The Unexpected




Six months later.



The feelings between Sydney and Sark steadily increased, and doubts were extinguished with kisses here and there. The months flew by, and before they knew it, they were being told that the take-down of SD-6 was imminent. They couldn't have been happier.

The day Sydney and Sark found out, Sydney felt like she had died and gone to heaven. She smiled the whole day and dedicated her lunch hour to a make-out session with Sark in the park on the bench by the willow tree.

On the drive home that evening—Sydney left before Sark did—she had cranked the volume up on her stereo and sang along with whatever song was being played. When she got home, she parked her car and got out, a spring in her step as she bounded up the front steps. She went inside the house and looked around. She planned on telling Francie everything tonight, so that the next day, she wouldn't be full of questions about why the bank' had been destroyed.

Hey guys! she called, hanging up her coat. She looked around the living room and the kitchen.

She got a sinking feeling her stomach as she began to search the rooms. Francie's room was empty and Will's room was empty. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she came across the closed door of her room. Her hands were shaking so badly that she barely was able to grip the door handle.

she screamed.

The mangled bodies of her best friends lay on the floor covered in blood. She staggered out into the hallway, gripping onto anything she could to keep from collapsing. She managed to find the strength to get back to her car and drove well over the speed limit to the CIA.

Sydney shook uncontrollably as she somehow got inside of the building. Several people immediately rushed over to her, fussing over her, asking her what was wrong. Sobs racked her body and she was barely able to choke out that Sloane had gotten to Will and Francie. At that instant, some of the people went to notify Kendall, Jack, and Vaughn that the take-down was going to have to occur a day early, if they were to have any chance.

The people still hovering around Sydney attempted to get her to sit down but she pushed them all away and hurried in the direction of her mother's cell. She angrily asked the guard to let her through and he complied. Before she made her way down the hallway, she demanded the guard open the cell. He refused and Sydney was just about to raise Hell with him when he nodded and led the way with the key.

Irina turned around from her place on the floor and stood up quickly upon seeing Sydney's convulsing figure. The guard unlocked the door and Sydney hurried into the cell and into her mother's arms. The guard shut and locked the door and mumbled something about tapping on the glass when Sydney was ready to leave.

Irina held her daughter as she cried. She smoothed her hair and rested her cheek against Sydney's head. She slowly led Sydney over to the cot and forced her to sit. Sydney did so and immediately climbed onto her mother's lap when Irina sat down as well.

Sydney sobbed and kept her head buried in her mother's shoulder. Irina kept her arms wrapped tightly around Sydney as she rocked her back and forth, attempting to soothe her. When Sydney finally seemed to calm down a little, Irina gently asked her what had happened.

What happened? What happened?!?! My two best friends were killed by a man who also killed my fiancé and who has been lying to me since the day I started working for him and is someone I've wanted dead ever since I learned the truth about SD-6.

The sobs came back but Sydney managed to choke out an answer. Irina felt her eyes tear up at Sydney's words and held her daughter tighter.

A while later, Sydney's sobs had subsided and she had found a bit of peace in slumber. Irina was still holding her—as Sydney had refused to budge—stroking her hair and rubbing her back now and then.

Just when Irina herself had begun to nod off, using Sydney's head as something of a pillow, she heard footsteps coming towards the cell. She looked up to see Kendall, Jack, and Vaughn. The three men said nothing and Irina gently nudged Sydney awake. Sydney lifted her head and looked around, trying to remember where she was and how she had gotten there.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

The sobs returned worse than ever and Sydney buried her head in her mother's shoulder once again. Irina gave the three men a look that told them now wasn't the time for whatever they wanted to say.

Jack nodded and opened the door of the cell. He dismissed Kendall and Vaughn and knelt by the cot. He lifted Sydney's chin and saw the pain in her eyes. He thumbed away a few tears and kissed her forehead. He looked up at Irina and saw the sadness that she felt clearly displayed in her eyes. He sighed heavily and gently rubbed Sydney's back.

We have to go through with the take-down a day early. We've already rigged the building with explosives. SD-6 is going down today. Jack looked into Sydney's eyes as he said the words and he saw the emotion in them change.

Anger.

Dad, no, Sark—Andrew—is still in there, we have to get him, Sydney pleaded, suddenly bolting from her mother's lap.

Jack stood up. We can't risk sending anyone inside, it'll end up in more deaths than we can afford.

Jesus, Dad, how can you be so callous? I love Sark, Goddamn it, and there is no way in hell I'm losing him! Sydney was breathing heavily as she tore open the door of the cell and ran out into the hallway, wanting to get to her car as fast as possible.

Jack was speechless. He looked at Irina, hoping she could elaborate. She simply nodded.

Do you think she'll— he started, already knowing the answer to what he was about to ask.

Love is a force more powerful than any other. She'll do whatever it takes. You and I both know she's very passionate. We both also know that she's in love. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not with what she's been through all these years, Irina said, not taking her eyes off of Jack.

Come with me, Jack told her, I'm going to need your help. Without waiting for Irina to comment, Jack grabbed her arm and ran with her out of the cell and the building to his car. He barely noticed that Vaughn's car was gone, indicating that he had probably taken off after Sydney as well.


Sydney was already on her way to the Credit Dauphine building. She had no idea what to expect when she arrived, but she could only hope she wasn't too late. She coughed when smoke came through the air vents. She rolled down her window to try to let in some fresh air and pounded her fist on the wheel because the explosion had already taken place.

Angry tears surged into her eyes as she slammed on the brakes and got out, leaving the car idle. She took in the wreckage of the Credit Dauphine building and nearly collapsed.

There was no way Sark could have gotten out alive.

she murmured, no, no, no, no!

Sydney ran to the wreckage and began looking, looking for any kind of sign. She burned her hands on the scalding pieces of concrete. She dropped to her knees and buried her face in her hands.

She had lost Will, Francie, and now Sark. She couldn't take it. She leaned forward, sobs erupting from her. She had nothing left. She was just about ready to get up, go home, find her gun, and bid farewell to her life of misery when a pair of arms wrapped around her and lifted her to her feet.