Always…

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

Chapter Three

Once Lisa made it back into her house, after she put the security system back on, she collapsed on the floor, sobbing. She had finally lost it in front of another person. But this therapist had not seemed nearly as good at her job as her previous therapists. She would never, never go back to Dr. Gruber.

"Lisa," she heard his voice say and she shrank back against a nearby wall.

"No! Go away! Leave me alone!" Lisa cried out. No, not again!

"I can't leave you, Lisa. You know that. You're mine, remember?"

She could have sworn he was there, sitting beside her, his hand touching her cheek. She could have sworn Jackson was alive.

No, no, no! He was dead! She killed him! She killed him for what he had done to her. Lisa had seen his dead body several times. She could still see the sight of his broken body from the shattered window, his neck broken in the fall and his blood seeping into the stone. Her Jackson, her love; dead by her own hand.

Why had she killed him? She had known then that she loved him, even if he and his actions had disgusted her. He had tricked her, manipulated her, but he had loved her. His dying words had told her that. Jackson never lied; he never lied!

Lisa rested her hands on her stomach. It was at times like these that it was rather comforting knowing that their child was growing inside of her. But one day, their daughter would have to learn about what happened to her father and hear Lisa's twisted tale about their love. A love so strong that she had to kill him. She loved him too much and he was too controlling.

Her sobs died down and she finally stopped crying. It seemed as if crying was all she ever did anymore. She had shut herself up in the house that Jackson was responsible for putting together and the house where she killed him. Lisa could not bring herself to visit her father in her state or to go back to the hotel and see Cynthia. The only people she ever saw anymore were doctors and therapists, and each one was less helpful than the last. She hated it but she was learning to accept it.

If only she could have accepted Jackson's love…

Maybe it would not ache so badly if she had not killed him. Maybe things would have been different and they would both be anxiously awaiting the birth of their child. A child that Lisa was not sure that she wanted to keep.

What if she was crazy? She could hurt their daughter. Jackson would not want her to be a danger. He would forgive her if she let their child go live elsewhere with another family, but not if she let any harm befall the child.

If she decided to let their daughter go up for adoption, then she would at least name her first. That way, when she was ready, she could find Lisa and learn about what happened and why she let her go just as why she killed her father.

The ringing phone disturbed her thoughts and Lisa rose from the floor. Her shoes made no sound as she crossed the title floor to where the phone was ringing off the hook. Her heart was beating quickly, the thudding the only sound she heard. Maybe it was Jackson, calling to check up on her.

Her right hand shook slightly as she reached out to grab the phone.

"Hello? Jackson?" she answered the phone, her voice hopeful.

"Hello? Is this Lisa Rippner?" a male voice asked, somewhat reminiscent of Jackson.

"Jackson? Jackson, is that you?"

"Mrs. Rippner, is Dr. Jonathan Crane. Dr. Gruber turned your case over to me."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you just sounded so much like him," her voice was disappointed. It was not Jackson after all, but another doctor. Another hated doctor.

"That's quiet all right, Mrs. Rippner. From what I know, you recently went through a trauma…"

"Jackson," Lisa whispered. "He died, didn't he?"

"Yes, Mrs. Rippner, Jackson died. Six months ago according to your file," Crane said softly.

"I did it. I killed him…"

"Mrs. Rippner, I'm flying into Miami today. Would you mind if I stopped by to have a chat with you?"

Lisa was dazed. This Dr. Crane did not seem to be the same as her other therapists. Maybe, maybe meeting him would not hurt. There was no saying that it would be a therapy session. Just a 'chat'. Besides, she needed to talk to someone. For some odd reason, she felt that she might be able to trust this man had she had never seen that sounded somewhat like her beloved Jackson.

"No, please do stop by. Do you need a place to stay? My house is huge…" Lisa almost smacked herself. What was she thinking? Inviting a stranger to come and stay in her house? What had Jackson done to her to make her suddenly feel a need to have someone else around?

He sounds like Jackson… he sounds like Jackson. Maybe he's Jackson in disguise…

"Well," Dr. Crane sighed. "Thank you for the offer, but are you sure you want me staying there?"

"I'm sure," she insisted. If there was even a slight chance that he was Jackson, she had to find out. She had to know.

"Okay. My flight gets in around 4pm. I'll catch a cab from the airport and see you around 5, I guess."

"Okay," Lisa agreed. "I'll see you then, Dr…"

"Crane. Dr. Jonathan Crane," he reminded her.

"Right, Jonathan Crane."

"Good-bye, Mrs. Rippner," Dr. Crane said and hung up the phone.

As soon as she replaced the phone, Lisa wondered what had come over her? She did not know this Dr. Crane fellow and at first he was only stopping by for a chat and now he was going to be staying with her! Why was he letting her do this? Why had she offered?

Jackson… he might be Jackson.

She had never heard of a Dr. Jonathan Crane before.

Jonathan…Jackson…

Author's Notes:

This chapter took longer than I had originally thought. It was going to be a conversation between Jonathan and Dr. Gruber, but things changed. As for the awkward format of the chapter, it's mainly because Lisa's thoughts are so erratic and off. At times, she does think Jackson's alive, which is what's happening towards the end of the chapter. I'm sorry if Crane's a little off, because I highly doubt that a psychiatrist would stay with a patient, especially one that he had never met. Oh well! Enjoy! The next chapter should be up in a few days and Lisa's in for a surprise when Jonathan arrives.