Title: Beyond Transgression, 7/9
Author: Chocolatequeen
Email: g_chocolatequeen@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever own Alias
Rating: PG
Summary: ATY from the perspectives of different characters
"Egress 1. The act of coming or going out; emergence. 2. The right to leave
or go out: denied the refugees egress. 3. A path or opening for going out;
an exit. (American Heritage Dictionary)
Chapter 7: Egress-Jack's POV
I froze for an instant when Will Tippin wrapped his arms around me. Then, almost in slow motion, I returned the hug. As I wait at the rendezvous point for Sydney and Vaughn to return, I find myself going over that one moment over and over in my mind.
I have never seen someone so glad to be rescued. Everyone I work with is trained to get themselves out of situations like this, they don't expect to get rescued because they can take care of themselves-they have to. I've been in many situations were I knew there would be no rescue and I simply had to rely on myself.
But here was an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. He never signed up for the experiences he's had in the last week, and seeing his reaction to it all has driven one fact home: regular people don't have the ability to get out of irregular circumstances. They have to depend on the abilities and strengths of others to rescue them, because they can't do it themselves.
In a way, it is yet another thing that drives home how far I am from being a normal person. Just look at where I am right now if you don't believe that-sitting in a rental car in Taipei, helping my daughter's friend. That sounds normal on the surface, but to get here I stole CIA property, killed an agent who was a mole for the other side, and risked losing the friendship and trust of one of my oldest friends. And Will Tippin. well, helping him wasn't simply a matter of loaning him some cash or getting him a job. He's been beaten, and by the look of him they subjected him to some emergency dental work before letting him go.
I'm so deep into this life of secrecy and betrayal that I don't know if I can ever get out. A year ago, I didn't think I wanted to, but that was before I was offered another chance at a relationship with my daughter. She deserves a father who can be there for her in all ways, a father who doesn't have to keep himself emotionally distant to keep both her and himself safe. For the first time in a long time, I want out.
But as I told Sydney months ago when she wanted the same thing, there is no way out. No way but to destroy SD-6 and the Alliance-only then can we be free to have our own lives. Now more than ever I live for the day when our job is done and we can walk away from the lies and deceit that have become a part of who we are.
The sound of Will's voice breaks through my thoughts. "I know I've already thanked you for saving me. but thanks," he says almost shyly. "I never really figured you were the kind of guy to go out on a limb for someone like me."
In response, I raise my eyebrow and say, "What kind of man do you think I am, Mr. Tippin?" There's a part of me that isn't sure I want to know the answer to that, but the rational side knows that he's still too nervous around me to say anything truly offensive.
He flushes and stammers out a response. "I. I didn't mean it like that-I just meant that I know, well I imagine anyway that this isn't the normal way to handle situations like this, and I want to say that I appreciate the effort."
"Appreciation acknowledged," I say with a curt nod, hoping that maybe he'll be quiet.
No such luck. "And it's great that you got here so quickly. I mean, I don't know how many teeth I would have had left if you hadn't gotten here until tomorrow. Plus, my sister's birthday is tomorrow and I really wanted to be there."
He rambles on about the party he was throwing and other meaningless things, but I have more important things on my mind. A glance at the clock confirms my suspicions: Sydney and Vaughn are late.
They both know how important it is to make a rendezvous. If there had been any way they could have made it, they would have. The longer I sit here waiting for them, the more likely it is that Mr. Tippin and I will be found. Their tardiness is putting us all in danger, and they wouldn't do that purposely. Something, or rather someone, prevented them from leaving the club on schedule.
Now I'm in an impossible situation. Agency policy says that I leave them here, the idea being that it is more important to get at least one agent out than to risk the entire operation on the chance that the other agents might survive. But this wasn't a regular op, and that isn't just any agent in there-it's my daughter. I can't just leave without trying to rescue her, even though I know that there may not be anyway out of this. for any of us.
Chapter 7: Egress-Jack's POV
I froze for an instant when Will Tippin wrapped his arms around me. Then, almost in slow motion, I returned the hug. As I wait at the rendezvous point for Sydney and Vaughn to return, I find myself going over that one moment over and over in my mind.
I have never seen someone so glad to be rescued. Everyone I work with is trained to get themselves out of situations like this, they don't expect to get rescued because they can take care of themselves-they have to. I've been in many situations were I knew there would be no rescue and I simply had to rely on myself.
But here was an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. He never signed up for the experiences he's had in the last week, and seeing his reaction to it all has driven one fact home: regular people don't have the ability to get out of irregular circumstances. They have to depend on the abilities and strengths of others to rescue them, because they can't do it themselves.
In a way, it is yet another thing that drives home how far I am from being a normal person. Just look at where I am right now if you don't believe that-sitting in a rental car in Taipei, helping my daughter's friend. That sounds normal on the surface, but to get here I stole CIA property, killed an agent who was a mole for the other side, and risked losing the friendship and trust of one of my oldest friends. And Will Tippin. well, helping him wasn't simply a matter of loaning him some cash or getting him a job. He's been beaten, and by the look of him they subjected him to some emergency dental work before letting him go.
I'm so deep into this life of secrecy and betrayal that I don't know if I can ever get out. A year ago, I didn't think I wanted to, but that was before I was offered another chance at a relationship with my daughter. She deserves a father who can be there for her in all ways, a father who doesn't have to keep himself emotionally distant to keep both her and himself safe. For the first time in a long time, I want out.
But as I told Sydney months ago when she wanted the same thing, there is no way out. No way but to destroy SD-6 and the Alliance-only then can we be free to have our own lives. Now more than ever I live for the day when our job is done and we can walk away from the lies and deceit that have become a part of who we are.
The sound of Will's voice breaks through my thoughts. "I know I've already thanked you for saving me. but thanks," he says almost shyly. "I never really figured you were the kind of guy to go out on a limb for someone like me."
In response, I raise my eyebrow and say, "What kind of man do you think I am, Mr. Tippin?" There's a part of me that isn't sure I want to know the answer to that, but the rational side knows that he's still too nervous around me to say anything truly offensive.
He flushes and stammers out a response. "I. I didn't mean it like that-I just meant that I know, well I imagine anyway that this isn't the normal way to handle situations like this, and I want to say that I appreciate the effort."
"Appreciation acknowledged," I say with a curt nod, hoping that maybe he'll be quiet.
No such luck. "And it's great that you got here so quickly. I mean, I don't know how many teeth I would have had left if you hadn't gotten here until tomorrow. Plus, my sister's birthday is tomorrow and I really wanted to be there."
He rambles on about the party he was throwing and other meaningless things, but I have more important things on my mind. A glance at the clock confirms my suspicions: Sydney and Vaughn are late.
They both know how important it is to make a rendezvous. If there had been any way they could have made it, they would have. The longer I sit here waiting for them, the more likely it is that Mr. Tippin and I will be found. Their tardiness is putting us all in danger, and they wouldn't do that purposely. Something, or rather someone, prevented them from leaving the club on schedule.
Now I'm in an impossible situation. Agency policy says that I leave them here, the idea being that it is more important to get at least one agent out than to risk the entire operation on the chance that the other agents might survive. But this wasn't a regular op, and that isn't just any agent in there-it's my daughter. I can't just leave without trying to rescue her, even though I know that there may not be anyway out of this. for any of us.