AN: Dedicated to my dad, Paul, on Father's Day.
Love, your Father-Maker.
Disclaimer: I ownz nothingz.
Jack Bristow's head darted up as he heard a soft rap on his office door. "Come in," he called, taking off his reading glasses.
It was a hot summer day in June. The sun was shining, the sprinklers were going, there wasn't a cloud in the sky… and he was stuck inside, writing a debrief. Seven years ago he would have been outdoors with his wife and child, maybe gardening. Picking flowers. Eating ice cream. Playing baseball. But things had changed, and so had Jack. Perhaps for the worse.
Shyly, his daughter stepped inside the room. Sydney's heart was beating so fast, she couldn't tell one pulse from another. "Hi Dad," she said shakily.
"Hello, Sydney," said Jack, trying to hide the hint of annoyance in his voice. "What is it?"
"Oh, I just wanted to say happy Father's Day," said Sydney.
Jack sat up straighter. He hadn't even known. "Well… thank you," he said, hesitantly.
"Sure."
It was right then that Jack noticed how grown up Sydney had become. How had he missed the roundness disappearing from her face, her hair lightening to a handsome auburn, her body beginning to show signs of curves? How could he have missed her becoming more and more like Laura?
Sydney's hand moved behind her body. "What's that?" Jack said, pointing. She was holding something.
"Oh, it's nothing," said Sydney nervously. "Just… forget it."
Jack sighed. "Sydney…"
"It's only a poem I wrote; I was gonna give it to you, but I just remembered that it isn't done." Sydney brought her hand around to the front of her body again, and toyed with a piece of notebook paper.
"Can I see it?"
Sydney blushed. "R-Really? You want to?"
"Of course I do, sweetheart," said Jack.
Sydney, trembling, handed the paper to her father. Then, with an "I have to do my homework," she scurried out and slammed the door.
Jack stared at the paper for a few seconds. Then he opened it up. It read:
Sing to me, Daddy
With your voice so deep and strong,
Your arms so big and comforting
And eyes so brown and warm.
Dance with me, Daddy
With your body tan and round,
Your hands so big will guide me
As we glide across the ground.
I'll always love you, Daddy
You're oh so grown and smart;
I'll always be your little girl
And always in your heart.