Disclaimer: I don't own any of Jak2 or 3, and I don't own any of the characters other than Trista. Naughty dog owns everything else.

Chapter Ten

Ok, so I'm out in the rain again, and this time without a good reason. You know, maybe running away wasn't the best idea to run away again. I dismissed that thought and sat next to the large crack in the ground and looked down at the pipes. The streets here were so degraded, but the baron doesn't have time to fix them. I guess it's hard to rule a whole city with terror.

I laughed at myself. I was being really bitter about this. Nothing had happened to me there so I was okay. So what if he had really scared me and I wasn't used to that? I've been through worse than that before. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up into Jinx's eyes. For a second he just kneeled next to me, and I stared at him for a moment. I smiled and threw my arms around him, almost knocking him over and he laughed at me.

"I've heard that you've had a rough time. Torn asked me to come back home and talk to you. How you doing baby sister?" He asked, placing a hand on my head and holding me close.

"Jinx, I missed you so much! And this whole deal with the baron had me scared half to death!" I cried. I was sobbing into his shirt as he held me, but he really didn't seem to mind much. I was grateful for that, I couldn't take having him pull away. He pulled back and tilted my head so I was looking him in the eyes.

"Tell me what happened okay? I'm not able to do much to help, but I can listen." He said. I smiled at him and he hugged me again as I recounted everything that had happened while he was out on missions. I noticed that by the end of my story, he was holding me a little tighter. I hadn't cried like this in a long time.

"Trista, I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you were having such a hard time! I shouldn't have been gone so much. Maybe I could've helped you." He said. I shook my head and didn't say anything. I didn't want him to blame himself for what had happened.

"Torn wanted me to tell you that you never have to be ashamed to tell him anything. He's always here to listen. He'll always call me home if you need him too." Jinx said, and I nodded into his shirt and smiled sadly.

"Come on, lets go back inside. It's raining really bad out here." Jinx hopped to his feet and held out his hand to help me to my feet. I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet and held my hand as we walked back to the hideout.

I've never seen that look in Torn's eyes before. It was concerned and relieved at the same time. He smiled at me and Jinx when we walked back in, and Jak hugged me. Daxter just curled up on my shoulder and I felt a strange feeling. This was my home, a place where people will always be happy to see me. No matter what shape I come home in.

"You guys are my family you know that?" I asked. Jinx and the rest of the guys looked at me and smiled. Torn spoke first.

"Of course we are. We're you're older brothers. We'll always take care of you Trista." I smiled at him and nodded and he grinned and looked back at his maps. Jinx looked at me and hugged me again.

"Of course. You're the closest thing I've ever had. I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I'll protect you forever." Jak nodded in agreement and I sat on a bunk and curled up and stared at my newfound family and smiled. It had been a while since I have had a place to call home. I guess somewhere along the line of watching my brothers work, I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning with a blanket spread over me. I sat up slightly and looked around the room. Jinx was spread out on a bunk across the room. Torn was asleep at the table and Jak was sleeping by leaning against the wall.

I smiled and slipped out from under the blanket and walked as silently as I could into the back room so I could change. I pulled on a silver sundress, and stared at myself in the mirror. My red hair was tumbled around my shoulders, and my emerald eyes were shining. I looked like a girl who had everything in the world.

I shrugged off the feeling of having something more than other people had and walked back into the room. I felt like something bad happened the second I stepped out because all the guys were staring at me.

"What happened?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"It's Tess." Jinx whispered, and I felt my world fall and crash.

Me: read and review please!