Changing Tides by Stefi, admin

1. 1 by Stefi

2. 2 by Stefi

1 by Stefi
Changing Tides part 1
By Stefi

Disclaimer: The characters Miss Parker, Sydney, Jarod, Broots etc. and the fictional Centre, are all property of MTM, TNT and NBC Productions and used without permission. I'm not making any money out of this and no infringement
is intended.


Author's note: This story was inspired by a movie (with Stallone, I think) I saw once, in tv. Well, I saw something here and there, really. I don't know the title and why the characters were in that mess. Only, I thought it was perfect for our heroes. Maybe some of you will recognize the movie or maybe not.
Be kind with me, I'm a little muddling.

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Changing Tides part 1
By Stefi

"This way!" Jarod shouted to the others, while the water ran after them. He jumped in the canal and stretched his hand out to Eric and Josephine, who needed the most help to cross the water. Parker, further on, was holding up little Adele, handing her over to her father, already on the other side. Then Paul, Laura, Davis and at least Parker.
"Faster! Faster!" she yelled. The water was only at their knees, but the violence of its push was threatening to make them falling down and be taken away in the running water. Which was what happened to Rose, Laura's friend and the other man. They all had seen him dragged away by water, his eyes open and fixed. Rose, instead, had vanished, literally. Parker still heard Laura's cry, (Rose!! Where are you?), the young girl wanted to search for her friend but there was no time. They had to run, run to save their lives.
Another boom, more violent than before, caused stones, wooden pieces, and others to make them to stop and search for refuge. Eventually, the stone rain stopped, the water seemed to have slowing its course, but the survivors didn't stop. They kept on walking through the water. Josephine collapsed and Eric tried to hold her up, but she was tired.
"Jarod!" Parker called from behind "Come here."
Jarod went back to the old woman. She was breathing hardly, trembling and soaked to the bones. She needed to get out of there, to some hot place and with medical cares. She wasn't very old but right then she looked weak and fragile.
Jarod couldn't do anything for her. "Okay" he said to the others "We stop to rest for few minutes."
"Do you think it's wise?" asked Todd, Adele's father.
"No, it would be better to keep going. But we are all tired and need to rest." They seemed doubtful. "Just for a minute." repeated Jarod.
They all tried to sit somewhere and began to rub their arms to warm them. Parker asked herself for the hundredth time how had she ended in that mess. She was in this absurdly named town for 'a little vacation', so her father had called it.
'Why he wants always send me on vacation!' She had been bored to death! And then, the evening before leaving, she had seen Jarod! By chance! In the same town for God knows how many days and she ran across Jarod the last of her 'little vacation' days!
She had followed him in the subway; and then taken the same train without him seeing her. She had checked the carriage, there were few people: two guys, about 20-25; a man with a child, clearly his daughter; an old couple, married for a long time, and a dog sat at their feet; two girls about 16-18, chatting and whispering; a man reading a newspaper, with a hat on his head. Parker had approached slowly her prey, sat with closed eyes. Jarod had looked up to see Parker in front of him and his surprise had been priceless for Parker.
But before she could do or say something, pandemonium happened.
The train was stopped so abruptly that everyone in there was thrown above the seats. Then everything began to tremble so hard that it was impossible stay still. And then an awful rumbling started, there was an explosion, pieces of glass came in, shouts and cries, the train rolled on its side as the water came in, dragging everything and everyone with it.
They had managed to get out from the carriage, how? Parker still didn't know, but the water's violence was hard to fight and the man with the hat was ended drawn away and so had Whistle, the dog. His master still took the leash in his hand. Rose had disappeared.
'And here we are,' Parker looked at the people around her, 'in a trap for mice, underground, and with no idea about what to do or how get out'
"You're okay?" asked Jarod.
"What do you think, Wonder boy?" she hissed.
He smiled and said, "At least, you're not wearing those miniskirts of yours or your stiletto heels."
"Yeah," she smiled too, but with fake enjoy. "This is really my lucky day, isn't it?"
"We have to get out fast," he whispered "Josephine can't stand it anymore, she needs a doctor or-" Jarod looked at his feet.
"Or she'll die," Parker completed, nodding. She had the bad feeling that the old woman would not last enough to see the daylight again. But she chose to keep this thought for herself. Jarod stood up.
"Okay, let's go." And he helped Eric with his wife, as Parker helped the others.
They walked through tunnels and canals, climbing up and sliding. They turned left, then right, and right again until they lost their bearings. Jarod had no idea about the direction or where the way out was. But there was only one way, luckily, and it had to go somewhere, right?
'Wrong!' He thought and he stopped. In front of him were two ways, now.
"Now what we do?" asked Davis.
"We take one of them." Parker's voice was cold and annoyed. 'This guy is a bore!' She thought.
"Yeah? And how can we know which is the right one?" Davis insisted, looking at Parker almost defiantly "Do we guess?"
"No," intervened Jarod. "First we take a look, and then we decide." He talked to Parker "Come with me." And before following her, he said to Davis "Let me give you one good advice: never argue with Parker! For your own sake." And he went after the hot-tempered woman.

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Broots looked around himself as he went into the Sydney's office. The elder man was at his desk, a pen in one hand and many sheets in the other. He was really busy but smiled to the nervous co-worker, who seemed concerned about something.
"What happens, Broots? Are you bored without Miss Parker?"
The bald man didn't smile at the joke and became more nervous. Sydney frowned and repeated, "What happens?"
"Do you know.. Miss Parker.. " Broots looked again around himself "Where is she?"
"Of course, my friend, and you too." Syd didn't understand "What's the matter?"
"There.. Where she is.. Something happened, uh, an accident.. Pretty serious.."
Sometimes Sydney understood Parker's lack of patience.
'Why this man finds so difficult to get to the point!' he thought.
"An accident, I see. And so, Broots?"
"The subway there, uh, where she is, I mean, ah, it collapsed in a couple of points and.. There are corpses and missing and.. " his voice faded out.
"And you are thinking about Miss Parker." Sydney nodded "But I think there's no reason to worry, Broots. She's not the kind for the subway." Broots nodded, doubtful.
"Well, if you are worried, then call her on the cell. Even if we officially don't know where she is, we can call her if it's necessary." Broots seemed more and more concerned.
"That's the problem, Sydney. I didn't succeed in calling her. Her cell was out of use."
Sydney felt a chill in his heart but he tried not to worry "Maybe at the hotel-"
"They haven't seen her" Broots cut him off "Miss Parker went out yesterday evening and she's still out." He began to panic "I know, Syd, there could be many reasons to explain these facts, an improvised trip, a man, but.. Syd, I'm worried, I can't help it!"
Sydney nodded, worried him too, now. "Let's go!"

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"How long are we staying down here?" Parker asked to Jarod.
"Don't know. Maybe six-eight hours, maybe more."
They had taken the way on the right. It wasn't an easy way but it was leading up and this was a good sign, hopefully.
"Hey!" called Davis from behind "Do you know where you are leading us?"
"I'll wring his neck." said Parker to herself.
"Calm down, Parker." smiled Jarod "He isn't the first moron you had to stand."
"Hey! I've talked to you both!" Davis grabbed Jarod's arm "Where are you leading us?"
"Out, I hope" Jarod looked in Davis' eyes "Have you some magic lamp to help us getting out of here?"
Davis left his arm and made a step back.
"Or maybe have you some idea? If it's so, please talk."
Davis shook his head "No idea. I was only asking."
Parker's eyes narrowed 'A little idiot who thinks to be cool.'
Suddenly, a rumbling shook the walls!
"Run!" shouted Parker, grabbing Davis and Laura. Jarod tried to help Josephine, as Paul, the other guy, took Eric's arm and Todd protected Adele. They ran faster than ever, trying to avoid the stones that were rolling down all over. The noise of running water was frightening and again they had to fight against its violence.
Eventually, the trembling stopped and they slowed their run.
"Parker!" called Laura "A light!" Parker ran ahead, splashing water around, and the others behind.
There was a large cave, with guiding-lights in the corners, some wooden form and on a stair engraved in stone there was a full-size crucifix. Everyone collapsed on the forms. Jarod helped Josephine to sit and Eric took her in his arms.

"It looks like a church," said Laura, looking around.
"What's the purpose?" asked Todd.
"Maybe to bless the subway?" said Davis "It didn't work, in this case."
"Always comforting, you, uh?" hissed Parker.
"It seems to you there's something to be glad about?" shouted the guy.
"Maybe not, but certainly you don't get things better!" She shouted back.
"Please, stop it," cried Laura.
Paul took her hand "Don't cry, everything will be okay."

Davis looked disgusted his friend "Really? And how do you know?"
Paul sprang up and shouted "Davis, stop it! Understood? Parker is right, you're a pest! Where will be all of us if those two weren't here? You know what I think? If our lives were depending on you, we would all dead!!"
"Okay, now stop, all of you!" said Jarod with strength in his voice. "We are only wasting our forces instead of resting." He looked at Parker "You really are not able to stay calm!"
"No, Wonder boy!"
"Better if you do it," and Jarod went back to Josephine.
Todd asked him, low voice, "A really tough woman, isn't she?"
And Jarod, with same tone, "You don't know the half of it."

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Sydney once again checked Parker's car but there was no sign showing where she could have gone. Broots was very depressed "What do we do, Syd?"
"Are you searching for the owner of that car?"
Sydney turned and found a couple of little boys, ten-twelve years old, who stared at him and Broots.
"Yes. Did you see her?"
"Uh-uh. Yesterday." nodded one.
"She was gorgeous!" smiled the other. Sydney smiled too.
"Please, can you tell us where she's gone? It's important that we find her."
"In that way" the first boy pointed at the street in front of them "She was following her boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? She was with a man?" asked Broots, suddenly angry "And we, here, to worry about her!"
"She wasn't WITH a man" said the second boy "She was AFTER a man!" Syd and Broots exchanged looks.
"And can you describe this man?"
The boys looked at each other and shrugged.
"Tall, dark dressed, and cool"
"Cool?" asked Sydney, amused.
"Yeah! You know, cool!" the boys nodded as if the idea was clear enough.
"And she's gone that way" repeated Sydney, pointing his own finger behind him.
"Uh-uh. She seemed really pleased. As.. As a cat eating a mouse." They nodded again.
Syd smiled "Thank you. You've really helped us" he grabbed Broots' arm and took their way.
"Do you think what I think, Syd?"
Sydney nodded "Jarod. He's the only man that Parker could be gone after" They walked in the direction pointed by the guys. And they stopped dead!
Ambulances, police cars, firemen..
The street leaded to the subway!
Sydney turned pale with anguish and Broots got hold of him.
"Oh my God!"
"Syd.. Listen.. It doesn't mean anything. You know, maybe they didn't go in the subway. You'll see, they will be okay.. Come on, sit on this bench" Broots kept on talking to his elder friend, trying to encourage him. But the truth was that he too was afraid.

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Parker was checking the cave, trying to find a way out.
'It has to be close,' she thought 'It must to be close.'
She beckoned to Jarod "How's Josephine?" she asked with low voice.
"She's dying." Jarod sighed.
"I think it has to be a passage somewhere, real close."
Jarod looked around himself "I hope you're right, because otherwise..."
Parker stared at him, stunned "Jarod! Do you want to give up?"
"No, but... " He looked in her eyes as if he was going to say something. But he shrugged and walked away.
Parker stayed still, looking Jarod as he went close to the old woman.
Adele began to cry, softly "I want to go home" she whispered. Todd held her tight "Come on, sweetheart, soon we'll be at home."
Parker thought about Syd and Broots and she thanked the Lord they weren't there.
'At this moment, they surely know what's happened'
She watched Todd soothing his daughter. Her father never did it for her.
Laura too tried to reassure the little girl "Your father is right. Soon we'll be out, and besides they are searching for us, you know? Up there, they know we are here."
"And who told you so?" Davis' voice was sarcastic.
SBAM! Parker punched him on his nose with all her strength. She bent over the guy, whom was stunned and speechless, and she grabbed his T-shirt. "I tell you once, Davis, SHUT UP!"
He nodded eagerly, trying to stop blood from his nose. The others looked at each other, half smiling and half fearing.
"Never argue with Parker," whispered Todd to the guys beside him.
Jarod shook his head, resigned, "Parker, would you please calm down?"
She was going to make some sharp remark, when she stopped and pricked up her ears. "What's this noise?" she asked.
Jarod listened carefully but shook his head "I don't hear anything."
Parker kept on listening, moving to the direction the noise came from. Adele said "It's like a screeching sound."
Parker nodded and asked, "What the hell it is?"
Now all of them can hear the noise, more and more increasing and getting near. Slowly, they all stood up.
"I don't like it," said Jarod "This is not a screeching, it's a squeak!"
"RATS!!!" shouted Parker. They all searched for refuge, as a myriad of rats ran in their direction.
Everyone shouted and cried, Parker stared at the animals with disgust and fear: rats can be dangerous, if one of them decides that you are to its taste.. But they didn't seem to be interested at the humans, for they ran wildly away. Parker followed with her eyes, the way taken by the rats, as Laura cried hysterically and the men swore.
"Jarod!" she yelled and with her head indicated the rats to him. Jarod nodded as if he had read her thoughts "They are running away! Toward salvation!"
"Behind the crucifix! The way out has to be there!"
They both moved through the water, to check the wooden cross and there it was! A passage hidden in the wall!
"Help me to move the crucifix!"
Jarod inserted himself in the tunnel and lighted on the lamp.
"Can you see anything?" asked Parker.
"Another cave, full of water" he said, moving the lamp all around "A stair! It leads... to... EXIT NUMBER 18!"
Parker turned to the others "Come on, this way!"
Jarod ran to Josephine and Eric as Parker helped Laura, who was still crying. Parker looked straight in her eyes.
"We don't have to fear rats, we have to FOLLOW them. They know the way out!" Laura seemed to calm down.
"Okay" the girl nodded "Okay" and she inserted herself in the other cave.
"Be careful, there's water all around. Be careful!"
"Parker!" called Jarod and she ran to him and the old couple.
"What happens?"
"He doesn't want to leave her"
Parker looked at Josephine, in Eric's arms: she was dead.
"Come on, Eric" whispered Jarod but Eric shook his head.
"No. I won't leave her." He choked the tears down and stared at Parker "I won't!"
"Okay, Eric" she sighed "Then I'll stay with you." The two men looked at her, stunned.
"We have lost three of us, down here," she said, "and I will NOT leave anybody else. If you want to stay, I'll stay with you." Jarod stared at her with a weird look.
"But are you sure that she would you doing this?" she asked. Eric was crying, caressing the cold cheek of his dead wife.
"Help me to lay her down," said Jarod and they put the woman beside the crucifix. A last look and they followed their companions, who were trying to reach the stairs. It wasn't easy, water made the way very slippery. But slowly, they reached the old iron-stairs.

"Okay, people," said Jarod "Now, one at a time, we go up carefully, keeping us steady, okay? Todd, you're the first, so you can help the girls." And Todd went up. The stairs were trembling and squeaking, but everyone passed through it without problems. Jarod was still on the stairs when they heard a barking dog.
"Whistle!" Called Eric. The dog appeared through the running water and the old man tried to reach for what was left of his family.
"What's on your mind?" shouted Parker as Todd grasped Eric's arm.
"I want Whistle! Parker, please!" cried the man. The others tried to persuade him to let go. But Parker and Jarod understood why Eric wanted the dog so badly: he needed Whistle; the dog was all he had, now.
"Okay," said Jarod, "now I take him, okay?"
"Let it go," shouted Davis, "It's only a dog, what do you care?"
Parker narrowed her eyes, "Hey you, the life of that dog is worth as much as yours. He has the right to live!" 'Unlike from you!' she thought.
Jarod leaned out to reach for the dog but he missed him.
"Come on, Whistle," incited Eric. "Make an effort, come on!" The dog disappeared under the water, and then re-emerged and Jarod leaned out again "Come on, doggy, come here"
Whistle swam towards the stairs again and tried to jump. Jarod grabbed the dog collar. "Gotcha!"
They all laughed when the poor dog, soaked to the bones, shook off the water.
"Come on," said Laura, "Let's follow the rats!"
Suddenly a violent rumble shook the walls. Jarod was still on the stairs and fell down in the waters.
"JAROD!!" yelled Parker. Todd tried to drag her inside but she wriggled out of him and jumped in water.

The water was cold and dark; she couldn't see anything. She moved her hands around in the water but found nothing.
'Jarod? Where are you?'

Todd was searching for any sign from Jarod or Parker. It was absurd! They were so close to the way out..
Eric held Whistle and cried, thinking about Parker's words: leave no-one behind...
Davis was insisting to go away but nobody paid attention to him...
Parker emerged, gasping for air, and called, "Jarod!"
She took a deep breath and plunged in again.
Everyone waited with hope and fear.
Parker emerged again, alone, another deep breath and down again.

Parker moved around and then her hands found some hair, an head, a nose... Jarod! She inserted her arms under Jarod's arms and swam towards surface.

A cry of relief was the welcome for the two, when they emerged. Todd shouted "Hold on! We'll find a way to take you up!" But there was no time; another rumble and more stones fell down.

"The passage is collapsing," yelled Paul.
"We can't leave 'em there," shouted Todd.
"Todd!!" called Parker "Give me a lamp!" Todd threw a lamp and she caught it "Now, go away!"
"But Parker-"
"Go away! Before it's too late! Follow the rats! We'll find another way out! GO!" The passage collapsed and Parker swam to the side of the cave, to protect from stones Jarod, still passed out.

The group ran behind the rats, without stopping. Todd ran and cried, holding his daughter's hand. 'I shouldn't have to leave them!'


End part 1

Feedback: ste.piro@inwind.it
2 by Stefi
Changing Tides part 2
By Stefi

Disclaimer: see the part 1

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Silence. No more rumbling. Only their breaths.
Parker looked at Jarod, his head on her shoulder.
"Jarod," she called him, "Jarod" she shook him lightly. But no answer. Parker wanted to cry.
"Damn! Jarod, don't you dare dying on me or I swear I'll shoot you!"
She shook him again and Jarod moaned softly. "Come on, Wonder boy, we have to move."
"Pa- .. Parker.. " he whispered hoarsely, "What's happened?"
"A part of the cave collapsed, you fell into water."
"And you? What happened to you?" he remembered Parker in the passage, but now she was in the water, with him, right?
"I... I was... on the stairs, yes, on the stairs and.... you see," she lighted the now dangling stair with the lamp Todd left her.
"You fell down also?"
"Uh-uh" NEVER she would have admitted she had jumped in water, for him.
"The others?" he asked.
"They managed to pass through. But the passage collapsed," the lamp lighted the stones obstructing the way. "We have to find another way out."
"Oh God, I'm exhausted."
"I know that, but we have to come back to the carriage," she began to swim towards the first cave.
"Parker, I can't do it," breathed Jarod.
"Bullshits! If I can do it, then YOU can do it. Come on!"

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Todd and the others went out through a manhole cover. Doctors and nurses and policemen ran to help them.
"Was there someone else, down below?" asked a fireman and they looked at each other with tears in their eyes.
"Another two. But the passage collapsed, they didn't manage to.. to.. " Todd choked the tears and let the doctors take him away.

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It seemed to Parker that they had been swimming for hours, but to Jarod it seemed centuries. His lungs were crying for air and his right leg hurt like hell. He was tired and weak. Parker felt him, rather than saw him, swimming to the surface. They emerged and caught their breath.
"Jarod, what's up?"
"Parker, I-I.. I can't.. I.. " the pain in his voice was unbearable for Parker. This is Wonder boy! He could everything!
"You can do it. You can, Jarod!"
"My.. my leg, Pa-Parker.. it.. it hurts.. I can't.. " he tried to speak clearly. Parker almost panicked. A voice in her head shouted 'NO! IT CAN'T END THIS WAY! I WILL NOT SURRENDER!'
She talked with reassuring voice, "Jarod, I know you are tired and cold and hurt, but we can't stop, not now." She tried to sound safe to his ears "I'll take you myself. You grab yourself to me. Come on." He slowly moved towards her and together, they re-plunged in water.

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At the E.R., the survivors were waiting, hoping for news. No one was seriously hurt, except for Eric who needed more care because of his age. Todd was the most depressed; he kept on thinking he had let down Jarod and Parker. No matter what Laura and Paul said to comfort him, Todd felt like shit. Even Davis was still there, pacing back and forth, listening carefully every time some ambulance talked to the E.R. through the radio. Whistle lay down on the floor, its ears down. The dog was waiting, too.

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Parker helped Jarod to lie down on a large stone. They had seen a light through the water and were emerged to find out they were in another cave, maybe one of the subways stops. The light was caused by a big hole in the ceiling. 'Natural light,' she thought as she tried to check Jarod's leg.
"It has to be morning outside," she said. Jarod nodded and moaned for a sudden pain. He needed a doctor. And he was so pale.. 'We HAVE to get out,' she said in her mind.
"Now, you'll rest for awhile. Okay?" Parker stood up and looked around herself. Water was everywhere and nothing useful for climbing up to the ceiling. There were many large iron poles, of course, to support the vault. But it was impossible to move one of them. Too heavy, and too dangerous. The hole was the only way. Something passed through it. What's that? She narrowed her eyes.
A sea-gull!
"We are near the sea," she said to Jarod. "There's one stop that leads to the bay. It has to be this one!"
Jarod looked at her, "I don't see the advantage to knowing where we are," he whispered. Parker walked to him, with a threatening attitude.
"Now, Wonder boy, you'll find a way to reach for the ceiling. We'll get out through it."
"And.. how?"
"YOU ARE THE GENIUS! YOU FIND OUT HOW!" she yelled.
Jarod looked at her stunned and confused. He was barely able to breath, and she wanted him.. ?
"A sim, Jarod. Come on, Wonder boy, do you want me thinking there's something you CAN'T do?" she smiled with mockery. Jarod felt his pride coming up.
Giving Parker a way to make fun of him? No way!
He sat on the stone and checked the situation.
"Do you see those white boxes on the poles?" She nodded.
"They have inside safety material, lamps, batteries, things of this sort, and if we are lucky.. " he stared at Parker, ".. Explosives."
"Explosives?"
"We have to make explode that wall," he pointed to the wall on the other side, "You see the water running along it. If the wall crash, the water will fill up the cave and we'll swim to the ceiling."
Parker looked at the wall, then at the ceiling and she nodded. "Okay, it can work. It must work!"
She plunged herself in the water. It was low, just at her waist, but cold as ice. She reached for one of the pole and opened the box: there was a lamp, some batteries and a small packet with the writing, "Handle With Care: Explosives" on it.
"Here it is!" she said triumphantly.
"Don't wet it!" Jarod watched her going to another pole.
He felt more and more weak, but he had to hold on. For her.
"Okay," she gave him the packets, "Now?"
He began to prepare the necessity, trying to stay focus.
"When I'm done, you'll put this in that crack, you see it?" she nodded, "and then you'll have twenty-thirty seconds to come back and get ready. When the water starts to fill up the cave, you'll have to-" She cut him off.
"Why do you talk in the singular? Where do you think you're going?" Jarod would have laughed if he had the force.
'Always the huntress,' he thought.
"With my useless leg? Nowhere, Parker. I think you'll have to get out alone."
She looked in his eyes. He wasn't kidding.
"No way," she stated quietly.
"Parker!"
"No, Jarod! I already told you; I will NOT leave anyone behind me!"
"Parker, listen; supposed that the explosion doesn't kill you, you'll have to protect yourself from the violence of water; supposed that you don't end slammed against the wall, you'll have to reach for that hole; and supposed that you manage in it, you'll have to swim with all your strength, to win the whirlpool of the water that comes back. The last thing you need is a dead weight at your feet!"
"That is MY problem! You keep yourself stuck on me."
Jarod wished to slap her, but chose to complete his task, 'Stubborn, crazy woman!' he swore as she again plunged herself in water.
Parker put the explosive in the crack and came back.
"Come on, Jarod. Stand up and don't let me go." She ordered. He looked at her as if he had never seen her. She was soaked and in a bad shape, bruises and cuts all over. But to him, she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
Jarod stood up, setting his teeth, and he leaned on her.
"Parker" he whispered "listen.. "
She looked at him and what she saw in his eyes made trembling her heart.
"No, Jarod. Don't say anything you'll regret later."
"There might not to be a 'later', Parker"
"Oh, there will be, Wonder boy! Count on it!"
And Jarod laughed, "You never surrender, right?"
"No," she stared in his eyes, "And neither should you"
The explosion took them by surprise. The two felt themselves slammed against the wall by the water, and the stones beat them on arms and legs and heads. Jarod tried to swim to help the efforts of Parker but it was too hard; he passed out. Parker felt an unbearable pain at her head and on her back, but she rejected the idea of giving up. The water was filling her mouth and her lungs, Jarod's weight hindered her movements but not even for one moment she thought to let him go and she persisted in searching the hole over them. With another effort, she managed to put them both in the water stream that pushed them up, up, up, OUT!
For a second she felt bewildered, the fresh air and the sun light made spin her head. But immediately, she began swimming again to fight the water that threatened to take them back. She grabbed Jarod with firmness and swam with all her strength against the stream.
"SONOFBITCH! LET US GO!" she roared as her only useful arm cleft the water "WE'LL NEVER SURRENDER!"
Another stroke.. another.. and at last free!
Parker kept on swimming towards the port.
"Jarod! Come on, Wonder boy, we made it! Jarod!"
Jarod heard her voice, "Parker!"
"We made it, Jarod! We're out, in the bay! See? We're out!" Jarod looked at the sky, the sun, the sea-gulls as he coughed and gasped. A boat revealed its presence with a hooter. Someone on it shook his arms as signal. Parker shook her arm as well. The boat slowly got closer and Parker moved Jarod
"Help him! His leg is useless." Many hands grabbed them and the two were covered with blankets. Jarod searched for Parker's eyes.
"I told you so, Wonderboy. We've made it." she smiled.
'No. You've made it, Parker,' he thought.

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At the hospital, the radio began to shout
"This is Unit 12 to Polyclinic"
"This is Polyclinic, Unit 12. Situation?"
"We have two survivors of subway. They got out through the sea. One of them has a fractured leg and-" the frequency cracked "-- hypothermic-" the nurse shook her head disgusted.
Todd called her "Please, nurse, can you ask the names? They could be the two we were with."
The nurse looked at the man and the people behind him. They were waiting for hours and seemed really anguished. She tried to re-connect with the ambulance.
"Unit 12, this is Polyclinic. Can you hear me?"
The radio cracked again, "Very bad, Sue."
"Do you know the names of those two?"
"No. The one with fractured leg is a man, tall and dark, a mole under his right eye"
"Jarod" said Adele, smiling to her father.
"The other looks like a woman, but maybe she's a devil run away from hell. Better don't arguing with her.."
"PARKER!!" An explosion of voices welcomed the last words and Todd and Laura and the others began to laugh and cry and hug each other. "They've made it! They've made it!" Whistle too jumped and barked and hugs and kisses came for him too.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Meanwhile Sydney and Broots too were walking to the E.R.
"They will know something about Jarod and Miss Parker. The accident's victims are all taken there. Luckily, it happened in night hours, the accident, I mean, and so there weren't many.. " Broots realized that Sydney wasn't listening. The man was still pale, as he walked fast, and he moved silently his mouth. Broots understood Syd was praying.
The moment they arrived, they saw Parker among several people.
"Miss Parker!" cried Sydney and ran towards her, followed by Broots. The woman turned to see her co-workers smiling widely. Alarmed, her eyes searched for sweepers but found none and she relaxed, "What are you doing here?"
"We were worried, Parker," said with kindness the elder man.
"We heard of the accident here, and we.. uh, feared, you know, ah, something.. " Broots' voice broke because of emotion.
Parker looked at them and saw the moisture in their eyes.
"Don't get sentimental, please," the words were dry, but the tone was gentle, "I'm okay, Syd."
He only nodded, not trusting his voice to be steady, and smiled, "I feared.. feared.. "
"It's okay. I'm here"
"And Jarod? Is he okay?" asked Broots
Parker's eyes became unreadable, "Jarod? Why do you think Jarod is here?" The two men exchanged confused looks.
"Well, Miss Parker.. uh, those guys, yes, they said.. ah, you were after a.. a man and, and then we.. we thought.."
"Broots" she whispered threatening, "I do NOT run after men. MEN run after me," Broots nodded eagerly. Why was this woman always treating him like shit?
"Anyhow, he wasn't Jarod, luckily, it was enough the mess we were in, thank you," and she stared Todd and Laura with a clear message in her gaze, 'You've NEVER known Jarod.'
They made a sign with their heads: message received.
Sydney didn't miss this exchanged of looks and smiled, realizing the truth: Parker was lying. Jarod was there and for some inexplicable reasons she didn't want them to know it.
Now she was arguing with a doctor who wanted to check her health state.
"I'm okay, I don't need a doctor!"
"I'm sure, miss, but what about some dry clothes and a hot coffee? And so, while you change I give a look to your leg. I see you're limping."
Before Parker could say something harsh, Sydney answered to the doctor. "Of course, she will let you do your work, doctor," Parker gave him a withering look but he pretended not to see. "Come on, Parker, don't act as a child."
She sighed and eventually followed the doctor.
Broots took a breath of relief, "What about a coffee for us too?"
"Not for me, Broots. Thanks." As the bald man went away, Sydney heard someone behind him mutter, "Never arguing with Parker." The man he saw before with Parker, was standing there with a smile. "She's a little.. nervous?" Todd laughed and so did Sydney.
"Sir, you have to be very proud of your daughter. She.. " The man searched the words "She is a brave and strong woman, really. We couldn't have made it, without her."
"Are you everyone okay?" Sydney asked with concern.
Todd nodded and stated "Only thanks to Parker, Sir."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Broots stopped the car to the traffic-light and waited for green light. He glanced at Miss Parker in the back, through the driving mirror, but he didn't see her.
Sydney, noticing the confused look of his friend, turned his head. Parker lay on the seat, deeply sleeping.
With tenderness, Syd removed some hair from her cheek.
"God! Sydney, she seems passed through the hell"
The old man nodded and, looking at her, smiled.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jarod was sitting on the bed, his leg carefully bandaged, and chatted with his bad-luck-fellows.
"Do you know how Parker is doing?" he asked.
"She's doing well, I think, because she's gone." Todd told him.
Jarod nodded, trying to hide his hurt. Did he really expect she would stay?
"I thought she was your girlfriend," said Paul, as if he had read his thoughts.
"No," answered Jarod, "She's.. just a friend." But his face was saying she was more to him.
"She's gone with her father," Todd wanted reassure his friend but his words seemed alarmed him. "And another bald man," Jarod relaxed, if there was Broots, then the 'father' was certainly Syd.
"She didn't tell them you were here," Laura informed him. "She made us clearly understand that we don't have to mention your name."
"Are you in some trouble, son?" asked Eric.
"Not the kind you can think about."
Jarod caressed the dog and smiled to Adele, "You okay, little one?" The child smiled back and nodded.
"But I was so afraid!" she whispered, with a shy smile.
"Me too," he admitted.
"Really?"
"Uh-uh. And do you know when I was afraid, really?"
"When?"
"When I fell down in water. I didn't manage to re-emerge. I didn't understand where the surface was. And I was afraid and cold and tired and it was so dark.. I was really afraid. Then I felt two hands on my head, two arms under mine and someone was taking me up, air, light.. and the tender voice of Parker saying.. 'don't you dare dying or I'll shoot you!'" Everybody laughed, "You know, I shouldn't say it, but.. I am glad she fell in water. The truth is that she saved me.. I gave up, I.. " Jarod noticed the strange looks of his friends "What?" he asked.
"Parker didn't fall in water, Jarod. She jumped in it." Paul said.
"You didn't emerge," Adele explained "and she plunged herself in three times before she found you."
Jarod looked now at one, then another, amazement on his face.
"And when you both emerged, we wanted to.. but the passage collapsed and Parker told us to go away, that you two would find another way and.. " Todd still blamed himself for going away, but Jarod didn't listen to him.
"She said.. she fell in.. she lost her balance and.. she fell.." he searched a confirmation of Parker's words on their faces, but they shook their heads.
"No, Jarod. She really jumped in it."
Jarod stroke his head as if in this way he could clear his thoughts.
"On the other hand.. " began Eric ".. if she said she fell, then she really fell. Do you want to argue with her, my friend?" the old man asked with a wicked grin.
"No, no, thank you." Everybody laughed at his worried look. Eventually, they all said goodbye and wished a good luck to each other and Jarod was left alone.
He needed a little time to digest all the information given to him.
Parker lied. She had stayed back. Intentionally. For him. She hadn't wanted to leave him. -I will NOT leave anyone behind me- She could have died. They both could have died. She knew this. And she could have gone, with the others. But she had chosen to stay with him! But then, maybe she didn't hate him! Maybe she felt still something for him and maybe.. maybe.. he didn't imagine to heard her shouting his name, with so much fear in her voice, so much.. hurt?.. and maybe.. even..
A pillow flew through the room!
"Parker! You drive me mad!!"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



After some days
Miss Parker's home

"I'm okay, Syd! In which language do I have to say it?" Parker was clearly exasperated "No! No, Syd, I do NOT need anything- Yes, I'll go to sleep, now.. " she breathed deeply and rolled her eyes "Okay, Freud! Now I'm hanging up. PLEASE, DON'T WAKE ME UP TO ON CHECK ME, BYE!"
And she slammed the phone down.
"Good grief!" she said aloud "Not even a mother would be so oppressive!"
"He cares for you," said the well-known voice of Jarod, behind her.
"Christ! Jarod, don't do it again!"
"Sorry. Didn't want to scare you"
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at hospital."
"I was, and that's why I didn't call you. I couldn't. There was a damn nurse who looked after me like a dragon! She never left me alone." Jarod was still angry at the memory. "So, I'm escaped"
"Again." Parker stated.
"You would do it too!"
"And now? Why are you here?"
Jarod seemed embarrassed, "How you're going?"
Parker sighed, "I'm okay, Freud junior"
"Really?" he stared at her with concern and curiosity and..
'Why is he here? What does he want?'
"Parker. Are you REALLY well?"
She leaned to the wall and lowered her eyes. This was not Sydney. This is Jarod, and Jarod was hard to fool. He was there; he knew what she had on her mind.
"I'm.. always cold," she said, "I take boiling baths, I drink hot tea all day, I wear my warmer clothes, but I'm still cold."
Jarod nodded, "I know, it's the same for me. It seems to me that I'm still in that water as if the cold was inside my bones" He searched for her eyes but she still stared at her feet. In the low light of the room, he could see only her eyelids. Her eyelashes drew a shadow on her cheeks. He wanted touch her, so badly.
Instead, he coughed, trying to strike an attitude. "Thank you for stay back with me.. there." he whispered.
She looked up but avoided his gaze "Not that I had some choice, Wonder boy"
"You had it, Parker," he got closer to her, "You didn't fall down. You jumped. I know that now."
Parker lowered again her eyes.
"You stayed back to help me, and you haven't told anyone in the Centre about me. I know that too."
Parker embraced herself, 'What do you want from me, Wonder boy?'
"Why, Parker? You could have gone with the others, your problems would have finished, this way"
She shook her head "I.. I couldn't leave you, there," her voice was a trembling whisper, "I simply couldn't." She had left so many people, behind her. She couldn't loose another one. She couldn't stand it, not again.
"Oh, Parker," she felt his arms around her, "don't cry, it's all over, don't cry."
When had she begun to cry? Parker realized suddenly she was sobbing in Jarod's arms and she was grabbing at him with so much despair.
"I couldn't leave you there, I had to find you but.. but I.. I didn't see you and it was all so dark and cold and I couldn't find you.. I didn't find you, Jarod!"
"Shh.. But you found me, I'm here, you found me and you had never let me go. I felt you hold on, firm and strong, I felt your bravery, you never gave up on me. That's why I'm here, now. Because you never surrender."
He held her tightly, caressing her head, whispering in her ear, trying to soothe her sobs.
How it happened? Jarod didn't know, but suddenly he realized that his lips were on hers, moving against hers, relishing her mouth and tears and tongue and cheek.
'Heaven!' was his only conscious thought.
Then he let himself get intoxicate with her scent, her taste, her warmth, as his hands caressed her back and hips. He felt her moaned in his mouth, and her arms around him and her fingers through his hairs and-
DRIIIIINNN! DRIIINNN!
The ringing phone tore them apart sharply. Jarod jumped back, looking around himself, deeply bewildered.
Then he looked at Parker, shocked and gasping just like him. 'Oh God! We were KISSING!'
The phone stopped to ring. And in the silence, they could almost hear the heartbeat of each other.
"Sorry, Parker," he whispered.
"Don't worry. It's okay," she whispered too, not looking at him. Jarod licked his dry and burning lips. He wanted more. He wanted everything.
"Sorry," he repeated. It wasn't true, he wasn't sorry at all, but what else he could say?
"I'll go now" he grabbed his jacket and looked at her once more, her glittering eyes, her soft lips...
He disappeared in the dark. Parker stayed still and breathed deeply. Then she turned off all the lights and went up to her bedroom. She lay down on her bed, without stripping herself.
She knew she couldn't sleep, not with the emotions overwhelming her heart and body.
One question was tormenting her mind: if the phone didn't ring, what would have happened?

End
Thanks to Sabrina!


Feedback: ste.piro@inwind.it


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