Disclaimer: Don't own em… blah, blah… not mine, etc…
The Business Merger by Sorraia3
Part 3
Jarod: Relax, Miss Parker. I'm not armed. I just want to get out the papers I have to show you, unless of course you prefer to come and get them yourself?
/She gives him the classic Parker "very funny" look and motions with the gun for him to continue./
Miss Parker: Slowly or you lose a kneecap.
/He removes the papers and hands them to her. They are internal memos from the Centre. The first letter is from Raines to…her father? Its subject is listed as The Business Merger and is letting Mr. Parker know that all of the drugs have been administered on schedule and the symptoms are beginning to show. They should be able to proceed to the extraction process within the next 6 months. The next letter is from her father back to Raines. Same subject, The Business Merger, dated 4 months later. He is requesting that they move up the schedule. "She is ready now; if we wait the drugs will do too much damage." "We will set the surgery for next Tuesday." The third page was from a Dr. Stern, dated 2 weeks later. The operation went well and the harvest was successful. We are feeling very positive about the merger, but do not expect to see any successful results for several months, if not years. Please remain patient, these things take time. We will need additional samples from the boy. And don't forget our agreement. She looks up at Jarod with anger and confusion./
Miss Parker: OK, so the Centre was up to it's usually experiments, but these are dated over 6 years ago. What difference do they make now? Besides, it sounds more like a business deal then anything else, and as is so the Centre's style these memos are sufficiently cryptic that they could mean almost anything. Obviously it was a failed experiment or I would've heard about it. Especially with Daddy involved. I don't see what this has to do with you or me and why it is so earth shattering.
Jarod: Ah, but wait, Miss Parker. There is always more.
Miss Parker: There always is with you, Jarod.
Jarod: I searched the Centre's files to try and find out what The Business Merger was. (He paused)
Miss Parker: And…
Jarod: It's not about companies, Miss Parker, it's about people. Specifically, their DNA.
/Jarod pulls out the 3 DNA analysis sheets in the folder on the table and hands them to her. She looks at them briefly than back up at him./
Miss Parker: So, what am I supposed to see here other than DNA strands?
Jarod: They are not just any DNA strands, Miss Parker. Notice where a name should be is just a number? Anything familiar about that first number?
Miss Parker: (looking at it closely) The Red Files!
Jarod: Yes, Miss Parker, and why do you think they would be talking about a merger and have these specific DNA prints in the file?
/She looks up at him shocked./
Miss Parker: They were merging the DNA of the people in the Red files? But they are all male, what would that accomplish?
/She looks up again, shocked, knowing what he is about to say, but not wanting to believe it./
Jarod: All but one Miss Parker. Don't forget the eighth file.
Miss Parker: Me? But how?
Jarod: When you had your surgery 6 years ago for what you thought was your appendix, but was actually a drug induced reaction made to look like…
Miss Parker: No, no, no, NO!
Jarod: Wait, Miss Parker, it only gets better...
Miss Parker: (Her eyes get really wide) The second DNA… Who?
/She looks at him and sees the answer in his face before he even answers her./
Miss Parker: You? You! And… me?
Jarod: Us, Miss Parker. They were trying to create the ultimate Pretender. Our child.
Miss Parker: I need a drink.
Jarod: But, I'm afraid, with little success. Until now. (She looks up suddenly) They have made eight attempts over the past several years, all ending in miscarriage or stillbirth. Our children, Miss Parker. And I'm going to stop them.
Miss Parker: (Looking at the third DNA sheet) Until Now?
Jarod: Yes, Miss Parker. On paper, in a test tube, they have succeeded. I just thought you should know that I will bring down the Centre, but I don't want you to get caught in the crossfire.
/She shakes off the shock of what she just learned and looks at him./
Miss Parker: So, then tell me WonderBoy, what was that all about before? Did you think that just because the Centre has some lab rat that we are parent to that we'll be all like the happy Mr. & Mrs. now? Because if that's what your little fantasy is all about, then you truly are delusional.
Jarod: No, Miss Parker, no fantasies.
/He took a step toward her and she raised her gun from where it had fallen slack at her side./
Miss Parker: Don't come near me, Jarod. You expect to drop a bombshell on me and then I'll just run to your side? I think not. This is just one more reason for me to bring you in and get my freedom from the Centre.
Jarod: Do you really think that they will still let you leave?
Miss Parker: My father and I have a deal.
Jarod: Your father was at the center of this little conspiracy to take life from you, and me, and create his own little monster. Why do you think he was so willing to let you hunt me down? Their attempts were failing. They hoped we would do the work for them.
/She looked at him, shocked yet again, at the thought of her father, as ruthless as he could be, doing that to her./
Jarod: What they didn't count on was us finding out about it before we, uh…
Miss Parker: Don't even go there!
Jarod: Tell me the truth Miss Parker. You're a very smart woman. You knew that the Centre would never really let you leave, didn't you? So, what's the real reason you kept chasing me down? The thrill of the hunt?
/His words took her back to moments earlier and her own thoughts about the hunt…/
/She was so confused. Did she actually enjoy it? The way she was feeling…thrilled? But she always felt this way. Every time she was on his trail, every time she caught up to him. Every time she thought about him? Always felt this way…/
/ The gun slips from her hand as the true realization sinks in. She stares at him, shaking her head no as he walks toward her and puts his hand to the side of her face. The look in his eyes. Is it really…love? After all she has done to him could he possibly still feel that way? Still disbelieving what he had said, what he had implied, what he had done, denying her own feelings…wait, she had feelings for this man? She started to turn away again… /
Miss Parker: Jarod…I…
/ This time he put his hand to her mouth to hush her and gently turned her back to face him their eyes locking. Worlds of pain, anguish, fear, friendship, and love past between them in that brief look./
Jarod: You don't need to say anything, Miss Parker. If I was wrong about you, about us, just turn and walk away.
/She stands there, unable to break the gaze between them. Jarod leans in towards her. Very slowly this time, to see if she will pull away again. When she doesn't he closes the gap between them and kisses her softly, gently, slowly, trying to relay every ounce of emotion in his heart through that one sweet kiss. She responds with her own emotion and he deepens the kiss, letting the love and passion flow freely now./