Chapter 19
Two days later, Jarod and Mallory left Hawaii. Though they both gave it a valiant effort, the Kristi Kincade interruption, had left a bad taste in both of their mouths.
There was the hotel to deal with, who didn't appreciate the damage to their room, even though they knew it was not their fault. After all, it had been Kristi, the CRIMINAL, who had poured that gasoline all over the carpet, not them.
Then there was dealing with the police, who had asked a million questions that seemed to hint at Jarod's carrying on with Kristi, even though he had not been anywhere near her, since before she was carted off to jail the first time.
Then there was the dead bodies of Mr. Fitzpatrick, and the guest in the room across from Jarod and Mallory's. The police claimed that while they highly suspected Kristi had murdered both people, that did not get Jarod or Mallory off of the hook.
It took two days for everything to be cleared up, and for the Russell's to receive a stern warning from the authorities about taking the law into their own hands. Jarod knew that he did have that reputation.
He had wanted to stay and enjoy the rest of his honeymoon, but the whole experience had put Mallory in a foul mood(some would say that one could not tell the difference between her foul moods and her normal ones). She did little talking and turned him away for sex.
When they returned to Delaware, and headed towards their car in the airport parking garage, Jarod stopped his wife from getting into the car.
'How long do you plan to keep this up?' he asked her.
Mallory tried to move around him, towards her door, but Jarod continued to block her way.
'What do you want me to say?' she sniped.
'How about acting like an adult and telling me how you feel? I had no way of knowing that that woman would show up and try and kill us. I can't believe you're blaming me for this!'
'I don't, okay? I know all of that. I know that you were trying to protect me...I really don't know what I'm mad about, Jarod. I guess I'm just tired.'
Jarod set the luggage he was carrying down. Mallory set hers down as well. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
'You're sure?' he asked. Mallory nodded.
'Good. I mean, it's not good that you're tired, but, I'm glad that you're not letting this come between us anymore. Because we now have other concerns.' he said.
Mallory nodded. Brian...and little Bobby.
'Once we pick up Abigail from Sydney and Michelle's, I plan on coming back here. I already booked a flight to Alaska.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open!
'You booked a flight for one?' she asked sharply.
'We discussed this in Hawaii...'
'No, Jarod! I agreed to let you go to Alaska alone to talk with Major Charles, thinking that you were going to let me handle that Kincade broad! You didn't keep your part of the deal and neither am I! I can't believe this!'
'Mallory, it's this very reason why I need to go alone! We don't want to antagonize anyone, including Brian. But when I return, I fully intend to have our son with us.'
Mallory backed down. The fact that Jarod seemed so sure that he could make Brian living with them, a reality, calmed her some.
'Okay. I'll let you handle this, I guess. But when you return, there is something else we have to deal with.'
Jarod let go of her.
'Isn't there always?' he asked. 'What is it?'
'Bobby. Jarod, we need to find a family for him. I can't stand the idea of Lyle raising him.'
Jarod smiled gently at her.
'Bobby already has a family...us. We'll get him from Lyle. Sidney and the CIA are watching him like a hawk.'
Mallory's heart just melted. Jarod was more than willing to take her little brother in and raise him as his own. Why had she thought he was would say anything else? That was just the kind of man he was.
'Okay, now if there is nothing else...let's go and get our little girl and...'
Mallory suddenly pulled him to her and kissed him, long and hard! A couple of college kids walking by, began to whistle! She let go of him.
'Correction, Boy Genius. We go home first, where we make up for the lost time on our honeymoon, then pick up Abigail.'
Jarod grinned at her. But he slowly shook his head.
'I don't have the time for all of that...but, we could go home, and have...what is it called? A shortie?'
Mallory burst out laughing! Her laughter echoed throughout the garage.
'A quickie.' she corrected him, throwing her arms around him.
'Alright then. A quickie, a shortie, a mini...whatever a small version of what we should have been doing, all day and night in Hawaii, is called.'
Mallory grinned at him. They kissed again, as a couple walked by, shaking their heads.
****
Hours later, Mallory balanced shopping bags, and Abigail, as she unlocked the front door. She had been to a nearby mall and bought all sorts of things in anticipation of Brian coming to live with them.
Jarod had left to return to the airport. Even though they had had plans to have their quickie at the house, before picking up Abigail, it was almost as if they both decided, without saying one word to one another, that at that moment, they wanted their daughter, more than one another.
They drove to Sydney and Michelle's house. Michelle was holding Abigail, who's arms outstretched towards Jarod. Mallory hugged Sydney, who seemed happy to see them, but distant, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind. Then, Jarod turned Abigail over to her, and disappeared into another room with Sydney.
Mallory shook her head, as if to bring herself into the here and now. She managed to set the bags down, then put Abigail in a play pen that Jarod had set up in the living room. Why Sydney was on her mind, she would never know. Maybe it was because she was finally happy, and wanted him to be too. Was it possible he and Michelle were already having problems?
And how Jarod could not be dead tired from jet lag, she would never know. But then again, maybe he was used to being on the run all the time, from all of those years that she chased him. The thought of it made her sad.
The phone rang. Mallory sighed as she hurried over to it and picked it up. She had to remind herself to say 'hello' instead of 'what'.
'Hello?'
'Mallory? It's Sidney Bristow.'
'Hey, Sidney! Listen, I'm glad you called. Jarod wants to have Michael and you over for dinner something next week. He also would love to meet your father. I know you said he's not big on family but...'
'Mallory,' Sidney was forced to interrupt. 'That sounds great, really, but I need to tell Jarod and you something.'
Mallory took a deep breath. She sensed it had to do with her little brother. She didn't know why, she just did.
'What is it, Sidney? Just tell me. Jarod is out of town.'
Sidney took a deep breath as well.
'I paid Lyle a visit. He wasn't home...he apparently got a job.'
'Lyle has a job?! Oh right! What is he? A bounty hunter or something?!'
'He works for the IRS.'
Mallory burst out laughing! Lyle a pencil pusher? She would believe it when she saw it! She calmed down enough to let Sidney continue.
'I'm sorry for laughing, really I am. This is just so unbelievable.'
'It gets a little worse.' Sidney said. 'Bobby looks fine, he's being cared for. But, Lyle has hired a nanny, a young college student named Lisa Vang. She is a junior at Blue Cove University.'
'Vang? Please tell me she is not Asian.' Mallory said. She knew she had phrased it as a question, but she already knew the answer.
'Yes, she is. And I'm scared to death for her. I wanted to warn her about Lyle, but technically, he really hasn't done anything...'
'Sidney! You can't be serious? You didn't tell that girl about my psycho brother?!'
'Mallory, we could never prove that he had anything to do with those other murders! I can't go around bad mouthing him like that. The Centre stuff, yes, but the murders of other Asian women...I've talked it over with Michael and we've decided to just keep watching the house and...Mallory? Mallory are you still there?'
Mallory did not answer, as she had taken the phone away from her ear slightly. She looked back behind her at Abigail, who was still sitting in her play pen. She heard something. Something faint, it sounded like someone typing on a keyboard. She brought the phone back up to her ear.
'Sidney, I have to go. Something has come up.'
'What is it? What's wrong?'
'I think someone is in the house. I have to go.'
'Mallory! I'll call the police! Don't confront this person alone!'
'I'll be fine!' Mallory snapped and hung up. She didn't know where it came from, but her sense was that the person in the house was not a burglar. The person was someone known to her.
Keeping an eye on Abigail, who had now managed to pull herself up and was watching her movements, Mallory reached inside a drawer and pulled out her gun. She made a mental note to lock it away someplace else a little more secure. Jarod didn't particularily like guns, and if he knew she had kept one so close to where Abigail could get her hands on it, he would go ape shit!
Mallory cocked her ears, then eased into the den/family room. It was more Jarod's room than any other place, since Mallory rarely spent anytime in there at all. She eased open the door, glared, then cocked her weapon.
Lyle, was sitting at Jarod's desk, watching one of the lost DSA's! He smiled up at his sister.
'Hey, sis! I hope you don't mind my dropping in? I heard Jarod and you were back from your honeymoon and wanted to drop by and congratulate you...you know, since I was invited to the wedding.'
Mallory walked up to him and pressed the gun to his head. Lyle didn't flinch.
'What the hell do you want here, Lyle? What? Need a place to dump a body of another Asian girl? Maybe my little brother's new nanny?'
Lyle rolled his eyes.
'You know, I heard the phone ring just now. Was that Sidney Bristow on the phone, telling lies about me? Lisa, that's Bobby's nanny, told me about her snooping around, asking questions and such.'
Mallory removed the gun from his head and stepped back.
'What do you want, Lyle? And why are you watching these?'
'Oh, well, this was a total accident. I mean, I came here thinking your genius husband, might have kept records for all of his financial transactions from the past five years. You see, I'm getting ready to perform a heavy audit on Jarod, and I had hoped that maybe he kept some record, somewhere of...'
'And you couldn't just call him? Or ask him to his face like a normal human being?' Mallory asked dryly.
Lyle stood up and smiled.
'None of us Centre refugees are normal, sis. You should know that by now. Not Jarod, not you or me. Or our children. Listen, I was wondering if maybe I could arrange a playdate between Bobby and Abigail. Granted, I know there's a few years between them in age,but...'
'You're not going to have to 'arrange' anything, Lyle. Jarod and I will be taking Bobby off of your hands, really soon.'
Lyle grinned!
'Is that right?'
Mallory grinned as well.
'Yes. You didn't think I would allow you to keep my little brother, did you?'
'He's my little brother as well, Mallory! And believe it or not, I just want to make sure that he's cared for is all. I mean, my God, he was living with a cousin of Raines's! I saved him from a life of pure hell.'
'He hasn't been saved until he's away from you. Now get out!'
Lyle rubbed the back of his neck.
'Say hello to Sidney for me. Tell her I still love her, even though she betrayed me.'
'Oh please!' Mallory groaned.
'Also, just know, that if you even think of taking Bobby away from me, I will make sure Jarod and you pay every dime you ever make, to the IRS for the rest of your natural lives. Are we clear?'
Mallory grinned again!
'Is that a threat? Lyle, once poor Lisa Vang's body is found, and you will kill her, you just won't be able to help yourself, you won't be a threat, burden, stain on society...you won't be anything but someone's bitch inside a prison. Are WE clear?'
Lyle grinned back.
'As always, it was lovely seeing you.'
'I'll walk you out. I wouldn't want you to kill my daughter on your way towards the door.' Mallory hissed, waving the gun at him, as she motioned him past her.
Once she got him out of the house, Mallory put away her gun, picked up Abigail, and slowly walked back to the den. She had not watched another single DSA, since that day at her old house with Jarod. They were too painful to watch.
Mallory held Abigail tightly, as she made her way around the desk to turn the machine off. Lyle, bastard that he was, had paused the DSA, instead of turning it off. Mallory unpaused it, then watched, as she gave birth to Brian, in the Centre.
Mallory tried to keep her emotions in check, as she felt Abigail play with her hair. She watched as the younger version of herself, outstretched her arms, asking to see her baby. Mallory watched, as the younger version of herself, slowly realized that Raines was not going to give her her baby.
Mallory began to back back, but ended up almost stumbling against the chair. She eased down into it, her eyes wide, with Abigail pressed against her.
LOST DSA- Mallory Parker giving birth.
Mallory didn't know at first if she has just imagined it. But as she fought through the dizzying pain, suddenly, everything became clear.
She struggled to sit up, as she watched Mr. Raines hold her baby. He wasn't looking at it with any tenderness or pride, not that she would've expected him to. He was nothing to her.
Mallory had reached out her arms towards him. She did not know if it was a boy or a girl. She wanted to hold her baby.
'My baby...' she cried out, but weakly. She didn't want her baby anywhere near Mr. Raines! He was the one that had done this! He was the one that betrayed her and Jarod...it had to have been him....him and Sydney!
Her contractions had begun, when she went looking for Jarod, just as Angelo had said to do. He had said that Jarod was still here, within the Centre.
Mallory had felt the first pain, as soon as she got onto the elevator, taking her down to where Jarod, and the other Pretenders, usually were. She was going to his room. Angelo was wrong. Jarod was not still there. He hadn't been in this complex for months!
But the pains became stronger, as she took each step towards Jarod's door. It was as almost as if they weren't so much contractions, as they were warning signs. Signs of betrayal.
Mallory tried to take deep breaths, as she peeked through the little glass square within the door, and looked in. Sydney and Jarod, were standing at a table, looking at some sort of cardboard display.
She had cried out and collapsed onto the floor, just before she was picked up by two Sweepers, and taken away.
This explained why Sydney had not looked at her, these past months, when she thought Jarod had been sent out of the Centre for training. Training so he could come and work here, not to perform simulations, like some kind of lab rat...but as a trained professional. Daddy had already bought their house...they were going to get baby furniture...
'Give me my baby!' Mallory snapped, now feeling all the more stronger! She had to get to her father! He would fix this and take care of Mr. Raines! Sydney would have to go too, for his part in this!
Mr. Raines turned and smiled at her. It was not a happy smile, nor did he make a move towards her. They stared one another down. Mallory couldn't believe the gall of this ghoul! When she told her father of this man's insolence, Raines wouldn't be able to find work anywhere! Her father would see to it!
Suddenly, doors swung open. Her father walked in. Mallory's eyes cut from Raines and her baby, to him. She reached out to him. He slowly walked over to her, clasping her hands to his.
'Daddy! Daddy! He has my baby! He has my baby! Tell him to give him to me!'
'Now, now, Angel. It will be alright. You must stay calm or you're going to get yourself even more sick.'
'Daddy! Raines and Sydney lied to us!' she began to cry. 'Jarod is still here! He's still here! You have to go and get him! Tell him our baby is here! We have to go now! Tell him to give me my baby!'
'There, there, Angel. You're just delirious now. You've had pneumonia...there is no baby. Now I want you to go to sleep. Just rest now.' Mr. Parker said in a soft, cajoling voice. He then reached one hand behind him, and motioned to someone out of camera range.
Mallory stopped talking and just stared into her father's eyes.
'You never sent Jarod anywhere, did you? You never had any intention of helping us...you never bought baby furniture for the house...why didn't you buy baby things?! Daddy, I want my baby! Give me my baby! Make him give me my baby!' she began to scream.
The person that Mr. Parker had motioned to, appeared to be some sort of surgically masked nurse. She appeared on camera, behind Mallory, and suddenly, injected her in the neck with something!
Mallory screamed and tried to crane her neck to see who had stabbed her in the neck! She then turned back to her father and stared into his eyes, as her own eyes began to close. She whispered the word 'baby', before they closed.
Mr. Parker let go of her hands, then put his own head in his. Mr. Raines handed the baby off to someone, then put a hand on Mr. Parker's shoulder.
'She won't remember any of this, I swear to you.'
Mr. Parker shook off the hand, and seemingly pulled himself together. He glared at Raines.
'She'd better not. The way she looked at me...'
'What choice did you have? Did you want your only daughter married to Jarod? It is obvious that this whole situation came about because he wasn't being watched carefully.'
Mr. Parker shook his head angrily.
'That bastard raped my daughter! That baby would've been a reminder of that...'
Mr. Raines gave him a look. Mr. Parker looked him up and down.
'What, Raines?!' he snapped.
'Well, it's just that we have seen the DSA's. I wouldn't have called it rape...'
'My daughter is only 17 years old! She knows nothing of the ways of the world! What I saw is that our prize Pretender is quite a slick little talker! And he talked my daughter out of her clothes and forced her to sleep with him! He's dangerous and until I'm convinced his raging hormones are under control, he's not getting out of here!'
Raines raised a brow.
'Then I guess it's a good thing we gave Jarod the drug as well.'
'You bet it is!' Mr. Parker snarled.
*****
Mallory snapped back into the present, at the sound of Abigail's high pitched crying. She herself had been crying, while still holding Abigail. The whole thing must've been upsetting to the child.
Mallory pulled herself together, stopping the DSA and snatching it out with one hand. She flung it to the side, not caring if it scratched or anything. She then pulled Abigail to her, to try and soothe her.
'There, there, honey. It will be alright. Daddy is going to bring your big brother back home.'
****
ALASKA
Jarod and Sydney stood outside of Major Charles's house. Sydney had just rung the bell. Jarod began to look around.
This was a nice neighborhood. Kind of like the one he and Mallory had just moved into. Nice streets, couples walking down the sidewalks with their children, or accompanying them on bike rides.
A car pulled up in the drive, just as the door opened. They were greeted by Brian. He looked shocked to see them. Obviously, he was another person that was still in the dark.
'Jarod? Sydney? What are you doing here?' he asked, but his eyes strayed to the person waiting in the car. Jarod looked over there. It was a girl, and she seemed to be very pretty. Jarod hoped his son was not too attached to this person, because unless she came to visit them in Delaware, he probably wouldn't be seeing her again.
Major Charles appeared behind him.
'Brian go on now. Lindsey is waiting.' Major Charles said, then he waved to Lindsey. She waved back. Jarod kept his emotions in check. While his father clearly knew this girl, he himself did not. He had no idea who Brian was going off with.
Sydney glanced over at Jarod, as if he sensed all that was going on within him. But, he did not comment on it.
'Okay, I'll be home in a couple of hours. Bye Jarod. Bye Sydney.'
'Goodbye, Brian,' Sydney said. Jarod just waved, feeling an unexpected wave of anger, that he was afraid he would betray to Brian in his voice. Once his son and Lindsey backed out of the drive and drove off, Jarod faced his father.
'Come in.' Major Charles said, stepping out of the way. Jarod walked in first, then looked around. Catherine Parker stood in the middle of the room. She slowly walked up to him, giving him a tentative smile.
'Hello, Jarod. Your father and I have been waiting a long time for this very moment.'
Jarod said nothing, but just stared at her, in disbelief. This woman was definitely Catherine Parker. And she had the nerve to reach out and embrace him! Jarod backed off. He then turned to look at his father, who was still standing by the door with Sydney.
'Talk now!' Jarod ordered.
'Son, there's no need for this to get ugly.' Major Charles insisted.
But Jarod walked up to him.
'I not only came here, to hear a really phenomenal explanation, for her being alive, and your helping to cover that fact up, at my own mother's expense, mind you, but to take my son home.'
Jarod then turned back towards Catherine Parker. He missed the look of devastation on his father's face, at hearing those last words. Sydney did not.
'Tell me what I am supposed to tell my wife when I return home? Tell me!'
But Catherine Parker was cool, and unrattled by her son-on-law's quiet fury.
'I was expecting that you would bring my daughter with you, Jarod.'
'I just bet! Finding out about Brian has been hard enough on her. Growing up without you was devastating. So, excuse me if I wasn't about to submit her to more trauma.'
Jarod turned and walked over to the couch. He sat down and looked at Major Charles and Catherine Parker.
'I've done enough talking for now. Let's hear from you. What do you two have to say for yourselves?'
Major Charles walked over to Catherine Parker and held her hand. Sydney moved to sit next to Jarod. This would be a long afternoon.
Two days later, Jarod and Mallory left Hawaii. Though they both gave it a valiant effort, the Kristi Kincade interruption, had left a bad taste in both of their mouths.
There was the hotel to deal with, who didn't appreciate the damage to their room, even though they knew it was not their fault. After all, it had been Kristi, the CRIMINAL, who had poured that gasoline all over the carpet, not them.
Then there was dealing with the police, who had asked a million questions that seemed to hint at Jarod's carrying on with Kristi, even though he had not been anywhere near her, since before she was carted off to jail the first time.
Then there was the dead bodies of Mr. Fitzpatrick, and the guest in the room across from Jarod and Mallory's. The police claimed that while they highly suspected Kristi had murdered both people, that did not get Jarod or Mallory off of the hook.
It took two days for everything to be cleared up, and for the Russell's to receive a stern warning from the authorities about taking the law into their own hands. Jarod knew that he did have that reputation.
He had wanted to stay and enjoy the rest of his honeymoon, but the whole experience had put Mallory in a foul mood(some would say that one could not tell the difference between her foul moods and her normal ones). She did little talking and turned him away for sex.
When they returned to Delaware, and headed towards their car in the airport parking garage, Jarod stopped his wife from getting into the car.
'How long do you plan to keep this up?' he asked her.
Mallory tried to move around him, towards her door, but Jarod continued to block her way.
'What do you want me to say?' she sniped.
'How about acting like an adult and telling me how you feel? I had no way of knowing that that woman would show up and try and kill us. I can't believe you're blaming me for this!'
'I don't, okay? I know all of that. I know that you were trying to protect me...I really don't know what I'm mad about, Jarod. I guess I'm just tired.'
Jarod set the luggage he was carrying down. Mallory set hers down as well. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
'You're sure?' he asked. Mallory nodded.
'Good. I mean, it's not good that you're tired, but, I'm glad that you're not letting this come between us anymore. Because we now have other concerns.' he said.
Mallory nodded. Brian...and little Bobby.
'Once we pick up Abigail from Sydney and Michelle's, I plan on coming back here. I already booked a flight to Alaska.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open!
'You booked a flight for one?' she asked sharply.
'We discussed this in Hawaii...'
'No, Jarod! I agreed to let you go to Alaska alone to talk with Major Charles, thinking that you were going to let me handle that Kincade broad! You didn't keep your part of the deal and neither am I! I can't believe this!'
'Mallory, it's this very reason why I need to go alone! We don't want to antagonize anyone, including Brian. But when I return, I fully intend to have our son with us.'
Mallory backed down. The fact that Jarod seemed so sure that he could make Brian living with them, a reality, calmed her some.
'Okay. I'll let you handle this, I guess. But when you return, there is something else we have to deal with.'
Jarod let go of her.
'Isn't there always?' he asked. 'What is it?'
'Bobby. Jarod, we need to find a family for him. I can't stand the idea of Lyle raising him.'
Jarod smiled gently at her.
'Bobby already has a family...us. We'll get him from Lyle. Sidney and the CIA are watching him like a hawk.'
Mallory's heart just melted. Jarod was more than willing to take her little brother in and raise him as his own. Why had she thought he was would say anything else? That was just the kind of man he was.
'Okay, now if there is nothing else...let's go and get our little girl and...'
Mallory suddenly pulled him to her and kissed him, long and hard! A couple of college kids walking by, began to whistle! She let go of him.
'Correction, Boy Genius. We go home first, where we make up for the lost time on our honeymoon, then pick up Abigail.'
Jarod grinned at her. But he slowly shook his head.
'I don't have the time for all of that...but, we could go home, and have...what is it called? A shortie?'
Mallory burst out laughing! Her laughter echoed throughout the garage.
'A quickie.' she corrected him, throwing her arms around him.
'Alright then. A quickie, a shortie, a mini...whatever a small version of what we should have been doing, all day and night in Hawaii, is called.'
Mallory grinned at him. They kissed again, as a couple walked by, shaking their heads.
****
Hours later, Mallory balanced shopping bags, and Abigail, as she unlocked the front door. She had been to a nearby mall and bought all sorts of things in anticipation of Brian coming to live with them.
Jarod had left to return to the airport. Even though they had had plans to have their quickie at the house, before picking up Abigail, it was almost as if they both decided, without saying one word to one another, that at that moment, they wanted their daughter, more than one another.
They drove to Sydney and Michelle's house. Michelle was holding Abigail, who's arms outstretched towards Jarod. Mallory hugged Sydney, who seemed happy to see them, but distant, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind. Then, Jarod turned Abigail over to her, and disappeared into another room with Sydney.
Mallory shook her head, as if to bring herself into the here and now. She managed to set the bags down, then put Abigail in a play pen that Jarod had set up in the living room. Why Sydney was on her mind, she would never know. Maybe it was because she was finally happy, and wanted him to be too. Was it possible he and Michelle were already having problems?
And how Jarod could not be dead tired from jet lag, she would never know. But then again, maybe he was used to being on the run all the time, from all of those years that she chased him. The thought of it made her sad.
The phone rang. Mallory sighed as she hurried over to it and picked it up. She had to remind herself to say 'hello' instead of 'what'.
'Hello?'
'Mallory? It's Sidney Bristow.'
'Hey, Sidney! Listen, I'm glad you called. Jarod wants to have Michael and you over for dinner something next week. He also would love to meet your father. I know you said he's not big on family but...'
'Mallory,' Sidney was forced to interrupt. 'That sounds great, really, but I need to tell Jarod and you something.'
Mallory took a deep breath. She sensed it had to do with her little brother. She didn't know why, she just did.
'What is it, Sidney? Just tell me. Jarod is out of town.'
Sidney took a deep breath as well.
'I paid Lyle a visit. He wasn't home...he apparently got a job.'
'Lyle has a job?! Oh right! What is he? A bounty hunter or something?!'
'He works for the IRS.'
Mallory burst out laughing! Lyle a pencil pusher? She would believe it when she saw it! She calmed down enough to let Sidney continue.
'I'm sorry for laughing, really I am. This is just so unbelievable.'
'It gets a little worse.' Sidney said. 'Bobby looks fine, he's being cared for. But, Lyle has hired a nanny, a young college student named Lisa Vang. She is a junior at Blue Cove University.'
'Vang? Please tell me she is not Asian.' Mallory said. She knew she had phrased it as a question, but she already knew the answer.
'Yes, she is. And I'm scared to death for her. I wanted to warn her about Lyle, but technically, he really hasn't done anything...'
'Sidney! You can't be serious? You didn't tell that girl about my psycho brother?!'
'Mallory, we could never prove that he had anything to do with those other murders! I can't go around bad mouthing him like that. The Centre stuff, yes, but the murders of other Asian women...I've talked it over with Michael and we've decided to just keep watching the house and...Mallory? Mallory are you still there?'
Mallory did not answer, as she had taken the phone away from her ear slightly. She looked back behind her at Abigail, who was still sitting in her play pen. She heard something. Something faint, it sounded like someone typing on a keyboard. She brought the phone back up to her ear.
'Sidney, I have to go. Something has come up.'
'What is it? What's wrong?'
'I think someone is in the house. I have to go.'
'Mallory! I'll call the police! Don't confront this person alone!'
'I'll be fine!' Mallory snapped and hung up. She didn't know where it came from, but her sense was that the person in the house was not a burglar. The person was someone known to her.
Keeping an eye on Abigail, who had now managed to pull herself up and was watching her movements, Mallory reached inside a drawer and pulled out her gun. She made a mental note to lock it away someplace else a little more secure. Jarod didn't particularily like guns, and if he knew she had kept one so close to where Abigail could get her hands on it, he would go ape shit!
Mallory cocked her ears, then eased into the den/family room. It was more Jarod's room than any other place, since Mallory rarely spent anytime in there at all. She eased open the door, glared, then cocked her weapon.
Lyle, was sitting at Jarod's desk, watching one of the lost DSA's! He smiled up at his sister.
'Hey, sis! I hope you don't mind my dropping in? I heard Jarod and you were back from your honeymoon and wanted to drop by and congratulate you...you know, since I was invited to the wedding.'
Mallory walked up to him and pressed the gun to his head. Lyle didn't flinch.
'What the hell do you want here, Lyle? What? Need a place to dump a body of another Asian girl? Maybe my little brother's new nanny?'
Lyle rolled his eyes.
'You know, I heard the phone ring just now. Was that Sidney Bristow on the phone, telling lies about me? Lisa, that's Bobby's nanny, told me about her snooping around, asking questions and such.'
Mallory removed the gun from his head and stepped back.
'What do you want, Lyle? And why are you watching these?'
'Oh, well, this was a total accident. I mean, I came here thinking your genius husband, might have kept records for all of his financial transactions from the past five years. You see, I'm getting ready to perform a heavy audit on Jarod, and I had hoped that maybe he kept some record, somewhere of...'
'And you couldn't just call him? Or ask him to his face like a normal human being?' Mallory asked dryly.
Lyle stood up and smiled.
'None of us Centre refugees are normal, sis. You should know that by now. Not Jarod, not you or me. Or our children. Listen, I was wondering if maybe I could arrange a playdate between Bobby and Abigail. Granted, I know there's a few years between them in age,but...'
'You're not going to have to 'arrange' anything, Lyle. Jarod and I will be taking Bobby off of your hands, really soon.'
Lyle grinned!
'Is that right?'
Mallory grinned as well.
'Yes. You didn't think I would allow you to keep my little brother, did you?'
'He's my little brother as well, Mallory! And believe it or not, I just want to make sure that he's cared for is all. I mean, my God, he was living with a cousin of Raines's! I saved him from a life of pure hell.'
'He hasn't been saved until he's away from you. Now get out!'
Lyle rubbed the back of his neck.
'Say hello to Sidney for me. Tell her I still love her, even though she betrayed me.'
'Oh please!' Mallory groaned.
'Also, just know, that if you even think of taking Bobby away from me, I will make sure Jarod and you pay every dime you ever make, to the IRS for the rest of your natural lives. Are we clear?'
Mallory grinned again!
'Is that a threat? Lyle, once poor Lisa Vang's body is found, and you will kill her, you just won't be able to help yourself, you won't be a threat, burden, stain on society...you won't be anything but someone's bitch inside a prison. Are WE clear?'
Lyle grinned back.
'As always, it was lovely seeing you.'
'I'll walk you out. I wouldn't want you to kill my daughter on your way towards the door.' Mallory hissed, waving the gun at him, as she motioned him past her.
Once she got him out of the house, Mallory put away her gun, picked up Abigail, and slowly walked back to the den. She had not watched another single DSA, since that day at her old house with Jarod. They were too painful to watch.
Mallory held Abigail tightly, as she made her way around the desk to turn the machine off. Lyle, bastard that he was, had paused the DSA, instead of turning it off. Mallory unpaused it, then watched, as she gave birth to Brian, in the Centre.
Mallory tried to keep her emotions in check, as she felt Abigail play with her hair. She watched as the younger version of herself, outstretched her arms, asking to see her baby. Mallory watched, as the younger version of herself, slowly realized that Raines was not going to give her her baby.
Mallory began to back back, but ended up almost stumbling against the chair. She eased down into it, her eyes wide, with Abigail pressed against her.
LOST DSA- Mallory Parker giving birth.
Mallory didn't know at first if she has just imagined it. But as she fought through the dizzying pain, suddenly, everything became clear.
She struggled to sit up, as she watched Mr. Raines hold her baby. He wasn't looking at it with any tenderness or pride, not that she would've expected him to. He was nothing to her.
Mallory had reached out her arms towards him. She did not know if it was a boy or a girl. She wanted to hold her baby.
'My baby...' she cried out, but weakly. She didn't want her baby anywhere near Mr. Raines! He was the one that had done this! He was the one that betrayed her and Jarod...it had to have been him....him and Sydney!
Her contractions had begun, when she went looking for Jarod, just as Angelo had said to do. He had said that Jarod was still here, within the Centre.
Mallory had felt the first pain, as soon as she got onto the elevator, taking her down to where Jarod, and the other Pretenders, usually were. She was going to his room. Angelo was wrong. Jarod was not still there. He hadn't been in this complex for months!
But the pains became stronger, as she took each step towards Jarod's door. It was as almost as if they weren't so much contractions, as they were warning signs. Signs of betrayal.
Mallory tried to take deep breaths, as she peeked through the little glass square within the door, and looked in. Sydney and Jarod, were standing at a table, looking at some sort of cardboard display.
She had cried out and collapsed onto the floor, just before she was picked up by two Sweepers, and taken away.
This explained why Sydney had not looked at her, these past months, when she thought Jarod had been sent out of the Centre for training. Training so he could come and work here, not to perform simulations, like some kind of lab rat...but as a trained professional. Daddy had already bought their house...they were going to get baby furniture...
'Give me my baby!' Mallory snapped, now feeling all the more stronger! She had to get to her father! He would fix this and take care of Mr. Raines! Sydney would have to go too, for his part in this!
Mr. Raines turned and smiled at her. It was not a happy smile, nor did he make a move towards her. They stared one another down. Mallory couldn't believe the gall of this ghoul! When she told her father of this man's insolence, Raines wouldn't be able to find work anywhere! Her father would see to it!
Suddenly, doors swung open. Her father walked in. Mallory's eyes cut from Raines and her baby, to him. She reached out to him. He slowly walked over to her, clasping her hands to his.
'Daddy! Daddy! He has my baby! He has my baby! Tell him to give him to me!'
'Now, now, Angel. It will be alright. You must stay calm or you're going to get yourself even more sick.'
'Daddy! Raines and Sydney lied to us!' she began to cry. 'Jarod is still here! He's still here! You have to go and get him! Tell him our baby is here! We have to go now! Tell him to give me my baby!'
'There, there, Angel. You're just delirious now. You've had pneumonia...there is no baby. Now I want you to go to sleep. Just rest now.' Mr. Parker said in a soft, cajoling voice. He then reached one hand behind him, and motioned to someone out of camera range.
Mallory stopped talking and just stared into her father's eyes.
'You never sent Jarod anywhere, did you? You never had any intention of helping us...you never bought baby furniture for the house...why didn't you buy baby things?! Daddy, I want my baby! Give me my baby! Make him give me my baby!' she began to scream.
The person that Mr. Parker had motioned to, appeared to be some sort of surgically masked nurse. She appeared on camera, behind Mallory, and suddenly, injected her in the neck with something!
Mallory screamed and tried to crane her neck to see who had stabbed her in the neck! She then turned back to her father and stared into his eyes, as her own eyes began to close. She whispered the word 'baby', before they closed.
Mr. Parker let go of her hands, then put his own head in his. Mr. Raines handed the baby off to someone, then put a hand on Mr. Parker's shoulder.
'She won't remember any of this, I swear to you.'
Mr. Parker shook off the hand, and seemingly pulled himself together. He glared at Raines.
'She'd better not. The way she looked at me...'
'What choice did you have? Did you want your only daughter married to Jarod? It is obvious that this whole situation came about because he wasn't being watched carefully.'
Mr. Parker shook his head angrily.
'That bastard raped my daughter! That baby would've been a reminder of that...'
Mr. Raines gave him a look. Mr. Parker looked him up and down.
'What, Raines?!' he snapped.
'Well, it's just that we have seen the DSA's. I wouldn't have called it rape...'
'My daughter is only 17 years old! She knows nothing of the ways of the world! What I saw is that our prize Pretender is quite a slick little talker! And he talked my daughter out of her clothes and forced her to sleep with him! He's dangerous and until I'm convinced his raging hormones are under control, he's not getting out of here!'
Raines raised a brow.
'Then I guess it's a good thing we gave Jarod the drug as well.'
'You bet it is!' Mr. Parker snarled.
*****
Mallory snapped back into the present, at the sound of Abigail's high pitched crying. She herself had been crying, while still holding Abigail. The whole thing must've been upsetting to the child.
Mallory pulled herself together, stopping the DSA and snatching it out with one hand. She flung it to the side, not caring if it scratched or anything. She then pulled Abigail to her, to try and soothe her.
'There, there, honey. It will be alright. Daddy is going to bring your big brother back home.'
****
ALASKA
Jarod and Sydney stood outside of Major Charles's house. Sydney had just rung the bell. Jarod began to look around.
This was a nice neighborhood. Kind of like the one he and Mallory had just moved into. Nice streets, couples walking down the sidewalks with their children, or accompanying them on bike rides.
A car pulled up in the drive, just as the door opened. They were greeted by Brian. He looked shocked to see them. Obviously, he was another person that was still in the dark.
'Jarod? Sydney? What are you doing here?' he asked, but his eyes strayed to the person waiting in the car. Jarod looked over there. It was a girl, and she seemed to be very pretty. Jarod hoped his son was not too attached to this person, because unless she came to visit them in Delaware, he probably wouldn't be seeing her again.
Major Charles appeared behind him.
'Brian go on now. Lindsey is waiting.' Major Charles said, then he waved to Lindsey. She waved back. Jarod kept his emotions in check. While his father clearly knew this girl, he himself did not. He had no idea who Brian was going off with.
Sydney glanced over at Jarod, as if he sensed all that was going on within him. But, he did not comment on it.
'Okay, I'll be home in a couple of hours. Bye Jarod. Bye Sydney.'
'Goodbye, Brian,' Sydney said. Jarod just waved, feeling an unexpected wave of anger, that he was afraid he would betray to Brian in his voice. Once his son and Lindsey backed out of the drive and drove off, Jarod faced his father.
'Come in.' Major Charles said, stepping out of the way. Jarod walked in first, then looked around. Catherine Parker stood in the middle of the room. She slowly walked up to him, giving him a tentative smile.
'Hello, Jarod. Your father and I have been waiting a long time for this very moment.'
Jarod said nothing, but just stared at her, in disbelief. This woman was definitely Catherine Parker. And she had the nerve to reach out and embrace him! Jarod backed off. He then turned to look at his father, who was still standing by the door with Sydney.
'Talk now!' Jarod ordered.
'Son, there's no need for this to get ugly.' Major Charles insisted.
But Jarod walked up to him.
'I not only came here, to hear a really phenomenal explanation, for her being alive, and your helping to cover that fact up, at my own mother's expense, mind you, but to take my son home.'
Jarod then turned back towards Catherine Parker. He missed the look of devastation on his father's face, at hearing those last words. Sydney did not.
'Tell me what I am supposed to tell my wife when I return home? Tell me!'
But Catherine Parker was cool, and unrattled by her son-on-law's quiet fury.
'I was expecting that you would bring my daughter with you, Jarod.'
'I just bet! Finding out about Brian has been hard enough on her. Growing up without you was devastating. So, excuse me if I wasn't about to submit her to more trauma.'
Jarod turned and walked over to the couch. He sat down and looked at Major Charles and Catherine Parker.
'I've done enough talking for now. Let's hear from you. What do you two have to say for yourselves?'
Major Charles walked over to Catherine Parker and held her hand. Sydney moved to sit next to Jarod. This would be a long afternoon.