The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 17

Rated: PG

Spoilers: Season 4

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

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 17

 

 

 

Miss Parker lays on the cot in the small room they have her locked in.  It's not as small as some of the cells she knows they at the Centre.  And it's not really cold or dark as some of the ones they've locked Jarod in.  But nevertheless, it feels that way to her.  A dark, gloominess hangs in the air despite the adequate heating and lighting the room provided. 

 

She draws her knees up to her chest, still pretty much in shock over seeing her father shoot her brother that way.  She's still traumatized over seeing Lyle's seemingly dead body positioned against the wall the same way Tommy's had been.  That's three now.  Three that she loved.  Three that's now gone.  Three that her father took from her.  So many times throughout the years, she tried to deny the allegations that her father had anything to do with her mother's death.  And so many times in the past few months, she felt her father had something to do with Thomas' death, but she would never allow herself to believe it.  But now, she couldn't deny his cold heartedness anymore.  She saw him aim the gun at Lyle.  She saw him pull the trigger.  She saw her brother's lifeless body fall to the floor.  A week ago, Lyle's death wouldn't have fazed her.  But it's funny how things can change in a matter of minutes.  It only took that long for the Centre to rip them apart at birth all those years ago.  And after years of hating each other, it only took that long for them to reconnect the bond that had long ago been broken.  A bond that instantly made her love him.  But now, he was gone too.  Taken by her father.  And she knew now that she had to stop him before he took anyone else from her.  Because the only person left was the one who meant the most to her.  Jarod.

 

The sound of the door unlocking alerts her, but she looks up to see only one of the sweepers.  One she didn't know, so there was no chance in trying to convince him to let her go. 

 

He sets a tray of food on the table next to the door, making sure to keep his distance from her.  He was warned about her from the others.  She's beautiful, but deadly.  Don't get too close.  He tries to avoid looking at her, but can't.  And what he sees shocks him.  She doesn't look dangerous.  Instead, she looks helpless and a little pathetic laying on that little cot curled up in a little ball, shivering under the tiny cover over her body.  His heart goes out to her.  He starts to walk closer to see if she's okay when he's stopped by the sound of voices coming down the hall. Instead, he goes back to his duty of guarding the room.

 

"How's my daughter?" one of the voices asks. 

 

"I just left her breakfast for her, sir," the sweeper answers.  "But, she doesn't look so good."  He opens the door for Mr. Parker to enter.  The other sweepers that were with him stay outside.

 

"Good morning, Angel," he says cheerfully as the door closes behind him. 

 

"What do you want?  Why are you doing this to me, Daddy?" she finds herself asking, although she already knew the answer.  All this was for Jarod.  All her father wanted was Jarod. And he was willing to sacrifice his children to get him.

 

"Just sit tight and trust me.  Soon, I'll have what I want and then it'll be safe for you to go."

 

"Safe?  You're keeping me locked up against my will for my own protection?  Who is it that you're supposedly protecting me from?"  Trust him?  He had to be kidding.  She couldn't believe he's still trying to lie.  She knows exactly why he has her.  She's just curious if he'll ever admit it.

 

"Let me worry about that, Angel.  All you need to know is that pretty soon, I'll have what I need and then we Parkers will be on top again.  The Centre will be ours."

 

"And what is it 'we Parkers' need?  Jarod?  Are you using me as bait to trap him, Daddy?"  She stands up to face him, staring at him fearlessly when she sees a flicker of anger enter his eyes.

 

"Where would you get a silly idea like that?" he says lightly, trying to brush off her accusations.

 

"Lyle.  He said that . . ."

 

"He was lying to you, Angel," he says, interrupting.  "He's actually the one trying to hurt you."

 

"And that's why you shot him?  Is that why you killed your own son?"  She feels the tears trying to find their way to the surface, but she manages to push them back down.  She can't show any weakness right now.

 

"Mmm.  Look at this breakfast.  Why don't you have some."  Mr. Parker changes the subject and refuses to answer the questions.  But he can see that his daughter wasn't buying his act.  He just couldn't believe how easily she bonded with Lyle.  And he couldn't believe how quickly Lyle grew a heart. 

 

"I don't want any of it, Daddy," she winces.  The smell of the food floating across the room suddenly brings a feeling of queasiness over her.  "I don't feel so good."

 

"Hang in there, Angel.  It's probably the after effects of the chloroform.  Believe me, you'd be feeling a lot worse if we had to use a stronger sedative or drug."

 

"I think it's more than the chloroform, Daddy," she says, suddenly getting an idea from her attack of nausea.  "I've been feeling like this a lot for the past few weeks.  And I think I know why."  She hopes she'll be able to pull this off.  All she needs is to get out of this room. Then, she'll have better chance to free herself.

 

"What is it?" her father asks curiously.

 

"I think I can get you something better than Jarod.  You wouldn't even need him anymore."

 

"Like what?"  Mr. Parker is completely intrigued now.

 

"Like his child," she says, laying her hands on her stomach.

 

 

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