Author's note: Fast forwarding story to where Parker is due in about three weeks

Flashback

"Who died and made you boss? What are you doing answering "daddy's" phone?" Miss Parker hissed at her brother.

"Parker! When the hell are you coming back to "The Centre". "Daddy" left suddenly on a much needed vacation. He'll be out of the country for several months. He tried calling you. You could have at least left your new number with me."

Thank god, "daddy" won't be around for the birth of our baby.

"Look, I'm still on my own vacation. I'll call when I decide to come back," she snapped.

"Something's not right, sis! What the hell's going on with you? You two made up? Don't tell me you're with that lab specimen."

I won't tell you.

"I just need to get away from everything and everyone connected with "The Centre". Is it a crime to want to be alone?"

"Parker, come on! Where are you?"

"Like hell I'll tell you. I'll come back when I'm ready. And I'm sure as hell not ready!"

End Of Flashback

Jarod hugged Miss Parker and comforted her after another nightmare. "Still having those dreams?"

She stroked his face. "It never goes away."

"Hey, listen to me. No one's going to wreck our lives. Okay? And nothing's going to happen to me." He kissed the top of her head.

Parker wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Is this how you'd like to be held when you're crying, Jar?"

"What?" He whispered in her ear.

"I know you worry about me and the baby." She laid his hand on her belly. "And I know you cry at nights when you think I'm sleeping."

"Sorry. I don't mean to upset you." He cuddled her tightly. "Let's just go back to sleep. Sydney, Broots and Debbie will be coming by for lunch. Remember?"

"Yes. Debbie can help me while the three of you set up the nursery."

JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP

Parker laid out her baby things on their bed. "He's almost here, Jar. Look how tiny these are." She held a pair of booties. "And this. I can't imagine him fitting into this little outfit."

"How are you feeling? It's three more weeks. You're not giving birth soon are you? Not until the nursery's up, okay?" He studied the items on the bed. "Everything here's blue."

"Silly, you don't expect him to wear any pinks, do you?"

They laughed and looked through the baby items. She felt his eyes on her. "What?"

"You've never been more beautiful."

"With my gigantic tummy? You liar." She threw a baby quilt at him and giggled.

"Ah, the doorbell. Our guests has arrived. I'll let them in and I'll send Debbie to join you."

"Kiss me first," she yanked at his tee-shirt.

"I love you, Parker."

"I love you, too.

Miss Parker froze suddenly and heard what sounded like a confrontation. Then, two shots were fired. The sound ricocheted throughout the house. Immediately, she ran out of the bedroom and found Jarod on the floor as he clutched his stomach.

"What have you done? What are you doing here?" She screamed at Lyle.

"I-I, Parker, I was just trying to scare him. I didn't mean to shoot! Believe me!"

"You bastard! You killed him? Jarod, Jarod! Oh, my god, Jarod! Somebody help him!" She had let out a blood-curdling scream.

Nervously, Lyle stuffed his pistol in his pants pocket. He pulled Parker aside and turned Jarod on his back. Blood continuously oozed out of him. He grabbed a shawl that hung on the door hook and pressed down onto his stomach and tried to stop the flow of blood.

Parker screamed frantically and hit Lyle. He quickly looked at his sister as he tended to Jarod. "Oh god, Parker, you're really pregnant."

She cried mournfully and crouched down to the floor. "Jarod! Don't you dare die on me! You hear me? Those nightmares! Don't make it come true! Jarod! Who'll take care of us? You're going to have a son! A family, finally! Don't die! Please do not die!" She caressed his face, then ran her fingers through his hair. "Wake up! Wake up! Jarod! Please wake up!"

"Parker! Stop it! Take a deep breath! Call the paramedics! Parker! He's loosing a lot of blood! I said call for help! Or we're going to loose him!"

JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP

"Miss Parker? Would you like for me to get you something to drink?" Debbie held on to her hand. "Miss Parker?"

"Sweetheart? I don't think she wants anything right now." Broots sat across of them in the emergency waiting room.

"I want Jarod. He's my life." She answered and stared at the wall blankly behind Broots.

"I know, Miss Parker. I know." The little girl gave her a soft hug.

"Lyle? The first chance I get, I'm going to kill him." The tone of her voice scared Broots.

"Miss Parker. Even though he had been the one whole pulled the trigger, the nurses had said that if it wasn't for his fast thinking of putting pressure on the injury it could have been..." Sydney grew silent.

"Fatal? In the mean time, he's just buying some time right now." Parker rubbed her belly. "He was excited about the baby. Our baby."

"Lyle's in custody. He's been arrested for attempted murder."

Miss Parker prayed silently to herself. "Sydney?"

"Yes, Miss Parker."

"He's a "Pretender". A genius who can become anyone that he wants to be. I want him alive. He defended the weak and the abused. He's helped so many people. He's touched so many lives. How about his? Who's helping him now? I can't bear the thought of losing him."

JMPJMPJMJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP

It had been several hours since Jarod was brought in. Broots nervously jumped up as the doctor approached. Sydney held his breath. The thought of losing Jarod flashed through his mind. Miss Parker gripped Debbie's hand tightly. She held her breath and waited for news of his prognosis. The surgeon laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We almost lost him. We've done everything that we possibly could have done to save him. He hemorrhaged. Miraculously, the blood flow stopped. But, you must be made aware that if he does bleed again, there isn't much more we can do, but make the patient comfortable. He is awake and you could go in now."

"You mean just let him die? There is good chance that he'll die?" She asked tearfully.

"The hardest part of being a doctor is facing the patient's love ones. Truthfully? Yes, there is a possibility he might not survive. I'm very sorry."

"No. No. No!" Miss Parker screamed. "He's not going to die! You got that? Tell him, Sydney. He's not going to die! He's not! He's got a family waiting for him. Sydney! Broots! Tell him he's not going to die!"

"Oh, Miss Parker. The baby. You've got to take care of the baby. Shh. Shh." Debbie hugged her friend. Parker bent down to her level. "You're very lucky you have a daddy. My baby won't have a daddy. What are we going to do without him? Tell me. I was so cruel to him for so long. And now that we're finally together, he's going to be taken away from me. There will be no daddy for our son."

"Parker. Parker. Listen to me. Jarod needs you right now. Go to him. Broots, Debbie and I will be right outside his door if you need us."

Jarod laid helplessly on his bed. With the amount of blood he'd lost, the white sheet that draped over him matched his pale face. Parker bent down and kissed him lightly on his lips. His eyes opened.

"Hey, hi. You scared me. Doctor said you'll be just fine." She lied to him.

"Take care of yourself and our baby. Remember I love you," he said weakly.

"Are you telling me goodbye? Don't you dare!"

"This is it, huh? If I hang on to all of you too closely, it's because I can't bear the thought of leaving you." He reached out for her hand. They locked their fingers tightly together.

"You're not going anywhere, sweetheart. Only home with me."

"I may not be able to express my feelings, but, can't you see it in my eyes what I feel for you." Jarod's eyes teared along with hers.

"I love you, Jarod. We both love you. Baby and me."

"I shall be looking down at you, I shall be missing my family." His voice cracked.

"Stop talking like you're leaving us. Because, you're not."

"You are my loves, my greatest treasures." He kissed her fingers.

"Just rest now. I'll be here when you wake up, alright? Alright?"

"Parker, you and the baby are the most precious things to me." He reached to touch her tummy.

"You're the most precious thing to me, too, Jar."

"I may be leaving, but my love for you is here to stay." His voice had begun to grow hoarse.

"I said stop talking like that. You're not going anywhere." She cried softly.

"I love you so very much. I shall be seeing you one day." Jarod stroked her cheek.

"Stop talking like you're dying. You're not. Why are you saying all these things?"

"Listen to me, Parker. Just listen." He begged painfully.

"Okay." She held her breath and wiped her tears.

"When it's your time to join me, I shall be waiting for you. I shall welcome you in paradise." He closed his eyes.

"Stop it, please stop."

"I shall be saving a place for you. I'm tired now. I'd better rest."

"Yes, my darling. Rest. I'll be right here. I won't leave your side." She kissed his forehead, cheeks and lips.

"For now I bid you goodbye. Just in case I won't wake up. We'll meet again in eternity and I'll welcome you with open arms, when you're finally home with me. I love you, Parker."

"Don't you tell me your final goodbyes. It's not final until I say so. You got that? Not for a million years."

"I'm tired, honey. I'm just so tired. Just know that I've always loved you."

Uncontrollably, she cried and hung on to him. "I'm never letting you go. You're not going anywhere without me."

TBC - Chapter 12