Title - Saying the Words (18/?) Author - Nicky Rating - PG Category - JMPR Summary - Jarod tries to say good bye, but ends up coming back to rescue Miss Parker and finds her in a surprising predicament. Disclaimer - The characters aren't mine. I'm just using them for my own entertainment purposes. * * * * * * * * * * Jarod covers his face with a surgical mask just as Dr. Linder and Dr. Jacobs come rushing past him. They stop at the nurse's desk just down the hall from Mrs. Alexander's room. He steps closer to hear their conversation. "It's the most amazing thing ever," Dr. Linder gushes. "She just woke up. She asked to speak with you, Dr. Jacobs." "She's awake? Are you sure?" Dr. Jacobs asks dubiously. "I heard her talking myself," Dr. Linder smiles. "It really is amazing. I'm sure she has a story to tell, being that close to death and all. You know, my momma always said . . ." "I'm sure it's fascinating, what your mother said," Dr. Jacobs sneers, interrupting the man. "And I must commend you for your diligence in caring for this patient. But I can take it from here. I'd rather speak with her alone, if you don't mind." "No, I don't mind," Dr. Linder agrees easily, letting the other doctor turn and get a few steps down the hall before dropping the bombshell. "But I think the cops in there with her might have something to say about it." Dr. Jacobs stops dead in his tracks, obviously not expecting to hear about cops. Dr. Linder was amused to see the man reacting just the way Jarod said he would. "Cops?" he manages to squeak out. "In there? With her?" "Yeah. They're in there right now. Is something the matter, Dr. Jacobs?" "No. I'm fine. I just need a little air," he says, stumbling over himself to get as far away from the room as he possibly can. "Where are you going? What about the patient?" "You healed her, Dr. Linder," he says, pushing impatiently at the elevator button. "You can take over her case from here." Finally, the doors open, and Dr. Jacobs practically runs inside, almost knocking over a candy striper. He grunts out an apology to the girl and Dr. Linder can actually see the relief on his face as the door close. "He's gone," he calls out to a disguised Jarod. "He was in a pretty big hurry to get out of here once I mentioned the cops." "I noticed that," Jarod grins. "I wonder where he's going?" "Well, there's only one way to find out. You stay here and take care of Mrs. Alexander. I'm going after the doctor." Jarod waves good-bye to Dr. Linder and jogs down the hall towards the stairs. If he was right about this, Dr. Jacobs was on his way down to his car at this very minute. If he hurried, he'd be able to catch him. * * * * * * * * * * Jarod follows Dr. Jacobs to a housing area in Richmond Hill. By this time, it's getting pretty dark and he has a tough time maneuvering through the dark, unfamiliar streets. Finally, Dr. Jacobs seems to reach his destination. He stops the car and walks towards a house that's for sale. Jarod stops about a block away where he can still keep his eye on the doctor. But something else catches his eye. Something that makes his heart almost stop. "Parker," he gasps. He spots the car parked in front of Dr. Jacobs and notices it's familiarity. It was the car Miss Parker was driving. He jumps out the car and runs across the street, no longer caring what the doctor was up to. Opening the door, he sits down on the front seat and searches the car for clues where she could be, silently praying to himself that she wasn't in any trouble. His hands brush aside some crumbs, leftovers of her snack. He smiles, amused at her cravings. Last week it had been Doritos. This week it was Little Debbie snack cakes. He gathers up the wrappers to place in a bag for trash when he sees a book sticking from underneath the front seat. Pulling it out, he opens it and scans the contents. "She's brilliant," he says as his smile grows. In his hands, he was holding all the evidence he needed to get Dr. Jacobs arrested. Normally, he liked to take care of this next phase by himself, setting up the perpetrator to get a taste of his own medicine. But frankly, he was ready to move on with his life. He'd let the police handle things from here on out. All he had to do was find Miss Parker and then they could get out of there. He reads through the book one more time before stopping at an address that seemed familiar. Looking around, he realizes he was sitting right in front of the house. That's where Miss Parker must be. He gets out the car and jogs across the street, only looking each way to avoid being hit by a passing car. He doesn't see Dr. Jacobs sneak out of the shadows and close in on him. * * * * * * * * * * Miss Parker puts her hand on her stomach, embarrassed at the rumbling sound coming from out of it. "I'm so sorry about that," she apologizes. "I always seem to be hungry." "Get used to it," Bill says with a laugh. "Suzy was sick a lot when she was pregnant. But when she wasn't sick, she was hungry." "Oh, stop that Bill," Suzy admonishes playfully. "Besides, I wasn't the only one packing on the pounds." She pokes him in the stomach, eliciting a rumbling laugh from the man. "What about your husband, Parker? Does he claim he has to 'eat for two' as well?" "Jarod has always had the eating habits of a 12 year old," Miss Parker laughs. "If anything, the roles have reversed. He's gotten kind of strict with my diet while I'm the one craving Pop-Tarts and Twinkies 24 hours a day." The door bell rings and they all look up, shocked from their own little world. Miss Parker was really starting to like this couple. Too bad she was about to yank the rug from under them. "I wonder who that could be?" Suzy says. "Maybe it's your husband. How long did he say he would be?" "You're right. He said he was almost done. He may have gotten lost coming out here, though," Miss Parker tells her, suddenly relieved for reinforcements. She was enjoying herself with this couple, but wasn't sure how long she could stall them. "Hi," Bill says cheerfully, opening the door. "You must be Jarod." "Yes. I am," Jarod says, a look of confusion on his face. "I'm sorry, how do you know who I am?" He hears some giggles coming from the living room and Bill steps aside to let him see Miss Parker. His face instantly relaxes knowing that she's alright. A smile crosses his face to match her own. He loved to see her happy. This definitely was a sight to behold. "I take it she's with you," Bill says with a smirk. "What?" Jarod asks, distracted by the continued laughter emanating from the two women. It was an enchanting sound. "I mean yeah. She's mine. I mean, she's with me. That's my wife." He points to himself as if to emphasize the point. Bill chuckles at the man standing in his doorway. Parker never said how long they'd been married, but Bill would guess they were newlyweds. The look of pure love and adoration on this man's face was the mark of a new husband and soon to be father. "Jarod. Is that you?" Miss Parker asks, finally looking up to see who was in the doorway. Her smile grows even bigger and she makes her way over to the door to greet him. "Hey there. I didn't think you'd make it." She leans over to him and brushes his lips with her own. He's barely able to keep himself from making the kiss deeper. "Yes, I made it," he gasps, trying to get his heart beat under control. Just seeing her jump started it a notch. That little hint of a kiss sent it racing. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself, though. Making new friends?" "Oh, how rude of me. Bill and Suzy Meyers, this is my husband, Jarod," she says by way of introductions. "Bill and Suzy were nice enough to entertain me while I waited on you. They didn't want me waiting out in the car all by myself." "Well, I really appreciate it," Jarod smiles. "You really didn't have . . . . " His sentence is cut off by a gasp coming from Bill. Jarod spins around, moving to stand in front of Miss Parker in case there was danger behind him. "You," he growls when he comes face to face with a gun toting Dr. Jacobs. To be continued . . .