Chapter 5

NOTE: I realized after beginning this Alternate Series, that I had made a slight miscalculation with the character of Zoey. Since most fans will remember that Jarod met Zoey during season 4, it would not be likely that she would be his girlfriend now. But, since this is an Alternate Reality, we will move up the time table a bit. Thus, what happened with the annoying red-head at the hands of Lyle and Cox has happened already, etc.

The next day, Ms. Parker walked down the Centre hallways, towards her office, feeling somewhat refreshed. The visit from her father last night had done her some good. She was now more determined than ever to expose Jarod and Lyle's treachery.

Getting rid of Lyle would be good for the Parker family. For years it had just been Daddy and her. Then Lyle came along. And no matter how many times Ms. Parker tried to tell her father that Lyle was no damned good, he couldn't see it. Some people have to see evil for themselves. Lyle's framing her father and Brigitte was the straw that broke the camel's back. Finally, her father saw what she knew to be true this whole time. Lyle was just no damned good!

So, when Daddy returned here, Lyle would be no more. Then there would be Jarod to contend with.

The change of balance in power, continued to irk Ms. Parker. But she realized last night, as sleep alluded her, that she had to hurry and return Jarod to the way she used to see him, as Centre property, and quickly!

For she was not used to seeing Jarod as a man. A man, that while still a boy at heart on the inside(and an immature one at that!), on the outside, Jarod was very much grown. And Ms. Parker found herself struggling to fight an attraction to him that could not be.

She had lain in bed last night, thinking of how his lips had felt on hers, on the plane earlier that day. As soon as her thoughts ventured along those lines, she had sat up and turned on her lamp.

Ms. Parker had reached over and picked up a photograph of Thomas. None of this would be happening now if he were still alive. She would be living in Oregon with him right now. They would probably be married. This baby, would not have to be some secret...she could rejoice in her impending motherhood.

Ms. Parker rubbed her cheek as she hurried down the hall. Jarod had threatened her yesterday. And whenever she thought about it, her thoughts of being attracted to the 'lab rat' ended abruptly!

"Ms. Parker?"

Ms. Parker stopped and looked around. She had been walking towards her office, lost in thought. Someone was calling her name? Who the hell was it?

She then realized, with genuine disgust, that she had just passed Jarod's much larger office. God! What had she done to deserve this?! What in the hell did Boy Genius want with her this morning? To give her another write up?

Figuring she might as well get it over with, for her own sake as well as Daddy's, Ms. Parker turned and trudged over towards his open door. What she saw when she stood in the doorway, caused her eyes to widen slightly.

Some badly permed red-head was sitting in Jarod's lap at his desk! Ms. Parker stepped inside and slammed the door.

Zoey jumped up, slapping Jarod's hands away. She hurried up to Ms. Parker and stretched her hand out.

"Hi, I'm Zoey! Jarod has told me all about you, Ms. Parker! As a matter of fact, he's told me all about this place." she said, her tone sounding a bit peculiar.

Jarod gave Zoey a hard look. She knew everything, and while he asked her to please trust him with what he was doing, she was worried. So worried that she had come here this morning, against his wishes. She had told him that it was time to go to the police and get the Centre closed down once and for all.

Jarod had talked her out of it...for now. But his ultimate goal did include bringing in the authorities. And he didn't need his plan blown out of the water now!

Ms. Parker raised a brow and shook Zoey's hand, before squeezing it so hard that the younger woman began to sink to the floor!

"Owie! Stop it! You're hurting me!"

Jarod jumped up out of his chair to intervene! Ms. Parker abruptly released Zoey and then looked at Jarod, giving him a blank expression.

"You called?"

Jarod helped Zoey up and the two began to walk towards his office door. Ms. Parker rolled her eyes, then moved over to Jarod's desk, picking up papers and such. She began to read some things over.

Meanwhile, Zoey was trying to get around Jarod.

"You just give me five minutes with that witch!"

Jarod kissed her bruised hand.

"Don't let her excite you. She's just like that. I'll deal with her, just go. I'm frightened for you here and I can't do what I need to do and worry about you."

"Jarod, I'm scared for you too! I worry that that pig Lyle will figure out that you're not really one of them."

"It has to be this way for now. Just go and I'll see you at home tonight, okay?"

Zoey nodded, then looked past him at Ms. Parker. Ms. Parker flung Jarod's very unexciting papers back down on his desk, tossed some of her hair, then waved cutely at Zoey. Zoey tried to get past Jarod again, but Jarod firmly pushed her out of the office.

"Go! I'll see you tonight." he whispered.

"I don't want her in our home, Jarod. Those other people will be bad enough..."

Jarod kissed her softly. Zoey then broke off the kiss, touched his tie, gave Ms. Parker the finger, turned and walked away. Jarod slammed the door and faced Ms. Parker.

"Did your father neglect to teach you the social graces?" he asked.

Ms. Parker snickered!

"Like you'd know what they are? Actually, yes, Jarod, he did teach me some things. He told me not to associate with trash. Maybe if you had been raised by parents, they'd have told you the same thing." she hissed, praying she had hit a nerve.

Jarod began to walk towards her. Ms. Parker folded her arms.

"Zoey is one of the best people I know..."

"Spare me, please!"

"Just because you're alone..."

Ms. Parker put a hand up.

"Jarod! You know nothing about women at all! You're with the first woman that probably put out for you...well, I know that other woman did that, but still, someone of your background and smarts could do much better than the likes of her."

"The likes of her?" Jarod asked, feeling his temper beginning to rise.

"Yes, Jarod. You know, the ketchup and crackers kind. Now, what did you want to see me about?"

Jarod shook his head.

"You really are sad."

"So is Zoey. So is your tie today. So, if there's nothing else..."

Ms. Parker began to move around him, but Jarod blocked her way.

"Zoey and I are having a small gathering at our house this evening. I want you to be there, and I want you to have an apology ready for her."

Ms. Parker began to laugh!

"I'm washing my hair, so thanks but no thanks! And as for that 'apology'? You've heard that saying about 'people in hell wanting ice-water'? Yeah, that would apply to your little girlfriend there!"

Ms. Parker then began to move around him again, but he blocked her way again. Now she was annoyed!

"You are so juvenile! Get out of my way! I'm not coming to your stupid party! I'm not apologizing to your low rent girlfriend! And I think it is in extremely poor taste for you to be carrying on with her here!"

Before Ms. Parker could move around him again, Jarod, in a very quick and disarming move, grabbed Ms. Parker around the waist and pulled her to him, so that their bodies were almost melded together.

Ms. Parker, was too stunned to move, or wrench away, as she could clearly feel evidence of his arousal. She briefly wondered if it was because of her, or was it just a 'leftover' from Zoey?

"I'm sorry I threatened you yesterday. If you don't want anyone to know about the baby, I won't tell." he whispered against her hair.

Now, Ms. Parker wrenched away from him and walked towards the door. She opened it and walked out into the hallway. She also ran straight into Broots!

"Ms. Parker? Ms. Parker are you alright? You look flushed!"

"I'm fine!" she snapped.

"You don't look fine. And I don't think I've ever seen you with color in your face..."

"Did you need something?" she asked tiredly. Mr. Broots pulled her aside. Jarod was standing in his doorway, watching them. He could see Broots gesturing and pointing to something past him. Jarod turned and looked.

Two men, who Jarod could tell were police detectives, shook hands with Lyle, then walked away. Lyle saw Jarod staring, grinned and walked up to him.

"Hey! Really looking forward to your party tonight!"

"Uh, yes. What were the police doing here?" Jarod asked, his eyes on the retreating backs of the detectives.

"Oh yeah, just some misunderstanding. Listen, can I bring a date tonight?"

Jarod shook himself out of his reverie and focused in on Lyle.

"Uh, yes, I suppose."

"Good, because there is this beautiful girl that works down in R&D that I've really had my eye on."

Jarod searched his mind to recall all of the women that worked down there. There was one Asian girl.

"Uh no, it would be fine. Listen, is that the same girl that you had lunch with yesterday?"

Lyle looked at Jarod, as if he had no idea what he was talking about. His face then brightened, as if he suddenly remembered.

"Oh yeah...that girl. Uh funny thing, she disappeared yesterday after my lunch with her...or so I've been told. She was the reason why the police were here. It's sad. Listen, I want to meet in my office in an hour. We need to tell the Triumvirate something about Banner, and let them know we do have a plan to get him into the Centre here, okay buddy?" Lyle said, slapping Jarod's back and walking off to his office.

Jarod looked back at Ms. Parker, who he could tell by the look on her face, now knew why the police had been talking to Lyle as well. Their eyes locked momentarily, until Ms. Parker broke off eye contact and went into her office, slamming the door behind her.