Title: Pretense

Author: Sassy

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Don't own any except Samarah and others that you don't recognize.

Pairing: S/L, and possibly J/MP, depends.

Summary: Set after Island of the Haunted.  An explosion rocks Samarah's, a female pretender, world, forcing her to return to Blue Cove with Jarod, hoping to stop a telekinetic test subject from killing Miss Parker and company.

Pretense

Chapter One

Shock

            Samarah Gentry tossed the extra crayons into the bright red box she held in one hand.  Three children remained behind in her classroom as they waited for someone to come pick them up.  One held a doll in her arms, making it babble as she mothered it.  Samarah knelt down, "Addison, do you want to watch some cartoons?"

"No.  I'm playing with Miss Sugar."

"Miss Gentwy, do you have any new toys to play wif yet?"  Another girl asked innocently.

"I haven't had time to visit the toy store, Shae.  Soon, I promise you, though."

Samarah checked the clock.  The bell had rung twenty-five minutes ago.  Shae was usually the last to be picked up, but the twins, Addison and Taylor were usually the first to be picked up.
"Taylor, did your mommy say she was going to be late today?"

"Nope, but I wanna watch cartoons, even if Addi doesn't."

"Okay."

Samarah straightened and headed over to the television just as Taylor tried to steal Addison's doll.  She yelped and Samarah quickly instructed that Taylor return the doll to his sister.  She flicked on the television, but instead of the show being the typical cartoons they watched, a special news bulletin was on.

"An explosion took place not far from the coast of Blue Cove, Delaware.  The research facility located there was evacuated.  Several casualties have been noted."

Samarah felt her heart drop as her mind raced to him.  Was he hurt?  Was Dr. Sydney?  Samarah sunk down into her desk chair.  Shae approached Samarah apprehensively, her chubby face warm and cautious all at the same time.

"Miss Gentwy, are you okay?  You look sad."
"I'm fine, Sweetie.  Thank you for asking."

Addison moved in closer, this time kneeling in front of her teacher, feeling just as devoted to Samarah as every student in her kindergarten class did.  "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely positively okay.  I have to call someone right now, though.  So I need you all to be super quiet for me."

The three children nodded solemnly and sat down obediently.  Addison picked up the doll once more, in an attempt to play again.  Samarah offered them a sweet and comforting smile; once again thankful she could work with the children.  She picked up her phone, then, and punched in the familiar numbers.

"Hello?"  His voice sounded guarded and rightfully so.  His number wasn't listed.  In fact, no one had his phone number.

"Jarod."  Her voice had always been distinct, something of an accent, yet still American.  However, it always made it quite obvious who was speaking, even when she only uttered one word.

"Samarah?!  I never thought I'd hear your voice again."

Samarah sighed, agreeing with Jarod's comment.  She hadn't thought she would ever talk to anyone from Blue Cove again.  She'd left everyone there behind.

"Jarod, have you seen the news?"

"About Blue Cove?  Yes.  It was set off near The Centre, but it didn't damage the building.  Several were found dead, but none have been identified."

"What if-" Samarah's voice trailed off at the thought of any of them dying. 

"It was Sydney or Miss Parker?  I don't know.  I plan on calling them as soon as the phone lines are repaired."

She actually hadn't been thinking about Dr. Sydney or Miss Parker.  She'd been thinking of him. 

"They're saying it was terrorists." Jarod added.

"It wasn't."
"No.  Samarah, how did you find my number or do I even need to ask?"

"Well…"

"You're super smart and talented and pretended to be the head of a brand new phone company to steal the phone records of my current service provider."
"No, actually, it was much simpler than that.  I've kept track of you since I-'left'."

Her eyes fell on each child that remained in her classroom, watching her with adoring eyes.

"We'll have to catch up later.  I've still got some students.  I'll be heading to Delaware as soon as I can."

"You know we're in danger if we go to Delaware."

Samarah sighed heavily, her distress reaching Jarod from across their connection. 

"Yes.  But we have to."

"I'll meet you in Dover at the airport.  Gate 119."

"Okay.  I'll see you later, Jarod."

"I can't wait to see you again, Little One."

Samarah hung up the phone, just as Addison and Taylor's father entered.
"I'll be taking Shae off your hands today too."

"Great."

"Are you okay, Miss Gentry?" Even he could tell there was something wrong.

"I'm wonderful, Mr. McKenzie.  Thanks for asking."

Addison smiled at her teacher before hugging her.  "Everythin' will be all right, Miss Gentry."

"I know, Darlin'.  I'll see you all soon."

The three children toddled after Mr. McKenzie.  Samarah was alone again.  She turned to her computer, hacking in easily to the airports personnel records.  She needed to become a stewardess to get to Delaware.  And she needed to get there fast.

            Jarod was feeling ridiculously anxious as he stood in the Dover International Airport.  He had been near Blue Cove before, even closer than this, yet he was more nervous now than he had been before.  He couldn't shake the feeling that something terribly wrong was going to occur.  He could only hope that the feeling had nothing to do with him or Samarah being recaptured.  Speaking of Samarah, he had been wondering how she had escaped from The Centre.  When he had escaped with Eddie; it had only been out of necessity.  Jarod had wanted to stop Eddie from being terminated along with his program.  So he'd made way fro Eddie, and eventually Alex, but he'd always intended to come back.  He'd intended to come back for Samarah and Angelo and possibly Miss Parker.  He'd just never been able to.  He jumped as he felt a hand touch his arm.  He spun and found himself face to face with a stewardess.  She had long  blond hair tied back into a neat ponytail, her sparkling blue eyes looking wary and delighted all at once.

"Samarah?"  He threw his arm around her, careless of her uniform.  Samarah's eyes shut instinctively, allowing the warmth of Jarod's embrace slide over her.

"Jarod, I've missed you."

"I remember when you were just a little tyke-"

"I was fourteen."

"I was nineteen.  You were a child."

Samarah grinned and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She pulled her suitcase up and nodded towards the walkway.

"We should go."

"Afraid you'll be stuck on another plane?"

"Stewardesses are needed."

"How long have you been one?"

"Mmmm…five hours.  I'm actually a kindergarten teacher.  I have been for three years now."

"Kindergarten?"

"Call it my attempt at recapturing a lost childhood."

Jarod nodded in an understanding that only test subjects of The Centre could.  Unlike Jarod, Samarah hadn't been torn away from her family.  She'd been orphaned at age two and sent to an orphanage.  The Centre had 'adopted' her at the age of three, when she showed extraordinary talent and intelligence.  She'd never had a chance at a real childhood.  Being pushed into an orphanage and then taken to The Centre at such a young age, she didn't have a chance.  Jarod took the suitcase from Samarah and started walking.

"My cab's out front."
"Cabbie?"

"Today."

They laughed ironically as they headed to the front of the airport.

            Miss Parker sighed in irritation as Sydney entered the office.  They had been delayed ever since the explosion, first evacuated, than not allowed to leave.  The police wanted to make sure none of them had set the bomb.  Yeah, her and Cousin It had done it.  Sydney took a seat at the desk, since Miss Parker occupied the couch.

"The police are interviewing Dr. Raines right now.  We're next."

"Joy.  Have you heard from Wonder Boy?"

"The phone lines have been down.  He might have been trying to call."

Miss Parker accepted it, as she began to massage her temples with her well-manicured fingers.  She couldn't get any peace, though, with Broots fidgeting in the corner chair, trying desperately to find some cell phone service. 

"Debbie's going to be so worried.  She knows that The Centre is near the explosion, I bet.  She's going to wonder why I haven't called her."

"Debbie's growing up, Broots.  I'm sure she's worried, but she'll have to wait like everyone else.  Besides, she probably knows the phone lines are down."

"I hope so."  Broots waved his phone in the air, still trying to find reception.  Miss Parker rolled her eyes and leaned back.
"This day has been Hell."

            Mr. Lyle sat at his desk and took a long sip of his whiskey.  He'd always kept a special stash in his office for the days that were especially hard.  This one definitely qualified.  There had been that pesky explosion set by one of The Centre's lab rats gone rogue.  What was it about this place that made everyone want to escape?  One of the test subjects were always off on some vigilante mission to mess up the entire Centre's foundations, without a second thought to who it would affect.  He took another gulp before slamming the glass down.  He was in no mood for the delay the genius police force were insisting upon.  He hadn't set the bomb and they weren't going to turn in who did.  "Actually, one of our kidnapped freaks were mad at us and wanted to kill us.  Instead, he killed others, but what does that matter?  Here, we'll hand him right over.  Sure, he's got the ability of telekinesis and can steal your gun in a matter of seconds, but that shouldn't affect anything."  He said it quietly and sarcastically, hoping that the police wouldn't choose that moment to interrogate him.  His mind wandered to other test subjects that were angry.  Jarod.  Ethan.  Angelo.  Cade.  Samarah.  His mind remained on Samarah, the beautiful young girl he'd met.  His mind wandered back to when he'd met her.

*Twenty-year-old Lyle stood outside a room with Dr. Raines and Mr. Parker.  He was new to The Centre and still wouldn't be working there regularly.  They were going to need him at another facility.  Honestly, he thought Dr. Raines was trying to keep him from someone at the main building, but he wasn't going to ask.  He was a little nervous, though he would never show it.  It was his first day on the job and he wanted to impress both of them.  Dr. Raines was explaining all of the experiments that took place within the corporation.  They were now looking in through the window at a beautiful young girl who wore a simple uniform of sweatpants and a t-shirt.  She sat on thin mattress, the only extra adornment in the room.

"Samarah, number 579.  She's our only female pretender.  She's sent out into the world to complete some of Jarod's simulations.  Sometimes the highest bidder actually wants the vaccine to be administered or the weapon destroyed or the witness saved.  It depends.  Alex corrupts them, then performs each task.  Samarah takes each one and performs the good deed.  It always varies on who will be working outside; the buyer determines it.  She's not allowed to have anything in her room, because we have a hard enough time controlling her since she sees how things are outside of The Centre.  The saying knowledge is power applies here. 

            "Samarah was taken from an orphanage once we saw her extreme talent.  She is only a step below Jarod, which is extraordinary, since she is female.  She has been at The Centre since she was three.  Jacob began her training, but he fell into a coma only a year after her work was begun.  Sydney, Tommy Thompson and I have been alternating who works with her.  We'll take you in to meet her, but only for a moment."

Lyle nodded, as if it were completely normal to hear what he had just been told.  Samarah turned when the door open.  "Dr. Raines, hello."

Her voice was melodic and soothing.  She had one of those voices that Lyle wouldn't have cared if she babbled on about nothing as long as she would just talk.

"Hello, Samarah."

Samarah's eyes fell on Lyle and he felt like he'd been punched.  She was stunning, even in the simplicity of her uniform and absolutely no make up.  Even her eyes were innocent, despite what she was put though daily.

"Are you going to be my new doctor?"

Lyle shook his head.  "No.  I've just started working here, but I'm not a doctor."

"You have other projects, though."
"Yes, I suppose I will."

Samarah smiled at him, then and stood up.
"I'm Samarah.  I don't have a usual last name.  It changes a lot."
"When you work. I know.  I'm Lyle."

"It's good to meet you, Lyle."  Samarah turned after that and returned to her seat.  She'd dismissed him.  And he didn't mind.*

            Lyle sighed as he recalled Samarah.  He missed her.  He shouldn't.  She probably didn't miss him.  She probably didn't even think about him.  He wouldn't have, if he were in her place.  He downed the rest of his whiskey in an attempt to forget her.