This is a story written for fun and not money. It is written for myself and others who may want to read it. The Characters are not mine, I'm just borrowing them from NBC's The Pretender. The story begins at the end of Donoterase, which also belongs to the writers of NBC's TV show The Pretender. I have no money - I'm just an extreme Pretender fan. J

Caution - This story has a very dark beginning and will become lighter after a while. Reader be warned. jojarod50 This is part one of ? .

This begins at Iversonville airport at the end of Donoterase` - Season 3



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 1
by jojarod50





Jarod was appalled by everything that had just happened. He had expected some sort of complications, knowing he was dealing with the Centre, but nothing like this. Miss Parker lay on the runway cradled her dad's arms, after being brutally shot in the back during an attempted assassination of her dad. It horrified Jarod to realize that he must have been too preoccupied with excitement over being reunited with his dad and Gemini to consider all the variables. Was he responsible for this? Bridgett's gun had stopped him from getting her transported to a medical facility and his futile attempt of outrunning Raines' helicopter had gained him nothing. Miss Parker was in critical condition and now he was helpless to help her. He had watched with relief and bitterness as his dad, Major Charles, and the clone made their getaway leaving him behind. Now, the rest of his world was slipping away.

* * *

The Centre Helicopter landed on the runway near the wrecked motorcycle and Jarod who was sprawled on the ground. One of the Black towncars pulled up and stopped. The car doors flew open and Raines team made a bee- line for Jarod. Willie the sweeper helped Mr. Raines out of the Helicopter clutching his portable O2 tank. Jarod was inundated with waves of pain after being hurled from his speeding motor cycle. It took two painful tries for him to sit up. The pretender looked up at his captors still dazed as the reality of his capture came crashing in on him. Mr. Lyle, Willie, and Bridgett circled their prey. Raines hurried over to the injured pretender ecstatic to welcome him back to the Centre.

Jarod's heart sank Bridgett pulled back the hammer on her gun, as Lyle said, "Get up, Jarod, we're going for a little ride."

Jarod tried to get up, but fell back as pain radiated through his battered body.

He had torn up his knees, shoulder, and elbows pretty badly, not to mention his black leather jacket.

His palms burned painfully, as much of the first few layers of skin had been scraped away by the asphalt.

Lyle motioned to two of his sweepers to get Jarod on his feet. They yanked him upright and tightly cuffed his wrists making Jarod wince in pain.

"What about Miss Parker, Lyle? She's going to bleed to death!" Jarod managed to say before his knees buckled and he fell back against the sweepers who held him fast.

"Jarod, I'm so touched you care about my sister's well being."Lyle said with exaggerated feelings.

He motioned with his chin and the sweepers dragged Jarod to the waiting helicopter.

Off in the distance, Sydney looked on in horror.

He had been a fool for being a part of the Center and now he couldn't bear to think of what lay in store for Jarod.

Jarod struggled weakly against his captures trying to see what the others were doing for Miss Parker but was yanked back hard toward the door of the Helicopter and was loaded aboard. It was over.

Sydney forced himself to look away.

He had to help get Miss Parker to the hospital before it was too late and there was little he could do to help Jarod right now.

It was more than he could bear to think about his prodigy in the hands of Raines and Lyle.

Jarod had always managed to exist on the edge of emotional stability without breaking. How much more could Jarod endure before he had a total breakdown?

Jarod's screams came crashing through his whirling thoughts.

Sydney turned to see what was happening but they were already aboard.

He could hear the pretender's frantic cries and then his screams abruptly stopped sending a chill through Sydney's body.

* * *

Mr. Parker's voice demanded his attention as he and Broots were ordered to get Miss Parker into the car.

She had lost so much blood Parker feared he'd lose her.

"Broots, you drive!" he barked as he got in back with Sydney and his daughter

"Floor it!" he screamed angrily knowing a line had been crossed.

Was Bridgett in on it, too? He'd have to sort it out later. Survival was 1st priority.

Miss Parker lay there motionless and so pale.

Syd took her pulse. It was very faint, but still regular. There was still time.

They had gotten the bleeding under control, thanks to Jarod, and a hospital wasn't too far away. Broots drove like a madman. She was closer to him than anyone and though he was scared he was filled with raw determination to save her life.

As they flew down the highway they heard sirens coming up quickly from behind. Broots was reluctantly ordered to pull over and stop. The patrol car pulled up behind them, lights flashing.

"Damn, "Parker cursed, "we can't have center involvement. Let me do the talking."

The officer stepped out of his car and headed for the black Town car, as his backup finished phoning in the tags.

Parker spoke first through his opened window, "Officer, thank God! We've been the victims of a drive by shooting. My daughter was shot and is near death. For God's sake, help us!"

The officer looked in the back seat and saw Syd holding a cloth over Miss Parker's wound and the blood... so much blood.

The young officer raced back to his car and slid into the driver's seat grabbing the mike, "We have a medical emergency. Gunshot victim needs immediate assistance. Request permission to escort to Gardner Reese Medical Center."

Moments later, it was granted and they were on their way.

Mr. Parker shook his head. More problems to be sorted out later.


* * *

The Centre helicopter was heading straight back to Blue Cove.

The scene inside was very intense.

Jarod stared out of the window taking in every site, tears stinging his eyes.

He knew this might be the last time he saw the outside world.

NO! His mind screamed. There'll be a chance to escape and he'd take it.

Jarod considered Willie's gun trained on him - Be patient for a little while.

Jarod attempted to block out all thoughts about his dad, Gemini, and Miss Parker.

Don't think! Be ready to react, he told himself.

He cared deeply for Miss Parker and had tried so hard to get her to see the truth about the Centre, her dad's duplicity, and how much danger she was in by being involved.

He had failed to get through to her and now, if she'd die, he'd be as guilty as they would. Jarod again tried to clear his wandering mind.

Right after the sweepers had brought Jarod aboard the Helicopter, Raines had injected him with something, probably some variation of a strong tranquilizer judging by the effects.

They didn't sedate him. No doubt they'd vigorously interrogate him back at the Centre. The Centre. Jarod shuttered violently and shut his eyes as a tide of bitter memories flooded his mind.

When he opened his eyes he saw Raines staring at him.

The evil man looked over at him with beefy eyes, appraising him from head to toe.

"One Gemini out of all those tries.and now. we've hit the jackpot." Raines wheezed. "You've just made our prospective odds of new successes much better by joining us, Jarod"

"And what makes you think I'll co-operate with you?" the pretender challenged with a smirk on his face.

" Oh, you're going to co-operated. No one will stop me from succeeding; least of all you." Raines hissed in a low gravelly voice.

Jarod looked deep into Raines black eyes and saw death and Hades, but responded with bored disinterest.

He wasn't about to show Raines his fear, no matter what.

* * *

The Helicopter landed on top of the Centre at the heli-pad site.

Raines had phoned ahead for his private jet to be fueled and ready for a transatlantic flight.

This time Jarod would have no help escaping.

But first, they'd have a little talk with him.

Getting the DSA's out of the country at this time would be preferable.

"This turn of events couldn't have happened at a better time." Raines hissed.

"Get Jarod off the Helicopter and down to my private lab."

Willie untied the pretender and handcuffed his bloody hands behind his back.

Another sweeper came on board to help Jarod to the door.

Two more sweepers were there to meet them as they debarked.

Willie let him slip as he was transferred to the waiting dark suits.

Under the influence to the drug and with his injuries, Jarod could hardly walk and was literally dragged off the Helicopter.

Once off, they dragged him through the opened Centre doors, which were manned by heavily armed cleaners.

Jarod held his head up best he could and wore a defiant look masking his pain and fear. This was going to get ugly and he knew it.

* * *

Once inside, Raines headed for a brief meeting in the Tower while Jarod was "escorted" by two dark suits, Lyle, and Willie to Dr. Billy's lab.

They arrived without incident and Lyle punched in the code on the door lock relishing the moment.

The sweepers dragged Jarod to a waiting chair and set him down.

"Jarod, I'm personally looking forward to working with you, but first we need the location of the DSAs you stole from the Centre."

Jarod shook his head slowly side to side with an incredulous expression and simply said, "Now Mr. Lyle, you know me better than that."

"Lyle broke into an easy smile as if they were friends, "You're right Jarod, I guess I do." Lyle stood there with his eyes locked on Jarod's.

"Willie, come over here, please."

Willie walked over to Jarod and faced Lyle who kept his eyes riveted on Jarod's.

"Our pretender is having an attitude problem. I need to make a phone all. It won't take long. While I'm gone, I'd like you and your men to help Jarod remember what being at the Centre is all about."

"Yes, Sir!" Willie said.

Lyle smiled at his captive and turned to leave.

At the door, he turned to look at the pretender once more.

"You can't imagine how long I've waited for this, Jarod."

"Willie when you're done with him, strap him into that chair."

With that Lyle left.

"You're just wasting your time" was the last thing Lyle heard from Jarod as the door closed behind him.

Lyle peeked through the security window in the door to catch a glimpse of the helpless pretender as the sweepers advanced on him.

* * *

Mr. Raines still had several loose ends to tie up.

He was extremely pleased how everything was progressing.

Raines relished the thought of working without Sydney meddling into his affairs.

Poor Sydney just didn't have what it takes to make profound Scientific advances.

He was too soft.

He'd always been so protective of the prodigy, but now Raines would finally have absolute power over the pretender.

After about five hours, Raines headed down to his lab to check on Lyle's progress with Jarod.

Lyle had a way of getting things done for him, albeit, crude and unorthodox at times, but he usually got results.

This time, however, his efforts here were proving disappointing.

* * *

Raines had been observing Lyle with Jarod for 10 minutes.

Jarod had blacked out again and Raines was losing patients.

"Lyle we don't have much time left. Do what you can, but do it quickly or do I need to call someone else in. Failure here might warrant your removal from the Jarod project." Sometimes threats were needed for quicker results.

Lyle heard the unveiled threat and was beginning to wonder why he ever thought he could torture Jarod into revealing the location of the DSAs.

Jarod seemed hell bent on taking this secrete to his grave.

The crack was widening in Lyle's smooth demeanor as he selected an extremely strong short life stimulant off the tray and injected it into the pretender's upper arm.

Jarod moaned and his face contorted in pain.

He began to get the shakes as he surfaced again from oblivion.

"Welcome back, Jarod, we really do need a little cooperation out of you." Lyle said in a parental sort of way.

Jarod tried to focus on the man who had him strapped him to one of Dr. Billy's oversized lab chairs at his chest, arms, waist, and ankles.

If it weren't for the straps he'd fallen straight to the floor.

Jarod had been brutally beaten by Willie's men and he was livid.

Lyle grabbed the prodigy by his hair pulling his face within inches of his.

"Jarod, you missed the excitement - while you were in dreamland we intercepted your dad and Gemini."

Jarod's voice was weak but defiant. "Lyle, how can I trust anything a certifiable thug like yourself would say? You really should get some help."

Lyle's eyes narrowed. "Pictures never lie," he said, showing Jarod faked pictures of his dad and Gemini being apprehended by sweepers and several of them being confined at the Centre.

Jarod closed his eyes considering the evidence.

If it weren't for the stimulant he'd probably pass out from the physical pain and shear anguish he was in, but he was determined not to show weakness.

"You know those could have easily been faked. Only a fool would expect a pretender to swallow this."

There was now a noticeable wrinkle in Lyle's smooth demeanor.

Lyle laughed, "Jarod if I thought you were stupid, I'd say you were trying to provoke me."

Lyle's hand swiftly connected with Jarod's face slamming his head sideways blooding his bruised face.

"Your dad might die soon, I'm told, and Gemini should be on a plane to Africa within a few hours. It's over Jarod. You might as well tell us where you hid the DSAs."

Jarod realized that even if what he said was true, there was nothing he could do to help them or himself.

His guess was that they didn't have Major Charles or Gemini or they would have had the DSAs, too.

Jarod's heart was racing. He had to know the truth.

"You'll have to show me them before I'll ever believe you!"

Lyle knew he'd lost this round and became enraged picking up a scalpel.

"You know, Jarod, we have some unfinished business from the past to attend to. How does the saying go: a thumb for a thumb? Payback's a bitch isn't it!"

"Stop it you fool", Raines wheezed.

Lyle gave Raines a disappointed look and put the scalpel down.

"You're right, Mr. Raines, first things first. Jarod and I will finish our personal business later."

Grabbing Jarod by his bloodied shirt Lyle hissed, "No deals! I promise you, Jarod, you will never see Major Charles or the boy again."

"Take our pretender to the little room we've prepared for him, for his little twelve hour trip, NOW!"

Lyle grabbed a syringe and injected it into Jarod's arm.

"I'll be seeing you shortly, Jarod."

Two sweepers removed the straps and dragged Jarod out of the chair.

He hit the floor hard struggling against the pain.

Then they grabbed him and dragged him out of the room.

Jarod was panic stricken.

He was too weak to fight and was overwhelmed with helplessness and grief.

They dragged him as he vainly struggled against them, for what seemed like forever and then they stopped.

One punched in a security code and he heard the lock release.

They dragged him in and dropped him on the cold cement floor.

The sweepers were saying something he couldn't make out and he could hear the sound of something being lowered from the ceiling.

Lying there on his back, Jarod could see some kind of armature with various types of lighting devices being lowered down to about 3' from the floor.

The sweepers grabbed Jarod abruptly and dragged him to the far wall opposite the apparatus and attached him to it with the built in arm and leg restraints.

Jarod couldn't stand up and hung limply by his shackles.

He saw the hopelessness of his situation, but refused to give up.

He knew that if he didn't talk they were going to kill his dad.

Jarod shook his head.

No, there's no proof that they caught either of them.

But why had he just forgotten that?

He was experiencing overwhelming waves of confusion invading his mind as Dr. Billy's version of a hypnotic truth drug flooded his brain.

What have they done to me now?

Raines hoped Jarod's mind would become so fragmented that he would tell them where the DSA's are without even realizing it.

The effects would not be permanent, lasting about 12 hours, and their pretender would remain in tact.

Jarod was hallucinating now.

He looked up and saw the sickly green walls beginning to move as if they were breathing.

They seemed to be closing in on him rapidly.

Blinding lights across the cell came to life and flashed at an ever-increasing tempo until he could hear them pounding in his head.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he whimpered, barely able to speak.

Then he heard a small voice whisper; "they are trying to break me."

The flashing went on for several hours throwing him into a demonic nightmare world of his own invention.

Abruptly, the lights went out plunging him into unspeakable darkness.

The drugged pretender felt his mind slipping away as his world became a bottomless pit full of vile creatures.

He screamed in terror, as he hallucinated he was being buried alive.

Panicking he tried to get loose from the restraints and failed.

Hell was spinning now and he with it.

He heard voices all around him but couldn't hear what they were saying.

The restraints were cutting deeply into his flesh as he struggled against the invisible demons.

It had been 6 hours when Lyle entered the cell.

"Hi Jarod, having fun?"

Jarod searched for the source of that voice.

Slowly, the room became dimly lit and he struggled to focus on Lyle's face that was smiling wickedly at him.

"We're giving you the last chance to tell us where the DSAs are before we kill Major Charles. Save your dad, Jarod or he is going to die a slow and horrific death, because of you."

Jarod fought down the terrible psychotic thoughts he was having and feelings of shear terror.

He struggled to clear his mind and failed miserably.

"Show him to me." Jarod managed to whisper while gasping for air.

Abruptly, the door flung open and Raines slithered in wheeling his tank behind him. "Mr. Lyle, I need to talk to Jarod now."

Lyle craned his neck to see Raines and took in the sight of 4 sweepers with him.

"There's been a change of plans. We've been forced to move the schedule up 12 hours. You've got a meeting to go to."

"Escort Mr. Lyle to the Tower, Now!"

Lyle shuttered and pasted an overconfident smile on his face as he left with 2 of the sweepers.

Raines watched with satisfaction as he left then approached the Pretender who was sobbing quietly as he hung limply from the wall.

"Get him down now and hurry! We're moving him to SL 25 room 17."

The sweepers carried him swiftly to the waiting gurney, strapped him on, and had him on the elevator in no time.

Raines stood there a minute smiling and made his way to Jarod's new room where he would get him ready to transport.

Time was of the essence, as Mr.Parker would be back by the morning, but Raines would be long gone by then.

* * *

SL.25 room17: Jarod was fading in and out of conscienceness.

His mind was fried and the physical pain was overwhelming.

Raines entered the room and stepped up to the gurney where Jarod's prone body lay.

To the right of him was a small operating tray.

Raines injected the protégé with a strong sedative, as he lay there limp moaning quietly. Once sedated, Raines deftly made a small incision partway down his back and inserted a tracking chip.

As the old man quickly sutured the wound he rasped, "Jarod, you're too smart for .your own good."

He paused a moment to take a slow raspy breath. " I've had about all I'm going to take. from you."

Raines eyes danced over his work.

"Let's see if you can make up. for all the grief. that you've caused me. Now. you won't be able to get away!

"Get him to the Helicopter pad. I'll be right there."

Immediately, the sweepers wheeled him out to the elevator and headed to the roof-landing pad.

The helicopter was waiting with Willie and Lyle.

The Sweepers hoisted Jarod up and into the waiting seat where he was strapped down. Jarod was out cold.

Raines said, "You take good care of Jarod until I get to the airport. He shouldn't give you any trouble. He'll be out cold until we're on the plane and well underway."

Giving the thumbs up they were in the air and headed for a separate Centre airport. Raines headed for the elevator.

He and an old associate of his took off in a car from the Centre and headed to the waiting plane.

"It's ashamed. we couldn't get the DSAs. at this time, but with Jarod .we'll have plenty to do. and of course he will tell us
eventually,"Raines wheezed.

"Yes, that is too bad, Mr. Raines," Kilmmer said eyeing him carefully.

"I am so looking forward.to working with you .on the Jarod project, "Raines offered.

"I'm sure between the two of us, we'll convince Jarod of the importance of co-operating fully." Dr. Kilmmer said with a sparkle in his eye.

"I was.disappointed that our little experiment was cut short. Picking Jarod's brains while under the influence of our experimental drug would have been very interesting indeed, if not fruitful." Raines mentioned with a distracted look as he checked his watch.

"Will the labs be up and running when we get to Berlin, Dr. Kilmmer?"

"It's all just waiting for us to get there."

"Do you have any ethical reservations about this? I need to know now if you can't follow this to its logical conclusion."

Raines gave a maniacal laugh, " Oh, there will be no problem at all. It's my pleasure."

* * *

It was 4 am in the morning and the plane was ready to go when Dr. Kilmmer and Raines arrived at the airport.

The sky was full of ominous clouds, visible only when the violent lightning snaked its tendrils across the sky.

The low rumble Raines knoticed on the way to the airport was now replaced with the loud angry thunder and rain was beginning to fall.

"Are all the project files aboard and Jarod's medical records, etc.?"

Lyle spoke from his seat near the front of the plane.

"Don't concern yourself. The Tower provided everything necessary for the success of our project."

Lyle's eyes danced with anticipation of the cruelty he would soon inflict on Jarod in the interest of science.

He turned and glared back at the unconscience pretender who was heavily ensconced in his seat and flanked by two burly guards.

Most of the medical team and scientists were seated in the middle of the plane and engaged in a vigorous debate about ethics and unorthodox medical procedures.

Raines and Dr. Kilmmer were going over their schedule for the first week at the Offenheim lab as the plane engines powered up and they began to taxi down the runway. Raines knoticed how impressive the lighting display was as he heard another loud clap of thunder.

The plane paused in position as the pilot entered the cabin and walked over to Raines. "Sir, the weather is getting pretty iffy. The storm is causing a lot of turbulence up there and you'd be guaranteed a safer ride if you would delay at least an hour or so."

The captain stepped back as Raines wild eyes riveted on him.

"No delays. We go now. Do you understand clearly?"

"Yes Sir."

The pilot said breaking eye contact to look at his shoes.

He then turned and headed back to his work without further questions.

The wind had noticeably picked up and rain began to pelt the windows of the plane. Never the less, they were off the ground and in the air in no time and without a hitch. Raines smiled to himself as he visualized Mr. Parker arriving at the Centre and the look he would have on his face when he figured out his pet project had slipped through his fingers for good.

It had been about 10 minutes since takeoff, and Lyle was feeling a little queasy from the turbulence, but as usual was putting up a good front while talking with Dr. Janet Carter, who was endowed with much more then just brains.

It was obvious they had more of a history together than just this plane ride.

The captain came on the speakers,"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats, as we are going to attempt to climb above the storm. It's sure to get a lot more turbulent. Just try to relax. This shouldn't take long."

Suddenly, a blinding white light flashed and a ball of blue light diffused though the cabin as the plane violently jolted. They were going down! Lights were out and there was a hint of smoke in the air.

* * *


Sorry to leave it here - remember bad guys always get it in the end.. Please be patient. If you absolutely hate this - please be kind with your comments. J This is my 1st attempt at writing.

The Pretender characters in this story don't belong to me - They belong to NBC, etc. I'm just borrowing them - I'm getting no money for this story. It is written for my own myself and others who would like to read it.



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 2
by jojarod50






It was raining in torrents and the wind was whipping the tree branches against the fallen plane.

Remarkably, the Centre pilot had crash-landed the plane despite the temporary short-circuiting of the power by the electrical storm; however, the impact of the plane in the wheat field had caused considerable damage to the plane and probably the passengers inside.

The plane had slid through the entirely drenched field ending up in a lightly wooded area. Luckily, the plane had not caught on fire.

It had been twenty minutes since the plane went down which had shown up on radar at an airport just Northwest Trenton, New Jersey.

Emergency equipment had been dispatched at that time and was just arriving on the scene.

Three ambulances and two police cars made their way through the rain soaked field, sirens sounding, and lights flashing to the pre-dawn crash site.

The emergency personal scrambled out of their vehicles grabbing their emergency equipment, and headed for the downed plane.

The police gathered together to firm plans to secure the area and lend assistance. Knowing full well that the press would be showing up shortly.

Yellow tape went up around the crash site as the police cars were positioned to shine their headlights at the triage area forming just outside the plane.

The door to the plane had been opened and there were a bunch of indentations and gouges in the mud below indicating what looked like something or more likely someone dragging himself away from the plane and into the woods. Claps of thunder overhead completed the dismal scene.

Police Sargent Harry Carter was examining area under the opened door to the plane with Joe and Harry.

"Joe, why don't you see where those marks end up and Harry, help secure the scene while the emergency team brings out the survivors of this mess."

It was dark inside the plane, with an occasional sound of someone in pain.

Mark and Larry were EMTs and Kim was an EMIC with sound medical skills, but this was the biggest disaster they had been called on to date. Quickly, they evaluated the patients putting all their tri-age skills to work.

The other team removed patients with lesser injuries to the outside of the plane.

The more seriously injured passengers were taken to the waiting ambulances after they were stabilized Unfortunately, there had been two fatalities, a woman with a broken neck and an older man who had been impaled by flying debris.


Mark was at the rear of the plane treating a man in a dark suit that had multiple leg fractures with severe bleeding. The man one chair from him in the window seat had a head wound with probable concussion. Mark also noticed blood in the vacant seat in-between them, which seemed strange.

"Mark, can you come over here? This one is loosing a lot of blood?"

"Yeah, coming Kim. Give me half a minute to finish stabilizing this fracture. Hey, Larry what do you have over there?"

"Have on old man with an oxygen tank. Got him plugged back into it now. Lucky thing that didn't blow!" Larry said eyeing the tank with a pleased look. "Anyone check on the pilot?"

"Yes, I did Larry. Lost cause. Tree limb broke through the front window. He didn't have a chance. You about done over there, Mark?" Kim said looking over at him with a pleading look.

Suddenly, there were gunshots outside the plane and at the same time three sweepers came bursting into the cabin of the plane taking out the emergency personnel.

"I thought you'd never get here." Lyle said in a threatening voice as he arose from his seat.

"Get the cleaners to work in here quickly, there isn't much time." With that, Lyle limped out of the plane.

Willie the sweeper was just outside the plane barking out orders into his phone when Lyle limped up to him.

"Willie, any sign of Jarod?"

"No, Sir, but I've got a whole team checking the area. He couldn't have gotten far, not in the shape he was in."

Lyle grabbed the bigger man's tailored suit coat pulling him face to face.

"Find him or you will be personally responsible before the Triumvirate."

Abruptly, Lyle pushed Willie away and turned on his heel back to confer with Raines.

Willie's face turned to stone then rolled his shoulders to straighten his suit coat and walked away. He would remember this.

Raines looked up from his seat inside one of the sweeper's car putting his telephone down, as Lyle approached him.

" Two helicopters will be. here in five minutes .and I expect everyone .on board. Time. is of the essence," Raines wheezed noisily.

"Fine, Raines, but Jarod is gone." Lyle stood there with rain pouring down his face in his drenched silk suit.

Raines eyed Lyle incredulously.

"Impossible! Jarod was beaten .(he glanced down at his watch) and is still.. stoned out of his mind on. that hallucinogen. you gave him. I can't believe he made it out of his seat! He couldn't have gotten far. Activate the tracking chip and get him back here, now!"

Raines gave Lyle a look that made him tremble despite his cool demeanor.

"Jarod better be on one of the helicopters .before. we're forced to leave, Lyle, or you'll wish. you'd never been born."

"We'll find him," he said in a low and dangerous voice. Lyle broke eye contact, turned, and walked away.

* * *

"Take it easy, Mr., I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Joe. Why don't you just come out from under those bushes and let me take a look at that arm."

Jarod pulled back further under the bushes shivering violently.

"You're hurt, mister. We need to get you back to the plane where you can get medical help."

"That's where you came from, isn't it? You were in that plane crash." Joe said in the most soothing tone he could muster up.

Joe used to work a beat in the inner city and had seen a lot of action in emergency situations and he knew a hysterical man when he saw one.

The injured man stared at Joe with wild eyes, lost in a drug-induced nightmare. Joe's voice sounded very far away and like gibberish. Jarod had managed to drag and stumble amazingly far away from the crash site in a paranoid psychotic frenzy chased by invisible demons of his own invention.

His leap for life from the plane had rewarded him with a possible broken leg and an ugly looking shoulder, both, which he was totally oblivious of.

Joe knew he needed to get the frightened man's bleeding stopped before he could get him back to the crash site. Walking slowly toward the injured man, the burly policeman spoke soothing words stopping right next to the bushes. Slowly, he crouched down until he was level with Jarod.

Immediately Joe noticed that Jarod pupils were extremely dilated which could indicate drug use.

The pretender was focused on his bleeding hands now as he seemed to be struggling to get them apart, making tight huffy sounds and breathing short rapid breaths.

That's when Joe noticed the hand cuffs.

"What's your name fella?"

Jarod made no reply.

"Say, you look pretty banged up. Can you come toward me a little so I can help you get that bleeding stopped?"

Jarod's eyes got wide again as his mind registered on the man peering at him. His breath quickened and he made a strangled muffled cry as the policeman reached for his good arm in an attempt to coax him out.

Jarod started mumbling a bunch of nonsense his eyes darting back and forth from the man to the woods beyond.

"Come on now, let's get you out of there. You're hurt and soaking wet," Joe said, leaning into Jarod's body and wrapping his arms around him."

Jarod made low guttural sounds from the pain as Joe gently pulled him out from his hiding place.

Quickly, Joe removed his police shirt and ripped it into rags placing pressure on the bleeding wounds until the bleeding was under control.

Jarod winced as he applied the pressure to the wounds.

The pretender was rambling on about a secrete hiding place in the lower levels and something about thousands of flashing red eye. Finally, he trailed off again shutting his eyes tightly.

Joe looked up from his work as he noticed the pretender quietly crying seemingly lost in another place and time. Joe shook his head, noticing a sick feeling in his gut, as he wondered what the heck had happened to this guy.

Examining at Jarod's mangled shoulder, he carefully put Jarod's arm in a sling and used his belt around Jarod's chest and arm to immobilize it.

Looking into the pretender's eyes, Joe could see how utterly lost his patient was.

Something wasn't right here. This man was more than just hysterical from the plane crash, and what about the cuffs? He better phone this one in.

Taking his walkie from the grass beside him, Joe contacted Harry back at the crash site.

"Harry, this is Joe. I found a man in pretty bad shape about ½ a mile from the crash site. You'll need to send someone with a stretcher. I don't think he can walk. And another thing, Harry, the guy is wearing handcuffs and seems to be suffering from severe emotional problems or drugs.

"No wonder he was trying to make a run for it. I copy that Joe, we'll.what the...."

* * *

Joe listened in horror as he heard the multiple gunshots and cries of his partner and the others.

He stood there totally stunned for a moment holding the dead walkie then reality came crashing in as he switched it off.

"Oh, my God! We've got to get out of here, now!"

Grabbing Jarod by the waist, Joe bent over and hoisted him over his shoulder grunting with the effort.

* * *

As fast as he could, Joe made his way through the woods and on to the county road he knew would be there. Flagging down the first car that came along, Joe flashed his badge and spoke to the young college behind the wheel

"What's your name son," Joe asked with a friendly smile, realizing how strange this all looked to the young man.

"William Pierce, Sir, "the boy said nervously, eyeing the police man with no shirt and the bloody man slung over his shoulder.

"William, My name is Lieutenant Joe Clark and I just left a crime scene with this injured man and need to get him to a hospital very quickly before his condition worsens. Could you help me get this man into the back seat of your car?"

"Yes, Sir." William said jumping out of his car and into the pouring rain.

William assisted him getting the now unconscience man in the back.

Both men jumped in the front and they were off in no time heading back to Trenton.

It was daylight now and the heavy rain showed no signs of slowing as another angry clap of thunder sounded above them.

* * *

Picking up Jarod's tracker signal, the sweeper team converged on the site.

One of the sweepers picked up the walkie and looked at it closely. Scanning the scene, Willie could see signs that people had been here and someone had been bleeding pretty badly.

"Jarod" He said out loud.

Willie called in their findings and took off again tracking the signal.

* * *

Lyle pursed his lips considering the facts.

"Damn, somebody else had been sent to investigate the tracks left by Jarod and found him. That's just great! When I find Jarod, I'm going to kill him." Lyle rubbed his tired eyes and turned around coming face to face with Raines.

* * *

The Pretender characters in this story don't belong to me - They belong to NBC, etc. I'm just borrowing them - I'm getting no money for this story. It is written for my own myself and others who would like to read it.

This is a fan fiction story, which merely borrows the Pretender characters - this is just for fun for me and anyone who would like to read it. I am not getting paid and have no money so please don’t sue me! I’m just an extreme Pretender fan! Author’s note – this story was conceived this summer in answer to the season 3 final episode – Donoterase.

Please read part one and two before you read this or it may be very confusing.*



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 3
by jojarod50



4:00 a.m.: Gardner Reese Medical Center: It had been 12 excruciating hours since the trauma team had taken Miss Parker out of her distraught father’s arms, strapped her on the waiting gurney and wheeled her through the automatic doors into the Emergency room. She had immediately been whisked to the operating room leaving Mr. Parker, Sydney and Broots with the hardest part - the waiting and praying.

Amazingly, Miss Parker had undergone successful surgery. The bullet had been removed and the surgeons were able to repair most of the damage done by Willie’s high - powered rifle and now the rest was up to her. She had undergone several transfusions but because of what Jarod had done for her, the blood loss had not been enough to kill her. She was now in ICU where Mr. Parker had been the only one allowed to see her.

Broots was a nervous wreck. He had taken up pacing about two hours ago and was driving Sydney nuts! The Psychiatrist was already beside himself, waiting for his chance to head back to the Centre.

„Broots, come over here, please." The urgency in Sydney’s voice was obvious.
Broots hurried over, coffee in hand, and spilled some on the rug in front of the other man’s chair.

„Oh, um, I I’m sorry. I feel like I’m all over the Place."

„You are Broots. Please calm down. Miss Parker is out of surgery now. The worst is over. "He gave him a reassuring smile. „I need for you to call your friend in the Centre Lab again and see if you can find out anything about Jarod." Worry was written all over his face.

„Oh, yeah, well sure."

As Broots talked on the payphone, Syd rose and went to meet Mr. Parker who had just entered the waiting room. He looked pale and drawn but when he saw Sydney he flushed and gave him a hard look.

„We’re going back to the Centre now. I’m having my daughter transferred to a small clinic someplace out of the way and hard to find, as soon as she’s out of recovery. Get Broots." he said as he headed for the door. He had a score to settle and he was ready to collect. Syd headed over to Broots who was still on the telephone.

„Broots, we have to go now."

Broots looked away from the man, who had been the closest thing to a father Jarod had ever know, as he hung up the phone.

„I got a hold of my friend in the lab. Jarod is in a lot of trouble." He went down the list of drugs Mr. Raines had ordered just a few hours ago. Sydney swore under his breath as the two hurried for the door.

„Did he say anything else?"

„He said rumor has it, that they dragged Jarod down the hall in plain sight of everyone like he was some kind of trophy and took him to SL. 27 where they beat the crap out of him and God only knows what else. He also said, at about 4:00 a.m., sweepers wheeled Jarod, unconscious, on a gurney up to the heli -pad site, where they transported him somewhere."

„My God!" was all Sydney could say as they hurried out the exit doors and to the waiting town car.

** *

The rain had not let up. In fact, it was raining harder as William and Joe flew down the road with Jarod passed out on the backseat of the car. Joe had used William’s cell phone to report to the Trenton Police Chief, with his sketchy information about what had happened at the crash site. He explained about hearing gunshots and screams and informed him of the injured survivor he had rescued. He told Chief Richards that he thought the survivor might have information as to who the crash victims were and who the probable assailants were.

Police Chief Richards ordered Joe to take his injured witness to Trenton Memorial Hospital and assured him that the hospital would be totally secure by the time he got there.

Joe was oblivious to the fact that he had a 45-minute jump on the sweeper team assigned to recapture Jarod. He glanced back at the John Doe in the back seat. Jarod was conscious again, crouched down on the floor with his head tucked down into his knees, breathing heavily and occasionally blurting out threats or warnings to God only knew whom. At least he was staying put.

„Say, William, why don’t you turn on some low key music. Maybe that will calm that poor fellow down until we get to the hospital."

„Yes, Sir."

„William, please call me Joe, OK?"

„Thanks"

William found a jazz station playing a light peppy tune which was a welcome diversion from the drama which was unfolding. William was edgy enough after taking a week of finals then driving home from college only to become Officer Joe’s official transportation. No one knew about the Centre tacking device Raines had implanted on Jarod, which would be activated in less than 10 minutes - The device, which would lead the sweepers directly to their location.

Morning rush hour was in full swing sending them to a grinding halt. It might have been the exasperated driver beside them leaning on his horn or the loud clap of thunder that seemed to shake the car, which set off Jarod, but regardless, Jarod went ballistic. Oblivious to his badly injured shoulder and leg, or other injuries, Jarod threw his body against the back door, screaming hysterically. Failing to get out or whatever he was trying to do, he tried to go out the back window, cramming himself up against the back windshield. Joe went over the seat and grabbed the incoherent man who frantically fought his deadly advisory, his handcuffs digging deeper into his bleeding wrists. Joe hauled the drugged man down onto the back seat and held him down firmly, trying not to damage his injured shoulder anymore than it already was. Jarod fought Joe screaming and thrashing around trying to free himself to no avail. Jarod’s tortured mind saw only a dark menacing figure grabbing him and pressing him down hard into a pile of decomposed bodies.

„My God, don’t do this to me!" Jarod whimpered with glazed eyes fixed on Joe, tears streaming down his face.
A wave of dizziness washed over Joe as he held down the battered man.

The scene inside the car did not go unnoticed by the other drivers who looked on in disbelief.

Finally, the traffic was moving again and Joe breathed a silent prayer of thanks.

William took the off ramp marked Hospital exit, and was at the emergency room doors none too soon.

„William", Joe said over Jarod’s screams, „you’re going to have to go in and let them know we’re here. Better Hurry!"

William was out of the car before he finished talking.

Shortly, 3 security policemen with their guns drawn and 4 orderlies arrived with a gurney. Transferring the hysterical man to the gurney was quite messy, but amazingly they got Jarod strapped down and into ER without losing him.

** *

It was 6:45 a.m., when Mr. Parker, Sydney and Broots finally arrived back at the Centre. Inside the Centre, everything was in an uproar. People were darting here and there as if there were a bomb scare. The scene was totally chaotic.

Part of Mr. Parker’s staff met him, as he entered the mezzanine, and followed him toward the elevator. Sydney and Broots had already taken off for Sydney’s office.

„What is it, Mark?" Mr. Parker growled giving him an exasperated look.

„Sir, you’re not going to like this."

„I already don’t like it! Get on with it!"

The elevator doors opened and the two men entered alone.

„Sir, Mr. Raines and Mr. Lyle were under a Tower directive to transport Jarod to Centre Berlin, but their plane went down near Trenton, New Jersey. We’ve sent Sweepers and Cleaners to the scene. Emergency personnel had already responded to the crash site before we could arrive."

„Tower directive! My God!" Mr. Parker couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

„Causalities?"

„Only non -essential personal."

„Containment?"

„Everything has been secured, Sir."

„Jarod?"

„Missing."

„Damn! Find him! Find him immediately or heads will roll – including yours. Got that Mark?"

„Yes Sir. We’re on it now."

„I’m going to my office and I expect an update within the hour."

Mr. Parker exited the elevator leaving Mark behind and headed for his office. He was unbelievably tired but knew sleep was out of the question now. Going to his liquor cabinet he poured himself a stiff drink -no ice – and went to his desk to sit down. The fat was in the fire, but whose. He was afraid he knew the answer. Not only had Major Charles escaped with the Centre’s prize possession, Gemini, but now Jarod was loose again, armed with enough information to bring down the Centre. At least they don’t know where my daughter is he mused glancing at his watch.

There was a loud knock at his door interrupting his thoughts.

„Come in." Mr. Parker said looking up just in time to see 2 burley Sweepers entering the room.

„Sir, we’ve been ordered to escort you to the Tower."

„Parker gave them one of his mutating smiles.

„Certainly." he said as he stood up and straightened his designer tie.

Parker walked out silently with them wishing he’d at least had time to finish his drink.

* * *

Broots and Sydney hurried down the hall toward Sydney’s office, flagging down one of the computer technicians, who were rushing past them going the other direction.

„What’s going on here, Leslie?" Sydney blurted out giving her a puzzled look.

„About an hour ago, Mr. Raines’ plane went down with Mr. Lyle and a team of doctors on board. Hey, I really have to run. We’re stilling pinning down the situation."

„Just a minute!" Sydney said grabbing her arm.

„Jarod, was Jarod on that plane?"

„Yeah, that’s part of the problem. Emergency personnel got to him before the Centre did. Sorry, Mr. Green, I really have to go now!"

„Certainly, Leslie, thanks for the information."

„Anytime." she called, as she disappeared into one of the offices down the partially lit hallway.

„Come on Broots, we have work to do," the older man said as he rushed into his office.

** *

Two security policemen were assigned to room number 8 where they had just brought the injured Jon Doe. The highly agitated man had been transferred to an examination table and immediately secured with straps. Jarod was struggling against his restraints with a terrified look on his face, as one of the attending took his vitals. A female psychiatrist spoke softly to him skillfully working to „talk him down" from what they suspected was a hallucinogen „trip".

„Get those blood samples over to the lab! I need to know what he’s on before I dare medicate him. Do a complete work up on him; type and cross match 4 units. It looks like he’s going to need surgery on that shoulder."

„Sandy, let’s get Jon Doe out of those wet clothes and into a gown before I examine him. Start him on an IV and please find someone to get those cuffs off. I’ll be right back. Oh, and get Respiratory down here to do a blood gas on him."

With that, the craggy faced doctor stepped away briefly to speak with the officer who brought Jarod in.

***

Joe was waiting right outside the door, discussing the security measures that had been put in place with Larry, the policeman in charge of that detail. He was using the standard two-tier approach: The outer corridor consisting of hospital security guards, who know the doctors and staff by name and visual ID and the inner corridor consisting of policemen, who have been specifically trained for this detail.

The ER doctor briskly approached the two men.

„Excuse me gentlemen, is one of you Lieutenant Clark?"

„I am, Sir, how can I help you?"

„ I’m Dr. Daniels, the one working on the patient you brought in. I have a question about him, if you don’t mind."

„Say, Joe, I’ve got to get back to work. Talk to you later." Putting his hat back on, Larry stepped away to give the two men privacy.

„ Dr. McDaniels, what do you need to know?"

„Did you find any drugs or drug paraphernalia on Jon Doe’s person when you found him?"

„No, nothing. I found him in the woods about like he is now."

„Are you going to be around for a while, Lieutenant?"

„Yeah, I think I will. I’d like to talk to your patient when he, you know, becomes lucid. My partner and Sergeant were at the crash site where…" Joe looked away as his words trailed off.

„I understand. I’m really sorry." The doctor spoke with genuine compassion. „ Any ID on this man?"

„No. We’re running it through right now. I’ll let you know when we have something."

„Thanks Lieutenant."

„Call me Joe."

„OK, Joe, it’s probably going to be a while before he’ll be doing any talking. It looks like he’s going to need surgery. I’ve got to go now."

And with that he was out the door.

* * *

„Well, I see our patient has calmed down, Dr. Ross."

Jarod lay on the examination table surprisingly calmer than before, though his eyes darted around fearfully from one face to another.

The red head smiled still looking at Jarod as she spoke softly „He’s much calmer than when they were changing his clothes, but there’s no guarantee that will last."

Stepping away from the patient as Dr. Daniels approached her, the psychiatrist gave her report.

„Your patient is in a semi psychotic state with both visual and auditory hallucinations. He’s also displaying paranoid thinking, is delusions, and extremely disoriented. With his high anxiety level and everything else, I recommend he be medicated."

„Thank you, doctor."

Taking a seat by Jarod, Dr. Ross spoke in a soft reassuring voice.

„This is Dr. Daniels, he wants to look at your injuries. He’s not going to hurt you."

Jarod looked from one doctor to the other, perhaps a hint of understanding flashing across his face.

„Vitals?"

Joseph handed the doctor Jarod’s chart as he spoke.

„All vitals are significantly elevated. Blood pressure is 160/95, heart rate is 110/min., respiration is 53/min., and temperature is 103 degrees. Lab reports an unknown drug present, which appears to be similar to both D.M.T. and Lysergic acid diethylamide with traces of sodium penithol."

„ Thank you, Dr. Gant. Please administer a 100 cc’s of Thorazine."

„You’re going to feel a little prick now." Joseph said as he tapped the air bubbles and pushed them out of the syringe causing a little spray. Quickly, he wiped the arm with an alcohol pad.

One look at the syringe and Jarod became hysterical, thrashing around and screaming „NNNOOOOOOOO". Hands held him firmly down as the doctor gave him the shot. In moments, Jarod lay there quietly breathing much more normally.

„All right now, let’s take a look at you." Dr.Daniels said in a non-threatening tone. Raising the gown, the doctor saw the contusions and lacerations on Jarod’s chest and abdomen from the beating he had endured. Also, he saw what appeared to be several small but severe burns down his left side.

„Joseph, what do those look like to you?" he asked pointing to the red blistered area Joseph bent down for a closer look.

„They look like candle burns to me, Sir." he said scraping at a clump of wax.

„That’s exactly what I thought." Dr. Daniels muttered as he checked the ribs quickly. „Back to the Lacerations, he’s going to need stitches on the deeper ones."

After eyeing the deep abrasions on both knees, the doctor scrutinized the deep gash on Jarod’s leg.

„We’re going to need an x-ray series on the right lower leg, shoulder, and ribs."
Dr. Daniels sighed after viewing the deep gashes around Jarod’s ankles and wrists. His eyes met his assistant’s giving him a puzzled look.

„These will need to be debreeded and stitched also."

Moving rapidly, the doctor checked the deep abrasions on each elbow and discovered several needle marks at the bend of each arm.

„Hmmm, needle marks."

Looking closely at the raw palms, he said they would need to be debreeded and possibly needed a skin graft on a portion of the right one. Turning the hands over, he noticed the crusted dry blood around the fingertips. The doctor examined them carefully, breathing out expletives under his breath.

„He has toothpick pieces jammed under his fingernails."

Dr. Daniels grimaced and mentioned he thought the Vietnam War was over.

„Could you get this man to a siting position? Hold him if you have to. I want to examine his shoulder and back."

Jarod was more like a rag doll than anything else as hands supported him while the doctor continued his grim examination.

„Looks like tendon and ligament involvement with this injured shoulder."
Examining the back of the shoulder, he noticed the bullet wound which was infected, and oozing slowly.

„This man’s been shot. Looks about a week old. This will need debreeding. The scapula appears to be fractured."

Further down the back near the backbone, Dr. Daneils eyed a sutured wound suspiciously. It appeared very swollen and some of the sutures were broken.

„Whatever this is will need to be redone." he said slitting through the rest of the stitches suddenly revealing a black microchip. Dr. Daniels gave it a hard look as he held it up to the light.

„Joseph, get this thing into the right hands immediately." He said shaking his head.

„ OK, get x-ray over here stat. Tell them to get him in and out. Line up an operating room and get him into pre-op as soon as possible. Dr. Ross, I’ll be notifying you when he’s out of recovery. God knows he’s going to need your help."

„That will be all, ladies and gentlemen." With that, he went to report the criminal assault findings concerning his patient. Jarod was whisked away to X-ray accompanied by the armed police officers.

* * *

Raines was pacing back and forth in his office. Pausing, he hunched over his computer to confirm what he had just discovered. Lyle had injected Jarod with 3 times the amount of the experimental drug he was told to use. Was it a mistake or had Lyle done it on purpose. There was a great possibility that Jarod would not recover from this.

He turned suddenly to face Willie the sweeper.

„Are your men in place?" Raines rasped eyeing him carefully as he spoke.

„Yes, Sir. Jarod will not escape this time."

„As soon as I get an update… on his condition, I will …contact you. Has your other team …located Mr. Lyle, yet?"

„Not yet, but he’s on borrowed time." The sweeper said narrowing his eyes as he remembered the last time he spoke to that arrogant fool.

„Keep me informed. Now, get back… to work. This situation….must be … resolved very quickly."

The characters in this story don't belong to me. This is a Pretender fanfiction written strictly for my self and others who dearly love the Pretender. I'm getting no money and have no money so please don't sue me! Please read parts 1-3 first or this story will not make any sense.



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 4
by jojarod50



Recovery room 4:
Trenton Memorial Hospital: 9:00 a.m.

"Jon, can you hear me?" the nurse said using Jarod's designated name. "Jon, it's time to wake up now." She said giving him a little pat on his left arm.

Jarod slowly opened his eyes and suddenly attempted to sit up. The pain was excruciating. All he could do was arch his back and make a strangled sound while holding his breath; his eyes clamped tightly shut.

"Nurse, Meperidine, please."

"You're going to feel a prick now. This will make you more comfortable. Please try not to move around." It took a few moments for the pain to retreat leaving him in a strange dreamlike state. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Jon, you need to wake up now." Said a deeper and more commanding voice, breaking though the protégé's dreamless sleep and pulling him back to consciousness.

Jarod took a ragged breath and open his eyes, this time taking in the sight of a nurse and an older looking man with a stethoscope around his neck standing beside his bed. Someone on the other side of the bed was taking his blood pressure.

Two policemen stood toward the back of the room by the door. "What….?" Jarod whispered, fear welling up inside him as his confusion increased.

"Son, take it easy. You've been injured, but you are gong to be just fine. I'm Dr. Daniels, your doctor. Can you tell us what your name is?"

The protégé closed his eyes as a series of confusing images flashed through his mind. He shook violently gritting his teeth against the pain.

A cool cloth was patting his forehead, bringing him out of the fog again. He could hear someone saying his temperature had elevated to 103 degrees again and another one saying something about increasing antibiotics as he drifted back to sleep.

"You're going to have to try to stay with us for a little bit while I examine you." Dr. Daniels said as he patted the pretender on the cheek.

Struggling, Jarod opened his eyes again, focusing on the concerned face of his doctor.

"Can you tell us what your name is?"
Sifting through his jumbled thoughts, Jaord's mind registered on the question.

"Jarod," he said barely above a whisper, feeling like he had found a piece of a puzzle.

"Jarod, well we were close," Dr. Daniels said, relieved that his patient had said something coherent.

"Just relax as I give you a quick examination. Jarod, I'm going to check your eyes now."

Briefly, the doctor flashed a small light in the pretender's eyes.

"Pupils only slightly dilated. Very good, Jarod. You have been on some kind of hallucinogen drug, but it looks like it's wearing off. Do you remember anything about that?"

Jarod focused on the older man's face only for a moment before he experienced a flashback. The dreamlike feeling of the Meperidine only heightened the distortion of his senses and for a moment, he fell back into a hellish nightmare world and began thrashing around. The doctor shot a worried look to Dr. Ross who had been quietly observing Jarod.

After a few horrifying minutes, Jarod was abruptly back in the present, struggling to catch his breath as he frantically looked around only to find himself back in the recovery room. A woman with fiery red hair was leaning over Jaord, telling him to take slow deep breaths and to exhale slowly through his mouth as he rode out the hallucination. The pretender looked away, as the gravity of what had happened to him started soaking in. Hands that had held him down were released. The protégé began experiencing a panic attack and closed his eyes as he struggled to stay in touch with reality.

"Jarod, try to relax. You still have the hallucinogen in your system making things seem so strange. The drug will wear off soon and you will start to feel better."

The pretender felt himself slipping into depression. The recovery room nurse put a fresh cool wash cloth on his burning forehead and he closed his eyes.

"Jarod, before you go back to sleep, would you like some ice chips? I bet you're very thirsty."

Jarod nodded slowly. The nurse gave him some small ice chips, which he accepted gratefully.

The doctor finished writing on Jarod's chart and spoke to him again. "We need you to lay very still and get some more sleep. The pain medicine we gave you will help you do that. We'll be transferring you to your own room now. I'll be back to see you again after you get some solid sleep. In the mean time, Dr. Ross will be with you in case you need to talk. Jarod, rest is the best medicine for you right now. I'll be checking in on you a little later."

And with that, the doctor stepped aside, giving orders to the nurse before he left. Jarod watched his doctor leave. He lay there with a horrible sick feeling in his stomach, as he scanned the room eyeing the two policemen who stood by the door. Another wave of terrifying images assaulted the pretender as he slowly slipped back into unconsciousness.


* * *

"Look, all I know is he remembered his name." The policeman said leaning against the payphone.

"Did he say anything else? A raspy voice countered.

"Naw, I think he passed out again. Look, he's pretty messed up and sick, too. The doc said something about an infection or something. With all his broken bones, he ain't getting up and leavin' or anything. He'll be alone for a while with just us two watchin over him. Oh, and that saucy psychiatrist, she won't be any problem. I can handle women, ya know."

Raines let out an aggravated breath. "You stay put…until the sweeper team is in place. I want Jarod…back here…as soon as possible, but if something…goes wrong, kill him. We can't allow…the Centre to be exposed. Do you…understand, Able?"

"Absolutely, boss, there won't be any slipup here."

"There better not be for your sake. Willie will contact you shortly…to give you your instructions." And with that Raines hung up.

Raines gave Willie a long hard look.

"There can't be…any mistakes this time. How long before…your team is in place?"

"Within two hours, Sir."

"Execute."

Willie nodded and left the room.

Raines let out a nervous sigh. "Danm you, Jarod." The old man grabbed a bunch of files and left his office, dragging his annoying oxygen cart behind him.

* * *

Angelo squeezed his eyes shut for several minutes, before shutting down the video camera and retreating through the air vent. "No kill, no kill. Help Jarod."

* * *

Sydney was pacing the floor as Broots fingers flew over the computer keys, searching for which hospital Jarod had been taken to.

"Bingo! He's at Trenton Memorial Hospital."

Sydney rubbed his hands together and craned his neck over Broots' shoulder with his eyes fixed on the screen.

"Condition report?"

"Just a minute."

Sydney's eyes darted back and forth from Broots to the computer screen impatiently, as he waited for the medical information.

"Here, um, here it is!" Broots excitedly announced.

Sydney nearly pushed Broots out of this seat as he took control of the screen. The room fell silent, as Sydney took in the report.

"MY God almighty, I'm going to kill Raines and Lyle with my bare hands!" Sydney suddenly jumped out of his seat, knocking it over, as he headed for the door. Broots grabbed him halfway out into the hall and pulled him back into the room, slamming the door accidentally. Sydney stared at him, red faced and totally enraged.

"Get your hands off me if you know what's good for you!"

"Sydney, stop it right now. We, we, can't help Jarod if you do this. Think, Sydney." Broots implored him, totally shocked to see the psychiatrist go off like this and not wanting to know what doctor had just read.

"They stole him from his family. He was a tiny helpless frightened child and they…"We" stripped him of his identity, exploited his genius while robing him of his child hood, his teen years, his whole life! All he ever wanted was a family and a home, so "We" told him his family was dead, killed his brother, and right when he found his father we ripped Jarod away from him and threw him back into the living Hell he had endured his entire life! Sydney sank to his knees and cried bitterly.

Finally regaining his composure, the older man looked up at Broots. "Broots, they took that gentle loving protégé and nearly tortured him to death. And if that wasn't insane enough, they pumped him full of drugs and overdosed him on hallucinogens. He's in a semi-psychotic state and may never recover. They aren't getting away with it this time."

Sydney was up again heading for the door as it suddenly flew open and Angelo rushed in, wearing Jarod's torn black leather jacket and holding a video camera.

"Sydney help! Help friend! Danger!"

Sydney gasped as he took in the sight, momentarily confused by what he was looking at. The psychiatrist took a deep breath and grabbed Angelo's shoulders to calm him down.

"Angelo, what do you mean? Who's in danger? Jarod?"

Angelo held up the camera looking back and forth from Sydney to Broots. Sydney gently took the camera from his hands and handed it to Broots.

"Broots, run what Angelo has here, now."

Broots said nothing as he worked with the video, setting it up to play.

"Here it is, Syd."

All eyes were on the tape as it started to roll. It includedRaines' entire conversation with the dirty cop. The angle widened revealing Willie standing by Raines' desk waiting for his instructions.

"You stay put…until the sweeper team is in place. I want Jarod…back here…as soon as possible, but if something…goes wrong, kill him. We can't allow…the Centre to be exposed. Understand?

Kill?! Sydney's heart was pounding as he finished watching the tape. It showed Raines looking over at Willie.
"There can't be.. any mistakes this time. How long before…your sweeper team is in place?"

"Within two hours, Sir."

"Execute"

"Two hours! Broots we've got to stop them!

"Broots, set me up with a background in drug abuse rehabilitation, degrees, everything, and have me transferred to the Trenton Memorial staff as of a week ago. Notify transportation. I want to be out of here before anyone catches on! Say anything you have to but get it done now!

"Wha what about Debbie? I I can't ju just leave her."

Sydney rubbed his eyes and looked up at Broots. "I'm going alone. You can't risk your life and your daughter's. I'll be fine. You better cover your tracks well and then just sit tight. They'll probably have you looking for me." Sydney said with a wane smile.

"Now, get busy while I get some things together." And with that, he walked away before Broots could put up an argument.

"Angelo, you've helped Jarod by giving us this. Jarod will be very grateful. You did just fine. I'm going to go help Jarod now, God willing."

Angelo smiled as he watched as the computer wiz feverishly did his work.

* * *

Miss Parker moaned as she woke up from a fitful sleep. Looking slowly around the room, she realized she was alone. The last thing she remembered was her father leaning over her saying that she would be safe here. No one but Sydney and Broots would know where to find her. She felt as if she were falling into a great abyss of despair as she wondered if her father would live through the day. She had begged him to stay with her: to hide out for a while. He never listened to her and now she would have to wait helplessly hoping that he would survive.

Her back felt like wild fire where she had been hit by Willie's high-powered rifle. Overwhelming emotions welled up inside her, as images of the airport, Jarod and her father, and the assassination helicopter played over and over in her mind. If Jarod hadn't kidnapped her father, none of this would have happened. Her anger burned as she thought about that cocky brainchild and how he had always managed to screw up her life. If anything happened to her father, she vowed that Jarod would pay dearly. Grudgingly, she thought about Jarod being back with his father and Gemini and how happy he probably was.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a nurse entered her private hospital room and stepped over to her bed to check her vitals.

"Well, you're awake. How are you feeling?" she asked as she wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Parker's delicate arm.

"Horrible." Miss Parker managed to whisper, her face contorting in pain.

How the hell do you think I'm feeling? Miss Parker thought. For God's sake, you're a nurse. I've been shot in the back and I think the painkillers wore off about an hour ago while you were on coffee break. Miss Parker felt a wave of nausea wash over her as her temper flared.

The nurse gave Miss Parker a concerned look. "Your blood pressure it awfully high. You must try to relax. Your doctor left instruction for a sedative to help you get some sleep, Miss Parker. Would you like a little ice water first?" she asked, giving her patient a compassionate smile.

Miss Parker nodded slightly and the nurse helped her take a sip.

Placing the cup back on the nightstand, the nurse administered the medication.

"Just try to get some rest now. After that, you may have a visitor for a few minutes. You're lucky to have such a caring family. Your brother is very concerned about you. He said he would be back in a few hours."

The nurse took her chart and recorded some information before quietly leaving the room.

My brother, Miss Parker thought, as she drifted back to sleep.

This is a story written for fun and not money. It is written for myself and others, who may want to read it. The Characters are not mine, I'm just borrowing them from NBC's The Pretender. Please don'tsue me – I have no money. I'm just an extreme Pretender fan. Pleaseread parts one through four or you'll be lost for sure. jojarod50


Introducion
In Pursuit of Happiness begins with Miss Parker shot and Jarod recaptured at the end of Donoterase – season 4 grand finalie. Part 5 opens with a very injured Jarod having just been transferred to a private hospital room after just receiving surgery on his shoulder and medical attention for his other injuries. Sydney and the Centre are locked in a race to reach Jarod while Lyle is on the run, with a makeshift plan for saving his own skin. 1-22-00



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 5
by jojarod50





Jarod was moved into a private hospital room on the 5th floor; one of the few rooms left. Because of Jarod's precarious mental state combined with severe injuries, Dr. Daniels had insisted he have a private room. The only real reason he got it, was the fact that Jarod was the only probable witness to what went on after the fateful plane crash and was under armed witness protection.

The type A Sydney flu was reeking havoc all over the country, especially in the Northeast. There had been a steady stream of patients with life threatening cases of the flu flowing through the emergency room for three days now. Many hospitals were filled to capacity and had closed their doors. Trenton Memorial was one of the few hospitals in the area still accepting patients.

There was no doubt in Dr. Ross mind, as to the severity of her patient's inability to cope with the physical and psychological trauma he had endured. Jarod lapsed in and out of consciousness as fragmented shards of the past 24 hours assaulted his mind. The protégé cried out as he surfaced from yet another terrifying nightmare. Dr. Ross immediately left her chair and went to him. Placing a damp cloth on Jarod's burning forehead, she calmly called his name trying to bring him back to consciousness. Jarod's eyes shot open and he franticly looked around the room seeing no one besides the two police officers guarding the door. Quickly he turned his attention to Dr. Ross who was sitting by his bed.

"Where am I?"Jarod whispered struggling for breath and wincing against the painful movement of his broken ribs.

"Jarod, you're in Trenton Memorial Hospital beginning your recovery from injuries inflicted on you and the effect of a strong hallucinogenic drug. Do you remember Dr. Daniels speaking to you about this in the recovery room?"

Jarod stared at her in disbelief. His attention then turned inward and he became lost in thought.

"Jarod, what are you thinking?" she asked after a few minutes.

The Pretender looked up with a menacing expression on his flushed, bruised face, as his eyes narrowed to slits."You're lying to me. Now why would you do that, Dr. Ross?" His words were confrontational, but his voice sounded weak and defeated.

"Why do you think you are being lied to?" his psychiatrist asked, brushing a lock of brilliant red hair away from her eyes.

"I don't have to tell you anything. Frankly, I don't care what you do with me. It just doesn't matter any more. His voice trembled and he looked away as silent tears ran down his face.

"Jarod, I'm here to help you. I'm not your enemy. More than anything else, you need rest and time to sort everything out. Don't give up on yourself and don't give up on me."

The pretender turned his head back toward the doctor as if to say something else, then suddenly started staring at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. His eyes were wide with amazed awe and he gasped as his expression changed to wonderment.

"Mom? Mom! I've searched for you so long. Is it really you? How did you ever find me?" Jarod was overcome with emotion and started to weep.

"Jarod, just hang on. Everything is going to be ok." Dr. Ross said feeling a sadness she had never felt for a patient before and realizing she was in way over her head.

"Mom, you have to go. If they find you they will kill you! Oh God, I love you. Please just go. Please, please…please…" Jarod whispered as complete exhaustion overcame him and he drifted off to sleep. An R.N. entered the room quietly and headed over to Jarod, thermometer in hand. "How is he doing?" she whispered to Dr. Ross who gave her a wane smile.

"Physically, I think he's in a lot of pain and emotionally…"she just shook her head.

"Well, his fever is terribly high. I think we should get Dr. Daniels to look at him. His fever should have broken by now."

Stepping away, the nurse paged Dr. Daniels The psychiatrist looked at her patient for several minutes before retrieving his chart and recording her notes. Suddenly, Jarod's body went ridged and he went into convulsions. His face turned an ugly shade of purple as his body arched and bucked on the bed. The nurse hit the call button, opened the drawer by the bed, retrieving a rubber stick that she inserted into Jarod's mouth just before his teeth clinched shut. They held him down as he convulsed. Dr. Daniels rushed into the room and took over ordering the nurse to get some icepacks immediately.

Moments later they were chucking the ice packs under Jarod's armpits, groin area, around his neck, and anywhere else they could put them. Finally the convulsion stopped and Jarod lay motionless, blood seeping through his shoulder dressing.

"Nurse, call the O.R. and have them get ready. Looks like our patient broke his sutures. Get Respiratory up here for another blood gas and have the Lab do a bacterial and toxicology workup on Mr. Doe.

"Yes, Doctor. I'm right on it." And with that she was out the door.

A few minutes later, there was a soft taping at the door, and a nurse opened the door just far enough to give a message to one of the policemen.

"Excuse me. Officer Able, you had a phone call at the desk. The caller asked if you could call him back as soon as you were free. He said you would know who to call."

"Oh, thank you nurse. Police business is never done." And with that the dirty cop headed for a phone booth near the waiting room.


* * *

"Sydney was at his desk running over his downloaded copy of Jarod's hospital medical records. He quickly inserted records including an additional diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis with appropriate lab results and specific antibiotic regimen. Also, included were orders for an immediate patient transfer.

Broots was busy at his computer lining up a medical transfer of patient Jarod Doe to Menninger Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas.

"Broots, be sure to insert me as doctor with privilege on their staff. Use the name Sydney Best."

"Got it! Sydney, I just want to say, um well, God Sydney, be careful. If anything every happened t…"

"Thank you, Broots, but don't worry. I can handle a lot more than you know," he said checking his gun. "You just make sure there isn't any paper trail for the Centre to follow."

A knock at the door startled the two saboteurs, who looked up just in time to see Freddie from pharmaceutical supply burst in with a small white bag in hand and a clipboard tucked under his arm.

Sorry to barge in, but here are the bottles of seconal you ordered with the antibiotic labling you asked for. "You know this isn't, well, you know, someone could take these by mistake thinking.."

"Thanks Freddie, I'm well aware of what I'm doing."Sydney said with a threatening look, as the worried man handed him the white bag.

"OH sure, Doc, I didn't mean anything. I did what you said; No records, no paperwork on these."

"That's just fine, Freddie. Don't you have to be somewhere?" Sydney said nodding toward the door.

"Right. I'm outta here."And with that, Freddie left without another word.

* * *

Within minutes Sydney was aboard a Centre Helicopter, briefcase in hand, nearly simming the situation, as he laid out his plans. Once in the air he would be completely on his own.

"Hello Clyde, are you going to give me a smooth ride this time?"

"Sure Doc, don't I always?" Clyde chuckled giving Sydney an innocent grin. Moments later, they were aloft and headed due North for Canada. Fifteen minutes into the flight, Sydney turned to Clyde, gun in hand, and ordered him to change course, and head straight for Trenton Memorial Hospital.

"Clyde, I'm sure you are aware of the importance of giving me your full cooperation with no exception, if you intend on remaining fully in tact. Now, I will explain what we are doing and what your part will be. Am I getting through to you, Clyde?"

"Absolutely, Dr. Green. Please just don't kill me."

"That's just fine, Clyde. Just relax and I'll go through the whole thing with you, step by step.

* * *


Willie was disgusted with the mounting delays plaguing the surgical strike.

"Let me get this straight. Jarod went into a seizure, tore his stitches and he's going back to surgery in twenty minutes? Willie gave out a loud exasperated sigh. Ok. Operation disruption is "go" here. We'll just wait for your call and remember, don't raise any suspicions. Just get the package to the freight elevator. Our men will take it from there.

"You don't have to worry about me."


* * *


An outer corridor security officer scrutinized the doctor for a moment before he spoke. "I'm sorry Dr. Best. Your name isn't on my list."

"That's completely understandable. I was hired in last week, but had a mild case of the Sydney flu. This is my 1st official day of work."

"I didn't know there was such a thing as a mild case of the flu."

"I had a flu shot this fall."

"That's pretty funny. Dr. Sydney with the Sydney flu."

"I assure you it wasn't. Look, I'm in a hurry here."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Must be getting punchy. I'm working a double shift today because of that damn flu. Just a moment."

Quickly he called for verification and the psychiatrist was allowed to enter the hospital.

Sydney skipped all the formalities and headed straight for the 5th floor nurse's station. Selecting Jarod's chart, he flipped it open and began to scan it. The head nurse noticed him and straight away asked him if she could help him.

"Oh, hello nurse… "He paused, looking on her name tag, "Nurse Tess. My name is Dr. Sydney Best. I'm a psychiatrist. I'll be working with Jarod Doe. What's his status?"

"Not what we'd like to see. He's back in his room now, after being resutured. He's fighting an infection and we've been unable to get a handle on his fever until this past hour. It had shot up to 106 degrees when he ceased. His mental status is questionable. Dr. Ross is in with him right now. She's the resident psychiatrist here. Oh, and one more thing. He's under witness protection and Lieutenant Joe Clark is anxious to question him about the plane crash he was in. I don't know how much longer you can hold him off."

Sydney was in full professional mode when he thanked her, but hope she didn't notice the slight tremble in his voice as he fought to keep his raging emotions in check. After a few more hurried minutes with Jarod's chart, Sydney made his way to the pretender's room.

As Sydney entered the room, he was immediately taken back by the horrible physical appearance Jarod. The two policemen looked him over carefully as he entered, but he ignored then and headed straight for Dr. Ross, who was seated by Jarod's bed.

"Let's talk." Sydney said motioning to her to join him at the far end of the room.

"Dr. Ross, I presume."

"Yes. And you are?"

"I'm Dr. Sydney Best. I'm the new psychiatrist they hired in last week. My specialty is drug abuse rehabilitation. You look tired, if you don't mind my mentioning it. How long has it been since you had a break?" He gave her a compassionate understanding look.

"Glad to meet you, Dr. Best. I'm so glad you are here. I had a short break while Jarod was back in surgery, but I have to tell you, it's been a very long day. We're not a big hospital here, and most of us are doing double shifts. There are so many out with the flu. Hope you've had your flu shot"

Gratefully, I have. I've been looking over Jarod's chart. How is he doing right now?"

"Luckily, that poor soul is asleep. He's experienced a major psychotic episode; most likely drug induced. It may also be reactive psychosis, as he was severely tortured. As he has had such a high fever, I haven't been able to ascertain if he has been in touch with reality at all. Right before he had his seizure, he had mistaken me for his mother and was greatly fearful for my life." Sydney took in her red hair as she continued.

"He has also exhibited signs of severe depression, not uncommon for the first 24 hours following an overdose of a hallucinogen. Jarod has been put on a suicide watch for now. I'm really glad you're here. I'm afraid I'm way out of my league with this one."

"I'm very anxious to get started with Jarod. Look, why don't you take a break and get something to eat. I'll be happy to take it from here." Sydney suggested while leading her to the door.

"Thank you very much, Dr. Best. I'm looking forward to working with you. I owe you one. I'll see you in about an hour."

"Dr.Ross, Go ahead and take the whole afternoon. I really want to establish myself with this patient. You'll be doing me a big favor."

"Ok, doctor. Good luck to you. Catch you later."

With that, Dr. Ross was gone. Sydney had noticed one of the guards had left during his conversation with the doctor and knew time was getting short. "One down, two to go." He muttered to himself. I'll wait until the other cop gets back and deal with them together.

Quietly, Sydney walked over to Jarod and sat by his bed. Jarod lay there with his head tossing from side to side. His breathing was quick and shallow with a distinct raspy sound. He was obviously in the midst of another nightmare. Sydney's heart broke as he noticed the protégé's sunken dark eyes and ravaged face. His hands were covered with white gaze wrapped passed his wrists. He knew about the torn wrists and ankles, damaged by the cruel metal restraints and how toothpick pieces had been shoved under his fingernails. Jarod's mentor closed his eyes tightly as a wave of dizziness washed over him.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Officer Able walked in.

"So, how's the patent doing, Doc?"

Sydney smiled and walked over to his intended victim bringing his chart with him.

"I'm glad you asked. He's just been diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. Have you and your partner been vaccinated for this?"

"Um, no I don't think I have. How about you, Dennis?"

"Gee, I don't think so. No one told us anything about this."

"Well, you have been exposed, but don't worry. I took the liberty of securing appropriate antibiotics for you to start taking right away. You need to take 2 or 3 to get started and 1 twice a day after that. I strongly suggest you both get started on these immediately. I'll be all right while you take a break to take these. I suggest some hot coffee or something like that to get it into your system quicker. Take your time boys. Some times taking this high a dose can cause mild stomach upset or dizziness. Wait at least a half an hour before coming back.

There's an officer just down the hall if I need one. Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the fluid surrounding a person's spinal cord and brain. It can be quite severe and if left untreated can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Sydney said as he proffered the bottles of sleeping pills to the unsuspecting cops.

"Hey, thanks Doc! I can't believe no one warned us about this. We definitely need to be back 10 minutes before shift change. See ya then. Come on Dennis, we have time for this. Cover for us Doc, ok?"

"You have my word on it."

Sydney watched with great pleasure as the dirty cops hurried out of the room. Pressing the intercom button, Sydney called the nurse's station to inquire about shift changes and found out that it would be in 50 minutes. Pulling out his portable phone he informed Clyde of the deadline and told him to be ready.

Taking his seat again, the psychiatrist wrestled with whether of not to wake Jarod. The pretender moaned and mumbled something and slowly opened his eyes ending his dilemma.

"Jarod, I'm so sorry." The older man said, his voice cracking. Jarod just stared at him in confusion for a long moment, before retreating into himself again. He just lay there staring blankly at the ceiling lost in a maze of fragmented thoughts.

"Jarod, listen to me. I'm getting you out of here. Forgive me, Jarod. We'll face this together." Sydney had tears in his eyes, as he injected a sedative into Jarod's I.V. Moments later, his patient slipped into a deep sleep. Sydney checked the clock. Forty-five minutes to go.

* * *

"Hey, Joe, I've been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?"

"Sorry, Larry. I finally got a little sleep."

"Must have been very little, Joe. You still look like crap."

"I like you too, Larry. What's up?"

"You need to go talk to Chief Richards ASAP. The Feds got a lead on who your Jarod Doe is. In fact, don't tell them I told you, but I overheard them saying something about him having several aliases. He even masqueraded as an agent working with the Atlanta PD named Lieutenant Jarod Doyle. Cracked a high profile kidnapping case."

"Looks like he got in over his head on his last gig. God, what a mess. Hey thanks, Larry. I'd better get going."

"One more thing, Joe. Have you had a chance to talk to the witness yet about the plane crash and murders?"

"No, he's really messed up. It's upsetting on many levels. Ya gotta feel sorry for the guy, but the murder trail is growing colder by the minute. Hopefully, I won't have to push the issue and they'll grant me access to Jarod today or tonight. The only evidence we have from the crash site is a little silver disk. The Feds have it right now. Well, see ya later, Larry."


* * *

The inebriated bum spoke with slurred speech as he talked on the pay phone. "I've planted a bomb in your crappy hospital and she's rigged to go off in ten minutes. That'll even the score for the death of my wife, you dirty butchers." It took the old man two tries before he successfully hung up the phone and then he turned to the black man who had promised him $100 bucks to make the call.

"Ok, Pops. You did just find. Tad here will pay you off and give you a ride far away from here."

"That's just fine with me. Happy to do business with you."

"Tad, give him the money and his ride."

"Come on,Pops, let's go"

* * *

The scene was controlled ciaos at the hospital, as the emergency evacuation quickly got underway. Patients were moved out of their rooms quickly and efficiently, with great effort made not to further alarm the frightened patients.

Sydney made his move immediately, wheeling Jarod's bed out into the hallway. Clyde met the doctor at the freight elevator at the end of the hall. Orderlies were already waiting at the elevator with other patients. Sydney rushed up to the door with his chart in his hand.

"Everyone get back, please. We have a priority life flight patient who must be transported to the waiting helicopter immediately."

Everyone stared at them as they pushed through the crowd, wheeling the unconscious patient onto the elevator.

Sydney and Clyde made fast work of getting him up to the roof and into the waiting helicopter. They had to lay Jarod on the floor while Sydney held on to his IV bag.

The helicopter left the landing pad without a hitch and headed straight for Overland Park, Kansas.

"Well done, Clyde. Did you encounter any difficulties at the freight elevator?"

"Not really. I just did what you suggested and got the cops to handle the sweepers who were waiting there. The Centre is going to kill me for this."

"Take it easy, Clyde. Broots will have everything you need to start a new life, in a locker at KCI airport in Kansas City, MO. Go to this motel and wait three days." He said handing the frightened man a legal sized envelope. You'll receive a phone call in three days giving you all the details. The Centre is on borrowed time now. You'll be the least of their concern."

Sydney glanced down at the sleeping pretender. He looked completely ravaged. He placed his hand on his cheek. Jarod was still too hot.

"Don't you worry, Jarod. This time I'm going to make things right for you. I promise."

* * *

"I said those two cops and two of our sweepers are in police custody. Jarod is gone. I don't know. Do a head count. Someone used our own plan to get him out. Yes, I know what to do. I've already got a detail on that. They might even be dead now. Look, let me check and I'll get back to you. Mutombo? OH God! When will he be there? Yes, Sir. Absolutely, Sir. I'll be back in about an hour and a half."

Willie just stood there staring at the other sweeper.

"What did Raines say?"

"You don't want to know."

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I’m just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has crossed hands. This story is purely for the entertainment of myself and others, who miss the Pretender, because of all the blasted preemptions! Please don’t sue me – I have no money. 1-24-00



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 6
by jojarod50





Sydney was totally exhausted mentally and physically. Everything had run smoothly getting Jarod situated in the mental hospital. There hadn’t been any sign the past three weeks, that anyone unwanted had a clue where they were. Jarod’s injuries were healing nicely and he no longer had any sign of infection or of the intense fever that had been of such great concern earlier. Yet, Jarod remained clinically depressed and in a state of total unresponsiveness.

Day after day, Sydney had tried to get through to Jarod, but he just lay there in a catatonic like state. He did sleep a lot, but never ate and had been fed intravenously.

Finally, in the past three days, Jarod had started responding to the antidepressant medicine. He made some eye contact and was willing to sip on ensure milkshakes. The protégé had lost so much weight that it was going to take serious work to get his strength back. Jarod hadn’t spoken a word to anyone since his transfer to Menninger Hospital and had shown no sign that he even recognized Sydney.

Today was going to be a busy day with a staff meeting at 10:00am. Sydney still couldn’t believe it was time to get up. Last night his pillow seemed harder than a rock and he had stayed up until 2:00 reading a new book on cutting edge psychiatric strategies which seemed more like an exercise in futility. He liked Jarod’s medical doctor and had formed a very good working relationship with him. They usually arrived at Jarod’s room at the same time in the morning.

After grabbing a quick cup of coffee, Sydney was off for his morning rounds. Most of his patients had illnesses ranging from eating disorders, chronic stress disorders, and alcohol-induced melancholia, to bipolar disorders. As always, Jarod was first on his list.

The psychiatrist opened the door to Jarod’s room slowly, and was pleased to see that Dr. Weldon had Jarod up in a sitting position. He was busy removing the final dressings from the pretender’s hands and wrists.

„Good morning, Dr. Best. You’re just in time to see Jarod get the use of his hands back. The skin grafts have healed very well."

„That’s good news." Sydney said as he took a seat next to Jarod and was handed his patient’s chart. He scanned it briefly, then set it in his lap, giving Jarod his full attention. Jarod seemed to be intently watching, as the gauze was unwound revealing his damaged hand and wrist. The Doctor observed it carefully also examining the tips of the fingers which had healed nicely. The hand looked much more normal now, but the deep gash around his wrist was still very predominate and would probably need plastic surgery.

„There you are Jarod." The doctor said as he laid the hand down and started on the other one. Jarod showed no sign of emotion as he watched the other hand being unwrapped. Sydney was hoping for some reaction from Jarod as he intently observed the scene.

„Jarod, try to squeeze my hand a little bit." Doctor Weldon said holding Jarod’s right hand in his. Jarod just sat there looking at him as he spoke and then back at his hand.

Sydney closed his eyes and fought back a tide of bitterness over what had been senselessly done to the young man. He struggled to keep his tears back as he looked over at Jarod. Then it happened. Jarod squeezed the doctor’s hand slightly.

„Very good, Jarod." The doctor said, trying hard to hold down his excitement. „It looks like it’s in good working order. How does it feel to you, Jarod?"

The young man sat there for a long time, staring down at the hands in his lap with a confused look on his face, then suddenly he said, „Thank you."

Dr. Weldon and Sydney exchanged a brief look and then the doctor said, „You’re sure welcome, Jarod. I’ve got to go now, but Dr. Best is staying to visit with you for a while. I’ll be back to look in on you again this afternoon. Have a good visit." Dr. Weldon gave Jarod a big smile and winked at Sydney before leaving the room.

Jarod stared in the direction of the door as if lost in thought again, but then held up one of his hands and began studying it, paying close attention to the wrist.

„Jarod, what are you thinking?" Sydney asked gently, biting back his apprehension.

The pretender looked over at the older man with a troubled look on his face. „What happened to me, Dr.Best?"

The door opened and a nurse appeared with a breakfast tray.

„Excuse me. I hope I’m not interrupting anything." She said as she crossed the room and set the tray down on the bed table.

Sydney gave her an incredulous look, shaking his head slightly, then recovering quickly said, „No, Nurse, that’s just fine. Jarod, would you like your morning shake? Maybe you would like to hold on to it yourself today." He said holding the cup in front of his patient. „Why don’t you give it a try?"

Jarod reached for the cup, but when he started to hold it his hands began shaking and Sydney had to help him. After a few moments the protégé lost interest in the whole thing.

„Jarod do you remember anything from before you came here?"

The pretender was silent for a very long time, seemingly wrestling over the question, then slowly met his psychiatrist’s eyes again.

„I can’t tell you. They want me to tell you, but I could never do that to you. Someone would kill you, if they knew I told you anything."

Sydney watched as Jarod started pulling on a corner of the bedspread where the fringe was attached. He was giving it little tugs as he continued looking into the doctor’s eyes.

„Who want’s you to tell me? Are you hearing voices telling you what to do?"

„I won’t tell you."

„Jarod, why wouldn’t you want to tell me?"

The confused man was tugging much harder on the fringe now.

„If I tell you, you’ll be mad at me and I’ll have to leave here, but I don’t have anywhere else to go."

„Jarod, I would never get mad at you and I won’t let you leave here until we both agree that you’re ready."

Jarod buried his face in his hands. „My insides are screaming. Why am I so scared?"

The psychiatrist put his hand on his patient’s arm giving it a reassuring squeeze. „Jarod, look at me. You’re going to have to trust me. We will work through this together. You’re going to beat this thing.

Sydney began writing on his chart while he finished talking to Jarod. „I’m going to have the nurse bring you some medicine that will help you with the anxiety you are experiencing. You need to try and get some rest now. This has been a big morning for you. I’m very pleased with you for confiding in me. I’ll be back this afternoon. If you need to talk to me before that, just push your buzzer and tell the nurse. She’ll know where to find me. Now, try to get some rest."

Jarod watched Sydney leave with a look of apprehension on his face and began tugging on the bedspread fringe again.

* * *

„Well, hell, I guess I’m just going to have to be in charge of the Centre, until your people get their act together." Mutombo said in an infuriated voice. „Mr. Parker, do you care to explain to me where you were when this meltdown occurred?"

„For God’s sake, we’ve been over this three times. I was with my daughter, who was shot by Raines. He’s the bastard that tried to shoot me. Hell, he and Lyle are the one’s who took off on a half-baked Gestapo plan to raise an army of clones, while lying through their teeth to the tower about your intimate involvement. They’re the ones who caused the Centre exposure. They’re the idiots who let Jarod slip through their hands twice within 24 hours!"

„Don’t you use that tone with me, or you’ll be joining Raines down in Argentina! Now, have your people located Lyle?"

„Yes, he contacted me two weeks ago, to try to cut a deal. He threatened to kidnap my daughter. Willie’s sweeper team nabbed him. He’s down in renewal wing having an attitude adjustment."

„What about the report stating that he gave Jarod an overdose of one of Rains experimental drugs, resulting in permanent insanity?"

„Yes that is what he did, but we have no conformation that Jarod has been permanently disabled. His mind may still be salvageable. We won’t know until we recover him."

„Have you been able to locate Sydney?"

Mr. Parker just sat there for a minute looking at his hands. „No."

„What did you find out from Mr. Broots?"

„He says he doesn’t know anything. We’re just going to let that one ride for a while. His phone is taped and we’re keeping a close eye on every move he makes. My daughter is handling that for me."

„She had better handle this or the consequences will be costly."

Mr. Parker’s anger burned at that remark, but said nothing. He’d already said too much in anger and he didn’t want to be put to death.

„All right, Mr. Parker, that will be all for now. Sam, please escort Mr. Parker back to his office for now. Oh, and Mr. Parker, it was a good thing Willie’s team was able to remove the men from police custody, so to speak, before any permanent damage was done. Be advised. I expect all Centre property recovered in tact, including Gemini and Major Charles. Is that understood?"

„Completely."

„Then that will be all."

* * *

„Broots, it’s about time you level with me, before Mutombo has you and Debbie in his cross hairs."

„I I I swear, Miss Parker, I don’t know anything about where Sydney went. May maybe he he decided to go into hiding or something."

„Good one, Broots. I didn’t think he took a Carnival cruse. What about Jarod? From what I was told, he’s a candidate for the nut house and Sydney just happens to be our resident nutcracker. Gee, don’t you suppose those two are out there together somewhere – just maybe?"

„Well, sure, I mean, that’s pre pretty possible. Miss Parker, you know that Jarod was the one who kept you from bleeding to death at the airport."

„So I’ve heard. Get to the point, Broots."

„Well, he he sacrificed his freedom for yours."

„NO, no, no. He just bungled his escape. Don’t pin that one on me!"

„Do do you know what they did to him when they brought him back here?"

„NO, and I don’t give a damn. If it weren’t for him, I would never have been shot in the first place. He’s made my life a living hell from day one. He should have stayed where he belonged. He’s Centre property and our assignment is to bring him back."

„I think you ought to take a look at this, before you, well, you just need to."

„Broots, where the hell did you get this?"

„Look at it, please."

Miss Parker looked at Broots pleading eyes and thought hard for a second, then grabbed the DSA from Broots hand and slid it into the player. She gave him another disgusted look before siting down to watch it.

* * *

„You can’t reassign me now! That was my partner and best friend who was gunned down in cold blood and my Sargent, too! Haven’t you heard a word I’ve been saying?"

„Look, Joe. I was close to them too. But you’re too emotionally involved here. You’re going to have to get a hold of yourself. Let’s face it. The trail is cold now. We’ve passes this one on to the Feds. It’s their game now. We’ve got a real shortage of manpower and need you where you’ve been reassigned. Life goes on, Joe."

„I can’t believe how callous you are. I’m not going to play your little games anymore. I quit as of right now."

„Hey, Joe. Don’t do this! You’re not thinking straight. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and try to cool off before you throw your whole career away. You’re a good man, Joe. We don’t want to loose you. What do you say Joe?"

„I’m sorry Chief Richards, I’ve made up my mind and no amount to thinking is going to change that."

„I’m really sorry it has to end this way. Look, I’ll hold on to these papers until tomorrow incase you change your mind."

„You do what you want. I’ve gotta get going. See you around."

* * *

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I'm just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has changed hands. This story is purely for the entertainment of myself, and others who miss the Pretender because of blasted preemptions! Please don't sue me – I have no money. 2-1-2000



In Pursiut Of Happiness
Part 7
by jojarod50





Sydney hated meetings and this one seemed like it would never end. He was elated to finally have something positive to report about Jarod, but after that he had started counting the minutes until he could get back to work. He had forgotten about all the rules, procedures, "hospital politics", and red tape were involved in having a regular job. Suddenly his beeper went off and he gave a silent prayer of thanks, said excuse me, and headed out the door.

The psychiatrist's relief was short lived when he answered the page.

"Dr. Best, Jarod, your patient in 319, is having some kind of problem with the telephone and we need your assistance right away."

"The telephone?"

"He's trying to call the police and is highly agitated."

"I'm on my way nurse." Sydney said quickly hanging up. He skipped the elevator and headed for the stairs.

Sydney recognized Jarod's frantic voice, as he entered the room.

"Oh God, you don't understand. A lot of people are going to die, if you don't put me through of the police right now!"

Jarod was sitting on the floor, wedged between the bed and the nightstand, with the telephone in his lap. A nurse and a Respiratory Therapist were standing what they hoped was a non-threatening distance from the hysterical man. A supply cart was over near the bed. Sydney stepped around it, taking note of the green portable oxygen tank on the lower shelf of the cart.

The older man slowly walked over to the bed until he had Jarod in plan sight.

"Jarod, this is Dr. Best. I need to talk with you."

The startled young man looked up with a confused look on his face.

"But I have to make a phone call."

"Who do you want to talk to Jarod? Maybe I can help you." Sydney said in a soothing voice, stepping a bit closer.

Jarod looked back at the phone and started giving the cord little tugs, like he had done earlier with the bedspread fringe. The pretender was silent for several minutes and then slammed the phone down, got up and just stood there staring at his doctor.

"Jarod why don't you come over here and take a seat." Sydney said motioning to a couple of overstuffed chairs by the window. Jarod reluctantly complied, obviously terribly frustrated.

Sydney motioned for the Respiratory Therapist to wait a moment before wheeling his cart out of the room.

"Please don't bring your supply cart in here again unless it's absolutely necessary. I would greatly appreciate you co-operation on this matter."

"Sure, Doc, is that what set him off?"

"It's possible."

Sydney crossed the room and took a seat by his deeply troubled patient, devastated to see him lost in his psychotic world.

"Jarod, you seem to be experiencing some kind of difficulty. Would you like to talk about it?"

His patient just sat there fighting back tears. Sydney waited patiently, until Jarod regained his composure.

"Jarod, let's get you a drink of water. What do you say?"

Jarod looked up at his doctor and nodded.

"All right, now Jarod, why were you trying to call the police?"

Jarod made a few abortive jesters and then just shook his head and started fiddling with the straw in his plastic cup.

"Listen to me, Jarod. I can't help you if you shut me out. I realize things are very difficult for you right now, and I want to help."

"I can't control my thoughts." The pretender said in a very quiet defeated voice. If I go back to sleep, I'm going to totally lose control and something horrible is going to happen. I need to be locked up." Jarod gave out a small whimper and looked away.

"Jarod, what kinds of thoughts have you been having?"

"Don't you see?" Jarod said urgently, raising his voice. "If I tell you, they're going to start coming true! Please, lock me away!" Jarod pleaded, jumping up from his chair and starting to pace.

"Jarod, try to calm down. I assure you, just talking about your thoughts won't make them happen."

Jarod stopped in front of his bed and turned around to say something else, but everything started speeding up. He was having a severe anxiety attack. Jarod felt that he was loosing touch with reality, as a wave to dizziness and nausea washed over him. He hurriedly sat down on
the bed clutching the bedspread in his hands with his eyes squeezed shut, until the dizziness past. Jarod shot Sydney a frightened look and started to shake violently.

Realizing what had happened, Sydney went to him. "Jarod, are you all right?"

"Oh God, I'm tired." Jarod said rubbing his ragged face and raking his fingers through his unruly black hair. He stared down at his damaged wrists lost in thought, then quietly said," I wish I were dead."

"Jarod, are you thinking about hurting yourself?"

Jarod fell silent for several minutes as he worked the bedspread fringe giving it short little tugs. Finally, he looked up at Sydney with a dark expression shadowing his face.

"That doesn't matter."

"Jarod, it does matter. I know you. You're not a quitter. You're going to beat this thing."

Jarod searched his psychiatrist's eyes with a glimmer of hope in his expression that Sydney had not seen before.

"Help me, please; I don't know how to fight this and I'm so scared." Sydney sat by Jarod on the bed, took Jarod in his arms, and just held him.

"I will, Jarod, I promise." Sydney said, his own eyes filling with tears.

After a few minutes, Sydney got up and grabbed his chart to record a few things.

"Jarod, I'm going to increase your medication, which should give you some relief from your symptoms. I'm concerned about your lack of sleep. The night nurse has recorded not finding you asleep at any time last night or the night before. Have you been staying awake on purpose?"

Jarod just sat there with his eyes wandering around the room.

"Jarod, look at me please. There you go. You need to get your sleep. That's a very important part of the recovery process. I promise you nothing bad will happen to you if you go to sleep. Quite the contrary, the lack of sleep can and probably will be very detrimental to you. I'm going to assign one of my colleagues to keep you company at night, while you work through this."

Sydney recorded his orders on Jarod's chart and noted that his patient would continue on suicide watch until further notice.

"You've probably had enough exercise for this morning. Why don't we get your wheelchair out and you can go visit the recreation room. There's plenty of time before lunch." He said glancing at his watch. " This afternoon, you have occupational therapy. It's important for you to be out and about. I think you'll feel much better being around other people.

Jarod gave him an unsure look as he tightened the belt on his robe then looked around for his slippers.

* * *

Miss Parker struggled to contain her composure, as she watched the damning Centre record of the calculated step by step destruction of the soul she had once called her friend. Her friend? No! He was the lab rat, boy wonder, and the antagonist who relentlessly taunted her, her enemy and her assignment…. Her ticket to freedom. My God, what have I been a part of? She could no longer hold back the tears, as she watched in horror, Jarod screaming in agony before passing out. How could they have done this to him…to anyone?

"Broots, what did Lyle inject Jarod with?" Miss Parker asked trying to keep her voice steady and failing miserably.

Broots, who had been pretending to be busy at his computer, looked up to see Miss Parker completely broken. He was struggling to keep from heaving after hearing much of the DSA for the first time.

"It it wa was some kind of experimental hallucinogenic truth drug Raines cooked up. Here's the copy on that" He said handing it to her, not able to look her in the eyes.

Miss Parker scanned the report quickly, then just sat there suddenly at odds with everything she had done and believed in.

"My God, Broots, is Jarod , is he….?"

"I don't know. He he never deserved any of this." Broots said turning his swivel chair to face the window hiding the tears in his own eyes.

He could hear Miss Parker heading for the door.

"Miss P Parker," Broots said in a cautious voice. "Wh where are you going?"

Miss Parker gave him an angry glare.

"To talk to my father. Hide that damn thing and get me a lead on Jarod. Anything. And Broots, don't get caught with your pants down. I don't want anyone to know about it. You got that, Broots?"

"Ye yes mame."

"Oh and Broots, don't use that phone; it's bugged."

"Bu bugged ! Jeez!" Broots moaned burying his head in his hands.

* * *

"Come on, Jarod, let's go raid the snack machine. You have any quarters?"

"Quarters, um, I guess not." He said eyeing his new friend curiously.

"That's ok. I've got enough for both of us. Won them in last nights poker game. Hey, you won't rat on me, will ya? Nurse, "you won't have any fun on my shift," will have my ass if she finds out, and I guess you know what that means." Jarod just stared at the strange man totally intrigued.

"I don't understand."

"No more candy bars, you idiot. Are you dumb or something?" Jarod just stood there considering what the man had said, as he watched the man with the quarters take off down the hall.

"Well, don't just stand there. We have work to do." He said motioning to Jarod.

Jarod looked around and spotted his wheelchair over by the ping pong table. Smiling, he turned and hurried down the hall after the strange man as fast as his weak legs could carry him.

* * *

Miss Parker burst into her dad's office, finding him busy going through a stack of Centre files.

"Angel, what brings you up here? Any leads on Jarod yet?"

"No, and the file Broots has me working from is full of holes. Since when am I expected to work from censored Centre files on Jarod?"

"Here, let me see that." Mr. Parker said grabbing the file out of his daughter's hand and leafing through it quickly.

"Well, I don't see any problem here. This is just background information, which is irrelevant at this point. You should be pinning down his location, not worrying about this. What do you want to know anyway?" He asked distractedly, picking up the next file from his working pile.

"I want to know what kind of condition he's in and how he got away. How the hell are we supposed to speculate on his location without that? And if you think Broots has any special information about where he went, think again. Without Sydney, I really don't have much to work with."

"Ok, I see what you mean. Well, let's see. Jarod escaped from a Centre plane crash and was taken to a hospital where he later escaped again. I think Sydney was responsible for that."

"Was Jarod injured in the plane crash?"

"Hell if I know. I heard he'd been doing drugs. What a waste. Just goes to show you even a genius can get caught up in that sort of thing."

"Drugs? How messed up is he daddy?"

"It doesn't really matter. Even if he were brain dead, we'd still have uses for him. Now, be a good girl and go bring Jarod back. I know I can count on you, Angel. Sorry, I've got a lot of work to do." He said, basically dismissing her.

Miss Parker gave her dad a nod, picked up her file and headed out the door before she said anything she would later regret.

* * *

She only got halfway to the elevation before she stopped dead in her tracks. He lied right to my face she thought seething with anger. Even if he were brain dead, we'd still have uses for him? I should have stopped him right there on that one.

Turning on her heel, Miss Parker headed back to her father's office only to stop at the door overhearing a heated argument inside.


* * *

"You didn't have any problem ordering your wife's death, when she became a threat to the Centre, and you know good and well that your daughter is not going to be cooperative once she figures out what really happened to Jarod. For Christ's sake Parker, you know she's no fool. She's one of the red files."

"Damn you, Mutumbo."

"Watch your step. I'll excuse your emotionalism just this once. You have your orders. Maybe you should have Mr. Lyle handle it. He has access to Mr. White any time he needs him. It'd be a good test of his loyalty."

* * *

Miss Parker headed back down the hall, as quickly and quietly as she could, thanking God no one was around to see her. Once on the elevator, she leaned against the wall struggling to catch her breath, her heart pounding out of control.

In a state of shock, she hurried back to her office, and found Broots downloading something off his computer.

"Broots, get anything important you can carry, we've got to get out of here now. Don't act suspicious, just act like we have a lead on Jarod we're going to track down."

"What's th?"

"Shut up, Broots. Two minutes and we're out of here."

One look at Miss Parker's eyes, was all he needed. Grabbing a few crucial things and stuffing them in his backpack, he left with Miss Parker without saying a word.

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I'm just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has crossed hands. This story is purely for the entertainment of anyone who misses the Pretender, because of all the blasted pre-emptions! Please don't sue me – I have no money. 2-14-00

Jarod is in a psychiatric hospital struggling to regain his sanity with the help of his former captor/mentor, Sydney, who has defied the Center and risked his life in the process. A Centre directive has now put Miss Parker's life in imminent danger and has sent her on a collision course with the truths she had refuse, with every part of her being, to believe.



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 8
by jojarod50



FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
8:00 a.m.

"Very good, Mr. Redington. We certainly appreciate you efforts in the Trenton plane crash incident. Just leave these files with us. We'll take it from here. You did include that silver disc the police found at the plane crash site. Am I correct?"

"Yes Sir. It's inside the padded envelope attached to the site photo packet to your left."

"Ok, Justin, that will be all for now, have a safe trip home. I know you have a plane to catch," the agent said rising from his seat.

"Thank you sir," the young man said grabbing his briefcase and shaking the older man's hand firmly. "It's been an honor meeting you, Mr. Lucas."

After the young agent left, Mr. Lucas shared a relieved look with his assistant.

"Well, Cal," he said pulling the DSA out of the envelope and spinning it on the table, "Better give Mr. Parker a call and let him know the package has been secured.

"He will be relieved to hear that."

"Not a very good day for flying is it, Cal?"

Cal's expression turned dark. "No Sir, it's not. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work."

"Certainly, Cal. Oh, and get this in the mail immediately. Our friend hates loose ends." Mr. Lucas said tossing him the DSA.

The agent pocketed the DSA, gave his boss a wink, and headed out the door.

* * *

Menninger Psychiatric Hospital – Overland Park, Kansas
8:30 a.m.

"Jarod, how are you doing this morning," Sydney asked, pleased to see Jarod awake and sitting in a chair by the window.

Jarod looked up from the book he was reading and smiled a little as the doctor took the other seat by him.

"I had another flash back in the shower this morning, but it wasn't so bad. Actually, it was kind of interesting being surrounded by sickly green pulsating walls, which looked like they were collapsing on me. The fun part, was when I came out of it and found myself crouched down in the bottom of the shower screaming and looked up to see a nurse and two orderlies staring at me. Great way to start the day," Jarod said hardly masking the anger in his voice.

"Jarod, I know that must have been a horrible and humiliating thing to go through. I have noticed, though, that the frequency of the flashbacks you've had has greatly diminished in the past week. You are getting better."

"Better? How can you say that? I am constantly bombarded with overwhelming fear, I can't sleep at night because of hellish nightmares that don't make any sense, and I can't remember who I am. Every time I try, all I get are confusing fragments of my self, like shards of glass, with different people on them."

Sydney remained silent waiting for the pretender to finish his emotional outburst. Jarod was out of his seat and pacing the floor, highly animated.

"Everything is so strange. I seem to have a lot of different identities. At first, I was kinda enjoying it, but it isn't fun any more. You're hiding something. I can feel it. I think you know more about this than you're telling me. What the hell is wrong with me?

"It's complicated, Jarod. I explained that yesterday. As far as your memory is concerned, You have retrograde amnesia, with shall we say, a twist."

"Do you have any idea what I do all day? I find myself evaluating the patients I come in contact with, as if I'm some kind of psychiatrist. I know the diagnosis of their illnesses and what doses of the appropriate psychotropic drugs they need to be taking. I've looked at their charts. I've never made a mistake, for heaven's sake! What am I psychiatrist or a pharmacist? Why don't you just tell me?"

"Jarod, you know I can't. When you're ready, your mind will allow you to remember."

"My mind. Oh yeah, right"

"Jarod, you need to calm down. Remember, we talked about this yesterday."

Jarod crossed his arms and stood there staring out the window for several minutes, taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly. Then, he turned to face Sydney again and got a puzzled look on his face.

"Jarod, what are you thinking?"

"I don't know. I thought I remembered something, but it's gone now."

The pretender stood there a few minutes more than shook his head and started pacing again.

"Here's a good one. Yesterday, I sat down at the piano in the recreation room, just out of curiosity, and ended up playing some prelude in C-sharp minor by Rachmaninoff, flawlessly, or so one of the nurses said. Did you know I could read a book in three minutes flat and have perfect recall? It's like I have a photographic memory. I seem to know everything about everything, but every time I'm on the verge of remembering why, I have an acute anxiety attack."

Jarod finally played out and fell back into the chair by Sydney, rubbing his eyes with his shaky hand and giving out a ragged breath. Sydney had known Jarod would discover his uniqueness and had hoped it would jog his memory, releasing him from, what he hoped was, temporary amnesia, but that hadn't happened. Jarod would have to remember everything in his own time, as his mind finds ways of coping with the horrific experiences he had endured. The mind has a wonderful way of protecting one from things too overwhelming to handle.

"Jarod, you appear to be a very gifted young man. That's a wonderful thing. You must accept the fact that you are, perhaps, a genius, and be happy with who you are. I'm sure your memory will return either all at once, or a little at a time. For a person to have permanent amnesia is very rare. When the time is right, I'm sure you will remember. Jarod stopped tugging on the belt of his robe, ran his hand over the stubble on his face, and looked Sydney directly in his eyes. He frantically searched his doctor's face and almost said something, then left his chair and started pacing again, obviously highly agitated.

"Jarod?"

Jarod turned and faced his doctor, with a look of shock on his face.

"I know you, don't I? I'm remembering," Jarod choked out, as his legs gave out and he sank to the bed."

Sydney took a deep breath and walked over to him with a grave expression on his face.

"Jarod, what are you remembering?"

"I'm not sure. It's all jumbled up. I…Your name….is Sydney, and I'm… the Centre …. Oh no! I've got to get out of here," Jarod said getting up quickly and heading for the door. Sydney was equally as fast and cut him off before he had a chance to leave.

"Jarod, listen to me. You're safe here. They have no idea where you are. You can't just leave. You're not well. Let me help you. I will never let them touch you again. Never," Sydney vowed, his voice becoming strained.

Jarod stood there just staring at Sydney with a sick look on his face. "What did they do to me, Sydney?" Jarod asked, as he fell back against the door, obviously having an anxiety attack. He stood there, his eyes glazed over, struggling to catch his breath, as a wave of dizziness assaulted him, sending him sliding down the door to the floor.

Sydney bit his lip, considering what to do He watched the young man sitting on the tile floor, holding his head in his hands, as he fought to hold on to reality.

"Jarod?"

"I'm going to be sick," Jarod said looking up.

"Come on. Let's get you to the bath room, Jarod," Sydney said helping him to his feet. "I'm so sorry, Jarod."

* * *

"Miss Parker, we've been driving for nearly 24 hours. Don't you think it's time to st stop and get some sleep? N not together, of course. Look, I'm afraid you're going to make yourself sick. You haven't eaten anything and, well, you're going to need to to talk to, I mean, Miss Parker what happened back there at the Centre?

"You're right, Broots. Pull into the next decent motel you see. Broots! You're weaving again, damn it. Stay in your lane before some rookie cop pulls us over and gives you a breath-a-lizer test. Where did you learn to drive, Disney World?"

"I'm, I'm sorry, Miss Parker. I'm just really tired. See if there is any No Doze left in that box, would you?"

"Broots, you never cease to amaze me."

"Really, Miss Parker?"

"Forget it Broots. There's a Holidome. Pull in there."

"Yes, Miss Parker."

It was a very nice motel, with spacious rooms, an indoor pool, weight room, sauna, lavish dining, and an excellent lounge. None of it mattered to Miss Parker. All she wanted was to go to bed and forget she even existed. She had Broots check them in and insisted he pay in cash. Broots had been surprised when she asked him to get one room, but figured what ever it was that had caused them to hit the road, had shaken her to the core and she didn't want to be alone.

Sam had been home with a bad case of the flu, but had promised to take Debbie somewhere safe until he was able to come back for his daughter. Broots was comforted by the thought that the Centre would never suspect Sam had helped him.

Miss Parker had already gone to bed and Broots climbed in the other bed, grateful to finally be able to safely close his eyes. Turning off the lamp, Broots mused to himself that this would probably be the last night of restful sleep he'd ever get. He dreaded what Miss Parker would tell him in a few short hours. He thought he could hear Miss Parker quietly crying but then again, maybe he had been mistaken. Broots listened carefully and heard nothing more. His heavy eyes fell shut and he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

* * *

Sydney had never felt so overwhelmed and alone. That was really saying something, considering all the Centre had put him through. They had destroyed his marriage and denied him the opportunity of knowing his own son. They had also manipulated him in dreadful ways to coerce him to do their bidding, as far as Jarod was concerned. But these days Sydney had had Miss Parker and Broots to lean on, though they probably never realized the extent he did. Just having their companionship seemed to make his life easier to take.

Jarod had always been a son to him, though he could never let him know it. The Centre had sure seen to that. Sydney was the one who had raised him, taught him, and yes even loved and comforted him. He had also
robbed him of a childhood, a family and a real life. So many regrets. Checking his watch, Sydney noticed that it was well after 6pm, as he stepped onto the crowded elevator to go home. He had gotten a colleague to take his other patients, so that he could spend the day with Jarod. Sydney leaned against the wall of the elevator, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to distance himself from the pain of seeing Jarod struggling to come to grips with partial memories that had come crashing in on him. Thank God, he hadn't remembered being recaptured or the unspeakable things that had been done to him. Sydney prayed he never would.

Leaving the elevator, he buttoned his raincoat and headed out into the stormy evening. He had parked on the 2nd level of the parking lot, where he wouldn't have far to walk.

As Sydney neared his car, a figure stepped out from behind a cement pillar and grabbed his shoulders spinning him around.

"You have Jarod in that hospital, don't you. What have you people done to my son?"

"Shocked, Sydney found himself face to face with Major Charles, who was totally enraged.

"Major, are you alone? You weren't followed?"

"What do you think? I wouldn't dare lead anyone to Jarod."

"No, you wouldn't. I'm sorry, it's just that the Centre must never know we're here."

"Why is Jarod in a psychiatric Hospital? Tell me," he growled.

"Major, you're going to have to believe me. I had nothing to do with this. I rescued Jarod. I'm trying to help him."

"I want to see him. Now! You're going with me."

"Wait a minute," Sydney said glancing around quickly. "First, I need to explain to you what happened to Jarod. He's very sick. You need to understand what he's going through or you may unknowingly exasperate his condition and make matters worse. Let me take you to my apartment. We can talk there. It's very close," he said, giving Jarod's dad a pleading look. "It's imperative, Major."

Major Charles stood there weighing his options. "I'll do anything to help my son," he said softening.

"I'm grateful you're here. Jarod is going to need all the love and support he can get if he is going to get better."

Major Charles just stood there with pain in his eyes, as the gravity of Jarod's situation sunk in.

"All right, Sydney. Where's your car?"

"Down this way," he said motioning further down the row of cars. Moments later, they pulled out into the heavy rain and thick rush hour traffic.

* * *

A knock at the door woke Broots up from a dream he was having, about he and Miss Parker involved in a heated whirlwind romance and it was just getting to the good part. When he opened his eyes, he saw Miss Parker, fully dressed, letting a bellhop in the room with a tray holding what appeared to be a wine bottle of some kind and two glasses. The man set it down on a table and left after saying something he couldn't hear.

"Miss Parker, what are you doing? I m mean if you d don't mind my asking."

"Broots, you're just in time for the celebration. Come on over here and pop the cork."

"Miss Miss Parker…..I um, I'm not dressed. Besides, shouldn't we be having co coffee or something?" This is getting very strange, he thought, getting a big knot in his stomach.

"Get over here now, Broots and open this damn thing or you'll be sorry you woke up at all."

"But…."

"Broots!"

"I'm I'm coming, but I don't think this is a good idea."

Broots gingerly pulled the covers back and got out of bed. He had a white T-shirt on, a pair of boxer shorts with anchors, sailboats, and life preservers printed on them, and a very embarrassed look on his face.

As he got nearer to Miss Parker, he could see her puffy red eyes. Now he knew what she had spent her time doing while he had been sleeping, but why?

"Here Broots," she said slamming the Champagne bottle into his stomach.

"I hope you're better at removing the cork than you are picking out underwear."

"I'll have you know these are really "in" right now," he said feigning self-confidence. Holding the bottle, he carefully pealed back the foil wrapper exposing the cork and gave it a small shake. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH," he shouted as the cork blew off the bottle, smashing into the ceiling fixture cracking it, and champagne shot out all over his boxer shorts.

"Broots, you moron, clean up this mess and go get some clothes on!

"Yes, Miss Parker," Broots said, fervently wishing Sydney was here to bring some semblance of sanity to this moment.

When Broots came out of the bathroom, fully dressed, he approached Miss Parker knowing that something was desperately wrong with her. She was sitting on her bed crying and gulping the last of her glass of champagne.

"Pour me another drink and get one for yourself. We're going to have a toast."

"Um, Miss Parker, I'd rather, well, ok."

Broots poured the drinks and handed one to her.

"Wow, Pink Champagne. I've never had that before," Broots said playing along and hoping to get to the bottom of this very soon.

Miss Parker lifted her glass and lightly touched the one Broots was holding making a pinging sound.

"Here's to the end of our jobs at the Centre. Here's to the end of…"Miss Parker trailed off and broke into tears again.

"Wh what do you mean, Miss Parker, no no one leaves the Centre. Not unless they're dea…..aw Miss Parker, talk to me. What do you know that I don't? This is bad; this is very bad."

"Broots, quite babbling," she said abruptly standing up.

"S sorry, it's just that… Miss Parker, I'm your friend. Please talk to me."

"Talk to you? I don't need anyone. Get out, Broots. Just leave mealone," she yelled. Suddenly, she threw her champagne glass at Broots head, missing him by only a fraction of an inch.

A serious expression came over his face, as he sat down on the other bed.

"I I'm not leaving you alone like this," Broots stammered, wondering what she would throw at him next.

Neither spoke for a long time. Finally, Broots, crossed the room and sat down beside her, but Miss Parker stood and started to walk away. Dizzy from the alcohol, she begain to go down, but Broots caught her before she fell.

He held on to her as though their lives depended on it. She was so fragile and venerable. She was crying inconsolably. He had always dreamed of having her in his arms, but not like this.

Broots held her until she regained her balance. Carefully, he stepped back, unsure what to do next.

"Miss Parker, you need to talk about this. Please tell me what is going on."

She pushed away from him and crossed the room, rather unsteadily.

"You're right, Broots, I shouldn't have put your life in jeopardy like this. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," she said easing down into one of the overstuffed chairs by the far wall.

"When I left you and went to my dad's office, I was so angry about what had happened to Jarod. When I confronted him, he said horrible lies to me about Jarod being a junkie and that they had uses for him even if he were brain dead. I was totally shocked and furious with him so I left his office before I said anything I couldn't take back. I knew I probably wasn't thinking straight after watching that DSA. I hurried down the hall toward the elevator, but the further I went, the more livid I got. I changed my mind and decided to confront him about all the lies he'd been telling me and of his total disregard for Jaord's life. So I went back to his office stopping short of the door when I heard a heated argument going on inside. Mutumbo gave my dad the order to eliminate me and said it was no different than when he had ordered my mother's d…….."

Miss Parker just sat there with a devastated look on her face as she remembered what had been said.

"I've blamed Jarod for my mother's death all these years. I even blamed his father. I've hated Jarod and have mercilessly stalked him trying to rob him of his freedom. I couldn't wait to deliver him back into
captivity at the Centre where he would have no life, no hope. Why? For hate's sake, to please my precious father and so I could have my sweet freedom. That son of a bitch! What a blind fool I've been. She walked over to the table and poured another drink for each of them and held one out to Broots.

"Have a drink with me, Broots. Here's to the biggest fool that ever lived," she said holding her drink up in the air.

"Don't do this, Miss Parker. You didn't know the truth. You acted in ignorance. The question is, what are we going to do now?" Miss Parker walked over to the window and looked out for several minutes before she spoke again.

"Do you know where Sydney is? Have you spoken to him?"

"Well, yes. He's at a psychiatric hospital with Jarod."

"You've been lying to me! Boy, you must really have a death wish. How the hell could you keep this from me, Broots," she spit pulling her gun out of her purse and leveling it at him.

"Oh, God, please don't kill me, Miss Parker."

"Give me a good reason not to."

"Ok, um, well, what would you ha have done if you knew? Wh where would Sydney and Jarod be right now?"

Miss Parker slowly lowered her gun and just stood there staring at the floor.

"Jarod? Broots, do you know how he is?"

"He's um, very sick. He's not really Jarod anymore. At least that's what Sydney told me two weeks ago. He said something about depressive psychosis and retrograde amnesia, whatever the heck that means. He said he thought there was a chance he'd pull out of it though. Um, and that only time would tell."

"Sydney's been going through this all alone. It's about time that we join the opposition. They're going to need help, Broots, but we can't lead the Centre to them. We've got to come up with a plan.

* * *

The door swung open, revealing a man sitting in the semi-darkness on ametal bed with no mattress, which was bolted to the floor. One sweeper stood by the door as Willie entered the small room and spoke.

"I've been ordered to see to it that you get a shower and a fresh change of clothes."

"Why the royal treatment? What do they want with me?" Mr. Lyle asked with a smoldering look on his face.

"After you're cleaned up, we are to escort you to Mr. Parker's office. Let's go."

* * *

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I’m just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has or will be made off this story. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money. This story is purely for entertainment and promotion or my favorite show, The Pretender!

Jarod is in a psychiatric hospital struggling to regain his sanity with the help of his former captor/mentor, Sydney, who has defied the Centre and risked his life in the process. A Centre directive has now placed Miss Parker’s life in imminent danger and has sent her on a collision course with the truths she has refused, with every part of her being, to believe.



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 9
by jojarod50



Menninger Psychiatric Hospital
Overland Park, Kansas
Room 319
6:30pm


Jarod stood by the window watching the cars dart in and out of the thick rush hour traffic. Sydney was in one of those cars, he thought, regretting all of the horrible things he had said to him in anger and rage. Riddled with guilt, Jarod was grateful to finally be alone, where he couldn’t hurt anyone else. The rain was pelting the window, as another clap of thunder startled him, leaving him even more edgy than before.

„Edgy and exhausted; what a combination," he mused, finally sitting down in one of the overstuffed chairs by the window. Jarod took a pad and pen left on the table and started making a list.

„Let’s see, has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; nothing new there. Has intense irritability and out bursts of anger."

Jarod sat there lost in thought for several minutes until another clap of thunder brought him back to what he was doing. „Well, here’s another one. I definitely have difficulty concentrating," he said, noticeably irritated. „Has exaggerated startle response, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, night terrors, and surfacing fragmented memories of something horrible."

Another clap of thunder caused him to drop his pad and pen on the floor.

„That’s just great," Jarod spit, as he headed for the bathroom to throw some cold water on his face.

Suddenly, another huge clap of deafening thunder sounded like it struck something right outside the window. The lights flickered and went out, sending him into a total panic. In his mind, he was back in the woods running for his life, away from the crash site, in a drug induced paranoid psychotic frenzy.

Groping for the door, Jarod stumbled out of his room and broke into a full run down the hospital hallway. He made it all the way to the cafeteria before two orderlies could reach him. They tried to stop the hysterical man, but he broke loose, ramming into one of the lunch tables and sending some patient’s trays flying. Mindlessly, he ran to the far end of the room and was cornered by two other orderlies, who kept him from going anywhere else. Jarod slid down the wall to the floor and just sat there staring down at his hands that he held together at the wrists as if they were tied or cuffed.

The lights were back on now, and part of the staff was working to calm down the other patients.

Jarod was still over in the corner sitting on the floor, with the orderlies standing near by. They watched him carefully until a doctor could arrive.

Jarod’s wild eyes were darting from one person to the other as he violently shook and cowered deeper into the corner still holding his wrists tightly together.

One of the staff doctors assigned to the night shift, stooped down near Jarod, who was rambling on about a secrete hiding place in the lower levels and something about thousands of flashing red eyes. Finally he trailed off, shutting his eyes tightly, as if to block out the memories and started to weep quietly.

„Jarod," the doctor said softly, after a few moments, „Jarod can you hear me?"

Jarod opened his eyes and looked at the doctor with a devastated expression on his face. He stared back down at his wrists, shaking his head as if to clear it, and whispered something to himself. Recovering, he glanced around at all the people staring at him. He was sweating profusely and hyperventilating. Jarod felt like he was going to throw up, and hoped he could sidestep that final embarrassment.

„I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do this," he mumbled obviously frightened and humiliated.

„I know that, Jarod. It’s all right.

„I just want to go back to my room," he said getting off the floor and weaving slights.

„Jarod, try to slow down your breathing."

Jarod leaned against the wall and took a few slow deep breaths.

„There you go. That’s much better."

„Jarod, we need to talk about what just happened to you."

„Not now. Please. I just want to go back to my room."

„Ok. Gary why don’t you go with Jarod and make sure he stays steady on his feet."

„Yes Sir," Gary said giving Jarod a friendly smile.

„Jarod, Dr. Best phoned and said he would be coming back up tonight. You can talk to him about this then if you would rather do that."

Jarod just got a sick look on his face and started down the hallway with Gary.

Once inside his room, Jarod barely made it to the bathroom before he got sick. Gary shut the door quietly and left the man to his privacy. Afterwards, Jarod sat on the cold tile floor and mumbled „it will be all right" over and over to himself as he rocked back and forth gently, trying to comfort himself.

Ten minutes later, Jarod left the bathroom and headed over to the nightstand where he kept his ice water. Grabbing the cup and pitcher he tried to pour some, but his hands were shaking so badly he just made a big mess. With a guttural angry cry, he threw the pitcher across the room, crashing it into the wall. Fighting to catch his breath, the pretender collapsed onto the bed. He buried his head in his hands, as he struggled to come to grips with his situation.

„My God, I’ve got to pull myself together. If the Centre finds me like this, I’m finished."

After a few moments, Jarod leaned back on the bed and fell asleep.

* * *

„Sydney, I’m sorry I ruffed you up in the parking lot. I see now that you saved Jarod’s life."

„I would have done the same thing in your place, Major. None of this should have ever happened to your son or you and your family."

„You told me that Jarod…. was…..tortured and given… an overdose of drugs that made him… loose touch with reality," Major Charles said with great difficulty, rubbing his hand over his face. And now, he’s better but experiencing flashbacks and anxiety attacks. Is he in touch with reality now, or is he going to always be……" Jarod’s dad abruptly stood and walked out of the room.

Sydney gave him time to collect himself and then joined him in the kitchen.

„Maybe it would be better if we finished this discussion later, Major," Sydney said in a gentle tone.

„No, it’s alright. It’s just a little overwhelming. What about Jarod, is he…insane?"

„No, he’s not. I don’t think the damage done to Jarod is irreversible, at least not most of it. I think he is, for the most part, back in touch with reality. Most people who are exposed to a heavy dose of a hallucinogenic drug eventually stop having frequent flashbacks, more over. They have them sometimes when under extreme stress.

Jarod’s problem right now is more in the area of a post-traumatic stress disorder which, actually, he has had most of his life and has lived with pretty successfully. But, I’m afraid the memories of this latest trauma are starting to surface and it’s going to be extremely hard for him to come to terms with the magnitude of what was done to him. That’s why having you here will be so helpful to him. You can give him love and support that only a father can give. With that kind of security, Jarod stands a better chance of beating this thing."

„You said he had amnesia. Will he know who I am?"

„Jarod has now retrieved his past memories up to a point. He knows who he is, recognizes me, and remembers the Centre. I don’t know if he remembers meeting you at Pakor foods or even what happened at Donoterase. He hasn’t mentioned any of that or Gemini. I imagine he doesn’t remember what happened at the Iversonville Airport or he would have asked if Miss Parker survived being shot. I’m pretty sure of that. He’s plagued with recurrent nightmares, but he won’t talk about them. I think his mind is fighting the memories and actively struggling to keep them from surfacing. Unfortunately, they will surface and he won’t be able to control that.

Jarod has had one major bout of clinical depression and I’ll do my best to keep him from having a relapse."

Major Charles just sat there with his eyes closed and gave out a ragged breath. Looking down at the table, he asked, "How is Jarod physically? You said he was….."

„Jarod’s injuries have healed nicely with very little scaring. He has lost a great deal of weight, though. He isn’t eating well and is extremely jumpy. I really can’t medicate him too much or it will be counter-productive to his recovery. Jarod is going to have to face some very painful things. There’s just no easy way through this. I think your son is doing fairly well considering all he has been through."

„I want to see him."

„Do you think you’re up to it? We can visit him tomorrow if you need time to come to terms with all this. I can tell that you are devastated. Don’t push yourself into something you may not be ready to handle. Jarod needs for you to be strong."

„I don’t want to wait anymore. I know I can handle this. I’m tougher than you think. Are you up to it? You look exhausted."

„Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll sleep well tonight. Let’s grab a quick bite to eat, if you don’t mind. Visiting hours begin at 7:30."

* * *

The Centre
SL – 17
Experimental Lab s321


Big Mutumbo worked the code lock and entered the renovated lab, finding a very gaunt and broken Mr. Raines hunched over a microscope and two sweepers standing a short distance away.

„Mr. Raines, I’ve been informed that you have some good news for me. I trust that means that you have completed your task."

Raines walked over to him, pulling his oxygen tank behind him, and handed Big Mutumbo a lab file.

„You’ll find all the… information you need… on the chemical therapy in… here. You must understand… that we won’t know its… effectiveness until… Jarod has used it for… at least two weeks. If the results are somewhat… disappointing… it will need to be reevaluated… and modified… to achieve the optimal effects. Be advised… that besides physical effects… of the overdose, there are going to be severe… psychological factors involved… that this drug… will not… correct," Raines stated risking another beating.

„Then you better make damned sure you come up with a chemical treatment to help correct that situation. You already have one foot in the grave. If you weren’t such a brilliant scientist, we would not be having this discussion. Of course, that factor will only be considered for a period of time. A great deal of things are hanging in the balance depending on the outcome of you work." Mutumbo cautioned with his eyes narrowing.

The look Raines gave him was really almost imperceptible, but wasn’t missed by Mutumbo, who nearly backhanded the old man across the room. Raines flew backward, just missing his oxygen tank, hit his back hard against the lab table and collapsed in pain.

„If I were you, I’d watch that attitude. It could get you killed very easily. Now, get back to work. You have a new project to work on."

Mutumbo left the room without another word.
* * *


The Centre
Mr. Parker’s office – evening

A poker faced Mr. Parker sat at his desk, as Sam and another sweeper escorted Lyle into his office.

„We need to have a discussion, Lyle, I’m sure you can appreciate the precarious situation you have placed yourself in by giving Jarod a drug overdose and brutally torturing him. What the hell were you thinking," Mr. Parker questioned, obviously exasperated.

„I didn’t plan on giving Jarod that much of the drug. I was extremely angry when I filled the syringe and made a mistake. Do you think I wanted to ruin the pretender’s mind? I’d have to be stark raving mad to undermine the Centre’s biggest asset on purpose. And as far as the rest of it goes, I was ordered to find out where Jarod hid the DSAs any way I could. What was I supposed to do? This was a time sensitive assignment. I thought Raines was under orders from the Tower and Big Mutumbo."

„Very interesting, Mr. Lyle," a deep voice boomed from the far side of the room.

Lyle’s eyes widened as he saw Mutumbo step out of the shadows.

„Big Mutumbo! I had no idea you were here. I’m telling the tru.."

„Silence," Mutumbo said, cutting him off. We have a retrieval project we’d like you to handle. If you succeed, your previous transgressions may possibly be overlooked. Otherwise, Sam will be bringing your meals to you for, say, a very long time."

Lyle glanced from Mr. Parker to Mutumbo, sizing them up.

„All right. What do you have in mind?" Lyle asked, feeling like he was placing his neck on a chopping block.

„Things aren’t always what they seem to be at the Centre," Mr. Parker said with a sly look on his face. „We’ve had Mr. Raines working at one of our Centre facilities, to formulate a neutralizing chemical agent for Jarod, to counteract the hallucinogenic properties, no doubt, interfering with his proper brain functioning. We need you to retrieve Jarod so that we can start treatments right away. You will have Mr. White at your disposal."

„Do we have any leads on Jarod’s whereabouts?" Lyle asked cautiously.

„I believe your sister does. We’ve, um, unintentionally motivated her to seek him out, so to speak. Locate her and you’ll find Jarod. We need your sister, Sydney and Broots included in the package. Your sister has some misinformation about you mother’s death and she may not be willing to come back. Be as persuasive as you need to be. I’m sure she’ll fall back in line once she understands we’re trying to help Jarod. Oh, and Lyle, Sam and his personal team will be accompanying you. I don’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, but they will be watching your every move," Mr. Parker threatened. Mr. White should be arriving this evening. We will inform you when he arrives. He will supply you with the information you need. Do you have any questions?"

„No Sir."

„Good luck, Mr. Lyle. You may go now," Mutumbo said in a deep commanding voice motioning toward the door.

Sam broke into a cold sweat, as he left Mr. Parker’s office with Lyle and the other sweeper. Things were taking a nasty turn for the only people he come to care about and he doubted he wanted to be a Centre player anymore.

* * *

Menninger Psychiatric Hospital
7:30 PM

„Oh, Dr. Best, I’m glad to see you. May I have a word with you." The young doctor asked.

„Certainly, will this take very long? We were just going to pay Jarod a visit. Have you seen him?"

„As a matter of fact, it’s Jarod I need to talk to you about. This won’t take long."

„This is Jarod’s father," Sydney said quickly introducing the Major to Doctor Pritcher.

„How do you do, Major Charles," the doctor said eyeing the two Dairy Queen milk shakes he was holding.

„Glad to meet you. You two go right ahead. I’ll just sit right over here."

And with that, he headed for a couch nearby.

„Jarod is a PDST patient, isn’t he?"

„Yes, basically. What has happened?"

„About an hour ago, during the worst of the thunderstorm, the power went off for a while which apparently may have been a visual cue that triggered a traumatic memory of his to surface. He, well, acted out the whole thing. When I arrived, he was in a corner in the cafeteria. I told him he could wait and discuss it with you when you arrived."

Sydney bit his lip. „Where is he now?"

„He’s in his room, I think."

„Thank you Dr. Pritcher. I’ll handle it from here," he said reaching for Jarod’s chart. Sydney’s heart sank as he looked at the chart. He joined Major Charles who was already up and walking toward him.

„What is it, Sydney? Is Jarod alright?"

„He had a flashback. Remember what I said about Jarod having traumatic memories surface? I believe that is what happened apparently right after I left this evening. Having company may be difficult for him."

„Let’s play it by ear. I’ll try to keep a low profile and if it doesn’t work, I’ll wait out in the lounge."

Sydney nodded and they headed for the elevator.


Room 319

Finding Jarod’s door was shut, Sydney gave it soft knock and opened the door slowly. The lights were out, but a streak of lightening illuminated a dark figure sprawled on the bed.

„Who’s there?" Came the quiet urgent voice of the obviously startled pretender.

„Jarod it’s Sydney. I’m sorry I woke you up. Would you like to go back to sleep? We could come back later."

„We?"

„Yes, there is someone with me who would like to visit with you."

Jarod sat up and ran his fingers though his tangled hair.

„Um, sure, come on in," Jarod said cautiously looking up as the light came on.

Jarod stood as Sydney came in with Major Charles trailing him holding the Dairy Queen shakes. The Major’s eyes gazed painfully over his son’s lean body, recovering quickly and giving him an emotionally charged loving look.

Jarod just stood there as his dad approached and offered him the cup.

„Brought you a Butterfinger Blizzard, if you’d like it. You like ice cream don’t you?" he asked with a sparkle in his eyes as he proffered him the cup.

Jarod cocked his head to one side and studied the man. Glancing over at Sydney, who nodded, he took the shake and smiled slightly.

„Thanks."

As Jarod reached out for the shake, the Major noticed the severe scaring all the way around his wrist, and fought back a reaction.

„You’re sure welcome, Jarod," his dad said and gave him a pat on the back.

Jarod looked surprised and then grinned slightly at the kind man that seemed so at ease with him.

„Why don’t we all sit down," Sydney offered trying to keep things causal.

„You seem familiar to me. I’m supposed to know you, aren’t I?" Jarod said with a thoughtful look on his face.

„That doesn’t matter right now. What’s important is that we’re together," his dad said hoping that repeating what Jarod had said to him last time they were together might jog his memory.

Jarod seemed lost in thought for a few moments then just smiled and sipped his shake. „Wow, this is incredible. I’ve never had anything like this; at least not that I can remember."

„Jarod, perhaps a little later we could talk about what happened in the cafeteria this evening. It’s very important that you face what you are remembering as the memories break through."

„It was nothing and besides, it was so abstract I couldn’t make any sense out of it," Jarod said convincingly making light of it.

Sydney noted that Jarod’s hands had begun to tremble badly.

„It’s over now, let’s just forget it."

„Look, if you would feel more comfortable talking to Sydney alone, I could leave for a little while," Major Charles said standing and giving Jarod a sympathetic look.

„No, that won’t be necessary, there’s really nothing to discuss," Jarod said noticeably agitated at Sydney for bringing it up.

A burst of lightening streaked across the sky followed by a horrendous clap of Thunder, which rattled the room’s windows.

Jarod was so startled that he dropped his milk shake on the floor with a big splat.

„I’m sorry," Jarod said looking at his dad. „I’ve been doing that a lot lately," Jarod said turning bright red and running a shaky hand over his face.

„Here son, let me help you clean that up," Major Charles said as Sydney handed him a towel from the bathroom.

Jarod stooped down and reached for the cup at the same time his dad did and noticed the „Circle of Fire" ring on the Major’s finger.

Jarod was immediately assaulted by a series of flashbacks. In the dim lighting of a research lab, Jarod was bending over a man named Captain Osborne, who was lying on the floor, fatally shot, handing him a circle of fire ring and a picture asking him to give them to his daughter. The picture in his hand melted into a snap shot of Major Charles standing with an Inuit. Suddenly, a red biplane exploded and he was in a motel room looking at the back cover of a phone book that had crowns doodle all over it. The scene smashed to Pakor Foods and Jarod embracing his father in a dark shadowy lower level of that facility. Gunfire erupted pelting an airplane, while Major Charles, who was piloting it was urged by Jarod to go on, they would catch up later.

„Sydney, something’s wrong. Jarod? Jarod are you all right?" Major Charles urged holding Jarod’s shoulders and shaking him gently.

Startled, Jarod looked up at his father as he abruptly came back to reality. He gasped as his eyes focused on him.

„Here, let me help you off the floor," The Major said taking Jarod’s arm and helping him up.

Completely overcome with emotion, Jarod just stood there, completely speechless. His eyes welled up with tears as he searched his dad’s face, recognizing him for the first time.

„I thought I’d never see you again," Jarod managed his knees almost buckling.

„Oh my God, Son, you remember!" his father exclaimed pulling Jarod into deep embrace.

Sydney was simply amazed by the staggering speed that Jarod was remembering things. He almost cried witnessing Jarod being totally immersed in his father’s love. He felt overwhelming gratitude toward Major Charles for giving Jarod a moment of real happiness in the midst of the terrible nightmare world he had endured for so long. Jarod’s mentor would do anything, if only it were possible, to keep Jarod from suffering anymore pain. For now, though, he’d certainly settle for this.

Quietly, he left the room, leaving the two of them alone. They needed time to themselves. Time to love and be loved.

Sydney let out a sigh of relief and headed down the hall toward the doctor’s lounge to grab a cup of coffee. He was exhausted, but it didn’t matter so much anymore.

As he neared the lounge his pager beeped. Checking it he went to the nearest phone. The phone number was unfamiliar and he got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, as he wrestled with whether to or not to call it. Fearing it might be Broots giving him the heads up, he dialed the number. Dear Lord, nothing bad now. Please Lord, not now, for Jarod’s sake.

„Hel hello?"

„Broots, is that you? Is everything all right?"

„Sydney, boy it’s sure good to hear your voice. How are you doing? How is Jarod? Is is he better?

„We’re fine and Jarod is…well, better than he was. Is this line secure?"

„Oh, don’t you worry about that. I’ve got it fixed to the point the FBI couldn’t, um, well, yes, it’s very secure."

„Where are you calling from?"

„We’ve rented a house 50 minutes from the hospital."

„We who?"

„That would be Miss Parker and me. We need to see you as soon as you can break away."

„God, No, Broots! How could you do this to Jarod! I swear I’ll kill anyone, ANYONE, who tries to take Jarod back to the Centre, so help me God! Broots, you have to keep Miss Parker away from here long enough for me to get him out of here! I can’t believe you did this."

„St st stop, Sydney! It’s ok. Neither of us is working for the Centre anymore. We’re here to help you and Jarod. Miss Parker nearly died when she saw what they did to Jarod on the DSA. She, um, also found out her father ordered Catherine Parker’s death."

„Good Lord, I knew he had, but never told her. I knew it would be more than she could bear. How is she doing?"

„She’s better than she was at first."

„Are you sure you weren’t followed? If for any reason the Centre would get a hold of Jarod, I believe his mind would be lost forever. He simply can’t take anymore. His mental condition is very precarious right now."

„We have things rigged to the point that it would be virtually impossible for them to find us. I call it, Jarod’s maze."

„Broots, Major Charles is here. It would be better if we saw each other tomorrow, if things can wait until then."

„Major Charles? Jeez! Is he with Jarod now?"

„Yes, and I really need to be getting back there now."

„Oh oh sure. We’ll just call you tomorrow."

„Broots, I’m looking forward to seeing you and Miss Parker. It’s been a long time."

„Yeah, it has. Well, um, see you tomorrow, Sydney."

„Until tomorrow, Broots, goodbye."

* * *

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I'm just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has or will be made off this story. Please don't sue me, as I have no money. This story is purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender!

Jarod is in a psychiatric hospital struggling to regain his sanity with the help of his former captor/mentor, Sydney, who had defied the Centre and risked his life in the process. A Centre directive has now placed Miss Parker's life in imminent danger and has sent her on a collision course with the truths she has refused, with every part of her being, to believe. 3/14/00




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 10
by jojarod50



Menninger Psychiatric Hospital
Overland Park, Kansas
Room 319
6:30 am


The minute he woke up, Jarod headed for the shower. He knew his father would be back to visit him today, some time after his talk with Sydney.

Throwing on his robe and drying his hair briskly with a towel, he thought about Sydney. He's doing everything he can to help me, but Jarod wondered darkly if he'd ever be able to recover his mind. No you don't. It's going to be all right. It's just going to take a little time.

Jarod studied his face in the mirror and didn't like what he saw. He noted the dark circles under his sunken eyes and gaunt features. I'm going to have to start eating and sleeping more, he thought. Breaking into a big smile, he remembered the Butterfinger Blizzard his dad had brought him last night.

A knock at the door startled Jarod out of his thoughts, and he hurried off to see who it was.

"Jarod, here's the razor you requested. How's everything going this morning? You're sure up bright and early," Allen, the day nurse said, stepping into the room and proffering the razor.

"I'm going to see my dad sometime today," Jarod said gleaming with pride.

"I didn't know you had any family, Jarod," the nurse said noticing his excitement. "Better keep a steady hand with that razor. You don't want to end up with tissue all over you face," Allen joked escorting Jarod to the bathroom.

"They don't trust me alone with a razor, do they," Jarod commented with a wane smile as he lathered up.

"Yeah well, I have to go by the chart. Say, where did you get that gold ring?" Allen asked quickly changing the subject.

Jarod stopped for a moment to show Allen the "Circle of Fire" ring his dad had given him last night.

"My father gave it to me."

"Hey, that's sharp. What does the crown stand for?"

"That was his military unit in the Air Force," Jarod said as he went back to his shaving.

After a few moments rinsing, Jarod wiped his face off with a towel and offered the razor to Allen.

"Well, here's your razor back and I didn't even slit my throat," Jarod said with slight irritation.

"No, but you nicked yourself twice,"Allen observed trying to keep things light.

"Well, the numbers keep going down," Jarod retorted with a slight smile.

"Have a great visit with you father," Allen said relieved to see Jarod upbeat and rational.

"I will," Jarod said, as he got ready to head for the cafeteria, promising himself to eat something today.

* * *

Interstate 435 at the Anderson Mall exit

Sydney took the morning off from work, as he was at the hospital all day and again in the evening with Jarod the day before.

After some much-needed sleep and a quick breakfast, he and Major Charles were off and running. Sydney and the Major had been having an in-depth conversation about Jarod's state of mind and what he had and hadn't remembered to date. Apparently, Jarod still had no recollection of Gemini, which would be understandable considering how profoundly it had affected him when he had discovered the Centre had cloned him. Being so protective of children and knowing what had probably been done to that boy was probably something his mind still wasn't ready to deal with. Sydney planned to drop the Major off at the mall to pick up a few things for Jarod and, while the Major was there, he wanted to swing around to the hospital to visit with Jarod. He would meet with Miss Parker and Broots later.

Sydney was elated to have the Major, Miss Parker and Broots here, but deep down inside, he was having trouble fighting off his fear that the Centre would soon be on their heels.

Shaking off his worried thoughts, Sydney gave Major Charles a sidelong look of amused frustration as they inched their way through the snarled rush hour traffic and into the shopping mall parking lot.

"Guess this puts us behind schedule," the Major said giving Sydney a guilty look.

"It might take me a while to pick up some things for Jarod, but I'll probably be at the hospital around noon or so," the Major said with a big smile as he thought about seeing his son.

"I'm really grateful for the time we've had together. It's been along time since I've had anyone to really talk to," the psychiatrist confessed.

"It's been a long time for me, too," the Major said, remembering all the sleepless nights he had endured since losing Jarod again. Gemini was a wonderful son and companion for him, yet he would never burden the child with the more weighty matters.

Sydney, thanks for all you're doing for Jarod," Major Charles said giving Sydney a squeeze on the arm and hopping out of the car." "You're certainly welcome, Major, I'll see you later at the hospital," Sydney said, as the Major left and hurried off down the sidewalk.

* * *

Menniger Hospital
Patient Cafeteria

"Jarod, I missed you last night at supper. I heard you were having a hard time. I'm really sorry," a pretty young girl named Aimee said smiling at him shyly, a hint of worry showing in her eyes.

"Oh, that," Jarod said, looking down at his sausage and stabbing it forcibly. "Aimee, it really wasn't a big deal. Don't worry about it, ok?" Jarod said hoping she'd drop it right there.

Aimee's eyes met his and she smiled brightly, though one look at him told her it must have been pretty bad.

"Sure, Jarod. Sometimes I forget how much people love to exaggerate about things around here."

After a few minutes of silence, she looked back over at Jarod who was pushing his other sausage around on his plate with a big grin on his face totally lost in thought.

"You know, there's something different about you today, Jarod. What's going on? I've never seen you this happy."

"My father came to visit me last night and he's coming back sometime today," he said looking up at her with his big brown eyes.

"Jarod, I didn't know you had any family. You never mentioned it before."

"I just couldn't remember for a while." Jarod said trying to drink his orange juice and almost spilling it, as he hand started to shake.

"You better calm down, Jarod, or you'll be wearing your breakfast," Aimee teased giving him a wink."

Jarod slammed the glass down and ran his fingers through his unruly hair.

"Jarod, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," she said, her dove gray eyes filling with tears.

Realizing what he had done, Jarod took Aimee's hand and gave it a little squeeze.

"I'm sorry, it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that I….. I just can't…. Look, I'll see you later," Jarod said grabbing his tray and leaving without another word.

* * *

Miss Parker and Broots rental home
Overland Park, Kansas

Miss Parker sat on the balcony off her bedroom, sipping tea and watching the sun climb above a single bank of clouds, which was the only remnant from last night's thunderstorm.

She was glad Broots was probably still asleep, giving her time to try to sort things out. It's funny, she thought, that she had spent all those years chasing Jarod with a vengeance, and now, she just wanted to be with him and maybe help him find some happiness. She felt nauseous, as she remembered the DSA of everything Jarod had been through, and fought off the fearful thoughts that it might be too late to help him. Remembering what Broots told her, about Sydney's reaction to the news that she was here, made her feel unclean. She closed her eyes attempting to block her memories of Jarod's frantic expression when she was almost capturing him and ended up with his father, the day they rescued Gemini.

She got up and walked over to the balcony rail and gazed at the house-studded hillside. He'll be afraid of me. I've made myself his enemy. How can I ever change that?

Memories of all the times Jarod had reached out to her flooded her mind. She hoped some where in his heart he could find a way to forgive her for her relentless cruelty toward him.

Looking at her watch, she realized she better get dressed. Sydney was going to be here in a few hours and she had some things to take care of first.

* * *

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Mr. Parker's office

"You've got to be kidding. What do you mean it was a dead end. I thought Mr. White had proof that they were in Florida." Mr. Parker left his chair and went to his wet bar to pour himself a drink.

"You better not turn this into another big fiasco, Lyle, or Big Mutumbo will have you tracked down like an animal and it won't matter who's son you are," Mr. Parker hissed slamming down the phone.

* * *

Menninger Hospital
Room 319
8:14 AM

Jarod was at the dresser combing his hair when Sydney came in. Dropping the comb, he spun around with a fearful expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, Jarod. I didn't mean to startle you. I'll knock a little louder next time," Sydney said giving him a sympathetic look.

Jarod just shook his head and walked over to the window.

"You could prescribe something for that. I can barely take a drink any more the way my hands shake and I'm getting sick and tired to of nearly jumping out of my skin."

"I have noticed a dramatic increase of your startle response in the last 24 hours, Jarod. I agree that your symptoms of hyperarousal need to be dealt with. I've been wrestling with that very thing. Perhaps we can try you on some Thorozine. I'm reluctant to put you on a minor tranquilizer, because of their addictive properties and more significantly, the way they quickly become a crutch."

"Don't you think I already know that," Jarod exploded. "You're treating me like I'm an idiot. And another thing, why do you have me on suicide watch, Sydney? I would never do anything like that and you know it. Whatever problems I'm having now aren't really any different than what I've managed to live with my entire life, and I'm sure not emotionally ill."

"I'm afraid that's not true at all, Jarod. There are things you are not aware of concerning your illness and I believe you're also experiencing a good measure of denial. You've been suffering from amnesia and only yesterday retrieved, let me emphasize some of your memory. I don't know exactly what you remember, but you have eluded to suicide several times during you stay here as well as at the other hospital."

"The other hospital?" Jarod said turning around with a sick look on his face. "I don't remember that."

"No Jarod, I'm sure you don't," Sydney said fighting not to show the deep pain of those memories.

The blood drained from Jarod's face.

"How long have I been here, Sydney? Jarod asked, his eyes darting around the room.

"You've been here several weeks, Jarod. Does that seem about right to you?"

Jarod seemed lost in thought. He stood there tugging on the belt to his robe for a few moments and then just walked off toward the closet opened it and stood there staring straight ahead.

Sydney observed him for a few minutes to see what he would do next. When he did nothing more, Sydney walked over to Jarod and spoke.

"Jarod, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was just…I don't know," Jarod said obviously very confused.

"That's alright, Jarod. I'm sure you just lost your train of thought."

"Jarod you're going to have to trust my judgement, as far as your treatment is concerned, until you are better. It's impossible for you to be objective right now. I'm sorry to be so blunt with you, but I want you to get better and you're just going to have to cooperate with me so that can happen."

Jarod just stood there entirely speechless.

„Jarod, I have suspicions that you are starting to remember things about what happened to you. The night nurse has documented your night terrors and severe nightmares. That incident in the cafeteria last night was one of many flashbacks you’ve had about what happened to you, wasn’t it? Jarod, even your the memories don’t make sense, we need to talk about them; you know that better than anyone. Please help me help you," Sydney pleaded, noticing that his patient was still just standing there, totally unresponsive.

„ Jarod, it says on your chart that last night you suffered extremely disturbing nightmares and that you were found screaming the name Miss Parker. How long has this been going on?"

„I don’t know. For a while, I guess," Jarod said looking at the floor.

Jarod rubbed his hand over his face and started to pace.

"I see…graphic images… of Miss Parker…there's…blood everywhere," he said with difficulty. I think there's someone being beaten…no…I'm not sure," Jarod said quietly sitting down on his bed. "I remember there was a tray…Hypos…no, yes…and leather straps… I can't talk about this," Jarod said getting up and moving to the windows fighting to catch his breath.

"Jarod, you're hyperventilating. Slow down your…"

"I know… that… Sydney…why don't you," Jarod said bitterly, his words trailing off, as he sank into one of the chairs.

After a few minutes, Jarod spoke again.

"Miss Parker was really shot, wasn't she?" Jarod said looking up with fear in his eyes.

"Yes, Jarod, but she is much better, now."

"Thank goodness," Jarod whispered, "I thought…she was dead."

Jarod sat in silence, his head in his hands, then spoke quietly.

"I see blurred images…horrible things," he said struggling to keep his breathing steady. "I was captured again, wasn't I Sydney," Jarod said angrily, wrapping his arms around himself.

"Yes, Jarod, you were," Sydney said simply.

"I was given drugs too?"

"Several and an overdose of one in particular, that is causing you the most trouble," the psychiatrist said carefully evaluating Jarod's reaction.

"I'm tired, Sydney. I want to be alone for a while," Jarod said, looking away.

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea right now. You don't have to talk to me anymore, but I would rather stay," Sydney said sitting down in the other chair by the window and opening Jarod's chart.

Jarod didn't say anything else. He just went over to his bed and laid down facing the wall.

* * *

Hospital recreation room
12:00 noon

Jarod was standing near some maintenance workers, watching them install a lighting bar with several lamps attached to it in the recreation room. Wondering why the lighting bar had given him such a horrible feeling of dread, he searched his mind for an answer that just wasn't there

"Hey Jarod. Sorry man, didn't mean ta startle ya. Ya helpin those guys or do ya want to check out the new Air Combat 3 video game? I'll play ya for the five candy bars you won off me a couple of days ago, but I'm not playin ping pong with ya any more. Got that?"

"I'm not sure, Gaelan," Jarod said, his eyes wandering to the lighting bar and then back to him.

Gaelan gave Jarod a skeptical look.

"Jarod, you don't look so good, even for you. You've been talkin to that shrink of yours again, haven't ya."

Jarod eyes drifted back to the lighting bar.

Gaelan patted Jarod on the back. Come on boy, you need ta tell him ya need a day off. That's what I do with mine. Here, I'll show ya how ta play that game, but ya better not try too hard. Lunch stinks today and I'm going ta need those candy bars back," Gaelan said ushering Jarod over to the game center.


* * *

Miss Parker and Broots rental home
Overland Park, Kansas
1:30 PM

"That wouldn't be good for Jarod right now. He's having a very difficult time at the moment and I can't see putting him under any more emotional stress. He's already walking a very thin line. Why don't you wait until tomorrow and let me see how he does. If the rest of his day is uneventful, it will probably be fine. I just discovered that he has been secretly trying to deal with horrible flashbacks of you being shot. I believe he actually thought you were dead. I told him you are fine, but seeing you may help allay his fears. I'm afraid the after effect of that drug overdose has seriously undermined his psychological stability and coping skills.

Miss Parker closed her eyes as she digested what Sydney was telling them.

"Is Jarod going to be all right, Sydney?" Miss Parker asked almost choking on the words.

"Jarod is a real fighter. I'd say anyone else who would have gone through what he did, would have to be locked in a padded cell for the rest of his life. Jarod's still experiencing some psychotic moments, but moreover, he's improving every day. He doesn't really understand how ill he is and is very angry and impatient to get on with his life. He's going to need a lot of love and support to make it through this. But, I believe he will."

"That's su sure a relief to hear," Broots said with as big smile. "After watching what Lyle di did to Jarod on that DSA, I never thought he would, well, I sure feel better now. I think the coffee is done. Would anyone like some?"

"That would be very nice, Broots. Make mine black, please."

"Nothing for me, Broots," Miss Parker said walking over to the balcony rail.

"How are you doing, Miss Parker? Broots told me you have severed relations with the Centre. I care deeply about you, Parker, as if you were my own daughter. I just want you to know I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Miss Parker turned around to face Sydney with tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"He ordered my mother's death. My own father! And I have spent my entire life doing everything I could to gain that bastard's approval. How could I've possibly been that blind?" she said he voice breaking. I went along with every evil plans of his, right down to tracking Jarod all over kingdom come, as if he deserved that."

"Miss Parker, it's not as if you had any real choice, or any of us for that matter. Complying with the Centre has always been a life or death decision. Perhaps we've all slit our throats by being here now," he said giving her a wane smile.

"It's different this time. A house divided will fall. The Centre is no longer an impregnable force, and by God, it's going down."

"Strong words, Parker. I remember saying something to that effect recently myself."

"Um, excuse me, he here's your coffee, Sydney."

"Broots, our discussion has taken a very interesting turn," Sydney said taking a sip of his coffee.

* * *

Menninger Hospital
Room 319
3:30

Sydney knocked and entered Jarod's room and found himself face to face with his patient standing there dressed in black jeans, a black T-shirt, and black shoes, taking a big gulp from what appeared to be another Blizzard shake.

"Hi Sydney, my dad is here," Jarod said grinning, casting a glance toward the Major, who had planted himself in one of the chairs by the window.

"He looks pretty good, doesn't he, if I do say so myself," the Major said standing up and crossing over to where the two of them stood. "I think Jarod has had enough of those hospital clothes for a while."

"I must say, Jarod, you look more like your old self again," Sydney said with a pleased expression.

"Thanks. I'm, um, sorry I gave you a hard time this morning, it's just that…"

"Jarod, I'm your doctor. I can see what you're going through. You don't owe me an apology, by any means. Your reactions are perfectly understandable."

"Sydney, if you two need to talk, I can leave for a little while."

"I don't think that will be necessary. Perhaps we can shorten our talk this after noon, and you can spend more time with your father. What do you say, Jarod?"

"It's strange that you should say that," Jarod said with a puzzled look on his face. Glancing at his father, Jarod quickly added," That will be just fine."

Sydney sat down and briefly went over Jarod's chart.

"Jarod, it looks like you have had two doses of Thorozine. How are you doing with it?"

"It seems alright. It makes my mouth dry, though," Jarod said sitting down on his bed and taking a sip of his Blizzard.

"Yes, that's a common side effect. I'm sorry, you probably know that already. If it's not causing you any other problems, we'll keep you on it for a while and see if it helps keep you anxiety level more manageable. I started you on a rather high dose. We can always adjust it if there are any problems."

"Thank you, Sydney."

"I see you went down to the rec. room for a while. How did that go?"

Jarod thought about the new lighting that was being installed there and started tugging on the bed spread fringe. Noticing what Jarod was doing, Sydney realized that something was wrong.

"Jarod, what happened in the rec. room?"

"Not much. I played video games with Gaelen and won 5 candy bars."

"Was he mad at you for winning?"

"Of course not; but he was hungry, so I gave them back," Jarod said sipping on his shake again.

"Ok Jarod," Sydney said, continuing to observe him.

"It says here that you failed to show up at lunch again," Sydney said with a knowing look, spying some hamburger wrappers in the trash. "Looks to me like you had something better to eat. I'll make a note of that."

"You've wasted no time in corrupting Jarod, have you, Major Charles?"

"I take my job as Jarod's parent very seriously."

"Anything else you want to discuss before I leave, Jarod?" Sydney asked, knowing Jarod was sidestepping something.

"Not right now, Sydney."

"Well, you two have a great afternoon. I'll check back this evening before I leave."

"Thank you, Sydney," the Major said shaking his hand and walking him to the door.

"Let me know if anything comes up. I'll be in the building," Sydney said under his breath.

"Don't worry, I will."

* * *


Menninger's Hospital
The next morning
Hospital foyer
8:05 AM

Sydney met with Miss Parker briefly before she went up to visit Jarod. He wanted to make sure she was as prepared as she could be for the types of things that might come up during her visit. Jarod had had an uneventful evening and a fairly good nights sleep, so he felt this was as good a time as ever for them to see each other again. They had been at odds with each a painfully long time. As he stood there at the elevator watching the doors close behind her, he prayerfully hoped the two of them could finally begin to find some healing.


* * *

Jarod heard the soft knock at the door and immediately wished he were somewhere else. He knew that Miss Parker wanted to see him, but he would have given anything if it weren't like this. Reluctantly, he went to the door and opened it. There she stood, dressed in pastel pink and more beautiful than he could have ever remembered. He stood there mesmerized by her beauty.

"Jarod," Miss Parker half whispered half gasped, as she got her first look at him.

Jarod closed his eyes for a moment trying to erase the look of pity and shock he had seen flicker across her face.

"Miss Parker," Jarod said, motioning for her to come in. "You sure look better than the last time I saw you," he said managing a small smile. "Would you like to sit down?" he asked, glancing over at the two seats by the window.

"Thanks, Jarod," she said noticing how badly his hands shook, but keeping her eyes on his face.

"You're not going to change your mind and drag me back to the Centre, are you?" he said with a characteristic slight smirk on his face. Jarod didn't seriously think she would, but suddenly started having an anxiety attack.

"Jarod are you all right?" Miss Parker asked hurrying over to where he stood, worry etched across her face.

"I'm…all right, just give me a minute," Jarod said with a sick look on his face. "I've been doing this a lot lately. Just need to sit down," he said collapsing on the bed.

Miss Parker sat down by him and held his trembling hands until it passed.

It was then that she noticed the deep scaring encircling his wrists and gave an involuntary shutter.

"Not exactly how I thought things would go," Jarod said blushing fiercely with a hint of anger in his voice.

"I'm so sorry for what they did to you, Jarod."

"How do you know what they did to me when I hardly know myself," Jarod questioned her dreading the answer.

"Jarod, Broots stole the DSA from Lyle's office," she said, watching him get up and walk over to the window with an unsteady gate.

After a few minutes he turned back toward her.

"Lyle did this to me?"

"Lyle and Raines."

"I might have guessed as much," Jarod said sinking down in one of the chairs.

Miss Parker walked over and sat beside him and neither spoke for a little while.

"Jarod, I'm so sorry for all the pain I've caused you. I was wrong. I'll never be able to forgive myself," Miss Parker said her eyes welling up with tears.

Jarod took her hands in his, gently lifting her out of her seat and held her close to him.

"Listen to me. None of this is your fault. It's the Centre that destroys lives. They specialize in it. We're just part of the collateral damage. Sydney told me what you've been going through. I can see the pain in your eyes. If you want to talk about it, I'm a good listener." Jarod said looking deeply into her eyes.

"Don't Jarod."

"What?" Jarod asked genuinely confused.

"You really don't know, do you? My God, Jarod, look at you. After all they did to you, you're worried about me?"

"Well, you've been on my mind lately," Jarod said uncomfortably, stepping away and starting to straighten the room.

Miss Parker's heart sank as she watched him, remembering what Sydney had told her about his flash backs and how he had thought that she was dead.

"Jarod, it's a beautiful day, why don't we go for a walk."

"I don't know," Jarod said, glancing around the room.

"Trust me. It will do you a lot of good. I'm sure Sydney will sign for you. I think he said he was going to be in his office until 9:30." Jarod broke into a real smile as they headed out the door.


* * *

Angelo waited until everyone left the room before he stopped the video camera and hurried down the air duct toward his secrete room, where he would be able to send Broots the warning.

"Must help friends. Must not hurt Jarod and daughter. Must not find."

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I’m just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has or will be made off this story. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money. This story is purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender!


Things are rapidly changing for Jarod, as he continues to struggle to regain his sanity with the help of his former captor/mentor, Sydney, who has defied the Centre and risked his life in the process. With Broots, Miss Parker and Major Charles aboard, evil forces closing in, Sydney will have the backup he needs, but will it be enough?




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 11
by jojarod50



Menninger Hospital
Memorial Gardens
8:30 AM

Joe Clark had been in town only since last night. Most of his leads had dried up except this one. Working on his own wasn’t easy and realizing that someone had gone to great pains to erase any evidence surrounding the mysterious plane crash and subsequent murder of 23 people including his police chief and also his best friend made him frustrated and paranoid. He’d never believed in conspiracies until now.

Whoever kidnapped Jarod Doe from the Trenton Memorial Hospital knew what he was doing. Amazingly, records of everything including those of the Life-flight Helicopter’s destination had been erased.

There was one thing that someone had missed, however. A comptroller at the Trenton Municipal Airport, who had been a friend of his, remembered having some confusing data on his screen that day. He had tracked a bogy on a course heading which would suggest a destination along a line cutting through the Midwest. Strangely enough, no one had followed up on that information until recently. After a very intimidating conversation with a white haired man, in which he had feigned ignorance, his friend had called him and said they needed to talk. He told Joe that he had told the man nothing, but that Joe better find his witness, before someone else did.

Being aware that Menningers is a renowned Psychiatric Hospital, Joe had a hunch that he’d find his Doe and the mystery doctor here. He only had a vague description of the doctor: an older, distinguished man with short to medium length graying hair, brown eyes, tallish, with perhaps, a Belgium accent, but he knew he’d have no problem identifying Jarod.

Having no police credentials, Joe would have to just keep a low profile and hope something would turn up. Surveying the area, he thought he saw exactly whom he had searched so long for. Near by at one of the fountains, was a man dressed all in black with a young woman at his side.

Trying to contain his excitement, Joe left the bench and wandered down the walkway toward his target.

Pausing at a drinking fountain, he glanced over at the tall young man. It was Jarod all right. He was in a lot better shape than when he had seen him last. Joe could see the child like look on his face, the deep scaring on his wrists, and the white patient ID bracelet he was wearing which further confirmed it.

As he watched him talk with the lady, he realized that his missing witness was, hopefully, rational enough to be interrogated about what happened that fateful pre-dawn morning. Further more, he would undoubtedly be able to have Jarod’s doctor put behind bars on kidnapping charges and interfering with a murder investigation. For the first time, Joe regretted resigning from the police force.

Resolving to make things right for his Sargent and Harry, Joe decided to lay low for a while until he had all the information he needed, before he went to the police. These people weren’t going anywhere; he rationalized, returning to the bench to continue his surveillance of the couple.

****

„Jarod, I want to stay here with you and try to help you get better," Miss Parker said moving closer to him until they were almost touching, drinking in his deep brown eyes.

Jarod was fighting back a sudden flood of emotions as he realized what she had been trying to tell him, and tenderly pulled her into a passionate embrace.

„I can’t promise you that I ever will be completely whole again. I have no way of knowing that," he whispered crushed by the reality of his own words.

„I don’t care. We’ll fight this thing together. I’m the only one who will ever be able to understand your pain and you mine. I need you, Jarod, as much as you need me and can’t bear to loose you; not now."

Jarod touched her cheek softly and closed his eyes as he gently kissed her, completely lost in the moment.

* * *

Menninger Hospital
Room 319
10:30 AM

„I’m sorry I’m late. I needed to catch up on some paperwork and thought you and Miss Parker would enjoy some extra time together. Did she leave already, Jarod?" Sydney asked noticing the curiously happy look on his face.

„She told me she was having Broots look up something for her and that she needed to get back to her house," Jarod answered as he straightened up a few things on his bedside table and started in on the rest of the room.

Jarod, would you like to do that later? I need to talk with you for a little while. Why don’t you come over and sit down with me," Sydney suggested taking a seat by the window and glancing at his chart.

Suddenly realizing what he had been doing, he set down a stack of books and took the other seat waiting for the questions to begin.

Sydney looked over at Jarod, sizing up his mood, and noticed a hint of the same pink lipstick Miss Parker had been wearing on his smiling lips.

„So, did you have a pleasant visit with Miss Parker?"

„It wasn’t exactly what I had expected," Jarod said getting up and distancing himself from Sydney as he felt his face flush, not wanting him to notice.

„You two got along, didn’t you?" Sydney asked trying to get Jarod to talk.

„Yes… well, I’m still trying to figure that one out," Jarod offered rubbing his neck with his hand as he stood there staring off into space.

„Jarod, have you been down to the rec. room today?" Sydney asked, remembering the unsettling reaction Jarod had when the topic had come up yesterday.

„Rec. room," Jarod repeated, for a split second, having an image of Lyle injecting him with a hypo, flash across his mind. „No, why?"

„I was under the impression that you were avoiding something yesterday when we were talking about it," Sydney said, noticing Jarod had stiffened slightly. Do you want to tell me about it?"

Jarod saw himself being dragged down a dark hallway, by two sweepers, and into a small room, and then being dropped hard onto a cold cement floor.

„Jarod, did you hear my question? You don’t seem to be paying attention."

„I, um, heard you. There’s really not much to tell," Jarod said distractedly, suddenly seeing him self being dragged to a wall where he was shackled. Shaking his head slightly the image was gone.

„Jarod?"

„New lighting is being installed in the rec. room and when I saw it I became dizzy and felt sick at my stomach." An image of an armature with various kinds of lighting devices being lowered from a ceiling opposite the wall he was shackled to intruded his mind.

„Jarod, what are you thinking?" Sydney asked, noticing he seemed to be having trouble carrying on a conversation.

„Oh, I was just…I don’t know" Jarod said becoming confused.

„Do you have any idea why you became dizzy and sick at your stomach?"

„I suppose that could have just been a reaction from having low blood sugar. After all, it was right before lunch," Jarod added, starting to feel shaky as he went to the bed and sat down.

„Have you had any nightmares or flashbacks involving similar lighting?" Sydney asked cautiously, suddenly noticing that Jarod had started to weave slightly.

Slipping further into the flashback, Jarod started experiencing overwhelming waves of confusion invade his mind as Dr. Billy’s version of a hypnotic truth drug flooded his brain. Blinding lights across the cell came to life and flashed at an ever-increasing tempo until he could hear them pounding in his head.

„Jarod what is it?" the psychiatrist asked as he hurried over to the pretender, who had slipped off the bed and down to the floor.

Jarod was hallucinating now. The drugged pretender felt his mind slipping away as his world became a bottomless pit full of vile creatures.

„NOOOOOOO. I don’t do this to me," Jarod screamed obviously having a terrifying flashback.

Knowing it would be better if Jarod came out of it naturally, Sydney sat on the floor beside Jarod and waited.

After 15 agonizing minutes, Jarod started moaning and his eyes fluttered and opened. Sydney had never seen Jarod look so utterly horrified. His eyes darted around the room and came to rest on Sydney’s worried face.

„Jarod, what happened to you?"

Jarod was shaking violently and buried his face in his hands.

„I just went to Hell, Sydney. My God, don’t let me go there again."

„Jarod, let’s get you off the floor."

„I can’t," Jarod whispered purposely curling up in a ball almost convulsing.

Sydney got up quickly and pressed the intercom button.

„Nurses station, how can we help you?"

„This is Dr. Best. Have a nurse bring in a hypo with 100 mg of Thorazine to room 319 stat."

„Certainly. Someone will be right there."

„Thank you, nurse," Sydney said, looking back down at Jarod, and wondering what part of the torture he had just relived.

* * *

Dr. Sydney Best
Office 108A


I’m sorry, Major, that’s all I know right now. I just had him medicated and he’s sleeping. I imagine he’ll be asleep until later this afternoon.

„Is he going to be alright? When can I see him?"

Even over the phone, Sydney could tell the Major wasn’t taking it well.

„Major, I’m sure Jarod will be feeling much better after he distances himself from this and has some good rest under his belt. Why don’t I give you a call when he’s awake again, so you’ll know when to come. Don’t worry. Jarod will make it through this and I’m sure he’ll be anxious to see you."

„Thanks Sydney, I’ll be waiting for your call."

Sydney hung up the phone and just sat there fighting to control his rage as he thought about Lyle and Raines and their hideous torture chamber back at the Centre.

Opening his upper left-hand drawer, he grabbed something for his throbbing headache and chased it down with the last of his coffee. I need to get out of here for a while, he said to himself, as he stood up, slammed his chair into the desk, and headed out the door, completely oblivious to the fact the exit was being watched.

* * *

Room 319

Jarod struggled to open his heavy eyes, but it was just too much trouble. Realizing he was safe in his own bed, he fell back into a peaceful sleep.

Much later, he was startled awake and realized someone had set a lunch tray on the table by his bed, and heard the door close softly.

Lying there half out of it, Jarod tried to remember why he was in bed at lunch time, but fell back to sleep before he could figure it out.

About an hour later, Jarod surfaced from a frightening nightmare covered in sweat. Pulling the covers back and sitting up, he hurriedly looked around the room. Noticing the cold lunch, he wondered what time it was.

Still not fully awake, he looked again at the lunch tray and then at the clock. Not understanding what was going on, he sat there staring at the clock, which read 1:35, then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

The memory of the horrific flashback assaulted him and he retched violently in the nearest trashcan.

Afterward, he staggered to the bathroom and rinsed out his mouth. He sat on the toilet seat until he regained his strength. Feeling somewhat better, he washed his face and dried it, then noticed his reflection in the mirror. He hardly recognized the haunted man staring back at him and his anger burned as he thought about the people who had done this to him.

Filled with rage, Jarod left his room determined to find out precisely what had been done to him.

* * *

Pretending nothing was wrong, Jarod slapped on a halfhearted smile and set off for the elevator.

He’d remembered Sydney mentioning to someone that his office was on the first floor, room 108A, and knew he could probably find what he was looking for there. He had no desire to view the DSA Miss Parker had mentioned, but a few medical files would do nicely.

Jarod had noticed a supply room on the same floor as the cafeteria, and decided to visit it for a change of clothes first. Noticing details like that was second nature to him and as usual came in handy.

Wearing a lab coat and walking with self-assurance, Jarod made a beeline for Sydney’s office. As fortune would have it, there was really no one around.

Noticing the office lights were out, Jarod slipped a straightened paperclip wire into the lock, jiggled it around, and entered the room before anyone was the wiser.

Quickly he searched the drawers in the filing cabinet by the back wall. Finding the medical files, he flipped though them and pulled his out. Selecting the records from Trenton Memorial Hospital and the ones from Menningers, he quickly made copies of all the pertinent information and hurriedly put everything back when he was done.

Stuffing the papers in his jeans, he started to turn out the lights, but a lady knocked on the door and opened it slightly, calling out Sydney’s name.

Turning his back to the door, Jarod asked who was there.

Taken off guard, the secretary stammered around for a moment eyeing the strange man and asked when Sydney would be back.

Shuffling some papers around like he was doing something important, Jarod simply said for her to check back in about an hour.

With quick thanks, the secretary, who apparently was in a hurry, shut the door and was gone.

Amazed at his good fortune, Jarod shut off the light, puzzling over how she had failed to notice that he had been shaking so hard that he was having trouble keeping upright.

Feeling a great deal of trepidation, Jarod took the elevator back to his room, wondering if he’d be able to handle what he would learn. Maybe this hadn’t been such a great idea after all.

* * *

Miss Parker and Broots rental home
Overland Park, Kansas
2:30 PM

Broots just sat there with trembling hands as he scrolled up on his computer to read the message from Angelo again.

„Miss Parker, you better come here and see this," Broots said, with voice 2 octaves higher than normal.

„What’s the matter with you? Cinch your belt too tight?" Miss Parker sarcastically asked, leaving her paperwork on the couch and walking over his computer feeling a tight ball forming in her stomach as she read the huge word flashing on the screen.

„Danger? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Broots, who sent this email?"
Broots looked up at her with eyes as big as saucers.

„Angelo sent it, with this attachment explaining that he is sending us a video feed from your dad’s office.

„What are you waiting for? Just play it, Broots."

* * *

They watched the screen in silence, as they witnessed a meeting between Mr. Parker, Lyle and Mr. White. Willie and Sam stood in the background as Mr. Raines took a seat between the two sweepers

Several documents were scattered on Mr. Parker’s desk. Mr. White was explaining that he had positive proof that Sydney had Jarod at a psychiatric hospital somewhere in the Midwest and that it would be, a matter of say, a couple of days before he had all the specifics.

Mr. Parker cleared his throat. „White, you make damn sure you have it right this time before you drag everyone on another wild goose chase.

Unfazed, Mr. White didn’t dignify his comment with a reply.

„What about my daughter and Broots?"

„I managed to track them to Illinois before they gave me the slip. Here are several surveillance photos of them taken outside a Kwick shop and various other places in Springfield. I must say, you have an amazingly cleaver daughter."

„That’s not the kind of thing I want to hear right now. White, you make damn sure you find her and Mr. Broots. We can’t have any loose ends circling around and biting our backside."

„Raines, as soon as we know what hospital Jarod is in, you will be provided with his medical records. You better know his case inside and out before he even gets here. I don’t want any slipups concerning his treatments."

„You don’t need to tell me… how to do my business. This is…my area… of expertise."

„Raines, you better make damn sure that serum works. Did you get the other Psychotropic drug developed?"

„It will be ready…by the time Jarod arrives," Raines rasped.

„It better be. Sam, take Raines back to his laboratory, he’s still got work to do."

*

Miss Parker and Broots exchanged puzzled looks.

*

„Lyle, I’m counting on you to get this right."

Lyle gave him a sober look.

„Alright, that will be all for now. A few more days and we’ll be back in business again," Mr. Parker said rubbing his hand together as he watched everyone exit the meeting.

* * *

Silence hung in the air as Miss Parker and Broots digested what they had just seen.

„Broots, better get back to work. I’m calling Sydney. We’ve just been handed a deadline."

* * *

Menninger Hopsital
3nd floor hallway
Room 301

„Hey, Jarod, do ya have a minute? I want you to meet a friend of mine who’s visiting for the day. He’s really good at video games and he wants to play you," Gaelen said noticing Jarod passing by his room.

„Not right now, Gaelen. I’m kind of in the middle of something," Jarod said, starting to walk away.

„Don’t go, Jarod. It’ll just take a minute. I’ve been telling Eric all about you. Besides, don’t you want to see my new lava lamp."

„Lava lamp? Jarod questioned seeing that Gaelen wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily.

„Ok, I’ll meet your friend for just a minute and then I’ve got to get going," Jarod said as Gaelen ushered him into the room.

* * *

Menninger Hospital
Room 319

When Jarod entered his room, he saw Sydney standing by the window looking right at him.

„Jarod, what were you doing in my office?"

Jarod took in a sharp intake of air.

„The secretary told you."

„No, I saw you enter the elevator at the end of the hall wearing a lab coat. I checked my door. You forgot to lock it."

Jarod fell silent.

„I wouldn’t imagine you were looking up your medical records," Sydney said walking over to Jarod and eyeing his bulky midriff.

Jarod started to walk away, but Sydney grabbed his arm abruptly stopping him.

„I can’t let you do this. There’s no telling what your reaction will be. You may inadvertently push yourself over the edge," Sydney said pulling up his shirt. „Jarod, give them to me."

Jarod grabbed the papers and held them tightly in his hand.

„I have a right to know what they did to me, Sydney. I can’t fight something I don’t understand. I’ve got to have some control here," Jarod said raising his voice.

„You’re right, you do have a right to know, but not like this. You’re so angry you’re not thinking straight. Give me the papers before you commit mental suicide."

Jarod stood there eye to eye with Sydney for several moments and then released the papers allowing them to fall to the floor.

Sydney quickly picked them up breathing a silent prayer of thanks.

„Jarod please sit down. I want to talk to you."

Jarod closed his eyes trying to calm down and then slowly walked over to one of the chairs and sat down.

„Jarod, when I found out what Raines and Lyle had done to you, I wanted to kill them with my bare hands."
„I love you, Jarod. I won’t let them hurt you any more."

„I will tell you what they did to you, in that, I will help you understand what you remember, but I won’t tell you things that your mind is trying to protect you from."

„Besides being extremely angry, how are you doing since your flashback this morning?"

„Better. What kind of drug was I given an overdose of?"

„I knew you would ask that. It was some kind of hypnotic truth serum Raines had developed to aid in prisoner interrogations, during the Vietnam War. It had very questionable results," Sydney said, handing Jarod a Centre file on it.

„Apparently, he was having it used on you to find out where you hid the DSAs. He fully intended to take them out of the Country in addition to you."

„Where was he taking me?"

„Berlin."

„My God, Sydney, this has extremely dangerous hallucinogenic properties. How much of this was I given?"

„You were given 3 times the maximum dose."

Jarod closed his eyes and fought a sudden wave of dizziness.

„Sydney, that flashback must have been part of what I experienced while under the influence of this drug," Jarod said starting to weave again."

„Ok, Jarod. I don’t think you should think about this any more right now," Sydney said taking the file out of Jarod’s hand.

„Would you like to rest some more or would you like to visit with your father? I want you to do something that makes you happy for the rest of the day."

„Did my father come here today?"

„Jarod, he wanted to, but you were sleeping. I told him I’d give him a call when you woke up, but you’ve been quite a handful this past hour. Would you like for me to give him a call?"

„I’d sure appreciate it, Sydney."

„I’ll do it under one condition. I want you to try to relax."

„I’ll do that. Thanks Sydney."

„Dr. Best, you have a call on line 3. I’m sorry to interrupt you, but you weren’t answering your page," one of the nurses said, as she stepped part way into the room.

„Oh thank you, Audrey, I think I left it in my office by mistake. Jarod, I’ll see you a little later. I’m going to have one of the aids bring you a snack and I want you to try to eat it. Have a nice visit with your father."

„Bye, Sydney."


* * *

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I’m just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money has or will be made off this story. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.
This story is purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender.

Jarod’s memory is rapidly crashing in on him and he’s struggling to come to terms with what Lyle and Raines did to him. Sydney, his former captor/mentor, has become his psychiatrist and link to sanity. With Broots, Miss Parker, and Major Charles aboard, and evil forces closing in, Sydney will have the backup he needs, but will it be enough to stop the Centre. 4/1/00




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 12
by jojarod50



Menninger Psychiatric Hospital
Overland Park, Kansas
Room 319
3:05 PM


The last thing Sydney had said to Jarod before he left was that he wanted him to relax and do something that made him happy. Happy, what on earth is that? I can’t remember, Jarod thought, as he stared out the window watching a thunderstorm roll in. How apropos Jarod mused as he reflected bitterly on the mess he was in. He knew that if he were going to survive, he would have to regain control of his mind, and deal decisively with the graphic flashbacks of the torture he had endured. What he found deeply disturbing was the deterioration of his mind’s ability to do that. The horrifying flashbacks seemed to be becoming more crippling emotionally. On top of that, he felt as if he were still locked into some kind of weird chemical high, making it extremely difficult to think straight. What if there is some invasive chemical from that overdose, which hasn’t dissipated and is still reeking havoc in my brain, he hypothesized. Maybe that’s the angle to work on.

Well, on the plus side, if I can’t beat this Mr. Parker will probably loose interest in having his daughter drag their damaged pretender back to the Centre. Visions of Miss Parker training a gun on him came to mind, making him wince. Miss Parker the unrelenting huntress, he thought wearily rubbing the back of his neck.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jarod noticed the rain had started to trickle down the windowpane. He could see people down below hurrying to their cars or toward the hospital entrance trying to get out of the rain. For several minutes, he stood there wondering which ones were happy or sad, struggling to get well, or loosing a loved one, and if any of them felt as alone as he did. He knew some of them probably did.

Jarod thought about Miss Parker, too. He was genuinely confused by her sudden shift in attitude toward him. After four years of mercilessly stalking him, it was totally illogical for her to suddenly care about him in the way she had more than alluded to. Feeling uneasy, he started to pace as he went over his conversation with her. A smile flickered across his face, as he remembered their romantic interlude in the Memorial gardens and how beautiful she had looked.

My feelings are clouding my judgement he thought as he tried refocusing on the facts, knowing he was loosing his objectivity. He was painfully aware of his loneliness and how he longed for someone to be close to. Voices in his head were telling him to run like hell; that this was all just a Centre trick to win his trust. What a sick lie that would be, he thought sadly. Jarod was still plagued with voices in his head, but had decided that they were not real and had learned to pretty much ignore them.

There was no denying how thin and weak he was and how little it took for him to slide into an incapacitating flashback or anxiety attack. It would be child’s play for Miss Parker to take him back to the Centre.

Memories of his last horrifying flashback were still making him terribly nauseous. He was so tired of feeling sick. A sudden flash of lightening followed by a loud clap of thunder startled him. Just what I need, another thunderstorm to send me over the edge. It sure rains a lot in Kansas this time of year.

Jarod glanced around his room, feeling angry and trapped because of what Lyle and Raines had done to him.

„I don’t really need to be here," he breathed under his breath. It might not even be safe. Maybe it’d be better if I just disappeared for a while until this thing passes, Jarod thought, suddenly visualizing himself strapped to a chair and Lyle’s hideous face as he plunged a hypo into his arm.

„You tried to drive me insane, Lyle, but it didn’t work, did it?" My mind is still intact, and this time you’re really going to be sorry that you didn’t just kill me, Jarod thought as he went over to his bed and threw himself down.

Sydney had told him that his dad would be up in about an hour, which would give him a little more time to regroup. Dragging an arm over his eyes, he lay there trying to clear his mind of its dark thoughts. His mind wandered over the data concerning Raines truth drug that he had read earlier in the Centre folder Sydney had shown him.

Remembering how the nurse had interrupted their conversation before Sydney had left Jarod abruptly sat up. Scanning the room, he zeroed in on the chair where he remembered seeing Sydney put the Centre file. To his delight, Sydney had accidentally left it behind. Glancing around with a sly pretender smile, Jarod retrieved the file, some paper and his favorite pen, and started to do a little research of his own. It’s always darkest before the morning light.

* * *

Miss Parker and Broots’ rental home
Overland Park, Kansas
3:10PM

Sydney had called Major Charles after a brief conversation with Miss Parker and had urged him to swing by Miss Parker’s house on his way to visit Jarod.

Sydney had realized that this day would come, but had imagined that Jarod would be better equipped mentally for leaving the hospital then he had turned out to be. He still couldn’t understand why Jarod was suffering such a high frequency of flashbacks lately and wished there was something he could do to slow that process before Jarod suffered a relapse into clinical depression or worse. It had seemed that he was having fewer of them until he got his memory back. Usually the mind keeps devastating memories from surfacing until the person is able marshal sufficient coping skills to deal with them. This didn’t seem to be happening as mercifully for Jarod. Perhaps he could try Jarod on Trazodone, he thought noticing that his headache was back in full force.

Pulling up in the driveway, he felt his neck muscles tighten, as he thought about what they were about to do. He noticed someone briefly peeking through the closed curtains, and knew he wasn’t the only one who was suffering slight paranoia. Taking down the Centre would be a monumental undertaking, but allowing it to continue was not an option.

Sydney was startled out of his thoughts as a car pulled in behind him, causing his heart to skip a beat before he realized it was Major Charles.

The Major was out of his vehicle and over to Sydney’s before the doctor had a chance to shut his car door.

„What’s this all about? Is Jarod safe at the hospital?"

„Don’t worry, Jarod is safe for now. I’ll explain everything when we get inside."

As they climbed the steps to the front door, an extremely nervous Mr. Broots met them hurriedly ushering them in.

* * *

Menninger Psychiatric hospital
Room 319
3:55 PM

Jarod was immersed in his research, having papers scattered everywhere as he feverishly worked at unlocking the key to a countermeasure for the devastating after effects of the drug he had been overdosed with. He had been right about the unique chemical properties of Raines truth drug that were designed to remain active in the synaptic fluid of the brain. The victim would be perpetually experiencing scrambled thoughts. For the first time since he had remembered who he was, he felt back in his element. Yet, he was constantly battling confusing and some downright psychotic thinking, which threatened to undermine his work. He would just have to triple check everything he did. If he were right, there was a way to clear his mind so he would be better equipped for working through the traumatic memories and get what little he had of a life back. That was all the hope he needed right now.

The pretender was startled out of his wits, by a knock at the door followed by the appearance of a big burley man carrying a snack tray.

Jarod stood up quickly as the man approached.

„Brought you the snack your doctor ordered for you," he said setting it down. „Mind if I visit with you for a few minutes? It’s really important.

„Visit? What’s this all about?" Jarod asked noticing the man’s strange intensity.

„My name is Joe Clark. I’m the policeman who rescued you from the plane crash."

„Police man?" Jarod asked his fear rising, as his mind scrambling to figure out what was going on here.

„Do you have an ID?" Jarod stalled suddenly bolting for the door, believing he was about to be taken back to the Centre.

Jarod didn’t make it very far before Joe stopped him. Jarod spun around connecting with a right upper cut and punched Joe hard in the gut.

Hardly fazed, the bigger man grabbed the pretender, pulling his arms behind his back, and slammed him against the closed door.

„Jarod listen to me. I’m the one who rescued you in the woods, and got you to Trenton Memorial Hospital before you bled to death. I just want to talk to you about who killed all the people back at the plane crash. You’re the only one still alive who was actually there. You’ve gotta talk to me. My partner and boss and all those innocent people who were murdered deserve justice.

Jarod, in hysterical fugue, never heard a word of what Joe was saying, as he vainly struggled to break free.

„I’ll die before you take me back to the Centre," Jarod gasped fighting to breathe, as he fell into the grips of a panic attack.

„The Centre? Jarod, what’s wrong?" Joe asked realizing the pretender was having trouble breathing. Quickly he hauled him over to the bed and helped him sit down. I’m sorry, I thought you were better now.

„This „is" better," Jarod rasped giving him a swift knee to the crotch and heading out the door.

Realizing he couldn’t outrun the man, Jarod entered Aimee’s room two doors down, scaring the heck out of her.

„Aimee, forgive… me! I need… to hide. There’s…a man… trying to kidnap me," he said sliding under her bed. „Just pretend… I’m not… here and… keep… doing what you’re …doing."

Aimee just stood there in her bathrobe, her wet hair wrapped in a towel on top of her head, when a second man opened her door quickly scanning her bedroom. Scared to death, she let out a blood-curdling scream, sending the intruder quickly on his way.

Waiting to make sure he didn’t come back, she went to the door and peeked down the hallway and noticed a security guard with one of the nurses heading her way.

„Aimee, what happened? We could hear you scream all the way down at the nurses station?"

„A strange man flung open my door and started to come in. I thought he was going to attack me, but when I screamed he turned and ran."

„What did he look like?" the security guard asked glancing around.

„He was very big and muscular with short hair and I don’t know…. It happened so fast."

„Did you notice what he was wearing?"

„I don’t know. White clothes, I think."

The security guard pulled out his wakie and called in the situation.

„Don’t you worry, we have everything under control. Why don’t you go down to the nurses station until everything is resolved," he told Aimee with a reassuring smile.

„Thank you, Sir," Aimee said as she was escorted down the hall, knowing that Jarod would probably be safe now

* * *.

Menninger Psychiatric Hospital
Parking lot - Level 2
4:35PM

„Time is short. Major Charles, you go ahead to Jarod’s room and explain to him that he we’re all going over to Miss Parker and Broots’ house, but don’t tell him anything about the Centre. Don’t even mention it. Just say that since he is better now, he is being released to my care. I’ll join you as soon as all the paperwork is completed. Just keep it light and upbeat and have him pack his things."

„Ok, Sydney, but don’t take too long," the major said with a strained look on his face.

„I already have the papers prepared. It shouldn’t take over 15 minutes or so," Sydney said eyeing him. „Major, you need to relax. One look at your face, and Jarod is going to know immediately that something is wrong. We can’t afford for him to get spooked right now. Besides, Broots is monitoring the Centre and they haven’t left Blue Cove yet."

„You’re right Sydney," Major Charles said taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, „You can count on me."

„Ok, I’ll meet you up stairs when I’m done," Sydney reminded him as they entered the hospital.

„I’m going to stop by the cafeteria and pick up some Twinkies for Jarod, then I’m going straight up. See you in a little bit."

* * *

Major Charles headed for the cafeteria as Sydney dropped by his office to collect all the paperwork on Jarod. He needed to stop by the front office to sign for Jarod’s transfer to a private mental hospital in Red Wing, Minnesota, and then back by the office as a final precaution to make sure all of the hospital’s files on Jarod’s were set properly to delete on command. They didn’t want to show their hand too early. As soon as the Centre Jet was in the air, Broots would enter a password and the delete program would kick in.

Fortunately, everything went as planned and Sydney was on the elevator to the third floor in no time. He smiled as he thought about the new computer tricks Broots had taught him.

Exiting the elevator, Sydney headed down the hall to Jarod’s room and found it empty. Sydney stepped in and looked around, noticing the Centre folder and paperwork strewn on the table by the window. Collecting the papers, he sat down to read them, realizing that the major had probably gone to the rec. room to get Jarod. Sydney was amazed at how precise Jarod’s research work was considering he was two steps left of center.

He immediately looked up as he heard the door open, expecting to see Jarod and Major Charles, but instead saw a horror stricken man.

„What is it, Major?" Sydney asked bolting out of his seat.

„He’s gone. I talked to the last person to see him; some girl named Aimee. She said he was running from someone who he said was trying to kidnap him and hid in her room, but that when she came back he was gone. Apparently, they’ve had people looking for him since he missed his medication at 4:00. The hospital just put out an alert on him, and they are conducting a floor by floor sweep."

„My God. It’s impossible that Lyle and the sweepers are already here. Who on earth could be a threat to Jarod here? It is possible that Jarod is experiencing some kind of psychotic episode. If he thought his life were in danger, he would have found a way out of the hospital.
Let’s get his things and get out of here now, before we are detained. We must find him, before anything happens to him." Sydney said glancing out the window at the pouring rain.

Quickly they gathered his things and left the hospital, without another word.

* * *

Sunflower Park
Adjacent the hospital
4:50PM

Jarod had wanted to run until he was a safe distance from the hospital, but his attempt was extremely short-lived. His legs had given out before he had even made it 2 blocks.

After a short breather, he attempted to run again only to have his wet legs cramp up on him and he doubled over in pain.

„Life can be such a bitch, he thought as he looked around for some where to hide.

Just through the trees, he could see a Mom and Pops family restaurant and a shopping mall. If he could make it over there, he’d be able to get lost in a crowd. The only problem would be getting there undetected he thought realizing that he couldn’t stay in the pouring rain much longer.

Jarod had expected to see the black town cars and sweepers by now.

„This is very strange," he mumbled as he limped over to a nearby Gazebo and hid under some overgrown cedar trees. He was cold, wet and miserable. Misquotes harassed him biting his unprotected arms, neck and ankles. He tried to work the cramps out of his legs as he looked around for signs of danger. His heart beat wildly in his chest and he struggled to calm himself realizing he had no viable plan at all. His research was back at the hospital, he had no money, no laptop, and he feared he’d never see his father or Sydney again.

If only he had a phone, he could connect with Sydney, he thought, struggling to block out the screaming voices in his mind.

* * *

Sunflower Park
5:00PM

The Major and Sydney had parked their car by the park and quickly began their searched for Jarod. The interstate bordered the hospital on three sides, and this seemed the most likely place he could have run to.

„Jarod, if you’re out here Please answer me!" the major yelled over a rumble of thunder.

„Jarod, This is Sydney. No one is going to kidnap you. Jarod where are you?"

„Sydney, I don’t think he’s here. Maybe he thumbed a ride. He could be miles from here already," he said glancing at the steady traffic.

„If he did, there’s not much we can do about it. My guess is he’s not in the mood to trust anyone. Keep looking. Let’s spread out. You cover the right side and I’ll cover the left."

They had been looking for Jarod 20 minutes and it was raining much harder now, as the Major crossed over to a row of trees near the fountain and gazebo.

„Jarod? Where are you? Jarod! Can you hear me?" the Major yelled circling the fountain, hoping to cover the area quicker.

„Dad, get down!" Jarod yelled as he tackled him. „The Centre’s after me."

„Jarod, calm down."

„Do you have a gun?" Jarod asked scanning the area.

„No son, not with me."

„We’ve got to get out of here. Where’s Sydney?"

„He’s over there somewhere, looking for you."

„Oh no. If they get their hands on him they’ll kill him. Ok, the coast is clear; run along the tree line and try to stay low."

Sydney spotted them as soon as they rounded a group of picnic tables. It looked like Major Charles was chasing Jarod.

„Jarod stop running," Sydney ordered.

„Sydney, the car," Jarod said motioning toward the parking lot.

Sydney caught up with them as they reached the parking lot.

„Jarod, thank God we found you! Are you alright?"

„Never mind. The Centre’s on to us!"

„Ok, Jarod, get in the car," Sydney said realizing he’d have to explain what they were going to do about the Centre and hoping Jarod would handle it better than this.

* * *

Near Miss Parker and Broots’ rental home
Overland Park, Kansas
7:05PM

Sydney hadn’t spoken a word since Jarod finished explaining about his encounter with the man who called himself Joe and claimed to be a policeman. He realized it probably really was the officer Dr.Ross had told him about, who had been waiting to question Jarod at Trenton Memorial Hospital right after the plane crash.

„Jarod, I don’t believe the man you encountered was from the Centre. There really is a Lieutenant named Joe Clark, who wanted to question you right after the plane crash, but you were too seriously injured and drugged for that to be permitted. The Centre sweepers killed a lot of innocent emergency personnel and police officers at the crash site before the cleaners were sent in. You were the only one who escaped. There is no way you could have remembered it but I was told that he was the one who rescued you.

„He saved my life?" Jarod asked watching the rain stream down the passenger window. Well, I sure showed a lot of gratitude to him," Jarod said bitterly.

„And here we all are muddy and soaking wet after my ridiculous get-a-way to the park."

„Jarod, you did what you thought you had to do. If he had been from the Centre, it would have been imperative for you to do anything you could to get away," Sydney said knowing how humiliated Jarod felt.

Jarod hoped Sydney knew whom to trust, as they pulled into the driveway in front of Parker’s spacious rental house.

After everyone entered the house, a dark maroon car slowly past by and headed down the block. Pulling into the driveway of a vacant house, Joe waited for 10 minutes before pulling out and circling the neighborhood again.

* * *

„Well, Boys, stop off somewhere to do a little mud wrestling?" Miss Parker remarked wondering what the heck they had been up to.

„Parker, please," Sydney said, giving her an exasperated look.

„Jarod ran into some „unwanted company" at the hospital."

„The Centre?" Broots asked dropping the luggage he had just picked up.

„No, we’ll explain later, if you don’t mind."
„There’re 3 showers no waiting. Two upstairs and one down that hall." Miss Parker said eyeing the trio in amusement.

Jarod turned around, suitcase in hand, and headed down the hallway without saying a word. Major Charles watched him go, with a worried expression on his face, then said excuse me and headed upstairs.

Sydney glared at Miss Parker and said, "You’re going to have to be more sensitive to Jarod’s feelings. You seem to have forgotten that he’s having emotional difficulties right now. His reality base is not very strong and he’s devastated by his diminished capacity."

„I’m so sorry, Sydney," Miss Parker said and really meant it. There’s a shower to the left at the top of the stairs, right next to your room. I’ll have some coffee going by the time you’re done."

„I would appreciate it if you kept a close eye on Jarod. Don’t mention the Centre and don’t let him leave the house. He is extremely paranoid right now. He fled the hospital around 4:00 and we were lucky to find him at all."

„My God, Sydney," Miss Parker breathed realizing for the first time what had happened. „Don’t worry, Broots and I will keep him company."

„Broots, I need you to pull up the information on a lieutenant Joe Clark of the Trenton, New Jersey police force. I believe he’s the one who made contact with Jarod this afternoon. I’ll want to look at it the moment I come down."

Pausing, Sydney relaxed a little looking at Broots and Miss Parker. „I’m sure the three of us did look rather amusing when we first arrived," he said giving them a guilty look as he noticed the wet spot on the carpet where he was standing.

„It’ll dry, Syd."

* * *

Jarod felt a lot better after a hot shower. Slipping into his black pants he searched through his bag for a black T-shirt to put on. That’s when he noticed his reflection in the full-length mirror. His chest and back were covered with purplish scars that looked vaguely like whip marks. Down his front left side were scars that looked like he might have been burned severely several times.

„How could I have not noticed those before?" Jarod said out loud with a sick look on his face realizing he had been blocking it out of his conscious mind. Hurriedly he pulled his shirt on disgusted by what he saw. Slipping his socks on, he tried to ignore the deep purple scars encircling his ankles.

Relieved to be dressed, he gathered up his bag and dirty clothes and tried to find the laundry room.

„Hey, Jarod, what are you looking for?" Broots asked noticing him opening and closing doors and hoping he wasn’t looking for an exit.
„The laundry room," Jarod said leery of being in the same hallway with his former adversary. „I thought I’d better get these started, "he said looking down at the muddy clothes in his hands, feeling uncomfortably anxious.

„One more door and you would have had it," Broots said cheerfully opening another door and noticing that Jarod seemed afraid of him.

„Um, look Jarod, I I’m really sorry for what happened to you. I, well, I just want you to know, that I, um, wish I’d never tried to take you back there."

„So do I, Broots," Jarod said with a deep look of sadness in his eyes as he stepped into the laundry room and closed the door.

Well, that didn’t go very good, Broots thought, feeling like he had just been punched in the stomach, as he headed back toward the living room.

„Broots, how is Jarod doing?" Sydney asked coming down the stairs with Major Charles, both carrying their muddy clothes.

„I’m not sure. He’s, um, in the laundry room.

Miss Parker glanced down the hallway and then at Syd and the Major.

„Hey boys, I’m feeling domestic. Let me handle those," she said, holding a basket for them to drop their clothes in and giving Sydney a wink, grateful to have an excuse to check on Jarod.

„Have you had dinner yet? I ordered some pizzas a while ago. They should be here in about 30 minutes."

„Thank you, Broots," Sydney said watching Miss Parker disappear down the hallway.

„I see you have Joe Clark’s information for me. Any Centre connections, Broots?"

„He looks clean to me. And you were right. He’s the one that saved Jarod’s life. Apparently, he’s the one who helped Jarod get to the hospital before the Centre got their hands on him. He resigned from the force to continue an independent investigation into the murder of everyone at the plane crash after the case was closed down."

„Good work, Broots."

„What about operation download? Have you gotten the Pakor, Donoterase, and other sensitive Centre data ready for transfer to the FBI?"

„It’s ready to go. Angelo is coordinating some other things for me too, back at the Centre.

„Do you know when Lyle’s team plan to leave yet?" Sydney asked with a noticeably tight voice.

„No, but they still haven’t made their move yet," Broots said meeting Sydney’s eyes.

„Keep on it, Broots. I haven’t had a chance to discussed this with Jarod yet, so please don’t mention it in his presence."

* * *

Jarod was putting soap in the washer when Miss Parker walked in.

Dropping the box, he spun around quickly, as if sweepers surrounded him, fixing his frightened eyes on the intruder.

„Take it easy, Jarod, it’s just me," Miss Parker said shocked at his reaction. „I shouldn’t have come barging in on you like that."

„Why Miss Parker," Jarod said recovering quickly. „You’re the last person I’d expect to see in a laundry room. I wouldn’t think you’d want to dirty your pretty little hands," he said as he stooped to pick up the laundry soap, his tone taking on a definite edge.

„Jarod, you have a right to be angry with me. That remark I made back in there…"

„Was nothing. Just drop it," Jarod said feeling an overpowering urge to run for the door.

„Ok, Jarod," Miss Parker said crossing over toward him to drop the rest of the muddy clothes in the washer.

Jarod automatically stepped backwards with renewed fear in his eyes.

„My God, Jarod, you’re afraid of me," Miss Parker whispered overcome with pain.

„Let’s just say I don’t want to be taken back to the Centre any time soon," Jarod said flatly having noticed she was wearing her gun.

„Jarod, you have to believe me, I’m through with the Centre for good."

Jarod crossed his arms defensively, searching her eyes for any signs of deception.

„I don’t think I can afford to trust „anyone" right now."

„I understand, Jarod, but please try," Miss Parker said her eyes welling up with tears. „I need you right now."

Totally surprised by her reaction and realizing he had caused it, Jarod pulled her into a comforting embrace.

„I’m sorry, Parker, I didn’t mean to hurt you. You’d be a lot better off if you found someone else to care about. I’m not worth much to anyone right now."
„You’re wrong, Jarod, don’t talk like that," she said pushing a strand of tousled hair out of his eyes.

„Holding her very close, his anger and fear melted away and Jarod finally let his guard down allowing his feelings for her to surface.

Parker could feel his trembling body beginning to relax and she closed her eyes enjoying his warmth against hers. They stood there for several minutes, holding each other as if their lives depended on it and then pulled back slightly and kissed passionately.

Realizing what he had done, Jarod stepped back apologizing, but Parker smiled and placed her fingers over his lips to quiet him and they kissed again.

Broots popped his head in and his heart fell when he saw Miss Parker in Jarod’s arms.

„I was um oh well, excuse me I’ll just…"

„What is it, Broots?"

„Um, Jarod, Sydney wants to talk to you and the pizzas will be here soon."

„Pizzas, who are they?" Jarod asked genuinely confused.

„Italian pies, Jarod. Don’t tell me you’re never eaten one of those," Miss Parker said in disbelief.

„What can I say, I’ve lived a sheltered life," Jarod offered embarrassed by Broots sudden appearance.

„Thanks, Broots," Miss Parker said giving him a slightly irritated look.

* * *

Everyone had joined Sydney and the Major in the living room. Jarod was over by the dining room table talking to Sydney as Major Charles started a fire in the fireplace. After Broots had finished something at the computer, Miss Parker and Broots went into the kitchen to set the table.

„Jarod, I need for you to take these. You were supposed to have them at 4:00 and it’s way after that now."

„Sydney, I only take one of those," the pretender said eyeing the orange tablets and angry that he needed anything at all.

„I know, Jarod, but I want you to double up this time. Look how badly you’re shaking. You’ve had an extremely stressful day and I’m afraid tonight won’t be much better."

„What do you mean by that?"

„Just do what I say and we’ll discuss it after dinner."

„What’s wrong, Sydney?" Jarod asked fear rising again.

„Jarod, I don’t want you overreacting. There’s nothing wrong. We’ve been working on a project. We’ll discuss it later. You may find it pleasantly surprising. Oh, and you have a package from Angelo.

„Hmm. Wonder what that could be?"

„Anyone want some coffee?"

That would certainly be nice," Sydney said smiling as he inspected Jarod’s package and handed it to him.

„Please excuse me for a minute, there are a couple of things I still need to get out of the car. I’ll be right back," Sydney said as he grabbed his raincoat and headed out the door.

* * *

„Dr. Best, I presume," Joe Clark said stepping out from behind Sydney’s car with a gun drawn. „I think we need to talk."

„That gun won’t be necessary. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, Joe Clark. That is your name, isn’t it?"

„So you know who I am. I’ll be the judge of whether I need a gun or not. You kidnapped our only witness and ruined a criminal investigation. If I still had my badge, you would be under arrest right now. Jarod is inside isn’t he? You seem to have a fetish for removing him from hospitals. Care to explain?"

„I am not the enemy here. You saw what was done to Jarod. The people who did that were trying to recover Jarod. If I hadn’t intervened, he would most likely be dead now, as are your partner and police chief. Those same people were the ones who you rescued Jarod from. I just explained to Jarod who you are and he deeply regrets how your last meeting went. You see, he has no memory of you and thought you were one of the others."

„He mentioned the Centre."

„Yes. Would you care to finish this conversation inside? I’m really tired of standing out here in the rain. Just please put your gun away. I don’t want you to panic Jarod again."

„How can I know I can trust you? You might be part of this Centre yourself."

„Mr. Clark, Centre operatives will be arriving very soon. I don’t have time for this, but we could use your help. You need to decide if you want to participate in taking them down."

Joe stood there for several moments weighing things out and decided to take a chance.

„I’m in," he said holstering his weapon.

Sydney gave a sigh of relief realizing how dicey things might have gotten.

„Just a minute, I need a couple of things out of the car."

* * *

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Mr. Lyle’s office
9:00 PM

„Overland Park, Kansas. This should be a piece of cake," Lyle said setting down a Centre File designated, Retrieval. Jarod certainly won’t be a problem. According to his medical records, he still hasn’t recovered. That ought to simplify things immensely. Be clear. I don’t want Jarod harmed in any way. I want him sedated and taken out first. Willie, your team will be in charge of him. You will also be responsible for Major Charles. We need him to find Gemini."

„Sam, your team will handle the return of Sydney, Broots and my sister. Mutombo had decided that he wants them brought back for reeducation, so use restraint in their capture."

„We’ll execute Operation Retrieval in two days baring unforeseen complications. I want every contingency explored and options in place, before I will even entertain presenting our plan to Big Mutombo. Submit your reports to me upon completion no later than 3:00PM tomorrow. "

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I’m just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money is changing hands on this. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money. This story is purely for entertainment and promotions of my favorite show, The Pretender.

Time is quickly running out. Sydney, Parker and Broots attempt to complete their task and grudgingly welcome a new player. As Jarod desperately fights his own internal battle, will he be emotionally equipped to face off with the Centre? Note: Part 11 and 12 tell what happened earlier on this day.



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 13
by jojarod50



Miss Parker and Broots’ rental home
Overland Park, Kansas
8:40 PM


Major Charles stood back trying to enjoy the crackle of the fire he had just lit, as it took off, illuminating the fireplace with a warm friendly glow. Looking out the window, he noticed it was still raining fairly hard out side. He shivered involuntarily remembering the soaking he and Sydney had gotten, chasing Jarod down in the park after he had fled the hospital a couple of hours ago. They had been desperate to find him, knowing that he would never make it on the outside in his condition. Seeing Jarod so panic-stricken and desperate, believing sweepers were after him, was hard for his father to bare. Those evil men would pay dearly for what they did to his son, the Major swore under his breath.

Glancing over at Jarod, who was opening a package at the dinning room table, he couldn’t help but wonder how his son could keep going after all he had been through today. Just this morning, he had been totally incapacitated by a horrifying flashback and had needed to be sedated. Major Charles still felt the anguish he had experienced when Sydney had broken the news to him.

The Major noticed Miss Parker off in the distance watching Jarod. He was aware of Jarod’s visit with Miss Parker early this morning and felt very uneasy about her interest in him. He couldn’t wait until he could take Jarod far away from all these Centre fugitives, after all they had done to him. It was a constant struggle for him to try to forgive them, after their involvement in Jarod’s suffering, unlike his son, who amazed him with his compassion.

He was also worried about how Jarod would take the news that the Centre would be in town within 48 hours. Claiming a cozy chair by the fireplace, he observed the young man, as he scanned a folder and emptied the contents of the box, setting each item carefully on the table except one that he held in his hand as if it were something of extreme value.

„Well, what was in the box?" the Major asked crossing over to Jarod, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Jarod let out a muffled cry, dropping something small in a wrapper on the rug, as he backed away from his dad struggling to catch his breath.

„My God, Jarod, what’s the matter with you? You act like you’re scared to death of me."

„I’m…sorry, Dad. You just… startled me, that’s all," Jarod said rubbing his hand over his eyes as he stooped down to retrieve the little package.

„Angelo sent me some Pez," he said with a child like look on his face as he quickly stuffed it in his jean pocket.

The Major managed a smile masking his concern for his son that had just gone up to a new level.

„What else did you get?" Major Charles asked eyeing a Centre file, bottles of clear liquid, and a bunch on syringes scattered on the table.

„It’s apparently some kind of drug therapy Raines had earmarked for me after my imminent return," Jarod said, his voice trembling, as he hurriedly putting the bottles and syringes back in the box and closing the top.

„Excuse me for a minute," Jarod said leaving the room with an unsteady gate and heading upstairs.

Miss Parker stood near the kitchen, where she had been watching Jarod and his father, intrigued by their relationship. She wondered what it’d be like to have such a caring father, but regretted even thinking it, as her eyes welled up with unwanted tears.

****

The front door swung open and Sydney entered carrying some files and a small white sack, which he hurriedly set down on a chair near the door.

„Miss Parker, Broots, Major Charles, and Jarod, there is someone here I’d like you to meet."

„Who is it, Syd?" Miss Parker said feeling around to her back for her gun as Major Charles and Broots joined her at the door.

„Where’s Jarod?"

„He just went up stairs," his dad said with a strained look on his face, which Sydney picked up on immediately.

„What’s wrong?"

„I’m not sure, but from what he said, I think he might have figured out the Centre is coming for him. There must have been something about that included in the package he received," the Major said giving him a serious look.

„Ok, well, let’s do this first. Joe Clark is here and would like to join our endeavor against the Centre. I believe he could be of great use to us considering his connections in law enforcement," Sydney said with a sly smile, eyeing the group for reactions.

„I don’t know, Syd. It’s pretty risky taking on a new player this late in the game. Especially someone none of us knows," Miss Parker said pointedly.

„Well, he, um, checked out just fine. I mean, well, I think," Broots said thinking back on all the information he had just read on the computer."

„You say this man saved my son? I’d like to meet him," Major Charles said cautiously optimistic.

„I’ll keep a close eye on him. Where is he Syd?" Miss Parker said hating the timing of this.

Sydney went to the door and opened it revealing a large burly man with kind eyes and a slightly nervous look on his face standing on the porch barely out of the rain.

"Joe I have some people that would like to meet you," Sydney said ushering him into the foyer.

„This is Major Charles, Jarod’s father."

Shaking Joe’s hand firmly, the Major thanked him sincerely for rescuing his son.

„So, Mr. Clark, you trailed Jarod and Sydney all the way here from Trenton, New Jersey and then straight to our doorstep. You must be a very determined man," Miss Parker said giving him an icy stare.

„It, um, it wasn’t easy. You people are incredibly stealthy. Mame, you can call me Joe, if you like," Joe said smiling and holding out his hand.

„Save it, Joe. And you can call me Miss Parker," she said with a smug superior smile on her face as she folded her arms.

Joe glanced at Sydney and noticed his amused knowing look.

„I’m Broots, Joe. Glad to meet you," he said proffering his hand. „We could sure use some help, I mean, well, it’s not like we can’t do this, I just mean… well, I’m sure with your background you’ll be helpful.

„Well, I sure am looking forward to getting involved. I’ve been slamming into brick wall after brick wall, and now, it’s like a miracle to meet up with you people."

„Joe, if you’ll excuse me for a minute, I need to go check on Jarod. Why don’t you all get to know each other."

„Thank you," Joe said, slightly more at ease.

„Yes, welcome to the Hospitality House," Miss Parker said sarcastically turning on her heel and heading into the kitchen for a stiff drink.

Joe stared at her with a puzzled look, as she walked away.

„Don’t mind her. It’s just her way," Broots explained, realizing what kind of first impression she had made.

Joe gave him a tight smile, rather amused by her obvious predilection for dominance.

* * *

Sydney took the Major aside to talk privately.

„Major Charles, maybe you should stay put. I’d like to talk to Jarod first, if that’s alright with you."

„Sure, Sydney. Whatever you think. Just help my son, please. He’s not doing very well, is he?" Jarod’s dad asked with tears in his eyes. „Jarod seems to be rapidly going down hill to me. Can’t you do something?"

„Major, I’m doing everything I can, but you must understand, there are always setbacks along the way. Recovery takes time. There are just too many things being thrown at Jarod right now, which unfortunately can’t be avoided. If things become too difficult for him, there are other options we can take. He’s got a very strong will. Don’t write him off just yet. Let me go see how he’s doing. Maybe you should try to relax and have something to eat. I’ll be back in a little bit. Ok?"

* * *

Sydney climbed the stairs, relieved to have the situation with Joe resolved, but with renewed concern for Jarod. He was well aware that his patient had had too much to deal with already today. Damn Raines and Lyle to hell for causing this.

Removing Jarod from his relatively safe hospital environment and throwing him into a totally new arrangement with former Centre players was just one more stressful thing stacked up against him. The timing on this is really lousy, he thought shaking his head.

Sydney knew he must tell Jarod about the Centre’s plans, if he hadn’t already figured it out. He hated the position he was in, because he wasn’t sure if Jarod could handle any more stress right now. He’d have to play that one by ear. Sydney just hoped the Major was wrong about Jarod already knowing about the Centre. Without all the information, Jarod might go over the edge like he had at the hospital.

* * *

Sydney went down the hallway looking in different rooms trying to find Jarod.
He finally found him in Miss Parker’s room siting on the floor in the corner by the bed rocking himself gently, his head hidden in his arms.

„Jarod?" Sydney said sadly realizing his patient had already been pushed over the edge.

Jarod said nothing but kept rocking himself.

Sydney glanced around noticing the empty Pez container and candy rectangles in a neat little pile beside it not far from where Jarod sat.

„Jarod, can you hear me?" the psychiatrist asked realizing that Jarod was trapped in another flashback and wondering if the Major might have been right.
.
Jarod remained totally unresponsive.

Sydney knelt down beside him torn apart by what he saw.

„There you two are. I wondered where you went," Miss Parker said standing there with the door wide open. „Better get down stairs, boys, the Pizzas have finally arrived."

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw what was going on.

„Sydney?"

„I’m not sure."

After observing him for several minutes he decided it was time to intervene.

Holding Jarod still, the doctor lifted Jarod’s face and saw the blank expression in his glazed eyes.

„Jarod, look at me," Sydney said in a gentle voice.

It seemed like an eternity before Jarod became vaguely responsive, his eyes wandering toward his face.

Sydney was really starting to worry, but Jarod finally started to come out of the fog.
He blinked his eyes slowly seeing Sydney’s face but it barely registered.

Sydney waited impatiently for Jarod to come around, as he sat there staring at the doctor.

Glancing up he noticed Miss Parker was staring at them, worry written all over her face.

It took a few minutes before Jarod was lucid enough to be asked questions.
.
„What happened, Jarod?" Sydney asked relieved to see some intelligence in his eyes.

„I’m not sure," Jarod said, still very confused, „Maybe I took another walk on the wild side."

„Here, let me help you up," Sydney offered, helping Jarod get to his feet.

„Excuse me, Miss Parker, I appear to be in your room," Jarod said noticing the pink robe on the chair and the perfume, comb, and brush on the table.

„Just let me know where my room is and I’ll be out of your hair," Jarod said fighting to stay upright and feeling totally humiliated again.

„Why don’t you sit down for a minute," Miss Parker said too late watching him stagger out the door and realizing she’d better just show him.

„Jarod, you’re next door to me," she said grateful he didn’t have far to go.

„Thanks," the pretender said softly walking in and shutting the door behind him.

„Sydney, is he going to be alright?"

Sydney bit his lip and gave her an unconvincing nod as he left to go talk to Jarod.

He was aware that Jarod hadn’t had anything to eat today and that he needed to get him over this so that he would.

The psychiatrist found it disturbing to find Jarod rocking himself just as an extremely traumatized child would.

Whatever had happened to Jarod, he had obviously been unable to deal with it.

* * *


„Jarod, could I talk to you for a few minutes?"

„The door’s unlocked."

When Sydney went in, Jarod was sitting on the bed staring across the room at the wall his expression bewildered.

„Jarod, how are you feeling?"

„Fine, well, pretty light-headed."

„Do you remember what happened to you in Miss Parker’s room?"

Jarod slowly shook his head. „No. I don’t even remember coming upstairs."

„What is the last thing you remember?"

Jarod appeared to be struggling to come up with an answer, then finally looked up and mentioned being given the package from Angelo.

„Did you open the package?"

„No, I don’t think so."

„Jarod, where did you get the Pez I saw by you in Miss Parker’s room?" Sydney asked, realizing something in the package must have triggered a horrifying flashback that Jarod simply couldn’t handle.

„Pez?"

„Never mind, Jarod. Do you feel like having something to eat? You really can’t skip any more meals today," Sydney said giving Jarod a hopeful look.

„Ok."

„Jarod, how would you like to meet Joe Clark?" Sydney asked cautiously, knowing it was unavoidable.

Jarod gave him a curious look.

„Yes, I would. Do you know where to reach him?"

„Jarod, he’s down stairs right now," Sydney said observing him carefully for any negative reaction.

Jarod broke into a nervous smile.

„I need to apologize to him," he said starting to get up.

„Wait, Jarod. Maybe you should relax for a little bit first."

„Sydney, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it," Jarod said wishing he could quit having setbacks like this, as he headed out the door pausing only once to regain his balance.

Sydney watched him head down stairs amazed at his resiliency and courage.

* * *

Major Charles was standing by the foot of the stairs when Jarod came down anxious to see how his son was doing.

„Jarod, I was worried about you. You looked so upset when you went upstairs. What happened?"

„I don’t remember, Dad. I’d rather not talk about it right now. Ok?" Jarod asked looking very uncomfortable.

„Sure Jarod, what ever you want," Major Charles managed with an understanding smile.

„Sydney said Joe Clark was here; have you met him yet?" Jarod asked looking around.

„Yeah, he’s in the kitchen getting some Pizza. Why don’t you get some, too, Jarod? You must be really hungry," the Major suggested looking at his watch.

Jarod headed for the kitchen, as Miss Parker and Sydney came down the stairs.

„Where is Joe?" Sydney asked feeling very pressed to discuss the Centre with Jarod.

„In the kitchen. What happened upstairs?"

„We may never know, Major. Excuse me, I need to make sure Joe doesn’t say anything to set off Jarod again," Sydney said with a wane smile.

* * *

„I appreciate all you did for me, more than you’ll ever know," Jarod managed his brown eyes glistening with sudden unshed tears. „I don’t know how I could ever repay you," he said his voice charged with emotion.

„Hey, kid, don’t worry about it. You were in a really bad way out there. Your doctor said you don’t even remember anything about what happened. Is that really true?" Joe asked wondering what he would say.

„I don’t think the kinds of things I’ve been remembering would be of any use to you," Jarod said regretfully, trying to shake off the images that were suddenly flooding his mind.

„Hi, Joe, nice to see you again," Sydney said inserting himself into the conversation.

„Yes it is, Dr. Best. I’m really grateful to finally get to talk to Jarod. This is certainly a lot less painful than our last meeting," Joe mused looking over at Jarod, as he remembered their fight back at the hospital.

„Yeah, I’m really sorry about that. I kind of lost it back there," Jarod admitted feeling uneasy.

„Hey, that’s understandable. After what those goons did to you I don’t blame you at all. I see your fingernails are growing back. I didn’t think they would with all those toothpicks they crammed under them. You’ve really had a hard time of it from what I remember. When I found you, you were wiped out on drugs and bloody…"

„Excuse me, Joe, I need to talk to you for a little bit and Jarod hasn’t had a chance to eat today. Jarod why don’t you go fill up a plate. You can talk to Joe later." Sydney said regretting that Jarod had ever met Joe, after seeing the devastated look on Jarod’s face.

„Let’s talk in the other room, Joe," Sydney said with such intensity that Joe realized he must have said something wrong.

„Ok, Dr. Best," he said as they left the room together.

* * *

Broots had been getting a cup of coffee and took in the whole thing. He watched Jarod standing there looking at his nails with an angry sick look on his face.

„Hey Jarod," Broots said realizing how bad Jarod must be feeling, „There’s plenty of pizza left. I think I ordered too much. Have you ever tried a supreme stuffed crust pizza? It’s my personal favorite," he said loading some on a plate and handing it to Jarod.

„Oh, um, thanks, Broots," Jarod said with a slight smile, putting the plate down and walking over to the window across the room.

„Jarod, you real really need to um eat something. I over heard what Sydney said about you not having eaten.

„I know… It’s just been kind of a hard day."

„Hey, I have an idea. How about some rocky road ice cream? Jarod, its double chocolate fudge with marshmallows and nuts."

Jarod turned around smiling and slightly nodded.

„Thanks, Broots," he said studying his caring eyes. „I’d like to try some of that."

„You would? Great, two rocky roads coming right up. You won’t be sorry," Broots said grinning and hoping he and Jarod could become friends. He knew Jarod could sure use one about now.

* * *

After the ice cream and some small talk, Broots and Jarod joined everyone in the living room. Broots went to check on the fire and decided it needed more logs.

Jarod, nearly exhausted, sat quietly on the couch listening to Sydney, Joe and his Dad’s casual conversation.

Miss Parker was sitting in a chair by the fire looking at some papers. Jarod had trouble keeping his eyes off her. She looked so beautiful in the glow of the fire. He couldn’t remember the last time he could just enjoy being in the same room with her. There was something different about her; something soft and tender that reminded him of the girl he had fallen for so many years ago.

As if she knew he was watching her, Parker looked up from her papers and looked right at him smiling a little bit. Jarod smiled back wondering what it would be like for her to be the last thing he looked at before he closed his eyes at night.

Suddenly he realized how pointless it was to imagine Miss Parker in his life, and fought to contain his rage at what the Centre had done to him.

Jarod vaguely realized that Sydney was now standing right by him.

„Jarod, you look really tired. Could I talk to you before it gets any later?"

„What’s this about?"

„It’s about the project I mentioned that we were working on. I need a cup of coffee. Would you mind joining me in the kitchen?"

Jarod nodded and they went into the kitchen.

* * *

„How are you feeling besides being very tired, Jarod? Sydney asked hoping this conversation would be uneventful, as he eyed the exhausted young man.

„I’m fine. Just get to the point, Sydney," Jarod said irritably, feeling fed up with this kid glove treatment and hating himself for needing it.

„All right, Jarod," Sydney said choosing his words carefully.

„We have been working on a project called Operation Download. Miss Parker and Broots have been selectively preparing sensitive incriminating Centre information to be down loaded and sent to the FBI. The moment Lyles two teams take flight and head in our direction, which will take place within the next 48 hours, Angelo will inform us and Broots will initiate the program." Sydney was watching Jarod carefully and noticed a decidedly positive reaction from him as his lips curled into a sly smile.

„And the FBI will meet Lyle’s plane at the airport when it lands."

„Yes, Jarod. There is also a team in place to pick up Mr. Parker, Raines, and Mutombo, along with all the other key players. They have been under surveillance for quite some time now. Well, those, at least, are some of the main details of the project."

Jarod chuckled as he stood up and walked over to the sink to get a drink of water.

Sydney was pleasantly surprised at his reaction and enjoyed the moment with extreme satisfaction.

„There are some things I know about the Mainframe that might be useful to you," Jarod offered breaking into a big yawn.

„Perhaps later, Jarod. We still have a cushion of time and you look like you could use some sleep, if you don’t mind my saying so."

„I could say the same thing about you, Doctor Best," Jarod said his fatigue and frustration getting the best of him.

Sydney was surprised at his sudden anger and it showed.

„Sorry Sydney, it’s just that sometimes, I just want to be my old self instead of a helpless…."

„Jarod, don’t give up. It’s just going to take time. You’re going to make it, but it would be better if you wouldn’t push yourself so hard."

Jarod thought about what he said with a despondent look on his face, letting out a long sigh. „Yeah, you’re probably right. See you tomorrow."

He looked like he was going to say something else, but shook his head and walked away.

* * *

Miss Parker looked up from her paperwork and watched Jarod go up stairs. She had hoped to spend some time with him and wondered if he was going to bed for the night.

„Sydney, how did your conversation with Jarod go? He doesn’t look very good to me."

„Oh, he loved the idea and wants to help, but he’s having an extremely difficult time accepting his limitations, as you can well imagine. After all, we are talking about Jarod. He’s never had to deal with anything remotely like this and sometimes it really works on him. He’ll be better if he sleeps well tonight."

„Well, maybe he needs someone besides a stuffy old doctor to cheer him up," Miss Parker said giving him a playful wink.

„Parker…"

„What Syd?"

„Be careful with him. He’s extremely vulnerable right now."

„Don’t worry, I will."

* * *

„Jarod, have you gone to bed or would you like a little company?"
Miss Parker stood there for a minute or so, not hearing a reply, then decided he wanted to be alone.

As she started to leave, his door swung open and there he stood with big brown curious eyes.

„Why Miss Parker, did you finish your paperwork?" Jarod asked giving her an appraising look that made her shiver.

„You noticed. Leave it to a pretender," she said giving him a seductive look. „There’s still plenty of work to be done, if you’d like to volunteer."

The look on his face told her that she had hit the spot.

„I have been pretty bored lately, Miss Parker," he said truthfully, breaking into a big smile.

„Well, are we going to have this conversation in the hall way or are you going to ask me to come in? she said definitely flirting with him."

„Oh, um, I’m sorry. Sure, come on in," Jarod said, a little off balance, glancing down the hall way toward the stairs.

* * *

Jarod and Miss Parker had been talking for well over two hours, just like they used to, bearing their souls to each other. It was a real catharsis for both of them. Jarod had never found anyone who he could be so open with. It had always been like they were meant to be together

They sat on the couch in his huge bedroom. He had his arm around her and she was resting against his shoulder.

„Jarod, you make me feel so safe. I never thought I could let my guard down to anyone again after losing Thomas," she said touching his cheek, looking deeply into his beautiful brown eyes.

Slowly he looked away and let out a heavy sigh.

„Jarod, what are you thinking?

„Oh, lot’s of things. If only things could be different right now," he said, as his eyes became glassy. I think I’m falling in love with you all over again."

They both fell silent for a moment lost in their own thoughts.

„Jarod, I wouldn’t be able to bare it if you left me again.
I never realized the cost of being adversaries, until now," she said looking up at him with longing eyes. I lost you, I lost myself, I lost everything."

Jarod pushed a lock of hair away from her eyes as she spoke.

„I feel like I’m waking up from a long horrible nightmare and here you are," she said taking his hands in hers and pulling them around her waist.

„You called me a survivor, but the Centre never claimed your soul like it did mine. It’s amazing that even with your world collapsing all around you, you never once compromised yourself. Not even for a moment. You’re like a ray of light showing me the way back home."

He looked away as she said this, but she brought his attention back to her.

„Look, Jarod, You never deserved to have your life stolen from you. I am so sorry for my part in making yours a living hell. I wish to God that you would let me help you find some real happiness, but I’d understand if you couldn’t. Frankly, I’ve been permeated with bitterness and hatred for so long, that now, without them I hardly know who I am."

Jarod felt overcome with sympathy, as he listened to her anguish, wanting desperately to take away her pain.

„Don’t be afraid of who you are, Miss Parker. No one can control you any more. I’ve always been able to see straight through what they tried to make you be. You have always been beautiful to me."

Jarod turned in toward her and cupped her face with his hands and kissed her tenderly, realizing how lost and vulnerable she was feeling, with a deep sadness in his heart.

Miss Parker smiled and gave him an appraising look, as she ran her fingers through his rich brown hair, feeling the overpowering attraction to him that she had experienced the other times they had been near.

Jarod closed his eyes for a moment as she caressed his face and moved her hand down his chest.

Leaning in, she kissed him with far more passion then she had known would be there. Pulling away, Jarod desperately tried to contain his emotions, realizing things were changing too fast.

Noticing his flushed face, she was struck by his apparent shyness she pressed her body against his as she closed the gap, her lips barely brushing his.

Loosing the battle, he kissed her gently at first, drinking in her beauty. Then closing his eyes, his kisses grew much deeper, inflaming her desire for him. Intoxicated with passion, Jarod pulled her down to the couch, breathing heavily as he hungrily kissed her, moving down to her neck as he fingered the buttons on her blouse.

Suddenly Jarod sat up.

„God, what was I thinking? I can’t do this. Not now."

„I’m sorry, Miss Parker, you’re going to have to go, before I do something really stupid."

„Jarod, please don’t," Miss Parker said breathing heavily, completely baffled by his reaction.

He stood up shaking his head as he tried to catch his breath. Frustrated he ran his fingers through his hair and glared at her.

„No, Miss Parker, don’t you understand? There’s no way this is going to work. I’m…I’m mentally ill. What on earth do you want with me?! Please, just leave."

„Jarod, you’re going to get better," she said, her eyes filling with tears as she saw the tortured took on his face.

„Just get out of here!"

„Alright, Jarod. I’ll leave for now. I’m so sorry," she said realizing he was totally devastated and feeling guilty for pressuring him into something he wasn’t ready for.

„Me too," the pretender said, his voice cracking.

„Me too," he whispered closing his eyes as he heard the door close behind him.

* * *

I do not own the Pretender or any of the characters. They belong to NBC, Pretender Productions, and others. I'm just borrowing them for my Pretender fanfic story. No money is changing hands on this. Please do not sue me, as I have no money. This story is purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, the Pretender.

In 24 hours or so, a plane will take off from the Centre, carrying Mr. Lyle and two teams of sweepers on a mission to recover the pretender and company. Meanwhile, Sydney, Miss Parker, Broots, Major Charles and Joe Clark prepare to set their counter-plan in motion. With the pretender on board, will he help secure their success or their demise? May 11, 2000

I deeply regret the decision the black suits at NBC have made to cancel our beloved show. My feelings at this point are beyond words. I’m believing that there will be other options for our show. I can’t think otherwise.



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 14
by jojarod50




Miss Parker and Broots rental house
Overland Park, Kansas
11:25 PM


Miss Parker sat on the balcony off her bedroom, thinking about what had just happened between herself and Jarod. She took a big sip of her drink and shivered as the alcohol burned its way down her throat. It had been insensitive and inadvertently cruel for her to come on to him the way she did, and she hated herself for doing it. She took an even bigger sip of her drink, trying to erase the memory of the look on his face, when he had told her to leave. It was late, but she didn't feel like sleeping now. Looking for a diversion, she headed down stairs to see if anyone else was still up. She hoped Jarod had already fallen asleep. He looked like he hadn't had a good night's sleep in months. Leaving her room, she was happy to see that the lights were still on down stairs.

* * *

Jarod's bedroom next door

Jarod lay in the dark staring at an imaginary dot on the ceiling trying to remove himself from his situation before it ate him alive. Silent tears tricked down from the corners of his eyes and on to his pillow as his mind mercifully began to go blank and his body started to relax. His breathing became deeper as the night claimed him and he drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Downstairs
Living room

When Parker got to the bottom of the stairs, she saw Major Charles sitting across from Sydney, both seemingly locked into a heated argument of some kind.

"Don't you think I know that!" Sydney yelled slamming a folder down on the coffee table and going to the window, his arms tightly crossed over his chest.

Jarod's dad headed for the kitchen and she could hear him pacing the floor. Neither of them had noticed her.

"Syd, what the heck is going on here?" she asked looking from him to Major Charles, who was still in the kitchen, barely in view.

"Parker, what are you doing down here?"

"I asked you first."

The psychiatrist was silent for a moment and then spoke with obvious difficulty.

"I made a big mistake, as far as Jarod is concerned. I should have checked the contents of the package Angelo sent before I gave it to him."

"Syd, don't beat yourself up. What ever you did couldn't have been that bad. Jarod seems…"

"Here, look for yourself," he said, his voice faltering, as he tossed her the Center file off the coffee table.

"My God. Did Jarod see these Centre photos?" she gasped, flipping through them quickly.

"Major Charles said he looked through the whole thing right before he went up stairs to your bedroom where I found him rocking himself on the floor.

"But why would Angelo send those to Jarod. He would have known better than anyone else what effect they would have on him."

"He didn't send them to Jarod, Parker, he sent them to me. The note that came in the package said they would help me know what the flashbacks of his ordeal were about, so that I could help him come to terms with them. Since I haven’t had much to go on, as I wasn’t there to witness what he went through, they will be a great help to me. Those pictures were never intended for Jarod to see," he said his voice suddenly becoming little more than a whisper.

"Sydney, Jarod seems fine now. Didn't he say that he didn't remember anything? If that's the case, I don't understand what the problem is."

"No, you wouldn't, Parker. Seeing those pictures caused him to have dissociative amnesia because his mind wasn’t ready to face it on a conscious level yet.. You have to understand, it hasn’t been very long since Jarod’s recapture and he really hasn’t had time to heal enough, to deal successfully with those difficult things.

If those images resurface any time soon, it might be enough to send him over the edge, for good, as unstable as he is."

"Syd, you'll be able to help him through it, just as you've done all along."

The psychiatrist shook his head wearily and sat down on the couch.

„Are you alright? You look so tired. How long has it been since you’ve had a break from Jarod? The pressure you’ve been under must be staggering. I want you to know that I’m here if you want to talk about it."

Sydney looked up at her with gratitude.

„I’ve missed you, Parker. Broots too. There have been so many times I’ve felt so…" he stopped in mid-sentence, his eyes filling with tears.

„Well, maybe we can have a long talk when it’s not so late," Sydney offered, knowing that talking about his ordeal was long over due. He’d seen psychiatrists become ill themselves or worse because of the nature of their work.

„Let me just say, working with a patient suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome is very challenging. That coupled with having the patient, also suffering from the debilitating nature of a hallucinogenic drug overdose, makes the recovery far more complicated and prolonged.

Having it be Jarod, has made it very very difficult for me. Now, enough said."

„Miss Parker was glad Sydney had started a dialogue with her and knew that he would need a lot of time to talk it all out. It was a fact that he had many regrets about his involvement in the Jarod project and probably was carrying a lot of misplaced guilt for what had happened to the pretender when he was recaptured.

Looking over at the older man, she could tell it was time to change the subject.

"What are all these equations and this chemical formula, toward the back of the file, Syd?"

"Apparently, the Centre had Raines develop a serum to nullify the active properties of the truth drug Jarod was given. If I hadn't read this, I would have never known that Jarod is still under the influence of this drug. Jarod has never mentioned anything specifically about this."

„This must be the information on the serum that Raines and my father were talking about in the video feed Angelo sent Broots and I this afternoon. The warning that Lyle and company would be at our doorstep in less than 2 days. Frankly, after getting the heads up, I forgot to mention it to you."

„ That’s perfectly understandable. This is where it all gets very interesting. I found these pages containing the same equations and chemical formula on a table in Jarod’s hospital room this afternoon," he said, handing the papers to Miss Parker.

„How he was able to come up with the identical chemical formula Raines developed for him, in the condition he's in, is beyond me. I can't even understand how Jarod has been able to think straight at all, with this insidious hallucinogenic drug still at work in his system. If only I had known this sooner. Raines did a good job of designing his hideous drug. Toxicology came up negative for the drug after a period of time. I had no way of knowing."

Major Charles had stepped back in the living room and was listening intently to the conversation.

"You mean to tell me that my son has been hallucinating every since he was injected with this drug 51/2 weeks ago?"

Sydney stared at the coffee table and nodded his head.

"To what extent, I'm not sure, but yes, that is what this report says."

Miss Parker said nothing as she tried to remember everything about her last encounter with Jarod. He really hadn't seemed drugged to her. Just distracted at times.

Sydney went over to the dining room table and retrieved a package and set it on the coffee table. Reaching in, he pulled out a bottle of clear liquid and held it up to the light.

"This might be the key to finally putting Jarod on the road to recovery. If we can get him out from under the hallucinogen, he will be much better equipped to deal with his flashbacks and get on with his life."

"Well then, don't you think you better get him started on the regimen right now?" Major Charles asked anxiously, as he rejoined the group.

"Look, Sydney, I'm sorry for what I said to you. I don't know what kept you from punching me in the face. It's just that when I saw those pictures of Jarod."

"Major, don't," Sydney said standing up.

"You were justified in your anger. I'm his psychiatrist. I'm supposed to make sure nothing like this happens to him. I just pray, that it doesn't have severe consequences for Jarod."

"As far as starting Jarod on this new drug is concerned, we'll have to put that off until the morning. I would need to observe Jarod for any adverse reactions to this," he said placing the bottle back in the box.

"Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day. Perhaps we should all try to get some sleep. Frankly, I'm exhausted," Sydney confessed removing the pictures from the Centre file, putting them in his briefcase, and locking it."

"I'm with you. Goodnight everyone," the Major said, going for the stairs.

"How about you, Parker?"

"Yeah, I've had enough, Syd. Good night."

* * *
Upstairs
3:15 AM

It was about 2 hours later when everyone was awakened by screams coming from Jarod's room. They lasted only a few moments and then the house was quiet again. Sydney got out of bed to check on him and found everyone out in the hall.

"Please go back to bed. There's really nothing any of you can do for Jarod. He's been suffering from severe nightmares for quite some time now. I'm sure he would be very upset if he discovered that he had awakened everyone.

"Why don't you let me handle my son tonight," the Major said with a small sad smile. You just get him going on that new drug tomorrow."

"I promise, Major, as soon as he wakes up."

* * *

Jarod's bed room

Opening Jarod's door, his dad found him sitting in the semi-darkness, on the side of his bed, trying to catch his breath.

"Jarod, It's just me," the Major said noticing that he had accidentally startled his son.

"Dad? What are you doing in here?" the young man asked, still confused and disoriented from his nightmare.

"I just thought you could use some company for tonight. You know, strange place and all."

"What did I do, wake everyone up?" Jarod asked in a quiet voice.

"Don't worry about it, Son. I'm just going to stretch out on the couch. Why don't you lay back down and try to get some sleep. Staying up all night is the last thing either of us need."

"Well, I guess that answered that one," he said bitterly.

"Jarod, Lord knows you can't help it if you have these nightmares. Everyone understands. If there were some way I could take away your pain, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I love you, son, and I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to face things alone anymore. I’ll help you through this, I promise."

The Major could see the distraught look on his son's face, even in the dim moonlight filtering in through the window.

"Jarod, we'll only be here a little bit longer, and then I'll take you home."

"Sure, dad," he said agreeing with the fiction. "Why don't you take the bed. I wouldn't feel right any other way."

"Nonsense. This was my idea. If I had wanted a bed I would have stayed in the other room."

Jarod was too tired to argue and handed him a blanket and the other pillow and said goodnight.

Falling back on the bed, he decided to try to stay awake to sidestep any further embarrassment, but was so exhausted that he drifted back to sleep.

* * *

Miss Parker was awakened at 4:50, by voices in the next room. As she listened she realized it was Jarod probably having another nightmare. It was his third one tonight and she was so tired she didn't really care anymore. She had to get some sleep if she was going to be able to tie up the loose ends on their project by the deadline. Rolling over, she put the other pillow over her head trying to block out the noise. How could anyone have that many nightmares in a single night, she thought irritably, until she remembered what he had been through.

In the deafening silence that settled in, she thought she could hear him softly crying.

„You're all going down hard for doing this to Jarod, „ she swore. A few moments later, her mind drifted to memories of her dad and his ordering the murder of her mother. She had tried so hard to block it from her mind, but here in the darkness her own tears started to flow. She still felt the pain of the bullet she had taken for her dad, and now wished she hadn’t stepped in the way. Exhausted and depressed, she finally drifted into a fitful sleep.

* * *

High Rise Apartment
Washington, D.C. suburb
Apt. 428
5:13 AM

"Cal, listen to me carefully. I uncovered a Sting operation, code-named, "Down Load", which involves a very lucrative friend of Mr. Lucas. It goes down 06:00 tomorrow. There's a package arriving within an hour, which contains detailed information on the plan.

Don't sweat it. There's still plenty of time to intervene. I’ve already sent out a team to keep track of these wise guys, ‘til Mr. Lucas contacts his friend. We’ll be able to intervene, if things get out of hand, before his sweepers have a chance to arrive. Our relationship is too mutually satisfying to be jeopardized at this point in time.

Give me a call after you talk to the boss."

"Sweet. The Centre's been good to us. I'll be in touch."

***

Kitchen
6:15 AM


When Miss Parker staggered down stairs for a stiff cup of coffee, she was greeted by everyone else, except Jarod and Joe, doing their early morning breakfast thing.

Major Charles was at the stove cooking sausage links and scrambled eggs, while Broots, who had apparently just set the table, put out some napkins and poured the orange juice. A stack of buttered toast was already on the table.

"Miss Parker, you're just in time for breakfast," Broots said grinning with pride.

"Don't talk to me, any of you, until I have a cup of coffee.

„Parker," Sydney said noticing the dark circles under her eyes, „are you all right? You don’t look rested at all."

„Gee, now why would that be? Jarod kept me up most of the night, and I’m preparing to take down my own father. You know, the man that ordered the cold-blooded murder of my mother. Other than that, I should feel great. Right?"

„This is really obscene," she said with a look of revulsion on her face as she scanned the food on the table.

"Why Parker, don't you believe in starting the day with a good breakfast? It may make you feel better," Sydney suggested knowing she probably would pass.

"Back off, Syd," Miss Parker said grabbing a cup of coffee and heading for the computer in the living room to check her e-mail. Angelo had been sending regular updates at 4-hour intervals during the day.

Broots looked on with sadness, as she left the room, knowing better than anyone, how hard this whole thing was for her. He thought back to their stay in the motel room, and how utterly devastated she had been knowing what her dad had done. A smile flickered across his face, as he remembered the pink champagne, his boxer shorts with sailboats on them, and how when she had almost fallen, he had held her in his arms, as if their lives depended on it. He wished more than anything, that she could fall for him the way he had fallen for her. Well, if not her, he would find someone some day, he thought quickly, trying to shake the dark mood that had suddenly settled in on him.

* * *

Jarod's bedroom
6:25Am

Jarod could hear the gun being cocked at his temple, while Raines siphoned off another huge amount of blood from his arm.

As Raines handed it to a lab technician, a long line of pregnant women paraded by in front of him, followed by a long line of young Jarods going the other way.

The boys were chained, one to the other at the wrists and ankles. One of the boys, looked right at him and said, "I can't cry. Raines won't let me."

Suddenly he heard a gun go off, and the boy fell to the floor and was dragged along, as the other boys kept walking.

Jarod screamed in horror and struggled to get up to help the boy. As his eyes focused, he realized that he was alone in his bedroom, tangled up in his sheets.

Feeling dizzy, he sank back onto the mattress fighting to catch his breath.

Exhausted and overwhelmed by his ever-present nightmare world, he dragged his arms over his face and fought to keep from completely falling apart.

„ It's going to get better, just hang on a little longer, „he told himself over and over not even believing it any more. Finally, he fell back to sleep.

* * *

7:10 AM

About a half an hour later, Jarod was startled awake again. Though still totally exhausted, he gave up on sleeping.

After taking a quick shower, he dressed and headed out his bedroom door, but hesitated at the top of the stairs, having second thoughts.

He was uncertain that he wanted to face all the people he had kept up most of the night and was not in the mood for any more humiliation.

Looking over the rail, he could see Miss Parker, busy at the computer, and recognized familiar voices coming from the kitchen.

Deciding against it, he started back for his bedroom.

"Jarod, I was just going to see if you were up yet. You just going to hang out at the top of the stairs, or would you like to come down and have some breakfast?"

It seemed as if his father had materialized out of thin air,as he stood there realizing his decision was moot now.

The pretender took a ragged breath as he descended the stairs, wishing he were invisible.

"Hi, dad, thanks, but it seems a little early for breakfast. maybe in a little bit.

Miss Parker looked around and smiled cheerfully at Jarod hoping to make him feel more at ease.

She noticed that he had taken a shower, but hadn't shaved yet. What struck her most, though, were his stark pale complexion and the way he seemed so unsure of himself.He was nothing like the cocky pretender who had taunted her day and night for four years, with his childish pranks and aggravating phone calls.

"Dad, do you have a razor I can borrow? I don't have one of my own." Jarod asked looking at his dad nervously.

"Son, I know why you don't have one. Um, Sydney told me. Why don't we go up together…"

"Forget it Dad. Just forget it," he spat angrily, shaking his head in disbelief. "I wouldn't want you worrying about me slitting my wrists in front of you! You know, I would have never guessed you, of all people, would believe I'd do such a selfish thing."

"I'm sorry, Son, I didn't mean to upset you." It's just that, I don't know much about things like this, and, well, you've been so sick." I just don't want anything else bad to happen to you. Come on, Jarod," the Major said with a gentle smile, putting his arm over his shoulder, "Why don't we go in the kitchen… "

"Back off, or I swear I'll take you out," he screamed, grabbing his dad by the shirt and pushing him forcefully away"

"Ok. Just calm down," Major Charles said in a steady voice, holding his hands up slightly, as he slowly put some more distance between himself and his angry son.

Over at the computer, Parker and Broots took in the argument, totally stunned, by Jarod's sudden outburst of anger.

The young man stood weaving slightly, staring in shock, as his dad fearfully moved away.

Overwhelmed with confusion, he frantically looked around for Sydney, who was no where to be seen.

"I'm so sorry, Dad, I don't know why I did that. I would never hurt you. You're my father."

Running his trembling fingers through his wet hair, he looked around at everyone, with haunted eyes, mumbling something indiscernible, then backed slowly away toward the stairs.

„Jarod, wait a minute. You look like you’re going to pass out. Why don’t you sit down for a minute? Everything is going to be alright," his Dad said concerned by his erratic behavior.

Jarod spun around knocking into an end table, sending its lamp crashing to the floor, in his hurry to make it to the stairs. Leaning heavily on the stair rail, he could barely make it up stairs, stricken with a panic attack.

Sydney came out of the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee, just in time to see Jarod round the top of the stairs while everyone in the living room watched him, helpless to know what to do.

* * *


Moments later
Living room

"How, did Jarod sleep last night, Major?" Sydney asked realizing his patient was coming unglued.

"He had a pretty rocky night, suffering through several nightmares. After a while, I just couldn’t stay awake any more," he said shaking his head. „I really doubt if he got any decent sleep. When I got up this morning, he was sleeping restlessly. He, um, doesn’t look good at all."

The doctor walked over to the dinning room table and pulled a bottle and syringes out of the box sitting there and placed them in his doctor's bag.

"Would you mind fixing Jarod a light breakfast and some juice?"

"Of course not. I don't think he's eaten much of anything since we brought him here."

"Thank you, Major. Bring it up in a few minutes. I'm going to start your son on this new drug immediately and am putting him on bed rest for the day, at least. If he doesn't respond favorably to this, he will probably have to be put back in a hospital setting."

* * *

Jarod's bedroom
7:55 AM


When the psychiatrist entered his patient’s room, he found him lying face down on his bed racked with tears.

"Jarod? It's me, Sydney," he said gently rubbing the pretender on the back.

Please excuse me for interrupting your privacy, but I feel it's very important that I see
you now.

I'm so sorry for what happened to you down stairs. I should have intervened, when I first noticed how difficult your adjustment here had become. Your father is very concerned about you. He understands that you didn't mean anything by what you said or did. If it's all right with you, he's going to bring you up some breakfast in a little bit."

The pretender rolled over and sat up slowly, running his trembling fingers through his hair.

"Sydney, everything is getting out of control. I can't think straight any more," he confessed, pulling his knees protectively up to his chest as he sat there shaking.

"That's just what I came up here to talk to you about, Jarod. I believe I finally have some answers for you, but first I need to know some things and you're going to have to be straight with me."

"What kind of things?"

"Jarod, are you still hallucinating?"

The younger man started working with the edge of his sheet, for a few minutes, before answering.

"Yes, but not as badly as I used to. I see less colors and things look basically normal most of the time, except for the constant motion."

"Jarod, why didn't you tell me this."

"What would be the point. I've read all the studies on situations like this. There's really nothing anyone can do about it at this point," he said in despair, having forgotten the hypothesis he had been working on, the day before.

"I’m not so sure about that, Jarod. I would like to examine your eyes, if you don't mind," the older man said getting a small light out of his bag.Just as I suspected, your eyes are slightly dilated."

"How are your thought processed? Do you complete most of the thoughts you have?"

Jarod shook his head and looked away.

"There are just too many thoughts constantly bombarding me and it's difficult to keep them from tangling up. Lately, it's been becoming much harder to control. I'm just too exhausted to handle it anymore."

The psychiatrist could tell by his expression and the sound of his voice, that he was losing hope.

"Jarod, I have a new drug for you to try, which hopefully will help you recover. You will need a shot every 3 hours for the first 12, and then three times a day until this bottle is gone."

"What exactly is it?" he asked suspiciously, feeling his heart starting to race.

Sydney was afraid he would ask this and was unsure what to say. He didn’t want his patient remembering finding the drug in the box with the Centre file containing the photos of his torture, but he needed to take that chance. Jarod had lost so much of himself, and it was about time, he was given a part of it back. He owed it to him to let him know what he had accomplished.

„Jarod, do these papers look familiar to you? They are in your handwriting," he asked, handing them to the younger man.

The pretender scanned the papers quickly and looked up at Sydney in surprise.

„I had completely forgotten about these. It was some research I was working on based on the chemical formula of the drug Lyle injected me with. I got the preliminary information from the folder you left in my hospital room."

„That’s right. And further more, despite your hallucinations and disrupted thought processes, you were able to skillfully develop the proper chemical formula for a drug that would neutralized the effects of the drug you were given initially. Jarod, you should feel very proud of yourself. This latest project of yours, is pure genius."

The young man stared at his doctor in disbelief, as his words started to register.

Taking the bottle out of his bag, Sydney handed it to Jarod.

„This is the drug you have on your paper."

„I don’t understand. How is this possible?

„Apparently the Centre has had Mr. Raines working on a cure for some time now. This is the drug he developed; the same drug you developed, too. Here’s the paperwork. Compare it for yourself."

Sydney watched with incredible relief, as Jarod quickly ran through the other paperwork, seemingly coming back to life.

„They are exactly the same, except for the addition of a very common mood elevating drug. It would be harmless if used for a short period of time. I wonder why he would include that in this formula?" he commented more to himself than Sydney.

„Jarod, perhaps Raines realized you would be having on going problems with depression, considering what the overdose has been doing to your mind for such a prolonged period of time. I’m sure the Centre has not been pleased with him, for what he and Lyle did to you, and he wanted to make sure the drug gave optimal restorative results."

He let that comment slide, not wanting to dwell on the past, as he straightened the papers into a neat stack and place them on his nightstand. Unwanted images invaded his mind and he struggle against the sudden assault, wondering how much more he could bear.

„Jarod? Jarod look at me," Sydney said, noticing that Jarod seemed very distracted. There you go. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get you started on this treatment today. What do you think?"

„I don’t want to live like this anymore. Go ahead, I have nothing to lose at this point," he said rubbing his eyes with his trembling hand, deeply shaken buy the images darting in and out of his mind.

Sydney felt the blood drain from his face as he listened to the pretender’s fatalistic words, realizing that if this didn’t work, he would probably attempt to end his life. It was frightening how quickly his patient was going down hill and he could sense he was running out of time.

„Just give me a moment," Sydney said hurriedly opening his bag.


"Is it all right if I come in, Jarod? I brought you something to eat," the Major asked slowly swinging the door open.

"Thanks, Dad," Jarod said with an abortive smile. I'm really sorry for how I treated you down stairs," he said, his voice cracking.

"Jarod, you're not the first son who ever got mad at his dad. I understand, completely," he said with a warm smile on his face. "Don’t let it get to you," the major said setting his breakfast down on his nightstand.

The pretender quickly looked away, as Sydney filled the syringe and tapped it letting a little spray into the air, not wanting to have another flashback.

"Here you go. Let me give you your shot, and then you can visit with your dad for a little bit. I want you to stay in bed today and rest, while I see how you do on this."

The young man pushed up his sleeve, still looking away, as Sydney gave him the injection, watching him carefully for adverse reactions.

Almost immediately, he collapsed against his pillow, as his body and mind relaxed completely for the first time in weeks. A rush of euphoria washed over him and he held the sheets tightly, hoping the intense feeling would level off.

"Jarod, are you all right?" Sydney asked in alarm as he lay there limp as a rag, with tears streaming down his face.

„My God, what’s happening to my son?"

„I don’t know. Jarod, can you hear me? Tell me what you’re experiencing?"

Jarod’s eyes lost their glazed look and he began to smile, as the overwhelming flood of euphoria started to level off

„I’m not sure, but I feel really strange. Things are beginning to look different. The colors are starting to fade and everything is starting to slow down," he said looking at his father and smiling.

„Why are you crying, Jarod?"

„I’m just so happy to finally have some relief. I think the hallucinogen is starting to wear off."

„Thank you, Sydney," he said and started to cry again.

„Jarod, you need to thank yourself for finding a cure," he said patting him on the shoulder.

There was a brief silence and then the pretender became very talkative. He began discussing a random series of things he liked including, Pez, ice cream and Miss Parker’s legs.

„Jarod, I believe we can discuss those things later," the doctor said glancing over at Major Charles.

"Can you sit up if we stack your pillows? I was hoping you would eat something," Sydney said eyeing him with interest.

"You stack `em and I'll just slide right up," Jarod said with a toothy smile, looking more then anything else as if he were inebriated.

The two men exchanged amused looks and Sydney shrugged his shoulders.

„I’ve got a good idea. Why don’t you help me up and we’ll all go down stairs for a bowel of ice cream to celebrate. Broots has a carton in the freezer called something like, gravel road."

"You better just stay put for a while, Jarod. Try to eat some breakfast and get some rest. I have some things I need to attend to. He's all yours, Major. I'll be back in a while to see how things are going."

"Thank you, Sydney. This is sure a big relief."

* * *

Downstairs: Living room
8:55 AM Central standard time

"How is Jarod, Sydney? Is he going to be alright?" Miss Parker asked, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Broots stood a short distance away with Joe, listening for his answer.

The older man raised his eyebrows, as he struggled to keep a straight face.

"Oh, I don't think you need to worry about Jarod right now. I just gave him his first shot of that drug Raines developed for him and it seems to be actually working. Also, he's higher than a kite. I think Raines has developed a sense of humor."

"Ja Jarod is high?" Broots asked with an amused look on his face, wonderingwhat the pretender was acting like.

"So, our boy is feeling no pain, huh Syd?"

"Oh, I'd say that about sums it up, Parker," he said turning his attention to Joe.

"Good morning, Joe. When did you get here?"

"About 25 minutes ago, Sir."

"Broots any movement on the Centre front yet?" Sydney asked anxiously, as he walked over to the computer.

"Well, I'm doing a search right now. Hmm, here's something. Oh oh, this is bad. This is really bad," the frightened man said opening up the email. Angelo just sent us a message with an attachment."

"What does it say?"

"Leave now."

"Good Lord!" Sydney breathed realizing that they may die yet.

"Broots what is the attachment?" Miss Parker asked urgently, leaning over his shoulder.

It's an email from Mr. Parker's computer, from a man named Mr. Lucas, FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This is not good. This is not good at all!

"Skip the commentary, Broots. Open it!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Just been informed that surveillance has had you and your people in its cross-hairs for some time now. Better set out some rat traps. Tomorrow a bad day for flying. Don't contact my office. Have a little cleanup of my own to attend to. Perhaps you would consider wrapping up your business early. 11008 119th Quveria Road. Overland Park, Kansas

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"That's our address," the computer tech stammered, feeling shear terror for the first time, since this nightmare began.

"Broots, reroute the Centre information to another FBI location and send it now," the doctor ordered hoping all their labor wasn't in vain.

"Pack it up, Boys! We're out of here," Miss Parker said exchanging a worried look with Sydney.

"While, we're packing it up, any ideas as to where we're going?"

"Give me a moment, Parker."

"Broots, when was that e-mail sent to Mr. Parker?" he asked, his wheels turning.

"Um, 5 minutes ago. Angelo didn't waste anytime getting it tous."

"Excuse me, everyone," Joe said speaking for the first time. I've rented a farmhouse on 22 acres, about 10 miles outside of town. Maybe we should move the party there."

"Not bad, Joe. Not bad at all," Miss Parker said with a sly smile.

"Sydney?"

"Yes, that will do nicely. I'll be back after the Major and I throw some things together and get Jarod ready to go. Let's move people, while we still have a window of opportunity! God bless you, Angelo," hewhispered like a reverent prayer.

* * *

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Mr. Parker's Office
8:35 AM Eastern time

"It's clean, Mr. Parker. Found a couple of bugs in here and several scattered around the other offices. My cleaners report that they are almost finished sweeping the rest of the building. I haven't got a clue how these got in here, but it's safe to talk now."

"Good job. That will be all now, Paige."

"Yes, Sir."

Mr. Parker took a moment to review some papers on his desk and then looked up at the people assembled around him.

"Mr. Lyle, you are in charge of the retrieval project. What the hell are you calling it now?"

"Ink blot" Sir," he said sitting uncomfortably, sweating profusely in his custom made silk suit.

"How the hell were your targets able to set up such an elaborate scheme, right under your nose?"

"I'm still trying to figure that one out, Sir. If it's any consolation, sweepers have picked up the FBI surveillance team that's been watching us. My men have them down in SL 27 under-going interrogations right now. I'm expecting a report on their findings within the hour. I believe we'll be able to contain all leaks. As far as our runaways go, I have two sweeper teams in the air right now, to bring them home. They'll be using a little airport in Gardner, Kansas. From there, they'll drive the rest of the way in to make their pick up. No one will be the wiser."

"When I get my hands on Sydney, Broots and my daughter. Lyle, I want you to personally be in charge of their reeducation," Mr. Parker said seething with anger.

"Thank you, Sir. Any way I can help will be gratifying," Lyle said feeling suddenly giddy.

"What about Jarod and his father?"

"They shouldn't be a problem. I've included a psychiatrist in the first team to deal personally with Jarod. I'm sure his father will fall in place for his son's sake. Jarod will be an excellent tool for getting Major Charles to reveal the location of Gemini. There's nothing more moving than a close father son relationship," Lyle said watching his own dad squirm at the comment.

"Lyle, just don't you forget that nothing further is to happen to Jarod. Is that understood."

"Absolutely, Sir."

" I want the Centre on full alert and extra armed sweepers assigned to every level, Lyle. Gentlemen, that will be all for now."


* * *

Outside Miss Parker and Broots rental house
Overland Park, Kansas
9:15 AM

Joe brought out two more bags and helped Broots load them in the trunk.

„You have quite a little arsenal in here," Joe commented eyeing the assortment of weapons and ammunition carefully packed towards the back.

„Um, well, they they aren’t really mine, but you never know what you’ll need when well, I don’t want to talk about it."

„Sure, Broots. I’ll get in my car. Just give me a wave when you’re ready."

„Oh yeah, ok, Joe."

"Are all the bags in the car?" the nervous man asked setting the computer carefully in the trunk.

"Yes, go ahead and close it," Sydney said getting into the back seat with Jarod.

"Broots, hurry up," Miss Parker said scooting in beside Jarod on the other side.

The computer tech slid in the driver's seat next to Major Charles and hurriedly pulled out, following Joe's car, as they sped out of town.

"Son, how are you doing?" his dad asked looking over the seat at him.

Jarod was having a little trouble keeping from sliding way down in the seat as he sat there with a funny expression on his face.

"Just fine, Dad," he said patting Miss Parker on the thigh with a big grin on his face.

Miss Parker looked down at him and shook her head in amusement, lifting his hand and putting it back in his lap.

Moments later, he was playing with his seatbelt and popped it open.

"Ops, now I've done it," he said trying to put the flat part back in the slot and mumbling something about a square peg in a round hole.

"Jarod, why don't you try to get some sleep. It will do you good," his doctor suggested, feeling edgy and wondering how long the car trip would be.

"Sydney, I'll sure give it a lot of consideration," Jarod said, looking over at Miss Parker and giving her a wink.

„That’s some drug you have our boy on. When will he snap out of it?"

"I have no idea, Parker, „ Sydney said watching the pretender mesmerized by something outside the window.

„Jarod, it would be best if you would try to relax. Just lean your head back and try to go to sleep."

The young man smiled at Sydney and nodded in agreement. He gently snuggled down next to Parker, who gave the psychiatrist a frustrated look.

"What can I say, Parker? Jarod isn't quite himself right now," Sydney said enjoying her displeasure.

* * *

Approximately 35 min. later

Kicking up gravel and dust, Broots gunned it and veered off onto a dirt road, slamming everyone back in their seats

"What the hell is going on up there, Broots?" Miss Parker yelled.

The Major glance over the seat. "We're being tailed."

"Dear lord," Sydney breathed.

"Move it, Broots," Miss Parker yelled, her gun trained on the approaching car.

Jarod flipped off his seat belt and started to move, but his doctor grabbed his shoulder and pulling him down hard.

"Stay put, Jarod."

"Forget it. You need me. Give me your gun, Sydney. There’s no way I’m letting them take us back."

Realizing how lucid he was now, he weighed their options and relented.

„Alright, Jarod, here you go."

„It doesn’t look like anyone from the Centre," Miss Parker yelled, as Jarod abruptly pulled her down and the rear windshield exploded.

Ignoring the painful shards they returned fire as one.

Sydney wiped blood from the side of his face and slid down further in his seat.

Shattering their windshield and mortally wounding the gunman, Jarod went for the driver, who dove out of the way barely grazed.

„Where the hell is Joe?" Broots screamed, hitting the gas and holding on for dear life, in a frantic attempt to lose them.

Parker wounded the driver just as their car swerved and the rest of her bullets went wild.

„Broots keep the damn car on the road!" Parker yelled as she slammed another clip into her gun.

„What the hell do you think I’m tying to do?"

Pitching the corpse out the door, another gunman took his seat, and returned fire. Major Charles doubled over in pain, as a stray bullet struck him in the arm.

„God, the Major’s been hit."

„How bad?" Jarod asked looking around, suddenly pale.

„I’m fine, watch what you’re doing."

Horrified, Broots lost it, as a direct hit shattered their windshield sending their car flying off the road and into an open field.

Wincing in pain, Major Charles grabbed the wheel and cranked it hard, cutting back onto road, while Broots reduced speed and regained control.

Kicking up dust, Joe reappeared and joined the fray, ramming the side of the black car, while ducking bullets, in an attempt to push them off the road

The driver returned the favor, crushing in the side of his car.

Determined to take them down, Joe rammed them again sending them reeling
for a moment.

„Aim for a tire, while I cover you," Jarod shouted, slamming another clip into his gun.

Miss Parker nailed their front tire, and the black car went straight for the ditch, flipped over twice and burst into flames.

This is a fanfic written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions and Fox, for my story. All other characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. Please don't sue me, as I have no money.


As you may recall, this story takes place in the first days and following months following the 3rd season final, Donoterase. This story is very different from the real 4th season of the Pretender, as it was started in the summer before season 4, and has taken on a life of it's own. jojarod

Following an intense shootout with the people tailing them, Miss Parker, Sydney, Broots, Major Charles, Jarod, and Joe, head for refuge to a farm just outside of Overland Park, Kansas. The Centre is hot on their trail, and time is running out.





In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 15
by jojarod50



Gravel road 35 minutes from Overland Park, Kansas
10:39 AM CST

Broots flicked as much of the shattered glass off the dash and front seat, as he quickly could. He'd already broken off the biggest parts of the shattered front and rear windshields, which had remained attached. The low-key work seemed to calm him only slightly, as he stood there shaking like a leaf. He'd already lost his breakfast in the ditch beside the road and was grateful Miss Parker had announced, she was driving. Jarod had insisted on caring for his dad's wounded arm. Luckily, the bullet had only grazed him. Sydney was keeping a low profile, as he carefully evaluated Jarod's ability to cope with the present situation. Fortunately, he was doing remarkably well.

Joe was frisking the body laid out on the gravel road, when Jarod approached him.

"ID?"

"Yeah, his badge says, Ricky Armstrong, FBI. Found these papers, too. Come on, Jarod, we better get the hell out of here, before we have company."

"Agreed. How much further?"

"Forty minutes, tops. You ok?"

Jarod gave him a sly pretender smile, his deep brown eyes, clear and focused.

"I'm getting there. Imagine that, just in time to entertain guests," Jarod mused, hoping into Joe's beat up car and motioning for the others to follow.

**

The Centre
Mr. Parker's office
9:39 AM Eastern time

"Lyle? Oh, he didn't want to leave with the others, in case they were intercepted at the airport. Handy thing he hadn't left yet. Willie was able to glean new information on our targets probable secondary location, from one of the fools being interrogated down in SL 27. It's a farmhouse just outside of Overland Park, Kansas, rented by a guy named Joe Clark. I honestly believe this will all be behind us by tonight."

"You better be right," Mutumbo growled glancing at a Centre file and smacking it down on the desk. What about Joe Clark, it says here he's a cop? The last thing we need is more outside involved."

"Mutumbo, he resigned 5 weeks ago, and has had no contact with anyone we should worry about. Actually, his surfacing at this time does us a big favor. Loose ends you know. We'll be able to take him out when we retrieve the others."

"And Lyle?"

"Once he's served his purpose, you can have him. Frankly, I'm tired of dealing with his screw-ups. His insatiable sadistic appetite clouds his judgement and undermines everything he does. The libertieshe took with Jarod, while under Raines direction, is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. He's too much of a liability now to suit me."

"Yes, the man with no conscious. He is a special man indeed. I believe I can find a permanent place for him. Just let me know when you're ready for me to take him off your hands. I have a question for you, though. If you're so blatantly aware of Lyle's shortcomings and potential demise of InkBlot, why the hell are you involving him in it at all? Parker, with your on going track record concerning the recapture of Jarod, you're putting yourself in a very precarious situation. Be forewarned! You and your entire staff are dispensable; the pretender is not."

"Demise is too strong a word. Damnit, don't start throwing your weight around, until you have all the facts. To date, we've circumvented all transfers of Centre records from the Mainframe. Now the only fire left to put out is this criminal investigation pertaining to Jarod. If the Fed.'s blow this thing wide open, we'll have our own patsies lined up and ready to take the fall. We can claim ignorance, and hand Raines and Lyle over as the masterminds of this whole sordid mess. Besides, Willie and Sam are under directorders to keep a close eye on him. Lyle is, shall we say, very motivated to get this one right."

"Have you figured out who the leak in the Centre is?"

"No, but even God won't be able to help him, when we do."

**

Angelo watched the evil men carefully from the air duct to Mr. Parker's office, then quickly scurried down the tube to his lair to send another warning to his friends.

Ruff angry hands grabbed him, as he hopped down from the duct, and dragged him over to the computer on the old wooden desk. A computer tech looked up
briefly, before going back to his work.

"The little guy's been apparently sending emails to Miss Parker and Broots, every 4 hours, daily. He also has enough information lined up here, to put us all away for life. We're just lucky he didn't hit send. Let me do a little more digging. Who knows what I'll come up with."

"Angelo, you've been a very naughty boy. The Centre has taken good care of you over the years, and this is how you repay us? Trying to send sensitive materials to the FBI? Haven't you ever heard the expression, don't bite the hand that feeds you?"

With that, Cox backhanded the frightened young man against the far wall, and into a pile of boxes. Angelo immediately curled into a tight ball and began to shriek.

"Better quiet down, or you'll be hurting a lot more. Take him to Mr. Parker's office now."

"Yes, Sir," one of the sweepers said, as the two dark suits advanced on the terrified man/child, and hauled him out the door.

***

Chapman's farm
2000 south 198th Street
11:49 CST

Major Charles and Sydney sat at the green 50's aluminum kitchen table, discussing whether or not to stay here and make a stand, or run for it, while there was still time. Both watched for any movement from the windows, as they hurried wrapped up their conversation.

Broots came in through the screen door, trying not to make too much noise, and headed for the sink to clean up. He and Joe had hidden both cars in one of the outbuildings, still accessible, but safely out of sight. Then they had quickly unloaded the weapons and brought them into the house. Joe had them arranged off to the side, on the living room floor and was making sure they were all loaded and ready to go. Parker had been watching him for a little bit and then resumed her surveillance from a window near the front door. The curtains were all drawn, making the stuffy air stiflingly hot.

Jarod had been at the computer since they'd arrived, running down the Fed.'s files on Ricky Armstrong. He was searching for Armstrong's likely connection to a Mr. Lucas, whose copy of an email to Mr. Parker had been sent to them earlier by Angelo. It was maddening how insidiously entwined in the fabric of so many institutions, the Centre was, and Jarod was determined to ultimately see it completely unravel.

Bringing up the Centre Mainframe and deftly feeding it a new synchronized incription code, he slipped through undetected and continued his cunning investigation. Slipping in his version of a deadly computer virus for later activation, he continued digging into extremely sensitive places he had never dared try to go, gathering information he needed to complete his own personal quest. His fingers flew over the keys, in a stunning display of what the pretender was capable of, as an awe struck Miss Parker stepped up beside him, after calling his name from a distance to avoid startling him.

"You sure do know how to use that thing, Jarod."

"Wha… oh, well, we don't have much time. With what I just uncovered about your dad's sordid business relationship with his friends, headed by Mr. Lucas, FBI, I think they will be hard pressed to give us any more trouble. Some acquaintances of mine, with the Atlanta violent crime task force, will have them in custody ASAP.

Jarod stood up and put his hands lightly on Miss Parker's shoulders.

"Sweepers will probably be here any time now. We just might be able to take them out, but if we fail, we need a contingency plan, Parker. It's time to make some difficult decisions. I'm willing to be takenback, if you, Sydney and Broots need to go along with it for a time, until a better plan can be put into place. I've planted some surprises in their Mainframe, just in case. I'm sorry to be the realist here, Miss Parker. If it comes down to it, do what ever it takes to survive, you better believe I will. Just don't let them take my dad. Deal?"

"Jarod, I could never let them take you back there. It's not like you to just give up."

"Give up? Where the heck did you get that idea? Look, I'm already thinking clearer than an hour ago. After I finish the doses, I will be unstoppable. They have managed to turn me into a very angry, highly motivated, deadly adversary with the expertise to bring them down. Whether we get them now or later, the Centre will not survive."

Pulling her into a strong embrace, Jarod kissed Parker passionately and then pulled way and gave her a quick wink.

"Talk to Sydney, Broots, Joe, and my Dad. I've got work to do, before our times up."

"Talk to me about what, Jarod?"

"Oh, about an alternative plan if things go south."

"Jarod, Major Charles and I have some ideas of our own. Unfortunately, this conversation will have to be put on hold. It's time for your second dose. Joe said there are plenty of bedrooms upstairs. After observing your reaction to this drug last time, you better take it lying down."

"Can't it wait? I still have some important work to do."

"No, it can't, Jarod. This regimen is very time sensitive. Hopefully, it won't be as incapacitating as last time."

"Major Charles will be up in a few minutes, to keep you company, after he and Joe finish surveying the property."

***

Second floor
Jarod's bedroom
12:00 noon

The two headed upstairs and took the bedroom, down at the end of the hallway on the right.

"How are you feeling, Jarod? You look more alert than I've seen you in months," Sydney said, as he quickly examined the pretender's eyes.

"You can't know what it is like, to live in almost complete chaos for months and then suddenly find yourself able to use your mind again. It's indescribable."

"Hold out your hands for me, that's right. Ok, you can put them down, now."

"Let me take your pulse and we'll be all done."

"All right, Jarod. Your eyes are still slightly dilated, but that's a great improvement over this morning. Have your hands been shaking like this all day? If so, I certainly want commend you on your shooting skills."

"They, um, have gotten a little worse since the confrontation."

"Your heart rate is quite high. You appear to be experiencing extreme anxiety again. Jarod don't look at me like that. It's nothing to get angry about. Under our current situation, it would be unrealistic to expect you to be unaffected, after all you've been through."

"You're dead wrong, Sydney. I'm doing just fine. Why don't you give me that "time sensitive" shot, and skip the small talk."

"All right, Jarod. But I must warn you. You can switch gears all you want to with your brilliant pretender skills, but you can't hide from yourself. You are still suffering emotionally from what was done to you, and just having Raines' drug neutralized will not instantly cure everything. Denial can be a very dangerous thing. Don't push yourself too hard, or you may end up back on some psych ward."

"Sydney, we could all end up dead before the day is over or have you forgotten that?" Jarod asked as he pushed his sleeve up and looked away.

The psychiatrist was silent as he gave his patient the injection and watched him fall gently against the pillows. Pushing aside locks of brown hair that had fallen in his eyes, Sydney sat there observing the pretender, as he worked thought the sudden rush of euphoria that hit him just as hard as before. It took several minutes before, the pretender started coming out of it.

"Jarod, how are you feeling?"

"I'm really out of it, Sydney. Sure hope we have a little more time, before the shootout at OK Corral. If the sweepers get here right away, send Miss Parker up for a farewell kiss."

"Ok, Jarod," he said shaking his head. "Now, listen to me carefully. I'm leaving this Thorozine for you. Major Charles is bringing you up a snack. That would be a good time to take it. You can decide whether to use it or not. Fair enough?"

"Thanks Sydney," Jarod said with a grateful smile, his eyes at half-mast.

***

"There you two are," the Major said peeking into the room. "How is everything going?"

"Just fine. Don't let Jarod up until he's steady on his feet," he said placing the bottle on Jarod's nightstand. Excuse me. I need to speak to Parker."

Major Charles watched Sydney leave, sensing unusual tension in the air.

"Jarod, is something wrong? Sydney looked upset."

"No, Dad. Everything is just fine. He's probably just tired."

"How about some juice?"

"Thanks. Just set it on the table. You know, I'm not feeling very good. I think I'll take a short nap. You don't really need to watch me breath. Why don't you go back down stairs? I promise to stay out of trouble."

"Ok, Jarod. If you're sure that's what you want."

"Yeah. Just be sure to wake me if something comes up."

"You'll be the first to know. Good night, Son."

"Goodnight."

Jarod watched his Dad close the door, just as a full-blown panic attack swept over him. Shaking uncontrollably, he fought against shear terror, as everything speeded up and went out of control. His heart beat wildly in his chest and he desperately struggled to breathe; his mind feeling like it was slipping away. He fought it with his pretender skills, becoming an observer instead of a victim, but ultimately, it was still him lying in a pool of sweat and fear when it was over.

Closing his eyes, Jarod lay motionless, riding out the nausea that always followed one.

After a moment, he sat up slightly, wondering what had triggered the attack. Looking around the room, he saw an old dresser adorned with family pictures, a brightly colored quilt folded neatly on a chair, an old calendar on the wall, and the beige fringed bedspread on the bed he was lying on, but nothing registered.

The sudden unexpected onset of a panic attack had always been the hardest thing to deal with. But now, it could mean the difference between life and death. Looking down at his shaking hands, he knew he couldn't even shoot a weapon, right now.

Looking on the nightstand, he found the medicine Sydney had left. Clutching it tightly, he noted that he was to take two tablets twice daily, as he removed the cap and pour some in his hand. Failing to keep his hands steady enough, Jarod spilled the pills all over the place. At that same moment, the door swung open, and Sydney stepped in, wishing he had knocked first.

"Your dad said you weren't feeling well. I, um, thought you were asleep and just thought I'd peek in on you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. If you would like for me to leave…"

"No, I could use some help," he said briefly looking up. I'm sorry for my anger earlier."

"I know that, Jarod," the older man said patting him gently on the back and helping him put the pills back in the bottle.

"Were you wanting to take some now?" the doctor asked noting that he was trembling badly and dripping with sweat. Judging by his appearance and rapid breathing, he suspected Jarod had just had a panic attack but opted to say nothing.

"Yes, I think it'd be a good idea," he said forcing a smile and glancing at Sydney.

"With the remarkable rate of improvement you are exhibiting, I'm sure it won't be too much longer, before you have completely overcome your anxiety problems."

"To be honest with you Jarod, when I first started working with you, I didn't think you were going to make it. You were just too far-gone. You should feel very proud of your ability to overcome nearly impossible obstacles, to become whole again. If it weren't for our ongoing crisis, you would probably be having a minimal amount of difficulties now."

Jarod managed a smile and took a drink of his juice, anxious to get back down stairs.

"Well, let's go see what we can do about ending this crisis," the pretender said hoping out of bed and swaying slightly.

"Jarod?"

"Don't worry about me, the stairs has a banister."

***

When Sydney and Jarod entered the living room, they were met by Broots and Miss Parker.

"Syd, Angelo never contacted us."

"Oh dear Lord, not Angelo."

"You two better take these now," Joe said handing out the guns. "Hear those dogs barking? I think we have company."

Jarod and Joe took the back windows, while Major Charles and Miss Parker took the front. Broots hunkered down by the side window, while Sydney trained his gun at the opposite window.

"Joe, someone needs to go upstairs, I don't think we're in for a frontal attack."

"Right. I'll go. Broots, you come upstairs with me."

"Um, but what about…"

"Hurry, Broots."

There were noises coming from the cellar and Jarod stepped away from the back door signaling to Sydney who had noticed his movement.

Crashing glass and several gunshots rang out from above, as teargas began billowing down the stairs. The cellar door flew open and several sweepers invaded the room wearing gas masks and firing their weapons.

Jarod took out the first two and upended the kitchen table for cover. He continued firing shots on the others, as clouds of teargas permeated the room virtually blinding him.

Sydney ducked behind an overstuffed chair and tried to draw their fire, so that Jarod could get outside, before fumes overcame him. Sudden searing pain shot through his side and he collapsed to the floor.

The back door flew open, and Jarod choking and gagging was dragged outside. He gave a valiant effort, fighting off two sweepers, but the third one got the best of him and he went down hard. Rolling him over a skinny old man found a vein and plunged the needle in rendering the pretender immediately unconscious.

Miss Parker yelled for Major Charles to cover her, as she made her way toward the rear of the house, just in time to see the body of a black sweeper crashing down to the first landing of the stairs. Looking for cover, she saw Sydney in a crumpled heap on the floor and frantically tried to reach him.

Blinded by gas, strong sweaty hands grabbed her and dragged her out the back door, kicking and clawing her captor. The front door flew opened as another teargas bomb exploded, filling the thick air with more smoke. Tears blinding his eyes, Major Charles nailed a sweeper in a gas mask before succumbing to the fumes. He fought off one sweeper as two more jumped him, beating him nearly unconscious, before they could subdue him. Pulling him upright, the masked sweepers handcuffed his hands tightly behind his back, and hauled him out to the waiting car. Sydney was the last one taken out. He was quickly treated and loaded in the second car with Lyle, Jarod, and the Centre psychiatrist.

Miss Parker, Major Charles, and Broots, were in the first car that headed out, followed by Lyle's car. They all had received a hefty sedative from their new doctor's deadly serious hypo. Joe never made it out alive.

***

"Your men know their jobs. I want the cleaners in and out as quickly as possible. You're asking me? I don't care what you do with Clark's body, just get some decent pictures for Mr. Parker. We've on a tight schedule here. Get your men back to the Centre as quickly as possible."

Lyle exchanged looks with the doctor who was working with Sydney in the back seat.

"He going to live?"

"How long before we're back on your plane?"

"Fifty minutes."

"Probably."

Lyle poured himself a drink and leaned back relaxing while watching the pretender sleep like a baby. He was pretty banged up, but that was his own fault. Taking on 3 sweepers when you can't see, wasn't the brightest thing he's ever seen Jarod do. He knew better than to expected him to give up without a fight, though. He just hoped his dad would understand.

"Lyle here. Yes, right on schedule. Get the champagne iced down; we've got all of them. Yes, he's sitting right beside me, taking a little nap. See you later."

***

The Centre
Reception room 2a
6:00 EST

"Have a cigar, Dr. Meisser?"

"Ah, a Meastoso, natural. Don't mind if I do.

"When will the sedatives wear off? I'd like to talk to my daughter."

"She should be coming around any time now. Feisty little thing, your daughter. About bit my finger in two, when I administered her shot. Figuratively speaking, you know."

"Have you had a chance to evaluate Jarod, yet."

"I'm heading down there right after I finish reading his chart. Your Sydney fellow, certainly is a stickler for details. Reading Jarod's chart is just like having been there from the beginning. Your pretender is quite a remarkable young man. Amazing, quite frankly."

"Speaking of Dr. Green, how is he doing?"

"Older men shouldn't have such nasty wounds. He's still in surgery, but his prognosis is very good.

"Well, I best be going," the new Centre psychiatrist offered, downing the last of his drink.

I'll give you a call after my first session with Jarod. Oh, and thanks for the cigar."

***

This is a fanfic written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions and Fox, for my story. All other characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.

As you may recall, this story takes place in the first days and following months immediately after the 3rd season final, Donoterase. This story is very different from the real 4th season of the Pretender, as it was started in the summer before season 4, and has taken on a life of it’s own. jojarod

It’s a real family reunion back at the Centre, as the top dogs revel in the return of the pretender. In actuality, they have unwittingly returned the man who has become their deadliest adversary, and may very well cause their ultimate destruction. 5/31/00




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 16
by jojarod50




Chapman’s farm
2000 South 198th Street
Outside of Overland Park, Kansas
5:15 PM CST


The fierce storm came up quickly drenching everything in its path. Wind whipped through the trees, snapping off branches and sending them plunging to the ground not far from the old farmhouse. Further down past old outbuildings in a shallow creek, was the discarded body of Joe Clark. In his rush to leave with the others, a rookie cleaner had dumped him there, mistakenly thinking he was dead.

Awakened by raindrops pelting his face, Joe lay on his back in the shallow water, dazed, as his eyes struggled to focus. Blood from the back of his head slowly oozed into the little currents and eddies where the shallow water hurried over worn rocks.

Pulling on some vines, Joe slowly sat up feeling terribly nauseous. I don’t remember coming down here, he thought trying to piece things together. Huh, they must have thought I was dead. That’s one mistake they’ll be sorry they made.
Dragging himself slowly through the tall grass, shivering in the cold rain, he made his way toward the outbuilding where he and Broots had hidden the cars.

* * *

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Interrogation Room E
6:38 PM EST

„N no one ever talked about Gemini, that I know of. Honest. We were told to avoid discussing th things around Jarod that h he hadn’t remembered yet."

„Perhaps you need a little more time to work on your recollections, Mr. Broots. Be advised, you will be joining us for another interrogation session first thing tomorrow morning."

„Willie, take him to his new accommodations, and help him find the motivation he needs to be more cooperative regarding Gemini."

„Mr. Cox is Major Charles available for questioning yet?"

„No Sir, he’s still down in the infirmary. His doctor informed me, that he wouldn’t be available to testify until tomorrow.

„Very well. Would you please escort Angelo in."

* * *

Renewal Wing
Isolation cell 13
7:03 PM

Broots lay sprawled on the cement floor near the toilet, where he had been since being escorted to his cell. Moaning in pain, he clutched his bruised stomach and choked on bile that refused to stay down.

When he had regained consciousness in the infirmary, he had been injected with sodium phenithol. Shortly after that, he had been dragged before a committee of five, assigned to interrogations concerning the attempted coup d’e’tat. He was bold at first, feeling the initial rush of the truth serum, denying things and weaving fabrications to try and save their necks. Unfortunately, as the drug took hold loosing his mind, he completely lost his inhibitions and ended up telling them nearly everything they wanted to know. He hadn’t seen Miss Parker, Sydney or the others. Filled with terror, he wondered if they were even still alive and if the Centre had found his daughter, Debbie. Waves of nausea asaulted him again, and he retched violently, gagging with dry heaves, too ill to lift his head off the floor. He knew nothing on the where-abouts of Gemini, and wondered how he would ever convince them he wasn’t lying.

***

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Centre Infirmary, Isolation Room A
7:05 PM EST

„Nurse, have Major Charles taken to the Renewal Wing, isolation cell 19, after he’s rehydrated and the worst of his lacerations have been sutured. I think we’ll hold off on any other treatments right now. Let’s see how he does after he’s had some rest. He showed no signs of a concussion, so go ahead and have him sedated again before he’s transferred. That will make it easier on everyone. Oh, and please check the status of Dr. Green. I want to be notified when they have him in recovery. That will be all for now."

Walking over to the orderly who had been standing nearby waiting, Dr. Grackle gave him a disgusted look.

„You’re definitely going to need stitches. Have one of the nurses find you a cold compress for that eye, and get another orderly in here immediately. I told you not to go in there alone. You’re on report," the doctor said jotting something on Jarod’s chart and slamming it shut.

Taking a cleansing breath, the physician worked the code lock and entered the secured padded cell. Jarod was on the floor at the far side of the sterile room, with his head resting on his knees rocking himself gently and reciting a nursery rhyme quietly to himself.

„Jarod? I’m glad to see you’ve calmed back down. My name is Dr. Grackle. We’ll get along fine, as long as you cooperate. You’re overdue for your next dose of medicine. You unfortunately got way off schedule, so we need to give it to you right away. Do you understand what I’m saying?" he asked looking down at his patient, still rocking on the floor.

„He’s not responding. It could be a ploy," the doctor said under his breath.

Flanked by 2 burley orderlies, the doctor knelt down by the pretender and tried to get his attention.

„Jarod, you need to come with me, now," the older man said slipping his hand under the pretender’s arm.

„No!"

Abruptly, the doctor flew backward against the orderlies, as Jarod lunged at him hysterically, fists flying, completely enraged. In moments, he was pinned to the floor unable to move.

„What happened to everyone else? Are they dead? Answer me, you bastard!" the angry pretender screamed thrashing around on the floor. „Where’s my father?"

„Get him on the table and strap him down," the affronted man ordered rubbing his jaw and swallowing blood.

Go ahead and give me the shot, you idiot. I know your orders are to make me well. There’ll come a time when you’ll wish you hadn’t, he relished, as the orderlies strapped him down.

„All right Jarod, we can do it the hard way, if that’s what you want."

Filling the hypo and tapping out the bubbles, he quickly wiped the pretender’s arm with an alcohol swab, and delivered the 6:00 dose.

„I told you I want to see my father," he said, gritting his teeth in anger as the first wave of dizziness washed over him. Swiftly he was drawn into an unwanted euphoric stupor, as the incapacitating drug surged through his veins.

Without compassion or kindness, the doctor started his examination, as Jarod lay motionless on the cold metal table.

„This will only take a moment," Dr. Grackle said flashing the light several times in each of his eyes, as the pretender gratefully slid into a benign flashback.

Bright early morning light streamed through the hospital windows, as Jarod saw Sydney enter the room.

„Good morning, Dr. Best. You’re just in time to see Jarod get the use of his hands back. The skin grafts have healed nicely."

„Sydney, is that you?" Jarod whispered, deeply moved, as his eyes began to cloud up.

The Centre doctor glanced at his patient, giving him a curious look, as he jotted down a few things on his new chart.

„Jarod, do you see Dr. Green in the room?" the doctor asked shaking him gently, becoming suddenly concerned about the integrity of his mind.

Brought back to reality, he grudgingly focused on his doctor, wishing he would leave him alone, as oppressive fatigue darkened his mood.

A tear slipped from the pretender’s eye, as he endured the callous examination of his old injuries, and raw comments about his former ordeal.

He attempted to guard his tenuous emotional stability by forcing his mind to slip away again.

„It says here that you failed to show up at lunch again," Sydney said with a knowing look, spying some hamburger wrappers in the trash. „Looks to me like you had something better to eat. I’ll make a note of that. You’ve wasted no time in corrupting Jarod, Major Charles."

„I take my job as Jarod’s parent very seriously."

Suddenly feeling pain, the illusion vanished, and the pretender found himself face to face with a sweaty man with a jagged scar across his cleft chin, ineptly jabbing him with a large gauge needle and snapping a vacuum tube in place. Closing his eyes, Jarod waited it out, despising the Centre having access to his blood.

After a few moments, the doctor spoke to him again.

„Jarod, we’ll be moving you shortly to your old room. You’ll be having your first session with your new psychiatrist there. After that, I want you to rest and keep your activity level to a minimum. You have two cracked ribs and are going to have sore knuckles for a couple of days. No computer for you, until the dressings come off. A word to the wise, control your anger or you’ll find yourself wearing a straight jacket permanently. Are we clear on that?"

The pretender allowed his eyes to wander away as he tried to decide how emotionally ill he wanted them to believe he was. That ploy would hopefully keep them off balance, as he worked to find a way to execute the rest of his plan.

„Jarod, I’d appreciate it if you would have your mind in the neighborhood, when I’m talking to you."

„You must be aware that you are seriously underweight. Have you ever been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa?"

The pretender just lay there giving him a death stare and meant it.

„I know you’re very angry right now, but you are going to have to let us help you deal with this issue. You are not going to be allowed to starve yourself to death on my watch," the doctor said as he jotted down more things on his chart. I’m putting you on a special diet. After you begin putting on weight, we’ll start you on a body building program as well. Frankly, I can’t imagine for the life of me, why you were allowed to waste away like this. Rumors must be greatly exaggerated, about it taking 3 sweepers to take you down when you were recaptured."

Overwhelmed with the absurdity of it all, Jarod began laughing hysterically, only to be reduced to tears, as renewed worry for his father and the others took hold of him. Noticing the doctor’s reaction, he realized with frustration that some of his abnormal behavior would not be a pretend.

Dr. Grackle tilted his head and pursed his lips as he observed his patient, taking note of his erratic mood swings. He again flipped open the chart and jotted in it.

„Doctor, you asked me to inform you when, Dr. Green was in recovery."

„Oh, yes, Nurse, thank you."

Recovery? Jarod’s heart fell, as he realized his mentor and protector had been seriously injured and felt renewed fear for his father, Parker, and the others.

„Mr. Lyle, this is convenient timing. If you have finished with Major Charles, why don’t you and Mr. Johnson escort our pretender to his room now," the doctor said stripping off his latex gloves and tossing them in the trash. „I’ve got a meeting with Mr. Parker in twenty minutes. I don’t want to be interrupted unless it’s an emergency," he said to the nurse on his right, as he headed over to recovery.

Lyle smirked at he sized up the pretender, enjoying the fact that he looked like things had been living hell for him while he had been on the run.

Jarod’s mind was reeling, as the unfamiliar sweeper unbuckled the leather straps and helped him off the table, outraged that Lyle was being allowed anywhere near him.

„It’s really nice to see you again, Jarod," the sociopath said slowly looking him over with a look of disdain. „I’m sorry you missed seeing your father. I’m going to really enjoy working with him," he said with a sadistic grin. „I wonder how long it will take before I can get him to weep the way you did."

Lyle grinned completely satisfied that he had gotten the reaction from the pretender he was hoping for, as he watched the other man come unglued.

„Come on, let’s go," he said, as he reached for the pretender’s arm, was swiftly taken down, and nearly beaten to death, before anyone could stop it.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s office
8:00 PM EST

„Don’t you use that tone with me young lady," Mr. Parker said smacking her across the face. „Now sit down and shut up. You haven’t got a leg to stand on. You just better count your lucky stars none of that information actually got to where you tried to send it. You would have been dead by now, if it had. As a matter of fact, Mutumbo still thinks that’s a viable option. If you weren’t my daughter, they would have finished you off back in Kansas. What the hell were you thinking or are you just flat out insane?"

„You had a contract out on me. I was right outside your office when I heard you take the orders from Mutumbo, just like you did on my mother, you son of a bitch."

„That’s not true. You must have been too distraught about Jarod at the time to be thinking straight. I know you two were childhood friends. Now, I admit there was some nasty posturing going on between Mutumbo and me, but nothing of any consequence. And just for the record, I never gave any order to have my beloved wife killed and I’m trying to save your neck right now. I am shocked that you would ever believe that. It was a tragedy, her taking her own life. I don’t think I’ll ever completely get over the pain."

Mr. Parker stood up and went to the wet bar and poured himself a drink, as the phone began to incessantly ring. Aggravated, he turned angrily and roughly picked it up. „I told you no interruptions. Oh my God. Jarod? You’ve got to be kidding. Hell no. He was ordered not to go anywhere near him. Is he going to be all right? Well, call me when the hell you do know," he said slamming down the phone.

„Your, um, brother was attacked by Jarod. They have him in surgery right now. He may not make it."

Miss Parker sat there in shock, unsure what she felt for her brother, but knowing this was a dangerous turn of events for Jarod. This behavior flew in the face of everything she had ever known about him, and she wondered what her evil twin had done to push him completely over the edge.

Mr. Parker paced back in forth for a minute and then stopped squarely in front of his daughter.

„Well, I guess it’s up to me to salvage what’s left of the Parker family," he said glaring at her, as she sat quietly giving him a steady look.

„Obviously, the pressures at the Centre became unbearable for you and you simply cracked. Sorry Angel, I should have seen it coming. It’s clear, you were mentally incompetent at the time of your actions. You are to undergo a full psychological evaluation and treatment for mental illness. Sometimes you remind me more of your mother than I care to admit. You’ll see, this is all for the best. We’ll have you back on your feet and working again in no time."

„Sam, escort Miss Parker to the Renewal Wing. A doctor is already there waiting to meet you."

Miss Parker walked out of her dad’s office in silence. Why he had shown her mercy was beyond her, but he was a fool for doing it. She was allied with Jarod now, and nothing would change that. Now, all she needed was a plan of escape.

* * *

Centre Recovery Room 2a
8:25 PM EST

Sydney struggled to focus at the man that stood by the side of his bed, but found it nearly impossible, as the remnants of the anesthesia threatened to pull him under again. His side burned like wildfire and he was grateful for the painkiller the nurse injected into his IV tubing apparatus.

„Sydney, my friend. You’re going to be all right," Dr. Grackle said looking at his chart. The bullet tore you up pretty good but managed to avoid hitting anything major. You’re going to spend the next two weeks flat on your back, and I want you to behave yourself. I know what a pain in the neck you can be as a patient."

„From what I’ve heard, you’re in pretty deep, but your situation is salvageable. There is gratitude in high places for what you did to thwart Raines’ plans to possibly have the pretender eliminated. They are also keenly aware that, if you hadn’t intervened, Jarod would have been irreparably insane by now. I believe you have a lot of clout on your side. I’ll do what I can to help you. I owe you that. But, you’re going to have to keep a low profile until things can be worked out."

Sydney reached out suddenly for the doctor’s hand he had resting on the bed.

„Help Jarod."

„I’m not even sure how much I can do for you."

Sydney squeezed his hand hard.

„Try."

* * *

Dr. Meisser’s Office
2 doors down from the infirmary
8:35 PM EST

Dr. Meisser hit rewind and replayed the surveillance tape of Jarod’s altercation with Lyle, stopping it just as the dialogue commenced between them.

„Now, listen carefully to what your son says to the pretender concerning his father."

„It’s really nice to see you again, Jarod," the sociopath said slowly looking him over with a look of disdain. „I’m sorry you missed seeing your father. I’m going to really enjoy working with him," he said with a sadistic grin. „I wonder how long it will take before I can get him to weep like you did."

„This wasn’t a simple case of revenge. Jarod has never been known to take a life for that reason. I believe he was simply trying to protect his father. His record states that the only time he ever killed anyone was when he shot Damon to keep him from killing your computer tech, Mr.Broots.

„I’ve studied Jarod’s psychiatric records from his time with Dr. Green, and there is nothing here to even remotely suggest that he has become a violent person. On the contrary, he’s had more of a tendency toward depression and withdrawal. If things aren’t handled properly, Jarod may retreat into himself and be lost for good."

„Mr. Parker, let me handle Jarod, my way. With all that’s happened to him, especially factoring in his violent recapture and now his altercation with your son, his mental status is bound to be quite precarious. It would be a tragedy for such a brilliant mind to be lost forever."

The chairman was silent as he weighed the facts and the credibility of his new Centre psychiatrist.

„Your record speaks for its self. I feel we were lucky to have acquired a man of your expertise from our London facilities. Go ahead and have your sessions with Jarod and keep me informed of your progress. We need the pretender up and running as soon as possible."

„He’s going to need time to reassimilate. Don’t expect results over night. What you have right now is a recovering mental patient, thanks to Raines and your son."

„Like I said, keep me informed. You’ve got your assignment and I’m going to expect results. I’m going to check on my son," Mr. Parker said evenly, getting up and leaving the room.

* * *

Jarod’s old room
8:55 PM

The pretender, wearing a straightjacket, was ushered into his old room, flanked by armed sweepers. A gaunt featured older man with graying hair and striking blue eyes sat on a chair near a white couch.

The psychiatrist looked up from his chart, skillfully evaluating his patient’s posture and body language, both betraying his apprehension and fear.

„Jarod, go ahead and have a seat right over here."

The pretender looked around the room, hesitantly, as a flood of painful memories inundated his mind.

„Why don’t you men wait outside for now. I’ll call you if I need you," the doctor said waving them off with an impatient look.

„Jarod? I need for you to sit down now."

Still very distracted, the pretender made his way to the couch and sat down.

„Unsettling isn’t it, after all your time away from the Centre? Just try to relax, we’re merely going to have a little talk. My name is Dr. Meisser, your new psychiatrist."

His patient said nothing, letting his head drop, and closing his eyes, as if willing everything to go away.

„I know you’re a pretender and you have the ability to block me out or take your mind somewhere else completely, but I need you to stay with me. I want to help you deal with what happened to you down in the infirmary, before it completely overwhelms you."

Jarod sat silently glaring at his trembling hands.

„I’ve gone over the surveillance tape of the incident with Mr. Parker. We both agree that you were maliciously provoked with open threats made against Major Charles and acted to safeguard your father. We all know he would have probably carried them out."

The distraught young man just sat there taking in jagged breaths struggling to maintain his composure, as he wrestled with overwhelming guilt. This wasn’t supposed to happen, his mind echoed. Dear Lord, what have I become?

Realizing how difficult a time his patient was having dealing with almost murdering the other man, the doctor picked up the phone for a patient update, hoping Mr. Lyle wasn’t dead.

„This is Dr. Meisser. Any word yet on the status of Mr. Lyle. Fine, I’ll hold," he said glancing over at Jarod. He was rocking back and forth slightly, as he sat on the edge of the couch, as if trying to comfort himself.

„That’s very good news. Thank you."

„Well, it appears your nemesis is going to live, though you’ve managed to put him out of commission for say, the next 4 or 5 weeks. Jarod, don’t shut down on me. You were only trying to protect your father from going through something horrible like you went through, when you were under that man’s control. You’re father is safe now. Mr. Lyle won’t be able to hurt him."

Jarod hung his head down and squeezed his eyes shut gasping to catch his breath and then finally broke down and cried.

„It’s ok, Jarod. Get it out. You can’t afford to keep things bottled up right now. Just know, that as much as its up to me, I’ll do everything possible to get you back on your feet. You’ve made wonderful progress under Dr. Green’s expert care. We just need to keep you on the right track. You need to get some rest now. Here, let me help you get that nasty straight jacket off. I can’t imagine trying to sleep in one of those. I don’t believe you really need one anyway. I’ll be back in about an hour to give you your last shot for the night. Tomorrow you will only have to deal with those three times a day. Oh, and by the way, everyone, but Joe, got out alive. None of them are pleased to be here, but they are all reasonably all right. Dr. Green was shot in the side, but his injury is not life threatening. He’s resting comfortably in a private room. From what I’ve heard, the Centre will be showing a great deal of forbearance in this matter. Now, try not to worry and get some rest."

„Thank you," Jarod said quietly and laid down on the couch."

„Wouldn’t you rather sleep on your bed?"

„This will be fine."

„All right, Jarod. I’ll see you in about an hour."

This is a fanfic written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions and Fox (I think) for my story. All the characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. Please don’t sue me, as I have not money.

As you may recall, this story takes place in the first days and following months immediately after the 3rd season final, Donoterase. This story is very different from the real 4th season of the Pretender, as it was started in the summer before the season began, and has taken on a life of its own.

Intense interrogations will be continuing, as the Centre strives to recover Gemini. The shootout at the farmhouse in Kansas took its toll on Jarod, and company, but none more than Sydney, who was the only one actually shot. Miss Parker, Major Charles, and Broots, have all been assigned cells on renewal wing, as the Centre does what it does best. Lyle is in intensive care after almost being killed by Jarod, and Joe who is alive and well, is a very busy man. June 28, 2000





In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 17
by jojarod50

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Dr. Meisser’s office
Surveillance cubical
9:48 PM EST

“No, not the entire time. I know he fell asleep for a little bit on the couch right after I left, but experienced some kind of night terror by the time I got down here. For a while after that, he surveyed the room, picking up this and that then threw something at one of the surveillance cameras. He’s been wearing out the rug pacing every since.”

“What’s that he’s doing now?”

“I’m not sure. You’re going to have to send someone down there to adjust the cameras. I can’t see him very well when he’s over there.”

“I don’t like the looks of him. I had no idea he would be in this condition.”

“You didn’t? Haven’t you read the report I left you?”
“I’m a busy man, Dr Meisser. That’s why I hired you. Let’s have him sedated for the night, so he will be fresh tomorrow when he’s questioned about Gemini.”

“Questioned? You can’t be serious, Mr. Parker.”

“Dead serious. We need to find the boy ASAP. The Centre must have at least one pretender up and running and it’s obvious it won’t be Jarod.”

“I understand that, but I can’t authorize this in good conscious. Jarod is already having enough trouble dealing with things as it is. For your information, he’s still suffering from partial amnesia and according to Sydney’s notes, doesn’t remember anything about having a clone. Putting him though this will just be a waste of time. As his doctor, I must tell you that it would be very unwise to force this on him. I stand in opposition to any questioning at this time.”

“Don’t be so naive. He’s a pretender, or have you forgotten that? I’m sure he knows more than he’s letting on.”

“Be advised. I don’t need your authorization to do anything, Mr.. You are accustomed to following orders aren’t you? We’ll need him at 6:00 AM. Make sure he’s ready. Sam and Willie will be down to pick him up. Oh, and I want him in a straight jacket. No sense risking him having another fit and taking someone else out.”

Getting up suddenly, Mr. Parker abruptly left.

Dr. Meisser shook his head in disbelief at the Chairman’s callousness, as he headed to the medicine cabinet to line up Jarod’s 10:00 dose with an added sedative. Building trust with his patient was going to be decidedly more difficult than he had originally thought, with Mr. Parker calling the shots.

Glancing at his watch, the doctor hurried out the door.

****

Jarod’s old room
10:01 PM EST

The pretender glanced up when his door opened. He had been expecting the doctor with his last shot for the night. Jarod felt a thrill of excitement knowing the shots were rapidly restoring his mind, even though they were very unpleasant to take. Biting back his resentment at being trapped at the Centre again, he shoved a pad of coded notes into its hiding place and switched into his slightly confused mental patient persona.

“Jarod, what are you doing over there on the floor? I was hoping you would be getting a little rest.”

Well aware of the pretender’s injuries, he gave orders for Sam the sweeper to help his patient off the floor.

Holding his arm tightly around his injured ribcage, Jarod winced in pain as he was carefully pulled up onto his feet, wishing he could retape his cracked ribs. He glanced at his doctor and back at the floor with a look of confusion on his face, as if he had lost track of what was going on.

“Jarod, why don’t we just go into your bedroom. I can talk to you in there. You really need to be lying down for your shot anyway,” Dr. Meisser suggested as he made his way over to him in an unthreatening way, disheartened by his patient’s apparent mental confusion.

The pretender grudgingly allowed Sam to usher him into the bedroom, which he had been avoiding like the plague, as painful memories of terrible loneliness, fear, and severe guilt over the countless deadly sims he had performed, washed over him.

Six surveillance cameras carefully hidden around the room. Clever, but definitely over kill. With a sick feeling he wondered how many were in the bathroom. Again, his anger burned at the indignity of it all, but he masked it well, pretending to be distracted and distant, as he gingerly lay down on the bed, willing his trembling hands to be still.

“Sam, go ahead and wait outside. We’ll be fine here.”

Dr. Meisser wrote a few things down on Jarod’s chart then gave him a quick medical evaluation.

“You’re blood pressure is too high, your pulse is racing, and despite your cracked ribs you are nearly hyperventilating. I know being back at the Centre is very stressful for you, but you need to try to adjust or you are going to make yourself very sick. Jarod are you listening to me?”

Jarod stopped fiddling with the bedspread he had been focusing on and spoke with urgency avoiding eye contact.

“Let me see my father. I need to know if he’s all right,” he asked glancing up at his doctor and then acting unsure of himself. “And please could you tell me how Sydney is?” he asked almost in a whisper.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you with those things right now. Major Charles and Dr. Green are probably both asleep anyway, as you should be. You may be able to see your father in the morning though. Mr. Parker is having all of you questioned about…. Gemini.”

“Gemini? What’s that?” Jarod asked drawing a blank, yet suddenly feeling terribly nauseous.

The doctor studied his patient carefully for any signs of deception and found none.

“You really don’t know, do you, Jarod? Well, don’t worry about it. Just tell the truth when the panel questions you and hopefully it won’t take very long.”

“Let’s get your shot over with, so that you can get some sleep. The sedative in the shot should help you do that.”

“Sedative? I don’t want to be sedated,” Jarod said wrenching his side as he scrambled off the bed and distancing himself from the doctor.

“Sam, I need your assistance.”

Sam hurried back into the room with his gun drawn, and waited for instructions.

“Sam, put that thing away. Jarod let’s not have a scene here. There is really nothing you can do to get out of this. You know you need your shot. Let me assure you that the sedative is harmless. Now, why don’t you go ahead and lie down on your own so we can get this taken care of.”

The infuriated pretender made no move to comply.

“Sam.”

Jarod irrationally fought the sweeper even after he was pinned down on the bed, remembering all the horrible things that the Centre had done to him the different times they had put him out. The doctor hurriedly delivered the shot and the pretender fell into sudden euphoric stupor. In very little time, things began to dim around him. The last thing he saw was the look of regret on Dr. Meisser’s face, as he passed out.

* *

Dr. Meisser’s office
10:33 PM EST

“So, how’s your prize patient doing, Jerry,” Dr. Grackle asked, stopping by the doorway with a cup of coffee in each hand.

“Oh, hi, Nelson, I thought you were going to cut down on that stuff,” Dr. Meisser
mused reaching out for one of the cups.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a long day. I promised a friend I’d give him a patient update after I talked with you,” he said following the other doctor to the surveillance cubical.

“Don’t tell me. Dr. Green?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not surprised. It’s obvious from Jarod’s patient records, how deeply he cares about him. How is he doing? Jarod asked about him.”

“Actually, he’s doing quite well. The damage to his spleen wasn’t nearly as severe as we first thought, and the surrounding tissue sutured up nicely. His vitals are stable so far and he had gotten some sleep, but is awake now and very insistent on knowing how his former patient is doing. Don’t want his blood pressure going though the roof, now do we?”

Dr. Meisser sat down in front of the monitor and let out a long sigh as he viewed the pretender lying motionless on the bed.

“Did you tell him about the incident with Lyle?”

“No, he doesn’t need to know about that right now.”

“That’s wise. I wish I had better news for you. He’s experiencing severe anxiety, which is to be expected, considering it’s dogged him for the past 5 weeks, and he’s definitely under more stress now. For some reason, though, he seems to be trying to hide it, as if he could. His vitals are way out of wack. What really worries me, is that he is exhibiting signs that he might be slipping into clinical depression again. Dr. Green noted that he was headed that way right before he was given his first shot and that he suspected he was entertaining thoughts of suicide. Amazingly he made an abrupt turn around, following his first dose of Raines neutralizing serum. But, since his arrival here, he’s been increasingly withdrawn, confused, and at times acting out his anger. I don’t envy that kid for the roller coaster ride he’s been on.”

“Situational setbacks are understandable. How was he after his last shot? Any improvement?”

“I can’t tell you. Mr. Parker ordered him sedated, so I just included it in his last shot. It’s funny though. He became hysterical when I mentioned the sedative, and had to literally be held down before I could give him his shot. I’ve never had a patient react quite like that before. He seemed absolutely terrified.”

“You’ve never worked at the Centre. Sydney confided in me once that, a few years ago, when he was sent abroad for a symposium, Jarod had been sedated and ended up in Mr. Raines lab on SL. 27, becoming the old man’s guinea pig for experiments I would not recommend for late night reading. Unfortunately he made other unauthorized trips down stairs when Sydney was scheduled to be gone. Actually, Sydney should be commended for keeping Jarod from becoming like Angelo or some of Raines other pet projects. He did everything he could to keep Jarod in his care. Besides being a brilliant psychiatrist, he has always been an extremely compassionate man.

“What are you going to tell him?”

“Probably not as much as you told me. You’re patient may be better after a good nights sleep. Well, I better be getting back. Don’t stay up too late and quit worrying.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Probably only to me. You know, you remind me a little bit of Sydney. Goodnight.”

* * *


Centre Renewal Wing
5:00 AM EST

The sweepers were busy getting Broots, and Major Charles awake and cleaned up for questioning. Broots weaved back and forth, threatening to pass out, as he stood in line for the shower. He was slick with sweat and vomit from lying on the floor of his cell, too weak to make it to the toilet. Willie looked him over and shook his head in amusement as he talked to the other sweeper assigned to the detail.

Finally, to Broots relief, the door swung open and Major Charles was helped out of the lavatory, leaning heavily on the sweeper assigned to him. It was obvious that it must have taken a lot of manpower to take him down at the farmhouse. The Major glanced his way, with an expression of compassion and sympathy for the timid computer tech, and then scanned the hallway looking for his son, as he was lead away.

“All right, Mr. Broots, it’s your turn. Try not to pass out in there, while your taking your shower. I wouldn’t want to explain to your daughter, Debbie, that you drowned and couldn’t make it to the inquiry,” Willie said just to be cruel.

“My daughter? You bastards better not la lay a h hand on her or I’ll..,”

“Yes, Mr. Broots? Or you’ll what?” Willie asked removing his gun from its holster and aiming it at his forehead.

“Willie, that’s enough of that,” Mr. Cox said stepping up to him.

Everything started spinning, and Broots fainted, falling limply to the floor.

“Oh dear. Look what you’ve done now. Well, I guess you’ll just have to carry him into the lavatory and help him get cleaned up. Hmm. He really is quite untidy. That wasn’t very bright of you, Willie,” Cox said in a low angry voice. “We’re on a tight schedule.”

“Yes Sir,” Willie said trying to hide his embarrassment and revulsion at his new task, as he leaned over and dragged Broots back onto his feet and took him into the lavatory.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s Office
5:35 AM

Sam had been personally assigned to Miss Parker and was ordered to escort her to her father’s office to clean up. There were no surveillance cameras in his lavatory to cause him further embarrassment on account of his daughter.

He waited patiently just outside the bathroom door, hoping Miss Parker wouldn’t give him any more trouble. She had been beyond anger, when he had worked the coded lock to her cubical and had entered, giving him the most vicious verbal beating he had ever received from her to date and nearly scratched his eyes out when he had tried to lead her out into the hallway.

He had found his job as sweeper distasteful ever since Mr. Parker had turned on his daughter and made him party to retrieving her and the others, including the pretender, knowing what had been done to him and hating what would probably happen to him now. It wouldn’t take much for him to join the opposition, if the odds were right.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the reappearance of Miss Parker. Even in her Centre issue clothes, she was stunning.

“Ok, Sam, what’s next on my father’s twisted agenda?”

“I, um, need to make sure you didn’t lift anything from the shower that might be used as a viable weapon.”

“Touch me, and you die,” Miss Parker said sticking her face in his and then turning to walk away.

“Miss Parker, I have my orders,” he said pulling his gun out and grabbing her arm effectively stopping her in her tracks.

“Ok, you win, Sam, on one condition. Tell me what you know about what happened to Sydney, Broots, Angelo, Major Charles, and Jarod,” purposefully listing Jarod last.

“Miss Parker, I…”

“Sam, I’ve never asked for anything from you.”

The sweeper let out a deep sigh and put his gun away.

“Ok, Miss Parker, just this once, but first I need to frisk you,” he said quickly checking her while she held his gaze daring him to make a mistake.

“Sydney was shot in the side and is in fair condition, in a private room off the main infirmary. They’re leaving him alone for right now.

Everyone else, including you, will be questioned about the whereabouts of Gemini, starting with Jarod and Major Charles at 6:00 this morning.

Mr. Cox caught Angelo down in the lower levels with a computer linking him to emails you had been receiving, shall we say, while you were away. The board is unconvinced that he is coherent enough to have been involved and will probably release him later today.

Broots was worked over pretty good when he was captured and on top of that, is such a nervous wreck he is physically ill. I, um, was ordered to find Debbie and bring her in to help motivate him into giving them more information concerning your sting operation and Gemini. Strangest thing… I haven’t been able to locate her, yet.

As far as the Major is concerned, he was badly beaten when he was captured and can barely walk without assistance. They are planning to use Jarod to pressure him into divulging the location of Gemini. From what I observed, Jarod is pretty out of it mentally, and has some cracked ribs.”

“Sam, you know they would probably lock you up and throw away the key for telling me all of this, if they find out. I don’t understand why you decided to risk it.”

“Miss Parker, don’t worry about me. If I’m caught, it’ll be poetic justice for being a willing participant of the Centre’s sick agenda. I’m going to try to find a way to help you out of this, so don’t be surprised if I do. You better come along now. You’re going to be interrogated right after Jarod and the Major.”

“Thank you, Sam,” Miss Parker said refusing to allow her tears to fall.
Her heart sank, as she thought about Jarod becoming sick again, after how hard he had fought to regain his sanity. Thinking back, she remembered their final conversation before the attack.

“…but if we fail we need a contingency plan, Parker. It’s time to make some difficult decisions. I’m willing to be taken back, if you, Sydney, and Broots need to go along with it for a time, until a better plan can be put into place. I’ve planted some surprises in their Mainframe, just in case. I’m sorry to be the realist here, Miss Parker. If it comes down to it, do what ever it takes to survive. You better believe I will.”

“Miss Parker, are you listening to me? It’s time to go.”

“Sorry, Sam,” she said hoping against hope that Jarod had just been maximizing his pretender skills pretending to be emotionally ill. Bracing herself, she allowed him to lead her to the tower for what would probably be a very unpleasant ordeal.

* * *

Tower Interrogation room A
6:20 AM

Major Charles shifted uncomfortably in his chair, as the questioning became more heated and his denials more adamant.

“Major Charles, this board does not take kindly to evasive answers and outright lies. Perhaps you need added incentive to cooperate in our endeavor to locate our younger pretender. Bring in Jarod, Mr. Cox.”

“No! You can’t do this. He’s not well,” the Major yelled barely making it to his feet, before being forced painfully back down into his chair, by one of the sweepers.

* * *

Miss Parker arrived just in time to see Jarod being escorted into the other room, wearing a straight jacket and looking as if he were in another world. She closed her eyes tightly, as if she could erase the sight of him, picturing instead the cocky pretender who had kissed her hard and given her a wink, as they had prepared to fight off the Centre sweepers at the farmhouse.

“Please have a seat, Miss Parker. This may take a while,” Sam said motioning to a wooden bench along the wall in the foyer.

* * *

“Jarod, why don’t you come over here and sit next to Mr. Cox. Jarod, did you hear what I just said?

The pretender locked eyes with his father for a moment, sharing his unspoken love and concern for him. He was stunned by how horrible his dad looked, and brokenhearted that he had been captured along with the rest of them. He wished he could somehow convey to him that he was just pretending to have lost his faculties, but couldn’t risk them finding out, if he was going to have a chance of getting them all out of this. It was all he could to keep from becoming violent, as rage over cruelty inflicted on his father threatened to unravel his self-control.

Willie broke him out of his trance, as he shoved him hard in the back and motioned him over to the waiting seat, making him almost double over in pain.

“Now, Major Charles, I’m going to ask you again, what did you do with Gemini? Give us his location and nothing will happen to your son. Think about it, Major. Gemini is only a clone of Jarod. Is he worth sacrificing your son for?”

“You inhuman son of a bitch! How dare you threaten to hurt my son! I told you before, I left Gemini with an acquaintance that promised to take him to an undisclosed location and help him catch a ride to somewhere else, before dropping out of sight. There is no way I can know where any of them are. We planned it that way so that I wouldn’t be able to reveal his location, if I were captured.”

“What was the acquaintance’s last name? The other driver?”

“I told you before, I don’t know.”

“Major Charles, I’m tired of being lead in circles. Mr. Cox?”

“Come with us, Jarod,” he said motioning to Willie to take him to the room toward the back.

“You can’t do this! There is no way I can answer your questions, even to save my son. Oh God, please don’t do this!”

Jarod was in shock at the revelation that he had a clone. Images of him coming face to face with his younger self at Donoterase flashed through his mind, as the floodgates opened allowing his memories to return. He saw images of their daring rescue of Gemini, as he was being taken to the airport to be transported to Africa. Daylight faded suddenly into a shadowy scene of a flickering oil lamp and the lost look on the boy’s face, as he was told he had no real parents. The scene smashed into streams of daylight again, as he watched the boy take his first bite of ice cream.

“What’s the matter with you? I said get up,” Willie breathed, as he hauled the pretender onto his feet and led him into the little room with Mr.Cox.

This is a fanfic written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, Fox, and maybe NBC, for my story. All the characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.

As you may recall, this story takes place in the first days and following weeks immediately after the 3rd season final, Donoterase. This story is very different from the real 4th season of the Pretender, as it was started in the summer before the fall season began, and has taken on a life of its own. I have, however, borrowed Mr. Cox from the 4th season, for my story.

Intense interrogations in the Tower are continuing, as the Centre tries to discover the location of Gemini. As Miss Parker and Broots wait for their turn in the hot seat, the board ruthlessly tries to coerce Major Charles into revealing the location of Gemini, using his own son as leverage. Behind the scenes, Joe is working with the FBI on a sting operation to free his comrades and see that justice is done to avenge the deaths of his Chief, police partner, and all those killed at the plane crash by the Centre. 7/05/00



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 18
by jojarod50




The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Tower Interrogation room A
6:21AM

Major Charles frantically looked from the man questioning him to his son, noticing the look of shocked horror on Jarod’s face, similar to his reaction, at Donoterase, when he had come face to face with his clone. What a cruel way for him to remember, he thought, unable to contain himself, as he saw his son yanked out of his chair and led by a sweeper to a small room in the back, staggering slightly seemingly in pain.

“God forgive me. Ok, ok. Look, I’ll work with your men to help locate Gemini. Surely your people have someone who can track him down, even with the limited amount of information I have. Just don’t hurt my son anymore!”

“Major Charles. You’ve placed us in a very difficult situation here, by your actions to protect our property from being found. The Centre does not take kindly to theft of our projects. Take him back to his cell,” the speaker said motioning to Mr. Johnson and another sweeper in the back.

“What about my son? What are you going to do to him?” the Major pressed refusing to leave his seat.

“What we do with our property is up to us. Get him out of here, and bring in Miss Parker,” he said to the sweepers, as one of them quickly drew his gun convincing the Major to stand down and follow them.

Centre Tower
Small room off of Interrogation room A
6:23 AM Eastern time

Mr. Cox motioned for Jarod to sit down, as Willie waited to strap him in the chair.
Still dazed from the flashbacks and the abrupt return of his memory concerning his clone, Jarod stood there staring at Mr. Cox and Willie, barely registering on what was going on.

“Jarod, cooperation is key here. If you cooperate with me, your father may avoid, shall we say, a rather horrible ordeal. Now, sit down,” Mr. Cox said eyeing the pretender curiously, trying to decide if he was faking it or not playing with a full deck.

Fighting to clear his mind, the pretender closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, purposely pushing the new revelations aside. Willie gave the distracted pretender a shove toward the chair, throwing him off balance and nearly sending him to the floor, straight jacket and all. Recovering quickly, Jarod took a seat, as the realization that his father was in danger came crashing though his troubled thoughts. He wondered if he would have to blow his pretend and play it straight, to save him, knowing that that might be disastrous to his overall plans.

“All right, let’s get down to business, shall we?” Mr. Cox began, after the pretender had been ensconced in his chair.

“You care very deeply for your father, don’t you, Jarod?” the predator asked pulling on a pair of surgical gloves, and snapping each one as he circled the pretender. “You can save us all a lot of time and trouble, if you just tell us what he did with Gemini.”

Jarod’s mind was racing as he quickly simmed all possible outcomes to answering his question honestly and decided against it, feeling sweat suddenly trickle down his forehead.

“Cat got your tongue?” Cox offered, leaning in till he was in his face, wondering what it would take to keep him from drifting off again. “You know, I’ve been told that you have spent your entire life dreaming about finding your family and it’s taken you 3 years outside the Centre to finally locate Major Charles. You better start talking or he’ll be dragged back to his cell and tortured until we find out what we need to know. From the looks of him, I’m not sure how much more physical abuse he can take.”

Jarod broke into an easy smile and shook his head, his eyes riveted on the other man’s, perfectly masking his feelings of overwhelming fear for his dad.

“You people are so predictable. You build your whole lives around causing pain and sorrow, as you systematically destroy lives. You said you wanted me to save you some time. Ok, I will for a price. You don’t need to bother yourselves with my dad. I’m the only one that can possibly know where Gemini is, so deal with me.”

“Do I look like a fool to you? Let me see if I’m getting this right. You want me to believe that the man who left the Iversonville airport with Gemini in his plane knows nothing about his whereabouts? But you, on the other hand, the one who was taken back to the Centre and spent the rest of the time in a mental hospital knows where he is? This is very disappointing. I was told you are an absolute genius, but you’re talking like an idiot.”

“Like you said, I’m a genius. Weren’t you paying attention to what my father said? He has no idea where Gemini is aside from some sketchy facts. Give me some time with that information, and I’ll locate him for you. That is what you want, isn’t it?”

“I’m not so sure he is telling the truth, and even more unsure you’d want to turn Gemini over to us. I’m curious, though, what did you expect in return?”

“I want you to let my father go.”

“My aren’t you the loyal son. I don’t know, Jarod. For some reason I don’t think I can trust you. Why don’t we have a little talk and see if I can figure out what you’re up to,” he said pulling a syringe out of his pocket, and holding it up to the light, as he tapped the bubbles out, making a real show of it.

One look at the syringe, and the pretender completely lost it, grabbing Cox’s ankles with his legs and causing him to loose his balance, as the chair he was strapped to flipped over sending him crashing to the floor.

“Willie, call another sweeper in here and get him out of the chair,” Cox said getting back on his feet. “We need to remove his straight jacket for a moment, while he gets a quick lesson in cooperation.”

“Jarod, that was a stupid thing to do. You must have some kind of a death wish, or do you just enjoy experiencing pain,” he said tightly, giving the broken syringe on the floor a little kick while glaring at the pretender.

Jarod lay motionless on his side, staring into the man’s eyes, betraying no signs of emotion.

The door swung open, as Willie returned with Sam, who immediately regretted his presence there, as he glanced at Jarod, the broken syringe and the angry look on Cox face.
“Go ahead and soften him up a bit, but avoid the cracked ribs on his left side. I’ll be back in a few minutes for his interrogation,” Cox said under his breath to the sweepers, returning his gaze to the pretender with a look of anticipation.

“Sam, after the pretender looses steam, why don’t you run down to the infirmary and get another loaded syringe for me,” he said, jotting down the name of the drug on a slip of paper and handing it to him, before quickly leaving.

* * *

Interrogation room A
6:55 AM

Mr. Cox felt strangely alive as he closed the door and crossed over to a chair in the main room to take in a little of Miss Parker’s questioning.

“This wasn’t about Jarod or his clone. Frankly, I could care less about what happens to them. It was about the Centre and the death of my mother. I was led to believe that my father took orders from the Triumvirate to have my mother killed and was going to have me eliminated as well.”

“That’s curious, Miss Parker. I was under the impression that you were very distraught about the torture and subsequent overdosing of the pretender. Isn’t that true?”

“Distraught? You must be joking. The only thing that had me upset, was the lack of information I was given to work from in order to track down that lab rat. The file was full of omissions and had only a few sketchy details concerning his condition and nothing on how he had escaped. Without Sydney to serve as an umbilical to Jarod, I knew that he would probably be impossible to catch, especially with only Broots to help in the pursuit.”

“An interesting answer, Miss Parker, but not exactly in keeping with what Mr. Broots told us last night.”

Muffled groans and sounds of fists connecting with flesh suddenly caught her attention, as she wondered who was in the room in the back, and realizing she hadn’t seen Jarod leave with Major Charles.

“Miss Parker, please try to pay attention. I don’t want to have to repeat myself again. When you located Dr. Green and Jarod, why didn’t you contact the Centre with your findings? Do you maintain that your fear for your life was your only motivation for keeping quiet or is there something more you’re not telling us?”

Mr. Cox stared at her curiously, noticing her change in color as Sam exited the small room and Jarod’s muffled cries became momentarily louder. Sam quickly crossed the room to the double doors and disappeared from sight, cueing the doctor to return to his prey.

* * *

“Ah, Jarod, good to see you’ve calmed down, substantially,” Mr. Cox said motioning for Willie to get the pretender off the floor and strapped back into the chair.

“As soon as Sam returns with another syringe, I’ll be asking you for information and this time I expect to get it without any more of your little tantrums.”

Aware of the gun Willie had trained on him, the discouraged young man sat limply in the chair, resigned to the fact that he would be questioned while drugged. Drawing on his pretender skills, he prepared to do whatever it’d take to sidestep their efforts to probe his mind. He felt the whole weight of the world crashing down on him as he realized he would have to move fast to get the others out of the Centre, before anyone died, and wondering if he could.

* * *

Two doors down from the Centre Infirmary
Dr. Meisser’s outer office
7:03 AM

Dr. Meisser glance at his watch again, wondering when Jarod would be returned to him and angry that he was not allowed to accompany him to the inquiry. Lost in thought, he wrestled with thoughts of the pretender being forced to remember traumatic things and how damaging it might be to his continuing progress toward normalcy. The doctor glance up in surprise at the burley sweeper who had stepped up to him unnoticed.

“Excuse me, Dr. Meisser. I was asked by Mr. Cox to pick this up for your patient’s interrogation,” Sam said, choosing to ask him over Dr. Grackle, in hopes that Jarod’s doctor would protest the use of the mind-altering drug.

He was rewarded by the look of outrage on the other man’s face, as the doctor read the paper and stormed into his office, slamming his door before lifting his phone.

“I guess that means no,” he breathed under his breath, relieved and totally pleased with himself.

* * *

Dr. Meisser’s office
Moments later

The doctor hit a button on his private phone and was greeted by a taped message from Frank’s Catering Service, instructing him to place his order after the beep.

“Frank, it’s Dr. Jerry Meisser. I’m expecting friends in for the weekend. Why don’t you come up with something really impressive for my guests and I’ll drop by after work to ok the menus. I’m going to be expecting 6 people including an old convalescent friend of mine, which will need a special diet. Thanks for your help, Frank, I’m glad I can always count on you.”

Hanging up the phone, he headed out the door in a huff and made a beeline for the elevator, fully intending to retrieve his patient from clutches of the ruthless thugs, motioning Sam to follow him.

* * *

The Operations Room
Atlanta Violent Crimes Task Force
Atlanta, Georgia
8:35 AM

“Things must have gone south. He wants us to make our move tomorrow night. We’ll know more when he sends us today’s condition report. George, any word on Gemini yet?” Bailey asked flipping open the top file again and zeroing in on the picture of the young pretender still struggling with the idea that he was supposed to be Jarod’s clone.

“I talked to Sam about an hour ago. They ought to be here any time now.”

“That’s a relief. Joe Clark was convinced that the boy would be the Centre’s next target.”

”We’re just lucky Major Charles told Clark what he knew about Gemini’s location before they were all captured or we probably wouldn’t have figured out where he was in time.”

“What about our inside men, John? They need to be brought up to speed before we go in. Get everything I need ready ASAP. The Bureau is still hot about D.C.’s surveillance fiasco and will have our heads if every thing isn’t neat and tidy this time with minimal loss of personnel.”

“That’s encouraging. I’m working on it. George just gave me the printout. Give me a couple of hours tops,” John said, glancing at the pictures of Jarod and the others also posted on the board. “This whole thing is so incredible. It’s hard to believe the Centre’s been operating all these years without detection, especially involving dirty Feds. And to think we actually worked with the genius they kept locked in there his entire life.”

“Yeah, well, Sam alerted me early on that there was something strange about him. He was so brilliant concerning his work, but didn’t seem to be really with it as far as the real world goes. I thought he was a spook, considering the way he operated.”

“Remember what Sam said about him after the Brice case was closed? Anyone who eats candy out of a Pez container, plays with Play Dough, and has a Mr. Potato Head on the desk in his apartment has to be kinda whacked.”

“Not crazy, George, just lost. This whole case is making me sick,” Bailey said looking up from the file he was studying on Jarod.

“I know what you mean. Just think, if the Centre had killed Joe Clark, no one would have probably ever found out about this,” John said trying to block out the worst of what Joe had told them about Jarod in their first meeting. Looking at the clock, he opened his working file and ran down the long list of ATF personnel and one criminal psychiatrist that the Bureau had managed to place inside the Centre over the last few weeks. “This is going to be one of the biggest sting operations to date,” he said relishing the thought of being there to help take the Centre down.

“I’m ordering a 24 hour presence around the Centre. It would be advantageous to arrest as many of the principles leaving the Centre for the night, before we penetrate the building.”

“Sweet. I’d like to see the looks on their faces when the cuffs go on and they’re put in the back seats of patrol cars. People like that think they’ll never get caught,” George said while looking at the pictures of Mr. Parker, Lyle, Raines, and Mutumbo.

* * *

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Doctor’s lounge
8:40 AM

“Jerry, what’s the matter with you. You look like someone just shot your mother?” Dr. Grackle asked studying the other man as he waited for a coffee refill.

“Oh, hi Nelson. I don’t feel like talking about it. You know, this place is really getting to me,” he said and left the room, leaving his bottle of aspirin and coffee behind.

* * *
Dr. Meisser’s office
Moments later

“Can I come in?” Nelson asked peeking in the door towing two coffees and aspirins.
“Leave it alone, Grackle,” Dr. Meisser said going to the medicine cabinet, and choosing a drug and hypo.

“Hmmm, an upset psychiatrist that doesn’t want to talk. Come on Jerry, you know better than that. What the hell’s going on?”

The doctor carefully put down the bottle and syringe and headed for the surveillance cubical tailed by Dr. Grackle.

“This is what’s the matter,” he said pointing to the screen. “How the hell am I going to help Jarod get well, when the Centre is bent on killing him.”

“That’s pretty strong, Jerry. What are you talking about?” he asked, eyeing the screen showing the pretender asleep on the bed.

“Would you give a patient this, when he’s been on this for 24 hours?” he asked tossing him the two different files on his desk and glancing at a toxicology report, before slamming it down and walking out of the room.

Flipping open the files, Dr. Grackle breath several expletives under his breath before setting them down on the counter and heading out to see where the psychiatrist went

* * *

Jarod’s old room
8:50 AM

“I thought this was where you were going. How is he?”

“I don’t know yet,” he said giving him an injection and then monitoring his vitals.

“How did he get all those bruises, Jerry? I don’t remember noticing them when I examined him last night. Sweepers?”

“Yeah, when he was interrogated this morning,” Dr. Meisser said distractedly still monitoring Jarod’s vitals and praying he hadn’t slipped into a permanent comma.

Jarod moved his head slightly and his eyes fluttered a few times before opening.
Confused, he focused on his psychiatrist and Dr. Grackle, before starting to drift off again.

“No, Jarod. You need to stay awake. Come on now, open your eyes,” the doctor urged giving him a little nudge.

Slowly, Jarod opened his eyes again and looked around seemingly becoming more lucid.

“I’m sorry, I seem to be having trouble waking up,” Jarod said rubbing a hand over his face and trying to sit up.

“Jarod, do you remember what happened to you this morning? About the interrogations, etc.?”

The pretender’s face darkened as he swung his legs stiffly over the side of the bed, clutching his side and experiencing a throbbing headache.

“Cox threatened to torture my father if I didn’t tell them where Gemini was.”

“I’m sorry you were forced to face that right now. Jarod, I don’t want you getting up. Mr. Cox injected you with a drug that wasn’t very compatible with your treatments. I believe it’s out of your system now, but I’d rather keep you down for a while. If I hadn’t just given you your morning dose, you probably wouldn’t have suffered such a serious reaction.”

“I don’t remember answering any questions. Do you know what I said?”

“Nothing as far as I know. You passed out immediately after you were given the injection and just now regained consciousness. I’m sorry, Jarod. I couldn’t stop Cox. Mr. Parker went ahead and authorized it over my objections. They must be really desperate to do such a reckless thing.”

“What happened to my father?”

“I heard that they took him back to his cell. They’re concentrating their efforts on Mr. Broots and Angelo right now.”

“Did they question Miss Parker, too?”

“Interesting question, Jarod. Isn’t she the one who spent the last three years trying to recapture you?” he asked studying him carefully and seeing deep concern in his eyes. "Yes, I believe they did. I’ll be seeing her in my office this afternoon for some testing.”

“And what about Sydney? Will I be able to see him soon?”

“This is a real, who’s who of the Centre, isn’t it? Does your patient always ask this many questions?” Dr. Grackle asked, intrigued by the pretender’s selflessness.

“Jarod, Dr. Green is mending nicely, if you must know, and is anxious to see you too, but regrettably, Mr. Parker won’t allow that. Well, Dr. Meisser, things seem in order here, and I believe my coffee break is over now,” the doctor said nodding to the psychiatrist and leaving the room while mumbling something about “show and tell” being over.
“Jarod, we need to have a talk if you’re up to it.”

* * *

Mr. Parker’s office
9:05AM

“Lyle, you look a hell of a lot better than when I last saw you,” Mr. Parker mused setting an open file down in front of his son and going to the wet bar for a drink. “I want you to take Willie, and whoever else you want, and go pick up Gemini for me. The computer techs have pieced together what Major Charles told us and we’re positive we’ve pinned down his location. We’ll be able to keep this under wraps and get some of your covert projects underway as early as tomorrow. Then I can get Mutumbo off my back. Oh, and I need you to keep any eye on your wayward sister.”

“So, you’ve changed your mind? I thought you had arranged to have me taken back with him to Africa, because of my uncontrollable sadistic behavior,” he said in a menacing tone, noticing that his dad had started making a habit of drinking too much.

Mr. Parker gave one of his mutating smiles, wondering how he got his hands on that information. “No, no. That’s what Mutumbo wanted. That’s part of the reason I had the doctor exaggerate your near death experience. I need you here working behind the scenes. I must say, having Jarod think he almost killed you sure worked wonders toward breaking his spirit. With any luck, he’ll be more easily rehabilitated for our purposes, since he thinks he’s a danger to society. You just better keep away from him, if you know what’s good for you, or I’ll personally drag you down to SL 27, lock you up, and throw away the proverbial key,” he said sternly locking eyes with his son.

Lyle sat there watching his dad while lost in thought, working his gloved hand and visualizing his next encounter with Jarod, vowing to get revenge.

* * *

Tower Interrogation room A
9:30 AM

“Thank you Mr. Broots for your cooperation. Mr. Johnson, would you please escort him to the infirmary and have Dr. Grackle take a look at him. After that you can return to your regular duties. Willie, bring Angelo up here now.”

Willie took the empath’s arm and herded him to his chair while the man child mumbled something about enjoys giving pain; wants to hurt people over and over to no one in particular.

“Angelo, because of your apparent inability to carry out the things your were accused of, we feel it’s no longer necessary to keep you in lock down. You’re free to go. Willie, take him downstairs. With no further witnesses to be interrogated, I call this exercise adjourned. You’re all dismissed.”

This is a fanfic written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, MTM, TNT, FOX, and maybe NBC, I think. All the other fictional characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.

This story takes place in the first 5-7 weeks after Donoterase. Please start with part 1.

Things are heating up, as the Atlanta Violent Task force sets things in motion to face off with The Centre, while ATF agents within the Centre are quickly alerted to prepare Jarod and company for removal. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual, as the Centre becomes more deadly, as Mr. Parker and the others sink deeper into debauchery. 7/13/00




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 19
by jojarod50

The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Private room 1E (Just off to the right of the infirmary)
Thursday 10:30 AM

Sydney opened his eyes slowly, trying to focus on the clock across the room, vaguely seeing the numbers, as his vision started to clear. “Damn Grackle,” he cursed under his breath, knowing he was purposely being heavily sedated. It was times like these, in-between injections, when he briefly surfaced from oblivion long enough to entertain thoughts of sneaking out the door. How far is Nelson willing to go to keep me out of the way, he wondered, aware that he needed to be up for short periods of time by now, if he were to recover properly from his surgery.

Besides his callous and rude bedside manner, Sydney had always been disgusted with Nelson for compromising his oath so many times, just to keep in Mr. Parker’s good graces, and clearly understood this was one of those times.

As the door swished open, his heart fell, seeing the day nurse enter and realizing he had little time before he was sedated again. He was worried sick about Jarod and wanted desperately to know if he and the others were all right.

After checking his vitals, the sturdy young man leaned very close to him testing his pupils with a small light as he grasped Sydney’s left hand and spoke.

”My name is Davies, ATF, he whispered. We’re pulling all of you out tomorrow night. I’m replacing your sedative with normal saline and a little something to make you more comfortable. Just pretend to loose consciousness when I give you your shot. Squeeze my hand if you understand.”

Sydney felt his face flush, as his words soaked in, and gave his hand a quick squeeze, breathing a silent prayer of thanks.

“You’re doing just fine, doctor,” he said patting his hand in acknowledgement and jotted down his vitals on the chart. He purposely kept his back to the surveillance camera as he deftly switched the bottles, sliding the first one into his pocket and delivering the bogus shot as usual.

Sydney gratefully received it, feeling the pain in his side gradually began to subside, as he continued to become more lucid. Allowing his eyes to slowly close and his body to relax, he pretended to slip into unconsciousness thrilled with this sudden turn of events, and hoping the FBI had managed to amass enough manpower to pull things off successfully. Whatever sentence he was given for participating in the Jarod project would be well worth it, if they managed to get the others out and took the Centre down. Resting on the soft pillows, he let his mind wander, remembering what it was like being with Jarod the last 5 weeks, as he had valiantly struggled against insanity, and the intimacy they had developed in the mists of that tragedy. His brother had been right, he thought bitterly, as guilt coursed though his conscience, knowing all too well that his lusty exuberance in pursuing his groundbreaking research had blinded him to the injustice being done to the boy, and that Jarod had suffered unspeakably for that blindness. Biting back tears, he lay there silently, struggling with his own demons, and trying to come to terms with all that he had done.

* * *

Centre Infirmary
10:45 AM
Examination room 3

“He’ll probably have to remain here for the rest of the morning, maybe longer, depending on how well he does on the medicine and until he is sufficiently rehydrated. For the life of me, I’ve never seen a man come so completely unglued in such a short period of time. I’ve heard he is a brilliant computer tech, but he certainly is quiet a little wimp. Don’t restrain him. It just might do him in. Besides, I don’t think you’ll be getting any trouble out of that one,” Dr. Grackle said to his new medical assistant trainee with a look of amusement, as he glanced back at Broots, who was lying near by moaning softly, and hearing every word that he said.

“I need to make a couple of phone calls. Don’t disturb me for any reason,” he said as he passed one of the nurses and headed for his private office, to give Mr. Parker his morning status report, including his observations on Dr. Meisser.

The medical trainee watched with revulsion, as the arrogant doctor left, and quickly slipped over to the poor computer tech’s side to quietly inform him of the “pull out” tomorrow night.

* * *

The Centre
Jarod’s old room
10:48 AM

Jarod was finding it impossible to keep his mind on what his doctor was saying. He had to come up with a firm escape plan, and he needed it right now. Unfortunately, the after effects of the drugs from this morning, was making it difficult to think.

Looking down at his bare hands, injured during his recapture, he was grateful the gauze had been removed. That would have enabled him to use the keyboard again, if they hadn’t just removed the computer from his room.

The pressure was on, to get back into the Centre Main Frame, unmonitored, to finish the compromising of the surveillance and security lock systems, and other key components of his escape plan. Now, without access to a computer, things were on hold until he found a way to get to one.

To make matters worse, they were outdoing themselves at having him monitored, and he wouldn’t be a bit surprised, if they were monitoring his doctor as well.

If he had refused to take his shot at the farmhouse, the set up would have been completed, ruling out the need for a computer now. Of course, that would have decimated his chances of ever getting his mind back again, the way the timing on Raines’ drug had been designed.

But even if things were set up, another obstacle, was how to get himself and the others out of the Centre with no outside help. One would be fairly easy, but six was proving definitely problematic. Nailing that down was taking way too much time.

His stomach turned as he thought of Joe and how he tried to help them before the sweepers mowed him down. The Centre had become a far more dangerous place than he had ever remembered. If he didn’t move fast, he was afraid his dad and the others might not survive much longer. Yet anything he tried to do at this point might….

“Jarod, where are you? I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said since we began our talk,” the psychiatrist said after watching his patient slump down and bury his face in his ands.


I’m sorry. Could you repeat your question?” Jarod asked distractedly, rubbing his eyes and straightening up in his chair. He wished more than anything that the doctor would just leave him alone so he could get things figured out.

“No, never mind,” his psychiatrist said fearing he was headed for another anxiety attack, if he didn’t get him calmed back down. “You seem to be obsessing about something. Why don’t we talk about that,” Dr. Meisser said trying to connect with the obviously overwhelmed young man, noticing that his shirt was becoming soaked with sweat.

“Oh, it was really nothing. I was just wondering what will happen to my dad and the others,” he said running his shaking hand through his dark brown hair.

“Jarod, we’ve been over that before. They’re all reasonably ok and I don’t want you worrying about them right now,” the psychiatrist reminded him, realizing with great concern, that the stress of his situation and that of the others was quickly pulling him under. “In fact, your father is scheduled for some intelligence testing with me in a little over an hour. I’m not sure, but maybe I can arrange for you to see him.”

Jarod looked up suddenly with the eyes of a child, vulnerable, hopeful.

“Listen to me carefully young man. I’m going to give it to you straight. What you are doing is very unhealthy. Let’s look at this realistically. You’re in no position to help your father or the others. Their safety is simply not in your hands right now. Don’t you see that, Jarod? If you continue to worry and put this much pressure on yourself, you’re going to crack up. The best thing you can do for everyone right now, is to rest, take your shots, and help us put a little weight back on you.”

Jarod slumped down in the chair, putting a hand over his eyes, not wanting to hear anymore.

“Look, why don’t we take a walk and get some fresh air. It will do you good to have a change of pace. That is, if you feel up to it after the beating you took this morning.”

Jarod turned away wishing he hadn’t brought that up, still kicking himself for not being more in control when he saw the hypo, and regretting the end results.

“I’m fine,” he said convincingly, wincing in pain when he stood up, but managing to appear fairly normal when he started to walk.

“Good. Let’s just go down the hall to the lobby and back again,” he said ushering him out of the door, knowing that the surveillance cameras weren’t so finely tuned for audio further down the hallway.

* * *

Several minutes later -

“Jarod, listen carefully,” Dr. Meisser whispered looking straight ahead, as they went down the lightly populated hallway.
“I’m a Federal Agent and we’re pulling you and the others out of here tomorrow night, so try to keep yourself together and don’t give up hope,” he said quietly, glancing over at Jarod and giving him a little wink.

Jarod stared at the man skeptically, afraid it was another Centre lie, but something deep inside told him to trust him.

“Want a candy bar and a pop” he asked, stepping up to the vending machine and fishing in his pocket for some quarters. “It says on your chart that you are very fond of sweets,” he said, breaking into an easy smile enjoying the look of incredible relief on Jarod’s face, as he closed his eyes for a moment, leaning heavily against the wall for support.

“Well, we better be heading back, it’s only an hour before your second shot, and you look like you could use some rest first,” the doctor said handing him a Butterfinger and coke, noticing the approach of two “darksuits”.

“Dr. Meisser. You know you are under strict orders, not to take the pretender out of his room without an armed escort,” Willie said stepping up so close to him that he violated the other man’s space.

“I think that formality is pointless, considering what you did to my patient this morning. Look at him, he can barely walk,” he said with more than a hint of anger, obviously unintimidated.

“I wouldn’t think so much, if I were you, Dr. Meisser.”

“Well, we need to be getting back. You might as well escort us. I wouldn’t want you getting in trouble with Mr. Parker for not doing your job,” the doctor said backing down, keenly aware of his need to keep up appearances until they made their move.

Jarod glared at Willie warning him off, as he pushed off the wall and started back down the hallway, enjoying visions of that particular sweeper behind bars.

* * *

Renewal Wing
Isolation cell #19
11:15AM

Major Charles sat on the metal bed, sinking into despair, as he kept an eye on a rodent climbing around in a bowel of something a sweeper had given, before scampering back under the door.

His mind shifted to thoughts about his life; the joy of his marriage to Margaret, his sense of belonging in the service, how deeply he loved his little children, and all the cruel twists of fate that had brought him to this point.
Turning away from the cameras, he wept bitterly. Memories of his son, Kyle, lying dead in the morgue, the pictures of Jarod viscously being tortured and fearful shadows of what might have happened to Gemini, Emily, and his wife assaulted his grief-stricken mind.

Hearing the door lock being accessed, he quickly lunged at the figure that came though the door, fighting desperately to get out.

“Hey take it easy, Mister,” the bigger man said, grabbing the Major’s arms, wrenching them behind his back and slammed him against the wall. “I don’t think you want me to put you in full restraints, especially not with all the rats down here. Now, let’s get you into these cuffs. You’re to undergo more questioning this afternoon, but first Dr. Meisser has been ordered to give you a series of tests.

The Major just stood there staring at the man, his eyes burning with hatred, making no move to comply.

“Your hands, Major. I’m sure you are aware of how much of Jarod’s safety depends on your full cooperation,” the sweeper said dangling the cuffs in front of his face.

Cursing under his breath, he held out his hands, feeling a wave of dizziness hit him at just the mention of his son’s name.

Angelo watched carefully, peeking through the air duct grate, as the “man friend loved” was hurriedly taken out of the cell. Slowly, he made his way down the duct to Miss Parker’s cell, peeking in to make sure daughter was ok.

* * *

Renewal Wing
Isolation Cell # 16
11:30 AM

Miss Parker nervously paced back and forth in the small room, weighing her options. She was tired and hurt all over, but this was no time to rest.

Her interrogation had gone terribly wrong and she knew she was in real trouble. They had gotten to Broots the night before and had managed to coerce bits and pieces of information out of him including what might be damning information about her relationship with Jarod. Either that, or they managed to get it from somewhere else. So much for being reinstated on the Centre payroll, but what would they do with her now?

As if they could read her mind, she heard someone working the coded lock and turned around just in time to see Sam come through the door.

“Miss Parker, your father wants to see you and I’ve been ordered to give you this,” he said pulling out a syringe.

“My God, Sam. You can’t be serious. I’m not letting anyone give me an injection after what happened to Jarod, so just go ahead and put that away.

“I can’t do that,” he said glancing up at the surveillance camera,” but I promise you, this drug isn’t going to hurt you.”

“Forget it Sam. You better not come near me with that or you’ll be seeing a plastic surgeon for the deep gouges on your face.”

“I knew you would say something like that,” Willie said as he entered the room and took the syringe from Sam. “Hold her down.”

Angelo’s blue eyes shut tightly, as the sweepers pinned her down and gave her the shot. Then he watched as they dragged her out of the door and headed for the elevator.

“Must help daughter. Must do something,” Angelo said as he scurried back down the air duct, heading for his new hiding place.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s office
11:46AM

“I want to hear it from your own lips. What kind of relationship have you been having with Jarod?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What makes you think I would have any kind of relationship with that arrogant lab rat? You’re slipping Daddy,” she said shaking her finger at him with a silly grin on her face, feeling the effects of the truth drug relaxing her and making her feel giddy.

“Don’t you lie to me, young lady. What did you do, sleep with him?”

“Shame on you,” she said with dancing eyes. “He’s not the sort of guy you just jump into bed with. He’s got morals unlike someone else I know.”

Mr. Parker ran his fingers though his hair in frustration, and went to the wet bar to pour himself another stiff drink, instead of backhanding her against the wall like he wanted to do.

“I want a straight answer. Have you been having a relationship with my pretender? Yes or No.”

“Your pretender?”

“Now what’s the matter. He’s Centre property, for heaven’s sake. You know it as well as I do. Oh I see. He’s convinced you that he’s a victim of all of this and should be out free in the world.”

“Well, shouldn’t he?” she said heatedly before she had time to realize what she was saying.

Mr. Parker stared at her in surprise not wanting to believe what she had just said. Slamming down his drink he marched over to her nearly lifting her off her feet and squeezed her arms tightly, as he looked her straight in the eye.

“No he shouldn’t be free. I made him what he is. He’s a pretender and he belongs to me. He’s a tool and nothing more.

“A tool? He’s a human being, Daddy, and I can tell you he’s a lot more human than you are. Very human,” she said flicking her tongue over her lips and grinning slyly. She was feeling loose and very inebriated as her mind visualized his lean muscular body, his hot kisses and the smell of him when they were close.

“My God, it is true,” he said suddenly releasing her as if she were something unclean. Walking back to his desk he sat down and finished the rest of his drink.

“Well, this whole mess is partially my fault. I should have never put a venerable woman like you on Jarod’s pursuit in the first place. You’ve always had a problem keeping out of men’s bedrooms, and he took advantage of that.”

“Men’s bedrooms? Nice one, daddy. Look, I never slept with your pretender.”

“It’s clear that I’m going to have to farm Jarod out to another facility, while I try and get you straightened out. Luckily, we’ll be getting Gemini back later today.”

“I don’t know. Maybe Raines can do something with you. We’ll see after your testing with Dr. Meisser this afternoon.”

“Sam, take my daughter back to her cell and bring Jarod here on your way back.”

* * *

Jarod’s room
12:10 noon

“Jarod, sorry to have to wake you up, but it’s time for your shot. If it weren’t for that, I would have let you sleep. I think this is the first solid rest you’ve gotten since you got here, if we don’t include when you were sedated or passed out.

Jarod just lay on the pillows groggily, looking away as he was given his shot, craving more sleep, as he felt the strong euphoria pulling him out to sea. Slowly he closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.

After observing him for several minutes, Dr. Meisser left him, satisfied that he had gone to sleep. He quickly went down the hallway and hopped on the elevator, heading back to his office. He was testing Major Charles, who he was discovering had an extremely high IQ like his son. The agent was looking forward to getting the two of them back together, after the pretender had a little more rest, painfully aware of the cruelty inflicted on the captives and wanting to do something to relieve their stress, if possible.

* * *

Hallway just outside Dr. Meisser’s office.

“Excuse me Doctor. I’ve been ordered to deliver Jarod to Mr. Parker’s office. Is he here or in his room right now?”

“He’s sleeping and can not be disturbed right now. Why don’t you tell Mr. Parker to wait for an hour or so, until he’s recovered from the initial effects of his shot? He’s really out of it right now.”

“I can’t do that, Dr. Meisser. Now where is he?” Sam asked, pulling his jacket back slightly revealing his gun.

The Federal agent rubbed a hand over his face in frustration, hardly believing what was happening.”

“He’s in his room. I’ll go with you.”

“No, he said this was a private meeting and no one else was to come. Sorry Doc, I’ve got my orders.”

“If I were you, I’d get a new boss.”

* * *

Mr. Parker’s office
12:35 PM

“You slept with my daughter, didn’t you.”

Jarod looked up at Mr. Parker in amazement, trying to keep from falling out of his chair. He was completely exhausted, heavily medicated, and was having a hard time following the chairman’s ranting and raving.

“Did she tell you that?” he asked in confusion, his words slightly slurred.

“Not in so many words, no. I imagine she was trying to protect you.”

“You’re wrong, it never went that far,” Jarod said fighting to keep his eyes opened and accidentally sliding part way down in the overstuffed chair.

“Well, how far did it go? Never mind! I can’t expect a straight answer out of someone like you. You’ve been feeding my daughter lies from the moment I put her on your tail, trying to turn her against me. And you’ve done a pretty good job of it.”

“No. All I’ve ever told her is the truth, and you know it,” he said his eyes at half-mast struggling to compose his thoughts. “Your mind is so twisted that you’re the one having trouble separating the truth from the fabrications you’ve built your whole relationship with her on. How could you do that to your own daughter?” he managed trying to scoot back up in the chair. “She deserves better than that.”

“How dare you, you smart-assed son of a bitch,” Parker said advancing toward the pretender, but deflected by a phone call.

“What is it? I’m busy right now. Ok, put him on.”

“What do you mean, you were too late? Damn you Lyle. Don’t give me any excuses,” he said angrily glancing over at Jarod, whose face momentarily registered surprise. “Well, do you have any leads?” the chairman asked quietly stepping into the other room realizing he had inadvertently tipped his hand. “Ok, then get back here as quickly as you can. No, I said get back here now.”

“Well, that settles it,” Mr. Parker said stepping back into the room. “Jarod, I’m going to need some sims completed by you as early as next week. If you comply, nothing will happen to your father or Miss Parker. On the other hand, if you fail to live up to your full potential, well, I think you can fill in the blanks. Sam, take him back to his room.”

Jarod stared at him still struggling to stay awake, his mind reeling at the revelation that Lyle was no where near death like he had been told and wondering what was so important about those sims that Mr. Parker seemed desperate to have them completed.

“Come on now, it’s time to go,” Sam said nudging him, noticing the pretender had slid way down in his chair again, and looked like he was falling asleep. “Jarod get on your feet,” the sweeper said louder, hauling him out of the chair and getting him out of the room, before Mr. Parker decided to say anything else.

* * *.

Atlanta Violent Crimes Task Force Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
12:35 PM

“Good job, people. George, why don’t you take Gemini down to the cafeteria and get him something to eat, if that’s ok with you, young man. I need to talk to Sam and Joe
for a little bit,” Bailey said relieved they had been successful.

“Will there be ice cream?”

“You bet, kid. George?”

“Yeah, I’m right on it. Ice cream coming right up.”

* * *

“So, how did it go? Any problems?”

“Not really. We got in and out before anyone from the Centre showed up. The boy seemed a little frightened at first. Who wouldn’t after all he’s been through. He has an amazing amount of resiliency, though. You know, his lack of knowledge about life and the things we all take for granted reminded me a lot of Jarod,” she said her voice cracking as she turned away for a moment, regaining her composure.

“Sam?”

“I’m ok. It’s just a little overwhelming, knowing what happened to Jarod and the boy. Jarod’s clone. God, this is so unreal. Any word on when they want us to pull them out?”

“Tomorrow night, and we still have a lot of work to do,” Bailey said grabbing some files off his desk and heading over to the operations room. Let’s get to work.”

This fanfic is written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, MTM, TNT, FOX, and NBC, I think. All the other fictional characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. I don’t own the Profiler, either. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.
This story takes place in the first 5-7 weeks after Donoterase. Please start with part I.

Things are living hell back at the Centre. ATF agents are preparing Jarod and company for tomorrow night, while careful preparations a going on back at Atlanta. Lyle is not back yet from his failed trip to capture Gemini, but Mr. Parker is already trying to salvage the situation. 7/22/00




In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 20
by jojarod50



Dr. Meisser’s Office
12:50 PM

Major Charles rubbed his hands over his face and shivered slightly as he slid the third part of the test across the table, not bothering to even look at up. At least this joker had shown some patients with me instead of having me beaten, he thought trying not to totally despair.

Dr. Grackle was cruelly under medicating the Major. The pain from the gunshot wound he had gotten during the car chase and the subsequent beating he had taken at the farmhouse was taking a heavy toll on him. On top of that, everything the Centre had demanded of him was coupled with threats made against his son, to ensure his cooperation. The reality of what his son had endured all his life at the Centre was becoming agonizingly clear to him, as he wrestled with fear and anger of his own.

“You’re doing just fine, Major,” the psychiatrist commented, glancing over his papers, noticing he was at least filling in the blanks. There’s just one more part of the test to complete, and judging by your performance so far, you’ll zip right through it. Here is the key you’ll be using,” he said, scooting the altered sheet of paper across the table, painfully aware of the other man’s duress. “Read the instructions carefully and give me a nod when you’re ready to begin. Any questions?”

“What about my son? Is he all right? Please let me see him,” he asked unable to keep the anguish out of his voice.

“Major, I’m sorry. We really need to do this first,” he said glancing up at the surveillance camera. “I’ll try to find out when you can. Now, please go over the key so we can begin,” he urged, hoping he would at least read the first two lines that explained he was an undercover agent and that they were all being pulled out tomorrow night. It was obvious the man probably couldn’t handle much more abuse without having any hope.

The major let out a frustrated sigh as he shifted in his chair and started in on the paper. After a few moments he looked up at the psychiatrist cautiously, searching his eyes for confirmation of what he had just read, his heart beating wildly in his chest.

“Well, I assume you understand your instructions now,” he said giving Jarod’s father a reassuring smile and a quick wink Two down and one to go, he thought to himself, as he slid the test across the table to the astonished man.

“All right go ahead and start on the test now,” the doctor said clicking the stopwatch as he reached for the phone.

* * *

(Meisser/Parker Offices)

“Dr. Meisser. Oh hello, Mr. Parker. What can I do for you?” he asked stepping away from the testing area, wondering if the chairman was finished questioning Jarod and still extremely angry about the whole thing.

“You can answer some questions for one thing,” Mr. Parker said slamming down a report from Dr. Grackle on his desk loud enough to be heard over the phone.

“What the hell is the matter with Jarod? He could barely sit upright in his chair a few minutes ago. You’re supposed to be helping him get back on his feet, not doping him up to the gills.”

“Why don’t you take that up with the man who developed his treatment. It really is a miraculous restorative serum, but I can’t understand why anyone would want a narcotic in it. If Jarod were going to be on it much longer, he’d end up addicted.”

“Oh, so that’s it,” he said his voice trailing off. “Speaking of Raines, I’ve been told you refused to start the pretender on the psychotropic drug that he developed specifically to go along with his treatments. That’s not your decision to make. We need the pretender ready to work as soon as possible. I’m ordering you to begin him on L324 immediately.”

Dr. Meisser let out a loud frustrated sigh, trying desperately to hold back his anger at the menacing presence at the other end of the phone, reminding himself that he only had to keep Jarod safe from him until tomorrow night.

“Mr. Parker, you must understand, with my background in biochemistry and psychiatry, that I do have the expertise to know what is best for Jarod.

After reviewing the file on that specific medication, I deemed it necessary to intervene for the safety of my patient. Many of the chemicals used in that drug are under the scrutiny of the food and drug administration at this time and two others have already been ban for their lack of predictability. There’s even one chemical I don’t recognize at all.

After the tailspin Cox’s injection sent Jarod into this morning, I’d think you’d have a little more faith in my judgement concerning this area. We’re lucky we didn’t loose him. I want Jarod back on his feet as much as you do, but I won’t further jeopardize his health.”

The other end of the phone fell silent for more than a minute, before the chairman spoke again.

“Ok, Dr. Meisser. You win this round. But I need for Jarod to perform a series of sims, beginning on Monday. He better damn well be ready by then, or it will be your neck. I’m sending some briefs, files, and preliminary data down to his room. See to it that he starts familiarizing himself with the materials as soon as he’s with it. I’m also sending some people down to monitor his progress and I don’t want you interfering in any way. Are we clear on this?”

“Yes, Sir, but I hope you understand that he is still going to be too murky to manage any reading for at least another hour or so. What he really needs now is rest. He’s not in very good shape after what happened to him this morning.”

“Yes, that was regrettable, but I don’t want you coddling him.”

“I understand that. One more thing, Mr. Parker, while I have you on the phone. Jarod will be more emotionally stable, if he is allowed to visit with his father. He hasn’t been handling things well at all and I’m sure this will help. I was thinking in about 10 minutes would be a good time to get them together, since Jarod is indisposed right now anyway.”

“That’s completely out of the question. No one is to go near the pretender, other than assigned staff, under any circumstances and that’s final. So don’t ask me again. He’s already escaped twice and there is no way that I’m risking loosing him again! Now, see to it Jarod gets busy on his new assignment this afternoon,” Mr. Parker said brusquely enjoying his power over the other man, as he hung up the phone.

* * *

The Federal agent shook his head in dismay, feeling like he had been punched in the stomach, as he slowly hung up the phone. Regretting the look of anticipation on his face, he collected himself and walked over to Major Charles to tell him the visit with Jarod was off.

“Major, you finished the test already? I’m very impressed.”

“Like father like son,” he joked, positive that he had flunked it but encouraged knowing that all of them would hopefully be safe by tomorrow night. “Now, when can we go see Jarod?” he asked with eagerness.

“I’m sorry to get your hopes up, Major. Mr. Parker rejected the idea. I’m afraid you’re just going to have to be patient, for now.”

“Mr. Parker said no, huh? I shouldn’t be surprised,” the Major said obviously extremely disappointed, looking up suddenly as a sweeper appeared though the office door.

“Excuse me, Dr. Meisser. Mr. Cox has ordered me to deliver Major Charles to SL 27 now, if you’re finished with his testing.

“Mr. Cox?” the doctor asked with trepidation, his eyes riveted on the sweeper’s.

“Yeah. He mentioned something about some missing DSAs,” he said keeping his expression carefully neutral, while his eyes betrayed his concern.

“Ok, Mr. Johnson, you can take the Major now,” he said giving Jarod’s dad a wane smile. “We’re accomplished what we set out to do. Thank you Major Charles for your cooperation. I’ll look forward to seeing you again,” he said watching as the undercover agent escorted him out the door, hoping he would be able to keep him out of harms way.

Glancing up at the clock, the psychiatrist realized he had just over an hour before Miss Parker was scheduled to arrive for her 3:00 appointment. Plenty of time to check on Jarod and maybe take a look at his new Centre assignment, he thought filing the Major’s test, and grabbing his stethoscope and cuff.

“Nurse, I need to check on the pretender. Why don’t you give Miss Parker a cup of coffee, if she arrives early? I’ll be back probably well before 3:00, but you never know.”

“Yes, doctor.”

* * *

Jarod’s Old Room
1:55 PM

“So, how was your talk with Mr. Parker?” the psychiatrist asked as he pumped up the blood pressure cuff, noticing his patient’s lack of coloring as he lay sprawled on the bed.

“Typical,” Jarod said still fighting exhaustion and struggling to keep his eyes from shutting.

“Hmmm. Your blood pressure is still in your socks. I imagine your body still hasn’t fully recovered from the drug interaction you experienced this morning.”

“Will I still be able to see my father?”

“No, Jarod. I’m sorry. I should have never mentioned it before I talked it over with Mr. Parker,” he admitted watching his patient close his eyes and turn away.

Dr. Meisser fell silent as he checked his pulse jotting something quickly on the chart.

“Ok, just lie still while I finish your examination,” he said as he gently pulled up Jarod’s tunic and winced at what he saw.
“I’m sorry, Jarod. I had no idea you were beaten this badly.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” he said giving him a thoughtful smile, as he felt the cold stethoscope touch his skin.

“Well, your vitals are a little off but it’s really nothing to worry about,” he said draping the stethoscope back around his neck. “Ok, Jarod. I want you to go to sleep now. I certainly think you’ve earned it. Mr. Parker has an assignment he wants you to work on starting on Monday. I believe he said he wants you to do a series of sims. I’m sure that’s what he called them. There is a box of materials he wants you to familiarize yourself with after you’ve gotten some rest. Do you understand what he was talking about?”

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” the pretender breathed, pushing himself angrily off the bed and heading for the other room.

“Jarod, I said later,” he said, following after the pretender as he reached the box, picked up a file, and began leafing through it quickly.

“I hope you rot in hell for this,” he screamed, as he heaved the file at a surveillance camera and doubled over in excruciating pain at the sudden movement of his cracked ribs.

“What on earth was that all about?” asked the psychiatrist, stooping beside the angry man slowly helping him up. “You could have punctured your lung throwing that file like that.”

“I hadn’t planned on it,” he said gritting his teeth as he tried to stand up straight. “I just wanted to know what those sick bastards wanted from me.”

“Don’t do this to yourself. Let’s get you back in the other room. There’s no way you can deal with this when you’re dead on your feet.”

“Interesting choice of words, Doc. That’s just what I deserve after what I’ve done.”

“You want to talk about it?” he asked, as the pretender lowered himself gingerly onto the bed.

“No. What would be the point now? Please just leave me alone.”

“All right, Jarod. I will for right now. Get some sleep. I’m going to hang around for a little while.”

“Suit yourself.”

*

It took surprisingly little time before the pretender fell fast asleep giving the doctor a chance to look at what had set him off.

Fishing out as many files as he could carry, the agent took them to Jarod’s desk, sat down and started to flip through them hurriedly. It didn’t take long for him to figure out that the materials were from the original cloning project, including file after file of graphic pictures of deformed human fetuses and abnormal internal organ arrangements of autopsied newborn clones. The briefcase contained several hardcopy files of Jarod’s original cloning sim and a number of DSAs.”

Setting the briefcase on the floor and putting the files back in the box, Dr. Meisser left Jarod’s room and headed for the infirmary to ask Grackle if he could speak with Dr. Green.

* * *

Centre Infirmary
2:35PM

“I’m rather busy right now, Jerry. What do you want?” Dr. Grackle said with irritation, stepping into a small room to the left to view some X-rays followed by the other man.

“I need a consultation with Dr. Green. Which room is he in?”

“Well, that’s a non-starter,” he said absently, slipping the films under the tabs of the view screen. “He’s sedated right now.”

“Sedated? What on earth for? He’s post-operative. What are you trying to do, give him pneumonia?”

“It was for his own good. I’m afraid he went off the deep end after his surgery. It was the only way to manage him.”

“You should have consulted me. I’m sure….”

“Nelson, get off my back. I have my orders, same as you. Besides, his lungs are clear. He’ll just take a little longer to get his strength back. Now, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

“Well, I guess I don’t need to ask you what happened to your Hippocratic oath.”

“You know, I wish Sydney were awake. You two bleeding hearts would get along famously. Excuse me, I have a spiral fracture to attend to,” he said abruptly pulling the X-rays down and leaving the room in a huff.

Dr. Meisser felt suddenly nauseous as he turned to walk away. He’d come to respect Dr. Green, in spite of himself. This isn’t over, he breathed, realizing he’d have to straighten it out later. Feeling a splitting headache coming on, he returned to his office, looking forward to meeting Jarod’s female nemesis who had ended up on his side.

* * *
Mr. Cox Office
2:36 PM

“All right, Major Charles. Make it easy on you self, and try to answer the question this time,” he said tossing a glass of water in the man’s face keeping him from passing out.

“Where have you hidden, the pretender’s DSAs? I assure you, you’re not leaving here until you tell me,” he said impatiently picking up the jumper cable looking forward to using it next.

“Go to hell,” the Major spit weakly eyeing the cable and wondering if he would get out of this alive. He had no idea where Gemini and the DSAs were, but Cox refused to believe him.

Mr. Johnson stood toward the back of the small room where he had been told to wait, trying to figure out a way to intervene without blowing his cover. That surge of electricity would probably give the older man a heart attack he thought, stepping forward to make his move.

“Are you having a problem, Mr. Johnson?” Cox asked suddenly turning around.

“I’m not sure. It’s just that he might have a coronary if you zap him with that and you’ll never find out where he hid the DSAs, sir.”

“I guess, that’s just a chance we’ll have to take,” he said smiling wickedly.

Stepping forward, he jabbed the Major with the jumper cable, just as the lights went out, leaving them in total darkness.

“DAMN!” Mr. Cox swore picking up his phone, as the dim emergency lights came on. “What’s wrong with the power? I just lost everything up here. The power grid’s down? All right, in a couple of minutes,” he said hitting the button and slamming down the phone.

“Well, I guess you lucked out this time, Major. Just remember, I’ll be seeing you a little later. Take him back to his cell, Mr. Johnson. Oh and by the way, you’re on report.”

Angelo’s blue eyes flashed in the darkness, as he hurried back down the airduct.

* * *

Centre Infirmary
2:45 PM

“Thank you, nurse,” Broots said, tentatively taking a sip from the straw then looking away from her steady gaze.

“You need to drink as much as you can. Try another sip. You’ve become very dehydrated from your bout with the flu and you’re not out of the woods yet.”

“Th the flu? But I thought I was sick because I’m gutless.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said seeing the pain in his eyes. “God only knows why Dr. Grackle enjoys being so cruel. Trust me, Mr. Broots, you wouldn’t be fighting such a high fever, if you were just a nervous wreck.”

Broots rolled over on his side, too tired to talk anymore. What she said was little consolation, knowing he’d betrayed his only friends. Pulling the blanket closer to his body, he lay there shivering until he mercifully fell asleep.

*

“Mr. Broots, can you hear me? I’m sorry to wake you right after you’d fallen asleep, but I have a shot for you and I didn’t want to take you by surprise,” the medical assistant said wiping his arm with an alcohol swab before giving him the shot.”

“What was that for?” he mumbled angrily, burning with fever and feeling like hell. “I won’t talk no matter what you do to me. Do you hear me? There’s nothing more to say,” he choked, his eyes filling with unshed tears.

“No, you don’t understand. This is for your fever. Now lay back and try to rest.”

“I told them everything,” Broots said quietly, riddled with guilt.

“That’s not exactly what I heard,” the undercover agent said with a compassionate smile. You talked in circles most of the time, frustrating the heck out of them. Your computer gave them most of their information. You only gave them bits and pieces. I heard your favorite topic was Miss Parker and how she was hard as a candy shell on the outside, but soft as a marsh-mellow deep in side. You must have it really bad for her.”

“She called me a wimp.”

“No, that’s what Dr. Grackle said, Broots. I guarantee no one who endured the beating you were given last night, without saying a word, would ever be considered a wimp. Now, get some sleep and I’ll talk to you again after your fever goes down,” she said patting his forehead with a cool damp cloth. Glancing at her watch she calculated how long it would take for the medicine to break his fever making him coherent enough to be told about the pull out. Looking vaguely in the direction of the agent posing as a male nurse, she shook her head no slightly, letting him know she had failed to inform him so far.

* * *

Dr. Meisser’s Office
3:25 PM

“Now, why would you say that, Miss Parker?” the psychiatrist asked realizing she would say almost anything to avoid exposing her venerability.

“None of your business, you psycho-brain collector. Now, deal me the rest of the cards so we can get this stupid game over with.”

“All right, what does this one remind you of?” Dr. Meisser asked holding up the last inkblot, intrigued by her ability to sidestep giving a direct answer, always throwing in sexual content perhaps to embarrass him.

“A dog in heat,” she said giving him a triumphant grin, knowing the picture looked exactly like two children holding hands.

“I must say, you certainly have some original interpretations,” he said in amusement, as he lay the cards aside and picked up what looked like a test.

“All right. Now I want you to work on the written part of the tests, using this blank piece of paper to write your answers on,” he said handing her two sheets of paper, hoping she would cooperated without the sweeper getting involved this time.

“I need a break, Mr.,” she announced leaving her seat and starting to pace, giving him the most intimidating glare she could muster.

Sam let out an audible sigh of frustration, as he stepped forward to intervene, but the doctor waved him off knowing she was a walking time bomb.

“I see you have your own surveillance set up. I figured you had some nasty habits, Dr. Meisser. Gee, don’t tell me, let me guess,” she said rounding the desk and peeking at the screen.

“Jarod.”

The agent approached her curiously, noticing she was hugging herself with her arms tightly with a look of deep sadness on her face.

“Miss Parker, we need to be getting back to your testing now,” he said in a gently voice, noticing her shields going up as she pretended she didn’t care.

Turning around quickly, she marched off, trying to block out the haunting image in her mind, of Jarod pacing the floor like a caged animal.

She’d noticed the doctor’s double take, when he glanced at the screen, as if Jarod was doing something unexpected. His surprised expression changed to one of deep concern reminding her of Sydney. Well, at least he seemed to care.

“All right, Bucky, let’s get this thing over with,” she said with irritation as they both took their seats at the table again. Starting in on the first question, she was stunned by what she read.

“Miss Parker, do you have any questions about what you’re supposed to do?” the agent asked, knowing she had just read about the pull out tomorrow night.

“What? Do you think I can’t read?” she asked irritably, her eyes searching the blue ones for conformation and finding it.

Jotting down ridiculous answers that would make a grown man blush, she whipped though the test quickly. Glancing occasionally at the agent, she wondered if his claims were a setup by her father to further test her lack of loyalty to the Centre.

“Thank you, Miss Parker, for your cooperation. This is all I had scheduled for you today,” the agent said hoping she would break down and trust him, despite her wariness.

“I’ll take those papers, Dr. Meisser. Mr. Paker wants them on his desk as soon as possible,” Sam said holding out his hand.

“If you insist, but they haven’t been evaluated yet,” the agent said smoothly, discreetly slipping the note onto another stack of papers as he handed them to him.

Miss Parker watched the agent’s slight of hand, realizing he must be on the up and up. Giving him a slight knowing smile, she turned and left with the sweeper full of anticipation.

Once alone, Dr. Meisser grabbed Jarod’s chart and headed out the door. While on the elevator, he reviewed what he had studied about the pretender. He realized Jarod never should have looked at those cloning files and that he probably felt responsible for the whole sordid mess.

* * *

Atlanta Violent Crimes Task Force
Atlanta, Georgia
Operations Room – 4:25 PM

George sat by Gemini completely mystified, as the teenager’s fingers flew over the computer keys, setting up triggers and pointing out the ones Jarod had already placed in the Centre Main Frame.

“These should help you get in and out without worrying about their security system tipping them off early he said, as he continued his explanation to Bailey and Jon, occasionally referring to the schematics and revised blue prints of the Centre he had drawn up an hour before.

“If you feel up to it, son, would you consider meeting with the swat team coordinator, before we go out for dinner?” Baily asked stupefied with the child’s brilliance and gaining confidence in their plan.

“That would be fine with me. I want to do everything I can to help you get them out safely,” he said smiling, as he thought about the Major and his “brother” Jarod. I miss them a lot,” he said, suddenly embarrassed by his own openness.

“I know you do, kid,” Bailey said looking over at Sam, who was watching the boy carefully for signs of stress and fatigue.

“Ok. Let’s get this meeting taken care of, Gemini. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving,” Bailey said, dialing the coordinator’s number and giving the boy a wink.

This fanfic is written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, MTM, TNT FOX, and NBC, I think. All the other fictional characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. I don’t own the Profiler, either. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money.

This story takes place the first 5-7 weeks following Donoterase. Please start with part 1.

How much guilt can any man endure and how much evil can dwell in the heart of man?
Two forces will collide within 35 hours. As the final stages of the pull out are being nailed down, things are becoming darker and darker deep within the invincible fortress. 7/28/00



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 21
by jojarod50



Jarod’s Old Room
4:35 PM

Checking his watch again, Dr. Meisser hurried down the hallway, hoping to talk to Jarod before the scientists arrived for his first three-hour session. He had been disheartened to see Jarod pacing the floor on the surveillance monitor, aware that he desperately needed sleep and would have difficulty functioning without it. It was late in the day, and he couldn’t believe how much they crammed into the prisoners’ schedules. He despised the Centre considering it completely obscene.

*

Working the coded lock, the psychiatrist remained just outside the dark room letting his eyes adjust to the dim light before finding the control panel and palming the brighter lights on.

“Jarod, you were supposed to be resting,” Dr. Meisser said with frustration and concern as he entered his patient’s room, laying his chart down on the nearest table.

The pretender sat on the couch with his back toward the doctor bent over with his head in his hands, his breathing coarse and labored.

“You were fast asleep when I left you. What happened?” he asked glancing quickly around, seeing files and disturbing pictures scattered all over the floor; some of the hard copy ripped to shreds.

Bracing his cracked ribs with his arm, Jarod stood up and headed for his bedroom, completely ignoring him, until he found his arm in an ironclad grip effectively holding him in place.

“No you don’t. You’re not avoiding this that easily. I’m sorry, Jarod. I should have found out what Mr. Parker wanted you to work on before they ever brought these materials down here,” he said, his gesture taking in the myriad of Centre files on the floor, and other evidence of his frenzied activity.

Jarod stiffened as he turned to face the other man, his eyes devoid of life.

“Don’t you dare shut down on me,” the agent warned loosening his grip as Jarod tried to pull away not wanting to add to his obvious distress.

Completely played out, he slowly walked into the other room and collapsed on the bed.

The agent followed him into the bedroom and quietly reminded him about the pull out, realizing he had little time to help him pull himself together before the others arrived.

“I know,” he said looking up with deep sadness in his dark eyes feeling dead inside.

There was a long pause before he spoke again.

“I realized there had been tragic repercussions from my cloning sims the moment I laid eyes on Gemini. I just never saw the other innocent victims in my mind until now,” he said with difficulty vacantly staring straight ahead.

“You mean the pictures in the files?”

“Yes.”

“Jarod you can’t blame yourself for what…”

“How can you say that? I told them how to create a human being, methodically, step by step. And now, they want me to do it again. I can’t participate in this. I already have enough innocent blood on my hands to last me several lifetimes.”

“Jarod, you can’t refuse. They’ll find a way to make you do this. In fact two geneticists are arriving here any time now, who’ll be monitoring your progress. Mr. Parker is determined to make this happen. Listen to me. All they want right now is for you familiarize yourself with the materials. The actual work won’t start until Monday. You can do that can’t you?” he asked hearing the coded lock release and people entering the outer room.

“Come on, Jarod. Humor them for now.”

*

Jarod’s outer room
5:00 PM

Willie had easily managed to restrain the exhausted pretender, before he had a chance to do anything rash. The other sweeper swiftly cuffed and manacled him before leading him to a chair at the large table provided for their meetings. Another sweeper had escorted Dr. Meisser out of the room, in spite of his heated protests, before the Geneticists had arrived.

*

Moments later…

Jarod’s whole body convulsed with sheer panic and rage, at the sight of Mr. Raines entering his room. He fought desperately for control, floored by the audacity of allowing Raines to preside over the session.

“Nice to see you again, Jarod,” Mr. Raines said stepping up to the pretender with a triumphant look on his face. “I want to introduce you to Dr. Edward Moore and Dr. Killmer. As I remember it, you were quite indisposed the last time you were all together.”

“How do you do, Jarod. I’ve been hoping to work with you, ever since we acquired authorization from the Triumvirate for Gemini III. Personally, I wasn’t sure we’d be seeing you again, following that nasty plane crash in New Jersey. I’m glad to see you survived,” Dr. Killmer said giving him a look that made him involuntarily shudder.

“There have been some problems with our original cloning project and I’m looking forward to having your expertise in helping us iron them out. I must say, our program has been drastically setback by your intervening absence. I’m relieved they’ve finally gotten you back,” Dr. Moore said taking a seat.

Jarod remained silent, keenly aware of the gun a sweeper had trained on his back. Willie was busy setting up a monitor on the table facing his way, as he was told to take his seat.

“I see you’ve had a chance to review the materials already,” Raines said humorlessly, his eyes surveying the damage to the project files. “I would hate to see anything happen to your father resulting from your lack of cooperation, Jarod,” he threatened, reaching out and switching on the screen.

“You bastard! Don’t you lay a hand on my father or I’ll…”

Jarod stopped in mid sentence, feeling the cold barrel of a gun shoved roughly against the back of his neck.

“I know what you’re capable of, but unlike Lyle I’ve come prepared. Now, let’s stop all this ridiculous posturing, Jarod, and get down to work, shall we?”

It only took one look at the armed sweeper with his father, for Jarod to start poring over the files. Battling tremendous anger, guilt and exhaustion, he did everything he could to cooperate. He zipped though file after file, occasionally being questioned by one man or the other but always keeping an eye on the screen.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s Office
6:55 PM

“We should keep Major Charles here permanently,” Lyle chuckled watching the scene down in Jarod’s room with sadistic pleasure.

“Just think of what we can accomplish. There’ll be no sim Jarod will refuse to do, with his father’s life on the line. It’s so simplistic. If only we had captured his father a long time ago,” Lyle said eyeing the pretender, while secretly entertaining thoughts of what he would do to the man when he finally got him alone. He had been nursing resentment against Jarod long enough and was looking for an opportunity to settle the score. Lyle felt euphoric as he noticed the weakened state of his prey, realizing how easy it would be to fulfil his need for superiority over the man.

“Yes, slicker than hell, isn’t it. Why don’t you line up our other clients? The Centre’s back in business now,” Mr. Parker said rubbing his hands together, as he left his chair to pour himself a drink.

Lyle nodded and left the room through the back door, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of revenge.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s Office
15 minutes later…

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Mutumbo. You can see for yourself that we have the pretender’s full cooperation. Everything’s under control.”

“I’m not so sure,” Mutumbo said, crossing his arms as he watched the pretender on the screen. “We don’t know if he’ll be well enough to accurately perform his sims. Look at him. He looks completely beaten and sounds like he’s having an incredible amount of difficulty keeping his mind on what he’s saying. Did he use to ramble on like that?”

“He’s just had a hard day. After he’s had a good nights sleep, I’m sure he’ll be as sharp as ever,” Mr. Parker said with more conviction than he felt.

“Well, let’s just hope so for your sake,” Mutumbo threatened getting up from the table and preparing to leave. The tower wants this program to go forward immediately and they won’t tolerate any more setbacks. Arrange a meeting for 10:00 AM sharp. Have your genetics team prepared a full evaluation on Jarod’s progress so far,” Mutumbo said before leaving the room.

“Damn,” Mr. Parker said staring at the door as it closed. “What if he’s right.”

* * *

Dr. Meisser’s office
7:55PM

The psychiatrist glanced at the screen, hardly believing what he was watching. Leaving a consultation with Dr. Grackle in mid-sentence, he flew out of his office and headed for the elevator, hoping he wasn’t too late to intervene.

Jarod’s Old Room
8:01 PM

When he reached Jarod’s room the last of the personal were leaving, as he rushed past them pushing a sweeper aside. Willie stood near the door straightening his suit coat. “Dr. Meisser, Mr. Raines told me to tell you to make sure that Jarod understands he is to fully answer all questions put to him regardless of how he feels about them personally. He will be calling you early tomorrow to set up the next meeting. See to it that the pretender is fully rested and ready to cooperate,” Willie said matter of factly, picking up the cuffs and manacles and leaving the room.

Jarod was lying where he had been slammed against the wall, mumbling something quietly about his father. Stooping down by his side, the agent checked his pulse, as he tried to make out what he was saying.

“Jarod, stay with me,” he urged sweeping his hair out of his eyes to check his pupils, afraid he might have suffered a concussion and realizing he was about to pass out.

“Sydney?….so sorry…sorry dad……refuge.”

Reaching for his phone, the agent dialed the infirmary cursing under his breath. “I need a medical team to the pretender’s room immeadiately.

* * *

Centre Infirmary
8:20 PM

“Take it easy, Jerry,” the doctor said over his shoulder, stepping just outside the examination room. “To tell you the truth, his father got the worst of this one, and he only got a bloody nose,” he said with amusement signing a patient’s chart and telling an orderly to return the Major to his cell.

The agent eyed the other man skeptically, as he reentered the room, which was being guarded by Sam and another sweeper.

“Jerry, trust me,” he said checking the semi-conscious man’s pupils and jotting something on his chart.

“Jarod’s going to be just fine. I can’t find anything seriously wrong with him, at least physically. They barely touched him before he collapsed. You saw it for yourself on the monitor. I’m sure he’s just suffering from exhaustion. I imagine he’ll be fine after a good night’s rest,” he said putting his hand on the other man’s shoulder as they stepped away from the bed.

“It’s not that big of a deal so don’t make a federal case out of it. Why don’t you give him his shot early and call it a day? You look almost as bad as he does.”

“Is that the best you can do? You make me sick, Grackle,” the agent said shrugging off his hand and stepping away.

“It’s time you started acting like a doctor. I want you to quit sedating Dr. Green. I need to talk to him about Jarod tonight. And for God’s sake get him ambulatory. If you don’t work with me, Nelson, I’m going over your head.”

Dr. Grackle stared at the angry man weighing his determination.

“All right, Meisser. If it will shut you up. He’s due for his next shot at 9:00. You can talk to him then,” he said glancing down at the pretender who had apparently fallen asleep. He felt a sudden pang of guilt remembering he had promised Sydney he’d try to keep Jarod safe.

“You know, Jerry,” Nelson said quietly not wanting to be heard by the sweepers,” you’re not going to last long at the Centre, the way you’re going. If you don’t learn to roll with the punches, you’re going to burn out before you’ve been here a month.”

The agent got a strange look on his face and just stood there staring at the other man, rubbing the back of his stiff neck.

“I’ll be back at 9:oo to talk to Dr. Green. Be sure he’s available,” he said walking away slightly smiling at another agent as he passed by.

* * *

Mr. Lyle’s Office
8:30 PM

“I’m not going to kill you, Jarod, at least not in the way you’d want,” Lyle mused inspecting the small shiny object in his hand. I’m just going to make sure you’re stripped of every ounce of remaining freedom you’ll ever have,” he said out loud as his finger ran down the list of sweepers assigned to night shift, pausing by the names of the ones guarding Jarod. Checking another print out, Lyle also ran down the name of the person assigned to observe the surveillance monitors for the Infirmary.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he pictured the pretender ensconced in a straight jacket surrounded by security every waking moment of every day. Feeling totally laid back and relaxed, he picked up the phone and made a few short calls, feeling a rush of excitement and pleasure as everything he planned fell into place.

Pocketing the item he had carefully wrapped in handkerchief, he left the Centre and headed for his car. He would come back later tonight, and no one would ever know it.

* * *

Centre Infirmary
Patient room 103
8:56 PM

Broots was startled awake by screaming in the next room.

“Oh no, what’s happening?” Broots said anxiously, as he started to leave his bed.

“Where do you think you’re going, Mr. Broots? You better just stay put,” the sweeper said in an intimidating tone.

“Th that sounded like sorta like Jarod. S some one better go check on him. He sounds like he’s in trouble.”

The sweeper stood there board and disinterested, giving Broots a look that told him he’d better shut up.

The computer tech could hear voices and saw a doctor pass his door heading toward the next room.

Looking up, he was relieved to see a nurse step into his room.

“What’s going on? Who’s in the room next to mine?” Broots asked already anticipating the answer.

It’s all right. That patient is being taken care of. Why don’t you lie back and relax, Mr. Broots,” the undercover agent said checking his temperature. It’s time for your antibiotic and I’ve got good news for you, you’re temperature is almost normal.

Broots glanced at her distractedly, positive it was Jarod who screamed in the other room.

“What are they doing to Jarod? I know that was him,” he said his expression totally grim.

“I don’t think they did anything to him. He’s been plagued with horrible nightmares, that’s all.”

“Hum, that’s all? I’ll have yo you know that he is m my friend.”

“I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so callous,” she said as she checked his vitals. “Now, let me check your eyes and we’ll be all done. Just lie still and look at a spot on the ceiling for a moment.”

Leaning very close to him as she flashed a small light in his eyes, she whispered that she was a federal agent and they were pulling them all out tomorrow night.

Broots’ was taken completely by surprise. He had never thought in his wildest dreams that they would get out of this alive.

“Now, I want you to lie still and try to get some more rest. Just swallow this antibiotic and I’ll be out of your hair,” she said cutting him off before he could say a word.

“Thank you, Nurse,” he said softly, struggling to contain his emotions.

“You’re welcome. Don’t worry, Mr. Broots, we’ll keep a close eye on your friend for you. Now try and get some sleep. You need to build your strength up,” she said jotting something on his chart and giving him a final smile before leaving his room.

* * *

The Centre
Private Patient Room 1E
9:05 PM

“Here’s something to make you more comfortable, Sydney,” Dr. Grackle said administering a shot.

“Thank you, Nelson,” Sydney offered, suspecting he had been pressured into this whole thing.

“Well, he’s all yours, Dr. Meisser. I’m going home now,” he said with a curt smile checking his watch making it clear that he had stayed late to accommodate the man.

“Thank you, doctor, I’ll see you in the morning.”

*

Moments later..

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Dr. Green. I’m handling your patient, Jarod. I must tell you, that I am simply amazed at how you retrieved his mind after all that was done to him. You are certainly one of the most brilliant psychiatrists I’ve every met.”

“No. You should be talking to Jarod. He’s the one that never gave up. What’s happened? I’m sure you didn’t go to all this trouble just to visit with me,” he said eyeing the stranger nervously.

“You’re right, I did come to talk to you about Jarod. He’s having some difficulties. But I also came to meet you and to make sure you’re all right. It’s important that you become ambulatory. They should have never kept you sedated,” he said wondering how to broach the subject of his true identity.

Sydney fell silent, stuck by the strange way he had emphasized “importance of becoming ambulatory” and suddenly wondering if he was who he claimed to be.

“I noticed you have a male nurse assigned to you. I’m sure he will see to it that you regain your feet and are up and around starting tonight if you wish. I persuaded Dr. Grackle this evening to change the course of your treatment,” he said breaking into a smile hoping the other man would catch on.

“I’m certainly in you debt, doctor,” Sydney returned with amused relief that someone had finally seen to he’d be up and around for the pull out.

“Now please, what can you tell me about Jarod? How is he being treated? Is his mind still in tact?”

“Jarod, has been having a pretty tough time. Early this morning, during interrogations, he suffered flashbacks and the return of his memory concerning Gemini. He was combative and they were pretty rough with him. Late this afternoon, they used his father as leverage to have him begin research for a new cloning sim under Mr. Raines direction.”

“Dear Lord! How could you let them do this?”

“I tried to intervene, but there was little I could do against a loaded weapon.”

“I’m sorry. I should have known,” he said looking down as he closed his eyes, steeling himself for the rest of the news.

“How is Jarod emotionally?”

“He, um, hasn’t been allowed to get much rest and I’m afraid the situation tonight was extremely disturbing to him. He collapsed from exhaustion at the end of the session. He’s in a private room in the infirmary for observation overnight. Besides the obvious concerns, I’m becoming concerned about his mind. He mistook me for you, doctor, and was saying something about “refuge” before he loss consciousness. Do you have any idea what he might have meant by that?”

Sydney was silent for a moment outwardly showing no emotion, then wiped a hand over his eyes and shook his head.

“It means Jarod can’t take any more. It’s a cry for help. I’m very concerned that he failed to recognize you, Dr. Meisser. Jarod doesn’t make mistakes like that,” he said giving the other man a hard look.

“You must do everything possible to keep him out of that situation. Go to Mr. Parker and convince him to put the project on hold for now.”

“That may be very difficult. I’ve tried dealing with Mr. Parker, but his judgement has been repeatedly reckless as far as Jarod is concerned. It just doesn’t make sense, as valuable as Jarod is to the Centre. He’s acting as if someone else is pulling his strings or maybe it’s his excessive drinking that is warping his judgement.”

“Excessive drinking? That doesn’t sound like the man I know. The only time his behavior was unbalanced in that area was during the time preceding his wife’s death,” he said absently deep in thought.

“Never mind. You must convince him anyway, for Jarod’s sake. Perhaps I’ll have a word with him too. Dr. Meisser, do you think it would be possible for me to see Jarod? I’m very concerned about him, after what you’ve told me.”

“I don’t know if he’s conscious right now. They ran him completely into the ground. I could check if you want me to. He’s due for his shot at in 5 minutes.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. It would be better for him to get his rest. Perhaps could something be arranged for tomorrow?”

“I was hoping you’d ask. I’ll see what I can do. Now, you better get some rest. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather take my first walk, now that my catheter has been removed,” he said with a slight smile.

“Certainly. I’ll see to it you have assistance right away. Don’t worry about Jarod. He’s been assigned round the clock care. Well, I better get going. If something comes up, I’ll let you know.”

* * *

Centre Infirmary
Patient Room 105

“Nurse, how is my patient doing” Dr. Meisser asked with a slight grin as she looked up from giving Jarod a back rub.

“Oh, I think a lot better now. He had two consecutive night terrors, but I think we have him relaxed now,” she said, putting the cap back on the lotion.

“I see,” he said reading over the chart and placing it back on the hook.

“Ok, let’s take a quick look at you and give you your shot, then you can go back to sleep. Do you recognize me, Jarod?” he asked while taking his blood pressure.

“Dr. Meisser,” he said groggily.

“Good, Jarod,” he said with relief checking his eyes and his pulse.

“You’re going to feel a sting now,” he said delivering the shot and watching his reaction carefully as it his face went slack.

“There you go. You’re doing just fine,” he said feeling bad about completely doping him up.

“Nurse, why don’t you give him another back rub. I’m sure that will help him sleep better,” he suggested, watching a smile form on his patient’s lips.

“Now, go ahead and rest, Jarod. I’m going to try and get you a day off for tomorrow.”

This fanfic is written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, MTM, TNT, FOX, and NBC, I think. All other fictional characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. I don’t own the Profiler, either. Since it’s cancellation, I don’t know who owns it. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money!

This story takes place in the first 5-7 weeks after Donoterase. Please start with part 1.

The AVCTF operation specialists work into the night, while Bailey, Sam, George, Jon, Joe and Gemini call it a night. Meanwhile, at the Centre, the top dogs have gone home for the night and the prisoners can finally get some rest. It’s now barely early morning, their last day at the Centre. Yet, evil is lurking in the shadows. Aug. 3, 2000



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 22
by jojarod50



Centre Infirmary
3:20 AM

A dark figure slipped through the swinging doors and into the dimly lit room. The infirmary was deathly still aside from the quiet beeping of various medical monitors and the occasional snoring or coughing of patients occupying rooms on the ward adjacent to it. There was little to do this time of night and the medical staff assigned to the graveyard shift had congregated in the break room trying to relieve the monotony that went with the job.

Filled with anticipation, the dark figure made his way to room 105, Jarod’s room.
He had arranged for the sweepers to be gone, and like loyal subjects, they had obliged him. After all, he is the Chairman’s son, and not someone to be questioned.

*

Room 105

Entering the pretender’s room, Lyle stepped up to his bed and slipped a razor blade wrapped in a cloth out of his pocket. He stood quietly for a moment enjoying the even breathing of his unsuspecting victim, who he ordered to be sedated at 1:00 AM in preparation of what he planned to do.

Looking at the still form, he paused, imagining the repercussions that would befall the psyche-patient, after an attempted suicide. Yes, the cloning project would be put on hold for a little while, but they would make the pretender do it eventually. And no more plush studio accommodations, just a demeaning padded cell. The project delays would probably be minimal, but would leave his father in a precarious position, for failing to keep Gemini III on track. He’d like to see the Triumvirate’s faces, when they discovered his father was using a mental patient as the chief molecular biochemist and embryologist on the project.

Just what he deserves for putting own flesh and blood in renewal wing and treating him like a bastard son. He’d be damned if he were going to be extra baggage to be farmed out to Africa after successfully recapturing his precious pretender. Maybe it would be his beloved father making the trip instead. An easy smile spread across his face.

Holding Jarod’s wrist in the dim light, Lyle admired the deep scaring caused by the metal restraints he had worn while writhing in agony; agony he had deserved for withholding information pertaining to Gemini and the stolen DSAs.

If only you had broken down and answered my questions, I might not have given you the hallucinogen overdose. But no, you never learn, do you Jarod. I really enjoyed watching you go off the deep end, he thought, closing his eyes and playing it over in his mind.

A few moments later, he got down to the business at hand. Snapping on a latex glove, he deftly wielded the blade, and in one stroke it was done.

Shocked into a semblance of consciousness, Jarod jerked his throbbing wrist away. Driven by pure instinct, he lurched on the other man, holding him tightly, as both of them tumbled into the bedside table. The table was sent flying, as they fell hard onto the floor, the aggressor landing on top.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lyle make short work of pinning the disoriented man down, while struggling to retrieve the blade which was just out of reach.

Jarod fought to stay focused on his attacker, his vision bleary and body limp and unresponsive.

Lyle finished the job viciously, as the pretender bucked hard, finally twisting onto his side. The dark figure lost his balance, cutting his hand badly in the process, as the other man wriggled loose. Both of them were slick with blood and sweat.

Making it to his feet before Jarod did, Lyle pulled out his gun and knocked the other man out, angry he had to resort to that. He carefully positioned the blade just beyond the pretender’s hand, then quickly rearranged his body to look like he had fallen, hitting his head on the floor.

Leaving the room, he turned back to make sure no blood was on the soles of his shoes. Satisfied, he hurried out the back door at the end of the hallway, before anyone was the wiser.

His bleeding hand he had shoved into his pocket was throbbing in pain; pain that would be well worth it, he thought, if they buy Jarod’s attempted suicide. He was totally infuriated at the imbecile who inadequately sedated his prey, but he would have to deal with that later. He would have to be at work at 8:00 and needed to do something quickly about his wound.

*

Room 103

Broots looked around the room sleepily, puzzling why he had been left alone. Shaking his groggy head, he listening again for more noises coming from Jarod’s room but heard only silence.

He had overheard some of the staff talking about Jarod and how he had collapsed from exhaustion, while preparing for a sim. They said something about having a gun held to his father’s head as incentive, may have pushed him over the edge.

If anyone were going to enjoy the Centre being shut down for good, it would have to be Jarod. Broots felt a thrill of excitement just thinking about all of them finally having their freedom. He could go back to just being a normal father for Debbie, having a normal job, and a normal life. He did wonder, though, if he would ever see Miss Parker again.

Surveying his empty room, he quietly got out of bed and nervously peeked into the hallway. If Jarod was awake, he could at least let him know he was in the next room and maybe say something to cheer him up. Glancing at the clock he made his mind up and headed to Jarod’s room, thinking no one should say up alone all night.

*

Room 105

Broots gasped as he entered the room, seeing Jarod on the floor by the bed partially covered in blood. The aluminum bedside table, he had heard crash, was on its side near by.

Seeing no sweeper in his room either, Broots ran to the fire alarm in the hallway and pulled it hard. The technician returned quickly to Jarod’s side trying to stop the intermittent streams of blood coming from his wrists, as the blaring alarm echoed in his ears.

The lounge emptied quickly and finally some medical personnel arrived. Moments later, Jarod was the focus of everyone’s attention, as a doctor directed orderlies to hoist him onto a gurney and had him whisked into the operating room near by.

Broots was escorted back to his room under heavy guard, as several sweepers secured the area. No one had even questioned him, and he wondered if they might think he had hurt Jarod. He had never thought in his wildest dreams, that Jarod would do something like that.

* * *

Centre
Recovery Room 1a
5:09AM

“I don’t care what orders you’ve been given,” Dr. Meisser said hotly to the sweepers, “I want both of you out of here now.”

“We only take orders from the head of security. Take it up with him,” the burley man said, pulling his dark suit coat back slightly to reveal his weapon.

Shaking his head in disgust, the psychiatrist placed his chart on a small table, as he sat down beside his patient.

“Jarod, it’s your doctor,” Dr. Meisser said softly, feeling horrible he hadn’t seen this coming.

Jarod slowly opened his eyes and turned his head slightly toward the voice, grimacing at the painful movement.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not…so…good,” he whispered, still oozy from the effects of the anesthetic and feeling intense pain from his head and wrists.

“Yeah, I imagine so,” his doctor said sadly, sickened knowing he’d almost succeeded in taking his life.

“A nurse will be in here momentarily, to give you something for the pain,” he reassured him, picking up the chart and glancing at it to make sure the right pain medication had been ordered.

“Jarod, I need to talk with you about what you did,” he said gently, giving his arm a little squeeze.

“Umm, hard…to think,” he said closing his eyes for a moment, feeling an over powering urge to go back to sleep.

“Just take your time. I want to understand what happened to you.”

“There was a man…someone…it was dark. I tried…to stop…him.”

“You’re saying someone else did this to you?” the psychiatrist clarified, concerned by his apparent denial.

“So…tired. Can I…go…to sleep…now?”

“In a moment, Jarod. Look, I know things have been living hell for you most of your life. I can’t imagine anyone surviving what you’ve had to endure without severe emotional consequences. I’m not here to judge you. I just want you to be honest with me. If I can’t help you work through this, I’m afraid you’re going to want to try it again.”

“Never…would…never…give up,” he whispered. “Someone…did this,” he mumbled, too tired to debate it, closing his eyes and falling asleep.

Dr. Meisser sat quietly beside the still form, considering what his patient had just said. He couldn’t decide whether Jarod was so riddled with guilt, that he transferred the blame on to an imaginary foe, or if he were telling the truth. For once, he was relieved that his patient would be heavily guarded, but what had happened last night? He had ordered round-the-clock care for Jarod and they had left him completely alone. Why would they do that?

Picking up the chart, he jotted down some notes, nodding amiably at the nurse who arrived to give Jarod his shot. He was anxious to speak with him again when the anesthesia wore off.

Glancing at his watch, he decided to do some investigating, starting with the room where the tragedy occurred. If there were someone else involved, surely there would be evidence of some kind to support that.

Stopping by the doctor’s lounge, he grabbed a cup of coffee and headed on out. Hell of a thing to have happen, just hours before we pull them out, the agent thought, wrestling with guilt of his own. At least he’ll be able to walk out on his own.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s Office
Friday 6:00 AM

“Well, Mr. Baker, why don’t you personally bring the surveillance feed from Jarod’s room to my office right now. We’re all just sitting around here wondering who would be so bold as to argue with a direct request from their superiors.”

“But, I’m telling you, it’s gone.”

“Well, you just may be too, Mr.,” Mr. Parker said slamming down the phone.

“Willie, handle it,” Mr. Parker ordered. “And question the sweepers assigned to Jarod’s room last night, ASAP. I want to know why the pretender was left alone and exactly how he was able to get a hold of a razor blade and mutilate himself without anyone knowing it.”

“Yes Sir.”

Mr. Parker hit the receptionist button and ordered her to send Dr. Meisser and Dr. Grackle up to his office immediately. Severing the connection, he glanced over at Big Mutumbo, who was on a separate line in the adjoining office, having a heated conversation with the Tower.

Stepping over to the wet bar, Parker poured himself a stiff drink, noticing his hands were slightly shaking. Can’t have a Parker lose his nerve, no sir, he said to himself, as he took a deep breath and returned to his desk. He knew he was in trouble with the tower and most likely the Triumvarate, too. It was going to take some fancy footwork to get out of this one, but he always had a few aces up his sleeve. He took a big swig of his drink as he heard Mutumbo hang up the phone, steeling himself for what was coming next.

“The tower wants you to proceed with the project, and expects you to have Jarod up and running by sometime this afternoon. They feel confident that the pretender can perform, despite his slight injuries, if the doctors handle him properly. His doctor is expected to get him through today, and then, he’ll have the weekend to straighten him out. Gemini will proceed as scheduled on Monday.”

“Damn,” Mr. Parker breathed letting out a big sigh. “That’s a tough one, isn’t it.”

“It’s either that or something a lot tougher,” Mutumbo stated pointedly threatening the chairman.

“Don’t you dare threaten me. I’ll handle it,” he said hearing a knock on the door. “Come in.”

The secretary peeked in the door. “Sir, Dr. Meisser and Grackle are here now.”

“Send them in.”

*

“Sit down,” Mr. Parker said gruffly, skipping the formalities. “What the hell happened? I left you two in charge of the pretender and he nearly killed himself. You better believe heads are going to roll for this one, and sure as hell none of them are going to be mine! Meisser, you’re his psychiatrist, why the hell did you let this happen?”

“I did everything in my extremely limited power to protect Jarod, but things were just too far out of my control. There was absolutely too much thrown at him all at once and he didn’t have time to adjust. More importantly, there was a complete failure of superiors to recognize his precarious mental state, after repeated warnings from me. I’m convinced it was the cloning project that pushed him over the edge. That and the way his father was used to manipulate him. I left orders for him to be watched round the clock,” he said pausing as if lost in thought. “I don’t understand what happened. How much did anyone expect him to endure?”

“You better watch where you’re pointing that finger, doctor,” Mr. Parker said angrily, knowing full well that everything he was saying was true.

“Grackle, the pretender was on your ward. Why the hell was he left alone during the time in question? You sure as hell know better than that. My God, man, we’re talking about the pretender here, not non-essential personnel. That whole ward was completely abandoned. If it weren’t for Mr. Broots, Jarod would be wearing a toe tag by now.”

“I was just looking into that before you had me whisked away from the infirmary. There seem to have been some cross up in orders later last night, but I don’t have the particulars yet.”

“Another thing I’m in the dark on, is why Jarod was on that ward in the first place instead of in his room. You should have notified me. Would anyone care to enlighten me?”

“He was being treated for exhaustion. I tried to call you, but you had already gone home. I sent a memo to your office; it should be somewhere on your desk. I really don’t understand this. In the shape he was in, he should have slept entirely through the night.”

“Exhaustion, huh, well, Dr. Meisser, you and Grackle have until this afternoon to get the pretender ready for the cloning session scheduled for today. Do what ever it takes to get him up and running, and then he can have the weekend to relax. You’re dismissed.”

“This is outrageous! There’s no way I’m going to comply with this,” Meisser said getting up suddenly, while Grackle sat there watching him in amazement.

“I’m afraid you don’t have any choice. These orders come from the Tower. If you don’t follow them precisely, you may be wearing a toe tag yourself. End of discussion.”

“Sam, escort the doctors back to their offices and I want you to shadow Jarod today.”

“Yes sir. Ok, let’s go.”

* * *

Centre Infirmary
Room 105
2:35 PM

“Sam, what the?” Jarod breathed, totally startled by the sweeper staring down at him, just inches from his face.

“Jarod! You, um, were, um, seemed to be struggling…I was afraid you were having trouble breathing or something,” the sweeper said blushing, as he quickly distanced himself from the other man.

“Well, Sam, I didn’t know you cared,” Jarod said, playing off the other man’s embarrassment.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” the sweeper asked in a warning tone, watching the pretender struggling to get himself upright, without using his hands for leverage.

“Come on, Sam. Where do you think I’m going?” he shot back, sick of having no privacy. “Into the bathroom to look for another razor blade.”

“That’s enough of that, Jarod. Here let me help you,” he said reaching for his arm to steady him.

Jarod angrily tore it away. “The last time someone did that, I ended up with slit wrists.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you know where Lyle was last night?”

“No, why?”

“I think I do,” the pretender said, as he went into the bathroom and shut the door.

*

“Where’s Jarod?” Dr. Meisser asked, glancing around when he entered the room.

“In there.”

“Sam, what do you make of this?” he said tossing a wadded up bloody glove on Jarod’s bed, just as the pretender came back on the scene.

The sweeper picked up the glove and unfolding it. After glancing at it, he slowly met the doctor’s eyes.

“Where did you get this?”

“Get what?” Jarod asked joining the huddle.

“I found this crammed against one of the wheels under the bed in room 105.”

“But I thought…how did you know, Jarod?” the sweeper asked, passing it to him.

Jarod’s face twisted into controlled rage, as he looked at the bloody thumbless glove.

“It just made sense. Sadistic revenge. There were just too many ways he’d benefit and he was the only one I knew sick enough to do it.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sam said clicking off his safety.

Jarod raised his hands and slowly turned around, stunned to find himself half way out the door.

“I, um, didn’t mean to do that, Sam, but maybe you can take a shot at me later,” he said sarcastically.

“You just better watch what you’re doing, genius before you get yourself killed.”

Jarod’s eyes narrowed at that comment, but didn’t reply.

“I don’t understand. I thought you put Mr. Lyle out of commission, the first night you were here,” Dr. Messier said, pretending to look skeptically at Jarod.

“That’s what Mr. Parker wanted everyone to think. I overheard a conversation he had with Lyle, when I was taken to his office for questioning about Miss Parker. That psychopath was in charge of the sweeper team sent to retrieve Gemini. Thank God he didn’t manage that.”

The agent had to play it dumb to keep up his front. He already knew that Bailey and Jon had Lyle under surveillance and were going to pick him up at around 6:30, when most of the principles went home for the day. Glancing at the clock, he smiled inwardly, counting only 4 more hours to go. The trick would be getting Jarod through his 3-hour meeting, without him getting himself in any trouble. And judging by his weakened state and extreme anger, that was probably going to be tricky.

“Jarod, you need to save your strength. Why don’t you come back here and sit down? I need to have a talk with you before your 3:30 meeting. I’ve arranged for Sydney to see you for a little bit. He really can’t be up very long, but he was very insistent. If nothing else, your situation last night has won me more latitude concerning your care,” the doctor said with a wane smile, watching the young man return to his bed.

* * *

Mr. Parker’s Office
2:47 PM

Mutumbo looked up from the surveillance monitor and gave Mr. Parker a look that could kill.

“What the hell is this? You fool! You’ve just hung yourself with this one, and I’m going to stand there and watch you swing. Where is Lyle?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t come in today.”

“Well, you better have someone find him. And while you’re at it, you just better pray that Jarod is able to function properly during his session this afternoon or I’m going to personally turn you over to the Triumvirate before the sun goes down,” he said before slamming the door behind him.

* * *

Renewal Wing
Cell # 16
2:50 PM

“What the hell do you want, Lyle? You little snake in the grass.”

“Now, now. Is that anyway to talk to your brother? I just thought I’d drop by and let you know your boyfriend tried to kill himself last night. I guess you really didn’t mean that much to him after all.”

“Boyfriend? Fat chance, Lyle. Sorry to disappoint you. Why don’t you go somewhere else to get your jollies, you sick little worm.”

“They said he almost bled to death before anyone found him. Not the neatest way to go; slitting your wrists.”

“Get out of here, before someone finds you and puts you back in your cage.”

“Suit yourself, Sis. I don’t know why I thought he meant something to you. If he makes it, I’ll be sure to let him know,” he said with his designer smile, then headed down the corridor to have some fun with Jarod’s father.

“There’s no way I’m related to you, Lyle. You have no soul,” Miss Parker whispered as she shut her eyes, fighting to hold back her tears. “My God, Jarod, please let it not be true.”

* * *

Jarod’s old room
3:11 PM

“Jarod, I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Sydney said taking in the sight of the haggard looking young man sprawled on the bed.

“Sydney, I’m glad you came. I um must have fallen asleep. How are you feeling? They told me you were shot,” Jarod said, managing to sit up without drawing attention to his injuries.

“I’m fine, Jarod. I just have to take it rather slowly. I’m much more interested in how you are. Do your wrists hurt very much?”

“Not as much as Lyle will when I get my hands on him.”

“You sound extremely angry, Jarod. You’re going to have to get a hold of yourself, you know.”

“Angry? That’s an understatement. I’m so angry I can’t see straight.”

“You’re reaction is perfectly understandable, but don’t let it get the best of you. Dr. Meisser told me they’re using your father, to make you prepare for Gemini III.”

“Yes,” he said, running his trembling fingers through his hair, a nervous gesture Sydney had seen so many times.

“I can’t begin to fathom the stress you are under. I’m truly sorry. Jarod, what happened to you at the end of your session last night?”

“I don’t know,” Jarod said shaking his head slowly, “I just don’t know.”

“They’re going to allow Dr. Meisser to be with you tonight. Promise me you’ll tell him to pull you out if you get into trouble again. From what I’ve heard, you may have had a break with reality. I thought that you would want to know,” Sydney said giving him a look concern. “You’re very special, Jarod. Don’t allow them to push you too far.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Sorry to break this up, but Raines and the Geneticists will be here any moment. Three more hours and then we’ll be all done,” he said, giving both of them a knowing look.

“Very good. Remember what I said, Jarod.”

“Thank you Sydney.”

“Ok, Dr. Green, it’s time for you to go,” Sam said, lifting the break and pushing him out of the room.”

This fanfic is written purely for entertainment and promotion of my favorite show, The Pretender. I am merely borrowing the characters from the TV show owned by Pretender Productions, MTM, TNT, FOX, and NBC, I think. All other fictional characters not appearing on the Pretender are mine. I don’t own the Profiler, either. Since it’s cancellation, I don’t know who owns it. Please don’t sue me, as I have no money!

This story takes place in the first 5-7 weeks after Donoterase. Please start with part 1.

The phase two ATF units and elite federal swat teams are poised to go into the Centre at 11:00PM. Prior to that, the phase one-surveillance/strike teams are in place to take down Mr. Parker, Raines, and the others, at 6:30 as they go home for the day. Great numbers of federal agents already in place on the inside wait anxiously for their part of the show to begin.

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual at the Centre. Miss Parker, Major Charles, and now Mr. Broots are back in their cells on the renewal wing. Sydney is resting in his private room off the infirmary, while Jarod attends his final cloning session. Lyle knows there is a Centre contract out on him, but is willing to risk everything to finish his twisted plan. Angelo pretty much knows about the pull out, but is still up to his own spying game. Aug.19, 2000 4/17/01



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 23a
by jojarod50





ATF Field Office
Special Operations: Control Base
Blue Cove, Delaware
3:12PM


“Sounds to me like you’re losing your objectivity, Jerry. This is getting to you, isn’t it?”

“I’ll be ok, I’m just really tired of putting up with these jerks. But, to tell you the truth, the flagrant disregard for life here would get to anyone.”

“The captives will undoubtedly need some form of counseling and a real nice extended vacation from what I’ve seen. At least the ones that aren’t incarcerated,” he said with a deep regretful sigh, thinking about Dr. Green and possibly a couple of others.

“That fits in with what I’ve heard. Wait ‘til you see where they’ll be staying. If only we could be so lucky”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew what these people have gone through, Harris.”

“We better get back to the job at hand. This place is swarming with security and I have major concerns about getting everyone out safely.“

“Didn’t I tell you, they brought Ed Channey and Rice in on this one? It’ll probably get pretty messy, but we’ll clear you a secured path. You just make sure your agents keep the six locked in their rooms until we give you the all clear. The coded locks are programmed to remain inoperable until they are reactivated. The young boy is an amazing genius. He has it all timed out.”

“Good. One more thing. The sooner you get the principal targets out of my hair, the better. Especially, Mr. Lyle. For God’s sake. You should have advised me, when he reentered the building last night. We almost lost Jarod Charles. I don’t expect any more slip-ups like that.”
“I know. We’re still trying to figure out how he got back into the building undetected. But look, that’s moot now.”

“Meisser, you’re doing a great job. Just sit tight and don’t tip your hand. Make sure you get all six captives moved into ventilation tunnels 27-401 or 27-403, by 2330 hours. The SWAT teams will have entered and secured by the time you make your move.”

“My people will be there on time, Harris. Have emergency medical transport in place. I’ve got one who’s hardly ambulatory and others who may need assistance if, God forbid, things go south.”

“I think we’ve got all the bases covered. Anything else?”

“I’ll be in a meeting with the Charles kid for the next 3 hours. I’ve gotta go. The back door, 2330hrs. Request radio silence until 2300 hrs. Out.”

*

“Harris, what was that all about?”

“Tough job for a full time criminal psychiatrist, who’s not used to this kind of field assignment. He hasn’t seen a lot of action since the Vietnam War, but is still a hell of a shot. Jerry’s never been good at the waiting game. I think he’s ready to kick some serious butt.”

“Who’s doing surveillance on Mr. Lyle? Do we know his location right now?”

“We’ve got Bailey and John on that one. They said he’s dinning at a place called the Little Red Dragon right now.”

“Well, tell them to make sure he doesn’t give them the slip. He has some kind of personal vendetta against Jarod Charles. We can’t chance loosing that psychopath again.”

* * *

The Centre
Jarod’s Old Room
Friday 3:30 PM

Repeating his ritual from the day before, Willie entered the pretender’s room carrying two sets of manacles and looked around for his target.

Jarod sat pensively in a chair facing the door, while Dr. Meisser spoke to him quietly from the couch. The moment the sweepers approached, he fell silent, giving his charge an apologetic look.

Being assaulted by Lyle, in the night, made having the pretender do this now seem totally absurd. Actually, having Jarod do anything but rest, after all they had put him through the last two days, would challenge any sane man’s understanding.

He still wasn’t eating much and Dr. Grackle had given him a scathing rebuke for not drinking his fortified shakes. Glancing at the putrid greenish drink on the table beside him, Dr. Meisser could hardly blame him. He knew Jarod was running mostly on anger and adrenaline, but there was really nothing the agent could do to help him now. He had seen to it that Jarod had gotten some sleep, earlier, and that was the best he could do.

“Get up,” Willie ordered, motioning for Sam to help him secure the pretender.

With a forced look of amusement, he slowly stood, crossing his arms over his chest, as if to challenge the man.

“Well, Willie, nice to see you again. Still into that dungeon thing I see.”

“Don’t get smart with me. Hold out your hands.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Dr. Meisser protested, stepping in-between the two men. “Those cuffs will only aggravate his injuries and may even break the sutures. Do you really want to chance the delay that would cause?”

“I was warned about you, doctor. My orders are to have you removed, if you do anything to interfere. Back off, or Jarod will do this alone.”

Realizing he really had no choice, the agent reluctantly stepped aside.

Wasting no time, the sweepers swiftly manacled the pretender and headed him in the direction of the conference table.

The agent purposely had to keep reminding himself that there were only about 3 hours until phase one of the operations began and only 4-1/2 hours more before the swat teams infiltrated the Centre.

From what he had heard, Willie was Raines driver and with any luck they would both be put out of commission soon after the session was over.

*

Moments later…

The coded lock was manipulated again and Raines, followed by the geneticists, entered the room.

“Jarod, I see you’re still with us,” Raines said, sizing him up and noticing he looked pretty bad. His pale complexion accentuated the dark circles under his angry red rimmed eyes, while the unmistakable look of hatred on his face, added to the old man’s concern about the pretender’s reliability. He was well aware that Jarod could easily undermine the session, if indeed he could physically make it through it. He stood there with his eyes locked on Raines in a way that told him it had been wise to put him in restraints.

“I hope you’re through with your dramatics for the day. You have some serious work to complete here,” the old man rasped without bating an eye.

Dr. Kilmmer and Dr. Moore took their seats without saying a word. They were thoroughly disgusted that this was the only recourse they had, and skeptical that the pretender would be able to perform as well today under the present circumstances.

“Sit down, Jarod,” Raines said impatiently, as Willie set up the monitor facing him and flipped on the screen.

“I don’t know what you thought you’d accomplish by slitting your wrists. This is the Centre; you won’t be allowed to kill yourself, so don’t try it again.
Now, for your father’s sake you better cooperated fully, with no hesitation this time, or it could prove very unfortunate for him.”

So this is how he wanted to play it. If anyone was endangering the project from going forward, it certainly wasn’t anyone on the Centre payroll, he thought, sensing that Raines was totally aware of the truth.
Not really caring if they thought he was suicidal or not, he silently took his seat beside his doctor, just wanting to get it over with. He was curious though, why they wanted a supposedly unstable man to sim their precious project and what was rush to get it done.

His face paled, as he stared at his father’s image on the screen, silently pledging to him that he would keep him safe. Being reunited with the people he loved was the only thing keeping him going at this point. He had been oppressively tired for so long, it was becoming unbearably hard to function.

“Let’s get started,” Raines said, motioning for Sam to pass out the briefs and several files to each man at the table.

Jarod let out a halting breath as he opened the first file; the cuffs making the pain in his wrists come alive.

“You will have to turn the pages for me, for right now,” he told the agent, while giving Willie an aggravated look.”

* * *

Renewal Wing
Cell 19
5:22 PM

It had been about two hours since he had been ordered to sit in the chair facing the camera and his stress level was going through the roof. Yet, Major Charles sat quietly trying to keep a pleasant expression on his face, knowing that he was being used to coerced Jarod into working on the new cloning project, of all things, and that he was probably seeing him right now. He hoped, in a small way, if he looked relaxed enough his son might worry less. Inwardly though, his soul was consumed with pain.

He had almost collapsed when Mr. Lyle had informed him that his son had tried to commit suicide. Sydney had been afraid that would happen, and had warned him to keep a close eye on his son. If only he had been there with him, he would have never let this happen.

The Major glanced at Mr. Johnson, who was holding a gun on him. He knew he was an undercover agent. If only there were a way to let Jarod know, but he knew that was impossible.

He thought about what he would do if he could get his hands on a gun, and figured he’d probably kill them all for their unwarranted cruelty to his son.

He had heard that Lyle had fled the Centre, after their brief talk about Jarod. He had no idea what that was all about, but hoped he would meet a bad end, for everything he had done.

* * *

Jarod’s Old Room
5:33 PM

Jarod stopped his discourse in mid-sentence and slumped back in his chair, as the room started spinning and his eyes threatened to close for good.

“Jarod, what’s the matter?” Dr. Meisser, asked, already knowing the answer.

“Dizzy.”

“Jarod, answer Dr. Kilmmer’s question and quit stalling, or your father will pay a heavy price,” Raines pressed, tired of listening to him losing track of what he was saying and irritated by the way he was slowing things down.

“He needs a break, Raines. Can’t you see he’s totally exhausted?”

“He’ll get a break in about an hour, after he finishes his work. Give him a shot, if you need to. I brought something along just in case. Do what ever it takes to keep him going, or I’ll follow through with my threat. He’s caused too many delays on this project already, and won’t be allowed to do this now. Willie, give this to Dr. Meisser.”

“This is unbelievable. Is that you people’s solution for everything? Pumping him full of drugs?”

“You’ve just won yourself a free ticket out of here. Sam, escort Dr. Meisser back to his office and return here immediately. Willie give the pretender this shot.”

“Wait a minute. That won’t be necessary. I’ll cooperate,” the agent said, not daring to leave Jarod alone with these ghouls.

“That’s more like it,” Raines said with a sadistic grin. “Now give him the shot and don’t cross me again.”

“What is it?”

“Just a harmless stimulant. It’s compatible with his treatments. Get it done so we can get back to work.”

Despite the disapproving look from Raines, Dr. Meisser checked Jarod out carefully before administering the shot.

Feeling the edges of darkness retreat, Jarod took a few moments going over the files to get organized. He then finished the explanation he had been giving to Dr. Kilmmer, with much more clarity then he knew he needed to, hoping they wouldn’t take his delay out on his dad.

The pretender hated himself for what he was doing, but cleverly misrepresented the facts whenever possible. He knew exactly which materials were way over their heads and took advantage of it every time.

He thought his rambling and mental confusion, at times, was a nice touch, and planned on continuing it to aggravate Raines, as long as he could get away with it. Though he had almost passed out, his mind was extremely sharp, thanks to the treatments he had received. Yet, there was no way he was going to give Raines the pleasure of knowing it.

Picking up where Kilmmer left off, Dr. Moore referred Jarod to another group of files, concerning an aberration in one of the genes that was causing gross mutations in most of the more recent cloning attempts.

The enormity of the assault on humanity documented in the copy and accompanying photos was staggering. It was all he could do, after his exposure to this, to keep from going over the edge, but he pushed down his extreme anger for his father’s sake.

He found the massive scale of Gemini III particularly disturbing. It involved well over two hundred secret Centre locations around the world. He vowed he would never rest until the project and the twisted men behind it were brought down. One look at the agent beside him, told Jarod they were on exactly the same page.

* * *

ATF Field Office
Special Operations: Control Base
Blue Cove, Delaware
6:27 PM

“Outer perimeter units are in place. Everything is go here.”

“I copy that. Apprehend subjects with extreme caution; consider them armed and dangerous. On my mark, 3 minutes and counting.”

“Joe, are the SWAT units in place? We’re all go here.”

“We have a discreet presence on site, with primary perimeter/containment, entry, and command, ETA 4 hours and counting.”

“Harris, conditions report from team coordinator on the inside?”

“Everything is go as of 1512 hours. Agent Meisser has requested Emergency medical transport to be in place. We have their 20’s pinned down and agents have been advised. Marksmen and support are already strategically placed at each of these locations. He requested radio silence until 2300.”

“Thank you. Ok, George, are you and Gemini set? I don’t think I need to remind you of how crucial your part is, where all parties are concerned.”

“Security, surveillance, communication, and all key defense systems are rigged to go down simultaneously, along with power and backup systems, just as you ordered, sir. Don’t worry, we’ll be able to handle anything the Main Frame throws at us,” Jarod’s clone said beaming with pride and anticipation. He had grown a lot over the past year with Major Charles, and felt much more comfortable around people he knew were his allies.

“Please, just don’t let anything happen to my father and brother,” he said his eyes conveying his deep concern.

“You just concentrate on your part, and we’ll take care of the rest,” the special agent reassured him, giving him a smile and a quick wink. “We do this sort of thing all the time. Why don’t you both take a break? We won’t be needing you for 4 more hours,” he said before picking up his mike.

“Ok, phase one units, let’s go to work.”

* * *

6:38 PM
Along south 177th Trafficway near the exit ramp

The undercover agent tailing the chairman’s town car fell back, as it switched lanes taking the Riverview exit, oblivious to the barricade around the bottom curve. Another agent switched lanes and the two cars followed the target down the hill.

“Sam, what the hell is this?” Mr. Parker spit, sliding his gun carefully out from under his suit coat and pushing off the safety. “You better get me out of here.”

“Yes sir,” Sam said, disengaging the air bags, slamming on the accelerator, and plowing through the middle of the barricade, sending officers running for their lives.

The agents tailing them flew through the barricade, forcing the town car onto a frontage road before Sam could maneuver out of it. Cursing loudly, his car spun out of control, as he suddenly slammed on the breaks hitting a guard rail and veered off the road, barely avoiding a bridge that was out.
*
Sam was out cold. His forehead was bleeding profusely, as it rested against the steering wheel, the horn blaring loudly in the air. Popping the latch on his seatbelt, Mr. Parker groped around on the floor looking for his gun, realizing there was no way he could make a run for it.

Cautiously, the ATF agents approached his car. Taking their positions near the deep ditch where the vehicle had landed, two snipers zeroed in on the wanted man.

“This is the FBI. Get your hands in the air, and keep them there. We’ve got you surrounded, so don’t try anything stupid, or we’ll take you out,” the agent called over the bullhorn.

As the chairman lifted his gun to his tempo, it was shot out of his hand. The agents rushed his car, pulled him out onto the ground, and cuffed his hands behind his back.

“You are under arrest for the crimes you’ve committed under the guise of the Corporation known as the Centre. You have the right to remain silent. Any thing you do say can be used against you in a court of law…”

* * *

Several miles away on Interstate 425
6:42 PM

“Willie, you’ll be working late tonight. We’re going to swing by my house after dinner.”
Willie nodded in acknowledgement, trying to keep a low profile, as the heated conversation continued.

“And another thing, Raines, why is the pretender in such bad shape? Don’t your people understand the ramifications of losing such a priceless piece of equipment? I’m truly shocked at his physical condition. Not just today, mind you, but yesterday before his unfortunate choice of behavior. If I had him at my facilities, he would be handled with extreme care physically and emotionally. You people are going to destroy him in no time with your barbaric slipshod lack of medically sound care. I’m seriously considering approaching the Triumvirate about appropriating the pretender for myself.”

“Don’t cross me, Kilmmer, you know as well as I do, what happened to Jarod before that ill fated plane crash. You approved whole heartily of his treatment then, when it was to your advantage. It’s a shame we didn’t retrieve the boy or the DSAs and that Lyle gave Jarod a hallucinogen overdose, but that’s all water under the bridge.

“He was in bad shape when we reacquired him, and if things weren’t on such a tight schedule, we’d keep him in the infirmary until he was properly restored.”

“If you want to blame anyone for pressuring him into performing the sim on Monday, blame Mutumbo and the Triumvirate. They’re the ones bent on having J-3 clone in every facility by such an outrageously short deadline. Besides, I haven’t heard any complaints out of you until now. Unless you’re interested in taking out the whole African hierarchy with a power play, get off my back.”

“It could be done, you know,” Dr. Moore said taking a sip of his scotch on the rocks, his eyes dancing with mischief.

Raines gave him an interested look.

Willie took the exit ramp and headed onto I35, North toward Raines favorite private club, The Brown Pelican, where he had planned to dine with his associates.

Suddenly, the car in front of him slammed on his breaks and Willie’s only option was to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid hitting him. In a slick orchestrated plan, two other agents pulled onto the shoulder in front and behind him before he could react.

“What the hell is this, Raines? Dr. Kilmmer yelled drawing his gun and training it on the car to his left. Following suit, the others did likewise, ready to take them on.

“This is the FBI. Throw out your weapons nice and easy and put your hands in the air. You’re all under arrest.”

“Willie’s eyes flashed in Raines direction momentarily, before hitting the gas, attempting to cut through the small gap in-between the front and side car on the left. An agent sent blinding teargas through the back windshield, quickly filling up the car. The town car maneuvered in-between the two cars as the scientists frantically clawed at the doors to get out. Plowing between them, the sheer speed of the now out of control car sent it into a fatal spin and inadvertently careening off the shoulder and down an extremely steep incline. The car briefly shot through a heavily wooded area, slamming head-on into a tree, causing the airbags to deploy.

***

Outside a Ware house on front street and 3rd
6:53 PM

“That’s affirmative. Mr. Lyle, Mr. Cox, and what we believe to be 6 members of an Asian drug cartel just entered the building. We’ve got the entrances and exits covered but request additional backup, before we go in.”

“I copy that. Back up ETA 3 minutes. Hold your position until they get there.”

“We’ll hold, over. John, are you ready for this.”

“I’m ready,” he said tightly giving Bailey a hard look. This one’s a real sick bastard. It’ll be my pleasure.”

“John, our orders are to take Mr. Lyle, as well as the others, alive.”

The younger man let out a frustrated sigh. “I know.”

“This assignment has turned into a real monster,” Bailey said, glancing around, looking for any sudden movement. It’s going to be a really big bust.”

*

Moments later…

“Gray, report, over? Gray, do you copy? Gray?”

“Paul, we’ve lost communication, with our back door.”

“I’m on it, Bailey. Give me a minute,” the agent answered just as three more patrol cars pulled up and cut their lights. *

***

The Centre
7:45 PM

“Stop the car. I’ve got some unfinished business to attend to, before I can wash my hand of this place.”

“You are aware, aren’t you, that if you show your face here again, you’re a dead man? You certainly have a definite lack of survival instincts, Mr. Lyle. What on earth do you expect to accomplish?”

“Oh, I don’t expect to die for a very long time. I know the Centre like the back of my hand. I can slip inside any time I want to. There are some records and other items I need to retrieve. No one will ever know I was here, except Jarod.”

“Your obsession with that man is going to be the end of you. Mark my words. You better walk away now. You have enough money from that drug deal to start your own corporation.”

Lyle pulled his gun and aimed it point blank at Cox, still lusting for violence after the carnage he had participated in at the warehouse.
“I’m a man with special needs,” he said sliding into an easy smile. “Maybe one of them is to kill you.”

“You need me, if you’re going to start your own cloning project. Don’t forget that.”

“I do, don’t I. I’ll meet you in Chicago tomorrow,” Lyle said, shutting the door quietly and walking away. *

Note - -see XXIII –A for detailed disclaimers - -all characters from the Pretender and Profiler are just borrowed - -please don’t sue me



In Pursuit Of Happiness
Part 23b
by jojarod50





Phase one of the Federal sting operation has gone down almost without a hitch, capturing the key upper echelon of the Centre hierarchy, including Mr. Parker, Mr. Raines, Mutumbo, the mysterious Tower personnel, key sweepers, Dr. Kilmer, Dr. Moore, and others too numerous to list. Fortunately, none of them had been mortally injured, and would probably be punished to the maximum extent of the law, considering all the damning evidence that had been gathered against them and more which would soon be downloaded straight from the Centre mainframe.

AVCTF agents Bailey and John are left scrambling to pin down Lyle and Cox’s next move as a barrage of ATF personnel mop up following a ruthless slaughter of suspected Asian drug lords and undercover agents at an abandoned warehouse. Apparently, Centre sweepers had been in place early on, for the bloody free for all, and were also found dead at the scene.

There was evidence that Lyle and Cox must have used a concealed passageway toward the rear of the building to make their escape. The corridor looked like it had originally been used for transferring contraband to waiting trucks at the south loading dock during prohibition. They and probably others had taken out the ATF agents, positioned at that location, very early on in the melee, just as the back up units Bailey had requested had arrived. 9/17,2000

* * *

Centre Underground Parking lot SL 6
Walkway tunnel C
7:47 PM

Lyle worked his gloved hand as he watched Cox and the two accompanying sweepers disappear up the exit ramp, his mind rapidly working out his next moves.

Getting to his office undetected would be simple, using the surveillance device he had paid dearly for. Getting to Jarod with his damn doctor hovering would definitely be problematic, but he’d manage. He had looked forward to it too long to have anyone stand in his way. After tasting the morbid thrill of torturing Jarod, he craved each encounter more and more, he realized, playing over in his mind what he had done to him just last night.

Mr. White felt confident that he could locate Gemini, given another week or so. Even without Gemini, with the pretender out of the way, he’d level the playing field and continue his covert projects until his cloning project was off the ground. He felt intoxicated with power, knowing he’d be putting daddy dearest out of business.
Using his disruption device, he momentarily disabled the surveillance cameras and boarded the elevator that would take him to the executive level and his office, where he had stashed Raines private collection of DSAs and a loaded hypo for Jarod.

***

ATF Field Office
Special Operations: Control Base
Blue Cove, Delaware 7:59 PM

“Good work, Rice, we’ll take it from here,” Harris said, visibly relieved. “Dispatch, inform Bailey that we have the 20s on their missing targets.

“Patch me through to Agent Meisser. Our old friend Mr. Lyle has surfaced at the Centre. Jerry will have to handle that insidious little weasel from the inside.”

***

Centre Infirmary
8:05 PM

“This is ridiculous, Jarod doesn’t need to be here and you know it. What he does need is a substantial amount of sleep and he sure as hell isn’t going to get it here after what happened to him last night. Damn it, Grackle, for once do the compassionate thing, and let me take him down to his room.”

“Compassionate? Listen to me, Meisser, I’ve had it up to here with your self-righteous crap. Mr. Parker left explicit orders that the pretender was not to leave the infirmary until he resembled the young man he was before his escape,” he said shoving Jarod’s chart into Meisser’s hand. The orders came down right after he passed out the second time toward the end of the cloning session.”

“I understand that, but you bend the rules all the time,” Meisser offered, trying to have Jarod transferred back to his room, with it’s coded lock, before phase two began.

“Aside from being anemic from his blood loss last night and being unacceptably under weight, he has two cracked ribs and is suffering from acute exhaustion. In his weakened state, he could probably sleep in the middle of a freeway during rush hour, without waking up. Look at him. Does he look like he’s having any trouble sleeping to you? I don’t see any point in sticking my neck out just to appease you.”

“Hey, unless you need to give Jarod another blood transfusion, I don’t see the point in keeping him here. Hell, even that could be handle from downstairs, for that matter.”

“Give it up, Meisser, you had your chance with him. If you really gave a damn about him, you would have made sure he was getting enough sleep and eating properly so he wouldn’t have ended up here.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.”

“You might as well hear the whole thing. As far as his mental status is concerned, Mr. Parker thinks you’ve blown it there too. I was ordered to give him a complete mental evaluation. He appears to be in worse shape now than when I first examined him, two nights ago. I received a report from Raines late today, documenting his problems with mental confusion and unwarranted distractibility. Hell, I’m not even sure the kid’s head is screwed on straight, the way he carries on in his sleep.”

“Well, I’m sure Jarod appreciates you broadcasting his complete medical status to every one in the infirmary. Can’t you at least keep your voice down, Grackle?” he asked hotly, noticing all the eyes staring at them.

“You know as well as I do, that just about every waking moment, Jarod has been required to be doing one thing or another as per orders directly from Mr. Parker, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it,” Meisser said in total frustration.

Suddenly his beeper went off, sending a chill down his spine.

“Ok, look, go ahead and keep him in the infirmary for right now, but at least put him in with Dr. Green. I don’t want him in a room by himself. You can do that can’t you?” he suggested, knowing there were coded locks on the private rooms.

“If it’ll keep you from having a coronary, you have a deal. Martha, get some orderlies in here and have Jarod transferred to Private room 1E immediately. Satisfied, Meisser?”

“I want to talk with him after he’s settled in. I’ll be back in a little while.”

“Suit yourself. I’m leaving for the day. Why don’t you go home too? You’re not married to this place you know.”

“I’ve still got a lot of things to do. See you tomorrow, Grackle,” Meisser said as he quickly made his exit, knowing something serious was up for Harris to break radio silence.”

“Oh, joy. I can’t wait,” Dr. Grackle mumbled grabbing his briefcase and heading home for the night, not knowing he was about to be picked up by the Feds.

* * *

Dr. Meisser’s Office
8:16 PM

“Dr. Meisser.”

“Bad news, Meisser. Mr. Lyle just entered the Centre.”

“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number,” the agent feigned terminating the phone call and dialing the infirmary.

“Davies, Dr. Meisser. I need to have you cover for me until I get back. Go to room 1E and stay put. Ignore any orders but mine.”

Wasting no time, the agent quickly stepped into the coat closet and slipped on his holster, checked to make sure his gun was loaded and slid it in. Mumbling expletives, he slipped on his lab jacket and grabbed 2 syringes as he headed out the door. He would have to make sure Lyle was contained without compromising their cover. Several agents would have to be informed, he thought, as he headed for central supply a couple of doors from the infirmary.

***

Central Supply
Medical wing
8:21 PM

“Drew, I need for you to autoclave these instruments for me,” Agent Meisser said handing him some items he had grabbed from a drawer in his office. “Inform the agents covering the hostages that Mr. Lyle is inside the Centre,” he whispered keeping his back to the surveillance camera. “Let me know, when you’re finished. I’ll be in the infirmary for right now.”

“Yes, Sir.”

****


Renewal Wing
Cell #16
8:25 PM

Miss Parker sat on the cold metal bed staring through the little glass window in the door, wishing someone would give her an update on what was going on.

Getting up, she started to pace again, feeling more than anything else like she was going to loose her mind. She shivered involuntarily, imagining all the years that Jarod, Angelo, and God only knows who else, had spent trapped like she was now.

One thing she still couldn’t figure out was why, after all the years of abuse Jarod had survived, he buckled now right before the pull out. It just didn’t make any sense.

Thinking about how they were all going to be free of the Centre, she remembered her dad and the whole Centre hierarchy were probably under arrest by now. Her dad, the Centre’s Chairman. She felt so strange realizing she felt no pity for him at all. Good riddance to bad garbage, she thought, feeling angry and betrayed.

Leaning against the cold wall, she tried to calm down, until she saw a rat squeeze its way under her door.

“Let me out of here, you son of a bitch,” she yelled to the sweeper outside her door, giving her dinner tray a swift kick, splattering food all over the floor.

“This place is infested with rats! Open the damn door!”

Parker was immediately rewarded with the sound of the coded lock being worked and the appearance of a sweeper she had never met.

“What’s the trouble in here, ma’am?” the agent asked, glancing down at the mash potatoes his foot was in and following the curve of her gorgeous legs and body, up to her angry face.

“Ma’am? Now that’s a new one. I’m out of here,” she said, giving him a hard shove, trying to move him out of the way. “Bye the way, watch where you’re drooling, mister, or you’ll be wearing the impression of my stiletto right between you eyes.”

The agent turned an unusually bright color of red, as he gave her a direct look.

“Hold it right there,” he said, positioning himself between his incredibly beautiful assignment and the surveillance camera, quietly introduced himself as Agent Baxter. Quickly he informed her that she would be sealed in her cubical until the swat teams clear the area and that she would need to position herself away from the window. He also instructed her to slip on the gas mask hidden under the bed.

“That’s just great. I don’t give a shit who you are, you’re not keeping me down here with the rats. Step aside.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’ll be right outside if you need anything. Why don’t you try to relax.”

“Go to hell.”

****

Renewal Wing
Cell 13

Stepping down the hallway, Agent Baxter peeked through the window of cell # 13 and was startled by Broots wide eyed face staring back at him.
Working the coded lock, the agent stepped into the small cubical, to check on the apprehensive computer tech.

“So you skipped dinner, too. Well, at least you didn’t kick it around on the floor,” the agent said, positioning himself between the camera and his charge and giving him the final instructions he had just given Parker.

Broots let out a nervous sigh. “I um, guess you were talking about Miss Parker, with the tray, I mean,” he offered, trying to act like nothing was going on, but looking very guilty. “Sh she must be really mad, being locked up like that. She’s ok, isn’t she?”

“Oh, yeah, she’s just fine. Just be glad you don’t have to deal with her right now. Look, try to get some rest. I imagine you’re still pretty weak, having just had the flu. I’ll leave your drink,” he said picking up his dinner tray. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right outside your door.”

“You will? Oh, um, th thanks.”

****

Renewal Wing
Cell 19
8:35 PM

“Major Charles?” the agent called as he opened the cell door, not wanting to startle the older man, who was lying awkwardly on the iron bed.

“Just go away and leave me alone,” Jarod’s father said, rising to his feet and taking a defensive stance. “I’m through being used to intimidate my son into doing things. Can’t you people see that you’re destroying him? I hope you all rot in hell.”

“No, you don’t understand. I’m just here to collect your tray.”

“Well, you can collect this instead,” Major Charles said grabbing him from behind as he stooped to pick up his tray, and putting him in a head lock.”

The agent was swift to react and had the exhausted major quickly subdued, taking the opportunity of their close proximity to relay to him his final instructions.

“Get up slowly, Major,” the agent said, holding his hands tightly behind his back. “ We have to make this look good for the camera, he whispered, slamming him into the wall.

“Try something like that again, and you’re a dead man.”

“I, um lost it. It won’t happen again. Look, just let me see my son.”

“There is no one here to authorize that right now. Besides, he’s probably fast asleep. He’s been ordered to have complete bed rest until Monday. Don’t worry, the doctors in the infirmary will take good care of him.”

“The infirmary, My God! Don’t you know what happened to him last night when he was there.”

****

(Mr. Lyle’s private office)

Lyle perked up when he heard this new information, glancing up at the monitor. “Why, thank you for letting me know where Jarod is,” he said smoothly, as he pressed the off switch, pleased to be reaping the rewards of having his own newly installed surveillance system. “What a pity I’m going to have to leave this all behind,” he said as he reached in a drawer for the syringe.

****

“They’ve got it covered this time. You’re just going to have to trust me on that. Is there anything you need before I leave?”

“No, I guess not.”

“Try to get some rest, Major. I’ll be right outside if something comes up,” he said picking up the tray and leaving the cell.

****

Private patient room 1E
8:37 PM

Sydney observed Jarod as he suddenly woke up screaming, the tendrils of a nightmare still holding him in it’s frightening grip.

“Jarod, it was just a dream. Try to slow your breathing.” Sydney urged, watching the shaken young man struggle to catch his breath.

“Sydney?” the pretender breathed trying to pull himself together. “Where am I?”

“You’re in my room off the infirmary. Dr. Grackle had you moved here about 30 minutes ago. You’ve been in the infirmary since the end of your cloning session. Apparently you passed out one too many times.”

“I was just overwhelmed with fatigue,” Jarod said, as he started to lay back on his bed.

“When did you start throwing your pillow?”

“Pillow?”

“You threw it across the room right before you woke up. Jarod, you’re going to need counseling…”

“Don’t. Not right now,” Jarod said quietly, as he retrieved his pillow and slipped back in bed. In only a few moments he fell back into a restless sleep.

****

Private room 1E
8:55PM

“Good evening, Dr. Green. How are you feeling?” Dr. Meisser asked entering the room and heading over to Jarod’s bed.

”Much better, thank you. It’s nice to finally have a room mate, even if he’s going to be sleeping the entire time,” he said glancing at Jarod and smiling slightly.

“Well, until Mr. Parker sanctions a reformulated serum for him, I guess that’s pretty much how it’s going to play out,” the agent said, while glancing at the pretender’s chart, purposely keeping up his front.

“Jarod, sorry to wake you. Let’s give you a quick once over, before I give you your shot,” the agent said running through his vitals, while he lay completely still almost falling asleep again.

****

“So how’s he doing, Doc?” Lyle asked with a congenial smile, stepping into the room with his gun drawn, sporting a silencer.

“Mr. Lyle, what the hell are you doing?”

“Taking care of some loose ends,” he said, knocking the agent to the floor with a forceful blow from his gun.

“You won’t get away with this. Security will be here any minute. I found your bloody glove in room 105. Mr. Parker knows you’re the one who slit Jarod’s wrist and has a contract out on you. You’ll never get out of the building alive.”

“Oh, but I will. Check out the security camera. It’s down. No one will find your dead bodies until I’m long gone. Except yours, Jarod. I’ve decided to let you live, if you could call it that. You’ll be taking a hallucinogen trip, which will make the last one seem like a walk in the park. Mr. Davies, give it to him,” he said handing the sweeper the syringe.

“Yes Sir,” the agent said taking the syringe and stepping over to Jarod’s bed, as he quickly slid off the other side, calculating his next move.

“You know, Jarod, I can’t wait to see how you like this. I was told it is very fast acting. Unfortunately for you, there’ll be no coming back this time,” he said, enjoying the look of utter contempt on the pretender’s face as he backed into the corner, his eyes never leaving the syringe. “Nothing personal, genius. This time it’s strictly business. A smart man always eliminates his competition.”

“Oh, don’t look at me that way, Sydney. You’re whole career has been built around manipulating Jarod’s mind. I really don’t understand why you’re having a problem with this. For God’s sake, Davies, what’s the matter with you? Give him the damn shot or I’ll blow your brains out.”

Suddenly, Lyle dropped his gun and fell to the floor, his eyes rolling back in his head, as he tried to ride out the sudden overwhelming euphoric effects of Jarod’s 9:00 shot.

“Get that slime bag out of here, Davies,” Agent Meisser said, getting to his feet, hardly containing his anger. “Put him in padded isolation room A, down the hall, and scramble the coded lock.”

“It’ll be my pleasure,” he said, frisking the drugged man before hoisting him into Sydney’s wheelchair and whisking him away.

“Sorry to frighten you, Jarod. I didn’t get a chance to introduce you to Agent Davies, before Lyle arrived,” he said, giving the pretender a sympathetic look. Jarod leaned back against the wall, relief pouring over him, enjoying the fact that he would probably never see Lyle again.

“Ok, while the security camera is down, why don’t I go ahead and give you your final instructions for tonight now,” he said looking from Sydney to Jarod to make sure he had their attention. “The coded lock will freeze when the swat teams strike, and remain that way, until we are ready to remove you from the building. There is a gas mask under each bed. Make sure you have yours on at 11:00 PM. Davies will remain in here to give you any help you need. Stay down and away from the window in the door. Questions? Ok, enough said,” he said breaking into a big smile.

Stepping over to where the agent had placed Lyle’s effects, Meisser eyed the surveillance disruption device.

“Clever,” he said, glancing up at the inactive camera, before giving the device a click reactivating the camera.
.
“Ok, Jarod, let’s get you taken care of,” he said, slipping another syringe out of his pocket, deftly flicking it with his finger to get the bubbles out. Go ahead and lay down.”

Jarod continued to lean against the wall, making no move to comply.
“Jarod, are you all right?”

“I have no intention of being totally incapacitated right now. I’d rather skip this dose and catch up on it later.”

“Jarod, there’s no way I can let you do that. This serum is time sensitive. It won’t work if you skip a dose. You’ve come too far with this to jeopardize your future now. We’ll handle anything that comes up. You’ve got to trust us.”

Jarod stood there staring at the agent, but his mind seen a million miles away.

Finally, he conceded and lay back down on the bed so the doctor could deliver his shot.

The last thing Jarod saw before he lost consciousness was Sydney watching him with an unreadable expression on his face, as the drug flooded his mind and overwhelmed his exhausted body.

* * *

The Centre
11:15 PM
Mezzanine: first level, all exists, docking and receiving

With the outer perimeter totally secured, the SWAT teams rushed every entrance, preceded by teargas, taking out the Centre’s entire interior first line of defense.

Gemini and Jarod’s pre-sets in the Centre’s Mainframe had gone off without a hitch. All computer defense systems, communications, surveillance, power, and back up were all off line. Sweepers and other personnel were left groping in the dark, while the SWAT teams wearing infrared goggles and gas masks easily took them out.

* * *

Private room 1E
Centre Infirmary
11:20 PM

“Wake up, Jarod, it’s almost time to go,” Dr. Meisser said, patting his shoulder, then stepping over to confer with the two sharpshooters who were reloading their weapons by the door.

Jarod sat up with a start and tried to get his bearings, the effects of the 9:00 shot still making him extremely disoriented. Incredibly, he had fallen back to sleep right after he’d slipped his gas mask on despite the screams and weapons going off throughout the building.

From a distance, Dr. Meisser broke into a big smile, watching the look of wonder and excitement flash across the pretender’s eyes, knowing he was about to face real freedom for the first time in his life.

“Get your shoes on and hurry, Jarod,” he said, nodding to Agent Davies, who wheeled Sydney over to the door.

Jarod slipped them on quickly and stood up, suddenly noticing Angelo standing nearby. His childhood friend was wearing his torn black leather jacket and holding a box of what looked like Centre red files.

“Angelo go with friend,” he said handing him the Pez container he had found in one of the jacket pockets.

“Thank you,” Jarod said, breaking into a big smile.

Suddenly Angelo let out a yelp, dropping his box of red files and crouching down, as another volley of gunfire echoes through the hallway.

“Angelo, look at me,” Jarod said stooping down next to the frightened manchild. “It’s all right. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise,” Jarod said, looking into his strikingly blue eyes and noticing how surreal everyone looked wearing their gas masks.

“Rice, Agent Meisser. We’ve got some heavy fire up here. Request immediate support. Waiting transfer of hostages, do you copy?”

“I copy that. Sit tight, we’re working on it. Just give us a few more minutes. I’ll get back to you.”

* * *

Renewal Wing
11:30 PM

Bodies were being dragged out of the way, as the Agents hurried Broots, Miss Parker, and Major Charles down the bloody corridor and into ventilation tunnel 27 401. Several Marksmen entered the tunnel ahead of the three, their guns trained toward the dim light ahead. Several other shooters brought up the rear occasionally firing a few rounds.

Smoke and the remnants of tear gas hung heavy in the air, as they emerged into the night air and were quickly moved into the waiting vehicles.

* * *

Infirmary
11:32 PM

The gunfire finally died down, as Angelo, Jarod and Sydney were moved down the heavily guarded hallway, strewn with bodies. Surrounded in front and on either side by heavily armed marksmen and with Agent Meisser and Davies bringing up the rear, they made their way through ventilation tunnel 24 204 to 27 203, and out to the waiting vehicles.

The emergency lights danced across their faces as Jarod, Angelo and Sydney ditched their gas masked and the two were loaded into an agent’s car, while Sydney was loaded into an ambulance and all were whisked away.