I'm sorry I haven't been updating frequently, I usually go through the chapters with my beta reader before I update and she visits once in a while. I know son-of-puji has been waiting for an update for a while now 'cos you kept thinking I abandoned it! Well to prove I didn't, here's an update just for you!

So enjoy :)

Thoughts

"Speeches"

"Whispers"

xXx – Scene Change

Flashbacks

Summary: Two months has passed since the incident. Both have continued their jobs. Jackson has an assignment yet to complete. Vengeance. But when there is a sudden twist of events, he finds that he needs her help, but will she be more willing to assist?

Disclaimer: Of course it would make sense for someone to write a fanfic of their own bloody creation!

Chapter 8

Jackson spun the wheel into a driveway. His eyelids fell for a second for Jackson to realise it wouldn't be long before he fell into a slumber. How is he going to manage to keep Lisa from escaping while at the same time keep the company from hunting them down? One thing for sure, he needed to change the car. Jackson's head returned to reality upon hearing incoherent burbles from the opposite side of the car.

"…to eat?" Lisa finished, waiting for a response, "Are you listening?"

"No, actually, I'm not," Jackson replied disdainfully, more irritable now that he's fatigued, "If you haven't noticed, I've been busy trying to find a way to keep us alive!"

"I was suggesting getting out of the car so that we can find a place to eat," She responded sneeringly.

"I'm steering into a drive-through. Happy?"

"I meant in a café or something,"

"In public? I don't think so,"

"Well why not?"

"Honestly, Lisa, do you really think I'm that careless?"

The brunette responded with a louder growl of hunger from her stomach, "Look, all I know is that I'm hungry and I'm tired; and I won't be able to defend myself if I don't at least eat,"

He turned to her watchfully, "What makes you think that that would be dire in my matter?"

"For one thing you'll have to be dragging me around a lot more,"

"We'll be in the car most of the time."

"We'll have to get out at some point,"

"No, we really don't."

"So you've got a bathroom in here?" She paused, "I'll promise…not to scream."

"What makes you think I'll trust a word you say?" He rejoined, followed by growling from his stomach.

"Looks like your stomach does not agree with you," She mocked. But she had to find another way of convincing him. He was being so difficult, like he usually is. If it weren't for him, she'd be in her hotel for another day's work, where she was safe and in control.

Lisa's mind began to wander through the chaos that entered her life within the last couple of months, and it was all because of Jackson. Why couldn't he just stay in jail and leave well enough alone? Wait, an idea clicked in her mind, "You know," she began, "I don't think your company would be very thrilled to help you if they have to bust you out of jail for the second time, especially since you got in their way."

His eyes disdainfully averted to hers, she could see his jaw stirring while he clenched his teeth with seething anger, "Fine." He retorted, "But just know this," he added as he drove into the parking lot and placed the car onto a spot, "Even if you run screaming to the people in the café or to your father or to the police, no one will be able to help you. I'm your only option to stay alive longer," Lisa swallowed the fearful lump in her throat while he continued, "D'you know why? Because I'm the only one that knows the company well enough to evade them longer." He waited to see if she was willing to make a remark, "So what's it gonna be? Are you willing to stay or foolish enough to leave the only person who will help you stay alive the longest?"

An early death was not exactly part of Lisa's life plan, but it just seems that she has no choice but to trust that staying with him would mean living longer, even if it meant having to be killed by his hands eventually. Is she really willing to tag along with the one person she despised the most? "But…how do I know you won't kill me instead?"

"You don't." He responded bluntly as he stepped out of the vehicle. Jackson made his way to the opposite side of the car where he opened the door, "Ladies first." He added mockingly. Lisa stepped out of the car before Jackson continued to comment, "If anyone asks, we're colleagues."

Before long, Lisa realised this is the café she visits for an occasional sea breeze and wondered why Jackson came to this particular area. Her mind then reverted to a flashback of that dreadful flight…

"…the occasional drink at the cornered café…"

If Lisa hadn't been pulled alongside Jackson by the wrist she would've fallen helplessly to her knees. This day could not get any worst.

xXx

"Good morning, Lisa," The hotel manager turned her head towards the voice that called out to her; it was the nice woman that she often converses with whenever she comes to the place, she was a few years older. Lisa sighed at the uneasy feeling she had towards lying to her friend.

"Oh hey, Brenda," Lisa replied unresponsively, hoping to keep her as detached from the complications as possible, "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well, what about you?" Brenda's eyes rolled towards the guys sitting opposite Lisa, "Oh…" She uttered between her lips, "Who's this young fella?"

"Oh this is…" Lisa paused; did she really want to introduce Brenda to an assassin manager? But before she could choose, Jackson had decided for her.

"Hi," he plastered his famous captivating smile.

As she returned the pleasantry Brenda turned to Lisa as she whispered in her ear, "Have you been keeping your man a secret?"

"What?" Lisa proclaimed, "NO!" Jackson stared at her with a harsh yet discreet look; the brunette calmed herself before she spoke, "I mean…this is…a colleague of mine,"

"Oh I see. Well what would like to order Lisa? The usual?" She asked Lisa.

"I would like that, thank you." The brunette responded.

"How about you?" Brenda turned towards Jackson.

"I'll have some coffee. Black." He replied.

"Anything to eat?"

"No I'm good,"

"Are you sure? We give a buy-one-get-one-free offer on muffins on Tuesdays,"

"A muffin it is then," Jackson chuckled; Lisa almost gagged at his phony charisma. She could practically see the deceptive aura surrounding him. Brenda left the two while their breakfast was getting ready. There was a thick ambiance of uncomfortable silence between them, leaving Jackson to think through his plan and Lisa to wander off in her thoughts.

The hotel manager sighed, "Why did you pick this place?" She uttered audibly, almost as if to herself; when Jackson came with a blank she continued, "Is it just some sick way of showing just how much privacy was taken away from me?" A lump of grief clogged Lisa's throat as all the emotions she felt from the events of the red eye flight and the incident two years before that came crashing back into the very core of her heart. Lisa felt like throwing up. She needed to find a place to be alone, away from this place, away from the people, away from him, before she breaks into tears.

Lisa rashly stood, "Where do you think you're going?" Jackson spoke, standing shortly after.

"The bathroom, I need-," She paused for a second before her voice cracked, "I need to be alone for a minute. I won't…"Lisa began making her way before she completely broke in tears in the restaurant. She didn't care how desperate she sounded; she just needed to be alone. Jackson sighed as he sat down and took her word for it. She's not that foolish; he hoped she wouldn't be that foolish.

"Where did she run off to?" Brenda spoke and she placed the two muffins and black coffee in front of Jackson.

"Bathroom break," he replied.

"She looked upset," the waitress said in concern, "Is she okay?"

"She's just stressed," Jackson responded indifferently, "her job an' all,"

"Are you sure that's it? I mean I know it can be stressful but she loves the job; unless something happened?"

"Like I said, it's just stress."

"I guess…" Brenda sighed, "Poor girl, that's the last thing she needs," Jackson said nothing as the waitress continued, "Sometimes when I look at her I feel like she's…so sad and that she's holding back, y'know?" She paused before chuckling, "Listen to me, I sound like a psychologist!" The assassin just smiled as he sipped his black coffee, "Do you know about it?"

"About what?" Jackson spoke.

"The um…the thing…with the…" Brenda waved her finger towards her chest and Jackson immediately grasped on the subject. He nodded, "Oh so I take it you're close?"

"Does it seem that way?" Jackson smiled.

"Well yeah! I mean, you're the first guy I've ever seen her with!"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," She chuckled, "Can I ask something?" Jackson responded with a nod as she continued, "just…look after her, will ya'?"

Jackson was slightly taken aback with this request and was not sure how he should respond, but ended up nodding in agreement before he knew it.

xXx

Several minutes subsequently passed as Jackson sat finishing off the last sip of his coffee, still waiting for Lisa, as her breakfast arrived a couple of minutes ago and it's still lying on the table. Where is she? He wondered irritably, Could she have? No! She couldn't…could she? Without further speculation, Jackson stood from his seat and entered the doorway to the bathrooms. He then knocked on the woman's toilet door.

"Lisa?" he called out, "Are you still in there?" When there was no response, he felt his anger fume, "Lisa?" he exclaimed. Searching the area and noticing no one around, Jackson realised it's vacant and pushed down the door handle. He subtly entered the small area, "Lis-" He stopped on his tracks when he found the unconscious brunette on the side of the wall, her legs sprawled on the floor.

Oh noes! What is Jackson gonna do now?

Review and let me know!

Luff

Mrs-N-Uzumaki xx