Bad Things Happen
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Thirteen
"What!" cried Lisa in shock. "Bait?"
"They'll be looking out for one us to show up. They're hoping to use one of us to catch the other. That's means that they won't dare kill you until they find me. You'll be safe," Jackson said calmly. He knew she would not like hearing this at all. He could not blame her. He was not particularly enthused by the idea himself.
"How the hell is being captured by the same freaks who are trying to kill us 'safe'? Explain that to me, Jackson."
"I'll be following and tracking you. I won't let them hurt you."
Lisa took a deep breath. She knew how much was riding on this simple plan. "Can I trust you to keep your word?"
"Lisa," Jackson's voice was caring and soft, not teasing or cold as it normally was. "I love you and I won't let them hurt you. I promise."
Lisa paused for a moment, taken aback by his whispered confession. "Did you just…?"
"Yes," he said with a nod. "I just said I love you."
"No, no! You can't love me! You're a killer!" Lisa sobbed, her whole body shaking slightly. Jackson was pained. He had not meant to hurt; he only wanted to reassure her.
"I'm not a killer, Lisa. I haven't been one since I met you," Jackson spoke in a calm whisper, stroking away her tears as her eyes filled with tears that streaked her cheeks. "You were my second chance to do things right."
"I can't…you…no, no!"
"You don't have to love me back, Leese; I just need you to trust me. You need to know what I feel and know that I won't let any harm come to you because of it."
His confession was oddly comforting. Lisa's head told her that she could never love him back or have feelings for him because of who he was and what he had done. Yet her heart told her that it was too late, that she already had feelings for him, even if she knew it was wrong. They were too different to be together. It was only a dream, nothing more. Nothing could ever come of their feelings.
Lisa nodded in agreement, unable to think of words. Despite her head's protesting, she leaned against Jackson for support on the bed they were sitting on. He wrapped his arms around her and they slowly laid back on the bed, Jackson stroking her hair. She snuggled in close to him, taking comfort in the warmth of his body, the feel of his strong arms wrapped around her, and she felt truly safe for the first time in years. He would protect her at all costs, not hurt her. Never again…
"Sleep, Leese," he soothed as her eyelids dropped and she feel into a much needed sleep, exhaustion having finally sunk in.
Lisa was asleep in a scant few moments. Jackson sighed as he watched her doze in his arms. He really did not want to use her as bait, but he knew that he had no other choice. It was the only way to save Lisa and himself from certain death. If there was another, less risky way, he would do it in a heartbeat to keep her with him.
He never wanted to let go of her, yet he knew that the following morning, he would have to. He would have to send her in straight into an unknown danger where anything could happen. He would do his best, but even he had limits. The communication gear that he packed should help him stay in contact with Lisa, but there was no guarantees, other than he would fight to his death to save her. If only one of them was going to survive the mess that they had created, then he would do his best to make sure that Lisa survived.
The past few minutes had changed his outlook on life. What did he have besides his job? He certainly did not have Lisa. He knew that he would not be able to keep her locked up with him, as much as he wanted to. She deserved a life with someone better than him. He would love her from afar if he survived. He had nothing to live for without her, even though he loathed to admit it. Without his job, he had nothing. He had no life to return to. He was as lost as a young soldier returning from war; his whole life to live but unable to do so.
When the sun rose, Jackson Rippner would let Lisa go because he loved her. She was walk into the lion's den and he would follow. He would go willingly to his grave because there would be no escape for him; no life left to live.
Perhaps he had known his end all along, but had refused to truly see it. Now, he could.
Author's Notes:
Kind of an odd chapter. It's a combination of me having an emotional breakdown and studying for my lit test. Hopefully it works out okay. Only two chapters to go! Enjoy!