This chapter has been changed!

I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I would advise all of my lovely wonderful readers to read this chapter again, as it is much different. Thank you so much for reviewing.

Chapter 6

Lisa sat on the edge of a long dock that extended out into the ocean and poked her toe at the water. Waves lapped past her and slapped quietly on the sand. The sun was setting and had bathed the water in a purple hue. She felt oddly empty and disappointed, and didn't want to find out why. Something told her it didn't have much to do with Jake. A week had passed since that awful date, anyway. Yesterday Lisa and her aunt had spread Earl the Unfaithful Husband's ashes in the water at this very beach.

- - - -

Annie had suggested a landfill.

Lisa paused, staring at the urn. She shook her head. "No…"

"Well where then?" Annie asked. "Maybe we could just sort of scatter them around. You know, a little at the neighbors, a little at that bakery he liked…"

Lisa grinned slightly, and a picture of her uncle, sitting in the old lawn chair that used to rest behind the house appeared in her mind. She had never really known him that well. Earl had never really taken interest in Lisa's life, just sort of lurked back in the shadows. Why bother? Lisa thought. And then she felt sick with herself.

"Annie," she said quietly. "Did you love him?"

Annie looked up, startled. "Of course I loved him. But he was… he didn't love me the same way. And I knew it. And a person can only put up with so much disappointment for so long, you know?"

"I know," Lisa said quietly. "Why don't we scatter his ashes in the ocean? We're… we're only lowering ourselves to his level if we do this without respect."

They drove down to the beach, the urn perched precariously in a cup holder. Silently both stepped from the car, Annie holding the urn fragilely, and they began to walk along the beach. It was a windy day and they didn't pass many people. Annie took off her shoes and stopped and set them in the sand, along with the lid from the urn, and Lisa followed suit. Together they waded into the waves. Lisa knew Annie was remembering, reflecting, and she found that she wanted to but couldn't. There was nothing to reflect on. She only knew Annie's image of Earl.

The ashes were soft in her fingers and the water was warm as it lapped against her knees. Lisa watched the breeze blow the ashes out of her hand and into a fine mist. After awhile, Annie felt the bottom of the clay urn, and she tipped it upside down and shook it over the water. "All gone." She gave Lisa a watery smile. They waded back out of the water, Lisa rolling up her pant legs to avoid the sand sticking to them. Annie took off her glasses and surreptitiously wiped her eyes. "I'm so glad you're here, Lisa," she said quietly. Lisa gave her a hug. Annie's dyed brown hair tickled her cheek.

They buried the urn in a shallow pit of sand and started back up the beach, Lisa swinging her shoes at her side. The breeze whipped her hair around her as they reached the parking lot and as she brushed it away; her eyes fell on a man walking along the beach towards them. He looked up and at her and Lisa stopped. And then she looked back down at the ground and started walking again. Annie started the car and Lisa watched Jackson's retreating back until she could no longer see it.

- - - -

Lisa splashed water on her other foot and wished Jackson would fade out of her brain the same way he had faded out of her vision yesterday. She heard footsteps down at the other end of the dock and stiffened. She really didn't want to talk to anyone right now. She stared straight ahead of her and the footsteps came closer. They stopped right behind her. Lisa didn't move. This is me being unfriendly, she hissed telepathically. You're stupid if you can't figure this out, please go away, go away…

"Hi," Jackson said quietly. He sat down next to her on the end of the dock. Lisa found the warm feeling of that kiss reappearing somewhere in her mind. The memory wrapped around her and made her feel oddly safe. Lisa reminded herself forcefully of the evil Jackson and tried not to notice that those memories seemed fainter. She stared at the setting sun until her eyes watered. Jackson looked at her. "You're not supposed to look at the sun, you know."

Lisa blinked and looked away. Jackson picked up a small stone resting on the dock and threw it into the water. It skipped once. Lisa opened and closed her mouth and then turned and looked at him. He was looking out at the ocean and the sunlight had washed over his face. Lisa looked away again. "What're you doing here?"

Jackson glanced at her. "What am I doing? Sitting on a wooden dock with Lisa Reisart." His voice took on the tone of an announcer. "She doesn't seem to be enjoying my company though; perhaps I should leave before she gets violent." He grinned. Lisa glared at him for a moment and then rolled her eyes and her lips twitched. Jackson lay back on the dock, his knees still bent over the edge and his hands behind his head. He looked up at her and grinned again. "So, how's Jakey?"

"How're your bullet wounds?"

"I asked first."

"I don't know a Jakey," Lisa said, staring at the ocean and trying to keep a straight face. "I'm sure he must exist though, since you keep asking me about him."

Jackson laughed. He sat up and gazed at her. Lisa looked at him and looked away, and then back again. She gave a little awkward smile. Jackson felt something in his chest twist. Simple attraction warred with something more complicated he was afraid of. It threatened him and he found himself suddenly angry. "You know, Leese, you really shouldn't kiss guys that you aren't going on dates with."

The warmth in Lisa's eyes faded out. For a moment she almost looked disappointed and Jackson felt his chest twist even more. And then she said, "Yeah, well most murderers don't keep pictures of their mommies by their beds, either."

"I would add that most people don't go snooping in supposedly empty houses too, Leese. You must be pretty obsessed with Jake to do that. I hope you're very happy together," Jackson said snidely.

"Oh, you're back to him again? Let me guess, you're gonna start stalking him next? You're the one who's obsessed with him; you're always asking about him."

"And I suppose you'd rather I ask you about yourself. It really bothers you that I followed you that long, doesn't it, Leese? That you never noticed? That you don't know what I saw?"

Lisa froze, watching him. She got clumsily to her feet. Jackson watched her and then turned back to the ocean, staring at nothing in particular and letting his last words soak silently in the air.

"You don't want to be known that well, do you?" Jackson turned around and stood up, facing her. "There, Lisa, I've asked you some questions about yourself, why don't you answer them? Hmm?" He wanted to reach for her chin and force her to look at him, so he could enjoy this victory while it lasted, but knew better than to touch her. The waves lapped quietly against the pillars under the dock and distantly against the shore. The sun glimmered faintly before it disappeared and the sky continued to glow dully. Jackson looked down at Lisa and she looked up at him and the twisting in his chest gave a great pang.

"Jackson," Lisa said clearly, flatly, "You have stooped to a new low. What I'd really, really just like to know is why you're going to all this trouble to harass me. I guess maybe because you lost your job you think you still need someone to torture. Well, I'm done with you. So," she refused to move her eyes from his, "Stop trying to hurt me and get back at me." Jackson gazed at her, something faltering behind his eyes, silent.

"Nice speech, Leese," he finally said. He felt unnerved. The odd admiration for her was back again, combined with the twisting in his chest. Lisa looked at him and walked away. Jackson stood riveted on the dock, watching her, the feelings in his chest mixing together and into disgust. He looked away from Lisa and the feeling stayed. Her words echoed in his head.

You're pathetic.

- - - -

An old blue Datsun rattled over potholes and up the hill that lead to the tiny Cove Springs dump. The town was too small to have garbage trucks. Jake parked outside one of the huge recycling bins and went around to the back of his truck. He had just gotten off work and the trash had been sitting in his truck all day, resulting in what most would define as a very, very bad smell. He went awkwardly up the steps to the bin, an overflowing box of newspapers in his arms. He dumped them in and began to start down the stairs again when he realized a page was still left in the box. The headline caught his eye. Assassination Attempt on Dep. Of Homeland Security Foiled. Jake had already read this article, but now his eyes fell on the tiny picture next to it. It showed a man with his eyes closed, having been taken while the subject was unconscious, and the caption underneath it read that this was the main suspect in the attempted assassination. Jake peered closer at the picture. Even though the man's eyes were closed, he looked oddly familiar.

Footsteps on the metal stairs made Jake jump and look up and he quickly walked back down to his car, the article still in his hand. He thought about it as he emptied the rest of the trash. Lisa worked at that hotel, didn't she? Why hadn't she returned any of his calls? They were good friends, after all… Much closer than she was with that Jackson jerk. And then Jake dropped the bag of trash he was holding. He pulled the article from his pocket and stared at the picture.

It was definitely Jackson.

- - - -

"Leese?"

"Hi, Dad." Lisa awkwardly balanced her cell phone between her shoulder and her ear while she reached for the bowl in the cupboard above her.

"Hey honey. Do you know when you're gonna be coming home? Have you found out if they caught that guy yet?"

Lisa stiffened and her hand paused above the bowl. "No, Dad, the detectives haven't called me yet. I don't know when I'll be coming home, hopefully soon," Lisa added guiltily.

"Oh. Well, anytime you want to come home, maybe stay here to throw that creep off, you know you can…" Joe trailed off.

"Dad, I'm really fine. I promise." Lying again. "I'm sorry Annie's not here right now, I'll tell her to give you a call, okay? I've gotta go." Her father reluctantly said goodbye and Lisa set the bowl heavily down on the counter. She didn't want to think about Jackson. For some reason he had changed in her mind, back to slightly resemble the man in the Tex-Mex. Being confronted with how much he was not was disappointment all over again, and Lisa couldn't believe she had fallen for it a second time. What in the world had taken over her brain?

…Kiss…

Lisa's mind shut down on that thought. Her first priority suddenly became escape. She poured cereal mindlessly, jumping when someone knocked on the door. Lisa cocked her head and turned the stove off and started towards the door. She looked through the small stained-glass window on the door but it only distorted the image of whoever was outside. She opened the door.

And then slammed it shut again.

Jackson was fast, though. He twisted the door handle before it could click shut and began to push the door back open again. Lisa dug her heels in and pushed back. "Dammit, Leese," Jackson grunted.

"What do you want?" Lisa hissed.

"Let me in and I'll tell you!"

"I don't think I want you in my aunt's house, Jack!"

Jackson stood up straight and Lisa, not expecting the loss of pressure from the other side of the door, fell against the door and it slammed shut. Jackson stared at it for a moment and then went around the house and to the kitchen door. He pushed it open and Lisa ran at him. "Get out!"

He grabbed her arms tightly and forcibly pushed her against the wall next to the kitchen door. "Leese, I came here to apologize to you, okay!" Lisa glared at him and shrugged. Jackson grit his teeth angrily.

"Really. Why don't you let go of me then?" Lisa glared at him and Jackson slowly took his hands off her shoulders. He continued to stand right in front of her though; oddly afraid that she would run away and prove how much she hated him. Lisa continued to glare at him for a moment and then took a deep breath. "You have five minutes to say what you're gonna say and then I'm calling the police."

Jackson looked at her for a moment. "I already told you."

"Don't push me, Jackson." Lisa took a threatening step towards him. He didn't move.

"You know that if you decide to call the police, it will only stir everything up and they still won't catch me."

Lisa's eyes flickered. "You're wrong. There's people looking for you right now and they're going to find you."

Jackson laughed. "That's why you're here, isn't it? To hide from me? How ironic." He smiled at her, closed mouth smiling.

"You're time's running out, Jack. What do you want?" Lisa hissed again.

"I already told you."

Lisa pursed her lips. "Time's up." She took another step forwards, around him, and he darted to the side and in front of her again. She stumbled and he caught her shoulders and then pulled his hands back quickly. They hovered over her shoulders and Jackson watched his hands, running them up and down her arms without touching her. His hand stopped next to her cheek, fingers outstretched and brushing her cheek faintly. Lisa closed her eyes and opened them again.

"I am sorry," Jackson said quietly. "You don't believe me but I am."

She stared at him. He slowly let his hand rest on her cheek. She closed her eyes again. Jackson murmured something and his breath brushed her cheek. Lisa's eyes fluttered slowly open. The moment seemed to freeze and suddenly, she was seeing things from a different position. They were clear and sharp and seemed to fit together, like puzzle pieces. Lisa suddenly had a vision of her old broken plate, broken pieces of china surrounded by dust and smaller sharp pieces. She found herself wishing it would mend and become as clear as this moment. She watched Jackson, his blue eyes going deep into hers and his other hand came up and cupped her face warmly and he brushed her cheek with his thumb lightly, rough skin against soft.

Someone knocked on the door.

The moment became a bubble and floated away.

Jackson's hands dropped and he watched her, warily now. Lisa found her arms yearning to reach out and bridge the short distance between them.

The knocking grew more insistent and Jackson half turned and looked at the door in the distance. Lisa followed his gaze. She moved to the door and opened it.

"Lisa!" Jake said urgently, stepping into the house and grabbing her shoulders. Lisa instinctively shrugged him off. His eyes flickered and then he said, brandishing the article, "That Jackson guy!" He pointed at the small picture, "That's him! He's the main suspect in Keefe's assassination! And he's here! We have to--" His eyes fell on Jackson, standing behind the couch. "What's he doing here?"

Lisa turned and looked at Jackson. "He's just leaving," she said quietly.

"No," Jackson said pleasantly, his voice not meeting his eyes, "I'd really like to hear what Jake here has to say. What am I wanted for again?"

Jake opened and closed his mouth stupidly.

"You know, Jake, generally when you find a murderer, it's probably a bad idea to announce that in front of said murderer."

Jake gulped and didn't say anything. Lisa looked back and forth at both of them. Jackson's eyes fell on her and watched her intently. Finally he said, "Well, as Leese seems to be incapable of speech, I will simply say that Jake, you've found the wrong guy. Good luck on your future in the detective business." Jackson went out the front door and left Lisa alone in the living room with Jake. She smiled tightly at him. He looked around dumbly, confused.

Lisa cleared her throat. "Actually, I got a call from one of the detectives yesterday. They've found the guy and I'm going home tomorrow." She nodded slightly at the end of her sentence. The faint guilt she felt for lying quickly faded to relief as she realized she would be going back to her normal life, the life that she was looking forwards to reshaping. The life that would finally be becoming normal.

Jake left quickly after that. Lisa sat down heavily on her couch.

A/N: Sorry once again for the annoyance factor of reposting this chapter. Also for the incredibly long wait.