As ever I do not own any Jak and Daxter characters. I do own Taj, Anya, Damas jnr, Lexa, Lucie, Rio and Marissa.
CHAPTER 20.
A few days later Keira sat next to Taj's hospital bed loosely holding his hand. She stroked his hair and sighed looking across at his twin sister on the other side of the bed holding his hand and staring blankly at his face.
"You okay honey?" Keira asked
Anya nodded "Yes thanks mama" she said without looking away from her brother.
Keira looked back to her son and all the wires and tubes coming out of him. She blinked back tears and continued to stroke his hair.
The door opened and Jak popped his head around the door "Keira, baby...the doctor wants a word" he said quietly.
Keira nodded and stood up letting go of Taj's hand and kissing him gently on the forehead "I won't be long baby boy" she whispered before stepping away from the bed and walking towards the door. He pushed the door further open for her and let her through all the time Keira didn't look at Jak once.
Anya sighed "I think mama's mad a daddy for letting you go...you need to wake up and tell her it wasn't his fault" she said sadly.
Jak and Keira sat in a room to the side of the main waiting room of the hospital. Jak glanced at Keira and he could see the tear stains down her face and her hands shook as she played with the tissue in her hands. He cleared his throat "Keira...I'm..." he started just as the doctor entered the room and Keira shot up.
"Well...how is he?" she asked
The doctor looked down at his notes and nodded "He seems to be doing okay...it's a good thing you got that bullet out before it could infect him any further"
"So he'll make a full recovery?" Jak asked standing up next to Keira
The doctor frowned "It's really too soon to tell...we've operated on him and took out the remnants of the bullet"
Keira breathed heavily "And the dark eco?"
"There is an infection in there but until all the test results are in we can't be sure how bad it is...luckily the light eco in him is helping to fight the infection and with some antibiotics, theres every chance he'll make a full recovery" he smiled slightly
Jak nodded " So will he wake up soon?" he asked
"He'll wake up when he's ready...now I believe you have had quite an ordeal yourself and your daughter Anya I'd like to have her checked out" he said looking up at Keira's tired tear streaked face.
Keira nodded "I'll send Anya out to see you, but I'm fine"
"Baby...you should be checked out" Jak said softly taking her hand
She shook her head "I can't leave him...I won't leave him" she said defiantly
"I can sit with him, I'll look after him" Jak frowned
Keira pulled her hand away from Jak and snapped "And look what happened the last time you were supposed to be looking after him"
"That's not fair Keira..." Jak began
The doctor cleared his throat "I'll leave you to it"
Jak nodded his appreciation and looked back at Keira who stood glaring at him her hands on her hips "You really think I'd have sent them in to that if there'd been any other way...don't you think I feel bad enough about this?"
"That's just typical...all about how you feel...well what about how I feel...how Anya feels...how your son feels" Keira yelled
Jak stared at her and breathed out heavily "I know you're upset Keira...but we have to stick together in this...we need each other"
"No Jak...I need my son to wake up and right now I don't know if that's ever going to happen...and its all your fault!" she shouted before her head slumped and she began to sob.
Jak stared at her for a minute before grabbing her and pulling her to his chest "I know baby...I know it's my fault" he said holding her tightly to him
"He's your son Jak and you should have been with him..." she sobbed into his chest
Jak rocked her gently "I know baby...I know"
"What if he doesn't wake up Jak" Keira sniffed
Jak nodded and lifted her face, gently wiping the tears off her face "He will wake up...he's strong"
Keira nodded and stepped away from Jak "I better go see to Anya"
He looked sadly at Keira "I'm sorry Keira" he said quietly
Keira nodded and left the room as Jak slumped down on the chair and began to cry.
Keira walked back into Taj's hospital room and looked at her daughter "The doctors want to see you" she said sitting down
"What for?" Anya asked pulling her eyes away from Taj
Keira smiled "Just to make sure your okay"
"Where's daddy?" she asked Keira shrugged and took Taj's hand again "It's not daddy's fault you know"
Keira looked at her daughter "Why would I think that?" she asked
"Because you do, because daddy let us help get you back...you see mama even if daddy had said no, which he did about a million times before he agreed...Taj would have gone anyway...he was desperate to get you back, even daddy wouldn't have been able to stop him" Anya said "So it isn't daddy's fault" she sighed getting up "He needs you mama, he's blaming himself enough" she said patting her mothers shoulder gently before leaving the room.
Lucie stood at the reception desk waiting as the nurse checked her computer "So how is he?" she asked
"He's comfortable" said the nurse
Lucie nodded "Can I see him?" she enquired
The nurse looked at Lucie and shook her head "Only family at the minute I'm afraid"
"But I'm his...urm girlfriend" Lucie protested
The nurse shook her head again "I'm sorry but it's hospital policy with these kind of cases"
"Can you at least tell me anything other than he's comfortable?" Lucie sighed
The nurse looked again at the screen "He's had an operation and he's recovering"
"That's all you can tell me...I've know this boy my whole life and loved him for nearly as long and all your going to tell me is that he's recovering" Lucie yelled just as Anya stepped out of the doctor's office and into the waiting room.
"Lucie?" Anya said
Lucie turned around and ran towards Anya pulling her into a huge hug "Oh my god...are you okay...and Taj...they won't tell me anything?" Lucie asked
Anya hugged her back "I'm fine and Taj is still sleeping"
"What happened?" Lucie asked
Anya sat down and rubbed her eyes "He got shot...we had just finished and he was changing out of dark form and he got shot" she took a deep breath "Daddy got the bullet out but the infection is pretty bad, if it's got to his heart..." she trailed off sighing "I better go Lucie...I'll tell him your here"
Lucie smiled slightly as she watched Anya leave the room and them quietly started to cry.
Jak sat at the end of the dock overlooking the water. He heard a pair of footsteps behind him and sighed as Keira sat next to him "Hey" she said softly
"Hey...how is he?...sorry I left but..." Jak said trailing off and looking back across the water
Keira nodded "I know why you left"
"You do?" Jak asked
Keira nodded and rested her hand on top of Jak's "I'm sorry for what I said...I was angry and upset"
"But it's true...I should never have let him go in there...either of them" Jak said
She shook her head "You would have had to chain him to a chair in order to stop him going in there...he's just like you when it comes to fighting" she smiled
Jak looked at Keira before turning slightly and lifting his hands to her face "I'm so sorry Keira...I was just so afraid I'd lose you and then what...I couldn't do it alone, every minute they had you I got weaker and weaker"
Keira nodded "They didn't hurt me Jak"
"I know but they didn't have to...they could have kept you forever just chained up and sedated and I would have just been a shell of a man forever looking for you, forever in the darkness" Jak breathed
Keira smiled and reached up to place a hand on Jak's "You're a warrior Jak, you would have found a way to live happily with the children"
"No Keira I wouldn't...I could feel it the minute they took you" Jak said shaking his head "I had to get you back I just couldn't do it on my own and Taj wouldn't let me...he yelled at me you know"
Keira giggled "Really...what did he say?"
"He said I couldn't do it alone and he could help...he was stood in the middle of the throne room in Haven Palace, surrounded by KG and Torn and Ashelin and he was shouting at me" Jak chuckled
Keira laughed and leaned her forehead on Jak's "I'm sorry Jak...I'm really sorry" she whispered
"I love you Keira Mar" Jak whispered back before sealing his lips to hers.
Keira smiled and pulled away from him "I love you too Jak Mar...now lets go see if our lazy bum of a son has woken up" she smiled getting up
Jak got up and grabbed her hand "God I've missed you"
"I know...I have too" she smiled.
Lucie's head rested on Rio's shoulder as she slept in the waiting room of the hospital. Jak stepped out of Taj's room and looked at them. He whispered something to the nurse on the desk and then wandered over to them. Rio looked up at him "Any change?" he whispered.
"Not really...you should take her home" Jak said nodding towards Lucie
Rio glanced at her "She won't leave...could I maybe see Anya?" he asked
"I'll ask her but she's very reluctant to leave Taj's side" Jak answered
Rio nodded "I never really thought about it before"
"Thought about what?" Jak asked frowning
Rio shrugged "About the dangers that come with the power"
"I don't really have any power Rio" Jak shrugged
He nodded "But that's the point...even though you say you don't have any power you do...you have Mar's blood in you and so does Anya and Taj...I mean you could walk into that palace in Haven or Spargus and demand the throne...damn you could walk in to the throne room of anywhere in the universe and demand it"
A nurse walked up to Jak and handed him a mug of coffee, he took it and nodded his thanks before sitting down across from Rio "It's not as easy as every one thinks...having this blood in me is like having a ticking time bomb" Rio looked at him as he sighed "Every day since the twins were born, hell since I met Keira, I've been waiting for something to happen, always on the look out, watching"
"I guess now I know why you're so protective of your family" Rio said "I don't think I really got it before...and I'll probably never get used to the idea that Anya is a trained warrior but you know what I can't help but love her for it" He chuckled
Jak laughed "Trust me Rio don't ever piss her off" he said standing up "And you will get used to it...and it will probably be before I do" he smiled as the door to Taj's room opened and a nurse popped her head out "Commander Mar" she said.
Jak nodded "I better get back, and see if you can get her home" he said nodding towards Lucie.
Jak walked back into the room frowning down at his coffee "This coffee is like crap...can't they get a decent coffee maker?" he complained looking up and seeing Keira and Anya sat looking at him while the doctors and nurses fussed around Taj "What's happened?" he asked putting the mug down.
Keira ran to him and hugged him "He woke up" she pointed to her son waving his arms around to try and stop the nurses "He just opened his eyes".
Taj noticed his father stood looking at him "Dad can you please tell them to leave me alone...I don't need oxygen" he snapped.
Jak laughed and moved towards his son "So you decided to come back to the land of the living...I know you like your sleep Taj but that was ridiculous" he teased.
Taj laughed and waved away another nurse "Is Lucie here?" he asked
Anya smiled "Lucie hasn't left the hospital since you were brought in"
"My throat hurts" he announced holding his neck with one hand "And did anyone get the bullet?" he croaked
Jak handed him a cup of water before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small yellow bullet "Thought you might want it" he smiled
Keira stood glaring at them arms crossed over her chest "And just why would you want that Taj Mar?...that bullet nearly killed you"
"Are you kidding me mama...my first bullet wound" Taj smiled holding the bullet up between is thumb and index finger proudly "And how I've missed you yelling at me"
Keira smiled slightly "Yes well that will be your last bullet if I have anything to say about it"
Jak laughed and wrapped his arms around Keira "You had us all worried son"
"I'm sorry...but you know if you hadn't given me permission to go in there I would have gone in anyway...and that could have been a lot worse" Taj said looking down.
Anya sat on the edge of the bed and held Taj's hand "Just don't do it again...and how many times do you need telling not to take your breast-plate off until you're away from the battle ground"
Taj rolled his eyes and laughed "I'd really like to see Damas and Lexa...but do you think I could see Lucie first?"
Jak nodded "You can have time with Lucie while we go get your brother and sister...and Anya you need to get cleaned up"
"And you'll need some clean clothes Taj" Keira said moving over to kiss his forehead "Now you be good"
Taj smiled "I will mama"
Jak went over and hugged his son tightly "Don't ever scare me like that again or I will take you in to that arena and kick your ass myself"
"I won't dad...and thanks for letting me help" Taj chuckled
Anya got up off the bed "And no funny business with Lucie"
Taj grinned and waved as they left him alone in the room.
Lucie entered Taj's room quietly. She stood looking at him as he led with his head back and his eyes closed. She smiled and stepped forward causing Taj to open his eyes and look at her "Hi" she said softly.
"I have your answer" Taj smiled
Lucie frowned "Answer to what?" she asked moving closer
"You asked me if I loved you" he said still smiling
Lucie nodded "Yes but it doesn't matter now...you don't need to answer me now"
"But you see I do...you see when I was on the ground with blood pouring out of me and my chest was getting tighter and I just couldn't breath...do you know what I saw in my mind...in my heart" Lucie shook her head "I saw you...I saw you and me and our children and I saw us smiling and laughing and you telling me to hold on to the dream"
Lucie sniffed "And you did" she said taking his hand and rubbing it against her cheek.
Taj turned his hand and cupped her face forcing her to look at him "I love you Lucie and I truly am sorry for all the pain I've caused you...please will you forgive me"
Lucie smiled and nodded before flinging herself at Taj and hugging him "Oh Taj...I was so afraid I'd lost you"
"Are you kidding...I'm a proper warrior now with scars and trophies to prove it" Taj laughed hugging her back
Lucie pulled away and looked at the bandage across his chest. She fingered it softly "They almost got your heart" she said gently
Taj shook his head "They couldn't get my heart because it was already safe with you"
Lucie looked up into Taj's eyes "I love you Taj Mar...don't ever hurt me again"
"I promise I will never intentionally hurt you again" he promised before bringing her face to his and kissing her softly at first but then more passionately.
"So you're really okay?" Rio asked as he and Anya sat over looking the water in Haven Forest.
Anya nodded "I'm fine Rio, maybe a little tired"
"I was so worried about you...if it had been you and not Taj...I know it sounds awful but I'm almost glad it was him" he said shaking his head.
Anya smiled and reached up to stroke Rio's face "You know you're going to have to get used to it...I'm a warrior now...got battle experience and everything" she teased
Rio laughed "Oh no you don't...I'm going to get your father to teach me everything he knows so it will be me who goes into battle, not you"
"Yes but I'm still the one with the dark and light eco" Anya smirked
Rio lunged at her and pushed her down to the ground pinning her hands above her head and straddling her waist, basically pinning her to the ground "Well little miss dark demon, why don't you get out of this" he chuckled
Anya laughed "You really think I couldn't...dark is just itching to play with you...she thinks your kind of hot"
"Really?" Rio asked raising an eyebrow
She nodded "But she would much prefer a kiss than a fight"
"Is that so?" he said lower his face to hers
Again she nodded "Yep...you're such and easy target it would just be a waste of energy anyway"
"You tell her from me that I have other ways to use her energy" Rio whispered before crashing his lips to hers.
As ever hope you enjoy and please review. Thanks to DarkEcoFreak3 for your review of the last chapter so soon after I'd posted it and I hope you enjoy this one. X X X X