Story: Beyond All Limits
Author: Steph (stephanie406@juno.com)
Disclaimer: Don't own Alias, or any characters thus portrayed. It all belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, ABC, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Spoilers: post "After Thirty Years"
Jack was worried. He'd never let this on to Will, but he was definitely worried.
He knew his daughter, probably better than she thought he did. She would have called by now if she'd gotten out safely.
The plane had just landed at the same small, private airstrip it had left the day before.
The plane had had three passengers yesterday.
Now it only held two… only one of whom was an original passenger.
Had he been anyone but Jack Bristow, he'd be sick to his stomach at all the possibilities of what may have held Sydney up. As well as Agent Vaughn.
He'd meant it when he told Vaughn he respected him for what he was doing. Because, better than most, Vaughn knew what he was up against, between helping Sydney and defying CIA policy. If he made it out alive, who knew what they'd do to him? The CIA really disliked individuals who didn't follow protocol, live by the rules of Agent life, who dared to defy and think on their own. They'd only tolerated Jack's own methods because they needed him. Besides, they couldn't argue with the fact that his methods usually worked.
But Vaughn? They considered him completely replaceable as Sydney's handler. Of course, Jack already knew Sydney's opinion of the matter, and Jack was actually beginning to agree with his headstrong daughter.
That so-called "emotional attachment" both Sydney and Vaughn held for each other… well, given recent circumstances, it may be the only reason Sydney was still alive. She hadn't been in the business long enough to be able to suppress all her emotions. She still needed to feel that there was someone she could trust, no matter what; someone that knew everything about her life; someone she held no secrets from.
You don't trust your life to someone you hardly know. Or at least, Sydney wouldn't.
Jack disembarked, not at all surprised to find two black cars flanking his own. He unlocked his car and motioned for Will to go and wait for him. And then Jack stood his ground, out of earshot of his vehicle, waiting for the group of agents to emerge from the safety of their standard I-work-for-the-government-don't-mess-with-me-if-you-value-your-life cars. He knew the routine. Even had the car to qualify for the job.
They had just formed what would have been formidable semi-circle to someone else in front of him, when his phone rang. Jack's hand reached into his coat pocket and deftly plucked it out. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the name flashing on his Caller ID screen. Sydney.
He answered the call, ignoring the agents in front of him (Devlin included). "Sydney, where are you?" he asked her, the gruffness in his voice the only sign of his emotions. Acting cold and nonchalant as he normally did was the only way he could keep his emotions hidden. He didn't know of any other way of hiding them from curious eyes.
"Driving for the airport. What are the options for getting out of here Dad?"
Dad. Jack had to fight the moisture from rushing to his eyes and flooding there at the sound of her voice. She was alive and okay. Her calling him 'Dad' just then was almost his undoing.
"We can get an extraction team there in short order once we know your position. Or you could just get on the next flight out if it's soon. Charter a plane. Whatever. Just get out of there, Sydney. NOW" he emphasized.
Devlin caught Jack's attention. "Where is Sydney exactly?" he asked.
"Taipei. With Vaughn" Jack told him shortly.
Devlin's eyebrows rose. So he hadn't been aware of Vaughn's whereabouts. Jack shrugged. It wasn't surprising, and he had more important things to deal with right now than Devlin realizing he had a missing agent.
"Let me talk to her" Devlin ordered, holding out his hand for the phone.
Suddenly, Jack heard loud cursing in his ear. "We've got a tail," she informed him.
Not good.
Now Vaughn was on the phone. Devlin still stood holding his hand out.
Jack snapped into action, updating Devlin as he headed for his car. "Get them an extraction team, somewhere, NOW!" he growled at the agents, sending them scurrying away with their cell phones in hand. "I'll meet you at headquarters" he told Devlin. Jack was in his car and peeling out of the gate, not giving Devlin room to argue.
Jack knew that as long as he knew his daughter was alive, he'd be okay. He couldn't afford to lose his daughter too. Not now, when the ice he'd put their relationship on years ago was finally beginning to thaw. Not when he was finally allowing himself to visibly care for someone again.
Fear of losing her had been the real reason he'd distanced himself from her in the first place.
Jack actually gave praying a passing thought as he sped through the early morning LA traffic.
'A cold day in hell may have just arrived' he thought. Something about this just did not feel right at all.
AN: wow huh? Jack a thawed out man is a mind-boggling concept, I know, but we've all seen it coming I hope. J As for that last note I left about this wonderful little story plot you guys will probably want to kill me over… I think I'm just going to make that into a second story. Got to have something to leave you hanging on for, right? Lol
