International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: The Call Goes Out [message #612 is a reply to message #589] Mon, 23 July 2012 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina
Karma:
Field Commander
Ubiquitous one
Penelope pulled up another chair and the two women waited in a companionable silence. As Penelope's eyes searched Jeff's face for signs of consciousness, she was plunged again into remembering.

"Jeff, could you indulge me in a walk on the beach this evening?" Penelope asked at dinner, smiling winningly in Jeff's direction. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the doctor suddenly put down her napkin. Jeff glanced over in Dianne's direction.

"Please, 'scuse me," she said quietly as she rose and left the table. Her children had already finished eating and been excused to their play.

"I suppose I could, Penelope," Jeff replied, his eyes following Dianne as she left. Penny could see his internal battle in his eyes; he wanted to get up and go after the doctor, but decorum required that he stay and entertain his guest. Gordon put down his napkin and excused himself from the table. Gone off to placate the doctor, unless I miss my guess, Penelope thought. She turned to Jeff.

"Excellent. I look forward to it. More coffee? Why, thank you, Kyrano."

As soon as dinner was over, Penelope waited for Jeff near the lounge door. He pulled up the small hovercar that would take them down to the beach level and came halfway up the stairs, stretching forth a hand. She met him and took it. Walking down together, they took the hovercar along the winding little pathway down to the ocean's side.

The moon was in its first quarter and shed some light on the scene, but nowhere near enough. Penelope had trouble seeing Jeff's face as she took his arm and they walked slowly along. A light breeze had sprung up, coming off the water, and Penelope breathed in the sweet, salt-laden air.

"This is lovely, Jeff. I wonder why we haven't done this more often."

She could almost hear the gears turning in Jeff's head as he sought for an appropriate reply.

"I guess it's because we've both been so busy, Penny. You in England and me here on the Island."

"Hmm. I suppose that's the reason."

They felt silent as they walked. She could feel the tension in Jeff's arm; he didn't like the silence, it was uncomfortable to him. Finally, she decided to throw caution to the wind.

"You know, Jeff, we've known each other for a while now. In that time, you've come to mean a great deal to me. So much so that I... I think I'm in love with you."

Jeff said nothing but his arm tensed even more. Penelope took her courage in both hands and continued.

"Now, I can't be certain, of course, but I think, looking back at some of your actions, that you might have feelings for me as well." She swallowed hard. "I know you've spent a long time mourning your lovely Lucille. But isn't it time to end all that? Isn't it time to look for love again? Isn't it time to let those feelings show?"

They stopped walking, and Jeff began to speak. "Penny, I...."

She put two fingers to his lips. "Please, Jeff. Let me finish before my courage fails me altogether. What I want to know from you is: would you... will you... will you marry me, Jeff?" She could hear the implied "please" at the end of her question and cursed herself for it.

Jeff said nothing. She could tell by his sharp intake of breath that he didn't expect this, that it was a complete shock to him. She waited, her hopes poised on the edge of a knife.

He took her hand from the crook of his arm, and reached down to grasp the other one.

"Penny, I..." He cleared his throat; it had been choked with emotion, and then took a deep breath. A good sign? she hoped.

"Penelope. I am flattered and shocked beyond all words that you have asked me to marry you. It's come as such a surprise to me. Not that you feel the way you do: you've made that abundantly clear over the past year and a half. But that you would pass by much younger and more virile men to choose me, someone who is old enough to be your father."

Penelope began to laugh. "Jeff, you're not old...." she countered.

He quietly shushed her. "Yes, compared to you, I am old. You are the age of one of my sons, Penelope. And as mature as you act, I can't get past that age difference. To me, it would be like... like marrying my own daughter. Most men my age would love to have you as a wife: you're beautiful, brave, intelligent." His voice dropped to a near-whisper. "I guess I'm not like most men, Penny. Because most men wouldn't still be mourning their wives after 20 years." He looked at her and she could see the depths of his eyes even in the darkness. "You deserve a man as young and vibrant as you are yourself. A man without the baggage of grief and pain. You deserve so much better than me."

He took another deep breath. "Penelope. As much as I appreciate your proposal and as much as I do care for you, I can't marry you. I'm sorry."

Penelope let go of his hands and took a step away, turning from him and crossing her arms over her chest as if cold. Cold as the ice that now covered her hopes and her heart.

"I don't suppose that your decision has anything to do with the good doctor, does it?" she asked, bitterness creeping into her voice. She heard him step up behind her.

"Dr. Koch? Why would it?" His voice clearly showed his confusion. Penelope spun around to face him.

"Don't you know? Are you blind? That woman is in love with you! And if your mother is to be believed, it's only for your money, not for your own person! She's not young enough to be your daughter, is she? She's safe! You don't have to go through any emotional or mental angst with her!" Penelope was shouting now and she didn't care. She had lost control in her fury. "And if you married her, you'd get that daughter you've always wanted!"

"Dr. Koch? In love with me? How do you know?"

"Oh, please. It's a plain as the nose on your face! The way she hangs on your every word! The soulful looks she gives you! The way she's finagled to walk with you every night even when you've had a guest! Oh, yes! That gold-digging doctor is in love with you, and you, Jefferson Tracy, are the biggest... chump that ever lived! Not only because you can't see it, but because you're letting her lead you down the garden path with your eyes wide open!"

"You're wrong, Penny. Dr. Koch is here as our family physician. True, she's become a confidante of sorts, but I'm the one who...."

Penny gave Jeff a little push. Then started to stride away, back down the beach towards the airstrip. "Believe what you like, Jefferson Tracy. I'm leaving. Leaving you to your fate. Tell Parker I will meet him at the jet and that I want to be off this Island within the half hour! Goodbye!"

She waited for him to run after her, to catch up with her and spin her around, apologizing profusely and drawing her to him in a bruising embrace and kiss. But it didn't happen. And as she made her angry way towards the cliff side hangar door, her tears fell, hot and salty, onto her expensive dress, her feet, and the sand.

"Penny? Lady Penelope?" She heard a masculine voice calling her from afar, but it wasn't Jeff's.

Scott? What is he doing here on the beach?

"Lady Penelope? Wake up."

Penny jerked awake suddenly. She looked around wildly for a moment, trying to get her bearings. Then her eyes lighted on Jeff and she remembered. She looked across the bed to see the top of Dianne's head. Her one-time rival had her head pillowed on one arm and that arm was flung across the edge of the bed. Gordon was there, trying gently to wake her.

The Brit looked up into Scott's blue eyes, so much like his father's. "No change, I gather?"

Scott shook his head. "No." He turned his attention to Dianne, who was blinking blearily at Gordon.

"Mom, why don't you go and get some sleep? We found both of you sitting here napping. Let me watch for a while, huh?"

Dianne gave Scott a look that said clearly: Don't mess with me.

"Ah have a bettah ideah, Scott. Why doesn't Gordon heah go and get some decent coffee for her Ladyship and me whilst you go check on Elise's condition? And mebbe phone back to the Ahland for an update. Or even go home an' start makin' arrangements for th' others to come out heah. Hmm?"

Scott and Gordon looked at each other. Gordon shrugged. "I'll go get the coffee," he said, leaving the room. Scott glared at Dianne for a moment. She regarded him coolly.

"I'll check on Elise," he growled. Then, with a loud huff of air, he turned and left the room.

Dianne looked at Penelope and gave her a slightly bleary smile. "They'ah good boys," she said.

"Yes, they are," Penelope agreed. And the two women fell back into their companionable silence as they watched Jeff Tracy sleep.

Post by Tikatu on 04/07/2004

Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!

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