Disclaimer: Pretender = not mine. The characters aren't mine, the actors aren't mine, the title isn't mine, the sets aren't mine, the production companies aren't mine, anything having to do with the show is not mine. Sigh…tell me if there's something else that I don't own because I'm feeling really sad and that will just be the final nail in the coffin. Maybe someday, I'll buy the show and then it really will be mine…someday. Broots refers to the WB's Birds of Prey indirectly, it should be noted that I've only seen one episode of this show and know pretty much nothing about it and of course, I don't own it.
Summary: Jarod decides to end the chase, but he and Ms. Parker end up locked inside of a warehouse and…well, there's some arguing, some anger, and maybe something more.
Author's Note: In case you were wondering, in the last chapter, how there's a shower in the middle of a warehouse, it's because the manager, who I may or may not name at some later date, depending on whether or not I decide he had any relevence to this story, had a personal bathroom and rest quarters. Remember, it's a very very large warehouse.
Trapped In A Box
By Bec-Bec
Chapter 4
Allies of the Same War
"Who's CJP?"
"I don't know, Syd, but this order came from the Tower."
"But, why would the Tower want to isolate Ms. Parker?"
"I don't know, it's the Tower, they've done some crazy things before, like the T-board or the time they…"
"Broots, do you think Jarod is in there with her?" Sydney suddenly asked, cutting Broots off, as he finally remembered why they were at the building in the first place.
"I don't know."
"But, did the Centre know?"
"You mean, you think they set this up to get Jarod and Ms. Parker trapped in there together?"
"It's a possibility."
"But why? She hates him, she'd kill him, he may already be dead in fact, and they wanted him back alive. It's seems like a gamble to me to send someone you don't want hurt, in to the clutches of their arch nemesis." Thoughts of Batman and Catwoman came to mind…then he remembered that there was some rumor about Batman and Catwoman having an illegitimate child... was that like Jarod and Ms. Parker? He really needed to cut back on his TV watching.
"Broots, there's a lot more to Jarod and Ms. Parker than we know about, I don't think arch nemesis is an appropriate term for either of them."
"Are you sure? I swear, every time I'm around her she's angry with him and swearing vengeance and talking about 'serving up his genius brain on a platter, with an apple.' "
"Broots, Ms. Parker's said a lot of things, but you and I both know that when it comes down to it, she's all threat and no action. The information that Jarod has provided her in the past is far too valuable to her for her to actually want him back in the Centre when he could be out finding more about the truth. In the end, they're very much allies on the same side of a war."
"Whatever you say, Syd, but I'd still bet money on Jarod's head coming out in a box,"
Broots joked. He was met by a grim look on Sydney's face and decided, now was not the time to try and lighten the mood.
"Broots, keep looking, we have to find out what's going on, Ms. Parker's life may depend on it." Sydney's fatherly concern was apparent in the deep frown lines, which shadowed his face. "…and Jarod's too."
****
Inside of the Warehouse
After their shower, Ms. Parker and Jarod were feeling rejuvenated, and hungry. Jarod led the way to the refrigerator after they had dried off…without towels, and redressed. He held Ms. Parker's hand in his as they found their way through the labyrinth of the building and down to the kitchen.
"Jarod, what exactly did they ship out of here?"
"Lots of things. But I think that mainly they shipped clothing."
"Was it nice clothing?"
"How should I know?" Jarod laughed.
"Well, you are a genius."
"That doesn't mean that I'm clairvoyant or can talk to the past or anything. You're the one with the Inner Sense, do you know if it was nice clothing?" Jarod grinned at her.
"Yes." Ms. Parker replied calmly.
"How?" Jarod said incredulously
Ms. Parker laughed at the look on his face, "Actually, Wonder Boy, I have no idea. I just wanted to see what you'd do when I said that I did."
Jarod leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose, "That's what I'd do."
She playfully hissed like a cat and swatted at him. He playfully swatted back as they finally made it back down the stairs and to a small room where you could here the faint buzz of a refrigerator.
"So, Parker, what would you like to eat?"
"What have you got?"
"Hmm. I don't know, everything I've got may not have any 'nutritional value.' " He joked about her earlier comment.
"Ugh. Fine, I don't care, I'm so hungry I could eat a cow."
"Oh, sorry, Parker, I don't have any steak." Jarod said seriously.
Ms. Parker laughed, "It's an expression, Jarod, it means I'm really hungry."
"Oh, well then, I'm hungry enough to eat a cow too."
Ms. Parker shook her head slightly as she grinned at Jarod and his amused face at the new lingo he'd just learned. "Well, hurry up, I might have to eat you soon."
"I don't have any problems with that," Jarod lifted his eyebrows suggestively.
"Later, Pez Head, feed me now!" Ms. Parker said sternly, but full of laughter. "I'm not happy when my stomach is growling."
The refrigerator was empty except for some small cups of chocolate pudding, a can of spray cheese, and a carton of milk.
"Hmm," Jarod said as he peered into the fridge, "I don't think you're going to want any of this."
"What is it?"
"Chocolate pudding, spray cheese, and milk."
"Jarod, how do you live?"
"What do you mean?"
"How do you live off of this junk food?"
"Happily."
Ms. Parker laughed and shook her head at him, "Happy. There's an emotion I'd forgotten."
"Not forgotten, just lost for a long time," Jarod answered knowingly.
Ms. Parker stared at him. Then, she slammed the door of the refrigerator shut and pressed Jarod's back up against it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her head into his chest, "I'm glad I found you."
"You never lost me," Jarod replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.
"Mmm," she sighed. "Jarod, I really am hungry."
Jarod laughed and unwrapped her arms from around his neck, "Hold on, I think there's some stuff in the cupboard over here." He walked over to it, pulling Ms. Parker with him because he wouldn't let go of her hand. "Ah hah," he said opening the cupboard. "How does alphabet soup sound?"
"Great."
Five minutes later, the soup was ready, thanks to a small pot that Jarod had found in the cupboard. As well as, some bowls and spoons, a can opener, and an electric stove. All were courtesy of the staff kitchen from the factory.
Jarod and Ms. Parker sat at a small table in the corner of the kitchen.
"Mmm, I haven't had alphabet soup in a long time," Ms. Parker said softly.
"I don't understand why you would want to miss out on eating all of this great food."
Ms. Parker just smiled.
They finished the soup and Jarod pushed his bowl over towards Ms. Parker.
"Hey, you can clean your own dirty dish."
"Look down."
In the bottom of Jarod's bowl were the letters I-L-U-V-U.
Ms. Parker looked up and met his boyish grin, her eyes sparkled, "I think that is simultaneously the sweetest, and the weirdest thing I've ever seen. How did you save those letters?"
"Fate."
As they washed the dishes, Jarod and Ms. Parker couldn't help throwing suds at each other. When they had cleaned up the mess, they realized it must be really late. Jarod looked around for his watch, which had been buried earlier underneath his shirt. Once he found it, it informed them that it was now 12:30 am.
"Sleep time," he told Ms. Parker.
"Aw, you're not wimping out on me are you Wonder Boy?"
"No, but I need some sleep and so do you, come on."
He climbed into the bed and pulled her with him. They fell asleep with their bodies pressed close together. Somehow, they didn't worry at all about why they were locked in a building or who had done it. It's odd the way the mind works like that sometimes. But, hell, it was the first time they were both happy in what felt like an eternity. Sometimes, bliss is blinding.
****
The Security Office
"Syd, I'm starting to see dancing spots. Is the screen doing the polka?"
Broots had been typing away trying to find out anything he could on Chief Shipping, the name CJP, or any orders pertaining to Ms. Parker. The search hadn't revealed anything. And, despite several attempts, Broots couldn't get the security system back online, so they had no way of telling where Ms. Parker was or if she was okay.
"It's, okay, Broots. If there was something to find, I'm sure you would have found it by now, turn the computer off."
"But, Syd, what are we going to do? We still have no idea what's going on, no idea of how Ms. Parker is, this is bad, really really bad."
"Whoever is orchestrating this whole ordeal will allow us to find out about it when the time is right."
"But, we can't just wait around. What if Ms. Parker is hurt?" Broots lowered his voice, "What if…what if there's a murderer locked in there with her?"
"Broots, really, try to read a book once in a while instead of turning on one of those late night horror movies." Sydney tried not to let the other man's words affect him, but he couldn't stop the horrible ideas from running through his head.
"Syd, I hate to admit it, but I'm really scared."
"It's okay, Broots, it's okay," Sydney tried to reassure Broots and himself at the same time.
All of a sudden, an e-mail popped up on the screen.
The two men leaned in close to see what it was.
The message said:
Keep digging, some mazes aren't mazes, some doors aren't doors. The answers are all there if only you can sea them.
Broots couldn't trace the origin of the message though he had a distinct feeling it was from the Centre and was meant to make them pawns in this newest game of "you run, I chase."
"Broots, look."
"Syd, I am looking. My eyes are ready to cross, or fall out of my head, or do something that eyes are not meant to do, from staring at this computer screen for so long."
"No, Broots, look at how they spelt the word 'sea'."
"Like king of the sea."
"Yes. Sea, as in ocean. Broots, we're right by the ocean."
"Okay, but what does it mean, 'some mazes aren't mazes, some doors aren't doors?' "
"You don't suppose…?"
"What? What don't I suppose?"
"Digging would imply underground. What's underground, Broots?"
"Volcanic rock?"
"No, Broots, what's underground at this building?"
"That dark drippy hallway which I'm sure is housing some large furry woodland beast, or Frankenstein, or maybe at least, very large mutated rats."
"Yes, the hallway, a maze. Broots, it's telling us that though the hallway seems to go in only two directions, it's a maze with hidden doors."
"Wait, so there's an entire labyrinth hidden underneath this building?"
"Yes."
"Oh boy. I know what this means, back down the rabbit hole."
"Yes."
Broots sighed, "Can we at least try to find a bigger flashlight this time?"
It didn't take long to find a very large flashlight in a shelf on the left-hand wall of the security office. Broots silently reprimanded himself for not thinking to check there before they had gone down into the tunnel the first time.
Broots and Sydney descended into the abyss, and Broots, never a religious man, prayed that they wouldn't find anything large and hairy…with fangs, he added as an afterthought.
Author's Note: Okay, right now you're thinking that J and Ms. P are completely oblivious to everything...which is true, but that's just how I'm writing it. I know the vegetable soup think is really dorky, but come on, it's Jarod, it's what he does, really sweet dorky things. I'm still not sure of the overall direction of this story. Any ideas on what's hidden in this labyrinth? Anymore ideas on who's behind all of this? I'm completely open to all suggestions, anything at all, just tell me. You need to help me pick up the story because it's really going nowhere fast, help me switch gears here. I think I'm just too lost in this fantasy world of Jarod and Ms. Parker to write any action in…hey, maybe Broots and Sydney will find a hidden passageway into the warehouse and then they'll all get out but the Centre will come and…someone help me!!! Ack!!! Thanks for all of the reviews!!! Here's to hoping that you're not as crazy and obsessive as me and that if you are, you're darn happy being that way! Please review!!! Love Ya All!!!
`~` = me fretting, see the wiggly mouth?