Return to Quiet

"In all honesty Jak, I don't know why I put up with you. You drag me through the world, taking care of your sorry hide, and I still remain shorter than even a toddler!" Daxter ranted to the chill room and solitary light hanging overhead. He would have been complaining to his tall, blonde companion, but the usually robust elf was nearly unconscious in his sleep.

"Really. A cold. You get a little cough, and then suddenly you're on fire with a fever. What am I going to do with you, Jak?" Walking along Jaks's side, running one paw over his friend's arm, the ottsel sighed as he sat down against Jak's chest. In truth, Daxter was incredibly worried about him. Usually the elf just shrugged off, or stubbornly denied any injury or illness that attempted to slow him down. With so much eco constantly running through his system, Jak was usually too strong to succumb to anything.

This time though, the sickness had hit hard and fast, making it nearly impossible for Jak to breath properly in less than a few hours. With a burning fever and wheezing every time he tried to take a breath, Daxter had been the one to relent and suggest they rest for the night.

Naturally, the stubborn elf had insisted he was fine, and intended to keep going, eyes focused forward. Daxter had frowned, and immediately set up a din about how Jak was going to be just fine, and he could run all night long, but the ottsel on his shoulder was tired and cold and soaked from all the rain. In the midst of his tirade, Daxter was sure he caught a glimpse of a tiny smile on his friend's face. Then Jak had started coughing, and this wasn't a little polite cough that just escaped and was done with. Oh no, this was the kind of cough that tried to take the lungs with it, forcing Jak to double over and wrap his arms around his ribs.

Daxter had actually been worried something would break. At first, they had joked about it, and Jak promised to heal at the next Light Eco vent, calming his friend's worries. The only problem was that all eco vents in the city had been closed in an effort to preserve power as the new water wheels and engines began operating. Jak had approved of the move away from Eco power to run the city, remembering how most of Sandover had subsisted on very little eco power. Keira and Samos had been instrumental in convincing the new council, and Ashelin that going back to less refined power would be better in the long run for the city.

But now, it was damned inconvenient. Jak couldn't get any Light Eco to heal, and what little green eco was left in the city was too hard to get a hold of. So, here they were, waiting out the cold and rainy night in the old Underground HQ, in the very back of the slums. Digging up an old blanket, Daxter laid it out over his friend's shivering form and curled up against his chest, grateful one of the old metal-framed bunk beds had been left in the small room. "Really. You are helpless without me." He murmured, reaching up to pat his friend's shoulder. "Just rest and get better. We'll get back to everyone else tomorrow. But, you owe Orange Lightning for this." Tucking his nose under a paw, Daxter listened to his friend's labored breathing and tried to get a little sleep.

It could not have been more than a few hours later than Daxter awoke abruptly from his sleep by Jak's hacking cough, and being crushed against his friend's chest as Jak curled up, instinct making him protect his vital areas.

"Jak! Ooof. Jak! Let go'a the merchandise!" Daxter squeaked, squirming out of the elf's choke hold. Smoothing down his fur, he frowned worriedly down the blue-eyed fighter. "You awake Jak?"

As his friend looked up at him, Daxter couldn't help but smile. "I hear ya', that didn't sound fun." Ruffling the elf's short hair, a gesture he could only do when the two were alone, the ottsel smiled down at Jak. "Maybe next time you'll listen to me when I tell ya to take it easy."

A wan smile curved his friend's lips.

"Don't argue with me Jak, you know I was right the first time I told you." Laughing, Daxter adjusted the blanket. "You know, this reminds me of old times a little. Remember, back in Sandover, we got sick that one winter."

Jak nodded slightly, trying to catch his breath, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Yeah, that was kinda fun, hiding from ol' Loghead and his nasty medicines. Keira brought us snacks too." Daxter smiled, reminiscing about their long gone childhood. "Things were simpler then, eh pal?" Going to the closet, he pulled out a dusty box and rifled through it, hoping for some water or rations. When all he got was another blanket, the ottsel shrugged and came back to Jak's side.

"Just tough it out, you'll be alright. We'll head out in the morning and get you some eco and you'll be just fine." Daxter was talking to himself now. He could see Jak was exhausted, and not really listening anymore. Not that his furry companion could blame him. The coughing was pretty bad, and no doubt tearing up Jak's throat.

However, thinking about Sandover had brought back a multitude of memories for the boy-turned-ottsel. Crawling over Jak so he could lean against his back, Daxter thought of the quiet huts by the water, of the long stretch of beach populated by the creatures of the world. Chasing seagulls had been a favorite pastime of Jak's,

"We unsealed a lot of eco vents back in the day, huh. Raced over lava, rounded up gophers, and flut-fluts, and man, wouldn't power cells be handy right now? I've wondered what happened to all the cells we collected. Did they stay with the rift? Or get used somewhere else? Well, who cares now." Rambling on, Daxter winced, his ears laying flat as Jak coughed again. "Sheesh, would you cut that out? You won't be able to talk if you keep that up." Turning around, the ottsel draped himself over Jak's shoulder, smiling at him teasingly.

A tired blue-eyed gaze stared back at him, but a small smile was painted on his friend's face. "Yeah yeah, I know it's not a problem for me, but I don't think Keira remembers how to read your face these days." Daxter chuckled, even as Jak lifted a hand and rubbed his palm roughly on Daxter's fuzzy head.

"Yeah yeah, just go back to sleep. We need to get back to the others in the morning, and we don't need to experience my driving skills again now, do we?"

A look of mock horror crossed the sick elf's face and he tucked his head under the blankets and was silent. Laughing quietly, Orange Lightning curled up under the blanket against Jak's chest, thoughts and memories of Sandover spinning in his head, turning into soft and silent dreams.