Author's Note: Any recognizable Alias character's belong to J.J. Abrahms; Siobhan (Shi-van) Porter, Yusef Hamass, and other badies belong to me. Any songs used within this fic belong to the writers/singers.

Jack stared at his computer screen, seething. Yusef Hamass had just stolen another set of satellite images. In the last six weeks, Hamass had taken possession of sensitive computer files, the core of a nuclear weapon, an experimental computer program that could locate a person using DNA and video feeds, and several satellite images from four major counties.

The CIA's efforts in thwarting Hamass had met with unmitigated failure. The hardest thing to swallow was that they had no idea why he was doing it; they'd never heard of him until he began his raids. And now the FBI was being called in to assist.

"Dad?"

Jack looked up to see Sydney at his desk. His face softened; their relationship was finally on the right track and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't thrilled. Unfortunately, it had taken Irina's assassination by FBI sharpshooters to cement it in place. They had come together, bound by their mutual grief for a woman they both should have hated.

"Yeah?"

"Is there anything new with Hamass? Anything else I can be doing?"

He sighed. "Unfortunately, no. And if we don't act soon, there is going to be a major terrorist strike that we can't prevent."

"My thoughts exactly," came a new voice.

Jack looked up to see a pretty woman with auburn hair standing just behind Sydney. He stood and looked expectantly at his daughter.

"Dad, this is Dr. Siobhan Porter, the liaison from the FBI. She's going to be working with on the Hamass case."

"A pleasure," Jack's words were clipped but he extended his hand. "And what exactly are you a doctor of?"

"I'm a criminal psychologist, Agent Bristow. I've also been field rated for as long as I've been an agent," the woman replied.

"How long has that been?"

"Dad!" Sydney elbowed him.

"No, it's alright. There are always some territory issues when agencies work together. I made it my business to know the qualification of all the CIA personnel I'll be working with, so it's only fair that your father know mine.

"I was recruited out of Brown when I was 20 years old. I had been pursuing a degree in criminal psyche. The FBI wanted me for the skills I had cultivated. I've been with them for the last 30 years."

"Well then, I'm sure we'll catch Hamass in no time. Once you're done analyzing him to death."

"I take it you don't care for psychologists?"

"Not particularly. Now if you don't mind, I have real work to get back to. Sydney, I'd like to speak to you later."

"Sure," Sydney replied, a touch confused.

Agent Porter continued to make the rounds, introducing herself to the other members of the team. Jack kept his head lowered, concentrating on the intel they'd gathered. So far, none of it made any sense; there was no pattern, no way to determine what or whom Yusef Hamass would go after next. And he was not happy to have the FBI muscling in; a criminal psychologist would not be able to provide any useful leads, in Jack's opinion.

Siobhan kept shooting glances at Agent Jack Bristow. He was taller than she'd expected; she was 5'6 and had to look up to meet his eyes. The man was also much better looking than she'd been led to believe. Rather than make him look old, his grey hair gave him a distinguished air. He looked angry now, flipping through reports, punching in data to the computer.

She could understand the reluctance for interagency cooperation, especially in this office. They'd already been burned twice, pretty badly; Stephen Haldaki and Robert Lindsey had both betrayed the trust of these agents. But there was something else behind Agent Bristow's enmity toward her. She had read his file after being given this assignment, as she had with all the members of the joint task force. And of course she had heard all about Jack Bristow from her co-workers and the rumor mill over the years.

She took it all with a grain of salt, was prepared to make her own assessment of this intriguing man. The only thing Siobhan could be sure of was that Jack Bristow must have been hurt terribly, no devastated by his ex-wife's betrayal. But she was determined to work to the best of her ability with all members of the team in order to bring Hamass to justice. And yet . . . something about the man drew her to him.