Disclaimer: I don't own them (though I wish I did). So please don't sue me!

A/N: To reassure all my faithful reviewers, Kyle and Miss Parker are not going to get together at any time during this fic. She kissed him for the sole purpose of helping him overcome the darkness inside of him. She's Jarod's and will always be Jarod's. I'm sorry if I scared you all with that. Now, on with the story!

Chapter 25: Sacrifices

Only one person chanced to look up as the sweeper pulled the trigger. In fewer seconds than he thought possible, he saw the sweeper take aim at Miss Parker. A yell escaped his throat as he shoved her aside. Miss Parker fell to the floor hard. But the bullet missed her. He had saved her life. That was all he had time to think about before the bullet impacted him straight through his chest. In what felt like slow motion, he fell to the floor, his breath coming out erratically. He was dying. He was going to die. Not that it mattered much. He'd saved Miss Parker's life; that was all that counted.

As she was shoved, Miss Parker heard the sound of the gun being fired. Hitting the floor, she rolled and whipped out her gun. Her eyes quickly caught the movement of a person on the catwalk. A sweeper! Raines must have sent him in here before they had started to run.

She didn't even think about it as she took aim at the sweeper in the shadows and fired. Her bullet struck true; the man collapsed, dead, onto the metal grating. Her next breath came out slowly as she stood. A soft "Miss Parker" made her turn around and she felt all her insides drain away.

"Broots." She whispered in quiet horror. He lay on the floor in a pool of blood; his blood. Everyone was gathered around him, trying to save his life. Miss Parker walked over to him and knelt down, grasping his hand. He was shaking and his eyes were glazing over. Pain welled up inside her and tears fell from her eyes. This was not what she wanted. This had never been what she wanted. If it hadn't been for her folly, Broots would be sitting at a computer desk, working on some problem. "Oh, Broots. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It doesn't matter, Miss Parker." Broots coughed and blood leaked out the side of his mouth. "You're saved, that's all that mattered. And even though I've only been able to work with you for a few weeks, it's been an honor. And Miss Parker…" His eyes closed and whatever he was going to say, died with him.

"No. No. No!" Miss Parker screamed, trying desperately to find a pulse. He was gone. He was really gone! She couldn't breathe; couldn't see past the haze in front of her eyes. It was all her fault. All her fault that he was dead here on this floor. Dear God, what had she done? Sobs shook her and Jarod wrapped two comforting arms around her.

"Parker, Parker, it's okay. It's okay." She shook her head vehemently, as she clung to him. Her only lifeline in a place that was slowly spinning out of control. "You can change it, Parker. You can change all of this." Miss Parker looked up at him, confused.

"I don't understand." She whispered, trying to wipe away the falling tears.

"Broots saved you because not only did he respect you, but he knew what I know: if you go back to your world none of this will have happened. This world's Andi and I will still be back home in bed. Kyle will be back at his house. And Broots will be alive. You can change this timeline, Parker. All you have to do is go back."

"But, I can't. I don't know how. If I did know, I would go. But I don't. They probably destroyed the thing that brought me here." As soon as she said this, Jarod shook his head. Sydney, Catherine, Kyle, and Angelo all gathered round to hear what Jarod had to say.

"They didn't destroy it. And it's here: on SL 27, room 156. That's where the machine is kept." Jarod glanced at Kyle while Miss Parker tried to digest all this information. There was a way home? She could go home! But… she looked at where her mother was sitting. Miss Parker didn't want to leave her. She wanted to stay with her mother, forever. The way it was meant to be. Shaking her head, she banished such thoughts. She'd already destroyed all their lives; if she went back, it would all be put to rights again.

"I remember seeing room 156." Kyle's voice brought her back from her thoughts. "Thankfully, it's through this door and a little ways down the hall. Raines never let me go near it. So I don't know if it's locked or not." Jarod nodded.

"We better get going, though." Sydney said, looking up at the dead sweeper. "They'll be here…" Loud banging on one of the doors made them all jumped.

"They're here!" Angelo squeaked. All their faces paled in horror. Though they should have been moving, fear paralyzed them. They could hear the sound of welders breaking through the lock. They were coming through! Kyle was the first to recover and he bent down to grab his gun.

"Go! I'll stay here and keep them occupied."

"What?" Jarod practically screamed. "You'll die." Kyle gave him a crooked grin.

"If what you're saying is true, all this will be rewritten anyway. Go. Get Parker to the machine and get her out of here!" Jarod shook his head. "GO! I can take care of them. Just get her out of here. And bro," Jarod turned as they started moving out the door. Kyle stood there alone in the middle of the room, gun at ready. "I never got to say "I'm sorry" for the thing at the hotel. I also forgive you for what you said. You've been the best brother I've ever had. Thanks for everything." Jarod nodded.

Jarod, Miss Parker, Sydney, Catherine, and Angelo ran through the other door and slammed it shut. Angelo did his best to secure it while the others ran down toward the left hallway. As Angelo secured the door, he could hear the sounds of the other door being slammed open. Gunshots resounded in the room and Angelo turned. A tear slipped down his cheek for Kyle and the sacrifice he had made.

Meanwhile Jarod and the others were running down the hall. Jarod was counting down the numbers on the doors. Some of them were barely readable due to the soot from the fire that had destroyed this place. Others were as clear as day. They turned a corner and ran into door 156. Sydney yanked on the door, but it was locked.

"It's locked!" He said. Jarod tried and found the door just as secure. He cursed and Miss Parker and her mother exchanged looks. They were stuck! Every sacrifice had been for nothing. What were… Miss Parker ran a hand through her hair and came out with a clip. A hair clip.

"Jarod, prove to me that you're a Pretender. Pick the lock with this." She held up the clip and Jarod took it willingly. He smiled at her and she smiled back. Jarod was a Pretender; picking a lock was nothing. And apparently, due to the lack of knowledge about this place and fire, the lock was weak. It took Jarod seconds to pick it. They all entered the room.

The oddest sight greeted them. It looked like a boom box with wire sticking out everywhere. A small dial stood over to one side with numbers and symbols everywhere. Jarod immediately went over to the dial and started playing around.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Sydney asked. Jarod nodded.

"Ever wonder who kept getting into all your files? It was me. It's always been me. I've been reading everything I could get my hands on in an effort to keep you away from my family. I'd read about this machine; even Raines' computer isn't safe from me." Sydney nodded, smiling slightly, and stepped back, allowing Jarod room to work. Still standing in the doorway was Miss Parker and Catherine.

"I'm going to miss you, Mom." Miss Parker whispered as her mother hugged her. Tears sprang once again into her eyes and she clung to her mother. If she walked through the portal, she'd be going back to a world where her mother was still dead. How could she leave? But how could she stay?

"I'm going to miss you, too. Remember, dear, I've always loved you. And I will continue to love you, even when you're back home." She pulled back and smoothed her daughter's hair. "Don't ever forget that." Miss Parker nodded, more tears leaking out of her eyes.

"I promise." They embraced again and Miss Parker relived memories of her mother from many years ago. Of playing games after dinner, reading books together, watching old television shows, of times when everything had been happy and full of joy. A murmur from Jarod made them both look up.

"It's time." He whispered. Angelo and Sydney were standing near the dial and Jarod was looking at Miss Parker. Squaring her shoulders, she walked over to them. Catherine leaned against the doorway, hand pressed against her ribs. The flesh wound still hurt but in all the excitement, it had been forgotten.

"Let's do this." Miss Parker said looking at Jarod. He nodded and started to push a few buttons.

"Just so you know, Parker, you'll wake up at the time where all this began. It will be about a minute after they first took you." Miss Parker nodded.

"Will I remember all of this?" She asked, gesturing at the others in the room.

"That's hard to say, I don't know for sure. You may remember only a passing memory or feeling. Or you might not remember at all." A whining noise echoed through the room as the boom box came to life. Light glowed around it and the noise increased in pitch. They all clapped their hands over their ears.

Suddenly, a tunnel of light appeared against the far wall. It grew in size until it encompassed the whole wall. Miss Parker looked at Jarod. He nodded. This was the way home. Her path she must walk. She turned to go towards it, but Jarod grabbed her arm.

"You may be different from the Andi I've always known, but I still love you. I've always loved you. No matter what world I come from." Before Miss Parker could blink, Jarod had pulled her to him and was kissing her. Surprise was soon overcome by something else. Something she didn't want to define. Sydney, Angelo, and Catherine all smiled and exchanged glances as they watched Jarod and Miss Parker kiss.

In a few seconds, they split. Jarod was grinning like an idiot. And Miss Parker was trying not to blush. He ran a hand down her cheek.

"Never forget, Parker. Never forget." He took a step back and she looked at them all. Friends from a different world who had united to help her. Another tear slipped down her cheek. What they had down for her would never be forgotten. A thought of Broots, Lyle, and Kyle slipped into her head. What they had all sacrificed here wouldn't be forgotten. With one last smile and wave for them, she stepped into the light.