The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 6

Rated: PG

Spoilers: Season 4

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

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 6

 

 

 

Miss Parker strolls into her father's office with the composure of her nickname, the Ice Queen.  She couldn't allow her fears of what she was about to do be visible.

 

"You wanted to see me, Daddy?" she asks innocently.  She casually scans the office and is a bit surprised to see Broots.  He quickly closes a folder and shoves it into Mr. Parker's hands before scurrying towards the door, trying hard to avoid eye contact with Miss Parker.

 

"Thank you, Mr. Broots.  You've been most helpful," Mr. Parker says, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand.

 

"What was Broots doing in here?" Miss Parker asks, feigning the same innocence as before.  "Tip on Jarod?"

 

"No, Angel. It's nothing for you to worry about.  I just needed him to check on something for me. That's all," he mumbles.  "Now, I need to talk to you about last night.  Where were you?"

 

"You mean after you sent the sweepers to my place, Daddy?  How could you do that?  You do realize what would have happened to me if they found Brigitte or the baby there, don't you?"  Her eyes flash with anger as her voice starts to rise a little.

 

"Keep your voice down," he warns.

 

"Oh, sure, Daddy.  You don't want too many people asking about your missing wife and child, now would you?  Well, you don't have to worry about filing that missing person's report on the baby.  I can solve that mystery right now.  She's right here."  She hands the small box the Jarod gave her the night before over to her father.  They had filled it with ashes to make her father believe they were the baby's remains.

 

"And these are . . ." Mr. Parker starts.

 

"Her remains.  You see, after you deserted them, I felt a momentary pang of guilt and thought I should do something to help Brigitte and the baby.  I went to the store, but when I came back, Brigitte was gone.  And the baby was dead.  I took her to the hospital, but there was nothing that could be done."

 

"And that's the truth?" Mr. Parker asks suspiciously.  "You wouldn't lie to me, Angel, would you?"  He gives her one more intimidating stare before tossing the folder Broots left behind into her lap.

 

"What's this?" she asks, opening the folder and flipping through its contents.  "You had Broots check me out?  What was all this for if you already knew the whole story?"  She has to bit her cheek to keep the smile from her lips.  Jarod's cover story seemed to be working like a charm.  Broots 'found' it like Jarod promised he would and her father is believing it. 

 

"Just testing your loyalty.  I needed to know if you would have been truthful with me.  And, it's also to serve as a warning.  You weren't very careful.  Broots uncovered this information in a couple of hours.  You're lucky it was him and not someone else.  Be more careful or you might find yourself in an unpleasant situation in the future," he warns. 

 

His words send chills down her spine.  They seemed to be more than a threat than a warning.  What was about to happen, she had to wonder.  What was her father up to?

 

She smiles uneasily at him before standing up to leave the office.  She keeps the nervousness inside as she coolly struts down the long corridors back to her own office.  Only after she's safely inside does she allow a sigh of relief to escape her lips.  She did it.  She pulled off her part of the plan.  The baby was safe.  For now, at least.

 

The sudden ringing of her cell phone startles her.  She smiles, knowing exactly who it is.

 

"Hello?" she purrs into the receiver.

 

"Did everything go okay?" Jarod asks.

 

"Perfect.  I'll be there as soon as I can," she says, hanging up the phone before heading out the door.

 

 

"I think she missed you," Jarod says to Miss Parker as he places the baby in her arms. 

 

"I missed her too," Miss Parker says with a smile.  She turns her attentions to the baby and makes cooing noises.

 

"Oh, I almost forgot.  I got these for you."  Jarod digs through a stack of papers and pulls out a few documents.  "I got some paperwork so that the baby can legitimately be yours, just in case there are a lot of questions later.  All she needs is a name now."

 

"A name?  I can't believe we haven't named her yet, Jarod.  What do you think?"

 

"Do you want to name her after your mother?" he asks.

 

"That would be nice," she says after a short pause.  "But somehow, it doesn't seem quite right.  Being Brigitte's child and all.  I don't hold that against her, though.  I love her already as if she's my own.  But she can't have my mother's name."

 

"I understand," he says.  "We can think of something else.  It doesn't have to be your mother's name.  But how about something similar.  How about Kara?  A mixture of 'Katherine' and 'Rachel'."

 

"My middle name?  How do you even still remember that, Jarod?  It was so long ago when I told you."  She smiles in sheer amazement at him. 

 

"I'd never forget anything about you, Allison Rachel Parker.  For as long as I live."

 

"Oh," she says blushing, not really sure what else to say.  She finally regains some composure and remembers Jarod's suggestion about the baby's name.  "Kara's a beautiful name.  I think it would be perfect for her."

 

"Kara.  That is nice," he agrees.  He leans over and kisses the baby on the cheek.  "Welcome.  Welcome to our little family, Kara."

 

Miss Parker looks at them both and is amazed that she doesn't want to dispute Jarod's last statement.  Because he was right.  In a way, they really were a family.  More of a family that either of them had ever known.  For the first time since Thomas, she was actually happy.  She actually felt like she was an important part to someone else's life.  She just hoped and prayed that loving them wouldn't eventually lead to their downfall.

 

 

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