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 3

 

 

Sydney walks down the long hallway leading to Miss Parker's office.  He knows that she's in there even at this late hour.  She's been working late all week now.  As if she were avoiding going home.  He finally reaches the door and gives it a gentle tap before slowly easing the door open.

 

"What are you still doing here, Parker?" the old man asks, worried about his young friend.

 

"The same thing they pay me to do everyday, Syd.  Work.  What are you still doing here?"

 

"The same thing I've been doing all your life, Parker.  Looking after you.  Making sure you're okay.  I'm worried about you.  Why are you keeping these insane hours?"

 

She looks at him and sighs.  She can see that all he wants to do is help, but how will it really help to talk about it?

 

"I can't go home, Syd," she finally admits after a pause.  "It's just so quiet there.  It makes me think about what's missing in my life."

 

"It makes you think of Jarod.  And Imani," he realizes.

 

"I have to keep them safe.  Last week shouldn't have happened, Syd.  I should have been able to prevent it.  Lyle shouldn't have been able to harass Miss Dee the way that he did."

 

"So you figure by staying here, you'll be able to predict his movements?" Sydney asks her, trying to understand her motivations.  "Miss Parker, you do realize how silly that sounds."

 

"I have to do something.  I can't let something like that happen again.  She's counting on me."

 

"Who's counting on you, Parker?  Imani?  She's just a little girl.  And from what I could see last week, she adores you.  You don't have to put so much pressure on yourself to meet such high expectations."

 

"Not just Imani.  But Imani's mother.  And my mother," she whispers.  "And before you look at me like that, I know what you're thinking.  They're dead.  I know that.  But Imani said something one time . . . They talk to her.  I know that's not possible, but . . ."

 

"Some people think that children can see and hear things that we can't.  Including angels," Sydney tells her.

 

"Really?" Miss Parker asks curiously.  "Because Imani knew things.  Like what my mother looked like.  And a name that only my mother would call me.  Is it possible that she could really speak to my mother?  And her mother?"

 

"I think the mind can rationalize anything.  You'll believe whatever you want to believe.  So the question is this, Parker.  Do you want to believe that Imani was speaking to your mother?  What is it she said that's haunting you so?"

 

"Imani said that her mother and my mother led me to Jarod and Imani.  To help take care of her," Miss Parker tells him.

 

"So that's it," Sydney suddenly realizes.  "That's why you feel such a connection with the child."

 

"You think?" she asks.  "You think this is just my mother's way of . . . "

 

"It doesn't matter what I think," he interrupts.  "What do you think?  Because this is your life."

 

"I feel like I'm supposed to be with this child.  And I know that I couldn't love her any more even if I had given birth to her.  There's a place in my heart that literally hurts when I'm not with her."

 

"Well, then.  I think you have your answer," he smiles.  He goes over to her and pulls her out of her chair, leading her to the door.  "Go home, Parker.  Get some rest.  And trust that everything will work out how it's supposed to."

 

"Thanks, Syd," she says, leaning over to kiss his cheek before walking out of the door.  "Good night."

 

When she gets home, she's ready to peel her clothes off and climb in a hot shower to wash her day away.  She throws her stuff on the table by the door and kicks her shoes off as she walks across the living room.  She stops suddenly, a strange feeling slowly building in the pit of her stomach.  Something wasn't quite right.  She didn't know what it was, but she could feel it.

 

She goes back to the table and grabs her gun, holding it out in front of her as she begins a search of the house.  A tour through the kitchen, den, dining room and living room leaves her empty handed.  She slowly heads up the stairs, still letting the gun lead the way.  When she gets to the first guest bedroom she notices that the door is closed.  But she can hear faint breathing on the other side.  Her trembling hand slowly reaches out to grab the knob and start to turn it gently.  But before she can open the door, it opens by itself, revealing her unexpected visitors.

 

"Jarod," she almost screams.

 

"Shhh!" he whispers, pointing to the little body laying in the bed.

 

Miss Parker looks over his shoulder at the sleeping Imani and smiles at the little girl.  She looked like and angel, sleeping peacefully despite the fact that she was in a strange place.  Comforted by the safety offered by the presence of her father.

 

She puts the safety on the gun and tucks it into her waistband.  It wasn't necessary anymore. Her intruder had been identified and was harmless.  She directs her smile towards Jarod, before grabbing his hand and quietly leading him down the hall to her bedroom so that they could talk without risk of waking the baby.

 

"I didn't mean to scare you," he apologizes.  "But I couldn't exactly announce my arrival without risking someone finding out.  I'm already putting you in jeopardy as it is."

 

"Don't worry about me.  I'm a big girl.  I can take care of myself, Jarod."

 

"I know.  That's why I'm here," he says softly, his mood suddenly turning very serious.

 

"Jarod, what is it?" she asks, suddenly getting very worried.  She sits down next to him on the bed and puts a reassuring hand on his knee.

 

"Last week.  At my house with Miss Dee.  It was too close.  I can't allow anything like that to happen again," Jarod begins.

 

"I understand.  I feel the same way.  If only I had known what Lyle was up to," she says to him.

 

"How could you have known?  To hear Miss Dee tell it, you got there not long after Lyle did.  You did all you could.  It was good you got there when you did.  But it makes me think about the future.  And what would happen if something like that happened again?  Maybe next time, Miss Dee won't be able to get Imani out of the house before someone saw her.  Maybe they'll be able to grab her one day and figure out she's my daughter.  I can't let that happen.  I love Miss Dee, and I can't put her in that kind of danger.  She's not prepared.  When I have to be away, I need for Imani to be with someone who will be able to handle the situation."

 

"Are you saying that you think that someone is me?" Miss Parker asks incredulously, finding it hard to believe that Jarod was about to entrust the life of his child to her.

 

"I need you Miss Parker.  To look after my little girl.  She's all I have left.  And I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her," he sighs, tears starting to form in his eyes.

 

"She's not all you have left, Jarod.  You still have me," Miss Parker says, inching closer to Jarod.  "We're on the same side now."

 

"What do you mean?  I have to be entirely sure here, Miss Parker.  I can't play games anymore.  Imani's life is at stake."  He stares deep into her eyes, hypotized by the intense look she was giving him in return.

 

"Maybe this can clear things up for you," she whispers, slowly moving her face closer to his. 

 

Their lips meet for a seemingly endless second. And in that one second they both feel the years of anger melt away.  All the times they hurt each other disappear into a bottomless pit.  The harsh words spoken to drive each other way now turn into declarations of love, whispered sweetly into each other's ears.

 

"I hope that gave you something to think about," she purrs into his ear, gently tugging on the lobe with her teeth.

 

"To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not in any shape to do much thinking right about now," he says hoarsely, trying hard to catch his breath after that kiss.  A warm breeze that she exhales glides down his neck as she plants a trail of hot kisses from his ear down to his chest.

 

"Thinking can be overrated at times," she murmurs between the kisses that were driving him crazy.  She takes the kisses back up, following the path she just made until she ends up at his lips again.

 

"We can't do this.  Not tonight," he manages to say just as she takes his mouth hostage.  He takes her in his arms and holds for awhile, trying to convince his heart to listen to his head.  "We don't have to rush anything.  We have forever."

 

She reaches up and gives him one last kiss before finally releasing him from her embrace.  They walk hand in hand to the door where they have to say good night.

 

"You better lock this," he says with a smile.  "In case I change my mind."

 

"Just go," she laughs.  "Before I won't let you leave.  And you'll be my prisoner.  You'll be mine forever."

 

"I've always been yours," he tells her and then quickly kisses her on the lips before she can say anything.  "Good night."

 

She watches in silence as he turns and practically runs down the hall to the other bedroom, gently closing the door so he wouldn't wake up Imani.  She does the same and then finds herself almost gliding across the room, as if she were up on a cloud.  She finally makes it to the bed and                   sinks deep into the pillows with a huge smile on her face.  Her eyes close in happy reflection and soon sleep takes over, allowing the sweet dreams of Jarod's luscious lips to rule her mind.

 

 

Miss Parker awakens to the sound of muffled giggles coming from downstairs.  She rolls over and looks at her clock, the bright red display showing the time to be almost noon.  She hops out of bed and pulls on a robe before going downstairs to join her houseguests.

 

"Look who's up, Daddy," Imani squeals, jumping of the couch and running to the base of the stairs where Miss Parker is standing.  "Daddy said we had to be real quiet to let you get your rest."

 

"That was sweet of you and your daddy," she says to the little girl, lifting her up and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before setting her back down.  "But I usually don't sleep this late on Saturdays.  I'm so sorry I haven't been a very good hostess.  Did you find something to eat?"

 

"Daddy made some chocolate chip pancakes," Imani tells her.

 

"Mmm.  My favorite. But I can't eat them alone.  You think I can convince you to eat some more with me?" 

 

The little girl nods her head enthusiastically and runs into the kitchen, leaving the two adults shaking their heads and laughing, wondering where she gets her endless energy from.

 

"I told you she never walks," Jarod laughs.  He slides over on the couch, making room for Miss Parker to sit down.  "She makes me tired just watching her."

 

"I just hope I can keep up with her," Miss Parker says, joining him on the couch.

 

"You'll do fine.  I trust you," he says quietly, gently brushing a wisp of hair behind her ear.  His fingers slide lightly down the side of her face and begins to trace the curve of her lips before he leans in the kiss them.

 

"That's nice," she whispers.  "How about another one?"

 

He obliges her, taking her fully into his arms and gives her another kiss that leaves them both breathless.  

 

"I have to leave soon," he says after a silent moment they share.  It's time I start to put my plan into action."

 

"This plan is why you needed me to keep Imani for you?" she's curious.

 

"Yes," he admits.  "It's time I did something about the Centre, once and for all.  Lyle got too close to Imani.  I can't let that happen again.  I could always just take her and disappear, but I can't be away from you anymore."  He pulls her tightens his hold on her and she lays her head on his chest.

 

"I want to help," she says quietly.

 

"Are you sure?  Members of your family might not like what I have planned very much when it's all over," he warns.

 

"I'm positive," she assures him.  "Ever since that day at the ice cream shop last year when I thought I'd lost you and Imani, I knew that the day would come when I would have to do something to stop them.  I think this is the sign I was waiting for."

 

"That's just what I was hoping you'd say," he says, a smile suddenly spreading across his face.  He hops up off the sofa and pulls her onto her feet.  "Go get dressed and packed.  We have to get going."

 

"Going?  Where?" she wants to know.

 

"We're going to go get married . . ." he says with a cryptic little smile, amazed that he finally found a way to render her speechless.

 

 

 

Chapter 4