Title: A Quarry Found
Author: Michael Weyer
None of them belong to me. As you might guess, this is a "backstory" to "Wishes and
Desires," answering some questions as to how the Wishverse versions of Andrea and Jarod got
together here. This chapter is rated NC-17 so consider yourself warned.
Maison Beau Coeur
New Orleans, LA
September 14th, 1998 - 2201 Hours CST
The hotel wasn't a large one but it was definitely one of the best in New Orleans. With a great spot in the French Quarter and an authentic Old South design, its brownstone exterior only hinting at the five-star accommodations inside, it had become one of the most profitable in the city and it showed in its owner.
"Come on in," Jonathan Develeaux intoned as he led the dark-haired and suited woman into his office. The lavish study boasted a bookcase that took up an entire wall, a large oak desk, plush red rugs and wallpaper and the artwork had a theme for horses and sailing, Develeaux's main passions.
"Can I offer you a drink, Ms. Barnes?" Develeaux, his voice boasting a deep Louisiana accent, asked the woman who had followed him inside the room.
"No, I'm fine," the woman said as she took a seat across from Develeaux's desk. She brushed her shoulder-length black hair and adjusted her light tan jacket and short skirt. Develeaux took a seat across from her, unable to resist watching as the woman crossed her long legs before her.
"Oh, and by the way," she continued. "You can call me Andrea."
"All right, Andrea," Develeaux said, giving his best "plan to charm the pants off her" smile. "I'm a little surprised at your being here right now."
"I know," Andrea nodded. "And I do appreciate your agreeing to see me right now. I was just trying to clear this whole thing up.""
"I'm glad for that," Develeaux said. He took a deep breath and sighed. "I have to tell you, I was more than a little confused by all this. A woman I've never seen before comes to a party I'm throwing and accuses me of being the husband she was sent to prison for murdering?" He shook his head. "If you find her, I'd recommend just sending her to an asylum, not prison."
"I'll keep that in mind," Andrea intoned. "You have been quite accommodating to me. When her parole officer was laid up after that ferry incident, I was assigned to find her." She shrugged. "The life of a federal officer."
"Yeah, like Gerard trying to find the one-armed man, huh?" Develeaux chuckled.
Andrea stared at him blankly. "Who looking for whom?" she asked in what appeared to be honest confusion.
Develeaux looked back at her, a bit thrown by her not seeming to know about such an obvious reference. "So," he said, getting things back on track. "Am I the man or not?"
"According to state records, you're not," Andrea informed him. She reached into her purse and removed a sheaf of papers. "I checked the Washington state driver's license buerea and found that the picture that goes with the driver's license for Nick Parsons is of a sixty year old black man."
"Well, there you go..."
"However," Andrea cut in, causing Develeaux to stop suddenly. "It occurred to me how common a name Nick Parsons can be. In fact, there are six in the Washington DMV system." Andrea held up a photocopy of a driver's license, Develeaux's face clearly seen next to the name of "Parsons, Nicholas." All good manners had left Andrea's face as she cooly stated. "You were number three."
Develeaux set his jaw, seeming more disappointed than shocked as he looked at the paper. "I never liked that photo," he finally said. His Southern accent had magically vanished.
Andrea lowered the paper and shook her head. "You know, I've met some cunning and ruthless bastards in my time but you take the cake, Mr. Develeaux..." She paused and looked thoughtful. "Oh, no, it should be Mr. Parsons, right?"
Develeaux, or rather Nick Parsons, didn't respond. He set his jaw tight as Andrea began to recite the facts. "Now, anyone can fake their death in order to defraud their insurance company out of two million dollars. But you, Nicky boy, went the extra step. You made it look as if your wife had stabbed you on your yacht and your body fell overboard in the struggle. She's convicted of killing you, which isn't surprising since you made sure she had pretty much the most incompetent lawyer in the state of Washington. Just as you knew she would, your wife signed over both the money and custody of her son to her best friend, Angie Green, unaware that you and Angie had been having an affair for months behind her back. So you took the money, your mistress and your son and set yourself up in a new identity, leaving your wife to rot in prison for a murder that never even happened."
Andrea leaned back and crossed her arms. "Now I'm guessing you've fed your son some bullshit story about his own mother dying or something so he doesn't ask questions. You then married your mistress, which makes you guilty of bigamy since you never divorced your wife." Andrea shrugged. "Then again, seeing as you killed Angie in a supposed accident, I guess bigamy is the least of your worries."
Andrea raised an eyebrow at the startled Nick. "Let's see," she said in a nonchalant tone. "Fraud, bigamy, could argue kidnaping for taking your son away, misrepresentation and of course, murder." She gazed hard at Nick. "What do you think that's going to cost you?"
Nick had risen from his seat and stood before his desk, glaring at her. "You tell me," he said in a hard voice.
"One million dollars and I forget what I've seen," Andrea informed him. "In cash. Right now."
Nick started as his eyes widened. "I don't have that much on me," he tried to explain. "I have to go to the bank, I have to set up a big withdrawal..."
Andrea didn't say a word. She simply opened her purse and pulled out a cell phone. "Okay," Nick quickly said as she snapped it open. "Okay, okay, listen, just listen." He pointed to the wall behind him. "I've got a hundred thousand in that safe. I can give it to you now. You can come for the rest tomorrow, all right?"
Andrea appeared to mull it over before snapping her phone closed. "Okay."
Sighing with relief, Nick walked over to where his safe was located behind a painting. "We do have a problem," Andrea called out. "Your wife. If I could put this together, so could someone else, particularly with her still out there causing trouble."
"Oh, I don't think we have to worry about that," Nick said with a smile.
Andrea furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"
"Let's just say," Nick said with a chuckle. "That I've buried her once and for all. I promise, she won't be causing us any more trouble."
"You never were very good at promises, Nick."
Nick froze in place, his eyes wide with shock. He slowly turned to see the office door closing. Before it was an attractive woman with black hair framing a face that had seen more than its share of trouble. She wore a simple dark blouse and slacks, both smudged with dirt, as was her face. But what drew Nick's attention was the revolver she was pointing right at him.
"You didn't stick to our promises of marriage," Libby Parsons said in a voice of pure acid. "You didn't stick to your promises to Angie. You didn't stick to your promise to always keep Matty safe. And you definitely didn't keep your promise to take me to my son." She gave a little smirk as she stared at the shocked Nick. "So why should it be a surprise that your promise that I was out of the way is wrong too?"
Nick swallowed as he slowly backed up. "How...How did you...?"
"Get out of the crypt you locked me in?" Libby finished. "Oh, Nick, you never were good at tying up all the loose ends. You really should have made sure the crypt didn't have a window to it. It was easier to get out than you might have guessed."
Nick looked over toward Andrea, who was lounging in the chair, appearing amused at the whole scene. "Aren't you going to do something?" he asked.
Andrea frowned. "What are you asking me for? She's the one with the gun. That generally means she gets to make the rules."
Nick looked over at his wife. "What do you want, Libby?"
"You know what I want," Libby said, her voice hard as nails. "Where's my son?"
Nick stared at her for a long moment, then snorted. "What are you going to do if I don't tell? Kill me?"
"Yes."
Nick was thrown. Not just by her words, not just by the cold tone in her voice but by the look on Libby's face that indicated she was completely serious about this. Licking his lips, Nick tried to keep his voice calm. "Libby...This is Louisiana. You kill me and it's the chair."
"I don't think so," Libby smiled.
"What, you think you're going to beat this?"
"Oh, I don't have to beat anything, Nick," Libby said, a smile coming onto her face. "You made sure of that."
Nick stared at her in confusion. "What?"
"It's funny, isn't it?" Libby said. "You went to so much trouble to convince everyone that you were dead and I had killed you, so much so that I actually got sent to prison for it. And it's because of that very belief that I can kill you right now. It's called Double Jeopardy, Nick. That lovely little loophole in the American legal system that states that a person can't be tried twice for the same crime." Her smile was as wide as Nick's eyes as he realized what she was saying. "According to the state of Washington, you're dead and I killed you. I've already been arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced and imprisoned for your murder. Which means that the police aren't going to be able to do much to me for killing a man I've already been convicted of killing." She let out a tiny giggle. "I could shoot you in the middle of Madri Gras and they can't touch me."
"As both a practiconer and teacher of law, I can assure you she's correct," Andrea piped in.
Nick swallowed and realized he didn't have many options. "He's at St. Albans. It's a private school in Georgia." He held up his hands. "You satisfied? You got what you wanted?"
"No," Libby said, her gun still held at his chest. "Not just yet."
"Um, Libby?" Andrea said, appearing confused. "What are you doing?"
"For six years," Libby said, her eyes blazing with fury at Nick. "I've spent every day in a little cell, knowing my son was in the hands of a monster. Six years where the only people who believed me were killers themselves. Six years of absolute hell combined with the last few months in a little dump of a halfway house in Seattle." She calmly cocked the trigger, aiming it right at Nick's head. "And the one thing that kept me going all that time was the knowledge that when I got out, I could even things up."
"Libby," Andrea said, standing up, her face looking nervous. "This wasn't the plan we worked out, remember?"
"It's not your plan, Andrea," Libby said. "It's mine."
"Libby," Andrea continued, licking her lips. "Come on. We have him on tape saying he buried you. All we need to do is knock him out, put a shovel, some dirt and stuff in his trunk, drop the tape off to the cops and they'll think he killed you and buried your body. He'll be sent to jail for a nonexistent murder, just like you were. That's the prefect revenge. Didn't you want that?"
"Nope," Libby said offhandedly. "No, I want this."
The look on Andrea's face chilled Nick to the bone. Either the woman was a hell of an actress or this wasn't what she had been planning. She carefully walked to Libby's side, trying to keep herself from getting too close or else spook her into firing. "Libby...You don't want to do this. You want your son back, remember? You want to be a mother again."
"I am his mother, Andrea," Libby said, her eyes never leaving Nick.
"But if you kill him, then you're as bad as he is," Andrea pressed. "You'll never be able to live with yourself. You'll feel horrible every time you're with Matty. You can't look at him the same way again. Don't this to yourself."
"He deserves it, Andrea," Libby said. "You know he does. For Angie." She glared at Nick. "What was it, hmmm? Did she want too much money? Was she just in the way?"
"Actually, she got a guilty conscience," Nick calmly said. "All that time with Matty asking about his mom got to her. She wanted to tell the truth, confess everything."
"And you couldn't let that happen," Libby said. "So you blew her to bits to keep it quiet."
"I didn't have a choice," he snarled.
"And you never gave me one," Libby told him. "So why should I return the favor?"
"Libby..." Nick started. "You can't do this, you know you can't------"
The roar of the gunshot caused Nick to jump in place and let out a yell. It took him a moment to realize that the bullet had impacted onto the horse bust on the mantle behind him. Libby lowered the gun, a smile on her face. "God, I haven't felt that good in seven years," she laughed as she handed the gun over to Andrea.
Smiling herself, Andrea reached over and touched the small brooch on her lapel. "Was that enough, Lieutenant?"
The office door opened and a heavyset man in an ill-fitting suit entered, two uniformed officers behind him. "It was," he said. He looked over at the shocked Nick. "Jonathan Develeaux, alias Nicholas Parsons, you're under arrest for fraud, bigamy, attempted murder and murder."
Nick seemed to physically deflate as the officers moved in to cuff him. He weakly looked over at Andrea and Libby. Andrea was puling at her brooch, revealing the wire attached to the microphone inside it. Libby smiled as she stepped forward. "Let me give you one piece of advice, Nick, for old time's sake," she said as she leaned in. "Don't bend over in the shower."
Nick glared at her as he was led away, Libby turning toward Andrea. "You know, you had me worried there for a minute," Andrea said, wagging a finger at the other woman. "I really thought you were going to kill him."
"I was tempted," Libby admitted. "I really was." She shrugged. "But you were right. It's better that he live on in jail with his life ruined than to just kill him."
"Glad you didn't cross that line," Andrea said.
"So, now what?" Libby asked.
"Now, I send you on the first flight back to Washington," Andrea said. As Libby protested, Andrea held up a hand. "Where I think your buddy Leham will be recommending a full pardon for your crimes." She smiled. "Of course, there's enough time to send you on a short connecting flight to Georgia."
Libby moved in and gave Andrea a hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "For believing me."
"No problem," Andrea smiled back. "I know all about having your life taken away from you by someone."
The Centere
Blue Cove, Delaware
September 15th, 1998 - 1023 Hours EST
The clicking of the computer keys was the only sound in the small room. The balding man who sat before the computer had the look of a little boy playing with his favorite toy. Which, actually, wasn't too far from the truth.
"What've you got, Broots?" At the sound of the strong voice behind him, Broots turned and looked at the man who had entered the room. He was handsome, with short dark hair, clean-shaven and dressed in a nice suit that seemed a bit ill-fitting on him. He let his eyes travel over Broot's loud Hawaiian shirt and shorts and raised an eyebrow. "Aside from the worst taste I've ever seen a man have?"
"Well, I may have a lead on Parker," the computer expert said. He turned back to his computer and typed in a few keys. He leaned back, letting Jarod see the data coming in. "Last week, a woman named Libby Parsons broke her parole with a B&E at an elementary school in Washington State."
"Parole?" Jarod frowned. "For what?"
"Murdering her husband," Broots explained. "They never found the body so the jury went easy on her. She got ten years, did six and was in a halfway house when she suddenly pulled this. She was being driven back by her parole officer, Travis Leham and managed to run his car off the ferry. He was banged up and hospitalized at which point a new parole officer takes up the search by the name of Andrea Barnes."
"She does enjoy the hard luck cases," Jarod nodded. "Which means Parsons was innocent."
"How can you be sure?" Jarod looked up at Sidney Green. The elderly man who had become the father figure Jarod had never had was leaning against the wall, stroking his chin as he studied Jarod.
"Because Andrea never helps someone unless she's sure they deserve it," Jarod stated. "I know that much about her, Sidney."
"True," Sidney agreed. "Her instincts in that area are rather remarkable."
"And once again, they're on the money," Broots said. "Parsons always maintained her innocence during the trial and after a few months in prison, claimed to have discovered that her husband was still alive." He turned and tapped a couple of keys to bring up a new report. "Last night, the police arrested Jonathan Develeaux, a New Orleans hotel owner and uncovered he was, in fact, Libby's supposedly dead husband."
"So, it's New Orleans?" The three men looked up at the new arrival. He brushed at his tailored suit, trying to make sure there was no lint or stray hairs on it. His face was intense and without humor, his eyes cold as he looked at the three.
"Ah, Lyle," Jarod said, unable to keep a humourous tone in his voice. "You're looking much better now than two weeks ago."
"Shut up, Jarod," Lyle snapped. He instinctively rubbed at his suit, as if trying to make sure he was wearing it. "I swear, that sister of mine went too far last time."
"Oh, I don't know," Broots said, smiling. "I thought the photo she sent us of you in a Village People outfit being shoved into a San Francisco bar was very becoming."
Lyle's eyes were cold as he glared at Broots. "That didn't mean she should have downloaded onto the Internet along with my private phone number," he hissed. "And how did she find out my back-up number too?! I've been going crazy getting calls from a hundred homos every day!"
"Which is a hundred times more women than have ever called you," Broots shot back. Jarod had to chuckle at the way the nerdy computer expert didn't back down and managed to get under Lyle's skin.
Lyle looked over toward Jarod. "From what I just heard-----"
"Eavesdropped, actually..."
"Andrea is in New Orleans. Is that right?"
"Well, yes," Broots began. "The arrest only went down last night and it sounds like she's going to be taking Parsons back to Seattle-----"
Lyle didn't listen to the rest. He turned and snapped open his cell phone, dialing a number and immediately barking out orders. "This is Lyle. I need an immediate flight to New Orleans. I also want teams there and in Seattle, centering around the airports. I'll be in the garage soon." He snapped the phone closed as he came to the door.
"Oh, gee, thanks for inviting me!" Jarod called out.
Lyle turned and glared at him. "You're still in hot water for losing her in Chicago," he intoned. "Mr. Parker doesn't like that. He wants his daughter back and wants her now."
"He wants his Pretender back," Sidney intoned. "I do believe he stopped considering her his daughter quite a while ago."
Lyle sniffed. "It doesn't matter what you think," he cooly stated. "What matters is that I'm finding her, I'm brining her back and then me and Dad are going to have a talk about some..." He looked at the trio. "Shuffling in personnel." With a smirk, he turned and walked out, leaving the three men to watch him.
Jarod sighed and shook his head. "It amazes me that Andrea can be from the same gene pool as that asshole." He turned toward Broots. "Okay, Broots. What didn't you tell him?"
With that little smile of his, Broots clicked a key to show off a flight schedule. "Before I was so rudely interrupted, I was going to tell you how Parker has decided to take Parsons on a side trip to Georgia. It seems Parsons' son is enrolled in a private school just outside of Athens."
"You've got the address?" Jarod asked. Broots held up a slip of paper, which Jarod quickly grabbed. "You're the best, Broots."
"That's what you keep telling me," he smiled. "I'm glad for the encouragement, really. It'd be hard to work for someone who puts me down all the time."
"Ah, you know I'm not like that," Jarod said. He paused and gave Broots an inquiring glance. "Broots?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Andrea didn't download the photo of Lyle on the Internet, did she?"
Broots just gave a little smirk and Jarod chuckled as he walked off. Sidney gave Broots a smile himself before following.
"Do you think she'll still be there?" he asked.
"It's worth a shot," Jarod said. "Frankly, I'd rather get her than Lyle. At least I'd be willing to bring her back alive and intact."
"Is that what you want?"
Jarod stopped and turned to face the older man. "What do you mean?"
Sidney sighed as he crossed his arms before him. "Jarod, you're a very intelligent man, one of the brightest here. If not for her father's wishes, you would have been put in the Pretender program instead of Andrea. For a man who is supposedly so intelligent and capable, you certainly manage to let Andrea slip through your fingers quite often." He raised an eyebrow. "It almost makes one think you don't want to catch her."
Jarod rolled his eyes. "Sid, spare me the psycho-analysis." He narrowed his eyes at Sidney. "Particularly seeing as how you've done a little helping for her too."
Sidney sighed and looked down. "I consider it less helping her and more trying to atone for what I did to her over the years," he softly stated.
"Whatever the case," Jarod told him. "I want to find her, Sidney. I may not like it but it's what I have to do."
"But you don't want to," Sidney continued. "Not in your heart. You want to do whatever it takes to help her and keep her safe. I've tried to do the same so I know what I'm talking about." Sidney reached out and clutched Jarod's arm, looking him right in the eye. "I've watched the two of you since you were children here," he said softly. "I know you care about her, Jarod."
"It doesn't matter what I feel," the younger man argued, brushing aside Sidney's arm. "I still have to get her."
"Jarod," Sidney stated in a flat tone. "I know you. You're not like the rest of Mr. Parker's operatives. You can think and more importantly, you can feel."
"Two very dangerous things for people who work here, Sidney," Jarod pointed out.
"But they fit with you," Sidney continued. "I know you care for her, Jarod. I think she feels for you as well." He let out a small smile. "You'll notice that she saves the truly wicked pranks and traps for Lyle, not you."
"True," Jarod admitted. He shook his head as he turned away. "Listen, Sidney, even if, *if*, there was some...feeling between Andrea and myself, it doesn't matter. I still have to find her and bring her in and I'd rather do it myself than leave her to Lyle's not-so-tender mercies."
"If that's what it takes to get you through the day, Jarod," Sidney replied with a shrug. "I assume we're to wait before we relay to Lyle our 'discovery' on Andrea's true whereabouts?"
"Until I call you," Jarod said. He marched toward his office, ready to grab his gun before he left. Sidney watched him go and let out a sigh. "Good luck," he whispered. "Both of you."
Athens, GA
1757 Hours EST
Andrea whistled a little as she began to pack up her things. The motel was a little off-the-highway place often favored by cheating spouses and was just quiet enough to suit Andrea's purposes. She wasn't planning on staying too long anyway.
It had been good to see Libby reunited with her son. The expression of pure joy on Libby's face, mixed with relief that her long nightmare was over, had given Andrea the warmth in her heart that came after helping someone in need. *Gotta give it to Daddy on one regard. Forcing me into the Pretender role made me realize how much I liked to help people. If I hadn't, I might have turned out as cold and unfeeling as he is.*
She glanced through her briefcase, checking her list of newspaper clippings that gave her possible choices for where to go next. She felt, more than heard, the pressure being put on the door outside. The sixth sense she'd developed over her time on the run came to the fore and she dived into her bag to grab the gun inside. She'd just turned and cocked it when the door burst open, the lock breaking as Jarod swept in, his gun up and aimed. He froze as Andrea turned toward him, her own gun up and aimed right back at Jarod. Behind him, the door smacked into the wall, then bounced right back into a shut position.
There was a long silence as each took in the other. Jarod was still wearing his suit, a long coat with it. Andrea had changed into a black mini-skirt and white blouse, the gun never wavering from Jarod even as she sniffed. "Well, Ratboy. Welcome to the Peach State."
"Andrea," Jarod calmly said. "This doesn't have to go down badly."
"Good news for you then," Andrea replied. She carefully backed up even as Jarod stepped forward, the two slowly pacing around in a circle, their guns still aimed at each other. "Should I expect dear old Bro to be dropping in?"
"No, I'm alone," Jarod said. "I thought it would be better this way."
"Aw, Jarod, I didn't know you cared," Andrea said in a teasing tone. In truth, she wasn't quite sure what she was feeling. Every time she and Jarod came together she always felt...something. A tugging at her heart of some sort, which she wasn't quite sure how to define. She brushed that feeling aside, trying to concentrate on the situation at hand.
Jarod glanced over at her bag, noting the various clippings inside. "Planning your next Pretend?"
"I like to keep my calendar open," Andrea told him. "Keeps you always guessing."
"That it does," Jarod admitted. His gun was still aimed at her chest but his finger wasn't as tight around the trigger as it might have been. Being this close to Andrea made him feel...He didn't know what for sure. He just knew he didn't want to have to fight her. Not now. "Look, Andrea, let's just settle this quietly."
"I don't go quietly, Jarod," Andrea smirked. "You should know that by now."
"I do know," Jarod said. He swallowed as he kept the gun steady. "Just give it up, Andrea."
"You won't shoot me, Jarod," she said. "I know you."
"And I know you," Jarod replied. "So I know you won't shoot me either."
Andrea's face became serious, her jaw tightening. "I'm not going back," she whispered. "Not now. Not ever. I won't go."
Jarod couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her. But a job was a job and if he didn't do this, Lyle would drag her back in a bag. "Don't...Don't make me use this, Andrea."
Andrea looked at him and slowly nodded. "Okay." With that, she spun around and lashed out a boot, knocking the gun out of Jarod's hands.
It took nerve to kick a man holding a gun on you but Andrea had nerve. Jarod was mentally cursing himself for not remembering that when Andrea swept around, her gun coming up and ready to point at Jarod. Not ready to be placed at such a disadvantage, Jarod swiftly moved forward, his hands wrapping around Andrea's wrist and yanking up. Andrea gasped as she felt her hands thrown up, the gun flying out and skidding on the floor.
Andrea lashed out with a knee, aiming it at Jarod's groin. He turned so his leg took most of the blow but still felt winded. His grip was strong on Andrea's wrists, however, so she wasn't able to get the leverage she wanted to fight back. She tried to kick at him again but he managed to dodge it and then yanked her in close, grabbing her other hand tight. They stood for a moment, only an inch apart, both flushed as they looked into the other's eyes.
When they finally got around to talking about it, both were surprised to discover that neither could remember who started it. One moment they were glaring at each other and the next their lips were pressed together into a hot and passionate kiss. It was like a bolt of electricity going through them, Jarod and Andrea both suddenly overcome by a wave of passion that neither had ever felt before. Everything around them seemed to fade as the two were joined in a united desire to lose themselves in the moment.
Jarod let go of Andrea's hands and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck as they continued to kiss. Jarod's own hands snaked around Andrea's waist and held on tight as their kiss deepened. They finally broke apart, Jarod laying kisses down Andrea's neck, causing her to let out a deep sigh. At the same time, his hands fumbled at the zipper at the back on her skirt. He managed to slide it down and let it tumble to her feet. Andrea moved away from him long enough to step out of the skirt while Jarod shrugged off his coat. Then they were right back into locking lips.
Their tongues wrapped around each other as they stumbled around the small room. Andrea felt her back pressed against a wall and brought herself to a stop. By this point, Jarod's hands were moving to her blouse, undoing buttons and working to open up her shirt. Andrea's own hands were moving to the front of Jarod's pants, sliding down the zipper that was holding back his growing bulge. Jarod had managed to pull her blouse open, a black bra all that hid her firm breasts.
Not a word had been spoken between the two since this started. Nothing needed to be said. It was as if they knew instinctively what the other wanted and were prepared to answer that need. As soon as he could feel his hard cock drawn into the open air, Jarod let his hands move down to Andrea's ass, cupping her buttocks. Andrea gasped as she felt his strong grip on her behind, lifting her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands hooked around his neck. Jarod kissed her again as he let his hands pull down the lace fabric that covered Andrea's womanhood. Andrea barely heard the tearing sound as he ripped her panties away, she was too lost in her feelings of pure lust.
Jarod pulled her in again and as he did, he managed to slide his hard cock into Andrea's waiting pussy. Andrea gasped as she felt him enter her and kept her legs tight around him. Jarod pressed her against the wall, his hands sliding over her tight cheeks, squeezing them as he began to pump against her. Andrea closed her eyes and tried to match his rythym, clenching and unclenching her legs to welcome Jarod's cock inside of her.
Jarod managed to lift Andrea up a bit and bent his neck down to her chest. Andrea gasped again as she felt Jarod's warm breath on her chest, his tongue licking at her lace-covered nipples. With a dexterity she was surprised by, Andrea felt Jarod's teeth tear at her bra, pulling it down enough to expose most of her breasts. One nipple was soon engulfed by Jarod's mouth as he suckled at Andrea even as he kept sliding his rod in and out of her. Andrea pressed herself harder against him, trying to take in as much of Jarod as she could, loving the feeling of his manhood inside her core. One hand kept a hold on his neck as the other moved down his chest, rubbing at his own hard pecs and nipples as Jarod kissed at hers.
A thrill went through Jarod, one that ran with a chill down his spine as he realize that he was close to release. Andrea seemed to sense it as well with that same strange connection she and Jarod suddenly seemed to share. She pulled herself in as Jarod raised his head, the two kissing once more. In the midst of their lip-lock, Jarod felt himself release, Andrea felt herself answering and the two broke off the kiss to throw their heads back and scream with ecstasy as they came together.
They stayed frozen for a moment, Andrea's body slumped against the wall, Jarod's grip on her loosening. They slowly lowered to the ground, the wave of their orgasm washing over them as they broke apart. They sat there, heaving with breath as they slowly began to regain awareness of their surroundings and the situation. They stared at each other, realizing they were sitting half-naked on the floor of a motel having just experienced an incredibly intimate moment.
"Whoah..." Andrea said, holding up a hand as she tried to steady her breathing. "Whoah. What...What just happened?"
Jarod coughed as he tried to get his composure back. He looked at Andrea and raised an eyebrow. "With all your experience, I'm assuming you at least know what that was."
"Well, yeah, sure, I've done it before but..." She shook her head. "What just *happened?*"
Jarod was silent as he slowly looked up at her and Andrea was amazed at the emotion in his eyes. "Maybe something we've both wanted to happen for a long time."
Andrea blinked twice before speaking. "What?" she softly asked.
Jarod reached over and took her hand in his. Andrea was mildly surprised to realize she didn't want to jerk away. He looked her in the eyes to let her know he was serious as he spoke. "We both realized a long time ago that there was more to our relationship than just the chase," he said. He swallowed before continuing. "What I've seen you do over the last few years...To overcome all your father and the others did to you and wanting to aid others...It's made me realize how good a woman you are and..." He lowered his eyes as a rush of shame came over him. "And how bad I am."
Andrea squeezed his hand tight, making him look back up at her. "You're not bad, Jarod," she whispered. "You're nothing like my father or Lyle or the rest. You..." She bit her lip. "You were the one good thing about my childhood, being able to talk to you and have you treat me with more care and respect than my own family ever gave me." She took a deep breath. "I guess you're right, Jarod. I did want something like this. And now that it's happened..." She swallowed. "What do we do now?"
Jarod was quiet for a long moment, mulling over the question. He finally looked her in the face and gave an assertive nod. "We're getting out of here is what we're doing."
Andrea's face darkened. "I told you, I'm not going-----"
"I know," Jarod interrupted. "You're not coming with me, Andrea. I'm coming with you."
Of all the reactions Jarod had expected from her with that statement, tears coming to Andrea's eyes wasn't one of them. She trembled before she came forward and kissed him full on the lips once more. He closed his eyes as he returned it. Whereas before, it had been a kiss of passion and desire, this was one of comfort, care...and love.
They finally broke apart and a wicked grin came to Andrea's face. "You know..." she started in a sultry tone. "If you really came alone..."
"I did," Jarod confirmed.
"In that case," Andrea began, her hand moving down toward his lap. "We still have a little free time on our hands."
With the most honest and heart-felt laugh he'd let out in a long time, Jarod gathered her in his arms and pulled her down on the floor.
The Centre
1909 Hours EST
The ringing of the phone cut through the quiet room. Broots started from his position next to the computer, looking up as Sidney walked toward his desk. He hit a button to activate the speakerphone as he answered. "Hello?"
"Hey, Sid," Andrea's voice came on the line. "How's it hanging?"
"Andrea," Sidney calmly said. "Where are you?"
"Aw, Sid, you know better than that," Andrea stated. "I can tell you that for the first time in too long a while, I'm not going alone. I've got a traveling companion with me."
"What?" Sidney frowned, not understanding the statement. "Andrea, what do you mean?"
"Here, I'll let him tell you." There was a muffled sound as if a phone was being passed to someone else, then a jovial male voice came on. "Hi, Sidney."
Sidney Green couldn't remember the last time he'd been so shocked. Broots' jaw fell open as the two stared at each utter with wide eyes. "Jarod?" Sidney got out.
"Yep," Jarod said with a lightness to his voice Sidney could never recall hearing before. "Andrea and I are hitting the road together, Sid. I guess you could call this my giving the Center notice."
"Jarod..." Sidney swallowed, trying to compose himself. "Jarod...do you realize what you're doing?"
"Yeah, I am," Jarod said, a little more serious. "I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago, Sidney. I'm getting a life, my own life and I've got someone with me to help me through it."
"Jarod, when they find out..."
"Somehow, Sid, I suspect you and Broots are going to wait a while before you tell the old man about this. At least I hope you do. Say, Broots, for old times sake, keep the Center accounts open for just a little while longer. Andrea and I could use a little extra spending cash."
"Jarod," Sidney started again. "What you're doing is...Mr. Parker won't stop, he'll step up the search more than ever, he'll be irate, he'll be..."
"Tell him this, Sid," Jarod said. "He's not losing an operative. He's gaining a son." There was a sound that sounded very suspiciously like two people kissing and then the connection cut off.
"I...I can't....I can't believe he's doing this. I can't believe he's with her, they're together, they're *together*, they're going off, they want us to cover for us, they----"
"Broots," Sidney cut in. "Don't stammer. It doesn't become you."
"Sorry," Broots apologized, collecting himself. He looked up at Sidney and shrugged. "So...what do we do now?"
Sidney was silent, tapping his chin for a few moments before he spoke. "Make sure the account numbers are still open for a while longer. We wait another hour and then we tell Mr. Parker."
"Actually, Sid?" Broots piped up. "Could we wait until Lyle gets back?" A smirk came across Broots' face. "I don't want to miss the look on his face when he hears this."
"Neither do I," Sidney allowed himself a matching smile. The two men looked at each other and suddenly started laughing. It was an odd sound in the Center but they didn't care. They just stood and laughed for several minutes at the utter incongruity of the situation.
They finally sobered and looked at the telephone as if able to see the two people who had just called. "Think they'll make it?" Broots asked.
Sidney nodded. "I think they will. With those two, the only thing that can get in their way is death." He shrugged. "And even that's not a sure thing."
He could almost see them in his mind: Two people in a car rushing down a highway, one driving with the other pressed close to them. Two people who had finally found solace with each other, who had found someone who could make them feel whole. Two people who could stop pretending and be what they wanted to be: Together.