CHAPTER SIX.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER.
Jarod sat in the couch, waiting for Lydia to come home. Sighing sadly, he looked down at the bag next to him. He couldn't stay in New York any longer, it was too dangerous, the Centre could find him easily if he stayed at one place fore a longer time, and he just couldn't risk getting caught. It was so hard, he didn't want to say goodbye, he had really started to like Lydia. He wished he didn't have to leave her.
"Are you going somewhere?"
Jarod turned his head as he heard the voice behind him. He saw Lydia look down at him with worried eyes.
"I'm sorry... I can't stay," he said in a low voice.
Lydia didn't say anything, she just watched him.
"You can take this room, I'll pay for it," Jarod said. "I wish it didn't have to be like this, but it's complicated... I really can't stay here anymore," he added.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know."
"This means I will never see you again..." Lydia said, more as a statement than a question.
"Not necessarily," Jarod said. He handed her a small paper with his phone number. "We can stay in touch!" he said.
Lydia nodded, desperately trying to hide the tears that were brimming in her eyes. She couldn't believe it, she would never see him again? Didn't he know that she needed him?
"Thank you for everything, I will miss you Jarod," she said.
"I'll miss you to," Jarod got up on his feet. He gave Lydia a hug before he took his bag and walked up to the door.
"Goodbye."
Lydia couldn't bring herself to reply. She just watched him walk away. The tears started to run down her cheeks. She blinked them away. Suddenly she realized she had to tell him, she couldn't let him leave without even trying.
¤
"JAROD WAIT!"
Jarod stopped and turned around. He saw Lydia running up to him.
"Please don't go! I need to tell you something," she said.
Jarod waved to the cab to go. Then he turned to the woman again.
"I'm listening," he said.
"I know this will sound strange, and you will probably hate me for saying it... because I know you're in love with Parker, and you miss her... but I can't let you leave without telling you... Jarod, I think I... I love you..."
Jarod just stared at her, stunned. What was he going to answer? This was not what he'd expected. After a while of silence he opened his mouth to talk.
"I'm glad you told me... but you know how I'm feeling for Parker... it's too soon for me to let go... I'm sorry."
Lydia nodded.
"It's just so strange; I've never felt like this for anyone. If feels like I've loved you forever... not only a couple of months."
"I understand Lydia... I wish it could be different, but I really have to go," Jarod said sadly.
"Can I come with you?" Lydia tried.
"No, it's too dangerous, I can't explain but my life is not like everyone else's, it's complicated..."
Lydia nodded.
"Can't you just stay till tomorrow... please..." she begged.
Jarod smiled. "Yes, I just have to make a phone call, then we can talk about whatever you want," he said.
Lydia returned the smile. Together they walked back to the hotel.
¤
"Sydney, I'm sorry I haven't called you in a while, but I need you to do something for me."
"Are you alright?"
"Both yes and no... it's about Miss Parker."
Sydney waited for Jarod to continue.
"She's dead, Sydney... And she has a sister. She's here with me now," Jarod said.
"Oh my god, how did you find out?" Sydney asked shocked.
"It doesn't matter, I need to know, does the Centre know where I am? Please tell me..."
Sydney sighed.
"Syd?"
"They had a lead on you in Huntsville, if you're there, you better leave, that's all I can say," Sydney said.
"Thank you, do you think you and Broots can do some research on her sister, Lydia Weston... I want to know as much as possible. What the Centre had to do with it."
"We will try."
"Good, I'll be in touch," with those words Jarod hung up.
Jarod put the phone down at the table. Slowly he leaned back in the couch, sighing deeply.
"What is the Centre?"
Jarod looked up and saw Lydia standing in the doorway. He sighed a second time. She wasn't supposed to hear that, how was he going to explain to her without telling too much? Lydia walked up to the couch and sat down next to Jarod.
"Please tell me," she said, giving him a pleading look. Jarod knew he didn't have a choice but to tell her. And somehow he felt like he could trust her, he could tell her everything and she would understand. Slowly, he started to talk. Lydia listened without interrupting.
¤
"I can't believe someone could do that to children... I'm so sorry... it must have been awful, and having Miss Parker... the one you love, chasing after you, threatening to take you back to that place... how could she do that?!"
"It's wasn't her fault, she didn't have a choice but to follow the Centre's, and her father's orders."
Lydia nodded slowly.
"Do you have a picture or something of my family, I would like to know how they look," she asked.
"Follow me," Jarod walked up to his laptop and began typing. Soon he got what he was looking for.
"Jarod," Lydia whispered.
Jarod gave her a questioning look.
"I can't explain it... but there is something familiar about this... it feels like I've seen them before, all of them... even the building, I've been there..."
Jarod gave her a confused look.
"You couldn't have, you have been at the Centre when you were born, never after that... it's impossible..." he said.
Lydia shook her head. "I know what I know... I recognize it; I've been at the Centre..."
¤
TBC.
AN: Yeah... It's getting close... you will find out about Parker soon... I promise.