Disclaimer: The Pretender and the Profiler belong to their respective intellectual property owners

Chapter 36

He was flying. Flying as high as he could until the pull of gravity showed who was boss. Timmy could feel himself arcing back down before he felt the two slender hands on his back pushed again.

Laughing delightedly, he soar through the sky again, this time joined by the laughter of his old friend.

Maureen smiled as Timmy reached the end of the swing before coming back down again.

She braced herself as she prepared herself to push him again. There. Giving a hard shove, the brunette watched her stocky friend move away from her. "Still having fun?" she queried, instinctively knowing what his answer would be.

"Yes," Timmy shouted out.

"Good," giggled out Maureen. A small shake of her head. When was the last time she ever giggle?

This trip down to the beach was her idea. The seed of it though was laid by Jarod. The sessions with Dr. Tushar were, hating to admit it, thoroughly cathartic. The ex-Miss Parker was still seeing him every other week to help her deal with the traumas that comprised her life. It was at one of the sessions concerning her relationship with Jarod that she was reminded of the first time that she took Jar out of his damn cell and up onto the roof to see snow for the first time.

It jolted her when, with sudden clarity that she never did the same for her other best friend. A twinge of guilt for always putting Jarod first before anyone else, she pushed it away. While impatiently going through the, to her, slow as molasses session, parts of her were already planning on a special occasion for just Timmy and her. Her only other friend belatedly deserved it.

A day at the beach. At first, she thought about a trip to the local park. The very same park where she and Tushar had some of their Timmy sessions.

The sessions on Timmy made her look long and hard at the feelings she have towards her recently reconnected friend. She didn't want to admit that she pitied Timmy but Tushar held up the unblinking light of truth to her and made her see that was the heart of their relationship. Maureen saw him as a miserable creature that needed some pats on the head and some treats for him in order for him to be happy.

Just that. Nothing else. Not as a grown up man. A man who fought the Centre long and hard before she decided to join in the fun. A friend who waited patiently for her to come back from exile, literally and figuratively. And, when she finally did come home, welcomed her warmly with open arms and bearing no malice towards her.

Maureen nixed the idea of the park. It brought up some uncomfortable insights that troubled her revived conscience. Rather, she chose the beach.

A beach trip was something new for both of them. The brunette briefly remembered that day at the ruins of the Centre where she wistfully dreamt of walking hand in hand with Jarod.

That, she promised herself, will be for another day. A wave of anxiety rolled through her. Her man was somewhere dangerous and there was nothing she can do. This helpless feeling of not being able to help her oldest friend or protect him left her… She bit her lip. This was all new to her and she didn't how to react, to respond in a way that can soothe the fears she barely kept in check.

"He'll be alright, you know."

With her thoughts fixated on the former Pretender, Maureen didn't notice that Timmy had stopped swinging and was turned around on the seat looking up at her with his clear blue eyes. Eyes that demonstrated his concern and understanding over her plight.

"How can you be so certain?" demanded Maureen. She was slightly unnerved at how Timmy can uncannily read her mind. The taller woman studied the stocky man and wondered what kinds of gifts or curses, depending on one interpret it, the bald headed murderer gave him when he cooked the former Red File's brain. She made a mental note to talk to Jar about investigating Timmy's gifts, if their friend consented to it.

Timmy reached out and took both of her hands in his. Somberly, he explained, "I don't. But Jarod's a survivor. He survived so much since he was a child that getting hurt or worse," careful not to speak out what both knew was a real possibility, "wherever he is is inconceivable."

Lightly squeezing his work roughened hands before pulling them away, she told him, "I pray that you're right." Crossing her arms to ward off a shiver of dread, she continued, "I don't know how Rachel can do this day after day not knowing where Jar is or if he's even," breath hitching, "alive."

"It was never easy for her. Or for me." Timmy stood up from the swing seat and stepped up to her. Wrapping his arms around her thin frame in a comforting gesture, he went on. "From her connections in the Bureau she knew the conditions that Jarod was working under. She had to hide her fears from Jarod so he won't be distracted or lose his focus in whatever location he was operating out of. And I was there to give her moral support."

Maureen uncrossed her arms and stepped into his embrace. To anyone walking by he or she would think it was a couple being affectionate towards each other not two trying to worry about a man both love in their own way who was in harms way.

Breaking apart from each other, Maureen leaned over and gave Timmy a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for taking care of me." Grabbing his left hand with her right, she guided them away from the playground towards her parked Porsche. It was time to grab the picnic basket and have a late lunch on the beach.

She put a lot of effort into the picnic. Maureen wanted to surprise Timmy and Jar with her culinary skills. The lost years that she slaved for the Centre didn't gave her neither the time nor the inclination to be a mediocre much less an excellent cook. The persona of Miss Parker also wouldn't allow her the excuse to cook not if she was going to make it in a man's world.

It wasn't until being designated a prison trustee for good behavior and assigned to her prison's kitchen staff did she really take to learning the finer culinary arts. It wasn't easy since it was a prison and she had to cook on an industrial scale due to the prison population. But learned she did since she was a Type A personality. Maureen methodically studied the recipes, learned by trial and error, pretty soon she was making some mouth watering items for the prison menus.

It was this experience that she was going to show to Timmy. If he liked it, then she was going full bore for a homecoming meal that Jar wasn't going to forget for a very long time.

Finding a semi secluded piece of beach, both former Red Files laid out the floral printed picnic blanket and placed the large picnic basket at one corner. After shooing Timmy away from the basket and borderline ordering to sit down and stay out of the way, she took out the special gourmet meal she made just for this occasion.

Lightly smoked salmon for the main course. It was accompanied by double French cream brie served with baguette, apples, and grapes. Next, was an antipasto salad. And, lastly for dessert, she made two creations: a lemon pound cake and chocolate raspberry truffle tartlets.

For drinks, it was either bottled water or sparkling cider. Ever since Maureen went dry she was determined, as a fanatical convert, made sure Timmy and Jarod not imbibed either.

It was easy for Timmy since he never liked the biting taste of alcohol but it was irksome for Jarod since on occasions he did drink a bottle or two of beer at DNI functions. He just made sure that Maureen never knew about the drinking and to wash out his mouth before gracing his presence to her.

Timmy voiced his appreciation of her cooking quite vocally. It was a surprise to this Centre survivor to see this totally surprising and quite welcome side of Maureen's. Another facet of his old friend that made him want to stay around and see what other surprises she had in store.

"This was very good," he indicated with his hand at the remains of their lunch. He patted his stomach gently, letting out a burp. Smiling at her in satisfaction, "Keep this up and I might have to go on a diet."

Maureen chuckled at hearing his burp. Drolly she said, "I'll make sure to give you food poisoning next time."

Lying down on the blanket, Timmy closed his eyes and enjoyed the warming rays of the Sun on his skin. Dressed casually in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals he was enjoying this outing with Maureen. Without opening his eyes, he expressed what he was feeling. "Thanks for doing this. I don't know why but thanks."

She studied him. Chin resting on her right knee Maureen looked on the relaxed form of the man she knew for such a long time. The hard-bitten woman called Timmy her friend but he was a veritable stranger to her. Hell, the only thing she knew for sure about this unique friend of hers was his love of Cracker Jack.

Quietly, she stirred herself after a moment's pause. "This was something that I should have done years," stopping after thinking about her past, "no, several lifetimes ago. Treated you to a day all to yourself." Reaching out to grasp his left hand, "You deserve it." Her voice trailed off as she waited to what he had to say to that.

Timmy never forgot that for a prolong time, Maureen wouldn't touch him. As if he was contagious, dirty, or beneath her. It was only after finishing her prison sentence and her journey home that the ex-Centre puppet displayed her humanity by deigning to have physical contact with him.

He wouldn't respond to what she just uttered. Not yet. For just a brief moment, he relished holding her hand. Timmy felt what she was going through with that sometimes gift, sometimes curse, of his.

The remorse, the sadness, the embarrassment, and the need for his forgiveness all part of a matrix of emotions that seethed inside her.

Rubbing his thumb over her hand, he finally spoke up. "I already got what I deserve." He opened his eyelids to give her an affectionate look. "I got my friend back. What more could I want?"

It took an effort for Maureen to speak past the trembling of her lips. "A real friend unlike me. A friend who cares about you, not treat you as something to be pitied and feel sorry for."

"Is that how you view me? Us?"

She swallowed hard, hating to admit that this was exactly how she felt. A flash of hatred at Tushar for making her face this. "Yes. I was lying to you, as well as me, thinking it was something more than that." Maureen tried to pull her hand away from Timmy's but he held it firmly in his.

"So this outing was your way of making things up between us?" Timmy kept staring at her, making her very uncomfortable.

Unable to break away from his look, guilt rearing its head inside her, Maureen nodded, "Yeah. A picnic and a walk along the beach. It was also," a long contrite sigh escaping from her, "a start for paying so much attention towards Jar while I neglected you. You deserve so much more."

Timmy let go of her hand and raised himself up. He gave her a studied look before proceeding silently to clean up and put away their picnic.

Maureen experienced a letdown as she felt his silence and cold shoulder. But it was what she got for what she did to him. The pain of his silent treatment was beginning to hurt as she copied what the empath did and chipped in with the cleanup.

In complete silence, they put away the picnic basket and threw away the trash. Now, standing next to her car, both eyed each other. Maureen warily, while Timmy was one of calmness.

Finally, the empath spoke to her. "You did hurt me. Make no mistake about that."

Maureen felt like she was hit in the gut listening to what he just said. "I didn't mean to," she hurried to explain. "I was sucking up to that liar thinking he was my father."

"I know and I understand. I truly do," Timmy reassured her. "But I was just a child just like you. It was hard on me, much harder than Jarod. He was the center of attention," his mouth twisted at the unintended pun, "while I was a failed experiment as far as the Parkers were concerned and an oddity to Sydney. Ignored and shuffled off to the side. A plaything for the staff when they got bored with too much time on their hands."

"Timmy, I'm sorry what you had to go through in that hellhole. I wish I could take it away from you." Maureen was miserable but she was going to face this head on. A lot of epithets were laid on her by those she crossed over the decades but coward was not one of them. "That's why I wanted to make this day so special." Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she told him, "Because you are so very special to me."

His response surprised her. Timmy swiftly took her left hand and gently tugged her causing her to follow him. She saw that he was headed in the direction of the beach.

Seeing Maureen's slight look of confusion, he explained, "I believe you owe me a walk along the beach."

Smiling at him, his old friend said, "Of course."

Unknown to Maureen, this was when Faith decided to make an appearance. The spectral blonde woman wore a blue bikini top and from the waist down wrapped in a butterfly themed sarong. She shot her Timmy a loving smile and cast a caring gaze upon her sister.

"She wants to make peace with you, honey." Faith boiled Dr. Tushar's counseling sessions over Timmy down with that one spare sentence. Walking on the other side of Maureen she ached to reach out and hold Maureen's hand just like they did inside the tent as she lay dying.

This was their time but she had to make a quick appearance because of what she felt coming from her sister. Her resurrected conscience was killing her over her treatment of him while serving the Centre. She pushed the limits of her agreement with the PTBs with her observation to Timmy but Maureen can still, at times, tend to beat around the bush rather than come out with what she really wanted to say.

Without tipping off Maureen or scaring the bejesus out of her, Timmy didn't respond directly to his lady. He did pull his head back quickly though to give one quick wink at her before returning to staring ahead again.

The three of them walked mutely for a while, the silence twisting Maureen into a knot but was relieved slightly knowing that Timmy didn't pull his hand away from. It was a good portent.

"I forgave you a long time ago," began Timmy. He brought them to a stop. Looking intently at Maureen, "In fact, it was shortly after you left us for Europe that rather than being angry at you and hold a grudge, you needed my help."

"Your help? Why? You couldn't possibly know what the Parkers were up to," Maureen pointed out, tilting her head in curiosity. Unconsciously, she reached out to take the empath's other hand into hers.

Squeezing her hands, which was cold in spite of the heat of the day, Timmy answered her. "I'm an empath and the Parker brothers gave off bad vibes," his lips twisted at this undeniable truth. "Every time you were with him nothing good came out of him."

Maureen's face showed again to Timmy and Faith, the regrets, the bad choices, and the losses she made and underwent. "If I can only your gift back then, I could have done things differently."

Timmy comforted her. "I wish the same. But my gift came with some fine print." No humor came after this declaration. Reaching up to caress her left cheek, he went on, "I couldn't tell you what I felt. You don't know what a bitch it was trying to get across what I felt to you or Jarod. The two of you weren't the only ones the Centre gave stress to." This time he did chuckle.

Faith joined in the quick chuckle. Since she moved on to the next life, Maureen's sister didn't need to decipher what her other half was trying to explain. She was already a witness to the worst of the Centre's activities as well as becoming one of its victims.

"So we're good?" Maureen wanted to be sure. Because if they were, then one blighted part of her soul was cleansed and she didn't have to see Tushar's nosy face as much as one name was checked off his list.

"Yes, Maureen. We're good." Timmy followed it with another of his bone crushing hug.

"You don't know what that means to me," she quietly spoke into his ear, returning his hug fiercely.

Ending the hug but still holding Maureen by the shoulders, he told her, "I do know." Letting go of her shoulders, he took her hand in his again and proceeded to walk along the beach again.

Timmy saw Faith slowly fading away but her parting words amused him. "Three's a crowd." His lady always had her moments. He'll have to ask what was behind for this drive by appearance of hers sometime later.

"We still got several more hours before heading home. What do you want to do? Any ideas?"

Timmy pondered, thinking of something that they can do. His blue eyes looked up as the sky darkened. A puffy cloud was moving past the Sun. Something tickled his mind as a smile appeared on his face.

Stopping, he pointed up at the clouds that were coming in from the ocean. "Teach me that, Maureen. Ever look at the clouds and see what they look like? Have you done that with Jarod?"

"No, I've never done that before," joining in his smile, Maureen looked up at the mass of clouds. No, she didn't with Jar or anyone else. A warm feeling, a feeling of happiness coursed through her. A second childhood with Timmy and Jar sounded delicious and, this time, wonderful. With no Parkers, no Centre, and no Triumvirate destroying their lives in sight at all.

Hearing her answer, Timmy was happy that he was finally doing something special with his other lady. Pulling her down so they could sit exactly where they stopped, he began with, "Well, I see a dragon over there. What do you see?"

The eagerness in Timmy's voice caused Maureen to laugh out loud, love and delight in her voice; she hugged him tightly before responding. "I see, um…a horse prancing across the sky."

"Do you see that one over there? That's a windmill." The empathic ex-Red File was having fun, laughing together with Maureen as they continued out what their imaginations brought forth. "And, look right there, that's Mickey Mouse."

"Mickey Mouse? Timmy, sometimes I swear…"

A/N: My muse has come back a little with this chapter. I wanted to explore a little bit more of Parker's and Timmy's relationship. The show didn't really, due to time constraints, the nature of their shared experiences growing up and how she changed her views of Timmy changed from a childhood friend to something she only tolerate briefly as an adult.

This chapter isn't as good as my original chapter but it's the best with the very limited time I have on my hands.

Yes, this is part of my plot. So far I'm still sticking to it.

Posted on 18 October 2008.

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