Chapter 10
It felt good to be back in L.A. It was a beautiful day and one of the first things Sydney did waking up the next afternoon was to go for a long run in the park. It felt good to stretch her legs after so many days cooped up. She'd made the dead drop on her way home last night as instructed and didn't expect to hear from Vaughn for at least a day or two. So it surprised her then when she noticed him jogging up behind her. She started to smile until she noticed the grave expression in his eyes.
"Hey." He said as he came up along side her.
"Hey," she answered. "What's up?"
"I tried to get you at home, but you were gone. So I contacted Will and he told me where I could find you. I guess it could of waited but I kinda felt the need for a run myself so I took a chance." He explained, falling into step with her.
"What's going on?" She asked, concerned.
"It's about the disk."
"What about it?"
"The disk you sent us, it was the one you originally copied from Korin's safe?"
"You know it is, Vaughn. What's wrong?" She asked.
"I sent it up to Langley for analysis. They just sent it back. It was blank. It'd never been used." He informed her, making a peripheral check around them.
"What? How can that - Sark." She realized, stating the obvious. She shook her head. "I should have anticipated this."
Vaughn only nodded.
'I really should have anticipated this,' she chastised herself again, feeling ill. 'It was the obvious conclusion. How could I have trusted him to just give it to me?' She thought. 'Because I didn't have the choice,' she remembered, 'he took that choice away from me by convincing me it was to protect me.... He manipulated me - again. Damn.' She raged inside. Secretly, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about how he'd held her so protectively in his arms. When she concentrated she could still imagine the weight of him on top of her. 'The way he looked at me...' she thought, feeling unreasonably hurt. Despite everything she'd felt sure they'd connected somehow. Now it was obvious he'd done that intentionally. And it had worked. She had trusted him, even when she knew better. Reality sucks.
"So...you didn't know." He affirmed, breaking into her thoughts.
"No, Vaughn, what are you saying?"
"Nothing. No. It's just that you spent a lot of time with Sark, for the first time really..." He trailed off.
"Don't go there." She warned him, feeling warm.
"Okay. I won't."
"You told me to go along with him." She countered, trying to make sense of it.
"I know what I told you. I'm just saying -
"Yeah, well, don't." She snapped, irritably.
They continued running at a steady pace for a minute or two while Sydney thought it out.
"I'm sorry." She apologized then, shaking her head angrily. "I'll go after him. I'll get it back." She promised.
"No. I don't want you to do that." He said firmly.
"Why not?"
"I have a bad feeling about it, that's all. I think we need to take a step back, get some perspective." He explained.
"Don't patronize me."
"I'm not. I just think we should cut our losses on this one. You said so yourself, Sark's a dangerous man. The more I learn about him, the more I'm convinced. The necklace was a big mistake Syd, it's gonna cost us."
"He doesn't know where it came from. And Vaughn," she reminded him, "he gave it back to me. You're safe."
He rolled his eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about."
"If he wanted to turn me in, he would have by now." She pointed out.
"Unless he still has use for you. Are you sure you're not just looking for a reason to get into it with him again? Because we saw what happened the last time you did that," he chided her.
"That was out of line."
"Maybe." He admitted.
"So what do you want me to do?" She sighed.
"Nothing." He stressed. "For once Syd, I'm asking you to do nothing." Taking a final glance around them, he picked up speed and made his way off down a separate path.
Vaughn was probably right, she realized. She should take this slow, think it through. But then, Sark had lied to her. He had asked her to trust him and then he'd lied to her. She couldn't just let that go. Despite what Vaughn had said, she soon found herself turning around.
As soon as she was dressed again, she headed over to SD-6. She felt sure Sark would be back by now.
***********************
SD-6 Headquarters~
He saw her coming at him from a distance away. Her eyes bore down on him from across the room as she made her way over. She was obviously worked up about something. 'She looks her best when she's worked up,' he smiled to himself. He'd been wondering when she'd show up.
He dismissed the technician he was working with and waited for her to come to him.
"Agent Bristow," he addressed her professionally, "what can I do for you?"
"You double-crossed me," she hissed.
Frowning, he quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a nearby empty corridor. He pulled out a small box and pressed a button. "Okay, now, you were saying?" He prompted.
"You double-crossed me Sark." She accused him.
"I did nothing of the kind."
"You switched the disk."
"Oh. That. Yes, I did." He responded. "But I didn't double-cross you Sydney. This might not have occurred to you but unlike some people around here I am not under the impression I work for the CIA." He looked at her pointedly.
"You misled me," She said, ignoring the reference, hoping he wouldn't press her on exactly how she felt misled.
"I did my job, just like you. I said I would protect you and that's what I've done." He responded carefully, trying to read her.
"How have you protected me? By lying to me?" she demanded incredulously.
"Yes, in a way. Sydney, you can't succeed all the time, it's suspicious. Certainly in this case, working with me, there was no way I wouldn't have put it together." Strangely, she realized, he wasn't boasting.
She glared at him.
"Don't pout." He patronized. "There was no reason you should have gotten that information. You didn't even know what it was. You didn't even know what it was for. Don't be so damn shortsighted, Sydney. You're smarter than that."
"You know, honestly, I don't get it." He continued. "To have you take such a risk, going up against me, for something they couldn't possibly know what to do with.... Why do you let them just give you away like that?" He asked, looking quickly around, then he whispered, "I would never give you away. Not for anything."
He was so close to her now, she could feel his warmth filling her. "You're trying to confuse me. It won't work." She insisted, moving back.
"Sydney, like you, I am very good at what I do. My missions do not fail. That is why Sloane is working with me. If I did, he would know I had allowed it to happen. He would consider that a betrayal, as would I. At which point I can assure you I would no longer be in a position to pick up after you." He snapped.
"That is not your job." She informed him, recovering her pride. "We covered this. You and I are not friends. We are not going to become friends."
"Yes," he sighed, looking away, "we covered this."
A lengthy, uncomfortable silence followed. Oddly, neither of them felt the inclination to move away. His eyes roamed the length of her body. He noted the stiff black suit, her hair pulled tightly back. The make-up. The set jaw.
"You look rather severe today. That suit - very all buttoned up." He commented, baiting her.
She looked down at herself. "What would you suggest I wear?" She said sarcastically, rising to it. "I'm at work."
"Well," he smiled mischievously, leaning in intimately. "I thought you looked amazing in my shirt."
He'd caught her off guard. She looked away, embarrassed. Slowly the corners of her mouth began to twitch upwards. She shook her head. "You frustrate me."
"You frustrate me." He shot back, irritably.
Sloane walked up behind him just then. He was smiling. Sydney's eyes went up and she smiled back at him, signaling Sark. He caught it. He straightened and turned just as Sloane arrived.
"Congratulations Sark, Sydney." He addressed them. "Good work in Austria. I'm very pleased with what you were able to uncover. Mr. Sark, I wanted to catch you before you left, I need to see you in my office a minute before you go." He said.
"Yes, of course. I'll be right there."
But he didn't move.
Sydney waited for Sloane to walk away before turning back to Sark. "What about the girl?" She asked quickly.
"She's gone. She'll be fine." He said quietly.
"What did you do to her?"
He rolled his eyes. "I didn't do anything to her. For God's sake Sydney, what you must think of me. I've provided for her. I took her to live with a family I know. They'll take good care of her." He assured her. "They're good people."
"I wasn't aware you knew any good people." She snorted.
"Well, actually, I don't." He looked sideways at her and chuckled. "They're friends of your mother's." He confided.
"So you'll be leaving," she asked tentatively, a moment later.
"For awhile. Why, will you miss me?" He teased.
"Mr. Sark?" Sloane called to him from his office.
"Yes, I'm coming." He answered, moving to go.
Sydney grabbed his arm to hold him back. "I won't let you roll me Sark." She warned.
"Oh Sydney," He smiled, walking away from her, "it wouldn't be any fun if you did."
********
Sloane's office~
Sloane is at his desk and Sark is sitting across from him.
"I know you don't have much time before you leave but I wanted to discuss the upcoming mission along the Liberian border to recover the jewel." Sloane handed him the file.
"Sierra Leone, the Kailahun District," Sark corrected. "Dangerous territory these days." He commented idly, opening the file.
"Yes, it can't be helped. I expect that won't be a problem for you?"
"No, that won't be a problem. But it will take significant planning." Sark predicted.
"We have several field agents that are quite good, proficient in the language. I could make them available to you..." Sloane offered. "But I'm guessing you'll want Sydney. The two of you work well together." He commented, watching him, "I must say, I was surprised."
Sark looked up briefly. "Yes, I suppose." He answered distractedly. Scanning one page in particular he remarked, "The Kailahun district is still partially controlled by the RUF rebels. An extremely violent group, very unpredictable."
"Yes, they are." Sloane agreed, looking to see his point.
Sark thought it over. "No, I won't be using Sydney for this." He said decidedly. "I'll need someone with different skills. Although I would like her kept in reserve in case we run into trouble. Just until I get back."
"I'm sure that could be arranged." Sloane agreed, taken aback. He'd felt sure Sydney would be his first choice. "Then I'll go ahead and forward the agents' profiles to your station before you leave. Perhaps you can look them over while you're away." He suggested.
Sark nodded, closing the file.
"Austria was a phenomenal success. Once again, Mr. Sark, you surpass my expectations." He smiled. "The film you brought back will be very useful in the upcoming election months. The General's brother has been rising in popularity despite all odds. Until now, no one's been able to touch him." He smiled. "Did you know the Slovak brothers were actually fraternal twins? It's a little known fact, it's hardly mentioned because it's a common trait in the region they were born."
A conspiratorial look passed between them.
Sark smirked. "Actually, I did know that."
"Where is the girl now?" Sloane asked suddenly.
"I don't know exactly. Probably in an orphanage somewhere. It shouldn't matter, we won't need her."
"No," Sloane reflected, "probably not. Well, Mr. Sark, it looks like you're proving to be more useful to us than we'd anticipated. I think that's it. I'll see you when you get back."
************************
Sark went back to his station and collected his files in preparation to go. He would have a lot of work in the coming weeks. He looked forward to it. Things were beginning to come together as planned.
The end. ************************
It felt good to be back in L.A. It was a beautiful day and one of the first things Sydney did waking up the next afternoon was to go for a long run in the park. It felt good to stretch her legs after so many days cooped up. She'd made the dead drop on her way home last night as instructed and didn't expect to hear from Vaughn for at least a day or two. So it surprised her then when she noticed him jogging up behind her. She started to smile until she noticed the grave expression in his eyes.
"Hey." He said as he came up along side her.
"Hey," she answered. "What's up?"
"I tried to get you at home, but you were gone. So I contacted Will and he told me where I could find you. I guess it could of waited but I kinda felt the need for a run myself so I took a chance." He explained, falling into step with her.
"What's going on?" She asked, concerned.
"It's about the disk."
"What about it?"
"The disk you sent us, it was the one you originally copied from Korin's safe?"
"You know it is, Vaughn. What's wrong?" She asked.
"I sent it up to Langley for analysis. They just sent it back. It was blank. It'd never been used." He informed her, making a peripheral check around them.
"What? How can that - Sark." She realized, stating the obvious. She shook her head. "I should have anticipated this."
Vaughn only nodded.
'I really should have anticipated this,' she chastised herself again, feeling ill. 'It was the obvious conclusion. How could I have trusted him to just give it to me?' She thought. 'Because I didn't have the choice,' she remembered, 'he took that choice away from me by convincing me it was to protect me.... He manipulated me - again. Damn.' She raged inside. Secretly, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about how he'd held her so protectively in his arms. When she concentrated she could still imagine the weight of him on top of her. 'The way he looked at me...' she thought, feeling unreasonably hurt. Despite everything she'd felt sure they'd connected somehow. Now it was obvious he'd done that intentionally. And it had worked. She had trusted him, even when she knew better. Reality sucks.
"So...you didn't know." He affirmed, breaking into her thoughts.
"No, Vaughn, what are you saying?"
"Nothing. No. It's just that you spent a lot of time with Sark, for the first time really..." He trailed off.
"Don't go there." She warned him, feeling warm.
"Okay. I won't."
"You told me to go along with him." She countered, trying to make sense of it.
"I know what I told you. I'm just saying -
"Yeah, well, don't." She snapped, irritably.
They continued running at a steady pace for a minute or two while Sydney thought it out.
"I'm sorry." She apologized then, shaking her head angrily. "I'll go after him. I'll get it back." She promised.
"No. I don't want you to do that." He said firmly.
"Why not?"
"I have a bad feeling about it, that's all. I think we need to take a step back, get some perspective." He explained.
"Don't patronize me."
"I'm not. I just think we should cut our losses on this one. You said so yourself, Sark's a dangerous man. The more I learn about him, the more I'm convinced. The necklace was a big mistake Syd, it's gonna cost us."
"He doesn't know where it came from. And Vaughn," she reminded him, "he gave it back to me. You're safe."
He rolled his eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about."
"If he wanted to turn me in, he would have by now." She pointed out.
"Unless he still has use for you. Are you sure you're not just looking for a reason to get into it with him again? Because we saw what happened the last time you did that," he chided her.
"That was out of line."
"Maybe." He admitted.
"So what do you want me to do?" She sighed.
"Nothing." He stressed. "For once Syd, I'm asking you to do nothing." Taking a final glance around them, he picked up speed and made his way off down a separate path.
Vaughn was probably right, she realized. She should take this slow, think it through. But then, Sark had lied to her. He had asked her to trust him and then he'd lied to her. She couldn't just let that go. Despite what Vaughn had said, she soon found herself turning around.
As soon as she was dressed again, she headed over to SD-6. She felt sure Sark would be back by now.
***********************
SD-6 Headquarters~
He saw her coming at him from a distance away. Her eyes bore down on him from across the room as she made her way over. She was obviously worked up about something. 'She looks her best when she's worked up,' he smiled to himself. He'd been wondering when she'd show up.
He dismissed the technician he was working with and waited for her to come to him.
"Agent Bristow," he addressed her professionally, "what can I do for you?"
"You double-crossed me," she hissed.
Frowning, he quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a nearby empty corridor. He pulled out a small box and pressed a button. "Okay, now, you were saying?" He prompted.
"You double-crossed me Sark." She accused him.
"I did nothing of the kind."
"You switched the disk."
"Oh. That. Yes, I did." He responded. "But I didn't double-cross you Sydney. This might not have occurred to you but unlike some people around here I am not under the impression I work for the CIA." He looked at her pointedly.
"You misled me," She said, ignoring the reference, hoping he wouldn't press her on exactly how she felt misled.
"I did my job, just like you. I said I would protect you and that's what I've done." He responded carefully, trying to read her.
"How have you protected me? By lying to me?" she demanded incredulously.
"Yes, in a way. Sydney, you can't succeed all the time, it's suspicious. Certainly in this case, working with me, there was no way I wouldn't have put it together." Strangely, she realized, he wasn't boasting.
She glared at him.
"Don't pout." He patronized. "There was no reason you should have gotten that information. You didn't even know what it was. You didn't even know what it was for. Don't be so damn shortsighted, Sydney. You're smarter than that."
"You know, honestly, I don't get it." He continued. "To have you take such a risk, going up against me, for something they couldn't possibly know what to do with.... Why do you let them just give you away like that?" He asked, looking quickly around, then he whispered, "I would never give you away. Not for anything."
He was so close to her now, she could feel his warmth filling her. "You're trying to confuse me. It won't work." She insisted, moving back.
"Sydney, like you, I am very good at what I do. My missions do not fail. That is why Sloane is working with me. If I did, he would know I had allowed it to happen. He would consider that a betrayal, as would I. At which point I can assure you I would no longer be in a position to pick up after you." He snapped.
"That is not your job." She informed him, recovering her pride. "We covered this. You and I are not friends. We are not going to become friends."
"Yes," he sighed, looking away, "we covered this."
A lengthy, uncomfortable silence followed. Oddly, neither of them felt the inclination to move away. His eyes roamed the length of her body. He noted the stiff black suit, her hair pulled tightly back. The make-up. The set jaw.
"You look rather severe today. That suit - very all buttoned up." He commented, baiting her.
She looked down at herself. "What would you suggest I wear?" She said sarcastically, rising to it. "I'm at work."
"Well," he smiled mischievously, leaning in intimately. "I thought you looked amazing in my shirt."
He'd caught her off guard. She looked away, embarrassed. Slowly the corners of her mouth began to twitch upwards. She shook her head. "You frustrate me."
"You frustrate me." He shot back, irritably.
Sloane walked up behind him just then. He was smiling. Sydney's eyes went up and she smiled back at him, signaling Sark. He caught it. He straightened and turned just as Sloane arrived.
"Congratulations Sark, Sydney." He addressed them. "Good work in Austria. I'm very pleased with what you were able to uncover. Mr. Sark, I wanted to catch you before you left, I need to see you in my office a minute before you go." He said.
"Yes, of course. I'll be right there."
But he didn't move.
Sydney waited for Sloane to walk away before turning back to Sark. "What about the girl?" She asked quickly.
"She's gone. She'll be fine." He said quietly.
"What did you do to her?"
He rolled his eyes. "I didn't do anything to her. For God's sake Sydney, what you must think of me. I've provided for her. I took her to live with a family I know. They'll take good care of her." He assured her. "They're good people."
"I wasn't aware you knew any good people." She snorted.
"Well, actually, I don't." He looked sideways at her and chuckled. "They're friends of your mother's." He confided.
"So you'll be leaving," she asked tentatively, a moment later.
"For awhile. Why, will you miss me?" He teased.
"Mr. Sark?" Sloane called to him from his office.
"Yes, I'm coming." He answered, moving to go.
Sydney grabbed his arm to hold him back. "I won't let you roll me Sark." She warned.
"Oh Sydney," He smiled, walking away from her, "it wouldn't be any fun if you did."
********
Sloane's office~
Sloane is at his desk and Sark is sitting across from him.
"I know you don't have much time before you leave but I wanted to discuss the upcoming mission along the Liberian border to recover the jewel." Sloane handed him the file.
"Sierra Leone, the Kailahun District," Sark corrected. "Dangerous territory these days." He commented idly, opening the file.
"Yes, it can't be helped. I expect that won't be a problem for you?"
"No, that won't be a problem. But it will take significant planning." Sark predicted.
"We have several field agents that are quite good, proficient in the language. I could make them available to you..." Sloane offered. "But I'm guessing you'll want Sydney. The two of you work well together." He commented, watching him, "I must say, I was surprised."
Sark looked up briefly. "Yes, I suppose." He answered distractedly. Scanning one page in particular he remarked, "The Kailahun district is still partially controlled by the RUF rebels. An extremely violent group, very unpredictable."
"Yes, they are." Sloane agreed, looking to see his point.
Sark thought it over. "No, I won't be using Sydney for this." He said decidedly. "I'll need someone with different skills. Although I would like her kept in reserve in case we run into trouble. Just until I get back."
"I'm sure that could be arranged." Sloane agreed, taken aback. He'd felt sure Sydney would be his first choice. "Then I'll go ahead and forward the agents' profiles to your station before you leave. Perhaps you can look them over while you're away." He suggested.
Sark nodded, closing the file.
"Austria was a phenomenal success. Once again, Mr. Sark, you surpass my expectations." He smiled. "The film you brought back will be very useful in the upcoming election months. The General's brother has been rising in popularity despite all odds. Until now, no one's been able to touch him." He smiled. "Did you know the Slovak brothers were actually fraternal twins? It's a little known fact, it's hardly mentioned because it's a common trait in the region they were born."
A conspiratorial look passed between them.
Sark smirked. "Actually, I did know that."
"Where is the girl now?" Sloane asked suddenly.
"I don't know exactly. Probably in an orphanage somewhere. It shouldn't matter, we won't need her."
"No," Sloane reflected, "probably not. Well, Mr. Sark, it looks like you're proving to be more useful to us than we'd anticipated. I think that's it. I'll see you when you get back."
************************
Sark went back to his station and collected his files in preparation to go. He would have a lot of work in the coming weeks. He looked forward to it. Things were beginning to come together as planned.
The end. ************************