A/N: The last part of "Familiar Face"! There's another, separate story ready to be written, don't worry. And I also wrote another fic called "As the Shot Went Off" if you're interested. End shameless plug. ^_^
Quick question. Would anyone be interested in hearing more about Kesi? Maybe a short story about her relationship to her father and how she was recruited? I wouldn't expect it to be a big review-getter, since I understand it's not about a well-known or -loved character, but I'd just write it as an exercise. I thrive on reviews, however, and if no one would review I won't write it.
If you don't feel you'd be interested and don't really want to say so, just don't mention anything about it and I'll take it as a no. :-) I have a hard time answering questions with no, but I don't want a bunch of false yes's, so...anyway.
Thanks again SO MUCH to everyone reviewing! -Ashni
****EPILOGUE****
Sydney kept her head bowed as she reported to Sloane, her voice dull with what she hoped would be interpreted as sorrow. "I didn't even know she was shot," she murmured, remembering the words she had once used to lie to Dixon's life and taking hidden delight in the irony, "She kept running, leading them away from me. We both got out to the forest, and she just--fell."
"Fell." Sloane's voice betrayed nothing and Sydney risked a look up.
"She died instantly. I tried to drag her body away, but..." She shook her head.
"I see. Well, this is a grievous loss, you understand. Still, she died fulfilling her place and you managed to get the map back." This cold dismissal of Kesi's death filled Sydney momentarily with pity for the sister she had never truly known. Under other circumstances, so much could be different.
But then, under other circumstances, she could have been another Kesi. Cold, murderous, trained to kill without mercy. Her sympathy melted away.
"If that's all, I need to notify Kesi's family of her death," Sloane said, watching her closely.
"That's all." Sydney met his gaze and turned away. As her fingers touched the handle, she acted as if she'd just remembered something and walked back to stand in front of Sloane's desk. She waited patiently until he acknowledged her.
"I forgot to tell you. I found these on her. I didn't have a chance to look at them closely, but I figured you'd want to see." From her jacket, she withdrew the folders she had stolen and handed them calmly to Sloane.
His surprise was not obvious, but Sydney noticed his eyes twitch and smiled inwardly, satisfied. Without another word, she turned her back on him and all that she had suffered since that fateful kidnapping in Pennsylvania. She closed the door behind her and turned the corner-
And almost crashed into Jack Bristow.
The two agents stood staring in the hallway, shock evident in both their faces.
"Sydney, um..."
"What is it?" she finally asked softly, when he stopped.
"Would you, ah, walk with me? I don't know if you have something to do--"
She tried to contain the joy that leapt within her at his words, replying calmly, "I'm not doing anything."
Jack smiled at her uncertainly and they left the bank to walk outside. The trees lining the block swayed gently in the breeze, releasing a few rich leaves to float down serenely around them. The cool air caressed them with feathery fingers and Sydney could almost forget that such horrors as SD-6 existed. On such a perfect day, how could the world be anything other than perfect, too?
She was content simply to walk in silence and enjoy the peace around her, but Jack suddenly stopped. She stopped as well, leaning back against a tree. He took a deep breath.
"In England, you...I mean, I heard Kesi tell you that I'm not your father...which, of course, you already knew...but I was wondering..." He trailed off.
Sydney shook her head. "I don't know what you're asking."
"I...what did you tell her?"
She smiled, understanding, and took Jack's hand. "I told her she was wrong." Seeing his surprise, she went on softly. "Vaughn told me it takes more than blood to make a father." She chuckled ruefully and squeezed his hand. "He was right."
Her father relaxed and tension that Sydney had never noticed before melted away. He returned her smile, then put an arm around her shoulder to pull her close. She let all her past grievances drain from her and buried her face in his shoulder, remembering how he had always been there for her in her childhood. Through skinned knees and broken dolls, his steady strength had supported her. She had thought that love, that support had disappeared, but she had been wrong. She knew now that it had never disappeared, and that it would never go away.
THE END
************
Hope you enjoyed! -Ashni
Quick question. Would anyone be interested in hearing more about Kesi? Maybe a short story about her relationship to her father and how she was recruited? I wouldn't expect it to be a big review-getter, since I understand it's not about a well-known or -loved character, but I'd just write it as an exercise. I thrive on reviews, however, and if no one would review I won't write it.
If you don't feel you'd be interested and don't really want to say so, just don't mention anything about it and I'll take it as a no. :-) I have a hard time answering questions with no, but I don't want a bunch of false yes's, so...anyway.
Thanks again SO MUCH to everyone reviewing! -Ashni
****EPILOGUE****
Sydney kept her head bowed as she reported to Sloane, her voice dull with what she hoped would be interpreted as sorrow. "I didn't even know she was shot," she murmured, remembering the words she had once used to lie to Dixon's life and taking hidden delight in the irony, "She kept running, leading them away from me. We both got out to the forest, and she just--fell."
"Fell." Sloane's voice betrayed nothing and Sydney risked a look up.
"She died instantly. I tried to drag her body away, but..." She shook her head.
"I see. Well, this is a grievous loss, you understand. Still, she died fulfilling her place and you managed to get the map back." This cold dismissal of Kesi's death filled Sydney momentarily with pity for the sister she had never truly known. Under other circumstances, so much could be different.
But then, under other circumstances, she could have been another Kesi. Cold, murderous, trained to kill without mercy. Her sympathy melted away.
"If that's all, I need to notify Kesi's family of her death," Sloane said, watching her closely.
"That's all." Sydney met his gaze and turned away. As her fingers touched the handle, she acted as if she'd just remembered something and walked back to stand in front of Sloane's desk. She waited patiently until he acknowledged her.
"I forgot to tell you. I found these on her. I didn't have a chance to look at them closely, but I figured you'd want to see." From her jacket, she withdrew the folders she had stolen and handed them calmly to Sloane.
His surprise was not obvious, but Sydney noticed his eyes twitch and smiled inwardly, satisfied. Without another word, she turned her back on him and all that she had suffered since that fateful kidnapping in Pennsylvania. She closed the door behind her and turned the corner-
And almost crashed into Jack Bristow.
The two agents stood staring in the hallway, shock evident in both their faces.
"Sydney, um..."
"What is it?" she finally asked softly, when he stopped.
"Would you, ah, walk with me? I don't know if you have something to do--"
She tried to contain the joy that leapt within her at his words, replying calmly, "I'm not doing anything."
Jack smiled at her uncertainly and they left the bank to walk outside. The trees lining the block swayed gently in the breeze, releasing a few rich leaves to float down serenely around them. The cool air caressed them with feathery fingers and Sydney could almost forget that such horrors as SD-6 existed. On such a perfect day, how could the world be anything other than perfect, too?
She was content simply to walk in silence and enjoy the peace around her, but Jack suddenly stopped. She stopped as well, leaning back against a tree. He took a deep breath.
"In England, you...I mean, I heard Kesi tell you that I'm not your father...which, of course, you already knew...but I was wondering..." He trailed off.
Sydney shook her head. "I don't know what you're asking."
"I...what did you tell her?"
She smiled, understanding, and took Jack's hand. "I told her she was wrong." Seeing his surprise, she went on softly. "Vaughn told me it takes more than blood to make a father." She chuckled ruefully and squeezed his hand. "He was right."
Her father relaxed and tension that Sydney had never noticed before melted away. He returned her smile, then put an arm around her shoulder to pull her close. She let all her past grievances drain from her and buried her face in his shoulder, remembering how he had always been there for her in her childhood. Through skinned knees and broken dolls, his steady strength had supported her. She had thought that love, that support had disappeared, but she had been wrong. She knew now that it had never disappeared, and that it would never go away.
THE END
************
Hope you enjoyed! -Ashni
