WARNING! There may or may not be some sexually-implied content in this chapter. Don't flame me if you get offended, OK? Enjoy at your own risk! XD

-Jack Knights

The next few days were hectic. You could practically cut through the tension in the shop with a knife. Trex was busy having a blowout sale, and business was booming, relatively speaking. Whenever anyone would ask why the sudden drop in prices and good deals, she said she was retiring to the country, that she was getting on in her old age. Only Link and Jaz knew the truth; when he'd asked her why sell all the parts she'd amassed, Trex had said that if she was leaving the house because of those thieves, she sure as hell wasn't going to let them use her parts for their dastardly plans.

Link had hardly slept at all in the following days; Jaz would go out in the daytime and hassle her way into quiet a few good deals because of her womanly charms, but it was up to him to scour Sector Seven at night for other essentials. He'd spend the while night out and about, haggling until he could barely stand and then he'd make his way back to Trex's house, only to stay up most of the day worrying about their trek through the mountains. He'd spend hours on end reviewing maps, looking for any minute detail that might have escaped him, trying to factor every possibility into his plans.

That was how Jaz had found him on the third night, bent low over a map covered in notes and circled areas. She'd knocked but he stayed as he was, occasionally muttering to himself and scribbling on a separate sheet of paper. She cleared her throat and when he still paid her no heed she stomped over to him, grasping him face and turning his head to face her.

He looked horrible; three nights of continuous mental strained had left their mark on the Hylian. He had dark circles around his eyes, which were blood-shot. His hair was a mess, sticking up at odd angles, dirty with bits of pencil shavings and paper in it. He had quite a growth of stubble on his face, which had gotten thinner.

"That's it," she said, grimacing at him. "You've done enough for tonight."

"But I still have a series of possible attack patterns to plot out," he muttered, trying to turn his head back to the maps. Jaz shook her head and put one of his arms over her shoulders, lifting him with a strain.

"You need to relax, before you drop dead on your feet," she said as she shifted his weight. Link kept glancing back, looking longingly at the papers strewn around his room. "You're lucky we got a bath installed in the house, not that it'll do good now."

She led him into the bathroom and propped him up against the wall, closing the door. Turning a valve in the wall, she filled the tub that took up most of the room with hot water. Once the water cooled off a bit, she turned to Link, who was half asleep, slouched against the wall. She frowned and tapped her foot as she thought about what to do. I guess I can't exactly leave him in the bath, he might drown. Biting her lip, she approached him.

"Link," she said into his ear, raising her voice when he didn't respond. "I need your help getting you undressed."

"Hm?" he muttered, his eyes half opening. "I haven't even courted you yet," he said without a hint of sarcasm.

"Never you mind," Jaz murmured, blushing. She grabbed the wooden seat in the corner and placing it under him so he could sit. Beginning with his shirt, pulling it out of his pants. "Raise your arms," she commanded, and he did so lazily as she yanked it off his head. After some difficulty, she managed to unlace his boots and pull them off, along with his socks, all the while Link's head dipped as he tried to stay awake. She gritted her teeth and rocked back on the balls of her feet. Taking off his pants would be a problem, Jaz realized and she blushed redder.

"Link, I need you to unbuckle your belt and help me with your pants," she muttered. He woke up enough to stare at her blankly, strangely unfazed by her request. Jaz helped him stand again and stood back as he fumbled with his belt. At this rate the water'll freeze over before he can get in it, she thought bitterly, shaking her head. "Oh, just let me," she said, still blushing as she batted away his hands and loosened his pants for him. She pulled them down to to his ankles and he fell back onto the seat, staggering wildly.

Pulling them off and tossing them in the corner, Jaz was surprised when she turned back to see Link standing again, pulling off his undergarments. She shrieked and covered her eyes, swearing she'd make a tomato look white. She shouted at him to keep them on and only when he put a heavy hand on her shoulder did she open her eyes again. Trying to get him in the tub was near impossible, Link just couldn't seem to lift his feet high enough to get them in. He eventually got one foot in and as he lifted his other, it caught on the edge and sent him sprawling.

Link half turned as he fell, his hand whipping out grab Jaz's arm. Unable to stop him from falling, she fell in with him, getting soaked thoroughly. She surfaced, a few choice cusses on the tip of her tongue but stopped when she saw Link's head lolling off to one side as he fell asleep. Most of the water had spilled out of the tub when they'd fallen in, so Jaz leaned over Link's shoulder to twist the valve open. When the water reached her chest, she closed it again, steam rising around them. Link looked back at her over his shoulder, looking as if he was puzzled by her being in there with him. Instead of getting out, Jaz sat on her knees, Link leaning against her with his back to her chest.

"You shouldn't be in here with me," he said suddenly. "It's improper for an unmarried woman to do so."

"You're the one that pulled me in, idiot," she said, smacking him on the head. He began laughing, his back vibrating against her as it escaped his throat in a low rumble. "What's so funny?"

"You," he said, looking at her again, half-awake. "Last time you said you'd keep them from spying on me and now you're bathing with me. I can only imagine what you'll do next."

His comment made her eyes widen in embarrassment and she looked away. "You know, you look like so young when you blush," he muttered, slipping further into the tub, his head resting against his chest. She pushed him forward as he laughed again, and he leaned forward.

"Sit up properly and I'll wash your hair for you," Jaz said sternly and he obeyed, scooting up close to her again, still leaning forward. She lathered his head with soap and lathered it into his scalp. He hummed in approval, closing his eyes. Jaz took the opportunity to wash out the suds and combed his hair, pulling it into a tail at the nape of his neck. "You've got really long hair," she noted and he opened his eyes again, frowning.

"I should cut it before it gets too long," he muttered.

"Leave it; it suits you. When it's clean." she said offhandedly. Jaz washed his arms and chest, slowing when she reached the scars that crisscrossed across his skin. He's really beat up... I wonder what happened to him before he ended up here? She thought it improper to ask.

After a brief struggle to get him to stand, then out of the tub without falling, she wrapped a towel around him, telling him to dry off. While she waited for him to finish, she wrapped her arms around her middle, shivering when a draft blew in the open window.

"You're wet," Link said, his eyes droopy.

"What?"

"Your clothes," he clarified. "You'll catch a cold if you stay in them much longer."

"Yeah," she muttered, suddenly self-conscious. Turning her back to him, she shrugged out of her wet things, keeping her undergarments on despite being soaked through. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself, turning back to face Link. He was grinning sleepily and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"We're even now," he muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"You got to see me mostly naked and now I saw you," he said, rambling. "Well, from behind, but I didn't mind."

She blushed and they walked out of the wash closet, his arm slung around her shoulders again as he dragged his feet. They went into his room, where she cleared off his bed before he sat down. He fell heavily onto it, his back against the wall and he sighed, content.

"If that's all then," she said, turning to leave. He grabbed her hand and she turned back, surprised.

"Stay," he blurted. "It's not like you can stay in your room, what with nearly being... you know," he stopped himself when he saw her face.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine in Trex's room for tonight," she said, smiling at him as kindly as she could muster. "I'll see you in the morning, 'K?" she added as he let her hand go. Link nodded vaguely, falling onto his side. Jaz didn't have to wait long for him to fall asleep and she turned off the lights, closing the door behind her as she left. In the hall she ran into Trex, who had drunk herself into a stupor.

"Link's running around naked," she muttered, the alcohol slurring her words. "I found his clothes in the bathroom. I'm gonna catch him!"

"Too late for that," Jaz said as she walked into Trex's room. "He's already bathed and asleep."

"Aww... but I wanted to see his toosh again," she said, dejected. Her eyes narrowed as if seeing Jaz for the first time. "Your clothes were in there too."

"Goodnight, Trex," she said sternly, going to close the door.

"No fair! You got to see him naked didn't you?" Trex shouted as Jaz looked at her appalled. "And then some, I'd reckon," she added as she trudged down the stairs.

"Goodnight, Trex!" she shouted, slamming the door as the older woman hiccuped and laughed her way back downstairs.

"Jaz, see if you can fit this in your pack," Trex said, handing the girl a tin of food. "Mine's bursting at the seams already."

"Same here," Jaz muttered, squashing the can into her bag unsuccessfully. She looked over a Link who had remained oddly quiet and distant all morning. I wonder if he remembers last night? she wondered. When he glanced at her, he blinked once and stared out the window as if seeing something utterly captivating. It's not like we did anything though, she admitted, blushing. Trex leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear.

"Hey, last night I was pretty drunk," she muttered and Jaz went stiff. "You know how I get those god awful dreams, right? Get this, I dreamed you and the kid... well, you know."

"You should stop drinking so much," Jaz said without looking at her. "It';; go straight to your head and liver."

"Yeah, I guess I should," she remarked, straightening. She turned to Link and asked him loudly, "You and Jaz got it on last night, didn't you?"

Jaz stared at her in horror and Link went red all the way to his ears. He remained silent, looking at the ground intently. Jaz looked back and forth from Trex to Link, understanding how she'd interpret his silence, mouth open.

"So I wasn't that drunk," Trex remarked, eyebrows raised. She shrugged and shouldered her pack. "Well, it had to happen some day. At least it was him and not some scum bag from the corner store."

"No, we didn't—" Jaz faltered, looking at Link for help, but he didn't see her silent plea.

"I'm actually surprised at you though, Link," she said, her head cocked to one side. "I thought you had more decency. I guess in this day and age things are different than in my time."

Link's eyes went wide and he looked slightly insulted. Jaz wanted to slap her, her rage burning fiercely. Trex shrugged again and opened the door. "We'd better get going. I hope this won't interfere with our plans," she added, stepping outside. I can't believe him! Or her, for that matter. Actually, yes I can; Trex has always been direct. But him... Jaz glared at Link. He stared at her apologetically, a confused look crossing his face as he tied a green bandanna across his forehead. Angry, she held her head high and stalked out the door, leaving Link to lock the door. Eventually he caught up with her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me," she said coldly.

"Look, I'm sorry about back there," he said as she shrugged off his hand. "I didn't know what to say."

"How about, 'No, we didn't bump uglies' or 'I'd never take advantage of her like that'," she offered, a vein in her head pulsing.

"But I can't remember last night," he said, abashedly honest. "Not everything, or very clearly. And I don't like to lie."

"Well then," she began, her anger ebbing for just a moment. "You'll be glad to know nothing happened. Other than us bathing... together. With our clothes on, mostly," Jaz added, realizing she'd been babbling.

"Oh, good," he said, sounding grateful and a little disappointed all at the same time. "I think I'd regret it a little, bedding you without at least a promise for your future."

"Oh, just a little, then?" she said, her temper flaring again. He groaned, covering his face with a hand as she stalked away.

"That's not what I meant," he shouted after her as he tried to catch up to her. Trex was already waiting at the tram station, arms crossed as she watched them argue. "Well, I meant the part about regretting it—not that part!" he said testily when she raised her eyebrow. "You know what I mean. It would've ended badly. I'd have to marry you—not that I wouldn't mind, wait that's not... never mind that. I'd just... be trouble."

"So, I'm trouble?" she said once he breathed out a sigh, scratching his head. "Thanks, I'll remember that the next time I feel like jumping your bones."

As Link prepared a retort, or a question, she didn't know which, Trex spoke fondly, regarding them with amusement. "You might as well marry her now. You two look already act like an old married couple."

"We..." Jaz flared angrily.

"I, she..." Link stuttered, confused. Trex laughed at their obvious discomfort and boarded the cart, shaking her head. Link boarded silently, his face a mix of emotions, Jaz glaring angrily at the both of them behind him.

"At least we'll get a few laughs out of this before we're running and fighting for our lives," Trex remarked as the train pulled away from the station with a screech.

"They're not here, Carlisle," said the stout man to his boss, who gritted his teeth angrily, kicking a door off it's hinges.

"I can see that you dolt!"

"Nothing's left, sir," said another man from below. "It looks like they've jumped ship."

"Well, it's no use standing here limp-dicked!" Carlisle shouted. "Get out there and search for them!"

Damn you Sheik... I will find you, boy. And when I do, we'll see how much you like a blade in your back, he thought vicious, stalking out the front door.