Title: No One Knows

Author: CG

Feedback: Please.

Disclaimer: Alias is owned by ABC, Touchstone and is the creation of JJ Abrams and Bad Robot Productions. Nor do I own any lyrics or name brand used.

Summary: Sequel to Unexpected Prospect  – Immediately after returning to Los Angeles, Sydney deals with her mounting attraction to Sark and a multitude of other things thrown at her.

Rating:  NC- 17

Classification: Angst/Romance

Distribution: Sarkgasm, Dark Enigma and Cover Me yes, all others please ask.

Chapter 1 -

Everything was in the same place, no feature had been altered, but as she applied her make-up in the morning, she noticed something added, different.

Same old black suit – today combined with light blue buttoned down shirt.

Her mouth the same, lips slightly ruby colored, even before applying gloss.

Face was still a bit brighter due to the week of sun in Buenos Aires, but that wasn't it.

She should be the one to notice, and name the change. After all it had been her face for almost thirty years now. Still, after twenty minutes of perfecting her look, she couldn't put a finger on it.

Riding up the secure SD-6 elevator, Sydney realized that she had too much time to think about everything. She was grateful for an extra long break, returning to work a few days before the New Year. That sort of time off didn't happen that often.

Day after day, she was consumed by thoughts of Sark's motives for the kiss and expensive gift, if they were ulterior or not, had been trying. Finally, she convinced herself to wait. The first interaction between them should give her an indication of what he was thinking.

When she reached the office, she stepped from the elevator, following her normal routine. Making her way to her desk, she noticed nothing had changed here either. Same old space, same old pens and a few personal items decorated her area. But she did find something that was different. As of late, an old friend she hadn't talked to for some time now.

Head down, deeply concentrating on his laptop, Dixon didn't notice Sydney walking up behind him. "You must be the new guy, let me take a moment to introduce myself," Sydney joked.

Smiling at the sound of her voice, Dixon turned to find her, "Very funny Sydney. If that's your way of saying you missed me, then I've missed you too."

"Yes I missed you, it seems like months since I've seen you," Sydney leaned against Dixon's desk. "So how was your holiday?"

"Excellent, I made it home on the twenty-third, so the wife was pleased," Dixon explained. "And yours? Did you get everything you wanted?"

Did I get everything I wanted?

That was a laughable question. Unable to elaborate, Sydney answered with her bright smile, "I did, one of the best holidays that I can remember. I'm sure you agree it was time off that was needed."

"I do," Dixon answered.

Sydney watched as Sloane walked past Dixon's desk rushing into his office, "Back to business as usual," Sydney spoke her thought aloud.

Out of habit and pure curiosity, she looked in the direction of where Sark normally sat and found it unoccupied. Strange, since he was usually present even before she arrived in the mornings. She placed her hand on Dixon's shoulder, before walking back to her desk, "We'll have to catch up later."

Same old day, in and out of meetings, Sloane speaking about something that needed to be acquired, Marshall with his quirky comments – today's was something about mating fireflies. All with no difference beside the fact Sark had been missing from the day's work.

No one paid mention to his absence. No one seemed to notice, except her of course. Now with the clock creeping toward five o'clock, Sydney felt a bit saddened by it.

Putting the finishing touch on one of her reports, Sydney didn't notice her father had approached her desk. "Sydney, are you leaving soon?"

The look in his eyes informed her that he needed to have a private conversation, that he had some information. "I'll be out of here in five. Do you want to wait for me by the exit?"

Jack didn't answer, just nodded his head in agreement. She watched as he walked off, heading toward his office.

A few minutes later, once she had completed her work, Sydney gathered her items and left to meet her father.

Knowing the conversation couldn't be more detailed due to all the surveillance, Jack kept it relatively brief. "Did anything odd happen when you were in Buenos Aires?"

Immediately feeling a lump in her throat, afraid her father may have heard something, or worse yet read it all over her face, Sydney inquired, "Odd? What sort of odd do you mean?"

"Anything that may have stood out to you," he kept his line of questioning vague.

Walking side by side in the parking garage below the building, the two were speaking barely above a whisper. Keeping up appearances, Sydney answered, "No, nothing I can recall. Why do you ask?"

Jack looked around. "Since Sark has returned, Sloane has been opening up with more detail about SD-6 operations. For example, today the lad was upstairs all day browsing through the K-Directorate Intel they've gathered from Espinoz Technologies." Relieved that her father had no clue, she relaxed, giving him the opportunity to continue. "He had to have said or done something outstanding in order to be received by Sloane so well. Trusting that man is a mistake, he's proven to be worthy of no trust, a cold blooded killer…"

Before he could continue, the two heard screeching from a speeding car that approached them from behind. Ensuring they were both out of the way, Jack grabbed Sydney and instinctively stood in front of her.

Not what she expected, Sydney spied the familiar Black Mercedes as it rounded the corner. Inside of course was the topic of their conversation, dressed in all black and wearing the same colored glasses.

Sydney noticed a crooked smile come across his face as he rolled by them, slowing down until he had completely passed the two.

"…and completely reckless," Jack finished.