Chapter 16
'Is this about Brian?' Major Charles asked Jarod, as they stood in a quiet room off of the reception hall.
'No.' Jarod said, not sure how he was going to begin this conversation. All he knew was that in a couple of hours, Mallory and himself, were going to Hawaii on their honeymoon. Sydney and Michelle were going to take care of Abigail while they were gone. Jarod would not be able to enjoy this alone time, he was going to have with his new wife, if he did not ask his father some very pointed questions.
Yet, it bothered Jarod that he had to ask them at all. For it implied that his father had lied to him, or at the very least, not told him some very important facts.
'What is it, Jarod? Is it something about the trial?'
'No, the government's case is strong. It's about Mother. She said something before she died.'
Major Charles averted his eyes and took a deep breath. Jarod peered at him.
'What is it?' he asked.
Major Charles looked at him.
'With all that's been going on, I know we haven't had time to talk about her. I'm sorry that you didn't have more time with her, Jarod.'
Jarod nodded slowly.
'Are you sorry you didn't as well?' he asked his father.
Major Charles shook his head slightly.
'I don't understand what you're asking me, son. I told you I hadn't seen her in years...Emily told me the funeral was beautiful...is she around here someplace?'
'She missed the wedding, but said she would try and be here for the reception.' Jarod answered, still peering at his father.
'What, Jarod? Why are you looking at me like that?'
'Mother said that you were in love with Catherine Parker. She said that that was one of the reasons the two of you weren't together. She said Catherine Parker was still alive. Now, I need to know everything here, Dad! Everything! Meaning just what drove you away from mother, and is my wife's mother still alive?!'
Major Charles licked his lips.
'Jarod, this is your wedding day. Ms...Mallory and you have been through a lot here. Don't spoil it by bringing up the past.'
'If Catherine Parker is not dead, then the past is very much the present, Dad! And worse yet, if you two have been having some sort of relationship behind our backs, then we all need to know!'
Major Charles didn't answer, at first. He then took a deep breath.
'I found out, shortly after your brother and you were taken, that your mother was a Russian spy. She told me that she hadn't expected to fall in love with me...to love our life together. Jarod, she swore that what she was doing, had nothing to do with why your brother and you were taken. And I believed that.'
He stopped talking suddenly, as if it were too painful to talk about. Jarod glanced out of the door. Mallory was still dancing with Broots. Michelle had picked up Abigail, and was walking around with her. Brian was dancing with another young girl.
Jarod closed the door and looked at his father again.
'Dad, I need to hear all of it. No more lies.' he said softly.
'Okay, okay. I found out your mother had lied to me about your kidnapping, as well as your brother's.'
'Lied? Lied how?'
Major Charles shook his head.
'Jarod, I had hoped you would never learn the truth like this. Especially on this day.'
'Just tell me!'
'Jarod, your mother made a deal with her superiors. She would be allowed to live, if she turned both Kyle and you over to the Centre. Apparently, that sick operation had ties to the Soviet Union. There's no telling how many of your simulations were used to aid the KGB, or worse.'
Jarod just stared at his father.
'No.' was all that he said. He turned away.
'Jarod, you have to hear all of this. I couldn't stand the sight of your mother after I found out. She confessed you know... the guilt was eating her up inside. We were never the same. I mean by then, we had Emily, but I just couldn't be a husband to a woman, that had sold my children in exchange for her own miserable neck! That was when I confided in Catherine...Jarod, she was never inseminated with my sperm. Ethan...Ethan was conceived out of love.'
Jarod ran a hand over his face. He kept remembering how hard his mother had tried to tell him something before she died! Something she couldn't get out! He looked at his father.
'I will never believe that my mother SOLD Kyle or I, okay? So you can stop trying to make her look bad at your own expense! Now I want you to tell me about Catherine Parker! Is she alive or isn't she?!'
'Jarod, you're upset! Please, calm down!'
'Are you going to answer my question or not?!'
'Not until you've calmed down!'
Suddenly, the door opened. Sydney walked in. He looked from Major Charles, to Jarod. His gaze settled on Jarod.
'Jarod? Is everything alright?'
Jarod shook his head and left the room. Sydney stared after him, then looked back at Major Charles.
'What happened in here?' he asked.
But Major Charles shook his head and walked out as well. He planned to collect Brian and go back to Alaska, right now!
****
Mallory had noticed none of the behind the scenes goings ons. She was in shock over what Broots had told her.
'I never knew that! Jarod's mother tried to give you a lobotomy? Why?'
'Because of what I found out! Jarod's mother gave him and Kyle to the Centre! The Centre thought they had a right to them, because Jarod's mother made some kind of deal to keep herself from getting killed! I found this out when I was looking for information on her and Irina Derevko. As soon as I found out, I was dragged off.'
Mallory kept a phony smile plastered on her face, as she continued to dance with Broots.
'There is no way Jarod knows about this, Broots. I mean, just hearing something like that would kill him.'
'Yeah, that's what Sidney Bristow thought too.' Broots answered.
'Sidney knows?' Mallory asked, looking around until her gaze fixed on Sidney. Michael Vaughn had fed her a piece of wedding cake. Sidney had been her matron of honor.
'Yeah! She thought it would be better if Major Charles told him.'
Mallory's mind began to race! So, Jarod's father knew of his wife's deception and chose not to tell Jarod about it? Then again, she couldn't blame him. It was probably better that Jarod did not know. His mother's death had been hard enough on him, but for him to go on living, knowing that she had done something so unspeakable....Mallory was a firm believer that some things were better off not knowing...ever!
'Thanks, Broots, for telling me. But I doubt Major Charles will ever tell Jarod that.'
'Well, what about you? I mean he should know...'
'No, Broots, he shouldn't! Think about how much Jarod idealized the idea of a mother. Then, when he finally had a picture of her, he kept that with him 24/7. Then, when he finally gets a chance to actually meet and talk with her, it ends in tragedy. I'm telling you, Broots, Jarod can never know that. Promise me he will never hear it from you!'
Broots nodded. Maybe Ms.Parker...Mallory, was right. Jarod would be very hurt if he heard something like that about his mother.
Suddenly, Brian was standing near them. Mallory's eyes lit up when she saw him. He looked so much like Jarod had at that age. She smiled at him.
'Hi,' he said shyly. 'I just wanted to tell you that my father and I were leaving.'
Mallory looked at Broots, who shrugged. She let go of Broots.
'What do you mean, 'leaving'?' she asked, her tone sounding semi-sharp. She saw that he seemed confused by the question, and she softened some. Broots was looking from her, to Brian.
'I mean, Dad said it was time for us to be getting back to Alaska. So, he said to come over and say goodbye.'
Mallory felt her temper beginning to rise! First of all, there was that reference to Major Charles, as 'Dad'. A few days before the wedding, Jarod and her had went out to the airport to pick them up. On the drive there, was the first of this talk about leaving things the way they were, for Brian's sake.
Mallory hadn't really agreed to it, but did not openly disagree with Jarod. She figured she would wait and see. But when she saw him again, she fell in love with the idea of being Brian's mother.
They had waited by the gate, while the passengers came off of the plane from Alaska. Brian had been wearing a varsity letter jacket. Jarod didn't seem to catch the significance of that, having never been to high school. But for Brian to be a freshman, and on the varsity football team, that was a big deal. And Mallory wanted to share in his excitement.
There was also a part of her that was jealous and sad. Brian looked so good and well adjusted, in just the short time he had been living with Jarod's father. And she had had nothing to do with any of that.
Major Charles apparently had been attending all of Brian's games. He was a volunteer assistant coach for the team. Things that Jarod should be doing.
But Jarod didn't mind, or at least, didn't appear to. After all, he had a little girl to spoil in Abigail. Jarod had hugged Brian, then his father. Mallory couldn't stop staring at Brian. He was her son, and he didn't even know it.
They had been staying with them, in the two-story house that Jarod and her had purchased. Mallory had sold her family home, and put half of the proceeds into the new house. Jarod came up with his share from God knows where! She didn't ask, and Jarod never volunteered an explanation.
Now, her son was telling her that he and Major Charles were leaving! In the middle of her wedding reception! She realized, now was the time to confront Jarod, and tell him how she really felt about their son's living arrangements. It was not that she was not grateful to Major Charles, but he was Brian's grandfather, not his father.
'Uh, Brian, I haven't had the chance to dance with you yet.' Mallory said, ignoring Broots's gaze. Brian smiled shyly at her, then took her hand. The two began dancing. Broots went off to find his daughter.
'So, tell me, why do you have to get back so soon?' Mallory asked, trying to still her growing panic. She understood that with all Brian had been through in his life, he was finally living a normal existence. But Jarod and her would never get to know their son, if they didn't start trying to be a family sometime! Brian was almost grown now!
'I don't know. My father just told me we had to get back. Though, I kind of think I know why.' he said, lowering his voice some.
Mallory smiled at him.
'What? Why do you think Major Charles wants to leave?' she asked. She refused to refer to him as her son's father!
'Cathy.'
Mallory raised a brow.
'Cathy...Cathy who?'
'Oh, she's Dad's girlfriend. She is so nice...she's kind of like the mother I never had. I've been rooting for them to get married...I even wanted her to come with us to your wedding, but she didn't seem to want to. You know, she kind of looks like...'
Mallory didn't let her son finish, and stopped dancing abruptly. Now, some woman named 'Cathy', was trying to take her place as Brian's mother?! This was enough to make her want to take up smoking again!
'Brian, why don't you stick around for a bit. I need to talk to Major Charles...just to say goodbye, okay?'
Mallory then let go of her son and searched for any sign of Major Charles or Jarod, but preferably her new father-in-law. She was all for him finding love again at his age, but the more she heard about this new woman in his life, the more determined she was, to stake her place in Brian's life.
****
'Jarod, are you sure that's what your father said?' Sydney asked in disbelief.
Jarod and Sydney were in another room, off of the reception hall. Jarod nodded, his jaw was clenched.
'Yes, Sydney! I will never forget those words for as long as I live! And what really angers me, is he said it to cover for his own treachery!'
'I don't understand.' Sydney said.
Jarod looked towards the closed door. He then looked back at Sydney.
'Before my mother died, she told me that Catherine Parker was still alive.'
'What?!' Sydney cried out.
'Keep your voice down!' Jarod hissed, feeling more and more stressed. 'The last thing I need, is for Mallory to come in here and overhear something like that.'
'Jarod, we know what happened to Catherine Parker! Why would your mother have said such a thing? Maybe she was just delirious?'
'Sydney, she was laboring for breath! There was something specific she wanted to tell me! And what she said was, that not only was Catherine Parker alive, but that my father was in love with her. That is the reason why my parents never found their way back to one another!'
Sydney pursed his lips. Jarod recognized that as a sign that Sydney was going to say something unpleasant.
'What, Sydney? Just say it!'
'Alright. I think that you're unwilling to accept the possibility, that what could've kept your parents apart, was your father's inability to forgive your mother.'
'Making that cock and bull story true? No!'
'Jarod, you have to calm down or else Mallory will know something is wrong. Now, did you ask your father about Catherine Parker?'
'Yes! And all he would admit to, was that Ethan was conceived out of 'love'!'
Sydney frowned.
'Meaning Catherine Parker was not inseminated with your father's sperm. They had an affair.' Sydney theorized. But that made no sense! For that meant that Catherine left Ethan as well, when the perception was that he was stolen by Raines and the Centre.
'They had an affair alright! Behind my poor mother's back!' Jarod practically growled. He then stopped and took a steadying breath.
'Did your father say she was alive though?' Sydney pressed.
Jarod shook his head.
'No. He kept dodging that question. And if she was dead, I think he would've simply said it. Sydney, I don't want my wife to know about this.'
'Oh, Jarod, that's a mistake...'
'Sydney, we both know Mallory! We both know her better than anyone else on this earth! She has always had this illusion that her beautiful, sweet mother, was murdered and taken from her too early. If she ever found out that her mother just walked out on her....I don't think she could take it.'
Sydney put a hand on Jarod's shoulder.
'You both are strong people. And our Mallory is a lot stronger than she looks. I think it would be hard, but she would survive.'
Jarod stared at Sydney, then shook his head.
'You know what? I think I'm just going to stop chasing the past.'
Sydney raised a brow.
'You're the last person I thought I would ever hear say that.'
'Well, now you're hearing it. I'm married now. I have a new career, at the same University with the man that has been the only father I have ever known all of my life. I have a beautiful little girl that I just...I mean Sydney, she is my heart. I have to focus on them now.'
Sydney nodded slightly. He had actually walked Mallory down the aisle today. He felt like a proud father to both of them.
'What about Brian, Jarod?'
Jarod sighed.
'He's well adjusted and happy with my father. But, if Catherine Parker is alive and involved with my father, I don't want my son around them.'
'Jarod...'
'Sydney, their relationship has been built on lies. The main one being, that to most of the world, Catherine Parker is supposed to be dead. Look, let's get back out there. Michelle is probably wondering where you are now.'
Sydney smiled softly, knowing he should stay out of it, but having too much vested in the couple to do so. He followed Jarod out of the room.
****
Mallory found Major Charles waiting by the front door. He looked surprised to see her.
'Mallory, have you seen Brian? I told him to say goodbye...we're catching an early flight.'
Mallory raised a brow.
'So I heard. Why is that?'
'Why is what?' Major Charles asked in a gruff tone.
'Why are you leaving so early?'
Major Charles reached out to touch her hands, but Mallory snatched them away! Major Charles looked saddened.
'Jarod told you, hey?'
'Jarod told me what?'
'I'm leaving because he wouldn't want me here. I had to tell him something unpleasant about his mother. He didn't take it too well.'
Mallory nodded quickly, knowing that here she was about to unleash hell on her father-in-law, but unable to stop herself!
'You told Jarod about his mother giving him and his brother to the Centre, didn't you?! And on his damned wedding day!'
'I'm sorry, Mallory! Believe me, I didn't want to tell him...look, I'll just find Brian and leave.'
'You're not taking my son, anywhere!' she practically spat.
Now, Major Charles's expression went from sad, to firm.
'Brian is coming home with me. Alaska is the only real home he has ever known...with me, no thanks to your father!' Major Charles snapped.
'Oh, so now the gloves come off, don't they, 'Dad'? Can I call you that? You know, now that I'm married to your son!'
'Look, this isn't good for anyone, okay? I'm going to find Brian and we're getting out of here. Jarod and you just need time to calm down now.'
Major Charles tried to move around her, but Mallory moved in front of him, her wedding dress rustling.
'I am calm. Brian is my son. You are not his father, and this 'Cathy', is not me! I am his mother!'
'Mallory, don't cause a scene. We both want what is best for Brian.'
'What's best for my son, is that he finally learns that he was not a clone, and that he does actually have living, breathing parents!'
Jarod and Sydney appeared. Sydney touched Mallory's elbow, while Jarod walked over to his father.
'What's going on here?' Jarod asked in a tight voice, looking from his father to his wife.
'Your father was just going to sneak out of here with our son, Jarod!'
Jarod looked at Mallory, then at Sydney. He looked over at his father.
'Stay here. I'll be right back. We still have unfinished business.' he said. He then moved towards Mallory and took her arm, steering her into another empty room. Once inside, he closed the door.
'Alright, talk to me. What is this all about?' he asked.
Mallory gave him a defiant stare.
'Jarod, I know you thought that I agreed to let Brian live with your father for now, but the more I think about it, and the more I look at him, I just know now is the time to tell him the truth.'
Jarod reached out and cupped her face in his hands.
'I feel the same way, believe me I do. But, now is not the time to tell our son that we're going to uproot his life.'
Mallory pulled away from him.
'Then when? When he's eighteen?! Jarod he's a freshman in highschool!'
'What has that got to do with anything? He will be our son for life!'
'But we'll have no chance to have any input in his upbringing! Jarod, our son told me that your father is dating some strange woman named Cathy! And you should've seen Brian's eyes...he loves this woman...like a mother!'
Mallory then broke down and began to cry. Jarod was totally perplexed at his wife's hysterics. Rarely, if ever, did she show this much emotion. He pulled her into his arms, all the while, his mind on this 'Cathy'. Cathy, most likely, was Catherine Parker. Which meant that his fears about his father carrying on with Mallory's mother, were not unfounded. He let go of Mallory.
'I agree with you.' he said calmly.
Mallory's eyes widened. She hadn't expected it to be this easy! Se began swiping at her eyes.
'You do?'
Jarod nodded.
'Yes. I think before we leave for Hawaii, I will speak to my father about the custody arrangements.'
'Well, Jarod, we can do it together.'
'No!' Jarod said, a little too emotionally. He did not want her to even guess, that Cathy was Catherine Parker.
Mallory looked into his eyes. Something was wrong.
She reached up and touched his cheek.
'What is it? Something else has happened?'
Jarod took a deep breath.
'My father told me something about my mother...something that isn't even worth repeating. But needless to say, I don't know how to feel about my father now. I mean, he's just outright lied on my mother, and she isn't even here to defend herself!'
Mallory now knew, that for whatever sick reason, Major Charles had told Jarod about his mother giving him and his brother Kyle, over to the Centre, when they were children. What was the matter with that man?!
Mallory clasped his hand. Just to hear something like that, had to be devastating. Jarod's pain calmed her own.
'Look, I was just emotional...you know with Brian being here like this...we can talk to Major Charles when we get back from Hawaii. Let's just let him go.'
Jarod tilted his head.
'You're sure?' he asked.
Mallory nodded. Jarod needed time away from his father right now.
'Besides, if we do plan to bring our son home with us, we have to make sure that his parents are...' Mallory finished the sentence by whispering something dirty in Jarod's ear. Jarod grinned, then kissed her. He had to admit, he was really looking forward to time alone with his new wife. Time alone without the pressures of the Centre trial, always around them.
And he liked kissing her, about as much as he loved making love to her. Jarod had been quite surprised to discover the different things Mallory could do with her tongue!
Mallory then broke of the kiss. Jarod stroked her cheek, then reluctantly, began to back away.
'I'll find my father.' he said huskily, before leaving the room. Once gone, Mallory allowed her thoughts to drift back to Brian. What bothered her the most, was that Major Charles had missed out on raising two sons. Brian was the son he had never had a chance to spend any time with. She was very afraid, that prying her son from her new father-in-law's care, would not be so easy.
****
But when Jarod left to look for his father, Sydney confronted him in a hallway.
'They're gone, Jarod.' he said.
'Who? My father and Brian?'
'Yes. Major Charles grabbed Brian and left. He said he would call you when they returned back home to Alaska. What are you going to tell Mallory?'
Jarod shook his head.
'Nothing.'
'Jarod, she's going to be upset that she didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her son!'
Before Jarod could respond, Sidney and Vaughn came out of the reception hall and stood before him. Jarod hadn't known Vaughn and Sidney long, but he could tell by their faces, that there were more unpleasant surprises to come.
'What? What is it?' Jarod asked them. Sydney tensed up as well.
Vaughn cleared his throat.
'I just got a call...the CIA cut a deal with Lyle.'
Jarod and Sydney looked at one another.
'What do you mean, 'cut a deal'?' Jarod asked, his voice rising. This day was going from good, to bad, to pretty damned bad!
Mallory, who heard Jarod's voice get loud, came out of the other room. She walked over to stand with Jarod and Sydney.
'What's going on out here?' she asked. She then looked around.
'Where is Brian and Major Charles?' she asked.
Jarod looked over at her.
'They left.'
'Left?! Behind our backs?'
Sydney put a hand on her shoulder.
'Mallory, Mr. Lyle cut a deal with the CIA.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open, as she looked from Sydney, to Vaughn and Sidney.
'How is that possible?!'
Sidney rubbed Vaughn's shoulder. This was just as upsetting for the two of them, since Vaughn was worried for Sidney's safety. Sidney spoke.
'Apparently, your brother knew of a lot of terrorist cells. He turned them all over for his freedom...but Jarod, Mallory, it's much, much worse.'
'What?' Jarod asked. Mallory linked her arm with his.
''Did you sell your house to Lyle?' Vaughn asked Mallory.
Jarod and Sydney looked at Mallory. Her eyes widened.
'What the hell are you talking about?! Of course not!' she snapped.
'You met the person that bought the house?' Sidney asked.
'Yes! It was a young couple...this was their first home...they were new to the area!'
Sidney shook her head.
'They were fronting for Lyle!'
'Damnit!' Jarod swore, unable to believe their colossal bad luck! What else could go wrong?!
Michael Vaughn answered that question.
'There is one more thing: Lyle has custody of a little boy. He's about three years old.'
Jarod squinted.
'Lyle had a child? Of his own?'
But Mallory slowly let go of Jarod.
'No...not of his own.'
Sidney was staring at her. She nodded at her in the affirmative.
Jarod reached out and touched Mallory's shoulders, turning her so that she was facing him.
'Who is this child, Mallory?'
Mallory blinked.
'The boy that Brigitte and my father had...how did this happen?'
Sidney shook her head.
'I don't know. But he is the boy's legal guardian. And he's named the boy Bobby.'
Jarod, Mallory and Sydney looked at one another. Mallory then turned to Jarod.
'We can't go to Hawaii.' she said.
'Is this about Brian?' Major Charles asked Jarod, as they stood in a quiet room off of the reception hall.
'No.' Jarod said, not sure how he was going to begin this conversation. All he knew was that in a couple of hours, Mallory and himself, were going to Hawaii on their honeymoon. Sydney and Michelle were going to take care of Abigail while they were gone. Jarod would not be able to enjoy this alone time, he was going to have with his new wife, if he did not ask his father some very pointed questions.
Yet, it bothered Jarod that he had to ask them at all. For it implied that his father had lied to him, or at the very least, not told him some very important facts.
'What is it, Jarod? Is it something about the trial?'
'No, the government's case is strong. It's about Mother. She said something before she died.'
Major Charles averted his eyes and took a deep breath. Jarod peered at him.
'What is it?' he asked.
Major Charles looked at him.
'With all that's been going on, I know we haven't had time to talk about her. I'm sorry that you didn't have more time with her, Jarod.'
Jarod nodded slowly.
'Are you sorry you didn't as well?' he asked his father.
Major Charles shook his head slightly.
'I don't understand what you're asking me, son. I told you I hadn't seen her in years...Emily told me the funeral was beautiful...is she around here someplace?'
'She missed the wedding, but said she would try and be here for the reception.' Jarod answered, still peering at his father.
'What, Jarod? Why are you looking at me like that?'
'Mother said that you were in love with Catherine Parker. She said that that was one of the reasons the two of you weren't together. She said Catherine Parker was still alive. Now, I need to know everything here, Dad! Everything! Meaning just what drove you away from mother, and is my wife's mother still alive?!'
Major Charles licked his lips.
'Jarod, this is your wedding day. Ms...Mallory and you have been through a lot here. Don't spoil it by bringing up the past.'
'If Catherine Parker is not dead, then the past is very much the present, Dad! And worse yet, if you two have been having some sort of relationship behind our backs, then we all need to know!'
Major Charles didn't answer, at first. He then took a deep breath.
'I found out, shortly after your brother and you were taken, that your mother was a Russian spy. She told me that she hadn't expected to fall in love with me...to love our life together. Jarod, she swore that what she was doing, had nothing to do with why your brother and you were taken. And I believed that.'
He stopped talking suddenly, as if it were too painful to talk about. Jarod glanced out of the door. Mallory was still dancing with Broots. Michelle had picked up Abigail, and was walking around with her. Brian was dancing with another young girl.
Jarod closed the door and looked at his father again.
'Dad, I need to hear all of it. No more lies.' he said softly.
'Okay, okay. I found out your mother had lied to me about your kidnapping, as well as your brother's.'
'Lied? Lied how?'
Major Charles shook his head.
'Jarod, I had hoped you would never learn the truth like this. Especially on this day.'
'Just tell me!'
'Jarod, your mother made a deal with her superiors. She would be allowed to live, if she turned both Kyle and you over to the Centre. Apparently, that sick operation had ties to the Soviet Union. There's no telling how many of your simulations were used to aid the KGB, or worse.'
Jarod just stared at his father.
'No.' was all that he said. He turned away.
'Jarod, you have to hear all of this. I couldn't stand the sight of your mother after I found out. She confessed you know... the guilt was eating her up inside. We were never the same. I mean by then, we had Emily, but I just couldn't be a husband to a woman, that had sold my children in exchange for her own miserable neck! That was when I confided in Catherine...Jarod, she was never inseminated with my sperm. Ethan...Ethan was conceived out of love.'
Jarod ran a hand over his face. He kept remembering how hard his mother had tried to tell him something before she died! Something she couldn't get out! He looked at his father.
'I will never believe that my mother SOLD Kyle or I, okay? So you can stop trying to make her look bad at your own expense! Now I want you to tell me about Catherine Parker! Is she alive or isn't she?!'
'Jarod, you're upset! Please, calm down!'
'Are you going to answer my question or not?!'
'Not until you've calmed down!'
Suddenly, the door opened. Sydney walked in. He looked from Major Charles, to Jarod. His gaze settled on Jarod.
'Jarod? Is everything alright?'
Jarod shook his head and left the room. Sydney stared after him, then looked back at Major Charles.
'What happened in here?' he asked.
But Major Charles shook his head and walked out as well. He planned to collect Brian and go back to Alaska, right now!
****
Mallory had noticed none of the behind the scenes goings ons. She was in shock over what Broots had told her.
'I never knew that! Jarod's mother tried to give you a lobotomy? Why?'
'Because of what I found out! Jarod's mother gave him and Kyle to the Centre! The Centre thought they had a right to them, because Jarod's mother made some kind of deal to keep herself from getting killed! I found this out when I was looking for information on her and Irina Derevko. As soon as I found out, I was dragged off.'
Mallory kept a phony smile plastered on her face, as she continued to dance with Broots.
'There is no way Jarod knows about this, Broots. I mean, just hearing something like that would kill him.'
'Yeah, that's what Sidney Bristow thought too.' Broots answered.
'Sidney knows?' Mallory asked, looking around until her gaze fixed on Sidney. Michael Vaughn had fed her a piece of wedding cake. Sidney had been her matron of honor.
'Yeah! She thought it would be better if Major Charles told him.'
Mallory's mind began to race! So, Jarod's father knew of his wife's deception and chose not to tell Jarod about it? Then again, she couldn't blame him. It was probably better that Jarod did not know. His mother's death had been hard enough on him, but for him to go on living, knowing that she had done something so unspeakable....Mallory was a firm believer that some things were better off not knowing...ever!
'Thanks, Broots, for telling me. But I doubt Major Charles will ever tell Jarod that.'
'Well, what about you? I mean he should know...'
'No, Broots, he shouldn't! Think about how much Jarod idealized the idea of a mother. Then, when he finally had a picture of her, he kept that with him 24/7. Then, when he finally gets a chance to actually meet and talk with her, it ends in tragedy. I'm telling you, Broots, Jarod can never know that. Promise me he will never hear it from you!'
Broots nodded. Maybe Ms.Parker...Mallory, was right. Jarod would be very hurt if he heard something like that about his mother.
Suddenly, Brian was standing near them. Mallory's eyes lit up when she saw him. He looked so much like Jarod had at that age. She smiled at him.
'Hi,' he said shyly. 'I just wanted to tell you that my father and I were leaving.'
Mallory looked at Broots, who shrugged. She let go of Broots.
'What do you mean, 'leaving'?' she asked, her tone sounding semi-sharp. She saw that he seemed confused by the question, and she softened some. Broots was looking from her, to Brian.
'I mean, Dad said it was time for us to be getting back to Alaska. So, he said to come over and say goodbye.'
Mallory felt her temper beginning to rise! First of all, there was that reference to Major Charles, as 'Dad'. A few days before the wedding, Jarod and her had went out to the airport to pick them up. On the drive there, was the first of this talk about leaving things the way they were, for Brian's sake.
Mallory hadn't really agreed to it, but did not openly disagree with Jarod. She figured she would wait and see. But when she saw him again, she fell in love with the idea of being Brian's mother.
They had waited by the gate, while the passengers came off of the plane from Alaska. Brian had been wearing a varsity letter jacket. Jarod didn't seem to catch the significance of that, having never been to high school. But for Brian to be a freshman, and on the varsity football team, that was a big deal. And Mallory wanted to share in his excitement.
There was also a part of her that was jealous and sad. Brian looked so good and well adjusted, in just the short time he had been living with Jarod's father. And she had had nothing to do with any of that.
Major Charles apparently had been attending all of Brian's games. He was a volunteer assistant coach for the team. Things that Jarod should be doing.
But Jarod didn't mind, or at least, didn't appear to. After all, he had a little girl to spoil in Abigail. Jarod had hugged Brian, then his father. Mallory couldn't stop staring at Brian. He was her son, and he didn't even know it.
They had been staying with them, in the two-story house that Jarod and her had purchased. Mallory had sold her family home, and put half of the proceeds into the new house. Jarod came up with his share from God knows where! She didn't ask, and Jarod never volunteered an explanation.
Now, her son was telling her that he and Major Charles were leaving! In the middle of her wedding reception! She realized, now was the time to confront Jarod, and tell him how she really felt about their son's living arrangements. It was not that she was not grateful to Major Charles, but he was Brian's grandfather, not his father.
'Uh, Brian, I haven't had the chance to dance with you yet.' Mallory said, ignoring Broots's gaze. Brian smiled shyly at her, then took her hand. The two began dancing. Broots went off to find his daughter.
'So, tell me, why do you have to get back so soon?' Mallory asked, trying to still her growing panic. She understood that with all Brian had been through in his life, he was finally living a normal existence. But Jarod and her would never get to know their son, if they didn't start trying to be a family sometime! Brian was almost grown now!
'I don't know. My father just told me we had to get back. Though, I kind of think I know why.' he said, lowering his voice some.
Mallory smiled at him.
'What? Why do you think Major Charles wants to leave?' she asked. She refused to refer to him as her son's father!
'Cathy.'
Mallory raised a brow.
'Cathy...Cathy who?'
'Oh, she's Dad's girlfriend. She is so nice...she's kind of like the mother I never had. I've been rooting for them to get married...I even wanted her to come with us to your wedding, but she didn't seem to want to. You know, she kind of looks like...'
Mallory didn't let her son finish, and stopped dancing abruptly. Now, some woman named 'Cathy', was trying to take her place as Brian's mother?! This was enough to make her want to take up smoking again!
'Brian, why don't you stick around for a bit. I need to talk to Major Charles...just to say goodbye, okay?'
Mallory then let go of her son and searched for any sign of Major Charles or Jarod, but preferably her new father-in-law. She was all for him finding love again at his age, but the more she heard about this new woman in his life, the more determined she was, to stake her place in Brian's life.
****
'Jarod, are you sure that's what your father said?' Sydney asked in disbelief.
Jarod and Sydney were in another room, off of the reception hall. Jarod nodded, his jaw was clenched.
'Yes, Sydney! I will never forget those words for as long as I live! And what really angers me, is he said it to cover for his own treachery!'
'I don't understand.' Sydney said.
Jarod looked towards the closed door. He then looked back at Sydney.
'Before my mother died, she told me that Catherine Parker was still alive.'
'What?!' Sydney cried out.
'Keep your voice down!' Jarod hissed, feeling more and more stressed. 'The last thing I need, is for Mallory to come in here and overhear something like that.'
'Jarod, we know what happened to Catherine Parker! Why would your mother have said such a thing? Maybe she was just delirious?'
'Sydney, she was laboring for breath! There was something specific she wanted to tell me! And what she said was, that not only was Catherine Parker alive, but that my father was in love with her. That is the reason why my parents never found their way back to one another!'
Sydney pursed his lips. Jarod recognized that as a sign that Sydney was going to say something unpleasant.
'What, Sydney? Just say it!'
'Alright. I think that you're unwilling to accept the possibility, that what could've kept your parents apart, was your father's inability to forgive your mother.'
'Making that cock and bull story true? No!'
'Jarod, you have to calm down or else Mallory will know something is wrong. Now, did you ask your father about Catherine Parker?'
'Yes! And all he would admit to, was that Ethan was conceived out of 'love'!'
Sydney frowned.
'Meaning Catherine Parker was not inseminated with your father's sperm. They had an affair.' Sydney theorized. But that made no sense! For that meant that Catherine left Ethan as well, when the perception was that he was stolen by Raines and the Centre.
'They had an affair alright! Behind my poor mother's back!' Jarod practically growled. He then stopped and took a steadying breath.
'Did your father say she was alive though?' Sydney pressed.
Jarod shook his head.
'No. He kept dodging that question. And if she was dead, I think he would've simply said it. Sydney, I don't want my wife to know about this.'
'Oh, Jarod, that's a mistake...'
'Sydney, we both know Mallory! We both know her better than anyone else on this earth! She has always had this illusion that her beautiful, sweet mother, was murdered and taken from her too early. If she ever found out that her mother just walked out on her....I don't think she could take it.'
Sydney put a hand on Jarod's shoulder.
'You both are strong people. And our Mallory is a lot stronger than she looks. I think it would be hard, but she would survive.'
Jarod stared at Sydney, then shook his head.
'You know what? I think I'm just going to stop chasing the past.'
Sydney raised a brow.
'You're the last person I thought I would ever hear say that.'
'Well, now you're hearing it. I'm married now. I have a new career, at the same University with the man that has been the only father I have ever known all of my life. I have a beautiful little girl that I just...I mean Sydney, she is my heart. I have to focus on them now.'
Sydney nodded slightly. He had actually walked Mallory down the aisle today. He felt like a proud father to both of them.
'What about Brian, Jarod?'
Jarod sighed.
'He's well adjusted and happy with my father. But, if Catherine Parker is alive and involved with my father, I don't want my son around them.'
'Jarod...'
'Sydney, their relationship has been built on lies. The main one being, that to most of the world, Catherine Parker is supposed to be dead. Look, let's get back out there. Michelle is probably wondering where you are now.'
Sydney smiled softly, knowing he should stay out of it, but having too much vested in the couple to do so. He followed Jarod out of the room.
****
Mallory found Major Charles waiting by the front door. He looked surprised to see her.
'Mallory, have you seen Brian? I told him to say goodbye...we're catching an early flight.'
Mallory raised a brow.
'So I heard. Why is that?'
'Why is what?' Major Charles asked in a gruff tone.
'Why are you leaving so early?'
Major Charles reached out to touch her hands, but Mallory snatched them away! Major Charles looked saddened.
'Jarod told you, hey?'
'Jarod told me what?'
'I'm leaving because he wouldn't want me here. I had to tell him something unpleasant about his mother. He didn't take it too well.'
Mallory nodded quickly, knowing that here she was about to unleash hell on her father-in-law, but unable to stop herself!
'You told Jarod about his mother giving him and his brother to the Centre, didn't you?! And on his damned wedding day!'
'I'm sorry, Mallory! Believe me, I didn't want to tell him...look, I'll just find Brian and leave.'
'You're not taking my son, anywhere!' she practically spat.
Now, Major Charles's expression went from sad, to firm.
'Brian is coming home with me. Alaska is the only real home he has ever known...with me, no thanks to your father!' Major Charles snapped.
'Oh, so now the gloves come off, don't they, 'Dad'? Can I call you that? You know, now that I'm married to your son!'
'Look, this isn't good for anyone, okay? I'm going to find Brian and we're getting out of here. Jarod and you just need time to calm down now.'
Major Charles tried to move around her, but Mallory moved in front of him, her wedding dress rustling.
'I am calm. Brian is my son. You are not his father, and this 'Cathy', is not me! I am his mother!'
'Mallory, don't cause a scene. We both want what is best for Brian.'
'What's best for my son, is that he finally learns that he was not a clone, and that he does actually have living, breathing parents!'
Jarod and Sydney appeared. Sydney touched Mallory's elbow, while Jarod walked over to his father.
'What's going on here?' Jarod asked in a tight voice, looking from his father to his wife.
'Your father was just going to sneak out of here with our son, Jarod!'
Jarod looked at Mallory, then at Sydney. He looked over at his father.
'Stay here. I'll be right back. We still have unfinished business.' he said. He then moved towards Mallory and took her arm, steering her into another empty room. Once inside, he closed the door.
'Alright, talk to me. What is this all about?' he asked.
Mallory gave him a defiant stare.
'Jarod, I know you thought that I agreed to let Brian live with your father for now, but the more I think about it, and the more I look at him, I just know now is the time to tell him the truth.'
Jarod reached out and cupped her face in his hands.
'I feel the same way, believe me I do. But, now is not the time to tell our son that we're going to uproot his life.'
Mallory pulled away from him.
'Then when? When he's eighteen?! Jarod he's a freshman in highschool!'
'What has that got to do with anything? He will be our son for life!'
'But we'll have no chance to have any input in his upbringing! Jarod, our son told me that your father is dating some strange woman named Cathy! And you should've seen Brian's eyes...he loves this woman...like a mother!'
Mallory then broke down and began to cry. Jarod was totally perplexed at his wife's hysterics. Rarely, if ever, did she show this much emotion. He pulled her into his arms, all the while, his mind on this 'Cathy'. Cathy, most likely, was Catherine Parker. Which meant that his fears about his father carrying on with Mallory's mother, were not unfounded. He let go of Mallory.
'I agree with you.' he said calmly.
Mallory's eyes widened. She hadn't expected it to be this easy! Se began swiping at her eyes.
'You do?'
Jarod nodded.
'Yes. I think before we leave for Hawaii, I will speak to my father about the custody arrangements.'
'Well, Jarod, we can do it together.'
'No!' Jarod said, a little too emotionally. He did not want her to even guess, that Cathy was Catherine Parker.
Mallory looked into his eyes. Something was wrong.
She reached up and touched his cheek.
'What is it? Something else has happened?'
Jarod took a deep breath.
'My father told me something about my mother...something that isn't even worth repeating. But needless to say, I don't know how to feel about my father now. I mean, he's just outright lied on my mother, and she isn't even here to defend herself!'
Mallory now knew, that for whatever sick reason, Major Charles had told Jarod about his mother giving him and his brother Kyle, over to the Centre, when they were children. What was the matter with that man?!
Mallory clasped his hand. Just to hear something like that, had to be devastating. Jarod's pain calmed her own.
'Look, I was just emotional...you know with Brian being here like this...we can talk to Major Charles when we get back from Hawaii. Let's just let him go.'
Jarod tilted his head.
'You're sure?' he asked.
Mallory nodded. Jarod needed time away from his father right now.
'Besides, if we do plan to bring our son home with us, we have to make sure that his parents are...' Mallory finished the sentence by whispering something dirty in Jarod's ear. Jarod grinned, then kissed her. He had to admit, he was really looking forward to time alone with his new wife. Time alone without the pressures of the Centre trial, always around them.
And he liked kissing her, about as much as he loved making love to her. Jarod had been quite surprised to discover the different things Mallory could do with her tongue!
Mallory then broke of the kiss. Jarod stroked her cheek, then reluctantly, began to back away.
'I'll find my father.' he said huskily, before leaving the room. Once gone, Mallory allowed her thoughts to drift back to Brian. What bothered her the most, was that Major Charles had missed out on raising two sons. Brian was the son he had never had a chance to spend any time with. She was very afraid, that prying her son from her new father-in-law's care, would not be so easy.
****
But when Jarod left to look for his father, Sydney confronted him in a hallway.
'They're gone, Jarod.' he said.
'Who? My father and Brian?'
'Yes. Major Charles grabbed Brian and left. He said he would call you when they returned back home to Alaska. What are you going to tell Mallory?'
Jarod shook his head.
'Nothing.'
'Jarod, she's going to be upset that she didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her son!'
Before Jarod could respond, Sidney and Vaughn came out of the reception hall and stood before him. Jarod hadn't known Vaughn and Sidney long, but he could tell by their faces, that there were more unpleasant surprises to come.
'What? What is it?' Jarod asked them. Sydney tensed up as well.
Vaughn cleared his throat.
'I just got a call...the CIA cut a deal with Lyle.'
Jarod and Sydney looked at one another.
'What do you mean, 'cut a deal'?' Jarod asked, his voice rising. This day was going from good, to bad, to pretty damned bad!
Mallory, who heard Jarod's voice get loud, came out of the other room. She walked over to stand with Jarod and Sydney.
'What's going on out here?' she asked. She then looked around.
'Where is Brian and Major Charles?' she asked.
Jarod looked over at her.
'They left.'
'Left?! Behind our backs?'
Sydney put a hand on her shoulder.
'Mallory, Mr. Lyle cut a deal with the CIA.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open, as she looked from Sydney, to Vaughn and Sidney.
'How is that possible?!'
Sidney rubbed Vaughn's shoulder. This was just as upsetting for the two of them, since Vaughn was worried for Sidney's safety. Sidney spoke.
'Apparently, your brother knew of a lot of terrorist cells. He turned them all over for his freedom...but Jarod, Mallory, it's much, much worse.'
'What?' Jarod asked. Mallory linked her arm with his.
''Did you sell your house to Lyle?' Vaughn asked Mallory.
Jarod and Sydney looked at Mallory. Her eyes widened.
'What the hell are you talking about?! Of course not!' she snapped.
'You met the person that bought the house?' Sidney asked.
'Yes! It was a young couple...this was their first home...they were new to the area!'
Sidney shook her head.
'They were fronting for Lyle!'
'Damnit!' Jarod swore, unable to believe their colossal bad luck! What else could go wrong?!
Michael Vaughn answered that question.
'There is one more thing: Lyle has custody of a little boy. He's about three years old.'
Jarod squinted.
'Lyle had a child? Of his own?'
But Mallory slowly let go of Jarod.
'No...not of his own.'
Sidney was staring at her. She nodded at her in the affirmative.
Jarod reached out and touched Mallory's shoulders, turning her so that she was facing him.
'Who is this child, Mallory?'
Mallory blinked.
'The boy that Brigitte and my father had...how did this happen?'
Sidney shook her head.
'I don't know. But he is the boy's legal guardian. And he's named the boy Bobby.'
Jarod, Mallory and Sydney looked at one another. Mallory then turned to Jarod.
'We can't go to Hawaii.' she said.