Chapter 2

Sydney was awaken from a deep sleep all of a sudden by a loud crash (he was at home) he jumped out of bed crept toward his closet and pulled out his gun. He was scared what if the Centre had decided he had worn out his welcome and his job was done but he knew too much for them to just fire him. He crept down the stairs toward his living room where he was sure the noise was coming from. He kept the lights off he figured he stood a better chance that way after all he knew his house better than anyone in the Centre. Come to think of it he was pretty sure nobody from the Centre had ever even seen his house much less been inside of it. He was at the bottom of the stairs (which went in 2 directions toward his kitchen of his living room) he decided that he would check the kitchen first but right when he turned around the light behind him switched on. He turned around slowly with his eyes closed. When he was all the way around he still didn't open his eyes (he didn't want to see his murderer) but then a familiar voice said, "Gee and all this time I thought you'd be happy to see me." Sydney opened his eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.

It was Jarod. "I am happy to see you Jarod I just thought you were someone from the Centre." "Well that explains the gun." "OH! Yeah sorry" (Sydney was slightly embarrassed) but Jarod didn't notice he was too glad to see Sydney. At that point Jarod went over and hugged Sydney. "What was that for Jarod?" "I'm just glad to see you Sydney I haven't seen you in a while or even talked in a while. I missed you." Sydney smiled "I missed you too Jarod." Then Sydney said "Wait Jarod how'd you get in here and why someone from the Centre could have seen you and caught you." "Calm down Sydney," Jarod said "Nobody saw me I don't even think they know where you live and as for how I got in all I can say is you taught me well Sydney." This made Sydney laugh. Jarod was happy to see him smile it reminded him of a less frightened less cautious Sydney like the one Jarod had grown up with the man that he loved and considered to be as much of a father to him as his own father was. After all he had raised him and protected him as best he could and Jarod never forgot that. Sydney had never told Jarod that he loved him as a son but he decided to change all that after all he was getting old and the Centre might decide to "fire" him and he owed Jarod as much truth as he could give him. "Jarod there is something I need to tell you and I need you to just listen and not say anything until I'm done O.K." "Sure Syd you can tell me anything" "Jarod as you know we spent a lot of time together in all of your years at the Centre and even though it was a terrible time in your life I like to think that we had some good times and it wasn't all bad. I was never married nor did I have children of my own at least not that I knew of so most of my time was spent at the Centre with you as I spent more and more time with you our bond grew and you weren't just a project but a very close friend. So as the years passed I grew more and more attached to you and it became harder and harder to try and pretend I was just your psychiatrist but yet I kept pretending not even allowing my self to know the truth. But I can't keep on pretending Jarod the truth is I think of you as my son and I love you more than you could ever know." Sydney had tears in his eyes and he turned to face Jarod who was sitting on the couch next to him tears in his eyes too. "Sydney my whole life that I can remember I have wanted you to say that to me so I could tell you that you are my father in all the ways that count and so I could say that I love you to Sydney I always have and I always will"