Rebirth

'This morning was the first morning that I can remember that I didn't open my eyes and feel sadness.' (Bruce Willis - Unbreakable)

Similar to yesterday and the day before, Jackson was awaken by the steady sound of his heart machine, although the sound was thought to be mind-numbing. He found comfort in the knowledge that he still, in fact had one. An empty void it may be, but he felt more alive than ever. His own mundane life had taken a new form, the Red Eye flight had changed everything. He had something to live for, something personal to resolve.

He could hear the clack of the nurses footprints outside of his stark,white room, the sterile scent and brightness made his reluctant eyes open. However, unlike the other days, something was new, his limbs screamed attention as he flexed his fingers, for what felt like, the first time. The numbness had gone. One by one, his lean muscles once again lived as he carefully pulled his arm to his chest where the tight bandage was strapped across. His lungs expanded fully and a dangerous grin spread across his pale and sunken features. Jackson Rippner was once again alive.

At that moment, a nurse entered, unlike the typical uniform, hers seemed to be tailored, to fit a private hospital... Or organization. The cogs in Jackson's mind began moving once again as he began to focus on his external situation rather than his personal one that had been his resolve for the past few days.

"How are you feeling Mr. Rippner?" The steel edge of her voice set off a supision in his mind, her tone did not hide the fact that her motives lay elsewhere. Contrasting her calm, approachable appearance that was accentuated by her tied back blonde hair.

"Better." Was all Jackson could rasp out. Biting back a sarcastic remark as he looked away and swallowed. Taking caution in his precarious situation, he could not afford new enemies. His throat suddenly burned. 'The pen'.

As if reading his train of thought, the nurse replied "It would be better if you didn't speak or strain yourself, your body needs more time-"

"How long?" He chocked. Glaring at the ceiling as his fingers flexed into a fist. Bunching the thin,white sheet that lay across his motionless body.

"That all depends on you." She answered irritatingly vaguely, heightening his annoyance. "It's been almost two weeks and your healing surprisingly quickly." He thought had given himself time to himself to accept the situation, yet his sudden anguish was almost unbearable, he couldn't let his emotion based dilemma distract him from his predicament, so he buried his feelings. 'For now..'. The presence of another for the first time since he had locked eyes with Lisa as he lay bleeding on the floor of her fathers home suddenly brought too many questions. His frustration at not being able to speak was the first time he hadn't been in control in a long while. 'Never again' He swore viciously.

'Since then I've been trying to convince myself of one thing over and over.'

'That it was beyond your control?'

'No,..That it would never happen again.'

His angst disappeared and left him. He now understood her. Understanding was not tolerated in his line of business, there was too much at stake, he didn't know how much he had lost because of his slip-up with Lisa but it could only be enormous. Yet he couldn't fully blame her. 'Should have stuck with male driven fact based logic. Jack!' He heard her voice, rather than his own, sneer at him.

'Where's your male driven fact based logic now, Jack? I 'dont think thats what got you here?.. You hear me?'

"I'm sure you have alot of questions." Her cold voice interrupted his train of thought. He swallowed down thoughts and memories and returned to the situation at hand. "So I'll answer some of them." He turned his own eyes of ice toward her, his sharp gaze caused his victims to cower but she didn't respond as he'd hoped.

"Your are no longer in Miami but Washington, I cannot disclose exactly where but I'm sure you'd understand why, Mr Rippner." She threw in his name almost sarcastically which angered him to no end. "You have a gunshot wound to the left side of your chest. A puncture in you left leg, from a stiletto as I'm sure you'll remember." He swallowed at the memories that were dangerously re-surfacing.

"... And of course the punctured windpipe." She took the clipboard at the end of his bed and flipped over the page. "From a 'Frankenstein' pen, I believe, is that correct?" She asked casually. If looks could kill, she would have died many times now, his glare narrowed further as his only response to the rhetorical question she asked. If she wanted to goad him, she would have to try harder than that.

"I'll take that as a yes." She paused slightly, considering him for a moment. " As for Miss Reisert-" His attention perked and he hoped it went un-noticeable. "She is back in Miami, fixing the mess you caused to her establishment. Most would consider herself a hero-" 'Can't argue with that.' He subconsciously added. She was in many ways. "-Now it would be best if you were to focus your strength on getting fit and healthy again, Mr Rippner, he needs you to speak-"

"Who?" He croaked.

"Charles Keefe." She answered after a pause, a smirk crossed her small features. 'That was unexpected..' "I'll go and fetch your breakfast Mr Rippner." She said before leaving. He was right to stay cautious.

Let me know what you think! Im almost too afraid to write in case I disappoint you but I have an idea where the next chapter can go, with Jackson and Lisa, this was just Jackson's catchup. This is retrospective to the last chapter, two weeks after the Red Eye flight. (2 1/2 months before the first chapter. Hope to hear from you :)