I've had much more than my fair share of injuries, so naturally I've become accustomed to hospital rooms. I swear I practically sensed that I was in one before I even opened my eyes. Sure enough…..sterile air, cream colored walls, and florescent lighting. It could be nothing other than a hospital. I didn't move very much at first because my entire body felt like dead weight. I knew, yet again from experience, that it was a side effect of anesthetic. 'Heart monitor, saline drip on one IV, package of donor blood on the other. What ever happened this time must have been bad,' I thought to myself, the suddenly realized that I was not alone. There was some man pacing around in front of my bed. I had no idea who he was, and he didn't seem to notice that I was even in the room.
"No sir, no police have been contacted, but the hospital staff is getting very suspicious. We need the extradition as soon as possible," He said into his cell phone
'Extradition?'

He rubbed the bridge of his nose in an annoyed manner before continuing the conversation, "Yes sir, I'm in Tuvalu. (pause) I know that it's highly irregular but- (pause) Sir, Agent Bristow called saying that she was injured and asked for my help! So in response to your question, yes, I did feel the situation was critical enough to warrant immediate action. (pause) Actually her cover was in greater danger before I came down, not after. (pause) Yes I'll hold."

'What in the hell? Agent Bristow? Is this guy new at SD-6 maybe?'

While shuffling around impatiently, he happened to glance my way. I could tell that he had now noticed I was awake. He stared at me for a few seconds. I wasn't really sure if I should say something since I had no idea what was going on, and I kind of got from his expression that he would gladly see me die a thousand brutal deaths.
"Excuse me, what was that again sir?" He said, his attention back to his cell phone, "Two hours? (pause) Yes sir that's plenty of time."

He ended the conversation, put the cell phone back in his jacket pocket, and left the room, without looking at me again.

'Well aren't I Mr. Popular?' I thought to myself. I took a deep breath and attempted to sit up, almost instantly a surge of white-hot pain seared through my abdomen. Since sitting up was apparently out I laid back and set my mind to recounting the events that brought me here.

Even back in L.A. as I was trying to convince Sydney to come to Tuvalu I sort of figured that she wouldn't. I went to the airport that night just on the off chance. She stepped of the plane looking like a complete goddess. I was so happy that she was even there, I could hardly keep my hands off her.

I got the call early the next morning. I knew that Khasinau was going through Funafuti en route to somewhere in the East China Sea. It was all planned out, but it wasn't supposed to happen until next week. Therefore I was quite surprised when K-Directorate informed me that he had arrived early. I left Sydney at the apartment, and hurried down to the marina where his boat was docked. Hoping that I could get this done quickly; no such luck, Khasinau was already gone. I knew it was pointless to go searching for him he could come back while I was gone and I would loose him. I felt like such an ass calling Sydney to tell her that I wouldn't be back until the next day. After all I begged her to come then once she did I went off and told her I wouldn't be there the first day, but when you've got no choice, you've got no choice.

I managed to get past the guards without any problems and secured a place to hide on board. I decided on a storage closet, inconspicuous and less likely to be locked when they started moving again. This week was starting off well instead of spending it with Sydney I spent the day standing in a closet, sweltering under five pounds of black clothing with a mop handle jammed between my shoulder blades. It was four more hours before the boat starting up told me that Khasinau was back. I decided to wait until we had sailed farther out into open sea that way there was less chance of Khasinau escaping.

When I finally decided to make my move I crept out and took care of any guards that happened to be in sight as quietly as I could. Word spread fast though because bullets were flying by my head within minutes. I eventually resorted to going from room to room in search of Khasinau, killing any guards I bumped into along the way. I didn't even notice there was another person in the other room until they hit me over the head. I kicked their feet out from under them and they tumbled over me, tearing my mask off along the way. When I looked up I saw her lying there looking just as surprised to see me as I was to see her.

When the ship started running aground she took off down the hall to stop it. I did not like this at all, but I knew that she could take care of herself if she needed to. Besides I had to focus on the mission right away, I could worry about Sydney later. I recovered my bearings and my weapons, but she found me first and was asking…..no begging me not to kill Khasinau.

"Walk away" she said. Little did she know that was exactly why I took the job in the first place. K-Directorate was being very generous; if I pulled it off I'd be set for life. I'd finally have my ticket out, out of SD-6, K-Directorate, everything. Unfortunately Sydney was just as determined to stop me from completing the mission, as I was to finishing it. As much as I hated it I ended up having to stab her, she hit my with a fire extinguisher, I leaned her over the edge of the boat with my hands around her throat, and then……………she shot me. That's my last coherent memory before waking up in this hospital.

A doctor came in and started checking my eyes, heart rate, blood pressure etc. "Are you having any dizziness, nausea, or trouble swallowing?" He asked.

"No." I managed to rasp out.
"Deep breathes please," He said, putting the stethoscope on my side. I breathed as deeply as I could without moving the muscles in my stomach too much.

"Thank you Mr. Hicks," He said, making a note on his chart as he walked out of the room.

'Great! Yet again left alone with no explanation what so ever.' Suddenly I heard footsteps in the doorway, Sydney was standing there. She slowly approached my bedside.

"How are you feeling?" She asked uncertainly.

"I've been better." I said. She nodded awkwardly, but made to reply. The tension in the room was almost too much to bear.

"Listen Syd-" I began, but she cut me off before I could finish.

"Look…….." She paused for a moment, "there's really nothing that can be said, but I would like to know why?"

"I had my reasons" I answered.

"You killed people, Noah." She said in a voice that left no room for argument, "You betrayed your country-"

"No more so than you!" I interrupted.

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

"Sydney SD-6 is not part of the CIA its part of the Alliance of Twelve. All lower lever agents have been lied to, that's why I tried to get away." I explained.

I expected her to be socked, but her face betrayed no emotion. Finally she gave a sad smile, "I know."

"You know?!?!" I could not believe that, there was no way that Sydney would work for Sloane knowing that she had been lied to. Suddenly all the pieces fall into place why she was so hesitant to run away from SD-6, the phone conversation I overheard a few minutes ago, how she know the specifics of my mission for K-Directorate.

"You're a double agent." I said. She slowly nodded. I never imagined Sydney as the type for a double agent. I suppose that's rather foolish of me, or sexist, or both. "Please don't take it personally. My choices were my own." I said.

"I do take it personally, Noah. You lied to me, you nearly killed me, I almost ended up being responsible for your death, and then on top of all that I had call my CIA handler and ask him to help me save your life." She said bitterly. I could tell from her tone that she was resentful, and I dare say embarrassed. Obviously this guy meant a little bit more to her than just a CIA handler. Suddenly the glare he sent me made a lot more sense.

"I know may be inclined not to believe me, but I really do understand. I know that deep down you're not bad person. Although regardless of how what your motive may have been it still does not change your actions, but I do not hate you for it." She said, then gave me a regretful look, "I have to go."

I watched her walk away, then laid back defeated. Her message rang loud and clear. 'What you did was wrong, not matter how you justify it'. She was right of course……..and I knew it.

**I ultimately decided that having Noah die at Sydney's hand was not a good idea, because when she did kill him she was too consumed by her own guilt to really see the big picture. Notice that in The Solution she was still defending him even after knowing he was The Snowman. Although I wanted to convey that Syd and Noah would have killed each other if forced to. One more chapter to go after this. Please review people!**