Sydney glanced at his watch as he left Mr. Parker's office; it was just before 8am. He knew it was silly, but he felt the need to check on Miss Parker. He turned down the corridor to her office, and stopped short when he saw Willie standing in front of her door. Sydney backed around the corner, and watched. A few minutes later, Raines emerged from the office, nodded to Willie, and the two of them headed toward the opposite end of the corridor. As soon as they were out of sight, Sydney went to Parker's door, opened it, and peered cautiously inside. Parker was standing in front of the small window in her office, her back to the door. He entered and stopped a few feet inside.

"Miss Parker?"

She started at the sound of his voice, and turned around, anger lighting her eyes. "Don't you knock?"

"I'm sorry."

"You should be."

Sydney remained silent for a moment, and observed her as she nervously rearranged the papers on the top of her desk. He moved a few steps closer.

"What did Mr. Raines want?"

"The ghoul was complaining about the search for--" She stopped moving papers and glared at Sydney. "How did you know he was here?"

"I saw him leave. You were saying....?"

Parker stared at him a moment longer then continued, "Usual BS about our lack of progress in the search for wonder boy."

"Was that all?"

Parker's eyes narrowed as she examined Sydney. "Why are you so interested in this?"

He shrugged slightly as he looked down at her desk, his finger lightly tracing the grain of the wood on top. "Idle conversation, Miss Parker." He looked directly at her, his hands sliding into his pockets. "You seem a little edgy this morning......"

She turned away from the penetrating stare of the dark eyes, and once again looked out the window. After a few moments of silence, Sydney spoke again.

"Parker, are you all right?"

She nodded and looked down at the floor. "I....... I visited my mother this morning."

"Parker?"

She turned to face him, "I don't know...." She looked away.

His timbre became soft and low, "You can tell me, Parker."

Her grey eyes pierced his with their intensity, and her need to trust someone. To trust him. "I felt this overwhelming.......call to go to her this morning."

"Call?"

She shook her head, "I know it doesn't sound rational, but it was as if she had called to me, literally."

Sydney walked a few paces away from her, and muttered, "The inner sense...."

If Parker heard him, she gave no indication of it. "But today doesn't mean anything, Sydney. And that was the other thing..."

"What?"

"My father had been there before me."

"Your....father...."

"Yes. He left a bouquet of white roses and China Mums. Not his usual taste; he always gave her orchids. But there was something oddly familiar about those flowers....." Parker noticed that the color had drained from the man's face. "Sydney? Syd, you all right?"

"Uh, yes, Parker, yes. But I do need to get to an appointment, so if you'll excuse me..."

And before Miss Parker could say anything in response, the good doctor was gone.