Disclaimer: They are not mine and nobody seems to want to give them to me, so I'm screwed and just hope you don't sue. Hey! That rhymes!
Learning to Run Again
Part 10: Eleven Minutes Free
Two eyes peered through the crack in the air vent. His friends were sleeping. "Going. Tonight," he began, "need Molly, too. Molly. Must get Molly."
The feet plodded down the air vent to their destination.
*****
"Sydney, its exactly 3:49. You have until about four before the next check, and I can keep the camera off for as long as we need. I've got the previous slide looped," Broots' voice rang in Sydney's ears.
"Thank you Broots, here I go," Sydney replied.
The door slid open after Broots' expert techniques were put to good use. Sydney paused momentarily staring at two of his most beloved people under such harsh circumstances. Remembering that he only had eleven minutes left, he quickly hurried to Jarod's side and starting shaking him gently so as not to put his prodigy in shock.
"Jarod, come on, Jarod. You have to wake up," he whispered urgently.
"Sydney? Come to join the party?" Jarod's raspy voice mumbled while tired eyes made their appearance.
"More to crash it. Come on, I'm getting you and Miss Parker out of here."
Jarod abruptly sat up and hurried to Parker's side while Sydney scanned for visitors.
"Parker, get up. You need to wake up, Parker."
"Get the hell away from me until I need to be up," she calmly ordered in her Parker manner.
"Well, if you don't consider getting out of this hell hole a need, then go back to sleep."
"What?" she also sat up.
"Sydney is bailing us out."
"You have nine minutes, Syd," Broots reminded his colleague.
"Quickly, we don't have much time," Sydney declared.
The three stalked towards the door and once noticing it was clear and getting a positive sign from Broots, headed into the hallway. With two hands, Sydney placed a gun into Parker's hand with a reassuring smile.
"Ah, my best friend. Boy, how I've missed you," she stated as she smashed a fresh cartridge into the empty clip, "now, where are we going?"
"Well, um, Jarod, I thought you might want to cover that. This is your specialty after all," Sydney said with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"It would be a genuine pleasure to get us out of here," Jarod confirmed.
"Good, well Broots has a car waiting on the left wing."
"Perfect."
"Now I get to see how you've gotten out all of these times," Miss Parker said tauntingly.
"Well, I don't have to show you."
Broots alerted them to their ceasing time limit, "Six minutes, ya'll."
"Its a walk in the park, Broots," Jarod declared. The three strutted down the hall until they reached a dead end.
"Good job, Jarod. Forgetting where you are now?"
"Not quite, Miss Parker."
There was a door at the end that he presented to his followers.
"Oh wow. We have found a janitorial closet. We have nothing to fear now!"
"Maybe," Jarod opened the door presenting a pair of stairs, "or maybe not."
"Where did this come from?" Sydney inquired as they hurried up the stairs two at a time.
"I've never had the chance to see how far down it leads or where to, but I know that this goes to ground level."
"Jarod, help Molly," a childlike voice said from below them. They all looked down into the dark that Jarod had proclaimed no knowledge to and realized that Angelo was there, but he was not alone. Jarod skipped down the stairs and came face to face with a blonde haired, blue eyed, gorgeous woman. Her face was full of fear.
"Molly," Angelo said with a smile and then indicated Jarod, "Jarod. Jarod help Molly. Please."
Jarod along with Sydney and Miss Parker were baffled as to who this woman could be. Obviously she had been held prisoner in The Centre as well since she wore the lovely gray attire Jarod used to.
"How can I help Molly?" Jarod asked looking back to Sydney and Miss Parker who only shrugged before he returned his gaze and inquiring eyes to Angelo.
"Take Molly with you. With you, Molly. Go with ... Jarod. Jarod will protect ... Molly. Go now, no time."
Jarod stuttered before smoothing out his voice, "Well. Um, okay, come on then Molly. I suppose that I will protect you."
"We really need to go. Broots says we have 2 minutes at best," Sydney abruptly inserted his presence into the conversation. The party of five quickly made their way out the exit door with occasional curious glances towards Molly. Once outside in the cool night air, Jarod breathed in a refreshing gulp of fresh pine air. They all crept along the left wing wall. A quick flash of light came from the SUV that Broots was waiting in indicating to head that way.
"Not so fast," a voice announced.
"Well, Lyle. I'm surprised that you could catch up with us in that cast of yours," Miss Parker replied.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Sis?"
"I'm just admiring the new paint job here. What do you think, Lyle?" she asked, her voice dripping in sarcasm.
"I think its time for you to head back home," he answered while pulling out his gun and pointing it straight at Parker's chest, "but then again, its your choice. Come, or die."
"Lyle!" Jarod barked, "Don't touch her." He then inserted himself between Miss Parker and Lyle straight in the bullet's path.
"How noble of you, Jarod," Lyle replied.
"Jarod, I can fight my own battles. I have never needed help before, so move it!" Miss Parker demanded while trying to shove his body out of the way.
"You've never had a choice before."
Jarod heard clicking behind him and decided to keep this conversation up.
"Lyle, what could you possibly gain from killing your own sister?" Jarod inquired.
"That's pretty obvious, genius. I will have the power, trust, and respect of our father and the members of the triumvirate," Lyle responded.
"So your father would be proud that you killed his daughter?"
"Who do you think gave the order?"
Parker gasped in shock and thrusted her gun over Jarod's shoulder and fired not once but twice. Lyle twitched suddenly twice and placed his hand over the fresh hole in his chest. The other stream of blood flowed from his left arm.
"You bastard!" Parker screamed through her own tears, "Come on Jarod! Lets get the hell out of here!" She started running towards the SUV but stopped short when the sound of a gunshot pierced the night air. She turned around and saw Lyle slump to the ground unconscious with his gun still clutched in hand and trigger finger still in place. The sight in front of him was what brought Miss Parker running desperately and Angelo fled back towards the Centre. Molly stood in shock as she watched Miss Parker kneel down next to a man whom she obviously cared deeply for.
"Oh my God. Oh Jesus, please no!" she came in closer and stroked his face, "You can't leave me. We need you! Please! Please ... I need you."
The tears dropped over the bleeding chest wound.
Learning to Run Again
Part 11: The Rainy Season
"What do we do?" Miss Parker asked in distress at this overwhelming pressure. She turned to face the man kneeling beside her who stared at the body open-mouthed in shock. He started breathing in and out. For years, this dying man had been his life. Always there for him, and he hadn't even known it. No, now was not the time to talk in past tense. It was time to put those skills to use and save this man's life.
"We need to- to carry him to the car," he replied to Parker's cry of help.
The two picked up his fragile body and with some help from the mysterious woman, Molly, finally made it into the SUV.
"What happened?!" Broots asked anxiously.
"We need to get to a safe place, Broots. Do you have all of my things?"
"Ye-yeah, I do. They're in the back seat."
"Parker, get them for me." Placing his hand over the bullet wound, the pressure would hopefully halt the blood flow. Miss Parker immediatly obeyed and reached into the back pulling out a black bag and handing it over to him.
"Drive Broots!" she reminded him. The vehicle started and they quickly reached an intersection and Broots turned the blinker to left. "Where the hell do you think you're going, Broots?!"
"To the safe place, M-miss Parker."
"Well my understanding is that Debbie is that way," she said indicating the right side. Broots smiled and soon they were flying down the highway towards his little girl.
"That was noble of you back there, Parker. Trying to save his life the way you did."
"I just hope that Sydney makes it, Jarod."
*****
"What do you mean they got away! I sent Lyle to take care of them!" Mr Parker's voice boomed through his office full of imcompetant sweepers whom had lost his two prized possesions.
"We're extremely sorry, Sir. Mr. Lyle was found barly alive outside so they apparantly had help and were supplied with weapons."
"I don't care! I want them back. And I want them back now. I want all the best working on this," he ordered.
The sweeper nodded, "Yes, Sir."
After watching what's-his-name leave the room, Mr Parker unlocked the bottom drawer to his desk and pulled out a shining silver CD. Angelo's feet appeared on the screen as they kicked the airvent off.
A head of blonde hair looked up and smiled, "Angelo!"
"Come. Molly come."
"Where are we going, Angelo? I know I'm not supposed to leave my room," Molly replied. The tiny space could hardly be called a room; it was about the size of a large closet with nothing but a tiny bed (complete with sterile white sheets), a compter on an iron desk with no chair pushed up against the bed, and a sink hidden in the dark walls. Angelo simply gestured towards the vent and grasped two of her little fingers noticing the dirt under her finger nails. Molly wasn't happy here. Angelo knew that, but Molly didn't. The two climbed into the airvent and disappeared from the camera's limited view.
The DSA ended.
"Molly, why?" Mr Parker muttered under his breath as he returned the disc to its place and relocked the drawer, shaking his head the whole time.
*****
"Daddy, I don't understand. Where are we going?" Broots' daughter, Debbie, asked of her father. The two were alone in one car following a forest green SUV in front of them. She had been dragged out of school with 'ASAP' written on her pink dismissal slip that her algebra teacher had given her. He had only reluctantly let her leave because apparantly, his algebra class was what her world revolved around. When she had seen her father and the woman he was apoligizing to, she knew something was wrong by the way he trembled more than usual when he waved to his little girl. At the moment, they were in an unused car that had always stayed in the garage, but she had never known why. Debbie did notice, however, that the license plate did not say 'Deleware,' however, it did say 'Virginia.'
"D-don't worry Honey. We're fine. Nothing is wrong. Well, I mean-" he sighed.
"Daddy, I'm thirteen years old, I deserve the truth. I can handle it," she protested just like any teenager her age would.
"Honey, its complicated. I don't even know all of what's going on," he tried to explain to his frustated daughter, but she wasn't the only one who was frustrated. They had decided that it would be safer on Debbie's emotions for her to not see Sydney in his condition.
"Well, at least I get to miss my algebra class," she said.
"There's the spirit, I think. Just think of this as an adventure."
"This has something to do with that place you work for doesn't it, Daddy?"
"Well, yes. Its not safe for you to stay in Blue Cove at the moment."
"Daddy, you need to quit. That place freaks me out."
"Me, too," he muttered under his breath, "but I have obligations there, Sweetheart." Obligations is a nice way of saying that if he tried to leave, he would be shot. Debbie didn't need to know that.
"Hey, Debbie! I have a great idea. Let's play a car game! The license plate game!" Broots said excitedly changing the subject. He couldn't fool his daughter and they both knew that, but she rolled her eyes and conceded to her strange father. She loved him anyway.
"Okay then, Maryland," she said, pointing to a cherry red chevy truck passing by under the dark cloudy sky.
*****
"How's he doing?" Parker asked from the driver's seat of the SUV.
"Well, he's stable at the moment. I really need to operate though," Jarod explained, "How long until we get to the 'safe place' as they called it."
"Well looking at this map, it looks like a good two hours until we even reach Virginia."
"Wonderful," he sighed and then began a minute later, "Well, do you talk, Molly?"
"Yeah, we don't bite," Parker added in.
"Though, Parker definitly barks."
"Shut up, Jarod. She didn't ask you anything. You're lucky I'm driving this thing, Wonder Boy," she threatened, though Jarod could tell that she was playing and wasn't really mad.
"Yes, I talk. I just don't really know what to say," Molly began.
"Well let's start with who you are," Jarod replied in a soothing voice.
"She's not five, Jarod. I'm sure she doesn't need for you to explain things in words under three syllables," Miss Parker told him. Jarod just rolled his eyes and smiled at the blonde in front of him.
"Well, um, I only really remember being at The Centre all of my life. I havn't ever had anyone to talk to before like this, except Angelo. Its probobaly hard for you two to understand."
"I understand a lot better than you would think. I grew up in The Centre as well, but I did have some other children to talk to. I had Angelo, Kyle, and Miss Parker here."
"You two were close." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
"Yeah, how did you know that?" Miss Parker asked Molly.
"You weren't just friends. You were best friends. I wish I had someone so close who understood me like you two do." She seemed to have blocked out what Miss Parker had said, but then she was back to normal, if that really was normal.
"How did you know all of that?" Miss Parker repeated while eyeing Jarod who looked just as mystified as she felt.
"That's why The Centre has held me for all these years. I have something that they call an Inner Sense. I've been trained for years ever since I can remember learning how to develop my gift. They've asked me to see where a person in a picture is, to see who they are, but I'm not really sure what they do with my results."
"I do. They manipulate them and turn them into twisted ways of killing innocent people. They did the same thing to me, except I'm a Pretender."
"So I ... I've been killing innocent people this whole time,"
"Not neccesarily. Jarod has a pretty unnegotiable view of The Centre and what they do," Miss Parker answered.
"Don't tell me that you still believe in them and their lies, Parker. After all that that place has done to you, and what your father hasn't done," Jarod argued.
"I don't; not anymore, but you can't deny that you always maintain a prejudiced feeling for the place," Miss Parker argued while looking back at him in the rear view mirror.
"I won't deny it, but they deserve it, Molly. They are incorrigible and deserve none of what we can give them."
"I understand that, now. I just hope that my inner sense makes me too different from the rest of the world. Everything looks so new and perfect. Is the world ready for me?" Molly asked, her voice full of trepidation.
"Miss Parker has an Inner Sense as well, Molly."
"Mine's not trained like yours," Miss Parker told her.
"Well you could be. As a matter of fact," she paused, "you could have almost as strong a sense as me."
Coughing and choking alerted them that Sydney was waking.
"J-J-Jarod?"
"Sydney, I'm here. D-don't speak. You've been shot and are losing a lot of blood. You need to rest. Everyone else is fine," he informed him.
"Jarod-"
"No, Sydney. Please, you need to rest. We'll be at the safe place in just a little bit. Why don't you just go back to sleep now," Jarod coaxed.
Sydney's tired eyes reflected his loss of hope. The creases of skin on his face reminded the two just how much older Sydney had become over the years. His chapped lips struggled to part. His hoarse voice finally creaked out, "Jarod," he began in his naturally soothing voice, "I know I'm not going to make it."
"No. Sydney don't talk like that. You're going to get through this. I won't- I can't lose you!" Jarod protested. By this time, Miss Parker had pulled over to the side of the road and Molly had taken up residence in the driver's seat so that she could be with him.
"Jarod, I told you- once before that," Sydney paused and took some deep breaths, "you can't save- us all."
Molly heard these words and was now doubling the speed limit in hopes of getting to the safe place in time. Jarod's voice attempted coming through but the tears were stronger and he clenched his eyes together in resignation.
"No Sydney! You can't leave us damn it! We need you!" Miss Parker argued with the man straining to live.
"Miss Parker, you don't need- me anymore. You will be fine," Sydney reassured the desperate woman with a calm smile.
"Don't leave me alone. Please don't leave me just like momma did!"
Jarod, breathing heavy, watched the exchange through blurry vision awaiting what Sydney would say to this desperate plea from the woman of stone. Sydney's eyes were cluttered with a cloud of guilt at this accusation.
"You won't be- alone, Miss Parker," he breathed in and out, "You have Jarod."
Miss Parker shook her head and looked at Jarod with pleading eyes as if telling him that he had better save him. Jarod did nothing in reply, just grasped Sydney's hand and shook his head as if in denial.
"Sydney-" Jarod began.
"Jarod, you must- take care of Miss Parker- for me," Sydney told his prodigy.
"I need your help, Sydney! And you are not leaving us, not as long as I have any say in it."
"Promise me, Jarod. Promise me."
Jarod looked at Miss Parker whose eyes betrayed her fear for this man whom she obviously loved. His gaze returned to his "father."
"I promise, but don't-"
"Thank you. Catherine would be grateful."
It was then that Miss Parker finally let all of the tears flow. A river gushed as the dam that had been up for so many years was finally broken. The weeping was silent but pure.
"Take care of eachother, that's how you will always survive. I want you both- to know that I care deeply for you," Sydney smiled, "Don't worry, Miss Parker. Don't be scared because I'm not."
Sydney's head leaned back and his wrinkled eyelids closed gently.
"No," Miss Parker whispered. She placed a hand to her face covering her mouth and her nose and the others in the car could hear her gasp in as she tried to recover from the loss she was feeling. She leaned into the embrace that Jarod offered her who was still in shock. Molly stared intensely at the road letting the two receive the comfort that they both seeked. Miss Parker's crys were muffled and she trembled with her face in Jarod's shirt.
"Sydney," Jarod begged, "Sydney."
The looming clouds overhead suddenly began to drop soft tears of rain, only intensifying the despair of two lost souls.
Learning To Run Again:
Part 12 : Vision
"How is Lyle doing, Doctor?" Mr Parker's gruff voice inquired.
"His condition is critical I'm going to have to send him to the ICU. Whether he will survive or not is unpredictable at this point. He has lost a lot of blood," the doctor paused, "but you are his father. You could donate some blood couldn't you?"
"I don't see why someone else can't do it. I have other places to be. He doesn't have a rare blood type."
"Well, I mean, it would be quicker if you did it now. Is it a problem?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact it is a problem because I can't waste my time."
"Your son's life is a waste of time?"
Mr Parker stared at this man who dared to contradict him for a moment, "Find someone else with the correct blood type. Now!"
"Um, yes, Sir."
Mr Parker watched him leave and stared at his unconscious son lying in a sterile white sheeted bed. The constant sounds of the humming and beeping machines were aggravating his last nerve, so he quickly made his exit. He had things to do.
*****
The squeaking of dilapidated old wheels indicated that Raines was nearby. Cox's head looked up to meet that dead face of his.
"Raines," he stated.
"Molly is gone," Raines returned.
"So I've heard. Do you think that this could possibly be a coincidence that she escaped at the same time as Jarod and Miss Parker did?"
"No. And I don't believe that Jarod and Miss Parker managed to escape on their own along with Molly. They had to have had help."
"What are you trying to say, Raines."
"I'm saying that someone else helped them or more than someone," Raines took a raspy breath, "and I know who two of those people are."
"As do I. I'm assuming that you discovered the same DSA's as I."
"Then you know that Sydney and Angelo are to blame for their escapes."
"We cannot, I repeat- we cannot allow for Molly to have contact with Jarod and especially Miss Parker!" Cox slammed his fist on his desk for reinforcement.
"Yes, it would be," he thought for a moment, "devastating, if Miss Parker discovered the truth."
"And the longer she is out there with them, the sooner that Jarod will undoubtedly unbury another of our secrets. Jarod always shares his findings with Miss Parker," Cox muttered his thoughts aloud, "we have got to find them."
"Our best are already on the job."
"That's the problem," Cox stood up and walked around his desk, "Jarod and Miss Parker are our best."
*****
The vehicle was silent apart from the occasional sniffle from Miss Parker. Neither she, nor Jarod could look at the fragile form of their guide, Sydney, for the pain was too intense.
"He's not dead you know," Molly whispered from the front.
"What?!" Miss Parker yelled, outraged, "How the hell would you know if he was dead or not?!"
"Parker, Molly's only trying to help," Jarod reminded her.
"Check him, Jarod. See if she's right," Miss Parker whispered.
Jarod's face presented his fear, but he took a deep breath and grasped Sydney's hand. Never once losing eye contact with Parker, he felt for a pulse. A sad smile smeared itself upon his face, "He's alive."
"Thank God," Parker returned.
"He's probably in a coma," Jarod told her.
"Well, is he going to wake up?"
"Its too soon to tell, but he has a chance. There's always a chance," he reassured her.
Molly cleared her throat, "We're here."
*****
"Debbie, Sweetheart, we're here. It's time to wake up. Please, Honey, wake up," Broots coaxed his sleeping daughter.
"Daddy?" a groggy Debbie answered, "Where are we?" There were certainly enough trees to last a life time here. Great branches of massive oaks sagged down, making the noon sun appear dim.
"We are in Shady Oak, Virginia."
Debbie sat up and looked around, "Kind of 'Little House On The Prairie' isn't it?"
"Well, Honey, we need to stay down low for a while."
"You mean, we're hiding."
"No! Of course not. Well, not-," he paused after seeing his daughter's knowing look, "yes, we are hiding."
"Why, Daddy?" Debbie demanded.
"Listen Sweetheart, I'll try to explain this to you later. Its all very complicated, and I'm just not sure if you're ready to handle this."
"Daddy! Why do you always treat me like a child? I'm an adult now and should be treated like one. I'm sick of being left out of the loop!" she said with a bitter tremor in her voice.
"Me, too. I mean-"
"No! You just don't understand me anymore," Debbie threw the door open and slammed it shut before Broots could utter a word. She soared into the cabin they had arrived at, not caring what got in her path. Her father was always keeping secrets from her and this was the last straw.
"Oh boy," Broots muttered. He was somewhat in shock. His little girl had never blown up like that, not that he could blame her.
*****
"Broots, help us get Sydney inside," Miss Parker instructed firmly. When he only stared at her she reinforced her demand, "Now!"
"I-I'm coming, Miss P-Parker," Broots replied while jogging over to the open door of the SUV, "who are you?"
"I'm Molly," the blonde replied.
Broots stuttered at first, "I-I'm, I mean, I'm B-Broots."
"Introductions can wait. Sydney cannot," Jarod reminded him.
"Oh, sorry," he replied.
The four adults carefully picked up the elder man and Jarod muttered instructions for Sydney's safety, "Be sure not to shake his head. Open the door before attempting to walk through it, Broots!"
"Right," Broots' face reddened. Here he was making a fool of himself in front of Jarod, the pretender he had been chasing for five years, the smartest man on the planet. This day was just getting better and better.
When Sydney was finally settled in one of the twin sized beds, everyone took a breather while Jarod started setting up equipment. Soon, the rhythmic tune of a heart monitor rang through the bedroom. Pulling out his stethoscope, he checked for a beat himself and started to tend to the bullet wound. Parker made her way over to the operation.
"Can I help?" she asked hesitantly.
Jarod looked up at her, slightly surprised and nodded, "Of course, Miss Parker."
"All right, what's first, Doctor Jarod?"
He smiled, "Go wash your hands and then find us some clean towels."
*****
"Mornin,' Love," a voice of liquid greeted a very tired Lyle.
"What the hell do you want, now?" he responded.
"Oh, not having a good day are we?" Brigitte retorted.
"Don't you have a sniveling little brat to attend to, or was he just the light of your life for the first five minutes?"
"He is fine in the Centre infirmary. Now listen to me," Brigitte growled.
"Fine. I'm listening."
"We need to find my dear stepdaughter and her pet, before Raines and Cox do. Unfortunately, I'll need your help for that."
"Well, in the position I'm in right now, it doesn't seem like I'll be helping anyone, even if I wanted to," he stated as-a-matter-of-factly while adjusting the sheets that were crumpling around his casted arm.
"I need you to help me gain Daddy diarist's approval," she whispered before popping a green lollipop into her mouth, "are you in or not?"
After a moment's consideration Lyle answered, "Start talking."
*****
"Well, Nurse Parker, you did an exquisite job, for a rookie," Jarod complimented.
"Oh yes, I've always been known to hand over instruments with great precision, Doc," Parker replied sarcastically.
"Just being here makes a difference," he answered in all seriousness.
"Jarod," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Um, how is he doing?" Broots cut in after walking through the open door.
"Sydney most likely isn't going to suffer any permanent effects from this if he wakes from his coma. If he doesn't wake, well. He'll- he'll stay like this."
"Do you think he'll wake?" Parker asked of Jarod.
Jarod looked at her. "Its impossible to tell," he whispered, "for now, we just have to wait."
"I hate waiting. I'm a very impatient person," Parker muttered almost to herself.
"Yeah, you are."
Parker scowled and threw a pillow at Jarod's smirking face.
"Hey! I was only agreeing with you!" he defended.
"Well, those are the kind of comments that can land your cocky self back in The Centre," she threatened with a half serious half playful smile.
"Oh, you wouldn't do that!"
Her eyebrow rose a notch as she slid out of the room.
"She's not serious is she, Jarod?" Broots asked apprehensively.
"Of course not, Broots. It's just her way," he still stared at the spot she had occupied thirty seconds ago, "you should know that after five years of hunting me."
"I'm sorry about that, Jarod-"
"Don't be sorry, Broots. I didn't mean it like that. It just gets to me sometimes at how ironic our lives have ended up after all these years."
"I know right. I mean, the two of you are like- paper and pen, always together but on opposite sides of the glass."
"Umm ... yeah. I guess so. It does always seem to work that way, huh?" Jarod chuckled a little at the irony that even Broots managed to find. The room was silent then, save the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
"Jarod, I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but-" Broots stopped, "Never mind."
"What is it, Broots? After all The Centre has done to me, you can't possibly say anything to offend me," Jarod reassured the uneasy man.
"You really care about her don't you?" he uttered, barely audible.
"Well, yeah. Of course I care about her."
Broots patiently waited for more, that he knew would come.
Jarod looked down toward the ground, "She's all I've ever had, the only constant in my life. I- don't want to lose that."
"Is that all, Jarod?" Broots said cautiously.
"Yeah," he walked towards the door then turned back to reassure him, "that's all."
*****
Miss Parker ambled down the hallway to seek any form of peace. Seeing a closed door, she ventured into the bedroom for some quiet, to just get away from the stress in the adjacent room. Shutting the door and turning around, she saw a weeping Debbie huddled in the corner.
"Debbie? Are you all right?" Miss Parker asked of the young girl. A sniffle was all she received in reply. "What's wrong?"
Another sniffle, "It's Daddy. He-he just d-d-doesn't understand."
"Doesn't understand what?" Miss Parker slid down along the wall until she was right beside the distressed child. She started combing her rumpled hair with her fingers and this seemed to relax her into telling her more.
"He won't t-tell me anything. I know that we're here because of that p-place you all work for, but I don't know why or-or who or what is going on. I'm just always d-dragged along on his escapades! I'm thirteen years old and can handle the truth. I deserve some answers don't I, Miss P-parker?"
"Yes, you do. Debbie, your father's work is very complicated, and we really shouldn't have to keep it a secret from you. I understand why he did though, I would do the same."
"But why?" she protested.
"Honey, it's not that you wouldn't understand. It's that you would be in danger if you knew what we did."
"What? Are you like secret agents or something? This is crazy talk."
"These are crazy times. The Centre is a crazy place."
"Yeah. You know, its nice to just talk to someone- someone who understands."
"I know the feeling."
"Why? Did you not have anyone to talk to when you were young, too?"
"Oh no. I had people to talk to. I had my mother until she died. And I had Sydney until now. And I had Jarod."
"Jarod? Is this the same Jarod that you work with? I've heard Daddy tell you stuff about him," the innocent question was difficult to answer for Miss Parker.
"Yes," she replied hesitantly.
"You knew him when you were my age?"
"And before. Now why don't we demand some lunch from him."
Debbie laughed and Miss Parker grinned. Both spirits had risen to higher peaks.
*****
"Molly free. Daughter soon know the truth. Daughter deserves the truth. Daughter find Jarod. Jarod find Daughter."
The occasional sound of a solitary pearl of water diving into a pool of muck on the stretching ground of SL 27 was all that could be heard. Sydney's bomb may have stopped the unfolding horror temporarily, but renovations were again being made, and only two blue eyes could see what was to come. Only two eyes could see the whole truth. Only two eyes knew what was so close.
AN: FEEDBACK/RR is always welcome and highly encouraged! I've gotten like 3 responses. Is it that bad??? Should I stop posting? Come on people!
Learning to Run Again
Part 10: Eleven Minutes Free
Two eyes peered through the crack in the air vent. His friends were sleeping. "Going. Tonight," he began, "need Molly, too. Molly. Must get Molly."
The feet plodded down the air vent to their destination.
*****
"Sydney, its exactly 3:49. You have until about four before the next check, and I can keep the camera off for as long as we need. I've got the previous slide looped," Broots' voice rang in Sydney's ears.
"Thank you Broots, here I go," Sydney replied.
The door slid open after Broots' expert techniques were put to good use. Sydney paused momentarily staring at two of his most beloved people under such harsh circumstances. Remembering that he only had eleven minutes left, he quickly hurried to Jarod's side and starting shaking him gently so as not to put his prodigy in shock.
"Jarod, come on, Jarod. You have to wake up," he whispered urgently.
"Sydney? Come to join the party?" Jarod's raspy voice mumbled while tired eyes made their appearance.
"More to crash it. Come on, I'm getting you and Miss Parker out of here."
Jarod abruptly sat up and hurried to Parker's side while Sydney scanned for visitors.
"Parker, get up. You need to wake up, Parker."
"Get the hell away from me until I need to be up," she calmly ordered in her Parker manner.
"Well, if you don't consider getting out of this hell hole a need, then go back to sleep."
"What?" she also sat up.
"Sydney is bailing us out."
"You have nine minutes, Syd," Broots reminded his colleague.
"Quickly, we don't have much time," Sydney declared.
The three stalked towards the door and once noticing it was clear and getting a positive sign from Broots, headed into the hallway. With two hands, Sydney placed a gun into Parker's hand with a reassuring smile.
"Ah, my best friend. Boy, how I've missed you," she stated as she smashed a fresh cartridge into the empty clip, "now, where are we going?"
"Well, um, Jarod, I thought you might want to cover that. This is your specialty after all," Sydney said with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"It would be a genuine pleasure to get us out of here," Jarod confirmed.
"Good, well Broots has a car waiting on the left wing."
"Perfect."
"Now I get to see how you've gotten out all of these times," Miss Parker said tauntingly.
"Well, I don't have to show you."
Broots alerted them to their ceasing time limit, "Six minutes, ya'll."
"Its a walk in the park, Broots," Jarod declared. The three strutted down the hall until they reached a dead end.
"Good job, Jarod. Forgetting where you are now?"
"Not quite, Miss Parker."
There was a door at the end that he presented to his followers.
"Oh wow. We have found a janitorial closet. We have nothing to fear now!"
"Maybe," Jarod opened the door presenting a pair of stairs, "or maybe not."
"Where did this come from?" Sydney inquired as they hurried up the stairs two at a time.
"I've never had the chance to see how far down it leads or where to, but I know that this goes to ground level."
"Jarod, help Molly," a childlike voice said from below them. They all looked down into the dark that Jarod had proclaimed no knowledge to and realized that Angelo was there, but he was not alone. Jarod skipped down the stairs and came face to face with a blonde haired, blue eyed, gorgeous woman. Her face was full of fear.
"Molly," Angelo said with a smile and then indicated Jarod, "Jarod. Jarod help Molly. Please."
Jarod along with Sydney and Miss Parker were baffled as to who this woman could be. Obviously she had been held prisoner in The Centre as well since she wore the lovely gray attire Jarod used to.
"How can I help Molly?" Jarod asked looking back to Sydney and Miss Parker who only shrugged before he returned his gaze and inquiring eyes to Angelo.
"Take Molly with you. With you, Molly. Go with ... Jarod. Jarod will protect ... Molly. Go now, no time."
Jarod stuttered before smoothing out his voice, "Well. Um, okay, come on then Molly. I suppose that I will protect you."
"We really need to go. Broots says we have 2 minutes at best," Sydney abruptly inserted his presence into the conversation. The party of five quickly made their way out the exit door with occasional curious glances towards Molly. Once outside in the cool night air, Jarod breathed in a refreshing gulp of fresh pine air. They all crept along the left wing wall. A quick flash of light came from the SUV that Broots was waiting in indicating to head that way.
"Not so fast," a voice announced.
"Well, Lyle. I'm surprised that you could catch up with us in that cast of yours," Miss Parker replied.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Sis?"
"I'm just admiring the new paint job here. What do you think, Lyle?" she asked, her voice dripping in sarcasm.
"I think its time for you to head back home," he answered while pulling out his gun and pointing it straight at Parker's chest, "but then again, its your choice. Come, or die."
"Lyle!" Jarod barked, "Don't touch her." He then inserted himself between Miss Parker and Lyle straight in the bullet's path.
"How noble of you, Jarod," Lyle replied.
"Jarod, I can fight my own battles. I have never needed help before, so move it!" Miss Parker demanded while trying to shove his body out of the way.
"You've never had a choice before."
Jarod heard clicking behind him and decided to keep this conversation up.
"Lyle, what could you possibly gain from killing your own sister?" Jarod inquired.
"That's pretty obvious, genius. I will have the power, trust, and respect of our father and the members of the triumvirate," Lyle responded.
"So your father would be proud that you killed his daughter?"
"Who do you think gave the order?"
Parker gasped in shock and thrusted her gun over Jarod's shoulder and fired not once but twice. Lyle twitched suddenly twice and placed his hand over the fresh hole in his chest. The other stream of blood flowed from his left arm.
"You bastard!" Parker screamed through her own tears, "Come on Jarod! Lets get the hell out of here!" She started running towards the SUV but stopped short when the sound of a gunshot pierced the night air. She turned around and saw Lyle slump to the ground unconscious with his gun still clutched in hand and trigger finger still in place. The sight in front of him was what brought Miss Parker running desperately and Angelo fled back towards the Centre. Molly stood in shock as she watched Miss Parker kneel down next to a man whom she obviously cared deeply for.
"Oh my God. Oh Jesus, please no!" she came in closer and stroked his face, "You can't leave me. We need you! Please! Please ... I need you."
The tears dropped over the bleeding chest wound.
Learning to Run Again
Part 11: The Rainy Season
"What do we do?" Miss Parker asked in distress at this overwhelming pressure. She turned to face the man kneeling beside her who stared at the body open-mouthed in shock. He started breathing in and out. For years, this dying man had been his life. Always there for him, and he hadn't even known it. No, now was not the time to talk in past tense. It was time to put those skills to use and save this man's life.
"We need to- to carry him to the car," he replied to Parker's cry of help.
The two picked up his fragile body and with some help from the mysterious woman, Molly, finally made it into the SUV.
"What happened?!" Broots asked anxiously.
"We need to get to a safe place, Broots. Do you have all of my things?"
"Ye-yeah, I do. They're in the back seat."
"Parker, get them for me." Placing his hand over the bullet wound, the pressure would hopefully halt the blood flow. Miss Parker immediatly obeyed and reached into the back pulling out a black bag and handing it over to him.
"Drive Broots!" she reminded him. The vehicle started and they quickly reached an intersection and Broots turned the blinker to left. "Where the hell do you think you're going, Broots?!"
"To the safe place, M-miss Parker."
"Well my understanding is that Debbie is that way," she said indicating the right side. Broots smiled and soon they were flying down the highway towards his little girl.
"That was noble of you back there, Parker. Trying to save his life the way you did."
"I just hope that Sydney makes it, Jarod."
*****
"What do you mean they got away! I sent Lyle to take care of them!" Mr Parker's voice boomed through his office full of imcompetant sweepers whom had lost his two prized possesions.
"We're extremely sorry, Sir. Mr. Lyle was found barly alive outside so they apparantly had help and were supplied with weapons."
"I don't care! I want them back. And I want them back now. I want all the best working on this," he ordered.
The sweeper nodded, "Yes, Sir."
After watching what's-his-name leave the room, Mr Parker unlocked the bottom drawer to his desk and pulled out a shining silver CD. Angelo's feet appeared on the screen as they kicked the airvent off.
A head of blonde hair looked up and smiled, "Angelo!"
"Come. Molly come."
"Where are we going, Angelo? I know I'm not supposed to leave my room," Molly replied. The tiny space could hardly be called a room; it was about the size of a large closet with nothing but a tiny bed (complete with sterile white sheets), a compter on an iron desk with no chair pushed up against the bed, and a sink hidden in the dark walls. Angelo simply gestured towards the vent and grasped two of her little fingers noticing the dirt under her finger nails. Molly wasn't happy here. Angelo knew that, but Molly didn't. The two climbed into the airvent and disappeared from the camera's limited view.
The DSA ended.
"Molly, why?" Mr Parker muttered under his breath as he returned the disc to its place and relocked the drawer, shaking his head the whole time.
*****
"Daddy, I don't understand. Where are we going?" Broots' daughter, Debbie, asked of her father. The two were alone in one car following a forest green SUV in front of them. She had been dragged out of school with 'ASAP' written on her pink dismissal slip that her algebra teacher had given her. He had only reluctantly let her leave because apparantly, his algebra class was what her world revolved around. When she had seen her father and the woman he was apoligizing to, she knew something was wrong by the way he trembled more than usual when he waved to his little girl. At the moment, they were in an unused car that had always stayed in the garage, but she had never known why. Debbie did notice, however, that the license plate did not say 'Deleware,' however, it did say 'Virginia.'
"D-don't worry Honey. We're fine. Nothing is wrong. Well, I mean-" he sighed.
"Daddy, I'm thirteen years old, I deserve the truth. I can handle it," she protested just like any teenager her age would.
"Honey, its complicated. I don't even know all of what's going on," he tried to explain to his frustated daughter, but she wasn't the only one who was frustrated. They had decided that it would be safer on Debbie's emotions for her to not see Sydney in his condition.
"Well, at least I get to miss my algebra class," she said.
"There's the spirit, I think. Just think of this as an adventure."
"This has something to do with that place you work for doesn't it, Daddy?"
"Well, yes. Its not safe for you to stay in Blue Cove at the moment."
"Daddy, you need to quit. That place freaks me out."
"Me, too," he muttered under his breath, "but I have obligations there, Sweetheart." Obligations is a nice way of saying that if he tried to leave, he would be shot. Debbie didn't need to know that.
"Hey, Debbie! I have a great idea. Let's play a car game! The license plate game!" Broots said excitedly changing the subject. He couldn't fool his daughter and they both knew that, but she rolled her eyes and conceded to her strange father. She loved him anyway.
"Okay then, Maryland," she said, pointing to a cherry red chevy truck passing by under the dark cloudy sky.
*****
"How's he doing?" Parker asked from the driver's seat of the SUV.
"Well, he's stable at the moment. I really need to operate though," Jarod explained, "How long until we get to the 'safe place' as they called it."
"Well looking at this map, it looks like a good two hours until we even reach Virginia."
"Wonderful," he sighed and then began a minute later, "Well, do you talk, Molly?"
"Yeah, we don't bite," Parker added in.
"Though, Parker definitly barks."
"Shut up, Jarod. She didn't ask you anything. You're lucky I'm driving this thing, Wonder Boy," she threatened, though Jarod could tell that she was playing and wasn't really mad.
"Yes, I talk. I just don't really know what to say," Molly began.
"Well let's start with who you are," Jarod replied in a soothing voice.
"She's not five, Jarod. I'm sure she doesn't need for you to explain things in words under three syllables," Miss Parker told him. Jarod just rolled his eyes and smiled at the blonde in front of him.
"Well, um, I only really remember being at The Centre all of my life. I havn't ever had anyone to talk to before like this, except Angelo. Its probobaly hard for you two to understand."
"I understand a lot better than you would think. I grew up in The Centre as well, but I did have some other children to talk to. I had Angelo, Kyle, and Miss Parker here."
"You two were close." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
"Yeah, how did you know that?" Miss Parker asked Molly.
"You weren't just friends. You were best friends. I wish I had someone so close who understood me like you two do." She seemed to have blocked out what Miss Parker had said, but then she was back to normal, if that really was normal.
"How did you know all of that?" Miss Parker repeated while eyeing Jarod who looked just as mystified as she felt.
"That's why The Centre has held me for all these years. I have something that they call an Inner Sense. I've been trained for years ever since I can remember learning how to develop my gift. They've asked me to see where a person in a picture is, to see who they are, but I'm not really sure what they do with my results."
"I do. They manipulate them and turn them into twisted ways of killing innocent people. They did the same thing to me, except I'm a Pretender."
"So I ... I've been killing innocent people this whole time,"
"Not neccesarily. Jarod has a pretty unnegotiable view of The Centre and what they do," Miss Parker answered.
"Don't tell me that you still believe in them and their lies, Parker. After all that that place has done to you, and what your father hasn't done," Jarod argued.
"I don't; not anymore, but you can't deny that you always maintain a prejudiced feeling for the place," Miss Parker argued while looking back at him in the rear view mirror.
"I won't deny it, but they deserve it, Molly. They are incorrigible and deserve none of what we can give them."
"I understand that, now. I just hope that my inner sense makes me too different from the rest of the world. Everything looks so new and perfect. Is the world ready for me?" Molly asked, her voice full of trepidation.
"Miss Parker has an Inner Sense as well, Molly."
"Mine's not trained like yours," Miss Parker told her.
"Well you could be. As a matter of fact," she paused, "you could have almost as strong a sense as me."
Coughing and choking alerted them that Sydney was waking.
"J-J-Jarod?"
"Sydney, I'm here. D-don't speak. You've been shot and are losing a lot of blood. You need to rest. Everyone else is fine," he informed him.
"Jarod-"
"No, Sydney. Please, you need to rest. We'll be at the safe place in just a little bit. Why don't you just go back to sleep now," Jarod coaxed.
Sydney's tired eyes reflected his loss of hope. The creases of skin on his face reminded the two just how much older Sydney had become over the years. His chapped lips struggled to part. His hoarse voice finally creaked out, "Jarod," he began in his naturally soothing voice, "I know I'm not going to make it."
"No. Sydney don't talk like that. You're going to get through this. I won't- I can't lose you!" Jarod protested. By this time, Miss Parker had pulled over to the side of the road and Molly had taken up residence in the driver's seat so that she could be with him.
"Jarod, I told you- once before that," Sydney paused and took some deep breaths, "you can't save- us all."
Molly heard these words and was now doubling the speed limit in hopes of getting to the safe place in time. Jarod's voice attempted coming through but the tears were stronger and he clenched his eyes together in resignation.
"No Sydney! You can't leave us damn it! We need you!" Miss Parker argued with the man straining to live.
"Miss Parker, you don't need- me anymore. You will be fine," Sydney reassured the desperate woman with a calm smile.
"Don't leave me alone. Please don't leave me just like momma did!"
Jarod, breathing heavy, watched the exchange through blurry vision awaiting what Sydney would say to this desperate plea from the woman of stone. Sydney's eyes were cluttered with a cloud of guilt at this accusation.
"You won't be- alone, Miss Parker," he breathed in and out, "You have Jarod."
Miss Parker shook her head and looked at Jarod with pleading eyes as if telling him that he had better save him. Jarod did nothing in reply, just grasped Sydney's hand and shook his head as if in denial.
"Sydney-" Jarod began.
"Jarod, you must- take care of Miss Parker- for me," Sydney told his prodigy.
"I need your help, Sydney! And you are not leaving us, not as long as I have any say in it."
"Promise me, Jarod. Promise me."
Jarod looked at Miss Parker whose eyes betrayed her fear for this man whom she obviously loved. His gaze returned to his "father."
"I promise, but don't-"
"Thank you. Catherine would be grateful."
It was then that Miss Parker finally let all of the tears flow. A river gushed as the dam that had been up for so many years was finally broken. The weeping was silent but pure.
"Take care of eachother, that's how you will always survive. I want you both- to know that I care deeply for you," Sydney smiled, "Don't worry, Miss Parker. Don't be scared because I'm not."
Sydney's head leaned back and his wrinkled eyelids closed gently.
"No," Miss Parker whispered. She placed a hand to her face covering her mouth and her nose and the others in the car could hear her gasp in as she tried to recover from the loss she was feeling. She leaned into the embrace that Jarod offered her who was still in shock. Molly stared intensely at the road letting the two receive the comfort that they both seeked. Miss Parker's crys were muffled and she trembled with her face in Jarod's shirt.
"Sydney," Jarod begged, "Sydney."
The looming clouds overhead suddenly began to drop soft tears of rain, only intensifying the despair of two lost souls.
Learning To Run Again:
Part 12 : Vision
"How is Lyle doing, Doctor?" Mr Parker's gruff voice inquired.
"His condition is critical I'm going to have to send him to the ICU. Whether he will survive or not is unpredictable at this point. He has lost a lot of blood," the doctor paused, "but you are his father. You could donate some blood couldn't you?"
"I don't see why someone else can't do it. I have other places to be. He doesn't have a rare blood type."
"Well, I mean, it would be quicker if you did it now. Is it a problem?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact it is a problem because I can't waste my time."
"Your son's life is a waste of time?"
Mr Parker stared at this man who dared to contradict him for a moment, "Find someone else with the correct blood type. Now!"
"Um, yes, Sir."
Mr Parker watched him leave and stared at his unconscious son lying in a sterile white sheeted bed. The constant sounds of the humming and beeping machines were aggravating his last nerve, so he quickly made his exit. He had things to do.
*****
The squeaking of dilapidated old wheels indicated that Raines was nearby. Cox's head looked up to meet that dead face of his.
"Raines," he stated.
"Molly is gone," Raines returned.
"So I've heard. Do you think that this could possibly be a coincidence that she escaped at the same time as Jarod and Miss Parker did?"
"No. And I don't believe that Jarod and Miss Parker managed to escape on their own along with Molly. They had to have had help."
"What are you trying to say, Raines."
"I'm saying that someone else helped them or more than someone," Raines took a raspy breath, "and I know who two of those people are."
"As do I. I'm assuming that you discovered the same DSA's as I."
"Then you know that Sydney and Angelo are to blame for their escapes."
"We cannot, I repeat- we cannot allow for Molly to have contact with Jarod and especially Miss Parker!" Cox slammed his fist on his desk for reinforcement.
"Yes, it would be," he thought for a moment, "devastating, if Miss Parker discovered the truth."
"And the longer she is out there with them, the sooner that Jarod will undoubtedly unbury another of our secrets. Jarod always shares his findings with Miss Parker," Cox muttered his thoughts aloud, "we have got to find them."
"Our best are already on the job."
"That's the problem," Cox stood up and walked around his desk, "Jarod and Miss Parker are our best."
*****
The vehicle was silent apart from the occasional sniffle from Miss Parker. Neither she, nor Jarod could look at the fragile form of their guide, Sydney, for the pain was too intense.
"He's not dead you know," Molly whispered from the front.
"What?!" Miss Parker yelled, outraged, "How the hell would you know if he was dead or not?!"
"Parker, Molly's only trying to help," Jarod reminded her.
"Check him, Jarod. See if she's right," Miss Parker whispered.
Jarod's face presented his fear, but he took a deep breath and grasped Sydney's hand. Never once losing eye contact with Parker, he felt for a pulse. A sad smile smeared itself upon his face, "He's alive."
"Thank God," Parker returned.
"He's probably in a coma," Jarod told her.
"Well, is he going to wake up?"
"Its too soon to tell, but he has a chance. There's always a chance," he reassured her.
Molly cleared her throat, "We're here."
*****
"Debbie, Sweetheart, we're here. It's time to wake up. Please, Honey, wake up," Broots coaxed his sleeping daughter.
"Daddy?" a groggy Debbie answered, "Where are we?" There were certainly enough trees to last a life time here. Great branches of massive oaks sagged down, making the noon sun appear dim.
"We are in Shady Oak, Virginia."
Debbie sat up and looked around, "Kind of 'Little House On The Prairie' isn't it?"
"Well, Honey, we need to stay down low for a while."
"You mean, we're hiding."
"No! Of course not. Well, not-," he paused after seeing his daughter's knowing look, "yes, we are hiding."
"Why, Daddy?" Debbie demanded.
"Listen Sweetheart, I'll try to explain this to you later. Its all very complicated, and I'm just not sure if you're ready to handle this."
"Daddy! Why do you always treat me like a child? I'm an adult now and should be treated like one. I'm sick of being left out of the loop!" she said with a bitter tremor in her voice.
"Me, too. I mean-"
"No! You just don't understand me anymore," Debbie threw the door open and slammed it shut before Broots could utter a word. She soared into the cabin they had arrived at, not caring what got in her path. Her father was always keeping secrets from her and this was the last straw.
"Oh boy," Broots muttered. He was somewhat in shock. His little girl had never blown up like that, not that he could blame her.
*****
"Broots, help us get Sydney inside," Miss Parker instructed firmly. When he only stared at her she reinforced her demand, "Now!"
"I-I'm coming, Miss P-Parker," Broots replied while jogging over to the open door of the SUV, "who are you?"
"I'm Molly," the blonde replied.
Broots stuttered at first, "I-I'm, I mean, I'm B-Broots."
"Introductions can wait. Sydney cannot," Jarod reminded him.
"Oh, sorry," he replied.
The four adults carefully picked up the elder man and Jarod muttered instructions for Sydney's safety, "Be sure not to shake his head. Open the door before attempting to walk through it, Broots!"
"Right," Broots' face reddened. Here he was making a fool of himself in front of Jarod, the pretender he had been chasing for five years, the smartest man on the planet. This day was just getting better and better.
When Sydney was finally settled in one of the twin sized beds, everyone took a breather while Jarod started setting up equipment. Soon, the rhythmic tune of a heart monitor rang through the bedroom. Pulling out his stethoscope, he checked for a beat himself and started to tend to the bullet wound. Parker made her way over to the operation.
"Can I help?" she asked hesitantly.
Jarod looked up at her, slightly surprised and nodded, "Of course, Miss Parker."
"All right, what's first, Doctor Jarod?"
He smiled, "Go wash your hands and then find us some clean towels."
*****
"Mornin,' Love," a voice of liquid greeted a very tired Lyle.
"What the hell do you want, now?" he responded.
"Oh, not having a good day are we?" Brigitte retorted.
"Don't you have a sniveling little brat to attend to, or was he just the light of your life for the first five minutes?"
"He is fine in the Centre infirmary. Now listen to me," Brigitte growled.
"Fine. I'm listening."
"We need to find my dear stepdaughter and her pet, before Raines and Cox do. Unfortunately, I'll need your help for that."
"Well, in the position I'm in right now, it doesn't seem like I'll be helping anyone, even if I wanted to," he stated as-a-matter-of-factly while adjusting the sheets that were crumpling around his casted arm.
"I need you to help me gain Daddy diarist's approval," she whispered before popping a green lollipop into her mouth, "are you in or not?"
After a moment's consideration Lyle answered, "Start talking."
*****
"Well, Nurse Parker, you did an exquisite job, for a rookie," Jarod complimented.
"Oh yes, I've always been known to hand over instruments with great precision, Doc," Parker replied sarcastically.
"Just being here makes a difference," he answered in all seriousness.
"Jarod," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Um, how is he doing?" Broots cut in after walking through the open door.
"Sydney most likely isn't going to suffer any permanent effects from this if he wakes from his coma. If he doesn't wake, well. He'll- he'll stay like this."
"Do you think he'll wake?" Parker asked of Jarod.
Jarod looked at her. "Its impossible to tell," he whispered, "for now, we just have to wait."
"I hate waiting. I'm a very impatient person," Parker muttered almost to herself.
"Yeah, you are."
Parker scowled and threw a pillow at Jarod's smirking face.
"Hey! I was only agreeing with you!" he defended.
"Well, those are the kind of comments that can land your cocky self back in The Centre," she threatened with a half serious half playful smile.
"Oh, you wouldn't do that!"
Her eyebrow rose a notch as she slid out of the room.
"She's not serious is she, Jarod?" Broots asked apprehensively.
"Of course not, Broots. It's just her way," he still stared at the spot she had occupied thirty seconds ago, "you should know that after five years of hunting me."
"I'm sorry about that, Jarod-"
"Don't be sorry, Broots. I didn't mean it like that. It just gets to me sometimes at how ironic our lives have ended up after all these years."
"I know right. I mean, the two of you are like- paper and pen, always together but on opposite sides of the glass."
"Umm ... yeah. I guess so. It does always seem to work that way, huh?" Jarod chuckled a little at the irony that even Broots managed to find. The room was silent then, save the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
"Jarod, I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but-" Broots stopped, "Never mind."
"What is it, Broots? After all The Centre has done to me, you can't possibly say anything to offend me," Jarod reassured the uneasy man.
"You really care about her don't you?" he uttered, barely audible.
"Well, yeah. Of course I care about her."
Broots patiently waited for more, that he knew would come.
Jarod looked down toward the ground, "She's all I've ever had, the only constant in my life. I- don't want to lose that."
"Is that all, Jarod?" Broots said cautiously.
"Yeah," he walked towards the door then turned back to reassure him, "that's all."
*****
Miss Parker ambled down the hallway to seek any form of peace. Seeing a closed door, she ventured into the bedroom for some quiet, to just get away from the stress in the adjacent room. Shutting the door and turning around, she saw a weeping Debbie huddled in the corner.
"Debbie? Are you all right?" Miss Parker asked of the young girl. A sniffle was all she received in reply. "What's wrong?"
Another sniffle, "It's Daddy. He-he just d-d-doesn't understand."
"Doesn't understand what?" Miss Parker slid down along the wall until she was right beside the distressed child. She started combing her rumpled hair with her fingers and this seemed to relax her into telling her more.
"He won't t-tell me anything. I know that we're here because of that p-place you all work for, but I don't know why or-or who or what is going on. I'm just always d-dragged along on his escapades! I'm thirteen years old and can handle the truth. I deserve some answers don't I, Miss P-parker?"
"Yes, you do. Debbie, your father's work is very complicated, and we really shouldn't have to keep it a secret from you. I understand why he did though, I would do the same."
"But why?" she protested.
"Honey, it's not that you wouldn't understand. It's that you would be in danger if you knew what we did."
"What? Are you like secret agents or something? This is crazy talk."
"These are crazy times. The Centre is a crazy place."
"Yeah. You know, its nice to just talk to someone- someone who understands."
"I know the feeling."
"Why? Did you not have anyone to talk to when you were young, too?"
"Oh no. I had people to talk to. I had my mother until she died. And I had Sydney until now. And I had Jarod."
"Jarod? Is this the same Jarod that you work with? I've heard Daddy tell you stuff about him," the innocent question was difficult to answer for Miss Parker.
"Yes," she replied hesitantly.
"You knew him when you were my age?"
"And before. Now why don't we demand some lunch from him."
Debbie laughed and Miss Parker grinned. Both spirits had risen to higher peaks.
*****
"Molly free. Daughter soon know the truth. Daughter deserves the truth. Daughter find Jarod. Jarod find Daughter."
The occasional sound of a solitary pearl of water diving into a pool of muck on the stretching ground of SL 27 was all that could be heard. Sydney's bomb may have stopped the unfolding horror temporarily, but renovations were again being made, and only two blue eyes could see what was to come. Only two eyes could see the whole truth. Only two eyes knew what was so close.
AN: FEEDBACK/RR is always welcome and highly encouraged! I've gotten like 3 responses. Is it that bad??? Should I stop posting? Come on people!