-AngelWings
Disclaimer: All Pretender related ideas are property of NBC. Other characters are mine.
Author’s Note: This is the sequel to Down By the Tracks, if you haven’t guessed that already. I must warn you though; this story contains violence, adult situations and LANGUAGE!
Lifting a hand up, she absently-mindedly rubbed her bandaged neck, fighting the burning in her throat and the lump in her stomach. Ever since that accident, she couldn’t rid herself of this awful feeling, like something important to her was lost, leaving this empty hole in her chest. Heaving a sigh, she lifted up the latest report, her blue eyes scanning over the paper. Closing her eyes briefly, she let the paper drift from her fingertips, allowing it to slide off the desk and to rest in front of Sydney’s feet, stepping through the door at that moment. Leaning down, Sydney snatched the paper from the floor, reading the paragraphs quickly, before looking back up at her, his eyes filled with concern.
"Nothing?"
"Nope," she sighed. Biting her lip, she turned the back of her chair towards him, unable to face him all of a sudden, her eyes burning. [Damn it].
"He’ll show up," Sydney whispered, walking towards her desk and laying the paper on top of the huge pile.
"Right," she snapped, sarcastically, from behind the chair. "He’ll show up."
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She was memorized as she watched the smoke slowly flow out from between his white teeth and beautiful lips, his brown eyes closing, savoring the sweet, musky taste of the weed. Opening them again, he looked over at her, his face expressionless as he stared at her from where he sat on the bed. Slowly she rose from the seat she sat at in the cabin, and strode over to him, slowly, seductively. Sitting down on his knee, she crossed her long legs, taking the cigarette from those gorgeous lips and put it to her own, inhaling deeply. Leaning forward, she put her lips to his, flicking her tongue in his mouth, before pulling away, watching as he exhaled her smoke from his mouth.
Running her fingers through his short brown hair, she grabbed a handful of it, pulling his face roughly, hungrily to her mouth, tasting and exploring his mouth with her own. Moaning, she leaned her body against him, pushing him down onto the bed, smiling against his lips, as he growled. Growling in return, she climbed on top of him, licking the two perfect holes in his neck.
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"Anything, Broots?" Miss Parker asked, bursting through the doors and taking a couple strides before she stood over the tech and his computer.
Broots looked up from his work and gave her a sad smile. "Nothing yet, Miss P., but I do have a lot of trails."
"Old trails?" Miss Parker asked, lifting her chin and staring at him for his reply.
Broots sighed, looking away from her intense gaze to the computer, rubbing his aching arm, as he stared into the endless numbers on his screen. "I-I don’t know. I just can’t...you know. My arm hurts and..."
"Go home," Miss Parker snapped, turning away from him and heading towards the doors.
"Wha- huh?" Broots asked, perking up, as he stared after her.
She reached the doors, looking over her shoulder at him and sighed. "Go home, Broots. Take care of that arm. Go to the doctors and see if he will give you proper cast."
Broots looked down at the cloth that tied around his neck, coming down to support his arm. Looking back up at her, he smiled, for the first time wanting to hug her and thank her. But he simply stood up, grabbed his coat and walked passed her through the doors, flashing her another smile before disappearing from her sight.
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Propping her head up on her hand, she stared down at him, watching as her prince slept. Smiling, she ran her fingernail down the side of his face, circling his soft lips, before running it back up to his brow.
"Prove thy self to me, my love," she whispered, leaning down and kissing him on his forehead. Leaning back, she stared at his relaxed, sleeping form, before allowing the devilish smirk cross her lips. "Kill the one who still holds you in your dreams. Kill her, and you will be mine...forever."
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Blood, so much blood. His eyes stared out blankly, his mouth open slightly. The paleness in his face made his still form reality, slapping her in the face. She leaned down, placing a hand over his eyes and closed them, squeezing her eyes shut tightly as tears burned their way through her eyelashes.
A hand firmly clasped onto the wrist of her hand that was touching him. She screamed, as she watched his eyes glow red, baring teeth as he climbed to his feet, all the while, still holding onto her with a deathly grip.
Staring into his eyes, she breathed rugged breaths, fear clutching at her heart just at tightly as his hand clutched at her wrist. Slowly, she stepped forward, leaning her neck into him, staring at him through her eyelashes. His eyes looked into hers for an instant, before he dived at her neck, gasping as he hungrily drank her blood.
Jolting up, she held back the scream, looking around her bedroom in a wild, frighten gaze. As the sound of crickets outside calmed her nerves, she sank back into her bed, staring up at the ceiling.
[Snap out of it Parker. He is a genius. When he came to, he ran. Just like he always does.]
Just then, there was a loud thud that came from the other room, she immediately jumping to her feet and reaching for her gun. Clicking the safety off, she tiptoed towards the living room, her eyes darting everywhere, looking in every nook and cranny.
As she reached the dim light of the room, she stopped, letting her eyes do the exploring. Swallowing, she noted the open window at the other end of the room, the curtain blowing in the midnight breeze, whistling softly.
Hearing rustling from behind, she spun around, her gun aimed out stiffly in front of her. Clenching her teeth against her fear, she tiptoed towards the kitchen, looking over her shoulder every once in a while.
Reaching the kitchen, she looked around carefully, her gun aiming where her eyes reach. Frozen in fear, she listened to the faint footsteps, slowly approaching from behind her. Spinning suddenly, she swung the gun behind her, gasping when she saw-
"It’s just me," he replied, holding up his hands.
"My god! Why the hell are you..? Where the hell have you been?" she snapped, letting her gun lower to her side, her blue eyes studying him in the dim light.
"I’ve been...occupied," Jarod replied, looking her up and down in concern. "You okay?"
Miss Parker nodded, lifting a hand to her forehead and turning around. "God, you scared the hell out of me," she whispered, walking farther into the kitchen, reaching for the light switch.
"Don’t turn on the light," Jarod snapped, too quickly.
Miss Parker looked over her shoulder at him in confusion. "Why?"
Shrugging, Jarod rubbed his arm absent-mindedly. "Because, I have a major head ache and that light will just make it worse."
Nodding her understanding, Miss Parker sat down at the table, wondering why she wasn’t keeping her gun on him and threatening him with the Centre.
Sitting down across from her, Jarod sighed, linking his fingers together and just stared at her.
"What do you want, Rat Boy?" Miss Parker hissed.
Tilting his head to the side, Jarod flashed her a look between confusion and innocence. "What do you mean? I came to see how you were."
"I’m just peachy, Jarod," Miss Parker said sarcastically. There was a pause. "How’d you survive?"
"I didn’t," Jarod replied casually.
Miss Parker laughed, but her smile lowered a notch when she saw the serious look on his face. "So....what, am I dreaming?" she asked jokingly, smiling.
"You wish," Jarod growled and she blinked when his eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about, Rat Boy?" she whispered, slowly rising to her feet. He did the same, just as slowly, keeping eye contact with her.
"Think about it [real] hard, Miss P. I think you’ll figure it out," he said slowly, softly, his voice like acid.
"No," Miss Parker whispered, taking a step back from him, he following her every move. "Don’t come near me!" she screamed aiming the gun at his chest.
Jarod smiled his witty smile, but there was something else behind it other than the charm and mischief. Something dark, that she didn’t even want to start to describe.
Suddenly, he dashed towards her, knocking the gun from her hand and sending it across the room. Miss Parker spun on her heel and ran as fast as she could towards the front door, knowing in the back of her mind she won’t be able to unlock it and get outside before he grabbed her. [I need to get to my gun!] she thought frantically, running past the door.
Dashing around him, Miss Parker took off towards the kitchen, only to have him leap at her from behind, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and bringing her down to the floor. Screaming, she swung her fists at him, nailing him in the jaw a couple times, but still his hold held her tightly in place. Finally, he grabbed her arms, pinning them down to her sides with his body, smiling down at her as they lay on the floor of her living room.
"Do you like this, Parker?" he whispered seductively, dipping his head and licking her throat. Closing her eyes, she left the electric shock zap through her body, unable to hold back the moan that escaped the back of her throat. "Oh, you do," he whispered, smirking. "You want more?"
Clenching her teeth, she fought for control. "Jarod, get off me!"
Leaning down again, Jarod licked her slowly, running his tongue up and down her neck, moaning and pressing his pelvis into her groin. She couldn’t hold back another moan, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. [Control, Parker. Get control!]
"Get. Off. Me," she said, more slowly. Leaning up a little so he could see her face, he smiled, but made no effort to move. "Get off me!" she screamed, squirming from underneath his weight.
Moving his face so it was inches from hers, he whispered, "I don’t want to."
"Fuck you, Jarod!" she screamed.
Laughing evilly, his eyes grew red, receiving a gasp from Miss Parker. "No, fuck you!" he growled, baring his teeth.
Screaming, she was able to get an arm free, swinging it out and hitting him, hard across the head. It seemed to stun him for a minute, long enough for her to push his weight off her and climb to her feet. When he climbed to his feet to go after her, she was already out the door, dashing madly to her car and leaping in, twisting the key savagely, and putting the car in gear.
As the car backed out of the driveway, Miss Parker cursed at the dark figure stumbling from her front door, running towards her as she turned the car into the road and drove at mad speed.
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"Is something wrong, Parker?" Sydney asked, as she brushed past him in his doorway, coming to sit down on his coach.
"I have good news and bad news," Miss Parker said, looking up at the older man as he came to sit on the coffee table across from her. "The good news, Jarod came to my house today," she said, staring carefully at the older man.
"He’s alive!?" Sydney said, smiling widely.
"That’s the bad news," she whispered, finally looking away.
Sydney’s smile immediately turned upside down. "What do you mean?"
"I don’t know how to put this, Syd, but your boy is blood sucking demon."
Sydney slowly rose from his perch of the oak table and made his way to the window. After a long, awkward silence, he looked over at her, noticing for the first time that she was wearing a nightgown and no shoes.
"Parker-" he began, but let it drop, closing his eyes tightly, before looking back up at her. "What you are saying is that, Jarod, our Jarod, is a vampire?"
Miss Parker licked her bottom lip, staring off in the distance. "Yes," she answered softly, before blinking and looking up at him. "That’s what I am saying."
"God," Sydney whispered, turning away from her and towards the window again. "I just...I-" There as a lengthy pause, before Sydney turned back to her, coming to stand over her. "How do we bring him back?"
Miss Parker shook her head. "I don’t know. In folk tales and stuff, they say crosses and stakes work."
"To kill them. But we want to bring him back."
Miss Parker bit her lower lip, looking up at him carefully. "I don’t know. I guess we have to take a trip on the information highway, with our little friend, Broots, as our guide."
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"Why such a long face, baby?" Tessa purred, rapping her arms around his thin waist.
"Wasn’t able to succeed with Parker tonight," Jarod growled, rubbing the side of his head where Miss Parker had hit him.
Tessa clenched her teeth, her eyes narrowing. "And why not?"
Jarod looked over at her, a bit surprised and then smirked. "Like all whores, she got away."
Smiling, Tessa laughed softly, tugging Jarod’s arm towards the bed. "Let’s make up and make out, shall we?" she purred, pushing him down on the bed. Jarod struggled to sit up, pushing her gently away.
"I am not in the mood. Parker gave me a nasty headache."
Tessa plopped down on the bed and crossed her arms, clenching her teeth. "So what? I want you and I want you now! So get that hot ass over here and screw me!"
Jarod looked over at her in surprise, staring at her with wide eyes. "Please don’t talk like that, Tessa."
Tessa blinked, leaning back and eyeing him up and down. "What the hell?" she spat out. "Honey...you aren’t...." she paused for a moment. "Looks like someone didn’t drink their blood last night."
"I wasn’t thirsty," Jarod hissed, turning around and sitting down at the table in the dark cabin.
"Thirty or not, you [have] to drink blood in order to keep your edge," she growled.
Jarod looked up at her, watching as she got up and slowly approached him. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Blood is what keeps you together," Tessa hissed, leaning forward on the table, her face only inches from his. "I thought I told you that enough."
"No, blood is what keeps you evil," Jarod growled.
Tessa blinked a couple times, standing up straight, her eyes locked onto his. "What are you saying? You don’t want to be with me?"
Furrowing his brow, Jarod stood from the table, grabbing her arms. "No, it doesn’t mean that. My mind gets clouded with anger, and I like to think clearly. Blood is like alcohol. I don’t need it."
"Yes you do," Tessa hissed, ripping away from his grasp. "And I demand you to go out and kill Parker. There is still four hours left of night. Do it, and do it now!"
Jarod stared at her for a moment and then swallowed, nodding in agreement. "Fine."
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"Are you sure?" Miss Parker asked into the phone, pacing the floor. Sighing, she looked over the room towards Sydney, who sat motionless on the couch. "Then go to another web site...or a chat room with obsessive vampire people. I am sure there is one out there." She paused, listening to Broots’ babble, before bringing a hand up and rubbing her tired face. "Whatever, just find me something by the morning."
Slapping the phone shut, Miss Parker walked over to Sydney, sitting down beside him and looking at him carefully, before he turned to look at her as well. "Broots said there is nothing yet, but he is working on it. Don’t worry, Sydney. We will find something."
Nodding, Sydney flashed her a sad, reassuring smile. "Of course we will."
Nodding too, Miss Parker stood, bringing him to his feet as well. "I'll stay here, if that’s alright." Sydney nodded. "You get some sleep, Syd. You look tired."
Sighing, Sydney walked around the couch and headed towards his bedroom, looking over his shoulder briefly before disappearing into his bedroom.
Flopping down on the couch, Miss Parker sighed and leaned her head back against the back of the couch, closing her eyes.
Flashes of blood, his blood, scattered the blood, he screaming for him to help him. Quickly she ran to him, yelling his name, when he leaped up and grabbed her by the neck, twisting savagely. Screaming, she hit him over and over as he sank his teeth into her neck.
Miss Parker jerked awake, sitting up straight on the couch, and looking around. Exhaling loudly, she rubbed her eyes, tiredly, leaning back in the couch again.
Suddenly, a strong hand reached from behind her, and covered her mouth, unabling her to scream for Sydney. Another hand came to join the first, rapping long fingers around her neck and pulling her to her feet from behind. When she stood in front of the couch, the hands urged her to the side, so his hard body pressed against her back. Her heavy, rugged breathing filled the quite room as she felt his breath on her bare shoulder, the hand that was grasping her neck, now toying with the spaghetti strap of her nightgown.
"Hello again, Miss P. You are looking rather delicious tonight," she heard his deep voice purr. "Sorry, I wasn’t able to say that earlier."
Miss Parker’s eyes darted to the side, frantically searching for a way out of this. Gathering the courage, she suddenly elbowed him in the side as hard as she possible could, hearing him grunt. She scrambled out of his grasp and spun around, swinging her fist out and landing a good one on the side of his head. Grunting, he stumbled to the side, the blow knocking him off balance.
"Sydney!" Miss Parker screamed as loud as she could, running towards his bedroom, but Jarod’s arms came around her waist, pulling her back against. She kicked and screamed as he lifted her off the ground, slamming her down to the floor. It knocked the air out of her, and the powerful impact stunned her, as she watched through a blurry vision as Jarod leaned over her.
When her vision focused, she blinked, her brow furrowing as she noticed the pure concern written all over Jarod’s face.
"Parker..." he whispered, but when Sydney sprang from his bedroom, he blinked, and growled up at the older man.
"Jarod!" Sydney said in astonishment, stepping towards him, but then froze as Jarod leaped to his feet, slowly approaching the older man with his eyes narrowed.
"Sydney, it is so good to see you again," Jarod hissed, but there was heavy sarcasm that drew his words down.
Sydney reach back blindly and grabbed his old cane from the corner of the room, lifting it up to his side and grabbing it with both hands like he would with a bat. "Don’t make me do this, Jarod."
"Not going to make you do anything, old man," Jarod said, swiping at him and hitting him across the face, Sydney hitting the floor like a bag of sand.
Turning towards Parker, he was just in time to see her try to hit him over the head with a vase. Dodging, Jarod grabbed her arm, the vase falling to the floor and shattering. Jarod pulled her arm, causing her tumble forward. Leaning down, Jarod caught Miss Parker on his shoulder, flipping her over him, she hitting the floor behind him. Spinning around, Jarod dived on top of her, smiling down at her.
"Now that was fun," he said, chuckling.
Miss Parker gasped, trying to catch the air that was knocked out of her. "Get off me," she croaked, squirming from underneath him.
"No," Jarod said, leaning down and rubbing his nose against her neck, sending chills through her body. "Hmm, this seems familiar," he said against her flesh, sending more chills rolling down to her toes.
"Get off me, now!" Miss Parker screamed again.
"Get off her, Jarod!" they heard Sydney shout, and Jarod looked up just in time to see the older man swing his cane at him, hitting him hard in the back of his head, immediately knocking him unconscious.
Rolling him off her, Miss Parker scrambled to her feet, breathing heavily as she stared down at him. "Damn Syd," she said, looking up at Sydney, who was white as a ghost, gripping the can tightly as he stared down at the unconscious form.
Swallowing, Sydney looked up at Miss Parker carefully, shaking his head. "Didn’t mean to hit him that hard..." he whispered. "I hope I didn’t kill him."
"Sydney...he is already dead," Miss Parker said, and instantly felt guilt as she watched the older man wince. Looking down at Jarod again, she leaned down and gripped his arm. "Help me get him to the bed. We are going to tie him to the bed and then call Broots and see if he found anything."
Nodding, Sydney grabbed Jarod’s other arm, helping his co-worker drag the unconscious form towards the bedroom.
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"I didn’t find much," Broots said over the phone, Miss Parker rolling her eyes, looking over at Jarod who was tied tightly to the bed, still unconscious. "Just that crosses, light, fire, holy water and stakes kill them. Nothing on how to bring one back to being human, though."
"Keep looking," Miss Parker demanded, slapping the phone shut. Quickly peeking out the door, she spotting Sydney asleep on the couch, before she closed and locked the door and tiptoed over towards Jarod.
Leaning over him, she watched as his chest rose and fell, before pulling out a piece of the broken vase, taking the tip and slicing his arm.
No blood came to the cut and Miss Parker closed her eyes, swallowing hard, before opening them again and gasping softly when she realized he was watching her. His once playful eyes held the look of a wild animal, blank, yet holding a slight bit of anger and fear.
Narrowing her eyes, Miss Parker smirked evilly down at him. "Looks like the tables are turned Vampire Boy."
"Looks like," he growled.
Climbing on top and straddling him, Miss Parker leaned down so her face was inches from his. Taking his face in her hands, she stared deep within his eyes, watching with slight surprise as the brown softened. Blinking once, she leaned closer and kissed the tip of his nose, receiving a sharp intake of breath, he closing his eyes.
Leaning back up, she watched as he reopened his eyes, inhaling as she spotted the familiarity in those brown eyes. Once again, a puppy stared up at her, the child in his eyes reappeared, the demon now gone.
"Parker...?" he whispered, his voice quivering. Nodding, she shifted, laying down beside him, resting her head on one of his arms that were tied tightly over his head and wrapped an arm around his waist, snuggling close. She was satisfied when she felt him lean his cheek against the top of her head.
There was no question as to why he was tied, and Miss Parker felt that he knew why. That almost broke her heart in two. Sighing shakily, she closed her eyes.
Suddenly, she heard the doorknob being jiggled, Sydney pounding on the door. "Parker! Parker are you alright!"
Scrambling off the bed, she trotted towards the door, unlocking it, coming face to face with a nervous Sydney.
"Why did you lock the door?" he asked. "What if...?" He stopped when he saw Jarod staring back at him, confusion and concern in those brown, childlike eyes. Sydney slowly entered the room, approaching the bed as carefully as he could.
Jarod winced when he spotted the bruise that had formed on the older man’s cheek, meeting his eyes and whispering, "I am sorry, Sydney."
Sydney inhaled sharply, touching his cheek briefly, before looking over his shoulder at Miss Parker.
Looking at Jarod, Sydney smiled weakly at him. "It’s okay, Jarod. I got you back with a solid hit with a cane."
Jarod laughed softly, closing his eyes. "I know," he chuckled.
Sydney chuckled with him, before silence stretched uncomfortably within the room once again. "I’m glad you are back."
Jarod shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. "I am not back, Sydney. Well...not for good, anyway." Jarod watched as Sydney tilted his head to the side slightly. "I can control myself sometimes...but most of the time, I am completely gone," Jarod explained.
"How do we bring you back for good?" Miss Parker whispered.
Jarod looked over at her carefully. "I am not sure." He paused and then swallowed. "I had died naturally in the train wreck...I am not sure you are going to be able to bring me back."
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To Be Contined....