fandomtownies | Galactica Point; after noon

Parker had a picnic basket with her when she arrived at the beach.

"How long are we going to be out? And what are we doing, anyway?" For once this week, mysteries weren't annoying her. He'd said he had a surprise, but the weather was too nice to worry about what kind.

He smirked down at her. Parker's busy mind was one of the things he admired most. "A couple of hours, depending on the wind and the weather," he glanced up at the sky, "and I thought we'd try our hands at sailing."

Jarod grabbed for Parker's hand, intending to drag her towards the small two-person yellow sailboat on the beach. It wasn't glamorous, but they'd be able to handle it without too much trouble. "Next week, we'll be doing this as a final session for class, but I wanted to sail with you, and just you, first. Without an audience." The sail luffed in the breeze and the sunflower on it seemed to be waving at them.

Parker grinned, letting him lead her to the sailboat, her eyes lighting up when she saw it. "It's perfect. Small! But I'll bet it's fast in the water. God, you're smart." She turned and kissed him fast on the cheek, nearly dancing on the sand. "Can we sail out to the mouth of the bay, do you think?"

"I don't see why not," Jarod said, amused by her enthusiasm. "I hope you don't mind that I did the rigging already, but I figured you wouldn't want to wait to hit the water."

"Nope. Show me what to do, and we're gone." Parker waded out and put the picnic basket into the boat, smiled up at the sunflower on the sail, then climbed in. "This makes up for having to miss the last class next week. Especially since I've got you to myself."

"Help me lift the boat into the water," he instructed as he bent down to grab the heavier end, waiting for her to get out of the boat. "We have to be careful not to scrape the bottom of the boat on the sand. Sinking isn't really what we're going for here, after all. And I'll miss you next week while I'm watching my first fireworks."

Parker splashed back into the water, and helped him maneuver the boat further into the water. "Me too. I'll try to call, if I can get away from the party and the probably-drunk-executives." She clambered back onto the boat, once they were far enough out., and put on one of the life jackets Jarod had stowed there.

Jarod grimaced. He'd forgotten about the drunk executives. "Are you taking your gun? Oh, and take the tiller. We want to head into the wind, I think."

"My gun, a new archery set, my hunting knife, and a pair of hiking boots to humiliate them with." Parker scooted over, and lifted her face up to the sun, enjoying the wind a moment before taking the tiller, and carefully turning the boat toward the east. "Daddy has a 'survival' weekend planned."

He stared at her. "Hasn't your past year been enough proof that you can survive whatever comes your way?" Jarod looked up at the wind filling the sails as they made their way quickly across the water. "Besides, at the Centre, I'd think survival weekend would involve a dress, heels, and a bunch of martinis while a lot of backbiting goes on."

Parker grinned at him from behind the sunglasses, and steered the craft away from the wake of passing speedboat. "Like I'd tell him about the zombies and snow monsters? And it's more for the executives than me; Daddy wants to weed out the hopeless ones, who can't lose gracefully or be smart under pressure." Her smile widened. "I'm going to make them wish they were in an 8-hour Powerpoint conference. If I had to skin a fish this week, they're going to skin a fish too."

More staring, then an enormous grin. "You skinned a fish? With your own two hands and without calling anyone?"

Parker shuddered, making a yuck-face. "With a knife. And the eyes kept *staring* at me. Callisto is weird. But those scales flip right off if you do it right, did you know that?"

Jarod tipped his head back and laughed loud, letting it ring out over the water. "Please tell me someone got a picture?"

"Keep dreamin'." Parker grinned at him reluctantly. "By the way? Fish from these waters? Isn't bad, but it isn't anything I'd serve in a five-star restaurant." She stretched out her legs, balancing herself as the boat bobbed along. "I'm thinking of pulling a Callisto and hiding their shoes somehow."

"The fish's?"

She snickered. "The executives'. They are gonna haaaate me by the end of this weekend." The breeze kicked up, and they started to put on some speed. "And then Daddy won't have a leg to stand on to object about me staying the rest of the summer."

"Just don't make them look too bad, Parker," he warned, letting out the sheet line a little to capture more wind, "or your father will decide you've had enough of school altogether and keep you home, or send you somewhere else." Which meant that he wouldn't be able to see her anymore, because he wasn't going back to the Centre until they dragged him there at gunpoint.

"Relax." Parker tilted her head back, and enjoyed watching him work the lines. "I'm doing the social translating for the Russian trade delegate too. If I do that properly, Daddy will be happy about the languages, and I'll keep talking up the classes I'll be taking this fall. Even if I have no idea what they are yet." She leaned over, trailing her fingers in the water. "Have you talked to Sydney lately?"

"No, why? Is something wrong?"

"No. I just chatted with him on Sunday. Same as ever. I'll be seeing him on this trip home." She was quiet a moment. "He misses you."

Jarod sighed and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. "I miss him too, I guess. But he knows that every phone call he makes could reveal my whereabouts to the rest of the Centre. So far it's a risk he hasn't been willing to take."

Parker leaned back on her hands, balancing herself as the sailboat titled to starboard slightly. "I wonder, sometimes. I know he was worried about you, but why he helped you leave in November, and not before-- I may ask him, when I see him next week."

They were almost out of sight of the Island now, skimming the shoreline of Virginia, and she pulled her legs up, watching the sun on the water. "Need me to do anything?"

"There were...undercurrents at the Centre before I left, but I don't know what they were about," Jarod admitted reluctantly. "And do you want to take the helm? We're about ready to come about to change direction--so push the tiller in your hand towards the sail, and keep a loose hand on the jib so the sail can slowly switch sides. Or, you can just lie there and get a tan. I'm okay doing this, if you want."

"And let you have all the fun? No way." Parker followed his directions, smiling at him. "Should I call you Captain? Or maybe Admiral?"

He chuckled. "I think I'm okay without a nautical title."

"Not even Ensign?" She grinned, and nudged him with one foot, then stripped off her shirt, showing off her bikini top. "How long are we going to be out? I may need more sun block applied."

"No, not even ensign. I don't have the uniform for it," he smirked, then said, "and we can be out for another couple of hours if you want."

Jarod gave her an admiring once-over. "Since my hands happen to be free at the moment, I'd be happy to help with the sun block. Safety first, after all."

Parker grinned, and leaned forward, exposing her back. "You know me. No unnecessary risks."

The sailboat headed for open water, and didn't come back to the island until much, much later.

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