"How am I every going to get around without you? I need you, Jar. I wish I could do something for you. It breaks my heart to think of what might happen."
"The fact that you're here is all that matters. Melissa. Don't cry for me. You'll have our son with you. He'll need you when I am gone."
"When you're gone," her voice trembled. "I'll never be able to see you or talk to you again. Life is so full of pain. I never imagined experiencing this together."
Parker sat on his hospital bed. "We experienced so many things together. We've gone through a lot. We've been through a lot. My only regret will be not having you with me for the rest of my life."
"Honey, when my time comes, do not grieve for me. You must go on for our son."
"He'll be a reminder of what life could have been for all of us. You are my world, Jar, my life. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love anyone. You'll always be in my heart, the heart I once questioned I never had."
"Shh. Don't cry. Think of our son. He'll soon be here." Yet, tears flowed down his face.
"I love you, Jarod."
"I love you, too".
"Don't leave, sweetheart. Stay with me." She laid both of his hands on her belly. "Stay with us."
Her head was on the bed rail. Miss Parker jumped up as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm very sorry, Parker, did I wake you?" Sydney stood along side of her and deeply sighed as he helplessly watched Jarod.
She ran her fingers on his arm making sure it had just been a dream. "Those nightmare of mine, Sydney. They never go away. I'm so afraid..."
"Nothing will happen, Parker, he's being well taken care of. It'll take some time, but he will pull through this. And you? Are you taking care of yourself? The baby?"
"Debbie's making sure I'm drinking my milk."
"Why don't you go join Debbie and Broots in the waiting room. I'll sit with Jarod for awhile."
"No. I'm fine. Thank you, Sydney."
"How shall I put this? Miss Parker, I'd like to be with Jarod for awhile. I want some time to be with him. If that's alright with you."
JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJPMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP
Sydney sat in the same chair which Miss Parker had occupied since Jarod's arrival. He held his hand in his.
"Jarod, it's Sydney. Can you hear me? Yes, is the answer to your question you brought up upon me so many years ago. Do you love me, Sydney?" Yes, I love you. I've always loved you. All fathers have an unconditional love for their children. You know what a father is? One who stays up all hours of the night when you are sick. He is the one who picks you up and carries you into the house when you had fallen off on your first try of riding your bicycle and skinned your knees. A dad is the one waiting up all hours of the night for you to come home from that first date. He's the one yelling at you for that smashed headlight on his brand new car and at the same time hugging you because you came home safe and sound, away from harm. All fathers are supposed to do that. But, we lived in a different world."
Sydney got up and walked around the room. "I'm so sorry I never took the time to tell you how much you really meant to me. And I hope it's not too late. We met under unusual circumstances. I was assigned to you. You were my assignment. I'm sorry I held back what I felt for you. We were closely watched. And if I even showed the least bit interest in you, you would have been taken away from me. I couldn't see you being under Mr. Parker's or Raines' control. I was somewhat relieved when you did escape "The Centre", yet at the same time frightened for you to be on the outside world. But, you did good, you were always helping others in need. Any father would be so proud of you. I'm so very proud of you, son. Forgive me, for it's taken me this long to say I love you. I love you. You'll make a wonderful father. What did you do to Parker? I never knew she had so much love to give. She's become a softer person, a loving person. Well, she still does scare Broots a bit, but, he's getting use to it. I think she actually loves him like a brother."
The doctor sat back down. "I think Parker's due anytime soon. It's almost time for you to be a dad. And you'll be a wonderful one."
Sydney, I love you, too.
JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJPMJMPJPMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJPMJMP
The iron gates were the only thing that stood between father and son, which was fortunate for Lyle. An infuriated Mr. Parker grabbed hold of the prison bars and raised his voice.
"What the hell were you thinking of? It will be a cold day in hell before I'd ever help you! What use would Jarod be to us if he's dead? "The Centre" wanted him back alive. You useless son of a bitch!"
"Hey, give me a bit of credit, will you? I tried to save his life. There is one consolation, if he dies, we'll at least have his baby."
"No, you get this straight, I'll have his baby and you'll be rotting in here for all of eternity." Mr. Parker pointed a finger at his son.
"So, you're just going to leave me here? Or are you going to be posting bail?"
Mr. Parker shrugged his shoulders and walked away. "You're on your own now."
"Like your "Angel" will hand over Jarod's baby to you!" Lyle yelled out. "Think Again! At least she'll know how to love her child, unlike you! She really does love Jarod, you know! Maybe, that's the reason I suddenly helped him!"
"Ah, feeling a little sentimental? Not going to do you any good here in jail."
JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJPMPJMPJPMJPMJMPJMPJMP
Usually death would be the end of the story. But, Jarod had a million reasons to live for, but mainly, the love for Parker and their unborn son was the most important, and no one was going to take that away from him. He was not going to be deprived of the luxuries of having a woman who loved him and a child of his own.
Two weeks had past since Jarod's life had changed. Miss Parker nurtured him with her love. There were no longer deep inhales, nor heavily exhaled breaths. His breathing had returned back to normal. She stroked his now long dark locks and unshaven face. Lightly, she touched his injury. Blood no longer seeped through the bandages which covered his skin. Her worse fears had become a reality and she shuddered the thought of almost having lost him.
There was an electrical feeling in the air that suggested that there was more to life than what he had bargained for. Something exciting was coming his way. He readied himself to be swept off his feet. Even though this life of his wasn't planned, Jarod was ready to welcome it with open arms. He slowly opened his eyes.
"Is there something you want or need, sweetheart?" She held his hand tightly.
"I'd like you to do me a favor." He weakly pulled her to him. She pulled back slightly. The last time he asked her for a favor was a request for her to turn around and walk out of his life.
"I'm not listening to any of your nonsense. I'm not walking away from you," she whispered.
"No. Listen to me."
"I said no. We're not leaving you, Jarod. Ever. Do you understand?"
"Things never change." His voice was low-keyed. "You never give me a chance to talk." God, wish she'd quiet down sometimes. Give me a moment's peace.
"What?" It surprised her that he seemed to be in a fighting mood.
"What?" He parroted her.
She stroked him repeatedly.
"And stop that."
"Stop what?" Parker ran her fingers through his hair.
"That." He pulled her hand away. "This thing you do. Even when I'm asleep you do that. Constantly."
"I can see you're feeling a lot better." She clenched the words through her teeth.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You've been worried about me. No one has ever worried about me." His voice changed to a softer tone.
"Well, get used to it," she snarled. "You think it would have been easy to leave you? How could I? I didn't know how to stop loving you." She held back her tears.
"Melissa? Honey?"
"Yes?"
"I'm hungry. I really am." He held up his IV. "You think I could get something to eat instead of this?"
"Hungry? You're hungry?" She laughed, then her eyes teared. "How about some pez and ice cream?"
"My favorites. I never meant to make you miserable, Parker. You had no idea what you were getting yourself into."
"Neither did you." She kissed the palm of his hand. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Sit on the bed, so that I could I hold you?"
They embraced each other.
"You're the reason I wake up everyday, Melissa."
"You're the best thing that could happen to me. We're not like any other two people in this world, but we do fit together."
"Like missing pieces of the same puzzle." He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger.
"I want us to build memories together, Jarod. You, me and the baby. And I love you so much, it scares me."
"Now you know how I feel. "The Centre" almost took our happiness away. But, I'm here now and I'm never leaving you."
TBC - Chapter 14