Author's note: This chapter was initially just gonna be the second part, but then I realized I was a little inconsistent with Jackson's actions so I added the first part. Kinda clears up his thinking. I hope.

Then when picking a song I realized I wanted a third part to the chapter about Lisa, cause that makes the song fit so much better. Cause the song kinda goes for both of them. As such, song is Fear and Delight by The Correspondents.

Trudi, that certainly is a conspiracy theory. Kinda going over board. I love backstabbing, lying, double sided plots, but this doesn't go that far. I could very easily make it go that far and make Blake into the villain, but nah.

Of the many things in life Jackson would never understand, one of the most confusing would be his relationship with Caraline. He'd been her target, fake boyfriend, enemy, coworker, and now? Well now she was a friend. Nothing more, nothing less. She was simply someone to talk to when things got rough. Truthfully though, most conversations involved Caraline being snarky whenever she's right. Today, Jackson expected, would be no different.

With a sigh he sat down across the table from her. "I... said something dumb," he admitted.

She laughed quietly, "You say that like it's a new thing. What'd you do this time?"

For a moment Jackson remained silent, not wanting to tell her. Their last conversation had ended with him denying that he cared about Lisa. "Last night, Lisa came home from a talk with Blake. She wasted no time curling up against me as if being by my side was the safest place in the world. She's honestly in love with me..."

Caraline didn't need to ask where this was going, but she did anyways, just to hear him say it. "You admitted you love her didn't you?" she asked, a smirk upon her lips.

He sighed and nodded. It wasn't something easy to admit, not after he'd denied that he care about her, but it was true. He hated that it was true though. How idiotic was he for falling in love with a woman that had been a tool. The same woman that ruined his life... Perhaps that's why he fell for her though. She'd done something no one else could. "She was doubting I could even feel emotion, and I told her I love her," he finally said.

Once again Caraline laughed, "How much is this screw up tearing apart your brain?" she asked. Even if her relationship with him had been an act, she had to know him well enough to get close. That meant she knew exactly what made him tick.

Jackson shook his head, and ran a hand through his hair. "You have no idea how bad it is. Every bit of emotional detachment I've kept through the years thrown out the window, for one woman. I hate it. I hate that you were right. I fell in love, but not with a cops wife... No... I was in love with her before she ever met Blake. She was mine before she was his."

The longer he talked the more amused Caraline was. "Glad to see you've finally accepted this. Dating you was terrible, you were always so mopey over her."

He let out an indignant scoff, glaring at her slightly. "I was not mopey!" he argued.

"Yes you were. But, let's not get into that. You called me here for a reason I assume?" she asked, finally letting herself be a bit serious.

Jackson nodded. "I wanted to ask if you would be open to helping me out on a job. I don't know that I'll need you, but if Lisa for some reason needs assistance and I'm not around, I'd like to trust you to help her."

She rolled her eyes slightly, "Ah yes, ask your ex who tried to kill you to protect your girlfriend that you once tried to kill. Great plan Jackson," she said, smirking at him. Honestly she had no problem with helping, it was simply interesting to see how twisted their relationships had become.

He just sighed. Dealing with her could be a pain, but aside from Lisa she was one of the only people he could trust.

"Jackson, you still haven't explained the job," Lisa said, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen as they ate supper.

He sighed, holding his fork in hand, "It's a bit complicated. The easiest way to get at this guy is poison. Not my favorite method, but it works. However, to get close enough we need to befriend him first."

Lisa scowled, "Why's he so hard to get at? Can't you just blow up his hotel room like last time?"

Jackson took a bit of his steak, chuckling when she mentioned his attempt on Keefe's life. "Well that didn't work so well last time did it? But no, he's too paranoid. He wouldn't risk staying on an outside room like that. If we blow it up too many innocents will be hurt."

"What makes him guilty?" she asked, quick to counter him.

He sighed again, "That is up to my employer. You know I don't ask why," he said. He took a sip of his water before continuing, "Jonah Saxon is a state representative that is making his way up the political ladder. I guess my employer doesn't want him in charge anymore. You'll be the key to getting close to him. I need you to befriend his wife, help take care of the kids, whatever you can do to get close."

She nodded slowly, eating as he explained. "How am I supposed to befriend her though? It's not as if I'm a mother, I wouldn't know anything about how to care for kids."

"That's how. Ask her to teach you. We will be newlyweds after all," he said, smiling at her. "Tell her how much you look forward to having kids, you just wish you had more experience with them before you have one of your own."

Lisa nodded again, his idea made sense... and it wasn't at all a lie. They would be married soon, and they had discussed having kids in the past. A conversation that ended in an agreement to try. "Okay. While I do that what will you be doing?"

Jackson glanced down before looking back at her, "Talking business with Mr. Saxon. Sorry to put you in such a stereotypical wife role, but you'll keep your distance while we do then 'men's work'."

She was grateful he had the grace to apologize for their roles being so painfully... stereotypical. "How long will we be on the job, and how long until it starts?"

For a minute he remained silent, clearly thinking over the answer to her questions. "It will take a month or two before our fake lives are in order, then at least a month to develop a good relationship with Mr. Saxon. Any other questions?" He asked.

Lisa shook her head. He'd answered the important parts, details could wait until closer to the job's start.

After supper Lisa went out on the porch, looking out over the city. In the distance she could make out the streets she drove every day. Idly she traced her route, going from home to work, then to the cafe, then finally back home... except that her home was now Jackson's home. When had she stopped thinking of her house with Blake as home? There was no way to look at this situation as a good one. Jackson had tried to kill her, twice. Yet here she was, living with him. Soon to be married to him even.

How idiotic was she? How insane? The question wouldn't leave her alone. She'd gotten with a criminal, a cop, and now back with a criminal. Her life hadn't been calm for the past six years. How could someone be sane and yearn for a life like that? Was she still scared of the situation? She wasn't cowering at Cynthia's apartment, she wasn't running to dad, she wasn't hiding behind her husband. She was in the middle of it, standing beside Jackson.

She pulled out her phone, dialing Cynthia. She'd been sure to let her friend know when she stopped staying there, but she still felt like a chat would help. Perhaps Cynthia could offer some reason as to why Lisa seemed so drawn to chaos. Lisa doubted Cynthia would know anything, but maybe. In the end Lisa was right. Cynthia was at a loss for words when she explained her feelings.

What was she feeling? Fear? Or was it delight?