Jack and Irina spend the remainder of the week strategizing during the day and making love through the night. Neither wanted to discuss the inevitable, her leaving, so they avoided the subject all together. That is until Sunday morning as Irina snuggled into Jack's side, holding him desperately.
"I have to leave, Jack," she said regretfully.
"I know," he whispered back.
"We can pool our resources in order to speed the search for Sydney."
"How do you propose we do so? We can't be seen together; we've taken enough of a chance these last several days. I won't have you risk your life anymore!"
"I owe you that much and more. Let me finish," she said as he opened his mouth to protest. "We can contact each other through secure email and instant messages."
"Our screen names will have to be something innocuous." His agreement to the plan was surprisingly quick, but he didn't want to have this conversation in the first place. It hurt too much to lose her again.
"What do you suggest, Jack?"
"Do you remember our honeymoon?"
Irina frowned trying to figure out what he was getting at. When it dawned on her, she laughed. "Dueling composers!?!"
"You need to admit, once and for all, Mozart is the better composer."
"When you admit that Handel's Messiah is unsurpassed in classical compositions."
"I believe we've had this conversation before. And I was the clear winner of the debate."
"Oh really?" Irina straddled his chest. She ran her fingers through his hair. It must have been awhile since he'd had it cut; it was long and wavy, the way she liked it. "You should keep your hair like this. It makes you look even sexier."
"Flattery will get you almost everywhere. But don't change the subject."
Instead of responding, she began tickling him, something they done early in their marriage. When arguments got too heated, one would start tickling the other. Whoever cried 'uncle' had to admit they were wrong. Jack's resistance was low and it wasn't long before he was laughing, a real, honest-to-goodness laugh and yelling, "Alright, I give!"
Irina rolled off and said, "I love your laugh. You must keep laughter in your life."
"I haven't had much to laugh about."
"I know. I'm sorry."
They spent the rest of the day wrapped in each other's arms. There was no new intel on Sydney and they knew they had to get into the field before all the leads dried up. Jack knew it would be several weeks before he'd be allowed on active duty, but he would have access to the CIA computers.
Late that night, as Jack continued to sleep, Irina slipped out of bed. She collected her things, placed a note for him on the nightstand, whispered, "Good-bye for now, my love," then exited into the darkness.
Jack wasn't really sleeping; he had had a feeling she would leave tonight. He had wanted to stop her, but knew it was better this way. As he heard the front door slam, he opened his eyes to find his vision blurred by tears. He made out a paper propped against the lamp. He turned on the light, unfolded the note, and began to read:
My dearest Jack,
Please don't be angry with me for not saying good-bye in person. It pains me enough to leave as it is. I feel as though I'm abandoning you all over again.
I am so glad we found each other once more. My heart has been heavy with grief all these years without you. Reconnecting with you and our love has lifted that mantle.
No matter what happens, know this: I love you. I always have and always will.
Yours Forever,
Irina
P.S. I think these screen names are appropriate: Mozart182 for you and Handel4me for me. I will contact you in one week with instructions to get to a secure web address.
Don't give up hope. We will find Sydney.
"Stay safe, my love," Jack whispered to the empty night.
EpilogueA year to the day of Sydney's disappearance, Irina contacted Jack as per their usual means. She had no intel to share, just an overwhelming urge to speak with him. He wasn't in the chat room, but she found an email in the secure mailbox from him.
Have been compromised. Will make contact when safe. Keep up the search and remember I love you.
A week later, Irina's American contacts informed her that he'd been placed in solitary once more. "Then it's up to me," she thought. "I can't let his sacrifice be in vain. For Jack's sake, I must find Sydney."
