Ready to Go



Several Slapjack-filled hours later, Sydney and Sark had decided they should get some sleep before they had to leave. Sark examined his shirt to find that he hadn't gotten any stains from the pizza on it and put it back on.

Sydney retreated to the bedroom she had chosen previously after washing her dishes. Sark washed his and went to the other bedroom, but not before poking his head into Sydney's room.

he said, then started to close the door.

Hey wait, Sydney called.



What time are we getting up tomorrow?

Sark checked his watch to find that it was after ten. How about five? Seven hours of sleep, and we can alternate on the driving. He shrugged.

Sydney said with a smile.

Sark closed the door and Sydney tugged off her shirt and slacks. Seeing as these were the only clothes she had for now, she figured it would behoove her to keep them as unwrinkled as possible.

She climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She reached over to the alarm clock on the bedside table and set it for five minutes until five in the morning. She figured five minutes would allow her enough time to dress should Sark decide to poke his head in her room.

She sighed heavily and settled in to sleep.



She was awakened to the sound of Sark's voice.

he whispered, shaking her gently. SD-6 sent a team, there's a car outside, we need to go now.

Sydney sat up quickly and groped for the sheet when she noticed Sark's eyes drifting down from her gaze. I need to get dressed, she muttered, toss me those. She pointed to the chair.

Just then, the front door crashed open and a swarm of people entered.

Sark raised an eyebrow at her. Out the window, let's go, he said, running to it and opening it quickly.

Sydney leapt out of bed and grabbed her clothes as she followed Sark out the window. Luckily for them, none of the members of the SD-6 team had decided to stand guard outside, so they had a clean path to the car.

Once they were both inside, Sark started the engine and drove off. He glanced over at Sydney.

Why did you get undressed?

Sydney covered herself with the shirt until Sark looked away.

I didn't want to wrinkle my shirt and slacks, sue me.

Sark sighed and focused on the horizon as he drove. Sydney turned her shirt around so that she could pull it on when she noticed Sark staring at her out of the corner of his eye. She glared at him.

Act like you've seen a chick in a bra before, she said, rolling her eyes as she tugged on the shirt. She scoffed suddenly. Oh wait, maybe you—

All right, all right, Sark interrupted. But it isn't everyday something like this happens.

Yeah, thank God for that, Sydney muttered, as she attempted to pull on her slacks.

Sark chuckled.

Hey, uh, what did you do with that paper? You know, with our instructions and all? Sydney asked suddenly, taking off her seatbelt briefly so she could zip up the pants.

I flushed it down the toilet, Sark replied.

Okay good. I did too. Sydney sighed as she fastened her seatbelt again and adjusted her shirt. How many miles is it from L.A. to Vegas, approximately?

Sark shook his head. I don't know, but my guess is it'll take us a few hours to get there, assuming we don't run into any trouble.

Sydney nodded and reached down for the handle to lean the seat back. She rested her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. Sark stole a glance at her. She looked so peaceful as she slept. He considered touching his hand to her cheek but decided against it, and once again turned his attention back to the road.

Do you think this hitchhiker will have some information about Will and Francie?

Sark jumped a little in his seat. So she wasn't sleeping after all. He sincerely hoped she hadn't noticed him staring at her.

I don't know, he admitted. But hopefully he will.

He reached a tentative hand to Sydney and lightly brushed his fingers over hers. Sydney smiled a little and settled back comfortably in her seat.

Do you think he'll be able to direct us to the nearest clothing store as well? she asked.

Sark chuckled.

I should have gotten up earlier to take a shower, Sydney mumbled.

Sark joked, so then you'd have been naked when I came to tell you we had to go.

Sydney dug her fingernails into Sark's hand and he muttered an apology.

I wonder what the plan' is that the paper mentioned, Sydney murmured after a few moments of silence.

I think I may have an answer to that, Sark told her.

You think so? Sydney said with a laugh. Well, spill.

Okay, well, I was thinking that maybe since SD-6 sent a team to the L.A. safehouse, that maybe they'll expand on that team and keep following us until they finally catch us off-guard. Hopefully, by then, we'll have met with a CIA team that will be ready to blow everyone to bits. I think that's what's going on—the SD-6 team will get bigger and bigger and will follow our tracks. Eventually, we'll be able to eliminate the whole team, and possibly Sloane if he decides to come along, thinking he finally has us cornered. Sark shrugged. I could be wrong, but, otherwise, I have no idea. Unless this hitchhiker is going to give us new identities and such and ship us off somewhere until suspicion and whatnot dies down.

Sydney sighed. Honestly, I hope it's something like your idea. I don't want to be shipped off somewhere. Hiding until SD-6 is completely gone. I just want it over as quickly as possible.

Sark glanced over at her. I know, he said softly, I know.

Sydney suddenly felt tears form in her eyes. she muttered.

Sark started to ask what was wrong but decided against it and turned his head to look at her.

I know this is going to sound incredibly cheesy and such, but everything's going to be fine. You have to believe that. Everything's going to work. He sighed and added, We'll make it work.

Sydney's eyes widened slightly at Sark's use of we,' but she relaxed after a moment. Sark swallowed, seeing that the last sentence was possibly a bit too suggestive, but he realized that maybe he meant it to be that way. He grasped Sydney's hand and squeezed it gently. He was relieved when she squeezed back. He smiled and continued to drive.