Kat didn't remember falling asleep but when she awoke two hours later she realized she must have. Her nose still throbbed but not as diligently as before. Her neck hurt just as bad, and as she touched it tenderly she knew she'd have bruises.

It took her a moment to realize why she'd awoken she abruptly. Then she discovered the radio was blaring the White Stripes. She began to automatically reach to turn it off but Jackson caught her wrist and, with a twist, returned it to her lap. She cried out softly and then glared at him.

"I can't hear myself think," she shouted above the din. He frowned at her, contemplating carefully, and snapped it off.

"Fine, Mom," he sighed innocently. "Let's chat, then, Kat, what do you say?"

"Screw that," Kat began to reach to turn it back on but Jackson once again caught her hand and placed it back on her seat.

"Too late," he grinned. "Pay up."

Kat just ignored him so he spoke again. "So, Kat, how are you?" No answer. Time to delve deeper. "Hm. How's that boy you like, what's his name, David?"

Kat instantaneously snapped her head to face him. He'd struck a nerve. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, yeah," he grinned broadly. "I do believe you were going on at lengths about him on the phone to your 'bff' Adella, were you not?"

Kat stared at him, horrified. He knew too much. So much. Way too much.

"How...how do you know that?" she asked quietly. "You...stalked me?"

"No," Jackson sighed, shaking his head. "Surveilled. Not like it's a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing, you sociopath!" Kat cried. "Are you on drugs, or something?"

"Oh, I wish I was," he said longingly, then shot her a sidelong glance. "Why, do you have any?"

Kat just emitted a small noise of discontempt and leaned her head on the window.

"How long?" she moaned. "How long do I have to be here?"

"You mean in," he glanced at the road sign. "Tallahassee? Why, not long at all. Probably about five minutes."

"No, with you," she snapped.

"Two days, unless you or your darling mother try to pull the heroics."

"I don't get it," she complained. "Any of it. Why am I here to begin with?"

"Because your mother made a serious mistake fifteen years ago," Jackson responded gravely. "By stabbing me in the neck with a pen."

"Aren't you a little old for payback?" Kat sneered. "Tell me, do you still think girls have cooties?"

He smiled scathingly at her. "We can test that theory, if you'd like, Kat."

She stared at him, terrified.

"Anyway, dear Mommy is going to...suffer...when she hands herself in. If not, you get what I'd intended for her."

"Wait," Kat froze. "It's me or her? Take me, please, leave her alone."

"Aw, I would," Jackson smiled sweetly. "After all, you're so young, you could go forever. But since its Mommy's misdemeanor I think we should give her the decision."

"Please don't kill her," she begged.

"I probably won't," he said mockingly. "But either way, after she arrives, you two are never going to see each other again."

"Burn in hell," Kat snarled. Jackson backhanded her before she could react and she cried out.

"Been there, done that," he replied cheerfully.