Always Look Forward

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

Chapter Sixteen

Crane transported the injured Rippners from the hospital via an ambulance. From there, the ambulance went to a private local airport. Crane helped Jackson board the plane, while the 'EMTs' that had driven the ambulance moved the sedated Lisa.

It was hard for Jackson to resist caring for Lisa. Crane had sedated her in the hospital and drove her even crazier as he had approached with the needle. Hearing Lisa's screams had hurt, but there was nothing that he could do. He feigned pleasure at the sound of her screams, imitating Jack's feelings towards Lisa. Jack hated Lisa with a passion and wanted nothing more than to see her suffer and eventually kill her.

But Jackson was torn. He knew that he had to be Jack to gain Crane's trust, yet he wanted to comfort and care for Lisa in her time of need. He had sworn to protect her at all costs, and so far, he was failing miserably.

"Jack? You ready?" asked Crane's eager voice from his seat beside Jackson. Lisa was farther back in the plane and restrained to her seat.

"Of course," lied Jackson, with an evil sneer. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You seemed to disappear for a moment there—I thought Jackson had come back."

"The slimy coward tried, but I refused. He's been moping ever since the bitch went crazy," Jackson spat.

"Once we get settled and down to business, I'll help you remove Jackson for good," Crane said with a smug smile.

More like Jack would be removed. Jackson was not about to let his other half win. This was his life and he was going to keep it and he would fix it.

"Good."

A groan sounded from Lisa. She was starting to come around. Jackson flicked her blue-eyed gaze towards her and watched her shift slightly in her seat and slowly opened her eyes.

"Jackson?" she murmured and his heart leapt into his throat. He wanted so badly to go to her.

"Finally back to your senses, I see, Mrs. Rippner," Crane stated and Jackson knew that Crane had used an antidote to reverse the affects of Lisa's insanity.

"You," hissed Lisa, her disgust for Crane apparent. "What did you do to me? Where is Jackson?"

"I only gave you a taste of your fear," grinned Crane.

Fear. So that's why Lisa went crazy and thought that Crane was him! The powder made her feel fear!

"Where's Jackson?" she questioned, eyes darting around.

"I'm sorry, but Jackson's not in at the moment, Leese," snarled Jackson. "Would you like me to kill you for him?"

Lisa trembled in fear until she noticed the softness and warmth in his blue eyes. Jackson was trying to convey a message to her. He was pretending to be Jack! He was not really going to hurt her. She blinked in understanding.

"Get away from me!" she cried ad Jackson approached her.

"I get the honor of killing you, and if you're lucky, I might just let Jackson say good-bye," Jackson sneered, placing his face near hers as he wrapped his left hand tightly around her throat.

Jonathan Crane watched in horror as Jack's hand tightened and Lisa began to gasp for breath.

Jack was going to kill Lisa! He had to stop his brother before he ruined his plans!

"Hey! Stop it, Jack!" snapped Crane, digging his nails into Jackson's wrist, trying to pry his hand from Lisa's throat. He could not have Jack kill Lisa this soon. He needed Lisa to help with his plans.

Jackson growled at Crane, but released his grip on Lisa. Hatred blazed in his cold eyes. And that hatred was directed at Crane.

Jonathan felt his blood run cold. He was standing face-to-face with a killer. Jackson Rippner was a killer. Sure there was Jack, but Jack had not appeared until after Jackson committed his first crime—the murder of his own parents.

Surely, Jackson would have no problem killing his brother…

Jackson wanted to kill Crane right then and there. But he knew that he could not afford to. After all, he did not know how long the antidote would last and why it affected her so strongly in the first place. He would not risk Lisa's safety or sanity. And as much as he hated to admit it, he needed Crane's help to rid himself of Jack for good. Once Jack was gone, and Lisa was safe, Jackson was free to kill Crane and escape.

"For the sake of time and sanity, let's break this down into a little male-driven, fact-based logic…" Jackson explained to an upset Lisa.

"I know you want to kill her, Jack, but now's not the time for revenge. My friend would like to see how my toxin works and she is a perfect subject," Crane said, patting Lisa's curly head.

When Crane removed his hand, it hung in front of Lisa's face for a moment too long. Lisa bit his hand and caused him to cry out in pain. With his good hand, Crane shot a stream of powder into her pale face.

Lisa screamed and Jackson pulled Crane away from her. Crane's left hand was bleeding slightly and he was clearly in agony.

"What should I do?" Jackson questioned. "You made it worse!"

"I thought you liked the gas. It's a punishment."

"For who? Us or her? I can't hear myself think with her screaming like that!" pointed out Jackson. There was nowhere to go to avoid her piercing cries.

"Here," Crane pressed a needle into his open right hand. "Administer this. It'll counteract the toxin and put her to sleep."

Jackson took the antidote and he knew that the effects of the needle in his hand were only temporary. He would need to create something long-lasting to protect Lisa and himself from the crazy Crane and his fear toxin. The current antidote did not prevent the effects from the powder returning.

Lisa's eyes grew wider and her movements became more frantic. She screamed and struggled, and her intentions were clear to Jackson. She was scared out of her mind of him and wanted to escape him. She was afraid of what he might do to her.

Jackson wanted to assure her that it was okay, but Crane was still watching. He had to protect his true identity to protect Lisa.

"Get away!" she cried out, shrinking away from him. "Jackson, stop him! Stop Jack! Don't let him do it!"

Jackson gritted his teeth and grabbed Lisa's chin with his left hand. She struggled harder. He took a deep breath and begged for forgiveness for what he was about to do. He delivered a powerful head-butt and Lisa passed out. He placed her head in a semi-comfortable position before her jabbed her limp arm with the needle and injected the antidote.

He straightened his jacket, which fit him awkwardly because of the sling upon his right arm. He dropped the empty needle into a trashcan before returning to his seat beside Crane.

"Did you see what she did to my hand?" questioned Crane, looking pitifully at his swollen, bitten hand.

"Suck it up. You got off easy," Jackson snapped, annoyed and angry, as he showed Crane the discolored hole in his throat. Even after all these years, the pen wound was still extremely noticeable and a nuisance for him.

"She's a feisty little bitch, isn't she?"

"You have no idea," muttered Jackson. His Lisa was a fighter. He had made her that way. She had refused to be a victim again and he had pushed her until she had snapped.

Author's Notes:

I'm so sorry that it took me so long to type up this chapter. I've had it all week, but pre-mid-term madness got to me. I'm going to try to update again tomorrow to make up for the slacking off. Enjoy!