Disclaimer: I don't own Alias, but I sure wish I did!

WARNING: Spoilers!!!

[Thoughts are in brackets]



Scene 5



"Devlin here"

"Karaoke Castle"

"Sorry, wrong number"

Jack turned off his cell phone as he pulled into an empty parking garage and parked on the top level; five minutes later Devlin joined him.

"Jack, please give me some GOOD news, cause right now I've got the DSR and the FBI signing my death warrant!"

"Sydney is on her way to Italy… so is Vaughn…"

"WHAT!?!"

"Relax, I told him to go; I would have gone myself if I wasn't babysitting SD-6. Besides she might need a witness, the DSR doesn't exactly trust her…"

"Jack Bristow, defending Michael Vaughn, this is new…"

"Well he might not be extremely experienced, but he has a heart for the job…"

"Yeah, kind of reminds me of someone else I once knew…" this remark earned Devlin a famous Jack Bristow emotionless stare, followed by a sarcastic smirk.

Devlin added, "Well, at least if Vaughn is with Sydney he might stay alive for a few more days, thanks to our friend Haladki the DSR is out for his blood!"

There was a hint of humor as they both pondered how ironic it was that Vaughn had gone with Sydney for HER protection.

Jack dampened the mood, "There's something else… Syd thinks Laura is alive."

Devlin whispered a "WOW!" as if someone had punched him in the stomach. "Guess we shouldn't have stopped the investigation when we didn't find a body." He regretted speaking his thoughts when he saw a hurt expression on Jack's face. "Sorry, Jack didn't mean to be so blunt."

"No you're right, it was stupid of me to close the case because of my own feelings, with everything else that's been going on its been easier to ignore the facts, but now… you'd better get some people on it, if she IS alive, Sydney could be cleared from this prophecy…"

"Forget the 'box', this is Pandora's warehouse! Kind of makes me miss the Cold war," when he noticed his humor wasn't helping either of them, he continued, "Jack, if she IS alive and the prophecy is true…"

"Yeah, I know, 'utter desolation', let's get on this and when Sydney gets back maybe we should let the DSR in on it."

"Whoa, one step at a time Jack, let's get some aces in our hand before with bring it to the table."

They nodded in agreement and with a handshake departed.