"Lisa!" Lorelai called after her friend as Lisa rounded the corner of the diner. Lisa looked back once but kept running.

"Leese!" she shouted again. Finally she slowed to a jog, panting. "Leese, I realize you're Wonder Woman here but I'm in really bad shape so...please..."

Lisa finally slowed down but kept walking. Lorelai caught up with her.

"I have to go," Lisa said frantically. "I have to get out, get away..."

"Go where?" Lorelai inquired, worriedly peering into Lisa's troubled face. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Jackson is going to..." Lisa began to admit, but shook her head. "No. I can't tell you. Just leave me be, please, Lorelai. Just leave me alone. If you know what's good for you, you will."

Lorelai's stomach knotted with worry. "Lisa, please-"

"It was nice meeting you," Lisa finished, beginning to run away. "But I have to get away."

Lorelai looked after her retreating back and frowned. Finally, head spinning, she began striding back to the diner.

"Jackson," she growled, throwing open the door. Luke looked up from where he was sitting with Jackson and frowned.

"Lorelai, what-"

"Jackson, what the hell did you say to her?" Lorelai screeched. Jackson scowled.

"Excuse me?"

"She's leaving, now, because of something you-"

"What did you say?" he stood suddenly.

"I want to know what in God's name you said to the poor girl to-"

"I'll be right back," and then he was gone, in two long steps leaving the restaurant.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I need the room of Lisa Reisert," Jackson snapped at the concierge.

"I am sorry, but zat is strictly confidential," the dark-skinned man said pompously.

"I need to talk to her, I'm her boyfriend," he snarled.

"I am sorry, but zat is strictly confidential," he replied again.

"Fuck this," Jackson yelled and ran upstairs to find her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lisa hastily threw clothing into a suitcase, not bothering to fold properly. She needed to get away, get back to Miami. She'd called her father, to tell him to get away.

Jackson's plans had several large holes in it, she'd realized that much. And for now...she had just discovered them and that she could use them to her advantage. The domination over the job issue had been the breaking point for her.

Finally she zipped the blue fabric shut and flung her bags over her shoulder, snatching her purse as she left the room.

As she opened the door she experienced severe de ja vu.

"I was wondering," Jackson sneered, pushing her back inside the room.

Before she could scream the door was shut and locked behind her.

"Whatcha doin, Leese?" he mocked coyly. "Thinking about running away?"

"Jackson," Lisa scrambled to the other end of the room. Jackson followed and quickly had her up against the wall. She emitted a tiny yelp before he covered her mouth.

"Oh, what's wrong?" he crooned. "Baby got scared so she decided to run away from her problems?"

Lisa's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Well, guess what, Leese? I am your problem. And like it or not, you can't run from me. I'll find you. I'll always find you."

"You know you almost got me found out. And just so you know, that's not a good thing. If I get found out, your father dies. Does that make sense to you? Huh?"

Lisa forced a small nod.

"Good. I hope you know that by sobbing to that bitch all you've got yourself is a new living arrangement."

Lisa paled. "Excuse me?"

"I hope you're not afraid of close physical contact, since there's one bed. Oh wait," he feigned a sudden realization. "You are, aren't you? After that terrible parking lot incident. Shame, really." He clicked his tongue sadly.

"I thought you felt something," Lisa whispered as her stomach sank. "On the plane, when I told you, I thought...I thought I saw something in you. I thought you..."

"Felt sorry for you?" Jackson snorted. "I was only remorseful that his face was the one that sent tremors up your spine, that he was the one who turned you into what you are. That's all I feel, Leese. Not pity. Jealousy."

Lisa looked away, her face full of fresh tears.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. "Why don't you just leave me alone?"

"You know, I wanted revenge at first, after jail," Jackson admitted. "But then I realized it was petty and pointless, so I forgot about it. But then I got this job, this..shitty ass job. Or so I thought. Yet it wasn't really, you know why?" Lisa didn't answer, so Jackson trucked on. "Because it brought me to you. And by bringing me to you it gave me the chance for revenge I didn't think I'd get. So really, this is a blessing in disguise, don't you think?"

"You know what I think?" Lisa counteracted. "I think you're scared. I think you're scared of failure, and honestly, Jack, I think you're scared of me. Intimidated. Because I was the only person, the only one who ever made you fail. That's why you're threatening me like this."

"Thanks for your Gandhi-like views, Leese," Jackson sneered. "But you should know, I think you're wrong."

"Do you, Jack? Well guess what," Lisa snapped. "I don't care. I know what's in front of my face, and its pretty clear to me what's going on."

"What's that, Lisa?" he pressed. "Care to enlighten me?"

"You like me," she said softly. "You always have. I could see it, on the plane, at my house, when you were on the floor."

"What are you saying?" he said again in frustration.

"I think maybe you came back for more than what you're giving in to," she whispered. Jackson didn't move or speak for a moment.

"You're right," he admitted quietly, and leaned in to kiss her. She anticipated it and quickly kneed him in the groin, running past him as he doubled over. She made sure to snatch his phone this time.

"I may be right, but I sure as hell don't feel that way for you," she cried as she ran from the room.

The lobby was busy with tourists as Lisa ran through. The french concierge wouldn't help. She needed Lorelai, and Luke.

Lisa saw Jackson running behind her as she rounded the corner of the diner, his face red with fury, his shirt loose. She broke into a quicker frenzied dash as she threw open the door.

"Help me!" she screamed. It was a good thing the restaurant was deserted or what had happened next may have started a panic. Jackson stormed in and flung an arm around Lisa's neck, pulling her back against the glass as his hands moved to her throat, stopping airflow.

"Lisa, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" he snarled. Her face turned white and she kicked out against him. Luke and Lorelai ran over from behind the counter.

As Luke's fist collided with Jackson's head Lisa regained air. Lorelai screamed and grabbed Lisa's arm as the two grappled on the floor.

"Luke, get off-"

"Jackson, get off-"

Finally Jackson ended it all with what he pulled from his pocket. A gun. Luke backed slowly away, taking Lorelai's arm.

"Jackson," he breathed, blood streaming from his nose. "Put that away. Please."

"Give me the phone, Lisa," Jackson demanded. "Give me the phone or I'll shoot both of them."

"Jackson, please, just leave us alone," Lisa cried. "They don't deserve this."

"You do," he corrected. "Give it to me. Now."

Lisa surrendered and tossed him the phone. He repocketed it quickly.

"Here's how we're going to do this," he said coolly. "I'm going to finish my business in this town, and you three aren't going to say a thing. Lisa, feel free to tell them what you want, but it will remain among you three. I'll be gone by tonight. If any of you, ANY OF YOU, alert the police, I swear to Jesus I'll blow your brains out. Do you understand?"

None of them said anything.

"DO YOU?"

Lisa nodded slowly first. "Yes," she replied begrudgingly. Lorelai and Luke also painfully nodded.

"Good." He put the gun back inside his suit jacket and left the restaurant.

"I'll go get some ice...for...that," Lorelai said quickly, running behind the counter. Lisa and Luke sat at a table in silence.

"Lisa," Luke said a few moments later. "I think its time you tell me...EXACTLY...what's going on."