Author's Note: Hi! I'm back. I do apologize for not updating in such a very long time. Hoping there are people around that's still interested in this fanfic. It isn't much. My muse is slowly coming back with these two. Again, I do apologize.

Their love had been forbidden, and their lives had been cursed from the very beginning. Jarod blamed Destiny for bringing them together. He was scared. Could Fate cruelly pull them apart now? The "pretender" paced the floor of the emergency room. It had been two and a half hours since Miss Parker was brought in. She had been conscious, but, anything could have happened. She could have lapse into a coma, or have had internal injuries. Of all the pretends he's done, being a mind reader was not one he had practiced, wishing he knew what was going on behind those closed doors.

The "pretender" was just that, a "pretender". No one really knew what was going on inside that mind of his, like Miss Parker, in her "Ice Queen" persona, putting on a facade on his face before the many people he's encountered. Jarod was a nice guy, but, sometimes being nice was a bit too much for him.

"Fuck, I need a beer," Jarod swore under his breath as he leant against a wall. He walked to the person tending the front desk, and slightly smiled. "Could you tell me how much longer before I would get any information on..."

"One moment, sir," said the young woman, who had been conversing on the telephone what sounded like a personal phone call.

Jarod waited for several seconds before he interrupted her again. "Excuse me, I said, could you please tell me..."

"Sir, I'll be right with you," she replied, with a bit of annoyance appearing on her face.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said angrily. "This is a place of business where you tend to the sick. Kindly get off the telephone and see what's the status of my friend who was brought in." He pointed to his watch. "Two and a half hours ago. Name is Parker."

Rolling her eyes, the young woman immediately ended her telephone conversation. "Yes, sir."

A familiar voice echoed through the ER. "Never mind," Jarod sighed loudly.

"Fucking intern," Miss Parker hissed, walking out of the emergency room, and into the waiting room. "He tried to feel me up every chance he could," she fluffed her hair.

The young physician followed his patient out. "Just routine, ma'am."

"Go back to med school, junior," she snapped at the doctor.

"Is she alright?" Jarod asked.

"She's fine, sir. Just a bump on the forehead. No concussion, everything is fine. Nothing serious. You can take her home. Please, take her home," the young doctor begged.

"Parker?" Jarod raised an eyebrow.

"What?" she growled. "Don't I look alright to you? Just take me away from this asylum. They kept poking needles into me."

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, concerned. "I've been so worried, thinking of the worse scenario." Jarod raked his fingers through his hair.

"Yes, I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be? I was raised a Parker! I can do anything. I've lots to do. First of all, my car. I need my car."

"Well, it needs to be repaired. And by the looks of it, it will probably be awhile before you get it back. So, I'm here for you." Jarod bowed before her. "Whatever you need, whatever you wish...I'm here to grant them all, my lady. And to do whatever your heart desires," he smiled his dimpled smile.

"You're reading too much fairytales," Miss Parker snickered. "Just get me out of here."

Jarod raised his hand. "Excuse me for a sec." Approaching the young woman at the desk, he apologized. "I'm terribly sorry for my outburst earlier."

The woman smiled. "It's perfectly alright, sir. You're tired, worried about her," she whispered. "Don't worry, she'll be back to normal in a few days."

Jarod smiled. "Uh, this is her normal."

"I'm so sorry, sir. Good luck to you," she gave him a sympathetic look.

"Jarod! Let's go!" Miss Parker demanded.

JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP

"What?" Jarod yelled. "After your close call with death, you're still thinking of getting rid of "The Centre"? Did you bump your head completely out of place?" he slammed the front door as they entered her house.

"No!" she yelled back. "Sitting in the ER for that long a period, I've had time to think. It's the Parker in me. I want revenge. I won't rest until we get rid of that place."

"I thought we settled that. Just let it go, Parker. Everything was going well until...Fuck!" he swore.

Miss Parker gasped. "Jarod, you're not the swearing type, and you just swore at me."

"I wasn't swearing at you. Just swearing at this whole situation. Fuck!" again, he said. "I'm tired, I'm so very tired of this life of ours. If I could erase all memories of "The Centre" I would do it in a flash just for you."

Miss Parker held up two fingers. "That's twice in a minute you've sworn."

"Three times today. I said it earlier at the hospital," he confessed. "I'm tired of always being a good guy...thought foul words never passed this lips of mine? I'm human, I get mad and right now I'm so angry at you that I could swear like a sailor! You can't imagine what thoughts went through my head while at the hospital. I thought I'd lose you forever. You're standing here, and I still think I'm going to lose you anyway. What do I have to do to get this so-called plan of yours out of your head? Like I said, if I could, I'd erase all memories of The Centre"!"

Miss Parker shrugged. "Which means erasing memories of me, too. I-I'm sorry. I'm hard to handle at times..."

"I know," Jarod agreed.

"I'll always want my way."

"I know that, too. But, with me, you won't get your way always, not when it comes to "The Centre." I'll steer you clear away from that place."

"And I don't like to share. If you're staying with me, I want you for keeps," Miss Parker pulled at his shirt.

"That's why I came back. I do love you, Parker. I'll never hurt you again. I promise."

"Promises are meant to be broken. I've learn that at "The Centre". But, we're not there anymore." The leggy "ice queen" sat on her living room sofa, leaning her head back.

Jarod dropped himself next to her. "No, we're not. It's just you and me. We need a fresh start. Go somewhere where no one knows us. Anywhere. What do you say, Parker? Will you at least think about it?"

Having not heard any response, Jarod found a sleeping Miss Parker. Gently, he laid her on the sofa. Removing her shoes, he placed a pillow under her head. "We'll talk later." He kissed her lightly on the cheek.

TBC - Chapter 6