Reunions

Sydney stared at her parents, wide-eyed. She had no words, not yet.

Vaughn interrupted the awkward silence. "I told you, Syd."

With unshed tears in her eyes, Sydney angrily glared at her father. "I can't believe you would do this." With that, she gave Jack a swift right hook to the jaw and fled from the room

Jack staggered back in the surprise of getting punched in the face by his own daughter after not having seen her for eight years. Irina immediately came to his side and put a gentle hand on his red, swollen jaw. After ensuring that there was no fracture and no real damage, she whispered, "Go talk to her." Jack nodded and left to follow Sydney. It was right that he should be the one to explain. They had always had a closer relationship, especially in the time just before their 'deaths.'

Vaughn was left in the hotel room with Irina. He regarded her with a furrowed brow.

Irina could hardly believe the absurdity of what was happening. She had certainly planned on seeing her daughter again, but this was not at all what she envisioned. And she would have never chosen to be left in a room with Michael Vaughn. "You still hate me, don't you?"

"You may be my wife's mother, but you have done far too much to her and to me to warrant any sort of polite feelings," he replied icily.

Irina sat on the edge of the bed, moving their half-packed suitcases out of the way. She would have to either repack them correctly or else unpack them again once she and Jack decided what to do after this little family reunion of sorts. "I don't think Jack and Sydney will be returning for a little while. Please make yourself comfortable, Agent Vaughn. I assume you and Sydney are both still active agents, seeing as your weapons are CIA issue."

Vaughn reluctantly sat in the chair opposite the bed. "We don't get out in the field much anymore, but yes, we're still with the CIA."

Irina glanced at the door, hoping that her husband and daughter would return. She wanted to ask about her grandchildren, but it probably wouldn't be appropriate to ask Vaughn at this particular moment, given his obvious consternation.

"How did you do it? I saw your body. I saw the blood. All that glass and that fall? You shouldn't be alive right now. Jack, I can almost understand. His body was never found in Mongolia, but we all assumed he was destroyed in the explosion. But you?" Vaughn asked. His curiosity clearly got the better of him.

She gave a small smile. If truth be told, she was rather proud of how she planned that one. "Jack and I began planning all of that back when we went with Sydney to Vancouver to recover the Horizon, the night Isabelle was born. I knew that Sydney would never truly live in peace with the Rambaldi prophecy hanging over her head. For her sake and for Isabelle's, Jack and I took action to make the prophecy come to pass, to destroy Rambaldi's works, and to let us be free to be together. It was all part of the plan for me to fall through that glass ceiling to my 'death.' Sark and I replaced the floor with faux tile, a mat, and a few liters of my blood. As soon as I fell, I quickly injected myself with sodium morphate so I would be dead to anyone who checked me. Sark administered the antidote as soon as it was safe. I seem to recall you are familiar with this process."

Vaughn nodded. "That's how Jack faked my death."

"When the coast was clear, Sark and I took a helicopter to where my medical team had left Jack. The two of us escaped together."

"So the Horizon, the missiles, all of that?"

Irina cocked her head in interest. "Do your really think, after all of your experience with me, that I would have given Sark the missile codes if I really intended to destroy those cities? We knew you would intercept them and have Marshall solve the problem. Why do you think Sark gave up so easily?"

"Sark was working with you the whole time?" Vaughn asked in slight surprise.

"Sark has always and will always work for me. He was the only one who knew Jack and I were still alive until now. And I do wish you all would leave him alone. If I have to hear about another of my missions that has been sidelined by the likes of you and Sydney, I don't know what I'll do. How do you think we could afford to live in hotels and private bungalows for the last eight years?"

Slightly overwhelmed with this insane information, Vaughn was struck with one major question. "Why?"

Irina gave a small smile. "I know you will never believe this, but I truly love my family, Agent Vaughn. This was the best thing I knew to do to protect my daughter and grandchild, and you too, by extension. And I've known since I was in CIA custody that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jack. It may sound ridiculous, given everything I've done, but I've loved Jack Bristow for forty years, and every day I spend without him is a day wasted. We've been together and completely free for eight glorious years. I wouldn't give that up for anything."

He didn't know what to say. For Irina Derevko, this could be just one more manipulation. She couldn't really have a heart and soul, could she?

Irina broke the silence once more. "So I hear you have a son," she offered.

"Jack. Jonathan William Vaughn. He just turned five. This trip is actually a birthday celebration of sorts for him." Vaughn's expression softened considerably when he spoke about his child.

"That's a very good name. Jack was very touched when he found out. And it's a wonderful way to honor your father as well."

"Yeah, well. We thought it was a good tribute to two men you destroyed," he replied bitterly. He never would be able to let her live down her past. But Irina didn't mind. It was no more than she deserved.

"Whatever the reason, it was very nice." There was a finality in Irina's voice that warned against saying anything more antagonizing to her.

Vaughn shifted in his seat, glancing once again at the door. Jack and Sydney still had not returned. He decided to fill the time by continuing to question Irina. She seemed to be willing to answer his questions, which was a nice change from his previous dealings with her. "So Jack really is in love with you?"

"I can guarantee you that he is," she told him with a smile.

He shook his head in disapproval. "I just can't imagine what he sees in you, after everything you've done, not just to him but to the world."

Irina could see she wasn't going to get away with anything. Michael Vaughn was a truly frustrating man. He was just so…good. Although, it was just that trait that made him such a good match for Sydney. Irina realized that was exactly what Vaughn's problem was with her. "You love my daughter. I've known since the first time I saw you two together. And I know that one of the biggest reasons why you love her is her unwavering ability and need to do what is right. She's a genuinely good person, no matter what. Obviously, she did not get that from me. And she didn't quite get it from Jack either. Jack has never loved me for any of my goodness. Certainly I can be kind and affectionate and sympathetic, but I don't think anyone would have ever called me a kind person, even when I was Laura. Even in my deep cover, I could never hide the sin within me my soul. Once I realized that Jack shared that same darkness, I didn't try to hide it. I was never cruel in front of him, of course, but he has always seen my depth. I can't tell you exactly why he loves me, and he wouldn't tell you if you asked him, but I know that the things he loved about me all those years ago when we first met are things that have never changed about me. The things that did change were never a deep part of our relationship. How else do you think I could have maintained an alias for ten years and never have my target find out? It was because I truly loved him, and he truly loved me. I never had to fake that. And after all those years, behind the doubt and the anger and the betrayal, we could not deny how real our love was and has remained." She paused before adding, "Does that answer your question?"

"I know that there are a lot of similarities between Jack and myself, but we are certainly not the same. Obviously he could forgive you in ways that I can't fathom. I guess it isn't up to me what you two do," Vaughn conceded.

"You're right. It isn't up to you or anyone else. Now, if you're done interrogating me, I'd like to hear all about my grandchildren."

"Really?" he asked, slightly taken aback.

"Of course! Don't forget, Agent Vaughn, that I was the one who birthed your daughter when Sydney went into labor in the middle of a bank in Canada while we were under attack. That was the first and last time I saw her. And I know nothing about little Jack beyond his name, age, and general physical description. And that he inherited Sydney's speech impediment."

"Sydney had trouble with her R's?"

Irina chuckled. "Yes. It started at about three. Jack and I were able to train it out of her by the time she was four. I'm not surprised she doesn't remember. It was quite cute, but as an English literature professor, incorrect pronunciation irritated me quite a bit."

Vaughn gave his first genuine smile in Irina's presence. He could talk about his kids for hours. And so he did.

Meanwhile, Jack caught up to Sydney in the emergency stairs. He seized her by the arm, and she turned quickly to assault him again. "Sydney!" he shouted, blocking her offensive this time. His stern voice echoed in the stairwell, and she stopped struggling, instead trying to steel herself in preparation for this confrontation.

As much as she was trying not to, Sydney was crying uncontrollably. "Dad, how could you do this?" The sobs hitched her voice.

"Honey, please, let's just talk," Jack begged. He couldn't remember seeing her this obviously emotionally distraught since she was a little girl who had just lost her mother. It was breaking his heart. All those walls he used to keep up had been torn down by Irina over the years, leaving him without the proper protection against his daughter's pain that he knew he had caused.

Sydney stubbornly sat on a stair, pressing herself against the cold cement wall to keep away from him. Jack sat two steps above her to give her some space, but angled himself toward her. "So I take it you aren't too happy to see me."

She turned to face him, wiping her eyes. "I've wanted to see you every single day, Dad. I was so convinced that you weren't dead. They never found your body. I tried looking for you everywhere. I kept expecting you to round the corner in every city I was in. Every time my doorbell rang, I thought it would be you. Every phone call from an unknown number could have been you. But then I realized that you had to be dead. Do you know how I knew, Dad?" Jack shook his head and Sydney continued in a very angry, accusatory tone, "I knew that my dad, who spent his whole life protecting me and doing what was best for me, would never leave me. I knew that my dad loved me so much that he could never stay away for years on end. And not only did I know how much you loved me, but Isabelle too. You wouldn't have missed her growing up if you could have helped it. It took a long time, but by the time Jack was born, I gave up on you. So yes, Dad, I am happy to see you, but I'm also so mad at you for betraying everything I believed about you." She wiped her eyes once more and took a deep breath. "Although I will say that seeing Mom explains the situation a little better."

Jack nodded. He wanted to take his daughter into his arms, but like always, he thought it best to let her make the first move of affection between them. "Your mother and I started planning the entire thing when she showed up to retrieve the Horizon. It was all an act on her part. We were able to figure out a way to get rid of Sloane and Rambaldi's prophecy and let the two of us ride off into the sunset together, so to speak. I think you know how much I've always loved her, Sydney, and you know I'd do anything to protect you. This was the best of both worlds. Believe me; I didn't want to leave you, sweetheart. But this was the only way for everybody to come out for the best. Besides, you've got Vaughn. You don't need me anymore."

Sydney scooted over and leaned into her father. He put his arms around her and held her tight. She took a deep breath and relaxed in his safe embrace. She had missed him more than even she had realized. "You did the same thing when Mom 'died' the first time, Dad. When are you going to understand that I'll always need you?"

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. But don't you think it all worked out for the best?"

"I guess. We named our son after you, Dad. Vaughn said you saw him on the beach."

Jack smiled happily. "Yes, I did. I knew he was yours even before I noticed Vaughn. He's got your ears."

Sydney nudged him with a smile. "Which means he has your ears, Dad. And your curly hair and your eyes. It's actually a little strange how much he looks like you. You should see when he's mad at me. I almost feel like I'm seven years old again and my daddy is glaring at me for making a mess in the kitchen. He just turned five. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like when he gets older."

Jack couldn't believe how his heart swelled to hear his daughter talk about her children. "And how is Isabelle?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear in her signature way. "Vaughn swears she's exactly like me. But I'm not so sure. She's so smart, Dad. And really athletic. She plays soccer and softball, and she's actually really good, even if she is only eight."

A new set of tears streamed down her cheeks, which Jack tried to wipe away. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Sydney smiled and stood up. "It's these crazy pregnancy hormones. I can't stop crying!"

Jack stared at her in surprise, taking a quick glance at her abdomen.

"I just found out. I haven't even told Vaughn yet, so don't say anything."

He stood up and gave her a proper hug. "I won't say a word. Your mother is going to be very excited."

"By the way, is your face okay?" Sydney asked with genuine concern. She blamed the hormones for eradicating the self-control she should have possessed in order to prevent herself from attacking her own father.

Jack smiled and gently rubbed his sore jaw. "I'll be fine, sweetheart. Your mother does worse to me on a regular basis. We like to keep on our toes, and every so often, she gets one over on me, or so she likes to think. But really, I let her win. I don't like to hurt her. Better she rough me up a little bit so she feels compelled to take care of me later."

The two went back up the stairs to return to their spouses in the hotel room. Sydney was reminded again of the fact that—once again—her mother was alive, contrary to popular belief. "How did you guys do it? For eight years, no one ever even suspected that you might be alive."

Jack explained the details of their plan and how careful they had been over the years, with aide from Sark. Sydney was just as surprised as Jack originally was to hear of Sark's true allegiance. By the time he had explained everything, they were back at the room.

Irina greeted them both with a bright smile. "Jack," she announced, "go change into something more presentable. We're going to go meet our grandchildren!"

"We are?" Jack and Sydney both looked to Vaughn, who nodded with a small laugh.

"She insisted," he tried to explain.

Jack understood. "Yes, she can be quite persuasive. I'll be right back." He grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to change.

Irina had her eyes fixed on Sydney. She wasn't sure how her daughter was going to react to her presence. The last time they met, they had quite literally fought to the death.

Sydney could sense her mother's discomfort. She immediately rushed into Irina's arms, more tears making their presence. "Dad explained everything."

Irina held her daughter tight. "I hope you never again doubt how much I love you, Sydney. I've done terrible things in the past, but that's all over now. We're a family again. I won't ruin that again."

For the first time, Sydney had no doubt that her mother was telling the complete truth.