Chapter Four

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to V. Redfield for posting a lovely review - and my first for this story. Thanks a bunch! x

"What..? Holy shi-- is that you Jack!? What has happened to you..?"He glared at her, turning his head to the side as he scrutinized her facial expressions at recognizing him. "You'd scream. And run, as far as you could. Even to the splicers. If you just knew what I've been through.." He stood back up, backing away from her view into a darker corner of the room.

She tugged violently against the thick leather straps that confined her. "For God's sake, I thought you'd been had!" It was a bit difficult to forget really, seeing someone close being picked up and thrown over a balcony like a rag doll. Her rage had brought something out in her she hadn't known existed…that B.D. didn't stand a chance.. A small part of her previous anger reignited. "I thought you were DEAD! You said we were in this togeth--MMM!!" Abby's screeches were cut off by him pressing a greasy hand over her mouth. She writhed, staring at his silhouette in disbelief.

"Abby, Abby, Abby." He tutted her name. "I said to you. I've been through things that would make your skin crawl."

Usually, he wasn't this talkative. Maybe that's why it freaked her out even more when his stubble-covered face brushed her smooth-skinned cheek again. He stroked her hair, the mangled and knotted mass it had become to her still seemed beautiful in his eyes. He picked up a lock of it, and pulled it taught. She writhed against him even more, shaking her head not just in hopes of moving him, but in hopes of dislodging the memories that were so painful to her. They were resurfacing - no way of stopping them now. It was just a matter of time before it really hit her that he was still alive.

Snip snip snip.

The tight pulling on her hair decreased with every snip. She realised he was cutting her hair - but there were more pressing issues. Like how she was going to escape, for one!?

Abby stopped squirming, and released pressure on the leather belts. Jack froze."You wish to speak?" His voice was smooth again, silky and gentle, the one she remembered from so long ago..

Biting back a spiteful comment along the lines of being held hostage and whether she had much choice, she nodded. He released his hand from her mouth, instead encircling her fragile neck easily, no pressure applied.. Yet.

"Why… Why would you leave it so long? I thought you'd been killed, or worse, they had got you and-" she choked and her breathing stopped, and Abby felt a pounding in her ears. He stopped squeezing.

"Speak about something worthwhile. Otherwise you're of no use to me anymore.." The way he shifted from nice to nasty so suddenly really disoriented her. The isolation had really affected him.

"S-sorry.." She breathed deeply, and once the world had stopped spinning, she chose another subject. Well, she tried. "I er… hear that they've just got in the new line of dishwasher soaps… Jack. Jack…what has happened to you? Why are you doing this to m--!" Her voice died again in her throat, and her arms pulled frantically against the straps almost involuntarily, her body's survival functions worth nothing here.

"I'm going to kill you now, Abby." He said smoothly, calmly. Like this was a release for him, her pain. She really believed these were her last thoughts - and staring into his eyes she could see the inner turmoil, the scars not just physically but mentally.

…And a tear rolled down her cheek, touching his blistered hand. He recoiled.

She gasped for breath, her lungs sucking it in as though they were her last, making up for the rest of the life it wouldn't be breathing. She looked over at him, and saw through the darkness a small amount - he was staring at the tear.

"J-..Jack?" She hated to have to draw attention to herself, but the straps were really hurting, and where he'd thrown her earlier she had probably fractured - possibly broken - a rib or two.

There was a click, and everything went black.

A normal light faded on, to a manageable level. The sudden brightness then darkness made her thankful she didn't have a migraine.. Until she remembered she did. In the calm silence - heavy, like that before a storm - she closed her eyes, not caring where Jack was standing.

She felt hot breath on her face, and opened one eye to see him centimetres from her face, scrutinizing every inch of her for some reason… almost hungrily.

"Lonely…" he murmured, and touched her cheek softly with one hand. "You don't know what it's been like.. I've had no company for so long…" She gulped, and clenched her jaw. "Abby.."

Before she could react, or turn away, his caressing touch turned foul and he clutched hold of her, forcing his lips on hers. She grimaced, it wasn't Jack. It just wasn't.

He stopped, and her eyes remained closed, more tears flowing but not from sadness or fear - from utter overload. Everything that had happened while she had been there all came crashing down on her at once, and the sheer size of it all crushed her. He remained silent and watched her tears and emotions with… amusement? Confusion? …bewilderment?

She stared back into his eyes, and felt pulled by them. Inside, he was dieing. Crying out for help, company, longing for that loving touch to tell him it was all going to be alright.

No, this wasn't Jack. But he wasn't completely gone either.

…how to get him back?