Disclaimer: The Pretender characters don't belong to me. They belong to NBC and MTM etc. But definitely don't belong to me. No infringement is implied etc. etc. However Liza and Ali , and Evan's personality belong to me.

Author's note: This part takes place 10 days after part 3 ends MP and J are still in Chicago. Lyle, Sydney and Broots are still in California. The tourist places they visit in Chicago and in California are real places to visit. Everything else is the product of my imagination including any other companies and complications the characters run into. Also for any Non- American readers CST is 6 hours behind GMT and PST is 8 hours and EST is 5.

Authors Note 2: First I want to say Thanks to all those who reviewed. Sorry this took so long. Please don't hate me for the whammy in this one. I never claimed to be a saint. Also Huge Thanks to KB, who gave me the courage to run with this. And Thunderchild for being a great beta reader. Couldn't have done it without you two.Thanks also to parkergirl69@hotmail.com for all your encouragement.

Feed back wanted tigereyes320@hotmail.com
My Dearest Angel By tigereyes320 Part 4a of 5

Day 15 Chicago, IL Jarod's Condo

"Momma, are you awake?" Evan asked sitting on his mother's bed.

Miss Parker mumbled into her pillow.

"MOMMA!" Evan yelled in her ear, now jumping up and down on the bed.

"WHAT! Wh-What's wrong Evan?" Parker asked loudly opening her eyes in the still dark bedroom. "What time is it? Evan why aren't you in bed?" she struggled to clear her mind of the sleepiness.

"Momma, I hungwy." Evan answered with a dimpled smile. "Can you fix me sumpin to eat?"

Parker shook her head. 'He has no idea how much he looks like his father with that smile' She leaned over to check the clock that was beside the bed. Jarod wasn't on his side of the bed. She shook her head hoping he hadn't gone without sleep again last night. He was so exhausted, from working with Ethan on all the DNA stuff, sorting through the papers they both got from her father, and still showing Evan a good time in Chicago. "Evan!" she groaned. "Baby it is barely 6 o'clock. Let's sleep for about another hour, or two, or even three. Then I'll get up and fix you breakfast. Ok?" she asked.

"Oh-tay. Can you tuck me in Momma?" Evan held out his arms to her.

Parker drew him in close. She'd never tire of this sweet smelling baby smell, or the arms that wrapped around her so confident that she'd protect him. Parker felt a tug on her heart. 'Maybe Jarod's right about me being a good mom. I could definitely get used to having a couple of more around the house. I could even deal with the idea of gaining lots of weight and going through labor.' Parker felt Evan's breathing even out against her neck, telling her, her boy was asleep. She held him close, as she climbed out of the bed. "Let's put you back in your own bed." She went to his bedroom and put him back in his bed and tucked the covers around him. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. Parker then left his room, closing the door behind him. She was about to go back to the bedroom she'd been sharing platonically with Jarod when she saw a light in the living room. Parker walked down the hall to the living room to find Jarod asleep at his laptop. He was in the pajama bottoms he liked to sleep in. Parker deduced that he must have gotten up in the middle of the night, and rather then disturb her with his restlessness, came out and did some work. She glanced at the screen. It had a message saying sorting completed. Parker gave Jarod's shoulder a shake. "Wh-What's going on?" Jarod sleepily stretched and cracked a wide yawn. "'Scuse me. Evie? Did I wake you?"

"No, Your son did. He's in his bed asleep. Why don't you follow his example? Save the stuff that you were working on and let's go back to bed. There's nothing it could say, that we can't deal with in the morning." Parker said rubbing his shoulder as she stood behind him at the desk.

"We have our answer's Evie. We know who belongs with whom. The laptop just finished sorting the DNA results." Jarod informed her.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow. Jarod you haven't been sleeping enough. You're exhausted. Let's go to bed, get some more sleep. The results will still be there in a couple of hours. Come on." Parker took his hand and tugged it a bit.

"Ok. Let me just save the info and back it up. Your son has a tendency to delete my files." Jarod teased.

"My son?! No-no-no-no you mean your son, who is know taking after his father and waking up his mother at some ungodly hour." Parker playfully bantered back as she walked across the room.

Jarod stood after saving the file and backing it up twice. He locked the second copy away in the desk where Evan couldn't get to it. Parker waited by the hallway. When she saw he was following her, she went back to Jarod's room and climbed into the bed. She felt rather then saw Jarod join her. Parker turned and spooned herself into his back, putting her arms around him. Jarod relaxed closing his eyes and falling back asleep. Soon after she felt Jarod fall asleep. Parker joined him in a dreamland, that wouldn't have the revelations their real world would have in a few hours.

The Beverly Hills Hotel Los Angeles, CA Lyle's Room

Lyle shot up in the bed as the dream faded. He sat up in the bed and waited until his breathing pattern returned to normal. He'd been having more and more dreams about his mother, sister and the rest of his family, since he told Sydney about them. He got out of bed and went into the bathroom. He turned on the light and leaned over the sink. Lyle turned the water on, and cupped his hands to hold the water and splashed some on his face. He took the towel and dried his face off. As he looked into the mirror he sighed. "You know something Catherine, I really hope I'm not your son. I hate to think that I could come from the same place Parker does." Lyle shook his head at his reflection. As he left the bathroom he turned off the light. He climbed back into bed and turned over on his side. 'I wonder how Parker and Jarod are getting on?' Then for a moment he thought of what it would be like to have someone waiting at home for him. Wanting him to walk through the door, and say 'Honey, I'm home.' Lyle gave himself a mental shake. 'Even if I come out of this alive. I can't offer anyone any kind of life. Not after all I've done and seen.' As he began to drift back off, Lyle thought 'I'll ask Sydney what he thinks.'

Jarod's Condo Chicago, IL @3 hours later

Jarod rolled over to see bits of sunlight streaming into the room. He reached over for Parker but found her side of the bed empty. When he became more aware of his surroundings, he heard Evan's giggling coming from the kitchen as well as murmurs of a conversation between Ethan and Parker mingling with the giggles. Jarod tossed back the covers and went into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later Jarod exited his bedroom still rubbing his hair dry with a towel. "Daddy! We habbing pancakes for bwekfast." Evan beamed through his syrup covered face.

"Good morning big brother. Can I get you some food or coffee?" Ethan offered as he was standing by the stove getting some more coffee himself.

"That would be great. Thanks. Did you or Evie cook?"

"Trying to say something about my cooking monkey-boy" Parker asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No. Not me, after all what can one say about your cooking?"

"Nothing if they want to continue breathing."

When there was a knock on the door, it startled everyone but Evan who was still eating his pancakes. Out of habit, Parker out of habit reached for her gun which wasn't sitting at her back; Jarod looked around the room quickly for an escape route the same as Ethan.

The three adults calmed slightly when they heard a voice from the other side of the door. "Jarod are you in there, we have to talk, son."

Jarod ran to the door and opened it. He enveloped the gray-haired man who was standing on the opposite side in a massive hug. "Dad! I didn't know you were coming. Come in. How are Emily and the boy? What is he calling himself now?"

"I don't know son he changes it every week. Hello Ethan, Miss Parker."

"Hello Major Charles. Please help yourself to coffee and breakfast."

"GWAMPA!" Evan hollered braking the ice very neatly for all.

"Well , who do we have hear?" Charles crossed the room to the highchair Evan was sitting in. "You must be Evan. You have your mommy's eyes and your daddy's smile. That must make you my grandson."

"Yep." Evan smiled.

"I can't wait for your mother to see him, Jarod." Major Charles said as he turned to look at his son.

"Mom? You've found Mom? I haven't seen her since I, or rather we missed her on the Isle of Carthis. Is she ok?" Jarod asked the questions so fast they ran over each other.

"She's fine son. Ethan told me where you were staying. She's going to try and meet us here in a few days. She can help us get rid of the Centre as we know it."

"Mom. . . is coming here? I get to see her?" Jarod asked hesitantly, scared that if he let his hopes get too high again, just to have them dashed.

Parker put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Jarod automatically reached up to cover her hand and gave it an answering squeeze. Major Charles caught the byplay of actions out of the corner of his eye. He kept his thoughts and his worries to himself. He looked up and saw Parker looking at him with a raised eyebrow. 'She knows exactly what I'm thinking.' He gave her a nod.

"Daddy see Mommy? Mommy wight here Daddy." Evan said.

"No Evan, not your Mommy. My Mom. Your Grandma." Jarod gently explained.

"Oh-tay." Evan said fisting up the last of his pancakes and shoving them into his mouth.

"Evan! We're going to have to talk about table manners, if you keep eating like your Daddy." Parker said shaking her head in dismay.

"Oh-tay Mommy." Evan agreed around his mouthful of pancakes. "That's ok Evan. At your age you can get away with eating like that. It's us adults that can't." Major Charles said as he walked over to the sink and accepted the cup of coffee that Parker had poured him. "By the way Jarod, Emily is almost through physical therapy, they are expecting her to make a full recovery. You can visit her now. She asked that you come by when you had a chance. She'll probably be at the rehabilitation center for another month." Charles said as he sat down next to Evan and let the boy share his toast with him.

"I'll try to see her soon. Parker and I have some test results to deal with, and we need to let Sydney and Lyle know about the results." Jarod said expecting a reaction from his father, he didn't have to wait for it.

"Lyle! That piece of lying, conniving, deceitful, son of a b-gun." Charles stopped himself before saying something worse in front of Evan. "He shot your brother. Your mother and I'll never see Kyle again because of him. You want to give him information? Why?"

"It's complicated Major." Parker answered for Jarod. "Jarod and I don't trust Lyle either. However, new information has come up concerning our past, all of our pasts. Before we make any move on the Centre I, We have to know everything. Lyle is a part of that."

"Fine. I can't tell either of you what to do you're adults. Just watch your back with him. I don't trust him any further then I can throw a semi- truck." Charles said.

"Major, Since Ethan, Jarod and I are going to need to go over the results. Why don't you take Evan in an hour or so down to the exercise club, they have in the building. They've got a swimming pool that Evan loves. I'm going to grab a shower and get changed. I'll leave you gentlemen to figure it out." Parker walked past Evan's highchair to be the recipient of a maple syrupy kiss. "You listen to Daddy, Uncle Ethan and Grandpa. You understand?"

"Yes Momma. I wisten weal good. I pwomise." Evan said giving his mother an innocent look he could only have gotten from his father. She shook her head with a groan and went down the hall, to get herself ready for the day.

The Beverly Hills Hotel Los Angeles, CA The Dinning Room of the Restaurant.

"Good morning Sydney, Broots. Sleep well?" Lyle asked as he came to the table and sat down with them. He signaled the waitress. "Coffee, Black, scrambled eggs, bacon, and whole wheat toast please." After the waitress nodded and took the order he continued, "Have you heard from them yet?"

"No Word yet, Mr. Lyle." Broots said. "Do you know where we are supposed to be looking for Jarod today or are we able to rest after everywhere else he has had us look?"

"I think after everywhere he's had us go in the last ten days we deserve a break. You two can do whatever you like today. Just don't tell the tower I said so."

"Well look at where he has sent us and what we've had to look for." Sydney said. "Jarod obviously had this planned for sometime. He wanted us busy and out of his hair for a long time."

"What was your first clue, Sydney? The fact that; First, we had to search all of Chinatown, in San Francisco, just to have him send us to Disneyland. Second, we had to go through the whole park and get on how many different rides to get the clue, that he left us in the Haunted Mansion that brought us to Hollywood. Third, we then had to climb to the top of the Hollywood sign, to get the next clue, which led us to the Los Angeles Zoo. The Fourth clue we found in the Reptile house, that brought us back to the Hollywood. Where the Fifth clue took us on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. We found that clue and that led us to number six in our clues . . . Where again did that sixth clue lead us?" Broots said as he ticked off each of the destinations they had been at, in the last 10 days, on his fingers.

"It led us to Mann's Chinese Theatre, where all the hand prints and footprints of the stars are. You're also forgetting our side trip to the Santa Monica Pier. " Lyle said. "Oh yeah, The theatre is where Jarod booby-trapped that block of cement. When you stepped on it you became stuck there for four hours while it played . . . What song did it play? Oh yeah it played a montage of Disney songs especially 'It's a Small World after All." Broots grinned at the memory, and then cut the smile quickly. Lyle had been in a better mood in the past two weeks then Broots had ever seen before, but he wasn't about to push his luck. He stole a glance at Sydney who was also struggling to keep a straight face. "Sydney, how was dinner with your son and his girlfriend?" he asked to get the conversation moving in a different direction.

Sydney swallowed his own laughter at the picture Lyle made stuck to the concrete while the songs played for four solid hours. "Dinner, was fine Broots. Ali is a lovely young woman. She's about the same age as Nicholas, with an incredible sense of humor. She'll definitely be keeping Nicholas on his toes." Sydney paused as the waitress set down Lyle's food. She turned and put a plate of food on the next table in front of a pleasant looking blonde woman. "Could I have some more Coffee please?" Sydney asked before the waitress left, who nodded. "Ali teaches American History at Nicholas' college. She's also going for her Doctorate in Theatre. She has a Master's in Education. Nicholas confided in me that he's planning to buy her a ring this week. They both want to start their family while they are young. If all goes well, this time next year I could be a grandfather. Michelle is ecstatic at the idea of being a grandmother. Once he gets married Lyle, I'm cutting back on my time at the Centre. I'm sixty-eight years old, I need to think about retiring." he waited to see what Lyle's reaction would be.

Lyle looked at Sydney. He knew they expected him to become mean again, become Lyle again. He put down his fork, "Whatever you want to do I'll support you. Maybe we could cut you down to three days a week, say Tuesday through Thursday, you could then spend Friday through Monday in Albany. We'll work it out." Lyle said as he popped a bite of toast into his mouth.

They sat companionably at the table finishing their food. Twenty minutes later as they stood up to pay the check. Sydney's phone rang.

"This is Sydney "

"Sydney it's Jarod. Don't say my name, you could be being watched. We have the results. I'll give you ten minutes to get somewhere a little more secure and call you right back" Jarod said shortly and then hung up.

"Yes Michelle, I understand, I'll see how quickly I can get away. I'll call you in an hour with my final arrangements." Sydney acted as if he were still on the call.

Lyle and Broots were still there looking at him. With a nod of his head, Sydney motioned them to continue out of the restaurant. They paid the bill on the way out.

After they left, neither of the trio noticed the blonde that was sitting at the table next to them, leave money for her own bill, and followed them out of the restaurant, careful to have enough distance between her and the three men. While the blonde followed behind them discreetly, she removed a cell phone from her pocket. "I'm following them now."

Ten minutes later. Broots Room The Beverly Hills Hotel

As Sydney's phone rang again, he quickly answered. "Jarod?" He held the phone away so Lyle and Broots could hear the conversation.

"How soon can you three get to Chicago. I also need you to get Debbie, Nicholas and Michelle here. If you are here having a small break it is a little more believable." Jarod asked.

"I'll have to check with Lyle, I'll call you on Miss Parker's line within the hour. If Nicholas comes, he'll probably want to bring his fiancée."

"We'll work it all out Sydney. I have our answers. We just need to make sure all the questions have been asked. I'll talk to you soon."

As soon as Sydney disconnected his call, Lyle's phone rang, making Broots jump. Lyle's phone ringing could only mean Raines was calling about something.

"This is Lyle." he paused "Hello Dad!" he said sarcastically. "Yes we're still looking for Jarod. He obviously set us up on some huge goose chase. I doubt he was here at all except to set up the pranks. You what? I don't have time for this. Fine! I said Fine! Send her out She can finish this goose chase. I have a personal errand to run so I'll be out of touch for the next few days. Of course I'll leave the sweepers and the jet at the woman's disposal. When can I expect her? What?! Yes I'll see you back in Blue cove in a few days. Since I'm taking a few days. I'm letting Sydney and Broots spend some time with their families as well. See you then." Lyle cut Raines off in mid diatribe. Lyle paced back and forth in the room for a few minutes before he relayed what Raines had wanted. "Raines has hired a new member for our team. She'll be meeting us in the lobby in fifteen minutes."

"What new member?" Sydney asked perplexed.

"Someone Raines found who will finish our little goose chase for us. It gives us enough time to meet in Chicago. What we will do is fly from here to Blue Cove. The layover spot is in Cleveland. When we layover we simply won't meet the connecting flight. We then get flights to Chicago using cash and fictitious names. Sydney call Jarod back and let him know the latest version of events. Tell him we'll be in Chicago possibly tonight, at the latest tomorrow. We'll arrive at different times on different flights. We should all be there by tomorrow morning at the latest. I'm going downstairs to meet our newest recruit." with that Lyle pivoted on his heel and walked out of Broots' room.

Broots and Sydney watched him leave apprehensively. "I don't like this Sydney. The last time we got a new member, it was Brigitte, you remember how well that turned out."

"I know. I'm more worried about Lyle right now. He's at a crossroads in his life. He can remain on the same destructive path that will get him killed by Jarod, Miss Parker, or the Centre. Whereas, he could go the other way and attempt to redeem himself for what he's done in the past, in which case the Centre could still try to kill him. I don't know how good this new recruit is going to be for Lyle either. We'll have to wait and see. Broots go down and meet her. I'll call Jarod and let him in on the plan."

"Okay Sydney." Broots left as well.

Meanwhile Down in the Lobby

Lyle walked off the elevator with a lot more confidence then what he felt. He looked around the lobby trying to locate the woman Raines had mentioned. 'Okay I'm looking for a blonde, what is it with him and Blondes anyway. Well built hmmm.'

"Mr. Lyle I presume?" a throaty voice behind him asked.

He turned and saw a very lovely woman in front of him. Brigitte had been good looking, but there had always been an air of desperate hunger about her. This woman had no such air. She like Parker was all class. She looked to be around 5'7", a dark blonde with brighter highlights and eyes the color of a stormy sea, changeable according to her mood. She was almost too lovely to be working for the Centre "Yes, I'm Mr. Lyle. The other members of the team will be down to meet you in a few moments. I'm sorry, you are?"

"Nichols. Elizabeth Nichols. You may call me Liza." Liza said this with an air of permission from mistress to servant.

"Liza, how long have you worked for the Centre? Do you have a family? I ask this because you'll be out on the coast for about a week. I want to be sure your mind will be on the job ahead of you." Lyle asked as the voices that were in his dreams suddenly found their voice and were telling him 'She's not what she appears to be, be careful!'

"Awful lot of questions Mr. Lyle, Especially considering that the corporation we work for is known for its secrets." Liza said raising her left eyebrow at him questioningly. "To answer your questions in order: I've worked for the Centre less then a week. I've two children, they are at a private school during the week, home with me on the weekends. Right now they are each attending a second summer camp, my daughter an Art Camp, my son a Music Camp. Nothing gets in the way of me doing my job Mr. Lyle. Nothing." Liza repeated quietly and with firmness.

"I simply like to know what my people do in their spare time, Liza. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that." Lyle explained, not sure what to make of this new team member.

"My life is an open book, Sir. I just keep my children from my work. With their father dead I'm all they have. Is the rest of team going to be joining us?" Liza asked as she looked around for the elusive members of the team.

"Yes, they will be down in just a few moments. Why don't I see what's keeping them?" Lyle turned on his heel and went to the concierge's desk to use the phone to call Broots room.

While his back was turned Liza pulled out a cellular phone and hit a few number to activate a speed dial. She glanced back to where Lyle was on the phone. When the phone stopped ringing, she jumped in without preamble. "I'm on the team. Everything is going exactly as planned. No he hasn't a clue. Lyle will be the problem. I think he's suspicious, Yes I know what I have to do. You just make sure Raines doesn't get involved. He shoots first and never bothers to ask questions." Liza quickly disconnected the call and slipped the phone in her pocket, as she heard Lyle's footsteps approach.

"Sorry that took so long. After I left Sydney got a phone call he had to take. Could I persuade you to go into the lounge, maybe have some coffee and croissants while we wait for them to join us." Lyle offered as gallantly as he could manage. Meanwhile his internal senses were on red alert. Lyle wasn't sure if it was because he was positive she was hiding something, or if it was because he was so incredibly attracted to her. He felt like an animal that had just gotten his first whiff of his chosen mate in heat. He had never heeded these senses before, but this time he didn't think it would be wise to ignore them. He shook his head to try and clear it. "I'm sorry, shall we? Lyle asked as he gestured toward the doorway of the restaurant.

"You're the boss. Mr. Lyle" Liza said in frosty tone as she allowed him to propel her into the restaurant. 'How could she be so attracted to this man within minutes of meeting him. This was really weird. Fortunately I know his taste run to petite dark and of Asian descent'

"There's the rest of the team. Sydney! Broots!"

When they came over Liza rose and coolly shook each gentleman's hand as they were introduced.

"Well," Lyle said rubbing his hands together. "Let's bring you up to speed on Jarod, what we've found so far and what you'll be expected to do until you return to the Centre in a week and meet up with all of us including my sister, who is the team leader, for now anyway." Lyle tried to imply in his tone that he would have no problem walking over his sister should the need arise.

"Let's get started then." Liza said as she made a mental measure of each man and filed it in her memory banks for later use. Her eyes met Lyle's across the table, she could have sworn she saw fireworks.

Chicago, IL Jarod's Apartment A couple of hours later

Miss Parker stood, with her arms crossed in front of her, looking out the window. She saw people and traffic as they rushed to and from work. The book she had been trying to read was abandoned on the sofa. She felt Jarod behind her and she allowed herself a small grin. "What did Sydney want?"

"Just to tell us there is a new member of the team. They should all be in Chicago by late tonight. I'm putting them up at the Palmer House, on the Centre's dime of course." Jarod smiled at the thought.

"Of course. Wait a minute. What new team member?" Parker asked worriedly.

"Sydney said a new woman has joined the team. They are about to go and meet her. When they get in they'll tell us more. It sounds to me like she might be some piece of work." Jarod said as he put his hands on her shoulders and lightly began kneading the tightly clenched muscles. "You need to relax Evie." He said as massaged the tension he knew she always had there.

Parker took a deep breath and allowed herself to relax, for a few moments, as his fingers worked like magic against the tension always found in her neck and shoulders. When he finished she leaned into him and they both watched the city from their perch for a little while.

They were still standing there thirty minutes later when Evan, Ethan, and Major Charles walked in to the room.

"Momma, Daddy!" Evan shouted as he ran toward them and threw his arms around their legs with all the gale force of a tornado. "I went swimming wif Gwampa and Unca Etan!"

"What are you doing back so soon?" Jarod asked as he picked Evan up.

"I hungwy Daddy." Evan said with such a puppy dog expression, you'd never have known he stuffed himself full just a few hours ago. "It wunchtime and I want pizza! Pweeze?"

"He definitely inherited your penchant for junk food." Parker said shaking her head at the two of them.

"Hey! You'd have my penchant for junk food to if you had, had to eat all those nutritional supplements and wheat-grass shakes for thirty plus years." Jarod retorted back.

"I suppose that could be true." Parker told him as she stretched her arms out to Evan. "Let's go get you changed."

"I'll do it sis, I have to get changed anyway." Ethan offered.

Jarod put Evan down. As he reached for his Uncle's hand, Evan turned back to his mother and asked "Momma, Can I watch cawtoons?"

"Not until after you change your clothes, and only until lunch arrives." Parker said with mock severity.

"Oh-tay! Les go Unca Etan. C'mon!" Evan said pulling his uncle toward his room.

"Ok, OK! I'm coming." Ethan said laughingly as let himself be tugged from the living room.

Major Charles shook his head as he watched his grandson order his son around. He glanced back at Jarod and wondered if she realized he still had his arm draped over her shoulders. "Do you two want to order the food? Or should I?" he asked.

"Dad go ahead and get cleaned up. Evie and I can order lunch."

"See you two in a bit."Major Charles said as he went into Ethan's room to change.

"Jarod," Parker complained as she followed him into the kitchen. "I'm really not in the mood for pizza."

"How about this Italian place? They have pizza as well as different kinds of dishes. I know you aren't as big of fan of pizza as Evan and I are." Jarod asked as he held up a take-out menu.

Parker shook her head, 'It's uncanny how well he knows me.' "I'm in the mood for something rich. How about some Fettucini Alfredo with grilled chicken and broccoli. I'll go down to the gym laterm and work it off." she said.

"You got it. Do you want me to have them include a salad?" Jarod asked as his fingers punched in the number.

Parker left the kitchen as Jarod placed the order, she went over to the window again and resumed her observation of the city. She heard rather then saw Major Charles come into the room behind her. "Enjoying the view?" he asked.

"It's hard to believe to believe that in less then a week, I have to go back to. . .that place. When I get back, I have to make everyone believe I not only want to catch the father of my son, but that I despise him as well." Parker paused as she put her hand up to the cool glass, it seemed to steady her, as she continued, "I don't know what to do! If I attempt in any way not to do my job they'll threaten Evan. I don't want my son to grow up as I did, without a mother. I've given Jarod instructions that if anything happens to me, he's to get Evan out of there, no matter what. I'll need a favor from you, if that happens." Parker requested quickly, before she could lose her nerve.

"What favor do you need Eve?" Charles asked.

"If something happens to me. You'll make sure Evan is taken care of. I know Jarod will be there for him, but raising a toddler by himself. I need to know that you and your family will be there for him. Telling him about me and his grandmother, my mom."

"Eve, I swear to you, Evan will always be looked after." Charles watched as Parker slowly nodded to herself, as if checking off something on her to do list. "Any particular reason, that you want to share with me why you think you won't make it?" He was concerned, Jarod and Ethan had told him she had Catherine's Inner Sense.

"No specific reason, just the feeling of someone walking over my grave. The voices, her voice in particular, keep telling me everything will be fine. The potential, though, for it all blow up in our face has always been there. It's going to come down to one person coming through whether or not we succeed in taking down the Centre, or should I say take it over." Parker allowed herself a smile when she said, "I'm sure Jarod has a plan B, C, and even a D, E, and F if necessary. I do think one of us isn't coming out of this alive."

"Do you have any idea who it might be?" Charles felt a hand clutch at his heart.

"No. I don't even know if I'm right, but I swear to you it will not be Jarod." Parker said in her iciest voice.

The Beverly Hills Hotel Los Angeles, CA @ 11:30 a.m. PST

Sydney had finished his packing and was just about to close the suitcase when there was a knock on his door. He paused what he was doing to walk over and answer it to reveal Broots.

"Hey Sydney. You ready to go?" Broots asked as he walked into the room with his own bag.

"I'm almost done. What do you think of Ms. Nichols, Broots?" Sydney asked as he went back to the bed to close and lock his suitcase.

"Honestly? I think Lyle has the hots for her. I could see the attraction from where I was. I think she has it in spades for him as well." Broots walked over to the window so he could see smogged Los Angeles. "I think they both got a case of hot and heavy lust. I get the feeling thought that there might be something more beneath it all. I highly doubt that either of them would admit to be anything other then lust." Broots insightfully remarked as he turned from the window to look at Sydney.

"I agree. It is fascinating to observe Lyle in this kind of situation. I don't think he's ever had that kind of animal attraction hit him like this. I'm done." Sydney said as he snapped the suitcase shut. "We had better get ready to meet him downstairs." Sydney walked to the door and waited for Broots to grab his bag and follow him out the door. "I'll tell you one thing Sydney. I wouldn't want to be the person who comes between those two. The last time I saw sparks like that was when Thomas came by The Centre and Miss Parker met him by Security. Even though she had supposedly dumped him that charge of electricity was there. I wonder where the two of them ended up after that 2 hour long get to know you session we had downstairs." Broots said as he and Sydney walked to the elevators after shutting the hotel room door.

"I'm sure they went somewhere to work out their differences of opinion." Sydney said as the elevator slid open and they stepped on.

Lyle's Hotel Room The Beverly Hills Hotel Same Time

Lyle stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't remember ever being in such seeming peace before. Even if he did think he had probably just made one of the most unwise decisions in his life. 'I really should be getting up and getting dressed if I'm going to meet Sydney and Broots downstairs in.' he glanced at his watch the was lying on the end table by the bed, ' in about 20 minutes.' He glance at the woman who was in the bed beside him snuggled into the warmth his body heat let off. He reached over to the phone and pushed the button for the reception desk.

"This is Mr. Lyle tell my party when they ask, that I'm running late. I should be down in about 30 minutes. Thank you." Lyle said as he hung up the phone. As he did the woman beside him murmured as she became more coherent.

"Mmmmmm" Liza purred as sat up holding the sheet modestly to her breasts affording Lyle a nice view of the long line of her back.. She twisted her head and looked him in the eyes. Lyle reached over to cup her jaw with his hand. He pulled her toward him and kissed her softly on the lips.

Liza looked at him as they pulled apart. "Lyle. . .You're regretting this aren't you?" she asked mildly disturbed at his reaction upon waking up.

"I don't usually jump into bed with someone I've known barely 6 hours." Liza said a bit perturbed thought she couldn't have said at who she was perturbed at.

"I'm not saying you do Liza. It's just that," Lyle broke off as he spooned his body behind hers and wrapped his arms around her linking their hands in front of her. He then continued, "I have done stuff like this before, and I'm not particularly proud of that. In the past I acted before I thought and I hurt a lot of people. I don't want to hurt you. I like you, Liza. I'm obviously attracted you." Lyle let go of one of her hands to slide his finger up and down her arm. Slender but strong he thought. "Liza, we just had the most incredible sex I've been privileged to take part in. But, we work for the Centre, a place that doesn't inspire happy and loyal feelings. Honestly Liza I don't know if I trust you." Lyle was surprised how quickly she rolled away from him and jumped off the bed. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back on to the bed and under him. He put his hand on either side of her face as he tried to avoid her fists. "LIZA!" Lyle shouted to get her attention.

Liza looked at him with eyes full of hurt and a shimmer of tears.

Lyle put his arms around her and rolled over so that she was sprawled over his chest. He held her for just a few minutes savoring the feel of her against him. He moved again so that they were lying side by side. He wanted to see her face when he said the rest of what he had to say. "Liza, I didn't say that to hurt you . We are both over the age of 18 and are consenting adults. We both decided to come back her and do this. I am not blaming or accusing you. I'm here because wanted to be here and I wanted you. I guess I'm asking where if anywhere do we go from here?"

Liza reached out and stroked Lyle's face, tracing all the angles found there."I don't know. I really didn't expect this. How about, for right now, we just pretend this is a moment out of time. When we're both back in Blue Cove, we can discuss this like the reasonable, mature adults I know we are." Liza said as she cupped his face in her hands and pulled it closer to her own.

"Absolutely! We can be reasonable mature adults." Lyle agreed as he pressed soft kisses along her jaw as she moved and was beneath him again.

"Didn't I hear something about you having to meet Sydney and Broots in about 15 minutes." Liza said as her breath caught in her chest as Lyle continued pressing kisses against her skin moving slowly down her neck.

Lyle looked at her with what could only be a wicked grin. "I guess I'm going to bea little late."

"I guess you will." Liza said as she drew her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers.

Meanwhile. . . Lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel

Sydney and Broots waited by the checkout desk. Sydney looked pointedly at his watch for what was seemingly the tenth time in as many minutes.

"This is unlike Lyle. He's rarely if ever late." Sydney said as he sat down next to Broots who was calmly reading a MAD magazine.

"Did you ask the person at the desk if he left us a message?" Broots asked absentmindly as he read.

"No I didn't." Sydney replied.

He got up and waited patiently for the receptionist at the desk to finish checking in the couple in front of him. When they took their leave. He stepped up and asked her "Has Mr. Lyle in suite 5A checked out yet?"

"Let me check that for you sir." she said. "Mr Lyle called down about 10 minutes ago saying he was running late and should be down in about 30 minutes. Would you like me to ring his room, Sir?" the question was politely asked.

"No, thank you. We'll just wait for him over here. Thank you for checking." Sydney said as he turned back to Broots. "Lyle will be down stairs in a half an hour."

Broots raised his eyes from his magazines. His eyebrows followed. "I wonder what could be holding him up? Or should I wonder 'who' could be holding him up?" he asked with a grin haunting the corners of his mouth.

Sydney fought to keep his own expression straight not quite succeeding considering the way his mouth kepttwitching into a smile. "Broots, just because we suspect something. Does not make it true."

"Point taken. So what's Jarod's plan for us?" Broots asked as he changed the line of conversation.

Sydney took a deep breath and sat back down beside Broots. After quickly looking around them to make sure noone could overhear them. "We're all flying back to Blue Cove. From there the three of us split up. I'm flying to Albany ostensibly to spend time with Michelle and Nicholas. I'm actually picking them up with Ali and we're flying to New York City and then we are flying to Chicago. You and Debbie will be flying from Blue Cove to Washington D.C. to Nashville amd then to Indianapolis and then driving from there to Chicago. Jarod has us all staying at the Palmer House under an alias. We pick up identification and the plane tickets with the same fake names. Lyle will go from Blue Cove to Atlanta to Dallas to Milwaukee and then he'll be driving to Chicago as well. Do you have the laptops in a secured location?" Sydney asked.

"Yeah. I stored them when I was in Chicago the last time and gave Miss Parker the samples. Why am I bringing Debbie for only a few days?"

"Because when you usually have a few days off you two go and do something together. Not taking her would raise a flag we don't want raised flags. It's also why I'm taking Michelle, Nicholas and Alli with me."

"So how much longer until Lyle is done. I mean until he is expected." Broots grimaced at the unintentional double entendre

"Probably 15-20 minutes." Sydney replied ignoring the double meaning of Broots' words.

"So what do we do until then?"

"We wait."

Chicago, IL Jarod's Condo @ 1:00 p.m. CST

After eating and putting Evan down for a nap. Ethan decided to go explore some of down Chicago. Major Charles decided to accompany him.

Eve and Jarod sat in front of his computer going over all of the notes and plans for taking over The Centre.

"Is it going to be enough, Jarod?" Parker asked hesitantly.

"The Centre has always used its unlimited resources to do its intimidation routine. If we take away the sources that make up the resources, we'll take away its leverage. We transfer that leverage to our side and take the Centre over. If we agree to honor all current contracts and in the future only take those we want to. Those who want results and want to know how we get them. We also let all those who want to leave, leave. Those 'residents' who want to stay or need to thanks to Raines and his experiments don't have a home to go to, so they will receive a wage and private quarters. No more cameras recording every breath they take. We might even want to go to the Triumvirate and tell thm they let us run the Centre our way our we'll sic the IRS on it after destroying any and all of their tax records for the past 20 years. Doing that and tying up all their assets so that they are unable to pay all of the fines the IRS is sure to stick them with." Jarod explained smiling hugely to himself at the thought of the Centre in court.

"Are we bluffing or is this something we can really do?"

"I could have wiped out those records within a month of escaping. Over the next three days I'm going to lock up all the money directly tied to the Centre and everyone's access to it. Peoples personal money salary and credit cards won't be effected but anyone trying to access Corporate funds won't be able to do it for 48 hours. Broots will be able to undo what I've done. Within 48 hours of his fix I will send a letter with my demands. They do as I ask or I lock up the funds permanently and the send the records to the IRS." Jarod said smirking.

"I hope this works." Eve sais as she tried hard not to laugh at Jarod's self-satisfied expression.

"It will. We'll assign all the roles once everyone gets here tomorrow."

The Beverly Hills Hotel Los Angeles, CA Lyle's Room @ 12:00 p.m.

Lyle stood at the mirror tying his tie and self-consciously smoothed his hair back off of his face. As we looked at his reflection his gaze fell on the hand he constantly had gloved. The glove remained on his hand even while he had made love to Liza.

"I know about the thumb Lyle." Liza said as she came up behind him looking very fetching in the hotel issued bathrobe. The steam from her shower still lay on her skin.

Lyle looked over at her and gave her a smile. "I know you do. Listen, I know we said we should keep this as a moment out of time, but here are all my personal numbers and email." Lyle said as he handed her a business card. "I really want to see you again, Liza. We'll do this on your terms." Lyle paused as his cell phone rang. "Excuse me. This is Lyle. Hello, Sydney. Yes I'm leaving right now. I'll be downstairs in just a few moments." Lyle ended the call. "I've got to go. Think about what I've said?"

"Ok. I'll think about it." Liza said with a smile.

Lyle picked up his bag and was about to go out the door when he paused, turned and walked back to her. He swooped her into his arms for a blistering hot, hard kiss. Lyle released her turned on his heel and walked out the door closing it as he left.

As she stared at the closed door behind him 'Please don't let me be wrong on this.' She went over to her purse took out a tiny black box and a second cell phone after flipping a small switch on the box, she speed dialed a number. "It's me. Lyle Parker won't be a problem." Liza ended the call and sat down on the still rumpled bed. "God, Please, Please don't let me end up regretting this." She pleaded as she put her face in her hands and began to weep.

Meanwhile Down Stairs in the Lobby

Lyle ran into the lobby. "I apologize. I didn't mean to be late. Let's get going so we don't miss the flight." Lyle said quickly as he all but ran past Sydney and Broots.

Left with the choice of trying to talk to him and being left behind or grabbing their stuff and confronting Lyle in the car. Sydney and Broots chose the latter. That picked up their things and all but ran after him to catch up. Once they were settled in the car and on their way to the airport

Once in the car and headed to the airport. Sydney ventured to ask, "Lyle, didn't we need to check out?"

"Liza is taking care of it." Lyle replied absently.

"Really?" Broots asked eyebrows raised. He then added "How was-is she?" Broots mentally winced at the slip. Lyle snapped his head around to glare at Broots, who slowly winked at him with a knowing grin on his face. Lyle raised his eyebrows and said with attempted nonchalance, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Broots rolled his eyes and said teasingly, "Of course not! That would imply that you are an impulsive human being, possibly one that actually acts on their hormones. As opposed to a robot of a man that has no feelings at all." Broots paused as he realized he might have gone to far. "You DO realize I'm kidding, right? It's none of my business what you do with whom and that's if you've done anything to begin with." Broots began to babble as his face turned red with his embarrassment.

Sydney decided to weigh in with his opinion. "Lyle, she does work for the Centre."

"I know that." Lyle said as he looked out the car window. "For once, Sydney, I heeded the voices inside me. They told me she was mine, she was meant to be mine. They also told me to be careful, because she isn't what she seems."

"What brought all this change on, Lyle? Nothing personal but it seems like this is a scene from 'Invasion of the body snatchers.'" Broots asked perplexed.

"Broots has a point Lyle. Was it the dreams that started all this or was it something else?" Sydney inquired, unable to help himself from being concerned about this apparent child of his dear friend.

"It started with the dreams, or should I say the nightmare," Lyle said giving in to the overwhelming need to finally unburden himself. Right after we got back from Morocco it started. You know on the plane, when we were about to crash, I had to guess which wire matched the blue. Something in my head told me the one I first wanted to choose was wrong. I'd never before listened to that voice. This time I knew I had one last chance to listen to it, and I did. That choice saved all of our lives. We flew back that night. Raines told me then he wanted his thumb back. I knew that wasn't a request. The night after the surgery, I had this horrific nightmare, it was from the time I was at the Bowmans's. I was locked in the shed again, this was right before Raines started coming by." Lyle paused not knowing if he should keep talking. He realized that if he wanted to be the better person, he thought he could be he needed to get all of this out in the open.

Lyle then continued, "You know sometimes when I was in that shed, I would see this faint image of a tall brunette with these bright blue eyes, she would tell me how sorry she was that I was in pain, but she knew I was strong enough to survive it, and that she . . .loved me. When Raines started 'training me' he said I had to ignore her whenever I saw her. She was nothing to me. I think that whole experience was why when I first saw Parker I was so attracted to her, and that was even when Raines was telling me I was her brother. I wanted to hear again from the beautiful brunette that I was loved." Lyle shuddered with the memories that would often overwhelm him with all that he had done and to whom over the past twenty odd years of his life. "By the time I finally met up with Parker my hands were stained with so much blood, I'd never be able to wash them clean. Since I saw no way of redeeming myself in her eyes or in the eyes of the brunette in my dream. I just kept up my self-destructive behavior. Including all the machinations that the Centre and my previous behaviors had visited upon me. My what a vicious circle I created. But then when Dad- I mean Mr. Parker died, I thought maybe Parker and I could have an uneasy sort of truce, a way for both of us to stay Alive, while we plotted to overthrow Raines. Even thought I knew I wasn't her brother, I had switched the test results myself. I just had come to the realization, I didn't want to be alone anymore. I wanted my family on my side. I could fight these demons inside me with my family by my side. I hated the fact that I was Mr. Lyle. It was after this self-discovery that the dreams with the brunette came back. By this time, of course, I knew she was Catherine Parker, my supposed mother. They came more and more frequently. I was having anywhere from 2-4 dreams a night. I was going to talk to Parker about them, but after I had made fun of 'her' dreams, I didn't think she'd be willing to help me." Lyle broke off from his soliloquy, when the car pulled up to the airport. As he exited the car he muttered " Let's get this show on the road."

"Sydney, what do you think will happen if he isn't Catherine Parker's son? How do you think he'll react?" Broots asked grabbing his bags, as his eyes followed Lyle into the airport.

"I think Mr. Lyle will come back with a vengeance and a very big death wish." Sydney answered sadly as both he and Broots followed Lyle into the airport. "If that comes to pass, Miss Parker and Jarod will have no choice but to destroy him by any means necessary. Mr. Lyle will not be allowed to live. Not this time."

Chicago, IL Jarod's Condo @ 3:00 p.m. CST

Jarod came out of the kitchen with two mugs of coffee for himself and Parker. When he walked into the living room, he saw her stretched out on the sofa on her side fast asleep. As he looked at her, he didn't think he'd ever seen her so at peace, as he did when he watched her sleep. Unless he was watching her hold their son. He put the coffee down by his laptop. He then went to the hall closet and grabbed one of the blankets he had put in there. He went back to the living room and when he went to cover her up he realized Evan, who must have woken up during his nap and climbed up to be with her, was behind her on the sofa with his little arm draped around her. Jarod placed the blanket over both of them and watched as they both seemingly snuggled deeper into the blanket. 'Like mother, like son' he thought with a smile, 'my family.' He went over to the computer intent on doing some work, when something caught his eye. His digital camera. He quirked an eyebrow. 'She'll kill me but what a way to go.' he quickly grabbed it and took several shots. Some of Evan, a few of Eve and some of them together. He quickly downloaded them to his laptop and saved them to disk. He'd print them out later.

When his cell phone rang he snatched it up quickly before the ringing could wake them up. "Hello?" Jarod said quietly.

"Hi Jarod." a soft feminine voice answered.

Jarod was in shock as he recognized her voice, one he had never expected to hear again. "Zoë?" Jarod was unable to keep the surprise from his voice. He glanced toward Parker and Evan and quickly rose and went down the hall to his bedroom so he could have the needed privacy to have this conversation.

"I hope this isn't a bad time?" Zoë asked, praying he wouldn't say it was.

"No, it's always good to hear from you. How are you? Your cancer still in remission? Have had any after effects from being kidnapped because of me?" Jarod asked disjointedly, not quite believing he wasn't dreaming.

"In order. I'm fine. No sign of the cancer returning, and I'm fully recovered from the kidnaping plot. How are you, Jarod? I didn't mean to. . ." Zoë broke off suddenly.

Jarod saw in his mind's eye her sweet smile and the auburn curls that framed her elfin-like features. "Zoë you have nothing to apologize for. What happened to you happened because you knew me. I understood that you needed some space because of that. Are you feeling safer now?"

"Yes, Jarod I'm in a safe place." "Good. Things could be going down soon. I'd like you to stay where you're at, for at least another couple of weeks. I would like to see you, to make sure you're all right. I won't put you in danger again." Jarod said insistently.

"Jarod?" Zoë asked hesitantly.

"What?"

"I've missed you." Zoë confessed softly. "I don't know if I have the right to tell you that. I'd also really like to see you again, to talk. I can wait though , until you say its safe to see you." Zoë said slowly not sure if she wanted to put her heart out there. Jarod had always had the ability to break her heart. He balanced her in such a way, sometimes it felt like half her heart had been his since the moment they met.

"Zoë, there is so much I want to tell you. Where are you? I mean will you tell me where you are?" Jarod asked quietly.

"I'm in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It's beautiful this time of year. Why don't you come out here, once the dust settles. We could talk and maybe make some decisions?" Zoë offered.

"Decisions?" Jarod asked afraid to complete the thought.

"Yeah, decisions about us, if there should be an us."

"Are you saying you want to be in my life, for real, no pretending. A real relationship. Dating and all that?" Jarod asked. He was confused, 'Why was he happy about this. Weren't Eve and he trying to start something for themselves?'

"Maybe. I just know I've never been happier then I am when you are with me. A lot happier then I am without you."

"Zoë, you need to know something first. It might change your mind about us. I have a son. I didn't know about him at the time when we were together either time. I just found out about him less the three weeks ago. His mother is Miss Parker, the woman that has been chasing me for the past five years. She didn't know about him until recently either. The Centre, took her egg and my sperm and created this child to use as they wanted. They had someone else carry the child. If we got together in any way, you have to know I'd want to be near him to watch him grow up. I've lost so much of my family, I couldn't handle losing him. Zoë would you have a problem with that? Are you still there?" Jarod asked his voice rising worried that she had hung up on him.

Zoë sniffled and wipe the tears from her eyes. "How old is he?" she asked, she couldn't blame him for wanting his child. After all, even if she and Jarod got together, she probably wouldn't be able to give him children due to the cancer and the chemotherapy she has had to go through. She felt the pang in her heart though, at the thought that someone else had given Jarod the child she knew he desperately wanted.

"He's almost three. His name is Evan Thomas. He and his mother have been spending the last couple of weeks with me. We both needed some time to get to know our son." Jarod said the pride in his son evident in every word he spoke.

"Is that why this is going down in the next week or so. You want him safe?" Zoë asked concerned.

"Parker's mother was killed trying to save me and her children. I don't want Evan to grow up without his mother or his father. So yes that's why. Knowing all this do you still want to try to have an us?" Jarod asked, he would lie to her anymore.

"Jarod, I'm planning to stay here in Colorado for at least two months. You get this mess with the Centre figured out, then you come find me. We'll talk and see where, if anywhere we want to go from there. OK? Jarod? I love you. I'm willing to spend whatever time I have left on this earth with you, in whatever capacity you'd like me in. I just need you to make sure I'm the one you want to spend your life with. Don't say anything or I won't be able to finish this. If I'm the one you want to grow old with, come to me in Colorado. If you don't or can't come, I'll have my answer. Fair enough?" Zoë asked her heart in her throat. She couldn't believe that she'd just laid her heart on the line like that.

"Fair enough. Do you have a number that I can call you to let you know when I'll be there?" Jarod asked gruffly.

'He said when, not if' Zoë said in her mind, "It's 719-555-1234. I'm going to let you finish, whatever you were doing. Jarod, I meant it when I said I love you. I love you enough to want you to be happy, even if it isn't with me. I'm gonna go before I say anything else. I refuse to cry on the phone, it's just too sappy for words. Bye." Zoë said as she ended the call, before she could beg.

"Bye Zoë." Jarod said to the dial tone in his ear.

Jarod sat on the bed for what seemed like a long time. 'I guess I have some serious thinking to do. I will not hurt her.'

"So that was Zoë. How is she doing?" A voice from the doorway startled Jarod from his reverie. He looked up to see his Dad looking at him with a thoughtful expression on his face. "What did she have to say?" Major Charles inquired as he walked over and sat down beside his son on the bed.

"She says she's OK. She wants me to come to Colorado when this is done, so we can straighten us out. I asked her to stay there until the dust settles. She's planning on being there for a couple of months. If I decide that I want her permanently in my life, to go see her. Otherwise she'll assume I don't." Jarod confessed as he looked at the cell phone he still held. "What do I do Dad? What about my feelings for Eve?"

"Jarod, I think it's a little late for me to give you any kind of 'birds and bees' talk. What I will ask is; Is Zoë the who you want to spend forever with, or is Eve? Not the someone you would settle for, the one you really want. If she is then you'll tell her and you'll go from there. If she isn't the one, you need to let her know, so she can find her happiness elsewhere and you can find yours. You know all a parent ever wants for their child, is for them to find happiness with someone. Do you love her?" Charles asked.

"Of course I love Zoë, Dad! She makes me smile at the stupidest things. I have a genius I.Q., but compared to what she knows sometimes I feel like a teenager all over again. She isn't in awe of my intelligence. She calls me on it when I get to full of myself. She's a light to my dark places." Jarod said fervently.

"It sounds like you have your answer. If you aren't sure, ask yourself this. Why did you assume I was asking you if you loved Zoë? I just asked if you loved HER? I never mentioned a name. As for your feeling for Eve, son you always remember your first love. She's the mother of your son. You'll always love her. But are you IN love with her? Does just the thought of her make you smile? If it doesn't then you both need to let each other go, so you can both find the one who does. Talk to her Jarod. Both of them deserve your honesty. All of you deserve to be happy. I think Ethan and I will take Evan to the park to give you two sometime to figure this out." Charles got up and put his hand on Jarod's shoulder. "Listen to your heart, son. It won't steer you wrong." "Thanks. Dad? Was Mom your first love?" Jarod asked hesitantly.

"No, but she's the last. She's the only woman I imagine spending my last days with. She's the one woman I can't think about without smiling, whether we're were together or apart." Charles said with a fond smile of the beautiful red-head with the big eyes that still haunted his dreams. "Thanks Dad."

Jarod went and stood by the window in his room. He watched as the streets of Chicago got crowded with those hoping to get an early start on their evening.

"Why did you let me fall asleep, Jarod?" Parker said as she came into the bedroom. "Are you ok?"

"Zoë called." Jarod said shortly.

"Ooohhh the infamous Zoë. How is she?" Parker asked calmly.

Jarod turned to answer her, but instead he walked over to Parker. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her for all he was worth. It still had the heat, the intensity and the promise of passion, but it was still lacking something. 'What?' he wondered. "Do you love me?" Jarod asked her abruptly.

"Pardon me?" Parker asked still a bit breathless from the kiss that satisfied her but lacked something she couldn't quite put her finger on, there was passion there but . . .

"Do-you-love-me?" Jarod repeated enunciating each word carefully.

"Jarod! That isn't a yes or no question." Parker meet his gaze. "OK I'm evading the real question.. Yes. A part of me does love you very much. I think if we wanted to, we could make a life together from that love. Another, larger part of me says No. It's the part that remembers how I felt when I loved and was loved by my Tommy. It's that kind of love that I want and deserve to have again. I think I might even find it again one day. I don't want to settle for what we could make. I don't think you do either. I want the sweetness, the feeling of coming home to someone. A someone who knows about and accepts the dark places in me. Someone who loves me not in spite of them but because of them, knowing that I am who I am because of those dark places. Is that how Zoë makes you feel?" she asked him point blank. "Doesn't she deep down feel like the missing piece of your personal puzzle?"

"How did you get so smart? I'm the genius."

"Don't you know anything Labrat? Girls mature faster then boys," Parker teased.

"Very Funny." Jarod said with a roll of his eyes.

"You know Jarod; Syd, Broots and Lyle won't be here until tomorrow. A little bird told me once that Colorado is beautiful this time of year. Especially Colorado Springs."

Jarod's head snapped up to look at her. "How. . ?" he began.

"Go get your girl, Jarod, with my blessing if you feel you need it." Parker went and gave him a kiss on the cheek. " I know you'll be here for Evan and I when we need you. Right now you're needed elsewhere. Besides I can handle the details until you get back."

"Where am I going"

"Colorado Springs. Your ticket is waiting for you at O'Hare. The flight leaves in a little over two hours, so you might want to hurry."

"Evie?"

"Jarod, I'm always going to remember my first kiss and my first love who gave it to me. You and I aren't meant to be forever. If we were you wouldn't be in such a quandary over Zoë. You and Zoë have the chance that was denied to me and Thomas. I want you to take it. Just like you told me to take my chance with Tommy." Parker insisted.

"Thank you Evie."

"Would you GO, before you miss your flight."

Jarod quickly kissed her forehead and said " I'm gone." as he ran out of the room. As he sprinted by the living room he grabbed his leather jacket and made sure he had his wallet. "Make sure you give Evan a kiss goodnight!" he called as the door to the condo slammed shut behind him.

"Maybe if you find your forever with Zoë, I have a chance of finding my own." Parker said out loud in the empty room. "Hmmm the whole place to myself for the next few hours. I think I'll indulge in a long hot bubble bath, some wine and the nice smutty book I picked up last week. Put on some music, light a few candles." her eyes lit up with the anticipation of the total indulgence to come. "I'm gonna need it. All hell's going to break loose tomorrow."

Bbbbrrrriiiiiinnnnggg

"I knew today was going too well." Parker muttered to herself. "What!" she snapped in her usual fashion.

"Eve?"

"Sorry Sydney. Didn't mean to snap. Is everything going according to plan?"

"Yes it is. I've just arrived in Albany. I'll be picking up Michelle, Alli and Nicholas soon. We'll all be staying at the Palmer House. I'll call you and Jarod in the morning, to check in and get the time you want us to meet." Sydney said as he nodded to woman passing by.

"Jarod had to go out of town. Since he won't be back until late tomorrow afternoon, you 'll all have plenty of time to be well rested." Parker said absently.

"Parker-Eve what aren't you saying?" Sydney asked concerned with her tone of voice.

"You'll find out tomorrow, Syd," Parker said. Changing the subject, "Do you know if Broots and Lyle have reached their destinations yet?"

"They both made their flights. So, I have every reason to believe that everything is just fine."

"Good! All this waiting and worrying is bad for my ulcer."

Sydney waited a moment and did something he had sworn he wouldn't, "Eve do you know if your. . .?"

"Tomorrow Syd. We'll get all our cards on the table tomorrow. OK?"

"All right. Good night Eve, If you need me for anything you can reach me on my cell phone."

"Thanks Syd. Good night. I'll see you tomorrow." Parker said as she took a deep breath and let it out as the call was disconnected.

Atlanta Int'l Airport Atlanta, GA @ 7:00 p.m. EST

Lyle stared at his cell phone. 'I can't believe this!' he thought disgustedly. 'I'm not a seventeen year old waiting for my girlfriend to call me' Being in the middle of this particular tangent when his cell phone did ring, Lyle jumped. "This is Lyle." he answered.

"So you actually gave me your real phone number and not a phony one. Should I be honored." Liza teased.

Lyle let the sound of her voice flow over him just like a refreshing breeze. "Liza would you believe that I was just thinking about you." Lyle said smiling, as his whole body completely relaxed at the sound of her voice.

"Thinking about me or what we were doing in your hotel room this morning?"

"Both. So, how's the search going?"

"Are we going to be all business now?"

"Isn't that what you said you wanted, for now. Liza, you're a mother. I don't see you as the type to jump into a no-strings affair. Am I wrong?" Lyle asked. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why what Liza felt meant something to him.

"Is that all I-it was to you?" He heard her voice catch. "I asked you first."

"I asked you second."

"Liza . . ." Lyle began.

"Ok! You're right. I'm not the type for a one night stand or a no-strings affair. Is that all we can be? Wait, don't answer that. I'm sorry we said we wouldn't dissect this until I saw you again. But was it just a one night- morning stand? Because, to be honest with you, I think we could be more. I think I want us to be more then that. Do you want that too?" Liza said in rush afraid if she paused he would interrupt her with an unwelcome dose of reality.

"I'm not sure of what I want. I won't cheapen what happened this morning. I enjoyed myself and you tremendously. I'm not a nice person, Liza. I've done things that would make a woman like you turn tail and run as far away as fast as you can. In fact you should probably stay as far away from me as physically possible." Lyle confessed morosely. "You aren't my type. But, I can honestly say I have never felt with any woman what I feel with you."

"Are you at all sorry for the things you've done, that you think would scare me away from you?"

"I don't know. I am sorry for the person I have become because of doing those things. It probably doesn't mean much, but in the past I've never lingered after sex with anyone. This morning I couldn't do that this morning. " Lyle confessed. 'Of course that's because I was doing something else afterwards.'

"I won't say that, that's sweet. But, I hear what you're trying to say."

"Liza I have absolutely no idea what going on between us. I'm in completely unchartered territory. I know I like it. I just can't promise you anything more, not yet at least. I have to go my plane is boarding."

"Lyle, wait! Do you think you could ever offer me more?" Liza asked him pointedly.

"I don't know if I can. Does it matter at all to you that I want to be able to offer you more?" "Yes, it means something. I'll see you in a few days. Think of me?"

"Count on it." Lyle said as he disconnected the call and walked over to the gate to get in line to board the plane to Milwaukee. His heart hadn't felt this light since he was fifteen and he had, had yet to hear the name Dr. Raines.

Nashville Airport Nashville, TN around same time (6:00) p.m. CST

"Daddy?" Debbie asked as she and her father waited for their plane.

"Yes Baby?" Broots fondly asked his daughter.

"Daaadddeee!" Debbie said exasperated.

"Sorry sweetie. It's just you'll always be my baby. Do you need something?"

Debbie looked at her Dad with a thoughtful expression when she asked, "Daddy, does Miss Parker really have a baby?"

"Well Evan isn't exactly a baby, he's almost three. Yes, evan is Miss Parker's son." Broots explained.

"Do you think she's gonna want to still spend time with me, now that she has him?" Debbie asked, horrified when she realized she had just spoken out loud. 'I mean it's not like I'm her kid, but I'd miss her. She's like. . . '

"Debbie!" Broots unknowingly cut into his daughters thoughts. "Sweetie you don't really think Miss Parker wouldn't want to spend time with you do you?" "No. But. . ."

"But, What?" Broots pushed gently to find out what was going through his daughter's thoughts.

"After you got custody of me from Mommy, I never saw her again, and she was my MOM. Miss Parker isn't even related to me, and now she has her own kid." Debbie broke off as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Debbie, Miss Parker is still crazy about you. I know for a fact, she had to buy another suitcase, because of all the clothes she bought you.." Broots said putting his arm around her, and giving her a squeeze. "Sweetie you are very special to her. I'll even bet she asks you if she needs any babysitting done"

"Really?" Debbie asked hopefully. "Thanks Daddy, I love you." She smiled as she gave her father a hug.

"I love you too, Sweetie. That's our flight, Let's go."

Chicago, IL Jarod's Condo @ 8:00 p.m. CST

Bbrrrriiiiinnnngggg

"Hello?" a sleepy sounding voice answered.

"Miss Parker? Is that you?" Broots asked perplexed.

"Hi Broots. What's up?"

"Miss Parker are you sure this is, well, you?" Broots was positive this had to be Jarod imitating Parker's voice. He'd never heard Parker this relaxed before.

"Of course it's me Broots. I am just very, very, VERY, relaxed. Of course you would be too if you'd been languishing around in a huge bubble bath for over an hour, drinking white wine, and reading a smutty book while listening to some jazz."

Broots held back a groan at the picture of her, her words were creating in his mind.

"I just called to tell you, Debbie and I had landed and we're leaving Indianapolis now. Debbie konked out after eating at McDonald's." Broots glanced back at his sleeping daughter, and made a decision, "Miss Parker?"

"What is it Broots? You sound really worried about something, not that you don't always seem worried when we have a conversation, but something's different. Is something wrong?" Parker put down the glass of wine and sat up in the bathtub.

"Yes-No, I don't know. I've never been one to talk about Debbie's and my conversations. This one, though involves you."

"Ok, Broots now you really are beginning to worry me. What's wrong with Debbie?" Parker said concerned for the little girl, no young woman, with the strawberry blond hair and blue eyes.

Broots sighed and decided to go ahead and tell Parker about Debbie's concerns. "Debbie was saying that now that you had Evan, you probably wouldn't want to be spending time with her. I told her I didn't think that would happen."

"James! Do you honestly think I would do that to her. How often has she stayed over at my house? I've taken her shopping , we've had girl talks. We- " Parker clenched her fist at the idea that Debbie though she would desert her.

Broots interrupted her "Eve! I told her that! I know you like Debbie and you have been a great friend to her," 'and to me' he added silently. "I also know you care a great deal for my daughter. You've no idea how much that means to me. I even told her you had done some shopping for her on this trip. I just thought you might want to know what's going on inside her head. WHen you see see her you can reassure her for yourself, in your own way." Broots took a deep breath as he finished his little speech. " I also told her that when you felt more comfortable leaving Evan with someone, you might even ask her to babysit."

"Oh God Jim, I'm sorry I didn't meas to snap at you. Sometimes I swear you must think more of me than I do of myself. I'll make sure Debbie and I have some alone time, while she's here. We'll be fine." Parker swept the tendrils of her hair off her face.

"Soooo you're having a soak." If Broots could have he would have smacked his forehead. 'Why did I say that' "Where is everyone?

Parker smirked at Broots' comment. "Major Charles took Ethan and Evan to the park and will probably be arriving son with my very filthy son."

"Where's Jarod?"

"He's probably about ready to land in Colorado as we speak"

"Colorado! What's he doing in Colorado?" Broots was flabbergasted.

"Zoë called. He had quite a reaction to talking to her, so I sent him to see her. You guys weren't getting in until late anyway. Jarod will be back tomorrow afternoon." Parker said very matter-of-factly.

Broots wasn't buying it. "How do you feel about that?"

Parker knew what he was doing, "Are you turning into Sigmund Freud on me?"

"I know Jarod means a lot to you."

"You're right. Jarod does mean a lot to me. He was my first friend, love, kiss, and now I find he's also the father of my son. If Zoë wasn't in the picture at all, like Thomas isn't, I might have fought a bit harder. I don't love him like she does, like he deserves to be loved. He doesn't complete me like Thomas did. I'm not saying we couldn't have built a life and grown to love each other. You didn't see his face. It's the same look, I know I'd have if Thomas was able to come back to me. We both deserve some real happiness after the way the Centre has treated us." Parker grew wistful as the memories of a man with a big smile and soft eyes filled her head.

"Parker, Eve, I hope you both find that happiness. You both deserve it."

"Thanks James. Call me when you and Debbie wake up tomorrow and we can do something."

"All right. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." as Parker hung up the phone. She realized that she and Broots had a very interesting relationship. For some reason she could tell him things she would never tell anyone else. Parker rose from the tub and grabbed the robe laying there, as she wrapped her self in it she allowed the water to drain from the tub. "Like the miscarriage,' Parker thought 'He was such a rock that whole time. Just holding my hand and being there, and also respecting my wishes to say nothing to anyone at work about the baby.' Parker thought back to that horrible week after she had lost her and Thomas' baby, 'I still think it was a girl. Thomas would have loved a little girl.' Parker also remembered that every morning that first week, there had been a gardenia on her desk, with a sprig of baby's breath. Also after her non-lunch hour. There had been a pot of hot chamomile tea, with some fruit and a sandwich on her desk, that for some reason she had always eaten. "I wonder if that was Broots?" Parker asked aloud, as she wandered in the direction of the kitchen to see what she would make herself for a late dinner.

As she reached the kitchen she heard a key turning the lock. She watched as Ethan and the Major brought in a barely awake, grubby little boy.

"Someone got very tired after a Happy Meal at McDonalds." Ethan said shaking his head in amazement. "It was incredible, he was like that pink bunny on the commercial for the batteries you know the one that kept going and going and going. Then all of a sudden it was like someone pulled the battery out and he was out like a light."

Parker shook her head as she walked over to the Major holding out her arms to take her son.

"I can clean him up Eve. You obviously just got out of the shower." Major Charles began.

"No. Really I want to take him. I've barely seen him all day." Parker said as she plucked Evan from his arms. "C'mere Baby."

"Mmmommma? I weally tired." Evan mumbled as he snuggled deeper into her as his arms wrapped themselves around her neck.

"I know Baby. Let's get you cleaned up and into bed." Parker murmurrd as she enjoyed the weight of her son in her arms. It was amazing how quickly she got used to something she had never thought she wanted.

"I lub you Momma." Evan said sleepily looking up at her with bright blue eyes.

"I love you too, baby. Let's get you to bed."

"You wead me a stowy?" Evan asked with a glint that could have only come from Jarod in his eyes.

"Yes you little stinker I'll read you a story."

"Oh-tay."Evan said as he closed his eyes again.

Colorado Springs Airport Colorado Springs, CO same time @7:00 p.m. MST

Jarod exited the airport, and looked around as he took out his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number Zoë had given him.

"Hello, This is Zoë!" Zoë happily answered.

"Hello Zoë."

"Jarod!" Zoë exclaimed.

"You said I could call you. So, where are you staying?"

"At the Comfort Inn.."

"What room are you in?"

"Room 300, Jarod. Why?" "If I don't know where you are, how else am I going to be able to find you?"

Zoë's eyes widened at that statement. "D-Does that mean when the dust settles you'll come?" Zoë was almost to scared to hope his answer would be yes.

"Something like that. I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah," Zoë nodded happily, with tears in her eyes. "I'll see you soon." Zoë danced around the room after she had disconnected the phone. 'He said he'd come. He's actually coming back to me!'

Jarod smiled at the phone after he disconnected the call. Jarod raised his arm to hail a cab. After he got in he told the cab driver the name of Zoë's hotel. During the thirty minute ride to the hotel, he thought about Parker, Eve. The mother of his son. He really hoped she and Zoë would be able to get along. After they pulled up to the hotel, he got out, and paid the fare. Before his courage could desert him, he quickly walked through the lobby and headed toward the elevators. Jarod stepped in and pushed 3 (A/N: For those who haven't visited America, the Lobby is not considered the first floor to us.) As the doors closed and took him up to the third floor, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The doors opened and as he stepped out of the elevator, he thought 'I hope I know what I'm doing.' Jarod took the hallway to the left as that was the way to Room 300.

Jarod pulled out his phone and re-dialed Zoë's phone number, as he got closer, and closer to her room he heard the phone ring.

"This is Zoë."Zoë said as she answered the phone.

"It's me again."Jarod said as he stood outside the door of Room 300.

"Hi me. I feel honored two phone calls in one day. Whatcha doing?"

"Not much. I just wanted to . . ." Jarod paused as he knocked on the door in front of him.

"Jarod, hold on a sec, someone's at the door." Zoë went and opened the door, "Can I help. . ." she broke off at the sight of the person in front of her.

"So have I rendered you speechless?" Jarod asked lifting a single eyebrow questioningly.

"JAROD! What are you doing here?" Zoë sputtered out. She was hoping she wasn't hallucinating.

"Right now, I'm admiring the view. You did say to come over when I was sure." Jarod answered as he hung up his phone.

"Jarod?" Zoë repeated. This was mind blowing.

"Zoë, you can hang up the phone."Jarod gestured to the phone she still held in her hand.

"The Phone?" Zoë asked blankly. "Oh yeah. Jarod, I have to go you're here, Bye."

"May I come in?" Jarod asked.

"Yes, of course." Zoë said stepping backwards into the room. She turned to put her cell phone down. "Jarod wh-" the rest of what Zoë had to say was cut off, as Jarod pulled her into his arms and gave her one of his blind- siding, toe-curling, heart-melting kisses. 'Damn, but he's good at these.'Zoë thought to herself as Jarod broke off the kiss. "Are you sure you spent thirty odd years locked up in the Centre?"

"Oh, yeah I was definitely locked up." Jarod sat down on the bed and drew Zoë down onto his lap. They sat there for a bit just taking in each others frangrance.

Zoë wrapped her arms around his neck asking, "How long can you stay?"

"My flight leaves tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon."

"That soon?"

"Yeah. If we want the Centre to fall, we have to do it now. Knowing you are safe helps a lot. I was going to wait and come see you after it was completely safe. I was persuaded not to wait. Zoë?" Jarod explained as her ran his hand up and down her back.

Zoë was now preoccupied with kissing Jarod's neck. "Yes Jarod." She froze as Jarod whispered something in her ear. Zoë swallowed hard, "What did you say?"

"Well you told me when I knew who I wanted I should let you know. I'm letting you know. Zoë, will you marry me?" Jarod answered her smiling. It faded as he saw her face drain of all color. "Zoë?!"

"You. . .want. . .to. . .marry. . .ME? Why?!"

"Zoë! I love you. You can make me laugh, at life and myself. You live life to the fullest and you make me want to do the same. I need that. I spent so much of my life in a set of rooms I was rarely allowed out of. I want to discover the world out there with you. I want to grow old with you. If it's at all possible, and you're willing, I'd love to have a child with you. Maybe a little girl with your fiery curls and effervescent personality, my eyes and genius. She's got to be able to hole her own with her brother. One who'll give me gray hair before I'm fifty." Jarod said passionately. 'What if she says NO?' he thought.

"But, Jarod the cancer treatments. . .I might not be able to have our baby. Would you be OK with that?"Zoë said tears welling up in her eyes. 'Ohmygod, He wants to marry me!' she shouted in her mind.

"If you can't we can share custody of Evan with Eve. Would it matter to you, if she wasn't ours biologically? There are lots of children out there that need homes. If you haven't been tested we don't know for sure. Even if Evan is the only child I ever raise, it will be more then enough. As long as you are there with me, beside me." Jarod said sincerely looking deep into the eyes that overflowed with tears.

Zoë smiled through the tears running down her face. "You mean it? You really want to marry me?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm sorry I don't have a ring for you. I wasn't planning on doing this just yet. If you want we could go right now and get you your ring."

"Are you assuming I'm going to say yes?" Zoë asked teasingly.

"I'm praying you'll say yes." Jarod corrected.

"You really want this?"

"I really want you in my life. I'll take you any way I can have you. But Zoë, I really want you as my wife." "Ok." Zoë said matter-of-factly as she slid off of Jarod's lap.

"OK?!"

"Ok, as in yes, I would love to marry you. After the dust settles you and I can get married. I don't want anything big. I just want you."

"Yes? ThankyouThankyouThankyou!" Jarod said as he got off the bed and lifted Zoë into his arms. "Can we go get your ring now."

"Now? Why not tomorrow?"

"Because I don't want to wait until tomorrow. Besides what makes you think we're leaving this room at tomorrow except for going to the airport." Jarod said with a wicked grin spreading across his face, as he put her down on her feet.

"Oh, You think you're going to get lucky tonight do you.?" Zoë teased as she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. "I already got lucky. You said yes."

"You've always been like a kid in a candy store. Ok, Let's go get me a ring." Zoë went over to the table to grab her purse. "Oh and Jarod?"

"Yeah?"

Zoë leaned close and whispered suggestively in his ear. "They have an incredible swimming pool, that gets deserted late at night."

Jarod let a really wicked smile spread across his face as he remembered the last time they went swimming together.

"Hey" Zoë snapped her finger in front of his face. "If you want to go swimming later, we need to go ring shopping now and have some dinner. I'm starving."

"You got it."

"Jarod, where is your bag?"

"I didn't bring anything but me."

"Then we definitely have to do some shopping. You'll need something to wear tomorrow."

"Zoë, I love you." Jarod said as they walked out the motel room.

"That is really good," Zoë said as she laced her fingers through his. "Because, I love you too."

Chicago, IL Jarod's Condo @ 9:00 p.m. CST

Ethan and Major Charles were on the sofa watching one of Jarod's many tapes of the antics of the Three Stooges. Charles watched as Ethan cracked up as the Stooges performed yet another round of eye poking fun.

"Did you have a good time today son?" Charles asked concerned. He didn't want to mother the boy, but he knew Ethan still had residual problems thanks to Raines. He personally didn't care what plans Jarod or for that matter Eve, had for Raines, he planned to take care of Raines himself.

"Gwampa? Whatcha doin'?" Evan asked as he came by the sofa, with a big yawn and bigger eyes, as he saw what was on the television.

"Evan! What are you doing up?" Charles asked as he picked the boy up and settled him on his lap. His eyes grew misty as he realized how much of his children's lives he had missed.

"I wanted to see you." Evan said against his chest. Gwampa gave the best hugs.

The three of them sat on the sofa and finished. By the time the tape had run out and Ethan grabbed the remote to rewind it. He noticed that his father and nephew were sound asleep. He flipped through the channels for a few minutes before finally clicking it off. Ethan got off the sofa and stretched his arms up over his head. He picked up and moved his father's feet to where he had been sitting. Ethan then grabbed a blanket that he saw on a chair and covered both of them with it.

Ethan walked down the hallway toward his room. As he passed Jarod's bedroom he saw, through the cracked door, Eve tucked into the bed. She was propped up in the bed with all of the pillows, wearing her jade green silk pajamas, reading a book that was balanced on her knees. She looked so relaxed he decided against talking to her.

As Ethan turned back toward his bedroom, he heard her voice wafting from the room. "I know you're there Ethan! Come on in. This book isn't that great." Parker called out to him through the door.

Ethan grinned to himself, 'And with instincts like that she couldn't catch Jarod for over five years. I don't think so.' Ethan pushed the door open and leant against the doorframe and watched as his big sister looked at him.

"You know you remind me of Jarod when you stand like that." Parker stated matter-of-factly. 'Oh, Momma I wish you could see your baby now. You would. . .'

"Can I ask you something Eve?" Ethan's concerned voice cut into her musings.

"You can ask me anything Ethan, you know that." Parker smiled up at her baby brother. She patted the bed beside her as she sat up in the bed. "Come over and sit down, we'll talk."

Ethan walked over and sat down beside her on the bed.

"Where's Charles?" Parker asked.

"Ma-Dad and Evan are conked out on the sofa. Evan came out of his room for some weird reason. He watched the three stooges with us for all of about 10 minutes and fell asleep on Dad. I covered them both with a blanket and left them in the living room. Why did you let Jarod go to Zoë?" Ethan blurted out.

"Ethan, I didn't LET Jarod go. He's not a child that has to ask my permission to do anything." Parker held up her hand to keep Ethan from interrupting her, "I know what you're not asking me. I know how Jarod really feel about Zoë. Did I ever tell you about my Tommy?" at his nod she continued, "Zoë brings a light to his darkness. I don't think she necessarily has the highest I.Q. in the world, but she has an everyday common sense that Jarod doesn't. She can make him laugh at himself at a situation. Ethan, he and I have been through so much pain and sorrow, that we need people that can both understand and accept that about us. We need to find partners that can make us see that laughter and happiness are still inside us, and that we deserve those feelings. Just as Thomas did that for me, Zoë does that for Jarod. I'll be honest with you if Zoë had never called and I hadn't heard the way he spoke to her. Jarod and I could have made a life together, we would have probably even been happy. We also both would have been settling for the status quo. Ethan I've been blessed enough to know what it feels like to be loved, really loved. Jarod deserves the same. He loves her so much. I also know he loves me, but not the way I need to be loved not anymore." Parker squeezed the hand Ethan slipped into hers. "Jarod and I will always share something special not only as each others first love, but as the parents of that beautiful little boy out there. Jarod and I care for each other we are able to draw comfort from each other. We also use each other as a crutch when we don't want to face the truth. Excellent example the fact that Jarod and I have been sleeping in this bed for over two weeks and it has never gone beyond platonic. I mean the first few nights, before you got here we made out pretty hot and heavy, but it TOO easy to stop. Even if all we had felt was passion it would have gone further then it has." Parker wrapped her arm around her bent knees and looked a little forlorn. "I want to spend the rest of my life with someone who loves me. It's what Momma would want for me, for him, for you. Am I making any sense here?"

Ethan looked at her intently, "Since when did you get so smart?" he teased.

"Since I got here. I've realized that Jarod and I have spent too much time being unhappy. We shouldn't spend the rest of our lives with someone who doesn't make us feel complete."

"Fine. I get to play Devil's advocate then. When you think of the man you want to spend forever with what do you see?" Ethan asked intrigued at what her answer might be. He pushed away the whispered voice of his mother.

"You mean do I see Prince Charming riding up on a white steed to rescue me? Someone tall, dark and handsome?" Parker asked sarcastically.

"Noooo! Don't go by looks. I don't want to know who you see. I want to know WHAT you see. How do you him to act?" Ethan said rolling his eyes.

Parker leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. "I want someone who won't take me at face value. If I give attitude I want them to tell me they know I'm giving attitude and to quit it, or if necessary give it right back. I want someone who understands that I have a past I'm not particularly proud of, and won't throw that in my face. I want a man who will love my son, and is man enough to realize Jarod is always going to be part of our lives. In the middle of the night I want to know that someone is there for me, that I don't have to be strong all on my own. Someone who thinks I'm pretty terrific, bad temper and all. Someone who would possibly want another child or two." Parker laughed at the expression on Ethans' face as she opened her eyes to look at him. "What? I can't want to actually have my own baby?"

"No. It isn't that. You've never really seemed to WANT the whole maternal thing. Is the change because of Evan?"

"In large part yes. I delivered him. If I hadn't been there to kill Brigitte he would have died. I never would have known my own baby. Another part of it is I'd like to be pregnant again. Feel myself carrying a new life as it grows. Hear its heartbeat, get the cravings, the weight gain, having my insides kicked, and of course being able to cuss out the man who got me in that condition in the first place while giving birth." Parker smiled at the thought and unconsciously stroked her abdomen where the baby would lie.

"Again? You were pregnant before. When?" Ethan was confused.

"I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after Thomas died. I miscarried shortly thereafter. No one knew except Broots and the only reason he knew is he took me to the hospital. I didn't tell anyone, not even Jarod, at the time. I told Jarod around two weeks ago and now you know."

"I'm sorry sis, I know that baby had to mean a lot to you. What if you found those qualities in a man who already had a child of his own." Ethan asked slyly.

"Are you trying to set me up?" "No. I think you have someone all ready in mind. I just think you might be a little scared to go for it, because of your past behavior toward him. That's all I'm gonna say." Ethan leaned over and kissed his sister on the cheek. He then got off the bed and started toward the door. "I'll be in my room watching TV. Good night Evie."

"I swear he gets more and more like Jarod everyday." Parker muttered under her breath as she watched Ethan leave the room. 'Now who could he be talking about.' She thought to herself as she mentally went through the admittedly long list of men she has known throughout her life. She zeroed in on one possibility almost immediately. 'NO! Absolutely not!' her head said but then just as quickly another voice popped up with 'Why not? Because he isn't tall dark and handsome?' "I'm not going there right now." Parker said out loud as she tossed the covers aside and went to get her son and put him back in his bed.

Parker stopped suddenly when she came upon the sight of Evan and the Major snuggled together on the sofa. She smiled to herself as she deftly plucked her son from his grandfather's arms.

"Momma." Evan murmured sleepily. "I wub you. My pwetty Momma." He said as he patted her cheek and dropped his head to her shoulder and closed his eyes again.

"I love you too baby, so, so much." Parker said as she hugged him close. She took him back to their bedroom and tucked him into his bed. Parker watched her son sleep, with the innocence only a child can sleep with, for a few minutes. "I swear to you baby," Parker vowed softly, "Only over my dead body, will they do to you what was done to your Daddy." She smoothed the dark baby fine hair away from his face. Parker rose and left the room quietly. "Mommy is going to finish her smutty book and go to bed early. Scarlett O'Hara had it right 'Tomorrow is another day' And it is going to be a doozy."

Comfort Inn Suites Hallway outside Zoë's Room Colorado Springs, CO A few hours later @ 11:00 p.m. MST

"Zoë!" Jarod called down the hall as quietly as possible. 'The woman is going to drive me to drink! If I don't land in jail for killing her first.' "Zoë!"

"Yyyeeeess?" Zoë drawled as her left arm snaked around him from behind. She pressed her face into his back and gave it few soft kisses.

Jarod felt her cool skin against his back. He bit back a groan as he realized what little barrier there was between them. As he looked down her hands the two-carat pear shaped diamond ring that she choose winked up at him. Jarod grinned to himself The Centre certainly know how to buy fine jewelry. "Zoë, you do realize that you took something that didn't belong to you down at the pool right?"

Zoë grinned mischievously at his back, "But Jarod, I left something of equal value in exchange." She came around from behind him in one of those short, white, hotel length towels that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. Her right hand was still behind her back.

Since Jarod in his own right hand held the few bits of black fabric and string that had comprised Zoë's swim suit, he knew what was hidden in hers.

"Zoë, we are in the middle of the hallway in a very crowded hotel. I don't appreciate the fact that I had to walk up from the lobby dressed in nothing but this towel." Jarod said urgently his embarrassment aparent due to the blush climbing his face.

"Jarod is not like we haven't seen each other naked before. I seem to remember the last time we went skinny dipping." Zoë arched a single eyebrow pointedly.

"Zoë, I love you I really do. But sometimes you really take the cake. I think that is how the saying goes. I don't like the idea of walking around in a hotel with nothing but a towel." Jarod explained patiently. "So lets go in the room and take up where we left off in the pool."

"The key was in my. . ." Jarod broke off as Zoë held the key up for him to take. "Thank you." "Don't mention it sweetie."

Jarod opened the door and stepped aside to let Zoë in first. He craned his neck in either direction, just to make sure their conversation hadn't been overheard. When he took a step forward his foot caught on something causing him to almost trip. Jarod looked down and saw a white towel in front of him. He groaned to himself. "Zoë, please tell me you are wearing something."

"Of course I am baby, the ring you just bought me. Now what does a girl got to do to get you to come over here and warm her up." Zoë's voice held just a hint of challenge. "Not much." Jarod said as he walked into the room, unwrapping his own towel as he closed the door with his foot.

Palmer Hotel Lyle's Room Chicago, IL 12:00 a.m. CST

Lyle opened his hotel room door and dropped his bag on the floor by the TV. Right now all he wanted was a hot shower and a comfortable bed. He knew he'd need to be well rested for the meeting between Parker, Jarod, Sydney, Broots, and himself. Lyle couldn't even enjoy the idea of sleeping in, it was no fun sleeping in if there wasn't someone there to sleep in with. Lyle smiled as he silently wished she'd be there in the morning. He then frowned. "NO! This. Is. Not. Happening. Number 1 I don't miss anyone, especially women I happen to sleep with. Number 2 When did I stop thinking with the head attached to my neck as opposed to the other head most commonly used by men. Number 3 when did I start talking to myself."

Lyle chuckled to himself, 'I am nuts to be doing this. I'm going to get myself killed. If by some small chance I don't I'm sure Jarod's father knows a few places where a body would never be found. This is what I get for listening to voices and my conscience.' Lyle went over to the bed and turned it down. He then strode over to the bathroom dropping his clothes as he went. As he started the water running, he let the shower spray warm up. In the message from Jarod, he'd been told to only pack his casual stuff, jeans if he owned any. Once again he'd done as he'd been told. Obeying instructions this time around didn't feel so bad. Of course this time HE was actually one of the good guys. This time he had a reason to want to be one of the good guys. 'Momma, Please don't be wrong about me.' Lyle begged as stepped under the hot spray and began to soap up his toned body. ' I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror again. I'd like to have life.' As he let the water rinse away the soap, he felt a little lighter in the heart.

After toweling off, he slipped between the sheets and turned off the lights. As he rolled over to his side he silently prayed. 'Please God, I know I don't deserve any more chances, but if I could at least die knowing I would have made my mother proud of me, I could be content with that.' Lyle then closed his eyes and let dreams take him far away.

TBC in part 4b