This is a what if story. If any of the events (timeline wise) are out, forgive me! I'm in Australia! Comments please???? The Pretender and all characters therefof are property of MTM Enterprises and used without permission. The story is copyright by Nirvana Kliese, 1997. Freedom By Nirvana Kliese He tossed in his bed, his mind alive with nightmares. Thoughts and dreams of what had happened that day. "Refuge!" He mumbled frustrated. "Refuge..." His voice came out in a broken sob, sweat soaked his shirt and hot tears began to well up in his closed eyes. He woke up with a start, sitting upright in his rumpled bed. He wiped the tears away and looked around the sterile room again. He rolled out of bed and paced over to his desk. It held his project for tonight. An assinment of letters and numbers. Sydney hadn't told him what they meant, as always, just that he had to do them. Jarod's vision blurred with tears as he thought of Sydney. He was the reason he could barely sleep. Once again he had promised to tell him who he was, to set him free from this torment of confusion that had haunted him for so long. And once again he hadn't. When the simulation was over he would tell him nothing. Jarod was tired of the lies, the mental games and the false hope that kept him going. He fell back into his chair and stared at the closed door. The combination lock buzzed, the menacing fear of an alarm looming within it. Jarod walked over to it, studying it intently. Sydney knew the combination. Sometimes when he would leave the room Jarod would pretend to be him, he could see through his eyes. He could feel what he felt and he could see the numbers he would punch in. His head shot up with an idea. He could go. Be free of this place, be free of the lies. and try to find the truth. He smiled, a new sense of adventure pumping through his veins. He ran to his closet, looking for somewhere to pack things. His closet only had jumpers and pants and shirts, all facing the same way, nothing special about any of them. He pulled on a heavy woolen jumper. It was cold outside, Sydney had told him. He pulled on a pair of pants and walked to his desk. He slowly ripped a sheet of blank paper out of his book. "The simulation's over, Sydney. Refuge. Jarod." He signed shakily, his heart pounding at what he was about to do. He was brave for 11. He had to be, but even for him, this was scary. Very scary. He trotted over to the door and began to press in the combination. The door hissed softly as the lock was released. He didn't look back to his room, he was free now. * * * * He tiptoed down another passageway towards the exit. He passed a room with an open door. "Miss Parkers Room," it said in colourful letters. He paused, he had to say goodbye to her. He had to. He stepped inside. Her room wasn't sterile like his. It still felt sad though, he knew that she was unhappy, even though she diddn't show it. her eyelids fluttered open and she turned to face him. "Jarod?" she gasped, still sleepy. "How did you get here?" Her reddish brown hair was plaited back neatly, and her bedclothes were neat and tidy. He placed his finger over his mouth for her to be quiet. "I came to say goodbye." he whispered. "You're going? Where?" She sat up in her bed, now fully awake. He smiled. "I'm going to be free, Miss Parker. I can't stay here anymore. I came to say goodbye." Her eyes began to glow with childlike mischief. "I'm coming, too," she whispered, scampering off towards her closet. She pulled on a hardy jacket and a pair of jeans. Jaord opened his mouth to say something to stop her, but only smiled. "It wont be easy," he said finally. "I don't care." she grinned back. "I just want to go with you. I hate it here. I hate the elevator that made my mother die. I hate my father but I don't know why." Her eyes filled with tears. "Take me with you Jarod." He nodded. "It's really cold outside. It might snow. Put this on." She passed him a spare snow coat and filled up a water bottle. "What do we need that for?" Jarod asked. She rolled her eyes. "We might get thirsty. Come on!" * * * * They snuck out to the driveway and began to walk towards the road. "Hang on." Jarod called softly, trying not to be heard. "We can't go on foot. There's a bike here!" Miss Parker ran closer to hear over the howling wind. "That's my bike." She smiled and jumped on the seat. "Hop on the back." Jarod did as he was told and they started down the long road towards freedom. They had been riding for a few minutes when white flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. Jarod's eyes lit up as it began to rest on their faces. Miss Parker giggled as they flew into her mouth, and came to rest in her hair. "Snow!" They laughed together. It began to form a fine blanket on the road and Miss Parker stopped the bike. "Where are you going?" Jarod frowned. A soft ball of snow hit him hard on the chest which caused him to let out a shocked laugh. He raised his eyebrows taking it all in before he too leapt off the bike. There they stood, filling gloved hands with the crunching white flakes and throwing snowballs at each other. They laughed harder than they had ever remembered, and finally climbed back on the bike to continue their adventure. This time, it was Jarod's turn to pedal into the white night. "It's dark." He commented after riding for quite awhile. Miss Parker looked over his shoulder. "Yeah. I'm thirsty too." Jarod stopped the bike and passed her the large water bottle. She took it from him and swallowed a large mouthful. "Ew." She pulled it away from her mouth and clutched at her throat. "Are you okay?" Jarod asked, getting scared. She smiled. "I'm fine. Don't worry so much. It's just that it's full of ice. Do you want any?" Jarod shook his head. "I'm cold enough already." She held the bottle on her lap and Jarod began to pedal again. A few moments later there was a crack from the road nearby. "Oops," came from the back of the bike. Jarod turned around. "'Oops?'" he asked. Miss Parker shrugged. "I dropped the water bottle." She pointed to a large patch of ice forming in the middle of the road. Jarod ran and picked up the empty bottle. "That's okay, it was frozen anyhow," he smiled, sliding the bottle back into its holder. * * * * "The snow's too thick, Jarod." Miss Prker moaned from the back of the bike some time later. "I'm cold." The snow was now a whirling mass of white that was engulfing the road around them. Visibility was dropping all the time. "Can we stop?" she continued. "We've been riding for hours." Jarod bit his lip. He could see lights of a gas station up ahead. "Okay," he answered through dry lips. "My legs are really tired anyhow." They finally reached the gas station; it was nearly empty, but still open. Jarod rubbed his empty stomach. "I'm starving." Miss Parker nodded. "Me too." They wandered towards the door, laughing freely at nothing in paticular, just at the fact that they were able to. All of a sudden, Jarod stopped still in his tracks and the colour drained from his face. "What is it?" Miss Parker asked, searching for a sign of what was the matter. Jarod pulled her towards the bushes under the window. "Syd... Sydney's in there." Jarod pointed to a table with two men in the corner of the room. His brow wrinkled with worry. "If he sees us.." Miss Parker cut him off. "He won't," she smiled reassuringly. "Lets go." She tried to pull Jarod away but to no avail. "What?" she rolled her eyes. "Shhh... Listen to what they're saying," he whispered. She knelt down in the snow beside him and began to listen to the conversation that was going on behind the glass. "Wait," Jarod gasped. "That's not Sydney." Miss Parker raised her eyebrows. "Yes, it is." Jarod shook his head. "Listen to his voice...." Miss Parker paused for a second and listened to the man's voice. It bore little resemblence to the strong accent that she knew so well. The other man at the table turned around to thank the waitress as she delivered their meal. Both Jarod and Miss Parker frowned. "Isn't that Sydney?" they asked in unision. They turned to face each other, and looked back into the neraly empty diner. The two men sat enjoying their meal, but they seemed to be involved in a heated discussion. "That's... that's.... Sydney has a twin?" Miss Parker stuttered. "I guess so," Jarod shrugged. Their voices became more audiable and Jarod began to listen. "...Then why do you complain? Why should he trust you?" The second man argued. "They're talking about me," Jarod gasped. "Why do you do that? Play those mental torture games with him? You break more promises that I ever made!" the second man continued. "I do what I have to!" Sydney half-shouted back. "It's my job!" "What you're doing isn't a job!" the second man snarled. "Why don't you quit?" "You know I can't do that!!" "And why not?" "I care for Jarod." "You care for him when it suits you," the second man hissed. "That's not true." "Then why not tell him the truth, that's all he wants." "I don't know the truth, and if I did I couldn't tell him." "Why not? What's wrong with doing the right thing?" "What, and end up like the little girl's mother!?" Miss Parker squinted into the diner. "My mommy? Why are they talking about my mommy?" "Shh.." Jarod said. Sydney looked around, making sure they weren't being heard. "If I do the right thing like she did, I'll do it once, and once only." The second man looked down. "The girl doesn't know, does she? Just like Jarod doesn't know what his "Simulations" are being used for?" "My job is to lead him through them, not to ponder consequences." Sydney replied, trying to sound controlled. Jarod looked confused. "My simulations? I thought they were used to help people?" Miss Parker nuzzled into his shoulder. "What's happening, Jarod?" He shook his head. "I don't know, but I do know that we aren't supposed to know that it's happening." "This isn't consequences Sydney, this is life and death," the second man replied quietly. "What would he do if he found out?" "Don't you think I think about that? I do. But I can't do anything about it. This is where I am, and I can't help that." "What would the little girl do?" Sydney looked down. "What is she going to think? That her mother was weak? So she killed herself? Do you want her to grow up to be a chain smoking, domineering, assassian?" Miss Parkers eyes filled with tears. "What are they talking about? What did happen to her?" She began to sob softly and Jarod hugged her to comfort her. "It's okay," he sighed. "That's not my business what happened to her mother. The Centre doesn't know that I know, and I don't know, it's just puzzle pieces." Sydney sighed. "According to the Centre you don't exist. I do. They can't kill someone who they don't know is alive. They can kill me." He ran his fingers through his hair. "We shouldn't have started this again." The second man nodded. "I know. I just feel so sorry for both those kids. When can they be kids? They don't get to play." "If Jarod would just run away and disappear forever. Then he and I could be free." "There's that about you again," the second man began to shout again. "Dammit, Jacob, can't you just let it drop?!" Sydney shouted back. The phone on the bench let out a shrill ring. Jacob and Sydney stopped shouting for a moment. The waitress answered the phone and paused. "Is there a Sydney here?" she asked the few people still there at the late hour. "That's me." Sydney walked over. "The man hung up," she said. "He told me to tell you there was trouble and he had to see you now. I think he said his name was 'Mr Raines'?" "What's happening?" Miss Parker asked, becoming impatient. "I don't know.." Jarod sat up higher to attempt to get a look. At that moment Jacob turned toward the window. His eyes grew wide when he saw Jarod, but he said nothing. Jarod sat down quickly. "We're dead," he gasped. "What?" Miss Parker asked. "That guy, Jacob, he saw me." "Oh no." "Let's go," Jarod mumbled and began towards the back of the gas station. Sydney tightened his mouth and headed towards the table. "What happened?" Jacob asked. "Somthing's wrong, I have to go. Let me give you a lift home." "It's Ok." Jacob smiled tightly. "I'll get home okay." Sydney frowned. "But there's a blizzard outside!" "I'll be fine. I want to finish my apple pie," he lied. "Well whatever makes you happy." Sydney laughed and headed out the door. * * * * Jarod and Miss Parker trotted towards the back of the building, the crisp snowflakes crunching beneath their shoes. "I wish we could find out what's happening.." Miss Parker mumbled, trying to look back. "We can barely walk in this snow...can't we just look?" Jarod shook his head. "It might be too late already. When Jacob tells Sydney, we're caught." He looked down. "And after hearing what we did, that sounds worse than ever." She nodded. "Come on, then." They began to run as fast as they could in the ankle-deep snow, lost in the world of white that surrounded them. * * * * Sydney pressed his foot down hard on the accelerator. Worry flashed across his mind. Something was wrong, something big. Big enough to call in Mr Raines. Everyone feared him. No one knew why. All they knew was that thre was reason to. Now something was wrong and Mr Raines was called in for it. It had to be big. He pressed down harder on the eccelerator. It was dangerous to drive this fast in this weather. In fact it was a risk driving at all with such low visability. But it was more of a risk not getting there when Mr Raines called. The swirl of snow in front of him became more dense; he struggled to see beyond the front of the car. The car began to slide on a patch of ice in the middle of the road. His stearing wheel was wrenched out of his hands and the car began to spin out of control towards the white forests that framed the picturesque road. The sound of screams was drowned out by the screeching of tires and the crushing of metal as the car hit a large oak. Everything went black. * * * * Jacob watched the car depart and smiled, then sprinted out of his seat and headed towards the whiling blizzard outside. He looked down at the snow by the door. He could see the remains of footsteps that mother nature was desperately trying to hide, and followed them, walking in the tracks that were made by his young predecessors. He could see two young children trying to run as fast as they could, their figures almost drowned out by the white that swirled around. Jarod turned back, looking for a moment, trying to distinguish the nearing footsteps from the howling wind. "Miss Parker, there's someone coming!" he shouted, trying to be heard in the worsening blizzard. "Run!" she screamed back all too late. They let out a piercing scream as their pursuer grabbed them by the shoulders. Jarod struggled hard against the man's binding hand and tried to run further away. "Well well, if it isn't little Miss Parker and Jarod." the man said softly. Miss Parker began to sob uncontrollably and was soon joined by Jarod. "Please don't take us b-back," she sobbed curling up in a ball on the snow. "P-please don't tell Sydney," Jarod added, tears beginning to burn his icy cheeks. The man drew them to him, embracing them to comfort them. "It's okay," he reassured, smiling. "I'm on your side." "B-but Sydney's your brother," Jarod sobbed. "Yes, he is. But if you could tell from that argument in there we have our differences." He smiled. "Hey, stop all the tears, guys." Miss Parker looked up, turning from fear to anger. "Stop the tears?!" she shouted. "I just found out that my mother was murdered because she did the right thing and that I've been lied to all my life!" "And that my simulations have been used to kill people!" Jarod added, his empty stomach forming an aching ball of anguish. "You want us to stop crying?!" Miss Parker finished, beating her freezing hands on Jacob's chest. Jacob frowned. "Okay, I'm sorry. I know it's hard. But at least you know the truth," he said trying to provide some reassurance. "I just want to know who I am," Jarod sobbed quietly. "That's all." Jacob bit his lip. He didn't know who Jarod was any more than Sydney did, but he was determined to find out. "Jarod," he began. "I don't know who you are. But I will find out. I promise." Jarod turned away. "Not another promise." Jacob spun him around to face him again. "I keep mine," he whispered. Jarod nodded, hope slowly creeping back towards him. Miss Parker began to shake from the cold. "I'm... I'm freezing," she mumbled closing her eyes. "And I'm tired," Jarod added. Jacob thought for a moment. "Okay, how about this? If you two come with me for tonight, I'll get you someplace warm, something to eat, and tomorrow I'll start looking for the truth." Miss Parker looked up. "About everything," he added, meeting her pleading gaze. She smiled a tired smile. "Come on," he said, and lead them both toward the old diner. * * * * The Centre was buzzing with frenzied activity. Everyone was rushing around, not knowing what to do, but afraid to do nothing. Mr Raines stood silently amoungst it, taking it in, enjoying watching the rats in the race, anticipating their fate if the head lab rat was to stay free. They all had one goal -- to find the two children. Few of them knew why this organization was so eager to get them back, few of them knew what Jarod could do. They kept their fears silent, though, knowing more than their jobs were at stake. They all knew the Parker child; or at least, they all knew of her. She came there occasionally when she wasn't away at boarding school. She had her own room there, her own everything. She rarely stayed at The Centre though. Her father risked her finding out too much if she stayed there. But tonight she had stayed. Tonight, her father was away. Mr Raines sneered "The fool." One of the workers came up behind him and cleared his throat. Mr Raines turned around slowly, taking another long drawl of his cigar. "What?" he asked slowly. The man stiffened. "Sir, our search team found Sydney's car by the side of the road. He seems to have been involved in a car accident. Sir." "Is he alive?" Mr Raines asked uncaringly. "Um, yes, he is, Sir, but he has got a slight case of whiplash and a few cuts and bruises." "Where is he?" Mr Raines blew a mouthful of smoke in the worker's face. It caused him to splutter slightly but he kept talking. "He's being cared for in the Centre's medical facility downstairs. I'm afraid he's still unconcious, Sir." Mr Raines sneered again. "Well then, I suppose you'll have to tell Mr Parker the news then won't you?" The man's eyes turned wide with fear. Mr Raines was the only person in the Centre who wasn't afraid of Mr Parker. He had no reason to be. He had no power to kill him and he knew it. The others weren't so lucky. "Bu-But Sir, I..." The man began nervously shaking his head. "Come, come," Mr Raines cut him off. "It's your job," he said coldly. The worker turned towards the door defeated, and headed towards the entrance of the building where a long black limosene was pulling up. A man in a black suit stepped out of the car, greeted by the falling snow. "What's all this fuss about?" he asked loudly, referring to the comotion surrounding him. The worker swallowed hard. "Sir, the child Jarod has ran away and... and he's taken your daughter with him." Mr Parkers eyes widened, full of a mixture of fear, emotion, hate of the person that told him this and annoyance at their little money makers escape. He grew his gun from his top pocket and aimed at the worker. The shot sounded silently, barely noticable above the frenzied activity that surrounded. He walked towards Mr Raines, looking down at the body laying lifelessly in the snow. "Find them," he snarled. * * * * Jarods opened his eyes, streaks of sunlight falling upon his face. He yawned, alertness embracing him. "What happened.." he mumbled, trying to place the events of the previous evening. Miss Parker stirred beside him, the soft cashmere quilt still snuggled securely around her. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Where are we, Jarod?" she asked sleepily, stretching out across the large bed. He climbed out of bed, the fuzziness of sleep still clinging to him, and rubbed his eyes, looking out the large glass window, past the flowered curtains onto snow-covered pine trees and wide open fields full of horses and cows. "There's animals, and trees, and sunshine." He turned back to her. "Come see!" She snuggled back into her pillow. "Come and get me!" she called cheekily. He ran over to the bed and jumped on it hard. She bounced up into the air and began to giggle. "This means war!!!" she shrieked, picking up her pillow and hitting him with it. By instinct, he hit her with his feather-filled pillow, causing her to fall back down onto the springy bed. She shrieked with laughter as he jumped, catapulting her into the air. He laughed as she struggled to grab a hold of him to get up, and she grabbed the side of his pajama shirt and began to tickle him with the grip that she actually had. He began to laugh harder, falling off the bed into the thick carpeted floor. The door creaked open and Jacob stepped inside, unnoticed for a moment, just watching happily as the two children played. "Sleep well?" he asked, trying to be heard over the jolly laughter. They stopped laughing for a moment, both flashing back to their life before. When they were caught playing, they were in trouble. Jacob saw their worried looks and smiled to reassure them, and they smiled back, remembering that now they could laugh. "We slept very well." Jarod replied finally, thwaping Miss Parker with the pillow one last time. "Where are we?" he asked, walking over to the window again. "Far away," Jacob smiled. "How did we get here?" Miss Parker asked, climbing up from the carpet. "We drove all night," he answered. "You two must have been tired, you fell asleep straight away." He looked down at the two children. They didn't want much; all they wanted was to be able to play, and to know the truth. Jacob smiled to himself at the latter thought. The children had slept late, which was a huge help. He had tracked down people who were very special to Jarod. He was bursting to tell him, but he wanted to wait. To see Jarod's face when he met them, when he saw them again. When they saw him. Only a few more hours, he told himself for the hundredth time. "You seem happy," Miss Parker grinned, bringing him back to the present. "Breakfast is in the kitchen," he answered, trying to hold in his secret for a little longer. The two children scampered down the hall, their hunger reawakening. He smiled again. Only a few more hours. * * * * Sydney opened his eyes. His head ached, but he was in one piece. He looked around the dimly lit room, his neck securely in a brace. He must be back at the Centre, he reasoned. No other place place could be this dark when it was light. A metal tray was wheeled in the room by a nurse. She nodded at him. "Good morning Sir. How are you feeling today?" she asked with a strong English accent. Her blond hair was pulled back into a loose bun and she seemed kindly. "I'll live," Sydney smiled. "What happened?" "Your car ran off the road. You're lucky too, the other side of it was completely destroyed. I guess it was a lucky spin," she joked. Scenes of the previous night flashed through Sydney's head. Jacob. he thought. Thank God he didn't take him home. He frowned. What was it that happened? The Centre was quiet. He shook his head. The Centre was always quiet. Always sterile. "Ma'am, would you tell Mr Raines that I'm awake? I believe he wants to talk to me." She nodded meekly and walked out the door, leaving the tray beside the bed. * * * * Jarod pasted the jam thick on the hot pancakes. "These are delicious." he grinned, blueberry jam still staining his lips. Miss Parker giggled. "So we see," Jacob smiled. "Jarod, why don't you and Miss Parker get changed. You two have big day ahead." Jarod nodded. "Let's go," he said to Miss Parker and the two children disappeared down the hall. The maid turned around at the sink. "Why don't you let him go to his parents?" she asked. Jacob shook his head. "That's the first palce they'd look." The maid smiled. "You know the risk?" she asked. Jacob nodded. "Look at them," he replied. Her smile broardened. "Kindness is its own reward, isn't it, Jacob?" He nodded. * * * * "What do you mean Jarod's gone?" Sydney asked disbelieveingly. "I don't believe you're in a position to confront me, Sydney!" Mr Raines growled. Sydney swallowed hard. "Sir, I was just confused. I thought that the Centre had state of the art security systems. How is it possible for Jarod to have escaped?" Mr Raines shook his head. "Well, he did escape... and it's your job to find him, and, more importantly, the Parker child." He slid a folder accross the table to Sydney. "What's this?" Sydney asked, opening it slowly. "An autopsy report," Mr Raines replied, his voice menacing. "The man was gunned down the night that Jarod and Miss Parker ran away." Sydney looked up at him. "I believe he was the one to inform Mr Parker of his loss," he finished. * * * * The two children wandered back into their room. Miss Parker headed to the window and looked through the frosted glass out onto the field. "Hey Jarod," she laughed. "Let's build a snowman!" Jarods face was blank. He frowned. "What's a snow man?" * * * * They piled the last ball of snow on top of their creation. "I want to get the carrot!" Jarod laughed, running in towards the door. "No! I have to get it!" Miss Parker shrieked, struggling to beat him to his goal. Jacob opened the door moments before the two children burst through it. They stopped to avoid bumping into him, but kept laughing. "Nice snowman." Jacob nodded towards the large white figure in the middle of the yard. They smiled back at him, and turned to face Jarod. "I have some people here that really want to see you Jarod," he smiled softly. Jarod bit his lip. "From The Centre?" he asked. Jacob shook his head. "No." He laughed, then stepped aside and let a young couple emerge from the doorway. "Jarod...." He paused. "This is your mom and dad." The couple were crying, tears of lost things found. Things they wanted so much. The lady's rich red hair fell at her shoulders and the man's smile shone. Jarod frowned, not how to react. Who he was was right here. Everything he ever wanted was before him. "Mom? Dad?" he gasped. Then he ran into their outstretched arms, time slowing down to embrace that moment, that longed-for moment. They held each other hard. "Jarod..." The lady sobbed, squeezing him tighter. "We thought you were dead," the man said, holding his son, the son he was told didn't exist. "I love you guys," Jarod cried, his tears of joy joining theirs. * * * * Miss Parker smiled. Jarod had his parents, and they had embraced her too. They had been trying for other children, but were unable to have them. They lovingly offered to take care of her for as long as she needed. She was happy. * * * * * * * * The present....... She walked down the long slight of polished wood stairs, her hand resting on her heavily pregnant stomach. Jarod turned around at the bench and smiled at his wife. She was due to give birth any day now, so he was extra careful around her. "How was your rest, honey?" he asked, garnishing the lasagsnga with parsley. She grinned. "Good. The baby's kicking though." She shone with the glow of pregnancy, her long jumper struggling to cover her bulging stomach. He held out one of the plates he was holding. "Here, I made my wife and my new baby something to eat." She inhaled the smell deeply, dropping a forkful into her mouth. "Good?" he asked. She smiled. "Very good, just like the cook." She bent over and kissed him deeply. Struggling to get close past her stomach. Jarod returned the kiss and smiled. "Do you ever think about what our life would have been like? If we hadn't ran away I mean?" he asked sitting down at the large wooden table. She shrugged. "Yeah, sometimes. If you didn't run away then, do you think you would have, one day?" Jarod's eyes sparkled. "Probably. One day. Do you think we would have been friends? If you hadn't ran away, that is?" She grinned. "What? You expect that I'd be a gun-toting, chain-smoking, hatred-filled pursuer?" He laughed. "Of course not. I was just wondering, you know, if things would have been like this." She shook her head. "I don't think so, somehow." They sat in silence for a moment. "Jarod, do you hate Sydney for what he did to you?" Jarod shook his head. "No. I could never hate him." "Even after what he did to you?" "He was scared. And he did his job, trying to keep me safe in the process." "Do you think about him?" Jarod pushed his fingers through his short brown hair. "Yeah, I think about him a lot. Every time I look at Jacob." He laughed. "What about you? Do you hate your father?" She shook her head. "No, but I'm still afraid to love him." She sighed. "Jarod, I know what he did to my mom." "You don't know he did that," Jarod pointed out. "I know, honey, but I just.... Well, I know that whatever he was doing was bad, and my mother had the guts to try to stop it." Jarod nodded. "I wonder if they're still looking for us." She grinned. "Well, pretty soon they'll have one more of us to look for." Jarod laughed. "I love you," he whispered, leaning across the table and kissing her softly. A young boy with reddish brown hair wandered in through the kitchen and grinned. "Ew! Mom and Dad are kissing!" he teased, laughing. He dropped his school bag down by the refigerator and smiled. "How was school, Michael?" the woman asked, grinning at her ten- year-old son. "Okay." He walked over and sat down on Jarod's lap. "Has mom popped yet?" he teased. Jarod laughed. "No, not yet!" She swatted at him with her free hand. "Dad made you some lasagne. It's over on the bench." she said, pointing to an uneaten plate. "I got in trouble today," the boy said, sliding off his father's lap. Jarod looked up. "You never get in trouble," he asked, confused. His son had never had a detention, or a mark under A. He was always helping other children and generally was everyone's friend. The boy shrugged. "I know. I didn't do anything wrong actually." His mother frowned cynically. "You usually don't get into trouble for doing nothing wrong." He unzipped his school bag and pulled out a note. "Here," he said, sitting back down. Jarod placed the note on the table between him and his wife. Micheal's Parents, I am having a problem with your son. He is always on his best behavior; however, in class he tends to answer questions before I've even finished asking them. I feel that he should be moved to a higher grade so that the range of studies he is exposed to is expanded. Yours, Miss Tarses "I don't want to move, guys. That's where all my friends are. Do I have to be isolated just because I'm smart?" he whined. Jarod and his wife exchanged glances. "No, sweetie, of course you don't." The woman's hand flew to her belly. "It's time," she breathed, closing her eyes. The boy jumped up. "I'll call the hospital," he said, making a bee-line to the phone. "I'll get the car," Jarod declared, jumping out of his seat and racing towards the garage. "You know," she said grinning, "if you two really wanted to help, you could have the baby for me!" * * * * She lay quietly in the hospital bed, holding her new daughter. "She's so tiny," Micheal breathed, still in awe of his little sister. Jarod wiped his wife's forehead with a moist rag. "Her mother did great, didn't she?" he smiled. The woman grinned. "It was more than worth it." The little boy frowned. "Dad can I go to the bathroom, I really have to!" he said. Jarod smiled. "Sure. Are you okay to go alone? It's just across the hall," he pointed. "Okay." The boy walked out the door, grinning back at his little sister. * * * * Jacob put down the phone. His "children," as he called them now, had a new daughter. He picked up his jacket and headed towards the door, then stopped and headed back towards the phone. He lifted the reciever to his ear, listening to the soft dial tone, as his mind drifted to his brother. Sydney still talked abut Jarod and the Parker girl, even after leaving the Centre that imprisioned them a year after their escape. His fingers fumbled with the buttons, finally punching in Sydney's number. A man with a deep accent answered, his voice heavy. "Sydney, it's Jacob," he said. "Is something wrong?" Sydney laughed sadly. "I was just thinking about Jarod. I found the note that he left for me again." He sighed. Jacob smiled to himself. "Is The Centre still looking for him?" "I wouldn't know." Sydney replied. "I haven't had anything to do with The Centre since I left." "Sydney, I want you to come to The Mercy Hospital, room 130, B floor. It might interest you," Jacob said. "Why? Whatever's there?" Sydney asked, thoroughly confused at the apparent change of topic. "Oh, a lady just had a baby." Jacob smiled into the receiver and placed it down, not sure if he had done the right thing. He trusted Sydney, though; despite the fact that he had kept this from him for so long, he had to tell him sometime. * * * * Michael smiled as he came out of the bathroom. He was so happy to have his little sister here at last. She was so tiny and sweet. His father had told him that he was that small once, but he didn't believe him. He glanced over at the elevator and saw a middle-aged man emerging from it. The man seemed confused as to where to go. "Jacob!" Michael called out, running to him and throwing his arms around his waist. "Where were you?" The man stiffened, his mind alive with questions. Who was this boy, and how did he know Jacob? He looked back down at the boy, who looked so much like Jarod had at his age. "I'm not Jacob," he finally said in his rich accent. "My name is Sydney." Michael pulled away slightly and frowned. "You're Sydney?" he asked. The man nodded. "Cool! Dad tells me all about you!" Sydney's mind began to buzz with questions. "Dad?" he asked. "Yeah, Jarod. Wanna see him again?" Sydney nodded. "He's over in that room with Mom and Andrea." "Andrea?" Sydney asked. "Yeah, my little sister." He stopped for a moment and turned to face Sydney again. "You are a good guy, aren't you?" he asked. Sydney smiled. "I am now." * * * * Jarod looked at his new daughter lovingly and smiled up at her mother. "She's so beautiful. Like you," he whispered to his wife, kissing her gently. She grinned. "Well, Michael seems to like her." Jarod laughed. "He still can't believe how tiny she is." She laughed too. "Take it from me she diddn't feel that tiny for the last 9 months!" Jarod grinned. "I love you, honey." She smiled tiredly. "I love you too." She leaned in and kissed him again. Michael pulled the man in through the door and grinned at his parents. "They do that a lot," he laughed. The older man smiled with him. He looked up at the couple and his jaw dropped open. There, sitting on the bed with Jarod, was a beautiful young lady, with brownish-red hair falling past her shoulders. Could it be? Jarod and Miss Parker...married? He was brought back to the present by Michael's voice. "Hey daddy," Michael grinned, jumping in his fathers lap. "Remember Sydney?" Jarod looked up at the man. His eyes met Jarod's. "Jarod?" Sydney whispered. "Is that you?" Jarod bit his lip. "Sydney?" He stood up and approached him, not sure what to think. Finally they embraced each other. "I missed you," Jarod whispered, fighting back tears. "You did?" Sydney asked, half-suprised. "Sydney, I was mad at you, but I did think of you as a dad. I guess I still do," he smiled. Sydney smiled, relief flooding over him. "Jacob did this for you, didn't he?" Jarod nodded. "Thank God," Sydney grinned. He looked past Jarod. "Miss Parker?" he half-asked. She grinned, cradling her daughter. "Not anymore. Hi, Sydney." He nodded at her, approaching the child. "This must be Andrea," he smiled down at the sleeping infant. She nodded. Sydneys eyes filled with tears. "I know it's a lot to ask, especially after all I put you through, both of you...." He looked up at them. "But could I visit you sometime?" Michael smiled "Go on, let him!" he egged on. Jarod and his wife smiled. "We'd love it if you did." The End :)