Snapshot

By Samantha

Part 3

~*~

Author's Note: I really should be packing and cleaning at the moment, but I'm leaving for home tomorrow, and I'm wanting to get as much out as possible. I wanna say thanks to the PC group. I had a blast last night just being goofy about Pretender stuff. And also, thanks for givin me the awesome nickname. I don't know why I like it so much, but it's stuck. So, without further ado, here is the next part to Snapshot. ~~Bethe

Author's Note 2: Okay, as you already know, that note is outdated. I started to write this before I left college, but never got around to the story part. I'm glad that I've waited. Some of your reviews really inspired my imagination. Right now, this story could go. . .oh. . .about. . .two different ways. I didn't know that until I read y'all's responses. Toodles! OH! P.S. If you notice, this could kind of be a response to the "Things you wish you could say at work challenge", but not quite. I just like the phrases, and I got most of them in an email a long time ago, so, I'm using them. :D ~~Bethe

~*~

Parker sat at her desk, replaying the phone conversation that had taken place two nights ago. It had been very surreal, having a conversation without an argument, or an abrupt hang-up.

It was kind of nice.

The only weird part was that Jarod was with a sleeping Marisa in his arms. Why did that bother her so much? It shouldn't. Jarod was just someone she had to track down. But deep in her heart, Parker knew he was more than that.

He was her first kiss. That's something Jarod didn't know. But the kiss they'd shared that day long ago had been her first as well. They had almost become connected at the soul. They had endured so much together. She loved him.

She loved him?

Parker did a double take at where her thoughts were leading her. When did this happen? She'd never truly loved him. Or, at least, she thought she hadn't.

True, she wasn't in perfect bliss with Tommy. He provided a break for her at a crucial time in her life. For that, she was thankful. The fact that Jarod "introduced" the two only made her wonder about his feelings for her.

So, in essence, Marisa was a threat. But she shouldn't be. Parker was jumping to. conclusions, again.

"M-Miss Parker," came a nervous voice behind her. She rolled her eyes.

"If I throw you a stick, will you leave?" she asked between gritted teeth. Broots laughed nervously.

"But if I leave, you won't get this new information that I hacked off of Raines' computer," he said in a sing-song voice. Parker stood, then turned to look at him.

"Do tell," she murmured. Broots moved in real close and looked around before starting.

"Well, remember how we've never known who Marisa's father is?" Parker nodded.

"Why is that important information?"

"Well, you're never gonna guess who he is," he whispered.

"Broots," she spat out vehemently, "my patience is about as thin as a worm on the freeway."

"The Major," he said answered breathlessly. "Marisa is Jarod's half- sister."

~*~

"Jarod!" Marisa called, "Some help would be greatly appreciated!" Marisa was trapped in the corner by two vicious-looking Dobermans.

"Trixie! Fluffy! Heel!"

"Trixie? Fluffy?" she asked incredulously, her accent coming out strongly.

"They're really just softies," he answered while kneeling on the ground. The dogs all but bowled him over, showering his face with doggy kisses.

"I'm. . .a cat person," she countered with a grimace on her face. "So, where is this contact we're supposed to meet?" Jarod stood up and looked around while still rubbing Fluffy's head. Then he smiled.

"Right here," answered the man on the other side of the room. He smiled as well. Then, father and son ran into each other's arms.

"How'd you find me, Son?" Major Charles asked, hugging Jarod tightly.

"Sheer luck, dad, believe it or not." Charles chuckled, then stood back.

"Bryan's doing fine."

"Bryan?"

"Yeah, he picked it himself. Somehow, 'the boy' didn't sit well with him," he replied with a smile. "He looks exactly like you now, he's grown so much."

"I can't wait to see him." His father's attention then rested on Marisa.

"And who is this lovely young lady?" he asked, moving forward and taking her hand.

"This," Jarod said, "is Marisa. She was kept at the Centre as well." Charles cocked his head.

"Really?"

"Sí," she replied shyly. A look of sorrow came across his face.

"What were you in for?" he asked. Marisa looked down.

"I was a pretender, from what Jarod has told me. My experience was quite different from his, but I was still terrified," she answered. The two looked at each other for a short bit of time. Then, the Major turned to Jarod.

"Come on. You guys must be starving."

~*~

"Did you know?" Parker demanded icily, leaning over Sydney's desk. The psychiatrist sighed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Parker, it was eyes only. You know that. But, I also knew that you would find out some way or another."

"How?" Syd chuckled and looked at his desk.

"Well, I figured once she was with Jarod, you would be searching like mad to find information about her." Parker leaned further over until she was practically in his face.

"And why do you think that?" Sydney looked her in the eyes.

"Jealousy. You would want to find one flaw that would make her not right for Jarod. Well," he chuckled, "you've found one." Parker clenched her jaw.

"I have no reason to be jealous, Dr. Doolittle."

"Parker, you can't fool me. I've known you for longer than you can remember. You and Jarod share such a connection that if it were severed, you would never be the same person again. In your mind, Marisa was a potential blade, as were Nia and Zoë. You reacted in exactly the same way with both of the previous situations." He then folded his hands and simply looked at her. She gritted her teeth and stormed out of the office.

She then ran into Lyle, who was dressed, rather oddly, in jeans and a flannel shirt. Parker straightened her silk blouse, then took in her brother's appearance.

"Whatever look you were going for, you missed," she sneered, starting to make her way past him. He simply looked at her, then chuckled to himself.

~*~

Broots' fingers flew as he searched for more information on the elusive Marisa. Not much could be found on her, so he decided to search using the name Alison. As he sifted through a wealth of information, Parker walked into the office and slumped down on a sofa. He looked at her.

"What's wrong, Miss Parker?" he asked timidly, expecting a screaming session.

"Sydney's right," she replied in a choked voice, surprising Broots. He got up and walked over to her, sitting next to her.

"He usually is. Don't you hate it?" he asked. Parker nodded, but sobbed instead of laughed. She covered her face with her hand and turned slightly away from Broots. He lightly touched her arm and whispered, "My shoulder's here anytime you want to use it." She hesitated for a moment, then turned back toward him and rested her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her in a friendly embrace.

"I was so jealous of her," she whispered thickly after awhile. "She was the one in his arms, and I was alone in that huge house of mine." Even though she was very vague, Broots understood her meaning completely.

"But now you have nothing to be jealous about," he remarked.

"I don't even know if he feels the same way," she said. Broots sighed and stroked her hair.

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. A very wise person said that once." Parker sniffed.

"Who?"

"Your mother. I saw it in a DSA once." She sat back and looked in his eyes.

"Thanks."

"Aw," he replied bashfully, "it was nothing, really." She put a finger to his lips to silence him, then kissed him on the cheek. After that, she got up and left the room.

Broots put a hand to his cheek and whispered, "I'm never washing this again."

~*~

"What?" Parker groggily answered her incessantly ringing phone.

"I'm going to need your help," came Jarod's voice on the other line. Parker sat up in bed, ran a hand through her hair, and blinked.

"Help with what?" she mumbled, not quite awake.

"You'll find that out in time," he replied. "Did I wake you up?" he asked innocently.

"Nah," she said sarcastically, "I was just doing some pottery."

"Parker. . ." he warned.

"You did wake me up, Jarod, but I don't mind."

"Marisa got to meet my dad today," he murmured, sounding like he was settling down in a seat. Parker closed her eyes before continuing.

"Jarod. . .before you go any further in your relationship with Marisa, I think you need to talk with Sydney," she offered.

"I seriously doubt Marisa and I will be going anywhere, Parker. Lately, I've been feeling more like her brother than a potential significant other." His casual remark almost caused Parker to cough. "Why would I need to talk with Sydney? What is it?" She swallowed.

"It's. . .it's really not my place to say, Jarod. Sydney was the handler for both of you. Just call him," she whispered before hanging up.

~*~

Jarod looked at the phone curiously before hitting the "end call button". Then he dialed Sydney's number at rapid speed and waited for him to pick up.

"This is Sydney."

"I've been told to talk to you about Marisa," Jarod stated.

"Jarod," Syd said sleepily, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Why haven't you told me about her before? And what is it that you're hiding now?" Syd sighed.

"I didn't tell you because I was ordered not to. Mr. Parker knew that if you were told, you would somehow get her out. Only he and I knew about her. Miss Parker met her a few times, but under the impression that Marisa, then Alison, was a visitor seeking employment. Not until a couple of years ago did she learn the truth. I was ordered to treat her like I couldn't treat you. She was a Parker toy, not Raines'. I'm sorry."

"I understand. At first, I was very angry, but now I realize that you were following orders. But, what is it that I have to talk to you about?" He sighed again.

"Jarod, Marisa--it's hard to explain. The short of it is that Marisa is your half-sister." A long pause followed.

"How can that be, Sydney? I've met her family."

"You met her birthmother and her stepfather. What you didn't know is that Marisa's mother went to NuGenesis for fertility treatments. They used your father's sperm to fertilize her mother's eggs for the sole purpose of creating another pretender. Keep in mind this was after the Ethan failure." Jarod laughed somewhat incredulously. Sydney went on: "They never intended for you to find each other."

"While I'm sickened that the Centre would continue doing this, I'm strangely elated. I've inadvertently found another member of my family! Syd, do you have any idea how many times I've come in contact with her?"

"How many?"

"Three. I helped her mother once, and then when Marisa was involved in a serial rape at her college. And the third was at the high school, where we were almost caught. I never even had a clue it was the same person until she told me."

"It's a lot to take in, I know," Sydney murmured.

"Is there something wrong with Parker?" Jarod asked, quickly changing the subject. Sydney hesitated before answering.

"Yes and no. But I'm not at liberty to discuss that with you. You'll have to talk to her about it. Jarod, I'm an old man, and I need my sleep. I suggest you get some too."

"Thanks, Sydney." Jarod hung up the phone, then readied himself for bed. The news about Marisa could wait until tomorrow.