Don't Let Go

Chapter One

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Pretender. Never will.

Author's Note: Hi again, I'm back. This is my new story…. Der…Anywho, I hope you will like it. Hopefully, I described the character's emotions right and you won't find it to far fetched (but isn't fanfiction what you make it?) Hmm…well, enjoy. Please read and review.

"There's no where to run, Jarod." Miss Parker said her gun pointed at his back, "You have to give up."

The two stood at a dead end alleyway. The Pretender sighed and closed his eyes, knowing there was no way out. When he turned around, he tossed his gun to the ground, and turned to face the woman who had hunted him all over the U.S.

Parker remained expressionless as she approached Jarod. She stood in front of him, trying not to meet his gaze. She could feel his eyes watching her. In the distance, she could hear Broots and Sydney's shouts.

"Don't do this to me, Parker." Jarod said as he searched her face.

Parker looked up at him, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Please stop, Jarod." She said with a sigh, "Just stop."

She tucked her gun in its holster and took out a pair of handcuffs. She clenched her jaw tightly and steadied her breathing.

"Michealina." The Pretender said quietly.

Parker's head snapped up quickly. The way he said her name, her real name sent a chill through her body. "Jarod…" she whispered exasperated, "Stop talking."

Then in one quick movement, Jarod had her back against the brick wall, and the handcuffs fell from her hands. He pinned her hands above her head with one hand.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked shocked at what Jarod had just done.

"Don't you remember our promise?" he asked his voice dropping to a whisper.

Parker bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes as sudden tears stung her eyes. "Yes." She murmured reopening her eyes, "I've never forgotten it."

With his free hand, Jarod brushed away a tear that fell down her cheek. Parker closed her eyes again as she remembered the night they had made their fateful promise to one another.

It had been the night Faith died, after Young Parker and Young Jarod had exited the air vents, where she had cried in his arms at the loss of Faith, the girl she had only known for a day and a half, but felt like she had known forever. They stood in Jarod's room; both of them quiet, not knowing what to do.

"Jarod." She said quietly as she wiped away her tears.

"Yes, Miss Parker?" he answered stepping closer to her.

"I want to leave this place for good and never step foot in here again." She told him passionately, "All that the Centre brings is death and destruction."

"I know. I want to leave to. I want to escape and find my family." The boy agreed, feeling the same way. Then he cast a look at her face. She looked lost in thought. "Parker?"

"I wish I could help you get out of here." She told him after a minute, "You don't deserve to be locked up in here."

"Neither does Angelo."

Parker sighed. "I hope one day you will escape this hell hole." She said, "But it's too late for Angelo. This is the only place that he'll get treated somewhat nice."

"I know." The boy sighed then he smiled. "Maybe we'll run away together. We could both be free."

The girl smiled, "I'd like that." Then she frowned, her smiled quickly disappearing.

"What is it?"

"My daddy wouldn't like it…he's all I got left, y'know."

"I understand." Jarod said, trying to hide his disappointment.

"I would let you run, though. I would never want to take you back here."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Replied Parker, giving Jarod a kiss on the cheek.

Miss Parker snapped herself out of the memory to find Jarod looking deep into her eyes.

"Are you going to break your promise?" he asked quietly.

She let out a shuddering breath and let the tears that had filled her eyes fall down her cheeks. "No." she said, "I owe it to you, to Angelo, to Faith, to my mother."

Jarod cupped her cheek with his hand, then moved in and kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss was passionate and familiar. He let go of her pinned hands and wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Parker's arms encircled his neck. They broke apart a minute later, breathing heavily.

"Michealina." He whispered, his dark eyes searching hers.

"Shut up and kiss me." She commanded him, a smile on her face.

They kissed again, forgetting everything else, but them. This was a moment that Parker had been secretly dreaming about since she was young. Being with Jarod. Being all that he needed. She had loved him since she first met him. As they kissed, she drifted off into a memory of herself, confiding a secret with her mother.

"Mommy, Mommy! Guess what!" Young Miss Parker cried running into her mother's room.

Her mother sat at her vanity, brushing her long dark hair, while smiling dreamily at her own private thoughts.

"What is it my darling?" her mother asked, as she turned away from vanity and put down her brush.

"I have a secret to tell you." Parker said smiling.

"And what is that?" Her mother smiled back.

"Have you met Jarod?" she asked her mother, "He's a boy at the Centre."

Her mother tilted her head to the side and looked at her with an unreadable expression. "Yes…I've met with him a few times…he's a nice boy."

Young Parker felt confused. Since when had her mother visited Jarod? And how come Jarod never told her? Nevertheless, she was happy her mother liked Jarod. She then leaned close to her mother.

"I like Jarod." Whispered the girl, "And I'm gonna marry him one day!"

Her mother smiled and looked at her with amusement. "Are you sure?"

"Uh-huh!" giggled the girl

Her mother hugged her and chuckled. "Always follow your heart, my darling." She said softly.

The two separated as they heard a noise at the entrance to the alley. They looked and saw Sydney and Broots, both standing there with shocked expressions on their faces.

"Oh…shit." Parker whispered, pushing Jarod back slightly.

"No kidding." He muttered.

The two men came closer to them. Broots's eyes were wide. But Sydney just smiled. Parker smiled sheepishly and looked at the ground. The group stood in awkward silence for a beat, and then Jarod grabbed Parker by the hand.

"Come with me. All of you." It was an order.

The four then left the alley and got into the rental car that Parker, Sydney, and Broots rented. Jarod and Parker got into the front, while Sydney and Broots got into the back. Parker handed the Pretender the keys and he started the car. No one asked where he was taking them, knowing that they were safe with him. After an hour, Jarod pulled into the dirt driveway of a two-story cottage that was isolated in the deep woods.

"Is this your latest lair?" Broots asked quietly, as the all got out of the car and made their way to the front porch.

"No." replied the Pretender, taking out a set of keys from his pocket.

"What is this place then?" Sydney asked.

"A home I brought from myself under an alias." Jarod answered, unlocking the door and going inside, followed by the others.

To Be Continued.

Well, what do you think? Remember: Please be kind!