A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews; you made my holiday! I wish you all a happy Easter!
Chapter thirty four
I made Weiss promise that he wouldn't say anything to Vaughn. In spite of his optimism, I know that there is not a chance that Vaughn will forgive me unless I tell him the truth myself, and I'm still building up the courage to do it. Right now, though, I have another matter at hand. Kendall called me this morning sounding quite anxious and told me we needed to meet immediatelly. Now I'm pacing the old church's attic, waiting for him.
"Hello, Sydney." he greets me. "I have good news."
"Really? That's a first." I say sarcastically, hating how skeptical this job has made me.
"Your father is being released from federal prison this afternoon." he announces.
"What?! How come?" This is good news, indeed!
"Robert Lindsey, the NSC director responsible for putting him in custody in the first place, is under investigation. He is suspect of fraud and conspiracy against the US Government." Kendall explains.
"Really? I mean, not that I like the guy, but do you think he is a traitor?" This just seems… convenient, and I learned to suspect convenient.
"Well, if you're wondering whether this is a set up, you might want to know that it was Sloane who made the first accusations." Kendall tells me.
"It gets weirder and weirder." I cringe.
"He could be trying to help your father." he suggests.
"Sloane?"
"They've been friends for years…" he argues.
I glare at him.
"Oh, come on, Sydney, you know your father doesn't let his life be guided by a narrow sense of morality, nor does he pick his friends among the boyscouts." Kendall ponders. "He would use Sloane's help if it was for a greater good."
"I know. That's not what I'm questioning. I just can't believe that Sloane would help my father simply out of friendship – or for a greater good; he must want something in return."
"Well, you can find out yourself. You'll be meeting with them both and your mother tomorrow in LA." he says as if it was nothing.
"Have you lost your mind?!" I almost shout.
"No. And keep your voice down. It's a good opportunity to learn more about the Rambaldi Elixir and the Covenant. I think Sloane is withholding information from the CIA. You and your parents might be able to get something useful from him. And I thought you'd be thrilled about seeing your dad again after so long." he adds.
"I am; it's just… You didn't let me tell Vaughn or my friends the truth and now Sloane will know. Isn't it dangerous?"
"It is dangerous, but it could mean a great deal for our operation. If I'm right about Sloane, for the first time we will be ahead of the Covenant. I think it's worth the risk. And Jack is back. You'll be safe." he assures me.
"Okay." I sigh. "And you're right: it will be great to see my dad. When do I leave?"
"Tonight. There'll be a cargo jet waiting at the airfield. Here's all you'll need." He hands me an envelope.
"No alias?"
"No alias. Good luck."
"Kendall?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Tell Jack I said hi."
…………………………………………….
Back at the Covenant headquarters, I find Cole waiting for me in my office, talking to Vaughn and Weiss.
"Where have you been? We have great news!" He sounds truly happy; it's scary.
"Good. What is it?" I ask, avoiding his question.
"We located another ingredient to the Rambaldi Elixir." he announces.
"Really? What?"
"A special clay found in Iceland. I want you and Chris to go get it. You leave in two hours."
"Well, I'll have to send Fred with Chris. I'm meeting a contact tomorrow in Turkey." I say. "Apparently he has information about the Elixir. It's a great opportunity; I don't want to miss it."
"You hadn't said anything about this." Vaughn says, sounding disappointed, almost hurt.
"I just heard from my contact." I explain to him briefly, turning back to Cole. "But don't worry, Cole; you'll have the clay and some new intel by Monday."
"Awesome!"
"Chris…" I start after Cole leaves.
"Why can't you send someone else to meet with this source?" he asks me.
"Because he is my contact. He'll only talk to me." He looks away. "Hey, it's just a weekend. And you'll have fun with Fred." I try.
"Okay. When do you leave?" he is angry and I actually love it.
"Tonight." I say.
"Great. Have fun. I have to go pack." He leaves in a hurry, without even looking back.
I glance at Weiss. He is chuckling.
…………………………………………………
I arrive in LA Saturday morning. It's a beautiful summer day and I'm glad to be back to my hometown, infinitely more than the last time I was here. One of Kendall's associates takes me from the private airfield to a safe house outside town. I find Mom waiting for me in the living room.
"Hi, sweetheart!" she coos happily, hugging me. "Good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Mom."
"Let me look at you." she smiles and runs her hands down my arms "You seem happy. How is everything?"
"Pretty good, actually, considering the situation." I answer.
"Good. Your dad is in the bedroom. I didn't tell him that you were coming or even that you were working for the CIA. Thought we could surprise him." She sounds like a wife planning a party to her husband.
"Okay... I hope he doesn't think I'm here sent by the Covenant to kill him."
"Don't be silly. You know he will figure everything out in a split of a second." She smiles. "He'll be thrilled to see you!"
I knock at the bedroom's door. My hand is shaking and I am actually nervous. For a long time, I thought my dad was the only person I had left, and the hope of seeing him again was the only thing keeping me going.
"Come in." he says, probably thinking it's Mom.
I open the door slowly. He is on the opposite side of the room, putting his jacket on. His back is to the door, but I'm sure he knows it's me before turning around. I don't think I've ever seen him this emotional. He looks at me as if I am the most precious thing and tears immediately come to my eyes.
"Sweetheart." he says slowly, in a deep voice. It's not a simple greeting; it's a statement: of affection, of pride, of joy, of relief.
"Dad!" I coo and the first tear falls. He crosses the distance between us and pulls me into a hug, sighing in relief. It's like he can breathe again after the longest time.
"You didn't say anything…" he says to Mom, who watches us from the doorframe.
"I thought you should see by yourself what an amazing daughter we have." She explains and he nods, making me stand in front of him so he can look at me.
"Sweetheart, you look so beautiful!" he says and I have to bite my lip not to sob, because this compliment means the world. Dad is not welcoming back a missing agent; right now, I'm just his little girl.
"I missed you so much, Dad. And I'm so sorry." I cry.
"Why are you sorry, Sydney?"
"Because I let you think I was dead; because you were in jail; because I was so angry at you when I first found out about Project Christmas; because..."
"Sydney" he cuts me "none of this is your fault. And what about Project Christmas?"
"The failsafe worked" Mom explains to him. "They couldn't brainwash her."
"So you pretended to be Julia Thorne all this time." He doesn't have to ask; he just knows.
"Yes. I am a double agent."
"I see. You're quite an expert on it, aren't you?" he smiles "Who knows about it?"
"It used to be just Kendall, Mom and Leonid Lisenker, a defector I handle. Now Weiss does too." I say.
"Kendall?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.
"It was him I contacted in the first place. You were already in custody. He is my handler."
"Sorry about that." He grins and I chuckle. "But why did Agent Weiss become involved?"
"He is infiltrating the Covenant, too. So is Marshall… and Vaughn. They are the CIA oficial agents encharged of the operation. They were not supposed to know the truth about me. I pretend to be Julia Thorne around them too, but I told Weiss everything last week."
"But why did you tell Weiss and not Vaughn?" Dad asks.
I don't answer at first and Mom takes a deep breath; here we go.
"I am married to Vaughn, Dad" I start. He clenches his jaw. "as Julia." I finish.
"What do you mean?" he asks very, very slowly. That infamous icy note is noticeable in his voice.
Mom hides her face in her hands.
"Vaughn was ordered to marry Julia to gather intel from her, and I played along. So we got married, but he thinks I was successfully brainwashed and became an assassin and a terrorist. He married me for the mission." I explain.
"So he is using you! How dares he?! I've always known that stupid boy was not worthy of you!" Dad yells.
"No! Dad, no." I have to make him see this from the other side. "I'm telling you that I have been lying to Vaughn and making him believe that he is married to Julia, who is just my alias. I am following Kendall's orders. I know everything; he is the one blindsided." I realize my mistake as soon as this sentence is out of my mouth.
Mom makes a funny sound and recoils to a corner of the room.
"I see." Dad is livid now and I'm not sure he is breathing. His face is a dark shade of red. "So you're putting your maternal inheritance to good use. Sydney! How could you?! And don't tell me you're doing this for the good of the country. This is no different from being a…"
"Jack!" Mom stops him. "Don't you dare! You're being stupid. Explaining this is difficult for Sydney and she's always been afraid of what you would say about her relationship with Vaughn – now I fully understand why. She is nervous and she is not making herself clear. You could try and help her, instead of making this harder." I hear this and once more I realize that my mom and dad are a match made in heaven, in spite of everything. Who else would confront Jack Bristow like that?
"You think this is great, don't you, Irina? Like mother, like daughter. You transformed her into you. How could you let this happen, Sydney?" He sounds disappointed and hurt, and it hurts me.
"Dad, please. I love Vaughn. I couldn't live without him. He was there, right beside me; I had a chance to be with him and I took it. I didn't care that it wasn't real; I just needed to be with him. Our marriage is real to me, it's the most real thing in my life." I sob and Dad seems to calm down.
"But it's not real for him, is it?" he glances at me with a sad expression in his eyes.
"I don't know. In the beginning he fought it hard. He had a girlfriend back here and he got engaged to her…"
"What?!" he cuts me, but I don't let him.
"Dad, please, let me finish first, okay?" He nods. "In the beginning he made an effort not to get too involved, but now… now…"
"Now what, Sydney?" Mom asks softly, with a hint of a smile.
"I think he loves me; I mean, I think he loves his wife, he loves who I am now, even if he thinks I became Julia. We do everything together; we cook meals, and read to each other, and talk, and laugh all the time; we play the piano, and dance in our living room late nights, and work together in our rose garden; we babysit Marshall's son, and fight over curtains, and have friends over for dinner; we had the most beautiful wedding, and he gave me his grandmother's engagement ring, and we decorated our villa together – it's the most amazing place. I wake up everyday to his eyes and to his smile and I am so happy… I love him, Dad, I love him so much. I'm sorry, but I love him." Tears run down my face and I can't stop them.
"Don't be sorry, sweetheart. You do love him." Dad says after a short silence.
"And Sydney" Mom adds "he loves you too."
"How can you know that?" I ask her.
"The marriage you described" Dad answers first "– no one can fake that; and it's not half real; it is real."
"We lived through it, Sydney." Mom says "we know what we are talking about. We know precisely when a relationship becomes real, even if it was supposed to be just a pretense all the way." She walks up to Dad and hugs him, nesting her head on his chest. He puts an arm around her back. They both smile at me.
"I'm sorry I was so harsh at you, Sydney." Dad says. "Everything will work out, you'll see."
"Do you really think so?" I ask.
"Yes. I really do." He answers. "Now come here, sweetheart."
It's our first family hug in almost thirty years. I love it.
……………………………………………..
Sloane arrives early in the afternoon and no one is very pleased to see him. As Mom explains, he contacted her and offered to help Dad by revealing Robert Lindseys's involvement with illegal activities. She accepted it, but both she and Dad are suspicious of Sloane's willingness to help, figuring there must be something behind it.
Dad instructs me to speak as least as possible, so I mostly watch the interaction, and Mom sits close to me in the couch, putting on her best – or worst – Derevko expression. I feel quite safe.
Sloane seems truly happy to see me again, which bothers me a little bit, but Dad simply ignores his displays of affection, and makes it very clear to him that he doesn't believe in his "conversion". It's a bit of an awkward situation, and I'd rather be spared from it, but as we move up to a work related discussion, I start to believe that Kendall was right – twice: Sloane is in fact withholding information from the CIA and this meeting should pay off, as he seems to be willing to share everything he knows with us.
He tells Dad about the Elixir. Mom lists the ingredients which Project Black Hole already has – the multi-use solution, the ashes of Petrus Forlani, a man contemporary to Rambaldi, the liquid inside the Howerglass, the fluid from the Inkwell and, of course, a sample of my blood. I add that the Vaughn and Weiss are in Iceland getting the clay as we speak; they should turn it to the CIA pretty soon. It means there is only one ingredient missing: something kept inside an artifact known as The Cube.
"Do you know what it is?" Dad asks Sloane.
"Yes, Jack." he says, nursing his glass of water. "It's a sample of Rambaldi's DNA." Dad rolls his eyes.
"And where can we find the Cube?"
"It's in Algeria. I can give you the exact location."
"Good."
"What are you going to do, Jack, when you have all the ingredients to the Elixir?" Sloane asks.
"This…" Dad stares him down "is none of your business."
"You could use it to take the Covenant down, Sydney." Sloane turns to me.
"How do you suggest we do that?" I ask coldly.
"Well, the Elixir is what Cole, that lunatic, wants the most. You could let him know that one of your sources informed you that Project Black Hole successfully produced a vial of it. Of course he will question this; he believes the Covenant has the cloth produced by the Loom, which points to one of the ingredients, and the fluid from the inkwell. You'll tell him that it seems that you have a mole inside the organization – someone with high level clearance. This should get you access to the Covenant leaders. Now, it's a weak organization. If you take the heads down, the body will crumble. And you can come home." He finishes with a smile.
"Do you know who the Covenant leaders are?" I ask.
"Yes, I do."
"So…" Dad is out of patience.
"Your sister Yelena;" he tells Mom.
"Of course. I should have known." she shakes her head and I'm glad I never met my relatives.
"Alain Christophe, former Alliance;" this is not such a surprise "and someone we're quite fond of, Sydney."
"Who?"
"Mister Sark."
"Oh, not again…" I can't stand Sark.
Mom chuckles. Dad glares at her.
"Wait… So Sark thinks I became Julia…"
"Yes he does."
"But what about Vaughn and Weiss and Marshall? He knows they're CIA."
"Yes, he does; which means their operation has been compromised from the very beginning. If it wasn't for you, Sydney, the CIA would have nothing."
"Oh my God… But why didn't they simply kill Vaughn and Weiss? Why did they accept Marshall to join the team? It doesn't make sense."
"I don't think Sark told his partners about their identity. You see, Sydney, keeping them there, he knows what the CIA knows – or so he thought; of course he didn't count on you. Anyway, he's been using Vaughn, Weiss and Marshall to gather information about the CIA and their effort against the Covenant, and he trusts you to stop them from doing any real damage to the organization." He pauses to drink some water. "Of course he was concerned when Vaughn and you got together, but ended up figuring out that Vaughn had more to lose; Sark didn't think Julia would let her husband steal anything really important from her – and you have to admit that he was right; in terms of an operation, your marriage was a total failure for Vaughn. In other words, Sark thought that Julia would act as another counter-measure against her own husband. In fact, you've been all the protection he needed." He smiles. "It's quite a love story you and Vaughn have going on."
"Enough." Mom says. "We'll discuss your idea and let you know if we need anything else from you. Unecessary to remind you that if anyone learns about Sydney's double agent status, I'll hold you responsible and kill you myself."
"Irina… I love Sydney too." he says.
"Or maybe Jack and I could kill you right now…" she cuts him coldly.
"Fine. It was nice to see you all. Good luck."
"This was helpful, after all." Dad says after Sloane leaves.
"Yes, it was." Mom agrees. "But now it's time for our family dinner. And Sydney, I want to hear everything about that gorgeous villa of yours."