"Miss Parker? Miss Parker," the computer tech leant in closely to her. "It's me, Broots. Can you hear me? It's okay. You can go ahead and yell at me...just like old times," he blubbered. "Threaten me, do whatever you want to do to me...hiss, snap, snarl, growl at me...whatever makes you happy."

Jarod's former "huntress" weakly smiled. "Broots. You're here. Sorry...sorry for everything." Miss Parker laid a hand on her abdomen. "It hurts."

"Sh-shall I-I call the doctor?" Broots nervously stuttered.

She shook her head, then closed her eyes. "There. It's okay now. It's okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Yet, she bit her lower lip gentle as if to hide her pain.

"Debbie's outside with Jarod and Sydney," he informed her.

"No...no, please. I don't want her to see...me like this. In so...much pain." She raised a finger to him. "Don't."

"Okay, Miss Parker, okay. Just relax. She can see you when you're all better," he said, smoothing out the creases of her blanket.

"You know...that's not going to...happen," Miss Parker took in a deep breath, then exhaled very slowly. "Tell her...tell her, she's the daughter...I never had. You take good care of her or I'Il...I'll haunt you when...when I'm gone."

"Yes, Miss Parker, I mean, no Miss Parker," Broots sniffled. "I don't know what I mean."

"Don't cry for me, Broots. After the way I've treated you...thought you'd be happy...that this "Ice Queen" will...no longer exist. Listen to me," she motioned him closer.

"Yes, Miss Parker?"

"You're a good man...a good father. Debbie's lucky...to have you. You are what a father...should be," Miss Parker spoke in between breaths. "You have my vote for...Father of the Year."

"Thank you, thank you, I..."

"Wait. Demands...all those...demands...I'm so very...sorry," Miss Parker cried.

"Don't cry, Miss Parker. It's alright. Don't cry." Broots grabbed a tissue off of her bed tray, and wiped her tears.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You're a...good friend. And it's been...a pleasure in...knowing you."

"Me, too, Miss Parker."

"Tell Debbie...I love her."

"Yes. Yes, I will."

"And Broots?"

"Yes, Miss Parker?"

"I love you, too," she wept.

Broots walked out of the hospital room dabbing his eye with a handkerchief. Debbie ran to greet his sobbing father.

"Daddy, how's Miss Parker? Can I go see her now?" she asked, walking passed her father.

Grabbing his daughter by the arm, Broots stopped her from entering the room. "Sweetheart, Miss Parker's very tired right now. Why don't we let Sydney in first?"

"Doesn't she want to see me?" the little girl asked. "See? I brought "Little Women". It's my turn to read to her."

Sydney intervened. "Debbie, I'll go in now. We'll have to ask her doctor first if you're allowed to visit. There are age restrictions here."

"Oh, okay," she sighed. "Can you tell Miss Parker to hurry and get better? She could take me shopping again." Miss Parker's pint-size friend turned to her father. "Remember that, daddy?"

"I remember it well," Broots smiled. "She made you into a tiny version of her. Her own little Miss Parker."

Debbie sat herself next to Jarod. His head was lowered. Slipping her hand in his, she comforted him. "Don't worry, Jarod. Miss Parker will be alright."

"I hope so," he answered lowly. "I really hope so."

Sydney walked in silently, sitting himself down at Miss Parker's bedside. He studied her for several seconds.

"What are you...staring at?" she asked, peering through her half-opened eyelids.

"Miss Parker, how are you?" the kind psychiatrist asked.

"Peachy," she replied in barely a whisper.

"That's my Parker," Sidney smiled.

"You're a shrink...but, you know this is it for...me. Don't you, Sydney?" she asked in her throaty voice.

Sydney stiffened. "Miss Parker. Don't jump to conclusions. You've been hurt badly. Give yourself time to heal."

"You never knew...how to lie. Take care of...Jarod for me. You...Broots...and Debbie. He'll be lost...without me," she cried.

"Now, Parker. You'll be with us for a long time. Stop talking nonsense."

"Promise me...Sydney. Promise to look...after Jarod. He came back...to me. Promise."

"I-I promise," the old man tearfully answered. "I promise."

"It's sad to die without...knowing if...someone loves you. But...he does. He loves...me, Sydney. He really does."

"Miss Parker, stop it."

"I'm tired. So, very tired."

"Mustn't give up. You hear me, Parker? Mustn't give up."

TBC - Chapter 8