When Jarod and his clone are presumed dead and further cloning attempts prove futile, Raines is determined to find another way. He finds it in Dry River, Arizona.
Phew. When I left off with this I was afraid Parker was dead. I have somehow missed the updates since then, and I'm relieved that you continued and although I'm sorry to see it complete because now there won't be more I'm relieved also that you have other stories.
I love how global this is and that scene. *whistles IS HOT.
Bad timing but good f***.
I love it.
I'm totally gutted by that scene and Jarod's breaking heart but the way he lets her go and is so tender with her and wants her to be careful and free. The missing piece here is that she put that pendant in his hand along with a thumb drive during the limo scene back in scotland and I love that and it's my canon now. Periodt!
I hope he will be done with Rachel now. I know they have sex lives outside of each other but I want them to be exclusive with each other. I'm a sappy shipper.
This is brilliant and I love it.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed YES! Another haunted island. Jarod believing that he was hallucinating again is hilarious. Parker is John Wick. Lol. Yep. She's kicking arses and taking names. I love the lyrical and poetic way you write about nature. Very gothic too. You talked about the ivy wrapped around the building and how it could pull the building down and entomb it. Wow. Visually stunning and beautiful.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed "The man, the myth, the legend" Yes, she did. How accurate is that? What a beautiful home she's made, a kind of walking city, and Jarod isn't there to arrest her, he's there to help her. It's so Jarod. I love how she invites him to kiss her but only after she realizes there's no risk to him, his career, etc. Oh, Mirage.
For someone who isn't a shipper you check all of the shippery boxes for those of us who are. I thank you.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed A true resolution, and I love how Angelo comes out of nowhere like he so often did during the telly series. It's the last thing I expected and I'm in love with this. You have the three of them together, home at last, and already off on their first adventure.
The way you describe the past, the way they look to see if she's with them, and ok, the way you superimpose it all and all of it. My God. It's exquisite. I love it. I love this happy endingbeginning.
I love that this story says goodbye to us with a smile.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much. This journey was painful at times, so worth it, and so beautiful.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed This is bloody brilliant and I can't enough. Please continue.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed A past transgression jeopardizes Sydney's life.
Oh, stunning work, Mirage. It's profound that Jarod would get upset to the point of vomiting over what happened to Parker but not himself. From a genius's perspective he knows he can handle anything and he isn't wrong when contrasting that to Parker. We already we see that Parker handles things by drinking excessively (in the series) and avoiding Jarod ..she did that on the series and in this story.
It wasn't the potential incest thing that drove Jarod to his knees or his past pain at Sydneys hands, it was Parker's pain. He began feeling ill since meeting with Lyle and hearing lyle talk about Parker, voice concerns for her. I think Jarod has been dreading learning that worse things happened to Parker. He loves her obviously and would react that way. It's plausible, in character. Everyone is in character.
Congratulations.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed _
Please update again soon. This is so awesome 😎
Reviewer: Imogen Signed -
Exquisitely written. Jarod back in the Centre. Oh, my God. I have no words.
I have to say the characters are the characters and pitch perfect. "Starve a fever feed a griever" spoken in Jarod's/Michael's voice is echoing through my head now. I can hear them and see them and it's actually scary but in the best way. He gets salty sometimes, especially when he's afraid.
Miss Parker covers nicely with her working late remark. She's trying to conceal her feelings. She's afraid too and in shock. Jarod usually escapes. She usually lets him.
Her "sitting this dance out " remark is also appropriate. I can hear them and see them. Have I mentioned that?
It's perfect Mirage.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed I'm trying to guess how Jarod will react when he finds out Parker didn't leave. He's sitting on meetings with the leaders and seems to have some control over certain aspects of his life now. Even if he has to think up new ways to have people unalived to enjoy awards. Yikes. I just need more. I'm eagerly and impatiently waiting for more.
Amazing work!
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Stunning work, and stunning content. After my third reading and after deeper thought, it's obvious that Parker suspected something was up with Jarod, he seemed off, hestitant, agonized, and was staring at her. He was struggling with his decision, possibly trying to figure out how best to achieve the desired result.
I think he legitimately realized that he would be unable to inject Parker without her help when she told him that he wasn't going to stop her. I think he was genuinely agreeing with her and finally knew what he had to do and that's when he decided to say he couldn't do it alone and looked past her.
I'm so impressed with that, and it's so subtle that I missed it the first two times I read this. I read you with a fine tooth comb. You always sprinkle something in there, deep between the lines that I miss on the first reading.
It almost seemed like a natural normal encounter between those two, as normal and natural as an encounter between those two could be. It's always exciting, those encounters, because they are so rarely seen together on the tv series.
The creators seemed to lean into that by always bringing together for the season finale, or just one or two episodes during the entire season. Seeing them together on that last movie was appalling for me.
Beautiful work as always.
Hi, yeah, I feel that. "Normal encounter." What even is that? We never get to see what a "normal" looks like for them, and because it's them, anything could happen. Or nothing. They could be siblings. No fanfic author can ever go wrong.
Jarod absolutely didn't have it all plotted out to perfection until that moment. He realized he needed her help. He knew he didn't want her to see him in the act of doing what he was doing. The poor man. This Jarod would be appalled by what other Jarods have done in my scribblings. And I have to them: Same, Jarods. Same.
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Hi, yeah, I feel that. "Normal encounter." What even is that? We never get to see what a "normal" looks like for them, and because it's them, anything could happen. Or nothing. They could be siblings. No fanfic author can ever go wrong.
Jarod absolutely didn't have it all plotted out to perfection until that moment. He realized he needed her help. He knew he didn't want her to see him in the act of doing what he was doing. The poor man. This Jarod would be appalled by what other Jarods have done in my scribblings. And I have to say to them: Same, Jarods. Same.
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed
Finished business.
I took the plunge and registered just so I could review this. I've had long covid thanks to an antimasker and oh, that' such a long story. But I'm here now, and so glad to read you again. Ohh! I love this story! Did you write this immediatly after watching the Risque Business episoode by any chance? It feels like you did, that fresh rawness and some real grit in it despite the subtlety and calm Melissa is feeling and despite Jarod being in decompression mode, and I can see him in a diner half a state away from Melissa. It feels like you were in full rebuttal mode, like, "must. rectify. this. shit. now." I had the same feelings but too much anger and ugh Jarod's "today the porch tomorrow the world" drivel like that's it and everything'll be fine, but what Jarod doesn't understand is the day after tomorrow or the week after she might retreat back into herself again because that's how it really is. It was too pat. And rapists usually don't face jail time. And he was like "people need you" but no, Jarod, she needs to heal herself. Self care Jarod. The rant is coming if I don't stop now.
So, you were just going to dip your toes into fanfic and leave us. I'm glad The Pretender caught you. That might be a not good way of wording it. There is a certain something about this series that grabs hold and doesn't let go. I, too, was unsatisfied with how this episode left off. I'm trying not to rant. It seemed incomplete. But you've had it completed all this time haven't you? This landed with some ooomph for me. Missing pieces drop hard sometimes, and I think in the US some of our friends are going to feel this even harder right now. It's a current mood really. It's cute and cuddly but it has teeth. And the rapist is dead so that's a happy ending all around. I'm happy that Paul Arnett is dead now. From my entire heart Mirage thank kou for this.
The scribbling isn't a rebuttal. I have nothing negative to say about the series. It's television, fiction. The performances were always solid and written well. I won't even pretend that I can do it better. I would like the answers to all of the questions NOW, however; a post-it note will suffice. OR I'll continue to make up my own answers and torment you all by continuing to post them here.
I wasn't angry. I was simply-- not anticipating the episode to unfold the way it did. I sorta wanted to skip the episode (yes, I'm quite capable of understating) (I'm guessing my must-skipness wasn't related to the subject matter (rape), because must-skipness struck again when Parker and Jarod almosted on the Isle of The Almost---- and, no, it isn't lost on me that some of the scribblings I've posted are about stuff-I-could-barely-watch. That wasn't intentional.)
I think I was a little bit puzzled, too, by the literal and figurative whiplash of Parker-with-a-whip-by-God (fun times over in Centre Wonderland; I would have enjoyed an entire episode devoted to just Parker-with-a-whip-by-God) (a . I was sorta hoping Parker would beat the rapist to death with the whip. She had the whip. She. had. a. whip. And didn't use it on anyone.
Ah, the "family show."
And Parker still didn't capture Jarod; that was always disappointing. It's like she wasn't even trying (because she wasn't).
Yeah, I think I might know what you mean maybe. The process of surviving and healing that kind of trauma isn't linear, I'm guessing, and I imagine it's probably a sorta long-term, and possibly even exhausting pursuit, so, yeah, victims can think they're healed and be perfectly okay for years, maybe decades, but trauma has the tendency to bubble back up to the surface without any warning. Daily self-care is absolutely essential (you know I'm not talking about bubble baths and pedicures).
But Jarod has to be Mr. Positivity and the episode had to end on a high note. I understand that. I love that this old series can still provoke a good rant, although, I found nothing even remotely rant-ish about your review. I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
A last resort
You have my attention. Sign me all the way up every time for some Mirage. This is a tight first chapter and I'm truly impressed with your skills. It's a compelling, original plot that I've never read before and fast paced and amazingly written. This could and should be the next television episode of The Pretender. You're a hell of a story teller, and a fount of brilliance. You are writing how many fics right now? Please update them all.
Thanks, Imogen.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Ohh beautiful sweet author! I love Jarod's "Or" and wanting to push Parker's buttons and just all of it really. Please post more when you can and update the other pieces too. You're quite addicting to read.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Part six of The Return series.
Exquisitely written as always Mirage.
I need more of this in my life right now. Please update, continue, don't stop. I'm a hard core TP fan and TP addict. I love them and I love how precise you write them.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Blimey but you've been missed. Try not to stay away so long next time won't you?
This is astounding of course. Your stories always are. Please continue.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed This scribblet follows Asphyxia.
Exquisite, Mirage. You really know the characters, and you're just one of those authors who pull me right into the story and won't let go. You keep the pages turning and always leave me wanting more. This is a frightening scenario and plausible. I think Dr. Williamson is one of those unlikable doctors, and I can't blame for Jarod and Broots for disliking him.
There is no confusion. Your notes are always so funny. I understand exactly what you're writing. Your writing is clear and succinct. We all interpret it differently. I hope you never second guess yourself. Please continue. You're quite skillful and talented. You're a hell of an author and storyteller. It's all perfection. Pretender Perfect.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed This scriblet follows Incursion.
"See you at home" I'm dead. OMG! The choice is clear. I guess most of us would be checking out right then to be cared for by Dr. Jarod. Would you do that? I think I would meet him back at the house but I'd probably ask him not to wear the gloves and be so doctory lol but that's me. Parker isn't ready for that kind of deal with Jarod. I'm hella impressed with this and with how Jarod Jarod is, and how Broots Broots is and how Parker that Parker is. You do them justice and beyond. I want more.
Ah, no, don't be dead. Be alive. You'll get more.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed _
Exquisite. I have no words right now.
This could easily be a continuation of the pretender from carthis forward. It's been a little while since Jarod and Parker have seen each other.
His snarky humor shines. "I run. You chase. Okay?"
I'm in love with this.
More please.
We deserve it.
Reviewer: Imogen SignedImpressive as always. The death didn't seem all that unforeseen or shocking in the least to me. Broots made the comment in IOTH, "has anyone seen that little kid?" He suffered from underdeveloped lungs or something.
This doesn't surprise me. It still hit hard. Parker and Jarod's reactions, her words, the struggle to tell Jarod about the bunny without breaking all the way down until he heard her. Even I, a self professed ice queen in my own right, shed some tears. You write it so remarkably plausible. I need more. I have to see where they go from here. I'm here for it Mirage and I appreciate every word you've written.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Oh, my heart. Stunning writing, Mirage. You give us such a intimate look inside beginning with the silence of the house, and the Major's unhealed wounds, and then Emily's eye witness account and her inability to confide her fears and pain completely because she doesn't want to cause her father even more stress. We learn that Ian took the news badly and then you move us upstairs to Jarod's bedroom where he has carried Parker, and put her to bed. Grief can be crippling like that. For parents, in particular, and that anger is understable. We know that Parker has been fueled by rage for a while, all through the series, and she even wanted to look the man who killed Thomas in the eye before he died in the electric chair. That anger is her religion. It saves.
Jarod agrees with her either because he knows Parker needs revenge or he needs revenge too only he calls it justice or both. It's the right thing to do. Their child deserves justice. It's so refreshing to read you. It does my heart good. This world right now. With the military being unleashed on LA, on American citizens exercsing their legal right to protest that American citizens are being unjustly deported to horrible prisons in other countries by McGrabby Rapist's Gestapo.... and that orange rapist mcGrabby TinyHands in the White house... grrrrr. It's weird and sad that I prefer a Pretendverse to the real one. I thank Jaccie for this website and her writing and all of the authors and you. This place is like a church for me. I worship hard here.
I have to say that you make Emily quite likeable. WE don't learn enough about her on the tv series to know if we like her or not. You always make her relatable. Your writing is clear and plausible and I'm hanging on every word and craving more. Thanks for being you.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed This scribbling follows Wild Horses, and concludes the not-yet-titled series.
Oh, wow, exquisitely written. I need more of this in my life! Not so subtle hint.. 😉 😉
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Fanfreakingtastic from start to finish. I have to read this a few more times now and completely unpack this.
So thought provoking and with all of the pretender feels. Congrats?
Thank you.
Thanks.
Reviewer: Imogen Signed Broots honors a promise.
(FON sequel)
I'm certainly stunned right now young lady.
You launch us into their lives by making it clear that Jarod successfully fled the states with Miss Parker and she appears to willing and that drives home the point that his "therapies" have been successful too.
Zachary?
Another dead child? Is he dead?
Oh, I had concerns.
Zachary would be an adult now if I assume correctly that it's been 17 years?
I'm still so invested in this saga.
I want more and more.
Thank you and big congrats !🎉
Reviewer: Imogen Signed