Author's note: Thanks again for the great reviews. Chsimmons, you are way too kind :-)

Chapter 18

For the longest moment they were merely staring at each other, caught in each others' eyes. Once she felt safe enough Lisa tried to disengage from his hold, but Jackson responded by increasing the pressure.

"On my terms, Leese."

"Is this a control issue?" She tilted her head in the direction of the chains. "Because I think we've established that at present, you have the upper hand."

"And yet, you're still fighting me."

"I always will, Jackson."

Deliberately, he eased his grip on her, slowly skimming along her skin with his fingertips until she was eventually free of his touch. Jackson leaned back and regarded her quizzically. "As much as that annoys the hell out of me, I respect it to a certain degree. The problem is that you're not helping matters - quite the opposite, actually."

"What are your plans then?"

"Basically, they haven't changed. I will contact my associates, collect the information Keefe wants and get out."

"So what has changed?"

"They won't know shit about my whereabouts during the operation for one thing, which makes it a lot safer. Also, I won't enter the witness protection program afterwards and disappear on my own instead."

Lisa managed to keep her voice steady. "What about me?"

"That's the big question, isn't it?"

"I've always wondered about that … you never exactly needed me to participate, so why get me involved at all?"

"That's vintage Leese right there." Jackson shook his head. "How about you just focus on the subject at hand? Keep the rest for the cozy fireplace talk at the end of the day - you know, once work is finished."

"Fine."

"Aw, don't be mad. We're getting to you, not to worry ..."

Lisa trusted neither his calm voice nor the faint ring of peace in the air, so she went on before he had the chance to. "You still need me, Jackson, I'm your leverage against Whitley and Keefe. Whatever you may think about their interests and how they are willing to protect them, they will hold back as long as you have me." Only that this wasn't his main concern, was it? "It gives you a certain freedom."

He laughed softly in reply.

Lisa couldn't exactly define how and that maddened her, but Jackson was different. It made her nervous, too. "What?"

"You are so the old Lisa Reisert and yet an entirely new animal at the same time. I take credit for that."

"You do?"

"If we hadn't met, you'd be burnt out by now, that iron shell around you getting smaller and smaller until you would have finally and pathetically choked to death on your own fear."

Even though she tried to ignore the anger that was curling in the pit of her stomach, the words came out strained nonetheless. "Do you expect a thank you note? Better hold on there, Jackson, because you got a whole 'nother thing coming."

"Are you threatening me, Leese?" He sounded amused rather than vitriolic.

"I don't know … I don't know what I'm doing." She rubbed her forehead. "What do you want from me?" In her mind, Lisa was desperately searching for some way of pushing him, forcing him to play his hand. "I don't buy the civil Jackson act at all, by the way."

"That's your decision."

She got up and started to pace the room while he was watching her impassively from his place on the mattress. "Tell me, damnit."

"Say please."

"Fuck you."

"Do you want me to get angry? Because if that's what it takes, Leese, just say the words and I'll accommodate you accordingly." Jackson couldn't have been more indifferent if he tried.

"As you have stated earlier, it's always on your terms and frankly, I'm sick of that."

He brushed her argument aside like an annoying fly. "Let's talk facts, shall we? If you consider yourself unable to do so at this point in time, I'll leave you to your room", Jackson made a sweeping gesture with his arm, "and we do it later."

She massaged her temples in an effort to keep the impending headache at bay. "Are you going to turn off the light again?"

His voice was dry. "If it helps. It's really up to you."

Lisa sat back down, a safe distance to him. "Go on."

He looked at her. "We could profit from each other, I can still use your assistance. However, there's one condition: you'll have to give in to me."

"Excuse me? 'Give in to you'?"

"Accept my authority, follow me … whatever term floats your boat. We need to be absolutely clear on one thing: this is delicate ground we're treading on and for a change, it's not me who represents danger - I want to get out of this alive as much as you do. Running to Whitley once things get tough will unequivocally kill us both."

"Are you asking me for help?"

"No, I'm giving you a choice again."

"The choice between going with Whitley or going with you, no questions asked?"

"Correct."

"And if I said yes to you, you could and would trust me?"

He scrutinized her with an intensity that almost made her squirm. "I could and would trust the fact that you are smart. You are aware of the consequences if this project fails."

Lisa fiddled with the covers, her head so full she was afraid it might explode. She sensed Jackson's eyes on her, assessing her posture, her facial expression, and pressed her lips together into a thin line. "When do you need the answer?"

"Anywhere between now and the next ten seconds." He coughed. "So?"

"So … I wouldn't be surprised in the least if you suddenly grew a forked tongue and offered me an apple."

"A charming picture, yet completely irrelevant to the situation."

Lisa paused, trying to sort through that cacophony of worries, objections and the occasional approval swirling in her brain. "No more pulling me, Jackson, or pushing me or yanking me. You don't own me."

"Is that a yes?"

"Is that a yes?"

"I can't guarantee it one hundred percent … it doesn't exactly depend on me alone, you know."

She realized this was the closest thing to an affirmation she would ever get from him and sighed. "I'll stick with you." Detesting the shaky tone, Lisa cleared her throat and met Jackson's eyes head-on. "We have a deal."

"Peachy." He shook her hand and stood up, pulling her with him. "Let's get ready then."