Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the television show "The Pretender." They belong to Steve Long Mitchell, Craig W. Sickel, and TNT.

Warning: If you like Zoe or Thomas Don't Read!! Also I'm not done writing this story.

Where my pretty one lies.. Part 3 his Dream

Jarod's lair 11:30 A.M.

"Syd, are you sure she's alright?" Jarod asked. Hoping for once it would be.

"No, Jarod. I'm not. I am very concerned about her. She is not accepting the fact that her father is dead. She hasn't even once gone over to Parker Manor. She refuses to talk to anyone regarding Mr. Parker," reports Syd.

"Well, personally I think you guys are giving her too little credit she has survived the Centre for years I think she will survive Mr. Parker's death. It's not like he really cared for her." States the Major.

Jarod shakes his head. "She has devoted most of her adult life to pleasing this man, although I agree with you that he really didn't love her, it didn't stop her form tiring to win his love every chance she got."

Silence surrounds the group. Each man deep in his own thoughts.

Jarod's lair 5:30 A.M.

Glancing at the clock on the mantel Jarod assumes Miss Parker should be home by now. Picking up the telephone he dials her home number, getting the answering service he hangs up. Then he tries her cell phone it's always on and within reach. Jarod dials the number he hears it ring once.

"What?"

"Miss Parker"

"Jarod" she whispers. 'God, her voice sounds so good.'

"Why are you whispering?" questions Jarod. 'What is she up too?'

"Why are you calling?" she counts. 'Why can't she just answer me?'

"Well because it is the annual fire/safety check, and I thought you might need a friend to talk too." He answers her.

"A friend!" she demands still whispering. 'She sounds so tense.'

"Yes, a friend. That's what we are, friends" He could hear strange noises in the background. "Are you ok?"

"We're not friends," she scathingly informs him. "We are."

"Wrong, Miss Parker, we are friends," insists Jarod. 'Why can't she accepted this? He starts to tap his leg. "Just friends."

Dead silence greets him. 'Maybe I should define friendship to her.'

"Miss Parker, friends care about each other, I just wanted to know if you were alright."

"You don't care!" hissed Miss Parker quietly her voice slightly breaking. The noises slow down then sounded as if she sat down on something metal. 'What since when?'

"I have always cared! I cared more then the louse you've called "Daddy" for the past thirty years. Do you hear me? Miss Parker" retorted Jarod. 'Maybe I finally got throw.'

Waiting he could hear the strange noises again, "Miss Parker?"

"What?" she whispers her voice breaking. 'Damn she sounds so hurt.'

"Are you o.k?" Jarod asks. "Why are you whispering?" questions Jarod. 'Where is she?'

"No reason, just feel like it," snaps Miss Parker. "Is there a reason you're calling?"

"Huh, no reason, Miss Parker where are you?" Again dead silence greets him; a shiver runs up his spine.

"Miss Parker?" The strange noises were growing louder. "Miss Parker?" He shouts.

"I heard you, kept your pants on." The noises stop. He hears her breathing slow shallow breaths.

"Miss Parker where are you?" He asks again.

"I am between here, there and no-where. Go figure." She musses at his expense. 'She is still whispering, the noises are getting closer to her and she's laughing at my expense.'

---Bang---

"Oh my God." She cries out loud.

"Miss Parker where are you?" Jarod demands.

"In hell, Jarod I'm in hell," she whispers as the dial tone informs him the call has been disconnected. 'What is she doing still at the centre?'

Opening up his laptop Jarod quickly by pass the security system, there he sees by a back up feed that she is standing behind her desk fiddling with the air conditioner in her office. 'Well, that explains the noises.'

He watches her working at her desk for twenty minutes. The Parker family motto flashes in his mind 'Never show any weakness.'

************************************************************************ More to come!! Any questions? Sometimes things aren't what they appear and sometimes they are.

Later Dream