Pretender Fanatic- Well we all have our own sayings depending where were from granted 'shit faced' I believe is an old one. I figured I'd have Sam come over to Parker's so that the two of them could have a little bonding. And the beer was to show the beginning of Parker's bad, bad habits. Glad you liked the chapter
LadyJadePenderhil- I wasn't holding out on you the server at school had been down since Tuesday because people had been registering for classes. It's finally come back up after many well placed threats. Sorry for the long wait. Don't worry you'll definitely get the next chapter by Monday.
Let's see to answer your other questions. For Parker doesn't want to believe that her father's organization is evil and it's easier for her to place the blame on Jarod. And Jarod didn't help matter's by not telling Sam about the sim he did.
No I'm not talking about Tommy Thompson -but speaking of Tommies did you ever notice how many people they had on the Pretender named Tommy, Thomas or Tom?-
You'll find out about Devin in this chapter and the next one. He's not a bad guy he just cause a slight bit of trouble.
CHAPTER 20
WARNINGS
July 19, 1987
5:00pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
Home of Samuel Grey
Talk about one hell of a birthday gift. He threw back another shot of tequila, hoping that the alcohol would stop his hands from shaking. He had always hoped that he would never have to pull the trigger. Never before in the nine years he had been a sweeper had he even needed to pull out his gun.
The funny part was he hadn't even been working. He had been on break and went to visit Parker. The two then took a stroll down to the greenhouse, to talk about their plans to celebrate his birthday. On their way back to her office one of Raines's projects escaped. Parker and Sam had the misfortune of running into the poor deranged soul. His name was Devin, Sam would later learn that Devin had two children created by Raines. Sam would come to watch over those two children for the rest of his years.
Devin had literally run into Sam and Parker. Acting out of pure instinct Devin grabbed Parker and took her gun from out of her hostler. He held Parker's Smith & Wesson to her temple.
"Let her go," Sam said fear in his voice, as he leveled his gun at Devin's head.
"N-no. Not going back. Never," Devin rambled.
"If you don't let her go you're signing your own death warrant. She's a Parker. You know who the Parker's are? They run this place. You kill her they'll hunt you down. They'll find you and they won't kill you, because there are worse things than death. And believe me Raines knows all of them." Sam said.
"She's a Parker," Devin whispered his eyes narrowing. "You think that you own this place, you don't. they own you. They own all of you Miss Parker. They use you too. They use all of you because you are their's through and through. I can stop it from happening. One bullet and they won't get what they want. There won't be a Phoenix to rise form your ashes. Yes I think I will stop it. I won't let there be a Phoenix." He spoke his eyes crazed, his hair on end.
"Sam, do something," Parker yelled. And Sam did he shot Devin. The bullet went straight through his forehead and then embedded itself in the wall. Parker screamed in fright. Sam ran to her checking to make sure she was okay. He then walked her to her office and told her to wait. Sam radioed in that a subject was down on SL-11. He then went to the bathroom and lock the door so that no one else could enter. For the next ten minutes he emptied the contents of his stomach. For five minutes after that he dry heaved, as memories from his childhood came flooding back. His parent's dead. Three coffins descending into the ground. Blood. A strong metallic odor. Gun fire. A two year old Mor falling out of a tree. The three hellish days in Raines's care. The Sweepers kicking him over and over.
All of the points in his life in which he felt helpless to do anything. He had stopped the mad man from killing Parker, yes. But at what cost to his sanity, to his soul. Sam knew in that moment he was damned. He had taken another man's life.
He remembered his mother -both Elizabeth and Catherine- saying that he could never disappoint her. He didn't think that either of his mothers were particularly proud of him at that moment. He knew that there had to of something, anything he could have done differently to keep from pulling the trigger. He should have never of said who Parker was. He ran the scene over and over in his head as he walked back to Parker's office.
He let himself in and sat on her couch, unable to look at her. Parker came and sat next to him, taking his hand in her's.
"I cleared it with Daddy, go home Sammy, sleep." She said softly.
"I killed a man Mor," He whispered hoarsely.
"To save me Sam," Parker said taking his face in her hands so that he was looking at her. His eyes were red from tears he didn't remember crying. "I was in danger Sammy, and you saved me. You protected me just as you promised Momma you would. You did nothing wrong."
"A man is dead," Sammy all but yelled.
"He was already dead Sammy. I think that a part of him wanted to die, he wanted it to end. Now go home little brother. I'll be over later to check on you," She said and kissed him on the cheek.
Sam then got up from the couch and headed home. Once he reached home he head towards his liquor cabinet. After a few shots he kicked off his shoes and collapsed in bed not bothering to change out of his suit.
He woke up to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes, and for a moment he was six again. His parent's weren't dead. Raines had never tortured him. And Sam never pulled the trigger. Sam sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He looked at his hands and realized that either he was the worlds largest six year old or everything in the past twenty one years had actually occurred.
Sam walked into the kitchen were he found Parker making pancakes. She looked so different from when he had seen her earlier. Gone was the short skirt, high heels and revealing shirt, that left nothing to the imagination. She stood at the stove expertly flipping pancakes her dark hair tied back in a pony tail, wearing jeans, sneakers, and an old Redskins t-shirt Sam had left at her house one night when her was too drunk to drive home.
"Isn't it a little late for breakfast?" He asked grabbing a carton of orange juice out of the fridge.
"Well seeing that I only know how to cook two things it was either this or grilled cheese. I figured I be a little fancy, seeing that you saved my life and all. Not to mention it is your birthday." Parker replied as she pulled two plates out of Sam's cabinet.
Just looking around Sam's house it was obvious that it was a bachelor's pad. It was a simple two bedroom, one story house, with an extremely large kitchen. In the den was a leather couch that sat in front of a big screen t.v. that was equipped with a massive sound system and an Atari. All along the walls were pictures from Sam's childhood, him and Parker at Sam's third birthday party. His parent's wedding photo. He, Parker, and their mother at the zoo, and so on.
"Tell me again why you got this dump?" Parker said as she placed a stack of pancakes on the two plates.
"The kitchen. It's big enough for a six burner stove, and all the other things I use to cook with," Sam said sitting down. "Not to mention that you and I learned that we can't live together for long periods of time now that we're adults."
"It's not my fault you're a slob, Sammy," Parker said pouring syrup over her pancakes.
"I'm a slob, that's a laugh. You're the one who lets the kitchen sink over flow with dishes," Sam shot back.
"Little brother, I let the sink over flow because I know how much you enjoy washing dishes. After all the kitchen always was your domain. And if there's one thing I miss about us living together is your cooking." Parker said walking over to Sam's tape collection and popping in Genesis.
"What do you miss? Your over here every other night eating me out of house and home. And the nights that you aren't here you have me at your house cooking," Sam asked as Phil Collins belted out the lyrics to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
"So, are we going to talk about today, or are we going to forget about it?" Parker asked.
"Maybe later I'm not up for much talking today, not about that anyways."
"It's your party," Parker replied
"In that case I want to play mindless hours of video games," Sam said placing his plate in the sink, and walking into the den. Parker placed here plate in the sink as well and followed Sam. He passed her a controlled and for the next three hours they played pong, and other mind numbing games.
Neither wanted to think about the man shot. Parker didn't want to think about how close she came to dying. Nor did she wish to think about how Sam took a man's life because of her. Sam didn't want to think about how he had gone form being the victim to the murderer.
"Alright enough of this," Parker said tossing down the controller, and lighting up a cigarette.
"Wanna head to the bar?" Sam asked her turning off the game.
"You're buying," Parker replied grabbing her keys.
"It's my birthday, you're buying," Sam told her taking the keys from her hand. "And I'm driving."
"Like hell you're driving my car," Parker said trying to take the keys back from Sam. Grinning Sam dangled them above her head.
"You want 'um so bad take them," Sam teased. Parker stepped on his foot with the heel of her shoe, and Sam yelped in pain. Distracted Parker took the keys back.
"You fight dirty," Sam said massaging his foot.
"And you're a big baby. Now lets go. And if you stop being such a brat I'll by the first round." She said and the two walked out the door.
Sam gripped the hand rest as Parker did her version of driving. How she ever managed to past her driving test was beyond Sam. In a trip that usually to him fifteen minutes took her seven. Sam figured that if working at the Centre didn't kill him Parker's driving sure would.
Parker pulled into the parking lot and the two got out of the car and strolled into the bar.
"Well, Well if it ain't the birthday boy," Said the bar tender. "How ya doin' Sammy," The man said as he wiped down the bar, grinning at Sam and Parker.
"Doin' fine Zeak," Sam replied
"You're usuals?" Zeak asked the two.
"Yup," Parker said she and Sam sitting down at the bar.
"Can't believe it twenty seven now, right Sammy?" Zeak asked as passed Parker a scotch and Sam a Bud.
"Yes sir," Sam said he and Parker exchanging. They had been coming to Zeak's since they were more or less legal. Zeak had known Sam's father Allen, and had known Sam all his life. Zeak was in his sixties and balding, wisps of salt and pepper hair covered his scalp, and he wore a pair of glasses similar to John Lennon's.
"Still member your pop bring you in here on Sundays. Sometimes brought you too, Miss P."
"I remember Zeak," Parker said smiling. She liked Zeak he was a good man who did his best to do the right thing. Parker didn't come across many of his kind.
"You takin' good care of Sammy here Miss. P?" Zeak asked.
"As much as he'll let me," Parker replied.
"You a lucky man Samuel, ta have such a girl." Zeak said cleaning out a glass, making Parker blush slightly.
"Please Zeak, for the last time she's my sister," Sam said downing the rest of his beer.
"I know dat son, but you still quite the lucky man. Parker here is good for ya. I 'member when your mom and pop died. This girl here was there for ya. Doubt you be half the man you is ta day had she not been in your life." Zeak told Sam.
"You are a wise man, Zeak," Parker said grinning.
"Gotta be in my line o work don'tch?" Zeak winked. "Heard what happened ta day, up at the Centre. Bunch o folks comed in at lunch talkin' Sammy. But you listen to me son. Like you said this girl here your sista. Last of yo family right?"
"Yes sir she is," Sam said not liking where the conversation.
"Well a man gotta do what he gotta do ta protect the ones he love. That's what ya did ta day son. Ain't got nuttin' ta be shamed bout. Your mom, and pop would be proud o what ya did. So would yo other mom," Zeak said he was one of the few people who knew what Sam called Catherine Parker in privet.
"Parker's right Zeak, you are a wise man. Either that or a damned fool," Sam said chuckling.
"Some one gotta look after ya two kids sides yo selves." Zeak said "You two done a damn good job o lookin out for each other. But I liked yo parents and feel I owe it to them ta look out for their's kids. Damn shame I coundn't keep you two from out o that damned Centre, but one man can only do so much" Zeak said. "Now here's my last bit o advice for tha day then 'm leavin' the two of yous alone."
"I see folks come in at five an don't leave till closing. Come like clock work day afta day. Come fo one thing only, hopin' it 'ill keep dem from memberin' what they did that day. Tryin' ta figure out how they gonna face there wives and babies. I here stories now, I probably know more bout that place den both of ya. Let me tell ya now, cause I didn't say nothing when you two started workin' there. I watched you two come in her over tha years, an each year ya come more and more. And each year I worry bout ya two more and more. Take care of yo selves, all I'm saying. Cause I worry bout what that place done doin' to yo souls. Worry bout what that place may do ta ya. And that's all the advice this old man gotta say." Zeak said walking away leaving Sam and Parker to think about his warning
Up Next we pay a visit to Jarod. Take a small look at Zeak. And find out what was up with Devin
Come on guys can I please get some more reviews?
