So I finally updated! A few of you made similar comments, so I'll quickly address the common responses. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a few people didn't see Cheryl's twist coming. I was worried that I gave it away when Jackson realized that she was working for Robert.

As for the government conspiracy, I am so happy with the positive responses. I was so worried that people were going to find it contrived and annoyed that I took a little more "psycho" out of Jackson's character.

As a side note: I had a lot of people telling me that my writing is improving with each chapter. It makes me proud, but way to add the pressure, guys! :D

SparklesFranqula: You're blood-thirsty. I like you. :)

trudes193: Anyone who crosses Lisa and Jackson had better watch their backs. There will be a lot of death before this story is over.

Medisha: I'm glad I made your Monday. And don't worry- I have quite a plan in store for our dear Cheryl.

empirex: I agree with you. I already knew a lot of what I wrote since I was a political science major before I switched to art. But yes, I try to research everything I write about in just in case. I'm sure if the government is somehow running a scan on my internet usage, my searches for how to treat bullet wounds to various areas, different types of guns and knives, and double-checking the middle east/Russia situation will catch their eye. :)

Brunette bulma: No worries. We'll find out what Cheryl is up to.

Pirate Gyrl: Thanks for your review! I love to hear from new people, and I'm glad you like the direction in which I'm taking Jackson's character. I've read quite a few fanfics here, and I do try to make my situations a little unique, mostly because if I use the same scenarios as other writers, I tend to mimic their style, too. Poor Caleb- he's in for some massive character change because of this.

She Who Shines: Your review made me smile like you can't believe. I made Caleb and Jackson smoke because I figured that people in their line of work couldn't care less about getting lung cancer/heart disease/etc, it's a great way to kill time when you're waiting, and if your mark smokes, it's a quick way to get closer to them- smokers have a community bond. I like that you noticed it- I figured most people would think I just threw it in there for fun or because I think smoking is sexy, or whatever.

I haven't technically taken any psychology courses, but I've taken a few on culture and sexuality. The big thing this semester is the behavior of the dominant/dominated and the quest of the dominated to find his/her true self through being "known" by the dominant. It's a underlying theme in this story, so thank you so much for noticing!

Glad you liked the car chase!

son-of-puji: I missed you! You made me feel all chuffed with your kind words. I hope you liked chapter 13.

pinky's creature feature: Let me know when you write it- I'll be sure to check it out. I recommend reading a bunch of fics to see what you like and don't like if you get stuck. Make it your own, obviously, but it makes for nice inspiration.

Inday: Wow, you practically doubled my review count! I'll send you a PM with a complete response to your review, because I think it would add another page to my chapter if I posted it here.

JK: It's rated M for language, violence, and (later) adult situations. People tend to swear in high-stress situations.

WARNING: This chapter is a long piece of boring filler. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Side note: When Marie and Jackson speak to each other, it's in French. I was going to write out their conversation, but figured it would be more annoying than atmospherically helpful.

Chapter 14: Business

"Shouldn't you knock?" Lisa asked as Jackson walked through the front door of the ranch house. He rolled his eyes.

"Shouldn't you be in the car?" he snapped back. He had told Lisa to wait until he came to get her, but of course she didn't listen. He wasn't in the mood to tie her up, and so she followed.

Jackson walked down the hallway and into the sitting room. He made his way to a wall that was empty except for a large painting, and shifted the painting, revealing a keypad. After he punched in a code, the wall slid, revealing a passageway.

"It's like a movie," he heard Lisa marvel, and he could hear sarcasm in her voice, but he continued walking.

"Get your shit together," he muttered. Marie would have little patience for this tourist, but maybe it would help Lisa finally realize that he did know what he was talking about and that sometimes she should just listen to him. He led Lisa into an office where a slender brunette in her early 40s sat behind a desk, typing away at her computer.

Marie sprang to her feet. "Jackson!" she exclaimed, sauntering over and greeting him with her usual faire la bise. "I heard from Caleb about Cheryl and Robert. I had Matthieu book you two seats to Miami tonight and arranged for Jeff to pick you up. Caleb is staying at Palm Suns. I see he has not lost his intelligence in those years he spent away." She eyed Lisa briefly and turned back to Jackson, who nodded. Palm Suns was a hotel they used often. It was one of the only hotels in Miami that allowed guests to pay in cash to avoid any record of their stay. Hot spot for adulterers and for people in their line of work.

"Why is she in here, Jackson?" Marie asked, looking annoyed, "We need to discuss business." Jackson sighed and turned to Lisa.

"Go back to the car," he instructed, giving her a look that just dared her to argue. Lisa glared at him, but turned and briskly left, irritation in every step. Marie dropped into a chair and lit a cigarette.

"I don't understand why you brought her," she stated, offering the pack to Jackson. He took one and sat across from her. "She will hurt you more than help."

Jackson took a drag. "She needs to get her ID's before she can go," he replied simply. He hoped that would be the end of the subject, but of course it wasn't.

"Then why does she need to go to Miami with you? Why not send her away?" Jackson shrugged.

"The feds are bothering her family to find her," he explained, "I'm going to help her make them think she's dead. We figured it would be easier in Miami- the funeral is the day after tomorrow." Marie shook her head.

"Why is that your concern?" she demanded, sighing. "I don't understand. You have never had this much trouble with a job. Are you going soft?"

Jackson ashed his cigarette. "No," was all he said. She scoffed.

"That is a lie," she replied hotly. "You are in this position because you are soft. You should have let Robert handle the job, since it was apparently beyond your capability." Jackson said nothing, knowing that she didn't want any response. "You told me you could handle it, that you could get that woman to do what you wanted, but you were wrong, no?" She ashed. "And now you bring her- a civilian who tried to kill you- into my house. I think you have lost your judgment."

Jackson remained silent. He knew that she was right. A part of him had known it after the first month of watching Lisa, when he had begun to realize that he was attracted to her. He should have walked away then, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Even though he knew that she had a point, it wasn't something he cared to hear. He clenched his jaw. "You should have more confidence in me," he said, taking a drag. "Things didn't go to plan because the plan itself was flawed. You can say that I am making a mistake by helping her out, but the original job failed because we chose the wrong woman." He scoffed. "Marie, do you really think that if I couldn't get Lisa to make the call and stick to it, that Robert could?" He eyed his director. "The man never should have been a manager. He can't plan worth shit, and he can't read people."

Marie said nothing, and Jackson held his breath. They had a close relationship, but it was professional at the end of the day- officially, he received no special treatment. He knew that he was stepping out of line, but he wasn't going to take all of the blame for the failed Keefe job. "I just want to get to Caleb. He's the most important thing to me right now." he added softly. "And this thing with Lisa? I have to do it. I don't expect you to understand, but it's my way of atoning...for what happened with my parents. I can't let another innocent person suffer because of my actions...not when it's not necessary."

The brunette instantly softened. "You have changed very much, Jackson," she observed, ashing her cigarette. "Whether for better or worse, I can't say. Maybe both. You are becoming a better person, but lousy for me." The two assassins had been through a lot together- Marie had recruited him, been his manager, mentored the twins in her own way after their uncle had been killed, and when she was moved up to director, he had taken her place. In many ways, she was a second mother to him- maybe 'aunt' was a more appropriate word- even if they often overlooked their ties for the sake of the job. It had been a long time since they spoke to each other like this- Jackson would never try to get out of a tough spot by appealing to her sympathy. "Is this because of her?" she asked, and Jackson nodded. "You love her?"

Jackson choked on his smoke. "Marie," he groaned in disbelief, "Love?" He shook his head. "I have feelings for her," he admitted when he saw the skeptical look on the other woman's face. "I think...I could love her someday." His last words surprised even himself. Love was not a feeling Jackson thought much of. To him, it meant weakness and vulnerability, and was dangerous in their job. "Maybe. I don't know."

He had never been jealous of Caleb and Cheryl, or anyone else that he saw happy together. He scorned the idea of putting yourself on the line for another, except when it came to Caleb. His brother was the only person that Jackson was willing to die for, and he had always assumed it would stay that way. Now that he thought more about it, though, he was putting himself on the line to help Lisa. Things could go well, but they could also go badly, and Jackson could easily wind up dead or uncovered. Was that for her, though, or for himself, for his atonement? He wasn't sure how to answer that question yet.

"Answer me this, Jackson- are you still able to do the job?" Marie asked seriously, studying him.

Jackson nodded. "Absolutely," he responded, and he meant it. Harsh as it may seem to some, if it came down to Lisa or his job, he would choose the job. "Call Jonathan. He has been trying to get in touch with you- he has some information that you will find interesting." Marie stubbed out her cigarette and walked to her desk. She pulled a fat envelope from a drawer and tossed it to Jackson.

"Those are the girl's papers. Everything is in order. Your flight leaves at 3:30 out of Dallas, and you'll be in Miami a little after 7 tonight." She walked back over to Jackson and handed him a package, hugging him tightly. "Call Jonathan," she repeated. "Your new fakes are in that envelope, and I got you a new phone, too. Tell Caleb I send my love." She released him. "Leave your car here and take one of mine. I will send someone to pick it up later. Just lock in the keys and let me know where it's parked." The two traded keys. "Caleb asked me to destroy his, so I'll take care of it." She eyed him. "Are those Caleb's clothes? Get new ones- they don't suit you. Get everything sorted, and I'll call you soon. Good luck, love." They faire la bise again and Jackson was in the doorway when Marie spoke again.

"But if you blow this, you're on your own."

Jackson shook his head as he made his way out of the ranch house. Marie was something else entirely. He called her le diamant, because she was beautiful, brilliant, and rare, but also because she had so many facets to her personality- she could be warm and then cold as hell, in either order. He had seen her calm and bouncing off the walls like she had been before he left the office. She also earned her nickname by being incredibly hard. Mattieu, her brother, liked to say that the saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" didn't even scratch Marie's surface. Simply put- cross her, and you were dead.

This was what made it so difficult for Jackson to wrap his head around Robert and Cheryl's betrayal. They had to know the consequences, that Marie would never allow them to live for what they had done. He couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it. Either Robert thought no one would find out what they were planning on doing to Jackson (Caleb), or they had bigger plans to usurp Marie. If that were the case, they had better be setting their sights even higher, because the agency wasn't some cartel out of Scarface- you couldn't just kill your way to the top. Basically, they were either morons, or bigger morons. Or there was some grand scheme that Jackson just couldn't see yet.

Jackson approached the car and saw Lisa slumped in the passenger rolled his eyes and threw open the driver-side door. "Get your stuff. We're changing cars," he instructed, pulling the two bags from the backseat. "Grab the guns." Lisa did what she was told and followed Jackson behind the house.

"So that was Marie?" she asked, "Very friendly." Jackson ignored her, typing in the access code to get into the garage. When the sliding door lifted to reveal and empty room, he entered the second code, causing the floor to slide apart and reveal an underground area. "I should have just stayed in the car, right?" Lisa asked, sounding sheepish, as she followed Jackson down the sloped concrete.

He nodded, and Lisa sighed. "I'm sorry. I should have just listened to you. I guess I'm still a little opposed to just taking orders from you all the time."

Jackson clenched his jaw. "Why is it so hard for you to trust that I know what I'm talking about? Did you question your bosses?"

"You're not my boss," Lisa replied, sounding irritated again. Jackson reached an inconspicuous car, a green Taurus, and tossed his bags in the backseat. He got into the driver's seat and waited for Lisa to get in.

When she did, he looked at her. "I'm only going to say this once more, so listen this time. I am not your boss, but I know a hell of a lot more about what's going on than you do. When we're at my director's base and I tell you to wait in the car, you fucking wait. You shouldn't need me to tell you that she wouldn't want to see you, that it's a security breach, and that you frankly have absolutely nothing to do with my agency and the work that goes on. You need to stop wasting time. You want to ask questions, do it after."

He turned over the engine and drove up the ramp. "It's petty now, yes. But in situations like yesterday's chase and potentially in what we're about to do in Miami, questioning me instead of doing what I say will probably get one or both of us killed."

He eyed Lisa, who was staring at her feet. "You could have explained all of this before...but I'm supposed to trust that you have good reasons. Is that what you're trying to say?"

Jackson nodded. "That is exactly what I'm saying. Unless you still think of me as the man on the plane and you're suspicious of my motives, you need to trust what I'm telling you without me having to explain every detail first. Is that something you can do, or should I put you on a plane to New York and go to Miami to take care of Robert and Cheryl on my own? I don't have to help you with DHS, you know."

Lisa nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I can try my best to listen to you better. It's just hard, because the stakes are so high, and I'm really tired of feeling like your puppet." She bit her lip. "Not saying you're manipulating me, I'm just saying-"

"I get it," Jackson said with a wave of his hand. "That's why I said ask me later. I usually don't even do that. I'm used to telling people what to do, and they just do it. I know I can't expect that from you, so I'm offering what little compromise I can." He grinned. "Just so you know, I really want a Lisa finger puppet now." Lisa giggled.

"Maybe I'll make you one when this is over. She'll have frizzy red yarn hair. Just make sure that you wave her around going 'why?' all the time."

Jackson snorted. "Oh, I will. Trust me." He glanced over at her, serious again. "Do we have an agreement, though?"

Lisa nodded. "For now. Don't think I'll be your little 'yes' girl when this is over, though."

"If you were a 'yes' woman, Leese, I would assume you either also had a twin and I was stuck with her, or you had a lobotomy." Lisa laughed again.

"Can I ask a personal question?" she asked after they had been silent for a while. Jackson nodded, curious. "Why don't you talk to Caleb much anymore?" His eyes widened in surprise and he ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't been expecting that.

"I don't know...I just don't. I don't really think about it," he stumbled, still gripping his hair. He didn't have a particular reason. He just usually didn't have much to say. It wasn't a conscious decision.

"He thinks you think he abandoned you by quitting," Lisa told him. This was news to Jackson. He had told his brother many times that he didn't resent the latter for choosing to lead a straight life.

"Maybe I did at first," he admitted, "But it was because we worked well together. It was easy, because we knew each other and didn't have to think about it." Jackson smiled crookedly, remembering the hits the two pulled off together, and the rush it gave him. It hadn't really been the same without Caleb, but he had gotten over it...mostly. "I've told him this before."

Technically, Caleb was still in the agency as a surgeon, but since there were absolutely no hits in Minnesota, and there were others like him in major cities, he wasn't used often. Jackson shrugged. "I guess I don't like how he lives. He doesn't really work for the agency, but he works for one of those basic clinics for uninsured people. It's a waste of his talent, really."

Lisa frowned. "Why isn't he at a hospital?"

"He can't take vacation time as easily in case something happens, like after Miami," Jackson replied. "I wish he would do one or the other. If he's going to quit, then quit and have a real life. If not, move somewhere would he be useful to us."

"Have you told him this?" Lisa asked. Jackson nodded.

"Yeah. He said he still wants to help, but he likes Minnesota...for whatever reason." Jackson shrugged sadly. "I just don't really know him anymore. I know he's safe where he is, and other than that, he's just not part of my life." They were silent again.

"How are you taking everything?" She asked. "With Caleb. You seem pretty protective of him." Jackson nodded, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I am," he responded. "We've had a pretty...interesting ten years, and it's just reflex." He sighed. "I don't really know how I'm taking it right now. I guess we'll find out when I see Cheryl." Jackson gripped the steering wheel tighter, gritting his teeth. He was pretty sure someone was going to have to keep him from smashing in her face when he finally got there.

Remembering what Marie had said, Jackson pulled Caleb's phone from his pocket and dialed his own number. "I have to make some calls now," he told Lisa, listening to the phone ring. When Caleb answered, Jackson turned back to the road.

"How's it going?" he asked his brother.

"It's fine, I guess," Caleb replied. "Just sitting in the room. I've been working on our plan for Lisa."

Jackson nodded. "Great. We'll be there in Miami at 7, and Jeff's going to bring us to the hotel. We can talk about it then. I'll figure out what we're going to do about Robert. We should probably take care of him tonight." Caleb gave an 'mhm' in response, and the two were silent for a few seconds. Jackson cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable. "See you then, yeah?" Another 'mhm', and Jackson hung up.

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "That was all business," she observed. Jackson shot her a dirty look. She was the one who got him nervous about his relationship with Caleb. He refocused and scanned through the contacts that Marie had transferred to his new phone, dialing Jonathan's number.

"Don't," he warned. "It's William," he said when he reached voicemail. "Call me back." He hung up again and glanced at Lisa. "My guy in Keefe's office. He'll call me when he's home...probably won't get it until we land." Jackson grinned. "You realize we're going to Dallas, right?" he taunted playfully.

"Are you kidding?" Lisa asked, surprised and seemingly amused.

Jackson laughed. "Maybe we'll finally get those nachos."

"Yeah..." Lisa replied, giggling. "Why Dallas? Isn't there an airport in Oklahoma?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but Dallas is closer. Or Marie is a bitch." He grinned. "Or both." The two laughed for a few seconds, and then fell silent again. Jackson flipped the cell phone in his hand repeatedly. He was trying to lighten the mood before she had to listen to his next call.

"Um..." he began, but trailed off. There was no putting this off. "I have to make a call."

Lisa looked at him quizzically. "You have my permission...?" she replied, unsure of what he was getting at.

Jackson frowned and dialed the number. He heard a man on the other line give him a halting greeting, obviously not recognizing the number.

"Hello, Ben," Jackson responded, his voice suddenly sinister. He couldn't help but smirk when he heard the surprised gasp.

"Jackson?" Benjamin confirmed, the unease in his voice obvious. Jackson scowled- how many times had he told him not to use his real name? "I thought you were dead."

"I'm not," Jackson responded coldly. Robert must have told them already. "Surprised?" He stared straight ahead, refusing to look at Lisa.

"No...not really," the other man responded, but it sounded more like a question, like he was looking for the "appropriate" response. Jackson narrowed his eyes.

"And you know what this means, Ben," he said, referring to his intentions of killing the other manager, "We're not going to have any trouble, are we?"

"Of course not!" Ben replied, his voice still shaking. Jackson wasn't surprised. He was assuming that Ben knew what his boss was up to, and possibly thought this was some kind of test of his loyalty. "We're with you- what Robert's doing isn't right."

Jackson rolled his eyes. Yes, he's so opposed that he's done absolutely nothing about it. "Good. Tell me what I want to know." Ben was one of Robert's dogs, but he was no ordinary dog. He was one of Robert's personal subordinates, and was almost always at his side. Conveniently for Jackson, he was honest. And an old friend of Caleb's. There was no chance that he was in on whatever scheme was in place. "We're coming tonight."

"Oh, well, he's going to be at home all night, as far as I know. When are you coming?"

"Tonight," Jackson repeated smoothly. He didn't know what time yet. "And Ben? I have Marie's full backing for this. If you or any of your buddies even think about pulling anything, every single one of you will be finished. And trust me, I'll make sure to take my Benchmade and personally slit your throat." He lowered his voice. "Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes Sir," the lower man replied, his voice grave. Jackson hung up, slipping the phone into his pocket.

"A Benchmade is another knife," he told Lisa, still not meeting her eyes. He knew that he was being ridiculous, but there was a big part of him that was ashamed that she had heard that voice, the manager voice, come from him again.

"I figured," she replied quietly, obviously unnerved.

"Ben works closely with Robert," he explained, trying to make himself sound blasé. "Caleb and I will go for Robert tonight, but I needed some information first."

"You trust him?" Lisa asked, sounding worried. Jackson glanced at her.

"Yes," he replied. "He's stupid, but he's not an idiot. And I've worked with him before, so he's rather loyal to me. I told you, Leese- the kind of thing that Robert is doing isn't accepted in our work. I wouldn't be shocked if Ben and his boys have already been planning something."

Lisa frowned. "Just...be careful, alright?"

Jackson smiled in spite of himself. He had misread her again. She wasn't afraid of him, even though she had seen his darker side yet again. She was genuinely worried about him. Other than Caleb, it had been a long time since he had experienced that, and he was remembering how oddly good it felt to know that someone was concerned with his safety. How good it felt to be cared about.

So why was he still uncomfortable? Jackson glanced down at the phone in his hand. For the first time in years, he thought about the person on the other end of the phone. What was Benjamin doing? Was he afraid? Jackson had no doubts that he would help get Robert...was he unnecessarily intimidating toward him?

Jackson frowned. Since when did he care? He sighed in frustration.

"What's wrong?" he heard Lisa ask, and his cheeks flushed lightly.

"I'm...confused," he blurted. Talking about his feelings didn't come naturally to Jackson, but he felt a strange urge to share himself with her. "I just wonder if I should have talked to him like that. And I wondering why I care." He handed the phone to Lisa to place in his bag. "I don't usually think about things like that."

Lisa frowned. "Do you think you made a mistake?" Jackson frowned, fingering a tear in the steering wheel cover. He noticed that this was becoming a routine for them- she would try to get him to open up and then shut up, letting him work out the answer. It annoyed him at first, but he was finding that he was grateful that she knew how to handle him.

He ran a hand through his hair and frowned. "Maybe." He was silent again. He had no idea how to put his thoughts into words. For her part, Lisa continued to wait patiently. "I don't really know what Robert is up to. Is he just out to get me or is this something bigger? I don't know if Ben knows anything about it. Maybe..." he paused and sighed in frustration yet again. "Leese, I don't know how to say it." He was full-on flushed in embarrassment.

Lisa gave him a break. "Do you think if you were nicer to him, he would tell you what was happening?" Jackson shook his head.

"No, that's not it. He's on our side." He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. "He'd tell me if he knew anything." He paused. "It sounds stupid, but some people aren't good at rebelling. They do what they're told, and they wouldn't know how to overthrow or prevent something on their own." He shrugged. "I think Benjamin is like that."

Lisa suddenly burst out laughing. Jackson glanced at her in confusion. "Jackson!" she threw her head back in amusement. "You're feeling guilty!" He raised an eyebrow, failing to see what was so funny. Of course he was feeling guilty. He just didn't know why. "Well, Jackson whatever-your-middle-name-is-"

"Anthony," he interjected with slight amusement.

"Jackson Anthony Ripper," Lisa continued, "I believe that you just discovered that you do in fact have a conscience."

I should have the next chapter up sometime this week, but no promises.

I have the scenes for Robert, Cheryl, and Lisa's staged death, but I'm struggling with Keefe. If anyone is interested, I would love to have one or two betas of sorts- not to get the chapters in advance/do any proofreading, but someone who is willing to listen to ideas. Let me know if you're interested or if you have any ideas in the reviews.

Even if you're not interested, review anyway if you've made it all the way through this chapter.