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Disclaimer : The Pretender and all character associated with it belongs to NBC and 20th Century Fox. I'm not making any money out of this and no infringement is intended.
Whatever It Takes
Part VI a
Trisha
6a/?
"THIS ONE IS GOING TO KILL YOU SOMEDAY."
"NEVER," HE HISSES.
"YES, SHE WILL!" THE GIRL GLOATS.
RAINES' FIST MAKES CONTACT WITH HER FACE, BUT SHE TAKES THE BLOW, UNFLINCHING.
"THERE'S AN OLD ZEN PROVERB, DR RAINES, THE PAST RESTS AT THE TOP OF THE HEART, THE FUTURE IN THE BACK OF THE MIND, AND THE PRESENT AT THE TIP THE FIST. SHE WILL BE YOUR UNDOING, RAINES. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS FACE."
THE GIRL SMILES AT RAINES FEARFUL LOOK BEFORE HANDS FROM NOWHERE HAVE HER. THEN A HYPODERMIC NEEDLE IS INJECTED INTO HER ARM.
Parker inhales sharply, so intent on watching the screen, that she had to remind herself to breath. Taking the third DSA in her trembling hand, Parker removes the one just viewed.
FOR CENTRE USE ONLY
JANUARY, 1970
CATHERINE QUIETLY ENTERS THE TINY ROOM WITH A SMALL METAL BOX. A TINY FIGURE IS CURLED UP ON THE COT IN A TIGHT FETAL POSTION.
"BETH, SWEETHEART," CATHERINE WHISPERS AS SHE EDGES HERSELF ON THE COT, "LET ME SEE."
THE GIRL TURNS TO FACE CATHERINE, THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE BRUISED, LOWER LIP SWOLLEN AND SPLIT WITH DRIED BLOOD IN THE CORNER, THE LEFT EYE PURPLED AND SEMI-SHUT.
"THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH!" CATHERINE'S VOICE IS LACED WITH FURY, YET SHE TENDERLY WIPES THE BLOD FROM THE CORNER OF THE GIRL'S LIPS. NEXT SHE TAKES AN ICE PACK FROM THE SMALL METAL BOX AND PLACES IT ON THE SWOLLEN FACE.
"HE'S EVIL," BETH CROAKS DRYILY,"HE'S DANGEROUS AND TWISTED. HE'LL TRY TO HURT HER. YOU'VE PROTECTED HER SO FAR BUT HE WANTS HER BACK."
"WHO?" CATHERINE ASKS BUT UNDERSTANDING IS WRITTEN ALL OVER HER FEATURES.
"YOUR ANGEL," THE GIRL MUTTERS BEFORE BALLING UP AGAIN IN OBVIOUS PAIN, "HURTS. HURTS BAD."
"SHHHH!" CATHERINE HUSHES AS SHE SCOOPS UP THE TINY BODY INTO HER ARMS AND LEAVES THE ROOM.
Parker takes the last disc, not all certain that she wants to watch it, but she needs to know more. Raines has a lot to anwser for.
FOR CENTRE USE ONLY
FEBRUARY, 1970
CATHERINE PARKER IS IN HER OFFICE WITH SYDNEY, WHEN RAINES ENTERS, ENRAGED.
"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS TEMPEST, CATHERINE?" RAINES WHEEZES.
"WHO?" CATHERINE QUIERIES, A LOOK OF PUZZLEMENT ON HER FACE.
"YOU KNOW WHO! THE ONE YOU CALL BETH," RAINES NEARLY SHRIEKS.
"WILLIAM, CALM DOWN BEFORE YOU HAVE A STROKE," SYDNEY INTERVENES,"WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OUR LITTLE TEMPEST."
"ASK HER," RAINES SPITS, POINTING A FINGER AT CATHERINE.
"LAST I KNEW SHE WAS IN THE INFIRMARY, AGAIN. RECOVERING FROM ONE OF HIS LATEST BEATINGS. AND THIS TIME IT WAS TOUCH AND GO. IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER T-BOARD WILLIAM. YOU WERE WARNED ONCE." CATHERINE STATES ANGER RISING IN HER VOICE.
"AGAIN! WHAT HAS THAT POOR CHILD EVER DONE TO REQUIRE SUCH TREATMENT," SYDNEY ASKS APPALLED.
" SHE PROTECTS ANGELO. I WILL NOT HAVE HER INTERFERE WITH HIM." RAINES REPLIES," SO WHERE IS SHE, CATHERINE?"
"GO CHECK IN THE INFIRMARY."
"I'LL DO THAT," RAINES SAYS MENANCINGLY. HIS EYES DANCING WITH PURE HATRED AS HE LEAVES.
"CATHERINE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" SYDNEY MOANS, WORRY WRITTEN ON HIS FACE.
"WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE!" SHE REPLIES.
"YOU BEST BE CAREFUL, CATHERINE. YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE. AND YOU SHOULD NOT FORGET ABOUT YOUR OWN CHILD," SYDNEY WARNS.
" I WILL, SYDNEY. I PROMISE. I WILL PROTECT MY CHILD. SPEAKING OF CHILDREN, AM I RIGHT IN GUESSING THAT SHE'S WITH JAROD,' CATHERINE SMILES.
"YES. MISS MISCHIEF AND MR. MAYHEM ARE PROBABLY WITH MR. MELANCHOLY. I JUST HOPE THEY STAY THE HELL OUT OF RAINES' WAY TODAY," SYDNEY SAYS, RETURNING THE SMILE.
"WELL THEN, WE BEST COLLECT YOUR RESPECTIVE CHARGES," CATHERINE REMARKS AS SHE RISES FROM HER CHAIR.
Parker sat there and stared at the screen until she was brought out of her reverie by a soft insistent knock at the door. Just how long she sat there and stared at a grey screen, she had no idea. Again, there a knocking at the door.
"What!"
Jarod entered the room, concern written in his dark eyes."I'm sorry."
"Don't be. There's more though, isn't there," Parker rubs her eyes, exhausted.
"Yes, but it can wait until tomorrow. It's late and we both need to get some rest."
"Rest, Jarod. I'm not sure I can. I have so many questions running around in my head, that it's spinning. I need answers," Parker states.
"In the morning. Parker, please," Jarod comes around the desk and gently pulls her from the chair and propells her toward the door.
"Fine, but first thing in the morning we talk. Agreed. "
" Agreed," Jarod extends his hand to her and she takes it willingly.
The duo climb the stairs wearily, and Jarod stops at Parker's bedroom door.
"Good night Parker. Get some rest," Jarod says as he opens the door for her. Parker leans against the back of the door and closes her eyes. God, all she wants right now is to be held. Placing his hands on the other side of the door, Jarod knows that he could have held her, but she needs to come to him. He leaves the hallway and quietly closes the door to his room.
Thanks so far for all the feedback. I do enjoy it. Please keep it coming. I thought that this would not go on for so long but it has taken on a life of its own and I have no idea where it will end.
Please leave some feedback at: Ractrish@aol.com
Part VI a
Trisha
6a/?
"THIS ONE IS GOING TO KILL YOU SOMEDAY."
"NEVER," HE HISSES.
"YES, SHE WILL!" THE GIRL GLOATS.
RAINES' FIST MAKES CONTACT WITH HER FACE, BUT SHE TAKES THE BLOW, UNFLINCHING.
"THERE'S AN OLD ZEN PROVERB, DR RAINES, THE PAST RESTS AT THE TOP OF THE HEART, THE FUTURE IN THE BACK OF THE MIND, AND THE PRESENT AT THE TIP THE FIST. SHE WILL BE YOUR UNDOING, RAINES. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS FACE."
THE GIRL SMILES AT RAINES FEARFUL LOOK BEFORE HANDS FROM NOWHERE HAVE HER. THEN A HYPODERMIC NEEDLE IS INJECTED INTO HER ARM.
Parker inhales sharply, so intent on watching the screen, that she had to remind herself to breath. Taking the third DSA in her trembling hand, Parker removes the one just viewed.
FOR CENTRE USE ONLY
JANUARY, 1970
CATHERINE QUIETLY ENTERS THE TINY ROOM WITH A SMALL METAL BOX. A TINY FIGURE IS CURLED UP ON THE COT IN A TIGHT FETAL POSTION.
"BETH, SWEETHEART," CATHERINE WHISPERS AS SHE EDGES HERSELF ON THE COT, "LET ME SEE."
THE GIRL TURNS TO FACE CATHERINE, THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE BRUISED, LOWER LIP SWOLLEN AND SPLIT WITH DRIED BLOOD IN THE CORNER, THE LEFT EYE PURPLED AND SEMI-SHUT.
"THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH!" CATHERINE'S VOICE IS LACED WITH FURY, YET SHE TENDERLY WIPES THE BLOD FROM THE CORNER OF THE GIRL'S LIPS. NEXT SHE TAKES AN ICE PACK FROM THE SMALL METAL BOX AND PLACES IT ON THE SWOLLEN FACE.
"HE'S EVIL," BETH CROAKS DRYILY,"HE'S DANGEROUS AND TWISTED. HE'LL TRY TO HURT HER. YOU'VE PROTECTED HER SO FAR BUT HE WANTS HER BACK."
"WHO?" CATHERINE ASKS BUT UNDERSTANDING IS WRITTEN ALL OVER HER FEATURES.
"YOUR ANGEL," THE GIRL MUTTERS BEFORE BALLING UP AGAIN IN OBVIOUS PAIN, "HURTS. HURTS BAD."
"SHHHH!" CATHERINE HUSHES AS SHE SCOOPS UP THE TINY BODY INTO HER ARMS AND LEAVES THE ROOM.
Parker takes the last disc, not all certain that she wants to watch it, but she needs to know more. Raines has a lot to anwser for.
FOR CENTRE USE ONLY
FEBRUARY, 1970
CATHERINE PARKER IS IN HER OFFICE WITH SYDNEY, WHEN RAINES ENTERS, ENRAGED.
"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS TEMPEST, CATHERINE?" RAINES WHEEZES.
"WHO?" CATHERINE QUIERIES, A LOOK OF PUZZLEMENT ON HER FACE.
"YOU KNOW WHO! THE ONE YOU CALL BETH," RAINES NEARLY SHRIEKS.
"WILLIAM, CALM DOWN BEFORE YOU HAVE A STROKE," SYDNEY INTERVENES,"WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OUR LITTLE TEMPEST."
"ASK HER," RAINES SPITS, POINTING A FINGER AT CATHERINE.
"LAST I KNEW SHE WAS IN THE INFIRMARY, AGAIN. RECOVERING FROM ONE OF HIS LATEST BEATINGS. AND THIS TIME IT WAS TOUCH AND GO. IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER T-BOARD WILLIAM. YOU WERE WARNED ONCE." CATHERINE STATES ANGER RISING IN HER VOICE.
"AGAIN! WHAT HAS THAT POOR CHILD EVER DONE TO REQUIRE SUCH TREATMENT," SYDNEY ASKS APPALLED.
" SHE PROTECTS ANGELO. I WILL NOT HAVE HER INTERFERE WITH HIM." RAINES REPLIES," SO WHERE IS SHE, CATHERINE?"
"GO CHECK IN THE INFIRMARY."
"I'LL DO THAT," RAINES SAYS MENANCINGLY. HIS EYES DANCING WITH PURE HATRED AS HE LEAVES.
"CATHERINE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" SYDNEY MOANS, WORRY WRITTEN ON HIS FACE.
"WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE!" SHE REPLIES.
"YOU BEST BE CAREFUL, CATHERINE. YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE. AND YOU SHOULD NOT FORGET ABOUT YOUR OWN CHILD," SYDNEY WARNS.
" I WILL, SYDNEY. I PROMISE. I WILL PROTECT MY CHILD. SPEAKING OF CHILDREN, AM I RIGHT IN GUESSING THAT SHE'S WITH JAROD,' CATHERINE SMILES.
"YES. MISS MISCHIEF AND MR. MAYHEM ARE PROBABLY WITH MR. MELANCHOLY. I JUST HOPE THEY STAY THE HELL OUT OF RAINES' WAY TODAY," SYDNEY SAYS, RETURNING THE SMILE.
"WELL THEN, WE BEST COLLECT YOUR RESPECTIVE CHARGES," CATHERINE REMARKS AS SHE RISES FROM HER CHAIR.
Parker sat there and stared at the screen until she was brought out of her reverie by a soft insistent knock at the door. Just how long she sat there and stared at a grey screen, she had no idea. Again, there a knocking at the door.
"What!"
Jarod entered the room, concern written in his dark eyes."I'm sorry."
"Don't be. There's more though, isn't there," Parker rubs her eyes, exhausted.
"Yes, but it can wait until tomorrow. It's late and we both need to get some rest."
"Rest, Jarod. I'm not sure I can. I have so many questions running around in my head, that it's spinning. I need answers," Parker states.
"In the morning. Parker, please," Jarod comes around the desk and gently pulls her from the chair and propells her toward the door.
"Fine, but first thing in the morning we talk. Agreed. "
" Agreed," Jarod extends his hand to her and she takes it willingly.
The duo climb the stairs wearily, and Jarod stops at Parker's bedroom door.
"Good night Parker. Get some rest," Jarod says as he opens the door for her. Parker leans against the back of the door and closes her eyes. God, all she wants right now is to be held. Placing his hands on the other side of the door, Jarod knows that he could have held her, but she needs to come to him. He leaves the hallway and quietly closes the door to his room.
Thanks so far for all the feedback. I do enjoy it. Please keep it coming. I thought that this would not go on for so long but it has taken on a life of its own and I have no idea where it will end.
Please leave some feedback at: Ractrish@aol.com
