Title - Saying The Words (13/?)
Author - Nicky
Rating - PG
Category - JMPR
Summary - Jarod tries to say good-bye, but ends up coming back to 
rescue Miss Parker and finds her in a surprising predicament.
Disclaimer - The characters aren't mine.  I'm just using them for 
my own entertainment purposes.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jarod walks into the house later that evening, body completely 
exhausted, but mind running on overdrive.  Denise had given him 
plenty to think about.  He now knows for sure that Dr. Jacobs was 
responsible for the deaths of the infants.  But something still 
wasn't as it appears.  And if what Denise's aunt believed was 
true, the babies might still be alive.  He just had to find them.

"You're home finally," Miss Parker calls to him, sticking her 
head from to doorway leading to the kitchen.  She wipes her soapy 
hands on a dishtowel and tosses it on the counter, walking over 
to where Jarod was standing.  "I thought you were just going to 
see a few patients.  I called a few times to see if you'd be home 
for dinner."

All of Jarod's thoughts on the case stop instantly when he sees 
her.  Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her face was 
washed clean of any make up.  She had on one of his t-shirts and 
a pair of his boxer shorts.  She looked nothing like her regular 
glamourous self, but to him, she's never been more beautiful.  
She was smiling and she absolutely glowed.  He couldn't stop 
himself from pulling her close and kissing her inviting lips.  At 
first she's shocked at his forwardness, but soon gets into the 
kiss herself, feeling instantly how much she's turning him on.

"Ooh, I see *someone* is glad to see me," she grins wickedly, 
rubbing her lower body against his, causing him to groan at the 
sensation.

"You really are a naughty girl, Miss Parker," he says, gasping 
slightly for air.  He lets out another groan when she rubs 
against him again.  "And you really have to stop that right now."  
He grabs onto her hips and stop their titillative motion.  He 
closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm his 
racing heart.  He doesn't see the hurt look instantly strike her 
face.  But he feels her tense in his embrace.

"You don't want me.  I don't look how I used to and you aren't 
attracted to me."  She tries to pull out of his arms, but he sees 
how upset she is and tightens his grip.

"Are you kidding me?  You think I don't want you?  That I'm not 
attracted to you?  Miss Parker, I know you know what you're doing 
to me," he says, his voice rough and straining.  "But I just 
don't think we should act on it tonight."  

A puzzled look crosses her face and she looks at him 
questioningly.  He smiles and kisses her once more before finally 
letting her out of his embrace.  But he doesn't let her go far.  
He grabs her hand and leads her into the living room, directing 
her to take a seat on the couch.  He sits next to her and wraps 
his arms around her.

"I'd like nothing better than to spend the rest of the night 
making love to you," he whispers into her ear, shivering slightly 
at being so close to her.  "I think you're the most beautiful 
woman I've ever seen."

"Even now that my waist line is non existent," she says 
dubiously.

"Especially now," he assures her.  "You're rounder.  Everything 
is fuller and curvier.  You glow now and you light up any room 
you're in.  And right here," he gazes down at her stomach in awe, 
placing his hand lightly on top of it.  "You're nurturing a new 
life.  That's so amazing to me.  I can do almost anything I set 
my mind to do . . . except this.  You're bringing new life into 
this world.  You're accomplishing something great and impossible 
for me.  I'm proud of your strength and courage.  And you may not 
like your appearance, but you've never been more attractive to 
me."

He glances up at her and notices tears streaming down her face.  
He gently wipes them away, kissing all over her face lightly 
until the tears stop.

"There I go with the waterworks again," she laughs, wrapping her 
arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.  "Thank you.  For 
making me feel beautiful.  And . . . loved."

"Well you are beautiful.  And loved," he adds with a whisper.  
"I've loved you since the day I met you, Miss Parker.  Nothing 
has changed that and nothing will change that.  And when the time 
is right, I'll show you exactly how much I love you."

"When the time is right?"

"I think we should wait until . . . " he pauses, suddenly feeling 
very shy.

"Until when, Jarod?"

"Until . . . we're married."

"Married?" she gasps.  "I . . . I . . . Don't feel you have to . 
. . you know, just because I'm . . . Jarod, what are you talking 
about?" she finally asks him, his thoughts of marriage throwing 
her off guard.

"Okay, don't laugh, but working at that clinic today really 
affected me," he explains.  "So many of the girls I saw were just 
that - girls.  I think four of my patients were 14 years old.  
Can you imagine?  Being pregnant at 14.  And all because of what?  
The girls not respecting themselves enough to wait until they're 
married?  Some guy who didn't respect them enough to wait until 
they were married?  I don't want to be that guy, Miss Parker."

"Jarod," she giggles.  "We're hardly 14 years old anymore.  And I 
couldn't exactly get any more pregnant."

"I know," he blushes.  "But I want you to know that I respect 
you.  And that I love you.  I don't want to take sex lightly.  
Besides, we may not be 14 any more, but one day this child you're 
carrying will be.  What are you going to do when you walk in on 
our teenage daughter half naked with some equally naked boy 
trying hard to do to her what you're trying to get me to do to 
you?"

"Would that be before or after I get my gun?" she laughs.

"After, of course.  I know you tend to shoot first and ask 
questions later," he laughs with her.  " So while I'm burying the 
body in our backyard, the two of you will be having a chat about  
. . . things.  You're trying to convince her that waiting until 
she's married is the right thing to do.  What are you going to 
say to her when she looks up at you with those big baby blues, 
and asks 'but Mom, did you and Dad wait until *you* were 
married?'," he says with a high squeaky girlie voice that makes 
Miss Parker giggle.

"Well hopefully, she won't sound anything like that or else I'll 
crack up in her face," she says, trying to get her laughing under 
control.  "And I think I can understand where you're coming from.  
It's really sweet of you.  I've never had a guy respect me that 
way."  She gives him a sound kiss, sighing with disappointment 
when she has to pull away.  "Okay, so one day, I'm actually going 
to thank you for leaving me frustrated like this?" 

"Exactly," he grins before leaning over to kiss her.  But he 
doesn't pull away.  He thoroughly toys with her mouth, leaving 
her panting and flushed all over again.

"Don't let that mouth of yours start anything you don't plan to 
finish," she purrs, almost seductively.

"I'm sorry," he moans as she takes his earlobe between her teeth 
and nibbles lightly.  "I just couldn't resist."

"Mmm, I think I know the feeling."  She moves from his ear and 
starts kissing down his neck.  "You . . . are . . . definitely . 
. . irresistible," she says, punctuating each word with a kiss.  
She's shocked when he suddenly pulls her legs out from under her 
until she's laying flat on her back.  He leans over her with a 
predatory gleam in his eyes, covering her lips with his own.  
They share long leisurely kisses for what seems like hours until 
they both finally drift off to sleep in each others arms.

To be continued . . .