Bad Things Happen

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!

Chapter Fifteen

"Hello Rippner," sneered his former employer as he tightened his unrelenting grip on Lisa. "How nice of you to stop by."

"Let Lisa go."

"I think not. You see, both of you are liabilities and I simply cannot let you live. You screwed up, so, you die."

"I don't play by the rules anymore," Jackson warned before swinging his black bag into the gun, forcing a shot to discharge into the wall behind Lisa. He yanked Lisa towards him, and shoved a gun into her hand. "Get out."

Lisa stood her ground. "No," she refused, shaking her head stubbornly. "We finish this together."

Jackson rolled his crystal blue eyes. She was extremely blind and stupid at times! Why was she unable to see that her only chance at life was to leave at that moment? He had risked everything to use her as bait and to go back for her.

Lisa turned the gun on the Russian leader as he aimed at Jackson. Jackson saw the gun aimed his direction a few seconds too late, but he need not have worried. Three gunshots spilt the air; saving his pathetic life. Jackson was surprised to see the smoking gun in Lisa's hand as his former employer fell to the ground, dead. Lisa lowered the gun and shrugged at his surprised look.

"I couldn't let him kill you—that's my job," she told him matter-of-factly.

"Aww, that was so sweet of you," teased Jackson.

Lisa did not have time to reply because another thug came their way and tangled with Jackson. Lisa spun around to shoot yet another Russian who was trying to sneak up on them. She had turned cold and ruthless—a complete change from the Lisa that Jackson knew and loved. Lisa herself was unaware of her change and remained emotionless.

"Lisa! Run!" a warning shout came from Jackson as he reached into his bag. "Bomb!"

Lisa abandoned her post by his side and fled, despite her feelings that she should remain behind. She could hear the urgency and pleading tone in his voice and knew that she should listen to him. He wanted to protect her. She sprinted through the office maze, until she realized that Jackson was not with her.

Should she turn back for him? She had no pact with him—no ties holding her to him. She had every right to leave him behind. But he had gone back for her.

He loved her—did she return his feelings?

An explosion rent the air and Lisa knew that Jackson had caused it. She ran back towards the sound and prayed that she was not too late and that he was still alive.

"Jackson!" she called loudly, entering a destroyed section of rooms. "Are you okay?"

She caught a glimpse of his unmoving body and his dark hair matted with blood before the smoke grew thick and made it hard to breath. Lisa fell to her knees and crawled towards him, determined to see if he was still alive. He had done this—risked his life to save her. He had sacrificed himself.

"Jackson…" she whispered, passing out as she reached out and touched him, his skin still warm. He might still be alive…

A day later, Lisa awoke in the hospital to see her dad's worried face. Joe Reisert seemed somewhat relieved to see her open her green eyes. But his joy faded as soon as he heard her first words.

"Jackson? Is he…?" Lisa asked, afraid of the answer. She wanted to know what had happened, but she did not want him to be dead.

"He disappeared, Leese. He vanished in the explosion."

"No, no," she whispered, shaking her head. "He was with me and he was hurt…"

"Lisa, there was no sign of Jackson Rippner having been in the building with you. He's still on the loose."

Her heart soared. He was alive! Jackson was still alive! He had not been killed! He had somehow managed to escape.

"Oh, before I forgot, this came for you," Joe said, handing her a card and bouquet of assorted flowers.

Lisa took the card in wonder and opened it. The front was blank and inside was a scrawled message.

To my lovely Leese,

Sorry to leave you, but I have some unfinished business. I'll be back though. I still have to steal you after all.

JR

Lisa smiled. Jackson was going to come back one day, and she would be waiting. She would be waiting for him and she would always be waiting for him. Until the inevitable happened and he died. Even then, she would still wait for him.

Despite everything, he had stolen her heart.

After all, sometimes bad things happened to good people and vice-versa.

Author's Notes:

That's all folks! I'm not too proud of the ending, but I couldn't think of anything else. Anyways, I starting writing a sequel called 'Day-to-Day' and I'm posting it today as well. Sorry that it took so long for this to come out. The site was down when I planned to post and then my computer deleted it. Enjoy!