AN: Hello everyone. Summer is going to soon end and I am assuming that all of our lives are going to get more hectic with school resuming. Just a quick rant: university sucks out money out of everyone. They are much worse than the government. :/ But university means that I will be more hectic with my schedule so I may not be able to publish new chapters as regularly. I sincerely hope that you can understand the situation. Cheers! And enjoy the new chapter :)

3:45 AM... Time to wake up.

Yawn. A long yawn. Crack. A stretch that woke up his tired body. Jack rubbed his tired eyes to get the sleep out of his eyes. It has been long nights and days of memorization of the script and finding the character within himself. To be precise, it has been nearly two exhausting weeks. He rubbed his chin to feel the stubbles steadily growing and stared at his reflection by the mirror.

Stubbles. Check.

Dark brown hair. Check.

A charming smile. Check.

Time to go to work.

4:00 AM... On set, getting make-up and hair done.

Jack kept his eyes closed and his face relaxed and still as the make-up artist powdered his skin to a lighter tone. Then a soft brush stroke the colour red, fake blood, across his face. It started from the top of his head, one of his brow was painted with a streak of blood running down, then to the nose to mimic a nosebleed, and his lips bled the same colour.

Meanwhile another make-up artist dealt with his hair. They were brushed back and gently gelled to present a messy appearance. It didn't make him glad, but more fake blood, fake grease, and ash were applied. Extra hair spray were used to successfully make him look as if he had recently went through a choatic event.

To quicken the progress, the third make-up artist was hired by his manager, Spencer, had hired recently. Jack didn't neccessairly trust him, but if the man could aid decreasing the time for make-up, he would accept him- only for working the frontal body. Not his back. The other two, Erin and Jessica, could apply make-up on his back.

Once it was time to do his back, Spencer nodded and had the third make-up artist leave the room. Jack slowly removed his shirt and allowed it to fall. He kept his eyes closed and his hands clenched as the two ladies finished up their task. It was completed as his entire body was marked by horrendous burn marks and a scorched purple shirt was made to look like it was stuck on his leathery, burnt body.

He looked at his new body just like the others and truly admired the fantastic job the make-up artists have finished.

5:30 AM... Nearly everyone is on set, ready to do their jobs.

Elsa walked down the corridor while enjoying her hot cup of coffee. It was something she needed considering the unearthly hour. As she continued down the path with her manager, the actress continued to repeating the lines in her head. There was nothing more important than having the script memorized on the first day at the job.

She was marching towards her private room where her make-up artists were patiently waiting for her. As she had been informed from her manager, a few other actors had arrived much earlier to complete their characters' looks. Time was of the essence as the director wanted to start and complete the shoot before the sun rose and ruined the natural lighting.

"Boo," said someone as the being jumped out from the side.

Her manager, startled, screamed and squatted onto the floor. Meanwhile, Elsa nearly dropped the cup of coffee and glared at the person who had scared them. But she was shocked to see Jack Pine bleeding from his face, his body bruised and scarred from burn marks. "Oh my God!" she said, feeling great concern.

It was probably fair to say that his expression revealed his great pleasure from surprising her so early in the morning. Far too early in the morning. Nevertheless he was grinning broadly, looking proud of his stunt, and said, "Looks painful doesn't it?"

It was amazing how playful he could be when it was only 5:33 AM in the morning. Her manager was clutching her chest as she looked at him open-mouthed. The actor extended his hand and helped her stand back up on her feet as he said, "I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. It took me an hour and a half to get it completed. Had to use it before I went on screen."

Elsa replied, "Of course, you did."

Her manager, who recovered from the shock, finally took a cold stare at his body and had to agree that the artistic work was astoundingly awful. The black and white burns looked so vivid that it would make an outsider believe it was a miracle for the man to be smiling and standing perfectly well. The bluish bruises on his chest made him look like he was nearly beaten to death with a metallic baseball bat. And the areas where his body bled fake blood! It was as if Jack was run over by a huge truck at least three times before he got to work.

Which made sense... since 'James' and 'his family' did get into a dreadful car crash against a large oil tanker.

The actress, finally able to smile at his joke, took a close look at his body. "It looks very real. The make-up artists did a great job."

Jack agreed, "Yes, they did."

He didn't look bothered as she glanced at each detail from his face to his chest to his abdomen to his legs. She walked around him and took a look at his back, unable to notice his expression turning more and more uncomfortable, and noticed more realistic effects on the back. She muttered, "It looks like they paid more attention to your back rather than the front."

Fascinated, Elsa reached out and gently ran her finger on the small of his muscular back- the burn marks on his back felt real too. At her touch, his back twitched back immediately and she didn't expect Jack to suddenly whirl back, anger flashing in his eyes. He covered the area she had touched with his hand and snapped, "DON'T touch me!"

Elsa was even more surprised to have him slap her hand away- more so than the prank he did earlier. There was a fiery look burning behind his heated eyes. Jack had his teeth slightly bared and she could easily tell that he was truly angered by her innocent action. His chest rose and fell quickly.

Then his heated look quickly flickered with a hint of sadness, then to shock, and he cast his head down. He quickly said, "Sorry. But I need go get on set now."

Her manager looked equally baffled as she turned to look at her as if to say, what have I done wrong?

She felt confused and admittedly wounded slightly by his harsh demeanour. It wasn't like him. And she believed that she had once seen Jack angry, but this felt different. Personal, perhaps. Before she had to chance to apologize or ask, he was already gone.

5:40 AM ... on set.

There was the director talking to the co-director while the other workers prepared the scene which had been prepared for the past three weeks. The camera crew were cleaning the lenses of the camera and the others tested the miniature microphones which were to be wired to the actors and actresses. And that was exactly what was happening, the other actors and actress were getting the microphone wired beneath their doctor costumes.

Jack, on the other hand, sat by the fake ambulance in the cold. He shivered slightly, but didn't mind it as he recalled what had just occurred- before he escaped away from Elsa. He still had one of his hand clasped over the small of his back. He frowned as he still felt her touch.

The designer didn't seem to notice his somber mood as he wired Jack to the EKG machine. He smiled and said, "You won't be moving or saying anything in this scene, so you won't be wired to a microphone."

He passed him a mask to put over his nose and mouth while stating, "All you need to do is be still throughout the recording. Should be easy enough. Just relax your body."

Relax his body... Jack thought. It would have been easy if it weren't for Elsa touching an area where he never wanted to be touched. It simply brought forth nothing, but miserable memories. Instead, he smiled and replied, "Of course."

He climbed further into the ambulance, lied down, and closed his eyes. He could hear the director call out, "Everyone, let's get this done as fast as we can! Everybody get into their places."

Jack could feel the ambulance tilt slightly as more people mounted into the limited space of the small vehicle. He opened his eyes for the last time, before he needed to close them again. Then they heard the awaited line, "Take one. Action!"

I know it was short, but limited time. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed it. It will be continued in the next chapter. Cheers. Please review :D

-Itachi Black