Max cut the engine on the car about a quarter mile from the cabin. He saw it in the distance. Swerving his body to face the others, he spoke quietly and urgently.

"What we're going to do is swarm the house, in a manner of speaking. Lorelai, Jack, and I will cover the left side and look for entry and I want Joe and Cynthia to circle the other side of the house and look for a window of entrance. That way, in case something happens to one half of us and Rippner is occupied, the other group can look for Leese. We good?"

"Yeah, one question," Cynthia timidly raised a hand.

"We're not in school, Cynthia. You don't have to raise your hand."

She blushed. "Yeah. Sorry. Um…why don't we just use the front door?"

Max sighed and looked at Lorelai. They didn't answer the obvious question, just hopped out of the Jeep. Cynthia let it go.

Max discreetly leaned back into the backseat as soon as everyone was out and lifted it up. Underneath was a small handgun, which he tucked into his backpocket. Just in case.

They silently ran to their different places and Max, Lorelai, and Jack looked for a window inside.

"I don't see one," Lorelai muttered to Max. "It looks fairly secure."

"Wait," Max pointed upwards about seven feet. "Right there. If someone stands on my shoulders, I think they should be able to easily get inside. Once there, hopefully its unlocked, if not, do either of you know lockpicking?" Jack raised a hand. "Okay, you can go up. If its locked, you'll fiddle with it and we'll get inside to surprise Rippner. We set?" The other two both nodded anxiously.

Max crouched down, facing the side of the house so Jack would be better supported, and Jack climbed on his shoulders. Max grunted in pain as Jack looked around.

"I don't see anyone!" he whispered. "We're definitely going to get the jump on them?"
Lorelai screamed.

"The jump on who?" said that smooth, deep voice. Jack fell off Max's shoulders and Max quickly lept up.

Jackson had a vice grip around Lorelai's neck, and she was deprived of air totally. She made short gasping noises but Jackson let up a bit, pressing the blade of a 12-inch knife to her chest.

"Let her go, Rippner," Max pleaded. "She hasn't done anything."

"Except shoot me," Jackson pointed out. "I think I have ample reason to be a little pissed."

"What do we have to do for you to let her go?" Jack asked cautiously.

"Ah, Jackson, isn't it, my friend?"

"It is Jackson, but I'm not your friend."

"No problem. All I request is that you leave. Now. And then I'll let Lorelai go."

"No," Max grunted. "We aren't leaving until we have Lisa."

"Well, my, that could pose a problem," Jackson tsked, obviously enjoying himself. Steady streams of tears ran down Lorelai's face. "See, I think I want Lisa to stay here and by what happened today I think she wants to remain here as well."

Max stiffened. "What happened today?"

They all turned as they heard footsteps coming around the house. Lisa appeared in a long button-down shirt that fell to her knees. Her face was pink with sleep and her hair messy. Even so, Max thought she had never looked lovelier. He began to run to her but when Lorelai screamed he stopped in his tracks.

"Mr. Medena, kindly step away before Lorelai's cut grows deeper," he said slickly as a stream of blood ran down Lorelai's shirt. Max inhaled and stepped back next to Jack.

Lisa rubbed her eyes, obviously thinking she was still dreaming. "Jackson? What's going on?" She finally saw Max and began crying. "Max!"

"Stay back, Leese, sweetheart," Jackson ordered. Lisa looked at him and saw Lorelai.

"Jackson, asshole, let her go!"

"Ah, ah, ah, Lisa.

"So, Medena, what do you say, you gonna leave?"

"I say, no," he replied stubbornly. "Not without Lisa."

"Please, Jackson," Lisa begged him, tears flying. "Please, let me go."

In his brief hesitation Max noticed Jackson's eyes change. He seemed….jealous, almost. But more so angry.

"Why do you want to go now, Lisa?" Jackson taunted. "When the fun was just beginning?"
"Don't do this, Jackson, please," she urged him desperately. Max was confused.

"What, Lisa? What's going on?" Max asked.

"Yes, what, Lisa? What's going on? Tell your fiancée what exactly is going on."

"No," she croaked, bursting into tears.

"Tell him, Lisa, or I will."

"Lisa, please."

She just shook her head abashedly and covered her face.

Jackson grinned sadistically and turned to face Max and Jack.

"We had sex, guys," he announced. "And in case you're wondering, I wasn't the one who made the first move. Lisa was. So no, I did not rape her."

Max's throat closed. "L-Lisa?" he choked out. "Is….is that….is that true?"

She slowly raised her head and nodded ever so slightly. Max turned from the group and shut his eyes painfully. No. No. No. She couldn't have. This wasn't happening. It was a nightmare. He pinched himself. Ouch. Nope. He turned back around to face Jackson.

"I still want her back," he finally said. Jack nodded vigorously next to him.

"Too damn bad," Jackson snapped. "She sold her soul in exchange for the life of her baby. She's mine forever."

"Do you realize how medieval you sound?" Lorelai managed from his grip. He growled irritably.

"I don't care. Now, do you want Ms. Gilmore to keep her head, or do you want to stay chatting it up a little more?"
Max thought. "I can't leave you, Lisa."

"Just go, Max," she begged him through tears. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

More than I already have? He thought briefly of the handgun in his pocket but decided against it. He couldn't risk hitting Lorelai. But Lisa…..he didn't want to leave her, but he had no choice. He could think of nothing to do, nothing at all. He looked inquiringly at Jack. Jack shook his head sadly.

"Fine," Max muttered, fighting back tears as he sealed his beloved's fate.

"Finally coming to your senses," Jackson snorted. "Do us all a favor and remember, English teacher, that you can't bargain with me. I get what I want and what I want is forever."

Max didn't answer.

"Now, you get up that hill up to your car where you parked it and I saw you park it ten minutes ago, and, once you all are inside and buckled in, I let Lorelai go. She'll run up the hill and I'll give her two minutes. She dilly-dallies or takes longer than that and I shoot her. Understand, everyone?"

They all nodded grimly.

"Good. Now, get going."

"Wait," Max requested quietly. "Can I just…just say goodbye?"

Jackson rolled his eyes, as if it were a huge hassle. "Fine, but hurry up. You have exactly one minute."

Max ran to Lisa, taking her in his arms. She slumped into his chest.

"Lisa, tell me the truth, were you telling the truth about…you know?" he spoke not in a whisper but in a voice low enough so only she could hear.

"I am," she murmured. "I don't know why I did it, Max, I'm so sorry….I don't love him, I love you. I'm so sorry. I understand if you hate me forever…."

"I don't hate you, I love you too," he hugged her tightly. "But I can't believe you did that and I'm so angry at you right now but I'm more sad. I'll get you out of here, I promise. Jackson Rippner will rue the day he ever began stalking you."

She smiled a little at that and they kissed one last time.

"Enough already, you two. Break it up."

Max squeezed her shoulder and stepped back. Her face looked miserable, and her eyes were bloodshot and wet.

"Up to the car. Now."

Max choked up as he and Jack jogged to the Jeep. They got inside, Jack up front this time, and Max exploded, tears running down his cheeks. Jack clutched his shoulder but froze as he squinted at something down below.

"What the hell….?"