Jackson's watch alarm beeped early in the morning, jolting him from a doze. He rubbed his eyes, cursing. He wasn't supposed to have fallen asleep. Sleep time was for when Lisa was at work.
He grinned as he realized today was Black Tuesday. Perfect Miss Lisa was leaving today for her flight out to the funeral. Little did she know that Jackson would be tagging along to pay his respects to Henrietta. Oh, and terrorize her on an airplane. But that was for later.
She was up within moments of him, and ready to leave within an hour. Jackson pulled out as she was locking the door behind her. No need to watch her drive to the airport, it would only prove monotony.
His phone rang when he was stopped at the airport.
"shiite." He checked his watch. 6:30 AM, the flight left at seven. He sighed and answered it.
"Rippner."
"Hi, Jackson." A soft, melodic voice. Uncannily similar to Lisa's. Or the only other woman he'd ever cared about, the only...
"Chris?"
"First try. Nice job, Jack." Something sounded bitter in her tired voice. No surprise, it had been fifteen years.
"How did you get this number?"
"It doesn't matter."
Jackson cleared his throat. "Is there anything I can do for you? I mean, I have this job soon..."
"Screw that. We need to talk."
"After fifteen years you can't wait a day?"
"No, I can't." He detected the urgency in Christina's voice and surrendered.
"Fine," he sighed. "My flight leaves in twenty-five minutes. What can I do for you?"
Christina got right to the point. "Why did you leave me?"
Her words stung Jackson so much he leaned back, the air knocked from his chest. "I had to, Christy. My job, was, is, highly confidential. I can't have any relationships."
"Including me?" her voice cracked. "You don't remember what you said, that first night? Do you?"
Jackson wracked his brain until it stumbled upon the answer. Oh. He'd said... "I...don't...I don't know..."
"Bullshiite. You said you loved me."
"I don't see your point."
"You don't walk out on your lover and not contact them for fifteen years. Or do you not mean what you said? Was this just a one-night stand thing for you?" Try a fifty-six night stand.
"Chris, I..." he ran a disgruntled hand through his hair. "I don't know what you were to me, alright? I know I definitely had very strong feelings for you then."
"And now?"
He chewed his lip. "It's been a long time, Christina."
"And now?"
He waited a long time to answer, choosing his words carefully. "There's someone else," he muttered, guiltily bowing his head.
"Oh."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I never was right for you The age difference and everything. I just wish...I wish I'd had some closure. Before you left?"
"I'm sorry." Broken record.
"I wish her luck." Yup. Lisa would need it tonight."I do, too."
"So...can you...I just want to know..."
"I can't talk about my job. I'm sorry. But I can't."
"Whatever," Christina sighed.
"Why did you call me now anyway?" he was growing exasperated. Fifteen minutes until the plane took off. He began gathering up his bags and opened the door. Jack wasn't prepared for the next reply.
"I'm dying, Jackson."
He froze. "I have cancer. Rare type, leukemia. They found it three years ago and its recently developed to a terminal point. I wanted closure."
His steps slowed to a complete halt. He felt a dry tension in his chest.
"Chris, I...I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"I love you, Jackson. I th ink maybe I always will." Click.
Jackson brushed the tears from his crystalline eyes and entered the terminal, his face stoney.

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"My condolences, Miss Reisert."
"...a lovely woman, Lisa..."
"...back in '72, we..."
Jackson was picking up the snippets of conversation, but he wasn't really listening.. Christina's words kept replaying in his head. She was sick and he'd never get to see her again. Unless he could find a way to fly out there before...no. He had to remain a businessman, he couldn't just fall to pieces.
It was with relief that Jackson noted the funeral was over. Lisa hugged her father one last time and hailed a cab. Jackson started the engine of his rental car and followed to the Dallas airport.
He could regret later.
For now, it was time to play.