A Cure For What Ails Us, Part 8

She slept for hours, although it only felt like minutes, her heart racing from the shear terror of the things she saw in her dreams. Shakily she stands from the couch that was her bed and races down the hall, desperate to reach a restroom, barely making it before the contents of her stomach are expelled. On tentative legs, she leaves the stall and goes to the sink, rinsing her mouth and face.

"Parker, are you alright?" Grace asks with much concern. "You went racing down the hall, almost knocking me over in the process."

"I'm sorry," she whispers, not able to push her voice over her scratchy throat. "I - I felt sick."

"Obviously," Grace smiles warmly, helping the woman standing next to her. They make their way back down the hall to the office. "Sit until you feel better. Do you need a minute or do you want to tell me now what that was about?"

"Jarod. Where's Jarod?" Miss Parker asks, suddenly getting panicked. "My dreams. I saw things. Horrible things. I saw what he did to her," she sobs.

"Who?"

"Lyle. I saw him kill Rachel . . . in my dream. It was so real. It was so . . " a green expression cloaks her face, but this time she can only reach the wastebasket before the wretching started. When she's finished, she notices that Grace has a cup of water waiting for her.

"Listen. Jarod told me you were trying to look at Rachel's body before you went to sleep. That's probably why you think you . . . "

"No!" Miss Parker vehemently interrupt. "I saw him do it. It's like I was inside his head or something." She pauses when her sobs become too violent. "Then I saw him doing the same thing . . . to Jarod," she finally manages. She rises and goes down the hall in search of him, to make sure for herself that he was fine.

"You won't find him," Grace calls after her. She sees Miss Parker stop in her tracks midstride. She hated to have to tell her this way, but she didn't have a choice. "Parker, he left. Jarod's gone."

Parker stares at her intensely. Pain written on her features. Pain of rejection. Pain of losing Jarod.

"What was he thinking going after Lyle," she blurted out.

"Good God is that what you think, oh, Parker. I'm sorry. He's with his father. He should be back at anytime ."

Parker slumps back into the chair, feeling relieved, when they hear footsteps coming down the hall. He is standing in the doorway, worry written on his features. She can't hide her emotions this time. Tears slip down her cheeks and drop into her hands like blood.

"Jarod, I thought that. . . " she murmurs, "I saw what he did to her. I watched her die."

She shuts her eyes, trying to forget.

"He taunted her. Then he tortured her," her eyelids fly open. Jarod is talking to her, standing in front of her.

"Parker," he whispered as his hands landed gently on her shoulders and pulled her to him. She put her arms around his neck and buried her head on his shoulders, clinging to him with all the strength she possessed, until it hurt them both, but she could not let go.

It took hours for Jarod to calm Parker down, and during that time,as she described the terrible visions she had seen in her nightmares, Jarod realized that somehow a frightening bond had been formed between Lyle and Parker. What she was seeing was too detailed, too exact to be just an idea of what had happened. The question was how, and why. Perhaps it had something to do with what they'd discussed earlier, the strangeness of Lyle's particular abilities. The answers might be at the Centre, and that meant he needed to find them.

After finally getting Parker to drink tea laced with a sedative, Jarod watched her drift off into what he hoped would be a peaceful rest, then he joined his father, Grace and Bailey in the hallway.

"Son, how is she?"

"Not good. We have to finish this, and soon. She's had to be too strong for too long...I don't know how much more she can take."

Grace, suspecting what Jarod had in mind, realized she had to speak up now.

"Jarod, don't you dare try and leave here without her. She almost had a stroke when she thought you'd gone after Lyle alone."

Jarod nodded his head, understanding. "I know, Grace, and I wouldn't do that to her. But I am going to need some help to figure out what's happening between Lyle and Parker before we take him down, and that means I need Broots and George to both work on hacking into the Centre archives. They need to look for anything concerning the purpose of Lyle's training, or any connection between he and Parker."

Bailey nodded and walked off to make it all happen. He would do whatever it took to get Lyle off the streets. The weight of Rachel's death hung heavy on Bailey's shoulders, and he knew the only hope he had to let it go was to bring Lyle down.

Early the next morning, Jarod crept into Bailey's office and watched Parker as she slept. There was a beauty in her he could not bear to lose. He remembered her at the beach house, cuddling Benjamin in her arms, singing to him, soothing him from his nightmare, calming him, offering him comfort and unconditional love.

Parker stretched and blinked awake, her eyes finding Jarod's. He quickly moved to her side and pulled her into his arms. They held each other that way for a long moment. Then Parker's eyes fell on the files that Jarod had brought in with him and dropped on the floor.

"Jarod, what did you find?"

She was concerned for Jarod, and for her. . .their son. Her earlier dream had rattled her. She could not guess that it was her own life that was threatened, by both Lyle and the Centre.

The truth stuck in his throat.

"Nothing conclusive," he swallowed. He didn't want to stop holding her, he wanted to continue to feel the warmth of her body, and yet he needed to protect her. Not so much for himself, but for Benjamin.

She pulled away as she felt him tense up, a flicker of hurt crossing her features.

"Parker," it was a mere whisper.

She looked up at him.

He had no idea what to say. He could not let her know the truth. That Lyle wanted her dead, or that the man she once believed to be her father wanted to use her for breeding purposes.

"You're tired and hungry," her eyes brightened.

"Yes," he smiled, weakly.

Parker was unaware of the turmoil in Jarod. She believed it was no more than the frustration of this whole mess, and that he wanted it resolved.

She had no way of knowing that what Jarod had read in those files terrified him more than anything he had yet encountered in his life. If what Broots had found was the truth, then what had happened to all of them was far worse than they thought. And somehow, even though it was an unfathomable thought, a small part of him felt sympathy for Lyle. He had really had no choice in what he became. In truth, none of them had. Parker's relentlessness, his need for freedom, Kyle's uncaring nature and Lyle's sociopathic behavior had all been planned long before their births.

******

Lyle covered his mouth as he yawned. He was so tired from not getting any sleep the night before, or much, for that matter, in the last three weeks, to say nothing of his time with Rachel, that it was a struggle to put one foot in front of the other was an understatement. Lyle missed his woods.

He promised himself a return to them as soon as this business with the pretender and Parker was completed. He smiled at the memories of his special places and the one that was reserved for her. He had to make sure all was ready for them when they arrived. He surveyed the wooden shed, as he comtemplated his next move, his hand reached for the ivory handled knife, located in a niche above the bed, it's blade flecked with dried blood. By now, Jarod knew of the profiler's death, that in it self should force the pretender to talk to him. Returning the knife to it cubby, he grinned evilly and headed for the other room. It was almost time to place that phone call. Almost over. Soon he would be back at the Centre. After all how many times had the welcome mat been yanked out from under him only to be rolled back out again. The legacy of running the Centre should be his responsibility.

It would be, he would see to it. Once the others were gone, there would be no one else. Of the three, he would suceed.

"Time's running out, Pretender," he said to an empty room, as he massaged the area of mutilated cartilage of his left hand.

******

"You promised me, no more half-truths, you can't protect me from everything they do, did," she looked young and frightened and very vulnerable. Her skin was pale, blue shadowed around her eyes, and her hands were clenched so tightly on his arms it would be easy to think that she was trying to save herself from falling.

"It's all in those files," his voice low, as he looked at Parker and saw the agony in her eyes, her ashen skin now so bleached of color," You won't like what you read. Believe me, I always knew that those at the Centre were twisted but their ideas go way beyond twisted. More like demented and insane."

"Guess I have some reading to do, don't I? You need eat and some sleep, though, and not that high sugar diet that you usually have."

He started to protest but Parker suddenly squared her shoulders and lifted her chin a little, and looked up at Jarod. Very tentatively she reached up with her hand and touched the stubbled cheek. The shadow of a smile moved his lips.

"I'm stronger than I look, tough too," she said.

"I know that, Parker, but. . . . " he shook his head.

"That bad, huh. I'll handled it, just make sure I have my gun when I'm done reading," she smiled," Come on, let's get you some food."

She slipped her hand in to his and lead him out of Bailey's office.

A few hours later, Jarod was finally the one taking a turn at sleeping. Parker had made certain he ate a full meal and then she'd sat with him in Bailey's office until he'd drifted off to sleep. Now she stood in front of the mirror, a little annoyed at what she saw. It seemed to Parker that in a matter of a few days, all of her strength had simply left her body, and that would not do. She had to be strong for Jarod and for her son.

Straightening her shoulders, Parker walked over to Bailey's desk and picked up the folders Jarod had brought in earlier. She sat down in the FBI agent's chair, momentarily wondering where he was working since he'd let she and Jarod turn his office into their hiding place. Then Parker took a deep breath and opened the first file, determined to take whatever information the folders contained and use it to do the one thing that mattered now -- protect her family.

******

The Centre
Mr. Parker's Office

"Sir? I hate to interrupt, but there's some news." Willie stands in the doorway waiting for Mr. Parker to acknowledge him.

"Come in, Willie," the man says, not even looking up from the file on his desk. What's this news about?"

"It's about Mr. Lyle. We think we may have an idea where he might be. And he probably can lead us to your daughter, Sir. There have been a disturbing string of murders in the Atlanta area over the past two weeks. Looks like Lyle's work. A couple of young Asian women. The only deviation was the most recent victim. She was also badly mutilated, but she wasn't Asian. She was an FBI agent named Rachel Burke. And as it turns out, this FBI agent had a connection to Jarod."

"Excellent work, Willie," Mr. Parker grins evilly. "I think we finally have a solid lead. My daughter and the child will soon be back where they belong. Then our work can finally begin."

He dismisses Willie with a wave of his hand before picking up the phone on his desk and dialing a number.

"Cox. This is Mr. Parker. I need you to assemble a team and get to Atlanta immediately. We have a lead on Lyle, my daughter and the baby. Lyle is expendable. But the safety of Miss Parker and the boy are top priority. Do not do anything to jeopardize that. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, Sir," Cox says. "I can have the jet ready to leave within the hour. We should be in Atlanta by mid afternoon. Any particular area we should concentrate? Atlanta's a big town."

"FBI Headquarters. Find someone linked to the recently deceased Agent Rachel Burke. It's no coincidence Lyle killed a friend of Jarod's. Someone there has to know something to help us." He hangs the phone up with a resounding click. Leaning back in his chair, he lets out the breath he's been holding ever since Miss Parker disappeared with the baby. Finally things were turning in their favor. One way or another, this would all be over soon.

******

One hour and counting until dusk, when the illusion of light was in the distant sky, but a haze was starting to provide cover. Parker's eyes drifted over to the slumbering form on the couch and then out the window into the waning light. Her hands went back to the files in front of her. Lies, her whole life and his so full of nothing but lies. It was time. She never felt more sure than she did right at this moment.

Sam found her sitting at the desk and Jarod still sleeping on the couch in Malone's office.

"Miss Parker," he said, causing her to turn in her chair and waking the sleeping pretender.

"Sam," his voice groggy from sleep.

"I thought that you both would want to know that a Centre jet has landed at the airport."

Jarod sat up quickly as his brain processed the information, looking from Sam to Parker.

"They're starting their hunt for Lyle. The information that I had Broots leak seems to have made it to the Centre's network. Who's on board?" Jarod stood and stretched.

"Mr. Cox and Willie. A few other sweepers, rookies really . . .since most are still out in the field searching for Miss Parker and the baby."

"Not for long, the rest will start to converge here soon, " Jarod walked over to the desk and looked at Parker," Got to work fast, so get out of my chair."

Parker looked stunned, but in a good way. Then she moved out of the chair. She watched Jarod settle in at the desk, pushing the files out of the way.

"Sam, go get everyone. It's showtime."

They watched Sam walk away.

"Welcome back, " Parker said as she came from around the chair, her hand touching his cheek.

"It's good to be back. You ready?"

"Let's end it, Jarod. The sooner the better," she whispered in his ear.

He reached for the phone and quickly punched out a number.

"Tell, Broots to let the games begin," he said, sounding firm, then disconnected the call.

******

The light of dusk filtered through the blinds of the house. The room was eerily silent, except for the sound of a man's incoherent mumbling.

He continued to mumble to himself. He hadn't been sleeping well. All night long he had replayed the scene with the profiler in his mind. It was like a tape that he couldn't shut off. Yet it was time to move on. Move on to the more important things, namely the elusive Pretender, along with Miss Parker. Then once he had taken care of them, he would return to the Centre with the baby. He would oversee the raising of the next generation of Parkers. His nephew never had to know the truth about his parents, he, Lyle would assume that role. That was how Mr. Parker had wanted it, wasn't it?

A quick glance at the clock told him it was time to make that phone call to VCTF headquarters. Picking up the phone, he hit the keypad.

"Good Evening, Agent Malone," Lyle said.

"Mr. Lyle," Malone's response was terse," You do realize that there is a price on your head among the VCTF."

"Really. If it come to that. Do you have who I want?"

"The person that you want is dead, Lyle, but there is someoe else. . ."

"He isn't dead," the voice scream," I know it all a ruse on his part."

"Lyle," Miss Parker cooed," This isn't about Jarod. It's about who wins with Mr. Parker. You're a bit behind the times, Lyle. Latest news out of Delaware is that he wants you dead. . . . not me. Seems that I'm more valuable alive."

"And why is that?" Lyle quiered.

"I can give him what the Centre wants. . .more Pretenders," her eyes closed and she felt Jarod's embrace tighten around her as she said those horrific words.

The other end is filled with silence as Lyle recovers from this latest bit of news. But soon his momentary shock wears off.

"Putting all of your eggs in one basket Miss Parker? Maybe I should try that. You may not be as valuable as you think. Maybe it's not you they want. Just those proverbial eggs. And you should know by now that I can easily get those out of you. Although, it would be a most unpleasant experience for you. You can see that from my work on the lovely Agent Burke."

"You sick freak!" Jarod yells, breaking his silence. "Stay away from her. Touch her and I will kill you."

"Well wonders never cease," Lyle laughs. "Jarod. You sound good for a dead man."

"Lyle, if you want me, come and get me. But you will not get your hands on Parker or that baby," Jarod challenges.

"We'll see about that," Lyle growls into the phone before hanging it up. The loud click echoes over the speakerphone, startling the already nervous Miss Parker.

"He's going to come after you now," she whispers, not trusting the tears to stay out of her voice. She turns around in Jarod's embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Which is exactly where I want him to be." He pulls her closer to him before placing a gentle kiss on her neck just below her ear. "Lyle and the Centre will be going down today. They're going to destroy each other. They just don't know it yet. Then we'll finally be free."

Jarod and Lyle. The battle between good and evil, each having a goal. One wanted to triumph with the members of the triumverate the other's goal was to triumph over the Centre.

Bailey picked up the phone on the first ring.

"They are on their way." It was John, being his usual personable self.

"This is it, Jarod. Are you ready to put the plan into action?" Bailey watched them both nod. "Then I guess it's time."

The trio walked out of the office and looked at the group that had gathered on their behalf, highly educated people, working staggering hours, precise planning, burning the phone lines, typing away at computers all for the ultimate goal: success.

"George," Bailey said," It's started." The man looked from his boss to the man and woman next to him, allowing his emotions to get the best of him.

"It's about damn time."

Writers:
Niceole
Nicky
Shannon
Niceole
Michele
Niceole
Trish
Shannon
Niceole
Nicky
Trish
Michele
Nicky
Trish

Part 9