Jackson thought he was going to throw up. He tried to keep his cool, he had always been cool under stressful circumstances, but with Lisa everything was different. He knew his face betrayed his feelings of worry. Anyone that had ever gotten in Josh Brown' s way had been found in a ditch on the side of the road and as much as it pained him to think about it, he had grown quite fond of Lisa. He found himself thinking about her constantly. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. He could hear her trembling voice, see her tear stained face, and taste her soft delicate lips. And to know that she is thinking about him to… well, it sort of scared him.

"You hoo? Jackson!" Josh knocked Jackson out of his thoughts by hitting the glass forming a barrier between the two. "I would love to stay, but I have another few lives to ruin!"

"Wait!" Jackson yelled.

"What?"

Jackson had to choose his words very carefully. "Don't hurt Lisa." He didn't want Josh to know that he had feelings for Lisa, but he didn't want him to hurt her.

"Why? You don't love her do you? I mean for god sakes, she was a pawn in the plan that you failed."

Jackson had to think of an excuse quickly so that he wouldn't have to admit his feelings. Then, possibly one of the best ideas he had had since he had been locked up in the hell hole that was prison came to mind, even if he didn't mean it, "Because I want to get my revenge on her. I want to finish the job I started."

"Go on one," yelled the judge. "Three, two," she blew her whistle loudly to signal them to start playing. It was a three on three match and Lisa was on the sidelines watching Natalie play. She was really good. Lisa heard some of the girls on the bench saying, "That's that orphan girl. She is supposed to be the best in the state. I don't blame anyone for giving her the ball, that pink hair is enough to scare anyone off."

Lisa smiled and continued watching the game.

"Can you believe it? They said that they might actually let me on the team!" squealed Natalie when they got to Lisa's house.

"I am very happy for you. But don't you think that the people at the orphanage will be worried about you? Maybe you should go back."

"Nah, they will be fine. Just let me stay one more day and then I promise I will go back."

Lisa sighed and said, "Okay, one more day."

Two months and a hair color change later, Natalie was still at Lisa's house. Lisa had grown fond of the girl. She felt as if she could tell her anything and not be judged. This 16 year old was the only person she could be straight with about her feelings for Jackson. She told Natalie things that she couldn't even tell her father. Like just exactly what had happened in the lavatory of the plane.

"Did someone do this to you?" Jackson asked about Lisa's scar. The look in his eyes was so sincere that she almost wanted to turn away. His eyes told the story of him taking her into his strong arms and never letting go; the story of him whisking her off into the sunset and bringing the man who did this to her to justice. And then finally the story of them living happily ever after. But that was just a story.

"Lisa…" he whispered. He leaned in and gave her a timid kiss. Lisa wanted more. She grabbed his lower back and pushed him as close as humanly possible, deepening the kiss. He went right along and forced his tongue into her mouth. It was a minute or so when Lisa finally realized what she was doing. She pulled out and said,

"We can't do this and you know it. We can never be together so why do we keep torturing ourselves?"

Jackson looked hurt, but he knew what she said was true. "The phones are working. I need you to make that call, Leese." And he went back to being the same old Jackson Rippner.

On the 32nd night that Lisa had been playing hostess to Natalie, something happened.

Lisa was walking down the hallway to Natalie's room to say goodnight when she heard Natalie on the phone. "Thank you. No, I understand. But thanks anyway. Bye"

"Who was that?" Lisa asked Natalie, who now donned a light, bright blue hair color.

Natalie took in a shuddering breath and said, "That was the Miami Women's Soccer Association. They said that I didn't make the team. They said that there is nothing wrong with the way I play, but I am just too young." She had silent tears running down her face.

"I am so sorry." Lisa sat down on Natalie's bed and Natalie put her head on Lisa's chest. They hugged and tears stained Lisa's nightgown.

"But that is not why I am crying." Natalie paused to try to steady her voice. "The phone call before that was the orphanage. They said that I have to go back! I don't want to! You are the only person who has ever really cared about me and I feel safer here then I have anywhere else!" She sobbed some more then said, "Please don't make me go back! I want to stay with you!"

"Shh, it's okay. I won't make you do anything you don't want to." Natalie cried for a while, then Lisa said, "Well, how would you feel if I adopted you?"

Natalie sniffed and said, "You would adopt me? You're not kidding?"

"No."

"I would love to have you as a mother! When can you do it!"

"As soon as tomorrow morning."

"Thank you so much Lisa, for everything." By this time both of them were crying. But not tears of sadness, tears of joy.

Jackson lay in his cell, wondering what Lisa was doing now. It had been two months after Josh had visited him and there was no missing or dead person report on the news so Jackson figured that Natalie and Lisa were safe.

"Rippner. You have a visitor," said the guard.

When Jackson sat down at the booth for visitors he was very surprised to see Josh again. "You keep coming here with no reason; can't you just leave me in peace?"

"I thought that you would enjoy some company. I don't think that you get along to well with any of the inmates, do you?" Jackson rolled his eyes. It was true and Josh knew it. Josh laughed and leaned in. "I did come here with a purpose, though." Jackson just gave him stony silence. "You remember Lisa Resiert, right?"

Jackson's insides did a summersault but his face remained the same. "Well, Jack, just thought I would let you know that she is adopting the Clarke girl." Jackson's insides did another summersault, this one terribly close to his mouth. Josh must have seen the momentary flicker of worry in Jackson's face because he said, "Don't' worry, I won't hurt her. I will leave Lisa untouched for you. But I am going to get that Natalie girl, make no mistake."

The adoption only took another month. The papers were signed and on a Friday morning, Natalie came home. Lisa helped her get resituated in her room and while they ate dinner they talked.

"So, you have all this week off of school?" asked Lisa.

"Yep, I think they are renovating the halls. I heard a rumor that there was asbestos in the walls. I have been going to that school since first grade, since it is an elementary, middle, and high school in that one building," said Natalie as she ate the dish she had ordered from take out.

"So that is what is wrong with you!" Lisa joked. "You have been sucking in asbestos for most of your life!"

"Your evil!" But they were both laughing. Nothing could bring down either of their high spirits. Natalie finally had a home and Lisa finally found a real friend. But neither of them expected what was coming next.

Lisa went to say goodnight to Natalie and Natalie said, "I can't express just how good it feels to know that I am wanted and loved. I also can't say thank you. Those words won't be able to show you how grateful I am for this."

"You will never have to say thank you for this. But I thank you for helping me out of the hole of emotions I had dug for myself. You helped me through all of my emotions better then any psychiatrist. So thank you, Natalie, for helping me."

"Your welcome. And thank you, Lisa, for giving me a home." They were both teary eyed. They hugged and Natalie said, "Jesus! I feel like we are in a sappy chick flick!"

Lisa laughed and said, "Me to!" They broke out of their embrace and Lisa went to the door frame. "Goodnight Natalie."

"Good night Lisa." And Natalie turned her bedside lamp off.

Lisa walked down the hall and turned at her bedroom door. She laid down on her bed and turned the light off. As she drifted into the most peaceful sleep she had been in since the plane she knew that this was the best relationship that she had been in since Jackson and this one will last forever.

"CRASH!" Lisa woke up with a start. She glanced at her clock and it said 3:00 AM. That can't possibly be Natalie making breakfast. She doesn't even wake up until 10. Then Lisa heard something thatshe hoped she would never have to hear. "LISA! HELP ME!" Lisa ran at breakneck speed to the living room. There was a man dressed in black from head to foot and he had Natalie limp in his arms with a syringe at his feet.

The man put his finger to his mouth, or what Lisa suspected to be his mouth for his black collar was flipped up so high that all she could see was his eyes, and said, "Shh." Then he climbed out of the window.

Lisa rushed to catch up with him, but when he saw that she was following him, he threw a rock at the window. It broke and shards of glass went everywhere. Lisa was moving to fast to slow down so she was showered with the broken glass, cut forming everywhere. Lisa ran right through the glass, not noticing the pieces in her feet and cuts everywhere. She jumped out of the window and landed in her front lawn. She fell and proceeded to tumble half way across her concrete walkway, but she got right back up and screamed "LET HER GO!" She jumped on the back of the man and tried to gouge his eyes out, but all that succeeded in was the both of them falling over into the street. Lisa scrambled back up and tried to grab Natalie out of the back seat of the man's car but before she could get anywhere near the car the man grabbed her ankle and pulled her down. He stood up and started to walk to the car. Lisa stood up and stood in front of him and kneed him in the crotch. He doubled over and lifted his head up. They were close, but all Lisa could see was two green eyes full of hatred. He let out a growl and hit Lisa in the side of the head with the gun in his hand. The ground rushed up to meet her and the man stood over her. "You are lucky that Rippner wants his revenge. If I had my way you would be dead." One last swift kick in Lisa's ribs and she was dead to the world.

Okay, I know that Monday isn't the most opportune day to post up a story, but better late then never. Lo siento mis amigos! (Which means 'I am sorry my friends' in Spanish.)

Andraya- Thanks! Have some e-Snapple Tea and Triscuits! (I am absolutely in love with the lemon flavor tea and the garlic and rosemary Triscuits!) (which is, coincidentally what I am eating now)

Blodeuedd- Thank you SO much! The first meet is on the fourth of November and I have nothing prepared! The Poe poems are perfect! They were exactly what I was looking for! Have some e-Snapple and Triscuits!

Mini Nicka- He won't be in jail for long,. Oops! I have said to much already! Well, think of it as something to look forward to! e- Snapple Tea and Triscuits, help yourself!

Thank you all SO FREAKING MUCH! I would be nothing without you!

Love,

Celia