Distortion of present reality.
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
A/N. First of all, a million thanks go to everyone who reviewed: Rem-Cycle, StilettoIceAngel, Ginger6, leochick, ranma8962, Ann and imag1ne, you guys absolutely rock! I really, truly appreciate that you took the time to tell me what you thought. Hope this chapter lives up to the expectations…and if it doesn't, please let me know.
-- Eva, you're my favorite sister. But then, I don't have any others, so just thanks for being there. ;)
Thanks in advance to all who read this.
"Bed is an office. What is sex, if not the ultimate business?" – The author.
Chapter 1. 24 hour calling service.
"What?"
"One of these days you're gonna be sorry you didn't say hello".
Parker hadn't been sleeping, true, but she'd been doing a fine job pretending to, right before the irritating ringing had forced her to sit up and reach for her phone. And even though she'd been (almost) expecting the call, the slight chuckling on the other end was doing nothing to alleviate her mood.
"Really, Jarod, and why is that? Are you gonna give the Pope my number?"
"Hey! He's a nice guy, you know?"
Rubbing her eyes with her free hand, she sighed in exasperation. Only Jarod would be wide awake and chirping at this ungodly hour…whatever hour it might be.
She was kind of used to it, by now. At first, she'd thought that the call he'd made at their return from Carthis was going to be the last one, at least for a while. But just a week later, on the day of her father's "official" funeral, he'd called her again to offer his condolences. Soon after that, they'd drifted back to their old late-night calling routine. Except this time the calls came more often and the bitter threats less so. There were no enigmatic clues either, as Jarod had taken up the habit of sending all his packages directly to the Centre. To keep Lyle from feeling left out, or so he'd said. Having little to discuss besides their current situations, most of the time their conversations centered on absurd questions that Parker was sure the pretender knew the answers to, but insisted on asking her any way. He probably called her because he felt lonely, she surmised. He definitely did so at times when she was too tired for her tongue to carry real menace. She didn't mind though: deep down, beneath her tiredness and by-default annoyance, she knew these senseless conversations were one of the few constants in her life, along with Sydney's psycho-babble and Broots endearing spluttering
She'd miss them when they stopped.
Tonight however, she just craved some quiet. There was a dull sensation lurking in the corners of her brain, announcing the beginnings of a stellar headache. 'And of course, there's always tomorrow', as the thought entered her mind, and Parker started to end the conversation.
"Jarod, it's late. I have a breakfast meeting with my beloved family early in the morning. Unless you're calling to turn yourself in, goodbye."
"Wait! You have a bonding session with Raines?"
"Tickles you, doesn't it?"
"I have to admit, the concept of Raines bonding with anything besides his oxygen pipe is slightly amusing. Well, that and thoroughly disturbing".
"Is that new-speak for twisted and nauseating?"
"Perhaps… But look at it from the bright side: since is breakfast and not lunch, Lyle's gourmet choices will be limited to the regular basics".
That did it. The disgust produced by the mention of her twin's cannibalistic impulses, officially elevated her pain. Now she felt the urge to snap at her impertinent caller.
"So. Did you need something, Jarod? This is NOT a social call"
'Ah….'
"Yes?" She prodded impatiently. The lab rat's answer was taking far too long and Parker just wasn't in the mood.
"I'm going away for a while", he said finally, falling silent immediately afterwards. She was about to teach him the meaning of eloquence when clarity reached her muddled mind: She was still chasing him, he was still running from her. The only reason he'd cal to tell her that….
"Is this…about our mothers?" Her impatience was rapidly morphing into anxiousness. For some strange reason, Parker was truly dreading his answer.
"Something like that".
'Something like that. Something like that…' Then a thought struck her. "Did you…find your mother, Jarod?"
"No. Not yet" After a beat he continued. "Listen Parker, I'm still looking for our answers, if I find them, be sure I'll let you know". She was greeted by the dial tone right after that.
Sinking back into her mattress, Parker noticed the void in her stomach that was now keeping her headache company. She knew that she was anxious with foreboding, and she knew wasn't because the pretender might have finally found his mother. It was that voice inside of her; it kept whispering quietly, telling her that the world in which she lived had just fallen of its axis.
Parker shook her head, and took a deep breath trying to shut down her reeling mind. Turning off her phone, she silently wished Jarod good luck as she pretended to fall sleep once again.