Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own the Pretender, because if I did, things wouldn't have ended with an almost kiss! The point is, no profit is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
The Evolution of ThingsChapter 7
By M. Rose
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A sheath of warmth caressed up her arm as a swirl of voices, too obscure to understand, fluttered around her.
"Parker?"
"Is she's waking?"
"I think so."
God, she felt like a sledgehammer pummeled her to the ground and left her for dead. She really needed to slow down her drinking.
"Parker!""Parker, can you hear me?"
As the distorted sounds began to dissipate, she recognized his unmistakable baritone.
"If you can here me, say something."
And that is what she tried to do, but her words came out as a moan instead.
"Parker?" She attempted again and this time she spoke in slow, thick and raspy voice, "What … what are you doing … in my house, Jarod?""I … I'm not in your home, Parker."
That got her attention. She opened her eyes and was greeted with a large hazy figure looming above her, "What are you talking about?" She tried to get up, but a wave of dizziness overcame her as two strong hands guided her back onto the bed. She suddenly became aware of his intimate proximity to her as their eyes met.
"Parker, you're still too weak. You need to rest. You've been through a lot in the past few days."
The words didn't really register as she pushed him away and growled, "Why you little … kidnapping me out of my own home?" As she spoke, she got progressively louder, "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Calm down, Parker. I didn't kidnap you and you know I never would."
The hint of irritation in his voice only served to fuel her anger as she spat out, the best way she could in her weakened condition, "Jarod, if it's the one thing I know, you're capable of anything when you set your mind to it." When he stayed silent, she wondered if she had gone too far with that comment, but she swore she detected a hint of amusement in his words as he countered, "True, but kidnapping is not in my repertoire, Miss Parker."
As she removed the oxygen tube from her nose, he argued, "Parker, you really shouldn't take off the oxygen tube."
"Stop babying me, Jarod." Her vision had improved vastly, so when she turned her head to face him, she gave Jarod the once over, "I'm fine. You on the other hand, look like shit."
She couldn't explain why, but suddenly the anger that coursed through her evaporated. Maybe it was the slight smile that formed as he nodded in agreement. Maybe it was the visible outline of his muscular chest through his tight fitted black T-shirt. Or maybe it was the sexy stubble that had gone way past five o' clock.
It was probably all the above.
Needing a distraction from the direction in which her mind was surely headed, she looked around the room and inquired, "Where am I? A hospital? What the hell happened to me?"
Suddenly a voice came from the doorway, "You're somewhere safe, Miss Parker." It was Major Charles, she looked from the Major to Jarod in surprise? "What the hell is going on?"
"Relax, Parker," Jarod assured. "He's here to help."
"Help with what? Out with it, Jarod."
"You were given a drug, more precisely a deadly poison."
Her instant reaction was to smile and laugh out, "What? You've got to be kidding me." But her grin quickly faded when somber faces stared back at her, "You're serious." Jarod nodded as she settled a hand over her racing heart. "Who … would do such a thing?"
Parker knew by Jarod's poignant expression that she wasn't going to like what he was about to tell her, "I traced it back to the Centre."
"What? Why?" And then it dawned on her as she whispered, "Oh," and by the look on Jarod's face, she knew what he was thinking, the Centre had found out about her cooperating with their prized Pretender. She tore her eyes away from Jarod's and stared at a random spot on the wall. She was in too preoccupied with thoughts of how to get out of her situation with the Centre to notice the Pretender slowly sitting on the bed and grasping her hand.
"The only other possible explanation is that they used you to lure me into a trap, either way, you are now expendable in their eyes."
She couldn't face the man who risked his freedom to save her. She feared if she did, she would crack into a million pieces and never be whole again.
She would be okay, if she just didn't look at him. But then Jarod whispered, "Not in mine." He squeezed her hand and in an even quieter tone, "Never in mine." The achingly way he said those words made her stare at the man she did nothing but torment these past few years. She wanted to ask why, but she knew the answer the moment she looked into those chestnut brown eyes.
Tears fell freely down her cheeks as she gazed at the man pouring his heart out like a river.
Unexpectedly, his hand rested on her cheek. She thought for a moment he was going to kiss her, but instead he wiped her tears away.
With a sudden realization of his proximity to her, she turned her head, breaking the magical spell between them. It was all too much for her to handle. She had to gather her bearings.
Raking her hand through her hair and wiping her face, she changed the subject, "So, I guess I have you to thank for not being in a catatonic stupor."
Clearly flustered at the break in contact, Jarod rubbed his hand over his weary face, "Um … you will still need an injection … everyday for the next five days to neutralize the poison in your system."
"Brilliant."
She scanned the room again, "Jarod, where are we exactly?"
