Chapter 3. Don't forget to review! Love ya! –Scarlette Ralston.
Jackie sat in anger and the miles passed by beneath the spreading wings of the jet. Jackson Rippner sat beside her, watching every move Jackie and the flight attendants made.
"So what now?" she asked bluntly after the flight attendant passed them by.
"Now we wait until the flight is about halfway through. We blend in, mill about like the regular patrons, stop at the bar, and try out the poker tables. And then we return to our seats, you make that call, and then you get some sleep while I watch you intently for the rest of the flight."
She sighed and looked around for hope of escape.
"Don't bother. There's nowhere to run." Rippner stated casually. Jackie hated to admit it, but he was right. There was no way out. She was miserably stuck.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign. You are free to move about the jet, including but not limited to the poker tables, the bar and the diner." A flight attendant announced.
Jackson waited a good thirty beats and then unbuckled himself, along with about 200 other passengers who were now getting up and looking around curiously.
"Come on." He said simply.
Not seeing any other option, she unbuckled herself and followed him down the aisle to the bar.
When they reached the bartender, Jackson put on an amazing show. He snapped right back into the charming man at the airport.
"I'll have a whiskey, dry. And what for the lady?" he said with a deceiving smile.
"Tequila, double, on the rocks with lime, please." She said, smiling, acting along. The bartender grinned, nodded and went about making the drinks.
People started to fill the bar and the diner and the poker tables.
"Bravo. That was flawless acting." Rippner encouraged.
"As long as we're just sitting here ordering drinks I have no problem getting along with you. It's when your master plan to kill thousands of people with my money comes into play that I start getting icy."
"Try to forget about that."
"Oh yeah, let me just go call my hypnotist." She said sarcastically.
"Look, Jay. The way I see it, this isn't going to be an easy flight for you or me. So as long as we're stuck together, I have to insist we try to get along. And if you can't do that, then act. You're more than capable."
Her eyes flicked from the counter to his enchanting blue eyes. "You want me to try to get along with you? You're in no position to ask that of me."
"Maybe. But I would rather we get along than you be afraid of me."
She let out a cold laugh and said, "I'm not afraid of you, Rippner."
"Not yet. But you never know how quickly I'll resort to physical violence."
She grinned. She was pretty sure she could take this guy. She was a black belt in almost every martial art, she had excellent reflexes and strength and stamina. However, she'd never fought this guy before. He could be better than he looked.
He studied her facial expression for a moment and then said quietly, dangerously, "Don't underestimate me, Jaclyn. You wouldn't be the first woman I've knocked out or thrown down a set of stairs."
"You disgust me."
The bartender returned and they both flawlessly changed their expressions.
"Here's the tequila…and the whiskey." He said, setting the drinks in front of them.
"Thank you." Jackie smiled at him.
He winked and returned to his business.
Rippner said, once the bartender was out of earshot, "You know, Jackie. You're not too hard on the eyes."
"Flattering." She said flatly.
He grinned. "I've stalked a lot of women in my day, Jay. But you were the most unpredictable."
"I'm not even going to bother pointing out all the things that are wrong with that statement."
"I've been watching you for weeks, Jay. And I don't know what it is you do, but you sure as hell aren't a lawyer."
She met his gaze and said simply, "You're crazy."
"Oh yeah? So what business does a junior lawyer have researching things like werewolves and demonic omens?"
"Researching the paranormal is a hobby of mine, not that I have to explain myself to you."
"You're also very good at fraud, deception, things of the like."
Jackie had had just about enough of the interrogation. "I don't do everything I'm told to, Rippner. I have a spine, unlike you."
"You think you know me?"
"Absolutely not. Everything I think I know about you is just an educated guess, based on your attitude so far."
"And what is it that you think you know?"
"You have a desperate need to get things done quickly and efficiently. You have a charming exterior; I'm guessing you're pretty good with women. You have an icy, calm exterior. But I'm guessing you're not so calm when things go wrong."
He grinned at her assumptions. "And you are funny, smart, careful, beautiful, sexy, cold yet calm. I'm guessing you have a very dark past. You're too smart for a woman your age that hasn't had a few life changing incidents."
"I may have had my fair share."
"Something sexual, I'm guessing."
"Why's that?"
"Something in you makes you cover those gorgeous legs with unworthy cloth."
"Yes, I do have a deep-seated self esteem issue. Or I was cold this morning when I got dressed. Choose whatever answer feeds your over-analytical nature best."
He smiled simply. "I don't need to know everything about you. Let's just find a good way to burn time and try not to kill each other."
"No promises."
Just then the bartender accidentally dropped a glass, sending a loud crash throughout the bar section of the jet. Rippner looked behind him, startled, and Jackie got up and ran for her life.
Jackson quickly noticed what she was doing and followed her, angry as hell.
She ran through the airplane, trying not to bump into people. She ran through the diner and up a small set of stairs to the washrooms. She sprinted into the ladies' washroom, without looking behind her. The washroom was empty. She knew she had little or no time once she was in the washroom so she quickly locked herself in a stall, and then crawled underneath the door, leaving it locked but empty. She did this for all five of the stalls and then slid back into the third stall from the sinks. She jumped up on the toilet seat and waited, and all too soon, the sounds of a tired male came all too soon.
Jackie made no noise and Jackson started to chuckle.
"What's your plan, Jay? You've locked yourself in this one place. Sure that's a good decision?"
She held her breath. He strode to the first stall and turned the lock with ease. Finding the stall empty he moved onto the second stall. He repeated the motion and then got to the third stall. He turned the lock and opened the door, but was blindsided by a killer kick by Jackie. He was blasted back into the bathroom wall. She hopped down from the toilet and her pumps made a soft click on the lino floor.
"Nice." He said slowly and in pain.
She whipped her body in a 360 and sent another kick flying towards his face. He caught her leg in time and twisted it, making her scream out in pain. He laughed harshly but was forced to let her leg go, as she hit him hard with a right hook.
She reset herself and waited for his next move. He kicked his leg out, trying to trip her up, but she effortlessly jumped over it. She got in a few hits before he tried to trip her again, this time succeeding. She hit the ground hard and groaned. Rippner grabbed Jackie roughly by her neck and threw her against a cubicle. She hit her head hard and her vision spun for a moment or two. She groaned in pain. He was much better than she'd expected.
"You're really not being too cooperative. Do you want the Winchesters to die slowly? If I don't call my guy and tell him to leave the motel within the next twelve hours, he goes in and massacres them both, understand?"
She glared at him between gasps for breath. Just then they both heard the sounds of high-heeled shoes coming into the washroom. Jackson sighed and threw Jackie into a cubicle. After bolting the door, he pinned her up against the wall and kissed her roughly, enjoying her taste. She struggled to be released from his grasp, but it was in vain.
A woman entered the bathroom, heard the heavy breathing and the sounds of Rippner kissing Jackie and said "Oh my." She left the bathroom, flustered.
Jackson pulled away from Jackie, panting. They stood in silence for a while, Jackson still holding her up against the wall. Jackie looked at Rippner, who was listening intently for the sounds of another person in the washroom. He looked back at her and said slowly, "Well that was closer than I expected to get to you, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it."
She groaned and Rippner let her go.
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