Sydney touched down and unhooked the rappelling hook from her belt and crouched down next to her mother.
"Mom can you hear me." She said as she looked over her.
"Sy. . Sydney." Irina groaned slightly.
"Is anything broken?"
"I think two ribs on the left side." she said taking a gasping breath.
"Ok, mom. We've got to stand you up. Do you think you can do that?"
Irina nodded and gritted her teeth. She held onto her side and only winced slightly when Sydney helped her to her feet. Sydney secured the hook back to her waist and connected the other hook to her mother's belt loop.
"We're ready dad. But take it slow her ribs are broken." Sydney shouted.
Jack slowly pulled them up to the surface. Irina collapsed into his arms breathing rapidly.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." he kept repeating.
"Just get me out of here." she gasped.
He bandaged up her ribs and then with great difficulty got her back to the transport.
Later at a hospital in Beijing
"She was lucky Mr. Bristow. Any more movement and one of those ribs could have punctured her lung." the doctor said as he exit Irina's room.
"Thank you doctor. May I go in." Jack asked.
"Yes, she was asking for you."
Jack and Sydney entered the room to see Irina staring out the window.
"Hi." Jack said hesitantly.
"Hi." Irina smiled slightly.
"How are you feeling mom?" Sydney said walking over and sitting down lightly on her mother's bedside.
"I'm fine sweetheart. Thank you." she smiled.
"I'm sorry." Jack said again.
"Sydney. I need to talk to your father alone for a moment." Irina said politely.
Sydney smiled and walked out the room.
"Irina I'm. . ." Jack started.
"No, let me. I'm sorry about the code thing. I shouldn't have done but at the time it seemed like a good idea." Irina explained.
"No. That code may have saved my life and I've done worse so I have no room to judge. I'm sorry about throwing the shovel." Jack said placing his hand on her cheek.
"How were you supposed to know that spot would open up an trapdoor?" Irina said taking his hand in hers.
"Just the same. I reacted without thinking." he said bringing her hand up to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, his head remaining bowed.
She ran her hand through his hair and lifted his chin up.
"Want me to tell you what I saw down there?" Irina asked.
"Sydney said the walls were completely bare." Jack stated confused.
"They were. But as I was falling I saw something. I'm not sure what it was though. It was a man, he was wearing a lab coat and was saying something about being a doctor." Irina said.
"That could be anyone."
"No. He kept saying this name over and over. Lidell. Does that mean anything to you?"
"Yes actually. Aducus Lidell. When I was lower in the agency I was assigned to relocate him after provided testimony in a court case."
"I think he has the key to your missing years."
"We'll go see him as soon as you're better."
Irina reached out ran her hand through his hair again.
"I love you." Irina smiled.
"I love you too." Jack replied.
They kissed sweetly before calling Sydney back inside.
