Never…

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

Chapter Nineteen

Amy and Joe chatted at length about Lisa and Jackson because Amy was determined to find out everything that she could about her past. Her inquisitive nature was equally matched by Joe's curiosity, who in turn wanted to learn all about her.

"You look exhausted," Joe remarked as Amy yawned.

"Well, I feel like I was hit by a truck. That's what I get for spending the night in a cemetery sleeping on top of a grave."

"Why don't you go and take a nap in Lisa's old room? It's upstairs and to the right." He suggested.

"Okay," Amy agreed, stifling a yawn as she shuffled off from the living room, too exhausted to argue.

Joe sighed as he watched her retreat. Having Amy with him was not the same as Lisa returning home, but at least it was a step in the right direction. Hopefully, Jackson could find his daughter and bring her back alive. Oddly enough, he trusted the ex-assassination manager with Lisa's life because he knew now that Jackson cared for Lisa just as much as he did.

A loud knock at the door caught Joe's attention. Was Jackson back already? That was rather quick.

Joe ambled over to the front door and looked outside through the peephole. He caught sight of familiar dark hair and eagerly opened the door. "Jack—"

He was hastily shoved aside to the wall by Jonathan Crane and before Joe could stop him, the distempered psychiatrist cracked him over the head with his briefcase. Joe crumpled to the ground unconscious and Jonathan coolly stepped over him. He then proceeded to straighten his tie and smooth his jacket before heading upstairs to where Amy was sleeping.

Amy did not even get a chance to scream before he cruelly rendered her unconscious as well. Jonathan was not in the mood to struggle to subdue his feisty niece and had decided to bypass that step of her capture. But soon, she will never fight again…

Jonathan gathered up the unconscious teenager and made his way out of the house, unceremoniously dumping her in the car as he smiled menacingly in triumph. I will kill you before the day ends. I promise.


Jackson disarmed Jonathan's various security systems with practiced ease and slipped undetected into the Cranes' house. His twin had stolen his designs for the alarms, thereby making his unlawful entry child's play.

Lisa dropped her tea mug when she looked up and saw him standing there. The ceramic mug shattered upon impact with the hard tile floor, but neither Lisa nor Jackson seemed to notice as they gazed at each other in apparent shock and disbelief.

"Oh God, Jackson!" Lisa exclaimed, making the first move. She slowly stepped towards him and reached out to touch his face, hesitantly trying to confirm that he was real. "I thought you were dead!"

"No, Leese. I'm very much alive and still in love with you," he responded with a smile as he reached out to touch her cheek. Lisa trembled instinctively as his hand grazed her skin.

He frowned. What did that sick bastard do to her?

It had been sixteen long years ever since the tragedy that had torn the two apart. He remembered the very day of Amy's birth, the time that Jackson had last seen Lisa. He could not stop himself from sneaking into the room to be with her when Jonathan had left the room for a moment. Jonathan had told Lisa it was merely a hallucination every time that he had made an attempt to visit her since his 'death'.

He had never wanted to lose Lisa and now that they were reunited, he adamantly refused to ever let go of her again.

"Lisa, please come home with me and Amy."

"What about Jonathan?" she inquired fearfully.

"We have a score to settle. Did he hurt you?"

She shuddered in response to the question and Jackson immediately put his arms around her quivering body which to his distress; caused her tremors to increase. She seemed to be unable to bear his touch.

"Yes," she answered quietly.

"What did he do to you?"

Jackson's right hand drifted downwards towards her waist and she yelped at the lingering touch. Backing away from him, she trembled in absolute panic. "No, I can't," she was whispering.

"Lisa, did he…" Jackson was unable to get the words out. No, he wouldn't do that, would he? He wouldn't have sunk that low.

Lisa nodded, feeling numb inside. Jackson's face fell and rage traversed him once more. Jonathan had betrayed him in more ways than he had imagined. "Leese, I'm so sorry…"

Jackson stepped towards her and she cowered back in fear. Her shivers increased with each step that he took until he finally reached her and awkwardly pulled her into his arms once more. She tried to fight his embrace, but he was not about to let go of her. "Relax, Lisa. It's going to be all right. It's only me and I would never hurt you," he soothed.

"I know."

"I wish had been here to stop him."

"It was beyond your control," she said emptily.

Jackson nodded and rubbed her back.

" Jackson, you have no idea how much I've missed you!" Lisa said as she started to weep as her tremors finally began to cease.

"I've missed you too. I never wanted to leave you, Leese but I promise I'll never leave you again."

Jackson and Lisa stood there a long time, holding each other, simply praying that their nightmare was finally coming to an end.

It will end. I will kill him for what he's done. He'll be begging for death by the time I'm through with him. He'll never hurt them again.

Author's Notes:

Jonathan's an all-around creep. This story is almost at the end! One more chapter and an epilogue. Enjoy and major thanks to emptyvoices!