Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with Red Eye. This is all just for kicks and giggles.

My updates are probably going to become less and less frequent now (but don't lose hope!). I'm returning to work for the last month of summer and then I'll be trying to pack to head back to NC for school… And I have absolutely no idea how busy I will be at school this next semester, but I can guess since I'm trying to transfer back home for school… XD

Anyway.

If I start to slack off more than usual…. That would be why! I apologize in advance! I'm persistent, though, so I won't give up on it!


Chapter Nine

Don't Call the Police…

"Still afraid of me, Cynthia…?"

Jackson kept his eyes trained on the television. The two of them had been sitting in tense silence for the past five minutes since Jackson had crept downstairs, wondering if the sounds he was hearing were coming from another intruder that somehow slipped past his security system.

"If I was, would I still be sitting here?"

He smirked.

"No, I guess not."

"Why do you care if I'm afraid of you?"

Jackson turned to face Cynthia, her sitting comfortably in a corner of the sofa staring at him and him sprawled out in a chair diagonal from her. He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Fear makes people do… extreme things."

Cynthia smiled and adjusted her position on the couch.

"If you're worried I'm going to tell or something… no. I won't. Lisa loves you too much, whether you tricked her into it or not." Jackson cringed, but Cynthia continued. "I wouldn't do that to her."

"But to me?"

"In a heartbeat. And just so you know, if you ever hurt her-"

"It's not going to happen. You should be more worried about her hurting me." Jackson gestured to his fading bruises with a fake pained smile. Then he became serious. "You don't have to worry, Cynthia. If, somehow, I went rogue and insane – because that would be the only way I'd ever even consider causing Leese harm – there would be a worldwide manhunt for my head on a platter."

"Joe would kill you."

Jackson laughed.

"He most certainly would. Slowly and painfully, too."

The movie Cynthia had been watching switched to the credits. Jackson watched them scroll slowly in black and white. It reminded him of Lisa, who he still caught sneaking downstairs to watch the occasional old movie. He wondered if both women knew the other had the same habit.

"Do you eat eggs at three am, too?"

Cynthia cocked her head at Jackson, not understanding his question. He actually laughed.

"You watch old movies into the earliest of hours," he commented, pointing to the screen. "I was wondering if you eat scrambled eggs at three am like Leese does."

"No. I have a sweet-tooth."

Jackson nodded, understanding. Then she cut off the TV. Cynthia rose, stretched easily, and then headed for the stairs. Then she stopped and back tracked to where she could see Jackson. He looked up at her, confused.

"You know why I'm such a… such a…" Jackson could practically feel the blush rising from her cheeks. "Bitch," she whispered.

"I think I have an idea."

"I mean, she's my best friend… You can understand if I just want what's best for her, right?"

"There," he said in a relaxed tone as he stood.

"What?"

He walked slowly past her and back to the stairs, feeling secure now that he knew that the intruder really wasn't an intruder at all, but a guest.

"We've found something in common, Cynthia," he said to her once he started climbing the stairs.

She played with her fingers as if she was embarrassed or being shy.

"It just takes a little getting used to, Jackson."

"And that's perfectly acceptable, Cynthia. We've had months and months to get used to the idea ourselves and its still odd for us… you've only just been introduced to the idea."

"Why her? Hmm? I know why she loves you, but not why you love her. Lisa Reisert, of all people."

Jackson stopped, but didn't turn. He was two steps from the top. He smiled to himself.

"Well that's simple and obvious, Cynthia. She protects me."

Jackson turned to smile at Cynthia. It was the best answer he could give her. Sure, he loved her for everything. Their history, her loving him regardless… everything. She was irresistible to Jackson.

"You need Lisa to protect you…?"

And then suddenly she was there. Lisa rested her arms on Jackson's shoulders and linked her fingers at the base of his neck, covering the small scar she had given him what seemed like forever ago.

"Yeah. She's my weakness just as much as she is literally my protector. I need her. Without her, I would be vulnerable."

He leaned his head back to look up at Lisa and she pecked him on the forehead. Cynthia smiled at the two of them. It made sense. Lisa guarded him from what would happen if he lost her simply by being alive. Plus… her father would kill Jackson if he ever let anything happen to Lisa, so she literally was protecting him in that aspect. Still, in every movement he made around her, the cautiousness he exercised with her, it all showed the words that he hadn't said. He didn't need to say them. Maybe Jackson Rippner from so many years ago wasn't the real Jackson Rippner. This man gently rubbing Lisa's arms near his neck was the real Jackson Rippner and he was no more a threat to Lisa.


"I'll see you later, Leese," Jackson said as he kissed her, his hand on the small of her back pulling her close to him.

Cynthia pretended to be texting. Hopefully he'll see you later, she thought. The two women were heading out to meet her cousin Andy for lunch to break the news and persuade him not to react like a normal police officer for once. If this went badly… Jackson would have to remain in hiding at Jasmine's secret facility. Cynthia had been informed of this and she was going to work her hardest to protect their soon-to-be family.

Jackson turned to Cynthia and simply watched her for a moment. She shut her phone and smiled, hoping they hadn't caught her pretending. She just wanted to give them a little privacy.

"And I'll be seeing you at the wedding," Jackson said, a sly smirk playing on his lips.

"Yes you will."

They stood there for a moment longer until Cynthia groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Come on. Give me a hug."

Lisa raised an eyebrow and Jackson turned his head sideways. He looked to Lisa for advice, but Cynthia reached out and hugged him.

"I take it you're used to it now?" Jackson asked, chuckling awkwardly.

"Kind of. I just thought I'd try it out. It wasn't too bad," she said, pulling away from him. "We'll try out hardest with Andy. Don't worry."

He nodded, but the two women could see that Jackson actually was very worried. He couldn't help it. He had practically cleared out his office and had stuffed his car. Hopefully it would all have been for nothing when he got a call from Lisa later tonight. Hopefully that call would be one asking him to come home.

Once Jackson left, Cynthia pat Lisa on her shoulder, bringing her out of her worries. She smiled a comforting smile Cynthia had learned from Lisa to use with customers.

"It will be fine. I'm not going to let anything happen."

"Yeah," Lisa sighed, snatching up her purse from the table near the door. "Because you can absolutely interfere if Andy decides to do some major police work…"

Cynthia looked sad, so Lisa swept her up into a hug.

"Sorry. Hormones, I think. I appreciate this, Cynthia. More than you will know."

Now Cynthia smiled. They had to be successful. She couldn't bear to think of the consequences of failure. Poor Lisa would have another person ripped from her life or be forced to go into hiding with him… that just wouldn't stand with Cynthia.


Lisa looked at her watch again. She was shaking she was so nervous. Cynthia passed her the glass of water and gave her a stern motherly look.

"Don't look so jumpy, Leese. He's your cousin, for crying out loud. Give him a chance."

"I will, if he ever-"

Then she stopped. Cynthia followed her gaze to a man with a shock of red hair. It wasn't quite orange but it was certainly striking. He pulled off a pair of aviators and spotted Lisa immediately.

"Lisa!"

Andy spread his arms excitedly and hardly waited for Lisa to rise from her seat before he began squeezing her. Lisa looked like she needed rescue. Maybe even CPR if he didn't let her get some air soon. Then he let go and turned to Cynthia.

"And who's this lovely woman?" he asked smoothly.

Cynthia couldn't help it. He was… he was beautiful. Long eyelashes, deep green eyes…

"I'm Cynthia," she stammered.

Andy took her hand and kissed it. Kissed it. Cynthia was reeling. What man did that in today's world? Lisa's hand on her leg brought her back to reality. She had a task at hand. And the way Andy was eyeing Cynthia made her slightly nervous, but also slightly empowered. She could use that to her advantage, if it came down to it.

"So! I hear my cousin's getting married! Congrats!"

He squeezed Lisa again before sitting down across from the two women.

"You heard right!"

"So I get a personal invitation?"

"Of course!"

Lisa was being genuine. She'd always loved Andy. He was so close to her age and as kids they always hung out. They even got mistaken for brother and sister quite a few times. Then they moved apart, went on to different careers, but they still kept in contact… until Lisa ran into Jackson again.

"So? Where's the man of the century? The man of your dreams?"

Lisa laughed nervously and Andy looked at her sideways.

"He's home sick," Cynthia covered. Immediately Andy's attentions switched to Cynthia and he flashed her a dazzling smile. "He ate some bad enchiladas the other night and hasn't been very well since."

"That's horrible. I was looking forward to meeting the guy."

"Oh yeah. I mean… he's better now. Well, getting better. But we told him just to stay home for now."

"Good choice. So! What's his name?"

Andy reminded Cynthia of herself. He sounded so excited.

"His name?" Lisa asked, more Cynthia than anyone else.

"Yeah… the name of your fiancé… Lisa, are you sure you're feeling okay? Maybe you ate some bad enchiladas too? We can schedule this for another time."

Lisa looked torn. Part of her wanted to blow him off. The other part of her wanted to have this situation over quickly like the removal of a bandaid. She looked to Cynthia briefly for support before she cleared her throat. Cynthia had her back.

"Jackson Rippner."

Andy was smiling, but the smile soon relaxed until his face became thoughtful.

"That name sounds familiar. Have I met him?"

"No, but you've heard of him," she said roughly. "Remember three years ago? When we were still talking quite often?" He nodded slowly. "And remember that flight I was on?"

Then it dawned on him. And he laughed. Cynthia thought it would have been handsome, sexy even, if it had been under any other circumstances.

"You've always been able to get me! I thought you were serious!"

"As a heart attack," Lisa stated sadly.

Andy looked back and forth between the women and Cynthia nodded slowly, acknowledging that her statement was the truth.

"You've got to be kidding me. The man nearly killed you. Nearly killed Uncle Joe…"

"I understand what he nearly did, Andy, but I tend not to dwell in the past."

"Dwell in the… Lisa…." He stopped speaking and turned to Cynthia. "She's not being logical. You know what this man – this terrorist- nearly did?"

"I was in the hotel he blew up. I helped save Keefe and his family," Cynthia said matter-of-factly.

Andy's eyes narrowed.

"What is this? What has he done? Has he threatened you?"

Cynthia's eyes widened as she realized Andy's hand was inching towards his holstered gun.

"Where is he really? I'd like to have a word with him…"

"He's at home," Lisa said, the worry coming through in her voice. "Andy. Please. There are no threats. Ask daddy… I love him. He loves me. We didn't ask for it to happen. I would've never imagined I'd be with him in a million years, but I am… If you would've walked up to me after the Red Eye and said that someday I was going to marry Jackson Rippner I would've laughed at you and wished him dead."

Andy leaned back in his chair, his hand still dangerously close to his gun.

"Lisa. The man was supposed to be dead. What happened?"

"Life happened. Dad was supposed to be dead, too, remember? He helped me get daddy back," Lisa said with admiration as she leaned forward to get closer to Andy.

"We're just asking that… you pretend you have no idea about the history," Cynthia said sweetly.

"No way. The man's a killer."

Lisa waved her hand through the air. She was going to get angry and defensive now, especially with her hormones running wild.

"No. He was an attempted killer, which, by the way, was all a misunderstanding."

Andy laughed.

"He tries to blow up a hotel filled with people to kill a man and his family then tries to kill you and uncle Joe and you call that a misunderstanding?"

He finally removed his hand from his jacket, putting both Lisa and Cynthia more at ease.

"Yes. I do. Because I've gotten to know him. Look, Andy, I'm not going to give you all the gory details. Those are for another time, perhaps. I'm just asking you as a man who I've always thought of as my long lost brother, to please let me have a happy ending."

He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"She's telling the truth you know." Andy looked up at Cynthia as if she was insane. "I just spent the weekend with them. I thought that he was going to murder me. That he had threatened her, kidnapped her, anything. To me, he was scum and he was a murderer. Then I met him. I talked to him, without Lisa around. He genuinely loves her, Andy."

His face softened.

"Lisa. I can't condone this. Do you know how badly this will come down on me if it gets revealed that I let him just walk away?"

"Don't come to my wedding then," Lisa spat, standing and hauling Cynthia up with her.

"Lisa!"

She bolted from the restaurant, already crying, and cursing her hormones for making her seem weak. She hated that. She wanted to be strong and fierce. She wanted to just let her anger boil out for all to see. Andy caught up to them just as they reached their car.

"Lisa! Wait!"

He sighed as he turned her around.

"No, Andy. You wait. Ever since we were kids, we always wanted what was best for each other, right?"

"Which is why I can't let you get involved with a criminal."

Cynthia couldn't help but snicker. This conversation mirrored her own with Lisa the first day she had arrived. Lisa thought she meant something else by her snicker and her tears vanished in a flash. The right mood had finally claimed her.

"Oh yeah? I'm already involved. I'm over three months pregnant, Andy. How's that for being involved?"

Cynthia gasped and so did Andy.

"You're… did he…?"

"No, you idiot. I love him. I. Love. Him. Can't you just come to my wedding, be in the wedding party as I've always planned you to be, and just give him a chance?"

"I did. It worked out," Cynthia interjected.

Andy nearly glared at her, or he would have, if she wasn't so breathtakingly pretty.

"He's a criminal."

"I seem to remember the police not even having a record of any Jackson Rippner existing," Lisa commented, folding her arms across her chest.

"C'mon," Cynthia said, daring to place her hand on Andy's strong shoulder. "Just pretend you have never heard of him. Who's going to ask?"

Andy groaned and slumped against Lisa's car.

"If it was anyone else asking me to do this…"

Lisa smiled.

"So is that a yes?"

"Of course," he groaned.

Lisa squealed and hugged him. Even Cynthia joined in, sandwiching him between the two women.

"Alright, alright. I'll let you get back home to the bastard," Andy commented.

Lisa rolled her eyes at the insult.

"Sorry," he said, a blush coming to his pale cheeks. "I just worry about you. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. First uncle Joe went missing, then you went missing…"

"I know. I'm sorry for that."

He hugged Lisa and stroked her back.

"You won't just up and disappear with him, will you?"

Lisa laughed, as did Cynthia.

"Never. We live just in DC, you know... You could visit, if you promise to behave…"

"We'll have to see, Lisa."

He smiled and then grabbed Cynthia's hand to kiss it once more. He lingered there for a moment and Cynthia caught Lisa's eyes. She had a mischievous grin on her face. Cynthia was about to burst when he finally let go and left them. Lisa didn't hesitate to call Jackson. She informed him that she was going to drop Cynthia off at the airport and then she'd be back home.


Just as Lisa got off her phone and pulled out into traffic, Adrian pulled out his own phone with a sigh.

"He's not going to be happy about this," he muttered to himself.

"What is it now, Adrian?" Ossen asked the receiver as he scribbled some notes on a sheet of paper.

"That cousin of Lisa's? He's a cop."

Ossen froze.

"Do what?"

"Yeah. He's a cop. He's apparently pretty close to her, too. He seemed very reluctant to let her marry Rippner, but he gave in towards the end."

"Adrian. You know what this means, right?"

"That I will have to handle him after the wedding, right?"

"Yes."

Adrian sighed into the phone and Ossen considered the situation.

"Actually…"

"Yes, sir?"

"If you were a cop who knew of Rippner's background, hated him possibly… what would come to mind first if your precious cousin came up missing?"

Adrian thought about it. Oh, Ossen was good. This was precisely why he got paid the big bucks back at the company and why he was in charge now. While Adrian was good at gathering information, Ossen was good at analyzing things and figuring out solutions.

"That Rippner kidnapped her or killed her."

"Exactly. Maybe you won't have to get rid of this pesky cousin after all, Adrian. He might be of some use to us… if Rippner's on the run from the police, he'll have trouble coming to Miss Reisert's rescue."

"It sounds brilliant, sir," Adrian cooed.

"Don't be a suck-up Adrian. Hannah's down for a nap, so unless you feel like chatting it up with Maggie again, you're going to have to occupy yourself in some other way. Got it?"

"Yes sir."

The phone clicked and Adrian knew that Ossen had hung up. Having Andy the cop involved in this was going to make things slightly more complicated… either they could pull it off and frame Rippner for her disappearance, raising red flags for Andy, or Andy could use his pull to get involved. The company would be extremely likely to retaliate if they were being breathed upon by the police which meant a lot of trouble flying towards Adrian and Ossen. Adrian sighed. This was all getting too deep for him. All he wanted was to take Hannah away on that vacation to Hawaii he had promised her. A nice little island sounded beyond perfect right now.


A/N: Well. The ladies conquered that speedbump quite well.

Also! I am still looking for some wedding song suggestions – not necessarily for the first dance, either! Garter removal, their exit, their entrance, etc. :D I have some great songs in mind, but I'd also love to hear from you guys!

Thanks for reading / reviewing and I will try my best to update soon.

Xoxo

Jesscah