Disclaimer: The characters are not my own, I'm only borrowing them to put them into situations of my own imagining.
Finding Family
Part Four
By Dr. Scott
Rating: G
Category: S
Timeline: Sometime in the middle of the series
Spoilers: None
Keywords: MPJF, JOF
Summary: Miss Parker accidentally shoots Jarod, which forces her to confront her feelings towards him. Meanwhile, a seriously injured Jarod has to learn to trust someone to help him and finds out a little about his family history.
Houston, Texas, Dawn Thursday
Jarod woke to the sound of birds twittering at the early light of dawn. He opened his eyes to a large room barely lit by the grey light. He was in a soft bed and as he tried to sit up pain like needles of fire pierce his shoulder front and back. He panicked a moment, disoriented by the pain. He struggled to sit up trying to remember how he got there and dizziness made him drop his head back into the pillow moaning. A rustling sound caught his attention and he rolled his head to the side to see a woman roll over and push up on one arm to look at him. She had been sleeping on a foam mattress on the floor next to the bed. Her red hair was tousled with sleep, but her eyes were instantly awake and focused with concern on him.
Suddenly, it all came back to him and he blushed with the memory. She had undressed him, bathed him, put him to bed like a baby and then had put stitches in his shoulder where he had been shot. He had endured the few on his back, but had clearly passed out while she had finished operating on the front of his shoulder.
"Water," he croaked. She nodded and gracefully rose reaching a glass on the bedside table that had a straw in it. She had already anticipated his need. Reaching under the pillow, she gently raised his head and held the glass so he could get a sip. He nodded gratefully, but winced as she lowered him back down.
"I found some old Tylenol 3 with codeine from when I had my baby. Let me give you some, you need more rest," she said. She walked to a nearby door of a bathroom and returned with two pills in her hand. Again she raised his head feeding him the medication and helping him drink water. Laying him back down, she gently brushed his hair back off his forehead and ran her fingers slowly through his hair while she hummed softly. Jarod relaxed in the bed a sense of absolute safety enveloping him as if he was back with his own mother as a young boy and he fell back asleep.
Raleigh, North Carolina, Thursday Morning
The sound of a car horn roused Parker slightly as she lay curled up in the bed. Her mind roamed somewhere in the half awake, half dream state. It was the smell that brought back the memories. Smells are often strong links to specific memories. In this case it was his smell. It was kind of musty, kind of sweet. She hadn't really noticed last night as she had fallen asleep exhausted by the busy day. But now the scent filled her mind of the first and last time she had slept in his bed….
The summer of 1975
It was the summer when she was fourteen. She had never felt so lonely or betrayed. The years since her beloved mother's death had only grown more desolate since her father spent night and day at work and the only time he saw her was to scold her. She had tried being good and she had tried being bad to get his attention, but neither had worked. All she had succeeded in was being removed from her school and away from her old friends and assigned to a tutor for continued studies. It was the summer. She was supposed to be going on vacations not taken to work every day. Her only friend was a mysterious boy they kept locked up in the basement of the Centre. They kept him so busy these days, constantly having him play acting like someone else and running these simulations. She really didn't see the point of it all.
She had ditched her tutor that afternoon out of sheer boredom and was determined to see Jarod. She hadn't been able to talk to him for over a week. She hid in some duct work. She and Jarod had met another mysterious little boy named Angelo who had guided them around all the secret tunnels of the Centre that only small people like themselves could comfortably fit through. She knew many of the passages by heart, especially those to her only friend.
She worked her way down several levels to where she knew they usually made Jarod perform in front of all the cameras. But the large room was strangely quiet. She took a chance to dash across the room to another set of vents. Going around would have taken twice as long. Quickly worming through the new set of ducts, she came to a set of three rooms that were Jarod's quarters. The big front room was set up like a class room, his bedroom and bathroom were the doors behind. There were bookshelves all around the walls lined with books and models that he had made. One wall was dominated by a huge projector screen and surround sound speakers. It would have been a teenager's entertainment center dream if she hadn't known what kinds of videos they subjected him with in the interest of the simulations they had him live through. "Psst, Jarod," she called out softly.
A dark haired boy looked up from a stack of papers on the desk in front of him and grinned at her. "Sydney's at a meeting today. Come in. I need a break from this stuff."
She hesitated a moment searching the room a moment with her eyes to confirm he was alone. She knew her Dad disapproved of her talking with Jarod, although she really didn't see why. But she didn't want to get caught and endure his scolding her again. "You want to play chess?" she asked hopefully. She had almost beaten him last time and had a new gambit up her sleeve to try out on him.
Jarod shook his head sadly. "I really have to have all this finished tonight. Just come talk to me a bit."
Parker walked up to the desk and picked up the top piece of paper. It was a series of chemical equations in Jarod's square, precise handwriting that looked almost like typesetting. "Oh, Chemistry," she said bored. "I did that last school year."
"Well, actually, it's more like a mystery," Jarod said defensively. "They want me to figure out the chain reaction that caused this chemical manufacturing plant to explode. It killed over 20 workers and they don't want it to happen again."
"Let me help," she offered.
"Okay, maybe I'll think of something when I explain it to you," Jarod said smugly. Without knowing it, he challenged her to a battle of wits and she was determined to wipe that smug smile off his face.
"Maybe I'll explain it to you," she snapped back.
Jarod grinned and began explaining the diagram of the chemical plant and the processes that it was designed to do. Parker really did know her chemistry and followed along asking clarifying questions. First, he would have an idea to follow and then she would suggest a variation that led another direction. They quickly lost track of time and were enjoying the chemical puzzle as much as a chess game.
Suddenly, Parker shouted, "Ah-ha!" triumphantly pointing to a blow up diagram of a distillation apparatus. "It couldn't have been accidental. Someone had to disconnect the flow to here in order for the products of that third reaction to back flow into the first!"
Jarod nodded slowly in agreement. He had kept looking for the way an accident could occur. He never liked to imagine someone deliberately sabotaging the plant and causing so much death and destruction.
"Very nice, Miss Parker," said a soft, accented voice.
Startled, they looked up guiltily to see Sydney, Jarod's mentor, standing in the doorway.
"Oh, Sydney, you're back early," Jarod said awkwardly.
"You two work very well together," Sydney observed studying Parker carefully.
She suddenly felt like he was about to lock her up in a room like this and turn her into one of the Centre's projects. "I better go," she said quickly, "I'll be late for dinner."
"Come see me again, soon," Jarod said quietly, his eyes begging her.
"I promise," she whispered back.
She nodded and walked to the front door. No point using the ducts if Sydney already knew she was here. She paused and looked back, "Please don't tell my father, Sydney," she implored. Sydney inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement.
Parker walked quickly down the hall and caught an elevator to the library level. Maybe she could make a big show about being there all afternoon. She snuck in when the librarian's back was turned and made her way to a study carol in the back. Pausing at a nearby shelf, she filled her arms with a stack of art history books and quickly opened a number of them to random pages and lay them carefully out like she had been studying them. Then she made a big show of coming out from the back, asking the librarian for some more paper since she had used up all of hers. She retreated back to the corner and permitted herself a sigh of relief. Maybe she would get away with it.
A short time later, she heard the steps of someone coming through the stacks and she looked up in surprise at her father. He surveyed the books and the stack of paper that had clearly not been written on. "Come to my office, Angel," he commanded, "We have to talk."
She followed him quietly wondering if he knew or whether this was just a scolding for having ditched the tutor. He held the door to his office open as she walked in and then shut and locked it firmly. She turned hesitantly at the sound of the click, and saw his face clouded with anger. "I will not be disrespected nor disobeyed," he said sternly. "You went and saw him again. When I told you not to. Didn't you?" he demanded.
She looked back at him trying to decide if he really knew or was just baiting her. "Who? I've been studying," she half lied. She had helped Jarod on his chemistry project.
"I will not tolerate lies!" her father roared and slapped her across the face. "You were seen on the lower levels which I have forbidden you to visit anymore."
"Sydney told you," she cried out in pain and disbelief.
"No," her father replied his eyes narrowing. "You were seen on the monitors of the simulation room. But I clearly need to question other people."
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault," she rushed to take blame and spare her friends. "It's just so boring with that tutor."
"Exactly," responded her father the heat of his anger quickly fading to cold calculation. "And that is why I am sending you off to boarding school tomorrow. I was planning to send you in the fall, but given the circumstances, sooner will be better. Pack a bag with a few things and I will send all the rest of your things along after you," he commanded with finality.
She stared in disbelief. Sent away just like that? But her father was all she had. The Centre was all she had ever known. And without saying goodbye to Jarod? She'd promised to see him again. She set her jaw determined to keep that promise.
She sat sullenly through dinner and picked at her food, while her father talked at her about the all girl's boarding school in Vermont and how wonderful it was supposed to be, but she only half listened. She remained quiet on the short ride to their house near the Centre as a plan formed in her mind. As they neared the house, she turned to her father with a smile, "I'm sorry, Daddy. I know you want what's best for me and it will be good to try this new school."
"That's my Angel," he praised feeling he had won.
She kissed her father goodnight and skipped up the stairs to pack her bag. She made lots of noise in the bathroom and called goodnight again as she heard him settle into his room. Then carrying the light bag she had packed, she snuck out of the house and clambered on her bike. She hadn't ridden it in ages and the tires were rather flat, but it went faster than she could walk and time was of the essence.
Arriving at the Centre, she hid the bike in some bushes and then walked quickly through the front doors barely acknowledging the guard who was used to seeing her go by. She took an elevator upstairs in case they were monitoring her, but quickly entered the ventilation ducts and worked her way back down to the lower levels.
She came into the large classroom that was all dark and stumbled against a chair as she made her way to his room. She never been in there before, only seen through the door. She turned the handle slowly, her heart beating like a drum. Would Jarod go along with her plan?
"Who's there?" he called out quietly. "Angelo?"
"It's me," she answered.
"Miss Parker?" he asked in amazement.
She could just make him out sitting in bed by the glow of a digital clock on a bookshelf on the wall beside the bed. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt and it reflected the faint light guiding her way. She reached the bed and reached out her hands. He took them into his own and pulled her on the edge of the bed.
"What are you doing here?" he wondered.
"Jarod, my father is sending me to boarding school, tomorrow. I didn't want to go without saying goodbye. I promised I would come see you."
"Nooo," he breathed sadly, "What will I do without you? You're my only friend," Jarod clutched her hands tightly.
"Let's run away," she proposed quickly, throwing her plan out without all the build up and reasoning she had practiced on the way there. "Let's get away from this place. You deserve a better life than this, Jarod."
He reached up to touch her face, and she flinched as his gentle fingers touched her cheek. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"He was furious with me for disobeying. He slapped me," she started crying softly. "It was my fault. He doesn't mean to hurt me. My father loves me," she asserted more to herself than to Jarod.
Jarod pulled her in a hug and let her cry on his shoulder. He buried his face in her hair and smelled the summery, violet smell she always had. His mind was racing with scenarios, but every one ended with disaster, and always with her father getting mad at her again.
To escape from this place. To feel the sun and the wind. The longing filled his soul and he was ready to risk everything, but he wouldn't risk her too. He knew they were too young. They might escape for a while, but they would eventually get caught. If they were older, and could get jobs to support themselves, maybe, but somehow, he knew even then that the Centre would never give up their hold on him.
"We can't. They'll catch us. You know it," he finally said sadly.
Parker lifted her head and looked at his sad eyes. She knew he was right. He was always right. "Will you always be my friend?" she asked feeling a pang of intense loneliness.
"I promise. I know they'll always have a hold on me. They treat me like a possession. But you are Mr. Parker's daughter. Everyone respects and fears him. You can get away. Oh, do, get away. Go to the boarding school. I can endure not seeing you if I know you are free of this place. I will always be here for you," Jarod promised.
"I'll always be your friend," she promised back looking up into his intense dark eyes.
Jarod brushed a lock of hair up off her face staring back at her, then ever so slowly he leaned over and kissed her lips gently. Ever since she had surprised him with his first kiss, he had wanted to try it again.
Leaning back, she placed a hand on his chest, "Please, just hold me a bit," she asked.
Not trusting himself to say anything, Jarod nodded. His emotions all in confusion. He knew he loved her and thought maybe she loved him back which made his heart soar. But at the same time he knew she had to leave and there was a good chance he would never see her again, and so he felt utter despair at the same time. Only the thought of her being free to live a real life gave him hope. That and the thought that someday he might see her again.
Jarod scooted over in his twin bed making room for her and pulled her down to share the pillow. He folded one arm up against her spine and threw the other protectively over her side as they snuggled like spoons. She began to cry again. He moved his hand to brush her hair slowly pulling his fingers through her soft hair and crooning softly having a rare flashback to something his mother had done when he was a child.
Parker felt his warmth on her back and the gentle stroking of her hair. She heard the soft humming and could smell his light musky scent on the pillow. She hadn't felt so safe in months and found herself drifting off to sleep.
Raleigh, North Carolina,
Miss Parker sat straight up in bed in disbelief. That's not how it went, she thought to herself. That's not a memory. It's a dream. It has to be a dream.
"I woke up in the infirmary the next morning," she said to herself out loud.
She closed her eyes tightly desperately trying to sort out conflicting memories. She had gone to see him and he rebuffed her. He had yelled mean things and then had attacked her. He had slapped her and she had only just been rescued by a sweeper before he could do anything worse. Right?
She had lived her life with that thought of Jarod. All through high school and all through college. Her father always telling her that Jarod was dangerous. That he needed to be confined to the Centre for his own and other's safety.
But suddenly that memory seemed a terrible lie and she was ashamed she had believed it so long. She lay back down and buried her head in his pillow, breathing in deeply the scent she found there. It brought only a sense of peace and comfort. She rolled over and touched her cheek in memory. Jarod hadn't slapped her. Her father had. He had reprogrammed her memories!
Parker sat back up again as a cold fury filled her veins. Her own father had manipulated her all those many years ago. Even now, he had her on his leash. Well, her eyes were beginning to open now. And she was going to help Jarod this time. She did owe it to him. Not because of some sense of guilt from having shot Jarod, but because he would always be her friend. She had promised.
