i) Thanks to ICD, Remussweetie, pretender fan, Phenyx, Blade Mistress and Leochick for all your comments. I guess I'm going to disappoint at least one of you (Blade Mistress & pretender fan - all I can say is that I hope the story comes across as much more than just about the baby. In my head it does...)
ii) Apologies for the length of time it's taken to update - I've been on my hols : ) I haven't given up just yet; I pretty much have the next few chapters down it's merely a mtter of tidying them up and checking the grammar (which I tend to deliberate over for far too long) - Phenyx, it does sound better.
No Distance Left To Run
Chapter Two
Eyes Closed
As she followed Lyle deep into the labyrinth of The Centre a wave of paranoia washed over her, causing those minute hairs on the back of her neck to prickle. An alarm bell warned that she could be being led into some elaborate trap rather than being taken to see her baby brother and she could be in for a surprise. She refused to even acknowledge the possible scenarios such a 'surprise' would entail. She stopped her hand from reaching for her gun but felt a little better just knowing it was there. She trusted Lyle about as far as she could throw him.
Lyle was on her right, only slightly apace of her, quietly leading the way. He had taken a previous 'hint' to shut up in a manner that surprised her - she would even go as far as to say he'd looked wounded by her comment. He'd swung by her office no more than ten minutes earlier, cheerfully announcing that, as deemed by Raines, he was to take her to see their baby brother. A couple of days had passed since her meeting with Raines, a couple of very quiet days, and she had been beginning to wonder if the old man was going to make things difficult after all. It seemed he would - she was stuck with Lyle.
Lyle had insisted they took the elevator their mother had last ridden in to see the boy. Though she had recently come to understand her mother had not died there, that fact couldn't erase years of beliefs otherwise or the bad dreams regarding that day that still lingered. Certain that Lyle was trying to get a rise out of her she had coolly stepped into the elevator. Once inside Lyle had made a somewhat innocuous reference to their mother at which point she'd threatened to silence him permanently if he didn't do it himself - she'd bristled at the mere suggestion that he was Catherine's child too. The hurt look that had followed had been fleeting, but now that the moment was in the past she was beginning to doubt she'd witnessed it. But he had remained silent after that.
As they walked down a long corridor - indistinguishable from any other sub level corridor she had ever either walked down or had seen on a DSA - she couldn't shake her feeling of unease. They eventually reached the first of a complex of adjoined rooms. A doctor, whom Parker had never seen before, sat behind a desk in the first room and rose at their entrance, addressing them both by name, apparently expecting them. The woman quickly launched into a long diatribe regarding her charge's schedule for the day and her misgivings about Raines permitting such an intrusion. Taken aback by the outburst Parker watched in silent fascination as the woman's face, at first kindly looking, mutated into something less desirable. And this was the woman in charge of her brother.
Lyle cut the doctor off before she could finish, advising her he would make sure the chairman was aware of her feelings. Miss Parker had been on the verge of slapping the woman herself before he stepped in, but she figured Lyle probably had the right approach. The woman acquiesced at Lyle's warning, her features reverting to a more neutral position, heeding Lyle's coded warning. She excused herself, asking for a few minutes to prepare the boy for their visit, and left Lyle and Parker alone in the small, square room.
"You know, all this trouble - I'm your brother too. You can see me any time you want." He stopped and turned to face her, a devious smile plastered onto his face, "Well, almost any time."
She shuddered internally at the thought of witnessing Lyle's 'out of office hours' activities. "I spend more than enough time with you as it is," Miss Parker retorted, folding her arms across her chest and hoping he would take another hint and get the Hell out of there.
"I'm hurt, Sis," he implored, bringing his bandaged hand up to rest over his heart.
This time the expression of hurt that she witnessed was clearly faked - she doubted the man even had a heart. She glared at him but his differing actions unsettled her and she failed to come up with a reply; the difference between now and the expression she had witnessed in the elevator was marked - had he really wanted to talk about their mother? When Ethan had asked about Catherine she'd been happy enough to tell him everything she knew, did Lyle deserve the same? After all, they had both been in the same position: at Raines' mercy. She banished the thought as quickly as she could, there was someone else of greater importance - and potentially in the same position as Lyle and Ethan had been. Her little brother was at Raines' mercy; he was not going to grow up to be the next Lyle, she would make certain of that.
The doctor returned putting the final breaks on Parker's conversation with Lyle. Another woman, whom Parker presumed to be some kind of nurse, was at her side. "No more than ten minutes were the instructions I received," the doctor stated harshly, an unspoken warning lacing the words. She spoke specifically to Lyle, reasserting her position to him and letting him know the threats could work both ways.
Lyle merely nodded, that charming smile on his mouth, but Parker's heart sank. What was so important in a ten month old's life to have such a rigourous setting in place. She'd heard about children needing routines but this seemed way too much like The Centre at its worst. A flurry of images of what she'd find behind the next door rushed into her head - and none of it encouraging.
"Parker?" Lyle probed having already made his way towards the set of doors that would lead them to the child only to find his sister wasn't following. For a split second he thought she'd changed her mind but it seemed she was merely lost in thought. He'd have given anything right then to know exactly what was running through her mind but that was never going to happen. He wasn't exactly her favourite person. She edged forwards at his prompting, her arms still folded defensively. He thought she seemed apprehensive; the confident, overbearing woman who had demanded to see the child now seemed so far away.
Miss Parker followed Lyle through the doors into another room, this one obviously used by Centre staff on night duty - a bed was placed in one corner. Through the rooms other door lay the baby's quarters; the main room was brightly painted in primary colours and there were rooms leading off - with a quick glance Parker surmised these to be sleeping quarters and a bathroom, a third door was closed to. She didn't pay closer attention because there, in the centre of the room, in what she assumed was a Centre version of a playpen, sat her baby brother. The infant watched them both with open curiosity. Bright blue eyes scanned first Lyle, then Miss Parker, his gaze passing over the ring on her right hand, before settling on her with an intensity she felt immediately.
"You can go now Lyle," she murmered, her eyes on the boy, and finding herself unwilling to look away.
"Oh, I think I'll stick around."
Tearing her eyes away from the child she turned to find that smug grin present. "Fine," she hissed under her breath. The feeling of unease that she had encountered on her journey down to the boy didn't disappear; it should have, the boy was there, this hadn't been some elaborate plot by Lyle to isolate her. But she still felt anxious... nervous, even. She attributed this feeling to her inexperience with children yet she found herself walking over to the boy anyway, conscious of Lyle's presence but unable to stop herself. Crouching down she met the boy's eyes and was rewarded with a smile that she found herself reciprocating. "Hey there," she whispered a little uncertainly.
Not taking his eyes off her he struggled to his feet unsteadily, giving up quickly to crawl towards her instead, coming to a halt at the vertical bars of his own mini 'prison'. He wrapped his hands around the bars and rose to his feet once more and this time, aided by the bars, he remained upright.
She felt an overwhelming urge to pick the child up. Her inexperience begged her to reconsider but she ceded to the impulse. What else could she do? She rose swiftly, stooping to pick up the boy before she changed her mind or Lyle objected. She was aware of Lyle's scrutiny, and that of the cameras positioned throughout the room recording every second. The boy offered no resistance, letting go of the bars once she had hold of him, and her initial uncertainty quickly faded as she settled him, somewhat awkwardly, in her arms so that he was facing her. The boy stared intently at her again and she briefly panicked, the voice of inexperience mocking her as the infant remained perfectly still in her arms. Unsure of what else to do she smiled at him again, making her voice soft as she whispered gentle words of assurance. To her surprise the boy smiled again, bringing his hands to her face.
"Parker..." Lyle said weakly, and with very little enthusiasm.
She ignored his warning, she barely heard it - his voice was now reduced to a hum in the background. Her attention was on the boy in her arms; at his baby blue eyes, fine layer of dark hair, and dazzling smile.
Lyle observed her behaviour, and to a lesser extent the boy's, with quiet consideration. Raines' warning rang in his ears and he felt he should say something else or perhaps do something to break the moment. Loyalty to The Centre demanded it yet he remained silent.
If Miss Parker had happened to glance at Lyle at that moment she would have seen another very different expression upon his face but she was still enthralled by the small bundle in her arms. Still wrapped up in the rush of feelings he engendered in her. She'd never felt particularly maternal, children had always seemed so far away - to be dealt with later on, if at all. But something sparked within her, something deep down - and no doubt instinctive - that surprised her. Using her free hand she swept aside the boy's hair from his forehead; he didn't recoil from her touch and she had to concede that he did appear to be well cared for. But doubts remained. "Does Raines visit?" The question was aimed at Lyle but her eyes remained on the boy. With no immediate response forthcoming she finally turned her attention elsewhere, "Lyle?"
"No," Lyle answered quickly after clearing his throat, her movement breaking his thoughts and allowing him enough time to recover.
"Did our... father visit?"
"No," Lyle replied as he watched the boy lay his head on the small area of skin that lay between the top of Parker's blouse and under her chin, his hands grabbing at her shoulders. Parker herself seemed oblivious to this. Again, an urge to step in and stop what was happening came to the fore but he ignored it.
Miss Parker gave a slight snort of disgust at the answer she received but she hoped that the boy's apparent neglect by both Raines and her father meant that he was so far free from the worst The Centre had to offer. "So, he's been left here alone?"
Lyle gave a shrug of his shoulders: "He has twenty four hour care Parker - he can't sneeze without someone noting it down. He's getting the best medical care and education that money can buy."
'But no chance of a normal life' she thought. She bit back such comments even though she wasn't happy with the situation she had found; this wasn't the time nor the place - if there ever was such a thing. Voicing her objections would only lead to trouble - for her and the child - her mother was testimony to that. She was going to have to walk a very fine line, as usual, if she were to see the child again.
"We should go Parker." When she didn't move he added, "The Doctor will be back soon enough."
"I'll deal with her."
"Raines won't be happy," he tried again, this time with a grin, "He already thinks you'll interfere just as Mom did."
She clenched her teeth at his words. She still had trouble believing he could be her brother. In another time, another place, she might have stood her ground further but she was conscious of the boy in her arms and her growing desire to see him again - he was much more than merely a link to her father. "Fine," she muttered, turning her back on Lyle. Glancing down at the boy, his head still laying against her, she whispered: "I have to go now but I'll come back. I promise."
The infant looked up to her as she began to speak, the small smile on his little face had faded by the time she had finished speaking, as if he had understood every word. After a long pause he finally relinquished his hold on her.
She gently lowered the child back into his 'cage', placing him back among the few items in there - all educational; there was not one toy amongst them that didn't serve a learning purpose. She resolved to rectify that on her next visit. Straightening her back she was amazed at how easily she'd fallen under the boy's spell. Turning to face Lyle, a wry smile on his face, she broke from such thoughts, suddenly aware of how obvious her display had been. Shooting him a quick, defiant look she walked by him, heading for the way out. As she opened the door she glanced back, ostensibly to glare at Lyle but really to steal one more glance at the boy. She felt a stab of pain at the sight of the boy, once more stood against the bars, hands wrapped around them.
They walked out in silence, Miss Parker leading the way through the cumbersome doors and past the glares of the doctor and her attendant, throwing a caustic glare of her own back at them. Their unhappiness at her visit had been apparent but she suspected it was something more than that; they seemed especially uneasy. The boy's location, the apparent altruistic approach to him, and the minimal security all begged her to question why she had been unable to locate him herself. She made a mental note to look into that. But she still couldn't shake the feeling of holding the child in her arms. She had to see him again.
"That was sweet," Lyle said in a mocking tone, once they were back in the corridor.
"Shut up Lyle."
"But you do 'Mommy' so well Parker," he said evenly, matching her pace.
A thought whipped through her head so quickly and so violently that for a few moments she felt as though the world was off kilter; her legs felt weak and incapable of holding her up causing her to suddenly stop, her heart skipped not one but two beats, her lungs felt devoid of any air, and an ocean of water swirled in her ears. With a measure of calm, and without betraying any of this openly, she rode it out, finding her voice as quickly as she could: "What is it exactly that you want?" Lyle eyed her curiously for a good few seconds but she held her ground.
Having stopped walking when she did, albeit a step ahead of her, he now stood in front of her. "You have to be careful Parker."
She probed his eyes but could distinguish nothing revealing behind them. "I always am," she ground out slowly.
He nodded at her knowingly. "You're already thinking of going back to see him."
"What makes you think that?" she asked cautiously, her actions with the child in front of Lyle seeming so risky once again.
He shrugged, slinging his hands into his pockets and a smirk beginning to form, "Intuition."
Miss Parker raised one eyebrow, "In touch with your feminine side, Lyle?"
"Raines is going to be watching you very closely," Lyle said evenly, ignoring her barb and the natural urge he felt to sling a comment back at her.
His smirk had disappeared which, along with his last statement, made her ever more cautious. "Getting too close to the answers am I?"
"Or too far away from the chase," Lyle sighed. He looked over her shoulder towards the boy's quarters for a second or two. "It's all about balance Sis," he began, knowing the use of the last word would needle her, "What we do and what we appear to do can be two completely different things."
"No... You don't say," she replied sarcastically, still unsure of his motives.
He grinned again. At times he admired Miss Parker more than he should which was in stark contrast to the times he felt like wringing her neck. For various reasons he'd been forced to find his own balance in that respect, a balance he found immensely difficult, especially lately, to maintain. He clenched his hand tightly inside his pocket. "All I'm saying is don't be too obvious. There are ways to see the boy without anyone else being there - which, by the way, are the directives Raines has given."
She glared at him for a moment. A quick glance around their surroundings showed that the cameras in the corridor were positioned as such that she and Lyle were effectively in a blind spot, any images or audio caught would be highly ambiguous. Lyle had chosen his moment exceedingly well but every cell in her body screamed at her to be extremely cautious. "What the Hell are you up to?"
He stared for a beat before smiing. "I just want you out of my way completely. Like I said before, with you distracted by the kid I can get on with the real business at hand: Jarod."
"Right," she said slowly, "That's why you came up empty handed again the other day."
He continued to smile at her; he had followed up yet another clue on Jarod's whereabouts that had led to a dead end, that much was true. "Yet I appear to be the one seen to be chasing Jarod." He dropped his smile, "Dad's not able to protect you Parker. With Raines in charge I wouldn't stop looking over your shoulder. He's not as forgiving."
She mulled his words over; was he warning her against Raines - an unnecessary effort if he were - or was he merely diverting her attention away from himself? "So do I have to donate a body part too? Just to keep him off my back?"
Lyle grinned, bringing his hands out of his pockets and massaging the space where his thumb - and its replacement - used to be. "Well technically it was his thumb to begin with but yes, returning it hasn't harmed my position."
"You'll do anything won't you?" she said, slightly sickened once more at the thought of Lyle harvesting Raines' thumb and then returning it.
He sighed a little impatiently. "I'll do whatever it takes Parker. So should you."
She smiled grimly in return but yet again felt unable to say anything. Instead she took a step back so she could side step him, getting as far away as possible from him seemed the best choice.
He stared ahead as she walked past him, at where they had just come from. For a few seconds he just stood still, his eyes on the distance in front, his ears catching the familiar click of heels echo away behind him. He wondered if she had even listened to a word he had said. Probably not, but it didn't matter - she'd be back to see the boy.
--------
He edged nervously into the room, holding the door and guiding it slowly - and quietly - into the closed position. But she still heard him.
"What?"
He walked up to her desk before he even dared speak. "It's about that photo," he whispered conspiratorally. He finally got her attention as she abandoned the paperwork on her desk and he was met by a stunning pair of blue eyes causing him to catch his breath. She never failed to have an effect upon him, whether she intended to or not.
"Well?" she asked impatiently.
"Er," he swallowed nervously, wondering if he should sit down or not. He decided on the latter. "It was sent from inside The Centre."
"Who, Broots?"
He swallowed again. "Raines."
She nodded to herself, "Sydney told me Raines might be the last link to my mother." She had briefly wondered about the photo's origin but, for the most part, it was the people caught on it that hung around in her thoughts. Now she had a whole new set of questions to ask. Once more she wondered why her mother ever trusted that man; how was he able to take everyone in?
"Miss Parker?" he said quietly, catching her attention once more, "He sent it to someone else too."
She sighed softly. "I know, Broots."
"Oh." The word came out with more surprise than he'd intended. He knew she spoke to the pretender more than she ever let on; about old secrets, about new secrets, and, he suspected, about other things too. "What are you going to do?"
She looked back at her desk but her mind was elsewhere. "I don't know," she said sadly. Confronting Raines again didn't seem such a good idea. Apart from the feelings of loathing she was always tempted to just take out her gunand shoot him whenever she was near him and one day she wasn't going to be able to stop herself. If he held any answers to her past she would lose them
--------
"Well?"
Lyle walked further into the room with an air of confidence, not answering the question until he was seated. "You weren't watching?" he asked, knowing exactly what the answer would be. Too much was at stake for Raines not to be watching.
Raines quietly seethed, his distaste at his question being answered with a question was only tempered by the fact that he needed the younger man. For the moment anyway. "I will hold you responsible," he warned.
"Then neither of us has anything to worry about," Lyle offered with a smile. He waited a few beats to judge the older man's reactions - the usual burning anger - before adding casually, "She'll want to see him again, of course."
"Of course she would," Raines muttered angrily. "I'd expect nothing less from Miss Parker," he eyed the younger man accusingly - this was all his fault.
Lyle tilted his head to one side briefly, "She'll be observed closely at all times. The first sign that anything is amiss I'll take care of her."
Raines sat back in his seat, taking steady breaths and maintaining his anger. There was a malicious glint to the younger man's eyes and Raines felt slightly reassured by this. But only slightly. His suspicions regarding Lyle were only minimal; Lyle's thirst for power was a tangible thing but as to what lengths he'd go to quench such a thirst was another matter. Watching them both with the boy on the monitors had turned his thoughts back to his initial reaction, a question that had been niggling at him since Miss Parker had stormed into his office demanding to see the boy. "She has never bothered with the child before, something must have piqued her interest."
"Maybe Dad said something before he got shot," Lyle ventured.
"Or Alex."
Lyle felt a slight chill at the name but managed to stop himself from glancing around the room. "Before he jumped? It's possible," he offered optimistically.
Raines exhaled deeply, sitting forward. "Or more recently."
