A/N: Okay, I'll admit that this chapter is pure filler, but AP Trig is a pain in the butt for me right now, as is planning for college. I may or may not edit this in the neartime future.
Chapter Three: Like Mother, Like Son
Jake didn't ever remember falling asleep, but he woke up to the blinding sunlight coming through the dirty windows of the dingy motel Jackson apparently rented while he and Cheryl were asleep.
"Rise and shine, today's a new day!" Jackson sang out in a fake voice.
Jake and Cheryl stayed quiet. Jackson sighed and mumbled something about them being every bit as stubborn as Lisa.
"And I wonder why someone like you had your job," Jake said sarcastically. It was evident he really wanted to rile up Jackson.
Jackson then hit Jake across the face and held his throat firmly. His hold wasn't strong enough to choke, but it was enough to let Jake know he could crush his windpipe in no time flat. Jake, being tied up, and Cheryl, being paralyzed with fear, couldn't fight back.
"Watch your mouth, Jacob. Unless you want Cheryl to see her older brother getting hurt, I advise you not to speak like a smartass, got it?"
Jake only replied by spitting into Jackson's face.
'He really is like her…' Jackson laughed inside.
Jackson laughed at the recent events that took place. He was being brought up on charges of breaking and entering, assault and attempted murder. Breaking and entering sounded so pathetic considering all the other things that he had done. Of course, Jackson also knew his bosses were unpredictable when it came to 'disposing' of failures. They could kill him, give him a second chance or simply leave him to rot in jail.
Jackson tried to eat the food handed to him by the prison guard and almost spat. It was almost impossible to even chew. Of course he also knew he would have to get used to it.
He laughed at the tragic irony. Out of killing dictators, crime bosses, backstabbers and the corrupt, he was being arrested for trespassing and for shoving Lisa a few times. 'What is the world coming to?'
A guard's voice then interrupted Jackson's thoughts. "Hey, Rippner, you have a visitor."
"A visitor for me?"
"Yep. That lady friend of yours who's suing you. I was quite surprised to see her here as well, but I suppose she has to talk to you for a reason. Now come along."
Jackson reluctantly and complacently followed the guard to the visitor's room. And like the guard had said, there was Lisa sitting in one of the chairs. She looked as put-together as always, wearing a simple light blue blouse and a black skirt, her hair pulled up in a bun. Yet there was something different about her. What it was, Jackson had yet to figure out. He picked up the phone, the glass being the only seperation between them.
"Hi Jackson. I bet you're wondering why I'm here," Lisa said.
"I could guess. Oh, and congrats on marrying your lawyer. I never imagined you would be rushing immidiatly into another man's arms after only two months after that flight."
Lisa's eyes dangerously narrowed. "Don't patronize me, Jack. I could do the same by asking you how prison life is suiting you."
"Oh, you know, same old, same old. You can survive anything as long as you know it's temporary."
"Please, I don't even know why you're calling a possible life sentance in prison 'temporary'."
Jackson laughed. Lisa's wit definitely got sharper since the flight. It was then he got closer to the glass. "Now look Leese, I know you're not here to discuss my emotional well-being. Why are you here?"
Lisa couldn't say it. Not just yet. "Just look at me. You see anything different?" Lisa asked , standing up.
For a moment, Jackson examined her closely and he finally spotted it- a bump on her stomach. "You're pregnant?" Lisa nodded. "Wow, I'm impressed. Considering your track record with men, I didn't think you'd be married so quickly after I came into your life and then you get yourself knocked up after only a couple months of knowing your new husband-"
"Ryan isn't the father, Jackson. You are," Lisa interupted firmly, her voice slightly raised.
If it were possible, Jackson's jaw would've fell to the floor. After several tense moments of silence, he found his voice. "How do you know it's mine?"
"Because I never slept with Ryan. You were the only man I've had sex with and I'm now three months along the way. You're going to be a father, Jack. Congratultions."
The news had hit him like a bunch of bricks. This couldn't be true. Him, a father?
"But know this, Jackson- I didn't do it with you out of love or anything of that sort. I did it so I could save my dad and the Keefes. Unfortunately, I guess I overestimated your humanity." Lisa continued to press on. "And I'll let you see the baby once, but that's it. It'll grow up in a safe, stable home and will never know about you being it's father-"
That was when Jackson started to get angry and it was his turn to interrupt. "Now wait just a minuet! Why am I not having a say in this?!"
"Because love was not what made this child, Jack! You may be the biological father, but by no means are you father material. I really don't like the idea of you raising children when I know you'd only be teaching them how to kill. At least with Ryan, my child will have a better future. You'll only be a bad influence."
Deep inside, Jackson was amused. Lisa really was determined. But he still knew how to push her buttons. "Maybe, but it doesn't matter. One day, I guarantee you that our child will find out the truth and seek me out. It doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself, it doesn't matter how much you try to run from the truth- it'll always be there, the fact that I'm the father."
The look of horror on Lisa's face thrilled Jackson. It was the truth. No matter what, he had won in the end and there was nothing Lisa could've done about it.
"Then I'll make damn sure the truth won't come out."
The guard came back in, saying, "Excuse me, but time is up."
The self-satisfied smirk on Jackson's face lit up. "Goodbye, Leese. It was really nice talking to you. Oh, and give my child my love."
"You wish."
Jackson hung up, his smirk still remaining on his face. Lisa wanted nothing more than to wipe it off his face. She turned around wanting nothing more than to get out of the prison. She followed a kind guard who was going to escort her from the room, but couldn't help but take one last glace at Jackson.
What she saw chilled her, and somehow, Lisa couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't going to be the last she would see of Jackson Rippner.
Jake knew better than to arouse Jackson's anger, but all he wanted right now was to annoy him as much as possible.
"I hate this music, I'm sick of being tied up and we've been doing nothing for the past several hours! Are we there yet?"
Jackson, on the other hand, knew Jake only wanted to annoy him simply to have the satisfaction of knowing he did so. "First of all, Jacob, I already know you enough to know you won't act like a whiny little boy. Besides, I already know you're only doing this to provoke me. And guess what, Jacob? It won't work."
Jake angrily gave up. He and Cheryl had been stuck in the car for what felt like more than two hours and Jackson didn't look like he was about to stop anytime soon. Suddenly, Cheryl blurted out, "I have to go to the bathroom!"
Jackson asked, "Do you have to go that badly?" Cheryl nodded fervently and Jackson groaned. "Fine, we'll stop. There's a rest area coming up soon. I'll let you out, but don't do anything stupid, got it?" Cheryl nodded and Jackson stopped the car. He took Cheryl out, untied her feet (although he left her hands alone) and took her over to the bathroom. He turned to Jake. "I guess I'll let you go as well, but you'll most likely try escaping."
Jake said nothing.
"Well, you certainly have your mother's stubborn attitude as well," Jackson said in a praising voice. "Like mother, like son, I suppose."
Jake then whispered, "You're pathetic."
"And you can be quite pathetic yourself, Jacob," Jackson replied, amused.
Cheryl came back. Although she wanted to escape, she didn't know where to go, and she was pretty sure Jackson would hurt her, Jake, and most likely their mother, if she tried anything.
"Well, Jacob, you really should take a hint from your sister. She knows what's good for her, don't you, Cheryl?"
Cheryl only shot him a look of anger and disgust.
"Now don't look at me like that. Pretty soon, you'll see your mother again. So keep your chins up," Jackson said in a mockingly sweet voice.
'Please, Mom, you've got to get here and fast. There's no telling what he'll do to us,' Jake thought desperately.
A/N: Yeah, this is definite filler chapter material right here. But I hope it's answered a couple questions. And thanks to BregoBeauty, ilovejackson0591, and snooze5 for reviewing.