Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or concepts of the Pretender
I'm just borrowing them for awhile. Laura and Kyle (Jr) are mine though.
Category: Alternate Universe. Crossover
Spoilers: For the Pretender 2001 movie.
Author's Note: When I was watching the Pretender2001 movie, the character of
Eddie really struck me. I'd always wondered if there were more and suddenly
here was one that was a good guy. So then, I wondered, what if his wife was
Jarod's sister. Not Emily obviously, since she escaped life at the Centre.
I know we saw a picture of his wife and son but I'm going to go on the AU
concept here and say they look like they do in my head.
Shattered: "Leavin' On A Jet Plane"
by Medie
----
Tis early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry
Her dark red hair obscured by a wig of long mousy brown, dark green eyes hidden by contact lenses
of the purest blue, Laura Ballinger held her son's hand tightly as they navigated their way
through the large crowds.
Like his mother, Kyle wore a disguise. The little boy's dark hair obscured by a Montreal Canadians
baseball cap and 'coke-bottle' glasses obscured his darker eyes.
Every inch the Pretender his mother was, Kyle Ballinger's expression was a perfect mix of
excitement, nervousness, and curiosity. Exactly what one would expect of a child about to go on a
plane ride. No one would have guessed he was a child grieving for the loss of the father he'd
worshipped and scared of a threat his mother would not explain.
Her face the picture of composure, Laura walked up to the counter with forged passport in hand.
With a flawless French Canadian accent, she dealt with the smiling woman and managed to keep her
grief out of her eyes. It was the hardest Pretend of her life.To laugh and carry on as if life was
just fine, that her world had no problems, that her husband was alive and well and waiting for
them in Montreal.
The image that her mind presented, a smiling Eddie waiting at the gate with a small bouquet of
flowers for her and a new toy for Kyle, made Laura's heart clench painfully in her chest. It was a
scene they'd played out so many times before. Eddie waiting for her, always smiling, always
supportive.
------
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
--------
Like her brother after her, Laura had been focused on searching for the family the Centre had
stolen her away from. That search had meant weekends spent chasing leads away from home. None of
the leads had ever lead to a concrete fact but she had been able to take the opportunity to help
people along the way. People who wouldn't have gotten the help otherwise, it was a chance for her
to atone for the things the Centre had used her to do. The failure to find her family had never
lessened Eddie's support. He'd always been adamant that she keep going.
Find her parents no matter the cost. He'd always be there waiting.
She barely restrained a sob. He wouldn't be there this time. He'd never be there again.
--------
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go
--------
Her son squeezing her hand drew her attention down to him.
"Mom?" Like his mother, the little Pretender's accent would have fooled anyone. Even a native of
Quebec would have been unable to tell the difference.
"What is it?" Laura questioned, crouching down to meet her son's eyes.
To her surprise, he flung his little arms around her neck and hugged her tightly. "There's a couple
of guys following us."
Shocked by the child's revelation, not to mention his observation skills, Laura shared no sign as
she kissed his cheek before fixing his jacket and hat. "I know."
She'd been aware of them for some time. Even recognizing one or two of them from her time at the
Centre.
They were heads of the Sweeper teams.
The Centre had found them.
----------
Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
----------
Laura, taking her son's hand once more, kept her gaze causal as she surveyed the crowd.
Identifying the Sweeper teams, the Pretender escorted her child through the people and, with a
furtive movement; she and Kyle stepped behind a large support pole.
When they emerged, the brown wig had been replaced by a shoulder length blond one.
Moving swiftly with Kyle before her, Laura disappeared into a large throng of people.
The Sweeper who'd been watching for the Pretender, and her son, frowned after several moments
passed and they didn't reappear. A slender blonde had walked away from the support pole but he'd
been unable to see a little boy.
Suspicious, he moved around the column to check it out...And promptly cursed.
The wig Laura'd worn lay on the ground next to the baseball cap her son had been wearing. Kicking
at the column, he swore again.
They were gone.
--------
Close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
--------
Disguises all put away, Laura settled back into her seat as she pulled her dark red hair free from
it's confinement.
Acting like a miniature 007, Kyle stood on his seat and carefully scrutinized the passengers around
them. After a moment, he sat down with a nod of satisfaction."Weren't followed, Mom." He reported
crisply.
"Excellent," She congratulated, reigning in a chuckle as she leaned over to buckle him in.
Sitting back, she fixed her seat and then sighed. She'd seen to it that the chances of them being
followed onto the plane were slim. She'd booked them on several different flights, all departing
at around the same time from the same airport and had even paid decoys to take some of the flights.
By the time the Centre realized the others were decoys...she and Kyle would be long gone.
Just the way she liked it.
-------
When I won't have to leave alone
About the time when I don't have to say.............Leaving on a jet plane
--------
Finis
I'm just borrowing them for awhile. Laura and Kyle (Jr) are mine though.
Category: Alternate Universe. Crossover
Spoilers: For the Pretender 2001 movie.
Author's Note: When I was watching the Pretender2001 movie, the character of
Eddie really struck me. I'd always wondered if there were more and suddenly
here was one that was a good guy. So then, I wondered, what if his wife was
Jarod's sister. Not Emily obviously, since she escaped life at the Centre.
I know we saw a picture of his wife and son but I'm going to go on the AU
concept here and say they look like they do in my head.
Shattered: "Leavin' On A Jet Plane"
by Medie
----
Tis early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry
Her dark red hair obscured by a wig of long mousy brown, dark green eyes hidden by contact lenses
of the purest blue, Laura Ballinger held her son's hand tightly as they navigated their way
through the large crowds.
Like his mother, Kyle wore a disguise. The little boy's dark hair obscured by a Montreal Canadians
baseball cap and 'coke-bottle' glasses obscured his darker eyes.
Every inch the Pretender his mother was, Kyle Ballinger's expression was a perfect mix of
excitement, nervousness, and curiosity. Exactly what one would expect of a child about to go on a
plane ride. No one would have guessed he was a child grieving for the loss of the father he'd
worshipped and scared of a threat his mother would not explain.
Her face the picture of composure, Laura walked up to the counter with forged passport in hand.
With a flawless French Canadian accent, she dealt with the smiling woman and managed to keep her
grief out of her eyes. It was the hardest Pretend of her life.To laugh and carry on as if life was
just fine, that her world had no problems, that her husband was alive and well and waiting for
them in Montreal.
The image that her mind presented, a smiling Eddie waiting at the gate with a small bouquet of
flowers for her and a new toy for Kyle, made Laura's heart clench painfully in her chest. It was a
scene they'd played out so many times before. Eddie waiting for her, always smiling, always
supportive.
------
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
--------
Like her brother after her, Laura had been focused on searching for the family the Centre had
stolen her away from. That search had meant weekends spent chasing leads away from home. None of
the leads had ever lead to a concrete fact but she had been able to take the opportunity to help
people along the way. People who wouldn't have gotten the help otherwise, it was a chance for her
to atone for the things the Centre had used her to do. The failure to find her family had never
lessened Eddie's support. He'd always been adamant that she keep going.
Find her parents no matter the cost. He'd always be there waiting.
She barely restrained a sob. He wouldn't be there this time. He'd never be there again.
--------
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go
--------
Her son squeezing her hand drew her attention down to him.
"Mom?" Like his mother, the little Pretender's accent would have fooled anyone. Even a native of
Quebec would have been unable to tell the difference.
"What is it?" Laura questioned, crouching down to meet her son's eyes.
To her surprise, he flung his little arms around her neck and hugged her tightly. "There's a couple
of guys following us."
Shocked by the child's revelation, not to mention his observation skills, Laura shared no sign as
she kissed his cheek before fixing his jacket and hat. "I know."
She'd been aware of them for some time. Even recognizing one or two of them from her time at the
Centre.
They were heads of the Sweeper teams.
The Centre had found them.
----------
Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
----------
Laura, taking her son's hand once more, kept her gaze causal as she surveyed the crowd.
Identifying the Sweeper teams, the Pretender escorted her child through the people and, with a
furtive movement; she and Kyle stepped behind a large support pole.
When they emerged, the brown wig had been replaced by a shoulder length blond one.
Moving swiftly with Kyle before her, Laura disappeared into a large throng of people.
The Sweeper who'd been watching for the Pretender, and her son, frowned after several moments
passed and they didn't reappear. A slender blonde had walked away from the support pole but he'd
been unable to see a little boy.
Suspicious, he moved around the column to check it out...And promptly cursed.
The wig Laura'd worn lay on the ground next to the baseball cap her son had been wearing. Kicking
at the column, he swore again.
They were gone.
--------
Close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
--------
Disguises all put away, Laura settled back into her seat as she pulled her dark red hair free from
it's confinement.
Acting like a miniature 007, Kyle stood on his seat and carefully scrutinized the passengers around
them. After a moment, he sat down with a nod of satisfaction."Weren't followed, Mom." He reported
crisply.
"Excellent," She congratulated, reigning in a chuckle as she leaned over to buckle him in.
Sitting back, she fixed her seat and then sighed. She'd seen to it that the chances of them being
followed onto the plane were slim. She'd booked them on several different flights, all departing
at around the same time from the same airport and had even paid decoys to take some of the flights.
By the time the Centre realized the others were decoys...she and Kyle would be long gone.
Just the way she liked it.
-------
When I won't have to leave alone
About the time when I don't have to say.............Leaving on a jet plane
--------
Finis
