Some Quality Time

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!

Chapter Nine

Miami

"England?" Lisa was confused. "How did you know about England?"

Joe sighed and held the front door open wide. "I think you'd better come in."

She ushered Myra in front of her and Joe smiled widely at his granddaughter. "You must be Myra," he said brightly. Myra's jaw dropped, but at her mother's prodding, continued inside the house.

"Dad? What's going on here?" Lisa demanded; tapping her high-heel clad foot on the wood floor. I never told him about Myra or Jack—or England. What the hell's going on?

Joe shut the front door and locked it up before leading the way into the living room. The same old furniture that Lisa could remember from before Kyra's birth was still there; a little more worn, but still usable. It wasn't until Joe sank into his favorite chair that she even realized how old her father looked.

It had been over seventeen years since she had last seen him. They had argued shortly before Kyra's birth, while her unusual courtship with Jackson was occurring and she was 'acting like a hermit'. Hateful words had been exchanged, and father and daughter had not spoken since.

She shot him an expectant glance; eager to figure out how he knew so much. There was still underlying hostile between them, even though she really wanted to give him a big hug and ask how his life was. But time was of the essence and she needed to know how he had become informed.

Joe Reisert sighed deeply. "I saw Jackson two weeks ago. He was looking for your daughter, Jack—"

"Jackson? He came here?" Her anger was rising once again. What made him think that it was okay to suddenly appear here? He's lucky dad didn't shoot him on sight!

Though it would have served Jackson right for knocking her out and disappearing like a thief after their missing daughter.

"Yes, Lisa, he did. He was very distraught and repeatedly assured me that you were safe in England with Myra."

"How did you know it was Myra and not Jack?" Lisa was perched on the edge of her seat now. Myra had sunk into the aged sofa beside her, but she could tell that her youngest daughter was hanging onto every word.

"We talked for a long time. At first I didn't believe a word he said, then he showed me all these pictures…"

The wallet…he took his wallet with him. How many pictures does he have shoved in there? Why does he carry pictures? He was always so concerned about security…

"…and I just had to believe him. He looked so miserable, Leese. I don't think he'd slept in days, yet he was very determined. He thought Jack might have been here…"

"Dad, when's the last time you saw Jackson?" Lisa interrupted. Hearing about her husband's ill state was making her uncomfortable.

"Surely he's been in touch with you…" Joe started, but he stopped at the bitter look on her face.

"No, dad, my ever gracious husband knocked me out two months ago, disappeared, and I haven't seen or heard from him since."

"He—he hurt you?"

Lisa snorted. "Of course he did! He's Jackson and when he's stressed out he resorts to old habits! Those habits include—but aren't limited to—slamming me into walls, choking me, knocking me out, and just generally pushing me around!"

"Leese, I had no idea—"

She stood up now; pacing the floor angrily. "This is what I get for falling in love with such a self-centered creep! I should be used to him leaving by now, but I'm not! And he, he came running to you instead of including me! And I'm his wife, damnit!!!"

Lisa struck out at vase, which went flying across the room and shattered into many colorful bits and pieces. Myra jumped to her feet and started to gather the large shards, while Joe went over to his distraught daughter, whose green eyes were now filled with tears.

"Ssh, sweetheart, I'm sure he had a reason…" Joe soothed, hugging Lisa. She was shaking and sobbing.

"How could he?" she choked out. "How could he do that to me?"

"The one thing I'm sure of is that he loves you. As much as I want to wring his scrawny neck, I know that he loves you. That's why he left you. That's what he told me," Joe reassured her.

Lisa let out a wry chuckle. "Sometimes I want to choke him too."

"But you never do, because you love him back. Somehow, you two really do care deeply for each other."

"Yeah, I guess so."

Myra came over and laid her head on Lisa's shoulder. "See? Everything's gonna be fine now, mum."

Lisa smiled briefly and Joe released her so that she could hug her daughter. Then Lisa, Joe, and Myra became entangled in a three-way hug and Lisa began to cry again.

Maryland

Kyra jolted awake when the sunlight came through the open blinds of her bedroom window and struck her pale face. She glanced down and noticed that she was still dressed in the same clothes that she had worn to dinner.

What happened? She found herself wondering as her head pounded.

Her chest still felt tight and there was an overwhelming urge to be sick.

Kyra's bare feet skidded and slipped across the wooden floor as she raced towards her bathroom. She knelt down beside the toilet mere seconds before her stomach lost the bit of food left undigested from the previous night's dinner.

Running footsteps caused her to look up with bleary eyes and strong hands were supporting her weak body.

"Mel, Mel, are you okay?" Mark questioned; his voice concerned and soothing.

"Tired…"

"Mel, look at me." He grabbed her chin and forced her to face him. She shook at his grip, but the worried look in his eyes convinced her that she was safe.

"So tired… dizzy…"

She started to fall and he pulled her closer to himself, leaning her exhausted body on his. Tremors coursed through her body, but his soothing murmurs and caresses relaxed her. She felt safe and protected with him.

You won't ever hurt me, will you?

"Go back to sleep, Mel, ssh…" he urged, brushing a few strands of her hair back from her eyes.

Kyra closed her icy blue eyes and fell asleep slumped on Mark's shoulder with his arms holding her upright and close to him.

Author's Notes:

Now a bit of trust is forming between Kyra and Mark, but then again she is exhausted and her defenses are down. As for Joe being the voice of reason, he spent a lot of time with Jackson and he knows how much Jackson cares for his family, otherwise he'd have been telling Lisa to divorce her husband. And Myra's really shy, hence her very slight appearance in this chapter.

Thanks for reading/reviewing! Enjoy!