*~*~*
Bud Robert's house
5:58 pm
Jarod Hayes sat in his 'lair'. Two pictures sat in front of him. One of Parker, one of Pike. Both had similar poses but whereas one had a serious, no nonsense expression, the other had a full smile. Parker was wearing one of her traditional short skirt suits, grey.. to bring out the colour in her eyes. Kate, was decked out in full dress whites, her eyes slightly hidden by her cover. Again, he noted, it was a reflection of their personalities.
He was hoping he would have had more time to prepare one or perhaps both ladies that the other had a sister, but with seeing Sydney and Broots hanging around Kate Pike, he doubted that he would have much time to prepare for anything.
Besides. If Syd and Broots were here, that meant that Miss Parker and the rest of the Centre crew couldn't be that far behind. He wondered briefly, if he would even be able to complete this latest 'pretend'.
Quickly glancing over to the table that was presently covered with papers and files of this case. There lay the information from day one up to today with his scribble notes from his meeting with Avery. He felt a little anger for finding himself straying off course as to the murder of the Lieutenant by the sisters. He must keep his head on straight now. Time was of the essence.
*~*~*
Budg-it Motel
7:29
Parker stepped out of the hot shower and goose bumps immediately covered her body from the coolness of the air conditioned room. She had become so desperate for a change of clothes that she wandered over to the Naval Surplus store across the way.
She found it odd when one of the store 'clerks' had said it was nice to see her again. What did they mean by again? Instead of acknowledging the comment, she shrugged it off and meandered through the store for something, anything to change into temporarily until Broots brought her luggage.
Finding a simple white shirt and skirt in the 'new' department as opposed to the 'used', Parker purchased them with cash, not wanting to leave a trail for the Centre to pick up.
Now she stepped into the skirt, then slid into the shirt. It looked so stark boring that she tied the bottom of the shirt up to slightly reveal her stomach. Combing back her hair, she tucked it into a pony tail. Again it would have to suffice until she gets her bags. The 'natural' look would have to do too. If Sydney or Broots made one comment about her appearance, she would leave their bodies for the maid to discover the day after she left.
Dialing Syd's cell number, Parker sat in the nearby chair taking a long sip of water she poured for herself moments ago. After a swallow, she wrinkled her nose. This would not do. Finally he picked up. "Where are you?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing?" Sydney's brows pinched together. Both he and Broots went to pick up another car rental, and when they returned to where she was sitting, she had disappeared.
"What do you mean where am I? I'm at this barnyard hotel waiting for you to show up with my clothes!"
"We're almost there, I figured that was where you might have run off to." There was no doubt in his mind that the Parker they all knew and loved had returned to her old self. Although he couldn't figure out why she would leave her luggage behind.
Parker meanwhile found herself staring at the receiver before slamming it down. Was he on something? Perhaps drank too much on the flight out. That sounded like a good idea so she grabbed her purse with the intentions of wandering over to the liquor store to grab a bottle. She needed something to dilute the miserable taste of that water.
Her mind wandered briefly to the man she held at bay here in the room hours earlier. Was he warning Jarod that she was here? No, she would have to trust him. Right now Harm was her only hope of finding Jarod first. She had to, for both their sakes.
****
Meg Austin's apartment
9:14 pm
It was a few hours later when the doorbell wrang that she realized she had drifted off to sleep, her dreams lost in her thoughts, adjusting to this new feeling of numbness. She found herself trying to get enough strength to walk to the door. Opening it slowly, she gazed upon the man who made her feel this way, there he was, standing there in casual wear of jeans, T-shirt, and his leather jacket hooked over his shoulder by his thumb. Eventually she gazed upon his face, his eyes, those smoldering hazel eyes, his smile, the smile that would melt any woman into a puddle.
"What? Not even a welcome home hug?" he chided. He brushed past her into her apartment and placed his jacket down on the back of her couch. Looking around, he noticed the candles and flowers placed around different areas of her living room. "I came over as soon as I could and I did get your message, after something so mysterious as that, I certainly did not take my time." He smiled at her again. He wanted to tell her everything that had happened but for now, he noticed something wasn't right. Perhaps it was best he protect her from the insanity of the day.
After agreeing to help Miss Parker find and protect Jarod, she drove him back to his apartment so that he could wash up and change. They had continued their discussion of Jarod and how he had been helping the Navy. Parker had agreed to wait at the hotel, and judging by her expression, she had not planned on staying very long at where they had been hiding out, until he called her to let her know Jarod had returned.
Harm was about to leave when he noticed he had a message waiting. Jarod and Parker will have to wait a few moments. He had agreed to help him, he had not agreed to put his life on hold for them. Listening to the caller, he grinned and couldn't wait to see her. Now he stood before her.
Meg couldn't think of anything to say to him, she just stared at him, afraid if she did say something, she would break, that all her emotions she now had all bottled up would just spill out.
"So tell me, what is this news you couldn't wait to tell me about?" Harm walked towards her in what seemed like slow motion. He placed a finger underneath her chin and tilted her face up towards his. There he noticed tear stains down her cheeks and how her blue eyes were once again starting to water up. "Meg? Hon, what's wrong?"
Meg backed away, his touch set off too many wanting memories. *No point in delaying the inevitable I suppose* "Harm, Commander Kimberly Clark called here. She was looking for you." She had to turn away from him, not look at him. It was bad enough standing so close to this man. She ached to be held by him, to feel that everything was alright. But, it wasn't alright, and she could feel her anger starting to emerge.
"She was?"
Meg turned around to face him, she wouldn't let his eyes weaken her fury. "How dare you..." she spat venomously, "did you think I wouldn't find out?" Harm tried reaching for her, but was taken aback with the sudden sting to his left cheek.
"Get away from me Harm."
"Meg, what are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? The commander made it quite clear to me what is going on." Meg walks towards the door, grabbing the door knob and swung it open. "Get out now!"
Harm could see the hurt in her and knew he was the cause somehow. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. He walked towards the door, knowing if he didn't try to make her see, try to make her understand, that they would lose everything they fought so hard to keep. He saw a tear slip down her cheek. "Meg, you don't understand..."
"Its clear enough as far as I am concerned. Now get out before I have you thrown out, Mr. Rabb" The pain she was feeling at that moment hurt beyond anything she ever experienced in her life. Who would have thought love could hurt, even more so then being shot.
Harm could feel the moment slipping away and was getting angry at the thought that it was soon over. Pulling the door out of her grasp, he slammed it shut then turned to face her, his height still towered over her 5'11" frame. "Meg, you will listen to what I have to say, if I have to ORDER you to do so, then so be it!!" he snapped.
Taken aback by this sudden turn of events, she glared at him, "We are not on duty, SIR! So, your orders won't work in my apartment." She noticed his closeness to her, and had to get away from him before he knocked down her defenses completely, so she headed for the comfort of her living room.
Harm followed her, but gave Meg her distance. "Meg, I am not sure what she said to you, but whatever it is, it is not what you think..."
"Not what I think? How could I confuse 'Harm can pick up his clothes he left here..." while saying this, Meg scrunched up her face in a mocking attempt to sound like the Commander. "Now tell me, how would YOU interpret that?"
"It's definitely not what you think. We.."
"Oh please, must you? I don't want to hear all the disgusting details Harm." Meg looked away and decided to turn up the volume of her stereo in hopes of drowning out his voice. Harm's voice... she won't falter or give into him.. she listened to her heart once before regarding this man, she will not do so again.
"Meg, we are NOT sleeping with each other anymore. Yes.. yes we did have a relationship once, but that is in the past."
"I don't care if you did or not. Your personal life is your own."
"My personal life, includes you Meg"
"No sir, it doesn't. Its not regulations."
"To hell with the regs, we're no longer partners. You use that excuse when it is convenient for you. Just moments ago you told me that we're not on duty. Meg listen to me, I would not betray what you and I have."
"Well what do you want me to say? That I love you?" she hissed. "Well I don't love you! The time we spent together was nothing. It meant nothing to me."
"I know you're just saying that because you're hurt right now. Its just a lie, Meg."
"Its quite obvious then that you don't know me, because its true. I used you. I don't love you, Harm." she can see the hurt in his eyes now. Meg wanted more, she wanted to push him as far as she could. She wanted to see him hurt as much as she felt right now.
"Meg..." he whispered her name.
"No of course not. I mean, tell me where the hell you've been all day then."
Harm paused, knowing he couldn't tell her his real reason as to why he 'disappeared' for the day. He didn't want to jeopardize her life with the Centre folk "The Admiral needed something done immediately..." he lied as he stepped closer to her, she backed away. "Meg, if you didn't have feelings for me, why are you acting like this?"
Meg found herself up against the wall, Harm looming over her. "Like what?" she stammered, avoiding his eyes. Again, she could smell the scent of his cologne.
"Like you're jealous..." his voice getting softer as he stood over her now, pinning her against the wall. He reached for her, slid his arm around her slender waist.
"You arrogant son of a...." she made an attempt to slap him again, but he was ready for her and parried her move by grabbing her wrist and pulling her body against his. He felt her tremble when he claimed her lips with his own. Brushing them gently at first, then kissing her fully, yet tenderly. Meg tried to squirm away, hold onto her resolve, but she felt herself give in ever-so-slightly to the pressure on her lips.
He raised his head, brushing her forehead with another kiss, murmuring, "How could you ever think I would do that to you? I love you, dammit." He pulled away slightly, searching her eyes with his own. She was still slightly breathless, but he shook his head a bit. "If you don't want me to stay, then tell me to leave, and I'll leave."
They stood there silently for a long moment, gazing at each other. Meg couldn't make her voice work.
There was a sadness in Harm's eyes that made her ache. He exhaled slowly and turned around, heading for the door. Before she could say a word, he had slipped quietly out, closing the door behind him.....out of her apartment, out of her life.
She felt her knees give away, and she stumbled to her couch where his jacket still lay across the back. Reaching for it, she curled herself around it, wondering just what she'd done.
Bud Robert's house
5:58 pm
Jarod Hayes sat in his 'lair'. Two pictures sat in front of him. One of Parker, one of Pike. Both had similar poses but whereas one had a serious, no nonsense expression, the other had a full smile. Parker was wearing one of her traditional short skirt suits, grey.. to bring out the colour in her eyes. Kate, was decked out in full dress whites, her eyes slightly hidden by her cover. Again, he noted, it was a reflection of their personalities.
He was hoping he would have had more time to prepare one or perhaps both ladies that the other had a sister, but with seeing Sydney and Broots hanging around Kate Pike, he doubted that he would have much time to prepare for anything.
Besides. If Syd and Broots were here, that meant that Miss Parker and the rest of the Centre crew couldn't be that far behind. He wondered briefly, if he would even be able to complete this latest 'pretend'.
Quickly glancing over to the table that was presently covered with papers and files of this case. There lay the information from day one up to today with his scribble notes from his meeting with Avery. He felt a little anger for finding himself straying off course as to the murder of the Lieutenant by the sisters. He must keep his head on straight now. Time was of the essence.
*~*~*
Budg-it Motel
7:29
Parker stepped out of the hot shower and goose bumps immediately covered her body from the coolness of the air conditioned room. She had become so desperate for a change of clothes that she wandered over to the Naval Surplus store across the way.
She found it odd when one of the store 'clerks' had said it was nice to see her again. What did they mean by again? Instead of acknowledging the comment, she shrugged it off and meandered through the store for something, anything to change into temporarily until Broots brought her luggage.
Finding a simple white shirt and skirt in the 'new' department as opposed to the 'used', Parker purchased them with cash, not wanting to leave a trail for the Centre to pick up.
Now she stepped into the skirt, then slid into the shirt. It looked so stark boring that she tied the bottom of the shirt up to slightly reveal her stomach. Combing back her hair, she tucked it into a pony tail. Again it would have to suffice until she gets her bags. The 'natural' look would have to do too. If Sydney or Broots made one comment about her appearance, she would leave their bodies for the maid to discover the day after she left.
Dialing Syd's cell number, Parker sat in the nearby chair taking a long sip of water she poured for herself moments ago. After a swallow, she wrinkled her nose. This would not do. Finally he picked up. "Where are you?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing?" Sydney's brows pinched together. Both he and Broots went to pick up another car rental, and when they returned to where she was sitting, she had disappeared.
"What do you mean where am I? I'm at this barnyard hotel waiting for you to show up with my clothes!"
"We're almost there, I figured that was where you might have run off to." There was no doubt in his mind that the Parker they all knew and loved had returned to her old self. Although he couldn't figure out why she would leave her luggage behind.
Parker meanwhile found herself staring at the receiver before slamming it down. Was he on something? Perhaps drank too much on the flight out. That sounded like a good idea so she grabbed her purse with the intentions of wandering over to the liquor store to grab a bottle. She needed something to dilute the miserable taste of that water.
Her mind wandered briefly to the man she held at bay here in the room hours earlier. Was he warning Jarod that she was here? No, she would have to trust him. Right now Harm was her only hope of finding Jarod first. She had to, for both their sakes.
****
Meg Austin's apartment
9:14 pm
It was a few hours later when the doorbell wrang that she realized she had drifted off to sleep, her dreams lost in her thoughts, adjusting to this new feeling of numbness. She found herself trying to get enough strength to walk to the door. Opening it slowly, she gazed upon the man who made her feel this way, there he was, standing there in casual wear of jeans, T-shirt, and his leather jacket hooked over his shoulder by his thumb. Eventually she gazed upon his face, his eyes, those smoldering hazel eyes, his smile, the smile that would melt any woman into a puddle.
"What? Not even a welcome home hug?" he chided. He brushed past her into her apartment and placed his jacket down on the back of her couch. Looking around, he noticed the candles and flowers placed around different areas of her living room. "I came over as soon as I could and I did get your message, after something so mysterious as that, I certainly did not take my time." He smiled at her again. He wanted to tell her everything that had happened but for now, he noticed something wasn't right. Perhaps it was best he protect her from the insanity of the day.
After agreeing to help Miss Parker find and protect Jarod, she drove him back to his apartment so that he could wash up and change. They had continued their discussion of Jarod and how he had been helping the Navy. Parker had agreed to wait at the hotel, and judging by her expression, she had not planned on staying very long at where they had been hiding out, until he called her to let her know Jarod had returned.
Harm was about to leave when he noticed he had a message waiting. Jarod and Parker will have to wait a few moments. He had agreed to help him, he had not agreed to put his life on hold for them. Listening to the caller, he grinned and couldn't wait to see her. Now he stood before her.
Meg couldn't think of anything to say to him, she just stared at him, afraid if she did say something, she would break, that all her emotions she now had all bottled up would just spill out.
"So tell me, what is this news you couldn't wait to tell me about?" Harm walked towards her in what seemed like slow motion. He placed a finger underneath her chin and tilted her face up towards his. There he noticed tear stains down her cheeks and how her blue eyes were once again starting to water up. "Meg? Hon, what's wrong?"
Meg backed away, his touch set off too many wanting memories. *No point in delaying the inevitable I suppose* "Harm, Commander Kimberly Clark called here. She was looking for you." She had to turn away from him, not look at him. It was bad enough standing so close to this man. She ached to be held by him, to feel that everything was alright. But, it wasn't alright, and she could feel her anger starting to emerge.
"She was?"
Meg turned around to face him, she wouldn't let his eyes weaken her fury. "How dare you..." she spat venomously, "did you think I wouldn't find out?" Harm tried reaching for her, but was taken aback with the sudden sting to his left cheek.
"Get away from me Harm."
"Meg, what are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? The commander made it quite clear to me what is going on." Meg walks towards the door, grabbing the door knob and swung it open. "Get out now!"
Harm could see the hurt in her and knew he was the cause somehow. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. He walked towards the door, knowing if he didn't try to make her see, try to make her understand, that they would lose everything they fought so hard to keep. He saw a tear slip down her cheek. "Meg, you don't understand..."
"Its clear enough as far as I am concerned. Now get out before I have you thrown out, Mr. Rabb" The pain she was feeling at that moment hurt beyond anything she ever experienced in her life. Who would have thought love could hurt, even more so then being shot.
Harm could feel the moment slipping away and was getting angry at the thought that it was soon over. Pulling the door out of her grasp, he slammed it shut then turned to face her, his height still towered over her 5'11" frame. "Meg, you will listen to what I have to say, if I have to ORDER you to do so, then so be it!!" he snapped.
Taken aback by this sudden turn of events, she glared at him, "We are not on duty, SIR! So, your orders won't work in my apartment." She noticed his closeness to her, and had to get away from him before he knocked down her defenses completely, so she headed for the comfort of her living room.
Harm followed her, but gave Meg her distance. "Meg, I am not sure what she said to you, but whatever it is, it is not what you think..."
"Not what I think? How could I confuse 'Harm can pick up his clothes he left here..." while saying this, Meg scrunched up her face in a mocking attempt to sound like the Commander. "Now tell me, how would YOU interpret that?"
"It's definitely not what you think. We.."
"Oh please, must you? I don't want to hear all the disgusting details Harm." Meg looked away and decided to turn up the volume of her stereo in hopes of drowning out his voice. Harm's voice... she won't falter or give into him.. she listened to her heart once before regarding this man, she will not do so again.
"Meg, we are NOT sleeping with each other anymore. Yes.. yes we did have a relationship once, but that is in the past."
"I don't care if you did or not. Your personal life is your own."
"My personal life, includes you Meg"
"No sir, it doesn't. Its not regulations."
"To hell with the regs, we're no longer partners. You use that excuse when it is convenient for you. Just moments ago you told me that we're not on duty. Meg listen to me, I would not betray what you and I have."
"Well what do you want me to say? That I love you?" she hissed. "Well I don't love you! The time we spent together was nothing. It meant nothing to me."
"I know you're just saying that because you're hurt right now. Its just a lie, Meg."
"Its quite obvious then that you don't know me, because its true. I used you. I don't love you, Harm." she can see the hurt in his eyes now. Meg wanted more, she wanted to push him as far as she could. She wanted to see him hurt as much as she felt right now.
"Meg..." he whispered her name.
"No of course not. I mean, tell me where the hell you've been all day then."
Harm paused, knowing he couldn't tell her his real reason as to why he 'disappeared' for the day. He didn't want to jeopardize her life with the Centre folk "The Admiral needed something done immediately..." he lied as he stepped closer to her, she backed away. "Meg, if you didn't have feelings for me, why are you acting like this?"
Meg found herself up against the wall, Harm looming over her. "Like what?" she stammered, avoiding his eyes. Again, she could smell the scent of his cologne.
"Like you're jealous..." his voice getting softer as he stood over her now, pinning her against the wall. He reached for her, slid his arm around her slender waist.
"You arrogant son of a...." she made an attempt to slap him again, but he was ready for her and parried her move by grabbing her wrist and pulling her body against his. He felt her tremble when he claimed her lips with his own. Brushing them gently at first, then kissing her fully, yet tenderly. Meg tried to squirm away, hold onto her resolve, but she felt herself give in ever-so-slightly to the pressure on her lips.
He raised his head, brushing her forehead with another kiss, murmuring, "How could you ever think I would do that to you? I love you, dammit." He pulled away slightly, searching her eyes with his own. She was still slightly breathless, but he shook his head a bit. "If you don't want me to stay, then tell me to leave, and I'll leave."
They stood there silently for a long moment, gazing at each other. Meg couldn't make her voice work.
There was a sadness in Harm's eyes that made her ache. He exhaled slowly and turned around, heading for the door. Before she could say a word, he had slipped quietly out, closing the door behind him.....out of her apartment, out of her life.
She felt her knees give away, and she stumbled to her couch where his jacket still lay across the back. Reaching for it, she curled herself around it, wondering just what she'd done.