Chapter 2:
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Sydney's POV:
As soon as I got home from Berlin I started looking for my daughter. First I talked to my Dad, but he knew nothing about it. He promised to help me as much as he could, but was sent on a vital mission immediately after we had that talk, and just got home a couple days ago.
Next, I went to talk to Dixon. He is currently my director, was my partner and is and always will be my friend. He told me I could take as much time off from work as I needed to look for my daughter, and that I had all of the CIA's resources at my disposal. One of the many things I love about Dixon is that he put his total faith in me, and when I told him I knew, just knew I had a daughter; he didn't question me at all. That made me begin to realize that once I had left the safe house, and after the flight home in total silence, I had expected to build my life up again from nothing, and that is not true. I have friends, good people who care about me and have been supporting me for the last nine months, and who will continue to do so. Possibly greatest of those friends is Eric Weiss, which is who I told next.
I remember that talking to him; he wasn't as accepting as Dixon was. He questioned me about my dreams, and in doing so, made me remember even more. I concentrated on the small memories I had, and after a while, I more memories came to me. Once that started, it was like a chain reaction, and all sorts of memories started flooding my mind. After a long talk with Eric and some convincing on my part I hadn't been drinking that much, he jumped on in to help me, as I knew he would.
Eric Weiss is the best friend of my ex-boyfriend, and one might think that because of that relationship, we couldn't be friends. One could never be more wrong. Eric has been my support for the last nine months, as well as those two weeks I'd spent looking frantically for my daughter. He is always there for me, no matter what, and has held me when I cried and made me laugh when I'm at my angriest. In short, I don't know what I would do without Eric, because he has become the brother I never had.
As I said, after talking to Eric I began to remember more about my "missing years." I remembered my cell, and the man who shared it with me. During the nine months we spend together in a very small cell, we became close friends. His name is, of all the names out there, Joey. I would be scared except he can barely boil water, so making pizza wasn't an option.
During year after I convinced the Covenant I was Julia Thorn Joey, who also worked for the CIA, was my partner. We worked together, played together, laughed and cried and yelled together. However, we didn't fall in love. We didn't make love, date or even kiss. We had both lost the people we cared about, and weren't interested in finding anyone else. I remember driving, in LA, only wanting to find Vaughn and tell him I was alive. Seeing him with Lauren, kissing. Seeing the Covenant following him and wanting to keep him, and my daughter Katie safe. I never told Joey about Vaughn, he never told me about the one he lost. We silently agreed that it was territory that shouldn't be explored.
Above all else, I remember my daughter Katie. I called her Katie. She has her father's eyes, so piercingly green, when she looks at you; it's as if she can see into your soul. She has brown hair like me, and can never sit still. Katie hardly ever cried, just when she was hungry. She was always looking around, taking the world in, observing everything around her. Once she learned to crawl she was everywhere, always curious, looking for new places to explore. Come to think of it, if she is a beautiful, intelligent, curious toddler, just imagine how she will be once she goes off to elementary school or collage! I can see quite a busy time in my future is she keeps all these traits going into her teens, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Katie was the one light that kept me going, all through the time I was Julia Thorn. No matter what happened, when I came home, she was there with unconditional love in a way that only a child could. When I went back the apartment we shared, it felt like home because someone I loved lived there, and they loved me. I never told Kendall about her, because I didn't want her to be taken away by the CIA. If she was, the Covenant would know I was working for the CIA and kill both of us. I would die to keep her safe, and in this case it turned out I just had to withhold information.
It took me about a week to remember all that. I still don't remember everything, and I don't think I ever will. Part of what I do remember is that the operation I voluntarily went through was designed to only remove my memories relating to The Cube, and of the secrets of Rambaldi. The doctor who did the surgery intended for me to keep the rest of my memories, but he messed up somehow. I would be angry, after paying him so much money, and home much pain that mess up caused me, but what's done is done, and I can't go back to fix it. However, now I have the memories I was planning to keep, so I can get my daughter back.
I left her with Joey, the man I had learned to trust. The CIA told me he was working for our side, but after spending all that time with him, I knew Katie would be left in good hands. I was ready to get her back, and Joey was ready, as much as he loves her, to get on with his life. To move on with his life, like I'm doing. It took a lot of searching, but I got in touch with him, and that's what he told me; he loves Katie dearly, and wants to be able to visit her often, but is ready to pass the parenting on to me.
So, there I was on a Saturday afternoon, waiting in Fran's old restaurant to see my daughter for the first time in nine months. Eric was there with me, since he helped with all the work it took to track Joey down. Dad, my dad was there because I want him to meet his granddaughter, and I want Katie to know her grandpa. Dixon, Marshall and Carrie are here too if for no other reason than I want them to meet her. I would be nervous, but I think back to when she was first born; how I didn't know how to feed her, or change her diaper, but I learned. Now she can tell me what she wants, how she's feeling and what she's thinking; after taking care of a baby, this will be easy; or at least not as hard.
"So Syd, you're going to be a mom. I always know you would make a great one. You're so smart and kind, any child you have is going to be lucky to have you for a parent," says Marshall, for once keeping it short and sweet.
"I know! It's amazing for me, to go from Agent Bristow to Mom. I can't wait though," I replied, almost giddy for the first time in a while.
"I know you're going to want to get to know your daughter Syd, so you can have as much time off from work as you want. I haven't seen you this happy in a while, and I want you to stay like this," commented Dixon, showing yet another reason why I love this man.
"What would I do without you?"
"So Sydney, I get to help raise Katie, right? I mean I live just a couple houses down, so I could baby-sit anytime you want. You know, in case you wanted to go shopping, or get your hair done or some other girl-oriented activity. I always wanted a little sister or niece…" dreamed Weiss who was almost as excited as I was.
"I wouldn't think of leaving you out. You know that Eric! But when was the last time I went shopping of my own free will, got my hair done, or acted like a girlie girl in any way, shape or form?"
As the rest of the group continued to chat, my dad pulled me off to the side.
"Sydney, I wasn't always a good father to you."
"Dad…"
"No, let me finish. I wasn't always there for you, when you needed me and I have never regretted anything more that I do that fact. I want to be part of your life, and I'm honored that you're letting me be here to meet you daughter." For the first time I could remember, my dad looked unsure. "I know you remember her, and love her already and because of that, I love her too. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to be here for you and Katie in a way I wasn't when you were little. I would really like it if you two would come over to my house for dinner, once you get Katie settled in."
"I would love to. We would love to. You weren't there very much when I was little, but you always showed up with I needed you, both then and now. I can't thank you enough. I love you Dad."
"I love you too sweetheart. Let's go back to the table."
We were all sitting around the table, talking and laughing when something made me turn around. I saw a man walking through the door holding the hand of a young girl. She was wearing a pink dress, tights and little black shoes. Her brown hair is put in two, slightly messy braids, and she is looking around everywhere, pulling the man through the door, eager for something, or someone. She looks up at me, and I see her green eyes, and I know.
"Mom!"
I ran to meet her half way.
…….
That day was a year and a half ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Katie sat in my lap the whole time we were eating; not that I minded, or even would have let go of her if she wanted to sit on her own. Joey sat down for a little while, but said that he had to catch a plane. He left Katie's bags with me, gave me a phone number to reach him at and went away. We e-mail and see each other occasionally and every other Sunday Katie gives him a call.
At first, Katie was a little shy, but than began joining into the conversation.
"So Sydney, do you need a ride home?" asked Dixon.
"No thanks," I replied. "If it's alright with Katie, we might go shopping to pick up some supplies for her. Maybe get you a bed and pick out a comforter?"
"Okay! What is our house like?" asked Katie.
"Well, it has two bedrooms, one of which will be yours. There is a kitchen and a big couch, and lots and lots of books. We live very close to the beach so we can go there often. We also live close to Eric, so we can visit him a lot too," I say, smiling sweetly at Eric. "Do you have any more questions?"
"Yes. What is my room like? When can we go swimming in the ocean? Is the ocean the same thing as a sea? Are their fish in the ocean? How about turtle? Will we see them? Can we make a sand castle? Will Eric come with us to the beach? Do Mr. Dixon and Mr. Marshall and Ms. Carrie live near us too? Will they come to the beach with us? How about Grandpa?"
"Slow down sweetie," said Eric. "One question at a time. I would love to go to the beach with you and Syd. Dixon, Jack… I mean Grandpa… Marshall and Carrie don't live very near us, but not too far away either. They will probably come swimming with us if we invite them. The ocean is almost the same thing as a sea. The whole general principle of lots of water is the same. There are fish in the ocean, but they hide a lot, so I'm not sure if you're going to see them."
Katie shot him her most brilliant smile. "Thanks Mr. Eric."
And with the simple answering of many questions, a great friendship was born.
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Alright, that's all I'm going to post for now. Leave me a review if you'd like to read more.
Thanks!
