Chapter Nineteen
When Jarod woke his surroundings were different. He didn't remember how he'd gotten here, so his first reaction was a touch of panic. Had they already begun their experiments?
Then he composed himself and looked around.
He was at the ICU in Renewal wing. Something must have happened. Carefully he tried to sit up. A drip was fastened to his hand. Salt solution. Did he fall into shock? Jarod knew enough about medicin to analyze his condition by the medication. Wow, he thought, that was close.
Laying down he tried to keep his body from trembling. He'd been in danger several times, but he'd always been in control. Usually shock wasn't dangerous, but for someone locked up in a cell it could be deadly. Parker must think it was pretend. He had announced he'd try something.
And seeing the situation from this point it was playing into their hands. If he could pretend to be out of it for a while, then they couldn't force him to do anything...
He heard steps coming nearer. One step he recognized immediately. Miss Parkers way of walking was unique. He pictured her in high heels and short skirts, then reminded himself, that this was no time for romance. He closed his eyes and forced himself to breath calm and regularly. He assumed Lyle was with her, otherwise he would have given himself away.
He heard Lyles voice before he opened the curtain which separated Jarod from the other patients. Both stepped in and watched him silently. Parker let out her breath. Her voice wasn't as steady as usual.
"Didn't the doctor say he ought to come to soon?" Lyle sighed.
"I don't know. He said, that depends on how long Jarod already had been in shock. If his brain got damaged because of a lack of oxygen ...well. You now what happens when Jarod is a creep like Angelo. The triumvirate will have my head and this time I didn't do anything..."
Jarod fought hard not to smile. Lyle had done everything right and would have to pay anyway. That was a way of fate Jarod liked.
Parker stayed with Jarod as Lyle walked over to find the doctor. She waited until he couldn't overhear anymore then she sighed deeply and touched Jarods hand.
It was warm again and felt strong. She had never seen him that way before. Jarod had always been strong and sovereign. To see him so weak and helpless seemed wrong to her.
She had tears in her eyes and fought them. How should she explain tears to Lyle.
Jarod knew they were alone. The renewal wing wasn't under such strict supervision as the rest of the centre. Obviously because the patients usually were highly sedated. Or chained up.
He opened his eyes and focused on Parker. She was startled. Then she smiled.
"You're ok?"
She whispered? Jarod nodded.
"I am now. That was no pretend, Miss Parker."
His voice was hoarse and she pressed his hand.
"I know, Jarod. I had this feeling..."
"I'm gonna pretend from now on. Play along. I guess they will keep me here. When I officially wake up I will pretend to be mentally confused. Don't worry, ok."
She nodded, not knnowing what to say.
"I received a telegram of Sydney and Broots. They're worrying."
Jarod had a wry grin on his face.
"I bet they do. But they're safe?"
Parker nodded again.
She heard Lyle coming back.
"Can I do something?"
She asked calmly.
"Get some Betacadoin. It will make me tired all the time and they will not be able to trace it in coherence with other medication...."
He closed his eyes.
Parker hesitated.
"But I need you awake!"
She stated. If the time for escape was coming she couldn't carry a guy weighing at least double her weight. Jarod whispered. She almost didn't unterstand.
"Betadocain. It will subside the effects of the other drugs in moments..."
Parker squeezed his hand one last time then brought some distance betweem herself and the bed. She concentrated on a bored expression.
When Lyle entered Parker leaned on the wall, studying her Beretta and looking extremely bored.
"What took you so long?"
She snarled with her best out-of-my-way voice. Lyle chuckled.
"What? Don't you like being around unconscious people?"
He went to the bed and studied Jarods face. His expression was relaxed. He looked so much younger without the seriousness on his face. Only the lines on his face gave away that he was no young boy anymore.
Lyle shook his head.
"Damn him. If it wasn't serious I'd bet he did that on purpose..."
Parker almost smiled.
"Jarod always finds a way to make us look like idiots..."
When Jarod woke his surroundings were different. He didn't remember how he'd gotten here, so his first reaction was a touch of panic. Had they already begun their experiments?
Then he composed himself and looked around.
He was at the ICU in Renewal wing. Something must have happened. Carefully he tried to sit up. A drip was fastened to his hand. Salt solution. Did he fall into shock? Jarod knew enough about medicin to analyze his condition by the medication. Wow, he thought, that was close.
Laying down he tried to keep his body from trembling. He'd been in danger several times, but he'd always been in control. Usually shock wasn't dangerous, but for someone locked up in a cell it could be deadly. Parker must think it was pretend. He had announced he'd try something.
And seeing the situation from this point it was playing into their hands. If he could pretend to be out of it for a while, then they couldn't force him to do anything...
He heard steps coming nearer. One step he recognized immediately. Miss Parkers way of walking was unique. He pictured her in high heels and short skirts, then reminded himself, that this was no time for romance. He closed his eyes and forced himself to breath calm and regularly. He assumed Lyle was with her, otherwise he would have given himself away.
He heard Lyles voice before he opened the curtain which separated Jarod from the other patients. Both stepped in and watched him silently. Parker let out her breath. Her voice wasn't as steady as usual.
"Didn't the doctor say he ought to come to soon?" Lyle sighed.
"I don't know. He said, that depends on how long Jarod already had been in shock. If his brain got damaged because of a lack of oxygen ...well. You now what happens when Jarod is a creep like Angelo. The triumvirate will have my head and this time I didn't do anything..."
Jarod fought hard not to smile. Lyle had done everything right and would have to pay anyway. That was a way of fate Jarod liked.
Parker stayed with Jarod as Lyle walked over to find the doctor. She waited until he couldn't overhear anymore then she sighed deeply and touched Jarods hand.
It was warm again and felt strong. She had never seen him that way before. Jarod had always been strong and sovereign. To see him so weak and helpless seemed wrong to her.
She had tears in her eyes and fought them. How should she explain tears to Lyle.
Jarod knew they were alone. The renewal wing wasn't under such strict supervision as the rest of the centre. Obviously because the patients usually were highly sedated. Or chained up.
He opened his eyes and focused on Parker. She was startled. Then she smiled.
"You're ok?"
She whispered? Jarod nodded.
"I am now. That was no pretend, Miss Parker."
His voice was hoarse and she pressed his hand.
"I know, Jarod. I had this feeling..."
"I'm gonna pretend from now on. Play along. I guess they will keep me here. When I officially wake up I will pretend to be mentally confused. Don't worry, ok."
She nodded, not knnowing what to say.
"I received a telegram of Sydney and Broots. They're worrying."
Jarod had a wry grin on his face.
"I bet they do. But they're safe?"
Parker nodded again.
She heard Lyle coming back.
"Can I do something?"
She asked calmly.
"Get some Betacadoin. It will make me tired all the time and they will not be able to trace it in coherence with other medication...."
He closed his eyes.
Parker hesitated.
"But I need you awake!"
She stated. If the time for escape was coming she couldn't carry a guy weighing at least double her weight. Jarod whispered. She almost didn't unterstand.
"Betadocain. It will subside the effects of the other drugs in moments..."
Parker squeezed his hand one last time then brought some distance betweem herself and the bed. She concentrated on a bored expression.
When Lyle entered Parker leaned on the wall, studying her Beretta and looking extremely bored.
"What took you so long?"
She snarled with her best out-of-my-way voice. Lyle chuckled.
"What? Don't you like being around unconscious people?"
He went to the bed and studied Jarods face. His expression was relaxed. He looked so much younger without the seriousness on his face. Only the lines on his face gave away that he was no young boy anymore.
Lyle shook his head.
"Damn him. If it wasn't serious I'd bet he did that on purpose..."
Parker almost smiled.
"Jarod always finds a way to make us look like idiots..."