Chapter 13
Two hours and forty minutes later, Ms. Parker drummed her fingers against the table, as Arvin Sloane ordered for the both of them. She was not hungry, and as much as told him so. He took it upon himself to order a light meal for her, in case she did change her mind. He had ordered them both drinks earlier. Neither one of them had touched theirs.
'You know,' he said, after the waiter left them, 'in many ways, you remind me of Emily.'
Ms. Parker had not been listening at all. She looked at her watch. She needed to get back to her house and watch the rest of those DSA's! Lyle had to have been lying! Had she had another baby with Jarod, when she had been a teenager? Had she been that reckless, as to get herself pregnant? What had Daddy said about it?
'Ms. Parker? Ms. Parker?'
Ms. Parker looked over at him.
'Did you say something?' she asked, annoyed. For that would mean that she would have to answer.
'I said, that you remind me of Emily.'
'Who?'
'Emily was my late wife.'
Ms. Parker nodded, blowing smoke from her cigarette.
'You mean the wife you murdered?'
Sloane's face darkened considerably. Ms. Parker was actually quite glad. She had found his chivalrous, gentlemanly routine, quite tiresome.
'Emily was killed by overzealous agents at the CIA.'
'Like Sidney Bristow? Is that why you kidnapped her and had her brainwashed?'
'You know, I think we're getting off on the wrong foot here. And I don't want that, do you?'
Ms. Parker blew out more smoke.
'I don't care.' she said simply. A man at the next table stood up and walked over.
'This is the non-smoking section.' he said gruffly.
'Go and die.' Ms. Parker responded, blowing smoke in his face. The man's wife got up and pulled him away. Sloane's cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out of his suit jacket and answered it. He then looked over at Ms. Parker.
'I have to take this in private. I'll be right back.'
Ms. Parker held her breath, as he caressed her hand, then got up out of the booth. Ms. Parker rolled her eyes.
She couldn't take much more of this inane conversation! What the hell did she care about Sloane's dead wife? Not that she meant any disrespect towards those that didn't deserve to be dead, but it annoyed Ms. Parker, how Sloane tried to portray himself as some kind of predator with a heart!
Ms. Parker looked around, surreptitiously, then reached inside her purse. The memory faltering drug that Irina Derevko had given her earlier, was in her purse. She knew that Derevko had meant for her to give it to Sloane before sex, but this was an emergency!
She looked around again, then opened up the bottle. There was an eye-dropper attachment on the top. She gave one last looksee around, then placed two drops in Sloane's drink!
Then, Ms. Parker screwed the bottle shut, tightly, before placing it back into her purse. She then signaled her waiter. He came right over. Ms. Parker smiled at him.
'Mr. Sloane has a pressing emergency, so we won't be able to stay after all. Put the drinks on Mr. Sloane's tab.'
'Should I wrap your meals?' the waiter asked.
'No. Just don't bring them out at all.' she ordered, and watched as the waiter nodded and walked off. Sloane came back to the table.
'Was that about our meals?' he asked, settling in beside her.
'There's a delay.' she said, picking up her drink and sipping it. Sloane did the same. Ms. Parker made it a point not watch him.
'So...what were we discussing before?' he asked, as he toyed with the knot on his neck-tie. He was suddenly feeling warm.
'Your dead wife...Emily.'
'Ah, yes, I...I did love her you know....she didn't deserve to be caught up in my life....she was so innocent...I would've gladly given my life for hers...'
Sloane suddenly looked puzzled, as if he didn't know what to say next! Ms. Parker was a bit shaken at his last words. There had been so much emotion in them.
Sloane then looked at her.
'Ms. Parker?'
Ms. Parker smiled.
'Yes? Are you alright?'
Sloane blinked.
'It's funny, but I don't...'
'We've just finished lunch. You're dropping me off at home, remember? I have last minute wedding plans to make.'
'Oh. Alright then.' Sloane said, and began to slide out of the booth. He then stopped abruptly.
'The bill...'
'Oh, it's been taken care of.' Ms. Parker said briskly, getting out of the booth as well.
Sloane gave her his arm, and Ms. Parker sighed and took it, allowing him to escort her out of the restaurant.
****
Sloane drove her home, pulling up in the drive. Ms. Parker began to get out, when she felt his grasp on her arm.
'I know that despite your bravado, this decision you've made to be with me, has been very hard for you. I want you to know, that I will do everything in my power to make you happy.'
He leaned forward for a kiss, Ms. Parker managed to unlock the door and get out, before he could make contact with her lips. She looked down into the car.
'As long as you leave Jarod and my daughter in peace, that will make me happy. See you tomorrow.' she said cutely, slamming the door. Sloane smirked, then put the car in reverse, backing out of the drive.
Relieved, Ms. Parker turned and walked up to her door. She unlocked it and went inside. She spied the laptop where she left it, and headed over to it.
As she began looking through the DSA's, she did not see Jarod come out from her bedroom. He was wearing his trademark black, leather jacket.
'I see, that you have been just as curious as I, about what's on those things.'
Ms. Parker jumped, turning around!
'Damnit, Jarod! Don't scare me like that! If I had had my gun...what are you doing here? Where is Abigail?'
Jarod walked up to her.
'We need to talk. But first, I'm here because I need to know how much you know, about what's on those DSA's?'
Ms. Parker backed away a bit.
'I know that for some reason, my memory was erased...that we were lovers when we were teenagers...'
'And?' Jarod prompted.
'Lyle said something funny today, and I just wanted to check to see if he was lying or not.' Ms. Parker answered, watching him. Jarod noticed.
'What is it, Ms. Parker?' he asked.
Ms. Parker walked up to him.
'Did you know the whole time that we...we...'
'Were teenage lovers?' he asked, smiling at her.
'Yes.' she whispered, looking into his eyes.
'No. My memory was erased just like yours.' he answered, his voice full of emotion.
Ms. Parker looked over at the laptop.
'Did what we did...did we make a baby?' she asked, not looking at him.
'According to Sydney, yes.' Jarod said, bitterness creeping into his voice.
Ms. Parker looked at him, then turned to the DSA's and began flipping through them. She then began wiping her eyes.
'I don't even know which one it's on!' she began to cry. Jarod closed the gap between them, and took the DSA's from her hands. He set them down next to the laptop, then turned her around, pulling her into his arms. She then broke down completely.
****
It took a half an hour for Ms. Parker to feel as if she was sufficiently cried out. Jarod had had his arms around her the whole time, while they sat on her sofa. She lifted her head from his chest. She then wiped his leather jacket.
'I hope I haven't ruined this...I have a healthy respect for leather.' she sniffed.
Jarod smiled gently at her.
'So I've noticed.'
'Jarod...I can't watch another one of those...I mean....it's like going back in time and not being able to change one damned bad thing that happens to you!'
'The one I saw wasn't bad.' he said.
Ms. Parker pulled away from him and stood up.
'No...I've seen two...they weren't bad...except that we now know that we never had a chance...' her voice trailed off.
Jarod stood up.
'I'm here because I knew you would need me. We'll watch what we need to, together. But after, there is a lot that you need to know... about what the CIA has planned for the Centre...and about Abigail.'
Ms. Parker peered at him, at the mention of their daughter's name.
'Where is she now?' she asked, wiping her eyes again.
'With Sydney and the CIA. Sidney Bristow is probably back at the Centre. Against her advice, I'm here.'
'Why did you bring Abigail with you? Where is Ethan?'
Jarod walked up to her and picked up her hands.
'Sydney told me, that because the memory drug was used on you, while you were pregnant, Abigail's chances of living to see her third birthday, are slim to none. He, and the CIA, think the can help her.'
Jarod watched her carefully, to see if she was about to break down or anything. But he couldn't read her.
'You need to get back to her then.' she said dully.
'Don't shut me out here! I am Abigail's father...'
'Jarod, don't you see? We're not meant for happily everafter! Just when I thought there was a chance to love someone, Tommy was killed! Now we have a daughter, and there is a slim chance that the Centre will be nothing but a bad memory in a couple of days. But what good will any of that be, if our baby dies?'
'She won't. Sydney is determined to help her...and to make up for his part in what happened to us. Ms. Parker, there's more.'
She nodded quickly.
'There always is! You might as well just spill it!' she said sarcastically.
Jarod's hold on her hands tightened.
'Remember the clone...the one that we found in the Centre?'
Ms. Parker tilted her head. The clone? She hadn't thought of him in years!
'Yes, he lives with your father or something, doesn't he?' she asked.
Jarod nodded.
'Ms. Parker, he was not a clone. He was our son. The baby that was stolen from us.'
Ms. Parker wrenched her hands away from his!
'You're lying!' she hissed.
'We have come too far, for me to begin lying to you about anything now! How the hell do think this makes me feel?! Our son was a prisoner of the Centre all of these years...we were lied to...your father...'
Ms. Parker turned away from him, holding up one hand. She was now openly weeping. Jarod looked past her, towards the DSA's. He walked over to them and shuffled them around. He then picked one and put it in.
Ms. Parker stopped crying abruptly. She slowly walked over to stand next to him.
'What are you doing?' she whispered.
'We're going to finish this. Then we're going to get on with the business of living our lives.' Jarod said firmly. He pulled up two chairs. Ms. Parker slowly sat in one. Jarod sat in the other. She rested her head against his shoulder, as they watched more lost memories unfold...
****
JAROD and MS. PARKER DSA
'Daddy, how is Jarod doing on his job training?' Ms. Parker asked her father. She was 8 months pregnant, and smiling at her father, as she sat in his office.
'Now, now, Angel. Don't you worry about that. Jarod is a genius. He's going to make a great executive around here.'
Ms. Parker nodded, then struggled to stand. Mr. Parker got up from his desk and walked around to help her.
'Angel, try and sit still. You know the doctor said the baby could come early.'
'So what if it does? The sooner he or she comes, the sooner Jarod and I can begin our life together. Daddy, I can't thank you enough, for helping us out like this.'
Mr. Parker looked embarrassed. Affection had always made him uncomfortable. But Ms. Parker could accept that. She knew he loved her. He had proved it, by sending Jarod out of the Centre, to one of the offices in Denver, to train to work here.
She suspected Jarod was probably not been too keen, on the their future being tied to this place. But, the point was that Daddy had already bought them a house to live in. She had just seen it the other day.
'Daddy, when is the baby furniture coming to the house?' she asked.
'What?'
'The baby furniture. Everything else looked okay, but there was no crib or anything. Daddy, if the baby could come at anytime...'
'I told you I would take care of everything, and I will. I don't you worrying about things like that. Once Jarod is finished with the training program, he'll come back here, the two of you can get married and move into the house.'
'I'd like to be married to him before the baby is born.' Ms. Parker pouted.
'Now, now. That's why you shouldn't excite yourself.' he warned her.
The door opened, and Ms. Parker moved her head slightly to look. She then rolled her eyes and turned back around. It was that creepy looking Raines!
'Mr. Parker, Ms. Parker. You have a real glow about you.'
'Why thank you.' Mr. Parker joked. The two men laughed. Ms. Parker managed to rise from her chair.
'I'll just leave you two then.' she said.
'Angel, I'm going to call someone to drive you home. Wait outside there.'
Ms. Parker nodded. She then began to waddle out, ignoring Mr. Raines's stare. She closed the door behind her, then eased into a chair, outside of the office.
She had not seen Jarod during most of her pregnancy. Her father said it took years to become fully trained, but because Jarod was a genius, it would only take him months. While she was happy that he would not have to live here for the rest of his life, Ms. Parker missed him.
A sudden clanking sound, brought her out of her reverie. Ms. Parker looked up towards the vents. Angelo was up there.
Ms. Parker stood up and smiled, waddling over the the vent.
'Hi, Angelo. It's nice to see you.' she said, since she could really think of nothing else. It was not normal for anyone to be crawling through the vents of a building. But, then again, her father always said that Angelo was 'special'.
'Jarod...Jarod...Jarod with Sydney...Jarod...'
'What?' Ms. Parker asked. She moved closer to the vent. She had just seen Sydney when she had come into the complex. He always averted his eyes when he saw her these days.
'Jarod and Sydney....working....Jarod...'
Ms. Parker began shaking her head. She looked at the door of her father's office, before looking through the vent slots at Angelo again.
'Angelo, Jarod is gone for now. But he will be back, I promise.'
'No! No! Jarod with Sydney!'
Ms. Parker began to feel cold. Had this been too easy? Her father's acquiescence to her demands for Jarod, and his seemingly tender acceptance of her pregnancy? She knew then, as she turned away from the vent, that she had to go to Jarod's room again. He couldn't still be there...he just couldn't!
****
Ms. Parker jumped up and snatched the DSA out of the laptop! Jarod watched her.
'That wasn't the end of it.' he said.
'I know that, Jarod! I can't watch anymore! I can't!'
Jarod stood up as well.
'I know that it has always been hard for you to accept when your father had lied to you. But he did. I never went to any training anywhere. And if we continue watching, we'll find that you found this out...with Angelo's help..' Jarod's voice trailed off, his mind jumping to Angelo. He would be free after tomorrow as well.
Ms. Parker stared at a picture of her father and herself. She then spoke.
'I have two children...and I don't remember giving birth to either one of them.'
Jarod walked up behind her, settled his hands on her shoulders.
'While you were gone, I packed some things for you.'
Ms. Parker turned around and faced him. He removed his hands.
'What? Jarod, I have to...'
'You have to what? The CIA is raiding the Centre tomorrow. We will be in their protection. I don't want you going back there, and now you don't have to. Our daughter needs us.'
Ms. Parker closed her eyes, then nodded. Jarod turned and went back into her bedroom. She began to follow him, but stopped. What about Broots?
Jarod came out of her bedroom with one suitcase. Behind him, on her nightstand, was a photo of Thomas Gates. Ms. Parker stared at it. Jarod turned to look at it as well. He hoped she would not want to take it with them. He had liked Thomas...but he still hoped that Ms. Parker would leave it behind.
Ms. Parker turned away. Relieved, Jarod came out of the bedroom with her suitcase.
'I can't just leave Broots behind, Jarod. He has a child.'
'Sidney is there...she won't let anything happen to him.'
Ms. Parker wasn't sure about that at all. But, she suddenly felt tired. Jarod set down her suitcase and walked over to her pile of DSA's. He then looked at her.
'I have my own copies. We can leave these behind as well. Maybe, someday, after this crisis with Abby is over, you'll be ready to watch some more of them.'
Ms. Parker nodded again. Jarod picked up her suitcase and held out his hand. She took it, and they headed out of the door, but as soon as Jarod opened it, they both stopped short. There was a box sitting on her porch. Ms. Parker squinted down at it. Jarod stared as well.
'Were you expecting anything?' he asked.
Ms. Parker shook her head, the squatted down to look at the label. She then picked it up and rolled her eyes!
'You don't know what's in there, ' Jarod warned, setting down her suitcase and reaching for the box.
But Ms. Parker glanced at him.
'It's my wedding dress.' she said, then ripped the box open on the porch. The dress was simple, yet, elegant. Jarod smiled.
'Bring it along. We'll make use of it yet.' he said, smiling at her. For the first time that day, she smiled as well, but called out to him.
'Jarod?'
He turned around. He had parked his car up the street aways, and he really wanted to get a move on.
'Yes?' he asked.
'We have to at least pick up Broots's daughter, Debbie. We have to.'
Jarod nodded, understanding. Ms. Parker then shoved the wedding dress back into the box, and hurried up to him. They then began walking towards Jarod's parked car.
****
Sidney Bristow entered the Centre in quite a foul mood! Jarod had slipped away, once they had landed. She knew he had went to see Ms. Parker, against hers, and the CIA's, advice.
She tried to shut out her cousin's question he had put to her earlier. If Vaughn were in danger, like Ms. Parker was, could she just sit by and leave it to the CIA help him? No. No she could not.
Sidney got onto one of the elevators. She needed to find Mr. Broots and get his help with finding some notes Sydney kept in his office, concerning the cure for Abigail.
Sidney stepped off of the elevator, then stopped short. A Sweeper was pointing a gun straight at her!
'Ned was my friend.' the Sweeper said tonelessly. Sidney looked him up and down, then around him, as she held her hands up.
'Was?' she asked, keeping a cool tone.
'Yeah, Agent Bristow! He was one of the Sweepers that followed you the other day, when you SUPPOSEDLY killed the good doctor Sydney! But he disappeared...you killed him, didn't you?'
Before Sidney could answer, a shot rang out! The Sweeper fell to the ground, dead, his eyes wide open. Lyle had shot him in the back of the head.
'I'm sorry for not using my silencer.' he said shyly, smiling at her. Sidney frowned, then smiled uncertainly. His silencer?! Is that what this psychopath was worried about?! The noise?!
Lyle put away his gun and walked up to her.
'Are you alright? These damned Sweepers! Ever since Sloane took over, they've become insolent!'
'How did you know I was in trouble?' she asked.
'We've been awaiting your return.' Lyle said, smiling again. He then took her arm. Sidney tried not to flinch.
'Where are we going?' she asked, looking around. No one else was inside.
'Oh, to Sloane's office. There's trouble.'
Sidney nodded, but inside, her stomach dropped. What now?
When Lyle and Sidney got to Arvin Sloane's office, Sidney saw her mother, Irina Derevko, standing next to Sloane, who...
Sidney looked at Lyle, her mouth hanging open!
'He looks dead!' she cried out.
Lyle nodded somberly.
'He is. Apparently, my dear sister snuck some slow acting poison in her fiancee's drink at lunch.'
Sidney looked from Lyle to her mother.
'You have proof of this?'
Irina did not answer. Lyle did.
'We pulled the restaurant tapes. My sister did it, no doubt about that. I'm afraid she's sealed her fate the Covenant, and the Triumvirate. They'll want her head on a platter.'
Two hours and forty minutes later, Ms. Parker drummed her fingers against the table, as Arvin Sloane ordered for the both of them. She was not hungry, and as much as told him so. He took it upon himself to order a light meal for her, in case she did change her mind. He had ordered them both drinks earlier. Neither one of them had touched theirs.
'You know,' he said, after the waiter left them, 'in many ways, you remind me of Emily.'
Ms. Parker had not been listening at all. She looked at her watch. She needed to get back to her house and watch the rest of those DSA's! Lyle had to have been lying! Had she had another baby with Jarod, when she had been a teenager? Had she been that reckless, as to get herself pregnant? What had Daddy said about it?
'Ms. Parker? Ms. Parker?'
Ms. Parker looked over at him.
'Did you say something?' she asked, annoyed. For that would mean that she would have to answer.
'I said, that you remind me of Emily.'
'Who?'
'Emily was my late wife.'
Ms. Parker nodded, blowing smoke from her cigarette.
'You mean the wife you murdered?'
Sloane's face darkened considerably. Ms. Parker was actually quite glad. She had found his chivalrous, gentlemanly routine, quite tiresome.
'Emily was killed by overzealous agents at the CIA.'
'Like Sidney Bristow? Is that why you kidnapped her and had her brainwashed?'
'You know, I think we're getting off on the wrong foot here. And I don't want that, do you?'
Ms. Parker blew out more smoke.
'I don't care.' she said simply. A man at the next table stood up and walked over.
'This is the non-smoking section.' he said gruffly.
'Go and die.' Ms. Parker responded, blowing smoke in his face. The man's wife got up and pulled him away. Sloane's cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out of his suit jacket and answered it. He then looked over at Ms. Parker.
'I have to take this in private. I'll be right back.'
Ms. Parker held her breath, as he caressed her hand, then got up out of the booth. Ms. Parker rolled her eyes.
She couldn't take much more of this inane conversation! What the hell did she care about Sloane's dead wife? Not that she meant any disrespect towards those that didn't deserve to be dead, but it annoyed Ms. Parker, how Sloane tried to portray himself as some kind of predator with a heart!
Ms. Parker looked around, surreptitiously, then reached inside her purse. The memory faltering drug that Irina Derevko had given her earlier, was in her purse. She knew that Derevko had meant for her to give it to Sloane before sex, but this was an emergency!
She looked around again, then opened up the bottle. There was an eye-dropper attachment on the top. She gave one last looksee around, then placed two drops in Sloane's drink!
Then, Ms. Parker screwed the bottle shut, tightly, before placing it back into her purse. She then signaled her waiter. He came right over. Ms. Parker smiled at him.
'Mr. Sloane has a pressing emergency, so we won't be able to stay after all. Put the drinks on Mr. Sloane's tab.'
'Should I wrap your meals?' the waiter asked.
'No. Just don't bring them out at all.' she ordered, and watched as the waiter nodded and walked off. Sloane came back to the table.
'Was that about our meals?' he asked, settling in beside her.
'There's a delay.' she said, picking up her drink and sipping it. Sloane did the same. Ms. Parker made it a point not watch him.
'So...what were we discussing before?' he asked, as he toyed with the knot on his neck-tie. He was suddenly feeling warm.
'Your dead wife...Emily.'
'Ah, yes, I...I did love her you know....she didn't deserve to be caught up in my life....she was so innocent...I would've gladly given my life for hers...'
Sloane suddenly looked puzzled, as if he didn't know what to say next! Ms. Parker was a bit shaken at his last words. There had been so much emotion in them.
Sloane then looked at her.
'Ms. Parker?'
Ms. Parker smiled.
'Yes? Are you alright?'
Sloane blinked.
'It's funny, but I don't...'
'We've just finished lunch. You're dropping me off at home, remember? I have last minute wedding plans to make.'
'Oh. Alright then.' Sloane said, and began to slide out of the booth. He then stopped abruptly.
'The bill...'
'Oh, it's been taken care of.' Ms. Parker said briskly, getting out of the booth as well.
Sloane gave her his arm, and Ms. Parker sighed and took it, allowing him to escort her out of the restaurant.
****
Sloane drove her home, pulling up in the drive. Ms. Parker began to get out, when she felt his grasp on her arm.
'I know that despite your bravado, this decision you've made to be with me, has been very hard for you. I want you to know, that I will do everything in my power to make you happy.'
He leaned forward for a kiss, Ms. Parker managed to unlock the door and get out, before he could make contact with her lips. She looked down into the car.
'As long as you leave Jarod and my daughter in peace, that will make me happy. See you tomorrow.' she said cutely, slamming the door. Sloane smirked, then put the car in reverse, backing out of the drive.
Relieved, Ms. Parker turned and walked up to her door. She unlocked it and went inside. She spied the laptop where she left it, and headed over to it.
As she began looking through the DSA's, she did not see Jarod come out from her bedroom. He was wearing his trademark black, leather jacket.
'I see, that you have been just as curious as I, about what's on those things.'
Ms. Parker jumped, turning around!
'Damnit, Jarod! Don't scare me like that! If I had had my gun...what are you doing here? Where is Abigail?'
Jarod walked up to her.
'We need to talk. But first, I'm here because I need to know how much you know, about what's on those DSA's?'
Ms. Parker backed away a bit.
'I know that for some reason, my memory was erased...that we were lovers when we were teenagers...'
'And?' Jarod prompted.
'Lyle said something funny today, and I just wanted to check to see if he was lying or not.' Ms. Parker answered, watching him. Jarod noticed.
'What is it, Ms. Parker?' he asked.
Ms. Parker walked up to him.
'Did you know the whole time that we...we...'
'Were teenage lovers?' he asked, smiling at her.
'Yes.' she whispered, looking into his eyes.
'No. My memory was erased just like yours.' he answered, his voice full of emotion.
Ms. Parker looked over at the laptop.
'Did what we did...did we make a baby?' she asked, not looking at him.
'According to Sydney, yes.' Jarod said, bitterness creeping into his voice.
Ms. Parker looked at him, then turned to the DSA's and began flipping through them. She then began wiping her eyes.
'I don't even know which one it's on!' she began to cry. Jarod closed the gap between them, and took the DSA's from her hands. He set them down next to the laptop, then turned her around, pulling her into his arms. She then broke down completely.
****
It took a half an hour for Ms. Parker to feel as if she was sufficiently cried out. Jarod had had his arms around her the whole time, while they sat on her sofa. She lifted her head from his chest. She then wiped his leather jacket.
'I hope I haven't ruined this...I have a healthy respect for leather.' she sniffed.
Jarod smiled gently at her.
'So I've noticed.'
'Jarod...I can't watch another one of those...I mean....it's like going back in time and not being able to change one damned bad thing that happens to you!'
'The one I saw wasn't bad.' he said.
Ms. Parker pulled away from him and stood up.
'No...I've seen two...they weren't bad...except that we now know that we never had a chance...' her voice trailed off.
Jarod stood up.
'I'm here because I knew you would need me. We'll watch what we need to, together. But after, there is a lot that you need to know... about what the CIA has planned for the Centre...and about Abigail.'
Ms. Parker peered at him, at the mention of their daughter's name.
'Where is she now?' she asked, wiping her eyes again.
'With Sydney and the CIA. Sidney Bristow is probably back at the Centre. Against her advice, I'm here.'
'Why did you bring Abigail with you? Where is Ethan?'
Jarod walked up to her and picked up her hands.
'Sydney told me, that because the memory drug was used on you, while you were pregnant, Abigail's chances of living to see her third birthday, are slim to none. He, and the CIA, think the can help her.'
Jarod watched her carefully, to see if she was about to break down or anything. But he couldn't read her.
'You need to get back to her then.' she said dully.
'Don't shut me out here! I am Abigail's father...'
'Jarod, don't you see? We're not meant for happily everafter! Just when I thought there was a chance to love someone, Tommy was killed! Now we have a daughter, and there is a slim chance that the Centre will be nothing but a bad memory in a couple of days. But what good will any of that be, if our baby dies?'
'She won't. Sydney is determined to help her...and to make up for his part in what happened to us. Ms. Parker, there's more.'
She nodded quickly.
'There always is! You might as well just spill it!' she said sarcastically.
Jarod's hold on her hands tightened.
'Remember the clone...the one that we found in the Centre?'
Ms. Parker tilted her head. The clone? She hadn't thought of him in years!
'Yes, he lives with your father or something, doesn't he?' she asked.
Jarod nodded.
'Ms. Parker, he was not a clone. He was our son. The baby that was stolen from us.'
Ms. Parker wrenched her hands away from his!
'You're lying!' she hissed.
'We have come too far, for me to begin lying to you about anything now! How the hell do think this makes me feel?! Our son was a prisoner of the Centre all of these years...we were lied to...your father...'
Ms. Parker turned away from him, holding up one hand. She was now openly weeping. Jarod looked past her, towards the DSA's. He walked over to them and shuffled them around. He then picked one and put it in.
Ms. Parker stopped crying abruptly. She slowly walked over to stand next to him.
'What are you doing?' she whispered.
'We're going to finish this. Then we're going to get on with the business of living our lives.' Jarod said firmly. He pulled up two chairs. Ms. Parker slowly sat in one. Jarod sat in the other. She rested her head against his shoulder, as they watched more lost memories unfold...
****
JAROD and MS. PARKER DSA
'Daddy, how is Jarod doing on his job training?' Ms. Parker asked her father. She was 8 months pregnant, and smiling at her father, as she sat in his office.
'Now, now, Angel. Don't you worry about that. Jarod is a genius. He's going to make a great executive around here.'
Ms. Parker nodded, then struggled to stand. Mr. Parker got up from his desk and walked around to help her.
'Angel, try and sit still. You know the doctor said the baby could come early.'
'So what if it does? The sooner he or she comes, the sooner Jarod and I can begin our life together. Daddy, I can't thank you enough, for helping us out like this.'
Mr. Parker looked embarrassed. Affection had always made him uncomfortable. But Ms. Parker could accept that. She knew he loved her. He had proved it, by sending Jarod out of the Centre, to one of the offices in Denver, to train to work here.
She suspected Jarod was probably not been too keen, on the their future being tied to this place. But, the point was that Daddy had already bought them a house to live in. She had just seen it the other day.
'Daddy, when is the baby furniture coming to the house?' she asked.
'What?'
'The baby furniture. Everything else looked okay, but there was no crib or anything. Daddy, if the baby could come at anytime...'
'I told you I would take care of everything, and I will. I don't you worrying about things like that. Once Jarod is finished with the training program, he'll come back here, the two of you can get married and move into the house.'
'I'd like to be married to him before the baby is born.' Ms. Parker pouted.
'Now, now. That's why you shouldn't excite yourself.' he warned her.
The door opened, and Ms. Parker moved her head slightly to look. She then rolled her eyes and turned back around. It was that creepy looking Raines!
'Mr. Parker, Ms. Parker. You have a real glow about you.'
'Why thank you.' Mr. Parker joked. The two men laughed. Ms. Parker managed to rise from her chair.
'I'll just leave you two then.' she said.
'Angel, I'm going to call someone to drive you home. Wait outside there.'
Ms. Parker nodded. She then began to waddle out, ignoring Mr. Raines's stare. She closed the door behind her, then eased into a chair, outside of the office.
She had not seen Jarod during most of her pregnancy. Her father said it took years to become fully trained, but because Jarod was a genius, it would only take him months. While she was happy that he would not have to live here for the rest of his life, Ms. Parker missed him.
A sudden clanking sound, brought her out of her reverie. Ms. Parker looked up towards the vents. Angelo was up there.
Ms. Parker stood up and smiled, waddling over the the vent.
'Hi, Angelo. It's nice to see you.' she said, since she could really think of nothing else. It was not normal for anyone to be crawling through the vents of a building. But, then again, her father always said that Angelo was 'special'.
'Jarod...Jarod...Jarod with Sydney...Jarod...'
'What?' Ms. Parker asked. She moved closer to the vent. She had just seen Sydney when she had come into the complex. He always averted his eyes when he saw her these days.
'Jarod and Sydney....working....Jarod...'
Ms. Parker began shaking her head. She looked at the door of her father's office, before looking through the vent slots at Angelo again.
'Angelo, Jarod is gone for now. But he will be back, I promise.'
'No! No! Jarod with Sydney!'
Ms. Parker began to feel cold. Had this been too easy? Her father's acquiescence to her demands for Jarod, and his seemingly tender acceptance of her pregnancy? She knew then, as she turned away from the vent, that she had to go to Jarod's room again. He couldn't still be there...he just couldn't!
****
Ms. Parker jumped up and snatched the DSA out of the laptop! Jarod watched her.
'That wasn't the end of it.' he said.
'I know that, Jarod! I can't watch anymore! I can't!'
Jarod stood up as well.
'I know that it has always been hard for you to accept when your father had lied to you. But he did. I never went to any training anywhere. And if we continue watching, we'll find that you found this out...with Angelo's help..' Jarod's voice trailed off, his mind jumping to Angelo. He would be free after tomorrow as well.
Ms. Parker stared at a picture of her father and herself. She then spoke.
'I have two children...and I don't remember giving birth to either one of them.'
Jarod walked up behind her, settled his hands on her shoulders.
'While you were gone, I packed some things for you.'
Ms. Parker turned around and faced him. He removed his hands.
'What? Jarod, I have to...'
'You have to what? The CIA is raiding the Centre tomorrow. We will be in their protection. I don't want you going back there, and now you don't have to. Our daughter needs us.'
Ms. Parker closed her eyes, then nodded. Jarod turned and went back into her bedroom. She began to follow him, but stopped. What about Broots?
Jarod came out of her bedroom with one suitcase. Behind him, on her nightstand, was a photo of Thomas Gates. Ms. Parker stared at it. Jarod turned to look at it as well. He hoped she would not want to take it with them. He had liked Thomas...but he still hoped that Ms. Parker would leave it behind.
Ms. Parker turned away. Relieved, Jarod came out of the bedroom with her suitcase.
'I can't just leave Broots behind, Jarod. He has a child.'
'Sidney is there...she won't let anything happen to him.'
Ms. Parker wasn't sure about that at all. But, she suddenly felt tired. Jarod set down her suitcase and walked over to her pile of DSA's. He then looked at her.
'I have my own copies. We can leave these behind as well. Maybe, someday, after this crisis with Abby is over, you'll be ready to watch some more of them.'
Ms. Parker nodded again. Jarod picked up her suitcase and held out his hand. She took it, and they headed out of the door, but as soon as Jarod opened it, they both stopped short. There was a box sitting on her porch. Ms. Parker squinted down at it. Jarod stared as well.
'Were you expecting anything?' he asked.
Ms. Parker shook her head, the squatted down to look at the label. She then picked it up and rolled her eyes!
'You don't know what's in there, ' Jarod warned, setting down her suitcase and reaching for the box.
But Ms. Parker glanced at him.
'It's my wedding dress.' she said, then ripped the box open on the porch. The dress was simple, yet, elegant. Jarod smiled.
'Bring it along. We'll make use of it yet.' he said, smiling at her. For the first time that day, she smiled as well, but called out to him.
'Jarod?'
He turned around. He had parked his car up the street aways, and he really wanted to get a move on.
'Yes?' he asked.
'We have to at least pick up Broots's daughter, Debbie. We have to.'
Jarod nodded, understanding. Ms. Parker then shoved the wedding dress back into the box, and hurried up to him. They then began walking towards Jarod's parked car.
****
Sidney Bristow entered the Centre in quite a foul mood! Jarod had slipped away, once they had landed. She knew he had went to see Ms. Parker, against hers, and the CIA's, advice.
She tried to shut out her cousin's question he had put to her earlier. If Vaughn were in danger, like Ms. Parker was, could she just sit by and leave it to the CIA help him? No. No she could not.
Sidney got onto one of the elevators. She needed to find Mr. Broots and get his help with finding some notes Sydney kept in his office, concerning the cure for Abigail.
Sidney stepped off of the elevator, then stopped short. A Sweeper was pointing a gun straight at her!
'Ned was my friend.' the Sweeper said tonelessly. Sidney looked him up and down, then around him, as she held her hands up.
'Was?' she asked, keeping a cool tone.
'Yeah, Agent Bristow! He was one of the Sweepers that followed you the other day, when you SUPPOSEDLY killed the good doctor Sydney! But he disappeared...you killed him, didn't you?'
Before Sidney could answer, a shot rang out! The Sweeper fell to the ground, dead, his eyes wide open. Lyle had shot him in the back of the head.
'I'm sorry for not using my silencer.' he said shyly, smiling at her. Sidney frowned, then smiled uncertainly. His silencer?! Is that what this psychopath was worried about?! The noise?!
Lyle put away his gun and walked up to her.
'Are you alright? These damned Sweepers! Ever since Sloane took over, they've become insolent!'
'How did you know I was in trouble?' she asked.
'We've been awaiting your return.' Lyle said, smiling again. He then took her arm. Sidney tried not to flinch.
'Where are we going?' she asked, looking around. No one else was inside.
'Oh, to Sloane's office. There's trouble.'
Sidney nodded, but inside, her stomach dropped. What now?
When Lyle and Sidney got to Arvin Sloane's office, Sidney saw her mother, Irina Derevko, standing next to Sloane, who...
Sidney looked at Lyle, her mouth hanging open!
'He looks dead!' she cried out.
Lyle nodded somberly.
'He is. Apparently, my dear sister snuck some slow acting poison in her fiancee's drink at lunch.'
Sidney looked from Lyle to her mother.
'You have proof of this?'
Irina did not answer. Lyle did.
'We pulled the restaurant tapes. My sister did it, no doubt about that. I'm afraid she's sealed her fate the Covenant, and the Triumvirate. They'll want her head on a platter.'