Author's Note: Last part of "Mysteria"! -Ashni

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MYSTERIA: Part 5
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Part 5: Tangled Deceit

Sydney followed the CIA team through a maze of underground passages. She had not let go of the SD-6 files since her narrow escape from Sloane's office and she was almost sure that the folder tab would leave a permanent mark on her palm. Conflicting emotions pounded through her. Joy at her success; shock at the appearance of K.S.; relief at her escape; hurt at the way her doppelganger had tried to kill her.

Sloane must have told her that the helicopter in Pennsylvania hadn't been sent by SD-6. Sydney's brow furrowed. If K.S. was working with Sloane, why had she snuck into the office? Obviously the other woman had information she wanted to gain; information that Sloane would not reveal to her.

There were too many unsolved mysteries. The shout of "You're working against him!" when K.S. was doing the same thing; the way the woman had found Sloane's office and yet not taken any precautions with the security that normally protected it. She would have been caught by at least a half-dozen alarms, if Jack hadn't disabled them earlier...

Unless he was working with K.S. In which case, he was on the side of SD-6, after all.

Even as her eyes widened, Sydney shook her head. That couldn't be right, either. Her dad could have revealed her to Sloane months ago, when she first became a double agent. And he'd saved her life so many times before. What was going on?

A new light sent spots dancing across Sydney's vision. She raised her head slowly as the men ahead of her emerged into a corridor of the CIA building. Soon they'd reach the conference room, where Vaughn would be waiting--

She couldn't suppress the leap in her spirits as she thought of Vaughn. He'd help her figure this out. Anything seemed possible when she was with him.

Which was crazy, she knew. A weary smile tugged at her lips. He was just as human as she was, and just as fallible. He couldn't solve all her problems with a snap of his fingers--although sometimes it felt like he could--and it was crazy of her to rely on him this way. But she did rely on him, as she'd never relied on anyone since her mom's death.

Her face turned grim at this, but one of the CIA agents with her was holding open the door to the conference room and she had to go in. Sydney forced herself to murmur "Thank you," to him, then took a deep breath and entered.

She couldn't help but see the relief on Vaughn's face that quickly turned to concern. He half-stood, stopping at a look from her. *I'm okay,* she mouthed with a quick smile. She took a seat next to him, tapping her fingers impatiently on the folder.

"Syd--your face--"

"I've been through worse," she said, cutting him off. "What are we waiting for?"

Vaughn didn't look convinced, but he dropped the topic and answered her question. "Weiss. He's been helping me investigate your look-alike-he was actually the one who found out that she was sent by SD-6-so I figured he should see the files, too. There he is," he added, looking at the door.

Sydney turned in her seat and grinned. "Hello, Eric."

"It's good to see you. What happened to your face?" He sat down, adjusting his jacket.

"I ran through a glass wall. It's fine, really."

"Syd, maybe you should tell us what happened," Vaughn said. The worried look was returning to his eyes.

She thought for a moment and finally nodded. "*She* showed up. In Sloane's office. I don't know why she was there, but she must've wanted information that Sloane wouldn't give her, because she was trying to stay hidden. I'm not sure what to think. She pulled a gun on me." Sydney heard Vaughn's swift intake of breath and continued before he could say anything.

"The shot hit the glass and the guards started shouting. I ran before they could see me." She smiled crookedly. "I couldn't exactly reach the door."

Weiss whistled softly. "I'm surprised you're not more banged up than you already are."

Sydney shrugged. "Look, I'm dying to know what's in these files. I have the one for the Pennsylvania assignment and the one for that woman. To be honest, I want to look through hers first."

"Weiss is here, so go ahead." Both men leaned forward as she pulled out the folder and opened it, hands trembling. Vaughn watched the file intently, fingers drumming on the table impatiently. Weiss kept looking up nervously, one foot tapping the floor.

"Here, look for anything interesting." Sydney gave a third of the papers inside to Weiss and another third to Vaughn. The last pages she took for herself.

For a few minutes nothing could be heard but the rustling of pages as each person scanned their section. An envelope fell out of the papers in Sydney's hands. She put her stack aside and held up the envelope. After examining it closely, she opened it. She had to squint to read the letter inside. //Jack--//

"Hey, you might want to look at this." Sydney looked up as Weiss passed her a stack of photos. They were all of Sloane and a little girl who looked like Sydney. She turned one over; there was writing on the back.

"Dear Kesi. I'm sorry I had to leave so quickly-work, as usual. Love you as always," she read aloud. "It's not signed, but I recognize Sloane's handwriting." She gave the picture to Vaughn and took the letter up again.

//Great work in Cairo. Hassan delivered the arms Tuesday morning. Find out what you can about Williams. I want a report by next week.// Similar news about work continued for the next page and Sydney skipped over it. A name caught her eye. //Laura gave birth yesterday, you'll be happy to hear. Just as the doctor said, they were twin girls.//

"Sydney?" Vaughn's soft voice brought her back to the conference room. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she replied breathlessly. "Just reading through a letter from Sloane to my dad."

He nodded and looked down at his papers again, and Sydney took a deep breath before continuing reading the letter.

//As agreed, Laura will live with you and together you will raise Sydney. Kesi stays with me. I'm expecting to be invited to the wedding. Remember, Jack. At eighteen, Sydney once again becomes mine.
Sincerely,
Arvin//

The letter dropped to the table as Sydney cried out and put a hand to her mouth. Silent sobs shook her body. At her cry, Vaughn had immediately turned to her and now had his arm around her shoulders, rocking her gently, but Weiss had taken up the letter. As he finished reading, he set the letter down again and watched her with eyes full of pity. Sydney couldn't stand it.

She lunged out of her seat, ignoring Vaughn's startled look, and headed for the door. It opened before she reached it, and she found herself staring into the dark eyes of her father.

"I see you found Kesi's file." His voice strived to be casual, but it failed.

"You lied to me. Again." Sydney could hardly speak through the agony of anger and sorrow that coursed through her.

"Sydney--"

"I hate you." She pushed past him and began to run down the hallway.

"Sydney, I am still your father!" he called out hoarsely.

Sydney stopped and turned to look at him, eyes bleak. "I have no father," she said. Jack made no move to follow her as she slowly walked away.

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P.S. Watch for "Agraciana," the last story in this series, soon! -Ashni