He glanced at his watch as he slid the DSA into the player; it was five in the morning. He should have gone home. Sydney took a sip of tea from the mug near his hand, and pressed a button. The images of thirty years ago flickered on the small screen.....

"Is he aware of this?"

"No. He would be the last person to suspect that I know the truth about my daughter."

Sydney paced the length of his office, then turned to face her. "If he finds out you know and that you told me--"

"--He won't, Sydney." She moved closer to him, although she could feel his discomfort. "In any case, we'll be long gone before he figures it out."

He moved away from her, shaking his head. "Catherine, this isn't right."

She stood close behind him, gripping his arms tightly. "Sydney.....my husband and Raines have put into motion an unspeakable lie; an experiment that is ethically and morally wrong, and they've made me an unwilling party to it. I can't do this without your help, Sydney. He has to believe that there is someone else, or this won't work." She turned him around to face her, gently running her hands up his arms to grasp his shoulders. "Please, Sydney. I need you."

Sydney looked away. He never could deny her anything she asked of him, and she knew it. He had been in love with Catherine Parker since the day he met her; but she was married to another, and Sydney knew that his feelings had to be set aside. It went against everything he believed in; but he couldn't eradicate the depth of emotion and regard with which he held her. The dark eyes looked down into the pleading grey ones, and he swallowed hard.

"I'll do whatever you ask, Catherine, and your secret is safe with me."

Catherine put her arms around his neck, pulling him toward her. She lightly brushed her lips across his cheek, and dissolved against him in an embrace that he reluctantly returned.....

Sydney stabbed the stop button in anger, and the images ceased to display on the screen. He stood and began to pace the length of his office, his chest tightening in anger and regret; but whether the regret was over the feelings he still had for Catherine Parker, or over his remorse at not having fully acted upon them, he couldn't be certain. He let out a long sigh of air and reached for the yellowed manilla file folder. Carefully he looked through the documents contained within. The medical records tracking the experiment that could destroy the young woman for whom he cared deeply were all intact; and there was no doubt in his mind that it would be the end of any relationship he might have with her. He held the file folder and DSA in his hands: he should have destroyed them years ago. But they were the only reasons Mr. Parker was forced to go along with many of Sydney's demands regarding Miss Parker over the years, and for as much damage as the truth might do to the doctor, it would be far worse for Mr. Parker. Sydney moved toward the cabinet with the false drawer, preparing to once again protect the documents in his hands, and with them the young woman he looked upon as his own.

But he hadn't heard the soft footfalls enter the room, so when the blunt rod came down hard upon the back of his head and neck, Sydney collapsed silently to the floor, no protest uttered nor considered as the precious items in his hands fell prey to his assailant.

-----------------------------

Parker sipped her coffee and looked at her watch. She sighed loudly and glared in the direction of the computer tech, who tried to make himself blend into his desk.

"Where the hell is he? Has he become so old and doddering that he can't remember meetings anymore?"

Broots shook his head, "I don't know, Miss Parker. His car was in the parking lot when I arrived. Maybe he's stuck on a phone call."

"He isn't answering his office phone you moron, I already tried to call him." As Broots opened his mouth to speak, Parker cut him off. "And I tried his cell and his home phone, just in case." Parker set her coffee down and stood, straightening the jacket to her suit. "I'm going down to his office. I'll be back."

Broots swallowed hard as she stalked out of the room. He felt sorry for Syd, but he was glad it wasn't him.

---------------------------

He moaned as consciousness slowly rolled through his body. He reached up for his head, which felt as if it had imploded, and he realized he was lying on a cold floor. As he tried to move, he became painfully aware that his stomach was incredibly nauseous. But he felt chilled to the bone, and began the arduous process of coming to his knees. He thought he heard the click-clack of high heels pounding in the hallway, and a moment later they resounded in his office, followed by her annoyed voice.

"Damn you Sydney, don't you remember that--" Parker came to an abrupt halt at the sight on the floor, and a moment later, she knelt next to him. "Syd.....what happened? Are you all right?"

His voice was gritty with pain, "I'm sure I'll be fine, but I wouldn't turn down an offer of help right about now...."

Parker gently assisted him to his feet, and frowned as he gingerly held his own head. She guided him to his desk chair, lowering him into it. She leaned against the desktop directly in front of him, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"What the hell happened?"

He shook his head slightly, painfully. "I don't know. Somebody hit me from behind."

Sydney winced in pain, and Parker reluctantly allowed her concern to override her annoyance with him. "Here.....let me take a look at that...."

Not so gently she pulled Sydney's hand away from the back of his head, and she examined the area.

"You've got one hell of a lump on the back of your skull, Syd." He grunted at the obvious, but refrained from any further comment. She noticed the strange angle at which he was holding his head, and reached beneath the collar of his shirt to softly rub his neck. "I'll bet your neck is stiff; mine always is when somebody clobbers me from behind...." He grinned slightly, only to grimace a moment later when her hand sent a sharp pain through him. "Sorry, Sydney. Whoever hit you really meant business." She looked around the office, and noted that nothing seemed out of place. "Doesn't look like they took anything.... you don't remember seeing anyone?"

And then it struck him: the file folder and DSA he had been holding weren't on the floor next to him. He quickly glanced around the office and realized that the items he had previously held in his hands were gone. He pushed down the panic that was quickly rising in his throat.

His voice was gruffer than he intended, "I was hit from behind Parker, how could I see anyone?"

She bristled at his tone, "Don't get snotty, Dr. Strangelove, I'm just trying to help."

His voice softened considerably, "I know. I'm sorry.....my head hurts."

In answer Parker ran her hand soothingly over the back of his shoulders. "I think we'd better get you to medical, Syd, you're completely black and blue back here, and this knot on your head is pretty swollen. You might have a concussion."

"I'll be fine, Parker, really."

She stood, her voice admonishing, "Sydney...."

"I'm the doctor, Parker, and I'm telling you, I'm fine."

He stood quickly to prove his point, and was rewarded with a sudden wave of dizziness. He swayed on his feet, and Miss Parker put her arm around his waist, supporting him.

"Yeah, you're in great shape, Dr. Doolittle." She moved him carefully toward the door. "C'mon, you're going to medical, and 'no' is not an option. I'll have Broots run a check on the security tapes, maybe we've got the guy on camera....." The color drained from Sydney's face and his knees suddenly went weak; he leaned heavily on Parker, who tightened her arm around him. "Easy Syd, I've got you...."

Parker had no idea that Sydney's lack of strength was emanating from the overwhelming fear he felt over what Broots might discover if he reviewed the security tapes from the previous night in the doctor's office. And Sydney surely didn't need any confirmation regarding his assailant's identity, nor where the files and DSA were currently residing.