Vertias Odium Parit
For You

"You were wrong," said the youngest of the three gleefully.

"If I was you don't have to be so pleased about it," snarled the eldest, "besides, I'm never wrong."

"You weren't totally correct," laughed the woman.

"I was in what matters. He loves her, that's clear now, so I was right."

"But they didn't spend the night together," wheedled the youngest.

"Maybe," he conceded, "Our informant couldn't say. Both ways the result is the same and there is still time."

"And that is?" he asked, enthusiasm leaked with every word.

"We'll be seeing soon."

"Jarod will never come back," prophesized the woman.

"I think you mean he'll never be caught."

"It's the same thing."

"No, it isn't," said the man in tones that invited no further argument.

Three weeks and not a word; not a single gloating phone call or package, not a clue or breadcrumb or anything of the sort, Miss Parker had already watched the newly acquired DSA's and was, for the lack of a better word, bored.

In spite of this lack of Jarod's … well anything, and the board meetings that replaced the hunt, she was happy. Since Hyannis Port she'd been sleeping through the night; no waking up a customary 3 and 4 O'clock with horrible pictures of what they were doing in the Sub Levels, no unchecked thoughts about pregnant women in elevators, not even the image of … babies from Donoterase, and she was much more peaceful for it.

For Miss Parker though peace never lasts and had for the last week she had been expecting the gods who usually delighted in plaguing her life to notice the happiness and torment her again.

She was, of course, right.

It lasted until little brother came through her office doors - without knocking, what a hypocrite - from being on the hunt for Emily, Ethan, the boy and Major Charles.

"How did you do it!" he yelled, kicking her desk with slightly muddy shoes. "How did you get word to him this time?"

Completely bemused by little brothers temper tantrum she calmly continued filing in some paper work and waited until he yelled some real information.

"It was going to be cut and dry! One meeting of the whole family - minus two (he smiled sinisterly) - we had a helicopter, three vans, almost a dozen sweepers and they got away!"

"They're Pretenders, besides your job is to catch the family, not Jarod, if you had information that Jarod was going to be there, I should have been there." Parker replied, tone matching her twin's perfectly. "How did they get away?"

Lyle took a deep breath and seemed to calm down, perhaps realising that Parker hadn't tipped them off - which she hadn't - this time. "The boy and Major Charles repeated history and got away in a plane. Emily and Ethan on motorbikes and Jarod picked up the aforementioned Centre helicopter, in a completely different direction I should note."

"They could just be separating to meet again later."

Lyle shrugged, his earlier anger all but dissipated. "Maybe, but the helicopter saw them before they saw us and it looked to me like farewell, not a reunion."

Parker sighed, that migraine she always got around 5 PM was arriving early. Stuff this, she thought.

"Fascinating," she mumbled quietly, sarcasm always got on brother's wick but she didn't feel like provoking him today. In fact ever since she woke up every urge in her was telling her to go home and stay home.

"I'm going home," she announced after a moment, maybe it was time to listen.

"What about your work?"

"Wonder-Boy can torment and abuse me from my home phone," she muttered and left the building.

Parker's Centre issued car pulled up into the driveway, it was only 3 PM - an all time early for her. She sat in the car for a while half-listening to some know-it-all on the radio and half trying to figure out why she had felt the urge to come home. She turned off the radio and focused just like Sydney showed her.

From under the youngest tree in the yard you could see the back of the manor and through many of the windows; but the focus is on one window, it leads through into a hall, the latch is broken and no one ever got around to fixing it.

Eyes wide and purpose found Parker locked the car - with her briefcase still inside - and went around the back of her house.

Only to find Jarod half in the window with a broken latch.

With the stealth of a cat she crept up behind him, "You can come 'round the front," she said to him and grinned as he smacked his head on the windowsill.

Still rubbing his head he followed her inside where they sat on opposite sides of the living room, Jarod carefully avoiding the chair he'd been tied to on his last visit.

"You do know that I have my fully-functional gun back now?" Parker asked suspiciously as they sat.

Jarod nodded.

"Then what are you doing here?" She looked at the pretender sitting across from her, he looked, well, different from the last time she'd seen him, it looked like he'd lost weight and his eyes where lack-luster, but she dismissed it - after all it had only been three weeks.

"I came to … to be near you, I guess." He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. In all the years she'd known him he had never looked so confused and agitated.

"For the last three weeks all I've been thinking about is our time at the Hyannis Port. It's the only thing I have been thinking about. The other day I called a woman Parker by mistake."

Parker couldn't help but laugh a little. Goodness knows that things had gotten confusing one time when Thomas had rung her late and got 'Jarod you bastard' as the welcome.

"Was it close?"

"Not even. Her name was Zoë. Can you see the slight red fingernail marks?"

Parker rolled her eyes at his half-hearted humour and quelled the slight resentment for this Zoë character. "They'll match mine if you don't hurry up."

Jarod went very quiet again and continued to look agitated, from the flickers of emotions that flickered across his face; fear, confusion, pain and determination she could tell he was having some kind of inner turmoil. Not wanting to influence the outcome - he was a genius, he could handle himself - Parker went to make coffee, when she came back with two cups he was a little more talkative. The war apparently won. She just hoped not by not-Jarod again.

"She also said I was different," he murmured quietly around the cup's edge.

Parker drank her coffee quickly and went too fetch something from the other room, when she returned she half expected him to be gone but if Jarod thought it was handcuffs or a ring to the Centre he made no move to stop her.

The mirror she came back with was just like the one Sydney had used all those years ago.

"This is you Jarod," she said, voice strangely gentle. "You're the most caring person I've ever met; you help people and punish those who deserve it. You've helped me become a better person and kept me from loosing my soul in the hell that is the Centre."

Jarod pushed away the mirror - nearly knocking over his own coffee - and shaking his head firmly. "I'm a monster, I've buried a man alive, I've taken away a diabetic's insulin and taken another man's kidney. I've threatened people with their worst fears; nearly drowned a hydrophobic, nearly froze a man to death and come dangerously close to killing others. I'm no angel Parker. And no longer can I accuse the Centre of being a monster when I am one too."

He didn't look at her through this whole speech, or at his own mirrored figure, Parker was beginning to feel the first prickling of fear, the Jarod she knew wasn't prone to such self doubt.

"Jarod for thirty years you were locked away, your sims used for the most evil means. This is your justice, and its better than most of what goes on in the real world. How many families have you put back together? How many lives have you saved? The sins the Centre has made were not your sins Jarod, God understands and He forgives you, now you have to forgive you."

Jarod was shaking his head again, he'd obviously been thinking about this a long time, maybe even before Hyannis Port.

The fear was growing, now in the pit of her stomach and starting to writhe, "I see monsters every day, my own brother, my father, which ever one he is. You are not a monster."

Jarod's eyes were squeezed shut as she moved over beside him; it was like she had butterflies that size of birds in her stomach now.

"Maybe not," he conceded. "But how much longer will you say it? When will the line be drawn?"

He looked into her eyes.

"When will I kill someone?" he said with absolute desperation.

There was so much sorrow Parker didn't know what to do, so she did what her mother did when Daddy once again broke a promise. She put her arms around him and shushed him, making soothing noises she didn't know she could.

They stayed like that for a long time, Jarod taking solace in her presence, like she had done with him so many times after her mother's death.

"What would you do with your freedom?" He asked abruptly into her shirt, that was Jarod, always into the hypothetical.

There was no need for consideration; she'd thought about it almost every day after Tommy's death.

"I would move to Europe, take Broots, Debbie, Syd, Angelo and my baby brother. I would find some place with good shops and settle down; some little town where guns are unheard of and people can let children play without fear," she answered wistfully.

It was only when Jarod wiped the tears from her eyes that she realised she was crying.

As his finger stroked away the tear the situation came crashing down around her, he was free, she was not, if he stayed then visa versa, which was exactly what she could never let happen. "Go Jarod, leave and never come back: no more breadcrumbs or messages just go underground. You'll do so much more with your freedom than I ever will."

In response, he kissed her again; salty from her tears, bittersweet and so full of compassion and love Parker knew without a shadow of doubt this was really Jarod.

"I did come here for a reason," he said confessed and got up, returning with her briefcase.

He sat down next to her again, opened her case - with her combination - and removed her gun and handcuffs. Then from his jacket pocket, he removed a red notebook (later investigation would reveal a story about a father that got child support after the mother accused him of abuse) and his own cell phone.

She stared at him uncomprehending. "My freedom for yours," he said simply, a sad smile on his face.

Parker couldn't believe her ears, surely this was a dream - or a nightmare - so she just gaped at the pretender.

"I called - you'll find the phone records prove it - you heard the sound of the bus announcement I was getting onto and caught me."

"But-" you're insane.

He took hold of her hands, and Parker couldn't help but flash back to their last night in Hyannis Port. "There is no hope. I'm a genius, a lab-rat and Wonder-Boy and so I know. Call the Centre; strike a deal, your freedom, Broots' freedom, Sydney's, Angelo's and Baby Parker's.

"I-" couldn't. Not to you.

"'All or nothing' remember? You were right."

No. No. No. I was wrong. She just managed to utter a comprehensive sentence, "They'll give you to Lyle!"

"Doesn't matter," he said dismissively as if it were the weather they were talking about - not life, death and freedom.

Death. Freedom.

"Your family!"

Jarod's expression changed to something unreadable, "My family," he said slowly, "is what I'm doing this for."

Anger filled her sometimes she really doubted his so called genius.

"How is this good for them in anyway?"

Jarod smiled serenely, "My biological family was not happy in the least, but they never understood me Parker, not in the way they were suppose to. It turns out I got my Save The Little Guy, as you call it, from someone else. Not my father at least."

Of course, he expected everything to be peaches and crème after so many years. "Jarod every family has problems, even ones not on the run from the Centre."

He nodded, "I know that, but I always thought that I'd be able to work it out but Emily refuses to do any sort of disappearing, the boy wants to find all the things he's missed out on. Like girls. And Dad wants us to go underground," he sighed, "the only thing they did agree on was that I shouldn't take risks like contacting you."

So he didn't tell them.

The family idea was definitely not working so she said, "Jarod you'd never hurt anyone."

"I wouldn't, but what about Lyle; I've simed him you know, and Douglas Willard - the blue moon killer; I got into his head, and all the others: murderers, rapists, paedophiles and the just plain evil. Will you vouch for them too? Because they're all in my head too." Again he didn't meet her eyes as he said this.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked in a despair that even Tommy's death hadn't brought.

A ghost of a smile graced his face for a second and kissed her again. It spoke a million words.

"You said you weren't trying to make me love you," she said bitterly.

"I'm not."

"Then-" she began angrily, and found she couldn't say it, "then you shouldn't," she finished lamely.

Jarod smiled slightly again, "How couldn't I?"

She just shook her head.

He handed her the pre-dialed cell phone.

"No."

"What?" he said incredulously.

"This isn't a fair game."

Anger replaced the smile, "This isn't a game!"

"I won't call. You're confused and stupid."

"Then I'll call," he said simply and his finger darted towards the 'talk' button.

She picked up the gun. "Neither of us will ring because all that PEZ has gone to your brain. I will, however, call Sydney."

He pushed another button and handed her the phone. "Go ahead."

She did and 30 minutes later (in which Parker glared at Jarod and he seemed to doze) Sydney arrived.

"What's so urgent, Parker?"

She motioned him into the living room and heard him gasp slightly at the sight.

"Jarod!" he exclaimed.

They embraced quickly and Sydney sat down in the seat Parker had vacated. "What's this about?"

Parker made a hand motion for Jarod to explain. He did, going into detail of the difficulties he'd been having, the slipping into people's skins, his total submersion needed to be able to sim and lastly his fears of what he'd become.

"And what are you going to do?" Sydney asked him in his typical psychiatrist voice, but dip in his voice betrayed his concern.

Jarod raised the handcuffs in explanation.

Complete shock registered on his features. "NO!" he bellowed, "Parker, tell me your not letting him do this!"

Then he seemed to conclude something and suddenly he rounded on her, "What did you do to him?" he yelled, and she was reminded the time when he rammed her into the wall, after following him to see Jacob.

She matched him in anger, "Nothing! I came home and he's climbing through my window!"

The old physiatrist let this slide, "Jarod," he reasoned, "If you go back they could kill you."

Jarod nodded in agreement.

Sydney looked at him expectantly, waiting for further reaction. None came. "I will not let you do this, Jarod, think of your family." It was a trump card and a last ditch effort.

"I've already explained that to Miss Parker and with me back they won't chase them. It's for them as much as you," Jarod said, the epitome of calm and consideration.

"Liar," Sydney yelled, getting up and pacing, "This is you getting tired and giving up and I won't let you."

Jarod smiled. "I love you too. Now make the call, Parker."

Neither moved.

"You don't and I will," Jarod warned.

"There are two of us, Jarod," Parker said quietly.

"Then what? I'll walk out of her and straight into the Centre and you know I've done it before." He mimicked the pose from when he had sat in the Centre lobby, picture of Mr Parker in his breast pocket, ready to trade.

Parker shook her head; Sydney regarded him with horrified silence before braking off into a tirade of French.

"Make the call Parker or I leave."

Tears sprung unchecked into her eyes, there was no persuading him, he was like Parker in that respect, but they had to try. "Why not just disappear, stop playing?"

Jarod shook his head, "It wouldn't work. I can feel them, hear them, all the people I've ever simed like static in my head. Each one wants me to listen and their ideas are not … nice."

Sydney interrupted again. "There's medication-"

"That is no use to me; I've investigated all and come up with some of my own. Sydney I've thought about this for months, in the end it comes down to either the Centre or a clinic."

Parker jumped in. "Take the clinic!"

Jarod gazed at her levelly and shook his head, "This is my last chance to do some good." He dropped the calm façade and just looked tired, "Make the call Parker," he said desperately.

The call was made; Lyle was to meet them at a location specified tomorrow morning and Parker felt like dying, or maybe she had died when she called, she couldn't really tell.

Contemplating this new low she went outside to see Jarod and Sydney. The sun was setting but it would be hours before twilight faded and there was still enough light to see by.

Jarod and Sydney were sitting under a tree talking animatedly; Sydney evidently still trying to persuade Jarod into seeing sense and Jarod telling him politely not to waste his breath.

She padded over on the soft grass to them and the conversation stopped as she arrived.

Sydney regarded her for a long while; probably about to chew me out again, tell me I'm my father's daughter. "I'm sorry Parker," he eventually said and moved to get up. Jarod caught his arm, "If this is my last sunset I want my family here."

Sydney swallowed back tears and so did Parker, he allowed himself to be pulled down and Parker sat on Jarod's other side quietly watching the last of the sun disappear behind houses and hills.

Twilight settled and they still made no sound. Crickets and birds sang their songs and finally Sydney got up. "If not even this can change your mind then I guess your mind is made up."

"It is."

The old Belgium nodded and went back inside, leaving Parker and Jarod.

He turned to her, "If I saw you everyday for the rest of my life you could never look more beautiful."

She tore her gaze from the rhododendron bush that held her attention and found her words failed her. She wanted to ask him where he picked that up, to ask him if he knew how many men had said things like that to her and such like but she found she couldn't. Not tonight - not to him.

His hand rested on her cheek, stroking her with his thumb. "This isn't your fault Parker."

Something inside her snapped, her arms slowly went around his shoulders and her face pressed into his chest. She didn't cry, right now she couldn't all she could do was hold onto him for dear life.

Life and freedom.

No, for me it's always been life or freedom.

"Shh, Parker, it'll be okay. You'll see."

A complete lie, but there was no truth left that was not bittersweet.

"Why are you doing this, and I want a real answer," she half-demanded, some of the old Parker attitude shining through.

He pulled back, "I love you," he said simply. "I'd do anything for you."

Then don't leave.

As much as she wanted to say it back, she found her throat had closed up. He understood though, and they sat in silence as the birds and the crickets sang for them. Had Sydney not awoke them they would have spent the night there quietly content in each-other's arms.

It was a runway just like the last time. An almost dirt track held within untouched fields of wild flowers and miles away from anything. Her mother would have loved it. Major Charles was the pilot, but Parker only realised this after he stepped out of the cockpit with tinted side-windows.

"Major," Sydney and Parker greeted him.

"Dad," Jarod said in surprise after embracing his father, "I thought you were getting someone from the air club to fly them."

The Major shook his head sadly, "And miss a chance to talk you out of it. Never."

Jarod frowned, "Just like I told you before, Dad, I'm doing this no matter what."

The Major shook his head in resignation. "I knew you'd say that but at least this way I can tell Emily I tried."

Jarod clapped his dad on the back one more time. "Take them to Europe; there are new identities in a safety deposit box in our usual bank."

Major Charles regarded Miss Parker as Jarod went to inspect the plane. "Seems like this is the second time he's chosen you over me."

Parker was shocked, but recovered smoothly. "I don't want him to do this just as much as you. I didn't ask him to save me."

The Major frowned and took a step closer, his voice lowered, "If I know my son then that is exactly why he's done it."

Parker just looked at him bemusedly. "Sydney," Major Charles said, now turning to the old psychiatrist. "You're staying in the Centre with my son?"

Syd nodded, he had told her privately last night it was 'in the event we can cure him, and help him'.

"Look after him for me."

Sydney smiled his most comforting smile.

Parker looked at her watch, it was 8:55, and Lyle was to be there at nine. Already they could see the slight dust trail churned up by two black Town Cars. The Major hugged his son goodbye and Parker snapped the cuffs on, it hurt her more than she expected. Sydney kissed her on both cheeks and wished her luck. She hugged him tightly as she whispered her love. "I love you too, Parker."

The car was only a minute away when Parker came to Jarod. "I don't know what to say," she confessed. He smiled. "Trust in your heart, Parker." She smiled too and kissed him.

"Thank-you," she murmured and he kissed her in what would be their last kiss, it replied you're more than welcome.

Lyle got out of the car, with him exited Broots and Debbie - carrying Baby Parker - and Angelo. A sweeper removed bags from the trunk that Broots took.

"As per your orders, sis," said Lyle. "One baby, one girl, one mush-head and one geek. Now give me one Freud and one Pretender."

It needed to be showy, if Lyle got a whiff that this was anything but Parker's idea she wouldn't put it past him to have them shoot the plane into a fiery ball.

Privately hoping this was the last time she ever drew her gun she pressed it into the small of Jarod's back, with her head she motioned the others to get in the plane which they did; Broots and Debbie looking completely bemused, Baby Parker (who would get a real name first thing) started crying. Angelo was the only one who stopped.

"Goodbye friend," he said sadly and hugged both Sydney and Jarod.

"Syd," Lyle said.

Sydney smiled goodbye and walked to the car.

Parker began to back away, still aimed at Jarod.

"Goodbye little brother, Sam, Willie, give my love to Daddy," she said and the planes engine started.

"Any movement and I kill him," she yelled over the noise as the sweepers reached for their holsters.

The gun finally and the door closed, though the porthole she saw Sam and Willie jump on Jarod, he just smiled and didn't resist.

The plane took flight in seconds they were so far away she couldn't tell which sweeper was which and a few moments later couldn't see them at all.

It was then that she started to cry.

Broots and Debbie were out of their seats in a flash, arms around her guiding and comforting her, they were no substitute for Jarod's arms, or even Sydney's who just now she realised how much she would miss.

After some time the crying abated to just the occasional hiccup, Debbie let go and became entertained with Angelo and her baby brother. Broots gave her a quick hug and then went red with embarrassment. Parker smiled and grasped his hand thanking him.

After some time she spoke: "Broots, how do you feel about Europe?" she asked and started to laugh rather hysterically and then began to weep again. This time for Jarod and what he'd done for her. It was an even longer while before she stopped, once again in Broots' arms.

She picked herself up and wiped her eyes, Jarod would not have wanted this; he wanted his family to have a real chance of happiness, even when he couldn't. That was why he did it, he had decided that they where his true family, even after all the searching and heart ache he had done it for them.

Miss Parker gazed around the cabin that held her family - minus two. Debbie noticed the attention and make Baby Parker wave from her lap. Parker shifted seats to sit beside her.

"I've got a great idea for a name," Miss Parker said tearfully. "How about we call you Jarod?"

Her little brother gurgled happily and smiled in that carefree way that babies do.

Parker smiled weakly, she had a whole new life to lead - with this Jarod.