THE PRETENDER
The Silent Enemy
by the lurker

Medford, MA

Cold. He was so cold. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt warmth, and had no idea how long he had been pinned under the rubble of what had once been a warehouse. An involuntary shiver ran through him, the cold air pressing down on him. He tried to move, but was rewarded with sharp pain. Grimacing, he allowed his head to return again to the cold of what felt like twisted steel beneath him.

He closed his eyes, trying to regain his senses. Jarod. He had come to meet Jarod. It all came rushing back into his mind with the power of a flash flood. Jarod had asked Sydney to meet him; there was something important he wanted to tell him. Sydney had shown up at the long abandoned warehouse, to find no sign of Jarod. He had been trudging up a long staircase when he had heard the first explosion. A second later, the building shook, another explosion sounded and the staircase collapsed, pulling Sydney down with it.

He drew an uneven breath into his lungs as he realized that the warehouse must have been rigged for demolition. How had the pretender not known? What if Jarod was trapped somewhere in the building? What if he was hurt? A panic gripped him. He struggled against the heavy debris holding him down, but it only served to exhaust him, sending deep pain coursing through him. After a few minutes he collapsed against the pillow of steel under his head.

His eyes closed in despair. If Jarod was trapped somewhere in the building, Sydney knew he could not help him. And Jarod was the only person who knew where Sydney had gone. For obvious reasons, the psychiatrist had kept the rendezvous secret. Miss Parker and Broots wouldn't even realize that anything was wrong for some time.

He shivered in the dark. It was so cold.

*********************

The Centre

Miss Parker shuffled through the papers on her desk. She shook her head; how had such a pile managed to accumulate? She glanced at her watch; just enough time to make the meeting she had scheduled with Broots and Sydney. Parker grabbed her mug of coffee and headed toward the elevators in the lobby. A smile of anticipation lit her lips; the morning was always the best time to terrorize Broots.....

*********************

He was in mid bite of a jelly donut, when a voice from behind almost choked him.

You'd better not be getting jelly all over that keyboard, you moron.

The tech swallowed quickly, Uh....no ma'am....

Parker slammed her coffee mug down on the desk, Do you have any idea how much it costs the Centre each year to clean up after you?

Broots swallowed hard,

Parker smiled, Neither do I.

Broots glared at her, That isn't funny, Miss Parker.

Sure it is Scooby-do, you just have to have a sense of humour that is a cut above the comics. Parker looked around the room, then at her watch, Where the hell is Freud?

I haven't seen him this morning.

Parker shrugged, We'll give him a few minutes. Maybe he's slowing down in his advanced age.....

Broots returned his attention to his jelly donut, polishing it off. Jelly oozed down his fingers and he quickly licked them. Parker's face screwed up in disdain. Oblivious, Broots reached for the keyboard to enter some codes, his hand was slapped away quickly.

Wipe your fingers.

Parker leaned against the desk, facing the door, preparing to take a bite out of Sydney whenever he graced them with his presence.

**************************

Medford, MA.

A moan escaped his lips as he pushed through the haze of his senses. He felt numb from the chill, the cold having stretched on into an endless tunnel of ice and pain. The shivers running through him increased to tremors. He let out a slow breath of air, trying to ease the tension in his body.

Where was Jarod?

His mind clouded with worry for the man he thought of as a son. He tried to call out for the pretender, but his voice was raspy from the cold. He pushed against the barriers holding him down, but the distress it caused, forced him to stop trying. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the pain, but instead of abating, it was intensifying. For the first time, Sydney became aware of the wound in his midsection, and the warm liquid oozing from it. Blood.

And for the first time it struck him that he might not make it out alive.

******************

The Centre

Parker was pacing in front of Broots' desk, her patience long having since waned.

Miss Parker--

She whirled on him,

He swallowed hard, Well, you know how your ...pacing sometimes makes me crazy.

What's your point?



Parker smiled dangerously and leaned onto the desk, Wise choice. She looked at her watch, Damn it....Freud is throwing off my whole day.

He's not usually this late.

An eyebrow arched toward the tech, Thanks for that news flash. She headed for the door, I have things to do, when Dr. Doolittle arrives, let me know.

Before Broots could answer, Parker was gone.

*********************

St. Paul, Minnesota

Jarod sipped the homemade root beer float with a childlike glee. He dialed Sydney's office number and waited. After a few rings, his mentor's voicemail picked up; Jarod terminated the call. He looked at his watch. It was well after 11 am EST, and the pretender wondered why Sydney wasn't yet at the Centre. He dialed another number and waited. Once again, he received voicemail. Sydney wasn't at home either. Jarod punched in one last number, and listened to the rings. After the fourth ring, the voicemail picked up.

Jarod frowned. Where the hell was Sydney?

**********************

Medford, MA.

The shrill sound of the cell phone in his pocket stirred him. His left arm was the only limb he could move, and instinctively he reached for the source of the sound, but the beam pressing across his chest kept him from it. He groaned from the effort, and as he came around, he realized that drawing breath was becoming more difficult. He was so cold.

There was the bitter taste of iron in his mouth; Sydney knew he was bleeding internally. He tried to swallow it down, but his throat wanted to close up completely.

Remain calm.

If he had any chance at survival, Sydney knew it began with him. He needed to stay still; the longer he could hold out, the greater the chance he would last until someone could find him. He tried to reach the phone in his breast pocket, but couldn't find a way past the weight of the beam. A whimper escaped his lips as an excruciating pain filled him.

He let out a slow stream of air, and his thoughts turned once again to Jarod, worry filling him. Maybe Jarod was hurt and needed him. Sydney was too weak to put any effort into breaking free, and he knew it was futile to try. He closed his eyes as a wave of pain washed over him. The beam digging into his chest had most likely punctured one of his lungs; it would explain the difficulty in breathing, and the blood seeping into his mouth.

The sound of his cell phone rang in his ears. If only he could reach it.

**********************

The Centre

Parker slammed down the phone in her office, Damn it.

She looked at the clock on her desk; 1:13 pm. Where the hell was he? She picked up her phone once again and waited.



Syd's still not answering, I'm driving over to his house. If anyone asks for me, I'm out for lunch.

You think something's happened to him?

Doubtful Broots, I'm sure Dr. Kildare is fine....

The timbre of her voice belied her worry, and it wasn't lost on the computer tech.

Maybe his car broke down or something.....but I suppose he would have called in.....

Parker didn't want to think about it, I'll call you as soon as I get there. In the meantime Broots, hack into his email, maybe there's something useful in it.



Parker hung up the phone, grabbed her coat and purse, and headed toward the parking garage. When she caught up with him, there would be hell to pay.

*******************

Sydney's House

Parker pulled her car into the driveway, noting that Sydney's car was nowhere in sight. She quickly went to the front door and rang the bell. Her patience wearing thin, Parker walked around the house, surveying the perimeter. There were no signs of a break in, nor any other kind of foul play. She glanced around the backyard, and then quickly picked the lock of the kitchen door.

As she expected, the house was in neat order. There was no sign of any struggle, nor anything else of a suspicious nature. Parker looked through the unopened mail on the table in the foyer; nothing of a personal nature, just bills and advertisements. The shrill sound of her cell phone made her start.

She grabbed the offending item,

It's Broots, Miss Parker.

What did you find?

Mostly Centre interoffice mails....and of course that mail from you. Man Miss Parker, you were so harsh--

--Broots! Was there anything about where he might have gone?

Yeah.....Jarod sent him an email.



And he asked to meet Syd yesterday afternoon.



Some warehouse in Medford, Massachusetts.

Get the jet ready, I'm on my way in....

Parker terminated the call and headed for the door. Sydney's phone rang. Parker stopped and picked it up.



There was a brief silence, followed by a slightly amused voice, Well, Miss Parker....this is a surprise.

Parker's eyes narrowed, She heaved a sigh, What do you want?

I was actually calling to speak to Sydney, but you'll do. Is he all right?

Why are you asking me? You're the one who saw him last.

What are you talking about? I haven't seen Sydney.

Cut the crap, Jarod. I know about your email asking to meet him in Medford yesterday. Where the hell did he go?

Jarod frowned, Miss Parker....I did not send any email to Sydney.

You didn't meet him?

No. I haven't talked to him in over a week. A lump formed in Jarod's throat, Somebody wanted to isolate Sydney and used me to do it.

Jarod, he didn't show up at the Centre today, and he's not here.

What else did the email say?

It designated a location for the meet. I'm on my way there now.

Miss Parker--

--Call me in a few hours, Jarod, hopefully I'll have found Sydney by then.

Not wanting to think of the possibilities, Parker ended the call. It was going to be a long plane ride.

*********************

Medford, MA

It was becoming dark again, and Sydney felt numb. The reality that he would not survive another night crept over him with grim certainty. At least he could no longer feel such intense pain. He was just so cold. He longed to be wrapped in warmth and held there. His mind jutted to Jarod; he prayed that his pretender was all right. As the slow delirium of death began to press in on him, his thoughts moved to Jacob, Catherine, his parents..... He hoped that they would find him.

Regret. His mind was flooded with it. Miss Parker. In so many ways, she still needed him. A slight smile tugged at his dry lips; she was strong, and she would be fine. He knew that what he felt was pride. It was the pride of a parent; even though he knew he had no right nor claim on her, he still felt as if in some small way, he had lent a hand in her upbringing. And she had turned out just fine. He closed his eyes, exhaustion settling in.

Perhaps he would never wake up. He knew he should be more concerned about that, but the pull of sleep in the depths of the cold, was far too strong.

*********************

Medford, MA

Parker moved quickly around the perimeter of the building, after finding Sydney's car parked nearby. There was a lot of damage, and it seemed fairly obvious that there had been a recent collapse of an entire section of the warehouse. She looked behind her, and watched as the loyal computer tech lagged several feet back.

Hurry up, Broots....

I....I really don't think we should go in there, Miss Parker.

Sydney might be in there, Broots. And by the looks of it, if he is, he needs our help.

She grabbed a hold of him by the shirt and pulled him toward the nearest entrance.

************************

The powerful beam from Parker's flashlight shone through the darkened corridors of destruction. Steel girders lay haphazardly on the floor and leaned against large pieces of concrete. She had headed toward the most damaged section of the warehouse, surmising that if Sydney was still on the premises, he would most likely be in the middle of the mess.

Sydney? Syd?

Broots joined her in calling for their friend, Sydney.....you in here?

Parker moved through the rubble as quickly as she could, but found no signs of Sydney. Then an idea hit her, and she prayed that his cell had started out with a fully charged battery. Parker pulled out her phone and dialed Syd's cell number. A second later, she could hear the sound of the ring.

Come on Broots, this way.....

*************************

He thought he could hear a ringing in his ears, but he wasn't sure. It seemed like miles and miles of blackness through which he had to climb to focus on the sound. As his senses arose, he became aware of pain, and beyond that, the ringing of his cell phone. Tears began to sting his eyes, the pain in his chest overtaking him. The voice sounded far away, and at first he thought he was imagining it....

Sydney? Syd, where the hell are you....

He tried to answer her, but his voice was a mere whisper,

His cell phone stopped ringing, having gone to voicemail, but it immediately began again.



Miss Parker, over here!

Parker followed Broots as the tech made his way across a large pile of rubble, suddenly kneeling down.



The psychiatrist's eyes opened through his tears and he saw the worried face of Broots as his friend knelt down, gently pulling Sydney's free hand into his own.



Take it easy, Syd.

Miss Parker knelt down a moment later, quickly assessing the situation, We'll never be able to get him out of here without help. She handed her cell phone to Broots, I've got Sydney, go call for the fire department, and wait for them outside.

Broots took the phone and stood up, Okay. Will you be all right, Miss Parker?

I'm going to watch over Freud here....

Broots quickly went back the way he had come, calling 911 on his way. Parker knelt closely to Sydney, running her hands along his limbs, looking for broken bones. He winced several times and cried out in pain.

Parker ran a soothing hand over his forehead, Easy Syd. I'm just trying to get a handle on the damage.

Internal bleeding.....

How do you know that?

Blood in my mouth.

She kept her voice even, What can I do?

Hold my hand?

It was not the response she had anticipated, and Parker had to blink back the moisture filling her eyes. She looked away for a moment, then back at Sydney.

Of course.

Gently she picked up Sydney's free hand, and held it tightly between her own. It felt like a block of ice.

You're so cold, Syd. She let go of his hand and removed her coat, Here...this might help.

Parker wrapped as much of him as she could in the coat, and then gently stroked his face with her hands.



Sydney nodded slightly,

How did I find you? He nodded and she continued, Broots hacked your email, and we found the note from Jarod, which by the way, was not from Wonder Boy.

Jarod's okay?

He's fine. Is that what you've been lying here thinking about?

Amongst other things.

His eyes penetrated her with silent meaning, and uncomfortable, Parker looked away.

I have a bone to pick with you, by the way..... You thought you received a mail from Jarod, and you held out on me, Sydney.

His eyes flooded with tears, I'm sorry.

Parker was once again caught off guard emotionally. She reached under the coat and took his hand.

Shhh, it's okay. She gently wiped the blood which slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth, Just hang on, Syd. Help is on its way.

Parker swallowed hard; where the hell was Broots with backup?



She looked at the soft brown eyes tearing up from pain,

There was nothing else you could have done.

Her voice grew quiet, I know.

The sound of footsteps and equipment approaching grabbed Parker's attention.

She rose and called to them, Over here.

Several firefighters, cops and EMS workers quickly made their way over to Parker and Sydney. The Paramedics bent down to examine Sydney, attaching IV's and a heart monitor to him. Parker and Broots watched a few feet away as the other men worked to clear away the rubble. Sydney screamed as they tried to move a jagged iron stake which had imbedded itself in his leg.

Parker felt ill, and wanted nothing more than to bolt from the room. But the weak voice calling for her stopped her.



The paramedics made room for her to sit down and place Sydney's head in her lap. Broots stayed close by, wishing there was something more he could do. Parker soothingly stroked Sydney's hair while the firefighters continued working to free him. His vital signs began to slip, the blood loss becoming more than he could sustain.

One of the paramedics hung the last unit of O they had with them, We've got to get him out of here and soon....

The other paramedic nodded.

Parker frowned at the men, What happens when you run out of blood?

The one man looked at her, He......won't survive without it.

Call and get more.

We did, the other paramedic answered, but there's a problem.

What kind of problem?

Bus accident on the highway......it's taking up all the extra pints of O.

Well, use another blood type then.

If we knew his type, we could, but otherwise.....

Parker looked up at Broots, Call the Centre, it will be on record.

Broots whipped out the cell phone and moved away momentarily. Sydney's breathing became raspy, and Parker's attention returned to him.

Easy Syd....try and breathe easy. She looked up at the paramedics, tears threatening to rain down, Isn't there anything you can do?

We've done what we can until we can get him out of here.

Can't you at least give him something for the pain? Please?

One of the paramedics placed a gentle hand on Parker's arm, If we give your father anything more, miss, it could kill him.

He's not my-- Parker looked away, then back, I just don't want him to suffer.

Broots interrupted, It's B negative.

Parker looked at the paramedics, Call and get some. A look passed between the two men, and Parker lost patience,

B negative is very rare, but we'll try.

One of the paramedics jumped on the radio, and Parker continued to run her fingers through Sydney's hair, Stay with me, Freud. Just stay with me.

The firefighters were working on the large beam pinning Sydney's chest, and the movement was causing him immense pain. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his cheeks in a never ending stream of moisture.

Parker moved her hands over his shoulders and neck, I'm here, Syd. Try and relax.

The paramedic on the radio looked at Parker, I'm sorry, but all the B neg is tied up in this accident. The next closest source is over an hour away.

Parker looked down at her friend, He's not going to last that long. Then it hit her, Wait....I'm B negative. Use mine.

One paramedic turned to the other, A direct transfusion.....

Dangerous in the field, the second man answered.

Parker glared at the two men, I don't care. If we don't try it, he doesn't stand a chance. Do it.

Broots interjected, Miss Parker, do you really think this is a good idea?

You want to let him die, Broots?

No, of course not, but--

--Then we have no choice.

They watched as the paramedics set up the needles and the tubing.

One of the motioned to her to sit on a piece of metal, You need to be higher, so that the flow is moving downward, into him.

Parker gently set Sydney's head down and sat on the metal rubble. A paramedic quickly inserted a needle connected to the tubing into her arm, and the other end of it into Sydney's arm.

He handed her a cylinder, Here, squeeze this so that it starts the blood flow.

Parker obeyed and watched as her blood seeped into the tube and down into Sydney's arm.

Her voice was barely audible, Please let it help him....

The paramedics watched Parker carefully for several minutes. When almost ten had passed, Parker grew pale and woozy. One of them removed the needle from her arm.

No.......he needs it.

You can't give any more.

Was it enough?

It'll have to be.

One of the firemen looked over at them, We're about to pull off the final beam, it's gonna hurt like hell, so, someone might want to hold him. With the help of Broots, Parker knelt once more by Sydney and lifted his head into her lap, placing her hands on his shoulders, holding him down.

She placed a soft kiss on his forehead, Hang on Syd, I'm right here with you.

The firemen lifted the final beam off, and pain rushed into Sydney's body at a rate with which he could not cope. He screamed in agony, and Parker tried to steady him. The paramedics quickly immobilized his limbs and slid a backboard under him. Parker and Broots watched helplessly as they carried him out of the building.

*******************

St. Joseph's Trauma Center, Blue Cove

Parker sat in a chair next to the bed, watching the steady rise and fall of Sydney's chest. After eleven hours of surgery, he was stable, albeit worse for the wear. She glanced toward the door, and the rather burly security man standing stiffly, ready to take on anything. Her cell phone rang, she answered it quickly, not wanting Sydney to awaken.



How is he?





He'll live, Jarod.

You don't sound happy about that.

Don't be ridiculous.....it's just......

It's just what?

It's going to be a long time, Jarod.

His rehabilitation you mean?

Yes. It's going to be so hard on him.

And on those around him.

Parker was silent.

Is there anything I can do?

Turn yourself in to the Centre.

Something reasonable.

She was silent for a long moment, then, Help me find out who did this, Jarod.

No leads, Miss Parker?

None. Someone pretending to be you sent him an email, and then tried to kill him. And whoever it is, is still out there.

Nothing on a motive?

Come on Jarod.....How many people do you know who want to kill Sydney?

There are a few within the Centre, Miss Parker.

They'll be the first ones I look at.

I'll do what I can from my end. We'll get to the bottom of it, Miss Parker, I'm confident.

And in the meantime, I have the larger problem of protecting Sydney. She paused for a moment, wondering how much she should tell Jarod, then on a whim, she continued, Jarod, how rare is the blood type B negative?

In the normal world, very.

Why in the normal world'?

I assume that the question is Centre related. When Parker remained silent, Jarod continued, You, Mr. Lyle and Angelo all having it is certainly far above a statistical norm.

And if yet another person close in the situation at the Centre has it?

I'd say that such a thing would hardly be a coincidence. Who is it?



Parker terminated the call before Jarod had a chance to respond. A low moan from the bed grabbed Parker's attention. She moved to sit on the edge, gently taking Sydney's hand in her own.

Easy Freud, you're okay.

Slowly his eyes opened and focused on Parker, Are you?

Am I what?



Of course. I'm not the one who held the weight of a building on me for almost two days.

But you found me, and got me out.

Parker smiled at him, Go back to sleep. You need rest.

Sydney nodded toward the guard, What's he doing here?

Protecting you.

No, no--

--No arguments, Syd, this one's non-negotiable.

Sydney winced as he moved, Mmmm.......don't you think you're overreacting?

Overreacting? Sydney, in case you missed it, somebody brought a building down on top of you. On purpose. Until we find out who and why and get the scum bucket, you're going to have protection 24/7. Got it?

Sydney closed his eyes in pain, and for a moment, Parker quietly held his hand. After a few minutes he looked at her again, his voice raspy.

I'm sorry. I'm feeling a little tired....

Parker stood, leaned down, and kissed his cheek, Get some rest. I won't be far away.

Sydney's eyes closed, and before she left the room, he was out like a light. Parker was worried; not only about Sydney coming through the long haul of rehab, but also that whomever was out there trying to kill him, would try it again.

And maybe next time, they wouldn't be so lucky; Syd's silent enemy might be successful. Parker didn't want to think about that possibility. She stopped walking down the hallway, upset with herself. Even though she had tried to keep him at a distance, she had grown incredibly fond of him, and didn't know what she would do without him.

Heaving a long sigh, Parker walked back to Syd's room. She'd never sleep at home anyway and she knew it. It didn't matter that there was a security detail of four; she had to be there to make sure he was safe. She opened the door, and motioned for the guard to take up a position just oustside the door. Quietly she pulled the chair next to the bed and sat down. She placed her hands on the arm closest to her and gently rubbed it, while she softly spoke to him.

After my mother died, I thought I would never be close to anyone again, because I never wanted to feel that pain of loss again. But over the years I've come to rely on you, Sydney; I count on having you to lean on. Now I realize that I..... Parker smiled at her own emotions, then continued, Well, I love you, and I can't bear to lose you. Sydney moaned in his sleep, and Parker softly stroked his cheek, Shhh, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere.

Her own exhaustion began to close in on her, and Parker allowed her head to lean against her hands which were still holding Sydney's arm. Within minutes, she was fast asleep. Sydney gently pulled his arm out from under her, placing his hand paternally on the back of her head.

His voice was a mere whisper in the dark, I love you too, Miss Parker.