Disclaimer in part 1

"I can’t believe this is happening!" Miss Parker complained, "This is NOT happening! How many times have I said that in my lifetime? And guess what, Jarod, everytime, it HAD TO DO WITH YOU!"

Her tirade was driving him nuts, but she had good reason. They were handcuffed (HER handcuffs) together and were rushing for their lives through the thick woods with only a small flashlight to help them see the path. The rain was down to a drizzle for the time being but the lightning and thunder continued their assault.

"Why didn’t we just knock the crap out of those bastards and make them run for their sorry lives?" she asked Jarod, who was in deep thought as he held her hand firmly, dodging limbs and stepping over rocks and fallen branches, but being mindful of her wounded leg.

"This gives me time to think."

"What?! We are being hunted like animals and you have to think?"

"They said they’ve done this earlier today. I know that place they spoke of. There might be someone out here who need our help."

"I don’t want to help anyone, I just want to go home," she griped. Why is he always thinking of everyone else? Why is he always wanting to help? She needs help, for crying out loud. Now he’s quickened his step, deliberately dragging her. She shouldn’t have complained.

"How far?" she questioned, softer this time, just in case.

"About 2 miles."

"Noooooo," she whined, "not two miles. Will you slow down?"

"There’s an old mine shaft about a mile away, we’ll stop there to rest. We’d better hurry. The rain won’t hold off for long."

*******

They stood at the mouth of the abandoned mine trying to assess the situation.

"I’m not going in there," Miss Parker objected.

"You can stay out here if you’d like."

"Have you forgotten? Where you go, I go?" Miss Parker pointed out, clanging the cuffs that joined their wrists.

"Then let’s go, I’m getting soaked."

"What if there’s a wild animal in there?" she asked, jerking him back.

"I guess we’ll find out," Jarod said forcefully, succeeding to drag her inside. "Here, hold this," he said as he hander her the flashlight. Jarod guided her hand toward his mid section and proceeded to work on the cuffs. He used his belt buckle pin to unlock the metal from their wrists.

"Why didn’t you do that earlier?" she questioned.

"Would you have allowed me to hold your hand?" he questioned back. There’s that teasing again. Miss Parker shrugged her shoulders coyly. "Perhaps," she responded. She was teasing too...must be the cold, stale air.

They brushed off the water from themselves and took off their outer shirts. As they began to settle down, a muffled sound alerted them to the darker part of the shaft. This time, Miss Parker didn’t have trouble shielding herself with Jarod’s body. She grabbed his arm with one hand and grasped the back of his shirt with the other.

"What was that?" she whispered worriedly on the back of his neck, giving him chills...that air must really be cold and stale. Jarod pointed the flashlight toward the sound but the light was too faint to illuminate but only a few feet in front of them.

"It didn’t sound like a big animal," Jarod tried to sound reassuring, "probably just a critter finding a dry place, too."

The lightning flashed and Miss Parker tightened her grip on Jarod’s arm. The silence after the thunder cracked was unnerving. "There it is again," Miss Parker said softly. Jarod proceeded to walk toward the sound, with Miss Parker firmly attached to his back.

"Miss Parker!" Jarod voiced lowly, "loosen the grip, please. You’re cutting off the circulation in my arm." Just to spite him, she tightened her hold even more and Jarod winced at the pain. He decided to ignore it and stopped mid-stride to listen. Miss Parker loosened her grip when she heard the noise again.

"It sounds like crying," she noticed.

Jarod pointed the light toward the sound and called out, "Who’s there?"

"Please don’t hurt us," a woman’s voice came weakly from behind a big rock. Jarod and Miss Parker heaved a sigh of relief.

"We won’t hurt you, we’re here to help," Jarod offered gently.

Slowly, a man limped from behind the rock, towing a little girl with one hand and a very pregnant woman with the other. Jarod noticed the blood-soaked pant leg on the man and quickly came to his side. Miss Parker hurriedly aided the pregnant woman and guided her to sit by her husband. The little girl turned on the flashlight she was holding and held it up toward the ceiling, illuminating the area dimly.

"My name is Jarod and this is Parker. Let me have a look at your leg."

"Are you a doctor?"

Jarod and Miss Parker exchanged looks as if they were in on a secret joke.

"I have been."

The man stretch out his leg and Jarod cut the material with his pocket knife to reveal a very bloody bullet wound. So many questions on each other’s minds.

"My name is Brad and this is my wife, Molly, and our daughter, Rebecca. We thought you were them," Brad said, his voice cracking with emotion. Miss Parker saw Jarod tense up and knew that anger was rising up in him.

"You’re very lucky," Jarod began his assessment, "this isn’t too severe. But it needs to be cleaned out and bandaged to be clear of infection."

"Give me your knife, Jarod," Miss Parker said, snapping her fingers. Jarod was reluctant but trusted her anyway. Miss Parker saw the suspicion in his eyes and she gave him a knowing look, her eyes twinkling. She took the knife and made slits on the hem of her shirt and ripped two strips. She went over to the entry way and soaked one strip where the water dripped continuously. She handed the cloths to Jarod and stood back so he can work on Brad. Jarod watched the whole scene in wonder, staring at Miss Parker as if she’s grown another head. She smiled, an eyebrow raised. She so much enjoys shocking him.

Jarod tended to Brad and finally asked what happened. Molly offered the explanation.

"We were camping out in our camper at a secluded area where no one else was around for miles when three men with guns barged in on us. They ransacked our place and ran us out of our campsite." She began to tear up at the recollection of their ordeal. Miss Parker put a hand on her shoulder and Molly continued. "They played a hunting game with us. They said that they were giving us a few minutes head start then there were going to hunt us down. We tried to run away as fast as we could. One of the men tried to hurry us along by shooting near our feet. With them being drunk, they fired too close and hit Brad on the leg. We thought you were them, that’s why we hid. Rebecca is afraid of lightning and thunder so we couldn’t keep her from crying." Molly was now crying. Then she put a hand on the underside of her stomach and groaned.

"When are you due?" Miss Parker asked gently, worry clouding her face. She looked over at Jarod and he was displaying the same concern.

"In three weeks."

"Why don’t we try and get some sleep," Jarod suggested, "I think we’ll be safe for now."

The family huddled together and tried to sleep. Jarod and Miss Parker sat across from them, leaning on the posts that held up the beams above. The flashlights were turned off and they sat in the dark silence. The lightning flashed and the thunder roared occasionally, causing Rebecca to whimper. Jarod heard Miss Parker try to get comfortable and he also heard her shiver. He was getting chilled himself with only a t-shirt and wet jeans.

"Are you alright?" he whispered so not to disturb the others.

"No, I’m not," she said annoyed.

"Can I suggest something?"

"What?"

"Promise you won’t hurt me?"

"If it’s going to make my life easier, I promise."

"You can come closer and we can keep each other warm" Jarod suggested, "for survival purposes only, of course." Before he can suggest it again, Miss Parker scooted over and Jarod felt their sides touch.

"This is not working."

"How’s this?" Jarod asked as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "This is only for keeping warm, Parker, nothing more."

"I’m holding you to that," she challenged as she rested her head on his shoulder and planted her hand flatly on his chest. They were both surprised at how comforting this was. It even felt natural...as if they’ve done it a thousand times before.

"Um, Jarod?"

"Yeah?" he answered distantly.

"You’re caressing."

"Sorry," he replied as he stopped the tender stroking of her arm and shoulder.

"Miss Parker?"

"What?" she asked sleepily.

"You’re snuggling."

"Deal with it," she snapped, burying her head deeper in the crook of his neck and bringing up her legs so her knees rested on his lap. She smiled contented, felling his warmth. She didn’t really care if he was comfortable or not. She was going to take full advantage. Jarod shook his head and moved to accommodate her. He, too, smiled at their position, drawing her closer to him. He’s not getting any sleep tonight...to many things to figure out.

*******

A couple of hours later, Jarod tried to awaken Miss Parker who was sleeping cozily in his arms. His arm was numb and his back hurt but he allowed her to sleep on him anyway. Damn, he’s too nice.

"Parker, wake up."

"What’s going on?" she asked grogily.

"Shh, I have some things to take care of," he whispered as he tried to untangle himself from her.

"I’m coming with you," she insisted.

"No, you have to stay here and watch out for them. Besides, you have to stay off your leg." Miss Parker nodded.

"You’d better be careful," she warned.

"Didn’t know you cared," he smirked.

"I don’t," she lied blatantly. "I just want to get back to where it’s warm and dry."

"Parker, if I don’t..."

"You’ll get it done and you’ll get back here," she said confidently.

"You trust me?"

"Completely." So she just admitted something to him, who cares at this point. People’s lives are at stake and he is their one hope of getting out of this predicament. She can afford to be supportive. Damn, she’s getting nice.

Jarod smiled at her warmly before he disappeared into the darkness. Miss Parker smiled back weakly and tried to go back to sleep. No chance in that.

For hours, Miss Parker sat, watching the Morrison family sleep...or try to. Molly moved and groaned a lot. She looked out the mine opening and was thankful the rain has stopped and the moon peeked out of a break in the clouds, casting a soothing glow.

"Where is Jarod?" she thought worriedly. It shocked her that she was worried about him and this family. There has been way too many admissions on this little adventure already...it was freaking her out. Can she really have 'nice' in her veins? Does it have to be Jarod who brings it out in her? Are those really tingles that run through her when he’s near? Damn, she becoming soft...soft on the stinking, handsome lab rat.

She got tired of sitting so she carefully stepped out of the shaft into the open area. The smell of the earth after the rain was somewhat intoxicating. She pushed the sense aside...she CANNOT enjoy this. After a few moments, her ears perked up and her heart began to beat faster. She heard rumbling from a distance, the sound of a vehicle approaching.

"Jarod," she hoped loudly.

She waited behind a tree just to be safe and listed as the sound became closer and headlights pierced the darkness. It was someone of a 4-wheel ATV (all-terrain vehicle).

The machine stopped at the mouth of the mine and the figure dismounted, calling her name.

"It IS Jarod," she thought joyfully. Then she stopped herself for being too excited. After all, he might think all this glee is for him. She limped toward him, revealing her position.

"Jarod!" she called out as she got nearer. He hurried to her side and grabbed her by the waist with one arm. Did he just hug her? No. He was just helping her...you know, the hurt leg? And what was she doing? Hanging on his neck like she has this need to be close to him? She reminded herself that it was the hurt leg again.

"Is everything...okay?" she asked expectantly.

"Things are taken care of. You’ll see when we get back to the cabin."

TBC