"Jackson," Lisa snapped.. "Proving that you're spying on me doesn't scare me anymore. In all honesty, I think its getting a little obsessive."

Jackson sighed. "Whatever. Just quit with the highschool badmouthing. Its getting old pretty quick."

"Well, since they're the only two I have his Majesty's permission to speak to," Lisa said pointedly. "Why don't you just quit watching me and go finish your goddamn recruit so I don't have to put up with this anymore?"

"Just wanted to remind you to behave," Jackson replied sweetly.

"How are you watching me anyway?" Lisa grumbled, peering out the diner windows. "I don't see you out there."

"A magician never reveals his secrets. Talk to you later, Leese." Click. Lisa scowled and replaced the phone in her purse.

"I'm going back to the inn," she sighed. Lorelai stretched.

"I will, too, but I have a few errands to do first," Lorelai frowned. "You probably don't want to tag along, do you..."

"I'll walk Lisa back," Luke offered. "She really shouldn't walk through the woods alone. Lorelai, you should be fine, if you stay downtown, in the crowds."

"Yeah, okay, that works," Lorelai nodded. She gave Lisa a quick hug before darting from the diner.

Lisa and Luke began walking to the Dragonfly, in silence at first.

"How'd you meet Lorelai?" Lisa asked conversationally.

"Oh, I've known her since Rory was a baby," Luke admitted. "Didn't really like her at first. But then we developed a friendship, a really strong one, and now...well, we...are a lot more than friends." She noticed a mischievous glint in his eye that he was obviously trying to conceal.

"You guys are so great together," Lisa agreed. "Lorelai's a sweetheart, isn't she? Did you ever think about...you know..."

"Marriage?" Luke offered, and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."

Lisa fell quiet as they walked up the path to the inn.

"Well, thanks for the company," Lisa smiled.

"Yeah," he answered, then stepped closer. "Be careful, okay? I don't think Jackson will try anything this late in his job, but you never know..."

"Yeah," Lisa nodded. "Thanks. Watch out for Lorelai, too, okay?"

"Honestly," Luke laughed uncomfortably. "I think Lorelai can defend herself better than I ever could."

"I see," Lisa giggled and opened the door. "See you, Luke."

"Bye, Leese."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jackson mounted the rickety steps and cautiously rang the apartment door. Several moments later a boy with messed-up black hair answered.

"What?" he grumbled cordially.

"My name's Jackson Rippner," Jackson replied coolly. "May I come inside?" He did not wait for an answer before roughly pushing inside. The boy shut the door behind them and eyed Jackson's suit irritably.

"Listen, if you're from the bank, I'm not going to pay it ba-"

"I'm not a banker," Jackson snapped, and then sighed. "Are you Jess Mariano?"

"Yeah," Jess surrendered, confusion lining his face.

"I work for an Organization called Blackened Fortress in Miami," Jackson explained. "I'm here to recruit you."

"Recruit me?" Jess cried angrily. "Recruit me for what? Did Luke put you up to this? I don't need a job. The one I have is fine. Great."

"I see," Jackson eyed the Walmart smock hanging on the back of a chair with mild amusement. "No, Luke did not recommend you. I have the files of all men aged 18-25 living in the United States and you're one of the top contenders for the job."

"What exactly is this job?"

Jackson pulled out his briefcase and set two photos on the table. One of Abraham Lincoln, and the last of Charles Keefe.

"I don't get it," Jess sighed. "Just a bunch of dead politicians. You in politics, or something?"

"No," Jackson snapped irritably. "Use your head. How did all these men die?"

"They were...assassinated," Jess frowned. "So is this the CIA, or something?"

"We run a high profile government overthrow, assassination company," Jackson explained. "We operate on stealth, cunning, and secrecy. Its been around for a long, long time. I myself have worked there for over ten years. Manager, even, for the last three. Got demoted, though, to search out little shits like you."

"So you kill people?" Jess concluded loudly, shaking his head. "No. I don't want to. I don't even know why I was considered for the job."

Jackson sighed and pulled out a file, reading aloud. "346 fights since the fifth grade, all of which you came out on top, and two hundred of which you used secrecy weaponry. No permanent emotional attachments, diligence in work ethics. While grades were poor in school you seem to have the proper amount of cunning and common sense to make it."

"I still don't want it," Jess replied shortly.

"May I ask why? It pays good. Over six figures a job."

Jess looked slightly more interested but still protested. "I don't want to kill people."

"Provided that you don't fuck up, you won't have to," Jackson assured him. "You'll be working with innocent accomplices, tricking and bullying them into doing what needs to be done. Like me. You only have to get your hands dirty when they try to get cute." Jackson growled and subconsciously rubbed the scar on his neck.

"Did you ever mess up?" Jess asked curiously. Jackson glared at him.

"I let my emotions get the better of me," he snapped. "So, what do you say?"

"I still say no. The thing about the attachments is a lie. You see...I'm...I'm in love."

"Ah," Jackson sneered and threw a photo at him. "Rory Gilmore? Guess what, Jess? She doesn't care about you. She's in love with that Dean kid. Get over it."

"Yes, she does," Jess snapped. "She just needs time."

'Time won't bring her to you, I know from experience," Jackson rolled his eyes. "You need to be assertive, dominating. Like me. Well, like I will be."

"Excuse me?"

"Long story," Jackson shrugged. "But if you come...you can bring the girl with you."

"Rory wouldn't come with me."

"Not willingly, she wouldn't. But there are always...other ways."

"I don't want to hurt her."

"You won't have to."

"Do you really think I'm that desperate?"

"Yes."

Jess sighed and thought. "Fine. When?"