Author's note: Ah, you lovely readers, you. I was going to do a sort of training montage but then I got distracted. So, here you go. Also, here is a chance for you (yes, you!) to help me! I have a bit of a fluff/romantic scene playing in my head, but I don't know if you wonderful people want to hear it. So, choice 1) "Yes, I love fluff and/or romance and don't care if it actually doesn't have anything to do with the plot" or 2)"Just get on with the story!". Cast your vote! Read, Reveiw, Reveiw again (and again, and again).

~Lisa~

If Lisa thought she would get a break from the constant physical training just because she was also learning mind games from Jackson, she was wrong. It was another surprise attacks before she saw him again. He waited for her at the table every time. He didn't come in close contact again. Instead he drilled her and explained practices for her to use on her targets, but never gave specific examples or used his tricks on her, as far as she knew.

It seemed as though his fascination on her waned the more time he spent teaching her. They no longer had conversations outside of the subject matter nor did he try to confuse her with taunts or dangerous flirting. However, whenever he thought she wasn't looking, she could feel his eyes on her. She, in turn, studied him.

"Know your opponent," She repeated Jackson's words back to herself. Jackson was a quick thinker, but not as strong as her other trainers. His power lay in his speed and accuracy. Each move was calculated to be efficient and with a purpose. Each expression was calculated as well, Lisa never knew what Jackson was really thinking when he looked at her.

She couldn't figure him out, and it drove her mad. It became an endless challenge for her to try to trick him into showing any real emotion. She tried anger, sarcasm, anything she could think of. It never worked. She was about to give up until he did something she did not expect.

Jackson had been gone longer than usual. Lisa entertained herself with trying to guess what politician or world leader would be killed by him this time. Then shook herself mentally for being so casual about it. The atmosphere was rubbing off on her. His absence distracted her enough during her training that she received a long slice down her arm. Her anger at him was renewed.

When he finally came back she saw him before he saw her. He must have been extremely worn down for her to be able to sneak up on him. He still had an air of haughtiness but his shoulders were almost imperceptibly lower, as if a new weight had been placed on them that he didn't want anyone to know he had.

Bored with his silence, Lisa joined him at the table. His eyes were steel underlined with black. They sat in silence, her trying to surmise what had happened to change him so much, him daring her to try. She tried the simple approach.

"What happened?"

He laughed, a low mocking sound. Lisa gritted her teeth. "Nice try Leese, let's not deviate from the goal at hand."

With a sigh of frustration, Lisa folded her arms against him. Then stopped with a flinch when the pressure reopened the shallow but painful wound.

Jackson noticed. Without a word and faster than she had ever seen him move he was at her side gripping her wrist and pushing back the sleeve to reveal the cut. Lisa moved to pull away but his hand was tight against her wrist.

She looked up at him to determine what he was thinking. Disappointment, mockery, annoyance were what she expected. Instead she saw anger. She hadn't seen anger like this since she had shot him back in her father's house. His grip tightened slightly before practically flinging her arm away from him.

"Go clean that. Now." He managed to growl.

~Jackson~

Someone had hurt her. She was his. No one was allowed to hurt her, only he could do that. He would not permit someone other than himself to cause her pain. It was his right. Someone was going to pay.