Thank you to everyone who has added this story to their alerts in the past year or so! Even though I haven't been updating, I have been writing and editing this story, so now it is time to begin posting again! I'm a little sad to have taken the older chapters down, but I felt it was necessary as I've reworked them and the scenes have changed subtly. I haven't changed any of the major plots, so this should still the be story you remember, and I hope you enjoy this version just as much, if not better than the original beginning. My plan is to update every Friday and I promise to respond to reviews. Feel free to ask any questions about the story and to bug me if I miss an update!
Two Faced
Sydney Bristow or Julia Thorne? What's in a name?
by kriz_te
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from Alias (characters, plot points) is not mine.
Summary: Sydney Bristow was kidnapped by the Covenant who attempted to brainwash her into becoming Julia Thorne. They believed they succeeded as she became one of their best agents and assassins. What they didn't know was that Julia had never forgotten about Sydney's life and she wanted to get it back. But when the chance comes, will she really be able to give up the identity she has been immersed in for so long? Who is she?
Please Note:
About the dates, I assumed that seasons one and two covered about two years, excluding the memory loss time jump. Within the official show timeline, this story goes AU after Sydney is tested by the Covenant. So basically forget the waking up in Hong Kong with no memories stuff, but some information revealed in season three will be incorporated.
Prologue
Opening sentence of the May 2004 report sent to the Covenant leaders on Subject 47's treatment by Dr. Oleg Martijik:
"I believe she has fully responded to the treatments designed for her and recommend proceeding to final testing at this time."
Excerpt from CIA agent profile Bristow, Sydney A.:
"November 18, 2004: In accordance with standard protocol, this statement is being issued to the effect that Agent Sydney Bristow is hereby presumed dead. Bristow has been missing in action for a year and no clues as to her whereabouts have been found since that time. Closure of Case File 114717B – Doren, Allison will also be effective immediately."
Chapter One – Just Another Day
October 10, 2011
Her alarm clock was going off; she was awake but still in bed. Eyes open, staring out through her skylight at the predawn light gently illuminating the angel statue on the church across the street. All sorts of muted colors were reflected in the glass and she lay on the bed, almost relaxed after a night of troubled sleep. The alarm's beeps became louder and faster and she sighed before throwing out a hand to fumble for the button and turn the thing off.
In the sudden silence, she pulled herself together quickly and got up to exercise. Her usual two mile run through the mostly vacant streets of the city in the crisp morning air woke her up fully and then she spent the next forty-five minutes with her punching bag. All too soon it was time for a shower and breakfast. And work.
She never rushed getting ready. It was essential her appearance said only what she wanted it to. She carefully did her make up to look very natural even while highlighting her best features; cheekbones and eyes. She dressed in dark jeans and a deep red sweater. For shoes, she'd learned long ago that fashion alone never cut it. Soft tan leather sneakers were perfect.
Julia Thorne left her penthouse apartment and soon blended in with the crowd, moving with the same laid back pace. But she was always aware, her guard never down. It had always paid off for her to stay in a mental state of preparedness. She was ready when her beeper went off. Without breaking stride, she peeked at it, noted the number code signaling the meet's location and changed her course to go meet her handler.
It was just shy of ten minutes before she arrived at the Piazza Navona and spotted him. She paused in a shadow, observed the crowd for a moment, and then moved in to join him at the restaurant table, confident everything was normal.
"Good morning, Ms. Thorne," the Covenant agent said, folding his newspaper and setting it down to give her his full attention. She nodded in acknowledgement of his greeting and twitched her lips in a small smile.
"Hello, Savio. What do you have for me this time? Something more challenging than the last one, I hope." She'd returned from it only two days before, it had been strictly surveillance; nothing was more boring these days.
Savio smiled ruefully. He'd lost count of how many assignments he'd passed along to Julia since she had been sent to operate out of Rome. She was usually incredibly straightforward and professional, any deeper feelings were always difficult to pick up on, but having worked with her for as long as he had, he'd managed to observe some things he was sure he could interpret accurately.
Today, she'd actually called him by his name, no titles. She knew he was mostly just the middle man yet she hoped to appeal to him to give her a mission that actually challenged her. Thankfully, he did have something exactly suited to her. He hated to see her getting restless, yet he knew it meant she'd put her all into this one.
"Yes," he said, sliding the newspaper towards her, "You'll enjoy this one. Take your time with it, there is no pressing deadline. Check in procedures remain the same."
"Thank you. Just give me a week." She gracefully tucked it to her side beneath her arm and gave him another small smile and a look straight in the eye as she stood to leave. A waitress brought his coffee and he suppressed an involuntary shiver as he glanced at Julia's retreating back. What a dangerous woman, he was deeply grateful she was on their side.
She was leaving in opposite direction of the way she'd come. If Savio thought she'd enjoy this one, then it must be an assassination order. The type of work she knew she'd been recruited for in the first place. She could feel the disk in between the pages of the newspaper. It would have to wait until after she could pick up a few groceries, though.
Later in the evening, Julia sat on the sofa in her apartment, laptop on her legs. She had a desk here, but she preferred to use it for personal business. If she really needed to spread out for work, there was an office she leased in London.
She looked up from browsing through the information from the disk when a knock came at her door. Her tv was displaying her security feeds and it showed the man she was expecting so she quickly set her laptop aside and went to answer the door. On the way, she pressed a button under the table the tv sat on to switch reception back to normal.
A pleased smile was on her face when she swung the door wide. Simon Walker entered and took in the sight of her sweater, jeans, and now bare feet, and smirked in approval.
"Hello, sweetheart, miss me?" he immediately kissed her and she responded enthusiastically.
"Not so much," she replied after a moment, pulling back for some air.
"Right, you never do," he pretended to be hurt and she rolled her eyes.
"Doesn't mean I want you to leave," she whispered close to his ear.
"Not until you get what you want from me at least!" He smirked some more and pulled her towards the bedroom, both of them ready to forget everything else for a while.
~to be continued~
