i) Thanks to gemini006007, Miss Dynamite, and Sabrina for reviewing. It's a little longer than usual, hope you enjoy.
ii) 'Don't forget to be the way you are' (Plasticine, Placebo)
Chapter Eight
Jarod took a deep breath before knocking lightly on the door. The house was non descript, fitting perfectly with the other houses that it was situated within. In fact there was nothing out of the ordinary about the whole neighbourhood; there were hundreds of other similar suburbs dotted about the land. The only difference, to Jarod, were the inhabitants of this particular address.
As the door slowly opened Jarod exhaled in relief at the sight in front of him. For a moment the two the figures stared at each other, each seemingly unable to find the appropriate words.
"Mom!"
Jarod remained rooted to the spot. Everything he had planned to say forgotten for the moment, the boy's single word throwing him off balance. He remained in constant eye contact with the person stood opposite until, from the corner of his vision, he noticed Miss Parker rushing into the hallway. If she felt any surprise she didn't show it as she walked up to his clone and placed her hand reassuringly on the boy's shoulder.
"You took your time." They were the only words she spoke, her voice neutral.
Jarod smiled at her statement, if only she knew how hard it had been to find her. "I just missed you at Ben's." He extended his smile down to the boy but only received a half smile in response. Miss Parker, dressed casually in jeans and a shirt, stood protectively behind him. The threesome remained that way for some time, each lost in their own separate thoughts.
"Are you going to come in?" It was the youngest of the house who spoke up, surprising both of the adults.
Jarod's eyes flickered between the two occupants before accepting the offer. He was led into the small house by his clone, leaving Miss Parker to close the door. Jarod noticed the lack of personal belongings as he was led into the small living room, he turned his head to see Miss Parker following. He could sense no hostility directed towards him, in fact he wondered if she had even considered her own feelings concerning him, her attention was focussed on the boy. It hadn't escaped his notice that the boy had called her 'Mom' and if circumstances had been different he would have jumped at the chance to tease her about it.
"Do you want a drink?" Again it was the boy who spoke up, a bit surer of himself this time.
Jarod nodded happily as he took a seat on the comfy sofa, one of the very few items in the room. A quick glance at Miss Parker confirmed that she still had her attention on the boy. Once Jarod had chosen from the various beverages offered to him, and his clone had departed to the kitchen, he felt Miss Parker's attention finally turn towards him.
"How did you find us?", Miss Parker asked softly. She had resigned herself to the fact Jarod would find her eventually, it would just be a matter of time.
"I'm a genius, remember?" He watched as she contemplated his response, marvelling in how relaxed she seemed. In actual fact it was a fluke, a coincidence, some may say even fate itself that he had found them. His father had been following a lead on Margaret and Emily, only that wasn't who he found. Jarod was thankful that his father had resisted the urge to approach her himself, instead he had contacted Jarod immediately.
Miss Parker approached her old foe and stood, arms crossed, in front of him. "What do you want, Jarod?" She knew what he wanted; Matthew.
Jarod sighed and tried to stop the smile that was threatening to break out across his face. Her attachment to the boy was apparent and, if he was honest, it surprised him a little; despite the fact he had always known that deep inside she had a heart. "I'm not going to take him away from you Parker. I just want the chance to get to know him." And to know her again.
Miss Parker unfurled her arms and sighed. "His name is Matthew. I swear to God Jarod if you do anything to hurt him, ever, I will kill you."
Jarod nodded in response, the whole idea was absurd. The only person who would get hurt would be Parker when she found out what else The Centre had been up to. But that could wait a little longer, there were other bridges to be built first.
Miss Parker stood back a little, "Jarod, Raines told Matthew that you murdered his parents." She couldn't help the bitterness creep into her voice.
"That's why he's a little nervous", Jarod said, more to himself than anyone else. That Raines had told such lies was not shocking but still hurt all the same.
"We've discussed in depth the 'truth' about your connection. I think his curiousity about you will overcome any lies he was told." Miss Parker took a seat across from Jarod as Matthew returned, laden with drinks and questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Broots blinked at the screen with little success. He rubbed his eyes and found an improvement, his vision was no longer double. He was tired and thoughts of home, and his bed, filled his mind. He should really go home and get some rest but it wasn't a real option - Brigette was expecting answers and he still had his normal Centre duties to fulfill. And he was still worried about getting caught red handed.
"Any luck so far?"
The mixture of tiredness and deep concentration meant he hadn't even realised Sydney had entered the room. "None, Brigette is not going to be happy", he whined.
Sydney took a seat and observed the younger man. Broots looked tired, he had a valid reason though; he was currently searching recordings going back several years trying to find something on the elusive Project Silence - it was a very apt name for a project that was seemingly non existent. Sydney had withheld the information that Jarod had passed on to him from Broots, he didn't want to add to his load. "Let me take over for a while." He would try and make the younger man take a longer break later on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Parker had watched the two men in the house intently. Matthew had recovered from his initial shock of seeing Jarod and, armed with the knowledge that Jarod really wasn't who he had been led to believe, had ploughed headlong into a mini 'interrogation' of the pretender. She had tried to answer his many questions about Jarod as best as she could but she couldn't comment upon his family; besides the fact she believed that the Major was her mother's killer, what else could she say about them? Jarod though had answered each question honestly and had metered out almost as many of his own to Matthew in return. During all of this she found herself catering a light meal, avoiding Jarod's jaw as it hit the floor, and was content to merely observe whilst Jarod regaled Matthew with tales of his various pretends.
It was strange how similar they were, even given their 'likeness' and knowing of their connection. She thought it must be the intellectual level on which they connected but had to discard this idea when Matthew had suggested they play video games. She had bought the machine for him because she was reluctant to let him out of her sight, the thought that The Centre may be just around the corner filled her with dread. If she was honest with herself it was because of Jarod too.
She knew it wouldn't take him long to find out that she had left and that she had taken Matthew too. The only surprise to his arrival that afternoon had been the fact that it had taken him almost two months to catch up with her. Time in which she had grown very close to Matthew, so much so that she couldn't imagine giving him up. Even to those who actually had a valid claim to him. That Jarod could take him away from her worried her almost as much as The Centre, despite the fact the former would be much more agreeable.
As Matthew and Jarod fought good naturedly about the game they were playing Miss Parker thought about how her life had changed. She knew Jarod would call her on the choices she had made, how she herself had changed. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to be honest with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lyle waited patiently in his father's office, the older man was at a meeting with Mtumbo. No one else had been invited prompting him to take up his current residence in anticipation of his father bringing him up to speed on his return. He had even tried out his father's chair, if things went well it could be his soon enough. He glanced at his watch, it was getting late, it couldn't be good news. Time was running out for his father, maybe it was time for a new chairman.
Lyle stood up straight when he heard his fathers approaching footsteps. "Dad, how did it go?" He watched his father, who seemed to have aged ten years in the short time since Mtumbo's arrival, make his way to his chair and slump into it. "Dad?"
Mr Parker unloosened his tie, "Shouldn't you be out looking for that sister of yours?"
"I just came back from a false sighting this morning", Lyle explained, it had been harder than he had expected to find his sister - she knew how The Centre worked, how the sweepers operated. She had been on the other side of the hunt after all. There had not been a shred of evidence of either her or the boy.
Mr Parker growled his disapproval, "We may not have much longer anyway." Unbuttoning the top fastening on his shirt he continued, "Mtumbo is ending some of The Centre's projects, relocating staff."
Lyle leant forward on the desk, "Downsizing?"
"For the moment, yes." He didn't add that he suspected restructuring was a distinct possibility too and that he feared he himself would be the first to go - and The Centre wasn't renowned for it's retirement packages.
"Can't we make some kind of deal, we have the potential on hand after all." Lyle was beginning to have some doubts about the baby's true heritage, he needed to find out for sure.
"No. Until that child is born nothing is assured." Mr Parker opened his desk drawer and took out his gun. "If anyone else were to find out before the child is born...", he placed the gun on his desk, "I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
Lyle shook his head. "What are you going to do?"
"I may need to take Brigette and run, just until the baby is born." Mr Parker stared into his son's eyes, "I need you to be my eyes and ears should I go."
"Of course." Lyle smiled, things could end up taking a different course but maybe he could still be at the top in the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So where is Miss Parker and what have you done with her?" Jarod walked into the kitchen, leaving Matthew playing with the video games.
Miss Parker groaned inwardly and finished washing up the dishes. She did not answer him until her task was done, turning round to see him leaning against the counter, arms folded, playful smile on his face. "Would you prefer me to take a shot at you?"
"No,", he replied shaking his head, thinking that she may just feel like doing that once he told her what he knew. "Thank you Parker, for taking Matthew. For taking care of him and for telling him about me." Jarod released his arms, "When I saw him that first time I felt... they had made a copy of me."
She stared into his eyes for some time, "When I look into his eyes, I don't see you Jarod. I see a lot of similarities, but I don't see you. He hasn't got your soul. Despite how he came into this world, he's not you."
Jarod returned her gaze thoughtfully, her words meant so much to him. He liked talking to her like this, as individuals not representatives from opposing sides. "I was going to get him out of there, you beat me to it." Jarod cocked his head to one side and when she didn't reply added, "You could have stayed at The Centre if I had got there first."
"Maybe", she ventured. She refused to contemplate how things might have turned out had she not taken Matthew, she'd wasted too much time wishing her life had taken a different path; that her mother had lived, that she'd never heard about The Centre, that she'd left with Thomas. She appraised the man standing opposite her for the first time since his arrival; he looked happy - he finally had part of his family whilst she'd left her own behind. Thoughts that he may take Matthew invaded her mind again. "So what now?"
Jarod's smiled faltered. "With Matthew?"
Miss Parker nodded, what else could there be that was more important?
"I told you I'm not going to take him away from you, I wouldn't take him from his mother." He raised his eyebrows at her questioningly. He couldn't resist teasing her just a little.
Miss Parker stared at him but she couldn't summon the anger to go with it. Instead she found herself explaining that it was Matthew's idea to start calling her 'Mom'. They had engaged on a pretend of their own, as mother and son, and it was something that she felt comfortable with; they both did. She expected Jarod to make some kind of comment about her previous attitude towards children and motherhood but he remained silent, in fact he seemed accepting of the whole idea.
He knew he had to be honest with her, he just wished he didn't have to break the moment. "I need to talk to you about The Centre."
Miss Parker raised her eyebrows, "What about it?" The smile that had graced her face moments earlier began to slip.
Jarod drank in her features before answering, he had a feeling it would be some time before she looked so happy. "They were running another project at Donoterase, playing God again." Jarod kept his voice low so Matthew could not hear.
Miss Parker eyed Jarod warily, "Go on."
"I had started some research on fertility problems before I escaped, to help couples who had difficulty conceiving naturally. The Centre continued it." Jarod paused seeking Miss Parker's eyes. "They were using our DNA to try and create the ultimate pretender."
Miss Parker shook her head, it had to be a lie. "Why would... How..." She gave up trying to find the words to deny it, Jarod wouldn't lie to her. He would withhold information from her, taunt her with clues, but he wouldn't lie to her - not about something like this. She could see in his eyes it was the truth. "Did they succeed?"
Jarod was momentarily stunned by her acceptance of his words, he had expected her to deny it and accuse him of lying. When he found his voice his words, though honest, were woefully inadequate, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" There was no malice in her voice.
"I only found the files by chance when I was at Donoterase. I do know that any 'samples' they held were destroyed when I blew up the facility."
"But you think there's a possibility that we have..." She let the sentence trail off. There was a whole world of difference between thinking something and saying it out loud.
"They had succeded in creating reproductive cells which they used to create embryos. I only took so many files and the information they contained was not complete. This project was kept completely off the radar from the start, but it was practically buried once I escaped."
"Less chance of either of us discovering it."
Jarod nodded his agreement, "Yes. There's something else too."
Miss Parker looked up at him, "It was my father's project wasn't it?" It made sense, he had kept Project Gemini secret because he knew how she would react to the boy, he was right to keep this secret too because right now she wanted nothing better than to blow his brains out. How could he do that to her, his daughter?
"I'm sorry Parker."
"Don't call me that, Jarod." She wanted nothing more to do with her father and that included his name. She could feel the anger rising, she wanted to lash out at someone but not Jarod - he didn't deserve that. Neither did Matthew. She would reserve that for her father.
"There's something else, Milly." Jarod paused waiting to be rebuked for using her name, even though she had practically asked him too. When none came he continued, "There's a chance Brigette may be involved."
"Brigette?" She looked away from him, anywhere but his eyes as she considered what he meant. "She can't have children naturally..." Her voice cracked making her unable to finish the sentence.
Jarod chewed his lip, he wanted nothing more than to go to her and take her in his arms but he resisted. "I won't let them get away with this... I promise."
She wasn't sure what startes it; if it was his vow, the way he spoke, the realisation that her father really was the cold, calculating monster she always denied he was, or maybe it was just Jarod's use of her name - whichever it was she couldn't stop the tears from sliding down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brigette stalked into the lab finally finding Broots in the company of Sydney and Angelo. She walked up to Broots until she was inches away from him, ignoring the other occupants of the room. "My answers?", she asked sweetly.
"N... N... Nothing yet." He glanced over to Sydney for support but the Belgian only shrugged his shoulders.
"I hope you haven't been consulting the doctor about our problem?"
Broots shook his head, managing to mutter a 'No'. He was thankful when Sydney finally intervened.
"My door is always open if you would like to discuss anything, strictly confidential." Sydney had relented and told Broots of his conversation with Jarod, he figured he couldn't make the man any more nervous.
Brigette glared at the psychiatrist but didn't reply. She didn't notice Angelo come up the side of her until he placed his hand on her ever growing abdomen. She recoiled instantly but Angelo only grinned at her.
Sydney took Angelo by the arm to lead him away but the younger man resisted. He looked at Brigette and uttered, "Mother."
"That's right", Sydney soothed as he took a firmer grip, leading Angelo away from Brigette, "She's having a baby."
Brigette stormed out of the lab in disgust, "Can't you keep any of your lab rats under control, Doctor?". She rubbed her hand across her stomach once she was outside, she knew of Angelo's abilities and what he meant by his statement. Did he mean that she was the real mother? She had also noticed the look that had passed between Sydney and Broots, they knew more than they were letting on.
Inside the lab Broots looked from Sydney to Angelo, "Does that mean...?"
Angelo though merely kept on smiling happily, repeating the same word over and over.
Sydney could only smile in response and once again shrug his shoulders. He hoped it did.
ii) 'Don't forget to be the way you are' (Plasticine, Placebo)
Chapter Eight
Jarod took a deep breath before knocking lightly on the door. The house was non descript, fitting perfectly with the other houses that it was situated within. In fact there was nothing out of the ordinary about the whole neighbourhood; there were hundreds of other similar suburbs dotted about the land. The only difference, to Jarod, were the inhabitants of this particular address.
As the door slowly opened Jarod exhaled in relief at the sight in front of him. For a moment the two the figures stared at each other, each seemingly unable to find the appropriate words.
"Mom!"
Jarod remained rooted to the spot. Everything he had planned to say forgotten for the moment, the boy's single word throwing him off balance. He remained in constant eye contact with the person stood opposite until, from the corner of his vision, he noticed Miss Parker rushing into the hallway. If she felt any surprise she didn't show it as she walked up to his clone and placed her hand reassuringly on the boy's shoulder.
"You took your time." They were the only words she spoke, her voice neutral.
Jarod smiled at her statement, if only she knew how hard it had been to find her. "I just missed you at Ben's." He extended his smile down to the boy but only received a half smile in response. Miss Parker, dressed casually in jeans and a shirt, stood protectively behind him. The threesome remained that way for some time, each lost in their own separate thoughts.
"Are you going to come in?" It was the youngest of the house who spoke up, surprising both of the adults.
Jarod's eyes flickered between the two occupants before accepting the offer. He was led into the small house by his clone, leaving Miss Parker to close the door. Jarod noticed the lack of personal belongings as he was led into the small living room, he turned his head to see Miss Parker following. He could sense no hostility directed towards him, in fact he wondered if she had even considered her own feelings concerning him, her attention was focussed on the boy. It hadn't escaped his notice that the boy had called her 'Mom' and if circumstances had been different he would have jumped at the chance to tease her about it.
"Do you want a drink?" Again it was the boy who spoke up, a bit surer of himself this time.
Jarod nodded happily as he took a seat on the comfy sofa, one of the very few items in the room. A quick glance at Miss Parker confirmed that she still had her attention on the boy. Once Jarod had chosen from the various beverages offered to him, and his clone had departed to the kitchen, he felt Miss Parker's attention finally turn towards him.
"How did you find us?", Miss Parker asked softly. She had resigned herself to the fact Jarod would find her eventually, it would just be a matter of time.
"I'm a genius, remember?" He watched as she contemplated his response, marvelling in how relaxed she seemed. In actual fact it was a fluke, a coincidence, some may say even fate itself that he had found them. His father had been following a lead on Margaret and Emily, only that wasn't who he found. Jarod was thankful that his father had resisted the urge to approach her himself, instead he had contacted Jarod immediately.
Miss Parker approached her old foe and stood, arms crossed, in front of him. "What do you want, Jarod?" She knew what he wanted; Matthew.
Jarod sighed and tried to stop the smile that was threatening to break out across his face. Her attachment to the boy was apparent and, if he was honest, it surprised him a little; despite the fact he had always known that deep inside she had a heart. "I'm not going to take him away from you Parker. I just want the chance to get to know him." And to know her again.
Miss Parker unfurled her arms and sighed. "His name is Matthew. I swear to God Jarod if you do anything to hurt him, ever, I will kill you."
Jarod nodded in response, the whole idea was absurd. The only person who would get hurt would be Parker when she found out what else The Centre had been up to. But that could wait a little longer, there were other bridges to be built first.
Miss Parker stood back a little, "Jarod, Raines told Matthew that you murdered his parents." She couldn't help the bitterness creep into her voice.
"That's why he's a little nervous", Jarod said, more to himself than anyone else. That Raines had told such lies was not shocking but still hurt all the same.
"We've discussed in depth the 'truth' about your connection. I think his curiousity about you will overcome any lies he was told." Miss Parker took a seat across from Jarod as Matthew returned, laden with drinks and questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Broots blinked at the screen with little success. He rubbed his eyes and found an improvement, his vision was no longer double. He was tired and thoughts of home, and his bed, filled his mind. He should really go home and get some rest but it wasn't a real option - Brigette was expecting answers and he still had his normal Centre duties to fulfill. And he was still worried about getting caught red handed.
"Any luck so far?"
The mixture of tiredness and deep concentration meant he hadn't even realised Sydney had entered the room. "None, Brigette is not going to be happy", he whined.
Sydney took a seat and observed the younger man. Broots looked tired, he had a valid reason though; he was currently searching recordings going back several years trying to find something on the elusive Project Silence - it was a very apt name for a project that was seemingly non existent. Sydney had withheld the information that Jarod had passed on to him from Broots, he didn't want to add to his load. "Let me take over for a while." He would try and make the younger man take a longer break later on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Parker had watched the two men in the house intently. Matthew had recovered from his initial shock of seeing Jarod and, armed with the knowledge that Jarod really wasn't who he had been led to believe, had ploughed headlong into a mini 'interrogation' of the pretender. She had tried to answer his many questions about Jarod as best as she could but she couldn't comment upon his family; besides the fact she believed that the Major was her mother's killer, what else could she say about them? Jarod though had answered each question honestly and had metered out almost as many of his own to Matthew in return. During all of this she found herself catering a light meal, avoiding Jarod's jaw as it hit the floor, and was content to merely observe whilst Jarod regaled Matthew with tales of his various pretends.
It was strange how similar they were, even given their 'likeness' and knowing of their connection. She thought it must be the intellectual level on which they connected but had to discard this idea when Matthew had suggested they play video games. She had bought the machine for him because she was reluctant to let him out of her sight, the thought that The Centre may be just around the corner filled her with dread. If she was honest with herself it was because of Jarod too.
She knew it wouldn't take him long to find out that she had left and that she had taken Matthew too. The only surprise to his arrival that afternoon had been the fact that it had taken him almost two months to catch up with her. Time in which she had grown very close to Matthew, so much so that she couldn't imagine giving him up. Even to those who actually had a valid claim to him. That Jarod could take him away from her worried her almost as much as The Centre, despite the fact the former would be much more agreeable.
As Matthew and Jarod fought good naturedly about the game they were playing Miss Parker thought about how her life had changed. She knew Jarod would call her on the choices she had made, how she herself had changed. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to be honest with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lyle waited patiently in his father's office, the older man was at a meeting with Mtumbo. No one else had been invited prompting him to take up his current residence in anticipation of his father bringing him up to speed on his return. He had even tried out his father's chair, if things went well it could be his soon enough. He glanced at his watch, it was getting late, it couldn't be good news. Time was running out for his father, maybe it was time for a new chairman.
Lyle stood up straight when he heard his fathers approaching footsteps. "Dad, how did it go?" He watched his father, who seemed to have aged ten years in the short time since Mtumbo's arrival, make his way to his chair and slump into it. "Dad?"
Mr Parker unloosened his tie, "Shouldn't you be out looking for that sister of yours?"
"I just came back from a false sighting this morning", Lyle explained, it had been harder than he had expected to find his sister - she knew how The Centre worked, how the sweepers operated. She had been on the other side of the hunt after all. There had not been a shred of evidence of either her or the boy.
Mr Parker growled his disapproval, "We may not have much longer anyway." Unbuttoning the top fastening on his shirt he continued, "Mtumbo is ending some of The Centre's projects, relocating staff."
Lyle leant forward on the desk, "Downsizing?"
"For the moment, yes." He didn't add that he suspected restructuring was a distinct possibility too and that he feared he himself would be the first to go - and The Centre wasn't renowned for it's retirement packages.
"Can't we make some kind of deal, we have the potential on hand after all." Lyle was beginning to have some doubts about the baby's true heritage, he needed to find out for sure.
"No. Until that child is born nothing is assured." Mr Parker opened his desk drawer and took out his gun. "If anyone else were to find out before the child is born...", he placed the gun on his desk, "I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
Lyle shook his head. "What are you going to do?"
"I may need to take Brigette and run, just until the baby is born." Mr Parker stared into his son's eyes, "I need you to be my eyes and ears should I go."
"Of course." Lyle smiled, things could end up taking a different course but maybe he could still be at the top in the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So where is Miss Parker and what have you done with her?" Jarod walked into the kitchen, leaving Matthew playing with the video games.
Miss Parker groaned inwardly and finished washing up the dishes. She did not answer him until her task was done, turning round to see him leaning against the counter, arms folded, playful smile on his face. "Would you prefer me to take a shot at you?"
"No,", he replied shaking his head, thinking that she may just feel like doing that once he told her what he knew. "Thank you Parker, for taking Matthew. For taking care of him and for telling him about me." Jarod released his arms, "When I saw him that first time I felt... they had made a copy of me."
She stared into his eyes for some time, "When I look into his eyes, I don't see you Jarod. I see a lot of similarities, but I don't see you. He hasn't got your soul. Despite how he came into this world, he's not you."
Jarod returned her gaze thoughtfully, her words meant so much to him. He liked talking to her like this, as individuals not representatives from opposing sides. "I was going to get him out of there, you beat me to it." Jarod cocked his head to one side and when she didn't reply added, "You could have stayed at The Centre if I had got there first."
"Maybe", she ventured. She refused to contemplate how things might have turned out had she not taken Matthew, she'd wasted too much time wishing her life had taken a different path; that her mother had lived, that she'd never heard about The Centre, that she'd left with Thomas. She appraised the man standing opposite her for the first time since his arrival; he looked happy - he finally had part of his family whilst she'd left her own behind. Thoughts that he may take Matthew invaded her mind again. "So what now?"
Jarod's smiled faltered. "With Matthew?"
Miss Parker nodded, what else could there be that was more important?
"I told you I'm not going to take him away from you, I wouldn't take him from his mother." He raised his eyebrows at her questioningly. He couldn't resist teasing her just a little.
Miss Parker stared at him but she couldn't summon the anger to go with it. Instead she found herself explaining that it was Matthew's idea to start calling her 'Mom'. They had engaged on a pretend of their own, as mother and son, and it was something that she felt comfortable with; they both did. She expected Jarod to make some kind of comment about her previous attitude towards children and motherhood but he remained silent, in fact he seemed accepting of the whole idea.
He knew he had to be honest with her, he just wished he didn't have to break the moment. "I need to talk to you about The Centre."
Miss Parker raised her eyebrows, "What about it?" The smile that had graced her face moments earlier began to slip.
Jarod drank in her features before answering, he had a feeling it would be some time before she looked so happy. "They were running another project at Donoterase, playing God again." Jarod kept his voice low so Matthew could not hear.
Miss Parker eyed Jarod warily, "Go on."
"I had started some research on fertility problems before I escaped, to help couples who had difficulty conceiving naturally. The Centre continued it." Jarod paused seeking Miss Parker's eyes. "They were using our DNA to try and create the ultimate pretender."
Miss Parker shook her head, it had to be a lie. "Why would... How..." She gave up trying to find the words to deny it, Jarod wouldn't lie to her. He would withhold information from her, taunt her with clues, but he wouldn't lie to her - not about something like this. She could see in his eyes it was the truth. "Did they succeed?"
Jarod was momentarily stunned by her acceptance of his words, he had expected her to deny it and accuse him of lying. When he found his voice his words, though honest, were woefully inadequate, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" There was no malice in her voice.
"I only found the files by chance when I was at Donoterase. I do know that any 'samples' they held were destroyed when I blew up the facility."
"But you think there's a possibility that we have..." She let the sentence trail off. There was a whole world of difference between thinking something and saying it out loud.
"They had succeded in creating reproductive cells which they used to create embryos. I only took so many files and the information they contained was not complete. This project was kept completely off the radar from the start, but it was practically buried once I escaped."
"Less chance of either of us discovering it."
Jarod nodded his agreement, "Yes. There's something else too."
Miss Parker looked up at him, "It was my father's project wasn't it?" It made sense, he had kept Project Gemini secret because he knew how she would react to the boy, he was right to keep this secret too because right now she wanted nothing better than to blow his brains out. How could he do that to her, his daughter?
"I'm sorry Parker."
"Don't call me that, Jarod." She wanted nothing more to do with her father and that included his name. She could feel the anger rising, she wanted to lash out at someone but not Jarod - he didn't deserve that. Neither did Matthew. She would reserve that for her father.
"There's something else, Milly." Jarod paused waiting to be rebuked for using her name, even though she had practically asked him too. When none came he continued, "There's a chance Brigette may be involved."
"Brigette?" She looked away from him, anywhere but his eyes as she considered what he meant. "She can't have children naturally..." Her voice cracked making her unable to finish the sentence.
Jarod chewed his lip, he wanted nothing more than to go to her and take her in his arms but he resisted. "I won't let them get away with this... I promise."
She wasn't sure what startes it; if it was his vow, the way he spoke, the realisation that her father really was the cold, calculating monster she always denied he was, or maybe it was just Jarod's use of her name - whichever it was she couldn't stop the tears from sliding down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brigette stalked into the lab finally finding Broots in the company of Sydney and Angelo. She walked up to Broots until she was inches away from him, ignoring the other occupants of the room. "My answers?", she asked sweetly.
"N... N... Nothing yet." He glanced over to Sydney for support but the Belgian only shrugged his shoulders.
"I hope you haven't been consulting the doctor about our problem?"
Broots shook his head, managing to mutter a 'No'. He was thankful when Sydney finally intervened.
"My door is always open if you would like to discuss anything, strictly confidential." Sydney had relented and told Broots of his conversation with Jarod, he figured he couldn't make the man any more nervous.
Brigette glared at the psychiatrist but didn't reply. She didn't notice Angelo come up the side of her until he placed his hand on her ever growing abdomen. She recoiled instantly but Angelo only grinned at her.
Sydney took Angelo by the arm to lead him away but the younger man resisted. He looked at Brigette and uttered, "Mother."
"That's right", Sydney soothed as he took a firmer grip, leading Angelo away from Brigette, "She's having a baby."
Brigette stormed out of the lab in disgust, "Can't you keep any of your lab rats under control, Doctor?". She rubbed her hand across her stomach once she was outside, she knew of Angelo's abilities and what he meant by his statement. Did he mean that she was the real mother? She had also noticed the look that had passed between Sydney and Broots, they knew more than they were letting on.
Inside the lab Broots looked from Sydney to Angelo, "Does that mean...?"
Angelo though merely kept on smiling happily, repeating the same word over and over.
Sydney could only smile in response and once again shrug his shoulders. He hoped it did.