Chapter Thirty-Seven

All in the Family

Jarod milled around the filing cabinets in one of the rooms. He and Parker had been down here for nearly two hours. It had grown dark outside and Parker had sent word to Jack that she and Jarod were staying down in the hatch for the evening. Parker had no desire to face the creature yet again.

Parker was sitting at one of the tables, flipping aimlessly through the files. So far nothing rang a bell and her inner sense wasn't responding. "I don't get it," she said, frustrated. She took a large gulp of water from the bottles that Jack had brought down to them about a half hour ago.

"What, the hatch?"

"My inner sense," Parker said, her frustration about hitting its peak. "I mean our first few days here it wouldn't leave me alone and now its gone completely silent for the most part."

Jarod shrugged as he replaced the first half of the "P's" section of the filing cabinet and pulled out the second, "Maybe it only works during certain parts of the day."

"That's not funny," she said.

"What do you want me to say," Jarod said, "I don't know about your gift, you do."

Parker slammed shut the last file in the "Z's" section, "What exactly are you hoping to find down here?"

"Answers."

"Just a few hours ago you were afraid for answers and now you're searching for them like your life depends on it."

"Maybe my life does depend on it," Jarod told her.

Parker got up, replaced the files she had pulled and threw open another one of the drawers. Inside were large reels, "Jarod…"

Jarod put back the files he had pulled (still learning nothing about the island, hatch, the Centre, or its subjects), and reached over and took one of the reels. "Now all we need is a reel player."

"I think I saw one in one of the other rooms," Parker said, "I'll be right back."

Parker dashed out of the room and within seconds stuck her head back in, "Grab those reels, come on."

Jarod, surprised at her sudden enthusiasm, picked up the reels and followed Parker down the hall and into one of the rooms. "It's private quarters."

Parker nodded as she took one reel and set it up to watch, while Jarod looked around the room. There was a small kitchenette, a small dining table with two chairs, a large bed with fluffy looking sheets (which looked as though they hadn't been washed in several decades). Jarod coughed and dust flew everywhere.

"I know, irritating isn't it," Parker said and reached over and flicked out the lights.

Jarod pulled the two dining chairs out and they sat down next to each other and watched the first black and white scene on the large wall.

Today is March 17, 1938 and I am Dr. William Parker. Today's experiment is radio brainwaves. "Hello Jackson, how are you this morning."

A young boy, no more than four or five, gave a feeble response, "I'm okay," he said.

"Good," William Parker said. "Today I want you to look at some pictures and tell me what you feel."

This went on for several minutes and after it was over, Parker sat in stunned silence, "That was my grandfather. Dr. William Parker, was my grandfather!"

Jarod removed the reel and replaced it with a new one, unsure of what to say. He wasn't entirely surprised, he had to admit, but he hadn't particularly seen it coming either. This one also featured Dr. William Parker, much to Miss Parker's horror.

"Today is August 27, 1945," Dr. William Parker introduced. "Today is a landmark occasion. We're going to explore the role of prodigies. Our guest in today's experiment is Charles Bennett. How are you doing today, Charles?"

Young Charles studied William Parker with near fear, "Ummm…."

"It's okay Charles, don't be afraid." William Parker set some blocks down on the table in front of Charles. "Can you figure out this problem for me?"

Jarod reached over and shut it off. "I can't watch anymore."

"Jarod-"

"No," he said fiercely, "They did the same thing to my father as they did to me. I don't want to know."

Jarod stood up and Parker followed suit, "Jarod-"

Jarod's answer was the same, "No. I refuse to see what I know will happen." His eyes were welled with tears.

Parker reached down and picked up both of Jarod's with her own, tears shining in her own eyes, "Why is that our family keeps crossing paths? Our lives keep tangling up in one others even before we were born?"

Parker was of course referring to fact that their Catherine Parker and Margaret Bennett had known each other. Jarod squeezed her hands tightly, his body starting to shake. Parker wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close to her. They stood like that for long time until Jarod pulled away and left the room quickly.

Parker covered her mouth and sank down to the dusty bed. Her body was shaking with silent sobs. She heard a ringing bang and knew Jarod had just hit the wall.

Jarod's head was rested against the cold steel wall. He had spent the last four years working to convince himself that there was nothing between them, that it was all in his head, but she was determined to prove otherwise. Her words said one thing, but her actions said another.

Jarod shook his head and turned around and sat down on the bed. His father's old bed. His hands shook as he picked up the photograph of his parents that Parker had found underneath the bed during their first visit down.

They were both smiling, but Jarod could see the shining tears in both their eyes. They were happy and sad at the same time. Jarod felt, or rather hoped, that they were happy together and that their tears only had to deal with being trapped on this island.

Jarod stretched out on the bed and felt exhaustion wave over him. He hadn't slept properly in days. His thoughts returned to Miss Parker as his eyes fluttered shut.

Down the hallway Parker's thoughts still lingered on Jarod also as she felt herself drift off to sleep in the dusty bed.