The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 5

Rated: PG

Date: January 19, 2000

Spoilers: Season 4

Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. You know the drill.

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 5

 

 

 

Jarod awakens the next morning to a beam of sunlight streaming through the blinds and invading the darkness of his sleep.  He worries for a moment about Miss Parker when he notices that his arms are now empty when they so recently rocked her to sleep.  But the worry goes away when he hears her stirring in the baby's room.  He gets up and stumbles back to the room to join her.

 

"What are you doing up so early?" he yawns.  "I was going to get up with the baby so that you could rest before going in to see your father today."

 

"That's okay.  You were sleeping so soundly.  I didn't want to wake you," she claims.  "Besides, it gave me plenty of time to get to know her.  She's amazing you know.  A whole person in this tiny little body."

 

"She is beautiful," he admits.  He looks at the admiring glare Miss Parker gives the baby and smiles.  "And she seems to have stolen your heart."

 

"I'll admit it," Miss Parker says with a huge grin.  "I've fallen in love with this precious little girl.  How could anyone not want her?"  Miss Parker looks down at the baby again, and then back up at Jarod, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

 

"What is it, Allie?" he asks with some concern.

 

"How could they not want her?  How could they do that to her, Jarod?  They just abandoned her.  She has no one now."

 

"She has us," Jarod asserts.  "I told you I'd be here for you both.  For as long as you need me."

 

"You really mean that, Jarod?  Because I'm going to take you up on that.  I've taken care of just myself for so long.  But there's more at stake now.  I have to think of the life of this poor child.  And I can't risk that.  So, if you really mean what you say, then you have to promise me something.  You have to promise me that no matter what happens, that she's going to be your first priority."

 

"What do you mean?"  Jarod eyes her suspiciously.  She obviously has been doing a lot of thinking and he wondered what was on her mind.

 

"You have to promise that if anything were to happen to me, you'd take care of her.  And I mean 'anything', Jarod.  Even if my life's at stake.  She has to be more important."

 

"But Allie . . ."

 

"Promise me, Jarod," she says firmly.  But her tone softens when she notices the torment her request is causing him.  "Listen, I know you'd do anything for me.  Even risk your freedom to try to save my life like you did that day I got shot.  But, I've thought long and hard about this.  It's the decision I've made.  I didn't have much of a choice, really.  I brought her into this world.  And I feel like it's my responsibility to make sure that she makes it through.  Her mother and father both tried to get rid of her.  I'm all she has left.  And I'm not going to let her down.

 

"Okay," he whispers after a few silent moments.  "I promise."

 

"No matter what?" She reaches up her hand and wipes away the few tears streaking down his face.  She hated that her decision was so hard for him, but it was one that she had to make. 

 

"No matter what," he says quietly, closing his eyes as she continued to stroke his face.  He takes a moment to pull his feelings together before he breaks the silence again.  "Let me take her.  It's almost time for you to go to work."

 

 

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