A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I know this chapter took a bit longer to get out, but I have part of the next one written as well, so I'll probably get it up in the next couple of days. It was my sister's birthday weekend, so it was pretty hectic! But now I have a full week of practically nothing important to do, which means lots and lots of writing! Yay! Anyway, thanks for enjoying my story, and I know it's taken a while to get Sark into it, but I promise he is in the next chapter! I already have that part written! This was the last one I needed to set it up! I'm not entirely happy with the way I set up the Sydney/Simon meeting, but the show didn't give too much information about Algeria, so I just sort of had to make up a scenario that could be believable. I hope it worked! Anyway, as always, please review! Thanks!
SneakyFound47: Thanks for the suggestion, the idea of a beta sounds great! I've written a few fanfiction pieces but I've never had a beta before. How do you go about getting one?
…………………….
After four hours of memorizing all the details, Sydney understood that this mission was also not going to be a simple assassination. She was going to Algeria in order to obtain, what seemed to be an employee of sorts. His name was Simon Walker, he was an experienced thief for hire, and her first goal was to convince him that she was worthy to be a part of his team. How she did that was up to her imagination, but the file that the Covenant had pulled together on Simon gave Sydney enough information to decide her course of action. Once she had convinced him that she was worthy, she had been given orders to offer him a job with the Covenant. From there the specifics had not yet been given.
She quickly plotted her infiltration into Simon's hotel room where he was staying in Algeria for a party that he planned on attending. She decided that finding a way into his room and stealing something of importance would be good enough to prove her worth because one of his main prides was the quality of his security. In this case, she decided that his pride alone would be good enough for her to take away. Sydney planned to prove that no security could keep her out.
Derek had arrived at her flat a couple of hours after her meeting with Marti and he had brought multiple suitcases full of weapons and other accessories for her to sort through.
"Julia, please take whatever you need." Derek told her as she started surveying all of the supplies. "They've told me that this is your op to do with what you want."
She smirked. "I do enjoy using my imagination." Sydney wandered over to the table where he had laid out numerous weapons. She started inspecting the handguns. "Which of these is best to shoot darts?"
"Tranquilizers?" He frowned, clearly not understanding why an assassin such as herself wouldn't want bullets.
"I'm not on assignment to kill this time." She explained simply.
He nodded. "Right, of course…" And he handed her a small black gun. "This would be the best."
"Thanks." She took it and slipped it into the waistline of her pants. "I'm going to need a dagger. Preferably one that is thin enough to hide in lingerie."
His eyes widened at her request but quickly set to work finding her the perfect weapon. While he took care of that she began inspecting the array of disguises. She briefly considered a shoulder-length scarlet red wig, but then decided that her best disguise would in fact be Julia Thorne. She would embrace her new identity to its fullest.
"Here you are Julia." Derek grinned mischievously. "Would you like to try on some lingerie to make sure it works…"
Sydney accepted the small blade from the young man and inspected it. It was just about two inches long and slender enough to be barely felt against her skin. She slipped it into its protective case and offered him a cold stare. "It'll work fine for the man that I will be visiting." Derek looked jealous. "You can leave now."
"Don't you need a disguise, Julia?" He asked her as he started to pack up.
"I've already got one." She closed herself in her bedroom, waiting for him to leave.
…………
Her first impression of Simon Walker when he glanced up at her from his stool at the bar was that he was attractive. In fact, at first glance, there was nothing unattractive about him. There was something about him that was so different than other men she worked with. He had dark hair, styled into a shortly cropped Mohawk, and dark green eyes that shot daggers with their fiery scowl. He had strong cheekbones and a firmly set jaw, accentuated by seductively pouting lips. He wasn't casual like Will, or responsible like Vaughn…there was something reckless about him that intrigued Sydney. She hesitated as the thoughts darted into her mind. Why am I analyzing him like this? He is just an assignment. I'm not supposed to wonder what his personality is like…she quickly tried to shut out all comparative thoughts in her mind and tried to exude her Julia attributes.
"Is this seat taken?" She asked him, motioning to the empty barstool beside him, and keeping her perfect English accent intact.
He barely glanced at her before shaking his head. "Be my guest."
She raised an eyebrow at his accent. It matched his appearance perfectly, British can anyone tell me what Simon's accent is? I think I have it wrong , but with an enchanting hint of cockney. She slipped onto the seat and caught the bartender's attention immediately.
"Martini, dry, two olives." She ordered her drink and checked her appearance in her compact as she waited for Simon to pay attention to her. She had straightened her blonde hair but pinned it up so her shoulders and neck were bare, down to the strapless black silk dress she was wearing. She knew that it flattered her perfectly, mainly from the fact that she hadn't failed to catch the eye of any man at the party yet that night, except for the one man she was interested in. She had wanted to wait and let him turn to her of his own accord, but she decided that she wasn't in the mood to be patient. "If this party did not provide an open bar I do not believe it would managed to keep my interest."
He turned to her and stared at her for a moment just to take her in, it seemed. Finally he spoke. "No, I don't imagine it would keep mine either."
Now it was her turn to act oblivious. She acknowledged his response with a slight smile and then turned back to the bartender as he delivered her drink. She stirred it slowly with the olives, completely ignoring the man who was now staring at her profile.
"I beg your pardon, but I don't believe I've seen you before." Simon told her. "Do you often come to these sort of parties?"
Sydney glanced at him and shrugged. "Often enough."
He gave her a half-grin, which revealed barely crooked white teeth. It just added to his entire appeal. "Who're you here with?"
"Myself." She answered in a steady tone.
"Oh?" His interest was heightening. She decided to play with his curiosity a bit and make herself a challenge. No man could obtain Julia Thorne that easily.
"It's been a nice chat, but I'm not one for small talk." She grasped her drink and drifted away from the bar. When she reached the edge of the dance floor she glanced back towards him briefly and was pleased to see that his eyes were fixed on her. She turned her back on him and pretended to be interested in the dancers waltzing around the floor. It took less than sixty seconds for him to catch up to her.
"I'm not typically one for chatter either." He whispered into her ear. She didn't look at him but the way she pressed her body just slightly against his encouraged him to continue. "I come to these parties for business, and I feel that there is a significant lack of pleasure involved…"
She knew he was closer to falling into her trap. "Is that so?"
"If all these people weren't here now I'd do things to you that no other man would be able to comprehend." Simon's voice seemed to purr in her ear.
"You are confident in yourself, aren't you?"
"I have every reason to be." He grinned. "Give me a chance to show you."
"Why should I?" She asked him.
"You said this party bored you, sweetheart."
"And how do I know you would be any better?"
He looked offended for a brief instant and then he shrugged. "Take me to your room and I'll prove it to you."
She smiled at him maliciously and shook her head. "We can't go to my room. My wouldn't want my boyfriend hanging about."
"Your boyfriend?" He frowned.
"He bored me too." She explained. "I am not entertained by simple things." She brought the speared olives up to her mouth and wrapped her tongue around the first one, sliding it off the stick slowly.
His eyes stared, captivated by her graceful seductions. "Shall we go to my room?"
"If you think it will be worth my time." Sydney almost acted bored at the prospect of spending the night with him. She slipped the other olive into her mouth.
"I promise not to disappoint you…" He placed his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her towards him for a deep kiss. She didn't even feel the desire to fight him and instead found herself relaxing into his control. His tongue parted her lips and expertly darted into her mouth, wrapping around the whole olive and pulling it into his mouth. He broke the kiss and released her, letting her attempt for a moment to compose herself.
Come on Sydney! Stay professional! She rebuked herself as she started panting slightly in response to his passionate kiss. She watched him swallow the olive and let a slow smile creep over her full lips.
"I'm curious as to why we are still standing here with all these people…" She told him.
He grinned and immediately anchored his arm around her waist, guiding her out of the party and up to the twenty-first floor of the hotel. "So, do we bother with names or is the mysterious identity part of the scandalous appeal?"
Sydney pondered for a minute then answered him with a long kiss. When she finally pulled away he pulled her right back for another one. They didn't break their tongue-tango until the elevator chimed for his floor and then it was only broken long enough for him to fish the room key out of his jacket pocket and open the door to his suite.
"You don't have a girlfriend waiting up for you, do you?" Sydney asked breathily as he fumbled for the zipper on the back of her dress.
"Of course not! Would I be bringing you up here if another woman were hanging about?" He nuzzled his nose against her neck and started nibbling at the sensitive skin between her collarbone and neck. "I'm not completely daft!"
Sydney giggled as his lips tickled all over her skin, traipsing down her shoulder and around to her back. She quickly began unfastening his pants, as he staggered with her into the bedroom.
"Did you notice the rather bulky men standing around in the sitting room?" Sydney asked innocently as she let Simon pull her onto the bed and attempt to remove her dress.
"Never mind them sweetheart, they're just for security purposes."
"What sort of business do you do exactly?" She laughed, finally managing to wrestle off his shirt.
"Dangerous business!" He drawled, brushing her hair away from her shining brown eyes and pulling her down for another deep kiss.
"So, are you a bad man?" Sydney teased, nibbling at his ear. She ran her nails down his chest and he groaned, tightening his arms around her.
"The baddest!" He mumbled into her hair, inhaling her sweetly perfumed scent. She pulled away from him suddenly and stood up on the bed, staring down at him. "What're you doing?" He whined reaching out to pull her back down.
She stepped out of his reach and smiled mischievously. "I'm still not certain that you deserve me!" She reached around behind her and finished the unzipping job that he had abandoned earlier. "Men back home would give anything to be in your position at this moment." She balanced carefully on one foot while holding the other out to him. He eagerly slid off her simple stiletto healed shoe. She switched feet and he did the same with the other foot, tossing both the shoes to the ground. "You must understand that I do not tend to sleep with random men…"
"Then I consider myself honored! But please can we get on with it!" Simon begged, trying to reach out to her again.
She raised an eyebrow and slowly started sliding her dress down the length of her slender body. He watched with captivated interest as the dress dropped to her ankles and she stepped out of it, now standing before him in her strategically planned black lace corset and garter styled lingerie.
"You are so beautiful!" He gasped, taking in her length slowly with his eyes.
"Thank you." She didn't express emotion. She took it plainly as though she had heard it a hundred times before, which actually she had. She slid her hands to the front of her corset and started toying with the ribbon that held it together. Then she stopped. "Actually, I think this could be much more interesting if we had something to drink…"
Simon seemed frustrated that she was taking so long but as he watched her slid her hands over her body and up through her hair he realized that he couldn't deny her anything. "Yea, drinks would be good." He moved as if to retrieve them, but she stopped him with her foot.
"Let me." She smiled at him sweetly. "Your bodyguards won't hurt me, will they?"
He grinned. "A pretty little thing like you? Nah, they'll just admire and wish they were me."
She winked, "Well, I'll try to give them a good show then."
"Don't keep me waiting too long!" He stretched out on the bed and watched her step down to the ground and strut out of the room, backwards, keeping eye contact with him the whole time.
The moment she was around the corner, she withdrew the small tranquilizer gun from its holster fixed into the back of her corset. She held it at her side, hiding it just behind her leg, and wandered casually out into the front room where Simon's three security men were posted (one by the door, one by the window, and one sitting on the couch).
They jumped to attention when they noticed her. "Don't get up for my sake boys. I'm just here for some refreshments." She knew that her scandalous attire was keeping them distracted as she had anticipated and before they even had a chance to realize what she was doing, she had shot the first two perfectly in the neck with the tranquilizer darts. The third ducked out of the way and lunged at her but she gracefully slipped beneath his arm and landed a firm jump-kick at his stomach, sending him sprawling backward into the wall. She elbowed him hard in the nose, but before he had a chance to shout she had shot him in the chest and he sunk to the ground, unconscious. She smirked at how easy it was and quickly located a bottle of vodka to bring back to the bedroom.
"They didn't give you any trouble did they?" Simon asked as she entered the room.
Sydney shook her head. "They were complete gentlemen." She held up the bottle and climbed back onto the bed. "Now how about that good time you promised me?"
He grinned wickedly and opened the bottle eagerly, taking a long drink before offering it to her. She took it and tipped the bottle slightly so it spilled onto his bare chest. She leaned forward and licked it off as he moaned with pleasure.
"I thought I was supposed to be proving something to you…" he exclaimed as she let her teeth graze across his chest.
"I can't help it. I like being in charge."
"No complaints here!" He complied.
"Very good." She lifted her leg over him so she was straddling him, more or less holding him down. She spread his arms out above his head, letting her fingers tickle his palms as she leaned down for a kiss. "Stay still!" She ordered, bringing her hands back to her corset. He obliged and left his arms outstretched. She pinched the edge of the ribbon and grinned at him. "Close your eyes…" She whispered, and he quickly did as he was told. What an idiot! She tried hard not to laugh as she withdrew her small dagger from its hiding place in her corset. "I don't think my job has ever been this easy!" She exclaimed with a sigh as she pressed the flat part of the blade against his neck.
His eyes opened and stretched wide as he realized what she was doing. "Bloody hell!" He moved to grab her arms but she pressed harder, just barely slicing his skin.
"I wouldn't move if I were in your position, Mr. Walker." She smiled at him and saw the clear confusion on his face when she used his name. She kept one hand positioned with the knife at his neck and used her free hand to pull the belt free from his pants. "There is also no need for you to bother calling for your bodyguards, as they are all currently sleeping quite soundly in the other room." She brought his hands together and tied them securely together with his leather belt.
"How in the world…"
She shrugged. "Your security really is quite ridiculous. It was a breeze taking them out." Sydney squeezed her knees together slightly against his hips. "You really are lucky that all the girls you meet aren't as dangerous as I am."
"You crazy lying bitch!"
"Now, now," Sydney frowned. "I prefer beautiful devious assassin."
"Assassin?" Simon's eyes widened even farther. "Who wants me dead?"
"While I'm quite certain there are quite a few who would willingly fill that position, at this time I am not actually here to kill you." She smiled. "I'm here to offer you a job!"
"Excuse me?" He almost looked amused.
"My employers have requested that I come here to persuade you to work for them." She explained.
"Is that so?"
"Well, they knew you wouldn't even consider their offer unless you were convinced that we were worthy." She motioned to the position he was in. "I think I have proven myself."
He raised his eyebrows as he felt the blade pressing harder against his skin. "It would appear so." He moved slightly and she stopped him quickly. "Hey, look sweetheart, I surrender. You've proved your point. Quite literally." She slowly pulled the blade away and allowed him to sit up. "So, what's the job?"
She shrugged. "They haven't told me yet. I was simply told to come here and acquire your cooperation. You will be contacted soon with the details I imagine."
"So what do we do until then?"
She slipped off the bed and retrieved her handbag from where it had been dropped on the floor. She withdrew two pairs of handcuffs and held them up.
"Really? I didn't imagine you'd be into these sort of games!" He grinned as she crawled back onto the bed, straddling him once again. She removed the belt from his wrists and quickly shackled his wrists to the bedposts.
She frowned. "Really Mr. Walker, I am a professional."
"A professional at what exactly?" He grinned as she leaned down towards him.
But instead of kissing him as he had expected, she whispered into his year. "A professional at everything." She sat up quickly and removed herself from the bed. "Particularly at my work." She informed him as she began to redress herself.
"Wait, what are you doing?" He started struggling against his shackles.
"You really are too easy, Mr. Walker. In the future I believe it would benefit you to be more guarded with your…body." Sydney smirked as she stepped into her shoes. "Oh, I almost forgot…" She pulled the small key to the handcuffs out of her purse and placed it carefully in between his lips. "Try not to swallow it." She kissed him on the forehead. "Your men should be waking up in about seven minutes. I am sure they will be anxious to help you out of your chains, and then you may explain to them why exactly they were taken out by a 'pretty little thing' like me." Simon grunted, trying hard not to loose the key in his mouth, as she headed towards the door. "We will be in contact, Mr. Walker." She blew him a kiss. "Oh, and just for your information, my name is Julia Thorne."
…………
"Wait, you want me to partner with him?" Sydney exclaimed angrily as Marti passed on her latest assignment from the Covenant.
"They were pleased with your performance in Algeria, Miss Thorne, and they believe that you would be the best at filling this position." Marti explained, taking a nonchalant sip of his mimosa.
"So I am being punished for doing my job well?" Sydney pouted. "I do not want a partner!"
Marti frowned at her. "Are you refusing the job, Miss Thorne?"
Sydney briefly considered doing just that, but then she thought better of it. She knew that whatever this job was it would be of high importance to the Covenant if they took such an effort in securing Simon's partnership. She gave Marti an icy stare. "When and where?"
"How about here and now?" A familiar voice spoke up from behind. Sydney turned around in her seat and spotted Simon strutting towards them. "I bet you didn't fancy seeing me again. Especially not after tying me up and leaving me to my humiliating fate…"
"Well, you said it yourself. I am a crazy bitch." She smirked at him. "I see you got free well enough though."
"Yes I did, though explaining it to the boys was every bit as enjoyable as you might have anticipated." Simon sat at the empty chair beside Sydney.
"Well I am always thinking of others."
"Alright you two, knock off your banter for a few minutes so I can explain your assignment." Marti demanded. The two looked at him with slightly apologetic smiles. "Miss Thorne I know you have been briefed on the basics of Milo Rambaldi."
Sydney tried not to react more than would be natural for Julia who had been told very simple information since she had first started working for the Covenant. She simply nodded and waited for Marti to continue.
"Mr. Walker, I do not know if you have ever had involvement with any of his artifacts, though they do tend to fetch a high price on the market…" Marti continued. Simon looked thoughtful but didn't answer. "As it is, there seems to be a particular item that the Covenant has an interest in. The only problem is, there are also many others who have interest in it, and the interesting thing is, nobody knows where this artifact is."
Sydney frowned. "Explain please."
"It's hidden. It has been for nearly five hundred years." Marti expanded. "Now, the Covenant has a few leads and they believe that if the two of you work together you may be able to locate it within a reasonable amount of time."
"How long?" Sydney asked.
"A few months." Marti stated.
"A few months?" Sydney glanced at Simon regretfully. "We'll be partnering then for that long?"
"You will be partnering for as long as it takes." Marti agreed. "You agreed to take the job Miss Thorne. You are not reconsidering are you?"
Sydney nodded. "Of course not. You know I am always ready for a challenge."
"Am I a challenge for you, sweetheart?" Simon grinned.
"I think I have already proved that you are hardly a challenge." She returned his arrogant smirk. "I only hope you can manage to keep up with me." She stood. "Are we finished here Marti?"
He nodded. "Here's all the information that the Covenant has gathered so far. Read through it and see what you can make of it, and follow whatever leads you find." He handed Sydney a thick folder. "Try to enjoy yourselves."
Simon took the folder from Sydney and stood as well. "Thank you mate, I'm sure we won't have any trouble with that." He slid his arm around Sydney's waist.
Reacting quickly, she grabbed his wrist and bent his arm backwards until it was pulling so tightly he wanted to scream. "Touch me again and I break your arm."
He nodded fervently. "I understand!"
"Do you really, Mr. Walker?" She pressed, pulling his arm just a bit harder. His eyes watered in pain. "Because I have a feeling that you are the sort of man who doesn't learn his lessons very easily."
"I understand Miss Thorne!" He insisted. "I swear! I'll keep my hands to myself!" She released him. "That is, until you ask me differently…" He smirked cockily, rubbing his sore arm, and jumped out of her reach as she tried to grab the folder from him. "We really must work on this feisty behavior of yours. It will never do. Except for in the bedroom of course." He started walking away and she hurried after him, still trying to take the folder from him. "And you need to stop being so touchy. You act like I won't share with you and that hurts my feelings sweetheart."
"Stop calling me sweetheart." She growled.
"Well, then what should I call you? Miss Thorne will hardly do for all the time we will be spending together! What about doll face, or buttercup?"
"You may call me Julia." She stated firmly. "Nothing else."
"Why are you so difficult Julia? I know you're going to warm up to me eventually." Simon decided. He handed her the folder. "We can discuss plans for this assignment tonight. I'll meet you at your flat for dinner around eight o'clock?"
"How do you know where I live?"
"I've checked up on you since the last time we met. I didn't want to be caught with my pants down again…unless you would prefer it that way." He winked.
"Eight o'clock will be fine." She gave in bitterly, realizing that she would have to get used to him, since they would be working together for quite a while. "But don't expect me to cook."
"You? Cook? I wouldn't dream of it Jules." Simon grinned and headed away from her.
"It's Julia." She called after him as he increased the distance between them. He didn't respond. He is going to be exhausting!
…………
"How was your mission in Algeria?"
"Kendall, don't screw around with me!" Sydney nearly screamed at the director when they met at the safe house. "What is going on with Weiss? It's been almost a whole week and I haven't heard anything yet! Do we even know if he's alive?"
Kendall sighed and motioned for her to take a seat, realizing he wouldn't get anywhere with her until he let her have her way. "The CIA has been contacted by the Covenant. They have begun negotiations for Agent Weiss's safe return."
Sydney frowned. "What is the Covenant asking for?"
"The release of a prisoner."
"Which one?"
"Sark."
Sydney dropped into the armchair behind her. "What does the covenant want with Sark?"
"We have no idea, but it can't be good."
"You'll keep me updated right? Let me know what happens to Weiss…" Sydney hated herself for even considering Weiss not being rescued.
"I promise you'll know as soon as we have anything new to report." Kendall offered her a slight smile. "Now, tell me about Algeria. What came of it?"
"I have a partner."