Pretender Fanatic- You know the reason for the delay in this chapter is because I received Angel season 5 Friday. Some would say I'm slightly obsessed with Buffy and Angel -I don't know what they're talking about- so Will didn't have a choice in liking Buffy.
And I too long for the day's in which I didn't have to wake up at 7:00am to watch the pretender. Guess it's a good thing season one comes out on DVD in March.
Joy- You're review had me smiling all day. I hope you like this chapter and the one after it as much as you liked the last.
Crazyrussiangal- Glad you liked the Black Files. And thanks for the words.
Allie- I'll try. I can't promise you I definitely will, but I will see what I can work out. I'm going away today for spring break -no worries I hopefully be able to update while I'm gone- but I have a six hour train trip -both ways- I'll see what I can work up.
I can promise you that there will be more of Jeremiah in the coming chapters. He and Sam will kinda spend some time bonding. And in the chapter after next Jeremiah meets a character we don't get to see that often.
CHAPTER 45
THE WORLD IS CHANGING: PART I
March 26, 1999
12:07pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Two four years olds laid crouched in an air vent that looked out at a secretary's
desk. The woman they were looking at was a petite brunette, with cold gray eyes. She sat chewing a piece of gum as she shuffled through a pile of papers.
"You sure?" Rachael asked her brother.
"Positive. See, look at the picture." Jake told his sister holding out an ID picture of the woman sitting at the desk.
"Now what?" Rachael whispered.
"Wait for her t' go t' lunch and we tell her then." Jake whispered back. "Look, she's getting' up let's go."
The two toddlers crawled quickly through the duct work. They stopped outside of a vent that leads to the cafeteria. The woman entered the cafeteria as Jake and Rachael pried off the vent cover. The two children hold hands as they nervously walk over to the isolated spot where the woman was sitting.
"Sylvia Burke?" Jake asked, his voice slightly shaking.
"Yeah kid, what do you want? I'm on my break." The woman said not bothering to look down as she read a magazine
"We want meet you." Rachael whispered as she desperately clung to her brother's hand. She was scared; already nothing was going how she imagined it.
"What'd ya want to meet me for?" Sylvia asked chewing away on her gum, she had yet to look down at the children.
"You-you're our mother." Jake said stuttering. Sylvia finally looked down at the twins.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed, making the twins jump back in fright. "I was told that I'd never have to see you two again."
"We wanted to meet you. Mr. Lyle told us you were dead and we didn't believe." Jake said, placing himself in front of his sister.
"You should have listened to Mr. Lyle. Now get the hell out of my sight. I know that neither of you are suppose to be here. I hear that Mr. Lyle has a nasty temper, I wonder what he'd do if he knew you two were here."
"But you're our mother." Rachael gasped from behind her brother.
"Lets get one thing clear, you little brat. All that you ever meant to me was a hefty pay check. I never wanted anything to do with you two and never will. Now go or I'll call a team of sweepers," She hissed. Jake grabbed his sister's hand and runs towards the vent. He lifted Rachael in and then pulled himself in. Quickly they make their way back to their room.
Jake held his sister as she sobbed in his arms. "It'll be okay Rach. We got each other. We lived our wholes lives without a Mommy we don't need one now." Jake told her Rachael didn't reply. "I love you Rach," Jake whispered in her ear.
October 3, 1999
8:12am
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Sam entered Will's room with the boy's breakfast. "Morning Will," Sam said. Will didn't reply.
"What bug crawled up your ass?" Sam asked.
"You delivered my breakfast, you can go now. I'm quite sure you have other pretenders who need their breakfast, and others who need their daily beatings," Will said between clenched teeth.
"What are you talking about Will? I've never laid a finger on any of my kids. You know that," Sam told him.
"Oh so as long as were kids were safe from you. But if were an adult pretender. Say Jarod, then you're just like Lyle!" Will yelled.
"Will you don't understand..."
"What's there to understand Sam. For the past three months you've been beating the shit out of my Dad," Will growled.
"I was just following orders Will," Sam said defending himself.
"Oh so if it was me in his position and Lyle told you to beat me then you would just tell yourself that you were just following orders, that way you can sleep easier at night. You're just like all the rest, a hypocritic bastard," Will said shaking his head. Sam grabbed the boy by his arm.
"I'm not like Lyle," Sam said squeezing Will's arm.
"Let go of me. You're hurting me," Will begged squirming in Sam's grasp. Sam immediately let go.
"Will. Oh good. I'm so sorry."
"Get out!" Will yelled his eyes going red.
"Will, please you don't understand."
"I said leave," Will said between clenched teeth. Sam hung his head in shame of what he had done, and turned to leave.
Outside of Will's cell, Sam rested his head against the cool corridor wall. The past few months had been that most stressful months of Sam's life. His sister was missing. Sam didn't even know if she was alive. Mr. Parker had disappeared as had Raines, thus Lyle was back in charge. It was no secret that Lyle and Sam did not get along. Both men were jealous of each other. Lyle was the biological son of Catherine Parker and Parker's true brother, a fact that Lyle loved to shove in Sam's face. But Sam was the one who Catherine had thought of as her son, it ate at Lyle that the Sweeper had not only been given his mother's affection but his twin sister's as well.
With Lyle in charge, Lyle had placed Sam in a position that Sam did not want to be in. Sam knew that if he did not follow Lyle's every command concerning Jarod then Sam would be taken off of the Black Flies and Phoenix. And maybe Will was right. Maybe Sam was a hypocritic bastard but Sam didn't give a damn. All that mattered to him was the safety of those children. And if keeping them safe meant that Jarod had to suffer so be it. Sam believed that if Jarod knew of the position that Sam was in then the pretender would condone Sam's course of action.
Jarod valued family above all. He had proven that in May when he had sacrificed himself so that his father and clone would get away safely. 'But he didn't just sacrifice himself for his family,' Sam thought. 'He sacrificed himself for Mor. Jarod saw that she had been shot and ran to her side. He hasn't changed much since we were kids.'
But for all Sam knew Jarod's forfeit of his freedom may have been in vain. Not only did Sam not know of Parker's condition, the had been rumors that Major Charles, and Gemini had been captured. Sam had no way of knowing if the rumors were true or not. He could have asked Will if the boy knew anything concerning his father's clone, and his grandfather but after the argument the two shared Sam thought it best to let things cool down for awhile.
Sam did hope that for Will's sake Jarod managed to escape soon before he was shipped to Africa later that afternoon. Sam had noticed that his button from off of his shirt had gone missing after he had dealt with Jarod earlier that morning. Sam prayed that Jarod would put his pretender skills to work and try to get the hell out of the Centre.
Sam stood in the corner of the Black Files sim lab watching the fourteen children
"Lyle's coming," Andros murmured without looking up for his worksheet. Alex and Maddie ran from the corner opposite of Sam and sat back at the table. The two little girls had more than likely been conspiring on how to toy with Lyle.
The door to the sim lab opened a few seconds later and in came Lyle. "Sam, you will be escorting Jarod to Africa," Lyle said with a smug grin on his face.
"I can't. I have both Phoenix and the Black Files to watch over," Sam protested.
"Number one you can. Number two, I'm in charge, that means I make the rules little brother. And don't worry your charges will be looked after. Miller will take over until you return," Lyle sneered. The fourteen children exchanged weary glances. Miller was one of the worse sweepers. A cold, heartless man who would kill you without a second thought.
"Fine," Sam replied. He knew that there was no reason to argue with Lyle it would just delay the inevitable.
Sam buckled Jaord into his plane seat. Done Sam went to sit where he could keep a somewhat decent eye on Jaord. Sam was unsure if Jarod was truly asleep or not. All Sam cared about was getting Jarod to Africa. Once Jarod was out of Sam's hands Sam would no longer have to continue with the game he and Lyle were playing.
Shortly before take off Lyle's Albino informed Sam that there would be a stop along the way. A level A project known as Silence. Sam didn't want to hear anymore about the project. Anything that was Level A was never good. Yet Sam had the misfortune of overhearing that the project involved killing a family. The sweepers blood boiled in his veins at the thought of what was going to occur.
When Jarod chose his moment to escape a few hours later Sam was grateful. Jarod had the courage and abilities to stop what Sam could not. The downside was that Jarod ended up knocking Sam out cold but it was a small price to pay, Sam reflected later when he awoke.
October 4, 1999
7:12am
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
When Sam arrived home the next day he noticed that he had a two new messages on his phone. Sam hit the playback button.
"Mr. Grey you have a meeting with Mr. Lyle this afternoon about your failure to escort the Pretender Jarod to Africa. Have a nice day." Came the voice of Lyle's secretary. Sam sighed as he loosened his tie. The next message began to play.
"I'm back," Where the only words spoken. Yet sam knew instantly who the owner of the voice was. He grabbed his keys off of the counter, ran out to the car and broke every single speed limit between his house and Parker's.
"Morgan!" Sam yelled entering her house. "Morgan!"
"Geeze Sammy what are you trying to do wake the dead?" Parker asked entering the house from the back porch. Sam enveloped her in a bone crunching embrace.
"I thought you were dead," Sam murmured into her hair.
"I'm fine Sam. But if you don't loosen your hold I may die from lack of oxygen." Parker told him.
"Sorry," Sam said releasing her. "I thought I had lost you for good this time."
"Once again Sammy I'm fine. Now tell me catch me up on all that's happened since I've been gone. Broots told me that Raines is back and he found God." Parker said leading Sam to the couch.
"Raines is back?"
"You didn't know?"
"No I've been gone all day. Lyle had me transporting Jarod to Africa. He managed to escape though. Knocked me unconscious. My head is still pounding."
"Lyle isn't going to be pleased." Parker commented.
"I know I have a meeting with him in the morning," Sam sighed.
"Well you're blowing it off. Now that I'm back and Jaord has escaped again the hunt has resumed."
"Yeah tell that to Lyle," Sam mumbled.
"Don't worry I will. And as soon as Daddy's back things will be back to normal." Parker told Sam.
"Have you head from your father?" Sam asked.
"He left me a message on my answering machine. He wants me to meet him later tonight," Parker said even though her father had warned her to trust no one.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No I'm a big girl," Parker said.
October 4, 1999
12:00pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
"You wanted to see me," Sam said entering Lyle's office.
"Ah Sam good you're here. Despite the fact you royally screwed up yesterday I'm giving you another chance to prove yourself. You will come with me to Albany. There is a lead on Jarod."
"Shouldn't I be going with Parker then. She is after all in charge of the hunt for Jaord unless things have changed of course," Sam replied.
"Let's give sis a bit more time to get back on her feet. We don't want to rush her back into things." Lyle told Sam.
"Fine, let me know when your ready," Sam said and turned to leave.
"Oh Sam I forgot to tell you Jake is in the infirmary. Seams he was not co-operative yesterday," Lyle said a grin on his face. Sam clenched his jaw to keep from saying anything to Lyle. He then ran out of the room and down to the infirmary.
He found Jake in the infirmary unconscious and covered in bruises. Sam swore. He knew that Jake had done nothing wrong Lyle had the child beaten to punish Sam. Lyle knew that the only way to get to Sam was through his charges or Parker.
"This is your fault." Sam turned and saw Will.
"Will.."
"They did this to him because of you didn't they?" Will asked angrily.
"Yes," Sam said.
"Why? What did you do?"
"Jarod escaped yesterday under my watch," Sam answered.
"Stop trying to help Sam. You only make things worse," Will told the sweeper.
"I didn't let him escape. I knew that if he did this would happen!" Sam yelled "I didn't even want to go. I wanted to stay and watch over them. Lyle forced me to take Jarod to Africa. If I hadn't the same thing would have happened, Will. You know that. So stop blaming me for shit I can't control."
"You're right," Will said. "This isn't your fault. It's Lyle's. He's the one who sanctioned this. I'm sorry for blaming you. But I'm not sorry about the other day. I understand that you were just trying to do the best in the situation you were in. But Sam, he's my Dad."
"I know Will. And God I hated standing by, you don't know how many times I wanted to stop Lyle. But it was either watching Jarod get tortured or you, or even worse your brothers or sister," Sam told the boy. Will studied the sweeper for a moment trying to sense if Sam was deceiving him or not.
"I don't know if I can forgive you," Will said finally. Sam's face fell knowing that he had damaged the friendship he had with Will "But I still trust you. I still think of you as my friend Sam, and my protector. You still are, right?"
"Of course I am Will." Sam told the boy.
"Good," Will smiled. His smile then faded to a frown. "As my friend I can't let anything bad happen to you. I've been thinking it over all summer and I think it's best if you didn't know who my Dad was. It's safer. That way you won't accidentally tell anyone. Not to mention the other kids need you more than I do. If anything happened to you I doubt they'd make it. Momma needs you too... I'm sorry for doing this. I hope one day you can forgive me."
"Forgive you for what?" Sam asked worried.
"This," Will whispered as he focused all of his energy on making Sam forget that Will was Jarod's son, as well as the argument to two had the previous day. Will's head soon began to pound, his nose began to bleed, but he continued on with his task. It took Will close to five minutes to make Sam forget. When he was done he collapsed in front of Sam.
"Will," Sam said shocked. He had no recollection of Will being in the infirmary. Sam scooped the boy up in his arms and carried him to Jen.
Up next: Lyle is angry and goes after Alex, will Sam come in time to save the little girl.
Review's are lovely
