Lyrics: On Fire by Switchfoot

A/N: To my anonymous reviewer, Sammie...THANKS. This chapter is dedicated to you!

They were like Romeo and Juliet, forbidden to be together. Or like Adam and Eve who were banished from the garden of eden for the sins they committed from a moment of weakness. Only theirs was not paradise. Jarod and Miss Parker were the forbidden fruits who finally succumbed to the temptations of each other. If their illicit relationship were to be discovered, The Centre would be judge and jury. GUILTY! And sentenced to a life of seclusion. For Jarod, anyway. Haven't they realized it yet, that a life without the other won't be a life at all for either one of them?

Neither one of them ever envisioned this scenario. During their night of fiery passion the words of "I love you" had never emerged from either of them. Maybe keeping silent would not hurt as much when it was time to leave.

Jarod stirred a bit, then drew her even closer into him and encircled his arms around her. Their bodies entwined with each other. Miss Parker laid quietly with thoughts of them building memories together. She could hear his soft snores as she kissed him gently then quietly got out of bed. She gasped slightly when she suddenly felt his hand grabbed hers and pulled her down back to him.

"It's still early," he whispered. "I'm not leaving just yet."

"Do you even have to leave at all?"

"Yes."

She cuddled him and laid her head on his chest and softly stroked his arm He let out a sigh.

"When?" She asked.

"When what?"

"When will we be together again?" She raised her head as he looked down at her and planted soft kisses on her forehead.

They found what they needed which was missing in their life. They found it in each other. Yet, they knew their time together would be short-lived.

"The longer you're with me, it will be harder to let go. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I'll take my chances, Jarod. I'm willing to suffer the consequences as long as I'm with you. And I'll be by your side as long as you want me to."

"I'll never be strong enough to let you go."

"What do I have to do to be with you again? Wait for another day, another month, another year? Tell me, Jar, when?"

"I don't know," he shrugged.

"I thought the pretender knows everything."

"Not everything."

"Do I have to make a date with destiny? Do we meet again? Ever? Same place, same time? What?"

"All these questions I can't answer. I don't know, Parker, I don't know. Last night I took a chance in coming here, not knowing how you felt."

(When everything inside me, looks like everything I hate, you are the hope I have for change, you are the only chance I'll take.)

Their relationship was sweet...no, sweet was the wrong word to describe it. Delicious was more like it...like peppermint candy. They decided on Valentine's Day.

Her happiness was long overdue. Miss Parker cursed herself for the wasted time she spent hunting Jarod and the treatment she caused him. It's been a week since they'd been together. Counting the days until Valentine's Day, like a little girl she drew a huge "X" on her calendar each time another day passed. It was exactly one month before they'd be together again.

At The Centre she comes across as a no-nonsense bitch. No one dared to cross her, she, always having the last say. Her shield was always up, never allowed anyone to break down that wall of hers. Not until Thomas came along and now Jarod. It was hard to describe the feeling in her heart for what she felt for him. She never thought she'd get a second chance in love, twice in a lifetime. When you want someone to love you, you open your heart. And she did just that.

Miss Parker followed after Lyle outside into the rain. Large teardrops from the gray skies flooded the streets. It was a gloomy, wet, mid Sunday afternoon. She felt upset and angry for having to be in the presence of that psycho brother of hers on her day off. It was "daddy's" idea for a family luncheon before he headed south for yet another one of his mysterious business trips. Besides, she was frustrated being away from Jarod.

Jarod too was counting the days until he'd be with Miss Parker again. Ah...he thought to himself. Valentine's Day. He never knew love would be so...heavenly? He was happy, happier than he'd ever been before. Too happy, that today, he was not on his guard. He'd always been cautious, always looked behind his back and was well aware of his surroundings. He whistled a tune as he entered his car. Jarod felt a nudge in his lower back, turned slowly to see a deranged Lyle with a grin on his face and a gun pressed into his abdomen.

"Jarod, fancy meeting you here today. Hey, sis, over here," he gloated.

Miss Parker moved behind Lyle, stopped suddenly aware of her brother's captive. Jarod had the look of anger, bitterness and terror all rolled up into one as his eyes glared at her intensely. He took the chance and shoved Lyle hard never once thinking of his safety.

"Shit, you bastard," Lyle shouted as his weapon dropped out of his hand. They both struggled as Jarod slammed him against the car. Lyle quickly threw a punch which caught Jarod by surprise.

Having witnessed a soul in torment and in spite of her good intentions of thinking of trying to save him, she did nothing to offer solace, help or comfort. Instead, the ice queen panicked, unbuttoned her long trench coat and whipped her 9mm out and pointed her gun.

"Stop or I'll shoot," she said nervously.

With Lyle bent forward with his arms across his front, Jarod rubbed his reddened face from the blow given by The Centre's psychopath, they both turned at the sound of her voice. In a stance position, Miss Parker cocked her pistol, held her breath waiting for the sound of the bang...READY, AIM...

"Hit me with your best shot, Parker," he told her softly.

TBC - Chapter 3