CARLOS
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own any of "The Pretender" characters. They were created by Steven Long and Craig W. Van Sickle. I'm just doin' this for fun! Spoilers from "Ranger Jarod" (Season One) and "Island of the Haunted."
JANUARY 1997
"Adios, mi vida," he whispered tenderly to her before disappearing…
"Do you think he'll be back?" Miss Parker asked.
"I hope so," Nia answered, with sadness in her eyes.
*~*~*~*
MARCH 2002
Jarod sat on a park bench, thinking about recent events. More specifically, recent romantic events. If Ocee hadn't interrupted them, Jarod and Miss Parker would have shared a forbidden kiss. He sometimes wondered what would have been, had their lips met. She kissed him once, when they were children. But that was different; at that time, they were friends and the kiss just sort of happened. Things back then seemed simpler somehow. Now they were both adults, fused with complex emotions towards each other. Did he secretly love Miss Parker? Did she love him? The idea of love made Jarod's mind drift back to someone he hadn't thought about in so long. Nia. She was the first woman he fell in love with. Really fell in love with. Memories of this beautiful Argentinean woman whirled around inside his head: her sense of humor, her lovely accent, the accelerated heartbeats he felt whenever she touched him. And of course, the special night they shared in the abandoned cabin in the mountains.
Jarod smiled wistfully. He wanted to see Nia again. His purpose was not to rekindle any flame, but he needed to know how she was doing. He got up, and headed back to his hotel room to pack.
*~*~*~*
Jarod parked his car on the dirt road not far from Nia's house, near the Toluca Mountains in Oregon. It was a crisp Sunday afternoon. Jarod's heart raced in anticipation. As he approached her house, he noticed two sedans parked right outside.
She must have guests over, he mused. Suddenly he realized that if she did indeed have guests, he'd be intruding. His confidence began to fade, but he was determined to see her. He reached her front door and knocked. A moment later, Nia answered the door. Her eyes widened in surprise and a smile formed on her lips. She hadn't changed.
"Jarod," she whispered.
"Hi," he said quietly. She reached out and hugged him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she pulled away.
"I never forgot you," he replied. "I just wanted to see you."
"I…" she began, "I can't talk right now."
"You have guests."
"Yes. Listen, Jarod, can you come back tomorrow? There's something important you need to know about."
"Sure. What time should I be here?"
"Can you come at three o'clock?"
"I'll be here," he assured her. She smiled.
"Thank you."