Chapter 25

Jackson made another round through Angie's house. They'd been gone for nearly two hours now and he couldn't keep certain scenarios from looping through his mind. The first and most unlikely had Lisa making a break for it. He doubted it but he had complete lack of control in this place and he wasn't around her enough to monitor her emotions and reactions. Second, Angie had come to a quick decision regarding his charge and had taken her off to a predetermined location to eliminate the security risk to the company. This was far more likely than the first possibility. He'd heard tales of birds that didn't last the vetting process for more than twelve hours. He didn't know if Angie had been in charge of those cases or not but it didn't matter. It was a distinct possibility that left Jackson feeling irritable. Third, Angie was just still involved in the process. This was the scenario he hoped was actually taking place.

In truth, he had no idea how this worked. The only people that fully did were the conductors. Employees who'd been through it with birds of their own had a better idea but they rarely said much. Not that Jackson would have paid much attention anyway. He had never taken an interest in the idea before he discovered Lisa and his desire to take her. He'd never imagined he'd want a bird; never imagined he'd want to expend the effort. His introduction to Lisa had changed all of that.

All of the rooms were still empty. He didn't even see any sign of Derek. That only increased his unease. For the fourth time in the last hour, Jackson stepped out of the house. He considered doing some reconnaissance in the surrounding jungle but if he was discovered, Angie wouldn't take to the intrusion too kindly. He'd already been warned once to keep his distance and let her do her job. He wasn't entirely sure why he was having such a difficult time doing just that. He didn't care how this experiment was conducted but he hated not having any control over it.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He'd finally decided to just go back in the house and find something to distract himself with when he heard two distinct female voices coming from the south of the house still shrouded in thick jungle.

"So do you think you could try that Lisa?" Were the first intelligible words he heard as they approached. Neither woman saw him right away though he made no move to conceal his presence. He suddenly found himself very curious as to what Angie was asking Lisa to try. Lisa didn't answer right away. She seemed conflicted but that near constant agitated state she'd been in since traveling here seemed to have dissipated. He couldn't quite tell what she was feeling right now and it only solidified his desire to know what they were discussing. Lisa finally answered the question right before noticing Jackson.

"I don't know if I can, but," she took a deep breath, "I'll try." When she finally saw him, she looked at him curiously. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't angry and she wasn't coldly detached like she'd been managing back at his home. The look she gave him felt almost… clinical. He still couldn't tell what she was feeling and it gave Jackson a distinct feeling of unease.

"Jack!" Angie greeted just a little more warmly than he was used to lately. "Lisa was just telling me that she can't stand your cooking. She says it's bland as hell." She gave him a big smile that begged to be smacked right off her face.

"Did she?" He responded coolly.

"You did, didn't you?" Angie turned to her walking partner. "What did you say was the worst? Oh yeah," she eyed him for a moment, "your eggs. You cook them till they're dry as a bone. I don't blame you there." Jackson didn't look at Angie; he was focused intently on the woman beside her. He waited for her to respond but when she didn't, he narrowed his eyes at her slightly. He expected her to draw back slightly from it as she normally did but she didn't. Instead she continued walking with Angie and right past him. He had to fight hard against the inclination to reach out and grab her arm. He did but barely.

"Come on Lisa, let's see if you like my eggs any better. I put a dash of milk and soy sauce in mine."

Jackson couldn't do anything as the women entered the house, leaving him seemingly forgotten.

"Fuck." He said under his breath. His hand was back in his hair. He knew he wasn't going to like coming here but he'd never anticipated feeling this impotent. The only good thing that had happened to him since getting here was knowing that Lisa had survived Angie's judgment for now. He supposed he should have felt relieved but he didn't. He was still as agitated as ever.

Looking off to where the women had entered the house, he debated whether he should follow. Angie hadn't invited him but she also hadn't given him any indication that he was to stay away. Indecisiveness was not something Jackson commonly experienced. He tried to analytically weigh both options but in the end, it was curiosity that made the decision for him. He didn't like that they were having conversations he wasn't privy to. If he placed himself in the equation, that one annoyance could be abated for the time being. He unconsciously ran his hand down the front of his shirt before following the same path as his bird and her potential killer.

"Do you put anything besides salt and pepper in yours?" Angie was asking as Jackson let himself into the kitchen. Angie was busy gathering something out of the refrigerator. She obviously heard him enter because she instantly posed a question to him. "Do you want some breakfast Jack?"

God he hated that nickname. "No, I'm not hungry."

"Then why are you in this kitchen?" She asked flatly as she stood up holding a carton of eggs and a pitcher of orange juice.

He just stood there dumbly, caught in Angie's cool gaze. The only movement in the room for a few tense moments was Lisa's head turning away so he couldn't see the expression she obviously wanted to hide from him. His right hand balled up into a fist unconsciously.

"I was just…" he caught himself before he lied. An inclination he hadn't had in years. "Just wanted to see what you two were up to."

"You know what we're up to. Now if you would kindly leave. Unless you changed your mind about that breakfast." He hated her eggs.

"No." He couldn't leave it that simply. "But thank you for your kind offer." He said acidly. Angie raised a single eyebrow, a small, crocked smirk showing him that she thought he was acting like a child. He quickly turned and left before the feeling that was steadily growing in the pit of his stomach became something he couldn't control. This endeavor was quickly starting to be not worth it. He left the house with only one intention, to get as far away from that kitchen as he could.

XxX

An: For of you that read author's notes, if you recall way back in chapter 16's, I said that Jackson would not always be on top. See, just like Jackson, I don't lie. I had entirely too much fun writing that chapter (albeit a bit short). Howlynmad, thanks for pointing that out but I don't think it was FF fault. I'm nearly certain that my son crawled up into my chair and did some authoring of his own right before I uploaded it. He's a little turkey. Thank you for all the support everyone!