Chapter 27
Six hours later, Sidney Bristow gently placed a blanket over Brian, in the waiting room at Blue Cove emergency room.
Her boyfriend, Michael Vaughn, walked down the hall towards her. Sidney left Brian to meet him.
'Lyle is awake.'
'Which room is that sonofabitch in?'
'Sidney, let me question him, okay? We may be able to find out where some of those other missing girls are.'
'And Bobby!' she snapped. She then rubbed her forehead. Michael pulled her into his arms.
'We'll get him, don't worry. How is Brian?'
Sidney pulled away from him.
'The poor kid feels guilty. He said he jumped on Lyle's back and that's when the gun went off. I also know, from the little Jarod has told me, that things haven't been going well between Brian and his parents.'
Michael looked over at the sleeping Brian.
'I hate to say this, but maybe this tragedy will make Brian see how lucky he is.'
Sidney turned to look at the sleeping teen as well.
'He'll only be lucky is his mother survives surgery.'
'No word yet?'
Sidney shook her head.
'No.'
Michael looked around.
'Where is Jarod and Abigail?'
'Sydney and Michelle have Abigail at their home. Jarod is in the chapel praying. I think he wanted to be in the operating room too.'
Michael shook his head.
'He was a Pretender. I'm sure he would've known what to do.'
Sidney said nothing to that. She looked at Brian again, then looked at something behind him.
'Uh oh.' Sidney said, more to herself, as she began walking towards Major Charles and Catherine Parker. She stopped suddenly and looked at Michael.
'Go and question Lyle. I'll handle this.'
'Handle what? And who is that woman with Major Charles?'
'His wife.' Sidney said grimly. Jarod had told her everything about this little 'alliance'. She didn't know who had called these two, but they were not going to use this tragedy, to take Brian away!
'Sid? What's really going on here? You look as if you want to pull your gun or something!'
Sidney touched Michael's face.
'Everything is fine. I'm just going to give my uncle an update, okay?'
Michael knew she was lying. But now was not the time to make her tell him what was really going on here. He squinted at Major Charles's wife. When did he get married? And why didn't he bring his wife to Jarod and Mallory's wedding?
Sidney tossed her hair and walked up to Major Charles. Catherine Parker sat down next to a sleeping Brian and touched his hair. He did not stir.
'Who called you?' Sidney asked tersely.
'Jarod. He knew we would want to know about Mallory.'
Jarod, Sidney thought. He was so good hearted. Always thinking about someone else's needs before his own. It couldn't have been easy for him to call these two in, considering how much they had tried to undermine his relationship with Brian.
'Oh.' was all Sidney said, her eyes moving from Major Charles to Catherine Parker.
'Is there any news?' Major Charles asked.
Sidney looked back at him. She folded her arms.
'No. Mallory's been in surgery now for almost three hours now.'
'Your cousin Emily is on her way as well.' Major Charles offered. Sidney just nodded, her eyes falling on Catherine Parker, who had now stood up and walked over to them.
'Where is Jarod now? And Abigail?'
'Jarod is in the chapel. Abigail is with Sydney and his wife.'
'Well, we'll just go and pick her up.' Catherine said.
Sidney raised a brow.
'Excuse me?' Sidney asked.
'Well, Abigail really is our granddaughter, and I'm sure that Sydney and Michelle have better things to do...'
'What in the living hell is wrong with the two of you?!' Sidney snapped. 'Now is not the time to be playing these kind of games! Abigail is with the two people that Jarod trusts his daughter with right now! That would be Sydney and Michelle! Get it together before you see Jarod or you're just going to make this whole thing worse!'
'Sidney, we're just trying to help.' Major Charles said calmly. 'We have a hotel room and we got an extra one for Brian.'
'Why?' Sidney asked, looking him up and down.
Catherine Parker appraised the young woman in front of them. She was Margaret's niece...a Derevko. She came across as very formidable, but in the end, Brian and Abigail were their grandchildren. Hopefully, Jarod would agree with them, not his cousin here.
'Sidney, Brian isn't going to want to go back to that house, not after what happened. We just thought...' Major Charles tried to explain, but Sidney wasn't having it!
'Why can't you people get it through your heads that it is not your job to 'think' anything! You're not leaving this hospital with Brian. Not until you speak to Jarod first.'
'Or what, Ms. Bristow?' Catherine Parker coolly asked. Sidney smiled at her.
'Oh I'll give you two choices after that: leave with Security or allow me to keep you from leaving. Security will be much gentler, I'm sure.'
Brian suddenly awoke. He blinked hard when he saw Major Charles and Catherine Parker.
'Dad? Cathy?'
Major Charles and Catherine hurried over to Brian. A guard walked by just then. Sidney turned to him.
'Don't let those two leave with that boy. I have to leave for a moment.'
The guard nodded, as Sidney headed to the chapel to get Jarod. She had a feeling he'd better get out here!
****
Jarod sat in a pew with his head down. His mind was in another place, long ago.
Unbeknownst to Mallory, one night, not too long ago, he had gotten up in the middle of the night and went down to his study. He had then watched an old DSA. And for some reason, his mind was not stuck on the aftermath of the shooting, or being in the ambulance with his wife, or of his begging the surgeons to let him scrub in on the surgery, but on that DSA. Because now, he felt as if he could actually remember those events, unlike before, when he felt he was just watching his own image in a bad movie....
JAROD MEMORY OF THE DSA
Sydney waited impatiently for Jarod, as he eyed a structure of a building. Jarod was late. He needed to hurry up and get this over with.
Mr. Parker had come to him yesterday, after his time with Jarod, to tell him that Ms. Parker was pregnant with Jarod's child! He threatened to remove Jarod from under his supervision and put him under Raines's.
Dr. William Raines was an animal, pure and simple. And Sydney simply could not allow Jarod to fall into his hands. After what he did to poor Timmy, who as now known as Angelo...no, Sydney could not allow it!
And maybe he should have been watching Jarod more closely. He had suspected some sort of funny business was going on, but he never thought that!
Then again, why hadn't he? Jarod was practically a man. But, a man with little knowledge of matters that were of a sexual nature. He had no doubts whatsoever, that Ms. Parker had been the aggressor in this relationship.
Not that Mr. Parker wanted to hear any of that! Jarod was practically a rapist, pure and simple! And God help him, he hated to think it, but if Raines hadn't come up with that idea to erase their memories and take the baby when it was born...
Sydney shook of the guilt. Injecting Jarod with this serum, would save his life. Mr. Parker was in a venomous mood, though he had lied to his daughter, and appeared to be supportive to her.
It had already been decided, that Sydney would inject Jarod right away. Ms. Parker would have to wait until the baby was born. He just had to wait for the perfect opportunity...
Jarod entered the room. Sydney glanced behind him, where the already prepared syringe lay on a table, underneath a cloth. All he had to do was wait until he caught Jarod unaware, and then, Jarod would be spared from Mr. Parker's wrath.
'Jarod, you're late. We have to get going on this latest simulation.'
'Sydney, I have to talk to you.'
'Jarod we're running late as it is. Can it wait?'
'No, Sydney, please! I have to talk to you...it's about Ms. Parker.'
Sydney motioned for Jarod to sit down. He did. Sydney stood over him.
'Alright, Jarod. What is it about Ms. Parker?' he asked coolly, as if he hadn't a clue what Jarod was about to tell him.
Jarod leaned forward. Desperation was written all over his face.
'She's pregnant, Sydney. She's pregnant and I am the father.'
Sydney looked away again, fingering the cloth that the syringe was under.
'Oh.' was all he could think to say.
Jarod stood up and moved to he could look at Sydney.
'Sydney, I have to be with her!'
Sydney turned back to Jarod.
'Jarod, you know that can't be.'
'Why not?! Things have changed now! We're going to have a child! I can't stay here!'
'Jarod, please calm down!'
'Sydney, I need your help! You have to talk to Mr. Parker...I haven't heard from Ms. Parker in days...I think something might have happened...'
Jarod stopped talking abruptly. Sydney had the oddest expression on his face...
'You know, don't you? You know about what's going on between Ms. Parker and me, don't you?'
Sydney could not lie anymore. Not to Jarod.
'Yes, Jarod, I do.'
'Then help us, Sydney!'
'I can't, Jarod! You have to forget about her!'
Jarod began to back away.
'What are you talking about?! How am I supposed to forget the mother of my child? And what will happen to our baby?'
Sydney walked up to Jarod and put his hands on his shoulders.
'Jarod, Mr. Parker isn't going to let Ms. Parker keep the baby. She does not know this. She will not know that until the baby is born. She thinks that you are off getting job training so that the two of you can get married.'
Jarod's mouth dropped open, as he began to back away. Sydney rubbed his eyes tiredly. Why had he just told Jarod all of that? Why?
Probably because he knew what he was doing was vile. Probably because he felt that if Jarod was going to be denied the right to know his child, just as he had been his parents, he should know upfront...before Sydney gave him the memory erasing serum.
'Sydney, how could you let them do this to me? To Ms. Parker? Sydney, my baby is going to end up here isn't he? Or she? And what about Ms. Parker? Mr. Parker would do this to his own daughter?'
Sydney couldn't stand anymore of this! He pulled the syringe from out from under the cloth. Jarod began to back away.
'What is that?!' he screeched.
'Jarod, please, it will make this whole thing easier for you to bear! You won't remember any of this! Jarod!'
But Jarod had turned and tried to run! The doors to the room slid back, and two guards, along with Raines, stepped into the room. Jarod turned and tried to run back in Sydney's direction, but the guards grabbed him by the arms! Jarod began to twist and writhe.
'Sydney, please! Don't do this! Please! You know this is not right!'
Raines impatiently put out a cigarette, stomping it out on the floor. He looked at Sydney.
'Stop stalling, Sydney! Either you do it or I will!' he snapped.
'SYDNEY!' Jarod screamed, as Sydney slowly moved towards him with the syringe. Tears were in the older man's eyes.
'Oh Christ!' Raines hissed, snatching the syringe from Sydney and plunging into Jarod's neck! Jarod cried out, then promptly passed out. The guards then dragged Jarod back to his room.
Sydney shook his head and looked away. Raines lit up another cigarette.
'I'll take care of Ms. Parker when the time comes.' he said, blowing smoke rings.
'Jarod?'
Jarod jumped. He looked over at his cousin, Sidney.
'Sidney? Are the doctors looking for me? Is it Mallory?'
Sidney rubbed his arm.
'No, no. No word yet. Where were you just now?' she asked curiously.
Jarod stood up.
'In the past. It doesn't matter now.'
Sidney stood up as well.
'Okay, well I came to tell you that your father and his wife are here. I posted a guard to watch them, since they're already making noises about taking Brian back to their hotel with them. They also are talking about picking up Abigail from Sydney and Michelle's.'
Jarod hugged Sidney briefly.
'Thanks for letting me know. Mallory would have a fit if she knew. I'd better make it clear, once again, that Brian is our son. I never thought they'd try and claim Abigail too.'
Sidney nodded, but inside, she was livid! How dare Major Charles and Catherine Parker pull this crap now?! Jarod was obviously tired and stressed, and those two 'people' should be offering their support right now and nothing more!
'I'm coming with you.' Sidney said firmly. She touched Jarod's hand and he took hers in his. Together they left the chapel.
****
'Brian, honey, all I'm saying is that your parents are living in a dangerous environment. I'm worried about your safety. Coming back to Alaska would be the best thing for you.' Catherine Parker said, quietly worried. Brian didn't sound as if he wanted to come back with them now! 'But that doesn't happen all of the time, Cathy! Look, I can't think about that right now until I know that my mother will be okay! If I hadn't jumped on Lyle's back...that gun wouldn't have went off!'
Major Charles stepped in.
'We don't know that son. Lyle is a killer. I have no doubts whatsoever that he would've killed all of you, if you had not acted quickly. We just have to pray that your mother will be alright.'
The elevator doors opened, and Emily and Ethan got off the elevator, just as Jarod and Sydney were coming around the corner. Catherine Parker saw them and stood up quickly. Brian looked up at her.
'Where are you going?' he asked. Major Charles looked up at her questioningly. Catherine nodded towards the elevators and Major Charles looked over there.
'I just have to go to the bathroom, excuse me.' Catherine said, turning and hurrying around a corner. Brian looked at Major Charles.
'What's wrong? Is she feeling sick again?'
'Uh no... I mean, yes.' Major Charles said. Maybe Jarod had been right. Maybe they should clear the air with the children about Catherine and him. He couldn't just keep hiding her forever.
Jarod hugged Ethan.
'How did you get here?' he asked his brother.
'Sydney and Michelle picked me up, along with Abigail... she's growing like a weed. They dropped me off here. They didn't think you'd want Abby here so they took her back home. I ran into my sister here on the way in.' he said, squeezing Emily's arm.
Jarod's eyes moved from Ethan's, to Emily's. Emily reached out and hugged Jarod. But Jarod let go of her, as he noted that his father and Brian were alone. He moved past his brother and sister and over to them.
Emily looked at Sidney.
'Hi, I'm Emily.'
Sidney gave her a wan smile and stuck out her hand.
'I'm Sidney.'
'I know...Jarod has told me about you. I guess in many ways, you've taken my place as his little sister.'
Sidney was oddly touched by that comment. Having been an only child, and a lonely one at that, she would've loved to have had any sibling at all, growing up.
'I doubt I could ever take your place, Emily.' Sidney said diplomatically, turning to hug Ethan. Her eyes were now on Jarod, Major Charles and Brian.
Jarod looked at his father.
'My wife is fighting for her life right now. I may end up raising my two children alone. I do not have the time for your games.' Jarod said in a cool voice. Brian said nothing, but listened.
'Son, Cathy and I are here because...'
'Yes! Where is your wife, Dad?'
Brian spoke up.
'I think she's sick. She ran off to the bathroom.'
Jarod glanced at his son, before turning to look back at Ethan, Emily and Sidney. He then looked at his father.
'Now, Dad! You tell them now or I will. I will not allow you to continue this deception, on what may very well be my wife's deathbed!'
Brian suddenly began to cry! Jarod looked at him, realizing those words may have been too harsh. He reached out and put his arms around his son. Brian did not try to move away, and he too then, put his arms around Jarod.
Major Charles watched this union, and realized that for all of Brian's complaining, somewhere along the way, he had actually bonded with his parents. He looked over at Ethan and Emily, just as the surgeon walked up behind Sidney.
Jarod, sensing that he was there, turned to look over at him. Brian did as well, wiping his face. Sidney turned to stare as well.
The surgeon walked up to Jarod.
'Your wife made it through the surgery, but it will be touch and go for the first 24 hours.' he said solemnly.
'Can I see her?' Jarod asked. The surgeon nodded, and Jarod hugged Brian one more time, before letting go of him and following after the surgeon.
Major Charles walked over to Ethan and Emily.
'There is something I need to tell the both of you.' he said.
****
Jarod, dressed in a gown, sat by an unconscious Mallory's side. He picked up her hand, as his mind wandered to another DSA he had watched, unbeknownst to his wife. The one where she gave birth and had Brian snatched from her.
Now, suddenly, he realized what his wife had been fighting so hard for, all of this time with Brian. He was not going to give up on his son either, even if it did seem as if it would be easier.
He looked up towards the ceiling and mouthed the words, 'thank you'. He did not see Catherine Parker watching him and Mallory, through a glass window. She then looked away.
She was not ready to face Ethan or Emily! She just couldn't! Not today! Mallory had taken the news that she was alive so badly! What was she going to do?!
Catherine Parker looked through the window again. Maybe, just maybe, she could beg Jarod to help her slip out of the hospital, unnoticed.
Six hours later, Sidney Bristow gently placed a blanket over Brian, in the waiting room at Blue Cove emergency room.
Her boyfriend, Michael Vaughn, walked down the hall towards her. Sidney left Brian to meet him.
'Lyle is awake.'
'Which room is that sonofabitch in?'
'Sidney, let me question him, okay? We may be able to find out where some of those other missing girls are.'
'And Bobby!' she snapped. She then rubbed her forehead. Michael pulled her into his arms.
'We'll get him, don't worry. How is Brian?'
Sidney pulled away from him.
'The poor kid feels guilty. He said he jumped on Lyle's back and that's when the gun went off. I also know, from the little Jarod has told me, that things haven't been going well between Brian and his parents.'
Michael looked over at the sleeping Brian.
'I hate to say this, but maybe this tragedy will make Brian see how lucky he is.'
Sidney turned to look at the sleeping teen as well.
'He'll only be lucky is his mother survives surgery.'
'No word yet?'
Sidney shook her head.
'No.'
Michael looked around.
'Where is Jarod and Abigail?'
'Sydney and Michelle have Abigail at their home. Jarod is in the chapel praying. I think he wanted to be in the operating room too.'
Michael shook his head.
'He was a Pretender. I'm sure he would've known what to do.'
Sidney said nothing to that. She looked at Brian again, then looked at something behind him.
'Uh oh.' Sidney said, more to herself, as she began walking towards Major Charles and Catherine Parker. She stopped suddenly and looked at Michael.
'Go and question Lyle. I'll handle this.'
'Handle what? And who is that woman with Major Charles?'
'His wife.' Sidney said grimly. Jarod had told her everything about this little 'alliance'. She didn't know who had called these two, but they were not going to use this tragedy, to take Brian away!
'Sid? What's really going on here? You look as if you want to pull your gun or something!'
Sidney touched Michael's face.
'Everything is fine. I'm just going to give my uncle an update, okay?'
Michael knew she was lying. But now was not the time to make her tell him what was really going on here. He squinted at Major Charles's wife. When did he get married? And why didn't he bring his wife to Jarod and Mallory's wedding?
Sidney tossed her hair and walked up to Major Charles. Catherine Parker sat down next to a sleeping Brian and touched his hair. He did not stir.
'Who called you?' Sidney asked tersely.
'Jarod. He knew we would want to know about Mallory.'
Jarod, Sidney thought. He was so good hearted. Always thinking about someone else's needs before his own. It couldn't have been easy for him to call these two in, considering how much they had tried to undermine his relationship with Brian.
'Oh.' was all Sidney said, her eyes moving from Major Charles to Catherine Parker.
'Is there any news?' Major Charles asked.
Sidney looked back at him. She folded her arms.
'No. Mallory's been in surgery now for almost three hours now.'
'Your cousin Emily is on her way as well.' Major Charles offered. Sidney just nodded, her eyes falling on Catherine Parker, who had now stood up and walked over to them.
'Where is Jarod now? And Abigail?'
'Jarod is in the chapel. Abigail is with Sydney and his wife.'
'Well, we'll just go and pick her up.' Catherine said.
Sidney raised a brow.
'Excuse me?' Sidney asked.
'Well, Abigail really is our granddaughter, and I'm sure that Sydney and Michelle have better things to do...'
'What in the living hell is wrong with the two of you?!' Sidney snapped. 'Now is not the time to be playing these kind of games! Abigail is with the two people that Jarod trusts his daughter with right now! That would be Sydney and Michelle! Get it together before you see Jarod or you're just going to make this whole thing worse!'
'Sidney, we're just trying to help.' Major Charles said calmly. 'We have a hotel room and we got an extra one for Brian.'
'Why?' Sidney asked, looking him up and down.
Catherine Parker appraised the young woman in front of them. She was Margaret's niece...a Derevko. She came across as very formidable, but in the end, Brian and Abigail were their grandchildren. Hopefully, Jarod would agree with them, not his cousin here.
'Sidney, Brian isn't going to want to go back to that house, not after what happened. We just thought...' Major Charles tried to explain, but Sidney wasn't having it!
'Why can't you people get it through your heads that it is not your job to 'think' anything! You're not leaving this hospital with Brian. Not until you speak to Jarod first.'
'Or what, Ms. Bristow?' Catherine Parker coolly asked. Sidney smiled at her.
'Oh I'll give you two choices after that: leave with Security or allow me to keep you from leaving. Security will be much gentler, I'm sure.'
Brian suddenly awoke. He blinked hard when he saw Major Charles and Catherine Parker.
'Dad? Cathy?'
Major Charles and Catherine hurried over to Brian. A guard walked by just then. Sidney turned to him.
'Don't let those two leave with that boy. I have to leave for a moment.'
The guard nodded, as Sidney headed to the chapel to get Jarod. She had a feeling he'd better get out here!
****
Jarod sat in a pew with his head down. His mind was in another place, long ago.
Unbeknownst to Mallory, one night, not too long ago, he had gotten up in the middle of the night and went down to his study. He had then watched an old DSA. And for some reason, his mind was not stuck on the aftermath of the shooting, or being in the ambulance with his wife, or of his begging the surgeons to let him scrub in on the surgery, but on that DSA. Because now, he felt as if he could actually remember those events, unlike before, when he felt he was just watching his own image in a bad movie....
JAROD MEMORY OF THE DSA
Sydney waited impatiently for Jarod, as he eyed a structure of a building. Jarod was late. He needed to hurry up and get this over with.
Mr. Parker had come to him yesterday, after his time with Jarod, to tell him that Ms. Parker was pregnant with Jarod's child! He threatened to remove Jarod from under his supervision and put him under Raines's.
Dr. William Raines was an animal, pure and simple. And Sydney simply could not allow Jarod to fall into his hands. After what he did to poor Timmy, who as now known as Angelo...no, Sydney could not allow it!
And maybe he should have been watching Jarod more closely. He had suspected some sort of funny business was going on, but he never thought that!
Then again, why hadn't he? Jarod was practically a man. But, a man with little knowledge of matters that were of a sexual nature. He had no doubts whatsoever, that Ms. Parker had been the aggressor in this relationship.
Not that Mr. Parker wanted to hear any of that! Jarod was practically a rapist, pure and simple! And God help him, he hated to think it, but if Raines hadn't come up with that idea to erase their memories and take the baby when it was born...
Sydney shook of the guilt. Injecting Jarod with this serum, would save his life. Mr. Parker was in a venomous mood, though he had lied to his daughter, and appeared to be supportive to her.
It had already been decided, that Sydney would inject Jarod right away. Ms. Parker would have to wait until the baby was born. He just had to wait for the perfect opportunity...
Jarod entered the room. Sydney glanced behind him, where the already prepared syringe lay on a table, underneath a cloth. All he had to do was wait until he caught Jarod unaware, and then, Jarod would be spared from Mr. Parker's wrath.
'Jarod, you're late. We have to get going on this latest simulation.'
'Sydney, I have to talk to you.'
'Jarod we're running late as it is. Can it wait?'
'No, Sydney, please! I have to talk to you...it's about Ms. Parker.'
Sydney motioned for Jarod to sit down. He did. Sydney stood over him.
'Alright, Jarod. What is it about Ms. Parker?' he asked coolly, as if he hadn't a clue what Jarod was about to tell him.
Jarod leaned forward. Desperation was written all over his face.
'She's pregnant, Sydney. She's pregnant and I am the father.'
Sydney looked away again, fingering the cloth that the syringe was under.
'Oh.' was all he could think to say.
Jarod stood up and moved to he could look at Sydney.
'Sydney, I have to be with her!'
Sydney turned back to Jarod.
'Jarod, you know that can't be.'
'Why not?! Things have changed now! We're going to have a child! I can't stay here!'
'Jarod, please calm down!'
'Sydney, I need your help! You have to talk to Mr. Parker...I haven't heard from Ms. Parker in days...I think something might have happened...'
Jarod stopped talking abruptly. Sydney had the oddest expression on his face...
'You know, don't you? You know about what's going on between Ms. Parker and me, don't you?'
Sydney could not lie anymore. Not to Jarod.
'Yes, Jarod, I do.'
'Then help us, Sydney!'
'I can't, Jarod! You have to forget about her!'
Jarod began to back away.
'What are you talking about?! How am I supposed to forget the mother of my child? And what will happen to our baby?'
Sydney walked up to Jarod and put his hands on his shoulders.
'Jarod, Mr. Parker isn't going to let Ms. Parker keep the baby. She does not know this. She will not know that until the baby is born. She thinks that you are off getting job training so that the two of you can get married.'
Jarod's mouth dropped open, as he began to back away. Sydney rubbed his eyes tiredly. Why had he just told Jarod all of that? Why?
Probably because he knew what he was doing was vile. Probably because he felt that if Jarod was going to be denied the right to know his child, just as he had been his parents, he should know upfront...before Sydney gave him the memory erasing serum.
'Sydney, how could you let them do this to me? To Ms. Parker? Sydney, my baby is going to end up here isn't he? Or she? And what about Ms. Parker? Mr. Parker would do this to his own daughter?'
Sydney couldn't stand anymore of this! He pulled the syringe from out from under the cloth. Jarod began to back away.
'What is that?!' he screeched.
'Jarod, please, it will make this whole thing easier for you to bear! You won't remember any of this! Jarod!'
But Jarod had turned and tried to run! The doors to the room slid back, and two guards, along with Raines, stepped into the room. Jarod turned and tried to run back in Sydney's direction, but the guards grabbed him by the arms! Jarod began to twist and writhe.
'Sydney, please! Don't do this! Please! You know this is not right!'
Raines impatiently put out a cigarette, stomping it out on the floor. He looked at Sydney.
'Stop stalling, Sydney! Either you do it or I will!' he snapped.
'SYDNEY!' Jarod screamed, as Sydney slowly moved towards him with the syringe. Tears were in the older man's eyes.
'Oh Christ!' Raines hissed, snatching the syringe from Sydney and plunging into Jarod's neck! Jarod cried out, then promptly passed out. The guards then dragged Jarod back to his room.
Sydney shook his head and looked away. Raines lit up another cigarette.
'I'll take care of Ms. Parker when the time comes.' he said, blowing smoke rings.
'Jarod?'
Jarod jumped. He looked over at his cousin, Sidney.
'Sidney? Are the doctors looking for me? Is it Mallory?'
Sidney rubbed his arm.
'No, no. No word yet. Where were you just now?' she asked curiously.
Jarod stood up.
'In the past. It doesn't matter now.'
Sidney stood up as well.
'Okay, well I came to tell you that your father and his wife are here. I posted a guard to watch them, since they're already making noises about taking Brian back to their hotel with them. They also are talking about picking up Abigail from Sydney and Michelle's.'
Jarod hugged Sidney briefly.
'Thanks for letting me know. Mallory would have a fit if she knew. I'd better make it clear, once again, that Brian is our son. I never thought they'd try and claim Abigail too.'
Sidney nodded, but inside, she was livid! How dare Major Charles and Catherine Parker pull this crap now?! Jarod was obviously tired and stressed, and those two 'people' should be offering their support right now and nothing more!
'I'm coming with you.' Sidney said firmly. She touched Jarod's hand and he took hers in his. Together they left the chapel.
****
'Brian, honey, all I'm saying is that your parents are living in a dangerous environment. I'm worried about your safety. Coming back to Alaska would be the best thing for you.' Catherine Parker said, quietly worried. Brian didn't sound as if he wanted to come back with them now! 'But that doesn't happen all of the time, Cathy! Look, I can't think about that right now until I know that my mother will be okay! If I hadn't jumped on Lyle's back...that gun wouldn't have went off!'
Major Charles stepped in.
'We don't know that son. Lyle is a killer. I have no doubts whatsoever that he would've killed all of you, if you had not acted quickly. We just have to pray that your mother will be alright.'
The elevator doors opened, and Emily and Ethan got off the elevator, just as Jarod and Sydney were coming around the corner. Catherine Parker saw them and stood up quickly. Brian looked up at her.
'Where are you going?' he asked. Major Charles looked up at her questioningly. Catherine nodded towards the elevators and Major Charles looked over there.
'I just have to go to the bathroom, excuse me.' Catherine said, turning and hurrying around a corner. Brian looked at Major Charles.
'What's wrong? Is she feeling sick again?'
'Uh no... I mean, yes.' Major Charles said. Maybe Jarod had been right. Maybe they should clear the air with the children about Catherine and him. He couldn't just keep hiding her forever.
Jarod hugged Ethan.
'How did you get here?' he asked his brother.
'Sydney and Michelle picked me up, along with Abigail... she's growing like a weed. They dropped me off here. They didn't think you'd want Abby here so they took her back home. I ran into my sister here on the way in.' he said, squeezing Emily's arm.
Jarod's eyes moved from Ethan's, to Emily's. Emily reached out and hugged Jarod. But Jarod let go of her, as he noted that his father and Brian were alone. He moved past his brother and sister and over to them.
Emily looked at Sidney.
'Hi, I'm Emily.'
Sidney gave her a wan smile and stuck out her hand.
'I'm Sidney.'
'I know...Jarod has told me about you. I guess in many ways, you've taken my place as his little sister.'
Sidney was oddly touched by that comment. Having been an only child, and a lonely one at that, she would've loved to have had any sibling at all, growing up.
'I doubt I could ever take your place, Emily.' Sidney said diplomatically, turning to hug Ethan. Her eyes were now on Jarod, Major Charles and Brian.
Jarod looked at his father.
'My wife is fighting for her life right now. I may end up raising my two children alone. I do not have the time for your games.' Jarod said in a cool voice. Brian said nothing, but listened.
'Son, Cathy and I are here because...'
'Yes! Where is your wife, Dad?'
Brian spoke up.
'I think she's sick. She ran off to the bathroom.'
Jarod glanced at his son, before turning to look back at Ethan, Emily and Sidney. He then looked at his father.
'Now, Dad! You tell them now or I will. I will not allow you to continue this deception, on what may very well be my wife's deathbed!'
Brian suddenly began to cry! Jarod looked at him, realizing those words may have been too harsh. He reached out and put his arms around his son. Brian did not try to move away, and he too then, put his arms around Jarod.
Major Charles watched this union, and realized that for all of Brian's complaining, somewhere along the way, he had actually bonded with his parents. He looked over at Ethan and Emily, just as the surgeon walked up behind Sidney.
Jarod, sensing that he was there, turned to look over at him. Brian did as well, wiping his face. Sidney turned to stare as well.
The surgeon walked up to Jarod.
'Your wife made it through the surgery, but it will be touch and go for the first 24 hours.' he said solemnly.
'Can I see her?' Jarod asked. The surgeon nodded, and Jarod hugged Brian one more time, before letting go of him and following after the surgeon.
Major Charles walked over to Ethan and Emily.
'There is something I need to tell the both of you.' he said.
****
Jarod, dressed in a gown, sat by an unconscious Mallory's side. He picked up her hand, as his mind wandered to another DSA he had watched, unbeknownst to his wife. The one where she gave birth and had Brian snatched from her.
Now, suddenly, he realized what his wife had been fighting so hard for, all of this time with Brian. He was not going to give up on his son either, even if it did seem as if it would be easier.
He looked up towards the ceiling and mouthed the words, 'thank you'. He did not see Catherine Parker watching him and Mallory, through a glass window. She then looked away.
She was not ready to face Ethan or Emily! She just couldn't! Not today! Mallory had taken the news that she was alive so badly! What was she going to do?!
Catherine Parker looked through the window again. Maybe, just maybe, she could beg Jarod to help her slip out of the hospital, unnoticed.