Pangolin Cabin: outside, after lunch

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker had a date for later in the day with Jarod, but for now? More of the political thriller that Liz had loaned her, and sunlight. Yay for sunscreen, lawn chairs, and short shorts.

[for time_agent, but also open to other interaction]

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack stopped a couple of feet away from Parker's chair and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Parker."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Your Jack-ness." She pulled her shades down. "How goes it?" And wow, that was uncomfortable body language from him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack gave her a half-smile. "It goes. How about you? You look like you're enjoying yourself."

He wanted to go over to her, but for reasons he wasn't entirely sure of, he stayed where he was.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker curled her legs under her, making a space for him on the lawn chair. "Sit down, no need to hover over there like that. And yeah, I'm perfecting the art of goofing off. Janet should be thrilled. At this rate, I'll never have an ulcer attack again."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack settled next to her, leaning his shoulder against hers. "It looks like you're getting very good at it. Which is a relief, because I really don't want you to have another ulcer attack. Hearing about the last one was bad enough."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

She made a face. "Wasn't much fun for me, either. A week in the clinic was boring, boring, boring. The food was worse. So bland." Parker shrugged. "I'm more careful now, honestly. And when I'm not, various people give me looks." She smiled. "Just wandering around, visiting cabins, are we?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said with a mock-glare. "Because I don't want to be visiting you somewhere that sound's that boring." Jack stretched his legs out in front of him. "No, not wandering. I was actually looking for you." He paused. "I called CJ this morning."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ohh." That explained the discomfort. "How did it go?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It was fine." Jack shifted, leaning into her. "She was very happy to hear from me. Recognised my voice and everything," he said, sounding surprised. "I'm going to see her."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Of course she recognized your voice." Parker poked him in the side. "She loves you, she calls you Chip, she's your mom. That's how it works. And yay! When?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Hey!" Jack twitched away from her with a laugh. "Be gentle. And soon. Today, actually. She arranged for a car to pick me up from the mainland this evening." He shook his head, looking slightly baffled. "She doesn't mess around does she?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Noooooo, she doesn't." Parker grinned. "You will like her. Even if she doesn't feel like your mom. Isabel and I both like her, what does that tell you? I think she hoped you and I would get serious, sometimes. Even though we both told her it wasn't gonna happen." She tilted her head. "I could do worse for mother-in-laws, definitely." She rubbed the back of his hand. "You'll do fine."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack blinked in surprise and burst into laughter. "You and I, what, married? Oh, that would work. Halfway through the honeymoon, you'd be planning where to hide the body!" Still laughing, he shook his head. "Of course I'll do fine, it's me. When don't I do fine?"

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth wasn't shifting to hide books from Parker.

Not at all.

What ever gave you that idea?

"Hey, Parker."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Liz, hey." Parker looked at her over her sunglasses. "Pull up some grass. The sun's wonderful." She cocked her head. "What're you reading?"

No, she's not grinning. You're imagining it.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth lowered herself to the ground, shuffling through the books until she grabbed one and showed it (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031215531X/qid=1148940372/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-1125043-2627317?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) to Parker. "I've just been browsing the library," she explained.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker leaned closer, and raised an eyebrow. "What's it about? By the way, thanks for this," she held up the thriller, "I'm just at the point where half the cast is dead. Damn, this is good."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"A teacher and a student at a Connecticut boarding school. I just chose a stack and randomly chose a few books and the mun has just read it," Elizabeth said. "Not a problem. Great author; there's a very good sequel to it, and apparently there's going to be another book with Corey as the main character."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Cool. I may borrow it from you later." Parker sighed happily. "Yay for fiction, and lazy days off, and books. Did you see that there's going to be a book fair in a week or so? I plan on stocking up." She cocked her head. "Speaking of teachers. Did Idiot Boy get out of here okay?"

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"No problem, you're always welcome," Elizabeth said, smiling. She bounced slightly on the grass. "I did, yes. Yay books! I've got a long way to go to rebuild my collection, damnit." Elizabeth nodded. "Left on the Saturday before camp started, and arrived in Cairo on the Sunday where he sent a *handwavey* email."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's something." Parker frowned, thinking of Dr. Pierson, and shook her head. "Hey, did you get that thing together for the trip to D.C. you were talking about? I want to know when it is, and drag Jack along."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth tilted her head, concerned. "You okay, Parker?" she asked. "No, not had a chance to speak to anyone about it yet and the mun has another paper to write still. You'll be the first - or possibly second - person to know anything as soon as I do."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Worried, a little. About Dr. Pierson. And Jack." Parker rubbed her head. "And I had a fight with Rory. Not the best weekend ever."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"What's up with the former and is there anything new to worry about for the latter?" Elizabeth asked, leaning foward onto her elbows, frowning. She winced slightly, moving her weight off the left side onto the right instead. "Oh, that sucks. Did you want to talk about it?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Just haven't heard from him. And I hope he's allright." Parker deliberated, then said, "Jack just left to visit CJ. I'm hoping it goes well, he's nervous about it. Though he won't admit it." She glanced away. "I really can't talk about the fight. Except that I think I'm in the right, and Rory thinks she is, and I don't know how we're going to work it out. Since there's no way to prove a negative," Parker added bitterly. "And evidently I should mind my own business, no matter what."