Disclaimer: See chapter one… I don't own the Pretender, so don't sue me… I got Season 2, 3, 4 region 1 copies but still, six/seven long years since watching episodes… I missed this (going to put s1 on order)…and on with the chapter from this author with the natural highlights and too much coffee. By the way thank you to everyone who reviewed… (There will be three parts to the World is Changing)


Chapter Two

The World is Changing Part. 2


Miss Parker had never felt completely at ease with the Centre no matter what she told Jarod it did feel like a cage. Unlike Jarod's it was a gilded one, but every so often you could see the damned spikes. Today was one of the days the barbed wire was easier to see. She went straight for her office.

"Miss-s P-Parker" as she walked into her office, Broots leaped up. He looked terrified more than usual. She had not thought that any more fear was possible even from Broots.

Sydney rose from where he had been sitting, damn even Freud looked worried in that minute way he seemed to. "Brigitte was here, looking for you"

And the good times just kept on coming. Miss Parker put her hand on her desk, trying not to shoot something then composed herself turning around. She forced a collected expression on her face. "What does the woman who is sucking the life from my father want now, a baby shower?"

"She wanted to ask you about Lyle"

Although Parker didn't react her insides turned to ice. So Brigitte was in on this too, now that was the least surprising new she had heard so far. But it meant bad things for Lyle. "What 'Step Mommy' wants to get him a pacifier", her tones were harsh. Parker wished she could tell Sydney and Broots.

But she couldn't put them in danger..; she couldn't get them killed like Tommy.

Unfortunately, Lyle muttered in his sleep. The first time, he had called her 'Naoko' and then had said something that sickened Parker to absolute core.

Lyle had no modesty. And that was the highest point of that conversation. The second time it was shaking with fear in his sleep…' Please... no... Mr. Bowman … please' over and over again.

Now that had sickened her for a whole different reason.

Miss Parker knew her brother at any age to be ruthless- capable of anything including getting away with murder, like killing his step father. Unless Lyle had still been too scared, fear was all the power in the world… why the Centre used it like water.

Then Sydney's voice pulled her back to reality. "You seem strangely unsurprised by this Miss Parker".

She smile, it was a brittle smile. "Nothing in the Centre surprises me for long, I better go see what 'Bridget' wants" she looked at Broots. "Find out everything you can about Lyle's actions this last week, everything down to shopping for new brides to every time he caressed his missing thumbs…" Broots nodded quickly.

As Parker walked out of the office, Sydney put a finger on his chin. Something was going on with Mr. Lyle and somehow Miss Parker knew what it was.


"I'm sure Miss Parker has her reasons" Jarod said on the phone staring at the paused DSA, Lyle half way to the ground as Willie knocked him out. He knew Sydney was worried. But he couldn't betray his childhood friend's confidence. It was only a shame that this confidence, start of trust, came with Lyle, but it made sense.

The Centre controlled the people in your life but the bond between twins even fraternal was stronger than usual siblings, a bond that very might well have been stronger than the Centre's control. A reason to damage, and control that relationship.

It did not make the idea of saving Mr. Lyle any easier. Lyle had murdered his brother, only because he got in the way of shooting him. His brother took the bullet for him. Lyle had in all probability had murdered his own 'mail order' wife, selling his sim to the Yakuza…

He could hear Sydney's underlying frustration. "Jarod, you and Miss Parker have shown a great reluctance to work together, believe in each other, at every point and now you two seem to be in complete agreement. That is what worries me so. I don't want you both hurt because you didn't feel you could trust me"

"No" Jarod said pressing play without the sound, as Mr. Parker and Mr. Raines walked into view. He hit pause again. "It's about the people you can't trust" He hung up and turned the sound on listening intently.

Raines grimaced. "Get him ready"

Mr. Parker stared at Raines. "He remembers nothing of this Raines… he is a Parker not one of your experiments… he simply is making a small sacrifice for the good of the Centre"

Jarod frowned; it cut off there it was all Angelo had sent him. Even if it was a start, his childhood best friend was still in danger… if Mr. Parker was willing to do this to Lyle… was there anything he wouldn't do to Miss Parker?


Photos could be such lies; they were posed moments in time that were complete lies. Miss Parker looked at the picture of Daddy, her right beside him. Had he known about Lyle all these years, had he been in with Raines…she put it down and her fingertips brushed on the second.

Parker smiled briefly , it had been after missing Jarod with the arms dealer, Lyle had been sulking the entire way back from Venezuela, just because Jarod blew up his car…that whole experience seeing Lyle act the way he had… had been the most genuine feelings she got from him…like they had been together their whole lives, they fell into sync… then the second they had stepped forward back in the Centre, Daddy had pulled them both to this photographer, he had wanted a real family shot. It had been like the moment between them was broken by their father.

"Reminiscing my sweet 'Angel'" Her skin crawled and Miss Parker looked up and glared.

"Bridget"

"Brigitte" God, did that woman ever stop sucking on those things. The only thing some days that kept her from shooting her was the fact her little half sister or brother was growing inside Brigitte. That kid would need therapy for years for the trauma of that one.

When she next looked up, Brigitte had moved to her father's seat. "Lyle didn't show up this morning, it's been two days- your father and I are worried"

Smiling viciously, Miss Parker put both her hands on the desk. "Isn't- that- sweet" she stressed every word. She stared at Brigitte through narrowed eyes until the other woman flinched. She rolled her eyes and headed for the door. "Sorry, don't know where Lyle is, why don't you try the second hand appendage store… " she opened the doors; "Oh Brigitte, I've heard of pregnant women putting on a few but you definitely are a case study" she walked out.

After fuming for a moment Brigitte pulled over the phone and dialed a number. "Yes…Miss Parker was just here" Brigitte moved as far as the phone allowed her while she looked at her reflection in the mirror worriedly. She dropped the lollipop in the trashcan. "No… she has no idea where Lyle is…yes Mr. Raines…" she hung the phone up.

Outside the office, Miss Parker frowned. Lyle was in real trouble this time, and she had an unfortunate impulse to help him. If only she hadn't quit smoking.

She turned and Broots was standing there. It startled her. "I could shoot you" she snapped. Miss Parker looked around, and pushed him. "My office" she said looking at him. "Now"

Miss Parker looked at Broots as she walked in. "So what did you find"

"Well-l" Broots gulped as Miss Parker leaned close. "Mr. L-L-yle everything seems normal, he uh… spends ... uh, a lot of time...doing his usual…"

She didn't want to know. "Seems normal?" Parker questioned coolly.

" Yeah, except for the DSA for the last three hours two days ago , early morning in …that's missing of you father's office… just when Lyle goes in… I can't find any record of Lyle after that"

"Keep searching" Parker hissed into his ear. "I want to know every sordid detail… I'm heading out- don't call me unless you have what I want or you have Jarod on a platter" She had to be hard on Broots; she couldn't have him getting the nerve to ask questions on this. Broots caved quicker than a tower of cards.

Trust wasn't the issue, she wanted to protect Sydney and Broots if this did the usual and blew up in her face. Parker didn't want them paying the price, via Debbie… Nicholas or however the Centre decided to. They could have no true involvement.


From the vent, Angelo watched as Mr. Raines walked into the room, the familiar squeaking noise from his oxygen tank as it wheeled along the ground. "Any… progress on …locating… Lyle"

Willie felt uncomfortable. It was one thing chasing the Centre's pet rat, Jarod. Jarod would not torture you, Jarod would not have handcuffed you to a wall in an attempt to escape them, then used blunt object, a loose piece of brick to crush your fingers. His left hand was practically useless at this point and in more pain than he cared to admit. "No, Mr. Lyle has been as of far elusive… we did however pick up a call from Miss Parker to Sydney. Seems the chairman's daughter wanted contact from Jarod"

Raines looked angry at this, his eyes flaring. "Why didn't you bring Miss Parker in for questioning?"

"Mr. Parker does not want her brought into this, it is his view that she has no involvement in this matter and he'd like to keep it that way"

Turning away slightly, Raines breathed heavily for a few moments. " Mr. Parker is a fool if he doesn't think Miss Parker is involved, like mother like daughter" If he had his way her actions would not have been tolerated this long and Sydney would join his brother. Lyle had been his project- his! He had never met to have him learn he was a Parker but-

Willie cleared his throat. "Sir… what do you want me do to do"

"Record all Miss Parker's calls, I want Lyle in here and she as usual is a obstinate obstacle that just won't give in to the inevitable" He had spent so many years on this placing Lyle within a family that would create a strong force to be reckoned with but one that could be controlled… it would not get taken away by a insignificant family bond!


"Please, Mr. Bowman, please I'll do anything please no…"Bobby had his back to the corner bruises down every inch on his body, the seven year old screamed.

Lyle growled the memory so close to the surface. The boy Bobby was dead, but ever so close to the surface were the memories of that scared kid. He could tolerate pain but this was a bitch.

Trusting his sister to come to her house had been difficult but a part of him had thought of her first, the only person he knew family meant more to than the Centre. But Lyle had been taken aback by her willingness to help him. Considering he made it his mission to annoy and torment her as much as possible- it just felt natural.

But there was a limit unlike with other people with how far he would go. Lyle grinned to himself and felt the pain arch through his body as he tried to sit up.

It was so hard to stop himself from reacting, but and instinct from childhood, don't show weakness still course through his mind.

"I would say you deserve this Lyle" Jarod's low voice made him open his eyes. "But no one deserves their own father to turn them over to the Centre"

"Par for the course there Jarod" Lyle managed to keep his voice amused, try to appear the better one. Even if he was the one who was all broken, bleeding on his sister's comforter which oddly had a flannel shirt underneath it which his sister had moved before letting him near the bed. Hell knows why she had it.

At this moment Jarod could pass judgment on him and Lyle would not be able to stop him. But it seemed Jarod was not going to take his vengeance. Always the hero. The moment was broken as the front door opened, and then slammed shut, with the sound of Parker's stiletto footsteps down the entrance, through the house and then approaching the bedroom.

Stepping through the open room door, Lyle could tell as his sister looked from his to Jarod and reluctantly put her piece down, that she had repressed the urge to shoot them both.

Miss Parker looked at Jarod. "I see from the junk that you have around my house you've made yourself at home Genius"

"What is a home without famillar sights Miss Parker" Jarod said with that slight smile across his face, as he regarded her.

She could resist. "You want famillar surroundings, Jarod I could always have you all cozy at home, in a nice dank sub level within half an hour" Jarod let it go, and what really burnt Parker was he knew she could not follow through. If she did, her brother had the same damn fate, who just had to make his presence known right then.

"You tell him sis" Lyle's tone was supportive, more like he enjoyed the show.

"I can fight my own battles Lyle" Parker sneered and she grabbed Jarod by the arm. "Let's get this dealt with 'Clark Kent' ",


In the living room, Miss Parker poured herself a glass, knocking it back. "You want some; its great medicine for all that ails you"

Jarod felt worry for his childhood friend. She seemed distracted, even the barbs sounded strained and it was almost like she was scared. It made sense her brother was threatened- the same one that had killed Kyle. It almost would have made things easier if Lyle had shot Kyle in cold blood. Instead Lyle had aimed his gun at Jarod, in self preservation knowing what Kyle would do.

But things were never easy. "It doesn't matter how much you drink Miss Parker, it won't change the lies… I know you wanted to trust you father"

She laughed. "I have not trusted him in a long time Jarod, you know I can tell when Daddy is lying to me he does this little movement with his face, looks like a grimace with teeth… what I wanted…" She held back and Jarod waited...hanging on these words that brought her closer to him, Realizing the truth. Parker looked at the picture of her mother, holding her. Every day she missed her, it got harder.

"I know your capture won't give me my freedom…I'm not an idiot" Parker closed her mouth and glared at Jarod, it threatening him pain if he pursued it. He didn't heed her warning. Jarod wanted that little girl to open up because he didn't want to see her loose another part of herself to the Centre.

" I can get Lyle a new identity, but I don't think it would help, and he wouldn't want to spend any more time near me than I him, you need to leave when I take Lyle, come with me… Miss Parker" As Jarod pleaded with her, it was hardly noticeable but he was pleading. "Stop denying yourself your own life outside the Centre…what your mother would have wanted"

----

Leaning against the door, Willie listened with his hand on his gun. All he needed was to incapacitate Jarod, threaten Lyle to get Miss Parker to cooperate. After all these years of having to deal with Chairman's daughter's insults and order he would finally get to shut her up. The sweeper team was on its way.

Resting his good hand on the door, he waited for his moment, when there was no way for Jarod to think his way out of this one. Time to come home…


Putting her hand up, Miss Parker breathed in heavily. "Don't you dare call me that" she snapped, the second Jarod had echoed her first name name. She looked away, then back at him genuinely regretful for an instant and Jarod's heart sank.

"Sorry Jarod" Parker said looking him in the eye. "I can't run away with you like in your little fantasy world, I live in the real world. All that has changed is a temporary truce to get Lyle away from Raines"

"I run, and you chase?" Jarod questioned his mouth tight. Every time he tried…

"Always"


To Be Continued…

-Now that was longer! :)