Lorelai craned her neck as the final ashes of the fireworks sank into the darkening clouds. She was sort of worried about Lisa. Where had she gone? Granted, she could have run into one of their friends or something and stayed with them during the show, but Lisa knew how serious Lorelai was about her food.

Lorelai picked up her purse and on impulse clicked her cell phone back on. She'd left a brief message before on Luke's machine to cancel their date, but hadn't told him to call back.

Almost instantly after she'd replaced it in her bag, it rang. She grumbled and pulled it back out.

"Talk or hang up."

"Mom," Rory was teary. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the lake, sweetie," Lorelai grew tense. "Why? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"You haven't heard the news?"

"No," Lorelai's stomach knotted and she broke into a run, looking for Lisa. "What happened?"

"Jess and Jackson got out of jail."

"Damnit!" she cursed.

"Exactly my reaction," Rory replied dryly. 'Though I think I'm safe here."

"Not you,"Lorelai chewed her lip as she arrived at her car. "Lisa. She's missing."

Rory broke into sobs. "Oh, Mom. I should have told you!"

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Luke dialed Dean's number but got no answer. Cursing loudly as he swerved into a parking spot by the lake, he dialed Rory's cell. It was busy, so Luke tried with frustration her dorm. Paris answered.

"Paris, is Rory there?"

"Yup. But she's on her cell phone. Do you want me to-"

"No, its okay. Just make sure she doesn't go anywhere, got it? Don't let her out of your sight."

"You got it." Luke hung up and gestured Max out of the car with him.

Lorelai's car, or even Lorelai for that matter, were no where in sight.

"What now?" Max ran a hand through his hair. "Lisa's not here, either." Luke ignored him and tried his girlfriend's cell phone again.

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Once they were out of Connecticut, Jackson began driving into New Jersey. Lisa leaned against the car window as the night flew by. He finally stopped in front of a Wal Mart.

"Feel like paying a visit to Wally World?" Lisa grumbled bitterly.

"As a matter of fact," he unbuckled. "I do. Come on."

"Do you realize what time it is?" she snapped.

"Little past midnight?" he replied just as coldly. "It's a 24-hour."

"I'll wait in the car."

Jackson blinked.

"I'm tired," she placed her hand on the seat recliner handle but Jackson caught it and placed it on the seat belt clasp.

"Nice try. You're coming." Lisa flung several curse words at him but threw open her door and climbed out. He extended a hand to help her inside but she jerked away.

"Touch me, flyboy, and your ass is grass."

"Or Lorelai's," he whispered pointedly, and though Lisa grimaced when he put a restraining arm around her shoulders she didn't protest.

Once inside, Jackson instantly steered her to the beauty and health section. He stopped at the hair dyes and Lisa stared at him.

"Pick."

"You're not serious," she replied incredulously.

"Its this or I'm shaving it," he snapped irritably. "Now pick a goddamn color."

Lisa chewed her tongue to fight back tears and extended her arm for a deep chocolate color.

After that, he picked up colored contacts for her of almost the same shade, and then a selection of clothes, none like she usually wore.

At the register, he paid in cash and Lisa stiffly followed him out. They drove in silence deep into the backwoods until he ultimately pulled up in front of a small log cabin. Lisa grumbled a Little House on the Prairie reference under her breath but got out as was requested. She refused to help Jackson with his multiple bags, however, and stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest as soon as they were inside.

It was decent, but she never would have pegged Jack for a woodsy type.

"Do you like it?" she didn't grant him the privilege of an answer.

"Fine," he sighed quietly and set the bags on the wooden dining room table.

He pulled out the dye and gestured Lisa to sit.

"You know how to use this?" she clenched her jaw and shook her head.

"I do. But we need to cut it first." At that Lisa jolted from her trance and out of her chair, holding her scalp protectively.

"You are not cutting my hair," she snarled. Jackson grabbed a pair of scissors from the counter.

"I am. And as I see it, you have three choices. I shave it, I cut it with scissors, or if you insist on being stubborn, I slice it with an average kitchen knife. Guarantees my control, but I don't think the skin on the back of her neck will be any too comfortable."

Lisa narrowed her watery eyes as he approached. As he stepped closer, she flung a chair out in front of him. Anticipating it, he lunged out of the way and leaped at her, tackling her to the ground and pressing the scissors to her neck.

"Your choice, Leese," he growled as he drew blood. She cried. "Your choice."

"Bastard," she whispered tearfully, but he crawled off. She weakly sat in a chair as he began cutting at her beautiful curly locks.

When he was finally done playing beauty parlor, it was two am and Lisa was left with chin-length, straight dark chocolate hair. Jackson tossed her some bedclothing and she limply curled up in a bedroom off the kitchen, feeling as if her short life was finally coming to an end.