CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

She was back in her cell, chained to the wall and hurting everywhere. Why was she back there again? Was this another dream? Looking around, she realized that her pain was all too real.

Irina curled up in her little corner and squeezed her eyes shut.

'This is just a dream. When I wake up, I'll be back home again.' She thought and opened her eyes, expecting to be back in her bed.

She was still there.

A small sound escaped her lips. Sometimes, she felt like she didn't know what was real and what was not. The dreams that she had where she was back with her family were so vivid that she actually she thought she was really back home.

The door opened and a man entered the room. He walked over to her position and stood in front of her. Irina looked at him and discovered that he was one of the men that had dragged her out of her corner during interrogation.

"What do you want?" she asked. Her voice sounded so weak.

He grinned almost manically in response.

"Boris told me to have fun." As he said that, the sound of his pants being unzipped echoed in her cell.

Soft whimpering stirred Jack from his sleep. He looked at the clock by his side and found that it was nearing midnight. He looked towards his left and found Irina's sleeping figure curled tightly in the fetal position by the edge of the bed. Her back was facing him and she was the one making the whimpering sound.

Jack turned on the lamp, "Irina?" he said, drowsily, and he gently touched her shoulder. The simple action made her stiffen.

"Raping me won't give you any answers." She muttered.

Suddenly, he didn't feel sleepy any more. He went closer to her and turned on her lamp, "Irina, wake up." He said a little louder as he tapped her shoulder.

His actions didn't do anything and only heightened her sobbing, so Jack started to shake her awake.

"Irina, it's just a dream."

Out of nowhere, her fist suddenly shot up and hit his wounded arm. Jack grunted in pain, but it didn't deter him from rousing her from her sleep.

A few minutes later, she abruptly sat up and looked at him as if nothing happened. Her eyes were wide, though, and she looked pallid.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked, "You were having a nightmare."

She stared at him awhile before nodding her head. However, it was clear to Jack that she was much disoriented since she seemed to be mystified as to why he was on the same bed as she was.

"Stay here." He said and slipped off the bed. He went to the bathroom and got her a glass of water. When he stepped into the room again, he noticed that Irina was looking around.

"Here." Jack said and handed the glass to her.

She drank only half of the glass' contents and gave it back to him. Without a word, he went back to the bathroom.

Her lamp was off and she was lying on the bed when he returned. Sighing, he went to his side of the bed and prayed that Irina would start to sleep dreamlessly after this. He was about to turn off the light when Irina suddenly started to speak.

"You're a dream aren't you?"

Jack glanced at her and found her staring at him once again, "Unfortunately, I'm not a dream. You were dreaming a while ago." He said slightly acerbically.

"That's what the people in my dreams always say." She replied. She then scrutinized his face, "It always felt so real that I don't know the difference anymore."

He shifted his position so that he was facing her, "You're not dreaming, Irina. You're home."

"You'll disappear later." She whispered and started to distance herself from him. She'd rather go through physical torture than face someone who doesn't care for her any longer. Or so she says to herself.

"I'm real." It suddenly occurred to Jack that she might still be asleep and was dreaming that she was dreaming.

Irina clasped her hands together for comfort and curled into a small. Tears began to cloud her vision, so she closed her eyes. When she wakes up, she'll be back in her cell again.

The tears began to roll down her cheeks. Real or not, she'll still feel alone. What difference does it make? But she didn't open her eyes. If this was indeed a dream, then she didn't want to wake up.

Jack placed his hand over hers. He couldn't explain why he was doing this. Irina was still suffering from trauma, a gift from her six-month captivity. It seemed that she hid this problem very well.

Something caught his eye. Jack gently took her hand and studied the pink, raw skin that encircled Irina's wrists. Upon clear inspection, he realized that the jagged edges etched in her skin were made by the chains that bounded her.

'Why does it still look fresh?' he thought. Maybe this was the reason why she always wore those long sleeved blouses even though summer was making itself known to them. She didn't want anyone to see her still-fresh wounds.

"Irina?" knowing that she was still awake, he softly laid his hand to her arm. His wound stung, but he didn't mind. It's Irina who he needs to attend to.

She opened her eyes. Jack's face was still in front of her and his hand was touching her arm.

Jack brushed the tears away from her cheeks, "Don't worry, I'm not going to go anywhere soon." He said, feeling perfectly safe that he was talking to Irina in her dream state.

Irina blinked. This was the first time a dream said that to her. She took a deep breath and allowed herself to relax. She peered into his eyes, "You're not going to go anywhere?"

"No."

The expression on her face was still doubtful. It appeared that the in-dream-state Irina was as stubborn as the conscious Irina.

Jack sighed. If this 'conversation' continued, he'll never be able to get sleep. Thus, he took her right hand and laced their fingers together.

"If you wake up tomorrow and I am not holding your hand, I will answer all the questions you want to ask."

Irina gave a small yawn, "Why will I want to ask questions? You're really a dream. The real Jack wouldn't want to hold my hand anymore." She said quite drowsily.

He shouldn't have been shocked with what she said. Or hurt for that matter, but he was feeling both.

Irina sighed as her eyes fluttered to a close. She squeezed his hand unconsciously and after a few minutes, was fast asleep again.

Jack watched her for a while. Thoughts began to swirl in his head. What made her say that? What did they want from her? What was she hiding from them?

Of course, he couldn't answer those questions.

He turned off the lamp. As he lay in the darkness, he felt Irina move closer to him.

"Promise you won't go?" she whispered.

Jack looked at her. He gently clasped her hand and then kissed it.

"I promise."

-x-x-x-
Sofya quietly entered her mother's room. It was six o'clock in the morning, a bit early for her to be awake. But the pain in her stomach woke her up and no amount of meditation/crying could stop it. The doctor she tranquilized was right; her wounds do open up easily.

She headed straight to the bathroom and searched for the painkillers.

'Just one. I need just one.' She thought as her eyes scanned the contents of the medicine cabinet. It was their birthday today and she needed to put on a happy face. They should not begin to worry about her.

A few minutes later, she found the container, popped the pill in her mouth and drank the glass of water.

As she waited for the pain to subside, her eyes roamed the sink. There were two toothbrushes, two toothpastes, two combs, two face towels… there were two of everything inside the bathroom.

'Oh my god, what if he stays? I can't avoid him forever!' she thought. The man inflicted pain upon her. She was afraid of him when she was in CIA custody and she was still afraid of him now. She didn't mind her sisters, they were okay. But him? She didn't know him and she doesn't intend to know him.

Minutes passed and she quietly went out of the bathroom. Out of curiosity, she looked at the bed. Why was her grandmother eager to put them in one room? Its not like they're going to have sex the moment they are alone in a room with a bed.

Her eyes widened in surprise the moment her eyes rested on the occupants of the bed. Her mother had been avoiding him like plague and as far as she knew, was angry at him. And yet they were holding hands and sleeping peacefully as if nothing happened.

She suddenly felt afraid. What if he insulated himself into the family?

Sofya took a deep breath. 'Relax, Iya. He's not going to do that…' she thought and decided to leave.

She left as quietly as she entered.

When he heard the door close, Jack opened his eyes and looked at where his daughter stood. He had heard her come in and was interested in why she headed straight to the bathroom when she had one in her bedroom.

Jack then looked at Irina. She was still asleep, thankfully, and she didn't wake up after he held her hand.

He felt relieved. He was not ready to talk to her. Not yet.

She rested her head on his shoulder. He pulled her closer and heard her sigh.

Sometimes, he wished that their relationship can be as simple as this.

-x-x-x-
"So, what do you think they're doing?"

Vaughn looked at his friend. He is in Weiss' house, lounging in the sofa and drinking beer, "I don't know. Having fun, I guess." He shrugged as he took a sip from the bottle.

Weiss fell silent for a while and leaned back on his comfy chair. He decided to ask something that has been bothering him for that past couple of days.

"What was your reaction when Sydney told you?"

"Surprised." Vaughn answered, "I mean Sloane and Jack, those two… but come to think of it, we shouldn't have been surprised, really." He added and took another sip from his beer.

"How could Jack do that, anyway? He abandoned Nadia in an orphanage and then when they finally meet again, he pretends he doesn't know her." Weiss exclaimed.

"Hey, I don't know how Jack's mind works, so don't ask me." Vaughn said and took the bowl of chips on the coffee table, "Why not ask him when he comes back?"

"Whoa, dude. Did Sydney mention to you Nadia explicitly told her not to tell anyone?"

Vaughn shrugged and ate a handful of the potato chips, "Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight?" he asked after a few minutes.

"Nope." Weiss took back the bowl of chips from Vaughn, "As long as you don't come knocking in my bedroom, asking for a cuddle."

Vaughn threw to him the remaining chips in his hand. Weiss grinned and continued eating.

-x-x-x-
(6.30 AM)

The soft resonance of the piano was the first sound Nadia heard as she walked down the mahogany staircase. She recognizes the tune as that of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and its coming from the living room. Since it's too early for breakfast, Nadia decided to check on who's playing.

She quietly stepped in the living room and found Sofya in front of the piano. Nadia sat down on one of the chairs and listened to her sister play.

A few minutes later, Sofya finished playing the piece. She then looked at her one and only audience, who smiled at her.

"Hi." Nadia greeted.

Sofya smiled back at her, "Hello. Good morning."

Her younger sister's attitude brightened her mood. Sometimes, Sofya seems a bit antagonistic towards her and Sydney, and it bothers her. She wants to get to know Sofya and Nathan. After all, they are her younger siblings—it was something that only occurs in her dreams.

"You play really well."

Sofya's cheeks suddenly felt hot with embarrassment, "Uh, thanks." She doesn't really get a lot of comments about her piano playing, except from her family—people whom she grew up with. And like any other families, her family can really make you believe you're extraordinarily good.

"Do you play?" Sofya asked.

Nadia slightly shook her head, "I'm not that good."

Her younger sister raised a brow. She then scooted over the edge of the seat and patted the empty space next to her.

"Come on; show me what you've got."

Nadia smiled and stood up. She then walked towards the piano and sat beside Sofya.

"Go on." She coaxed when Nadia just looked at her, "I'm not going to shoot you if you make a mistake. And besides, I don't have a gun."

This time, Nadia raised a brow. Sofya grinned even wider as she gently took her sister's wrist and placed it on top of the keys.

Nadia began playing the birthday song.

Sofya laughed, "Oh, wow. You know." She remarked, referring to her birthday.

"Mama sort of tipped us off." Nadia answered, "Happy birthday."

Her sister lowered her head slightly, and then smiled again, "Thanks. You'd be celebrating yours in two days, right?"

"Yes." Nadia nodded. She gazed at her sister. Sofya is so much like their mother, and yet even if she didn't grew up with their father, there's still a small imprint of Jack in her. Actually, each and every one of her siblings has an imprint of Jack Bristow in them, whether they like it or not.

"How do you find, uh, Jack?" she asked when Sofya started tinkering with the piano.

She stopped playing and looked at her. Nadia could see her hazel eyes glittering and she could feel her burning stare, but she doesn't care. She wants this family whole again and she needs to know what her siblings think of their father to know what her next step should be.

"No comment." She replied, shrugging. "I'm making a conscious effort not to know, so…" she reverted her gaze from Nadia and began playing Für Elise.

"Aren't you at least interested in him?" Nadia asked softly.

Sofya tried to keep her temper from flaring since this is a long-lost relative, "He managed to send me to Death's door, so I guess the answer is still no."

Nadia decided to drop the subject. She's seeing the signs of stubbornness that she also possessed. She knows that she'll not get anywhere with her sister if she continues asking her about Jack.

Sofya's fingers danced on the keys. She had watched Dylan play effortlessly in the Zagmun restaurant and she knows how hard it is to play a difficult piece and act like its just a piece of cake. Truth be told, acting like everything is fine and dandy when it's the total opposite is damn too difficult.

A few minutes later, she stopped and looked at Nadia.

"Are you hungry? I can make breakfast if you want."

-x-x-x-
(8.30 AM)

"So, we can call you Uncle Jack?"

Elena laughed as she watched the interaction between Roan, Yuan, Hanna and Jack Bristow, who were all in the garden. The man looked absolutely horrified at their question.

Jack looked at her and then back to the children, "Yes, you may."

"You won't get angry?"

Elena looked at her sister, who was reading the newspaper. "You look well rested." She said in a soft, almost teasing, voice.

"Are you implying something?" Irina asked a bit irately. When she had woken up, Jack was looking at her and holding her hand. It was a very awkward moment.

"No," Elena answered and sipped her coffee. "But you look really well rested."

Irina looked at her older sister and raised a brow. She lowered the newspaper and leaned back on the chair, "It's not at all comfortable to discuss certain issues when all your close relatives are in the same house as you are."

Suddenly, a wicked smile appeared on her sister's face.

"Oh, that's why two days from now, all your close relatives will be leaving."

It was a stunning blow to Irina who suddenly gaped at her. They were leaving her?

Her temper suddenly began to rise and she was about to say some things to Elena when Nathan and Sofya entered the kitchen, both wearing bright smiles on their faces.

"Hi mom, Aunt Lena." Sofya greeted. In her arm was her golden retriever.

The expression on Irina's face suddenly changed. This could wait for later.

"Hello, sweeties. Happy birthday to both of you…"