Family 1/2
By Lomeinie

Rating: G
Spoilers: Up to Season 5x08 'Bob'

Summary: What if Sydney had decided to go see Jack instead of talking with him on the phone? (A 'what-if' possibly missing scene from 5x07 'Bob')

Disclaimers:

Author's Note: As always, this story is unbetaed and if by any chance I can have a beta to go over it, I will update again in the future with the corrected, betaed version!

/
Chapter 1: Extended Family

Sydney was waiting at the entrance of APO when the rescue team returned from Tunisia. Grace was the first agent she saw enter with Rachel close behind. Surprisingly they seemed to be locked in some sort of conversation, causing Tom to merely nod while Rachel just smiled as they passed her in the corridor. It wasn't much of a surprise that Sark hadn't returned with them as Dixon was the last one to enter. When Dixon stopped to talk to her, Sydney hugged him in gratitude before he could speak a word.

"Thank you," she said simply before she pulled away from him. Sydney knew she should have been thanking everyone who went to Tunisia to rescue her dad. It wasn't as though she were less grateful to them but it was different with Dixon. Although he had never spoken the word promise aloud, back in the days of their SD-6 partnership she had learned to read Dixon well enough to know when he was promising her something. Yes, he had promised her that she wasn't going to lose her father aloud, but the promise he had made to her that Jack would could home safely was made with a mere glance between them as the team had left.

Dixon just nodded an acknowledgement, but he answered the question he knew she was going to ask, "Your dad went home, straight from the airport."

Concern crossed Sydney's face, "Is he all right?"

"He's fine, Syd," Dixon said, "Masari's people roughed him up a little, that's all."

Sydney had known him to long no to know when he was holding something back from her, "What are you not telling me?"

Dixon sighed, "Jack's got a few scratches and probably some bruises but his MI:6 contact was shot in the left hand by Masari himself," Dixon answered. "Let me guess, it was an apparent attempt to get my Dad and Elizabeth to say who they were working for," Sydney said. Inwardly she cringed as she knew her father didn't easily trust many people and she knew he did trust Elizabeth. And somehow she sensed her father considered Elizabeth more than a friend.

"Apparently," Dixon confirmed for her, "She'll have to have surgery on her hand and will probably have undergo physical therapy but she's going to be okay too." When his former partner didn't say anything for the next few seconds Dixon did, "Why don't you head on out for the day, Syd? I think we can cover things here." He knew she wouldn't be able to really rest until she had seen for herself that Jack was okay.

Sydney looked at him, "Are you sure?"

Dixon nodded, "Yes, I am. Now go on and get out of here."

With a smile, Sydney nodded before turning around to go quickly gather her things from her desk before hurrying out of the door of APO. She took out her cell phone and had started to dial her dad's number. Then she decided against letting him know she was coming and instead returned the now off phone to her purse.