Chapter 3
Dr. Elizabeth Corday, stepped into Dr. Romano's office the next day, per his request. Right away, she was distressed to see how upset he looked.
'Robert? What is it?' she asked.
'Close the door, Lizzie.' he ordered.
Elizabeth, a bit put off by his abrupt tone, did what she was told, nonetheless. She stood.
'What is it, Robert? she asked again.
Robert rubbed a brow.
'My wife, informed this morning, that she's been having dreams of strange people.'
Elizabeth didn't quite know how to answer that.
'Well, Robert, maybe Christina is starting to regain her memory...'
'That is not what concerns me, Lizzie! What worries the hell out of me, is that Christina informed me that one of the people in her dreams, is your new boyfriend!'
Elizabeth, for a moment, didn't have a clue as to who Robert was referring to! Then it hit her.
'Does she mean Jarod?'
'Yeah, Jarod! Jarod whatever the hell his real name is!'
'What are you talking about?'
'I knew I should've done a more thorough background check on that jerk! I just did an extensive one on him and came up with this!'
Elizabeth grabbed the picture Robert had waved rudely in front of her. It was a fax photograph of Dr. Jarod Russell. Only, he didn't even closely resemble Jarod, being African-American, but, had all of the qualifications and had went to the same schools, that Jarod said he had attended. Elizabeth looked at Robert.
'This has got to be a mistake.'
'No, mistake, Lizzie! And I'm sorry if this hurts you.'
Elizabeth rolled her eyes!
'Good Lord, Robert! I've explained this to every jealous female nurse and doctor, with designs on Jarod, already! We are just friends! Just because we arrived at a small function together, does not make us a couple!'
Robert said nothing, but turned and sat down.
'That guy got this job to get close to my wife. Christina hasn't remembered zip until now! Then, this guy shows up and she's having dreams about him!'
'Okay, but did she start dreaming about him after she met him?'
Robert looked at her as if she were crazy!
'No! She just wasn't being upfront with me, that's all! She'd been having the dreams for quite awhile now! Lizzie, I'm scared that this guy was somehow involved in hurting her.'
Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she walked over to his chair.
'Robert, whatever you think of Jarod, I just don't get the feeling that he'd harm a fly, much less some defenseless woman! But...'
'But what?' he sulked.
Elizabeth took a deep breath.
'There is another possibility.'
Romano shook his head wildly.
'What? You're going to make me guess?! What?!'
'That Jarod could be the true father of your daughter.'
Elizabeth didn't think she had ever seen Robert Romano shocked. It was clear that the idea had never occurred to him!
Robert stood up. 'I'm calling the police, then I'm going to fire the sonofabitch!'
****
'So, how was Romano's party last night?' Jerry asked, eating a donut. A man behind him complained about how long he had been waiting. Abby told him they would get to him when they could. She then turned to Jerry and shrugged.
'It was alright. We didn't see much of Mrs. Romano though.'
Luka eased into the area and looked at the patient board. He then looked over at Jerry and Abby.
'Has anyone seen Dr. Russell?' he asked.
Jerry spoke with his mouth full.
'He's around here somewhere with a patient. So, you didn't see much of the little wife, hey?' Jerry asked, returning to his gossip session with Abby.
'No, not really.' Abby answered, suddenly uncomfortable talking about the woman behind her back. Luka looked over at them again.
'Actually, I had a nice conversation with her about karate. She's really into it.'
Jerry smirked.
'Can't you see her kicking Romano's ass with some of those cool moves.' Jerry said, pretending to kick into the air. He knocked over some charts. Luka rolled his eyes and walked off. Susan came around the desk.
'Talking about the mysterious 'Mrs. Romano'?' she asked teasingly.
'Yeah,' Jerry answered, 'Abby said she wasn't around much last night.'
'Oh, sure she was. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to watch as Jarod stared at her all evening.'
Abby and Jerry looked at one another. Abby began to smile, and moved closer to Susan.
'What are you talking about? I didn't notice that!'
'Yeah, I mean, didn't Jarod go with Dr. Corday?'
Susan sighed.
'You wouldn't have known it. In fact, the two of them disappeared for awhile and...'
'Excuse me, have any one of you three gossiping bitches seen Dr. Russell?'
Susan, Abby and Jerry slowly looked up and in front of them. Christina Romano stood in front of them. She stared at them, her eyes steely.
Jerry, who was upset that this woman had referred to him as a 'bitch', couldn't get any words out. Christina looked from him to the other two.
'Well? Have you seen him?'
'Actually, he's with a patient.' Susan said coolly.
'I'll find him myself, if I have to look behind every curtain, interrupt every pelvic or prostate exam I can, to find him. So, make it easy on yourselves, and tell me where he is!'
Susan and Abby looked at one another. This bitch was unbelievable!
'Fine!' Christina said and turned to walk down a hall. Susan chased after her and grabbed her arm.
'You can't just run around here!' she snapped.
Christina flung Susan off of her arm so hard, that the ER Physician, went flying onto the floor and slid back towards the check in counter! Dr Kovach and Abby helped Susan up, as Christina turned and began searching through rooms.
She didn't know what was happening to her! Last week, she would've never just assaulted some person, for just not answering her! But after she told Robert about Jarod, she began to wonder...no...sense, that he held all of the answers that she sought! She should've demanded them last night.
****
Jarod walked behind Curtain 4
'So, Mrs....'
'Pippen.'
Jarod looked at her chart. Then he looked at her and smiled.
'Pippen. How long have you been experiencing the burning?'
Mrs. Pippen sighed.
'A week now.'
'It says on your chart here that you have a temperature of 102.1. Open your mouth for me, will you please?'
Those were the last words Jarod got to say, as Ms. Parker barged in on the examination! Mrs. Pippen, pulled the little paper gown around her protectively.
'What's going on? Who are you?' she squeaked.
Jarod gave Ms. Parker a look of pure annoyance! He grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the patient. He told Mrs. Pippen he would be right back, then pulled Ms. Parker across the hallway to an empty exam room. He then slammed the door.
'What the hell do you think you're doing? I was in there with a patient! You scared that poor woman half to death!' he yelled, eyeing her. She seemed very agitated.
But Christina was having none of it!
'Before my husband fires you, and rest assured, he will, I want you to tell me how you know me? Are you the reason I can't remember anything?'
Jarod looked around, then closed the blinds on the window to the hallway.
'No, Ms. Parker, I would never have hurt you.'
Christina said nothing, for she didn't know at that moment, what to make of either that name, or the gentleness she heard in his voice.
''Ms. Parker? What's my first name?'
Before Jarod could answer, he heard the familiar sound of a car screeching to a stop! Jarod hurried to one of the other windows that faced outside. A Centre car was out there! He saw Mr. Lyle and another man, get out and run into the hospital.
Jarod turned and hurried over to Ms. Parker.
'Ms. Parker, we don't have a lot of time! Where is Abigail?'
'What?! She has nothing to do with this!'
'She is my daughter too! She will always have everything to do with 'this' and us!'
Ms Parker began shaking her head! Great! So this Jarod guy was Abigail's father!
Jarod began shaking her!
'There are men here to capture both of us! These are the same men that tried to kill you! What they want is both of us and our daughter...who they know nothing about at the moment! Now, where is Abigail?!'
Ms. Parker was frightened by his tone, more than the words he had just uttered!
'At home...with the babysitter...'
'We have to get out of here and get to her! Do you understand me, Ms. Parker?'
Christina Romano, who now became this 'Ms. Parker', decided that she had no choice but to trust Jarod...Elizabeth Corday's date from the other night, and her baby's real father. Or so he said. She took his hand and allowed him to yank her down a hallway, past a lot of people, who turned to stare at them.
****
Jarod and Ms. Parker slammed through the EXIT doors. Jarod looked around frantically. They needed to get to his car...or hers.
Jarod turned to ask her where she was parked, when Dr. Kovach, came running out. He looked both of them over, then reached into his pocket and handed Jarod his keys.
'I know people in trouble when I see it. And I get the feeling you are not running from the law.' he said.
'Why would you think that?' Ms. Parker asked.
'Because of the men in there that are showing your pictures around. They have identified themselves as policemen, and said that the two of you are murderers on the run!'
'Murderers! I don't believe this! I'm a murderer?!' Ms. Parker hissed, looking to Jarod for comprehension. But he just stared at Luka.
Luka just waved them away.
'Go! Get out of here before they figure out where you are! It doesn't matter what country you're from, I can always tell fake police! Go! My car is right over there!'
'Thanks, Luka! I owe you one!'
Luka smiled and looked at Ms. Parker.
'Knowing that a woman as beautiful as you, really had no interest in someone like Romano, is all the thanks I need.'
Ms. Parker was stunned by the glee she heard in Dr. Kovach's voice. Robert really wasn't that bad!
She felt her arm being pulled, and she jerked back. Dr. Kovach had disappeared back inside the hospital. She then turned to Jarod.
'Why don't we just go back inside...'
Jarod grabbed her face with both of his hands and squeezed it really hard! Ms. Parker forced them off!
'What the hell do you think you're doing?!'
'Ms. Parker, if you don't come with me this instant, I will go and pick up Abigail myself! And then you will never see either one of of us again! And if you're thinking of going in there and trying to get help from your husband, it is TOO LATE! Not only will they make sure you never see him again, but you won't make it back here to tell me that you're going with them! Now, do I go and pick up our daughter myself?'
Ms. Parker gasped again, looking him up and down.
'You wouldn't get very far, Dr. Russell...'
'My name is Jarod and I'm not a doctor!'
'What?!'
'Are you coming, Ms. Parker?'
Everything in her, screamed that she should go back inside and settle this misunderstanding. But the panic she saw in Jarod's eyes didn't lie. And Luka's feeling that the people looking for them were not real police, so much so that he was giving two people he barely knew, his car, was reason enough for her to trust Jarod...for now!
'Let's go.' she said. Jarod smiled tentatively at her, then took her hand. She clutched his, and together, they ran for Dr. Kovach's car.
****
Mr. Lyle could hardly believe that his sister had married this guy! And she didn't want to marry Arvin Sloan? Or sleep with him(Lyle still didn't think it would be so bad, since they had JUST found out they were related!)?
'So, what you bozos are telling me, is that it took you a year and half to find these two? My, I can see my tax dollars were hard at work!'
Mr. Lyle did not have his silencer attached to his gun. That was the only reason he did not kill his 'brother in law' here! He couldn't believe his sister has married such a pompous ass! The redhead standing behind Romano as he sat, kneading his shoulders, wasn't bad to look at though!
'Let's get back to your wife, Dr. Romano. You said she had amnesia...'
'Oh please! If her and Jarod were on the run, she knew who the hell he was from the get go!'
'Officer Lyle,' Elizabeth interjected, 'I know I am not an expert in police work, but I'm telling you, Jarod would never harm anyone. '
Robert craned his neck around to stare up at her.
'God! He really pulled a number on you, didn't he Lizzie?' Robert then turned around to glare at Mr. Lyle again.
'If you hadn't shown up when you did, I was going to call you anyway. I found out Jarod, or whatever the hell his real name is, not only stole another doctor's identity, but, he's been seeing patients for a week now!'
Mr. Lyle almost sneered at the little man before him.
'Well, it sounds like you've potentially opened yourself up to quite a lawsuit, Dr. Romano. I don't see how this could possibly be kept quiet.'
Romano just shook his head and sighed. He then jumped up!
'Oh my God!'
Elizabeth looked at him.
'What?'
'Abigail! I'm not letting her take my daughter from me!'
Mr. Lyle raised a brow.
'Abigail?'
Elizabeth eyed a worked up Romano, before she decided to answer.
'Abigail is Dr. Romano and Christina...or whatever her real name is, daughter. Though...'
Romano gave Elizabeth a dirty look. Elizabeth said no more. Mr. Lyle eyed them both.
'Look, if I find out that either one of you is hiding anything at all...'
'Okay, okay! Christina became pregnant before I met her. I suppose if she and Jarod were on the run, and somehow got separated, he's probably the father...'
Mr. Lyle turned and hurried from Romano's office. He motioned to the other Sweeper, who was questioning Dr. Lewis and Jerry, about the earlier incident, involving Ms. Parker. The Sweeper moved away from Susan and Jerry, without excusing himself. Susan and Jerry gave one another puzzled looks. Luka lurked in the background.
'Get to Romano's house! It looks like my sister has found a way to redeem herself with the New Centre.'
The Sweeper nodded again, and he and Mr. Lyle hurried out of the ER. His sister had had Jarod's baby, then got the one-armed doc back there, to raise it as his own!
'Nice try, sis,' Mr. Lyle muttered. 'But I'll take it from here.'
But Dr. Romano decided to follow behind the cops. He wanted to be there when they confronted 'Christina' and Jarod!
****
THE NEW CENTRE
Sydney walked into his office, to find Mr. Broots waiting for him. He looked nervous, as usual.
'What is it?' he asked. He had just come from a particularly grueling session with CIA agent Sidney Bristow. His job was to totally erase from her mind, why she had been brought to the New Centre. It was not easy, for Sydney had decided long ago, that he hated what this organization stood for and what they did to people. He had realized that with Jarod.
Now he was performing a disservice to this young lady, who from what he understood, had a father and a young man that loved her, mourning her supposed death back home. He swallowed and eyed Broots.
'Ever since you told me Jarod found Ms. Parker...'
'Shhh!' Sydney said, looking around. This new administration made him jumpier than the former. One never knew what bugs were planted around here.
But Broots knew.
'No, I already swept the room, Sydney. We're safe. Look, I wanted to tell you that I've been listening in on Mr. Lyle's calls....'
'Broots! If you ever got caught...'
'He tried to kill Ms. Parker, Sydney! And when she gets back here, she'll need proof so that she'll know what to do next!'
Sydney shook his head and sighed.
'Broots, the only way Ms. Parker will be able to come back here, is if she marries Mr. Sloane, you know that.'
Broots said nothing. Ms. Parker's standing around here had really went down in the ensuing years after her father died. Lyle got by by sucking up to Raines and Sloane. But whatever happened between Ms. Parker and Jarod, had changed her, even though she was slow to admit it.
She had stopped looking for Jarod. She hadn't even tried. And, Broots suspected that Ms. Parker might have been warning the Pretender, and Mr. Lyle or Mr. Sloane may have found out about it.
'Okay, Sydney, I understand that. But what I'm trying to tell you is, Mr. Lyle has been bugging Jarod's father's phone.'
'Major Charles?'
'Yes! Whatever he overheard on there, got him and a sweeper up out of here in a hurry! I've got a bad feeling that Jarod's been discovered again. And if he's with Ms. Parker then...'
'Then she's in danger too.' a female voice said.
Broots jumped and turned. Sydney turned as well, then coolly appraised their visitor.
Irina Derevko was a high ranking official at The New Centre. She was also CIA agent, Sidney Bristow's mother.
Derevko had been recruited by the KGB, back in 1970. Her mission was to marry a high-ranking government official, Jack Bristow, learn as much as she could, then sell that information back to Russia.
When she was caught, she faked her own death, but killed 20 CIA agents in the process. After, she created a new organization bent on taking over other established agencies. Her and Arvin Sloane, were allies, and now, she had ties to The New Centre.
Sydney couldn't say he was surprised by her lack of concern over her own daughter's capture, and subsequent brainwashing. He had seen too much over the years to let anything, or anyone, surprise him much anymore.
Broots stood in fear, and awe at Derevko. She had a low, smoky sounding voice, and for a woman of middle age, a body and a face to die for. Her eyes were hard, kind of like Ms. Parker's.
Irina looked to Sydney, totally ignoring Broots.
'My daughter is coming along well?' she asked.
Sydney eyed Broots.
'About as well as can be expected.' he answered.
'Good.' she then looked at Broots.
'You can go.' she said.
Broots, somehow sensed this was not a suggestion. He nodded, eyed Sydney, then left the room, gladly!
Sydney sat on the corner of his desk.
'Did you really come down here to ask about your daughter's brainwashing, Ms. Derevko?' Sydney asked calmly.
Irina smiled. Sydney cared for her daughter's well being. And while she could do nothing to help her at this time, it made her feel somewhat better to know this.
'Perceptive. Then again, you are a psychiatrist. I am actually here to discuss Jarod.'
Sydney felt his stomach burn. But not from anger. It was more like fear. He couldn't imagine what Irina Derevko wanted with Jarod, but if what Broots suspected was true, then neither Jarod, nor Ms. Parker, needed this dangerous woman, plus Mr. Lyle, on their tails.
'What about him?' Sydney asked, keeping his tone light.
'Not what you're thinking. And you do give yourself away. Sydney, I'm going to tell you a little story. And at the end of my tale, you'll find that I could prove to be invaluable to Jarod. Or I could be his greatest enemy.'
Sydney nodded slightly.
'Invaluable how?'
Irina walked up to Sydney. She was inches from his face.
'My story begins with a tale of two sisters. Myself, and my older sister, Marina. Marina, like me, was recruited by the KGB, and sent to the United States to marry someone in government. Marina picked someone in the armed forces, and changed her name to...'
'Margaret!' Sydney almost cried out. He stood up from the corner of his desk, shocked to the core. That meant that Irina Derevko was Jarod's...
'Where is my nephew now, Sydney? I have the feeling that he's going to need my help if he wants to outwit Arvin Sloane.'
Dr. Elizabeth Corday, stepped into Dr. Romano's office the next day, per his request. Right away, she was distressed to see how upset he looked.
'Robert? What is it?' she asked.
'Close the door, Lizzie.' he ordered.
Elizabeth, a bit put off by his abrupt tone, did what she was told, nonetheless. She stood.
'What is it, Robert? she asked again.
Robert rubbed a brow.
'My wife, informed this morning, that she's been having dreams of strange people.'
Elizabeth didn't quite know how to answer that.
'Well, Robert, maybe Christina is starting to regain her memory...'
'That is not what concerns me, Lizzie! What worries the hell out of me, is that Christina informed me that one of the people in her dreams, is your new boyfriend!'
Elizabeth, for a moment, didn't have a clue as to who Robert was referring to! Then it hit her.
'Does she mean Jarod?'
'Yeah, Jarod! Jarod whatever the hell his real name is!'
'What are you talking about?'
'I knew I should've done a more thorough background check on that jerk! I just did an extensive one on him and came up with this!'
Elizabeth grabbed the picture Robert had waved rudely in front of her. It was a fax photograph of Dr. Jarod Russell. Only, he didn't even closely resemble Jarod, being African-American, but, had all of the qualifications and had went to the same schools, that Jarod said he had attended. Elizabeth looked at Robert.
'This has got to be a mistake.'
'No, mistake, Lizzie! And I'm sorry if this hurts you.'
Elizabeth rolled her eyes!
'Good Lord, Robert! I've explained this to every jealous female nurse and doctor, with designs on Jarod, already! We are just friends! Just because we arrived at a small function together, does not make us a couple!'
Robert said nothing, but turned and sat down.
'That guy got this job to get close to my wife. Christina hasn't remembered zip until now! Then, this guy shows up and she's having dreams about him!'
'Okay, but did she start dreaming about him after she met him?'
Robert looked at her as if she were crazy!
'No! She just wasn't being upfront with me, that's all! She'd been having the dreams for quite awhile now! Lizzie, I'm scared that this guy was somehow involved in hurting her.'
Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she walked over to his chair.
'Robert, whatever you think of Jarod, I just don't get the feeling that he'd harm a fly, much less some defenseless woman! But...'
'But what?' he sulked.
Elizabeth took a deep breath.
'There is another possibility.'
Romano shook his head wildly.
'What? You're going to make me guess?! What?!'
'That Jarod could be the true father of your daughter.'
Elizabeth didn't think she had ever seen Robert Romano shocked. It was clear that the idea had never occurred to him!
Robert stood up. 'I'm calling the police, then I'm going to fire the sonofabitch!'
****
'So, how was Romano's party last night?' Jerry asked, eating a donut. A man behind him complained about how long he had been waiting. Abby told him they would get to him when they could. She then turned to Jerry and shrugged.
'It was alright. We didn't see much of Mrs. Romano though.'
Luka eased into the area and looked at the patient board. He then looked over at Jerry and Abby.
'Has anyone seen Dr. Russell?' he asked.
Jerry spoke with his mouth full.
'He's around here somewhere with a patient. So, you didn't see much of the little wife, hey?' Jerry asked, returning to his gossip session with Abby.
'No, not really.' Abby answered, suddenly uncomfortable talking about the woman behind her back. Luka looked over at them again.
'Actually, I had a nice conversation with her about karate. She's really into it.'
Jerry smirked.
'Can't you see her kicking Romano's ass with some of those cool moves.' Jerry said, pretending to kick into the air. He knocked over some charts. Luka rolled his eyes and walked off. Susan came around the desk.
'Talking about the mysterious 'Mrs. Romano'?' she asked teasingly.
'Yeah,' Jerry answered, 'Abby said she wasn't around much last night.'
'Oh, sure she was. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to watch as Jarod stared at her all evening.'
Abby and Jerry looked at one another. Abby began to smile, and moved closer to Susan.
'What are you talking about? I didn't notice that!'
'Yeah, I mean, didn't Jarod go with Dr. Corday?'
Susan sighed.
'You wouldn't have known it. In fact, the two of them disappeared for awhile and...'
'Excuse me, have any one of you three gossiping bitches seen Dr. Russell?'
Susan, Abby and Jerry slowly looked up and in front of them. Christina Romano stood in front of them. She stared at them, her eyes steely.
Jerry, who was upset that this woman had referred to him as a 'bitch', couldn't get any words out. Christina looked from him to the other two.
'Well? Have you seen him?'
'Actually, he's with a patient.' Susan said coolly.
'I'll find him myself, if I have to look behind every curtain, interrupt every pelvic or prostate exam I can, to find him. So, make it easy on yourselves, and tell me where he is!'
Susan and Abby looked at one another. This bitch was unbelievable!
'Fine!' Christina said and turned to walk down a hall. Susan chased after her and grabbed her arm.
'You can't just run around here!' she snapped.
Christina flung Susan off of her arm so hard, that the ER Physician, went flying onto the floor and slid back towards the check in counter! Dr Kovach and Abby helped Susan up, as Christina turned and began searching through rooms.
She didn't know what was happening to her! Last week, she would've never just assaulted some person, for just not answering her! But after she told Robert about Jarod, she began to wonder...no...sense, that he held all of the answers that she sought! She should've demanded them last night.
****
Jarod walked behind Curtain 4
'So, Mrs....'
'Pippen.'
Jarod looked at her chart. Then he looked at her and smiled.
'Pippen. How long have you been experiencing the burning?'
Mrs. Pippen sighed.
'A week now.'
'It says on your chart here that you have a temperature of 102.1. Open your mouth for me, will you please?'
Those were the last words Jarod got to say, as Ms. Parker barged in on the examination! Mrs. Pippen, pulled the little paper gown around her protectively.
'What's going on? Who are you?' she squeaked.
Jarod gave Ms. Parker a look of pure annoyance! He grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the patient. He told Mrs. Pippen he would be right back, then pulled Ms. Parker across the hallway to an empty exam room. He then slammed the door.
'What the hell do you think you're doing? I was in there with a patient! You scared that poor woman half to death!' he yelled, eyeing her. She seemed very agitated.
But Christina was having none of it!
'Before my husband fires you, and rest assured, he will, I want you to tell me how you know me? Are you the reason I can't remember anything?'
Jarod looked around, then closed the blinds on the window to the hallway.
'No, Ms. Parker, I would never have hurt you.'
Christina said nothing, for she didn't know at that moment, what to make of either that name, or the gentleness she heard in his voice.
''Ms. Parker? What's my first name?'
Before Jarod could answer, he heard the familiar sound of a car screeching to a stop! Jarod hurried to one of the other windows that faced outside. A Centre car was out there! He saw Mr. Lyle and another man, get out and run into the hospital.
Jarod turned and hurried over to Ms. Parker.
'Ms. Parker, we don't have a lot of time! Where is Abigail?'
'What?! She has nothing to do with this!'
'She is my daughter too! She will always have everything to do with 'this' and us!'
Ms Parker began shaking her head! Great! So this Jarod guy was Abigail's father!
Jarod began shaking her!
'There are men here to capture both of us! These are the same men that tried to kill you! What they want is both of us and our daughter...who they know nothing about at the moment! Now, where is Abigail?!'
Ms. Parker was frightened by his tone, more than the words he had just uttered!
'At home...with the babysitter...'
'We have to get out of here and get to her! Do you understand me, Ms. Parker?'
Christina Romano, who now became this 'Ms. Parker', decided that she had no choice but to trust Jarod...Elizabeth Corday's date from the other night, and her baby's real father. Or so he said. She took his hand and allowed him to yank her down a hallway, past a lot of people, who turned to stare at them.
****
Jarod and Ms. Parker slammed through the EXIT doors. Jarod looked around frantically. They needed to get to his car...or hers.
Jarod turned to ask her where she was parked, when Dr. Kovach, came running out. He looked both of them over, then reached into his pocket and handed Jarod his keys.
'I know people in trouble when I see it. And I get the feeling you are not running from the law.' he said.
'Why would you think that?' Ms. Parker asked.
'Because of the men in there that are showing your pictures around. They have identified themselves as policemen, and said that the two of you are murderers on the run!'
'Murderers! I don't believe this! I'm a murderer?!' Ms. Parker hissed, looking to Jarod for comprehension. But he just stared at Luka.
Luka just waved them away.
'Go! Get out of here before they figure out where you are! It doesn't matter what country you're from, I can always tell fake police! Go! My car is right over there!'
'Thanks, Luka! I owe you one!'
Luka smiled and looked at Ms. Parker.
'Knowing that a woman as beautiful as you, really had no interest in someone like Romano, is all the thanks I need.'
Ms. Parker was stunned by the glee she heard in Dr. Kovach's voice. Robert really wasn't that bad!
She felt her arm being pulled, and she jerked back. Dr. Kovach had disappeared back inside the hospital. She then turned to Jarod.
'Why don't we just go back inside...'
Jarod grabbed her face with both of his hands and squeezed it really hard! Ms. Parker forced them off!
'What the hell do you think you're doing?!'
'Ms. Parker, if you don't come with me this instant, I will go and pick up Abigail myself! And then you will never see either one of of us again! And if you're thinking of going in there and trying to get help from your husband, it is TOO LATE! Not only will they make sure you never see him again, but you won't make it back here to tell me that you're going with them! Now, do I go and pick up our daughter myself?'
Ms. Parker gasped again, looking him up and down.
'You wouldn't get very far, Dr. Russell...'
'My name is Jarod and I'm not a doctor!'
'What?!'
'Are you coming, Ms. Parker?'
Everything in her, screamed that she should go back inside and settle this misunderstanding. But the panic she saw in Jarod's eyes didn't lie. And Luka's feeling that the people looking for them were not real police, so much so that he was giving two people he barely knew, his car, was reason enough for her to trust Jarod...for now!
'Let's go.' she said. Jarod smiled tentatively at her, then took her hand. She clutched his, and together, they ran for Dr. Kovach's car.
****
Mr. Lyle could hardly believe that his sister had married this guy! And she didn't want to marry Arvin Sloan? Or sleep with him(Lyle still didn't think it would be so bad, since they had JUST found out they were related!)?
'So, what you bozos are telling me, is that it took you a year and half to find these two? My, I can see my tax dollars were hard at work!'
Mr. Lyle did not have his silencer attached to his gun. That was the only reason he did not kill his 'brother in law' here! He couldn't believe his sister has married such a pompous ass! The redhead standing behind Romano as he sat, kneading his shoulders, wasn't bad to look at though!
'Let's get back to your wife, Dr. Romano. You said she had amnesia...'
'Oh please! If her and Jarod were on the run, she knew who the hell he was from the get go!'
'Officer Lyle,' Elizabeth interjected, 'I know I am not an expert in police work, but I'm telling you, Jarod would never harm anyone. '
Robert craned his neck around to stare up at her.
'God! He really pulled a number on you, didn't he Lizzie?' Robert then turned around to glare at Mr. Lyle again.
'If you hadn't shown up when you did, I was going to call you anyway. I found out Jarod, or whatever the hell his real name is, not only stole another doctor's identity, but, he's been seeing patients for a week now!'
Mr. Lyle almost sneered at the little man before him.
'Well, it sounds like you've potentially opened yourself up to quite a lawsuit, Dr. Romano. I don't see how this could possibly be kept quiet.'
Romano just shook his head and sighed. He then jumped up!
'Oh my God!'
Elizabeth looked at him.
'What?'
'Abigail! I'm not letting her take my daughter from me!'
Mr. Lyle raised a brow.
'Abigail?'
Elizabeth eyed a worked up Romano, before she decided to answer.
'Abigail is Dr. Romano and Christina...or whatever her real name is, daughter. Though...'
Romano gave Elizabeth a dirty look. Elizabeth said no more. Mr. Lyle eyed them both.
'Look, if I find out that either one of you is hiding anything at all...'
'Okay, okay! Christina became pregnant before I met her. I suppose if she and Jarod were on the run, and somehow got separated, he's probably the father...'
Mr. Lyle turned and hurried from Romano's office. He motioned to the other Sweeper, who was questioning Dr. Lewis and Jerry, about the earlier incident, involving Ms. Parker. The Sweeper moved away from Susan and Jerry, without excusing himself. Susan and Jerry gave one another puzzled looks. Luka lurked in the background.
'Get to Romano's house! It looks like my sister has found a way to redeem herself with the New Centre.'
The Sweeper nodded again, and he and Mr. Lyle hurried out of the ER. His sister had had Jarod's baby, then got the one-armed doc back there, to raise it as his own!
'Nice try, sis,' Mr. Lyle muttered. 'But I'll take it from here.'
But Dr. Romano decided to follow behind the cops. He wanted to be there when they confronted 'Christina' and Jarod!
****
THE NEW CENTRE
Sydney walked into his office, to find Mr. Broots waiting for him. He looked nervous, as usual.
'What is it?' he asked. He had just come from a particularly grueling session with CIA agent Sidney Bristow. His job was to totally erase from her mind, why she had been brought to the New Centre. It was not easy, for Sydney had decided long ago, that he hated what this organization stood for and what they did to people. He had realized that with Jarod.
Now he was performing a disservice to this young lady, who from what he understood, had a father and a young man that loved her, mourning her supposed death back home. He swallowed and eyed Broots.
'Ever since you told me Jarod found Ms. Parker...'
'Shhh!' Sydney said, looking around. This new administration made him jumpier than the former. One never knew what bugs were planted around here.
But Broots knew.
'No, I already swept the room, Sydney. We're safe. Look, I wanted to tell you that I've been listening in on Mr. Lyle's calls....'
'Broots! If you ever got caught...'
'He tried to kill Ms. Parker, Sydney! And when she gets back here, she'll need proof so that she'll know what to do next!'
Sydney shook his head and sighed.
'Broots, the only way Ms. Parker will be able to come back here, is if she marries Mr. Sloane, you know that.'
Broots said nothing. Ms. Parker's standing around here had really went down in the ensuing years after her father died. Lyle got by by sucking up to Raines and Sloane. But whatever happened between Ms. Parker and Jarod, had changed her, even though she was slow to admit it.
She had stopped looking for Jarod. She hadn't even tried. And, Broots suspected that Ms. Parker might have been warning the Pretender, and Mr. Lyle or Mr. Sloane may have found out about it.
'Okay, Sydney, I understand that. But what I'm trying to tell you is, Mr. Lyle has been bugging Jarod's father's phone.'
'Major Charles?'
'Yes! Whatever he overheard on there, got him and a sweeper up out of here in a hurry! I've got a bad feeling that Jarod's been discovered again. And if he's with Ms. Parker then...'
'Then she's in danger too.' a female voice said.
Broots jumped and turned. Sydney turned as well, then coolly appraised their visitor.
Irina Derevko was a high ranking official at The New Centre. She was also CIA agent, Sidney Bristow's mother.
Derevko had been recruited by the KGB, back in 1970. Her mission was to marry a high-ranking government official, Jack Bristow, learn as much as she could, then sell that information back to Russia.
When she was caught, she faked her own death, but killed 20 CIA agents in the process. After, she created a new organization bent on taking over other established agencies. Her and Arvin Sloane, were allies, and now, she had ties to The New Centre.
Sydney couldn't say he was surprised by her lack of concern over her own daughter's capture, and subsequent brainwashing. He had seen too much over the years to let anything, or anyone, surprise him much anymore.
Broots stood in fear, and awe at Derevko. She had a low, smoky sounding voice, and for a woman of middle age, a body and a face to die for. Her eyes were hard, kind of like Ms. Parker's.
Irina looked to Sydney, totally ignoring Broots.
'My daughter is coming along well?' she asked.
Sydney eyed Broots.
'About as well as can be expected.' he answered.
'Good.' she then looked at Broots.
'You can go.' she said.
Broots, somehow sensed this was not a suggestion. He nodded, eyed Sydney, then left the room, gladly!
Sydney sat on the corner of his desk.
'Did you really come down here to ask about your daughter's brainwashing, Ms. Derevko?' Sydney asked calmly.
Irina smiled. Sydney cared for her daughter's well being. And while she could do nothing to help her at this time, it made her feel somewhat better to know this.
'Perceptive. Then again, you are a psychiatrist. I am actually here to discuss Jarod.'
Sydney felt his stomach burn. But not from anger. It was more like fear. He couldn't imagine what Irina Derevko wanted with Jarod, but if what Broots suspected was true, then neither Jarod, nor Ms. Parker, needed this dangerous woman, plus Mr. Lyle, on their tails.
'What about him?' Sydney asked, keeping his tone light.
'Not what you're thinking. And you do give yourself away. Sydney, I'm going to tell you a little story. And at the end of my tale, you'll find that I could prove to be invaluable to Jarod. Or I could be his greatest enemy.'
Sydney nodded slightly.
'Invaluable how?'
Irina walked up to Sydney. She was inches from his face.
'My story begins with a tale of two sisters. Myself, and my older sister, Marina. Marina, like me, was recruited by the KGB, and sent to the United States to marry someone in government. Marina picked someone in the armed forces, and changed her name to...'
'Margaret!' Sydney almost cried out. He stood up from the corner of his desk, shocked to the core. That meant that Irina Derevko was Jarod's...
'Where is my nephew now, Sydney? I have the feeling that he's going to need my help if he wants to outwit Arvin Sloane.'