Chapter 2
Disclaimer: What was that? Sue my pants off? If you insist, but it won't be pretty.
A/N: OK, I admit it, I did have this one in the can, and also half of the next chapter. I wasn't going to post but I'm review starved. Chapter three could take from one day to a month. Talk to my teachers. Maybe counsel them about their apparent need to give me lots and lots of homework. If you want, take a shotgun to the consultation.
Naomi awoke from where she had been dozing in the living room of the small mansion, half keeping watch with Parker's gun, not that she was expecting trouble. Someone was bashing against her door and bellowing her name. She realised it was a deep male voice. It had to be Jarod.
Taking the safety off the gun and cocking it so there was a bullet in the barrel she went to stand in the corridor outside the room where the prisoners were being kept. 'What do you want?' she said loudly through the door. The banging stopped. 'Open the door!' came the reply.
'You think I'd fall for that one Jarod?' she asked, amused, but wondering how he had escaped the ropes.
'I mean it. Open the door.' He put command into his voice and Naomi caved.
'Alright. Lie on the floor. I'm putting a bullet through the door at chest height so if you're still standing I'd watch it.' There were faint scuffling sounds inside. She listened until they were stilled and then let of a few shots through the door then quickly opened it before the prisoners could move. What she saw inside knocked her momentarily speechless.
Jarod stood slowly, his dark eyes boring into her. Between them lay Parker; too flat and still to just be unconscious. A trickle of blood ran down from her hairline.
'What did you do?' hissed Naomi.
'She's made my life hell for a long time. So I banged her up a bit then strangled her. I was just wondering if you would lend me a knife so I could give her a few brands. If not, I'll just have to use my fingernails, and you just don't quite get that same clean cut.' He used a conversational tone which made his words that more shocking.
'You're crazy'
'Shouldn't have tied me up. It's what happens with people like me.'
Naomi was still in shock and staring at the body. After a moment she stepped into the room and knelt down beside the prone form. Jarod didn't waste the opportunity. His movement was a blur, and then Naomi was lying half slumped over Parker.
Sighing and dropping his pretend, Jarod knelt next to the two bodies and rolled Naomi away from Parker and into the recovery position. Switching his attention back to the brunette, he took her wrist in his hand and felt for her pulse.
Whilst he waited, he studied her peaceful features. Stroking a wisp of hair back from her forehead he spoke the word to bring her out of the self- induced coma.
'Time to wake up now love' he said gently. Nothing happened immediately. There was a heart beat, then another, then her chest rose and filled with breath. Jarod watched with a small smile as she woke up.
When her eyes opened, he dropped her wrist, already missing the feel of the soft skin but knowing that she would not tolerate his touch when she was awake. Her pale blue eyes looked in to his and a brief look of confusion crossed her face before it passed and she attempted to sit up. Placing one hand firmly on each shoulder he held her down.
'Sit still for a moment. Your muscles have been oxygen starved, let them adjust.' Parker relented.
'Did...' her voice petered out and she had to swallow and wet her lips before she could speak. 'Did it work?' she asked, her words bare of their usual force. Jarod smiled fondly at her. 'You did a good job' he assured her. She returned the smile. Reaching up with one hand she wiped off the blood from Jarod's wrists that he had painted onto her forehead then made to sit up. This time he didn't stop her.
She looked over at the unconscious form of the blond that had abducted them. 'What did you do to her?' She asked half-curious.
'She'll wake up in an hour or so with a headache.'
'Hah. Payback'
'Yeah' Jarod grinned. Pushing off the floor with his hands he stood and offered Parker a hand. To his surprise she took it and actually allowed him to help her to her feet. He didn't point out her indiscretion, but stored it away as one of those precious moments when the ice queen melted.
Thankfully Naomi had left the door of the room open so escape was as easy as just walking out. Jarod didn't waste any time in heading for the front door. Hypnotising Parker into the deathlike state had taken a while and the Delaware Centre sweepers would be there soon. 'Wait a minute' Parker told him as they were just about to step out the door. He paused and looked at her questioningly but she just turned and went back into the house. He followed a few steps behind.
Parker went back into the room were they had been imprisoned and bent over the body within. Jarod leaned against the door way with his arms crossed and watched her. Parker extracted her 9mm from the blond's flaccid grip, checked the clip, tucked it into its holster then straightened and walked out again without a word. Jarod let her walk past then shut and locked the door behind them.
On the way out for the second time Jarod grabbed a set of car keys from were they had been hanging on a hook and they were just about to step out the door for a second time when Jarod put on hand on Parker's shoulder to stop her and cocked his head on one side to listen. 'What?' said Parker.
'Shh... Hear that?' said Jarod quietly. Obligingly Parker listened. 'I can't... she started to say but Jarod shook his head and turned sharply to head back down the corridor. Parker glanced once at the closed door and followed.
'Better hope this place has a back door' he told her as he strode rapidly through the house. 'What did you hear?' she asked him in frustration. There was the sound of a door banging open behind them. Jarod grabbed her hand and broke into a run. Passing a set of stairs they broke into the kitchen and crossed it quickly to a door on the far side.
Jarod tried the handle then kicked it down. Parker heard shouts behind them and was pulled round the corner just in time for she heard bullets thudding into the wall beside the door. They dashed around the side of the house together and were faced with a view of a collection of dark cars parked in the street in front of them. Jarod only paused for a second, then kept running. In a spilt second of trust, Parker followed him.
There were no sweepers still in the cars for they had assumed that Naomi had the two prisoners restrained. Unfortunately none of them had gone as far as to leave a key in the ignition. Jarod didn't pause. He indicated a car and got in the drivers side. Parker got in the passenger side.
'Down' Jarod commanded her the second she had closed the door, 'lock the door.' He was bent with his chest on his knees and his head under the dashboard. Parker obeyed and a second later the engine purred into life. There was the sound of shots and one of the back windows shattered. Parker clenched her eyes closed and hugged her knees. The car jumped forwards and swung around in a tight circle, then the acceleration pushed her backwards. She didn't sit up and was glad when a moment later a bullet went in the back windscreen and out the front one.
Jarod dipped his head briefly but kept driving like the hounds of hell were on his heels. To him, they were.
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Pretender that he was, Jarod soon lost them. He drove out of the side streets and onto the main interstate freeway. He reached over with one hand to stroke Parker's hair and she finally dared to release her death grip on her knees and sit up. Neither of them said anything.
After driving on the freeway for a long time Jarod pulled onto an exit ramp then took successive turns into smaller and smaller roads until they were running down a dirt track. 'Where are we going?' asked Parker, breaking the three hour long silence. Jarod looked over and gave her a wan smile. 'Just a cabin I sometimes borrow off a nice old couple. I get it for free in return for the upkeep.'
'Oh' said Parker, and turned her eyes back to the bit of road in front on them that was visible in the dancing yellow cone of the headlights. Sighing she leaned her head on the cold window and stared instead out into the impenetrable blackness that was a forest at night.
*********************************************************************
Parker sat on the big, blanket covered double bed and stared hard at the opposite wall. She was wearing one of Jarod's shirts and her underwear and her knees were pulled up tight to her chest. Jarod emerged from the bathroom, likewise ready for bed and was about to say something when saw her fixed, taut features and sighed.
She didn't move as the bed dipped next to her but as a pair of strong warm arms pulled her into an embrace she broke and started to sob into his chest. 'It's ok' he soothed her, his words muffled in her hair. 'Hey now, it's ok baby'
Parker took several deep shuddering breaths then started to sob again. Her tears wet through the shirt he was wearing as he cradled her head against his chest and rocked her gently back and forth. 'Shh, Parker, it'll be ok'
'He ordered me killed.' She mumbled quietly through her tears. There was nothing Jarod could say to that but he silently damned Mr Parker for being able to do this to such a strong, beautiful women. 'He didn't succeed.' He told her. Gradually the tears began to abate.
'What now?' asked Parker into his shirt after a while.
'I assume you've quit?' said Jarod dryly. She snorted and sat up but continued to cling to him. He stroked her hair with the hand that wasn't holding her to him. 'Now,' he informed her, 'we get as far as possible from anyone who wants to lay so much as a finger on you.'
Jarod's protective tone made Parker feel warm inside and his strong arms were like a barrier to the cares of the world. Curled up on the bed with him in that moment in time, nothing mattered, her father, and her duties, and the Centre went away. She wanted it to last forever. Even long after she had fallen asleep, Jarod continued to hold her, willing away any nightmares. Eventually he detangled himself and lay her down on the bed, stretching out next to her and pulling the blankets over both of them. There was an immediate feeling that she was too far away so he once again pulled her into his embrace and drifted off to sleep to the soft sound of her breathing.
Tbc... (eventually)
Disclaimer: What was that? Sue my pants off? If you insist, but it won't be pretty.
A/N: OK, I admit it, I did have this one in the can, and also half of the next chapter. I wasn't going to post but I'm review starved. Chapter three could take from one day to a month. Talk to my teachers. Maybe counsel them about their apparent need to give me lots and lots of homework. If you want, take a shotgun to the consultation.
Naomi awoke from where she had been dozing in the living room of the small mansion, half keeping watch with Parker's gun, not that she was expecting trouble. Someone was bashing against her door and bellowing her name. She realised it was a deep male voice. It had to be Jarod.
Taking the safety off the gun and cocking it so there was a bullet in the barrel she went to stand in the corridor outside the room where the prisoners were being kept. 'What do you want?' she said loudly through the door. The banging stopped. 'Open the door!' came the reply.
'You think I'd fall for that one Jarod?' she asked, amused, but wondering how he had escaped the ropes.
'I mean it. Open the door.' He put command into his voice and Naomi caved.
'Alright. Lie on the floor. I'm putting a bullet through the door at chest height so if you're still standing I'd watch it.' There were faint scuffling sounds inside. She listened until they were stilled and then let of a few shots through the door then quickly opened it before the prisoners could move. What she saw inside knocked her momentarily speechless.
Jarod stood slowly, his dark eyes boring into her. Between them lay Parker; too flat and still to just be unconscious. A trickle of blood ran down from her hairline.
'What did you do?' hissed Naomi.
'She's made my life hell for a long time. So I banged her up a bit then strangled her. I was just wondering if you would lend me a knife so I could give her a few brands. If not, I'll just have to use my fingernails, and you just don't quite get that same clean cut.' He used a conversational tone which made his words that more shocking.
'You're crazy'
'Shouldn't have tied me up. It's what happens with people like me.'
Naomi was still in shock and staring at the body. After a moment she stepped into the room and knelt down beside the prone form. Jarod didn't waste the opportunity. His movement was a blur, and then Naomi was lying half slumped over Parker.
Sighing and dropping his pretend, Jarod knelt next to the two bodies and rolled Naomi away from Parker and into the recovery position. Switching his attention back to the brunette, he took her wrist in his hand and felt for her pulse.
Whilst he waited, he studied her peaceful features. Stroking a wisp of hair back from her forehead he spoke the word to bring her out of the self- induced coma.
'Time to wake up now love' he said gently. Nothing happened immediately. There was a heart beat, then another, then her chest rose and filled with breath. Jarod watched with a small smile as she woke up.
When her eyes opened, he dropped her wrist, already missing the feel of the soft skin but knowing that she would not tolerate his touch when she was awake. Her pale blue eyes looked in to his and a brief look of confusion crossed her face before it passed and she attempted to sit up. Placing one hand firmly on each shoulder he held her down.
'Sit still for a moment. Your muscles have been oxygen starved, let them adjust.' Parker relented.
'Did...' her voice petered out and she had to swallow and wet her lips before she could speak. 'Did it work?' she asked, her words bare of their usual force. Jarod smiled fondly at her. 'You did a good job' he assured her. She returned the smile. Reaching up with one hand she wiped off the blood from Jarod's wrists that he had painted onto her forehead then made to sit up. This time he didn't stop her.
She looked over at the unconscious form of the blond that had abducted them. 'What did you do to her?' She asked half-curious.
'She'll wake up in an hour or so with a headache.'
'Hah. Payback'
'Yeah' Jarod grinned. Pushing off the floor with his hands he stood and offered Parker a hand. To his surprise she took it and actually allowed him to help her to her feet. He didn't point out her indiscretion, but stored it away as one of those precious moments when the ice queen melted.
Thankfully Naomi had left the door of the room open so escape was as easy as just walking out. Jarod didn't waste any time in heading for the front door. Hypnotising Parker into the deathlike state had taken a while and the Delaware Centre sweepers would be there soon. 'Wait a minute' Parker told him as they were just about to step out the door. He paused and looked at her questioningly but she just turned and went back into the house. He followed a few steps behind.
Parker went back into the room were they had been imprisoned and bent over the body within. Jarod leaned against the door way with his arms crossed and watched her. Parker extracted her 9mm from the blond's flaccid grip, checked the clip, tucked it into its holster then straightened and walked out again without a word. Jarod let her walk past then shut and locked the door behind them.
On the way out for the second time Jarod grabbed a set of car keys from were they had been hanging on a hook and they were just about to step out the door for a second time when Jarod put on hand on Parker's shoulder to stop her and cocked his head on one side to listen. 'What?' said Parker.
'Shh... Hear that?' said Jarod quietly. Obligingly Parker listened. 'I can't... she started to say but Jarod shook his head and turned sharply to head back down the corridor. Parker glanced once at the closed door and followed.
'Better hope this place has a back door' he told her as he strode rapidly through the house. 'What did you hear?' she asked him in frustration. There was the sound of a door banging open behind them. Jarod grabbed her hand and broke into a run. Passing a set of stairs they broke into the kitchen and crossed it quickly to a door on the far side.
Jarod tried the handle then kicked it down. Parker heard shouts behind them and was pulled round the corner just in time for she heard bullets thudding into the wall beside the door. They dashed around the side of the house together and were faced with a view of a collection of dark cars parked in the street in front of them. Jarod only paused for a second, then kept running. In a spilt second of trust, Parker followed him.
There were no sweepers still in the cars for they had assumed that Naomi had the two prisoners restrained. Unfortunately none of them had gone as far as to leave a key in the ignition. Jarod didn't pause. He indicated a car and got in the drivers side. Parker got in the passenger side.
'Down' Jarod commanded her the second she had closed the door, 'lock the door.' He was bent with his chest on his knees and his head under the dashboard. Parker obeyed and a second later the engine purred into life. There was the sound of shots and one of the back windows shattered. Parker clenched her eyes closed and hugged her knees. The car jumped forwards and swung around in a tight circle, then the acceleration pushed her backwards. She didn't sit up and was glad when a moment later a bullet went in the back windscreen and out the front one.
Jarod dipped his head briefly but kept driving like the hounds of hell were on his heels. To him, they were.
*********************************************************************
Pretender that he was, Jarod soon lost them. He drove out of the side streets and onto the main interstate freeway. He reached over with one hand to stroke Parker's hair and she finally dared to release her death grip on her knees and sit up. Neither of them said anything.
After driving on the freeway for a long time Jarod pulled onto an exit ramp then took successive turns into smaller and smaller roads until they were running down a dirt track. 'Where are we going?' asked Parker, breaking the three hour long silence. Jarod looked over and gave her a wan smile. 'Just a cabin I sometimes borrow off a nice old couple. I get it for free in return for the upkeep.'
'Oh' said Parker, and turned her eyes back to the bit of road in front on them that was visible in the dancing yellow cone of the headlights. Sighing she leaned her head on the cold window and stared instead out into the impenetrable blackness that was a forest at night.
*********************************************************************
Parker sat on the big, blanket covered double bed and stared hard at the opposite wall. She was wearing one of Jarod's shirts and her underwear and her knees were pulled up tight to her chest. Jarod emerged from the bathroom, likewise ready for bed and was about to say something when saw her fixed, taut features and sighed.
She didn't move as the bed dipped next to her but as a pair of strong warm arms pulled her into an embrace she broke and started to sob into his chest. 'It's ok' he soothed her, his words muffled in her hair. 'Hey now, it's ok baby'
Parker took several deep shuddering breaths then started to sob again. Her tears wet through the shirt he was wearing as he cradled her head against his chest and rocked her gently back and forth. 'Shh, Parker, it'll be ok'
'He ordered me killed.' She mumbled quietly through her tears. There was nothing Jarod could say to that but he silently damned Mr Parker for being able to do this to such a strong, beautiful women. 'He didn't succeed.' He told her. Gradually the tears began to abate.
'What now?' asked Parker into his shirt after a while.
'I assume you've quit?' said Jarod dryly. She snorted and sat up but continued to cling to him. He stroked her hair with the hand that wasn't holding her to him. 'Now,' he informed her, 'we get as far as possible from anyone who wants to lay so much as a finger on you.'
Jarod's protective tone made Parker feel warm inside and his strong arms were like a barrier to the cares of the world. Curled up on the bed with him in that moment in time, nothing mattered, her father, and her duties, and the Centre went away. She wanted it to last forever. Even long after she had fallen asleep, Jarod continued to hold her, willing away any nightmares. Eventually he detangled himself and lay her down on the bed, stretching out next to her and pulling the blankets over both of them. There was an immediate feeling that she was too far away so he once again pulled her into his embrace and drifted off to sleep to the soft sound of her breathing.
Tbc... (eventually)