Author's Note: Of course I don't own anything having to do with Red Eye or the characters… This is all just for funsies :P

Shout out to two of my best buds, Cheyenne and Kelsey. They helped a bit with this chapter.

SURPRIZE BEAR ATTACK! 3

To Eva: I know! It was weird, I apologize… but! I promise you, he's not all sunshine and rainbows. He's just "trying"… :P

Chapter Ten

With a Little Help from His Friends

"So where's Jasmine's?"

Jackson opened the door to the modest red Toyota Camry he was taking from Onnie's stash of cars.

"Why are we taking a Camry? I would've figured you'd pick one of these more powerful cars," Lisa continued as she gestured to the garage full of sports cars.

"Why do you ask me another question before I can even answer the first one?"

Lisa pursed her lips and climbed into the car with him. They drove a few minutes in silence until they made it to the highway and began speeding towards DC.

"She's just outside of DC. And I took the Camry because it blends well. We won't stick out like a sore thumb if someone sees us. Common sense."

Lisa eyed him suspiciously.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were bipolar."

"You don't know better. Maybe I am."

Lisa laughed.

"I think you put on these weird masks. You've got one from the Tex Mex, one from the plane, one with your friends… but you're none of them. Not completely."

"I think that you think too much for your own good."

"I think that deep down you're just like the rest of us. You hide it, though, so that you can be whatever the job needs you to be. Tough, sweet, lonely, anything."

"Are you going to psychoanalyze me the entire drive to Jasmine's?"

"Sure."

He growled at her.

"You read too much into those fake self-help books. That's your problem. You think that they hold the key to returning you back to how you were before-"

"Don't you dare. Don't you dare say it, Jack. I will never forgive you if you do."

"Maybe I don't want your forgiveness, princess."

"Then say it."

He could see how her body was coiled. She was ready to physically attack him if he mentioned the rape once again. Little did she know that he wasn't and had never intended on doing so. That was a one-time thing he did out of spite and cruelty. He immediately regretted it.

"Before your dad died."

Her body relaxed and she seemed highly confused.

"Wait… what?"

"See? You don't know everything about me. Don't pretend that you do. Now sit back in your seat correctly before I brake-check you again."

"Bi-polar," she muttered quietly as she adjusted herself into the seat.

Not only did she not want her head slammed forward once again, but she was confused. She was sure that he was going to bring up the rape. She was ready for it. Mentally and physically.

Lisa had thought of the rape as the only turning point in her life, but now that she considered it, she did suppose that after the Red Eye she was different too. She was back to fighting because she realized she could defeat someone as skilled as Jackson. Then her dad died and Lisa reverted her back to her old, disappointed, self. Being around Jackson reminded her of the fight.

"When we get to Jasmine's, I'm going to ask her if she will teach you some basic defense skills."

"Oh, my pen trick wasn't good enough?"

She saw him clench his jaw and then take a deep breath through his nose.

"The pen trick was good once. If you had tried that on the guy this morning, you would be dead."

"But I'm not killing anyone, you are."

"I might not always be there, Leese. I know I'm perfect and all, but there's always someone better. Stop trying to find a way out and deal with it. You can't stab this situation in the neck and have daddy shoot it."

Lisa rolled her eyes, but she knew he was right. The situation could very well turn out like her dream and she would have to take action and possibly kill someone herself.

"Was it hard?"

Jackson sighed.

"Was what hard, Leese?"

"Killing him… the guy from the parking lot."

Jackson glanced over at her and she was genuinely curious.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I just do. I think I deserve to know."

"No. It wasn't hard."

"Why?

"Why? Because he was sick and twisted. He deserved what he had coming and I was just the man to give it to him."

"Why?

"Lisa. If you're going to act like a five year-old-"

"No, really. Why you? Why not anybody else or my father personally?"

Jackson paused. He had always considered it a favor to Joe. The subject made his skin crawl and his blood boil. The man was pure dirt and now his victim was questioning him. It was all wrong.

"Because I saw the pain he caused you and thus caused your father. He needed to pay."

"But that doesn't answer my question."

"I don't know, Leese! Because! Because the thought of him putting his hands on you like that made the rage build up inside of me. It's the lowest level a man can stoop to and I know how badly it tore up your father. That man, if he can even be called one, took away your fight, Leese. I just couldn't let him get away with it."

"Sure you could have. You didn't know me. My dad never ordered you to do it."

Jackson gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles began to turn white.

"I knew enough about you to know this man needed to die."

"You were watching me then, too. Weren't you?"

"No." He was telling the truth. "I only watched you for the Keefe job. Your father would never let me get close, but he told me stories."

Lisa cocked an eyebrow at him.

"What kind of stories…?"

"Like…" he smirked as he thought back to some of them. Then he remembered Lisa was waiting and suddenly he didn't want to share. "I don't know Lisa! Just random stories!"

"You're such a terrible liar, Jack."

The car swerved and pulled off onto the side of the road.

"What are you doing?" Lisa questioned, gripping the door handle tightly.

"He told me everything," Jackson said as he turned in his seat to face her. "He was so proud of his baby girl he couldn't stand not sharing the latest news on your field hockey games or the guys that dropped you off after school. Can I help it if I got a little caught up?"

"Did you really kill your family?"

"Jesus, Lisa! No! That was a joke! Stop trying to get in my head!"

"I just want to understand!"

The small car was barely containing their shouts and Lisa could feel their voices bouncing off of the interior.

"You can't! You lived a perfect little life, pampered by mommy and daddy, loved by the kids at school, adored by your neighbors…"

"Jackson…"

He was staring off into the distance now and Lisa was backed up against the window. She had boxed him in and pushed him to the edge and now she wasn't quite sure how he would react. She didn't know him and pretending that she did was a deadly game.

"My point is that your dad made me feel like I belonged. Okay? Simple as that. Now you know."

He turned back to face her, finally seeing her for the first time in minutes. She was trembling and huddled against the door, ready to flee should he snap.

"See what happens when you ask too many questions? You discover that I really am all of those masks you claim I hide behind. I'm a regular nut-case."

Lisa eased away from the door, edging towards him.

"You're not a nut-case…" He looked at her expectantly. "Okay… you're not a nut-case most of the time. You can be nice when you try."

"If I try harder will you stop acting like a shrink?"

"Sure."

He eyed her for a moment longer before he fixed his seatbelt and started the car once more.

"Just don't try too hard. Your head might explode."

When he turned back to her, fully prepared for her to be serious and him to lash out at her, he saw her grinning as she, too, buckled her seatbelt.

"How do you keep doing that?" he asked as he merged back into the traffic.

"Doing what?"

"Surprising me."

"The same way you do, I guess. I don't have all the answers."

"No, you just have all the questions."

"And look what good they've done me so far," she remarked, still smiling.

Jackson shook his head and sighed. He did not understand this woman. He could run hot and cold on her and yet she just fed it back to him. He wondered what would happen once everybody stopped chasing them. Would she leave as if nothing happened? Would he? He turned his focus to the road and Lisa was content with the silence.

Jackson had made a stop at a few gas stations to fill up and Lisa had hesitated leaving his side to use the restroom and get a snack. The closer they got to DC, the more on edge Lisa was.

"Calm down. Jasmine can smell fear a mile away," Jackson joked.

Getting along with her had gotten remarkably easier and they had even shared a few stories and a few jokes. But, now as Jackson joked, Lisa simply looked at him.

"Seriously, Leese. It'll be fine. I already told you."

"I know. I just… I have this gut-feeling that something's not going to go right."

"Nothing ever goes according to plan. You drove that lesson home. You just have to have a backup plan."

"Do we have a backup plan?"

"Yes."

"Well? What is it?"

"We won't need it, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Jackson…"

"Lisa…"

He heard her sigh and look out her window.

"Honestly. You won't need to worry about it. I'll tell you if it comes to that point."

"But you said it won't," she murmured.

"That's right. It won't. So I'll tell you afterward. Deal?"

"Fine."

"Cheer up, Leese. We're here. Hot showers and girl talk, abound."

Lisa picked up her head, scanning the twilight-colored surroundings. He stopped the car next to a small house and climbed out. He waved Lisa to come on, so she unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her suitcase, and cautiously followed.

"A whole small army is housed in there?" she asked in disbelief.

"No. Under there."

Lisa held her breath as she followed him inside. Everything was pitch-black and she was anticipating anything from ninja assassins to aliens to begin lunging for them from the dark corners of the house. Still, Jackson proceeded as if he had been here many times and they finally made it to a small elevator.

"Are you sure this is safe?" she asked before entering the dimly lit box.

"Positive. Come on, Leese. Live a little."

She groaned as she stepped in next to him, merely an inch separating her arm and his. It was strangely comfortable and a shiver crept down Lisa's spine as she considered it. Just a day ago or even last night Lisa would be fighting him tooth and nail and revolted by his close proximity. Now she needed it, in a way. He made her feel safe and she didn't understand it.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open lazily. The Beatles were playing loudly from some unseen overhead speakers. "Octopus' Garden" was blaring and Lisa couldn't help but smile. She'd like it here already. Jackson, on the other hand, looked disoriented. He motioned to a small, very aged, man sitting behind a counter. The man's head weaved back and forth to the tune.

"Oh! Oh!" he shouted as he cranked a dial behind the desk.

The music was still loud, but they would be able to hear each other now.

"Pop, is Jasmine in?"

The old man bopped his head in response and disappeared surprisingly quickly for someone his age.

"Is he your…"

"No. Everybody calls him pop. He's ancient, but deadly."

Lisa smiled. He reminded her of her grandfather before he passed.

"He sure does love the Beatles, huh?"

"Oh, no. That'd be Jasmine."

Lisa cocked her head and then Pop reappeared and a slightly older, long-legged, beauty appeared from around a corner. By now the song had changed to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Lisa felt dazed as the woman sauntered toward them. She was tan-skinned with gorgeous honey-colored eyes and thick black curls that bounded down to the middle of her back, even in a ponytail. She reminded Lisa of some kind of exotic model, especially when she finally stopped in front of them and smiled.

"Was my music bothering you, Jacky?"

Her voice was smooth and laced with a British accent.

"Not at all, Jazz," he mocked.

"I'm surprised you showed your face. Last time I saw you, you were leaving me to clean up that mess you made up in Canada."

"I'm surprised you offered to let me stay here."

"Oh. That. Well, I can't turn the other cheek on family."

"Family?" Lisa quipped.

Finally Jasmine's honey eyes settled on the smaller form of Lisa. She grinned and opened her arms for a hug.

"You must be the charming Ms. Lisa Reisert that I keep hearing about."

Lisa allowed herself to be hugged and played with the name in her mind. Somehow it sounded more official and more upper-class to have it said in a smooth British accent.

"I am. And you must be Jasmine."

"Jasmine Rippner."

Lisa held her mouth shut as it willed itself to gape open. Jackson was married? She found it hard to believe that he could snag someone this gorgeous.

"She's not my wife, Leese," he said as he rolled his eyes. Jasmine grinned wildly as she watched Jackson squirm. "She's my brother's wife."

"Oh Jacky. You haven't told the poor girl a thing, have you?"

She made a tsking noise in his direction and folded her hands across her lower stomach.

"I tell her what she needs to know."

"That hurts. Wait until I tell Cole how his baby brother has been treating me."

Jackson rolled his eyes.

"Look. We're grateful, Jazz. I'm sorry about Canada."

"Not a problem."

"You certainly act like it was."

"It was. Isn't anymore. So. Do I need to introduce this lovely woman to the guns, or are you going to do that?"

"You know I'm a terrible shot."

Jasmine snaked her long arm around Lisa's shoulder and pulled her close. Lisa swore she saw Jasmine wink as she began to lead her down the hallway.

"Of course I know. You should learn to detect sarcasm, Jacky."

Lisa glanced back and he was already gone. Pop was turning the Beatles music back up with "Nowhere Man" blaring near the end of the song. When Lisa turned back to Jasmine, her eyes were closed and she was humming furiously, still leading Lisa around with frightening precision. Lisa again felt strangely at ease among these people. It made her feel strange to feel at home among these killers, but then again, she had gone her whole life not knowing her father's own involvement. They couldn't all be terrible, could they?

A/N: In case you didn't understand it, Jackson kind of developed feelings for Lisa even before he started watching her. More on his comments regarding that whole situation later…

Thanks for reading along this far! I hope you guys have been enjoying it! If so.... I'd appreciate you letting me know and giving me a wee bit of feedback! :D