Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of the Pretender or the Profiler, this was written for my enjoyment. Feedback? Yes!!!
This picks up three months after 'This Ain't Mardi Gras, Jarod.' So please read the first story so you don't get confused! I hope you all enjoy it as much as you did my first story. :)
Atlanta, Ga Oct. 2
Rachel sat on the edge of the examining table, feet dangling freely over the edge.
"Are you alright?" the Dr. asked.
Rachel didn't reply. She just continued to stare forward, not even blinking her eyes. Her periods had never been regular, but when she was almost 3 months late, she figured she better get to the Dr.
He snapped his fingers in her face. "RACHEL?" the Dr. asked.
"I'm sorry Dr. Adams, I'm just-"
"Surprised."
"SHOCKED!" she replied.
"How will the father take it?"
"I don't know where he is".
"But you know WHO he is don't you?"
Normally a Dr. wouldn't ask such a question, but he'd been her Doctor for years.
"Yes, but he's...we've lost contact over the last few months."
"Well, I hope you find him". He left the room so Rachel could get dressed. She paid for the visit and made another one before she left.
On the drive back to her apartment, she reached up and held the heart pendant Jarod had given her and whispered, "Where are you Jarod?"
He had called her once since their time in New Orleans. He'd told her that he loved her and missed her, but it would be a while before he could come see her. The centre had been getting a little to close lately, and he didn't want to put her in any danger.
Rachel walked up the stairs of her apartment building, relieved to be home. She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Looking up as she entered the room, she almost collapsed on the floor when she saw him.
"Jarod!!" she said crying hysterically. He rushed over to her helping her to the sofa.
"Rachel, breathe slowly, you're going to make yourself pass out." he said. They sat down, and Rachel immediately wrapped her arms around him. He held her tightly, wondering why she was crying. He knew she'd be just as happy to see him as he was to see her, but this reaction confused him.
Jarod reached down, picking her up and pulling her on his lap. "Shhh, don't cry, whatever it is, it'll be ok" he said.
She pulled back from his embrace, her face wet from her tears. She stared into his beautiful brown eyes, reached up and touched the side of his face. "How'd you know?" she asked.
Jarod frowned a little. "Know what?"
"That I needed you." Jarod smiled, pulled her to him and kissed her. He pulled away and said, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not yet" Rachel said pulling Jarod up off of the sofa and leading him toward the bedroom.
Jarod stopped. "Rachel, I want to know what's wrong."
She looked up at him, smiled, and said, "There's nothing wrong Jarod, I just needed you here right now, and was shocked to see you, that's all."
Jarod reached down and started unbuttoning her blouse, but stopped halfway down. He placed his hands on her face. "God, I've missed you" he said.
"Me too" she said pulling him into the bedroom.
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Blue Cove, DE
Miss Parker was staring at the photo ofher mother holding her when she was a baby. The doors to her office opened. She looked up to see Sydney.
He frowned and asked, "Are you alright Miss Parker?"
She nodded, sitting the picture back down on her desk. "Have you heard from Jarod, Syd?"
He shook his head no. "He'll stay out of touch for a while since you almost caught him in Ruidoso."
"Are we getting better, or is he getting sloppy?" she asked.
Sydney laughed, "I think Jarod likes to play cat and mouse with you, so he let's us get close...but he'll disappear for weeks and start all over again."
Broots pushed open the door and stuck his head in, "Miss Parker?"
"What?" she asked in an unusually semi-pleasant voice.
"I've been searching the hospitals like you asked. I found a John Doe admitted on July 29th at a psychiatric hospital in San Francisco, he fits Ethan's description."
Miss Parker stood up and walked around her desk. "Cover for me! Don't tell Lyle where or why I went!"
"Miss Parker, I'll come with you. If it is Ethan, you may need a psychiatrist with you to get him released." Sydney said.
She nodded at him, and they left the room, leaving Broots alone to deal with Mr. Lyle.
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Atlanta, Ga
Rachel lifted he head off of Jarod's chest, looking to see if he was asleep. Seeing the he was, she didn't wake him. She knew how little he could actually sleep before the nightmares would take over.
"I love you Jarod" she said.
His arms wrapped tighter around her. "I love you" he replied. She pulled his chest hair. "OUCH!!!" he exclaimed.
"I thought you were asleep!"
"I WAS!!" he teased.
"Jarod, I need to talk to you" she said seriously. He sat up, he looked worried.
"Is it bad news?"
"Not to me,I don't know how ypu'll take it."
"What??"
Tears filled her eyes. "I'm....uh, were gonna...." she sighed hard, her voice cracking from crying. Jarod looked as if someone had slapped his face.
"Are you pregnant?" he asked. She shook her head yes. He held his arms open, motioning her to him. She snuggled up to his chest.
"You're not mad?"
"NO! I've always wanted a family, but if the Centre found out.."
"You think they's take him?"
"They'd have to kill me first" Jarod said.
"You don't seem very happy" she said sadly.
"Oh sweetheart, I love you and I'll love our child, I'm just worried."
"I thought I was gonna pass out when the Dr. told me" she said laughing.
"Have you told anyone yet?"
"No, why?" she said.
"Don't, not until I can get you out of here."
"Out of where?"
"Atlanta."
"Jarod, I don't want to leave here, my job, my-"
"I THINK OUR CHILD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU JOB!" he said sternly.
Rachel sat up, she looked at Jarod. Plainly angry. She got out of bed. Jarod looked at her body as she was putting on her robe, her stomach was already starting to round out. She opened the bedroom door and walked out, slamming it hard behind her. A few minutes later, Jarod came out into the livingroom. She was standing at the window staring out it with her arms folded in front of her.
"I'm sorry." he said. "But it'a not safe for our baby. If the Centre finds out, they WILL take him. They'll do to him what was done to me."
"How could they know?"
"Rachel, the Centre can find out anything. They could be watching you right now, they know we were together in New Orleans. Miss Parker's not stupid."
"Why, what'd she say?"
"It's not important" he said.
Rachel just stared at him.