Disclaimer: I do not own this show or any of the characters.
The Pretender Alternate Reality Series. This takes place after Donoterase. Also, there is a surprise cross over weaved into this tale.
Chapter 1
Backstory: After Jarod was recaptured and returned to the Centre, a strange set of events took place. Jarod discovered that the powers to be, did not want him back, as a Pretender in the normal sense. There was an even bigger project on the table. One that they needed his expertise on, because this time, the Centre wanted to capture someone else. Someone that had never lived in the Centre before, but had worked there.
Jarod, after being told all about this secret project, came to the decision to perform the Pretend of his life. He dealt with Mr. Lyle, and took him up on his offer to run the Centre, with just him, together.
Lyle, who was quite excited about this 'secret' project, took Jarod up on his offer. He first, killed Raines, then framed his father and Brigitte for the murder, sending them on the run. Jarod was forced to play his part, and pretended to be gleeful over this event, while silently hiding his revulsion.
Only Sydney and Broots, knew that Jarod was not really serious. They were the only ones that knew, that not only did Jarod plan to help this person, who the Centre was after, get away, but he planned to make sure that the Centre never harmed anyone again.
But, there was one small problem: Ms. Parker. Recovered from her bullet wound to the back, she was appalled to arrive back to work, only to find that she now worked UNDER Jarod. Not buying his change of heart completely, but unable to convince Lyle or anyone else of anything, Ms. Parker accepted the fact that not only did Jarod have a much bigger office than hers, but, that she had to take orders from him as well.
Ms. Parker however, had another secret she was carrying around as well. The doctors in the hospital, where Lyle had kept her, had failed to discover something else about her condition. She was pregnant, about six weeks. That meant that it was the late Thomas Gates's child.
She was happy that the doctors at that godforsaken place, had missed her pregnancy. She was grateful that her being shot in the back, hadn't caused any trauma to the fetus. She was grateful that the drugs they had kept her on, while she was in the hospital, had not caused any damage either. It was like luck was with her. Luck that the pregnancy had not been discovered and reported to Lyle and or Jarod, and that she had been able to get to her own private doctor, and get the news.
How she would hide this, while being asked to hunt down some guy named, David Banner, would be the real test....
****
THE CENTRE
Ms. Parker hadn't realized she had fallen asleep, until she felt something move. She then realized something or someone, was in her hair!
She snapped her head up, only to find herself looking into the somewhat amused eyes of Jarod! She sat up and tried to shake off her fatigue. If she couldn't stay awake in her office, how would she do out in the field?!
'Sleeping on the job?' he asked. One eye-brow was raised.
'What are you doing in here? And what were you doing to my hair?'
'Your hair? Ms. Parker, I came to tell you that there has had a 'sighting' of Dr. Banner in Las vegas, and Sydney, Broots, yourself and I, will be going there to capture him.'
Ms. Parker was now fully awake. She leaned back in her chair and smiled coyly at him.
'Is there something amusing, Ms. Parker?' Jarod asked, eyeing her legs. Her dress ensemble included a short, black leather skirt, as per the norm.
''Is there something amusing, Ms. Parker?'' she mimicked him. She then stood up and walked right up to him.
'You just keep having your fun, Jarod. But I'm not buying this act of yours.'
'Act? Ms. Parker, as your superior, I don't really care what you 'buy', or don't 'buy'. I just told you to be ready to board the Centre jet. I would hate to have to report your insubordination to Mr. Lyle.'
Ms. Parker rolled her tongue around in her mouth, then looked away. He really was a piece of work! And he was just loving this giving out orders crap! She was going to get him!
Jarod moved closer to her, then moved his face, so that it was directly in front of hers, until she was forced to look at him.
'Did you say something?' he asked. He did so love this! He hated being in the Centre again, but he did so love being Ms. Parker's boss! Her eyes glinted when she looked at him these days. Glinted from seething fury. He loved it! If she had held a whip in her hand at that moment, she couldn't have been more sexy!
Ms. Parker looked right back at him.
'No.'
'No, what?'
Ms. Parker looked confused.
'No....Jarod.'
'No, Ms. Parker. It's no, 'Mr. Jarod'. Is that clear?'
'Mr. Jarod? Mr. Jarod! Have you lost your goddamned mind?! I'm not calling you that!'
'Ah, ah, ah!' Jarod scolded, wagging a finger at her. 'I don't like your use of language!'
Ms. Parker had never taken to teasing too well. At least, not as an adult.
'You listen to me, 'boy genius'! It won't take long until everyone around here gets wise to you! And you just keep making me look stupid around here and you'll hear some real 'use of language'! And don't you ever stick your finger in my face again!' she snapped, grabbing his finger and wrenching it!
But Jarod didn't let her keep her grip on his finger long, as he unglued her fingers from his, then pulled on her hand. That unexpected movement brought her directly into his arms.
That was how Mr. Lyle found them, when he walked in. He grinned at Jarod.
'Whoa, Jarod! I'm sorry to be interrupting. Sis, what are you trying to do? Work your way up in trade?'
Ms. Parker wrenched herself out of Jarod's arms, something she had to do, since he never let go of her. It was unnerving as hell! She realized that if she had not had a gun by her side, all of those other times that she had been close to catching him, she would have had a hard time subduing him one one one.
Ms. Parker moved so that she was behind her desk. She then glared at the two of them.
'What the hell do you both want?' she asked in a low hiss.
'Well, sis, I know Jarod has told you that Dr. Banner was seen in Las Vegas?'
'Yes, but I still don't know why we're chasing this man down? I mean why aren't we using the lab rats anymore?' she asked, giving Jarod a pointed look. He made a sad, clown face at her in response.
'That is on a need to know basis. But when we get him back here, and you see what he can do, then you'll see he's the greatest experiment that the Centre has ever cultivated.'
Ms. Parker shook her head.
'I still don't understand.' she said. How was this Banner guy, the 'experiment'?
Jarod looked at Lyle.
'Can I talk to you in private for a moment?' he asked. Lyle nodded, then looked at Ms. Parker.
'Could you wait outside?' he asked.
'Hell no! This is still my office! Leave it if you want to talk behind my back!' she snapped. Of all the nerve!
Lyle rolled his eyes! Parker was so much bitchier than usual! Then again, he could concede that this Jarod partnership, probably had left a bad taste in her mouth. But, he was loving it! No more wheezing Raines, or watching his father and Brigitte diddle one another! Jarod had already come up with a scenario, as to how they were going to get Banner back within the Centre confines. And considering how many times Jarod had outwitted them in the past, Lyle had every confidence, that this trip to Las Vegas, would be successful.
'Fine. Jarod, let's walk and talk. I have a lunch date.'
Jarod nodded, then winked at Ms. Parker, before following Lyle out of the office. Ms. Parker sat down in her chair and swung it around, trying to calm herself. This tension was not good for the baby. Thomas's baby.
Ms. Parker did not see, that Jarod was watching her briefly, from the door. His expression was very different and soft. He closed the door, then turned to Lyle. They began walking.
'I don't think Ms. Parker is pulling her weight around here.' Jarod said glibly.
'Well, I know she has been kind of slow....'
'It's more than that, Lyle. Look, this Banner project fascinates me. I know Sydney is interested, since he once worked with the man. I can't wait to see if he indeed does turn into this creature. But we can't have any weak links in the capture. I just don't see Ms. Parker as being up to it. I think we should leave her behind.'
Lyle frowned.
'I don't know. I mean, I agree with you, one hundred and fifty percent. We need a win to please the Triumvirate. And believe me, this would do it! And I know my sister can be kind of useless, hell, look at how she NEVER caught you! But, many times, Jarod, you do things just to keep the peace. Now I know my sister. If she even perceives she's being cut out of any action, she'll have a fit! It's just not worth hearing her mouth.'
Jarod did not want to give his true motives away. He smiled.
'I see your point. But I will make sure she plays a very limited role.'
Mr. Lyle tilted his head. He grinned.
'You know something, Jarod? If I didn't know any better, I'd swear this tirade about keeping Parker out of the capture, had more to do with protecting her, than her messing up anything. I mean, if that's what it is, believe me, I can understand. I have had some really wild dreams about her, even though she is my sister.'
Jarod, once again, had to swallow his revulsion.
'Hmmm, yes, I just bet. Okay, well, I'll meet you at the jet in an hour?'
'Yes. Get Syd and Broots. And I'll leave my sister up to you. Really, if you think she may mess things up, leave her the hell here.' Lyle said, before his eye caught a pretty Asian girl's, that had walked by them. He then looked at Jarod again.
'I have to get going ....lunch date.' he said, as he hurried down the hallway after the girl. Jarod rubbed his forehead, worried for that poor girl...worried about everything. He then looked back at Ms. Parker's closed door, before walking off to find Sydney and Broots.
****
'Sydney, I am really scared here!'
Sydney smiled gently at the younger man.
'Broots, Jarod knows what he is doing.'
'I'm sure he does. But it's the lying to Ms. Parker! I mean the way she looks at us, as if she knows we're lying! And...and...'
'And what?' Sydney asked.
'Well, we're lying to Ms. Parker about why we want Dr. Banner! I mean, if I was turning into some kind of green monster, I'd want to go away somewhere and be left alone too!'
Sydney sighed.
'Yes, well, the Centre, would never have known anything, if David had not lied his way in here to try and cure himself. Somehow, he believed that gamma machine that used to belong to Raines, was the key to reversing the process.'
Broots shook his head.
'I can't believe he changed in the Centre! I mean, it was a good thing it was at night, and I was at home! If I had run across it...'
Sydney patted the younger man's shoulder, just as Jarod walked in. They both looked at him.
'The jet will be leaving in an hour to get David Banner. Sydney, you knew him long ago?'
Sydney nodded, folding his arms.
'Yes. He was a young, talented and respected scientist. For years, we thought he was dead. I just can't believe any of this.'
'Yes, well, I've been thinking. We have two problems: keeping him out of the Centre, and helping him find a cure for himself.'
'Helping him!' Broots squeaked. Jarod gave him a pointed look.
'Yes, Mr. Broots. This man has been on the run for years...afraid to make a life for himself...afraid that he will one day kill people. His act, of pretending to get a job here, just to use that gamma machine, was an act of desperation. He has no idea that he has now piqued the interest of this place.'
Broots said nothing. He still didn't like this whole thing! What happened if this Banner guy changed on them on the plane!
'Are we drugging him?' Broots asked.
Jarod and Sydney looked at him. Sydney coughed.
'Broots, we're not bringing him back at all, remember?'
Broots nodded again. Sydney suspected he hadn't really heard him. Jarod spoke again.
'There is always that fear that Dr. Banner may change into this thing in front of us. I watched the DSA's of what happened here. I suspect that pain or stress, induces this metamorphosis.'
Sydney nodded in agreement.
'That was my thinking too.' he said. 'That or some sort of anger.'
'Oh great!' Broots practically cried.
Jarod ignored Broots and looked at Sydney. He lowered his voice, as to not upset Broots further.
'He probably will change. I'm going to order Ms. Parker to stay behind.'
'Jarod, are you sure that's such a good idea?'
Jarod lowered his voice again, eyeing Broots.
'It is clear to me, from Ms. Parker's fatigue, and other things that I have noticed, that she is pregnant.'
Sydney's eyes widened!
'What? Are you sure? I mean, she was shot and...'
'I know, I know. But I'm pretty sure I'm right on this. I don't want her there when this goes down. And that's that.'
None of the men saw Ms. Parker sneaking out of the room. She had been hiding behind a pillar, in the shadows. She had not heard everything, just the very last part. Jarod was trying to cut her out of the capture! She would be damned if she would let him get away with it!
The Pretender Alternate Reality Series. This takes place after Donoterase. Also, there is a surprise cross over weaved into this tale.
Chapter 1
Backstory: After Jarod was recaptured and returned to the Centre, a strange set of events took place. Jarod discovered that the powers to be, did not want him back, as a Pretender in the normal sense. There was an even bigger project on the table. One that they needed his expertise on, because this time, the Centre wanted to capture someone else. Someone that had never lived in the Centre before, but had worked there.
Jarod, after being told all about this secret project, came to the decision to perform the Pretend of his life. He dealt with Mr. Lyle, and took him up on his offer to run the Centre, with just him, together.
Lyle, who was quite excited about this 'secret' project, took Jarod up on his offer. He first, killed Raines, then framed his father and Brigitte for the murder, sending them on the run. Jarod was forced to play his part, and pretended to be gleeful over this event, while silently hiding his revulsion.
Only Sydney and Broots, knew that Jarod was not really serious. They were the only ones that knew, that not only did Jarod plan to help this person, who the Centre was after, get away, but he planned to make sure that the Centre never harmed anyone again.
But, there was one small problem: Ms. Parker. Recovered from her bullet wound to the back, she was appalled to arrive back to work, only to find that she now worked UNDER Jarod. Not buying his change of heart completely, but unable to convince Lyle or anyone else of anything, Ms. Parker accepted the fact that not only did Jarod have a much bigger office than hers, but, that she had to take orders from him as well.
Ms. Parker however, had another secret she was carrying around as well. The doctors in the hospital, where Lyle had kept her, had failed to discover something else about her condition. She was pregnant, about six weeks. That meant that it was the late Thomas Gates's child.
She was happy that the doctors at that godforsaken place, had missed her pregnancy. She was grateful that her being shot in the back, hadn't caused any trauma to the fetus. She was grateful that the drugs they had kept her on, while she was in the hospital, had not caused any damage either. It was like luck was with her. Luck that the pregnancy had not been discovered and reported to Lyle and or Jarod, and that she had been able to get to her own private doctor, and get the news.
How she would hide this, while being asked to hunt down some guy named, David Banner, would be the real test....
****
THE CENTRE
Ms. Parker hadn't realized she had fallen asleep, until she felt something move. She then realized something or someone, was in her hair!
She snapped her head up, only to find herself looking into the somewhat amused eyes of Jarod! She sat up and tried to shake off her fatigue. If she couldn't stay awake in her office, how would she do out in the field?!
'Sleeping on the job?' he asked. One eye-brow was raised.
'What are you doing in here? And what were you doing to my hair?'
'Your hair? Ms. Parker, I came to tell you that there has had a 'sighting' of Dr. Banner in Las vegas, and Sydney, Broots, yourself and I, will be going there to capture him.'
Ms. Parker was now fully awake. She leaned back in her chair and smiled coyly at him.
'Is there something amusing, Ms. Parker?' Jarod asked, eyeing her legs. Her dress ensemble included a short, black leather skirt, as per the norm.
''Is there something amusing, Ms. Parker?'' she mimicked him. She then stood up and walked right up to him.
'You just keep having your fun, Jarod. But I'm not buying this act of yours.'
'Act? Ms. Parker, as your superior, I don't really care what you 'buy', or don't 'buy'. I just told you to be ready to board the Centre jet. I would hate to have to report your insubordination to Mr. Lyle.'
Ms. Parker rolled her tongue around in her mouth, then looked away. He really was a piece of work! And he was just loving this giving out orders crap! She was going to get him!
Jarod moved closer to her, then moved his face, so that it was directly in front of hers, until she was forced to look at him.
'Did you say something?' he asked. He did so love this! He hated being in the Centre again, but he did so love being Ms. Parker's boss! Her eyes glinted when she looked at him these days. Glinted from seething fury. He loved it! If she had held a whip in her hand at that moment, she couldn't have been more sexy!
Ms. Parker looked right back at him.
'No.'
'No, what?'
Ms. Parker looked confused.
'No....Jarod.'
'No, Ms. Parker. It's no, 'Mr. Jarod'. Is that clear?'
'Mr. Jarod? Mr. Jarod! Have you lost your goddamned mind?! I'm not calling you that!'
'Ah, ah, ah!' Jarod scolded, wagging a finger at her. 'I don't like your use of language!'
Ms. Parker had never taken to teasing too well. At least, not as an adult.
'You listen to me, 'boy genius'! It won't take long until everyone around here gets wise to you! And you just keep making me look stupid around here and you'll hear some real 'use of language'! And don't you ever stick your finger in my face again!' she snapped, grabbing his finger and wrenching it!
But Jarod didn't let her keep her grip on his finger long, as he unglued her fingers from his, then pulled on her hand. That unexpected movement brought her directly into his arms.
That was how Mr. Lyle found them, when he walked in. He grinned at Jarod.
'Whoa, Jarod! I'm sorry to be interrupting. Sis, what are you trying to do? Work your way up in trade?'
Ms. Parker wrenched herself out of Jarod's arms, something she had to do, since he never let go of her. It was unnerving as hell! She realized that if she had not had a gun by her side, all of those other times that she had been close to catching him, she would have had a hard time subduing him one one one.
Ms. Parker moved so that she was behind her desk. She then glared at the two of them.
'What the hell do you both want?' she asked in a low hiss.
'Well, sis, I know Jarod has told you that Dr. Banner was seen in Las Vegas?'
'Yes, but I still don't know why we're chasing this man down? I mean why aren't we using the lab rats anymore?' she asked, giving Jarod a pointed look. He made a sad, clown face at her in response.
'That is on a need to know basis. But when we get him back here, and you see what he can do, then you'll see he's the greatest experiment that the Centre has ever cultivated.'
Ms. Parker shook her head.
'I still don't understand.' she said. How was this Banner guy, the 'experiment'?
Jarod looked at Lyle.
'Can I talk to you in private for a moment?' he asked. Lyle nodded, then looked at Ms. Parker.
'Could you wait outside?' he asked.
'Hell no! This is still my office! Leave it if you want to talk behind my back!' she snapped. Of all the nerve!
Lyle rolled his eyes! Parker was so much bitchier than usual! Then again, he could concede that this Jarod partnership, probably had left a bad taste in her mouth. But, he was loving it! No more wheezing Raines, or watching his father and Brigitte diddle one another! Jarod had already come up with a scenario, as to how they were going to get Banner back within the Centre confines. And considering how many times Jarod had outwitted them in the past, Lyle had every confidence, that this trip to Las Vegas, would be successful.
'Fine. Jarod, let's walk and talk. I have a lunch date.'
Jarod nodded, then winked at Ms. Parker, before following Lyle out of the office. Ms. Parker sat down in her chair and swung it around, trying to calm herself. This tension was not good for the baby. Thomas's baby.
Ms. Parker did not see, that Jarod was watching her briefly, from the door. His expression was very different and soft. He closed the door, then turned to Lyle. They began walking.
'I don't think Ms. Parker is pulling her weight around here.' Jarod said glibly.
'Well, I know she has been kind of slow....'
'It's more than that, Lyle. Look, this Banner project fascinates me. I know Sydney is interested, since he once worked with the man. I can't wait to see if he indeed does turn into this creature. But we can't have any weak links in the capture. I just don't see Ms. Parker as being up to it. I think we should leave her behind.'
Lyle frowned.
'I don't know. I mean, I agree with you, one hundred and fifty percent. We need a win to please the Triumvirate. And believe me, this would do it! And I know my sister can be kind of useless, hell, look at how she NEVER caught you! But, many times, Jarod, you do things just to keep the peace. Now I know my sister. If she even perceives she's being cut out of any action, she'll have a fit! It's just not worth hearing her mouth.'
Jarod did not want to give his true motives away. He smiled.
'I see your point. But I will make sure she plays a very limited role.'
Mr. Lyle tilted his head. He grinned.
'You know something, Jarod? If I didn't know any better, I'd swear this tirade about keeping Parker out of the capture, had more to do with protecting her, than her messing up anything. I mean, if that's what it is, believe me, I can understand. I have had some really wild dreams about her, even though she is my sister.'
Jarod, once again, had to swallow his revulsion.
'Hmmm, yes, I just bet. Okay, well, I'll meet you at the jet in an hour?'
'Yes. Get Syd and Broots. And I'll leave my sister up to you. Really, if you think she may mess things up, leave her the hell here.' Lyle said, before his eye caught a pretty Asian girl's, that had walked by them. He then looked at Jarod again.
'I have to get going ....lunch date.' he said, as he hurried down the hallway after the girl. Jarod rubbed his forehead, worried for that poor girl...worried about everything. He then looked back at Ms. Parker's closed door, before walking off to find Sydney and Broots.
****
'Sydney, I am really scared here!'
Sydney smiled gently at the younger man.
'Broots, Jarod knows what he is doing.'
'I'm sure he does. But it's the lying to Ms. Parker! I mean the way she looks at us, as if she knows we're lying! And...and...'
'And what?' Sydney asked.
'Well, we're lying to Ms. Parker about why we want Dr. Banner! I mean, if I was turning into some kind of green monster, I'd want to go away somewhere and be left alone too!'
Sydney sighed.
'Yes, well, the Centre, would never have known anything, if David had not lied his way in here to try and cure himself. Somehow, he believed that gamma machine that used to belong to Raines, was the key to reversing the process.'
Broots shook his head.
'I can't believe he changed in the Centre! I mean, it was a good thing it was at night, and I was at home! If I had run across it...'
Sydney patted the younger man's shoulder, just as Jarod walked in. They both looked at him.
'The jet will be leaving in an hour to get David Banner. Sydney, you knew him long ago?'
Sydney nodded, folding his arms.
'Yes. He was a young, talented and respected scientist. For years, we thought he was dead. I just can't believe any of this.'
'Yes, well, I've been thinking. We have two problems: keeping him out of the Centre, and helping him find a cure for himself.'
'Helping him!' Broots squeaked. Jarod gave him a pointed look.
'Yes, Mr. Broots. This man has been on the run for years...afraid to make a life for himself...afraid that he will one day kill people. His act, of pretending to get a job here, just to use that gamma machine, was an act of desperation. He has no idea that he has now piqued the interest of this place.'
Broots said nothing. He still didn't like this whole thing! What happened if this Banner guy changed on them on the plane!
'Are we drugging him?' Broots asked.
Jarod and Sydney looked at him. Sydney coughed.
'Broots, we're not bringing him back at all, remember?'
Broots nodded again. Sydney suspected he hadn't really heard him. Jarod spoke again.
'There is always that fear that Dr. Banner may change into this thing in front of us. I watched the DSA's of what happened here. I suspect that pain or stress, induces this metamorphosis.'
Sydney nodded in agreement.
'That was my thinking too.' he said. 'That or some sort of anger.'
'Oh great!' Broots practically cried.
Jarod ignored Broots and looked at Sydney. He lowered his voice, as to not upset Broots further.
'He probably will change. I'm going to order Ms. Parker to stay behind.'
'Jarod, are you sure that's such a good idea?'
Jarod lowered his voice again, eyeing Broots.
'It is clear to me, from Ms. Parker's fatigue, and other things that I have noticed, that she is pregnant.'
Sydney's eyes widened!
'What? Are you sure? I mean, she was shot and...'
'I know, I know. But I'm pretty sure I'm right on this. I don't want her there when this goes down. And that's that.'
None of the men saw Ms. Parker sneaking out of the room. She had been hiding behind a pillar, in the shadows. She had not heard everything, just the very last part. Jarod was trying to cut her out of the capture! She would be damned if she would let him get away with it!