Make the Call

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

Chapter Eight: One Shot

"You know, I always hoped that I'd be the one to kill you," smiled the hit man, unsheathing his bloodstained KA-BAR.

"Aw, what a shame," smirked Jackson. "You're not going to get a chance."

"Want to bet, Rippner? Want to bet your life? There is no way they let you live after this. You screwed up."

Jackson's ice-cold, angered blue eyes flashed before he jumped the hit man, tackling him to the hardwood floor of Joe Reisert's living room. He fought for the sharp blade—he had always been excellent with knives. Guns, not so much. He had not been lying to Lisa about guns.

"I'm a lousy shot," he told Lisa, playing the 'what's my job?' game on the plane.

He was not going to lose this fight. He was fighting for his life as well as Lisa's. He was almost one hundred percent certain that Joe Reisert was already dead, judging by the blood on the knife that he was fighting over. He felt bad about the older man dying, but he had done his best to save him. Lisa was lucky that he had walked in when he had. Had he been a few seconds later, she would have most likely been close to dead.

Lisa. She could never be his but he would not let her die because of him. He had dragged her into this mess and he would bring her out of it alive. She did not deserve to die and pay for all the mistakes and the judgmental errors that he had made over the past—was it a decade already?—few years. He would have to eventually pay for all the wrongs that he had committed. But not today. Today he was going to do the right thing and save her.

No matter if it cost him his life.

The blade nicked his arm, causing blood to seep through his dark suit jacket. He ignored the pain and focused on the matter at hand. He had to be careful because he was already injured and weary from his sleepless flight. One minor mistake and the blade would slit his throat and Lisa would die as well.

Jackson could not let that happen. He had to stay strong for Lisa.

The darkness began to lift and Lisa found herself coming around. She could hear a struggle nearby—two men fighting over something.

What was happening?

Her green eyes shot open wide and she slowly sat up on the couch. She swayed slightly before toppling onto the floor. She crawled on her sore knees closer to the struggle—determined to find out what was going on. It was not the brightest of ideas, but at the moment she did not care. Her mind was far too frazzled to think rationally.

Dark hair filled her limited view. Jackson. It had to be Jackson.

Her heart soared. He was there! He was not hurting her either! But he was still there… Why? Was the attraction she felt mutual?

The knife blade narrowed missed striking her as it was driven into the hardwood floor. Lisa gasped in shock and backed away, her fingertips sliding upon a cold, metallic object. She grabbed it and realized that she held her hands a gun. A silenced gun.

"Leese!" she heard Jackson call her name. "Run!"

Her vision began to clear and she could tell that he was losing the battle. She knew that she should take his advice and run, yet she could not compel herself to move. She could not leave him to face certain death. She would not have his death on her conscience. Even if she did not kill him, she could not let him die. She had feelings for him—feelings that would not let her leave him.

She raised the gun towards the two men and prayed. A quick prayer for herself and Jackson. Then she closed her eyes and fired.

Author's Notes:

Cliffie! I'm evil I know, but the story's close to its end. Only two more chapters and maybe an epilogue. The next chapter will be posted later today. Enjoy!