It's Ok to Cry by Devils Child, admin

1. Part 1 by Devils Child

2. Part 2 by Devils Child

3. Part 3 by Devils Child

4. Part 4 by Devils Child

5. Part 5 by Devils Child

6. Part 6 by Devils Child

7. Part 1 by Devils Child

Part 1 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don’t sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.
Author’s note: 1)Angel is sung by Sarah McLachlan. I don’t know who it’s written by, but I’m not taking credit for it. 2)DON’T SUE ME!!! 3) I’m only 12, cut me some slack!





It’s Ok To Cry
part 1
By Devil’s Child






Billy Bob’s Song and Dance Club

“OK, one more song. This one is for a friend of mine. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call her a ‘friend’ because she doesn’t know who I am, but I know her, through a friend- if that makes any sense. She just went through the loss of a loved one, and is- not doing so good. So, this song is for her. It’s called Angel.

Spend all your time waiting,
For that, second chance,
For a break that would make it ok.
There’s always one reason,
To feel not good enough,
And it’s hard at the end
Of the day.
I need some distraction,
Oh, beautiful release,
Memory seeps from my veins,
Let me be empty,
Oh and weightless and maybe:
I’ll find some peace, tonight.

In the arms of the angel,
Fly away, from here.
From this dark, cold hotel room,
And the endlessness that you fear.
You are pulled from the wreckage,
Of your silent revery
Your in the arms of the angel,
May you find, some comfort here.

So tired of the straight line,
And everywhere you turn,
There’s vultures and thieves at your back.
The storm keep son twisting,
You keep on building the lies,
That you make up for all that you lack.
It don’t make no, difference,
Escaping one last time,
It’s easier to believe,
In this sweet madness-
Oh, this glorious sadness,
That brings me to,
My knees.

In the arms of the angel,
Fly away, from here,
From this dark, cold hotel room,
And the endlessness that you fear.You are pulled from the wreckage, of your silent revery-
You’re in the arms of the angel,
May you find, some comfort here.

Your in the arm of his angel
May you find, some-comfort,
Here
Oh oh oh


“Im sure she knows who she is, who this song is meant for. Good night everybody!”

Kala said good night to her fans, and headed off stage. She knew Miss Parker would find her, and ask her what the song meant. She was sure Jarod would be gone, but her was always full of surprises, so you never knew what he was going to next.

The club slowly emptied out, people saying their goodbyes, planning on meeting again next Thursday. Kala could hear the manager talking into the mike, trying to hurry everyone out so he could go home to his wife and kids. Always the same.

She walked down the halls to the back room where her stuff was stored. Bob, the manager came up behind her.

“Great job, Kay- excellent performance.” He slapped her lightly on the shoulder and she jumped.

“Don’t scare me like that, Mr. Evans!” Kala turned around to face him, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“Oh, sorry Kay. I do that every time don’t I?” He chuckled.

Every Thursday it was always the same. She’d come do her set, then go pack up her stuff, Mr. Evans would came sneak up on her, and even though she knew it was coming, she was always startled.

“It’s alright, Mr. Evans. I’ll live.” She smiled at him. “I can close down the club if you like. I’m sure your anxious to get home to your son.”

“Oh, really? You know, that’d be great! And, speaking of Billy, I hate to ask you this, but could you watch him next Thursday before your performance? I’ve got some big new’s-caster-hot-shot coming and-”

“I’d love to! Don’t worry, I’ll keep him out of your hair.” Kala interrupted him gently.

“Thanks!” He muttered. “My wife’s going out of town and- you know.” He smiled at her warmly.

“One o’clock ok?” She called after him as he hurried down that hall. He looked back over his shoulder and called to her.

“Yeah! That’d be great! Thanks again, Kay!” He ran down that hallway, to catch the bus to take him home.

Kala turned her attention back to her packing and continued. A few moments later, she heard the sharp sounds of high-heels hitting the ground.

Here go’s! She told herself.

The noise stopped at the door and a knock sounded. Kala took a big breath.

“Come in, Miss Parker!” She called her back still to the door. “It’s unlocked!”

She heard the squeaking as the woman entered. Kala turned around to meet her.

“You know my name.” The woman stated.

“Yep!” Kala chirped. “Jarod talks to much.” She smiled, remembering how he always blabbed about anything, nothing. “And, high-heels are a dead give away!”

“You know Jarod?” Miss Parker asked, still standing at the door.

“You can come in you know. It may not be the prettiest place in the world, but it’s not toxic!” She laughed.

“I wouldn’t be so sure” Miss Parker mumbled, coming into the room a few more steps.

“I’m going to ignore that last remark, and pretend you didn’t say that. Jeremy does a fine job taking care of this place. And in answer to your earlier question, yes I do know Jarod. He stayed with me at my place for a while. He’s gone now. Left this morning. Sweet man, but very strange. He didn’t know what a yo-yo was!” Kala frowned as she remembered this then laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Miss Parker asked in response to this sudden outburst.

“Oh, I was just remembering how he started out with it. He got himself all tangled up in it! You should have seen him! He could have drug himself back to The Centre! But then again- that’s your job. Isn’t it?” Her face clouded and her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“You know about The Centre?” Miss Parker asked, astonished that Jarod confided in someone about that subject.

“Yeah, I do.” She replied flatly, and left it at that. “I’m assuming you came here to talk to me about something?” She raised her eyebrows in suspicion.

“That song you sang-what was that all about?”

“That was about, I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Jarod that question.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Jarod? Why?”

“Oh, because he told me to sing it for you. Said you’d know what it means, and that I’m not supposed to tell you. He said you’d figure it out.”

“Typical Jarod! Playing games with my head!” She stormed.

“I don’t think so. He said you two grew up together. Then he kept mumbling something about radios and Angels. He wouldn’t make up his mind which he wanted to talk about!” She explained. “Like I said-strange man.”

There was a moments pause before Kala spoke again.

“You look just like her! I just noticed that!” Kala exclaimed.

“Like who?” Miss Parker hissed.

“Your mother.” she responded simply.

“You couldn’t know my mother.” Miss Parker said sadly.

“Don’t be so sure about that.” Kala grinned, and pulled something out of her bag. “Jarod gave this to me.” She said, showing Miss Parker a picture. “He said I look like you. And, I must admit, he’s almost right,” she mused.

“What do you mean?” Miss Parker asked, tearing her eyes away from the picture.

“Well come here!” Kala grabbed Miss Parker’s hand and pulled her over to the full length mirror. Besides being different heights, they looked almost exactly the same.

Miss Parker gasped.

“Told ya!” Kala yapped, staring into the reflection.

“You think that’s a coincidence?” Miss Parker asked, still staring into the mirror.

“‘Coincidence’ ain’t in The Centre’s dictionary.” Kala scowled, and moved away from the mirror and back to the bench, where she continued to pack her things.

“You think The Centre had something to do with this?” Miss Parker came and sat by her.

“Don’t they always?!” Kala exclaimed.

She flung her bag over her shoulder and stood up.

“I have to go now. Freddy’s probably starving.” She walked toward the door.

“Wait!” Miss Parker called, and ran to catch up with her. “You said, something about you knowing my mother. Is that true?”

“Only if you want it to be.”

“What does that mean?” Miss Parker was determined not to let this piece of her past walk out the door.

“I’ll explain it to you sometime, but right now, I have to go.” She opened the door and headed out into the parking lot, then out of sight.

***

Miss Parker’s house
431 Mountain Springs Road, Blue Cove, Delaware

Miss Parker sat on the sofa, staring blankly into the fire. Even though it was so early in the day, with the thunder and lighting, and the hail, it wouldn’t have made a difference if it were midnight. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, snapping Miss Parker out of her musings. She thought she heard something, but no, there it was again!

She got up off the sofa, and headed for the door.

“What kind of lunatic comes out here in the pouring down rain- excuse me, hail!” she noted after looking out the window, “with lighting and thunder!” she hadn’t realized she was talking, as she opened the door. A shadowy figure stood at her door step, soaked.

“Who the hell are you?” Miss Parker looked the figure up and down.

“I’m nobody. Who are you?”

“I don’t have time for games-”

“Yes, but this isn’t a game. This is life. Take it or leave it.”

“Would you please cut to the chase before I slam this door on you?” Miss Parker asked sarcastically,

“Now, didn’t your mother teach you any manners? That’s no way to treat a guest.”

“I’m closing this door now.” Miss Parker started to shut it.

“OK. I guess you don’t want to know what really happened to her do you? Ok, Ok, Bye!” The figure stepped off the porch.

“Wait! How do you know my mother?”

“I told you, I’d explain it to you sometime, didn’t I?”

“Kala?” Miss Parker asked, realization hitting her.

“Yep!”

“I-I’m very sorry come on it.” She held the door wide for the girl to enter.

“Ok!” Kala came back on the porch, but before she entered, took off the soaked coat at pinned it down with a heavy rock, so the strong wind wouldn’t blow it away, and entered the house.

“Your dry!” Miss Parker exclaimed, seeing no water dripping off her onto the rugs.

“I guess the cloaks they make these days’ really do the job don’t they?” Kala ginned.

“Would you like some tea?” Miss Parker asked, heading into the kitchen.

“Sure.” Kala said, as she offered her a glass. “Thanks.”

Miss Parker lead the way to the living room and sat down, quickly covering up the shirt that had belonged to Thomas and stuffing it under a pillow. But she wasn’t fast enough.

“I knew him.” Kala said sadly, as they sat down together.

“Who?” Miss Parker asked.

“Thomas.”

Tears sprung to Miss Parker’s eyes, and she tried desperately to hide them.

“It’s ok, to cry, Miss Parker. The whole world doesn’t revolve around strength, and power. Some of the happiest moments are in tears. It’s ok to cry.” Kala whispered, setting down her tea and gently placing one hand on Miss Parker’s.

Parker closed her eyes and willed the tears away, but they wouldn’t go. She finally gave in and let them stream down her face.

“That’s another unresolved issue we have to discover.” Kala said determinedly.

“What is?” Miss Parker wiped away a tear, just as another rolled down her face.

“Finding out who really killed Thomas.” Anger flashed in her eyes, and they looked almost as evil as the storm outside.

“But how?” Miss Parker whispered.

“By digging up a little dirt on The Centre, see what it is they’re really up to.” Kala hissed.

“How do I know I can trust you?” Miss Parker asked wearily.

“Because,” she started, then got up and walked around to the other side of the couch, and brought forth the shirt that Thomas wore all the time. “he did.”

***

Feedback: Loved it? Liked it? Hated it so much, you plan to steal Miss Parker’s 9mm and shoot me with it? (Please don’t to that literally!) Let me know!!
Part 2 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don’t sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.
Author’s note: 1) I don’t like saying “So-and-so belongs to me!” because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2)DON’T SUE ME!!! 3) I’m only 12, cut me some slack! This is also my first published fanfic!!




It’s Ok To Cry
part 2
**Centrare Idiota!!**
By Devil’s Child





Miss Parker’s House,
Three weeks later

“I have a plan, but to do it I need your help.” Kala started, hesitating a little. She wasn’t sure if she could trust Miss Parker, not the opposite.

“If you want to find out what really happened to all the people you love, Catherine, Faith, Thomas- you have to dig. There is no way in Heaven, Hell, nor Earth that your “Father” is going to tell you, and I doubt you’ll get your answers from Rains. So, we have to dig deep into The Centre’s archives.”

“How is it you know so much about The Centre?” Miss Parker asked, as they sat around, discussing the plan.

“Some from research, some from Jarod. Speaking of Jarod, there is one catch to the plan.” Kala said.

“Witch is?”

“Under any circumstances, you cannot bring Jarod back to The Centre.” Kala emphasized.

“Why not?” Miss Parker questioned.

“Well, for starters, if you are switching teams, you have to get to know the players. You can’t betray them. Now, are you sure, you want to do this? If not, we drop everything, you go back to The Centre, I find Jarod and disappear, everything goes back to normal. If your sure you want to end this, the right way, there’s no turning back. ‘K?”

Miss Parker gulped. “I’m sure.” This was one of the hardest things she would ever have to do in her life. She was switching teams. No more trusting her father, no more Centre. No more nothing. Thank God!

“Now, a question for you. Do you know why The Centre wants Jarod back so badly? Is it because he’s a Pretender, or is it something else? Something deeper.”

“I haven’t got a clue as to why they want him back and frankly I don’t care.” Miss Parker replied.

“Well, you should care. Because I think it concerns you.” Kala stated.

“Me?”

“Why do you think they kept you at The Centre all these years? Why did they go to such lengths to keep you there? They killed your mother, because she was trying to take you away from there, they killed Thomas, because he tried to take you away from there. Why do they want Jarod back so badly? Think about it. Long and hard.” Kala’s voice was but a whisper when she finished. She knew why, but Miss Parker would have to figure it out for herself. It was just one of those things.

****

Telephone Conversation-Miss Parker’s Phone

“Hi, Jarod?”

“Kala! Hi!”

“How are you doing, Jarod?”

“I’m great! You?”

“I’m fine. Listen, there’s someone here who would like to speak with you. Don’t freak.”

“Jarod?”

“Miss Parker!? What the-?!”

“Don’t worry Jarod, I’m not gonna drag you back by your ears. I’m not gonna drag you back at all.”

“What are you talking about?” He demanded.

“Jarod, I’m leaving The Centre.”

“Ha!” Jarod snorted.

“What’s so funny?”

“You! They will never let you leave, not as long as I’m out.”

“They won’t let her out whether your in or out, Jarod!” Kala grabbed the phone back and hissed into the receiver.

“Do me a favor. Meet me tomorrow. I’ll call you later with the details. No Parker, no sweepers. You and me. We need to talk.”

“About what? Kala? Kala! Damn!” Jarod disconnected his phone after being hung up on, and thought about what she had just said. Was Parker really planning to leave The Centre, or was this some big plan of Rains’s to get him back?

****

Crystal Park, Blue Cove, Delaware

“Just like I told you, Jarod. No Parker. No sweepers. See?” Kala moved her hand about the crowd, indicating he should look around. No sweepers in sight.

“So, what was it you needed to tell me, Kala?” He asked, siting down on a nearby bench.

“Miss Parker’s telling you the truth. She does still work there, but false leads and things like that are what she’ll be following. She’s not Miss. Drag You Back By Your Ears Parker anymore. She’s changed, Jarod, really. Thomas’s death really took a toll on her.”

“So, she’s on our side now.” he said slowly.

“Yes. We can trust her. I hope, if not my buts on the line.” Kala snorted, then smiled up at him.

“Now, besides that, there’s something else I want to tell-show you.” She said, then pulled a folder out of her bag.

“Your not gonna like it, but, you need to know. Better you then Parker. She’ll go kill somebody. Probably Rains or her Father.”

“Miss Parker would never kill her ‘father’ no matter how deceptive he is.” Jarod quipped.

“This time, she might.” Kala said sadly.

“That bad?” Jarod smiled.

“Yeah.” she whispered sadly, and handed Jarod the folder.

His eyes widened in disbelief at what he was reading. He knew Mr. Parker was secretive and deceptive, but this was the worst. He had known The Centre to do some unspeakable things, but this was........the worst thing imaginable. How wrong.

“Told ya.” Kala whispered.

“And..it gets worse.” Kala told him.

“How could it possibly get any worse then this!” Jarod’s voice filled with anger.

“They’ve done it once already, but the child escaped.”

“Who, where is she?” Jarod’s eyes filled with some hope but mostly anger.

“Me.” Kala whispered.

“Your-my-our-WHAT!!” Everyone in the park looked over at him.

“Jarod!” Kala hissed. “The whole world doesn’t have to know!”

“Sorry.” he mumbled. “You’re my......?” Jarod asked, completely stunned.

“Yes. I am. And......Miss Parker’s.” Jarod nearly toppled over the bench.

“WHAT!!” He yelled. Everyone looked over again.

“What the hell are you looking at!? None of your beeswax! Scram!” Kala yelled, and everyone turned back to what they were doing.

“Your...” Jarod took a deep breath before continuing. “My, and Miss P-P-Parker’s-? But, how?”

“Simple. But, I think you know how.”

“Does Parker know?” Jarod asked worriedly. Even though he had a hundred questions zooming around in that genius head of his, that was the first question he asked.

“NO WAY! She’ll have a cow when she finds out! Best to wait, until you digest the information so that you call help me calm her down-and make sure she doesn’t go kill somebody” Kala said.

“A cow?” Jarod asked confused. “How could she have a cow?”

“Jarod!” Kala laughed. “Not a real cow! It’s an expression! It means she’ll go bonkers! You know, get really pissed off. Ticked? You know, angry!?!” Kala laughed even harder at all the things Jarod didn’t know, for being a pretender.

“Ohhhhh.” Jarod said, realization hitting him. “Ohhhh!” then he started laughing, now understanding the expression.

“So what now?” He asked when he regained composure.

“Well, we’re gonna have to tell Parker. Actually,” She said, changing her mind. “let’s set it up. Meet us for dinner tonight, my place. She can’t keep you out of there, and my apartment’s small, so she can’t hide from you.”

“Why would she hide from me?”

“Because, she’s scared.”

“Of me?”

“No. Of the truth you hold.”

****

Kala’s apartment, Blue Cove DE

“So, what is this meeting all about?” Parker asked, sitting down at the table in the ‘dinning room’.

“There’s a guest that will be joining us after dinner, we have some things to talk about.” Kala replied seriously.

“What kind of things?”

“Personal things.”

****

“That was great, Kala! When did you learn to cook?”

“Jarod gave me a couple of tips when he was in town. He’s back you know.” Kala responded simply.

“Jarod’s here. In town?” Miss Parker exclaimed.

“Yes, and he should be here, right, about......now.” She said as there was a loud knock at the door.

“Come in, Jarod!” Kala called.

“So that’s why you didn’t let me bring my gun, isn’t it, Miss Kala?” Miss Parker stated.

“Yep! Don’t want you shooting him and dragging him back-”

“By his ears!”

“By his ears!” Parker finished,

“By my ears!” Along with Jarod. All three cried in unison.

“That’s exactly why.” Kala chirped. “Now, lets get down to business. Parker.” Kala said glaring at her then pointing with her finger toward the couch. “Sit.”

“Oh, great. Whenever anyone tells me to ‘sit’ they have bad news.” Parker grumbled, sitting on the couch, while Kala sat in the middle and Jarod sat on the other side of Kala, not wanting to get to close to Parker.

Kala sighed. “It’ll be to hard to say, and hard to digest, but it’s the truth. Jarod, I’d let you go, but we might need to hold her down.” she grinned at him, knowing Miss Parker would explode.

“Hold me-What!!” she looked at Kala and glared at Jarod. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but it was hard to sit next to the man you’ve been hunting for over a three years and not slap him upside the head, so-to-speak.

“So, there was something you wanted to tell me?” Parker questioned.

“As you know, Rains is the master of twisted experiments. Some things worse then others, for instance, the clone-probably the worse, until now.”

“I didn’t think Rains could sink any lower then that.” Parker stated.

“Remember I asked you earlier, to give some thought as to why The Centre wants Jarod back so badly? Did you give any thought to that?” Parker nodded her head. “And?”

“Nothing. I don’t see it.” Parker admitted, witch was hard to do in front of Jarod.

“You’re a Pretender, right? Your in the Red Files, along with him,” she pointed to Jarod. “Angelo, Kyle, possibly Lyle and God know who else. Correct?” Another nod. “Jarod’s the most valuable Pretender. He has the gift to become anyone he wants to be. You, have the gift of the inner sense, voices that speak to you, guide you. And...you’re the only....female Pretender. Do you know what would happed if those gifts were to be combined? Do you know what could happen? The Centre could, create the-”

“The Perfect Pretender.” Parker whispered. The room was silent for a few minutes, Kala letting Miss Parker think about the information she just received. After a while, Kala spoke again.

“It was their plan, to always have a pretender, even if one escaped. Cloning takes to long. But this way.......it’s faster, and more effective. The project has an 87% success rate.”

“You mean they’ve done this before? The Centre created a child using-with-Jarod-me?” she stuttered, looking from Jarod to Kala.

“Yes. To everything you just asked, unfortunately, yes.” Kala said sadly lowering her head. That part was ok, now for the hard part. The question she knew Miss Parker would ask, the question she dreaded.

“If they’ve done this before, then, where’s the child?” There it was.

“The child, girl, escaped, left The Centre, changed her name, identity, everything, and vanished.”

“Do you know who she is? Where I can find her?” Miss Parker asked, fearful of the answer.

“Yes, again. To both questions.”

“You do?” Miss Parker asked hopefully. She didn’t know why, but she felt like she had to meet this person. After all, it was her and.....Jarod’s daughter.

“She lives here, in Delaware. Blue Cove.”

“Oh, my God. Are you sure? Where can I-we, find her?” she corrected herself after looking at Jarod.

“You won’t need to search for her Miss Parker.” Kala whispered.

“Why not? Blue Cove’s a big place.”

“Because, she already found you first.” Kala’s head was down, and she slowly lifted it, to meet Miss Parker’s confused gaze.

“What?” Miss Parker whispered.

“Yeah. I think you know who.”

“You?” She still was whispering.

“Yeah.” She sighed and looked back down at her hands. “I escaped The Centre 3 years ago and was hired at Billy and Bob’s Song and Dance Club. Sing there every Thursday and sometimes on Tuesday. Money comes in tips and believe me, there’s plenty of it. Also from Centre funds.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before? You’ve had three weeks to explain it to me? Why hadn’t you done so until now?” Parker asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

“I wanted to wait for Jarod, so that we could stop your from killing somebody, and because.....” her voice trailed off. “And because I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t reject me first.” she said quietly. Jarod decided it was time for him to go, and he quickly, silently departed.

“Why would I reject you?” Parker asked, confused by what this girl meant.

“Well you’ve rejected practically everyone else who tries to help you! How would I know I’d be any different?!” Kala argued. She had a point. Miss Parker hardly ever let anyone into her heart as quickly as she did Kala.

Miss Parker didn’t know what to say. The girl was right: she rejected almost everyone who tried to help.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Miss Parker finally shot back.

“It means, that you don’t let anyone help you. Sydney’s tried to help. Broots has tried to help. Thomas helped, but that was cut short by those Centrare pardante!” she hissed.

“WHAT?!” Miss Parker asked, not knowing what the hell the girl-her daughter, had just muttered.

“Get an Italian dictionary!” Kala barked, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she responded more calmly, “Centrare means center in Italian, and pardante means losers.” she snickered at the insult. “All I’m saying is, that you don’t open up to people easily and where you ‘work’ that might be a good thing, but some people you can trust. Such as Sydney, Broots, Angelo and Jarod. You can also trust me.”

Miss Parker thought about what she had said. She was closed hearted and did not trust anybody. Why had she trusted Kala on sight? Maybe because she reminded her of her mother, or of herself?

“You trusted me because your inner scene told you to. Your mother’s voice, whispering in your ear. I hear it to, only it’s not Catherine’s voice, it’s yours. And Jarod’s.” she added. Miss Parker looked at her in complete shock.

“How did you know what I was thinking?” she asked, stunned.

“I’m a Pretender, remember?”

“Yes, but neither Jarod, nor I can do that.” she said wearily, as though all this information where making her sleepy.

“No, but I have abilities all my own, not just yours.” she concluded. They where both silent for a moment. Then Parker asked, “What will you do now?”

“Now, I’m going to stay here, work out the plan. Jarod will probably stay with me, until the plan is in motion, and then we’ll disappear.” Parker looked at her sadly, so she added, “All of us.” Miss Parker looked up and Kala smiled at her. Miss Parker took a deep breath as she looked around the apartment.

“You know Kala, this place isn’t really big enough for two people to live in.” she began. “If you want to, you could stay at my place and let Jarod stay here.” She suggested, unsure of what her answer would be. Kala sat there, solemnly. Then broke into little fits of laughter when she saw Miss Parker’s disappointed face. Between giggles, she managed to spit out, “I-would-(snort, deep breath) love to-Mom.” she added the one syllable word on to the end of the phrase that would change both their lives forever. Parker’s eyes sparkled with tears that she would not allow to fall.

“Now remember what I told you about tears.” Kala scolded. “It’s ok to cry.”

Both women where so happy, that neither of them noticed the black shadow slip silently away from the window. But Jarod did, and he noted the black leather glove on the hand that was missing a thumb.

****


Feedback: Loved it? Liked it? Hated it so much, you plan to steal Miss Parker’s 9mm and shoot me with it? (Please don’t to that literally!) Let me know!!
Part 3 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don’t sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. The characters aren’t mine, blah blah blah, they are characters in The Pretender, owned now by TNT and aired on WB blah blah blah, You know the drill.
Author’s note: 1)I don’t like saying “So-and-so belongs to me!” because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2) DON’T SUE ME!!! 3) I’m only 12, cut me some slack! This is my first published fan fic!!





It’s Ok To Cry
part 3
**Centrare Idiota!!**
By Devil’s Child





Kala’s Apartment
Same day.

There was a rapid knock on the door, and Miss Parker let go of Kala so she could answer it.

“Who is it?” she called, smiling broadly. Probably Jarod, she mused.

“It’s Jarod. Let me in!” he called his voice somewhat frantic. “It’s unlocked!” she shouted. She barely finished, before he came bursting in, visibly shaken.

“Jarod, what have you been doing? It looks like you ran all the way up here from the first floor!” Kala exclaimed.

“The elevator was to slow,” he answered wearily, bending over.

“What’s wrong?” Kala offered him a seat on the couch, between her and Parker.

“He was here.” he muttered, still trying to catch his breath. “Who was?” Kala asked. Jarod didn’t answer, but put his thumb up. Then he slapped his other hand over the thumb, indicating it was gone.

“Lyle?!” Miss Parker hissed. Jarod nodded, then fell off the couch and landed with a bang on the edge of the coffee table. “WHAT!!?” he leaped up, surprised by the noise. Then his head started throbbing, and her realized it was he, who mad the thunk!

“Ouch!” he muttered, rubbing his head. Parker stifled a laugh, then became serious. “If my loving brother knows I found you, then we’re both in hot water. He’ll go and tell my father, and Daddy will tell the Triumvirate,” she said.

“Well then we don’t have much time. We’ve got to get the hell out of here, before Rains and Lyle send their goons after us.” Kala snorted. “Mom?” she asked after a pause, already have come accustom to calling someone ‘mom’. “Can Dad come too? I know you two don’t get along very well, considering, but-well we just can’t leave him here!! If Rains finds him instead of you, I don’t want to think about it.” she asked pleadingly. “Please?” Kala, looking much like her, gave her the sad lost puppy look that Parker gave her father, Broots, and Syd sometimes, that none of them could resist. Well, maybe Mr Parker could, but he’s a complete jerk anyway.

Parker looked at Jarod who, because he was still looking around the room rubbing his forehead, hadn’t heard the question. She sighed, “Fine. But he better not cause any trouble.”

Kala grinned at her and then looked at him. Jarod looked at them suspiciously. “What?”

****

Crystal Park, Blue Cove DE
By the Swings
Same day, 6:32pm

Before they had taken off to Miss Parker’s house, Kala had grabbed a few things and shoved them in a bag. The two women had drove back to Parker’s house to gather a few belongings, and Jarod returned to his last lair, leaving things for Lyle and his goons to find, and grabbing a few personal items-pez, a red notebook, though he would not be needing it, a few twinkies, a cell phone, palm pilot, the DSA case, some clothes and money.

They met up an hour later, in Crystal Park by the swings, each with only one bag.

“We need to travel light.” Kala announced, “So I tricked Mom into only bringing one bag.” She chuckled to herself and received a glare from Parker. Kala cringed. “Don’t do that! You make me feel like the poor boys at school!” Even though Kala was on the run, she still went to school, just under a different name. It was summer, so she was out, and free to do whatever she wanted to. Well, she didn’t exactly want to run from the Centre for the rest of her life. Personally she’d rather blow it up and forget the whole place was ever there.

“How’d you do that?” Jarod teased. Parker glared at him. “Do you want to come or not?” she hissed. Jarod raised his hands in surrender, “Ok, ok. Listen, if you’re going on a ‘trip’ with Kala and I together, you’re gonna have to learn not to take things quite so seriously. We’re both just big kids.” Jarod explained.

“No, Jarod-you’re a big kid. See the difference between you and her?”

“No, not really,” he replied thoughtfully. For that comment he received a wack in the knee from her bag. “OUCH!!” he muttered, hopping on one foot.

“What’d ya do to him now, Ma?” Kala returned her attention to the two real ‘kids’.

“Never mind, lets go.” Parker picked up her bag and looked at Jarod, who smirked.

“So who’s driving?” Kala asked, as they moved towards the parking lot.

“I am” they said in unison. “She/he is,” they replied again pointing at each other.

“If you two don’t make up your minds, I’ll drive.” Kala insisted.

Jarod responded quickly, throwing her the keys. “Miss Parker, you drive.”

****

Road North

“Where exactly are we going?” Miss Parker asked, not taking her eyes off the deserted road that lay in front of them. “As far away from the Centre as possible.” Kala confirmed, staring off into the distance. All of them where silent after that. Kala stared absentmindedly out the passenger seat window, and Jarod sat in the back, working intently on stealing yet more money from the Centre; this time for himself. Parker kept her eyes glued to the road for the most part, looking up only to smile and Kala, glance in the review mirror at Jarod, or look behind them to see if any Centre cars where following them.

After a while, after he had finished pickpocketing the Centre, Jarod started to hum quietly to himself. “99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer, if one of the bottles should happen to fall 98 bottles of beer on the wall.” He sang quietly to himself, then sprang up from his relaxed position on the seat. “Ouch!!” he yelped, after banging his head on the ceiling. “Damn it.” he muttered.

“Something the matter, Jarod?” Miss Parker asked mockingly.

“I forgot to tell Sydney! He must be worried sick! You’ve been gone for over a week and I haven’t called in a month!!”

Parker slammed on the brake and stopped the car. There was no need to pull over, since they were the only ones on the highway. “You what?!” she hissed, turning in her seat to glare at him. “You said you were gonna tell him!”

“Would you two stop?” Kala asked calmly. “Just write him in his secured email. He’ll get the message.”

“Oh.” Jarod muttered, pulling out his laptop. “Besides,” Kala continued. “they probably have Syd’s phone line bugged, in case you try to contact him. It Lyle recognized me, they we’re all in hot water. I’ve been on the run for 6 years, living right under their noses. Of course, since hardly anyone has a real life there, that’s pretty easy.”

“What should I say? I mean, where should I tell him we’ll be?” Jarod asked, once he entered his email.

Kala thought for a moment, then grinned. She turned in her seat and motioned for Jarod to hand her the computer. He reluctantly handed it over, and sat back, waiting to see what she would do. She sat back in her seat though, and he couldn’t see. He heard the clicking on the keyboard as she typed, lightning speed and then the computer beeped, “You’re mail has been sent!” at them, and she turned it off and handed it back to him.

“What did you tell him?” Jarod asked, as he put the laptop away.

“Exactly where we’ll be.”

****

Sydney’s Office

“Damn!!” he slammed his fist on the table. Broots jumped. “There’s been no word from Miss Parker or Jarod for over a month. I’m starting to get really worried.” Sydney complained to his younger bald headed colleague. “It’s not like Jarod to just up and run like that.”

“You don’t thing anything happened to them do you?” Broots asked nervously.

“If the Centre had anything to do with this I’ll-” his computer beeped at him repeatedly.

“Urgent!! Urgent!! You have mail!!” Sydney quickly opened his secured email and read the short message.

Sydney,
Gone to Refuge.

There was no signature, but Sydney was sure it was from Jarod. Broots leaned over his shoulder timidly. “Are-is he alright?”

“I believe so, yes.” He stared hard at the screen, then quickly shut it down, and opened a file. Broots took the hint and scrambled over to a computer and opened a search engine, pretending to follow Jarod’s latest clue.

A few moments later, Mr Lyle burst through the door, and glared at both of them. Sydney calmly set down his papers and looked up at him. “Is there something you need Mr Lyle?”

“Don’t play nice Sydney, where’s Parker?!” he barked. Sydney shook his head. “I’m just as concerned as you are. I haven’t heard from her in over a week. I’m starting to get really worried,” he lied.

“Well if you hear from her, tell me!” he grumbled, then marched out the door. Broots shook his head and glanced at the older man. “I don’t like him.” the tech mumbled, and closed down the file. “Me neither, Broots.”

****

Angelo’s Cell

Huddled in a corner, Angelo took deep breaths, trying to sort things out, though his mind was always jumbled.

“Jarod......Parker.......reunited.......girl help.......girl daughter.......try save.....Parker work with Jarod.......why?......Parker scared.........girl scared.....Jarod scared......Sydney.......Sydney scared......try save Jarod.....something bad......happen soon......must save.....must save daughter......must save girl.......must save friends......Angelo helps.......how?” He suddenly leaped up and ducked quickly into the air vent, snaking through the vents like butter, turning rapidly, right.....left......right.......left again, navigating expertly. He finally came to the right grate, and stopped. He peered through the grate and listened intently. A few minutes later, he hurried on, and when he came to the next grate, he kicked it down and jumped though it.

The bald man jumped and let out a yell. “Angelo!” he cried, trying to catch his breath. The shrink chuckled to himself and smiled at Angelo. “You’re going to have to get used to that. Broots, he does it to everyone,” Sydney advised.

“Yeah, I know,” the tech grumbled.

“What’s wrong, Angelo?” Sydney asked suddenly, after looking at Angelo’s disturbed posture.

“Daughter, in trouble!” he cried.

“Miss Parker’s in trouble?” Sydney asked worriedly.

“Daughter, girl and friend!” he cried again, stepping towards the computer.

“Who?” Sydney asked.

“Daughter’s daughter!” Angelo emphasized.

“M-Miss Parker has a d-daughter?” Broots stumbled over the words as they fell out of his mouth. Angelo nodded enthusiastically and pushed past Sydney and over to the computer. He sat down and popped a disk in the drive and waited for the file to appear. As soon as it did, he quickly copied it, and pasted it in e-mail. There, he quickly sent it to Jarod’s secured email, and ejected the disk.

Sydney and Broots hardly had enough time to see what was on the disk, before Angelo ejected it.

“Hey!” Broots cried.

“If Angelo doesn’t want us to see it, there must be a reason.” Sydney said calmly, but inside, he was flaming. He had to know if Miss Parker or Jarod were hurt.

“Angelo, please. Tell me what was on that disk,” Sydney pleaded. Angelo stood for a moment, then laid a piece of folded up paper on the desk, and ran into the air vent, ducking under the grate and scurrying away. Sydney picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. “Mare Maris Prognatus” he read. Broots gave him a blank look.

“What does that mean?” he asked

“Sea Born,” the shrink answered.. “It’s Latin for sea born. But what does that have to do with Miss Parker having a daughter?”

“And-when did Miss Parker have a daughter?” Broots asked.

The shrink looked up and stared at him strangely. “What?” Broots asked nervously. “Broots, Miss Parker was never pregnant. We’ve been working with her for nine months and she’s shown no symptoms.” Sydney reasoned. “And I’m sure she would have told us something that important.”

“So that means........” Broots trailed off.

“That may mean, that Miss Parker didn’t know about this child.”

“B-but, how is that p-possible?”

“It’s the Centre Broots, anything’s possible.”

****

Road North

“So where are we going exactly?” Parker asked, glancing at Kala.

“There’s a small house I own in Maine, it’s hidden deep in the forest and no one knows about it except me. We should be safe there.” Kala paused, and glanced out the window. A few moments later she added sorrowfully, “There will be many memories for us, though.”

“Why?” Jarod piped in, leaning over the passenger seat to smile and them.

“I’d rather not talk about it now,” Kala replied, flashing him a small smile.

“Ok.” Jarod leaned back in his seat and sighed. This is gonna be a long trip, Jarod thought.

“Do you know how to get there?” Miss Parker asked.

“Yeah. But first, I want to make a pit stop at an old friends house.” Kala grinned. Miss Parker slowed the car, but didn’t stop it. “Ben?” she asked hopefully.

“Yep!” Kala chirped.

“How do you know him?”

“I know everybody. Rains, Lyle, Sydney, Broots, Debbie, Mr Parker, Catherine, Ben, Fenigor,-” she was ticking the names off on her fingers but she abruptly stopped. She lay her hands in her lap once more and stared out the window at the pink and purple blanket covering the sky, “Never mind.”

****

Sydney’s Office

“Broots, I want you to figure out everything you can about Project C-11 code named Mare Maris Prognatus. It may have something to do with Jarod and Miss Parker’s sudden disappearances.” Syd said.

“Ok. I’m on it.” Broots hurried off down the hall to the tech room, and Sydney turned back to the e-mail message. “Gone to Refuge,” he read again. “Where is refuge, Jarod? And what are you up to now?” The shrink searched his memory files, for something that would give him a clue as to where he might have gone. REFUGE, was the code name given when Jarod wanted to stop a simulation. But I don’t remember a place by that name, Sydney thought. Where would Jarod go to be safe? Where would Miss Parker go?

Sydney stood up and packed his things. He stopped in the tech room for a moment to inform Broots that he was going home, and if anything should come up, to call him on a secured line.

****

Sydney’s House

When he reached his house, Sydney immediately set to work, opening a DSA case and putting in SIM’s to help him remember.

Four hours later he gave up and leaned back on the couch, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He hadn’t gotten much sleep since Miss Parker’s disappearance, and it was starting to show. All of a sudden, something clicked on in his mind. He sat up quickly and sifted through all the disks laying about, until he came to the one he was looking for.

‘Catherine, you’re looking well. A few days off did you good I see?’

‘Yes, thank you for the advise. A week to spend alone with my little girl was just what I needed.’

‘I was glad to help. Where did you go?’

‘Maine. We stayed in a small inn by the Lake, that was where we spent most our time. It was so calm and peaceful by the water. My little girl called it our refuge, a place for just us.’

“Called it our refuge- refuge- refuge.........”

“So that’s where you are Miss Parker. Lake Catherine, Maine.” Sydney rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and sighed. “At least now I can get some sleep,” he muttered, leaving the mess where it was, and climbing up the stairs to the next floor.

****

Ben’s Inn, Maine

Seven days later, the threesome reached Maine. Before he even had a chance to stop the car, Kala jumped out and raced for the house.

“They must be pretty good friends,” Jarod said, taking his bag out of the car. Parker nodded but said nothing.

As they walked up the path to the inn, they heard the delighted squeals and laughs coming from the front room. When they reached the porch, they found Kala and Ben laughing histericly, over absolutely nothing.

Ben looked up and smiled broadly at them. “Hello, Miss Parker.” He stood up and walked over to her. “You look well.”

She smiled and thanked him, and gave him a hug. “It’s so nice to see you smile.” Ben replied.

“You know Jarod, don’t you Ben?” she asked, motioning to the man on her left.

“Yes, he spent some time here a few years ago. How are you?” he shook Jarod’s hand and picked up on of the bags, and started towards the house.

“I’m just fine, thank you. Seems you know Kala?” he inquired.

“Yes, Kala comes up here all the time to visit. Never stays here though. Go’s up in the mountains, camping or something.” Ben answered.

“That’s where we’ll be going,” Parker replied, giving him a small smile.

“Oh, you won’t be staying here then?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” There was a uncomfortable silence before Ben spoke again. “It’s so nice to see you two together again.”

“Oh, we aren’t together, together, we’re just- partners.” Parker searched for the right word to describe them.

“I see. That won’t be for long,” he muttered, then set the bags down and left the two wondering what he meant by that.

****

“Where’s Kala?” Miss Parker asked Ben the following morning. The smell of coffee woke her up, and when she went to see if Kala was still asleep, she wasn’t in her room.

“Down by the lake.” Ben answered automatically, even though she hadn’t told him where she’d be. Ben had convinced them to spend the night there, because he didn’t want them climbing the mountain at ‘night’.

“Thank you.” She wrapped the white robe tighter around her and headed out into the morning light. She walked slowly down the walk, and paused when she saw the figure sitting on a rock, still as glass. She was picking petals off a flower, and tossing them into the lake, her head was hung low. Miss Parker bridged the rest of the way between them, and sat down next to the girl, staring out at the calm waters.

Kala sighed, and threw the stem into the water, and watched it float around in circles. “Life is like water.”

“How so?” Parker asked, still not looking at her.

“It can be so calm, and peaceful at times, so gentle, so beautiful. And then other times, it just tears you apart, like a boat at sea.”

“That’s what life is,” Parker reasoned.

“No. That’s what our life is. I can’t take this anymore.”

“The Centre?” Parker asked, looking at her now, seeing the tears in her eyes for the first time.

“No. The Centre I can handle. It’s everything else. It’s all the people who have died because of my SIMS, the people who have lost loved ones because of what I thought up. I have enough innocent blood on my hands and I want no more.”

They were both silent for long time; Miss Parker not knowing what to say, and Kala just not saying anything. Finally, Kala spoke. “You just don’t get it do you?” She sighed and shook her head. Miss Parker said nothing, but waited for her to continue. “Everyone is just so blind. No one seems to notice, what means the most in this life.”

“What do you mean?” Parker asked, confused.

“That’s what I mean. Question: How many times has your father, hurt you? Not physical, emotionally?” Parker didn’t answer so Kala continued. “That’s what I thought. More times then ;you can count.”

“My father, may do things to hurt me, but not purposely.” Parker tried to reason, though deep in her heart, she knew it wasn’t true. Kala snorted. “Right. He’s set you up for a T-Board, he tried to turn you into an assassin, have you kill your own brother-”

“Hey, I didn’t know he was my brother,”she cut in.

“My point exactly! He didn’t tell you about Lyle, or Faith, or the truth behind your mother’s death. He’s lied to you about all these things, and yet you would still give your life for him. If you’re going to save someone, save the man in that house,” she said forcefully, pointing to the Inn. They both new, she was not talking about Ben. “Save him, the pain, and the grief and just tell him the truth. Before it’s to late! You may not have, a second chance like you did with Thomas. If there is something you need to tell someone then by God tell them now! The Centre’s cost to many lives. If it’s war they want, it’s war they’ll get!” And with that she stood up and marched into the trees, vanishing like mist into the dark woods.

****

TBC
Feedback: Loved it? Liked it? Hated it so much, you plan to steal Miss Parker’s 9mm and shoot me with it? (Please don’t to that literally!) Let me know!!
Part 4 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don’t sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. The characters aren’t mine, blah blah blah, they are characters in The Pretender, owned now by TNT and aired on WB blah blah blah, You know the drill.
Author’s note: 1)I don’t like saying “So-and-so belongs to me!” because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2) DON’T SUE ME!!! 3) I’m only 12, cut me some slack!






It’s Ok To Cry
part 4
By Devil’s Child






Ben's Inn,
three hours later.

"Has Kala come back yet?" Jarod asked, placing the last bag by the door.

"I'm right here," she announced, coming in through the back way. "I went for a walk, that's all. She glanced at her mother, who was not looking at her. Yes! Kala thought to herself. Mom is uncomfortable with this mornings discussion. That says something-but what?

"Ok, we'd better get going now, Ben. Thanks for letting us stay." Kala hugged the older man and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Anytime you want to come visit, go right ahead, and," he lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "bring those two love-birds." He winked and stood up.

"What was that all about?" Miss Parker asked, following Jarod's gaze.

"Oh, nothing much!" Kala chirped.

"Oh, Jarod!" Ben called. "Come here for a minute!" Jarod set the bag down and followed Ben into the next room. He opened a small jewelry box and took out a small diamond ring. Ben turned and handed the ring to Jarod. "When the time's right, son." He pushed the ring into his hand and left the room, leaving no time for Jarod to reject the gift. He turned the ring over in his hand curiously. When the time's right? He thought, but a yell from the next room broke his train of thought.

"Jarod!" Miss Parker hissed. "I didn't agree to let you come so you could hold us up!" Jarod shoved the ring in a secret pocket in his jacket, and hurried to catch up with Parker and Kala.

****

One hour later
12:09 p.m

Kala dropped her bag at the cliff face, and turned to face the two stunned people.


"If we have to climb that thing, I'm turning around right now," Parker said, as they stared at the large wall of rock.

"Nope. We don't, but...." Kala sighed. "I need to talk to you." She motioned for Miss Parker to come sit on a large rock.

Jarod took the hint and quickly said, "I'm gonna go exploring. Bye!"

Parker sat down next to Kala, wondering what she had to say. "The cabin, is inside the cliff face. There's a trap door, sort of thing to get in. The Centre won't find us there. No one knows it even exists except two people. Do you want this bluntly, or not?" she asked.

"Bluntly."

"Ok. The only two people who know about it, are me and the builder. He's dead." She paused, and took her mothers hand reassuringly. "Who do you know that's a carpenter?"

"Quite a few people actually," Miss Parker frowned.

"Who do you know, that's dead?"

"I thought you said you were gonna put this bluntly?"

"I did. Think about it."

*Flashback*

"Thomas? What are you doing now?" Parker asks, poking her head through the door.

"I'm checking up on a old house I build for a friend, in Maine." He explains, dialing the phone number.

"Hi! This is Thomas! -pause-Yeah, how are you? -pause- Good, listen, I just wanted to see how the cabin was holding up? That kind of environment can be tough. -pause- It is? Oh great! -pause- Really?! Parker and I were thinking about taking a trip this weekend, that would be a perfect place! Thank you so much! -pause- Yeah, why? You know her? -pause- Ok, thanks, Katherine! Bye!"

*End Flashback*

"Tommy....." she whispered. "Tommy-built this house?" she choked on the tears as they threaten to fall down her face.

"Yes, he did. He built it for me, about three years ago. Two years before I saw the news report on TV." Her eyes blazed with anger in remembrance. "He built it for me, as a safe house. And I was going to let Thomas use it for a vacation spot. I liked seeing him whenever I wasn't on the run, or when I had the chance," Kala explained sadly.

"You-and Tommy-were friends?" she asked, almost in dismay.

"Yes, we were close friends. He used to come and hear me sing, every time that he could. I wrote a song, and was going to dedicate it to him, to sing it for him, but he didn't make it till Thursday." She sighed. "You may not want to hear this, but I don't think she's entirely responsible. I can't be sure, but...I don't think Bridget pulled the trigger willingly. I think someone made her do it." Kala confessed.

"What?!" Miss Parker snapped. "She confessed!"

"Yes, she did, but that doesn't make her responsible. Having the baby changed Bridget. And a mild case of amnesia when I slammed her head in the wall didn't hurt either," Kala joked.

"You what?! When?" Miss Parker was astounded.

"It's not important. What is important, is that we find out who ordered the termination of the man you loved and why. I won't stand to let them hurt anymore innocent people." Her eyes lit up again, with so much anger, that it was visible. "And believe me, she may be dead, but I'm gonna find out who is really responsible for Thomas's death. You can count on it."

****

The Hidden Cabin

Kala sat on her bed, reading a book called Kissing Doorknobs. She stopped when she heard her computer beep at her. She set the book down, and opened the urgent e-mail. "From CJ," she said thoughtfully. "Oh, right!" She slapped herself on the head. "Cracker Jacks, Angelo! Dhu!" she muttered to herself, opening the attachment.

Raines: She what!?

Lyle: Sis must have found out she has a daughter, because she's gone! Sweepers searched her house last night. There's not a trace of where she could have went.

Parker: Damn it!

Raines: What is our course of action?

Lyle: We can't let that kid tell Parker what she knows. She'd kill us all if she knew the truth.

Parker: Which truth?

Lyle: Thomas, her mother, everything! If she finds out....Dad, I've seen her pissed, and it's not something I want to see again.

Parker: If she knows that Baby Parker is hers.....if that kid told her I'll strangle her with my own hands!

Lyle: Dad, we need her.

Raines: Not necessarily. Marissa has been out of the Centre too long. She won't cooperate, and neither will Jarod. If we can keep Baby Parker inside the Centre....we'll have the ultimate Pretender EVER.

Lyle: You know Parker, if she wants to get that baby out nothing will stand in her way. Not even you, Dad.

Raines: She's beginning to question the Centre's motives. Just like Catherine did. You saw what happened there.

Parker: Hmmm. That kid can fill my daughters head with lies about the Centre-

Lyle: Only they aren't lies. Sis isn't stupid, Dad. She'll figure it out.

Parker: True.

Raines: So what do we do?

Parker: My daughter is...insufficient to Centre needs. Her, and Jarod. We don't need them anymore, now that we have another child.

Lyle: I still can't believe Bridget was willing to carry around Miss Parker's baby.

Parker: She wasn't. She thought it was her's.

Lyle: Ha! Bitch didn't even know.

Parker: We all know my daughter wouldn't be willing to donate herself to made a prodigy. It had to be done in secret.

Lyle: Dad?

Parker: Hm?

Lyle: Don't you think we should give the kid a name? Baby Parker sounds too...

Parker: Yes, I suppose. You think about it, Lyle. Whatever name you chose.

Lyle and Raines depart, baby starts crying. Mr. Parker hands baby to deaf nurse, and departs.

"Holy shit!" Kala muttered, listening to the audio tape again. "Holy shit!" she repeated. "I knew it. I knew that baby couldn't be Bridget's! Shit."

She closed down the laptop, and stuffed it in a corner, then opened her book again. Five seconds later, Jarod opened the door and poked his head through.

"Can I come in?" Jarod asked. Kala nodded. "What are you reading?" he asked, coming into the room, and sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Kissing Doorknobs." Kala smiled.

"Why would anyone want to kiss doorknobs?" he asked, confused. Kala laughed.

"She doesn't. It's about a girl with obsessive compulsive behavior, she has to, or she goes mad," Kala explained, showing him the back of the book.

"Ohhh," Jarod scanned the back of the book quickly, and handed it back to her. "You ok?" he asked, after several moments of silence.

"Yeah," she smiled at him, but her gaze was distant. Her smile quickly faded, and she muttered, "Hey, I'm kinda tired -yawn- I'm gonna -yawn- rest for a while, if that's alright with you -yawn-." Jarod laughed.

"Sure thing." He ruffled her hair and departed, closing the door behind him.

Kala, however, had no intention of resting. "Thank God for acting class.." she mumbled, digging out her laptop again, and setting to work. "We have to get him out of there..or there'll be another psycho on the lose...Yes I know you didn't do it on purpose......Ha! Good one...Dirtbag.... "

****

The Hidden Cabin
One Week Later

Kala opted NOT to tell her parents about the little message from Angelo. But instead, had him keep her updated-only her. Angelo reported everything to her-from how many times a day Broots spilled coffee on himself, to how many times a day the baby burped, to how many times Mr. Parker contacted the Triumvirate or the Tower.

Angelo also sent her the times the baby was on guard, and the times he was not. When there was a nurse, or a doctor or someone else. If the baby sneezed, Kala knew about it. After a week, Kala began to discover a pattern. M-W, the blond blind nurse guarded him. Why the hell a blind lady would guard a baby, she didn't know. Maybe she has 20-20 hearing. Kala mused. Wednesday afternoon, through Friday afternoon, the deaf lady guarded him. She must have 20-20 vison. And on weekends, Mr. Parker took the baby home, where he was watched round the clock by a nurse with eyes and ears. How Angelo got all this information, Kala didn't know.

What she did know, was that Sunday afternoon, at 3:00pm sharp, the watches shifted, and everyone had a five minute break. That would be the time to grab baby brother.

"The summery of my life: I have a brother, who doesn't have a name yet, a uncle-Ethen, who not to mention hears voices in his head -then again so do I- is now missing, a flesh-eating-psychotic killer for another uncle, and a- what'd you call him? Right- Dirtbag for a grandfather. How nice. Both my parents are geniuses, and I'm smarter then both of them! Oh, and I have another uncle who's DEAD! And I talk to him..(wink wink) And while we're at it, let's throw in the fact that we're on the run from an organization shrouded in secrecy that wants to kill us! Nice life, eh? Wanna trade?" She asked him, looking skyward. "Didn't think so."

She had e-mailed Syd earlier that week, telling him not to worry, that everyone was safe. Almost. She didn't tell him about the authorization that the Centre had to KILL THEM!! Instead she said nothing of it.

"Now's the time to tell Mom and Dad the plan? They don't need to know he's my brother, do they? Nah.....they'll find out soon enough." She asked, not waiting for an answer.

****

The Hidden Cabin,
day 9

Kala was going to tell Parker and Jarod today about the email Angelo had sent, when her email beeped URGENT at her. She quickly opened up the file, and read it four times, before she fell down. She grabbed the side of the bed.

Out of rage, she started cursing quietly. She read it again, and again to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"Dirtbag!" she hissed. "Damn it! Great! Lets see, how do I explain this?" her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Kala quickly closed the laptop, and sprawled out on the bed with a magazine. "Come in!" she called innocently.

Miss Parker entered the room, smiling. She seemed to have relaxed slightly since they left the Centre. Instead of her regular attire, she was dressed in tight jeans and a sleeveless sweater.

"Hi!" Kala chirped, as gleefully as possible.

"I heard a thud, are you alright?" she asked with concern, glancing around the room for anything peculiar.

"I'm fine, I just stubbed hit my elbow on the edge of the table." Kala explained. Which wasn't totally a lie. She did hit her elbow, only she smacked it on the chest at the end on the bed, when she fell off in shock.

Parker gave her a knowing smile. "You're hiding something," she stated.

Kala smiled sweetly. "Yep!" she grinned. But inside, she was screaming. What am I supposed to say!? Yeah I just got a letter from Angelo saying that Baby Parker is my brother, not to mention-

"Cough it up." Parker sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, interrupting her thoughts.

Kala raised her eye brows, then got an idea. She leaned over as though to whisper in her, but instead coughed, and ran out of the room squealing.

Parker raced after her, yelling that she should get back here. Jarod had gone out to get some food from Ben's Inn, that he had so kindly had waiting for Jarod. Unfortunately he came back at the wrong time. Just as he opened the door, Parker was running past. Parker, Jarod along with the peanut butter and jelly, went flying to the floor. Kala stopped in the hall, when she noticed her pursuer was no longer perusing. She crept back into the front room and burst into laughter. Jarod was helping an egg covered parker up off the floor. Jarod was stifling a laugh, and Parker was glaring at him. Then she grinned.

"Uh oh..." Jarod's eyes got real big, and he backed up, but was stopped by-THE WALL. "Shit," he muttered, looking around or the best escape route, as Parker advanced on him; he had no where to go.

Without warning, Parker pulled the last egg out from behind her back, and smashed it against Jarod's head. Egg yolk went trickling down Jarod's face, and back. He blinked, and smirked. Now it was Parker's turn to be afraid.

"Oh, shit!" Of, course, she was less subtle about it, and went screaming through the house, Jarod close behind. Kala was on the floor, laughing so her insides hurt. Miss Parker screeched to a halt when she reached the end of the hall, and spun around to see a breathless Jarod.

"Tired, Wonder-Boy?" she taunted.

"Not hardly." He straightened up, and she knew she was staring doom right in the face.

"Jarod......" she warned, but he paid her no heed. He advanced, just as she had done, until she was backed up against the wall. She was pushed between the wall, and Jarod. There was no way out. No one had noticed, but Kala had managed to sneak around the other way, and hide herself in the closet behind Miss Parker. The closet had two doors, one at the end of the hall -behind Parker- and one from Kala's bedroom, that no one knew about but herself, and Thomas.

She watched silently, afraid to breath, as the two adults played a game of tag, this time, with a little twist. Jarod produced a big bottle of water from behind his back.

"You wouldn't......" Parker stared at the water bottle in his hand, as he unscrewed the lid.

"Wanna bet?" He took a big swig and smiled. She relaxed.

"I thought you were gonna...."

"Dump it on you?" he asked, she nodded. "I still am!" He poured the water down her back and she shrieked playfully. She tried to run, but Jarod blocked her way. He pinned her up against the closet doors, and smiled. "Drink?" he asked, handing her the bottle. She tried to grab it out of his hand, but he was to quick.

Now? Kala thought. Not yet.... he said.

Now?

Not yet.......NOW! She pushed the doors open as hard as she could, sending Parker straight into Jarod's arms. They both flew back, and landed on the floor, Miss Parker on top of Jarod. Kala hid in the clothes so they wouldn't see her. She could have been standing right above them, and they wouldn't have saw. Their concentration was totally on one another.

Brown eyes stared straight into blue. Neither moved. Kala sneaked from her hiding place, and back around to the front room, so they wouldn't discover her hiding place.
Come on! Kiss her for God's sake! UGH!! Adults! Stupid creatures....no not you...all though it was pretty stupid to jump in front of a bullet!....yeah you saved his life I know...yah thanks.. I hope I'm never that stubborn! Kiss her for-! Oh Jesus!

"For Pete's sake, would you just kiss her so we could move on with our lives?" Kala asked impatiently from the corner. Parker looked up, and saw Kala standing with her arms folded across her chest neatly, tapping one foot on the floor. She looked back at Jarod.

Is he really gonna do it? She thought....

But Jarod was looking up, and to him, Kala was upside down, tapping her foot on the ceiling. He looked back at Parker, who was looking at him. Their gaze met.

"Umm...here." Parker stood up, and offered her hand to Jarod, who excepted. She pulled him up, and once again, there were face to face, inches apart.

Jarod's instinct was to kiss her. Parker's head told her to pull away, and her heart told her to kiss him. She followed her head. "Sorry," she muttered, untangling herself from him, and moving off down the hall.

"UGH!!!!!" Kala cried, stamping off into her bedroom, and slamming the door behind her. "Idiots!" Jarod heard her mumble. "My family is made up of psycho's, genius's and all-around idiots!"

She forgot to mention Baby Parker's rescue.

****

The Hidden Cabin
Next Day,
Saturday

The bright light that filled the dark room, woke Kala from her sleep. She turned over and glanced at the clock. "Nine am on the money," she grumbled, lifting herself out of bed. "Time to tell Mom and Dad about Baby Parker."

She dressed quickly and silently packed a small backpack, with a few weeks worth of clothes. She emerged from the bedroom quietly and walked swiftly down the hall towards the kitchen.

There, she met Jarod and Miss Parker, who were both still in pajamas.

"Where are you going?" Parker asked as she entered the room.


"The correct question would be where are we going, and the answer is back to Blue Cove," Kala said solemnly. Jarod almost spit his coffee all over Parker when he heard the news.

"You've got to be kidding me!" he choked.

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" she asked sarcastically.

"Why are we going back to the Centre?" Miss Parker cut in, giving Jarod no time to answer.

"I never said we were going back to the Centre, I said we were going to Blue Cove. To your Father's house to be precise."

"Why Daddy's house?" Miss Parker asked in shock, while Jarod rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. He hated that man more then he did Raines.

"Because, that's where m-your brother is." She corrected herself just in time. Parker nor Jarod heard the mistake.

"What about her brother??" Jarod asked, confused.

Kala sighed, clearly frustrated. "We need to get the baby out of the Centre before they create either another Pretender or an assassin. I won't let them do to that baby what they did to all of us. He's the only one who has a chance at a normal life, without the Centre. We need to give him that chance," Kala explained quickly. "So, are you with me, or do I have to do this by myself?"

Parker and Jarod exchanged glances over there now cold cups of coffee. "When do we leave?"

****

After everyone's things were packed, the threesome hiked back down the hill to the Inn. Ben was glad to see them, but sad they were leaving so soon. They rented a car at a nearby dealership, under a different name of course, and began the long drive back to BC.

Jarod took shift about six hours after they left, giving Miss Parker a chance to rest. Kala sat up front, listening to Fat Boy Slim through her headphones and singing softly.

"Funk soul brother, right about now, funk soul brother check it out now, funk soul brother."

Jarod looked at her curiously. "Why does the song only have...four lines?" he inquired.

Kala snorted. "It's pop, Dad. It's supposed to be like that. Haven't you heard of N Sync? Britney Spears? Blink 182? Anything?"

Jarod shook his head. "I've heard of Bloody Love Bones. But not Britney Spears. Who's she?" he asked.

"A really cute, really bad singer-my opinion. Lots of people like her. I think she's a fake," Kala retorted.

"Oh." Jarod nodded his head in understanding. Kala took the compilation CD out of her WALKMAN, and put it in the CD player in the car, and turned the sound down low, so only they could hear it, and it wouldn't wake her mom.

"Hey now, you're an all star, get your game on go play..hey now you're a rock star, get the show on get paid, and all that glitters is gold...."

****

Hidden Cabin
Day 3

Parker sat alone on the couch, a pillow tucked close to her chest. She stared into the flames, as their reflections bounced across her face, illuminating it.

Her focus wasn't on anything or anyone really; her mind wandered. She remembered a time when she was happy, smiled a lot. When she came home, someone was there for her-to be the punching bag, or warm embrace. She remembered a time when, for the first time since her mother died, she was content, when she was loved and could give love. She remembered how good it felt, to have someone to hold, and someone to make all the pain go away.

A tear slid down her cheek, and onto the silk pillow. She glanced up, when she felt a presence next to her. Jarod was standing in the doorway, a sad expression on his face.

He came over and sat next to her. He didn't have to ask what was wrong, they always had a mental connection. He hesitated for a moment, then took her hand, and squeezed it gently, reassuringly. She bit her lip, and tried her hardest to hold back tears. She didn't pull away when Jarod took her hand, like he'd expected her to, instead intertwined her fingers in his, drawing strength from him.

He smiled slightly. It was nice to know she trusted him, to some degree. "You now Kala's philosophy- it's ok to cry," he said gently. She nodded. Finally, she let the tears roll down her cheeks, soaking the pillow she had a death-grip on. Parker looked up and stared into his eyes. She bit her lip again, as though making a decision. She made up her mind, and slightly shifted positions, then rested her head on Jarod's shoulder, and sobbed. Jarod wrapped his other arm around her shoulder, and pulled her closer, rocking her slowly back and fourth.

She placed her other hand, the one that wasn't clutching his, on Jarod's chest. His shirt was drenched by salty tears, and her face was red and blotchy. Parker clung to him, as though he were the last life line left. No words were exchanged, but he felt what she felt, her pain and anger. Her cry for help. She needed him, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

Neither saw the figure, smiling from the corner...

****

Hotel- Four days later
Wednesday- noon

Parker awoke slowly from her dream, as though she were reliving it again. She straightened up, and noticed they were no long driving down the deserted hi-way, nor were they in Blue Cove. They were in a large hotel room, both Kala and Jarod hunched over his computer, searching for something.

Kala looked up first, and noticed her Mom was up. "Morning!" she chirped, standing up and stretching. Kala walked over and hugged her mom, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Dad and I are working on arranging a meeting," Kala said brightly.

"With who?" Parker asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Sydney, Broots, Angelo....yeah I think that's it. Besides us," she added.

"Broots?" Miss Parker took her hands away from her face, and stared at her.

"Who else is gonna screw up the cameras? Well, Angelo could, but just our luck, he'll go into one of his empths when we need him," Kala reasoned.

"Oh." Parker closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them she was staring into a brown horizon. Jarod's gaze locked with hers and held it for what seemed like forever. Kala said nothing, so not to disturb the silent connection between the two adults. Eventually Parker looked away, but Jarod sat there, his eyes glued to the spot where she had been.

Noticing the uncomfortability between her parents, Kala changed the subject. "Ahem, uh last time it took us...seven days to reach Maine from Blue Cove, and I suspect it will take us just as long this time so at this rate we should be in the lovely Blue Cove Delaware by...... Saturday. That will give us just enough time to get a plan together. Agreed?" Kala asked, glancing from one spaced out parent to the next. "Agreed?" she asked a little louder.

"Oh, yeah! What? Ok," Jarod snapped back to reality first and mumbled an answer, and something under his breath.

"Mom?"

"Yeah." Miss Parker answered, but her look was far off.

Kala groaned and rolled her eyes, then huffed off to her quarters in the adjoining room next door. Slamming the door behind her, Kala made perfectly clear to her parents that she was not impressed.

****

The Centre

Sydney and Broots had tried desperately the past month to: avoid Lyle at all costs, Find out as much possible about Mare Maris Prognatus/Project C-11, and to help out Parker and Jarod. Broots had recently found out they were working together, and though Syd never said it, Broots could tell the old man was overjoyed.

"Syd," Broots came nervously into the room, a bit shaken.

"What's wrong, Broots?" Sydney swivled in his leather chair to get a better look at his college.

"Er- um, well, I decided to run a search on Project C-11 through the mainframe, and I came up with this." Broots handed his friend a brown envelop. Sydney took it cautiously, as though it would catch fire if his grip was to hard. He lay the contests out on his desk, and looked at them suspiciously. Broots could see the wheels turning in his head, and the steam coming out of his ears. Broots had never seen Sydney so angry in his life. It scared him to see his partner and friend in such a rage.

Sydney's eyes clouded. "Broots..." he asked slowly, not removing his eyes from the page. "Did you read this?"

"Um uh, no I uh thought you'd like to have a look at it first," the tech mumbled helplessly.


"Mare Maris Prognatus, is Latin for Sea Born. According to this, Sea Born is a young girl by the name of Marisa. She escaped the Centre six years ago. Before Jarod escaped, by one year. Do you know who Marissa is?" Sydney asked coldly.

"Er um," Broots worked frantically for something in his mind to click. "Um, if um, Marissa-" It clicked. "That can't be right? Miss Parker- she would never allow that would she? I mean- you saw the way she responded to Gemini? Mr. Parker? He, he let them do that? I outta I outta....." Broots couldn't finish; he was thunderstruck with rage, just as Sydney was, as the pieces fell into place in his mind and he realized that without a doubt, that Marissa had to be Miss Parker and Jarod's daughter.

****

"Wait until Miss Parker hears about this! She's gonna be furious!" Broots was pacing around the office five minutes later, trying to blow off some steam. "I mean, she won't let them get away with this will she? Sydney?" The older man had gone considerably pale and now was Broots not only angry, he was scared.

"No, Broots," he raised a finger and shaked it in the air, as though telling somebody off. He put his elbow on the table, and his chin in his hand. Broots recognized this to be a sign that he was concentrating. "I think....I think she already knows." Sydney stared up at his college, who was looking completely dumbfounded.

"In the email, it said they had gone to Refuge. That is a place in Maine that Catherine referred to in one of our sessions. Miss Parker, probably would not have remembered that, and Jarod didn't know about it. And...." Sydney began, backing up his story with more evidence. "I can remember it was two days before Marissa escaped, that many of my DSA's that contained my sessions with Catherine Parker went missing. I've never found them."

Broots looked at the man like he was a lunatic. "How-how could you remember that? That was nearly six year ago!" Broots stammered.

"Every part of our waking life, is stored somewhere in our memory. It cannot be removed, just misplaced, or hidden. I remember that day very well, just as I remember the day Catherine faked her death."

"So- so you're saying that this girl might actually be with her?" Broots asked, marveling at Sydney's confidence.

"Them. She's with them," Sydney corrected him.

"Right," muttered Broots.

****

Broots's House
Saturday
4:00

"I'll get it!!" Debbie flew from the couch at the sound of the door bell. Broots closed the magazine he was reading and followed Debbie into the front hall. He couldn't see who was behind the door, but heard squeals of delight, and saw his daughter bouncing up and down. Broots waited for Debbie to lead the quests into the house, and almost lost his balance when Miss Parker walked through his door.

Broots opened his mouth to say something, but he was speechless, so he waved instead. Miss Parker sighed softly and shook her head. Then motioned for the other two people to come in. Following her was almost an exact Miss Parker look alike, only 15 years younger. She had the same bright blue eyes, long legs and black hair. The only differences besides age, was that she dressed casually -tight jeans that flared out at the knees and a tank-top- and her hair was long and straight, instead of short, like Miss Parker's. Broots remained silent, because he was afraid if he spoke it would either be the wrong thing, or he would stammer himself to tears.

The second person was a tall dark hair dark eyed man, who looked just like- "Jarod?" Broots finally spoke, and it didn't even sound like his own voice. Kala and Debbie giggled quietly, turning so he wouldn't see their tears of laughter. Miss Parker tried to force down a smile, but it didn't work.

"Broots, I believe you've met Jarod once or twice, haven't you?" Miss Parker asked sweetly.

"Uh, yeah. O-once or twice," Broots muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets, embarrassed.

"It's alright Broots," Kala said kindly, stepping forward. "He's as harmless as a fly." She shot a glance at Jarod and added, "Unless you get on his bad side, or do anything to hurt 'the weak and abused'. You've never hurt anybody, right Broots?" She winked at her mother, and smirked.

"Broots couldn't do that." It was a new voice. One that belonged to one well known and loved shrink. "The door was open so I let myself in," he explained.

"Sydney!" Jarod was over joyed to see his mentor and friend.

"Jarod, you're looking well," Syd exclaimed, embracing his old pupil. "As are you, Miss Parker. Days' away from work have done you well," he smiled.

But Sydney's smile faded when he saw Kala. Tears sprung to his eyes. "You look just like you're mother," he said quietly. Neither adults could figure out why Sydney was crying. Sure, Kala made him think of Miss Parker, and Miss Parker made him think of Catherine, but he never cried when Miss Parker was there.

"Sydney," she acknowledged quietly, before running into his arms and having the life squeezed out of her my a sixty year old man. Both laughed and cried quiet tears of joy. Jarod and Miss Parker exchanged confused looks.

Kala saw them and smiled bigger then ever. Letting go of Sydney, she said, "Syd didn't tell you, did he?"

"Tell us what?" Jarod asked, glancing again at Miss Parker.

"Sydney, helped me escape the Centre six years ago. He didn't know who I was, so don't hurt him for not telling you. Ever wonder why Sydney was away from work so much a little less then a year before you escaped?" She directed this at Jarod, who was totally dumbfounded.

"I didn't realize she was your daughter, or she would have been with one of you faster then a speeding bullet. I would never take someone this important out of your life willingly, Miss Parker. You know that," he said sternly, answering he unconvinced glare. A few seconds later she backed off, and for the first time everyone acknowledged Angelo, who was standing quietly in a corner.

"Angelo!" Kala cried, enfolding the empath in a large hug. Angelo smiled hugely, feeling all the happy emotions that were coming from her. The joy was so strong, that he perceived no pain.

"I think it's time I tell everyone, everything," Kala said solemnly, trying to bite down a smile. Well, almost everything, she told him sternly

****

Kala explained how she escaped the Centre, with the help of Angelo and Sydney six years ago. She told about her life afterward, living with The Michaels family for many years, and in return for schooling, and food and clothes and ext.., she agreed to take care of the house, take care of their six year old son, Freddy, and help out. She had a part time job, singing at the club, making large amounts of money in tips, and some from the manager. Then, last year she found out who her parents were, by an anonyms tip left in her bag. That's when she started the search. She didn't tell Miss Parker or Jarod right away, because she wanted to make sure they excepted her as a person first, not as their daughter.

Broots hadn't wanted Debbie to hear all the details of The Centre, so he shooed her off to play with the next door neighbor, much to her dislike.

****

"Wow," Broots muttered, shaking his head when she was finished. "That's quiet a life. Question though.. Syd said his DSA's went missing two days before you escaped. Sydney..did you give them to her?" he asked.

"No, he didn't," Kala answered. "I took them, mistaking his office for Mr. Raines. I went looking for a piece of my past, and found Sydney's DSA's."

Kala glanced over at her parents, seeing what their reaction would be. She hid a smile, and gently nudged Sydney in the ribs. He looked up and when he saw what she was pointing to, smiled.

Miss Parker's eyes were closed, and she was leaning against Jarod, using his chest as a pillow. He had unconsciously draped an arm around her, as if he was protecting her. Obviously neither realized it, or it might have been a very tense situation. She wasn't asleep, just listening to Kala's story, nodding in all the right places, smiling laughing, frowning and asking questions.

Both Jarod and Parker noticed the room had gone rather quiet. She opened her eyes and saw that everyone was smiling.

"What?" she asked suspiciously.

"Comfortable, Parker?" Sydney asked gently, tauntingly.

"Yes thanks for asking," she responded, still not understanding the joke. Kala unable to control herself any longer, ran out of the living room and into the kitchen. Bursting with laughter, she had to stuff her fist in her mouth to keep the noise down.
"She didn't even know!" Kala whispered, peering into the living space, without being seen.

"Know what?" Debbie had come back from her friends house, and decided to come in the back way.

"Look!" Kala exclaimed, pointing through the crack between the door and the wall, where Miss Parker and Jarod were curled up on the couch.

Debbie peered into the living room, and started laughing hysterically, just as Kala had done. "Come on!" Debbie managed between giggles. "Lets go up to....my...room!" The two girls scrambled out through the living room and up the stairs as fast as possible. Running into Debbie's room, they slammed the door so hard the coffee table downstairs jumped.

****

"So how do you know my mom?" Kala asked, as she and Debbie sat on her bed, talking.

"When Daddy was out of town one week, I had to stay with Miss Parker. And then another time she picked me up at school, when my daddy was having trouble." Debbie explained.

Damon, Kala thought.

"He wouldn't tell me what though," she said regretfully.

"I'm sure he had his reasons."

"Yeah...I didn't know Miss Parker had a daughter. Until today, I mean. She never said anything about you when I was there. She was kind of mean at first...no offence," she added quickly.

"None taken. My mom...I guess is not used to having anyone but me and Dad in the house. She's not big on strangers...and she's very picky about thing her mother gave her, or her clothes." Thanks for the info, uncle. That was helpful, she silently thanked him for the bits of information regarding Debbie's visit with Miss Parker.

"Yeah. She was really picky about the clothes. But she warmed up in the end, and it was really fun to be with her. I'll never forget the look on Daddy's face when we marched into his work wearing matching outfits. It was even worth the lecture about my stile of clothing on the way home." Debbie laughed, as she remembered all the things her father had said.

"Yeah, Dad's can be over protective."

"So where were you when I was there?" Debbie asked innocently.

I was probably running for my life! "Oh, probably at camp, or on vacation with one of my friends," Kala lied.

"Oh. I still don't understand why she didn't talk about you or your dad. What's his name again?"

"Jarod. And she doesn't talk about us much. She spaces out a lot. That was probably it." Liar! He hissed. Liar liar liar!

Oh, shut up!

****

Broots arranged for one of Debbie's friends to call, and ask her to spend the night. He didn't want her to hear their plan, because he didn't want her in danger. Sofia came and picked her up at eight, and Debbie left, with no suspicions that her father set it up.

After she was gone, Broots, Sydney, Parker and Jarod, all waited for Kala to explain her plan.

"Ok, the littlest Parker- ok, before we get into this we need to give him a name. I'm getting tired of calling him 'Baby Parker' or the 'Littlest Parker'. What do you think we should name him?" she asked, looking around at the adults.

"Um.."

"Uh.."

"How about.."

"What about.."

"Kyle!" Everyone looked up. Angelo was sitting next to Kala, smiling innocently.

"Yeah..I like that," Kala piped in. Oh, how sweet. Thanks Kala, he said, and she could almost taste his tears.

Don't mention it.

"Jarod? Is that ok?" Miss Parker looked expectantly at Jarod, who's eyes had small tears in them. He bit his lip and nodded, he knew his voice would betray him if he spoke.

"Kyle....what should his middle name be?" Miss Parker asked.

"Hm..."

"Uh..."

"Jacob," Kala said suddenly. His middle name should be Jacob." She glanced at Sydney, who was smiling behind tears.

"Kyle Jacob Parker," he whispered.

"I like it," Broots said, startling everyone. Broots never spoke up about such things.

"Well if Mr. Broots likes it, then I guess it works!" Kala laughed, and Broots blushed deep crimson. Soon everyone was laughing though, and the house echoed with sound.

****

Kala explained the plan, and everyone's role in it.

She made a chart, so it would be easy to understand.

Sydney: Go to Mr. Dirtbag's house and distract him.

Broots: Loop cameras in Kyle Jacob's room.

Parker, Jarod, Kala: Rescue Kyle Jacob.

Angelo: cause BIG empath destruction in Sim Lab with Raines. Knock down a few sweepers if possible.

Kala left out 'Dirtbag' on Miss Parker's list. She didn't think it was a good idea for her mother to blow her top before the rescue. She'd leave that to when she told her mother that Kyle was her brother.

****

Sunday
2:00pm

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Kala asked the following day, as the group gathered around, ready to start the mission.

"As ready as I'm ever gonna be!" Broots muttered, and everyone laughed, reliving some of the tension.

"Everyone knows what their job is, right?" Everyone nodded, and Angelo cocked his head.

"Ok, here we go."

****

The Centre
2:55pm

"Mr. Raines! Mr. Raines!" Willy ran up, exhausted to his boss.

"What is it, Willy?" he wheezed dramatically.

"Angelo sir. He's throwing a fit. None of the sweepers can contain him! He's already knocked out four of our best men!"

"Keep trying. At least get him back in his cell."

"Yes sir!" Willy ran off down the hall again, with more sweepers in tow. Of course, Mr. Raines orders were easier said then done...

****

Mr. Parker's Manor
2:58pm

Sydney knocked on the door, and almost immediately, a tall blond women came to answer it.

"May I help you sir?" she asked politely.

"Yes, I'm looking for Mr. Parker, is he in today?" Sydney reviewed what he was going to say and almost missed her next words.

"Yes sir, come in. May I have your name please?" She lead him down a long hallway with red carpets and wooden stairs.

"Yes, tell him Dr. Green is here to speak with him."

"Yes sir." she walked off down the hallway, and turned into a small room, shutting the door behind her.

****

Tech room
2:57pm

Broots typed frantically, trying to gain access to Mr. Parker's home security system. After weaseling his way through many access codes, that Jarod had so kindly already gotten the passwords to, he finally reached had permission to mess with the security system.

In only a matter of seconds, Broots had looped the cameras in Mr. 'Dirtbag', as Kala liked to refer to him behind her mother's back, home for ten minutes. Now all he had to do was delete the evidence, sit back and pray.

****

Mr. Dirtbag's Manor
2:59pm

"Ok, here we go," Kala whispered, after gaining access to his home security system, entering the house through the back and creeping through the hallways, Jarod and Parker right behind her. The threesome tiptoed through the manor, up stairs and through the last hallway. They could hear Mr. Dirtbag and Sydney talking downstairs.

"I realize that sir, but I believe we are taking extreme measures to bring Jarod back." Sydney reasoned.

"You sound as if you don't want to bring him home, doctor," Mr. Parker smirked back.

"I want him back Mr. Parker. I just don't want him dead."

Miss Parker could remember Sydney saying the same thing to her a few years ago. Those words meant nothing to her now. She wasn't going to bring him in. She couldn't even if they paid her, or threatened her. They had been through to much now.

"This is it!" She heard Kala hiss through the darkness. She pushed open a door at the end of the hallway, and heard the baby, sleeping peacefully. Kala checked the cameras. Thanks Broots! She thought, inching towards the crib. Kala lifted Kyle out of the crib and handed him to Parker. As they made their way toward the exit, a loud voice coming closer halted them.

"Mr. Parker, I'm sure the baby is fine. He does have nurses taking care of him doesn't he?" Sydney was trying to keep him away from the child's room, but he was convinced he'd heard a thud.

"OH SHIT!" Kala whispered. She closed her eyes tightly, as there was a sudden uproar from the room at the end of the hall.

"Where is he!? Sydney, did you have anything to do with this? Greg! Find them!" he didn't wait for the doctor to respond, before barking orders. "Do NOT let them out of here!"

There was the sound of scurrying feet, as sweepers/guards came running from all corners of the house, looking for the fugitives, guns drawn. Kala looked frantically around. They were everywhere. This guy has a small army in his house!

Kala, go now! You'll never make it if you don't!

"Go!" she cried, shoving her parents forward. Plunging headlong into off guard sweepers, they ran for the exit, knocking down as many as possible. Parker clung to the wailing child, as gunshots sounded all around them. There was a loud thud, when she turned around, her daughter was surrounded by goons.

"Kala!" she screamed. She tried to stop, but Jarod pushed her forward, out the exit and into the car that waited for them, Sydney behind the wheel, having discreetly snuck away during the uproar. They jumped in the car, both unwillingly, and speed off down the road. For an old man Syd could drive like he was 15 and on the run from the cops. Jarod looked back at the quickly fading house and sighed. Miss Parker burst into silent tears, clutching Kyle close to her chest.

"They got her, they got my baby," she whispered, over and over and over again.

****
Part 5 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don't sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. The characters aren't mine, blah blah blah, they are characters in The Pretender, owned now by TNT and aired on WB blah blah blah, You know the drill.
Author's note: 1)I don't like saying "So-and-so belongs to me!" because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2) DON'T SUE ME!!! 3) I'm only 12, cut me some slack!







It’s Ok To Cry
part 5
By Devil’s Child





The Centre
SL-25
five hours later

Kala was stiff and her side hurt like hell. She knew she was in the Centre before she even opened her eyes. He had told her.

She opened her eyes to bright lights and bars. "Damn," she muttered.

At least they haven't killed you yet! He reminded her.

"Yeah, good point."

"Talking to yourself?" came a voice from behind the chair. Kala recognized it immediately.

"Lyle," she seethed.

"Impressive, Marissa." he taunted.

"Would you rather I call you Bobby?" she asked sarcastically. He was silent. "Then don't call me Marissa."

"Why not sweet cheeks?" he asked, coming around to the other side of the chair and kneeling down in front of her. He ran a finger across her cheek. She spit in his face.

"Same reason you don't want to be called Bobby or Mr. Bowman," she snarled.

"Alright..Kaylee? Kylie? Oh...Kala." he drawled on the answer, and his eyes gleamed with pure hatred.

"I'm just like my mother, Lyle, so if there's something you want cut to the chase and tell me what it is."

"I want to know where the Baby is," he said impatiently.

Kala snorted. "You'll have to kill me and dish the information out of my head with a melon scooper! Really Lyle you should know me better then that. I'd rather die then tell you anything," she said casually, as though nothing about him was intimidating.

"Oh, you'll give in. Weeks in here will scare the answers out of anybody," Lyle smirked and departed.

Well then, Mr. LYLE.....it looks like you've met your match!

****

A Week Later
Run Down Motel
Sunday, 4:09pm
Outside Maine

Parker, Jarod, Sydney and Kyle Jacob, had fled Delaware, despite Miss Parker's urge to turn around and rescue Kala.

"You'll get yourself and possible others killed!" Jarod tried to reason.

"I don't care, I just want my daughter back!" she was screaming and almost to the point of tears.

"We'll get her back, Miss Parker I promise. But right know we need to keep our wits about us and monitor the Centre's actions. Then we can go back," he said calmly.

"Don't you care about her?" The pain and sadness in her eyes almost killed him.

"Of course I do, you know that. But we're no good to her dead."

That had ended the conversation, and Parker had remained quiet the rest of the way. No smart remarks or put downs.

They had stopped in a run down hotel just outside Maine, and spent many days there. Parker didn't even complain when a rat darted from under the bed to a hole in the wall. Jarod finally gave up and moved them all to a larger, more comfortable room, down the street.

Miss Parker hadn't come out of her room for over five hours. As soon as they checked in, she had picked a room and closed the door. She hadn't been seen since.

"Syd...do you think she'll be ok?" Broots asked quietly, looking nervously around, as if Lyle and his goons would pop out of nowhere, and charge him with being considerate. The tech room was dark, and everyone had gone home. Those who didn't had no concern for any sort of thing like that. He had chosen that time to call Sydney, and see if everyone was alright. Then he heard what happened.

"I don't know, Broots," Sydney answered groggily. "If we don't get Kala back, Miss Parker may not survive. That girl meant everything to her. In the short amount of time she knew Miss Parker, Kala was able to do what none of us have been able to do for the past 20 years. Open up her heart. If Kala doesn't survive...neither will Miss Parker."

"Kala seemed like a pretty tough girl, she'll make it, won't she Syd? Sydney?"

"I hope so Broots." With that, Sydney disconnected the phone and stared at it. "I hope so Broots," he repeated, then put the phone down and sprawled out on the couch hoping to get some sleep.

Jarod came out of the kitchen a few moments later, with some hot tea for his mentor, but he was asleep. Jarod smiled and set the tea down, and covered Sydney with a blanket. He sighed. Parker still hadn't come out of her room, and it was starting to scare him.

Jarod walked over to her door and raised a hesitant hand. Thinking about it for a moment, he finally decided and knocked quietly. No answer. He pushed the door open silently, and saw a curled up figure on the bed. She was facing the open window, with her back to the door. Walking around to the other side he knelt down in front of her. She wasn't asleep, he could tell by the irregular breathing. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She knew he was there, and couldn't decide whether she wanted to see him or not. In her hand, was a ruby red charm, surrounded by white diamonds, on a silver chain.

"What's that?" he asked gently, nodding towards the necklace. Parker sat up, and scooted over, making room for him to sit next to her. She knew that Jarod knew perfectly well what it was, and just wanted to take her mind off things. He slid up next to her, and peered down at the charm.

"My mother gave it to me before she died....as a....congratulations present, for winning some award. I- planed to give it to Kala, when we got back." She nearly choked on her own words, and buried her face in her hands. Jarod used one gentle finger to raise her chin up, and one hand to pull hers away from her face. Tears filled those bright blue eyes, and they looked exactly like the ocean, deep and full of power, yet gentle and scared. "I may not get to do that." The tears she had kept at bay for so many years, now came spilling over the threshold.

Jarod, thinking with his heart first, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, rocking her back and forth. She leaned into him and started sobbing uncontrollably, muttering, "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry," over and over again.

"Shh, it's ok. It'll be ok. Shhhhhh," Jarod tried to sooth her with comforting words, but the hot tears kept coming, soaking through his shirt. But he didn't mind. All he wanted to do was comfort this woman, who in the past, had done nothing for him, except to accept him for who he was, instead of a science project.

****

The Centre
SL-25

Kala lay on her bed, thinking. She wouldn't eat, she couldn't sleep. All she could think about were her parents. Finally, her inner sense voice demanded her to eat.

You've gotten so skinny, and so pale, your parents won't even recognize you when they come to save you.

That's from lack of sunlight, not food.

He ignored the comment and continued. And believe me they will. If I know my brother as well as I think I do, nothing will stop him from getting you out of here. Unless..... He trailed off. Kala sat bolt upright.

"Unless what!?" she demanded.

Not so loud, Kala!! That hurts.

Sorry. Unless what? She asked again, thinking instead of speaking.

Unless someone else saves you first.

Like who?

But he never had a chance to respond, because Lyle followed by two goons came to 'greet' her.

"Lyle. To what do I own this honor?" she inquired sarcastically.

"I'll ask you again, where have Parker and Jarod taken the baby?" After a week of beating around the bush, Lyle finally gave up and just asked every time he came to see her, which was at least once a day, sometimes more.

Maybe he thinks he'll agitate the answer out of me.

"Ask me tomorrow," she taunted. "Maybe I'll tell you tomorrow."

"I don't have time for games, Miss Kala. My father and the Tower are getting-"he started in a dangerously low voice, but was cut off before he could finish his speech. Kala jumped down off the bunk and faced him. She was less then a head shorter then he was, and her two inch platform shoes and alert stance made her look even older then she was.

"I don't give a damn, about Mr. Parker, or the Tower. If they want results so badly, have them come get them themselves. And if they don't, hopefully the term 'shoot the messenger' will have a more realistic meaning." She glared him down, using the same look her mother and her grandmother gave. He backed out the door, but before he shut it he seethed, "I'm sure my father would be happy to come get results."

"You're father has no time to do anything but lounge around his office and act like king of the world. Besides, what is on measly baby to you-the big cooperation who controls the world?"

Lyle spun on his heel and faced her. "What is he to you? You're the one who went through so much trouble to kidnap him!" he shot back.

"I don't want there to be another assassin running around, murdering people when he feels like it. What's your excuse?" The two played a deadly game of challenging each other's patients.

"He's a pretender. You and the original lab rat have been out to long and won't cooperate. That child has never been outside the walls of the Centre, or my father's house. When we get him back, we'll make sure he never gets out again!" Lyle's low voice would have scared the pants off almost anybody, but Kala had been around people like that before, and they didn't intimidate her quite so easily.

"And what if you never get him back? Going to try again, until you can make another male pretender in secret?" Lyle glared dangerously at her, as if daring her to say it.


"I know your secret Lyle. And before I die, my parents will know the truth about that boy."

"Well you'll die tryn' to tell 'em." Lyle slammed the door and marched off down the hallway, infuriated at this girl's ability to hide her emotions even more so then her mother.

Kala climbed the latter onto the top bunk and looked around the cell. The walls, ceiling, floor were all a different shade of gray. The small desk in the corner was white and the bars on the widows looked like the fangs of a saber tooth in the dark.

Way to go, Kala! His ego will be damaged after that one! What's wrong?

Truthfully? I miss my mom. And Dad. I got to accustom to having someone there for me. I shouldn't have done that.

Kala, you were being human. Besides, you've had all those years with your parents deigned of you, and you should be thankful you even found them in the first place. Also, if it makes you feel any better, I think you're bringing them closer together.

Really?

Yeah. You know, I'm not supposed to do this, but I can show you a little sene from yesterday, between your parents. I think it might help!

The voice disappeared, and an image came floating into her mind, like a lily on water. Her mother was curled up in her fathers arms, and he was rocking her back and forth. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but something he said made her laugh tearfully.

Kala grinned broadly.

Thanks Kyle.

****

Two days later

"Giving in yet, Kala?" Came Lyle's cold hard voice across a speaker.

"Yeah. When people in hell take cold showers and eat steak for dinner," she replied distantly.

She heard Lyle slam the speaker down, and a few moments later he came bursting through the door.

"What game do you think you're playing? I'm at the end of my rope and so are you," he snarled.

"Good. Maybe the Triumvirate will do something smart for once and finish you off for good. You have more lives then a cat!"

"If I die, so do you."

"Yes, I'm well aware of that, but I'm willing to die if it kills you."

"I'm evil, yes, but why do you hold such a grudge against me? You don't do that to my father."

"You're father didn't torture women. You're father didn't eat their insides. You're father didn't try to come on to my mother, and you're father didn't murder my uncle!" Her voice could have frozen water if their had been any.

"Ah, so that's what this is about. Kyle. I was aiming for Jarod," he declared proudly.

"And if you had killed him you wouldn't be here, you'd probably be in the renewal wing getting reeducated," she hissed.

"And you would have no father." He had done if. Kala locked her gaze with his, and threw all the coldness she had at him. Lyle went hurdling backwards into the wall, and slammed against it, making a large cracking sound when he hit. Lyle looked up at her, stunned. She was still seated on the bed, staring him down with a death glare.

"What- how'd you do that?" he asked, trying to stand on the leg that wasn't broken.

"My inner strength. I'll do it again if I have to," she said coldly, making up every bit she said.

Lyle drew his gun and pointed it at her. "You do that, I kill you," he chuckled evilly.

"You can't kill me. I'm the only one who knows where the baby is. You kill me, you're dead to."

Lyle lowered the gun and glowered at her. "We'll discuss this later." Lyle left the room, hobbling on one leg.

My God!! (Sorry) How did you do that???

I don't know. I just got so angry, when I looked at him I- I didn't even do it on purpose. I was just trying to be intimidating.

Obviously it worked. If you can harness that gift, the Centre won't stand a chance!

****

The Centre
SL-10 Mr. Parker's office
Hour later

"I don't know how she did it, but one minute, I was standing and the next I was thrown against the wall." Lyle confessed.

"What did she call it, her inner strength?" Mr. Parker asked.

"Yes."

"Did she, um hurt you to badly?" he asked, trying to show concern.

"No. Just my leg." Lyle told him.

"Do not let her go Lyle. I'm counting on you."

****

5 miles away from Ben's Inn
24 hours later

Miss Parker seemed to have come out of her trance, and began helping out, snapping back at people who annoyed her (mainly Broots's little phone calls) and fretting about all the little things. But part of her was still missing. She didn't laugh much anymore, or smile. She didn't have the same spark she once had, or the fire in her eyes. Instead of sharp crystal blue, they were dull and dark, unused.

About three weeks after Kala was taken, Jarod received a video phone call that brightened his day.

"Zoe!" He cried happily.

"Hello, Jarod."

"Where- how are you?" It had been a long time since he'd heard from the red headed woman, and was glad to hear her voice again.

"I'm fine. The Major has been really worried about you, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, um...."Jarod didn't know what to say. Seeing Zoe had made him happy, but for some reason he didn't feel the same about her.

"What's wrong Jarod?" Just then Miss Parker came into view on the screen, and Zoe's face clouded.

"Oh, uh, Zoe, this is Miss Parker. She's an old friend of mine. We've been working together for a while now. Miss Parker, this is Zoe," he grabbed Miss Parker's hand and pulled her closer to the screen.

"Hi," she muttered, not really in the mood to talk to anybody.

"Hi!" Zoe chirped cheerfully. Now that she knew this Parker woman was just a friend she relaxed. A little. Something about Jarod's face was a dead give away. What it was she couldn't figure out.

"Oh, um, The Major wants to talk to you." Zoe moved away from the screen, and Charles moved into it.

"Dad!"

"Hello son, Miss Parker," he acknowledged the woman to the right of the screen. She nodded, not responding back.

"Son, I've good news. We have a possible location...on your mother."

Jarod gasped. "Really? Where? How?" Jarod starting shooting questions before he had time to answer them.

"Son, calm down. I don't want you to get your hopes to high, because it might not be her." But Jarod's head was already in the clouds. Miss Parker squeezed his shoulder, trying to bring him down to earth.

"Oh, alright. Um..What is Zoe still doing with you?" he asked, trying to change the subject. It worked.

"We didn't figure she would be safe going back to her old house."

"We?"

"You're sister, Emily. I picked her up from the church the day before we left town. She's doing much better now. I'll have her call you sometime, she's out right now."

"Oh, ok." Jarod said, disappointed he didn't get to see his sister.

"Don't worry son. We'll all be back together soon." With that, the Major disconnected the line, and Jarod stood up.

He smiled a boyish grin at Miss Parker. "They found my mom," he breathed. "They found my mom." Before she knew what was happening, Jarod enfolded her in a large hug. She closed her eyes and smiled slightly too, wrapping her arms around him.

"That's wonderful, Jarod. That's wonderful." She tried to put as much enthusiasm as she could muster, but for some reason she was sadder then ever. Why she didn't know.

It's because you let yourself care for him, in more then a friendship manner. Now you find out he has a girlfriend. Jerk, one part of her said.

He's entitled! It's not like you've done anything to show you love him!

Well I never said anything about loving him! But....?

****
Part 6 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don't sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. The characters aren't mine, blah blah blah, they are characters in The Pretender, owned now by TNT and aired on WB blah blah blah, You know the drill.
Author's note: 1)I don't like saying "So-and-so belongs to me!" because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2) DON'T SUE ME!!! 3) I'm only 12, cut me some slack!





It’s Ok To Cry
part 6
By Devil’s Child






Ethan's Place
Small apartment outside Blue Cove

He knew he was lurking to close to the Centre for comfort, but the voices kept telling him someone needed his help. Who, he didn't know. Ethen paced the room, listening intently.

"Agh! Why won't you tell me who it is?" he screamed at the voices. "What?! Miss Parker and Jarod have a what?!" He stopped walking the room, and stood, appalled. "Got to save Kala," he muttered, grabbing his jacket. "Got to save my niece."

****

The Centre
Sim lab
36 hours later

"Come on, Kala, give up." Lyle paced the floor in front of her. I think he's trying to spin the answer's out of you, Kyle thought to her sarcastically.

"Yeah, no kidding." Kala accidently spoke, and Lyle rounded on her.

"What did you say?" He seethed.

"I wasn't talking to you, scumball," she hissed.

"There's no one else to talk to," he proclaimed, hands on hips.

"Ah, unless you hear things. There are demons in the walls that I can hear. Dimwits like you have blocked them out," she answered spookily, toying with him. People in the walls? Kyle asked, chuckling. Hey, it was a spur of the moment decision. Besides, if I'm captive here, can't I at least have a little fun with my tormenters? Kala asked innocently. Why not?

"Demons in the walls?" Lyle threw his head back and laughed evilly. "Since when?"

"Since Allcote came back. You know him, he's the gate keeper of hell. You really should catch up on your studies Lyle, you'll be joining him soon enough." Kala decided to play around with Lyle's brain a bit, and made up stories about Allcote and his gang of deadly men, and how they lived in the walls of The Centre. None of this was true, of course, but who says you can't pretend?

Lyle's face became less and less colorful as Kala made up information to back up her story about Allcote and his goons. Finally, Lyle had enough.

"-and when he gets tired of you, he'll rip your insides out while you're still alive, and feed them to the -"

"Enough!" he roared, his face paler then usual.

"Scared, Lyle? You shouldn't be. Those demons aren't really, unless you believe they are. And what I've described, is nothing worse then what you do." She smiled at him innocently.

"I know, they aren't real.....I'm just tired of your games." He closed in on her, and put his hands on the arms of the chair she was tied to. "Now where is Parker and the baby," he was so close, she could feel his hot, mustard smelling breath on her face.

"Eww!" Kala pulled away and turned up her nose. "Did you eat hot dogs for breakfast so something, cause DAMN your breath stinks!" Lyle pulled away and hissed in her ear,

"This isn't over. I will find out where that child is. And if you won't tell us, we have sweepers hunting everywhere for them."

"You'll never find them. Two people know where they are. And I won't tell you, and neither can he."

Lyle gave her an odd grin. "Who is this, other person you speak of?"

"Not important," she hissed. "Now, if you don't want me to break another bone in your body, take me back to my cell. This...interrogation is finished."

"Fine." He turned toward the door and motioned for the sweepers to come in. They unlocked the cuffs around her wrists and ankles, and removed the blind fold they had placed over her eyes, thinking that way she wouldn't be able to hurt anyone. They shoved her forwards and down the hall. Half way out of the room, Lyle heard her say,

"I know where my own cell is, thank you very much. And- what is up with this place? Does everyone eat mustard for lunch or something. Damn........."

****

5 days later
The Hidden Cabin (again)

Parker had taken a nose dive since the call from Zoe. She wouldn't talk to anyone much about her feelings, once in a while she confided in Sydney, but rarely did that even happen. Jarod didn't even seem to notice. He was to excited about seeing his mother again for the first real time in over 30 years. But Sydney noticed, and it was starting to worry the older man intensely. The only person she would talk to, was the baby. She watched after him the most of all of them. Probably because she's his big sister, Sydney mused. She would feed him, and tell him stories of kings and queens of happy lands. And each story Sydney found a relation to her own life.

"The Princess longed to be free of the castle, but her father was a strong and powerful man, and would not let her go, until she returned the knight to the round table." Each fable had it's own twist. But Kyle Jacob didn't know that, so he just smiled and gurgled happily, as she bounced him up and down on one knee. Sydney wasn't surprised how fast she'd taken to motherhood, she was a natural, just like her mother had been. He even caught her singing him to sleep, walking around the room and rocking him back and fourth.

She seemed happy enough, but part of her was missing. The part of her that was locked away somewhere deep in the Centre's sub-levels. He had heard her, every night since Kala had been taken, cry herself to sleep. He wanted to go comfort her, but knew that he couldn't. She would most likely push him away. Kala was the only person who could really get through to her mother.

****

Same day
The Centre
SL-25

Kala! At the sound of her uncle's voice, Kala sat bolt upright in bed. Kala, someone's coming through the air-vents! She scrambled down off her bunk, just as the grate hit the pillow. A man dressed all in black jumped quietly down to the floor. It was night, and his dark clothes couldn't be seen by the cameras.

I'm Ethen, your uncle. Do you remember me? He couldn't communicate any other way, so he tried to send her a telepathic message. Can you even understand me?

Yes, I hear you. I know who you are. What are you doing here? And how did you get through? That grate dead ends at the wall.

No, it doesn't. Well, technically yes, but it goes up. There's another passage. Come with me.

What about them?

The cameras? I looped them. But they can hear, just not see.

Oh. Good thinking.

So Kala and Ethen scrambled through the air vents, turning one way, then another, until she was completely turned around. But Ethen obviously knew what he was doing. I hope.

Are you sure you know what you're do- But she never finished. As soon as she spoke the words, he opened the last grate, and the moon light filled the sky. Kala took a deep breath of fresh air, for the first time in two weeks.

"Come on," he said, speaking regularly now. "Lets get out of here before they realized I looped the cameras." With that, they set off toward the forest, where there was a small black car parked. They climbed in and headed north. "You know where they are, right?" he asked, looking unsure.

"Yes. I know exactly where they are."

****

Hidden Cabin

"What's the matter with you? One minute you're fine and the next you act like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed!" Jarod argued. Parker had been in a bad mood this morning, trampling everyone (Sydney and Jarod) except Kyle.

"Don't you care!? Don't you care about your daughter in the claws of the Centre?!? Aren't you the least bit worried? Or have you totally forgotten!? The search for your mother seems to have taken top priority, instead of saving our daughter!" She rarely used the word 'our' but now she emphasized it.

Jarod was taken aback. "Oh course I care!" he shouted. "I- I- I don't want to talk about this. This is insane. You know I'd give my life for her-"

"Then why don't you show it!" she screeched, angrier then she had been in a long time. "All you talk about, and all you seem to think about is finding your mother. I'm glad you've found her, if there's one person who deserves a real family it's you. But if you're gonna make that more important then saving my daughter then leave."

"She's my daughter to you know!"

"Yes I know that! But maybe, I'd be more convinced if you'd start showing it!" With that, she huffed off to her room second at the end of the hall, and slammed the door. The picture frames along the walls rattles slightly.

"Damn," he muttered, stalking off to his own room.

****

Ethen's Apartment.

"Ethen?"

"Yeah?"

"Would it be safe to email my mom, or call her? I know she's really worried." Kala asked, silently pleading she could.

"Does she have a secure line?" he asked, looking up from his laptop.

"Yeah. I gave her an unmonitored cell phone before we started this escapade," she told him, excitement rising in her.

"Go for it!"

Kala grabbed the phone faster then a speeding bullet, and dialed the number with lighting fast fingers.

Ring
Ring
Ring

"What!?"

Kala didn't speak. "Hello? Who is this?"

"I'm nobody, who are you?" Kala winked at Ethen, who was looking a bit confused.

"I don't have time for games-" Parker's words caught in her throat, as she recalled an earlier conversation she had had with her daughter before this adventure began.

"Kala?" he voice softened and lowered considerably.

"Yeah."

"Oh, my God...baby are you ok?"She was on the verge of tears.

"I'm fine, Mom. I"m with Ethen. We'll be at the cabin in a few days. He knows a short cut: book 20 airline flights to and from different places, rent three different cars at three different stations, and fly straight there," she said happily.

"You don't know how worried I've been!"

"If it's half as scared as I've been, that I'd never see you or Dad again, I know what you feel," Kala said softly. "This line won't be safe for much longer. I'll call you from Ben's house, and see you in a few days. I love you, Mom."

"I love you to, baby." Kala hung up and set the phone down.

"Ethen?" she asked, staring at the phone in her hands. "When can we leave?"

He smiled. "Right now."

****

The Hidden Cabin

She stared at the phone in her hands and choked back sobs. She didn't hear Syd approach, but felt a strong hand on her shoulder.

"Parker, are you alright?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

She turned and smiled so big Sydney was taken aback. "She's ok," she whispered. "My baby girl's ok!" Sydney grinned broadly, and pulled her in a strong embrace.

"That's wonderful, Miss Parker! That's wonderful!"

"What is?" Jarod came in and saw the two rejoicing. Parker immediately pulled away from him and smiled at him.

"Kala ok! She's with Ethen and they'll be here in a few days."

"That's great! How'd she get out?" he asked, glancing from one to the other.


"Ethen," was all she said, before the baby started crying, and she pushed past Jarod and into Kala's room, which they were using as a nursery. She picked the small boy up and held him close rocking him back and fourth, humming a little tune she made up as a child. Kyle stopped crying and looked at her with light brown eyes. He bat them twice, before sticking his thumb in his mouth and falling back asleep.

****

36 hours later.

"Faster Ethen, faster!" They drove up the hill to Ben's Inn, going as fast as the small vehicle would allow. Kala was out of the car before he even stopped it. She raced into the small house and quickly found Ben.

"Ben! Ben!" she cried, hugging the life from the poor man.

"Kala! So good to see you again, sweet heart! Say, have I ever told you how much you look like your mother?" he teased.

"Only every time I see you!" She laughed. "Look, I can't stay long, I need to get back to the camp site, but I wanted to ask you, did you give him the ring?"

"Yes. He's got it. I just hope he realizes it before he screws things up!" he laughed. Me to!

"Yeah, well gotta go! I'm dying to see my mom!" Kala kissed him on the cheek, and ran out to the car, grabbed her bag, and grabbed Ethen, dragging him up the hill.

"Did you call your parents?" he asked.

"No, no need. We'll be there soon enough."

****

30 minutes later.

Kala made it to the cabin in half the time in usually took, by walking super fast, and running on some occasions.

She brushed aside a small patch of ivy, and inserted a key she brought out of a secret pocket at the hem of her pants. Ethen heard a click, and saw her bend down and scrape away more dead leaves and such, and open a trap door.

"Cool," he muttered, climbing in after her. Shutting the door once he was in, they scrambled down the stairs and into the long hallway that lead to another door. Kala glanced at Ethen, and took a deep breath, she turned the knob.

Poking her head inside, Kala saw everything as it was. She crept silently inside, and motioned with a finger to her lips, that Ethen should keep quiet. She stopped when she heard voices coming from her room.

"So you got a call from Kala? Why didn't you let me talk to her?" Jarod asked, a little more then annoyed.

"She said the line wasn't safe anymore." Parker explained.

"Oh. Are you ok? You've been acting.....weird." he inquired.

"I'm fine. Just thinking," she lied.

"That could be dangerous!" Jarod teased.

There was a silence before she asked, "Have you heard anything about your mother yet?"

"Concerned?" he asked, shocked.

"Just curious," she lied again.

"No. I haven't. Dads' supposed to call me, if there's any news. Why the interest?"

She sighed. "I can't be happy for you is that it? There has to be a catch, to me being caring?"

"That's not what I meant, and you know that." he said calmly.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just saying, that if anyone deserves a real family Jarod, it's you. You've done so much for other people, it's time someone repay you." She blushed slightly, and he smiled.

"Thanks Parker." This startled her.

"What?" he asked, in response to her confused look.

"Nothing. It's just you haven't called me that since we were kids." She tilted her head to one side and gave him an inquisitive look.

"Some old habits just resurface." He shrugged his shoulders.

Kala decided it was time to introduce herself, so she knocked on the closed bedroom door, while Ethen watched quietly from a distance.

"Who is it?" Parker called stupidly. It could only be one person- Sydney. Or so she thought after saying that.

"Nobody. Can I come in?"

Parker dropped the towels she was folding, with shaking hands. She slowly turned, to find herself staring face to face with her reflection 15 years younger. Kala dropped her bag and charged towards her mother, practically strangling her in an embrace.

"Kala!" she cried happily. "Oh, my God!" she pushed Kala at arms length, and looked her over. Pushing a stray hair out of her face, she asked, "Are you ok? Did they hurt you?"

"No, Mom I'm fine. Unless you call trying to scare the answers, agitate the answers, and then spin the answers out of me, I'm fine!" she laughed.

Jarod stood quietly, waiting for his turn. He didn't have to wait long. "Dad!" Kala raced at her father, and he scooped her up in a bear hug.

"Hey Kiddo! You ok? God, we were so worried! Don't do that again!" he teased, setting her down on the floor again.

"I'll try," she answered, hugging him again, before returning to her mothers side. "Oh! Ethen, come on in!" she called, and the younger man came through the doors, and was greeted with hugs from everybody. Then Sydney came in and the whole room was filled with laughter, hugs and kisses.

Kyle Jacob suddenly started crying. Parker picked him up and bounced him up and down, smiling at him and laughing. Almost as soon as the young boy was out of his crib, he smiled and giggled happily.

"How'd you do that?" Jarod asked, amazed.

"He was feeling left out. All alone in his crib, while we're out here rejoicing. I know what it feels like," she responded, while continuing to bounce the baby boy.

"You know," Sydney spoke up, "I think we all would like to know just how you got out."

And so Kala told the story, of the boring escape, and Allcote with the demons in the walls, of how scared Lyle looked.

"He looked like an albino with brown hair!" she chuckled. Parker laughed, picturing her idiotic, psychotic brother as white as a ghost, even Kyle Jacob gurgled his applause. They all sat in the living room, Kala on the middle of the couch, with Parker and the baby on her lap on one side and Jarod on the other. Sydney and Ethen both sat in arm chairs.

"He actually believed that there were demons in the walls?" Sydney asked, perplexed.

"Yeah. Hey, if I knew as much as what goes around in the Centre as he does, then I might think so to."

"Uhums" and "Good Points" were murmured throughout the room.

Then she told him about the gifts.

"You literally threw him against the wall?" Jarod asked, stunned.

"I don't know how, but suddenly I have two new gifts, I've never been able to do that before, and I've never been able to speak telepathically. I might be able to do it again."

"Not right now," Parker said sternly.

OK, Mom. Kala though. Miss Parker looked stunned.

"Did you do that?" she asked.

Yup. And if you can hear me, you might also be able to speak. It doesn't take a lot of concentration for me, but it might for you. Her voice sounded like an echo, instead of real. It sounded far off and distant, but loud and clear.

Um, yeah, can you hear me?

Kala nodded. "That was cool! Now we know, that no matter how far apart we are, I can talk to all of you. Not everyone will be able to respond, but I've learned in the past few days, that if you concentrate enough on the person, it works real easily. If you have the gift, that is," she added.

****

The Centre
SL-10

"What do you mean, she's not there!?" Mr. Parker boomed at the poor man on the other end of the line.

"I-I'm sorry sir, but when Gilligan went to give her her meal and she wasn't there. The security guards around the control box in the Sim Lab are all unconscious and in the infirmary," he squeaked.

"Tell Lyle to get in here NOW!" he roared.

"Y-yes Sir!" Mr. Parker terminated the call, angry as hell.

"Damn it!" He slammed his fist on the table, as Mr. Lyle walked in. He immediately jumped into excuses.

"I don't know how it happened! We've got sweepers searching the perimeter and area and beyond. We will find her!"

"I don't want excuses, Lyle. I'm reassigning you to a different role. I want you to find Jarod and your sister. Do what you want with them, just make sure they don't get away!" he snarled. Lyle knew better then to argue with his father on this.

He nodded his head and left the office, surprised he had gotten away so easily. He sighed. He would have revenge on all of them: Parker, Jarod and the girl, for making his life a living hell.

****

The Major paced the room. Back, forth. Back, forth. Back, forth.

"Could you stop that?" Asked JJ, who was getting dizzy.

Charles sighed, and sat down on the bed next to the boy. "I'm sorry, JJ. It's just- well, I don't know how to tell Jarod that the lead on his mother was only partly a dead end. It's one or the other, but this is absurd. He seemed so excited."

"Yeah," the boy said softly, taking The Major's larger hand, in his smaller one.

"But, I guess there's no use fretting about it. Just tell him and get it over with." Charles stood, and crossed the small room to his laptop, and started typing.

****

Hidden Cabin

"You have a video phone call!" The computer beeped at the six people sitting on the couch.

Jarod stood up and crossed the room to his laptop, typed a few buttons and suddenly his father appeared on the screen.

"Hello, son," he said, unsure of how to share the news.

"Dad! How are you? And JJ and Zoe and Emily?" he asked, rushing through all the people. Miss Parker flinched at the mention of Zoe. Jarod didn't notice.

"We're all fine. It's about your mother."

"You-you found her?" he asked, breathless.

"Sort of. We've been following her for the past week, and we believe she's somewhere in Germany. That's all we've been able to discover. We're thinking about heading that way, but we didn't want to leave without you. So I'm asking, if you would like to join us?" The Major didn't know what Jarod was doing right now, and was unsure what his answer would be.

"Of course!" He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. I'll keep you updated." The screen went black, and Jarod sank back in his seat smiling.

"I'm gonna meet my mother!" he whispered. He was so happy, that when he looked over at the three people on the couch, he didn't notice their sad, angry or disappointed expressions.

"That's great Jarod. That's absolutely great!" Parker whispered, desperately fighting tears.
Kala noticed, and placed a secretive, reassuring hand on her mothers'. Jarod skipped down the hall to his room, ignoring the passing glances between them.

Tears sprang to her eyes, and Kala squeezed her hand gently. "Hey, it's alright. He'll come back," Kala said, hoping to God she was right.

****
Part 1 by Devils Child
Disclaimer: I wrote this story for fun. Don't sue me Blah, blah, blah, blah. The characters aren't mine, blah blah blah, they are characters in The Pretender, owned now by TNT and aired on WB blah blah blah, You know the drill.
Author's note: 1)I don't like saying "So-and-so belongs to me!" because it makes me sound to much like Mr. Rains, but if you would like to.....include Kala in one of your stories, please ask my permission first. 2) DON'T SUE ME!!! 3) I'm only 12, cut me some slack!





It’s Ok To Cry
part 7
By Devil’s Child





Things had run smoothly the next few days, Jarod was as carefree as a butterfly, Parker was doing her best to hide her tears, every time he saw him, and succeeded for the most part. She had to make up one lame story that they were tears of 'happiness' for him, and for having her daughter back. Sydney tried to keep everyone calm. He stayed in touch with Broots and Angelo, who were doing fine. He suggested they get away from the Centre as soon as possible, because the Centre might harass them for answers. Broots took the hint and decided to leave very soon, and join them in the cabin. Kala....well Kala did just about everything: kept people and places in check, made sure there were no emotional eruptions, and took care of the baby. But for the most part, she comforted Parker, trying to reassure her that everything would be ok. A week after Jarod's father called, it was time for him to leave. Ethen, Jarod, Parker and Kala climbed out of the cabin on a bright sunny, Monday morning. Sydney stayed to take care of Kyle Jacob, while the rest went to see Jarod off. They hiked back down the long trail to Ben's Inn, where Major Charles, Emily, JJ and Zoe would be waiting. Zoe had demanded that she be able to tag along, arguing that it wasn't safe for her to go home. The Major agreed, knowing that Zoe really wanted to see Jarod. Kala and Ethen were leading the way, closely followed by Jarod and Parker. They walked in silence for almost the whole way, only speaking to change directions. It took them even longer then the first time, because no one but Jarod was looking forward to this. They agreed NOT to tell anyone who Kala really was, but instead pretend she was Miss Parker's daughter, who had been at boarding school.

When they reached the rocky narrow part, they were forced to walk single file, Kala, Ethen, Parker, Jarod, down a steep cliff of gravel. As they neared the end, Kala and Ethen somehow wound up far ahead of Parker and Jarod. Kala called back to them to watch their footing near the end, but they couldn't hear. Parker slipped over a slimy rock and would have fallen all the way down on her back, if it hadn't been for Jarod's strong grip, grasping her shoulder. He stopped and pulled her gently to her feet. They stood staring at each other for a moment, before she muttered a thanks and continued down the hill. Jarod stood transfixed for a moment, then, snapping himself out of his trace and followed her. "Snap out of it," he muttered.

When they reached the Inn, Ben, Charles, JJ and Zoe were all sitting on the steps outside.

Zoe saw them first, and leaping up, ran full speed and plunged head long into Jarod.

"Zoe!" he cried, picking her up and swinging her around in a circle. As they kissed passionately, Kala watched her mother's expression.

When Jarod's feet landed back to earth, he saw the rest of his family. Emily had joined them a few moments ago, and now came rushing over.

"Jarod!" she, like Zoe had, threw herself at him. After all the hugs were given out, everyone went inside. All, that is, except Miss Parker. Kala went to spend as much time with her father before he left, but regretted leaving her mother. But, a few moments later, JJ came outside and sat on the steps beside her.

"I remember you," he said, looking up at the normally strong woman. "You tried to help me escape the Centre," he recalled. She glanced down at him and smiled, but merely nodded her head. "How's you back?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Huh?"

"Your back: from when you were shot." He looked at her strangely wondering why she was so sad.

"Oh, it's fine. Thank you," she added, flashing him another smile. But it to quickly disintegrated into a heartbreaking expression.

"Are you ok?" he asked again, concerned.

She sighed. "I'm sorry," she said honestly. "I just don't feel well," she lied.

JJ looked at her suspiciously. He shook his head. "Uh uh," he said firmly. "That's not it, is it?" He looked at her expectantly.

"It is the truth......it's just half of it," she confessed.

JJ nodded in understanding. "You're gonna miss him, aren't you?" he asked quietly. She looked at him in shock. But JJ just shrugged his shoulders. "It's kinda obvious. Besides I'm a pretender, remember?"

She grinned slightly and nodded. "I remember," she assured him.

They sat in silence for a moment, before JJ leapt up and started running into the house. He paused at the door and hollered, "I'll be right back!" With that, he ran inside.

Miss Parker sighed, and stood up. Crossing the trimmed lawn, she stopped in front of an old oak tree, and leaned against it, facing away from the house. She let her mind wander, and didn't hear the door shut, or JJ bridge the space between them.

"Pretty, isn't it?" he asked, indicating to the green hills that spread for miles around. Miss Parker jumped and spun around, but when she saw it was only JJ, she relaxed. "Sorry," he muttered. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine. I'm used to it." She smiled, then looked inquisitively at a small box he had in his hand. He opened the velvet box and handed her a charm bracelet.

"I found it in an antique store when my Dad and I were looking around. Jarod told me that you liked to dance, so I thought you'd like it. Something to repay your kindness," he blushed.
It was a charm bracelet, with little ballerinas all around, each in a different position.

"Oh, JJ," she whispered. "It's beautiful!" She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. And for once in his life, he really felt safe. JJ couldn't understand why Jarod was so hostile when he spoke of her, she was really nice. After letting him go, she slipped the charms over one delicate hand, and fastened it so it wouldn't fall off. She thanked him again, as they made their way back to the Inn. When they got inside, everyone was talking about the plan. Miss Parker didn't really care, but sat down anyway, to be polite. Ben was in the kitchen making tea, and everyone else was gathered around the table, listening. JJ sat down beside Miss Parker, and took her hand gently. She held his hand and winked at him subtly so no one noticed. He grinned.

"Everybody got it?" The Major's voice cut through the silence and everyone's head nodded up and down. Suddenly JJ spoke up.

"Dad?" he asked. All heads turned. "Dad, can I stay here? With Miss Parker?" he shot a glance at the extremely surprised woman, and suppressed a laugh.

"Um, son...this is a once in a life time opportunity. You're gonna meet your mother!" Charles was dumbfounded. He never thought his 'son' would want to miss out on this.

"I know. But...if it's ok, I'd rather stay with Miss Parker and Sydney. They did try to help me escape. I owe being here to them."

"JJ, you don't have to do that. The Major's right, it's a once in a life time chance," Miss Parker told him.

"Yeah, I know. But I'd rather stay with you. Can I?" he asked, now unsure of what her answer would be.

"I-well, if you really want to," she said hesitantly. JJ nodded quickly.

"I'm do," he said firmly.

"JJ, don't you want to meet your mother?" Jarod asked, still rather shocked.

"She's not my mother," he reminded them. "I know she means a lot to you, and Miss Parker means a lot to me. You understand, don't you?" he looked from one stunned person to the next. There was a long pause, before Jarod nodded.

"Yeah, I understand. If you're sure....?"

He smiled at a teary eyed Miss Parker, and replied, "I'm sure."

"OK, then. Jarod, Emily, Zoe and I will go look for Margaret. Right?" Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

60 minutes later, everyone was ready to go their separate ways. All that was left were goodbyes. JJ hugged his brother, and father, and sister and Zoe, Ethen said goodbye to his half brother and sister, and Ben wished everyone luck. Then came time for Miss Parker and Jarod to say goodbye. Ethen and JJ discreetly shooed everyone out of the room, so they could have some privacy. Zoe, of course, didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but reluctantly followed anyway.

She stood, staring out the great window, her back to Jarod. He came up behind her and placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

"I won't bite, you know," she said, turning to face him, a small smile playing on her lips

"I wouldn't but it past you," he answered slyly, smiling.

Her face fell back into it's glum look, and she lowered her head. He used one gently finger to lift her chin up so their eyes met.

"Why the glum look?" he asked, noticing it for the first time.

"You know, as much as I hate to admit it, I will miss you," she confided. Jarod stepped back and clutched a hand to his heart.

"Don't give me a heart attack!" he teased. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, the small smile returning-for a moment anyway. "Hey," he stopped pretending (ironically) and cupped her face in his hands. "It's weird. At one point, I couldn't even come near you without a 9mm in my face. Why the change of mind?"

She placed a smaller hand over his larger one, and gently shook her head. "It wasn't a change of mind, it was a change of heart."

Jarod nodded. "I will come back. I promise." With those last words, he gently kissed her forehead, and left the room. She sank onto the window seat and whispered into the air, "That's what they all said."

****
TBC


This story archived at http://www.pretendercentre.com/missingpieces/viewstory.php?sid=1882