Chilipeppers had been way out of line on that last one. He cleared his throat and continued. "A coupla our guys went down there to clear out any trouble. They cleaned 'em out, but the can't get back up 'cause the elevator got broke from a stray shot."

Sig stopped for a moment, walking around the table towards Kiera..

"That's where you come in Little Wrench Jockey. There's a passage through some of the narrow vents. You should be able to get to the elevator through them and fix it."

Sig stopped in front of her and raised an eyebrow as if to say 'well, what do you think?'

"Cool. Just tell me how to get to the passage and I can have the elevator back on track in no time," she answered his unasked question with a smile.

"Hold your leapers now," he continued, subconsciously noting how sweet her smile looked. "There could still be a few nasties down there, so I'd suggest you take Chilipeppers," he nodded towards Jak, " or Dr. Dread over there," he nodded again, this time at Torn, "with you to watch your back. I'd go take 'em down myself, but I wouldn't fit through the vents." Sig finished with a light shrug.

Kiera was a little mad that Sig didn't think she could handle herself, but he hadn't meant anything from it so she didn't dwell on it.

"Okay, let's go Torn. I need to swing by and grab my tool box from the garage." she said, heading towards the door.

"Wait Kiera," She stopped and turned around to find Jak walking towards her. "Maybe I should go with you instead. I've been down there before and those things can get pretty nasty. It could get bad." he finished with a slightly arrogant look on his face.

Kiera was pissed now. He had no right to even talk to her until he explained himself and he especially couldn't treat her as though she was a weak little girl. She could handle herself, she had two years of survival in this hell hole to attest to that, and there was a guy hanging around a bakery in NH that could bare witness to her wrath. She would've told him all this had someone else not beat her to the punch.

"Yeah, I think I can use a gun by now and can handle a few 'nasties', but thanks for your concern," said Torn with an eye roll. Jak sent him a glare, which was returned 10x by the recipient. Even Jak had to back down from that. It was just plain scary.

"Come on, let's go find that passage and fix that elevator before sundown," Kiera interrupted, grabbing Torn's, rather nice might she add, arm and steering him towards the exit. A gasp was heard from behind them followed by a low, but distinctly female, growl. Without looking back, they got on the elevator, leaving a stunned and amused FL behind them.

Give ya a cyber muffin if you can guess who gasped! The next chappy should be up soon and you can expect some serious sexual tension between our two leads! (It involves them both being sweaty, I'll give ya that!) Lol. R&R pleez!