The Challenge as presented at the Fan Fiction Challenge at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ffchallange/
Oh wow, is that
really Jarod in Miss. Parker’s bed?
·
· What's he doing
there?
·
· How'd this
happen?
·
· Is this just a
dream?
·
· If so, whose
dream is it?
·
· Miss P looks
like she is a cross between sad and mad. Why does she look like this?
· · Why don't you tell me?
Anyone who has decided to participate MUST make it clear that it is a response to Mickey's Pretender Picture Challenge. Please say which challenge this is a response to since I have so many challenges. (This one is THE BEDROOM challenge.)
Title:
AVALANCHE!
ALASKAN WILDERNESS
Miss Parker stepped out of the log cabin and as the difference in temperature registered she shivered. “Damn it!” She grumbled. What the hell Jarod was doing up here was beyond her. More importantly what was she doing in this God forsaken place all alone?
As she scanned the winter wonderland she registered a movement. She focused and couldn’t believe her eyes. “Jarod” She whispered and set off after him.
The lethal game of Jarod running and Parker chasing unfolded with deadly intent in the Alaskan wilderness. “Jarod stop!” She barked finally and pointed her gun at him.
He stopped and slowly turned. “Good morning Miss Parker.”
“Don’t give me that!” she cocked the gun.
“Parker this is avalanche country even you are not that stupid to fire that thing out here.” He told her.
She flicked the firearm “Move.”
He moved in the opposite direction. “Jarod don’t test me.” She warned. He continued walking away.
She fired.
As Jarod hit the ground and his blood began to colour the snow she heard a rumble. Hypnotized by both the crimson snow and the closing rumble Parker was torn. Finally the sound penetrated her fog. Her brain screamed AVALANCHE!
She began to run at a right angle to the rampaging snow and barely made it to the tree cover. There she watched in horror as Jarod got swept up in the landslide of snow. Finally it was over and nature presented her calm cool and collected face.
Parker could not do the same. “JAROD!” She screamed and dived in to try to find him.
+ + +
An hour later she was still searching frantically. She was on the verge of tears from her frustrations.
· · Frustration at coming so close to catching him.
· · Frustration at nature snatching him away.
· · Frustration at contemplating not having him in her life.
As the frustrations grew to an unbearable level she touched something with a different texture to the ice. She quickly brushed it aside and it revealed a piece of cloth. She began to dig and after another half hour she had dug Jarod out. She cried from relief and released frustration.
It took her another hour to carry/drag him to the cabin. It was now nearly three hours since he had been exposed to the cold. She wasn’t even sure he was alive.
She was exhausted but she had to elevate the man’s temperature! In one last Herculean effort she got him onto the bed. The log fire was low and she proceeded to throw a few logs on. They were both soaked to the bone and so began to strip him down. In five minutes she had him naked and wrapped in a blanket.
“Florence Nightingale I am not.” She grumbled as she found the first aid kit and a kitchen knife and proceeded to dig out her bullet from his back. Once it was out and the wound bandaged she relaxed and instantly began to tremble.
She was cold and wet and tired. The trembling worsened.
She gazed at Jarod looking so comfortable in the bed and decided. She stripped and placed her clothes with his to dry before the fire. Just before joining him under the blanket she tossed a few more logs on the fire. Then she slipped in only to find that he as still cold so she snuggled up to him to provide additional heat.
“You die and I’ll kill you.” She whispered.
“OK” He mumbled.
+ + +
He returned his attention to the woman next to him. She smelt great and looked even better. He tightened his hold on her and wallowed in the unique experience. For a split second the fortifications around his heart dropped. He placed a gentle kiss on her head and whispered, “I love you Parker. God help me but I do.” Self-conscious of the declaration he coughed and the battlements went back up.
He relaxed with her in his arms and went back to sleep. The pain in his arm didn’t feel so bad now.
Parker had been up before Jarod and was instantly aware that he had awoken as he fidgeted. Then she heard him declare his love. She almost reacted but decided against it. She felt him relax and fall back asleep. For a few minutes she indulged a fantasy of being married to this man. Then dismissed it and she too fell back asleep.
+ + +
Jarod awoke again and this time the fire needed attending too. Reluctantly he disentangled himself from Parker and headed for the pile of logs. When he returned he realized that she was awake and watching him. “Didn’t mean to wake you.” He apologized.
She said nothing as she watched him. Parker had awoken the instant he had left her side. Somehow the bed felt cold without him. She felt alone in the bed so she had sat up and watched Jarod as he moved about the room.
He placed the logs on the fire and the heat began to rise again. Was it the logs or was it he?
Finally Parker spoke. “I’d never regarded you as …” She started again. “I always thought of you as Jarod on the run. The Pretender to be returned to the Center.”
“And now?” He probed.
She soaked in his naked form. “Now… it seems different.”
He reached for his undergarments and put his pants on. He remained barefooted and bareback. Parker closed her eyes. This was worse! His being half dressed made him even more desirable. She braced herself and stepped out from under the quilt. She couldn’t remain pinned to the bed with Jarod half dressed.
The sudden movement of Parker casting the quilt aside startled him. Her shapely form emerged. She was well tanned with not a tan line to be seen. It was his turn to admire the view and he stared unabashedly as all Parker put on was his shirt which acted as a mini dress. He groaned.
“You ok?” she had heard him. She didn’t know it was pain or pleasure causing the reaction.
“My arm.” He lied.
“Sit!” she ordered. She examined the wound and changed the dressing. “Better?”
He nodded. “You shot me.” He accused.
“I warned you.” She defended.
“I told you not to.”
“That you did.” She smiled. He stared. “What!” She snapped.
“You should smile more. It becomes you.” He complimented her.
“I smile.”
“I’m not referring to that Vampire snarl you use so well.” He replied. “I mean smile!”
She changed the topic. “What the hell are you doing up here anyway.”
He contemplated her question and decided to be honest and not run some line by her. “We’ve known each other a long time. The relationship if you can call it that has waxed and waned…”
“Whoa! I asked a simple question Jarod.”
He nodded. “I came up here to seriously contemplate dropping out of the chase.”
Parker had expected any answer but that. “Explain <<Dropping out of the chase>> does that mean a return to the Centre?”
“Hell NO!” On that he was adamant. “I’m tired. I found my brother although he’s now dead. I’ve also found my parents and sister. If I choose I could go to ground and you’d never find me… and I so choose.”
“If you could have disappeared so quickly why didn’t you do so!” She demanded.
“Strange as it may seem I needed the link to the Centre. That is where the answers to my search lay. There’s nothing there for me now.”
“Nothing?” She felt hurt.
“There’s nothing there for you either Parker.” He insisted.
“My family runs the place. My history is intertwined with the place as much as yours.” She pointed out.
“There may have been a time that was so. Not anymore Parker. It is safe to assume that your father is dead. You know Lyle better than I – LEAVE!” he begged.
“… and do what? Go where?”
He had his opening and he took it. “Come with me.”
“To play happy families?” She snorted in scorn.
He was not deterred. “As I said I was dropping out of the chase – not the human race.” That got her attention. “I was raised to be Pretender. Like all kids what I do with my training is up to me. I intend to continue my work but without the Centre on my trail. You know I can do it.”
She stared at him for a moment then whispered. “Without the Centre or without me?”
“The choice is yours. Come with me. Shed the center from your life.” He continued to urge.
It was a big decision and unexpected she needed time and she said so.
“Agreed. You have until we can get out of here.” He replied.
“… and if I haven’t decided by then?” She challenged.
“Then you haven’t decided.” He replied.
Jarod was familiar with the cabin and gave her a quick tour. She brought him up to date with news of Sydney and Brootes. He in turn entertained her with anecdotes of his adventures. Never once did they discuss the impending decision.
Time was against Parker and two days after the topic had been raised Jarod broached it again. “It’s time.” He was sober and dressed for the outdoors where as she was stretched out on the sofa comfortable in her sweater and leather pants.
“I can’t” She wailed.
“That your decision?” His heart was breaking.
She stood and began to pace her boots making no sound on the wooden floor. “Help me.’ She whispered.
He heard. He reached out and grabbed her arm effectively stopping the pace. Throwing caution to the wind and kissed her. This was not the kiss of two twelve year olds. They were both experienced adults. She parted her lips and deepened the kiss. Finally they came up for air.
“I cannot make the decision for you.” He was forlorn. “But I suppose indecision in itself is an answer. Goodbye Parker.” He turned and headed for the door. At the threshold he picked up his rucksack and turned to her. She was still rooted to the spot.
“But just for the record. I love you.” Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. “He saw the reaction. “It’s true! It’s part of the reason the chase has been so long... It’s the reason I was glad you found Tommy. It’s the reason I want you to leave Lyle and come with me.” And without further ado he stepped out into the cold and was gone.
Parker was never sure what galvanized her into action whether it was the cold gust of air that entered as he opened the door to step out or if it was his words. But suddenly her future flashed before her - one without Jarod.
He had been her first love; she’d got her first kiss from him, they’d grown up together and for the past few years she’d lived and breathed him. He was right. There was more to the chase than he run and she chase. It was time he was caught!
With grim determination she grabbed her coat, instinctively she checked her gun and went in search of her prey.
She was no army scout tracker but his fresh tracks were easy to follow. It wasn’t long before she caught up to him. “Jarod!” he stopped dead in his tracks and then turned to face her.
“You were right.” She acknowledged, “It is time for this chase to stop.”
“You taking me in?” he was suddenly tired.
“If you still want me - yes.” She replied.
He was confused. She smiled - really smiled and closed the gap between them. “The Centre, the Cabin Buckingham Palace you name it – I’ll take you there.” She winked. “… and do mean take.”
He grabbed her by both shoulders dropping the rucksack in the process. “Don’t play with me.” He growled.
“Let me be frank…”
“Please.” He interrupted only to be interrupted himself as she kissed him. She broke it finally to say. “The Centre didn’t have enough money to keep me on your trail. You were right there was more to the chase.”
“Say it.” He demanded.
“I love you.” She confessed.
“YES!” He screamed.
They grinned at each other. Then they heard it. “It wasn’t me.” She defended.
“RUN!” he ordered as the rumble of the avalanche came closer.
They made it to the tree cover in time but were still lightly covered in snow. “Parker!” He was frantic. Having just become a couple surely he wouldn’t/couldn’t lose her now? “Parker!” he screamed again.
“When you call with such authority it better be for a reason.”
He swung around and in one motion had her in a bear hug. When he finally placed her back on her feet she had one question. “Now what?”
“The pass is blocked again so we go back to the cabin.”
“Oh good.” She said.
“Oh good?” he echoed.
“Yeah.” She grinned “I meant it when I said I’d take you there.” She began running toward the log building.
“Hey!” H e protested and took off after her.
FINIS
Title: AVALANCHE!
Author: Rising Sun
For feedback e-mail me at: jagrslc@yahoo.com
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archived at: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc
Join the Fan Fiction Challenge at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ffchallange/
Rated: PG
Summary: Miss Parker catches Jarod at last but with life threatening consequences.
Classification:
Story
Disclaimer: Pretender characters are not mine. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.
Feedback: Send it.
Permission to archive: Permission granted.
Story written May 12 and 28, 2002