Voicemail

[izzyalienqueen]

Hi! You've reached Isabel Evans. I'm not here right now. You know what to do at the beep.

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*ring*

"Isabel? It's me." Even if Caller ID didn't exist, Parker would assume Isabel would know who it is.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hey! There was shirtless football today!" Isabel replied, recognizing Parker's voice instantly.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Damn. Now I remember why I *really* miss that place," Parker said. "Who won? And did you get photos?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The football flew away if you'd believe that," she laughed. "And yes, I took some pictures. Winchesters and Storms and Chads, oh my...."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Typical. And ohhh, yay. Send!" Parker ordered, then sighed. "And I'll send you photos of the hot guys in Rome. Tomorrow."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're on your way?" Isabel asked, stretching out on her bed.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"By Daddy's command, yes. I thought I had 'til Tuesday night, at least, maybe Wednesday, but no." Parker growled under her breath. "So, I'm out of here in two hours, I'll probably forget half the things I want to take with me, and I'm translating at Corporate two hours after I get there. I loathe trying to sleep on the airplane."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well forgetting stuff means you have to replace it. With the latest in Italian fashion," she pointed out. "Your father should appreciate you wanting to put your best face forward when you're representing him."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"True!" Parker cheered up a little, and added, "And next weekend is still free, and I told him I'd run away to Amalfi and a convent if he tried to interfere with it. You still think you can visit then?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel sighed and covered her eyes with her arm. "About that. I'm not sure."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"What? Aw, come on, Isabel," Parker said, pouting at the phone. "Is it a school thing? Or some kind of event? We could reschedule, but it gets so difficult after more time..."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Partly school. I've got workshops on Thursday and Friday after all. And partly...well Jack." Isabel sighed once more remembering yesterday's conversation.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough on school, although I was hoping you'd get workshops earlier in the week. But what's up with Jack?" Parker frowned, tapping a finger on her desk. "Is he feeling bad, still? I thought you said Cedric was going to heal his injury."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Sorry, I'm doomed to have the middle of my weeks free and never have an extended weekend."

Another sigh as she tried to think of a way to explain it to Parker. "Physically? He's doing okay. Cedric healed him. Mentally? I don't know. I went to see him yesterday afternoon. We talked. I left. Parker, he never touched me. Not once."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Bah. Well, if you can make it here, do, but if you can't, I'll see you in August, before I head back to L.A. to see Angel and Logan and Zero." Parker listened to Isabel's concerns, then quietly said, "That's not good. At all."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"August. Definitely."

It was good to talk to Parker because she understood what Isabel was worried about without having to go through big explanations. "I know. And I don't know what to do. I mean, do I give him time? Or do I try and push him? But I just can't see that ending well."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"He's been there... three days? Reverse culture shock probably hasn't worn off yet, along with anything else that's bugging him." Parker paced a little, then carefully said, "Time. But not too much time. Or he'll think he can shut whatever's bothering him out, or shut you out, indefinitely. Maybe he'll relax soon. Maybe something will happen. But not just yet."

And if he kept it up indefinitely, she was *so* going to kidnap him and shake the problem out of him.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Time. Yeah. If only we had more of it," she said quietly. "He said he's got just a few weeks of time off. And I'm running out of it myself. But yeah, a few more days. Then I'm locking him in a room and yelling." Because seriously, what was the point of him coming back when she was there if he was going to shut her out.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Jackass," Parker muttered. "Right. If you need moral support, or just a breather in that, call me. Definitely call me if anything changes. Or if it doesn't, but stays the same in a bad way. Or... well, you get the idea." She sighed. "Otherwise, are things okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, all is well," Isabel smiled, touched by her concern. "It's only been a littel over twenty four hours since I saw you. Things are calm."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know. It just makes me feel like I'm leaving again, sort of. Abandoning you." Parker shook her head. August was coming too damn soon. "But! Zero should be here next weekend. We'll drunk-dial you from some carabinieri lock-up if we have too much fun. And if anything else changes, with, well... home. You'll call. Right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're not abandoning me. I know that all I need to do is call, and you'll be right there, holding my hand," Isabel replied. "I count on that. But be careful, because I don't think my dad will understand charges in Euros for bail money."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker snickered. "Okay, then. Okay." She sighed. "Arrivederci, and good luck with Jack in the next week or so." A wicked smile. "And even better luck with Steeeeeve Peeeeeter."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Parker!" she laughed, exasperated. "Take care of yourself, and don't break too many hearts.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Only enough to maintain a balance of trade," Parker told her. "Take it easy, love you, and bye."