Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Where are we?" Broots wandered around while he stood at a gate and stared at wide meadows.
"I always wanted to live with the Waltons." Miss Parker stared annoyed at an unused flowerbed.
"But for many it's a dream."
"Excuse me?" Miss Parker furrowed her brow.
"Just because you don't like that kind of life…"
"Oh, shut up, Broots. Let's just grab Syds little monster and fly back to the Centre." As she did so, she looked at her dirty heels. "Great." With contempt, she walked towards the hut. Before Miss Parker stepped onto the porch, she pulled her gun from the holster behind her back. The creaking of the door showed it. Dust and bedsheets on the furniture as far as the eye could see. "Again a dead end, that was to be expected. Let's go. My heels will thank me for it."
"Miss Parker," Sydney stepped inside. "Over there, Miss Parker, there are crumbs on the floor. He may still be here."
"Or maybe not. Sydney, your little experiment takes pleasure in annoying me."
A noise and Miss Parker raised her gun and used it to push aside a curtain, nothing, just pots and pans. A contemptuous snort followed and she continued walking. She slowly pushed open the wooden door which seemed ajar. No one, just closed curtains and a box on the table. Curious, with her weapon raised, she approached the table.
"Parker, is everything okay?" she heard Syd standing behind her as she opened the box.
A suppressed sob escaped her lips and she avoided looking into the box. "Your prodigy loves to torture me, and you're probably happy about it." Turned around and left the room.
"Quite the opposite, Parker," Sydney tried to explain himself. "But think rationally for once."
Broots entered the room and looked into the box. "Why is he leaving used wrapping paper behind?"
Miss Parker looked over her shoulder. "One more word from him, Syd…"
"Calm down, Parker," he interrupted her.
"I'm going to walk to the nearest main street in my expensive shoes and look for a taxi."
"Here, in the middle of nowhere?" Broots stood at the worn kitchen counter. He looked out the kitchen window with interest.
Miss Parker tilted her head back in annoyance and looked at Sydney.
"He's not doing this on purpose to annoy you, Parker."
"One more word from him and…" she took a deep breath and left without saying another word. Followed by Syd and Broots.
The sky darkened. Miss Parker stopped on the porch, and Broots, with his eyes on the landscape, ran into her. The contact with her back made him flinch.
"Damn," she stomped onto the porch, not even noticing Broots' touch. "Jarod knew a storm was coming. Bastard." The first loud rumble in the sky made Miss Parker look up.
Broots, who was the first to disappear inside, looked out the kitchen window at the sky.
"Maybe we should go inside," Syd began, looking at Miss Parker. "Before the storm really starts."
Miss Parker entered the hut whispering. "How can someone live like that?"
"That's just how life is on the run. Every hut is a home."
"Jarod," were Sydney's first words as he spoke to the voice in the shadows.
Jarod stepped out of the shadows and looked into the surprised face of his old mentor.
"Jarod, have you been here the whole time?"

Jarod wanted to step closer to his mentor, but the gun pointing at him stopped him. His gaze switched to the brunette with the gun. "Did you find my present, Miss Parker?"
"Save it." Miss Parker stepped closer, reached behind her back and threw a pair of handcuffs to the floor. "You know the drill." She pulled out her cell phone.
"The cell phone won't work in such weather. No reason to try."
"Nice try," Miss Parker pressed the speed dial button, but the phone was dead.
Jarod nodded. "I told you. Besides, it's pretty cold here. I'll light the fire in the fireplace." Turned around and, as if Miss Parker had no weapon in her hand, he walked to the fireplace and kneeled in front of it.
"Not so fast!" he heard the growl in Miss Parker's voice.
"Do you want to freeze to death?" he spoke over his shoulder. "It can get pretty cold here this time of year. And I need firewood. Do you want to go out in the storm?" Jarod stood up and walked by her raised gun"
"I will accompany you," were her words on the way to the door. The storm outside was spooky. Because Miss Parker could see from afar what was coming.
"Now do you want to help me?" a grin appeared on his lips. "Or rather try to scare away the storm." The rain started heavy. So that both of them barely made it to the woodshed. Their breath touched each time he placed the wooden sheath in her arm. Until he himself filled the crook of his arm and looked to the sky. "If we run now, we'll make it before the big storm hits. Otherwise, we'll have to wait here for a while." Jarod studied her and stopped at her stilettos. "Come on," she said annoyed with a deep breath and they both ran back to the hut.
Jarod, soaked, stacked the logs next to the fireplace. This time he looked into her eyes with each log he took from her arm.
The fire was lit. Sydney and Jarod were sitting on the sofa. Broots on one of the stools and Miss Parker as far away from Jarod as she could. The warmth of the fire did not reach her, and she began to freeze. Just like Jarod said before. The damp clothes on her skin did the rest. Completely lost in thought, she didn't notice that someone was standing in front of her and, without saying a word, putting a blanket around her shoulders.
"Where did the blanket go?" they both suddenly heard Broot's searching voice.
"Sydney, Mr. Broots," Jarod said as he turned around. "There is only one bedroom in this house."
"Hut," Miss Parker corrects him from under the blanket.
Jarod bit his lip with a grin. "It's clear who gets this bedroom, and it's me, because it's my house." Miss Parker rolled her eyes behind him.
"Where are we all supposed to sleep?" Broots' question was justified.
Jarod grinned, looking over his shoulder. He wanted to see her angry look. . "There is a sofa, an armchair, and a stool. I'm going to bed. Good night."
Sydney and Broots stared at Miss Parker.
The wind whipped against the windows. Every clap of thunder made Miss Parker wince again, and the flashes of lightning lit up the cabin for a brief moment. Sidney and Broots fell fast asleep and slept deeply despite the rolling thunder. With another flash, she stood up, the blanket tightly wrapped around her body as she strode down the hallway. She stopped in front of the only door in the hallway.
A branch scraped along the window and made her look up. She heard a muffled murmur from inside the bedroom. Another clap of thunder made her jerk the door open. She stood in the doorway, unwilling to do anything, and looked into his eyes.
"Has something happened, Miss Parker?"
With the wool blanket still wrapped around her body, she walked to the other side of the bed and disappeared under the covers. "Just this once," she whispered, lying down at the edge.

Chapter Text

Morning broke, and Miss Parker noticed that she was not sitting in the armchair in front of the fire, and the other side of the bed was empty. She sat up. There were clothes at the end of the bed. Probably not her size, but she was freezing cold and needed a hot shower if possible. The room was cold, which was also due to the fact that it had no heating. Under the covers she took off her clothes, which were almost dry again, and reached for the end of the bed, and she smelled Jaord his aftershave. As she pulled the sweater towards herself. In front of the mirror, she rolled up the legs of her sweatpants and left the bedroom.
She heard chatter, but was in no position to do anything, especially not in those clothes. Which was quite a bit too big for her and made it clear to her how strong Jarod actually was.
One strong breath and she walked around the corner. Wet clothes were hanging by the fireplace to dry, and the storm had still not let up.

"Morning, do I smell coffee?" Miss Parker shuffled into the kitchen.

Jarod looked over his shoulder. "Yes, but only instant coffee. No coffee from the high-tech machine you usually use."
"Funny Jarod," she slurred towards him, reached for the cup in his hand and sat down at the table.
Broots gasped when he saw her and tugged on Sydney's shirt sleeve. "You have-" Broots began, looking at his boss.
Sydney grinned. "Broots, should Miss Parker stay in her wet clothes all day?"
"Well-maybe-just-no-I," stammered Broots, blushing as he looked into his cup.
"Broots,"
"Yes, Miss Parker," he raised his head.
"To answer the question you had in mind. I wouldn't wear your clothes."
"It's a good thing I'm still a gentleman," Miss Parker looked at Jarod in shock while he rolled up the sweater sleeves on her arm.
Miss Parker grimaced. "Since when does this extremely bad coffee have sugar in it?"
"All morning," Jarod let go of her arm. "Because it was mine." At his next move, she pulled her arm away from his touch.
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course, help you not to look like you're disappearing into my clothes."
Broots sucked in a breath and paused. He recognized that look from Miss Parker. "Did you just see that, Syd. What should we think of this? Jarod," Broots raised his head. "Where is the-"
Jarod grinned. "Down the hall…"
"Oh no, Broots," she interrupted Jarod. "You're not going to mess up our bathroom."
All eyes were on Miss Parker. The only one who was grinning was Jarod, into his coffee.
"Where else can I-" He looked to Sydney for help. Then Broots noticed. "Did she really say ours?"
"Yes Broots, she did," whispered Syd.
"As did your ancestors, Broots." Her look made him shudder.
"You mean outside. It's stormy there."
"Then you need something to hold on to."
"We need firewood," Jarod said, looking towards Broots as he stood up. "With your help, we'll be able to carry more wood." He looked sweetly at Miss Parker. Who just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The door slammed shut, and the tone became harsh as Miss Parker sat alone with Sydney at the table.
She felt his stare. "What?"
"I'm thinking about the current situation."

Jarod packed Broots' arm such full of wood that he almost fell to his knees. But as long as Broots didn't say anything, Jarod piled the logs higher.
"Do you think you deserve Miss Parker, after all the pranks and the flu you once infected her?"
The question particularly surprised Jarod because it came from Broots."The flu thing was thoughtless. But it gave me time. Now let's go back inside."
Just before the porch, Miss Parker stormed out the door. With the logs in the crook of his arm, Jarod grabbed her upper arm with his free hand, stopping her attempt to escape. Her eyes were red, a sign of tears that she would never willingly admit to.
"What happened?"
"It's best to ask Mama Bear in there." She tore herself away from his arm and the wood fell to the ground. Sydney saw it all from the window.
"Mr. Broots?"
Broots nodded. "Don't worry, Jarod, I can handle the wood."
"Thank you." Jaord followed her, and Sydney stood in the doorway, dumbfounded.

Jarod hurried westward, and after a short time Miss Parker's trail was lost. He looked to the horizon. The rain would soon start again. While the wind from the west was picking up again. It made it almost impossible for him to breathe. He didn't need to call her name. She wouldn't answer. He didn't have the opportunity to find out what had happened. He had to trust his instincts. Keep looking at the sky to find out exactly as the rain front arrived again.
She sat behind a tree that formed a symbiosis with a boulder. Pulling the sweater up to her chin, she looked up at him. He alternated between anger and relief. Relief to have found her. Anger that she had done such an incredibly stupid thing, and she seemed to realize it.
Her eyes rested on his hands so that she would be prepared for anything. The wind blew through the branches, making a quiet word almost impossible.
"Here you are. What happened?" Jarod leaned down to her. She bit her lower lip and avoided his gaze for a moment.

"Maybe Sydney is right."

"What did he say?"

She took a deep breath. "Nothing that I didn't already know."

Chapter Text

"Maybe Sydney is right."
"What did he say?"
She took a deep breath. “Nothing that I didn’t already know.

Jarod knew, that this question was pointless. She won't answer. "Are your feet frozen? Are you in pain?"
"It's autumn, Jarod. Not Antarctic. My feet are none of your business. So please," her voice became more forceful. "Show me the way to the nearest main street so I can call a damn taxi."
Jarod grinned the way he always did, when he knew she was annoyed. Should he tell her exactly where she was situated? "I hope you know where you're situated."
"Jarod," she shouted at him against the wind.
He pointed over his shoulder. "To the main road, keep going east.“

"Thank you. Detective Jarod."
"How do you know-"
Miss Parker brushed the windblown hair from her face. "If I tell you," she moved closer to his face. "It won't be fun anymore. I'd rather watch you squirm and rack your brains."
Jarod gently grabbed her chin and, with her frozen gaze, brushed his thumb over her lips. He saw her swallowing and holding her breath.
"I could report you, detective. For harassing a defenseless woman."
Jarod snorted and let go of her. "You and defenseless?"
"Who would believe you Jarod?"
The approaching rain front made Jarod look towards the horizon. "We should hurry, I don't want to see you get gored by a wild boar. You sit in his place.“
Miss Parker's eyes widened. "There are wild boars here?" and jumped to her feet. "Why didn't you tell me?"
“I tried.”
“Apparently not well enough.”
“I don’t know what you’re planning to do right now, but I’m going to the hut now. I don’t feel like wrestling wild animals today.”
Miss Parker raised an eyebrow. Jarod knew exactly what she meant. Florida, crocodile. “No, really,” he commented on his last words and led the way. “Believe me, the weather isn’t good enough for that. You need sunshine.”
"I'm not going back," she protested.
"You don't have to," he stopped again and looked over his shoulder. “I have a hideout not far from here.”
“How many do you have?”
Jarod grinned. "Three or four. In my defense, not all of them are mine. I'm just borrowing them. When I'm on the road."
„Smart ." She called after him when he had already walked quite a distance.

The hideout that Jarod mentioned was really nothing more than a hideout. Even the hut was more luxurious. There was just one big room, nothing more, and a fireplace.”
“Now let me examine your feet.”
“I didn’t know you were a foot fetishist.”
Jarod pushed Miss Parker with his hand on her shoulder into the chair behind her. Earning a snort of disapproval from her.
"Well," he said.
"My feet," she countered, looking up at him. "They're fine."
He crouched down in front of her again. “You walked barefoot over uneven terrain. "
„You never allow me a quiet moment. Of peace?“
„Peace and quiet, who needs that?“
Annoyed, Miss Parker held out one of her feet to him, but didn't look at him. With every touch, Jarod noticed that she was holding her breath.
“We will probably have to share the bed. Unless you prefer sleeping on a chair.”
“Are you ready?” Miss Parker raised her gaze. Jarod grinned, let go of her foot and reached for the others. The feeling of his hands on her skin. So warm, so tender, so careful. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
"You know, Jarod, I could rat you out. That you're not a real detective. That would definitely cause quite a stir."
Jarod looked up from her foot. "You could. But I could arrest you for what you're doing. I have the authority to do so."
Suddenly Miss Parker realized what he was saying. Panic flooded through every pore in her body. If only she had stayed by that damn tree. She would have dealt with the wild boars by now.
He approached her face. "Captured, my little huntress."
Miss Parker closed her eyes, whispering. “You wouldn’t do that.”
His lips on her ear. "Do you want to find out?" A shiver ran down her spine.

“Why the wrapping paper?” Sitting cross-legged on the bed, a blanket over her shoulders and a steaming cup in her hand, she stared at Jarod. He was sitting on a bench next to the window. His feet were on the opposite chair.
"A pack of Cracker Jack-"
"I know what was wrapped in it. I gave it to you, after all. My question is, why did you keep it?"
"The paper reminds me of better times."
Miss Parker frowned. "Better times. At the Centre?"
"It reminds me of the time when we were friends."
Miss Parker groaned, avoiding his gaze. “Friends,” she looked at him noticed the sadness of the lost in his eyes. Jarod, we were two lonely children who found each other. We were used for their experiments. I don’t know if the friendship would ever have happened without the Centre.”
Jarod nodded. " But for me. It doesn't matter how we got together.“
Miss Parker bit her lower lip. “Jarod please, a friendship or romantic relationship is an obstacle in the Centre.”
“Obstacle does not mean forbidden.”
"No," she looked into her cup and raised her eyes again. “But if the huntress sleeps in the same bed with the prey, then yes.”
Jarod nodded, both hands wrapped around his cup. Miss Parker watched him run through hundreds of alternatives in his head, knowing that Jarod would come to the same conclusion as she did. His answer made her laugh out loud. She hadn't expected that. But Jarod didn't laugh and looked at her seriously.
“Are you serious?”
“Do you see me laughing?”
“Jarod,” she frowned. „You can't do that.“
Jarod raised the cup to his lips repeatedly. "Why not. He should have thought about that before he started at the Centre.”
“Which of the two do you mean?”
“Both.”
“Please don’t do this to Sydney and Broots. Shouldn't you be on the side of justice? "
“God, you’re naive,” he laughed. "Considering the kind of people you know, and you're talking about justice?”
"Ok," Miss Parker closed her eyes for a moment. "You, Jarod, should be on the side of justice."
“Says who?”
“I don’t deserve you,” Miss Parker looked into her cup. "Not a minute of my life, and yet you're always there.“ A chair was moved and she looked up. Jarod had taken his feet off the chair and was staring at her with his elbows on his knees.
Her voice turned to a whisper. "What?"
“You don’t see it, do you?”
An ice-cold shiver ran through her body. "I can't lose you."
“Says who?”
Anger gripped her body and she saw the lightness in his eyes. He knew exactly what she meant. "The storm is starting to calm down," she said looking out the window.
Jarod smiled slightly and nodded. “He always does.” His voice was warm and gentle. “What do you want most?”
“My peace.” Although she had so much more to say, she remained silent.
"Come on," he teased her. "I see in your eyes there's more."
"To be able to do what I want."
“If I grant you this wish, what do you intend to do?”
"Jarod," she took a deep breath. This whole wishful thinking was a farce. She didn't want to pursue this idea any further only to have to return to reality disappointed.

After weeks, she had another one of the most horrible nightmares she'd ever had. She jumped awake, her heart pounding against her chest. It was pitch black. Her lungs were craving oxygen. Her body was shaking. Jarod whispered her name next to her, her real name, and her troubled mind seemed to calm down again. She looked at him confused and he nodded. Moments passed and early in the morning she was lying right next to him. Drowsy, Miss Parker lazily opened her eyes after Jarod's words. „What?“
"You're still tired," he noted.
"And you're wide awake. I feel like I only slept for ten minutes. What was in the tea?"
“There was nothing in the tea from last night. The nightmare has exhausted you. I'm going to get up now and find something to eat in the kitchen."
"Coffee," she called after him.
"Coffee is out, just herbal tea," Jarod rummaged through the cupboard in the small kitchen. Which wasn't really a kitchen, just a cupboard. With an improvised stove. “Wait a minute, here’s something else,” he poked his finger at the sign and held out a tea bag to her with a grin. "Orange tea?"
Miss Parker sat up straight. "Did you mean what you said yesterday or was it just my foggy brain?"
"I never promise anything I can't really keep," he said, placing the two cups on the table.
"Does this luxurious accommodation have a bathroom?"
"Something like that." He grinned.
"What do you mean, something like that?" she raised an eyebrow.
"There is definitely a toilet and a small sink with cold water. No shower or bathtub."
"Great," she said, falling back into the pillows. They were anything but comfortable. The tea was empty and so Jarod decided to grab his shoes that were next to him at the door.
"I thought," she said from the bed, "that I had made myself clear yesterday. That I don't want to meet Sydney."
Jarod looked up from his shoes. "You don't have to. I'll go alone."
Miss Parker jumped up from the bed and walked towards him. “You’re not seriously planning on leaving me here alone?”
“Don’t worry,” Jarod grinned over his shoulder. "I'll be back in a few hours."
"I-" But the door had already closed, and Miss Parker was alone somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Chapter Text

"Mr. Broots," Jarod was leaning against a tree and watching Broots as he awkwardly tried to stack logs in the crook of his arm. Broots immediately dropped the logs in shock when he heard his voice.
"Ja-Jarod." Broots stammered while turning around. "The-The fire has gone out."
Jarod had his arms crossed over his chest and stared at Broots wordlessly. “It’s the nature of fire.” Broots swallowed at these words and looked toward the house. "Have you found Miss Parker?"
Jarod pushed himself off the tree and followed Broots' gaze to the house. "Yes."
Sydney was waiting on the porch. "Jarod," he called to him. "Thank God. You're alive." Slowly, Jarod walked up the steps to lean against the porch post. “Did you expect anything else?”
Confused, Sydney stared at his protégés. “Where is she, Jarod?”
“Before I give you an answer, Syd. I would like to know the reason. Why Miss Parker left the house in a hurry. My house.”
"She didn't tell you anything?" Sydney entered the house. “No,” Jarod followed him. "Just a cryptic, maybe Sydney was right."
"I just told Miss Parker," Sydney sat down at the kitchen table. “That you need someone who brings out the good side in you.” As he said this, Sydney reached for his cup. Which had been cold for a long time. “You don’t need someone who conjures up the darkness inside you with every little word.”
Jarod turned his chair and sat down, his brow furrowed. “Syd, after all these years. The darkness has taken up an enormous space in me. Even more than I would like. But she is the only one who can deal with my demons."
"You're talking about Miss Parker?"
Jarod nodded. "She knows and understands all my dark urges, desires and thoughts. She understands me and, above all, she is not afraid of me."
Sydney clutched his cup protectively. "She's afraid of you, Jarod. Believe me."
"My good Syd," Jarod leaned back to get a better look at his old mentor. “As always, you confuse fear with respect. Parker knows what I'm capable of, and in contrast, I know what she is capable of. But he is," Jarod looked over his shoulder out the window. "afraid of me." He pointed at Broots at the woodshed. “And you?” Jarod slowly raised his gaze towards Sydney. For a moment, both just stared at each other, until Sydney cleared her throat. "But you have done so much good," He tried to reach for Jarod's hand in a conciliatory manner. But too late, Jarod rose and looked down at his old mentor.
"Removing someone's kidney, against his will, is not exactly a synonym for the good side. Don't you agree?"
"But-,"
The door creaked open, and they both looked at the door. Broots swallowed. "What's going on, are you talking about me?" Jarod walked to the door, laughing, and took the wood from Broots. Sydney stops him on his way to the fireplace.
A dark aura surrounded Jarod as he looked at his old mentor. “Maybe we should change our game. Just the two of us.” Jarod twitched an eyebrow. “Show me how good you know me without Parker.”
„I don't tru-,”
“You don’t trust me?” Jarod interrupted. “When did that change?" He asked as he casually walked over to the fireplace.
“Your call after Scotland” Syd sat down on the armchair not far from the fireplace, but at a distance from Jarod. “I couldn’t understand your conversation. Then Parker spoke to me, and I sensed that same change in her too. Jarod,” Sydney spoke loudly, making Broots flinch beside him. "What happened there?"
Jarod looked amusedly over his shoulder from the fireplace. “It bothers you, Syd. That you didn't get any information about what Parker was doing. Alone on an island, with me.” Under Broot's gaze, Sydney stood up. “Damn Jarod. You don't understand the seriousness of the situation. This could put her in great danger.”
Jarod threw wood into the fire in annoyance as he stood up and looked at his old mentor. “Pray to God, Syd, and pray hard that she never finds out how dangerous she really is." His words were more than just a provocation.
Broots stepped out of the shadow of the conversation. With a deep breath and a raised voice. "May I say something?"
Jarod looked over to Broots, grinning, completely changed. "Yes, of course, Mr. Broots. As long as you don't want to say the same thing." Jarod ignored Sydney's piercing gaze, which was still staring at him.
"It's true," Broots said, not daring to look in Jarods direction. "When Miss Parker came back to the Centre with Mr Lyle and Raines,” Broots raised his gaze. “She didn't seem like herself. I-I don't-, ”
“That’s not true,” interrupted him Sydney. "It was just the stress she was dealing with. After all, that was the day she found out that Raines was her biological father."
"You're a typical Centre employee." Sydney frowned at his protégé's words. "They say jump-"
Sydney lowered his head in shame. "I had no other choice.” Jarod had caught him. With just one sentence. “We all have something to lose."
“You had a choice, Syd. But you chose the path with the least resistance.”
Sydney snorted. "Your point of view is unfair. I had orders."
“Unfair Syd? Tell me, is it unfair to leave a child alone at the Centre on Christmas? Even though you knew what was going to happen. Those words made Sydney flinch. “Luckily not everyone thought like you.” Jarod's expression was dark, almost demonic. "“After all, I wasn't the only child there.”
"You're talking about Miss Parker? "
Jarod nodded.
"But how Jarod? As you know, the highest security level is on the holidays.” Then Syd seemed to understand. Miss Parker never left the Centre. Mr Parker spent the whole night there. He didn't care if it was Christmas or not. “She was the whole time-,”

Chapter Text

“Where the hell were you?” Parker called out to Jarod when she finally saw him coming from afar. She had been waiting for hours now, and when she thought he was finally entering the hiding place, it was only the rain or a branch hitting the window.
"With Sydney and Broots.“ Jarod stood in front of the porch with his hands in his pockets. „That's what I said when I left you." and with one last step, Jarod stepped onto the tiny porch where she stood, upset, with a blanket over her shoulders. "Didn't you tell me you didn't want to see him?“
“ "Are you serious?” The situation was so natural, almost domestic, and that frightened her. „Damn, that was before you made me wait for hours." Before she could even turn around, to escape the situation as quickly as possible, Jarod gently touched her chin, held it safely and tenderly in his hand. Her fear turned to anger, and she noticed in Jarods eyes that he was aware of this.
“Do you know how enviable you look, when you try to hide your feelings?“ Her breath caught, because the brown of his eyes didn't allow her to look away.
„Like now," he continued. His voice was soft, soft like warm chocolate on her skin. "When you're furrowing your eyebrows, and wondering how the hell you're going to get out of this situation."
“Are you sick?” she countered to regain her confidence, and the tenderness of his hand was gone, and she didn't even notice.
„No, but Debbie was. I saw you with her. Lyle was your replacement. He was less intelligent, but I still had my fun.“
„You were in town that day? When I-,“ Then it occurred to her. She paused. The pediatrician in the next room, standing at his desk with his back to her. She already had a strange feeling as she sat in the waiting room with Debbie.
“Yes,” Jarod answered her silent thought. „You didn't even notice me. When you give the other pediatrician your best smile. Did you make something to eat?"
Speechless for a moment, she stared at Jarod as he quickly changed the subject. He stepped over the threshold, as if none of this concerned him at all.
Her anger knew no bounds as she slammed with a cold smile the door behind him. „No, my beloved husband. The tiny hanging cupboard above the makeshift pile of metal, which is supposed to be a sink, is empty. Not even the rats left anything behind.“
„If it's just about cooking, I can reassure you. I'm not a chauvinist, after all. Then I'll take care of the food, and you take care of the firewood. But remember," he twitched his eyebrow. "We don't have a woodshed next to the house.“
"Perfect," she said, giving him a look that made it clear he was on very thin ice.
She was special to him, she had a talent for challenging him. That he liked, even needed. Because deep down, they were no less good or evil. They were each other's equals.

Kneeling by the fireplace, Parker stared into the flames and looked at her hands, soiled with resin and moss, while in the background Jarod desperately searched for something edible. She pushed the blanket off her shoulders when Jarod's phone suddenly started ringing.
"No, I'm not alone,“ she heard him grin on the phone. "I know, I promised something.“
God in heaven, what had she done to deserve this? Annoyed, Parker tilted her head back and thought that it might be better to continue collecting firewood. Before she could finish the thought and get up, he was sitting behind her. The air thickened.
"That was-" he tried to apologize.
But she doesn't care, and she certainly doesn't want to hear any justification from him. After all, from the sound of it, he had a healthy love life. Something she hadn't had in years. "Have you ever thought about disappearing,“ she asked, staring into the flames. „ to look for a beautiful wife and eat apple pie on Sundays?“

Jarod leaned forward, to be closer to her. His eyes, as deep as an abyss, said everything she didn't want to hear. Especially not from him. She'd rather gather firewood than talk to him about nonexistent feelings.
"How long,“ Jarod whispered against her ear, and she closed her eyes, just for a moment, and enjoyed his warm breath on her skin. „Do you want to keep playing this game?“
She looked at him over her shoulder. "As long as necessary." His expression changed. No, she didn't want his pity. No pity. She didn't deserve his sympathy.
She stood up, trying to escape him, but he followed her.
"I'm not Thomas, Parker." He whispered behind her. „You don't need to protect me.“
„That's exactly the problem.“

Road
A black sedan overtook a scrap dealer on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. After a quick glance at the license plate, the scrap dealer reached for his phone on the passenger seat.
"Jarod, yes. Buddy, listen to me. A vehicle. Black sedan, heading your way. Distance? Guess ten miles away. I hope this information is helpful. Yes, I'll pay attention and turn around immediately.“ With a quick turn, he drove back in the opposite direction. If he knew one thing, when buddy Jarod smelled danger, you should listen.

Hiding place
“I have to go,” Jarod said, sitting down next to Miss Parker on the small porch where she had retreated. "Lyle's on his way. Just a few miles from the cabin. Where Sydney and Broots are. It's only a matter of time. So you have two options."
"Let me guess,“ she looked at him. „One of them involves me following you, right?"
"No, that would be wishful thinking. I buried that idea long ago. I'm giving you the opportunity to decide how, Lyle will find you here, nothing more."
"How interesting, you give me the choice, and again you want to play the knight, the gentleman.
"You have the following options.“ Although Jarod didn't have the time, he grinned and closed his eyes for a moment. „You, naked with handcuffed to the bed frame. Or," he drew out the word and saw her rigid expression. For a moment he saw her speechless.
"I should have-,"
"What?" he interrupted her. "Never thought that I have fantasies too?"
"I'm-,"
"Shocked?" Jarod added questioningly.
"No," she snapped out of her stupor. "Surprised."
Jarod looked at his watch and stood up. “As much as I would love to talk about your dark fantasies, I have to go. Have you decided?" he grinned, looking down at her.
Parker rolled his eyes and stood up. "When do we leave?"
„Party pooper.“ Jarod pouted.

Hut
The black sedan door was pushed open and Lyle immediately stepped into a puddle. Cursing, shaking his trouser leg, he walked toward the cabin. "Home sweet home, that's exactly how I imagined it. A dilapidated wooden hut.“
Without waiting for an answer, he simply opened the door of the hut. Lyle noticed something in the first few seconds after crossing the threshold.
It was quiet, almost too quiet. There was no sarcastic, ironic commentary in the air. All he noticed were two figures. One sitting by the window, the other staring fearfully at the fireplace, a newspaper on his lap.
“You with the throbbing carotid artery.“ Broots flinched and looked up. „What am I being denied here?”
Broots opened his mouth.
"Lyle!"
"Syd!" raised Lyle, his thumbless hand to silence Jarod's old mentor. You will be plenty of time to talk to me later. But now it's his turn. Excuse me.“ With these words, Lyle slowly pushed Broots's frightened face back into his field of vision. „You were going to say something before we were interrupted, right?”
Syd interrupted. "Jarod has Miss Parker, and I'm sure not entirely willingly."
„How interesting." A crooked grin appeared on his lips. „I hope this behavior finally opened her eyes.“ With his thumbless hand, Lyle pointed to the door. "Follow me, both of you."
"Lyle,“ Sydney stopped him at the door. “Don't use a cannon to kill a sparrow.“
"Don't tell me what to do."