CloseMyEyes2

The Pretender is the Copyright of TNT.  The characters Jarod, Sydney, Miss. Parker, Broots, and Mr. Raines etc. are all the copyright of TNT.  The song Dust in the Wind belongs to Kansas.  No profit intended, no harm intended.   This is my first take at fan fiction and any errors are mine alone.

Chapter 2: Only for a Moment and the Moment's Gone

Centre Roof- Blue Cove, Delaware

After landing at the Centre landing strip, they boarded the Centre helicopter for the short trip to the Centre.  There was a crowd on the roof when they landed.  Mr. Parker was quick to open the cockpit door. 

"I knew you could do it Angel!"

Miss Parker took her father's hand and stepped out of the helicopter. 

"Get out of the way!  Let them through!"  She shouted at the crowd that was gathered. 

The sweepers quickly stepped aside but Mr. Raines and Lyle were slower about stepping aside.  The Centre medics pulled the gurney out of the helicopter and extended the legs.  Rearranging the medical monitors and I.V.'s they began their trip from the roof to the infirmary.  The sweepers shadowed them the entire route then took up places in and outside of the infirmary.  A doctor stepped forward and read the medical report that was handed to him.

He began his examination and when done, turned to the group waiting around the bed.

"He's still in a coma.  It's too soon to judge the severity of the injury.  We'll know more in forty-eight hours.  Everything that can be done has been done.

 

"Fine.  Let me know immediately if his condition changes."  Mr. Parker commanded.  "Angel, this calls for a celebration."

"Of course Daddy.  I want to talk to the doctor, I'll join you in your office."

"Don't be long then."  Mr. Parker headed out of the room followed by Raines and Lyle.

Jarod was watched throughout the day.  Like all of the rooms in the Centre, the infirmary was equipped with surveillance cameras.  The room was quiet except for the beeping of monitors and the thrumming sound of the Centre's air ventilation system.

In the early hours of the morning, after the hourly check by a doctor, a shadow quietly opened the air vent cover and slipped over to Jarod's bedside.  Smiling at the disabled camera, the shadow leaned over and took Jarod's head into his hands.  With an intense expression on his face Angelo continued.

Jarod was surrounded by darkness.  A light appeared in front of him.  Confused, he slowly walked towards it.   From out of nowhere Angelo joined him.  Jarod's questions were met with a simple smile.  He refused to answer any questions, only continuing to smile and beacon Jarod towards the light.  Jarod followed him until he was looking into a field.   He breathed deeply of the fresh air around him.  He closed his eyes and let the sun warm his face.  When he opened his eyes again, he saw that Angelo had moved to the crest of a hill.  He joined him there and looked in the direction that Angelo was looking. 

A short distance away he saw a family having a picnic.  The family consisted of a man, a red-haired woman and two small boys.  One of the boys was playing with a toy plane, buzzing it around like he was flying it.  Jarod recognized his family.  He saw his father, mother, brother Kyle and himself as a boy.  It must be a memory from his childhood before the Centre took him.  How could he have ever forgotten that? 

Angelo straightened up and stepped away from the unconscious Jarod.  He had created a parallel dream world for Jarod knowing that he would be caught in his childhood memories until a pre-set time.  No one knew of his abilities in this area of mind manipulation.  It was another side affect of Mr. Raines experiments but one that he had kept to himself.  Even at a young age, he knew that this was a secret he needed to keep to himself. He just knew that it would be very bad if Mr. Raines found out he could do this.  He looked at the infirmary security camera and seeing the light still out, smiled.  Just as silently as he had arrived, he slipped back into the vent and disappeared.

Centre Infirmary

Morning came with both Miss Parker and Sydney arriving at the infirmary at the same time.  Several sweepers watched them as they entered through the doors.  Sydney asked the Doctor at the bedside how Jarod was.  The doctor updated Sydney on Jarod's medical condition.

"What about brain damage?  When will you be able to tell?"

After a moment's hesitation, the doctor estimated twelve hours.

It was actually ten hours later that Jarod woke for the first time since he went into the coma.  For the rest of the day he drifted in and out of consciousness.  Never staying awake for more than a few moments.  Each time he displayed signs of head trauma.  He couldn't remember what had happened to him.  He couldn't remember what they had told him each time he had awakened.

Sydney and the doctor exchanged concerned looks.  Miss Parker caught the looks. 

"What?"

"This lack of ability to retain information would seem to indicate severe brain damage.  It is possible that it is a result of the swelling in his brain.  If the damage persists after the swelling goes down, I'm afraid it is permanent and Jarod will never recover."

Miss Parker looked at the pale man strapped to the bed.  Struggling to keep her emotions under control she sat on the edge of the bed.

"So it may have all been for nothing then." 

Sydney put a comforting hand on her shoulder then turned and walked from the room.  Broots wiped a tear from his eye and hurried after him.

Jarod continued to drift in and out of consciousness.  As the hours progressed, the amnesia persisted but the confusion became less and less.  Miss Parker remained in the room.  She felt a driving need to see this through.

Jarod drifted back to consciousness.  He felt so sore and hazy.  When he opened his eyes, he saw several people in the room.   An older man that he remembered from before was there.  He remembered he had said his name was Sydney.

"How are you feeling Jarod?"

"Sore.   I know you have told me, but can you tell me what happened again?"

Sydney and Miss Parker shared a look of concern.

"You were in an automobile accident.  The jeep you were driving was caught in a rockslide and you were trapped.  You injured your head."

"I don't remember any of that, I guess that's probably a good thing based on how much EVERYTHING hurts right now.  I do remember seeing both of you several times.  You said your name was Sydney…do I know you?  Are we friends?"

"Veeery good Jarod!  My name is Sydney.  I raised you, tutored you.  This is Miss Parker.  You were childhood friends.  We have been very worried about you."

Miss Parker stepped closer to the bed and asked, "What else do you remember? A silver briefcase?"

Jarod looked at her and tried to remember.  Trying to remember make his head hurt.  He tried to raise his hand to rub his head but was stopped by the restraints he is in.  He moved his hands and feet but found himself restrained.  He panicked.

"What's wrong? Why am I tied up?"

Sydney put a comforting hand on Jarod's shoulder and soothingly said, "We were worried that you would injure yourself by thrashing while you were unconscious.  We needed to prevent further injury."

Something inside Jarod understood and agreed with this explanation.  Before he could ask his next question, several men entered the room.  Most predominate among them was a stocky, older man in an expensive suit, a well dressed, handsome young man and a frumpily suited, bald man pulling a oxygen tank on wheels.  The climate in the room went tense.  These people were apparently important.

The stocky older man spoke with a commanding voice, "Ah, good he's awake.  What's his condition?"

The doctor that had been standing at the foot of the bed rattled off a medical explanation that was interrupted by the younger man.  "He's faking it.  Give it up Jarod, you don't really expect us to believe this little Pretend do you?"

"Is it a Pretend Sydney?" rasped the bald man.  His manner implied that he expected a denial and wasn't about to believe it.

"No, Doctor Bennet and I both believe the amnesia to be real at this time.  I suggest we test the degree of injury to the brain after the swelling has completely regressed.  There is one way of knowing for sure, have Angelo test him."

This was met by a moment of silence, which was finally broken by the young man.  "I don't believe it.  He's faking it.  This is just a trick!"

 "Mr. Raines, can Angelo tell if Jarod is pretending?"

"Yes, Angelo will feel the deceit if Jarod is pretending it."  Rasped the now named bald man.

"Do it.  Get Angelo up here at once.  I want a full report yesterday!" that said, the stocky man turned and walked from the room.

The younger man shook his head, "I'm not buying it Sis.  I want to be involved in the testing.  Whatever you and this lab rat are planning isn't going to work!"  Looking to his left, Miss Parker's brother made eye contact with a dark suited man behind him and followed after the older man. 

The bald man had been quietly observing the conversation.     "Willie, get Angelo.   I'll be conducting some tests."  

Willie the sweeper scanned the room occupants as if daring them to protest and rapidly left the room.

Miss Parker crossed her arms and shook her head in disgust.  Lyle was such a jerk!

"What is it? What's happening? Who is Angelo?"

"It will be alright Jarod.  Angelo is an empath.  He will be able to tell us if you are going to be alright just by touching you."  Sydney tried to put all of his powers of persuasion into his voice.

A short time later, Willie opened the door and pulled Angelo into the room followed by Lyle.

Angelo must be the rough looking man that looked like he was trying to hide from all of the attention.  His bearing and actions were familiar to Jarod but his mind couldn't put things into place.  His head started to hurt again.  He closed his eyes and grimaced. 

"Angelo, tell us what Jarod is thinking.  Is he pretending to be sick?"

Angelo shuffled hesitantly up to the man in the bed.  Jarod opened his eyes as the man sat on the bed beside him and watched nervously as the hand approached and touched him on the forehead.

"Hurt.  Lost.  Afraid.  Only emptiness."  Jerking his hand back, Angelo began to sob.  Turning to Sydney and Miss Parker he sobbed, "Jarod gone.  Brain hurt, body hurt but no Jarod."

Sydney looked away and fought off the emotions he was feeling.   Had this accident destroyed Jarod's super intellect?  Pain lanced through his heart of the loss of the man he had loved like a son.

Miss Parker clenched her fists in fury.  Everything that had happened in the last few years had been for nothing.  Lab rat and all of his genius was gone.  She had spent every waking hour the last few years trying to bring this man back to the center and all of that was for nothing!

"What does that mean?" Jarod asked quietly.

"Angelo, tell us again.  How is Jarod hurt?" Sydney asked.

"Body is hurt but will heal.  Brain is hurt but will heal.  Almost better now." Angelo said with his voice becoming steadier. 

"What did you mean about Jarod being gone?" Miss Parker blurted out.

Angelo looked confused but added, "Part of man that makes Jarod who he is away.  This man is new.  Like baby.  Not Pretending."

"I think what Angelo is trying to tell us is that the identity, the personality that we knew as 'Jarod' has been lost. It would seem that no other significant damage has been done to the brain."

Lyle's brain was spinning with the implications.  If 'Jarod' was really gone, then they could tell this person anything they wanted.  He could go back to being the useful property of the Centre as if nothing had happened.  His plans could take a giant step forward if he could just take control of this situation.

Mr. Raines was apparently thinking along the same lines for he quickly said, "I want him quarantined immediately so that he is not exposed to any "unacceptable" influences."  Turning to the remaining sweepers he continued. "You have my orders, no one enters this room without permission from Mr. Parker or myself."

"Oh no you don't!  I haven't busted my ass the last few years to be shut out now.  I am going to see my father about this now."

"I have worked just as hard on this as you have…"

Arguing loudly, Miss Parker, Sydney, Lyle and Mr. Raines all moved for the door and quickly were gone.   Angelo turned to Jarod.  "It will be alright.  Angelo will help Jarod get Jarod back."

"How about helping me get my hands free to start with?"

Angelo nodded and quickly complied.  The sweepers watched but since their orders had not included instructions on that, they didn't stop him from unbuckling the hand and foot restraints.

Jarod moved his uninjured leg and rubbed his arms.  His head hurt from his injury.  A lot had just happened and his brain was having trouble processing it all.  He looked at Angelo hoping for reassurance.  Angelo nodded and smiled.    He stood up and went over to a chair in the corner and started humming to himself.  Jarod closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Mr. Parker's office - Centre

In Mr. Parker's office the argument continued.  Sydney currently had the attention of Mr. Parker.

"He may have lost his memory but we have to make him want to stay and cooperate.  You could create a peaceful, willing past for him.  One where he has worked here for all of his life, this is his job, his ambition.  Give him what he has been searching for, a life, a family and a reason to stay here at the Centre.  Get his cooperation.  If you let Raines and Lyle proceed with experiments and abuse you could re-create the Jarod that ran away.  You only get one chance at this.  You must listen to me!"

"Daddy, please!  Sydney knows Jarod better than anyone." Miss Parker pleaded.  Sydney's plan made her feel sick to her stomach but it was better than what Raines and Lyle had planned.  The level of Sydney's deviousness shocked her.

As Mr. Raines and Lyle opened their mouths to speak, Mr. Parker commanded the floor.  "I agree.  We make up a past life for him and convince him to cooperate."  Before they could object he added, "If he doesn't cooperate, then Mr. Raines will take over his re-education.  Angel, I want you to monitor him.  Write yourself into his new life so you can be his confidant.  If he remembers anything from his past I want you to find out about it!"

"You want me to Pretend to be his friend?"

"Whatever it takes Angel, this is your plan as much as it is Sydney's.  I know I can count on you."  Raising his hands to her shoulders, he gave her a reassuring smile and nodded.  Turning to an angry Raines and Lyle he continued.  "I want your total cooperation on this.  I don't want him running away this time do you hear me?"  Giving them both a meaningful glare he turned his back to the group.  "I want the details on his new life by tomorrow.  Until then, Jarod is quarantined."  His dismissal was evident and they filed out with angry glares at each other.

"My office Sydney! Now!"

Sydney took a deep breath and followed the briskly walking Miss Parker.

Mr. Raines headed for his office pulling his squeaky oxygen tank and plotting his contingency plan. 

Lyle continued to stand and glare in the direction of his sister, his own plans forming.