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The shot went off, and a bullet pierced Sydney's leg. Livingston knew he had no chance of escaping, since SD-6 would surely be on their way. So instead, he wanted to finish Sydney off nice and slow. He slowly walked up the stairs with the gun in one hand and a hammer in the other. He then made his way to where Sydney had collapsed.
"I must say, Miss. Bristow, you put up quite a fight. I didn't think you'd live this long. Too bad we can't truly savor this moment."
Sydney crawled further away from him. "SD-6 will be here any minute now. So, if you value your life, I suggest you leave our business unfinished."
Livingston let out a short laugh before answering her. "I wish I could. I would truly love to test your fighting skills," he sighed. "But unfortunately, I know without a doubt that I'll be captured. So I might as well enjoy this," he said, getting closer.
Livingston raised his arm ready to strike her again, when he was hit from behind.
"Dad!"
Jack looked at Sydney while clutching his right side. He slowly picked the gun up from Livingston's side and handed it to Sydney.
"Sydney," he paused to take a breath. "You all right?"
"Yeah dad, I'm fine." She turned to face Livingston, who was on the ground. He seemed to be unconscious.
Sydney noticed an enormous amount of blood seeping from Jack's cloths. "Oh my gosh, we gotta get you to a hospital!"
Jack ignored his own wound and noticed Sydney's instead, "Don't worry about me…can you walk?"
Sydney was surprised that her father wasn't the least bit concerned about himself, "Yeah I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."
Jack was about to answer her when nausea started to kick in. It soon became worse, when the entire room began to spin uncontrollably. Jack leaned back heavily against the railing, almost causing him to fall, when he noticed Livingston standing up. He ran toward them both, when Sydney turned quickly around and shot him. She kept shooting until she was left with only one more round. Livingston slowly backed away looking at the multiple wounds Sydney had just given him. He stopped when he felt his body touched the rail. Sydney then emptied her last round into him, causing him to tip over and fall. Livingston landed on top of a pole, which pierced through his body. Sydney watched his limp body lay there, until a loud thump caused her to turn around. Jack lay lifeless on the ground. Sydney's heart stopped. She quickly walked over to him and checked his pulse. He was still breathing, but quite rapidly.
Sydney knew she shouldn't panic, but that was all she could do.
"Dad….Dad. Stay with me…please," she said starting to sob. She then uttered the words she always wanted to say to him, "Dad, I need you."
Jack turned slightly to catch Sydney's gaze, "Sydney I know that I haven't been the perfect father," Jack paused starting to cough out blood this time "But I want you to know that I've always loved you….no matter…" Jack coughed yet again. Sydney stopped him from speaking by placing her finger on his lips, and wiping the blood from his mouth with her sleeve.
"Shhh Dad, I know…I know. Just stay with me, please," she said, letting the tears drip from her face. "Dad, you're gonna get through this…and when you do we'll have that dinner," she said, trying to smile.
Jack gripped her hand tightly, "I'd like that."
Sydney then spotted a group of men heading their way.
"Just hold on a little longer Dad. You'll make it, I promise," she said, kissing him on the cheek before leaving his side.
Sydney limped over to meet the group of agents.
"Listen, he needs to get to a hospital fast," she said, nearly out of breath.
The agent looked at Jack then back at her. "Listen!" Sydney said grabbing him by the neck. "If you don't get him to a hospital soon, I'll have your ass!"
The agent quickly reacted to the warning. "We have a man down. I repeat, we have a man down. Requesting immediate medical attention," he said yelling into a two-way.
"Roger that. Extraction in T minus two minutes."
"Copy that."
Sydney turned back to where her father lay and began to sob uncontrollably. All she could do was hope and that was it. The rest was out of her hands.
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"I'm sorry ma'am, but….he didn't make it."
"What, are you sure?...I mean, how could this happen? My husband can't be dead," the woman said, weeping.
"I'm sorry," he said again before walking away.
Sydney watched as the woman collapsed on the floor and had to be helped up by a few nurses. The doors suddenly opened from behind them and out came Jack's doctor. He slowly walked to where Sydney was sitting. She felt completely nauseated. Thinking that she would soon become that woman. Learning that someone she loved was dead. The mere thought made her stomach turn.
The doctor soon approached her, "Miss. Bristow, I'm happy to inform you that your father is just fine. Since the gun-wound was located at his lower right side, we had to remove his appendix. He has also lost an enormous amount of blood, but that problem was quickly solved with a blood transfusion. Although, he'll have to stay here for a few nights, just so we can monitor his progress. Other than that, he'll be just fine."
After that, Sydney began to feel calmer.
"Can I see him?"
"Normally no, but Mr. Sloane has ordered me to give complete access to your father as soon as possible. He may still be sleeping, though. So if you'd like to come back tomorrow when he's more aware of your presence, you can."
"No thanks. I'd like to see him now."
"Very well. Room 219 down there, four doors to your right."
Sydney quickly thanked the doctor and made her way down the hall. When she reached Jack's room, she took a moment to get herself together. She finally entered his room slowly and quietly, to find him fully awake and aware of her presence.
"Sydney."
"Hey, how do you feel?"
"A little dizzy, but other than just fine," he said assuring her.
Sydney sat beside Jack.
"Dad, when I saw you there…on the ground…it scared me. I always knew that no matter what happened, you were always going to be the one to save me. But when I saw you there…you looked so helpless…Dad, I don't want us to be apart anymore. I want things to be how they used to be. I want us to be a family again." By now Sydney had taken Jack into her arms. She didn't even loosen her grip. She just held him before whispering, "I love you."
Those words completely took Jack by surprise. Jack hadn't heard them for over twenty-five years. He took himself away from Sydney's grip to look into her eyes.
"Sydney, I know I may not be the perfect father…"
"Dad, it doesn't matter."
"Sydney, please just let me finish. After I found out the truth about your mother," Jack closed his eyes for a moment before opening them back up again. "It killed me. I couldn't bear to look at you. Instead I drove myself further and further away…and I honestly regret doing that.
Sydney tried holding back tears, but she couldn't hide them from Jack. But he ignored them and continued to speak.
"I know I don't deserve a second chance, but I'm grateful that you're allowing me one. All I want is to be your father again. To give back the time that has clearly been taken away from us…" but before he can finish Sydney hugged him once again and finally let out the tears.
As Jack held her, he wondered why he hadn't cried. Did he really mean what he had said? Or was it a silly attempt to finally bring him to redemption? Jack slowly started to pull away. Even though Jack and Sydney had finally broken the barrier between them, Sydeny still knew this was a little awkward for him.
"I think I should leave now. You need your rest if you wanna get out of here faster," she said, putting on that smile of hers.
Jack nodded and kissed her goodbye, "I'll see you soon."
She smiled at him yet again, "You can count on it."
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It had been four days since Jack was released from the hospital. Sloane has given him a month to recover. Although Jack refused it, Sloane wouldn't take no for an answer. Jack decided to make his time off worthwhile. Tonight, he was finally going to have that dinner with Sydney, and nothing was going to keep him away for their appointment, no matter what the issue may be. Jack was quietly reading a book when a knock caused him to stop. He opened the door to find Sark there.
"Mr. Bristow," he said offering his hand.
Jack quickly pulled him inside, "What are you doing here? You could have been followed."
"I assure you, Mr. Bristow, I was not. I was actually speaking with Mr. Devlin and he has informed me that you were out of the hospital."
"You spoke to Devlin…about what?" Jack asked, looking puzzled.
"I'm helping him with Irina's case. Although I must say, the real reason I'm here is because of your daughter."
"Sydney?"
"No/ Mr. Bristow…your other daughter."
"What about Vera?" Jack asked hastily.
"I want you to know that I didn't leave her, but she forced me to….Anyway, I don't want to take up anymore of your time," Sark handed Jack an envelope.
"She wanted me to give you this. I believe she wrote it before….well, before she died," he said with a sympathetic tone.
Jack looked at the envelope and felt that is was a tad bit heavy.
"She was a good person, you know. Despite all the things that you may have heard…she was still a good person."
Jack didn't answer. Instead, he merely shook his head. Sark was now starting to feel a bit awkward.
"Well, I think I'll see myself out."
"I'll walk you out."
As Sark was about to leave, Jack called out to him, "Sark."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Sark nodded and then took off. Jack tossed the letter on his desk and began to read his book again. Although this time, he was having a hard time concentrating. He must have read the same sentence five times. He knew what was bothering him. The letter. He didn't want to read it; he wanted to spare himself the pain. Somehow, though, he couldn't help but open it. As he opened it he noticed a cross was inside. He took it out and placed it on the table as he began to read.
To my father,
I've always wanted to call you that, but sadly I could not. I was taken away from a family that I never knew. A life that I somehow wanted. You and Sydney may have differences but I know you two deeply care for one another. I remember the first time I learned about you two. I was curious to know who you both were. Through surveillance, I've learned things about you and about Sydney. How I envied the moments that you looked at her. Love filled in your eyes. The love that she blindly hadn't seen. Although she too has had her fair share.
When I saw you both together, I hated my mother for taking me away. I hated myself even more for staying with her. The countless times she's caused me to cry, for her, for me, and for the people that we've hurt. She gave the cross that you're holding to me. She told me that faith and God were going to help us achieve our greatness, to separate us from the weak. All my life, I told myself that God loved me, that somehow, when I pass, he'll want me. Although I know that will never happen. The life that we have will never get us there. Heaven is merely a fairytale to us. One day, however, I hope to change that.
If this letter shall ever find it's way to you, then I really have left this Earth. I want you to remember that our thoughts become our words, and that our words become our actions. Don't let the ugly take over. We all choose our paths in life, and sadly this is what we've chosen. We can't escape it because it is what we are, but all we need to get through is our faith and our love. For love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. It is never boastful or conceited. Love is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and it is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in our sins, but the delight in the truth. It is ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure in whatever is to come. Most of all, love is forgiving. I've learned to forgive and so should you. Always remember that I love you both, and sooner or later we shall meet. Whether in this life or the next.
Always and forever,
Vera
Jack dropped the letter and fell on his knees. For he has done something he never thought could happen. He cried. He cried until he couldn't any longer. Jack knew that he had changed, and he knew that it was for the better.
