Parker lays Adam on her sofa, placing a cushion under his head as he sleeps. She'd been able to smuggle the boy out of the wake to the safety of her office, taking advantage of the Triumvirate's presence to curb Raines's wrath for the time being. She watches him roll onto his side, into his preferred sleeping position. Sydney settles at the other end of the sofa, watching them silently, keeping his thoughts to himself. She's grateful for the company, his presence is as comforting as when he held her hand at her mother's funeral.

Without saying a word, Parker moves to her desk to check her messages. She deletes a voice mail from Lyle just to irritate him when he asks her about it. Her emails are boring and contain nothing she doesn't already know. Raines is pissed at her; she already knows that. She swivels in her chair to look out at the grounds, at the sea beyond them. She expected another message to be waiting for her, though she doubts Jarod would leave it on a Centre phone. If he calls today, it'll be tonight when she's at home alone.

Sighing, she picks up the tea Broots brought her before starting a background search on McGonnell. He'd also slipped her a card from Debbie, a condolence letter because neither Parker nor Broots would let her be anywhere near the Centre despite the girl wanting to be there for Parker during her father's funeral. She's a sweet kid and a testament to Broots.

Sydney moves to the chair in front of her desk, clearing his throat, indicating she's held her tongue long enough and she won't be able to scare him off. Frustratingly, he's a good shrink combined with all the persistent traits of the only stable parental figure she has left.

"Out with it, Syd," she says sipping at her tea.

"I was going to say the same to you, Parker," Sydney starts.

She isn't fooled by his light tone. He's concerned about her. So is Broots. And, if she's honest, so is she. She isn't sleeping, she's on edge while trying to pretend she isn't. She isn't falling back on the booze, however tempting it is, she needs her wits about her with Raines and Lyle watching her every move. Her sleepless nights are filled with thinking about missed moments and regrets. She hasn't said anything to Sydney, even though he suspects. He's been present without smothering or pushing, allowing her to process recent events in her own time.

"What did you make of McGonnell?"

"I haven't seen him in a very long time, Parker," Sydney starts. "I don't know much about him. He rarely visited, even before your mother passed."

"But?"

He indulges her with a small, conspiratorial smile. Her lips curl. "He seemed very interested in you and Adam."

Parker nods her agreement. She's wary and tired of strangers knowing more about her and her mother than she does. It's something she can never shake off.

"I wonder how Raines will react when you tell him of Mister McGonnell's invitation," her friend asks with raised eyebrows.

Parker grins at him, purring, "That makes it all the more enticing, Sydney."

He shakes his head at her, with that chiding, yet amused way of his. "Careful, Parker, Lyle is right about antagonising Raines. Your father isn't around to protect you anymore."
"Did he ever protect me?" She bites back. "Or was he in on everything and I was only a pawn to him?"

"I wish I knew Parker if only to bring you some peace."

"At this point, I don't think I'll ever know."

They fall quiet at her admission. Parker sips at her lukewarm tea. Earl grey has nothing on the tea Ocee made. She'd come home one night a week after returning from Morrocco to find a huge box sitting on her kitchen counter. Inside had been a years-worth of tea from the herbal shop. Though he never took any credit, she knew Jarod had bought the inventory of the store. She had no idea how, but he had. Unfortunately, she's been unable to pass on her gratitude due to his imposed radio silence.

Phone calls, emails, leads. Parker hasn't had a single clue on Jarod's whereabouts since their conversation shortly after she returned to the Centre. They were both weary and tired when she allowed herself to be honest with him, softening yet another rejection she didn't want to give. Parker hopes he finds his mother. Even though it feels as though Jarod's the one chasing her at times, or maybe just her long-lost heart, she hopes she doesn't have to chase him forever.

"Have you heard from Jarod, Syd?"

Parker looks over at the aging psychiatrist. His chagrined expression gives him away as he opens his hands in a placating gesture. It's been a long time since they hid contact from Jarod from one another, yet she isn't angry only curious. There may have been the odd omitted phone call in the middle of the night, and Sydney didn't really need to know about their last conversation. God forbid, he gets a whiff of their almost kiss…she wouldn't stand a chance against his hounding.

"A couple of times," he admits. "Jarod gave no clues about where he was or what he was doing, he just wanted to talk."

"About what?"

"I don't think he told me," Sydney shrugs thoughtfully. "It's clear Jarod wants to talk, but he isn't quite sure how to ask what he wants to ask." He gazes at her curiously, wondering about her motives. "Have you heard from Jarod? Since you've been back?"

Parker sips her tea so she can break eye contact. "Once," she admits.

Parker knows Sydney well enough to know he has a suspicion something transpired on the Island that neither of them are admitting to. She wonders if she sparked his curiosity before Jarod evaded his counsel.

She can tell Jarod their moment was a moment of weakness as much as she has to. She can prevent herself from being that close to him again. But she knows as well as he does that if Ocee hadn't interrupted them, Jarod would have kissed her. For the first time in years, Parker wasn't going to push him away.

A whimper from her couch draws her attention. Adam rolls and squirms closer to the edge. Parker rises quickly to go to him before he falls off. She perches on the edge, lifting him gently further onto the couch. His eyes flutter to look at her, as he shifts into her. She smiles softly at him, her thumb caressing his cheek. His eyes close, sleep overcoming him.

"For someone who once said 'I don't do Mommy', it comes quite naturally to you."

"His mother is dead, just like mine," Parker answers, her attention still on Adam as he slumbers. She feels an affinity for the small child. She often wonders if his life would have been different if Brigitte lived. Like her, the assassin wasn't prime mother material. His short life has been shrouded by the Centre; he doesn't know any different. Musing over recent revelations, Parker realises Mr Parker had as little to do with Adam's conception as he had with hers. She can't bring herself to run the necessary tests to prove she isn't biologically related to the young boy. She'd like to have one brother who smiles at her for the right reasons.

"Adam seems to be quite certain about your role in his life," Sydney points out.

"Zip it, Freud, talk like that can get someone killed," Parker counters with a hiss.

"Goading Raines as you have can get you killed, Parker," Sydney returns without missing a beat.

The two colleagues stare at each other for a long second, neither willing to back down. She knows he's right - his advice comes from years of personally volleying threats and anger with Raines - yet she can't yield to Raines. Neither of them will ever be loyal to Raines, they're in as much danger as each other once the new chairman decides they've outlived their usefulness. If Parker could see a way out, not Jarod's way out, she would take it. So, she'll do what she has to survive, to make sure those she cares about survive.

"I'll tone it down," she concedes with a sigh. "I'll do my job, look for Jarod, and bite my tongue when it comes to issuing death threats. Bodily harm will have to suffice."

He replies with a withering glare, yet says nothing. Parker's grown fond of the parental chastising he imparts when he feels she needs it. So different from what she came to expect from Mr Parker. "And if he chooses you as his successor?"

Parker can't think of anything worse. "You know that's never going to happen, Syd," she whispers, knowing what the alternative is.

Her days of believing she will simply walk away after bringing Jarod in are over. She doubts she'll ever bring him in.

"What about Adam?"

Her eyes connect with his. It's a low, powerful blow from the psychiatrist. Glancing down at her little brother. His future has been on her mind a lot lately. Sydney must see it in her face when she's with Adam. Given his living quarters are inside the Centre, the comparison to Jarod comes naturally and it turns her stomach. God forbid, Raines turns him into another Angelo. She swallows, feeling powerless to stop the inevitable from happening. Feeling cornered, she snaps back. "What do you expect me to do Sydney? They're not going to let me go and I will, sure as hell, never take over from Raines."

"You can do whatever you set your mind to, Parker."