Parker stepped out onto the deck and pushed Jarod, who was lying in the hammock again. Startled at first, he smiled slightly as she crossed her arms and watched as he stopped swinging back and forth from her force.

"You've been unusually absent these past few hours," she said.

Jarod shrugged, "I was reading more on the disk."

"Cade wanted to play with you."

"I will. I promise. There's just a lot to go over. It's my whole life in megabyte form. Yours too."

"Oh," she bantered, "so you've been reading up on my life without me?"

"Not much. If there was something important, you know I'd tell you," his voice dropped off, "come here."

"In that thing? I think not," Parker said seriously.

"I promise it won't flip. Keeping the equilibrium isn't difficult once you find the center point," he explained calmly.

They stared at each other blankly for a moment before she took a small step toward him. He shifted over in the hammock and she slowly eased herself in. After much readjustments, shifting, and limb rearranging, they lay in the middle of the net, her head on top of the arm he had wrapped around her shoulders.

"I'm pretty sure a strong gust could knock us right over," she mumbled.

Jarod frowned, "Nah."

There was more silence and Parker cleared her throat, "I think you remember your dream. You're just not telling us."

Jarod's head turned toward her and he tried to laugh, "Don't be ridiculous, Parker. I don't remember it."

"You're a lousy liar, Jarod."

"Nonsense. I've spent my entire life perfecting my lying abilities," he contradicted.

"Not to me. Never to me right?" she looked up at him with innocent eyes, which he knew were far from innocent, but that's what they were saying.

He shook his head and answered softly, "No, never to you. Look, I do know what happened now. You don't need to. It doesn't matter and it's done."

"But I told you we would deal with this.’We' implies two and I can't help you if you won't tell me about it. What happens if you continue having these dreams?" she whispered.

"I won't."

"But-"

"I won't." And with that, there was nothing more to say.

*****

"She left you something," Debbie held up an envelope with 'Broots' on the front of it. Broots sat up in his bed and slowly took the envelope from his daughter's hand, "There's another for Miss Parker. But all her stuff is like gone. Even made her bed."

"She might not have slept in it," Broots murmured, tearing the seal to the envelope.

Debbie watched her father's face progressively fall as he read the letter. Something told her she shouldn't press him, so she stood there twiddling her fingers.

"Um uh, Deb?"

"Hm?"

"Would you like to do something fun?"

She eyed her father suspiciously, and he gave her a small smile.

*****

Jarod sat at his laptop in the kitchen, the occasional clicking of the keys breaking the silence. His eyes had that concentrated look as he scanned line after line, waiting for that revelation which would knock him out of his chair. He was beginning to wonder if a monumental breakthrough like that would ever come.

He was suddenly aware of a small presence beside him and he turned with a grin, face to face with Cade.

"Hello," Jarod said.

"What are you doing?" Cade asked.

Jarod glanced at the screen, "Well, Cade, I'm looking for something... to help me find my mom and dad."

"Oh," he looked at him uncertainly, "what about my mom and dad?"

Jarod's brow tightened and he turned his whole body to face the little boy, then picked him up, easily sliding him onto one knee, "I'm afraid your mom and dad aren't here anymore."

"Where are they?"

The little boy's brown eyes melted Jarod's heart and he hardly knew how to answer him. For some reason, The Centre's thirty year prisoner found that saying the chairman was in a better place now didn't feel appropriate. So he decided to be as honest as he could.

"They both died. Do you know what that means?" he whispered raggedly.

Cade nodded, "Stopped living."

Jarod returned his nod, "Yeah."

"What happened?"

Jarod's eyes widened. Explaining how his sister had killed both his mother and his father sounded horrible and there was no way to tactfully explain this to a 4-year-old.

"One day, you'll understand everything. Until then, you have the most amazing sister in the world who is going to take the best care of you. You're going to be safe and happy and have the best life. I promise you that."

Cade beamed and Jarod knew he had said the right thing.

"What has your computer told you?"

Jarod laughed a little, "You're very full of questions aren't you? I've learned a lot. I know lots more about my parents, my last name, where I was born, my birthday."

"Do I have a birthday?"

"Yes! Of course, everyone has a birthday. Now I remember when you were born, it was winter time I think. Let's see if the computer knows."

"Let's see," Cade repeated.

Jarod couldn't help but laugh at the seriousness of Cade's statement as he clicked away at the keyboard, entering search terms like "birth" "Baby Parker" "Brigitte" and of course "Cade." More results appeared on the screen than he had expected but he was hardly surprised to find an entire project and pre-project development devoted to Cade. He organized the files chronologically and clicking the first one, was surprised to find the details of Cade's conception. Jarod read quickly because Cade was clearly anxious to learn which day of the year he could claim for the rest of his life, and Jarod could hardly blame him, having just discovered the pride one could feel for a certain day of the year himself.

What he didn't understand though, was why the eggs were labeled 'Parker' instead of the sperm. Mr Parker had made it clear that Brigitte would not be taking the Parker name with her, despite their obvious love and heartfelt marriage. Stranger still was the lack of name attached to the sperm sample, only the number 2043896.

Deciding to ignore it for now, Jarod scrolled down many pages to Cade's actual birth. A lot of planning and thought had gone into the conception. Regardless of the details, that fact alone was sick and disturbing.

"January 15, 2000 is yours, buddy. You just made it into this millennium," he ruffled the boy's hair, "That's pretty close to your sister's birthday, too. You can celebrate together."

He nodded excitedly, "I'm going to go tell her!"

Cade slid out of Jarod's lap and he watched him leave before returning his attention to the details of Cade's conception, running 2043896 through his files. There was an immediate match.

"Impossible," he breathed. Disbelief was written all over his face as he discovered that it was his own number. Returning to Cade's original file, he began to every paragraph, his jaw literally dropping as he did so.

Ten minutes later, Miss Parker entered the kitchen, "For future reference, I don't do theme parties." She looked at Jarod, noticing a newfound panic, "What the hell is it now?"

She pulled an arm away from the keyboard and noticed he was trembling slightly and her voice grew soft, "Jarod?"

"My God, Parker," he whispered.

*****

"We will have to report our findings to Ubaya," a dark African man informed Raines.

"And then?"

"I am certain he will be in touch with you. I would add that your future looks bleak, Mr Raines, but that's not my job," he smiled.

The snarl in Raines' voice was apparent, "Then keep those comments to yourself."

"As Ubaya's representative, I am far above you in the metaphorical chain, Mr Raines, something I think you would do well to remember. It would be a shame if I implied your situation was worse than it is when I detail the damage to Ubaya, however, I'm not sure if that would even be possible."

The two exchanged a long stare before Raines grabbed his oxygen tank and turned, "I'll be in my office."

"Doing the latest crossword no doubt!" he called after him, laughing a deep throaty laugh as Raines wheeled toward the elevator. The state of The Centre was pathetic and while it was extremely damaging for his company, he couldn't help but think the arrogant sons of bitches had it coming with as long as they let their project run free.

*****

Parker pulled the chair next to him out from under the table, slumping into it with her hands cupped over her mouth. Jarod's words were flying around her mind and she struggled to breathe normally.

"No," she whispered. He only nodded in reply and she could feel the tears burning. "He wouldn't do that. I know he's not who I thought he was, but this, I just."

"Shh," Jarod leaned in and put an arm around her. "It will be fine."

"That's not the point," she wiped a tear away. "It's the violation. Even masquerading as my father, he saw me as nothing more than a project."

The cracks in her voice tore him to shreds, but he could say nothing because he knew she was right and he understood the betrayal she was feeling. He'd felt it all his life, especially now knowing he shared this burden with the one person he would never wish it upon.

Her tone shifted, "I should have seen this coming. All the talk about missing pieces, the Parker legacy, Brigitte, and.. you. He always said you were the key to everything. Well I guess he was right."

She looked at him and his eyes told how much he didn't want to be that key. She put an arm around his neck and closed her eyes, breathing him in.

"What are we going to do?" Parker breathed.

Sighing, Jarod shook his head, "Cade needs his parents. So that's what we'll have to be, whether we chose it or not."

*****

"What are we doing here?" Debbie stared up at the "Now Playing" list.

Broots got out of the car, closing the door behind him, "I've been dragging you around the country for weeks now and you've tolerated it all. I figured something normal and fun would be nice."

Debbie looked hesitant, "I don't know. Shouldn't we be getting back? Don't they need you?"

"They can wait. We'll go back tomorrow. Tonight it's you and me little lady," he put on his best southern drawl and she had to giggle a little if only for how ridiculous he sounded.

"Okay, let's see the one with Johnny Depp in it," she shut her door, proceeding to the theatre.

Broots hesitated, "Wouldn't you rather see something rated PG-13?"

"No, not really."

Another hesitation, "Okay."

Debbie smiled and held her elbow out to her dad, who received it, escorting her to the doors politely, "I hope there will be dinner after my movie."

Broots put on his happy face, "But of course!"

*****

"Have you told Sydney or Emily?" Jarod voiced softly, entering Parker's bedroom where she sat on the bed Indian style, adorning another of Jarod's T-shirts. He had almost gotten used to how small and fragile they made her look. The bed covers were pulled back and it was clear she just wanted to go to sleep.

She shook her head, "We have to do that together."

"Oh," he said, as if the thought hadn't crossed his mind. He sat next to her, close. "I'm sorry."

"No, Jarod!" she lashed out emotionally. "This mess is not your fault. It's theirs."

"I know, but it's my fault you were brought into-"

"Shut up. Seriously, just shut up. I know a little something inside you dies every time you step on a dandelion, but this was completely out of our hands and the moment you start putting blame on yourself, you're also putting it on me." Her eyes were wide and piercing and his face was nothing but confusion. "I mean it, Jarod. You and I are equally innocent so don't play those games. The only thing we're guilty of is ignorance."

Jarod nodded, "But I'll still always regret that ignorance."

"Don't. Stop worrying about what's happened and start thinking about what's going to happen."

"Why, Miss Parker, are you being optimistic?" he smirked.

"Rational. That's all," she kept a straight face, slipping her legs beneath the covers. "Care to join?"

He grinned the boyish trademark he'd been giving her since childhood as he threw off his shirt and pants immediately, sliding in beside her in only his boxers.

"Could have just said 'yes,'" she mumbled slyly.

"Not nearly as effective toward my ultimate goal," he leaned his face in close to hers, barely catching her lips with his.

Parker smiled, "Which would be?"

"Now I realize I'm the genius but," his voice trailed off.

*****

Emily lay in her bed, turning over once again. Sleep usually came quickly to her, but not tonight. She could just barely hear the sounds of the waves crashing if she concentrated, but it wasn't enough to lull her to sleep. For hours she lay there, staring at the ceiling when around 4am she could stand it no longer. Deciding that sleep would come if she distracted herself with other things for a while, she got out of bed and walked down the hallway, down the steps, and into the kitchen. Leaning into the open fridge, she searched for something appetizing. Finally deciding on some orange juice with calcium, she pulled the carton out, placing it on the counter. She turned and opened the cabinet, pulling out a glass. A quick movement reflected a sliver of light through the angles of the glass and Emily turned around. She gasped and dropped the glass, the sound of it shattering piercing in the silence.

*****

"It's worthless. The entire Centre has been erased. Soon enough your government will be asking questions and you will have nothing. It's time to pack your desk, Mr Raines," Ubaya announced over the speaker phone.

There was silence for a moment as Raines contemplated his words, "It's impossible. There must be-"

"Do you doubt my opinion?" his voice boomed even over the phone line.

"If you're telling me to join a retirement center I do."

"Your skills could be put to use in Africa, Mr Raines. Aside from that, I cannot help you. The way things have played out. I question whether you deserve even that."

A deep exhale filled the silence and Raines spoke, "You can't put all this blame on me."

"You wanted responsibility of The Centre. You have it. And you should be ashamed of yourself."

*****

It was early morning and Jarod lay on his back, his neck twisted so he could watch her breathing calmly. He'd been doing this for about ten minutes and had resigned himself to doing it every morning for the rest of his life. There was no better feeling. Well, maybe a few.

The dreams hadn't come last night and Jarod was actually surprised. After knowing what happened in them consciously, he supposed his subconscious didn't need to tell him anymore. Why it needed to in the first place was beyond him.

And then with the opening of the bedroom door and the eerily chipper "Morning, sunshines," Jarod understood everything.