So I'm slightly depressed I didn't get any reviews. But here's hoping I'll get some this time around. Oh and apparently my dorm is experiencing technical malfunctions. Our internet has been acting wonky the past few days. Hopefully all will be well so that I can update on thursday


CHAPTER 41

NOT MY DAD


March 6, 1999

12:00pm

Blue Cove, Delaware

The Centre

Sam escorted Will to the greenhouse. Will loved his excursions to the Centre green house because the only way to reach the greenhouse was to go outside. On the trek he passed the gardens decorated with exotic and rare plants. Often there were people in the gardens on break conversing.

On their way to the greenhouse Will caught a glimpse of his mother and a man she was talking to. Will noticed that her mother was smiling as she talked to man dressed in blue jeans and a flannel shirt. Will's narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man. The man in red plaid was not Will's father. And as far as Will was concerned Parker and Jarod belonged together. Will was not about to let some other man take Parker away from Jarod. It was Will's plan for his family to all be together one day. That couldn't happen if this other man got involved with Parker.

"Sam?" Will said.

"Yes sir?"

"Who is that man your sister is talking to?" Will asked.

"Her boyfriend Thomas Gates. He's a carpenter, and a nice man." Sam told the boy.

"You approve of him," Will commented.

"Yes I do he's good for Parker. He brings out a part of her I haven't seen since we were kids."

"And who brought out that part of her when you were kids?"

"As surprisingly as it may sound, Jarod." Sam told the boy.

"Jarod and Miss Parker were close when they were younger?"

"Extremely. Both of them were quite taken with one another when we were kids. All three of us grew up together at the Centre." Sam said. "But enough of ancient history today. Here's your stop anyway. I'll be back for you around five."

"Were are you going?" Will asked as he opened the door to the greenhouse.

"Lunch with Parker and Thomas. And then relieve Sophie from the little heathens you refer to as your brothers and sister." Sam grinned.

"Send them my love," Will said knowing that there was no true way for Sam to let the triplets know of Will's existence with out endangering the triplets, Will and Sam. The sweeper nodded and then left Will with his instructor.


March 20, 1999

9:23am

Blue Cove, Delaware

The Centre

Alley was once again in the air vent that led to her mother's office. Alley had noticed that over the past month or so her mother had seemed exceptionally happy. Alley had recently discovered why, and like her brother was not all that thrilled. This Thomas Gates was a screw tossed into the gears of Alley's plan to reunite her parents. Alley held no disdain for the carpenter, but in Alley's mind Thomas was not and would never be her father. Alley like Will refused to have anyone replace Jarod in the family the twins had envisioned.

Alley watched as her mother opened her day planner. Inside was a picture of Thomas wearing nothing but a strategically place pillow. The carpenter was waving at the camera and smiling. Parker chuckled at the photograph. Alley frowned.

Alley was thrilled that for the first time in a long time her mother was happy, but Alley could not help the fact that she did not like the idea of her mother being in love with anyone that was not Alley and Will's father.

The door opened and Alley looked up. The child's heart stopped. There in the doorway stood Raines. Alley quickly crawled back to her cell before Raines inadvertently caught sight of her. On her way back to her room Alley practically crashed into Angelo.

"Angelo," Alley whispered fiercely as she flung her arms around the empath's neck.

"Little Phoenix," Angelo muttered into the girl's hair.

"I've missed you Angelo," Alley said letting go of the child like man.

"Angelo has missed Little Phoenix. Angelo has been worried. Could not find Little Phoenix."

"Raines has me hidden away. They took me from Will, Angelo. Sam doesn't even know about me. And I can't feel Will anymore with out risking Lyle killing him. I just found out he was alive I can't lose him all over again," Alley told Angelo.

"Angelo know. No worry. Soon Little and Big Phoenix be together. All will be right." Angelo replied.

"Yeah but will, Will and I still get that family we've dreamed about for so long. Momma's got a beau that's not Daddy. She's become infatuated with some carpenter named Thomas. She can't love him Angelo, she's suppose to love Daddy. The voices promised me. Grandma promised me."

"Daughter must learn to love first. Friend sent Daughter, Thomas. Friend want Daughter to be happy. Want Daughter to love. Little and Big Phoenix should too," Angelo said gently scolding the girl. Alley lowered her head in shame. She knew that Angelo was right she should be happy that her mother had found a man who loved and cared for her.

"You're right Angelo," Alley sighed. "But I just want Momma and Daddy to be together."

"Will. Now come. Angelo has something for Little Phoenix." The empath said and led Alley through the many twits and turns that formed the Centre air vents.

"Look. Family." Angelo said pointing at the group of Black Files who sat at their desk working. Alley gasped when she caught sight of Alex, Andros, Aaron, Mike, and Maddie.

"I know them Angelo. I dreamt them almost three years ago. Their birthday is soon isn't it. In what a week or two. They're my brother's and sister right and my cousins too?" Alley asked. Angelo nodded his head.

"Does Will know about them?" Alley continued questioning.

"Yes," Angelo replied. "Sam too." Alley felt tears well in her eyes. It hurt to know that her younger brothers and sister were suffering the same fate that Alley, Will and their father were forced to endure. Yet Alley was glad that the children were not alone in their ordeal.

"Never to be broken. Black Files a circle," Angelo said picking up on Alley's thought.

"So they won't be split up that's good." Alley murmured as she continued to watch the children. Angelo slipped away quietly as Alley watched the younger children.

Alley noticed that the children were alone in the room and that every so often Alex the youngest of the Black Files would glance at the cameras that decorated the room. The three year old was quite tense and Alley was curious as to why her little sister was so anxious. Alley soon got her answer.

Alex glanced back over at the cameras and sighed with relief. The girl got up from her spot at the table and quietly but quickly made her way to the air vent opposite of Alley. The other children looked on with a mixture of amazement, worry, and annoyance. Alex returned a few moments later a large grin on her face and a plastic bag in her hand. She emptied the contents of the bag onto the floor and the other children gathered around her.

"Skittles," a red haired boy grinned tearing open the red package.

"Starburst are so much better than skittles Jerry," said a blonde boy.

"Yeah right Jakey. Everyone know chocolate da the best," Aaron said rolling his eyes as though annoyed that Jake thought that there was something better than chocolate.

"Nah ah, Air, pez da best," Alex said as she slipped several packages of pez from under he waist band.

"Lexie where's you get those?" Andros gasped.

"One of da storage rooms. There's a bunch of stuff in there, Pez, red notebooks" Alex answered. Suddenly the lights went out and the emergency lights came on as sirens began to wail.

"Alexandra," Jake groaned.

"What?" Alex asked innocently. Alley found her self trying her hardest not to laugh at her little sister. Wanting to get back to her cell before someone was sent to check one her and discover she was missing, Alley made her way back to her cell. As Alley crawled to her cell she thought of her little sister and brothers. In Alley's opinion her baby sister was wonderful. Anyone who managed to raid the candy machine, and wreak havoc on the Centre in under ten minutes was fantastic in Alley's opinion. Alley couldn't wait for the day she would actually meet her little sister. Alley was sure that the two would get along famously.


As Alex had sat with the others on the floor enjoying the bounty form her expedition she once again felt as though someone was watching her. The last time Alex had such a feeling she had seen the boy with the blue eyes in the air vent. Alex never looked to see if the boy was back, but she did reach out with her abilities to sense who was watching her and the others. To Alex it seamed as though it was the boy, but different. As though it was the boy's other half. Alex shook off the feeling and returned to eating her spoils. At her young age she knew that it did no good to did to far into Centre secrets all it did was leave you with more questions than you originally had.
March 24, 1999

2:18am

Blue Cove, Delaware

Home Of Samuel Grey

"You're taking me shopping this weekend." Parker replied as she entered Sam's house with her usual grace.

"Oh and what did the lab rat do this time?" Sam asked smiling as he sat up.

"He was a referee at a mud wrestling area." Parker muttered as she plopped down on the couch beside Sam.

"You didn't by chance..."

"Not a word Samuel," Parker said cutting him off.

"I'm telling you Mor you need to forego the dry-clean only stuff when you go on these hunts. Especially when Jarod traipses off to Hickville, Alabama."

"Too bad I wasn't the one who got sick, I could have stayed here," Parker commented

"Oh yeah 'cause being sick is loads of fun," Sam replied wryly.

"Better than having to wrestle a three hundred pound woman by the name of Big Bertha," Parker said.

"You're kidding me?" Sam said looking up at her. Parker slowly shook her head. Sam tried his hardest to contain his laughter but was unable. He laughed until tears streamed down his face.

"Are you finished?" Parker asked Sam, who was clutching his sides.

"Y-yes," Sam managed to say in between hiccups as he wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"I'm glad to know you find immense joy in my pain," Parker said.

"Well actually I'm kinda sad about the whole fiasco," Sam admitted.

"Why?"

"Because I missed it," Sam said grinning. "I have got to ask Broots and Sydney about this one,"

"They won't tell you," Parker told Sam.

"Did you threaten to kill them again Mor?" Sam asked

"Little brother why would you even think such a thing?" Parker asked a smile on her face.

"Why indeed," Sam said rolling his eyes. "Okay, look let me ask you one question and I swear I will never bring the subject up again,"

"Shoot," Parker replied.

"Who won you or Bertha?"

"Who do you think?" Parker asked in mock offense.

"Forgive me I forgot who I was talking to." Sam replied.

"In order for me to forgive you are taking me shopping," Parker told the man.

"Mor I'm sick. With the flu. It could kill me," Sam said as Parker tied to lift him off the couch.

"You don't look like you're dying to me let's go," Parker said.

"Why can't you get your new boy to take you," Sam whined.

"Don't whine Samuel, you sound like a child. Now were going like it or not."

"Next time I'm asking Jarod to video tape you and send it to me," Sam muttered as he got up off the couch and grabbed his coat.

"I heard that," Parker said as they walked out the door.


So I'm single on Valentines day. But who needs love when you can have reviews instead.
Up next: It's time for Thomas to go.