The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 10

Rated: PG

Spoilers: Season 4

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

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 10

 

 

 

A dark day.  Even at two in the afternoon.  The thick clouds overhead open up and pour down a warm April shower.  But she just stands there.  The tears on her face the only wetness she notices.  A single rose falls from her hand and lands on grave.  The grave burying her love.  And her heart.  Her soul. 

 

"Jarod," Miss Parker screams, suddenly sitting up from her disturbing dream.  She opens her eyes and is further traumatized by the darkness of the night, confusing it with the darkness in her dream.  When she realizes where she was, she turns and rubs her hand across the empty bed next to her and breaks down into a fresh set of tears.  She lays crying on the bed for a few minutes before the phone rings.  She just picks it up and listens, still sobbing quietly.

 

"Allie?  Honey is that you?  Are you alright?"  Jarod asks, suddenly panicked.

 

"Jarod?  I'm so glad you called.  I miss you so much," she says, trying to cover her tears so he won't hear them in her voice.

 

"Allie are you crying?  What's the matter?  You had another one of those dreams," he realizes.  "I knew something was wrong.  I just had this feeling that I needed to talk to you.  What was it about?"

 

"This was a terrible one, Jarod.  It scared me to death.  I dreamt that I lost you," she says, starting to cry again despite her efforts not to.

 

"That's it.  I'm coming home. You need . . . "

 

"No, Jarod.  You said yourself that you were almost done with your pretend.  Those people need your help.  You'll be home in a few days.  I'll be fine," she assures.

 

"You need me too, Allie.  I can hear it in your voice."

 

"I do need you.  But you need to help those people.  And really.  I'm fine now, Jarod.  Besides, I'm sure Kara's having a blast being on a trip with her daddy.  But how about a compromise.  If things get any worse, I'll pack up and come to where you are," she proposes.

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"I'm positive, Jarod.  Stay."

 

"Alright.  But, I'm going to try to wrap things up and be back home by the end of the week.  Take care until then.  I love you."

 

"I love you too, Jarod.  See you soon.  Give Kara a big kiss for me" she says as she hangs up the phone.  She cradles it in her arms for a few minutes, thinking back to how soothing and calming Jarod's voice was.  She allows those thoughts to lull her back into a dreamless sleep for the rest of the night.

 

 

Miss Parker gets her usual morning cup of coffee from her assistant on her way into her office.  She nods a wordless thanks and keeps on walking, hoping to make it to her desk without any hassle.

 

Mornings like this were especially bad for her.  In the two and a half months her and Jarod have been married, he's only been out on a pretend twice.  But she has horrible nightmares about him each night he's away.  And she ends up at work the next day looking only slightly better than death warmed over.

 

"Oh, Miss Parker," her assistant calls.  "You had a message from your brother.  He said he had a lead on Jarod he was going to check out."

 

"What?"  Miss Parker says, stopping in her tracks.  "When did he leave this message?  Where's he going?"

 

"He just called about 2 minutes before you got here.  And he didn't say where he was going," the assistant stammers, fear beginning to build.  He didn't like being in Miss Parker's path when Mr. Lyle crossed her.

 

She turns and glares at the scared man for a split second before dropping her coffee and sprinting down the hall towards Lyle's office.  She had to find out what tip he had.  She needed to know if Jarod was in any real danger.

 

"Lyle," she yells, storming into his office when she finally gets there.  She doesn't even bother to knock.  "What's this I hear about you checking out a lead on Jarod?  Why didn't you wait for me?"

 

"Sis.  You got my message," he says with a smug grin.  "Don't worry, there will be plenty for you to do.  You and your people can go to where Jarod was sighted last and sift through is lair again.  There might be some clues we missed that'll tell us where the DSA's are."

 

"Backtracking?  And what are you going to be doing while we do that?" she glares at him.

 

"Checking out a confirmed sighting," he smiles again.  "Don't worry, Sis.  I'll let Dad and the Triumvirate know that you and your little team were an invaluable asset to my capture of Jarod. Bye!"

 

"Lyle!" she yells. But he's already down the hall.  She picks up her phone and dials some numbers.  "Broots!  Call and get the jet fueled.  We're taking a trip."

 

"No can do, Miss P.  Lyle's already got it.  He's about leave as we speak," Broots tells her.

 

"Well find out where he's going . . . ."

 

"Already done.  He's heading out to Santa Fe.  There was a confirmed Jarod sighting there.  He's going to try and surprise him."

 

"Santa Fe?  Thanks, Broots.  Get Sydney and meet me in my office.  I'll see you in a few minutes." Miss Parker hangs up and smiles at herself when she hears the news.  Jarod wasn't in Santa Fe.  Lyle must be following a false lead Jarod set up.  She instantly relaxes.  Jarod was safe for now.  But she didn't know how long he'd stay that way.

 

She dials the number to his cell phone and waits impatiently for him to answer.  She needed to let him know about Lyle being on the move without her.  Something strange was going on with Lyle and she didn't want to wait around until it was too late to see what he was up to.  She needed to warn Jarod now.  Why wasn't he answering his phone?  She hangs up and tries the operator.

 

"Good morning.  May I help you?"

 

"Yes," Miss Parker begins.  "I'm having trouble reaching a number in Philadelphia.  I was wondering if you could help me dial through."

 

"I'm sorry, Miss, but they've been having problems all morning.  They've had a pretty heavy snow and are expecting more.  All the phone lines have been shut down and are to be used only in an emergency," the operator explains.

 

"Well, this is an emergency," Miss Parker says, starting to panic.  "My husband and daughter are there and I need to reach them.  Isn't there anything you can do?"

 

"I'm sorry.  Have a good day," the operator says before hanging up.

 

Miss Parker gets a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.  It was starting.  The dreams were coming true.  Something was about to happen and she didn't know what it was or how to stop it.  All she knew was that she had to get to Jarod before it was too late.

 

 

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