Always Look Forward

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

Chapter Twenty-three

"Mrs. Rippner, what does the toxin look like? What form is it in?" Fox asked as they walked down the lavishly decorated hallway to another room.

"It's like a powder—only it's gas-like. Crane sprays it from some type of canister," Lisa explained as she remembered the whitish puff flying towards her. "It's a choking cloud."

"I see. How long does it take for the affects to vanish?"

Lisa thought hard. Had the powder ever worn off? Or had Crane only ever reversed it?

"No," she shook her head, curls flying wildly. "Crane stopped it with some type of antidote. But it didn't last. When he gassed me again, I always was effected."

"Hmm. How often did Dr. Crane 'gas' you?" questioned Fox.

Lisa was becoming slightly unnerved by Fox's questions. She had never really been prepared to ever answer questions about the toxin. She tried to block out all incidents of the gassing. The memories disturbed her and she wished to keep them vanished. She hated how terrified the gas made her feel.

"When he was mad at me, or mad at Jackson. He didn't dare gas Jackson. He's afraid of Jack."

Crane had fears. If she could turn his own medicine on him, then she could drive him insane. Sweet revenge it would be, against the man who hurt her and Jackson. Crane unknowingly, possibly knowingly as well, had left scars that would never heal upon them both.

"Who are Jackson and Jack? Are they the same person?"

"Yes and no. Jackson is my husband and Jack is his other half—a split personality. Jack is dangerous, but Jackson is just protective. Jackson would do anything to save me, whereas Jack would do everything in his power to kill me," Lisa said, swallowing hard. It always hurt to explain the two sides of Jackson. They were both so…different.

"Is Dr. Crane friends with him?"

"I thought so, until they found Jackson in the Narrows last night. Crane had hurt him. I know he did," Lisa spat, the hatred and anger growing in her voice.

"Mrs. Rippner, you're exhausted. Let's go see if Alfred can find you a room," Fox said gently, leading her back towards the front rooms of the grand mansion. He could tell that she was reaching her breaking point and about to go over the edge. She had told him enough that he should be able to create a true antidote now.

"Long time no see," Jackson remarked as Ra's Al Ghul casually entered his hospital room. Jackson had been expecting Crane and his flunkies after all the commotion in the hallway.

"Likewise. I must admit my surprise at seeing you in Gotham. I thought the company was keeping you busy in the southern states, along with other countries, these days."

Jackson snorted. "Listen, Ra's, I'm not here by choice. I'm sure that you've figured that out by now. I know that Crane's working for you. Tell me, what do you want with Lisa?"

"Lisa?" questioned Ra's, confused. "Who is 'Lisa'?"

Jackson could not believe this! He knew that Ra's had been lying to him since he had set foot in the dingy room. Ra's had known all along that Jackson was in Gotham. He had been brought there on Ra's Al Ghul's orders, which had been carried out by Crane. His psychotic, psychiatrist brother was in the League of Shadow's pocketbook, mostly likely by being allowed to create the toxin.

"Don't lie to me, Ra's. You know damn well who I'm talking about," snapped Jackson, his blue eyes flashing dangerously. He could feel Jack stirring, begging to be unleashed. No matter what, he had to keep Jack under control. Jack could not win.

"Listen up, Rippner… I don't know what Crane was planning with your wife," hissed Ra's, growing angered. "All I know is that he was going to show me the toxin's affects on a worthy subject."

"Like Lisa."

"Quite possibly. I'm not Crane, so how would I know?"

"You may not be Crane, but you are sure as hell in control of him. You've polluted his mind as much as you once polluted mine. Why don't you tell me what stories you told him? Were they the same lies that I heard?" Jackson goaded the older man.

Jackson would never forget when he met Ra's Al Ghul for the first time. He had been young and impressionable at the time. Ra's taught him many things, but Jackson had never really trusted the man. He figured out why as soon as Ra's tested him by trying to kill him. Ra's had a knack for turning people against family members.

It was all Roberts' fucking fault. He had introduced Ra's and Jackson and Ra's had convinced him to kill his parents. By using Roberts as his messenger, that was. Ra's had also contacted Roberts after the company broadcasted the news of his deflection following the events of the red eye. Roberts coming after Jackson and Lisa had been an indirect test from Ra's, which Jackson had just figured out.

Ra's and company were behind every hell-causing event in his life in recent years.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Ra's warily. He would have to be a fool to not sense Jackson's rising rage. "I didn't lie to you or Crane. I told you both the truth."

"Let's just cut to chase, shall we? What will it take for you to leave me and my family alone?" Jackson questioned, his blue eyes staring down the leader of the League of Shadows.

"Crane can not finish the job on his own. I need you to help him."

"Crane tried to kill me. He doesn't want my help."

"Crane made a mistake, Rippner. He does not want you dead. He lost it for a moment, but he's fine now and he wants your help," Ra's said, trying to place a hold on Jackson using his words again. He was trying to manipulate Jackson, but Jackson was the master at his own game. One just does not try to manipulate a manager.

"Correction: he wants Jack's help. I'm not giving it to him," Jackson said coldly, twirling the KA-BAR in his fingers again. "I'd rather die."

"And leave your children all alone? What a shame…" chuckled Ra's, as if he was sharing a private joke with himself.

In a flash, the blade in Jackson's hand was at Ra's throat, cutting into the skin. "What about my children?" demanded the former manager.

"If you die, you know that it's only a matter of time before we find your family. She can not run and hide forever, you know.We'll find her…and when we do…well, I'll let you think about it."

Jackson dropped the blade, like he had just been stabbed or shot. He stumbled backwards. Ra's was not kidding. He knew that he was being deadly serious. Jackson knew all too well what would happen to Lisa and his children. One of his jobs had taught him that. Ironically, it was a job that Ra's had sent him on.

"I'll help Crane—if and only if—you promise to let us go. No one is ever to come after us again or harm us," Jackson insisted. He would give in, but only on his own terms.

"Agreed," said Ra's, smiling broadly. "Now you had best hurry to Arkham. Dr. Crane is awaiting your arrival."

Jackson nodded and swallowed deeply once Ra's back was turned. This was it. The final tests were coming for him. He could only hope that he was strong enough to pass them and that Lisa would forgive him for whatever sins he committed. He hoped that he would live through it and see his family once more.

Jackson was about to descend into darkness and he hoped that he would eventually ascend back into the light.

Author's Notes:

Yikes! I can't believe how long it took me to write this chapter! The good news is that I finished writing an outline for the story this morning and I should hopefully (fingers crossed) become faster with the updates. Hopefully, my tweaks to the story haven't messed it up too badly. Enjoy!