"Big Top"
PART 2
Disclaimer in Part one
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Sorry this took so long. I wasn’t sure whether or not to repost Part 1 (for those who forgot what it’s all about). If you need me to, I’ll send you part one. FEEDBACK PLEASE??!! I’m not begging, just asking really hard.
SUMMARY: J/MP Adventure Series

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The trio walked through the back lot of the Circus. Broots looked around with child-like wonder and amazement. Sydney smiled at Broots’ child-like wonder and amazement. Miss Parker walked with a steady step, determined to find the Ringmaster’s trailer. A clown bounced around her, making her want to blow his happy face off. She ignored his presence and kept looking around for the man in charge.

"Where’s the Ringmaster’s trailer?" she finally asked him.

"What do you want with that old geezer?" The clown asked confused.

They were all confused at that question. "What do you mean, old geezer?" Miss Parker was losing her patience. "I want to see the Ringmaster? Jarod?"

The clown laughed, "Jarod’s not the Ringmaster. He just filled in that one time when the old coot had laryngitis. Are you Miss Parker? Jarod said you’d be coming around looking for him," the costumed man said as he stared at her in wonder.

"What are you staring at?" Miss Parker asked annoyed.

"You’re not quite what I picture you’d look like. A couple of the trapeze gals have been hitting on Jarod and he kept saying something about a tough, mean, over-bearing, intimidating, don’t-mess-with-her woman that he has to answer to. I figure that would be you?"

"What, did you picture me like the wicked witch of the west?" Miss Parker asked.

"Oh no, ma’am, just didn’t figure you to be so good-lookin’ and..." he trailed off, looking her up and down, "so nicely packaged."

"Your reputation precedes you, Miss Parker," Sydney commented, smiling. Miss Parker smiled at him smugly.

"Well, if Jarod isn’t the ringmaster, where is he?"

"He’s over there with the..," the trio looked toward where the clown pointed, "well, he was over there a minute ago."

Without warning, a whip wrapped around Miss Parker’s waist and she was pulled gently backwards toward the person on the other end. She smiled knowing exactly who it was but pretended to resist a little. She was turned around and came face to face with Jarod who pulled her even closer until their bodies molded into each other and their faces were only inches apart. "Hi," he whispered close to her lips.

"Hi yourself," she breathe out, caressing his lips with her breath.

"Did you miss me, Parker?"

"You know it." Miss Parker kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck, not caring on who might be watching or brooding.

"So, who ARE you pretending to be?" Miss Parker asked with interest, eyeing his skin-tight pants, bare chest, and whip in hand.

"I’m the lion-tamer," Jarod responded proudly, "told them I had experience."

Miss Parker narrowed her eyes at him, "Where would you have had experience?"

"I tamed you, didn’t I?" Jarod teased.

"Get me alone tonight and I’ll show you how UN-tamed I am," she purred.

"I’ll make sure to bring the whip," he seduced, kissing her again lightly.

"Ahem!" the clown cleared his throat, "if you two don’t mind, we have a show to do, Jarod, and a plan of action to discuss."

"Oh right," Jarod acknowledged. He slowly separated himself from Miss Parker, his body protesting. He turned to the clown and introduced the trio to him, "Billy, this is Miss Parker, Broots, and Sydney. They’ve come to help. Billy is my undercover partner."

"We could use all the help we can get!" Billy exclaimed. "Follow me and I’ll show you around." Broots’ face lit up and he jumped for joy. "I just LOVE the circus!"

Miss Parker looked at Jarod and noticed he was trying to suppress a grin. She eyed him suspiciously. "What are you up to, Jarod?"

Jarod kept walking, ignoring her question and avoiding her gaze. Miss Parker was getting miffed. She stopped him abruptly and stood in front of him, holding him by the shoulders. With her heels on, she was able to meet him eye to eye. She saw the mischief in his eyes and tried to read his intentions. Jarod gave her a smirk and a wink. Miss Parker closed her eyes in exasperation, gritting her teeth in defiance.

"I love you," he bartered, gently holding her by the waist.

"No, Jarod," she shook her head, pushing away from him.

"You promised you’d do anything for me."

"No, no, no." She kept walking away from him.

"The job goes down tonight, then it’s over," he said trying to keep up with her, sporting a grin that could probably get him killed.

"NO!" she yelled as she stepped into the tent where Broots, Sydney, and Billy were standing. They all smiled at her amusedly, but didn’t say anything. Miss Parker glared at all of them. Billy told Broots and Sydney what Jarod had planned for Miss Parker and they were anxious to see if Jarod can pull this off with her.

"Wipe that grin off your faces or I’ll shoot it off!" she barked. The men pressed their lips together in obedience. She walked away from them toward another part of the tent where all the costumes were stored. They followed after her, silently questioning Jarod. He motioned for them to leave it to him. Broots and Syney shook their heads. ‘There’s no way she’ll do it,’ they thought, ‘even for him.’ They waited while Jarod ushered her away to persuade her. Boy, they were tempted to take bets.

After long minutes of intense persuasion, Jarod and Miss Parker walked back to where the three were standing. By the look on her face, Jarod won--this round. He either had a lot to bargain with or he was in deep crap in debt to her.

Jarod picked up an outfit from one of the racks and held it as he stood in line with the other three men. Miss Parker was not happy. She paced in front of the men like a general ready to inflict pain. "If you ever mention this to anyone," she said menacingly, "or make reference to this EVER after today, you will suffer a very painful death. DO (tapping Billy on the chest) YOU (Broots winced at the pain on his chest) UNDER (Sydney’s was barely a tap, but he got the message) STAND?" (That one will definitely bruise Jarod’s chest, as soon as the cut from her sharp fingernail heals)

"Yes, ma’am," they uttered in unison.

Miss Parker snatched the outfit from Jarod’s grasp and stomped to the dressing room.

The men took a sigh of relief. Broots and Sydney congratulated Jarod for achieving the impossible. Billy was dumbfounded at the power of the woman. Billy left their company to get the other costumes for Broots and Syndey.

"How did you manage that?" Broots asked in awe.

"After this job, I promised her she can parade me down the Centre halls in handcuffs."

"What?" Syney asked concerned.

"Then," Jarod continued, "I take her to Paris for a nice vacation," he laughed.

Sydney was relieved. "That’s actually a good plan. Mr. Lyle and Mr. Parker have been on Miss Parker’s case about your capture."

"She would look good for bringing me in, then Lyle would look bad for letting me escape."

"In other words, Jarod," Broots smiled, "she owns you for the rest of your life."

"That would sum it up."

Billy came back in and showed Broots and Sydney what they had to wear. Their faces fell at the sight of it.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Broots whined.

"I should not have been too amused at Miss Parker," Sydney stated dryly.

"Sorry, men, it was the only thing left," Jarod apologized.

"Are you sure there’s nothing else we could wear?" Broots begged.

"Why do I even have to participate?" Sydney asked wearily.

"Sorry, Syd, we need you on this one."

Miss Parker returned in full costume, minus the make-up. Broots and Sydney didn’t even take notice-- they were too disappointed with their garb. Miss Parker turned to them and wondered about them "What? No snide remarks, Broots? No patronizing comments, Sydney?"

"No, Miss Parker," they both responded sadly and quietly.

"What is wrong with you two?!"

"At least you get the cool clown outfit, we get this," Broots held up the two piece horse costume. Miss Parker burst out laughing. "And I get Paris," she gloated and gave them a honk on her prop horn.

"Let’s find a place to meet. This place will be packed with people who will be getting ready for the show tonight," Billy said seriously.

They grabbed their gear and met at one of the empty trailers to discussed their plan of action of exposing the drug deal.

TBC