Disclaimer: You all know I don't own anything, so why bother?
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post this. My computer was having problems. But all has been fixed. So please read and review! Thanks.
Chapter 14: Break Through
Jarod walked in the door, dejected and ready to call everything quits. His interview with Andi had been a disaster. Rather than risk more of her roller-coaster emotions, Jarod decided to let her be. She'd come back when she was ready. And then there was Kyle. He'd made a mess of it back in the hotel. When Jarod had come back from Andi's house, Kyle had been gone. Jarod assumed he went back home.
All through out the twelve hour journey back to his home, Jarod had thought of what he could say to apologize to his brother. Nothing sufficient came to mind. It was bad enough that they argued, but for Jarod to bring up the past was unforgivable. And Jarod knew that. He sighed, as he reached over and flipped on the light switch. Kyle was quick to forget, but slow to forgive. Jarod wondered if his brother would ever forgive him. He knew Kyle hated being reminded that he lost to Jarod. She was the only thing that had ever come between them. Both had gotten over it, but now Jarod had to bring it back up. How perfect. He thought. I can't do anything right these days.
Feet running down the stairs caused him to look up. Kyle raced over and grabbed him in a bear hug. That was the last thing Jarod expected from his angry brother.
"We did it!" He cried, squeezing his older brother. Jarod chocked and tried to get out of the grip. What was Kyle doing here?
"We did what, Kyle? And why are you here?" Jarod asked, still struggling. Kyle may be smaller than him, but he had one heck of a grip.
"The break through. It's finally happened." Jarod was out of Kyle's hug in a flash and racing up the stairs, his brother not far behind. Opening the door to a little used room, he saw Catherine talking quietly to a hunched over figure. She turned around at the sound of the door opening and smiled.
"We did it, Jarod. Thanks to you. The formula worked perfectly. With only a few more treatments, everything will be back the way it should have been. Won't it?" She said, taking the hand of the figure.
"Yes, it will be." A small gravely voice said, smiling up at Catherine. "But, first, Andi. Andi is gone."
"Yes, she is." Jarod whispered, not wanting to startle him. They had not told him about Andi's leaving. Andi had been one of his best friends and they didn't want to have to deal with the trauma caused by her sudden disappearance.
"Yes, Andi's gone. Gone off, faraway. Miss Parker's here now."
"What?" Catherine whispered, kneeling down in front of him. "What are you saying?"
"Andi is… gone. And Miss Parker is here." Angelo whispered, rocking back and forth, glancing at the three concerned faces in front of him. "She might never come back and Miss Parker is here."
"Angelo, what does that mean? Miss Parker and Andi are the same people." Kyle whispered, sitting down next to his friend. Angelo shook his head violently.
"No, two completely different people. Andi wouldn't dare hurt us." He stated, looking at them all. He cocked his head to the side and breathed out. "Miss Parker would do anything. Anything."
"What do you mean, she would do anything? Anything for whom?" Catherine asked. Until the treatment took complete effect, she knew Angelo would still talk in riddles. Jarod had figured by the third dose, his empathic abilities would go away, which was a relief to Catherine. She wanted to see her other surrogate son normal again.
"She'd do anything…" Angelo paused, as if listening to voices on the wind. "Anything for her father." Kyle, Jarod, and Catherine exchanged looks as Angelo went back to rocking.
"What does it mean?" Kyle asked.
"Nothing good." Jarod replied, glancing out the window. He could see the storm clouds coming from the north which never meant anything good.