Fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Pretender' or any of its characters. They rightfully belong to NBC, MTM, TNT and Pretender Productions. Man this is getting depressing! I'm not doing this for the money, but for my sanity. Please don't sue. Thanks, Thunderchild.

A Year Passes By And No One Notices

by Thunderchild

Parker slammed the front door shut and stormed towards the stairs. For the past year she had been drinking heavily to try and forget, but the alcohol just makes the pain worse.

 Jarod, who was upstairs, heard the door slam. Since he didn't have a better escape plan he dived under the bed to wait until she went into the bathroom, to have a shower so he could get away. Safely. By the sound of things, she's had a VERY hard day and it's not going to get better till the day is over. Completely.

Parker throws her long black coat on the bed and paces restlessly about the room. "I hope the fuckheads burn in Hell!" Parker snarls, holding back tears. "'Honey is there anything wrong?'" Parker said impersonating her father. "Oh Christ! How fucking smart of him to notice? A deaf, blind idiot could EVEN know that there was something wrong!" Parker pulled out her gun. "How very simple. 1 2 3 silence. No one could give a fuck if I was dead!" Parker armed it and held it in front of her face.

Jarod flinched when he heard the metallic CLICK-SNAP. 'DO SOMETHING!' But Jarod was frozen to the floor.

"No more pain." Parker flicked off the safety with her thumb. "Pull the fucking trigger and make it be over." Parker held the gun to her temple and breathed deeply. BANG. Silence. All very simple. Parker's finger was pushing the trigger down a fraction at a time. At the last minute she hurled it away. It smashed the mirror and discharged, the bullet hitting the wall. Parker fell onto the bed screaming. "YOUR GUTLESS!" Parker started to sob. "Are you happy now? You've completely destroyed me!"

Tears were building up in Jarod's eyes, just listening to her pain. Not able to help. Not able to comfort her in ANY WAY.

"MAKE IT STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE! YOU WIN, JUST STOP! SOME ONE PLEASE, KILL ME!" Parker cried, for once in her life she cried, letting the tears fall, not fighting them. A whole year and the murderer or MURDERERS had gone unpunished. A whole year filled with enormous pain and guilt, so strong that it's destroying Parker even with all her shields. "Why did you take Tommy? What the fuck did he EVER do to you? Don't you like an outsider sleeping with a Centre employee? What? What? WHAT?" Parker slipped off the bed so that her head was buried into the corner of the mattress.

Jarod crept out from under the bed and knelt in front of her. Not wanting to touch her just in case she breaks, she was that fragile.

"Stop it from hurting, it's UNBAREABLE!" Parker was trembling as she cried. Jarod reluctantly touched her shoulder. Parker flinched away from his touch and buried her face deeper into the mattress. "I'm never going to see his boyish grin or his dark brown eyes or hear his voice. Oh God!" Parker cried in pain. Jarod was getting torn apart seeing her like this.

"Why don't you go and see him?" Jarod asked softly.

"WHAT DON'T YOU JUST RIP MY HEART OUT?" Parker spat back. "Just go." Parker mumbled.

"Are you sure?" Jarod asked her quietly.

"Does it look like I'm sure of ANYTHING? NOW GO!" Parker barked in between hiccup like sobs. Jarod wanted to leave her by herself but he couldn't. Not 2 minutes ago she tried to take her own life. No he wouldn't go. "Please." Parker pleaded and got up on the bed, hanging her head down. Jarod crawled over to her on his knees and sat down on his haunches holding her icy cold hands. "Don't." Parker tried to get her hands free, but Jarod wouldn't let go.

"You should go see him." Jarod whispered.

"It doesn't help. The pain just gets worse." Parker finally got her hands free. "You better go." She stood up and walked away from him.

"I don't think you should be alone right now." Jarod stood up and walked a little closer to her.

"I don't care what you think, I just want to be left alone." Parker walked out of her bedroom and walked down the stairs. Jarod followed her. "Why are you here?"

"I just thought I'd come and check up on you. I know what today is."

"Oh Boy, you're a REAL genius aren't you!" She hissed at him hatefully.

"How do you mean?" Jarod asked as he followed her over the table where the drinks were.

"You think that you're the ONLY one that knows what today is? God! Why would you care?" Parker poured a drink but then just walked away from it.

"Thomas was a friend." Jarod said quietly. Parker spun round and glared at him dangerously.

"He...Was...A...Friend?" Parker asked as she stalked towards him like a cat to a bird in a cage. "You sent him here." Parker said slowly.

Jarod saw the look in her eyes and thought it might be best if he left. Now. "Parker it's not what you think." Jarod raised his hands in surrender and started to step away.

"Not what I think. You sent your own friend to his DEATH!" Parker started to get closer to him.

"I didn't know that The Centre was going to kill him." Jarod was stuck against the wall. He was grateful that she didn't have her gun, but she could still inflict injury without it.

"You should have fucking-well known! You know what The Centre's like, they killed my mother, they took you away from your family, and they destroyed Timmy to create Angelo! And who the fuck gave you the right to set me up with someone?" Parker was merely inches in front of him.

"No one, I just thought that I'd show you that not everyone was out to hurt you." Jarod regretted that as soon as he said it. Parker's eyes started to burn brighter.

"YOU ARSEHOLE!" She started to choke him. Jarod was stronger and he grabbed her hands off his throat, spun her round and held her against the wall, holding her hands at her left side and pressing her against the wall to try and keep her under control. "GET OFF ME!" Parker started to thrash around.

"CALM DOWN!" Jarod said to her sternly. Parker didn't listen she just kept on bucking thrashing round.

"GET OFF ME! YOU MAKE ME SICK!" Parker spat at him hatefully.

"I won't let you go till you calm down." Jarod said gently.

"YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T HURT ME! NOW YOU TURN ROUND AND TELL ME YOU SENT TOMMY!" Parker cried and started to slip down the wall. Jarod grabbed her waist her stood her back on her feet and held her, not restraining, but to try and comfort her. "Let me go." Parker started to push him away.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt." Jarod whispered in her ear. Parker slapped him hard in the face. Jarod just looked at her stunned, then shocked, then completely angry. "What did you do that for?" Jarod hissed.

"Let go!" Parker growled at him. Jarod pushed her back against the wall and held her hands on either side of her head. "Let me go."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't I'll kill you!"

"I don't see how." Jarod indicated to her hands. Parker started to thrash around, but Jarod stilled her movements by using his body to press her against the wall.

"Let me go, now! This isn't funny." Parker started to panic. She didn't know what he was doing or why he was holding her against the wall with his body pressed against hers, and frankly she didn't want to know.

"It isn't meant to be funny, now are you going to behave?" Jarod asked her.

"In what way?" Parker asked, a little afraid.

"Not trying to kill me." Jarod looked into her shining blue eyes.

"Let go of me!" Parker hissed.

"No, that's not the answer." Jarod said teasingly.

"Fuck you!" Parker twisted. "Why shouldn't I try and kill you? YOU SENT TOMMY HERE AND HE WAS KILLED!" Parker yelled.

"Why are you treating me like the enemy? I didn't kill Thomas." Jarod asked her, his face inches in front of hers.

"Let go of me!" Parker was trying to get off the wall, but Jarod wasn't budging.

"Answer my question."

"Make me!" Parker hissed and her eyes started to water again.

"Just answer my questions and I'll let you go." Jarod said in a softer tone because he knew that he was scaring Parker, not that she'd want to admit it.

"What questions?" Parker asked in a small voice, when she stopped fighting, knowing that he won't let her go and she won't win.

"Why are you treating me like the enemy?" Jarod asked her gently.

"You promised me that you'd never hurt me. Then you come out and say you sent Tommy here. You hurt me." Parker sniffled.

"I'm sorry. But I didn't mean for you to get hurt, I was just trying to help." Jarod said softly. Parker didn't answer she just rested her forehead against his shoulder. "You have no idea how sorry I am." Jarod rested his cheek against her head.

"Everyone's always hurting me." Parker said in a mumble.

"I won't hurt you any more." Jarod slowly let go of her hands and snaked his arms around her, holding her tightly. He felt her relax against him. He just found out she liked been held tightly. He started to gently twist her from side to side. Parker wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

After standing like that for a while. Jarod started to talk to her again. "I better be going." When he stopped his swaying Parker made a growling noise in her throat. "OK." Jarod started to sway her again. Parker breathed deeply then relaxed, closing her eyes.

"I don't want to be alone tonight." Parker lifted her head and looked into his eyes.

"OK." Jarod kissed her forehead. Parker rested her head back in next to his neck on his shoulder. "Do you want to sit down on the couch?" Parker didn't say anything. She just let go of him, held his hand and led him over to the couch.

Jarod sat down with his back against the arm, resting his feet up on the coffee table. Parker knelt down on the couch then stretched out to lie down in between Jarod and the back of the couch. She then rested her head on his shoulder. Jarod put one arm round her shoulders and the other hand was gently stroking her head.

Parker wriggled down further and started to fall asleep. Just when she was nearly asleep, Jarod moved, she jerked and looked around quickly. "Sorry, you can go back to sleep." Jarod whispered and started to stroke her head again. Parker rested her head on his shoulder and slowly drifted back to sleep.

When she was sleeping soundly, Jarod gently took the afghan from the back of the couch and covered her over. Jarod was amazed by how trustingly she slept in his arms when only a short time ago she tried to strangle him. Jarod smiled and watched her sleep for a little longer then fell asleep himself.

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PARKER MANOR:

10:30A.M.

RING. RING.

Jarod had been awake for a while and he heard it when it first started ringing. On the third ring Parker was jerked out of her sleep, but she didn't make any movements to say she was going to answer it. "Aren't you going to get it?"

"I'll let the machine pick it up." Parker said and buried herself against Jarod again.

BEEP.

"Miss Parker, its Sydney. Are you all right? You're late for work and your father has been looking for you. I think he wants to apologise for what happened yesterday. I just thought that I'd call and make sure you're all right and give you a warning that he might call round. I understand if you don't want to talk about what yesterday was, but I'm here if and when you want to talk. Oh, Broots hasn't had any leads, so you don't have to come in today, I'll keep you posted if something shows up." Then he hung up.

"What happened with your father yesterday?" Jarod asked gently.

"Nothing." She said and started to go back to sleep. He started to stroke her head again. She let out a sigh. "He asked me why I was been so unreasonable. I was snappier that usual. I absolutely killed Broots, I tore Sydney to shreds and hung Lyle out to dry all in the space of three minutes. No one would come near me after that."

"It's understandable." Jarod whispered. Parker moved her head and grabbed his hand and held it, linking her fingers with his. "But I think Sydney and Broots will forgive you, they know what yesterday was and they understand."

"I'm gonna have a shower, you can hang round if you like." Parker got up with Jarod's help.

"But if your father comes I'm outta here." Jarod said.

"Fair enough." Parker walked upstairs.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

11:45A.M.

Parker and Jarod were sitting on the couch in silence. Parker was leaning against his shoulder with his arms draped around her shoulders. The phone started to ring again but Parker didn't move.

BEEP.

"Angel, its Daddy. If you're going to avoid me after what happened yesterday I understand. I guess I'm just ringing to apologise about what I said. It was thoughtless and heartless. I'm sorry. I had no right to say what I did, forgive me? Well, after you hear this and you want to ring me, I'll be in my office. Goodbye Honey." Mr Parker hung up.

Parker shifted and held Jarod's arms around her tighter. Jarod rested his cheek on the top of her head. "You all right with me been here?"

Parker sat up and looked at him. "Why?"

"I don't know, I just thought I'd ask." Jarod said looking into her blue eyes.

"I'm fine. I just want a friend with me for a while." Parker rolled onto her side, resting her head on his shoulder and hanging her arm across his stomach and down the front of the couch. Lying between Jarod and the couch, he had his feet propped up on the armrest at the other end of the couch.

"OK." Jarod rested his arm on her side, with his hand on her hip.

"You're not uncomfortable with me been this close to you, are you?" Parker asked.

"No, I've wanted to be this close to you for a long time." Jarod said without thinking. "OOPS, sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Parker silenced him by kissing his gently on the mouth. "Don't apologise, it doesn't suit you."

"So you don't mind?" Jarod asked confused, but also a little afraid. Parker didn't say anything she just kissed him again, this time more passionately.

"Does that answer your question?" Parker whispered.

"Yeah." Jarod pulled her on top of him and kissed her again and holding her tightly.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Half an hour later, Parker was still curled up on top of Jarod, who had his arms wrapped around her tightly, resting his hands on her lower back. Parker was starting to fall asleep again. Jarod took the afghan, which had fallen to the floor and placed it over her. She stirred and nuzzled her head closer to his neck. Jarod tucked a lock of hair behind her ear to get it out of her eyes.

RING. RING.

Parker groaned and tried to sit up, but Jarod held her down. "Let the machine get it, you haven't been sleeping." Jarod whispered.

"Why can't they leave me alone?" Parker rested her head beside Jarod's and closed her eyes.

BEEP.

"Its Sydney again. I know I rang before but I just want to make sure that you're all right. I don't want to talk about anything I just want to know that you're all right. I know that you're going to get really mad with me for ringing you twice in only a couple of hours but I'm worried about you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you more through the past year, I wanted to but I couldn't, I didn't think that you'd take my help or my advice. You're father has been in four times already seeing if you came in and just didn't tell him, I think he's very sorry, but he's probably already rang you and told you that. I won't ring again until you're ready to talk. Bye Miss Parker." Sydney hung up. Tears were forming in Parker's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jarod asked concerned.

"Sydney's right, I wouldn't have taken his help, even if he begged. What hurts about that is that I WANTED his help and to hear his advice, but everyone around me expected me not to crumble, to stand strong."

"I expected you to crumble and you are." Jarod held her tightly.

"Not now, then, now's too late, now's no good." Parker whimpered and tried to get up.

Jarod let her up but he still held her. He sat up too. "It's not too late. Two, three years later if you're still crumbling, it just shows that you haven't forgotten him. And you crumbled last year and you're crumbling again now, it just proves that you still love him."

"I think I want to go and see him...I NEED to go and see him." Parker whispered.

"You should and he'll ALWAYS be there when ever you want to see him." Jarod said and kissed her gently.

"I'm going to go now." Parker got up and walked over to the cupboard and got out her leather jacket. "I suppose you don't want to come too."

"I'll stay in the car." Jarod stood up and followed her out the door.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

THE CEMETERY.

From the car, Jarod was watching her. She was just kneeling on Tommy's grave, looking at the headstone. Not moving. Not speaking, just looking at the grey marble headstone.

An hour passes by and Parker still hadn't moved. Jarod silently got out of the car and crept over to her. Parker's hand reached out and she traced 'Thomas' with her finger. She held her up her hand and grasped Jarod's which was just hanging at his side. "I wanna go home now."

"Come on." Jarod helped her up because her legs would have been asleep.

"You can drive. I can't." Parker whispered.

"OK."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

2:15P.M.

On the way back to her house, Parker was very quiet. Jarod thought it would be best if he left after he got her home.

When they got inside Parker took off her coat and kicked off her boots. She turned to Jarod and took off his coat and put it with hers and led him over to the couch and made him sit down. Parker sat down next to him and curled up against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I just want you to hold me for awhile."

"OK." Jarod wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. Parker put her arms around his neck still resting her head on his shoulder. "Come here." Jarod moved her so that she was sitting on his lap.

"Why is life so cruel?" Parker asked as she moved her head so that her forehead was next to Jarod's jaw.

"I don't know. It wouldn't be so bad if you were away from The Centre. Why don't you leave? There's nothing there for you."

"I can't leave Sydney and Broots." Parker said quietly.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

"I'll go but I'll be back tonight." Jarod gently separated them and kissed her.

"See ya." Parker watched Jarod get his jacket and go out the back door quietly. She sat with her back against the arm of the chair and her back to the door, not making any movements to open it.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

She still didn't move. The knocking ceased when she heard a key in the lock. Parker didn't have to turn round to know who it was. "What do you want Lyle?"

"How'd you know it was me?" Lyle asked.

"You used a key and only Daddy, Sydney and you have one. Daddy wouldn't come because he's too busy with The Centre and Sydney wouldn't come because he doesn't like to push me. That only leaves you." Parker said without turning around.

"Fair enough. You OK?" Lyle closed the door and walked in a little closer to her.

"Like you care!" Parker hissed.

"I see you're not in the best mood so I'll go." Lyle walked back a little, but still keeping his eyes on her. She rested her head against the back of the couch. "There is something wrong."

"No duh!"

"Anything I can help with?"

"Unless you can revive the dead, no."

"Oh, has it been that long? Boy, time flies." Lyle walked over to the couch and rested a hand on her shoulder. She jumped. "Can I do anything?"

"No."

"Have been to see him?" Lyle walked in front of her and sat next to her.

'Have these people got a one tracked mind or something? They automatically say the one thing, go see him.' Parker thought to herself. "I went a little while ago."

"And?" Lyle asked her gently.

"What do you expect me to say: I went to see him and everything's all right now? I'm sorry if I'm not acting the way I should but I don't feel like it!" Parker hissed and started to cry.

"I didn't mean it like that, I just meant how did you feel after you saw him?" Lyle reluctantly held her.

"When will it stop hurting?" Parker whimpered.

"I don't know. I still get sad when people talk about Mom, since I didn't know her doesn't make it any easier." Lyle whispered to her soothingly.

"Why did they kill him? He didn't know anything. I didn't tell him what I did. But they still killed him, for what? Power? Control? Did they think I was getting to carried away with what he was saying about taking me away?" Parker sobbed.

"Let it out, it'll do you good." Lyle held her a little tighter.

"I miss him so much."

"I know you do. You're always getting hurt, but no I'm gonna take care of my little Sis. Dad doesn't a shit about us, he's only interested in the baby."

"He's only interested in The Centre." Parker added.

"Yeah, that too. You OK now?" Lyle asked when he felt that she was starting to calm down.

"Yeah." Parker sat back against the arm of the couch.

"When you're up to it, I think you should ring Syd. He's worried about you." Lyle touched her face. She nodded.

"Yeah. He rang twice today. Daddy rang once."

"What did Dad have to say?"

"Listen for yourself." Parker pointed to the answering machine. Lyle got up and pressed play.

"Miss Parker, its Sydney. Are you all right? You're late for work and your father has been looking for you. I think he wants to apologise for what happened yesterday. I just thought that I'd call and make sure you're all right and give you a warning that he might call round. I understand if you don't want to talk about what yesterday was, but I'm here if and when you want to talk. Oh, Broots hasn't had any leads today, so you don't have to come in today, I'll keep you posted if something shows up."

BEEP.

"Angel, its Daddy. If you're going to avoid me after what happened yesterday I understand. I guess I'm just ringing to apologise about what I said. It was thoughtless and heartless. I'm sorry. I had no right to say what I did, forgive me? Well, after you hear this and you want to ring me, I'll be in my office. Goodbye Honey."

BEEP.

Lyle stopped the tape and looked at her, she had tears in her eyes again. "The bastard." Lyle growled. "He thinks he can yank your strings and you'll jump. That's cruel."

"That's Daddy for you." Parker rested her head against the back of the couch.

"I don't know how you could have put up with him for so long." Lyle walked back over to her and sat on the couch, sitting at her feet.

"Lots of nights crying into my pillow and been blind most of the time." Parker moved over to Lyle and leant against his shoulder.

"I don't know why you still care about him. After all the shit he's put you through. Why don't you leave?" Lyle asked her as he held her. Parker lifted her head away from his shoulder and looked at him strangely. "No, you misunderstand me, I mean why don't you get away from here? From Dad. I'm not looking for the inheritance, if I wanted that I wouldn't give you the chance to walk away but I want you to leave before they kill anyone else that's close to you." Lyle kissed her forehead.

"I can't leave Sydney and Broots. If I disappear they'll be in the firing line. I couldn't do that to them. They've been too kind to me to get stabbed in the back like that." Parker snuggled back against Lyle's shoulder.

"OK, how about if I find another way? Would agree to it?" Lyle asked quietly.

"It depends on what it was." Parker started to fall asleep again.

"Parker?" Lyle asked softly.

"Umm..." Parker was asleep.

"Never mind." Lyle held her as she slept.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

5:30P.M.

Parker was still sleeping trustingly in Lyle's arms when he heard a noise coming from the back door. Lyle drew his gun and aimed at the kitchen archway. Jarod walked in quietly.

He froze when he saw Lyle sitting on the couch with his gun aimed at him, but his attention was drawn to what was in his arms. Parker. Lyle put his gun away carefully when he saw it was only Jarod.

Jarod started to breathe again when he saw Lyle putting his gun away and putting his arm back around Parker. He crept in and sat in the armchair. "She's like an angel when she sleeps." Lyle spoke first.

"Yeah, how long has she been asleep?" Jarod asked quietly.

"Little over 3 hours." Lyle said. "You were here before weren't you?" Jarod didn't respond. "OK, touchy question. But on something serious, I need you're help."

Jarod was all ears. "With?"

"I want to take control of The Centre from Dad and give it to Parker. I'd help her, but she'd have the control." Lyle said quietly so he doesn't wake her.

"I don't see how you can do that. He's not likely to give the control to her on a plate." Jarod pointed out as he watched her.

"I can think of a way, but I want to know if there are any alternatives." Lyle said.

"What's you're way?" Jarod asked.

"Have him removed from the equation." Lyle said without any emotion. "Or in layman's terms, kill him. 

"Do know what Parker's going to do if she finds out you're planning to kill her father?" Jarod asked shocked.

"You wouldn't be defending him if you saw her with tears in her eyes when I played Dad's message." Lyle growled angrily but quickly calmed down when Parker stirred.

"OK, I'll help you but only if she agrees, I don't want to be in the firing line." Jarod said quickly as Parker was waking up.

"Agreed." Lyle said.

Parker opened her eyes and saw Jarod sitting in the armchair in front of her. She smiled at him and burrowed against Lyle. It suddenly struck her, if Jarod's over there. Who is holding her in their arms? Oh shit! Parker sat up quickly and looked at Lyle. "You lay one finger on him I'll blow your head off!" Parker snarled.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt him or you. I need his help." Lyle stroked her face. Parker's eyes softened and she relaxed.

"Sorry." Parker said quietly.

"It's OK. I understand, but truthfully, I need his help." Lyle said and kissed her forehead.

"Come over here." Jarod said. Parker got up and walked over to him. He pulled her down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Lyle, you can tell her what you want done. She might have some suggestions."

"Suggestions on what?" Parker rested her head on Jarod's shoulder and looked at Lyle.

"How could we take the power from Dad and give it to you?" Lyle sat back comfortably in the couch.

"The only way would be if Daddy was dead. But the power would go to you and I don't want control of The Centre." Parker closed her eyes and relaxed in Jarod's arms.

"Would there be any other way? I don't think we really want to kill Dad."

"Umm...If we prove to The Triumvirate that he is incompetent and can't control The Centre any more, Matumbo would reevaluate it and deliver The Centre to you on a plate. But we could make Daddy have a little accident. For revenge for killing Jacob, Momma and Tommy." Parker growled angrily.

"Shh." Jarod kissed her temple.

"Is that the way you want to go about it?" Lyle asked.

"What way?" Parker was snuggling into Jarod's neck.

"Kill Dad." Lyle said gently.

Parker lifted her head and thought about it. "Yeah...Kill Daddy." Parker put her head back down and snuggled back into Jarod' neck again. "And Raines. But that will be all. Just Daddy and Raines."

"OK, how will we do it?" Lyle asked her gently, so he isn't pushing her into something that she isn't ready for.

"I'm going to shoot Raines. You can take Daddy." Parker said sleepily. "You agree with me, right?" Parker lifted her head and looked at Lyle.

"Yeah, Jarod just wanted to see how you felt if I was going to kill Dad."

"Oh." Parker relaxed and rested against Jarod. Jarod put his arm under her legs and lifted them up so that they were hanging over this side of the armchair.

"Comfy?" Jarod whispered to her.

"I'm going back to sleep." Parker whispered and relaxed against his shoulder.

"OK." Jarod kissed the tip of her nose.

"Why is she sleeping so much?" Lyle asked him quietly.

"She hasn't been sleeping. She can sleep now." Jarod held her tightly.

"When she hasn't been sleeping she's usually angrier than usual." Lyle whispered and moved closer to her, taking the afghan with him to put over her.

"That's how tired she was." Jarod tucked the blanket around her.

"God, Dad has A LOT to answer for." Lyle growled.

"Yeah, he's been pushing her too hard. All she wanted was someone to listen to her pain and hold her as she cried. But no one was around for her, even thou we were around she didn't see us in the way she needed someone." Jarod explained quietly.

"I'll hang around so if anyone comes I can get rid of them so she can sleep." Lyle sat back.

"All except Syd. He's worried about her. Maybe you should ring him now." Jarod suggested.

"And say?"

"That Parker's OK, she's just sleeping and you'll be staying with her. No one would call round then and she could sleep without getting interrupted." Jarod said as Lyle made his way over to the phone. Lyle picked up the phone and dialed Sydney's number.

"This is Sydney." Sydney reported into the phone.

"Sydney, I'm at Parker's and she's sleeping. She's OK, just worn out." Lyle said to him, watching Parker in Jarod's arms.

"Thank you. Would it be all right if I called round now?" Sydney asked.

"Umm." Lyle looked at Jarod, who just nodded. "Yeah, sure. The door will be unlocked, so you don't need to knock and try and be quite when you come."

"Of course. I'll be there in an hour. Thank you Lyle."

"No problem." Lyle hung up. "He'll be here in an hour." He walked over to the couch and sat down.

"Good." Jarod gently stroked Parker's head.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

6:35P.M.

Lyle and Jarod had been talking quietly when Sydney opened the door nervously and walked in. He saw Lyle sitting on the lounge, signaling him over. But what was more shocking was that Parker was sleeping in Jarod's arms. The hunter sleeping with the prey. But he had seen the signs that there was more to their relationship that what met the eye. Sydney walked over to them. "How is she?" He sat down next to Lyle.

"Sleeping like a baby." Lyle whispered.

"Does she know who's holding her?"

"All to well." Jarod smiled and tightened his arms around her. She stirred and instinctively snuggled closer to him.

"We have another reason to call you apart from telling what was going on here. We're going to be doing some house cleaning at The Centre." Lyle told him.

"Who?" Sydney asked.

"Dad and Raines." Lyle replied shortly.

"Does Parker know that you're planning to kill her father?"

"Yeah, she's the one who said that Raines was to be killed too." Lyle told him quietly. Parker shifted in Jarod's lap. He took the blanket off her slightly. She was still.

"She was just getting too hot." Jarod whispered.

"Oh." Sydney shook his head to clear his thoughts. "You better wait till she wakes up before you start planning to knock Mr Parker off. She's tired and wasn't thinking clearly and if you kill him, she might regret it later."

"I doubt it, but I'll wait till she's caught up on sleep. When she can think clearly."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

7:45P.M.

Parker woke up and stretched, then curled back up on Jarod's lap again. "If I sleep any more I won't want to go to bed tonight." Parker smiled and put her arms around his neck.

"That answer your question?" Jarod smiled and held her tightly.

"Huh?" Parker looked at him strangely. Then she saw Sydney. Her head dropped back onto Jarod's shoulder. "Great!"

"How are you feeling?" Sydney asked gently.

"Fine, how long have you been here?" Parker moved her head on Jarod's shoulder so she could look at Sydney.

"About an hour." Sydney answered.

"I suppose you know what's going on here now?" Parker asked as she got off Jarod slowly.

"Yes, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Sydney said honestly.

"You better not." Parker growled and stretched her arms behind her, groaning as her joints cracked and creaked.

"You OK?" Jarod stood up behind her.

"Just cramped muscles that's all." Jarod started to rub the base of her neck, since she had her head bent all the time she was sleeping it would be sore and cramped. She rested her head trustingly in his hands.

"Syd said it would be best if we waited till you woke up to see if you're comfortable about killing Dad." Lyle told her quietly.

"How clear do I have to make it? Do I have to pull the fucking trigger myself?" Parker snarled at them.

Jarod put his arms around her and pulled her close. "Shh, Sydney just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing."

"I know what I'm doing! I WANT DADDY DEAD!" She snarled at them, her blue eyes flaming dangerously.

"We know that, Sydney just wanted to be sure." Lyle walked over to her and gently stroked her face. "Dad and Raines will be killed, you have my word." Lyle said gently. She calmed down and nodded.

"Soon."

Lyle nodded. "Soon."

"You did a better job than him." She smiled at him warmly.

"We OK now?" Jarod asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine. We just need to think of a way." Parker said as Jarod let her go. Lyle, Parker and Jarod sat down.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

9:25P.M.

They had been discussing how they were going to kill Raines and Mr Parker. Jarod and Parker were sitting on the couch with her leaning against his shoulder, sitting with her legs tucked under her. Lyle was sitting at the table behind them, while Sydney was sitting in the armchair. "So let's go through this again." Parker announced calmly. "We'll go up to Daddy and get him to call Raines up for some reason. I'll knock Raines off first and then we'll settle some things with Daddy, right?"

"Yeah." Lyle nodded. "When do we do it?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! But you can't possibly think about..." Sydney stopped because Parker was shooting him a cold, icy glare, making the Antarctic look like the sun. "Sorry, but don't you think it's a bit soon?"

"Did Tommy have a choice WHEN he would be killed? Did Momma? Did Jacob?" She snarled at him coldly. Jarod started to stroke her neck but she just slapped his hand away. "Did they?" She demanded.

"No." Sydney answered quietly.

"Why should THEY? Why should they live a minute longer than necessary?" She snarled.

"OK, I think we've had enough toady." Lyle intervened before she killed someone. By the look of things now it was going to be Sydney.

"I'm doing it tomorrow." Parker growled.

"OK, we'll do it tomorrow. We'll start the ball rolling at 10:30."

"8:30" Parker spat back.

"10:00, not a minute later or sooner."

"Deal." Parker rested against Jarod's shoulder heavily. He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

THE CENTRE:

MR PARKER'S OFFICE:

THE NEXT DAY:

10:00A.M.

Lyle and Parker just walked in. Mr Parker looked up from his desk and smiled when he saw her walking towards him. "We want Raines up here, because Lyle and I have something to tell you both." Parker took control of the situation. Lyle was only a passenger at the moment.

"About?" Mr Parker sat back in his chair, quite interested.

"Jarod. I have him." Parker answered.

Mr Parker pressed the button on the intercom. "Send Mr Raines up here immediately." And sat back in his chair. Parker and Lyle stood in front of his desk and waited, but not for the same reasons as their father.

Raines came in about 5 minutes later. "What is it?"

"My daughter has something concerning Jarod, go on Honey, tell him."

"If you insist." Parker turned round and shot Raines in the heart. He dropped instantly. This all happened in the blink of an eye, one minute Raines was walking towards the desk and the next, Mr Parker couldn't see him.

"What the Hell do you think you're doing?" Mr Parker snarled at her.

"Something I should have done a long time ago. Get revenge for the people you killed." Parker aimed her gun at his heart.

"Now Honey, you don't want to do anything you might regret. I'm your father damnit, I've protected you when The Triumvirate threatened your life."

"Like they did with Tommy, but no that was you're order, say hello to the man downstairs for me." Parker smiled and shot him. She walked over to him and checked his pulse. Dead. She pressed the button for the intercom. "Send a cleaning team up here now." She ordered and walked with Lyle out the door. "Time to pick up little brother." Parker smiled.

"I think he's missing his sister." Lyle smiled at her.

"And big brother." Parker added as they got into the elevator to go to the Infirmary.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

When they got down to the Infirmary, there were two guards standing outside who stopped them. "No one is to enter unless you have clearance from Mr Parker." The sweeper stepped up to Parker and Lyle.

"My father is dead, so his order no longer stands. Return to your duties." Parker snarled at him.

"I'll still need clearance." The sweeper argued.

"I am in charge now! The order no longer stands!" Lyle yelled at him. The sweepers stepped away and scuttled down the hall. "Sweepers!" Lyle fumed.

"Let's get little brother outta here." Parker smiled and walked in the doors. Lyle followed.

Their little brother was lying in a crib on his back, waving his legs around. Parker bent over him and picked him up carefully. "Hello, miss me?" Parker said in a gentle voice as she held her little brother carefully.

The little boy had brown eyes and faint blond hair. He seemed happy that he was picked up at last, he snuggled against Parker's shoulder and went to sleep. "Yeah, those bastards probably haven't even picked you up since you were here, have they?" Parker gently rocked him in her arms. "Let's go." Parker said quietly. Lyle walked to the door with her following him.

Walking through The Centre with her baby brother in her arms, Parker was receiving some queer looks from people as they passed them. They walked into Sydney's office. "Parker." Sydney looked strangely at the baby that Parker was cradling in her arms.

"Syd, I don't believe you've met our little brother." Parker smiled as she walked over to him.

"No, I guess I haven't." Sydney smiled at the baby as he slept in Parker's arms.

"Lyle and I are going to take care of him." Parker said as she gently swayed him in her arms. The baby stirred and looked at Sydney.

"He's content for you to just hold him." Sydney commented.

"Yeah, he like's his big sister." Parker smiled at Sydney.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Sydney asked.

"Not yet, but we really haven't been thinking about it." Lyle stepped away from the door as Broots walked in.

"Mr Parker..." Broots stopped when he saw what she was holding. "Who's that?" Broots asked.

"Our little brother." Lyle answered. "What did you want?"

"I just came to tell Sydney that Mr Parker and Raines are dead, but I see that's pointless now." Broots walked up to her and looked at the baby. "He's cute."

"Do you want to hold him?" Parker asked him.

"Umm...Yeah." Parker gently placed her little brother in his arms. She gently touched his head. "Wow! He's not very heavy."

"No." The baby started to cry. "Rock him." Broots started to sway slightly but he didn't seem to be getting any quieter.

"You better take him back before he bursts a lung." Broots gently handed him back to Parker.

"Hey, shh." Parker started to sway him slowly. The baby started to calm down but still cried out in hiccup like bursts. "Shh." Parker kissed his head gently.

"He doesn't like anyone but you." Sydney laughed gently.

"No." Parker kissed him gently again. The boy was completely silent again. "When do you think Matumbo will find out about Daddy been dead?" Parker asked softly.

"Soon, someone from clean up will tell The Council who will tell Matumbo." Lyle said and walked over to his little brother.

"So we won't have to wait long." Parker looked down at the sleeping form in her arms.

"No."

"Good."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

THE CENTRE:

MISS PARKER'S OFFICE:

6:30P.M.

Parker was working at her desk, while her little brother was on the afghan on the floor when Lyle came in. "Hey Sis, its show time." Lyle walked over to his little brother and knelt beside him. The boy was grabbing at Lyle's gloved hand with interest. "No big guy, that isn't to come off." Lyle picked him up while Parker packed up the papers she was working on. The baby was silent in Lyle's arms, but he was still trying to get Lyle's glove off.

"At least he knows who his family is." Parker smiled and walked over to Lyle.

"Good thing, don't you reckon?" Lyle smiled at her.

"Yeah, at least he doesn't scream his head off with you. But that was funny with Broots, one minute silence and the next we heard how strong his little lungs are." Parker smiled and touched the boy's head. He was still intent on getting that glove off.

"Shall we go?" Parker asked.

"Yeah, I'll carry him for a bit, if you don't mind." Lyle said to her.

"I think you better, I was getting some queer looks." They walked out and up to their father's office.

When they walked in, it was spotless, you wouldn't have believed that two people got shot that very morning. Up at the desk was sitting Matumbo. Alone. "Come in you two." They walked up to the desk, with Lyle still carrying the boy. "Now, would you like to tell me why you two killed Mr Raines and you're father? After all you, my dear Miss Parker, were brought up in The Centre. Do you have an explanation for you're actions?"

"Yes. Our father was getting incompetent in the running of The Centre. As you would have noticed if you were here, it was running a lot smoother when my brother was in charge while my father was missing." Parker answered him.

"I did notice a difference in the way things were running. So you're telling me that you, a Centre child, killed your own father and Mr Raines, just to change who was running The Centre?" Matumbo was thoroughly interested.

"Yes, partly. He killed our mother and Thomas Gates. We wanted revenge for their pointless deaths." Parker answered. "So if you don't like what we did you just have to lump it!" She snarled at him.

"Now calm down." Matumbo ordered calmly.

"No! I want my brother to be in charge of The Centre!" She snarled.

"STEP DOWN!" Matumbo stood up and snarled at her. She shrunk and backed away. "Thank you." He seated himself again. "But what would you do if I wanted you to be Chairperson?"

"I don't want to be." Parker answered calmly. "I'm in charge of that recapturing of Jarod. Lyle has nothing more pressing to deal with so he would be best for Chairperson." Parker argued.

"You are putting a very convincing argument. But let me put it this way, the two remaining Parker children are to be the Chairperson's of The Centre. Mr Lyle to assist you while you are here because you know the way everything works and when there's a hunt on Mr Lyle is in charge of The Centre." Matumbo reasoned. "I don't want to play favourites."

"And that's as far as you're going to take it?" Parker asked.

"Yes. There is nothing here that couldn't be explained." Matumbo stood up and walked over to them. "This must be the new member of our little family."

"Yes. To correct you, there are THREE Parker children."

"But only TWO that are entitled to the seat in The Centre." Matumbo watched the boy tugging away at Lyle's glove. "The child has potential."

"When he is old enough he will be assisting us." Parker said to him.

"Of course." Matumbo started to walk them along the corridor. Everyone stopped what they were doing and acknowledged Matumbo as he walked past.

"But there better not be anymore questions about my loyalty or more blood will be spilt. That isn't a threat, it's a PROMISE." Parker snarled.

"I can assure you that there will be no more questions after this little production that you and you're brother put on this morning." Matumbo promised her. "Now I must return to Africa and organise everything there. I noticed it before that you're father was starting to lose his grasp on the important things around here, but I was waiting to take action. Now, thanks to you I don't have to worry about it anymore." Matumbo stepped into the elevator.

"We didn't do it for you!" Parker snarled at him.

"You're just like you're father when it comes to business."

"NO! My father didn't have a heart, I do. I'm not doing it for the money, I'm doing it so no one else has to go through the pain that Lyle, Angelo, Jarod and I had to go through." Parker snarled. "That's the difference."

"But you have his temper." Then the doors closed.

"That's were you're wrong. I have a temper because I don't like patronising arseholes. I got that from Mom." She turned to Lyle. The baby stopped tugging at Lyle's glove and had fallen asleep in his arms. "You wore him out." Parker smiled.

"Do you want to take him back?" Lyle asked.

"Yeah, it might be best before he wakes up and starts screaming." Parker took him gently out of Lyle's arms. "Now let's get this little guy to his new home." Parker and Lyle walked down the corridor.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

PARKER MANOR:

7:11P.M.

Parker walked up and unlocked the door and waked in carefully. Jarod looked up and saw what she was carrying. "I don't believe you've met our little brother." Parker smiled.

Jarod got up and walked over to her. "No." Parker was holding him on his back and cradled in her arms. Jarod gently touched his face. "Cute." He smiled at her. "Just like his sister."

"No, I'm gorgeous, he's cute. Big difference." Parker corrected him.

"Oh yeah."

"If you two will be able to handle our little situation, I'll go back to The Centre and get things cleared up." Lyle said quietly.

"Yeah."

"I've seen the picture of Mom with you as a baby. You look just like her." Lyle kissed her cheek and walked down to the car.

"You know he's not far wrong." Jarod smiled.

"I've always looked like Momma."

"Yeah." Jarod stroked her face.

"I'm going to put him down and lie down with him for a while, I'm beat." Parker walked upstairs with Jarod following.

"Do you want me to hold him while you have a shower?" Jarod asked as he sat down on the bed.

"Yeah, I'll have a quick one." Parker gently placed the boy in his arms. "That suits you." Parker purred.

"Thank you." Jarod looked down at the tiny face. Parker went and had a shower.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

When she came back out, Jarod was still in the same position and her brother hadn't moved. She slipped onto the bed next to him and looked over his shoulder. He stood up carefully and waited for Parker to get comfortable before he handed her the baby. She was on her back and Jarod laid the baby next to her side. He lay down next to her and rolled onto his back to turn on the CD player to have softly playing. "You're beautiful." Jarod whispered to her.

"Thank you, but you're not bad looking yourself." Parker smiled and settled down to go to sleep. Jarod watched her for a little while before he fell asleep. She was beautiful, even when she sleeps. She's a little angel. He had a small smile on his face as he slept with the gentle music in the background, all three slept peacefully.

When you're weary

Feeling small

When tears are in your eyes

I will dry them all

I'm on your side

When times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

When you're down and out

When you're on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you

I'll take your part

When darkness comes and pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl

Sail on by

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams on their way

See how they shine

If you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind

Simon and Garfunkle: The Definitive. "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

The End of A Year Passes By And No One Notices.

Whatcha think? Good? Bad? Should I steal Miss Parker's gun and shoot myself? Umm...Maybe not. You know the drill. Gimme, gimme, gimme feedback, I need it to survive.

Feedback: devilish_princess698@yahoo.com.au

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