* * * *

 Miss Parker slid into the back seat beside a struggling David. "Give 
him a shot!" She hissed unemotionally, gesturing at the screaming boy.

"No!" He screamed, his voice emerging as a broken sob. he reached up 
and pulled the hood off his head, staring around the car, still sobbing 
quietly. "Please no!" he whimpered, his eyes pleading.

Miss Parker gestured for the syringe to be put away. "Now sit down and 
shut up." She instructed, blowing smoke in the child's face.

He sputtered softly, then climbed up and tried to look out the back 
window. "Where's Jarod?" He whimpered. She shrugged, looking out 
the window. "Alive." She grinned. "This is just too good." She 
chuckled.

The little boy coughed as she let out another mouthful of smoke. 
"Don't do that!" He grumbled, protesting. "What?" She asked irritably.

He frowned at her for a moment as the cigarette stopped smoking and 
went out quickly. She lifted it out in front of her and stared at it. "What 
the hell?" She asked herself then turned to the child, his eyes shone 
with fear and his dark hair was messy from the struggle. She sighed. 
"You're a freak, kid." She snarled.

A tear slid from his eye. "I am not!" He protested. "I don't like you!" 
He shouted, louder this time. He turned to the dark window and hit on 
it with his fist. "Let me out of here!!!" He cried, his voice breaking.

She grumbled. "You can't get out, live with it!" She snapped.

He turned to her for a moment and stared. His tears began to dry on his 
cheeks, leaving red streaks where they once were. "Why do you do 
that?" He asked, his voice barely audible.

"Do what?" She asked, placing her unlit cigarette into the large ashtray. 
"Why don't you say what you think?" He asked. "You think nice." He 
whispered, his eyes confused.

She chuckled. "Don't analyze me kid." She replied, attempting to light 
another cigarette. She reached for the lighter as it raised up higher, 
slightly out of her reach. She cursed. "Aren't you supposed to be scared 
of me?" She hissed angrily.

He shook his head. "That was before you caught me." He explained.

She sighed. "Well, how about this? You shut up and I smoke a nice 
cigarette, OK?" She offered, her voice cold and condescending. His eyes 
filled with tears again. "I want my mummy and daddy." He whispered again.

Miss Parker closed her eyes. His tone broke her heart. She began to 
think back on what he said. "Why don't you say what you think? You 
think nice." The words rung in her ears. Slowly she turned to the softly 
sobbing boy and put a hesitant arm around his shoulder. "It's OK." She 
whispered softly.

He turned to face her, staring at her through red, puffy eyes. He 
wrapped his arms around her and hugged into her as he continued to 
cry quietly.

His body shook with gentle sobs. She closed her eyes to stop her own 
tears. It reminded her of herself when she was taken away from her 
parents. "How did your mummy and daddy die?" She asked softly.

He raised his head and looked up at her. "Your people killed them." He 
whispered, his voice more frightened than hostile.

"What?" She asked, her mind spinning. This boy was an orphan, The 
Centre had had nothing to do with that.

He nodded. "They killed my mum and dad." He sobbed quietly as he 
cuddled into her arms again, seeking any source of comfort.

* * * *

 Jarod rubbed his head painfully as his sight came clear again. He 
looked up, straight into Sydney's eyes. He sighed. "Hello Sydney." He 
mumbled insincerely.

Sydney smiled despite his unhappy response. "Good to see you again 
Jarod, how are you feeling?" Jarod raised his eyebrows at him. "You're 
the psychiatrist." He replied dryly.

Sydney looked down. "Jarod..." He began but the younger man cut him 
off.

"I know Sydney." He looked up at him and shrugged. "It's not your 
fault." Sydney seemed relieved, even though his tone wasn't 
convincing. "It's good to see you again Jarod." He smiled hesitantly.

Jarod searched for an answer that wouldn't make his anger burst out. 
Unable to find one he changed the subject. "Where's David?" He 
asked, staring out the window.

Sydney sighed. "He's in the other car."

The car was silent for a moment before Jarod spoke, his voice was 
pleading. "Please Sydney, let him go." He whispered. Sydney looked 
away from Jarod's penetrating gaze. "Jarod, it's not my choice."

Jarod's eyes stayed determined. "Sydney, Please...."

Sydney sighed. "I can't help him Jarod, I don't have that power."

Jarod let his head fall back and he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry 
Sydney...." He whispered.

Sydney seemed confused. "For what?"

"I'm sorry I made your life like this." He sighed.

"Jarod, what are you talking about?" Sydney chuckled.

Jarod closed his eyes and rested back against the seat. "You stayed for 
me didn't you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

Sydney nodded slowly, saying nothing. 

* * * *

 Tracey peered out the door again anxiously. It had been three hours 
since they had gone out for a walk. She closed the door and stood for a 
moment, trying to work out what to do. At that moment the room was 
entered by the elderly secretary. "Joyce!" She greeted her.

Joyce smiled. "What's the matter dear? You look concerned?"

Tracey nodded. "I'm worried about Jarod and David, they've been gone 
for hours."

"They're probably just stopping off for ice cream." The elderly lady 
chuckled waving her hand in the air lightheartedly. "That David has 
turned out to be a fine boy." She smiled turning around to face Tracey. 
She seemed to be deep in thought. "Why are you so worried dear?"

She sighed. "I have a feeling." She pushed past her and took a seat by 
the desk. She reached out and began to dial. Finally there was an 
answer. "Hello, 911."

* * * *

 "He'll go by will!" Sydney snapped as Sam snapped a pair of handcuffs 
around Jarod's wrists. Jarod let out a little grunt as he was pushed 
towards the jet hard, almost stumbling. The sweeper shrugged. "Raines 
said he must be restrained at all times." He explained coldly, pressing a 
gun into Jarod's back.

The second car pulled up silently and Miss Parker emerged, for once 
without a cigarette. She approached Sydney and stepped behind Jarod, 
"I'll take boy wonder. I need a cigarette." She grumbled.

Jarod raised his eyebrows. "Hello Miss Parker." he greeted falsely as his 
arms were pulled back harder by the over exuberant sweeper.

She shook her head. "Save it frankenboy." She hissed, pushing him in 
the direction of the plane. Unprepared for this he fell forward against 
the steps, letting out a painful moan as he hit the ground hard.

Sydney reached forward to pick him up but Miss Parker stopped him, 
grabbing hold of the metal of the handcuffs. She pulled him back onto 
his knees and bent over him. "Oh poor diddums." She whispered 
sarcastically.

He closed his eyes, blocking out the throbbing in his arm from when he 
hit the ground. He got to his feet slowly, trying not to make eye contact 
with her. "Thanks for the sympathy." He grumbled as he made his way 
up the steps.

* * * *

 He fell back into the chair as she gave him a final push into his area of 
the plane. He let out a deep breath when he saw the carriage empty 
except for a few sweepers. "Where's David?" He asked angrily, turning 
to face her.

She blew a mouthful of smoke at him and shrugged. "He got a 
different plane, in case, you know, you tried something." She 
explained. She turned to the sweepers and pressed her gun to Jarod's 
forehead. "Get out." She hissed at them. They exchanged glances. "Miss 
Parker, your father asked that we - " "I know what he asked!" She 
snapped. "But you hear what I'm asking. I'm asking for you to get out 
of the cabin and go sit in another part of the plane." She pressed the 
gun harder into Jarod's head to illustrate a point. "I have things under 
control." "Yes ma'am." Sam replied obediently, leading the rest of the 
men out of the room.

When they disappeared from view she lowered her gun and sat back. 
"Well done." Jarod said grinning.

"Shut up Jarod." She snapped. "I just can't stand the thought of anyone 
else analyzing me for a very long time." She rested her head back as the 
plane began to buzz with the sound of a warming engine.

Jarod chuckled. "I see you got on well with David." She pushed her 
fingers through her hair and sighed. "The kid's a living freak show." 
Jarod sobered. "You can't take him back."

Miss Parker laughed condescendingly. "Oh? And why not? It's not like 
we took freak boy away from his parents." She hissed.

Jarod's eyes began to burn with anger. "No! You did take his parents 
away from him! The Centre took their lives and now they want to take 
what's left of his and tear it into a million pieces! There's no room for 
more sick minds in the world Miss Parker!" He shouted, fighting the 
tears that threatened to show themselves.

"Jarod, take a valium." She shot back, seemingly surprised by his 
outburst. "The Centre had nothing to do with the death of David's 
parents."

Jarod closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Miss Parker, I want to 
show you something." He said, his voice more controlled this time. He 
went to reach inside his coat, but she pressed a gun to his head again in 
an effort to stop him. He turned and made eye contact with her. His 
dark eyes were passionate for his beliefs and non-threatening at the 
same time. "If I wanted to shoot you Miss Parker," He whispered. "I'd 
have done it in that hurricane." He stared at her for another moment 
until she lowered her gun slowly.

"What the hell are you looking for anyhow?" she asked. Jarod didn't 
answer, instead he pulled out a newspaper clipping with a photo of the 
car a few moments after it had been hit. In the back of the picture 
clearly showed a black car.

Jarod pointed to it. "Look familiar?" He asked coldly.

She stared at it blankly for a moment then something seemed to click. 
She dropped the photo on his lap and shut her eyes. That car was from 
The Centre.

She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "That's not proof 
Jarod." She whispered against her own judgment. He sat silent for a 
moment before he whispered. "What sort of proof do you need?"

* * * *

 "Hello David." Sydney smiled at the little boy who seemed to be lost in 
his own world. Sydney took a deep breath. "My name's Sydney." He 
explained. He put his hand on the boys shoulder to turn him around 
but the child refused to move.

The elder man sighed. "David is something the matter?" He asked, 
fully knowing the answer.

The child turned to face him momentarily, his eyebrows raised. Sydney 
nodded at his silent response. "It's going to be OK David." He 
whispered.

The child started to sob softly, pushing Sydney away as he tried to wrap 
his arm around his shoulder.

* * * *

 Tracey felt her blood run cold as the police walked through the door, 
their faces glum. "What did you find?" She managed to ask, her voice 
as unemotional as she could make it.

They shrugged. "Nothing at all, except a few marks in the snow that 
indicted a struggle."

She nodded numbly. "Any clues?" The man shook his head. "I'm 
afraid not, but there is no evidence to indicate that Jarod or David was 
killed or severely injured."

She felt her heart fill with slight hope. "You mean they might be OK?"

He nodded. "Don't get your hopes up but it seems that whoever took 
them seemed to want them alive."

Tracey grimaced. She had a fair idea who that was.

* * * *

 Jarod's head jerked up with a start. He scanned the plane. Everything 
was the same as the last time he looked but this time the windows 
showed only darkness.

He let his head fall back for a moment. "I can't believe I dozed off in 
this!" He grumbled, still feeling tired.

She shrugged. "You didn't." She tapped on the side of a large 
hypodermic needle.

He laughed bitterly. "I guess I thought too much when I expected you 
to be humane." He mumbled under his breath.

Obviously hearing him she rested a hand on his shoulder causing him 
to jerk away. She lowered her hand unsurely. "Jarod I need to talk to 
you."

He felt his throat clog up with bitterness. It was the first time he had 
felt anger for her, and it wasn't even about him. "Well." He hissed. 
"Start talking."

She seemed taken aback by his response. She pulled away slightly. 
"Jarod I'm sorry about the needle." She whispered. "Sam heard the 
argument and ran out with it," She shook her head. "It wasn't my 
fault."

He felt slightly guilty for snapping earlier but he wouldn't let himself 
believe her innocence, at least not yet. "You wanted to talk to me." He 
urged her on, uncomfortable with the silence.

She swallowed hard and dropped her voice. "Jarod I shouldn't have to 
apologize to you for catching you. It's my job." He opened his mouth to 
say something back but she raised her hand to stop him. "But I want to 
anyway." She took a deep breath. "Jarod I'm sorry I have to bring you 
back."

He looked away, fighting the part of him that seemed to be leaping for 
joy hearing her saying something nice to him after so long.

She continued. "Jarod you did a lot of good out there, I'm sorry it has to 
end."

"It doesn't if you let me go." He whispered, still unable to look at her. 
She spun him around, forcing him to look at her. "Jarod I care about 
your life, but not enough to get myself killed." She said tensely, her 
teeth gritted.

Jarod sighed. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "Being kidnapped and 
injected with a hypodermic needle doesn't tend to do much for my 
temperament." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

She chuckled with him then sobered. "Jarod I'm scared. I'm more 
scared than I ever thought I could be." She whispered, her voice dry in 
her throat. "I'm scared of David finding out who I really am, I'm scared 
of him finding out what I'm running from, I'm scared of him finding 
out what really happened to my mother. I'm scared because I don't 
know myself." She sobbed quietly.

Jarod reached out and rested a handcuffed hand on her shoulder. "It's 
going to be OK. You'll see."

* * * *

 "The Centre?" The young officer quoted back.

Tracey nodded. "I'm pretty sure that's what it was called."

The two officers exchanged glances. "OK ma'am let's get this straight. 
You're telling us that this "organization" or "research facility" which, 
according to every document in existence doesn't even exist, has 
kidnapped both Jarod and David because they where smart and also," 
He raised his hand to emphasize the point. "Killed David's parents to 
get to him. Is that about it?"

The young woman sighed. "Look I know it sounds far fetched,"

"No kidding." The second officer piped up. "I want you to give us one 
good reason to follow this lead."

She bit her lip. "Because it's the only lead you have."

The man shook his head. "I'm sorry ma'am, we don't follow goose 
chases."

She jumped to her feet and ran to the filing cabinet, pulling out the 
little boys file. She fumbled through the pictures and pulled out one 
taken at the scene. She pointed to the black. "Look." She grinned. 
"There's the proof, right there."

The men exchanged amused glances. "It's a car." She sighed, obviously 
frustrated. "Look where it is!"

The officer chuckled. "It's on the road."

She shook her head. This was going to be a very long conversation!

* * * *

 David reluctantly allowed himself to be lead down the flight of stairs 
out of the plane. Everything was dark to him under the large black 
hood he wore, similar to the one that held Jarod captive so long ago.

He sighed from under this. "Why have you got this on?" He asked 
impatiently.

One of the sweepers sighed. "Shut up kid."

"What's the point of me wearing this? I'm psychic remember?"

They exchanges glances and Sydney chuckled. "You're right David but 
it's Centre rules." The boy was silent and allowed them to guide him 
towards the large building. 

* * * *

 Jarod stumbled down the flight of stairs, struggling not to jerk too 
much due to the tightly triggered gun still held inches from him. He 
looked up and bit his lip. Before him sat everything he feared. The 
large building loomed over him as if it were a snake about to strike it's 
victim. In a way it was. He all of a sudden felt his veins throb with a 
rush of terror. He closed his eyes and took a deep shaky breath. He 
couldn't scream. There was no use. No one could hear him, and even 
if they could, no one had the power to help. Miss Parker pushed him 
slightly to urge him forward. She gestured with her gun towards the 
building. "Keep moving." She ordered.

He took a few more steps forward before noticing a small airplane on 
the other side of the area. "David." He whispered silently. He turned to 
her, a look of pleading in his eyes. "No Jarod." She replied to his silent 
question, pushing him forward with her gun.

He couldn't fight with her, he knew she'd win. He turned back to the 
plane as he allowed himself to be pushed forward. A small child was 
exiting with a black hood over his head. He seemed confused, but too 
frightened to do anything. A lot like him.

* * * *

 The hood was lifted from David's head gently. Sydney knelt down 
beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "This is your room 
David." He explained softly, gesturing to the large, full space before 
him. The room was laden with colourful paintings and everything 
educational, yet had a closed and frightening feel about it.

The child pushed away from Sydney and walked to the bed. He lay 
down quietly and stared at the ceiling. The elder man frowned. He was 
used to seeing tears, he was used to seeing anger, but for some reason it 
scared him to see nothing at all.

He came and sat down on the bed beside the boy. "David what's the 
matter? Aren't you going to look around your room?" He asked in his 
usual soft voice. David turned to his side slowly and silently, not 
responding to Sydney's question, he knew if he did he'd cry and he 
knew if he let that happen he wouldn't be able to stop.

* * * *

 "Home sweet home." Jarod mumbled as he was lead into the old room 
he had known so well, his home for thirty torturous years.

"Shut up and make your self comfortable." Miss Parker mumbled 
unclipping his handcuffs.

He rubbed his dented wrists and turned to her. "I get these off too? You 
people are just so kind." She grinned at his sarcasm. "You'll live." She 
mumbled, turning away. "Oh and in case you want to try an escape 
plan," She turned back to him, her face was cold and unfeeling and her 
eyes seemed empty of the frightened power she seemed to hold earlier. 
Her mask was back. "The room's sealed. Top to toe. Have a nice day."

Jarod sighed. "Just let me see David. Please."

She let out a breath of smoke. "Just make yourself at home."

* * * *

 Tracey leaned back in the chair. "Their gone." she sighed. Joyce shook 
her head. "Would you mind telling me what on earth you're talking 
about?" She asked, her voice full of confusion.

The younger woman sighed. "I have told you, I told you a thousand 
times and no matter how much you ask the truth wont change."

Joyce shook her head. "Well you must admit it sounds a tad far 
fetched." She mumbled looking back down at the desk.

"It's true as far as I know and according to everything in existence Jarod 
and David have disappeared off the face of the earth."

* * * *

 The next day

"David?" Sydney called softly to the quiet child staring at the wall. 
"What are you looking at? You've been sitting there for hours."

The boy sat quiet for another moment then finally spoke. "I'm looking 
for the sky."

"The sky?" Sydney raised his eyebrows.

"I want a window." He croaked, unable to hide the growing emotion in 
his voice. "I want to see Jarod!" He sobbed, tears beginning to well up 
in his dark eyes. "Why can't I see him? Where is he?!"

He jumped from the chair and ran back to the bed, burrowing his head 
in the pillow. 

* * * *

 Sydney knocked on the door firmly. "Mr. Parker?" He asked unsurely. 
There was a beeping sound signaling that the door was unlocked. 
"Sydney come in." The voice was cold yet full of a power that only Mr. 
Parker seemed to proclaim. "How's David?"

Sydney sighed. "He wants to see Jarod and Jarod wants to see him."

Mr. Parker shook his head. "No can do I'm afraid."

"Why not?" Sydney asked his hands firmly on the desk. "I just don't 
think it's the right thing for either of them."

"They want to see each other, it would cause no harm." Sydney replied, 
trying to keep his patience.

"I don't think so."

"Why not?" Sydney asked, stronger this time, his face hard with anger. 
Mr. Parker stared at him for a moment. "It's need to know, you don't."

* * * *

 "What." The voice on the other end of the phone was sharp and 
uninviting. Sydney swallowed hard. "Miss Parker I was wondering if I 
could get your help with something." He began unsurely. He had been 
to visit Jarod several times in the past day but David seemed to have 
taken his priority. It broke his heart to have to keep him here, for some 
reason even more than Jarod. They had said that the boy was an 
orphan but something about the more commonly believed answers in 
the Centre seemed to drive him into not believing them even more.

"Oh and what would that be?" Miss Parker asked, very unamused.

"I can't seem to get David to respond to anything."

"What has that got to do with me?" "I was hoping you could talk to 
him, he seemed to get on with you in the car and I can't seem to get 
through to him." He paused. "He keeps asking to see Jarod but The 
Tower wont allow it. They say it's best for them to be kept apart."

She sighed. "I'll be right there."

* * * *

 Jarod sat back on the chair and let out a deep breath. His hand rested 
on the table beside him and he traced a number eight almost without 
thinking. He raised his head and stared over at the air vent on the 
other side of the room. He couldn't get out this time. They must have 
known. The air vent in his room lead straight to the main air 
conditioning unit, not the great outdoors.

He let out a sigh. He didn't seem to care about being trapped though, at 
least not as much as he cared about a certain little boy.

* * * *

 The elevator doors opened slowly exposing a long corridor. Miss 
Parker let out an involuntary shudder as the silence hit her. She stared 
at all the doors before her. Each hid a child, a life that couldn't be lived 
because it was locked away from everything it should know. She closed 
her eyes and shook her head. What was she thinking? She was here to 
see David. No more, no less. "This way Miss Parker." Sydney's voice 
snapped her back to the present. He smiled a small smile and gestured 
to the third door from the elevator. "That's David's room." He 
explained as they approached the doorway. "I don't know how he'll 
react Miss Parker." He said softly, handing her the key. She shrugged. 
"I'm sure I'll get along just fine with the mini freak show...." She 
hissed slipping the key in the lock.

He sighed and stepped back into the elevator. She should be alone with 
this.

The door opened without a sound exposing a well lit room filled with 
everything educational. "David?" She whispered softly, unsure exactly 
where he was. "Would you stop calling me a freak show?!" A young 
voice snapped from a table at the other end of the room. "I don't like 
it."

She chuckled softly. "I keep forgetting that just because you can't hear it 
doesn't mean you don't know." He lifted his head and sighed. "I'm 
glad you came though." He whispered allowing a small smile to creep 
across his lips.      She smiled back taking a seat beside him at the table. 
"I hear you haven't been talking to many people?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Would you?"

"I guess not." She took a deep breath realizing she couldn't agree on 
this one. They where being watched the whole time. She had to be on 
the Towers side. "David you really should talk to them, they want to 
help you do things, fun things."

His face fell and his lip began to quiver at the first sign of tears. "I want 
someone to be on my side." He whimpered. "I know what's right and 
wrong and I wont listen to what you or anyone else tells me. I just 
wanted to have someone I could trust, just one person." He said as 
defiantly as he could manage through the growing number of tears. 
"You took everyone. My mum and dad and Jarod, and now you're 
trying to take me too. I just wished that maybe you could help me. That 
you could be on my side." His voice was now a continual sob as he got 
to his feet and ran over to his neatly made bed. He threw himself down 
and buried his head in the light blue pillow as the sound of tears grew 
softer.

* * * *

 Miss Parker lit another cigarette and inhaled the smoke deeply from 
shaking hands. "He was just throwing a tantrum." She mumbled to 
herself as she pushed her fingers through her hair.

She started to pace down the hall trying to clear her head and stopped 
for a moment to stare into one of the mirrored windows beside each 
room.

The little girl looked about four and her blond hair was pulled back 
into a neat pony tail. She sat at a table that was laden with shapes and 
numbers and a man who looked to be in his mid thirties stood by 
sternly, pointing to the objects and yelling about something Miss 
Parker couldn't make out.

The little girl raised her head and stared at the man with wide sad eyes. 
Her rosy cheeks were streaked with tears and she was sobbing gently. 
She began to talk and Miss Parker watched closely, reading her lips as 
she did so. "I can't do it! I want my mother! I can't do it!" She kept 
repeating through her constant tears. "I hate it here!" She sobbed, her 
eyes red and puffy.

Miss Parker stepped back and blew out a mouthful of smoke. She 
stepped to the next window, avoiding a knot that threatened to form in 
her stomach.  The next room held a boy about eight. He sat in front of a 
computer terminal typing madly. Behind him stood an elderly man 
who continued to poke him to make him continue. The boy yawned 
tiredly and wiped a hint of tears from his eyes. "I can't do anymore, I 
need to rest!" He protested sadly to the man, his eyes tired.

"Of course you can do more! Don't be so lazy." The man shot back, 
turning the boy back to the computer.

Miss Parker let out a breath and stepped to the next room. "I must have 
found the bad bunch." She mumbled to herself as the knot in her 
stomach continued to form.

The next room held a boy about two. He sat in a chair slumped over, 
his body wracked with sobs. "I want my mummy!" He screamed on the 
top of his lungs, his voice muffled by tears. "I want to go home!!" He 
shouted.

Miss Parker stepped back and closed to her eyes to center her thoughts. 
"This must be where they keep the hysterical ones." She mumbled to 
herself as she briskly walked further down the hall.

After walking for awhile she stopped at another room, almost afraid to 
look inside.

It held a dark haired girl around ten. She sat quietly at a table with her 
head down. She seemed to be working on a mathematical problem of 
some sort.

"Is it done yet Miranda?" A youngish lady asked seriously. The little 
girl raised her head, her eyes were empty and emotionless as if she 
really didn't care anymore. She shook her head. "Not yet, I'm getting 
closer though." She replied without feeling.

The lady sighed. "Well make sure you get it done soon, you know the 
rules...."

Miranda nodded solemnly. "I'll have it done."

Miss Parker stepped away from the window frozen. They had taken her 
feeling away. They had made her not care anymore. She shook her 
head and backed away as she headed towards the elevator. She'd seen 
enough.

* * * *

 Miss Parker jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun 
around to see Sydney standing there looking curious. "How did it go 
with David?" He asked softly.

Miss Parker let out a sad laugh. "All he wants is someone on his side." 
She whispered lighting another cigarette. There was deafening silence 
for a moment before she spoke again. "Sydney why are those children 
so sad?" She asked numbly.

He avoided her gaze. "Those children are new to The Centre. They get 
used to it."

She nodded. "Like Miranda?" She asked softly.

He lifted his head and frowned at her. "How do you know about all 
these children?"

She laughed softly. "For the first time I can remember I actually looked 
Syd."

He took a deep breath. "Miss Parker don't pursue this." He whispered, 
his voice tense.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Sydney I will do what the hell I want 
when I want to. And I will not listen to you about matters I am fully 
capable of taking care of myself." She turned and began to walk off.

"Miss Parker." He called after her causing her to turn to face him. He 
trotted to her side. "You've seen the children before." He whispered.

"Yeah." She nodded. "But like I said, I never looked."

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