Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for the usual statements
Author's note: Special thanks to all for your patience.

Time to Consider
Chapter 24

By Callisto

Ferrer Villa – Past
Mar Azul, Portugal

The following week they returned to the villa after indulging shamelessly in their mutual lust. Catherine greeted her daughter happily; glad to have her friend and ally back where she felt the girl belonged. She harbored a number of reservations over Mari's relationship with Jarod, mainly because of her youth. To all extents and purposes, Jarod was her first love and that was too few for her daughter to base the direction of her life. However, she couldn't help but breathe a private sigh of relief because, at least on the surface, he was Major Abernathy's son. She didn't like the father at all but she did respect him. Without going through the pains of analyzing her own feelings, Catherine knew that any dislike of Jarod was rooted in her aversion for his father. This aversion stemmed mostly from a deep-seated worry which caused her to live with the constant fear that if Ben should ever find out about what had happened between them, and the result was Ethan, Catherine might loose the one man to whom she was fiercely devoted. For Mari's sake, Catherine sincerely hoped that her daughter had chosen well with Jarod. This paradox posed a dilemma for her but the end result was the same—her dislike for Jarod was slowly giving way. He was diligently polite, disarmingly charming and amazingly intelligent and underneath it all, when he tended to relax around her, he began treating her like she was a second mother. Shaking her head in defeat, Catherine breathed another deep sigh and decided to take on a more 'wait and see' approach. Jarod was quickly becoming one of the family and the chanting voices in her mind continued to allay her fears by repeating that he was destined to become a permanent member of the family. Now if she could only understand what they meant about her daughter's merge recreating Mari but a possible threat to her happiness wouldcome in the form of her little brother in the future, Catherine would've been able to set her mind somewhat at ease.

Parker was glad to be back. Once she was able to get past the mortification of having her mother catch her seducing Jarod, Parker enjoyed every moment with Catherine. In very short time, Parker figured out a way of drawing her mother away from her time consuming career to spend some much needed, leisurely hours with her. Soon after their return, it was during a particular lunch Parker was enjoying with her mother when the subject of her relationship with Jarod was brought up between them again—the first time since their argument in Vermont.

"Speaking of Jarod, I think we should clear the air between us after that, umm, display, I witnessed after the competition," Catherine began cautiously. Typically, in the affection department, the couple was playful but strictly platonic whenever they were around any of the family. That day had been the first time she'd ever witnessed her daughter's ardor for the boy. The whole scene was still amusing but in retrospect it raised a number of questions in her mind. Noticing the rising color of embarrassment charmingly reddening her horny child's face brought an indulgent smile out of Catherine.

"What did you want to ask?" inquired Parker chokingly, trying to clear the lump thatformed in her throat. Never could she have imagined anything like the horror she felt at her mother catching her so intimately with Jarod.

"You seemed very, affectionate. No, that's not the word I'm looking for. You were very assured. Oh hell, I'll just speak plainly. You were all over that boy, which is all right. Like I've said before, I'm no prude. I would rather you be honest in your relationships. It's just when I first saw the two of you together, I was under the impression that he was the one initiating the physical side of your relationship but that doesn't necessarily seem to be the case. Were you the one who seduced him?"

Parker closed her eyes and sat fully back in her seat. It was official—she was in teenage hell. Actually, she had plenty of time to reflect on this and after Jarod's input; she knew where her mother was going with this. Former gigolo Jarod pointed out candidly "it suggests a certain level of intimacy between us she wasn't expecting to see, after all how often did you duck your boyfriends when you were 18?"

"Jarod, the slang is goose, not duck," she replied casually. Then turning to see that his back was to her, she treated him to another example of the slang, which caused him to jump and yelp out loud, much to Parker's delight. It was about time she got to play a few tricks on him.

"It was mutual, Momma," Parker finally replied. "What's going on between Jarod and me isn't going to go away. Believe me, I'm not trying to make your life miserable. I honestly want him in my life. It's gotten so that nothing seems to mean much of anything without him. That's why I've insisted that he come with me on tour. Fortunately, he'll have plenty to do while I'm practicing and performing. It won't be all one-sided as it seems. So you can rest assured that what I'm feeling for him is more than a schoolgirl's crush."

"I just want you to remember one thing. Regardless of how this turns out, I'll always be here for you, baby."

Despite a few seriously uncomfortable moments, those were some of the happiest hours Parker had ever enjoyed with her beloved parent, to the point where she could objectively understand her own prior sanctified view of her mother.

Ethan was ecstatic to have his sister and her boyfriend home. Jarod had quickly become a friend who didn't mind having him around. Before their vacation in Vermont, Mari was one of those who seemed to hate having him within speaking distance though he couldn't help it. He liked his sister and despite her growing impatience with him, he had gotten into the habit of following her around since she usually did interesting things that somehow got her into hot water with their mother. Now, she would seek him out, pick him up from school and spend quality time with him just hanging around and talking. He too was having the time of his life.

Jarod was also glad to return to Parker's family home. Ethan greeted them as if they had been gone for a lifetime instead of the month, which included the weeks before and after the actual competition. Ben's reception was also openly friendly. Catherine, he could tell, was still struggling to find ways to dislike him but each day found it a bit more difficult. There were times when he happened to be alone with her that he found himself relaxing his guard around her. She too reacted the same way and they often found themselves deep in conversation where they shared a genuine sense of camaraderie.

Unable to completely shake the habit of being constantly vigilant, Jarod secretly observed Parker and could tell that she felt as though she were finally home. There was a smile on her face that reached her eyes and stayed there. Her natural temperament, he discovered, was fairly mellow and easygoing as her prior obsessive anger fell away into oblivion. Here she could be openly affectionate without the worry of having it thrown back at her or facing any usurious disdain. She laughed more in the past few weeks than he had ever heard her in the past six or more years. It was good to be home.

The Centre—Present
Blue Cove, DE

Time had passed more quickly than they could've ever imagined. Still for Broots there were hours, though slowly fading, where he found himself staring off into space after a comment, sound or the scent of her Chanel perfume made him recall his missing friend. The source of her perfume came from a scarf she had left neatly folded in her personal credenza. Surprisingly enough, it was Angelo who had provided the souvenir from her Tower-sealed locked office. The savant waited until Broots was alone working late one night before approaching cautiously and slipping the scarf on top of a sheaf of reports he had finished printing for Mr. Lyle.

Before he slipped away back into the safety of the shadows, Angelo whispered, "Broots misses Miss Parker. She's good friend. Still needs your help."

Broots was shocked silly by Angelo's thoughtful expression, which obviously came fromhis empathic abilities. Once he was alone again, the tech genius gingerly picked up the cloth and ran it through his fingers. The strong scent of Parker's favorite perfume gently swirled around him and brought a fond smile to his face. Seconds later, his phone began to ring and picking it up absently, Broots was in for another shock, Miss Parker's brother Ethan, the one she shared with Jarod, was on the phone and asking for a favor. All this had occurred months ago. Since then he hadn't heard another word from Ethan, though in some ways he was very much like his equally impatient siblings. The technology Ethan had requested was very cutting edge and extremely expensive. Broots had tried explaining that the only way he could obtain the parts was by ordering them through the Centre's contacts, which would raise eyebrows and arouse suspicions. The very thought of Mr. Lyle catching wind of the request had made Broots' blood run cold. But at Ethan's quickly thinning patience and reminder that it was Parker's idea that he reach out to him, Broots finally relented and agreed to get the parts.

Life at the Centre continued on. Once the intensified search in Buenos Aires was expanded but still yielded no results, the sweeper contingents were recalled to the Centre. Shortly afterwards, Lyle, who was surveying his newest acquisitions from his missing and deceased relations, stopped by his family's summer house—formally his twin's residence. It was then that he found almost all of the home's contents had been removed. This discovery caused a blinding anger that disconnected all reason from action. He wanted to preserve select material pieces of his twin for his own purposes, one of which, if not in the least, to disgust and anger her from afar. Everything that was of any personal value to Parker had been carefully removed—pictures, furniture, personal items, even her clothing. It took several minutes before Lyle could come to his senses and carefully pick through the scant remains and assess the scene. After he was done, sweepers were assigned to keep watch on the house just in case the thief, whom he suspected was Ethan, thoughtfully returned for the rest of their sister's belongings.

Kowaris Cannery—Present
Anchorage, AK

The final checks were complete and tomorrow would be the day. Ethan circled the machine with an air of wonder and a feeling of uncertain dread settling heavily on his stomach. Getting his siblings back was proving to be a test of wills. His defiant will was matched inadequately against the incessant and increasingly vociferous will and objections of the voices that heretofore guided him. This would mark the first time in his life that he went against their advice and disregarded their warnings. He was nervous but felt he was in the right. Her voice, while not agreeing with him, soothed and eased his mind by quieting the other voices. It was about time he acted like an independent adult, free from the crutch of his gift. His sister and brother would understand. He hoped that everything would work out, just as his mother's soothing voice had promised.

Ferrer Villa – Past
Mar de Azul, Portugal

The major was eager to see his son again. It had been close to a year since he had laid eyes on his eldest child and best friend. Jarod called every week but it just wasn't the same. Still Major Abernathy decided to give his son some breathing room, his decision to follow a girl he barely knew to live on another continent, had been a big one. Last week, Jarod informed them that he and Mari would be on their way back to the States for a weeklong visit, and to share some good news. Instead of having them travel alone to Indiana, knowing full well that the Centre wasn't easily put off, the major decided to seize the opportunity and go fetch them himself—an opportunity that would offer him a chance to see where they were staying, how they were doing and a perhaps provide a clue to his Jarod's future plans.

Catherine greeted him with a cordial coolness that urged a smile of appreciation out of him. Ben was warmer, though the suspicions that began back in Vermont continued to bother him. Once their guest was seated with a drink and offers of dinner had been given and accepted, Catherine saw no reason to beat around the proverbial bush. If Parker suffered from bouts of explosive impatience, then in observing Catherine anyone would understand where she got the trait.

Brusque, but just a point shy of rudeness, she abruptly stated, "A situation arose where my daughter needed to live near one of her teachers. They both capitalized on the prospect and now Jarod is living with Mari in Lisbon. As you can see, we live some distance from the capitol."

Unable to completely suppress a wry smile, he answered, "And you agreed to this, ummm 'arrangement'?"

A spark of rage flashed fiercely in Catherine's expressivesapphire eyes but her face remained expressionless. The good major seemed adept at pushing her buttons. Ben easily caught the ire in his wife's eyes and smoothly interjected.

"They're both extremely determined and very mature for their ages. Playing the part of overbearing and controlling parents would've pushed them farther away. As it is, they're no more than a 30 minute drive from here."

Only a hairsbreadth ashamed of himself but content with getting a rise out of Catherine, the major nodded agreeably. Pointedly addressing Ben, he asked, "I've had a long trip and though I would never admit this to him willingly, I've missed that stubborn kid I call my son, terribly. Is there any chance I can speak to him on the phone? You know, sort of give him a heads up that his old man's in town checking up on him?"

"Of course," Ben answered immediately. "Catherine, would you mind checking on dinner while I get them on the phone?"

Catherine's ire had only partially cooled as she rose gracefully from her seat and left the room without another word. Ben frowned slightly, as he crossed the room to the phone. While he dialed his daughter's apartment, he had a few seconds to ponder his wife's reactions and the major's obvious enjoyment in harassing her.

The following morning the youthful, middle-aged couple was up early. Jarod helped Mari put the finishing touches on their usually pristine apartment. He ducked out for a few minutes to meet his drag racing friend who was determined to become the next localracing champion. A few sponsors were already showing an interest in both his friend Egan and himself. It was their plan to use drag racing as a springboard into the larger arena of F1 racing. An hour later he returned to find the apartment filled with music as Mari put in a little practice. Smiling, he walked up behind her for a quick kiss on the neck. Her response was more than he expected as she abruptly stopped, turned and found his lips. Her kiss was passionate as she slid her hand around the back of his neck and up to the base of his skull to further communicate her enthusiasm. When she finally ran out of breath, Parker pulled her lips slowly from his and smiled dreamily.

"I was about to ask 'what was that for?' But getting a smile like that out of you as well, makes me glad it was meant only for me," he replied softly, feeling ten feet tall.

"Living like this is incredible. It feels like I'm inside one of my dreams, the one's I never could've live before. Someone needs to shake me cause I know I'm somewhere sound asleep. For once in my life, everything genuinely feels good."

"Even with my Dad calling to say that he flew all the way out here to take us home?" he asked with a fond chuckle.

Rising from her place at the piano, she replied, "He misses you. I would too if I were in his position. Have you told your parents about this interest of yours in drag racing?"

"Not yet. With him here, I can show him instead of trying to describe or explain it. I hope the weather will hold during his visit."

Parker turned to pick up a small portable radio and began looking for a weather report. As she crossed the room, the radio slowly began to put out static as she passed in front of the terrarium. Once she walked away again, the radio began to play as usual. Jarod noticed what was happening and held his hand out to her, asking for the radio. Taking it from her, he walked back over towards the frog's habitat and found the results were the same. It took just a few scant moments before he realized what was happening and why.

"I think they've got the time machine working and are trying to contact us."

"How do you know?"

"The frog. Whenever this radio comes near its cage, there's nothing but static on the radio. Move away from it and the static disappears," he replied. Noting the puzzled frown on her brow he continued, "It's possible for them to send an electrical pulse surge through an event horizon in order to let us know they're trying to make contact. There's an easy way to find out, I'll get the radio."

Excitedly rummaging through the bottom of the closet, Jarod quickly found what he was looking for—the duffle bag containing his preset radio. With nervous fingers he extracted the device and began powering it up, careful not to change its settings. While he was doing this, Parker reached into the glass enclosure and picked up the tiny frog that seemed to be curiously attached to her. A strange feeling of foreboding caressed the back of her neck as she watched him set up the radio. At least the constriction in her chest had nothing to do with the premonition that the voices had given her. Jarod, at her insistence, had inoculated both of them with the age inhibiting serum. She hadn't shared her intangible dread with Jarod but curiously the thought of the serum seemed to alleviate some of her worries.

Jarod quickly set up the radio and turned it on to nothing but static. It took some further adjustments until a voice could be heard—a voice Jarod didn't immediately recognize.

"Hello? Who is this?"

For a while there was no answer, as though the speaker were surprised to have gotten a response. At some length, another voice spoke up. "Jarod? Is that you? Are you there?" Ethan asked anxiously.

"Ethan, it's good to hear your voice. It's been awhile. How are things on your end?"

"Hey, it's great hearing from you too. We've been trying to reach you for several days. Do you still have the frog?"

"Yes, it's right here. As a matter of fact, your sister is holding it. Have you spoken to Dad?"

"He helped us get this machineup and functional again. You can imagine that he was more than a little skeptical over your circumstances. You have no idea how good it is to hear you again."

"What's that noise in the background? I can barely hear you!" Jarod asked, having to yell over the wall of sound. At the same time, the tree frog decided it was time to liberate itself from Parker's grasp, surprising her by hopping frantically away from her.

She glanced at it as it landed on the bed and continued hopping away. Shrugging, she drew closer to Jarod and the radio. "Ethan? I think we're losing the connection. We'll have to turn this off and try again."

Before either of them had a chance to touch that dial, their world started to get blurry and distended as a bright light engulfed them and in a wink of an eye, they disappeared. The frog, out of instinct, had hopped out of the range of the event horizon, thus rescuing itself from the hair-raising trip that his benefactress was now experiencing. It turned towards the empty space and stared unblinkingly. All it could do was wait for her to return.