Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Well, some of them are. But the important ones are all property of MTM and NBC Productions and used without permission. I'm not making any money out of this . . . . Blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.

 

 

Final Countdown

By Nicky

 

Chapter 11

 

 

Miss Parker slowly opens her eyes, blinking them a few times when the sun streams through the window and momentarily blinds her.  She looks around her surroundings, unsure of where she is until she hears a quick, but steady beeping sound coming from the right of her.  It was a monitor of some sort.  A familiar sight from her many stays at places just like this.  She was back in the hospital.

 

"Good morning, Parker," Sydney says cheerfully to her.  "Two visits to the hospital in two days.  That's got to be a record even for you," he laughs.  She seems to be okay, he notices.  Maybe a little disoriented, but the doctors gave her a clean bill of health.  And that was all he cared about at the moment.

 

"The baby?" she asks frantically when she's a little more aware of her situation.  A panic suddenly washes over her as she clutches her stomach, feeling for the small bulge that had been growing there.

 

"Fine," he smiles reassuringly.  "The baby is fine.  Look for yourself.  The monitor is showing a strong and steady heartbeat."

 

She looks again at the monitor next to her bed.  The beeping she heard earlier was her baby's heartbeat.  And Sydney was right.  It was strong and steady.  She finally allows a smile to grace her lips as her hand gently comes to rest again upon her womb.

 

"What happened?" she asks, trying to maneuver herself into a sitting position.  "Why am I here?"  The look in her eyes turn wild as her own mind begins to answer the questions.  "Where's Jarod?"  She starts to panic again as the memories of the explosion come flooding back.  "Tell me he isn't . . . The firemen said that all the bodies were . . ."  Her sobs take over where the words leave off, shaking her body almost violently from the force of the tears.

 

"Parker, calm down," Sydney orders gently.  He leans over and pulls her the best he could into his arms.  "Listen to me.  He's fine.  Do you hear me, Parker?  I said that Jarod is fine."

 

Her tears begin to slow as comprehension of what Sydney just said begins to penetrate her panicked mind.  "Where is he?" she asks in a small voice, still shaking a little from the tears she can't seem to stop.

 

"If you calm down, I'll go get your doctor and ask her about taking you to see him.  Can you do that?"

 

She nods and wipes her face dry.  And after a few minutes when he's satisfied that she's stable enough, Sydney pats her hand one last time before leaving the room to go get the doctor.

 

Miss Parker sits and anxiously waits for him to return when she starts to get restless.  She slowly swings her legs over the side of the bed, being careful not to pull too much on the wires attached to her stomach.  The floor's a little cold, but she doesn't mind it too much.  It was driving her crazy being in that bed when she had places to go and people to see - namely Jarod.  A smile that she can't help comes to her face at the mere thought of him.  Earlier, she thought that he was dead.  But she knows now he's okay.  That was a relief, but she still needed to see him for herself.

 

The door suddenly flies open, startling Miss Parker momentarily.  But not as much as the blur of a tiny body being carried by a pair of small legs rushing towards her.  "Mommy!" Imani screeches, flinging herself into Miss Parker's waiting arms.  "We were worried about you."  Imani wraps her arms around her mother's neck and begins planting small kisses on her cheek.

 

"I'm fine, Baby Girl," Miss Parker smiles, pulling Imani closer to her.  "But I missed you so much.  I'm glad you're here."  Miss Parker looks to the door and sees Miss Dee's oldest daughter standing there, smiling at the small reunion.

 

"I'm glad you're okay, Tori," the woman speaks as she crosses the room to hug Miss Parker.

 

"Thanks, Tracee.  Thanks for caring.  And for bringing Imani to see me.  I really did miss her."

 

The little girl starts to get a little antsy, squirming around on Miss Parker's lap.  She grins at Imani, immediately recognizing the girl's dance - and what was prompting it.

 

"Go to the bathroom, Imani," Miss Parker says, still with the amused smile on her face.

 

"But I don't have to," Imani swears, wiggling around even more.

 

"Oh yeah?  Then what's with the dance?  Bathroom.  Now, young lady," Miss Parker says sternly, pointing to a door on the other side of the room.  "It's right over there."

 

The two women watch and smile as Imani scampers off to the bathroom.

 

"She missed you too, you know," Tracee says.  "She'd rather wet herself than let you out of her sight."  The women laugh lightly for a minute, but Tracee sees that Miss Parker's laughter soon turns into tears.

 

"I almost let her down, Tracee," she sighs and looks down, placing her hands on her stomach.  "And this baby too.  I'm usually so much in control.  But I couldn't keep it together back there.  I completely lost it."

 

"Tori, what did you expect?  You watched a building explode with your husband trapped inside," Tracee reminds her.  She sits on the bed next to Miss Parker.  "Jarod is your life.  And you're his life.  I know that he loved my little sister, but I can see that he couldn't live without you.  So, it's perfectly understandable that you'd feel the same way.  The thing is, Tori.  You didn't die.  You are a fighter and you didn't give up.  You came back.  Even when you thought Jarod was gone, you came back.  Not for him, but for your children.  So you see, you didn't let anyone down.  You're a great mother.  Imani knows that, and this baby will too."

 

They sit in silence for awhile before it's interrupted by the door opening again.  This time it's Sydney with the doctor close behind.

 

"How are you feeling this morning, Parker?" Dr. Phillips asks.  "You gave us all a scare yesterday.  Especially that handsome brother of yours," she adds with a little blush.

 

"I just need to see my husband," Miss Parker pleads.  "I need to see that he's alright."

 

"I don't think that will be a problem," the doctor says with a smile.  "Your vitals are back to normal.  And the baby's vital signs are fine as well."

 

"What happened to me?  Why was I brought in?" Miss Parker asks, confused that she didn't remember coming to the hospital.

 

"According to your brother, After the explosion, you kind of spaced out.  He couldn't get you to respond to anything.  We think you might have gone into shock.  Or some sort of state to protect your baby from the trauma you had witnessed.  You blood pressure dropped and your body just kind of shut down."

 

"But the baby's okay?" she asks to make sure.

 

"Your baby is fine. Perfect and healthy."  The doctor smiles at the relief on Miss Parker's face.  She goes to the door and pulls a wheel chair inside.  "Now, I believe you were wanting to take a little trip?"

 

"In that?  You said I was fine.  Why do I need a wheelchair?" Miss Parker whines.

 

"Parker," Sydney scolds.  "Be lucky you're going at all.  Dr. Phillips here wanted to keep you on bedrest for another day."  He walks over to Miss Parker and guides her into the wheelchair.  "Now be a good girl and sit."

 

She stubbornly complies, and after Imani gets out of the bathroom, they head down to Jarod's room.

 

The room was quiet when they arrived.  Tracee stayed in the waiting room with Imani while Sydney wheeled Miss Parker in.  He leaves her by the bed and goes into the hallway to give them some privacy.  The sound of the opening door alerts Jarod and his eyes flutter a bit before focusing on Miss Parker.  A huge smile spreads across his face.

 

"What a great way to start the day," he whispers.  She leans over and gives him a long kiss, conveying just how much she's missed him, leaving him panting and breathless.  "And that was even better," he gasps.  He finally gets a good look at her and concern instantly covers his face.  "Honey, what happened?"  He had just noticed that she was in a wheelchair wearing a hospital gown and a hospital ID bracelet.

 

"I'm fine," she assures him.  "We both are."  She grabs his hand in her own and places it over the baby  "I was there when the building exploded," she says quietly.  "And Willie was in there for so long looking for you.  When I didn't see either of you come out, I thought it was hopeless.  I didn't handle it very well.  I kind of shut down for awhile."

 

"Well obviously Willie got me out because I'm fine," he repeats her earlier assurance.  "What about you?  Are you sure you're okay?"

 

"That's what the doctors say."

 

"What about everyone else?" he's curious.

 

"I actually don't know," she confesses.  Syd is fine.  He was just with me.  My doctor mentioned Lyle being worried about me, so I assume he's okay too.  Tracee's out there with Imani, and . . . "

 

"Tracee?  Where's Miss Dee?"  Jarod asks, starting to get suspicious.

 

"I didn't see her, Jarod.  I don't know.  I'm sorry I can't answer your questions.  But I just don't know anything."

 

"Something's not right, Tori."  A worried look haunts his face and Miss Parker sees that he's starting to get agitated.

 

"Is everything alright in here?"  Miss Parker turns around and sees Sydney standing at the door.  "I could hear Jarod from out here.  He sounds upset."

 

"He's worried about everyone else.  And I couldn't answer his questions," Miss Parker tells him.  She looks sympathetically at Jarod and puts her hand in his for comfort.

 

"Well, Lyle's been here all night with you, Parker.  I came this morning and sent him home for some rest.  Broots is home with Debbie.  He escaped with only some minor cuts and bruises from the flying debris.  Miss Dee and Imani came last night.  Miss Dee's older daughter, Tracee I believe is her name, is outside with your daughter."

 

"And where's Miss Dee, Syd?  Why isn't she with Imani?  Or with me?  Or with Tori?  Is it because she had to be with someone else?  Why haven't you told me where Willie is?"  Jarod's always active mind was starting to figure out what was going on.  But he was terrified that Sydney would confirm his fears.  "He was hurt, wasn't he?"

 

"Jarod, Willie's injuries were very extensive," Sydney says softly, almost hoping that Jarod didn't hear him.  But he sees Jarod tighten his grip on Miss Parker's hand and knows the young man heard the news loud and clear.

 

"What happened?" Jarod whispers, turning his head to look out the window.  "Tori said he came in looking for me.  So how is it that I managed to get out okay, but he

didn't?"

 

"We don't know what really happened, Jarod," Sydney admits.  "Your gunshot wound was bad.  You had lost a lot of blood.  Willie went back in for you, but . . . "

 

"But what, Syd?  What happened to Willie?" Jarod is getting impatient with the lack of answers.

 

"He found you. But it was the firemen who ultimately brought you out."  Sydney pauses to take a deep breath before telling him the rest. "Willie had inhaled a lot of smoke.  He was unconscious by the time the firemen arrived.  And now, he won't wake up."

 

"Baby, it's not your fault," Miss Parker says, trying to comfort Jarod when she sees him crying.

 

"He wasn't supposed to come back.  He wasn't supposed to be in there," Jarod sobs uncontrollably.  "I didn't want it to happen again.  Not again."

 

"Jarod, you can't blame yourself for this," Sydney says calmly.

"It is my fault.  All my fault.  All I wanted was to make sure you were safe, Tori.  I made him go get you.  I knew he wouldn't have had time to carry me and get you to safety.  And he wasn't going to leave me in there.  So I lied and told him I was going to disarm the bomb.  But I knew that bomb was going to blow, no matter what.  Raines made sure of that," Jarod explains.  "There was no stopping it.  I knew that.  After Willie left, I used whatever strength I had left to pile the bodies of the Director, Raines, and your father on the bomb, to kind of absorb some of the impact of the explosion.  Then I started to make my way out of the building.  I managed to drag myself halfway down the stairs before the explosion.  Something hit me in the head and that's all I remember."

 

"Willie found you and tried to pull you to safety, but was overcome by the smoke," Sydney whispers.  "But Jarod, this isn't your fault.  Willie didn't go back until after the bomb went off.  You didn't put him in any danger.  You did the best you could trying to get him out of harm's way."

 

"He shouldn't have been in there," Jarod repeats.  "He wasn't supposed to come back."  He rolls on his side, turning his back to both Sydney and Miss Parker.  He didn't want to talk anymore and they could tell.  There wasn't anything they could do for him at the moment.  All they could do was give him some time and space to work through his feelings.  Miss Parker kisses his hand and gently places it down before Sydney wheels her back to her room.

 

"He's going to alright, isn't he, Syd?"  Miss Parker asks once she's back in her own bed.

 

"I hope so, Parker," Sydney sighs.  "It took him awhile to get over Kyle's death.  He blamed himself for it."

 

"If anything, he should blame me for that," Miss Parker argues.  "He was trying to protect me from Lyle when Kyle was shot."

 

"He would never blame you, Parker.  You know that.  When things don't go like he expects them to, he feels as if he's at fault.  And If Willie dies, then . . . Well, I honestly don't know how he'll handle it."  He leans over and kisses her forehead.  "Get some rest.  The doctor says if all goes well the rest of the day, you can go home tomorrow."  He smiles sadly at her before walking out of the door.

 

 

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