Chapter Fourteen
Jackson had been staying at Lisa's house for a little over a week now, and nothing too dramatic had happened since he had told her about him working for the goverment. He truly believed that she understood, but he also knew that she had not quite gotten used to the idea.
All though he could see that there was much more trust towards him from Lisa. For a long time now, gaining Lisa's complete trust was all that he wanted. Well, that and her love. Which he knew that he had obtained. It took a while to finally get it from her, but now that he had it, he intended on keeping it.
Working for the government, had always been a hard job to keep. He probablly never would have been dragged into the secret occupation, if it hadn't of been for the horrifying accident when Jackson was just a young child. The family that had been in the picture at his house, was set up for a hit. The organization that Jackson had been assigned to go undercover as an assasin, had been the company that had murdered the innocent family. Jackson had been close to the family, and so had his mother and father. When they were killed, Jackson knew that it wasn't an accident. He had found several things that didn't add up. Things that the investigators had not seen. Ever since the accident, Jackson was determined to find the murderers.
He made sure to fill in Lisa on all the details, and she seemed to have accepted it, but then he wasn't sure. At least she wasn't making him sleep on the couch. Not that he would have minded, but he prefered to be right there next to her, the heat of her body always calming him. After he had told her about his real job he did for a living, she had been very quiet. Gratefully, the past few days she had been back to her old self.
Lisa slept soundly next to him, wrapped up in the large white comforter. Her hair spread across the pilow. The sun shone in through the window, and Jackson could see every fearture in her face. Jackson didn't want to get out of the welcoming bed. All he wanted was to lay there with his Lisa for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, that couldn't happen, and Jackson had work to finish today. His future plans, depended on what happened today. Jackson planned on passing along his job to someone else. Who would be able to do it properly. The assasins he had been working for, were also beging to suspect him. It would be best if he pretended to retire from what everyone thought his job was as an assasin. Then he would take some time off from his real job, and spend it with Lisa.
Slipping out of the covers, not waking the sleeping Lisa, he went into the bathroom. Where he took a long, warm shower before heading downstairs to cook breakfast for the two of them. Jackson had on a new suit he had bought, and was ready for the worst. If there would be any problems trying to retire from his 'job'.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee surrounded Lisa, and her eyes fluttered open. Jackson wasn't next to her, but she could hear the faint sound of whistiling from downstairs. Descending the stairs, still in her night clothes, she entered the kitchen to find Jackson pouring two cups of coffee.
"Good morning."Jackson smilled warmly, handing her a mug of coffee, prepared just the way she liked it. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Then pulled back to sip down the hot liquid. Unlike Lisa, who enjoyed her coffee with lots of creamer, Jackson liked his completely black. Nothing at all added in which would weaken the strong taste.
"You're dressed up nicely today."Lisa told him, but said it more as a question. It had been a few days since she had seen him in a suit. Although the smoothed out jacket over his tan dress shirt and black slacks made him look most professional and very attractive.
"I have a few things to take care of."He laughed, loving how she was taken back a little. Lisa set down her coffee and put her arms around his waist, burriyng her face in the warmth of his shirt. She wanted to savour his clean scent. She knew the truth behind his words. He would leave her to clear up the air with his undercover work. But she feared for his life. What if the assasins found out that Jackson wasn't what he claimed to be?
"Something the matter?"Jackson smoothed her hair with his hands, resting his head ontop of her head.
"Don't leave me, Jack."She begged, her head still supported by his chest. Lisa had lost him enough already, and knew she wouldn't be able to last long without him again.
"Leese, if we ever want to have a chance at a normal life...not having to hide away every minute of the day...then I have to do this."Jackson held back the worried voice. He knew very well that this could possibly be his last day alive. His last day to hold his true love. The last day to prove to Lisa, who he really is.
"And what exactly do you have to do?!"Lisa pulled away from him, anger mixed with concern. Why must he do this to mme?!
"Lisa..."He tried to calm her down, but she burst into tears.
"No! Jack!"She cried, tears she thought she had no more left to cry, stinging her eyes. For the last half a year, she had shed so much tears. All it had been was tears. Sorrow and depression.
"I have to do this Lisa."He held her gaze a moment longer, then turned back to the coffee pot on the counter. He poured the last of the coffee into his mug. Why can't she just understand this fucked up situation? I'm doing all this for her...
He never wanted to hurt Lisa again. And he knew he had probablly been the only person who had ever hurt her as much as he had. All he wanted was to find a way to ease the pain trapped in her, and to give her a life that she had always wanted. But how was he suppose to give that to her, when she refused to hear him?
She couldn't look at him anymore, and ran from the room. Retreating to the little safety of her small bathroom. Shrinking to the cold tilled floor under her.
Jackson walked down the hallways of the building he had gotten to know the last three years of his life. And a sick, realization hit him hard. He had overtime, slowly gotten used to the life style. He had come so close to loosing all sense of his real life. Almost forgot that his real job was not to be a cold hearted murderer. Lisa, had brought him back to reality that day of the flight to Miami. When he lay there on her fathers wood floor, bleeding from the wounds he had obtained. He had remebered what his job was. To help stop the terrorists that threatened to disturb the peace. And he had lost all sense of his real life when he had been assigned to observe Lisa Reisert. Over the eight weeks he had followed her, he had forgotten everything he knew. For that long period of time watching Lisa, he had been convinced that he was truly going to murder an innocent family. He truly believed that he was...a merciless killer.
When Lisa had stabbed him in the neck with a pen, he had lost all his control. All his control to hold back his emotions. He felt betrayed, and planned to get revenge for that. No logic was left. Just anger suffused through his entire body. And that anger forced Jackson to do whatever he could do to end Lisa's life. There was no 'male-driven logic-based facts', in his mind, it was only him and Lisa. Only when she had brought him down, had trapped him. Did he realize that what he had done, was not him. He should have noticed during the eight weeks of surveilance, that he was losing all self-control, and sholud have handed the job over to someone else. But instead, he ignored the logic in that, and let his emotions get in the way. Look where that got him today. It made him believe for a long time, that he was an assasin, and that all that mattered was killing off all targets that were thrown his way.
It took everything he had in his body to walk through those doors. He was still manager. Or so everyone in the building believed. He was still the best of the best, and no one would mess with him. That is until he reached his destination. The office he had been employed to this job. The only other person in the organization who had just as much power as he. Daryl Radcliffe. One of the managers of this company of two. The other manager. Jackson Rippner. How he had maneged that so quickly...scared Jackson to death. He could barley remember the time when he had actually been fully aware of what he was there for. All the other time, Jackson had filled his brain with the new life. Thinking he was an assasin. And to all his co-workers, he was the most feared assasin in the world.
"Rippner?"Daryl grunted, shocked by Jackson's nerve to show up in his office after what he had done. Especially after he had hired people to attampt to take out Jackson. Even though he knew that no one could possibly take out his partener in crime.
"Hello Daryl."Jackson smirked, but made sure to keep watch around the room for any surprise visitors.
"It is either bravery, or plain stupidity to walk back in here. Do you have a death wish?"Daryl snarled, standing from his chair.
"No. I came here to clean up the mess I left."Jackson knew it was going to take some convincing to get Daryl to agree, but he was ready for it. His motivation; Lisa.
Daryl chuckled softly at Jackson. Angered by having to him again."That's one fucking large mess to clean up."
"I know. And knowing that...I would think that you would give me a chance."He pressed on, casually but cautiously standing in front of the door.
"How do you expect to fix this?"Daryl asked, curiosity stronger then his anger.
Jackson paused for a second, dreading what he must do in order to keep alive."I will finish the job."He chose his words carefully.
Daryl didn't say anything, but an annoyed smile was painted across his face. It sent shivers even down Jackson's spine. The room almost seemed to feel colder then it had before. But Jackson kept his calm composure. The blinds covered the one window in the room. Leaving only the dim lamp light to illuminate the room.
"Jack...you would finish the job even without your compliance."Daryl laughed, sitting back down in his chair. Laening back in the soft black leather.
Not sure exactly what to say, Jackson opened his mout but shut it quickly in confusion. Daryl saw the sudden shock in his blue eyes. And he let out another cruel laugh and stood from his chair. Jackson watched intentivley, never blinking. Daryl walked over to Jackson's side. The short brown hair framing his face.
"I didn't think that I would get you back so easily. Here I thought I would have to steal that pretty little girl of yours."Daryl sneered, his snide remark tearing deep into Jackson.
Jackson held his ground, and swallowed back the urge to talk back. There was no point. Plus, Daryl was the one man who matched his own strenght and ability. There would be hell to pay if he even tried to fight back.
"Did I hit a sore spot?"Daryl scoffed, his question just above a whisper. Jackson tightened his hands into fists, trying to ignore the nagging need to throw a punch at his employer.
He cleared his throat to speak,"I don't believe that I understand what you are saying."Jackson tried to switch back to the comment Daryl had made earlier.
"I know you don't."Daryl sat back down at his desk, then motioned for Jackson to sit down. Which he reluctantly obeyed and took a seat across from Daryl.
"I mean...why should you know? For about three years now...I have manipulated your mind to where...all you know...is this job."Daryl smirked, then poured a glass of water for Jackson then himself.
"Wh-what?"Jackson chocked back the confusion, but it clearly sowed through his normally clear blue eyes.
"I know that you are an undercover agent, Jack."He continued after taking a sip of his cool water. Jackson hadn't touched his, just stared at his employer.
"You knew?"Jackson abrubtly spat out. Not wrapping his mind around the whole situation.
"Yes, Rippner...that is what I said."He iratedly replied.
"You manipulated me?"He looked away and stared at the closed window. He wished that he could figure out exactly what was going on.
"To do anything I ordered. The Keefe's assignment should have been completed, but then somehow...my best weapon...lost control over a simple woman. And i'm guessing later on when you had gone to find her...that she said something to you. The 'safe word' to be more exact. A word, or sentence that would bring back everything you knew in your old life. Your real life."Daryl informed him, and Jackson could see the aggravation in his expression.
"Leave that to Lisa. Always spoilling plans...isn't she?"Jackson mocked, then biting down hard on his bottom lip.
"Indeed...very clever girl."Daryl glared at Jackson. He leaned down to the intercom on his desk and held down a call button."Bring her up."Daryl spoke, then watched as Jackson stood and turned to the door.
He watched the door, wondering who Daryl was having brought up. Part of him didn't want to know. Then he noticed from the corner of his eye, Daryl sniker then stand to join him.
"Calm down, Jack."He assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder."Nothing to worry about."
"May I ask who you are bringing up?"Jackson took a step away, brushing Daryl's hand off of his shoulder.
"You'll see."Daryl smilled, then the door opened. Revealing two figures. Both...Jackson recognized.
"Jackson!"Lisa screamed, twisting violently in Adam's arms.
"Don't touch her!"Jackson hissed, and lunged forward. Daryl snatched him by the arm, stopping him from going any further.
"He won't as long as you follow orders."Daryl sneered."Kind of weird...to hear that isn't it Jack. Most the time you would think that would be something you would say."
"What the hell do you want?!"Jackson pulled away from Daryl, and kept his gaze locked on Lisa. Her face was covered in wounds. New bruises outlined her body. Covering her legs and arms, and then Jackson saw some on her neck. Ones that hadn't been there before.
"Sit down, Jackson."Daryl snapped. Adam moved over to a chair where he roughly sat Lisa down in it. a hand tightly on her shoulder.
"Should have killed you when I had the chance, huh? Adam?"Jackson cocked his head at the traitor.
"Well...I know I would've killed you. I'm surprised you didn't. After all...I had told you the true me."Adam angrily talked back to Jackson.
"Give me one reason why not to kill you, Hawk."Jackson growled at the man in front of him, holding the gun aimed at his chest. Rupert stood by him, also holding his gun on Adam.
"Cause...i'm one of you. And I think Daryl might be a little disapointed in you, Jack."Adam snapped back, his hands held in the air.
"One of us?"Rupert asked, just as surprised as Jackson was.
"That is what I said. I work for Mr. Radcliffe just as you two do."Adam proceded on, smirking at both men aiming guns at him.
Jackson opened his mouth to speak, but heard a noise from the other side of the door. It sounded like something falling off a table, and he backed up to the wall next to the door, peering through the cracked door. He saw Lisa, slowly backing away from the doorway. As soon as her eyes met his, she turned and darted after her.
"Thanks to Lisa...I got away."Adam snapped Jackson back to what was happening.
"Shut up, Hawk."He barked, pulling his gun from his belt and training it on Adam's chest. Out of reflex, Daryl pulled out his own and aimed it at Jackson.
"Put it away, Jack."He warned.
Hesitantly, Jackson slowly lowered his weapon. Glancing over at a scared Lisa. She was watching him, never looking away. Tears rolled down her face. Guilt filled Jackson. The last he saw her, he had left her upset, and angry with him.
Then, Rupert walked in, having heard all the noise. Jackson didn't look at him. Just locked his gaze with Lisa's. His jaw was clenched, and there was regret flickering through his blue eyes.
"What's going on?"Rupert asked, moving over to Jackson's side.
"Jack...there is no need to get all worked up."Daryl taunted, moving to Jackson's other side. He saw, Jackson saw both men move closer to him. But he didn't care. All he cared about was Lisa. And he knew if he did anything to piss off Daryl, she would pay for it.
Before Jackson could do anything to restrain, Daryl motioned to Rupert, and they jumped at Jackson. Both grabbing one arm. And both surprised that Jackson didn't put up a fight. He just let them tie his hands behind his back. Just let them leada him to another room. Where they tied him up to a pole that was in the middle of the room. Jackson had visited the room many times...but never as a prisoner.
It was cold, and there was no light. No windows. Just the people in it, and the steel door trapping him in the small room.
"I'm sorry, but we had no choice, Jack."Rupert tried to say. But Jackson just stared at the tiles on the floor. Thinking about every moment with Lisa.
"Don't bring her into this...just let her go home to her life."Jackson avoided looking at anyone in the room. Daryl was leaning up against the door, watching as Rupert circled around Jackson. Adam and Lisa were in the oposite corner.
"You brought her into this. Not us. You could have just let her go after the flight.-"Daryl was cutt off by Jackson.
"If I hadn't have gone after her! You would have killed her! You sick bastard!"Jackson rasped, but Rupert threw a fist at Jackson's jaw, forcing his head in the other direction. Jackson let his head linger in the same spot it had stopped at. He heard Lisa scream from behind him.
Daryl got up off the wall and strolled over to Jackson's side."We'll let her go...but only if you sear to me that you will come back to work for me at the organization. You're too good of an agent to just dispose of."He added the last part with a smirk spread across his face.
"Please! I want to talk to him!"Lisa interupted, trying to run over and craddle Jackson in her arms. She had done this to him. She was the reason he would forever work for a company that didn't care what happened to him.
"Leese...stop...it's okay."Jackson whispered to her, but she ignored it, and glared up at Daryl.
Daryl looked at Lisa and Jackson, his eyes darting between them. And he finally sighed, thinking there would be no harm in letting them say there goodbyes."You have two minutes."
Adam and Rupert followed Daryl out of the room, locking the door behind them. Jackson could barely breathe as Lisa squeezed him hard. Never loseining her grip around him. He wanted to be able to hold her, to be able to comfort her. But the fact that he had his hands tied to a pole behind him, made it impossible.
"Sssh, Leese...it's OK."He huskily spoke, holding back tears that threatened to surface. Jackson knew this would be the last time he would see his true love. His Lisa.
"Jackson...i'm not leaving you."She cried into his neck.
"I love you, Lisa."Jackson smilled at her. Lisa pulled her head back to look him in the eyes she had fallen in love with that night in the airport. Then she kissed him. Passionately, and he deepend the kiss. Leaning into her as far as he could. She ran her fingers through his soft hair, pushing him closer to her. Never wanting the moment to end. She wanted it to be forever. When she was with him, everything dissapeared. Every fear in the world buried away, and every tear that escaped her eyes, dried up. Her heart beat rappidly against her chest. Threating to pound right out of her small, fragile chest.
"I love you too."Lisa broke the kiss for only enough time to say those four words, before she went back to his full lips.
His heart was breaking into a million pieces. His entire body aching, and wanting so much to go back and change everything. Find a way to stop this pain. To end all the pain he had brought to Lisa. And a small, single tear, rolled down Jackson Rippners cheek. A tear gone unnoticed, but had fallen from a face full of pain and agony. I promise, Lisa...we'll talk again...
Sorry again for the long wait...I have started school and have afterschool things to attend to. So it might be a little bit before I get chapter fifteen up. But I will try to make some time to get it up. Hope that this chapter was okay and that you are likeing my story so far. I know...not the greatest, but i'm writing it for the fun of it. Anyways, please review. I need to know your guy's opinion on this chapter.