Part Two: Anywhere But Here Trying to catch your eye
When I'm in a crowd
Or on an island by myself
Silent or too loud
Wishing I was somewhere else
And I can't believe
You hit me fast and hard
When you turn to me and say
Never change the way you are
Things will never look the same
Now I can't deny
You're the moth and I'm the flame
There I go again
I should walk before I run
How can I explain
I can't stop what you've begun
"Hopefully Jack's anger will go away soon", Sark commented as he sat on a stool by the breakfast bar, taking a spoonful of his cereal, and deliberately crunching loudly so as to 'tick off' Irina; and sending a smile to his daughter who was seated on the stool next to him, with a large bowl of her own in front of her, but hers containing ice-cream and jelly, and covered in a thick coating of whipped cream.
"He's not angry, he just doesn't like you – nothing unique there." Irina replied, with a sweet smile, and he just shook his head, laughing as the little girl joined in giggling.
A short while later, and 'the man of the moment' walked into the room, his head subtly surveying the area and noting that the mess from earlier had since been cleaned up, leaving the kitchen with a much … tidier (and more sanitary, in Jack's opinion) appearance.
"So … ", Jack started, and all eyes shot towards the elder man's figure.
"So … ", Sark replied, clearly amused by Jack and Irina's silent 'stand-off'.
Jack spun round to glare at the younger man, whose smirk was spread widely across his face, but when he caught the stifle of laughter from Sark's right, he had to fight to keep up his impassive look, much like earlier.
And then Jack did the strangest thing; he looked straight at the figure to Sark's side, and said simply, "Well, let's see you then."
Her face scrunched up a little at this, and Irina laughed, "He wants you to stand before him, Avalon."
She turned to Sark then, a questioning glance mingled with her clear thoughts of absurdity seen on her features, but he simply smirked, putting his hand on top of her head, as he said, "Humour the old man, darling."
Avalon laughed, and placed her bowl on the tabletop before jumping down off her seat, and making her way round the side of the breakfast bar to stand in front of the elder man. With a grin on her face, she glanced at her father again, before placing her arms behind her back and clasping her hands together. She smiled up at Jack, rocking back and forth on her heels, and patiently awaiting his 'inspection'.
I'm falling through the door You're burning up my dreams
Flying 'cross the floor
When you look at me suddenly it's clear
Crazy as it seems
I don't wanna be anywhere but here
Anywhere but here
She was the spitting image of the younger man; This is perfect! Jack thought to himself, A female embodiment of Sark; just what we all need!
Her light blonde hair was pulled back loosely from her face and tied in a single braid that fell about a third of the way down her back. She had tanned skin, making her vibrant cobalt eyes stand out even more, (hinting to Jack that she spent much of her time in a far warmer climate than where they were at present) and an innocent little smile that shone throughout the whole room. Her intellect was evident in the old soul that lingered behind her sky blue irises, but her true childish nature was revealed by her light blue t-shirt she was wearing that displayed the image of fruit with the slogan 'Raspberry Ripple', in pink letters, and the matching cherry shorts that cut half way down her calves.
"How old are you, Avalon?" Jack asked her.
"Eight", she replied simply.
"A little on the small side isn't she, Sark?" Jack commented to the younger man.
But his lips were quirked up into a smile as he added, "Though it's hardly surprising given the drivel you're feeding her."
"Ice cream and jelly is not drivel!" Avalon's voice suddenly piped up, and Jack's eyes trailed back to her small form, where she stood before him; hands on her hips and a defiant pout on her face.
"I beg your pardon, but there is no nutritional value whatsoever in what your father is feeding you", Jack told her.
"So", she answered simply, and she quickly hopped back onto her stool, taking another spoonful of the food and commenting with a grin, "It tastes nice!"
Irina laughed again from the other side of the room, and Jack looked over at her as she noted, "Well you can't argue with that Jack."
To which he simply shook his head, rolling his eyes at her behaviour.
What goes on inside I'm falling through the door
Is a mystery no doubt
A roller coaster ride
I may never work it out
Here's the brand new me
Skates around and floats on air
I'm a sight to see
Rainbow colours in my hair
You have set me free
The one who gets me there
Flying 'cross the floor
When you look at me suddenly it's clear
You're burning up my dreams
Crazy as it seems
I don't wanna be anywhere but here
Anywhere but here
"Why didn't you tell me Irina? Why didn't you tell me this was what it was really about?" Jack spoke the words carefully, but she could still detect his underlying anger.
"Would you have told me?" she asked, though they both already knew the answer.
And so when he didn't respond she continued, "And if I had told you? What would you have done?"
His eyes narrowed a little at her then, because again both knew what would have eventually occurred had she told him earlier, "I didn't tell you Jack, because I had no reason to. She's Sark's daughter, not mine, and I highly doubt he was suddenly about to run out and inform a 'high ranking member of the CIA' of her existence don't you?"
"How long has she been staying with you?" he asked after a moment of pause.
"She stays with me on and off. Depending on my workload, as well as Sark's, she can be here for months at a time, or days – it just depends", she told him, quite vaguely.
And sensing his uncertainty she reassured, "But no matter where she is, Jack, she is always safe. Sark would never let anything happen to her, he does everything in his power to protect her, and more – surely you can understand that."
Jack nodded, he did understand, more so than he felt Irina could. The mother bears the child in their womb for nine months, and so naturally she feels a special bond to her child; but the father – the father has to create that special bond with their child. He knew he hadn't been a great father to Sydney, but they were beginning to overcome that, certain areas in particular, and what he saw in Sark; was a younger version of himself, and he'd be damned if he stood by and watched Sark make the same mistakes he had – no matter what criminal acts the man was known for, Avalon shouldn't be made to suffer as a result.
Here is the place where
My head is spinning
Time is beginning
To race away
You come to throw me
Knock me off my feet
You give me wings to fly
The world goes crashing by again
I'm falling through the door
Flying 'cross the floor
When you look at me suddenly it's clear
Jack left Irina in her study working on something, as usual, as he went in search of the young Brit. For some reason, Jack had this overwhelming urge to help him, to make sure his daughter received all she could from her father. Sure, he knew all about Sark, and was far from happy with his 'dealings', but he also knew that the smile that was on that little girl's face earlier that day, when he had found her in the kitchen, certainly wasn't guided at Irina.
He wasn't sure where he was going exactly, he and Irina had left the two earlier to go and discuss various matters of importance in her office. Irina had joked about the various things Sark was probably doing with her then, as they walked the short distance to her room, so he took to just wandering aimlessly round the 'house', occasionally peeking into different rooms and such for any sign of either of the two blondes. Then he heard it. Or rather, he heard her. And the unmistakable sound of laughter.
Slowly pushing open the kitchen door, his actions currently mirroring those of earlier, he soon came face to face with one of the strangest and most unexpected sights ever: Sark, and his 8-year-old daughter, baking.
He stood stunned for a moment, just taking in the scene before him. Avalon was standing by Sark's side on the small stool again; an apron tied securely round her waist, as she leant over a large ceramic bowl, grinning up at him when he entered.
Sark brought him out of his reverie, however, as he said, "Care to join us Jack?"
And the elder man's gaze flittered between the two hands that Sark was holding up in front of him, which were covered in a mixture of various substances; the scattering of objects and materials lying awry across the counter; and the little girl's apron, which was also coated with the matter.
Then his eyes landed once more on Sark, as the blonde's lopsided grin shone back at him, and he proclaimed proudly, "We're making cakes!"
Jack sighed to himself, as he watched the younger man suddenly splodge a dollop of mixture onto his daughter's nose, before receiving a splatter in return that dripped all the way down his, no doubt, expensive shirt and dribbled down the front of his own apron – which Avalon had conveniently missed in her aiming. Shaking his head a little and looking off to the side, silently laughing to himself as he watched the two, something suddenly dawned on Jack then.
Sark and Avalon looked at each other, matching smiles caressing their features, and there was really no one else in the world but them.
And in that moment Jack realized, that whatever anyone thought of Sark; whether it be a 'cocky British son of a bitch', or simply a 'backstabbing terrorist with a tendency to foil the CIA's plans at every opportunity'; the only thing that really mattered to him was that his daughter was safe, and happy – and because of that, she would forever be the one that possessed Julian Sark's heart and soul; not to mention his loyalty.
You're burning up my dreams
Crazy as it seems
I don't wanna be anywhere but here
Anywhere but here
I'm falling through the door
Flying 'cross the floor
When you look at me suddenly it's clear
You're burning up my dreams
Crazy as it seems
I don't wanna be anywhere but here
Anywhere but here
Quotes: "Hopefully Jack's anger will go away soon." "He's not angry, he just doesn't like you – nothing unique there!" – varied version from House.
Song: 'Anywhere But Here' by Hilary Duff
Hope you liked it and please let me know what you think - Means a lot!
Thanks
Steph
xxx
:D