i) Thanks to Sabrina and gemini006007.
ii) 'Not that good, but I'm not that bad' (On Your Own, Blur)
Chapter Nine
Matthew entered the kitchen mostly out of curiousity, he had heard them talking but he didn't know what they were discussing. And then it had gone quiet. He found the occupants stood at opposite sides of the small kitchen and she was obviously upset about something. His instinct was to protect the woman he had come to think of as his mother and he took up a position at her side, "What's wrong?"
Miss Parker brushed at the tears that had fallen, "It's okay Matthew."
Matthew turned to Jarod, "What have you done to her?", he accused. He felt his Mom place her hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
"It's not Jarod's fault." She gently turned Matthew around to face her and looking into his eyes repeated her previous statement, adding "I received some news about my father, something he's done."
Jarod watched from the other side of the room, the whole situation was almost surreal. In some respects he wished it was. Matthew had displayed the same loyalty towards Miss Parker as she had towards him and despite the strange situation he found himself in he wanted to smile.
Matthew looked into her eyes, he was still unsure of the circumstances. He liked Jarod, he really did, but there was only one person he cared about - and she would come first. "Is he angry at you for taking me?"
Miss Parker smiled a little, the tears ceasing to flow. "You could say that, yes. But that's his problem, not ours." Mr Parker was probably severely pissed off, but he didn't have any right to be. Right now he could rot in Hell for all she cared. She glanced at Jarod and caught his eye for a moment before returning her attention to Matthew, "Why don't you and Jarod help yourselves to some ice cream?" She glanced back at Jarod and he caught her intention.
"Sounds good to me. What do you say Matthew, you can let me try and beat you on that game again?" He spoke to the boy but Matthew's focus was still upon Miss Parker. He had caught the look in her eye, he wasn't sure how it had happened. It was like that time in Dover Town bank, communication without words.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?", Matthew asked hesitantly.
Miss Parker broke out one of her genuine smiles, the one she had been using more and more since she'd left The Centre. "Yeah, I just need a little time out, okay?" Matthew's concern touched her heart and eased the pain she was feeling.
The boy nodded and reluctantly released her from his scrutiny, only half convinced she was as well as she made out she was.
Jarod caught her eye as she passed by and felt her pain, it was something he'd felt when he had discovered the files. Except he hadn't been betrayed by someone who'd passed themself off as a parent. For her the pain was much greater. He and the boy watched in silence as she made her way out to the back yard and stood in the middle of the lawn.
"Is she going to be okay?" He searched Jarod's face for some kind of reassurance.
Jarod smiled down at Matthew, "I think so. She just has some things she needs to think about." He hoped that she had held onto some of the ice queen attributes that had gotten her through before.
Matthew watched the figure on the grass and hoped he was right.
"You're very close to each other." He had managed to quell the stab of jealousy he had felt at their relationship. Matthew had accomplished something in a short time that he himself had been attempting for nearly three years.
Matthew turned his attention to Jarod, "Yes."
The boys reply was genuine, honest and Jarod felt guilty at the green eyed monster that had reared it's head. "It's her smile isn't it?" The boy cocked his head in a manner that Jarod found eerily familiar, then nodded. He couldn't help but grin at the boy, "Me too."
Matthew stared at the pretender and once again experienced that odd feeling, the one that he now knew was, at least in part, a result of their 'connection'.
"I was a bit younger than you are now when I first met her", Jarod elaborated, "The Centre wanted to test my reactions." He stared back out of the window, "She was the first girl I remember meeting and, after years of isolation, she was like an angel to me." He continued to gaze at Miss Parker, "When she smiled at me that first time I knew I would do whatever I could to keep her smiling." He dragged his attention away from her, back to the boy, "But I never could." He frowned a little, "You make her smile, Matthew. Don't ever stop."
Matthew continued his scrutiny of the older man, "She smiles when she talks about you", he admitted.
Jarod raised his eyebrows, surely not?
Matthew continued. "When she smiles I feel safe, I feel like a real person." He turned his attention towards her, "I know she's not genetically my mother but she's just like I imagined my parents would be." He shrugged his shoulders and looked back at Jarod, "Is that okay?" Jarod's family, in essence his family too, were at the back of his mind and he didn't want to hurt them. But the most important person to him at this moment was stood outside, he wanted Jarod to understand that.
Jarod nodded his head, half thinking of Sydney. He understood what Matthew was implying and it caused him to think of his own situation. He had embraced his father openly after thirty years abscence yet Sydney had been a constant in his life for that same period and he continued to push him away. He knew that Sydney's hand had been forced,that it was Sydney who looked out for him still, even now that he was no longer under the doctor's 'care'. If he could blame Sydney for not doing all he could, why did his father escape the same treatment? Could the major have tried harder to rescue him?
"You'll always be a part of my family, Matthew. I hope I can be a part of yours too."
Matthew nodded his head, "I'd like that, Jarod." He was glad he hadn't upset the older man, he really would like the opportunity to know him better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sydney rested his eyes momentarily and tried not to look at his phone. He had Jarod's number after all, should he try to contact him? There were two factors to consider though; firstly this was a Centre phone and therefore highly likely to be bugged, secondly what could he tell the missing pretender at this point? When Angelo had uttered his statement he had refused to let his hopes rise, was the Centre's resident inmate aware of surrogacy? He longed to believe so, Angelo had difficulties communicating but Sydney knew he understood more than most believed.
Angelo had scampered off into the dark recesses of The Centre not long after Brigette had stormed out. He had managed to persuade Broots to go home too but he couldn't force himself to leave just yet. He knew he would be in for another restless night. A slight noise from the overhead vent drew his attention.
Angelo gracefully fell into Sydney's office, a skill that proved it was something he had done before. In one hand he held a video camera and he proferred it to Sydney, "Bad".
Sydney took the camera wondering how Angelo managed to get hold of such things. He placed it on his desk and pulled out the view screen. He remembered Angelo frustration the last time he had attempted to extricate what the younger man was trying to say. He hoped that this would shed some light. He pressed the button to start the camera.
#####
Mtumbo's office
Two days previously
Mtumbo glared at the screen. He'd had it set up especially for this meeting with the other two members of the Triumverate, live via satellite etc. He waited for the picture to clear again, the time delay a slight annoyance, couldn't he get some people to look into such matters? "Well?" There really was no substitution for an old fashioned tete a tete, where fists could be flung or bullets fired. What would he achieve this way other than to break a very expensive piece of equipment, and have Centre employees poking their noses in.
The two figures, each apparently in a seperate location appeared to consider the question a moment longer. The man on the left of the screen spoke first, "I agree. The pretender project, though profitable, is now in jeapordy. We can no longer condone this futile pursuit, and with limited genetic samples to work with, I cannot forsee any further uses for this facility."
The second man, somewhat older, scratched the whiskers on his chin absently. "Then we are all in agreement, The Centre is no longer a viable option. We need to filter out the best and relocate."
Mtumbo smiled his agreement, "And the rest of the employees gentlemen? We can't just cut them loose."
The first man spoke up again, "Those that know very little can be released, even give them a glowing reference. The rest, if they are of no use to ourselves, we can dispose of."
The second man's eyes lit up a little at this. "Yes, yes. An explosion of some sort perhaps? I believe that almost occurred last year, a rebellious employee maybe?" He scratched his chin again. "Can we leave this in your hands?"
Mtumbo nodded sagely and the two faces on the screen faded away.
#####
Sydney stared at the blank screen a little longer, at his side Angelo muttered, "Bad", agitatedly. Sydney agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Parker walked slowly back into the house, she had been outside for almost an hour. The nights were still light and warm, she could have stayed there longer but it wouldn't change how she felt. Thoughts of revenge had crossed her mind several times, she needed to know what Jarod was going to do. She found both him and Matthew in the living room, empty bowls on the table.
Matthew stood as she entered. "Are you feeling better?"
"A little yes, thank you." She eyed the bowls and Matthew followed her gaze. She smiled as he took the hint and, scooping up the bowls, left to wash the dishes.
"Do you want me to leave?" Jarod asked quietly.
Miss Parker shook her head, "We have too much to discuss." She sat down on the sofa next to Jarod. "Where are you staying?"
Jarod sighed, "With my father, in the next town." He watched her eyes cloud over and braced himself for an outburst. Once again he was surprised when she remained calm. "He didn't kill your mother", Jarod ventured when she remained silent. Though he was reluctant to tbring up the subject at this point he knew it would have to be discussed eventually.
"I suppose he told you that, Jarod?" Her voice remained soft, conscious of the boy in the next room.
"Yes, I believe him."
"Of course you would Jarod, he's your father." She stared at him for a while before adding, "In my experience fathers lie to their children. Haven't you spent the past three years trying to get me to believe that?"
Jarod adjusted his position on the sofa so he was facing her, she had a valid point and he didn't want to push her into an argument, depsite her apparently calm demeanour he knew she was hurting. She needed a friend right now, not an enemy. "I only wanted you to know the truth, I'm sorry that it has all turned out like this."
Miss Parker stared blankly ahead, trying to put her thoughts in order. Was Jarod too naive to know that he was being lied to by the major, or was it, and this was more likely given The Centre was involved, that Charles was a patsy of some sort? There was one way to find out; she needed to speak to the major.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lyle waited patiently outside Mtumbo's office. It was early, a new day a new start perhaps. There were very few members of staff present at that time, but when he thought about it there were very few members of staff full stop. He figured the time was right to make some kind of play for The Centre, before it was too late. He entered when the African ordered him to.
"What can I do for you, Mr Lyle?" Mtumbo had a fair idea, the man in front of him wasn't the only one to come and beg for the top seat. He quite enjoyed to see them squirm a little.
Lyle stood in front of the desk that had once belonged to his sister. "I'm offering my services to you, and to the Triumverate once again. Whatever you desire." He wanted to try and bargain with the Mtumbo over Brigette's baby but he'd overheard a very revealing conversation in one of the labs yesterday and now he really did believe that he was going to be a father. That would have to be dealt with later.
Mtumbo grinned inside but kept a cool exterior, this could be the answer to some of his problems. The Triumverate's problems. It was his responsibility to handle The Centre's demise and in fact it was up to him to hand pick those who could continue on their work for the Triumverate. "Anything?"
Lyle nodded, "I would of course need some assurance as to my future."
"You need to prove your loyalty to me first." Mtumbo had something in mind that was just up his street. "An execution order, to be carried out immediately."
Lyle grinned, "Who?"
Mtumbo pushed a file towards Lyle, "There is more than one. And discretely, if you can. If you please me I will consider you for the head position." He watched Lyle take the folder and quickly glance at the details. He was pleased the younger man showed no obvious qualms about carrying out such a task, but he would not be offering him any such position. This was a means to an end.
He was not a hard man, he had studied the personnel files of every employee; those whom were valuable would be retained, those who knew very little of The Centre were free to go, there were some who could be persuaded, or threatened, to remain quiet would be free to leave also. There was no point indrawing attention to a huge drop in the local population. Indeed, there were only a very few select who needed to be dealt with in other ways, and he wasn't going to be the one to get blood on his hands. He was a business man after all.
ii) 'Not that good, but I'm not that bad' (On Your Own, Blur)
Chapter Nine
Matthew entered the kitchen mostly out of curiousity, he had heard them talking but he didn't know what they were discussing. And then it had gone quiet. He found the occupants stood at opposite sides of the small kitchen and she was obviously upset about something. His instinct was to protect the woman he had come to think of as his mother and he took up a position at her side, "What's wrong?"
Miss Parker brushed at the tears that had fallen, "It's okay Matthew."
Matthew turned to Jarod, "What have you done to her?", he accused. He felt his Mom place her hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
"It's not Jarod's fault." She gently turned Matthew around to face her and looking into his eyes repeated her previous statement, adding "I received some news about my father, something he's done."
Jarod watched from the other side of the room, the whole situation was almost surreal. In some respects he wished it was. Matthew had displayed the same loyalty towards Miss Parker as she had towards him and despite the strange situation he found himself in he wanted to smile.
Matthew looked into her eyes, he was still unsure of the circumstances. He liked Jarod, he really did, but there was only one person he cared about - and she would come first. "Is he angry at you for taking me?"
Miss Parker smiled a little, the tears ceasing to flow. "You could say that, yes. But that's his problem, not ours." Mr Parker was probably severely pissed off, but he didn't have any right to be. Right now he could rot in Hell for all she cared. She glanced at Jarod and caught his eye for a moment before returning her attention to Matthew, "Why don't you and Jarod help yourselves to some ice cream?" She glanced back at Jarod and he caught her intention.
"Sounds good to me. What do you say Matthew, you can let me try and beat you on that game again?" He spoke to the boy but Matthew's focus was still upon Miss Parker. He had caught the look in her eye, he wasn't sure how it had happened. It was like that time in Dover Town bank, communication without words.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?", Matthew asked hesitantly.
Miss Parker broke out one of her genuine smiles, the one she had been using more and more since she'd left The Centre. "Yeah, I just need a little time out, okay?" Matthew's concern touched her heart and eased the pain she was feeling.
The boy nodded and reluctantly released her from his scrutiny, only half convinced she was as well as she made out she was.
Jarod caught her eye as she passed by and felt her pain, it was something he'd felt when he had discovered the files. Except he hadn't been betrayed by someone who'd passed themself off as a parent. For her the pain was much greater. He and the boy watched in silence as she made her way out to the back yard and stood in the middle of the lawn.
"Is she going to be okay?" He searched Jarod's face for some kind of reassurance.
Jarod smiled down at Matthew, "I think so. She just has some things she needs to think about." He hoped that she had held onto some of the ice queen attributes that had gotten her through before.
Matthew watched the figure on the grass and hoped he was right.
"You're very close to each other." He had managed to quell the stab of jealousy he had felt at their relationship. Matthew had accomplished something in a short time that he himself had been attempting for nearly three years.
Matthew turned his attention to Jarod, "Yes."
The boys reply was genuine, honest and Jarod felt guilty at the green eyed monster that had reared it's head. "It's her smile isn't it?" The boy cocked his head in a manner that Jarod found eerily familiar, then nodded. He couldn't help but grin at the boy, "Me too."
Matthew stared at the pretender and once again experienced that odd feeling, the one that he now knew was, at least in part, a result of their 'connection'.
"I was a bit younger than you are now when I first met her", Jarod elaborated, "The Centre wanted to test my reactions." He stared back out of the window, "She was the first girl I remember meeting and, after years of isolation, she was like an angel to me." He continued to gaze at Miss Parker, "When she smiled at me that first time I knew I would do whatever I could to keep her smiling." He dragged his attention away from her, back to the boy, "But I never could." He frowned a little, "You make her smile, Matthew. Don't ever stop."
Matthew continued his scrutiny of the older man, "She smiles when she talks about you", he admitted.
Jarod raised his eyebrows, surely not?
Matthew continued. "When she smiles I feel safe, I feel like a real person." He turned his attention towards her, "I know she's not genetically my mother but she's just like I imagined my parents would be." He shrugged his shoulders and looked back at Jarod, "Is that okay?" Jarod's family, in essence his family too, were at the back of his mind and he didn't want to hurt them. But the most important person to him at this moment was stood outside, he wanted Jarod to understand that.
Jarod nodded his head, half thinking of Sydney. He understood what Matthew was implying and it caused him to think of his own situation. He had embraced his father openly after thirty years abscence yet Sydney had been a constant in his life for that same period and he continued to push him away. He knew that Sydney's hand had been forced,that it was Sydney who looked out for him still, even now that he was no longer under the doctor's 'care'. If he could blame Sydney for not doing all he could, why did his father escape the same treatment? Could the major have tried harder to rescue him?
"You'll always be a part of my family, Matthew. I hope I can be a part of yours too."
Matthew nodded his head, "I'd like that, Jarod." He was glad he hadn't upset the older man, he really would like the opportunity to know him better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sydney rested his eyes momentarily and tried not to look at his phone. He had Jarod's number after all, should he try to contact him? There were two factors to consider though; firstly this was a Centre phone and therefore highly likely to be bugged, secondly what could he tell the missing pretender at this point? When Angelo had uttered his statement he had refused to let his hopes rise, was the Centre's resident inmate aware of surrogacy? He longed to believe so, Angelo had difficulties communicating but Sydney knew he understood more than most believed.
Angelo had scampered off into the dark recesses of The Centre not long after Brigette had stormed out. He had managed to persuade Broots to go home too but he couldn't force himself to leave just yet. He knew he would be in for another restless night. A slight noise from the overhead vent drew his attention.
Angelo gracefully fell into Sydney's office, a skill that proved it was something he had done before. In one hand he held a video camera and he proferred it to Sydney, "Bad".
Sydney took the camera wondering how Angelo managed to get hold of such things. He placed it on his desk and pulled out the view screen. He remembered Angelo frustration the last time he had attempted to extricate what the younger man was trying to say. He hoped that this would shed some light. He pressed the button to start the camera.
#####
Mtumbo's office
Two days previously
Mtumbo glared at the screen. He'd had it set up especially for this meeting with the other two members of the Triumverate, live via satellite etc. He waited for the picture to clear again, the time delay a slight annoyance, couldn't he get some people to look into such matters? "Well?" There really was no substitution for an old fashioned tete a tete, where fists could be flung or bullets fired. What would he achieve this way other than to break a very expensive piece of equipment, and have Centre employees poking their noses in.
The two figures, each apparently in a seperate location appeared to consider the question a moment longer. The man on the left of the screen spoke first, "I agree. The pretender project, though profitable, is now in jeapordy. We can no longer condone this futile pursuit, and with limited genetic samples to work with, I cannot forsee any further uses for this facility."
The second man, somewhat older, scratched the whiskers on his chin absently. "Then we are all in agreement, The Centre is no longer a viable option. We need to filter out the best and relocate."
Mtumbo smiled his agreement, "And the rest of the employees gentlemen? We can't just cut them loose."
The first man spoke up again, "Those that know very little can be released, even give them a glowing reference. The rest, if they are of no use to ourselves, we can dispose of."
The second man's eyes lit up a little at this. "Yes, yes. An explosion of some sort perhaps? I believe that almost occurred last year, a rebellious employee maybe?" He scratched his chin again. "Can we leave this in your hands?"
Mtumbo nodded sagely and the two faces on the screen faded away.
#####
Sydney stared at the blank screen a little longer, at his side Angelo muttered, "Bad", agitatedly. Sydney agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Parker walked slowly back into the house, she had been outside for almost an hour. The nights were still light and warm, she could have stayed there longer but it wouldn't change how she felt. Thoughts of revenge had crossed her mind several times, she needed to know what Jarod was going to do. She found both him and Matthew in the living room, empty bowls on the table.
Matthew stood as she entered. "Are you feeling better?"
"A little yes, thank you." She eyed the bowls and Matthew followed her gaze. She smiled as he took the hint and, scooping up the bowls, left to wash the dishes.
"Do you want me to leave?" Jarod asked quietly.
Miss Parker shook her head, "We have too much to discuss." She sat down on the sofa next to Jarod. "Where are you staying?"
Jarod sighed, "With my father, in the next town." He watched her eyes cloud over and braced himself for an outburst. Once again he was surprised when she remained calm. "He didn't kill your mother", Jarod ventured when she remained silent. Though he was reluctant to tbring up the subject at this point he knew it would have to be discussed eventually.
"I suppose he told you that, Jarod?" Her voice remained soft, conscious of the boy in the next room.
"Yes, I believe him."
"Of course you would Jarod, he's your father." She stared at him for a while before adding, "In my experience fathers lie to their children. Haven't you spent the past three years trying to get me to believe that?"
Jarod adjusted his position on the sofa so he was facing her, she had a valid point and he didn't want to push her into an argument, depsite her apparently calm demeanour he knew she was hurting. She needed a friend right now, not an enemy. "I only wanted you to know the truth, I'm sorry that it has all turned out like this."
Miss Parker stared blankly ahead, trying to put her thoughts in order. Was Jarod too naive to know that he was being lied to by the major, or was it, and this was more likely given The Centre was involved, that Charles was a patsy of some sort? There was one way to find out; she needed to speak to the major.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lyle waited patiently outside Mtumbo's office. It was early, a new day a new start perhaps. There were very few members of staff present at that time, but when he thought about it there were very few members of staff full stop. He figured the time was right to make some kind of play for The Centre, before it was too late. He entered when the African ordered him to.
"What can I do for you, Mr Lyle?" Mtumbo had a fair idea, the man in front of him wasn't the only one to come and beg for the top seat. He quite enjoyed to see them squirm a little.
Lyle stood in front of the desk that had once belonged to his sister. "I'm offering my services to you, and to the Triumverate once again. Whatever you desire." He wanted to try and bargain with the Mtumbo over Brigette's baby but he'd overheard a very revealing conversation in one of the labs yesterday and now he really did believe that he was going to be a father. That would have to be dealt with later.
Mtumbo grinned inside but kept a cool exterior, this could be the answer to some of his problems. The Triumverate's problems. It was his responsibility to handle The Centre's demise and in fact it was up to him to hand pick those who could continue on their work for the Triumverate. "Anything?"
Lyle nodded, "I would of course need some assurance as to my future."
"You need to prove your loyalty to me first." Mtumbo had something in mind that was just up his street. "An execution order, to be carried out immediately."
Lyle grinned, "Who?"
Mtumbo pushed a file towards Lyle, "There is more than one. And discretely, if you can. If you please me I will consider you for the head position." He watched Lyle take the folder and quickly glance at the details. He was pleased the younger man showed no obvious qualms about carrying out such a task, but he would not be offering him any such position. This was a means to an end.
He was not a hard man, he had studied the personnel files of every employee; those whom were valuable would be retained, those who knew very little of The Centre were free to go, there were some who could be persuaded, or threatened, to remain quiet would be free to leave also. There was no point indrawing attention to a huge drop in the local population. Indeed, there were only a very few select who needed to be dealt with in other ways, and he wasn't going to be the one to get blood on his hands. He was a business man after all.