i) Last part. I know it seems like there should be more but this is all I ever planned to write. I might think of doing a follow up story at a later date. Apologies once again for the length of time it's taken to finish this and thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a review, especialy those who did so more than once.
No Distance Left To Run
Chapter Fifteen
The Other Side Is Just The Same
Ethan stopped abruptly, staring at the house ahead with its one light blazing downstairs. It took Caleb a couple of steps to realise his companion was no longer at his side. "What's wrong?" he asked quickly, stopping and turning around to face the other man. Even though they were no longer hiding from The Centre, they were still hiding and he immediately feared the worst. Ethan's face looked blank though, a sight Caleb had witnessed before. Aware that he might have to wait for a response Caleb stood his ground, only glancing around the street as a precautionary measure, to reassure himself further that there was no immediate threat. He saw nothing amiss so he turned his attention fully back to Ethan, scrutinising the other man carefully.
Ethan had turned up out of the blue the very day after they'd all returned from visiting Jarod and Miss Parker. That Ethan had found them without Jarod's assistance was Caleb's first introduction to the man's 'inner sense'. The day Ethan had disappeared, as abruptly as he'd arrived, Caleb had found Ethan sat outside alone, a similar look gracing the man's features as there was now; that had been Caleb's masterclass on Ethan's gift - a gift he'd confided that Miss Parker had too. For some reason Caleb found he trusted Ethan and his peculiar 'talent'.
The Major and Emily had been ecstatic to finally meet their respective son and brother. Caleb, faced with another person he was genetically linked to after a decade of being told he had none, found Ethan easy to get along with and he found it easy to think of the man as a sibling. That wasn't something he could say of Jarod. He both respected and trusted Jarod, he just found looking at the man he would one day become slightly disconcerting; it just didn't quite fit. It was the same with the Major too; though the older man had been a 'father figure' to him, and he had learnt a great deal about the world outside from him, Charles was old enough to be his grandfather. Margaret his grandmother. They weren't as he'd always imagined his parents to be and, in a way, they weren't. That's why, after a lot of discussion and without ever actually stating his real reasons, he had avoided today's reunion. He didn't need Ethan's 'inner sense' to know that Ethan had similar reasons for missing the event and Caleb was glad someone else found the whole situation awkward.
"Jarod's back," Ethan finally answered.
"That's good," Caleb muttered but Ethan didn't seem so sure. "Isn't it?"
Ethan snapped out of his gaze and looked at the younger man, considering the question. When he'd left Jarod and Miss Parker at Ben's place he'd set out to find Margaret. He knew how much Jarod longed to meet his mother but he understood that his brother's priorities had changed; Jarod now had Finn and Miss Parker to concern himself with. With his mother's gentle voice Ethan had set off to find Margaret but, not long into his search, he became aware of what he suspected was the reason Jarod had went missing this afternoon. Ethan had hesitated at that point. To him, only vaguely aware of the Centre's true nature and its twisted hold on both his brother and sister, it seemed too much. He'd anguished over the choice ahead of him, steadfastedly trying to ignore the voices that urged him forwards. After capitulating further for a day the voices - her voice - had relented, changed track and led him to his father. Something else he'd been avoiding but the lesser of two evils at that point.
Ethan smiled at Caleb, the younger man so like Jarod in appearance yet in other ways completely different. "Yeah," he replied, "It is a good thing but I should warn you - it's not going to be pretty."
"It never is," Caleb grumbled.
"Maybe we should give them another five minutes," Ethan offered and Caleb nodded his assent. Meeting his father had been a little awkward but Charles had been so open and welcoming, as had Emily and Caleb, that he'd regretted postponing the meeting for as long as he had. Yet his father's joy was tinged with a sadness that, though cleverly hidden on the outside, Ethan could feel burn on the inside and that, along with his mother's urgings, had finally convinced him that he needed to complete his mother's prophecy and find Margaret. For his father's sake and for Jarod's. The consequences would just have to be endured.
"You're serious aren't you?"
Jarod sighed softly. Though her voice remained calm he knew it was only for the benefit of their son sleeping upstairs. He could hear the anger simmering underneath, feel it in her piercing blue eyes. "It doesn't have to be like it was," he argued weakly. This was what he had feared. They had yet to argue; that wasn't to say their time together had been spent in constant harmony - far from it - but he knew this would be the first real test. Away from the Centre's influence she had softened but she still carried a lifetime of hurt, betrayal and loss within her soul. It saddened him to think that, no matter how hard he tried, he would probably never be able to fully placate those feelings, just as she'd never be able to truly quash his own demons. And right now he was asking a great deal of her, asking her to herself on the line once more. Just when they were finally getting together.
He'd been a little surprised, though ultimately pleased, at the recent turnaround in their relationship. She'd asked for time and he'd been more than willing to give her that. For a short time it had seemed that would be longer than he'd imagined but he'd still been willing to wait. It hadn't been easy getting to where they now stood; the past, recent and further back, seemed to hang over them like a shadow. But they'd rode out that storm and it had been her who'd decided it was time for them to both get what they wanted: each other. And now he was asking her to risk just that. "We could do this the right way. Together."
She opened her mouth to shout at him, to protest loudly, but bit it back. She didn't want to start fighting with him, not now. She turned around, breaking the contact between them, and took a step further away from him, inhaling a deep breath as she did so. She forced herself to remain calm so she could fully comprehend what he was asking of her. She trusted that there would be a reason behind his decision, probably a very good one, she just had to contain her immediate fears about returning to a past she'd only just escaped from, long enough to hear it.
"We'll spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders, moving from place to place. Always hiding from the world," Jarod continued softly on to her back. He could do that. He had done just that for the last five years and his family had been living that life for even longer. With her and Finn at his side he knew it would be easier than before too. His empty life on the road had only been filled by his pursuit for answers - an urge now sated - and the search for his family, which was now over. His need to help others, to redeem himself if only for his own sake, was something he would gladly forego for time with Parker and their son. But that wasn't the life he wanted for Finn or for her. The Triumverate just had to find somebody with her intelligence or as ruthless as Alex, worse still someone with both attributes, and they'd be back to running across the length of the country, the world even, evading capture and always fearing exactly who would show up on their doorstep. "If we make a stand now we wouldn't have to keep running."
She finally turned around. The last couple of months had been tumultuous but there'd been no Centre. No chasing. No claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a life she didn't want. And she'd had her beautiful son to open her heart. His happy laughter, sweet smile and his inquisitive nature bowled her over every time; as did each time he called out for her. His first word had been 'Mama' and it had been the sweetest moment of her life. Her son was her world though his father was catching up very quicky; Jarod. A man who loved her even though she'd chased him constantly for too many years to mention; who knew all about the dark places inside of her and still accepted her; a man who loved her unconditionally. She'd almost missed that, this life she had now. A life she hadn't been so sure she'd wanted until it was there. She didn't want to risk any of that. She didn't want to take a backwards step, not after all she'd endured to get away from her past.
Her eyes, no longer hard, revealed her inner battle and he immediately regretted asking her, regretted letting his need for her, his desire to hold onto his family, overwhelm everything else; "I could do this myself," Jarod said softly, "You could take Finn and keep moving, keep hiding, until I can -"
"No," she said sharply and with certainty. That was almost the same offer he'd made her back at her house when he'd confirmed they were parents, sacrificing himself and his freedom for her and Finn. She hadn't taken it that night and she wasn't going to do so now. "No," she repeated, much gentler this time.
Jarod stared at her for a beat, unsure if that meant what he thought it did. He was about to clarify the situation further when he heard the muffled voices of Ethan and Caleb, followed by the sound of the door to the house opening and closing. He didn't need to confirm what his ears told him so he held Parker's gaze, searching for a visual sign of any kind but she turned her attention to the others as they walked into the room.
"What's going on?" Caleb asked quickly, as he noted Miss Parker's expression. His voice gave away his concern but he didn't care; this wasn't the Centre, he was allowed to show emotion - she'd taught him that the day she'd tried to help him. He looked accusingly at Ethan, feeling vindicated that, cold and bored, he had finally persuaded Ethan they should go into the house. Ethan merely shrugged his shoulders so he turned his attention to Jarod.
Jarod sighed quietly to himself. "You two should make yourselves comfortable."
Jarod watched the two men closely. Caleb seemed a little stunned but Ethan appeared unmoved, as he had throughout Jarod's narration of his recent discoveries; the former had asked several pertinent questions throughout the lengthy explanation whilst the latter had merely nodded his understanding at appropriate times, his dark eyes seeking out Miss Parker's every now and then when the conversation affected her directly. Jarod waited to see which man would ask about the future but he failed to foresee Caleb's next question.
"Where do I fit in?"
"You're an improvement," Jarod replied sadly after a moment, "You're a better pretender than me, therefore more profitable. And two pretenders are better than one." What better way to ensure the profits kept rolling in. As Mr Parker had earmarked Jarod's offspring as the future of the Centre he needed another way to increase funds - and the possibilities the project opened up were endless and profitable in their own way too. A clone ensured at the very least a replica of Jarod's abilities - there was no guarantee a child of his would produce similar results, though Jarod suspected Finn would prove otherwise.
Caleb could only nod his head weakly; when Ethan had warned him it wasn't going to be pretty he hadn't been exaggerating. Caleb had already known that was the answer. When the shock of meeting Jarod, the man who had supposedly killed his parents, had worn off and the truth had eventually come out, it had been obvious. But somewhere deep inside he wanted the reason to be different. He didn't want his existence to be so... clinical. "And Africa? I was supposed to be going to the Triumverate."
"I have no proof," Jarod began, "But I suspect giving you up was going to ease the pressure on Mr Parker." Handing over 'Project Gemini' had been a peace offering, a deal for more time to find the original. However when he and the Major had thwarted that plan, angering the Triumverate further, the deal was in tatters and Mr Parker and Brigette had been forced underground.
Caleb mused over the answer for a moment before accepting it then thought once again about the Centre, the Triumverate and Jarod. He knew from Jarod's demeanour, from the pained look in his eyes, that Jarod was just as unhappy as he was. But there was more too; Jarod had been kept prisoner by the place he rightfully should have run, been used by people who were family. He looked to Miss Parker, sat opposite Ethan at the kitchen table, who still seemed upset and he wondered exactly what part of all this was responsible for that. She held onto a cup of coffee, staring into its contents, seemingly oblivious to everyone else around her. He wanted to ask her but that wasn't his place; not in this instance anyway. Instead he sought out the only other details that intrigued him. "How did this 'deal' begin?" he asked, turning his attention back to Jarod to find the older man scrutinising him closely.
"The Parkers established the Centre but only with the Triumverate's assistance," Jarod explained evenly, his eyes still on Caleb, "I believe it was an advantageous move for both parties at the time. Though the Parker family has always had autonomy the Triumverate seem to think of the Centre, have always thought of it, as an arm of their 'company' though they seemed quite happy with the arrangement until I escaped."
"Then they really started to turn the screw," Parker interjected, her eyes still cast downward. And that was what she really feared. Jarod's take on the situation was accurate but she'd witnessed the uncertainty in Mr Parker's eyes whenever the Triumverate interfered, the way they had him over a barrel and at their beck and call, the way even Raines bowed down to their authority. Even after working at the Centre for so long she really knew very little about the Triumverate; she doubted Jarod knew much more. But they knew all about the Centre.
"So what's the next move?" Ethan asked slowly as the other two men stared intently and quietly at his sister. She'd been so quiet and introspective since Jarod had begun relating Margaret's tale and her sudden burst had surprised the other two men.
Jarod wondered again how much Ethan already knew but his brother's face revealed nothing. "Well," he began, both Ethan and Caleb watching him attentively, "I have a new deal to broker." Again, Ethan seemed impassive but Caleb's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"You're going to stake your claim?" the younger man asked, his voice matching his features. He was suddenly hopeful too. He had been wondering, pretty much from the time he had been rescued, why Jarod, or the Major for that matter, had never taken the direct approach before. The subterfuge was fine, and he understood what they were up against, he just wondered why they had never fought for their freedom, why they had never went pulic or turned to the authorities. Jarod's idea appealed immensely to him.
"It's not without risk," Jarod answered evenly, hoping to convince Parker as well, "But so is continuing to run; we'll never be without danger." That was why Margaret had kept a low profile even after the Centre's fall. The Triumverate would still want him, if only for his skills - and that meant Finn and Caleb too. "This deal between the Centre, between the Parkers and the Triumverate, this could be the best way to keep us all safe."
"Will they honour it?" Caleb asked, his mind already poring over the possible avenues they could pursue.
"I don't know," Jarod sighed. He glanced at Miss Parker still feeling uncertain about which way she would eventually go. This probably wasn't going to convince her further; "They did with the Centre, for a long time. But they weren't averse to taking the odd chance on Mr Parker's life either, when the pressure was on and the opportunity - and motive - was ripe. Alex was supposedly working an assignment for the Triumverate but I suspect his true goal was something else entirely."
"To eliminate Mr Parker," Ethan said quietly.
Nodding, Jarod went on. "Yes, though not before he'd lured me in too." A saying he'd heard seemed appropriate, 'two birds with one stone'. "Ultimately he took that as far as he could," Jarod shrugged. Alex had let everyone, the Triumverate included, believe he was dead and tried to finish the job - only that time he was dancing to his own tune. Not even the Triumverate could claim complete control over Alex but Jarod was sure they'd try to do that with himself. If they thought he was still unaware of his true heritage they certainly wouldn't enlighten him.
"There were other attempts too," Parker said quietly, her eyes finally seeking out Jarod's at her side. "Brigette was originally sent by the Triumverate to kill Mr Parker." She'd fought tooth and nail that night to keep Mr Parker safe but it was worse than that; she'd taken a bullet for him too. "And on the airstrip..."
Jarod nodded sadly, finding fear in her eyes. His heart tore and, for the first time, he questioned his decision to take on the Triumverate. There was no eal reason for them to continue to honour the deal and there were a million ways they could destroy him and, in doing so, hurt her. He didn't want to cause her pain once more, she'd already experienced too much loss. But that could still happen if they continued to run. No, he really believed this was the best course of action even if it meant losing her.
Ethan cleared his throat, conscious of interrupting the intimate moment they were sharing. "And if the Triumverate agree?" Ethan asked, "If they uphold this deal, or say they will, what then?"
Jarod turned his attention reluctantly back to Ethan and was about to answer when he felt Parker's hand grip his. His eyes quickly sought her out again and he found her staring at Ethan, her features hardened and looking very much like the Ice Queen of old. The sudden change startled him but also gave him endless hope.
"We can start again, only this time it'll be different," she said determinedly, "This time we'll be in control." She felt Jarod's eyes on her and turned hers back to him. The look on his face made hers immediately soften. "We're in this together," she said with a smile, making her choice. Jarod was right, annoyingly, and they could do this. Together. They'd proven that before. Listening to him retell the sordid past they shared tried to think of an argument to persuade him against this plan. She didn't want to lose him but she didn't want to be without him either. But she couldn't think of anyway to deter him; he was aware of exactly what lay ahead and if anyone could pull this off it was him - he just needed her to do it. "Besides genius, you need me. I am technically still the chairman's daughter. I don't suppose the Triumverate will have enlightened anyone left standing the truth surrounding that little 'fact'?"
Jarod smiled; with relief that he wasn't going to lose her and with adoration that she was already thinking of ways they could succede. Everything he admired about her had just been displayed. He had already considered starting the 'takeover' with the remaining satellite offices, aware that with her help it would be a more viable plan but he had refused to factor in her assistance. Not until she consented. He knew better than to take any aspect of her for granted. Now that she had he felt reasonably confident they could pull this off. "There'd be no reason to do so," he agreed, "The presumption is that you perished along with Mr Parker and Lyle."
"Good," she smiled, Jarod's confidence rubbing off on her. If there was a light at the end of the tunnel, one high point, it would be dealing with the Triumverate when they realised that not only was she very much alive but she and Jarod knew exactly where they stood.
"I'm not sure what I can do but count me in, Jarod," Ethan volunteered.
"Me too," Caleb chipped in.
Jarod smiled widely at the two men. Moments ago he'd been facing this alone. "You don't have to," he said pointedly to Caleb. He'd appreciate Caleb's help, he'd already proven himself more than capable the last couple of months, but the young man could still have a chance of a life away from the Centre.
"I do," he replied, "You need me - I'm a better pretender... Remember?" he said on a grin. He met Jarod's eyes, daring him to say no but the pretender only nodded his agreement.
Jarod felt Parker's hand squeeze his and he stole a glance at her, finding a warm, determined, smile on her beautiful face. He thought he might have scared her away, that the path that lay ahead would be too steep, but she was stronger than that. And with Ethan and Caleb on their side he was ever more certain that they wouldn't have to run any longer.
Caleb began to throw ideas at Jarod, who listened quietly with a contained smile on his face. This was something Caleb could really sink his teeth into and put his talents to good use on.
Parker exchanged reassuring smiles with her brother as they too let Caleb take the floor, his enthusiasm running over and increasing the optimism around the table. She listened for a minute or two before the nature of the conversation, and the realisation of what she'd just agreed to, hit her once more causing a sudden wave of doubt. She excused herself, announcing that she wanted to check in on Finn. Making her way back upstairs she quickly sought out her son and found him still sleeping contentedly. Taking a deep breath to settle herself she brushed one hand down Finn's cheek. He was the reason she'd agreed to this, it was his future, and his present, that they needed to secure - she just needed to reassure herself momentarily of that fact. And Finn was the only one who could do that.
"Are you okay with this?" Jarod asked softly from the doorway.
He was still smiling slightly even though his voice betrayed an undertow of uncertainty. "Yes," she confirmed, "You need me, I need you... And we need to be safe." She paused briefly as Jarod continued to watch her carefully, "This isn't going to be easy," she said softly. She smiled weakly at him, the gesture betraying more than she'd have liked. He seemed to recognise that as his gaze quickly turned to concern.
"That's not it," Jarod said, shaking his head. In truth he was as scared as she was but a healthy dose of fear wouldn't do them any harm, if anything he felt it would be to their advantage. He believed what she had said but that wasn't what was bothering her.
She glanced once more at Finn before returning her gaze to his father and admitting to what had been bothering her from the very moment he'd announced he belonged to the Parker family. "I thought we were done with that life, with The Centre," she admitted quietly, "I thought we were free."
Jarod's smile faded as he made his way towards her. He wrapped his arms around her, around the woman who had shared so much of his past and would now share his future too. He wished he could offer more comfort but the only thing he had was himself. "We were never free," he whispered sadly into her ear and she tightened her hold on him.
Maybe, one day, they would be.