Salvation
Sark arrived at the safehouse soon after. He pulled his gun out of his jacket and went around to the passenger's side to open the door. He wanted to be prepared to make a quick getaway if he could.
He tried the door of the safehouse. It was unlocked. He saw Sydney lying on the floor. His stomach lurched.
She was either unconscious or dead.
He saw Sloane sitting on top of her. Sloane barely had time to turn around to see who had entered when Sark plugged him.
Sark dragged Sloane's body off of Sydney. He looked down at her for a moment before remembering that there had been a handful of people when Sloane had captured Sydney.
He realized just then how grateful he had been for the silencer on his gun.
He dug into Sloane's coat pocket and pulled out the keys to the handcuffs. He slipped his gun back into his jacket and carried Sydney out to the car quickly after checking her pulse and removing the cuffs. He gently lay her on the seat and fastened her seatbelt. He shut the door and went around to the driver's side. He got in quickly and started the engine.
Sloane's thugs had no idea what had happened.
Vaughn and Jack arrived at the safehouse and were greeted by carnage—every last member of Sloane's team had committed suicide. Their bodies were strewn about but were lying close to their fallen leader.
Vaughn and Jack searched the building then retreated to the helicopter where they were informed by a member of their team that Sydney and Sark were together once more and on the move.
They checked the radar for themselves to confirm and were deeply grateful that tracking devices had been affixed to Sydney and Sark's clothes.
The helicopter was in the air again and hot on the trail of Sydney and Sark.
Sark drove in the direction of the nearest hospital. He glanced at Sydney every few seconds to see if she had awakened. He used the towel he had his gun wrapped in to clean her up as best he could.
He suddenly heard a whirring sound. He checked his mirrors and saw an approaching helicopter. He pulled over and went to the passenger's side. Vaughn and Jack leapt from the helicopter as it hovered a few feet above the ground.
Jack all but pushed Sark out of the way as he checked on Sydney then swiftly carried her—as she was still unconscious—to the helicopter.
I'm coming with you, Sark said as he followed Jack over to the helicopter.
Vaughn stopped him by grabbing his arm.
Sark shrugged out of Vaughn's grasp. What do you mean,
I-I mean there's no more room, Vaughn said quickly.
We'll make room, Sark said defiantly.
Vaughn grabbed his arm again. Someone needs to take the car back.
Sark glared at Vaughn. It was clear from the way he was acting and what he was saying that he didn't Sark to come with them.
Have it your way, Sark said icily, then turned and walked back to his car. He looked over his shoulder and shook his head slightly, then climbed in.
A while later, Sydney was asleep at a hospital in St. Louis. She slept soundly as she was watched over by Jack, Vaughn, Will, and Francie. The latter two didn't have the chance to go into witness protection when they were contacted with the news of Sloane's death. They had been filling out papers and such with several CIA officers when the branch in Los Angeles had called.
Sydney stirred and everyone rose from their seats to wander over to her bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she raised an eyebrow at her surroundings after focusing her eyes.
You're awake, Vaughn said softly as he stroked her hand.
Sydney nodded slightly and attempted to sit up when she was halted by a blinding pain in her stomach.
she muttered, sitting up the rest of the way slowly.
Are you all right? Jack asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Sydney glared at him. You mean except for the fact that every single part of my body hurts like hell?
Jack gave her a smile and kissed the top of her head. At least you're alive.
Yeah, well, honestly, I think I'd be much better off in a coffin with all this pain.
She resituated herself on the bed and let out a small gasp when the shooting pain in her stomach returned. She tentatively reached a hand to her left cheek and found a bandage. She touched her lip next and found stitches. She hooked a thumb in the neck of her hospital gown and winced at the massive bruising on her chest and abdomen. The fact that her torso wasn't bandaged led her to believe that she hadn't broken any bones, so she relaxed for the moment. After she finished her inspection, she raised an eyebrow at the troupe of people around her.
Okay, what happened after Sloane knocked me out? she asked. I remember being captured, being taken to the safehouse, being beaten up, and finally being knocked out cold. Then I was here.
Well, we really don't know, Vaughn admitted. We just know that when Jack and I got to the safehouse, you weren't there. We ended up finding you with Sark—he was driving you to the hospital, and we convinced him to let us airlift you here.
Sydney's eyes widened and she looked around the room. Where is he?
Vaughn sighed. He's driving. He should be here soon.
Sydney's eyes narrowed. Why is he driving? Why didn't you take him with you in the helicopter and have someone else drive his car?
Vaughn looked down at his feet.
Sydney continued her rant. Why didn't you volunteer to drive back?
Jack said in a warning tone.
Look, I love all of you and you know that, but the one person I wanted to see when I first woke up, the one person who means the most to me right now is Sark.
There was a collective sigh as everyone absorbed the words Sydney had just spoken.
I'm sorry, Syd, Vaughn said finally.
Sydney nodded and sighed deeply as she turned her head to look out the window. Her ears suddenly perked up when she heard someone arguing with a receptionist down the hall.
What do you mean I can't see her? someone was saying.
I'm sorry sir, but I have to talk to the patient first, the receptionist responded in as calm a voice as she could manage.
A smile spread across Sydney's face as she recognized the voice of the pissed-off visitor. Ignoring the blinding pain that surged through her body as she attempted to leave the bed, she was able to lower her feet to the floor.
The four people in the room with Sydney tried to gently coax her back to the bed but she pushed past them and charged out into the hall.
Sark turned to locate the source of the voice and he grinned when he saw Sydney. He nearly sprinted down the hall as Sydney jogged to meet him half-way. Without a moment's hesitation, Sark took Sydney into his arms and held her close to him.
Their moment was interrupted by a bit of a yelp. Sark released Sydney immediately and checked her over.
Just bruised, Sydney told him reassuringly.
Sark nodded and hugged her again, keeping his arms loose around her and gently running his fingertips over the small of her back. Sydney leaned her head on his chest and moved closer to him, inviting him to wrap his arms a bit tighter around her. He did so, then rested his chin atop her head.
I love you, she whispered.
I love you too, Sydney, Sark whispered back.
How did you do it? Sydney asked suddenly.
Do what?
Save my life.
Sark smiled and kissed the top of her head. He glanced down the hall at Jack, Vaughn, Will, and Francie. From the looks on their faces, Sark could tell that they wanted Sydney to be back in bed.
You need to rest, Sark told her. Let's go to your room and I'll tell you everything.
Sydney pulled back from him and nodded. She reached her hands up to his face and pulled his head down towards her to kiss him. Their lips melded and Sydney ignored the dull throbbing from the stitched-up gash.
They pulled apart after a few moments and Sark wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he led her down the hall to her room. Once inside, Sark helped Sydney onto the bed and sat in a chair beside her.
Sydney grasped his hand and looked into his eyes, silently asking him to tell her the story.
Sark obliged gratefully.
After the tranq I was shot with wore off and I woke up, I went on somewhat of a rampage.
Sydney chuckled a bit. What did you do?
I broke stuff.
Sydney laughed and Sark grinned at her.
So then I decided to drive. I'm not sure why, but somehow I just knew that Sloane would go to the next safehouse we planned to visit.
Yeah, Sloane got a hold of our map, Sydney stated.
Sark nodded and continued. On my way there—I had another map—I dug out my gun from the glovebox. When I arrived at the safehouse, I saw him sitting on top of you, so I shot him and I got you in the car. He sighed and shook his head slightly. I feared the worst. When I first went in and saw you, I honestly thought I might have been too late. I'm so glad I wasn't.
Sydney felt tears prick at her eyes and squeezed Sark's hand.
I had started driving to the nearest hospital when a helicopter with your father and Mr. Vaughn stopped me.
We had put tracking devices on your clothes, Vaughn cut in.
Sydney and Sark turned to look at Vaughn. They had been so lost in their conversation that they hadn't realized they weren't alone. But now that they had realized it, they were both a bit perturbed that Vaughn had interfered.
Would you guys mind if we asked to have some time alone? Sydney asked sweetly.
Not at all, Jack replied, then ushered Will and Francie out of the room after they exchanged brief good-byes. He placed a hand on Vaughn's shoulder and guided him out of the room and shut the door behind them both.
Sydney grabbed Sark's shirt eagerly and Sark sprang up from the chair as he leaned over to give Sydney what she wanted.
After the make-out session, Sark relayed the rest of the story.
Jack put you in the helicopter and I ended up driving here.
Sydney sighed. I still don't understand why someone couldn't have driven the car and let you come in the helicopter.
Sark frowned a bit, contemplating whether or not he should tell her what Vaughn had said. He decided against it and smiled.
The journey is not nearly as important as the destination, he told her as he raised her hand to his lips so he could kiss her fingers.
Sydney grinned, reading between the lines. I like where we ended up.
Me too, Sark agreed.
There's just one thing, Sydney said, looking him straight in the eye.
It would be really great if I knew your first name.
FIN