Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or anything else in this piece of
fiction related to The Pretender. I wish I did but I don't. The Pretender
belongs to TNT now (I guess) and to Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van
Sickle.
Author's Note: Hi y'all. If the title of this story looks familiar, that's because the first parts are from a different author. The previous author, SpaceCadet, decided to stop writing fanfic for The Pretender. I got permission from her to pick it back up because the story line interested me. I really don't know where it's going to end up. I'm just going to let it take me for a ride. I hope y'all enjoy---Samantha
LIFE OR DEATH Part 4: Something Rotten in the State of Delaware
The Centre. Blue Cove, Delaware Three Months Later
Parker stormed down the pristine hallway, her stilettos clicking ominously. She pushed open the heavy glass doors and walked into her father's office. The Chairman turned towards her absentmindedly and looked up.
"Daddy, why didn't you tell me about this?" she demanded icily. Her father blinked, and then a look of recognition appeared on his face.
"Oh, Angel, I thought you needed a vacation. These past few months have been so stressful lately, on you and the rest of the team. I thought a couple of weeks on a resort would do you wonders." He smiled pleasantly. Parker relaxed slightly, but she still smelled something fishy. Since when did her father ever send her on a vacation without his own hidden agenda? But, for appearance's sake, she smiled back. She walked over to his desk and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Daddy. That was thoughtful of you. I'm going to lunch now, if you'd like to join me," she offered, knowing what his response would be. Mr. Parker looked around at the papers on his desk and the stack of file folders on a table not too far away.
"I'm sorry, Angel, but it's business as usual for me. You go and have a nice lunch." Parker nodded almost imperceptibly. She turned and walked out of his office. As soon as she was away from the glass doors, she picked up the pace and stormed off to Sydney's office.
"Syd!" she barked, causing the older man to spill coffee on his crisp, white shirt.
"Now, Parker. Was that really necessary?" he asked with that genteel accent of his. He smiled pleasantly, which immediately disarmed Parker. She sat down across from him with a sigh and rubbed her forehead with a hand.
"Syd, Daddy's sending me away for a few weeks, and I don't know why. He's using the excuse of my 'stress', but I don't buy that bull." She looked up at the aging man and pleaded with her eyes.
"Why does he want me out of his way, Syd?" The kindly psychologist shook his head.
"I don't know, Miss Parker. But, apparently he wants Broots and I out of his way too, for he's sending us on a 'vacation' as well. I don't know what your father is thinking, but something is not right here." The two shared a look before Parker spoke up.
"All right, Syd. Maybe I should stop wondering about my father's ulterior motives and just enjoy the freaking vacation." She chuckled deeply. Sydney nodded.
"Maybe you should, Parker. It certainly would do you good to relax for a few weeks. There's no doubt that it would benefit your ulcer. Enjoy yourself. I know that I'm going to enjoy myself on this unexpected gift." Parker nodded. She let her eyes drop to his desk for a bit. When they fell on his picture of Jarod, she stiffened slightly. She picked up the silver frame and let her gaze linger on his face.
"Parker, if you ever need to talk about-" Sydney stopped at a look from the woman across from him. He sighed and continued.
"Just remember, I'm here." Parker's eyes softened slightly, then moved back to take in the picture of Jarod. She gently placed the frame back on Sydney's desk, stood up, and walked out of his office without saying a word.
SL27
"How is he progressing?" rasped Raines. Cox looked at him.
"Slowly. Very slowly. I'm still not sure if he'll live once off the respirator." They both looked at the still body on the bed.
"As long as we make sure we harvest enough samples from him, it matters not whether he lives or dies," commented Raines, "our job will be finished once that task is complete." Cox nodded. He stood in silence as Raines departed from the room, his tank squeaking behind him. Cox then moved to check his patient's vitals.
A pair of eyes watched silently from a ventilation duct. Angelo looked away and quietly crept back to his room. He knew he had to tell Daughter. And soon!
Author's Note: Hi y'all. If the title of this story looks familiar, that's because the first parts are from a different author. The previous author, SpaceCadet, decided to stop writing fanfic for The Pretender. I got permission from her to pick it back up because the story line interested me. I really don't know where it's going to end up. I'm just going to let it take me for a ride. I hope y'all enjoy---Samantha
LIFE OR DEATH Part 4: Something Rotten in the State of Delaware
The Centre. Blue Cove, Delaware Three Months Later
Parker stormed down the pristine hallway, her stilettos clicking ominously. She pushed open the heavy glass doors and walked into her father's office. The Chairman turned towards her absentmindedly and looked up.
"Daddy, why didn't you tell me about this?" she demanded icily. Her father blinked, and then a look of recognition appeared on his face.
"Oh, Angel, I thought you needed a vacation. These past few months have been so stressful lately, on you and the rest of the team. I thought a couple of weeks on a resort would do you wonders." He smiled pleasantly. Parker relaxed slightly, but she still smelled something fishy. Since when did her father ever send her on a vacation without his own hidden agenda? But, for appearance's sake, she smiled back. She walked over to his desk and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Daddy. That was thoughtful of you. I'm going to lunch now, if you'd like to join me," she offered, knowing what his response would be. Mr. Parker looked around at the papers on his desk and the stack of file folders on a table not too far away.
"I'm sorry, Angel, but it's business as usual for me. You go and have a nice lunch." Parker nodded almost imperceptibly. She turned and walked out of his office. As soon as she was away from the glass doors, she picked up the pace and stormed off to Sydney's office.
"Syd!" she barked, causing the older man to spill coffee on his crisp, white shirt.
"Now, Parker. Was that really necessary?" he asked with that genteel accent of his. He smiled pleasantly, which immediately disarmed Parker. She sat down across from him with a sigh and rubbed her forehead with a hand.
"Syd, Daddy's sending me away for a few weeks, and I don't know why. He's using the excuse of my 'stress', but I don't buy that bull." She looked up at the aging man and pleaded with her eyes.
"Why does he want me out of his way, Syd?" The kindly psychologist shook his head.
"I don't know, Miss Parker. But, apparently he wants Broots and I out of his way too, for he's sending us on a 'vacation' as well. I don't know what your father is thinking, but something is not right here." The two shared a look before Parker spoke up.
"All right, Syd. Maybe I should stop wondering about my father's ulterior motives and just enjoy the freaking vacation." She chuckled deeply. Sydney nodded.
"Maybe you should, Parker. It certainly would do you good to relax for a few weeks. There's no doubt that it would benefit your ulcer. Enjoy yourself. I know that I'm going to enjoy myself on this unexpected gift." Parker nodded. She let her eyes drop to his desk for a bit. When they fell on his picture of Jarod, she stiffened slightly. She picked up the silver frame and let her gaze linger on his face.
"Parker, if you ever need to talk about-" Sydney stopped at a look from the woman across from him. He sighed and continued.
"Just remember, I'm here." Parker's eyes softened slightly, then moved back to take in the picture of Jarod. She gently placed the frame back on Sydney's desk, stood up, and walked out of his office without saying a word.
SL27
"How is he progressing?" rasped Raines. Cox looked at him.
"Slowly. Very slowly. I'm still not sure if he'll live once off the respirator." They both looked at the still body on the bed.
"As long as we make sure we harvest enough samples from him, it matters not whether he lives or dies," commented Raines, "our job will be finished once that task is complete." Cox nodded. He stood in silence as Raines departed from the room, his tank squeaking behind him. Cox then moved to check his patient's vitals.
A pair of eyes watched silently from a ventilation duct. Angelo looked away and quietly crept back to his room. He knew he had to tell Daughter. And soon!