The next morning
Jack was up cooking breakfast. Sydney and Elizabeth entered the kitchen at the same time.
"Good morning ladies." Jack smiled motioning for them to sit.
He fixed them both a plate and then joined them at the table.
"I'm getting orange juice, anyone else want any." Sydney said standing.
"I'll take a glass." Jack said.
Sydney poured Jack a glass of juice and sat it down on the table.
"Thank you." He smiled.
A shadow crossed Elizabeth's face and she threw the plate against the wall.
"THAT'S IT. I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE." she yelled.
"Elizabeth. What are you talking about?" Jack asked.
"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU AND YOUR LOVER CAVORTING AROUND IN FRONT OF ME. IF YOU LOVE HER AT LEAST HAVE THE DECIENCY NOT TO DO IT IN FRONT OF ME."
"There is nothing going on between us." Sydney said hesitantly.
"DON'T FEED ME THAT BULL. I'VE SEEN THE WAY YOU LOOK AT EACH OTHER. I HEARD BOTH OF YOU SAYING HOW MUCH YOU LOVED EACH OTHER IN YOUR SLEEP. OH YEAH AND THOSE DREAMS ABOUT SLEEPING TOGETHER, GUESS WHAT THEY WEREN'T DREAMS THEY WERE MEMORIES."
"What?" Jack and Sydney said together.
"COME ON JACK ARE YOU THAT STUPID. BOTH OF YOU HAVE THE EXACT SAME DREAM. YOU WAKE UP WITH MYSTERIOUS BRUISES NAKED. IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED."
Jack stood up and reached out to her. She pulled away her eyes blazing.
"DON'T TOUCH ME AGAIN. I AM SO SICK OF YOU TOUCHING ME."
"Elizabeth."
"NO. SHUTUP. JUST SHUTUP. WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE ASSIGNMENT TO SEDUCE YOU I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN, BUT NO LITTLE MISS PERFECT OVER THERE RUINED EVERYTHING. I WISH CHRISTIAN HAD KILLED YOU."Sydney looked at her wide eyed.
"You were working with him." Sydney said.
Elizabeth clapped mockingly.
"LOOK AT YOU. YOU'RE A SMART LITTLE COOKIE AREN'T YOU. HAH! I HAD YOU BOTH FOOLED, EVEN YOU GAME THEORIST. BUT GUESS WHAT IT'S TOO LATE. VINCINZO AND HIS MEN ARE ON THEIR WAY RIGHT NOW."
"Damn you." Jack said his voice low and dangerous.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT BRISTOW GLARE. YOU DON'T SCARE ME. I'VE SEEN YOUR VUNERABLE SIDE. OH AND BY THE WAY CHRISTIAN WAS BETTER."Sydney gasped.
"YEAH THAT'S RIGHT, I SCREWED YOUR BOYFRIEND ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE WANTED TO SEE WHAT A REAL WOMAN FELT LIKE."
"THAT'S ENOUGH." Jack yelled.
"NO, I'M JUST GETTING STARTED."
At that moment the ground shook violently and knocked them off their feet. Jack scrambled across the floor and pulled Sydney with him into a corner. He held her tight as the room was flipped upside down. As the tremors died away he stood and helped her to her feet. An evil grin graced his face when he saw Elizabeth pinned under the heavy bookshelf.
"Jack, help me." she gasped.
He walked over to her his jaw set.
"Why should I. EVERYTHING we had was a lie."
"Jack please. I can't breathe."
He thought for a moment then bent down to lift the heavy bookshelf off of her. He crouched down next to her and reached out to check for broken ribs. A shot rang out and Elizabeth's blood began to pool on the floor. Jack looked up to see Vincinzo standing with the smoking gun in his hand.
"Hello, Mr. Bristow." he said smirking.
Jack stood his hands in fists.
"What do you want Vincinzo?"
"I want the girl. I have no vendetta with you. Where is she?"
"I won't tell you."
Sydney cowered in the corner, watching the confrontation. Vincinzo came further into the apartment and had his back to her. He lifted the gun and pointed it at Jack.
"I will ask you once more. Where is she?"Jack didn't answer. Vincinzo went to pull the trigger.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Sydney screamed. She jumped on Vincinzo's back, the shot missing Jack.
Vincinzo slung her off and Jack attacked him. He threw him across the countertop and grabbed Sydney dragging her out of the apartment onto the balcony.
"Good thing we aren't that far up." Jack said.
He leaped over the edge into the alley below.
"Jump." he said holding out his arms.
Sydney looked behind her and saw Vincinzo stirring. She jumped over the edge and Jack caught her with ease. They ran out front, hopped into Vincinzo's car and drove off.
At a shady motel outside of Sacramento
Jack checked the hotel room for bugs and any other devices. They had ditched the car a few miles back but there was not harm in checking.
"I'm going downstairs to use the payphone, stay here." Jack said leaving back out.
Sydney was feeling tired and dirty. The dirt from the dessert seemed to be clinging to her. She went and ran a bath. He came in just as she finished. He was taken aback at the sight of her in nothing but a towel. His eyes ran over her body, he quit looking when she locked eyes with him.
"You hungry." he asked.
"Not really." she said.
Remembering the bag he was holding he held it out to her.
"Here. Just some clothes. Their not that great just some t-shirts and scrubs."
"Their clean that's all that matters." she smiled.
She took the clothes from him and went back into the bathroom. A moment later she rejoined him. He was sitting in the chair his head in his hands.
"Jack." she said hesitantly.
"Yeah." he said looking up at her.
"Are you ok? What Elizabeth said, that had to be hard for you to hear."
"It was but I'm fine now. I'm going to take a shower." he said walking into the bathroom.
Sydney stretched out on the bed listening to the sound of the water running. She thought back to her memory of Jack, a smiled playing on her face. She was still smiling when he exited the bathroom wearing a pair of scrub pants. She let her eyes roam over his defined chest, the contours of his arm, his abs. He sat down in the chair.
"I'm sorry. You don't mind me not wearing a shirt." Jack said.
"No. of course not." she said.
He stretched out trying to get comfortable in the chair.
"The bed's big enough for both of us." she said sliding over to give him room.
He looked at her for a moment then slid into bed next to her.
"Goodnight." he said closing his eyes.
"Goodnight." she said back.
Later that night
Sydney awoke from her sleep with a start. She settled back down and looked over at Jack. He was fast asleep, his face much softer and calm in sleep. Without thinking she moved closer to him. Laying her head on his chest, her hand lightly stroking the fine hair she found there. He sighed and stirred beneath her touch. He looked down at her lazily.
"Jack, there's something I want to tell you."
He entangled his hand in her hair and lifted her face to his. The resulting kiss left them both gasping for air. She moved to straddle his lap, her lips once again meeting his in a passionate kiss. His hands found their way inside her shirt, he slowly ran his hands up her abdomen. She helped him pull the shirt over her head dropping it to the floor. She smiled at him and slid down his body. She traced the outline of his abs, he moaned loudly when her lips followed the same path. She moved to slide the scrubs down, he lifted his hips to help her. She slid back up his body, thankful she had forgone wearing pants. He flipped them and began placing hot open mouthed kisses down her body. Her hands found purchase in his hair as he journeyed lower.
"Jack." she gasped.
He groaned against her making her moan.
"I love it when you say my name." he said.
He slipped off her panties and moved to lean over her. They shared another searing kiss. She took his face in her hands as he slipped inside of her. His eyes closed involuntarily. Everything just felt perfect. For that moment in time there was no mission, no fear. It was only them. They just stayed that way for a moment, indulging in the feel of each other. Jack began to move slowly at first, until the need for friction between them became unbearable. She arched her back trying to take him deeper. Her hands found purchase on his shoulders feeling him tense as he drove into her. He brought his lips down to hers kissing her lightly. He took her hands in his bringing them over her head. As she neared her climax she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her body arched up in an intense spasm as she climaxed. He followed her seconds later, burying his face in her hair as he tried to breath normally again. She lightly stroked his hair as his breathing evened out.
"Jack." Sydney started.
He lifted his head to look at her.
"Don't say it. Not right now." he said turning onto his side and pulling her towards him.
She nodded and snuggled into his embrace. Once he felt her breathing even out, he placed a kiss on top of her head.
"I love you Sydney." he said before letting sleep claim him.