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Chapter or Story 
Chapter or Story
In Pursuit of Happiness
Part XXXX
By jojarod50
Out side Jarod and Andi Marie's ocean front home
7:10 PM
"Stay with me, Jarod," she cried in vain, fighting back tears as he
slipped into unconsciousness. "God, no," she breathed, easing him
down to the pavement. "I'm not leaving you, Jarod, Parkers don't
run," she spit, slipping her hand into Jarod's bloody suit jacket and
pulling out his phone.
"Time to go, little missy," a harsh voice said, pressing a silencer
firmly against her back.
"Please don't kill me. I'll do what you want," Andrea assured him,
placing the slippery phone and gun near her feet, then slowly
starting to rise. "Just give me a minute more with my husband."
"Shut up and head for the car," he said, giving her a little
push.
"You can't just leave him lying there; he'll die," she
pleaded, her face pale and eyes frantic.
"That's the idea, lady. Quit stalling," he growled, giving
her an angry shove. As Andi stumbled and began to go down, the gunman
reached out to steady her. Turning slightly, she slammed the heel of
her hand at an angle into his nose, driving the bones straight into
his brain. Then dropping to the ground, she grabbed Jarod's gun and
took aim, terminating the accomplice standing by the waiting car at
the far end of the winding driveway.
Retrieving the phone she quickly dialing 911. While the connection
was made, she made a full sweep of the heavily landscaped front yard,
looking for any other imminent threat.
"Send an ambulance to 32005 Oceanside Terrace, South beach. My
husband's been shot; 2 suspects down," she said between labored
breaths. Shoving the live phone into her waistband still in a
defensive posture, she made her way back to her husband.
"You should have listened to Jarod and tried to get away. Put
down that weapon, you're coming with me."
Andi slowly turned around, holding her gun above her head in
submission.
"Bruce, you son of a bitch. Jarod trusted you. You make me
sick," she said loudly enough to be heard over her phone.
"Hey it's not my fault he's lacking in "street smarts". Your
people shouldn't have kept Jarod locked up until he was a full-grown
man," he said with a smirk, approaching the cornered female intending
to take her gun.
"The fact that I'd been with the bureau for 18 years shouldn't have
meant jack to him. I'm a sleeper. Your genius husband should have
been able to figure that out. You know what they say, "implicit trust
easily leads to death." Nice, huh, I just made that up."
* * *
Crime scene in front of Jarod and Andi's house
7:19 PM
The home Jarod had just bought as a wedding gift for his wife
was being cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape, while the bloody
pavement where Jarod had lain was being outlined by another policeman
in chalk.
Two ambulances and several squad cars were crammed together
in front of the house, their incessantly flashing red lights
completing the grizzly scene.
Agent Malone called in his location and left his car,
scanning the area for Jarod's wife. Sickened by what he was seeing,
he spotted her among the emergency medical personal, standing a short
distance from the ambulances.
"Is there anything I can do, Andrea?" the agent asked
quietly, as he stepped up to her, noticing by the way she was shaking
that she was in the first stages of shock.
Andrea remained silent, staring at the black body bag as the corpse
was carefully placed inside and the zipper pulled up.
"I, um, need to get a brief statement from you, if you're up
to it."
"Statement?" she laughed almost breaking into tears. "You had
a double agent working with my husband, with unfettered access to
him, you jackass. Jarod trusted you and you left him out in the cold,
knowing there was an immanent threat on our lives," she hissed
staring at the gurney being lifted aboard the ambulance nearest her.
"Andrea, how is he?"
"Go to hell," Andi spit, boarding the ambulance without
looking back.
* * *
Surgery room # 1
7:39 PM
"All right, Jarod, just breathe naturally, and start counting
backward from 100 as far as you can," the anesthesiologist said, as
he place the gas mask over the agent's nose and mouth.
"Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety-si…"
*
Jarod floated peacefully in the ocean water, slowly rising
and falling with the gentle waves. The unbearable pain in his chest
and shoulder slowly faded away, as he fell silent unable to count
anymore. Andrea's sleek warm body entwined lovingly around his, and
he whispered her name once more, as he fell into a deep, deep sleep.
Post-operative recovery room #3a
9:43 PM
The pretender's eyelids fluttered occasionally, as he lapsed in and
out of consciousness, occasionally moaning and whispering Andrea's
name.
As the anesthesia gradually tapered off, he became vaguely aware that
he was no longer at the beach, and the severe discomfort he felt
earlier was returning with a vengeance again.
Deeply disoriented, he instinctively attempted to sit up, giving out
a weak cry as searing hot pain shot through his upper body.
"Lie still, Jarod. There you go, just try to relax," the post-
operative nurse said, placing a cool damp cloth gently over his
forehead.
"Dr. Biningham, your patient is coming around," she called into the
intercom.
*
Dr. Biningham's Office
"Thank you nurse, I'm on my way. Dr. Green, if you will
excuse me."
"Of course doctor. Mind if I tag along?"
"Be my guest."
*
Recovery room #3a…
"Where…am I?" Jarod whispered in confusion, licking his dry
lips, grimacing in pain.
"You're in the recovery room. You just underwent surgery to remove a
bullet lodged in your shoulder. Just lie still. You're going to be
just fine."
Still extremely murky, Jarod made another abortive attempt to
sit up, becoming highly agitated as he started remembering being shot.
"My…wife…wh..ere's my wife?" he whispered harshly, becoming combative
as the nurse tried to keep him pinned down.
"You're wife's in the waiting room. If you plan on seeing her
any time soon, you better lie still or I'll be force to sedate you,"
his doctor warned, holding his panic-stricken patient firmly in
place.
Deeply relieved, Jarod markedly relaxed, lying still while his doctor
began conducting a brief examination. From the far end of the room,
Sydney discretely observed him, carefully assessing his mental state.
"Is she…all..right?" Jarod asked between quick painful breaths,
struggling not to pass out from the pain.
"She's fine, Jarod. I'll let you see her in a little bit," he said,
in a gentler tone, injecting him with a substantial amount of
Meperidine for the pain. "There you go. That should help you feel
more comfortable."
"Now, stay put. I don't want you rupturing your sutures," he
admonished, lifting the thin blanket off his left shoulder and
carefully pulling it back.
"You're a very lucky young man. The unusual path the bullet took,
caused it to miss your heart completely," he said, checking the
dressings on his chest and shoulder for bleeding. "On the down side,
you have a big hole in your identification badge."
"You promised me…I could see…my wife," he managed, lying limply
against his pillow, gratefully feeling less pain.
"We'll have her join you in your room. Mike, why don't you wheel
Agent Jarod, to room 331? There's an officer just outside this room,
who will escort you both upstairs." *
* *
Room 331
15 minutes later…
When Andrea entered the hospital room, she was surprised to see Jarod
in a slightly elevated position, grinning at her with that
unmistakable," I wish we were alone" look. But when he whispered her
name, she knew he was in far worse shape then he wanted her to
believe.
"Jarod, sweetheart, shh, don't try to talk. I already spoke
to your doctor, and he told me not to have you overexert yourself,"
she said, placing her fingers lightly on his parched lips.
"He's…over-protective," he said, his eyes closing for a moment,
fighting the strong effects of the Meperidine making him unbearably
groggy.
"I'm so sorry,…you…could…have.." he started, before having to stop
for a moment, totally out of breath.
"Stop that, Jarod, it wasn't you fault," she said, moving his
dark damp hair to the side of his forehead. "Would you like some ice
chips. That's all you're allowed to have right now.
"Thanks," he said with a slight smile.
"What…happened," he asked, hating that he hadn't been there
for her.
"I blew them away, Jarod, all of them. Then the ambulance
arrived, and we came to the hospital where you underwent emergency
surgery. Jarod, they wanted you dead," she started, unable to say
anything else.
"You saved my life," he whispered emotionally, moving his
hand near to her's.
After a few moments, he spoke again. "What about my parents?"
he asked, closing his eyes for a moment, obviously in pain when he
talked.
"Your whole family is coming up tomorrow, after you've had a chance
to rest."
"I wasn't…expecting…to…see, the inside…of a hosp…"
"I'm sorry, it's time to let your husband get some sleep," the doctor
said, checking Jarod's chart as he entered the room.
"Wait…Andi," Jarod whispered, clamping onto her hand. "I need…my…
laptop…plea…"
Andrea looked up at the doctor who shook his head no.
"I'll try to bring it up to you later. Now mind your doctor, and try
to get some sleep."
"No, Andi… I… need……it… tonight," Jarod insisted, refusing to let go
of her hand. "I've got to…finish the…tracking grid…while they're…
still," he managed, before being drowned out by the doctor's voice.
"You're the most lively post-operative patient I think I've ever had,
Jarod," Biningham said in slight amusement, lifting a syringe off the
tray.
"I warned you that if you became agitated again, I would sedate you,
and I meant it. You can file a complainant with the management
tomorrow," he said, tapping the bubbles to the top of the syringe and
giving it a little squirt.
"Dr. Biningham, if you will permit me," Sydney suggested, too late to
stop the physician from delivering the shot.
"You were saying, Dr. Green?"
"Perhaps we should continue this discussion out into the hall,"
Sydney said, tightly, nodding toward the door.
*
"Why on earth did you sedate Jarod? You must have been aware that he
was already having a very difficult time staying awake," he said,
feeling deeply concerned as he spoke again. "I could have easily
gotten him to calm down. What you did was medically unwarranted."
"And what do you base that on? You expertise as a psychiatrist?" he
sneered with contempt, not used to having his judgement second-
guessed. "He wasn't going to let it go, and you know it. I couldn't
chance him rupturing his sutures. OR is totally booked right now," he
informed the other man. "Dr. Green, I've dealt with this sort of
thing before and I assure you, this was the best way to go," he said
with a confident smile, as he opened the door returning to Jarod's
room.
Sydney looked from Dr. Biningham to the unconscious pretender and
started to say something else, but the doctor cut him off.
"Ma'am, there's really nothing more you can do for your husband
tonight. Why don't you go home and try and get some sleep," Biningham
suggested, hoping to get them both out of his hair.
"I'll be happy to drive you home, Andrea," Sydney offered, giving the
doctor a wary look.
"Thank you, Syd."
"Perhaps we can discuss this more tomorrow. Rest assured, I'm
not letting this go."
"As you wish," Biningham said with a frustrating sigh, doing his best
to make light of the situation as he jotted something down on Jarod's
chart.
* * *
Jarod's hospital room
7:10 AM
Jarod continued to play possum until the day nurse was out of sight,
then reached for the phone and dialed for an outside line.
Jarod and Andi's home
master bedroom
"What," Andrea asked, in an airy tone, still half asleep.
"Hi, honey."
"Jarod, what are you doing up in the middle of the night?"
"I hate to tell you this, but the sun's already up," Jarod offered in
amusement, picturing his lovely wife without any makeup on, in her
sexy gown with the red ribbon trim.
"Mmmm, you sound a lot better today. How are you feeling?"
"I'll be fine, as long as that hypo-happy doctor doesn't try to over-
medicate me again. Sweetheart, I need my lap top. I'd planned on
sending Bailey an aggressive tracking program, designed to root out
Sieble's men, but I was unable to complete it, before the attack."
"I don't know, Jarod. Your doctor said you needed your rest."
"I got it, believe me. I've been out cold for over eight and a half
hours. Andi, listen to me. I need to do this. Please, help me."
"Ok, Jarod, as long as your doctor thinks it's all right."
"I don't trust him, Andi. My injuries weren't severe enough to
warrant being so heavily medicated, let alone totally sedated. I
don't want you letting him know about this."
" Jarod, you're just being paranoid. He's your doctor, for heaven's
sake."
"Sweetheart, please just do as I asked. Bailey needs that information
as soon as possible."
"But, you're not even on the case anymore."
"I know."
*
Room 331
moments later…
"Ah, Agent Jarod, why am I not surprised to find you on the phone,"
his doctor said in frustration, as he entered his room.
"Dr. Biningham, what a pleasant surprise," Jarod said sarcastically,
feeling the hairs rise on the back of his neck.
"You federal agents think you're so damned invincible. Why couldn't
you just cooperate with me, and try and get some rest?" he asked,
shaking his head, as he injected something into his IV tubing, before
Jarod could even react.
Already becoming sluggish from the effects of the drug, the pretender
helplessly groped for the pager attached to his sheet, but his doctor
quickly unclamped it and set it out of the way.
"Don't fight the natural progression of the drug. It's really for the
best," he said, holding him down while the drug took effect.
Working his right hand free from the doctor's sweaty grip, Jarod
yanked on his IV tubing sending the whole thing crashing to the
floor. As if on cue, Agent Malone stepped into the room, followed by
the armed guard and a nurse, who noticed the fray from the doorway.
"What the hell's going on in here?" Bailey asked, quickly drawing his
gun, as pretender managed to roll off the bed.
"He's…one…of…them…," Jarod managed, ripping the tubing out of his arm.
"Better call for a…toxicologist; I think he…just tried to…poisoned
me."
"No, wait, it's only Seconal! I refused to kill him for them; I'm a
doctor, not a murderer. Look, I'll tell you everything. Just don't
put me in jail!"
"Get him out of here and don't forget to read him his rights," Malone
said angrily, offering Jarod his hand and helping him back on the bed.
"Are you all right, Jarod?"
"Yeah, at least…the shoulder's…fine. I made it…a point…to land…on……my
right…………….sssside," he slurred.
"Nurse, is he…?"
"He's out cold, but his pulse is strong," she said, meeting Malone's
eyes briefly, before stepping to the intercom and giving it a quick
jab. "Gracie, I need a doctor in 331 stat."
*
Hallway 3 - just outside of Jarod's room
Agents Malone stepped into the empty hallway and slipped out his
phone, as soon as the doctor arrived. He purposely left the armed
security guard inside.
"Malone here; what kind of slip-shod operation are you idiots running
down here? Did anyone even bother to run a backup check on Jarod's
physician? Watch it, Jack; don't talk to me about jurisdiction, you
don't have a leg to stand on. His doctor was dirty and I'm holding
you personally responsible," he said rubbing the back of his neck. "I
want Jarod moved to the safe house ASAP and you better not screw it
up. I don't give a damn who said Jarod shouldn't be moved yet, he was
shot in the shoulder not the gut, for heaven's sake. Find a doctor
who'll clear it and get it done now!"
* *
*
A Safe-house
Undisclosed location
5:35 PM (later that day}
"Jarod, how are you feeling," Andi asked, as she approached her
preoccupied husband propped up on the couch.
"Um, hi sweetheart," Jarod said distractedly, staring into
the screen. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing there. "Um, did you
want something?" he asked, barely acknowledging her presence, as his
fingers flew over the keys to his lap top while explaining what he
was doing to Broots.
"Yeah, I want you to put that laptop down, now," she
growled, noticing a sheen of sweat covering his flushed face. "You
promised me before you came down, that you and Broots were going to
have that finished in about an hour, and then you were going back to
bed."
"That was only an estimation," he said, suddenly realizing he
had pretty much been ignoring her. "Just give us a couple more
minutes," he said, glancing up with a smile, disheartened to see the
worried look on her face.
"A couple of minutes? It better not be any more than that.
You look simply exhausted."
"Actually, I'm getting hungry. How about you, Broots?" he
said with a sly smile.
"Yeah, I'm, um, I, I never thought you would ask. I, I mean,
well, yes."
"Sweetheart, if I promise to wrap this up, would you bring us
a couple of burgers off the grill?"
"That's more like it," she said, leaning in for a kiss.
"Still can't keep your hands off of her, can you son?" the
Major teased, as he came in off the deck and into the room, relieved
to see that his son was up and running again.
"Remember, Jarod, two minutes," Andi said in a parental voice,
disappearing though the sliding glass doors.
"Son, is it safe to come in now? I don't want to breach National
security, you know."
"We've about done here," he said with a chuckle, amused by his
joke. "Is everyone doing all right out on the deck?"
"Your mom's still a little shook up, but other than that, the rest of
the family's doing just fine. They're all about through eating and
ought to be migrating back inside any time now," he said taking a
seat near his son. "They'll be glad to see you're up."
" You gave us all a scare, Jarod. By the time we arrived at the
hospital, they already had taken you into surgery. Andi told us the
bullet ricocheted off your badge, giving you a hell of a bruise,
before tearing up your shoulder. Are you in very much pain?"
"I'm fine now; don't worry about it," he said, hitting send then
sinking back onto the padded couch. He was exhausted but totally
relieved to have the information on it's way to where it could do the
most good.
"Well, Dad, we're still on the run, but at least we're on the run
together," Jarod offered, trying to make light of the fact that his
family was still in danger because of who he was.
"Um, you won't be for long, once the bureau activates your new
program," Broots said with a big smile. "I mean, um, they'll have
everyone under arrest within a couple of weeks," he said, suddenly
feeling awkward for speaking up.
"I hope you're right, Broots," Jarod's dad said, giving him a
pat on the back.
"Say, then you and Andi will be able to go on a real
honeymoon," Broots said, trying to be encouraging.
"Now that's a nice thought, Broots," Jarod said, becoming
quiet as he imagined what it would be like for all of them to live
their lives without having to watch their backs anymore.
*
"What's a honey moon?" Michael asked, as he and his sister
came into the room.
"It's a really cool trip couples go on when they first get
married. And no, you can't go," Emily teased, going up to Jarod and
giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Em, how's my favorite sister doing?" he asked, relieved
that she and the others were safe and sound.
"Better than you are, sleepy-head. I've got a great idea for
a Christmas present for you. What size do you wear in a bullet-proof
vest?"
"Emily, stop teasing your brother," Margaret said with mock
irritation, noticing Jarod seemed to be enjoying it immensely.
* * *
After a modest dinner and a small scoop of ice cream, Jarod asked his
dad to help him upstairs to bed. He was becoming too woozy from his
injury and pain medication to feel like visiting anymore.
*
Master bedroom
11:35 PM
"Who's there?" Jarod asked groggily, shifting nervously in his bed,
startled by the sudden motion in the dim light near by.
"Who do you think it is?" Andrea offered, slipping out of her
terry robe and setting it on a chair, before slipping into bed.
"Mmmm, I…missed you…last night. They never…give you enough…
blankets…to keep…you…warm," he whispered, stifling a moan as he
attempted to move closer to her.
"Poor baby," Andi said in mock sympathy, giving his forehead a gentle
kiss. After a few moments of listening to his uneven breathing, she
realized he was trying to hide the fact that he was in pain. "You
slept through your last dose of Demerol, didn't you?" she said more
than asked, reaching for the lamp switch and turning it on. "You
better take some now, before the pain gets any worse," she said,
propping his pillow up for him.
"You make…a…great…nurse," he whispered, studying her beautiful face
with his dark brown eyes as she proffered him the pills and water.
"Don't get any ideas, Mr. I'm not playing doctor with you tonight,"
she teased.
"Hmm, what…a shame," he said with a flirtatious grim, refusing the
rest of the water and gingerly scooting back down.
"I don't think I could…go on…living without…you, Andi," he mumbled
quietly, sinking into his pillow and closing his eyes.
"I love you, too, Jarod," she whispered, helping him arrange his
covers, then snuggling close to his side.
Totally exhausted and safely out of harm's way, they both fell fast
asleep.
TBC Jemac@g... Please offer feedback - -it really makes
a big difference.v
Part XXXX
By jojarod50
Out side Jarod and Andi Marie's ocean front home
7:10 PM
"Stay with me, Jarod," she cried in vain, fighting back tears as he
slipped into unconsciousness. "God, no," she breathed, easing him
down to the pavement. "I'm not leaving you, Jarod, Parkers don't
run," she spit, slipping her hand into Jarod's bloody suit jacket and
pulling out his phone.
"Time to go, little missy," a harsh voice said, pressing a silencer
firmly against her back.
"Please don't kill me. I'll do what you want," Andrea assured him,
placing the slippery phone and gun near her feet, then slowly
starting to rise. "Just give me a minute more with my husband."
"Shut up and head for the car," he said, giving her a little
push.
"You can't just leave him lying there; he'll die," she
pleaded, her face pale and eyes frantic.
"That's the idea, lady. Quit stalling," he growled, giving
her an angry shove. As Andi stumbled and began to go down, the gunman
reached out to steady her. Turning slightly, she slammed the heel of
her hand at an angle into his nose, driving the bones straight into
his brain. Then dropping to the ground, she grabbed Jarod's gun and
took aim, terminating the accomplice standing by the waiting car at
the far end of the winding driveway.
Retrieving the phone she quickly dialing 911. While the connection
was made, she made a full sweep of the heavily landscaped front yard,
looking for any other imminent threat.
"Send an ambulance to 32005 Oceanside Terrace, South beach. My
husband's been shot; 2 suspects down," she said between labored
breaths. Shoving the live phone into her waistband still in a
defensive posture, she made her way back to her husband.
"You should have listened to Jarod and tried to get away. Put
down that weapon, you're coming with me."
Andi slowly turned around, holding her gun above her head in
submission.
"Bruce, you son of a bitch. Jarod trusted you. You make me
sick," she said loudly enough to be heard over her phone.
"Hey it's not my fault he's lacking in "street smarts". Your
people shouldn't have kept Jarod locked up until he was a full-grown
man," he said with a smirk, approaching the cornered female intending
to take her gun.
"The fact that I'd been with the bureau for 18 years shouldn't have
meant jack to him. I'm a sleeper. Your genius husband should have
been able to figure that out. You know what they say, "implicit trust
easily leads to death." Nice, huh, I just made that up."
* * *
Crime scene in front of Jarod and Andi's house
7:19 PM
The home Jarod had just bought as a wedding gift for his wife
was being cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape, while the bloody
pavement where Jarod had lain was being outlined by another policeman
in chalk.
Two ambulances and several squad cars were crammed together
in front of the house, their incessantly flashing red lights
completing the grizzly scene.
Agent Malone called in his location and left his car,
scanning the area for Jarod's wife. Sickened by what he was seeing,
he spotted her among the emergency medical personal, standing a short
distance from the ambulances.
"Is there anything I can do, Andrea?" the agent asked
quietly, as he stepped up to her, noticing by the way she was shaking
that she was in the first stages of shock.
Andrea remained silent, staring at the black body bag as the corpse
was carefully placed inside and the zipper pulled up.
"I, um, need to get a brief statement from you, if you're up
to it."
"Statement?" she laughed almost breaking into tears. "You had
a double agent working with my husband, with unfettered access to
him, you jackass. Jarod trusted you and you left him out in the cold,
knowing there was an immanent threat on our lives," she hissed
staring at the gurney being lifted aboard the ambulance nearest her.
"Andrea, how is he?"
"Go to hell," Andi spit, boarding the ambulance without
looking back.
* * *
Surgery room # 1
7:39 PM
"All right, Jarod, just breathe naturally, and start counting
backward from 100 as far as you can," the anesthesiologist said, as
he place the gas mask over the agent's nose and mouth.
"Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety-si…"
*
Jarod floated peacefully in the ocean water, slowly rising
and falling with the gentle waves. The unbearable pain in his chest
and shoulder slowly faded away, as he fell silent unable to count
anymore. Andrea's sleek warm body entwined lovingly around his, and
he whispered her name once more, as he fell into a deep, deep sleep.
Post-operative recovery room #3a
9:43 PM
The pretender's eyelids fluttered occasionally, as he lapsed in and
out of consciousness, occasionally moaning and whispering Andrea's
name.
As the anesthesia gradually tapered off, he became vaguely aware that
he was no longer at the beach, and the severe discomfort he felt
earlier was returning with a vengeance again.
Deeply disoriented, he instinctively attempted to sit up, giving out
a weak cry as searing hot pain shot through his upper body.
"Lie still, Jarod. There you go, just try to relax," the post-
operative nurse said, placing a cool damp cloth gently over his
forehead.
"Dr. Biningham, your patient is coming around," she called into the
intercom.
*
Dr. Biningham's Office
"Thank you nurse, I'm on my way. Dr. Green, if you will
excuse me."
"Of course doctor. Mind if I tag along?"
"Be my guest."
*
Recovery room #3a…
"Where…am I?" Jarod whispered in confusion, licking his dry
lips, grimacing in pain.
"You're in the recovery room. You just underwent surgery to remove a
bullet lodged in your shoulder. Just lie still. You're going to be
just fine."
Still extremely murky, Jarod made another abortive attempt to
sit up, becoming highly agitated as he started remembering being shot.
"My…wife…wh..ere's my wife?" he whispered harshly, becoming combative
as the nurse tried to keep him pinned down.
"You're wife's in the waiting room. If you plan on seeing her
any time soon, you better lie still or I'll be force to sedate you,"
his doctor warned, holding his panic-stricken patient firmly in
place.
Deeply relieved, Jarod markedly relaxed, lying still while his doctor
began conducting a brief examination. From the far end of the room,
Sydney discretely observed him, carefully assessing his mental state.
"Is she…all..right?" Jarod asked between quick painful breaths,
struggling not to pass out from the pain.
"She's fine, Jarod. I'll let you see her in a little bit," he said,
in a gentler tone, injecting him with a substantial amount of
Meperidine for the pain. "There you go. That should help you feel
more comfortable."
"Now, stay put. I don't want you rupturing your sutures," he
admonished, lifting the thin blanket off his left shoulder and
carefully pulling it back.
"You're a very lucky young man. The unusual path the bullet took,
caused it to miss your heart completely," he said, checking the
dressings on his chest and shoulder for bleeding. "On the down side,
you have a big hole in your identification badge."
"You promised me…I could see…my wife," he managed, lying limply
against his pillow, gratefully feeling less pain.
"We'll have her join you in your room. Mike, why don't you wheel
Agent Jarod, to room 331? There's an officer just outside this room,
who will escort you both upstairs." *
* *
Room 331
15 minutes later…
When Andrea entered the hospital room, she was surprised to see Jarod
in a slightly elevated position, grinning at her with that
unmistakable," I wish we were alone" look. But when he whispered her
name, she knew he was in far worse shape then he wanted her to
believe.
"Jarod, sweetheart, shh, don't try to talk. I already spoke
to your doctor, and he told me not to have you overexert yourself,"
she said, placing her fingers lightly on his parched lips.
"He's…over-protective," he said, his eyes closing for a moment,
fighting the strong effects of the Meperidine making him unbearably
groggy.
"I'm so sorry,…you…could…have.." he started, before having to stop
for a moment, totally out of breath.
"Stop that, Jarod, it wasn't you fault," she said, moving his
dark damp hair to the side of his forehead. "Would you like some ice
chips. That's all you're allowed to have right now.
"Thanks," he said with a slight smile.
"What…happened," he asked, hating that he hadn't been there
for her.
"I blew them away, Jarod, all of them. Then the ambulance
arrived, and we came to the hospital where you underwent emergency
surgery. Jarod, they wanted you dead," she started, unable to say
anything else.
"You saved my life," he whispered emotionally, moving his
hand near to her's.
After a few moments, he spoke again. "What about my parents?"
he asked, closing his eyes for a moment, obviously in pain when he
talked.
"Your whole family is coming up tomorrow, after you've had a chance
to rest."
"I wasn't…expecting…to…see, the inside…of a hosp…"
"I'm sorry, it's time to let your husband get some sleep," the doctor
said, checking Jarod's chart as he entered the room.
"Wait…Andi," Jarod whispered, clamping onto her hand. "I need…my…
laptop…plea…"
Andrea looked up at the doctor who shook his head no.
"I'll try to bring it up to you later. Now mind your doctor, and try
to get some sleep."
"No, Andi… I… need……it… tonight," Jarod insisted, refusing to let go
of her hand. "I've got to…finish the…tracking grid…while they're…
still," he managed, before being drowned out by the doctor's voice.
"You're the most lively post-operative patient I think I've ever had,
Jarod," Biningham said in slight amusement, lifting a syringe off the
tray.
"I warned you that if you became agitated again, I would sedate you,
and I meant it. You can file a complainant with the management
tomorrow," he said, tapping the bubbles to the top of the syringe and
giving it a little squirt.
"Dr. Biningham, if you will permit me," Sydney suggested, too late to
stop the physician from delivering the shot.
"You were saying, Dr. Green?"
"Perhaps we should continue this discussion out into the hall,"
Sydney said, tightly, nodding toward the door.
*
"Why on earth did you sedate Jarod? You must have been aware that he
was already having a very difficult time staying awake," he said,
feeling deeply concerned as he spoke again. "I could have easily
gotten him to calm down. What you did was medically unwarranted."
"And what do you base that on? You expertise as a psychiatrist?" he
sneered with contempt, not used to having his judgement second-
guessed. "He wasn't going to let it go, and you know it. I couldn't
chance him rupturing his sutures. OR is totally booked right now," he
informed the other man. "Dr. Green, I've dealt with this sort of
thing before and I assure you, this was the best way to go," he said
with a confident smile, as he opened the door returning to Jarod's
room.
Sydney looked from Dr. Biningham to the unconscious pretender and
started to say something else, but the doctor cut him off.
"Ma'am, there's really nothing more you can do for your husband
tonight. Why don't you go home and try and get some sleep," Biningham
suggested, hoping to get them both out of his hair.
"I'll be happy to drive you home, Andrea," Sydney offered, giving the
doctor a wary look.
"Thank you, Syd."
"Perhaps we can discuss this more tomorrow. Rest assured, I'm
not letting this go."
"As you wish," Biningham said with a frustrating sigh, doing his best
to make light of the situation as he jotted something down on Jarod's
chart.
* * *
Jarod's hospital room
7:10 AM
Jarod continued to play possum until the day nurse was out of sight,
then reached for the phone and dialed for an outside line.
Jarod and Andi's home
master bedroom
"What," Andrea asked, in an airy tone, still half asleep.
"Hi, honey."
"Jarod, what are you doing up in the middle of the night?"
"I hate to tell you this, but the sun's already up," Jarod offered in
amusement, picturing his lovely wife without any makeup on, in her
sexy gown with the red ribbon trim.
"Mmmm, you sound a lot better today. How are you feeling?"
"I'll be fine, as long as that hypo-happy doctor doesn't try to over-
medicate me again. Sweetheart, I need my lap top. I'd planned on
sending Bailey an aggressive tracking program, designed to root out
Sieble's men, but I was unable to complete it, before the attack."
"I don't know, Jarod. Your doctor said you needed your rest."
"I got it, believe me. I've been out cold for over eight and a half
hours. Andi, listen to me. I need to do this. Please, help me."
"Ok, Jarod, as long as your doctor thinks it's all right."
"I don't trust him, Andi. My injuries weren't severe enough to
warrant being so heavily medicated, let alone totally sedated. I
don't want you letting him know about this."
" Jarod, you're just being paranoid. He's your doctor, for heaven's
sake."
"Sweetheart, please just do as I asked. Bailey needs that information
as soon as possible."
"But, you're not even on the case anymore."
"I know."
*
Room 331
moments later…
"Ah, Agent Jarod, why am I not surprised to find you on the phone,"
his doctor said in frustration, as he entered his room.
"Dr. Biningham, what a pleasant surprise," Jarod said sarcastically,
feeling the hairs rise on the back of his neck.
"You federal agents think you're so damned invincible. Why couldn't
you just cooperate with me, and try and get some rest?" he asked,
shaking his head, as he injected something into his IV tubing, before
Jarod could even react.
Already becoming sluggish from the effects of the drug, the pretender
helplessly groped for the pager attached to his sheet, but his doctor
quickly unclamped it and set it out of the way.
"Don't fight the natural progression of the drug. It's really for the
best," he said, holding him down while the drug took effect.
Working his right hand free from the doctor's sweaty grip, Jarod
yanked on his IV tubing sending the whole thing crashing to the
floor. As if on cue, Agent Malone stepped into the room, followed by
the armed guard and a nurse, who noticed the fray from the doorway.
"What the hell's going on in here?" Bailey asked, quickly drawing his
gun, as pretender managed to roll off the bed.
"He's…one…of…them…," Jarod managed, ripping the tubing out of his arm.
"Better call for a…toxicologist; I think he…just tried to…poisoned
me."
"No, wait, it's only Seconal! I refused to kill him for them; I'm a
doctor, not a murderer. Look, I'll tell you everything. Just don't
put me in jail!"
"Get him out of here and don't forget to read him his rights," Malone
said angrily, offering Jarod his hand and helping him back on the bed.
"Are you all right, Jarod?"
"Yeah, at least…the shoulder's…fine. I made it…a point…to land…on……my
right…………….sssside," he slurred.
"Nurse, is he…?"
"He's out cold, but his pulse is strong," she said, meeting Malone's
eyes briefly, before stepping to the intercom and giving it a quick
jab. "Gracie, I need a doctor in 331 stat."
*
Hallway 3 - just outside of Jarod's room
Agents Malone stepped into the empty hallway and slipped out his
phone, as soon as the doctor arrived. He purposely left the armed
security guard inside.
"Malone here; what kind of slip-shod operation are you idiots running
down here? Did anyone even bother to run a backup check on Jarod's
physician? Watch it, Jack; don't talk to me about jurisdiction, you
don't have a leg to stand on. His doctor was dirty and I'm holding
you personally responsible," he said rubbing the back of his neck. "I
want Jarod moved to the safe house ASAP and you better not screw it
up. I don't give a damn who said Jarod shouldn't be moved yet, he was
shot in the shoulder not the gut, for heaven's sake. Find a doctor
who'll clear it and get it done now!"
* *
*
A Safe-house
Undisclosed location
5:35 PM (later that day}
"Jarod, how are you feeling," Andi asked, as she approached her
preoccupied husband propped up on the couch.
"Um, hi sweetheart," Jarod said distractedly, staring into
the screen. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing there. "Um, did you
want something?" he asked, barely acknowledging her presence, as his
fingers flew over the keys to his lap top while explaining what he
was doing to Broots.
"Yeah, I want you to put that laptop down, now," she
growled, noticing a sheen of sweat covering his flushed face. "You
promised me before you came down, that you and Broots were going to
have that finished in about an hour, and then you were going back to
bed."
"That was only an estimation," he said, suddenly realizing he
had pretty much been ignoring her. "Just give us a couple more
minutes," he said, glancing up with a smile, disheartened to see the
worried look on her face.
"A couple of minutes? It better not be any more than that.
You look simply exhausted."
"Actually, I'm getting hungry. How about you, Broots?" he
said with a sly smile.
"Yeah, I'm, um, I, I never thought you would ask. I, I mean,
well, yes."
"Sweetheart, if I promise to wrap this up, would you bring us
a couple of burgers off the grill?"
"That's more like it," she said, leaning in for a kiss.
"Still can't keep your hands off of her, can you son?" the
Major teased, as he came in off the deck and into the room, relieved
to see that his son was up and running again.
"Remember, Jarod, two minutes," Andi said in a parental voice,
disappearing though the sliding glass doors.
"Son, is it safe to come in now? I don't want to breach National
security, you know."
"We've about done here," he said with a chuckle, amused by his
joke. "Is everyone doing all right out on the deck?"
"Your mom's still a little shook up, but other than that, the rest of
the family's doing just fine. They're all about through eating and
ought to be migrating back inside any time now," he said taking a
seat near his son. "They'll be glad to see you're up."
" You gave us all a scare, Jarod. By the time we arrived at the
hospital, they already had taken you into surgery. Andi told us the
bullet ricocheted off your badge, giving you a hell of a bruise,
before tearing up your shoulder. Are you in very much pain?"
"I'm fine now; don't worry about it," he said, hitting send then
sinking back onto the padded couch. He was exhausted but totally
relieved to have the information on it's way to where it could do the
most good.
"Well, Dad, we're still on the run, but at least we're on the run
together," Jarod offered, trying to make light of the fact that his
family was still in danger because of who he was.
"Um, you won't be for long, once the bureau activates your new
program," Broots said with a big smile. "I mean, um, they'll have
everyone under arrest within a couple of weeks," he said, suddenly
feeling awkward for speaking up.
"I hope you're right, Broots," Jarod's dad said, giving him a
pat on the back.
"Say, then you and Andi will be able to go on a real
honeymoon," Broots said, trying to be encouraging.
"Now that's a nice thought, Broots," Jarod said, becoming
quiet as he imagined what it would be like for all of them to live
their lives without having to watch their backs anymore.
*
"What's a honey moon?" Michael asked, as he and his sister
came into the room.
"It's a really cool trip couples go on when they first get
married. And no, you can't go," Emily teased, going up to Jarod and
giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Em, how's my favorite sister doing?" he asked, relieved
that she and the others were safe and sound.
"Better than you are, sleepy-head. I've got a great idea for
a Christmas present for you. What size do you wear in a bullet-proof
vest?"
"Emily, stop teasing your brother," Margaret said with mock
irritation, noticing Jarod seemed to be enjoying it immensely.
* * *
After a modest dinner and a small scoop of ice cream, Jarod asked his
dad to help him upstairs to bed. He was becoming too woozy from his
injury and pain medication to feel like visiting anymore.
*
Master bedroom
11:35 PM
"Who's there?" Jarod asked groggily, shifting nervously in his bed,
startled by the sudden motion in the dim light near by.
"Who do you think it is?" Andrea offered, slipping out of her
terry robe and setting it on a chair, before slipping into bed.
"Mmmm, I…missed you…last night. They never…give you enough…
blankets…to keep…you…warm," he whispered, stifling a moan as he
attempted to move closer to her.
"Poor baby," Andi said in mock sympathy, giving his forehead a gentle
kiss. After a few moments of listening to his uneven breathing, she
realized he was trying to hide the fact that he was in pain. "You
slept through your last dose of Demerol, didn't you?" she said more
than asked, reaching for the lamp switch and turning it on. "You
better take some now, before the pain gets any worse," she said,
propping his pillow up for him.
"You make…a…great…nurse," he whispered, studying her beautiful face
with his dark brown eyes as she proffered him the pills and water.
"Don't get any ideas, Mr. I'm not playing doctor with you tonight,"
she teased.
"Hmm, what…a shame," he said with a flirtatious grim, refusing the
rest of the water and gingerly scooting back down.
"I don't think I could…go on…living without…you, Andi," he mumbled
quietly, sinking into his pillow and closing his eyes.
"I love you, too, Jarod," she whispered, helping him arrange his
covers, then snuggling close to his side.
Totally exhausted and safely out of harm's way, they both fell fast
asleep.
TBC Jemac@g... Please offer feedback - -it really makes
a big difference.v
