On Your Mind

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

Chapter Eleven

Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I have fallen for that?

Philippe still stood beside where his car had been parked mere moments ago. He had woken with a pounding headache only to find that Lisa was trapped in the car with very person they had been trying to catch. She had been kidnapped by none other than Jackson Rippner.

He had led her directly to him without knowing it. There had never been anyone named DeCoute—there was only ever Lisa Reisert and Jackson Rippner. Or maybe he was really George King…

But the name did not matter. All that mattered was that Lisa's life was in danger and he looked like crap.

With a resigned sigh, Philippe pulled out his cell phone and called a cab. He was not about to go back into the hospital and explain that he had watched a patient be kidnapped by a psychopath. There was no time for that.

As he slipped the cell phone back into his pocket, he withdrew the address that 'Mr. DeCoute' had given him. That may have been Jackson's big mistake. Philippe knew where Lisa was being taken.

The cab arrived a few minutes later and he directed it to his apartment. He needed to shower, change, and deal with his head wound before charging into battle. An hour nap would not hurt either… I'm exhausted…

The important thing was to rescue Lisa before Jackson killed her, but he knew that he was no help to her if he was not in good shape. Spending the past few days sleeping beside her bed had not been restful or smart.

"Keep the change," he told the driver as he stepped out of the cab and hurried up the steps to his small apartment. He spent more time at the hospital than at home and did not see the point in owning a large place.

He unlocked the door and entered to the sounds of someone moving about. He froze. Did Jackson send someone here to finish me off? Now, I'm sounding paranoid!

"There you are! I've been worried sick about you!" a shrill woman's voice filled his ears.

Damn, what is she doing here? I didn't give her a key or permission to be here…

"Hi," Philippe said politely.

"Where have you been?" she demanded, her hands firmly placed on her bony hips.

"Work."

"For the past week? I doubt that, even with your job."

"It wasn't the entire week," he grumbled.

"Philippe, I've been trying to reach you all week. Are you avoiding me? Are you having an affair?"

"Listen, Christine, we aren't married. We're barely even dating. Besides, what's so important about reaching me? I was at work and there was a patient—"

"There's always another patient! What about me? Don't you care about me?"

At this moment…not at all. Right now, the only person I care about Lisa. You're a self-centered bitch without any worries that don't concern you. Why I even dated such a shallow person, I'll never know.

Philippe shook his head and stalked towards his bedroom. Christine followed him intently, yelling at him the entire way.

Finally, she grabbed his arm. "What is your problem?" she demanded hotly.

"You don't want to know because it concerns one of my patients."

"Is she better looking than me?"

Philippe swore under his breath. There's no time for this! "Her life is in danger."

"Suicide patients," she snorted.

Angry, he whirred around. "She is not suicidal! There is a man trying to kill her and he kidnapped her newborn baby. I was trying to help her get away from him and he kidnapped her under my nose and stole my car. Are you happy now?"

Christine was still frozen in shock when Philippe slammed his bedroom door and twisted the lock.

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"Home, sweet home, Leese," Jackson said brightly as Lisa moaned in pain.

The car had stopped in the circular drive of a stately mansion. It was a beautiful home, a home that most women could only dream about. But she knew that it would become her prison. Jackson would never let her leave the house unless he had her on a tight leash. She would waste away in that house.

"Come along, we've got a schedule to keep to," Jackson ordered as he roughly yanked her out of the car by her elbow.

Once the initial shock of being with Jackson once more wore off, Lisa dug her heels in and stopped being led around. "I won't go anywhere with you," she snapped.

"Is that so?" Jackson asked her; his eyebrows were raised in a mockery of surprise.

"Damn right it is."

"We'll see about that."

He picked her up off the ground and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Lisa attacked him in an effort to escape by kicking and punching at him as best she could. She fought the nausea from being upside down and jostled around.

"Stop fighting," his cold voice hissed as he reached to open the door. He placed her back on her feet and grasped her harshly by the shoulders. "Or I'll kill Abby."

"Abby?" Lisa's voice quivered.

"Yes, Abby. Our daughter," he reminded her with a sly smile.

"You bastard!" she screamed and tried to rush at him with her fists curled in anger.

Jackson coolly thrust her back into a stone pillar and closed the gap between them. Her fury at him was evident and she still fought. Finally, he gripped her wrists in one hand and pinned them over her head. His other hand lingered at her throat; forcing her to cease her quarreling.

Smirking, his hand drifted to various places on her body and caused her to tremble uncontrollably. She was close to tears when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her ear.

"Don't fight me, Lisa. It's not worth it. I'll always get what I want. And what I want is you. Don't make me pull out all the stops. Abby would only be the beginning…" he threatened the disturbed woman.

Tears flooded her vision and Jackson released her. "Now, suck it up and I'll let you see her before we get down to business."

She shivered at the various implications of his words while Jackson turned to unlock the door. Biting back further tears and a nervous breakdown, Lisa steeled herself against the pain that was undoubtedly coming. All that mattered now was meeting her daughter. If she could see her baby, then things would get better.

"Norma?" Jackson called as he yanked Lisa inside the majestic mansion. Her mouth about fell open at the expensive interior, but a quick glance towards Jackson made her calm herself. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Lisa."

A friendly woman rushed to her side and hugged her tightly. Lisa went limp in the unexpected embrace. "Hello, Mrs. Rippner! It's so nice to finally meet little Abby's mother! She's just the sweetest child."

"Why, thank you," said Lisa emptily.

"Norma is Abby's nanny," Jackson explained quietly, his lips brushing her ear as he pulled her towards him.

"Do you want to meet her? Mr. Rippner told me that you ran off after she was born," Norma said cheerfully.

"Why not?" Lisa agreed, with a slight smile.

Apparently, Jackson lies to his staff as well as other people. At least Abby is being well-taken care of.

Lisa paid no attention to the layout or her surroundings as Norma led the way to Abby's nursery. All she could think about was her stolen daughter.

"Isn't she an angel?" Norma said softly after opening the door. "She's really taken to Mr. Rippner and is the cutest thing when it comes to being quieted down. One day, she refused to stop fussing until she saw her daddy."

Lisa's heart wanted to stop at the mention of him being around her baby. It was repulsive to be reminded at the role he was playing in their lives.

Abby's eyes opened at the sound of Norma's voice and shocked Lisa at how blue they had become. It was almost painful to look at them. They held the same piercing quality as Jackson's and dredged up terrible memories.

Without saying a word and without permission, Lisa hurried forward and picked up her baby. She smiled at the infant as she cradled her in her arms. The baby seemed quite content for a moment, until she began to wail. She froze in shock. What have I done wrong?

Crossing the room in two long strides, Jackson arrived and lifted Abby from Lisa's arms. She trembled at the touch of his hands. Tears threatened to fall again as he comfortably adjusted their daughter in his arms and gently rocked her. Abby quieted quickly and she slowly sank to the floor in disbelief.

No! No! Don't touch my baby! Her mind was screaming at her but she was helpless to stop him. Abby wanted to be with him.

Lisa began to shake and Jackson's harsh gaze settled upon her. "Philippe," she whimpered, trying to conjure up a memory of when she had been happy.

Someone save me from me. Philippe, save me. Stop him. You have to save me and Abby. Philippe, please…

Jackson handed Abby to Norma and then pulled her up from the floor. "She's been through a lot these past days and it's time that she had her nap," Jackson apologized to Norma as he guided her towards the door.

"I understand, Mr. Rippner. Feel better soon, Mrs. Rippner."

Lisa did not get a chance to reply because Jackson had already hurried her down the hall to an impressive master bedroom. He propelled her towards the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the shower stall. Lisa sat dazedly on closed toilet lid while he rushed around.

It was not until he began to undo the buttons of her clothes that Lisa snapped back to life.

"No," she protested weakly. Seeing Jackson comfort her child had broken her spirit. She no longer had anything to live for. She was too late.

"Then get undressed yourself and take a shower now. You have twenty minutes to get ready."

"Ready for what?"

"Your wedding," Jackson said with a wide smile before stepping towards the door. "Don't dawdle."

Author's Notes:

Philippe has relationship trouble as well and Christine is going to try and stall his departure. Poor Lisa is trapped in a daze. The next chapter will be their wedding and Philippe's pursuit of Jackson to try and save Lisa and Abby. Thanks so much for all the reviews!

J-Bird- Jackson will pay eventually, I promise. Thanks:)