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Disclaimer : The Characters Miss Parker, Sydney, Jarod, Broots and The Center are all property
of MTM, TNT and NBC Productions and are used without permission.
No money has been involved here and no infringement is intended.
02/01/2002


PRINCIPATUS UMBILICUS
By Phenyx
PART 1


Miss Parker sat in the darkened office, staring into the blackness. She
unconsciously twisted the teardrop shaped diamond ring on her finger as she pondered her
current situation. The man she would always think of as her father, was dead and had been
buried earlier in the day during a dreary, sparsely attended ceremony.

Six weeks had past since she had last seen Mr. Parker, his precious scrolls clutched
to his chest as he had jumped from an airplane into the ocean. His body had been easily
identifiable once it had finally been recovered from the icy waters. Certain extremities had
been nibbled at but the water had been too cold for sharks and Mr. Parker had remained
intact for the most part. The Center had, of course, conducted an inquest into the events
surrounding Mr. Parker's death. The investigation had been lengthy, intense and a
complete sham.

Now, it was in her father's office that Miss Parker currently sat. She lightly
caressed the desktop, the fine leather of his chair. She desperately tried to summon some
kind of emotion appropriate for such a day. She felt no sadness, not even anger, at the loss
of the only father she'd ever known. Parker closed her eyes, leaned her head against the
back of the chair and sighed.

She felt empty. Empty and alone.

Her hand strayed to the cell phone in her pocket and for a moment she wished that
it would ring. But, she knew that it would not.
Jarod had already called.

The phone had rung just before dawn and Miss Parker had answered it before the
second ring.

"What." She had demanded.

"Did I wake you?" Jarod had asked.

"No." Parker had sighed. "I don't seem to sleep much these days. Besides, I have a
lot to do today."

"My condolences, Miss Parker, regarding your loss."

Parker had almost laughed. "So formal, Jarod. How long did you practice that
line?"

"Too long." Jarod answered truthfully. "I can't say that I'm sorry. I'm not."

"I know you hated him, Jarod." Parker whispered.

"Yes." Jarod responded. "But that doesn't change the fact that he was your
father."

"But he wasn't my father. He never was." She said calmly.

"You always loved him like a child loves her father. That's what matters." He
replied. "That's why it hurts so much now."

Miss Parker had smiled then. "But it doesn't, Jarod. It doesn't hurt at all."

"It will."

"I don't think so." She sighed. "I'm numb to it all now. There's nothing left inside
to hurt."

"You underestimate yourself, Parker. Your passion is your strength. The Center
can't take it from you."

"It's easier this way. There's nothing left to be passionate about. Nothing I want to
care about. It will make it easier." She said blandly.

"Make what easier?" he asked.

"Survival at The Center." She had replied.

"Surviving and living are two different things, Miss Parker." Jarod had said as he
hung up.


The words hung in her mind as she sat in the dark, staring at nothing. Survival was
all Parker could hope for now. With Mr. Parker gone, Raines was in charge. In his typical
fashion, Lyle had attached himself to Raines like a leach, quickly placing himself high on
the chain of command. Her own opinion of Raines was common knowledge. Father or
not, William Raines had killed her mother and Parker was not about to forget it. But
without Mr. Parker's protection, she had to be very cautious.

More disturbing was the fact that she could no longer protect those loyal to her.
Sydney for the most part seemed unconcerned. But Parker knew that Broots was terrified.
He had been a quivering wreck that afternoon at her father's funeral.

With a last heavy sigh, Parker stood and started slowly toward the door. Before
she could cross the room, Parker heard voices coming from the hallway. Without
hesitation, she ducked into her father's private washroom.

The lights in the office clicked on as Raines and Lyle entered the room.

"Have everything cleared out of here by noon." Raines wheezed. "My things will
be delivered by then."

"I'll see to the arrangements myself"

Parker pressed herself closer to the bathroom wall as Lyle walked past. Her classy
black suit served as excellent camouflage in the darkness.

"I don't want any delays." Raines continued. "Now that the Triumvirate has
officially named me as Mr. Parker's replacement, I need to get the remaining transitions
completed."

"Everything is well in hand." Lyle answered. "This evening's memo from the
Triumvirate is merely a technicality. Everyone knows that you are the only possible person
for the job."

"Slimy ass kissing weasel." Parker thought.

The outer door clicked as another person entered the office.

"What is it Willie?" Raines snapped.

"Sir, we've found her."

"Margaret has been located? " Raines asked excitedly.

"In Boston, sir." Willie replied. "But we think that Jarod may have the same
information."

"Lyle, lets get a team to Boston. Now."

"One team?" Lyle asked. "Jarod could get away."

"Capturing Jarod is not the primary concern on this one." Raines rasped. "Your
target is his mother. She can't be allowed to shared any information with Jarod."

"Do you want her brought here?" Lyle asked.

"I want her silenced." Raines declared. "Permanently."

"Should we inform Miss Parker about the lead on Jarod?" Willie asked.

"Don't be stupid." Raines answered. "If Miss Parker finds out what that woman
knows... "

"Things could get very ugly, very fast." Lyle finished.

"Go and get the jet ready." Raines told Willie. "We leave within the hour."

"Do you think Miss Parker would go through with it if she knew?" Lyle asked.

"Yes." Raines barked disgustedly. "Your sister would do anything to eliminate me.
Even if it meant destroying everything we've built here at The Center."

From her hiding place, Miss Parker could hear the two men moving toward the
door.

"I want our best sharp shooter on this, Lyle" Raines instructed. "No screw ups."

Parker waited several seconds before she peeked into the now empty room. Her
heart thudded in her chest as she slid up to the office door and peered into the hall. She
moved quickly down the deserted hallway, glancing furtively around her before ducking
into her own office.

She picked up the phone and quickly dialed.

"Broots." She said once the call connected.

"Miss Parker?" Broots asked. "is there something wrong?"

"Yes, there is." She answered. "I need a favor."

"Oh boy." Broots muttered. He knew that a favor for Miss Parker always meant
trouble.

"Lyle and Raines are headed for Boston." As she spoke, she pulled her weapon
from its holster at her waist and checked it. "I need to know exactly where they are going.
I want a specific address." Parker opened a drawer in her desk, removed two additional
clips for her gun and placed them in her pocket. "Call me on my cell phone when you've
got the information I need."

"Miss Parker, what's going on?" Broots whimpered.

"Raines is trying to kill Jarod's mother." Parker stated.

"What are you going to do, Miss Parker?"

"I don't know yet. Just get me that address." She snapped. "Broots? Tell Syndey
to watch his back." She wasn't sure where her instincts were leading her but Parker's
inner sense told her that she wouldn't be coming back to The Center for a while. "Be
careful, Broots." she added.

"You too, Miss Parker. You too."


Miss Parker stood against the iron railing looking down upon a mid-sized plaza.
Grey stone paved an area surrounding a small fountain. It was the type of place where
employees in business suits could escape the nearby office buildings on calm spring days.
She had been standing there, scanning the area and judging the best escape routes since
dawn. Now, hours later, she had seen no sign of Raines or of Jarod's mother.

The square was getting busy as the noon lunch hour approached. Parker, still
dressed in her black suit, blended in well with the people coming and going from the
building at her back. She sighed in frustration and wondered briefly if Broots could have
been wrong about this location.

Suddenly, Parker noticed a man. He was climbing the scaffolding located just
across the street. All morning, construction workers had been working on renovations to
the old office building. She saw several men in hard hats sprawled on the street corner,
eating from lunch boxes and laughing to each other. She knew that the man she watched
now was not a construction worker.

Adrenaline surged through her body as Parker realized what was happening. The
man on the scaffolding was checking his position. He was partially hidden among the
equipment but Parker could see that he had a gun. She started moving toward the
opposite side of the square, looking for the man's intended target.

Parker had run down the concrete ramp and was halfway across the square when
she spotted a woman with reddish hair stepping from a van parked at the corner.

It was Jarod's mother.

The older woman was searching the square with her eyes, obviously looking for
someone.

Suddenly her eyes locked on Parker's and she gasped in surprise.

"Look out!" Parker yelled as she pulled her gun from its holster.

"NO!" a voice behind them shouted.

Parker and the other woman both turned toward the voice. Jarod stood at the
railing above the square where Parker had been only moments before. His hands clutched
at the railing as he stared at them in disbelief.

Miss Parker looked toward the shooter and saw him take aim with his rifle.
Without thinking, Parker threw herself in front of Jarod's mother and aimed toward the
scaffolding.

"Run!" Parker yelled as she pulled the trigger.

The gunshot from her weapon was followed closely by another report. Parker
heard a bullet whiz past her ear and ricochet into the pavement. As people around her
screamed and dashed for cover, she fired at the assassin once more. She turned toward the
woman behind her. Jarod's mother stood stunned, staring toward the railing where Jarod
stood.

Parker ran up to the woman and shoved her toward the nearby van. Out of the
corner of her eye she could see Jarod as he vaulted over the railing and into the square. As
he landed on the stones, he fell into a crouch. Parker could see him searching the
scaffolding with his eyes. At the far side of the square, she could see Lyle and three
sweepers approaching, as they tried to get around a fleeing crowd of panicked business
people.

The van door opened. Parker had just enough time to register the familiarity of a
young face within. She shoved the older woman toward the opening and turned again to
cover her as she clambered into the vehicle.

Another shot rang out, and Parker felt a searing pain rip into her shoulder. Her
own gun went off but the shot went harmlessly into the air. She felt herself falling
backward. As if in slow motion, she saw Jarod take aim and fire. Across the street a body
teetered and then fell among the stunned construction workers below. Jarod turned
toward her and started to run.

"Jarod, Stop!" Lyle shouted pointing his gun at Jarod's back.

"Go." Jarod mouthed toward Parker as he skidded to a stop.

Parker felt hands grab her by the arms and yank her into the van. Tires squealed as
the van surged away from the scene and the van door slammed closed. The vehicle sped
around a corner, throwing its occupants against the walls. Parker gasped as her shoulder
exploded in pain.

"Johnny," Jarod's mother ordered. "Help me."

Parker clutched her shoulder and looked around her.

The van had only four seats. The rest of the area was open, like a delivery truck or
a florists van. In the driver's seat, Jarod's father, Major Charles, was intensely focused on
the road and their escape. Emily sat in the seat beside him. Rummaging at her feet she
quickly produced a small first aid kit, which she passed to a young man.

"You'll need this John." She said as she handed the kit to him.

Half kneeling, half standing, the boy took the box and scooted across the space to
Miss Parker's side. The boy wore a simple t-shirt and a well-worn pair of jeans. His dark
hair was long, almost shoulder length in the back.

"Hey there, kiddo." Parker said gently.

"Hello, Miss Parker." John smiled at her affectionately. "It's nice to see you
again."

"You too. You've grown since I saw you last " With her good hand, she brushed a
lock of hair away from his eyes. Parker could see a familiar twinkle in the child's gaze.
The boy who had once been known only as project Genesis, now seemed to be a vibrant,
normal young man. "Your hair is too long." She whispered.

The boy shrugged, "Long hair is a common form of adolescent individualism." He
stated clinically as he carefully pulled her jacket away from the wound on her shoulder.

"My God," Jarod's mother interrupted. She was openly staring at Parker in awe.

"I know, I know." Parker sighed in exasperation. "I look just like my mother." She
gasped as John peeled the fabric of her blouse off of her shoulder and pressed a bandage
to the bullet hole.

"I look like her, but that's all. I'm not at all like she was." Parker gritted through
her teeth. "I'm a lot tougher to deal with." Why Parker felt the need to be on the defensive
with this woman, she didn't understand. But her pain made her edgy. Parker noticed that
her gun was now clutched tightly in the other woman's grasp, causing a twinge of concern
in Parker's gut.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She thought.

The van swung onto the highway, matching speed with the other cars around
them.

"I think we're clear." The Major said to no one in particular.

"That mean's we've lost Jarod." Emily moaned. "Again."

"We found him once." John stated confidently. "We'll find him again." Parker
winced as he tied a bandage tightly around her shoulder.

"The Center will never let us find him." Jarod's mother sagged against the wall in
defeat. "They know it would finally be the end of this nightmare." The woman's eyes filled
with unshed tears.

Parker slumped against the wall and frowned. "Why?" she asked.

"I know the truth." She whispered. "I know what they don't want him to learn."

"Tell me." Parker pleaded. "Please. I have to know."

"Mom," Emily warned. "It has to be both of them. Alone, the information could do
her more harm than good."

"Not knowing has done all the harm." Parker hissed. She struggled to get up but
the boy who looked so much like Jarod eased her back.

"Miss Parker, please." John murmured. "You are still bleeding. Try to stay calm."

"Stay calm he says." Parker snapped as she sat back down. "I have every answer
to every question I've ever had sitting right here and he says to stay calm."

"We must find Jarod." His mother urged. "He is the key to everything."

"That much I had already heard." Parker muttered in disgust.

"What do we do now, Dad?" Emily tried to change the subject.

"We wait." Parker interrupted before the Major could answer.

John cocked his head inquisitively in a way that Parker knew well. "Wait for
what?" the boy asked.

"He'll call." Parker said, pulling her cell phone from her jacket pocket. "Just as
soon as he can, he will call."

"If he gets away from the sweepers." Jarod's mom worried.

"He'll be alright, Margaret." The major soothed. "We have to believe that he'll be
alright."

"He'll call." Parker said confidently. "There were only four of them and Jarod was
armed." She closed her eyes to shut out the pain, her good hand clutching at her torn
shoulder. "He'll get away and he'll call."

Parker's cell phone abruptly rang, making them all jump. She grinned in triumph at
the stunned look on Margaret's face as she snatched the phone up.

"What?" she barked as she put the phone to her ear.

"Are you all right?" Jarod's voice purred.

"No, you moron." She growled, "I've been shot." Jarod's family glanced at each
other in confusion.

"But are you all right?" He repeated.

Parker sighed. " I think I'll live."

"What have you done with my mother?" Jarod demanded.

"That hurts Jarod." Parker pouted. "It really hurts. What would I have done to
her?"

"Where is she then?"

Margaret reached toward the phone but Parker batted her away.
"Even if I wanted to tell you, Jarod, I couldn't." Parker said. "You know that this
line isn't secure."

"I don't care if the whole world is listening, Parker. Just tell me." Jarod
whimpered. His sounded close to tears as he pleaded with her. "Please Parker please, tell
me where she is."

Jarod was laying it on thick. Parker and Jarod both knew that they couldn't talk
openly but she feared that his theatrics were getting too obvious.

"I don't know, Jarod. She dumped me on some street corner like a bag of trash."
Parker declared. Margaret moved forward again to snag the phone but this time, John held
her back. He knew that Parker and Jarod were trying to mislead who ever might be
listening.

"Where, what corner?" Jarod sniveled some more.

"Jarod," Parker groaned. "I'm tired and I'm hungry. I can't deal with this now."

"Well," Jarod cooed, suddenly calm, "you should get a sandwich or something."
He paused as if thinking for a moment. "Have you ever had a Monte Cristo? It's a very
filling sandwich."

"A deep-fried sandwich that you eat with syrup, right?" Parker answered. "Not my
style, Rat-boy. It would reek havoc with my ulcer anyway."

"Too bad," Jarod replied. "I know where you can get a great one."

Parker abruptly ended the connection and smiled to herself.
She looked from one concerned face in the van to the other and said "We're going
the wrong way. We need to head north."

Emily exchanged confused glances with her mother as Parker continued. "Jarod
will meet us in Maine."

Parker held her breath for several moments until Major Charles slowed the vehicle
and proceeded to change their direction. They had believed her, Parker realized with
surprise. No one questioned the decision, though she could see other questions in their
eyes. Jarod's family had effortlessly placed their trust in her. Now Parker felt the huge
responsibility of getting them all safely to their destination.

"I want my gun back." Parker said suddenly.

Margaret flinched as she looked at the handgun, as though she had forgotten that it
existed.

She handed the weapon across the small space butt first. Parker grimaced, as she
checked the clip and cocked a round into place, her wound pulled sharply. She wondered
briefly if the bleeding had stopped. She studied her ruined blouse and the bandage on her
arm. There was a lot of blood. Not so much that she feared she was going to bleed to
death. But there was more than she wanted to see.

It would take several hours to drive to Lake Catherine and Ben's place in Maine.
Parker's shoulder throbbed painfully as the adrenaline rush of recent events began to fade.
Her nerves were raw. Exhaustion crept across her mind as she peered warily at Jarod's
mother through lowered lashes.

Parker watched John as he scooted over to Margaret's side and curled into a ball.
The boy put his head in his mother's lap, smiled serenely at Miss Parker, closed his eyes
and promptly went to sleep.

Parker kept her vigil at the rear window of the van. For the last seven hours she
had obsessively watched the road behind them for signs of Lyle and his sweepers. She
clutched her gun tightly as the van left the main road and began to bounce along the rutted
drive leading to Ben Miller's Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Jarod's mother drove now. Emily had taken a turn at the wheel earlier. They had
stopped several times during the afternoon for gas and once for more bandages. Just after
sunset, they had stopped briefly for food but Parker had not felt well enough to eat
anything.

John sat in the front passenger seat looking excitedly toward the well-lit inn as it
came into view through the trees.

"Do you really think he'll help us find Jarod?" the boy asked her enthusiastically.
Parker nodded at the young man. "Ben thinks Jarod is wonderful. He'll help us."
She sighed.

"A lot of people think Jarod is wonderful." Major Charles added.

Parker shifted painfully, her arm was burning at the shoulder, in spite of the drug-
store painkillers she kept popping. More troublesome still was the fact that the fingertips
of her wounded arm had gone numb.

The van pulled to a stop in front of the inn and everyone stepped cautiously into
the night air. Major Charles opened the rear door of the van to help Miss Parker out. The
world shifted abruptly beneath her as she tried to stand. For a moment Parker felt her head
swirling.

"Miss Parker." The Major exclaimed with concern.

She brushed him away. "I'm all right." She assured him. "Just tired, very tired."
Parker glanced around at the front of the inn. She noticed with relief that the only
other car in the driveway was Ben's pick up truck. It was the middle of the week during a
slow time of year and Parker had been hoping there would be no other guests.

She struggled up the few stairs to the porch and knocked on the door. Her
wounded arm dangled woodenly at her side. She glanced at the small family gathered
behind her on the porch as she waited for Ben to answer the door. She wearily placed her
forehead against the doorframe.

"Come on Ben." She whispered tearfully. "Please answer."

She knocked again, pounding on the wooden panel with her fist.

When the door opened, Parker nearly cried out in relief.

"Why Miss Parker." Ben exclaimed. "How wonderful to see you." His eyes glinted
mischievously.

"Ben." She smiled. "Ben, I need..." Parker gestured to the group behind her. "We
need some help."

Ben opened the door and began to usher them all into the warmth of the house.

"Of course." He declared. "Come in."

Parker stepped into the room and leaned against a nearby wall.

"Come in out of the cold." Ben repeated to his new guests. "Any friends of Miss
Parker's..."

Parker felt the world tilt again. The wall couldn't hold her up any longer as her
knees buckled beneath her. Parker slid quietly to the floor and Ben rushed to her side.

"Miss Parker!" Ben knelt beside her. Seeing the blood on her clothes, Ben turned
quickly and called down the hallway. "Jarod! Miss Parker is hurt!"

Parker blinked stupidly as Jarod suddenly appeared in the room. Jarod rushed to
her side, glancing for only a moment at the family gathered before him.

"I'll need a first aid kit if you have one." He said to Ben as he bent over her. The
older man dashed away.

Jarod gently pulled the bandages from her shoulder to assess Parker's wound.

Parker gasped as he unavoidably pulled at the tear in her flesh.

John appeared next to Jarod, offering the small kit he had been ministering Parker
with all afternoon.

"There's no exit wound." The boy volunteered.

"The bullet is still inside her arm." Jarod agreed.

Parker whimpered as he prodded the skin around the small hole. "My fingers." She
whispered.

"What about them? " Jarod asked as he deftly stroked her cheek to gage her
temperature.

"My fingers." She licked her lips and swallowed hard. "My fingers are numb."

Jarod took her hand and examined it closely, poking and pinching it in various
places. He exchanged a worried glance with Ben as he returned with a large blue toolbox
full of emergency supplies.

"Bring the box." Jarod ordered as he scooped Parker into his arms and carried her
into the kitchen.

He stood, effortlessly cradling Parker in his arms as he glanced around the
spacious area for a moment. He then began barking instructions.

"Mom, clear that center piece off the table." He nodded toward a large sturdy
table that could easily seat six. "Emily, I'll need hot water." As Jarod's mother pulled
things off the table, Jarod gently placed Miss Parker on the open surface.
"John, at the top of the stairs is a closet. Bring me at least two blankets from that
closet." Jarod went on. "Dad, I need some alcohol. Scotch if you can find it but anything
will do. The den is through there and to the left." Jarod pointed in the general direction of
the den.

Parker watched him wearily as Jarod turned toward the now open first aid kit. He
smiled sadly at her and said gently, "I need to get the bullet out."

Parker simply nodded.

"Jarod," his mother spoke for the first time since entering the house. "you ...you
can't operate on her right here in the kitchen."

Jarod stepped to his mother and hugged her tight. After the quick hug, he smiled
brightly at her and said "Sure I can. Its not exactly sterile but the light is good. I can make
do."

Jarod reached into his jacket and removed an ominous looking switchblade from
his pocket.

John and his father both returned. John carried several blankets. Major Charles
carried two full bottles. One was scotch the other was vodka.

"Excellent." Jarod praised as he took the liqueur. "I need clean towels and a
bowl."

Ben gestured Emily toward a cabinet where she found a large bowl, while he
opened a drawer and removed a handful of dishtowels.

Jarod removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Then he leaned over Parker and
brushed the hair gently away from her face.

"Are you okay with this?" he asked. "I could take you to the emergency room
instead."

Parker smiled weakly at him. "And wind up with some shmuck of an intern who
couldn't find his own ass with a scalpel?" She shook her head. "They would ask too many
questions and we can't afford to give them any answers."

Jarod nodded in agreement as he twisted the cap off of the vodka and poured the
liquid into the bowl. After he emptied the bottle into the dish, he dropped the knife into
the alcohol to sterilize it.

He rummaged through the other supplies and dropped a few more items into the
alcohol. Jarod then unwrapped the scotch, turned toward Miss Parker and handed the
open bottle to her.

"Its the only anesthesia I've got." He said apologetically.

"It will do," she said. Jarod held her head and helped her to drink from the bottle.
After she'd taken several gulps, he placed the bottle on the counter. Everyone else
in the room was silent. Jarod took a pair of scissors and leaned over Miss Parker once
again.

"I'm going to have to cut your blouse off." He whispered in her ear.

"That's all right." She muttered back. "It's ruined anyway." She sniffed.
Jarod quickly removed the silky material and tossed it aside. He placed several of
the towels over her, for modesty's sake. Then he carefully washed his hands in the vodka
filled bowl.

"Dad, Ben , I need you to hold her still."

The two men moved to the table to do as Jarod had asked.

"Can I help?" John's young voice asked.

"No, I think we're ..." Jarod started to decline.

"Hey there kiddo?" Parker called to him gently. "You could hold my hand." She
said gently.

John quickly moved opposite Jarod and grasped Parker's good hand. Jarod could
see that the boy was frightened and trying hard to stay calm.

"Ready?" Jarod asked her as he gazed into Parker's eyes.

Without waiting for her answer, Jarod took the blade to her flesh. He felt her body
jump as he cut into her. Some part of his mind grimaced at the knowledge that he was
hurting her but he had to keep working. Within moments, he'd located the bullet. He very
cautiously removed the bit of metal as it was lying very near her radial nerve.
He worked quickly, concentrating intently on the specific spot on her shoulder.
She was arching against the table in pain but he resolutely blocked that knowledge from
his consciousness. He simply refused to hear her whimpers as he professionally sutured the
wound. Only after bandaging her shoulder tightly did he allow his focus to widen.

Parker was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and her skin had taken on a bleached
pallor. Ben and Major Charles were both visibly shaken as they backed away from the
table. Young John, tears on his cheeks, rubbed at his hand. Jarod could see moon shaped
cuts in the boy's skin where Parker's nails had clawed at him.

"John," Jarod said. "Hand me those blankets." The boy quickly brought three
warm and soft blankets. "How's your hand?" Jarod asked lightly in an attempt to relieve
some of the tension in the room.

"I'm sure I'll be able to feel it again soon." John tried to smile, but failed.

Jarod quickly wrapped Parker tightly in the blankets and lifted her from the table.
"Ben, could you start a fire in the hearth? I don't want her going in to shock. I
need to keep her warm."

With Parker bundled like an infant in his arms, Jarod strode from the kitchen. In
the living room, Jarod curled up on a couch close to the fireplace. He held Parker cradled
in his lap as he rocked her gently back and forth.

"Is she going to be okay?" Ben asked as knelt at the fireplace with a match.

"She'll be fine." Jarod answered confidently.

Jarod's father sat in a chair opposite the couch and gazed at the woman in Jarod's
arms.

"She's a strong woman." Major Charles said.

Margaret perched on the arm of the chair beside her husband.

"Yes she is." Jarod agreed. "She's had to be."

His mother smiled. "It's good to know that the two of you are still so close."

Jarod scoffed. "We're not close, Mother." He replied sadly. "The only reason she
is allowing me to hold her this way is because she's unconscious. Tomorrow she'll
probably try to shoot me for it."

"Probably." Miss Parker croaked foggily from beneath her blankets.

Jarod chuckled. He stroked her cheek with his fingertips and asked, "Are you
warm enough?"

Parker's eyelashes fluttered as she tried to look up him. "Hmm." She nodded.

"Sleep now, Miss Parker." Jarod hushed. "You'll feel better in the morning."

She struggled weakly against the exhaustion that pulled at her.
"No," she moaned. "The answers, she was going to tell us...I need to ask her..."

Jarod glanced at his mother and sighed. "We'll both talk to her tomorrow. We can
ask all our questions tomorrow." Jarod soothed. "I promise."

Parker groaned once more and slipped into unconsciousness.

"What now?" Margaret asked.

"Now, Ben shows you to a room and we all get some sleep." Jarod replied. "It's
been a long day." He gazed down at the woman sleeping in his arms. "And we have a lot
to discuss in the morning."









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