She was returning from a meeting with Mr. Parker, her dear old daddy.

He'd gone over his weekly spiel about how vital it was that bring in Jarod. How was it that he could make her feel so… so… guilty? Incompetent? She didn't want Jarod back in this hell hole anymore than he wanted to be back, but nonetheless, her father still had that effect on her.

He hadn't mentioned anything about Betty other than to ask if she was helping. Even then, instead of listening to Miss Parker's answer, he had just brushed it off. And when Miss Parker had tried to ask him about her, he had once again brushed off the question.

That made Miss Parker even more very skeptical of Betty's intentions.

Why was she here? Was she helping out her father? Hating the thought, but having it nonetheless, Parker wondered if the man could have some sort of 'plan' for Betty. One that Miss Parker wasn't supposed to know about. Maybe she was even working with Lyle! Or for Lyle! A spy working right under her nose!

Lost in thought, Miss Parker was almost at her office, when Betted stepped out into the hallway just in front of her. The girl, engrossed in the file she was reading, did not spot Miss Parker and was now walking directly ahead of her.

Miss Parker, wondering where Betty was headed, decided to go on a little trip. She slowed down her pace, so as not to be detected, and started to walk in step with her assistant, far enough behind her so that the girl didn't notice, but not far enough to loose her. With every hallway they turned down and every flight of stairs they climbed, Miss Parker became more and more intrigued.

Who took the stairs anyhow? Why didn't she just take the elevator, like a normal person?

Finally, they reached the cooperate offices and Betty slipped the file she'd been reading on top of a stack of files and turned to leave. As soon as Miss Parker was sure Betty had left, she walked up to that same stack of files and casually opened the one Betty had just been reading.

Glancing at its contents, Miss Parker realized the mistake she'd made and began to feel extremely stupid. It was simply a memo she herself had told Betty to type and drop off. Annoyed, she tossed the file haphazardly on top of the stack, which she'd just retrieved it from.

Feeling disappointed, and a little idiotic, Miss Parker winded back down the corridors, making sure to take the elevators this time, towards her office.

Upon arriving at the hallway just down from the office in question, she spotted Betty, a bit down the hall, talking to someone who looked a lot like…

Mr. Lyle?

Quickly, Miss Parker ducked into the nearest entryway, not wanting to be detected by the two. Realizing, too late, that she was just out of earshot, Parker almost moved closer. She stopped, though, when she spotted Lyle running his hand down Betty's back and giving her rear a little squeeze.

Thoroughly disgusted, Miss Parker stepped out of the shadows and began strutting down the corridor toward the pair, ready to freeze the pants off 'em. What happened next surprised her. Betty grabbed Lyle's arm, twisting it around its socket, to the point where Lyle winced. Miss Parker stopped dead it her tracks.

"Do you want to keep those other four fingers?" Betty demanded.

Lyle didn't answer.

Disgusted, "Do you?!" Betty demanded once more, as she twisted his arm around a little further.

Lyle tried to jerk his arm out of her grasp at the same instant she let go, causing him to stumble backwards.

"Touch me again." She warned as Lyle walked away he grinned maniacally at the blonde.

As Betty turned to walk into the office, she spotted Miss Parker, who quickly straightened up, mechanically, upon Betty's gaze. Betty offered her a slight smile, then looked down, as if ashamed, and stepped out of the hallway.

Most people wouldn't stand up to Lyle, let alone someone working with him. If she had been working with Lyle, or for him, there would be no way she'd had the gall to stand up to him like that.

Miss Parker found herself speechless; she must have had Betty all wrong.

She sat on the edge of her bed, waiting. He would be here soon, she knew. She hated waiting, abhorred it, actually. It was on her list of her top five least favorite things. Tonight, it seemed so much worse.

There could not - NO, there would not - be another day like today.

They had come to close to capturing Jarod. She wouldn't be able to live with herself knowing that she'd put him back there, even unwillingly. She knew they didn't suspect her of missing him on purpose, or she wouldn't be here right now, however, if she came that close and missed again, she wouldn't have another chance.

They would see to it.

"Hey, stranger." He teased as he leaned against the door frame to her bedroom.

She looked up and gave a half smile.

"Not even going to taunt me about the terrible cliché?"

"Today was too close." She warned.

"Parker - I - they- they didn't catch me." He closed the space between them and touched her arm. "I'm okay, see?"

"It was too close." She repeated as she stepped back.

"They've come close before."

"Not like this." She slammed her hand down on the nightstand next to her, "I had to shoot at you, damn-it."

"I'm just lucky you have good aim." He took a step closer.

Flattery would not work on her this time. The only thing worse than not having him, would be to have him and then loose him. She took a step back. This was going to kill her. "No Jarod, it can't happen again."

Pain flickered in his eyes, and then quickly turned to confusion. "What are you saying?" his voice came out slightly accusatory. She took in a sharp breath. There was no going back. She motioned her hand back-and-forth between them. "We can never be."

For a moment he just stood there, shocked. "Wh-what?" he stammered.

"Jarod, you don't have to be a part of this. I'm trapped here, there is no way out for me. But you! You can leave, you can get away from them. Leave Jarod, don't come back here."

He stiffened; she was serious. "Fine," he stated, "but I'm only going, if you come with me."

She dropped her head as he let out a deep breath. She had suspected such a suggestion, had predicted it actually, but she hadn't thought it would be this hard to turn him down.

"Jarod, I think we both know that that's not really possible."

He felt the anger rise within, threatening to escape. The panic… he couldn't loose her. "So, all of those times that we planned to get out of here, you were never serious." His voice had become harsh "You never meant any of it."

"That's not true!" she shot back. Her emotions were getting out of control. She took in a deep, calming breath. "I meant all of those things. At the time, I truly believed that it was possible."

"Then what changed?" he demanded.

"Please, Jarod," she pleaded, "don't make this harder than it is."

"No, Parker! I will not loose you!"

She looked him dead in the eye and, for a moment, he saw hesitation in hers, but it was gone too fast. "I'm already gone." She stated flatly.

It was for the best, she decided. He'd be better with someone else, someone whom he could build a life with and not have to meet in secret. They both had too many damn secrets.

But he could still escape them.

She could not.

Jarod stood there another moment. Was this really happening? He couldn't imagine life without sneaking into her house, being with her. He wanted to protest, to beg, to plead, but knew it would be futile. She'd already made up her mind.

He turned and walked down the stairs. There were no sweepers tonight, he'd checked beforehand, and he was glad because tonight he didn't think he'd have it in him to fight them. He walked out the front door and looked around. Nope, no one.

He began to jog, down the street, away from her. He didn't really feel anything as he quickened his pace, turning it, almost, into a full-out sprint. He didn't think, as he continued to run, numbly, though the dark, suburban streets.