Part 7: The Rebirth of Jarod
by N.R. Levy

Parker continued to look at Jarod, Sydney's words ringing in her ears. She was barely conscious of Ben leading Charles from the room, leaving her alone with Sydney and Jarod.

After a moment she felt Sydney move away from her as he crossed over to Jarod's bedside, taking the seat Charles had vacated.  He sat and waited for a sign that she was ready to continue. Finally, after several minutes, Parker nodded at Sydney.

"Raines used the same sort of shock torture on Jarod that he used on Angelo, but with very different results.  You remember when he planned to use the process on Davey?"

Parker nodded, remembering the little boy that Jarod and Angelo had saved – rather, that Angelo had sacrificed himself to save.

"Apparently, Raines has refined his technique. He uses specific emotional triggers to numb the subjects ability to process emotion."

"What does that mean, Sydney?"

"I think I have to show you."  Sydney finished speaking and leaned closer to Jarod. He placed a hand on the Pretender's shoulder, and spoke gently, but firmly into his ear.

"Jarod, it's time to wake up now."

Parker nearly jumped as Jarod's eyes flew open at Sydney's command. He rose from the bed using an economy of movement. He came to rest sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes staring straight ahead. Parker moved to Sydney's side and looked into Jarod's face.  She had to stifle a cry of shock when she saw his eyes.  They saw nothing – it was as if they were looking straight through the walls of the room and into the universe outside.

"Syd, what – " Parker stopped speaking as Sydney raised a finger to his lips. He then turned his attention back to Jarod.

"Jarod, I have a simulation I'd like you to run."

Parker stepped back as Jarod stood, moving from the bed to the small table on the opposite side of the room. He pulled back the chair, sat down, and then waited for instructions from Sydney.

"Load sim 279." Jarod punched the numbers into the computer, and as the information flowed before his eyes, he seemed to absorb it, moving through the 47 pages of information in a matter of seconds. He then began typing on the keyboard, his fingers flying. After little more than four minutes, he stopped moving, and lowered his hands to his lap.

"The simulation is complete."

Parker opened her mouth to try and speak, but she couldn't find any words. They had turned him into a machine. No, not they – Raines had done this, and her hatred of that monster had never been stronger.

Sydney stood and walked to the desk. He leaned over and scanned Jarod's results.  After a moment, he stood up and placed a hand on Jarod's shoulder.

"Very good work, Jarod. You may rest now."

Jarod stood, pulling his body away from Sydney's hand as if it were a piece of lint resting on him, and returned to the bed. Before Parker even realized it, he was lying down again, sound asleep.

"What in God's name did he do?"

"Jarod's emotions have been completely closed off. Raines has turned him into his version of the perfect Pretender – someone completely devoid of any emotions. I'm afraid that without knowing what triggers they used to program him, there is no way we can undo the damage Raines has caused.

Parker was about to speak when a loud crash sounded from downstairs. The two quickly headed in that direction, Parker casting one last glance over her shoulder to see that Jarod still lay motionless in the bed.

They arrived in the kitchen and saw that several glasses lay shattered on the floor. Charles was stooped over, beginning to clean up the mess and Jay stood across the room, a look of shock frozen on his face. Parker immediately moved to the boy and put her arms around him.

"Jay? Jay, are you all right?"

"I-I, I didn't mean it."

With those words Jay dissolved into tears and he clutched Miss Parker tightly in his arms as he wept uncontrollably.

"It's all right, Jay. Shh, it's okay."

Charles stood, much of the broken glass piled into his hands as headed toward the trash can.  He saw the tender way in which Parker was trying to comfort his son, and after depositing the now shattered pieces of crystal, he moved closer to them, signaling that Sydney should also join them.

"He was pretending to be Jarod. We told him it was too dangerous, but he wanted to try."

Just then, Ben entered the room with a towel, and it was only when he pulled Jay away from Parker that the other adults noticed the cut on the boy's hand. Parker sat down in a nearby chair and looked to Charles for answers.

"What happened?"

"He was crying. He kept saying, "I didn't mean to hurt you." And then, I don't know, he just picked up the glasses from the counter and hurled them into the ground. Then he just moved away, almost afraid that he was going to be punished for what he'd done."

Finally calm, Jay walked up to Charles and the man took him into his arms in a warm embrace.

"I know you want to help Jarod, son, but not like this. Promise me, no more, all right?"

"All right, Dad."  Clearly Jay was still shaken from what had happened, so Ben moved to his side, placing a hand on his back and guiding him to the door.

"Come on, Jay. Why don't you and me go for a little walk?"

Jay looked to Charles for permission, and the Major nodded. The boy looked apologetically at Miss Parker and Sydney, then walked out, keeping close proximity to Ben. Once she was certain he was gone, Parker turned to Sydney.

"Sydney, we can't just leave him like this."

"Parker, Do you think that's what I want? I want Jarod to be well again, but I'm afraid of what could happen if we push him or if  we take the wrong course –"

"What wrong course could there be, Sydney! Look at him. He's dead. Sydney, he can't feel anything."

"I know that Parker. I hate seeing him like this, too, but if we do the wrong thing –

"What? He gets worse. How much worse could he get, Syd? They cut out his heart. They have killed Jarod. Now we can't just leave it like this. We can't!"

Charles cleared his throat and was glad to see that it worked to interrupt the argument, which was growing more heated by the moment. He knew that Sydney and Miss Parker weren't really angry at each other. Parker broke the gaze she shared with Sydney and turned her attention to Charles.

"I'm sorry, Charles. I know you're his father and we shouldn't be talking about this like you aren't here."

"Parker, I agree with you. We can't just leave things like they are, but I think Sydney also has a point. We have to be careful about what we do.  We don't want to ruin whatever chance he has to be well again."

Parker didn't answer, but she didn't yell at anyone either, and Charles figured that was as good as agreement where this volatile young woman was concerned.  Sydney moved behind her, his hand gently coming to rest on Parker's shoulder.

"What do you suggest we try?"

"What about the serum Jarod used to help Davey and Angelo?"

Sydney moved around to face Parker, and he kneeled down so that they were looking at each other eye to eye.

"We've considered that, but the proportions are very exacting and have to be extremely precise."  Parker dropped her eyes, but Sydney quickly lifted her chin to look back at him.

"I'm sure with Jay's help we can recreate it."

"Sydney, I know there aren't any guarantees, but we have to try."

Sydney looked over her shoulder at Charles, and as Jarod's father nodded his agreement, Sydney allowed himself one small, hopeful smile.

"Then we better get started."
 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It had taken nearly eleven hours and two break-ins to the medical laboratory in town to complete the development of the serum that would hopefully reactivate the synapses in Jarod's mind that had been shut down by Raines' treatments. Jay and Sydney had worked tirelessly, and the older man immediately noticed a turn for the better in Jay's mood now that there was finally something he could do to help the man who still lay upstairs.

For her part, the hours that passed were amazingly painful for Parker. She took turns with Major Charles sitting at Jarod's bedside. Each time she left the room, she felt the vice on her heart tighten a little more. She knew Sydney and Jay were working as quickly as they could, yet they all knew that the more time that ticked away, the less chance there was that all of the Jarod they knew could be recovered.

Sydney and Jay returned with the completed serum, and Parker was more than a little upset when the men insisted she leave the room before administering the treatment to Jarod.  She wanted to protest, but even Charles seemed concerned, saying they had no idea what effect the serum would have on Jarod, and they didn't want him to come back to them only to find out that he had done something to hurt Parker.

Frustrated, but knowing they were only acting out of concern for her, Parker wandered onto the front porch of the inn. She had hardly been there for a minute when Ben appeared next to her, a cup of hot tea in his hands. She smiled at him and took the cup gratefully.

"You really should get some sleep, you know. That little guy in there is probably pretty tired."

"Oh, I think that's one of the benefits of being inside there, he can sleep whenever and wherever he likes."

Ben smiled at her, and she realized that for the first time since – God, since Thomas' death, she felt safe. It was a laughable thought, Jarod was in terrible trouble, the Centre would probably be looking for them soon, but Ben made her feel…well, the way a father was supposed to make you feel. He moved off to the porch swing, and Parker sat beside him. She thought again of her mother, of much joy this place and this man had brought into her life. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back,  allowing herself just a few minutes of peace and quiet.

Ben looked over at her several minutes later, and smiled when he saw that she had fallen asleep. He reached over and gently removed the teacup from her hands, and then, sitting back, he continued to rock the swing, staring at the stars as he sat with the sleeping daughter of the woman he loved. How many times he had wished that this beautiful girl were his, that he would have had the chance to give her and Catherine the lives they had deserved. But of course, that was all just wishful thinking.

He turned his eyes away from the stars to watch her sleep. He was so glad that she had thought to come here, that she had  trusted him to help. There wasn't much he could do other than offer them a place to hide, but it was something, and it was for her and Jarod, and that made it worth whatever risk might be involved.  He wondered what was happening upstairs. Could Parker handle it if Jarod didn't recover? He sighed deeply and hoped that outcome wasn't something that anyone inside the house would have to face. They all loved Jarod so much, he didn't know how any of them would deal with losing him – not this way.
 

Sydney sat beside Jarod, still waiting. Everyone else had finally gone to bed, though he imagined Parker would be up any time now, demanding to know what had happened. The truth was, nothing much. They had given Jarod the first dose of the serum, but it hadn't seemed to have any effect. He didn't know what else there was to try if the serum didn't work.

"No. Please, I didn't mean it."

Sydney looked immediately at Jarod as the mumbled words escaped his lips.  They were the same words Jay had said earlier.

"Please, I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, don't."

Jarod cried out again, louder this time, and Sydney sat down on the bed beside him, trying to rouse him.

"Jarod? Jarod, it's Sydney. Can you hear me?"

"Please, God, NO!"  Jarod sat bolt upright as he screamed, and Sydney pulled the trembling man into his arms, holing him tightly against his body.

"Jarod, it's all right. You're safe now. They can't hurt you here."

After what seemed an eternity, Jarod seemed to calm, his body going slack against Sydney, his breathing slowing. Sydney eased the man he loved like a son back against the pillows.

"Sydney, is he all right?"

Parker's words were barely more than a whisper behind him. Sydney nodded as he took a towel and wiped Jarod's brow.

"I think so. The serum seems to be allowing something to get through, I'm just not sure what, at least, not yet."

"You should get some sleep. I'll stay with him."

"Miss Parker –"

"Look, Sydney. You can't stay awake forever, and Charles needs to get rest. I'll stay with him.  I promise, if I think things are getting out of control I'll come and get help."

He studied her for a moment, then feeling his own exhaustion, he decided to give in. After giving her brief instructions on administering the second treatment and on watching the monitors, he headed off for some much needed sleep.

At 2 a.m., Parker administered the second injection. Since his brief outburst earlier, Jarod had remained completely still and silent. Still, that he had felt something – even fear – for just a moment had to be a
good sign, didn't it?

It was nearly 5 a.m. when Jarod called out again, and this time what he said chilled Parker to the bone.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Parker. Please, please forgive me."

She quickly moved to the bed, ignoring Sydney's admonishments that she keep her distance from him, and began to stroke his forehead.

"Jarod, you didn't hurt me. Drove me crazy, yes, but you've never done anything to hurt me."

"I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."

Parker's mind reeled as she tried to figure out what he was talking about. Why would Jarod think he had hurt her? Then Sydney's words played over again in her head. "Specific emotional triggers" – and she knew – Raines had somehow used Jarod's feelings of protectiveness toward her against him.

"Jarod, I'm okay. I'm right here with you. All you have to do is open your eyes and you'll see that. I'm right here."

Jarod squeezed his eyes tighter, fighting to keep them closed.

"N-no, y-you aren't h-here. Y-you aren't r-real!"

Parker looked at him, clearly seeing the tension level in his body rising along with the beeping of the heart monitor. She glanced at the brainwave charts, and saw that the activity level had dropped some, but she was now too worried about Jarod's immediate health to leave and get Sydney. She had to find a way to calm him down. Easing herself further onto the bed, she laid down beside Jarod, pulling him tightly against her.

"Jarod, I know that you're scared. But I promise you, I'm not going to let anything hurt you. Whatever it is that you think you did, I want you to know that I'm okay, and I'm right here with you."

She moved him so that his head rested where he could hear her heart beating.  He began to cry, and instinctively pulled her tighter against him. Parker stifled a cry as a jolt of pain shot through her back.

"P-please, p-please f-forgive me."

"Shh, I do, Jarod. I forgive you. I promise."
 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sydney and Charles met outside of Jarod's door later that morning, both bleary-eyed but unable to sleep any longer. Sydney opened the door and let out a sigh at the sight that greeted them as they entered.

Parker and Jarod lay tightly wrapped in each other's arms. Sydney smiled, if this was Parker's idea of "keeping her distance," he couldn't imagine what would have happened had he told her to stick
close to the sleeping genius.

He walked to the brainwave monitor, and was stunned to see the drop in activity –- the treatments were working. He looked at his watch and saw that there was still nearly an hour before it was time to administer the third and hopefully, the final dose of serum. He signaled to Charles, and the two left so that the sleeping occupants of the room remained undisturbed.
 

Ben and Jay were already downstairs making breakfast as the two men made their way to the kitchen. Before long, several stacks of pancakes stood on the dining room table and they were all about to dive in when they heard Miss Parker's unmistakably panic-stricken voice cry out from upstairs.

"Sydney!"

The shrink bolted from his chair, quickly followed by the rest of the group. They met Parker at the stairs.

"He's gone!" Sydney looked at her, stunned by her words.

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean, he's gone, Sydney. I woke up and he wasn't there anymore."

Nervously, Sydney glanced at his watch. They only had 25 minutes until it was time to give Jarod the final treatment. They had to find him or they risked losing him forever.

"Major, you and Ben check outside. Jay, you and I and Miss Parker will check the house. We have to find him, quickly."

Everyone fanned out in the directions Sydney indicated, and they began an all out search for Jarod. Miss Parker went from room to room upstairs. Having no luck, she headed to her own room to grab her shoes and head outside.

She opened the door to find Jarod sitting at her dressing table, holding her hairbrush in his hands.

"Jarod?"

Slowly, Jarod turned to her, his hands still gripping the hairbrush. He looked at her, and it was clear that he had been crying. Parker moved closer to him, kneeling cautiously in front of him so that
she wouldn't startle him.

"Jarod, are you all right?"

"M-Michael?"

Parker's hand flew to her mouth as that one word registered inside of her.  As much as she hated that name, she had never heard anything more beautiful in her life than the sound of it coming from Jarod's lips.

"Jarod, do you know who I am?"

"They t-told me you were dead, P-Parker. They told me you killed yourself because of – because of m-me."

Parker moved toward him, pulling him into his arms. She held him close, and nearly burst out crying herself when she felt his arms tighten around her.

"Jarod, I'm fine. You didn't do anything wrong. Not to me, not ever. Raines tried to make you sick. He tried to make you believe that, but it's not true, none of it. Okay?"

Parker felt Jarod nodding his head against her shoulder, and she just held him there, knowing that she needed to let the others know where he was, but finding herself unable to move away from him.

For his part, Jarod didn't understand much of what she was saying, but he felt terrible and figured he had been sick or something and that she would explain it all to him later. At the moment, all he could think of was how long he had dreamt of holding her just like this, and how much better it felt in reality than it ever had in his dreams. He pulled her closer to him, and felt a sense of pure joy run through him. He didn't even mind when Sydney came into the room and pushed a needle into his arm, or when he heard his friend's voice filter through the haze that began to overtake his mind once more, this time because he was just to tired to fight it.

"Welcome back, Jarod. We've missed you."
 

go to part 8