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She was asleep. And no wonder, with the hell he'd put her through lately.Jarod stood uncertainly next to the bed, a war raging between the emotionsinside of him, too close to the edge. Everything wrong, his whole worldthreatening to crash down around him, and all he could do was stare downat the woman before him.

Then, inside, anger once again gained the upper hand, and as he lookeddown at Parker, all he could see was the person she'd become, the personthe Center and people like her father had created. A woman who had oncebeen all too willing to trade his life for her freedom. Once, but now...?

Shaking his head, as if hoping to free himself of thoughts that wouldjust lead to more confusion and mixed emotions -something he was nowherenear capable of handling right now- Jarod took a good hold of the quiltshe lie on top of, and gave a forceful tug.

Parker woke up, quite suddenly, as she fell in an indignant heap onthe floor at Jarod's feet.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded, her face reddening. Face blank,but eyes back to reflecting that same fiery anger, he tossed her body-lengthblack jacket down to her.

"Get out."

"Forget it," she snapped, getting to her feet.

"Are you going to force me back there or not?!" he shouted fiercely."You've got your precious gun--go ahead and do it!"

"No!" she yelled back vehemently.

"Then get the hell out!" he yelled, waving towards the door.

"Forget it," she replied, her voice low, simmering.

He didn't say anything, just spun around and moved out the door, leavingit wide open. Parker heard him throw open her own room's door, and eyeswidening, she followed him.

He was muttering angrily, more to himself than her.

"Pointless, all of it. Nobody ever gives a damn. Not as if you can win.My own family's probably forgotten about me. All the innocence, lost. Allfor the sake of that god forsaken place." She listened, trying to absorbwhat he was saying. Jarod looked around quickly, saw that she hadn't unpacked,then zipped her luggage up and tossed it to her feet.

"So you want me to go," she said, her voice rising again. "If that'sthe way you want it..." She walked briskly back into his room, and whippedopen the top drawer, withdrawing his gun just as Jarod entered. She turnedto him, held it up for him to see. She was upset, too caught up in themoment to see how quickly what color that had returned to his face drainedaway. "...Then I'm taking this with me."

"It's amazing how expertly you handle those things," he bit, his tonespiteful. "You've learned quite well. Become the perfect Centre operative.You know, I'm almost glad Thomas is dead, so he never had to learn whoyou really are."

Parker's eyes widened in painful disbelief, as he continued, his voicefilling with disgust. "And thank god Catherine isn't here. Imagine whatyour mother would think, if she could see what you've become--" his wordswere cut off as the sound of a powerful slap echoed through the room.

Parker looked down at her hand in shock, then up, her eyes watering.Jarod only stood, watching her knowingly, as if she'd behaved just as hehad expected.

"The worse part," she managed after an eternal moment, "is that I don'tknow if you said that just to get rid me, or if you really meant it." Hemade no reply, just turned his back to her and walked to the balcony, andsat. No remark, no yelling. Silence.

At first, she could only stare at the back of his head, a mixed lookof disbelief and incomprehension on her face.Then, she found her voice,and tried to ignore the one warm tear sliding down her cheek.

"Don't do this."

No reply.Another tear slid down, then another, as anger, sadness andhopelessness towards the man in front of her filled Parker.

"Fine, Jarod," she said, her voice a tone of controlled anger. "If that'sthe way you want it, then that's just fine. Okay, so maybe you have lostfaith in yourself, in your family, in the good you've done. Maybe..." Hervoice choked up. "Maybe you've even lost faith in me." She took a quick,deliberate stride forward towards him, and leaned forward so that her mouthwas close to his ear. "But I am not giving up on you." Without anotherword, she stomped out, slamming the door behind her.
 
 
 

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Part 4