Chasing The Risk
Written by Ann
e-mail:
leann1092000@yahoo.com
Part Ten
Spoilers: None
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell or anything associated with it. The only things I own is the idea for this fic and the following characters: Jerry, Claurice and Tom and a few side characters.
A/C: I apologize for taking so long to post this. I got going and just couldn't stop so I ended up writing two parts at once. So here are parts 10 and 11. I hope you enjoy.
Thank you for all the feedback!
Lisa, Stephanie and AppleJacks. It is greatly appreciated. Now, on to the story!
Summary: Michael and Liz begin to get settled.
Liz looked at Michael like he had grown a second head. He didn’t like it here, why would he want to stay?
“What kind of job are you looking for kid?” Jerry asked as he walked the fifty feet to the bar to turn in their orders and fix their drinks.
“Whatever you have open. I really don’t care as long as it’s a job.” Michael replied, eyeing Jerry.
Jerry walked over and set the drinks on the table.
“Tell you what kid. Why don’t we go talk in my office?” Michael nodded and stood up. Looking at Liz who was still confused, he smirked.
“I’ll be back ok?”
Liz nodded as Michael walked away. Taking a drink of her coke, she used this time to take in the look of the tavern. It wasn’t too big but it wasn’t small either. There were several tables with bowls of peanuts on them. The chairs were fairly new looking wooden structures with red vinyl seat cushions. The bar ran the entire length of the wall to her left, the stools a perfect match to the rest of the chairs. There were several glass doors behind the bar that housed the coolers which were full of soda and alcoholic drinks. The lighting was dim and Rag Doll by Aerosmith played from the juke box in the corner. It had a friendly enough atmosphere.
She took another drink of her coke, the condensation pouring down the glass and dripping onto the table. Reaching for a napkin to clean it up, she felt someone watching her. It wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling like one would expect when being watched, though she couldn’t really put a finger on what kind of a feeling it was.
Looking to her right, Liz noticed the man sitting at the next table looking back at her. He wasn’t very old. Mid thirties if she had to guess. His light brown hair cut short and combed neatly and his clothes very practical. To Liz, he almost looked as though he didn’t belong in a bar.
“Hello there.” The man spoke.
“Hey.” Liz smiled before grabbing the napkin she had been trying for before.
“New in town?”
Liz looked back up at him. “Oh ..y..yes sir” she stuttered.
He smiled at her. “Names Tom. Tom Jurgens.”
“Tom here’s the preacher at the Church Of Christ two blocks down.”
Hearing the friendly voice, Liz turned her head to see a woman, about 47 or 48 years old with fiery red hair putting their food on the table just as Michael and Jerry walked back out. Michael sat across from Liz and smiled.
“Making friends?” Liz nodded and looked back at Tom with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Ah.” Tom said. “I know what you’re thinking. What’s a preacher doing in a bar right?”
Blushing, Liz looked down at her hands and smiled. Michael raised an eyebrow, interested in what Tom had to say.
“Uh oh. You got him started now. Hope you aren’t in a big hurry.”
“Not really.” Michael replied.
“Good thing. My name’s Claurice by the way. If you need anything, just hollar.” She said as she walked back to the counter.
“So…” Liz said, looking at Tom. “you got me interested now. What is a preacher doing in a bar?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” Tom smiled. “You can’t possibly miss the fact that this is an extremely small town.”
“You could say that again.” Michael said.
Tom smiled. “Well, along with small towns, come cliques. If you weren’t born in a small town, you aren’t accepted too easily into one. I was born in Omaha which is a fairly large city about 100 miles from here. Course you might have already known that.”
Michael and Liz both shook their heads no and Tom continued.
“I hated small towns. This one was no different. It was too cramped and I felt almost claustrophobic.”
Liz took a bite from her hamburger and looked at Michael who was entranced by Tom’s story. She smiled feeling like Michael and Tom had something in common. She looked back to Tom when he started to speak again.
“Anyway, I rode in here on my Harley, fresh out of college and full of attitude. Contrary to what they might say, even preachers can have an attitude. Especially young ones. After being here a week and still having no one so much as speak to me, I decided to run while I could and go back to Omaha or somewhere that resembled civilization anyway. Who wants to stay in a town where they aren’t wanted right?”
Michael and Liz nodded.
“I had repacked my bag and was headed out the door when Jerry and Claurice walked up to me. Seems they were out of town when I first showed up and had only been back twenty minutes before finding themselves in my front yard.”
“Twenty minutes?” Liz asked, shocked.
“Yep. Just twenty minutes after they pull back into Virginia, they show up at my newly bought house with a casserole in hand and welcomed me to the town.”
“Wow.” Liz said as Michael sat back and nodded, impressed.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Anyway, I decided to give it another week and if I still wasn’t happy, I would leave. I’ve been here ever since.”
“How long ago was that?” Michael asked.
Before Tom could answer, Claurice walked over and refilled his coffee cup. Turning to Michael and Liz, she smiled.
“You two need anything?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Michael said, shocking Liz by his politeness.
“No, thank you.” Liz replied. Claurice headed back to the counter where Jerry was and grinned. She had a good feeling about these two.
“I had just turned twenty-three two days before leaving Omaha so I guess that would make it fifteen years now.”
“So you come in here a lot then?” Liz asked.
“Every day. Except Sunday that is. God has other plans for me on Sundays.”
Liz smiled.
“Well, I better be going now. There are a few folks I’d like to visit in the morning and if I don’t get some sleep, it will be noon before I wake up.” He smiled as he stood up and placed a ten dollar bill on the table.
“It was very nice meeting you.” Liz said.
“It was nice meeting you both also. Maybe I’ll see you in church in Sunday.” He winked.
“Maybe.” Michael said. Michael was never a religious person and he wasn’t making any promises but he would consider it.
“Goodnight.” Liz called to Tom.
“Goodnight..um.. you know, I don’t think I caught your names.” Tom replied as he stood at the door. Liz looked at Michael. They hadn’t discussed the name thing.
“I’m Michael. This is Liz.” Michael replied.
“Well goodnight Michael and Liz.” Tom said as he walked out the door.
“I like him.” Liz said, looking at Michael.
Michael shrugged trying to play off the fact that he too liked Tom. Liz had to chuckle to herself. Men! Looking at the clock above the bar, Liz’s eyes got large.
“Um..Michael? It’s almost 11:00. Where are we going for tonight?”
“Jerry said he knows of a place nearby. He’ll show us how to get there.” Liz nodded.
Hearing the conversation, Jerry walked over to their table.
“You kids ready? We’re closing up early tonight. Cleaning crews coming in.”
“Yeah.” Liz said, yawning. “I’m getting tired.”
Michael shook his head. “How the hell you can manage to be tired after sleeping so much is beyond me.”
“Good thing I don’t need you to understand it then, hu?” Liz joked.
Jerry chuckled. “So, how long you two been married?”
“Oh ha ha.” Michael said before dropping a twenty on the table and following Jerry out the door. Walking to the Mustang where Liz waited, he unlocked and opened the doors.
“Just follow me.” Jerry said.
Michael nodded before nodding and backing out of the parking space. Putting the car in gear, he followed behind Jerry.
“Can I ask you a question Michael?” Liz asked.
“Don’t know, can you?”’ Michael joked.
Liz rolled her eyes.
“What?” Michael asked.
“Why did you decide to stay here? You hate it here.”
“First off, I never said I hated it here. I said it was a hole in the wall.”
“And second?” Liz asked.
“I saw the look on your face when you said it was cute.”
“What look?” Liz asked, puzzled.
“The look like you were home. You can’t be in Roswell for obvious reasons. This is the closest thing to Roswell there is. The way the town looks, the way the people act and know everything about everyone. Do you know that just from the ten minutes I spent with Jerry I pretty much know the personal lives of everyone that lives on Main Street? Like Mrs. Jenson for instance. Twenty years ago she was caught sleeping with Mr. Brigdon, the gas man who just happened to be married to Mrs. Brigdon, the third grade Science teacher. Mrs. Brigdon who is now Ms. Callahan got pissed and wrote a full page column about the affair and had it printed in the local newspaper along with the fact that Mrs. Jenson dips in the wacky weed and Mr. Brigdon was born with one nut.”
Liz tried to stifle her laughter. “So what happened to Mrs. Jenson and Mr. Brigdon?” she asked.
“Well, Mrs. Jenson got busted for growing pot in her back yard and was sent to prison in Lincoln. She’s due for parole next month. Mr. Jenson got caught sleeping with the wrong guy’s wife and in now minus the other nut too.”
Liz burst out laughing. “Oh, that’s so not funny but at the same time it is.” She said as the tears ran down her cheeks. She looked up at Michael who had a grin on his face and nodded her head. He would be just fine here.
Following Jerry as he turned off, Michael and Liz found themselves parked in front of a beautiful white two-story house.
“Wow.” Liz said as Michael shut the car off. They got out and walked over to where Jerry stood, waiting for them.
“Well, here we are. This was mom and dads place. No one’s stayed in it since they passed two years ago so it might be a bit dusty but Claurice and I have kept the power and water running to it just in the case.
“Is Claurice your wife?” Liz asked.
“Of thirty years, February the fifth. So, you two ready to see the place and get settled for the night?”
“Definitely.” Michael said as he and Liz followed Jerry up the steps to the porch. Jerry put the key in the handle and unlocked the door, opening it wide for them to enter.
Michael was in awe. H e had never been in a house this big before. Going from the trailer to his apartment was a big adjustment by itself but here, he felt overwhelmed. Granted, this was just for the night but the feeling was still overpowering.
They walked through the front hall which held a small oak table against the wall and several framed pictures of classic movies of the 40s and 50s lining the crème colored walls.
Turning the corner, Jerry stopped.
“This is the dining room. Kitchen’s through that door.” He said, pointing to a white swinging door across the room. The dining room table was huge and oval shaped, with twelve matching oak chairs seated around it.
“Wow! You must have had a big family.” Liz said.
“Not any bigger than most. Just mom and dad and four of us kids.”
Michael raised an eyebrow. Twelve chairs for six people. He would never understand humans.
“Through here is the living room.” Jerry said as he turned to the right and went through an archway. The living room was larger than the dining room. There was a tan couch, love seat, two reclining chairs, a coffee table and two end tables with crystal lamps on them. Across from the couch was a fairly large television and in the corner, was a stereo sitting on a wooden trunk.
Liz and Michael kept quiet as they continued to follow Jerry.
“The stairs are at the end of the hall and to the left. Bathroom is across from them. The bedrooms are upstairs.” He stopped walking and turned to face Michael and Liz.
“The sheets haven’t bee slept on but may be a bit dusty. If you want different ones, there’s a linen closet next to the upstairs bathroom. Just put the ones from the beds in the laundry room, which is through the kitchen.”
Liz nodded. “This is a beautiful house.”
“Thank you. I just couldn’t make myself sell it after mom and dad died. Wanted it to stay in the family you know?”
“How did your parents die?” Michael asked.
“They were on a train to Chattanooga when a man in a truck decided to kill himself and pulled out in front of them. The train derailed. Sixty-eight people were killed but surprisingly, the man trying to kill himself lived. He ended up with a broken spleen and leg. He got charged with all sixty-eight deaths though and is in prison for motor vehicle homicide. Some people are just crazy.” Jerry said as he turned to walk to the door.
“I’m sorry.” Liz said.
Jerry shook his head. “Don’t be. Things happen for a reason. It was just their time to go. It wasn’t easy but we’re dealt only so many cards in life and we have two choices. Fold or go on, risk it. I’d rather chase the risk and know that at least I didn’t give up and that’s one thing that helped me get through that time. Knowing that they didn’t give up. They played their cards until there were just no more cards to play.”
“I never looked at it like that.” Michael said.
“Neither did I until I met Claurice. She’s a brilliant woman. Make sure when you see her next to tell her I said that. I take all the brownie points I can get.” Jerry winked.
“Well, I better go pick up Claurice before she decides to walk home and I end up sleeping on the couch. You kids have a good night.”
“You too Jerry. Thank you for letting us stay here.” Liz said.
“You’re welcome honey.” Jerry replied as he walked out the door. Liz walked in and sat on the couch as Michael walked with Jerry to his Plymouth. The sky was dark and full of clouds and it was starting to sprinkle. Michael didn’t mind though as he stood and spoke to Jerry.
“Thanks again man.”
Jerry nodded. “Mind if I ask you a question son?”
“Shoot.” Michael replied.
“What are you doing with her?
Michael looked confused, eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s obvious you have feelings for her. So why are you trying to block them?”
Michael’s mouth fell open. He had tried so hard to make sure his feelings were not noticeable so how the hell had he…
“Come on son. I may not be the brightest bulb but I’m not blind either. It was obvious when you two first walked into the bar tonight. You grabbed her hand to walk her to the table but as soon as you realized what you’d done, you dropped it quicker than Dale Earnhardt on race day. If you just wanted to be her friend, holding her hand wouldn’t have been an issue. So what are you hiding from?”
Michael looked down at the ground, but finding nothing interesting there, looked back at Jerry.
“It’s not that simple.” Michael said.
“Nothing in life worth having ever is son. Come on, sit with me a minute.” Jerry said as he sat on the hood of his car, Michael sitting beside him and looking up at the house. He could see Liz through the living room window and smiled at how beautiful she looked.
“So talk to me.” Jerry said. “What is it that makes it difficult?”
“I don’t really like to talk about my feelings.”
“Pretend I’m your dad.” Jerry said.
“My dad was a bastard. You really want me to look at you that way?”
“Ok, pretend I’m the dad you wish you’d had.”
“I never really wanted a dad.”
“Humor me son.” Jerry said. He had to grin at the realization that Michael was a lot like he was as a kid.
“I have a past Jerry. A past that could hurt her.” Michael said, looking up at Jerry.
“We all have a past Michael. It’s what makes us who we are. And I’m judging by the fact that she’s with you now and not with her parents or friends or whoever else she could be with that she knows about your past and it doesn’t bother her. Am I right?”
“Just because she knows about it doesn’t make it alright.”
“Do you trust Liz?” Jerry asked.
“Of course I trust her. I have no reason not to trust her.” Michael bit, his defensiveness starting to show through.
“Then don’t you think that if she had a problem with who you are or were, she would tell you?”
Michael shook his head in defeat.
“Yeah...” He let out a deep breath. “she would.”
“It isn’t your past that’s holding you back son. It’s something else. You’re afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.” Michael said in almost a whisper. It started to downpour but neither of them really noticed.
“Yes you are. You’re afraid of loving Liz because deep down, you’re terrified of getting hurt and you’re even more terrified of hurting her.”
Michael didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked back through the window to where Liz was sitting on the couch writing in her journal, her hair flowing down her arms.
“You’re going to have to realize Michael that there are no guarantees in life. There is no way to guarantee that things will work out for the two of you but there is one thing I’m certain of. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t try.” Jerry said as he stood up and walked to the drivers side door, Michael following behind him.
“Think about it Michael.” Jerry said as he got in and drove off, leaving Michael standing in the driveway, soaked and trying to figure out what to do next. After about twenty minutes, he walked back to the house. Opening the door, he headed to where Liz sat.
“I’m gonna go find a room.” Liz looked up at him.
“Michael!” Liz shrieked as she jumped up from the couch and ran upstairs.
“That was weird as hell.” Michael said out loud. Hearing her running back down the stairs, he turned to see her moving toward him with a towel.
“You’re soaked.” Liz said as she stood in front of him and started wiping his arms with the towel.
“Take your shirt off.” She said quietly.
“What?” he asked.
“Take your shirt off. So..so you can change.” She said as she continued to wipe off his neck and face. Feeling a little too close, she walked over to where their bags were and pulled a dry shirt out of his bag.
Michael slowly pulled his shirt off but couldn’t make himself look at her. It was too much of a temptation. Still believing he had to keep his distance, he couldn’t let himself fall into that temptation.
Liz looked back at Michael, knowing exactly what she had to do, what she wanted to do. But tonight wasn’t the time for it. She had to make sure it was done right which required a couple of other things to be done first. Walking back to where he stood, face down, she reached out and handed him the towel so he could finish drying off and his shirt to change into.
Liz smiled. “I’m gonna go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” She said as she headed back in the direction of the stairs.
Michael nodded and walked to his bag.
“Liz?”
Liz turned around and looked at him. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.” He said.
“You’re welcome Michael. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” He replied as they both headed up the stairs and found rooms in silence.
The next morning, Liz got up at 6:30. Her inner alarm clock wouldn’t let her sleep any longer but it was a good thing. She had a couple of phone calls to make before Michael got up which meant she had to find some kind of phone that couldn’t traced back to her. She got in the car and began to drive around town, hoping to find a phone company but knowing deep down that any town less than eight blocks long wouldn’t have it’s own phone company. She was just about to head back to the house to try to figure out another way when she spotted Claurice standing outside the tavern. Pulling up, she got out of the car and walked over to her.
“Hey.” Liz said, smiling.
“Hey there. Sleep well last night?” Claurice asked, smiling back at the young girl.
“Yes, thank you. Um, is there a cell phone company anywhere around here?” Liz asked.
“The closest one is about fifteen miles from here but I have a cell phone if you need to use it as long as you don’t mind whoever you’re calling thinking you’re in Canada that is.”
“Canada?”
Claurice laughed. “It was my sister’s phone but she left it here by accident last time she came down from Vancouver and instead of letting me ship it back to her, she ended up getting a new one. I refuse to switch the name and number on it until all the minutes are used up. My sister’s minute crazy so there are still like 1500 to go through.”
“Wow!” Liz said. “So anytime you call anyone..”
“Yep, they think I’m calling from Vancouver. Anyway, would you like to use it?”
Liz smiled. “If you don’t mind. I just need to call my dad. Haven’t talked to him in a little while.”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear from you.” Claurice said as she pulled the phone from her purse and handed it to Liz. “I’m gonna head on inside.” She said as she dropped her cigarette to the ground and smashed it with her foot.
“Ok. I’ll bring it in as soon as I’m finished. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome hun.” Claurice answered as she walked in the door.
Liz dialed the number and waited for her parents to answer.
“Hello?”
“Daddy? It’s me.” Liz said as the tear went down her cheek. Though it had only been three days since she had seen her parents, it seemed like months and she had missed them more than she thought she would.
“Lizzie? Oh Lizzie, it’s good to hear your voice. Is everything ok?”
Liz smiled. “Everything’s fine daddy. I just need to talk to you. Well you and mom both. Can you have her pick up the other phone for a minute?”
“Yeah. Honey are you sure everything’s alright?”
“Yes dad, everything’s fine.” She chuckled.
Fifteen minutes later, Liz pushed the end button, wiping the tears from her face. The conversation went incredibly well and she was surprised to find out that they were not at all shocked by what she wanted to talk to them about. But not wanting to dwell on that, she had one more phone call to make. She dialed again and put the phone up to her ear.
“Your dime.”
“Maria!” Liz smiled.
“Liz? Oh my gosh Liz, where are you? I have been here for the past three days wondering if you were dead. Ok, I knew you weren’t dead cause I talked to Max but I still didn’t know if you were ok or if you were hurt or lying in a ditch somewhere with pneumonia and head lice or whatever. I mean you can’t just leave like that and not tell me where you’re going. What if something had happened and I had to come looking for you? I wouldn’t know which way to go and what are you doing running away with Michael anyway? I mean come on it’s just not like you to…”
“Maria. Shut up already.” Liz laughed. Looking at her watch, she realized she had already been on the phone for twenty five minutes and she didn’t want to use up all of Claurices time.
“Listen Maria, I have to go but I just wanted to let you know I’m alright. I’ll call again later when I have a chance to get a new phone.”
“Wait, you just called like five minutes ago.” Maria argued.
“Ten, and I’m borrowing someone’s phone. Tell Max that I called and I said for him to tell the rest of you what’s going on. I want everyone prepared in case anything would happen.”
“What are you talking about Liz?
“Ask Max. Anyway, I have to go Ria but I’ll call later. I love and miss you so much!”
“Love you too babe. Call back soon please!” Maria practically begged.
“I will. Bye.”
“Bye Liz.”
Liz shut the phone off and walked into the tavern. Finding a seat at the bar wasn’t difficult considering the place wasn’t open yet so her and Claurice were the only two there.
“Did you have a nice talk with your dad?” Claurice asked as she walked out of the back room.
“Yeah. It’s been about three days since I’ve had a chance to talk to my parents and I just wanted to check in. Plus I needed a little advice.” Liz smiled.
“About Michael?”
“What?” Liz asked.
“Oh come on honey. It’s so obvious you’re in love with the boy.”
Liz smiled. “Yeah, about Michael.”
“Anything I can help with?” Claurice asked.
“Actually, yeah.” Liz answered as Claurice sat down behind the counter facing her.
TBC…
