Disclaimer: I do NOT own The Pretender. Never claimed to, you didn't see me do it, I didn't do it. I believe it belongs to TNT and NBC, or maybe not NBC anymore…and isn't 20th Century Fox one of the production companies? Anyway, It's not mine. I have no idea who owns Dudley Do-Right (Snidely Whiplash), though I think it's Hanna Barbara or Warner Bros…or something. I do not own it and don't have the right to use it but hey it is so much fun to write about other people's characters, isn't that the point of fan fiction? I also don't own the play, or movie, Kiss Me Kate and it's wonderful song "So In Love." If you've read my other fic, you've noticed that I have a mad obsession with all adaptations of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Isn't mad craziness wonderful? Oh yeah, I don't own Hamlet either. I also have no idea what order the five stages of grief go in, or if I've got them right, but Parker's been going through most of them her entire life. My apologies to the medical community for my lack of expertise in that area.
Summary: Ms. Parker and Jarod have issues. This is what it would be like to be inside their heads while they were talking. Hope it doesn't get too confusing.
Author's Note: As a note to you first time readers, I just recently added the scene explanations into the text. Feel lucky that you get to read it when it makes more sense. By the way, the dialogue alternates each line. Ms. P, J, Ms. P, J, no exceptions. Lines always start with whoever's point of view it is.
If You Were In My Mind
By Bec-Bec
Chapter 4 Part 1
[Jarod's point of view. Ms. Parker is silent during this exchange.]
Sydney?
Ms. Parker's House
Sydney? What are you…
"Syd, what's wrong? What are you doing here?"
What's…
"The Centre is on their way…they know…they've put out an assassination order on Ms. Parker."
How come he doesn't look more surprised to see me with Parker? Wait…did he just say assassination? What…
"Assassination order!? Who gave it? Was it Raines?"
Why doesn't Raines ever just die like a good little cockroach?…hah…cockroach, I'll have to tell Parker that one…they'll shoot her…they'll…
"Yes…Did she actually shoot him?"
Shot him…she shot him…why isn't she talking?
"Yes."
She shot him and the psychological implications are just catching up with her, that's why she's not talking.
"Why do you always think with your gun, Parker?"
Everyone at the Centre thinks with their gun. You shot him once too, Sydney…to protect me…everyone who knows Raines wants to shoot him, even me.
"I think she's in a mild state of shock right now."
Shock. She shot him…she actually shot him…I'm shocked too…
"It's to be expected, especially after these drastic changes in her life…you two should be going."
But they're good drastic changes, she has me…you said 'you two'…but then, you always thought of us that way, didn't you?
"Thanks for warning us, Syd. We were just about to leave…Why don't you come?"
Come away. We'll be a family. You, me, and Parker…and Angelo if we can get him away. That's all I ever wanted, a family.
"I can't come now, Jarod. But soon…take care of her."
I'll always take care of her, I'll always protect her…I hope you come soon, Syd…we need you…oh, screeching tires.
"Be careful, Sydney, we need you."
Father. Be careful father. Syd, you'll always be my father…even if you aren't biologically.
"Goodbye Jarod, Ms. Parker." [Hugs Jarod and Ms. Parker.]
He'll hug me now, but he wouldn't when I was younger…that was because he was being watched, I can't hold it against him. [Sydney exits.]
****
Chapter 4 Part 2
[Ms. Parker's point of view. She speaks softly, just coming out of the shock filled trance she's been in.]
They'll Shoot Me
Ms. Parker's Bathroom, then outside the house and down the road a piece, in a rented car and then back at their hotel.
They'll shoot me. They'll shoot me if they see me here with you. Hell, they'd shoot me even if you weren't here. They've come to seek revenge for my lovely target practice at the back of Raines' neck.
"Parker, hurry, this way." [Jarod pulls the window open and motions her to climb through.]
Can't believe I'm crawling through a bathroom window. I'm not the one chasing. I'm the one being chased. But…you've been chased for six years…
"Jarod, how many times have you had to crawl out of bathroom windows?" [Turns back when she's safely reachd the ground so she can look back at him climbing out of the window.]
I'm sorry for doing this to you for so long. Really, I am.
"Parker, I'll tell you everything about everything when we get away from your house, but 20 questions is not a good game to play when the Centre goons are right behind us." [He comes to the ground and they walk quickly out to where Jarod stashed their rented car.]
Hmm, he knows 20 questions but not Snidley Whiplash…
"Humph…the Centre…when will they just blow themselves all up like good little lemmings?"
Lemmings. Lemmings with suits, Centre issue black cars, and guns.
"Ms. Parker, lemmings are small rodents." [They get in the car and start to drive away.]
Yep, rats. They're all rats and we're gonna kill them with the most deadly poison… the truth.
"Exactly. Everyone at the Centre is a rat and seeing as my middle name is Catherine, I consider myself the cat that is going to take out each and every one of them."
Unless they take me out first. They'll shoot me. They'll kill me. Jarod you have to stop them. You have to stop…
"Killing and shooting are not always the answers, Parker."
Then why does everyone get killed and shot at the Centre?
"Jarod, there are very few things that the Centre knows how to do, the main ones being killing people and hiding the truth."
'Don't let morals get involved when you're thinking about the Centre, it will be your downfall.' That's what they teach you…that's what my father taught me…
"We'll find the truth, without killing anyone. Victory through violence is not a victory."
Always the crusading hero. Tell me, genius, if you're such a pacifist…
"Violence is the only way to win against the Centre. It's the only thing that makes them learn."
It is definitely time for payback.
"And that's why you shot Raines, right? Because people who work at the Centre have no souls and have to go around killing everyone."
What!?
"That was a low blow, Jarod."
Daggers in my heart…why do I let you have so much power over me?Why are you and Sydney always my nagging conscience?
"It's true. If you kill them, you're just as bad as they are."
Ungrateful bastard. I sware. You are not even thankful that I saved you. I should have left you to become…
"I must have been driven by pure evil to attempt to save Superman from the clutches of the big, bad, evil corporation known as the Centre."
Risked my life to save you…you…
"Parker, I did thank you for that, and that's not what I meant. I'm just saying that we can find another way."
Yes, I suppose you did thank me with the hug…and the kiss…Oh, stupid conflicting emotions. Damn Hamlet and his "to be or not to be" moments.
"I know, Pez Head, I just didn't get any caffeine today, and I'm out of it."
I chose to go with him…I really did…I chose him over all of the rest of it. Why would I do that?
"Parker, sooner or later, we're gonna have to talk about what happened. You're in shock. I know you are, and you've already gone through denial and anger.
Denial and anger? You mean saying that I wanted you gone and then swearing revenge on the Centre? Hah, I must have been in shock for the last six years.
"You know me so well? What's next?"
What the hell is next? What evil, terrible thing is gonna happen now? [They stop at eh hotel they stayed at the previous night.]
"Well, your anger will be followed by intense sadness and a feeling of loss."
That's nothing new. I'm always sad…always…[Entering the hotel room. Ms. Parker sits down on the bed.]
"Would you have left without me?"
He would have, I know he would. He'd never risk his freedom for anyone…though, he has saved all of those people…am I just one of his charity cases? Damn it, Jarod!
"If I had, I'd come back. I've never really left you alone. I've always been there."
You don't care. You're just waiting for me to call you the hero.
"To taunt me and annoy me."
You know, Jarod, you are almost worse than Raines. At least he doesn't pretend to care, he flat out shows that he loathes you and your existence.
"'So, taunt me, hurt me, decieve me, desert me, I'm yours until I die…' It's from Kiss Me Kate."
Hah, resort to your stupid old musicals! That's not going to work on me, Wonder Boy, I think I'll leave.
"Serenading me with a stupid musical is not the way to get on my good side."
I can walk out the door right this minute. I'll never even look back. All I need is my gun and my high heels.
"I'd never try to serenade you, Parker. Hell, why would I even try to love you? You don't ever let that happen." [He walks out the door quickly, slamming it behind him and driving off in the car.]
He walked out the door first…Wh…Where did he go?
Original Author's Note: What happens next? Thoughts? Comments? Anything at all? Send me some reviews!!!
New Author's Note: Ditto!!!