Payback is often a bitch. and sometimes the bitch gets it.

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!! Because this only gets worse, well from this point it's all Zoe.

Where my pretty one lies.. Part 53

Dream



The Lair New York 830 P.M.

Zoe looked around, she noticed that they were all kids, "Well what are you going to do about it little girl, tell mommy."

"No our mother already knows. And Daddy's cleaning it up." With that said Kylie pulls out a tube that glows eerily in the room.

"What's that?" stutters Zoe.

"It's called Glow," smirks Junior. Pulling out a syringe Junior takes the tube turns it upside down filling the needle with the glowing liquid. Tapping the needle to relive the air inside he takes her arm and injects the substance into her.

"What's that gonna do?" whimpers Zoe.

"Nothing much," snickers Mouse "just let the ghosts out."

"Huh," questions Zoe.

"Your personal demons," clarifies Tracer "You don't have any abilities such as touch find, telekinesis, inner sense or empathic qualities so the drug will work on replaying your life but without you being in charge."

"So?" snickers Zoe.

"So your sister Katie is about to come back from the dead," sneers Junior "And every one else you have screwed over is going to pay you a visit."

"Consider it 'A Zoe Christmas," hisses Kylie.



The Tower Centre 10:45 P.M.

Stepping off the elevator he walked confidentially to the Tower. Pulling open the door he didn't expect to find Raines in the office staring out into space.

"What happened now?" he snaps.

Raines jumps in fright "Brother you're back."

"That part is obvious," growls Mr. Parker "So what happened? Did my daughter finally manage to catch Jarod?"

"No. Zoe, Lyle and Cox along with Miss Parker and Ms. Jones are in New York City. None of them has apprehend our missing pretenders," wheezes Raines "Plus we lost a hit on Margaret."

"That's not new," sighs Mr. Parker "The Margaret thing is. What else?"

"Zoe," clears her throat "Zoe arranged for Lyle and Cox to have some recreational fun."

"Recreational fun?" questions Mr. Parker.

"Yes," squeaks Raines.

"Whom with?" demands Mr. Parker.

"Jones," seeing Mr. Parker flinch "and Miss Parker."

"What?" shouts Mr. Parker "If she is hurt she may not return." Slams his fist on the desk "And if she doesn't return how are going to get her overlies?"

"I have dispatched Willie," stutters Raines.

"Have him bring my daughter to me," hisses Mr. Parker "Forget everything else."



The Lair New York 845 P.M.

"I'm in," gleeful states Tracer. Typing away furiously on her keyboard. "Ok, one way ticket for Lyle and Cox back to the Centre," mutters Tracer planting the info in the Centre mainframe, she stops looks up "Auh, Junior what about Zoe?"

"What about her?" asks Junior.

"Do I put in here that she's gone back to the Centre? Or what?"

"Neither," says Kylie as she walks toward Tracer. "I was thinking of doing a missing persons thing."

"No cuz then Jarod will go looking for her," Mouse dismisses.

"Mental ward," growls Block as he puts his arms around Kylie. The group nod in satisfaction. Tracer inputs the info then starts to look for a place to put Zoe in.

"Faircliff in Rochester?" questions Tracer, when everyone agrees she hacks into there system and gets Zoe a place in the psyche ward.

The group starts to argue on a course of treatment and what dieses Zoe has. Which leaves them laughing for hours.



Bell Tower The Bronx 830 P.M.

Walking away from the screams of Lyle and Cox, Miss Parker goes into the back. Pinching her nose she tries to clear her head. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she looks up into Jones's eyes.

"It's almost over," she whispers.

"Yeah, I know," mutters Miss Parker "Then what?"

"I don't know. I don't know," mutters Jones "You waiting for Scrapes right?"

"Yep, I want to make sure he understands that the debt from Texas is paid in full. I don't know when the last time I have seen Grim so happy. You either for that matter."

"Yeah, now all we need is for you to be happy," smiles Jones.

"Forget it!" snaps Miss Parker.

"Why?" questions Jones, "Because we're so close . or because you don't want to explain to or forgive Jarod?"

"A little of both," mutters Miss Parker "he's not one of us. He won't understand everything and I don't feel like explaining it to him."

"I agree that he's not of us," states Jones "but barring that Grim can explain everything .when he remembers everything."

"Now what?" questions Miss Parker.

"Wait for Scrapes," smirks "Then shop." The two-woman laugh as they head back inside.



Marriott suite 315 Times Squire 1130pm

With out turning on lights the individual the individual moves stealthily across the room. They go from the adjourning common room into Miss Parker's bedroom closing the door behind them. 'God, I just couldn't face Christmas at Blue Cove.' Walking over to the bed, she sat down with a sigh.

"We need to talk," she heard a voice say. Miss Parker leaped to her feet, turning around towards the voice. 'Not again.' She spotted him in a dark corner. "No we don't, Jarod."

Jarod steps forward slightly. "Yes, I think we do." 'She's all right, remain calm, she's all right.' Miss Parker remains silent, watching the pretender before her struggle for composure.

"Miss Parker... You have everyone worried. *Don't* say Centre business, we heard you," seeing her blank face "this afternoon the incident in the airport. Did Lyle hurt you?"

"You have got to be kidding me?" she hisses at him "Lyle hurt me?"

Watching Jarod flinch from her tone, Miss Parker got some satisfaction. Stepping back away from him she almost loses her balance. 'Shit I hope he didn't notice.'

She didn't notice his eyes widen then narrow as he quickly approached her. Wiping an arm around her waist Jarod hears her moan in pain then grimace when he pulls her close to him. "Didn't hurt you? Lyle, no I'm kidding," sarcastically Jarod says to Miss Parker.

"Enough," hisses Miss Parker as she tries to remove his arm only to have him maneuver her into the bathroom. Slamming the door, he locks it reaches over flicks on the light, looking her over Jarod notices little cuts and scraps on her face and hands.

"What did he do?" demands Jarod in a deadly quite voice. Looking at him in the mirror Miss Parker could see he is close to exploding.

"Nothing," she starts.

"Parker," growls Jarod his eyes flashing her a warning.

"Alright," growls Parker "I got jumped."

"By Lyle," hisses Jarod. Clenching her jaw Miss Parker refuses to answer.

"By Lyle," stresses Jarod lightly shaking Parker.

"Yes," she snaps at him trying to shrug off his hands.

"Just jumped?" questions Jarod as he watches her in the mirror "Parker," he growls, "Just jumped?" Watching her intently 'Damn it. It's like pulling teeth with a string.' He watches her face show her thoughts, 'forget this' grabbing her blouse he lifts it in the back.

He sees that her back is red, long cuts run up and down it. Purple, yellow and black bruises in the shape of fingers, his widen at the site. Shock shows on his face, "Damn him to hell," Jarod whispered "Parker what happened?"

Glancing up in the mirror Miss Parker saw Jarod looking at her back, 'shit and double shit' whipping around she forcefully pulled her shirt out of his hands and hisses "Nothing."

Glaring at him she expects him to argue with her but them predicting Jarod's reactions were not her strong suite. She watches Jarod run through a quick Simm of the situation, then shake his head.

Reaching behind his back Jarod unlocks the door, walking out of the bathroom and out of the bedroom. He doesn't say a thing. Miss Parker just stands there in shock watching Jarod just walk out of the room.

'Well that's not the way I though he would react.' Her eye starts to tear up 'damn him' she turns and grips the sink 'no more chances for genius.' Miss Parker struggles for breath as she fights back her tears. Feeling a gentle hand on her back Miss Parker quickly glances up into the mirror.

"Now lets see what has my son so upset," mutters Margaret as she lifts her shirt. Miss Parker turns and Emily in the room with her also. "Great just great.'

"Let's not," mutters Miss Parker as she tries to prevent Margaret from helping her. But Margaret is stronger then Miss Parker realizes because before she knew it she was half undressed.

"Miss Parker word of advise: Give it up," states Emily "mother is in one of her mothering moods, and from the looks of you, you could do with some mothering," as she draws a bath for Miss Parker. Margaret steps out of the bathroom and pulls out a change of clothing.

"I'm not really hurt," stresses Miss Parker "I have been hurt worse." Both women flinch from her honest words but keep working diligently at their goal.

"Doesn't matter," says Emily "You are still going to take a bath."

"And when your done doing that" mutters Margaret "You're going to tell us what is going on."

The two women cohere Miss Parker into the bath, not leaving her alone for a minute. Margaret and Emily make periodic reports to the men waiting outside in the common room

Miss Parker's thinks 'Help I think I need help.'



Marriott suite 315 Common room 12 P.M

Jarod is pacing the floor while his father watches him. "Jarod she safe. Margaret and Emily are in there as we speak taking care of her."

"I know that Dad," snaps Jarod; he grimaces turns to his father to apologize.

"No need," states Major "I would be doing the same if it was Margaret."

Holding out a soft drink to Jarod, Ethan says, "She is strong."

"Yes, Ethan's right. She will survive this too," says Syd as he too watches Jarod pace the floor.

"I'm just glad that Jason and Debbie are still sleeping," mutters Broots.



Marriott (Ms. Jones room) New York City 12 P.M

"Grim," snaps Jones.

"Megan," sighs Kyle as he pulls her down onto the bed "If you don't stop calling me Grim soon I will have to find a way to torture you slowly." He starts to kiss her neck, making his way up to her jawbone.

"Grim," whimpers Jones "I'm waiting for two very important phone calls."

"Hmm," mutters Kyle "I see you have decided to be tortured slowly," he continues to kiss until she submits under him. And starts to kiss him back.



Marriott suite 315 Common room 12:25 P.M

"Jarod," says Emily as she walks out of Miss Parker's bedroom "She still won't talk to us."

"Why don't I give it a try," suggests Syd as he walks towards Miss Parker's bedroom. For an instant Syd was afraid of what Jarod would do. He had never expected him to be this protective of Miss Parker. Jarod looked as if he wanted to try and stop him from entering her room.

Opening the door Syd knocks on the door before entering the room. Looking around he notices Miss Parker sitting in the corner chair with her feet under her.

Clearing his throat "Miss Parker."

"Sydney," smirks Miss Parker, he watches Margaret fret around her. Miss Parker's level of patience was wearing thin and it started to show. "Margaret I think Miss Parker and I need to talk alone," suggests Syd to Margaret. She glances back between the two and then leaves.

"Thank god," mutters Miss Parker "I don't think I could have taken any more tonight."

"Miss Parker," starts Syd "Everyone is worried."

"I know that," says Miss Parker.

"You can't keep this bottled inside you," Syd says as he sits down "Rape is not something you should have to handle alone. I am here for you to talk to."

"Syd *nothing* happened," stresses Miss Parker.

"Can you explain the cuts and bruises on your back," questions Syd.

"Yes," snaps Miss Parker "I was jumped. That's it. Nothing more."

"Now Miss Parker," stresses Syd "getting upset or acting like it didn't happen will not change it. You need to talk your way ."

"Get out," snaps Miss Parker "NOW Syd." Getting up she grabs him by his arm and drags him to the door. Opening the door she shoves him out. Glaring at the group in the common room Miss Parker shouts, "Nothing happened. Got that. Nothing." Then slams her bedroom door.

Grabbing the phone of the desk her punches in the number for Jones's room waiting for her to pick it up Miss Parker starts to pace.

"Speak."

"Jones get up here," growls Miss Parker "Before I kill them all."

"Them all?" questions Jones.

"Yeah, every single freaking one of them," then slams down the phone to blow off steam.



Marriott (Ms. Jones room) New York City 12:30 P.M

The phone is ring registers in her brain, pushing really hard Jones gets Kyle to move enough so she can answer it.

"Speak," she says breathlessly. 'Damn it, what is it Raines.'

"Jones get up here," growls Miss Parker "Before I kill them all." 'What now.'

"Them all?" questions Jones. 'Who?'

"Yeah, every single freaking one of them," hearing the phone slam, Jones listens to the dial tone for a minute before putting the phone down. The words 'every single freaking one' thinking for a minute 'shit she means..'

"Ah, honey," Jones starts causing Kyle to immediately stop what he's doing.

"What did you do?" growls Kyle.

Swallowing hard "It's not what I did, ahmm, it's more like what I didn't tell you."

"Megan," growls Kyle.



Marriott suite 315 Common room 12:35 P.M

The elevator dings outside the suite, everyone in the suite tenses up. There is a knock at the door, Sam goes over and looks throw the spy hole.

"It's Jones," he whispers.

"Open the god damn door Sam," bellows Jones causing Sam to jump. "Now," she snaps. Reacting without thought he opens the door. Pushing it aside Jones walks though it. Looking at the shocked expressions on the Charles family face's Jones smirks.

"Speak," she snaps at them.

"What are you doing here," stutters Broots. Jones looks at him in mild confusion.

"Trust the geek to ask," amazed says Jones as she walks towards Miss Parker room "Parker it's me open up. Grim get you lily white ass in here."

"Grim!" shouts Jarod "Who's Grim."

"What the fuck!" snaps Jones prowling toward Jarod "How do you know about Grim?" Jarod backs away from her quickly, raising his hands into the air.

"I uh, overheard you talking to Parker at the airport," mutters Jarod. Seeing Jones narrow her eyes dangerously.

"Megan," growls Kyle as he walks into the suite "go see what Parker wants." The whole room goes eerily quite as the Charles family absorbs the fact that Kyle was alive. Each member shocked into silence, no one moves but stares at Kyle as he closes the door.

"Sure hubby," Jones sneers, "whatever you say."

**************************************************************** More to come Dream