"You get on my everlasting nerves," she spoke with her teeth clenched.

"Drop the gun, Parker." He took careful steps in approaching her. Again, he repeated. "Drop the gun."

"Thought I'd never see you again. Why'd you come back, Jarod?" She asked waving her gun at him.

"I tried to stay away, but, you're all I think about, Miss Parker."

"Yea, sure. Tell me more lies. Thought you dropped off the face of the earth."

"Ah, Parker, put the gun away unless you're actually planning on shooting me." Jarod held his breath, not quite sure if she really intended to.

She grunted and walked into her bedroom. Jarod shadowed her, his eyes widens as he caught a glimpse of Miss Parker's front as she bent down returning her gun to its proper resting place under her bed.

Catching her off guard, Jarod grabbed her gently from behind and hugged her. "I can't stop this feeling I have for you."

Parker pulled quickly away. "This is as far as you're going to get, wonderboy." She pushed him away, although deep down she could have stayed in his arms forever.

He stared at her for a moment. "You keep things in, Parker. And it's driving me crazy. The problem with you is that you need help in opening up what you're feeling inside."

"You think I need a shrink?" She asked with a dead-pan look.

Jarod shrugged. "Or someone. How can you just switch on and off?

Sometimes you can just be so unbearable and cold. And there are times your inner feelings comes right out. Then, you catch yourself. What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing! I'm afraid of nothing!"

"You're caring, sensitive and loving. You may not be able to express your feelings, but I can see it in your eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, what you feel for me."

Miss Parker crossed her arms in front of her. "Feel for you? What I feel for you is loathe and despise. That's what I feel for you!"

"Why are you so afraid to love?"

"Love? Love? I don't do love. I loved once and The Centre took him away. They killed Thomas! Remember him? He was your friend! And they'll kill you, too, if I..." She stopped suddenly.

"If what, Miss Parker?"

She shook her ahead.

"Broots says you've been looking for me."

She yelled. "We've been looking for you since you escaped from The Centre! Broots? I'll kill him! You've been in touch with him? Since when did he become your "best friend?"

"I had information about his ex-wife and thought he could use it to gain custody of Debbie. He owed me a favor. Wanted to know how you were."

"I'll kill that little pip-squeak!" She started to babble.

"Parker!"

"What!"

"I love you, Parker and I know you love me, even if you can't say it."

Her eyes began to tear. "Jarod. Don't. Don't get any closer."

"You sure about that?" He pulled her close as she relaxed in his arms.

"You promise never to leave me? Never to die on me? Promise never to die suddenly and leave me alone?" As she spoke, her voice cracked.

"I can't promise that, but, I can promise to always love you," he murmured, his lips met hers as she softly moaned. Wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders, she returned his kiss.

Stepping back, her hand covered her mouth, Miss Parker was flabbergasted. "You...you shouldn't have kissed me like that. You shouldn't have."

"Parker." He held her hand.

"I can't. I can't, Jarod. I won't allow someone else into my life, into my heart. If something happened to you, it would just be unbearable for me to handle. I can't love you. I don't want to love you. I don't want to love anyone. That way when they suddenly die, I won't feel any pain. Please leave. Don't come back. Please don't." Heading out of her bedroom and into the living room, Parker pointed to the front door,

"Okay," Jarod answered sadly.