Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Well, some of them are. But the important ones are all property of MTM and NBC Productions and used without permission. I'm not making any money out of this . . . . Blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.

 

Note:  This story is the second in what has become my ‘Reflection’ series.  It is the sequel to True Reflection of Love.

         

The Trust Game

By Nicky

 

Chapter 1

 

 

Miss Parker stares absently at the computer screen in front of her.  Broots was standing over her yammering on about some new tracking program he developed to do something she didn't really want to know about.  For all she cared, it could have held the secrets of the universe.  It didn't matter to her.  Nothing mattered to her anymore.  Not her job.  Not her so called family.  Nothing.  It's been seven months since that day at the ice cream parlor with Jarod and Imani.  The day he thought she betrayed him.

 

They were so close that day.  Laughing.  Talking.  Eating ice cream.  And she found herself falling more and more in love with him with each passing second.  Everything he did seemed different that day. The smug grin that constantly adorned his face and usually made her blood boil with anger instead was stirring up feelings of desire and passion.  And the wide-eyed innocence that usually annoyed her was instead rather endearing.  She even didn't mind it so much when he tried to steal her ice cream.

 

<"What?" he asks, wondering why she's suddenly giggling.>

 

<"Nothing," she says, still laughing.  "It's just you have a little fudge on your chin.  You're about as bad as the baby.  Let me get you all cleaned up."  She slides across the booth until she's right next to him.  She reaches up and grabs his face with one hand while gently wiping the fudge from his chin with the thumb of her other hand.>

 

<"Thanks," he whispers, suddenly aware of how close she was to him.  Suddenly aware of the warmth coming from her hands as they still stroked his face.  And suddenly aware of their lips drawing closer and closer together.>

 

Her heart  was beating so quickly she thought it was about to jump out of her chest.  And although her eyes were closed, she knew what was about to happen.  She could almost anticipate the kiss.  His warm breath was washing over her face in short, jagged bursts.  She could even hear his heart pounding in rhythm with hers.  She felt an electric shock tingle her skin the closer they got.  Then, with their lips just mere micrometers apart, so close she could feel his mouth brush slightly against her own, her world came crashing down around her.

 

<"You liar," Jarod growls.  "And to think I actually believed you.  I actually believed you cared.">

 

<"Jarod, what are you talking about?" she asks, suddenly very confused.  "I do care.  What's going on here?">

 

 

<"Oh no.  Lyle," she whispers.  "Jarod, I don't know what's going on here, but . . . "  She stops abruptly when she notices that the seat next to her is empty.  Jarod is gone.  And so is Imani.>

 

Miss Parker quickly stops a tear before it can begin it's descent down her face.  She'd been doing a lot of that these past few months.  Too much, some would say.  But she couldn't help it.  Her heart ached so much with an empty pain she's never known. 

 

"If you just let it all out, it'll get better," Sydney whispers in her ear.

 

She looks up at him and then quickly scans the room, suddenly embarrassed that she was breaking down in front of him and Broots.

 

"Don't worry.  Broots left.  I sent him home early.  I knew you wouldn't want him to see you getting this upset," Sydney tells her.  "Thinking about Jarod again?"

 

"Is it that obvious?" she asks with a shaky voice, allowing a few more of her tears to fall.  Just a few.  Because if she truly let go, then she was afraid she wouldn't be able to stop.  "I've been thinking about him since he left that day.  I can't help it."

 

"For so long, your lives were intertwined.  What affected one of you, affected the both of you in one way or another," Sydney explains.

 

"How long is it going to hurt like this, Sydney?  Because I don't know how much more I can take."

 

"I honestly don't know, Miss Parker.  You finally admitted to yourself that you loved him.  You've loved him for quite some time, I imagine.  Something like that lasts a life time.  You won't forget it any time soon.  And you may not believe this now, but he won't be able to forget, either."

 

"I think he's already forgotten," she sighs.  "Sydney, it's been six months since we got that note.  I don't think he's coming back ever again."

 

"What are you going to do now?" he asks her curiously.  "Because you can't go on like this.  You're barely making it, Parker.  I've noticed it.  Broots noticed it.  I'm sure Lyle and your father have noticed as well.  If you're not careful, you might find yourself taking a little trip to be 're-educated' soon."

 

"I don't know," she confesses.  "But you're right.  I can't go on like this.  Jarod's always been in my life.  For as long as I can remember.  But he's gone now.  And I don't know who I am anymore."

 

"Why don't you take some time to figure it out," Sydney advises.  "Take a couple of days and go someplace to clear your head.  It might do you some good to step away from the situation for a little while."

 

"Where would I . . . . "

 

"My cabin is always available to you.  Feel free to use it for as long as you like."

 

"Thank you," she says with a sincere smile.  "I think I just might take you up on your offer."  She wipes the last of the tears from her face before standing to hug the man.  The man who's been more of a father to her than her own had been.  A man who's seen her at her worst, but loved her nonetheless.  A man who's seen her through her worst and asked for nothing in return.  But she was glad that she was finally able to give him her love.

 

"Take care of yourself, Parker."

 

"I will.  Thanks Sydney.  Thank you for everything.  I love you," she says, placing a kiss on his cheek.

 

"I love you, too," he says, returning the gesture.  "I'll see you when you get back."

 

 

Coming to the cabin had been a brilliant idea.  Already being away from the Centre was making her feel 110% better.  After getting the car unpacked and the groceries stocked in the kitchen, she goes into the bedroom and peels off her hot, sticky clothes.  She digs through her suitcase until she finds an outfit more comfortable.  She pulls on a tank top and a pair of cargo shorts and goes out on the porch to enjoy the rest of the day.

 

He watches as she swings lazily on the hammock hanging on one side of the porch.  Eyes closed.  Arms and one leg dangling over the sides.  She seemed to be trying to relax, but he could still see the stress around her eyes.

 

"It's good one of us can let their guard down," he says to her, now standing mere inches away from her.  Her surprised eyes fly open, revealing cool seas of blue that sends a tingling down his spine.  He finds he has to shake himself out of her spell before completing his thoughts.  "I don't have that luxury."

 

"Jarod," she says simply, trying hard to hide her relief at seeing him and knowing he's alright.  "What are you doing here?"

 

"I thought I'd surprise you.  Let you know what it feels like to have someone suddenly show up and ruin your life.  Like you did the last time we met like this.  Imani and I have been on the run since then, thanks to you."

 

"Well, you seem to have it all figured out," she spits out, her words suddenly taking on a sharp edge.  "I'm surprised you have to nerve to get this close to me.  Aren't you afraid of me taking you back?"

 

"I figured I'd give you a chance to explain yourself.  Explain how you can come into my home and use my family the way that you did.  Explain to me how you can live with yourself knowing you broke my baby's heart.  Imani really liked you, Miss Parker."

 

"Explain to you?"  Anger flashes in her eyes and she hops out of the hammock to stand face to face with him.  "I don't have anything to explain, Jarod.  How about you explain to me why you don't trust me . . ."

 

"Trust you?"  he interrupts with a laugh.  "You're joking, right?  Why would I trust you?  You've been chasing me for years, Miss Parker.  Threatening to take me back to that place.  You tried to seduce me.  And it almost worked.  I almost thought we had a chance at that life we always dreamed of.  But I got distracted.  And I saw your brother and a team of sweepers just across the street.  You lied to me Parker.  I thought you cared about me.  I thought you cared at least about Imani. . . ."

 

He doesn't see it coming.  The hand she held at her side, clenching and unclenching the fist throughout his tirade.  Finally, she can't take any more and hauls off and punches him, right in the eye.

 

"Don't you EVER call me a liar again, Jarod," she screams.  "How can you say that?  How can you think I would do that?  I'll admit that we've had a strange relationship.  We used to best friends.  You were there for me at the worst times of my life.  But then we grew up.  We changed.  And we grew apart.  But there was always something between us.  An unspoken game of trust that we would play.  I had a job to do.  To bring you back to the Centre.  But it was more like a game we played.  With unwritten rules that neither of us broke.  How could you think that I would break them now?  Jarod, I've never lied to you.  I've always been straight with you.  I've always done what I said I was going to do.  I've always played the game fairly.  I would never stoop to using emotional warfare to trap you."  She ends her monologue and dissolves into tears right in front of him.

 

"You didn't know about Lyle being there?" he asks quietly, suddenly starting to realize he misjudged her.

 

"I didn't know.  I would have never made you a sitting duck like that.  I would have never done something like that to Imani.  No matter what you think of me, no matter what I've done to you, it really hurts to know you think I'm a monster," she cries.

 

"I'm sorry.  I should have trusted you.  I was just too afraid of getting my heart broken.  And I refused to let you break Imani's heart."  He pulls her into his arms and hugs her tightly until she stops crying.  Gently stroking his hand up and down her back to comfort her.

 

"I should be getting back to Imani," he whispers when she's calmed down.

 

"Tell her I miss her," Miss Parker begs.  "That I think about her all the time."

 

"She misses you too, Miss Parker," he smiles.

 

"Can you do me a favor?  Can you give her something for me?"

 

"Sure," he agrees.  "Where is it?"

 

"Right here."  She steps up on her toes until she can reach the top of his head and places a kiss on his forehead.  "Promise you'll give her one of those every night you tuck her in.  Just to let her know I'm thinking about her."

 

"That's sweet, Miss Parker.  She'll be very happy.  I promise I'll do it," he says, following her to the door.  He wants to make sure she gets inside safely before he leaves.

 

"I have something for you, too," she says coyly.  She turns around just as her foot steps inside the cabin. 

 

The move surprises him and he has to abruptly stop before he crashes into her.  They're standing face to face now and he can see a sly smile spread across her lips just as they brush against his own.

 

She pulls him closer to deepen the kiss, and her arms wrap around his neck.  She doesn't want to let him go, but she knows she must end it soon.

 

He feels himself gets pulled into her arms and suddenly can't think of any other place he'd rather be.  His own arms respond and wrap around her waist, pulling her closer and closing what little gap there was between them.  But just as suddenly as she had kissed him, he soon finds his arms empty.  He reaches out to her for another kiss, but she puts a hand up between them.

 

"You have to go.  Imani, remember?" she says with a teasing laugh.

 

"What? Oh yeah.  Imani.  I have to go," he's finally able to piece together.  However, he just stands there, looking stunned and a little confused.

 

"Good night, Jarod," she purrs, winking at him before giving him a slight push out of the doorway so that she can close it.

 

He stands there for a few more minutes while his mind processes what just happened. He stares at the door, almost as if he was trying to will it to open, but it never did.  He finally recovers completely from Miss Parker's surprise and starts to laugh.  He shakes his head as he walks down the path to where his car was parked.  He didn't know if what she did was a trick.  Or a plan to get him back to the Centre. But frankly he didn't care.  Because the moments her lips left his, he knew he'd do anything to kiss them again.  He didn't see himself running too far from her in the future.  Not away from those lips.  Or those kisses.  But for some strange reason, he didn't feel that he would have to anymore.

 

 

 

Chapter 2