A/N:I'm back! I apologize deeply for leaving all of you for the last month or so, but school was unfortunately my priority. Well, that and a bad case of writer's block. But school is out for the summer and I finally have the time to think about things other than history and archaeology and even more annoying topics like psychology and biology. Here is chapter 2, please remember that reviews not only make me smile, they make me write faster. Because we all know that happy writers (and muses) get chapters posted faster.
Chapter 2
Two years later, Parker struggled to hide a yawn as she walked back to her office. The last two years had not gone smoothly, and a lifetime of training regarding showing weakness was difficult to overcome. Not pausing or missing a beat as the Voice chattered away in her mind, providing a warning as to what awaited her behind her office doors; Parker smiled a greeting at her personal assistant. Anya Landmen had been with her for ages, an older woman with a wicked sense of humor and the valuable ability to keep her head down in the violent power struggles that were all to common at the Centre, Mrs. Landmen was also fiercely loyal to Parker and had guided her through most of her young adulthood.
Parker walked into her office confidently, never pausing or breaking her stride; she also managed to hide her smile at the scene before her.
Jarod and his family, all of them, including Ethan, stood in the large office. Only the Boy, Ethan, and Jarod appeared at ease, but as attuned to Jarod as she was, Parker could tell that he was faking it, trying to appear calm and collected for his family. The Boy was anxious as well, and was hiding it almost as well as Jarod.
When she walked in, the young man who reminded her so much of the boy Jarod had once been broke out a heart-stopping grin and rushed to give her a hug. Glad one of this party didn't want to lock her up, Parker returned the hug. Nevertheless, his similarity to Jarod and obvious joy at seeing her only underscored Jarod's lack of visible reaction to her.
Parker missed the flash of jealousy that darkened Jarod's mood. He was upset that his younger brother could display his affection for Parker and express that he had missed her, Jarod could not. There was too much painful history between himself and Parker for him to attempt to tell her again, how he felt.
Parker took his suddenly even darker mood for anger, but she was focused on the young man who was still holding her tight.
"It's very nice to see you again Miss Parker. When Jarod found out that the Triumvirate were holding Raines and Lyle….and then they just vanished…I…he….we…..were worried," the Boy stammered out, happy that Parker was safe.
"It's okay, I'm fine. Nothing bad happened to me, and their gone."
"Really?"
"Trust me kiddo, the Boogeyman and Uncle Fester are finally back were they belong," Parker smiled at him.
"Jarod watched surprised, interacting with the young adult, Parker seemed different….not softer, he could hear the sarcasm in her voice, but she seemed more content then she had been even before Tommy's death.
"What would you know about it?" Margaret's voice cut in. Her tone was sharp and harsh.
"I got the joy of watching while the Triumvirate had the heads of those two ghouls removed. A warning to me, as the last Parker standing." Parker's tone was cold; she matched Margaret's fiery anger with the icy coldness only the Centre's Ice Queen had ever truly wielded effectively.
Jarod knew he should be upset with Parker for speaking to his mother like that, but he found himself more upset with his mother than Parker. He had been trying so hard to fit into his family, to be who they wanted him to be, and right now all he wanted the normality of Parker's razor sharp wit matched against his own as they played their all-too painful game of cat and mouse. Or rather, cat and rat, in their case.
Before Jarod could speak up, his mother had noticed several models of various buildings that were set up in a corner of the room. One was of the Empire State Building.
"Remembering your family's glorious past? Did Jarod make these? Are these part of my son's stolen childhood?" Margaret's tone was even more accusatory than before.
Parker, already standing tall, seemed to draw herself up even more as she moved away from the youngest of the Russell family.
"These models, Mrs. Russell were made by my son. If Jarod would like the model of the Empire State Building he made once, I believe it is down in Sydney's office. I am sure he would part with it, if Jarod wanted it. Now, why don't you tell me why you are here? Before I have you escorted out of my building?"
"I received an email from Angelo; he said it was important that I come. They insisted on accompanying me," Jarod quickly interjected, he did not want his mother and Parker fighting, both were too important to him for him to want that.
"Angelo? I should have known he would contact you eventually. Still, did you have to bring the whole tribe, LabRat?" Parker smirked, the humor in her eyes telling him that at least she was not upset with him, yet. "He's usually out in the gardens on nice days. I would try there," her tone was once of dismissal, and none missed it.
As his family left the spacious office, Jarod hung back. "It is good to see you again Parker."
"Yeah, we'll defiantly need to make this a yearly event. Provided I survive another year in this job."
"You will Parker; you've already done more to change this place than any of the previous Chairman…"
"Only because the previous Chairmen were competing to see who got to go to a deeper circle of Hell," she interrupted.
"True, but still, how you got the Triumvirate to go along with it…"
"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions LabRat. Now get out, before your family thinks I'm abusing you or something."
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It wasn't until five minutes after Jarod had left that Parker remembered who else was usually in the gardens with Angelo this time of day.