"Sir," the young woman called out from her desk.

Jarod sat on a chair in the waiting room in deep concentration.

"Sir?" she spoke in an octave higher tone. "Sir?"

Jarod rubbed his eyes, turning his head into the direction of her voice.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. You seemed to be in some sort of daze. Could I get you a cup of coffee or something?"

Rising from his seat, Jarod walked toward the front desk. "I was just thinking. Or should I say, in some sort of make-believe reality. How is she?"

"Doctor should be out to speak to you in a few minutes."

"I was just talking to her and then we got disconnected. If I hadn't called her on my cell, if I had just followed her home, she wouldn't be here," Jarod said, blinking back tears.

The clerk sighed. "We have quite a bit of patients who come here in ER due car collisions. Half of them are caused by the usage of cellphones while driving. I throw my handbag in the back seat...that way, if my phone rings, I won't be able to reach for it."

"Good habit. It's my fault. If something happens to her...I don't know what I'll do. I've known her all of my life. You see...we grew up together. I don't remember her not ever being in my life," Jarod reminisced, turning away to wipe a single tear that slipped out of the corner of his eyes.

"Oh, sir, the doctor's coming this way."

With his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, Jarod waited for his world to collapse.

JMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMPJMP

The broken silence of Miss Parker's hospital room echoed the sound of the pretender's fist which hit against the wall.

Having gotten accustomed to Jarod's sudden outburst from the many family members of other patients, the physician laid a comforting hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry," the genius apologized.

"In times like this, people are known to react in different ways regarding a love one...especially when it's out of their control...unable to help them. She's hanging on, but, for the amount of blood she's loss...it doesn't look good. I'm sorry," the physician said. "Right now we need a miracle. She's in and out of consciousness. Internal injuries, bleeding has stopped...for now."

With his pretends as a doctor, Jarod knew the possibility of her outcome due to the injuries sustained.

"Is there anyone you'd like to contact?" the doctor asked. "Her parents...siblings?

He nodded. "Sydney. He's been more of a father to her than...," Jarod's voice cracked. "...than the father she believed was her father. And there's Broots...she considers him like a brother...the kind you love to pick on."

"Better call them fast." The doctor patted the distraught "pretender" on the shoulders before existing out of the room.

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Pulling up a chair next to her bedside, Jarod stroked her cheek. The color of her pale skin matched the white sheet which covered her thin body. He took hold of her hand, interlocking their fingers. Quietly, he sat as mountains of tears slid down his face, never bothering to wipe them away. Lowering his head down onto the bed rail, he cried mournfully. Miss Parker stirred, slowly opening her eyelids. Jarod raised his head at her touch lightly stroking his hair.

"Parker," he said her name painfully. "It's going to be alright. You'll be fine. You'll be good as knew," Jarod lied. "I'll be here by your side." He rose from his seat, and lowered the bed rail. As to not cause anymore pain to her, he hugged her gently. "I love you," he whispered.

With her head wrapped in gauge, Miss Parker crinkled her forehead. Her eyes quickly scanned the room as if unaware of her surroundings.

"Do you know where you are?" Jarod questioned.

Miss Parker turned her head slowly, her blood shot blue eyes roamed the cold room. Closing her eyes, she nodded. "Remember me," she said in barely a whisper. "I'll save you a good seat, Jarod. Every time you feel your heartbeat, think of me."

TBC - Chapter 7