Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Pretender characters. They belong to MTM, NBC and TNT. No money was involved and no infringements intended. The only characters that I have soul right to are: Catherine (which has nothing to do with Parker's mother), Dr Rich Young, Nurse Williams,
THE NEW PRETENDER
Chapter Four:
In the Centre...
A doctor was at a bedside and was taking a pulse, tempature and making sure that person is doing ok. It is Catherine's bedside. At the foot of her bed is standing Mr. Raines. He is watching every move the doctor is making to find out what happened. After an hour of examining Catherine the doctor took off his stethescope and looked at Mr. Raines. He walked over to him and took his arm walking a little from Catherine.
The doctor spoke first, "Mr. Raines, has Catherine been around any detergents, poisons, or toxins?"
"Not that I know of. Why?" Mr. Raines asked.
"Well, Catherine has been poisoned very badly. If no one had caught her and called me she could have died." When the doctor said that Mr. Raines sat down on one of the chairs in the bedroom.
"I have a suggestion but I want to run it by you first before I do anything." asked the doctor.
"What is the suggestion, doctor?" Mr. Raines asked confused.
"Well, I don't know if you will agree to this. But I was going to suggest taking Catherine to the hospital and running some tests and getting her stomach pumped." said the doctor.
"That is out of the question, doctor. She is NOT leaving this building. You will perform everything here." said an aggitated Mr Raines.
"How can I? I don't have my medical kit and I cannot take any of the machines that can do the job." The doctor looked at Mr. Raines but Mr. Raines was staring at him coldly. Then Mr. Lyle walked into the room and pulled Mr. Raines aside.
He said to Mr. Raines, "We should just let the doctor take her to the hospital. If she doesn't get any help...she will die." Then, Mr. Raines looked at Mr. Lyle then they looked at the doctor.
Mr. Raines said to Mr. Lyle, "Can we trust him?"
"Don't worry...I trust him. I have worked with him for a long long time." said Mr Lyle.
"Ok. You better hope that we can trust him." Then, Mr. Raines walked out of the door.
Mr. Lyle, looked back at his doctor friend, "So, Rich. What hospital are you taking her?"
"I'm taking her to Dearborn. There she will be treated by a Dr. Knight." said Dr Young.
"Ok. Thanks Rich. How long will it take for her to get better?" Mr Lyle asked.
"Well, that depends on how bad the poison was that got into her system. It could be from a few days to a week or two weeks. But, I would have to say Catherine will probably stay in the hospital for at least 3 days."
"Ok. Thanks again, Rich." He then shook hands with the doctor.
"Your welcome, Lyle." said Dr. Young.
At Dearborn Hospital...
At the hospital...the nurses and doctors were dealing with their patients when Dr. Rich Young came in with Catherine. He put her in a wheelchair and asked the nurse at the desk, "Is there a room that is free?"
"Uh, let's see...room 15 is still available. You can take that room."said the nurse.
"Thanks." Then he turned down the aisle leading to room 15 and opened the door. He wheeled Catherine inside and helped her to the bed. He then hooked her up to some machines and gave her something to make her sleep. Then he left the room.
He walked up to the nurses station again, "Can you tell me where Dr. Knight is?"
"He is in room 25 with a victim of a shooting." said the nurse.
"Thanks again." He said, as he started walking down the aisle.
"Your welcome." The nurse said softly knowing the doctor couldn't hear her. He almost reached room 25 when Jarod walked out. He was cleaning his hands as he shut the door.
Dr. Young stopped in front of Jarod, "How is he?"
"Oh, he will be fine. The bullet missed all the main arteries. We're going to keep him overnight and maybe tomorrow night to just watch him." said Jarod.
"Sounds good to me." Jarod could almost sense there was something troubleing Dr. Young.
"Dr. Young are you ok?" asked a worried Jarod.
"I'm fine Jarod. I need you to come with me to see a patient." said Dr. Young.
"Ok." Jarod said as he was led to room 15 where Catherine was sleeping. Dr. Young entered the room and ushered Jarod into the room. He walked to the foot of her bed and looked at her chart. He looked up at her with shock and horror. Dr. Young left when Jarod was checking up on Catherine. He walked over to Catherine's right side and checked her pulse and everything. He sat down and brushed her bangs that were on her eyelids. He sat there and talked softly so as not to wake her, "Well, Catherine. I'm going to take care of you now. You won't have to go back to the Centre ever again."
Back at the Centre...
That afternoon in the Centre...Miss Parker came up in the elevator and was looking everywhere for Mr. Lyle. She kept thinking that she is going to give him a piece of her mind for leaving her alone for 3 hours. She found him in her father's office and also noticed that Mr. Raines was sitting on the leather couch. She walked in and closed the doors. She saw Mr. Lyle sitting at the desk. He stood up when he saw her walk in. She looked very stunning. She had a black leather skirt on that came a little above the knees. She had a tan silk shirt on with a red sport coat on.
She looked from Mr. Lyle to Mr. Raines and spoke, "Oh, look the fox and the snake. In one room. Now isn't that interesting." She said as she looked at Mr. Lyle.
"What do u want, Miss Parker? We're very busy here." said Mr Lyle.
"Where were you, Lyle?" She said coldly.
"I was called at the last minute to look in on the girl. Why? Oh wait, weren't you looking for Jarod?" said Mr Lyle.
"Yes. I was...I have been looking for him for 3 hours. And I thought you were coming to help me but now I see that the fox and the snake" she was looking at Mr. Raines when she said that "are working together."
"Miss Parker, I'm not going to deal with this. I'm very very busy. Plus I have to stop by at the hospital." said Mr Lyle.
"What for?" asked Miss Parker.
"Well, if you haven't noticed...Catherine is not here." Mr. Lyle said.
"Lyle, how can I have noticed she was NOT here. I was out ALL day. Now, tell me why is she at the hospital?" she looked at Mr. Raines. "You couldn't handle all the pressure of raising her?"
"No, Miss Parker. She was poisoned and she almost died. I was glad that we were able to get some help for her." said Mr Raines. At those words, Miss Parker's eyes grew red. She knew something was up when Mr. Raines decided to train her. She almost died and no one bat's an eye. But if Catherine almost dies they get the ambulance and everything.
"Which hospital is she in?" asked Miss Parker.
"Dearborn." Lyle said.
"Thanks. I think I'll see her tomorrow." She said as she was walking out of the room.
"Miss Parker. You are not allowed to see her. I will NOT let you corrupt her mind. That is mine." said an angry Mr Raines.
"Oh, right I forgot you're going to use her mind to fill that empty void between your eyes?" She said as she smiled. "Don't worry, Raines. I won't corrupt her mind as seeing as you have already done that." She then opened the door and walked out. Mr. Lyle and Mr. Raines were left in the room by themselves. Mr. Raines got up and walked over to Lyle.
"She is very annoying. If Catherine did her job I wouldn't have to put up with her." He looked at Lyle and then he too walked out of the room leaving Lyle to walking back to his father's desk and sitting back in the chair.
At Dearborn later that night...
At the hospital...Jarod came into Catherine's room noticing that she was awake. He walked over to her. "Oh, I see my patient is awake. How do you feel, Catherine?"
"I feel like crap." She said.
"Don't worry. Eventually, it will all go away." said Jarod with a smile.
"I hope so. I have a job to do for someone." She said as she tried to position herself so that she don't cramp.
"So, Catherine, what sort of job do u do?" Jarod asks, curiously.
"Oh, I'm a tracker." She says.
"A tracker? What is that?" asked Jarod.
"I'm tracking a fugitive and I need to bring him back to some people." She said. Jarod was beginning to get nervous cause he is staring in the eyes of the one person he is supposed to be avoiding. So, while he was looking at her chart, he can feel her eyes on him. Which is what she was doing. She startled him when she called him, "Hey, Dr. Knight. Can I have a drink of water?"
"Sure, you can." Jarod said. He went out to a water fountain and brought back a styrafoam cup with nice cool water in it. He handed it to Catherine who then took the pills that he gave her for any pain and to also sleep well.
As he was about to leave he heard Catherine saying something, "Thanks. Goodnight...Jarod." He turned around and walked over to her bed and found her fast asleep. He was beginning to feel nervous cause he didn't want to get caught.
Still at Dearborn the next morning...
The next morning...Miss Parker came into Dearborn Hospital and demanded to see Catherine. So, one of the nurses directed her to Catherine's room. She opened the door and stepped inside. She saw Catherine lying on the bed. She appeared pale, and thin. She sat down on the edge of her bed. She looked at Catherine, "How are you doing sweety?" She said as she touched Catherine's hand and was shocked when the hand didn't move.
"I'm doing fine." Catherine said in a small voice.
"That is good. Do you know when you can go home?" asked a caring Miss Parker.
"The doctor said in 2 days." said a very pale Catherine.
"I'm happy to hear that." Miss Parker says with a smile.
"Me to." said Catherine.
"Have the doctors told you what happened?" asked Miss Parker.
"The doctors and nurses told me I was poisoned very severly. And they said, I could've died if Mr. Lyle hadn't brought me in the hospital." said Catherine.
"Mr. Lyle brought you in?" Miss Parker asked shocked.
"Yes. He was really worried about me." said Catherine.
Then, one of the nurses walked in, "I'm sorry to do this but it is time for Catherine's rest. You can come back tomorrow." she said as she looked at Miss Parker and then at Catherine.
"Thanks, Nurse Williams." Miss Parker said as she looked at the nurses name tag.
"Your welcome." said the nurse. Then Miss Parker left and Nurse Williams was giving Catherine her medicine and having her rest.
The next morning, Catherine woke up in the hospital again. She looked around and noticed that Jarod was standing at the foot of her bed. "Dr. Knight." Jarod looked up to see Catherine awake. "You know you look so familiar." Jarod just looked at her and didn't say a word.
Then he said, "Everyone says that to me. I just have that look, I guess." says Jarod.
"I guess so." said Catherine.
"Get some rest, Catherine. I'll be in a few hours to look in on you."
"Ok." she said. She then closed her eyes. And she slept. Jarod walked out of her room. He leaned against her door and thought, that was close. Catherine does know who I am. But I can't let her think that she does. Then he walked away.
Back at the Centre...
The next day, Sydney's phone was ringing. Sydney picked it up and answered, "Sydney."
"I just saw her." said Jarod.
"You did. Did she recognize you?" asked Sydney.
"I think she does know who I am but all of the medication is blocking her mind." said Jarod.
"I see." said Sydney.
"So. What does Miss Parker think of all of this?" Jarod asks while he's walking through a cemetery.
"Well, she thinks this is crazy. She still wants to get her out but she's just going to keep an eye on her." said Sydney.
"I see." Jarod says as he stops at a grave.
"Jarod, you have to be careful. Cause either Catherine or Miss Parker can catch you." says a worried Sydney.
"I will be careful. Thanks for the insight." Then they hang up. Jarod then kneels down in front of the grave. He wipes away some leaves from the front. There inscribed was what he was looking at:
Kyle Russell
Born: 1971-1998
We miss our brother, son and
best friend
May God be with you always
Jarod places some flowers on the ground in front of the headstone and then just looks at the headstone. He misses his brother very much. He wishes he had more time with Kyle. Then, he stands up still looking at the headstone. As Jarod was walking away, he noticed something shiny on the ground next to the gravesite. He walks over and picks up the shiny object. He looks at it in his hands and notices it is a Celtic Cross necklace. He tries to think of who wears a Celtic Cross necklace like this. He knows that no one in his family wears a necklace like that. So, he decides to take the necklace and places it in his coat pocket. Then, he walks away.
At the Hospital...
For the next 3 days, Jarod helps Catherine with getting the rest of the poison out of her system. Not once, did she even ask him who he really is. But, he knows in the back of his mind that she knows who he really is underneath the white doctor coat. So, after the 3rd day, Jarod calls Sydney and tells him that she is free go back home. Right before he dismisses Catherine an older gentleman comes in and walks over to the nurses' station. He asks for Jarod. The nurse calls for Jarod Knight. At first, Jarod was a little nervous coming to the nurse cause he didn't know who was looking for him. As he looks out he notices a familar face. It was Major Charles. He shuts Catherine's door and then he walked over to his dad and pulls him away. Jarod looks around making sure no one is around and starts talking to his dad. "Dad, what are you doing here?"
"I came to help you out." said Major Charles.
"What do you mean?" Jarod asks.
"I decided to come and help you get Catherine away from the Centre." Major Charles said.
"I don't want to get you in the middle of all this."said Jarod.
"Jarod, you got me involved when I saw your clone and we decided to take him in." Major Charles said as he looked at Jarod.
"Well, you can take her and I'll sign her discharge." said Jarod.
"Deal." Major Charles says. So, Major Charles walked into Catherine's room and noticed that she was still asleep due to the medication. He picked her up and walked out. Jarod went and discharged Catherine saying in the report that her father came to pick her up. As he was watching his dad take Catherine he looks out through the double front doors and notices Sydney and Miss Parker walking through. He rushes inside a room and changes out of the doctor outfit and into an EMT. He walks out of the room making sure no one is watching. Before he leaves he looks for Sydney and Miss Parker. He notices them standing at the nurses station.
He overhears Miss Parker, "We are here to pick up Catherine Raines."
"Well, Ms Raines has already been picked up." The nurse says as she is looking through the discharge book.
"Really. Who picked her up?" Miss Parker asked.
"Why, her father of course." Both Sydney and Miss Parker looked at each other.
Then Sydney looked at the nurse, "Who, was the doctor that treated Catherine?"
"It was Dr. Knight. He treated her." the nurse said as she looked up from her paperwork.
"Can you tell us where this Dr. Knight is now?" asked Miss Parker.
"I'm sorry. I don't really know. At one minute he is here and the next he disappeared." The nurse said as she looks back down at her paperwork. As Miss Parker starts to walk away, her eyes catch site of a name on the doctor board. It was Jarod. She looks at Sydney and then they walked out. As they walk out of the hospital they see a pickup truck driving past them. They get a glimpse of Jarod and his dad. They run to their car and get in. She gets in the drivers side and puts the car in gear. They drive off and the chase begins.
Jarod driving pickup truck...
Jarod and his dad are sitting in the pickup and Catherine is sitting in the middle still asleep. He starts to drive faster and then looks behind him to see Miss Parker's car. She has almost caught up to them. All of a sudden Jarod looks in his rear-view mirror and sees Miss Parker's gun pointed right at him. She fires and breaks the back window making both cower down. Jarod starts to drive even faster. He tries to outrun Miss Parker by driving into every ally and still could not get her off his tail. Then, he notices there is a dirt road up on the left side. He decides to take the dirt road and loose them that way. He has a dirt road truck. As he turns he looks behind him and sees Miss Parker doing the same thing. Then he started driving faster on the road and then notices that it is muddy due to it raining yesterday. So, he decides to loose them that way. Dirt and mud flying everywhere as he trails through driving around 60 or 70 mph. As he is driving he swerves this way and swerves that way and still can't get her off his tail. Until Jarod notices a huge dip in the path. As he nears it he doesn't let up on the gas and literally flies over the dip. But, Miss Parker's car is not equipped to do that kind of thing. As she puts pressure on her breaks she slides on the mud and her front of the car ends in a big puddle of muddy water. Jarod stops the truck and gets out to make sure that Miss Parker and Sydney are ok. As he nears the edge he sees Miss Parker get out of the car and aim her gun at him and fires. She misses him and he runs back into the truck and drives away leaving Miss Parker and Sydney alone. She looks at Sydney and then got up on the embankment behind the car. Then she kicks the back tire and takes her cellphone out of her coat pocket. She calls for a tow truck. Sydney looks on as he watches the dust left back by Jarod's truck. Sydney turns and produces a small smile as he turns to look at Miss Parker and the smile fades.
Sydney hears Miss Parker say to him, "this is great. Just great."
To be continued...
