Disclaimer: Sigh…Sadly, I do not own the characters of The Pretender. I in no way wish to defame any of its affiliates nor NBC or TNT. That's it.Read it now!

Summary: Clues to the past bring Ms. Parker and Jarod back together again. Very involved in IOTH, but you can understand it without having seen it. Ties up most story lines. Mostly from Ms. Parker's point of view. Chapters are short.

The Truth Is Waiting

By Bec-Bec

Chapter 4

Thoughts and Worries About Children

Sydney had been working for the Centre since he was young. He had been recruited to help train special children so they could use their remarkable abilities. Jarod had been his first assignment. Back then, he had believed the Centre was doing good work, helping parents to have children and furthering scientific theory. It was not until Catherine Parker had come to him that he learned what the Centre was really doing.

Catherine had been wonderful. She had stumbled onto a natural gift she possesed…the Inner Sense. She asked his help in developing it, and as he helped her, she began to learn all of the secrets about the Centre. She never told him all of what she knew, probably to protect him, but he knew she was killed because she was trying to free the children after what she learned.

When Ms. Parker had discovered that she too had the Inner Sense, he was afraid of what might happen if he helped her develop it and he refused to train her abilities. He had already lost one Parker that he loved he wasn't about to let himself lose another…especially one that might be his daughter from his affair with Catherine.

The families of the Centre were so connected that it was hard to tell where one ended and the next one began. Mr. Parker could not have have children, but the thought of Raines as Ms. Parker's father was unbelievable…He wished on so many days that he was Ms. Parker's father, …but just like Jarod, wishes had gotten him nowhere.

Jarod had always felt like a son to Sydney, after all, he raised him from when he was a child. So, day after day, he walked around, fearing for the safety of his two children. He didn't want Jarod caught and he didn't want Ms. Parker hurt…but this was the world of the Centre, where no one was safe, anyone could be family, and anyone could turn around and stab you in the back.

****

Sydney's Office at the Centre

Sydney was sitting in his office looking over some paperwork for a set of twins who knew quantum physics at the tender age of four, when the phone rang.

"Hello," he answered.

"Hello Sydney," Jarod familiar voice echoed into his ear, "I was hoping you could help me with something."

"Well, I should hope this is business involving the Centre." This was his way of warning Jarod that someone was undoubtedly listening to their conversation.

"Of course, Sydney. You know the lengths I go to to protect myself. The Centre should be tracing this call to Tokyo, Japan, and I'm not anywhere near it."

Sydney chuckled, "Of course Jarod."

"This is regarding Ms. Parker, or rather, Ms. Parker's father."

"Sometime I'd like to talk to you more about this," Sydney hinted that it was more complicated than he knew, "but for now, Raines is the same as usual."

"Of course…but, I meant Mr. Parker. Biologically, Raines may be Ms. Parker's father, but he will never truly be her father."

"You sound like her," Sydney smiled to himself, "What would you like to know about Mr. Parker? As far as we know, he's dead.

"Sydney, you know better than that," Jarod said grimly, "No one at the Centre ever really dies."

"Except for Catherine," Sydney said softly.

Jarod tried to avoid the topic. He knew Catherine's death had hurt Sydney deeply, "Did the Centre find the scrolls?"

"No, Jarod. Do you know where they are?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

Sydney switched subjects back to Ms. Parker, "Why are you concerned about Ms. Parker?"

"Syd, you know as well as I do, she hasn't been sleeping well. I was just trying to figure out why. I thought you might know."

"She's been having a recurring dream. Something involving Raines and you. Something regarding the island. Jarod, what happened out on that island?"

"…I can't tell you that…ask Ms. Parker."

" I would, but she won't tell me. I asked her before. I might be able to help her if you told me," Sydney coaxed.

"A lot of things happened out on that island Syd, none of which I should envolve you in. It's too dangerous for me to tell you anymore than I have," Jarod said sternly.

"Okay, Jarod. I understand."

"Sydney I have important work to do."

"Regarding the scrolls?"

"…Yes."

"Jarod, be careful. There are a lot of people looking for you now. The Centre is changing. It's not the same as it was before. You can't play your game with Ms. Parker and I the same anymore. It's not safe."

"Thanks, Sydney," Jarod hung up.

Sydney sat for a moment, thinking over what Jarod had said. He was interested in what the scrolls could tell them, but worried as well.

"I wish I knew what happened on that island," Sydney thought, "If Jarod's worried about Ms. Parker, something must definitely be wrong."

He became more worried as he thought about it longer. How could he protect them if he didn't know who or what he needed to protect them from? Sydney was left to his thoughts and worries as the day continued.