The Perk, Sunday Morning

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

Jarod showed up at the Perk after getting a handwavey phone call from Isabel. He got a cup of coffee and sat down to wait, still yawning and with his back to the window, not wanting to be distracted during his conversation with her--something about her voice had sounded off.


[ooc: Perk is open to all, but thread with izzyalienqueen is locked to them, please]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Pale and drawn from not getting much sleep the night before, Isabel ordered a large black coffee then took a seat across from Jarod. "Hi. Thanks for meeting me."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"How could I not?" Jarod took in Isabel's general appearance and was instantly worried, not that he was going to say as much to her. "Tell me how I can help."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I appreciate that. But there's nothing you can do." She took a sip of the coffee and made a face at the bitterness. "My brother called yesterday. There's a way back to our planet. I'm leaving tonight."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"You're leaving," he repeated, trying to process and tell her that she couldn't go, all at the same time. "What are you going back to?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel nodded, focusing on her coffee cup. "Not sure. There's a war, there's a resistance. Max says they need us."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"Because you're the visible reminder of what they're fighting for," Jarod said, almost without thinking. Not unlike what he was to Parker, these days, come to think of it. "Is it selfish to admit that I'd rather have you just send them a videotape so you could stay here and be safe?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

That made her smile sadly. "No. I've heard similar things from the other people I've told. Including Parker."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"We love you," Jarod told her, in case she didn't know, although that seemed unlikely, "and we want you to be safe. But you can't always be safe behind walls, can you? Not if you want to live a real life."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

That quiet declaration brought a lump to her throat and Isabel swallowed hard before she could speak. "Love you to. And no, we can't. Not when there's people depending on us."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

He reached across the table for her hand. "Stay as safe as you can? Promise me you won't take unnecessarily stupid risks?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel squeezed his hand tightly. "I will, trust me. But I want you to promise me something to."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"What's that?" He asked, squeezing her hand back and trying not to think that it would be the last time. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Look out for Parker for me? I'm leaving, in another two months Jack will be gone," she said softly. "You'll be the only one left to watch her back."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

Jarod closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and looked seriously at Isabel. "You'll never have to worry about Parker."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Good," Isabel said, smiling at him. "Whether you want to admit or not, you two need each other."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

Jarod was admitting nothing of the kind, though he acknowledged that she might be right. "And no killing your brother?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can live with that," she said, taking another sip of coffee and realizing that it really did taste better with sugar and milk. "I reserve the right to thwap him soundly if he deserves it though."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he squeezed her hand again, "I'll miss you, but you'll be great."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Isabel smiling again although her heart wasn't in it. "Now I guess I'd better get back and start packing."

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

He stood up and hugged her. "Please take care, Isabel. And don't be afraid to ask for help? I'll do anything I can."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know you would," she said, kissing his cheek. "But right now this is something we're going to have to take care of on our own."

Isabel gave him one last squeeze then let go. "Good luck Jarod. Good-bye." Dropping her coffee cup in the trash, she headed out the door.

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

"Goodbye, Isabel," Jarod said quietly. He left the now-cold cup of coffee on the table and decided to go for a walk to clear his head.