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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.

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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."

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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.

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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!!"

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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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