“I think Alex is alive.”

            “I could ask if anyone ever really dies anymore, but it seems proved beyond fact that no one, indeed, does die at the Centre.”

            “Well, those without a heart.”

            “Yeah.” She replied, her voice soft, before she shook off the shadows of old memories. “So what makes you think this particular ghoul has risen from his grave?”

            “Meet me at the Somerset hotel in Seattle.” The dial tone sounded in her ear. She looked at the phone in annoyance. He did that way too often for her liking. However…

            “Thanks, Labrat.” She replied her lips turning into a predatory grin. “Sydney!” She yelled. “Get Broots; we’re heading for Seattle.”

           “I hate flying commercial,” Parker ground out under her breath, “When I get back, I’m going to have a nice long chat with the people that decided to put the jet under maintenance today of all days!” She groaned and rolled her neck back, they weren’t even on the flight yet and she could feel the pending cramp in her neck. They moved forward in line and she tried her best to curb the impulse to just push the sea of people in front of her out of the way so she could get to the ticket counter and they could get on this damn flight already.

           Finally, after Parker was convinced all her brains had escaped through her ears; they stepped up to the counter.

           “Miss Parker.” She said holding up her drivers licence, “Seattle. Any time in this century.” She continued with a wide sarcastic smile. The woman sitting behind the counter began typing away at the computer in front of her, pushing up her glasses as they began sliding off her nose.

           “Your flight will be boarding in… two hours.” She said cheerily, looking up from the computer with a wide professional smile.

           “What?” Parker ground out.

           “Its take off has been delayed due to a maintenance issue-” Parker turned away in disgust. She looked to Sydney, “Did I piss off some maintenance god or something? Or does someone just not like me?” Sydney wisely kept silent on the matter. The woman at the counter cleared her throat.

           “Ma’am?” Parker turned back to her. “There’s a flight to Seattle leaving in ten minutes, I have one more place if you want it.”

           “Get me on it now.” Parker replied waving her hand as if that would hurry the woman up.

           “Here are your tickets.” The woman replied as she finished making the alterations to the flight. She handed the tickets to Miss Parker.

           “You’ve made a mistake, I want to go to-” Parker replied, her voice soft and deadly as her patience finally wore through.

           “No mistake Ma’am.” The woman replied hurriedly trying to cut off Parker’s pending verbal assault, “That’s exactly where you want to go.” Parker looked at the girl intently, for the first time seeing something other than the polite vacant stare. Parker looked at the tickets in her hand for a second time.

           “Right, sorry, my mistake.” She replied, all harshness leaving her face as the slightest look of embarrassment filled her features. She smiled uncomfortably at the girl and moved away from the counter. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a Scooby Doo Pez dispenser sitting next to the keyboard, her eyes narrowed. “I’ll see you boys later.” She called over her shoulder.

           “Have a nice flight Miss Parker.” She heard Broots reply as she walked away. She barely heard him as her mind whirled.

           She sat in front of the gate, waiting for her flight. For the tenth time she gazed at the ticket in her hands.

           “Flight 920 to San Diego now boarding.” She stood up, putting the strap of her bag over her shoulder and her coat over her arm.

           Once seated inside the airplane she gazed out the window at the other waiting planes on the tarmac. One of them Sydney and Broots would be boarding later. I wonder what they’ll do when they can’t find me in Seattle. She pulled her cell phone from her bag. She toyed with it, trying to make up her mind whether she would tell them the truth or lie when they inevitably called her.

           “Ma’am?” Parker looked up to see a female flight attendant leaning toward her. “Could you please turn off your cell phone? We don’t allow their use during the flight as they interfere with our communications system.”

           “Of course.” Parker murmured as she turned off the cell phone and placed it back in her bag. Her lips turned up slightly in an ironic smile as she realised it was probably better if it remained off. Jarod was up to something and he obviously wanted her alone and unarmed (even with a permit they hadn’t allowed her to carry her gun on board). It must have something to do with Alex, she thought. Well, Alex was a sociopath, and they weren’t exactly known for normal behaviour; wherever he was there was sure to be trouble.

           “Suspect heading east, keep on him Henderson!” The voice crackled loudly over the radio.

           “Drive him into Gilford Park, it’s all open space, he’ll have nowhere to hide.” Jarod shouted into the radio as he ran. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the lights of the police cars as they attempted to force their runaway forward. Jarod’s path soon converged with theirs as he raced toward the fleeing figure in front of him. The police cars were forced to stop at the park’s entrance. Police officers tumbled out to join the chase as the cars sought another avenue.

           His heart pounded in his ears as he ran, his breath coming in thick and fast, dodging trees he knew would soon thin out into a clearing leading to the lake’s edge. A helicopter’s light shone down from above, giving him a better view of the dark shifting figure in front of him. The figure ahead burst out of the trees, Jarod followed, victory filling his chest. The helicopter’s beam of light followed the man’s dash across the clearing. Jarod saw as the figure, without slowing, hunched down, his arms above his head as the helicopter got lower, the strong winds swept up by its rotors battering him. The yards were decreasing rapidly as Jarod began to catch up. When he was just behind him, he leaped, his momentum pulling them both roughly to the ground. Unfortunately the man had advanced far enough that the ground now sloped - rather steeply - down to the lake’s edge. Jarod tried to keep a hold of the man as they rolled down the hill. Finally, once their momentum had slowed and they came to rest in the shallows of the lake, Jarod pounced on the man. The helicopter’s shaky beam of light zeroed in on them.

           “Alex.” Jarod ground out as he held him down, the blinding light leeching all colour from the man’s face.

           “So nice to see you again Jarod.” Alex smiled and with a suddenness that took Jarod by surprise, he lashed out. Pushing Jarod away, Alex leaped to his feet, managing to stay upright despite the water that pulled at his feet and soaked his clothes. Jarod, now turned onto his back, was momentarily blinded by the helicopter’s light. He made a grab for Alex but touched nothing except air. Squinting into the shadows that surrounded him he turned in circles, water dripping from his clothes. He couldn’t spot any movement nor could he hear any splashing to indicate Alex was still in the water. The helicopter’s beam swung widely, lighting nothing but water and grass. Then it began picking up dark figures, police officers converging on the site. A suited detective pushed his way through the sea of uniformed officers.

           “He’s gone. Disappeared like some ghost.” He bit out. Jarod shook his head.

           “A ghost he’s not, Sanders. He couldn’t have gone far.”

           “Here you are, Jarod.” The woman said smiling warmly as she handed Jarod a towel. He smiled at her, taking the towel and murmuring a thank you. He began to dry himself off as best he could.

           “Well that was a complete and utter failure!” Detective Sanders burst out as he entered the spacious office, every available space filled with desks and people.

           “Not a complete failure.” Jarod replied.

           “Our suspect got away without a trace! And he got away with the jewels!”

           “At least I got close enough to identify him.” Jarod rebutted.

           Sanders scoffed. “Try explaining how that’s worth four days surveillance, the use of six police cars, twelve uniformed officers, a helicopter and four detectives to the big-wigs upstairs.” He replied, his chin jerking heaven ward. Jarod just smiled.

           “Any idea how much the jewels were worth?” He asked. Sanders shrugged.

           “Nah, not yet. I have uniform checking that out. Pretty expensive shop by the looks of it though, and he went for the stuff out the back locked in the safe, not the stuff on sale out front. So I’m guessing we’ll have a very pissed off store owner here in the morning.” Jarod examined the photos and maps pinned onto a board attached to one wall, lost in thought. “When’s your partner finally arriving?”

           “She should be here by morning.” Jarod murmured without looking up.

           “She?” Jarod looked up to see the balding detective’s - a man well into his fifties - eyes light up. Jarod grinned.

           “You’re not her type.” Sanders shrugged.

           “My four ex-wives thought that too; in the beginning. I have persuasive power.” He winked at Jarod.

           Jarod chuckled. “But then they became your ex-wives.”

           “A minor detail.” Sanders dismissed with a distracted wave of his hand, his eyes, as Jarod’s hand been a moment ago, fixed to the wall of evidence they had collected so far. “Anyhow, I better go play damage control.” Sanders said with a roll of his eyes, “Night, Henderson.”

           Jarod continued to stare at the pieces of information spread before him like scattered jigsaw pieces. His mind worked to place each piece in its rightful place, until maybe he would see its final shape. However, his mind couldn’t help but be slightly distracted by the anticipation of the arrival of his new partner.

           “Morning Ma’am.” Parker looked around at the sound of the voice. She lowered her sunglasses, looking over the top of them at the stoutly cabby with a prominent beer gut grinning back at her.

           “Try it on someone else buddy.” Parker said giving him a venomous glare and walking away.

           “He said you had sharp tongue. He… ah happened to forget to mention how pretty you are however.” Parker stopped in her tracks, her head fell back as her eyes closed in disgust.

           Against all her feelings of pride, decency or just plain sanity she asked, “He?” Reluctantly she turned to face the cab driver.

           “Jarod of course.” The man replied with a grin, as if the answer was obvious. Sometimes she wished the answer wasn’t so obvious; for once in her life could there be another ‘he’? The cab driver stepped forward offering her his hand.

           “Meh name’s Carl.” Parker only gazed at his hand with her lips slightly curled in distaste. He cleared his throat withdrawing his hand. Looking to the ground in discomfort, he wiped his palm against his pant leg.

           “Jarod sent you here to pick me up?” She asked her tone losing some of its sharpness. He looked up at her as she gave him a small conciliatory smile.

           “Yeah, he’s set you up at a really nice place.” Carl moved to open the cab door for her. She slid into the seat willingly, a sigh escaping her lips.

           “I’ve just been on a six hour flight; as long as it has a bed I’m happy.” She settled into the, surprisingly comfortable, backseat. Carl’s palms rested on the door frame as he looked down at her.

           “It’s not far away; I’ll get you there before you know it.” He said smiling at her sympathetically. She watched as he closed the door gently and got into the driver’s seat.

           As they drove out of the airport she spoke, “I’m sorry… for being rude earlier.” She said not without some difficulty. She saw Carl shake his head.

           “It’s ok; I get it all the time.” She caught his eyes in the rear view mirror.

           “I’m just so use to Jarod sending some jerk who is only there to infuriate and frustrate me.”

           “From what I’ve seen of Jarod, he seems a pretty nice guy. Helped me out when they were going to take my cab from me, then how was I going to feed a pregnant wife and three kids?”

           “Your family is ok now?” Parker asked making small talk as she gazed at the family picture stuck to his dash board. It showed Carl with a brunette woman of what looked like Mexican descent - obviously his wife and obviously very pregnant - with three children of various ages, all of them grinning madly at the camera.

           “Oh yeah,” He turned in his seat when they stopped at a red light, “And the baby was born last week, a big bouncing boy.” An enormous grin split his face, pride radiating from his eyes. The light changed and he drove forward. He caught her eye in the rear view mirror, his eyes filled with mirth. “Guess what we named him?”

           She paused before her mouth fell open too shocked to keep her stoic composure, “You got to be kidding me!”

           Carl chuckled shaking his head. “Nah uh… it’s right there on his birth certificate: Jarod Matthew Francis.” Parker let out an incredulous laugh, shaking her head.

           “Jarod must have been pleased.” She said.

           “Yeah he seemed pretty chuffed.” Carl replied.

           Parker’s face fell slightly, “Yes well, Jarod always seems to go out of his way to help people.” Carl looked back as he heard the edge of bitterness in her voice.

           “But you Miss P?” He asked.

           “Me? The only thing Jarod goes out of his way to do for me… is piss me off,” Her voice grew softer, “Or humiliate me, or watch me run in circles in one of his damn games.” Carl watched in the rear view mirror as she rested her head against the window, her eyes distant and her face in shadows.

           They remained in silence until they reached the place Jarod had prepared for Parker.

           “Like it? It’s quite swish don’t you think?” Carl said grinning again. He kept his hands in his pockets; afraid he might dirty or break something. Parker gazed around the pristine apartment in surprise.

           “Are you sure you brought me to the right place?” She asked him; sure he had made some mistake.

           “Oh no, I was in here last weekend helping Jarod prepare it for you. It was an empty apartment you see - brand new - so Jarod had to get all the furniture. Me and Betty had a lot of fun shopping for some of it, Jarod just gave us his credit card, very trusting in this day and age right? There was this one store that…” Carl’s voice faded from her hearing as she moved her way around the apartment. It was new, expensive and spacious, even more important, it was tasteful. If she didn’t have so much past evidence to contradict such an occurrence, she would think Jarod was making sure she was comfortable. Her lips tightened in disquiet; that meant he thought she would be here for a while. She moved into the bedroom, a wide bed decorated in burgundy and cream greeted her on entry. Among the dark folds of the quilt it was easy to see the white envelope propped up against a pillow. Without hesitation she plucked the envelope from the bed and tore it open. The familiar black scrawl of Jarod’s handwriting rewarded her impatience.

           It’s yours, make yourself at home.

           I’ll be expecting you at eleven - don’t be late.

           J.

           She was thinking about where exactly Jarod was expecting her when she heard Carl calling her from the living room.

           “Hey Miss Parker, I have to go – work, you know.” He said as she walked into the living room. “Anyway I got the stuff Jarod wanted you to have outta the trunk.” He clunked down a heavy looking cardboard box onto the coffee table.

           “Thanks Carl.” She replied as she regarded the box. Carl began to walk to the door of the apartment. “Wait!” When he turned she searched her pockets, walking up to him finally and handing him some money, “My fee.” She replied with a smile.

           “Oh you don’t need to pay me, especially not this much! I did it as a favour to Jarod and it was no problem driving you here, wasn’t even out of my way.” He protested, attempting to hand the money back to her. Parker shook her head, forcing his hand back.

           “It’s a thank you for not being one of Jarod’s jerks.” She said leaning into him and smirking secretly. He returned her smile.

           “It was a little rough there at the start Miss P, but I don’t think you would be such a bad person to have on one’s side. I think all that venom just hides a soft heart.” She raised her eyebrow at him. He chuckled softly, “This will pay for more than just one cab ride. Anytime you need a ride just call me.” He nodded to her and handed her his card.

           “Will do.” She said. With that he left.

           Parker again shook her head, first Jarod didn’t send some midget with a stickler for rules or a bum with a cheesy grin and then he sets her up in an apartment that if she’d had a choice she would probably choose for herself… it all led to one obvious conclusion, her jaw tightened, she was really going to hate what was happening next. All this… was just to soften her up. She let out an exasperated sigh and went for the mysterious cardboard box on her coffee table.

           The first thing that greeted her was a folder, with the big red letters of ‘Confidential’ written over its cover. Pulling that out she found more folders and files just like it plus a piece of paper with the address of the San Diego police department written in Jarod’s handwriting. Finally out of the bottom she found identification tags, hers of course. Apparently her name was now Parker Graham and she was a Detective of the Los Angeles police department. Her lips turned up in disgust.

           “You’re the one who does the Pretending, Jarod.” She murmured under her breath. From the weight and thickness of the files she didn’t think she was going to have much time to sleep or shower before she had to meet Jarod at eleven.

           “Tricky case? Or just having a hard time choosing between lasagne and tuna fish for lunch?” Jarod froze at the sound of her voice. He turned slowly to see her standing only a few feet away wearing the conservative blue suit he had put in her wardrobe, the identification tags he had made for her dangling from her breast pocket and the badge at her belt.

           “Settle in ok?” He asked her.

           She raised her eyebrow, “You expect me to be staying for a while?”

           He shrugged, “Hopefully not, but I couldn’t be sure.” She moved closer. He almost couldn’t stop the amused smirk from reaching his face when he saw that, while she had taken his subtle hint about clothing, it didn’t extend to her footwear. She wore shiny black stiletto heels with her new blue suit. He gave a mental shrug; she had probably done more running in heels, high enough to break ankles, than she had done in flats anyway.

           “The others will start to wonder where I am if I stay too long.” She said, giving him a pointed look.

           Jarod just smiled, “That’s been taken care of. We have as much time as we need to solve this case.” She gave him a searching look before she glanced at the pictures tapped to the walls.

           “What’s so important about this case that it would override my… rather impatient, desire to return you to the Centre?”

           “Didn’t you go over the case files I sent you?”

           “Yes and what I garnered from them, didn’t make much sense –”

           “She’s finally arrived Jarod?” Parker turned to see a balding detective leering at her. What is it with this town? She thought.

           “Detective George Sanders, this is Detective Parker Graham, she’s my partner from Los Angeles.” Parker shook the man’s hand, trying for a polite smile that she knew was coming off as more of a grimace.

           “You were quite delayed Detective Graham, Jarod here had to do all the hard work, last night he ran three miles before finally pulling the suspect down.”

           Parker looked to Jarod in surprise “You’ve caught Alex?” Jarod became uncomfortable under her gaze.

           “I caught him… then he got away.” Jarod admitted reluctantly.

           “Can’t understand how he got away myself, I mean we had sixteen officers completely circling the area. Unless he became a fish and disappeared into the lake with the jewels in his mouth I don’t see how he got away so easily.” Sanders scratched his head a perplexed expression on his face.

           “Jewels?” Parker asked confused.

           “Alex ripped off a jewellery store; we had had a tip off and had the area staked for four days, yet when he finally did strike he got away from us and we were forced to chase him into Gilford Park… where he again pulled a Houdini.” Jarod replied.

           “Oh yeah that’s what I came in to tell you about.” Sanders said, a serious expression clouding his otherwise sardonic features. Jarod looked to him questioningly.

           “Have you found out what they are?” Jarod asked.

           “Yes,” Sanders replied, “And how much they’re worth.” He gave a long suffering sigh, “I wasn’t kidding when I said they’d be a pissed off store owner, in fact I’ve been sitting with them since eight this morning. They are anything but pleased.”

           “How much are they worth?” Parker asked.

           “One point five million.” Sanders replied, Jarod whistled. Sanders continued, “Each.” Jarod’s eyes grew wider.

           “How many were stolen?” Parker asked as she gazed between Jarod’s look of amazement to Sanders look of pending apocalypse.

           “Six.” Sanders stated.

           Parker shook her head, “That’s nine million. A lot in jewels, not much compared to what’s in banks or the stock market. If he wanted money he could have gone after more lucrative targets.”

           “The jewels meant something.” Jarod said.

           “What makes you think that?” Parker questioned.

           “Because money doesn’t mean much to him, it’s not an end in itself. Like you said if it was money he wanted he has the skills to go after bigger targets.”

           “Look, I really don’t care what they mean to this guy, they aren’t his and I have lots of people breathing down my neck on this one, so just find them quickly.” Sanders insisted, his forehead creased.

           “I think the fact that this man might kill again is a greater concern than whether we retrieve stolen property.” Jarod replied indignantly.

           “The two murders in Santa Ana?” Parker asked, remembering the files on the murders. Jarod nodded.

           “Of course lives are more important,” Sanders interrupted, indignant that Jarod would consider he would think anything different, “Just find the guy, put him in jail and find the jewels while you’re at it.”

           Jarod smiled at him, “You don’t think you’re asking a lot?” He questioned.

           Sanders slapped Jarod on the shoulder. “You were transferred onto this case because they said you were the best. Now, I better get back to the people from Crawford’s.” Sanders shook his head commenting sarcastically, “I swear they think bright baubles are what makes the earth spin and by selling them they are serving the Jewel Gods that then reward them with money for propagating their religion.” He shook Parker’s hand once again, “Nice meeting you Detective.”

           “You too.” She replied. Once Sanders had left the room, like a magnetic attracting a pin they turned to regard each other. “Ready to explain everything now?” She asked him, adding, “And I do mean everything.”

           Closing her eyes she stretched herself out onto the massive bed Jarod had gifted her. She relaxed, content finally, to be left to her own thoughts - not that they were giving her any more rest than she had received at the police station. Alex had answers, Jarod was right about that. Of course to get them, they had to find him first. Predictably though, Jarod was more concerned with stopping him from causing any further harm - a man in his thirties and a woman in her twenties had already been killed in Santa Ana. Alex’s motive for both the murders and the robbery was still a mystery. As was the reason Jarod would risk so much to make her a part of this. He could have always just handed over the information to her later, just like he usually did. But maybe he had noticed, as she had begun to, that the desire to bring him back had been waning steadily for five years, even more noticeably since Carthis. She groaned and shook her head, thinking about how to catch Alex was bad enough, trying to figure out the motives behind any of Jarod’s actions was just begging for a migraine and wondering about her own lack of enthusiasm for the chase was just likely to put her six feet under. Sleep, then a shower… then maybe she would feel human again.

           The lock clicked as she closed the apartment door behind her. Pocketing her keys in her jacket she prepared to make her way down the steps to the street, when from the corner of her eye she saw a man preparing to open the apartment opposite hers. The entire apartment building only consisted of four apartments, two on the ground floor and two on the second storey. Hers was on the second storey, only separated by a corridor to the entrance of the second apartment. She continued to stare at the man’s back, wondering why she wasn’t half way to the nearest grocery store by now. Realization came to her in a flash and she groaned inwardly. Before she could decide whether she wanted him to see her or not he turned around.

           “Going out Miss Parker?” Jarod asked casually, as if he was just any neighbour.

           “Funny… Carl never mentioned anything about you living next door.” She commented sarcastically.

           “It was need to know.” Jarod replied with a smirk. “Going for food?”

           “Yes, you strangely seemed to have forgotten food when you were stocking the apartment with everything from detergent to clothes.” Parker replied, a hard edge to her voice. Jarod just regarded her for a moment.

           “Want to come in and I’ll cook you something? We can go over the case while we eat.” He finally said. She looked at him closely. While the prospect of looking through even more files, was not tempting, nor was spending more time getting frustrated by the Labrat, but… someone else cooking dinner, was quite appealing. Jarod opened his door wider and without a word she walked inside, a strange feeling coming over her. Jarod followed behind her closing the door. She stood near the entrance, not advancing any further. It was strange but she felt like an intruder, like she didn’t belong. She almost laughed, she had been barging into his lairs for years and never felt the slightest bit uncomfortable, for the first time he invites her in and she felt like she was trespassing. She looked up suddenly as she realised Jarod had said something.

           “Want a drink Parker? Wine? Water?” Jarod grinned, “Dr Pepper?”

           “You have wine?” She asked, looking at him sceptically. She saw him disappear behind the kitchen counter only to appear a second later with a wine bottle in hand. She walked up to the kitchen counter, reaching across it to take the bottle out of his hand. Glancing at the label, she threw him a questioning look. It figured he would know her favourite.

           “Do you have a glass?” She asked. With a smile he handed her a pristine wine glass along with a corkscrew. She made herself comfortable on a bar stool and opened the bottle.

           “Like Pasta?” He asked as he began to make his way around the kitchen gathering the things he needed.

           Parker shrugged, “Sure.” She said as she took a sip of the red wine. She couldn’t help the tiny moan of appreciation escape her lips – and catching Jarod sneaking a glance at her. She cleared her throat softly, “So, about the case… I’m sure you have more files than the ones you’ve already shown me.”

           “They’re in my briefcase.” He replied, waving a ladle over his shoulder in the vague direction of the living room.

           A minute later she was back with the files in hand. Settling back down on the stool she spread the files on the counter in front of her. For a while the only sounds in the room were the occasional shuffling of paper, the soft clang of utensils and the bubbling of sauce on the stove. But ever so slowly Parker’s attention was diverted from the files; eventually, she gave up pretending to read them all together and began staring at something entirely more fascinating – Jarod cooking. It wasn’t that he did it in any extravagant way… in fact it was the way he went about it so entirely normal that so caught her. She had known Jarod since she was a child yet she couldn’t say she had ever seen him in any ‘normal’ setting, doing everyday things. She took a sip from her wine glass, watching as he tasted the sauce, his brow creasing slightly as he considered it. He turned to face her suddenly, rasing his eyebrow slightly as he found her staring at him.

           She put a bored look on her face, “So what do you think Alex’s motive is?”

           Jarod shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t think it’s changed much from last time - try to get on the Centre’s good side and do a little killing on the side.”

           “So the murders in Santa Ana were incidental? Just a power trip?”

           “I think so, which makes it even harder to stop him from hurting anyone else. If he’s just going to lash out at random people, it’s going to be harder to protect them than if he had a planned target.”

           “Yeah well, whatever his plan to suck up to the Centre, he’s not going to risk complete exposure by killing for his own personal need here,” Parker’s eyes went back to the file, her voice softening, “That’s why he killed in Santa Ana.” Jarod nodded before heading into the fridge for more ingredients for the sauce. “Maybe I can – discreetly – find out if the jewels have any significance to the Centre. What were they again?”

           “Diamonds.”

           “Right, a girl’s best friend.” Parker replied with a smirk, taking another sip of her wine. Jarod smiled, a clatter of plates breaking the pause in conversation as he put them in the oven to warm.

           “They were mined from Africa; they’re legal mind you.” Jarod said.

           Parker pulled out a photo of the diamonds from the file, staring at them. “Buying black market diamonds from a foreign country that then use the money to fund its militias, oppressing its already impoverished people… sounds right up the Centre’s ally. Stealing legit diamonds from Americans seems so much more… trite.” Her mouth tightened, her words underpinned by an edge of cynicism.

           “I have a friend coming down from Chicago tomorrow; he’ll be able to help us out.” Parker considered him for a moment.

           “You’re going all out on this one.” She commented.

           “Alex is very smart and very dangerous; he needs to be stopped as quickly as possible - before anyone else is hurt.” Jarod replied darkly. He shook his head slightly as if the physical act would shake the dark thoughts from his head. “Would you mind bringing the knives and forks.” Jarod said a moment later, nodding his head toward the pile on the counter. She picked up the cutlery and napkins, following Jarod to the table as he put the steaming plates down.

           He pulled her chair out for her, and after a short pause of hesitation she sat down. He settled down across from her at the small dinning table that, at best, would fit four. They stared at each other a moment. Then both deciding that conversation really wasn’t necessary between them began to eat. A strange but somehow comfortable silence settled between them as the night progressed. A moment out of time.

           “Don’t you ever take vacations?” Jarod swung around, this time to see Eddie standing behind him.

           “Too busy for such things but, hey, everything away from the Centre is a vacation.” Jarod grinned shaking Eddie’s hand. Eddie grinned back.

           “That it is.” He agreed.

           “Are you sure you’re willing to help out on this one?” Jarod asked.

           Eddie’s face darkened, “That man almost left my family without a husband and father. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him down.”

           Jarod nodded, “Your family’s ok?”

           “Other than being forced to relocate, and cease all contact with anyone we knew… it’s going well. I really shouldn’t complain. I mean I could be dead right now.” He shrugged giving a lopsided smile. Sanders entered the room, a cell phone fixed tightly to his ear.

           “Yep, sure, look I’ll get right on it.” He said into the phone before hanging up. He looked up to see Jarod wasn’t alone.

           “Sanders, this is Eddie Shay, the diamond expert I was telling you about.” Jarod greeted.

           “Oh right, nice to meet you. Think you can find the diamonds anytime soon?” Sanders replied looking hopeful, as he shook Eddie’s hand.

           “I’ll try my best.” Eddie replied graciously.

           “Mine if I use the landline?” Sanders asked Jarod, pointing to the phone on one of the desks.

           “Go ahead.” Jarod said before turning to Eddie, “I’ll show you what we’re dealing with.”

           A few minutes later Sanders was done and he again turned to the men who now stood over a desk talking low and fervently.

           “Detective Graham not here yet Jarod?” Sanders asked.

           Jarod looked up, “She’s out checking who the diamonds might be intended for.”

           Sanders nodded, “Just don’t forget you two are supposed to address uniform later this afternoon to give them the heads up on our suspect.”

           “I haven’t forgotten.” Jarod replied. Sanders left the room, his cell phone again going off as he left. Jarod and Eddie settled back to discussing the case.

           “I’ve got a lead Jarod.” Jarod looked up to see Detective Sarah Mater standing up from one of the desks that scattered the room.

           “Where?” He asked picking up his jacket from where it lay across the back of a chair.

           She shook her head, “I can handle it - it looks old. But I better check it out.” She retrieved her gun from her desk, placing in its holster. Seeing Jarod’s scepticism she replied, “I can handle it. The info’s three weeks old!”

           Jarod sighed before nodding though not without adding, “If it even looks like he might still be there, call... and take back up with you!” She rolled her eyes, smirking as she headed out.

           “So much being done… yet he keeps eluding us so easily.” Jarod muttered to Eddie.

           “Then we just keep working harder. He’s only one man.” Eddie said as he turned back to the information the jewellery store and its insurance company had sent about the missing diamonds.

           “Sometimes I have to wonder whether stupidity is contagious.” Miss Parker bit out, storming into the office. She stopped in her tracks as Eddie turned to stare at her. “Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” She said with a raised eyebrow. Eddie cocked his head, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her.

           “Isn’t she-?” He asked Jarod as recognition lit his features.

           “Yeah.” Jarod replied his mouth set.

           “Shouldn’t we be running?” Eddie murmured out the side of his mouth. Jarod couldn’t help the short laugh that burst from him.

           “Usually running would be a good idea at this point. However this time she’s here to help.” Eddie looked at Jarod doubtfully.

           “He’s your ‘friend’?” Parker asked Jarod, pointing to Eddie distastefully. Jarod just smirked. She groaned and sat heavily into a chair, “Great… now I’m surrounded by two Labrats! It’s not like one is enough!” She muttered under her breath.

           Eddie sent Jarod a pointed look. He gave Eddie a small shrug in return and decided to steer things to safer waters.

           “What did you find out?” Jarod asked Miss Parker.

           Parker sighed, “Other than this world is populated with morons? It’s the Centre who wanted the diamonds; they need them to give to some South African country, something about them being stolen and rightfully belonging to them, yada yada. In exchange the Centre wants a new plant extract they’ve found over there that might provide immunity to some new strain of Ebola.”

           “At least that’s not too morally abhorrent.” Eddie commented.

           “Not if you first immunise all your troops and then poison anything and everything before your advancing front, killing everybody in your way.” Parker replied with a deathly grin. The imitation of a smile faded from her face as her eyes dropped, “Not that they have much of a chance of success anyway, and if they did it would require years of research and testing, I don’t think it’s something we have to be too worried about right now. In any case Alex delivered the diamonds to them yesterday. The Centre accepted them but would have nothing more to do with him – he had drawn too much attention to himself and the Centre didn’t want to risk exposure. I however, had the… ‘privilege’ of talking to the secretary who was there when he got the news. Apparently he wasn’t happy; promised he would be back with something they wanted even more, something that would make them pay attention.” She looked up to Jarod, “I highly expect he was talking about you.”

           “Maybe. But if that’s the case then we’re in luck.” Jarod replied. Both Eddie and Parker looked at him with raised eyebrows.

           “Luck?” Eddie queried.

           “If it was just the diamonds he would be hundreds of miles from here by now. But the Centre didn’t give him what he wanted and if he’s trying to come after me to get it… that means he’s going to stick around. We don’t have to look for him any longer, now he’s going to come to us.” Jarod gave a dangerous smile.

           Parker sighed. “Genius, has a death wish.” She murmured under her breath before speaking louder, “You know it’s my job to bring you back to the Centre, not stop someone else from doing exactly that.”

           Jarod gave her an exasperated look, “I’m not asking you to protect me.” He replied.

           “But you’re asking me not to beat Alex to the punch and bring you back to the Centre.”

           “Yes, and you would have mentioned the little fact that you knew exactly where I was to that Centre secretary if that was what you wanted. But there are other priorities right now, so let’s stop this talk of me returning to the Centre.”

           “You may not want to talk about it but it is inevitable. You can only put it off for so long, and I’ll only play nice for a limited time, so you better play things carefully here Jarod.”

           “So… it’s just a matter of waiting for Alex to act now?” Eddie asked looking between them, hoping to bring things back to their main goal.

Jarod nodded, “Alex likes to play games, I don’t think it’ll be too long before we get his first message.”

           “Detective Henderson!” Jarod turned to see a staff member, enter the office a phone pressed tightly to her chest. “Detective Mater’s been attacked.” He could see from her expression it was serious.

           “Where? Is she ok?” Jarod asked quickly. She shook her head.

           “At the house she was investigating, she’s been taken to the hospital.”

           “St Anne’s?” Jarod questioned. She nodded before retreating back out of the office. Parker looked to Jarod, her faced filled with sadness.

           “I think we just got his first message, Jarod.” He looked to her his eyes filled with pain.

           “He was supposed to be coming after me.” He bit out, the muscles in his jaw showing as he clenched his teeth.

           “The bad guys always have to involve other people,” Eddie replied softly, “They can’t win otherwise.” He patted Jarod’s shoulder sympathetically.

           He gazed into the hospital room. Sarah lay asleep on the bed, her red hair a jarring note against the stark white pillows. He couldn’t help but cringe as he saw her.

           “Jarod.” She said waking up. He moved into the room giving her a small smile.

           “How are you feeling?” He asked softly as he took a seat next to the bed.

           She smiled, “Other than the killer sore throat,” She said as she pointed to the red ligature marks that encircled her neck her voice a hoarse rasp, “I feel pretty stupid.” Jarod shook his head starting to protest when she interrupted, “I should have seen him, or heard him. All I know is I’m walking through one of the corridors, the next, I can’t breath coz there’s a damn wire around my throat.”

           Jarod’s face darkened, “It’s not your fault that you were injured, I should have gone with you-” She again interrupted his pending rant of ‘how he shouldn’t have let this happen’.

           “How am I ever going to work my way up the ranks if I’m never allowed to do anything on my own occasionally?” She asked with a quirk to her eyebrows and a slight smile on her lips. Jarod sighed, returning her smile reluctantly. A small nod his only concession.

           The smile fell from her face and she became serious, “Just find the Bastard, ok Jarod?”

           Jarod squeezed her hand, “I will, just rest.” She nodded and he left her to go back to sleep.

           Jarod walked out of the hospital room, his face dark.

           “How is she?” Eddie asked in concern as he approached.

           “She’ll be fine. She’s got some nasty bruises, but there’s no permanent damage.” Jarod replied.

           Parker looked to him in concern. “He meant to antagonise you Jarod; she’s going to be fine, so don’t start getting all fired up.” Parker warned, looking at him pointedly.

           “Let’s just check out this house ok?” Jarod replied, moving before either had a chance to speak.

           The house was old, abandoned, and looked a breath away from falling apart.

           “I’ll take the basement.” Parker said.

           “I’ve got the first floor.” Replied Eddie.

           “I guess that leaves me with the second.” Jarod murmured, moving to the stairs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the others move toward their intended targets, their guns out-stretched before them. He made his way up the creaking stairs his eyes peeled for any sign of movement. Once he was on the landing he turned left to an opened doorway. He pushed the door open, the loud screech it made making him cringe. The room was bare except for an old mattress that lay beneath the window. Jarod moved into the middle of the room, his gun sweeping a hundred and eighty degrees as he turned. He moved toward another door in the room which he guessed hid a wardrobe. He held his gun ready to fire and his body low as he crept toward the closed door.

           Ring.

           He jumped as his cell phone rang from inside his pocket. Slowly he took it out of his jacket, his gun still trained on the door. He flipped the cell phone open, pressing it to his ear his shoulder holding it in place as his hand went to the doorknob, preparing to open it.

           “Hello?” Jarod murmured into the phone. The door opened easily at his soft tug.

           “They’re such pretty bruises don’t you think, against all that beautiful white skin?”

           “Alex.” Jarod growled. He thought at first that his comment referred to the bruises he had given Sarah, but then he saw what was inside the wardrobe. A blown up photograph he recognised as the one police had taken of Catherine Parker; her face filled with bruises.

           “I’m sure her daughter would look just as pretty.” Alex continued. Jarod’s jaw tightened.

           “You’re not going to find out.” He promised Alex his voice made of steel. There was a long pause before he heard Alex sigh wearily.

           “I’d love to continue this chat, but it just gets kind of old after a while. Meet me at Warehouse 14 on the East pier at eight tonight. I don’t really have time for the whole cat and mouse thing, so why don’t we just get straight to the showdown?”

           “Suits me just fine.” Jarod replied darkly.

           “Oh and Jarod?” Alex said before he hung up, “Make sure no one tags along will you; this is a invitation only party.”

           She knew it, as soon as he stepped off the last stair, she knew something had happened. Yet when Eddie asked, Jarod said he had found nothing. She kept quiet however, not pressing for answers, and they drove back to the precinct.

           Once they arrived they headed to the gathering of uniform and detectives, there to be updated on the case. Jarod provided a description and profile, Parker informed them on last known locations and possible patterns of movement, and Eddie explained how to tell a real diamond from a fake and the possible places stolen diamonds may be bought and sold. They had decided the police didn’t need to know the diamonds were already out of the picture; the unwelcome news may have induced a heart attack in Sanders for one and more importantly, it would have provoked Centre attention they couldn’t afford.

           The afternoon came and went and soon it was evening. Still they stayed and worked, Jarod made no mention of stopping for the day and so they continued without a break. Parker watched him closely, rarely letting him out of her sight. Until finally at seven forty five exactly, while Jarod had gone for coffee, there came a sighting of Alex. He had been spotted near a corner of town known for its dealings in the black market.

           Eddie looked to Parker knowingly, “Why do I get the impression we’re not going to find Alex there? And that Jarod’s not coming back with coffee anytime soon?”

           “Let’s not let everyone go rushing off shall we, I know somewhere we have an even higher chance of finding Alex.” Parker smirked. Eddie raised his eyebrow but Parker just gestured for him to follow.

           Once they had gotten into Eddie’s car he turned to Parker expectantly, “Did you put a tracker on Jarod’s car?”

           Parker shook her head, “He would have thought of that; he didn’t take his car.”

           “Well then how are we supposed to find him?” Eddie asked exasperated. Parker just smiled, gesturing for him to drive. He did as he was told, not knowing in which direction he was supposed to be driving. Parker retrieved her cell phone, turning it on for the first time in two days. Out of her pocket too, came a little white card.

           “Hello Carl… had any interesting clients recently? Say, in the last ten minutes?”

           Jarod’s feet scuffed against the dirt that layered the floor of the abandoned warehouse. He had been waiting there for several minutes; Alex had not yet decided to show his face. In fact Jarod was beginning to suspect Alex wasn’t going to show at all and this was just another game. That is until he heard a small scuffling sound, this time not made by him. Jarod looked up to see Alex walk into a patch of light, only a dozen yards away. Alex raised a gun, pointing it straight at Jarod’s chest.

           “I somehow thought it wasn’t going to be that easy.” Alex said, his voice ringing clear and cold in the still night air.

           Jarod didn’t flinch, “They want me back alive.”

           “Not to sound like that pet huntress of yours but; preferably.” Alex replied. “Now put your hands above your head and get down on the floor.” He gestured with his outstretched gun as emphasis. Jarod didn’t move.

           “You’re right - it’s not going to be that easy.” Jarod said, a dangerous smirk forming on his lips.

           “Put the gun down! Put the gun down now!” The shouting came out of no where, as did the officers that encircled them. Parker walked forward her gun poised, coming to stand off to the side between both Jarod and Alex. Both of which now stood glaring at one another.

           “I thought you gave them a false lead that would keep them busy.” Alex snarled.

           Jarod cocked his head a smug smile on his lips, “Oh I did, I also didn’t tell them anything about your phone call, I even went so far as to get a cab here… but…” Jarod looked to Parker his smile turning into a grin, “Some people just don’t listen to what you’re saying.” She returned Jarod’s grin before turning to Alex.

           “Give up Alex; you have a dozen guns pointed at you that will fire without the slightest hesitation if it even looks like your finger is twitching.” She warned. She saw Alex’s jaw clench as he went to raise his gun toward Jarod. She raised her own in retaliation, “Don’t… tempt… me.” She said low and harsh under her breath. Alex lowered his gun, finally dropping it onto the ground, his face distorted in rage. Officers moved in at once to secure him. Parker lowered her gun and turned to Jarod, “That was your great plan?” She asked incredibly.

           He shrugged a smirk still visible on his face, “It was effective wasn’t it?” Parker shook her head in disbelief, before sounds coming from where officers were arresting Alex distracted her. As if in slow motion she turned to see Alex pull an officer’s gun from his holster in the struggle. Her mouth opened in a shout as she saw him swing the gun around. Everything went so quiet as she swung her body around, moving as if through mud, to turn and see where the gun was aiming. When she heard the sound she dreaded it was like a thunderclap in her ears. She saw Jarod, standing so perfectly still; watched as a dark stain began to spread in the middle of his chest. The world returned in a collision of sound and movement as Jarod crashed to the floor. Her knees skidded into the hard floor as she fell to the ground beside Jarod. His breath came in harsh short gasps that were becoming shallower every breath he took.

           “Jarod.” She heard herself cry as she pressed her hands to the bullet wound. She vaguely recognised that Eddie had taken up position on the other side of Jarod. “Do something!” She begged him.

           “I’m not a doctor!” He cried in frustration.

           “You’re a genius!” She shouted. She looked up from Jarod long enough to see the agonised look that tore his face. She knew; he didn’t have the skills of Jarod, but he was the best she had, “Please.” She begged softly. He nodded, moving to feel Jarod’s pulse, before replacing Parker’s hands that were pushing so desperately against the warm wetness that threatened to gush from the wound. Eddie felt as Jarod’s pulse weakened beneath his touch. Parker didn’t need to feel his pulse to see it; the colour was draining so rapidly from his face, his breath becoming ever shallower. He was weakening so rapidly he would be gone before any help could arrive. Out of the corner of her eye she saw an officer come forward with a first aid kit, saw as Eddie became busy applying wadding to Jarod’s wound to stem to the bleeding. She turned away from them her entire gaze filled with Jarod’s pale face. His eyes were closed, if it were not for colour of his skin and way his forehead creased with pain she could almost think he was asleep. She lifted his head gently, moving to place his head in her lap. “Don’t you dare do anything stupid, Jarod… like die on me.” She paused before more words were ripped out of her throat, “You can’t go anywhere. Please… don’t go anywhere I can’t find you… anywhere I can’t follow.” Her voice was broken and anguished.

           “Keep talking to him Parker. Keep him holding on long enough for the ambulance to get here.” Eddie urged quietly. She barely heard him so lost was she in her own world. A world, with edges so sharp, they cut into her with every breath she took.

           “There are so many things… so many things that have been left unspoken, so many actions left unfinished. You have so many people here who love you Jarod; you can’t leave them all behind, not like this, not like this…” Tears dropped from her eyes. “Jarod… Jarod, anything you want I will give you, if you just fight, I will promise you anything, just live.” She leaned her head down close to his. “Don’t leave me like this, I will promise you anything… just live.” She leaned down further, pressing her lips to his. There was a shuffle as the paramedics arrived, taking over the care of Jarod from Eddie. She was pulled gently away. She felt Eddie’s arm encircle her waist as he held her up, away from where the paramedics huddled over Jarod. It didn’t take long before they began to move him into the waiting ambulance. Her eyes never left Jarod as she saw them load him up, her body remaining still, as they closed the doors behind him, her only consolation the fact his heart was still beating.

           The plastic cup, filled to the brim with cold coffee, felt like a dead weight in her hands. She stared into its murky depths as she had been for the last three hours, the stray thought entering her mind that its colour was much like the colour of Jarod’s eyes. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest at the thought and she resolved to go back to not thinking.

           ‘He’s lasted this long.’ Eddie had consoled her with earlier, before he had again gone for coffee. That’s all he’d been doing ever since they’d gotten here. He was either walking around the hospital looking for coffee, or crisps, or chocolate, or a magazine; there was by now quite a pile of things on the table ‘just in case she wanted them’. Anything that would keep him moving… all the while she sat there, the only movement she made was the shallow rising and falling of her chest.

           Her head raised slightly to look at the clock before her gaze again fell to the cup in her hand. She hadn’t comprehended the time, not that time had any meaning to her yet. She was in a strange world set out of time, almost as if it had no place here. Here, there was just numbness, and pain and the dreadful waiting that was almost as bad as knowing the worst.

           “You’re here for Jarod Henderson?” A soft male voice penetrated the fog that clouded her mind. She looked up to see Eddie stand up expectantly. She put her coffee cup on the table and stood up, also looking toward the white coated doctor with expectation.

           “How is he?” Parker was almost surprised to hear her own voice ask the question.

           The doctor smiled gently, “He isn’t out of the woods yet, but his improvement has been steady. He lost an extensive amount of blood, and with his rare blood type we had a problem getting supplies but we have stabilised his condition. It is possible for one of you to sit with him for a little while; he won’t wake up for some time yet but it will be good for his recovery if he has someone familiar with him.” The doctor looked between them, his eyebrow raised slightly.

           “Parker will go in.” Eddie said without hesitation. Parker looked across to him as if to protest. Eddie gave her a knowing look and nodded his head. The doctor looked to Parker.

           “I’ll see him.” Parker confirmed quietly.

           The doctor nodded his head, “Give us a few minutes and a nurse will come to take you to his room.”

           Once the doctor had left Parker turned to Eddie, “Are you sure? About me being the one going in to see him?”

           Eddie turned back into the waiting room, before saying quietly, “When Jarod and I were at the Centre… sometimes he would talk about the little girl he use to know when he was a boy.” Eddie turned back to face her, smiling sadly, “He would talk about her with such affection that I would get jealous that I had no one with which I could talk about with such… feeling.” Parker was the first one to drop her eyes. She looked to the corridor to watch for the nurse.

           “Jarod’s family should know he’s here. I think it would be safe for them to come and he would want them here.” She said changing the topic.

           Eddie nodded, “Do you have any idea how to contact them?”

           Parker’s lips turned into a reluctant smile, “Some.”

           The nurse led her down many corridors before they came to Jarod’s room. The nurse paused before letting her in.

           “Now don’t be alarmed by how he looks, he’s been through a lot in the last nine hours.” She warned.

           “I’m use to horrifying sights.” Parker assured her, her mouth set in a grim line. She had seen more horrifying things than one person should be witness to…

           The nurse nodded her head sympathetically, “I’m sure you’ve seen many terrible things being a detective.” Parker looked to her in puzzlement. The nurse gestured to the badge she still wore and Parker cast her a weary smile. The nurse patted Parker’s arm and left.

           She drew in a deep breath before pushing the door open and entering the room. The only illumination was the light that ran along the top of the head board, leaving most of the room in shadows. Jarod just lay there, still, tubes going into his throat, his nose, drips running into the veins in his arms… the sheer bulk of machinery felt almost overwhelming, it was only the sight of Jarod’s still form that drew her into that room. She stood over him, taking in the sight of him, trying to assuage the constant desire she’d had over the last nine hours to just… see him. See him breathe… and talk and smirk, she knew those things were a little way off but it surprised her the intensity with which she desired them. She turned from him briefly as she pulled a chair closer and sat down. She knew she should probably talk but was unable to find her voice. Slowly, tentatively, she reached up her hand, resting it gently on top of Jarod’s. As no catastrophic event resulted from the slight contact, her fingers further encircled his hand, mindful of the IV drip attached to the back of his hand and the heart rate monitor attached to his forefinger, she sat still, as still as she had been in the waiting room. But this time her body was more relaxed as she was able to watch his chest rise and fall rhythmically, the beep of the machine monitoring his heart beat a constant reminder that he was still… here.

           “How’s he doing?” Eddie asked walking into the sunlight hospital room.

           “Not much different to when you asked half an hour ago.” She replied, a soft smile tracing her lips.

           Eddie placed a bag into one of the empty chairs in the room. “I just grabbed you a pair of pants and a blouse, my wife would kill me if I went into another woman’s underwear draw.”

           Parker’s lips lifted further into an amused smile, “Thank you, Eddie.”

           “No problem,” He replied, “And I talked to Jarod’s Dad, they’ll be here about one.” Parker nodded, her face once again turning grave as her gaze fell back to Jarod, her hand still holding his as it had done the entire night. Parker looked to Eddie as something suddenly occurred to her, “What happened to Alex?” She asked. Eddie looked to her in surprise.

           “You don’t know?” He asked. She shook her head. “When he pulled the gun, they opened fire on him,” Eddie looked to the ground, “…Too late to stop the bullet from hitting Jarod, but they killed Alex, he was dead before he hit the ground. The paramedics took one look at him and moved on to Jarod.” Parker’s eyes remained downcast and Eddie thought she may be thinking of all the answers that were now lost with Alex’s demise.

           “A shame, that’s too easy a death for him. What I wouldn’t give for a couple of hours with that Bastard. I would make him regret every breath he’d taken from the moment he was born.” She said her voice low and cold. Eddie looked to her in surprise but recovered quickly, asking her if she wanted some pretzels. Her eyes rolled in amusement as he left the room to look for a vending machine, though by now he must know intimately every single one in the entire hospital.

           Eddie was back sitting in a chair in the corner of the hospital room, munching contently on the pretzels he had wandered off for earlier. Parker gave him a look.

           “You should have seen me when my wife gave birth to our son. She was in labour for almost twenty hours… I think I put on about five pounds.” He explained with a soft chuckle. She smiled. She looked up at the clock on the wall, her face suddenly becoming shadowed. Eddie caught her eye and they stared at each other, Parker looked away first. He knew the cause of her unease, he too glanced at the clock; twelve fifty seven.

           Parker’s stomach dropped as she heard approaching footsteps.

           “Here he is. The doctor will be by later to talk to you.” She heard a nurse say before she saw Major Charles enter the room. She stood up immediately. He stopped in the doorway when he saw her, however the people behind him just pushed past and Parker saw a red head work her way into the room first.

           “Oh poor baby.” She heard the woman murmur as she saw Jarod. Parker moved aside and the woman took up Parker’s position beside Jarod without breaking her stride. Parker walked to stand before Major Charles whose expression was grim. She felt Eddie approach to stand by her side. Major Charles face softened slightly, nodding as he acknowledged her presence, standing aside so she could leave the room. With only a brief backward glance at Jarod, she left the room, smiling softly in greeting at Ethan and Jarod’s clone as she passed them in the hall. She stopped in the corridor outside Jarod’s room, looking back to see Jarod’s family file into the room. Eddie followed her out.

           “Are you sure you want to leave?” He asked his voice low. Parker nodded her, eyes dark and distant as she watched Jarod’s family surround his bed. Her mouth tightened as she saw Zoë, there at his bedside, the exact same spot she had herself occupied. “He would want you there.” Eddie said, understanding the emotions that flickered through her eyes.

           She shook her head, finally tearing her eyes away from Jarod’s hospital room, “He already has all the people he needs… and… It’s her rightful place.” She whispered walking away. She walked through the hospitals corridors, her heels clicking against the laminated floor, only trusting on faith that she was heading for an exit. Tears blurred her vision as she walked. Zoë was Jarod’s girlfriend, and she was… whatever she was to Jarod. She was just there; she couldn’t be defined by any of the usual adjectives of ‘friend’ or ‘relative’, even ‘enemy’ wasn’t entirely true. It was complicated, that was what Jarod had said when asked about the two of them. Complicated was the least of it, mass of contradiction, oxymoron and paradox was coming slightly closer to defining it. She pushed the hospital doors open with more force than was necessary, her strides getting longer and longer, until she was running, she pulled Eddie’s car keys from out of her pocket and jammed them into the lock of the car door. Unlocking it she pried the door open, sliding in and slamming the door behind her. She sat in the seat trying to take a hold of the emotions that were bubbling to the surface. Her hands clenched reflexively around the steering wheel; she wanted to go somewhere else, somewhere very far away, away from this hell that imitated a life. She put the car in gear, roughly pulling the car out of its parking space and drove off.

           “Hey there, look who’s finally decided to wake up.” The voice floated to him from somewhere above him, he struggled to open the lids of his eyes. Ever so slowly the vision of his father appeared above him.

           “..D..a..”

           “Shh don’t try to talk, they only took out the tube from your throat an hour ago.” As he blinked his vision cleared even more and he saw Emily standing over his Dad’s shoulder.

           “Nice to see you awake big brother.” She said smiling down at him.

           “Well he took long enough.” Gemini commented; Jarod could only see the top of his head as Gemini attempted to look over Ethan’s shoulder.

           “He’s just got shot Gem.” Ethan replied with a pointed look at his younger half brother.

           “It’s just great to have you back Jarod.” He turned his head to see Zoë on his other side along with Eddie. Everyone’s here he thought foggily, even Zoë but… there was just one person that wasn’t…

           “Wh…ere’s… Where’s… Parker?” He asked, his voice a scratchy whisper. His eyes closed momentarily as exhaustion clawed at him, but he forced his eyes open once more to see Eddie had moved closer.

           “She… she went home.” Eddie replied reluctantly, not wanting to lie to him. Jarod’s forehead furrowed, she had already gone back to Blue Cove?

           “Home… to the Centre?” He asked.

           “No,” Eddie replied with some relief, “Just back to the apartment. She’s closing the case on Alex.” Jarod nodded his head as best as he could, relief filling him. He felt a hand stroke his forehead.

           “Rest Jarod.” Zoë’s voice filtered through his sluggish thoughts as his consciousness faded until he was once again, asleep.

           She moved around the apartment restlessly, shifting one thing, adjusting another. An unconscious frown on her face, her forehead creased with concerns that went beyond the alignment of a sofa cushion yet she couldn’t let her mind go there. Finally she sank to the couch with a sigh; she couldn’t put it off any longer. She should just get it over with and then fly back to Blue Cove. She already knew she couldn’t drag Jarod back to the Centre, not in his current condition. That wouldn’t be a fair fight. She would just go back to the Centre and… well it was the ‘and’ that was driving her in circles, that and seeing him one more time before she left. Finally her patience snapped, the future was in the future and she’d faced scarier things that one invalid so she should just get this done instead of dragging it out. Grabbing the file that lay on the coffee table and her keys she headed toward the apartment door before she could do any other thinking.

           The cab drew up to the hospital’s entrance.

           “Here you go Miss P.” Carl said as he turned to her, his arm slung over the back of his seat, his gaze sympathetic. She nodded. Pausing, she looked out at the hospital’s multistorey building. Finally she reached for the door handle and stepped out of the cab.

           “Thank you Carl.” She murmured quietly before closing the door behind her and walking toward the hospital’s front doors. She heard the cab drive off behind her.

           She made her way to a section of the hospital she had not yet seen when she learned Jarod had been moved to another room. It may have just been her imagination but this section, reserved for people soon to be released, felt lighter, airier than the intensive care unit; there was less… death here. She heard laughter as she approached Jarod’s room. She paused in the doorway. Zoë sat next to him on the bed, more in his lap than off, her face lit up in laughter, Jarod smiling beside her. Parker immediately turned to leave.

           “Can we help you?” Zoë called out behind her. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she realised she wasn’t going to achieve an easy getaway.

           She cleared her throat. “I’ve brought some paperwork I need Jarod’s signature on before everything can be finalised.” She said cheerily, putting a fake smile on her face. She walked briskly into the room opening the file and handed it to Jarod along with a pen. Jarod’s gaze bounced from her to the file and back again. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally steading the file on his lap and signing his name next to Parker’s.

           He was very pale, and there were dark shadows under his eyes but he was sitting upright and didn’t seem to be suffering. Eddie had said that Jarod was recovering remarkably well. She could imagine that, he had always recovered from injury quickly.

           “You’re the Detective who was working with Jarod when he got shot?” Zoe’s question startled her from her thoughts.

           “Yes.” Parker replied. Silence again filled the room as Jarod looked through the file Parker had compiled and the reports she had written, a rather unnecessary task but it would keep her there for another few seconds until he thought of what it was exactly that he wanted her to stay for. “You’re Jarod’s girlfriend?” He heard Parker ask all of a sudden. To anyone else it would only sound like a person trying to start a polite conversation but the innocent query made Jarod’s stomach clench.

           “Yes.” He heard Zoë answer innocently, Jarod’s eyes remained glued to the file in his lap as his mind raced. She didn’t realise the complex issues that ran beneath such innocent words, he couldn’t be angry at Zoë for not knowing. Which only lead him to wonder why he should be angry at Zoë at all, it was the truth wasn’t it? Jarod looked up, still confused but convinced that he had to say something. Parker took it to mean he had finished and before he knew it she had snatched the report back out of his hands and was almost gone. She spun on her heel however just before the door.

           “It was nice meeting you,” She said to Zoë, the wide fake smile still pasted on her lips, “And I’m glad to see you’re so well Detective, you gave us quite a scare there for a while.”

           “Parker!” He called, but she was already gone.

           “You ok Jarod? It’s just you’ve been so quiet and distracted since you got back from hospital.” Jarod looked over at Zoë from his place stretched out on the couch, before his eyes slowly strayed to the wall that he knew Parker’s apartment lay behind. He shook his head as his gaze again went back to Zoë.

           “I’m fine.” He replied.

           “Is it because you’re family’s left so soon?” She asked.

           Jarod shook his head, “No it’s not that.” He shifted over slightly as she came to perch herself on the side of the couch next to him. “It’s not safe for them to all be here. I would only worry if they had stayed.”

           “Then it’s her isn’t it?” She said with a knowing look.

           “Her?”

           “The Detective… Parker.” Jarod looked to the wall; that was all the confirmation she needed. “I’m not entirely stupid, Jarod.” She said. He opened his mouth to speak but found words unforthcoming. “I mean you asked for her when you woke up, and you said her home was the Centre and her name… none of you tell me much about the Centre so I don’t know a lot but I know she’s connected to them somehow and you’re… connected to her, somehow.” Jarod still didn’t interrupt her so she continued, “And when she asked if I was your girlfriend, I could feel you tense next to me when I said yes and I could see… something flicker in her eyes, pain, I think.”

           Jarod’s brow creased as he looked her in the eye for the first time, “Pain?” He asked.

           Zoë sighed and shook her head slightly, “We’re talking about us Jarod.” She chastised softly.

           He flushed slightly. “I’m sorry Zoë, I know it’s unfair of me to keep things from you but things with Miss Parker and I are… complicated.” He hurried to add, “We’re not… involved if that’s what you’re worried about, I wouldn’t-”

           “I know you wouldn’t cheat on me but Jarod-”

           “I know…”

           “It may be hard but can’t you just try to explain?” She asked on the edge of exasperation. Jarod’s gaze dropped, this was one thing he had never tried to explain, even to himself and he found no words forthcoming. After a minute had passed she finally said, “Ok Jarod, I’ll simplify things for you a little.” Jarod looked up to her questioningly. “Do you love her?” Jarod shifted slightly so he was half sitting. Zoe quickly placed cushions behind him so he was comfortable.

           Though he’d never asked himself the question before, he found the answer not out of his grasp. “Yes… I care about her, I’ve known her almost my entire life, we’ve been through a lot together.” He answered finally.

           “Now comes the more difficult question; are you in love with her?” He looked to Zoë, his expression almost fearful as if it scared him to even consider the question. She felt her heart sink but kept her composure, he didn’t have to answer, she could see it in his eyes, whether he knew it yet or not, he would soon enough. She moved off the couch toward the bedroom.

           “Zoë!” She turned to face him. He twisted himself with a grimace so he could see her, “I’m so sorry, to hurt you, that’s the last thing I would ever want to do to you.”

           “I’ll be fine Jarod.” She said with equanimity and despite the sadness in her smirked, “I’ve been dumped before.” Despite his own confusion he smiled at her softly.

           “Shouldn’t you be at home resting?” Carl commented as he sat down next to Jarod on a park bench. Jarod’s gaze didn’t waver from the lake that shimmered in the midday sun.

           “I knocked on her door, she didn’t answer. Did you take her anywhere?” Jarod asked him. He heard Carl sigh beside him.

           “She called me a little while ago; she wants me to pick her up in an hour… to take her to the airport.” Jarod nodded his expression still distant. “You should speak with her; you will regret leaving things unsaid, trust me.”

           “But what do I say to her?” He asked, looking at him directly for the first time, his eyes searching, “I don’t even know what I want.”

           “I think you know perfectly well what you want, you’re just afraid to say it out loud, but if you don’t you’re going to lose any chance you may have had of getting it. And any chance is still a chance” Jarod continued to look out towards the lake.

           “But what if she just pushes me away like she has done every single time in the past I’ve ever tried to reach for her?”

           Carl held Jarod’s gaze, “What if she doesn’t?” He asked simply.

           Carl patted Jarod’s shoulder as he stood up, “It’s more than worth any pain or fear if you can find it. It’s a rare thing you know, true love, these days it’s so much about the wedding, and nothing about the marriage; about pre-nub’s and nothing about trust. All they hope for is a few good years and an easy divorce. But the real thing Jarod, if you find that, the worst thing you can do… is give up on it without a fair fight.”

           The sun’s warmth shone down on him as Jarod continued to sit in thought after Carl had left. Without warning he stood up and after pausing to let the pain die down to a manageable level he began to walk toward the parking lot as quick as his recuperating body could bear.

           Why couldn’t she have gotten an earlier flight? Then she could be home already and not here thinking about possibilities that… tempted her with an intensity that scared her. Couldn’t she just take a hint? Could they not be staying right next door? Why was she sneaking off like some scared mouse? She sighed with frustrated. She just wanted to be home where things were so simple. Where her one goal was to chase Jarod… and find the secrets of her past… and stay alive dodging the shifting loyalties and surprises of the Centre… alright so her life was never easy. Trouble was there was no alcohol in this damn place to make her forget that.

           A knock at the door provided a merciful distraction from her thoughts. Surely Carl would not be this early though any company at this point would be welcome; at least it would keep her out of her head for a few minutes. She realised her mistake when she opened the door and found Jarod standing on the other side. By ‘any company’ she had meant anyone but the one standing in front of her. She closed her eyes momentarily hoping he would go away and she wasn’t just stupid enough to open the door without first checking who it was. She had successfully avoided his earlier knocking why had she not checked this time?

           “Hi.” He said. She opened her eyes to find him still standing before her. She waited for him to speak again, at least to say why he had knocked on her door. He remained still and silent, only staring at her. She cocked her head to one side as she realised he was nervous. The fact that Jarod was almost never nervous stilled her hand on the door instead of slamming it in his face as she was tempted to do.

           “What did you want Jarod?” She asked.

           “You promised me anything.” He said suddenly. She looked to him in surprise. “When I was shot and you were talking to me you said you would promise me anything.” She paused for a moment, so surprised that he had even heard her.

           “…I did.” She finally said carefully.

           “Five minutes.” He said.

           “What?”

           “I want you to promise to give me five minutes of your time.” Parker began to look concerned.

           “Now?”

           “Well I was hoping…” He looked at her expectantly. She sighed.

           “OK five minutes and then you go. I have a flight to catch.” She pulled the door open wider and stepped out of the way. He walked into the apartment cautiously as if expecting her to kick him back out at any moment. With a hand to his chest he settled himself slowly into one of the sofas. After a second’s hesitation Parker shut the door and sat in an armchair opposite him.

           “How are you recovering?”

           “Good, though still feel pretty battered and sore.”

           They sat in silence until Parker said, “You’re five minutes has started already I suggest you don’t waste all of it.” Jarod didn’t respond, instead he sat with his head down fiddling with a stray paper clip. She shifted uncomfortably getting more and more nervous.

           “I’m in love with you.” The words were so quiet she thought she had somehow imagined them. But she looked up to see him looking back at her with an intensity she had never seen in him. She opened her mouth to make some sarcastic comment or denouncement or at least question whether he knew what he had just said. But no words came, just a deep sense of fear. She stood up and walked to the kitchen counter, her back to Jarod. Her hand pressed against her mouth as she struggled to control the emotions that were going hay-wire inside her. There were just five words… yet.

           She spun around to face him, “What kind of sick game are you playing with me this time Jarod?” She asked harshly. He looked to her in surprise. He stood up from the sofa taking a couple steps toward her but not daring to approach her further.

           “This is no game. I’m telling you the truth… I just wanted you to know… before you left and…” He trailed off, not knowing what to say next. He’d known that it wasn’t going to be easy but he was disheartened that the conversation had stalled so early.

           “Right you just come here and say you’re in love with me after thirty years, the last five as bitter enemies the previous twenty as virtual strangers-” She said her voice higher than she intended yet she seemed to have lost the ability to sound normal.

           “And the four years before that as friends.” He reminded her softly.

           Her head dropped as her back pressed into the counter for support, “How do you even know what love is Jarod? How do you know you feel that way about me? How do you know that you feel more for me than any other woman… what about Zoë-”

           “Zoë went home.” Parker looked to Jarod in surprise.

           “You two…?”

           “We broke up yes, though she was the one to ask the hard questions, but she was right and it wasn’t fair on her for me to keep stringing her along when I’m…” He stopped, taking a deep breath. He took another step toward her and then another when she didn’t move away.

           “Jarod…” She began in protest as she saw him advancing. Her muscles were frozen in place and wouldn’t obey her commands to move.

           “You asked me how I can know anything about love, how I can know that I’m in love with you; let me answer.” He entreated. She closed her eyes as she felt him stop only once they were toe to toe, their bodies brushing together ever so slightly.

           He lifted her chin so that she was facing him. Reluctantly she opened her eyes to stare at his emotion filled brown eyes. “I have no definition or checklist which tells me I’m in love with you and nobody else, I don’t think anybody has. It can’t be explained just… felt. I know how I feel so different when I’m near you, like, suddenly… I’m so much more alive than I was before. And when you’re in pain, I can feel it… cutting into me just as deep. And when you smile…” Jarod smiled his eyes shimmering as they became distant, “Oh I haven’t seen you do that in so long, but I remember how it felt like the sky had cleared and everything was so much brighter than before. I don’t know why I was so blind to my own feelings for so long. Maybe because in my head I believed in all those lies the Centre fed us, how I was just a Labrat and you were the Chairman’s daughter and together we would never find happiness. I was afraid they would be right. But my heart was never listening, the feelings I had felt for you the moment we met just grew as time went by. I never had a choice, from the first moment I met you, I was always going to love you, to be in love with you. I’m tired of running from the things I really want. I want you. I want a life with you …” He looked as if he wanted to go on but stopped himself to wait for her reaction. Her eyes lifted to glance at the clock.

           “You’re five minutes are up.” She said. Her voice was quiet; he couldn’t discern any emotion from her tone. He gazed at her, but she kept her eyes lowered.

           Finally he asked softly, “Do you want me to go?” Her head lifted and he saw her cheeks were streaked with tears, yet her eyes gave away as much information as her tone had.

           “No.” She said softly after she had considered him for quite some time. He couldn’t hide the relief that swept through him. Her hand came up to cup his cheek. “Wouldn’t… wouldn’t some other woman… Zoë or… wouldn’t they be better for you than me?” He shook his head vehemently.

           “I don’t believe their lies any more Parker; I don’t want anyone else but you.” He heard her sigh and leaned into her hand as he felt her stroke his cheek.

           “I thought you were going to die,” She whispered her words broken, “When you were shot… I thought I was going to lose you. I was so scared… I’ve never been so afraid except for when I lost Mama…” She squeezed her eyes shut, more tears falling down her cheeks. Without even thinking about it Jarod brought his arms around Parker, hugging her close to his body.

           “I heard your voice; it was the only thing that kept me fighting.” He whispered into her hair. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, releasing the emotions she never let out. They came out as the tears that streamed down her face. He held her tightly rocking her slightly, soothing her hair and murmuring in her ear. Finally he felt her completely relax in his grip. He heard her mumble something into his chest. He pulled away slightly. “What did you say?” He asked.

           “I’m in love with you too.” She repeated softly. He sucked in a breath as he heard the words he had so desperately wanted to hear. Her forehead rested against his. “And it scares the hell out of me. Now what do we do? Things can’t be as easy as riding off into the sunset.” She said, wishing that was exactly how easy it would be.

           “Now the rest of our lives start.”

           “Start with what?” She questioned.

           “With a kiss of course,” He replied leaning toward her. Their lips meant in a tentative kiss. Parker pulled back slightly to look into his eyes.

           “You should write romance novels.” She replied softly. “Oh wait, you’ve already done that.” Jarod chuckled leaning down toward her once again. Their lips met, this time with more than just a quick brush of lips. But once again Parker drew back.

           “You understand Jarod that this isn’t going to be simple?” She said gazing at him in concern, “This isn’t some fairytale that ends with ‘happily ever after.’”

           “I know, but I’ve always found those fairytale endings to be rather boring. Why go to all that trouble of winning your beloved if the rest of your lives together can be described in one sentence?” Jarod murmured as his head dropped lower so he could amuse himself placing light kisses on her neck. Her eyes closed with pleasure at the sensation. But yet again she pulled away, moving Jarod’s head away from her neck.

           She heard a low growl form in his throat. “Do you love me or is this just some torturous way to kill me?” He demanded. She laughed and he looked up to gaze in awe at the sight. Before she could protest he cupped the back of her head with his hand and brought her into a deep and passionate kiss. There was discovery, but no awkwardness in their kiss and both were reluctant to end it.

           Finally Jarod pulled away. “Was there something you wanted to say Parker?” He asked innocently. She blinked at him.

           “hmmm?” She murmured. Jarod laughed lightly, and a shadow of pain flickered across his face. Her eyes sharpened immediately. “You need to sit down before you collapse and force me to call an ambulance.” She said, cursing herself for forgetting how recently he had been in ICU. He nodded as he felt his breathing becoming laboured. She lowered him to the couch and he sat down heavily. Leaning back he closed his eyes. She sat down next to him and without thinking began to stroke her fingers over his face and into his hair. He opened his eyes to smile at her and she leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the temple. “You’ve pushed yourself too hard today.” She commented.

           “I had a lot of things to deal with, things that couldn’t wait.” He gently pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. They smiled softly at each other. Parker rested her head lightly against Jarod’s shoulder as they rested there for a while.

           “Jarod?” Parker said softly some time later.

           “Mmm?” Jarod murmured against her hair, his exhausted body on the verge of sleep.

           “Why five minutes?”

           “You mean I should have asked for ten?” He replied, with a faint smirk evident in his voice. She chuckled softly.

           “Why not ask that I stop chasing you?” She manoeuvred slightly against him to look him in the eye. “I did promise you anything, and I would have kept my word, whatever you asked of me. So why not ask me to stop chasing you. Isn’t that what you’ve been wanting all these years?”

           “No not really.” She looked at him pointedly. “Ok,” He admitted, “I do want you to stop chasing me. But it was more important to me that you let me say the things I needed to say. We’ve always left things unsaid…”

           “I know.”

           “I wasn’t going to take advantage of your promise by forcing you to do something you didn’t want to do. I didn’t want you to resent me for doing something like that. But I didn’t want this chance to pass me by without at least trying one last time to reach you. At least this time I knew why it was so important.” He gave her a smile that took her breath away as his fingers absentmindedly stroked through her hair. Why had she always thought his smiles were infuriating?

           “I have made you a promise Jarod, and fulfilled it. I think now it’s your turn.” She announced.

           Jarod’s eyes sparkled with mischief, “What dear Mistress is your wish? I promise you anything.” He murmured into her ear his voice husky, his breath tickling her neck. Parker laughed lightly before pulling back to look him in the eye. Her light eyes darkened with seriousness.

           “There’s a rough road ahead, neither of us are naïve enough to think otherwise. Mama taught me that family was the most important thing in life. And you’ve taught me family isn’t just those you share blood with.”

“Baby, I plan on officially making us family, as soon as possible.”

“You don’t waste a day do you?”

“Not when I finally get what I’ve waited thirty years for.”

Parker rolled her eyes. Jarod shifted slightly, his arms going around her waist.

“The promise you wanted?” He reminded her, a slight hesitation in his voice.

“No matter how hard it’s going to get… Don’t ever leave me.” Her eyes clashed with his and the stark plea in them shook him to the chore. This was the most independent woman he knew. “I’m leaving my heart wide open to you, and I’ve lost so many people I’ve loved. To feel this… and lose you,” Her voice lowered to barely a whisper, “would destroy me.”

Jarod folded her back into his arms. Laying his head atop hers he closed his eyes.

“Done.” Because to leave her, would destroy him too.