Chapter 12: Common Ground
Jarod and Tara finally gathered together the cookies they had baked and delivered them to stationhouse just after lunch. As they walked up to the station house they noticed off to the side pictures, posters, letters, candles, flowers and all sorts of things beside the white big overhead doors. Jarod walked over to more closely view the items that had been left in tribute to the fallen firefighters, and Tara took the grocery bag full of the cookies they had made that morning back into the kitchen.
Ten minutes later Tara met Jarod in the hall outside Joe's office with 3 cookies on a plate and a mug of coffee for Joe.
"Hey you ready to head out Jarod?" Tara asked as she delivered the cookies and coffee she had promised to bring Joe in his office.
Joe was on the phone so she just set them on his desk, and he nodded and mouthed "thank you". Tara just acknowledged it with a smile and returned to Jarod in the hall.
"Yes, I talked with Joe briefly before the phone call came in. Are you ready too?"
"Yep," Tara replied, "The guys are already gathering in the kitchen to grab some cookies. Thought I best bring Joe one of each before they were all gone and he got none."
"Hey," Jarod laughed as they exited the building, "We brought a grocery sack full!"
"I know," Tara chuckled as well as she linked arms with Jarod and they headed back towards her apartment. "But I think your peanut butter with chocolate drop ones are going to be the favorite. I had never tried that recipe, but you seemed to really enjoy the ones you sampled."
"They were good if I do say so myself.", he smiled proudly at her and put his hand over hers on his arm and gave it a friendly squeeze, "though I enjoyed your Oatmeal Raisin and Gingersnap cookies too."
"Thanks, but somehow I think cookies are getting to be like doughnuts for you.", Tara replied.
"Why do you say that?"
"You told me you never met a doughnut you didn't like, remember?", she laughed with a delighted twinkle in eye.
**********************************************
Broots had ordered room service to save time on having to go downstairs to the restaurant. He didn't want to give Miss Parker any more reason to be irritated with him than she already was. And after the dream he had been having just before her phone call, well he was a tad embarrassed. 'I don't think I can face her just yet,' Broots thought with a loud sigh. Then he shook his head and booted up his computer to start hacking into more hotel computers to check their guest lists for September 10th and 11th. Hoping to find someone somewhere who had seen the lost Pretender after the Towers fell.
Jarod had after all made sure he gained custody of Debbie in the divorce, making sure the court knew about his ex-wife's gambling habits. Though he had been nearly frightened out of his mind when Jarod had showed up in his own home, he did secretly admire the guy. Though he could never say the words out loud because of the Centre, he owed Jarod, big time! And he couldn't even begin to imagine what Sydney was going through.
'Ok, less thinking, more searching," Broots thought to himself, knowing before long Miss Parker would be calling again and expecting some kind of progress.
*******************************************************************
"What," Miss Parker snapped as she answered the telephone in her room.
"M-Miss Parker," Broots stammered, "I have found the hotel Jarod was staying at on the 10th, he checked out on the 11th, about 9:30 a.m. according to their computer records. Should we go there and see if anyone remembers where he went? I can arrange for a car."
"Do it.", Parker growled, "I'll meet you and Sydney downstairs."
Without another word she hung up the telephone grabbed her room key and headed for the hotel lobby to find the trail to their missing Pretender. Hope secretly rose in her heart as waited for the elevator she realized that he hadn't been in the World Trade Center towers when they were hit. But where was he? As he had still time to get there to help with the rescue before they collapsed.
*****
Broots, Sydney and Miss Parker entered the hotel Jarod had stayed in. The lobby was quiet but there were still a few people lingering with their morning paper. On the way over it was decided that to not arouse suspicion, Broots and Miss Parker would hang back a little and quietly wait while Sydney asked for any information regarding Jarod.
Sydney approached the young woman who was the front desk clerk and cleared his throat before saying with a quiet smile, "I am wondering if you could help me. I am looking for ...my son." Sydney's cultured voice broke briefly as he suddenly realized the words he spoke were not that far from the truth. He held out a picture of Jarod. "He was staying here on the night of September 10th and he is missing."
"Oh, I am sorry sir. I wish I could help you. I don't remember him though. What is his name? "
"Mr. Jarod Birmingham," Sydney replied as he got a nod from Broots to verify the name Jarod had used was the same as the one he had used on the airplane ticket.
"I show him in our computer records sir, checking out the morning of the 11th." The helpful young clerk noted as she checked the computer screen.
"Yes, I believe that is what I was told. However no one has seen him since, and naturally his wife ", Sydney said with a nod towards Miss Parker, "is concerned. Do you know who was working that morning? I mean I could come back tomorrow to talk to that person. It is just that we are so desperate for a clue to his whereabouts."
"I think Portia was working here that morning. She usually does work mornings, hold on a second I will check her schedule." The young girl picked up the phone and dialed the number to their office, requesting Portia's schedule. When she received the information she politely thanked the office secretary and hung up the phone.
"Well Mr. Birmingham," she told Sydney with a sympathetic smile, "Portia is scheduled to come in tomorrow morning at 6 A.M. and work until 2:00 P.M. If you would like to stop by tomorrow she may be able to give you some additional information." She grabbed a pad of paper, wrote the phone number of the hotel and Portia's name beside it before handing it to Sydney. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful sir. I can understand your family worrying. Have you checked the hospitals?"
"Uh, no. I guess we will have to do that next. Thank you for the suggestion, " he nodded goodbye politely and headed back over to Broots and Miss Parker.
"She said the girl who was here on the morning Jarod checked out is supposed to be working tomorrow morning. I suggest we stop by then to speak to her and see if she remembers where Jarod went then."
"Figures," Miss Parker said succinctly as she turned on her heel and headed outside to their waiting car, Broots and Sydney reluctantly trailing along behind her.
**
"Jarod.." Tara began as she entered his room only to find him sitting on his bed with a silver case balanced on his knees. By his expression it was obvious he was watching something.
A child's voice sang, "Cree craw toads foot, geese walk barefoot. Cree craw toads foot, geese walk barefoot."
"This one has been with us only 36 hours and he's already demonstrating more talent than any of our others," A man's voice said.
"Hey," a child replied while knocking, "I'm finished."
Tara heard a swishing sound and then she heard the man speak again, "Hi Jarod, I'm Sydney, I'll be taking care of you for awhile."
"Why? Where's my Mom and Dad?"
"Jarod?" Tara asked as she approached him. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh Tara," Jarod started in surprise as he quickly shut the DSA off, "I didn't hear you come in."
"Obviously.", Tara answered a little drily, in a tone he found curiously reminiscent of Miss Parker.
"No, nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about family. You know, my family has scattered to the winds to try and stay free while the Centre. Well I just got to thinking about family and how I wish I knew where they were. I wish I could be with them wherever they are to comfort them. And then I got to thinking about Sydney."
"Sydney?" He was the man who took care of you at the Centre?"
"Yes," Jarod said motioning her closer, "See, these are little silver discs are all I have of my childhood. I stole them from the Centre. But then I figured they really belonged to me, they were my childhood."
Tara just nodded sensing her friend needed to talk. He scooted over on the bed and she sat down beside him. He laced the fingers of his left hand with her right and then asked her, "So would you like to see the 'home movies' of my childhood?"
Tara looked deep into his brown eyes, seeing the pain there. "Yes," she said giving his hand a little squeeze and throwing him a small smile. "If it will help us to get to know each other better Jarod I would like to see them."
So he flipped open on the DSA player and started with the DSA that he had been watching, the very first time he had met Sydney.
And Tara had watched as Sydney had put the young Pretender through his paces. Chiding Jarod gently when he was within moments of giving up. Urging him to keep going, calling out to him from the darkness beyond the spotlight that hit Jarod.
Tara ordered a pizza for them, and they sat on Jarod's bed and ate it while watching the DSA's, and talking about Jarod's life at the Centre. Tara took the pizza box and dishes to the kitchen and then came back to watch more of Jarod's 'home movies'. She sat beside him at the head of the bed watching the DSA player play out the secrets of Jarod's past life and the all to true secrets of the Centre.
"No, Jarod," Tara shook her head, "It is ok. Don't feel bad about it. I am not going to lie and say it doesn't bother me at all. But I have been working on overcoming the need for their approval in myself. I thought moving away from my family would help me to not care so much what they thought."
"Did it?"
"I don't know Jarod. I am not sure."
"One things is for sure, I don't see them much and don't feel so guilty if I don't talk to them very often. I have learned this though Jarod. There is the family you were born into, and then there is the family you choose. Those are the friends who make you a part of their life, a part of their families. Some people come into your life and you just know within moments, this is going to be a special friend. And that knowing this person can change your life. That is how I feel about you Jarod."
"Thank you Tara, for offering me a place to stay, and a shoulder to cry on.", he smiled slowly.
"Anytime Jarod," Tara laughed, "Anything I can do for you, my brother-of-the heart, you just say so. I'll be there for you."
"Brother-of-the heart", Jarod tested the sweet words on his tongue then threw her a smile, "I like that."
"A week or two ago, if someone would have told me I would have met someone who would come into my life so unexpectedly and change the way I looked at life and the world I would have said they were crazy. But it's true Jarod. Knowing about you and about the Centre... how can that not change someone's world? I don't know how you put up with life on the run Jarod. I don't know how you keep going when they are constantly hunting you."
"It isn't easy Tara. I get tired of constantly being on the run. I used to believe that people everyone inside the walls of the Centre was evil. I am learning that life is rarely black and white, but merely shades of gray. But, knowing you Tara, it reminded me that there really are good people in the world. People who will go out of their way to help a stranger. Who will take him in and care for him. And be there for him in a time of need."
"Well if you look hard enough and long enough, you're bound to find some common ground.", Tara replied. "Everybody needs some help sometime Jarod, that is what Viva's death taught me. When she needed me, I wasn't there for her. That is a burden I have had to bear. But I promise you Jarod, if you ever need me I will be there for you."
"Same here Tara," he said softly as he squeezed her fingers in reassurance. "Same here."
"Jarod," Tara asked with trepidation, "I hate to bring this up. But what if you took this opportunity to really disappear. What if the Centre thought you had really perished in the World Trade Center collapse? They would never hunt you again. You would be free. Free to live with your family in peace at last."
Jarod and Tara finally gathered together the cookies they had baked and delivered them to stationhouse just after lunch. As they walked up to the station house they noticed off to the side pictures, posters, letters, candles, flowers and all sorts of things beside the white big overhead doors. Jarod walked over to more closely view the items that had been left in tribute to the fallen firefighters, and Tara took the grocery bag full of the cookies they had made that morning back into the kitchen.
Ten minutes later Tara met Jarod in the hall outside Joe's office with 3 cookies on a plate and a mug of coffee for Joe.
"Hey you ready to head out Jarod?" Tara asked as she delivered the cookies and coffee she had promised to bring Joe in his office.
Joe was on the phone so she just set them on his desk, and he nodded and mouthed "thank you". Tara just acknowledged it with a smile and returned to Jarod in the hall.
"Yes, I talked with Joe briefly before the phone call came in. Are you ready too?"
"Yep," Tara replied, "The guys are already gathering in the kitchen to grab some cookies. Thought I best bring Joe one of each before they were all gone and he got none."
"Hey," Jarod laughed as they exited the building, "We brought a grocery sack full!"
"I know," Tara chuckled as well as she linked arms with Jarod and they headed back towards her apartment. "But I think your peanut butter with chocolate drop ones are going to be the favorite. I had never tried that recipe, but you seemed to really enjoy the ones you sampled."
"They were good if I do say so myself.", he smiled proudly at her and put his hand over hers on his arm and gave it a friendly squeeze, "though I enjoyed your Oatmeal Raisin and Gingersnap cookies too."
"Thanks, but somehow I think cookies are getting to be like doughnuts for you.", Tara replied.
"Why do you say that?"
"You told me you never met a doughnut you didn't like, remember?", she laughed with a delighted twinkle in eye.
**********************************************
Broots had ordered room service to save time on having to go downstairs to the restaurant. He didn't want to give Miss Parker any more reason to be irritated with him than she already was. And after the dream he had been having just before her phone call, well he was a tad embarrassed. 'I don't think I can face her just yet,' Broots thought with a loud sigh. Then he shook his head and booted up his computer to start hacking into more hotel computers to check their guest lists for September 10th and 11th. Hoping to find someone somewhere who had seen the lost Pretender after the Towers fell.
Jarod had after all made sure he gained custody of Debbie in the divorce, making sure the court knew about his ex-wife's gambling habits. Though he had been nearly frightened out of his mind when Jarod had showed up in his own home, he did secretly admire the guy. Though he could never say the words out loud because of the Centre, he owed Jarod, big time! And he couldn't even begin to imagine what Sydney was going through.
'Ok, less thinking, more searching," Broots thought to himself, knowing before long Miss Parker would be calling again and expecting some kind of progress.
*******************************************************************
"What," Miss Parker snapped as she answered the telephone in her room.
"M-Miss Parker," Broots stammered, "I have found the hotel Jarod was staying at on the 10th, he checked out on the 11th, about 9:30 a.m. according to their computer records. Should we go there and see if anyone remembers where he went? I can arrange for a car."
"Do it.", Parker growled, "I'll meet you and Sydney downstairs."
Without another word she hung up the telephone grabbed her room key and headed for the hotel lobby to find the trail to their missing Pretender. Hope secretly rose in her heart as waited for the elevator she realized that he hadn't been in the World Trade Center towers when they were hit. But where was he? As he had still time to get there to help with the rescue before they collapsed.
*****
Broots, Sydney and Miss Parker entered the hotel Jarod had stayed in. The lobby was quiet but there were still a few people lingering with their morning paper. On the way over it was decided that to not arouse suspicion, Broots and Miss Parker would hang back a little and quietly wait while Sydney asked for any information regarding Jarod.
Sydney approached the young woman who was the front desk clerk and cleared his throat before saying with a quiet smile, "I am wondering if you could help me. I am looking for ...my son." Sydney's cultured voice broke briefly as he suddenly realized the words he spoke were not that far from the truth. He held out a picture of Jarod. "He was staying here on the night of September 10th and he is missing."
"Oh, I am sorry sir. I wish I could help you. I don't remember him though. What is his name? "
"Mr. Jarod Birmingham," Sydney replied as he got a nod from Broots to verify the name Jarod had used was the same as the one he had used on the airplane ticket.
"I show him in our computer records sir, checking out the morning of the 11th." The helpful young clerk noted as she checked the computer screen.
"Yes, I believe that is what I was told. However no one has seen him since, and naturally his wife ", Sydney said with a nod towards Miss Parker, "is concerned. Do you know who was working that morning? I mean I could come back tomorrow to talk to that person. It is just that we are so desperate for a clue to his whereabouts."
"I think Portia was working here that morning. She usually does work mornings, hold on a second I will check her schedule." The young girl picked up the phone and dialed the number to their office, requesting Portia's schedule. When she received the information she politely thanked the office secretary and hung up the phone.
"Well Mr. Birmingham," she told Sydney with a sympathetic smile, "Portia is scheduled to come in tomorrow morning at 6 A.M. and work until 2:00 P.M. If you would like to stop by tomorrow she may be able to give you some additional information." She grabbed a pad of paper, wrote the phone number of the hotel and Portia's name beside it before handing it to Sydney. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful sir. I can understand your family worrying. Have you checked the hospitals?"
"Uh, no. I guess we will have to do that next. Thank you for the suggestion, " he nodded goodbye politely and headed back over to Broots and Miss Parker.
"She said the girl who was here on the morning Jarod checked out is supposed to be working tomorrow morning. I suggest we stop by then to speak to her and see if she remembers where Jarod went then."
"Figures," Miss Parker said succinctly as she turned on her heel and headed outside to their waiting car, Broots and Sydney reluctantly trailing along behind her.
**
"Jarod.." Tara began as she entered his room only to find him sitting on his bed with a silver case balanced on his knees. By his expression it was obvious he was watching something.
A child's voice sang, "Cree craw toads foot, geese walk barefoot. Cree craw toads foot, geese walk barefoot."
"This one has been with us only 36 hours and he's already demonstrating more talent than any of our others," A man's voice said.
"Hey," a child replied while knocking, "I'm finished."
Tara heard a swishing sound and then she heard the man speak again, "Hi Jarod, I'm Sydney, I'll be taking care of you for awhile."
"Why? Where's my Mom and Dad?"
"Jarod?" Tara asked as she approached him. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh Tara," Jarod started in surprise as he quickly shut the DSA off, "I didn't hear you come in."
"Obviously.", Tara answered a little drily, in a tone he found curiously reminiscent of Miss Parker.
"No, nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about family. You know, my family has scattered to the winds to try and stay free while the Centre. Well I just got to thinking about family and how I wish I knew where they were. I wish I could be with them wherever they are to comfort them. And then I got to thinking about Sydney."
"Sydney?" He was the man who took care of you at the Centre?"
"Yes," Jarod said motioning her closer, "See, these are little silver discs are all I have of my childhood. I stole them from the Centre. But then I figured they really belonged to me, they were my childhood."
Tara just nodded sensing her friend needed to talk. He scooted over on the bed and she sat down beside him. He laced the fingers of his left hand with her right and then asked her, "So would you like to see the 'home movies' of my childhood?"
Tara looked deep into his brown eyes, seeing the pain there. "Yes," she said giving his hand a little squeeze and throwing him a small smile. "If it will help us to get to know each other better Jarod I would like to see them."
So he flipped open on the DSA player and started with the DSA that he had been watching, the very first time he had met Sydney.
And Tara had watched as Sydney had put the young Pretender through his paces. Chiding Jarod gently when he was within moments of giving up. Urging him to keep going, calling out to him from the darkness beyond the spotlight that hit Jarod.
Tara ordered a pizza for them, and they sat on Jarod's bed and ate it while watching the DSA's, and talking about Jarod's life at the Centre. Tara took the pizza box and dishes to the kitchen and then came back to watch more of Jarod's 'home movies'. She sat beside him at the head of the bed watching the DSA player play out the secrets of Jarod's past life and the all to true secrets of the Centre.
"No, Jarod," Tara shook her head, "It is ok. Don't feel bad about it. I am not going to lie and say it doesn't bother me at all. But I have been working on overcoming the need for their approval in myself. I thought moving away from my family would help me to not care so much what they thought."
"Did it?"
"I don't know Jarod. I am not sure."
"One things is for sure, I don't see them much and don't feel so guilty if I don't talk to them very often. I have learned this though Jarod. There is the family you were born into, and then there is the family you choose. Those are the friends who make you a part of their life, a part of their families. Some people come into your life and you just know within moments, this is going to be a special friend. And that knowing this person can change your life. That is how I feel about you Jarod."
"Thank you Tara, for offering me a place to stay, and a shoulder to cry on.", he smiled slowly.
"Anytime Jarod," Tara laughed, "Anything I can do for you, my brother-of-the heart, you just say so. I'll be there for you."
"Brother-of-the heart", Jarod tested the sweet words on his tongue then threw her a smile, "I like that."
"A week or two ago, if someone would have told me I would have met someone who would come into my life so unexpectedly and change the way I looked at life and the world I would have said they were crazy. But it's true Jarod. Knowing about you and about the Centre... how can that not change someone's world? I don't know how you put up with life on the run Jarod. I don't know how you keep going when they are constantly hunting you."
"It isn't easy Tara. I get tired of constantly being on the run. I used to believe that people everyone inside the walls of the Centre was evil. I am learning that life is rarely black and white, but merely shades of gray. But, knowing you Tara, it reminded me that there really are good people in the world. People who will go out of their way to help a stranger. Who will take him in and care for him. And be there for him in a time of need."
"Well if you look hard enough and long enough, you're bound to find some common ground.", Tara replied. "Everybody needs some help sometime Jarod, that is what Viva's death taught me. When she needed me, I wasn't there for her. That is a burden I have had to bear. But I promise you Jarod, if you ever need me I will be there for you."
"Same here Tara," he said softly as he squeezed her fingers in reassurance. "Same here."
"Jarod," Tara asked with trepidation, "I hate to bring this up. But what if you took this opportunity to really disappear. What if the Centre thought you had really perished in the World Trade Center collapse? They would never hunt you again. You would be free. Free to live with your family in peace at last."
