IN HONOR OF MY BIRTHDAY HERE IS...

CHAPTER 23

HOME COMING

March 2, 2003

3:00pm

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

"Jarod is that you?" A man said walking towards the red Jeep.

"Dad." Jarod said walking over to the older man and hugging him.

"You had me worried son. You being so close to the Centre." Major Charles spoke.

"Sorry but I was on a rescue mission." Jarod told him.

"Yes, Ethan told me about the children. We weren't expecting you back though for a couple more days."

"Well the kids had their own plan." Jarod explained.

"Speaking of the children..."

"They're asleep in the Jeep." Jarod interrupted. "I guess it's a good thing that I bought this house. And you said that a mansion was going to be a waste of space. In a few more weeks we should have eleven more kids."

"You know when you start something you sometimes go overboard."

"Why don't you help me get the kids out of the Jeep instead of insulting me." Jarod told his father.

"How in the hell do you tell these three apart?" Charles asked as he laid eyes on the triplets for the first time.

"Practice." Will said opening the passenger door and getting out. "That as well as color coding and name tags. Rumor has it that Lyle thought of tattooing them to tell them apart."

"So then, who's wearing what?" Charles asked.

"Aaron wears red, Andy black, and Alex blue." Will explained.

"And I guess you're an exception to the rule." Charles said looking at the boy's clothing.

"I guess you could say that." Will replied as he produced a flame on the tip of his index finger. Charles gasped in shock. "I'm a pyrokinetic." Will explained extinguishing the flame. "My name's William. The Centre refers to me as project Phoenix." He said extending his hand to the older man.

"Charles Russell. I'm Jarod's father." The major said shaking the boy's hand

"We know who you are Major." Aaron spoke.

"We know a lot more than that." Andros said

"The only thing we aren't that sure of is why television executives keep canceling good shows." Spoke Alex. The three children climbed out of the jeep yawning as they did.

"Whoa! This place is huge." Aaron exclaimed.

"That's exactly what I said when I arrived here. Due to the extreme rudeness on my eldest son's part the four of us have yet to be introduce." Charles said to the triplets.

"Gee, thanks Dad." Jarod replied arms full of luggage.

"I'm Andros, that's Alexandra, and that's Aaron-Daniel."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Now why don't we get you four into the house it's a bit chilly out here."

"Yes sir." They replied.

"Christopher, Emily, Ethan, Jarod's back with the kids." Charles yelled when the group entered the house. The mansion was suddenly filled with the sound of three people coming down the steeps.

"Welcome home big brother." Emily said hugging her brother. "We missed you."

"Thanks Em, I've missed you guys too." Jarod said.

"So Jarod how was your ... trip." Chris asked.

"Productive." Jarod replied

"Gemini?" Will said when he caught sight of Chris.

"Phoenix?" Chris responded. "Ethan didn't say you were the one Jarod was getting out." The two boys hugged.

"You two know each other?" Jarod asked.

"Yeah, we worked together on a couple of Sims. Raines was in charge of both of us and every now and then he'd let us work together. Much like you and Kyle did." Chris explained.

"Not to mention the fact that we use to sneak out of our rooms and visit each other." Will elaborated.

"So who are the other boys and how do you tell them apart?" Everyone else snickered at Emily's comment.

"They're color coded." Will explained

"I'm Aaron." Alex said.

"I'm Andros." Aaron said

"I'm Alex." Spoke Andros.

"Don't do that." Will said swatting his brothers and sister. "That's Aaron, that's Andros, and that's Alex and she's a girl." He explained pointing to each one. "By the way you can call me Will."

"You're named should have been Aiden." Chris teased

"Shut up Clone-boy." Will shot back

"Be nice you two." Jarod warned

"Why Aiden." Emily asked.

"Aiden means firey one, and believe me Will has the whole fire thing down to a science." Chris said cryptically.

"You mean he's a pyromaniac?" Emily asked.

"No but he is a fire bug." Chris said.

"I'm a pyrokinetic not a pyromaniac." Will spoke. "I can create fire. Have you ever read Fire Starter by Stephen King?" Will asked Emily

"What is it with you kids and Stephen King?" Ethan asked

"Yeah I've read it." Emily said.

"Well I'm a lot like Charlie. I can more or less do what she can. I even have a secret organization after me that wants to use my abilities for their own despicable ideas.

"Can you three start fires?" Chris asked the triplets.

"Only with a match." Aaron told him.

"Dad why don't we get the kids set up in their rooms." Ethan suggested.

"Rooms?" Andros said raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you each have your own room." Ethan said.

"Are they close to each other." Alex asked.

"Yes. Will and Aaron's rooms are across the hall from yours and Andros's." Chris told them. "Come on I'll take you to yours rooms.'

"I'll come along. I need to put my things away as well. I also need to make a phone call." Jarod said. The six of them walked up the two flights of stairs, luggage in tow."

"Here are your rooms. I'll leave you guys and girl," Chris said noting Alex. "to get settled in." He finished and then left.

"Jarod?" Aaron called out.

"Yes Sir."

"Do we have to sleep in separate rooms?" Andros asked

"Yeah do we?" Alex said.

"Why don't we just put all of the beds into one large room. Not that finding a large room will be a problem." Will said as he opened the door to his designated room. "I mean my room is big enough for six beds."

"You know we could rope off one wing of the third floor, and turn it in to a giant room." Aaron suggested.

"Yeah. Just knock down a couple of walls and we'd have a room big enough for the fifteen of us." Andros said.

"Could we Jarod?" Alex asked.

"How about we discuss it over diner. Right now we'll move your beds into Will's room. I'll meet you all down stairs once your done. Right now I have to make a phone call." Jarod told them.

"You calling Miss Parker." Will asked him.

"Yes I am. Call Chris Em, Ethan or my dad if you all need any help moving your beds."

"Okay." They replied, as Jarod walked toward his room.

"It's good to be home." The pretender sighed as he sat his bag on his bed. For the first time that day Jarod finally had time to reflect one what had occurred with Parker the night before. She had finally opened her self up to him. She didn't have to tell him in words; her actions spoke in volumes. He knew that she had no regrets, he had none either. So why was he afraid to call he? Jarod dug through his bag and pulled out his phone. He then dialed her number.

"What?" Came her voice. She sounded tired, distracted, and worried.

"It's me Parker." Jarod spoke. "Is every thing alright?" He asked worried about her T-board.

"Yes, and no." She sighed, unsure how to tell Jarod about the children. "The T-board went fine, and the other children are still in my care. They've been removed from the hunt though."

"So whats wrong?" He asked knowing she was keeping something from him.

"I can't tell you over the phone. It's something that needs to be told in person." She said, stalling for time. Trying to figure out the best way to tell him.

"I'll see you soon then." Jarod replied and then hung up the phone. He was worried that something had happened to her. Jarod emptied his bag and then proceeded to put fresh clothes into it. He had a tight schedule to keep if he was going to make it back to Parker's before the day was over.

"You're leaving?" Will asked from the doorway.

"I'll be back by tomorrow." Jarod promised. "You and the others will be fine here."

"Is she okay?" Will asked about Parker.

"I'm sure that there is nothing to worry about." Jarod said trying to reassure himself more so than the boy. "She just has some thing she needs to tell me."

"Then why are you so worried Jarod. I'm part empath. I can read peoples feelings and you're so worried about her I could read you if I was still back in Blue Cove."

"I'm probably over reacting. More than likely she's fine."

"You're always like this when she's in trouble, aren't you? I don't believe that your family and the Centre don't see it."

"See what?" Jarod asked.

"That you're in love with her. I mean Jarod you risked your freedom and your chance of finally being with your family to save her the day she was shot. If it had been anyone else shot that day I doubt you would have stayed."

"How do you know all of this?"

"I watch and listen. That's what pretenders are trained to do. Some are just better at it than others." The boy replied. "You better go to her. You're her rock, her turning point. You do know that she loves you don't you?" Will asked leaving the pretender stunned.

A few moments Jarod came down the step his father behind him. "I'll be back tomorrow." Jarod insisted.

"But you just arrived. When did you last get some sleep? You can't drive to Blue Cove and back on no sleep son."

"Dad don't worry. I've done a lot more strenuous things on less sleep. And I promise I'll get some sleep before I come home." Jarod said trying to reassure his father.

"Alright son. Be safe."

"I will. Look after the kids for me. They're in the process of moving their things into Will's room. Long story but Chris is helping them. I'll see you tomorrow." Jarod said climbing into the jeep.

"Bye son" Charles said.