"Did you bring your car?" Jarod asked 'Zoe'. He was looking at her with such concern and gentleness, that is was beginning to get on Ms. Parker's nerves!
Ms. Parker blinked.
"What?" she asked Jarod.
"Where is your car, Zoe?"
"Uh..." Ms. Parker had no idea if this broad, that she had switched bodies with, had come by car, bus or what! They were still on the Centre grounds, as the authorities pulled files and some of Raines's experimental containers, out of the building! She sighed.
"Zoe? What is it?"
Ms. Parker shook her hair out.
"You know...I'm not feeling well."
Jarod moved into her personal space, again, to touch her face. Ms. Parker was a little startled by this, but tried not to flinch.
"You don't feel warm. Let's get you to a doctor."
"Jarod, it's nothing that serious."
"Zoe, we have to make sure your cancer does not come back. I want to take every precaution."
Ms. Parker stared at him.
"Cancer!"
Jarod frowned. Zoe was acting as if she had never heard of the disease! That worried him further.
"Let's just make sure everything is alright."
Ms. Parker wriggled away from him.
"Jarod, I'm fine. Let's just go home, okay?"
Jarod rubbed the back of his neck. Zoe was...antsy. Not that he could blame her. He reached for her arm.
"It's alright," he whispered, "it's this place...we'll go home and be together, just the two of us."
Ms. Parker began to have a coughing fit! Jarod rubbed her back and then began to lead her to his car. Ms. Parker dug in her heels...shoes...God, this woman was wearing flip flops!
"We're going to get you checked out, Zoe, no ifs ands or buts." Jarod said firmly, opening up the passenger side of his car. They would get Zoe's car later.
HOSPITAL
Jarod was distracted from Zoe, when one of the FBI Agents walked up to him.
"That Ms. Parker woman, keeps asking to see you."
Ms. Parker's ears perked! Damn! Now 'Zoe' was going to tell Jarod who she was...then again, she would also seem crazy. No one would believe her...hopefully...at least, not until she had time to get away or visit Daddy...
"And one of the other Centre employees had a mild heart attack in the van. We had to bring him here."
"Who?"
"The older gentleman with the accent..."
"Sidney." Jarod and Ms. Parker said in unison. Jarod looked at her questioningly. Ms. Parker covered.
"You've just told me so much about him, I guessed it was him."
Jarod nodded, believing that explanation. Ms. Parker watched as Jarod visibly reacted to Sidney's condition. She tossed her hair. Well he should feel guilty! Sidney had been like a father to Jarod since day one...Ms. Parker was feeling jittery herself, hearing that news. She needed to see Sidney and make sure he was alright.
"Okay, I will see Sidney then Ms. Parker..."
"Jarod," the agent said, "Ms. Parker has been really...well bordering on wild. I think you need to see her first. It looks like your friend's condition is under control."
Jarod nodded, then looked around for Zoe. She was gone. She probably went to the waiting room, he decided, as the agent lead him to Ms. Parker's room.
Meanwhile, Ms. Parker, as Zoe, hurried up and down the hallways, until she finally saw Sidney, resting in a room. She threw open his door, then closed it. Sidney frowned, then stared at her.
"You're Zoe, right?" Sidney asked in a controlled voice. "It's nice to finally mee..."
"Wrong, Sid! It's me! Ms. Parker."
Sidney just stared at her. Maybe he should hit the call button...
"Look Sid...Daddy helped me get a head start. He also gave me this medallion thing, that allowed me to switch bodies with someone. When I was running from Jarod, I ran into this Zoe woman and switched bodies with her. Sid...I am really creeped out! Jarod said the woman had cancer...and damnit, his hands have been all over me! It's taking everything in me not to punch him out!"
Yes, Sidney believed he was speaking to Ms. Parker alright! Her demeanor...her eyes...
"Ms. Parker, it will not take Jarod long to figure out that you are not the woman he loves."
"Oh he doesn't love her, Sid! Jarod just jumped at the first woman that would give him the time a day, that's all. This thing he has with her, won't last a year. But that's beside the point. I need to get back into my own body, without going to prison!"
"Ms. Parker, I don't see how that will be possible. And Zoe is going to start telling everyone she can about what you've done."
"She's in this hospital now...and Jarod is with her, so my time is slipping away fast! My only hope is that Jarod thinks that I...Zoe, has lost her mind!"
Sidney watched her carefully, before bringing something up.
"Ms. Parker, what bothers you the most about this?"
She raised a brow.
"The most? Besides looking like Howdy Doody's sister? Besides this woman's poor taste in clothing?"
"I was actually thinking more along the lines of Jarod...and the possibility of having to be intimate with him."
Ms. Parker wagged a finger at him!
"That's NOT going to happen!"
"You'll have no choice."
"There is always a choice, Sid...and a way out. I'm not letting Jarod touch me."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Well...do you find him that repulsive?"
Ms. Parker stared at him for a long moment, before answering.
"No...Jarod isn't repulsive...really...look, Sid...I'll just use the cancer thing to keep him at bay. But my point is, this body that I'm in here, is not going to be permanent. And actually, I think I have plan..."
"Ms. Parker, what are you thinking?" Sidney asked, his tone bordering on alarm.
"I'm thinking I still have Daddy's medallion in my purse. I will go to Zoe's room, distract Jarod, get back into my own body..."
"Ms. Parker! You are probably handcuffed to the bed... or Zoe is! And Jarod doesn't get 'distracted'."
"I'll think of something, Sid." Ms. Parker sighed, taking him in for the first time. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. Don't blame Jarod for this. He did what he had to do. We were wrong."
"Well, I do blame him!" Ms. Parker snapped. "He could have at least spared you. Look, I need to get back into my own body and get to Daddy. What about Broots?"
"He was taken to the FBI detention center...along with Lyle, Raines and your father."
"I don't have time for Jarod or this body. Someone had to look after Debbie. She has no one but Broots. God, if she ends up in foster care..."
"Ms. Parker...what kind of life can you offer the child on the run with you?"
"I'll deal with that when the time comes. First I have to get out of this body...you know, Sid, I could give you the medallion. You could get out of here too."
Sidney looked at her sadly.
"I'm prepared to pay for my sins."
Ms. Parker inferred that to mean, that she herself, was not prepared to. Well, he was right about that! She squeezed his hand and left the room. Sidney took a deep breath. This would not go well, he could feel it.
"Jarod, I swear it's me, Zoe!"
Jarod reached for Ms. Parker's chart. Ms. Parker must've have hit her head or something, when she fell, after Zoe hit her. Though, he had to admit, he had never heard of this kind of amnesia...
"It will be alright now, Ms. Parker. I'll stay with you for a bit." he said, smiling down at her softly. His eyes went back to her chart. Zoe HATED that! The way he was looking at her...or not her, to be more precise!
"I don't want you to stay with me, Jarod! I want you to tell me that you believe me! I was in the woods...I was scared to death for you! That God awful woman jumped out and zapped me with something! Next thing I know, I'm looking at myself! She punched me out...Jarod...ask me something only I would know. Only Zoe would know."
Jarod set down Ms. Parker's chart, unable to discern anything from it, that would cause this sort of strange reaction. He decided to play along. It was interesting to see her in this sort of position. Desperate...and almost soft spoken.
"Ms. Parker, you should rest." he said.
"Jarod...I know what part of your body, you like for me to lick. And I have this flicking motion with my tongue..."
Jarod's mouth dropped open, and he backed away! There was NO way the Centre knew anything about that! No way! Except if...
"Zoe?" he asked weakly.
"It's me, Jarod! I swear it! I don't want to go to prison! I want my body back!"
Jarod moved in to embrace her, as his mind went over how strange 'Zoe' seemed to be acting in the past hour. He let go of Zoe.
"This device...Ms. Parker must still have it on her. I'll get it back."
"How? Jarod, if she would do something like this..."
The door flew open, and Ms. Parker walked in, taking in the scene. The first thing she noticed was that 'she' was not handcuffed to the bed. Good! Jarod stared at her. Her mannerisms...the way she was staring at both of them...he now believed Zoe completely.
"Zoe...Ms. Parker here has been telling me a very interesting tale."
The real Ms. Parker folded her arms.
"Really. Do tell?"
"She says that she's really Zoe, and you're really Ms. Parker. I was just saying how ridiculous that was...and that the real Zoe, would know what spot I liked LICKED during lovemaking. Funny...our Ms. Parker over here, knew the spot, even though we've never been intimate. Now it's your turn, 'Zoe'. What spot is it?"
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes! Jesus, Jarod was laying it on thick!
"Okay, you've got me, Jarod. I don't know, or give a damn. Now, I want out of this pasty body. And you, sister, should wash your hair more."
Zoe snorted!
"You should wear less make-up, Vampira!"
Jarod put a hand up.
"Ms. Parker...give me that device."
"No, Jarod, that's not how this is going to work. I am going to touch your girlfriend with it, then I am leaving here."
"I'm not letting you leave." Jarod said firmly.
"If you want to see your mother, you will." Ms. Parker grinned. She had NO idea in the living hell, where Jarod's mother was!
But he would be so desperate...
"I don't believe you." Jarod said coldly. Ms. Parker shrugged.
"That's up to you. But that's the deal or I'm out of here."
"Jarod!" Zoe squeaked from her bed, "she could know something and I know how much you want to find your family! Just do it! I can't stand being in this body one more second!"
Jarod looked down at Zoe. He smiled tenderly and bent down to kiss her. Ms. Parker felt...odd, watching Jarod kiss her...or her body. She sighed loudly!
"What's it going to be?"
Jarod let go of Zoe, and pulled out a pair of handcuffs, he still had on him, from his pretend as one of the FBI.
"I have some terms of my own." he said, waving them in front of her. Ms. Parker raised a brow.
"What the hell are those?"
"When you return to your rightful body, I will get you out of here, and you will take me to where my mother is...all while you are handcuffed to me." Jarod said, smiling.
Ms. Parker rolled her tongue around in her mouth. She couldn't quite think as to how she was going to get away from him...but, she would figure something out.
"Fine. It's a deal."
"The device, Ms. Parker." Jarod said coolly. Ms. Parker opened up Zoe's overstuffed purse, and pulled out the medallion. She walked over to Zoe and touched her arm with it. Jarod could see that something was happening, but ignored his fascination with it, as he handcuffed the woman lying on the bed that he recognized as Ms. Parker, to his wrist.
Zoe fell back onto the floor! Jarod moved to see to her, but found himself stopped by his new 'companion'. Ms. Parker looked as if she was just coming around. And immediately, she began trying to wriggle out of the handcuffs!
"It's no use, Ms. Parker." Jarod replied, pulling on her, so that she was forced to get out of bed. He leaned down where Zoe was, taking the medallion from her.
"Zoe? Honey, are you alright?"
"She's fine, Jarod. Time's a wasting." Ms. Parker said in a bored sound tone. Jarod ignored her, as Zoe came to and immediately threw her arms around Jarod. Ms. Parker rolled her eyes. Oh brother!
"Jarod, I was so scared!"
"Why?" Ms. Parker asked with contempt. "I wasn't, and you're not as good looking as I."
Jarod stood up and faced Ms. Parker.
"You're going to stop this, now, Ms. Parker."
"Stop what, Jarod?"
"I would hope, with all that we've been through, that you would not lie to me about something so important. I was always very forthright when it came to your mother. Now, I want you to keep quiet until I know that Zoe is fine."
"Jarod, I'm fine. So of course, she's fine!" Ms. Parker snapped impatiently.
"And as you know, from being in her body, Zoe had cancer. I don't want to take the chance that you've done anything to set her back."
Ms. Parker's mouth dropped open!
"Jesus, Jarod! You'd blame me for that! Oh please! Uncuff me, NOW Boy Genius! I'd rather go to prison than listen to this crap!"
Jarod ignored her tirade and helped Zoe up. Zoe glared at Ms. Parker briefly, before looking at Jarod.
"Maybe she knows something. Maybe she can give you a clue. I'd really like to meet your mother someday too."
Jarod smiled down at her.
"This won't take long. I'll find out if she knows anything."
"Jarod, if she does, you aren't going to let her go, are you?"
Jarod did not answer her, but kissed her softly on the mouth. Ms. Parker sighed loudly! This whole thing was making her sick!
"Go home and rest. I'll be back before you know it." Jarod told Zoe.
Jarod pulled Ms. Parker along towards the parking lot, since it seemed as if she were dragging her feet!
"Let's go! The sooner you get me to my mother, the sooner we'll be free of one another."
"You wouldn't really take me to jail, Jarod, would you?" Ms. Parker asked slyly, still dragging her feet. She then thought of something. It was lame, but it could still work.
Ms. Parker suddenly dropped to the ground and 'pretended' to go into convulsions! Jarod automatically dropped down to attend to her, and realized he would have to uncuff himself from her, if he was going to get her back into the hospital...
The minute he did it, Ms. Parker jumped up, shoved him away and began running! Jarod could not BELIEVE he fell for that! He immediately began to give chase, as Ms. Parker ran through the parking lot, down some stairs to a sidewalk, across the street at her own peril(several cars stopped) and continuing running down a sidewalk!
Ms. Parker looked back every once in awhile, and saw that Jarod had accidentally knocked an old lady down...and YES, he had stopped to tend to her! Good! Now if she could just find a way to lose him for good!
She saw an alley with a wall. Ms. Parker turned into it, and made a running leap for the wall, but found she could not get over it. She dropped down and backed up. She then tried to make her way over the wall again.
But it was not to be.
Jarod had caught up with her and grabbed her around the waist, dragging her down! He managed to cuff her to him again. And he did not seem to be out of breath.
"So is this your way of telling me you know nothing about my mother?"
"Look...Daddy has a special place that the FBI will never find. A place where he kept things...things he didn't want me to know about. Things that he definitely did not want you to know about."
"And how did you suddenly find out about this place?" Jarod asked skeptically.
"Broots found out about it recently. Look, I need to get to Debbie..."
"Debbie will be well cared for. This place you're talking about, is it in the Centre?"
"Yes."
"The FBI is going through that hell hole thoroughly. So I guess we can drop you off at you know where."
"Do you really want to take the chance that they never find the proof you need?"
Jarod closed his eyes briefly, before opening them again.
"Alright. We'll go back to the Centre. You will take me to this 'place' and then..."
"And then, you're going to uncuff me and set me free."
Jarod said nothing. He could not do that, but he pretended to agree to it, for now.
CENTRE
Jarod and Ms. Parker, being children of the Centre, knew how to get back inside without catching the attention of the remaining FBI agents, that were sifting around the compound.
They had not reached the lower levels yet.
"You're telling me that this 'proof' of where my mother is..."
Ms. Parker nodded.
"Yes, Jarod. It's in here. In your room."(AUTHOR'S NOTE: That would be the original room that Ms. Parker and Sidney went through, in Season One. Not the jail cell looking thing, that we've seen in ensuing years).
Jarod tried to quell his growing fury! What kind of sick thing was that to do! Ms. Parker was telling him, that one of the many answers that he had sought, all of these years, had been right at his finger tips?
Ms. Parker looked away. She could see he was hurt and angry...he had every right to be. But Daddy was just...just eccentric...at times.
Ms. Parker nodded towards a light switch.
"If you remove it, you'll find all kinds of papers and things..." her voice trailed off. Jarod remembered that this particular light, never worked. Ever.
Now, he knew why. He looked around and found some kind of letter opener, picked it up and plied the covering off of the light switch...
Alarms and bells went off! Jarod jumped back and Ms. Parker gaped, as the door to the room slid down, followed by four more metal ones!
"We're trapped!" Ms. Parker hissed.
Jarod glanced over at her. Yes... he was trapped in his old room, and this time, he had company.